Brian, I will write the following with the understanding that as someone of the same generation as you it is done respectfully and with the knowledge that you are fully entitled to your opinion. When you get to a certain age,attacks of Victor Meldrewisms become more regular and it is therefore easy to view 'the old days' through rose tinted glasses. As a counter to your litany of hatreds may I reflect on match day experiences as they were?Standing on terracing exposed to passive smoking, the elements and poor viability of the pitch, catering that was at best basic and at worse unfit for human consumption, non existent pre match hospitality, being treated generally not as a valued customer but as an inconvenient by-product of a football match, the threat of hooliganism ( albeit a rare occurrence at Villa Park), no contact at all from the football club save from a ghost written message from the Manager in the programme. I go to the Villa because I am a supporter, not a follower, and for me, it is an extension of a family tradition as my long departed Dad took me. My son,who has been a season ticket holder since he was 6, enjoys the pre match lunch in the Holte Suite whilst watching the televised live game, is able to enjoy the match in safety and comfort and likes ( as every 13 year old would) the fact he gets an autographed Christmas card from his heroes. For me, I like the fact that the ticket office staff are engaging and genuinely interested if I renew my season ticket and I know my feedback, when things have not being right,has been acted upon. If, and this is always the constant, performances on the pitch were better then I would say my match day experience would be very good value for money.I would agree Brian that there is a malaise around Villa Park but I do think that this is correlated with results. Irritating details are forgiven if the team is 4 - 0 up and playing well.Here's hoping you have not completely lost your Villa mojo Brian and that the Victor that is part of all of us over 50's is soon sitting in the comfortable chair in the garden shed of happiness.
If you take the price of a game at, say, £30 (and that is cheaper than most games) and add up what you spend you get £1350 over a 45 game season. Multiply that by 40 seasons as an example. You get £54000. Over that period you have managed to pay one month's wages for one player. Now see how insignificant you are!