Quote: Ian P "Looking at some of the rule changes reminds me of American football, more officlals then players and games lasting hours due to long scrums.
Sky pay the sport and they will demand and get what they want first, if they want four matches at the last round they will get it.
Making the East stand fully reserved will only drive punters away, so we don't get a full stadium for the Derby, big deal. Many fans like and have always liked the ability to decide on the day if they are going to a match, down the pub or staying for overtime down at work. It does not make them less of a fan for that, thats what they prefer and why alter a system that works because some people like the idea of making the East an elitist stand for pass holders only.
I think we have only had one full derby match so far and filling the stadium maybe helps get a few people moist it does sod all for me. The last derby may as well been empty stand in both East and west as the atmosphere was like a graveyard, we should look at ways to improve that first. The whole matchday experience seems to have taken on a second class look, with loud music, a crappy announcer, all booming out from a PA system that is either too loud or too quiet and a large inflatable bouncy ball. Its boring, tired out and does little to keep the kids interested let alone any sober adults.
The drink ban should stay at the end of the season, events have proved that some people can not be trusted to act in a decent manner. We have got this far with very little trouble inside the KC why risk a heavy fine and an incident that will do us and the whole game huge damage. Its not as if FC benefit much from the sale of beer, pies and other goodies ( sic) , SMC get rich so you can see why they want it .
Basically lets not try and mend things that are not really broken and lets try and fix things we can, forget wish lists'"
I am certainly not advocating the stand being elitist as you put it Ian. It does not have to be simply for season ticket holders and certainly would not mean people could not pay on the day either. You simply buy your ticket on the gate and in you go. Seat waiting and no need to get there 2 hours early simply to bag a "good" seat or row of seats for your mates. But it does allow for a totally full stand for the big games.
Atmosphere comes when the team is doing well. You could have 60 odd thousand fans in a stadium, but if the fayre is p poor then the atmosphere will be to. The match day experience is totally dictated by the quality of the main attraction and for the past 4 years or so it has been poor. Hence a lack of atmosphere apart from the odd game. Sts home (2nd half) this season for example.
