Expected to be the lowest attendance at an England game ever at the new Wembley, which is understandable given what happened in Brazil. How many lifers will be going? I'll be there, I love watching England play but I'm going mainly because of the cap system that is in place which is 2 caps for an England home game and I think it's something like 12 caps will guarentee you a ticket for France 2016.
Although it will largely be a warm up for our first qualifying game against Switzerland on Monday, I'm still interested to see the team he plays. Particularly looking forward to seeing Sterling and Sturridge play for the first time live. Englands two hottest prospects at the moment and I'm glad I'll be getting my football fix while there is no Charlton to watch for 10 days or so.
0
Comments
I'm happy to have that Swiss game so soon, hopefully a win and people can start to forget how poor we were in the summer and start feeling positive about England again!
Add stupid ticket prices and a membership that has completely alienated their core support and taken the piss something rotten.
Change to 2 caps for home games and 1 for away is absurd and has really worked in filling Wembley (Not!!)
A disgrace of a website not fit for purpose.
A lack/delay of announcements for ticket sales etc.
Attempting to Sell tickets for a game 7 months away (they embarrassingly had to back-track on that).
Desperately trying to flog tickets cheaper than what members had to pay.
Closing the top tier for Norway and moving people to the lower where the original occupants had to pay £10 more for the privilege of sitting there.
A wrist slitting home game experience.
The away membership has dropped from 19k to 6.5k and that in a period that see us play the Sweaties and Paddies away for the first time in yonks and ends with a tournament on our doorstep - all of which would usually see a huge spike in membership.
Not doing Norway but will be in Switzerland Monday. Enjoy the game.
I agree with you though, the website is a shambles as is the cap policy, to not reward those paying for flights, accomodation not to mention a ticket is an absololute disgrace. Also, to have to pay £75 to sign up for the Away Supporters Club is steep to say the least. I paid this hoping to get tickets for Estonia. Naturally, with no caps it wasn't going to happen but if I don't manage to get a ticket for any away game qualifier (I will apply for every game) I will demand a refund.
It is sad how the FA treat England supporters it really is. Credit to you for making the Switzerland trip though, England away is an experience I can't wait to enjoy.
And SA despite progressing further was worst than Brazil imo.
You'll get a ticket for Scotland away mate.
And San Marino too I would imagine (if not you can watch it from a hill behind the goal like loads did last time).
Shame that the venues are mainly small in this group but cracking places.
My advice would always be travel anyway. I've got in Montenegro away without a ticket before. You'll have a great time regardless.
I got lucky for Estonia but half our group didn't. But im sure the locals will be selling for a profit.
But don't rely on 12 caps being enough for France. They have not got a clue how many will be needed.
There again it is the FA's decision and it's very rare that they do anything that involves common sense.
As we have the most important game of the Euro Qualification in 6 days then it probably makes sense to have a friendly against a similar style of side to Switzerland.
To be fair it could be the acoustics, can any north standers confirm?
Only a tube and a 132 mate!
Was planning on doing all home games in qualifying but not going to bother now with that. Will do San Marino, Lithuania at home and maybe one more.
Off to Switzerland, Scotland, Ireland( hoping I get one) San Marino and maybe a friendly.
Hopefully 15/20 caps by France.
Loyally following the team is hard enough, but this is now being tested as the FA needlessly put more and more obstacles in front of even the most dedicated supporters.
The infamous middle tier was the worst idea ever.
It's a sports arena not a football ground. You feel completely away from the action up in that top tier (the more affordable seats)
Ultimately though it's the people. It's just one big pantomime these day filled with family's, tourists and middle aged men with face paint and carrying cuddly toys.
The opposition (and lack of away support) and lack of importance on most games doesn't help.
When there is a big big game under the lights (like Poland last Oct or Croatia in Oct 07) the atmosphere reaches okay levels.
The Poles, Germans, Croats and various cup finals have proved you can get more of an atmosphere In there though.
They also don't know how many of the (free) home only members accumulating caps will switch to the away scheme before the tournament, skewing the numbers.
I get your drift, but once again I repeat for about (without exaggeration) the 50th time on this forum - how else are new caps going to get international experience?
I think its just the micture of England fans + Wembley. Made up of families, regulars, annoying people with brass instruments and corporate prawn sandwich brigade its hard to get any type of atmosphere going in such a large stadium.
Away from home England fans are excellent because its usually condensed and made up of regulars.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/17/england-seeded-switzerland-world-cup-draw-friendlies
Do other nations have to join a membership scheme or can they just buy away tickets?
The south American problem needs to be dealt with by altering the number of points available due to their unique circumstances, or by making them go along with the rest of the world and splitting into two seeded groups of five. Would that work?