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Author Topic: The Villa Park Curse?  (Read 9732 times)

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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The Villa Park Curse?
« on: August 16, 2011, 01:06:56 PM »
I've been thinking these last few weeks on just how poor our home form has been over the years, yet I remember back under Ron Saunders we'd be walking down Witton Lane before the game discussing how many goals we'd beat the opposition by. It seems so long since we had a Fortness Villa Park, if you don't believe me, have a look:

2011/12 W4 D7 L8
2010/11 W8 D7 L4
2009/10 W8 D8 L3
2008/09 W7 D9 L3
2007/08 W10 D3 L6
2006/07 W7 D8 L4
2005/06 W6 D6 L7
2004/05 W8 D6 L5
2003/04 W9 D6 L4
2002/03 W11 D2 L6
2001/02 W8 D7 L4
2000/01 W8 D8 L3
1999/00 W8 D8 L3
1998/99 W10 D3 L6
1997/98 W9 D3 L7
1996/97 W11 D5 L3
1995/96 W11 D5 L3
1994/95 W6 D9 L6
1993/94 W8 D5 L8
1992/93 W13 D5 L3

For a club of our size, that's really poor form. Teams must love coming to Villa Park. If we'd had a better record at Villa Park we really would have been in the Champions League in 3 of the four seasons under MON. Despite last season being a disaster, we only were down one point of what some describe as MON's finest the previous season. What's crazy is the Graham Taylor MKII season was better than both.

All I do know is that season ticket holders must be extremely loyal to put up with such poor form, whilst at the same time, if we could once again create Fortress Villa Park, we might finally start living up to our size. As we approach our first home game of the new season on Saturday, I'm wondering why we are so poor at Villa Park and if anything can be done to improve it. Is it teams like playing at Villa Park, they raise their game, the moaning and lack of patience at times from the Villa fans, I've no idea.

Anybody?

Edit: Updated to include 2011/2012.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2013, 05:57:15 PM by Rudy Lambert »

Offline Reuben

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2011, 01:17:12 PM »
I was surprised when I saw how good our home record was in 80/81 (despite winning the league).  Now only the top 3 tend to have great home records like that.

About half of the seasons picked here we lost 3 or 4 home games.  I would probably say this isn't a surprise.  Generally I'd expect to lose to 2 of the big 4, say and we always have a couple of crap home defeats...Wigan, Sunderland,

However, I'd expect us to win more than half the home games, which hasn't happened often here.

I'd expect generally W11 D5 L3.  The fact we've only bettered this once is a worry.  McLeish's home record at Blues was ok so hopefully there'll be some improvement.


Offline pauliewalnuts

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2011, 01:23:38 PM »
2007-8 when we did have more wins at home coincided with a run of more than decent crowds, too. We sold out several times that year, including against the likes of Newcastle, and near sell outs with Derby and West Ham.

Maybe that was also a reflection of our new-found spending power, though.

Offline usav

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2011, 01:58:21 PM »
You could be right Paulie.   

They are pretty telling statistics, but then they seem about right for a team that has, lets face it, been mostly average during that time.

MON's team was setup for counter-attacking, that's why home form was not great under him.   Our away record was great, even if in the posession count we were down.

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2011, 02:45:26 PM »
2007-8 when we did have more wins at home coincided with a run of more than decent crowds, too. We sold out several times that year, including against the likes of Newcastle, and near sell outs with Derby and West Ham.

Maybe that was also a reflection of our new-found spending power, though.

I don't think it was our spending power, more because we had the second best goal scoring games at home in the league, the 6th best attack and we only failed to score twice? Basically, Villa Park was an entertaining day out.

The point is, if Randy is looking to increase revenue, other than selling players, it wouldn't do any harm if we improved our home record. Whilst we've had a good away record, it does little for our coffers, especially when it's been so long since we've had consistently entertaining football at Villa Park. We've got the facilities, the capacity, the fan base, everything's in place except the demand.

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2011, 03:02:28 PM »
I was surprised when I saw how good our home record was in 80/81 (despite winning the league).  Now only the top 3 tend to have great home records like that.

