Written by Damian Thursday, 04 February 2010 10:13
Not much going on I'm afraid. Spurs won last night. Also, 18 year old Nathan Baker has been caught selling some of his tickets to the Cup Final for £200 each on Facebook and the club have another questionnaire about another new website.
There is nothing to say about the Nathan Baker thing. He is 18 years old and he has made a mistake. Why he made that mistake is for another post but he'll now be watch the final on TV after he had his tickets taken away from him - but what happens to the ones he sold? Isn't it against the law and doesn't it carry fines to be doing what he did?
New website for the club, well, maybe not, more PR though
Moving on to the website questionnaire and this really is now getting tedious. The club want a new website so they are asking you what type of content you like, what social networks you use and how you access the site.
They have to figure out that it isn't about the type of content, that you don't build something for one or two social networks - they all have an API and any new website build should now be mobile friendly - it isn't something you ask, it's something that is just done.
The thing is, now that they have done this and I have read the questions, I know the next edition of the website is going to be just as bad as the one we have, it is just going to be a face lift. However they can now say, much like they did with the cartoon badge, that they ticked all the boxes after they asked the fans. Basically, they can say they did what most wanted and get away with doing just enough to get by.
The site needs a complete overhaul, not just colours and functions and if they are going to do this then they really should do it properly, not waste around on another PR exercise with this useless questionnaire.
But, I'll leave this now as I want to watch the highlights from the Man City game earlier this season, for free and without an ad scrolling on the page.
So, go answer the questionnaire and right at the end - they give you one chance to say something without a drop down option and tell them that you want the best website in the Premier League and let's see if they deliver.
The end is nigh
Lastly today and I'm just mentioning this as it would be sad and I hope it isn't true; Warnock is maybe not going to make the Carling Cup final. I hope he does make it, we are going to need our best players on the day and he is definitely one of them.
Right, that is is, preview coming up tomorrow, don't forget to enter the competition here for VIP tickets to Manchester United at Villa Park and please do answer the questionnaire for the club telling them you want the best website in the Premier League.
I'm going to drink coffee, read my Twitter and start uploading everything into the cloud.
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Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... The OS Sucks - I don't understand have of what you wrote, rthe problem I have is that the OS doesn't even work, keeps logging you out, videos don't play, there's always a technical issue getting Jack's commentary (maybe not a bad thing) etc, etc, etc, Anyway, why do they need social networking stuff ? They should have their own board - sell them this one - on second thoughts, at least this works: but could really do with an EDIT OPTION Now, I'm off to roger my best mate's ex girlfriend Jeeez, I hope my boss don't find out and sack me. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... What they should do is employ a fan to run the website content. All Villa fans really want is up to date news about the club and know whats going on before we hear it on Sky Sports news. I am sure as Damo says it will just be another glossy looking propaganda site spouting how good everything and everyone is. |
Andi
said:
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...Now, I'm off to roger my best mate's ex girlfriend leave it ! Bouma might make the final though and some reports say Warnock will as the injury isnt as bad as first thought |
John Samuels
said:
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... The club would never let us fans anywhere near the website because we tell it like it is. The OS is for PR, I just wish it actually worked and had a bit more decent content. A forum would be a good idea, but being official I imagine they have to be little careful. |
Nick
said:
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... Answered the Q a while back concerning the OS. I told them it was better than it had been, but was still far too cluttered and poorly designed. Then i posted a link to the Man City website, lol. I know they have a lot of money to spend on good web designers, but my mate who's a graphic design graduate and not on a lot of money can do much better than our website. Not sure i'd throw Bouma straight into the final. L Young would do a job in that position, though United would target it him so Ashley or Downing have to get back and help him out. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Bouma has every chance of getting a couple of games between now and the final. MoN can have a look and judge for himself. However LY has played LB and CC has played RB for the last few games and we haven't conceded in three games in the league so not all bad imo.  |
nath888
said:
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... To be honest. I'd rather have a shite club website and be in our position than have a good one like Portsmouth and be in there position. They can't even aford to pay they're web designers! |
Keith
said:
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...Now, I'm off to roger my best mate's ex girlfriend |
tubbydunne
said:
