Fans returning to stadiums across England after Covid-19 prevented their presence for most of the 18 months can be a game changer in that regard.
The competition’s opening salvoes, which will take place over the next few nights, may have never been so popular.
In the final analysis, seeing the fans back in their beloved surroundings means a lot to so many people.
Ask Barnsley’s Bury-born goalkeeper Jack Walton in hopes of lining up in front of family and friends in a place he knows well tonight – and Reds head coach Markus Schopp for that matter.
The healthy eyesight of around 1,500 visiting supporters at the University of Bolton stadium will be further vindicated.
Walton’s presence at the pre-match press conference suggests that he will perform tonight against Wanderers, the club where he began his academy-level football journey before moving to Yorkshire at the age of 15.
It is not just any draw for the Lancaster. Especially since you have to go back to March 23, 2019 for his last appearance in front of his followers and his father.
He said, “I’m a local boy from Bolton. It will be good to come home and some of my teammates will go to the game, so it will be nice.
“My father has not missed a game either (before Covid). He didn’t get to any games last season, which is a bit strange for him. Not having fans was a big mistake, but now we are happy to see things return to normal.
“I had a chat the other day and I think the last time I played (in front of the fans) could have been Walsall (in League One). Then it will be strange to play in front of the fans. But it’s so nice to go out.
“You get abused, but it’s all fun and games and you walk away.”
A four-figure following backed Barnsley in their first league game in South Wales on Saturday and today’s trip to a stadium where they have not won in seven previous visits will see the away section once again well populated.
In Schopp’s native Austria, teams with levels of support comparable to a mid-size championship club can be comfortably counted on one hand.
It represents another reason why the former TSV Hartberg manager was so eager to try his luck in England.
The fact that Barnsley landed a glam tie at Stamford Bridge in this competition last season hasn’t gotten over the 47-year-old, either.
Schopp commented: “When I thought about football in England, it was all about emotions, enthusiasm and passion to be part of a team.
“I am very happy to have had so many fans in Cardiff and I know what it means to travel there. We did an incredible job there and they saw a team fighting until the last second to get a good result.
“That is the relationship between us and the fans; they give us support and give us all the effort to work well ”.
On the prospect of earning another chance against top flight rivals after playing one of the biggest names in English football at Chelsea in two national cup competitions last season, Schopp continued: “We played Chelsea last season. And as a championship team, you always want to play against the best.
“Our goal is to get there again and it takes 100% focus, preparation and guys on the field who are prepared to do everything they can to move on to the next round. That’s what I said “.
Schopp will make some changes tonight, although it remains to be seen if the club’s last two Belgian recruits in the forward duo in Obbi Oulare and Aaron Leya Iseka appear on the Pennines.
In a sense, the fact that tonight’s game is being played with no league points at stake suggests that it would represent a good opportunity to catch a glimpse of the pair, recently signed by Standard Liege and Toulouse respectively.
On the contrary, the duo’s lack of aptitude for the match and the need for former Belgium Under-21 teammates to assimilate into Schopp’s ways may mean that the Austrian will err on the side of caution and play the long match.
He added: “First of all, we have to get them both in shape and this is the most important thing.
“The second most important thing is to get them used to the way we want to play.
“Both players have a lot of quality. But to see quality on the field, we have to work on the fundamentals.
“It’s about finding the right time to bring them. I suppose…
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-08-10 05:01:29