Updated: Attendance Watch For Villa Games

Looking at those figures, this season average will be between 35k and 37k.

It is still tough times, in fact the recession has hit a lot of people late. I know a good few who haven't renewed and are actually not going to many games at all, sadly due to the type of footie at the moment, they say they aren't actually missing it.

Lots of issues that are affecting attendances. Recession, lack of money around, two live games at home in four days, poor weather, dogs got fleas, cat has a poorly tummy, poor results, Randolph has no money left. However there are more reasons for fans to turn up than ever before. We no longer have he who can not be named. Even though results arent as good as we would hope it is not down to lack of effort and the team are actually having a go. On Tuesday I think we may well have played the most inexperienced, youngest defence ever seen in the Premier League. We were missing two centre halfs, the Club Captain, a left back, a £10m winger and our record signing was not selected. we have a manager and a young team who need and would get the all important extra confidence that a loyal and vocal home support can give. When times are tough that is when to stand up and be counted and that is when you show your support. It is easy coming along to the odd cup final, in the warm or when the team is doing well (I think the terms fair weather, fickle or glory hunter may well apply in many cases). I understand all the reasons why people can not attend. However if we were playing Barcelona on Tuesday night and the prices had been double the ground would have been full. So despite the many who can not turn up because of all the reasons stated above the simple facts are that too many Villa fans base their decision on when to attend on the team we are playing. It we would have got 28,000 against Barcelon then you can say that it is because of all the reasons stated above. If not then it is simply down to lack of support. Fortunately we have a decent amount of supporters who go to support the club regardless of the opposition because they go to support the Villa, not watch our opponents.