Villa v Man City Post-Match Thread

[Luffbralion]

I rarely miss a home game but had to forego this one. Should have been going with a mate who has had health up and downs for a couple of years and has missed out on live sport. He has no particular allegiance but certainly a soft spot for Villa, who are followed by one of his sons.

Anyway I saw the match through his eyes via ongoing messages from the game. The atmosphere building up to the game, the splendour of Villa Park, the fascination with our (ultimately fruitful) tactics, the drama of Bailey's equaliser, the backing from the crowd.

It reminded me never to take these things for granted.

Utv

[UK Redsox]

It got a bit lively in my section immediately behind the away dugout.

Last season there was a tarped off row of seats but we're now back to there being no segregation between us and the away support staff.

After the Man City goal, one of their support staff turned round and started celebrating towards the crowd behind him.
Of course, he was responded to as expected

After the equaliser, he turned again, said something and was gestured at.

The Man City bouncer-type bloke then started joining in as well. They would not sit down as the game was about to restart.

Eventually a couple of our stewards arrived. The most irate supporter was (probably rightly) escorted out of the seats but the Man City people were not even spoken to.

When other supporters tried to point out that the whole thing had been instigated by a member of the Man City support staff, the steward made a hand sign suggesting that those complaining would have their seat numbers noted.

It's not exactly a very vocal area where I sit, certainly no singing/chanting (which is one of the reasons I like it there), so it takes a lot to set people off.

The Man City support staff and their minder were well out of order.

A return to at least one row of tarped off seats is needed

[UK Redsox]

Whilst thinking about cordoned off areas, there's one section of the central gents toilet in the LTR that's been covered with plastic and warning tape all season.

Added to the faulty taps, it doesn't look there was any pre-season inspection or maintenance done

[London Villan]

Bit more context on that incident - I spoke to a steward at the end of the game and they said the problems with the away staff sitting there has been reported to the club and that it needs to change.

The Villa fan was relocated after the incident not ejected, but he tapped the man city guy on the shoulder after our equaliser.

It's just too inflammatory, particularly when the away staff give it the "bug un" to the fans sat behind them.

[UK Redsox]

Thanks for the update LV. I was hoping that the bloke wasn't kicked out completely.

I didn't see the shoulder-tap. That is obviously wrong, but the kind of thing that's avoidable with a better layout.

I'm sure a few more fruity things were yelled at the Man City support staff bloke, but the worst I heard was "What do you do ? Do you make the tea?"

[London Villan]

Yep same from our side - there was something "hilarious" about him being a deliveroo driver because of the big insulated ruck-sack type thing he had on his back.

But even a should-tap isn't the end of the world - the guy was right sat in the row directly in front of him - so a tap and a bit of banter isn't terrible.

But for all involved they shouldn't be sat there.

[LeeB]

I sat behind the dugouts for a couple of seasons in the old stand, when Big Ron was in charge, the opposition got some stick but it was usually taken well. Remember Bruce Grobbelaar getting tremendous stick over his moustache from a few lads in that 4-2 humping on Deano's home debut.

[Villa Lew]

Dermot Gallagher on 'Ref Watch', has just said the ref was right to whistle, as Coutinho came back to get the ball, what a load of horlicks, it was in the same phase of play.

[London Villan]

So why has the ref apologised then?

[LeeB]

Dermot Gallagher on 'Ref Watch', has just said the ref was right to whistle, as Coutinho came back to get the ball, what a load of horlicks, it was in the same phase of play.

He couldn't be more wrong if he'd just stepped off a spaceship having never seen a human let alone a football match. And he earned a (very good) living doing this.

[eamonn]

And isn't Dermot Gallagher one of us or was that a lazy old myth?

[frank black]

And isn't Dermot Gallagher one of us or was that a lazy old myth?

Andre Marriner certainly is, not this guy? I don’t think

[dave shelley]

Can anyone recall Dermot Gallagher ever refereeing one of our games either home or away?  If not then that will give an indication as to his leanings.

[brontebilly]

And isn't Dermot Gallagher one of us or was that a lazy old myth?

He's Irish anyway, speaks in two very different dialects depending on his audience  😃

[Paul.S]

That’s why they’ve been told to keep the flag down and let VAR decide. The issue wasn’t the fact he got it wrong and he was onside but the fact he raised the flag before that phase of play was over.
He didn’t do that in the first half.