Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: cheltenhamlion on May 17, 2013, 01:07:32 AM
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I will start this then as it has been touched on in many threads.
The team and manager take great congratulations for digging us out of the New Year chaos.
But us lot should be proud that we did the business when it mattered to drag them kicking and screaming over the line.
We have taken some stick over the years but, when it matters, we came through like always.
Well done us!
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Agree. I think the big turn-out at the QPR game sums it up and was a great show of support for the team in what was one of the most vital games played at VP for many a year. Well done Villans!
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I was useless. Missed most of the season through injury. I'm the Richard Dunne of the Holte End, although I did eat (marginally) fewer meat pies.
Sorry to let everyone down but I aim to be back in August and have been practising my sarcastic remarks and general all-round moaning ready for next season.
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Villa fans are much maligned and i've honestly no idea why. We always travel in great numbers, are amongst the most vocal around, always get decent attendances and we back Managers more than most. I'm obviously biased too but a read alot of other Clubs fanzines and the level of debate and discussion on here is very considered most of the time - just check out any Blose forum for example.
TSM didn't get half the stick the media liked to pretend he did (only really happened after Bolton at home at the end of April). The way we've stuck by the team this season has been a credit.
Compare that the the sanctimonius Stripeyfilth who've had their best season in decades yet boo their team off every time they've lost a match!!
Well done to everyone.
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It is generally our home support that gets maligned. We are seen as fickle by some other fans because we don't usually reach capacity and don't have the attendence figures of some other clubs. I couldn't care less what other fans think personally though.
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It is generally our home support that gets maligned. We are seen as fickle by some other fans because we don't usually reach capacity and don't have the attendence figures of some other clubs. I couldn't care less what other fans think personally though.
We're seen as fickle because that shitcunt, pug-nosed, loud-mouthed, reductive, moral-destroying, Doncaster-fearing twat Dolly hung that label on us when we'd had enough of him talking the club down incessantly, crying about money and not delivering on the pitch.
The fact is we're not. Our average attendance has been about 35k this year, after all the disappointment and shoeings we've endured over the last three seasons, I'd say that's pretty bloody good.
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I'll be honest with you, I thought I had one of my better seasons.
I've found myself moaning far less since John Carew pissed off a couple of years back and this season I've even stopped tutting, probably due to the lack of aimless long balls from full-backs and centre-backs.
I must admit that I had a bad game against Bradford, culminating in me threatening to stick someone's flag up their arse, and drank far too much at Millwall - but otherwise my performances have been pretty consistent.
I fully expect to be renewing my contract in the summer and look forward to pre-season, after a well-earned break.
I know I announced my international retirement in 1977, but if anyone wants to cover my expenses I'm prepared to make a comeback in Brazil next summer.
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Villa fans are much maligned ...
Are we? Really? Where?
The fans of most clubs are pretty vocal when things ain't going that well - the Stokies for example (praised for their vocal supports not so long back).
We were not antagonistic toward TSM until Feb 25th last year, away at Wigan.
We've stuck with Lambert when many might have started the verbals.
We ahve been lauded for the 19th minute this season.
I haven't seen much grief about us and so am genuinely interested in the where the criticism is coming from.
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A lot of people here on this site are critical of our support which always surprises me. Then I started supporting us when we were in the 3rd and in those days all the talk, quite rightly, was about what amazing fans the Villa had. I have always believed that there are no better fans than us and still do.
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Need to improve our followings to the homes of football in the NE where we get lots of stick on their forums. It doesn't help that we always seem to play up there on Sundays and Bank Holidays though. Home game atmosphere has been much better this season and I hope it continues. Many visiting fans stated how loud it was (especially the Mackems)
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I suppose you could criticise us for rarely filling the ground. For the season we were 82% full which was second lowest in the league. I have followed Villa since the 1960's and it was always so, a big support base but not likely to consistently turn out. That's the challenge for the club, how do we get 40000 every week, we did it when fighting for 4th place it would be good if we could do it always.
As for the quality of the support, first class in my opinion. We have really got behind the team at Villa Park in the last couple of vital months, such a contrast to the gloom of last season.
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Up until this season I would have wholeheartedly agreed that Villa fans could easily be described as fickle.
BUT
This season we really have been a class above anything I've ever seen down The Villa. A real credit to the club.
I am so excited about what we could achieve and the way PL seems to be going about it and the way we, as the fans, seem to on the whole be buying into it.
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Up until this season I would have wholeheartedly agreed that Villa fans could easily be described as fickle.
