Next FAB meeting

[Paul.S]

Is it me or do they always come across as ‘sniffy’?

I'd go further and say actually confrontational.

At best, Sir Humphrey Appleby. Worst - take your pick, they certainly sound like these meetings are a waste of their time and who are these plebs to question them. Heck may have found an excuse to no longer attend the meetings but he is personally responsible for the tone of his team unless new COO Ben Hatton is some kind of narcissist.

I do wonder about the future of these meetings. The Club will probably hang on in there before the fans drop them completely. Nobody can accuse the Club of blowing smoke up the arse of the fans, I'll give them that.

I know Jon Fear gets a bad rap at times, but he's got the right idea in my opinion and told them that his group will have nothing more to do with the meetings.

Should I do that? It's a serious question.

My first reaction is no. Better to keep talking than not to but I haven’t been there so don’t know what the atmosphere is like.
If they come across as being interested in what the support thinks then that’s something to work on and develop.
Anything less then what’s the point?

[VillaTim]

I applaud anyone who takes the time , effort and commitment to go to these meetings . I'm not sure the club would lose any sleep if the fans walked away . They'd probably put a spin on it saying a bunch of militants were attending anyway. It's a tough one but I don't think the club see it as anything more than a tick box exercise sadly . They really don't care.

They have to hold them, under the new Premier League rules. I guess they don't have to pretend to care about any questions or points made though.

Ok I didn't realise that. I guess they see them as a complete inconvenience. Hence why Heck has sent a couple of his flunkies instead of attending himself.

[pauliewalnuts]

Should I do that? It's a serious question.

Completely up to you of course. It just sounds like there's a really confrontational edge to proceedings and the basic message coming out is they can do what they like. Under those circumstances it seems a bit pointless to me.

I think you should withdraw, Dave.

Let’s not forget - they do these things because the league forces them to, but there is zero real consultation.

My vote is to stop engaging. What’s the point?

[chrisw1]

From a write up elsewhere it sounds like the meeting was a lot more positive dialogue than the minutes make out.  Obviously Dave can give his own view on whether he felt the same.

As For your question Dave, only you can answer that.  I appreciate the work you all do getting over the fans views and also feeding back to us a bit more detail than we’d get otherwise.  I feel it’s worthwhile and it’s better having a dialogue than not, but obviously it’s your call on whether you think the club are being constructive enough to make it worth your (and everyone else’s) time.

[kippaxvilla2]

Someone called Scott should attend.  Then everyone could say ‘FAB Scott.’

[PeterWithesShin]

Steal as much stuff as you can when there. Half a dozen Villa pens will teach them!


Seriously it depends on whether you think it's worth your time or not. Sod what we think, it's your free time.

[pauliewalnuts]

Also - and this isn't a dig - I don't think I've ever first read the summary of a FAB meeting anywhere that isn't Villatalk.

I don't really see what's in it for us in any way - there's no actual consultation, there's no sense of willing involvement from the club, it's a diktat laid down by them, and we don't even read about it here first.

What's the point in Dave or any other representative wasting their time?

[Chris Harte]

Also - and this isn't a dig - I don't think I've ever first read the summary of a FAB meeting anywhere that isn't Villatalk.

I don't really see what's in it for us in any way - there's no actual consultation, there's no sense of willing involvement from the club, it's a diktat laid down by them, and we don't even read about it here first.

What's the point in Dave or any other representative wasting their time?

I've learned that capacity is going up to approx. 42,900 next season.
I've learned that I'll have to use a digital season card next season.
I've learned that a deal to buy all four CL home games as a package is unlikely to happen.
I've learned that where I sit I'll be getting rail seating.
I've learned that there seems to be almost no point being on the season card waiting list (luckily, I'm not).

All that said, I realise we'd learn about all of it eventually.

[Pat McMahon]

And for the love of god, what is GA?

[pauliewalnuts]

Here is a great example of what fucks me off about their attitude.

7. What is the club doing about the general state of the facilities in washrooms around the ground - who is responsible for this on matchdays and are they sufficiently staffed and empowered - for our last home game there were flooded urinals in both the Upper and Lower Holte from some time before kick-off. Also, the disabled toilets have been in poor condition.

As per item 4 in the main agenda “..we are looking to improve the environment for GA ticket holders in all stands..”.  We also have a programme of maintenance planned for the summer.

'As per item 4 in the main agenda “..we are looking to improve the environment for GA ticket holders in all stands"

Jesus Christ. We're not asking for marble floors in the toilets, we're asking to be able to go for a slash without wading through pools of piss.

These are 1980s level toilet facilities for people paying 65 quid a ticket.

They should be utterly ashamed of this, but it's "as we said before, we're trying to improve things for you pleb ticket holders".

That's absolutely disgraceful, and they barely try to hide it.

[Chris Harte]

And for the love of god, what is GA?

GA = General Admission, so Trinity, Lower/Upper Holte, etc.
GA+ = Lower Grounds and Terrace View.

[dave.woodhall]

And for the love of god, what is GA?

General admission. Your ticket. As opposed to GA+, which is stuff like Lower Grounds.

[pauliewalnuts]

And for the love of god, what is GA?

Game attendance. Your ticket. As opposed to GA+, which is stuff like Lower Grounds.

Game Attendance + Pick 'n Mix.

[jon collett]

Of course it’s up to you.

But what I would say is it’s been obvious for a while these aren’t two way conversations and it’s not doing what it says in the tin.

You’re far more intelligent than they are and have far greater knowledge of the Villa. It’s demeaning to you!

[Pat McMahon]

Thanks Chris, Dave n Paulie