I think most of us are going to be pretty silent anyway as we watch Liverpool batter us.I know we are not a very exciting team but why do you just assume Liverpool are going to batter us?
I think most of us are going to be pretty silent anyway as we watch Liverpool batter us.I know we are not a very exciting team but why do you just assume Liverpool are going to batter us?
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
Can't see this form of 'protest' working, telling a couple of hundred people on a web forum to boycott 8 minutes will barely register a blip on the clubs radar....the original '£' sign is the only protest I remember having any real traction. Spontaneous outpouring of vitriol at Lambert & Lerner if the game is going badly is the only way of getting an immediate message across.
Agree just boycott Stoke game in it's entirety may work betterfuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
protesting during games helps no-one
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
protesting during games helps no-one
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
protesting during games helps no-one
I agree. Write, email, whatever but support the team during the match.
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerThere will be people who will not want to support this.
Well said. Everyone is entitled to support / protest in their own way and there is no need to tell people to "fuck off"fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerThere will be people who will not want to support this.
Equally, there will be people who do. This may including season ticket holders, or people who have attended for years, maybe decades.
You are telling them they can't show their frustration and displeasure at the way they see the club going.
Are you a better fan than them, then ?
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
protesting during games helps no-one
I agree. Write, email, whatever but support the team during the match.
or just stay away and save your pennies
I quite liked the silent protest I saw on YouTube with one of the Swedish teams. Full house, but it was eerily quiet for a set period of time before they all started going mental with their support.
I think a silent protest would be very easy to organise.
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a cornerHere is a good example of "in - fighting"
This is the sort of thing we saw Saturday
protesting during games helps no-one
I agree. Write, email, whatever but support the team during the match.
or just stay away and save your pennies
or go and voice your opinion on how your club is being run.
I hate that song "We want our Villa back".
I quite liked the silent protest I saw on YouTube with one of the Swedish teams. Full house, but it was eerily quiet for a set period of time before they all started going mental with their support.
I think a silent protest would be very easy to organise.
I like the cardboard arrows pointing at the goal idea. If they all said Lambert Out, even better.
I quite liked the silent protest I saw on YouTube with one of the Swedish teams. Full house, but it was eerily quiet for a set period of time before they all started going mental with their support.
I think a silent protest would be very easy to organise.
Oh what a laugh the rest of us will have when we score the only two goals of the game inside the first eight minutes!
We've not really been 'battered' by anybody this season. It wouldn't surprise me if we're properly taken apart a couple of times between now and May, but I'd be amazed if the team doing it is the current Liverpool side at Villa Park.
The best protest would be for all to turn up at the game five minutes after kick off, potentially causing the game to be delayed. Better if it was for a televised game.That sounds dangerous
I think we should make our displeasure known by leaving in our droves 10-12 minutes before the final whistle, regardless of whether we are winning or losing... oh wait a minute :)
Before Baker was injured and Clark came in, he was also one of our better players.We've not really been 'battered' by anybody this season. It wouldn't surprise me if we're properly taken apart a couple of times between now and May, but I'd be amazed if the team doing it is the current Liverpool side at Villa Park.
It would not have flattered Leicester had it been 5 or 6 last week. Clark was one of our better players and is out now. Baker and Okore have not had much of a chance to play together either. I could easily see a Liverpool side who have been looking slightly more lively the last couple of weeks getting 2-3 up on us and it turning very acidic this weekend.
fuck off with your protest. If you want to protest then do so by not going. I will be there supporting my team and hoping that my support will help us to get something out of the game and maybe, just maybe, turn a corner
If my infrequent visits to Vilka Park are anything to go by, at least half the ground leave it until 3.05 to take their seats anyway, as they shuffle past muttering sorry with a cup of coffee in each hand.Don't know why you go to Vilka Park? At Villa Park coffee is served at your seat.
Before Baker was injured and Clark came in, he was also one of our better players.We've not really been 'battered' by anybody this season. It wouldn't surprise me if we're properly taken apart a couple of times between now and May, but I'd be amazed if the team doing it is the current Liverpool side at Villa Park.
It would not have flattered Leicester had it been 5 or 6 last week. Clark was one of our better players and is out now. Baker and Okore have not had much of a chance to play together either. I could easily see a Liverpool side who have been looking slightly more lively the last couple of weeks getting 2-3 up on us and it turning very acidic this weekend.
I could probably see Liverpool going a couple of goals ahead as well. It's certainly more likely than us going a couple of goals up. As Ads says, it'll probably be 1-1, 0-0 or 0-1.
But even if we lose 2-0 or even 3-0 to Liverpool, that wouldn't be a 'hammering'.
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.
As apposed to the excellent way the team have been playing and scoring loads of goals and grabbing three points each match, whilst the fans have been generally supportive?
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.
As apposed to the excellent way the team have been playing and scoring loads of goals and grabbing three points each match, whilst the fans have been generally supportive?
The fans at home aren't supportive. Villa Park is a reaction crowd and there has been nothing to react too, so its been quiet.
I think its a distraction and booing itself never helps. We were as bad as we have been all season against Leicester so the response was probably predictable.
The best and most effective protest, if you want to do it, is to stay away.
The best protest would be for all to turn up at the game five minutes after kick off, potentially causing the game to be delayed. Better if it was for a televised game.That sounds dangerous
Have to disagree mate !
The best protest would be for all to turn up at the game five minutes after kick off, potentially causing the game to be delayed. Better if it was for a televised game.That sounds dangerous
As does the idea of having everyone with a ticket in the Holte waiting in the concourses while the game kicks off. It is pretty cramped on match days, so I can't imagine what it would be like if everyone is down there. Then there is the issue of everyone trying to get to their seat at the same time.
Aston Villa supporters are being urged to 'vacate the Holte End' for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool in a protest against the running of the club.
A letter posted on the www.thevillablog.co.uk/ . www.myoldmansaid.com, and www.avillafan.com calls for fans to show a united front and vote with their feet to make a statement against the club.
QuoteAston Villa supporters are being urged to 'vacate the Holte End' for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool in a protest against the running of the club.
That sounds a brilliant idea.QuoteA letter posted on the www.thevillablog.co.uk/ . www.myoldmansaid.com, and www.avillafan.com calls for fans to show a united front and vote with their feet to make a statement against the club.
What a shit idea.
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.It could be argued that getting behind the team hasn't done us any good either.
This could divide the fans even further which plays into Lerners hands
Equally sitting doing nothing isn't an option
I'll look on you ad a 'blood brother' ;-)Have to disagree mate !
get your own name :-)
I don't think you should protest during a game. I don't think it does the team any good.It could be argued that getting behind the team hasn't done us any good either.
Probably yes . Still I think a good number will partake. Of course if we muster a win somehow this will all be quickly forgotten for a few weeksThis could divide the fans even further which plays into Lerners hands
Equally sitting doing nothing isn't an option
Doing 'nothing' is exactly what the majority of people will be doing, i.e. completely ignoring it.
I thought the 11th minute round of applause for our league goals was a better idea.What if we score in the first 10 mins do we move it to the 12th minute?
I thought the 11th minute round of applause for our league goals was a better idea.What if we score in the first 10 mins do we move it to the 12th minute?
Lets just hope we aren't three up after 8 minutes we will look right morons.
Does anyone remember the red card protest in about 1989, it was, I think, against Man U 0-0, can't remember what it was about though.
This protest won't work, it'll be half arsed and make us look bellends. I prefer a large banner with "we're shit...get over it"
Does anyone remember the red card protest in about 1989, it was, I think, against Man U 0-0, can't remember what it was about though.
Does anybody know the capacity of The Holte end please ?
Where are 13500 fans going to stand for 8 minutes?In the pie queue like most weeks
Haha silly me of course. Health and safety might not be happy with people all standing around a concourse then piling up to their seats at exactly the same time.At the end of the day id be surprised if more than say 1500-2000 take part in this
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
Et tu Brute!Have to disagree mate !
get your own name :-)
Does anybody know the capacity of The Holte end please ?
13,472
Where are 13500 fans going to stand for 8 minutes?
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
Nice sentiment but it's dated and too wordy.I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
Seems like quite a few posters on here may have framed copies of that image above their mantelpiece. Deference to supposed authority still alive and well on H&V.
I hope this fails to happen as it's so small time, what do the organisers think will happen after 8mins? that they will march in being welcomed like heroes?
They will be laughed at by everyone around the country because it's pointless, they want change but so does Lerner (who wont be there to see it). If a billionaire were to be interested then I'm sure Lerner would be only too happy to sit down with him and do the deal. You can protest for 8 or 82mins it isn't going to change that fact that as far as we know no one has the money or interest to buy Aston Villa right now.
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
Nice. I like it.
Where are 13500 fans going to stand for 8 minutes?
I think someone should knock up a "Don't tell Steve Emerson i'm here" banner.
Somebody with more time than me should knock up one of these, changing 'Labour' to 'Lambert', 'Unemployment Office' to 'Holte End Exit' and 'Villa's better off without Lambert'.
(https://cdn.urbantimes.co/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/poster-21.jpg)
Nice. I like it.
It just reminds me of the opening credits of the original Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
I have a feeling that any type of crowd hanging around underneath the concourses will be asked to go to their seats or be ejected, at which point they will complain that the club are being unfair in not allowing them to create a hazard.
I have a feeling that any type of crowd hanging around underneath the concourses will be asked to go to their seats or be ejected, at which point they will complain that the club are being unfair in not allowing them to create a hazard.
That wouldn't happen at all though. A few thousand people aren't going to be ejected. They'll just wait for the eight minutes to elapse and let the people take their seats again. Trying to throw that many people out could get pretty ugly and create a far bigger hazard. Better to wait a few minutes and let it all blow over.
Personally I wish the protesters well. Better that the fans start doing something than just meekly accepting whatever shit is served their way. We've been doing that for far too long.
I have a feeling that any type of crowd hanging around underneath the concourses will be asked to go to their seats or be ejected, at which point they will complain that the club are being unfair in not allowing them to create a hazard.
That wouldn't happen at all though. A few thousand people aren't going to be ejected. They'll just wait for the eight minutes to elapse and let the people take their seats again. Trying to throw that many people out could get pretty ugly and create a far bigger hazard. Better to wait a few minutes and let it all blow over.
