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macmccarthy
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Im actually surprised at myself, for once i fully agree with you and was waiting for something like this to happen. i think we need a real sales and marketing exec in the club, one who knows about PR and how to promote the club without shafting the fans. |
Jonny Law
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Price increases are inevitable. Randy Lerner has put a lot of money into the club, and MON will be spending money in the summer. Things need to be balanced. My ticket last year was reduced in price, I believe, and this season will go up £25, which equates to £1.30ish extra per game. Not a monsterous increase 6% as you say. The kids increase is much large in relative terms 32% because these tickets are much cheaper. But I agree the policy does seem to be aimed at getting kids into the family area. We go in a group of blokes and my mate also has a kids season ticket which he rotates between his lads and his nephew and neice. If the cost is so much more that kind of arrangement is possible. The club seems to ahve reduced the price for the lower North Stand (again). The concessionary prices for kids looks to be very good to me, split at u12s, u16s and u21s even (admitedly not in the cat 1 areas for u21s). While no-one likes a price increase I think you're jumping up and down a bit excessively. It's an expensive do watching PL football, and if you want cheap seats you have to go to the more undesirable areas of the ground, that would seem normal to me. |
Gee
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30% increase for a family of 4,what is the percentage per season ticket per family member?? We have been treated low prices and even with the increases we are still among the lowest in the Premiership...Not bad for a top 6 club. Take a look at prices in at the clubs around us and then tell me we're being ripped off! |
swall
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Pure money grabing. Im disappointed with the board, high attendances bring great atmosphere which is one of the reasons 4 our form this season. The board have gone and ruined that and season tickets will b well down nxt season agen |
Damian
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Gee i dont think Doc is saying we're getting ripped off .. read the title of his post swall i've got a sneaky feeling that season sales wont be down .. just a feeling mind |
Melbourne Villans
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I think the analysis by the Doc is a good bit of reading; but I also think a bit of perspective is needed here. We are talking about the Premier League. Its called Premier for a reason. We can't have our cake and eat it. If we want a more professional side that is better resourced on and off the pitch, we all have to dip in and pay a little more for this 'Premier' experience. Randy does have a fair bit of coin, but his love of the Villa only extends so far. I know its becoming less possible to enjoy a family day at the football, but as someone who has had to work hard for two coins to rub together, I never had an expectation of a season ticket. As a result, I've always cherished every opportunity to attend a game, whether it be an FA Cup win against Stoke or a hammering by Man U. It was just nice to be there. If you want a great family day every home game where you can get close to the action, then the Championship and below is a great place for this grass roots experience. Plus the nippers get to see a few lads playing for closer to real persons money and love. |
Dave Pugh
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I think there has to be a blalance of thought, firstly how do out season tick prices compare with the top 10 premership clubs, secoundly if we are all shouting for big named players, because we want to complete with the top 4 and be in europe, then we have to pay to play as the americans say. make your choice!. you can not have it all ways. |
Mattyslost
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I think your being very harsh on the Villa bored here! Put this in comparison when West Ham were relegated they did not lower their prices and put them up as soon as they were promoted again. Villa have been one of if not the cheapest Prem club in recent years!! Doc I think your comments are totally unjustifed. Of course its going to be driven by financials as you put it. AVFC is a business like it or not. I wouldnt mind paying an extra £20 if it meant my team were going to push on to bigger and better things. |
Damian
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Mattyslost Doc doesn't usually comment on his posts, so I tend to defend him occasionally, so re-read what he's written because I don't think his comments are unjustified. He is merely putting across the facts about price increases and not the 7% you're getting everywhere else. The way the club have come out and promoted this 7% is quite laughable because it's not an average - it's just for one ticket. What Doc is saying is, it's a PR mistake and one that they really shouldn't be continuing to make. Tell it as it is and as Doc has said, he'd accept it wholeheartedly - but he's probably woken up this morning, thought 'yeah I'll take 7%' but then found out it's more like 30% for him. It's a PR mistake and one they didn't need to make is the point ... I think. |
