Disparaging comments about attendances don’t really take into account how the devotion of regulars keeps the show on the road. This would only be valid if thousands of people who attended league games every year went for the corporate hospitality and entertainment – and didn’t see a football all day. At Premier League level, the absence of atmosphere left it up to the players to provide compelling action that shortened the silences. If the intimidation factor created by a crowd really does help underdogs, then the odds are going to be further stacked against them. The flip side is that removing the energy of an impatient crowd results in stalemate that is hard to watch.

Source: Irish Independent July 31, 2020 01:33 UTC