This is the best thing we’ve done in years for the atmosphere…

[pocco]

Yeah, two minutes of a little singalong for Snapchat and then they sit on their arses in silence for 90 minutes. The only way to build an atmosphere is for the supporters to organically make noise which was building pre-Covid when the clu were turning music off more pre-game and allowing the Stretford End to be heard. Now they just drown us out with a song that nobody in there wants to hear. It's manufactured garbage as I said earlier.

The atmosphere has been up and down for as long as I can remember. For years they used to just drown us out with songs that nobody could sing along to. It killed the atmosphere. You’re right though, I wanted them to lose the music altogether and they started doing it for bigger fixtures and then more and more games. If I recall correctly though, it got to a stage where there was very little atmosphere at all before the game and they brought the music back. At one stage they were even playing songs from the charts not long before kick off. The SE does always try to get some songs going but I have felt that even they’ve (Tier 2) been subdued for a long time too, possibly since the introduction of the TRA. I hear the TRA way more now, but that’s a small pocket of fans and they don’t make enough noise to carry around the stadium. I’m in SAF stand tier 2 right near the quadrant and even there you can barely hear them compared to when Tier 2 was more prominent. So not sure that’s had the desired effect.

I still feel like this gets more people making some noise though, and I hear the SE singing it too, so I think it’s a positive. It might not be the best route as nothing beats no music and the whole stadium singing, but I realised a long time ago that’s not happening on a weekly basis, especially when we’re not playing well as too many supporters just aren’t up for it, you can feel it in the ground. It’s been a topic for years on how to improve the atmosphere and get even the “casuals” involved, and I feel like this has done it. And it’s not like it’s something we’ve not been singing for years.

I didn’t realise it’s been played for as long as it has been though, but it feels like it’s took off a bit more recently and I feel like the atmosphere has been better on the whole too. The players seem to like it too, there was a shot of Ugarte looking emotional whilst it was being sang, and another poster said Bruno requested it. Until the time when the stadium is naturally rocking again then I think it serves its purpose as it gets people making some noise.

Not sure what’s sparked the better atmosphere recently though, maybe the realisation that fans and the team were sleep walking into potential trouble and we needed to get behind them to try and drag them through it. Who knows?

 

[pocco]

It feels like classics like Calypso, Pride of All Europe, Build a Bonfire, are less often sung at matches these days, is that right? Maybe because the lyrics are too complicated for some?

I feel like I’ve not heard them in a long time at home. Not sure if it’s because of the lyrics or just because it feels a bit ironic to sing some of them when we’re so poor and the scousers and city are dominating

It just feels like there’s been a malaise for a while now and you only really hear the basic chants most days. I’d be confident that if we started genuinely playing well again then we’ll probably hear more of these and supporters would start enjoying themselves again, as sad as that is to say.

 

[pocco]

@pocco , you don't like glory glory man united?! Blasphemy! It's definitely cheesy but that adds to the charm of it to me. Plus it's incredibly catchy!

How could this not pump you up before entering the pitch at Old Trafford as a United player:



The best football song ever; just beating out three lions!

Yeah it is blasphemy isn’t it really

It doesn’t feel like the time right before kick off to have it, in my opinion. It also feels slightly ironic to be singing it right now! I’ll sing along to anything though but it feels more fitting to me to be singing this when we’ve just won a game or a trophy (I think the video you posted is when we won the league last? I can’t watch it right now, but I think that’s the best time for that song).

We obviously have different tastes because I hate three lions

 

[Remember the geese]

I’d be confident that if we started genuinely playing well again

This is what it all boils down to. Rightly or wrongly, fans are entitled. If you support a big club, you expect success or at the very minimum, a team who competes to be successful. When that doesn't happen, you hear that manifest into anxiety, anger and quite often, silence in the crowd. The best way to improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford is to produce a winning team. Anfield should have the best atmosphere in the Premier League currently.

 

[pocco]

It's been played for years. Nothing new. The atmosphere is shite. There are many regurgitated chants that are recycled in a 'one size fits all' kind of a way. Most of the newer ones are dreary and not uplifting at all. Old Trafford feels miserable. A funeral like procession, aside from the odd decent performance against a big club.

I must be losing it as I don’t recall it being played right until kick off like it is nowadays. They literally play it until the last second and it has the whole stadium singing, which then carries through to chants etc.

What are the newer ones you are talking about?

