Written by Damian Thursday, 04 March 2010 08:17
Habib Beye has threatened to quit the club because he has had to watch a midfielder and a centre back play in his preferred position, while he just sits on the bench. This, according to the Daily Star.
So, seeing as it isn't a reputable player - expect this to be rubbished immediately and don't be surprised if a club PR person comes out to rubbish this talk, after telepathically communicating with Martin O'Neill, the moment he read it about it.
I'm only joking, playing if you will, but the paper do have quotes.
Habib Beye
Things are not going too well for me at Villa, I have only played in 10 games in all competitions. This is the first time in 12 years I’ve had a season like this – and it is not easy for me to put up with.
But, just because a paper says they have quotes from a player, doesn't mean they are actually from the player. For all we know they could have just made this all up. Otherwise, if we believed everything we read in the paper, then it would be very very hard for some.
But, this isn't just about Beye. Gardner left in January, chances are high that Reo-Coker will be off too and the likes of Harewood, bought for a fairly large amount and never given a proper run, will also be off. Who else?
You see, you might say we have a small squad and to an extent, we do, but we also have a few players that are not playing and the manager, despite knowing he has a squad and that last season he played less players than anyone else, is only going to alienate players by not playing a modern game.
When I say modern game, I mean, you can't play a centre back at right back when you have two on the bench only to keep him in the team because we did better with him at centre back. There was a reason he played so well at centre back. Rotate players instead of waiting until they fall down tired or stop performing.
So, a player or two will be leaving in the summer. I think that is fair to assume - who else do you think will be going? I only ask because there is all this talk of players coming in - if the manager loses too many then he might struggle to replace them, before he can concentrate on getting the players that can really elevate Aston Villa.
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Villa fan in Oz (Matty Kelland)
said:
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... Beye hasnt started many matches for us but i reckon he is a handy player for the bench. I wouldnt like to see anyone go from villa especially Beye. Alot of people could be leaving in the summer transfer period but we cant afford to lose big names. |
grayowl
said:
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... myself and all around me in the holt cannot understand martins insistance on playing a centre back out of position when he has quality right backs on the bench,this was a flaw at wembly,i wish he would explain his reasons for this.v t i d |
Lloydy
said:
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... Beye has never let us down. A decent run in the team would do him the world of good. Equally Luke Young has done nothing to justify not playing in his preferred position. Cuellar is not a right back and never will be. He was awful in the final and both right backs are rightly fed up. Young or Beye must play against Reading. |
naldy
said:
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... Its difficult to criticise when we've been getting the results,but im in agreement,ONeill needs to sort out who he prefers at centre half and then play a fullback at fullback ! We played our best football when Cueller partnered Dunne and we had Young at right back,but you could just sense Martin was looking for an excuse to bring Collins back and then along came Blackburn,perfect ! Another big question,why a striker who never scores goals,im afraid another ONeill favourite ! |
Jonathan Dixon
said:
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... Great comment and agree totally.... When I say modern game, I mean, you can't play a centre back at right back when you have two on the bench only to keep him in the team because we did better with him at centre back. There was a reason he played so well at centre back. Drives me crazy when we have 2 more than capable right backs on the bench and he plays a centre back there, who is worse than both of them in that position. I'm sorry but at a big club with competition for places, you sometimes have to drop your favourite players for the best of the team. You can't just fit them in for the sake of not hurting/annoying someone. Crazy, just crazy!! |
Mr. Grover
said:
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... Are you seriously worried about trash players such as Harewood? Reo-Coker is decent, but he is not in MON's long term plans and you should know that Damian. Beye is a nice player and yes, he hasn't been given a proper run but the minutes just aren't there. Who is undeserving of their starting 11 spot right now? Who is Beye better than? The answer is no one, right now. In time (years), Beye could challenge for a spot like Petrov's, but right now, he is just depth. Suck it up HB |
Greg Hill
said:
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... It is a wonder why although we now have a bigger squad MON doesn’t use it. And, more crucially, why he plays players out of position. The Carlos at full back was simply a bad joke taken too far on Sunday. From the previous thread: Pancho So what’s the point of saying anything then if the manager is all omnipotent? Was DOL and Gregory the same? We should have all got behind Ellis a little more? Should we not have said we smell the whiff?? And then all the moaning neggos will pat themselves on the back and say, see ! I was right all along. And Villa will go back to being the unambitious, mediocre, mid-table side, that the moaning neggos deserve. My view is the opposite. It’s the sycophants who have held us back for years. And maybe still do. This is a recent post I made. I think it holds: Think on this: Who are the common threads in a football club? Who or what is transitionary? All the managers come and go. Players too. They sell them selves to the highest bidder. Chairmen come and go. Randy has made a packet in 4 years. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask what, say, Harry Rednapp - amongst others - would have done with the money MON has had; and if we would still have a hole through the centre of our team after 3 years. |
Vijay Daryanani
said:
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... Mon has done a great job and we cannot really complain, yes i agree that Cuellar should not play at right back especially when we have Young and Beye, but all managers have favourites so we cannot really do much about that, i hope we sign the creative midfielder and striker we need badly to really push on, Benayoun and Pavlychenko?? |
VillaDude
said:
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... MON has his favourites and no matter what a player does in training, they have very little chance of playing... Beye can go, has anyone read the rest of his comments? He talks more about his wages than he does about getting back into the first team, that won't impress MON. Expect the following players to leave... Salifou (last year of contract) Harewood (last year of contract) Shorey (has been playing well on loan - a few clubs will be interested) Reo Coker (no 1st team opportunities) Osbourne (probably on loan again) I wouldn't mind if they all went, they never play anyway.... |
Damian
said:
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... Mr. Grover No - I'm not worried about players like Harewood - I am worried about O'Neill spending the likes of £4mn on him - £2.5 on Beye - £10mn on Curtis - £8mn on Reo-Coker only to find that maybe they are not going to stay and not be part of the bigger picture. I'm also worried that he spent so much on the likes of Luke Young and Nick Shorey and it appears, while it shouldn't be, that it was wasted money. Sure - we might make money on some but generally, we will lose money and it's not the money I care about - it isn't mine - it's the opportunity. Greg1981 i think what you are trying to say is that if all we expect is a battle for top six and the hope of top four, then that is all we are going to get and i couldn't agree more supporters (customers) need to demand more and not just accept - because we have done for so long and it isn't fun watching us finish 6th and get to the odd league cup final - although it was fun in 94 and 96 |
Damian
said:
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... vivavilla okay - is cuellar better than luke young then and if your name was habib beye - would you think it just a little unfair that you hadn't had a proper run? my real point is, you can't be surprised if beye was a little pissed off and wanting to leave |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... Greg1981: You keep right on moaning and deluding yourself then. The only thing you have the power to affect is the positive or negative atmosphere that surrounds the club - nothing else. Do you really think that your moaning negativity is going to make Lerner put more money in ? Or make someone like Hiddink say 'hey I think I'd like to manage Villa' Or will your moaning make really good players think 'I'd like to play for Villa' No ! - you have the power to effect nothing other than the confidence with which the team plays on the pitch. We are supporters, no more, no less. |
Nathan Price
said:
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... Beye was garbage against Brighton, looked like he'd never even met Collins let alone played next to him. I think he was a stop gap, as lyoung was injured and on compasionate leave at the begining of the season. Other stop gaps were Shorey, Harewood, Knight etc the players that have come in for a season or two then left or will leave. I think thats perfectly reasonable. Why wouldnt we buy players knowing theyd only play half a dozen games for a season or two then be moved on. I read yesterday about Wenger buying a replacement for Ramsey, who may only be out for 6-9 months, he could be playing again by xmas. Everyone does it, I cant see what the problem is. |
Leroy
said:
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... Milner is in sever need of a rest....he tries as always but has not got the same bounce in his legs. As has been the case for about four or five years, we are still in dire need of a midfield maestro. Arteta / Defour who ever. I think this type of player would help transform Gabby into a 20 goal guy. Also, what does anyone else think of Sidwell at right back? He carved us from there when he was with Reading....perhaps he has that push forward from there similar to what Warnock has....i think Sidders is better value there than his current role perhaps... We will continue to fall short if MON cant find it in himself to trust ALL of the players - players he has drafted in himself. Reo Coker is probably the best disruptive midfielder in the league in my opinion, his work against Pool when we smashed them was unbelievable....granted, he doesnt have the polish or skills of many in the league, but too few have his desire and heart....how can he not have a place in the side from time to time atleast? Yet we have Petrov and Milner looking out on their feet by halftime in nearly every match.... Just gotta trust the squad players, or do some more research in the transfer market before purchasing them... |
david c english
said:
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... uke young will probably be off, and i wonder if the reason the king carlos gets games before a proper full back is because of the interest from madrid, with mon thinking if carlos gets regular games he will be less inclined to want to leave, but because mon has such faith in the dunn/collins partnership the only way he can play carlos each week is at full back |
Damian
said:
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... Pancho Villan sorry to say this, but you are deluded if you think that is the case. The only thing you have the power to affect is the positive or negative atmosphere that surrounds the club - nothing else.is just, i dont know, clueless maybe. We are supporters, no more, no less.supporters are customers. take away the customers and the club ceases to exist. an extreme way of trying to demonstrate exactly the point greg1981 is making he is saying it is supporters like you that have held us back - supporters that cant grasp or understand that if we are happy just accepting mediocrity then that is all we will get served up |
Mike Carter
said:
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... Damian I'm not surprised at all. Beye can go, and at very little loss to Villa. |
Greg Hill
said:
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...Damian Yes, we need to raise the bar. Otherwise it all becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Pancho I don’t agree. In fact I totally disagree. Fans make the club and are the club. My point remains. Only Villa fans can, have, and will, get in the way of real success. We’re an accepting bunch. Throw us – the UK’s second city, and with a bigger fan catchment than Liverpool and Manchester put together – a few league cups and we will be happy. Enough is enough. I still like MON. And he deserves longer. But he doesn’t seem to understand that the spine of the team is weak. The central playmaker should have been in the team by now. The Sid, the Merse. And a goal scorer. Seems reasonable to me anyway. And while we remain weak in these positions at least shore up the centre mid with 3 players. The Wigan debacle still lingers. I didn’t boo, but I did laugh when I saw just the boy Delph and Petrov were alone in the middle in that game. It didn’t/doesn’t say much for his judgment. |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... You can look at all teams and pick on players that have been bought for a lot of money that just haven't worked out. Man Utd - Veron, Cruyff, Forlan, Jemba Jemba,Numerous GK's Arsenal - Senderos, Reyes, Baptista Chelsea - Shevchenko, Mutu, Liverpool - Morientes, lucas, Babel, (literally hundreds) Man City - Robinho, Santa Cruz, Viera, Spurs - Dos Santos, Boatang, Hutton, Bentley These are few off the top of head, all managers will take a punt and not all will pay off. |
Nathan Price
said:
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... Greg It’s perfectly reasonable to ask what, say, Harry Rednapp - amongst others - would have done with the money MON has had; and if we would still have a hole through the centre of our team after 3 years. He's had a tonne of money to spend at spuds, and where are they? Exactly how are they having a better season than us? He spent an absolute fortune at Portsmouth and look whats happened to them, you want to switch positions with them? They have something to moan about. Where is this hole through the centre of the team, In Goal? Where we have one of the top 3 keepers in the league, at CB? where we have the best defence in the league? maybe in the midfield then where we have one of the better MF's in the league, regular England international and being linked with manure? And on the bench we have one of the best prospects in central midfield, who is proving himself very capable. So maybe your talking about up front then, where we have a regular england international playing next to someone who any team in the league would take right now, for his pace and ability to strike panic into the hearts of defenders. (as he did on sunday, where Vidic should have been sent off, if he had been who knows what might have happened) I think your talking garbage. |
VillaDude
said:
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... CSM is right, you can't expect every signing to show 100% of what MON thought they would, every manager and team make signing mistakes... Only signing that looked dodgy from the start was Harewood, and he had scored a top hat-trick against villa the season before... |
Frankie Pimblett
said:
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... I hope we don't lose Luke Young he's quality and should be playing every week, with Beye as back up if he's injured. The decision to keep playing Cuellar at right back is mistifying. No problem with Harewood, Salifou, and Osbourne moving on. Would like to see Reo Coker stay as he's decent back up for central midfield. I think we'd all like to see the back of Sidwell who's been a complete waste of space, and it wouldn't break my heart to see Davies go as he's not as good as the 3 regular centre backs and will block Clark's progress. Unfortunately we may see Bannan move on as well, a good young player who MON obviously doesn't rate, hence the purchase of Delph. |
Greg Hill
said:
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...PaulMcGraths You make my earlier point effectively. Offensive. I will try to be less so. Where is this hole through the centre of the team….. maybe in the midfield Yes I mean centre midfield and upfront (I will pass over centre back. I really like Dunne but Martin Lausen he aint!!) . Milner needs someone beside him. We can’t hold onto the ball in the middle. I’ve been watching for years and 2009 remains one in which I will remember just how cheap possession was. So maybe your talking about up front then, where we have a regular england international playing next to someone who any team in the league would take right now, for his pace and ability to strike panic into the hearts of defenders. (as he did on sunday, where Vidic should have been sent off, if he had been who knows what might have happened) I don’t even understand what you’re saying here. But Gabs isn’t a natural goal scorer. JC is lazy and not up for it. That’s it. So we need a goal scorer and a someone alongside Milner who can stand on the spot head up; hold onto the ball and thread it; a playmaker. Sid or Merse type. And you mention our good players. That’s my point. The will be off unless we get to the top more quickly than many are planning for. |
rackface
said:
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... I don't blame Beye. If I was picking the Villa team, he would be in it at RB. Playing Cuellar there continues to infuriate the f**k out of me. Sunday was a perfect illustration of how out of place he is there. Luke Young is also better there than Cuellar at RB but I think Beye gives us more attacking options. Top class full backs can attack and defend. We see no evidence of attacking full backs at VP, which harms our overall play on the flanks. How many times do you see Downing running with the ball but having no options other than to pass it backwards because he has no support? |
StickyAV
said:
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... Haha keef! Yes, how will we survive. Oh No! I'm in mixed minds about this whole situation. I would rather play natural wing backs. But at the same time I totally agree with Pancho. Thinking that abusing MON from the sidelines is going to change anything is just deluded. Booing the team or giving anyone in the team stick is not going to do anything but bring a negative impact. Yes we can stand up and question the actions of the manager and the players. But when we are sitting pretty, fighting for the top 4, just had a cup final, have the posibility of another, after SO many years of dissapointment, how can you complain??? FACT - We have the best defence in the premier league! FACT - Our defence usually involves Cuellar at right back! FACT - We suffer something going forward by playing him there. FACT - If we don't concede and score a goal, we win. Damian you say we are the customers of the club, and therefore have a right to control it's actions. So are you saying that those with season tickets have more right to an opinion that you then? I thought this was a sentiment you rubbished, yet one you now seem to hyprocitically be supporting. Your are right though. Don't suffer mediocrity. BUT WHERE IS THE MEDIOCRITY???? |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... We have spent money in the last 3 years but so have Spurs, Man City and Liverpool and to be fair this season we are doing better then all of those teams. We have as many points (or games in hand), we have been in one final, we have an FA quarter final to play in. What is with all the negativity. Why do all the neggo's (loving this descriptive word) bring everyones enjoyment down. We have the best premiership defence and people are criticising MON for not playing Beye. Beye was bought for Cover as Luke Young's brother had died and Mon wanted to make sure he had cover in the position. Who cares if the likes of Beye are fed up sitting on the bench. If he doesn't like it move on, it's not about keeping the squad happy its about winnig games by playing your best team. Cueller at Rb has made our defence solid. |
Nigel
said:
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... If I were Luke Young I would want to leave. And I think if MON was Luke Young, he'd want to leave too! Collins or Carlos at CB. Come on MON make a choice, that's what having competition is all about, isn't it?>  |
keith
said:
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... greg do you feel beye is the type of player to take us to the top. this type of rumour realy pi**** me off because if say blackburn offered him regular football for half the wages hes on would he go? if hes happy to take the villa money he should be happy with his position there, yes keep banging mons door saying you want to play but this just smacks of self importance. how many man u subs would say if i dont play im off? |
StickyAV
said:
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... By the way, Damo. If I start to expect you to post some well written, witty and interesting blogs (like churchill), will it stop the mediocrity? I am a customer after all. Without people like me, your site wouldn't exist. Or will you just say, go use another site if you don't like it? Or will you ignore it because there are many others on this site who seem to really enjoy your blogs, and it's for those people that you write for? DO people like me annoy you because I just seem to try and disrupt your flow and bring a downer to your site? Just making a point. |
Nathan Price
said:
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...
So if I call your opinion garbage, its offensive yet its ok for you to effectively call the team garbage or Boo, or yell at MoN or write on blogs that, as positive supportive fans we are holding the club back. I find your comment offensive about being a sycophant. I can assure you that I am a supporter and as such I will get behind my team. I suggest you do the same. You say we need a playmaker and a goal scorer, so you agree that we are just 2 players away from being able to compete at the very top? That sounds pretty positive to me, and a reason to get behind MoN and the team and actually support the team. |
peter haworth
said:
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... I am not worried about Beye leaving BUT I am very worried if Luke Young wants to leave.Carlos is a great centre back but an awful right back. I think that the Villa fans just cannot understand the reason for leaving one of the best right backs in the country sitting on the bench every week. I know MON has his favourites but when it effects team performance and points lost then the Villa fans have a right to be concerned and raise their voices. Luke Young would have probably played for England last night if he had not retired from international duty. |
John Samuels
said:
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... Beye was signed as cover. Didn't kick on. Looked shaky in posession. Rash tackle cost us points at Upton Park (mainly the ref tho). Not as good defensively as Cuellar or Young. It doesn't matter whether he actually wants to go or not now, because after comments like that he'll be out the door so fast his feet won't touch the ground. Reo Coker is almost fit, excellent news for the run in, perhaps we can give Petrov a rest or two. People keep banging the Harewood is rubbish drum, and he is, but he was signed as cover on a modest fee and actually scored a couple of important goals in his first season. The feeling i'm getting from the thread today is that because Beye is unhappy half the squad is going to leave. Ridiculous. Let him go, we have cover, he barely plays and i'm sure he won't be missed. I never got the impression he set the dressing room alight. We don't even have to sign a replacement because we have cover aswell. |
Nathan Price
said:
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...(I will pass over centre back. I really like Dunne but Martin Lausen he aint!!) Dunne might not be as good as Laursen, Laursen wasnt as good as McGrath but our defence is the best in the league and is ten times better than when it was last season or the 2 or so before that when Laursen was fit. |
Richie P
said:
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... i think young is our best right back, i wouldnt want to see him leave and beye is not bad for cover, you can understand his frustrations. he is 3rd choice right back behind cuellar and young. cuellar is best at centre back with dunne and full backs Warnock and young. cuellar was poor on sunday at right back. reo-coker will prob be going as lack of 1st team football, i like coker and think hes not a bad player. he hasnt got the skill of other but runs all day long. the other finge players like harewood etc can go, get money for them then we can spend on others to try and improve out squad even more. we need a goal scorer to play with gabby, heskey is dollop. |
Greg Hill
said:
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...Pancho I’ve never booed or called the team garbage. Ever.
This is what is unacceptable. If you didn’t see the difference then I’m not going to be able to explain it better.
I wouldn’t agree with this either. It’s a bit better but Laursen was immense. And for me one of the big improvements in defence is the chasing back that Milner and Ash do. Their work rate is the absolute highlight of our play at the moment. And to reiterate the ‘hole’ go and sit where I do at the top of the Trinity road. Look down. It gaps. At Wembley, it gaped. So often no one to pass to in the middle. and so often no one running to make a pass. Not good - for me. |
Damian
said:
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... StickyAV Where have I said we have a right to control the actions of the club? You are putting words into my mouth |
Tim Hillman
said:
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...And to reiterate the ‘hole’ go and sit where I do at the top of the Trinity road. Look down. It gaps. At Wembley, it gaped. So often no one to pass to in the middle. and so often no one running to make a pass. Not good - for me. With this massive gap in the midfield i'm amazed we are sitting 7th in the league, you would have thought other teams may have noticed and just played the ball down the middle to catch us out. I play centre mid for my Saturday team, ok not premiership standard but I can tell you there will always be gaps in midfield. As a central midfielder you have to assist the defence, attack and wingers. This means you often get drawn out of position. If you didn't then teams would carve you apart. You watch any team playing 442 and there will be gaps in midfield. Teams combat this by playing 5 in the middle which means you have someone sitting in the gap. You obviously have never played football if you think centre mids are expected to uniformly stay in their posistion. |
Damian
said:
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... StickyAV Righhtly or wrongly I do consider you a customer of this site but I also don't charge you. You have as much right as anyone to write what you like in the comments section and you also can send in an article for consideration. |
Martin Clabon
said:
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... Sticky, great point Bit too much alpha male stuff going on today. I would say calling people's opinion garbage is ok but shouldn't go any further than that. Our opinions are there to be shot at, don't post of you can't take mild criticism I think many of the negative/ dissatisfied customers! post some great well thought through stuff (Greg, Eoin, AK) which should be welcomed - and argued with if you disagree What pisses me off is when there is negative nonsense, assuming the worst always, irrational or unreasonable (why don't we sign David Villa, we should be winning everything cos we're Aston Villa etc) and most of all people who are ridiculously over the top cruitical of individuals - especially saying MON is a bumbling no clue idiot (Simeon). He is not, disagree with his transfer record, youth promotion, subbing and tactics but don't make out it is because he is an idiot or his task is easy |
keith
said:
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... WANTED we are aston villa supporters and some are fed up with the mediocrity we are being served, we are therfore looking to replace our billionaire owner with someone who is more giving and willing to DONATE £200 - £300 million to our club. all applications considered.  |
StickyAV
said:
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... "...if we are happy with mediocrity then this is all that we will get served up". "Where have I said we have a right to control the actions of the club" Well lets say for instance I am not happy with mediocrity and I believe that mediocrity it what I am seeing. How are you suggesting that by thinking this way I am going to improve the clubs status or performance of the team? You were implying that by voicing your opinion, not accepting mediocrity, and letting the manager know what you, as a customer, and a fan want - then that is going to have an effect. otherwise what is the point of the above comments? "he is saying it is supporters like you that have held us back" How is it that supporters like you (the negative type who get on the back of the team) are taking us forward? If as a customer you don't have a right to control the club, then how is your negativity going to take us forward. Seems to me that if we don't have a right to control the club, because we are customers, then we might as well accept we are villa fans and be positive, get behind the team and try and be the 11th man. Whether that is at villa park, or on villablog. |
Cian Donaghy
said:
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... you can understand his frustration, because beside the red card, i thought he has played reasonably well. i personally would have him as my 2nd choice right back, not 3rd. but in fairness to o neill, collins came and did well early on when cuellar wasnt available. then cuellar came back and also played well. cuellar is steady at rb too. young then came back but never really got going at all. so his decision is ungerstandable still i would start young and give him a chance to pick up his form, and drop collins to the bench. he is positionally poor, and although he will throw himself in front of tackles he is limited when he has to do anything other than head the ball. he has done well, and deserves to be in the mix, but cuellar is a better cb and young a better rb so things dont look good for beye, even though he has done grand any time he playeds, and last prem match was arguably motm, he will struggle to ever be higher up the pecking order than 3rd rb |
Nathan Price
said:
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...