Personally I wish the protesters well. Better that the fans start doing something than just meekly accepting whatever shit is served their way. We've been doing that for far too long.
You reckon the police will happily let crowds gather without doing something?
I have a feeling that any type of crowd hanging around underneath the concourses will be asked to go to their seats or be ejected, at which point they will complain that the club are being unfair in not allowing them to create a hazard.
That wouldn't happen at all though. A few thousand people aren't going to be ejected. They'll just wait for the eight minutes to elapse and let the people take their seats again. Trying to throw that many people out could get pretty ugly and create a far bigger hazard. Better to wait a few minutes and let it all blow over.
Personally I wish the protesters well. Better that the fans start doing something than just meekly accepting whatever shit is served their way. We've been doing that for far too long.
You reckon the police will happily let crowds gather without doing something?
Yes.
If it went on significantly longer than eight minutes then of course they might do something. But otherwise they'd let it play out. It is only eight minutes afterall. Trying to eject a few thousand people could easily make things a whole lot worse. Police prefer 'soft policing' these days in these situations.
On the bright side, if all the Villa fans are in the concourse rather than their seats, it'll make spotting undercover daytripping gloryhunters much easier to spot.
The stewards could send in snatch squads.
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Is anyone else getting a bit tired of the general "stand up / applaud / take a swig of your Bovril / pick your nose / leave your seat / take your seat on x minutes where "x" is a number with some relevance to what ever they're referring to" thing?
This protest is a stupid idea because, even if you can get over the whole thing of how it will be perceived and what it will actually achieve, the "8" doesn't even have any relevance to what they're complaining about.
I am as depressed as the next man at the last four years and the increasing pointlessness of our situation, as well as the dreadful "leadership" shown by Lerner, but of those eight years, the first four were absolutely nothing to complain about.
And I hereby predict that that "8 years they're saying, but what about the first 4" is precisely the thing these dimwits will get picked up on in the media, which will only increase external support (think Joey Barton last week) for Lambert.
it all looks pretty fucking stupid to me, on a number of levels.
It's interesting that the media have only seemed to "get" the state of Villa under lambert after the fans gave him some stick last weekend. Before then, we were getting the usual, ignorant "he's doing a good job with his hands tied" type of lazy analysis from pundits. So, in that sense, protesting/booing etc can raise awareness. And, in my opinion, sitting quietly and meekly accepting the pile of absolute shite that we regularly get served makes it look to outsiders as if we don't want any change
Is anyone else getting a bit tired of the general "stand up / applaud / take a swig of your Bovril / pick your nose / leave your seat / take your seat on x minutes where "x" is a number with some relevance to what ever they're referring to" thing?
This protest is a stupid idea because, even if you can get over the whole thing of how it will be perceived and what it will actually achieve, the "8" doesn't even have any relevance to what they're complaining about.
I am as depressed as the next man at the last four years and the increasing pointlessness of our situation, as well as the dreadful "leadership" shown by Lerner, but of those eight years, the first four were absolutely nothing to complain about.
And I hereby predict that that "8 years they're saying, but what about the first 4" is precisely the thing these dimwits will get picked up on in the media, which will only increase external support (think Joey Barton last week) for Lambert.
it all looks pretty fucking stupid to me, on a number of levels.
Yes it's all a bit stupid but at least it draws the media's attention to the atrocious way Aston Villa is run from top to bottom. We hardly get a mention in the media these days so anything that shines the spotlight on the damage Lerner and Lambert are inflicting onto the club is fine by me.
Is anyone else getting a bit tired of the general "stand up / applaud / take a swig of your Bovril / pick your nose / leave your seat / take your seat on x minutes where "x" is a number with some relevance to what ever they're referring to" thing?
This protest is a stupid idea because, even if you can get over the whole thing of how it will be perceived and what it will actually achieve, the "8" doesn't even have any relevance to what they're complaining about.
I am as depressed as the next man at the last four years and the increasing pointlessness of our situation, as well as the dreadful "leadership" shown by Lerner, but of those eight years, the first four were absolutely nothing to complain about.
And I hereby predict that that "8 years they're saying, but what about the first 4" is precisely the thing these dimwits will get picked up on in the media, which will only increase external support (think Joey Barton last week) for Lambert.
it all looks pretty fucking stupid to me, on a number of levels.
Yes it's all a bit stupid but at least it draws the media's attention to the atrocious way Aston Villa is run from top to bottom. We hardly get a mention in the media these days so anything that shines the spotlight on the damage Lerner and Lambert are inflicting onto the club is fine by me.
But that doesn't mean it is going to be positive attention, does it?
Wait and see, but if it happens, I bet you what you like we're all on here after MOTD that evening moaning about how they started talking about what a great job Lambert is doing etc etc
When Newcastle fans were getting angry about Pardew and Ashley a few months back, I seem to remember that most of the coverage was along the lines of "look at these oiks and their bedsheets, protesting about something and nothing with their unrealistic expectations". Rather than actually putting much scrutiny on Pardew's record over the last couple of seasons.Is anyone else getting a bit tired of the general "stand up / applaud / take a swig of your Bovril / pick your nose / leave your seat / take your seat on x minutes where "x" is a number with some relevance to what ever they're referring to" thing?
This protest is a stupid idea because, even if you can get over the whole thing of how it will be perceived and what it will actually achieve, the "8" doesn't even have any relevance to what they're complaining about.
I am as depressed as the next man at the last four years and the increasing pointlessness of our situation, as well as the dreadful "leadership" shown by Lerner, but of those eight years, the first four were absolutely nothing to complain about.
And I hereby predict that that "8 years they're saying, but what about the first 4" is precisely the thing these dimwits will get picked up on in the media, which will only increase external support (think Joey Barton last week) for Lambert.
it all looks pretty fucking stupid to me, on a number of levels.
Yes it's all a bit stupid but at least it draws the media's attention to the atrocious way Aston Villa is run from top to bottom. We hardly get a mention in the media these days so anything that shines the spotlight on the damage Lerner and Lambert are inflicting onto the club is fine by me.
But that doesn't mean it is going to be positive attention, does it?
Wait and see, but if it happens, I bet you what you like we're all on here after MOTD that evening moaning about how they started talking about what a great job Lambert is doing etc etc
When Newcastle fans were getting angry about Pardew and Ashley a few months back, I seem to remember that most of the coverage was along the lines of "look at these oiks and their bedsheets, protesting about something and nothing with their unrealistic expectations". Rather than actually putting much scrutiny on Pardew's record over the last couple of seasons.Is anyone else getting a bit tired of the general "stand up / applaud / take a swig of your Bovril / pick your nose / leave your seat / take your seat on x minutes where "x" is a number with some relevance to what ever they're referring to" thing?
This protest is a stupid idea because, even if you can get over the whole thing of how it will be perceived and what it will actually achieve, the "8" doesn't even have any relevance to what they're complaining about.
I am as depressed as the next man at the last four years and the increasing pointlessness of our situation, as well as the dreadful "leadership" shown by Lerner, but of those eight years, the first four were absolutely nothing to complain about.
And I hereby predict that that "8 years they're saying, but what about the first 4" is precisely the thing these dimwits will get picked up on in the media, which will only increase external support (think Joey Barton last week) for Lambert.
it all looks pretty fucking stupid to me, on a number of levels.
Yes it's all a bit stupid but at least it draws the media's attention to the atrocious way Aston Villa is run from top to bottom. We hardly get a mention in the media these days so anything that shines the spotlight on the damage Lerner and Lambert are inflicting onto the club is fine by me.
But that doesn't mean it is going to be positive attention, does it?
Wait and see, but if it happens, I bet you what you like we're all on here after MOTD that evening moaning about how they started talking about what a great job Lambert is doing etc etc
THE VIEW FROM ASTON VILLA: Enough is enough, we want our club back
Aston Villa supporters are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner
Villa are 13th in the Premier League as another relegation fight beckons
Aston Villa blogger shares his thoughts on the current situation
By DAVID MICHAEL OF MYOLDMANSAID.COM
PUBLISHED: 13:03 GMT, 14 January 2015 | UPDATED: 13:04 GMT, 14 January 2015
Aston Villa look set for a third consecutive Premier League relegation battle this season and supporters are beginning to turn on manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner.
The Midlands club are currently 13th in the league just three points clear of the dreaded drop-zone and Villa have only scored 11 goals from 21 games this season.
Supporters have proposed a large-scale protest in the Holte End of Villa Park ahead of the visit of Liverpool urging fans to leave their seat vacant for the first eight minutes, the number of years Lerner has been in charge of the club.
David Michael of Aston Villa blog MyOldManSaid.com says supporters want their club back.
There’s a saying among Villa fans, that you don’t chose Aston Villa, it chooses you. At the moment though, supporting the club feels like having to serve a sentence for a crime you didn’t commit.
Since Martin O’Neill stormed out of the club after having drained chairman Randy Lerner’s resources in a bid to reach the honeypot of the Champions League, Villa have been in free fall.
O’Neill ultimately failed, Lerner wasn’t impressed and Villa supporters simply suffered.
Current boss Paul Lambert said after Villa’s last game, when responding to questions about agitated supporters calling for his head, that ‘the expectancy levels outweigh the realism’.
Lambert knows, though, considering his 41 and 38-point season finishes and the unwanted records he’s collected, including having the worst Premier League record of any Villa manager, one thing fans have been is patient with him.
I’ve lost count of the number of managers local rivals West Brom have fired during Lambert’s time at Villa Park.
Even in the face of constant humiliation (losing to Bradford City in a semi-final, being beaten 8-0 by Chelsea, suffering a record 10 home league defeats in a season, and losing six games in a row this season), we’ve always hoped Lambert could turn it around. But he hasn’t.
With 11 goals in 21 league games our ‘expectancy levels’ have now dropped to praying for shots on target and maybe seeing a Villa goal some day.
It’s sad.
Certainly in my lifetime, Villa have traditionally been considered a top-half team with ambitions of European football. I’ve personally seen them win everything bar the FA Cup. Yet, as the club enters its fifth consecutive relegation battle, fans' ambition has been dumbed down to Premier League survival.
