Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Project B6 on March 02, 2023, 09:43:52 PM
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Hi Everyone! Some of you may know us already, but we would like to try and reach out to more fans and grow bigger and better! Project B6 is a ‘fan group’ aimed to be an umbrella for all fans to come together under. Formed in 2017 taking over from ‘GET THE HOLTE END BACK’ which had been running for 5 years prior. The aim has always been to bring colour and vibrancy back to the stands. Whether in the form of flags, banners, mosaics and alike.
PB6 is also an associate of THE FSA.
Over the last few months we have been running several surveys, questionnaires and polls for fans to get involved with. The overwhelming view is that the atmosphere at Villa Park is poor and that it needs to change. Fans and the club must do more to ensure that Villa Park becomes a place of vibrancy, noise and excitement. There will soon be a generation who will never know what Villa Park and The Holte End, in particular, can be like. The next generation could easily slip away and follow the ‘Big Six’, We want to ensure younger fans want to come to The Villa and enjoy it in the process!
The reoccurring themes from fans via the surveys etc. are Displays and flags must be in The Holte as default. The pre match music must be changed and there is a really willingness from fans to help, as will show with the number of volunteers we now have.
The game against Palace on Saturday we are encouraging fans to bring scarves, just like games previously, to get twirling all around the ground. It looked great against Leicester hopefully we can build on that!
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So what is the call to action?
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I love being lectured.
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Shit support ma'lord.
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
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What are the Meatball quotes? Hope he's not being a bonehead.
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Bells are ringing remix on the way?
There's a reason we've mainly stuck to escape as the walkout music for nearly 15 years now as the other alternatives really haven't worked although I didn't mind us coming out to Paranoid by Sabbath for a few months. Arcade Fire was also pretty dramatic but that was a long long time ago now.
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I've no issue with things like the scarf days, balloons, banners and all that malarky but I really don't want singing sections, or Ultras such as they have at Palace or that Wor Flags thing up at this years League Cup Runners Up. It always comes across as contrived to me, but I'm a curmudgeon I suppose and these sort of initiatives do seem to be popular.
As for the atmosphere, as ever, it's dictated by what happens on the pitch. In all my years I can't remember the Holte being as loud as it was than during this seasons Newton Heath game and when Villa Park is rocking there is no place like it. Equally, it can be like a morgue when we are shit, and so it should be. I like the ebb and flow of supporting, from crazed roaring to celebrate a goal to grumpy silence when you're 2-0 down. God forbid we have the constant drone of half hearted singing and the incessant drumming of the like you hear from the Green Brigade at Celtic away games, I mean, I love those old songs but ffs give it a rest now and again.
Remember the roar that went 'round Wembley towards the end of the FA Cup semi against Liverpool? That wasn't planned or organised, it came from the soul of every Villa supporter in the ground inspired by the situation at the time and that's the sort of support I love to hear.
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Whatever happened to Brigada in the corner of the Holte? Wasn't there some issue with the club and it got disbanded?
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I've no issue with things like the scarf days, balloons, banners and all that malarky but I really don't want singing sections, or Ultras such as they have at Palace or that Wor Flags thing up at this years League Cup Runners Up. It always comes across as contrived to me, but I'm a curmudgeon I suppose and these sort of initiatives do seem to be popular.
As for the atmosphere, as ever, it's dictated by what happens on the pitch. In all my years I can't remember the Holte being as loud as it was than during this seasons Newton Heath game and when Villa Park is rocking there is no place like it. Equally, it can be like a morgue when we are shit, and so it should be. I like the ebb and flow of supporting, from crazed roaring to celebrate a goal to grumpy silence when you're 2-0 down. God forbid we have the constant drone of half hearted singing and the incessant drumming of the like you hear from the Green Brigade at Celtic away games, I mean, I love those old songs but ffs give it a rest now and again.
Remember the roar that went 'round Wembley towards the end of the FA Cup semi against Liverpool? That wasn't planned or organised, it came from the soul of every Villa supporter in the ground inspired by the situation at the time and that's the sort of support I love to hear.
Completely agree with this. The Holte has been as loud and bouncing on some occasions since coming back up, than ive known in 40 odd years. Man United this year you’ve mentioned, but even Brentford after Gerrard going. Also you can’t create spontaneous moments like against Leicester last season, when for virtually the whole second half the Holte was bouncing to ‘Smeichal is a wan**r’ over and over, very funny.
I have noticed this season as the players come out, the music is turned up to a ridiculous level, drowning out any singing or roar from the Holte.
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Whenever sheer noise at Villa Park is mentioned I'm always transported back to the third division game against Bournemouth. Just prior to George Curtis taking the free-kick from which Andy Lochhead scored there was a crescendo of Villa, Villa, Villa from every corner of the ground. I think every man, woman and child joined in, we couldn't fail to score. Barry Davis mentioned it in commentary.
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Has Jay Forsyth been released back into the community. If they ask for money just DON'T.
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
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If anyone comes near me with a drum in the Holte End, they'll be going home wearing it...
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Whenever sheer noise at Villa Park is mentioned I'm always transported back to the third division game against Bournemouth. Just prior to George Curtis taking the free-kick from which Andy Lochhead scored there was a crescendo of Villa, Villa, Villa from every corner of the ground. I think every man, woman and child joined in, we couldn't fail to score. Barry Davis mentioned it in commentary.
Agree Dave. That's real noise and support.
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Remember the roar that went 'round Wembley towards the end of the FA Cup semi against Liverpool? That wasn't planned or organised, it came from the soul of every Villa supporter in the ground inspired by the situation at the time and that's the sort of support I love to hear.
Still gives me goosebumps!!!
Ridiculously loud music at almost every away ground I visit absolutely pisses me off as it drowns out the fans' attempts at singing....the last thing I want is to have exactly that at every game at Villa Park!
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
Add to that the music at the end. If I never hear Sweet Caroline again it will be too soon.ķ
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I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere than we've witnessed. 12.30pm kick offs don't help either.
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I'm with the sentiment-not sure I want to be a flag twirler though. Vocal support and copying trends are two very different things. It would very quickly become passé. I don't get down as much as I used to living too far away, but if the team plays well (not just if they're winning), I've found the atmosphere brilliant on most visits.
My suggestion would be to tap into the away fans for organising shows of support that are different each game. They will definitely come up with a lot of ideas and we won't be confined to flag shagging.
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Apologies for the length of this - I didn't intend for it to be so long:
The atmosphere at Villa has been on my mind for a while now. I sit towards the back of the Holte, so when people describe the atmosphere as “shit”, I have to admit that I take it a bit personally. I sit where the noise should come from, and so I have to take some responsibility if things are a bit flat.
However, I’ve sat in the same seat for 25 years or so, and I can’t say the atmosphere is discernibly worse now than it has been before. There are good games and bad games, as has always been the case - right? If you think back to pre-lockdown, in the first season back, we had the Everton home game which has become famous for the atmosphere. Then there was the Watford and Leicester games just before lockdown, where I can (mis?)remember the crowd carrying the team to victory - at least that’s how it felt at the time.
Since lockdown, everything has been a bit shit on the pitch - we saw the end of Dean, and then there was the failed Gerrard experiment. Despite that, though, the Man City game this season was great in terms of atmosphere, I thought, as was the Man United game under Emery.
Before the Leeds game, there was a lot of talk about the crowd - I think this was in the wake of Stevenage, and everyone was getting the blame for it from some people, including us. Anyway, I decided to try something - I made it my aim to be the last person singing for each song. (I am a pretty timid person in real life, but for some reason I am not self-conscious when in the Holte End). So I did it, and I feel like it did make a difference, if only in my little section (or even just in my little head?). We kept a few ‘Unai Emery’s Claret & Blue Army”’s going when they might have otherwise faded out. There is something incredibly satisfying about hearing a little ripple of people picking the song back up again - it’s genuinely thrilling. (I appreciate this is a slightly pathetic over-analysis of shouting at a football match). Did that have any impact on what happened on the pitch? I don't think there's any way of knowing for sure, but I guess most people would say that it didn't. I felt exhausted after the match, but like I had earned that win. It felt good, so I've tried to keep it up since. (I think we've lost every home game since...)
I guess my point, if I have one, is this: if you think the atmosphere is ”shit”, which seems to be an increasingly popular opinion these days, then you can do something. All it takes is standing up and signing, with the only risk being looking a bit odd. Don’t let a chant die, wherever you sit in the stadium.
I get what people are saying about what happens on the pitch dictates the atmosphere, and that the players should be able to put in a performance regardless of what the fans are doing. That is the cold, hard truth of the matter, and there isn’t anything I can say that can really undermine that position. If the atmosphere made that much of a difference, how come Man City win the league every year?
I still want to believe, though, that the crowd can have an impact on the performance, that despite the footballing world clearly moving on from giving a shit about the fans in the stadium, and that we are there purely to make a contribution the third-choice keeper’s wages for a couple of months of the year - that we do still matter. That we can help. Even a marginal gain is a gain.
I am desperate for Villa to win every single match. Desperate. If singing until I am hoarse makes even the tiniest difference to whether that happens or not, I am going to give it a try. Wasn’t there a shift in the amount of away victories during the lockdown period? Does that suggest home fans can make a difference? I don’t know.
