Raver50032

All, to draw a line under this thread (lock it now) - I have received the following reply from 'Tom' at Villa Park... -- Your email of 12th November has been forwarded to me, and I would also like to reiterate the Club’s apologies as mentioned in our 13th November reply to you. I tried to reach you on your mobile this morning but was unable to leave a voice message. With specific regard to your complaint, there does appear to have been a lapse in our pre-match restroom checks/quality control procedures over the past two matches – and we have since brought this to the attention of our cleaning contractor. Please be assured the Club has always prided itself on maintaining a very clean venue (despite its years!) – and this will remain as a top priority moving forward. Again, thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you have any further thoughts or concerns and would like to speak over the phone, please don’t hesitate to let me know. Very best regards, Tom -- Yay...

I don't read the sun on principle alone... How they have the 'neck' to campaign as the 'people's paper' and be a 'family friendly' paper, crusading against the most topical 'scumbag of the month,' and then having a Page 3 model every day with her tits out, and once famously including an advertisement for thongs designed for preteens. Yes... do your homework folks. When England played Germany in Euro 1996, they had a front page with a WW2 helmet on the front - likening the football match to war... WTF? No need for it. It's just 'kiss and tell sleeze journalism' - all the while pretending to be above the law. They just have their snouts in the trough. Like any other sensationalist red top. Back on topic, the Red Top has got a reaction from us all. It made us consider 'The Sun.' For now, he is a great player for US, as in Aston Villa. While he continues to produce, then he deserves a place in the team. He doesn't appear to have said 'Villa are bobbins and I think the club, it's fans and in fact the whole country is a bag of dead cats...' Lost in translation by an arrogant, probably London based Arsenal supporting journalist - with his snout in the trough. Nothing else to report, so let's have a dig at little old Aston Villa. He will be too good for us. That much is clear... I think my glass is a little fuller...

/\ If a referee made that face to a Chelsea player suffering from an inferiority complex, that would be racist that would...

Please feel free to interrupt lexicon. I don't mind... I said my piece and I stand by it... Following Villa does tend to leave one feeling as though one's glass is half empty to be fair... And looking around, the grass seems a lot greener for a number of other football teams. But I couldn't even think of becoming emotionally involved in another football club.

I agree... Right now, in ten years time, there is more chance of us being in League 1, than there is of us breaking into the Top 4.

Sorry to be a pedant - but the loss to Wimbledon actually occurred in 1992-93 season. We drew at home 1-1, wearing our lace up kit (which we only had in that season), and I believe it was Kevin Richardson who missed the penalty (in the heavy fog...) at Selhurst Park in the replay shoot out. For the record, even Aston Villa cannot fully remember the kit we had in 1992-93. The merchandise booklet from the shop shows it as a '1990' retro-kit. Even the club is denying it's own history. By a country mile, the kits Villa wore from 1990-92 and then 92-93 and 95-96 were the best kits in the league at the time.

He is a lovely player... We will miss him when he's gone...

Sometimes I have 'problems' getting started in a crowd - I thought it was just me. I don't like standing there in a row with it hanging out and waiting to start. I feel so awkward - do you look up at the ceiling? Do you look straight ahead at the 'Wow It's Huge' advert, or down into the urinal? And if you don't start within a few seconds, do you worry that people around you think you might be just enjoying having it out in public? And what do you do when you notice the guy next to you out of the corner of your eye... and you just know that the guy is blatently looking at your piece? Attending football is a stressful event. I sense a Dear Diedre letter coming on...

ROFL - sorry, but that was sooooo funny. Certainly, I will mention a number of the other faults mentioned in this thread to the Club now that they have provided me with an appropriate contact.

