Villanbee

We're away on Sunday.

That pretty much sums up what I thought it would be. A bar for existing Upper Holte supporters to pay a bit more to get there early and have drinks pre-match in nicer surroundings than the existing concourses. An alternative to going to the pub pre match and to encourage the fans to spend their money in the ground rather than down the road. The kind of place you wouldn't mind sitting down and spending an hour or two pre-game (which is not what the concourses are designed to do). Turn up in the usual way through normal turnstile, go to HETV, tap debit/credit card at the door for the entrance fee and go in. The club were always trying to get fans into the stadium early and that would tick all the boxes. Something that would enhance the experience for existing Holte End ticket holders who wish to enter the ground early for a reasonable price whilst increasing the club's opportunity for volume food and drink sales. Instead what we've been given is a hospitality facility for anyone who is in a position to splash the cash to attend (including football tourists and, I suspect, covert away fans) at the detriment (see examples in earlier posts) of the existing Holte End ticket holders who have all had to stomach a sizeable ticket price increase. It was never going to go down well, was it?

Again, re. Hannah Hampton, it's all speculation of course as we've never been told the actual situation. But if DvD was coming in regardless of whether Hannah stayed at Villa, I think moving to Chelsea was understandable, assuming she goes out on loan (which seems to be the plan). Her England place would be under threat if she ended up sitting on our bench for much of the season which, if competing with DvD, would be a distinct possibility. A loan move will give her the game time she needs. Then following a season or two on loan, if she impresses, she could have a real chance of replacing Ann Katrin Berger (who is 33 in October) as Chelsea's number 1 in the long term.

I think one of the issues is, if they upgrade the facilities in the Upper Holte to what they should already be (quick access to beers, decent loos, good food quality and quick service) many of the reasons for accessing the Terrace View are diminished.

If they provide the level of service in the Upper Holte that they should, then many of the reasons for the existence of the Terrace View are negated Want a quick pint pre, post or during match? Should be standard. Want to use decent toilet facilities without having to queue for ages? Should be standard. Ah yes, but you get a couple of drinks and a programme. A programme is already easy to get. A pint is about £5.50 I think. A programme £3.50? So the two pints and a programme come in at around £15. You get to watch games on TV screens... There are TV screens all over the concourses. Assuming an upgrade is £25 for a Holte End season ticket holder, it's whether I want to spend around a tenner to sit in a nice room or on a terrace which for a good portion of the season will be a no go because of the cold, rain etc... and get decent WiFi. No thanks. It's a contradiction. The Holte End experience it is selling is about mixing with fans and atmosphere. You don't get that sitting in a lounge or surfing the net on your phone. And I totally get that the issue is with the club, not the fans who use it and who, at the end of the day, are just taking the club up on a service offered. But like I said, if the facilities in the Holte were what they should be, then I don't really see any reason for the existence of the Terrace View. So then it literally becomes a season ticket queue jump facility dressed up in some finery or an opportunity for football tourists (as well as Villa fans who can't get individual match tickets) to attend games (at £95 to £130 a match) on an individual match basis. How long before they start giving away half and half scarves as part of the individual match day experience package? How many Birmingham based Liverpool, Man U etc fans will be buying Terrace View tickets for their games later this season?

Ok. My feelings... The lanyard thing. It's like the person who goes into a pub and deliberately lays down their keys on the bar with the Porsche key ring facing upwards. When people are walking amongst others displaying (whether intentional or not) something that could be perceived as one-upmanship, it's hardly surprising that some will take exception. Surely a wristband is enough or, heaven forbid, a ticket which can be put in a pocket. Corporate facilities are the norm at football grounds and everyday fans don't really give them a second thought. What grates is the way that this has been done in the Upper Holte. The perception that it's a season ticket queue jump for those who can afford it combined with the perception that it is reducing the already poor facilities for the vast majority of ticket holders in the Upper Holte to improve facilities for those that can afford to pay a significant sum extra. What's sad is that the service in the Holte Terrace is what the rest of the fans in the Holte should be getting anyway. Access to a toilet without queuing and being able to get served quickly when wanting a pint is surely a minimum, not premium, sevice requirement. If you want corporate facilities in the Holte, fine. But make sure you compensate by providing the other fans with the facilities they should be getting too. When I arrived, the floor by the Upper Holte turnstiles was covered in cement dust stains today. It looked like a quick mop had been put around (badly) before the builders knocked off. I bet the floor in the Terrace View didn't look like that. There is bad feeling amongst many of the fans in the Upper Holte and it's understandable.

The atmosphere raised a bit when our 4th went in, but I can understand why the atmosphere dropped off. I sit near the top of the Holte and it was as quiet as I've ever heard it. It was like watching a training game. There was more intensity in the Lazio friendly. It was the most comfortable win I've seen for as long as I can remember. We were just going through the motions after the 4th went in, and Everton seemed to have given up. In circumstances like that, it's hardly surprising the ground wasn't rocking.