I just don't get this. How are we any different from any other clubs supporters when things aren't going well
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I think the criticism comes from us not liking DOL and not wanting TSM. But the majority of the media and football supporters in general don't like DOL and nobody wants TSM. We just get singled out because we were unfortunate to have to put up with both.
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I think if we play the same sort of swashbuckling football as we have done in the last third this season, I think home attendances will keep increasing.
League position aside, you cannot put your hand on your heart and say that you have not been entertained.
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There's always a good effort from our away following, they never fail to make a noise but against Norwich in the league cup they were exceptional. It's a long time since I seen us make such a consistent din at such a hard to get to location. The team responded accordingly.
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I suppose you could criticise us for rarely filling the ground. For the season we were 82% full which was second lowest in the league. I have followed Villa since the 1960's and it was always so, a big support base but not likely to consistently turn out. That's the challenge for the club, how do we get 40000 every week, we did it when fighting for 4th place it would be good if we could do it always.
As for the quality of the support, first class in my opinion. We have really got behind the team at Villa Park in the last couple of vital months, such a contrast to the gloom of last season.
I've said that many times. Anyone who can turn our armchair/occasional fans into regular supporters will be as significant to the Villa off the pitch as Ron Saunders was on it.
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As I posted in another thread, Garth Crooks said on TV that we were the best fans in the league this season.
Spot on Pingu. Anyone see it?
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Up until this season I would have wholeheartedly agreed that Villa fans could easily be described as fickle.
I just don't get this. How are we any different from any other clubs supporters when things aren't going well
Exactly, Stoke are supposed to be renowned for there support but as soon as things started going wrong we soon saw how quickly that changed.
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As I posted in another thread, Garth Crooks said on TV that we were the best fans in the league this season.
Spot on Pingu. Anyone see it?
I think that was against Stoke but it might have been against Everton.
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The Twelfth Man was back in form this season. Definitely.
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As much as the regular home fans have backed the team all season, it's only been the last third of the season where the attendances have got to decent levels.
If you go back to Nov/Dec/Jan there was a period where we were only getting league gates of 28-30k. It's things like that opposition supporters can get on their high horse about.
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I think if we play the same sort of swashbuckling football as we have done in the last third this season, I think home attendances will keep increasing.
League position aside, you cannot put your hand on your heart and say that you have not been entertained.
Spot on that man
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There's always a good effort from our away following, they never fail to make a noise but against Norwich in the league cup they were exceptional. It's a long time since I seen us make such a consistent din at such a hard to get to location. The team responded accordingly.
Norwich away was amazing, it's true, but just as impressive was QPR and Sunderland at home.
There was a middle aged lady sitting/standing next to me at QPR who was very excitable. She kept on shouting "Come on Villa! Score a goal! Get it in the net!" I was tempted to dryly observe "that is the general idea," but I thought better of it. She was having a good time so why try and piss on her chips? At the end of the match when we hung on for the win I was so overwhelmed I staggered a bit, and she turned round full of concern and said "are you alright dear?" I assured her I was great! :)
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To think, Chelsea currently hold World, European and Europa titles and have qualified for the Champions League again, yet their fans fly banners about the next manager and call talk shows to moan incessantly about not being able to compete with the Manchester clubs.
We are a bigger and better club than Chelsea and always will be. We haven't won a trophy for 17 years, yet we can still get the support like we have this season, despite 3 consecutive relegation battles.
We are a fantastic set of fans.
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Agree. I think the big turn-out at the QPR game sums it up and was a great show of support for the team in what was one of the most vital games played at VP for many a year. Well done Villans!
Same for the Sunderland game as well. We packed out Villa Park for both and the Holte End was a magical place to be.
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As I posted in another thread, Garth Crooks said on TV that we were the best fans in the league this season.
Spot on Pingu. Anyone see it?
I think that was against Stoke but it might have been against Everton.
It was after the Stoke game on Final Score
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Agree. I think the big turn-out at the QPR game sums it up and was a great show of support for the team in what was one of the most vital games played at VP for many a year. Well done Villans!
Same for the Sunderland game as well. We packed out Villa Park for both and the Holte End was a magical place to be.
Is their any link between pricing and attendance?
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If we became the first English club to have a German Bundesliga price structure you wouldn't have enough seats in the ground. £20 a match ticket or £250 a season ticket and we'd fill the ground.
