Atmosphere since away fans moved

[23rdSaint]

What’s the Northam been like since the away fans were moved? Is it still the noisiest part of the ground (if/when the fans are given a reason to be vocal, of course)?

Brentford was my first game of the season (🙃). Discounting the completely justified shell-shock and apathy of supporters, it was interesting to see how much noise was generated from the away end and made me wonder what the atmosphere is like in more competitive games. I was a Kingsland North ST holder until this summer and always thought the atmosphere was at its best when both sets of fans in the Northam and corners were “interacting”. 

Although still 9 months away, I'm interested by the effects of the skates turning up next season…

Edited January 7 by 23rdSaint
Typo

[Saint_Jonny]

You used the word competitive in your post and Saints have been anything but for the vast majority of games at St Marys so far this season, so it isn't really fair to judge the "home end" noise levels based on the absolute dish water we've been served up on the pitch. 

Will hopefully be fun next year if can win some games again... 

[23rdSaint]

21 minutes ago, Saint_Jonny said:

You used the word competitive in your post and Saints have been anything but for the vast majority of games at St Marys so far this season, so it isn't really fair to judge the "home end" noise levels based on the absolute dish water we've been served up on the pitch. 

Will hopefully be fun next year if can win some games again... 

Totally fair point. I had the Everton, Ipswich and Liverpool games in mind (even West Ham) which must have had their moments

[ant]

Yes, it is.

Our support's been OK this season, relative to the football served up. There's an argument to be made that it's been too good. The sell-outs and vocal support perhaps played part in a longer grace period than Martin and the players deserved.

Now, I think many people (myself included) are trapped in a state of quiet inevitability. With the odd moment of reverting to chanting, but mostly to stave off the worst of the boredom. Generally tinged with gallows humour.

In the majority of matches the away support's barely registered for me. Brentford were near-silent until they'd stuck a couple of goals away (with many of them sat down?!) If consistently decent from that point onwards.

[Bob60]

Sorry to report that from the other end of the stadium we barely hear the 'wall' at all and sadly noise we hear is only the away fans celebrating.

[franniesTache]

it's pretty dire to be honest, no one can keep in time, there's way too many noddy songs and the lack of away fans to interact with means it's quiet a lot of the time. The less said about the cheap as fuck scaffold "safe standing" the better too, reckon they just got someone nick a job lot from Trants one evening and stick it in.

It's going to be seriously embarrassing next season when we play the skates and we have The Wall singing noddy songs they can't hear and the Chapel and Kingsland full of people who don't give it back, they're going to think our support is soppy as anything.

[OldNick]

Well IMo its a vast improvement. Of course there has little to be excited about and I feel that the Northam and the whole fanbase has been excellent considering. Onwards and upwards

[23rdSaint]

2 hours ago, ant said:

Yes, it is.

Our support's been OK this season, relative to the football served up. There's an argument to be made that it's been too good. The sell-outs and vocal support perhaps played part in a longer grace period than Martin and the players deserved.

Now, I think many people (myself included) are trapped in a state of quiet inevitability. With the odd moment of reverting to chanting, but mostly to stave off the worst of the boredom. Generally tinged with gallows humour.

In the majority of matches the away support's barely registered for me. Brentford were near-silent until they'd stuck a couple of goals away (with many of them sat down?!) If consistently decent from that point onwards.

I probably should have added that I was Kingsland South for the Brentford game. From the Kingsland North before, a lot of away fan noise would have often been distilled somewhat by the Northam and Itchen North. Particularly feistier games. 
 

I'd agree with @Bob60 on my very limited experience, and share @franniesTache's concerns on a team like Pompey visiting next year. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Was in block 24 last season. Also been in 37 and 13 for season tickets. Originally when ground built, in block 42 row 5 then atmosphere was top notch especially v Skates etc.

Its not bad in Northam and standing much better as seats toʻ small and rows too close. Some games the noise has been very good. The boring football sends fans to sleep so it's not all fans fault 

[Saint_clark]

3 hours ago, Bob60 said:

Sorry to report that from the other end of the stadium we barely hear the 'wall' at all and sadly noise we hear is only the away fans celebrating.

