Is Villa Park part of the problem?

[eastie]

The thing is that the team has to lead with this. It might just be that because the team has been so shit at home for so long that the fans' patience is very thin. And I agree with Nev, if Lambert and the players can't hack it they should do one.

The team has taken the lead in away games. And the fans respond with chants of 'how shit must you be, we're winning away'. If they do it at home, there'll be 30,000 fans singing 'how shit must you be, we're winning at home'.

I'm sure that chant does nothing for the team at all. It may wind up the home fans but is just like singing that we are crap.

Its basically saying we are shit and yet we are beating you - no point to it at all, similar to the ludicrous empty seats my lord.

[Witton Warrior]

So we have to get behind the team no matter how poor the fare?

You mean like last Tuesday then when the end of the first half was met with a rumble of disapproval and as soon as they started coming forwards in the second half they were roared on but didn't get a point? Then at the end there was applause for their effort if not the result.

We are playing our part - we are still there.

VP has always been an odd beast noise-wise but all you complaining about not singing/supporting must be tucked away in the Upper Holte then?

[PeterWithe]

what a load of bolocks its got nothing to do with the crowd,its becourse the manager and team are shit

Yup, the loudest grounds I've ever been to were Ayresome Park and Elland Rd, they've both stopped paying big wages and are in the second division.

The atmosphere against Bradford was incredible, it didn't do much good, you get a good team by paying shit loads of money to the players. No more no less.

[PeterWithe]

Without doubt for me. The atmosphere at VP is just mundane. Seldom even 90% full too. Obviously it isn't the main reason for our shocking home form, but as we saw against Manure, a good atmosphere rubs off on the team.

[/b]

And we lost that one! The team needs to raise their game. We are paying to see them, they are being paid to play in front of us!

So there!

You know what I mean! It was a good performance. The whole reason playing at home is seen as an advantage is because the fans can spur the team on. As I say, the atmosphere at VP is just drab and uninspiring.

Well bloody change it then ffs. You lot pay your money to watch the games live so back the fucking team then and create some sort of atmosphere. There is more atmosphere in my local!! 2000 fucking miles away. Get behind the team and the club and stop fucking moaning when you could be part of the fucking problem. Back the lads on the fucking pitch for 90 mins and you will see a big difference. Get a fucking grip and support your team like life depends on it. Rant fucking over. UTV

Somebody should do something then eh?

You try getting excited about the shite we've been served up the last few years.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Our home record has been poor for years. We have only won over 10 home games in a season twice in the last 10 years. That is a terrible stat.

Have a look here to see how bad we've been at Villa Park over the last 20 years. It's mostly certainly not 'Fortress Villa Park'.

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=44478.0

[SoccerHQ]

The problem is not the fans.

The problem is that our squad is still largely made up of players who prefer to attack space and high defences like Gabby and N'zogbia. Stands to reason the opposition are more likely to play higher up the pitch away from home than at VP.

For years now we've been pretty much clueless at working out how to break down mass defences at home, this was a problem under MON of course but now teams are still playing deep defences to negate Gabby yet they are pushing their midfields on as ours is so woeful.

I think if we are to win some home games to give us a chance, we need to keep faith with N'zogbia in a central role. He's starting to play well consistantly now and I think with the extra space he gets in the free role rather than stuck out wide, we have more chance of creating and scoring goals that way.

[SoccerHQ]

I think the only team who can justifiably claim they'd rather play away from home would be Wigan tbh.

[Pat McMahon]

A question for the finest minds on this site: when was the last time we were unbeaten at home for a whole season?

I have been going down since the late 60s and even when we were very strong and on our way up we would often get a silly defeat at home ( yes I mean you Torquay in 1970) or a drubbing a la Burnley in 1973, Man City in 1977, even 1-4 to soon-to-be-relegated Leeds a month or so before winning the European Cup.

Villa Park was usually a fortress under Ron Saunders but I can't remember an unbeaten campaign at home.

[Lastfootstamper]

A question for the finest minds on this site: when was the last time we were unbeaten at home for a whole season?

I have been going down since the late 60s and even when we were very strong and on our way up we would often get a silly defeat at home ( yes I mean you Torquay in 1970) or a drubbing a la Burnley in 1973, Man City in 1977, even 1-4 to soon-to-be-relegated Leeds a month or so before winning the European Cup.

Villa Park was usually a fortress under Ron Saunders but I can't remember an unbeaten campaign at home.

Dunno about a season, but didn't we go a calendar year where we won every home game, early eighties? Came to an end either with the Tony Woodcock battering, or man yoo putting three past us, or the sickener against spartak?

[danlanza]

Without doubt for me. The atmosphere at VP is just mundane. Seldom even 90% full too. Obviously it isn't the main reason for our shocking home form, but as we saw against Manure, a good atmosphere rubs off on the team.

[/b]

And we lost that one! The team needs to raise their game. We are paying to see them, they are being paid to play in front of us!

So there!

You know what I mean! It was a good performance. The whole reason playing at home is seen as an advantage is because the fans can spur the team on. As I say, the atmosphere at VP is just drab and uninspiring.

Well bloody change it then ffs. You lot pay your money to watch the games live so back the fucking team then and create some sort of atmosphere. There is more atmosphere in my local!! 2000 fucking miles away. Get behind the team and the club and stop fucking moaning when you could be part of the fucking problem. Back the lads on the fucking pitch for 90 mins and you will see a big difference. Get a fucking grip and support your team like life depends on it. Rant fucking over. UTV

Somebody should do something then eh?

You try getting excited about the shite we've been served up the last few years.

Pain felt and understood, very much so.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A question for the finest minds on this site: when was the last time we were unbeaten at home for a whole season?

I have been going down since the late 60s and even when we were very strong and on our way up we would often get a silly defeat at home ( yes I mean you Torquay in 1970) or a drubbing a la Burnley in 1973, Man City in 1977, even 1-4 to soon-to-be-relegated Leeds a month or so before winning the European Cup.

Villa Park was usually a fortress under Ron Saunders but I can't remember an unbeaten campaign at home.

It was indeed a fortress under Saunders. We only lost 4 home games in his first three seasons.

[Neil Hawkes]

We need to make the place as nasty and hostile as we can. It's not nearly as horrible for away teams as it should be.

Every time this comes up I say the same thing - the players tunnel is at the wrong end of the ground, it should be by the Holte; so the away team does not see or hear a friendly voice until they have run the length of the pitch.
Unfortunately it probably cannot be changed.

[rob_bridge]

We need to make the place as nasty and hostile as we can. It's not nearly as horrible for away teams as it should be.

Every time this comes up I say the same thing - the players tunnel is at the wrong end of the ground, it should be by the Holte; so the away team does not see or hear a friendly voice until they have run the length of the pitch.
Unfortunately it probably cannot be changed.

That is a good point or as near to the Holte End as possible. Even indoors make them walk 100m to the other corner of the Trinity and come out next to the Holte in full voice singing.

[Lastfootstamper]

We need to make the place as nasty and hostile as we can. It's not nearly as horrible for away teams as it should be.

Every time this comes up I say the same thing - the players tunnel is at the wrong end of the ground, it should be by the Holte; so the away team does not see or hear a friendly voice until they have run the length of the pitch.
Unfortunately it probably cannot be changed.

Doesn't help that these days they have to walk out slowly, then do the fatuous line-up and handshake. Been on the pitch five minutes before they get near The Holte

[Damo70]

Big clubs with big support, a big ground and expectations higher than a relegation battle are all the same. I remember when we went to Sunderland earlier this season I was glad we were playing them at their place as they had been under pressure and getting stick at home.