New Wembley - Can it ever really be a fortress?

No, I dont mean specifically because England are so Cr@p at the moment - behave.

What I mean is this confounded schadenfreund attitude to giving away fans the massive part of the stadium right behind one of the goals (which, whoever is playing, will almost certainly be full given the fact that London has an open door policy to pretty much any nationality). Then making them feel all at warm and comfortable and at home by giving them little cards to hold up during their anthems so that they can display a nice pretty picture of their National flag.

And on top of this, factor in the fact that watching a game at Wembley for an England fan is now so expensive and competitive that the majority of English fans tend to be of the corporate type with their families, and the home fans just get pitifully outsung.

Now, forgive me if this doesnt sound particularly friendly, but WHY? At no point did I sit there last night and think - "wow, Croatia must be cacking themselves playing at Wembley" in the same way it looked like England were rattled in the corresponding fixture in Zagreb, or indeed how intimidating Hampden Park must have been for the Italians, or even Anfield during a European tie.

When England fans play away, say in Croatia for example, instead of placards to hold up at kick-off in the colours of St George, history shows that they are more likely to be presented with cups of urine, bottles and flares from the home supporters.

Given a nice vast section of the stadium behind the goal ? Get real, in the San Siro for example, away supporters are given the highest tier furthest from the pitch as possible.

England dont even BOO the opposition anthems anymore.

Going to Wembley as an away player or fan must be about as intimidating as a shopping trip around Harrods.

We have turned into a nation of footballing pussies, both on and off the field. There is simply no reason why the atmosphere in Wembley will ever help make a home fixture really count in England's favour.

Anyone else agree, or do I sound like Im talking sh*t?

spot on i believe

I'm the Croatian anthem was booed last night though?

What was particularly great about the Hampden game was fact that Italian anthem was given the respect it deserves (i.e. no booing) but the Scottish anthem was then belted out. Even the Italian players applauded the support.

Lol, the Croatians wanted to beat you cause you didnt gave them any respect! So it can also work against you as you can see

I half think you have a point and half think you are talking $h!t.

It's not really expensive to go to England games at all, and it's not difficult to get tickets either. Some tickets cost just 30 pound. Very good ones are 50-60 max. However at the same time they give away a lot of good tickets to these guys in suits who clearly don't really know or care whats going on. And in a huge stadium big pockets of these people destroy the atmosphere. Of course 6k hardcore fans grouped together in one small space will sound louder due to this.

As for the boooing of other anthems, i think yesterday was the wrong day to it. They were through already, we just needed a draw but we boooed their anthem and it cant have helped. But in general i like to boooo all other anthems it's war!

Calidad wrote:I'm the Croatian anthem was booed last night though?

What was particularly great about the Hampden game was fact that Italian anthem was given the respect it deserves (i.e. no booing) but the Scottish anthem was then belted out. Even the Italian players applauded the support.

If there was some booing, then it was pretty half hearted because even the commentators commented on how well it was respected.

Yes, the Scots were in a pleasant respectful mood prior to the game, but that seemed to change pretty drastically afterwards once they had lost, what with the comments by Mcleish, Mcfadden and in the media

I thought that was just Motson being senile. You could clearly hear some fans booing the Croatian anthem and then he says that it was well observed. It might not have been deafening but it was certainly audible enough to rile the Croatians.

You have a point about the stadium accomodating the visitors, but why look elsewhere when everyone knows the real problem. Most English players are overrated pieces of shite who can't put TWO passes together. I've known that for years, you found out last night.

Puro wrote:You have a point about the stadium accomodating the visitors, but why look elsewhere when everyone knows the real problem. Most English players are overrated pieces of shite who can't put TWO passes together. I've known that for years, you found out last night.

Constructive input as always Puro

What did you make of Chavez's new comments towards the King Of Spain - something about being an indigenous Indian and having to have dealt with 300 years of genocide, and now the King doesnt like it when he tells it like it is? I swear to God, I read that and thought to myself that sounds EXACTLY like Puro!

You sure your not really Hugo, taking a break on your laptop inbetween running your country?

Puro's pre-match theory was exactly right though...
On the stadiums - I think it's like that all around the country - what EPL team has a really intimidating atmosphere ?

Portsmouth are the only ones who come close, IMO. The prawn sandwich brigade are now in the majority.

Pele Says No Excuses wrote:

Puro wrote:You have a point about the stadium accomodating the visitors, but why look elsewhere when everyone knows the real problem. Most English players are overrated pieces of shite who can't put TWO passes together. I've known that for years, you found out last night.

