Does anyone out there think that we may have a problem playing at our home games. Against Brum we we quite good and certainly deserved something from the game (3 somethings to be honest) But at home against WBA we fell to bits, especially in the second half. Could the home crowd be having a negative effect on the Lads? The away crowds are always good support but the feeling is that unless we do something good, the home crowd either goes quiet or turns on the Lads (or, some of them) Is there less pressure at away games? My thoughts are (as some others think) Get behind the Lads from start to finish. If we're playing crap, don't turn on them. Give them wholehearted support and I bet they'll respond positively. The place for criticism is on forums like this. I'm sure we won't go down but I'm disappointed at whats happened since Christmas.
bastard, I saw the title and thought you had news on who was screwing who in aussie land. you right about the problem of playing at home, trouble is we have been crap away so could be ****ed, no no no, positive head please. I agree, we must get behind them on Saturday
Our main problem since I can remember has been our away form it's never been the best. However the last 3 seasons in PL it has been terrible and it has been our home form that has kept us afloat. Our home form has been very poor this year but, you can't blame the crowd give them something to shout about and they will. The pressure should be water off a ducks back for the majority of our first team most have been with us for a couple of years and the rest are internationals who have played for and against big teams abroad. I still think it's all down to playing players out of position why weaken 2 or 3 areas of the pitch when you can get away with only weakening 1? The injuries and suspensions are a worry and to blame partly for SB shuffling the team around, but at the end of the day SB makes the decisions to play players in unfamiliar roles. It has worked in some cases (Bardo) but, even he is getting sussed now as a RB playing LB. As for less pressure at away games 75k at Old Trafford, 70k at The Emirates, 56k at SidJames.com, 40k + at most other grounds all wanting to beat you that is more pressure than it'll ever be at home and the sooner the players realise that the better they'll feel about it.
SAFC always had a fairly negative crowd in my opinion. Unless things go right early lots of sighs every time a pass misplaced etc. I have watched defeats I honestly think the crowd played a part in with the negativity leading to nervous players frightened to make a mistake not wanting the ball etc. I've also seen us willed back from losing positions so know it can go both ways. Away from home seem to be enough of the hard core support the lads through whatever so this does not transmit and perhaps they don't get as nervous or maybe just not enough detractors to be heard.
Playing in front of a big crowd at home isn't the same as away. A big hostile crowd at Man. United spurs you on (and at Spurs it unites you) to do well. When your own home crowd turns hostile it has the opposite effect.
I'm gonna come right out and say it, i think Mackems as a whole are a slightly negative and defeatist crowd. Before i get slaughtered, i am a Mackem myself, but it's true. The post above about sighs and such after 5 mins and a misplaced pass is absolutely true. We also, without fail, have to have a scapegoat, who will never do anything right in the eyes of many. These are the facts as i see them, and if i take flak for it so be it. There's no ****ing buzz about the crowd, and that applied even when we were sitting clear in 6th.
My memory of Sunderland goes back to the end of the fifties and and a home crowd has always been negative, sometimes even displeased even after a win. Too ready to boo and very good at picking on one player.
It's funny you should say that. A lot of the old comedians and singers used to say the Sunderland Empire was one of the hardest places in the world to play at. The audience would just sit and look at you. Very difficult to warm up, etc.
Thing is mate, i think Mackems have cracking humour, and many of my Geordie pals agree, but there's just so much negativity around the town, you see it everywhere, not just the match. That said i'm still a Mackem, and proud.
i'm on the up. oh **** it must be that tablet...... anyway i'm shipping loads to safc, at least it will make them look hard?????????????