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Agree. I think the big turn-out at the QPR game sums it up and was a great show of support for the team in what was one of the most vital games played at VP for many a year. Well done Villans!
Same for the Sunderland game as well. We packed out Villa Park for both and the Holte End was a magical place to be.
Is their any link between pricing and attendance?
Possibly, but we also get high attendances when Man United/Arsenal/Chelsea have come to town which is usually the most expensive games.
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The noise on 5live during the Sunderland game even in the first half prior to any goals (and even after Rose scored equaliser) was louder than any of those 'special European nights at Anfield' that the Beeb plug unashamedly. It was deafening and obvioulsy got louder as the match progressed. Brilliant effort
As others have posted turning a small % of what must be 150,000-200,000 casual fans in West Mids conurbation into regulars would see the ground 95% full.
90% of people's incomes are shrinking so it would be good to see Villa (as gate receipts are a smaller % of overall income)
a) reduce the price of season tickets for all by 10% as those hardy people are the most loyal fans and ensure no increase for 3 years
b) ensure there are 3-4 games per season (cup games where possible) with a blanket £10 for all (5 for kids). Season ticket holders could be compensated with food/beer/shop vouchers when this occurs for League games.
c) Dunno if this happens - ground tours for kids for free during school holidays. Long term build up of fan base.
d) Reduce the normal match day ticket prices by 5% and promise a freeze for 3 years.
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There were Sunderland fans on the SMB saying that they couldn’t believe how loud it was. That with The Hole and the North going, it was just a wall of noise.
As an aside, I love reading North East message boards when it comes to fans. Sunderland always take 19,000 to every away game, make a racket everywhere and the opposition only brought up 200 to the SoL, even though there were free rocket packs for each fan.
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There were Sunderland fans on the SMB saying that they couldn’t believe how loud it was. That with The Hole and the North going, it was just a wall of noise.
As an aside, I love reading North East message boards when it comes to fans. Sunderland always take 19,000 to every away game, make a racket everywhere and the opposition only brought up 200 to the SoL, even though there were free rocket packs for each fan.
Fair to say they have an 'over-inflated' view of their own support then? That sounds more like Jawdees than Mackems but maybe it's spreading!
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even though there were free rocket packs for each fan.
What's in a rocket pack?
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Up until this season I would have wholeheartedly agreed that Villa fans could easily be described as fickle.
I just don't get this. How are we any different from any other clubs supporters when things aren't going well
I think peopld just compare us to the likes of Newcastle and Sunderland who, to be fair, do fill out even when things aren't going well. Newcastle kept getting 50k crowds even when in the Championship if I'm not mistaken. I think they are an exception though and most fans aren't much different to ours. I doubt the Emirates or Stamford Bridge would be selling out if they were facing mid-table mediocrity year in, year out.
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Up until this season I would have wholeheartedly agreed that Villa fans could easily be described as fickle.
I just don't get this. How are we any different from any other clubs supporters when things aren't going well
I think peopld just compare us to the likes of Newcastle and Sunderland who, to be fair, do fill out even when things aren't going well. Newcastle kept getting 50k crowds even when in the Championship if I'm not mistaken. I think they are an exception though and most fans aren't much different to ours. I doubt the Emirates or Stamford Bridge would be selling out if they were facing mid-table mediocrity year in, year out.
It would be interesting to see what St James's Park would be like after a couple of years of Mcleish in charge.
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The fans have been good this season (apart from the awful repertoire of "songs") especially in the last few home games. I can't take any credit whatsoever as I think this is the first season since about 1966 or 1967 that I haven't attended a single Villa game, due to not having been in the country at any point during the season. Must do better next season.
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I've read and heard many positive comments about the Villa support this season and how vocal and supportive they have been. I very rarely get to Villa Park these days but the atmosphere for the QPR game was the best I've experienced at Villa in years, it was like the old days!
The Sunderland game came accross as pretty noisy on TV which takes some doing.
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our fans do the whole going mental thing when we score as good as anyone in the world. Maybe it's because we just don't get enough of it.
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I'm really proud of the way that the vast majority of us have been behind Lambert all through the season, including black December. I honestly don't think there are many top flight clubs who would have demonstrated such support for a manager in the same circumstances. Imagine any of the 'top 6' teams singing their manager's name whilst losing 3-0 at home to Wigan?
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Considering what we have been through this season, we have been fantasic (which, let's face it, is not going to get all the fair weather support through th gates), supported Lambo (most of us) in turning it around from the shower of sh*t from last season, bringing in his own methods, players etc... I think next season will be a good one. Build it and they will come.