Relegation shouldn’t even be in an Aston Villa supporter’s vernacular, and you have to feel sorry for the younger generation of Villa fans who have experienced nothing but the bland decay of their beloved club.
The overriding problem is a lack of strategic consistency.
There was a change in transfer policy from young and hungry (and cheap) to low-cost journeymen, an astonishing U-turn on the exiled ‘bomb squad’ players. While on the pitch, Lambert, recently switched to the same possession-based ethos he abandoned during his first season in charge.
The latest edition, again offers a chronic lack of cutting edge in the final third, but hopefully the signing of Carles Gil will remedy that and make the increasingly disillusioned Christian Benteke a threat once again.
Off the pitch, the last we heard directly from our chairman was a statement in May last year, saying he was selling the club.
He told us: ‘I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.’
He’s still the chairman, yet we haven’t heard from him since, although we are often reminded by Lambert that Lerner owns a telephone and television, so he knows what is happening at the club.
But do you know he gave the Villa boss a new four-year contract, a mere four games after he ended the previous season with relegation form of 38 points? It’s baffling.
The new Villa CEO Tom Fox talks about the club’s future being in Europe, but increasingly-worried supporters feel it’s more likely to be in the Championship.
After all, we’ve heard the Europe line before from Fox’s predecessor.
The proposed supporter demonstration of vacating the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool is simply saying ‘enough is enough’. This compromised version of Aston Villa can’t continue.
We want to be confident of what the custodians of our club are doing. We want clarity. We want ambition. And most of all, we want our Villa back.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2909863/THE-VIEW-ASTON-VILLA-want-club-back.html#ixzz3OnkSeM3e
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Erm its not our third consecutive relegation battle but our fifth, that is why we are so pissed off,QuoteTHE VIEW FROM ASTON VILLA: Enough is enough, we want our club back
Aston Villa supporters are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner
Villa are 13th in the Premier League as another relegation fight beckons
Aston Villa blogger shares his thoughts on the current situation
By DAVID MICHAEL OF MYOLDMANSAID.COM
PUBLISHED: 13:03 GMT, 14 January 2015 | UPDATED: 13:04 GMT, 14 January 2015
Aston Villa look set for a third consecutive Premier League relegation battle this season and supporters are beginning to turn on manager Paul Lambert and owner Randy Lerner.
The Midlands club are currently 13th in the league just three points clear of the dreaded drop-zone and Villa have only scored 11 goals from 21 games this season.
Supporters have proposed a large-scale protest in the Holte End of Villa Park ahead of the visit of Liverpool urging fans to leave their seat vacant for the first eight minutes, the number of years Lerner has been in charge of the club.
David Michael of Aston Villa blog MyOldManSaid.com says supporters want their club back.
There’s a saying among Villa fans, that you don’t chose Aston Villa, it chooses you. At the moment though, supporting the club feels like having to serve a sentence for a crime you didn’t commit.
Since Martin O’Neill stormed out of the club after having drained chairman Randy Lerner’s resources in a bid to reach the honeypot of the Champions League, Villa have been in free fall.
O’Neill ultimately failed, Lerner wasn’t impressed and Villa supporters simply suffered.
Current boss Paul Lambert said after Villa’s last game, when responding to questions about agitated supporters calling for his head, that ‘the expectancy levels outweigh the realism’.
Lambert knows, though, considering his 41 and 38-point season finishes and the unwanted records he’s collected, including having the worst Premier League record of any Villa manager, one thing fans have been is patient with him.
I’ve lost count of the number of managers local rivals West Brom have fired during Lambert’s time at Villa Park.
Even in the face of constant humiliation (losing to Bradford City in a semi-final, being beaten 8-0 by Chelsea, suffering a record 10 home league defeats in a season, and losing six games in a row this season), we’ve always hoped Lambert could turn it around. But he hasn’t.
With 11 goals in 21 league games our ‘expectancy levels’ have now dropped to praying for shots on target and maybe seeing a Villa goal some day.
It’s sad.
Certainly in my lifetime, Villa have traditionally been considered a top-half team with ambitions of European football. I’ve personally seen them win everything bar the FA Cup. Yet, as the club enters its fifth consecutive relegation battle, fans' ambition has been dumbed down to Premier League survival.
Relegation shouldn’t even be in an Aston Villa supporter’s vernacular, and you have to feel sorry for the younger generation of Villa fans who have experienced nothing but the bland decay of their beloved club.
The overriding problem is a lack of strategic consistency.
There was a change in transfer policy from young and hungry (and cheap) to low-cost journeymen, an astonishing U-turn on the exiled ‘bomb squad’ players. While on the pitch, Lambert, recently switched to the same possession-based ethos he abandoned during his first season in charge.
The latest edition, again offers a chronic lack of cutting edge in the final third, but hopefully the signing of Carles Gil will remedy that and make the increasingly disillusioned Christian Benteke a threat once again.
Off the pitch, the last we heard directly from our chairman was a statement in May last year, saying he was selling the club.
He told us: ‘I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job.’
He’s still the chairman, yet we haven’t heard from him since, although we are often reminded by Lambert that Lerner owns a telephone and television, so he knows what is happening at the club.
But do you know he gave the Villa boss a new four-year contract, a mere four games after he ended the previous season with relegation form of 38 points? It’s baffling.
The new Villa CEO Tom Fox talks about the club’s future being in Europe, but increasingly-worried supporters feel it’s more likely to be in the Championship.
After all, we’ve heard the Europe line before from Fox’s predecessor.
The proposed supporter demonstration of vacating the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the game against Liverpool is simply saying ‘enough is enough’. This compromised version of Aston Villa can’t continue.
We want to be confident of what the custodians of our club are doing. We want clarity. We want ambition. And most of all, we want our Villa back.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2909863/THE-VIEW-ASTON-VILLA-want-club-back.html#ixzz3OnkSeM3e
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Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Why isn't there a memorial at Villa Park?
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Why isn't there a memorial at Villa Park?
I don't think Randy would allow it because he's jealous of what we achieved before him.
Even if the protest is a damp squib, the media spotlight on his record and the fans disullusion has taken this a step forward in the last week and that represents progress to me. For the first time since he's been here, his record is now firmly in the spotlight.
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Why isn't there a memorial at Villa Park?
I don't think Randy would allow it because he's jealous of what we achieved before him.
I think it is a bad idea.
The total apathy in, around and within the club will not be galvanised by this 'protest' involving a few hundred people at most.
Lerner is trying to sell. There are no buyers. He is not willing to part with more than minimum amount of money as wants to at least cut his losses.
His failure is in not getting rid of Lambert, though I suspect his thinking is that we have been effective at avoiding relegation in the previous 4 seasons without making a change half way through the season.
After all there were calls for Houllier to be binned (justifiably in my opinion) in late December 2010, calls for McLeish not to be hired at all (justifiably) and Lambert in January 2013 (understandably) and again in the spring of last season (justifiably).
Lerner didn't blink on those occasions so I suspect this 'protest' will be largely ignored and effect little change.
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Why isn't there a memorial at Villa Park?
I don't think Randy would allow it because he's jealous of what we achieved before him.
Did Randy just get confused with Doug?
Well then I propose a booing for 4 minutes. 1 minute for each poor season we've had in a row. Or 11 minutes, 1 for each goal we've scored. Or boo non stop until the 82nd minute signifying the players of 82 turning in their graves at our plight.
I can see an obvious flaw in the latter.
Why isn't there a memorial at Villa Park?
I don't think Randy would allow it because he's jealous of what we achieved before him.
Did Randy just get confused with Doug?
Those in the Trinity should remove their ties for the first 8 minutes waving them around San Siro style.
I read the report and it said they decided on 8 minutes to mark 8 seasons of frustration under Lerner.
Surely it should be 4 as I doubt even Saunders-Heroes was dishing out Lerner abuse on here between 2006-10 when the frustrations were at MON for playing centre backs at right back and spending untold millions on rubbish british players rather than Lerner.
I shall be leading the 1 man protest in the Upper Trinity - meet at the betting booth next to the A1 stairs - there's always plenty of room (and a decent view of the monitor)
That'll show 'em ;-)
I read the report and it said they decided on 8 minutes to mark 8 seasons of frustration under Lerner.
Surely it should be 4 as I doubt even Saunders-Heroes was dishing out Lerner abuse on here between 2006-10 when the frustrations were at MON for playing centre backs at right back and spending untold millions on rubbish british players rather than Lerner.
Absolutely. I loved Lerner's first 4 seasons, they were great. The 4.5 seasons since have been nothing short of disgraceful though.
I sit in the Trinity.
I usually:
argue with the steward about me standing.
Join in with the singing from the Holte.
abuse the latecomers...for being "late" with their fu**ing tartylattecappuciniwankyfarty paper cups with lids on!
argue with the steward about me and my mate standing.
join in with the Holte.
excahange insults with the twats in the boxes just behind us - against Arse it became very physical - how no-one was ejected was incredible. Slaps were exchanged! Anywhere else in the ground there would have been "an incident".
argue with the steward about me, my mate and his daughter standing.
sing with the Holte.
chat with steward about what a hard job he's got.
go for a piss.
abuse the latecomers...for being "late" with their fu**ing tartylattecappuciniwankyfarty paper cups with lids on!
argue with the steward about me standing.
argue with the steward about the senselessness of ending my life when I am so young, handsome and things at VP can only get better.
apologise to the steward about my foul and abusive language.
ditto.
ditto.
ditto.
argue with the steward about me standing/shouting/swearing.
sit in my seat, head in hands, cry.
hold hands with the steward as a sign of solidarity, mopping my tears with his hanky.
return his hanky.
slither homewards, hoping the rain disguises my tears. And every fu**er else's.
The match day experience at VP!
I read the report and it said they decided on 8 minutes to mark 8 seasons of frustration under Lerner.
Surely it should be 4 as I doubt even Saunders-Heroes was dishing out Lerner abuse on here between 2006-10 when the frustrations were at MON for playing centre backs at right back and spending untold millions on rubbish british players rather than Lerner.
Absolutely. I loved Lerner's first 4 seasons, they were great. The 4.5 seasons since have been nothing short of disgraceful though.
I read the report and it said they decided on 8 minutes to mark 8 seasons of frustration under Lerner.
