villanwesty88

I think that there is no reason why we can't get both.

I mean we will only play 3 more games in the League Cup (should we get to Wembley), will it have that much of a bearing on the rest of our season?

General, I hope that you are having a good festive period.

I just wondered if there is any news on having cash machines at Villa Park? I have forgotten to withdraw money before a match in the past and I always buy food and a programme...Sometimes when its raining I don't feel like walking up to Tesco to get cash...

It would just increase convenience for fans.

Also some cash machines charge £1 or £1.50 to withdraw your money....I would be happy if Villa charged £1 to withdraw money if the money went to Acorns. I also think a lot of people would be happy to do this. A win-win situation for fans and Acorns if this could happen.

Thanks, Matt.

I think his biggest mistake was not making a couple more signings in January 2009 because the club was in a strong position in the table, yet with a weak squad. I have no doubt that he tried to get the players in, but was probably stubborn on prices (credit to him in one way because we do not want to be held to ransom like citeh). This led to the collapse in my opinion - not rotating the side enough and the side almost picked itself at times.

However, we now have a good squad and this January we are not looking desperate for a signing - an additional forward would be nice of course.

All managers make mistakes - the good ones learn from them.

3. Another big IF...IF we are in the delightful position of selling Final tickets to Villa fans (Please God), how about giving the Holte and North lower regulars the opportunity to sit together at Wembley, so that we take the Villa Park atmosphere with us and don't spread our noisy people out too much. Plus, for myself, as a Doug Ellis upper season-ticket holder I wouldn't wanna sit behind the goal net for example, so people could have the same kind of seat at Wembley as they normally do. How feasible this is I just don't know.

This is definitely possible - I am originally from Torquay and I went to watch them at Wembley at the end of the season in the play-off final. The club set up an option of sitting in the "pop stand" (noisey fans) or just normal. Me and "sellyoakvilla" sat in the noisey section and it was an absolutely cracking atmosphere despite it being a conference play off final. (This was after going to Middlesbrough in fancy dress the day before, slept about 2 hours!)

If a "Holte End" section was introduced should we get to the promised land it would make a huge difference!

General,

Please pass on my thanks to Randy, the board and MON for the trasfer window. I think we have made some astute signings strengthening areas that we have been weak in for some time.

I always know that Randy will put his money where his mouth his and that you have a plan, we never despair under your reign at Villa and forever may it continue!

Up the Villa!

Hi General,

I just wanted to ask you for your opinions on Nike - of course the kit supplier of Aston Villa FC.

At university we have looked at Nike, Adidas, Primark and other brands and I was astonished when I learned of what goes on in their factories in poor countries across the world. They have a huge amount of employees and they exploit a of their lot workers it would seem.

You only have to type in “Nike sweatshops” on Google and it throws up thousands on websites on this.

Nike have admitted that hundreds of factories in 2003 and 2004 and found cases of "abusive treatment", physical and verbal, in more than a quarter of its south Asian plants.

Also, between 25% and 50% of the factories in the region restrict access to toilets and drinking water during the workday. The same percentage deny workers at least one day off in seven.

In more than half of Nike's factories, employees worked more than 60 hours a week. In up to 25%, workers refusing to do overtime were punished. Many employees have to work overtime (around 100 hours a month) just to live. Wages were also below the legal minimum at up to 25% of factories.

I think it is fair to say NOT ONE OF US would put up with such working conditions in the UK or US.

Since the lectures on this it has made me think about our kit – one fantastic thing is ‘ACORNS’ but it seems to be contradicted by the ‘NIKE’ logo in my eyes.

We were one of the first clubs to support a charity as our sponsor, but perhaps we should go one step further and create more history by becoming the first club to bring in an organic kit or ‘fair trade’ kit. Then, we as supporters can be safe in our mind that we have not purchased merchandise that somebody has had to make under such terrible conditions.

I know this is something that would take a long time to sort out and discuss but would it ever be a possibility?

Thanks.

General

I would like to echo the views of others - fantastic gesture by the club to get a day on like this. Really looking forward to it - will you be there General?

Just one question, just wondering why this match is a category B and not 'Villa Value' ? (Not that i'm moaning, i'd rather put more money in for games that are low key if we carry on bringing in good players this summer! )

Thank you very much General, up the Villa!!

The Beautiful South - Rotterdam

The part of the song I am using starts at 49seconds on the above link.

I think this could work on a European night, simple and effective:

we won in rotterdam in 82

brought the cup back home

and 82 will come again

with randy at the throne

randy at the throne....

what do you think guys?

best of buying a decent pair cos if your eyes get ruined you won't be able to see Villa next season 8)

Hi general,

This is off topic with everything else that is being said. I read that you pass on a lot of things said on here, which is fantastic, I wonder if maybe you could pass this on.

I have just been watching on the BBC website a clip about how talent from The Channel Islands is not discovered: BBC

Matt Le Tissier and Graeme Le Saux came from there and I think it is a great opportunity for a team to scout British talent that nobody else is really looking at, especially a club like us with a lot of English talent. Scunthorpe have said they will look over there : BBC

Lets beat them to it, who knows the next big thing could be from their? May be worth a scouting mission General? 8)

Thanks

1000000% YES! in MON we trust

I know a lot of fans are downbeat with our form lately, but in the league it is not as bad. We won a load of games before losing to Chelsea (always difficult) drawing with Stoke (bad result) and Man City (tough away day) forget the cups now because they are gone, the league is still there - I know we are not on great from, but I still think we can finish 4th, we must all believe and it can happen.

People are writing us off for 4th already, great, we play better when are underdogs anyway.

So many points to play for who knows what may happen.

Lets get right behind them.

Dear General,

I am curious to know whether you have any plans for the PA system at Villa Park? Some other fans on here have said it is too noisey and not clear enough. It would be really great if they turned it off before kick off to help the fans get some chants going. We are the 12th man, but the 12th man gets washed away in the PA noise before games. I wonder if this is part of the reason behind why we tend to fall 1-0 behind at home?

Keep up the good work General

whos that going down the right wing? is it james milner? is it james milner?

the automatic - monster

haha nice1 sellyoak! sounds better than the current chant lol

Ashleyyyy Young, Young, Young,

Goes past defenders just for fun,

Ashley Young, Young, Young,

You won't catch him on the run,

Down the left, down the right,

He'll make your defence look shite,

Ashley Young, Young, Young,

he is **** dynamite!

....Ashleyyy Young, Young Young.....

Does this sound better than the previous chant I posted (page 128)??....no references now to SHA!

UTV

ok thanks for the tips , will try n make it better!

how does your 'forever young chant' go ??

UTV

It is about time we had a new song for ashely Young!! I have come up with this. Will sing it at Sunderland if you think its anygood?

to the tune of agadoo

ashlleeeeyyyyyyyy young, young, young,

goes past defenders just for fun,

ashley young young young,

he scored against the scum,

down the left, down the right

he made the the city boys look shite,

ashley young young young

AND HES fukin dynamiteeeeeeee......

....aassshhlleeeyyy young young young.....

UTV