And I know how I sound, believe me. This will almost definitely come across as a lecture on how to be a better fan - I really don’t mean it like that. I sit next to my 70-year-old dad for every match. He doesn’t sing. In fact, he gives off what one might describe as a ‘nervous energy’ at every game, pretty much regardless of the score. He’s in good health, but if the worst should happen any time soon, I’m pretty sure the cause of death would be listed as “Konsa playing it out from the back”. Anyway, I don’t think he is a ‘worse’ fan than me for not singing - he cares so much he is almost paralysed with fear for 90 minutes!
I guess this is more aimed at people who talk about the atmosphere being “shit” as if it’s someone else’s responsibility.
I have thought about writing something like this for a while now, but have hesitated because I know how I probably come across. On top of being a patronising bellend, I am also a sucker. The less the sport, the league and the club care about me, the more I try to help them, and pay an amount that is increasingly significant to me, and increasingly insignificant to them, in the process. But this morning I thought I’d write this because, like singing in the Holte, if it makes even the tiniest difference, then it will have been worth it - at worst, all that’s going to happen is that I’ll look like a dick in front of a load of strangers.
To wrestle this nonsense back on topic - I have a lot of respect for the people behind Project B6, because they are trying to make a difference, and I have no reason to suggest that they are doing it for any reason other than to help the club they love. It’s just such a difficult balancing act, though - for an organised group to generate an atmosphere in a natural way. The second it feels unnatural, it fails. It’s plastic. Artificial.
I’ll bring my scarf tomorrow. And I’ll bring a spare for my Dad. (should that be capitalised?)
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If anyone comes near me with a drum in the Holte End, they'll be going home wearing it...
Too right
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I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere
Agree, it has been pretty good on the Holte this season. I was in the upper Trinity last season v Brentford and was told to “ calm down a bit” by a steward. I wasn’t swearing, I was in the back row so not obstructing anyone or even being mildly offensive. I was literally shouting encouragement to the players. My son will only go in the Holte now - or Lower North at a push. Seems a bit strange, Villa trying to engineer an atmosphere but clamping down when there’s genuine, spontaneous excitement in the stands
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I think the best atmosphere at Villa Park this season was second half against Man City under he who shall not be mentioned. The players had a real go at it and we were unlucky not to win. It was just a constant wall of noise and support.
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I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere
Agree, it has been pretty good on the Holte this season. I was in the upper Trinity last season v Brentford and was told to “ calm down a bit” by a steward. I wasn’t swearing, I was in the back row so not obstructing anyone or even being mildly offensive. I was literally shouting encouragement to the players. My son will only go in the Holte now - or Lower North at a push. Seems a bit strange, Villa trying to engineer an atmosphere but clamping down when there’s genuine, spontaneous excitement in the stands
We're on the back row of the North and they're forever coming up to tell us to sit down
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Atmosphere will always come from performances on the pitch but pre match fans can play a part to get the excitement up. Over the years we have had light tribute to Sir Graham Taylor, tribute to Ron Saunders, Martinez banner after the World Cup, Regis Tributes. The banners that adorn the back walls of upper and lower Holte. Ugo, Mings banners too. It’s not a case of a flash in the plan new idea. We’ve been trying for over 10 years. Tomorrow hopefully will be an improvement on Leicester with scarves! UTV
(https://i.ibb.co/VVDydWN/84-B27-C18-CEF3-4-E48-9-CCE-8-D49-AB9-BEEC9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VVDydWN) (https://i.ibb.co/0tc50Xz/E5-BC6-B88-E4-C3-4483-9-AA8-7-FC2-A466-B008.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0tc50Xz) (https://i.ibb.co/bNpTbgD/3-EB9-D61-E-F601-4-BD1-88-A2-05-A9-E897-CE2-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bNpTbgD) (https://i.ibb.co/Jq2vfNH/730-B69-F1-B410-412-C-A4-A3-676016-BC5-D30.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jq2vfNH) (https://i.ibb.co/Ytz7pzG/F877-AE0-E-1034-4321-A0-E1-EFB617-BAD69-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Ytz7pzG) (https://i.ibb.co/wr1xtYd/57480-FFE-E9-E3-41-CD-98-C7-95-FB74-B3-EC50.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wr1xtYd) (https://i.ibb.co/ygMjBK0/F009-B597-A3-F3-494-D-A179-1-C5-CB11-CC342.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ygMjBK0)
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I think it's good you're trying to improve the atmosphere.
You're talking to a demographic here with an average age of about 50, we'll moan about pretty much everything, so I wouldn't get too downhearted.
No fucking drums, mind. Ever.
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I hate all that flags and stage managed display stuff, sorry mate. Fair play to you for getting off your arse and trying to do something though.
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
Could've squeezed another pint in, opportunity lost
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
Could've squeezed another pint in, opportunity lost
Absolutely that.
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
Its much worse this season, the Holte End is trying to find its voice and is drowned out completely, it completely ruins the build up to k/o.
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
I concur, Bren and I used to use the same pub and our respective groups were generally among the last to leave ahead of kick off.
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We were in the ground at Goodison last week with about 45 minutes to kick off and I didn't know what to do with myself
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
Agree completely. The PA system should read out the teams, advertise upcoming fixtures, then shut up until half time. I might just about allow a rendition of that video that's soundtracked by Crazy Train about ten minutes before kick off, but nothing else.
I realise I'm an incredibly miserable person.
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
I concur, Bren and I used to use the same pub and our respective groups were generally among the last to leave ahead of kick off.
The last taxi driver we had to the ground said he had bought it and was going to reopen it as a desi pub which would be great if he does. Let's see. Anyway, we've honed our timing skills to get our taxi to pick us up about 2.35pm and with the traffic pretty clear by then we can get dropped just underneath the Expressway by about 2.50pm for a short walk up to the Holte.
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Pre match fans? I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.
I concur, Bren and I used to use the same pub and our respective groups were generally among the last to leave ahead of kick off.
The last taxi driver we had to the ground said he had bought it and was going to reopen it as a desi pub which would be great if he does. Let's see. Anyway, we've honed our timing skills to get our taxi to pick us up about 2.35pm and with the traffic pretty clear by then we can get dropped just underneath the Expressway by about 2.50pm for a short walk up to the Holte.
That sounds promising. We’ve been going in the Aston Tavern which is ok and they do a decent pint of Guinness but it doesn’t match Anne’s and her overall hospitality.
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You lost me at 'Reach out'
I'm fu cked if I ever want hear another celta Vigo bugle at Villa Park
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I see Arsenal have introduced a drum into their support somewhere in the ground. They do get accused of being a library location but you'd have thought they'd be better than that.
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I see Arsenal have introduced a drum into their support somewhere in the ground. They do get accused of being a library location but you'd have thought they'd be better than that.
Whatever you might think, Arsenal won't be better than it.
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
Agree completely. The PA system should read out the teams, advertise upcoming fixtures, then shut up until half time. I might just about allow a rendition of that video that's soundtracked by Crazy Train about ten minutes before kick off, but nothing else.
I realise I'm an incredibly miserable person.
That’s not miserable it’s spot on…
It’s the same theory as Sky have pumped up the volume of the crowd mics this season so the commentators are barely audible at times (l know can be a bonus) but it’s all about creating faux atmospheres.
Bin the music….and let the atmosphere be what it is good or bad.
All for the scarves etc but the only soundtrack should be Villa not some stupid dance track
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Pyrotechnics and other flashy lighting displays should also be a no-no, whatever the time of day or night.
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I hate all that flags and stage managed display stuff, sorry mate. Fair play to you for getting off your arse and trying to do something though.
It's just not something I associate with Villa or English/British football in general. It is an essential part of the experience in many other places but comes across as forced and amateurish in England
I used to volunteer for the tifo-group of my club when I was younger and I still donate to them every season. It's expensive and obviously highly organized but it's a part of our identity - the club and its supporters - and impossible to imagine it any other way.
Similar thing with drums. Out of place in England but an integral tool elsewhere.
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I'm going to start a vuvuzela section in LeeB's bit of the North Stand.
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The grumpiness on here is something else sometimes. Wouldn't have it any other way, of course :-)
I'm definitely not in the "pre-match fan" group. Usually aim to get to my seat around 5mins before kickoff. Think the Project B6 stuff is good, my daughter likes it and I'd have been all over it when I was younger. Think it's probably a good thing, even if it's not my cup of tea now. As others have said, there's a fine line between improving the atmosphere and making it feel very ... corporate?
As for atmosphere, I like Boozey's post a lot and think he hits the nail on the head. Going to take up that 'last one singing' thing on myself on the occasions I go, it's a cracking suggestion.
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I don't know what has happened to the OP, but it is clear that the club need to start listening to the fans regarding the "match day experience" certainly not ignoring people waiting to get an autograph and drowning out the stadium with noise before the game.
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I'm told David Renwick created Victor Meldrew after happening upon H&V and reading a couple of the threads.
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I'm told David Renwick created Victor Meldrew after happening upon H&V and reading a couple of the threads.
No, I'm sorry I don't believe it.
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The apotheosis of pre-match stadium noise assault must be Wembley. It ruins the atmosphere. Just give me the Coldstream Guard's Band and fuck off the pitch quick-time.
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I'm told David Renwick created Victor Meldrew after happening upon H&V and reading a couple of the threads.
No, I'm sorry I don't believe it.
Haha
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I agree that the PA drowning out the crowd pre match and post match is annoying. As I understand it, the project B6 suggestions are a way of creating a more organic atmosphere (shoot me now). Anyway, good luck with it but as a few others have said, no drums in any circumstances.