Surely it should be 4 as I doubt even Saunders-Heroes was dishing out Lerner abuse on here between 2006-10 when the frustrations were at MON for playing centre backs at right back and spending untold millions on rubbish british players rather than Lerner.
Absolutely. I loved Lerner's first 4 seasons, they were great. The 4.5 seasons since have been nothing short of disgraceful though.
Yeah I have no issue if it starts at four and a half minutes. Just surprised the report on it seemed to say the whole Lerner era was a total disaster.
Lambert calls on Villa fans to cancel protest
Updated: Thursday, 15 Jan 2015 15:54
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has urged frustrated fans to call off a planned protest at the start of Saturday's clash at home to Liverpool.
Three unofficial fans' websites - Villa Blog, My Old Man Said and A Villa Fan - have called on fellow supporters to boycott the opening eight minutes of the Barclays Premier League clash with the Reds via an open letter entitled 'We Want Our Villa Back'.
They claim each minute represents one year for the eight owner Randy Lerner has been in charge as they are fed up at the way the club is being run and the direction it is going.
To rub salt into the wounds of the Villa fans, they have so far seen their side score just 11 league goals this season in 21 games, easily the worst record in the top flight.
Following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at rock-bottom Leicester the patience of the fans snapped and they turned on Lambert, calling for him to be sacked.
One local newspaper has this week conducted a poll asking whether the Scot should be axed or given more time, with 67% demanding he go.
It is an unsavoury and unsettling build up for Lambert ahead of the game with Liverpool.
"I understand the frustration, and nobody is more frustrated than myself," said Lambert.
"Everybody involved with Aston Villa is frustrated at what has happened over the last five or six years since Martin O'Neill left and the team was in the top six.
"Martin had this club buzzing at that time, vying for Europe, going great, and what's happened has happened.
"But I don't think you can look at the chairman and say it's one guy's fault. It's unfair. He has the club's interest at heart.
"I understand the fans' frustrations, but we'll have a better chance of winning a game of football if they don't protest, if they stick with the lads, no matter how hard it gets at times.
"When the stadium is behind the players it's a great place to play football, and we've a better chance of winning if they don't do it.
"Whoever has planned it, I hope the guy next to them tries to keep them on their seat.
"I don't want Aston Villa fans to come to Villa Park - or even away from home - and not see the team win or not be entertained."
Lambert insists he can weather the storm of abuse from the fans as he is determined to instead shield his players.
Asked as to how he felt about calls for him to be sacked, he replied: "It's not great. I'm human, like everybody else, but I'm also big enough and strong enough mentally to handle it.
"But what I don't want it to do is affect the players.
"The fans have been great with me up until late, and I guess now they are waiting for something to go wrong.
"All I would say to them is stay behind the side. We need their support when times are tough."
Lambert has also made it clear he will not quit, adding: "I want to make a success of this.
"I'm obviously not happy with the way things are going, with what's happening in the last third of the pitch. But anybody that knows me knows I'm not one for downing tools and walking away.
"I've never done that in my football career, and I don't intend to do it now."
"Whoever has planned it, I hope the guy next to them tries to keep them on their seat."
That'll really be helpful for harmony.
The thing is that there is momentum behind discord now. A win would contain it obviously but it really needs sustained improvement because even if contained for a week or two it will come back twice as bad as ever before. As an analogy we are like a hurricane/whirlwind/tornado or whatever, as fans. As has been said there is just a silence in the ground when we are not happy. This is the eye of the storm. Once you've pushed past silence you get the shitstorm. And that is where we're heading next. Lambert has until saturday to avert it.Absolutely. I think there is every chance that we will see another 3 PL defeats on the trot plus another cup dumping by Bournemouth. The storm will reach positively hurricane force by then.
You've got to feel a bit sorry for Carles Gil in all this. How will he feel if he runs out to an empty stadium on Saturday.
The thing is that there is momentum behind discord now. A win would contain it obviously but it really needs sustained improvement because even if contained for a week or two it will come back twice as bad as ever before. As an analogy we are like a hurricane/whirlwind/tornado or whatever, as fans. As has been said there is just a silence in the ground when we are not happy. This is the eye of the storm. Once you've pushed past silence you get the shitstorm. And that is where we're heading next. Lambert has until saturday to avert it.
The man is completely deluded - "I guess now they are waiting for something to go wrong". Unbelievable. The reason the peasants are revolting, Paul, is that so much has gone wrong over recent years. You've broken practically every negative record in the club's history and we've just had enough
Im just going to protest against Liverpool.
Im just going to protest against Liverpool.
I'm with you. The decision to award that prize to their theatre over our library was a shocker.
By encouraging the fans not protest, he has actually drawn even more attention to it. It's made the back page of The Times today. It doesn't matter what happens with the protest now, the spotlight is firmly on him and his record.
Given the run of fixtures, I expect this will intensify in the next 2/3 weeks.
Im just going to protest against Liverpool.
I'm with you. The decision to award that prize to their theatre over our library was a shocker.
And their accent. It got so bad, I used to watch the Liver Birds with the sound turned off.
Now the spotlight is on, we will batter Liverpool, score a few goals and the press will go "what are these lot on about?", before turning their attention to something else.
We then go back to being pap.
I'll take that first bit
As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.
For me, the worry is we pick up one decent result in that run of 4 which just resets the clock for another dozen games of shiteI will start with the decent result and take that and than worry about the next 4.
As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
Can you? I seem to remember some banners asking for the removal of McLeish during his tenure being quickly taken down by stewards. It will be interesting to see what happens if any banners decrying Lmabert are unfurled tomorrow.
I can sympathise with Lambert in one respect and that is that he has been financially restricted for the last three years, he has on the whole bought well and it would have been interesting to see how he would have got on with a bigger purse but balance that against his persistance in playing narrow, only having one game plan and setting negative records that will last a lifetime he really has to go.
As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.
I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
No mate, it was definitely NOT aimed at you. Apologies if it came over like that.As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.
I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
I hope that isn't directed at me. As I said if people feel they need to make their feelings known they should in a peaceful way. Passing comment shouldn't be reserved to those only going to games, and especially not on an internet message board where we discuss all and sundry from the comfort of a keyboard.
No mate, it was definitely NOT aimed at you. Apologies if it came over like that.As for the protest, if some fans want to show their displeasure at things, as long as it is peaceful then so be it. I would rather they didn't at the risk of affecting the team but something has to give.To be honest, if you pay your money and you are in the ground, then you can do what you like.
I think its unfair that people who do not attend (for whatever reason) should pass comment on those supporters who may be showing their concerns.
I hope that isn't directed at me. As I said if people feel they need to make their feelings known they should in a peaceful way. Passing comment shouldn't be reserved to those only going to games, and especially not on an internet message board where we discuss all and sundry from the comfort of a keyboard.
On talksport this morning they had the definite impression the protest was against Lerner and not aimed at the management/coaching at all.
Has something been lost in getting the message across or have I got the wrong end of the stick? I thought it was mostly Lambert and his crappy football we were all pissed off with?
If it is being positioned as this 8 minute thing then isn't against Lerner more so than specifically the current situation?
Are Ted and Dougal in charge of the protest now?
(http://seriouslyhilary.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/down-with-this-sort-of-thing.jpg)
I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.
Ooh!!I think it's pretty basic stuff to have a general idea what it is we're pissed off with before we start.
Can we have a poll?
"What did/do you think the protest is about?"
I think giving Lambert the 4 year deal links the anger towards Lerner for not giving a f*** about our Villa, and the ineptitude of Lambert.I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.
I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.
totally agree it's Lambert's basic management 'skills' that need addressing,another example is Grealish playing for the under 21's tonight (losing 2-0 to Stoke) .He obviously isn't featuring tomorrow ,and Robinson who is also playing tonight.Lambert is regressing our squad !Ooh!!I think it's pretty basic stuff to have a general idea what it is we're pissed off with before we start.
Can we have a poll?
"What did/do you think the protest is about?"
My understanding from talking to Villa fans at games is that Lambert's management of the team is the most obvious/urgent concern and needs to be aired. Where and when appropriate - in the stadium, immediately after the game.
The Lerner thing is much more complex and needs a different, more considered approach, imho.
I think giving Lambert the 4 year deal links the anger towards Lerner for not giving a f*** about our Villa, and the ineptitude of Lambert.I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.
It's a very bleak outlook, so I can understand why people are not happy and are prepared to protest.
I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.what do you suggest we do Dave,serious question.
Same for me.
I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.what do you suggest we do Dave,serious question.
Same for me.
Shit fucked up the quote thing! (second bottle of cabernet sauvignon),what would you suggest as a protest Dave ?Have another glass.
I understand, absolutely.I think giving Lambert the 4 year deal links the anger towards Lerner for not giving a f*** about our Villa, and the ineptitude of Lambert.I can only presume that they're directing their angst towards Lerner in the hope that he'll either plough more money in or sack Lambert. I think......Which is pretty much how I read it.
But...MY protest is the inept way in which Lambert has deployed the players available to him.
So, the 8 minute thing doesn't do it for me.
It's a very bleak outlook, so I can understand why people are not happy and are prepared to protest.
Shit fucked up the quote thing! (second bottle of cabernet sauvignon),what would you suggest as a protest Dave ?Have another glass.
They've made a bit of a pig's ear of this protest. They haven't made it clear what they are protesting against, or what they want the results of their protests to be. Which to me, kind of defeats the point of protesting.Yeah, bit worried it's all going to be a bit of a mess. But if there's no objective, suppose you can't defeat the object...
It's one of the reasons why the £ sign was successful, no one was in any doubt what it was about.
Is this a protest for just the Holte end or can the other stands take part ?Which is another confusing bit of the protest.
Was it just how it seemed to me or when you were saying the last bit that basically criticised what the PL has become they didn't seem as interested?
Is this a protest for just the Holte end or can the other stands take part ?
Seemed to be an audible tut from Bobby Gould when PL's inconsistency was raised. Managers' union...
Well I'm going tomorrow and I will watch for 90 minutes. If anyone wants to do this protest then good luck to them, but ID rather do protest after the game. I don't like the managers tactics, but I'll support them for the whole game.
No doubt if we score in the first 8 minutes then people will start scurrying back in. It'll probably be the first time a football crowd has chanted "we can see you sneaking in".
