Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: dave.woodhall on July 25, 2010, 12:34:37 AM
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As it says - what do the Villa mean to you in the wider scheme of things? Life and death? Or something to pass the time?
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B. for me.
Anyone who selects the first one is either insane or lying to themselves.
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B for me too.
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C.
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B or C for me.
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Mainly it's C, a little bit of B, but it can feel like A sometimes.
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Somewhere inbetween B and C I'd say.
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I've slipped from B to E slowly but surely since about 1992.
In fact I am still about D and a half to be honest, I still get a buzz when he Villa do something great, and I can still argue about them until the cows come home so I must care a bit more than E? Or maybe I'm closer to a C?
Damn you Woodhall, I don't know, I'm confused!
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B/C for me too.
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I've slipped from B to E slowly but surely since about 1992.
In fact I am still about D and a half to be honest, I still get a buzz when he Villa do something great, and I can still argue about them until the cows come home so I must care a bit more than E? Or maybe I'm closer to a C?
Damn you Woodhall, I don't know, I'm confused!
You got to F in 1993, you F*.
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You got to F in 1993, you F*.
I don't get it, sorry.
I have had wine.
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You got to F in 1993, you F*.
I don't get it, sorry.
I have had wine.
F as in Fail.
Only winding you up, Dave.
The only time I have attained DC5 type attendance levels was in the Division 3 days when I went to most away games. Since then, it has been around 10 games a season.
Still, maybe because my Dad who died this year was the one who insisted on taking me to my first game on Boxing Day, 1966, and because it is a major link with my 2 brothers, AV is far more important to me than it should be in a rational scheme of things.
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I think I care as much as I always have but defeats don't upset me half as much as when I was growing-up.
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18 months ago, I'd have said A. I'm single with no kids and had the ability to do what I wanted. As such my family visits home were scheduled around Villa, as were other commitments.
Now, having been travelling since September 1st, and not having the ability to attend Villa games it's dropped down to B, and if/when I return to the UK I think it will remain at around that level.
When I said I was going to travel the world for a couple of years, my family and friends all thought I'd last about 3 months before I missed Villa too much and came back home, and to be honest I sort of agreed. However, what I have learnt though is that there is a lot more to life than Aston Villa.
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B is probably nearest, but i'd modify it to other things have equal priority depending on their urgency. For example i'd stay on here if the club was about to annouce a major signing and miss a dentist appointment, but i'd probably leave early if i knew the signing was Robbie Keane.
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Probably C now. I used to be somewhere between A and B for years. I think the decline started after I shook off the 3 week depression following the FA cup final against Chelsea when I swore to myself that I was no longer going to let something as trivial as a game of football ruin my life.
On top of that, like a lot of people, I cant stand the way the game has become all about the money. I know it's always been that way to a certain extent but the Chelsea and now Man City madness is getting beyond reasonable explanation. Journeymen players who cant string a sentence together earning more in a week than I can in a year and who cant even be bothered to pretend to care about the fans they represent havent helped either.
Make that D.
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I would say Ive pretty well always been a B since starting in 1966. But I am probably a B with a hint more reality and cynicism.
I probably drifted to C in the late 80s for about a season when I had a job which involved always working saturdays( rather fortuate that the only time in 44 years I was stopped from regular attendance coincided with Billy McNeill).
Anybody who claims A is either lying or should get a life. I suspect the Man U fan with the flag that says "Utd Kids Wife In that order" would say A.
Am I the only one who when I see that flag want someone to shove it down his fat arrogant stupid mouth ?
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It's important but other things have greater priority
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As it says - what do the Villa mean to you in the wider scheme of things? Life and death? Or something to pass the time?
Have you been reading the Mailing List again?
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A while ago, I would say the first option, but over time it's dropped down to "It's important but other things have greater priority". I would say that it's now about to drop into the 3rd category.
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Somewhere between B & C, they still have the ability to make or ruin a weekend, though my daughter manages to put things in perspective as only a 5 year old can.
