Aston Villa fans' group in call to join protest against Alex Mcleish

[brian green]

The result of the game tomorrow is totally irrelevant.   What we have is a chance to show the world of football what sort of football club Aston Villa is.

[ktvillan]

I've known the leading lights of just about every protest from 1968 onwards, and the veterans of the older ones are a million miles removed from tomorrow's lot. Meanwhile, what you're saying is heading down the road of "You're not a real supporter if you don't protest." 

Obviously inappropriate to protest or to get too worked up about it now but I think an accusation like that warrants a response.   

Your last line there is an uncalled for cheap shot,  and could equally be thrown right back at you  because when you say things like "One thing I learned many years ago is that football supporters want to watch football. Nothing much else matters", then describe past protestors as a bunch of moaners, and dismiss tomorrow's lot as unworthy, it sounds very much like what you're saying is heading down the road of "you're not a real supporter if you do protest".     

[dave.woodhall]

I've known the leading lights of just about every protest from 1968 onwards, and the veterans of the older ones are a million miles removed from tomorrow's lot. Meanwhile, what you're saying is heading down the road of "You're not a real supporter if you don't protest." 

Obviously inappropriate to protest or to get too worked up about it now but I think an accusation like that warrants a response.   

Your last line there is an uncalled for cheap shot,  and could equally be thrown right back at you  because when you say things like "One thing I learned many years ago is that football supporters want to watch football. Nothing much else matters", then describe past protestors as a bunch of moaners, and dismiss tomorrow's lot as unworthy, it sounds very much like what you're saying is heading down the road of "you're not a real supporter if you do protest".     

Read what I said again, and you'll see you're jumping to totally the wrong conclusion. I've known a lot of previous protestors. Some have been totally valid, and some have been for laughable reasons organised by self-publicists.

"What's wrong with just supporting the team is exactly as I've said above, it will give the owners and everyone else the  message that everything is fine, supporters are happy little bunnies, who will still turn up and wave their flags and scarves whatever garbage is thrown at them" on the other hand, is proof that you are doing exactly what I said.

[brian green]

I think what Dave is saying is that there are places and times for protests.   The circumstances dictate the justification of the actions.

To have a protest about the removal of the manager at this time and under all the prevailing circumstances is not worthy of serious consideration.

I think Dave is perfectly entitled to suggest that those who want to go ahead and protest regardless of the justification of a protest are doing so for reasons other than what is best for the club at this time.

[cheltenhamlion]

After todays news, if you protest tomorrow, you are a first class ****** and entirely miss the point about what we are as a club.

[Chris Jameson]

After todays news, if you protest tomorrow, you are a first class c*** and entirely miss the point about what we are as a club.

Seconded.

[ktvillan]

I've known the leading lights of just about every protest from 1968 onwards, and the veterans of the older ones are a million miles removed from tomorrow's lot. Meanwhile, what you're saying is heading down the road of "You're not a real supporter if you don't protest." 

Obviously inappropriate to protest or to get too worked up about it now but I think an accusation like that warrants a response.   

Your last line there is an uncalled for cheap shot,  and could equally be thrown right back at you  because when you say things like "One thing I learned many years ago is that football supporters want to watch football. Nothing much else matters", then describe past protestors as a bunch of moaners, and dismiss tomorrow's lot as unworthy, it sounds very much like what you're saying is heading down the road of "you're not a real supporter if you do protest".     

Read what I said again, and you'll see you're jumping to totally the wrong conclusion. I've known a lot of previous protestors. Some have been totally valid, and some have been for laughable reasons organised by self-publicists.

"What's wrong with just supporting the team is exactly as I've said above, it will give the owners and everyone else the  message that everything is fine, supporters are happy little bunnies, who will still turn up and wave their flags and scarves whatever garbage is thrown at them" on the other hand, is proof that you are doing exactly what I said.

It's not proof of what you said at all Dave.  You asked what was wrong with just supporting the team and I gave an answer.  The “happy little bunnies” comment may have been a bit unnecessary but the point made was a perfectly valid one, that by just supporting the team the owners and manager simply would not get the message that a lot of supporters are pissed off and concerned and want some action.   It may imply I believe that anti-protesters are misguided or naïve or plain wrong, but in no way does it equate to, or even hint at “you’re not a real fan if you don’t protest”, let alone prove it.  Like I said a cheap shot.

As for what you said:

" just about every protestor I've known has taken their miseryarsedness into the ground and been the first to moan at kick-off."

"I've known the leading lights of just about every protest from 1968 onwards, and the veterans of the older ones are a million miles removed from tomorrow's lot."

So I’m not sure how I’ve “jumped to wrong conclusions” when I said you labelled protesters a bunch of moaners and that the latest lot are unworthy.   

[OzVilla]

Not read the thread but obviously, whether you think a protest is justified or not tomorrow clearly isn't the time for one.

I hope they don't make themselves and the Club look idiots so if people must protest then move it to another day.  That is all.

[Lizz]

Not read the thread but obviously, whether you think a protest is justified or not tomorrow clearly isn't the time for one.

I hope they don't make themselves and the Club look idiots so if people must protest then move it to another day.  That is all.

Agreed.

[brian green]

Like the day we are mathematically safe from relegation so that a protest does not turn fear of relegation into reality.

[ktvillan]

I'm certainly not suggesting a protest is appropriate now after the news re Petrov, that would be crass indeed.  I'm merely responding to an unnecessary dig from earlier in the day and reiterating my defence of protest as a legitimate action per se.  And I don't think there was anything wrong with the timing until subsequent news  changed the picture.   

[ktvillan]

Like the day we are mathematically safe from relegation so that a protest does not turn fear of relegation into reality.

How does that work then Brian?  No honestly, what is the causal, logical link that means a protest will lead to relegation?  And if a butterfly flaps it's wings in Beijing will we get promoted again?   

[hawkeye]

The timing of the protest was inapropriate before the news about Stan, it is now ridiculous to even think about it.

[dave.woodhall]

What's wrong with just supporting the team is exactly as I've said above, it will give the owners and everyone else the  message that everything is fine, supporters are happy little bunnies, who will still turn up and wave their flags and scarves whatever garbage is thrown at them

But it's someone else making the 'cheap shots'.

[ozzjim]

Can we simply stop this thread now until it becomes a possibility again. It has been rightly called off tomorrow, and discussing the value either way of it in light of the news today is simply pointless.