Raver50032

quote] i have an image in my mind what a buggering stick looks like!

would anyone say we are back in for fourth if spurs loose and we win?

Hmmm - good question. Today is Bolton.

Now, should we win at Eastlands, then I think we will be able to dream again...

Come On Villa - time to get your buggering stick out...

Yes - nice half... Crossing must improve.

Half Time Teaser - Wonder if Owen Coyle's misses uses a coil?

A fine goal Villa, but some of your crossing has been utter pap.

No chance - we have a squad that the manager has no faith in actually rotating (though the subs seem to rotate frequently depending on their fitness). We (yet again) have played too many games and now have niggling injuries and the first eleven is still pretty much the same... yes it is... you know it is really.

At the start of the season, March, April and early May were filled with a great majority of winnable games. The only real questionable ones were Chelski, Man City away and maybe a draw on the cards at home to Everton, Everton, Everton. All the others on paper, we should fancy our chances of winning.

In the space of 7 days, my club has thrown it's season to the wind. 2-2 at home versus Wolves, yes a local derby, but come on, look at the personnel... we should be winning that game. 1-1 at home to Mackems. Given the season so far, sorry, this is just not good enough. Chelsea away, well maybe we were underdogs in that game. However, anyone who was EXPECTING a heavy defeat could not have imagined a 7-1 humiliation? Come on - this is Aston Villa, not Crapston Villas.

7-1.

7-1.

7-1.

WTF?

WTHIGO?

7 days.

The pressure is now off, relax boys. Might as well let the kids loose in the league now. Maybe we can pip Everton to 7th, and maybe we can keep SHA at bay.

All of a sudden, this has become a one game season. April 10th at 5pm. Have we the belly and spunk for revenge? If anyone is going to rally, it is MON. Shit or bust Villa. Shit or bust.

And then the Summer... Lots of people on here are predicting a clear out of fringe players. Well, that might happen, but without replacing them, and somebody to consistently hit the back of the net, we are back to square one aren't we? Too many games, tired and burnt out team by March. Maybe that is our lot in life, maybe that IS actually good enough. Maybe I have delusions of greatness. Well, I was sold a dream and I continue to believe in it.

Nowhere near top 4. Dream on for another year.

Sorry - can't get excited about this one at the moment. I might have felt differently had we been playing one of the others that got into the quarter finals. I'm going and I am hopeful - but this is Chelsea we are up against. Again, is this a side we can beat more than once a season? Who knows.

I'm also rather distressed at the 5pm kick for some televisual contract nazism no doubt.

Grrrrrr... bah humbug.

Villan_1 - I cannot speak on behalf of Thomas Cook, or Aston Villa - but as someone who works on the inside (not connected to the train operator either), I can confirm to you why your train was late.

The coaching stock to form your train ran from London up to Witton - however it started late from it's depot due to mechanical problems. It was further delayed at Bletchley due to a locomotive fault (loco kept switching itself to 'idle') and there were also signalling problems near Milton Keynes too. At Birmingham International, the loco was in trouble again.

Sorry you had a rough time. I understand your train arrived at Wembley Stadium station just after 2pm, so it wasn't a disaster. And, your return train arrived back at Witton just 2 minutes late. At least you saw the game - some people outside the ground begging for tickets totally missed out.

The delay I am sure is regrettable - you still had a day out.

Any idea why we are only singing "Que se ra" or "We're the famous Aston Villa and we're going to Wembley?"

Under Brian Little, when we got to Wembley in 1996, we were singing things like;

"We're on the march with Brian's Army, we're all going to Wembley etc..."

Even better (and on the cards this year) -

"Tell Brian, Brian... to put the champagne on ice... we're going to Wembley twice... Que se ra, se ra..."

If you are doing requests, can we have "We're on the march with Martin's army" on Sunday please?

Villa putting a train on from witton to wembely...

Carling Cup Final v Manchester United Train Charter Item Qty Per person Total

Carling Cup Final v Manchester United Train Charter 1 £ 39.00 £ 39.00

Sub Total £ 39.00

http://www.thomascooksport.com/Football/Premier-League/Aston-Villa#box3

Bit expensive, esp as we paid £19.50 return from snow hill to wembley

This train is expensive because (and I don my anorak here), it is a proper train... 8) with a real engine at the front...