The Stan support, Brigada and away support have been superb. It's been evident we have been singing our own songs again and not too much SMA bashing & the awful Paul McGrath song (which seems to be started by the yoofs at the back of the Holte).
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There were Sunderland fans on the SMB saying that they couldn’t believe how loud it was. That with The Hole and the North going, it was just a wall of noise.
As an aside, I love reading North East message boards when it comes to fans. Sunderland always take 19,000 to every away game, make a racket everywhere and the opposition only brought up 200 to the SoL, even though there were free rocket packs for each fan.
Sunderland boast about their attendances yet ignore the fact they give away considerable numbers of free tickets for every home game - not just a few hundreds here and there, but thousands and thousands.
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Considering the season we've had, we the fans have been fucking fantastic this season.
Lower North Massive in da house.
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
The vast, vast majority of fans of other clubs would have been going nuts halfway through this season if they had had our results. We didn't, we stuck with the team and the manager to a remarkable degree.
You really don't see that in the PL very much, not even when managers have a good reputation. Look how quickly MON's star fell with Sunderland fans, for instance.
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I've got an old football book - I say old, it's from the early 80s- which gives an overview of all the first division teams. Not particularly brilliant stuff but on the Villa page it describes Villa fans as fickle.
The only reason I knew what fickle meant was because those fortune fish you used to get in Christmas crackers used it
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
The vast, vast majority of fans of other clubs would have been going nuts halfway through this season if they had had our results. We didn't, we stuck with the team and the manager to a remarkable degree.
You really don't see that in the PL very much, not even when managers have a good reputation. Look how quickly MON's star fell with Sunderland fans, for instance.
O'Leary was wrong as well, the obnoxious ******.
At Wycombe, the drinks bar is on the right hand side, opposite the turnstile and the exits. People were not leaving, we were getting the queue for a drink.
Wanker.
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
The vast, vast majority of fans of other clubs would have been going nuts halfway through this season if they had had our results. We didn't, we stuck with the team and the manager to a remarkable degree.
You really don't see that in the PL very much, not even when managers have a good reputation. Look how quickly MON's star fell with Sunderland fans, for instance.
I think we get a bit of 'rep' from the southern-biased media, painting us as moaners (although there can be some truth in that). There was one incident about 'booing' gabby a season or two ago which got blown out of all proportion.
Aside from that, I do think lower prices would have a big impact and discounts for the less well populated parts of the ground. It would be so much better if the ground was regularly properly full and with the new TV deal that should be possible without the clubs finances going down the shitter. Gate income is only 20-25% of income anyway and I think its a bit of a nil sum game. Surely better to sell 40,000 tickets at 15 quid a head than 30,000 at 20 ?
And I have said before, I think people who live within a mile of the ground should get in half price for all the hassle and congestion they put up with every other weekend. That would be a whole new population I dont think we have really connected with - and yes, most are Asian for whom football may not be their first choice leisure activity but why not try. This is ASTON Villa after all, and these are the people who live in ASTON.
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We'd probably be able to offer cheaper tickets if we expanded the capacity. Wasn't an expansion on the cards a few years ago. What's up with that?
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
Not that I agree, but I would say we as a group of fans have a pretty poor reputation. Granted the last few years especially under TSM haven't helped this.
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We'd probably be able to offer cheaper tickets if we expanded the capacity. Wasn't an expansion on the cards a few years ago. What's up with that?
I think that was contingent on getting into the top 4, wed've needed an extra 10,000 seats to accommodate all the plastic fans and tourists that come with Champions' League qualification :P
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
Not that I agree, but I would say we as a group of fans have a pretty poor reputation. Granted the last few years especially under TSM haven't helped this.
As with everything else at Villa we're too big to be patronised and not big enough to be respected.
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Last season we had the bizarre situation of the world and his wife condemning the manager and his brand of football while simultaneously condemning the fans for condemning the manager and his brand of football.
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Last season we had the bizarre situation of the world and his wife condemning the manager and his brand of football while simultaneously condemning the fans for condemning the manager and his brand of football.
That is because they were convinced it wasn't his style of football but that we had disliked him from the start because he came from down the road. It never occurred to them that, because of where he came from, we knew from the start what we were in for when it came to the type of football.
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I think the support this season has been fantastic, we have always been great way from home. However, if you look at our home attendances towards the end of this season when fans realised we were in the shit and really got behind the team. Fans were definitely more supportive of the players and I think that fed through to the team, we have a lot to be proud of this season.
