nazvfc

You would expect a side of Spurs' stature to beat them too I imagine? You can never count on a win in this league. Very true mate - just ask Liverplop - beaten by a shit Bolton Team!(according to many on here) - No team can expect to beat another - just ask Arsenal - beaten at Swansea - who couldn't beat us at their place - what does that prove - absolutely **** all other than no result is guaranteed. Flukes or no flukes - it just doesn't go to form.

I'm a Villa Fan - I'm always happy - even when Deadly was in charge and we were down in the dumps. Even if we were in Div 1 or 2 or Blue Square. Not going to change now - never changed then! Maybe I'm stupid! (Alot of you already thing that of me anyway!)

Very true - but I am sure they would find something else to moan about or post after some other unfounded rumour - Well brummies are re-nound for it aren't we???

No - wish people would get the facts right! It said Bent (Thigh Injury) Heskey and Collins should be fit! No where did it say he was still injured and not in contention.

Good point - maybe you are right - timing is crucial!

Doing a banner for tomorrow night! Hopefully will get attention and give a kick up the backside to McLeish and Lerner to sort it out.

I've been going for 50 years and travelled from far afield as Kent - Wigan - Devon (when I lived there). Why the F**k should I stop now? Sorry I may be a moron by I am a loyal moron who will follow my team no matter what level or type of football. At least I'm a claret and blue blooded moron and proud! Well you shouldnt moan about things then. Your paying to watch dross and whilst people are paying it will carry on. Enjoy the dross. Maybe make matchdays more dross like by getting wet and sitting in the cold? I don't moan - where in any thread have I moaned - but hang on - even though I go and support my team I am not allowed to moan - but those that don't go have a right to do so - I see - there you go then - I'll just follow my team and keep quiet whilst you who (perhaps) doesn't or won't go can moan as much as you want. Fine by me. For your information - when the protests were going on - even though I moaned and organised I NEVER stopped supporting my team. Hey ho each to his own! You see at this point i cant see anyone who is going is helping the situation but each to his own as you say. Enjoy the football it will stay as long as people pay to watch it. That's the thing mate - Villa is in my blood - has been since I was four - has been from all the bad times and good times. I go because win lose or draw don't matter. I would follow them in the lower leagues but others would walk away - not me. So let's leave it there. Hopefully someday this will all be forgotten and we can all be happy families again! That is really what we all are - one large family!

I've been going for 50 years and travelled from far afield as Kent - Wigan - Devon (when I lived there). Why the F**k should I stop now? Sorry I may be a moron by I am a loyal moron who will follow my team no matter what level or type of football. At least I'm a claret and blue blooded moron and proud! Well you shouldnt moan about things then. Your paying to watch dross and whilst people are paying it will carry on. Enjoy the dross. Maybe make matchdays more dross like by getting wet and sitting in the cold? I don't moan - where in any thread have I moaned - but hang on - even though I go and support my team I am not allowed to moan - but those that don't go have a right to do so - I see - there you go then - I'll just follow my team and keep quiet whilst you who (perhaps) doesn't or won't go can moan as much as you want. Fine by me. For your information - when the protests were going on - even though I moaned and organised I NEVER stopped supporting my team. Hey ho each to his own!

I've been going for 50 years and travelled from far afield as Kent - Wigan - Devon (when I lived there). Why the F**k should I stop now? Sorry I may be a moron by I am a loyal moron who will follow my team no matter what level or type of football. At least I'm a claret and blue blooded moron and proud!

Yes bickster mate - remember this well - Cowans - silky passer - Mortimer the box to box kingpin and Des the no nonsense midfield tackler - takes no prisoners. I remember folks moaning at Des - but those three made Villa tick. Oh! how we could do with three like them now!

Not gonna shoot you naz... If you are happy to waste that money on anti-football next season, get yourself all revved up for another 19 matches of miserability - then you are a richer man that me. I will support and follow AVFC through thick and thin as I have done for most of my life to date - having a season ticket or not does not a 'deserter' make. And those that abstain can hardly be called glory hunters can they... A whole generation of fans has now materiliased not knowing what glory is - unless you count that recent away win at Old Trafford, the Inter-Toto win against Basle and the Peace Cup. Mmmm, maybe the good times are still here. I didn't enjoy last season, I am hating it this season and the best part of a grand down the drain that could have been spent on a decent holiday in a warm climate, by the sea, plenty of beer and women to peruse. Nah - not gonna shoot you buddy - different strokes for folks. Wrap up warm next season, it might be even longer than this one... Mate - Absolutely no problem if you want to shoot me - we all have opinions that we should respect. You are right - I do have more money than sense. I have no wife or partner - my kids are all growed up - I go to Villa as I have always done and it is in the blood. I go back home to Turkey at least twice a year. The football may be boring - but the thing is - so what? do the fans that go to Stevenage or Torquay (no disrespect) - go because they play scintillating football - or that they have a brilliant manager - or world class players - no - the ones that go - not many I presume - go because they love the club not because of the manager perhaps but INSPITE of the manager (if he is not liked). I go in spite of the manager (and went in the past in spite of the Chairman too) - I don't give a diddley doodah who the manager is or the quality of football. If I did - I would not have supported this damn club for near on 50 years!. Maybe I have nothing else in my life being single and living alone (and enjoying it) - maybe I am a sad bastard - but I know I am a Claret and Blue - bleed AVFC bastard and an ugly one at that!

