Aston Villa Protest Group

[dont_do_it_doug.]

10 minutes ago, StefanAVFC said:

This is where I'm at.

I'm surprised I must admit. 

Let me reiterate a point I have tried to make over and over again here and elsewhere. This is the start of a movement, not the be-all-and-end-all. The objective is very, very clear - it is intended as a display of strength. A declaration of "war" in a sense. If that isn't enough for some, fine. If we fail and there are only a handful of us walking out the door, fine. Shit happens. I speak for all of us though, I think, when I say I'd simply not be able to hold my head up any longer if I sat back and watched @MikeMcKenna take on the bastards who have bought us to our knees on his own. 

Maybe it's a bit too "socialist" and "liberal" for some? But isn't that what football at it's very core is all about? Standing together, supporting on another?

Criticisms are appreciated though and we are trying to be as clear and concise as we can. 

[markavfc40]

2 hours ago, Rob182 said:

My issue is that I'm still not sure what we're trying to do,

I'm backing Out The Door on 74 obviously and this question of why and what do you hope to achieve is now a relatively simple one for me. I think crowds are going to drop off massively now and I fully expect that the home support will be around 20-22k made up of around 18k season ticket holders and a couple of thousand others. You really are down to those that will go because they have a season ticket and those that will go because going shit or shine is in their blood and they just can't break the habit. The kind of supporters who appreciate that whilst others have decided as a way of protesting to stop going they simply can't contemplate a total boycott. I put myself in that group. This action though of leaving my seat 16 minutes before full time gives me and others the opportunity to make a stand and my feelings known that whilst not being prepared to turn my back on going I am not a door mat and that my support needs to be valued and can't be taken for granted. It gives me the opportunity to send a message to the board and the owner that I have had enough. You have neglected my club, the club I love, through shear incompetence and mismanagement.

I am calling on the board to have a change in direction and come up with a clear, concise strategy and communicate it to the fans about how they intend to right the wrongs of the last five seasons. No bullshit, no sound bites a clear plan that includes the required investment in the squad as one thing is for sure this squad will not get us back up.

To take no action is not an option for me now. Barring a miracle we are not staying up but even if that miracle occurred without a change of direction we would be in the same position next season just as we have for the last 5 seasons. For me this club stagnating in the Championship for years is a very real possibility and I wouldn't rule out us dropping again. This has been coming for five years and as a fan base we have shown way too much patience and belief that those in charge should know best and, aside from calling for a few managers heads and making them scapegoats, we have done sweet FA. Whilst I am not prepared to boycott the games I am not prepared to watch this club slide any further either without acting and making my feelings known that enough is enough and a change, be it in owner or direction, needs to happen. These planned walks outs give me the opportunity to do just that.

Edited February 24, 2016 by markavfc40

[MikeMcKenna]

Mike McKenna ‏@Hmmckenna 5m5 minutes ago

AVFC v Everton 1st March 2016 - "The End of an Era?" See new article https://www.facebook.com/outthedooron74 Please share and RT @OTDO74 #OuttheDooron74

[Marka Ragnos]

1 hour ago, MikeMcKenna said:

Mike McKenna ‏@Hmmckenna 5m5 minutes ago

AVFC v Everton 1st March 2016 - "The End of an Era?" See new article https://www.facebook.com/outthedooron74 Please share and RT @OTDO74 #OuttheDooron74

I can only speak to the online effort because that's the only way I can participate, but I've so far found it an exciting, simple, and increasingly visible vehicle for expressing my concern. As a supporter from abroad, I'm immensely grateful to you fellows and have tried to tweet the crap out of the hashtag.

For me, speaking only for myself, the Twitter/FB #OTDO74 campaigns are useful amplications of the bricks-and-mortar effort, which, ironically, is almost secondary to me.

(What is the end-purpose of all this? To me, and again, speaking only for myself, it's firstly a way to express feelings on as large a stage as possible. Secondly, I do hope it punctures the "bunker" mentality of the powers that be and gets them communicating more volubly.)

