Dictatorial Villa?

[Malandro]

Excuse my ignorance but how many Lions Clubs are there? If the OS is saying the vast majority have signed up, but on here 7 haven't, I presume the total number must be quite high?

I was told last night by one of the rebels that there were around 200 but 60-odd were basically defunct (not his words). So around 95 per cent of the active ones signed.

Speaking to one of the steering committee over the weekend away, they were all consulted (but not very well by the look of it).  Some clubs decided to go with it, others didn't. I saw Alan Perrins get some nasty stick on Facebook yesterday. Whatever your thoughts on him, he has raised the profile of the Supporters Clubs in recent years. He doesn't deserve that kind of abuse.

I think that there is  a lot of six of one and half a dozen of the other here with both sides having valid points. There has been a bit of individual abuse that has been directed at certain individuals, that I think was the reasoning behind the clubs main criticism point.

Villa PR has scored an own goal with this issue, that could have been nipped in the bud much earlier. This is not a recent thing and I know for a fact that this was bubbling up from at least May this year.  When people like John Holder, Steve Gough and Mark Goodwin get marginalised, when it could well have been avoided, it is a bit sad to say the least.

It sounds like lack of thought more than anything else. But they should acknowledge it.

[dave.woodhall]

I can't help but think this wouldn't have been a story at a club that doesn't have the media sharks sensing blood.

[paul_e]

I can't help but think this wouldn't have been a story at a club that doesn't have the media sharks sensing blood.

I've made the same point on a few subjects, we're an easy target for bad news stories, the media love having a crisis club to report about and we fit the bill.

[Toronto Villa]

I agree. It's really no different to the Ian Taylor has been stripped naked and beaten to near death by Brian Doogan with a back issue of H&V to stop him from going to the US story. Or whatever it has manifested itself into today. The negativity, though much of it self inflicted is getting a little out of hand and every little story is being blown up because we're an easy target. Everything at Villa is depressed and shit because it makes more noise than the other way around.

[Dave Cooper please]

Have the chairmen of these clubs made the decision not to sign or did they canvass their members? After all, that's a lot of Villa fans now without an official Lions Club because of what may have been a rather...err...dictatorial decision by one person not to sign up.

However, it is the head of the Lions Club who is subjecting his personal internet activity to scrutiny, so maybe it's more onerous for them than the other members?

Yes I'm sure it is, but a head of a Lions Club surely has a duty to it's members before making a decision that, if it isn't solved quickly, effectively disbands their club, or at least means they no longer get the benefits of being affiliated to Aston Villa.
 A couple of the ones who haven't signed are apparently very popular with a lot of members.

[nodge]

How does not signing up affect AVST and why would they be viewed as a Lions Club?

[pauliewalnuts]

I agree. It's really no different to the Ian Taylor has been stripped naked and beaten to near death by Brian Doogan with a back issue of H&V to stop him from going to the US story. Or whatever it has manifested itself into today. The negativity, though much of it self inflicted is getting a little out of hand and every little story is being blown up because we're an easy target. Everything at Villa is depressed and shit because it makes more noise than the other way around.

Well, that and the fact that "good news" out of the club is rather thin on the ground, to say the least.

[Toronto Villa]

I agree. It's really no different to the Ian Taylor has been stripped naked and beaten to near death by Brian Doogan with a back issue of H&V to stop him from going to the US story. Or whatever it has manifested itself into today. The negativity, though much of it self inflicted is getting a little out of hand and every little story is being blown up because we're an easy target. Everything at Villa is depressed and shit because it makes more noise than the other way around.

Well, that and the fact that "good news" out of the club is rather thin on the ground, to say the least.

I think whatever good news the club generates is overwhelmed by a sense of resignation and cynicism right now. I don't blame anyone for it. None of that will really change until the takeover is completed and even thoguh it won't guarantee better days it will, initially at least be a reason for optimism.

[pauliewalnuts]

I honestly don't know if that's the case (the overwhelming bit) When was the last time we had any good news?

Benteke signing an extension this time last year?

I'm not about to start teetering on the edge of a cliff because it has all got too much, but if you wanted to point out a club which has had pretty much no good news in the last few years, then we'd be a good one to be pointed at.

The daft thing with this is that it's all so pointless and was avoidable.

Incidentally, I'd also suggest re media vultures circling that it's hardly Watergate. The Mail, the Torygraph and a handful of football sites nobody reads.

[dave.woodhall]

Good point. Even the original story in the Mail attracted three comments - two from Noses and one from the type who comments on everything.

[Dave]

I honestly don't know if that's the case (the overwhelming bit) When was the last time we had any good news?

Tuscans' post on the other part of the forum that Villa Park will be in Fifa 15?

Best Villa-related news of the summer so far I reckon.

[Toronto Villa]

it's hardly Watergate if you are a rational person. But then whoever said football fans are rational? They are among the most emotional and sometimes irrational of all sports fans and the smallest things are blown up. That's why on a handful of sites that nobody reads Ian Taylor, former Villa player, champion eater, and pimp of wireless headphones misses a preseason 2 game club trip and generates pages of grinding teeth at how low the club have sunk. In the grand scheme of things Villa related it doesn't matter, but then in the grand scheme of the world none of this really matters.

[Clampy]

Personally i think they should have left the 'don't speak out' bit or however it was meant to come across alone. I mean, who reads a Lions Club member's comments  on Facebook or Twitter apart from fellow Lions club members and friends?

[pauliewalnuts]

I honestly don't know if that's the case (the overwhelming bit) When was the last time we had any good news?

Tuscans' post on the other part of the forum that Villa Park will be in Fifa 15?

Best Villa-related news of the summer so far I reckon.

Yes! I saw that, about fucking time as well.

[pauliewalnuts]

Personally i think they should have left the 'don't speak out' bit or however it was meant to come across alone. I mean, who reads a Lions Club member's comments  on Facebook or Twitter apart from fellow Lions club members and friends?

The important bit is the crossover into their personal stuff. It was pretty all-encompassing.