Written by John Tuesday, 03 November 2009 14:10
Any Aston Villa fan watching the team play this season will have noticed that there seems to be something missing. Aston Villa, very much like Austin Powers have lost their 'mojo'.
It appears that’s what it is, there is no longer our influential captain spreading passes around the midfield and linking up play in the middle and our central midfield looks pedestrian and devoid of ideas at times.
What a woeful state of affairs we seem to be in, I may switch my allegiance to Ipswich town who are the perfect example of the way not to run a football club.
Ipswich town sacked a manager who missed out on the play offs by one place two seasons running, in fact last season they missed by only a point and Magilton achieved all this on a relative shoe string budget by the standards of other championship clubs.
Well done I hear you say!
Unfortunately the new millionaire owner didn’t quite see it like this. Magilton was sacked, the owner plastered his own name all over the shirts, and installed the inimitable Roy Keane as manager, a manager who inherited a Premier League side after Mick McCarthy and turned them around with relative ease.
Easy when you have the players already there, but more difficult when you have to build a team from scratch as he is finding out. Unfortunately for him he didn’t realise that there was already a pretty decent squad before he released everyone and spent £8million on players who don’t appear to have the quality to succeed immediately at the level required.
The team is in disarray, there is currently no team spirit, the club has spent more on a team that currently sits bottom after chalking up their first win of the season on Saturday than it ever did on the team that almost made the play offs. £8 million spent, one win in fifteen games and I haven’t even started on the abrasive Irishman’s wages.
A more appealing advert for continuity, patience and not getting carried away with the prospect of throwing money at a situation you will not currently find in the football league.
I can’t imagine a ‘Tractor Boys’ fan sneering at a team that despite not setting the world on fire on the pitch consistently picks up points.
Which brings me back to Villa.
Looking at last years results and the corresponding fixtures we have already played this season, we have picked up 18 points compared to last seasons 12 from the same games (I have substituted Newcastle for Wolves and Middlesbrough for Birmingham). Given that last season at the same stage after ten games we only had two more points than we currently have I would say that we a clearly making progress.
The reason I use the word progress is because we have currently got nowhere near the form we were in running into at Christmas last year, yet we are still consistently picking up points.
Has anyone stopped to consider where we may have finished had we managed to gather points in this ugly fashion throughout March, April and May of this year? We would probably have made the Champions League.
If we dare to consider our current form as a slump, who is to say we can’t put an impressive run together if Martin O’Neill can start coaxing better performances from our big players such as Ashley, Carew and Milner. If Sidwell were to suddenly find some form we might look like a quite dangerous side.
We have a team that has a solid defence, in fact it looks as if it could be the meanest defence we have had at Villa Park in many seasons despite the loss of Mellberg and Laursen. I cannot convey the admiration I hold for our manager for digging up the likes of James Collins from the obscurity of West Hams treatment table and taking a chance on Dunne who was cast out at Man City.
Stephen Warnock has also been a revelation so far and this gives us the perfect platform to go and win things this year. You can’t lose if you don’t concede and this is something we did too lightly towards the end of last year. At least we look more capable of closing games out now.
There still remains question marks over who will do the job Barry vacated in midfield and many still resent Heskey’s lack of goals and Carew’s lack of drive, but we are in good shape and as far as I’m concerned can only get better.
Bring on West Ham, bring on three points, bring on fourth place after ten games and bring on the doubters. We have a great club, great team, great manager and great fans.
We are coming for you Rafa, it’s pay back time you ‘tapper upper’ you.
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Edward Riordan
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... Nice post! We have consistently been picking up points this year but I'm still worried. Will MON change it in Jan???? hmmmmm..... not so sure |
neil57
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... Great post. I read a post made 6 weeks ago. There was much negativity then. Even the optimistic Pancho thought Man C and Chelsea would turn us over. How wrong they were. I am extremely optimistic,unlike Vogra, who hates Dunne, 2nd best defender in England  We have let in more goals,one, than Chelsea. If we could score imagine were we would be. We scored a shed load but were poor defensively 2 seasons ago. I prefer the current situation. chelsea fans preferred the boring, winning way of Mourinho. YES WE CAN NAN UTV |
Simon
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... You say we are only 2 points less than the same stage last year, but what about the other teams around us? We could improve on our points tally over the season but drop to eight place - outside European qualification. Would that be a sign of progress?I don't think so, but saying that, i dont expect Spurs to maintain their run, Lpool could be in freefall come Xmas and could draw too many games to be a threat. So 4th is ours for the taking. UTV |
Andi
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... Great post, more of that. We are not doing to bad and as soon as it clicks into place we are going to be dangerous..On the Ashley subject I reckon moving him to the right and pushing Warnock into midfield could give him a new lease of life no more cutting back on his right he may even get his Mojo back. Carew worked his socks off against chelski think his still getting over that the big man. Emule is going to score tomorrow. We are in good hands with lerner, good hands in MON, have a team that is slowly settling and one performance when everyone clicks is all we need. Things could be worse we could be in the mess liverpool are in  |
John Samuels
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... ak, i'd argue that we looked much more dangerous going forward this time last year. Unfortunately we were prone to conceding even with ML in the side. If we can re-find the counter attacking football that saw us put so many wins together on the trot and stay tight at the back when we're not so hot we will do really well. It's just about continuing to pick up wins and draws. As long as we aren't losing three or four on the trot we will do fine this year. I think it's gonna take less points to achieve things this year as everyone seems to be dropping points at the moment, this could change of course but right now we are just fine. |
Andi
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... we had scored something like the 5th highest amount of goals in the league by the end and conceded around about the 8th highest amount of goals isnt ironic that now our fortunes have changed round ? |
Luke Sutton