Mate just look at the stats. And to reiterate the ‘hole’ go and sit where I do at the top of the Trinity road. Look down. It gaps This is partly due to the way we play though isnt it. But like I said above, we are 2 players away from being able to compete at the highest levels. A reason to be positive wouldnt you say. |
GPalmer
said:
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... If Luke Young had been quoted saying that, I'd understand it as he's clearly a better RB than Cuellar. I haven't noticed alot of difference between Beye & Cuellar in that position, though I could understand his frustration. Watching Crouch's goals last night, he'd be perfect for the way we play. Offloading him for a loss wasn't one of O'Leary's better decisions! |
Keith
said:
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... Surely supporters are only customers if they purchase tickets to matches. If they don't buy tickets then they are not customers and Aston Villa FC should not consider their opinions. |
Nathan Price
said:
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...But when we are sitting pretty, fighting for the top 4, just had a cup final, have the posibility of another, after SO many years of dissapointment, how can you complain???
Exactly sticky, This is the post of the day. I suggest any who missed it go and read it. |
Mellberg
said:
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... if we finish 6th or 7th or 8th this year then that there is your mediocrity because ASTON VILLA should be bigger than that but it all rests on what RANDY LERNER really wants |
tubbydunne
said:
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... In a perfect world every player in the squad would be happy. In a perfect world every player in the squad would be of equal ability. In a perfect world players would be rotated evenly given all the players the optimum amount of game time trough out the season. In the real world it's a results driven business. In the real world the competition is cut throat. In the real world you need to put out your strongest team out as often as possible to compete. In the real world some squad players are going to see very little game time and are not going to be happy so they will go to the media so as to engineer a move. Beye is thirty plus, L.Young is thirty plus they are as good as they are going to get. They are not happy about the amount of game time they are getting which is reasonable. Then they can either go to a lesser club where they possibly play more often or stay and shut up. Either way it will be no big catastrophe for the club. If it was an up and coming star such as Delph who was threatening to quit it would be different, then you would be worried and efforts would have to be made to see what could be done about getting the lad more game time. However for the guys that have hit their peak and are not going to improve any more and are not getting enough game time. The reason they are down the pecking order is because other players in their position are better than them. Simple. They either stay and fight or say good Beye either way it won't be the end of the world. |
toonfan
said:
 |
... I can't believe what i am reading, Beye was excellent for us and i'm sorry he hasn't done well for you lot but imo, he should keep his mouth shut.Btw, how much does he earn at Villa. |
Keith
said:
|
... Mellberg if we finish 6th or 7th or 8th this year then that there is your mediocrity because ASTON VILLA should be bigger than that but it all rests on what RANDY LERNER really wants If we finish 6th we will have finished above either Spuds, Man City or Liverpool. You call that mediocrity? Stupid statement. |
toonfan
said:
 |
... I can't believe what i'm reading, Beye was excellent for us and always gave 100% aswell as having a near perfect attitude.Imo, he should keep his mouth shut he is being paid a lot of money(how much btw ?). |
colin badger
said:
 |
... can imagine beye being called into the office and explain his statement and wouldnt be surprised if his agent is behind this. so what if he wants to go, let him. he must of known he hasnt got a right to a place in the side like everyone else it has to be earned. face the facts of villa having the best defence in the league and hes not in it. what do you expect martin to do? change the defence unit and leak goals? get behind the manager, he sees the team every day in training and knows them better then what we do. to many people play football manager and think they know everything! if they had a football brain then they would be in the game at the highest level. rant over!! |
rackface
said:
|
... O'Leary had a simple decision to make. JPA had scored 23 goals that season and you couldn't play Crouch and JPA together. So he sold Crouch. In hindsight an appalling decision but one not too many people argued with at the time. |
Rod Bentley
said:
 |
... Beye moaning What we have missed this year is the Europa league. Quite a few games where the opportunity for rotation would have come, and bags of experience for the junior players. I'll be as delighted as any to get 4th, but I don't think we are ready yet, another season of European experience would be good, especially for the younger players. I don't want us to get walloped in the very early stages of the CL, demoralising for fans and players alike. I understand MON wanting to play his best 11 in important matches, and how most of our EPL matches are 'must win'. If you think he has 'pets' I refer you to MON's comment when asked about winning the title last year ' Have you been drinking' |
Graham Hunt
said:
 |
... This is where MON's skills as a man manager come into play. I assume it'll be along the lines of "Train well, take your chances when they come, keep your mouth shut, you'll feature somewhere, sometime." Keeping a squad happy ain't easy, they all want to play, I'd be the same. What can you do? If Gary Cahill had waited, he'd have filled Laursens boots, and probably done a bloody good job at it. Instead, he wanted to play, went to Bolton and gets a game scrapping at the bottom. He could have waited with Villa, Laursen doesn't get injured, sits on the bench. Best defence in the toughest league in the world. Why change what ain't broken. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Superbox, Wise words indeed. It's a tough old game and Beye had a contract on the table at Hull and could have played every game. It was his choice to come, what did he expect. All MoN can do is keep doing what he is doing and if the players have got any sense they'll want to be involved in a club that is going places. Beye's age may be a problem, he's only got a couple of seasons left at the top level really. This is also why I think we'll hang on to the majority of our players, because they are young and in no rush. |
paul mclafferty
said:
 |
... damian.. We are supporters, no more, no less. i remember being told by a certain person it does not matter if you go to a game or not as we all have the same right to slag the team off!!! well to be fair to your comment above, you are now saying in fact if it wasnt for the lads who attend every game there would be no villa!!. so to cap things off the lads who go down vp in rain or shine actually DO have more right to voice their opinions. |
Damian
said:
|
... holteend paul and as supporters of the club - anyone has the right to "slag off" the team - nothing has changed i also didn't say 'We are supporters, no more, no less' i merely responded to it and quoted it and you can be a customer of aston villa and not go to villa park - going to villa park isn't an exclusive club to warrant your right to be a customer. there are other ways people can be customers but there is a very fine distinction between customer and supporter - you are right. you could not spend a penny on any merchandise, any tv channels, ever going to villa park or and to be very specific - you might not give anything in terms of actual money to the club however, that doesn't, in a free and democratic society mean and nor should it - that you do not have the right to say whatever you want or that you are not allowed to have an opinion the right to an opinion isn't based on your spend each season what i have said above, re. supporters are customers - was very specifically in response to the comment that we are only supporters, no more no less. when actually, that, for the vast majority - isn't true - supporters are more and much more |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... if i pay for a medium/well done steak and it comes rare i dont need the bloke on the next table complaining for me or if i buy a magazine and having a bloke reading it behind me only for him to start slating the content after not putting a penny towards it. this is how i feel when people watch a free stream, then come on a blog slating what they have seen through restricted camera views. |
Graham Hunt
said:
|
... Damian The 'customer' arguement doesn't really stand up in my opinion. Supporter (noun) 1: a person who backs a politician or a team etc. Customer (noun) 1: someone who pays for goods or services If I buy a chocolate bar/telly/tin of paint/pair of pants, I know what I'm getting, and if it's faulty, I'll return it or complain. We are not "true" customers. We don't ask for refunds if we get beaten. Being a supporter runs far deeper than that. We're buying entertainment, and you can't measure that! If I wanted to watch entertaining football, I'd go to Arsenal. If I wanted to watch a team win more often than not, I'd go to Old Trafford. Are we Villa fans because it will deliver success? We want Villa to be successful, and to think a professonal sports club doesn't want the same success is unfair. How you get there we can debate until the cows come home. Interesting, a definition of Supporter can apply to a Blues fan "5: a support for the genitals" |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Being ready for the Champ's League is like being ready to be a parent. You'll never feel ready, know how to do it or be confident you can handle it until you suddenly have to. Then it's sink or swim. We would either handle it in the Champs League or not - if we did great, if not it's another notch on the bed post you try and do better next time |
Simeon
said:
 |
... Damian, I'm surprised you haven't mentioned Carew, about whom there is also speculation (and not surpring either, given he's below Heskey in the pecking order), or Davies, whom I definitely can't see sticking around. Like you, I rate Davies, and I'd take him over Collins every time as partner to Dunne. (It staggers me that there are so many who deride the guy despite the fact that his performances suffered in large part due to the fact that he was playing with one arm. Playing alongside Knight rather than Laursen also wouldn't have helped him.) I am of course working on the basis that Cuellar might be interested in moving to a club who would not only play him in his position, but would also offer him a chance of winning things. So that's Beye, Young, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Reo-Coker and Carew who all have very good reasons for wanting to move on at the end of this season. Many, I'm sure, would actually be quite happy to see the bulk of these players go, and certainly shifting deadwood is a smart move. But what it would mean is that O'Neill would have to build his squad all over again, and we'd be facing ANOTHER season of 'consolidation'. Except this would be season five of the so-called 5 year plan... But maybe we can expect something a little more than consolidation, given that we will still be able to build on Sidwell and Heskey. And I, moi, am accused of being pessimistic. Perish the thought! |
John Samuels
said:
|
...so to cap things off the lads who go down vp in rain or shine actually DO have more right to voice their opinions. There's some truth in this. There is also the possibility that some of these characters actually don't know anything at all about football, despite their unflinching faith and love of the game. Personally I believe a well constructed opinion or argument based on fact and grounded in reality with a bit of logic carries it's own credibility regardless of whether the individual voicing it is 'allowed to' or not. I don't get to many matches, I do however pay for pay per view, I buy home and away shirts every season and i've donated money to Acorns and tried to support my club in as many ways possible. I hope this qualifies me to comment on the team i've followed since childhood. Going to Villa Park is a really big deal for me and I savour every trip. Because I go less doesn't mean I don't appreciate it as much. The way it works is it's just much easier for me to go to away games in London. I appreciate those that go every week and pay their money and keep the club ticking over for fans like myself. What i'm basically trying to say is there is an argument for both sides of the above argument and I thihnk today has just descended into a bit of a slanging match that's not really of any use to anyone and doesn't make for very good reading.  |
Damian
said:
|
... holteend paul and you are entitled to that opinion and view but my view is, as a supporter, he or she can say what they want - simply because they are supporters. you also don't know that he or she was a home and away regular for 10 seasons before getting a crippling illness that means they cant walk - a very extreme example, but you don't know and to use one which is much more likely these days - how do you know that the person hasn't spent £500 on football shirts for his family this season and is stuck in australia? SuperBox it isn't an argument but a position. you can be both and more often than not people are and i'm not suggesting we ask for refunds if we lose 3-0 to reading at the weekend, but do we not, as either, have a right to demand or even want better? now - how we demand for better or ask for it, or suggest it or have an opinion on it, is unique to everyone but you can be both. what happens if you buy the villa shirt and the a in acorns drops off after the first wash - are you going to return it? you will return it and you are a customer. just like, most of us are. but i take your point about wanting wins or attractive football. supporting aston villa is much deeper than a customer supplier relationship and i'd like to think that most of us would still be here if we were relegated twice in two seasons - but it also doesn't mean, that if we have an opinion or view or desire - we are not allowed to express them |
Damian
said:
|
