" So whats missing when Cardiff City play at home? "

Wales fans show Cardiff City supporters how an inspirational atmosphere can be produced at their home

it’s not about steel and concrete, it’s about a connection.

Seats nearer the away fans, a la Ninian Park, to generate a hostility or a kind of singing one-upmanship.


Tues 16 June 2015


By Chris Watham

It's up to Russell Slade and his men to now match Chris Coleman's Dragons in providing a connection with the fans and create a noisy fortress at Cardiff City Stadium


Wales supporters had Cardiff City Stadium rocking during the win over BelgiumWales supporters had Cardiff City Stadium rocking during the win over Belgium

As Wales’ stars took a stunning stride to crushing one myth last Friday, so the supporters annihilated another.

The 1-0 win over Belgium went a huge way to destroying the idea that a major finals was beyond Welsh reach, yet another misconception was also drowned out in the noise that filled Cardiff City Stadium.

Namely that the venue can’t produce an atmosphere.



The very first game of the season just gone suggested that was untrue as Spanish pair Real Madrid and Sevilla created a continental buzz at the home of the Bluebirds where travelling supporters’ anthems mixed with curious locals loudly lauding the superstars of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez.

And it was overwhelmingly underlined with the ground’s final fixture of the football year with the floor-shaking, spine-tingling that accompanied one of the national side’s greatest nights.

Indeed, anyone who still believes Cardiff City Stadium can’t produce an atmosphere after the beating of the Belgians is either due a hearing test or is letting romantic nostalgia get in the way of reality.


There will be those who still pine for Ninian Park, who will maintain the intimidation factor of the Grange End or the sections of the grandstand closest to the visitors penned into the corner.

And it is true to say that there will always be a different atmosphere in a new stadium, one not tinged with long-held memories of first visits and so on. But to say that the kind of noise and passion can’t be produced simply because of the make-up of steel and concrete is, as has been proven, just wrong.

There have been previous nights at Cardiff which seem to be readily dismissed when discussing the atmosphere at the ground the club moved into almost six years ago.

Sense of importance
The play-off semi-final with Leicester springs to mind, a night where the earth moved when David Marshall saved. Or there was the League Cup semi-final, the Premier League bow against Manchester City or a couple of significant South Wales derby victories.

Without doubt, they are only a handful from six seasons and there have too been international nights there with Wales when you could hear players’ instructions to each other rather than not being able to hear yourself think, as was the case on Friday.

It happens at new stadium as it did with the lost ones of the last generation.


But what can make the difference is not only the occasion, the sense of importance of the game, or even the numbers through the gates, it’s the connection.

Some arguments from Cardiff fans is that they should be allowed to take their seats nearer the away fans, a la Ninian Park, to generate a hostility or a kind of singing one-upmanship.

But, while the Canton has previously been described a singing section by the FAW when selling tickets, the support and the chants came from all corners on Friday proving it’s not where you stand, it’s what you stand for.

Getty ImagesWales fans cheer on their team during the Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belgium at the Cardiff City StadiumWales fans cheer on their team during the Euro 2016 qualifying match against Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium
More than poor performances, more than poor results, the past 18 months has seen poor atmospheres because of a lack of sense belonging between the Bluebirds faithful and the club they support.

A connection was lost and, even when the rebrand was initially reversed, there was still the sense of fans not quite convinced that things had changed.

The club have made some attempts to make-up for that, the aggressive marketing of their new strip coming with the hashtag #OurCityisBlue while the street-cred of adidas compared to Cosway Sports (who?) should see the stadium awash with blue in the same way it was red for Wales last weekend. It’s a start at the very least.



Shell-shocked Belgium
The team has to do its bit and Russell Slade should be in no doubt what is required of him come the start of the campaign if, as the fixtures are released on Wednesday, he wants that kind of noise at the first home game in early August.

Because, while talk of 12th men can often be overplayed, there are times where it’s a truism. As Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau rang out on Friday, as every clearance was celebrated as if a goal, it was a sign of what a passionate home crowd at Cardiff City Stadium can do. This Wales team has a connection with its supporters and it was played out in a beautiful din that shell-shocked a superb Belgium team.

Slade admitted he noted signs of that potential home advantage in the home game against Fulham, appreciating the fact the fans were willing his side over the line rather than airing groans and grievances.

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade must ensure his side gives the club's supporters something to shout aboutCardiff City manager Russell Slade must ensure his side gives the club's supporters something to shout about
But it’s a two-way thing; he and his side have to inspire if they are to have the atmosphere to inspire them.

Whether he can achieve that is up for debate. What is not is that Cardiff City Stadium can indeed produce an atmosphere to match them all.

Because it’s not about steel and concrete, it’s about a connection.

I'm not sure we need to be close to away fans to generate an atmosphere! After all Wales weren't were they? What was great about last Friday was the whole of the home support supported the team as one and not berating the away fans! Perhaps that's our problem we appear to want to get one over the opposing supporters instead of getting behind the team and players etc! What good does singing stupid songs like which side of the bridge you go to the toilet do to help our team on the pitch? Friday was all about getting behind the team on the pitch which should always be the case IMO!