eoin1981
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Whilst the PR may be lacking and some of the promotion completely misleading - I still feel that the prices relative to other clubs in th epremier league are fantastic. 'an attempt to command maximum value for' - I am sorry but this exists in every walk of life and the villa board, marketing and sales executives should be fired if they were not looking to do this!! Having said all this, and considering our widely anticipated association with the acorns childrens hospice - I would like to see disabled children given free tickets and maybe there should be some family tickets??? |
villadaz
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The bottom line is that if the team are playing well, we don't care about the odd pound or two. We are still one of the cheapest in the PL. |
Gerry
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I think the prices in the North Stand lower were £200 this season not £300 and have therefore increased by 32%. There are no cheaper tickets anywhere. I also think the "under 21" price in the best seats may have been lower as well. |
Shawthing
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The "7% increase" is a lie - there's no wo ways about it! If Ellis had released the same statement it would have been slated non stop. If you agree with the price increase or not, surely we should not have to put up with bare-faced lies!? |
villafandan
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i can't help feeling that these complaints about communication and PR stem from a rosy, romantic view of football that's disconnected from reality. i can't imagine the PR dept for a rail company, for instance, issuing a statement that reads "hey everyone, our premium, most desirable tickets are increasing several times the rate of inflation. there's bargains elsewhere, in fact some tickets have decreased in price, but we're only here to tell you the bad news. keeping it real baby!! kthxbai" the job of marketing and PR teams is to spin and sell us their product. the desire for straightforward honesty comes from the belief we're "fans" not "customers". out of interest, how much did tickets increase last year?? |
mickey86
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just becaue people are disabled dont mean they deserve cheaper tickets, dont mean to sound like a tw*t in saying it but its true. |
Smithy87
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As a student approaching the age of 21 i will be forced to pay 415 for my season ticket next year in the holte upper as i will be pushed into the "student category". This year i paid 280, which i admit is a bargain but a rise of £135 is outrageous! how are students already saddled with top up fees, expected to afford this kind of price increase?! Its an increase of £70 in the student price for holte upper alone! I appreciate the club's stature is rising but the club is exploiting fans such as myself that have brought season tickets and supported the club through thick and oleary (thin). |
villafandan
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what's outrageous is someone thinking they're entitled to cheap football tickets because they choose to go to school!!! presumably when your degree leads you to a higher paid job you would be equally happy to pay more for your ticket?? no, didn't think so!!! |
SuperSeanUK
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I'm a student too and I was hoping to get my first season ticket next season. Now with the price increase... I'm still hoping to get my first season ticket. I'm more than happy for the prices to increase by more than the rate of inflation because A.) we're still cheaper than a lot of the sides around us and B.) it's probably by hiking up the prices as much as they are that they can afford to go through with the Acorns sponsorship, if indeed that does come to fruition. It sucks when prices go up, but I'd rather they went up more and we had Acorns on our shirts for the season than not. The actual numbers and percentages... I don't know, so I'm not trashing your article, oc, justs aying that I for one don't mind too much and I'll still hopefully be getting a season ticket. |
jurgenpopp
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ive had a ticket for the last 8 seasons, but due to the increases i cant afford it, as im only a student....well done randy |
Alex Barker
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villafandan, what an ignorant point you make. You seem to be arguing that students shouldn't have discounted season tickets. Well the reasons behind this strategy is that students are very valuable to society. They go on to fill some of the vital positions in our society, such as doctors etc. Whilst they are studying they are often not exactly rolling in money, and the fact that they are young and are the future supporters of the club, it is a wise business move to give them discounted tickets. |
satch
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Compare the current and previous prices compared to other clubs we have done very well over the years. I know it is no excuse for the ridiculous high prices of the premier league but it is hardly a surprise and at the end of the day its a business. With the promise of European football and hell champion league in the future I suspect this will be the first price increase of many. I'm not sure how I will fare with the increase in petrol (I live in coventry) and mortgage to consider any price increase hits me hard. |
