[Tibby Baggie]

... Is shit, and it's been this way for far too long in my opinion.

The Hawthorns whether we'd like to admit it or not has become the softest of soft touches over the past few years. There's nothing formidable for an away team playing in front of our fans and as a club we really need to be doing something about it.

For the most recent cup games it's evident just how much we need a dedicated singing stand, as with the entirety of the Smethwick being given away to away fans it displaces groups of out most vocal supporters, and whilst most of those seemed to relocate themselves in the Millenium corner, the rest of the crowd simply just sit there waiting for an atmosphere to be created for them.

If I were on the Albion Assembly this would be very much on my agenda to see what the club are going to do to help bring back the atmosphere that we know can be created at the Hawthorns. They need to be actively encouraging those who want to be vocal to group together to help raise the noise levels and atmosphere.

Obviously playing football that is exciting to watch would soon improve things as well, I can't deny that, but the fact remains is that the crowd can act as an extra man on the pitch in my opinion and even factoring in our poor performances I can't justify the poor standard of our vocal support of late.

How does everyone else feel about this?

[Squirrel Regis]

Tibby,
Agree totally the Hawthorns is way too quiet. To be fair though of late there isn't a lot to sing about.
At least the fans aren't turning on the players apart from the boos on the final whistle which in the recent Bristol, villa and today's game were deserved.
The fan zone is a good idea but just seems to be getting the away fans up for it.
Loudest chant of the day was the 'who are ya' when we went 2-1 up but 90 seconds later to be having it rammed back down our throats summed it up.

Still, am back in the warm with a drink.

[Zinman]

I think most fans are more concerned with trying to stay awake than singing.

[Squirrel Regis]

Lose on Tuesday and I think things may start to turn nasty. The transfer deadline will have shut and that's it till the end of the season.
Still don't think we will go down but when fans are not entertained and RESULTS are not up to scratch the uneducated (me) start to get restless.

[Dingle-Dingle]

Something to cheer about would be nice........ What ever happened to "Fortress Hawthornes"??

Down to the players IMHO. No pride in the shirt. Draw money for little return.

DD

[Tibby Baggie]

This is something I'm very passionate about and I don't accept it's the sole responsibility of the players.

The club should be making more effort in trying to group together supporters who want to sing, as when these groups are spread throughout the ground it makes it very hard to get a chant going.

Since I started going up with my brother in the early 90's there was always a great atmosphere whether we were playing shit or not, and it's the atmosphere that I go for as well as the football. 

Far too many people who go at the moment who just expect an atmosphere to be created for them.

[talkSAFT]

I think the fans have got blase over the years because we've either being yo-ing up or yo-ing down, since the turn of the century. Thing is we've had 5 years of mediocrity (not a bad thing). And I bet if we were in Villa's position (BUT looking as if we were trying) the crowd would lift the team as they have for years.

I don't like Club intervention, though - it MUST come from the fans. There's nothing so plastic as the rattley things they give to Leicester fans. And the big flags strategically positioned for waving behind the Chelsea and Arsenal goals is just pretentious.

[Tibby Baggie]

I don't like Club intervention, though - it MUST come from the fans. There's nothing so plastic as the rattley things they give to Leicester fans. And the big flags strategically positioned for waving behind the Chelsea and Arsenal goals is just pretentious.

Totally agree with that, it's cringeworthy at best with some of the fan intervention that clubs make, but in fairness they are at least trying to do something, whereas Albion aren't doing anything at the minute.

And that's got to change. I don't want tackiness, rattley things, flags or any other crap like that, just whoever is behind ticketing needs to have common sense and create ticket groups for singing areas to ensure vocal fans are grouped together.

[DanTheSmethwickMan]

I'm 18 years old and I've had a season ticket in the smethwick end for about 8 years and this season has got to be by far the worst. It's so flat and boring, people constantly moaning, only about 3 of us singing. But what is there to get excited about? All we see is the opposition attack us, we don't have any shots on target even against the worst teams in the league, it's depressing. We even give sarcastic cheers when we get into the opposition half, that's how bad it's become. Have loved having my ticket for 99 quid the past few years and feel very lucky but this season I've had to pay 230 quid and I really do regret it. Something has to change because we had some of the loudest and best fans in the country but now we are embarrassingly quiet. Sad times

[Worldclassalbion]

Its been a long time since The Hawthorns has been rocking. Over 40 years I have stood (now sadly sit) in all the stands. I am now in the BRE and I can honestly say I can't hear the Smethwick end sing and hardly anyone does in the BRE, BUT it's difficult to sing whilst watching such poor football.

I also note that as soon as you stand up in the BRE you get some knob head steward telling you to sit down!! This does not happen in the Smethwick end and it pisses me off.

Sometimes I have to stand up as I have my spine pinned and plated but when I try to explain this to the stewards, they don't want to listen. I even showed one the foot long scar on my back and was told to sit down anyway.

The whole set up is shit, the staff, the football and the singing or lack of.

It could be far worse but I have to admit although a season ticket holder I don't look forward to going up any longer and have to really kick myself up the arse to get moving. My 14 yr old son no longer wants to come up The Albion and it breaks my heart.

Pulis is killing our club.