I’ve noticed there have been no comments on the blues only getting 2,800 tickets for the Capital cup game at Villa park.
I have to confess, I was somewhat disappointed when I saw that, as the Villa-blues derby is still a classic, even though the meejah might not see it the same way.
There are more romantic derbies in the other big cities, but the difference is that we’ve rarely been at similar levels, at least in my lifetime.
Even when we were struggling in the third division of old, we were drawing in massive crowds, for example.
Which embarrassed the blues at the time, even though they were in a higher league.
Conversely, blues have had sporadic periods of better attendances, but from what I recall in my very briefest research, that’s all it has been; sporadic.
So it doesn’t quite do it for the papers.
The point is, we’ve never really been on a par, so there’s no real rivalry.
But we all know it’s as vicious as it gets for the younger fans.
We boast pretty much everything we’ve done is better, while the blues fans boast they’ve won something in this century.
They have a fair point.
Regardless, it’s about as tribal a game as there is anywhere, in my opinion.
So back to that 2,800.
Personally, I think they’re lucky to get that many seats.
It’ll be a long time before I forget about them lobbing bottles and stones at the penned-in Villa fans, who included women and kids, at the sty.
Not that we don’t have our own crew, who are probably just as bad,of course.
But that’s what’s ruined one of the best derbies going.
Hooligans from both sides, involving the totally innocent, who only want to watch the game and don’t want to see a punch-up.
If there was no trouble, there would probably be ten thousand noses at the ground.
Imagine what an atmosphere that would create, eh?
I can somewhat understand younger fans wanting to have a go at the enemy.
Blimey, I thought like that when I was younger and no doubt the British Army love it.
But for god’s sake, if you’re going to go down that road, think about what you’re doing lads, especially in front of kids and women.
Apologies if you think I should try and sweep this under the carpet and play it down, but we all know it’s going to go off, don’t we?