terrytini

Hey General !! I stayed late at work on Thursday to watch the match on a computer stream - when I got home I'd missed my tea !! I was gutted. Any chance of a free meal with MON and the fans ?? :winkold: Seriously what a great gesture that was. And in my view what a great decision in the first place. And can I say how great the stained glass looks, the Holte looks like a cathedrel now. Although just to prove what a dodgy business it is trying to improve things I have now had to abandon my age old routine of getting in the Upper Holte early and having a pie watching the fans coming in..still my lads happy he's been saying for years he'd rather get to our seats and watch the warming up. All the Best General.

Anorakky additional info - it is perfectly legal to sell food past its Best Before date -(except eggs which must be sold not later than 7 days before the Best Before date).. However if food has a Use By date it cannot be sold after this date (although it may be repacked with a later date with the packers permission). Must get out more ....

Hello General I hate to say it when so much good is being done at the Club but I have to agrree with those bemoaning the catering - we are in Upper Holte and despite being in early are regularly given either cold or overcooked food, and we are frequently wrongly charged - it is dreadful. Anyway my query is something I raised last year but now it's getting even worse. For Years my routine has been to get in the ground at 1.15 pm, or 1.25 at the latest, but we are now kept outside until nearly 1.45 (or its' equivalent, e.g. 2.45 on Sunday). This leadsd to a build up of fans outside the turnstiles, puts a pressure on catering (by creating a 'surge') and most importantly is ruining the way we've always spent the time before a game. You have stated several times the Club wants fans to spend longer in the stadium, yet for no apparent reason we now are getting in up to 1/2 hour later than historically. When I asked the Steward he said they have to wait for a call from the centre - all fair enough, but they have all day to get ready, and I can't understand why they can't simply open at the proper time. I hate to say it but the 'pre-match' time which has always been precious to me is now, with late entry and poor food, pretty much non-existent. Whilst the catering may be hard to fix, surely the opening times aren't ? Grateful for any help General. All the Best...

Yes I may have the dreaded 'rose coloured spectacles' on but what did MON do wrong ? Clearly Barry promised to do 4 years, then broke it. Then he promised to abide by a deadline, then broke it. Other than their early mutterings I'm not sure what Liverpool have done either. As far as I can see the problem is the Player. My only criticism of MON would be that he should have done with Barry what he did with Cahill and the rest, as soon as Barry said he wanted to go MON should have said he diodn't want him here. What really still staggers me is that at Reading a few days ago I was having to argue with 'Barry Cheering fans' that of all the players at the Club he merited it least, only to be told that they hoped it would change his mind !! Hell hath no fury like a footy fan scorned, and how scorned they have bben. What a reception the fella will get when back at VP. We did stand up to Liverpool, we did try and keep the player, but he ended up wanting to go. And that's all there is to it.

Hello General. Please, on behalf of those who are happy with the Club, don't fall into the trap of thinking that a few internet users represent "many fans".

Very Happy. Really can't see what the fuss is about. Great Manger, Great Owner, new season starting, Davies back, Great new Goalie worth at least 10 more points. Perhaps I'm helped by really not giving a toss what other Clubs do or who they sign, and perhaps I'm helped by my happiness not depending on whether we are likely to win anything/everything. (Although I do feel we are as likely as any Team outside the Top 3) Feel sorry for those who are unhappy, but despite this small Poll, there is clearly far more enthusiasm in the Real World, for Villa than at any time in my lifetime of 46 years. Including when we won the League.

Hello General Tranfers - Could I suggest a different angle ? Firstly let me make clear I am and have been a full on MON backer... I have a few Hundred posts on here and not one is critical or impatient with MON or the Club - I argued as recntly as last week that if MON hasn't identified , for example, a Right Back who he wants and will come, I still support him in not getting one. I am a MON 100% 'blind faith' loyalist.... YET.... Even I struggle to understand the whys and wherefores of our deficiencies. So how about the Club, or MON, giving us 'in the dark' folks a detailed - hypothetical if necessary - example of what exactly does go into securing a player these days ? If it's not just a question of offering enough money and wages, if it's not a question of being 'slow', if it's not a lack of clarity over who to buy, and if it's not the case that the Manager is overloaded - all of which I am completely prepared to accept, ..what is it ? We're all, or mostly, pretty clever people, but we're really in the dark about the process from initial interest to securing a transfer - it even confuses me about 'permission to speak/ tapping up' etc.. So how about someone giving us all a lowdown ?