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Apologies for the length of this - I didn't intend for it to be so long
Boozey182 I salute you. I think that you explored the issue of atmosphere, and the capacity/ responsibility of an individual to influence it perfectly. It is clear that this is something that you have given a lot of thought to. Your post is an oven-ready fanzine opinion piece.
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The music the team come out to makes my ears bleed. It is just awful and don’t know why they have persisted with it for so long. Someone else has already mentioned Paranoid, a great up beat tune to get in the mood for the match.
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I long for the return of TFAUSM.
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Atmosphere will always come from performances on the pitch but pre match fans can play a part to get the excitement up. Over the years we have had light tribute to Sir Graham Taylor, tribute to Ron Saunders, Martinez banner after the World Cup, Regis Tributes. The banners that adorn the back walls of upper and lower Holte. Ugo, Mings banners too. It’s not a case of a flash in the plan new idea. We’ve been trying for over 10 years. Tomorrow hopefully will be an improvement on Leicester with scarves! UTV
(https://i.ibb.co/VVDydWN/84-B27-C18-CEF3-4-E48-9-CCE-8-D49-AB9-BEEC9.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VVDydWN) (https://i.ibb.co/0tc50Xz/E5-BC6-B88-E4-C3-4483-9-AA8-7-FC2-A466-B008.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0tc50Xz) (https://i.ibb.co/bNpTbgD/3-EB9-D61-E-F601-4-BD1-88-A2-05-A9-E897-CE2-A.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bNpTbgD) (https://i.ibb.co/Jq2vfNH/730-B69-F1-B410-412-C-A4-A3-676016-BC5-D30.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Jq2vfNH) (https://i.ibb.co/Ytz7pzG/F877-AE0-E-1034-4321-A0-E1-EFB617-BAD69-B.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Ytz7pzG) (https://i.ibb.co/wr1xtYd/57480-FFE-E9-E3-41-CD-98-C7-95-FB74-B3-EC50.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wr1xtYd) (https://i.ibb.co/ygMjBK0/F009-B597-A3-F3-494-D-A179-1-C5-CB11-CC342.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ygMjBK0)
It's all a bit, well, Sky TV isn't it? I'd also just like to point out that we lost against Leicester and really, the best way to get the fans going is to win games at home. Just saying.
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Apologies for the length of this - I didn't intend for it to be so long:
The atmosphere at Villa has been on my mind for a while now. I sit towards the back of the Holte, so when people describe the atmosphere as “shit”, I have to admit that I take it a bit personally. I sit where the noise should come from, and so I have to take some responsibility if things are a bit flat.
However, I’ve sat in the same seat for 25 years or so, and I can’t say the atmosphere is discernibly worse now than it has been before. There are good games and bad games, as has always been the case - right? If you think back to pre-lockdown, in the first season back, we had the Everton home game which has become famous for the atmosphere. Then there was the Watford and Leicester games just before lockdown, where I can (mis?)remember the crowd carrying the team to victory - at least that’s how it felt at the time.
Since lockdown, everything has been a bit shit on the pitch - we saw the end of Dean, and then there was the failed Gerrard experiment. Despite that, though, the Man City game this season was great in terms of atmosphere, I thought, as was the Man United game under Emery.
Before the Leeds game, there was a lot of talk about the crowd - I think this was in the wake of Stevenage, and everyone was getting the blame for it from some people, including us. Anyway, I decided to try something - I made it my aim to be the last person singing for each song. (I am a pretty timid person in real life, but for some reason I am not self-conscious when in the Holte End). So I did it, and I feel like it did make a difference, if only in my little section (or even just in my little head?). We kept a few ‘Unai Emery’s Claret & Blue Army”’s going when they might have otherwise faded out. There is something incredibly satisfying about hearing a little ripple of people picking the song back up again - it’s genuinely thrilling. (I appreciate this is a slightly pathetic over-analysis of shouting at a football match). Did that have any impact on what happened on the pitch? I don't think there's any way of knowing for sure, but I guess most people would say that it didn't. I felt exhausted after the match, but like I had earned that win. It felt good, so I've tried to keep it up since. (I think we've lost every home game since...)
I guess my point, if I have one, is this: if you think the atmosphere is ”shit”, which seems to be an increasingly popular opinion these days, then you can do something. All it takes is standing up and signing, with the only risk being looking a bit odd. Don’t let a chant die, wherever you sit in the stadium.
I get what people are saying about what happens on the pitch dictates the atmosphere, and that the players should be able to put in a performance regardless of what the fans are doing. That is the cold, hard truth of the matter, and there isn’t anything I can say that can really undermine that position. If the atmosphere made that much of a difference, how come Man City win the league every year?
I still want to believe, though, that the crowd can have an impact on the performance, that despite the footballing world clearly moving on from giving a shit about the fans in the stadium, and that we are there purely to make a contribution the third-choice keeper’s wages for a couple of months of the year - that we do still matter. That we can help. Even a marginal gain is a gain.
I am desperate for Villa to win every single match. Desperate. If singing until I am hoarse makes even the tiniest difference to whether that happens or not, I am going to give it a try. Wasn’t there a shift in the amount of away victories during the lockdown period? Does that suggest home fans can make a difference? I don’t know.
And I know how I sound, believe me. This will almost definitely come across as a lecture on how to be a better fan - I really don’t mean it like that. I sit next to my 70-year-old dad for every match. He doesn’t sing. In fact, he gives off what one might describe as a ‘nervous energy’ at every game, pretty much regardless of the score. He’s in good health, but if the worst should happen any time soon, I’m pretty sure the cause of death would be listed as “Konsa playing it out from the back”. Anyway, I don’t think he is a ‘worse’ fan than me for not singing - he cares so much he is almost paralysed with fear for 90 minutes!
I guess this is more aimed at people who talk about the atmosphere being “shit” as if it’s someone else’s responsibility.
I have thought about writing something like this for a while now, but have hesitated because I know how I probably come across. On top of being a patronising bellend, I am also a sucker. The less the sport, the league and the club care about me, the more I try to help them, and pay an amount that is increasingly significant to me, and increasingly insignificant to them, in the process. But this morning I thought I’d write this because, like singing in the Holte, if it makes even the tiniest difference, then it will have been worth it - at worst, all that’s going to happen is that I’ll look like a dick in front of a load of strangers.
To wrestle this nonsense back on topic - I have a lot of respect for the people behind Project B6, because they are trying to make a difference, and I have no reason to suggest that they are doing it for any reason other than to help the club they love. It’s just such a difficult balancing act, though - for an organised group to generate an atmosphere in a natural way. The second it feels unnatural, it fails. It’s plastic. Artificial.
I’ll bring my scarf tomorrow. And I’ll bring a spare for my Dad. (should that be capitalised?)
I really like this post Boozey even if I am one of the miserable fuckers who don't really sing and why I would never complain about atmosphere. Didn't think it was patronising.
Just imagine a fucking drum by you, though? I couldn't think of much worse. I've been to a Villa women's games this season at Walsall and there was one there and if I was any closer to them I would strangle them. I get it, gee everyone up... but not with bastard loud bangs.
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Who's this fucking guy?
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I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.
Agree completely. The PA system should read out the teams, advertise upcoming fixtures, then shut up until half time. I might just about allow a rendition of that video that's soundtracked by Crazy Train about ten minutes before kick off, but nothing else.
I realise I'm an incredibly miserable person.
"So let's make some noise for Aston Villlllaaaa". Shut up then and we will!
The PA should also not announce anything about the opposition. I have no wish to know who their substitutes are, or which impudent arsehole of theirs has seen fit to score against us.
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Who's this fucking guy?
I don't know but I wouldn't mind someone putting their foot through the drum. You know... on the sly, like.
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We just aim to bring colour and vibrancy back to the stands. Whether that be flags and banners or mosaics, we hope to make Villa Park a cauldron of colour. As per the last 10 years.
We are not a group in the traditional sense a. ProjectB6 is intended to be an umbrella for all fans to come under.
Btw, Who’s got the drum?
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Fair play to you for trying mate, not my cup of tea but fair do’s.
I try and time my entry to VP so I miss that atrocious ‘Old Spice’ dirge they play at ear splitting volume as the players come out. I really do wish they would turn it in, maybe there would be a better connection between players and fans if they could hear their chants before KO?
My local non league team is Sutton, I very rarely go and watch them, the band, which everyone else seem to love, puts me off. Just all seems a bit forced.
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My wife reckons i'm Victor Meldrews long lost brother. She says I don't look like him but I sound like him.
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If we had a drummer I'd stop going. I hate it and every match that I've attended that has one has me furious. Sheff Wed and Huddersfield being the two main protagonists.
That game at Huddersfield in the Championship was just so devoid of anything, even their fans couldn't sing and chant because of it.
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If we had a drummer I'd stop going. I hate it and every match that I've attended that has one has me furious. Sheff Wed and Huddersfield being the two main protagonists.
That game at Huddersfield in the Championship was just so devoid of anything, even their fans couldn't sing and chant because of it.
Same.
The scarf thing seemed quite good against Arsenal, but despite their best efforts, there were very few yesterday in the Holte as we looked around.
Newcastle have this “pre match atmosphere” thing down to a tee. I was there for the 4-0 earlier this season, and they got it spot on, we could certainly do worse than to take some notes from them. Hopefully we can ditch HHSL while we’re at it.
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Good luck with your efforts to improve the atmosphere.