So let me get this right, the protest is directed at Lerner to leave even though he has intimated that he would like to sell up and leave.
snip good stuff
The problem with protests like this one is that the emotions that make them necessary – the overwhelming frustration, anger and desperation many of us feel – are exactly the sort of emotions that lead to poor judgment and ill-conceived ideas. It’s sort of perverse but planning a successful angry protest requires a dispassionate and detached approach. Otherwise you end up with something like this farce, an idea so half-baked it’s still runny in the middle.so you're not keen then :-)
And I’d say that’s being kind. I’m going to have to assume (as I’m not entirely sure) that the immediate aim of this Huge, Pointed Lateness is to oust Lambert from his dugout. In which case, I think whoever mooted this protest could barely have done a worse job; it’s muddled, contradictory and objectionable, and it’s so far off target I wonder if Tonev has had more influence than we realise.
Making the completely spurious “eight minutes” its focus takes all the attention away from the really pertinent issues at hand and plays straight into the hands of our detractors, and alienates people whose support and influence will be essential if Lambert is to be sent packing.
It gives opposition fans and media the chance to accuse us of ungratefulness, to justifiably point at the enormous amount of money Lerner’s poured in over eight years, to brand us fickle again, to suggest we have a sense of entitlement, that we want the moon on a stick.
It forces lazy pundits to have a cursory glance over our record of the last eight years and draw the obvious and correct conclusion that Lambert’s had relatively little to spend.
It attacks Randy (the man with the power to grant the protestors’ wish), giving him a reason to assume that it’s mostly about money (it can’t be about Lambert, otherwise they’d be targeting him wouldn’t they? Surely the mass entrance would be on the symbolic nil minutes). In which case, it gives him too cause to deem us ungrateful, maybe even to dig his heels in. (I have no idea what his mindset is, but I do know that slagging someone off unfairly is not usually a good way of getting them to do what you want). And he’s trying to sell anyway, we know that. We want him out, so does he. What are we, thick?
And, most ridiculously of all (if ousting Lambert is the aim), it deflects blame from Lambert. It paints him a victim of mitigating circumstances and throws the spotlight off his management and onto his chairman. He must be bloody delighted. Way to go, organisers! What next? A plan to rid the world of Dairylea Triangles by telling everyone that Laughing Cow is poisonous?
And that’s just the eight-minute thing; that’s without even mentioning vacuous statements like “We want our Villa back”, a deluded plea that is so ambiguous it ultimately means nothing at all. If Spurs fans came out with that we’d have a thread to mock them. What Villa is this we want back? If it’s any Villa, I’ll have the one of the late 1800s; plenty of success, and Chelsea didn’t exist. As campaign slogans go, it’s toothless. It’s merely a set-up, waiting for rival fans to provide the punchline.
Protests during matches always divide opinion (and, as we’ve seen, cause confrontation) so the whole issue is thorny. I do see a need for a demonstration of some sort and share a lot of the concerns, but the debate surrounding this idea shows that it is surely too flaky to have the desired effect. I may be proved wrong, but rather than a rousing show of solidarity for a common cause I’m expecting a pitiful and probably tetchy display which sends out the confusing message that the Villa fans are very cross about something but they haven’t quite agreed on what it is yet. If it wasn’t so embarrassing I’d probably be amused by the irony that a campaign to oust a poor manager was so poorly managed.
Before anyone shoots me down for slagging this protest off without offering any constructive alternative, here’s my constructive alternative:
Support the team loudly, passionately and as vociferously as you have ever done, for ninety-odd minutes, and make Villa Park bounce, whatever the result, whatever the performance. Have every journalist, every away fan, every pundit and every television viewer looking on and thinking our brilliant support deserves so much better than we’ve been getting. The press are already starting to see that, and if things go on as they are, the pressure will eventually take its toll. Something has to give. It would be a relief if it did.
Absolutely, very nicely putsnip good stuff
Dropping some truth bombs right there.
I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
How about "I just hope those supporting the demonstration aren't harassed for their choice" - which was my experience at the Bolton match under TSM!
Don't think either will happen
Have Villa fans reached tipping point?
If Villa’s 1-0 victory at Anfield in September represents both peak beard and the high watermark of the brief Paul Lambert/Roy Keane partnership the last six winless matches have returned the club to its habitual status under the Scot’s management of joy-sapping, dismal tedium. It’s one thing to lose it’s quite another entirely that your paucity of ambition and ability to entertain seems uniquely designed to dispirit your fans comprehensively, No team in the four divisions has scored fewer league goals. The orchestrated ire of Villa fans who saw off David O’Leary with the unimprovable banner - “we’re not fickle, we just don’t like you” – has been absent in patient understanding of the difficulties Lambert is enduring since Randy Lerner’s disillusionment with the game until now despite plenty of grumbles. But on Saturday a fans’ initiative to leave their seats empty for the first eight minutes of the match, a minute for each of the years of Lerner’s ownership, is scheduled to proceed even if Lambert is desperately trying to persuade them to call it off. It is more important than anything that happens on the pitch and will probably be more rewarding.
If we are losing and playing badly after 30 mins the atmosphere could get nasty
I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
How about "I just hope those supporting the demonstration aren't harassed for their choice" - which was my experience at the Bolton match under TSM!
Don't think either will happen
which is why protests during games should be avoided. They will always divide opinion and prove contentious.
The reason I'm not against a protest, is that the fans are divided anyway. Last week at Leicester, when fans were singing 'Villa, Villa!', the bloke next to me was furious - screaming 'Its not Villa though is it? How is this Villa?' - & calling everyone all the names under the sun for joining in. No-one wants to be in a crowd like that any more, people want something definite to happen.
The problem with this protest is that it is muddled in its aims, set up in such a way that it maximises the potential for conflict between fans, and, to top it off, is likely to be completely visually ineffective.
The £ sign protest worked well because you only had to hear about it on the day to be able to join in, it didn't need a massive number of people to join in to be visually effective (although I think a lot did), & then at kick off everyone either threw their papers to the floor or made paper planes out of them, and instantly got right behind the team. Sometimes, the simple ideas are the best.
(Still didn't really achieve anything though)
If we are losing and playing badly after 30 mins the atmosphere could get nasty
I get the feeling that plenty of people want it to go wrong and therefore 'get nasty'. Their theory being that Lambert will suffer his 'Bolton' moment and get fired. I don't believe this will happen, regardless of today's result. Nor if we get beaten by Bournemouth or thrashed by Arsenal or Chelsea. Despite Lambert's many failings, I don't think he's doing anything less than his absolute best to turn things around. For me, the blame lies squarely about 3,000 miles away, a man who will again be notable by his absence.
Lambert out? Yes, absolutely. But, not today. Today, we should leaving Villa Park with a hoarse throat, having backed the team to a valuable point or maybe even better.
These protests do not achieve anything.
it's just that in retrospect, I tend to think that Doug did whatever he did because he wanted to, not because of anything we did.
Absolutely.I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
How about "I just hope those supporting the demonstration aren't harassed for their choice" - which was my experience at the Bolton match under TSM!
Don't think either will happen
which is why protests during games should be avoided. They will always divide opinion and prove contentious.
Exactly, and that makes them nowhere near as powerful as simply uniting in passionate support for the team for ninety minutes. Which you would hope everyone could do and no one would find contentious.
I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
How about "I just hope those supporting the demonstration aren't harassed for their choice" - which was my experience at the Bolton match under TSM!
Don't think either will happen
which is why protests during games should be avoided. They will always divide opinion and prove contentious.
He may want out but he's the owner now and responsible for the club now. The fact that he appears happy to have stripped the club of all it's ambition and appears unfazed by the possibility of relegation and not taking appropriate action in sacking Lambert. This is entirely down to Lerner I'm afraid. He should have been sacked at the end of last season as apparently advised by his chief executive but no he managed to detract away from that by announcing putting the club up for sale . It's Lerner who extended his contract. This is all down to him,he is the only one who can do anything about it, the protesters are quite right!Absolutely.I just hope those supporting the team aren't harassed for their choice.
How about "I just hope those supporting the demonstration aren't harassed for their choice" - which was my experience at the Bolton match under TSM!
Don't think either will happen
which is why protests during games should be avoided. They will always divide opinion and prove contentious.
Exactly, and that makes them nowhere near as powerful as simply uniting in passionate support for the team for ninety minutes. Which you would hope everyone could do and no one would find contentious.
More than ever I think us all getting behind the team 100% today would show the watching media/public where our hearts are.
A similar 100% (or 90% according to the poll on the Lambert thread) protest/calling for Lambert's head immediately after the game would again be much more effective.
As several have already pointed out - Lerner himself wants out and is already trying to sell the club.
So was it a total washout?
Yes.
Yes.
Someone called the after game phone in with Tom Ross and said he had take part in the protest. He was complaining that the TVs in the concourses were turned off while it went on!!
A proper protest would take more than a couple of days notice as well.
We can't get rid of Lerner, he will go in his own time on his own terms but we could make life difficult for Lambert. We are 100% better off without him so any protest should surely start with the aim of removing this black hole of attacking tactics from Villa Park.
A proper protest would take more than a couple of days notice as well.
We can't get rid of Lerner, he will go in his own time on his own terms but we could make life difficult for Lambert. We are 100% better off without him so any protest should surely start with the aim of removing this black hole of attacking tactics from Villa Park.
Unfortunately it may be that for Lambert to go Lerner has to go at the same time.A proper protest would take more than a couple of days notice as well.
We can't get rid of Lerner, he will go in his own time on his own terms but we could make life difficult for Lambert. We are 100% better off without him so any protest should surely start with the aim of removing this black hole of attacking tactics from Villa Park.
Exactly. It was focused in the wrong direction. Lambert's the only viable target for protests.
Bedsheets with appropriate slogans is what's neededNot even a slogan. A dirty great shit stain would do it.
The media love them
Unfortunately it may be that for Lambert to go Lerner has to go at the same time.A proper protest would take more than a couple of days notice as well.
We can't get rid of Lerner, he will go in his own time on his own terms but we could make life difficult for Lambert. We are 100% better off without him so any protest should surely start with the aim of removing this black hole of attacking tactics from Villa Park.
Exactly. It was focused in the wrong direction. Lambert's the only viable target for protests.
