villaboyjay

Anyone got a working link yet?

I have 4 links open, but none are yet showing any build up...

General Krulak here:

1. villaboyjay: I think you will discover that we do have a great program for the young...and it is currently being revamped to make it even better. Call Nicky Keye at the ticket office and she will give you all the particulars of the new program. It is really special. Additonally, thank you for your service in the Forces...I hope you know how much your sacrifice is admired by all of us at Villa. In asnwer to your question, members of the Forces DO get a discount...again, contact Nicky Keye and she will sort it for you. Finally, please contact Lee Preece at Villa Park re. the charity...he will definitely sort it. Both Randy and I are very eager to ensure that those who sacrifice on the front lines are taken care of when they get home. Lee can be contacted by going thru the Villa operator. Use my name when talking to lee.

Sir,

Thankyou very much for your quick response and the acknowledgment of our service personnel like myself.

I will get in touch with Lee and once the auction has been held, I will be sure to write a letter of thanks to him, which hopefully will reach you personally.

I will also post an update of monies raised from the auction in this thread, if that is ok with the VT Admin and Mods.

Thanks also for the info on the kids,

I also forgot to add that as a family club, and I know someone else has already mentioned it, but what does the club now offer for young children at the club.

Years ago, the club used to have a section in the match programme dedicated to kids and the opportunity to join a kids club type thing (forgive me as I can't remember what it was called!! Help anyone?) Little Villains?

As part of this club, kids received a small welcome pack and had the chance to be selected as a prize winner to be mascot for the day.

Will this return?

General I've just read about Randys' seven day trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq meeting the troops. My admiration for the man is boundless.

General,

Firstly the quote above is seconded by many in this thread and as a serving soldier myself, it fills me with great gratitude that Mr Lerner has taken time out to visit 'our' troops.

This brings me on to my second point, and I apologize if it sounds like begging...

As I have already mentioned, I am a serving soldier myself, having done 2 six month tours of Afghanistan and 1 in Iraq.

A lot of big companies offer discounts and concessions to Armed Forces personnel, many of these are listed in the Armed Forces Discount Brochure, I know speaking to some of our american soldiers that they are very well looked after in the sporting market in the USA regarding discounts.

I get to as many Villa matches as feasibly possible and when it doesn't conflict with my duties. Do you know if the club will be offering any discounts on ticket prices/merchandise etc etc?

Finally, I am currently heavily involved with arranging a charity football auction in aid of Help for Heroes. I wrote to ALL clubs within the football league kindly requesting club memorabilia (signed items/shirts/balls/pennants etc) which would be auctioned with all proceeds being split between Help for Heroes and the Army Benevolent Fund. I was very disappointed that my own club, whom I have supported for the past 37 years, through thick and thin, were not willing to offer anything and didn't even reply to my letter, whilst 75% of other clubs did.

I hope you are fully recovered and look forward to hearing your thoughts on my points above.

I have yet to see either the goals we scored or conceeded yet, but I think we all have to remember that this was a 'friendly' game.

As much as we would all like to see Villa run out clear 4-0, 5-0 winners, these friendlies are ideal opportunities to get the players match fit for the new season and to give some of the fringe players a chance to impress.

From the text commentary I 'watched', I am hoping that Bannan and, especially, Albrighton to kick on next season. Thye have both performed extremely well in the 2 friendlies so far and I hope to see more of them in the coming few months.

Also good to see Sidwell on the score sheet again and I personally think he deserves more games next season. Still worries at the back, but I am sure MON knows this and is persuing cover for the CB positions. Interesting to note, Cuellar had a very good game at RB last night and got forward a lot.

Not at all.....

I think we are in for another summer of pure speculation and nothing at the end of it...

Please prove me wrong MON

I think we will just finish behind Arsenal now, maybe 3-4 points off 4th place.

I really fancy us for 3rd..

We are playing badly and picking up points (ala Man Utd/Chelsea/Arsenal)...

We must buy this January though as with injuries and suspensions kicking in, it could unsettle the current nucleus of the side and we dont have sufficient replacements..