jaf
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I agree with villafandan, I was a student 10 years ago and i couldnt afford a season ticket so i would go now and again... Why should students get cheaper tickets..? There is the option of getting a part time job, instead of going out on the p**s all the time..! |
Damian
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From Doc: * the product Villa offer is getting better and better and price rises are justified as value is there * the club should simply have made that point: demand is strengthening, the prospects are for even more exciting entertainment and given that prices have been held down for a while while we had to watch dross, the time has come to recognise the added value Villa are offering * I agree that the seat prices still represent excellent value when compared to other clubs * which all means that Villa just don't need to hide behind a ridiculous 7% smokescreen which is simply not true * and the percentage increases for disabled kids and the clear strategy of sending families to the lower North Stand is just silly and irresponsible PR |
j-reezy
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u r a bit of nob villafandan. im villa thru an thru have been since i was a young nippa (7) and now i am 23. im very lucky my mom forks out for my ticket otherwise i wouldnt be able to afford as a student!!! dont get fruity slating students because u didnt go to school. all youngsters should be encouraged to go and this will happen via consessions etc therefore it makes good business sense. |
taglor
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47% increase for disabled under 12s?! F**king disgusting, fat cat bastards, even if it meant we could sign Ronaldo Ronaldinho Henry and Messi I wouldn't want them for that kind of compromise. Western world of greed and people on here even stick up for it, brainwashed morons. |
taglor
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@ mickey86, a society is judged by how well they treat their poor and needy, it's people like you with your me me me mentality that are ruining this country. If you don't know why disabled people deserve exceptions then you really are as bright as bag of coal |
stebe_sutton
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errr... Gee - sorry mate but the last time i did maths a 30% increase in total for a family of four is an average of 30% per individual in the family. Oh and Taglor, everybody is entitled to an opinion and i would rather stick up for any opinion other than your usual negative stuff so keep the insults out. |
jaf
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j-reezy, Why dont you bet a part-time job instead of living off your Mum (your said Mom, are you a yank..?) you should be ashamed 23 year old man waiting for hand outs off his perents..!! |
villafandan
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j-reezy, what a credit you are to your school, i take it you're not studying english. i was actually attacking the "entitlement mentality" of the average student. if you don't fit into that category there's no need to be offended. i'm fully aware of the business rationale behind attracting young, low income customers, especially those who are likely to earn a decent salary in the future. sorry i had to get "fruity" and spell that out for you. good luck at school, looks like you might need it... let me guess, media studies?? amirite?? p.s. what makes you so certain of my level of education?? isn't objective thinking something they teach at your school?? |
villafandan
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@ jaf, just saw your comments. agreed - shouldn't need pointing out to the future saviours of society though. evidence of the devaluation of the degree perhaps?? |
nhuggy
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With a recession on the way I think Randy and Co might get a nasty surprise if they don't match price hikes with big signings. |
JimboVillain
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I think the express and star put it perfectly "villa today announced a seven per cent increase in the most expensive season tickets as the club looks to provide boss Martin O'Neill with a major summer spending spree" and "Season tickets at Villa Park will once again be among the cheapest in the Premiership next season with the most expensive adult seat costing less than £27 per game." and that my claret and blue friends, is why i shall be renewing next week  |
JimboVillain
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sorry for double post but i agree, villa fan dan you're a knob. Im 22 years old and 15 grand in debt, all so i can study to become a primary school teacher so one day your kids can "go to school" and get a good education. But no, students don't deserve a discount. tosser. |
theprimeminister
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i wish my mam wud by me a tikett but i neva went too youni so i haf to pay for stuf by werkin and payin orl by myselff. i wish i wos ejukated so my perents payed evrythink. |
theprimeminister
