Chantwatch

[dave shelley]

I remember them and remember only racists joining in. Not everyone did. So I’ll be as pious as I like if you don’t mind.

X2.  Racism in the seventies (not just the seventies to be clear) was horrendous.  I used to look around me at the various people of different ethnicity and think what the hell have they done to deserve this?  Players notwithstanding obviously.  Terrible times, there was/is simply no excuse whatsoever.  I never joined in and I'm proud to say neither did my match-going mates.

[Risso]

Everyone has condemned the chant and rightly so but what I don't understand is I've seen loads of people say "I saw these lads singing this". So why did nobody tell them to stop? All it would have taken is one geezer to tell them to stop or to shut up a d they would have and wouldn't have done it again.

Yes, I'm sure a group of pissed up divs would have said "Oh yes actually, thanks for pointing out the error of our ways old bean.  Julian, let's pack it in, eh?"

These are a large group of very aggressive, pissed and probably coke fuelled arseholes, who don't give a toss about anybody near them, and who probably wouldn't think twice about giving somebody a good kicking for trying to interrupt their "fun".

[itmustbe_it is!]

The "master" line is new, I heard a version of the song on the concourse at Arsenal pre-game with "he eats his pasta" instead.
It wasn't being sung by 16 year olds , the group I heard singing it were at least 30.
Clearly the recent singers found what they thought was a better rhyme, I doubt they actually understood why it's offensive. Obviously they should but they aren't the type who looked like they paid a lot of attention at school, given they think the other lines of the song are somehow a compliment to his manhood.

I hate both the song and the rest of the cretinous behaviour on the concourse as kick off nears, and I like the idea of self-policing in theory, but although I'm a big bloke it's pretty obvious what the result would have been had someone like me tapped that group on the shoulder and suggested they refrain from their behaviour. Seen plenty occasions of Villa fighting Villa drunkenly over the years. However I'd like to think  that if others took up the cudgels then I'd back them up and hope it becomes generally the done thing.

For me travelling stewards with a big presence on the concourse is the way to self police this.

[QuintonVilla]

Everyone has condemned the chant and rightly so but what I don't understand is I've seen loads of people say "I saw these lads singing this". So why did nobody tell them to stop? All it would have taken is one geezer to tell them to stop or to shut up a d they would have and wouldn't have done it again.

Yes, I'm sure a group of pissed up divs would have said "Oh yes actually, thanks for pointing out the error of our ways old bean.  Julian, let's pack it in, eh?"

These are a large group of very aggressive, pissed and probably coke fuelled arseholes, who don't give a toss about anybody near them, and who probably wouldn't think twice about giving somebody a good kicking for trying to interrupt their "fun".

They were a bunch of kids and I can guarantee they're all front and would have shit themselves if some old head had told them to shut up and that it was out of order. Back in the day the older lads would have stopped that shit there and then but we now live in a society where people film things and then complain about them later.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

Everyone has condemned the chant and rightly so but what I don't understand is I've seen loads of people say "I saw these lads singing this". So why did nobody tell them to stop? All it would have taken is one geezer to tell them to stop or to shut up a d they would have and wouldn't have done it again.

Yes, I'm sure a group of pissed up divs would have said "Oh yes actually, thanks for pointing out the error of our ways old bean.  Julian, let's pack it in, eh?"

These are a large group of very aggressive, pissed and probably coke fuelled arseholes, who don't give a toss about anybody near them, and who probably wouldn't think twice about giving somebody a good kicking for trying to interrupt their "fun".

You beat me to it. I don't blame anyone for being intimidated in those circumstances, you never know what the response will be or who'll back you up in the heat of the moment. You're more likely to get your face smashed in. I applaud everyone who's condemned these idiots on social media, it's the size and weight of that outrage that leads to strong action and shows our fans in their true light.

[Axl Rose]

Everyone has condemned the chant and rightly so but what I don't understand is I've seen loads of people say "I saw these lads singing this". So why did nobody tell them to stop? All it would have taken is one geezer to tell them to stop or to shut up a d they would have and wouldn't have done it again.

Yes, I'm sure a group of pissed up divs would have said "Oh yes actually, thanks for pointing out the error of our ways old bean.  Julian, let's pack it in, eh?"

These are a large group of very aggressive, pissed and probably coke fuelled arseholes, who don't give a toss about anybody near them, and who probably wouldn't think twice about giving somebody a good kicking for trying to interrupt their "fun".

You beat me to it. I don't blame anyone for being intimidated in those circumstances, you never know what the response will be or who'll back you up in the heat of the moment. You're more likely to get your face smashed in. I applaud everyone who's condemned these idiots on social media, it's the size and weight of that outrage that leads to strong action and shows our fans in their true light.