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Interesting to hear people on here describe us as "much maligned" or "fickle".
I've never considered us to be much maligned, far from it, and the only time I have ever really heard the "f" word used in relation to us was regarding that whole O'Leary kerfuffle.
Not that I agree, but I would say we as a group of fans have a pretty poor reputation. Granted the last few years especially under TSM haven't helped this.
I disagree.
I think the vast majority of people don't have an opinion on us as fans, negative or positive. I also think we're too quick to criticise ourselves at times.
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our fans do the whole going mental thing when we score as good as anyone in the world.
Watching from afar, a Villa goal is not complete without seeing our fans going mental. I love it. I've often replayed a goal numerous times not to watch the goal itself but to see our lot celebrating.
This season the fans have been superb, showing both patience and maturity in what the team are trying to do. I mentioned earlier in the season there seems to be a bit of season 1974/75 about the place and Lambert has certainly taken a leaf out of Ron Saunders' book with his constant praise of the fans. He ain't wrong.
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So, we go again? Well, why not? Do you know? Villa are still important! We are Aston Villa...
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our fans do the whole going mental thing when we score as good as anyone in the world.
Watching from afar, a Villa goal is not complete without seeing our fans going mental. I love it. I've often replayed a goal numerous times not to watch the goal itself but to see our lot celebrating.
This season the fans have been superb, showing both patience and maturity in what the team are trying to do. I mentioned earlier in the season there seems to be a bit of season 1974/75 about the place and Lambert has certainly taken a leaf out of Ron Saunders' book with his constant praise of the fans. He ain't wrong.
One of the best mental celebrations has to be Gabby's late winner at small heath, the one after he'd just cleared off the line. I can just keep watching that over and over alongside Peter Withes goal in Rotterdam of course .
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Shouldn't we drag our team over the line for EVERY game not just when we're in the shit.
What could be achieved with the 12th man responding for 90 mins and helping kick the players on EVERY game, instead of for 10 seconds 3 times in 90 minutes.
Fans SUPPORT !
Remember what our greatest manager once said ! (see below)
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I think that being a Villa fan and supporting Aston Villa is and has always been something special.My first experiences were at the end of our tenure in the first division, 67,68,69.
Poor attendances, old time management, Villa Park = hall of memories
Then some vigour, for those of us who were fortunate enough to follow the road back through div 3 to winning the 1st division wow times.
In between we had crap times and crap attendances, what I see now (unfortunately from afar) is that supporting the Villa is almost like the obsession of the 70,s. Taking large numbers of fans away from home, making the most noise and being recognised.
When the Holte is on song and the Trinity stamp their feet and bang their seats no ground is more formidable than Villa Park.
The problem in the last few years is our abysmal home record.
I support the Lambert Transition and see and feel a special relationship developing between the club and fans
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I agree with the comments about how there seems to be a far better relationship between the club and fans. We may have been poor at times, but the fans have stood by the team and I think we recognise they have given their all. Lambert and the players have rightly given praise to the fans, who have been superb. I remember first seeing us in the old third division and the atmosphere was amazing, everyone was seemingly pulling together to get the club back where it belonged
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I think that being a Villa fan and supporting Aston Villa is and has always been something special.My first experiences were at the end of our tenure in the first division, 67,68,69.
Poor attendances, old time management, Villa Park = hall of memories
Then some vigour, for those of us who were fortunate enough to follow the road back through div 3 to winning the 1st division wow times.
In between we had crap times and crap attendances, what I see now (unfortunately from afar) is that supporting the Villa is almost like the obsession of the 70,s. Taking large numbers of fans away from home, making the most noise and being recognised.
When the Holte is on song and the Trinity stamp their feet and bang their seats no ground is more formidable than Villa Park.
The problem in the last few years is our abysmal home record.
I support the Lambert Transition and see and feel a special relationship developing between the club and fans
Started in '62 and got hooked.
The days in Div 3 were a low point for the club but brilliant for support. We used to take over whole towns with 5, 6 thousand going. We were winning and the bandwagon was rolling. Irrespective of the division you're in, fans love following a winning team.
I've been to more away matches this year than I've been to for years and loved every minute, being really proud of the vocal backing we've given our team. Fulham away was amazing - we just never stopped singing, Stoke and Norwich a few weeks ago were great to be a part of. And I love it that Lambert and the players recognise the commitment we make. Definite echoes of the Saunders era too.