 

[pocco]

This is what it all boils down to. Rightly or wrongly, fans are entitled. If you support a big club, you expect success or at the very minimum, a team who competes to be successful. When that doesn't happen, you hear that manifest into anxiety, anger and quite often, silence in the crowd. The best way to improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford is to produce a winning team. Anfield should have the best atmosphere in the Premier League currently.

Yeah that’s sadly always been the case, especially at bigger clubs. There are smaller clubs with good atmosphere though that aren’t winning. I think old Trafford needs to wake up though and get behind the team more, I suspect it’ll help the players a lot. When Old Trafford is genuinely rocking there’s no place like it. I’ve always said that if we did that on a weekly basis then we’d be tough to beat. I still remember the atmosphere against Roma and Real in the CL, it was absolutely electric and you can feel the team go up a gear or two when it’s like that.

Problem is that, too often, it feels like the fans need the players to lift them rather than the opposite, and that’s not the idea. We should be lifting them. In recent weeks I’ve seen Bruno, Casemiro, Ugarte constantly waving at the supporters to make some noise. And this is when the atmosphere has been better too recently.

 

[Moriarty]

Yeah that’s sadly always been the case, especially at bigger clubs.

Not at all. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the atmosphere was usually raucous at Old Trafford and wherever United went, even when we were a 2nd Division side. It's only since the advent of the EPL, which draws heavily from American sports, that fans go expecting to be entertained. It used to be spontaneous and organic, not the canned crap we get today.

 

[Remember the geese]

I must be losing it as I don’t recall it being played right until kick off like it is nowadays. They literally play it until the last second and it has the whole stadium singing, which then carries through to chants etc.

What are the newer ones you are talking about?

You may well be right. I know that it has been played 5-10 mins before kick off, just before the players leave the tunnel and This is the One.

I'm not so sure the new Ruben Amorim chant is uplifting. Perhaps it just isn't sang with much tempo or conviction. One from last season that sounded pretty drab was the 'Oh Man United, Oh Man United, from Newton Heath to Manchester M16...'

The player chants irritate me too. Just the laziness of trying to make random players' names fit into The White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army'. Robin Van Persie was fine, but since then we've had Joshua Zirkzee and I've even heard 'Ohhhh Harry Maguire!' at some point recently. There are probably other examples that I don't recall. I feel as if the tune for the Scott McTominay chant was recycled too.

 

[Remember the geese]

Yeah that’s sadly always been the case, especially at bigger clubs. There are smaller clubs with good atmosphere though that aren’t winning. I think old Trafford needs to wake up though and get behind the team more, I suspect it’ll help the players a lot. When Old Trafford is genuinely rocking there’s no place like it. I’ve always said that if we did that on a weekly basis then we’d be tough to beat. I still remember the atmosphere against Roma and Real in the CL, it was absolutely electric and you can feel the team go up a gear or two when it’s like that.

Problem is that, too often, it feels like the fans need the players to lift them rather than the opposite, and that’s not the idea. We should be lifting them. In recent weeks I’ve seen Bruno, Casemiro, Ugarte constantly waving at the supporters to make some noise. And this is when the atmosphere has been better too recently.

I fully agree. To be fair, I felt there was a decent reaction to us going down to ten men against Ipswich recently. The crowd knew we were up against it and it felt like we fought for every ball in a way that mirrored what was happening on the pitch.

Like you say though, it shouldn't require one off circumstances for the crowd to find their voice. It's a real shame because it does make a huge difference. It almost gives the players no excuse. No hiding place. Quite often they respond.

 

[Charlie Foley]

I know the song has been around for years but I’ve only really noticed it recently immediately before games. Usually I’m not in the stands till right on kick off, which doesn’t help. Agree on the rest. I miss these days…



We used to have a wide catalogue of songs and chants but we don’t often come up with new ones for players these days. I suppose it stems from not feeling much connection with them and obviously us being a bit crap.

I do feel like it is finding its way back slowly though. The ETH years were terrible in terms of atmosphere. The latter part of the Ole years too. But it’s never been the same since Fergie left, and I suppose that says more about the supporters really which is sad. Success has dried up and the support has with it.

People who would sing getting priced out too

 

[KStandBarmyArmy1993]

I know the song has been around for years but I’ve only really noticed it recently immediately before games. Usually I’m not in the stands till right on kick off, which doesn’t help. Agree on the rest. I miss these days…



We used to have a wide catalogue of songs and chants but we don’t often come up with new ones for players these days. I suppose it stems from not feeling much connection with them and obviously us being a bit crap.

