Relegated

[HolmesyVilla]

don't forget the Church!

[Villatillidie1982]

Villa are bigger than Leeds, Forest and Wednesday but it could take a couple of years. If a plan for the future is not put into place it may take longer. The club seems to have just lurched from day to day in recent years with no forward planning. No youth policy and no proper transfer policy .

[john e]

At the moment the only 2 things that Aston Villa F.C have got that are any good are villa park and the fans. Next season we will still have Villa park and the fans so I will take that as my positive at this moment in time.

I love Villa Park but even that's being left behind what with all these new stadiums going up.

They'll never compare.

The walk up under the bridge, Burger vans, Aston Park on your left, the Holte Pub comes in to sight, behind it the Holte End and it's steps rising. It's changed a bit down the years but not beyond recognition and it's a walk you've done hundreds of times. Inside the ground, it still has character. It's not an oval named after a mega corp. It's not in the middle of nowhere next to toys r us. You can't nip for a frankie and benni's over the road afterwards. It's a football ground, in the middle of a community the way football was, not a tourist attraction set apart or on a retail park like just another ''business''.

You can't leave behind a ground like Villa Park.

Very well put

[Ian.]

At the moment the only 2 things that Aston Villa F.C have got that are any good are villa park and the fans. Next season we will still have Villa park and the fans so I will take that as my positive at this moment in time.

I love Villa Park but even that's being left behind what with all these new stadiums going up.

They'll never compare.

The walk up under the bridge, Burger vans, Aston Park on your left, the Holte Pub comes in to sight, behind it the Holte End and it's steps rising. It's changed a bit down the years but not beyond recognition and it's a walk you've done hundreds of times. Inside the ground, it still has character. It's not an oval named after a mega corp. It's not in the middle of nowhere next to toys r us. You can't nip for a frankie and benni's over the road afterwards. It's a football ground, in the middle of a community the way football was, not a tourist attraction set apart or on a retail park like just another ''business''.

You can't leave behind a ground like Villa Park.

Very well put

Indeed, brilliantly put

[Toronto Villa]

Villa Park is a magnificent traditional football stadium. As is Goodison. It will be a crying shame if either is replaced.

[Steve R]

Villa Park has held us back as a Premier League club, just as Goodison has held Everton back. However, as a second tier club we are probably better off not having a breathtaking stadium.

By the time we get back up, ridiculous TV money will have eroded the advantages a well appointed Stadium can offer. So maybe the Ansell principle has finally delivered.

[myf]

At the moment the only 2 things that Aston Villa F.C have got that are any good are villa park and the fans. Next season we will still have Villa park and the fans so I will take that as my positive at this moment in time.

I love Villa Park but even that's being left behind what with all these new stadiums going up.

Give me Villa Park than a soulless plastic new stadium anyday.

I agree. What we should have done was upgrade the stadium in the early days of Lerner's reign when there was a feel-good factor at the club. The North Stand should have been rebuilt and we might have attracted even more fans.

The North Stand does need re-doing at some point but I don't we are being left behind by new stadiums at all. It's adequate for where we've been, it's not as if we sell out every week.

I love VP but we are being left behind in terms of ground capacity and attendances

[myf]

Villa Park has held us back as a Premier League club, just as Goodison has held Everton back. However, as a second tier club we are probably better off not having a breathtaking stadium.

By the time we get back up, ridiculous TV money will have eroded the advantages a well appointed Stadium can offer. So maybe the Ansell principle has finally delivered.

How has it held us back? What a strange post.

[exigo]

How are we being left behind exactly? Leicester are currently winning the league in a 32k ground. The only team who can realistically catch them are playing in front of a full house of 36k.

[LukeJames]

This post has gone weird, in what way, shape or form is Villa Park bolding us back? What nonsense.

[myf]

How are we being left behind exactly? Leicester are currently winning the league in a 32k ground. The only team who can realistically catch them are playing in front of a full house of 36k.

Well spurs will be 60k soon, Liverpool too. Man city is now 50+. West ham 60k. Aren't Leicester expanding too?

VP  is being left behind as one of the traditional big grounds and our average attendance is about tenth in the prem.

[tomd2103]

How are we being left behind exactly? Leicester are currently winning the league in a 32k ground. The only team who can realistically catch them are playing in front of a full house of 36k.

Well spurs will be 60k soon, Liverpool too. Man city is now 50+. West ham 60k. Aren't Leicester expanding too?

VP  is being left behind as one of the traditional big grounds and our average attendance is about tenth in the prem.

Even when we've been doing well, we've very rarely sold out Villa Park, so what good would expanding to 50,000+ do?

[tomd2103]

Villa are bigger than Leeds, Forest and Wednesday but it could take a couple of years. If a plan for the future is not put into place it may take longer. The club seems to have just lurched from day to day in recent years with no forward planning. No youth policy and no proper transfer policy .

There has been a lot of talk of Leeds, Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, without the acknowledgement that a lot of those clubs have spent a considerable periods of their history outside the top flight.  We haven't.

[in exile]

Villa Park has held us back as a Premier League club...

What utter, utter bull shit

[class-of-82]

Goodson has held Everton back because of lack of corporate facilities but we have executive boxes on three sides of the ground
And don't start me off with those new Lego  land stadiums like man city and Arsenal which look great from the sky but zero atmosphere also west hams new ground which is basically a steel shell with seats inside and a conservatory around the outside.
Villa park gives me a tingle like no other ground does and not because it is my teams ground but because it is iconic and special.
If it ain't broke don't fix it