Gareth Barry Calls For Vocal Home Support

I think the fans have been vocal this year, ok the noise of late has had a few boo's as well but sometimes the players have to give in order to get the fans going, just the same as sometimes it takes the fans to lift the players?

I have maintained for years that it is the fans who hold the key for this club. All the top clubs in the world have great fan bases. We drop off too quick when results aren't good (other than in the late 60's and early 70's), we invariably only turn up for the big games (although this hasn't been quite so bad over the last couple of years). I actually think a home game against Bolton (7000 empty seats this season) is a big as a game as against Manure. Playing Manure may have a more glamorous appeal but is still worth the same three points. We are fickle. We boo at the first sign of anything being other than perfect. Having travelled around most grounds in the country I can state we are the only fans that sing 'what the f*** is going on' whenever we are losing a home game and a player has the cheek to make a mistake!!! I do not think fans have the intelligence to see the irony of singing 'empty seats my lord' to visiting fans, when there are thousands of empty Villa seats. These same fans then go to away matches and sing 'your ground is too big for you' whenever we play another poorly supported club who, like us can very rarely fill our stadium. No one ever talks about the magnificent Villa Park support in the way they talk about the supposed great support of the Barcodes and Murderpool (even though we know how poor the supporters of these clubs actually are). When M'ON came to the club we would all have been happy to be in the postion we are now. That is, challenging for the Champions League, a local lad being one of the top English scorers in the league, a team packed with young English talent and the owners turning down huge offers for our players. But no, it is not good enough for some. Half a dozen poor results and the fickleness and fan apprehension sweeps down from the terraces. I actually think that some people believe that by creating tension and getting on our own players backs makes them play better. Muppets. There are times when fan protest is right, especially when it is evident over a number of years things are not right. But no, we are challenging for the top 3 (I think 2nd and 1st are out of reach) and we are still having the players asking fans to get behind the team. If you have jeered or booed any player this season then you should be thouroughly ashamed. I sit next to some fans who sit at the top of the Holte, who the only time you hear them is when they are complaining. And on the occasions I have been in the Trinity Road this season, it is a million times worse. You do not hear any vocal support or encouragement for the team even when it is going well. But soon as somebody misplaces a pass they soon pipe up. There are even fans behind the dug outs who never give any vocal support to the team, but who start gobbing off to M'ON when things aren't to their liking. Unbelievable!If you are a fan who never gives vocal support, but is happy to dish out the negative verbals that spreads through the club like a cancer, then you should be ashamed. Dress it up how you like. Make the excuses if you feel the need. Typically people say 'I have paid and I am entitled to boo'. That is correct but it doesn't mean that it is right. There are no excuses. Many Villa supporters (and it is not just a minority) let down our great club. Rant over.

murderpool really nice touch that.

Cesspool as we prefer to call them over our way!

voiceoftheholte - I couldn't agree more! I remember being in the Holte 20 years ago and listening to our fans booing Kevin Gage - a player who had been a major factor in us staying up the previous season... It is STILL happening and it is embarrassing. I wish that our away support was replicated at Villa Park - then we could legitimately claim the best fans in the country. Medzy - stop reading the twisted press reports and realize that they print just the stuff that will stir a response... you're surely more intelligent than that!! David O'Leary was/is arrogant and I'm glad he's gone, but he was right in his description of a portion our fans....

Folks, not interested in having another nasty thread about Hillsborough. For goodness sake let the poor souls who passed away that day rest in peace and move on.

I know I know. I couldn't help myself and I should of refrained from highlighting the serious downfalls of the Murderpool supporters. Sorry. However it seems that all the moaners from Villa Park do not want to come on here and say why they feel the need to abuse our own team. Other than col8 who says if we are doing well suppoters will cheer and if we aren't then fans shouldn't be bothered. It is that sort of fickle attitude that permeates VP and leads to the negative attitude we so often see. Any muppet can sing when we are winning. It is the true supporters who still give the support when we are losing. And that doesn't mean after 1 or 2 games, it means season in season out.

no, some of the games have been very poor this season Mickey, not just you saying or thinking it. I'll still be going though, maybe I need to get a life but in the meantime, season after season it is down to the Villa I go! lol

Fair enough, I know things arent awful and we are well off as a club, as good as its been for a long time. Its just i have never been overly concerned about exactly where we are in the league, champs league qualification etc. My mates obsess over it, i just love watching the Villa, ever since I started going to the Villa seeing us spank the old dons 7-1 I just wanted to enjoy the Saturday (or whatever day) we play. It hardly seems to me that a lot of people do enjoy, most fans are on edge straight away because every 3 points seems so crucial. Of course im happier if we do well, and seeing us win a cup again would be amazing despite what I say, but I do feel some of the stuff MON will dress up as 'splendid' is awful as a spectator, but is effective for the most part. Think its maybe just me growing older and getting less enthusiastic about things in general lol.

Away from home the support is second to none. The supporters come together and create a tremendous atmosphere. Sadly that is not always the case at Villa Park, although lets be fair here. The noise volume and atmosphere is way, way better than it ever was in the Doug Ellis days.