Edited February 24, 2016 by Marka Ragnos

[MikeMcKenna]

Some positive comments (not all) from Everton forum Grand Old Team that I have posted on. Wish I saw more like this from other Villa fans:

 

we are still mostly greeting our prospective american overlords as liberators. you might have more solidarity in 5 years time.

but seriously though, best of luck. if the premier league is to swerve become like insipid american sports with canned atmosphere and facile diversions for tourists then supporters will need to cooperate much more in asserting themselves.

I like Villa, proper club, very good travelling support, being driven into the floor by no-mark yanks! i hope we do the right thing on the day, there should only be one team an Evertonian hates!!!

 

Bluebonic, Yesterday at 5:24 PM Report

#35 Like + Quote Reply

 

Almost certain to go down. Hopefully it doesn't kill your club. Too many real clubs getting replaced by scrubs like the Bournemouths and Brightons of this world.

 

 

Layne, Yesterday at 3:07 PM

 

Good luck with your protest, it is a shame that such a historic club is in such a mess.

Hope you bounce straight back up and Everton/Villa continue to rack up the numbers on the most played fixture.

 

LinekersLegs, Yesterday at 3:11 PM

attended all 3 of the games in '77 and despite them breaking my heart I have always for some reason had a soft spot for Villa. As stated, I don't know what this can achieve, but I certainly wish you good luck.

Our travelling fans will ridicule and laugh at you all day (and so would I if I was there, it's just par for the course innit ?) but I hope they respect the depth of your feeling and give some respectful applause as you leave.

 

kev, Yesterday at 5:05 PM Report

#33 Like + Quote Reply

I've always quite liked Villa, proper old club and all that. Kind of like Wolves, who are one of my favourite 'other' teams. I can't stand Birmingham or West Brom - just tedious clubs with no history.

Similar to the North-East. I've had a lot of Geordie mates through work and my sister's college days over the years, so I'll always like Newcastle and, to a lesser extent, Sunderland. Now Middlesboro, I'd be happy if they went out of business...

See also: Sheffield (Wednesday Good, United Bad) and Bristol (Rovers Good, City Bad). In fact, Bristol Rovers are my all-time Favourite Other Team

 

Pilks, Yesterday at 11:55 PM

 

[VillaChris]

Surely the objective is to get Lerner to sell the club.

Does anyone out really think Aston Villa in 2-3 years time will be back in the prem and being a major force again e.g. finishing 6th or thereabouts with Randy Lerner still the owner?

We tried under him, we couldn't take the final step and we continue now in terminal decline under his "leadership."

We all want to see us be a competitive force in the division we're in. We have ceased to be that in the premier league and my big fear now is we won't even be competitive in the championship, at least in regards a top 6 finish.

I want fresh impetus, fresh leadership, fresh investment, basically a new beginning for us as there are going to be no glory days with Lerner still here, it would've been the biggest robbery in football history if we'd finally won the FA cup under his leadership, the one live game he bothered to attend let's remember.

Anyway what I would like from this protest and the following ones is Randy Lerner to drop his price from 150m to 100m. I'd imagine they'd be more interest in that. Lerner has no right continuing to demand 150m when we'll have a massive drop in income. He can't be buying a club in the premier league for 64m and then demanding 150m when the club isn't even in the premier league anymore, that's bonkers.

So yeah if I was doing one of these interviews excellent conducted by Mike and Mark (thought the Mark one on SSN was top class yesterday) I would be saying...I am protesting because I want Lerner to drop his price and sell the club. I'm not saying the new owners are going to be perfect but please let's try something new.

Of course Lerner won't suddenly drop the price because a few people leave here and there but eventually enough shouting and protesting does change minds and force change on occasions as much as relegation will probably change the circumstances of the sale.

That would be my response anyway to the mission statement of the protest.