... Simeon i actually heard a rumour the other day, or a few days ago now about Carew and how someone said he was signed in to the Everton training ground in January - it is just a rumour mind .. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... I still think there is an element of entitlement culture in this - I want Villa to be the best and hence they should be the best It don't work like that. There are at least 6 clubs with more money than us. Other clubs have addional or other competitive advantages (location etc). So in my opinion 7th is around par for us. Of course we want to do better, maybe even demand it but for now it is only really history that says perhaps we should be higher and history don't win you anything |
TechnoTurkey
said:
 |
... Players come, players go, managers come, managers go, owners come, owners go (even Doug!),blogs come, blogs go. The only consistent things for me is my love for the club, that won't change or wane ever. Sure some days I feel elated with joy and others almost suicidal, but it would be dull if I only had one consistent feeling - be that joy or otherwise! I for one feel more positive at the moment than I have for years, certainly we feel we could be doing more with more investment, better players, a manager who reads this blog and follows the advice given by those who know better  etc but ultimately we are punching above our weight at the moment and the cautious approach is the best one to ensure that we don't slip up, or worse still suffer financial woes that always end in disaster. I walked away from Wembley on Sunday looking forward to the FA cup, not dwelling on the mistakes of the game I had just watched. Look forward people, proud history, bright future.... |
John Lewis
said:
 |
... Finally, something I can agree with - thanks Damian I have supported Villa since the early '50's when my dad took me I used to go to live games whenever I could - as a keen footballer it wasn't always possible as I was playing some Saturdays. Now, I am arthritic ans with a heart condition - and I live in Leeds - but I am still a supporter and I always will be. |
Simeon
said:
|
... Wouldn't surprise me at all. Now, clearly Carew's form has been disappointing this season (though it all depends on what standard you're using. If it's the Heskey standard, he's done just fine). Some take the view that he can't be bothered, and is essentially just turning up for the wages. Maybe there is some truth in this. But in my view, the reason why Carew hasn't been as good is because he hasn't had a run of games. Everyone is well aware that he has fitness problems, owing to his size him sure. What he needs is consistent selection and some faith shown in his ability. When he gets this, we all know what he does. That he isn't getting this, and that his form has therefore suffered, doesn't mean he is a lazy bugger/waste of space/other abuse, delete as applicable. But leaving the narrow issue of Carew aside for a moment, what are you expecting from next season, and what is acceptable, given that it will be O'Neill's fifth season? |
Graham Hunt
said:
|
... Damian I agree as 'paying fans', we should be able to voice our opinion, here, in the pub, watching the game with mates, on the 'terraces', in the media, protesting outside the ground if necessary (hopefully not!). I think Pancho underestimates the 'voice' of the fan a little, but it is clear that being a supporter runs deep, and by the same token, probably means we are excessively demanding in the eyes of some. We all want success - that is a given. MON has to keep his squad happy, which ain't easy. Randy and the board have to keep 40,000 odd regular attendees, plus a wordwide fan base happy! Tough job. |
Graham Hunt
said:
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... On the Carew rumour.. I heard he is visitng the Majeski Stadium this weekend, maybe he's signing for Reading. Good grief that's the lamest piece or journo rumour-mongering ever! |
John Samuels
said:
|
...So that's Beye, Young, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Reo-Coker and Carew who all have very good reasons for wanting to move on at the end of this season. I can't see Young, Cuellar, Davies or Reo Coker leaving in the summer. Davies is not fit enough to play right now. He might get a few appearances between now and the end of the season, but he's been injured and that happens. The same with Coker. A little knock and he's out for a while and then everyone starts forgetting that the two of them are pretty important players for us. Shorey is as good as gone anyway, Beye is no loss whatsoever and Carew is a player we can make a bit of cash on and actually get in someone who looks interested for more than a third of the season. It's wrong to refer to these players as deadwood when we have players like Osbourne, Salifou and Harewood still at the club. These are the players that need to go first. Martin won't sell anyone of note in the summer because he doesn't have to. There is a good spirit in the squad at the moment despite the cup defeat and despite Beye mouthing off. Some of the supporters might be dejected and depressed about the cup final which is all I believe this is, but the players look well up for it and I can't see anyone really wanting to go. |
Damian
said:
|
... SidCowanslovechild it isn't always about money though .. if it was, it would be very boring - football will win in the end and well, i think ours could be just a little better and i also believe that with the right players (read significant investment - a word coined by the club) it could be. on the other hand - you have to play that type of football to attract those players and that is why maybe some won't come. that and location SuperBox i'm actually over the moon to a degree that beye wants to leave if he isn't playing - if it is even true - as it shows desire and willingness to play. okay - in the grand scheme of things, i'm not that bothered or actually over the moon, but i think you know what i mean. he is a professional paid a huge amount of money to do as his manager wishes - but the flip of that is o'neill not playing his squad. 17 players last season - not sure how many it is this one and maybe had they been rested throughout the season rather than just january onwards, we might have done better last sunday and we might be 5th. we will never know under o'neill becasue he does have his favourites but even the bench is his now and it hasn't been about a preferred 11 for a number of years but it is nice that we can all, or some of us, agree on something today. |
Hinty the Tax Wizard
said:
 |
... Techno Turkey whilst I agree with certain of your comments, the point for me is that I dont want this manager or chairman to go as the performance year on year has been tangible. I really do not believe there is a better proven manager out there who 1) would come to us and 2) do a better job. I think we need to believe a bit more and get behind the team. MON knows where the failings are and will address these. |
michael060670
said:
 |
... Been reading the comments and can't believe that M o'neill gets booed by Villa fans. ok so things don't go well 4 us every wk but in general we are on the right track. we as fans cannot just expect success and a place in the top 4 when the clubs around and above us spend astronomical ammounts of money. no matter how much we spend the other teams around and above us have been spending 4 a long time. we have to be patient and success will come. MON is the man to get us there. what would we do if utd came calling for his skills and it could yet happen? where would we be then? he's the best manager we've had in yrs and people are still complaining. who would replace him if he goes? right now he's all we've got and we were lucky to get him. don't get me wrong though, i'm sometimes unhappy with his selection policy. Reo coker is one of the best midfielders in the country and he only warms the bench at villa, don't get it. maybe it's cos of the of the falling out they had, i don't know. what we need to move forward are three top class players. two strikers and a playmaker/midfielder. we don't have a midfielder who can open a defence or play gabby in regularly. how many chances, clear cut chances does gabby really get in games. he needs proper service. if we get the players we need then i'm sure that we would easily make the top4 every season or every other yr. we don't score enough goals to make it and this yr will be no different. it gives me no pleasure to say that but it's true. we are going to come up short this season again. MON needs to show more faith in the squad he has also. the fact that he dosen't says it all about the squad players he has at his disposal. even so he should rest young, milner, petrov etc. sorry for rabbiting on a bit, tend to go on and on sometimes about villa. in general though, i'm pretty happy about things. love the site by the way  |
Simeon
said:
|
... By the way, watching the England game last night, this thought occurred to me: How many player's England careers has O'Neill undermined, or hindered, or at least not helped? Luke Young - for obvious reasons. Nicky Shorey - unplayed, then loaned out, yet still was talked about in some quarters as being an option at left back, no thanks to O'Neill of course. Curtis Davies - hung out to dry (by one arm, naturally) by O'Neill, who, firstly, insisted on playing him when he was clearly unfit for purpose, then secondly replaced him with an inferior player (James Collins). Now it would seem his future at VP is in serious doubt, unless Cuellar leaves, in which case he will be undisputed third choice centre back. Woo hoo! This for a guy who was obviously in Capello's thoughts, at least initially. Nigel Reo-Coker - a guy who had an extremely effective first season for us playing as a defensive midfielder. Granted, he didn't like the position, but given time I'm sure he could have grown accustomed, particularly given the dearth of options Capello has in that position. Instead, he is now a fringe player at Villa. Ashley Young - a player who has consistently failed to come close to his best form for a year now. Maybe this is down to him in some part, but surely O'Neill is also responsible given that he seems to not only tolerate this form, but also actively encourages it! Chances of Ashley going to South Africa now? Next to zero. Gabriel Agbonlahor - O'Neill inadvertently got the best out of him when he was forced into a 4-5-1 formation. Consequently, Gabby got called up by Capello, earned a couple of starts against Germany and Spain, and did well. Yet now, his chances of going to South Africa are only marginally greater than Ashley's. Still, at least Mr Average (Downing), and Mr Crap (Heskey) will be going, and despite the fact that they were already pretty well established in the squad before O'Neill parachuted them in, I'm sure that won't stop O'Neill taking the credit. That leaves just one success story, James Milner. He will, no doubt, be a very valuable squad member for Capello, with his ability to perform in any number of positions. [Switching to ironic mode.] Seems like O'Neill really does know what he is doing every time he switches him to right back! All hail MON. Tactical genius extraordinaire! |
Graham Hunt
said:
|
...i'm actually over the moon to a degree that Beye wants to leave if he isn't playing - if it is even true - as it shows desire and willingness to play Couldn't agree more |
Damian
said:
|
... Simeon as far as i am concerned, next season is easy to talk about - it might not be for some, but i don't see any real change from this season to last. okay, we did better in the League Cup and we have done better in the FA Cup and might even win it .. but for me, it is all about the League first, competitions second and while the season isn't over, whatever happens we need to spend next season requires significant investment if we finish 6th or worse or 5th and higher and not just a £25mn net spend and I know I sound deluded writing that and it is much easier to write and I am not writing the cheques, but I think we have to accept that under O'Neill the football isn't going to develop in the way it needs to to organically challenge basically, under O'Neill it needs to be bought in and i don't doubt that if you gave O'Neill the Manchester United job that for a season or two he would win the League at a canter, if he could keep the squad together - my concern would be what happened in season three onwards my point is, it isn't happening one way for us - so it needs to happen the other so - next season, we need a serious spend in the summer, we need the targets lined up and signed sealed and delivered very early on so they get a full pre-season easy to talk about - extremely difficult to predict but i hope it happens if only to find out if it is possible with o'neill and a serious amount of money - because i truly don't think it is possible the other way - but that is just my opinion |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... can i just put the record straight for the purpose of people thinking i am having a GO at them. i do not hold grudges about the people who live a considerably long distance from vp or the people like vi11acharlton, i am on about the fans who live around the corner in a population of over 1 million people who couldnt be bothered to pay a tenner to watch the last home game against palace. i too travel 100 mile round trip to watch them and know how costly it gets. so damian i am not playing the im better than you game at all, i am just stating the obvious about the humdrum supporters who come on here and just slag off the team because they can!!! to be honest it becomes a bit embarassing when the BLOG fan starts linking us to pavlenchenco,spelling, when he scores 6 goals in the last 4 matches, really how the f''k can a couple of good games suddenly becomes a top striker! |
Simeon
said:
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... JPA, I'm afraid that you are just plain wrong about Young, Davies and Reo Coker (although I agree completely that Shorey will inevitably leave, that Beye is deadwood, along with Salifou and Harewood and Osbourne. I think you forgot to mention Sidwell too, and that's over £15m of deadwood that O'Neill himself has brought to the club himself by the way. As for Carew, see comment 7  . Unless you're right of course. But then that would mean that Young, Davies and Reo Coker are happy to stay at Villa, pick up their wages, and do nothing with the rest of their careers. I have to say, I really hope you're wrong, For Villa's sake as much as those players, because having people like that around the club cannot be healthy. You say that Davies and Reo Coker are important players, but where is your evidence? Davies is not going to get any games at all unless there are injuries, and even then it might take a few before he gets a look in. Of course, his situation might improve should Cuellar leave, but by all accounts he is an ambitious lad who wants to play for England, but being first-choice cover for James Collins isn't going to cut it. As for Reo Coker, is it so important that we have him filling in at right-back and right-midfield, on the odd occasion, and even rarer still getting a start in his preferred position? Hardly, and something tells me that Reo Coker has enough belief in his ability to want more from his career. But as I said, maybe I'm wrong, and O'Neill has lumbered himself with a bunch of Bogardes. |
