So close, but never felt so far....

[russon]

I empathise with you completely NL and thank you for airing your views.

For me a relocation to Scotland made regular attendance impractical, but in truth I'd left the room already. Partly for some of the reasons listed in this thread but you can add the play acting, posturing and preening of players and coaches. I'm no rugby fan, I only watch the 6Nations, but each time I admire the respect given to the ref, the jumping straight back up when injured, the all round wholesome nature of it all.

My biggest gripe is how footballers feign injury at every turn, buying decisions from gullible refs, confronting officials nose to nose, you know the drill, but we barely criticise now because it's cemented as modus operandi. A flick in the face and they're down like a sack of potatoes, a slight trip and they're rolling over theatrically (Nakamba's), I won't list all the misdemeanours, you'll have your own pet hates I'm sure.

Then you've the coaches, performing like Christopher Biggins at the panto and treating the technical area boundary with utter disdain. They're like spoiled children, berating 4th officials, setting the tone for players to follow. Players and coaches are multi-millionaires, they couldn't give two hoots what we think of them in the main, only the likes of SJM give me much pleasure watching these days.

I bring my boys down to VP from Stonehaven, 800 mile round trip, 2-3 times a season and we enjoy our day out but I'd take some persuading getting a season ticket if I moved back down again. But....all of that said.....I know fine that I'll likely watch every game on TV that Villa are involved in from here to eternity, more out of compulsion/habit than enjoyment though.

[bill]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

No problem

[Beard82]

Football is escapism - a space where maybe your hopes and dreams could come true.

We all know they probably wont - but maybe - just maybe.

Now it just reflects the reality you're trying escape - you know you wont achieve what you dreamt of as a kid,  and you know its because the system is stacked against you. 

And you know youll have to spend a fortune for just taking part

[Beard82]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

no at all

[Nii Lamptey]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

Go for it Dave. Football is eating itself.

[ChicagoLion]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

I think it would be good to get this stuff out there, I am sure there are many many more who feel the same way.

[Mellin]

I've not spoken about this on here, but my last game was the Man City League Cup final. In my mind that was about three years ago, but have just realised it's nearly six. Wow. Ex-season ticket holder, seven trips to Wembley, followed away here and in Europe. Woke up one day and called it.

Should add a caveat here that I'm the kind of wanker who finds big money disgusting. If everyone in the world was comfortable, crack on, but misery driven by inequality is rife, so fuck off. I'm not on social media, don't feed the media outside of independents and am very selective with my bank (which you can't win with unfortunately). The Premier League is absolutely geared up for wealth extraction in every possible way, and they have attached themselves to our game to fleece us. They are just as bad as those listed. Customers who won't walk away due to emotional attachment? Perfect.

Tried to overlook it for years. Love the Villa too much, but the only indirect money I've put in over the last six years is a few beers when the game's on in the pub. Am I missing out on the community and collective benefits of following Villa? 100%. Do I regret making the decision considering the above, and how deeply I feel on these matters? Not for a second.

I have a nephew now who loves Villa, but his dad isn't too big on football, so that might pull me back in for a bit. I'm not going to deny him that over my own personal principles, but other than that...it can eat itself for all I care.

Gutted the Super League didn't happen. Was hoping for an implosion and rebuild. Maybe next time.

[wince]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

No problem from me

[Goldenballs]

I can see it from both sides.

I really think how this season ends will define how I feel in the immediate future. Miss out on champions league, have to sell best players to comply with some arbitrary rules, accept our place back in 'the chasing pack' and hope for the occasional cup win (or even one before I die would be nice please Villa) or Europa spot, while other teams can seemingly do whatever they want. Maybe end up looking back fondly at the couple of seasons where we really looked like we were going to kick on.

Having said that, I still love it. I've gone with the same few lads since school, we're all going through our lives at the same stages so now we're taking our young son's with us, and love watching them get excited, wearing their (fucking expensive) villa stuff, and playing together before the games.

Massive sliding doors moment next few months.

[Des Little]

The OP has said pretty much everything I’m feeling these days - ironically I’m also Upper Trinity, and have really noticed a massive upturn in day trippers/away fans up there this season…I think that the main reason is the obscene pricing (£70 for Leeds?!) rules out many average Villa fans, but is bearable to a tourist or the only chance that an away fan has of seeing the game. As much as I hate to say it, it would be interesting to see what the club would do with pricing if the wheels really came off and we returned to mid table (or worse).

Special mention must also go to VAR, and it’s shameless and almost blatant cheating - some if the offsides given against us are an insult to our intelligence, topped off by the moving of limbs in the published picture in the Chelsea game (which could be knocked up by a 10 year old) to convince us that it was legit.

It’s such a shame that seemingly so many of us feel the same at a time when we have the best manager we’ve had in decades, yet the Brasso feels as far out of reach as it ever has, thanks to PSR.  No wonder so many of us are calling time.

[Beard82]

I can see it from both sides.

I really think how this season ends will define how I feel in the immediate future. Miss out on champions league, have to sell best players to comply with some arbitrary rules, accept our place back in 'the chasing pack' and hope for the occasional cup win (or even one before I die would be nice please Villa) or Europa spot, while other teams can seemingly do whatever they want. Maybe end up looking back fondly at the couple of seasons where we really looked like we were going to kick on.

Having said that, I still love it. I've gone with the same few lads since school, we're all going through our lives at the same stages so now we're taking our young son's with us, and love watching them get excited, wearing their (fucking expensive) villa stuff, and playing together before the games.

Massive sliding doors moment next few months.

Your massively lucky - my biggest disapointment is I couldnt get either of my kids into sports.  Its always been such a big part of my life - and most of my social life has recolved around it in one form or another.  Dont get me wrong - there wonderful kids - but I would love nothing more than to sit next to them at the football or cricket

[tony scott]

I’ve followed the Villa since 1959, I never in my wildest dreams did I think we would win the European Cup, I think I’m in this till the lights go out. However the sense of detachment from the club has never felt greater,  we are we part of the 90 + percent of clubs who are considered cannon fodder to the SKY 6, this won’t change until the boring football we watch, loses popularity with the public, it will happen.

[Hillbilly]

I'd guess we're not the only ones feeling this. When you look at other historically big clubs like Everton, Sunderland, Leeds (ahem) we're all just background filler now. Knowing pre-Sky history I can't even imagine what it must be like for fans of Derby, Wolves, Huddersfield, Bolton, WBA etc who are ghosts of what they were and very unlikely to be resurrected.

I'm kinda thankful that I moved away at the turn of the century. The decision whether or not to cling on to actually going to matches was made for me.

[walsall villain]

I'd guess we're not the only ones feeling this. When you look at other historically big clubs like Everton, Sunderland, Leeds (ahem) we're all just background filler now. Knowing pre-Sky history I can't even imagine what it must be like for fans of Derby, Wolves, Huddersfield, Bolton, WBA etc who are ghosts of what they were and very unlikely to be resurrected.

I'm kinda thankful that I moved away at the turn of the century. The decision whether or not to cling on to actually going to matches was made for me.

I guess the answer is that we all live in hope. So the clubs you mentioned might never rise again but you never know. If you’d have told me during the Steve Bruce era that we would soon be competing in Europe and in the top 6 year on year I’d have laughed. Look at that lot over at Small Heath, hope on steroids.
You’ve only got to look at the attendances in the premier league, for all the things we don’t like about the modern game you can’t say it’s losing its popularity. In fact the opposite looks truer with teams, including us, expanding their capacities.

[Exeter 77]

Would anyone mind if a few of these posts were published to a wider audience?

OK with me