GeordieVillan

7 hours ago, 1HoV said:

First Class Small Parcel... not recorded.

Thanks mate - managed to get it from the post office this morning - crisis averted!

4 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said:

I actually think we might sign Maguire, seems a bit odd his deal with wet spam falling through after Mings’ injury, he’d replace the aerial deficiencies but not sure he’s got the athleticism to play the high line well.

He’s probably quicker than he looks, but he’s definitely not got Mings speed.

The aerial presence is an issue now, especially on defensive set pieces.

10 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

We aren’t signing Maguire. Won’t even entertain it. Don’t need him. 

I’m staggered people think we don’t need another centre back (in general rather than Maguire specifically). We currently have -

Konsa who is proven, although the general consensus seems to be that he needs Mings alongside him to be effective.

Torres who is potentially excellent, and I thought looked good against Newcastle, but who knows if he will settle and how good he will be in the Prem.

Carlos who again, might be great, but we don’t really know, and we don’t know how badly his injury has affected the player we signed a year ago.

Chambers who is back up at best and I don’t think we can consider a starter.

Dendonker as a last resort ok, but we can’t rely on him to play every week at centre half surely.

Before Mings injury, I don’t think we were “stacked”, we had a solid proven partnership with two potentially very good players as back up.

We need proven premier league experience alongside Konsa IMO.

I hope I’m wrong and Torres and/or Carlos tear it up, but even if that’s the case, one injury to either of those or Konsa and we are basically down to bare bones at centre half.

Maguire was a suggestion as he ticks a lot of boxes, is proven in the league and has played at the highest level. Granted though, he may not fit the system of playing the high line.
 

There must be other options though.

1 minute ago, oishiiniku_uk said:

He's on 190,000 p/w, he's very slow and would be terrible in a high line, he panics when pressed so wouldn't suit our build-up play, he has the turning circle of an oil tanker. But on the plus side he IS left footed.

Haha, he’s not left footed! But he does play left side…

26 minutes ago, Tayls said:

You think we should loan an inferior player to those we have at the club already? Why would we do that? 

I don’t think he’s finished yet, he just needs a fresh start IMO. He plays as a left sided centre back so would fit as short term cover for Mings at least. He’s also a leader, even if he’s gone off the boil (being kind).
 

I’m not suggesting he play ahead of Torres, or that we build the team around him, but I also don’t think we can really rely on Konsa and 2 guys with no premier league experience to get us through this season.

Maguire would have been solid buy for West Ham if they could have got it over the line, and I think he would be the same for us under Emery.

Not sure if this has been mentioned - but I think we should look at Harry Maguire, especially if we could get him on a season long loan with an option to buy….

Question for anyone that purchased these TV tickets - have you received your ticket cards?

I’ve been on holiday for 2 weeks and was expecting to see them on my doormat when I returned today, but there is nothing! I do have 2 missed delivery cards from Royal Mail though - was it sent by Royal Mail recorded delivery by any chance? Panicking now!

Thanks!!!

2 minutes ago, WallisFrizz said:

Yeah I wonder if photoshopped, mainly cos I don’t buy that Digne was just chatting about his impending transfer with some random. (But re the floating hand, he’s just doing a thumbs up but sideways)

His hand doesn’t look real though!

Very interested to see what we do on Sunday! I suspect it will be a high line again with Cash-Konsa-Torres-Digne. So only one change from the back 4 that started at Newcastle.

Any other changes such as bringing in Carlos and/or playing Torres at left back, or playing a low block, will be re-inventing the wheel, don’t think we are at that stage yet.

27 minutes ago, StewieGriffin said:

guy claims they were on the same flight (in the thread)

 

Worst photoshop ever surely?!

Look at the hand floating in mid-air?!

5 minutes ago, delboy54 said:

Football is becoming an expensive hobby for me. Next year I shall be retired reaching the ancient age of 66. I live near Newmarket in deepest Suffolk and its a 2 hr drive from home to VP, and then back again....

I love watching the Villa live, and have followed them since the late 1960's, but football is changing, maybe it always was changing (just like the length of a players shorts!), but it is becoming an expensive option for me.

I have to admit to being very disappointed with the situation regarding tickets and what is happening to the Holte End and how Aston Villa FC have been handling it. It doesn't bother me about people "jumping the queue" just because they can afford to, or chose to, its just like choosing to purchasing a business class air fare instead of economy class, good luck to them. I suppose forking out £1500 will mark anyone who pays for the Terrace View as an even crazier Villa Fan 

It just feels that its the price of success, more expensive seats, increasing prices of ST, selling Claret memberships to supporters who will find it harder to get a ticket, trying to entice more "tourists" to get the "Villa experience", etc. All this has, or is being done by the top clubs, we are no different if we want to compete and bring in more money.

But this extra money does it really make that much difference to the income?..... does it really outweigh the argument to pi$$ing off supporters of AVFC ?, 

I think you’ve nailed it here. Terrace View isn’t a landmark change in the direction of travel, but is football generally slowly creeping even further away from where most fans would want it to be…

58 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

Holte End is still locked out for Season ticket holders for the Everton game - it'll be interesting to see how long they'll let it go in their efforts to sell season tickets in the Terrace View.

Right now, it looks like those remaining Upper Holte seats will end up going into general sale, if they do, they'll be the only tickets on general sale with the game about to sell out to season ticket holders buying extras - and there weren't many of those available.