Being run by Chiltern Trains, but using the posh 'slam door stock' operated normally by Wrexham and Shropshire. Proper seats, plenty of leg room and no standing. The only drawback for most on here is that it is a 'booze-less' train. Even on the way back...

It's a Final - splash out a bit if you can. You never know when we'll be back.

Well, Tim Lovejpy once said that,

"MON will win trophies with Villa."

However, I think Manure will prevail in 90 minutes. Here's to a great day out... Our party was the Semi... :-)

Blackburn because it was yesterday...

I am 35, and I was at Uni for the Tranmere games. I was suicidal after listening to the latter stages of the 1st leg game on the radio and even the late goal to make it 3-1 was for me, too little too late. I watched the 2nd leg in my digs from behind a cushion. All that was missing from that day was a fast screw to calm me back down again.

Sorry - got to be the (or any realistic) Cup for me. It's our lot in life, and it's what we do.

If we make the Champions League this year - spend a glut of money that we don't 'actually have' to get the players we think we would like. When we don't qualify for the CL next time, we will do a Leeds? (CL TV money is only good while you're still in it/qualifying for it. Once you are out, you cannot pay the big boys and we would prabably have to sell) Who knows?

How many clubs can this Premier League actually sustain spending to try and break into the Top 4? Surely something has to give somewhere? Are there really enough CL quality players out there who would settle for the 'odd season' of not getting into the CL? Doubtful.

All this CL talk is over-rated and it only disappointed my season last year. Let's get a mainstream, winnable trophy in the cabinet and build from there. After all, we are yet to make an impression on the Europa League (surely our realistic aim and foundation block?) and god help us if we do qualify for the CL. I don't fancy watching Villa get dicked 4-0 every week and being charged twice the price for the opportunity. Poke it.

Bah Humbug ;-)

General,

I'm a little gutted that the Club have chosen not to 'empower' season cards for those of us in the cup scheme for the Cardiff Game (I assume this would be my free game as I was in my booked chair for the Vienna home fixture). I guess my circumstances are not typical of everyone, but please hear this...

Okay, a grand gesture by Villa with the free game stance - a remarkable (unexpected) offer...

I am away on a residential course next week and will not be able to attend the Cardiff Fixture. I was intent on ensuring that my chair was not empty and was going to give my season card to an employee of mine (a long suffering Northampton fan). I was somewhat choked to hear on Saturday that the Cardiff game is an 'all paper ticket' affair!

I find it odd, that a customer such as me, who is within the cup scheme, and who normally benefits from getting into the ground with my season card as part of that cup scheme should suddenly find that I can only access the ground with a paper ticket. I do not live in Birmingham and do not always have access to the OS or local media - imagine my poor employee turning up on Wednesday night to cheer us on, only to find that his access to the ground is denied!

This situation is worsened as I have so far not received a paper ticket for the Cardiff Game, although, as I say, I am in the Cup Scheme. The tannoy announcement on Saturday advised that if people had not received their ticket that it will not now be sent - good job, as I won't be home. I can only imagine that there will be a scramble for tickets on Wednesday night - does anyone remember the League Cup game against Liverpool the other year where kick off was delayed for a very long time (flaming freezing to boot) due to some fiasco or another with the ticketing!?

I am a reasonable man (mostly) and people will no doubt say, 'what's your problem? It's only a free game anyway...' But I am a supporter... I am in the Cup Scheme, I have a right to my ticket, free or not!

Yes, I am a little aggrieved and I will get over it in time for the City game. It is disappointing that the benefits of being in the Cup Scheme (automatic billing and the use of season card vice paper) are not being realised in this case. Is there any particular reason for this? Is it really so difficult to 'empower' the season cards for this game for those of us in the Cup Scheme?

What is for certain is that there will now be an 'empty seat' (my lord) and that is a shame.

Onwards and upwards...

Great result against Portsmouth. A generally forgettable game, but a fantastic strike from young Agbonlahor. Let's hope we put our recent 'lower league at home' hoo-doo to bed and similarly 'sword' Cardiff on Wednesday.