Well as the away fans are closer that's no surprise at all. 

The home fans have sounded pretty decent on TV/streams.

[hypochondriac]

We've been absolute shite all season. You can't make any sensible comparisons until we've had a period of real success. Maybe if we get a playoff semi again we can see what it's like compared to West brom. 

[EssEffCee]

Largely been disappointing in my view. Said before on here that it's full of atmosphere tourists; people who want to be in an atmospheric area but do very little to actually contribute to it.

From what I can tell the front third of the stand doesn't really contribute much, probably two thirds on the old away end side.

Loads of people spend most of the game after ten minutes playing games/checking bets on their phones. There's even a sizeable amount of people who spend chunks of the match sat down!

It can be loud when it gets going but that's rare and generally different parts are singing different songs at the same time.

For example the left side will start a rendition of 'oh Southampton we love you' and sing two rounds of it. On the second round the middle will join in and start their two rounds, the latter of which the right side will join in who then sing their second round on their own.

Our lack of songs and inability to maintain them means most songs just fizzle out and it's not really an 'end' at all.

The best it's been all season is probably the second half against Spuds which says it all.

[EssEffCee]

All that being said, I've not been particularly impressed by any home supports this season at away games so I don't think it's just an us problem. Top flight atmospheres have been getting steadily worse for years now and are at an all time low.

Wolves probably the best if games I've been to.

[gammon cheeks]

Northam has been great considering how shit we have been!

[LuckyNumber7]

Valid pov's from both ends of the spectrum.

I was Kingsland North for years until this season. It used to be good, but got worse and worse over the last few years, as did the Northam. Something needed to change as the atmosphere in general has been pretty shocking for a while.

I'm now in the Northam, block 44 and I'd say it's been mixed. Really good at times but crap at others. Agree about too many people not singing. And also the cheap nature of the safe standing. And different areas singing different songs.

But I also think it's really hard to judge this season as we've been so pathetically poor. 1 win, 7 goals and most games we've not even been competitive and barely looked like scoring. Think we've only scored twice in front of the Northam?! I'm generally very vocal, but even I can't be bothered most of the time atm. When it's properly got going it's been good.

In conclusion so far I'd say it's no worse than the last few years, but probably not much better either. But has potential. We just need something to feel positive about and get behind. Not likely any time soon!

[Nordic Saint]

5 hours ago, OldNick said:

Well IMo its a vast improvement. Of course there has little to be excited about and I feel that the Northam and the whole fanbase has been excellent considering. Onwards and upwards

I agree. Considering we've experienced the worst set of results in our entire history, it's been very good. With the old setup, you wouldn't have heard the home fans at all. Now, it's the away fans who are stuck in a corner, where the acoustics are worst. 

 It feels good to have a proper home end at last: one of the few positives to come out of this season.

Edited January 7 by Nordic Saint

[saintwbu]

I think the Northam has been pretty underwhelming, even from the first few games of the season when there was a small bit of hope.

The move of the away fans has definitely quietened them though, so that’s good - hopefully a good season in the championship will breathe life into the Northam. 

[EssEffCee]

Anyone else considering moving to block 20/21 next season? I'm giving it some real thought but won't be worthwhile unless there's a sizeable amount doing so.

[Saint_clark]

20 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

Anyone else considering moving to block 20/21 next season? I'm giving it some real thought but won't be worthwhile unless there's a sizeable amount doing so.

For Christ sake, don't start doing this. Utterly pointless. You'll go there, be the only person singing and be forced to sit down by the stewards. Stick with the Northam and wait until we have a run of form and judge the atmosphere then.

[SaintsLoyal]

Its been a massive flop as predicted, but the team results havent helped !

 

I also think the 'caging' around the ground is a disaster waiting to happen. 

