Our General Support In London league Table?

[qblockpete]

Chelsea
Arsenal
Spurs
West Ham
Fulham
C Palace
Charlton
QPR
Watford
Millwall
Brentford
Orient
Barnet
Dagenham @ Redbridge

Would you say thats fair?? How far could we move up the table in years to come?

[Robbo]

West Ham might have something to say about that.

[Robbo]

... and Arsenal and Spurs have bigger support than Chelsea.

[qprgary]

and Charlton. Also Watford and Brentford not London postcodes just wannabees.

[qblockpete]

Forgot them two. I've just cheated and added them

[superhoop67]

we wont move up , its other teams falling below us

[W12_Ranger]

West Ham have a bigger real fanbase than Chelsea and Arsenal are the biggest team in London. Palace are also a bigger team than people give them credit for.


Arsenal
Spurs / West Ham
Chelsea
C Palace
Fulham
Charlton / QPR
Watford
Millwall
Brentford
Orient
Barnet
Dagenham @ Redbridge

[Robbo]

West Ham have a bigger real fanbase than Chelsea and Arsenal are the biggest team in London. Palace are also a bigger team than people give them credit for.


Arsenal
Spurs / West Ham
Chelsea
C Palace
Fulham
Charlton / QPR
Watford
Millwall
Brentford
Orient
Barnet
Dagenham @ Redbridge

I'd put Fulham down on a par with Millwall, otherwise, I'd agree with all that.

[W12_Ranger]

I'd put Fulham down on a par with Millwall, otherwise, I'd agree with all that.

Bit difficult to drop Fulham down the list when they have been averaging 20K + for a few years now?

[qprmarc]

would say we are above charlton to be honest pete

[New Cross R]

I'd say it was more like this:

Arsenal
Chelsea
Spurs
West Ham
Fulham
Charlton
Palace
QPR
Watford
Millwall
Brentford
Orient
Barnet
Dagenham & Redbridge

Reasons why I think are support is so poor :

1) Facilities. Loftus Road is great if you can afford a box or c-club, or perhaps even the Lower Loft (which is actually pretty decent nowdays if you can stand the dire atmosphere and kids everywhere). For everyone else it's pretty poor. If i was a neutral, the ground would put me off coming to matches. Pretty much most clubs see a big rise in attendances after a stadium upgrade. People forget Norwich were averaging 12k in the championship before Delia Smith came in and made some big changes to their ground. They get 25 k regularly in league one. Similarly, the likes of Sunderland, Middlesborouh and Southampton (for example) have all seen big rises in attendances since moving grounds. We can't really afford to move grounds at the moment and a s####y new Ellerslie round stand just isn't feasable so this isn't really an option at the moment, bar fitting better toilets and more food kiosks.

2) Potential fan base. The makeup of the people living in areas surrounding the ground is now a diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds. The likes of Charlton do alot to encourage different ethnic groups to attend matches. We should make more of an effort to encourage the local community to attend matches. There are what, 4 million people living in north west london, plus the surronding counties. We have the potential to be a massive club, we just need to find inovative ways to tap into that fan base. We could even provide free coaches from places like Uxbridge to the ground, something charlton do with kent towns such as Gillingham.

3) Footballing results. If we're in the top 6 we'll sell out the ground, so if we start consistently winning, we'll be averaging 16k.

[W12_Ranger]

would say we are above charlton to be honest pete

Based on what average attendances in the past 10 years.....I'd say Charlton edge it!

[lymehoop]

considering the dross we've put up with these last 14 years I'd say our support is fantastic

[themodfather]

all down to capacity...for yrs charlton have had 22000+
fulham 20ooo

palace gates are usually around 16000 so thats the only one we'd pass but their capacity is 25000??

spurs? well why do they need a new ground of 50,000+....every game home and away is sold out.

[W12_Ranger]

I'd say it was more like this:

Arsenal
Chelsea
Spurs
West Ham
Fulham
Charlton
Palace
QPR
Watford
Millwall
Brentford
Orient
Barnet
Dagenham & Redbridge

Reasons why I think are support is so poor :

1) Facilities. Loftus Road is great if you can afford a box or c-club, or perhaps even the Lower Loft (which is actually pretty decent nowdays if you can stand the dire atmosphere and kids everywhere). For everyone else it's pretty poor. If i was a neutral, the ground would put me off coming to matches. Pretty much most clubs see a big rise in attendances after a stadium upgrade. People forget Norwich were averaging 12k in the championship before Delia Smith came in and made some big changes to their ground. They get 25 k regularly in league one. Similarly, the likes of Sunderland, Middlesborouh and Southampton (for example) have all seen big rises in attendances since moving grounds. We can't really afford to move grounds at the moment and a s####y new Ellerslie round stand just isn't feasable so this isn't really an option at the moment, bar fitting better toilets and more food kiosks.

2) Potential fan base. The makeup of the people living in areas surrounding the ground is now a diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds. The likes of Charlton do alot to encourage different ethnic groups to attend matches. We should make more of an effort to encourage the local community to attend matches. There are what, 4 million people living in north west london, plus the surronding counties. We have the potential to be a massive club, we just need to find inovative ways to tap into that fan base. We could even provide free coaches from places like Uxbridge to the ground, something charlton do with kent towns such as Gillingham.

3) Footballing results. If we're in the top 6 we'll sell out the ground, so if we start consistently winning, we'll be averaging 16k.

Some good points but I don't buy into the whole we'd sell out 25k each week in the PL. We might sell out 5/6 fixtures in a season but thats about. We'd be doing well if we averaged 20k in the PL, its all well and good talking about potential of fan base etc but I'm just not convinced we are that sort of team. Yeah our 'loyal' support will turn out in force for the glamour fixtures and when the going is good but after a couple of seasons of mid table mediocrity in the PL we will be averaging around 15-16k.

Sometimes I can't help thinking this is the whole thought process behind the whole 'Boutique Brand' thing and thats why I buy into it in theory - though in practice things haven't gone quite according to plan.....YET!

In order for the club to fill a 25k ground, they'd have to build a new one first (don't think expanding is really trully feasible at present). Then we'd have to dramatically drop prices of ST's back to there original levels to ensure we boost attendances (like Fulham). If we got promoted this season, we'd then have to hang onto our PL status for about 4/5years to see this through.

The real solution for me is to build a ground with Fulham as in the long term this would be best option for both clubs. However if we actually managed to expand Loftus Road whilst we were in the PL we'd have share with one of our neighbours, preferably Chelsea then we can really see how big our fanbase is :bad_smile:.

To expand LR IMO the redevelopment costs would be astronomical and the project a logistical nightmare. Thats why I believe its not trully feasible, though it is technically achievable. The key for me for would be if Uncle Mittal weighed in; this is where the goal posts would be moved and thus anything would be achievable.

Saying that if I had Mittals wealth I'd move South Africa Road for a laugh