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what did you spend £15,000 on in a couple of years at Uni and can't you pay it back at £12 a month once you get your teacher wages |
villafandan
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for the final time, i have no objection to the club offering discounts to students, which they do. what leaves a sour taste in my mouth are the students who feel they're somehow entitled to subsidies from aston villa football club. no, you don't "deserve" a discount from the club. sorry, you're in debt, but that's a choice you've made. you should take responsibility for it instead of thinking you're doing everyone a big favour. at least you can spell knob though. well done. |
Arrlui
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Enough swinging the damn axes; taken from a point above, would you pay the difference for a charity sponsorship? If not then by all means snipe at the board. The U12 handicapped kids point was meant as leverage to agree with the overall point of ticket rises. It happens, there will always be casualties and marketing propaganda. The game, economy and stature all suffer from a tedious and incurable growth. It's a damn shame loyalty doesn't. |
theprimeminister
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@ Arrlui In answer to your question on another post. I'm originally from Middlesbrough and now live in St Annes on the North West coast. CHRIS |
stig
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ive waitied along time to see this king of success and football on the pitch. and finally i can say its worth it. i will struggle to pay for my ticket this season, but god damn it i will beg borrow and steal to be there - put simply i wouldnt want to spend my saturdays any other way. regardless of a few punters moaning, i still think the place will be jam packed next season. |
stig
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moreover, lerner has spent heavily already and if he spends £60m this summer, who will be moaning then? would you rather we didnt spend a penny in the summer, or put up and shut up? |
oldman villain
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someone has to pay for a better team,we all moan that the sqaud wants to be stronger we also dont want rely on randys cash and be in so much debt to him,better for the prices to go up and we can all have a moan if mon wastes the cash as its our cash he will be wasting,but you might also find other costs might be going up as well e.g policing. |
AK28
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Does anyone else find todays 'news' that MON is looking for £80m to spend next summer as a huge coincidence that it comes out the day after next season's ticket prices are announced? Marketing BS if you ask me. |
the_flabster
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Well to me as long as we see quality players coming in the price rise will be justifiable (sp) but if we get another summer like last season where we were all disappointed then I think alot of people will be questioning Randy's motives. |
s
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Stig is the man! You should all be thankful that you don't have to pay loads of money for a flight/accomondation to see the Villa |
villafandan
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damian, from doc: "* which all means that Villa just don't need to hide behind a ridiculous 7% smokescreen which is simply not true " i can't find the 7% or 7.5% claim from anyone but your friend bill howell. can you point me in the right direction?? |
Scoot
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Percentages can say what you want all I know is more people will be paying more than people paying less. The extra revenue from the increases will be about £1million perhaps enough to keep Barry happy. The fact that we now have a team worthy of paying increased amounts to watch is great but for the last few years we have suffered quite badly but we never got a rebate. A few bad results across the season and the NEW FANS will p*** off and leave us with 30 odd thousand average again. I think a loyalty scheme should be built into the pricing structure based on years season ticket held a sort of you've suffered watching some s**t over the years cvan hers a discount. By the way I only got to watch about 4 games this season so my season ticket this season cost me about £100 a game. |
alwaysvilla
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Yes prices are up but i'm a villa fan i love going so myself and my daughter will be renewing if it helps villa progress.By the way does anyone know if she will have to pay under 16 price as she is 12 at min |
Shawthing
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No two ways about it I'm afraid. If you're too 'old', too 'young' or 'disabled', you are not wanted at corporate USA Villa anymore! With petrol expected to cost £1.50 a litre at the start of next season, and my price going up by 66%, I can no longer afford to go to Villa Park  30 odd years of support coming to an end! But never mind, as 'General Krulak' wrote on another site "...someone will buy your seat, that's for sure" |
taglor
