Have to agree with the comment RE atmosphere remeber my first game at the lane was around 2005/2006 time against Reading in the FA Cup on a cold january, atmosphere was amazing the Park Lane/Shelf sang all afternoon my throat was knackerered after i think Jim B is right back then we had players like Stalteri, Ghaly, Jenas, Lee Young Pyo, Malbranque so to finish 5th against the then top 4 was a very good achievement.
Imo atmosphere at the lane started getting quieter around second year of Harry Redknapp's reign we had a lot, let better players and for once had genuine hopes of competing for a top 4 spot on our own form not just arsenal competed badly for a season Lennon was older, Bale was a threat down the left, modric, Van der Vaart, better players and a better manager expection was raised and maybe the supporters felt with the improved quality you no longer have to sing all day to get that extra 5/10/15 percent out of the previously more ordinary players we had when the best we would get was a cup run and mid table. obviously our champions league campaign the atmosphere was electric but when you competing in a competition you haven't been in since 1962 that was always going to be the case
think it can be proved because i am sure this year Liverpool was back at the top of the loudest premiership grounds, when i think previously we was either 2nd or 1st with Sunderland, and obviously Liverpool have became like we were around 5/6 seasons ago under Jol some good players but a young mainly british squad, and are very inconsistent, maybe there supporter now seem it more important to get the best out of there players.
With the cost of Football im sure that has also affected football, with even league 2 teams charging £25 to watch a game, its madness how can families afford that its pricey going alone to a game, imagine taking your child/children you will be looking at 100 pound a game, thats not even the Premierleague so that probably double the cost, utter madness