Gaps & Spaces = the sign of apathy

[cheltenhamlion]

The restrictions attached to the season ticket freebies are fucking shocking by the way.

[PeterWithesShin]

While i'm not in favour of endless across the board ticket price cuts for the reasons i've already mentioned, I do think that for games against the likes of Norwich we should do something for families/kids. Not having kids i've no idea of the age cut off, but something like £30 for an adult and then they can bring say 3 kids (under 14 as the cut off age?) for a few quid each.

Get the little ones into the habit of going to VP before they are old enough to realise the misery that lies ahead!

[cheltenhamlion]

And also not buy 10 cups of tea and get one free.

[brontebilly]

the obligatory guardian article - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/nov/04/aston-villa-falling-crowds?commentpage=2#start-of-comments

mcleish was really an awful awful appointment. I cant see him lasting until next season and when he goes, faulkner must do aswell. Seeing as Lerner has no real interest, he really needs to appointment a Levy or Dein like figure to the board to run the club.

[taylorsworkrate]

Very fair, well balanced article.

Only part I disagree with is Jonathon Fear's ridiculous comments.

[Chris Smith]

Very fair, well balanced article.

Only part I disagree with is Jonathon Fear's ridiculous comments.

He's right, people might not want to admit it but it would be naive in the extreme to think it hasn't made a difference to some people.

[Monty]

Very fair, well balanced article.

Only part I disagree with is Jonathon Fear's ridiculous comments.

He's right, people might not want to admit it but it would be naive in the extreme to think it hasn't made a difference to some people.

I really don't think that's the case particularly, certainly not to the extent that we've seen the attendances fall by.

Put it this way, if we'd signed Ben Foster would anyone have cared that he'd come from Blues? Or if their manager was genuinely good and we'd pinched him? I think I speak for many when I say that, if we'd nabbed someone of quality from them, then the fact that they'd come from Blues would make it sweeter, not a hurdle. The fact that we've gone so far out of our way to appoint a manager many of them didn't mind going particularly is pretty galling.

[Chris Smith]

Monty, I don't think any other appointment would have seen demonstrations outside the ground. Of course it's not the only factor but I'm absolutely convinced that if he'd come from Blackpool, for instance, there'd be less of an issue.

[ez]

As Dave said its results. 2 wins and several tepid draws isn't going to entice anyone. Those no longer attending correctly guessed how it would be. AM just isn't a good manager.

[pauliewalnuts]

Monty, I don't think any other appointment would have seen demonstrations outside the ground. Of course it's not the only factor but I'm absolutely convinced that if he'd come from Blackpool, for instance, there'd be less of an issue.

I think if we'd appointed Martinez, the crowds would have been well down, because there would be a similar questioning of what this meant for our ambitions.

However, there's no doubt that it being McLeish does have a bigger effect.

We can - and do - debate the rights or wrongs of feeling so strongly about McLeish, but it was so predictable when they appointed him that this would happen, that ticket sales would be hit really hard.

I don't know what it was that made them do it - not having any other choice / misguidedly thinking it wouldn't be that big a deal / pig-headedness.

I feel sorry for AM, in that he's pretty much on to a loser from the start, with the budgetary constraints he's working under, and I personally do not give a shit that he was at Blues (it's his record of relegation and uninspiring football that bothers me, not where he came from), but even now, thinking about it, I still can not believe they appointed him.

[pauliewalnuts]

As Dave said its results. 2 wins and several tepid draws isn't going to entice anyone. Those no longer attending correctly guessed how it would be. AM just isn't a good manager.

The problem is that a lot of those put off by AM would have been worried to a large degree about his record for drawing matches and deeply uninspiring football.

There hasn't been anything at home so far this season to make this look like a false concern.

[ez]

As Dave said its results. 2 wins and several tepid draws isn't going to entice anyone. Those no longer attending correctly guessed how it would be. AM just isn't a good manager.

The problem is that a lot of those put off by AM would have been worried to a large degree about his record for drawing matches and deeply uninspiring football.

There hasn't been anything at home so far this season to make this look like a false concern.

Yes. I think we were all hoping it was down to him being at a crap club last season and it would be different with us. Its not looking like it though.

[Monty]

Monty, I don't think any other appointment would have seen demonstrations outside the ground. Of course it's not the only factor but I'm absolutely convinced that if he'd come from Blackpool, for instance, there'd be less of an issue.

Perhaps, but don't forget the massive outcry - and indeed internet campaign - which met the potential appointment of McLaren. Fundamentally I think the calibre and level of manager seems to me the biggest problem. There are idiots, certainly, to whom the Blues thing really matters, but for the most part I think the biggest problem people have with McLeish, to the extent that it affects attendances, is the poor football and feeling of accepting, at best, mediocrity and lack of imagination. I agree with Paulie - I still can't believe they appointed him.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I asked my 5 year old last night "Fancy going to the Villa tomorrow son?"

"No Dad the football is boring, can we watch Man City?"

I nearly cried

[Phil from the upper holte]

Better turn out today 35k