It was fairly flat yesterday, but that was a reflection of the very cautious way we approached the game. I took my Bayern supporting German nephew yesterday. He thought the football was disappointing, but the atmosphere was a lot better than when he saw Real and Athletico Madrid play. He also really liked HHSL as he'd never heard it before.
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I’ve just bought these 2 for the Holte:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385447489672?hash=item59be75f088:g:-T8AAOSwJ91j~Uti&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoKHbirjdoKl3NcwbL9iOlx017W%2BIGkfueHvvAVc4dbeKjn10PVP8Dbe8yuxQRQti6sejF7EOrMXOQim%2Bf3wouP38NPVnfpKdCwI5KklGqtxHPotNHC7KzkwBK%2FUsLbe0CsNqr2wHVnTtOjbBaXRKeZQ9LcPfmZjAG5Km0yw23bLMQ28l6qPUFMefZ9AqBarZhjCpx1B6vY8Vd7BFiPrx240%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DvkZ_WYQ
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If we had a drummer I'd stop going. I hate it and every match that I've attended that has one has me furious. Sheff Wed and Huddersfield being the two main protagonists.
That game at Huddersfield in the Championship was just so devoid of anything, even their fans couldn't sing and chant because of it.
I think the nearest thing we have is the collective tutting when Mings/Konsa turn to play it backwards. There was one point yesterday in the second half after a brief period of pressure in front of the Holte, they played it back to rebuild and Mings on the hallway line thought about playing it back to Emi. He thankfully thought otherwise when there was a palpable round of fucks coming from all directions.
The pre-kick off music continues to be atrocious, and actually impedes the crowd atmosphere rather than help build it.
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I’ve just bought these 2 for the Holte:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385447489672?hash=item59be75f088:g:-T8AAOSwJ91j~Uti&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoKHbirjdoKl3NcwbL9iOlx017W%2BIGkfueHvvAVc4dbeKjn10PVP8Dbe8yuxQRQti6sejF7EOrMXOQim%2Bf3wouP38NPVnfpKdCwI5KklGqtxHPotNHC7KzkwBK%2FUsLbe0CsNqr2wHVnTtOjbBaXRKeZQ9LcPfmZjAG5Km0yw23bLMQ28l6qPUFMefZ9AqBarZhjCpx1B6vY8Vd7BFiPrx240%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DvkZ_WYQ
take some Vaseline with you.
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If we had a drummer I'd stop going. I hate it and every match that I've attended that has one has me furious. Sheff Wed and Huddersfield being the two main protagonists.
That game at Huddersfield in the Championship was just so devoid of anything, even their fans couldn't sing and chant because of it.
I think the nearest thing we have is the collective tutting when Mings/Konsa turn to play it backwards. There was one point yesterday in the second half after a brief period of pressure in front of the Holte, they played it back to rebuild and Mings on the hallway line thought about playing it back to Emi. He thankfully thought otherwise when there was a palpable round of fucks coming from all directions.
The pre-kick off music continues to be atrocious, and actually impedes the crowd atmosphere rather than help build it.
I'll be honest, I didn't really get that yesterday. We were one-nil up, against the team directly below us in the league, comfortably seeing out the 3 points and people were whinging that we were keeping hold of the ball. If you're not happy at that, you never will be. It was pathetic.
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I’ve just bought these 2 for the Holte:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/385447489672?hash=item59be75f088:g:-T8AAOSwJ91j~Uti&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoKHbirjdoKl3NcwbL9iOlx017W%2BIGkfueHvvAVc4dbeKjn10PVP8Dbe8yuxQRQti6sejF7EOrMXOQim%2Bf3wouP38NPVnfpKdCwI5KklGqtxHPotNHC7KzkwBK%2FUsLbe0CsNqr2wHVnTtOjbBaXRKeZQ9LcPfmZjAG5Km0yw23bLMQ28l6qPUFMefZ9AqBarZhjCpx1B6vY8Vd7BFiPrx240%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DvkZ_WYQ
take some Vaseline with you.
:D
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If we had a drummer I'd stop going. I hate it and every match that I've attended that has one has me furious. Sheff Wed and Huddersfield being the two main protagonists.
That game at Huddersfield in the Championship was just so devoid of anything, even their fans couldn't sing and chant because of it.
Same.
The scarf thing seemed quite good against Arsenal, but despite their best efforts, there were very few yesterday in the Holte as we looked around.
Newcastle have this “pre match atmosphere” thing down to a tee. I was there for the 4-0 earlier this season, and they got it spot on, we could certainly do worse than to take some notes from them. Hopefully we can ditch HHSL while we’re at it.
I'd have us running out to death metal.
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
I'm late to this thread, so apologies if I'm behind the times, but I absolutely agree.
The notion that we, the 'customers' who pay £50-odd, are responsible for motivating people who are paid more in a week than we are paid in two years, is fucking sick.
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A lot of the memorable moments in terms of atmosphere people have mentioned have all been created by what’s occurred on the pitch. Not a game where nothing happened but people will never forget the amazing atmosphere of said fixture because it exceeded what happened on the pitch.
I’ve been to games in different countries and some of them had sections where the fans make noise non stop during the game. I’m not sure how much of a difference it made to either my experience or what happened on the pitch.
I just feel atmosphere is generated organically by what happens on the pitch and for Villa it’s just been largely disappointing for so long.
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As others have said, fair play for trying to make a positive difference.
Re the pre-match build up, maybe it could do with a refresh, though I'm not sure we are going to see a return to it being a big deal as people know they can get to their seat just before kick-off and prefer to have a pint or watch an earlier game than sit in the stands - which is understandable unless you have young kids who want to watch the players warm-up.
As for during the game, it's tricky as any initiatives like a 'singing section' risk looking contrived and, frankly, shit. And a drummer would be truly awful.
Hopefully the performances on the pitch will improve and it, sort of, takes care of itself. However, it is something to keep in mind as the changes to the stadium will change the dynamics as well as the sound/noise in different parts of the ground. UTV
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
I'm late to this thread, so apologies if I'm behind the times, but I absolutely agree.
The notion that we, the 'customers' who pay £50-odd, are responsible for motivating people who are paid more in a week than we are paid in two years, is fucking sick.
I was running a half marathon many years ago and at around the 12 mile mark was beginning to flag when I passed a group of family members who had come along to cheer me on. It absolutely gave me a lift for the last mile. I’m obviously not comparing myself to a professional athlete but I firmly believe that positive support can make a difference at key moments.
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
I'm late to this thread, so apologies if I'm behind the times, but I absolutely agree.
The notion that we, the 'customers' who pay £50-odd, are responsible for motivating people who are paid more in a week than we are paid in two years, is fucking sick.
I was running a half marathon many years ago and at around the 12 mile mark was beginning to flag when I passed a group of family members who had come along to cheer me on. It absolutely gave me a lift for the last mile. I’m obviously not comparing myself to a professional athlete but I firmly believe that positive support can make a difference at key moments.
On the flipside I've never enjoyed playing in finals where relatives and friends would come to cheer on. Just shut the fuck up will you, this is serious stuff!
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
I'm late to this thread, so apologies if I'm behind the times, but I absolutely agree.
The notion that we, the 'customers' who pay £50-odd, are responsible for motivating people who are paid more in a week than we are paid in two years, is fucking sick.
It's perfectly valid to take the view we pay £50 and can be quiet if we want to.
Equally, it's incredibly naieve if you think a thumping atmosphere doesn't positively impact on the teams performance. Whether they are paid 5 quid or a million quid, support helps massively however self motivated they should be. I see absolutely nothing wrong in people around the team asking for fans to do their bit if possible. Of course this should never cross the line to criticism, but encouraging support is a good thing and it slightly saddens me that people can find a negative if this.
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I don't think anyone's finding a negative, but I do get pissed off when it's used as a) an excuse and b) better fanism.
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If you consider Liverpool at Anfield it seems pretty clear to me that the crowd can give them a huge lift. The fans seem to know when it's needed too. I hate banging their drum but it's happened a lot.
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If you consider Liverpool at Anfield it seems pretty clear to me that the crowd can give them a huge lift. The fans seem to know when it's needed too. I hate banging their drum but it's happened a lot.
Yes because they’ve had players like Sarah and Mane for the last however many years. Easy to get behind the team when you’ve got a player like Salah averaging 25 goals a season and you’re challenging for titles.
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You get behind your team whoever is playing for you really.
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If you consider Liverpool at Anfield it seems pretty clear to me that the crowd can give them a huge lift. The fans seem to know when it's needed too. I hate banging their drum but it's happened a lot.
Yes because they’ve had players like Sarah and Mane for the last however many years. Easy to get behind the team when you’ve got a player like Salah averaging 25 goals a season and you’re challenging for titles.
Sarah Connor?
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/3776bc133e8b3b4b67afb9f5cb8e0312/2fd55ef0fc43e0a9-be/s400x600/2b187fe3826efa3adb8561b48c337abf33a727ee.gif)
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You get behind your team whoever is playing for you really.
You do. But it’s always going to happen more when your team and individual players are doing well and playing exciting football. I can absolutely guarantee you that the atmosphere was a million times better last night at Anfield than it was when they were getting beat by Leeds.
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Best two nights I’ve ever experienced for atmosphere were Inter Milan 90, and A. Madrid 98. I wonder why?
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You get behind your team whoever is playing for you really.
Like on Saturday?
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If you consider Liverpool at Anfield it seems pretty clear to me that the crowd can give them a huge lift. The fans seem to know when it's needed too. I hate banging their drum but it's happened a lot.
