Turning us around

[Goliath]

Luton were another team to come and make us shoot towards the Jimmy Mac in the first half.
This has happened a lot lately, i'm assuming its not
one of Kompany's clever ideas but as soon as it happens i always expect a bad result. I remember Howe having the idea to swap us around permanently when he was Burnley manager which was a strange one and from memory his home record was dreadful.

Its always been the case and we never seem to be able to build up as much of a head of steam second half shooting into the CFS and the atmosphere doesnt build thr same either.

Its bizarre but opposition managers obviously know it has an effect. I dont even really get why its allowed, its basically an attempt to spoil the spectacle before the games even started. I wish they'd just accept that the home team chooses which way to shoot and get on with it.

[Rileybobs]

I’m surprised every visiting team doesn’t force the home team to play in the opposite direction that they want to. Why wouldn’t you.

[Goliath]

Yep its a no brainer but its such an obvious spoiling tactic, there isnt a single beneficial thing it brings to the game.

Even watching Liverpool on tv for example, its a bit of a spoiler for the game if they arent shooting into the kop second half. Just make it part of the home advantage.

[Conroysleftfoot]

The only time we have won this season against Sheffield United was attacking the JM in the first half.

[wilks_bfc]

It’s down to whoever wins the coin toss

The team that wins the toss decides to either take the kick off or which end they want

If that team decides to kick off, the other team decides which end they have

[burnmark]

I actually don’t mind it. Stops the away team kicking towards their own fans during the second half which can lead to extra impetus for them.

[Fretters]

I don't think it matters so much these days, we have home fans at both ends.

[jrgbfc]

We used to do it a bit under Dyche.

[Goliath]

The only time we have won this season against Sheffield United was attacking the JM in the first half.

True but we win that game either way. They were rank bad.

[dandeclaret]

It’s a 2022-23 Sean Dyche fine margins change… Everton have been doing it to most clubs since he’s been there.

[kaptin1]

The pitch slopes towards the Jimmy Mac so presumably it’s easier to play that way in second half when legs are tiring a bit. Fine margins but nevertheless could make a difference.

[Goliath]

Under Coyle it genuinely felt like it was matter of time before wed score most of the time shooting that way, the momentum would just build and build until the opppsition cracked.

[Quickenthetempo]

Always kick downhill 2nd half if you can

[Ric_C]

I remarked about a month ago that it seemed like an age since the opposition made us switch ends. It has always boggled my mind that more don't do it. Especially last season when our home formwas so good

Think it has happened in 3 out of the last 4 games now

Strange

[Goliath]

I think you definitely feel it most when youre sat in the Jimmy Mac, really feels like the crowd is affecting the flow of the game when we start to put pressure on. Really wish theyd ban it but think id be on a one man crusade with that one!

[dougcollins]

As Wilks has pointed out, this is a decision made by the away side after winning the toss - nothing to do with us.

Most away teams, if they win the toss, just leave it as is.

[Westleigh]

Luton were another team to come and make us shoot towards the Jimmy Mac in the first half.
This has happened a lot lately, i'm assuming its not
one of Kompany's clever ideas but as soon as it happens i always expect a bad result. I remember Howe having the idea to swap us around permanently when he was Burnley manager which was a strange one and from memory his home record was dreadful.

Its always been the case and we never seem to be able to build up as much of a head of steam second half shooting into the CFS and the atmosphere doesnt build thr same either.

Its bizarre but opposition managers obviously know it has an effect. I dont even really get why its allowed, its basically an attempt to spoil the spectacle before the games even started. I wish they'd just accept that the home team chooses which way to shoot and get on with it.

Thought you had a plan to get us winning.

[Casper2]

I can’t believe what I’ve just read

[Goliath]

As Wilks has pointed out, this is a decision made by the away side after winning the toss - nothing to do with us.

Most away teams, if they win the toss, just leave it as is.

Yep, but it depends on what side we line up on as well. Ive not really taken notice but jm guessing we are lining up the usual way and weve just been unlucky.
It was under Howe where we were lining up facing the Jimmy Mac before the toss had happened.