For the wrong reasons. The media think it's aimed at Lerner, what's the point? He wants out. It's he manager who should be doing better.
I was a minute or so late due tithe roadworks. There was about 30 people perhaps in the Upper Holte if that. You get more holding back at away matches having a pint.
It was a half baked idea from an egotist who dared to claim that "he speaks for all the Holte End". Fuck off.
I'm guessing Ads means that twat from MOMS. He seems to have gone very quiet about it for some reason.
I'm guessing Ads means that twat from MOMS. He seems to have gone very quiet about it for some reason.Who is that ?
It served it's purpose in media coverage but we're riddled with apathy. Can't believe 39k there today. Prob a load of brummie reds but if you didn't have a ST why pay to watch this garbage?
In all honesty I didn't see a single name mentioned anywhere. At least Fear, Robathan & Naz stood up.
I'm guessing Ads means that twat from MOMS. He seems to have gone very quiet about it for some reason.
He was on Twitter earlier saying that the only people who'd described it as a protest were in the press!
He doesn't believe it to be a protest but a demonstration!
I'm guessing Ads means that twat from MOMS. He seems to have gone very quiet about it for some reason.
He was on Twitter earlier saying that the only people who'd described it as a protest were in the press!
Good job he didn't do articles calling it a protest then. Oh..........
In all honesty I didn't see a single name mentioned anywhere. At least Fear, Robathan & Naz stood up.
FWIW I put the match on NBC Live Extra on my Mac and then left the room.
I deliberately timed my drive from Kenilworth back to Bath to take from 2.45pm until 4.45pm.
The Holte End he loves so much that he thought the reason our LC semi attendance against Oxford in 1986 was shit was because it was being renovated. Obviously a regular at VP in those days........
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
The Holte End he loves so much that he thought the reason our LC semi attendance against Oxford in 1986 was shit was because it was being renovated. Obviously a regular at VP in those days........
Why was the attendance so bad for that game? Hang on. 1986. Graham Turner. Oxford. I think given time I might be able to get the answer to this one.
I was at both legs by the way. I still have the away programme with Ken Fish on the front to prove it.
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
So Anfield has less than than 30k for a home games?
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
So Anfield has less than than 30k for a home games?
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
So Anfield has less than than 30k for a home games?
1985-86 League v QPR 26,219, League Cup v Brighton 15,291, Screen Sports Super Cup v Spurs 14,855.
The 23,098 attendance for a semi-final was our 4th highest of the season. 2 were 26K and 1 was 27K. Maybe the whole ground was being renovated but no one else noticed?
Then again we only played in front of 30K away from home 3 times (and one of them WASN'T at Anfield). Maybe every ground in the country was being renovated?
So Anfield has less than than 30k for a home games?
1985-86 League v QPR 26,219, League Cup v Brighton 15,291, Screen Sports Super Cup v Spurs 14,855.
Bloody hell. Always assumed Liverpool would have had more than that particularly in the mid 80's
Wolves averaged 4,000, Albion 12,000, we were 15,000 and small heath were 11,000.
Arsenal 24K, Spurs 21K.
And remember kids, when were winning the European Cup, Chavski were averaging 13K in division 2.
Bloody hell. Always assumed Liverpool would have had more than that particularly in the mid 80's
They often got sub 30K attendances. Not that any scouser would admit it!
1983/4 as they won the league again.
Home league games
3rd Dec small heath 24,791
17th Dec Notts Co 22,436
1st Feb Watford 20,746
Wolves averaged 4,000, Albion 12,000, we were 15,000 and small heath were 11,000.
Arsenal 24K, Spurs 21K.
And remember kids, when were winning the European Cup, Chavski were averaging 13K in division 2.
I am sure both Small Heath and Albion were down to about 6,500 in the last weeks of the season.
Wolves averaged 4,000, Albion 12,000, we were 15,000 and small heath were 11,000.
Arsenal 24K, Spurs 21K.
And remember kids, when were winning the European Cup, Chavski were averaging 13K in division 2.
I am sure both Small Heath and Albion were down to about 6,500 in the last weeks of the season.
In 1989 small heath AVERAGED 6,200. Part of a run of 5 years when their best average was 8,500. I'm not laughing as I type that, honest.
Then Ryanair started flying from Dublin and Oslo.
Albion went down in 85/86 with 24 points and a -54GD from 42 games. They only won 4 league games and amusingly 2 were against small heath. Who not surprisingly joined them with 29 points and a -43GD.
You mean people never think of him?
Albion went down in 85/86 with 24 points and a -54GD from 42 games. They only won 4 league games and amusingly 2 were against small heath. Who not surprisingly joined them with 29 points and a -43GD.
Albion went down in 85/86 with 24 points and a -54GD from 42 games. They only won 4 league games and amusingly 2 were against small heath. Who not surprisingly joined them with 29 points and a -43GD.
And the man who relegated them is never the answer in the quiz question.
Albion went down in 85/86 with 24 points and a -54GD from 42 games. They only won 4 league games and amusingly 2 were against small heath. Who not surprisingly joined them with 29 points and a -43GD.
Small Heath v Villa 85/86 24,971
Small Heath v WBA 11,514
Can't find the Albion v Villa/Albion v Small Heath attendances.
People tend to forget how hated Ron was for a while, certainly by a lot of people I knew. And then he relegates small and Albion in the same season and just for laughs throws in the home defeat to Altrincham as a bonus to us. I think that was his last match before going to Albion. Between them they lost 55 games out of 84 and conceded 162 goals.
Albion went down in 85/86 with 24 points and a -54GD from 42 games. They only won 4 league games and amusingly 2 were against small heath. Who not surprisingly joined them with 29 points and a -43GD.
Small Heath v Villa 85/86 24,971
Small Heath v WBA 11,514
Can't find the Albion v Villa/Albion v Small Heath attendances.
Us v both
small heath (a) 29,471 (h) 26,694 (our second highest of the season. The Manure game pulled a massive 27,626!
Albion (a) 17,077 (h) 18,796
People tend to forget how hated Ron was for a while, certainly by a lot of people I knew. And then he relegates small and Albion in the same season and just for laughs throws in the home defeat to Altrincham as a bonus to us. I think that was his last match before going to Albion. Between them they lost 55 games out of 84 and conceded 162 goals.
He was certainly hated for a few months but post-Rotterdam it was a case of "We've moved on, fuck him." In fact one of the most incredible aspects of that insane period was how little fuss was made when he came back with them. Compare that to what would have happened if Sirralex had walked out of Old Trafford and returned with Manchester City.
People tend to forget how hated Ron was for a while, certainly by a lot of people I knew. And then he relegates small and Albion in the same season and just for laughs throws in the home defeat to Altrincham as a bonus to us. I think that was his last match before going to Albion. Between them they lost 55 games out of 84 and conceded 162 goals.
We played them at the sty immediately after he took over didn't we? Although I am not sure if he officially took over for that game or immediately afterwards. 0-1, Peter Withe. "You must be f***ing mad Saunders, Saunders". Boxing Day '82 at the sty was the nastiest atmosphere on the terraces. September or October 1983 was the nastiest atmosphere on the pitch in tose Saunders/SHA years.
He was certainly hated for a few months but post-Rotterdam it was a case of "We've moved on, fuck him." In fact one of the most incredible aspects of that insane period was how little fuss was made when he came back with them. Compare that to what would have happened if Sirralex had walked out of Old Trafford and returned with Manchester City.
People tend to forget how hated Ron was for a while, certainly by a lot of people I knew. And then he relegates small and Albion in the same season and just for laughs throws in the home defeat to Altrincham as a bonus to us. I think that was his last match before going to Albion. Between them they lost 55 games out of 84 and conceded 162 goals.
He was certainly hated for a few months but post-Rotterdam it was a case of "We've moved on, fuck him." In fact one of the most incredible aspects of that insane period was how little fuss was made when he came back with them. Compare that to what would have happened if Sirralex had walked out of Old Trafford and returned with Manchester City.
We played them at the sty immediately after he took over didn't we? Although I am not sure if he officially took over for that game or immediately afterwards. 0-1, Peter Withe. "You must be f***ing mad Saunders, Saunders". Boxing Day '82 at the sty was the nastiest atmosphere on the terraces. September or October 1983 was the nastiest atmosphere on the pitch in those Saunders/SHA years.
I was twelve Boxing Day '82 and the atmosphere was pure hate between rival supporters and supporters and rival players. I was in Australia when we played them in December '87. People who were there suggest I was probably just about the right distance away it was that bad.
Eye witnesses always mention the helicopters. It always makes me think of the desert scene in Capricorn One.
I was twelve Boxing Day '82 and the atmosphere was pure hate between rival supporters and supporters and rival players. I was in Australia when we played them in December '87. People who were there suggest I was probably just about the right distance away it was that bad.
Due to a cock-up over taxis we arrived at about 3.15 with a police helicopter hovering overhead and assorted dogs, horses and officers clearly regrouping for round two. After the game I was walking through the city centre with mayhem all around (it was the Saturday before Christmas) and it's the only time when I've thought society didn't deserve to have this thrust upon it.
Wolves averaged 4,000, Albion 12,000, we were 15,000 and small heath were 11,000.
Arsenal 24K, Spurs 21K.
And remember kids, when were winning the European Cup, Chavski were averaging 13K in division 2.
I am sure both Small Heath and Albion were down to about 6,500 in the last weeks of the season.
In 1989 small heath AVERAGED 6,200. Part of a run of 5 years when their best average was 8,500. I'm not laughing as I type that, honest.
They beat us 3-0 Boxing Day 82 didn't they? There is a video on Youtube of the game in 87 I think. I have never seen such a packed away section as we had in the Tilton.
It must be have been extra moody at the Sty being at that end and coming up the Cov Road and walking all the way round the ground.
They beat us 3-0 Boxing Day 82 didn't they? There is a video on Youtube of the game in 87 I think. I have never seen such a packed away section as we had in the Tilton.
It must be have been extra moody at the Sty being at that end and coming up the Cov Road and walking all the way round the ground.
Did you know that the Boxing Day 82 match was actually played on Mon 27th Dec? Was Sunday a no go area for football at this time?