It wasn't just the League winning season though, have a look at Saunders' early record and you'll understand how he got the club buzzing:

1974/75 W16 D4 L1 Position: Div.II 2nd
1975/76 W11 D8 L2 Position: Div I 16th
1976/77 W17 D3 L1 Position: Div I 4th

Offline tom jennings IV

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2011, 03:06:19 PM »
We just draw so many games, can't see that improving dramatically under AM but with a meaner defence and Bent on form anything's possible.

Offline Reuben

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2011, 03:08:56 PM »
Impressive stats - I assume our away form was shocking in 75/76!

I think then playing at home was more of an advantage.  I imagine Anfield has had similar decline in points for Liverpool...i.e it isn't a scary place to go as an opposing player anymore.

Nowadays, for Villa, I suppose we respect the better teams too much and therefore don't win (or cock it up) and the crapper teams who come and defend we struggle to break down and therefore don't win (or cock it up).

Offline UsualSuspect

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2011, 03:27:24 PM »
Fuck me that's depressing

We draw far too many at home, that was what cost us a CL place under MON

I remember in 1982/83 when we played 21, won 19, drew 1 and lost 1

happy days

Offline Rudy Can't Fail

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2011, 03:28:46 PM »
I think then playing at home was more of an advantage.  I imagine Anfield has had similar decline in points for Liverpool...i.e it isn't a scary place to go as an opposing player anymore.

Even considering how crap they were last season, you can see why there's still the hype about Anfield:

2010/11 W12 D4 L3
2009/10 W13 D3 L3
2008/09 W12 D7 L0
2007/08 W12 D6 L1
2006/07 W14 D4 L1
2005/06 W15 D3 L1
2004/05 W12 D4 L3

Offline Reuben

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2011, 03:43:12 PM »
I think then playing at home was more of an advantage.  I imagine Anfield has had similar decline in points for Liverpool...i.e it isn't a scary place to go as an opposing player anymore.

Even considering how crap they were last season, you can see why there's still the hype about Anfield:

2010/11 W12 D4 L3
2009/10 W13 D3 L3
2008/09 W12 D7 L0
2007/08 W12 D6 L1
2006/07 W14 D4 L1
2005/06 W15 D3 L1
2004/05 W12 D4 L3


Fair enough, should've done the research!  In my head I just saw them as susceptible as us in dropping points against the likes of  Charlton,. Watford, Blues, Sunderland...etc.

Offline darren woolley

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2011, 03:45:24 PM »
We need to improve our home form if we to do anything in the league looking at the stats there are too many draws I'm hoping for us to do better this season with our attack we can always score goals now the defence seems to be solid again I can see us improving.

Offline frankmosswasmyuncle

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #12 on: August 16, 2011, 03:48:07 PM »
Fuck me that's depressing

We draw far too many at home, that was what cost us a CL place under MON

I remember in 1982/83 when we played 21, won 19, drew 1 and lost 1

happy days
Happy Days indeed US!
As Mark says in the initial post, we were cocker hoop in those days, pretty much knew we were gonna win, playing brilliant football and scoring a lot of goals...me and my mate Dave would have bets on who would score and how many. Just LOVED Gary Shaw and Sid! Listen to Butler on the radio on the way home, then go out, have a few beers and take the piss BIG TIME out of our Bluenose "mates". 25/26 years of age, as fit as a flea, still playing myself (in my Evans/McNaught role) and loving life!
Good times!

Offline frankmosswasmyuncle

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #13 on: August 16, 2011, 03:57:22 PM »
We need to improve our home form if we to do anything in the league looking at the stats there are too many draws I'm hoping for us to do better this season with our attack we can always score goals now the defence seems to be solid again I can see us improving.
I think we'll be better at home this year for the reasons you state dw. The scum had a pretty good record at the sty until it went tits up after their Centennial trip to Wembley and AM has said he wants to make VP a fortress. I just wish the fans would sing and shout all over the ground and intimidate the oppo a bit like they do at Stoke. Too many whingers around me who miss half the game buying tea and pies, leave 5 minutes before the game's ended, irrespective of the score, and look at me like the local nutter when I shout and swear at the ref/Downing. In spite of which, I'm really looking forward to Sat and the start of our unbeaten home run!

Online Legion

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Re: The Villa Park Curse?
« Reply #14 on: August 16, 2011, 04:22:24 PM »
Welcome to bouncy castle Villa Park.

 


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