Villa a big club ?

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:40 pm

Fading for years as sucessive managers have wasted millions in trying to recapture past glories.
They should have been relegated two seasons ago and are far off a team capable of mounting a serious promotion push.
They are a small club with a big following similar to Leeds and Derby.

ClaretAndJew · Post by **ClaretAndJew** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:43 pm

Bigger than us by a long chalk.

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:48 pm

They spent money to be successful. They had a very good team when o'neill was there. They couldn't keep the players and fell down the league. As spurs will do. Newcastle have. Everton will. Those clubs can't compete long term with the big boys.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:50 pm

We are not even close to Villa, despite them being a division below us.

Another case of foreigners not having a Scooby about how to run an English football club.

They will rise again, mark my words.

elwaclaret · Post by **elwaclaret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:55 pm

Woodleyclaret wrote:Fading for years as sucessive managers have wasted millions in trying to recapture past glories.
They should have been relegated two seasons ago and are far off a team capable of mounting a serious promotion push.
They are a small club with a big following similar to Leeds and Derby.

Strange the way some people judge a clubs size by its position in the table. Surely more relevant is the ground size and following. To my way of thinking all three examples are not just bigger but FAR bigger than Burnley. Leeds and Villa probably twice the size of us if not bigger.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:58 pm

Funkydrummer wrote:We are not even close to Villa, despite them being a division below us.

Another case of foreigners not having a Scooby about how to run an English football club.

They will rise again, mark my words.

And possibly In a good few years time .sean dyche could be there.....he's a better manager than Steve Bruce IMO

Colburn_Claret · Post by **Colburn_Claret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 3:59 pm

They're struggling big time, but it will be a long time before Villa are regarded as anything other than a big club. A massive history and still have a strong support.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:08 pm

I've always thought of Villa as a big club - not having the best of times just now but they are still a big club.

SGr · Post by **SGr** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:19 pm

Yes they are.

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:31 pm

How do you define a big club? Interesting topic ..

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:34 pm

Celtic ..fan base, history,passion.

Woonderbah · Post by **Woonderbah** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:40 pm

They got their hands on the European Cup.

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:41 pm

Like Sheffield Weds and Leeds, Villa truly are a Sleeping Giant. The right Stewardship from the Boardroom, Management from the Bench, and a healthy injection of cash from an Investor, and either of these Clubs could be great again.

As Leeds and Wednesday have demonstrated, however, getting all three of those Ducks standing in the same row is easier said than done.

NottsClaret · Post by **NottsClaret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:45 pm

Being 'big' these days doesn't count for much.

It's a comfort blanket for fans of fallen giants but that's all it is.

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:51 pm

NottsClaret wrote:Being 'big' these days doesn't count for much.

It's a comfort blanket for fans of fallen giants but that's all it is.

The incredible amount of money being handed to Clubs just for being in the Premier League is is certainly working in the favour of Clubs the statute of ours, if they can be bold/lucky enough to attain Top Flight Status.
I'd certainly pick our circumstances over the three Clubs I mentioned, regardless of their Fanbases, Ground Sizes, or Histories.

Woonderbah · Post by **Woonderbah** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 4:53 pm

NottsClaret wrote:Being 'big' these days doesn't count for much.

It's a comfort blanket for fans of fallen giants but that's all it is.

Was thinking the same.
There's plenty of clubs out there with impressive success in their history... but I don't envy them.
There's even a former PL winner about to ply their miserable trade in League One next season.
Hope we stay as we are.. steady but sure.

Rileybobs · Post by **Rileybobs** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:05 pm

Stadium size and support is far less pertinent to what defines the size of a club these days.

We could sell out a 100,000 seater stadium but would still make less money from crowd revenue than we do from simply maintaining our Premier League status.

Football is business, big business. By my logic we are a bigger business than Aston Villa and Leeds, ergo we are a bigger club than Aston Villa and Leeds.

Whether either of those clubs have more potential than us to remain as a big club is a different matter entirely. The football league is littered with clubs with rich histories and large fan bases, it counts for very little in the here and now. Are Chelsea a bigger club than Leeds?

Jamesy · Post by **Jamesy** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:31 pm

Woodleyclaret wrote:Fading for years as sucessive managers have wasted millions in trying to recapture past glories.
They should have been relegated two seasons ago and are far off a team capable of mounting a serious promotion push.
They are a small club with a big following similar to Leeds and Derby.

Doesn't matter what division Villa are in, they will always be a bigger club than us. I remember when they dropped to old 3rd division for one season circa 1971. They were still getting gates between 30-40,000.

Furthermore, Leeds and Derby are still bigger clubs than us in the same way that we will always be a bigger club than Bournemouth, regardless of what their division or league position may be.

DCWat · Post by **DCWat** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:31 pm

Dyched wrote:They spent money to be successful. They had a very good team when o'neill was there. They couldn't keep the players and fell down the league. As spurs will do. Newcastle have. Everton will. Those clubs can't compete long term with the big boys.

I think Spurs is a club on the up. They might not have the same clout as Chelsea, Man City and United but I bet they're not too far behind Arsenal and Liverpool and progressing better than both at present.

Villa are certainly a big team.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 5:49 pm

I think Spurs will be fine near the top.
Good chairman, new ground, good manager and team.

As for Villa, as mentioned you can have the same debate about numerous clubs, but ultimately its usually their fans banging on about how massive their club is, we probably all see it from time to time on various social media platforms.

I wouldn't say they're a big club, more of a middle sized one that is in danger of fading into an average one down in the championship.

See Leeds and Forest for current examples of average sized clubs that used to be big ones.

