Aston Villa v QPR Pre-Match Thread

[Chipsticks]

Think there will be a big crowd for this one, all the main areas of VP are virtually sold out,

I can see plenty of unsold tickets. A good barometer for a 40k plus crowd is to see lots of tickets sold in the Trinity wings, and in P1 and P2, and all those areas have almost total availability.

maybe i'm being over optimistic then,
 but this is a big game for us, and Villa fans normaly come turn out in times of trouble, saturday
 3 oclock also helps

Hope so mate. Why we pack VP for Manure yet are well under capacity for more important (and more winnable) games like this one has always been a matter of annoyance for me.

It's always been the way. We have a hard core who come to watch the Villa and a floating support who turn out (or not) for the occasion.

I hate to admit it, but being as I have to pick only about 8-10 home games a season to go to due to work commitments, I often find myself going for the ones against bigger teams. Singing and the feeling of camaraderie are the main two reasons I go to football and there's usually a bigger, better atmosphere and the off chance of an 'I was there' moment against the likes of Man United and Chelsea.

I wish it wasn't the case but it is.

Fair enough. I've always been the opposite myself. I prefer to go to games that I deem more winnable. For me, the ultimate experience is to see Villa score some goals and win matches. I also think it is slightly small-time to only go to games against the bigger clubs (I not saying this applies to you) as it is almost like such fans are going to see the opposition rather than the Villa. Akin to when lower league fans only turn up when their team is drawn against an EPL team in the cup. I have always been of the opinion that it is this type of support against lesser teams that has contributed to our inconsistant home form over the years.

I think you're damn right about the point in bold.

I do go just to see the Villa, it just so happens that it's often more enjoyable for me when a Sky team comes to town, and I think a lot of people my age are the same, just another issue of modern football I'm afraid

I do try and get an even spread though, I'd say my favourite two games this season at Villa Park have been Reading and Man United, and I was at the 3-0 drubbing by Wigan.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm with Neo. When I can't afford a ST and have to pick and choose I generally go to the less attractive games.

1) More chance we'll win
2) Cheaper tickets for those games so I get to go to more games

[damon loves JT]

I'm in no position to criticise anyone for not going to enough games.

[pbavfckuwait]

Villa in an edgy 2-1 win the Beast gets both

[Matt Collins]

As I said earlier in the thread I feel pessimistic about this.

We haven't scored a league goal from open play at villa park since November for God's sake. And we're not exactly 'good' at set pieces.

A win would really set us up nicely. But it's a must not lose game for me.

[OzVilla]

I'm not sure either - I reckon Arry's finally on to something at QPR and we are the most Jekyl and Hyde of outfits.

I think they'll be goals so i'm going for an open 2-2.  Would absolutely kill for a win though.

[Jimbo]

I see this game being like last season's Bolton game. And we all know what happened then. Hope I'm proved wrong.

[maidstonevillain]

Think there will be a big crowd for this one, all the main areas of VP are virtually sold out,

I can see plenty of unsold tickets. A good barometer for a 40k plus crowd is to see lots of tickets sold in the Trinity wings, and in P1 and P2, and all those areas have almost total availability.

maybe i'm being over optimistic then,
 but this is a big game for us, and Villa fans normaly come turn out in times of trouble, saturday
 3 oclock also helps

Hope so mate. Why we pack VP for Manure yet are well under capacity for more important (and more winnable) games like this one has always been a matter of annoyance for me.

It's always been the way. We have a hard core who come to watch the Villa and a floating support who turn out (or not) for the occasion.

I hate to admit it, but being as I have to pick only about 8-10 home games a season to go to due to work commitments, I often find myself going for the ones against bigger teams. Singing and the feeling of camaraderie are the main two reasons I go to football and there's usually a bigger, better atmosphere and the off chance of an 'I was there' moment against the likes of Man United and Chelsea.

I wish it wasn't the case but it is.

Fair enough. I've always been the opposite myself. I prefer to go to games that I deem more winnable. For me, the ultimate experience is to see Villa score some goals and win matches. I also think it is slightly small-time to only go to games against the bigger clubs (I not saying this applies to you) as it is almost like such fans are going to see the opposition rather than the Villa. Akin to when lower league fans only turn up when their team is drawn against an EPL team in the cup. I have always been of the opinion that it is this type of support against lesser teams that has contributed to our inconsistant home form over the years.

For the few games a season I and MVjunior have travelled up for, I have tended to pick the more winnable games. If only to keep MV junior interested. But the fact still remains that we haven't seen them win for 4 years. Even in the MON years we always seemed to select the shock losses or draws.

Tickets booked. On our past record that should kill any chance of a Villa win. Th club should be paying me not to attend.

[mattjpa]

Quite a few media men predicting a melted face win here, probably due to pure hope a they would enter as wa~~ing frenzy writing about the great escape on sunday morning. Im worried, no doubt, we just need luck to turn our way. Man City was a prime example, yes clarke messed up but i would say more than half of referees would have given a foul. Also, the penalty shout could have gone our way and its not inconceivable we could have landed 3 points from that and be pulling clear now.
If anyones on the fence about going down, get bloody down there! I would say pressure on the referee could be as vital as getting behind the team. This will come down to 1 or 2 big decisions.....

[Mister E]

If we concede early we're knacked.
VP's large pitch and the opposition's slightly more defensive approach don't suit our narrow style of play, which is why our home record is poor. As someone else said above, our set pieces are gash (floated corners, FFS!) and we give the ball away cheaply.
Draw.

[MonsXI]

I'm getting nervous about this one now, I beleive we can win just don't know if we will or not.

Is a draw a bad thing?

[maidstonevillain]

If we concede early we're knacked.
VP's large pitch and the opposition's slightly more defensive approach don't suit our narrow style of play, which is why our home record is poor. As someone else said above, our set pieces are gash (floated corners, FFS!) and we give the ball away cheaply.
Draw.

Where has this perception come from that Villa Park is a large pitch. It is one of the saller in the League, and apparently only West Ham is narrower.

[danlanza]

We will kick good old Harry's arse all over the place tomorrow. 3-1 Villa.

[N'ZMAV]

Depends on which Vlaar and Benteke turn up....

[eamonn]

If we concede early we're knacked.
VP's large pitch and the opposition's slightly more defensive approach don't suit our narrow style of play, which is why our home record is poor. As someone else said above, our set pieces are gash (floated corners, FFS!) and we give the ball away cheaply.
Draw.

Where has this perception come from that Villa Park is a large pitch. It is one of the saller in the League, and apparently only West Ham is narrower.

Are you sure? Stamford Bridge and Goodison can't be wider.