Liam Hoden on atmosphere at the Keepmoat

[Michael Shaw]

Are we generally speaking here about the South Stand where the most ‘congregated vocal’ support sit/stand?

I sit in the West Stand nearest to the away end & as I’ve said on other posts, there is no shouting (definitely no chanting!) of a negative nature I have ever heard towards Rovers players.

I’d be interested to know if those seated in the West Stand closer to the South Stand have experienced different?

Indeed, anyone seated in the East Stand too, it would be interesting to hear your views.

As an East Stander I'm glad to say I don't experience much of what Liam is talking about. But then the last place I would want to be is the South Stand.

Liam's in the West Stand...

Yes, I know, thanks. I was only responding to the question about the East Stand experience which I think is generally fine.
My comment was a separate one that I would not want to be in the South Stand where most of the noise and comments comes from.
I can't personally comment on the West Stand as I have not tried it, but maybe if I did I would see more without the sun in my eyes.

[selby]

  People taking things that others say at football games want to get a grip. A lot of what is shouted at games are because the supporter wants his team to do everything well, are apprehensive of mistakes because they want their side to do so well, and most are spontaneous responses to things happening in front of their eyes they do or don't like.
  The funny thing is, after the game those same people may be the same people who defend the club no matter what, and are regarded as happy clappers by the very people on here who criticise them.
  Take the emotion out of the game and the game itself will suffer, and as far as Holden is concerned, it is not the first time he has found a negative to concentrate on when it comes to reporting on the Rovers games. Biting the hand that feeds you comes to mind.

[IDM]

Spontaneous criticism isn’t a problem, it’s the pre meditated constant moaning coupled with little positivity (when justified) that irks..

[Filo]

I sit in Wesy stand level with the  edge of South penalty area, there are probably 2-3 rather loudmouthed gentlemen in the 50-60 age bracket who vent their wrath at every mistake including Copps. They are also in the gerritforrard brigade

I can’t be far from you, theres one in front of me that berates every little mistake Copps make, never says anything about his sublime skills

[graingrover]

it does NOT happen in all grounds .Comparing Liverpool to West Ham illustrates this perfectly .Donny has a fair percentage of Neanderthals and we have only once had a loud  positive crowd and that was when Black Bank was first formed .Though limited to South Stand it also shamed other sides ..East Stand looks to have been transformed in a very positive way due to DRFC Commercial encouraging various community groups to sit and support there ..the Legend lounge crowd has it’s share of moaners but the ones Liam refers to broadcast from West Stand near the mikes so they are heard across I follow and certainly give us an awful image with national and international audiences .

[acacia94]

My mate sits in the East and often comments on the large dollops of misery dealt out by moaners near him. The great bonus if you can get over the slightly lop sided view of the game in the South is you can just get up and move away from the doom and despair. I've done it many times.

[RoversAlias]

I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I sit in the west Stand towards the away end and I rarely hear this kind of stuff. Mumbles and groans certainly, but nothing the players would hear.

Perhaps Liam just happens to be sitting within earshot of a few miserable buggers? I really can't see how a small minority of these 'fans' are actually having an effect on the team's home record?

I sit in the middle of the South Stand, nowhere near Liam, and I hear all of this too, so he isn't wrong.

In fact I think this was a really good piece by Liam that needed saying, especially regarding Ben Sheaf as he gets so much groaning and heckling for any mistake but the dozen good things he does every game barely get a peep out of the crowd.

There was a game recently where I got so fed up of the negativity and griping that it almost made me want to leave. Two miserable, angry men sat in front of us who just shouted swear words of rage every time Rovers did something slightly wrong. I don't get it.

[IDM]

Neither do they by the sound of it..  that’s perhaps why they are so angry - they’re not getting any, at least not involving a second person.?

[Metalmicky]

I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I sit in the west Stand towards the away end and I rarely hear this kind of stuff. Mumbles and groans certainly, but nothing the players would hear.

Perhaps Liam just happens to be sitting within earshot of a few miserable buggers? I really can't see how a small minority of these 'fans' are actually having an effect on the team's home record?

I sit in the middle of the South Stand, nowhere near Liam, and I hear all of this too, so he isn't wrong.

In fact I think this was a really good piece by Liam that needed saying, especially regarding Ben Sheaf as he gets so much groaning and heckling for any mistake but the dozen good things he does every game barely get a peep out of the crowd.

There was a game recently where I got so fed up of the negativity and griping that it almost made me want to leave. Two miserable, angry men sat in front of us who just shouted swear words of rage every time Rovers did something slightly wrong. I don't get it.

This is the the main reason that I wouldn't consider a season ticket and hand pick my games... you just never know who you might be sat next to. 