I'm not sure we need to be close to away fans to generate an atmosphere! After all Wales weren't were they? What was great about last Friday was the whole of the home support supported the team as one and not berating the away fans! Perhaps that's our problem we appear to want to get one over the opposing supporters instead of getting behind the team and players etc! What good does singing stupid songs like which side of the bridge you go to the toilet do to help our team on the pitch? Friday was all about getting behind the team on the pitch which should always be the case IMO!

I was right next to the Belgium fans, no empty seats between us.
Great friendly banter/it all helps.

Stewards were more calm and respectful.

Carnival atmosphere.

Free gifts for fans.


Players showing caring and respect to the fans.


And Value for money tickets


IT ALL HELPS

Fans

Fans supporting the team on the pitch

Shit boring football is the problem

Fans supporting the team on the pitch

Wez, the actual fans that attend Cit's games which is at its lowest for years,do get behind the team,even with boring football, we still cheer them on

I'm not sure we need to be close to away fans to generate an atmosphere! After all Wales weren't were they? What was great about last Friday was the whole of the home support supported the team as one and not berating the away fans! Perhaps that's our problem we appear to want to get one over the opposing supporters instead of getting behind the team and players etc! What good does singing stupid songs like which side of the bridge you go to the toilet do to help our team on the pitch? Friday was all about getting behind the team on the pitch which should always be the case IMO!

I was right next to the Belgium fans, no empty seats between us.
Great friendly banter/it all helps.

Stewards were more calm and respectful.

Carnival atmosphere.

Free gifts for fans.


Players showing caring and respect to the fans.


And Value for money tickets


IT ALL HELPS

One reason is that 100% of fans there on Friday wanted to be there and wanted so much for the team to win! That's not been the case since Cardiff had the rebrand, non stop moaning and Premiership hangers on, things will now change, although I still had some old fool behind me on Friday, telling me to sit down

Welsh/ Cardiff/local players

A decent crowd, pride in the badge and shirt and some hope. Not much at all.

Too many wanting us to do badly to be proved correct...

The anti Tan mob who want us to do badly....

Too many who think we should walk every game

Too many who are stuck in the 90's basement days and don't understand the game has moved on

Welsh/ Cardiff/local players

Local Welsh players

A decent crowd, pride in the badge and shirt and some hope. Not much at all.

And NO more Circus.

unity.......it feels like nobody is on the same side.....thats from tan to team to us..

#ccfctogetherstronger perhaps????

After the war we need to rebuild and wounds need to heal. Perhaps what Wales have done ( getting us united for them) can apply to Cardiff City?

SONGS were sung ..whole songs

Not CHANTING and not SWEARING

not everyone likes to chant moronic chants that every other team chant

And many people dislike swearing for the sake of it.

I'm not sure we need to be close to away fans to generate an atmosphere! After all Wales weren't were they? What was great about last Friday was the whole of the home support supported the team as one and not berating the away fans! Perhaps that's our problem we appear to want to get one over the opposing supporters instead of getting behind the team and players etc! What good does singing stupid songs like which side of the bridge you go to the toilet do to help our team on the pitch? Friday was all about getting behind the team on the pitch which should always be the case IMO!

I was right next to the Belgium fans, no empty seats between us.
Great friendly banter/it all helps.

Stewards were more calm and respectful.

Carnival atmosphere.

Free gifts for fans.


Players showing caring and respect to the fans.


And Value for money tickets


IT ALL HELPS

One reason is that 100% of fans there on Friday wanted to be there and wanted so much for the team to win! That's not been the case since Cardiff had the rebrand, non stop moaning and Premiership hangers on, things will now change, although I still had some old fool behind me on Friday, telling me to sit down

Unfortunately our plans with Blue Since 1908 haven't been smooth and I don't think we'll be able to help before the start of the season but we'd be open to any kind of help and getting things going.

I've seen plenty of good ideas on our start up thread and social pages.

I think now we've come into this season on such a low season ticket number count, it shows who the hardcore fans are(no disrespect if you haven't renewed) and shows our core strong base who will support us whatever the predicament we see ourselves in.

We need to make our own chants, enough of the vulgar stuff we sing or the repetitive stuff to the same tune. We need to enjoy the experience, even if we're losing, if the experience is good, the fans will still come and enjoy themselves!

Its not just Cardiff City thats missing for me its club football in general. I have always loved international football more and followed Wales even more obsessively than the bluebirds, even in dire times, AKA The Bobby Gould/Mike Smith years.

International football is your countrymen playing for you and your nation. Club football is predominantly agent led journeymen playing for glory and as much cash as possible before they hit their 32nd birthday. Club football should be annihilated and rebuilt, so that a team from Cardiff for example, playing lets say Bristol, would have to field a certain number from their academy, locality and home nation in the match day squad, before they pick an allotted number of oversees players. That way just like we did on Friday, we are cheering from the terraces for our local team with a backbone of our own players, reconnecting the fan with its own. This would even up the teams more like in american football, and no more Chelski or Abu Dabi Citeh or Harlem Globetrotter Allcomers winning everything. It was great when Celtic won the European cup, a team full of scots over half were glaswegians thats how club football should be.

