Match Day Thread Oxford United FC v Sunderland AFC – Saturday 26th April 2025 - KO 15:00

I moved to the very back of the NE corner and there's times you can't hear a thing from the away end.

Keep the TV's off and don't open the bars until the whistle goes. That's where I would start. You could also put a ban on anyone driving their cars in the car park until 45 minutes after kickoff.

 

I think the atmosphere at the SoL is awful. But I also think 90% of the atmospheres in this country are pretty poor so I don't think it's a style of play issue or a problem that is unique to us. I don't think the stadium helps though, sound doesn't travel and the decision to have the away fans upstairs and the family stand next to the 'singing end' is a big problem.

I'm lucky enough that through work and hobby that I've been to a lot of games across Europe. England is the worst for the game dictating the atmosphere by far. I've been to awful 0-0's in Germany for instance that have had better atmospheres than some of our big games.

I know it's a taboo subject in England but i'm in favour of 'Ultras' sections. Drums, flares, tifos and everything that comes with them. I can name 100 more annoying things at football games than drums. These sections increase atmospheres tenfold. Look at Bristol City for example, that corner has improved the atmosphere so much.

A big part of it though is how fans in this country are treated as customers not fans. Travel to games is quite hard and expensive. The rules you have to follow are pathetic, it's been 25 years since the 90s now, hooliganism barely exists. Let us have a pint watching the game. Ticket prices are a HUGE problem, our tickets are decently priced but it's still a huge amount of money for a 18-25 y/o to fork out and they are the ones who generally create the most atmosphere. This leads to the average age of crowds being fairly high and (sorry to anyone this may offend) that equates to poor atmospheres.

 

Well said mate

 

You should have gone for a kebab near the shopping centre it was excellent

Good to see @Whittylad at the pub, sorry I couldn’t stay longer but the Mrs isn’t keen on that sort of boozer.
A good day out again despite the loss, we did have a few chances though with Riggy hitting the post and Le Fee almost scored a worldy a la Chilena

I’d like to thank the 2 Oxford fans for giving me a lift back to the station - true gents

 

Oxford fans were brilliant, met a few after the game and ended up having a few beers. The seem to like fans from the north east, one lad said he knew Stewart Donald and he has a season ticket here, said he's a decent bloke.

They massively hate Methven mind.

 

Is footie becoming a middle-class game in the higher up leagues due to the pricing??

I'm not a fan of drums but would welcome it with open arms if it improves the atmosphere.

I watched a documentary about the Germans fans where their ultras tend to be off their rockers on drugs and booze. I did a Hertha Berlin game on a stag do years ago and the atmosphere & match were bang average

 

Yeah I think so. If you look at the PL for example the clubs don't really want season ticket holders, they want people who come to individual games because they will spend more money. I may be wrong here but I think Man City have less season ticket holders now than they did 10 years ago and the stadium is bigger now.

Yeah Hertha is a poor atmosphere, that stadium is way too big for them. Union across the city is one of the best though.

 

Is that the American influence? Probably push for dynamic pricing in time.

 

Probably. Customers not fans

 

There was a game earlier in the season where the atmosphere was decent and I felt it was because we pressed them high and forced them into errors. Looked to try score too. Might have been Burnley

 

Well done the fans. Top of the league again

 

Bristol City, Coventry and Boro have taken one point from a possible fifteen since Easter Monday.

I know I'm supposed to be worried about our opponents but I'm just not.

Their nerves look shot whereas we're just not playing to our potential.

Some great games there mate, I'm tempted to stay home and watch everyone squirming.

 

... and some of them know they'll be moving on if we don't make it to the the Premiership

 

That’ll be the one. We were playing really well with a real intensity at the time and the weather was ideal, remember it well

 

we need an out of contract striker now before this season is wasted they are out there, and as for Roberts etc can they go a bit further and try to frigging score ? Norwich lucky with their fire power, we need a brawny 6 footer who pushes his way through defences we are too weak every where, they need to start berating each other and the manager and get their fingers out, i cannot exept these performances but going just like last season

 

Looked at the table tonight and couldn't believe how Preston have fallen like a stone. With the squad they've got they are massively underachieving and questions have to be asked of their managers motivative capabilities

 

Totally agree with you mate. He definitely deserves another crack at it next season. The only thing that concerns me is Lorients form in his his first season with them and their form in his second, as we seem to be on a downward spiral. Hopefully a few good changes in personnel can alleviate my fears no matter what league we are in.

 

I can pick a game in2025 he played well. Not for Sunderland off the top of my head mind! But fir England

 

I take your point and agree with it to a certain extent. Then I look at Forest, who don't dominate games but are successful. I see a lot of what we are trying to achieve in them, but quite simply they have the calibre of players to pull it off. Currently we don't.
To summarise. I don't think it's the style of play that's the concern, more the personnel at our disposal.

 

Certainly agree with your first 2 sentences mate.