Hi mate - 100% agree with this. Players back then were one of us - they were on the same wavelength - nowadays they are so aloof from us.

LOL - Yeah Silly me what the **** was I thinking!!! :shock:

Thanks Lancs mate - I just don't think it is quite the time to protest - in my humble opinion -should leave it after the January Transfer window - after these set of games and by then we will see where we are - if in the bottom three (which I personally doubt) - maybe - but if we are in the top half - then perhaps not - we would all look so stupid! It has to be the right moment. But that is just my opinion. Did have an idea for a banner (not a protest - just a request) citing John Barnes' comments along the lines: McLeish - We Are Aston Villa Not Birmingham City Play some **** football (perhap drop the City reference)

Why the F***g hell would I not renew??? I support (and have supported) Aston Villa FC for 50 years and have done so REGARDLESS of Manager,Chairman,shit form, good form, indifferent form. It is in my blood - I'd support them even in the lower echelons as I did before and will do again (if god forbid) that should ever happen! It's your choice (but I suspect this next bit will have you all getting your guns out to shoot me) BUT I always thought Villa Fans weren't the kind who would desert the club all because of a dislike for the manager and the brand of football! Me - I'd never desert the club - never did before never will now - regardless!

Nah mate - didn't mean it that way about lower league managers - just trying to point out that we had several McLeishes in our previous illustrious chairman's tenure - this one has only done 1 - Houllier I don't count - cos he was less than a season.

Didnt Doug appoint DOL, Taylor mk2, Venglos, McNeill. You forgot to mention the one and only Graham Turner from Shrewsbury Town - boy was he shit! One day managing Shrewsbury the next the mighty Villa - that was his McLeish if you want to compare (or praise that old git). Struggling to beat lower league clubs in cups - losing to "lesser" teams.

Just had a call from WM - They want me on tomorrow morning to respond to Paul Faulkner and his Europe comment. Wants to know my (our - the fans feeling). They asked whether PF was right and I said no - and mentioned that the majority of the fans are of the same opinion. Dunno why they did not ask someone from the forums - but I think they had my number from the AVISA and VFC days. I did mention that the supporters groups (apart from the Trust) have disbanded and that the voice of the fans in now on the forums. Mentioned Villa fans are unhappy with the brand of football as the team is set up not to lose - where we have players not playing that should be and that I would not mind if we lost but at least had a go at playing football.

Hi Mike - how you keeping mate? Only ME so far (Johnny NoMates Me). Looks like it will be a cheap session for me! Would be nice to get the old and not so old there to talk over the good old days!. I have to let Villa know a soon as I can so they can arrange for either a room access to the Holte Pub (or some other suitable room).

The get together is not just for us "Villa Old Farts" it is for anyone that wants to come and mingle and join in and talk and remin.. remun... remanes... remember the old times over a drink. I just need rough numbers - will update my PM email so you can let me know! It's not just for us oldies its for the whole Villa Family!!!!

Yes Denis - all those events - momentous - and we are still here following our heroes. We will always be here long after players and chairmen go. Our spirits will be there and the next generation will carry on where we left off.

Hi John - sorry mate - it stands to reason that you are one of us old farts - you don't need an invitation! you are as good as there already! My apologies.

