First of all well played yesterday. I know we won 5-1 but for 65 mins it was a very close game. I couldn't really hear your support from our end but watching it back on TV you were very loud, we were very loud and so it was a top atmosphere. Flares etc. were good fun... had about 8 of them go off! Would you admit our support was very good? Anyway it really was a top away day and though it was a shame about the police restrictions we still put on a good show. I would rather an away day like that compared to say Wigan where they don't chant and though you get a big allocation, it's nothing special... unlike last night. Yes we are fierce rivals but it would be great to have you back. You have top support home and away and trips to Elland Road when it's Leeds v Chelsea are special. Hope you lads get promoted soon
Tbh mate I couldn't hear you cos of all noise we where making Shame 1 of ur fans threw a pool ball hospitalizing a Leeds fan Hopefully be back soon with more money n better players to compete did you take bates with you?
Yeah I think ti worked both ways but when I watched it back on TV you could hear both sets of fans. Didn't hear about the pool ball incident... Only trouble I saw/heard of was trouble in Leeds station and city centre before the game. Flares and smoke bombs going off (which I don't think is that bad... just adds to the atmosphere). Ripping out seats (about 10-20 seats were ripped out and were flying about). No but Bates will be gone soon I hope for your sake! He didn't mention us once in his program notes!
Flares and smoke bombs shouldn't be allowed. A flare is a fire hazard, hence it started a fire when it was thrown down to the side of the pitch, a fire that was clearly visible from where I was sat, all the way at the other side of the stadium in the North East corner. And ripping out seats is pretty unacceptable. But hey, it'll all pass by without a big fuss being made about it. That pool ball incident for example, if you haven't heard of it then it can't be making the headlines. Another incident involving another set of fans that isn't Leeds goes by unnoticed, failing to bring to the medias attention that in fact, every club is just as bad as Leeds and that the hooligan problem is more widespread than just one "backwards" club that "needs to move on from the 80s". Please don't try and skip over the cretinous hooligans amongst your fanbase as if it's not really a problem.
I agree that your fans get picked out and singled out a lot. I'm surprised the media haven't jumped on us for our flares etc. as they hate us as well! All other fans seem to hate us so I guess we are in a similar light... Here is a piece on last night... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-years-old-fashioned-cup-tie-Elland-Road.html
It wasn't that old fashioned. I only saw 2-3 proper crunching tackles and I'm pretty sure they were all from your players.
It wasn't a fire It was just smoking when it hit the grass. I'm generally not a fan of pyrotechnics in stadiums, and think they should be reserved for pre-match displays, but as long as it doesn't postpone the game or hit someone, I think stewards have come to accept it. It's an increasing part of the English fan scene now. Seat removal, yeah, the guilty people should be charged for their replacement. Just sends a message to the authorities that away fans should be in a standing area more than anything, rather than having annoying bits of plastic hurting their knees which they then use as missiles. There is no 'widespread hooligan problem'. When have you ever seen long-lasting fisticuffs at Elland Road or anywhere that Leeds play? Police are always all over it within a minute or less. And I for one am glad that no sensationalist hysteria like after the Wednesday game has been invading my conscience since the Chelsea game. Like the excellent Great Wen blog said before the game, everyone knew the atmosphere would be 'a bit toxic', and that's what makes it such a great rivalry. Let's not behave like ****ing Fulham or QPR, we know the score when Chelsea come to Leeds.
I would much rather have an atmosphere like the one at Leeds than one at Wigan away or Reading away. It was fun and though it was a bit heated it was brilliant. As for the flares etc.. I don't really have a problem with them and as a person who goes to all the away games, I would like to see them more at Chelsea away games. No harm was done on wednesday with them. They looked good. Added a bit more to the atmosphere... I would like you, Forest and Cardiff to get promoted... all fans who have large away followings and it would be a top away day
Perhaps I was harsh on your board about your away support. Couldn't hear it much from where I was since we were singing our faces off, but you were loud on Sky after watching it back. I enjoyed the bouncie. Savile stuff is naff though, people blame us for singing 'he's Jimmy Savile, he shags who he wants', but it's just our defence mechanism after being subjected to these predictable 'one of your own' jibes, to the same tune than Chelsea incidentally seem to use for every song. 'Champions of Europe, we know what we are', being a particular cringe example. You and Hull have been the best fans at ER so far this season though. Expect Boro may top you both on Saturday, having also sold 3,000.
