There has been quite a lot of talk in the forum about the atmosphere not being as it once was at Fortress Fratton and all this has got me thinking about various things on this level, although in truth my cousin first got me thinking about this several weeks ago with something that he said to me during a recent visit to see some family.
The atmosphere, in my own opinion – as much as my visits to the Fortress are few and far between these days, so it is hard to comment too much – might not quite seem what it was. Its not the same not being there week in week out but you still hear this on the TV and radio too, and as good as it has been – as usual – at times this season I do not think it has quite been the same – reasons?
Pompey4me, in his thread in the forum – here – shared some opinions, I would agree with most but my main thoughts on this are:
New songs – You cannot beat the old classics, these will never die but maybe it is time that some new songs came about, there are so many to be had that could be adapted to suit us they just need to catch on, so I feel we could maybe do with some fresh meat?
Milton End – Having the roof put on the away end now gives the away fans the added lift too – and having sat in this end, clearly with the home fans but along side the away lot when we played Reading, I heard this first hand. Sitting in the North Stand when we faced Blackburn also gave a good indication and they were good – but then again both these sets of fans usually are.
So having a roof on the away end boosts them and maybe does not make us sound ‘as vocal’ as we were, even though we still are…
Do not get me wrong I quite like hearing the away fans too and the roof has helped them so it could just be as I say deceptive to be honest, with this just aiding them thus making us not sound like we always have been and still are?
‘Anti scum songs’ – Probably my biggest gripe are the ‘anti scum songs’ I feel that many people are fed up with these – I know that I am as to be honest, although you cannot forget your rivalry why worry about them?
Let them worry about themselves, they should be singing about us now, they should worry not us as they are a million miles away from us now – in footballing terms anyway. Why not focus on what we are doing and where we are going, we have no need to worry about them…
So really in summary although I initially thought that maybe the atmosphere had dropped off a little, which I might have a bit, I do not actually think it has on reflection and would probably say that having a roof on the away end has contributed mostly to the thinking it had, it is just a case of being able to hear the away fans more so it seems we are not as vocal as we were – but lets drop the scum songs, or at least reduce them!
Other theories, including some of the above have been shared in that forum thread so check it out – here.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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