MrBlack

35 minutes ago, allani said:

Also assuming that Labour do win the GE then I am sure that the government would be keen to support the Labour mayor of Birmingham in order to ensure that at the next mayoral election the gap over the Conservatives is much bigger.  Governments always look to spend more money into potential "swing" areas.  It would also paint a good story that they can take to other cities / areas and point to how they've made big improvements that they can replicate elsewhere.

As long as its good for Villa, I'm happy. I've given up expecting any Government to help me personally.

You're right though,  it should be a good window for them to really make a good example.

Given Heck's latest interview, it sounds like the club are waiting until the surrounding area amd infrastructure better supports an expansion, so the quicker we see some action from Wes and the council/mayor on that front the better.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

but let's hope, it doesn't become a political football game....with a reason for inaction.

Conservative Government, and a Labour council, spell Silo.

Maybe  I am being cynical.

Probably for the time being that may be the case, but conservatives won't be in power much longer so if Labour get in after then he's the right colour to get the support when it will be time to start doing something.

Not like any major progress was made under Street, although we've no idea how much was impacted by the club changing their minds on the wider stadium redevelop. 

I'll be surprised if nothing happens given the latest news coming out of the Edens camp and the appointments made to the board. 

3 minutes ago, DJBOB said:

Might be the first day back at training!

 

I imagine this is a little morale boost for the squad / fans ahead of Thursday. 

Would be great if he genuinely is back in team training as that would mean a potential return at Palace, but I'm thinking we'll be looking after him over a fairytale return. 

23 minutes ago, ender4 said:

Newcastle have just announced their ‘official transport partner’ paying them £3m a year. 

With errrrmmm an unrelated company called Saudi Airlines

Over to Chris Heck - let’s get Brightline or whatever that LA to Vegas train is called to sponsor us for our transport partner

But its been through the PL's fair value committee and ok'd so it's definitely legit, and they definitely could have got that 3 million from some other non-saudi airline if they'd wanted to.

Stinks of corruption.

We can't compete with that, or what Man City et al have built up over decades of domination.

But we can improve what do have. So Heck needs to find some more of these affiliates to pay us 1 or 2m. And try and eek what he can out of our current sponsors.

The stadium expansion/migration is getting close to being a no brainer as its going to be the only option left to us soon.

23 minutes ago, Rds1983 said:

Imagine if a streaker ran on to the picture against them with 114 charges written on their chest.

Then as they're escorted off the pitch, another one jumps on...

Then another...

Until 114 have been on. 

They'd have to cancel the game and media couldn't ignore that and club's would struggle to stop it.

This would be brilliant.  Although they might have to do it again the next game because its 115.

What did their owner say? I've not seen the tweet as every account I've seen that shared it had a broken link. 

31 minutes ago, NorthEastVillan said:

Dunno how someone who has served a 6 month ban for accepting bribes can still be an elite level UEFA ref. Just baffling!

You have your answer. 

1 hour ago, sidcow said:

With the feedback and information about the Lower Grounds I thought I’d share my thoughts about Terrace View.

As a Lower Holte season ticket holder I’m their worst nightmare.  Turn up just before kick-off, hardly ever buy anything, leave straight after the game.  My lad might buy a beer if we’re early enough but more often than not, he won’t.

Having spent £80 to get a couple of tickets there instead of £30 to renew my seat they’ve got an extra £50 out of me - £100 with my lad.

For that extra £50 I got 2 free drinks which I guess cost them about a quid each, and a programme so I reckon they’re quids in.

I very rarely buy food, if I do it will be a tray of chips for £3-£4 whatever it is. 

As we are there much earlier to take advantage of the lounge area and free drink, I did buy some proper food at £26 for the 2 of us.  It was pretty good, much better than the skanky chips in the Lower Holte.

So basically, they got a LOT more money out of me than they usually do.   It was nice enough, I wouldn’t feel inclined to do it again though.

I’m not sure if it was busier than usual but it was absolutely packed out.  The bars (also more expensive than Lower Holte concourse) were busy but not ridiculous.  You had the option of pour your own at the taps after buying on screen – that was pretty much walk up and serve yourself immediately.

There were loads of people clearly in families and in groups.  The atmosphere was good and there was singing in the lounge before the game and at half time.

I can see why people would be attracted to it.  It’s not insanely expensive and you get to enjoy The Holte in an area with better food and in an area that isn’t spartan with pretty good "modern bar" type vibe.

I can also see how the club are benefiting.  Their revenue per seat must absolutely skyrocket.

It’s not for me though.

Terrace View sounds like a much worse value offering than the Lower Grounds. And can't believe the bars are more expensive. Captive audience I guess.