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... J.P.A. If news came trough that the whole first choice eleven were out for the final you would come up with a way to put a positive spin on it. Warnock would be a big loss, L.Young can do a job but Warnock is sound defensively and he brings a lot of steel to the position with his no nonsense approach. Opposing wingers and fullbacks know that they are going to get a torrid ninety minutes from him and don,t like his physicality, this would be invaluable against Man U. There is no way Bouma could be risked in this game and we have to be lucky with injury over the next few weeks, our squad has improved but injury to one or two key players and we would look more ordinary. |
Damian
said:
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... nath888 that is because the two go hand in hand don't they. we cant have a good website because it would impact our ability to spend on transfers |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...He probably wont sack you, but he might stop you being department manager and everyone you work with will think you're a tosser I'm guessing you're not very old |
John Samuels
said:
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... tubbydunne, I think Warnock is a fantastic player, but Young is just as sound defensively. What we don't get with Young is the ability to overlap as effectively which impacts our attacking game more. Ash covers very well and I think in a game when we a re more than likely to be on the back foot for long periods there are other injuries that would cause us more problems. For example we need Gabby, Ashley, Dj, Milner and the CB's fit. An injury to a winger would be catastrophic considering Albrighton is injured and there is no Coker to provide midfield cover if Jimmy goes out wide. You say we need to be lucky with injuries but I suggest we actually have been pretty lucky so far. To just have Warnock out as our only first team casualty in a position where we have effective if not ideal cover is a not the end of the world imo. Bouma is about and i'd rather have him there than not. Lets see what the future holds and hope that Stevie can get back quicker than expected. |
John Samuels
said:
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... We should have a better website, that's it. We're a big club doing well and we can afford it so WTF!!!  |
Greg Hill
said:
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... Somebody explain to me why tickets for next Wednesday - one of the biggest games of the season, and a bigger game for Man U than the final - are still available? Only realised that I could go this week but didn’t think I would get tickets. Bought 4 no problem. I remember the Doc saying Villa fans would turn out to watch the player's shirts dry... |
John Samuels
said:
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... Greg, week evening kickoffs tend to present problems for some supporters who go weekends. Kids have school the next day many people are away at work during the week. Many Villa fans live a little further afield and travel up at weekends, so you tend to find attendances dip a bit for midweek games. THere is also the fact that we have an expensive weekend in London coming up and many fans will be ofsetting expenses for that in the ocming weeks. Just a thought. I imagine we'll sell a few more closer to the time though, it's always the way. |
tubbydunne
said:
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... J.P.A. We have been blessed on the injury front so far and I hope it continues to the end of the month. But a team would rarely go trough a season without a major injury glut, I hope we can, but look what happened Everton at the start of the season.If we were hit like them we would have dropped just as many points and I can't but admire they way the have turned it around. Great club, great manager. What I am trying to say is we can't afford injuries because it would cause our season to fade out as we rely on a core of players heavily. Maybe I am worrying about nothing, maybe we have the best medical staff in the P.L. Things are working out so far this season. |
John Samuels
said:
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...... It doesn't surprise me that someone who looks like Baron Greenback from Dangermouse has to pay for it from time to time. If you think he's ugly you should see his wife!!!! |
davidc
said:
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... If we are going to continue to play Cuellar at right back, its even more imperative we have a full-back on the left who can add something going forwards if you ask me. Warnock has been a great signing for us - best leftback at VP since Stan Staunton without a doubt. Hope he's fit otherwise it'll be an area we get targetted. |
sean
said:
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... The villa site is so cheesy. The guy that does the avtv is just a big block of walking cheddar and he looks like hes on comission for each match report. I think that avtv should be free; afterall we pay enough money to the club. I don't like how you have to sign up to access most of the site but i guess i kinda understand that bit. Just give me the villa news and stop interviewing Dwight Yorke on villa issues ffs what does he have to do with the club-he never showed us any loyalty. |
StickyAV
said:
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... I just heard that Capello had a chat with Bridge last night. He told him that JT had lost the captains arm band, and asked him if he could take a look for it under his bed. |
John Samuels
said:
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... davidc, That's fair, but we don't really concede when Cuellar plays there. I hope Warnock is fit, but if he isn't he isn't. I'd rather have Luke there who can defend like a trojan rather than an attacking fullback that goes missing in defence like Shorey. It just means we'll have to rely on Ash and Downing more and whats new there?  Man U will more than likely play 4-5-1 with Park and Nani on the wings and Giggs, Scholes and Carrick in the middle. Rooney up top and Vidic and Ferdinand at the back with Rafael and Evra at FB. It's going to be a hell of a game, but I have to admit if we get to 20 mins without conceding that's when we seem to come alive and get a foothold in the game. Lets just hop Gabby can do the business. |