Yeah I thought we were pretty loud... didn't stop the whole game. Our bouncies can be impressive! Did you like the flares and smoke bombs? Similar with your fans. I couln't hear you that much apart from when you scored and a few 'shoot the chelsea scum'... Would be good to have you back so we make this a common occurrence!
Yes, not that I'd have expected you to be quiet for your cup final match when winning handsomely... and at least Chelsea got their smoke devices the right colour.
Hope you win tomorrow,in fact i'm getting sick of wanting you lot to win,just lately. It just don't feel right.
I wouldn't set off a smoke bomb myself, but pyro devices are increasingly a part of the English supporter scene, and should be taken seriously and managed properly by clubs. At moments like the aftermath of a big goal when everyone's too busy being euphoric to care about having a perfect view of the pitch, I think it should be acceptable to set off appropriately-coloured smoke canisters. In other words, it should be done the way Chelsea did it. An Austrian campaign set out some good guidelines on the matter, to make sure it's done safely: So instead of clubs confiscating these devices, they should liaise with the fans who have them, ensure they're safe for use, and encourage their use. But should also make it clear that with such freedom should come the responsibility to use them properly - set them off at the right time, not use them as missiles, and ideally do them in a designated area where there's not an asthmatic bloke next to you who might choke. Allow people that liberty, and they won't bring dangerous devices, they won't get **** up by stewards running at them and throw them on the pitch, and they'll know the club won't tolerate misuse of them. And for all your bouncie-ing, it still can't beat a good, old-fashioned 'let's go ****ing mental' from 30,000 delirious Yorkshiremen!
Yes, but it was a nice pretty fire sent with loving care from those lovely smiley people all singing psalms & clapping their hands. Sent with love and affection, and not a hint of snarling knuckle draggers anywhere. Liked the bit about clubs providing an area for those who might be affected by the intoxicating missiles being lobbed. Presumably these poor sods will have to be glassed in with the prawn sandwich brigade to remove themselves from the airborne hazards you're advocating. Probably at cost to them too, so you & your mates can play with your big boy sparklers. Grow up, Exodus.
I saw all of the pyro devices being lit and thrown, and saw no fire. So maybe I'm imagining the non-fire that I quite clearly saw. Anyway if there was a fire, they should obviously track down the person who lobbed it and ask him to pay for the damage, whatever it was, but should also acknowledge he'd probably have held it safely if the environment were more liberal where these things are concerned. Please read my post properly, WJ. I said I'd never light one myself, nor would anyone I go to games with. However, it's gonna happen in big games, so the authorities should do their part and handle them responsibly and safely rather than continuing in this dangerous environment where fans chuck them as soon as stewards move towards them, and where firecrackers rather than smoke-bombs are lit. Short of strip-searching every away fan, there's no way it can be stopped, so managing the risk is the only sensible solution. I'm not saying normal fans should be moved, I'm saying that fans who want to light pyro should be allocated a special area to do that, unless a clear majority are in favour in normal areas. I know people generally hate change, but this one is already upon us, so to put it bluntly, deal with it.
Sorry mate, I didn't read it properly. It would appear that I was just in the mood for a girny (Jocko for gurny) fit. Really don't like pyrotechnics of any sort. Bloody dangerous at the best of times, but especially in confined areas like terracing. Personally I'd have anyone using one in a stadium up on a charge of attempted arson. 2 years in the jug would make them & their mates think twice next time!
