"Back The Boys" Man

[John 3:16]

We've had discussions on here before about the PA bloke on the pitch before the game and at half time, and it always seems a fairly even split between tolerating him or loathing him.

Well, I thought after our last 2 home games I needed to say something. Against QPR he was absent, the chap who stood in seemed too embarrassed to get any strong "BACK THE BOYS AND MAKE SOME NOISE, COME ON YOU R'S!" statement read, and instead just limply quoted it and limped off to wherever it is they go during play. As a result (or was it?), atmosphere was nowhere near as good and we only drew a game we should have easily won.

Contrast that with yesterday (Derby). He was back, gave a good account of himself, and roared the statement both before the first half AND the second half. The result? ... Atmosphere was improved ten fold, performance ???

I've never been an outspoken fan of his, and some of the 'games' they've played at half time are just embarrassing, but the stats don't lie. He is good for morale and atmos.

While I'm here... Who is it that reads out the teams? When he reads out the away team it's just a mumble and you can barely hear anything. Then it comes to our team and he shouts it. It's embarrassing and I actually as a Reading fan would like to be able to hear the names of the players we are about to trounce. It doesn't happen at other grounds, they respect us and let us know who's playing. Be grown up about it please! Stop being children and read the names out properly!

That's all.

[Rex]

I still think the acoustics of the stadium do not help with PA announcements in general. It has been far clearer in the past but lately as you have stated its just a fart in a wind tunnel.

Tension feeds apathy amongst the crowd of supporters. Early goals act as a boost. The home support does need a kick up the bum. At away games we 'Back the Boys' naturally Bristol City game being the best atmosphere for such a long time it was a joy, a laugh and a fantastic result.

At home games it seems to be a trend to be quieter. Shout too loud and your looked upon at a pariah. poeple look at you, frown and tut! Not conducive to a good home support in certain sections of the crowd.

[paultheroyal]

I thought atmosphere was rubbish to be honest. Derby outsung us / better banter etc etc......

[Jerry St Clair]

John, do you seriously think the atmosphere is directly related to how loud a muppet with a microphone shouts "Back the boys" before the game? Utter twaddle.

[Flash]

I thought atmosphere was rubbish to be honest. Derby outsung us / better banter etc etc......

Agreed, thought the atmos was pretty dire yesterday. You could hear it on the Championship. People trying desperately to get something going but noone helping out and everything dying out so quickly. Its just embarrassing.

Yesterday, I thought Y25 were good but quieter than normal. Though North East corner by the drummers was very good but everyone so many people in the North Stand are about 50+ and all far too polite to join in with these reprehensible hooligan chants.

Think the PA guy helps a bit, but I hate the pre match music. It doesn't even rise to a crescendo like the Requiem one. Instead it just dies out as the teams come out. Whet ever happened to the universal 'U RRRRRRRRRRZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ'?

[John 3:16]

John, do you seriously think the atmosphere is directly related to how loud a muppet with a microphone shouts "Back the boys" before the game? Utter twaddle.

It made a difference to the start of the game, I honestly believe that. I've not supported the guy before but just lately when he's been absent I've noticed that the games gets underway with a whimper, whereas when he's there there is a loud cheer.

I'll agree atmosphere isn't brilliant and can improve massively, but to say it was dire is wrong. That's my opinion, you of course are welcome to yours.

[Flash]

Yeah dire is too strong. Disappointing, lacklustre, bit apathetic maybe. But then we do win comfortably almost every home game, and we almost always score from headers. But still I just think we need to get behind the boys more, thank them for turning around wha maybe predicted would be a horible season, chopping and changing the team with no bright prospects to replace those going. This is going so much better than we could have expected. Think we shouldn't take it for granted.

The PA guy. Yeah, I used to cringe but agreed, at least it gets everyone in the crowd cheering something, warming up their vocal chords etc. Just wish we had a better tune before the match begun. And I wish they would show the Watford goal and Cisse goals befor kick off.

