"Lukewarm Stamford Bridge"

[Hutcho 8,443]

Away Fans are Amazing.

Home Fans are not because of the reasons we all know.

Make the tickets 20 quid. Introduce standing in both ends and your soon get the atmoshphere up.

But its not just a problem with us. Its most home grounds in the country... At least the "big" teams.

[bushman 2,043]

Average these days is £80-£120 return, plus the price of a hotel etc. Its easier for me to go with a bunch of fans up here in the car and split the cost in fuel. My next home game is United in January.

All i'm saying is can see where Jose is coming from and for the players coming out to a packed Stamford Bridge full of noise would only help them massively in my opinion.

I am envious now. I too, would split the fuel of cost, happily. If I attend, I pay an arm & a leg to see Chelsea´s struggle.

Of course, Jose is right to question their home support. However, today´s economical situation, folks may think twice to attend. Those that do, may not be an ordinary Joe, but most likely corporate season holders. Therefore, they may not care much.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

I reckon he didn't feel it when he sat with the crowd at the Norwich game.

[The only place to be 11,313]

It's not something you can fix overnight. A lot of times it's down to a bit of anxiety or simply because the teams who come to the Bridge stifle the play so much that games can become a little dull.

Football crowds are pretty weird things too. In this country you tend to find we become more vocal in adversity, and that's a tough role for us to adopt when we're one of the biggest, richest clubs in the world. When you're on an away day, you're in 'enemy territory' in the role of the underdog so there's a greater will to fight the 'occupying force'. Plus I can only talk about myself but I tend to drink more before an away game, so that helps.

You have to look at the profile of our fans though. We're not unique in seeing a change in the type of fans going, but the whole atmosphere has changed. My earliest memories are of half-time stinking of booze and fags, but then it changed to families literally bringing packed lunches. It's almost like we've been domesticated in a way.

That's not to say we don't have the ability to be louder, but it's often in the games where there's a rivalry or the other team comes to attack us. It's not going to be as simple as reducing the price of tickets because that's not possible every week in the current stadium. I actually think any solution is going to come with a move to a new ground where you can maybe look to standing areas (although I've seen plenty of times the MHL has been all standing but there's still an anxious feel amongst the fans) or reduce prices in certain areas but still maintain the income you need.

Ultimately though, we're a rich club with expensive seats in West London. That's going to have a massive bearing on what type of people you attract to the club.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Our home atmosphere has been poor ever since the away fans were moved to the Shed End. Stamford Bridge is a graveyard. I was in the MHL on Wednesday for the Schalke game, and everyone seemed genuinely shocked - literally, people were speechless - when about 15 people in the West Lower started singing. Even the MH Stand isn't as vocal as it once was. Too many prawn sarnie-eaters and middle-class businessmen in trenchcoats for there to be a decent atmosphere, I feel.

[Barbara 15,149]

Our home atmosphere has been poor ever since the away fans were moved to the Shed End. Stamford Bridge is a graveyard. I was in the MHL on Wednesday for the Schalke game, and everyone seemed genuinely shocked - literally, people were speechless - when about 15 people in the West Lower started singing. Even the MH Stand isn't as vocal as it once was. Too many prawn sarnie-eaters and middle-class businessmen in trenchcoats for there to be a decent atmosphere, I feel.

well from the television I was shocked (and also impressed) by the noise made by Schalke supporters and how they didn't stop singing even when the team was losing 3-0... I sort of felt bad at that moment because our fans in the stadium didn't have a 'comeback' to them, even when we were winning - at least that was the impression from the TV.

It's a deep problem I guess, based on the many reasons you and others who actually go there explained. As a fan overseas I'm just sad

[Sidzeret 2,257]

It's the problem that can't be fixed overnight. Not a problem with the supporters but with the club itself.

Allow beer in the stands

[Rmpr 8,977]

Jose himself is criticizing the home support, how ironic is that! :lol2:

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Jose himself is criticizing the home support, how ironic is that! :lol2:

I'm not entirely sure he meant to criticise... You know these days how the English media twist things.

That sounds like some thing AVB might do., not Mourinho

[Rmpr 8,977]

I'm not entirely sure he meant to criticise... You know these days how the English media twist things.

That sounds like some thing AVB might do., not Mourinho

The person who that message was intended to understood it, dont worry!

[Sidzeret 2,257]

The person who that message was intended to understood it, dont worry!

Should have quoted that person, then

[Rmpr 8,977]

Should have quoted that person, then

Hahaha, you are right!

[The only place to be 11,313]

The person who that message was intended to understood it, dont worry!

I'm assuming this is a reference to me calling you out on your comment that the supporters who attend home games are plastic.

[DDA 9,924]

I go to many games at home and I can tell you that unless it's a big game vs top teams the support is fucking embarassing. The West and East stands are dreadful places to be seated. Not one person says a fucking thing. Only one half of the Mathew Harding actually stands up constantly shouting and singing their hearts out whilst the other half get told to sit down every five fucking minutes.

The fans really need to start getting behind the team more and sing. Even if you don't know the songs or chants just shout comon.. or something!

That has bugged me for years!

Rant over!t

[JDY 1,290]

I've been going for near 15 years and it's certainly different now to what it was say 10 years ago (not that it was great then). IMO the poor atmosphere is down to two things; success and complacency. People now just turn up expecting us to win and probably find it hard to get up for or motivated for most games (except the big ones). It seems it's only when we go through a rough patch when fans actually start to be more vocal and create a better atmosphere.

But saying that, it's the same almost everywhere in the league. Other than Palace I can't think of anything half decent. I like how German fans are very loud throughout games but something about it just doesn't feel right to me. Often they have someone not actually watching the game and just there to coordinate the singing. Just seems a bit fake to me.