The Crowd Effect.

[Ian.]

I don’t buy into this empty ground is helping us. Don’t we all dream of pulling on the shirt and running onto the pitch with the atmosphere from the crowd? I actually feel sorry for the new signings and not witness the joy of a packed Villa Park. Aren’t we just better now?

Yep.  Load of bollocks to blame the fans.

So you're suggesting that fans don't make a difference at games?

I'm not suggesting we're better now because there is no fans, I'm suggesting we're better because we are just that, we are much better now than last season. I would hazard a guess so is Risso.

That's the point I was making anyway.

[Sexual Ealing]

If having fans there makes a positive or negative difference, then surely not having them there has an impact?

[olaftab]

Yes not have fans makes a positive or negative difference

[eamonn]

Basically we're not needed so don't dare pretend that we are. Time we changed allegiance to another brand, Unilever and Kelloggs look kinda fun.

[kippaxvilla2]

Fans there - kick them up the arse or roar them on as the circumstances dictate.

Fans not there - players relax, less intense and lose focus and lose the game or relax so much they play their completely natural game and perform so much better by their ability shining through. 

I work in credit not psychology though.

[Hookeysmith]

I would love to be there watching us live right now - we have waited for this turn around for a lot of shit years and to be denied seeing it now is criminal

[CT]

I would love to be there watching us live right now - we have waited for this turn around for a lot of shit years and to be denied seeing it now is criminal

Same. I’m missing it hugely. I expect we’ll win the FA Cup this year too.

[Hookeysmith]

I would love to be there watching us live right now - we have waited for this turn around for a lot of shit years and to be denied seeing it now is criminal

Same. I’m missing it hugely. I expect we’ll win the FA Cup this year too.

That would be unbearable

[purpletrousers]

I would love to be there watching us live right now - we have waited for this turn around for a lot of shit years and to be denied seeing it now is criminal

Same. I’m missing it hugely. I expect we’ll win the FA Cup this year too.

That would be unbearable

Aye. I'd still take it though, first trophy and all that. Presuming we don't end top

[DrGonzo]

It's an interesting point that this season has seen more high scoring games than I can ever remember.  At the same time the empty grounds, if they benefit any players, should be positive from a defensive point of view as they allow for far easier communication.  Have defenders lost the ability to talk and organise as they used to?

[OCD]

Maybe without a crowd, games just take on more of a training ground session to them so they relax more. Whereas a crowd perhaps heightens player's sense of responsibility?

[brentastonb6]

Our home support has been fantastic since we were relegated although I accept  we can be the world’s best or the world’s Worst as the mood takes us. I certainly think an away trip to any of the previously deemed ‘tough’ fixtures such as Liverpool, Man Utd , Leeds etc are now just 11 v 11 on the pitch.

[algy]

Are other leagues (La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, ..) also seeing a notable increase in high scoring games?

Genuine question, I don't pay that much attention to competitions that Villa aren't in (well, maybe have a passing knowledge of whichever divisions Wrexham & Inverness are playing in at the time).