Fan reaction to impending Relegation.

[Risso]

The fans in that video seem to be justificably pissed off that Lescott and Guzan were pissing about on the bench.  If Micah Richards put half as much effort into trying to stop the opposition scoring as he does getting involved in confrontations every other week we'd probably not be conceding as many soft goals as we are.

[Ads]

I think the "let's give some consideration to the players" ship has well and truly sailed for better or for worse.

This will now get quite ugly and things will get worse before they get better.  It might even prove to be the meltdown we had to have.

I'm not talking about giving consideration to the players, I'm talking about how we as fans can either try to play a part in turning it round, or make it worse. I don't even mind the idea of a protest although it's not really for me this time around, I just think the abuse the team are getting (and some of the poor support - e.g. adding 'We're fucking shit' to our limited repertoire of songs) isn't helping VILLA.

I was next to a fan at Everton who was actually trying to get 'We're fucking shit' going when we were singing the Villa Boys song relentlessly. When I asked how that was helping, he said that the 'making all the noise' song is an Albion song. I told him that lots of teams, not just Albion sing that song, but singing that Villa are fucking shit is very definitely an Albion song.

I did similar at Everton. Told some lads, quite loudly, that if theyou want to sing about how shit we are, they should stand on the Tilton. That they should show a little pride, because we're Aston Villa, not fucking g Walsall and no matter how bad the team is, there's no need for the unrelenting small timeness of signing anti-Villa songs.

It cracked a smile at Spurs at the end of the season  a couple back, mainly when singing about jesus Villa, but it's beyond the pale now.

Shut them up anyway.

[LTA]

That video is just horrendous and it's not going to help in the slightest.

Would like to think those fans have seen the video and realised what idiots it made them look.

Sadly, I expect not.

[Chico Hamilton III]

I was giving them stick yesterday,  along with most people around me.
We're down and out, they looked like  they didn't care and that's the one thing that most fans can't forgive.  It's not the fans' fault we're so shit.  In fact, there's a lot of clubs whose fans would have long ago given up watching their team. If the players don't like criticism they should get their heads out of their arses and try a bit.

[cdbearsfan]

Does anyone think a mass boycott of the Wycombe replay might get the message across to the owner, players and idiots running the club ?

A shocking crowd will at least hit them in the pocket. Plus it's better than being there booing the team !

I'm torn on it. After not seeing us win at home since September, it would be great to actually see us win for a change (which I think we will) but I'm getting sick to death of handing money over to them.

Wycombe deserve their share of a decent gate. A boycott would make very little difference to Villa but a huge financial kick in the balls for them.

So, I'll attend.

[Des Little]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.

Agreed also. Richards didn't need to go and face the fans, but he did. Guzan and Lescott, however should make some effort to apologise for their obvious disinterest. They won't though.

[BC54 VFC]

Does anyone think a mass boycott of the Wycombe replay might get the message across to the owner, players and idiots running the club ?

A shocking crowd will at least hit them in the pocket. Plus it's better than being there booing the team !

I'm torn on it. After not seeing us win at home since September, it would be great to actually see us win for a change (which I think we will) but I'm getting sick to death of handing money over to them.

Wycombe deserve their share of a decent gate. A boycott would make very little difference to Villa but a huge financial kick in the balls for them.

So, I'll attend.

That's a very good point. One of their trust directors, John Durben, approached my younger son and I outside the ground, pre-match, and we had a really good chat about the manner in which their Club is run. He said their chairman was praying for a draw, for this very reason.

[richard moore]

I was giving them stick yesterday,  along with most people around me.
We're down and out, they looked like  they didn't care and that's the one thing that most fans can't forgive.  It's not the fans' fault we're so shit.  In fact, there's a lot of clubs whose fans would have long ago given up watching their team. If the players don't like criticism they should get their heads out of their arses and try a bit.

Exactly my thoughts, very well put Chico

[richard moore]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.

And to the supporters, you could feel their pain and they were very measured

[German James]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.

A small bit of my faith in footballers' common decency has been restored by that. He didn't have to come out and talk to the fans like that - fair play to him.

[auntiesledd]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.

And to the supporters, you could feel their pain and they were very measured

Yes, that's a given (for most of us at least). I think those bunch of supporters represent the frustration of the vast majority of Villa fans far more than the guy(s) giving the extreme verbals in front of the team coach. I guess it just shows how we nearly all have limits on how we behave in these situations, but I can understand the plethora of reactions when folk bear witness to the utterly deplorable state of our club. Perhaps I'm getting old (which is true!), but I'm surprised it's taken as long as it has for supporters to vent their spleen. It's sure-as-hell been coming for a long time...

[David_Nab]

Apparently Guzan and Lescott spent the match seeing who could spit chewing gum closest to the pitch side , when fans complained to them they were told to fuck off.Richards then went to speak to the fans who clearly were not happy.

[Clark W Griswold]

I give Richards credit for that and also the fans were being reasonable.
You could just get that they were upset as they saw some players messing about.

I concur, CL. It was heartening to see that finally one highly paid Aston Villa employee had the decency to talk to a few supporters - rather than hiding. Fair play to the guy.

A small bit of my faith in footballers' common decency has been restored by that. He didn't have to come out and talk to the fans like that - fair play to him.

I agree too, and i actually thought overall he played quite well yesterday at right back and should stay in that position. I have a feeling he'll be one of the first out of the door at the end of the season mind, but you wouldnt really blame him.

[Toronto Villa]

Imagine a potential signing seeing that. Or an ex potential signing as they would quickly become.

[Bungle]

imagine landing a really good job, but then finding that you were struggling to get to grips with it.

Things that would help:
Coaching and guidance
Encouragement and support

Things that would not help:
Being shouted at verbally abused
Being continually told you are useless
Being paid a lot of money

The last point is there because there seems to be an idea that earning thousands of pounds means that they should somehow be able to rise above the abuse and still perform, but most human beings just aren't made like that. The levels of abuse being aimed at the team now simply are not helping. Not only because I imagine that many of them are playing on shredded nerves, but because being on the receiving end of that kind of abuse simply sends most people to their 'Fuck It' line.

Agree with the above.

Also respect to Micah for talking to the fans,  just a pity he was pulled away as the point was made about the "attititude" so he may not have heard.  Hopefully he did and may have a word in some ears.