Christian
said:
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... Keef! Good to see you back, Damian must have finally taken you off the naughty step  |
StickyAV
said:
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... Although the website is not amazing, why do we have to bitch about it so much. I subscribe to avtv and I enjoy watching highlights when I miss a game, watching all the interviews with players and finding out what's been going on with the reserves. So the free part might be crap, but I pay very little money for avtv and it's more than worth it. Get off the clubs back |
Keith
said:
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... Christian1983 I have to see the headmaster at the end of everyday to make sure I not being naughty anymore |
tubbydunne
said:
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... Does anyone know if Man U are in Champions League action around the time of the Carling Cup final which would mean they would have to rest a few this would be helpful. |
tubbydunne
said:
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... Also are we guaranteed a Europa Cup place by just being in the C.C. final if Man U.finish in the top four which they will. |
Christian
said:
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... tubbydunne, united play at San Siro on 16/17th I think- so I would assume return leg would be Wed's after the final- could work in our favour. It'll all boil down to Rooney. If we can keep him quiet it's there for the taking, but if he's on his game he's pretty unplayable. |
tubbydunne
said:
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... Thanks Christian, He is unplayable alright but without him Man U. are not half the team. I hope one of his hamstrings pop this month. |
Greg Hill
said:
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... JPA I know what you mean. Those problems mirror my own. But if this was Sunderland, Newcastle, Everton, Spurs, Leeds would there be tickets still available? |
doubledown9
said:
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... Teddydunne The automatic European place only applies to the FA cup. If we loose we do not get into Europa regardless of where Man U finish. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... Warnock's absence would be a big blow but i think Luke Young is a more then capable replacement. We will lose out on a bit of balance as he will have to cut back in on his favoured right if he does offer over laps but he did seem to get inot the box againest Fulham. Bouma would really have to have at least 2 games under his belt to be concidered for the final. Espcially now as Nani seems to be finding form on that wing. |
Matt T
said:
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... Van Dutch, The Man City site isn't that complex. As someone who designs sites, I'd have done that for £5k. I even offered to design the site for them club after e-mailing them about it for free. If we can't afford £5k then what the hell is the world coming to? Frankly I hate the existing OS - especially that bloody link you have to click through to get to the home page. The sooner we get a better site, the better. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Sunderland and Leeds have notoriously high support, and expect massive support in a game agianst Man U as they are a division belwo. Sunderland NEVER fill that ground and Everton have a smaller ground than us. Spurs i'll give you, but they have a larger fan base than us and because of being in the capital their gates and turnover are on the whole more than ours. It's all well and good simply assuming the grass is always greener, but it isn't necessarily and I believe a lot of the outstanding tickets will sell after the Tottenham game, esp[ecially if we manage to nick a win. It makes the Man U game more important. |
Damian
said:
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... Elliot - your comments were pointed at me, rather than the post above so as I have been very kindly made aware, they go against the site rules and as such I have removed your comments and my responses. Sorry - but then again, you do tend to do this a lot. |
Rob
said:
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... The OS is a bit shocking to be honest, I'm a web designer so do this kinda stuff all day every day! Poorly designed, poorly executed but saying that, a lot of the OS's for teams are poor which is strange! With all the money flying round in the game you would've thought teams could afford the best websites around. The OS just breaks some many simple rules and is just horrible to use. Whoever built and designed the site should be shot! |
Damian
said:
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... Rob_The_Villain a lot of them use the same system from premium TV or perform group i think it is now .. it is a very old system |
Proxopera
said:
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... The mail today reckons Warnock will be fit for play in 10 days and will be taking bridges place for the next England game . Bridges is sick or something.... |
Rob
said:
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... Damian, Yep just realised that when I had a look at some of the others. Ours is bad but christ, have a look at Liverpools, Man U's, Chelsea's etc etc. The only half decent one is Man City's (like someone said before). It's just crazy!! We build websites like that day in day out complete with content management systems for around £5k-10k. There MUST be companies out there that have a better systems than they use. It's something that fans come back to several times a day and at times it can be the only link between the fan and club, so to think that it wouldn't be a good investment to spend a bit of money on a good site is crazy! Also to charge to be part of the shitty avtv thing is just criminal! Who actually pays for that on here? Video is massive on the web now so they should be focusing on that much more... and for free! |