Anfield is like a library unless it is against one of the Manchester clubs or a European night.
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Well done on the initiative to create a positive atmosphere. As you can see you will have your work cut out as the default of many is 'everything's shit' for some reason.
McGinn in his interview clearly alluded to some of this in reference to playing at Villa Park
If a player in the Premier League, getting Premier League wages, needs to have a lot of noise to play at his best, he shouldn't be in the Premier League. Good luck to them but all this recent stuff about how bad our supporters are and we have to make lots of noise to be proper fans - no thanks.
I'm late to this thread, so apologies if I'm behind the times, but I absolutely agree.
The notion that we, the 'customers' who pay £50-odd, are responsible for motivating people who are paid more in a week than we are paid in two years, is fucking sick.
It's perfectly valid to take the view we pay £50 and can be quiet if we want to.
Equally, it's incredibly naieve if you think a thumping atmosphere doesn't positively impact on the teams performance. Whether they are paid 5 quid or a million quid, support helps massively however self motivated they should be. I see absolutely nothing wrong in people around the team asking for fans to do their bit if possible. Of course this should never cross the line to criticism, but encouraging support is a good thing and it slightly saddens me that people can find a negative if this.
The only negative is the implication that fans are responsible for the team's performance. Of course a good atmosphere helps give the players a boost, but I'm not the most vocal of supporters and I resent any suggestion that Villa losing might be because I don't spend 90 minutes singing.
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The vocal support the supporters give has to make a difference, from memory the loudest support comes when the team are staging a heroic fightback. As a viewer only, I did notice that the crowd were a little quiet.
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Hi Everyone! Some of you may know us already, but we would like to try and reach out to more fans and grow bigger and better! Project B6 is a ‘fan group’ aimed to be an umbrella for all fans to come together under. Formed in 2017 taking over from ‘GET THE HOLTE END BACK’ which had been running for 5 years prior. The aim has always been to bring colour and vibrancy back to the stands. Whether in the form of flags, banners, mosaics and alike....
I've not heard of either project, which seems strange given I have a ST.
I'll happily support any action which positions Villa and VP in a favourable light. I feel that what is missing is a song which is uniquely ours (apart from HEITS) which can be sung at the beginning and end of a game, and sporadically throughout.
TBAR, "when you're smiling" are 2 from way back, for example.
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I agree with "when you're smiling". It's a catchy tune, has no offensive words so the kids can join in and the last line "the Holte End smiles with you" can be belted out at full pitch.
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I agree with "when you're smiling". It's a catchy tune, has no offensive words so the kids can join in and the last line "the Holte End smiles with you" can be belted out at full pitch.
Agree, but I do think we're actually in a pretty good place on the song stakes - HEITS is obviously & uniquely ours, we're the only proper club that sings the Jeff Beck one and, although it's stolen, we have the most coherent and therefore best version of Allez Allez Allez.
Then, on the sidelines, you've got TBAR (my favourite), the under-sung really slow version of amazing grace/Viiiiiiillllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaa, the non-kid friendly MOMS, Paul McGrath my lord (probably over-sung, but supporters from other clubs have mentioned that it's quite distinctively one of our songs), ...
I'm struggling to think of many clubs that have the same repertoire of fairly original songs which aren't about specific, contemporary players. The ugly sisters from Glasgow are the only ones that stick in my mind, and I'm not sure they could play all of theirs over a tannoy system!
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I agree with "when you're smiling". It's a catchy tune, has no offensive words so the kids can join in and the last line "the Holte End smiles with you" can be belted out at full pitch.
Agree, but I do think we're actually in a pretty good place on the song stakes - HEITS is obviously & uniquely ours, we're the only proper club that sings the Jeff Beck one and, although it's stolen, we have the most coherent and therefore best version of Allez Allez Allez.
Then, on the sidelines, you've got TBAR (my favourite), the under-sung really slow version of amazing grace/Viiiiiiillllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaa, the non-kid friendly MOMS, Paul McGrath my lord (probably over-sung, but supporters from other clubs have mentioned that it's quite distinctively one of our songs), ...
I'm struggling to think of many clubs that have the same repertoire of fairly original songs which aren't about specific, contemporary players. The ugly sisters from Glasgow are the only ones that stick in my mind, and I'm not sure they could play all of theirs over a tannoy system!
Great stuff, both! And fully agree....we have a pretty good repertoire already, we just need to galvanise ourselves into united action...the singing is always better away from home and on Saturday was almost non existent....bit then I am in the Trinity these days!
And I think there's a natural reluctance isn't there? Or perhaps it's because we're almost all slightly grumpy/overly modest Villa fans/Brummies, that as soon as you ask people to join in with an organised thing, we try to resist it?
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With the best will in the world, 40,000 people on the whole aren't going to be creating a cauldron of noise in a drab encounter against a nothing team like Crystal Palace, and that's the same at every team in the country. Play well and provide some entertainment and you can guarantee the crowd will react. The crowd can be on their feet and making a load of noise and there's no guarantee the other way round from the team. The main onus is on the players.
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With the best will in the world, 40,000 people on the whole aren't going to be creating a cauldron of noise in a drab encounter against a nothing team like Crystal Palace, and that's the same at every team in the country. Play well and provide some entertainment and you can guarantee the crowd will react. The crowd can be on their feet and making a load of noise and there's no guarantee the other way round from the team. The main onus is on the players.
Agree. VP is as passionate as any crowd when the occasion merits it and yes C Palace is a drab encounter that isn't going to get the pulses racing where there is little at stake. Given that their home fans are lauded as the most vociferous home fans in the country with their faux Ultra image their away following certainly didn't live up to the image. Maybe they were just CP fans who like football and can't be arsed with trying to look all fashionably gang Italian and maybe that's the way they like it.
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It's funny because many a team turn up at Villa Park and you barely hear a squeek outside of their goals, yet our away support has always been very vocal in comparison to others.
That's the way it should be, you're away, it's against the odds, they need our support.
At home, we should be beating teams like bad dogs for the temerity of turning up and using our facilities.
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The best atmospheres are always spontaneous.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
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I agree with "when you're smiling". It's a catchy tune, has no offensive words so the kids can join in and the last line "the Holte End smiles with you" can be belted out at full pitch.
Agree, but I do think we're actually in a pretty good place on the song stakes - HEITS is obviously & uniquely ours, we're the only proper club that sings the Jeff Beck one and, although it's stolen, we have the most coherent and therefore best version of Allez Allez Allez.
Then, on the sidelines, you've got TBAR (my favourite), the under-sung really slow version of amazing grace/Viiiiiiillllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaa, the non-kid friendly MOMS, Paul McGrath my lord (probably over-sung, but supporters from other clubs have mentioned that it's quite distinctively one of our songs), ...
I'm struggling to think of many clubs that have the same repertoire of fairly original songs which aren't about specific, contemporary players. The ugly sisters from Glasgow are the only ones that stick in my mind, and I'm not sure they could play all of theirs over a tannoy system!
Great stuff, both! And fully agree....we have a pretty good repertoire already, we just need to galvanise ourselves into united action...the singing is always better away from home and on Saturday was almost non existent....bit then I am in the Trinity these days!
And I think there's a natural reluctance isn't there? Or perhaps it's because we're almost all slightly grumpy/overly modest Villa fans/Brummies, that as soon as you ask people to join in with an organised thing, we try to resist it?
As long as there's a pause in the songs for some old bloke to tell Emi to lump it up the field when we're passing around at the back, we should be OK.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
I think it all depends on where you sit in the ground. I was in C8 on Saturday (lower Trinity near North Stand) and could hear Palace pretty well. Was in K1 against Leeds and couldn't hear a jot from them. Was in the Lower North against Wolves and the noise was reasonable from them.
Ultimately, when the whole of Villa Park is in full voice there's nothing quite like it, it just doesn't happen that often because there haven't been enough big fixtures to help generate it.
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I make my grandchildren shout it.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
I think it all depends on where you sit in the ground. I was in C8 on Saturday (lower Trinity near North Stand) and could hear Palace pretty well. Was in K1 against Leeds and couldn't hear a jot from them. Was in the Lower North against Wolves and the noise was reasonable from them.
Ultimately, when the whole of Villa Park is in full voice there's nothing quite like it, it just doesn't happen that often because there haven't been enough big fixtures to help generate it.
Fair comment, I'm in K7 on the Holte, I might as well be up a tree in Aston Park.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
I think it all depends on where you sit in the ground. I was in C8 on Saturday (lower Trinity near North Stand) and could hear Palace pretty well. Was in K1 against Leeds and couldn't hear a jot from them. Was in the Lower North against Wolves and the noise was reasonable from them.
Ultimately, when the whole of Villa Park is in full voice there's nothing quite like it, it just doesn't happen that often because there haven't been enough big fixtures to help generate it.
Fair comment, I'm in K7 on the Holte, I might as well be up a tree in Aston Park.
I like to move about a bit and get the different perspectives, when I had a season ticket in K4 I had a consistent picture of the noise and who was louder and when, rather than the differing sound I get by moving.
Saturday's fayre was hard to get the crowd going, there wasn't enough sustained pressure to keep it going and the referee wasn't shit enough (or making enough contentious decisions) to get it going either. I do think the referee can often get the Villa Park crowd more animated.
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As long as there's a pause in the songs for some old bloke to tell Emi to lump it up the field when we're passing around at the back, we should be OK.