We lost to United, but I felt I saw a decent performance and got value for money. That's all I ask for as a paying customer. Of course, I would always love to see Villa win. We don't seem capable of winning ugly, last season told me that. Before the start of the game against United, I expected nothing. If you'd have offered me a 3-2 defeat before the game, I would have taken it. I mean, we always get beat by them - but please, let it not be a stuffing. So, I enjoyed watching us give them a good go, and taking a two goal lead. But even then, given history, you just knew how it was going to end, and so it ended that way. This time it wasn't Van Nistelpiss and Keane though. Yes, it was a disappointing result given the way the match went, but I didn't feel robbed of my money and passion, like I did in the corresponding fixture last season with that muppet in charge. If the performances and fight are there, but the results didn't manage to keep us up - for me, that is a sign that the club have failed, not the manager. He can only do so much with the players around him. Part of me thinks this club is being 'cloth cut' for life in the Championship within the next couple of seasons. It's just how I see it. Hell, we don't even put soap in the bogs... Look ahead, in 10 years time, where do you see us? There's more chance of us being in League 1, than there is of us breaking into the top 4... That, isn't Lambert's fault. Not entirely.

If we ship out Given - we will need a keeper. If we ship out Bent, we will need a striker. If we ship out the others on your list, the squad is bare enough to say we will need some sort of replacement. Simply put, any one of them leaving, will need to be replaced like for like in my opinion. We are a couple of injuries away from being a 'car crash plummet' over a cliff. If Joey Barton came to this club, I would boycott the stadium and return my season ticket. Sorry, the guy is a Mark 1 Nut Job and does not deserve to wear our beautiful club colours and sully our illustrious footballing name. Don't get me wrong, I am all for giving people a second chance, and sometimes, very rarely, a third chance. However, he's had more chances than a game of monopoly, and more chances than a certain Abba record. His wages must be pretty high too having been embraced by moneybags QPR. I do not really have another name for you as a midfield boss - but for me, Barton is like a dog's turd on the end of a sharp stick. Nasty on the outside, and even more dangerous on the inside. I am hoping that January is going to be of positive interest to us - and I would bank on there being a bit of movement if we are still so close to the bottom three.

I agree with you too on a lot of points. Down the years, my biggest connections have been with players like Spink, Cowans, McInally, Platt, Bosnich, McGrath, Yorke (treacherous word removed), Taylor, Merson, Milner, Laursen and Ashley Young. For the latter, I noticed that he tapped his United badge after the Holte had booed him for about the 50th time and I just called out something like, "Yeah, you can tap your badge... Loyal to United? You wouldn't know loyalty if it smacked you on the arse..." Then, after he cynically dived again for no reason and the Holte started branding him a cheat once more (which he is by the way...), I called out something like, "You used to cheat when you played for us as well..." which he did of course... and he used to kick the ball away and earn himself stupid yellow cards. Actually, with what he actually did for us, on balance, we probably miss him less than people like to think. Another, poisonous little journey man cheat. A little bit of talent, snapped up by a BIG club and after a promising start, seemed totally in the shade at Villa Park. On other players, I still have fond memories of Spink and Platt, and McGrath... but more recently, the players can go to hell. Platt was my first real 'favourite' player - being so proud when he scored THAT goal against Belgium. I **** loved him. Then there was Sir Ian Taylor - I nearly cried when he got his goal at Wembley in that 1996 league cup final. It was the stuff of dreams. Local boy, really did good. and he was a proper personality - really nice to talk to. Not a jumped up spoiled little tosser like Balotelli or some others I could mention in a very long tiresome list. It's just one element of a game that is 100% money oriented now and is a damaged product. The reason the ref seemed to side with United at the weekend was not solely because United were the bigger club in this instance - it's that the big clubs will just call the ref a racist if a decision goes against them. What the **** is happening to this game?

Maybe Lerner is a re-incarnation of Hitler, who started WW2 as there was no soap the bog... Cor blimey, a proper vicious circle...