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... Great post indeed - i agree Sidwell finding form is key, if he doesn't soon surely the boy Delph is worth a run? I can't see MON doing anything in January, i think he thinks the squad size is already giving him selection porblems  |
Andi
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... January will come and go and i think we may see a little action but more on the out front and in might look something like this Out Shorey Osbourne Salifou (damn) Davies ( if he doesnt sort his attitude out ) Coker Heskey Ins Creative Midfielder Striker not sure what the outs would bring in but surely it would be enough to get 2 players ?? |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... JPA i think right now our defense has improved hugely. This time last year i honestly thought we were getting really lucky results our perfomances didn't deserve. We were played off the park away to Everton and West Ham and if it wasn't for huge luck we would not have won. I would say we desrved to lose those games in all honesty. Add the lucky away win to Hull City and thats what i was getting at. We weren't playing that much better this time last year only luck was on our side which it isn't right now. In place of luck now is a far better defense. But we are still poor in possession and i have my doubts that there is a huge improvement to come from what we currently have going forward unless Downing makes a really big impact. I guess what im saying is i don't really remember us being that much better last year then we are right now except for having a far better defense. |
John Samuels
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... ak, you can't say we weren't finding it much easier to score last year with entirely the same team going forward with the exception of Barry. Why has it suddenly become so difficult? The poor form of Young. Had we had the defensive unit we have now in place last year we would have had a very successful season indeed. |
Andi
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... ak_27 -- we was miles better going forward this time last year, the press was raving about young and it seemed we had the brazil attitude as we couldnt defend for toffee, luck or not we was scoring goals a plenty, now are fortunes have reversed we can defend till hell freezes over but we cant score for love nor money. if you look and compare the goal difference of this time last year to now you will see how much better we were |
Andi
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... the table at the first week of november 2008 we had scored 19 and conceded 12 compared to now scoring just 14 but only conceding 9 so it is clear that while we may have plugged our holes at the back which is keeping us where we are we are having problems scoring |
neil57
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... AK, you intimate that we had a better defence last year. Keegan's philosophy has always been that his teams will always score more than the oppoaition. Look what he achieved. We have the best defence in 27 years. More players are used now. We used 12 or 13 in 1981, Leeds the same 10 years earlier and what teams they were. We are moving forward, despite the negativity The fact Taglor has disappeared is testament to that I will be glued to our game tomorrow, to hell with the chumps league. I hope to tell you all how right I was in 6 months time UTV |
John Samuels
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... Chiefy, if we had scored 19 but only conceded 9 i'd fancy we'd have won all our games almost. We might have been up there with Chalsea and Man U!! We just need to find the balance. It's there somewhere, Christ it's basically the same team apart from three at the back. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Thats just the way i see it at the moment. I guess you are right in that Young was putting better crosses in back then but really we are playing the same bland predictable football now that we were this time last year. Like i said i think lady luck made us look far better then we actually were this time last season. I hope im wrong and that there is still huge improvement to come from this current team going forward but like i said i have my doubts unless Delph and Downing and also vitally if we can get Luke Young back in at RB. If we can those 3 into the team and maybe move Young into the hole then perhaps. But thats going to take some imangination from Mr O'Neill and that is something he seems to lack. |
FatKevs
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... What is the point in qualifying for Europe. We shown no interest last season & this season we were knocked out at the 1st attempt. Lets just look at the league & the English competitions, we could not attract or afford players when we were in europe So lets not think we are better than we are. We play shit football yet most are happy madness |
Andi
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... personally from what i remember we was playing attractive fast counter attacting football which had the critcs falling over themselves to praise Young crikey he got linked to Madrid, Chelski and Man utd. Our football was good and yeah we did get lucky a few times but ever team needs a bit of luck. JPA -- we would be up there you could split the 5 goals that are missing which ever way but we sure would be up there. The most important thing is we plugged the holes at the back if they cant score we cant lose, but when the MON master plan all comes together if we can hit the form we did this time last year, the beginning of next year because we arent letting soft goals in left right and centre we could actually do it and easily all we need is the spark everything to click all at the same time just once then it will happpen freely |
Andi
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... this time last year we was the third highest goal scoring team in the league behind chelski, arsenal and man city compared to this year where we lie in 8th |
Andi
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... Fatkevs -- why oh why is there always one ?? is it impossible for people to look on the positive side ?? we get downing next month, we will go 4th when we beat west ham, being kicked out of europa was a blessing in disguise. Lets not think we are better than we are ?? does the table lie ??? we beat chelski and liverpool and we could go fourth. Sh"t football and being happy ? i dont care what football we play as long as we win and get the points and quite clearly we are getting the points or we would not be in a position to go fourth would we what would it take for some of the fans to be happy ?? |
John Samuels
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... Chiefy, I like the optimism but don't make too much of this going fourth stuff. It's still gonna be a tricky match and one we could well lose given this seasons inconsistency so far. I think we'll win and I hope we do, but it's not a make or break game by a long chalk. There's plenty of time to climb the table. We're after top four remember, not the title. |
Andi
