Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: warleyboy on July 08, 2013, 05:24:03 PM
-
I spent last week up Carlisle with the wife's family and during a family gathering, and a few beers, we ended up chatting footy business....
There were a couple of Carlisle lads, a manc red, Geordie and Mackem.
And although the chat got a bit heated towards the end, I was pleasantly suprised on how they saw our great club.
They all seemed to agree that Benteke was to good for us, but praised our youth academy, Lambo's vision, but most of all loved coming to villa park as they said it had kept that old traditional feel to the stadium and ground.
Which got me pondering, is this a good or bad thing, yes, it is good to know that maybe we are appreciated across the land, but do other teams players actually enjoy playing at our great stadium with no fear....
-
I'd have stopped listening at 'Benteke is too good for us'. Cheeky bastards.
-
Phil Neville's favourite ground was VP cos it was quaint, cute and a comfy three points.
-
I'd have stopped listening at 'Benteke is too good for us'. Cheeky bastards.
This
-
Phil Neville's favourite ground was VP cos it was quaint, cute and a comfy three points.
Every footballer seems to say that. Every season I notice players say the favourite away ground is either FUuham or Villa.
-
I doubt if any Sunderland player would agree.
-
I've lived away from Brum for over 20 years now and fans from others clubs always have good words to say about Villa Park. A lot of people like the traditional 4 individual stands as opposed to the all round bowl style with corners that is more common these days.
-
I've lived away from Brum for over 20 years now and fans from others clubs always have good words to say about Villa Park. A lot of people like the traditional 4 individual stands as opposed to the all round bowl style with corners that is more common these days.
This for me - not many fans of any club say anything other than complimentary things. As one exclied Hammers fan here said to me often enough 'Villa Park! That's a proper football ground'
-
This is the thing that struck me, surely if all fans enjoy coming to VP, then the players must as well.
Me personally, I want em coming and thinking, tough game, tough fans and food tastes like shite, not looking forward to it......
-
This is the thing that struck me, surely if all fans enjoy coming to VP, then the players must as well.
Me personally, I want em coming and thinking, tough game, tough fans and food tastes like shite, not looking forward to it......
Why do you want supporters to be treated badly?
-
This is the thing that struck me, surely if all fans enjoy coming to VP, then the players must as well.
Me personally, I want em coming and thinking, tough game, tough fans and food tastes like shite, not looking forward to it......
Why do you want supporters to be treated badly?
More about the players than the fans Dave, wouldn't it be great to have teams thinking, shit, villa next game, hate it there, tough ground to go to.
-
Warley.....and it could be next season if Benteke stays.
Im just glad our reputation has been enhanced since the bad old days of McLeish when our type and style of footy was plain embarrassing
-
This is the thing that struck me, surely if all fans enjoy coming to VP, then the players must as well.
Me personally, I want em coming and thinking, tough game, tough fans and food tastes like shite, not looking forward to it......
Why do you want supporters to be treated badly?
More about the players than the fans Dave, wouldn't it be great to have teams thinking, shit, villa next game, hate it there, tough ground to go to.
Fair does. They'll always like it though. In fact, that's one of the reasons why we have such a bad home record. Everything about the place screams class and makes players think they want to play well here. The surroundings are too good for the team - it's a bit like Anfield in that respect.
-
We need to revamp the away dressing room to look like that bathroom out of Train Spotting.
-
The day we start rationing the hot water in the away dressing rooms and making the walk to Witton station like a violent rat-run is the day Villa stops being Villa.
-
I always bracket us with Everton as being a "proper" football club, and stats help back that up, longest time in top flight, most matches played and most internationals provided to england. Two proper stadiums, though VP is more modern, and I think similar fans, I always seem to get on better with Toffee fans than from any other club.
-
I always bracket us with Everton as being a "proper" football club, and stats help back that up, longest time in top flight, most matches played and most internationals provided to england. Two proper stadiums, though VP is more modern, and I think similar fans, I always seem to get on better with Toffee fans than from any other club.
As we've said on here before, we seem to have respect for them, they for some reason can't stand us. Maybe it's because we are the one club who know our 'istory as well as they do.
-
Ferguson always respected our history and tradition etc and I think that's why his teams always performed well. Others enjoyed the day out whereas he made his teams thinks it was a big match.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
Sounds spot on to me.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
Sounds spot on to me.
The great ground bit, yeah.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
Sounds spot on to me.
The great ground bit, yeah.
It isn't intimidating. It never has been.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
Sounds spot on to me.
The great ground bit, yeah.
It isn't intimidating. It never has been.
I have to agree.
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
Isn't he ex-Blues? Sounds like a pathetic dig to me.
Sounds spot on to me.
The great ground bit, yeah.
It isn't intimidating. It never has been.
I have to agree.
Fair enough.
-
When we get going there's few grounds that can match it for atmosphere but in terms of putting the opposition off, no chance.