Tim Hillman
said:
|
...By the way, watching the England game last night, this thought occurred to me: How many player's England careers has O'Neill undermined, or hindered, or at least not helped? How can the blame for players not getting picked by Capello be MON's fault. Simeon you talk a lot of nonsense!!! Luke Young - retired from international football. Nicky Shorey - Wasn't good enough and Warnock is better. Curtis Davies - Hung out to dry, He played a lot last season and got injured and is working his way back. He isn't getting picked for England because he tore his achilles tendon and then had to have an operation on his shoulder. Reo Cocker - Isn't good enough to play for England. He works hard but isn't skillful enough to play ahead of Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Carrick, Hargreaves, Beckham. Ashley Young has played every game this season so how is MON to blame, the kid has been given ample oppourtunity to impress to get into the England team, has nothing to do with MON. Gabby - See Above, Whether he plays in a 442 or 451 he still needs to prove he is a world class striker. MON can only encourage he isn't responsible for how skillful he is. Seriously is one of the worst comments I have read. |
Simeon
said:
|
... Damian Would I be right in thinking that you believe we're talking about a net spend of at least £40m if we want to make a serious challenge for a top four place? If so, how confident would you be that this money would be spent well? And where would this money be spent? I assume we'd need to go big on signing one striker. But after that, where is O'Neill going to sign big? Friedel, Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Young, Petrov, Milner, Downing and Agbonlahor would all seem to be players that O'Neill is happy going forward with. A 'creative' midfielder is often talked about, but where does he fit into O'Neill's XI? And how likely, being honest, is it that O'Neill will sign such a player? And anyway, isn't Delph going to be that player? Augmenting the squad would naturally be sensible, but given that O'Neill doesn't rotate, what would be the point? Any player we sign is simply going to push a player already playing onto the bench, as we've seen with Reo-Coker, Luke Young, Davies and Carew (who between them cost £24m plus Baros). So even if we did spend £40m, is the team going to improve that much that we can then challenge? As you say, the football is going to remain the same (which is of course another reason why a 'creative midfielder' is unlikely), and you suggest that next season will be the same as this one. This I can wholeheartedly agree with (though this assumes that we still have our better players (Milner, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor) come next season. |
Damian
said:
|
... Simeon money wise - i don't know, i just know that if we have a net spend of £25mn again, it just ins't going to be enough. i could go into detail why i think that and my reasoning, but it is pointless, because it is my reasoning but i'll put my head on the block now and say - regardless of formation (which i do think is a factor, but we will leave it for now) that we need a right sided attacking winger (forget about albrighton, i think o'neill really has) an attacking central midfielder and a striker now - it is easy for me to write that - but i dont think any of the strikers we have a anything remotely close to world class and i know, again, that is easy to write and easy to say go get one .. but it isn't that difficult if you are willing to pay more than the next club and i dont think we have a real creative attacking midfielder. we have lots, like we have lots of strikers and lots of defenders, but nobody that can control a game in the way that essien can or lampard or gerrard or scholes in his day (and still at times these days) we have lots of effort and lots of work rate but we really are missing true quality do i trust o'neill to spend it - not sure - i think he has done okay on the budget he has had so far - with more money - maybe he will do just as well but i think the best way of doing this is the manager giving his list to the owner and saying - if you want me to finish third - these are the players i need. then, it really is down to how much lerner wants it |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... Simeon You are having a laugh aren't you. Seriously that comment about O'Neill hampering players England prospects is so ridiculous it doesn't warrant a reply. Your logic is twisted but anyway L.Young retired from international football whats that got to do with O'Neill? Shorey wasn't good enough to get on the Villa team and was bought as cover and was behind Warnock and Bouma in the pecking order. Please tell me in what quarters he was talked about as a possible England left back and please point out where O'Neill ruined his chances. Curtis Davies had an injury O'Neill strengthened this position as a result he brought in two terrific players Dunne and Collins who are both better than Davies. So you are saying he should have bought at least one dud center half to allow Davies back into the team to improve his England Prospects. Davies is way down the pecking order at International level and the world cup in four years time should be his target. I am going to stop here because it's a waste of time replying to this nonsense. |
Simeon
said:
|
... CSM Would Young's retirement have anything to do with being played out of position, which in turn would have seriously compromised his ability to catch Capello's eye? In this case, O'Neill certainly hasn't helped him. Re: Shorey, I'd agree that he isn't good enough, and that Warnock is better, but nevertheless, Shorey has been mentioned as an option given the lack of a genuinely good alternative to Ashley Cole. The fact that O'Neill bombed him out of Villa Park without giving him a decent chance is a clear case of him undermining a player. Curtis Davies was called up AFTER the achilles injury. He did play alot last season - way too much given his dislocated shoulder! As a result, his form obviously nose-dived. He's then sent off for an operation, O'Neill brings in replacements who are now his new best friends, and though Davies' comments regarding his contract situation were a little ill-advised, O'Neill's subsequent reaction was disgraceful, and failed to show any gratitude to a player who put his body on the line for him. Reo Coker wouldn't be in the first XI, but he'd be ahead of Hargreaves, who is a crock, and Beckham, whom Capello sees strictly as a wide midfielder. The fact that he is hard-working and gets stuck in means that he provides something different to Carrick, and had he been playing regular football, I think there is every chance Reo Coker would be in the England squad because he can do an important job. Saying he isn't skillful enough is not a serious opinion. Ashley Young and Agbonlahor have indeed played regular football. But the former has been regularly poor, yet O'Neill has failed to turn that form around. As I said, Ashley himself must take responsibility for this as well, but a good manager wouldn't have failed to get a player with his ability playing well, and therefore going to South Africa. As for Agbonlahor, I'm surprised he isn't in the England squad anyway, but the point I was making is simply that he got picked for England when we were playing 4-5-1 and he was playing his best football. That we are playing 4-4-2, and Gabby isn't doing as well, is O'Neill's choice. My aim was simply to explode the myth that O'Neill will work wonders for Englan player's careers, and this is relevant because it's one of the myths people turn to when arguing that Villa is an attractive proposition for transfer targets. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... damian... your last sentence on post 92 i strongly agree with, this would show what commitment lerner has in getting cl football, a good manager should hand over a wish list to the board and let them do the transfer business and allow the manager to concentrate on the football side. the only trouble is mon also likes doin his own shopping. |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... I can't under stand why people are getting on James Collins back either. He has been outstanding for Villa since he arrived. Buying him was questioned at the start but he has been sensational, brave, skillful and a goal threat ever since. He has done way more in his short time here than C. Davies has done(I know Davies can still develop) But why has Collins not got the credit he deserves. This might sound stupid but is it because the way he looks that the fans don't warm to him something similar to the way they don't warm to Heskey. I just can't understand it. I can guarantee you that if you asked any top flight attacker who they would rather mark Collins or Davies all the answers would be Davies because he would be seen as a softer touch. |
tubbydunne
said:
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... England will be a serious threat in the World Cup as far as Simeon is concerned. He wants Villa squad players going to S. Africa this man really knows what he is talking about. Reo Coker for player of the tournament. |
taglor
said:
 |
... I like Tevez and he could do Terry in argentinean stylee. I am also enjoying true blood another quality HBO programme and am pretty much getting wood at the thought of the new Pacific series. I bought a large cat litter today rather than the smaller one so no more running out to get one after my kittens have done smelly poo's. Oh got some maple crunch from aldi too, only 99p, lovely. I also got a tattoo of General Krulak on my thigh therefore I am bigger, better Villa fan than anyone. The End. |
Simeon
said:
|
... Damian You make the point that O'Neill has seemingly forgotten about Albrighton, and I wouldn't disagree. I haven't actually seen him play much, so I can't comment on whetehr we're really missing something. But what is certainly worrying is O'Neill's unwillingness to give young players who've come up through our system their head. Gardner leaving was in my opinion a minor scandal, given that he was (despite apparently being a Bluenose) willing to run through brick walls for us when he was given the chance. He did a good job for us despite being played out of position in almost every instance. For my money, if it was a choice between him and Sidwell as to who would remain at the club, it was a complete no-brainer, as Gardner is more versatile, much younger, was a Villa youth, and simply a better player. Oh, and much, much cheaper! More prescient, and more worrying, is the Delfouneso situation. He really should have been given the chance to kick on by now, and if that wasn't to come at Villa, he should have gone out on loan to another Premiership club, or even a top Championship side. I can't see how he is going to get a chance with O'Neill in charge, and this will surely be an outright scandal. But anyway, I don't think that, in net terms, we will see a striker, creative midfielder and right midfielder coming to the club in the summer. O'Neill I would guess is delighted with the Milner-Petrov partnership, and much as I'd love to see it, I can't see Downing being replaced. I'd be surprised if Carew wasn't replaced, although having two injury-prone strikers in the squad is about the closest we can expect to see to squad rotation from O'Neill, so maybe for that reason he'll stick around. Though my money is on him seeing out his contract at Villa because O'Neill is unwilling to weaken the squad, and other clubs are unwilling, or unable, to come in with an offer to good to refuse. And that means we may have another Harewood situation on our hands. To conclude, I could see us signing a striker for alot of money (though personally I'd be amazed if the player we sign is any good, because I am far less impressed than you are with the calibre of O'Neill's signings, and also because O'Neill won't buy foreign, which limits us to someone like Kenwyne Jones or Carlton Cole, neither of whom get me excited), and replacing the players who will surely leave. The team will be little better next year, and we will again be in transition due to player-turnover. Still, that will mean that all the O'Neill apologists will have a ready-made excuse when we do our upper-mid-table thing again. |
Tim Hillman
said:
|
... Simeon you make me want to punch my monitor with Frustration. Luke Young pretty much got told he would be picked for England if he wanted to play but decided to retire from international football. So no I don't think it has anything to do with playing out of position. All MON can do is play Young and Gabby in their favoured positions he can't play for them. He is not having a detremental effect on them and is not responsible for players form. Only players can be responsible for their own form. (i.e John Terry, you can't blame Ancelotti for his lack of form). It would have been Curtis davies decision to play with a crock shoulder not MON. So saying it was Martins fault is ridiculous. Plus Collins and Dunne are better. And are MON best friends because they are great defenders (best defence in the league!!). Reo Cocker is not as good as Milner or petrov so if given a run of games would make Aston Villa less effective. I could name 10 England centre midfielders who would play ahead of him - Lampard Gerrard Barry Carrick Milner Parker Rodwell Huddlestone Cattermole Noble He might get ahead of a few of these players but not all of them. I rate Reo Cocker but just don't think he is good enough for England. Shorey had a chance and came up short so got loaned out. Not exactly bombed out but was given the chance to play regular first team football to regain form. |
Simeon
said:
|
