Randy Lerner "State of Aston Villa" Statement

[Dave Cooper please]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

[Villa'Zawg]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

They are better fans than you.

[Chris Smith]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

I can't answer that as I no longer communicate with second class supporters.

[TimTheVillain]

I think we were bought by a guy who inherited his money and wanted a bit of fun with it.

The fun is now waning.

Plus, the kids aren't good enough and most will never be.

The Everton 'model' will take years to build, so it's 'austerity Villa' and hope in what we have ( plus the odd loanee) time.

Suppose we could be Blackburn Rovers fans and settle for what we have, but Villa fans 'expect'.

Maybe we ought to take on the Blackburn mentality and not be disappointed at
what we see at Villa ?

[cheltenhamlion]

I particularly don't communicate with second rate supporters who have failed as a parent and allowed their son to be an Olbiyun fan.

[villajk]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Did somebody say something?

[K3Villa]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Yup.

[Concrete John]

Just out of interest, should Randy want to write to the fans then how could this be done, other than by using the database of names and addresses for ST holders?  This isn't a 'better fan that you thing', but how would he be bale to identify the fans who don't regularly attend in order to contact them?

Randy doesn't like speaking through the press and like it or not, that's how he is.  Only other solution I can think of is have a letter printed and ready for every fan who walks through the gates on the first game, but even then those that can't attend that match, even some ST holders, will be moaning. 

[TimTheVillain]

............and to save on postage, why not go to the Birmingham Mail and communicate that way ?

It'll end up there anyway !

[DB]

I have lost the passion, all we can hope for at the very best this season is 5th. Over past few years it's go worse where you know that we can't compete unless we have a multi-billionaire. So I buy a ST knowing this? Also, footballers are 90% idiots - I really don't like the thought of my hard earned cash going striaght to their pockets, which, lets face it is where our money goes. I can no longer justify spending the cash on a ST after all these years, if that makes me a worse fan then so be it.

[Olneythelonely]

Just an extention to Chris's prediction.

Expected responses to Randy's speech may be "talk is cheap" (as in Chris's post) or "don't tell me, show me" (as in my post). I put my post in quotation marks hoping to make it clear.

That was all.

To me, it couldn't have been more obvious.

[Villa'Zawg]

Just out of interest, should Randy want to write to the fans then how could this be done, other than by using the database of names and addresses for ST holders?  This isn't a 'better fan that you thing', but how would he be bale to identify the fans who don't regularly attend in order to contact them?

Randy doesn't like speaking through the press and like it or not, that's how he is.  Only other solution I can think of is have a letter printed and ready for every fan who walks through the gates on the first game, but even then those that can't attend that match, even some ST holders, will be moaning. 

I think they have the names and addresses of everyone who has bought a match ticket in the last x years don't they?

There is no shortage of mass media communication channels, the problem is his Howard Hughes approach to them.

[Concrete John]

Yes, but those tickets won't be 100% bought by Villa fans, plus is there any legal barrier to using that database for what could be viewed as a marketing exercise?

I'd say stick the letter on the website myself, but I don't see that it's a big issue if he wants to try and communicate with the fans more directly.

[villa_oldie]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Quite frankly - yes.

A football clubs lifeblood whether you like it or not are season ticket holders (and shareholders). These are the people who do (exactly what the word means) "support" their club. Not sitting behind a computer moaning and whaling about why they aren't as good as Man Utd, but actually putting £££ into the club. Because that's all that matters.

It's like the voting system - if you don't vote, you've got no right to complain.

[Clampy]

So those of us who can't afford an ST / work on some matchdays / are under the thumb and not allowed to go to every game are not important then?

Quite frankly - yes.

A football clubs lifeblood whether you like it or not are season ticket holders (and shareholders). These are the people who do (exactly what the word means) "support" their club. Not sitting behind a computer moaning and whaling about why they aren't as good as Man Utd, but actually putting £££ into the club. Because that's all that matters.

It's like the voting system - if you don't vote, you've got no right to complain.

I've got freinds who just can't afford to go anymore which is a shame but i value their opinion much more than people who just refuse to go and still whinge for the sake of it. There's a difference.