Blues match police crowd management

[Pete]

I enjoy the atmosphere of derbys however hostile they become. And you're as safe as you allow yourself to be.

I didn't enjoy the hostility when a gang of their thugs broke my cheekbone before the away leg of the League Cup match in 1988 (I've had no feeling in that side of my face since). And I didn't think I was unsafe, just me and a friend, no colours, nowhere near the ground. They were just attacking random people.

[Fasth56]

Can't understand the need for the segregation, evidently they've taken over the corporate area and 2,000 are in the Holte.  Evidently they are feeling very aggrieved that they are getting less tickets for AV than they get for Rotherham, as if they'll take 2500 to Rotherham.

[Hookeysmith]

Can't understand the need for the segregation, evidently they've taken over the corporate area and 2,000 are in the Holte.  Evidently they are feeling very aggrieved that they are getting less tickets for AV than they get for Rotherham, as if they'll take 2500 to Rotherham.

They are lucky if the take that many to home games from the empty blue plastic seats I see on tv

[john e]

I enjoy the atmosphere of derbys however hostile they become. And you're as safe as you allow yourself to be.

I didn't enjoy the hostility when a gang of their thugs broke my cheekbone before the away leg of the League Cup match in 1988 (I've had no feeling in that side of my face since). And I didn't think I was unsafe, just me and a friend, no colours, nowhere near the ground. They were just attacking random people.

so in fairness because if it was no where near the ground it could still have happened even with all the extra security measures inside and around the stadium

[SoccerHQ]

Pretty sure after the 5-1 in 2008 I went out via the North stand exit round the back of Villa Village...first time I'd even realised there was an exit round there. It added another 5 minutes but was no big deal.

I also remember the infamous 03/03/03 walking under Witton Bridge at the same time as hundreds of their fans got off at the same time. Was a very uncomfortable few minutes with them singing their anti Villa songs which were then meet with bottles on Witton Lane.

It's not ideal but then where else could you realistically house their 2k and minimise disruption to the walk routes.

Only other thing I could think of is maybe give them Upper Trinity as a one off given we don't have season ticket holders up there as then you can park their coaches up Trinity lane and just have that as a special route for them while we have access to the other few stands.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Only other thing I could think of is maybe give them Upper Trinity as a one off given we don't have season ticket holders up there as then you can park their coaches up Trinity lane and just have that as a special route for them while we have access to the other few stands.

There's no way we'd put a away fans above our fans in a Derby again after the Albion QF.

[SoccerHQ]

Only other thing I could think of is maybe give them Upper Trinity as a one off given we don't have season ticket holders up there as then you can park their coaches up Trinity lane and just have that as a special route for them while we have access to the other few stands.

There's no way we'd put a away fans above our fans in a Derby again after the Albion QF.

Yes that's a fair point. Given they have 2k and Upper Trinity seems to hold 4k we could maybe just place them in the middle bit with plenty of netting over the front rows of seats. Mind you they'd probably be still lobbing stuff at their owners for sacking Rowett and appointing Zola!

[SashasGrandad]

The best solution to this problem is we play them off the park and add significantly to their negative goal difference, then have a bad day at Blackburn so they can get enough points to get ahead of them.

It is much easier for the police to manage the knuckle draggers if they are getting off the train in Bescot next season.

If that fails we will have to put with two more of their cup finals next season - but hopefully then we can leave them behind as we head back to the Prem.

[Chris Smith]

Well they have given considerable thought to that too, and some of the measures actually serve both purposes, but they aren't publicising their counter terrorism measures as that would just help terrorists to plan round them.

One of those measures is fairly obvious to anyone walking away from the ground towards the Expressway.

[PeterWithe]

An interesting debate, I've given it some thought and decided that a sparing portion of baked beans on a breakfast should be allowable.

quite frankly, I think you should be locked up and the key thrown away.

If you use one of those tins with both the beans and little sausages in you can save on washing up as well.

[robbo1874]

I've been out the country since 2006, so haven't been to VP for a while Chris. If it's in hand, then fair enough

[dave.woodhall]

You've been asked before - please keep this one on topic.

[Hookeysmith]

I suppose they could keep them lot in for 20-30 mins afterwards to allow regular fans to be away from the stadium and the only ones hanging around would be the pavement dancers who could be easily spotted by the Police

On a slight tangent - I really hope Dr Tony is there as I think the atmosphere will be a good one

[Ad@m]

I suppose they could keep them lot in for 20-30 mins afterwards to allow regular fans to be away from the stadium and the only ones hanging around would be the pavement dancers who could be easily spotted by the Police

Amfy's first post says they won't do that because the Blues fans will trash the stadium.

[Drummond]

I like the edge in and around the ground when we play them home and away, it's one of the elements which makes our derby one of the most fierce in the country and one neutrals want to watch. Make it a bubble fixture and you'll lose a lot of that and it becomes about as intimidating as Fulham v Chelsea or Liverpool v Everton.

You'll be saying you like Bono there too next.