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... JPA -- I do not want to sound like i am making to much of it but on here you have to emphasise the fact we are somewhere that you can relate good things to or before long the blog turns back into negativity "r" us. We should be laughing we are playing rubbish and still picking up points and are in a great position, it will all fall together its more of a question of when not if. Top Four not the title, i agree once again but if your in it you might as well have a go at winning it, i am not saying we could or we will but like i say if everything falls together liverpool fall apart, Arsenal stumble, Man Utd get injurys and Chelski well we beat them anyway anything is possible granted we wont win the league but anything can happen  |
John Samuels
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... Thanks to everyone who liked the post and said so. I've been threatening a positive one for a while and I was chatting to my friend who is an avid Ipswich fan about the trials of being a football fan which inspired this. We're doing fine lads. Don't let the hype and the PR and the unreasonable expectation get to you, just quietly believe and see how things progress. |
John Samuels
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... Chiefy, Good stuff you little ray of sunshine. Luke young to start at the weekend? |
Ronan Kenny
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... The football were playing at the moment is pretty poor, mainly due to the fact the midfield is letting us down big time, we never really boss the game from the middle even when we play the 4-5-1 or 4-3-3. Pertrov an and Sidwell dont get on the ball enough hence why most of the time our play is long ball or wing related. I wouldnt consider this a negative thing mainly because one creative midfielder could change this dramatically. Delph could change this given a chance and no doubt Downings introduction will also help. Sidwell for me just isnt doing enough and he has had enough chances, too many games hes just non existant. If MON is not prepared to give Delph a chance in the middle then we simply have to buy a creative midfielder in January. Im happy once we are wining and progressing but it would be nice to see us control games a bit more and not totally rely on set pieces and Gabbys pace up front. When is the last time we scored a goal the resulted in a creative bit of play from either Petrov or Sidwell, it requires a bit of thinking doesnt it. We should beat West Ham but i bet it will be from a set piece or long ball over the top we score. |
Andi
said:
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... JPA -- if luke young plays tomorrow yeah i think he will start and Cuellar will be kept fresh or for the games when a tougher defense is needed. If young cant make tomorrow Beye might not be a bad option what i have seen of him going forward he is ok its defending he aint to good at, hope young comes back. Whats your thoughts on Warnock LM bouma LB and young RM ? |
John Samuels
said:
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... I'd like to see Young over Beye as he is simply the better player. I hope that's the case. I think that could be a solution, however bringing Bouma in when he hasn't had any matches at this level would be a little risky for me. I'd rather start as we have been and switch it around later to accomodate him as a sub and give him some pitch time. If Milner isn't fit i'd like to see Gardner or Albrighton down the right, although Milner is a huge miss defensively and we need to watch that, as he is the one who does a lot of the covering and tracking back when we lose the ball. |
Andi
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... young for me over beye any day, i just meant if young cant make it. I would love to see albrighton given a run but for me then we would have to play 4-4-2 as with Albrighton playing i think we would need a big man up top for him to aim for in the box |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... JPA if Milner isn't fit then Albrighton has to start. I do not want to ever have to endure another CM trying but failing to play as a RB or a RW. If MON does do that then you can take it he is incapable of learning from his mistakes. I could live with maybe Delph playing left wing and Young on the right but please MON do not play NRC or Gardner anywahere else but in the CM positions. They do not work there. |
John Samuels
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... ak, i think what is more likely is 4-5-1 with Gabby on the right and Carew up top after he scored on sat. NRC in for Petrov. |
Sean
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... These are my guesses for tomorrow nights team: Friedel L.Young-Collins-Dunne-Warnock Gabby-ReoCoker-Sidwell-Young Carew-Heskey OR Friedel L.Young-Collins-Dunne-Warnock Gabby-Sidwell-ReoCoker-Delph-A.Young Carew OR Friedel L.Young-Collins-Dunne-Warnock Albrighton-ReoCoker-Sidwell-A.Young Gabby-Carew I would personally go for the second or third team, but I wouldn't be shocked if MON finds a way of persisting with Heskey whilst feeling he has to give Carew a game after scoring, but will want to persist with Gabby... ...either way, in MON we trust, I feel we will get the result we deserve, which should be 3 points if we battle hard! |
Sean
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... ...actually I would go for the second team out of the guesses above, with either Carew or Heskey playing, prefer to see Carew as he scored the other night and I think he offers a little more than Emile. |
John Samuels
said:
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... sdtw, second team mate, i like that and i'd like to see Delph in a five man midfield. Ash could push on and Delph could drift out wide with that left foot of his. Having a player in that position who is two footed is a massive bonus. |
PONGO
said:
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... any streams 4 2mros game or is it on sky?+ Think it will all come good 2mro got that feeling dosent happen often.Time for delph to shine! |
John Samuels
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... pongo, chiefy left some stream url's on yesterdays post about mental something or other at anfield. His avatar is the away shirt. |
Greg Hill
said:
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... Bring on West Ham, bring on three points, bring on fourth place after ten games and bring on the doubters. We have a great club, great team, great manager and great fans. Good post in general but this Winston Churchill type rhetoric won’t cover the cracks. 2 out of 4 are correct but the other two are work in (long) progress. I’m going tomorrow but I’m not very optimistic. MON needs to pack the midfield and leave Gabs up front on his own. We need Petrov to recover. I’m amazed so many fans have already bagged these West Ham points already. I’m with ak-27 on most points esp comment 18. And to answer his question on our play going into Christmas last year: no we were poor for long spells. Do you remember the night match against Blackburn near the start of ‘the run’ not long before Ince lost his job? They passed us off the park. We came back after the break with Carew but we were lucky. The defence has improved (but it’s a better defence when it’s deep rather than run at) but Ash and Milner shore it up with their unbelievable athletic abilities You won’t see Lennon covering this ground in his own half. When the work ethic is drained come Feb this team will struggle. How many years will need to go by before we get a top midfield player?. Regarding this morning’s Ashley comments, most are madness. Ash is our best player since Dwight. He spends loads of time defending and is fed few creative balls. Even so he won us the game against Chelsea. So many can’t see a jewel from fool’s gold. Perhaps because we’ve been in the wilderness far too long. |
