How come we always kick the same direction?

[johnsmithsno2]

Towards the South Stand in the first half, towards the North in the second. I'm probably wrong but I can't remember one occasion this season when we haven't. Surely the law of averages says we sometimes lose the toss and the opposition calls it the other way?

 

[Linny]

Thought this was gonna be about always passing sideways.

 

[NorthStand95]

Towards the South Stand in the first half, towards the North in the second. I'm probably wrong but I can't remember one occasion this season when we haven't. Surely the law of averages says we sometimes lose the toss and the opposition calls it the other way?

We have since riverside was built. The north stand was our holgate. Blackburn won the toss on Saturday but remained where they were. I find that they often switch sides when the opposition have a former Boro player.

 

[Ingleby_Flash]

It does happen, don’t like it.

 

[BoroPhil]

We have since riverside was built. The north stand was our holgate. Blackburn won the toss on Saturday but remained where they were. I find that they often switch sides when the opposition have a former Boro player.

that's interesting, hadn't noticed that.

I guess we prefer attacking the North 2nd half and away teams prefer attacking towards their fans 2nd half so both teams usually happy

 

[Archiestephens_elbow]

We have since riverside was built. The north stand was our holgate. Blackburn won the toss on Saturday but remained where they were. I find that they often switch sides when the opposition have a former Boro player.

Like Ainsley pears?

 

[MickaelDebevePhenomenal]

As I North stand season ticket holder, and a boring old fart with a stickler for routine, I like the current set up. But surely, given the trend for attacking your most vocal end of the ground in the 2nd half, it would make sense to break with tradition and attack the south stand in the 2nd half???

 

[B_G]

We have since riverside was built. The north stand was our holgate. Blackburn won the toss on Saturday but remained where they were. I find that they often switch sides when the opposition have a former Boro player.

I guess away teams generally like to attack the end with their own support in the second half as well.

Teams do occasionally turn teams round but I guess it would only be when there's a significant advantage to doing so such as wind/sun position etc. Both of which are less of a factor within a closed stadium and sun position is generally above west stand.

 

[TeaCider]

Occasionally the opposition win the toss and decide to change it, but it's rare.

I'd guess most away teams don't care enough to demand the Boro players swap when they're already setting up in the north stand direction, and our team is just used to it.

 

[BigAl76]

I think it is as much of an unwritten rule in football that you adhere to this protocol.
If I were a captain I would 100% switch if I had the chance to. Anything to unsettle the opposing team.
Having said that, away teams also do their warm up on one side of the pitch so there is probably something to be said about keeping that familiarity for the start of the game.

There has probably been a whole study done on this within football with psychologists etc......every small advantage you can get over your opponent surmounting to a larger overall advantage.

Or.

Players just cant be @rsed to walk over to the other side before kick off.

 

[festa5]

Given our home for this season maybe we should be the team asking to change it when we win the toss.

 

[Matt]

Wasn't Crooks' goal against Reading in front of the south stand? Reading must have turned us around

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

Wasn't Crooks' goal against Reading in front of the south stand? Reading must have turned us around

And our second half onslaught of Basel.

 

[Rofesleg]

I remember at Ayresome it was quite common for teams to switch ends at kick-off.
Then the opposing keeper would receive a friendly round of applause from the Holgate as they jogged the length of the pitch.
Occasionally, one of the poor souls would believe it was genuine and would wave back in acknowledgment. Then the real welcome started .
John Lukic in particular seemed pretty upset by the ruse early in his career at Leeds.

 

[B_G]

I remember at Ayresome it was quite common for teams to switch ends at kick-off.
Then the opposing keeper would receive a friendly round of applause from the Holgate as they jogged the length of the pitch.
Occasionally, one of the poor souls would believe it was genuine and would wave back in acknowledgment. Then the real welcome started .
John Lukic in particular seemed pretty upset by the ruse early in his career at Leeds.

Didn't Ayresome Park run East to West rather than North to South though. So low sun could be a problem for goalkeepers or defending high balls at certain points of the season explaining why teams would be more inclined to change ends after winning the toss.

 

[Mayor Goldie Wilson]

There's a crazy stat that pretty much every away game this season where Everton have won the toss they have turned the teams around. It's noticeable that teams have started doing it at Anfield especially; City did it a couple of weeks back.

 

[Rofesleg]

Didn't Ayresome Park run East to West rather than North to South though. So low sun could be a problem for goalkeepers or defending high balls at certain points of the season explaining why teams would be more inclined to change ends after winning the toss.

I thought it was more a case of the away team trying to disrupt us and cramp our style.
Though baseball cap wearing keepers were also more common I think, so you might be right Mr. Kettley.

 

[Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret]

I still haven't got over them moving the cameras to the east stand. It makes me think north is south and south is north. Discombobulates me and I end up doing silly things like sitting down for a number one. Or the other way round. Which is worse.