I remember that That first match at Blues after Ron had gone , I took a mate of mine to his first game of football saying everything would be OK
in those days you just paid at the turn style, as we entered the ground there were fans fighting all over the pitch, especially in front of the long side stand that they used as there 'end' (don't know what it's called)
Police horses being used to try and regain order, mayhem breaking out all over the place
My mate and I are in our early 50's now and he still reminds me of it when I see him
Oh the good old days
87 at the Sty was certainly bad but it was actually on a par with 03/03/03 for an evil atmosphere.
For the first time ever we became them at home, mainstream fans being just as interested in settling scores outside the ground as on the pitch. Relatively sane, respectable Vila fans I knew turned into something else that night.
The 87 game was about righting a wrong (they'd beaten us at home in August), taking the piss and going home.
Anyone remember the skinead noses with their bed sheets before the game, the bare patch of grass in front of the Tilton (rumours abounded) and the nets that weren't tied down properly (see earlier rumours).
One of the bedsheets had "Baldwin is a Goose" scrawled on it. I never found out what that meant.
We were in the first section of the Tilton but went home through Bordesley 'cos we were from that side of town and therefore missed the chaos outside afterwards. But inside under the slate grey skies, teeming rain and vicious atmosphere the scenes on the kop corner were something to behold for a 16 year old.
Which was the year of the game we won 2-1 at the sty when the SHA player shot wide and the ref gave a goal ? 87 I think . Plenty of Agro that day.
Protests are probably easier at away games . The fans are more vocal and bullish when on the road.
At home it would feel a bit like taking a piss in the middle of your living room with the family watching (not that I know what that feels like).
Which was the year of the game we won 2-1 at the sty when the SHA player shot wide and the ref gave a goal ? 87 I think . Plenty of Agro that day.
You're thinking of our goal which went into the net and out through the side netting. That was 1987.
Which was the year of the game we won 2-1 at the sty when the SHA player shot wide and the ref gave a goal ? 87 I think . Plenty of Agro that day.
You're thinking of our goal which went into the net and out through the side netting. That was 1987.
If memory serves it was their equaliser that went through the net and out - Andy Kennedy. Villa fans had broken in and daubed graffiti and damaged the goals the night before.
we need a Bolton moment.Protests are probably easier at away games . The fans are more vocal and bullish when on the road.
At home it would feel a bit like taking a piss in the middle of your living room with the family watching (not that I know what that feels like).
Come again?!
Protests are generally aimed at the people in charge at the club and/or to get publicity. Why would anyone take notice of a protest miles away from the club itself and performed by a tiny minority of the crowd?!
We do need a Bolton moment .
Sorry my point was it seems much harder to get the majority of villa Park onside for a protest. I think people who moan on forums such as this about lambert and Lerner etc are in the minority by a distance .
Or most villa fans are too polite or apathetic to bother protesting or similar .
I absolutely agree that this proposed 'protest' has missed the point and should be clearly against the manager not the chairman, who wants out anyway.Pretty much as I thought.
But, if things aren't going our way today, I think there is still too much apathy around for an outburst against Lambert.
For a start there will be too many half and halfers.
Then, there will be a great many who will use the old augment that we shouldn't expect to be beating the 'big boys' anyway.
I think it will be the usual collective shrug and sigh as people traipse out of the stadium, trying to get back to the warm as quickly as possible.
Very much THIS.I absolutely agree that this proposed 'protest' has missed the point and should be clearly against the manager not the chairman, who wants out anyway.Pretty much as I thought.
But, if things aren't going our way today, I think there is still too much apathy around for an outburst against Lambert.
For a start there will be too many half and halfers.
Then, there will be a great many who will use the old augment that we shouldn't expect to be beating the 'big boys' anyway.
I think it will be the usual collective shrug and sigh as people traipse out of the stadium, trying to get back to the warm as quickly as possible.
I think Sunday will be a different matter though and lambert will get a dogs abuse if we aren't winning after 80 mins or so.
We do need a Bolton moment .The Bolton moment was organic though wasn't it? Can't remember any talk of organised protest before the game but conceding 2 goals in a minute (or whatever it was) led to an outpouring of grief so intense Villa fans everywhere felt a disturbance in the Force.
Sorry my point was it seems much harder to get the majority of villa Park onside for a protest. I think people who moan on forums such as this about lambert and Lerner etc are in the minority by a distance .
Or most villa fans are too polite or apathetic to bother protesting or similar .
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/what-was-not-reported-origins-of-the-holte-end-demonstration/
Backtracking of the highest order!
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/what-was-not-reported-origins-of-the-holte-end-demonstration/
Backtracking of the highest order!
Q When is a protest not a protest?
A When its a farce.
"I would've supported the protest Tom, but they turned the tellies off".
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/what-was-not-reported-origins-of-the-holte-end-demonstration/
Backtracking of the highest order!
Q When is a protest not a protest?
A When its a farce.
"I would've supported the protest Tom, but they turned the tellies off".
I thought the protest was a stupid idea and told them so repeatedly on their FB stream, as did many others - there was a clear weight of opinion 'against' as opposed to 'for.'
However, what you cannot deny is that there has been FAR more coverage on Villa this week than usual, I've never heard so much radio, TV and newspaper analysis on us as I have this week. Therefore, whilst ill conceived in it's nature (in my opinion) one thing I have to concede to MOMS (and the others) is that in highlighting our plight to the national press and, crucially, prompting them to talk about it, it was really quite a success.
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/what-was-not-reported-origins-of-the-holte-end-demonstration/
Backtracking of the highest order!
Q When is a protest not a protest?
A When its a farce.
"I would've supported the protest Tom, but they turned the tellies off".
I thought the protest was a stupid idea and told them so repeatedly on their FB stream, as did many others - there was a clear weight of opinion 'against' as opposed to 'for.'
However, what you cannot deny is that there has been FAR more coverage on Villa this week than usual, I've never heard so much radio, TV and newspaper analysis on us as I have this week. Therefore, whilst ill conceived in it's nature (in my opinion) one thing I have to concede to MOMS (and the others) is that in highlighting our plight to the national press and, crucially, prompting them to talk about it, it was really quite a success.
I agree. This so called protest generated some much needed interest in the media even if it was seen as a failure. So well done to the people who at least tried to do something to help fellow supporters in their hour of need,
I thought the protest was a poor idea, but if the idea was to put the spotlight ob the club / pressure on Lambert then it has certainly done that.
I’ve heard apathetic being mentioned a number of times with regards to our fans and I take a little exception to this. Apathetic seems to imply that we either don’t’ care, or do care and can’t be bothered.
and Lerner can frankly do what the hell he pleases.
I’ve heard apathetic being mentioned a number of times with regards to our fans and I take a little exception to this. Apathetic seems to imply that we either don’t’ care, or do care and can’t be bothered.
Quite.
I have driven 1176 miles following us over our last five league games and I haven't seen us score a single goal. Anybody who wishes to suggest I don't care, can fuck off.
I’ve heard apathetic being mentioned a number of times with regards to our fans and I take a little exception to this. Apathetic seems to imply that we either don’t’ care, or do care and can’t be bothered. My take on it is that we do care, but know that in reality we can do bugger all about it. Lerner is not going to listen to us, Lambert is certainly not going to walk away from a lucrative contract and the bottom line is that we gave up our say in the club when we all flogged our shares to Randy Lerner. We own no piece of the club now and Lerner can frankly do what the hell he pleases.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Split between Villa Park and away from home, this comes to: 267.14 miles per goal at Villa Park and 692.95 miles per goal on the road.
My car will do, roughly 0.12p to the mile, so its currently costing me £50.64 in fuel, although I drive faster when we lose.
Fuck off Lambert!
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Split between Villa Park and away from home, this comes to: 267.14 miles per goal at Villa Park and 692.95 miles per goal on the road.
My car will do, roughly 0.12p to the mile, so its currently costing me £50.64 in fuel, although I drive faster when we lose.
Fuck off Lambert!
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Split between Villa Park and away from home, this comes to: 267.14 miles per goal at Villa Park and 692.95 miles per goal on the road.
My car will do, roughly 0.12p to the mile, so its currently costing me £50.64 in fuel, although I drive faster when we lose.
Fuck off Lambert!
You should tweet that to a newspaper or something.
A monumentally depressing "this is what it is like" story in real-life terms.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Only a handful of Aston Villa spectators made a stupid protest (for the opening eight minutes) of the home match with Liverpool. Who do these people really think they are?
Football fans are entitled to give their opinions and praise or criticise what they see on the pitch. But the abuse they dish out to football owners, who sink chunks of their own fortunes into the clubs, is disgraceful and out of order.
American Randy Lerner has spent around £300million on Villa and this cheap, planned protest against the eight years of his stewardship was ridiculous.
Lerner backed his first manager Martin O’Neill with heavy funds. Martin achieved sixth place in the Premier League, took Villa to two Wembley appearances (League Cup final and semi-final of FA Cup) but now Lerner, understandably, has put a brake on transfers.
He spends most of his time in the USA hoping that he can sell the club but he will not get his wish to get all his money back. He has already discovered that. Who would own a football club? Meanwhile, most of the Villa fans turned up on Saturday (over 39,000) and got behind their side, who were unlucky.
At one point, Birmingham fans turned on then owners David Sullivan and David Gold. I bet they would love them back now.
Instead, Sullivan and Gold are enjoying a high-flying time at West Ham where sticking with Sam Allardyce is paying off. West Ham are unbeaten this year and in seventh spot.
In midweek, I travelled on the train with a mate, Lord Snape (formerly Peter Snape, West Bromwich MP), and we talked about this subject. He helped save his club Stockport County from administration and all he got was abuse.
A couple of seasons ago they played their last game at Kidderminster. They had to win to stay in the Football League. We were both going but Kidderminster told Stockport’s board they could not attend due to safety reasons.
There were threats from the Stockport supporters that they would storm the directors’ box and possibly attack their board.
Lord Snape left the club, who have been relegated two divisions outside the Football League. They still owe him money and the fans are still abusing him on websites.
Stoke’s chairman Peter Coates has done a great job. But first time around he received abuse and threats. Now he is treated with the respect he deserves.
