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Author Topic: Project B6  (Read 20342 times)

Offline JD

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #15 on: March 03, 2023, 09:15:20 AM »
Whenever sheer noise at Villa Park is mentioned I'm always transported back to the third division game against Bournemouth.  Just prior to George Curtis taking the free-kick from which Andy Lochhead scored there was a crescendo of Villa, Villa, Villa from every corner of the ground.  I think every man, woman and child joined in, we couldn't fail to score.  Barry Davis mentioned it in commentary.

Agree Dave. That's real noise and support.

Offline frankmosswasmyuncle

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #16 on: March 03, 2023, 09:16:15 AM »
Remember the roar that went 'round Wembley towards the end of the FA Cup semi against Liverpool? That wasn't planned or organised, it came from the soul of every Villa supporter in the ground inspired by the situation at the time and that's the sort of support I love to hear.


Still gives me goosebumps!!!



Ridiculously loud music at almost every away ground I visit absolutely pisses me off as it drowns out the fans' attempts at singing....the last thing I want is to have exactly that at every game at Villa Park!

Online Flamingo Lane

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #17 on: March 03, 2023, 09:25:55 AM »
I hate the constant noise build up to kick off. The ground is not allowed to find its voice because of this choreographed assault to the ear drums.
It’s small time and pathetic.

Add to that the music at the end. If I never hear Sweet Caroline again it will be too soon.ķ

Online Brend'Watkins

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #18 on: March 03, 2023, 09:34:48 AM »
I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere than we've witnessed. 12.30pm kick offs don't help either. 

Offline kipeye

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #19 on: March 03, 2023, 09:40:55 AM »
I'm with the sentiment-not sure I want to be a flag twirler though. Vocal support and copying trends are two very different things. It would very quickly become passé. I don't get down as much as I used to living too far away, but if the team plays well (not just if they're winning), I've found the atmosphere brilliant on most visits.
My suggestion would be to tap into the away fans for organising shows of support that are different each game. They will definitely come up with a lot of ideas and we won't be confined to flag shagging.

Offline boozey182

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #20 on: March 03, 2023, 09:49:11 AM »
Apologies for the length of this - I didn't intend for it to be so long:

The atmosphere at Villa has been on my mind for a while now. I sit towards the back of the Holte, so when people describe the atmosphere as “shit”, I have to admit that I take it a bit personally. I sit where the noise should come from, and so I have to take some responsibility if things are a bit flat.

However, I’ve sat in the same seat for 25 years or so, and I can’t say the atmosphere is discernibly worse now than it has been before. There are good games and bad games, as has always been the case - right? If you think back to pre-lockdown, in the first season back, we had the Everton home game which has become famous for the atmosphere. Then there was the Watford and Leicester games just before lockdown, where I can (mis?)remember the crowd carrying the team to victory - at least that’s how it felt at the time.

Since lockdown, everything has been a bit shit on the pitch - we saw the end of Dean, and then there was the failed Gerrard experiment. Despite that, though, the Man City game this season was great in terms of atmosphere, I thought, as was the Man United game under Emery.

Before the Leeds game, there was a lot of talk about the crowd - I think this was in the wake of Stevenage, and everyone was getting the blame for it from some people, including us. Anyway, I decided to try something - I made it my aim to be the last person singing for each song. (I am a pretty timid person in real life, but for some reason I am not self-conscious when in the Holte End). So I did it, and I feel like it did make a difference, if only in my little section (or even just in my little head?). We kept a few ‘Unai Emery’s Claret & Blue Army”’s going when they might have otherwise faded out. There is something incredibly satisfying about hearing a little ripple of people picking the song back up again - it’s genuinely thrilling. (I appreciate this is a slightly pathetic over-analysis of shouting at a football match). Did that have any impact on what happened on the pitch? I don't think there's any way of knowing for sure, but I guess most people would say that it didn't. I felt exhausted after the match, but like I had earned that win. It felt good, so I've tried to keep it up since. (I think we've lost every home game since...)

I guess my point, if I have one, is this: if you think the atmosphere is ”shit”, which seems to be an increasingly popular opinion these days, then you can do something. All it takes is standing up and signing, with the only risk being looking a bit odd. Don’t let a chant die, wherever you sit in the stadium.

I get what people are saying about what happens on the pitch dictates the atmosphere, and that the players should be able to put in a performance regardless of what the fans are doing. That is the cold, hard truth of the matter, and there isn’t anything I can say that can really undermine that position. If the atmosphere made that much of a difference, how come Man City win the league every year?

I still want to believe, though, that the crowd can have an impact on the performance, that despite the footballing world clearly moving on from giving a shit about the fans in the stadium, and that we are there purely to make a contribution the third-choice keeper’s wages for a couple of months of the year - that we do still matter. That we can help. Even a marginal gain is a gain.

