And how do you know for sure that children actually want to sit down at football matches, rather than stand? Just because they are shoehorned in to a sedentary lifestyle in other walks of life doesn't mean to say that they like or want it. There are plenty of adults who prefer to stand too - whatever happened to their freedom of choice? At the very least, I would expect the club(s) to make an informed decision on this - ie canvass their paying public before routinely saying no - and if the decision is negative, then so be it. True, football is more of a business these days and money/revenue is all important - but if the club really want higher attendances, more atmosphere at matches, greater exposure for their product etc then they have to cater for as wide an audience as possible.
I used to love standing at matches, especially on the cold Tuesday nights with the Vic end bouncing! I think unreserved is a very good short term option, but would like the club to look at the long-term and certainly consider, and test, safe standing! As for doing more... I think the club are still learning, but they seem to be trying to bring back the fmailies more with such things as the £40 deal. I might be wrong but seems we have offered the kid-a-quid deal a bit more this season too. I certainly agree to try and get the kids hooked while still young, but that will only happen with success on the pitch.
I don't understand the reservations about this. I'm not getting why this won't help the vocal levels at the Vic. Surely if like minded people gather together in one place, adults and kids, there will be a momentum created. It has to help..and after all, as Mex said, it's worth a try. Let's face it, at the moment we're a library. There's a growing desire to change this, but the way things are at the moment, that's not going to happen, so why not shake things up a bit, change them, and see if it works?
Just an observation from the Palace game and my last visit which was at home to Brissa City, the atmosphere was much better and felt like everyone was feeding off the expectation. With that comes frustration of course as the second half demonstrated but I felt it was much better than before. As for unreserved seating i think everyone should forget about a move to standing areas, its not going to happen after all the investment into the change to a seating stadia culture. What will happen and its happening now is that everyone has a choice when to stand up and when to sit down. So back to my feeling that the 'lads' and 'ladettes' should get into the vic and make some noise, sing some songs, drown out the opposition and compete with the Rookery, it would be great.
i agree to a point, but those of us who like to stand get told to sit down by those who don't. When i went to Bristol City (away) i got a shove in the back from the bloke behind me and a grumble that he hadn't intended to stand all the way through the match...and that was unreserved seating so he could have moved! Some people just don't want to stand..and at away games that's quite rare...but if it annoys people, then it's not a bad idea to move all the standees to one area so it doesn't irritate those who like to sit down... For that reason alone i think it's a good idea, but also, because it tends to be that those who stand during matches are the ones that make the most noise..
I wasn't talking about sitting or standing, I was talking about getting new young kids interested in WFC (new fans)
Because the ones who prefer to sit in silence and show no emotion outnumber the passionate ones 5 to 1
does that mean that the 20% of those that want to show emotion and make a noise shouldn't be able to do so in the best way possible?
No, of course not. But you need more than 20% of the Rookery to create a decent atmosphere, so why bother?
But you prefaced it with "..something as unrealistic as 'safe standing'.... " - linking the two together. But the point still stands - as you do appear to be anti-safe standing areas.
because 20% is better than nothing, and if that 20% start encouraging another few fans, then it can grow from there... i'm not unrealistic...i know Watford fans just as you do..we're never going to be a hugely noisy crowd, but to encourage a bit more noise at home can only be a good thing, and if this is the only way to do it...why not?
Yeah they are/were supposed to be completely separate as I randomly changed the subject lol Im not against it. I just think It'd be pointless, a waste of time and money for Vicarage Road. Other clubs should go for it.
Priority's though. I dont think anyone at the club (i.e chairman, directors, owners) whould see atmosphere as being particularly high up on the list of priority's. Not to mention the ball ache it would be to change a part/section of the Rookery to safe standing. In any case, the way it is these days if we do get safe standing we will probably be forced to wear high vis tops and safety boots/helmets while we stand during the game.
true enough. Though this is not safe standing, it's unreserved seating...which is different..though i suspect, as you seem to, that one goes hand in hand with the other... But, with a head coach that constantly hints at the need for a noise from the supporters, it would be naive to think that fan noise is not important to what goes on on the pitch..
Totally support an unreserved area (would improve atmosphere) Totally support safe standing was great in the rookery when it was a terrace ,atmosphere was way way better!
We could always loan you Saint Delia for a couple of half time vocal exercises, if you'd loan us Vydra in return
