the_bubble

General, Great few days for me as a Villa fan. Firstly the win against spuds, the lads did very well, should've been more and we showed we had the desire to win that game. Also, after all the flack he's had, Petrov is really showing his worth! Fair play to MoN for sticking by his man and giving a lot of us a big wedge of humble pie to eat. He really is a first class manager! Same to be said for Barry, worked hard on Monday night, and whatever happens to him, he is a Villa legend! Secondly, on a personal point of view, my chairman is a spuds fan, so had the customary bet, and even thoughs he's a wealthy man, felt good (and not at all guilty) taking his money off him on Tuesday morning! Thirdly, was in a sport shop in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and really pleased and proud to see amomgst the Manure, Arse and Liverplop shirts a rack of Villa tops! Only shame was they were last seasons. Good to see the merchandise is available 3,500miles away from VP, be better when we see our tops with Acorns on them alongside Barcelona tops with Unicef. Sure they'll be there soon.

General, You may have been asked these questions, and sorry if I'm repeating however, you have been with the Villa for just over two years now, what has been your favourite/most pleasing moment so far and what has been your least favourite? Also, having spent time in Brum, what's your impressions of our second city?

General, I like many other Villa fans feel extremely proud when we see our lads wearing the shirt with the Acorns name on the front, we are setting a good example to the other British clubs. Do you know if this same pride is felt by the players old and new? I know they do a lot for the hospices, but it'd be nice to know if they feel as proud to be wearing a shirt "advertising" a worthy cause rather than a corporate body. What has been their reaction if any?

General, I know it's been said a hundred times before by so many, but I am so proud to be a Villa fan! As if the way Randy, yourself, the board, MoN and everyone else, have run our club over the past 22 months is not enough, you go and lead by example again and bring the community back into football! I'm a season ticket holder, but for work reasons moved away from Birmingham to the UAE a week after the Blose derby at Villa Park (obviously a great last game for me and thanks for fantastic the send off!!). Have just spent the evening here in Abu Dhabi with some English guys who are football fans from all over the UK, and they couldn't stop talking about our sponsorship. Made me so proud again! I expect to be over here for a couple of years at least, but will still renew my season ticket for 3 reasons. Firstly, so I still get the same seat when I move back to Brum whenever that may be, secondly when I visit home, if it coincides with a game, I can go to the match, and thirdly, because of Seat Exchange, I can sell any unused tickets. The difference now is, rather than use the money for beer tokens here in the desert, I will follow our clubs lead and give it staright back to Acorns. You guys have made the fans proud, hopefully i can do my little bit and make you proud of us. If ever you and/or Randy visit the UAE and Abu Dhabi, please let me know and I would really like by you all a drink to share my appreciation of the fantastic way you are all running our club. I'm just baffled as to how you can keep on making us so proud! The Bubbe

General, I agree with the vast majority of people who have commented so far and think the season ticket prices for next season are more than fair. These increases, the first in a couple of years, are more than modest compared to the level of investment that has been going on at our club over the past 20 months. I am leaving the country this weekend to go and work in the UAE for a few years, but as I expect to return for a week or so every couple of months, I will definitely be renewing my season ticket. If I tell you when I'm coming back can you have a quite word with the people at the FA to make sure a home game is scheduled to coincide with my visits? :-) Obviously I will be missing the home game against Wigan, and Mellbergs last game, but I hope the club and the fans make him proud and show him how proud we are of him! Thanks General, I'm going to miss not seeing all the progress at Villa Park so regularly, but I'll check this site regularly to hear more about all the good work that is going on, and I'll do my best to spread the Aston Villa brand across the UAE!

General, I just want to echo what has been said on here many times already, and ask you to pass on my thanks to you, Randy, your fellow directors, MoN and the squad and everyone who has an input into the developments at our club for making me feel nothing but pride. Pride at the history being restored when I walked past the beautiful Holte Hotel, and then seeing the mosaics in all their Glory! Pride at the passion of our fans and their determination to make sure the 12th man was as effective as possible, and who are so obviously behind the team and the club. And finally, pride at the efforts of the men on the pitch, who fought from the start to the end, and showing that this meant as much to them as it did to us! It's this feeling of pride that has stopped me from gloating to all the blue noses I know (which is hard when your brother and best mate are both noses). I don't feel I need to gloat as I'm sure, because they saw what we saw yesterday, they are jealous as hell of us! God knows, if i was them I would be! If anyone ever asks why the club came up with the line "Proud History - Brigh Future" they only had to experience yesterday for the answer! Up The Villa!!

General, As a 36 year old life long Villa fan, I'm about to pop my "second city derby" cherry this Sunday! Can't wait! I have for days been getting all excited and nervous, and the past couple of results haven't helped with either the excitement or the nerves. Clearly you are a new fan, but have very quickly become an establised fan. We know you watch/listen to every game, get excited at every kick, are chuffed to bits when we win and feel the disappointment when we lose, but how are you feeling in the run up to this big game? Are you feeling the same as you would in the run up to any other game, or is the anticipation greater? Also, do you know any SHA fans from before you got involved with the Villa? And if so, is bragging rights over them as important to you as it is to us?

General, Thanks for the prompt reply about the flag. It's great that it's a fans idea, it's even better that the club listened to it and gave it back to the fans to choose the design! Can't wait to see it in all it's glory in 10 days!

General, Am a first time poster but a long time browser on this site, and firstly want to echo what has been said many times before - what the board and the management are achieving over the past 20 months is absolutely great and has moved the club on leaps and bounds. It gives me and loads of other Villa fans huge hope for the future (only without as much patience as yourselves :-)). What we are seeing week in week out in, around every facet of the club, is setting a standard that many will soon start following. What you do yourself by communicating on this and other boards is the envy of other fans. I speak to enough other fans around the country and tell them how we can communicate with you, ask you questions and even get swift, honest answers and they just can't believe it! I am suprised no other directors have followed your lead yet. You keep mentioning that this is the Villa family and you are just a part of it. As the saying goes, you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family, well obviuosly you can, and General, are we glad Randy and you chose us. (Just make sure you always pay the VAT man!) If I remember rightly, it was mentioned that the new big fans flag that will be past around the ground is due to be unveiled at a home game in April. As the only home game left in April is SHA, should we expect to see the flag then? Personally I think the flag would add to the atmosphere and whole match day experience, but can understand that the atmosphere for that particular game would be intense anyway, but still it would be a great day to unveil it! Thanks for listening!