Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: wittonwarrior on January 17, 2016, 01:46:39 PM
-
I am now 55 years of age and Villa have given me both extreme highs and moods of desperation.
My own minimum expectations would ideally be a top 8 finish in the top division and a good run in one of the the two domestic cups with the odd European adventure.
At the moment Villa and myself look a million miles apart but I honestly do believe we can get back on track within the next 3 to 4 years.
-
For me, ideally, to be a regular fixture in Europe. By that I mean involved in the Europa League or better more seasons than not.
-
To be going forward, improve on the previous season, a good cup run at least every other season (semi final at least). Make at least 1 signing a season that inspires the fans.
-
For me.
Carry on playing at Villa Park in a ground called Villa Park.
Carry on playing in Claret and Blue, no stripes, no fruit salad.
Not to be owned by pornographers, racists, warmongers, drug dealers, ISIL bankrollers or asset strippers.
Not to have a shirt sponsor promoting any business of those listed above.
To get on well with those with whom we share B6.
Sell decent beer not overpriced gnat's piss.
Sell decent pies.
Turn down the volume of the public address system.
Stop that stupid "let's get behind the boys in claret and blue" at the start of every home game second half.
Have a youth academy to be proud of.
Win some games.
That's about it.
-
Bare minimum top half of the Premier League, anything else is unacceptable. Play in proper claret and blue, and that's about it.
Couldn't care less about pies and what beer is sold in the ground.
-
I'm afraid mine would be for us to attain dull stability through being a well-run club for a few years, because only then can I dare to expect any sporting success.
I don't really care who owns the club - unless, as Brian says - it's an amoral criminal, laundering his money but, until that side of things is sorted, I have no expectations at all, any more.
-
I would have said top 8 league finishes would be the minimum expectation for Villa.
-
Top half, decent cup runs, a trophy win every now and then and European football.
At the moment it feels like those things are never coming back.
-
Control C and Control V the Witton Warrior offering.
Play or attempt to play good football in the manner of Saunders, Atkinson and Little
-
If we are talking the bare minimum then I look at the energy and application we showed as a side in the second half. We fought for every ball, we showed a commitment to winning the game even if we didn't. We can build from that. From having the right attitude there's a lot you can achieve. In terms of where we should be as a club it is European football. Top 7, and as much as I am not a fan of the Europa I'd love for us to be back in it and giving it a proper go every season.
-
Win a major trophy at least once a decade. Qualify for Europe in at least 50% of seasons. Play in top division every season.
Never mind.
-
That's about it.
That'll all do. So long as there's something to be proud of and we don't sell whatever soul we've got left. I'm not fussed about becoming an oligarch's plaything and winning everything in sight. Which is just as well.
I'll add once in a while absolutely stuffing one of the many clubs I dislike.
-
Top half of the top flight.
-
Just for now try and act like the massive club that we are and not act small time like the last five years
-
Thanks Hopadop.
When I sing Villa Till I Die, there is no descant soaring above the lyric that goes "but only if we are in the top half of the Premiership".
-
Control C and Control V the Witton Warrior offering.
Play or attempt to play good football in the manner of Saunders, Atkinson and Little
I'd go with that as well, though I would probably extend it to a top 10 finish, with the odd European campaign. Having seen the likes of Palace, I don't think it would too hard to achieve if we can sort things. I would also like us to bloody the noses of the so called 'top' teams at Villa Park from time to time, instead of the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool turning up to B6 and having a leisurely routine win.
I would also add that I would like to see a steady flow of youngsters coming from the academy into the first team - not world beaters but players who can hold their own at that level.
-
To start acting like the biggest club between London and the Nort West.
-
For the opposition fearing coming to Villa Park
-
To have players in the squad who want to play for Villa because of it's history and tradition, not for a pay day or stepping stone to bigger/better things. To have those said players then walk to the Holte end after every game and take the applause of the fans for their efforts as they've showed desire, passion and a sheer willingness to fight for the badge on the shirt irrespective of the result. I don't expect Villa to win anything, but what I do expect is to see them in OUR shirt give everything. I also expect the owner to take some responsibility for the club he is privileged to own and start hiring people who understand football and business a lot better.
-
For me, somewhere between 6th and 8th and a good cup run should be the bare minimum for Villa. Investment and ambition lifts us above this threshold, lack of investment and no ambition results in us falling below par. A trophy every decade, as cdbullyweefan would be about par for the course, too.
-
Bare minimum top half of the Premier League, anything else is unacceptable. Play in proper claret and blue, and that's about it.
Couldn't care less about pies and what beer is sold in the ground.
Why don't you care about the pies and beer? Wonderful aspects of the match for me.
-
Control C and Control V the Witton Warrior offering
Ctrl + F a striker, a creative midfielder, a keeper...
Ctrl + H Gestede.
Ctrl + W or Alt + F4 Micah's gob
SHIFT + DEL Gabby
-
To get rid of that insipid washed out badge Lerners lackies in their wisdom decided they would force on us and replace it with the magnificent shield which we had
for decades. The historical Villa shield.
