Your interest in the villa

[Matt C]

Went from having a season ticket every season to living in California this year. At the time I thought I was picking a great time to give it a rest for while but miss it now. Not just the football itself (we can, as others have said, watch pretty much every game out here) but the atmosphere, the people, the tribalism.

So if anything, my absence has probably rekindled my enthusiasm and looking forward to what will probably be my one game of the season (apart from when I have to plan a trip back for the Cup Final, obviously) against the stripy filth during a brief trip back in a couple of weeks.   

[Drummond]

I am interested more than I was but I can't see that I'll ever get a season ticket again, unless I moved back to Birmingham, which is highly unlikely.

I find myself wandering down to Bramall Lane these days, stopping for a pint on the way and it's much more fun and far more affordable. The football isn't as good quality (though A 5-3 Home win last time out may suggest differently) but it feels more honest.

I do, however, like what I've heard of Lambert's philosophy and approach with the younger players. Buying them because they will be hungrier and telling them the ball is the same regardless of division and getting them to play and work as a team.

[ez]

My interest has waned a lot. I'm not miserable when we lose now. I'm delighted when we win but its forgotten much quicker. I've not much interest in other games and rarely watch match of the day. I couldn't do one of those fantasy teams my workmates do as i don't keep up with what other clubs are doing. Last seasons manager did more to kill it for me than any other.

[QBVILLA]

Purchased the tickets for the Swansea game yesterday.First league game since we beat Newcastle 1-0 to send them down.

If you fancy having a whip round to send me to all of the games then we'll do the double.

[dcdavecollett]

We used to have a couple of season tickets until the end of GT2. The reasons for this embrace many of the ideas expressed on here.

Havibg said that, we've been down four times already this season, including the two Next Gen matches.

[adbo9]

I gotta admit, still got a season ticket and still go - but like a few have said before me, its nice to win but I dont take it to heart when we lost anymore - its just a game - someone has to lose - we cant all be in the top few places...... but my passion is no longer there for Villa or football in general.  I cant remember the last time I watched a footy game that didnt involve Villa as it is just so boring having the sky media hype rammed down my throat about how "great" everything is..........

If I can pinpoint a time to when my passion went it was Moscow.  When ONeill and Lerner chucked that to chase the dollar of finishing 4th - that finished me off....... FANS WANT FINALS AND TROPHIES THAT LIVE IN THE MEMORY............ for this one act my love Villa, passion for football died and my hatred for ONeill and Lerner will remain forever....... Oh, at least they bought us some dinner and a free flag - pair of fucking wankers

[Brend'Watkins]

Why is Lerner a wanker for sanctioning a free meal and a flag?

[SirSteveUK]

I am as mad for it as ever I have been.   Makes no difference to me really if we are shite, which we are as often as not, or if we are brilliant which is an extreme rarity.   I have been swallowed whole by Aston Villa and life without them would be meaningless.

My only fear is not relegation or being bought up by Carson Yeung, it is some twat moving the club to the M6 M42 junction or somewhere similar.   I stand (I do stand most of the time) where my grandfather stood on the Holte End, my sons and my grandsons will stand where I stand.   Having the worst manager in the known universe or losing all the games in a season pale into insignificance to those kind of feelings.

I think this manager is the real deal.   I think this is the new dawn not the false dawn of O'Neill's perfidy.

I forgot.   I never want them to play in any other colours.

Spot on - the entire post. My Dad usd to stand on the Witton End  - and I'm pretty sure he started watching pre-war. He took me down in December 1959 to stand on his spot- and my blood has been claret & blue ever since.

My disappointments I have swallowed - always thinking "OH well, there's always  next time"

My delights I have displayed on my face. Now I am lucky that my son has my claret & blue genes - just a shame that me being 6000 miles away from him means the chances of me going down toVP with him are not great...but when we do, I will be bursting with pride...

[Witton Warrior]

I was a regular (ST when I could afford) from '74 to '91 and then faded as I got married/worked/child etc but about 10 years ago started taking an interest again and watched a coupla games a season. Then my lad took an interest (which was surprising due to the nature of his disability) and we have been to more and more games over the last three seasons.

Took the plunge and got ST's this year and love it already - he was disappointed  to be told we only play at home roughly once a fortnight.

So my interest is higher now than on the last 20 years

[gervilla]

I think it's safe to say I am just as obsessed as I was when I was brought over from Ireland to Villa Park as an 8 year old in 1984.
If I could afford it, I would attend a lot more than my once a season trip.
I just have to make do with watching on the net for the other 37 games a season.

I still get pissed off when we loose and a win can make a weekend for me.

My 4 year old daughter would wear her Villa shirt 7 days a week if she was allowed so hopefully she will stay interested for another few years at least. She will probably have her first visit next season.

I am genuinely excited after the last two performances and am looking forward to another good win tomorrow , fingers crossed.

[richardhubbard]

Can honestly say now look forward to our games again

[Salsa Party Animal]

before working as a postman, I love to watch football and do an Aston Villa web site and eat and sleep and breathe football, I also love travelling to Spain or Italy to watch Real Madrid. I spend a lot of time playing video games as well. I was excited to see new era from Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill. 

Last few season seeing players like Milner, Barry, Young and co moving on and football was dull. I lost interest as I discovered salsa.

Now I still like football and will go to home games if I have the money to buy the tickets. I like the intention and vision from Paul Lambert and hope he will develop the team to a quality team which can play football. I don't think I will buy season ticket again as I like to go away some weekend for salsa congress. My job make it difficult to attend Saturday afternoon games as I change walk every week. I won't know which walk I will be doing or what the workload will be like.  I think a casual interest in the game is enough for me. I am not interested in average or dull or difficult to beat Aston Villa. I want to see brilliant, exciting, fun Aston Villa.

[SirSteveUK]

Great post Brian.
Partly due to Uncle Frank, being born in Aston and my Dad forever waxing lyrical about Pongo Waring et al, my brother taking me to matches when kids could get in at half time for free and waxing lyrical about Gerry Hitchens, I feel there could never have been any other team for me. I remember being so proud of our history when I was growing up - and still am. So glad I was around to see us become the best team in England and win the European Cup. My son now goes when he can and my nephew started taking his 8 year old last season. The family links with the Villa continue. My brother even forgave me for missing his wedding and going to watch Villa play against Cardiff at Ninian Park in 1968 when I was 14.
A bit extreme to some folk perhaps, but the Villa mean so much to me; always have and always will.
UTV!

I think I'll change my name to frankmosswasmynewsagent - his shop on Shady Lane was always where you'd find me waiting for the pink'un around 6'ish on Saturday night - and a special thrill for a kid to see an actual former player behind the counter !!! Even met him once after he retired to run a newsagents shop in  Looe.....

[KevinGage]

Last few season seeing players like Milner, Barry, Young and co moving on and football was dull. I lost interest as I discovered salsa.

Salsa or having to endure Ivanhoe's constant falling down routine -  why didn't I think of that.

[danlanza]

Last few season seeing players like Milner, Barry, Young and co moving on and football was dull. I lost interest as I discovered salsa.

Salsa or having to endure Ivanhoe's constant falling down routine -  why didn't I think of that.

And Dorito's. They go well with anice salsa dip.