The Big Interview

[Mister E]

I had a couple of Leeds fans taking the piss about a 60k stadium last night ... they think they are a shoe-in for promotion this season.

[ktvillan]

The difference with Citeh and Chelsea has been having an almost bottomless pit of money, ditto United from a different source.  We would have to do it more organically like Arsenal did and more recently Spurs - who were no better than us 6 years ago.  Everton are looking to do something similar with investment on the pitch and in a bigger stadium.  It will be interesting to see how they do in a smaller city if it comes off.   

[tomd2103]

If all the other stuff is true then they see Bruceand his signings as a short term answer to a short term problem. I would prefer us to start the engine now, rather than shoving it in the boot of a car, driving it to where you might start it and then realise there are teething problems with the engine.

That is the thing.  I understand the vision, but why not start it now?  Southampton and Swansea both implemented their 'blueprint' in what is now League One and it was an approach that took them to and has kept them in the top flight (though they might be in trouble this season).  There is a lot of talk in that interview about a new vibrant approach, but I just don't see how Bruce and some of the current players fit into that philosophy. 

I guess the iikes of Bruce, Terry, Whelan etc. are seen very much as short term options to get us up and we may see a different approach after that. 

[The Edge]

After year after year of falling out of love with modern foo£ball in general, on top of year after year of the club in particular that I love kicking me continually in the guts and completely and utterly taking away all hope and optimism it is good to have all of my faith now restored with the concept of the "Villa Engine". Thanks.

Can't decide if your being genuine or sarcastic

[robbo1874]

I had a couple of Leeds fans taking the piss about a 60k stadium last night ... they think they are a shoe-in for promotion this season.

leeds utd- oo are dey?

Idea for a milk marketing ad. Save a bit of cash and go with a proven formula.

[The Edge]

I had a couple of Leeds fans taking the piss about a 60k stadium last night ... they think they are a shoe-in for promotion this season.

They've been saying that for years. As for the 60,000 stadium idea tell them  bollocks! I'm convinced that a period of sustained success at Aston Villa would draw very big crowds. Personally I'd be happy with a redeveloped North Stand bringing the capacity closer to 50,000 with the option to expand  the Witton Lane stand. I think you'll have the last laugh over those cocky Leeds fans. How often do they fill that shit hole stadium of theirs?

[Des Little]

The only Villa Engine I'm interested in is the one being revved up by the African Car Reverser.

[oldhill_avfc]

Whatever we've been able to average crowd wise in the past is irrelevant.  To be a success in the future you need to both project the image of being a 'big club' and to have the finances to support it.  To that end you need to have both a stadium of 60k and to be able to fill it.  It's the board's job to find a way of doing it.

[ez]

If Dr Tony is serious about getting into the Champions League there may be an argument to redevelop the North Stand now before the crowds start flooding in.

[Jimbo]

In the coming decades, you might not need to be regular winners of silverware or be in the Champions League to sell out a 60k capacity stadium enough times a season against successful opposition to make it worth building.

You might only need a reasonable side able to put up a decent show against the top six or eight clubs in the country - clubs that pull in crowds of people who just want to see the stars of the Premier League on a fitting stage. For those matches unlikely to sell out, a section of the ground could be closed, just as we have closed off the upper Trinity for the Championship.

A mate of mine lives in London, but tickets for PL games in London were either too expensive or too scarce. He's not a massive fan of a particular team but likes football. So when Villa were in the PL, he would occasionally buy tickets to watch us against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, etc. He could always find a cheap train up here. The beer and food is cheaper than London. VP is a great ground. It's a day out for him. Well, it was.

When HS2 is ready, it will only increase options from the capital to Birmingham. And then there's the catchment area around the Midlands. And then there's tourists from China.

I wouldn't be surprised to see neutral areas at some PL grounds in the future, for people who come to enjoy the whole spectacle, to watch the opposing fans do their singing, to eat pies, wear half-and-half scarves, take selfies and enjoy the game whoever wins. If it's Villa Park, they might use the proposed facilities and attractions around the ground, visit a stately home, venture into the city, make a weekend of it?