4 hours ago, ben1505 said:

Olymbiakós SFP (GRE) - Aston Villa FC (ENG)
Referee: Felix Zwayer GER
Assistant Referee 1: Stefan Lupp GER
Assistant Referee 2: Marco Achmüller GER
Fourth Official: Glenn Nyberg SWE
Video Assistant Referee: Bastian Dankert GER
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Tiago Martins POR
UEFA Referee Observer: Rune Pedersen NOR
UEFA Delegate: Fernand Meese BEL

I'm pretty sure that ref was done for match-fixing?

Yes, he was. 6 month ban.

I know this because he was also shit i  one of West Ham's game last season and it came out in the post match furore.

He's a corrupt ref, and a notoriously crap arrogant one too. We're f%£ked if we got on the wrong side of him. And we no doubt will when he gives some dubious decisions their way. He'll let us implode after a few basic errors.

1 hour ago, spiezels said:

Well there ya go. Jesus. With all the shit we’re reading about upcoming PSR stuff sadly thats the way its got to go.

LOL at someone taking a swing. Can imagine it tbf. Does sound like bullshit tbf

Maybe a metaphorical swing rather than a physical one. 

We haven't lost more than 2 games in a row all season. 

I'm fairly sure we haven't gone 3 games without a win as well.

So if we manage to do either of those now then it would be a pretty big diversion from our 36 game norm.

Spurs, on the other hand, are on a 4 game losing streak and rarely win 3 in a row.

Let's see how the next round goes before we start the panic. 

Working miracles still. They can only get you so far when half your first team is injured. 

Overdue a bit of good luck which hopefully arrives on Thursday night and gets a reward for his work this season.

Love the post match comments, but a shame the gameplan got shafted by yet another njury. 

4 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

Luiz is good enough. Do you not think he is? 

Our good run to set us up for being top of the table coincided with Pau having an extended run in the team. Our form suffered from the point he got injured. Coincidence?

Yes, he hasn't hit those heights since, but if he was rubbish we wouldn't have been fighting for first place with him as a core component of our team. Bizarre.

On 04/05/2024 at 11:27, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Not going to lie mate this one is even shitter than the Lerner one. It looks like a small cat face attached to a lions main and he has short, fat arms

The round badge lion and/or newer fierce iteration lion is fine.

If it's the overall theme we don't like I'd even consider a fierce lion head but that won't happen either.

It's definitely not worse than the Lerner one. That's insane. Lerner's lion had no claws, a gammy leg, and looked like a 2 year old had drawn it.

This may be too aggressive, and not to your taste, but to claim its worse than Lerner's effort is truly insulting. 

Absolutely **** cursed. Emery, you miracle worker, please get us one more win.

13 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

It has been a predictable utter shit show for the Conservatives and Labour have further consolidated their position up and down the country. The Lib Dems are continuing to recover from their mid 2010s hammering and could take several seats down south from the Tories. And the greens could well take a few seats in the general election now.  We will just have to wait another four months until the conservatives put everyone out of their misery and call an election. It seems the Tories cant even be bothered to try and get rid of Sunak, they have accepted their fate for a total hammering in the fall.

No point replacing him. They'll lose whoever is in. Far better to give someone a clean slate.

I'm sure you're supposed to get more pro tory as you got older, but I'm sure I'm finding them more repugnant by the week.

Not that I like Labour either.

Politics is shit. But thankfully so are SHA so what a glorious day! 

I just liked the fact Andy Street didn't charge us for his work

Seemed to be doing a decent job from my perspective, but then I'm not sure where the remit of the Mayor ends and theres plenty of shit to sort out.

Not sure it needs to be taken as a sign labour are winning the next election, that was already a forgone conclusion.  Let's hope being Labour brings more advantages than having been Andy Street would have.

6 hours ago, leemond2008 said:

They deserved to get relegated, their fans can count on 2 hands how many games they actually won this season.

 

Underrated comment

14 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

At 2-2 we should have gone on to win it, the bailey and diaby link up was on shame it took us so long to find, game could have gone either way 

Long hard season and it's showing, beat Brighton all but secure top 4 then go full strength 

Still think we can win but it'll take something special 

Think we would have done if the ref didn't want them to win. That penalty call would never have been given at the other end of the pitch. Whether you feel it was a penalty or not,  Villa would not have got they penalty off this ref. That killed us.

My view was his arm was already there before the ball even reached the opposition. It was protecting his face as he jumped and turned and then momentum carried it to where it was. Totally natural and no movement towards the ball that then hit him at point blank range. Arguably stupid by Luiz and he should have been braver and allowed his pretty face to get a ball in it, but not a penalty.

Oh Ollie. So close. Did the hard bit. 

Wouldn't it be nice if we can beat Brighton, Spurs lose to Liverpool and then we can focus on the second leg and not worry about 4th place.

Luiz totally lost his confidence. Slow to do anything now.

1 minute ago, Raymond said:

I would like a full inquiry into what has happened to Luiz over the last two months. 

He got back with Lehmann?