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Up until 2003 it was definitely A and had been for nearly 20 years.
Now it's a mixture of B & C and will always be that way for me.
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It's b for me.
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It's b for me.
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From 1974 to 1984 it was a major part of my life. Then life-changes occured and I slipped away only to return with a renewed passion around 2002. The experience just wasn't the same though...
If my lad had been more enthusiastic then possibly may have attended more but he isn't too bothered. The blokes I used to attend with have drifted away as well.
Now I have a strong emotive response to the Villa memories from the 70's/80's but I just don't identify with the present players or style of play.
I fell out of love wih football not Villa
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Voted D.
There was a time when it would have possibly been an A or at least a B, but not any more. There's a good chance that I'll miss the Everton home game in August simply because I'll be doing other things - something that at one part of my life would have been absolutely unthinkable for me when the Villa were at home.
I'm not sure if its the aging process that is responsible for this or the 'Top Four' thing of the Sky era, or maybe a mix of both.
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B for me. As others have said I have also fallen out of love with the game but not Villa. The money has killed it which is a shame and it will only get worse.
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D for me.
Villa are my main 'hobby' - manily becuse I'm not a golfer.
I love football and Villa since 1971, and am still clinging onto the hope that we will compete with the big boys again ( General K seems to think we will)....
'Patience' rather than 'Prepared' may be a more appropriate club motto at VP, 2010.
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You got to F in 1993, you F*.
I don't get it, sorry.
I have had wine.
F as in Fail.
Only winding you up, Dave.
Oh I see!
Told you I had had wine.
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My initial reaction was C, but the more I think about how I do let the odd result bother me and how much games like Reading away can lift me, I've settled on B. And this is despite being a part-timer who very much picks and chooses his games.
I think if I went every week, I'd be as miserable as sin. I'd struggle to look on the bright side as much as a group of S/T holders I went to school with, although even one of them got worn down last season by his attempts to go to every game home and away. What's odd is that it wasn't the standard of football that wore him down, it was the negativity in the support surrounding him.
A wee break must have done him the world of good however as he's in Dublin this weekend and is already making plans for at least one European away day.
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It's something I care deeply about but it's still only football
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I think I'm a B, possibly a C.
There was a time when losing would put me on a downer for the whole weekend but these days I'm usually over it half way through my second post match pint. That said there's a hardly a day goes by where don't have some sort of Villa related chat with friends, family or colleagues.
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C for me
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Proud to pick the first option x
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Of course there are other things that have greater priority, but at the same time Aston Villa are part of my identity I believe. I'm proud that people see me and mention Villa. I think I always will be.
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C for me.
Although I still fume in the pub afterwards if we've lost, as far as Villa goes, I am a very ungracious, bad loser.
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I can get crazy insane about football sometimes, on the odd occasion finding myself physically exhausted. Villa are on my mind for a large proportion of the day, to varying degrees, from absent thinking about such and such a game or goal to considered thinking about players we might lose, or we might buy.
To be fair I am committed to most things in this way - I'm writing a novel at the moment and it occupies my thoughts almost constantly. I wish it wasn't the case and I could switch off but that's just the way it is.
I am aware that football is only a game and meaningless in a lot of ways but I've always found it difficult to make friends - Villa gives me a sense of community and belonging that doesn't come easily elsewhere. I've found it easier to tolerate defeat and bad performances as I've got older but they still mean practically everything to me. I've chosen A and I probably need medical help.
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Following Villa's not a matter of life or death.
It's much more important than that.
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I love Villa more than football itself. If that makes sense. Villa isnt just football. i voted B.
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Moved o/s six years ago and part of the attraction was to gradually wean myself of the Villa. In all the time I've supported them it's been far more bad than good, way too much disappointment.
A new country, other side of the world and new distractions should have put the kybosh on it, but didn't. I became more obsessive than ever, following all the websites to chase the latest news (something I never did at home) and staying up until stupid o'clock whenever the matches were on (4.35am kick-offs were the worst).