... tubbydunne, leaving aside your over-the-top comment that Collins has been sensational for a moment, let me put it to you that, if O'Neill is of the same mind as you on Collins and Davies, then Curtis Davies is going to want to leave Villa in search of first-team football. This is the simple point I'm making. Davies, like others I've mentioned, is simply not going to play enough football to justify him staying at Villa. He is therefore going to be sold, or he is going to remain at Villa as a disgruntled squad member. In neither scenario are Villa going to benefit, particularly when you consider the difference between what we paid for Davies, and what we'd now get for him. I could be more blunt, and just come right out and say that O'Neill has no discernibly coherent transfer policy, or be even blunter and say that O'Neill doesn't know what he's doing, but if I were to do so, I have a feeling some people (mentioning no names) might get hysterical. So instead, I'll just ask you what you see Curtis Davies' future being. |
Simeon
said:
|
... tubbydunne, in response to comment 97, maybe you missed the point I was trying to make, which was not that all these English Villa players SHOULD go the the World Cup, but that they WOULD have been in the RECKONING had Martin O'Neill not mismanaged them. I'm far more concerned by Villa's fortunes than I am by England's, and the subtext of what I was saying is that O'Neill has mismanaged these players within a VILLA context. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Simeon, Curtis Davies needs to get fit and prove himself in training. The same as every other player in the side. We have four good quality CB's which is great. Why is this a negative? I find it hard ot believe that Davies will leave considering MoN seems to favour him so much. He's been out for a long time, is not match sharp and we don't desperately need him straight back and risk aggravating his injury before he's properly fit. You seem a very short sighted individual who likes to get his crystal ball out and predict unrealistically gloomy futures for all our players. |
Martin Clabon
said:
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... taglor, keep me updated please, I am particularly interested in the lavatorial satisfaction of kittens vis-a-vis the discount store vs more expensive alternative |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... taglor.. dont worry mate as you will never lose the title of being the biggest w@@ker on here. |
Tim Hillman
said:
|
... How negative is the blog today!!! I think we should rename it: The Aston Villa (Never going to be good enough) Blog!!! |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Simeon, I wast far too much time on this blog, unkless you are a very fast typer you must have been on here all day? Don't you have any work to do? |
Martin Clabon
said:
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... Holte end, a bit harsh to taglor? At the very least he's got some close competition |
tubbydunne
said:
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... Simeon Curtis Davies future is at Aston Villa. When fit he will challenge for a place. If he is good enough he will be first choice. If not he will get a chance trough injury and if good enough hold his place. Whats the big mystery are you saying we should not have quality players on the bench. Who is the one that's not ambitious enough now. You can't have it every way. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
...I said I wouldn’t dwell on this sort of expose much, so apologies up front, but once again a slightly negative story with a sensationalized headline in the British tabloid media is seized upon by the delusional Aston Villa blogger in Sweden to further bolster his bizarre agenda. found this at aston villa central and it made me chuckle as i wonder who he could be on about |
Graham Hunt
said:
|
...CSM said: Damian and I were agreeing earlier! One big 'love in' - Mmm I hope Taglor is back - his dry sarcasm is sadly missed, I can only do potato based puns. Simeon - Your comments about Curtis Davies are same for Beye, Cahill etc and the same for any club. How do you keep strength, quality and depth in a squad? They all want to play, not all of them can. Do you any suggestions instead of critisms? |
Steve Badger
said:
 |
... holteend paul, found this at aston villa central and it made me chuckle as i wonder who he could be on about Did you continue on to read the last couple of paragraphs?  I've bookmarked that site as it's (ahem) at least an alternative view of things. |
taglor
said:
|
... holteendpaul that was an amazing riposte. I am only proud to call myself a Villa fan as long as we have people like you breaking the stereotype of uneducated, thick brummies. And FYI I do love w@nking as I am sure many members of the human species do, my main choices of pornographic reference for arousal is wet boobs 9 and 60 + |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... badger... To take the story and sensationalize it to sell newspapers or attract hits to their website is one thing, but to take that sensationalized version and twist it further to use it as a springboard to launch yet more baseless criticism of the football club you claim to support, well that’s beneath contempt. priceless... i now know what other blog sites think about here! nice to know im not on my own when i get peeved because all i seem to read on here is doom and gloom and taglor (the biggest whinger on here) has become a legend!! you couldnt make it up. |
john doyle
said:
 |
... did any of you see the fonz last night for ten mins in the england u21 side when came on and scored as he usually dose he was the best player on the pitch by a mile even SP said that he should have started and they would have won wake up martin drop your pets now this kid is the best goalscorer at the club by a mile he has more skill than the rast of the team put together if he dont pick him he will walk away and become the best center forward in england after roony give thios kid a chance now as for the rest who dont play they might as well all go in the summer as martin dont want to play any one except his pets l young is our best full back we all know it we will finish 6th or 7th because of tired players down to our great leader who buys players and wont play them we will always be in the same posistion while he his our manager because he playes not to get beat not tring to win and he his to close to his pets and wont rest any of them thayts why he will never be a great manager he wont take risks like the big boys coming back to the fonz play him he is better than the other 3 clowns |
salty
said:
 |
... Question: Why can't Young, a specialist RB, get a game at RB, but is first in at LB when there is an injury?. Question: Why pick two RBs on the bench? and then play neither when the selected player is having a 'mare? Question: Why pick a CB at RB when it is obvious that he doesn't have either the vision or the pace or the skill to create anything in attack? The amount of ball he wasted at Wembley was criminal. Question: Why was Beye signed? Well, I can answer that one...Beye was bought to add some depth when MON thought he was going to have a European run as well as the domestic competitions. He was never going to be first choice past Young, and that is fair enough, but to effectively tell both players that they are not as good in their specialist position as a brave, hard-working but pedestrian [and probably 3rd choice] CB defies belief.If I was either of them I would have been at MONs office first thing on Monday.  |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... Its refreshing to read something that's to the point and well researched. What's the agenda I wonder. |
holteender
said:
 |
... People have not realized as of yet why Cuellar is preferred to Young @ RB. MON likes the play the numbers game. Having Cuellar on the pitch is another 'big man' to add ammunition both in attacking and defending set pieces. I don't entirely agree with this policy but this is the way it is |
Simeon
said:
|
... Superbox, re: Comment 114. Squad rotation is the answer. Taking the right-back position as an example, you'd have your first-choice man (which in our case should clearly be Luke Young), but evey now and then, perhaps at home against weaker opposition, you'd rest the guy and bring in your backup. Ideally, this would be a promising youngster, though with our squad you'd either bring Cuellar into the XI, or if he's your first-choice centre-back, shift him over to right back and bring in your third-choice centre-back (James Collins, for arguments sake). This way, your best right-back is kept fresh, and squad players get games. It's really very simple. Personally, I think Beye was a pointless signing, given the number of decent centre-backs we have, Cuellar's ability (in certain circumstances) to do a decent job at right-back, and Beye's age and lack of quality. Another £2.5m wasted by O'Neill. |
Simeon
said:
|
... tubbydunne, re:comment 112. I don't object to having strength in depth, and in fact consider it crucial to a side's success over a long season. But if you're Curtis Davies - a £10m player let's not forget - and you're perhaps fourth choice centre-back in an unrotated squad, and therefore not playing for months on end, are you going to want to stick around? Of course not, unless you're only interested in money. The irrefutable fact is that O'Neill does not do rotation. Therefore you're either going to have cloggers who realise that sitting on a Premiership bench is the best they can hope for (Sidwell being an obvious example), or you'll have quality players who are unhappy at not getting any game time. If you want a strong squad, you HAVE to rotate. |
Car Frost
said:
 |
... Villa_Chris .. will you let me photoshop your thumbnail so that I can remove Rooney? Just having to look at the ugly cu*t puts me off my tea.. that and I know he will do f*ck all when it counts in the summer as per usual. Sorry, still pissed off with Sunday. |
frem
said:
 |
... simeon- you mentioned about oneill not basically liking creative mids and where they would fit in. i can see where your coming from but oneill said in the summer that creativity in the team really helps. where will he fit in? a 4 5 1 formation would be the best bet. stephen ireland |
frem
said:
|
... and so much hype and shock about beye saying he wants to leave. hes 31, struggled against brighton ans was only bought for cover. we have much more to worry about. |
sazavfc
said:
 |
... feel sorry for the lad. hes a very decent player and hes played really well in the games that he has played in. |
frem
said:
|
... if the blog is like this when beye says he wants to go, whats it goin to be like when he does go. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Simeon, It's really very simple. Of course it is. And that says a lot to me about your opinions. Squad rotation is the answer We are simply not at that stage, regardless of your thoughts that 2nd or 3rd in line should be good enough. We have to play our best eleven as much as possible, but I'll apologise on MON's behalf if you disagree. Not that I think he gives a toss what you (or indeed I) think. (That said, I'd like to see the young 'uns get more odd minutes and have said so). And it's not as though we've played too many games either, if you look at it. Even during the mad rush, players got a rest with the odd game postponed. I remember doom and gloom being predicted before the final, with players being dead on their feet, but imo, it wasn't a problem on the whole. I have some sympathy for LY not playing at RB, but you should ask yourself why this is. It's nothing to do with his ability and I've been saying this all season. I'll put money it's down to the fall-out months ago, simple as imo. Something happened behind the scenes and LY is just being professional in not talking about it. Of course, your attitude will probably be that MON shouldn't fall out with players, because good managers don't do that they? Which reminds me. Weren't you one of the mugs calling for Martinez or Zola as the savior, because they're "modern managers"? Of course, I accept I might be wrong there. Can you also remind me which CL team you manage again (on championship manager)? The Villa will never be good enough for you, imo. PS, if you think Davies has been kicked into touch and will be hoofed by MON, you're deluded. I totally agree with you that CD played with a major injury. But there is no way that will go unrewarded, imo. His agent trapping off was what cost him his payrise and I have no doubt CD has been told that. His time will come. |
Ammar
said:
 |
... Last season we had to endure one of the best right backs available for England playing for on the left due to the injury to Bouma. So finally when we actually get recognised left back we decide to stick the best right back on the bench and stick a centre back in at right back. On top of that for good measure we decide to buy another right back. We buy Hot Potential for millions (Delph) and then decide that he better suited on the bench as he is not experienced enough. Erm when will he get the experience ? We have Dunne, Cueller, Collins, Davies as our recognised centre backs. Were does that leave Keiran Clark. Few games I have seen him play he looks like he has bags of potential. Fonz ditto.. Albrighton ditto... We have a manager who says he was surprised that we used the least number of players last season but then refuses to rotate. We don’t need to spend millions on new players a good starting point would be is to utilise the resources better and then see what we need to add. A club on a similar par to us Everton and look at there youngsters coming through there ranks. Moyes goes and spends 10-15 million on 1 quality player every season and moulds the youngsters around them. This is a club who has spent not nearly half of what we have spent in the last 3 seasons. To the Deluded Brigade that thinks the sun shines out of Maritn O’Neils Backside this is not being negative just realistic and not in denial. Oh and cup competitions so far have been kind to us first side of quality we meet in the Carling cup United and they beat us. We have yet to meet any side of note in the FA Cup either so expect us to beat Reading. Not that I am complaining just putting things into perspective. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... mon 4-5-1, When will you realise that even the positive posters agree with some of your points? Re-read your own post and look for a single positive in what you're saying. There isn't any one single thing. None at all. Zilch. Zero. Nada. Nowt. You're supposed to be a supporter, yet you wonder why people disagree with you? I'm glad you don't support me, put it that way. What's that saying? Who needs enemies....... |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... why is everyone suddenly stamping all over the cup runs we are having this season? i cant catch my breath! ffs if we win the f.a cup then i can tell you now, THIS SEASON WILL BE THE BEST IN LIVING MEMORY. we havent played anyone! utter tosh past seasons we have been knocked out in the early stages by championship clubs, but this season we beat them and reached a final and close to a semi. head wobble time i think. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