Lambert Out? Crikey - are you Morpheous? It's only a small point, I know that - but when you start to let things go, before long, we'll all be in a Sty... And perish the thought of that... In my email to the club, I was toying with the idea of requesting that I be allowed into the ground (upon search) with my bar of Imperial Leather, or making use of some hidden 'soap token' contained within my season ticket welcome package... Like i said, it's a minor gripe... But through history, minor gripes like agreeing to let Germany have a little bit Poland on the promise that they won't take any more ground, sometimes have big ramifications.

I shall be writing to the club - For the second successive home match, the male toilets in the Lower Holte (Block L opposite the turnstile entrance) had no soap in the dispenser. At 2.45pm on the day of the first home match (Norwich), that is unbelievable. At 1700 on the day of the second home match (Manure), it is simply disgraceful. Please rectify immediately and implement a more robust checking strategy to your stadium facilities team. You must be in breach of so many health and safety corporate laws it is daft. -- Plea to other fans - remember, it's a no smoking stadium. The toilets are not for you to do that in there. Save your money and spend it on something more worthwhile... like beer or curried pies or something. I'm no snake in the grass so if you get caught, it most definitely won't have been me that said anything. But that is my plea to you, for the safety and well being of me, my friends and my family. Thanks

There were some fisticuffs in Witton lane after the final whistle too - with Manure fans obviously giving it large and Villa fans holding sore backsides (that's a metaphore, by the way). It got quite ugly for a small time. All of the piss-taking just reminded me why I despise Man U fans. Really horrible. All in front of kids too... You'd think that with some of the bad things to have happened to Manchester United through history that they would show a little respect - their fans certainly didn't seem to respect the 19th Minute. The same goes for Liverpool, the same 'innocent Liverpool' recently lauded, that screwed us over in European Football for 5 years due to some pointless riot in Brussells. Until we genuinely sell out at home, there will always be Top 4 Club infiltrators in our stands. And some Villa fans who only come out for the 'big games.' And that comment is not directed at you... I hope your step-son feels inclined to come to Villa Park again. When it's good, it's really good.

Ally McCoist? Give them an excuse to resurrect that skittish World Cup song from years ago...

Thanks for the responses... We're bound to win something in the next 15 years... Aren't we? When Yorke scored our third against Leeds in 1996, I turned to a youngster 'standing' with his dad in the aisle opposite and told him, 'Always remember this day...' I always said to myself that I'd be happy just to see Villa win a cup at Wembley in the flesh, just once in my lifetime. And I did... But like a Sith Lord, I wanted more... Dare I ask for more? My other team languish at the bottom of the Conference Premier... Grrrr... And there's the likely prospect of Citeh moaning because they can't get out of the group stages of the Champions League. Football polarisation.

Re- statue of Ron outside the Holte. Sorry, I can only see it being adorned with nose's scarves by the tw@s from the other side of the railway... Nice idea though, artist's impression anyone?

God, this thread has curdled... Big question for me is, does he like grown women who eat Magnums, or girls who like Mini-Miliks?

Yeah, the rinse and repeat nature of constantly selling our best players to the clubs that court them through the press the longest and hardest is really starting to rankle. Until that changes, we're forever destined to be little Aston Villa. Nice club with a nice name and sexy colours. Other than that, we might as well be called Aston Vanilla, as we're always getting licked... It ain't gonna change any time soon sadly, so we either put up with it as fans - and many of us will. Or we go and do something else with our money and watch the games on TV or Internet. I've said before, I have other interests away from football that guarentee me enjoyment. And whilst I am enjoying life under Lambert at the moment, there's no way I would stay a ST holder if we had to endure a long spell under something like Eck. Sorry, life's too short. Fair weather maybe, fickle, certainly. Sorry - but football ain't everything I have in my life and is certainly not the most important thing I care about. I have a team at home I need to look after...

