At home but where is the comfort?

[pauliewalnuts]

If you take a look at Arsenal, their fans experienced 1 bad day at the office and came out of the ground wanting to sack Wenger, kill all his descendants and erase him from the clubs records, just because they'd lost the opening .

Not really.

That was about their continued failure to adequately replace their best players whilst sitting on a huge cash pile for several seasons, it wasn't just about that one game by any stretch.

[Clampy]

Spurs fans. Took a right hammering from AVB, because even with a record this season of 12 wins 2 draws and 1 defeat their support against Hull was appalling.

I had TalkSport on the other night and there were Spurs fans ringing up complaining about the style of the football and how bored they were. It was all a bit Chelsea really. They've spent a massive amount of money and it's gone to their heads.

[pauliewalnuts]

We were soundly beaten by Liverpool?

I thought we were.

Liverpool scored, then killed the game off. If we'd seen out an away win like that, we'd be justifiably proud.

Ultimately, we need to stop failing to win matches on such a regular basis. It is that simple.

Yes we played well at Chelsea, yes, we looked better against Spurs and Everton than we did last season, but still lost those games.

We are clearly not a rubbish side, but we need to start expressing this through points on the board on a more regular basis, because the "looked better than last year" thing when we lose will start to wear thin pretty soon.

[aj2k77]

If you take a look at Arsenal, their fans experienced 1 bad day at the office and came out of the ground wanting to sack Wenger, kill all his descendants and erase him from the clubs records, just because they'd lost the opening .

Not really.

That was about their continued failure to adequately replace their best players whilst sitting on a huge cash pile for several seasons, it wasn't just about that one game by any stretch.

It was the first game of the season though. They had no idea how the rest of the season was going to pan out, there was still weeks of the transfer window left and they were on the back of an incredible run from the end of the previous season.

Massive over reaction from the spoilt goon mob and as it panned out they signed one of the best players in the world, which the manager had said he was trying to and went and won 10 games in a row, they don't know patience.

So yeah i'd say they made themselves look absolute cocks.

[aj2k77]

Spurs fans. Took a right hammering from AVB, because even with a record this season of 12 wins 2 draws and 1 defeat their support against Hull was appalling.

I had TalkSport on the other night and there were Spurs fans ringing up complaining about the style of the football and how bored they were. It was all a bit Chelsea really. They've spent a massive amount of money and it's gone to their heads.

They've finished top 6, 6 times in 21 years and 4 of those have been the last 4 years. It's not like they're Arsenal.

[Ads]

Having one shot on goal in ninety minutes and defending your own 18 yard line for 55 of those 90 is not soundly beating somebody. Its verging between hanging on and grinding out.

[Ad@m]

Having one shot on goal in ninety minutes and defending your own 18 yard line for 55 of those 90 is not soundly beating somebody. Its verging between hanging on and grinding out.

Hanging on is a bit far fetched!  Grinding out is fair.  They didn't play well but then didn't need to.  We struggled to create anything as Toure (who I thought was the best player on the pitch that day) just swept everything up.

For the past 20 years football has increasingly moved away from the mentality than the people that go to matches are 'supporters' (providing funds to support their club) and has moved towards the fact that they are 'customers' (who are there to be sold to).  It's no surprise that in such a shift the demographic of the fanbase has changed and the expectations of the fans has changed.  After all, you get what you pay for, and if fans are being asked to pay more then it's no surprise they expect to get more.  The issue is more noticable the higher up the football food chain you go which is why you get the likes of AVB having a go at the Spurs fans' expectations.

That said, the players haven't massively changed.  They're still young lads in a highly competitive environment who's performance will be affected by how they're feeling.  So when the fans get on their backs it's no surprise the younger players suffer.  I don't think Villa fans are generally overly harsh but the likes of the booing at the end of the Everton game (which we could've easily won) was pathetic and counter-productive.

All the other things listed as potential factors are also relevant and, if fixed, would no doubt improve the fans attitude.  But I think we have a part to play in turning things around.

[supertom]

Patience is something of a lost virtue nowadays no matter where you are. It does get ridiculous. Utd fans have reacted like spoilt toddlers on the back of their start. Some of these people had spent a few years questioning Fergies ability to still do his job, any time he didn't walk away with the title.

In terms of ourselves, given how godawful it's been in recent years, I think we've been quite patient. We were actually fairly patient with McLeish to be fair. But it was so horrific from Feb onwards for him that there was no coming back with us. 

[PaulWinch again]

We were soundly beaten by Liverpool?

I thought we were.

Liverpool scored, then killed the game off. If we'd seen out an away win like that, we'd be justifiably proud.

Ultimately, we need to stop failing to win matches on such a regular basis. It is that simple.

Yes we played well at Chelsea, yes, we looked better against Spurs and Everton than we did last season, but still lost those games.

We are clearly not a rubbish side, but we need to start expressing this through points on the board on a more regular basis, because the "looked better than last year" thing when we lose will start to wear thin pretty soon.

Yep agreed, improvement of performance is one thing but without results it doesn't really matter. Also I think whilst we look a bit more solid, we don't look as threatening going forward. There are a few issues that need sorting, some of them can be dealt with within the current squad, but some require investment in the squad.

[edgysatsuma89]

In top flight football, are there any grounds which have great home fans anymore? I don't think we're any good, but I've thought that about the home team every away game I've been to. Virtually all are pretty silent until a home goal is scored, and some stay that way *cough* Old Trafford.

Which is why I love away games, the atmosphere is x100 better.

[ROBBO]

I think Villa supporters have always been willing to give managers and players a chance, if anything we're too nice.

[SoccerHQ]

I went to the Britannia last season and couldn't believe how much the crowd has changed from when they first came up, they were on Stoke's back since the first time Ryan Shotton had hopelessly hoofed the ball out for a goal kick.

Compare that to in 08/09 when as a newly promoted team they won 10/19 home games (so better than what we've achieved in the last 5 seasons) and it was a truly intimidating atmosphere.

Now it isn't and with them being a limited side they struggle to win.

[edgysatsuma89]

I think Villa supporters have always been willing to give managers and players a chance, if anything we're too nice.

I'm not so sure I agree with this personally. I think we have been patient with the current manager, definitely (and rightly, although my faith may be waining). But from my experiences we are a pretty quick set of fans to moan, I mean who would have wanted to have been Barry Bannan? Apart from the riches of course. I've only been a season ticket holder since MON left mind, so moaning is pretty understandable!

I think once we get going we're amazing, on a basis of when we take the lead (we need 4 goals for confidence now lol), I think we're one of the best.

[eastie]

Wouldn't mind seeing us clock up the stats that spurs have of 28 points from the last 33 at home , or man city who scored in every one of their last 54 home games - we need to find consistency at home in a good way.

[SoccerHQ]

That's beyond us really, in any case Spurs are better away. They won 11/19 at home last season and West Ham strolled to a win a few weeks back.

Everton are the model to copy, keep it tight and nick games. Don't think they've lost since Dec 29th.