Agreed. You just don't know what these twats are carrying or how they're going to react.

Best left to the police or security or anyone that has the stomach for a fight. Because that's what'll no doubt end up happening.

Quinton Villa, you're welcome to try your luck with them if it happens again. Please let us know how you get on.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

For me travelling stewards with a big presence on the concourse is the way to self police this.

Good idea.

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

Everyone has condemned the chant and rightly so but what I don't understand is I've seen loads of people say "I saw these lads singing this". So why did nobody tell them to stop? All it would have taken is one geezer to tell them to stop or to shut up a d they would have and wouldn't have done it again.

Yes, I'm sure a group of pissed up divs would have said "Oh yes actually, thanks for pointing out the error of our ways old bean.  Julian, let's pack it in, eh?"

These are a large group of very aggressive, pissed and probably coke fuelled arseholes, who don't give a toss about anybody near them, and who probably wouldn't think twice about giving somebody a good kicking for trying to interrupt their "fun".

They were a bunch of kids and I can guarantee they're all front and would have shit themselves if some old head had told them to shut up and that it was out of order. Back in the day the older lads would have stopped that shit there and then but we now live in a society where people film things and then complain about them later.

Rubbish, you can't guarantee that at all. There's as much chance they'll punch that old head, and then everyone gets involved and suddenly the story is Villa fans fighting each other. Piling in isn't often the best choice of action. We now live in a society where people filming things shows exactly why that's the case.

[Brassneck]

I would happily have said something - It's not the way I'm made to ignore that.

That doesn't mean to say I'd go in guns blazing I'd simply put my opinion across in a diplomatic way.  I'd put emphasis on the "we're all Villa" slant rather than the "shut the fuck up" approach.  I'm comfortable speaking to any Villa fans (I've spoken with enough over the years) to know when a situation is volatile or not. 

Most of the in fighting starts between pro and anti team/manager comments, usually when we're losing and everyone is frustrated.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

It's a fine thing for fans to be self policing but at 65 and 66 years of age I don't think there's much chance of my mate and I getting very far with the 30 or so pissed up teenagers who do what they do every away game.
Accompanying Villa stewards who get to know the regular away fans sounds like a darn fine plan!

[cdbearsfan]

I'm probably, just, short of being an "old head", but no way would I be wanting to challenge a group of twenty or thirty people. Good chance of a kicking at worst, and being made to feel very uncomfortable for the rest of the game at best. I don't see what the perpetrators being "kids" has to do with it. You're not going to take on thirty of them unless you're Rambo.

In any case, while I wasn't at Carrow Road, I was at Crewe. And plenty of people older than me were singing the racist song about Konsa. So it isn't just kids that are the problem.

I think these bellends know that what they're singing is offensive and are hoping somebody will challenge them as an excuse to have a go.

[chrisw1]

I'm probably, just, short of being an "old head", but no way would I be wanting to challenge a group of twenty or thirty people. Good chance of a kicking at worst, and being made to feel very uncomfortable for the rest of the game at best. I don't see what the perpetrators being "kids" has to do with it. You're not going to take on thirty of them unless you're Rambo.

In any case, while I wasn't at Carrow Road, I was at Crewe. And plenty of people older than me were singing the racist song about Konsa. So it isn't just kids that are the problem.

I think these bellends know that what they're singing is offensive and are hoping somebody will challenge them as an excuse to have a go.

I'm honestly not sure they do.  Certanly the Konsa song, they think the reference to his knob size is a compliment.  I suspect there's plenty of them who just don't think at all when it comes to songs like this.

Hopefully the clubs stance will make it pretty clear and if the carry on a few bans will follow.

[itbrvilla]

I'm probably, just, short of being an "old head", but no way would I be wanting to challenge a group of twenty or thirty people. Good chance of a kicking at worst, and being made to feel very uncomfortable for the rest of the game at best.

Important point given that one of our 'fans' slashed another fan across the face after a coach returned to Brum following an away game last season.

[cdbearsfan]

FFS.

[Brassneck]

People need to remember that this is inside the ground - The area will be heavily CCTV'd.  Nobody is going to get "a good kicking" and any confrontation would be quickly dealt with by stewards and/or police.

It is no problem if anyone doesn't want to intervene - That is their prerogative.  However, those who think it right to do so also have the same prerogative to do so.

I believe that I have the communication skills to speak to that group without things turning nasty - If I thought I was exposing myself to the risk of being slashed across the face or a good kicking, I would think twice (or more likely, not bother).