Vienna fans were magic - fantastic noise, synchronised clapping, and a great drummer encouraging a very prolonged chant to a Vengaboys record. They did put us to shame really - I thought 22,000 was a shockingly poor turn out when the team really needed our support, and the tw@s that booed (even if ironically) at the end were just inedescribable. We won the game FFS.

Did not rate Heskey on the night, but I didn't see that much wrong with Beye to be fair BOF.

Carew showed his brilliance at a key time - demonstrating that it is true that he was schooled at Hogwarts.

Fulham next then - I hope there is no long lasting psychological damage to team morale going into the remainder of the season.

For me it feels like the season of promise is over - but that is purely a hangover from the night before. I am sure that come Sunday, we will be eager to push on yet again.

COME ON JOHN...

General - an excellent motivational post. I think it has been a quiet summer and I may be very wrong, but I suspect that some of the negativity and malevolence towards things that have happened (or in some cases have not happened or 'not happened quickly enough' for some) might have been avoided if 'somebody' (and not necessarily you) had been able to speak out positively like this to 'allay' any fears or concerns that 'easily led' supporters/fans/consumers might have had cause to post about.

I guess you are a victim of your own success here! Somebody with your status, with your outlook on life and your position in the hierarchy has the ability to lift the mood by putting things into perspective, seeing things in a more balanced way (there is no real comparison between football, real life and warfare and the respective sacrifices made in each - we can have only respect for guardians of the peace/justice in the military). A positive post by yourself (or similar) has the power to change the whole mood - that and a good result for the team. I learned more about this club and it's supporters in your last post than I have the last month of bun-fighting and point scoring in the other threads.

My point is - silence from the hierarchy (and it was deathly silent at times this summer) allows people to speculate, rumour churn and cause confusion and 'madness.' Even the 'new start' for the forum as a whole carried a veiled form of sarcasm for the usual offenders. Then again, everyone is different and there is no way everybody will tow the line - but I digress.

In a lull - I would feel happier about the 'quiet times' knowing that things were indeed still ongoing at the club and people were working hard to make things happen. It may be that some sort of regular 'official post' (preferably from the heart, like yours seem to read) would go a long way to dispel any myths... Maybe a weekly temp. check? I don't know. I guess something to keep the momentum and optimism going. Feed optimism and your herd will (probably) follow. In my job, I am a leader of men/women, though not from a military background. As a leader, being positive, without the woolly bullsh*t, has worked for me, and your posts work for you too.

Relaying on the printed media to fuel our forum has 'wind assisted' the 'death spiral,' that culminated in Pilchard's stance and MON's antedote to boos.

The Wigan performance played into the hands of the speculators and doom-merchants. It was difficult not to be affected by that performance - the players probably felt it, the manager certainly did and so did the fans. I know I did. As I have written in other threads, I didn't boo (though I admit I did against Stoke last season) and I didn't leave early - but I was shocked at the 'apparent' apathy of the players and what appeared to be (and I am not experienced in professional football) ill-preparation. You are spot on that I do not know what I don't or didn't know.

Liverpool was an epoch making signature result to finally start our season.

Now we have Vienna - Ah, Vienna (sorry). I would like to think that the whole ground, and not just the Holte will now get behind the team. Can we bring our flags?

I think the lesson to learned here for everybody (Boo-ers, Clappers, Supporters, Foot-voters etc) is that we are all different and have different priorities in life and in what we want to achieve and how quickly we can change things.

I've got my season ticket and cup scheme - I'll be there and I will live it. I might rant (profusely) at the ref, but I will certainly be behind the team. I am sure most others will too.

Thanks for your time.

Season Ticket and Cup Scheme.

Sometimes see me at away games.

However, with my other interests, I am a consumer and for the fee I pay, I expect a shit load of passion and toil from the players (like last night) and a modicum of entertainment. 'I don't mind' losing to Wigan if at least we show some effort...

Liverpool last night was a fantastic step in the right direction - but take off the blinkers. There is still work to be done before next week.

UP THE VILLA (may the force be with you) - Always.

I guess a lot of this is true in the socio-economic climate and the populous dynamic in which we now exist. There is no time for stoics and life is far too short to be arguing amongst ourselves - surely Newcastle teach us all that...

