sellyoakvilla

I think he's more likely to be the new Agbonlahor than the new Yorke

There's something missing with the lad and I can't quite put my finger on it. He's got control, good feet, quick, can finish. Don't know why I don't rate him higher, but I don't.

He seems to lack a bit of urgency doesn't he? He doesn't exactly swan about like Berbatov but he has that kind if mentality I think.

Also he's always slow to react to passes and rebounds.

Still think he's deserving of a decent run upfront, though I can't see how it would come about. We already need to leave Heskey, Albrighton and Makoun/NRC out of the team so he's some way down the pecking order.

Same for me actually. I think he's a good player and a brilliant prospect but just how longer can he stay a prospect? He's got good vision and quick feet but his decision making is something that could be improved. Think he's a bit nervous. Either that or he's always caught in two minds as he's not the quickest to react to a pass.

I think it's the right move to send him out on loan and I'm just glad we're getting the replacement in Bradley for this season. I think we'll sign Bradley at the end of it, NRC will leave and we'll still have Ireland on the books for another chance - with half a season of games under his belt at Newcastle. It's a good move for all parties concerned.

crap draw! i wonder if Houllier will play his strongest team? not too confident whatever team we put out!

He's got to really, we've had a strong January transfer window and this will reflect on the game IMO - he'll play all of our new signings (bar Bent who is cup tied) and I'm confident we will get to the quarter finals.

Shit draw, but another away day. Would rather play Man City to be honest

Anyone know if there's any tickets left? Tried to get some online yesterday and couldn't...

All starting to take shape. I said it would take time. I scrapped that thought when we were in the relegation zone and thought it's not going to go work. Glad I seem to be so wrong and it is indeed finally falling into shape. Some of you have got great patient levels, I admire that!

I just think it's perspective to be honest mate, far too many football fans want to get rid of a manager if we lose a few in a row but it was never going to be an easy job stepping into this one after the way MON left... Houllier knew what he had to do and took the job on in the confidence that he would sort us out... so far so good in 2011.

anyone actually read his wikki entry in full. Doesn't make great reading TBH - His cup treble was very much a one off - rest his career is littered with big money flops, promises of 'turning the corner' - and fans unhappy with his negative style of play.

Jesus all you do is moan, give it a rest we've just won 3 in the trot and our last five games reads WDWWW... your obvious hate towards Houllier is just monotonous now, at least some people with balls are admitting that he might be the right man for the job afterall/is making serious improvement.

General Krulak here:

1). Lot's of comments on lowering ticket prices and I understand why that is...cost during the economic downturn, performance on the Pitch, etc. etc. At the same time, I have trouble getting my head around the fact that we ALREADY have some of the very lowest prices in the Premiership...we have actually had a period when we did not raise ticket prices due to the economy. We just spent a good deal of money to bring in some quality lads to the Squad and re-signed some of our other lads. We continue to invest around the Park to make the Fan experience better. Yet the cry is for lower ticket prices. At some point in time we all need to understand that NO Club, no matter how much money is associated with the owner, can just splash money around and, at the same time, lower ticket prices. None of us could run a business or a family budget following that formula. Randy DOES CARE about pricing and I think he has demonstrated that during the time of his ownership. At the same time, he isn't making pound notes in his basement. Re. Season Ticket holders....they remain THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY to attend games!!! We are very careful to ensure that remains a fact. Equally important, ST holders have the edge when we end up playing for silverware....as we saw last year. Rest assured we "run the numbers" all the time to get the right balance when it comes to attendance. Finally, we played ManCity the other day...a huge game against a top team...introducing two of our new signings...and couldn't get 40,000 at Villa Park. Lower ticket prices might look good but I am not sure it is the only solution.

General, I think you're missing the point in regards to ticket prices.

I am aware we have some of the lowest ticket prices in the league, but it is the cup games you need to think about. I'll keep using Brighton as an example and even Blackburn in the FA Cup last season... we had £10/5 anywhere in the ground and drew decent crowds, particularly against Brighton where we got just under 40k.

My season ticket is a great price for the value etc yes I am aware of that BUT why don't the club do cheaper cup tickets for season ticket holders?

I go on the Villa site almost every day and see these ticket offers for Fulham, Man City, etc. but never anything for season ticket holders. Yes there is the advantage for Wembley, away games and everything - I'm aware of that, but surely to offer a discount for STH to cup games means the majority of fans will come to the game?