Andi
said:
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... is back myp2p.eu for tomorrows game team for tomorrow if MON gets out of bed and desides to be a bit of a rebel i would love to see brad young collins dunne bouma young reo delph warnock carew gabby or brad young collins dunne warnock albrighton reo delph young carew young but secretly we all already no the team and its either number 2 or 3 on sdtw post. Still counting on Bruno make an apperance and getting a goal  |
Car Frost
said:
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... Yes Chiefy - Read that earlier. It's not about being positive or negative, I'm just a realist ie .. Whatever we believe now is only an approximation of reality and that every new observation brings us closer to understanding reality - I think Greg did just that with his analysis. |
Andi
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... realistic view is anything can happen and no amount of money, skill, talent or mixture of both can guarentee anything it only increases your CHANCES. As such because it is a chance it is a choice of which side of the chance you beleive in or care to take note of, as we have seen this season talent and money have come unstuck against us and just goes to show that anything can happen. Do you beleive your glass is half empty or half full ? |
Car Frost
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...Do you beleive your glass is half empty or half full Half a glass of water in never just half full nor is it ever just half empty. It is always half full and always half empty. Believing the glass is half full is only believing half the truth. Is this negative for example? Regarding this morning’s Ashley comments, most are madness. Ash is our best player since Dwight. He spends loads of time defending and is fed few creative balls. Even so he won us the game against Chelsea. So many can’t see a jewel from fool’s gold. Perhaps because we’ve been in the wilderness far too long. |
Andi
said:
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... also by being realistic you make the judgement/prediction on the probable outcome which is of course a variable based upon the information you have such as team, formation and players playing. This judgement does not take into account players having a bad day, the team not playing well, something stupid like a player feeling under the weather and so on. If you was to take into account all the variables which should be taken into account when making a judgement/prediction i dont think anyone would make predictions. So my choice is to predict the outcome in our favour and while some see that as blindly optimistic if we where honest i have either a) decided to take all the variables into to consideration b) beleive we have a better chance based on the variables i want to take note of i.e our team is better than their's or c) have taken a complete punt based on nothing more than the 1 in 3 or 2 in 3 odds given to me by the outcome of the game i.e draw or win. Also being realistic we are were we are because we deserve to be or we wouldnt be there the table does not lie and being realistic we are doing well what ever the shortfalls and problems of the current team maybe and to constantly bang on about the problems and shortfalls takes away the attention from what it should be on and that is that our team playing well or badly are doing well and more focus should be given to what is going right rather that what is going wrong. Perhaps because we have been in the wilderness for far to long ? that its self is making the judgement on the club on what a fan expects us to be or where we are expected to be, but if we would have deserved to be there we would have been. The comment taken into account i dont beleive is negative but positive towards Young and therefor the team. |
Eamon McElwee
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... jesus sweet christ wot is it with this site and Villa fans...im embarassed to associate with the majority of people on this site, truly i am...never have i encountered a more negative, whinging bunch of so-called supporters (the very word suggests we follow our team in a positive manner)...its an absolute joke, we can go 4th with a win 2mro, yeah the football hasnt been great but isnt that the secret to pick up points when not playing well (couple this with our obvious lack of a creative central midfielder - DJ pls pls get fit and soon)...when DJ is fit, we have what we lack - creativity!!! so do as supports do and support - u dont hear sunderland or tottenham fans having a go at their club for being in the top 7 |
James
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... Interesting post. Things will look different from 4th place. When you're up to your ankles in crap in the garden and you've just trodden on the rake, back yards look like a good idea. In the late autumn sunshine, sat on the decking with a glass of Rioja in your hand things often feel different. Wait till we're up there and then we'll discuss the irritations of winning teams playing dull footy. All the Top 4 have been there at some point. Win. Win, draw, win and bugger the style. |
Car Frost
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... Ok Chiefy going to leave it there before I come under any more attack For what it's worth I hope you are right and would love us to finish top 4. |
Andi
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... Nan -- i am with you some people tend to focus on the bad points but all i can see is the good we are doing well, i was just trying to point out why we should be positive . I have had a bet on villa to win 2-0 and heskey to score £10 see's a £91 return !!! I have a feeling the Mule is conditioned for this one to show Cole who is the only lump in an england shirt |
Andi
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... frosty - i was not attacking you mate just giving a explination in my belief other than everyone thinking that i am blindly optimistic. Sorry if you thought i was attacking you mate i wasnt just explaining my self |
Greg Hill
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... Frosty - you should do a post analysing the issue of negativity. So much of the posting is about saluting the flag for some reason. No one is less of a Villa fan for calling it as they see it. I can see why people are positive but I can also understand that we’ve won nothing for decades and the football is still poor and that for some of us this is cumulative. And, to be fair, the attendances are beginning to reflect the performances. It’s November 2009 and in this calendar year we have had the majority of possession on just 4 occasions, according to most stats that I follow. (Although the Guardian yesterday were surely barmy in putting out stats that it was 74/26 against us?! This is the lowest of any team through the year. Has to be a mistake. Blimey - there glass is seven-eights empty!). But anyway we’ll be foraging again tomorrow - that I do know. Win or lose. The smell of reverting to Wigan mode is all around and will get worse if he starts playing two strikers thus creating a midfield hole. Pray for Petrov. Sidwell has to play. At least he’s a body there. That’s why are better with him. |
Rios.Jockstrap