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Shawthing hear hear, and @ Scoot I think a loyalty scheme is an excellent idea, I live in Dorset so your not just looking at ticket price increase you also have higher petrol or train fares food or accomodation as well, we don't all live in Brum, although I used to. I would far rather a regular season holder got precedent over me or a better deal as you deserve something back for your support. |
Sasa
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I was a student once and they dont deserve a discount - you can easily sacrifice an extra night out to have enough for the game on Sat, or get a PT job if you want. Fair enough asking your folks for help on the rent/books but an adult asking his parents for money for the footie - nah. I used to save my dinner money as a kid so I could go down VP. If you want to watch Premiership football you need to make sacrifices - I hardly go to VP anymore because i can't be ar$ed being conned out of £35 - however at the same time by not doing so I cannot therefore demand high quality signings. But if you want CL footie, star names etc.. then you gotta pay the whack. Getting a season ticket nowadays seems more like a risky investment then just wanting to watch your local team kick a ball. |
Myself
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Students getting discounts is the same in every walk of the economy, in most if not all developed countries. Why shouldn't they? They are effectively studying to make live better (Yes, including their own), and the fees are astronomical, let alone finding housing etc. This is not the issue here. Armed forces deserve cheaper prices, why don't students? |
jedi
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Tax doging students make me sick, changing the country, dont talk rubbish. You either can afford to watch the Villa or you can't. I could'nt for years and now i can, because i worked hard. When i coud'nt afford to go i did'nt cry about it i just watched gillette soccer sport, LOL. Grow up. |
nan was a fan
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I went to college. I worked hard and lived off the state for 4 years. I accepted that during this spell the usual benefits of hard earnt money would be temporarily unavailable. What kept me in the library late at night (sometimes) was the thought that when I left college I would get a good job and be able to afford all the things I had worked so hard for. If you expect to watch Premier League football everyweek as a student you've got muddled somewhere along the line. Get down the Union, buy Super Noodles, watch non-league football, grow your hair, practice free love and relax. Real life starts when you get your degree. |
JimboVillain
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Ignorant idiots like jedi make me sick. You honestly don't believe students change the country? so you don't think that every single person in the medical profession was a student once? Next time you go to the doctors, let them know how you think students are useless and a waste of space. Its hardly a half price season ticket is it? and if it was of no use, didn't attract a percentage of season ticket holders that they would not otherwise get why would they do it?? most people with a relatively average level of intelligence realise that the majority of students (and yes there are a percentage of media studies students out there, but for every one of them there are a hundred medics) will eventually make a difference to society. Come on then Jedi, whats your proposal instead of the centuries old proven system of universities? there is a reason why the entire economy give student discounts you know. oh no you wouldn't, sorry i forgot you was too busy working hard. |
villafandan
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there was once a time a degree really meant something JimboVillain and certainly those who earned them went on to the higher levels of society. medicine, law, education, etc. these days, not so much. the evidence of this is littered all over these comments. all the great scholars on here, yourself included, who apparently can't construct an argument without slinging petty insults around. |
nan was a fan
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Jimbo Villain, your claim that the majority of students will make a difference to society is at best ridiculas. What is the criteria for making a difference? Do labourers make a difference to society? Does the postman? Should they be entitled to four years of subsidised recreational activity prior to starting work? Students sometimes get cheap rates beacuse it is good business sense. They don't deserve/earn them. |
SuperSeanUK