At the weekend, I was at Leicester-Stoke. The Leicester fans appreciate what their Thai owners are doing for the club and, apart from one stupid spectator who was recently involved in an altercation with Nigel Pearson, the Foxes supporters are right behind their manager... and Leicester are still bottom of the Premier League.
I co-hosted the packed Leicester Mercury Sports Awards on Thursday and Pearson received the biggest applause of the night. They appreciate what he has done for the club, and they may still stay up as it is so tight at the bottom.
So if you want to part with your fortune, get little credit but plenty of abuse... buy a football club.
The abuse will come from people who have no responsibility for running the club or investment – apart from buying their match ticket albeit with hard-earned cash. Sure they have a right to fairly criticise the manager and players if warranted but do not bash the sugar daddies!
Most football fans appreciate that but there are enough trying to make a name for themselves and take out their frustration on rich benefactors, who must think at times they are mugs.
Perhaps they are, because when they leave they are soon forgotten and they will never get much credit. When the team wins trophies, it is always about the manager and players. Fair enough!
For those that can't click on links at work etc, here are the 'wise' words from Gary Newbon from Malandro's post.QuoteOnly a handful of Aston Villa spectators made a stupid protest (for the opening eight minutes) of the home match with Liverpool. Who do these people really think they are?
Football fans are entitled to give their opinions and praise or criticise what they see on the pitch. But the abuse they dish out to football owners, who sink chunks of their own fortunes into the clubs, is disgraceful and out of order.
American Randy Lerner has spent around £300million on Villa and this cheap, planned protest against the eight years of his stewardship was ridiculous.
Lerner backed his first manager Martin O’Neill with heavy funds. Martin achieved sixth place in the Premier League, took Villa to two Wembley appearances (League Cup final and semi-final of FA Cup) but now Lerner, understandably, has put a brake on transfers.
He spends most of his time in the USA hoping that he can sell the club but he will not get his wish to get all his money back. He has already discovered that. Who would own a football club? Meanwhile, most of the Villa fans turned up on Saturday (over 39,000) and got behind their side, who were unlucky.
At one point, Birmingham fans turned on then owners David Sullivan and David Gold. I bet they would love them back now.
Instead, Sullivan and Gold are enjoying a high-flying time at West Ham where sticking with Sam Allardyce is paying off. West Ham are unbeaten this year and in seventh spot.
In midweek, I travelled on the train with a mate, Lord Snape (formerly Peter Snape, West Bromwich MP), and we talked about this subject. He helped save his club Stockport County from administration and all he got was abuse.
A couple of seasons ago they played their last game at Kidderminster. They had to win to stay in the Football League. We were both going but Kidderminster told Stockport’s board they could not attend due to safety reasons.
There were threats from the Stockport supporters that they would storm the directors’ box and possibly attack their board.
Lord Snape left the club, who have been relegated two divisions outside the Football League. They still owe him money and the fans are still abusing him on websites.
Stoke’s chairman Peter Coates has done a great job. But first time around he received abuse and threats. Now he is treated with the respect he deserves.
At the weekend, I was at Leicester-Stoke. The Leicester fans appreciate what their Thai owners are doing for the club and, apart from one stupid spectator who was recently involved in an altercation with Nigel Pearson, the Foxes supporters are right behind their manager... and Leicester are still bottom of the Premier League.
I co-hosted the packed Leicester Mercury Sports Awards on Thursday and Pearson received the biggest applause of the night. They appreciate what he has done for the club, and they may still stay up as it is so tight at the bottom.
So if you want to part with your fortune, get little credit but plenty of abuse... buy a football club.
The abuse will come from people who have no responsibility for running the club or investment – apart from buying their match ticket albeit with hard-earned cash. Sure they have a right to fairly criticise the manager and players if warranted but do not bash the sugar daddies!
Most football fans appreciate that but there are enough trying to make a name for themselves and take out their frustration on rich benefactors, who must think at times they are mugs.
Perhaps they are, because when they leave they are soon forgotten and they will never get much credit. When the team wins trophies, it is always about the manager and players. Fair enough!
We can take the piss out of MOMs etc all we like but at least they did something, or tried to
OK it may well have been ill conceived, poorly organised and badly executed but they still did something
There's a lot of self righteous condescending posters on here who did nothing, but are the first to complain on their laptops, which let me tell you counts for nothing
I didn't even go, but I can't complain about those who felt it right to protest about how bad things have become
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
We can take the piss out of MOMs etc all we like but at least they did something, or tried to
OK it may well have been ill conceived, poorly organised and badly executed but they still did something
There's a lot of self righteous condescending posters on here who did nothing, but are the first to complain on their laptops, which let me tell you counts for nothing
I didn't even go, but I can't complain about those who felt it right to protest about how bad things have become
You do realise we're not talking about him, don't you? The above posts, I mean.
What a load of muddled, rambling guff.
I think he's trying to say that you shouldn't criticise owners bceause some of them spend a lot of money for time to time.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
Well, if you did manage to take it all the way to John O'Groats, you'd at least have the option of ploughing off a cliff and into the sea there to make it stop.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
Forget Newcastle, you could go to Vallence in southern France or the charming town of St Gallen in Switzerland, near the Austrian border.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Split between Villa Park and away from home, this comes to: 267.14 miles per goal at Villa Park and 692.95 miles per goal on the road.
My car will do, roughly 0.12p to the mile, so its currently costing me £50.64 in fuel, although I drive faster when we lose.
Fuck off Lambert!
Will Golden Muppets get free season tickets and Oakham Citra piped to their seats?To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
Well, if you did manage to take it all the way to John O'Groats, you'd at least have the option of ploughing off a cliff and into the sea there to make it stop.
...and as my car plunges into the deep and sinks to the bottom of the dark deep sea, I will slowly begin to drown, before being saved by a tidy looking mermaid, with shells for a bra and everything. My car will hit the bedrock and it will strike oil. I will rise from the water like an Arthurian legend, buy the land, sink a well and start flogging black gold. Enough black gold to buy me a volcano island, an orange Lamborghini and five Italian super models who will lick strawberry yoghurt off my nad sack.
I will then buy the Villa and have a 400 foot statue of me erected outside the gates of the Holte End and demand to be worshiped like some sort of God like king, as my megalomania becomes all consuming.
Then you'll be wishing you had Lerner back.
To add an equally meaningless statistic to club Lambert over the head with, I have travelled 4641.8 miles following us in the league this season, which works out at 421.98 miles per goal.
Just in case you may be questioning your sanity, that's the equivalent of having to drive to Osnabrück, Lower Saxony in Germany every time you want to see a goal.
I have just added Arsenal away and Chelsea at home and it takes me pretty close to Lands End to Newcastle.
Forget Newcastle, you could go to Vallence in southern France or the charming town of St Gallen in Switzerland, near the Austrian border.
I remember a few years back reading about a Southampton fan that lived in New York, but he got to every home game on a weekend at St Mary's and this was around the time they were dropping through the leagues.
There is always somebody worse than you!
The Liverpool Protest was an utter waste of time because yet again, and ad nauseum (or whatever the Turkish is) the internet warriors think that having 500 likes and 200 favourites and loads of their mates saying how great they are means that the whole of the Holte End loves them and will obviously take part.
The Liverpool Protest was an utter waste of time because yet again, and ad nauseum (or whatever the Turkish is) the internet warriors think that having 500 likes and 200 favourites and loads of their mates saying how great they are means that the whole of the Holte End loves them and will obviously take part.
The Liverpool Protest was an utter waste of time because yet again, and ad nauseum (or whatever the Turkish is) the internet warriors think that having 500 likes and 200 favourites and loads of their mates saying how great they are means that the whole of the Holte End loves them and will obviously take part.
If ever there was a case of believing your own Internet hype or own self importance then this is it. People on the Internet specifically Facebook sites often forget they're not addressing thousands they're only impacting a couple of hundred at most as evidenced by the numbers who took part.
I think all agree it was a poorly thought out protest, very hard to achieve with any great amount of success, but as stated previously they are just letting out their frustration at the current situation.
I think one of the best organised protests and one that certainly had an effect especially with the media was the pound sign Doug Ellis one.
How about for the away game at Arsenal getting 3 or 4000 A4 size paper printed with 0 on, then if we do score they can be ripped up and turned into confetti to celebrate this rare occassion, especially seeing as it will be Tarquins staff that have to clear up the mess, continue this till we next score, mind you Green peace may have intervened on behalf of the rain forest;s before then.
I think all agree it was a poorly thought out protest, very hard to achieve with any great amount of success, but as stated previously they are just letting out their frustration at the current situation.
I think one of the best organised protests and one that certainly had an effect especially with the media was the pound sign Doug Ellis one.
How about for the away game at Arsenal getting 3 or 4000 A4 size paper printed with 0 on, then if we do score they can be ripped up and turned into confetti to celebrate this rare occassion, especially seeing as it will be Tarquins staff that have to clear up the mess, continue this till we next score, mind you Green peace may have intervened on behalf of the rain forest;s before then.
ha ha I like that, or just a card with z printed on it so that there are loads of z's signifying the tedium of it all, or ultimately the arrows pointing to the goal
The Z-card idea is excellent!
The Z-card idea is excellent!
Should save that for Everton away.
The Liverpool Protest was an utter waste of time because yet again, and ad nauseum (or whatever the Turkish is) the internet warriors think that having 500 likes and 200 favourites and loads of their mates saying how great they are means that the whole of the Holte End loves them and will obviously take part.Although it did show how through popular media such as Facebook and Twitter, you can generate interest from the national mainstream broadcasting media. It was mentioned on nearly all outlets, BBC and Sky TV, local and national radio and newspapers.
ZZZ says it all.
Talking of protests, sorry I mean demo's, there's some Everton fan on twitter trying to organise a Martinez Out protest/demo before their home against against Liverpool, which apparently includes burning effigy's of Martinez after the game. Anyone who dosen't join in is not a 'true blue' apparently.
https://twitter.com/MartinezOUT_EFC
Talking of protests, sorry I mean demo's, there's some Everton fan on twitter trying to organise a Martinez Out protest/demo before their home against against Liverpool, which apparently includes burning effigy's of Martinez after the game. Anyone who dosen't join in is not a 'true blue' apparently.
https://twitter.com/MartinezOUT_EFC
I saw that on Twitter and assumed it was a piss-take! Ridiculous.