 |
... Jesus i get back from 5 days on the beer in London and this web site has turned into Bosnia. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... ak_27, I can stand your reasoned arguments (although still deluded imo  ) But some take the biscuit. How are Martinez and Zola doing BTW? (my earlier comment made me wonder where you were actually) |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Martinez will come good. He made a stupid mistake (and i did actualy say this in the summer) taking over Wigan due to the state their pitch gets into which goes completely againest how he wants his teams to play. Still he is only there a short time and has lost key players and has little money to spend. But he is more about bringing a philosphy to a club which will not happen in 6 months or a year. But his philosphy is still the right one (maybe not for a club like Wigan) which long term at the right club with the right backing he would be a success. His philosphy at Villa long term with the size and quality of our pitch would VP a fortress in my humble opinion. Im sure if he had 40m a summer to spend he wouldn't be in the position they are now. I never ever meantioned Zola ever. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
...http://astonvillacentral.com/ Bit of a cheap dig by the way by an ex blogger on this site (Dan???) if im not mistaken. |
Steve Badger
said:
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...Bit of a cheap dig by the way by an ex blogger on this site (Dan???) if im not mistaken. No (i think?) We'll see. I've signed up because it's an alternative pov  It probably won't suit you though mate, as it's positive and supportive. |
Ammar
said:
|
...When will you realise that even the positive posters agree with some of your points? I thought this was a blog were people expressed the opinions and not just to put a positive spin . Actually if you re-read my post you’ll notice that the positives are the youngsters mentioned that are chomping at the bit to get a fair crack at the whip. You're supposed to be a supporter, yet you wonder why people disagree with you? No do not wonder as there entitled to there opnions … Yep go to all Villa games down south and probably spend as much as a season ticket holder through the course of a season. Not something I would normally mention but some of the comments I have read today in who should really comment depending on games you go to are just comical….and for the record being unhappy at the way the team is being managed does not make me any less a supporter. Currently yes the manager due to his tactics but not the team. I'm glad you don't support me, put it that way. Agreed…Only Support the Mighty Villa …though I sense your currently happy with our style of football. Our thoughts of the way the game should be played are complete opposites. I can live with that if you can Thanks Badger Feelings are mutual… |
Steve Badger
said:
|
...Actually if you re-read my post you’ll notice that the positives are the youngsters mentioned that are chomping at the bit to get a fair crack at the whip. Here's your post in full, where do you say anything like that? Last season we had to endure one of the best right backs available for England playing for on the left due to the injury to Bouma. I've re-emphasised this; Were does that leave Keiran Clark. Few games I have seen him play he looks like he has bags of potential. Of course you're entitled to your opinion. My opinion, combined with a LC final, coupled with an ongoing shout in the FA cup, coupled with a decent charge at the top 4, says you're a penis of the highest order mate. Unless you think these kids are going to get us to the top 4 this season. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... MON 4-5-1, I apologise unreservedly. You're entitled to your view of course. I just happen to totally disagree with you. This is what this blog does to you, imo. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... The point is, saying the kids have bags of potential says nothing about the team and cannot be construed as a positive statement, imo. I give up. We're shit, simple |
Simeon
said:
|
... Ho hum. Badger, re: comment no. 130. We have spent a huge amount of money in the last three years by anyone's standards, with the exception of Man City, Real Madrid and Chelsea (though only when Abramovich first took over). The following players are not first choice at the moment: Guzan, Shorey, Luke Young, Beye, Davies, Reo Coker, Delph, Salifou, Sidwell, Harewood, Carew. That's eleven players, every single one of them O'Neill signings. They cost almost £50m (plus Milan Baros). Our first team cost over £70m (Gabby, of course, didn't cost a penny). Of course, that doesn't include our other homegrown youngsters. I would say that £120m, and a strong Academy set-up, ought to bring you a competitive squad, even given the fact that O'Neill pays a premium for his players because he only utilises the domestic market. I would have some sympathy with your view that some (and perhaps many) of these squad players aren't good enough, but then that can only be one man's fault - or responsiblity, if you prefer - and for him, I have no sympathy. Unfortunately, it really is as simple as I said. But you disagree, and there's nothing I can do about that given that I've explained exactly how it is simple. The smart money is that O'Neill has indeed fallen out with Luke Young, and I'm sure Young has to take some responsibility for this. But having said that, I have every sympathy for Luke Young's position, and, again, none for O'Neill's. O'Neill caused the problem in the first place, and has done nothing to resolve the problem. He's the manager, and he could have shipped Young out and got in a replacement. But he didn't. And the final word on this is that, whenever Luke Young has played, he's been good. His professionalism is not in question, as you yourself acknowledge, and as far as I'm aware hasn't been for many years. Curtis Davies is, of course, recovering from injury, and so is perhaps not quite ready for first-team action (though he is making the bench, which suggests that O'Neill believes he is a better option than Clark at the moment). He is, as you rightly say, owed some serious payback by O'Neill who, in my view quite scandalously and recklessly, jeopardised Davies' health by forcing him to play with one arm (and anyone who questions my use of 'forcing' clearly doesn't understand how these things work. I'm sure O'Neill didn't hold a gun to his head, but I am equally sure that he used emotional blackmail on him, and/or took advantage of Davies' willingness to play. What is inarguable is that we could have fielded a defence of Young (at right back, rather cunningly); Cuellar; Knight; Shorey (or Reo Coker, with Young playing at left back), and Davies could have sat on the bench if O'Neill felt that we desperately needed some form of cover, or got the surgery that he needed far earlier. This would have improved the team, as Davies' performances were, understandably, pretty poor, and it would have protected Davies). But do you seriously think that Davies is going to be ahead of Dunne, Collins or Cuellar in the pecking order when he is fully fit? Of course not! O'Neill is accommodating Collins (who is perhaps third choice centre-back) by playing Cuellar out of position as it is. And is Davies going to be happy sat on the bench, not playing because we don't rotate remember, when I'm sure he believes (and with reason too) that he can play for England? Of course not! Davies' agent was ill-advised to make the comments he did in the manner he did, although he and Davies certainly had a good moral case. If you're trying to tell me that this is what will cost Davies a payrise, then O'Neill's man-management stinks. What is more likely is that O'Neill is happy to off-load Davies in the summer because he rates Collins, Dunne and Cuellar more highly. I know if I was Curtis Davies, I'd be looking to leave Villa in the summer in order to further my career with regular football. |
Simeon
said:
|
... And finally to Martinez and Zola. Let's get one thing clear straight away. I'd take either of them over O'Neill in a heartbeat. That said, I believe that a club like Villa are in a position to attract a higher profile manager (although it's only worth doing this if they are actually better than lower profile candidates). My name of choice, mainly because you'd have to be mad to argue with it, rather than because I have an in-depth knowledge of all the options, is Frank Rijkaard. But returning to Martinez and Zola, are you trying to say that, because they haven't had the vast quantities of money that O'Neill has had to spend, and because they are managing smaller clubs, and because they are, entirely understandably, both in the relegation battle, rather than making a semi-serious challenge for a top six place, they are inferior managers? If so, then I'm afraid it's clear who the mug is. Maybe Martinez is being found out, but I will refer you to ak's defence of him as he clearly has paid clsoer attention to his work than I. As for Zola, he has an enormously difficult job on his hands at West Ham, a club that has been grossly mis-managed off the field for a number of years, and has suffered serious injury problems, somthing we at Villa (with the very sad exception of Wilfred Bouma) haven't had to worry about in the slightest. I hope that you will see the sense of what I say, though judging by our past dialogues I'm not optimistic. |
Simeon
said:
|
... PS It's Football Manager actually. O'Neill was out of date even when he was referencing computer games. As all true gamers now, what used to be Championship Manager is now Football Manager (and has been for about five years) after the original creators fell out with their label. |
tashofmountfield
said:
 |
... This King Cuella thing at right back has been mentioned on and off since before we beat Chelsea. He is a liability at right back. He passes it straight out twice a game and is flappy footed. OK. He offers height at both ends. Collins is quality with the ball at his feet. I'm stunned that folk haven't picked up on that. If MON chose to rotate his centre backs, it would be hard to complain. Young and Beye at right back too. We still need a calm Cowans type in the middle mind... |
Christopher Dello Russo
said:
 |
... Simeon C Davies shoulder injury cause by playing too many games?? Shoulder dislocations are impact injuries, not overexertion injury. A muscle tear, ligament damage, something along that line your argument might hold water but the overplayed shoulder dislocation, that's reaching. The possibility of that occurring without a sudden impact would be slight, and it would mean he was playing without reporting the injury, which wouldn't be MON's fault. mon 4-5-1 Delph not getting immediate action has a lot to do with one of the number one sports axioms: You don't rush young talent. The leap from Leeds to Villa is wide. Putting a kid out on the field to play against world class talent without progressed development could damage his confidence in his skills. What could be even more damaging to a 19 year old's psyche, is having fans, unsatisfied with the fact that he's not immediately running out their scoring 20 goals per game as he adjusts to a top leagues skill and flight, crucifying him because they want results NOW. That's why you limit minutes, play him in certain spots, but not others. You let him gain his EXPERIENCE by first by going to the training ground every day and honing his skills under the tutoring of say,hmm, a James Milner. Practicing pushing the ball towards goal with a class defender like, perhap, Richard Dunne, pushing him to improve. That's why teams practice everyday. The same goes for Fonz. I don't believe MON is perfect, and I question some decisions he makes, but what I respect has been his sense to not just improve the team in the now, but to make sure its solid years from now. We all know what our team needs. I'm sure MON does too. It's not like the transfer window is going to swing open tomorrow if we bitch enough. All we can do until summer is stand behind our squad, push them towards their best, and believe that when the time is there to address these concerns, they will be. I'll be the first in line to scream along with you if they are not. |
S
said:
 |
... For all I care Beye can leave if we can get about 4 or 5m for him. We have Cuellar and Young who can play there (although Cuellar cant really). And its true about MON playing his 'favourites' eg. Heskey- Carew is better in my opinion Collins- I thin Cuellar is a bit better overall |
Andi
said:
 |
...And finally to Martinez and Zola. Let's get one thing clear straight away. I'd take either of them over O'Neill in a heartbeat Is this what it has come to, a week after a final a bit part player who isnt that good wants to leave and you begin to get out your manager candidate book, pathetic. Some of the plastic fans on here need to get a reality check and realise a few things before they shoot of at the mouth. Beye throws his toys out and who can blame him trouble is he isnt good enough for what we are trying to achieve. I expect Davies, Sidwell, Hokey Cokey and Carew's dumbys will follow at some point and when they do they will be shipped out to. For those of you that have no faith in MON, first time we have seen wembley in 10years, first time we have beat MAN UTD in how many, and at their place even longer, we are there or there abouts for forth. As for the Luke Young business he could have fallen out with MON, or he could still be struggling after the death of his family member we DONT KNOW so to make assumptions in your own little world is counter productive and pointless. We are having a great season and doing well but you wouldnt think so coming on here !!!! MON knows what he is doing and he knows our team and players better than any of you lot think you do. Its like the Jeremy Kyle of football BLOGS this place moody as hell and kicks lumps out of its own team. This blog and the fans on must be the laughing stock of every other team its no wonder we are labelled FICKLE and no wonder WE CANT FILL OUR GROUND if this is what the message is that half of you spread about the VILLA and if it isnt i shouldnt imagine anyone would want to sit by any of you moaners out there trying to darking the mood. We have it good and we are doing well, we are on track and going in the right direction. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM yes have opinion but the same drivel over and over again. All because BEYE wants to leave he IS S"*T so what !!!!! |