Today we got 26,067. Pretty poor for a Saturday game if you ask me. I know the kick off time would have affected some but it's our 8th game against Blackburn in two years, do you not think the club should have put this as a main factor? Who wants to see Blackburn in every cup competition every season? I don't..

What about my early bird suggestion? Family cup tickets? There are plenty of ways to maximise attendance without actually taking too much of a hit in revenue...

Thanks

It says 'match reports p62-63' so there is going to be a report further in depth on those pages, no?

Four days!!! hahahaha

Don't worry they'll sell their allocation... it will go down to general sale but they will... I know a lot of people who I wasn't even aware of liking football until the other night... talk about coming out the woodwork

They're the biggest team in Birmingham because they got to Wembley, don't ya know.

I've got the HTC Desire, great phone. Huge selection of apps to choose from and probably the best phone I've ever had (beats crapberry hand down)

Go onto there ticketing web site and create an account then get the tickets delivered to your door!..

Roberts ya fathers brother!..

already tried, doesn't work

the two trinity upper wings are £10 adult / £5 child online offer if you are quick... just got mine there tonight

So So Modern - tidy little band

Holy shitballs... I've listened to all of 20 seconds and I'm already drooling. :shock:

EDIT: I'm up to about 3 minutes now and still drooling. :shock:

It's like a mathier (is that even a word? It sounded good when I made it up in my head) Japandroids.

and that my friend is why I'm the Editor of a music magazine :winkold:

Having to stay up all night just so I can work a 5pm-6am shift tomorrow night without falling asleep, grim

Thanks for the reply. Obviously you need to maintain a level of revenue without losing money but surely with the season we're having the club should lower prices to get as high an attendance as possible? I'm not talking lower prices completely so you'd lose out on money but if you are clever about it then you can still get a decent amount of fans in. Have the club ever thought about an 'early bird' ticket scheme for cups? Where if you buy your tickets within the first week of going on sale you get a certain amount off, say, £5. It would encourage fans to buy tickets early and therefore give a better forecast on attendances and you can see what areas you need to improve on. I know if a ticket was £15 but £10 in the 'early bird period' I would rush to get mine for £10.

Just an example... we get Blackburn (again) in the 3rd round of next year's FA Cup... the club decide to charge £15 for adult tickets and £10 for children. For the first week of sale if the tickets were lowered to £10 adult and £5 children, fans would have no excuse... that way you have the opportunity of offering cheaper tickets for a certain amount of time and there's still an opportunity of higher revenue after the first week of sales. Did the club think about a £25 family combo? 2 adults and 2 children in... getting 4 people in at a time then instead of one... just a thought!

I'm all for paying the prices set but this season when we've played Blackburn a million times over the past two seasons and we're having a poor season by all accounts I think it would have been better to take the hit, not that there would have been much of a hit if we had £10 adult tickets (26k at the average of £15 = £390,000, 40k at the average of £10 = £400,000). There are a lot of factors to take into account and of course there is the 1pm kick off time but as long as we can get the fans in then who am I to judge the ticket office !

Also would the club ever consider offering cheaper cup tickets for season ticket holders? I'm a bit fed up of seeing all these Premier League ticket offers for non season ticket holders - meaning our season tickets don't actually hold much value, when we don't get any money off for cup games for being valued supporters.

Have a good weekend.

Craigy Gardner is a blue, he hates Villa

Poor show if there wasn't any piss taking and songs about the shit IMO.

Eh??

Obviously we can sing about them but why do we need to sing even more about them, from the first 5 songs sung at home 4 out of the 5 are about them. We need to sing about our own players, so many players in our squad who deserve a song.

Hi General

Re: 26.7k at Blackburn - last season we played Brighton in the FA Cup and had near enough 40k in the ground as tickets were £5 child and £10 adult everywhere. What is the thought process behind £18 adult in Holte and £20 adult in Trinity? Surely if you want to pack the ground out and get as high attendance as possible you charge lower ticket price as it will balance itself out on a low attendance? Fans input is priceless to a game when an attendance could be boosted from 26k to 40k.

Thanks

Edit: Oh and I'm not sure I can afford £20 with all the away games I've been attending this season, nor can half of my mates. Would be more inclined to go if it was £10 or less. Personally I think it's a poor decision from the club.

We used to have 'Petrov, from the halfway line' but I guess that's not really relevant anymore....

Why is that not right? I was expecting lower than that.