Why is it so much harder playing away?

[dontcallme]

I was having a discussion the other day about how well we're doing and especially happy with our away form. A non-sports fan popped up and asked "why is it so much harder playing away". I went into a whole host of reasons from familiarity, crowd support, crowd influencing the ref, mentality etc.

Frankly he wasn't convinced and came up with the usual ridiculous point of "but if you're earning 40k a week these things shouldn't matter". I explained the away form is also true in the lower leagues where pay is not so extravagant, but he was such a bell end that he didn't listen.

Maybe I didn't make my point to him as well as I should have but does anyone have any insights into the away form phenomena? Is it true in all team sports?

 

[Dougal]

The missus might find out!

I think the points you made are all good, no matter what's in the bank most perform better in familiar/comfortable surroundings while the opposition should face intimidation.

 

[mil1lion]

I think its mostly a mentality thing. The top teams often win their away games because they simply believe they can. The lesser teams struggle to play their normal game on the road and approach away games more negatively. Plus the home crowd always gives the home team an added boost. And the ref is a homo..i mean homer..i mean both.

 

[mike_l]

I think its mostly a mentality thing. The top teams often win their away games because they simply believe they can. The lesser teams struggle to play their normal game on the road and approach away games more negatively. Plus the home crowd always gives the home team an added boost. And the ref is a homo..i mean homer..i mean both.

Agree totally that it is simpoly a mentality issue. Away teams always set up to be more defensive away from home and allow the home side more possession. I often wonder what would happen if teams simply approached away games with the same tactics and preparation that they would a home game?

In theory if you get 11 players with a top mentality, playing away from home shouldn't be a massive disadvantage.

 

[Kyras]

Agree totally that it is simpoly a mentality issue. Away teams always set up to be more defensive away from home and allow the home side more possession. I often wonder what would happen if teams simply approached away games with the same tactics and preparation that they would a home game?

In theory if you get 11 players with a top mentality, playing away from home shouldn't be a massive disadvantage.

I think we did this last year with Fulham maybe, the players stayed at home and met in the morning instead of going to a hotel like they usually do for away games.

 

[mil1lion]

Barcelona are a good example. They play the same football away as they do at home. Its the only way they know how to play the game. But they're so good at keeping the ball they can afford to do it. There always seems to be an expectation that the home team will attack more than the away team. But technically speaking there is no real reason why a team cant play the same away from home as they do at home.

 

[Midostouch]

I've often wondered about this myself - and why we even field different formations home and away. And if we play at Wembley do both teams consider themselves away? I agree with Mil1lion's last point and find it interesting that we have struggled perhaps more than most away from home in recent years. And yet this season we have a manager who won't take any of that nonsense and is reaping the results.

 

[mike_l]

I've often wondered about this myself - and why we even field different formations home and away. And if we play at Wembley do both teams consider themselves away? I agree with Mil1lion's last point and find it interesting that we have struggled perhaps more than most away from home in recent years. And yet this season we have a manager who won't take any of that nonsense and is reaping the results.

That's where you have to take into account Cup mentality, a one off game means both teams go for it with less inhibition, or both teams sit back completely inhibited.

Strangely this season I think playing away from home could benefit us if Redknapp keeps going for it in all games, as home teams will not sit back and defend the whole game like Stoke did to us last week, allowing us to pick them apart on the break as long as we can keep it relatively tight at the back.

 

[freddiecarr]

The mentaliity of the players is pobably the biggest factor, but also the home side can manipulate a few factors for their own advantage, e.g:

Stoke have their pitch as narrow as the rules allow so their throw ins are more effective.

Watering the pitch makes the surface more zippy to make it more effective for a passing team.

Chelsea a few years ago would not relay their pitch even though it resembled a sand beach until after their game against Barcleona, since they were not going to be playing 'pretty' football against them

Even little things like different size changing rooms have a slight psychological effect, I know the Chelsea Home changing room is a lot bigger and luxurious than the away changing room.

Just a few examples of home advantages, i'm sure there's many more.