Who knows? We rely on anecdotal evidence, so here's some. Believe it or not I know a few Saints fans around the north west. There's one I travelled with on Saturday to Leeds. Passionate as they come, but getting to Southampton for a home game on a Tuesday? He's going on Saturday, and that's an all day business which means juggling priorities with his wife, who has her own interests, over taxi duties with kids etc etc. Incidentally, for fans like him leaving early never features. If we are 4-0 down on Saturday he'll be there at the end 'cos saving 5 minutes when you've travelled 5-6 hours doesn't really compute. Now tell me he's a plastic fan.
Crikey. how did you survive that Leeds game! Get well soon, we need everyone we can get, I was disappointed at the absenteeism too, I guess it is more down to finance than desire.
Palace and Bristol City games were during holiday period, midweek games are always problematic for people travelling longer distances who have work the next day. Watch the attendance on Saturday, bet it will be over 24k
Didn't look as many as 23,000 to be honest. I annoys me that people leave before the end, tickets are expensive enough without leaving early. Especially when it's a draw, I could (almost) understand it if we were 5-0 down. It's not just the annoyance of looking at empty seats, it's having to get up to let people out, you can't see parts of the pitch coz there's a constant stream of people walking down the stairs and most of all, I hate giving the away fans the chance to sing "we can see you sneaking out"! Grrrr
Evening matches are difficult for lots of people, but there will be a great crowd on Saturday. Fans are fans and Cortese loves all of us and our money, however often we come.
I fear we have become the Man City of the Championship with the way our fans behave at home matches. Moaning if we're not smashing teams off the park and leaving early if we are drawing. Fans are so fickle, it seems all too easy for them to forget how crap it was just a few years ago.
In aid of; Give An Old Thread A Home Week. Thanks for being bothered to read it. Honestly CBK, I wonder if this is not just the frustration of the night. I don't like it when people leave early, but to abuse those who didn't attend without what in your opinion is a "good enough" reason is a bit presumptious. Who gave you the right to judge people whom you have never met, and who's circumstances you do not know and tell them "eff off"? No, I wasn't there last night. I believe that I have what you might consider a good enough excuse, but actually I don't care whether you think it's a good reason or not! I am returning your good wishes in the spirit in which they were sent. My excuse for such a lack of civility might be the cocktail of pain-killers and antibiotics I am taking. What's yours?
Why do you feel the need to explain to others why you couldnt attend a match, it doesnt make you any less a fan. i have been going over upton park on and off since 1969, and i go and have a season ticket when circumstances allow, if i am not there in person i am in spirit. All the best, Brooking
Gotta say it is disspointing to see it not sold out, but let's be realistsic against Ipswich, midweek, with lot's of games coming up 23,000 isn't really that bad. And please remember it's most likely we won't be top of the league what with west hams games in hand.
Fans from the Isle of Wight have to leave bang on time or a few minutes early to get the Boat (9:45pm) or end up waiting around for nearly an hour. For some reason the 10:45pm get put back to 23.00pm !!! I always stay to the end, It's a late night get home gone 12:00pm. Every Fan should stay till the last minute. If the players stopped 5 minutes early - we would all complain
Was that as a result of the Leeds game? My heart pretty much stayed in my mouth for that match, exciting though it was. Hope you get well soon.
Yeah fair enough but we don't have 8,000 fans coming down from the north west do we. the majority live close enough to come. i bet that there will be 30,000 plus for the pompey game and the let game of the season. these fans are plastic, just coming for the good times.
What wound me up the most was the twat on his blackberry all through the game checking the Arsenal score and then updating all around him ....if you that bothered about the arsenal well the hell did he bother going last night ...nobber
I wasn't disappointed with the attendance but rather the atmosphere created by those who did attend. Moany and negative, it really does get my goat. Some of the saints fans should check out the definition of a supporter. I'd sooner have 15,000 there who support the team from start to finish.
Are you seriously suggesting 23k for a 2nd tier game against bottom half opponents, on a Tuesday night with a relatively small away following from Ipswich is poor? It is comparable to what Blackburn, Swansea, Wigan, Bolton, West Brom, QPR etc etc get for Premier League games! ffs. 23k is also higher than all but 3 teams average attendances in the Championship this season. Yes, it is smaller than others they have had at St Mary's this season, but is still hardly a poor turn out.
I have no idea how many come down from the North West. What I do know is that we have a lot of fans who actually have no direct allegiance to Southampton but support them for family reasons. There was a survey a couple of years ago that showed that Southampton fans (as defined by attendance) were scattered across the UK. Have you guys who call people "plastic fans" thought through any of this? It is the bitterness that gets me. "I-go-to-matches-and-other-fans-don't." What is your problem?
A Saints fan is a Saints fan in my eyes. Whether they go to 50 matches per season, or 2 matches per season, a Saints fan is a Saints fan.