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... The reason our football is shite at the moment is because our flair players are playing shite. This together with Martins fascination of playing everything left to the one player whom is suffering more than any other. Hes the key. Get him playing well, Carew starts scoring again. Get him turning defenders and our midfield gets more room to support the strikers. People have said it for ages, we are SOoooo one dimensional. We dont have any plan B other than packing the centre of the park. It was the same when we had Barry, and its the same post Barry. So how do we get Ashley performing well again? Firstly, hes not a left winger. He plays brilliantly as one, but is right footed. As someone already mentioned, he tends to turn inside when crossing, which gives Defenders that vital couple of seconds to get closer to him when doubled up. But i would not move him over to the right. Defenders will still double up on him. All we will end up doing is playing everything right for another eternity. No. If you want Ashley to be a threat, if you want to add a bit more guile to our attack,if you want to get him involved more, then you have to give him the central birth and the freedom to do just that. Downing will enable us to do this soon. If Bourma is fit, we could do it now, by pushing Warnock further up field. Whats important though, is that we do... do it soon. |
Andi
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... greg1981 -- calling it as i see it ? we have had a dip and not performed since the begining of the season and by the law of probability its due to change maybe not tomorrow but it will soon and when it does wont the blog change, wigan has been and gone and so have all the games we have played badly and hopefully the team and manager has learned but only time will tell. Downing comes back soon we have some returning things will change but for the better you will see |
Steve Badger
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... Excellent post JPA. I actually agree with most of it, even though you wouldn't think so from some of my comments recently Glass half full or empty? It's an interesting one this, because I can go either way. Before a game I'm ever the optimist, albeit with reservations. If we lose, I'll always go on a downer and bitch and moan. That's just the nature of the beast though isn't it???? Of course, I'd love to see us playing footy like we did under BFR, but ultimately I agree with chiefy. It's the result that counts. The difference this year is that my expectancy is seriously higher. Which is why I'm now disappointed when we don't win. That tells me we have improved and are progressing. And MON still has my total faith, even though he totally confuses me sometimes. Get that win and it's top 4. We might have looked like a load of mugs last season with the "Yes we can" stuff, but I don't care. I want to see that again this season. You can't beat a bit of blind optimism that actually might come true, imo. |
Car Frost
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... Chiefy it's all good this debate malarkey and if you have some spare I'll borrow a little of that blind optimism. Greg - yeah, there is a fine line I think between idiots who want to be negative for the sake of being negative and those who have geniune concerns, I think it's a shame both are tarnished with the same brush at times. Bosnich shame on you you crack wh*re |
Greg Hill
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... Badger Of course, I'd love to see us playing footy like we did under BFR, but ultimately I agree with chiefy. It's the result that counts BFR got results too - we came 2nd |
Steve Badger
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...BFR got results too - we came 2nd I'm not saying we never mate. But we're getting results now, even with the crap footy. I've mentioned it recently and probably today, but I don't rush to watch Man U. I'd rush to watch Arsenal though (well I wouldn't but you know what I mean). And who's won what, in (pick as many as you like) years? The point is nice footy looks good, but more often than not, wins nothing. |
Greg Hill
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... Badger The point is nice footy looks good, but more often than not, wins nothing. I simply don’t agree with this. Yes you need steel too. But that also can be attractive. And over the last years, for as long as I can remember, all the champions have played great football. I can loathe Man U but their footy has been sensational. Watching Giggs thread a pass and Scholes’ vision and first touch was really good to watch. Head up. Brain engaged. Picking a pass. For me all the teams who have won the league have camped in the opposition’s half and bludgeon them. When was the last time we even sniffed that? VP used to be a fortress. We only have the players to play on the break - even at home. Martin: get a top midfield player. This conversion of wingers to playing inside – well I’m listening to you all, and hoping - but I don’t see it. At this level it’s specialist position. |
Greg
said:
 |
... Every one reads to much into how many points we had last year compared to now, etc. It all doesnt matter becasue the leadue has evolved and points in theory will be harder to come by. $th is there for the taking with a lot of luck and hard work. Manchester utd has got to where they are by consistently winning league and cups over the last 18 years. People are delusional to think we can play to that standard overnight. O neill is not he know how to get in amongst the big boys is not to outplay them but to contain, work your bolloacks off and hit on the break and use set pieces. He's only 3 years into the job, at the same stage ferguson was into his career at utd he had to wait another 3 years for real success. Dont believe in all the hype, spurs who are meant to be top 4 contenders were found out at arsenal as they were destroyed 4-0. Has it a ring to it? any1 feel dejve? evefry year there are the new pretenders and every year they get spankd and are left dwllusional, because the fans are delusional and hope beyond hope, and losr there logic and reasoning. Of all the teams set up, us and everton are still the likliest. We are tough teams, hard to beat. A few wins and you english think you'll win the world cup, a few defeats and you've resigned to the fact your the worst team in history, its all bollocks, keep your head when alll those around them lose theirs. We will be there or thereabouts but write off any of the top 4 at your peril. History has an awfull habit of repeating itself. |
Greg
said:
|
... Everyone reads to much into how many points we had last year compared to now, etc. It all doesnt matter because the league has evolved and points in theory will be harder to come by. 4th place is there for the taking with a lot of luck and hard work. Manchester utd has gotten to where they are by consistently winning league's and cup's over the last 18 years. People are delusional to think we can play to that standard overnight. O neill is not, he knows how to get in amongst the big boys, not try to outplay them but to contain, work your bollocks off and hit on the break and use set pieces. He's only 3 years into the job, and at the same stage ferguson was into his career at utd he still had to wait another 3 years for real success. Dont believe in all the hype, look at spuds, who are meant to be top 4 contenders, they were found out at arsenal as they were destroyed 4-0.It had a familiarity to it? any1 feel dejvu? every year there are the new pretenders and every year they get spankd and are left fustrated, because the fans are delusional and hope beyond hope, and lose all their logic and reasoning because of the hype they buy into. Of all the teams set up, us and everton are still the likliest to go on really challenge the top 4. We are tough teams, hard to beat. Dont buy into all the hype and crap in the media and press. Keep your head when all those around them lose theirs. We will be there or thereabouts but write off any of the top 4 at your peril. History has an awfull habit of repeating itself. side: the spellings/grammar was so bad i had to revise it. |