Moved back home three years ago, and as much as I hate it when we lose (or continuously play shite) there is a lot to be said for seeing it in the flesh. You watch it, it's done and then you move on.
When I was relying on just match reports and (very brief) highlights and the like abroad you have to fill in the gaps. It becomes more time consuming, and you dwell/ ruminate on it more.
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Without wanting to sound completely up myself, I've never understood the mindset of anyone who could genuinely claim to be option A.
I can imagine that some people run their lives around making sure they get to every match or cannot concentrate on anything if Villa are playing or on the verge of signing someone, I think we've all been there at some point, but to claim (or believe) that a football club are the most important thing your life, ahead of family, friends, career, etc. etc., nah, it just doesn't compute with me.
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I score a C minus.
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Without wanting to sound completely up myself, I've never understood the mindset of anyone who could genuinely claim to be option A.
I can imagine that some people run their lives around making sure they get to every match or cannot concentrate on anything if Villa are playing or on the verge of signing someone, I think we've all been there at some point, but to claim (or believe) that a football club are the most important thing your life, ahead of family, friends, career, etc. etc., nah, it just doesn't compute with me.
Yeah I agree, that's a very similar view to myself.
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C for me.
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B. Despite my abysmal attendance record.
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I went for B.
But if there is a Villa who isn't A during the 90 minutes then I'm a Dutchman!
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Without wanting to sound completely up myself, I've never understood the mindset of anyone who could genuinely claim to be option A.
I can imagine that some people run their lives around making sure they get to every match or cannot concentrate on anything if Villa are playing or on the verge of signing someone, I think we've all been there at some point, but to claim (or believe) that a football club are the most important thing your life, ahead of family, friends, career, etc. etc., nah, it just doesn't compute with me.
To some Aston Villa are their family & friends.
maybe not you , maybe not me but to some .
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Somewhere between A and B. Yes, I am a sad bastard.
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Less important than this time last year. More important than this time next year.
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Aren't B and C essentially the same thing?
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Aren't B and C essentially the same thing?
I thought the same, and voted for the third option.
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Was A up until becoming a Dad, now its B. However everything does still have to fit around our games.
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Being a Villa fan is a weird thing, isn't it? We don't get the glory of the really top clubs, nor the fashionability (new word!) of the London clubs like Spurs or West Ham, or the fun of the tiny clubs who have no hopes of glory whatsoever. We're stuck in the middle, the perennial nearly-men. We finished second in the first ever league, runners-up in the last Cup final at Wembley, provided the most England players but most of them have only had one cap - these things are so Villa.
Last season was perfect Villa as well, with the Cup runs and the 6th-place-again league performance. To reference the title of this thread, to lose one Wembley game is unfortunate, to lose two looks like carelessness. That's the Villa.
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I used to be B but am now C, even though they are very similar.
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To some Aston Villa are their family & friends.
maybe not you , maybe not me but to some .
You may be right, I would just find it very hard to imagine.
I've met some diehard fans of several teams in my life, but never one that would put their football club above someone they loved.
I've seen marriages break because some idiot decided football was more important, but I doubt that there was what I would called true love in the relationship.
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Mainly it's C, a little bit of B, but it can feel like A sometimes.
Seconded
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B/C for me.
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C although I only ever see them at Sid James' Park.
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B
but in 10 years I reckon E
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A all the way.
To judge others by your standards sounds like you are very unaware of your own being
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C.
The only game I was really disappointed to lose last season was obviously the Carling cup final.
In the league drawing half of our games in the run in annoyed me much more than the 7-1 at Chelsea for example.
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B for me too.
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C.
The only game I was really disappointed to lose last season was obviously the Carling cup final.
In the league drawing half of our games in the run in annoyed me much more than the 7-1 at Chelsea for example.
I was thinking about that match the other day.
