https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/south-lower-open-20500-sold-wrexham

It ain’t a big game. It’s a big away following and whilst we have a history of bottling both there’s a difference. Fucking Wrexham, a newly promoted one at that is not a big game. They’ll be mid table at best. 

1 hour ago, tomski said:

🤷 why would you want more opposition fans in?

I genuinely find this baffling.

 

Atmosphere/occasion.

Our fans are far more up for it when there's more away fans.  (And FWIW it will look/sound better on Sky which can only reflect well on the club and potentially attract new fans).

There will be about 18 home games where we can "enjoy" a flat atmosphere/virtually empty South Stand, so its a bit of novelty to have a crowd there.  Back to normal v Exeter.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Run of the mill?

Jesus.

Not a play off, not a 6 pointer, not a local derby, not a must win.  No more important result wise to me than Lincoln last season or Exeter the next game.

54 minutes ago, tomski said:

😂 be great to see 24k on💦💦💦💦

No it will be great to get 3 points. 

I don't think its one or the other is it?

I don't know many football fans that don't like a bigger crowd.  Attendances and atmosphere gets mentioned by fans of every club, every commentator of every sport, watching the Olympics is the same, the crowd is a factor in the enjoyment, but each to their own, its fine to have different opinions 🙂 

13 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

It ain’t a big game. It’s a big away following and whilst we have a history of bottling both there’s a difference. Fucking Wrexham, a newly promoted one at that is not a big game. They’ll be mid table at best. 

First home game of the season in front of 25k isn’t a big game? We’ll have to agree to disagree.

FYI, Bet365 have them 4th favourite for the league.

2 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't think its one or the other is it?

I don't know many football fans that don't like a bigger crowd.  Attendances and atmosphere gets mentioned by fans of every club, every commentator of every sport, watching the Olympics is the same, the crowd is a factor in the enjoyment, but each to their own, its fine to have different opinions 🙂 

Each to their and all that but only one I’m arsed about is us and winning. The away team don’t come into it, well since I was a kid or at least European nights.

Wrexham, Wigan, or Burton (Blackpool and brum and any promotional rival late on may be the exceptions) are just shit L1 teams/fixtures. I’ll not give em a second thought after

6 minutes ago, Jol_BWFC said:

First home game of the season in front of 25k isn’t a big game? We’ll have to agree to disagree.

FYI, Bet365 have them 4th favourite for the league.

Big attendance (because it’s the respective first home & aways games) doesn’t mean it’s a big game for me. There’d be 6 or 7 easy over the course of the season which will be bigger for a number of reasons. I’d argue a game v’s someone like Peterborough or Huddersfield where it’s likely there’ll be less on the gate will be a bigger game considering where we want to get to and our likely competitors 

1 hour ago, tomski said:

🤷 why would you want more opposition fans in?

I genuinely find this baffling.

 

So do I. Bizarre decision 

9 minutes ago, Alf Hartigan said:

So do I. Given fot the game at wrexham will will get about 1500 tickets.

 

42 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

Big attendance (because it’s the respective first home & aways games) doesn’t mean it’s a big game for me. There’d be 6 or 7 easy over the course of the season which will be bigger for a number of reasons. I’d argue a game v’s someone like Peterborough or Huddersfield where it’s likely there’ll be less on the gate will be a bigger game considering where we want to get to and our likely competitors 

I think this qualifies as a "big game" more for the reaction required after wembley to set the tone for our season, rather than anything to do with the opposition. The big attendance will just add to the pressure 

37 minutes ago, Alf Hartigan said:

So do I. Bizarre decision 

£45k extra in the clubs coffers in tickets alone make it a simple decision.

Our position on the away end makes perfect sense, we get first dibs and if we can't sell them hand then over to the opposition. 

Fuck the Welsh cnuts, they are nobodies, it is their big day out, would love us to get 5 but 3 will do

I'd be asking every club in the league how many tickets we're getting off them and then give them the same number.

Fuck to filling the ground with away fans.

11 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

It ain’t a big game. It’s a big away following and whilst we have a history of bottling both there’s a difference. Fucking Wrexham, a newly promoted one at that is not a big game. They’ll be mid table at best. 

 

But it's a big game for them 

Like Carlisle last season

So we have to be ready for the fact they will all be well up for it

And it's a big game for us in that it's our first league game since Oxford and the team have a lot to prove 

Like they won't disappear when the opposition turn up

So in that respect

It's a big game for us

Big crowd too 

We'll also be able to watch extended highlights on Disney Plus in around 10 months.

Edited August 8, 20241 yr by DazBob

I get what @Johnnyrotten is saying. A big atmosphere and occasion with a big crowd is appealing.

The excitement, the edge, the international interest will only be enhanced by a bigger crowd.

I agree you can still accept that all that matters is 3 points while still looking forward to a big game with a big crowd.

If the counter argument to this, is there’s a BWFC formula that means we lose with a big away following or that somehow the pain is less when losing because there’s less away fans lording it up then I might consider the decision being wrong.

Of course I’m being slightly facetious. While there may be occasions when big away followings have been followed by defeats. It’s not always the case. Sunderland, Derby, Blackpool spring to mind - nothing better than sending a horde of fans away disappointed. 

And if we are to improve, bettering our big game/big crowd results is something we have to do.

So let’s embrace it. 