VDV
said:
 |
... With learners money we should offer £100million and ashley young for messi, this would probably be enough, and then if o'neil has ever heard of abroad we should go and sign mario gomez from bayern and then that team will challenge for the league And for the record I completely serious. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...all the champions have played great football. At times. I'll stand by what I said, Man U were dire at times last season. Whereas we played some of the most exhilarating, pacey footy I've ever seen last season. I'm including Brazil and Real in that too! Of course we played some utter rubbish as well I don't know if you can remember when we won the league, but Ipswich were the better looking side and the darlings of the media, probably because of the foreigners. We won though. For me all the teams who have won the league have camped in the opposition’s half and bludgeon them. When was the last time we even sniffed that? It's a fair point, but it's not necessarily about how you play. It's more about having better players and a state of mind, imo. With our midfield we're never going to bludgeon sides and indeed that's how we're set up. To counter with pace. Fwiw, I think we're blowing Downing up a bit too much. I expect him to have a pretty poor season even. I'm also not expecting Milner moving inside as being the answer either. Young can do a job floating behind a striker though. We need better replacements for Sidwell and NRC, simple as, to give us more options. |
jerry
said:
 |
...u dont hear sunderland or tottenham fans having a go at their club for being in the top 7 Bosnich, I like to go to other blogs sometimes to simply remind myself that all the pessimists in the country don't support the Villa. They are awash with whiners and whingers. Don't know much about Sunderland but the spuds blogs are riddled with 'rednapp out'. Reassuring really. |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
... I think some people are getting mixed up between playing good Football and creating chances. This will proberly sound silly, but if you can do the latter then the first becomes a little easier on the eye! I dont see much difference with our style of play this season to any other under Oneil to be honest. The only underlying factor this season is that we are not creating as many chances. The simple reason is that our most creative players are as yet, not performing to the standards of previous seasons. It really is that simple. I think its merely a problem of fine tuning with the players we have now, and the manager accepting that round pegs do actually fit into round holes, and that the idea of a squad, is that you can rest and rotate players if they look jaded or short of form. He has been backed to the hilt by Lerner, more so than any other Villa manager before him, so its really down to him. You can pressurise a team for 90 minutes and create nothing. Playing nice football and creating loads of chances is very simplistic. If it worked, then WBA would of been Champions last season How many times have we seen Manure, Chelsea and the scouse under the cosh, yet create two good chances which they then finish? Lets just concentrate on getting the best out of Ashley and Carew, even if that means reverting to another system to enable that. |
Eamon McElwee
said:
|
... churchill i appreciate the fact that other clubs have negative fans - we just seem to have alot more than any other club...as for the spuds wanting Redknapp out...i can kinda sympathize...Jol was the man for that job and was getting closer every year but Redknapp or Ramos...the spuds wouldnt know if they needed a shit or a haircut |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Sid, fatkevs, cheer up you miserable bastard He's getting there, imo, if you have read his posts of late. They've moved from "we're total shite" to constructive criticism |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... So much so that I was the one who felt negative last time we were involved in a thread together  We'll win tomorrow. I've subscribed to the Villastreams that Damian keeps going on about. £7 for two months is better than all the hassle, I feel. Trying to get a stream for the league cup did me. More chance of finding tits on a bull. |
Mark
said:
 |
... In fairness I think we're doing better than most teams around us, save for Arsenal who look majestic at the moment. There used to be a time a few seasons ago, where we'd be happy for either a point or damage limitation against the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea. It's nice going in to these games now with real optimism and expectation that we'll get something from the game. I wish we could master the craft of breaking down the weaker sides who generally sit back when they play a pacy counter attacking team like us. Mood in the Villa camp appears upbeat and positive, just one or two short of being a proper top 4 side. |
James
said:
|
... Hmmm, two exciting, high scoring draws send The Big Boys into the next round with the required point. How bloody convenient? Deal or no deal? |
jerry
said:
|
...£7 for two months is better than all the hassle, I feel. Can you pay by something other than Paypal? |
Andy Scarborough
said:
 |
... The above comments about winning ugly rather than playing "the beautiful game" made me think. Each game lasts 90 minutes, the memories last forever. So if we won the Carling Cup by playing ugly we would have watched 90 minutes of pretty average football. As time goes by we will only remember the goals, the presentation, the celebrations, the open bus ride around Small Heath... you get the picture. I have a sideboard full of trophies, the clubhouse has my name on all the honours boards and no one remembers how well or how lucky I got, they just see my name there and assume I am brilliant. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... No deal for me. But absolutely no surprise. Entertainment? It's on a par with WWF or whatever it's called these days. Highly smelley, imo. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Churchill, Can you pay by something other than Paypal? I'm fairly sure you could do a bank transfer, if you were to get in touch with the operators. I'd do it sharpish though. |
Nix2
said:
 |