Walnutwillie · Post by **Walnutwillie** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:01 pm

Bigger isn't always better
I've just asked the wife
Check out the username

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:02 pm

The question really isn't worth discussing.
Without doubt the biggest club in Britain's 2nd largest city. (Huge fan base and support and great tradition - a "proper club")
Founder members of the Football League - (and without checking the stats of all clubs) most probably in the top 6 of all time when it comes to honours.
More seasons in the top flight than any other except Everton (105 seasons out of 118)
European Cup Winners
7 times Champions of England. (9 times runners-up)
7 times FA Cup winners (4 times runners up)
League Cup winners 5 times (3 times runners up)
Been some time since they were a force to be reckoned with, but no reason why they shouldn't be up there amongst the top clubs.

Quicknick · Post by **Quicknick** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:17 pm

Miles bigger than we will ever be.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:23 pm

They are so big, we chose their club colours for our own use.

Beat that.

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:32 pm

Funkydrummer wrote:They are so big, we chose their club colours for our own use.

Beat that.

Wish I'd remembered that fact to add to my list.
One other interesting fact that I found - they've had more England International players than any other club. (71)

conyoviejo · Post by **conyoviejo** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:37 pm

Quicknick wrote:Miles bigger than we will ever be.

They are just a suburb of Birmingham..

Deardeary · Post by **Deardeary** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:50 pm

Reading some of the posts on here in s a great laugh. The OP doesn't say we are bigger than Villa, yet loads chose to read it that way.
Villa are massive and IMO one of the top 10 in the country, Europe, crowds, stadium, history, and like the others (and us to some extent) will be back

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:55 pm

Deardeary wrote:Reading some of the posts on here in s a great laugh. The OP doesn't say we are bigger than Villa, yet loads chose to read it that way.
Villa are massive and IMO one of the top 10 in the country, Europe, crowds, stadium, history, and like the others (and us to some extent) will be back

Which posts? I think I can only see one or two, if you disregard the odd tongue in cheek response. (I do agree with you though that it's laughable that some seem to be suggesting that Villa are anything but one of the great clubs in English football)

Jamesy · Post by **Jamesy** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:56 pm

Yes they will, however OP called them a small club, albeit with big following. People are always going to compare size of our club in relation to Villa et.al.

This was in response to dearydeary!

Woodleyclaret · Post by **Woodleyclaret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:26 pm

Interesting comments I used to hitch lift off Tony Morley when he played for us.
We all know how he is regarded at the Villa.
We are a great club and I for one have enjoyed the merry go round of the last 50 yrs watching my team.
Occasionally we even beat media darling teams which always gives me a buzz
I still stand my orginal comment about Villas chances of promotion this season

Cornwallclaret · Post by **Cornwallclaret** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:49 pm

conyoviejo wrote:They are just a suburb of Birmingham..

They may not carry the city name but they are the city's main club,Birmingham are the minnows in that city despite carrying the name

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:42 pm

My guess is that villa will go up this year. Leeds will be mid table. Surprise packages Cardiff and Barnsley. Sunderland will struggle with Birmingham hull and forest. Blackburn will probably........oh hang on, they aren't in that division any more, are they.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:57 pm

Big club, no doubt about it. Top twelve in England easy. Biggest club in the midlands, and by some margin.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:03 pm

But have they been compared to athletico Madrid ?

chipbutty · Post by **chipbutty** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:29 pm

Dyched wrote:They spent money to be successful. They had a very good team when o'neill was there. They couldn't keep the players and fell down the league. As spurs will do. Newcastle have. Everton will. Those clubs can't compete long term with the big boys.

Sorry pal, but the only way is up for Spurs, let me know at the end of next season if they get relegated.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:33 pm

CnBtruntru · Post by **CnBtruntru** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:39 pm

Massive when you are a 15 year old looking up at the Holt End in the 70s.

Funkydrummer · Post by **Funkydrummer** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:54 pm

The Holte End holds just short of 13,500.

Dyched · Post by **Dyched** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 11:55 pm

chipbutty wrote:Sorry pal, but the only way is up for Spurs, let me know at the end of next season if they get relegated.

The obviously won't get relegated next season or even the one after. But they won't be at the top on a consistent basis. If they don't win trophies next season and so on they won't attract/keep top players. They don't pay mega money to do so. If Kane and Alli have another great season they won't be there this time next year. It happened to them a few years ago under Jol. No real success the big boys come cherry picking.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 12:38 am

I think spurs will lose quite a few at wembley. Every team wants to win there!

CnBtruntru · Post by **CnBtruntru** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 1:15 am

Funkydrummer wrote:The Holte End holds just short of 13,500.

I would say more than that standing in the 70s, it was definitely a sight to behold.

Claretforever · Post by **Claretforever** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:03 am

Villa are a huge club compared with us. Maintaining higher crowds helps when in Britain's second city of 1 million people, but they're big.

Funkydrummer wrote:They are so big, we chose their club colours for our own use.

Beat that.

I've also read that there is no solid evidence that was the case, and just like a lot of clubs back then we had no properly established colours so experimented. People have linked it but nobody has any hard evidence I don't think?

KRBFC · Post by **KRBFC** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 7:28 am

Woodleyclaret wrote:Fading for years as sucessive managers have wasted millions in trying to recapture past glories.
They should have been relegated two seasons ago and are far off a team capable of mounting a serious promotion push.
They are a small club with a big following similar to Leeds and Derby.

What a crock of horse sh**e. How are they far off a team capable of mounting a serious promotion push? In fact I think they are probably the stand out pick in terms of being capable.

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Wed Jun 14, 2017 8:39 am

Villa are a big club no question. They are just not currently as successful a business and are offering a lower standard of football. A small business can be more financially successful and more pleasant to work for than a large business with many employees and customers but it is not always as financially rewarding. Villa s time will come again though.