It's ok you'll be fine, I wont be there.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
Should be good but it'll never beat seeing two European Cup winners, with 3 of them between them, playing a league match outside the top flight that finishes as a 5-5 draw.
What a remarkable night that was.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
Should be good but it'll never beat seeing two European Cup winners, with 3 of them between them, playing a league match outside the top flight that finishes as a 5-5 draw.
What a remarkable night that was.
That was the last game I attended, my birthday four years ago, brilliant entertainment despite not winning.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
Should be good but it'll never beat seeing two European Cup winners, with 3 of them between them, playing a league match outside the top flight that finishes as a 5-5 draw.
What a remarkable night that was.
My son still talks about that being his favourite ever game at Villa Park, he’s 13 in context, but it was a great game.
Im a bit gutted as am working away over Easter and not back till Easter Monday, i was selfishly hoping this one would be moved to Monday night for TV, no such luck, bloody Saturdays at 3pm, tut.
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Atletico Madrid 1998 - amazing, won't be beaten in my eyes
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Atletico Madrid 1998 - amazing, won't be beaten in my eyes
Yes, it was the best that I remember. The roar in the Upper Holte when Collymore's goal went is the loudest I've heard at a game.
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The best ever for me was Tranmere 94. Nothing will ever top that.
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The best ever for me was Tranmere 94. Nothing will ever top that.
inter Milan 90
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I think Tranmere was so good because for four years we'd failed to follow up on the "We're f***ing back!" vibe of Inter.
This memory brought to you by the times when 4 years seemed like an eternity.
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Tranmere for me too - the pitch invasion at the end was incredible. Reminds me, 8 years ago yesterday we dragged football back into the dark ages when we ran onto the pitch after beating the Albion.
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I was surprised, but not altogether upset, that the Palace fans lacked colour and noise. We were relatively quiet as well and this happens from time to time.
Since the fixtures came out I've been looking forward to Forest at home on Easter Saturday, it will be a sell out, on a BH weekend, first time they have played us at VP in the top flight for 20 years so has all the makings of a cracking atmosphere. Of course it could and up as flat as a witches tit but I think that largely depends on the football.
Should be good but it'll never beat seeing two European Cup winners, with 3 of them between them, playing a league match outside the top flight that finishes as a 5-5 draw.
What a remarkable night that was.
That was the last game I attended, my birthday four years ago, brilliant entertainment despite not winning.
Make sure to get Andre Green a pint of Guinness if you should happen to bump into him. He's in Bratislava now but with a surname like that, a trip to the Irish midlands can never be ruled out.
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Tranmere was very special, probably the best I can remember as well as so much was riding on it, not just a cup final but our first since '77. With all that tension and hope and everyone up for the contest thinking it could be done but nervous at the same time. It wasn't but it felt like the last day of standing on the Holte End. Thinking about that, the only time I sit in my seat in the Holte these days and not by choice I might add, is at half time.
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Tranmere was very special, probably the best I can remember as well as so much was riding on it, not just a cup final but our first since '77. With all that tension and hope and everyone up for the contest thinking it could be done but nervous at the same time. It wasn't but it felt like the last day of standing on the Holte End. Thinking about that, the only time I sit in my seat in the Holte these days and not by choice I might add, is at half time.
The main thing i love about where i an in L2 is no one sits, just natural standing
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Tranmere was very special, probably the best I can remember as well as so much was riding on it, not just a cup final but our first since '77. With all that tension and hope and everyone up for the contest thinking it could be done but nervous at the same time. It wasn't but it felt like the last day of standing on the Holte End. Thinking about that, the only time I sit in my seat in the Holte these days and not by choice I might add, is at half time.
first since 1977? - what about 1982 and 1983? 😁😁😁
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Against Inter 1990, with three players who'd just won the World Cup, singing "who the fucking hell are you?" as they ran out, and then beating them 2-0.
Brilliant atmosphere, and some iconic television footage with the Kent Neilsen gobbing. Also Trappatoni banging his head on the dugout roof.
I can't believe anyone doesn't really want us to play in Europe again as soon as possible.
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Against Inter 1990, with three players who'd just won the World Cup, singing "who the fucking hell are you?" as they ran out, and then beating them 2-0.
Brilliant atmosphere, and some iconic television footage with the Kent Neilsen gobbing. Also Trappatoni banging his head on the dugout roof.
I can't believe anyone doesn't really want us to play in Europe again as soon as possible.
That was my second European game, after the first round home game against Banik Ostrava. The main memories of that were how loud the Banik supporters sounded from the North stand, and one swapping a Banik Ostrava scarf for my dad's Villa one after the game (which I've still got). But the game against Inter was on another level. Quite probably my favourite European night, tho Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid were both amazing too.
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The best ever for me was Tranmere 94. Nothing will ever top that.
I was 11 at the time, my second game, Goosebumps.
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Over the last 30 odd years I’d say the two Inter games, Athletico Madrid, Tranmere and the Albion FAC qtr final are the best atmos games at VP. For me Tranmere was the one though, utter bedlam from start to finish.
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The first Inter game for me. Recently, the Man City game on Jack’s return where we came back to draw 2-2 - not limbs in the modern sense, but very pointed and passionate with constant Villa Till I Die.
I was at Tranmere but I must have missed something or had one too many beers as it doesn’t really stand out.
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I thought Everton at home on our return to the PL was cited as a boss atmos.
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The main memories of that were how loud the Banik supporters sounded from the North stand
For away European fans making a racket, I thought Ajax were top notch. Never shut the fuck up, proper 80s throwback support but impressive all the same.
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Both the Inter Milan games stick with me. Brilliant nights and exactly what European nights should be about.
I can still see Phil The King's penalty like it was yesterday.
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The first Inter game for me. Recently, the Man City game on Jack’s return where we came back to draw 2-2 - not limbs in the modern sense, but very pointed and passionate with constant Villa Till I Die.
I was at Tranmere but I must have missed something or had one too many beers as it doesn’t really stand out.
We lost 1-2 to Manchester City when he first camr back so that's probably why there wasn't limbs :)
Speaking of which, I was mildly grumpy this seson when Bailey scored to get us the 1-1 draw and fans cheered at the final whistle when we had the ball and I wanted us to chase the win. I don't celebrate draws wildly
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Ajax with Suarez et Al coming to Villa Park was quality. Gareth Barry with the winner. Even if it's some poxy Euro farmers league it's still worth going for. More games means we can have a much bigger squad, more opportunities for the likes of Archer, A Ramsey and Iroegbunam.
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I've seen some of the proposals for 'tifos' on twitter this morning and the enthusiastic replies.
I think they look shite, and I feel like the whole thing is too prescribed. If I'm sat with one of those bloody things over me I'm getting the lighter out.
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I've seen some of the proposals for 'tifos' on twitter this morning and the enthusiastic replies.
I think they look shite, and I feel like the whole thing is too prescribed. If I'm sat with one of those bloody things over me I'm getting the lighter out.
I think they can be brilliant.
It's daft looking on with envy at the atmosphere at places like Dortmund and Besiktas and then beeing all bah humbug about the some of the tools they use to achieve it. Take a look at this
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I've seen some of the proposals for 'tifos' on twitter this morning and the enthusiastic replies.
I think they look shite, and I feel like the whole thing is too prescribed. If I'm sat with one of those bloody things over me I'm getting the lighter out.
I think they can be brilliant.
It's daft looking on with envy at the atmosphere at places like Dortmund and Besiktas and then beeing all bah humbug about the some of the tools they use to achieve it. Take a look at this
No.
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I was at the Parc des Princes last year (had to take some Canadian family members to see a game). The Auteuil sing from start to finish, and get through about 100 different songs, with drummers, brass sections, cheerleader blokes with loudhailers and microphones. It is relentless, noisy and colourful.
It is also shite because the chants are sung with no reference to play. Whatever happens on the pitch they keep on singing their equivalents of Hi-Ho, TBAR and Kumbaya. It was quite discombobulating actually. It's better when the teams provoke reactions as has been said on here I do think that there is a place for B6 type displays too.
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I was at the Parc des Princes last year (had to take some Canadian family members to see a game). The Auteuil sing from start to finish, and get through about 100 different songs, with drummers, brass sections, cheerleader blokes with loudhailers and microphones. It is relentless, noisy and colourful.
It is also shite because the chants are sung with no reference to play. Whatever happens on the pitch they keep on singing their equivalents of Hi-Ho, TBAR and Kumbaya. It was quite discombobulating actually. It's better when the teams provoke reactions as has been said on here I do think that there is a place for B6 type displays too.
There is, and it's somewhere else.
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I've seen some of the proposals for 'tifos' on twitter this morning and the enthusiastic replies.
I think they look shite, and I feel like the whole thing is too prescribed. If I'm sat with one of those bloody things over me I'm getting the lighter out.
Everyone has their own opinions which is fine but curious to know how you would be under a Tifo like the ones you have seen on Twitter?
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I was at the Parc des Princes last year (had to take some Canadian family members to see a game). The Auteuil sing from start to finish, and get through about 100 different songs, with drummers, brass sections, cheerleader blokes with loudhailers and microphones. It is relentless, noisy and colourful.
It is also shite because the chants are sung with no reference to play. Whatever happens on the pitch they keep on singing their equivalents of Hi-Ho, TBAR and Kumbaya. It was quite discombobulating actually. It's better when the teams provoke reactions as has been said on here I do think that there is a place for B6 type displays too.
You wouldn’t expect that from such an authentic club as PSG.