But be clear all who will criticise the OP as tawdry politicking, I am a season ticket holder and while I can AFFORD to keep it, I will, come rain, shine, snow, signings, no-signings, Europe, no-Europe etc etc - even League 2... I have to say however that I do have other interests (and responsibilities) that have to be juggled more and more as prices rise, salaries stay static and jobs get lost (though oddly, football continues to rake and rake in the dough - more so the higher up the tree you go - or the more ethnically diverse you cast your greed-magnet).

My responsibilities are...

My wife and daughter.

My interests are...

Airshows (Kemble, Waddington, Flying Legends, FAIRFORD etc) - admittedly a Summer interest.

Music - I attend a range of musical events from fireworks displays, pop/rock music concerts and classical proms.

Model Railways - probably my single biggest financial outlay after my family. That is a hobby where money (if I save) can be spent at the rate of £400 for a kit.

And the list goes on...

My point is that I go to football because I enjoy going and feeling the atmosphere. I enjoy the atmos at away games too. If I don't enjoy it (like DOL's last season) I have the right to walk away and look for games on the TV or just look out for the results and 'read all about it.' To be fair, I went to Hull away in the FA Cup that season. I don't go to football as part of a life or death religion. Heck - after the Stoke game and the Wigan game I might have set myself alight or cut my head off.

It isn't the only thing going on with my life and I don't have an endless bank account. In my short life, I have the right (yes, as a consumer) to go where I get most enjoyment. And despite 2009 so far, I still enjoy it.

After booing at Stoke last season, I remained apathetic until the Hull game where I re-found my voice and chanelled it in the positive direction. I remained vocal against Wigan on opening day - more aggrevated at the ref than anything - and no, I didn't boo. I couldn't be bothered with that as the players seemingly did not try for me. That is a point that the OP makes quite eloquently.

There may come a time when I walk away - but heck, this is far from it. A return of DOL (**nt) or Conference Premier Football would probably see to that (I sometimes go with my old chap to see Nuneaton Town).

I'll be there on Iraq Goals tonight with my prayer mat out - actually no prayer mat as I am not an extremist football fan. I'll be watching and hoping and I'll be there on Thursday too.

I'm frustrated, but far from chucking it in. It is currently providing me with an avenue to let off steam (at the ref and oppo foulage) instead of kicking a wall... Vivre la difference...

And one more word - plethora.

West Ham, Burnley, Scunthorpe and anyone else can change their colours for all I care, we were the first to wear them! they are OUR colours.

Don't forget Colwyn Bay... and Hillmorton (Rugby) FC who play in Claret and Blue.

If we go for stripes, please let it be better than that awful ASICS 'Muller' kit. (Actually, Bordeux won a European trophy wearing that shirt as well as us winning the League Cup). I wasn't actually a fan of our FA Cup Final shirt in 2000 - the thick stripes. Not sure what the solution is there.

I think the best kit of recent times (showing my age here) was our 1992-93 lace up kit. I thought that looked really, really smart. If you want retro, that is the way to go for me.

Otherwise, the first Reebok kit we had in 1995-96 was very special. Nice collar, and the 'imprint' into the shirt pattern. A really cool shirt that has never (IMO) been surpassed.

When we re-branded, I was hoping for a return to the circular badge. That was our best badge. If we ever change the badge again, I would like to see that (or a close approximation of it) return.

Happy with the current kit and badge (for now).

NO MORE turquoise or yellow kits for away. Either all white with claret and blue light trim, or the 1995-96 away shirt style please.

AND - West Ham should change their colours to all over white in penance for what they did to us at VP last season.

Thanks Ponky... I know what you're saying. People are often mis-quoted and I played very much on the irony of it in my post.

Catch you later...

I voted Stay... I was frustrated to read on BBC sport this morning that in a post match interview that MON felt we looked "tired." How can they be bastard tired? To be fair, I did turn round to my Holte End colleagues after the 2nd goal went in and said, "do you think the excuse will be that they are tired?" People looked at me knowing that I was joking... Obviously, MON thought I was serious!!!

That was a frustrating match to watch - and it isn't often I applaud an opponent's goal. But their opener was top drawer, whether Brad was out of position or not.