-
It is sometimes, but not often enough. Then again, how many grounds are these days?
-
er Millwall and Bradford?
-
The most memorable time that I can recall when we put the opposition off their game was when we beat Chelsea and saw Mourinho off. I can't really remember another one, but that night their players just seemed to be fazed by the noise and hostility.
-
inter 2-0 josef Venglos Claret n blue army
-
The day we start rationing the hot water in the away dressing rooms and making the walk to Witton station like a violent rat-run is the day Villa stops being Villa.
The showers in the old away changing rooms used to have pedals to make the water come through. They may have modernised them in more recent times but they were still like it in the seventies.
-
inter 2-0 josef Venglos Claret n blue army
The penalty win was even noisier. Ferguson referred to it as a 'Wall of Noise'
-
I heard a Bolton player - Keith Andrew I think - on 5 Live last season summarising one of our home games. He said that players loved coming to play at Villa Park, partly because it was a great ground but also because it was not intimidating
That'll be the same Keith Andrews who has lost EVERY GAME he's ever played at Villa Park, right?
-
They all very lucky...very very lucky, the players and supporters of visiting clubs, to to experience the pleasure of coming to Villa Park.
-
I don't know where this quote comes from, but there's a book somewhere which says about VP;
"When the away team scored, you could hear the noise all over Aston, but when the home team scored, you could hear the roar in Walsall".
-
I don't know where this quote comes from, but there's a book somewhere which says about VP;
"When the away team scored, you could hear the noise all over Aston, but when the home team scored, you could hear the roar in Walsall".
Now you can barely hear the noise on Witton island.
-
Heard some Cockenees moaning how difficult it was to get to VP for England v Portugal on Sven's National Team Tour,about as bad as once hearing some Yanks saying they ought to install a moving walkway....this being at Pompeii.
-
When Villa Park is rocking it is a wonderful place to be, as good as anywhere in England, and the atmosphere really lifts the Villa team. Very rarely does the atmosphere intimidate the opposition though - as somebody pointed out above, possibly the 2-0 v Mourinho's Chelsea in 2007 was the last time.
-
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we beat Manure in the League Cup Semi-Final in 1971 will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we turned over 1st division Southampton in a FA Cup replay in 1969 will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we turned over Arsenal in a FA Cup replay (Sammy Morgan game) will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Shall I continue?
-
Mr Shelly,please do for us young uns,best I remember was against the Arsenal Xmas 1989,winning 2-1
-
Please do.
-
Sunderland last season was epic. Best atmosphere for years. I'm so glad I didn't miss it, i'd have been gutted. Inconsolable even.
-
Sunderland 1975!
-
I misssed that,however thought the QPR was good ,how many times better was it ?
-
-
Mr Shelly, I must have been standing next to you at each of those games.
If I may add, Most games at home to the scum from Brum.
Bouremouth, the Mcdougall game, European games at home at the end of the 70,s
The Tesco Bags, many times. Any Albion fan leaving Villa Park after breaking Cropleys leg,were stuffing their scarves in in their coats and trying to talk posh.
Sorry, we may not have much to excite us in the last couple of years, but give us the reason and Villa Park would be a Fortress and wall of noise.
Sorry, I forgot the 5.1 at home against L.'The Mighty Reds YNWA'.
Any independent view should not be measuring us in isolation, if we were to step back and view the atmosphere,s of the past against the current sterile all seating stadia of the present, then everyones game has changed.
who has a better sound support than us when we are on song?
sorry maybe this should be in the memories thread
-
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we beat Manure in the League Cup Semi-Final in 1971 will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we turned over 1st division Southampton in a FA Cup replay in 1969 will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Anyone who was at Villa Park when we turned over Arsenal in a FA Cup replay (Sammy Morgan game) will know what Villa Park is like when it's rocking.
Shall I continue?
Yes, Bob Wilson - "What is that the Villa fans are chanting - six foot two, eyes of blue, Sammy Morgan's after you. Oh sh*t, I have let a goal in!"
-
I don't know where this quote comes from, but there's a book somewhere which says about VP;
"When the away team scored, you could hear the noise all over Aston, but when the home team scored, you could hear the roar in Walsall".
Now you can barely hear the noise on Witton island.
I remember going one time I think it was against Leeds when we still had the old Holte. It was still quite a while before kick off, but you could clearly hear the 'who the fuckin hell are you' from under the expressway
-
Sunderland last season was epic. Best atmosphere for years. I'm so glad I didn't miss it, i'd have been gutted. Inconsolable even.
I will hunt you down and subject you to a serious finger-wagging for that.
-
Sunderland last season was epic. Best atmosphere for years. I'm so glad I didn't miss it, i'd have been gutted. Inconsolable even.
I will hunt you down and subject you to a serious finger-wagging for that.
Kinky!