Is anyone else able to corroborate my hypothesis that for major trophies, (League, European Chalices Of All Marks, League Cup and FA Cup) that we are currently in the longest run of years without a trophy? I believe this is the longest sustained run without us winning anything meaningful in our entire history... Would love to be proven wrong... And by the way, ridiculously off topic, but a little blood boiling - did anyone else notice on Sky Sports News last night, when they were realing off the list of trophies that 'Sir' Alex Ferguson had won with United, that amazingly, the 1996 league cup final was actually won my Manchester United? Have I shifted into a different universe? I was **** there! We beat Leeds 3-0 in the 1996 final - we came out to "Roll With It" on the PA system, and we all chanted for the elusive Brian Little to come out onto the pitch for an applause long after the players went down the tunnel. But no, Sky Sports News love fest with United, Chelsea (rocket polishers), Arsenal, Liverpool and now Citeh just continues unchallenged. Like the Yanks always changing history to suit themselves in Hollywood, Sky are now taking away our League Cup win. The best day of my life... after the birth of my daughter, getting married and the discovery of masturbation. Not all in that order... I appreciate that the glorious Mans Chest Hair United have won a whole gamut of trophies... But if Sky can't even get the details of their trophies correct in their stories, how can you have any faith that anything they tell you is genuine? Hmmm? Believe in better my arse... Fiddlesticks...

I've always been in the wrong place at the wrong time against United and Aresenal - so much so that I have never seen us beat United or Arsenal in the flesh... Only on TV... I have seen some commendable draws though... I often recall Zat Knight's late equaliser against the gunners a few seasons back when I think we came back from 2-0 down? Everyone has a famous five minutes and that goal is now legend. I can recall us taking a one goal lead against United courtesy of Alpay Ozalan. And United equalising way past midnight to deny us a draw. Of course, the Albrighton match under Ged was quite nice for a while. A very unusual feeling of being two goals up against United and on the cusp of finally getting that elusive VP win. But we threw it away lol... Late on... At least they didn't have Ruud Van Nistlepiss to totally wreck the day, like he did in the FA Cup that time. Yep, always in the wrong place at the wrong time when United and Arsenal come a cropper at Villa Park. On balance, I think we are more than worthy of a point against either of them this term. We're dicey, but we're not totally crap. CI - fair point. I will await the films with great interest though. Cinema really does need more SW films... and I have never been so addicted to a computer game than I am with Star Wars The Old Republic. Fine drama and helped me get through the tail end of the tenure of Eck last term.

Not a SW fan then Rigo? Fair do's... But that is my big reason for being optimistic right now... the prospect of enjoying cinema again and having the great hole in the market filled... Even more merhcandise to spend on... Morph - yeah, yeah, I know... a lot of people are bemoaning that Disney have taken over the reins on the SW franchise. If people can put the one-sided 'Darth Mickey' out of their minds for a second, other than an ageing Spielberg, there are no real safer hands than Disney for an epic creating franchise that Star Wars has become. They have a very good track record of making good, family friendly films. And though we want to see drama in Star Wars, it doesn't need to be blood, gore and bad language. I see enough of that working on the railway cheers. I think it will be great - and it is definitely great (after the storyline disasters of Episodes 1 and 2) that Lucas has finally handed over the franchise. Back on topic - great to see Villa beat a fellow struggler (Sunderland) for once. If we can grind out a point at home to United, which is possible, I think (hope) we will have found our bit of a point scoring run that will stand us in good stead. Doubt we can win at Main Road (Etihad or whatever) for a second time in a calender year, but I think we could do a job on Arsenal. It's about time we played them when they were not in form...

Happy Birthday Dean... Sorry... Ron... Well, you can't be overly romantic - he nearly cost us the European Cup when it was still a trophy for real, genuine CHAMPIONS... Not 4th place also rans clinging on desperately to UEFA's gluttonous gravy train. Oooh, I sound a little bitter and jealous. Well maybe I am. Happy Birthday to you Sir Ron, of Saunders... and B6. Not that other place on the other side of the railway.