I wanted to say Ash, but without the mighty Laursen Villa may have crumbled in many a game.

i would give wee shaun a run out half way through the second half, they wont know whats hit them

I agree, he could be the key to unlocking their defence for Gabby or JC/Moore

I love Ridgewell....

I am scared...

If we can do what Carlton Cole was doing yesterday by knocking the ball on with Boa Morte and Bowyer run onto them then this game will be in the bag within the first half hour.

Carew's head -> Gabby's pace -> 1-0

Lets hope eh?

Carew should be beating any of their defenders in the air..

Come on villa...

'Football is not a matter of life or death... It is more important than that'

My quote for today..

Hi General,

I am a soldier serving in the British Army,

I am currently based down in Southampton and try to get to as many home games as feasibly possible (in between 3 month tours to Iraq and Afghanistan!!) ,despite it being a 340 mile round trip from Southampton to Birmingham and back

I would firstly like to thank you for revising the prices for tickets for us lads (and lasses) in the Armed Forces..

Secondly, and it is a big ask, a lot of companies offer Her Majesty's Forces 10% (or more) discount on merchandise in shops and online (only when producing an Armed Services Identification Card). Do Nike offer any discount for the Forces in the UK?, as I know they do a lot in the way of discount for American soldiers in the states..

Thanks for all the answers so far, hope you can find time to answer my question,

Kind regards,

Jay

My bet is still alive...

C'mon JPA, suprise us all with a goal..

i think you would have been better throwing your money down the toilet-chelsea must win tonight to keep the pressure on united,gareth barry is out & villas strikers are out of form-also chelsea will be fresher-bigger squad after the heavy xmas/new year programme.

You sure you are a Villa fan??

I have heard of some Villa fans being negative, but you take the biscuit on this one...

Feeling stupid already....

In this case i think those are very good odds but on the whole bookies really arent stupid.

So i voted for you!

Thanks.... :oops:

I just hope that for the sake of my bank account and the sake of villa's current league position that by 10pm tonight I have proved you all wrong...

Nice optimism.

But:

Gareth Barry is suspended, so that may hand the penalty taking duties back to Angel, should we get a penalty.

How is that going to help Angel get a goal? :winkold:

Funny...

Probably his best chance at hitting the onion bag at the moment...

But then again...

P.S...

I couldnt work out how to add a poll to this thread...

If one of you nice Admins or Mods could add one for me it would be appreciated..

1. Are the bookies stupid?

2. Or is Villaboyjay the foolish one?

BEFORE YOU VOTE IN THIS POLL, PLEASE READ AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FOLLOWING:

I have just popped in to my local Coral Bookmakers and placed the following bet......

Aston Villa to beat Chelsea 2-1 and Juan Pablo Angel to score the first goal of the game..

I have been given massive odds of 125/1 and I have placed a £10 bet on the above.

If this comes off, I will recieve back the sum of £1,260!!!

Now, am I foolish in taking such wonderful odds, that are higher than the ones that are currently about for Macclesfield to beat Chelsea?

My theory behind this bet is as follows:

1. Jose Mourinho has NEVER won at Villa Park with Chelsea

2. Chelsea have not beaten Villa at Villa Park in the Premiership since 1999

3. JP Angel may not be in form, but he is long overdue a goal

4. Gareth Barry is suspended, so that may hand the penalty taking duties back to Angel, should we get a penalty.

5. Villa are without a win in 9 games and will be wanting to delete that statistic.

6. Chelsea are conceeding goals easily with John Terry out injured.

7. Villa to beat Chelsea by 2-1 (or any score for that matter) is not to unrealistic.

So, my putting a tenner on my selection is surely not too bad a bet now is it?

For anyone that thinks I have got a good deal here, then pop to your local Corals and put a quid on the same bet. (will return you £126 for the sake of some loose change!!

Am I the foolish one or have the bookies really under-estimated Villa this time around?

I can't see why all 3 players can't fit in...

Leave Baros and SKP up front and have JPA working just behind them...

He tends to come looking for the ball anyway and has the skill and strength to hold, pass and move.

The McGregor Stand would get my vote.....

Solano by a mile.....he still has the ability to turn matches on their head.

I still find that his best performances are when he comes off the bench though.