LuckyNumber7

Good post and I am in agreement with most of it. I also go to games as much for the atmosphere. But I want it to be our fans creating that atmosphere not the away fans. Not that being moved will stop them singing, it will just give them slightly less influence when the away team are attacking the Northam second half. Even though we've been winning I haven't enjoyed it hugely due to how flat the crowd has been for most games. The Itchen North have been brilliant this season, from directly across from them in Kingsland North I can hear them loud and clear, but they are only small in number. In fact it might even be a good thing if they want to move to be next to the away fans still, as then hopefully there would be singing at both ends of the ground.

I don't think we've seen that at all. We've been really good at home this season and the atmosphere has still been shit. And I fail to see how fan safety is being reduced.

I get what you're saying, and agree to a certain extent that some of those in the Northam are annoying with their 100mph clapping etc. But I think the Itchen North can still keep going as is if the people there want to stay there and it can co-exist with the Northam. As with anything, some will moan and some just don't like change, but I think the majority are really happy with this change and have been wanting it for a long time. I hope/suspect there are quite a few fans dotted around the ground who would like to be more vocal but feel out of place singing in the quieter parts of the ground, and also some who don't go much due to cost/crap atmosphere etc who will find this very appealing. Let's be frank, the atmosphere has been depressingly bad for a long time now, even this season with us doing well. The whole fan experience/atmosphere needs a shakeup and while I don't expect expect us to become prime Galatasaray overnight, I think it's an important development for the future of SMS to give it some soul, and should have happened years ago. I'm tired of the away fans dominating the atmosphere. Ultimately whether it works is down to the fans which is why it's disappointing to see some negative comments, but I think they are the minority and no one is being forced to sit/stand there. We also need some new and decent songs but hopefully this change will make it easier for those to gain traction.

This is great news and long overdue! Kudos to Sport Republic for listening to fans and actually taking action. I'm in the Kingsland North corner and to be honest the Northam has been utter crap for a long time now. More interested in what the away fans are doing and hardly even sing anymore. Itchen North have shown them up this season. It's no use having little pockets of the more vocal fans spread over different parts of the ground, to make a decent atmosphere you need it more concentrated. It's now up to us fans to make this work. For those that are more obsessed with being next to the away fans than making noise, let them move. For the rest of us that actually want to create a proper supportive and intimidating home atmosphere, let's get behind this. I will almost certainly relocate to the safe standing area. It also means our home end is unaffected for cup games with large away followings which is great. As said above this is how all stadiums with a proper atmosphere are laid out, I'm actually really buzzing about this. Well done Saints.

Yeah, god forbid we actually get behind our players... He wasn't great yesterday but not that bad either. Missed a sitter but took his goal well.

Yep, in just 4 games we've gone from being 12 points behind to 3, and also caught them up on goal difference. Still plenty of twists to come but it's a long season and some on here were writing off our chances far too early.

Another excellent performance off the bench and some great work rate tracking back. Really like what I'm seeing of him lately

I've been one of his biggest critics but give the guy a break. He's been much improved this season and given the way we play it was inevitable that was going to happen sooner or later, it happens to the best. Think he just seemed to get caught in two minds. Just hope it doesn't knock his confidence too much.

This. It surely can't be that difficult to place away fans in the Kingsland South, for example, with coaches parking on Melbourne Street. If necessary that whole area could be fenced off before/after games. Then we have two full home ends, one hopefully with standing. Away fans are out of sight of tv cameras and not in a position to have as much influence as they do now. The Northam is pretty crap these days anyway so if they want to, let them. Make the whole Northam End for anyone who wants to sing and properly get behind the team.

People tend to forget how young he still is, and is obviously far from the finished product. But I definitely see a player in him and his recent cameos have been very encouraging. I'd like to see him given more minutes.

It's weird how our 'sell-outs' are so low these days. I'm guessing it's a combination of segregation netting and maybe the corporate boxes not selling, but would be nice to get over 32,000 again.

I agree and it will be very difficult. Personally I think we're nailed on for playoffs. But it's still possible even if we don't win today. I would be amazed if Ipswich maintain close to that ppg ratio, and if they do we ain't catching them regardless.

By that logic we have to win every remaining game. Every game feels vital but there is still a long way to go and we will have more draws and defeats between now and the end of the season. Top 2 is a tall order but it won't be decided on whether we beat QPR on 23rd of December.

Shit news for both the club and Stewart, it was a gamble for sure and sadly it's failed. But bloody hell there are some drama queens on here! Reckon we'll try and get a striker in on loan in January.

Yeah, let's just be good sports and give the opposition more of the ball, maybe give them a couple more goals too. I'm sure they'll enjoy playing against us more then. Honestly...

Christ, the misery on here is unbelievable. You realise we've won our last four at home? I'll be looking for an improvement from the fans more than the team. A song for KWP would be a good start.

IIRC, play wasn't stopped as such, but the half time break was extended by 10 minutes.

Well that's a sickener. Feel a bit for Baz, it's a bad mistake but he made some excellent saves before that so not gonna be too harsh on him. Bednarek MOTM for me, also thought Aribo had a good game. The main problem again is our inability to finish teams off, with a one goal lead we're always walking a tightrope. Still having a good season on the whole but Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds are just relentless. Have to win every game just to stay in touch. Still a long way to go but even at this early stage we look almost nailed on for the playoffs.

Get voting Saintsweb! https://www.thepfa.com/fpotm/championship

Love the mental gymnastics that some resort to to defend racism when it's against white people. If a white person had said the same about black/brown people there would (quite rightly) have been loads of flack and they'd probably be cancelled.

Thought the atmosphere was dire again today, especially considering how well we played. Maybe it was too comfortable. Too many people just don't wanna get involved and sit on their hands.

No fog but it's cloudy and still below zero!

The booing at half time was aimed at the referee. Jeez, another win and 10 games unbeaten, yet reading this thread you'd think we'd lost. I agree the style of play isn't the most exciting but after the last few seasons it's nice just to be winning games again. If you keep winning by one goal it's not a fluke. FWIW I had a quick look at the Leicester forum earlier and their fans are saying exactly the same things about Maresca and their style of play. Football fans can be hard to please!

I tried to get do do do Kyle Walker-Peters going but felt like an idiot when no-one joined in. We hardly have any player songs any more, it's crap.

I dunno what KWP has to do to get the crowd singing his name. I bloody love the guy but he probably feels under appreciated. Much better second half after a dreadful first half, played some good football in tight spaces. Just lacking that finishing touch.