You'll either get sat behind some football neanderthal who thinks his opinion is that important that everyone should hear it constantly, or you'll get the person in front of you who jumps up every two seconds.     

[scawsby steve]

Are we generally speaking here about the South Stand where the most ‘congregated vocal’ support sit/stand?

I sit in the West Stand nearest to the away end & as I’ve said on other posts, there is no shouting (definitely no chanting!) of a negative nature I have ever heard towards Rovers players.

I’d be interested to know if those seated in the West Stand closer to the South Stand have experienced different?

Indeed, anyone seated in the East Stand too, it would be interesting to hear your views.

As an East Stander I'm glad to say I don't experience much of what Liam is talking about. But then the last place I would want to be is the South Stand.

Why? There are some good lads in the South Stand.

[DonnyOsmond]

I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill.

I sit in the west Stand towards the away end and I rarely hear this kind of stuff. Mumbles and groans certainly, but nothing the players would hear.

Perhaps Liam just happens to be sitting within earshot of a few miserable buggers? I really can't see how a small minority of these 'fans' are actually having an effect on the team's home record?

I sit in the middle of the South Stand, nowhere near Liam, and I hear all of this too, so he isn't wrong.

In fact I think this was a really good piece by Liam that needed saying, especially regarding Ben Sheaf as he gets so much groaning and heckling for any mistake but the dozen good things he does every game barely get a peep out of the crowd.

There was a game recently where I got so fed up of the negativity and griping that it almost made me want to leave. Two miserable, angry men sat in front of us who just shouted swear words of rage every time Rovers did something slightly wrong. I don't get it.

This is the the main reason that I wouldn't consider a season ticket and hand pick my games... you just never know who you might be sat next to. 

You'll either get sat behind some football neanderthal who thinks his opinion is that important that everyone should hear it constantly, or you'll get the person in front of you who jumps up every two seconds.     

Sit in the South Stand then you can move wherever you want.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Absolutely agree. Why have a moan at our players. It really does my head in. I have had a few confrontations with whinging supporters. They say I pay my money so I can do what I want. I would sooner have 5000 at the Keepmoat that support the team, than 7500 where some just want to moan.
I have never in my life booed my team and I have seen some crap performances.

I bet they wouldn't dare do it in a cinema or theatre.

[Bristol Red Rover]

It would be interesting to know which clubs don't have so much of the moaning addicts in their home end. From the couple of times I've sat in the home end at Bristol City many moons ago I've heard it a fair bit. Not when I was in the home end at Cheltenham.

I can't think of anything the club can do about this beyond forced psychotherapy.

[sha66y]

Big grey area this one,...spontaneous disapproval is our way of venting when something goes awry..
However a great passage of play will elicit much appreciation....

There must be a mental list of what gets rewarded and what gets chastised

Simple pass = expected
Hard pass = slight vocal appreciation
Sublime pass = loud vocals and clapping
Perfect tackle = loud vocals and aggressive positive clapping
Crunching tackle = wait to see who stands up then either roar appreciation or scream at the ref or the manager of the opposing team.
Neshing a tackle = disapproving vocals
Messing with it in the box is tricky.....if the opposition stands off, we look cool and in control, but if the opposition force us to panic....huge disapproval and blame
Footballers are coached to be good....and will be rewarded by their own consistencies, however if they are not playing well then they need to be told by either the manager....or the crowd...

 footballers have to get the best out of the supporters by doing good if not great things..... we want to be entertained after a hard working week ...

[IDM]

Yet again I need to repeat the point - the supporters I have issues with aren’t those who criticise per se, it’s those who ONLY ever seem to do so.

[since-1969]

Or take it back to the toffs

Good pass = Oh Well-done!
Goal = Jolly Good  Show
Bad Tackle = Jolly Bad Old Chap
Goal line clearance = Marvellous!
Own Goal = Oh Bugger!
Contentious Ref Decision =   Is One Blotto Ref !

[sha66y]

For he record... I sit near Liam Holden and hear pretty much what he hears...however I, like others am supporting my team and feeling the tension, feeling the edge either disappear or grow....I feel the ebb and flow of the game as it unfolds....
I become part of the experience as do most around me.....
Liam is reporting what he sees and witnesses, ...but I doubt he feels our disappointments when things go wrong.....to him it’s a storyline....
So yeah! ....he will hear everything negative .....because he doesn’t feel the pain like a true fan does...
I never boo, I never swear at an individual player and I never berate the Manager.....

[Padge_DRFC]

Different types of negativity. Shouting direct abuse at a player not good.

Being up and down. Throwing arms around, frustration if it doesn't go right is just caring too much etc. Poorly explained I guess.