Absolutely agree. It appears that Sarina has never been convinced that Daly is her best option up front, which strikes me as baffling. Her all round game is so good. The team didn't play to her strengths. Even at wing back, they were not bringing her into the game enough. The ball was constantly on Bronze's side of the pitch and Bronze was having a poor game. Unless she was injured, it was a baffling decision to substitute her. I've not heard anything, but have been at Villa Park this afternoon. For me, James should have been on for Toone and Daly pushed up front. To finish a World Cup final with Millie Bright up front... Shades of Chris Samba for Villa.

Just a day when everything that went wrong did. Mings going off changes everything. Apart from everything else, we know how unorganised our defence is without him. Nevertheless, up until the Konsa error we were still in it. The substitution of McGinn for Carlos just made things worse. Cash missed that chance and we fell apart. 2 players in a back 3, one of whom has barely played competitively for a year and the other making his Premier League debut, against Newcastle was always going to be a tough ask. We were like rabbits in headlights for the last 25 minutes.

Unbelievably poor. No excuses for that. Sure she'll say it was accidental, but with VAR you simply can't do stuff like that. This has been poor from everyone, including the manager. Subs too late. The formation which worked well against a poor China hasn't been effective today. Should have been changed at half time.

I stopped listening ages ago. Both to the station in general and the phone-in specifically. Rego leaving was the beginning of the end. Then Franksy stopped doing the football phone in and it was never the same again. The station used to be so good, but I wonder what their listening figures are like now. There's probably a wider debate to be had about the need for local radio in the modern era of YouTube and social media.

I'd love to know the take up of the season ticket in this lounge. £1500 to watch from the Upper Holte! And I wonder how many of those are, deep down, not interested at all in the actual facilities, they are just desperate for a season ticket no matter where they end up in the ground? The equivalent of paying for one of those queue jump passes at Alton Towers. I love my seat in the Upper Holte, but it is the cheapest seat in the ground. Crazy to think that someone could be sitting next to me paying that kind of money. Still, they get a couple of beers (which they can't take to their seat), a programme and the ability to surf the net rather than watch the football!

Definitely. Let's get him back where he belongs. So right about the love for those Championship pros. We named our puppy Elmo a few weeks ago. And let's just say it wasn't because of Sesame Street!

Just listening to commentary. 'England need Rachel Daly at left back ' She probably is the best left back in the squad simply because she has such a strong all round game. She can defend, cross, hold the ball, score... But it makes me wonder why Maz Pacheco doesn't get a look in. Her stats were excellent this year. She had more interceptions than any other WSL player. She is good going forward. Pacheco at left back and Daly up front.

If she is at left back she can certainly do the job. No different to last year, I suppose, when she was left back for England but a striker for Dash. But I can't help but think it's a waste. As Villa fans we're all biased of course but as far as I'm concerned, and the stats prove it, she's our best striker and should be starting up front. Either way, if the strikers have to feed on scraps, as they did against Haiti, then it will be a difficult game. That midfield have to create more. Daly at left back, getting forward whenever possible, might also help that.

I often think about what might have been if Graham Taylor had not left in 1990. But Villa in that era is filled with What It's. That year when we finished second under big Ron... Over those years, when we had a real chance to kick on, we didn't. And when we did bring in exciting signings some failed to deliver (Guy Whittingham and Collymore a few years later). But I feel as positive about Villa as I ever have since. Unai Emery is the best manager we've had since Graham Taylor.

I'll always remember Trevor Francis because he played for Sheffield Wednesday in my first ever game at Villa Park in Feb 1990. He'd joined them earlier that month from QPR for whom he'd scored the aforementioned hat trick at Villa Park earlier in the season. He came on as a sub. The Blues relationship and the hat-trick meant he got all kinds of abuse all game from the Holte. 13 year old me thought it was all great fun! What a great player he was. RIP Trevor Francis.

Yep. Seemed a strange decision to leave her out. She instantly made a difference but they were chasing the game by then. Silly challenge by Bunny Shaw at the end. You don't go sliding in like that in that position on the pitch when you are on a booking. Gave the ref no option.

Kenza Dali on the bench for France v Jamaica.

Definitely. One of the reasons Daly has been so good for us is her link up with Kenza Dali. She doesn't have that understanding with any of the England players.

That was shocking. Credit to Haiti but really, this should have been a comfortable win for England. We look rusty and lacking cohesion. Seriously worried about that defence.

So right. But this year, Villa are going to change that. Daly puts away that Russo chance on 5 minutes. Scuffed shot straight at keeper.

See if Kenza Dali can persuade Eugenie Le Sommer to take a trip across the Channel. That'd really show we mean business. Seriously though, if we don't land Hansen then that's some player to replace if we want to improve.

This is a fantastic signing. Unless we hear differently, we shouldn't just assume that Hannah decided she was going to leave so we had to look for a replacement. What I wonder is whether this signing was the catalyst for Hannah deciding to move on or whether Hannah decided to move on and that prompted this signing? Sitting on our bench would be no good for Hannah and her England prospects. It's been stated elsewhere that should she sign for Chelsea as expected, it's likely she'll be loaned out. Carla seemed very excited in a recent interview about incoming signings. I have a suspicion that this isn't going to be the only one! What a great time to support this wonderful club.

Hi all. Season ticket holder in Upper Holte. Been a Villa fan since the Graham Taylor years. Long time reader of forum. Time to start contributing. UTV.