I'm gonna be singing my socks off up at Wigan on Sunday, along with 4,000 other wonderful Aston Villa supporters (and a few more who sneak into the "home" seats!) and be walking on air for days afterwards with the thrill of it all.
It's like being 14 again, and we were really shit then!
UTV!
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and today by Tom Watt at 9mins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01shvdv/Fighting_Talk_18_05_2013/
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and today by Tom Watt at 9mins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01shvdv/Fighting_Talk_18_05_2013/
He's a good 'un and always has a lot of respect for us.
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I missed most of 2012 so wasn't sure what to expect when I made my comeback in January. I remembered long periods of nervous silence under Houllier and McLeish but was amazed how everyone seemed so positive now. There seems to be an affinity between us and the players that I haven't seen for years.
This could be the start of something beautiful.
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I think when PL has mentioned that our fans are "in" with what he is trying to do at Villa reflects on the mood of our current support level. Having just had TSM i think we now appreciate the need for a re-building process with limited funds. PL has done this at various teams but he can see how big our club is and how it can be massive once again in terms of achievement. Away from home i think our fans are untouchable. At the Stoke game i was with some of there fans who shook my hand and said it was the best away support they have ever seen .......
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To echo others, the atmosphere at QPR and Sunderland was the amongst rhe nest I've experinced at VP and I've been attending since72.
Phenomonal support.
Our local rivals like to describe us as fickle. They are worse n my view. Anyone who can deride Steve Clarke when they were top 6 before Xmas has to be described as fickle.
UTV
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and today by Tom Watt at 9mins
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01shvdv/Fighting_Talk_18_05_2013/
He's a good 'un and always has a lot of respect for us.
There was another episode of FT when Tom Watt impressed me, can't remember all the details, but he was talking about the game against Arsenal when the skydiver had the accident.
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To echo others, the atmosphere at QPR and Sunderland was the amongst rhe nest I've experinced at VP and I've been attending since72.
Phenomonal support.
Our local rivals like to describe us as fickle.
With regards to the support of our local rivals in comparison to ours, I think the Holte End had it right when they said; "You're not fit to wipe my arse".
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Amazingly loud at times today, there were spells when it seemed more Wigan fans were looking at, and filming, us than the pitch. That said, there were the usual knobbers, especially the one who threw the flare on the pitch and the ones acting lairy trying to get into the area outside the ground.
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Worth putting here as well I guess.
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I think our support has been more fanatical this season than I can ever remember.
Other years you could sense disgruntlement in the air (towards the end of MON's last season, under Houllier and obviously TSM) whereas when things were going well there was a sense that we were just back to where we should be.
This year has felt like villa fans were going to sing no matter what. Last year was as low as anything in a generation and we weren't going to let things get that bad again. We were going to be patient and get behind what Paul Lambert was attempting.
This post is triggered by something I remember from the Fulham away game. Somebody posted on the match-thread that Fulham fans were asking how thousands of villa fans could sing so heartily for something that looked so mediocre on the pitch. I think that sums up the contribution of the twelfth man this season. Immense and surely a factor in this young team finding their feet and showing us what they could do towards the end of the season.
UTV
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Something has changed this season, I can't put my finger on what it is but whatever its been the Lower Holte has found its voice. For too long the Upper Holte has always been the singing section of the ground but this season the Lower has started joining in. I'm going to give the Brigada boys a big shout out here because they got the lower right L1/L2 and L3 going last season and I understand have been doing similar in L7/8 this season. No matter what anyone says that does have an influence and they deserve a lot of credit. Its partly down to the team on the pitch as well giving their all and starting to excite us once more.
But I think the biggest factor is that when the chips have been down we've realised the team need our support and sitting on your arse and expecting to be entertained isn't how it works. Fair play to the North Stand Lower lot as well who have to try and outsing the away fans.
I still maintain the biggest thing Villa could do to enhance the atmosphere at Villa Park would be to try and remodel the Holte so its a single tier and singing as one. Pie in the sky maybe but maybe one day.
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From the Beeb match report.
Buoyed by a vocal away support, many of whom were wearing masks bearing the face of club captain Stiliyan Petrov, who recently announced his retirement from football after a battle with acute leukaemia, Villa took an early lead.
