Awful support today

If yesterday's support was awful I'm not sure what words the OP would use this describe the crowds at most grounds I've been to in recent years!
Well done to all those who went and sang their hearts out.
 
From comments on here I think it sounded louder for those watching on tv. When the whole ground got behind the team at 65 mins or so it was brilliant, but a bit subdued until then. I think I was expecting a Brighton-esque celebratory atmosphere pre kick off so was surprised, then the early goal knocked it out of us a bit.

Lots of people around me seemed to be more focussed on going to the concourse for drinks and food than watching the match and getting behind the lads.
 
I think we had unrealistic expectations both the team and the fans. The level of support we had from the stands yesterday would have been unthinkable 12 months ago. That is how far we have come. Yes, there was a quiet gap if about 20 minutes at the beginning of the second half, as we all realised just how good the opposition were, but after that I ever heard the East Stand singing…
 
I also thought our support was quiet yesterday and this was prior to us going a goal down. The stadium announcer didn't help things but that's no excuse. I was expecting the roof to be lifted off with the fans being the 12th man but this never happened until late into the second half.

I was also disappointed that the players didn't rattle into any meaty tackles which could have also lifted the crowd and noise levels. I am sure all of the Chelsea players will have played in hostile atmospheres previously but yesterday it was like we rolled the red carpet out for them. Yes, the fans made a great effort to get behind the team from the 60th minute but the game had already been won by then.

It wouldn't be difficult to recall ten or more games that the atmosphere at the Riverside was better than this.

I think Sisphus has hit the nail on the head with our expectations.

The thing that really disappointed me though was the chanting of 'a town full of rent boys.' Although not everyone joined in with this, it could be clearly heard with fans in each stand singing it. WHY??
 
I think it's a good point regarding too many fans being tanked up because of the kick-off time. I noticed one lad was peeing against the refuge bins near the fanzone at one point. His mates found it hilarious.

Then there was a group of young lads sat near to me who were just singing their own songs most of the time and not joining in with the crowd.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
Slightly disappointed with the lack of anti Chelsea chants. I thought we may hammer them after this week and past history.

That said great backing for the team.

I think giving fans actual stick has gone. We've come a long way from the 'it's nice to know your here' chants lol.

I have to say the South stand and Red Faction are the best thing that's happened to the club in years. It would a soulless place without them. That's not just last night. It's every game 👍
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I found this surprising. It makes you wonder is the hatred for Chelsea really as intense as some Boro fans believe it to be these days. Maybe it's more of an older generation thing because of past events.

Even when they sang a song about Di Matteo, which was clearly to tease us about the fa cup final there was barely any response from our fans.
 
Crowd started strongly and created a great atmosphere. The early goals and lack of any real threat up front blunted the ‘only come for the big game attendees’ - equally most not knowing the words to new crowd staple chants meant most just moaned instead - or went to the bar. I thought about 55-60 minutes in the atmosphere absolutely lifted and I was really proud of the backing we gave to a team that was trying it’s best against a side that was simply better than us. The subs also made a big difference to the crowd - Coburn and Watmore seem so much more enthusiastic and genuine and Sol Bamber is an inspiring figure on the pitch. I thought in difficult circumstances on the pitch the crowd and the atmosphere we generated came out as a big plus on the day
 
The atmosphere in town was superb in the build up, a real feel good factor around the place. In the ground there was plenty of singing, the atmosphere was brilliant! The only thing missing was the roar of the crowd after a goal!
 
parmoboy said:
I found this surprising. It makes you wonder is the hatred for Chelsea really as intense as some Boro fans believe it to be these days. Maybe it's more of an older generation thing because of past events.

Even when they sang a song about Di Matteo, which was clearly to tease us about the fa cup final there was barely any response from our fans.
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Worth bearing in mind our really big games against Chelsea were 24 + years ago.
Then think of the average age in the south stand!
 
Not sure what happened here, I’d had more than a few. Seems like I tried not to bite then forgot all about that and bit 40 minutes later. Ah well, I stand by both posts.
 
The atmosphere has been miles better with half the crowd size. It was not in the same league as Brighton or many many other big matches.
The Red Faction ignited the South Stand after about 65 or 70 minutes and created some atmosphere then and the place would have gone berserk with a pulled back goal.

Waiting for the "display" before the match suppressed the atmosphere.
The plonker on the PA kept it down with his pathetic noise and a bizarre post Pigbag airing of melancholy Steel River.
The team starting very very slowly and conceding a bad early goal, then another snuffed the embers.
Huge credit to Red Faction for having a go and eventually creating the buzz in the last twenty minutes. That is what people are remembering. For 70 minutes before that it it was very quiet.
 
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