Lock up your daughters, your grannies - the Villa Old Farts have polished their zimmer frames and are heading your way! This is a bit long and the important bit is at the end!!! February 17th 1962 FA Cup 5th Round Aston Villa 2 Charlton 1 February 11th 2012 Aston Villa v Manchester City The above two dates are significant - The FA Cup match was my first Aston Villa game. On February 14th 2012 it will be a landmark for myself and a few members of this excellent forum. The Manchester City game is the 50th Anniversary of that momentous occasion. And to coin a cliche - it has been a rollercoaster from that day till this day and I truly believe that that phrase can be attributed to only one team - Aston Villa FC. My first experience may be in the distant past and I may not remember much of the match or the line-ups - but you will have to forgive me - I was just under 4 at the time and my brain ain't what it used to be. I lived at first on Albert Road the on Bevington Road and attended Prince Albert Primary School. Then I went to Holte Grammer. What I do remember is at that time all you saw was kids and adults with Claret and Blue hats and scarfs and rosettes - not a single gloryhunting Red or Red and White scarf to be seen. What I do remember is the walk from my house in Albert Road holding my cousins hand tight (he was the footballer in the household - played for BSA). My 2nd eldest brother was there too. We walked down Whitehead Road - turned at the bottom into Bevington Road and then we turned Right - onto Trinity Road getting closer and closer to what seemed to a 4 year old a sea of thousands upon thousands of people walking with Scarves, Hats, Rosettes, and Rattles (remember them?) adorning the famous colours - colours to this day that may have been imitated but not beaten - CLARET and BLUE - what a nice ring - not Blue (yuk!) or Red or Red and White or Gold and Black (well not really gold - a little off Orange and Black). Colours pffffft! You cannot beat the Claret and Blue. I walked in awe - fearing I would get trampled under foot by all these people holding the hands of my brother and cousin as tightly as I can in case I got swept away in the sea of Claret and Blue. I walked towards a huge structure - god it was awesome - the nearer I got the bigger it got until I saw that absolutely wonderful mosaic of that Lion and that emblem emblazoned with Aston Villa FC and Prepared and there I stood in front of the TRINITY ROAD stand. That awesome sight that not only us Villa fans admired but also the visiting fans admired and at one time feared. To this day the visiting older fans mention that structure (Thank you Mr Aston Villa for the one sole act of wanton destruction that I hold you responsible for and what I personally will never forgive you for). I used to wonder how magnificent it must have looked when it was first built - the smell of the bricks and mortar - and I can imagine now (if it had still stood) the spirits of the Villa greats that wandered through the corridors of that wonderous icon. From THAT day I fell in love with Aston Villa FC and that love has not died one bit. In those days us fans used to go to Villa Park one week and being too young to go on the "away days" used to go one week to St Andrews or Molineux (we used to mingle with these fans with no such hatred of today). But even then I may have gone to those grounds but there was only one team for me. I regret I do not remember much of the game or lineups - but I remember the pitch - soggy and muddy - the leather balls heavy when wet. I remember looking at all four areas of the ground - the old Witton Lane Stand (To this day I cannot bear to call it the Dou..... you know I still can't and I hate it when people call it that on this forum - a few have at the wolves game had a mouthful off me and a few other fans recently!). The Trinity Road with that beautiful stand - the seats in the upper. The North (Witton End) - that steep bank with no roof - that drop at the top - wonder how many felt like jumping off there when we lost!!! Then I was stood on the hallowed stand - the Holte End - at one time the biggest goal side terrace in European (if not world football) - 28,000 capacity alone!. I stood there mouth open - agast at it's size. No other football stadium could match the Holte End back then and it was the envy of nearly every team in the football league (as was the Trinity Road). Unknown to me I was at that time standing (or sometimes sitting on the shoulders of my elders) right near a Villa Fan I have come to respect and class (even though I have never met him) as a true friend - Mr Glensider (sorry - he is from another forum) whose first game was also this one. I had the priviledge to sit in the old Trinity Road Stand - in the plush Shareholders seats thanks to my brothers teacher/headmaster - the brother of one Johnny Dixon - Ernie Dixon. I had the honour of delivering the Evening Mail to Charlie Tabberner and the dubious honour of delivering it to the self styled Mr Aston Villa himself - dear old Uncle Douggie. I was there when we invaded the pitch in 1968 after that terrible loss to Preston North End - the pitch sit in. The Civic Hall in Digbeth Meeting where the "Revolution" had begun. I was amongst the thousands pf others taht were asked to come to Villa Park - paint and paintbrush, brushes in hand renovate, to paint and clean the once maginificent stadium that was now looking worse for wear, neglected by the old board. We all rallied together each and everyone of us, White, Black and Asian,and I truly believe that that was the day that we became a family - a family with a bond that has never been broken - the Aston Villa Family. We may argue and bitch and fight on the forums but we make up and forget the disagreements. We had a bond that to this day has and never will be broken. We had the resurgence (albeit temporarily) - then we were relegated to the depths of the Third Division - but you know what - they were amongst the best times of being a Villa Fan. We could see the seeds being sown and the roots taking shape. We took thousands upon thousands to away games - to the point that opposing managers would comment they would not mind losing to Villa each week as long as we brought the fans along to create record crowds at small stadia all over England. The Ron Saunders Era (one that may never have happened if Doug had won his call to become Chairman at that time - he did not want Ron). The league championship and European cup saw Aston Villa back where they belonged - at the very top. At that time the "Revolution" was complete. There are too many memories to go into so I will end with what this is all about. I have approached Aston Villa and they have agreed (subject to getting a good number) that we may be able to get the use of a room on the day of the Man City game for a re-union of us "old farts". We will even be featured in a matchday program!. So I would like to invite all those fans celebrating 50 years but also those celebrating a 20th, 30th 40th Anniversary to join us for a drink and to reminesce about the "good old days". I am sorry for such a long and boring post and if you have not fallen asleep - THANK YOU ALL for reading this. Naz

Wharf are showing this tomorrow! Am at my daughters tomorrow in Walsall so will pop down

Yes mate - I work in Birmingham - travel everyday from Wigan. I am catching the 5.20 from Brum - should get in around 6:45 - got to get home - changed and out again - so it might be tight to get from Wigan to Hindley Green then back again!