2014-15

[Clampy]

I think our support is pretty poor in comparison to clubs of a similar size, who have been infinetly less successful than we have over the past 50 years, such as Man City and Newcastle.

Really?

The truly staggering amount of dross that has been served up at Villa Park over the last few years and we still manage to regularly get crowds of over 35k. I'd say that was pretty remarkable support.

Taking 2000 up to Newcastle for a Sunday lunchtime live on TV is pretty good support in my opinion.

Yes it was, many fans having to get up at 6am on a Sunday morning. I know there were free coaches but it's still a fantastic effort.

[eastie]

The fans at this club are a huge asset to aston villa - the fans will be here long after randy, lambert and faulkner have gone - it is time for aston villa to give the fans a team worthy of this great club.

[danlanza]

The current regime is not capable of it though eastie.

[eastie]

The current regime is not capable of it though eastie.

Lambert is not capable of it , with the finances of around £20m per summer many managers would have assembled a better squad though and got players playing to a system that worked - he has had more than enough chances and still seems tactically inept - time to get rid and put Sid in charge until the summer and then bring in someone like koeman.

[Ads]

I think our support is pretty poor in comparison to clubs of a similar size, who have been infinetly less successful than we have over the past 50 years, such as Man City and Newcastle.

Really?

The truly staggering amount of dross that has been served up at Villa Park over the last few years and we still manage to regularly get crowds of over 35k. I'd say that was pretty remarkable support.

Well poor us ah? "The football is shite, its not fair Tom".

Put it into context; Newcastle recently averaged around 13000 more than that in the second division, Man City averaged that in the 3rd division just under 15 years ago, having spent the previous who knows how many years completely in the shadow of their neighbours. I wonder how fond they were of their football while they were sinking through the leagues?

We sit with so many advantages; we are located in one of the biggest urban conurbations in the UK, with an ability to draw support from several million people, with easy access to a few million more around that. We’re comfortably the biggest club for 80 to 100 miles in any direction, yet our home support has only ever been meh.   

 

[bertlambshank]

And yet what have got to show for it a nice stadium?

[PeterWithesShin]

City averaged 28K in division 3. They went 18 years without managing an average of 30K.

Newcastle were 43K in div 2.

[Ads]

City averaged 28K in division 3. They went 18 years without managing an average of 30K.

Newcastle were 43K in div 2.

The Gerodies managed to average more than our ground holds, despite being utter bobbins for large parts of the past 50 years. Man City pulled in just shy of 7k fans less than we currently manage. I accept that I hadn't accurately reported the figures, but I don't see how that changes the thrust of the argument.

[bertlambshank]

I can remember going to Geordie land,i don't think there was 20,000 there.

[danlanza]

The current regime is not capable of it though eastie.

Lambert is not capable of it , with the finances of around £20m per summer many managers would have assembled a better squad though and got players playing to a system that worked - he has had more than enough chances and still seems tactically inept - time to get rid and put Sid in charge until the summer and then bring in someone like koeman.

Not sure about Koeman tbh. But someone with a far better knowledge of the top flight game, be it from the Prem or other European leagues would be an advantage.

[PeterWithesShin]

The fact Newcastle fans were tied into multiple year season tickets probably helped. I can't remember the exact details but I was talking to a Newcastle fan at the time and he said their crowds were guaranteed to hold up well because of it.

[Ads]

I can remember going to Geordie land,i don't think there was 20,000 there.

25 years ago maybe, back when attendances were low everywhere. They've been there a while now though. Whether they capitalised on good Sky coverage or not, they have been packing out their place for 20 years, stuck by them through a relegation and had 50,000 turn up for an early kick-off after losing 4 on the bounce.

[PeterWithesShin]

City averaged 28K in division 3. They went 18 years without managing an average of 30K.

Newcastle were 43K in div 2.

The Gerodies managed to average more than our ground holds, despite being utter bobbins for large parts of the past 50 years. Man City pulled in just shy of 7k fans less than we currently manage. I accept that I hadn't accurately reported the figures, but I don't see how that changes the thrust of the argument.

And we averaged 4K more than City did when we were in Div 3.

[Ads]

And in between that time we had our most successful period as a club, we were relegated and what has happened since? Only once we have topped 40k on average in how many decades?

Lets be clear, my argument is that we're a much bigger and historically important club than Man City, but our home support is ordinary at best.

[danlanza]

Lets not forget that the city of Newcastle has only one team with a very large catchment area.
Birmingham on the other hand...................................Has only one team with a very large catchment area