[EssEffCee]

11 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

For Christ sake, don't start doing this. Utterly pointless. You'll go there, be the only person singing and be forced to sit down by the stewards. Stick with the Northam and wait until we have a run of form and judge the atmosphere then.

Well I did say it would only be worthwhile if there's a sizeable amount doing it.

Towards the end of the Stoke cup game there was 30-50 people stood up towards the back of block 21 so I think there could be some interest in it.

[SW11_Saint]

IMHO (from my Kingsland/Northam corner viewpoint) moving the away fans had killed the atmosphere in the Northam - and therefore the ground. 
 

The board won’t mind though as they're earning from the fan zone behind (which although overpriced, is pretty well done). 

[OldNick]

1 hour ago, SW11_Saint said:

IMHO (from my Kingsland/Northam corner viewpoint) moving the away fans had killed the atmosphere in the Northam - and therefore the ground. 
 

The board won’t mind though as they're earning from the fan zone behind (which although overpriced, is pretty well done). 

It will have stopped people flicking V's at the away fans, that is a most important feature of going to games

[LGTL]

The club will be absolutely delighted. It's killed any sort of atmosphere and expect our Police bill has been considerably reduced. But it's been awful, lets be honest. As predicted, the 'wall' is a pile of cringy shite. 

[Turkish]

please tell me this is a wind up

Southampton FC fans pen poem to Russell Martin | Daily Echo

 

[Turkish]

I thought we were going to be unstoppable at home once we moved the away fans to the corner? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[LGTL]

Worst home run in our 140 year history. It’s clearly working. 

[EssEffCee]

10 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I thought we were going to be unstoppable at home once we moved the away fans to the corner? 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Away fans being moved to the corner was going to make them quieter apparently. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

1 minute ago, EssEffCee said:

Away fans being moved to the corner was going to make them quieter apparently. 

Not if they were all getting big wins away from home...

Edited January 25 by TheAlehouseBrawlers

[EssEffCee]

To be fair there was still plenty of away fans in the Northam today.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, EssEffCee said:

To be fair there was still plenty of away fans in the Northam today.

If Man U are struggling to stop away fans domestically and in Europe at Old Trafford then not a surprise.

Comparatively, their fans are probably thinking the same as ours ‘our players aren’t trying, running, generally giving a fuck so I might as well make a little bit of margin on my seat’.

[SaintsLoyal]

Nobody can defend the shambolic atmopshere due to a total bullsh1t claim that away fans behing behind a goal helps their team.

Total bol@ocks as last season showed and even then many teams given more away tickets than required.

 

 

 

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Ticket allocation should be done on a reciprocal basis. Those wankers next month from Bournemouth will still get their 3000 odd allocation, yet when we go there, lucky to see 1200. 

[EssEffCee]

8 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

If Man U are struggling to stop away fans domestically and in Europe at Old Trafford then not a surprise.

Comparatively, their fans are probably thinking the same as ours ‘our players aren’t trying, running, generally giving a fuck so I might as well make a little bit of margin on my seat’.

Yeah wasn't blaming the club as such was just a light hearted comment. Actually thought it was the quickest stewards have ever reacted to kicking them out I've seen at St Marys.

[EssEffCee]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Ticket allocation should be done on a reciprocal basis. Those wankers next month from Bournemouth will still get their 3000 odd allocation, yet when we go there, lucky to see 1200. 

Well we can't do that due to the rules around ticket allocations.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, EssEffCee said:

Yeah wasn't blaming the club as such was just a light hearted comment. Actually thought it was the quickest stewards have ever reacted to kicking them out I've seen at St Marys.

Quicker than the early 2022 game.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, EssEffCee said:

Well we can't do that due to the rules around ticket allocations.

Yeah, I know, hence why I said should. 

[EssEffCee]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Quicker than the early 2022 game.

Yep and the Spurs game this season was particularly bad too. One fan got to celebrate their first 3 goals before being removed.

[LuckyNumber7]

30 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Nobody can defend the shambolic atmopshere due to a total bullsh1t claim that away fans behing behind a goal helps their team.