-
Regarding when Villa Park is rocking but firstly can I just say to those people who have addressed me as Mr Shelley; my name is David, Dave if you wish and I like to think that we're all friends of sorts on here regardless of age. I thank you for your manners and they are appreciated but please feel free to address me by my first name. Besides when anyone calls me Mr I think I owe them money!
Back on topic. One of my earliest memories of the Old Girl cranking up the volume was a 5th round FA Cup tie against Preston in 1960. There was a media love-in at the time with Preston during this cup run as Tom Finney (a wonderful footballer) was still playing for them. The mass media had this down for a Preston win with the exception of one journo who was with the Express I think. Anyway we beat them 2-0 and Finney didn't get a look in. The noise was unbelievable.
Next up in my memory bank was when we played a league game against (topically) media darlings Tottenham Hotspur who were champions and had a team of pure quality. IIRC we were a goal down at half time and second half saw an equaliser from Derek Dougan and the whole place erupted, I didn't think I'd ever heard noise like it but I was wrong, it was nothing compared to the noise when we got what turned out to be the winner. That was the only time I ever ran on to the pitch at Villa Park, I touched Jimmy Greaves!
Again in the early sixties, prior to beating the Noses 5-1, we did them 6-2 and that was another incredible noisefest. This was made so much better for my old man as he found two quid on the ground on the way out.
We came back from 0-2 down versus Tommy Docherty's Chelsea in the sixties too. Terrific made all the more satisfying as they were on the up and we were shit.
It's not just when Villa are playing at home that the Old Girl cranks up. For years until the money men took the game away from us, we used to stage FA Cup semi-finals and in fairness to supporters of all the clubs that played there they brought their own brand of atmosphere and this was enhanced by the magical surroundings. I attended many of those matches over the years.
Another match I remember was a sad occasion when Villa Park staged a re-arranged match between Highgate United and another club the name of which escapes me at the moment. This was a cup game of some sorts and was abandoned due to players being struck by lightening unfortunately killing one. IIRC there were approximately 33k people from around the West Midlands that night and the atmosphere and noise was formidable. I think the other team may have been Hendon, not sure.
There has been mention of other games that I was in attendance for in other posts so I won't repeat them but there has been some great walls of sound when we've played Manure over the years. Funnily enough we used to do quite well against them in the 70's. I remember Andy Gray scored against them in one match and then flicked the V's to there supporters on the way back to the centre circle for kick off. They'd been giving him some stick.
Another Manure match was when we were promoted in 1975 and they went on to be champions of the old second division with The Doc as manager. We played them off the park that day and the noise was again tremendous. I was convinced that if there had been another six games to the season we would have been champions and not them, such was the roll we were on
The atmosphere at Villa Park is unique, unlike anywhere when the Old Girl dictates. Check out your old pictures of Villa Park and study the old Trinity Road stand and the Witton Lane stand pre-1966. Those stands had wooden flooring and when the customers decided it was time to stamp and ramp it up the noise was make your ears bleed. Especially when the Trinity Road stand woke up.
I have hundreds of memories of that magnificent edifice that is Villa Park, and if I ever meet any of you I will gladly share them. For all you young people reading this, your turn will come, believe me it will and never forget you and only you are the future of this great club so every time you go crank up the noise another decibel and you'll find the Old Girl won't let you down.
Sorry for the long post. Mods move to memories if you think fit.
-
Dave It was Enfield and Tony Allden was the player who died. What I remember from the match was that it was raining heavily but the atmosphere was tremendous I believe over 30,000 turned out that foul night to show their respects.
-
Thanks Ron, you're right it was Enfield, I knew it was a team from down that way but just couldn't recall. I think I may still have the programme somewhere, not too sure.
It really was an atmosphere to remember that night. Would I be right in saying that a young Graham Allner was playing for Highgate at that time or am I being a bit previous?
-
Thanks Ron, you're right it was Enfield, I knew it was a team from down that way but just couldn't recall. I think I may still have the programme somewhere, not too sure.
It really was an atmosphere to remember that night. Would I be right in saying that a young Graham Allner was playing for Highgate at that time or am I being a bit previous?
Dont know that Dave. Saw him play for Alvechurch a few times when I lived that way.
-
Fred a rather lovely 85 year old gentleman that lives in our village is a huge QPR fan.....he has nothing but the finest words and admiration for the Villa.
UTV
The Doc
-
I remember when I was pretty young the shock I got when walking out of Aston station in the 1988 FA Cup game against Liverpool. It was well before kick off but I could hear the Holte singing loud it really amazed me. When Villa Park rocks it rocks.
-
I always bracket us with Everton as being a "proper" football club, and stats help back that up, longest time in top flight, most matches played and most internationals provided to england. Two proper stadiums, though VP is more modern, and I think similar fans, I always seem to get on better with Toffee fans than from any other club.
As we've said on here before, we seem to have respect for them, they for some reason can't stand us. Maybe it's because we are the one club who know our 'istory as well as they do.
And more, we've won the big one and they had the chance taken away from their best ever team.