Damian
said:
|
... Chiefy the amanger candidate book you talk of, has been out for many for a lot longer than a week - it has nothing to do with losing a league cup final for some - it is knowing that the football isn't going to get better |
Andi
said:
|
...Chiefy How do you know it wont ??? another presumption that you make. Last year everyone was hanging out MON's arse because our football was great although we let in loads of goals this year he has sorted the defence out and the attack has suffered next year he might balance them both you just dont know !!! to make assumptions about what you think or dont think will happen is again counter productive and again I point out it IS NO WONDER WE ARE LABELLED FICKLE or WE CANT FILL OUR GROUND !! |
Andi
said:
|
...it is knowing that the football isn't going to get better let me get this right if we win the FA CUP and finish fourth it still isnt good enough because the football is S"£T ?? the league disagree's with you and so does the league and FA CUP |
Andi
said:
|
... CSM -- you are although i am getting fed up with it, we are meant to be fans that support or beloved team, ok we all have are moans and whinges but overall we support our team. It seems on here that there are a certain few who spend most time sticking up for the team we all are meant to support and a few who spend must of their time rubbishing, be littleing and generally shitting all over our team, manager and achievements and it is getting a little bit much to take if i am honest |
John Samuels
said:
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... Simeon, 22 players, £120M spent. Name me another squad where they have a squad challenging for fourth when their cost per player is a shade over £5m a player. The problem with using the argument of how much we've spent over the last 3 seasons is that the enitre squad had to be rebuilt because we were sh*t. We've been plying catch up. Even to teams like Everton. The spending can now be concentrated into one or two key signings rather than on rebuilding the defence or midfield. If you can't see that I don't know what to do. |
Damian
said:
|
... Chiefy the thing is - we are not going to finish 4th becasue the football hasn't gotten better all season and if we win the FA cup, a big if, it doesn't mean the football has gotten better - it means we won more one off games as for knowing it isn't going to get better - this is his fourth season, are you blind? it doesn't take this long to change the football. how do i know; christ - it isn't an assumption, we are all watching it |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... Damian, Have you got a magic ball? How do you know we won't finish 4th. We have as much chance as any of Liverpool, Man City or Spurs. This blog is the most depressing place at the moment. |
Andi
said:
|
...Chiefy your constant moaning about the club is depressing and boring you run a blog on the club you supposdley support yet all you do is moan and criticise. You seem to think everything hinges on the football getting better if so that hinges on the players being better, so what it is the fourth season and in them four seasons we have got better and come along way whats to say that next season wont be even better still ?? the only person promoting the idea it wont get better and promoting the negativity surrounding the blog is you and this will drive bloggers away in the end as there is only so much you can take, it also makes a laughing stock out of club and of us as supporters |
Damian
said:
|
... CSM no i dont have a magic bal- but lets just see what happens shall we Chiefy if you dont like the blog, i'm not forcing you to come on and throwing around comments like 'you run a blog on the club you supposdley support' is just silly and it isn't cnstant moaning about the club - it is constant moaning, if you want, about a very specific couple of things and the football getting better doesn't hinge on players getting better either. that view is very much one that means more and more money has to be thrown at the club and while i agree with you that that is the only way i can seeus challenging with this manager - there are other wasy to do it |
Andi
said:
|
... I fully expect this kind of talk at the end of the season because that is a time in which fans can look back over the season and assess where we are and what we have done. While the season is still ongoing should you not use your powers of BLOG in supporting and promoting the club ?? would that not be more beneficial to the club and to the supporters than come on here ?? Ironically i agree with you about the football but it is to late in the season for anything to be done about it and to keep on about it does nothing but frustrate you and other fans. In the closed season we will have the opportunity to slove this problem but not before. We do need more money throwing at the club but in areas we all know about and not a full rebuild job this time. The tatics may well change over the summer as they did this season. You have the ability to set the mood in some many fans on here that sometimes i wish you would use it to the clubs advantage. |
Damian
said:
|
... Chiefy if you wantpositivity and PR there are other sites. this site is a blog and about opinion and while you may disagree, it is my opinion of things at the moment it hasn't always been like this. it was actually around this time last season when my views on o'neill changed, so he had plenty of time i call it realism. i support the club and i love the club but unless the football changes or a huge amount of money is spent on players to temporarly fix the issue things are not going to change. i'd love themoney, but cant see it, so what are we left with? we have to demand the football gets better and o'neill is the only one that can do that |
Luckynumber7
said:
 |
... Damian - I'm interested now... are you anti O'Niel or do you simply have concerns over a few decisions? I echo a few on here, Beye is dross. IMO he was bought as cover, nothing more. That said, I'm slightly surprised at MONs insistence to play a CB at RB. I think Young is fit enough and by far the better option. That also said - i think we're well placed and playing fairly well. If we make wembley in the FA cup and sneak 5th I'll be over the moon. I trust the gaffer and think we're going the right direction - that doesn't mean that I don't think the odd decision is strange!! |
Damian
said:
|
... Luckynumber7 I'm not anti-O'Neill at all. I think and I've said this a few times over the past few seasons that if you give O'Neill the money to bring in some real quality then we will be transformed and will compete. I'm one of the few that really does believe that with £100mn net spend this summer (yes, I know it is ridiculous) that we could challenge for the league title next season. But - in terms of doing it on a budget - okay, even a nice budget, but still a fairly tight one - he isn't the man to improve the football at a level where we can get to the place where the club makes more money and can organically afford better players. The issue most had with Doug Ellis was he wouldn't put the club in debt to really try and kick on. The probelm we potentially have now is an owner who will put is in the debt but over a longer period of time and only to the level of debt that the club can afford to pay him back and in reality what Lerner should have done was give O'Neill all he has spent over the past few transfer windows straight away then I fancy we could very well be competing .. I know, it is an idealistic view and it isn't my money and it could go horribly wrong, but I think that doing it the way we are doing it now is only going to and I could be wrong, allow us to flirt with top four but not really get it. |
Luckynumber7
said:
|
... hmmm. I guess we don't agree on this then, Damian. I think MON works within the constraints of the club finances, by being shrewd and making some outstanding signings for what they cost. Milner/Young/Collins/Dunne, for me, have been some of the best and most frugal buys since I've followed Villa. I add to this - I didn't rate MON when he came, and doubted many of the aforementioned players. BTW - I meant sneak 4th... not 5th. To go in the eurofa is a waste of space and will ruin our season next year. |
Damian
said:
|
... Luckynumber7 but we do agree to an extent. he does work within the budget restraints and some of his signings have been very good. others haven't mind. my view is - o'neill should say to lerner "do you want to win the league next season" and the answer should be yes. then o'neill has to say to lerner - get me player a, b and c and we will have a chance then it is up the owner to decide if he wants to take that long term risk |
Simeon
said:
|
... TopherAVusa Nowhere did I say that Davies' dislocated shoulder was as a result of playing too much. You are correct in saying it's an impact injury. My point was that O'Neill continued to play him AFTER he'd dislocated his shoulder. For THREE MONTHS. And to top it off, surgery wasn't performed as soon as the season ended. Instead, it was postponed for another THREE MONTHS, presumably to allow O'Neill to bring in replacements. That surgery was delayed for SIX MONTHS, and that O'Neill jeopardised Davies shoulder is my point. JPA Point number one: O'Neill spent just £11.5m on our goalkeeper, number one centre back, and first choice partner for Gabby. That so little was spent on three important players is because they are all old. Friedel was 37 when he signed, Dunne turned 30 within a month of signing, and Heskey was already 31. When you sign old players, you pay less. Point number two: We were playing catch up with other clubs when O'Neill arrived. This is undeniable. But here are some interesting figures. Benitez' net spend at Liverpool is a touch over £76m (with a gross spend of £120m). That's over a period of five years. Arsenal have spent about £80m in the last four years, but they have recouped virtually all of this money in transfers out (the likes of Adebayor and Toure this summer gone, Henry and Hleb to Barcelona, etc.). Man Ure have spent just about the same as we have, but have recouped virtually all of this money in transfers in (£80m for Ronaldo, and the rest from others). Chelsea have spent about £130m in the same period, but have recouped over £50m in transfer fees. What do these figures tell us? That a £30m advantage hasn't been enough to get close to Chelsea, which is perhaps unsurprising. That outspending Man Ure and Arsenal by approximately £100m hasn't been enough to get close to them either (unless you consider finishing ten points behind Arsenal close...). And that outspending Liverpool by over £50m has bought parity this season (though it is worth remembering that Liverpool's two best players have missed the majority of the season thus far, and most neutrals are anticipating that Liverpool are likeliest to win the race for fourth place). A fairer comparison to make in this case might be last season's performance, but I won't because it is so depressing. So, I would argue that, in these terms, O'Neill has had ample opportunity to catch up with the big boys. He hasn't. The evidence, I'm afraid, is irrefutable. |
Simeon
said:
|
... Point number three: Following on from the last point, it is evident that money isn't the be all and end all. If it were, Chelsea would have won the league these past two seasons, as well as the two before that. Man Ure would have probably been good enough for second, given how things stood four years ago, although they would have been pushed mighty hard by Liverpool. And Arsenal would have been... well, given the money that we, Man City and Spurs have been throwing round for the past four years, Arsenal would have been overhauled by now, and would be outside of the top six. As for Everton, they would be nowhere, as they have actually broken even in transfer dealings in the past four uears, and amazingly that doesn't include the Rooney money! But things haven't worked out like that, because Chelsea have had a management problem since Mourinho left, Man Ure are, well, Man Ure and Wenger's success is more down to identifying talent and coaching and organising his teams rather than spending pots of money. Benitez has spent money (but nowhere near as much as us), and has achieved a certain degree of success by Liverpool standards (CL football every season, 2 CL finals, one CL win, and FA Cup win) because he is tactically astute and capable of organising a team. Moyes has down remarkably well, spending no money and yet establishing Everton as the undisputed 5th best side in the Premiership for the past couple of seasons, and this despite crippling injuries (eg. for how long was Tim Cahill playing up front last season, ON HIS OWN, because all their strikers were injured?). In terms of money spent, O'Neill should have achieved so much more, and at the very least made a serious challenge to the top four hegemony. For a while we did last season, but ultimately, our challenge was no challenge at all. To conclude, Ferguson and Wenger have maintained their positions in the league without spending money (net). Chelsea have slipped a bit in the last two seasons, despite spending money, although in the years previous to that, they swept almost all before them under Mourinho (and obviously spending money was a part of that). Liverpool have bobbed along with a relatively modest net spend under Benitez. We have spent a huge amount of money, and have managed to leapfrog the likes of Blackburn, Bolton, Fulham, West Ham, etc. Amazing. True, we have outperformed Spurs and Man City who have also been big spenders, but if you're telling me O'Neill has done a great job simply because he's done a little better than Spurs and Man City, then you are a fool, particularly as both clubs are likely to have overtaken us come the end of the season. |
S
said:
|
... I just read that Beye makes 40 000 pounds a week. He should definitely be solved as that is a super high wage for a club like ours for a player that doesnt even play |
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