I found losing the CCF very disappointing, but losing the FAC semi final was crushing by comparison. Absolutely miles worse.
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B for me as well.
What I have noticed though is I'm a far happier person off season. I'm in control of every aspect of my life in the summer, in the winter a silly bloody game played out by overpaid prima donnas who I can exert no influence over whatsoever can effect my mood for weeks on end.
Although I accept that being an A would just be silly, the glow that l had for weeks after the birth of my kids felt the same as the 30 second high that you get when say Gabby scores late on at the b-lose.
Undoubtedly as well I'm a Villa Fan not a football fan, the world cup confirmed that.
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Ha, I agree with that Andrew. I'm the same! I find I am just as excited as ever when the start of the season comes around though. It soon wanes however as the utter mind numbing predictability of it all sets in and I find more things to be angry about with modern day football than I do to take pleasure from. I've actually got to the point, miserable old git that I am, when I enjoy other teams' misfortunes as much as I do Villa doing well. I never used to be like that, but now Chelsea getting knocked out of a cup is almost as pleasurable as a Villa win!
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I never used to be like that, but now Chelsea getting knocked out of a cup is almost as pleasurable as a Villa win![/quote]
Absolutely. ditto several other teams extending into Spain with Madrid and Barcelona as well !
I am turning into a truely horrible grumpy old footy fan..... laughed for minutes when Fulham lost the europa final as well.
Strangely though, and my old man will turn in his grave when I say this, I'm getting to feel a little bit sorry for Albion lately. I mean b-lose and wolves better than them ? That's just not right
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I'm a B even though I have other interests which take up other parts of my spare time. For home games everything else has to fit around the game. I don't do as many away games as I would like due to other commitments but while doing these and any home games I might have to miss for holidays/Weddings and such like my mind is focused on how we are doing even though I'm not there.
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C
.. I think.
I know rationally that it's only football and isn't of any fundamental importance but emotion says otherwise.
Still, at the ripe old age of 56 and with family and work and my beliefs, my mood is affected by results or performance. I can't help it.
I think it demonstrates show important our childhood and our family roots are.
You can never really escape them. And I don't want to.
Essentially I'm happy to sulk or smile because of the Villa and know deep down it doesn't really matter.
... does it?
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A all the way.
To judge others by your standards sounds like you are very unaware of your own being
I'm not sure if your second sentence is alluding to my previous post but either way, I would not even try to judge you by my standards, I don't know you.
But seriously, A? There is nothing more important in your life than Aston Villa?
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Without wanting to sound completely up myself, I've never understood the mindset of anyone who could genuinely claim to be option A.
I can imagine that some people run their lives around making sure they get to every match or cannot concentrate on anything if Villa are playing or on the verge of signing someone, I think we've all been there at some point, but to claim (or believe) that a football club are the most important thing your life, ahead of family, friends, career, etc. etc., nah, it just doesn't compute with me.
Okay, substitute Villa for Tamworth and you may get it...
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Im a B/C I voted B. I used to be an A, Everything used to have to revolve around the Villa.
I still have mates who are A's. I know a lad who has recently lost his wife with his absolute refusal to do anything that gets in the way of his Aston Villa.
I still sulk if we lose though, It can go on for days
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C, possibly slipping into D.
I still care, check newsnow and here throughout the day and sit glued to the media on transfer deadline day. I'll try to at least watch the games on the stream every week and I'll try to make it to half a dozen games home or away over the season but that's partly just to catch up with mates.
If it wasn't for the Villa I'm not sure I'd have any more than a passing interest in a industry I'm beginning to hate. Losses these days are greeted with annoyance and a shrug rather than anger.
Put it before everything else in my life? Not a feckin chance.
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C, possibly slipping into D.
If when younger you were an A then you're well on the way to being our first AC/DC.
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C, possibly slipping into D.
If when younger you were an A then you're well on the way to being our first AC/DC.
You would be on a Highway to Hell