The atmosphere at the Anzhi match was almost exclusively down to the fact that we had two ‘singing sections’ on the night. You had the (fan) organised/inspired one in the Strawberry corner, a repeat of the Metalist match, but then there was also a more spontaneous one in Level 7 where people paying on the night gathered together to make some noise.
If Ashley can get through the summer without selling our best players, changing our shirt colour to red & white and hopefully bring in a few reinforcements, I think most fans (not all) may be able to forgive, if not forget.
Getting rid of the singing section has brought us to Norwich last Sunday. Newcastle United go five points clear of Liverpool and only two behind Chelsea in fifth, yet the most noise from the crowd came when Williamson lost the ball.
I think this lack of atmosphere has been noticed by Pardew who was exhorting our fans before the mackem match. Since when did we need to be asked to make some noise against anybody, especially in a derby?