If we suddenly get 600 seats on general sale next week, it's a bit of a slap in the face for members.

 

Would they not have to sell them as hospitality tickets rather than general sale though?

So if the only seats available in the ground are the unsold Terrace View in that dedicated block, then they can’t sell them as general admission tickets?

If they are committed to the Terrace View, then you assume they will do everything they can to sell the tickets as hospitality with access to the new lounge, with the hope that some of the people buying the tickets for Everton will then decide to buy a season ticket to the Terrace View for the remaining games.

I don’t think they will go on general sale as general admission Holte end seats, but if they do then I think it will be very very late in the day. It might even be to members very very late in the day.

I might be wrong though!

22 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

I'd hope that's 10% of the allocation of hospitality tickets, not 10% of the overall allocation.

If it's 10% of the hospitality allocation, it's about 6 tickets and you're being led down the garden path by a salesperson.

If it's 10% of the overall allocation, then you're pushing to the head of the tightest queue in football and I can't imagine those at the head of the away merit allocations would take well to it!

 

Has to be 10% of the hospitality allocation, on the basis that the Terrace View represents 10% of overall hospitality seats in the ground (assuming that the latter is correct)…

1 minute ago, OutByEaster? said:

Did you buy two of the Terrace View tickets, or are you looking to buy an extra one when you'd like to take your daughter?

I ask because it doesn't look like extra tickets are going to be easy to come by.

 

No I got one and a friend of mine got one so on occasion (holidays etc) I may be able to take a guest, and vice versa for him.

Info is still very sparse on extra home tickets and away tickets. Apparently it will be forthcoming this week or next.

1 hour ago, delboy54 said:

I am a ST in Upper Holte and I have seen families with young kids up there, but no way would I recommend the Upper Holte for children.

Majority stand throughout the match, as do I. Plenty of swearing, vocal abuse and vitriol of the officials and some opposition players as well as very funny "X" rated comments (not by me of course!). It is probably the last bastion of this type of supporter before the spread of gentrification and seats with cushions. Make the most of it as in 10 years time the Holte will be unrecognisable in my view.

I would say parts of the Upper Holte have many characters that are errrm rough diamonds

I’ll give it a test drive before I think about bringing my 8 year old daughter then!

15 minutes ago, ender4 said:

I think you get a choice whether you want to be in a seated section or in a safe standing section, both in the Upper Holte.

I wasn’t given a choice - the only option was safe standing. You still have a seat so have the option to sit, but I imagine everyone is standing just because of the nature of the section!

Still concerned about our line at the back, seems even higher than last season. Hopefully just pre-season teething!

19 hours ago, Hereford-Villan said:

I'm actually really interested in this. I am desperate to get a season ticket in upper holte and i suppose lucky enough to be able to afford it. There is little information on where the seats are. Which block are they in? 

I have bought one and I’m not really sure tbh. I havn’t received the season ticket card yet and don’t what block/seat etc. All I know for certain is that it is in a safe standing section (rails on the back of the seats to prevent a surge or people falling over when standing)

Can anyone here give me an insight into what the Upper Holte is like? Is it rough? Is it child friendly?

19 hours ago, ender4 said:

Depends on the package. Very roughly a corporate box on a match by match basis would be around £200 a person but would include food. 

Whereas the Terrace View is probably going to be £120 per match if buying on a match by match basis, doesn't include food but does include 2 free drinks. It's like the gateway option for those who would like to go corporate but can't quite afford it - ie: special occasions rather than a company taking a box for the season.

Terrace View works out at £82 per match if you have the season ticket, and includes 2 drinks and a programme. No food though. 

How have you got to £120 per match? Are they advertising tickets on a single game basis?

The chap I spoke to at the time of purchase was very clear that the Terrace View is being treated strictly as hospitality. He even stated prior to purchase that you cannot downgrade (my words not his) from Terrace View to a standard general admission season ticket, but you MAY be able to switch/upgrade to another hospitality ticket/area depending on availability in future seasons.

My understanding of the away tickets is that Terrace View holders will be lumped in with other hospitality/corporate holders and it won’t be a specific allocation of away tickets for Terrace View fans. And if demand exceeds supply for any particular game, then it will go down to a ballot for the set allocation. Luck of the draw. So I don’t think the Terrace View will have any impact on away tickets for general season ticket holders.

That’s my understanding anyway!

Like a few others have said, our line seemed like incredibly high on Sunday/Monday, higher even than it was in the latter half of last season when we seemed to get away with it a few times.

I would be worried if the line was that high against Newcastle on the first day of the season, at times we were basically on half way!

However, it’s not by accident, this is the tactics and style of the coach - he wants us to play high and compress the pitch and control the game and pace of the game, and this is how he does it.

I think we will just have to accept that there will be a few games where we might get caught out and concede a few goals. But as long as this is balanced by many more games where we are on top and get a result, then it’s worth it!

15 hours ago, DewiMckay said:

I've just purchased The Terrace View season ticket, my rational was akin to @GeordieVillan  however I'm more local than Newcastle.  Interestingly, there is a undefined allocation of away tickets for holders, these are purchased via hospitality,  rather than ticket office. 

 

Is that right about the away tickets??

Interesting thing about this has been that the marketing information is bit vague I think, and while the people on the phone at the club seem to have been really helpful with everyone, it does feel like people are finding things out by asking questions rather than the club pro-actively giving out details on what is included…