BWFC (taking away the silly CAT A prices) have done this right. Of course you’d prefer more home fans, AKA Portsmouth at home. They’ve kept part of South Lower for home fans, we might sell a few more after beating Orient.

But for me, no point turning away the revenue and having empty seats.

If we lose 4-0 I’m questioning Evatt and the players, not us allowing an extra 1600 away fans. If that type of advantage tips the balance, then we don’t deserve to get out of this league. 

 

12 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Not a play off, not a 6 pointer, not a local derby, not a must win.  No more important result wise to me than Lincoln last season or Exeter the next game.

No such thing as a "six-pointer" really.

Just means another game elsewhere (or more) wasn't as good as it should have been.

The Derby aspect is irrelevant. 

It is 3 points, just like any other- be that Birmingham, Wigan or Blackpool.

The above will be considered "big" and we're playing one of the biggest stories out of the Premier league, and also across the pond. 

The game has huge exposure, and a win for us sends a message all over, and will be a big boost going forward. 

A loss and all the same questions and frustrations will be back from last season.

It would be a important game irrespective of who we're playing, but the Holywood factor lifts that up more.

If the rumours were true that the owners were looking at us initially, then it would be great to give them a "Bullseye" moment- here's what you could have won.

Just like last season; if we treat these games as not requiring anything different than a game against a low positioned team, then we're in for trouble, and deservedly so.

 

11 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

 

Eh?

19 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

No such thing as a "six-pointer" really.

Just means another game elsewhere (or more) wasn't as good as it should have been.

The Derby aspect is irrelevant. 

It is 3 points, just like any other- be that Birmingham, Wigan or Blackpool.

The above will be considered "big" and we're playing one of the biggest stories out of the Premier league, and also across the pond. 

The game has huge exposure, and a win for us sends a message all over, and will be a big boost going forward. 

A loss and all the same questions and frustrations will be back from last season.

It would be a important game irrespective of who we're playing, but the Holywood factor lifts that up more.

If the rumours were true that the owners were looking at us initially, then it would be great to give them a "Bullseye" moment- here's what you could have won.

Just like last season; if we treat these games as not requiring anything different than a game against a low positioned team, then we're in for trouble, and deservedly so.

 

While I agree with most of your post, the 6 pointer is definitely a thing. Look at last season v Deby away. Win that one game and we go up. I know other things could have happened following that result, but it felt seminal at the time.

Tbh boils down to the same thing, we need to do better against the better teams this season. And it's not just treating each game as 3 points, we really have to up our game and match the passion when playing derbies, big crowds, top 6 rivals.

12 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

No such thing as a "six-pointer" really.

Just means another game elsewhere (or more) wasn't as good as it should have been.

The Derby aspect is irrelevant. 

It is 3 points, just like any other- be that Birmingham, Wigan or Blackpool.

The above will be considered "big" and we're playing one of the biggest stories out of the Premier league, and also across the pond. 

The game has huge exposure, and a win for us sends a message all over, and will be a big boost going forward. 

A loss and all the same questions and frustrations will be back from last season.

It would be a important game irrespective of who we're playing, but the Holywood factor lifts that up more.

If the rumours were true that the owners were looking at us initially, then it would be great to give them a "Bullseye" moment- here's what you could have won.

Just like last season; if we treat these games as not requiring anything different than a game against a low positioned team, then we're in for trouble, and deservedly so.

 

Good points.

On reflection, I'd have this game above a "Lincoln or Exeter" home game, I agree its not run of the mill.  I'd put it in the 2nd group of games, below a local derby v Wigan or Blackpool, below playing Brum when we just know its going to be a pivotal result similar to Derby & Pompey last season. 

My run of the mill comment was that its no way big enough from our point of view to be expecting South Lower to be in great demand, no game all season will be unless promotion is within our grasp (or £10 games). 

However much we want to beat Wrexham (and I agree with you), that won't be reflected in bums on seats for all the reasons I've said previously.  Anyway, I'm bored with myself now and everyone else must be, no more on this from me. 

9 minutes ago, Stig said:

 

we need to do better against the better teams this season. 

quick calc shows us at 1.4 ppg v top 6

you expect those games to be tough

the results that cost us were home v carlisle, wigan, bristol rovers - 9 points there that a team as good as us should have secured a minimum 5

Not looking forward to this game at all , large away following and McClean has been bad for us previously.

Can only presume anyone wanting more away fans doesn't sit within 100 yards of the south stand like me.

Sat listening to a full end screaming down your lughole all game is bloody horrible.

It gives them a kop to kick to. Hope we win the toss and play the other way. 

Edited August 8, 20241 yr by gonzo

1 minute ago, Casino said:

quick calc shows us at 1.4 ppg v top 6

you expect those games to be tough

the results that cost us were home v carlisle, wigan, bristol rovers - 9 points there that a team as good as us should have secured a minimum 5

Correct.

You need a certain amount of points to go up.

Where you get them from isnt important. 

The games against the top teams become more crucial towards the end of the season.

Derby away shouldn't really have mattered because of the games (and others) you mention.

Unfortunately it did 🤷‍♂️

 

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

Can only presume anyone wanting more away fans doesn't sit within 100 yards of the south stand like me.

Sat listening to a full end screaming down your lughole all game is bloody horrible.

It gives them a kop to kick to. Hope we win the toss and play the other way. 

Would have thought that was all part of the attraction for folk choosing to sit there, banter with the away fans 🤣