terrytini

Long ball specialists ?

Even on the occassions we do it we certainly aren't special at it !!

Who the F/// wrote that ?

Good report- but it was a very well worked free kick !

We did look better with NRC on the right - an interesting development and not one I'd forseen.

Yes we do hoof it too much at present. Every time we get it down and play we look a far better side.

we did only have one on target 1st half but came close on a few other occassions, notably Gabby putting one millimetres wide.

I was staggered at the booing at half time - anyone here join in ? If so, any chance you could say why ? Apart from the obvious "it helps the oppostion etc" what on earth deserved boos ? it seems to be an increasing trend, at a lot of clubs, and at the Vila I find it both embarrasing and enraging.

It's bad enough letting people vote in elections without giving them even more say.

We really would be in the madhouse if we go down that road. Decisions dominated even more by the Newspaper Publisher with the biggest readership.

Agree with most of this - but how can we be "no more than average" yet play "tremendous" !

I think we are tremendous - but inconsistent...that's not average in my book.

Moore was u/s.

I think people are right about Barry - seems to have gone off - but in my view we/he was better when we had a sort of 5 in midfield - which I think MON was doing when he made his 2nd half subs, and until RC went off I thought it was beginning to pay off, I actually could see us getting a second and shoring up the mfield.

I hope he tries Maloney and Petrov with Osborne Barry and Young as a five / four behind Gabby.

I've thought Knight has done pretty well most the season, but agree he was at fault for all 3 goals in the first half- only good enough against the poorer teams. Still reckon we're MORE than 6 points better than last year tho' and top 6 will be ours !

Hello General

A couple of people have mentioned opening the ground earlier - can I add my vote - oddly over the last 8 or nine games it seems to be getting later and later (upper holte) - used to be about 1.15 but now it can be as late as 1.40.

All the Best

An 8 for Knight, otherwise I'd agree -

Agree with all of that report - we nearly slipped too far back again in the 2nd half but Maloneys work in the last 10mins was a joy to behold, like watching a ballet ! I'll never complain about the "run it in the corner " idea again. I think I'm right in saying we've never done that successfully before in 40 years !

And if you booed Petrov coming in - you are an eejit.

Hello General - (1) How about a lucky seat draw, win say £100, but draw it AFTER the final whistle, or at 90 minutes ? - Keep people in their seats longer ?

(2) How about a few benches around the walls of the Upper Holte and bar stools at the big windows ? - You see, looking out those windows for an hour and half before the game is my lifelong habit - but it's getting harder to stay on my feet that long as my joints age !!

Agree with every word of that report - other than the pre-match doubts ....keep telling you JC, be of good cheer , the good times are here !!

General Krulak here:

2. Unless you all are "expecting " Wembley, I do believe our eventual North End will absolutely blow you all away.

No General No !

Take that back for Gods sake - there are some on here who will ensure that comment comes back to haunt you. Whatever you build.

Just tell them it will be adequate.

Please.

How different we all are -

- I agree re Barry today, and am suprised at the compliments he's got in some quarters, he was okay, but I thought it his least influential performance for many months - seemed to be pretty sluggish..

- Yet disagree re Petrov - who I normally have a lot more time for than many on here, I think he will be a great player for us, and many of his contributions have been undervalued, but today, when so many thought he did well, I thought he was largely anonymous and offloaded responsibility to the back four too often

- and also disagree re Bouma, who I thought had a good solid game except for 1 cross.

Laursen was superb, and agree the salivating over Owen became more amusing as the game went on - 27 minutes and one pass I think.

Thought we looked better once Young went right, Barry left, and Moore up front with Gabby. I like Carew and expected the team to be set up how it was, but that Milan performance was with the team we fineshed with today - perhaps against a weaker Fulham side, and at home, we may start like it next week.

Still can't see why so gloomy generally Mr C !!

3. With 42,000+ folks at the game, the traffic pattern is never going to be perfect. I have waited 3 hours to get out of Old Trafford...we aren't alone when a full house arrives.

General - we all know more fans can mean delays - the length of time doesn't particularly bother me. It's the fact that there were no police at the junction stopping incoming traffic - this happens occassionally and is more often now. This is preventable, and is dangerous. My question was why no police ? Basically if it's up to the police whether they do traffic management I can complain to them, but if it's the clubs responsibility to request it does the request not always go out ?

Also, any info re the later and later opening times at the Holte end ?

Thank You

On matchday, this road is often made one-way, and the police at the top of Aston Hall Road give priority over the traffic lights to allow cars speedy exit away from the ground

Hello General and best wishes for all thats going on at the Villa.

