The Club and The Fans

[Irish villain]

As others have said he game is changing and we need to keep up or risk being left behind.

To be honest, if "keeping up" means turning us into some sterile, corporate cash cow, claret and blue version of every other team in the premier league, I'd really rather we were left behind to our own identity. Old fool that I am

There doesn't seem to be much class in the lower leagues either. Dumbing down slightly as a modern incarnation of a consistently top club to remain among the big boys would be preferable to sinking down the leagues.

[dave.woodhall]

As others have said he game is changing and we need to keep up or risk being left behind.

To be honest, if "keeping up" means turning us into some sterile, corporate cash cow, claret and blue version of every other team in the premier league, I'd really rather we were left behind to our own identity. Old fool that I am

There doesn't seem to be much class in the lower leagues either. Dumbing down slightly as a modern incarnation of a consistently top club to remain among the big boys would be preferable to sinking down the leagues.

There wasn't much class coming from Bradford on Tuesday night. Their supporters were great, but the club itself was every bit as horrible as anything in the Premier League.

[PeterWithesShin]

After recent events in Russia, its possible that we may have seen the last of the Zorbs for a while

I don't think we have to worry too much about them veering off course and down a mountain at VP.

[mr-villa]

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!

shit, that point has really hit home how they're overpaid and how we're just consumers now, if we leave, then the club don't care, as long as someone else shows up.

But that's just the problem these days, a number of clubs don't need gate money anymore or at least it is not their most significant revenue stream and therein lies the fundamental problem.  Sky's massive investment in UK football has made the paying punter who goes to the matches so much more insignificant.  It says it all when next season every club in the Premiership could knock £32 off the price of an adult matchday ticket and still be no worse off than today such is the hike in TV revenue from next season.

[Apyadg]

I think £3.20 a pint is a bit steep though. They could easily charge around £2.70 and still make a profit.

They could do a lot of things and still make a profit.

Hands up who thinks ticket prices will go up next season, even though the club will get an extra 50% or so from TV. I'd bet my house on it.

[mr-villa]

The point about the Holte Suite is fair comment. You can take it or leave it but, for the fan who has to buy his own match tickets, what a set of great facilities we have. Years ago, I would have had several pints of Ansells Mild and a couple of cheese and onion rolls on the way to a game. Now there are fewer pubs and I drive to home games, a couple or three pints then a roast pork dinner for about £7 is great value. That side of the club is way ahead of most other clubs.

DCF please let me know where you are managing to get a "couple or three pints and a roast pork dinner for £7" please, certainly nowhere on AVFC's premises mate!!

[jcsutv]

Beer has been overpriced for years, but at least a couple of years ago you had people walking around with draught kegs on their backs. Now you pay £3.50 for a can of John Smiths. I am on your side Brian.

[bertlambshank]

Beer has been overpriced for years, but at least a couple of years ago you had people walking around with draught kegs on their backs. Now you pay £3.50 for a can of John Smiths. I am on your side Brian.

I take my own in.

[KevinGage]

I tell you what grinds my gears (to keep in the spirit of this thing).

-The official website referring to Old Trafford as the Theatre of Dreams

-Faulkner and co placing any kind of importance on what Fergiescum says

-The same ginner telling us "There is nothing you can do when United (Is that Newcastle, Leeds or Dundee???) come in for one of your players."   The club actually seemed HAPPY that Ashley Young had got his 'dream' move. 

It comes from the top down.  If our own management see us as small fry, what chance do we have.


This constant reference to 'Lambert's Lions' on the OS is starting to grate too.  Lambert's Lemmings, more like.

[Chipsticks]

The time to despair is when we have music after a goal.

Oh god there is literally nothing worse. I often wonder if clubs will eventually start to play crowd noise over the speakers to give the impression of an atmosphere. I wouldn't put it past someone like Bolton.

[Apyadg]

The OS is a disgrace, most of the time it reads like it has been written by PR of the opposing club.

I think it was last season they described Spurs as "The aristocrats from the capital". Bunch of tossers.

[Chipsticks]

Beer has been overpriced for years, but at least a couple of years ago you had people walking around with draught kegs on their backs. Now you pay £3.50 for a can of John Smiths. I am on your side Brian.

We still have people walking around with the kegs on their backs! I don't venture out of the Holte Lower so maybe they just do it for the one stand but I've definitely got beer off one of those at the majority of the games I've attended this season.

[bertlambshank]

The time to despair is when we have music after a goal.

Oh god there is literally nothing worse. I often wonder if clubs will eventually start to play crowd noise over the speakers to give the impression of an atmosphere. I wouldn't put it past someone like Bolton.

Arsenal already have.

[David_Nab]

I think £3.20 a pint is a bit steep though. They could easily charge around £2.70 and still make a profit.

They could do a lot of things and still make a profit.

Hands up who thinks ticket prices will go up next season, even though the club will get an extra 50% or so from TV. I'd bet my house on it.

You assuming we are still in this league next season

[PeterWithesShin]

We should get that bloke and his bugle back on the tannoy. It was ace against Deportivo or Celta Vigo (forgotten which it was).