I do feel like it is finding its way back slowly though. The ETH years were terrible in terms of atmosphere. The latter part of the Ole years too. But it’s never been the same since Fergie left, and I suppose that says more about the supporters really which is sad. Success has dried up and the support has with it.

Some big games aside, the atmosphere was crap for years under Fergie. Keane's prawn sandwich comment came after a big Champions League game in 2000.

Over the last 5/6 years, the atmosphere has been ok.

The Liverpool cup game last season was as good as anything in the last 20 years. Even in ordinary matches, it's often louder than it was post Glazer takeover to Fergie retiring.

 

[stevoc]

We should belt this banger out just before kick-off

 

[Lyng]

I vastly prefer that to that boring Stone Roses tune...

 

[KStandBarmyArmy1993]

I always think it's weird how people talk about the past in terms of atmosphere like it was bouncing every game. For most of the 80s, it was shite with the odd exception (Barca 84, Liverpool 89 etc)

Even under Fergie, the atmosphere was often poor. This wasn't even just a United thing. It was generally awful everywhere for a large part of the 90s as fans got used to all seater stadiums. The next decade was just as bad as all clubs started to implement price hikes everywhere.

Since Mourinho left United, I'd say the atmosphere at OT has been decent. Often, very good. There's been games in the last few years (city 2020, Leeds 2021, Atalanta 2021, Liverpool August 2022, city/Barca 2023, Liverpool 2024) that have been as loud as any of the great nights under Fergie.

Even matches like Ipswich and rangers recently were really good.

On the Main topic of the thread, I'd probably prefer no music pre match but Country Roads at least gets the fans going compared to other stuff.

 

[RedIan]

Be nice if someone came up with a genius idea to win some games.

 

[Utd heap]

I always think it's weird how people talk about the past in terms of atmosphere like it was bouncing every game. For most of the 80s, it was shite with the odd exception (Barca 84, Liverpool 89 etc)

Even under Fergie, the atmosphere was often poor. This wasn't even just a United thing. It was generally awful everywhere for a large part of the 90s as fans got used to all seater stadiums. The next decade was just as bad as all clubs started to implement price hikes everywhere.

Since Mourinho left United, I'd say the atmosphere at OT has been decent. Often, very good. There's been games in the last few years (city 2020, Leeds 2021, Atalanta 2021, Liverpool August 2022, city/Barca 2023, Liverpool 2024) that have been as loud as any of the great nights under Fergie.

Even matches like Ipswich and rangers recently were really good.

On the Main topic of the thread, I'd probably prefer no music pre match but Country Roads at least gets the fans going compared to other stuff.

Yeah agree with all of that - in the late 80's we were paying infront of 40k semi regularly!

 

[Red00012]

Often played before kick off.

I’ve been going to OT a long time and never heard it so you’re getting mixed up

 

[Rood]

Just before or 5 minutes before. Is it really that different?

Yes it's very different - why do you think there is a whole thread about it !

This is all Bruno's idea to try and get some atmosphere going just before kick off

 

[pocco]

Not at all. In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the atmosphere was usually raucous at Old Trafford and wherever United went, even when we were a 2nd Division side. It's only since the advent of the EPL, which draws heavily from American sports, that fans go expecting to be entertained. It used to be spontaneous and organic, not the canned crap we get today.

Ok I'll rephrase that in that as long as I've been going that has been the case - last 25 years or so regularly as a member (inc 20 years as a ST holder). Obviously supporters were different back then and I would bet that the club still had a big community feel to it compared to the corporate offering we have today. I think football support reflects society in general and you would probably see a correlation between societal trends and those with football supporters. As you said, there's a level of entitlement these days and I think that is reflected in society as a whole, particularly amongst younger generations.

 

[pocco]

I always think it's weird how people talk about the past in terms of atmosphere like it was bouncing every game. For most of the 80s, it was shite with the odd exception (Barca 84, Liverpool 89 etc)

Even under Fergie, the atmosphere was often poor. This wasn't even just a United thing. It was generally awful everywhere for a large part of the 90s as fans got used to all seater stadiums. The next decade was just as bad as all clubs started to implement price hikes everywhere.

Since Mourinho left United, I'd say the atmosphere at OT has been decent. Often, very good. There's been games in the last few years (city 2020, Leeds 2021, Atalanta 2021, Liverpool August 2022, city/Barca 2023, Liverpool 2024) that have been as loud as any of the great nights under Fergie.

Even matches like Ipswich and rangers recently were really good.