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Oh for God's sake, I'm almost ashamed to be a student coming on here. Why are sensible posters like Villafandan getting it in the neck? He hasn't said that he thinks that students should get shafted by the club (which we're not), but some of the tight-arsed people on here seem to think that he's on a mission to make sure that us students have to pay as much as those who work full time. He hasn't said that (that I could find during my brief search... ) and I think there needs to be a bit of a clear up here, because some people on both sides are making some pretty ill-thought-out comments. For example, I really hate the whole "tax-dodging students" thing, implying that we're all out to do nothing BUT dodge taxes. This misses the point really, but cheers Jedi all the same. Also, I don't like how some people seem to think that because they've decided to go the University they somehow deserve everyone to bend over backwards for them. Yes, a fair amount of us Students will go onto become very valued members of society, but then how is that different to people who don't go to Uni? On the flip side of the coin, some of us are at Uni taking a "degree" in Film Studies (not me!). I agree fully with Villafandan, that we chose to go to Uni, we get a discount which is as good as we can ask for (it IS an expensive committment so I think discounts are a good thing) and to be honest, it's not THAT expensive if you're prepared to work at a part time job. I know I can afford a season ticket for next season because I put in a lot of work at my job. |
SuperSeanUK
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Oh and as a P.S. I'd like to say that nan was a fan's comment was excellent. To everyone else on AVFCblog I'd just like to clarify that not EVERY student bitches about being able to sit in the Upper Holte on the cheap. ... although seeing as I'm 19 I'll just buy the U21 ticket for £310 anyhoo with any luck and extra work over the summer |
jedi
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why do some of these students no matter what there studying expect society to kiss there arse, jimbo if you are indeed a student or perhaps you were a student then this was the choice you and any other student made, no one owes you anything. Whether you study Media or Medicine you will be payed sometimes well for the work you do once qualified. But don't expect special treatment from anyone while your getting yourself there. Let your parents pat your back and assist you in some way and by all means pull yourself aside and tell yourself how well you have done but don't give me the sanctimonious changing the world B*LLSH*T. I do Appreciate the work my Docter does and i am more than gratefull to the good Teachers that teach my children but while studying they did'nt drive around in a Merc or holiday in the maldives because they were given a fabulous discount, they waited untill they could afford it and then enjoyed they fruits of there labour. I Manage a childrens home for underprivaliged children who have had F**k all there entire lives and i am a qualified Senior Social Worker who studied very hard to be able to afford my season tickets but asked for help from no one, and i did this with a family so what your saying does'nt wash with me, i know what its like to want to watch the Villa every week, and i know what it takes to make sure that happens and it is hard work and patience, and not irratating people about how fabulous i am or was as a student and that the world should kiss my arse. like i said grow up. |
nan was a fan
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Ssssssshhhhhhh. Can you hear the students moan, no, no ..........? (Except SuperSeanUK who was rather eloquent) |
JimboVillain
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well villa fan dan and to jedi, perhaps i overstated the vaulue of students to society just to make a point, i'll accept there are alot of crap students who are wasters out there. and perhaps i'm just a little bit sour that i'm studying to be a teacher, (i'm on 4 grand a year for a full weeks work) when some of them are studying countdown. but i gota say i actually laughed out loud when i read your comments about posts being littered with insults, can you blame me for being offended when your first comment on here was "whats outrageous is people thinking they deserve a discount because they go to school" and Jedi you said "tax dodging students make me sick" the reason why i was patting the backs of students was in defence of ignorance. I didn't come on here moaning about the increase in price, or that students don't get enough. I simply read some comments that i took offence to, super sean UK i didn't acually say students get shafted by the club, im quite happy with how they are treated and think it's excellent value. Jedi to be honest i would say you deserve a discount more than alot of students out there, your work sounds amasing and i have the utmost respect for people who do what you do, I just dont like being called a tax dodger and people telling me i go to 'school', can you blame me? |
AV33
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Hi everyone...i've read a lot of the comments and thought i'd put my two bob in as an outsider. Throughout my many years on this earth, i have never had enough disposable income to be able to even contempate buying a season ticket. I work mainly weekends so it would be a bit of a waste anyway but i watch / listen to Villa whenever i cannot attend. And this is my point...i don't deserve a season ticket above the fans who go to Villa Park week in, week out and also follow the boys away. I can only give you guys top respect, it costs a bomb to attend the footy these days. Therefore, i think the season ticket thing should maybe be governed by a "real fans first" philosophy, you should be able to keep the seats you have had for years. People like me should settle for any seat in the ground i can get when i get chance to go. By the way, i'm not a student but a Villa fan through and through who works on most match days and to be honest just can't afford it !! UP THE VILLA |