Total bol@ocks as last season showed and even then many teams given more away tickets than required.

 

 

 

 

So how do you defend the awful atmosphere before this season then? At least last season we had plenty to cheer about. We've had literally fuck all this season, it's beyond depressing.

We are shite because our players are well out of their depth, not because the fans have moved.

[ant]

It was decent today. Don't listen to people that clearly don't attend.

[Paul Chuckle]

23 minutes ago, ant said:

It was decent today. Don't listen to people that clearly don't attend.

I attended Block 37 and was dead on both sides. 

The Southampton Allez Allez song is just awful.

[Wiggles31]

Given the dog shit on display I’d say the fans have been pretty decent. First half was a good atmosphere but it’s very hard to get going when you’ve lost 19/24 games. 

[EssEffCee]

50 minutes ago, ant said:

It was decent today. Don't listen to people that clearly don't attend.

Block 46 and I thought it was awful from the penalty onwards. Not exactly surprising given the run we're on though and when you see the players heads drop.

Loudest it was second half was slagging off VAR.

Edited January 25 by EssEffCee

[S-Clarke]

2 hours ago, ant said:

It was decent today. Don't listen to people that clearly don't attend.

It hasn't been too bad at all in my eyes/ears. But it is hard to truly judge it when all we do is lose games of football at our home ground.

But based on what we've seen I think us fans have all been hero's this year and the club should fricking well reimburse us all in some way, I'm being serious too.

[Gloucester Saint]

I don’t think it can be properly judged until there’s vague evidence of some ‘performances’ for the fans to watch, let alone get behind.

Unless the club has a flying start next season, which I very much doubt, I can see gates dropping below 20k quite quickly.

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Ticket allocation should be done on a reciprocal basis. Those wankers next month from Bournemouth will still get their 3000 odd allocation, yet when we go there, lucky to see 1200. 

Agreed,  we chipped in to their buckets.to "save the cherries" , now all they do is give is.scummers this and scummers that, pathetic fanbase most of which support an additional club , give them 1200 like.we get. Needed a season ticket and 18+ away games when we went to Dean Court, virtually all their season ticket holders qualify for St Mary's 

 

[Football Special]

6 hours ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Nobody can defend the shambolic atmopshere due to a total bullsh1t claim that away fans behing behind a goal helps their team.

Total bol@ocks as last season showed and even then many teams given more away tickets than required.

 

 

 

 

Last May we had possibly the best atmosphere we've ever had at St Mary's, this season has sucked the joy and enthusiasm from the fan base,  board should be issuing grovelling apology to the fans , number of home premier league wins since SR took over? 

Unprecedented shitness 

[musesaint]

The wholesale reorganisation of SMS to create the so-called “Northam Wall Of Sound” has, without doubt, been a colossal failure and massive waste of money. 

[SaintNewForest]

11 minutes ago, musesaint said:

The wholesale reorganisation of SMS to create the so-called “Northam Wall Of Sound” has, without doubt, been a colossal failure and massive waste of money. 

Not in the clubs eyes, think of all the extra money they can now make from such corporate shite as the "Dell Pub" and the new wine bar, plus the improved hospitality sections known as the "Knightwood Lounge" 

From a footballing experience side of things, it's been utterly shite. A good atmosphere will come from good football, regardless of the stadium layout, you cannot manufacture a good atmosphere as we keep trying to do. 

[hugh]

As somebody who sits in block 5, I think Northam has been consistently good this season, considering what we have been watching. Yesterday, I shared their outrage over VAR and Fernandes' goal while waiting for the decision we knew was coming and joined in with their chant of "It's not football anymore".

As someone who had to move from the Kingsland to accommodate the away fans, I really doubted that the stadium reorganisation would work, but I have to say that it probably has. Not everything is right yet, the way we walk back to town sees us more often than not walking amongst away fans, which never happened before. Yesterday the Geordies were generally good fun and sympathetic to our plight. That actually made what we had just suffered worse...