Brigada Corner

[pauliewalnuts]

What's my problem ? It's an opinion is that allowed ?
Well the big mistake is the handling charge applied to ticket sales. Even cash sales.

The club had no say in having to apply a handling charge. I think they applied the minimum possible. It was all explained on the OS.

Well, that's not strictly true, given that they subsequently (and admirably) reversed the decision.

So there clearly was a choice there - apply it to cash sales, or don't apply it.

In the "bad" column, they introduced a risible charge in the first place. In the "good" column, they listened to complaints and got rid of it.

[danno]

In the "good" column, they listened to complaints and got rid of it.

A bit like Mcleish really.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I don't think I've ever seen a public apology for the McLeish appointment .

Can't remember exactly what was said but PF did say something along the lines of doing what they thought was best at the time but it went wrong and they had moved to put it right.
I'm sure someone can come up with the quote or whatever.
I took it as a not particulalrly well-veiled "oops, sorry!".
Apology?
UTV!

Although I gave the response I did, I took silhill's comment to be a bit of a joke!??

[LeeB]

I don't think I've ever seen a public apology for the McLeish appointment .

Can't remember exactly what was said but PF did say something along the lines of doing what they thought was best at the time but it went wrong and they had moved to put it right.
I'm sure someone can come up with the quote or whatever.
I took it as a not particulalrly well-veiled "oops, sorry!".
Apology?
UTV!

Although I gave the response I did, I took silhill's comment to be a bit of a joke!??

I did too. Who knows?

[silhillvilla]

I don't think I've ever seen a public apology for the McLeish appointment .

Why would you?

How many clubs have ever apologised for a managerial appointment?

Stoke City did after 7 games of Chris Kamara in charge. They described it as "a nightmare for all concerned"

[silhillvilla]

I don't think I've ever seen a public apology for the McLeish appointment .

Can't remember exactly what was said but PF did say something along the lines of doing what they thought was best at the time but it went wrong and they had moved to put it right.
I'm sure someone can come up with the quote or whatever.
I took it as a not particulalrly well-veiled "oops, sorry!".
Apology?
UTV!

Although I gave the response I did, I took silhill's comment to be a bit of a joke!??

I did too. Who knows?

Yes it was a bit tongue in cheek.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Why would the club ever issue an apology for appointing the wrong manager?  Should it extend to players as well?  How about office staff?

I don't get why some people expect a statement from the club on everything, get a grip.

As for meeting both ways I'm not sure what the club can do if Brigada insist on standing for 90minutes, that's not allowed, end of story, Brigada have to back down over it.  As for safe standing I'm sure anyone interested could contact the club to find out if there is anything the fans can do to help so if you're interested try making contact.  The club has made a clear commitment to the safe standing initiative so the fans need to show that it's something they want to push through, particularly groups like Brigada for whom such an area would be intended.

Surely the club is in a better position to glean the coordinated views and support of fans than numerous fans individually contacting the club to find out what's happening, if anything.
I will do my best to call in the next day or two and see what they say, if work allows.

[pauliewalnuts]

With McLeish, practically until the end of the season, I was absolutely convinced they'd stand by him and not sack him - much in the way they stood by Lambert last season.

I think that made the whole horrible season even more unpleasant, the feeling that this torture by boredom might go on for ages.

[silhillvilla]

With McLeish, practically until the end of the season, I was absolutely convinced they'd stand by him and not sack him - much in the way they stood by Lambert last season.

I think that made the whole horrible season even more unpleasant, the feeling that this torture by boredom might go on for ages.

No chance , McLeish's fate was sealed after the midweek home loss to Bolton. That's my opinion only of course.

[Dave Cooper please]

I'm not knocking the club in any way here, but do we have "plans" for working towards safe standing?
I know the club have been very public in expressing support for it, but I am genuinely unaware of any strategy that we can be a part of to help make it happen.
As LeeB says, dialogue with the fans, including Brigada, regarding this would be very welcome, especially in this current situation. I am aware of dialogue being held between the club and Brigada on previous occasions, but the more of us that can support the move for safe standing the better. It doesn't have to be a venture exclusive to involvement by the Brigada lads, if that is what they are after. 

I don't know if Villa have "plans" but they did openly express support and even went as far as showing a part of the ground they would like to use as an experiment and the type of collapsible seating that could be used.
 I know it shouldn't be exclusive to Brigada, but as I said, they are in a great position to exploit the club's apparent support for safe standing. It is made for the likes of Brigada. But instead they seem intent on confrontation rather than consultation. The heavy handed stewarding on Wednesday night could have been another way for them to open discussions rather than getting all anti-authority. Tell the club that they will (by and large) agree to not stand throughout the game as long as the club agree to meet and discuss a way forward.

[Dave Clark Five]

Send a threatening letter. That will get you banned, for sure.

And arrested, hopefully.

Pardon?

Anyone who sends a threatening letter to anyone, whatever the circumstance - and nobody seriously believes that's the case here - should be arrested.

Including Facebook / Twitter comments and what is posted on forums.

[amfy]

  As for safe standing I'm sure anyone interested could contact the club to find out if there is anything the fans can do to help so if you're interested try making contact.  The club has made a clear commitment to the safe standing initiative so the fans need to show that it's something they want to push through, particularly groups like Brigada for whom such an area would be intended.