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Hi Everyone! Some of you may know us already, but we would like to try and reach out to more fans and grow bigger and better! Project B6 is a ‘fan group’ aimed to be an umbrella for all fans to come together under. Formed in 2017 taking over from ‘GET THE HOLTE END BACK’ which had been running for 5 years prior. The aim has always been to bring colour and vibrancy back to the stands. Whether in the form of flags, banners, mosaics and alike.
PB6 is also an associate of THE FSA.
Over the last few months we have been running several surveys, questionnaires and polls for fans to get involved with. The overwhelming view is that the atmosphere at Villa Park is poor and that it needs to change. Fans and the club must do more to ensure that Villa Park becomes a place of vibrancy, noise and excitement. There will soon be a generation who will never know what Villa Park and The Holte End, in particular, can be like. The next generation could easily slip away and follow the ‘Big Six’, We want to ensure younger fans want to come to The Villa and enjoy it in the process!
The reoccurring themes from fans via the surveys etc. are Displays and flags must be in The Holte as default. The pre match music must be changed and there is a really willingness from fans to help, as will show with the number of volunteers we now have.
The game against Palace on Saturday we are encouraging fans to bring scarves, just like games previously, to get twirling all around the ground. It looked great against Leicester hopefully we can build on that!
I’m all for any fan based initiatives and I’ve enjoyed seeing some of the flags/banners that pb6 have initiated.
Re home atmosphere I enjoy the noise made in the Holte End and the colour from the lower north stand at the start of games.
Sometimes we can be too critical of ourselves, but as someone who has travelled many times over the years I’ve found that many opposition grounds fall short of what we create at VP (eg manu away in the cup this season)
Where we do fall short is atmosphere in the 2 touch line stands. I remember the days when the Trinity used to stop the Holte End in its tracks with its foot stamping/hand clapping. These days along with the de stand it contributes very little to the atmosphere.
Anyway keep the Lion’s flag flying high...UTV!
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Normally I get to the ground about 15 minutes before kick off and go straight in, but the wife came against Palace and I decided to kill time to stop her getting bored,had to tell her that's there a Zara around the corner,We discovered the fans zone and was very impressed and also the food on offer and entertainment behind the trinity, perhaps not for me but parents with the children it looks well attended
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6-1 v Sunderland deserves a mention for atmosphere, proper rocking.
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Normally I get to the ground about 15 minutes before kick off and go straight in, but the wife came against Palace and I decided to kill time to stop her getting bored,had to tell her that's there a Zara around the corner,We discovered the fans zone and was very impressed and also the food on offer and entertainment behind the trinity, perhaps not for me but parents with the children it looks well attended
There was a Zaha taking a corner, so nearly right.
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6-1 v Sunderland deserves a mention for atmosphere, proper rocking.
I always think of Ron Vlaar when I think of that game.
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Also pre kick off v Liverpool in 87 was good, rather tailed off when the game started and we didn't touch the ball again.
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Villa 2 Barcelona 2 in 1978. Villa coming back from 2-0 down. All the excitement was in the last ten minutes and Villa Park became somewhat lively and noisy despite large chunks of the crowd leaving early and missing it.
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6-1 v Sunderland deserves a mention for atmosphere, proper rocking.
I always think of Ron Vlaar when I think of that game.
Why, what did he do?
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6-1 v Sunderland deserves a mention for atmosphere, proper rocking.
I always think of Ron Vlaar when I think of that game.
Why, what did he do?
Battered in a 40 yarder to equalise IIRC, and was actually on the pitch which was an event in itself
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Check out Gabby's face when he realises that the ball has actually gone into the net. The surprise is brilliant.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
I couldn't bear it either, mate.
I'd take it, run off with it, and smash it somewhere
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
A lot of these supporter groups/blogs/podcasters seem to be going down the Better Fan road.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
A lot of these supporter groups/blogs/podcasters seem to be going down the Better Fan road.
Yes, and it's got my back up. Get up and start a song, or shut the fuck up.
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I'm arguing the toss on twitter. I can't express just how deep my hatred of instruments at games is.
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I'm arguing the toss on twitter. I can't express just how deep my hatred of instruments at games is.
However deep it is it's completely justfied. Bringing back the birch would be justified.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
It's because for the first time in yonks we were resurgant and had genuine target we were striving for, on the one hand an unlikely promotion, then a battle against the odds to survive and not waste what had gone before.
It will come back on it's own, spontaneously, like it always does when that happens again. Next season, if we start well and look like were really at it, the place will be rocking again.
Whenever I've watched Arsenal at home this season it's been raucous, bloody Arsenal, the byword word quiet home fans. But they're 'back' from the relative wilderness in their terms, and that's what happens.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
It's because for the first time in yonks we were resurgant and had genuine target we were striving for, on the one hand an unlikely promotion, then a battle against the odds to survive and not waste what had gone before.
It will come back on it's own, spontaneously, like it always does when that happens again. Next season, if we start well and look like were really at it, the place will be rocking again.
Whenever I've watched Arsenal at home this season it's been raucous, bloody Arsenal, the byword word quiet home fans. But they're 'back' from the relative wilderness in their terms, and that's what happens.
If we're still in with a shout of qualifying for Europe come May, the atmosphere at our last couple of home games will be louder than anywhere in the league this season.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
It's because for the first time in yonks we were resurgant and had genuine target we were striving for, on the one hand an unlikely promotion, then a battle against the odds to survive and not waste what had gone before.
It will come back on it's own, spontaneously, like it always does when that happens again. Next season, if we start well and look like were really at it, the place will be rocking again.
Whenever I've watched Arsenal at home this season it's been raucous, bloody Arsenal, the byword word quiet home fans. But they're 'back' from the relative wilderness in their terms, and that's what happens.
If we're still in with a shout of qualifying for Europe come May, the atmosphere at our last couple of home games will be louder than anywhere in the league this season.
Exactly. With a fucking drum there, it would kill it stone fucking dead.
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I wish they wouldn't play songs at the final whistle either. Let the fans show support with songs we choose.
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
It's because for the first time in yonks we were resurgant and had genuine target we were striving for, on the one hand an unlikely promotion, then a battle against the odds to survive and not waste what had gone before.
It will come back on it's own, spontaneously, like it always does when that happens again. Next season, if we start well and look like were really at it, the place will be rocking again.
Whenever I've watched Arsenal at home this season it's been raucous, bloody Arsenal, the byword word quiet home fans. But they're 'back' from the relative wilderness in their terms, and that's what happens.
If we're still in with a shout of qualifying for Europe come May, the atmosphere at our last couple of home games will be louder than anywhere in the league this season.
You're right, I'm just wary of tempting fate by saying it.
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This would be ace, make it happen! Preferably with more drums and trumpets, and right next to Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VasDcpWENEg
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The guy on the Holy Trinity podcast was saying that the loss of atmosphere was attributable to the increase in ticket prices. Whilst I understand this line of argument, he hasn’t ever been to VP, so isn’t really in a position to judge whether or not the atmosphere is any better or worse. I also don’t think it’s as simple as saying that people who can afford higher ticket prices make less noise. Is it children and OAPs for example who initiate all the chants? I do think that people in corporate hospitality make less noise. I suppose this would be a risk when general admission tickets become corporate hospitality.
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A lot of people on social meeja seem to have a lot to say about what proper supporters should do.
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This would be ace, make it happen! Preferably with more drums and trumpets, and right next to Lee.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VasDcpWENEg
This fucking country.
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Here come the drums here come the drums.
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Sod free scarves etc, what would be ace is if the club put a free tambourine on every seat before a home game. What an atmosphere that would be!
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If anyone suggests 'clappers' then I'm coming out swinging. And no, not in a car keys in the bowl way.
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If anyone suggests 'clappers' then I'm coming out swinging. And no, not in a car keys in the bowl way.
The flags as well, absolute shite. An weird hollow swishing sound as thousands of grown adults stand there gurning away like a bunch of 8 year olds at a Jubilee party.
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Oooh, alternate seats having tambourines, clappers or flags. All 3 on the go at once would be amazing.
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Make it one in three seats having a Vuvuzeller and I think we're on to something.
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I've always been a fan of those air horn things. And whistles.
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Thanks to our sponsors Cazoo, at todays game you will find behind your seat your own AVFC fan fun pack, complete with a Joleon Lescott badge, an exclusive African car reverser Flag and a Djemba Djemba themed Kazoo. So at 3pm you can make some noise and get behind the boys in claret and blue.
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Kazoos!!! We have a winner!!!
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Fuck me. Someone, somewhere will read this set of ideas and start getting all enthusiastic about it. And before they do, I want to call them a fucking wanker.
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40,000 doing Kumbaya on kazoos. Spine tingling.
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40,000 doing Kumbaya on kazoos. Spine tingling.
They'd be more than fucking tingling if Lee and I had been stamping on them.
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40,000 doing Kumbaya on kazoos. Spine tingling.
I'd be happy to get my recorder quartet together to provide backing. We call it a quartet because there are 400 of us. We normally do covers of the greats - U2, Phil Collins, Simply Red - but we can always improv.
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I'm arguing the toss on twitter. I can't express just how deep my hatred of instruments at games is.
Drummond drumming it into them.
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Drummond bass
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Drummond bass
There used to be a restaurant in Harrogate called the Drum and Monkey. You can imagine.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
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What is the current obsession with atmosphere? As if Old Trafford and Anfield and any other ground aren’t deathly quiet plenty of times during a season.