Hello Again General.. thanks for replying as below.. I don't know if I'm missing the point General, or if you are ! What I am trying to say is I for one already WOULD prefer to stay in the Ground longer after the end of the game - without any incentives etc, (other than be able to have a cuppa and watch the TV for 15 minutes), yet at the Q & A session the Club said basically to the effect that as everybody left so quickly it didn't appear there was any 'demand' - yet how could there be when we have to leave ? Likewise before the game the doors now open much later than they did two years ago, yet I know you have said the Club would like fans in longer... Anyway, I'm sure there are more crucial things going on so I won't keep on ! Suffice to say if the doors are open longer at the beginning / end you may see people spending longer anyway .. As always, thanks for listening..

Hello General I think maybe you missed this in all the Barry stuff, so here goes again........ Thanks for listening..

Hello General hope you are well - On the Q & A for SCG 5 on the OS it is stated by the Club that fans leave "remarkably quickly" after a game. We have no choice !!!!!!! The Stewards throw us out within minutes of the final whistle. I've never understood why, particularly since you came to the Club I recall you saying you were looking at ways of getting fans to spend longer at the ground. Why not let us stay in, miss the traffic, put Sky Sports on and open a kiosk ?

Aside from the fact I trust MON in everything he does I also think Crouch would be a good buy. How many players at Euro 2008 are proven regular goalscorers ? How many in the Prem ? We aren't such a draw for players yet that we should be looking down on Crouch (!) as our 2nd/3rd/4th striker (after Carew). Indeed in a season where we could easily play 50 games all 4 could play regularly. And I actually think he could play with Carew - it would be different, but not impossible. Oh and a nice amusing article too thanks.

General - need any help ? Seriously, I - and I'm sure not a few others - would love the chance to volunteer and stay involved through the summer. I know you will have an army of employees but is there anything at all fans can do ? In any event, Thanks for another great season - the most enjoyable , when everything on and off the pitch is taken into account, I have ever had in 40 years of supporting the Villa.

Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. What happens these days at our club far exceeds the wildest fantasies I have had these last 40 odd years. Am I going to wake up soon and find this is all a dream ? Unbe..f**in leivable

General Congratulations on making it possible for any Adult to watch Top Class PL football for £5 per week from the North Stand. Incredible Value. (As is the Upper Holte where I will stay.)

Yes Yes Yes Absolutely Yes

The article retty much represents how I felt too, - about that match, not the season - although more emphasis on the rain sodden part wouldn't have been amiss - it was really really wet. Not at all sure he is saying the season has endeed tho' - more resignationabout our fate as regards MU. Two points though, which in a way could lead to a slightly brighter mood. 1. Never forget most other clubs feel the same way - they may not all lose as often, but all wish for the depth of quality MU have built up - it will never change, half the kids round here already supporrt them. 2. I dont envy Man U - top of the league, 4-0 up, title Holders, great players, and yet their fans were totally non plussed by it, like a person who has eaten only banquets no longer relishing good food. As I say to my son every time, one day we will beat them , and when we do we will enjoy it INFINITELY more than they do beating us .

Hello General. Could you please pass onto Chelsea my anger at the disgraceful behaviour of their players for over 5 minutes after the final whistle tonight. One Sub ran to the centre circle and made an obscene gesture, and then 2 players ran right to the Holte generally preening and gesturing in a way which incensed many. The Ref had gone, (should he have ?) and there were no Stewards or Police. I saw a gang of at least 20 Villa Fans so incensed they ran the entire length of the Trinity stand to get to the Tunnel , and I'm sorry to say if I were fitter I would have joined them. I am no prude and enjoy even hostile banter, but this was really out of order as well as being extremely ungracious. Where is the point in asking fans to behave if they are goaded by opposition players right under their noses ? That aside, a great night and despite losing there was plenty on view to be proud of and hopeful about.