Its too late.

Its a pipe dream. that I will always hold a torch for. I am an obsessive fan of the beautiful game, but as a supporter, club football is dying for me in its uneven commercial playing field.

Last season I was more interested in our development side. Were all different I guess.

No it's not the fans, local welsh players or what songs we sing. It's not even 'just' the shit football being played.
It's the WHOLE package from top to bottom .

I think we all know, even the Slade supporters, that if things start poorly on the field it will get worse.
If things start ok then it's probably mid table mediocracy which in itself will not improve things with regard to fans, match days etc.
Of course, the feel good factor can improve with the type of players we lose & bring in during the summer. I'm not holding my breath though.

The answer to that is quite simple really. When Wales play the CCS is turned into an uniquely intimidating Welsh atmosphere. When City play it's just like any other 'english' league stadium.
To get the same kind of atmosphere going the we need to get some uniquely Welsh themes going. Get the feeling of us against them going. Thats what got me into City in the beginning - every game had the feeling of an international Wales v England game at Ninian. We are Welsh, we are different so why not show it at every home match.

I went on Friday, and it was brilliant. But people have short memories. Not long ago, loads on here were slagging Wales off, especially the manager. Complaining about international breaks, and all the rest of it. 6k crowds. Taking the p*ss out of those of us who still went. (Bit like the City now). All of a sudden, it's Wales this, Wales that! Which is good, of course.

Point is, football can change very quickly, for better, or for worse. That applies to clubs and international teams. All it needs is for a good run of games, and people come back, and for the atmosphere to improve.

Unfortunately our plans with Blue Since 1908 haven't been smooth and I don't think we'll be able to help before the start of the season but we'd be open to any kind of help and getting things going.

I've seen plenty of good ideas on our start up thread and social pages.

I think now we've come into this season on such a low season ticket number count, it shows who the hardcore fans are(no disrespect if you haven't renewed) and shows our core strong base who will support us whatever the predicament we see ourselves in.

We need to make our own chants, enough of the vulgar stuff we sing or the repetitive stuff to the same tune. We need to enjoy the experience, even if we're losing, if the experience is good, the fans will still come and enjoy themselves!

Couldn't agree more with this

Entertainment and no stupid building up of the opposition by the manager.

Coleman psyched the Belgians out by telling them we weren't scared of them and knew how to beat them. This gave the crowd belief that we could win and so they got behind the team as they knew the players would give their all to achieve it. City players look as though they can't be arsed half the time.

The way Slade goes on about how we got a point against a good team or we will show them a lot of respect when we are scraping 0-0s against dross like Rotherham or Millwall drives me mad. It justifies the lack of attacking intent and will to win in his side when in actual fact he should be saying this lot are a pile of shit who if we don't beat by four or five, you'll be in for extra training tomorrow.

- Not allowing fans to stand up in the Ninian Stand (next to the away end)
- Not allowing the Canton Stand and the Family Stand to swap
- Rubbish football
- No faith in management and those who control the club

There's just a few things and I know the first two don't always apply, they're just factors that I think would benefit the Cardiff fanbase. We can all praise the Welsh crowd for creating one of the best atmospheres at Cardiff City Stadium but it's purely all down to success and a great band to get the crowd going non stop, no one can deny that.

Too many wanting us to do badly to be proved correct...

The anti Tan mob who want us to do badly....

Too many who think we should walk every game

Too many who are stuck in the 90's basement days and don't understand the game has moved on

I've read all the comments on this subject. This is the only one that hits the nail on the head.

Too many wanting us to do badly to be proved correct...

The anti Tan mob who want us to do badly....

Too many who think we should walk every game

Too many who are stuck in the 90's basement days and don't understand the game has moved on

I've read all the comments on this subject. This is the only one that hits the nail on the head.

Not sure I agree to be honest. A lot of the anti-Tan mob have been some of the most vocal and positive on match days. I agree with the people thinking we should walk games. That's always been the case though since Hammam took over. I remember when we went up from League One to the Championship and we lost 2-0 to Bradford City in the opening game. Bradford had a quality squad back then but large portions of the crowd booed the team during the game. We were a newly promoted team ffs.

We are a mid-table team now. We should expect that. If we perform higher than those expectations then great.

I think the club needs to do more to get the crowd in early. Do more drinks offers so drinking in the stands earlier is more appealing. This should be easy to do with the Ninian now being out of commission. Get more entertainment in. Live bands are good but they aren't enough.

A large portion of the atmosphere at the Wales game was due to fans getting there early. They should say do early bird drinks prices that are more appealing. Early bird food too.

Simple!

Togetherness - lost when Tan made his ridiculous Red move. Fans alienated by the club
Belief - In team and manager. Team yes manager ...... jury is still out!
Brand of Football - ours is dogshit to be fair.

Lets hoe next seaon will be better. remember the Leicester Semi electric atmosphere

Fans staying away annis but we should sing our hearts no matter how many are there.norwich West Ham they didn't stay away when there teams where relagated

Fans staying away annis but we should sing our hearts no matter how many are there.norwich West Ham they didn't stay away when there teams where relagated

Spot on Martyn