I have been in touch, and will be meeting the club about how I/we can help to push safe standing through. Basically, they need clear evidence that the fans want it. The evidence that fans stand anyway is not admissible, because the authorities don't view that as a movement for safe standing, they view as a bunch of troublemakers refusing to do as they are told. (I need to emphasise that this is not a personal view of people who stand - a lot of the time I am one of them)
I have some ideas for canvassing, and have finally decided that I am going to give up some pre-match time to do it, even if it is just me. However, if any one is interested in working with me, the sooner we can get this done and the sooner I can go back to drinking. I have resisted doing this for ages because it is a disruption to my match day routine, but after Wednesday I did just reach the point where I thought that I can watch the atmosphere get progressively more docile season by season, or I can try to do something about it.......and I need to try.
I am thinking an hour or so pre-match, talking to people in your own stand about the law and the reasons why the club can't just let us stand now, and what safe standing looks like, and gathering supporters views (in a balanced way, not just the pro standing ones) We don't need a petition as there is already a generic safe standing petition online, and we would be petitioning the converted, the club want to move on this, they simply need evidence it is what we want. It would be more like canvassing, & getting an informed conversation going amongst the support. However, I'll know more after I've met up with the club and I'll get back to you. in the meantime it would be good to know whether anyone would help out, as it'd give me an idea what I'm up against. If my previous experience is anything to go by, it will be just me!

[Dave Cooper please]

  As for safe standing I'm sure anyone interested could contact the club to find out if there is anything the fans can do to help so if you're interested try making contact.  The club has made a clear commitment to the safe standing initiative so the fans need to show that it's something they want to push through, particularly groups like Brigada for whom such an area would be intended.

I have been in touch, and will be meeting the club about how I/we can help to push safe standing through. Basically, they need clear evidence that the fans want it. The evidence that fans stand anyway is not admissible, because the authorities don't view that as a movement for safe standing, they view as a bunch of troublemakers refusing to do as they are told. (I need to emphasise that this is not a personal view of people who stand - a lot of the time I am one of them)
I have some ideas for canvassing, and have finally decided that I am going to give up some pre-match time to do it, even if it is just me. However, if any one is interested in working with me, the sooner we can get this done and the sooner I can go back to drinking. I have resisted doing this for ages because it is a disruption to my match day routine, but after Wednesday I did just reach the point where I thought that I can watch the atmosphere get progressively more docile season by season, or I can try to do something about it.......and I need to try.
I am thinking an hour or so pre-match, talking to people in your own stand about the law and the reasons why the club can't just let us stand now, and what safe standing looks like, and gathering supporters views (in a balanced way, not just the pro standing ones) We don't need a petition as there is already a generic safe standing petition online, and we would be petitioning the converted, the club want to move on this, they simply need evidence it is what we want. It would be more like canvassing, & getting an informed conversation going amongst the support. However, I'll know more after I've met up with the club and I'll get back to you. in the meantime it would be good to know whether anyone would help out, as it'd give me an idea what I'm up against. If my previous experience is anything to go by, it will be just me!

New thread needed to take this out of the general Brigada discussions?

Good luck though, and if you don't get the support of the Brigada movement in this then one can only assume they don't want to talk to other fans and the club or they consider pre-match refreshments as more important.

There's a challenge for you Brigada! Amfy is your leader!

[UK Redsox]

I have been in touch, and will be meeting the club about how I/we can help to push safe standing through. Basically, they need clear evidence that the fans want it. The evidence that fans stand anyway is not admissible, because the authorities don't view that as a movement for safe standing, they view as a bunch of troublemakers refusing to do as they are told. (I need to emphasise that this is not a personal view of people who stand - a lot of the time I am one of them)
I have some ideas for canvassing, and have finally decided that I am going to give up some pre-match time to do it, even if it is just me. However, if any one is interested in working with me, the sooner we can get this done and the sooner I can go back to drinking. I have resisted doing this for ages because it is a disruption to my match day routine, but after Wednesday I did just reach the point where I thought that I can watch the atmosphere get progressively more docile season by season, or I can try to do something about it.......and I need to try.

I, for one, wish that clubs/stewards would enforce the all seated rule at away games

[danlanza]

Safe standing would be good, if the majority call for it.
The lower North would be a good place , as would a section in the lower Holte.
It seems to be very popular in Germany and it certainly increases the atmosphere in the ground.
There would be , i assume , a mountain of HSE work to be done before anything would be considered.
The last time i went to Man City a group of us were nearly ejected because of standing to much during the first half.
At half time i went and had a word with one of the stewards and asked him why they were so heavy handed, alongside the police as well by the way.
His answer was spot on and went something like this- " We do not mind standing so much if you are in the lower tier, but in the upper, the grade of the slope is to great for us to allow standing for any length of time. It is HSE rules and we have to abide by them or face huge fines and possible ground closure. This is not just aimed at football, but any concert, other meetings or large gatherings."
So there we go. Without massive ground re-development, only certain areas of our ground will be able to be used for safe standing areas. That rules out any upper tier area, because of the grade of the slope. I could see a very good argument for the lower North and possibly, the whole of the lower Holte, but again, season ticket holders have to be given the right to object if they are not in favor.
Lots to be done on this. Good luck amfy. If i were still living in the UK you would have my support and backing at every home game.