Hello General I completed the online Transportation Survey recently and one of the questions was "What would make you come to the Game earlier and/or stay later". Well I'm a person who has always got there at opening time - but that is MORE difficult now than in previous years as - and I have raised this before - the gte opening time at the Holte has got progressively later and later. It's not a 'one-off', we regularly wait until 1.45 now where not so long ago we could be in by 1.20-1.25. So it seems odd the club are asking what would make us get there earlier ! As for staying later, a similar comment, namely that I always leave the ground at the latest possible moment, but it's never more than a couple of minutes after the final whistle because the stewards throw us out ! So again, it seems odd the Club would like us to spend more time there but make it impossible to do. And on a related issue, some months ago I suggested a few benches / bar stools in the upper holte for us oldies who like to get there early. You were going to look into it. Any news ? - I appreciate you are looking into 12,000 other things. All the best

Hello General, seems there is flexibility on genuine questions as long as it is criticising the Manager, so may I point out that those who claim to speak for"the majority" etc do no such thing. MON has my 100% support (as that is the only type of support worth giving) and that of every fan I speak to outside of these boards. People can ask whatever questions they like, as long as they are within the site guidelines. We don't censor any of them - The flexibility is universal. Blandy

It was great fun to be the side that got a point whilst playing awful - we always used to lose games like last nights and now we never do. Great fun to hear the lack of Benitez songs once we scored. Great fun listening to the phone in as one after another praised benitiz while complaining of his team selections. Great to see- again - that big money (year in and year out ) is no match for having the best manager, and yet more proof its what you get out of players that counts not how many you have or how much you spent. One downer, having been consistently in praise of Petrov and the player he can be, I finally started to think last night that the pace and power is too much for him without Barry nearby. Thinking afterwards tho' he was up against Gerrard and a £17 million rated (!) argentinian, so maybe I needn't worry after all.

Hello General A few quick ones ; 1. A while back I asked about having benches/seats around the wall of the Upper Holte concourse, and 'bar stools' under the big windows - for those oldies amongst us who get there early but could do with the odd rest. At the time you said you'd look into it..any news ? 2. Whats happening with the music for the teams coming out ? Most liked the old piano "Theme from unmade silent Movie", and most I know were also happy when we changed to Arcade Fire - but now it's changed again. A silly little point in one way but I think most would agree we should decided on something and stick with it. Which leads me on to.. 3. I know you know, but the P.A. announcements have gone from bad to worse - now completely inaudible in the Upper Holte. 4. As is the acoustics from the crowd singing - any chance of an Anfield style acoustic roof so our singing really resounds around the ground ? 5. Opening times - I've always got to the ground early, but it opens later and later these days and we get stuck outside - for a 3pm kick off it always used to open about 1pm, to 1.15pm, now it's more like 1.50. This is now a regular occurence, which I think is odd as I know the club liked the idea of fans making more of a day of it. And, sorry, but I have posted on here regularly supporting every single thing Randy and MON have done, never said one single negative comment, except once - yes you've guessed it. The Man U game has gone but I hope the Market Research people at the Club do a poll to discover at what price points (in the future) they can economically fill the ground for cup games, as they missed a trick here as so many have said. Notwithstanding any of that, can I again express my gratitude to you and Randy for giving us back our club to such an extent that it again plays a huge and positive part in my otherwise difficult and stressful life. All the best.

Hiya General 1 - Please - Do whatever it takes to change the Holte acoustics ! We were deafening, yet I know plenty who heard very little, and nothing came over on the TV later. 2 - I've mentioned this before but I think it slipped by - can't we hold some sort of "£100" Lucky Seat draw - at the end of the game for collection then or never - to keep more fans in their seats unil the end ? Other than that thanks to you , the Mighty Randy, and the rest for tranforming our club and with it our very lives !!

I already dont drink it - coz its aerated shitty water - does that count ? I'm also a commy.

She's Leaving - OMD

I enjoyed that report - pretty much agree with it all - except one major thing which seems to have gradually been gaining momentum in some quarters - we do not use the long ball excessively !! I agree that when we do we look less effective, but if you look at the stats we are in the bottom 6 in use of the long ball. I accept stats don't mean everything but it is simply the case that we use it at rare times tactically and at other times like other teams as a get out. Anyway, those 6 more points than last year are looking good so far....