... Goals were easy last year because other teams couldn't quite adapt to the fact we were going to contain them and then outrun them. Young is now marked out of the game, as is Gabby. If anyone noticed the Chelsea game Gabby had the job of jogging Terry round the pitch. Young is playing a similar game of just slowly wearing the opposition down. Now when Gabby and Young are marked out the game thats where someone else steps up and spreads the play in new directions. But we sold Barry, and he was that man. Next nearest person in our squad now is Coker, we look more threatening as he makes the right passes. Petrov is in decisive and loses the ball more often or not, Sidwell is decisive but makes recurring bad decisions. As a result Warnock looks great going forward as he is doing the job of the midfield, and our defence is doing the scoring for the midfield. Last year it seemed quite apparent running up to Christmas that Young and Milner were communicating and switching throughout the game, aswell as Gabby and Carew doing the same, defenders didn't know who was coming at them and what they would do. Que Carew getting injured, Young been given position to support Gabby, and ever since he's been bound by a set position. I don't think he needs to go right side, I think he needs free role, he should be popping up anywhere and everywhere, as should Milner, and Gabby. But first things first all 3 of them needs to stop being the hero, and become the hero. So my point. Midfield need to turn up, if not substitute for Coker and Delph (mentor and apprentice), and ffs would O'Neil punch the f**k out of Sidwell so he can be sold in January? |
keith
said:
 |
... thought for the day last season 2 passes from defense and a shot on goal this season ash and milner trackig back = solid defense but the attacks start in our own half hmmmmmmm |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...I have a sideboard full of trophies, the clubhouse has my name on all the honours boards and no one remembers how well or how lucky I got, they just see my name there and assume I am brilliant. It's a good point. We were the biggest club in the world bar none, but who cares? |
jerry
said:
|
...The above comments about winning ugly rather than playing "the beautiful game" made me think. Each game lasts 90 minutes, the memories last forever. Danny Blanchflower is repoted as saying: "The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom." I'm inclined to agree. At least to the view that a team should aspire to glory, but if, five minutes into a match, the players realise that 'ugly' is the only way it can be done, then do it ugly. For those among you that don't recognise opinion for what it is, it's called 'sitting on the fence'. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... That's a nice quote churchill. Indeed, it's an ideal. But it falls down with this; The game is about glory There is no glory in not winning. |
jerry
said:
|
...There is no glory in not winning. Which begs the question, "Is there any glory in winning ugly" |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Which begs the question, "Is there any glory in winning ugly" Unfortunately, winning is all that matters these days. But I know where you are coming from. In a world where, as was mentioned earlier, you get classed as "clever" (or whatever the word was) for diving, what choice have you got? What I'd like to know is, let's say we were to make the top 4 at the expense of Liverpool. Who'd get the most press? Don't worry, I know the answer. It just crossed my mind |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Fu^k me badge, can you read my mind? Only when I'm at my peak. Otherwise I have to settle for a crappy draw |
Rios.Jockstrap
said:
|
... Winning has always been all that matters, otherwise the words sport, compitition or League would be irrelivent and we would have an empty cabinet |
TheGreatDane
said:
 |
... Great post. Sidders has had his chance - played a third of a season, and has proven to be nothing more than a liability. Is time for Delph to have a crack- he may take a while, but is a good long-term move. We are just wasting points persisting with Sidwell. UTV |
Andy Scarborough
said:
|
... During the course of a long season I want to be entertained by scintillating football, silky skills, stepovers, curled shots from 35 yards and all that stuff. The reality is something less than that, I am entertained by winning one nil with an own goal from the opposition's Australian defender (Lucas Niell). The Blanchfower quote is wonderful, if only all players felt that way. Sadly there is no way you can get away with expressing yourself on the pitch like that, just look at what happens to Ash week in week out. Ronaldo got "the treatment" for a few seasons until he overcame it with new tricks and strength, it didn't hurt having 10 great players alongside either. I suppose it's just my jaded expectations that make me want to see a win of any sort, scrappy, ugly, lucky, call it what you will. Only NOT cheating though, that's no good and people do remember that. |
David Griffin
said:
 |
... At first with the header i thought this was going to be a slag post about winning ugly. I am glad I read that brightened up a rather cloudy day here in Virginia. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... andy, Ronaldo got "the treatment" for a few seasons until he overcame it with new tricks and strength, This is what Ash has to learn. Only NOT cheating though, that's no good and people do remember that. Unfortunately, it's only the Brits who see it as cheating. It breaks my heart to say it, but maybe we should get better at it? No, strike that. I don't want it to go that way. USVilladave, a rather cloudy day here in Virginia. |
jerry
said:
|
...Unfortunately, it's only the Brits who see it as cheating. I know you reversed the comment, but that you even thought it is depressing. We are British and we have standards. Cheating tells you something about a man. It's a window into his soul. A man that cheats is less than a man - he is merely the sum of his weaknesses. And that's not you badger. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...It's a window into his soul. A man that cheats is less than a man - he is merely the sum of his weaknesses. You're correct on both counts. But given my previous opinions on Pool winning the CL last time, Nan's comments on the games tonight and the way the whole game is going re: so called entertainment (chuck in the beckham bollox if you like, I suspect I'm going to end up on the losing side mate  |
jerry
said:
|
...But given my previous opinions on Pool winning the CL last time, Nan's comments on the games tonight and the way the whole game is going re: so called entertainment (chuck in the beckham bollox if you like, I suspect I'm going to end up on the losing side mate Goodnight mate. God Bless. |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Rios.Jockstrap i agree ashley was sublime when he was given that free role in the middle I thoght that was our future if we could have rio or delph being his bodyguard |
Faccundo
said:
 |
... There are two solutions to our current style conundrum. 1) LERNER OPENS UP HIS WALLET, AND ONCE THE BATS CLEAR HE SIGNS MARIK HAMSIK FROM NAPOLI IN JANUARY 2) Lerner sells the club to somebody with real ambition and allows us to buy players that move us to the next level. As for the Young debate, he is our only creative player and selling him would be tantamount to tactical suicide. Anyone for a team full of Heskeys and Sidwells? SIGN HAMSIK IN JAN 2010 |
Andi
said:
|
... Faccundo - I will have what ever your on. Do you think for one minute Hamsik will come to Villa when he has the top 4 as well as many of Europes top teams sniffing around him ? get real VDV - lay of the Championship manager Young + 100million for Messi, and then his wage bill again get a grip and get with reality. I am all for optimism as people on here might tell you but there does come a point when it gets silly. refer to comment 50 for explination of my optimistic view. However Hamsik and Messi is more of a Santa letter but unforunatly.........dont think i can tell ya but Santa aint real |
Andi
said:
|