I could be wrong, but I wonder if Dr Tony's thinking for the long term might be along these lines? 

[Des Little]

All this talk of 60k capacity and Champions League is great, but I dream of a VP where you can get a pint at half time without having to start queuing on 35 minutes and actually get served before the teams re-appear.  I live in hope.

[tomd2103]

In the coming decades, you might not need to be regular winners of silverware or be in the Champions League to sell out a 60k capacity stadium enough times a season against successful opposition to make it worth building.

You might only need a reasonable side able to put up a decent show against the top six or eight clubs in the country - clubs that pull in crowds of people who just want to see the stars of the Premier League on a fitting stage. For those matches unlikely to sell out, a section of the ground could be closed, just as we have closed off the upper Trinity for the Championship.

A mate of mine lives in London, but tickets for PL games in London were either too expensive or too scarce. He's not a massive fan of a particular team but likes football. So when Villa were in the PL, he would occasionally buy tickets to watch us against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, etc. He could always find a cheap train up here. The beer and food is cheaper than London. VP is a great ground. It's a day out for him. Well, it was.

When HS2 is ready, it will only increase options from the capital to Birmingham. And then there's the catchment area around the Midlands. And then there's tourists from China.

I wouldn't be surprised to see neutral areas at some PL grounds in the future, for people who come to enjoy the whole spectacle, to watch the opposing fans do their singing, to eat pies, wear half-and-half scarves, take selfies and enjoy the game whoever wins. If it's Villa Park, they might use the proposed facilities and attractions around the ground, visit a stately home, venture into the city, make a weekend of it?

I could be wrong, but I wonder if Dr Tony's thinking for the long term might be along these lines?

I think the opportunities in Birmingham were always part of his overall plan. 

[paul_e]

In the coming decades, you might not need to be regular winners of silverware or be in the Champions League to sell out a 60k capacity stadium enough times a season against successful opposition to make it worth building.

You might only need a reasonable side able to put up a decent show against the top six or eight clubs in the country - clubs that pull in crowds of people who just want to see the stars of the Premier League on a fitting stage. For those matches unlikely to sell out, a section of the ground could be closed, just as we have closed off the upper Trinity for the Championship.

A mate of mine lives in London, but tickets for PL games in London were either too expensive or too scarce. He's not a massive fan of a particular team but likes football. So when Villa were in the PL, he would occasionally buy tickets to watch us against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, etc. He could always find a cheap train up here. The beer and food is cheaper than London. VP is a great ground. It's a day out for him. Well, it was.

When HS2 is ready, it will only increase options from the capital to Birmingham. And then there's the catchment area around the Midlands. And then there's tourists from China.

I wouldn't be surprised to see neutral areas at some PL grounds in the future, for people who come to enjoy the whole spectacle, to watch the opposing fans do their singing, to eat pies, wear half-and-half scarves, take selfies and enjoy the game whoever wins. If it's Villa Park, they might use the proposed facilities and attractions around the ground, visit a stately home, venture into the city, make a weekend of it?

I could be wrong, but I wonder if Dr Tony's thinking for the long term might be along these lines? 

Like it or not I think the half and half scarf brigade are a necessity for clubs to reach the top end of the sport.  I remember reading something a couple of years back that was basically saying that when you account for merchandising and the package (all purchased from the club) a fan coming from somewhere like China to watch 1 game is worth more than a season ticket holder.

[dave.woodhall]

One of the things I learned hanging around street corners on matchday is that once a Villa Park crowd gets above 35k the number of Villa supporters doesnt go up much. 

[DB]

If Brum is confirmed as the Commonwealth Games city for 2022 (as today it was chosen for U.K. choice over Liverpool), will VP development be a required or will the board want it ready for the games? Anyone know?