What time will the players arrive before kick off?

[TaxDodger]

When I was a kid, which admittedly was 20 years ago, the players all used to arrive at different times in their individual cars and most would spend some time signing autographs and interacting with fans.

It's very sad that this generation of young Villa fans will never experience the thrill of obtaining Mark Kinsella and Oyvind Leonhardsen's autographs.

[RamboandBruno]

https://fb.watch/iMsE67wUTE/

That is piss poor.

Really, really poor. I've just described (on the accounts thread) how they do it at Man City. Absolute night and day in terms of fan interaction, we're light years behind.

Ive seen your other post Risso, and i get the structured enjoyment experience that forms part of the overall corporatisation of top end premier league football. I get that Villa need to vastly improve the ‘match day experience’ both for our benefit as supporters/consumers and the purposes of increasing revenue on match days, but also global brand. Ive moaned about simple things like the piss poor service before k/o and at half time in the Holte, slowly improving i have to say with the recent self service innovations.

But i have to say all that bollocks blue smoke as the players arrive, high fiving all the kids with wealthy enough parents to pay their entry into whatever pre match zone it is, feck that. Ive been to the Etihad when we first came back up, as part of a group from my sons local football team, the kids were Villa, WBA, Blues even Man United fans, we were placed in one of their home ends opposite the away (Villa fans). I told my lad before we went in to keep calm if we had a chance as we would be surrounded by Man City. Hilarious, half of them arrived late, left early. It was 0-0 at half time and i went to the concourse to get us a drink, Sterling scored a few mins into the second half, their ‘fans’ on the concourse, raised half a look and carried on their conversations in their hundreds if not thousands.

Before the game, we were sent to a pre match zone, where there were loads of activities for the kids, that was ok to be fair, but the whole exercise was to indoctrinate tourists into the Man City culture. At one point some of the staff, gathered a group of the lads from my kids footie team, and tried to set up a photo opp with them and the three trophies Man City had won the year before, to this day and even though my now 13 year old doesn’t remember it, he automatically without thinking, said ‘nah no thanks I’m Villa’, i was so fecking proud!!

That video clip of our lot rushing into the ground is rubbish. If a word could be had about paying respect to the supporters and especially the kids before each match and if all the other service issues could be sorted, including pre match stuff, that would be enough, without the razzmatazz and extra payments for some claret and blue smoke and carpet.

I do realise, im swimming against the tide here.

[LeeB]

I never had any interest in that kind of thing as a kid. Met a few players of the time at a Panini Swap Shop in the leisure centre in about '87 and got some autographs, but I was more interested in actuallly geeting the stickers I needed and unloading my 13 copies of Lee Sinnot.

[Neil Hawkes]

To be fair to the Manager & Team, I see it as a way to have the players focused on the job at hand, without any distractions in the build-up to the game.

It's surprising how easy it is for someone to lose their focus, when they are being adored by the multitude.

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

you can hardly do the man city grand entrance thing if you're anything less than top four. Doing the business away from home and then lose the next few at Villa Park the players would get slaughtered.
The investment needs to be on the pitch first. Quality players marquee signings high profile.
However that facebook video does seem to indicate a disconnect between players and the home support. The way they park the bus as a barrier so they can sneak in. Not right.

[Risso]

To be fair to the Manager & Team, I see it as a way to have the players focused on the job at hand, without any distractions in the build-up to the game.

It's surprising how easy it is for someone to lose their focus, when they are being adored by the multitude.

Ummmm, I'd say that's very unlikely, and doesn't seem to have unduly bothered Man City players. It only takes about a minute. I think the point is overall, even if Villa didn't do similar it wouldn't take much effort to make it lot nicer for fans in some way or other. The kids are queuing up anyway whatever the form, and they're obviously not there to have a go at the players.

[Clampy]

Well, it's been brought in for a reason (I'm sure it was by Gerrard) and I'm sure we're not the only club to do it. It's a shame and hopefully the club may think again.

[Neil Hawkes]

To be fair to the Manager & Team, I see it as a way to have the players focused on the job at hand, without any distractions in the build-up to the game.

It's surprising how easy it is for someone to lose their focus, when they are being adored by the multitude.

Ummmm, I'd say that's very unlikely, and doesn't seem to have unduly bothered Man City players. It only takes about a minute. I think the point is overall, even if Villa didn't do similar it wouldn't take much effort to make it lot nicer for fans in some way or other. The kids are queuing up anyway whatever the form, and they're obviously not there to have a go at the players.

It was posted somewhat tongue in cheek - but who knows what the club Psychologists have advised.

[Footy-Vill]

Does ayone know what time the players tend to arrive at VP before a 3pm KO? I'm taking my son and he's desperate to try to get some autographs. Let's hope it doesn't rain...

All the best. There's always an avenue of opportunity for selfie photos with them too given the right timing. Hope it all works out. (And the result!)
Up The Villa !

[Bad English]

Post only worth a yellow for me.

[Nev]

Gerrard certainly had them on a coach before home games. Emery has continued this and the players and staff also stay in a hotel before home games. When I say staff I don't mean the tea lady and the stewards. Obvs.

[SoccerHQ]

You’d be better off taking your lad up to Bodymoor Heath in the week ( if you can) . When my kids were younger they met lots of the players and had autographs ( all be it from a car window).

Think I last went to Bodymoor in 2009 when they still trained reasonably close to the entrance and car park but with all the redevelopment there I don't think that's been the case for a long time and another entrance has been created for the players so pretty remote chance of getting anything unless they still do competitions to meet players/manager.

Actually thought they just stayed at hotel the night before rather than driving in and getting a coach to go to Bodymoor which seems an odd way of doing things. Post match is probably better for autographs/selfies as they'll come out separately.

[SoccerHQ]

Gerrard certainly had them on a coach before home games. Emery has continued this and the players and staff also stay in a hotel before home games. When I say staff I don't mean the tea lady and the stewards. Obvs.

I remember years back a few of the London teams used to stay at New Hall Hotel before playing us, SHA and West Brom so given I live five minutes away used to go and get some autographs before they went on the bus (Arsenal always got a police escort if they were playing SHA).

Nowadays pretty much all the teams just stay up Broad Street. Was walking back from watching us play Spurs on NYD and the Reading coach was just unloading by the Hyatt with the grand total of no-one wanting Paul Ince's autograph as he walked into reception. Hopefully he had a good night's sleep to ease the pain!

[PeterWithesShin]

Everton used to stay at the Hagley Road Marriott.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

You’d be better off taking your lad up to Bodymoor Heath in the week ( if you can) . When my kids were younger they met lots of the players and had autographs ( all be it from a car window).

Think I last went to Bodymoor in 2009 when they still trained reasonably close to the entrance and car park but with all the redevelopment there I don't think that's been the case for a long time and another entrance has been created for the players so pretty remote chance of getting anything unless they still do competitions to meet players/manager.

That’s right, the main entrance used to be on Bodymoor Heath Rd, where it was no hassle to wait for the players to come and go but it moved a number of years ago and I believe security it a lot tighter now.
It was a few decades ago when I used to ride up there on my bike to get a glimpse of the players.