The thing is it was so good in the last season in the Championship and first season back up, it's easy to contrast that to how it is now. The difference is huge and it's natural for people to want that atmosphere back because it was fucking brilliant.
There are times when the place is rocking, normally when we have to win. Aren’t most clubs like this? I don’t go to away games these days but I’d be interested in knowing which home crowds have been really loud, not many is my guess.
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We should adapt that 'tiger claw' thing that Hull fans used to do. Proper scary, that was.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
That’s a shame. I’m sure they’d enjoy having you come along.
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I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut
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I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut
Flute player?
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I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut
Flute player?
Baton twirler.
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I had a thought about pre match entertainment. They could round up a couple of Zulu's of the Small Heath variety (shouldn't be too difficult as we all know they're everywhere in the city centre) and parade them on the pitch at about 15 mins before kick of. Then....release the lions (real lions of course) obviously being Zulus the lions wouldn't stand much of a chance , but it would get the atmosphere rocking.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
That’s a shame. I’m sure they’d enjoy having you come along.
Unrelated, but I was staying at the Gresham in Cork many years ago, and was asked for ID in the bar. Seeing my name, the barman said it was nice to have a tourist from an Irish background who didn't go around announcing it to everyone.
This got us onto a brief conversation while he was pouring my pint about memorable guests that he'd served.
Apparently, a couple of weeks beforehand, there was a loud, very tall American staying there, who told him - without prompting - that he was Irish. The barman replied, "oh yeah?" and immediately the bloke said, "that's right, my grandfather was an orangeman!"
(I laughed, and the barman said "as you can imagine, that went down about as well as yer man who told the chef he didn't like the fry at breakfast, and could himself make him some pancakes instead." My drink now poured, I laughed again and asked what the chef had said: "Pancakes? Ye's not in fuckin' Dublin now, boy!")
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
That’s a shame. I’m sure they’d enjoy having you come along.
Unrelated, but I was staying at the Gresham in Cork many years ago, and was asked for ID in the bar. Seeing my name, the barman said it was nice to have a tourist from an Irish background who didn't go around announcing it to everyone.
This got us onto a brief conversation while he was pouring my pint about memorable guests that he'd served.
Apparently, a couple of weeks beforehand, there was a loud, very tall American staying there, who told him - without prompting - that he was Irish. The barman replied, "oh yeah?" and immediately the bloke said, "that's right, my grandfather was an orangeman!"
(I laughed, and the barman said "as you can imagine, that went down about as well as yer man who told the chef he didn't like the fry at breakfast, and could himself make him some pancakes instead." My drink now poured, I laughed again and asked what the chef had said: "Pancakes? Ye's not in fuckin' Dublin now, boy!")
Them Corkys don't stand no shit
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
That’s a shame. I’m sure they’d enjoy having you come along.
Unrelated, but I was staying at the Gresham in Cork many years ago, and was asked for ID in the bar. Seeing my name, the barman said it was nice to have a tourist from an Irish background who didn't go around announcing it to everyone.
This got us onto a brief conversation while he was pouring my pint about memorable guests that he'd served.
Apparently, a couple of weeks beforehand, there was a loud, very tall American staying there, who told him - without prompting - that he was Irish. The barman replied, "oh yeah?" and immediately the bloke said, "that's right, my grandfather was an orangeman!"
(I laughed, and the barman said "as you can imagine, that went down about as well as yer man who told the chef he didn't like the fry at breakfast, and could himself make him some pancakes instead." My drink now poured, I laughed again and asked what the chef had said: "Pancakes? Ye's not in fuckin' Dublin now, boy!")
Love that.
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See, I fucking knew this would be bought up.
https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19 (https://twitter.com/ProjectB6_/status/1637582675564175361?t=WYRSbb7QfOOGy2Djj9KFBw&s=19)
I swear to God and I'm not joking, bang one of those things next to me and there will be blood.
You probably wouldn't enjoy an Oranger Order march either. :(
No, and for more reasons than just the drum
That’s a shame. I’m sure they’d enjoy having you come along.
Unrelated, but I was staying at the Gresham in Cork many years ago, and was asked for ID in the bar. Seeing my name, the barman said it was nice to have a tourist from an Irish background who didn't go around announcing it to everyone.
This got us onto a brief conversation while he was pouring my pint about memorable guests that he'd served.
Apparently, a couple of weeks beforehand, there was a loud, very tall American staying there, who told him - without prompting - that he was Irish. The barman replied, "oh yeah?" and immediately the bloke said, "that's right, my grandfather was an orangeman!"
(I laughed, and the barman said "as you can imagine, that went down about as well as yer man who told the chef he didn't like the fry at breakfast, and could himself make him some pancakes instead." My drink now poured, I laughed again and asked what the chef had said: "Pancakes? Ye's not in fuckin' Dublin now, boy!")
Love that.
I love Dublin, but the suspicion and contempt many people from the South West in particular feel towards 'the big city' always makes me laugh.
Anyway, sorry for the digression.
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I love Dublin, but the suspicion and contempt many people from the South West in particular feel towards 'the big city' always makes me laugh.
Anyway, sorry for the digression.
Culchies, eh?
(I hope that's not offensive, I had a girlfriend in Dublin once who used to say it all the time)
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Culchies vs Jackeens.
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I love Dublin, but the suspicion and contempt many people from the South West in particular feel towards 'the big city' always makes me laugh.
Anyway, sorry for the digression.
Culchies, eh?
(I hope that's not offensive, I had a girlfriend in Dublin once who used to say it all the time)
And that kind of thing may be why there is such suspicion and contempt. Feckin jackeens 😉
Edit: Dave beat me to it
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New banner planned for next season. https://twitter.com/ALife1874/status/1673283281238867968
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Ha ha, just caught up with that this morning. Bizarre.
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As ever I see people discussing the thing on Twitter but never what the thing actually is. I'm old.
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My interest was also piqued, from what I can gather it’s something to do with someone posting pics on Twitter of doing some rather private pics with a cucumber.
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I did smile this morning when they clearly didn't know what Heroes & Villains meant.
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My interest was also piqued, from what I can gather it’s something to do with someone posting pics on Twitter of doing some rather private pics with a cucumber.
I missed all the fun, but it looks like somebody was outed as having an Onlyfans account by a customer asking for a refund, and including a photo of a cucumber stuck somewhere other than the salad drawer in the fridge.
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That’s not the worst of it, there is also one featuring what looked like part of a lettuce, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
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Lizz Truss?
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That’s not the worst of it, there is also one featuring what looked like part of a lettuce, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
A Butternut squash doesn't bear thinking about
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That’s not the worst of it, there is also one featuring what looked like part of a lettuce, it could be the tip of the iceberg.
A Butternut squash doesn't bear thinking about
Gourd Almighty what was that just invaded my important little places?
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Lizz Truss?
No, she's not a Romainer these days.
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Seems, if I am reading correctly, that B6 have thrown in the towel and allege the club have been less than helpful and have placed obstacles in their path.
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I'm not going to go through twitter screenshotting stuff but to summarise:
They've been frustrated for a while that they keep trying to organise displays, tifos etc but the club tend to either shoot them down or not respond at all. Now it looks like the club basically ceased all communication with them a while ago. They've posted some of the last email correspondence they got from the club and its not good reading and (in my opinion) fits in very well with the opinion that the club at best dont want or care about organic fan involvement, and at worst are actively contemptuous of the fanbase.
Someone is setting up a similar group to have another go called 1897 Group (@vp1897)
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^^ Are you sure that twitter handle is correct? Wouldn’t it be @vp1897?
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^^ Are you sure that twitter handle is correct? Wouldn’t it be @vp1897?
My mistake, post edited
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What happened in 1897?
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What happened in 1897?
The Greco-Turkish war ended. Plus Villa Park opened and we won the double.
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We won the league and the FA Cup on the same day. What a party that must have been!
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We won the league and the FA Cup on the same day. What a party that must have been!
I think we just moaned that the club were pricing the common Victorian man out and nobody could get served.
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We won the league and the FA Cup on the same day. What a party that must have been!
And are still the only club to have won the league and FA Cup on the same day.
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We won the league and the FA Cup on the same day. What a party that must have been!
And that’s a proof that the modern myth of no League games on the day of the FA cup final is a folk tale.
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What happened in 1897?
The Indian Charabanc Reverser ran over an unemployed tosher from Minworth.
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I'm not going to go through twitter screenshotting stuff but to summarise:
They've been frustrated for a while that they keep trying to organise displays, tifos etc but the club tend to either shoot them down or not respond at all. Now it looks like the club basically ceased all communication with them a while ago. They've posted some of the last email correspondence they got from the club and its not good reading and (in my opinion) fits in very well with the opinion that the club at best dont want or care about organic fan involvement, and at worst are actively contemptuous of the fanbase.
Someone is setting up a similar group to have another go called 1897 Group (@vp1897)
Oh how we laughed ;D
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What happened in 1897?
The Indian Charabanc Reverser ran over an unemployed tosher from Minworth.
He'd left early to beat the traffic.
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What happened in 1897?
Kronenburg got invented .
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I see the new group have met the club and have been offered P9 for the Bournemouth game as a trial (as Bournemouth haven't taken their full allocation.)
Bournemouth aren't the noisiest fans, but even so putting 50-100 enthusiastic fans right next to the away supporters seems like setting them up to fail to me.
I wish them luck though and anyone who wants to join them can get details here
https://x.com/VP1897/status/1775533453481484611?s=20