[Avon Royal]

Yeah dire is too strong. Disappointing, lacklustre, bit apathetic maybe. But then we do win comfortably almost every home game, and we almost always score from headers. But still I just think we need to get behind the boys more, thank them for turning around wha maybe predicted would be a horible season, chopping and changing the team with no bright prospects to replace those going. This is going so much better than we could have expected. Think we shouldn't take it for granted.

The PA guy. Yeah, I used to cringe but agreed, at least it gets everyone in the crowd cheering something, warming up their vocal chords etc. Just wish we had a better tune before the match begun. And I wish they would show the Watford goal and Cisse goals befor kick off.

You are fat shouty man and I claim my five pounds.

[dariusz]

I thought atmosphere was rubbish to be honest. Derby outsung us / better banter etc etc......

I personally thought they were the worst fans at the Mad House for yonks, absolutely nothig origianal, crap numbers and then all left early when the goals were flying in, yeah brilliant. The retort to how badly they were getting thumped? 'is this all you get at home' as if that will gain their side another goal in the match, actually sorry yep you do have a few more fans than us at home games, you start 1-0 up. Also it felt really rich coming from a travelling 'army' of literally 100's.

Their other piece de resistance the brilliant double negative of 'you've never won fcuk all' as Derby's honours list is about as long as Andy RFC's arms. I'm sure all fo those stood singing this brilliant chant were there watching Derby's last major success in 1975. Most of them in reality were a mere thought in their father's brain at this time.

'you're only here for the Champions'

Derby - LOLz

[North Somerset Royal]

I had to laugh at group of Derby fans outside before the game who started singing "Your just a small town in Reading" Then when they realised that was nonsense they changed it to "Your just a small town in London"

[The 17 Bus]

John, do you seriously think the atmosphere is directly related to how loud a muppet with a microphone shouts "Back the boys" before the game? Utter twaddle.

Her has backed it up with quality stats tho.

I reckon it is to do with not selling in Y26, QPR seats sold in Y26, atmos crap we only draw, Derby no seats sold in Y26 atmos better and we win, FACT

[Sarah Star]

I thought the atmosphere was better against QPR and quiet against Derby. I was sitting nearer the drummer at the QPR game though. At the Derby game, I thought the lack of people in Y26 made it quieter.

Bring back John Madejski waving his crutches around for a cheer and number 13 'Reading fans everywhere'!

[Avon Royal]

Atmos against Derby was poor.

Didn't mind too much though as I had a minging hangover.

[Great Knolly]

it always seems a fairly even split between tolerating him or loathing him.

Sums it up really. Get rid of him . It's all embarrassing. The PA should only be used to read out the teams and announce subs, injury time minutes and crowd size. Apart from that, turn it off.

One of the reasons that music was brought in was to surpress the mood of the crowd back in the hooligan days of the 70s and 80s. It was an attempt to stop the singing before the game. Before that, the crowd built the atmosphere, no need for piped anthemic dance tracks or Carmina Burana

We behave nicely now, so please turn off the music.

[Sarah Star]

I like the music. It gives the place a party atmosphere.

[Jerry St Clair]

I like the music. It gives the place a party atmosphere.

A) no it doesn't
B) if you want a party atmosphere, why don't you go to a 5 year olds birthday party?

Football. It's not for girls.

[Sarah Star]

Now you're just being silly.

They don't play 'wheels on the bus' you know. Perhaps they ought to.

[Alan Partridge]

Should be the theme to Wacky Races

and when Warnock comes out of his technical area 'whose afraid of the big bad wolf'

[Deadlock]

One of the reasons that music was brought in was to surpress the mood of the crowd back in the hooligan days of the 70s and 80s. It was an attempt to stop the singing before the game. Before that, the crowd built the atmosphere, no need for piped anthemic dance tracks or Carmina Burana

Incidentally, does anyone know what music is played before the teams come out?

[John 3:16]

One of the reasons that music was brought in was to surpress the mood of the crowd back in the hooligan days of the 70s and 80s. It was an attempt to stop the singing before the game. Before that, the crowd built the atmosphere, no need for piped anthemic dance tracks or Carmina Burana

Incidentally, does anyone know what music is played before the teams come out?

I didn't say that.