I am desperate for Villa to win every single match. Desperate. If singing until I am hoarse makes even the tiniest difference to whether that happens or not, I am going to give it a try. Wasn’t there a shift in the amount of away victories during the lockdown period? Does that suggest home fans can make a difference? I don’t know.

And I know how I sound, believe me. This will almost definitely come across as a lecture on how to be a better fan - I really don’t mean it like that. I sit next to my 70-year-old dad for every match. He doesn’t sing. In fact, he gives off what one might describe as a ‘nervous energy’ at every game, pretty much regardless of the score. He’s in good health, but if the worst should happen any time soon, I’m pretty sure the cause of death would be listed as “Konsa playing it out from the back”. Anyway, I don’t think he is a ‘worse’ fan than me for not singing - he cares so much he is almost paralysed with fear for 90 minutes!

I guess this is more aimed at people who talk about the atmosphere being “shit” as if it’s someone else’s responsibility.

I have thought about writing something like this for a while now, but have hesitated because I know how I probably come across. On top of being a patronising bellend, I am also a sucker. The less the sport, the league and the club care about me, the more I try to help them, and pay an amount that is increasingly significant to me, and increasingly insignificant to them, in the process. But this morning I thought I’d write this because, like singing in the Holte, if it makes even the tiniest difference, then it will have been worth it - at worst, all that’s going to happen is that I’ll look like a dick in front of a load of strangers.

To wrestle this nonsense back on topic - I have a lot of respect for the people behind Project B6, because they are trying to make a difference, and I have no reason to suggest that they are doing it for any reason other than to help the club they love. It’s just such a difficult balancing act, though - for an organised group to generate an atmosphere in a natural way. The second it feels unnatural, it fails. It’s plastic. Artificial.

I’ll bring my scarf tomorrow. And I’ll bring a spare for my Dad. (should that be capitalised?)

Online LeeB

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #21 on: March 03, 2023, 09:49:30 AM »
If anyone comes near me with a drum in the Holte End, they'll be going home wearing it...

Too right

Online Chico Hamilton III

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #22 on: March 03, 2023, 09:52:02 AM »
I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere

Agree, it has been pretty good on the Holte this season. I was in the upper Trinity last season v Brentford and was told to “ calm down a bit” by a steward. I wasn’t swearing, I was in the back row so not obstructing anyone or even being mildly offensive. I was literally shouting encouragement to the players. My son will only go in the Holte now - or Lower North at a push. Seems a bit strange, Villa trying to engineer an atmosphere but clamping down when there’s genuine, spontaneous excitement in the stands

Offline Risso

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2023, 09:53:11 AM »
I think the best atmosphere at Villa Park this season was second half against Man City under he who shall not be mentioned. The players had a real go at it and we were unlucky not to win. It was just a constant wall of noise and support.

Online LeeB

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #24 on: March 03, 2023, 09:53:17 AM »
I think the Holte has been quite loud this season overall. Yes, it could be louder but it's largely determined by what happens on the pitch and to be fair our home form hasn't been that good or consistent to merit a better atmosphere

Agree, it has been pretty good on the Holte this season. I was in the upper Trinity last season v Brentford and was told to “ calm down a bit” by a steward. I wasn’t swearing, I was in the back row so not obstructing anyone or even being mildly offensive. I was literally shouting encouragement to the players. My son will only go in the Holte now - or Lower North at a push. Seems a bit strange, Villa trying to engineer an atmosphere but clamping down when there’s genuine, spontaneous excitement in the stands

We're on the back row of the North and they're forever coming up to tell us to sit down

Offline Project B6

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #25 on: March 03, 2023, 09:59:22 AM »
Atmosphere will always come from performances on the pitch but pre match fans can play a part to get the excitement up. Over the years we have had light tribute to Sir Graham Taylor, tribute to Ron Saunders, Martinez banner after the World Cup, Regis Tributes. The banners that adorn the back walls of upper and lower Holte. Ugo, Mings banners too. It’s not a case of a flash in the plan new idea. We’ve been trying for over 10 years. Tomorrow hopefully will be an improvement on Leicester with scarves! UTV


Offline pauliewalnuts

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #26 on: March 03, 2023, 10:00:50 AM »
I think it's good you're trying to improve the atmosphere.

You're talking to a demographic here with an average age of about 50, we'll moan about pretty much everything, so I wouldn't get too downhearted.

No fucking drums, mind. Ever.

Online LeeB

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #27 on: March 03, 2023, 10:02:00 AM »
I hate all that flags and stage managed display stuff, sorry mate. Fair play to you for getting off your arse and trying to do something though.

Online Brend'Watkins

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #28 on: March 03, 2023, 10:05:30 AM »
Pre match fans?  I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.

Online LeeB

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Re: Project B6
« Reply #29 on: March 03, 2023, 10:08:26 AM »
Pre match fans?  I'm definitely not one of those. If I get to my seat and the match hasn't just kicked off I've failed.

Could've squeezed another pint in, opportunity lost

 


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