16 May 2020 15:32:31
Strange watching football with no fans in the stadium.

{Ed004's Note - really takes away from it. Everything seems to dull. Even commentators don't see up for it until ball hits the net}

1.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 15:42:35
You lose the atmosphere, actually not to bad a game tho.

{Ed004's Note - Schalke been awful}

2.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:08:14
This is not football, not as I know it.

I think if this is the future (even for the next 6-12 months) then football viewing figures will see a significant drop off.

Initially sure, more will tune in starved of the joy of watching football. But how many will stick around to watch?

The key to football has always been the passion and the excitement. But take the fans away and it's just 22 men kicking a ball from one end of a field to the other.

There is no atmosphere, and the whole event feels flat because of it.

I want football back, but it needs to be the football I know and love. Not this flat event.

3.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:10:52
Yer they never turned up really.

4.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:27:40
A necessary evil unfortunately, if we only want football with fans I think itll be at least early next year before we see that and that's without what the next winter will be like.
As for the game Schalke were awful but Dortmund have some exciting players.

5.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:34:20
It was like watching a pre season game.
Maybe tighter games will have more of a competitive edge.
Losing badly without any fans fans urging them on seemed to knock the stuffing out of schalke and they were not playing or chafing at as high a tempo as you would expect.
Football like most sports without the fans loses most of its appeal to me.
I could watch F1 without fans but don't think I'll be watching too much footy unless united are playing.
Ill try a few more games but i have to say i'm more underwhelmed than i thought I'd be after today.

6.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:42:27
I enjoyed it definitely better atmosphere with fans there but I watch for the football .
I do think this will be the new normal for a while tho.

7.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:46:55
Brandt looks a player everytime I watch him.

8.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:48:05
shappy I take it you don't enjoy grassroots footy?

9.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 16:51:10
This was a derby match, Dortmund vs Schalke is probably the most highly contested derby in Germany. If teams can't get up for this game then what does that mean when we have two mid-table teams with nothing to play for.

10.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:07:01
Its the first game in 2 month under difficult circumstances.
Schalke were poor today I was impressed with BD tho had a few missing as well.

11.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:13:48
Of course I do, I watch it most weekends.

However, watching grassroots and watching a top derby game is very different.

You have different expectations and you watch for different reasons.

Now maybe its the lack of match sharpness, but I don't think a single player played at more than 80% of their true ability. The game was flat, and the quality wasn't as high as it normally would be.

12.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:17:49
Given the situation, need to adapt to football without fans.

Football without fans is not the same but without the clubs there would be nothing for the fans to support.

13.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:30:32
If you are a huge football fan you will watch football on TV regardless of whether there's fans or not.

14.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:41:55
86 I agree, it is a bit odd tho.

15.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 17:57:24
There will probably be a few strange results too. a lot of teams rely heavily on their home atmosphere to help, not only that but without fans even the big games will lose that edge that keeps everyone sharp. Be interesting to see how it pans out.

16.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 18:31:52
Better off watching the local team up the park.

17.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 19:10:03
Damon, it was just very underwhelming. Maybe after months without football my expectations were unrealistic, maybe the players aren't match fit, or maybe football loses something without the fans.

We won't know after just one game, I'll keep watching for now, but if todays game was indicative of what we will see from games without fans then I'm far less interested. I'll still watch every United game regardless, but I'm not going to sit through too many more games if they are as underwhelming as the one today.

18.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 19:31:12
It definetely loses its appeal without the fans Shappy. Imagine tuning into Everton v Brighton in a dead rubber. No fans pushing their teams on. People risking their health and safety for a game that has no consequences.

19.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 20:12:06
Well I really enjoyed it.

I thought Dortmund v Schalke was a cracking game.

I admit its strange without the fans. it's a touch surreal and sterile but get passed that and we saw some great football and fantastic goals in my opinion.

I actually think it's going to be fascinating watching football without the fans.

It will be interesting to see how teams react and how it alters performance.

Will we see new tactics?

Can teams continue to play with the same aggression and intensity without the roar and encouragement of the crowd?

We will see players better able to express themselves and take more risks with the ball? Some players may excel others might struggle without the buz of the crowd!

We are about to witness something that has never happened in professional football and I'm intrigued to see how the absence of fans will influence and effect the game.

I'm not sure we'll see fans back at games for the foreseeable future so it's something we'll have to get used to. I can still appreciate the game without the atmosphere and excitement generated by the fans. Moving forward broadcasters may come up with something to make the experience less sterile and more enjoyable for some but it won't be forever and there doesn't appear much of an alternative anyway.

For those that don't like it there's always Netflix.

20.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 20:50:54
DlIB
I'm in the same boat and I think that's a good post .
I suppose some will enjoy it some won't but I thought it was a decent game .

21.) 16 May 2020
16 May 2020 22:14:15
86 totally disagree. A huge part of going to a football match is the atmosphere. It is why watching on tv doesn't come close to being there. Its the same with live theatre or live music concerts. Performers and audiences feed off each other.

22.) 17 May 2020
17 May 2020 00:51:15
Of course the atmosphere is better with fans in the stadium, that is a given.

The way I look at it though I absolutely love football so I'm sure it's better to have it this way than not at all. I watch it mainly to see the quality on show but people have different feelings on it which is totally fine.

I really like the Bundesliga as there are lots of goals and its exciting to watch. The top four is strong in Germany and even Bayer Leverkusen who are 5th are a good side also. I've been bored rubbishless for past couple of months without football I must admit 😂😂! Take care guys.

23.) 17 May 2020
17 May 2020 00:56:28
Salford7, Yes of course but if it's your own team then first and foremost you are going to watch your team. I don't watch football on TV for the fans is all I'm saying. It's more entertaining when fans are going wild celebrating but we have to deal with what we are given at the moment I'm afraid.

24.) 17 May 2020
17 May 2020 10:21:50
The novelty of no fans being somehow alright will soon wear off, football, and indeed sport, without fans is pretty pointless to me.