And from Lambert
The fans never once got on our back and they can see what is happening at the football club. We will think now about the areas we can to improve and help the club to progress
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I've seen footage of Lambert after Norwich got the promotion (I think?). He speaks on the pitch into a microphone, addressing the faithful for what a great job they'd done for the season. While we haven't had that opportunity he's mentioned us quite a few times in interviews, he understands the effects of positivity and that 'the 12th man' can make a difference. It's understandable that managers as busy as they are, can't always openly address this aspect of the club they're managing, Lambert on the other hand is smart enough to utilise it but also understand that lots of ordinary people are putting their hard earned towards a club and it aint cheap.
Regardless of him addressing us, I think we've responded in kind due to him being so proactive since he arrived and sticking to his guns. You can also tell he cares for the club he is in charge of and that it's not all about him as compared with the David O'Leary's of this world.
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Something has changed this season, I can't put my finger on what it is but whatever its been the Lower Holte has found its voice. For too long the Upper Holte has always been the singing section of the ground but this season the Lower has started joining in. I'm going to give the Brigada boys a big shout out here because they got the lower right L1/L2 and L3 going last season and I understand have been doing similar in L7/8 this season. No matter what anyone says that does have an influence and they deserve a lot of credit. Its partly down to the team on the pitch as well giving their all and starting to excite us once more.
But I think the biggest factor is that when the chips have been down we've realised the team need our support and sitting on your arse and expecting to be entertained isn't how it works. Fair play to the North Stand Lower lot as well who have to try and outsing the away fans.
I still maintain the biggest thing Villa could do to enhance the atmosphere at Villa Park would be to try and remodel the Holte so its a single tier and singing as one. Pie in the sky maybe but maybe one day.
A big part of the lower Holte noise can be attributed to Brigada who have been superb
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Our fans were fighting with each other at about 8pm last night in Wigan.
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Where was that ads?
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The pub oppoisite the station towards the bridge, then up at the Weatherspoons near Kings Street.
One bloke was bottled and smacked his head off the pavement. No idea what it was about.
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The pub opposite the station there was 2 lads from blackburn, 1 of them punched a big bloke and knocked him out. Wasn't villa on villa.
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From the West Ham game onwards there seemed to be a rise in the level of noise - I said to a guy at work we don't sing anymore we shout, we scream blue murder - remember my mate losing the power of rational speech during the second hald against QPR - he just roared and yawped - celebrations were mad as well!
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Quite frankly our fans have been superb this season and capped off wonderfully yesterday. They have been a credit to the club.
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http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/115308
nice things being said about us this morning. click on the 0700-0730 section and go to 20:37. short but sweet.
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From the West Ham game onwards there seemed to be a rise in the level of noise - I said to a guy at work we don't sing anymore we shout, we scream blue murder - remember my mate losing the power of rational speech during the second hald against QPR - he just roared and yawped - celebrations were mad as well!
I was at the West Ham game and it was the loudest Villa Park I ever witnessed even though it was the lowest attendance I had seen.
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http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/115308
nice things being said about us this morning. click on the 0700-0730 section and go to 20:37. short but sweet.
That's John Cross. He' shares our thoughts about MON too.
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The fans yesterday were superb.
I felt honoured to be part of it.
Throwing the flare at Al Habsi was dumb but other than that I saw no trouble.
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Did he pay to watch Villains sing or watch a match?
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
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Great videos
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
yes they went out of fashion in the 70s.
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Something has changed this season, I can't put my finger on what it is but whatever its been the Lower Holte has found its voice. For too long the Upper Holte has always been the singing section of the ground but this season the Lower has started joining in. I'm going to give the Brigada boys a big shout out here because they got the lower right L1/L2 and L3 going last season and I understand have been doing similar in L7/8 this season. No matter what anyone says that does have an influence and they deserve a lot of credit. Its partly down to the team on the pitch as well giving their all and starting to excite us once more.
But I think the biggest factor is that when the chips have been down we've realised the team need our support and sitting on your arse and expecting to be entertained isn't how it works. Fair play to the North Stand Lower lot as well who have to try and outsing the away fans.
I still maintain the biggest thing Villa could do to enhance the atmosphere at Villa Park would be to try and remodel the Holte so its a single tier and singing as one. Pie in the sky maybe but maybe one day.
I believe ticket prices changed meaning that it's far cheaper to sit in the Lower Holte as opposed to the sides. An example of this in action would be the Reading game back in, I believe, November. Crap attendance below 30,000, but the Holte was full and loud, with the doug ellis and trinity stands being pretty barren.
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
I don't mind them, as long as i'm not too near them. Love the after smell, reminds me of playing with cap guns as kid.