What I would say is that on current showing, we will be out of Europe before our 2nd leg and all of a sudden, the Fulham game (Liverpool away is a home banker in my opinion, so don't even worry about it) is a massive, massive 6-pointer against surely one of our rivals for this season.

I can do without greying hair this year Villa. Come on...

I walked out for DOL's last season (not just because of DOL) and missed it. I came back for MON's second season and life is better overall for me now. As long as I can afford it, I won't be walking away again.

GRIN AND BEAR IT...

This thread is to discuss travel to the game.

Please use this thread to arrange meetings. If there is a Rough Guide for this team, please remember to post some updates if you have any. limpid

:shock: I went Inter-Railing with a mate of mine a few years back and Vienna was one of our highlights... Okay it was a decade ago, we watched an Austria match in the large city-centre park during France '98.

"Tony Polster ist und fussbol got..." read a maniacal banner.

Check Out -

a) Prater Park (large ferris wheel, go-karting, dodgems etc - not sure there are any RAPIDs though...)

Stephenzplatz - St Stephens church - amazing architecture and the roof pattern is really nice.

c) Rathouse - kind of like the City Hall, Mayoral palace.

d) Lots of venues for classical music (home of the Strauss family) concerts.

e) selected art galleries.

f) Go boating on the Blue Danube.

Be aware though, it is an expensive city.

Stay away from anybody called 'Fritzl.'

Try a Wiener Schniztl (I thought it was a chicken burger).

Austria is fab - shame about the brief n*zi history. :shock:

Enjoy... 8)

Wrong time to start this thread!!

Though because we've yet to show our colours in the transfer market this year (in a week it will all be different...) i fear the majority of short-sighted, lightweight Villa fans, will say no.

FM - I really do hope you are right... :oops:

When was the last time we were happy?

League Cup Final 1996? - Yes

FA Cup Semi Final vs Bolton in 2000 - Yes (that Dublin moment)

FA Cup Final vs Chelsea in 2000 (the poorest FA Cup Final in history, after the 1996 dross) - Yes, up to the David James moment.

Arrival of DOL in 2003 - Yes (yes you were)

Departure of DOL in 2006 - most definitely.

Arrival of MON 2006 - I was almost kn*b in hand, so yes.

January 2009 - big, resounding yes. I couldn't quite believe it.

Then we fell back to earth like the 'Peterborough Roof Faller...'

I'm on the fence folks. 1st of September we'll know.

Until then, look around and see just how bad things could be - Portsmouth nearly slipping into administration, Toon being raped by Leyton Orient, in fact everthing about the barcode club.

If it's mid-table this year, or successful fight against relegation (and for me, at the present standing, that is a real possibility of how this will go), then I'd rather be here, than in the barcode's state. You know, they might just slip into League 1 with how their close-season pantomime continues.

My happiness is currently judged on the fact that I have renewed my season ticket, joined the cup scheme and will be at the Fiorentina game. If you ain't happy then you can vote with your feet. That's what I did in DOL's last season.

It's not that I was fickle (I just started not to like him)... Cripes, I've seen my fair share of toss during my supportership, but DOL snuffed out a lot of interest in the game for me, and I have other interests too that take up a lot of my time.

Come on MON - let the Malaga match be the spark to start your next chapter - not signal a repeat of the final three months of last season.

DO SOME DAMAGE!!!

Yes - all the games under DOL seemed to merge into one great big 'Fan Huff.' I remember walking away from another home defeat by some mediocre Premiership upstart and a young lad (maybe 6 or 7 years old) turned round to his dad as we were walking along Witton Lane;

"Dad, can we support someone else please?"

Happy days are here again...

Actually - having said all this, was DOL the manager when we beat Chelsea at VP in the League Cup early rounds one year? JPA kissed the camera in the corner after a fine strike. Sneaky feeling McCann scored our other goal?? Was that the year that we got nullified at the Reebok in the semi final first leg? Only for refer-bastad-ree Steve Bennett single-handedly denying us equalisation in the second leg?

I had a full newspaper spread picture of Sam 'A*se' Allardyce on my office wall after that League Cup run ended with defeat to the Trotters. I used to smack it every day with a ruler when I arrived in the office and at any other time when I was displeased.

"I feel good..." etc.