John Samuels
said:
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... I think the thing about the OS site is that if it was as good as some of the fan based sites available it'd be more widely used. The annoying thing is that because it's the clubs website, they have access to all the things that would make it make it ten times better than every Aston Villa based fansite around. Unfortunately Damian is quite right. It's dated, user unfriendly and tacky, as well as being a propaganda and PR vehicle for the club rather than an informative fans tool. The ticket booking facility was made a mockery of with the cup final tickets and it needs to be binned and another one built from scratch. Why don't they spend a bit of dough on it and then peddle the template to other clubs?? They'd make their money back on it that way. If it hhad free streams, interviews etc, as well as a monitored forum and discussion page as well as all the stuff they have now it'd be much better. The media watch is laughable, why not just publish links to the whole artivles like Newsnow does? Honestly it could be bloody brilliant, but is actually a heap of sh*t. I have to admit I never ever go on there ever.. I just come on here or look at Newsnow if I want to know anything. I even use Skysports.com for fixtures and villa related info. It really is gash isn't it. Proxopera, MoN says he's resting for a fortnight and then being assessed. Hopefully he'll be availble for Burnley which will give him the chance of playing in the Cup Final. It's a shame we've got Spurs and Manure as I think Bouma might have got a run out sooner against more modest opposition. Warnock is a dhoe in for the world cup squad, he would have gone anyway without this Bridge business. The lad is class and just needed the right stage to showcase his talents to Capello. He has it now at Villa and he'll definitely be on that plane. He's much better than Leighton Baines imo. |
Jonathan Willier
said:
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... Just took a look at some of the other teams sites, and I'll agree the OS sucks terribly. Like others have said though, there aren't that many good ones out there. (Although, I love Liverpool's calender on it's homepage. It's complete with player birthdays on it! Would love a nice reminder like that, to send Gabby a card.) What a joke. |
Andi
said:
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... missed anything ??? damn meetings dont they realise that i am busy most days god damn with more important things to do GOD DAMN !!! customers they only think of themselves !!! |
Andi
said:
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...PR vehicle for the club rather than an informative fans tool dont you mean fans MULE and havent we already got one childish making my self laugh |
Martin Laursen
said:
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... Well Chiefy, you missed your favourite Togolese superstar thanking the fans for chanting his name during games |
John Samuels
said:
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... Chiefy you should get your junior Villains to write Salifou a card of aprecitaion and send the lad a snood. He'd love that.  |
Andi
said:
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... Chiefy you should get your junior Villains to write Salifou a card of aprecitaion and send the lad a snood. He'd love that Well Chiefy, you missed your favourite Togolese superstar thanking the fans for chanting his name during games Gutted i missed it although a SNOOD with bullet proof has to be the way forward and i still reckon a CAMEO part in the final wearing his SNOOD is the one he would love that even more the little ZINDANE he is |
Andi
said:
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... I now have the togolese genius as a friend on FACEBOOK I want his autograph so i can put it on a card with bullet holes in ?? antiques road show of the future all over it that !! |
George Templeton
said:
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... This article from the Guardian says that Warnock might play in the Burnley match before the Cup final! http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/04/stephen-warnock-aston-villa-england |
African Lion
said:
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... Like your comment about the "cartoon badge". I am a professional Graphic Designer and spent some time on it. For fun. The result was opposite to every thing I subjectively thought would work. Now, the multiple choice was loaded so I know they had already made their minds up and yet I was still horrified at the end result. It really breaks every rule (eg: yellow on light blue)and is truly awful. No gravitas, presence or y' know - strength. The club deserves better. imho |
Nigel Allen
said:
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... FFS. This is like the negative talk during transfer windows saying Collins is rubbish, Dunne is fat and slow and Milner isnt worth the money etc. The club have asked for feedback on the web site as they want to revamp it. This make a lot of sense. There is also a lot of merit in improving it as opposed to doing a complete rebuild. There is no point in using technologies just because they are there. Getting the basics right is what makes a good web site and the questions they asked were certainly directed towards getting the basics right. Timely accurate information is the key. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. The Latest rumour from the web on this web page today (Feb 5th) is that Gardner is set for a move to Birmingham. I'm glad I logged in to see that breaking news!!! |
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