That quote was a joke, I was being pedantic about you asking why the stands should be behind the goal, which of course is completely necessary. I can see what you're saying about trying to generate our own atmosphere rather than quieting away fans but it's becoming standard in recent years to just get the away fans as far from the pitch as possible. It isn't very nice but everyone else will be doing it to us at their grounds.
So Why do we think the atmosphere used to be better in the 80's etc?, I didn't see any matches in that decade, Mostly because I wasn't born, But I have been to the away grounds in div 3 etc where the city fans were crammed in, stood up etc and the atmosphere seemed good, As it still is at away games. So whats different? Is it the fact that everyones tightly packed, stood up, Outnumbered and a sort of 'seige mentality' kicks in?