On the Main topic of the thread, I'd probably prefer no music pre match but Country Roads at least gets the fans going compared to other stuff.

Football fans have short/selective memories I think. How many years have supporters groups etc been trying to figure out how to improve the atmosphere? I've been going 25 years and it's always been a hot topic of conversation. That's not to say we don't have good periods/games, because we really do and the atmosphere can be incredible at times as you say.

Agreed on the last part too. I posted a video of pre game vs Real Madrid where OT was absolutely rocking with no music and constant singing/chanting. It was the same against Roma - by far my favourite night at OT and still stirs something up inside me when I think about the atmosphere that night. I can't imagine there have been many better. But I can't imagine OT being so up for it on a game by game basis until we are probably challenging for the PL. Until then I think this is a good idea, and you never know it might become a bit of a tradition over time.

Just whilst I'm thinking about it, that next season when we are back in the PL race it is going to be something special at OT. I remember the season after Chelsea won the PL and we were signing 'Mourinho, are you listening...' every game - OT was pretty damn good that season. There was a hunger amongst fans to win it back, and it's going to be that x 10 next time we're in the race.

 

[pocco]

Some big games aside, the atmosphere was crap for years under Fergie. Keane's prawn sandwich comment came after a big Champions League game in 2000.

Over the last 5/6 years, the atmosphere has been ok.

The Liverpool cup game last season was as good as anything in the last 20 years. Even in ordinary matches, it's often louder than it was post Glazer takeover to Fergie retiring.

Agreed. It's bad to say but it felt like supporters were turning up towards the end of Fergie's era just expecting the win and falling into a malaise. I suspect there might have been a lot of supporters from overseas etc who were coming to witness it all but not really getting involved with the atmosphere etc. I don't like to use the term 'day-trippers' but this was thrown around a lot back then as a reason for the atmosphere being poor.

 

[Moriarty]

I always think it's weird how people talk about the past in terms of atmosphere like it was bouncing every game. For most of the 80s, it was shite with the odd exception (Barca 84, Liverpool 89 etc)

Sorry but I went to a lot of games during Big Ron's time as manager when the atmosphere at home games was terrific. The away fans have always been far and away the best in the country, and that holds true today.

 

[Hoof the ball]

It does feel like we're jumping on the "North London Forever" bandwagon, though.

 

[KStandBarmyArmy1993]

Agreed. It's bad to say but it felt like supporters were turning up towards the end of Fergie's era just expecting the win and falling into a malaise. I suspect there might have been a lot of supporters from overseas etc who were coming to witness it all but not really getting involved with the atmosphere etc. I don't like to use the term 'day-trippers' but this was thrown around a lot back then as a reason for the atmosphere being poor.

I even think the day-trippers thing is slightly exaggerated. It became fact based on what a few ABUs were saying on TV. We have more "local" fans in OT than any other top flight club.

There was a thing where the traditional hardcore couldn't be arsed making an effort for most home games after the Treble. Everyone just sort of turned expecting the win like you said.

I even know United fans who stopped going for a bit because in their words: "it's never going to get better than that."

Aside from that, the biggest contributing factor to the decline in atmosphere/fan culture etc from probably the mid 90s was stadiums going all seater and it becoming a lot harder to get tickets with mates and other like-minded people.

It also declined massively again after the takeover because a lot of people fell out over the next course of action with some boycotting, forming FCUM etc.

For the first time since the early 90s, the atmosphere has probably improved at OT over a consistent period.

 

[U-N-I-T-E-D]

For the first time since the early 90s, the atmosphere has probably improved at OT over a consistent period.

I legit think it has to do with us not being great as mad as that sounds. The people that come to OT aren't coming so much because we're a decent side, it's painful to watch but they're coming to support the team.

We sit in the Stretford End or as close to it as possible but sometimes have to get tickets in the North Stand. The amount of tourists there is pretty insane, you hear all kinds of languages before the match and at h/t - although to be expected it can't help the atmosphere.

 

[11101]

Like the idea but it's not exactly an upbeat song to fire the players up. PL atmospheres have been shite for years and 66 quid a ticket has more to do with it than any song.

Wonder how a stadium announcer would go down:

 

[U-N-I-T-E-D]

Like the idea but it's not exactly an upbeat song to fire the players up. PL atmospheres have been shite for years and 66 quid a ticket has more to do with it than any song.

Wonder how a stadium announcer would go down:

I bloody hate 'the home of the greatest team in the world... Manchester United'. Every week reading off a script.