-
Pushing for top 6.
That doesn't automatically mean getting it most seasons.
The nature of football means there will be cycles and times when you need to rebuild. But for us to be so far off the pace for close to six years now, and to see the likes of Swansea, Southampton and Crystal Palace eclipse us is poor.
-
To get rid of that insipid washed out badge Lerners lackies in their wisdom decided they would force on us and replace it with the magnificent shield which we had
for decades. The historical Villa shield.
God yeah, that badge is dreadful. Looks like a seven year old threw it together. The sooner we get rid the better.
-
To get rid of that insipid washed out badge Lerners lackies in their wisdom decided they would force on us and replace it with the magnificent shield which we had
for decades. The historical Villa shield.
May as well re-ignite the perennial debate. Which shield? The curvy one, the round one that won us our highest honour or the stripey seahorse that the current badge replaced?
-
The round one was the best. The current one looks nothing like the emblem of Scotland and doesn't have Aston or Villa written on it.
-
Anything that doesn't look like a seven year old designed it that's all.
Personally I love the round badge of the 70s and 80s, but I also like minimalist rampant lion shield with 'Prepared' underneath of the late 60s into the 70s.
To be honest I've not liked any of the badges since we ditched the round one (the current one being the worst).
-
On the pitch; compete for European qualification through our league position.
Off the pitch; behave in an ethical manner, communicate and engage with fans, respect the history and traditions of the club and be a good neighbour to the local community.
-
To get rid of that insipid washed out badge Lerners lackies in their wisdom decided they would force on us.
All I said before and this! The round one for me!
-
A serious challenge for top 4 twice per decade
1 League Cup win per decade
FA Cup - just once before I die please
Always challenging for Euro spots being in it at least 5 times out of 10 and win UEFA once per decade.
Only 1 relegation battle allowed per decade!
A decent Youth system and a clear pathway to the 1st team.
Live up to our motto, I can recall few times in my Villa supporting life when it seems to have been applied.
This doesn't seem unreasonable for one of the 30 richest clubs in world football!!!
-
The minimum I expect is that it's there when I wake up and there when I go to sleep.
-
To get rid of that insipid washed out badge Lerners lackies in their wisdom decided they would force on us and replace it with the magnificent shield which we had
for decades. The historical Villa shield.
May as well re-ignite the perennial debate. Which shield? The curvy one, the round one that won us our highest honour or the stripey seahorse that the current badge replaced?
Either A or B prefably A.
-
Top eight in top division bare minimum every season. European competition at least every other year. Domestic Cup run to minimum of quater finals every other year in either competitions. Round 80s badge. Playing at Villa Park. Having a chairman that attends at least one home game every month. A manager that insists the players give 100% effort every match. Not too much to ask for, is it?
-
As a minimum I expect a club which understands it is representing it's supporters and acts accordingly. Executives and officials who appreciate that they temporarily are playing a part in a much bigger history and respect what has gone before without letting it breed inertia.I expect the team to display defiance and determination however poor we are at any given point.
-
Minimum expected?
To play their home games at Villa Park in a stadium that meets the expectations of comfort and convenience of the twenty-first century, but architecturally remains true to the vision of the club's great administrators of a century and more ago.
To take the field wearing a strip of claret bodied shirts with blue sleeves, white shorts and, preferably blue socks. In an ideal world it would be devoid of any sponsorship or sports brand logo and simply feature a lion rampant, the words Aston Villa F.C. and the motto Prepared. However, I'll concede that the first two aren't going to change any time soon - so at least get the last right.
To be plying their trade in the top division.
-
Minimum I want from Villa is for each player to put in 100% every game regardless of their ability. It would be nice for the games to be entertaining too - which is where many of our managers have failed.
-
To look forward to 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.
That's *3pm*, *Saturday*.
Oh crap. That's going to be next season, isn't it. Careful what you wish for...
-
A serious challenge for top 4 twice per decade
1 League Cup win per decade
FA Cup - just once before I die please
Always challenging for Euro spots being in it at least 5 times out of 10 and win UEFA once per decade.
Only 1 relegation battle allowed per decade!
A decent Youth system and a clear pathway to the 1st team.
Live up to our motto, I can recall few times in my Villa supporting life when it seems to have been applied.
This doesn't seem unreasonable for one of the 30 richest clubs in world football!!!
This for me. Top half most of the time, push for Europe 3-4 times a decade, don't get involved in relegation scraps.
On top of that I wholeheartedly agree with those that have said to watch Villa with every player giving their all. I felt much better about the world after Palace, not because of the win necessarily, but because you knew they had put every ounce into it for the team. Watching a committed, united team is a very rewarding thing, and often leads to good results.
-
To quote the dreaded Houllier comment, I expect '7th-12th' placed league finishes to be the norm. I expect the odd Europa League campaign through finishing occasionally in the top 6. I also expect a couple of cup finals per decade, which would hopefully lead to a trophy most decades and further European campaigns.
-
I expect to see us act like the biggest club in Britain's second biggest city.
-
To walk up Aston Church Road with hope, and back down it a couple of hours later with a smile.