Constructive input as always Puro

What did you make of Chavez's new comments towards the King Of Spain - something about being an indigenous Indian and having to have dealt with 300 years of genocide, and now the King doesnt like it when he tells it like it is? I swear to God, I read that and thought to myself that sounds EXACTLY like Puro!

You sure your not really Hugo, taking a break on your laptop inbetween running your country?

We have a section to discuss Hugo Chavez. Here we were talking about football related stuff, and that you finally saw the light yesterday, but want to talk about stadiums or whether I'm Hugo Chavez or not.

Puro wrote:

Pele Says No Excuses wrote:

Puro wrote:You have a point about the stadium accomodating the visitors, but why look elsewhere when everyone knows the real problem. Most English players are overrated pieces of shite who can't put TWO passes together. I've known that for years, you found out last night.

Constructive input as always Puro

What did you make of Chavez's new comments towards the King Of Spain - something about being an indigenous Indian and having to have dealt with 300 years of genocide, and now the King doesnt like it when he tells it like it is? I swear to God, I read that and thought to myself that sounds EXACTLY like Puro!

You sure your not really Hugo, taking a break on your laptop inbetween running your country?

We have a section to discuss Hugo Chavez. Here we were talking about football related stuff, and that you finally saw the light yesterday, but want to talk about stadiums or whether I'm Hugo Chavez or not.

Take that as a no then

Yes, English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant put 2 passes together (tm).

HOWEVER, we would have nothing more to talk about were it that straightforward.

Hence, why I noted your input as being as constructive as usual, because you dont tend to offer much more else to the conversation on English football than that

This thread is actually about the fact that when England play in countries such as Croatia, they KNOW they're in for a tough ride in hostile conditions.

But when other countries come to England, we're too busy making them feel at home to make use of the home advantage.

Which, because "all English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant make more than 2 passes to each other" (your trademark copyright), we desperately need to make use of the home advantage, which we dont.

You agree?

Pele Says No Excuses wrote:
Take that as a no then

Yes, English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant put 2 passes together (tm).

HOWEVER, we would have nothing more to talk about were it that straightforward.

Hence, why I noted your input as being as constructive as usual, because you dont tend to offer much more else to the conversation on English football than that

This thread is actually about the fact that when England play in countries such as Croatia, they KNOW they're in for a tough ride in hostile conditions.

But when other countries come to England, we're too busy making them feel at home to make use of the home advantage.

Which, because "all English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant make more than 2 passes to each other" (your trademark copyright), we desperately need to make use of the home advantage, which we dont.

You agree?

If you re-read my first comment to your post you'll find that I did make reference to your stadium concern, and that I agreed. If you want to help your football, go straight to the real problem, the media hyping average players, lack of technical skills overall.

And, the stadium may be comfortable for the visitors, but this is after most have been treated like shite by some people in England. Them Croats are overjoyed to have KO England in the manner they did. I was surprised, but then found out why listening to their interviews.

This elimination is probably the best thing that's happened to English football. The embarrassment of not being in Europe's international competition among the elite nations can only help England in the future.

Puro wrote:

Pele Says No Excuses wrote:
Take that as a no then

Yes, English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant put 2 passes together (tm).

HOWEVER, we would have nothing more to talk about were it that straightforward.

Hence, why I noted your input as being as constructive as usual, because you dont tend to offer much more else to the conversation on English football than that

This thread is actually about the fact that when England play in countries such as Croatia, they KNOW they're in for a tough ride in hostile conditions.

But when other countries come to England, we're too busy making them feel at home to make use of the home advantage.

Which, because "all English players are overrated pieces of shite who cant make more than 2 passes to each other" (your trademark copyright), we desperately need to make use of the home advantage, which we dont.

You agree?

If you re-read my first comment to your post you'll find that I did make reference to your stadium concern, and that I agreed. If you want to help your football, go straight to the real problem, the media hyping average players, lack of technical skills overall.

And, the stadium may be comfortable for the visitors, but this is after most have been treated like shite by some people in England. Them Croats are overjoyed to have KO England in the manner they did. I was surprised, but then found out why listening to their interviews.

This elimination is probably the best thing that's happened to English football. The embarrassment of not being in Europe's international competition among the elite nations can only help England in the future.

You really need to at least come visit the place as I think you have this image of BNP skinheads rampaging around the streets kicking the $h!t out of anyone foreign looking.