The above is mint but I don't think it would sit right with a lot of fans

 

[briansy]

Yuck. I hate it. Look, Liverpool have a song, Norwich have On the ball City, West Ham have Blowing bubbles. Country road will never be that. We don't have a "song" and that's fine. Trying to manufacture something to ape other clubs is not where it's at in my opinion. Forced, inauthentic etc. I'd rather the stadium sounded like Galatasaray - hissing, shrieking, barbaric cries!!

What happened to Glory glory Man United? Don't think I heard it the last few times I was there, has it just died out?

 

[Remember the geese]

I’ve been going to OT a long time and never heard it so you’re getting mixed up

By before kick off, I mean 5-10 minutes before. We've often played specific songs to try and build atmosphere. I remember during Mourinho's era, we started playing 'I'm into something good' by Herman's Hermits, as we had a chant to that tune at the time.

 

[Big Swift]

I would argue that one of the greatest atmospheres at Old Trafford was Utd v Middlesborough League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg in 1992.
Ferguson's Red & White Army throughout extra time.

"Take me home" isn't a new song, my first memory was at Villa Park in 2004 (FA Cup Semi-Final V Arsenal)

 

[Demon Barber]

I have been going to Old Trafford since the late 1960s, and my view is that the atmosphere has declined as the stadium has expanded. Yes, the "corporate fans" have a lot to do with that, and the whole Theatre of Dreams nonsense, but also the stadium design and the move from pay at the gate to sanitised pre-booked, family-friendly, tourist-friendly "auditorium " that we have today.

The old Stretford End roof used to send the noise around the ground. The singing is still there in the Stretford End but it can hardly be heard unless you are in the middle of it. This is perhaps why our away support is still renowned as the best in the country - loyal supporters who sing throughout and have the advantage of not being dispersed throughout a stadium that kills sound.

 

[Red00012]

By before kick off, I mean 5-10 minutes before. We've often played specific songs to try and build atmosphere. I remember during Mourinho's era, we started playing 'I'm into something good' by Herman's Hermits, as we had a chant to that tune at the time.

We never had United road which I was talking about

 

[Moriarty]

Yuck. I hate it. Look, Liverpool have a song, Norwich have On the ball City, West Ham have Blowing bubbles. Country road will never be that. We don't have a "song" and that's fine. Trying to manufacture something to ape other clubs is not where it's at in my opinion. Forced, inauthentic etc. I'd rather the stadium sounded like Galatasaray - hissing, shrieking, barbaric cries!!

What happened to Glory glory Man United? Don't think I heard it the last few times I was there, has it just died out?

That was originally a Tottenham song I believe. We had The Red Flag and Matt Busby's Aces as well as a few others. A lot were made up on the day to fit the opposition.

 

[Zlatan 7]

I know the song has been around for years but I’ve only really noticed it recently immediately before games. Usually I’m not in the stands till right on kick off, which doesn’t help. Agree on the rest. I miss these days…



We used to have a wide catalogue of songs and chants but we don’t often come up with new ones for players these days. I suppose it stems from not feeling much connection with them and obviously us being a bit crap.

I do feel like it is finding its way back slowly though. The ETH years were terrible in terms of atmosphere. The latter part of the Ole years too. But it’s never been the same since Fergie left, and I suppose that says more about the supporters really which is sad. Success has dried up and the support has with it.

Loved that video, thanks. Was there that night, think it’s the loudest I’ve ever heard it. Also the music playing outside the stadium as walking in. Was an epic feeling.

Makes me so sad what we’ve turned into

 

[tenpoless]

I love an atmosphere i love a party with a heavy atmosphere

 

[lex talionis]

Love it! I'll take Take Me Home, Country Roads any day over the daft Glory, Glory Man United...and I'm old enough to remember the American Civil War and rooted for Grant to finish off the traitor Lee!

 

[Plant0x84]

@pocco , you don't like glory glory man united?! Blasphemy! It's definitely cheesy but that adds to the charm of it to me. Plus it's incredibly catchy!

How could this not pump you up before entering the pitch at Old Trafford as a United player:



The best football song ever; just beating out three lions!

Not much glory glory around at the moment!

 

[Plant0x84]

Be nice if someone came up with a genius idea to win some games.

You have to put the ball in the net and stop the opponent from doing the same. It’s simply really.

 

[Remember the geese]

We never had United road which I was talking about

We have done 5-10 mins before kick off. Not literally as the game is about to Kick off.