[Taffy on the wing]

It’s down to whoever wins the coin toss

The team that wins the toss decides to either take the kick off or which end they want

If that team decides to kick off, the other team decides which end they have

That's how i had imagined it to be.....i guess we lost the toss.

[dsr]

We've got 4 points in 3 games kicking this way. 0 in 9 the other way.

[sjb]

Without checking I'm pretty sure we played towards the Jimmy Mac in the 2nd half in every single home game last season.

[Commy]

I think it was Ben Mee that said they always turned teams round if they could.

[Goliath]

I think it was Ben Mee that said they always turned teams round if they could.

Makes sense. We probably did it under Howe too, he used to love a bit of housery away from home (and still does)

[Goliath]

We've got 4 points in 3 games kicking this way. 0 in 9 the other way.

Thats a bit of a misleading stat. The 4 points were against the 2 worst teams barring ourselves. Ive absolutely no evidence for this but i think we win yesterday if we play the other way round

[Tinribs]

We are **** playing either way,does it really matter ?

[Goliath]

We are **** playing either way,does it really matter ?

Opposition managers think so

[JohnMac]

Perhaps we have been sussed regarding the sloping pitch!

[dougcollins]

Perhaps we have been sussed regarding the sloping pitch!

I'm not sure the slope still exists since the Da Grasso was installed.

[Elizabeth]

Without checking I'm pretty sure we played towards the Jimmy Mac in the 2nd half in every single home game last season.

I've always wondered whether the tossing of a coin was purely a ceremonial thing and the away manager was asked as a courtesy before the game whether he had any objection to the end the home team wanted to play towards in the first half.

[Targetman]

I've always wondered whether the tossing of a coin was purely a ceremonial thing and the away manager was asked as a courtesy before the game whether he had any objection to the end the home team wanted to play towards in the first half.

[Elizabeth]

Yeh I know it sounds ridiculous. The other thing I have in my mind to counter such thought is that consistently over the last 60 years I have known, we have an extraordinary amount of luck in guessing the right way the coin is going to come up

[dsr]

Yeh I know it sounds ridiculous. The other thing I have in my mind to counter such thought is that consistently over the last 60 years I have known, we have an extraordinary amount of luck in guessing the right way the coin is going to come up

Most likely is that traditionally we want to play towards the Bee Hole End in the second half, and the other lot want to play towards the Cricket Field End, so it doesn't matter who wins the toss.

[JohnMac]

I'm not sure the slope still exists since the Da Grasso was installed.

There is a marked disparity in the height of the Bob Lord wall at either end of at least 2 feet.

[sjb]

Most likely is that traditionally we want to play towards the Bee Hole End in the second half, and the other lot want to play towards the Cricket Field End, so it doesn't matter who wins the toss.

Traditionally in the 1960s we always tried to play towards the Cricket Field End in the 2nd half as that's where most of the vocal support came from.

[Wokingclaret]

Traditionally in the 1960s we always tried to play towards the Cricket Field End in the 2nd half as that's where most of the vocal support came from.

When did it change, CFS?

[elwaclaret]

When did it change, CFS?

With the building of the Cricketfield stand I suspect. The atmosphere moved to the bee-hole; while the more well to do got to sit it the shiny new underfloor heated stand (for a couple of games, until Bob Lord got the heating bill)

[sjb]

When did it change, CFS?

Following the closure of the old CF end to allow the Stand to be built (opened in 1969) most of the vocal support migrated to the Longside which saw some particularly hairy moments when the visitors brought a good following. The Longside was spilt into home & away sections prior to the 1976/77 season.

[dougcollins]

There is a marked disparity in the height of the Bob Lord wall at either end of at least 2 feet.

Ah right, the guys laying the pitch told me that would sorted..

Just pub talk.

[Rileybobs]

Ah right, the guys laying the pitch told me that would sorted..

Just pub talk.

The ground level difference between one side of the Bob Lord and the other doesn’t necessarily mean that the pitch follows the same slope.

[Silkyskills1]

It’s down to whoever wins the coin toss

The team that wins the toss decides to either take the kick off or which end they want

If that team decides to kick off, the other team decides which end they have

Surely the team that wins the toss gains whatever advantage they think there might be and has the choice of ends. Can't believe any team would win the toss and decide to kick off unless it was a game at playtime.