... Keithj -- I am sorry to break it to but Santa isnt real it was the tooth fairy that sent us Lerner didnt you know |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Anyone watch the Utd match last night? CSKA had a player on the RW called Tomas Necid. He looked class in possession. Everytime he got it they were all over the place. He could a job for us. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Also until MON really stops this stupid buy home players policy he has we really are going nowhere. The biggest club in the world look to have found another quality player on the cheap. Obertan cost only £3m and he looks like he is going to be a bargin. Who have we picked up for around £3m since MON took charge? Zat Knight and Harewood. Thats what £3m buys you in England. |
Andi
said:
|
... ak_27 -- Obertan missed a glorious chance the weekend and while he looked good he didnt look all that mate. January is not here yet so lets not start butchering MON before he has signed anyone or had chance. His previous signings must have worked in some form or we would not be where we are, COLLINS anyone |
Andi
said:
|
... do you what would intresting to know the total amount Oneil has spent on players that have worked out i.e first teamers or regular scores etc etc and the value of the players that have not worked out i.e your salifous and osbournes of the world. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Put it like this he looked far better then our Ash has looked all season. He will be a good player. Im not talking about Jan (as i expect the usual no real action in Jan) im talking about his general approach to transfers. We as a club are in the dark ages when it comes to finding the best talent the world has to offer. The PL is in reality the world league and it is just so naive to think you cna limit yourself to such a small pool of talent in order to catch up with the big boys. Spurs have started creating links with Brazilian teams which will lead to the possibility of the best of their young talent arriving at the club. Who is MON creating links with? Celtic? |
neil57
said:
|
... Paper today, MON forsees greatness for Collins. Utd try and try and try. They never give up. Did anyone see the caption weeks ago of SAF holding added time hoarding, it read as added time- when I decide ? We seem to have halted the silly late goals. Just need to prevent senseless penalties. Probably best defence in open play? WHU wont score tonight. I hope the ever optimistic Nan is right. I dont care about fancy football, ala SAF, a win is a win. UTV |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Crikey, just had a look at some of the posts from yesterday afternoon. I tried to write a blindly optimistic post that got people feeling good about Villa and there are still those who want to tear it all down. I think it's fair to say I have the vocab and literacy to write a deadly realistic post about the short comings of the team etc. but i choose not to. We know we aren't playing well, what's wrong with enjoying the fact that we're doing pretty well despite that. Greg, It's a shame you don't want to follow my rallying call. The truth is i've been on here stating the obvious drawbacks and the problems with the side but it gets me nowhere. I'd much rather be positive and enjoy my football. That's it. I could talk team selection, tactics, transfers, whatever. The fact is I wanna stay upbeat and I hope we nick all three points tonight. If we finish fourth this year will anyone really care that we started the season playin ugly football? No they won't. And neither will you my |
Andi
said:
|
... ak_27 -- personally i would prefer an english team or much of it to be english or british, and considering the english talent is sos scarse i think we have near enough the best of it. We are also punching with the big guns at the moment and with a largely british team. In your opinion we are in the dark ages in mine we are at the front of where the premier league should be going, we are the best league in the world yet we havent won the world cup since 1966 because of the influx of forgien players and the i want it now attitude which creates the need to buy the best from abroad, that in turn ruins any chance we have of developing the next england team so every year we are left with less and less to pick from, the fa was trying convince a player from germany arron hunt i think to play for england as his great nan was english is that how bad it has really got for english football ?? and when MON master plan comes to fruition will your feelings change ? if we end up fourth and then you see the glamour signings we all dream of will you then applaud Oneil for his signings ?? |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... The world is changing and the reality is now that the the EPL is there for the world not just for the English. Its not there for the benefit of the national team it is there for the benefit of the clubs that play in it. If you were to go down the route you would like let me tell you this league wouldn't be the top one for too long more and the money it now recieves would dry up quick. It is due to the factor that a lot of the best in the world are plying their trade in the same league that this league is where it is today. This thing about England not winning the world cup beacuse of foreign players arriving is rubbish. Why weren't they winning before the influx of these foreign players? This has only happened in the last 10/15 years. If the English players can't get into teams ahead of foreigners that would indicate that they aren't at the top end of quality. You won't win world cups with players like that anyway. If anything you currently have the best Englsih team i can remember. Maybe that is down to playing againest high quality players that play in the league and CL? The best English players will come through no matter what if they are good enough. MON should be thinking of Villa and only Villa because let me tell you our competitors do not care about anything else but themselves either. And to that he has to make most of the resourses that are out there. And that means scouring the world for talent. |
neil57
said:
|
... I loved the eloquent post and optimism. WRT foreign players,the fact is, not many British players would grace a world or european 11. I suggest Terry, Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney. If the foreigners left, Arsenal would be snookered, to name but one. I know they are moving the goalposts, but a high percentage of local talent must play in a few years. Think of the Leeds, Liverpool teams, even Notts Forest and ourselves. Full of home players. Howard Wilkinson says the work is not being done to nurture locals. It is wonderful to watch the class play of Drogba, Essien etc. Do you recall we nearly bought Drogba when he was out of favour with Chelsea? Pie in the sky UTV |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... neil57 when those teams were winning the teams we they were playing were also full of players mainly from their home countrys. Thats was before the EU opened up and also before the South Americans and Africans started to come to Europe to play football also. Im certain not one (including our winning team) of those teams would get anywhere near winning the CL if they were to enter todays league. Today the pool of talent that football is getting its players from is far bigger and that has to mean that teams today are better. |
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