Has anybody ever stopped to think how a band may affect the players ?

Those who play or have played the game will know the concentration levels required to play Rugby League... the last thing you need is some band banging on.

This is an absolute NO NO.

And for those who are saying the South stand need to generate more atmosphere... Does sitting down automatically mean that it stops your mouth from working ? If you are in the seats, why not help it along yourselves.

I was in the South Stand all this season, the atmosphere was dreadful. You'd get the odd chant going but nobody would carry it on. I don't know whether you can put that down to what we were watching, but we were sh*t at the Willows too. I also recall the West Stand getting involved a fair bit last season particularly in the close games.

As a result of the poor atmosphere I've moved to the West next season. View or atmosphere (or lack of) from now on.

Does nobody seriously see the irony of steadfastly rejecting various noise-making and then telling everyone that the answer is to partake in their particular method of noise-making?

I was always a staunch Sheditte at the Willows, and sorry to say but the various 'Singing' was only ever participated by a select few. Plenty of 'SALFORD!' but that's it. I wouldn't be overly keen on a band/drum for the same reason as I don't want to sit/stand around a group of well-oiled lads shouting and 'Singing'.

The Shed had atmosphere, not because of singing, but because everyone was tightly packed in, it amplified what noise we made, and the players reacted to it. The lack of 'Atmosphere' in modern Stadia is that close proximity and the enclosed feeling is not present. The only way to create atmosphere is to increase the numbers of people in the stadium and give them something to shout about.

Amen to that and hopefully, all that will begin next season.

+1 for this!

There's a difference between "noise making" and "atmosphere". An atmosphere generated by people shouting, singing and chanting, often dictated by what's happening on the pitch in front of them, is far better and far more beneficial than a noise generated by some band that just does what they want at random points during the match with no bearing on what's actually happening.

I agree that the atmosphere at the new ground has been pretty crap, but, as said by someone above, it's probably more to do with the performances and the general apathy around the club that crept in pre-Koukash. Also, those who stood in the Shed have split around the ground, rather than all being in the South Stand. I know people sat on three sides of the ground on a match day.

Throwing a samba band (or any other kind, for that matter) into the mix will not improve anything. Get people in, get them excited again and the atmosphere will improve.