I'd like to echo this comment about the lack of police. It has happened a couple of times recently. With the police at the junction I can leave the ground 5 minutes after the end, and by at the Motorway in another 10 minutes. Yesterday was nearly an hour, and as I say there's been others, In fact we only got out yesterday because 2 supporters took it on themselves to divert the trafic. Why no police ?

Second question - for years my son and I get in the upper Holte at between 1pm and 1.30pm, making a day of it (something I recall you were interested in expanding). But on Saturday we had to wait till one and a quarter hours till kick off - this is also something that has been happening a lot more recently. Any reason ? The earlier the better. (Oh, and do they have to chuck us out the ground so quick ? - I'd rather stay behind and have a cup of tea and watch a bit of Sky ?)

All the best

I'm suprised to say I don't disagree with much of that report.....although I don't share your reservations about the coming season.

You seem to accept, as I think most would, that Liverpool may finally be a force this year, yet are then pretty unforgiving about us. I am much more optimistic - it's took Benitez a few years (from a much higher base), and it will with us, but I don't think too many teams will show the quality Liverpool did at times, particularly Gerard and the cheating scouse git Carraggaaaarrrr.

As regards the players not knowing what to do, the same occurred last year against the big clubs - MON reckpons they lack the belief against them - I agree ,I think they all knew what to do (and what not to, ie the long balls to JC) but it went - slightly -out the window, as it did last year. It's not easy to correct that, you need a few breaks.against most other teams I don't think it'll be a problem , and in the past MON has given his teams that self belief. It will come.

What a breath of fresh air, positivity, and sense.

Thanks

4. Randy does NOT do cheerleaders.

But if he did, they'd probably be the best cheerleaders in the world...

Also there was that quote from Barry a couple of weeks back - the only time we've done that

Bellamy - definitely not wanted at scouseland, a pretty good scoring record (better than SWP and comparable to Defoe), and can play in a 5 man midfield with Ashley/Petrov/RC and Barry, or in a two up front with Carew - SWP is too similar to Ashley (and Maloney)

Surely the point is (1) we're after top quality, yet we're not perceived as top quality - hence players may n't be jumping straight in, and (2) it's known we need to spend and have the money, so clubs will be holding out for the maximum.

Problem 1 requires varied targets (and it wouldn't suprise me if the Club were responsible for floating some names to try and flush others out), and varied targets means not necessarily buying 2nd or 3rd choice, but keeping two or three pots boiling for each position.

Problem 2 requires a poker like stance, waiting till the last day if need be.

So whilst like others I can't wait to see what happens, I don't share the sense of disappointment, and certainly not the quite ridiculous panic expressed by some.

I also agree that 6 players may be more than we need - with Sorenson fit all year I believe we'd have made 6th, and 4 only joined over half way through. Also, if we're after quality, we need to be offering 1st team football, we're not a Man U who players will join to sit on the bench, and I would imagine that takes some doing if we buy 6 quality.

Theme from an unmade silent movie.

So many memories, and bring on next season.

There will never be a more Villa song.

Two little Boys and the Court of King Caractacus

Hi General - matchday experience - agree with the guy who said much revolves around beer ! My son and I always get to the (Upper) Holte early and read program, papers, comics whilst looking out the upper windows watching the throng and the last thing we need is extra people there boozing !

Probably too extreme but have you considered playing reserve/ youth team games before kick off ?

After the game is another issue though - why do we all have to leave the ground so quick?, why not open up the kiosks and put the highlights on , or the post match phone in from Radio WM or whatever - save us sitting in traffic....maybe a few seats and even some heating for the winter ? I don't think it's easy to extend the end and maybe this wouldn't do it for many people but that would be something.

Whatever you do or don't do, it's great that at least you're thinking about it.

Hello General and thanks to you all for an uplifting 9 months.

Questions

- People leaving early - it is such an atmosphere killer. There are many reasons why people do it, and some will never be changed, but how about the Club trying to impact on it (aside from the obvious answers of exciting football etc). I don't know how many ways this could be done, but for one example, a 'Prize Draw' each game only announced at the end and only collectable after the game ?

-Is anybody going to look into the 'crowd' acoustics ? I saw an earlier post from someone who said at the Sheffield game other family members couldn't hear the Holte..My son and I were in there and it was deafening, yet my Wife in the Doug Ellis said it was pretty quiet....By the way it's the same on TV, even when noisy the Holte comes across quiet.

And finally, this may sound daft, and mayn't be for you but I can't think where else to send it, (and I'd never forgicve myself if I didn't ask and something happened) at the Sheffield game the Upper Holte was shaking from the fans stamping and clapping at one point - I know safety checks are standard but given your description of the state of the Holte Inn and an earlier post re the Holte steps - are we safe up there ??!

Thanks again for all the many things you've already done.