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
I don't mind them, as long as i'm not too near them. Love the after smell, reminds me of playing with cap guns as kid.
Exactly what Chico and I were saying too. If it weren't for the booze we would have felt like 8 year olds yesterday
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If it weren't for the booze we would have felt like 8 year olds yesterday
Felt like an 80 year old when I had to get up for work yesterday morning. Must have had a dodgy pie or summat...
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If it weren't for the booze we would have felt like 8 year olds yesterday
Felt like an 80 year old when I had to get up for work yesterday morning. Must have had a dodgy pie or summat...
It wasn't what was in the pie it was how many you had you Porker.
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It was mostly alll good natured, but a few got a bit tipsy. A few lads off our coach were informed they wouldn't be joining us for the journey home.
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Thanks for posting the videos.
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
yes they went out of fashion in the 70s.
Shit, why wasn't I told? What am I going to wear to the Discotheque on Friday night?
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Talking about Villa fans...I do wonder how many of us foreign/abroad fans there are as I don't think there's big following in Finland, for example in biggest finnish football forum there's 9 page season topic of Villa and almost 100 page long season topic of Newcastle.
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I've been to Finland and it is shit. No wonder they prefer Newcastle
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I've been to Finland and it is shit. No wonder they prefer Newcastle
In Helsinki aka Hells' Sink? :D
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Talking about Villa fans...I do wonder how many of us foreign/abroad fans there are as I don't think there's big following in Finland, for example in biggest finnish football forum there's 9 page season topic of Villa and almost 100 page long season topic of Newcastle.
Flew into Lappeenranta on the way to St Petersburg last month.
On the walk into town spotted a local lad (which I guessed by the school uniform) with a Villa hat and Villa scarf. Was going to serenade him with 'small town in Finland, you're just a small town in Flnland,' but thought better of it.
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No, only the north as it goes. Always wanted to go to Helsinki
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I've been to Helsinki.
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I've been to Helsinki, but I've never been to me.
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I've been to Helsinki, but I've never been to me.
I've been to Darlo, and kissed Ken Barlow
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Talking about Villa fans...I do wonder how many of us foreign/abroad fans there are as I don't think there's big following in Finland, for example in biggest finnish football forum there's 9 page season topic of Villa and almost 100 page long season topic of Newcastle.
Flew into Lappeenranta on the way to St Petersburg last month.
On the walk into town spotted a local lad (which I guessed by the school uniform) with a Villa hat and Villa scarf. Was going to serenade him with 'small town in Finland, you're just a small town in Flnland,' but thought better of it.
Hmh, we don't have school uniforms in public schools and we have so few private schools that I have no idea do they have uniforms. Must've been good lad though :P.
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Can I have your life, please.
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I've been to Helsinki, but I've never been to me.
I've been to Darlo, and kissed Ken Barlow
Moved like Barlow in Monte Carlo...
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I caught a plane from BHX to Copenhagen on the Tuesday after the Sunderland game and there were about a dozen Danish Villains inboard. I loved it :)
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I would imagine our Irish following is the biggest. The last time I was in Dublin, there were more Villa shirts than Yanited and Liverpool put together.
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Watch a match I guess considering the game was halted for most of that video due to the flare on the pitch.
May I just say, flares are an absolute pain in the arse at football games. Thank you.
yes they went out of fashion in the 70s.
Shit, why wasn't I told? What am I going to wear to the Discotheque on Friday night?
Your basque and fishnets like you normally do.
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I would imagine our Irish following is the biggest. The last time I was in Dublin, there were more Villa shirts than Yanited and Liverpool put together.
Heaps. No surprise that the Irish Lions were supporters club of the year. I see villa shirts everywhere I go.
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I've never been to Ireland, but Mrs Walnuts went in the 90s with an ex of hers, and says it was crawling with Villa fans at the time.
I'd expect it was mostly due to us having so many of the Irish national team at the time.
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The Villa have generally always had a tremendous vociferous travelling support in my opinion and as other people have commented that the home games have been rather passionate especially in the Lower Holte.
only black mark this season away at Bradford, it all got abit moody and at the end of the game being "offered outside" by another rather heavily pissed Villa fan for not wanting to join in the baiting and goading of the Bradford fans.
UTV
the Doc
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All the Irish who live , and come on holiday over here follow Villa. During the main holiday season, when the first few games are played you cannot move for Irish lads wearing new Villa shirts. It is rather tremendous.
I should say the lads over the age of 35, not the young lads. Ta.