[heid3ster]

11 hours ago, Chewie said:

Hey guys,

Can we get retweets the following, please...

Thanks guys and gals.

I retweeted the shit out of that. Fully behind everyone's efforts here and I'd pass out flyers at VP if I could be there. In fact, if I had the money, I'd fly out for the game just to attend and walk out! Great work by Mike, Mark, Doug, Chewie and everyone.

I'll turn off my On Demand stream at 74 minutes in solidarity.

[dounavilla]

Yes, could be on the lines of asking Lerner to become a "motivated" seller.

Edited February 24, 2016 by dounavilla

[Duck]

Surely the selling of Bolton for £7.5m is a wake up call for randy.

If we keep falling at the current rate we could be in a similar position in a few years... Minus all the debt hopefully.

Id rather take £100m than £7m any day. 

[VillaChris]

12 minutes ago, dounavilla said:

Yes, could be on the lines of asking Lerner to become a "motivated" seller.

Relegation will probably do that job but it would co-incident with Supporter's dissent becoming very active so the two could merge slightly.

Just as long as the club is sold at some stage in the next 10 months that would do me tbh and make all these walkouts worthwhile.

[Zatman]

We need try get David Bradley involved, could be like the Claret and Blue wedding

[MikeMcKenna]

In my opinion my best tweets today:

Brian Little Walks On Water LALALALA LALA LA

Randy's Pockets Couldn't get Shorter LALALALA LALA LA

@OTDO74 #outthedooron74

We had Dion, Dion Dublin in the air

Now we've got Randy, Randy who doesn't care

@OTDO74 #outthedooron74

[Chewie]

Final #OTDO74 video is up lads, massive thanks to @GENTLEMAN for doing the editing-

 

[Chewie]

Get retweeting the above please everyone.

[MikeMcKenna]

Shaun Teale tweeted OTDO74 Video last night on my request and today put the following on the AVFC Fight Like Lions FB Page

Shaun Teale And this is the contempt they hold for us as supporters...they need a giant reality check ....now is the time for us supporters to show our solidarity to each other and our club

https://www.facebook.com/groups/758706104256032/?multi_permalinks=860908817369093&notif_t=group_highlights

[Butterfingers]

Dave "holier than thou" Woodhall staying till the end "because I support Aston Villa." Funny how its never stopped him missing no end of kick offs in the past because he's more concerned with selling his fanzine.

Get your head out of your backside Dave-This is bigger than internet forum rivalries.

[markavfc40]

16 minutes ago, Butterfingers said:

 

Get your head out of your backside Dave-This is bigger than internet forum rivalries.

This is the small minded mentality that you come up against and makes selling this idea tougher than it should be.

Edited February 25, 2016 by markavfc40

[MikeMcKenna]

1 hour ago, Butterfingers said:

Dave "holier than thou" Woodhall staying till the end "because I support Aston Villa." Funny how its never stopped him missing no end of kick offs in the past because he's more concerned with selling his fanzine.

Get your head out of your backside Dave-This is bigger than internet forum rivalries.

Pity so many of the 'faces' of the old protests have been so anti. Many of same people are the ones who always used to complain about Apathy. Nothing can be done to unite fans anymore, just have to respect the differing opinions - nothing else we can do now. 

[VillaChris]

Anyone want to get the chant going on the Holte during the night...it's an nice easy one to do as it's the same as Villa go marching in....."Out the door....on 74... I wanna be in that number etc."

Would be amusing if 10k are spending that as loudly as possible for minutes on end. Might tempt a few of the undecided to join in aswell.

[Fairy In Boots]

I'm sorry if you're supporting a group of players that by and large mostly don't give a flying ####, over your fellow fans in at least trying to make a statement you need your head looking at. 

I know we don't want this to descend into fan bickering and I've toned down my intial impulsive reaction to nay Sayers here and there on all platforms of social media but I genuinely can't see what possible logic you can have for not using this opportunity to protest.