Written by Damian Monday, 08 March 2010 09:59
There are so many things to mention about yesterday and about what is coming up that I don't know where to begin. I think I'll start with the rumour as it's always a nice thing to start the week with.
The rumour is we are showing an interest in Cardiff City full back Adam Matthews. Matthews is 18 years old and considered a real talent and has already represented Wales at U17, U19 and U21 level. It is fair to assume O'Neill would be looking but that doesn't mean it will happen or that he even is. Still, we will find out in the summer.
Chelsea in the FA Cup
In October we beat Chelsea because we did what we do best and come April when we play them again, this time in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley, and we know exactly what we have to do, to do it again.
This isn't news as everyone knows we have Chelsea and in a funny way, I'm actually glad we got them as if we were going to win the tournament, chances are we were going to have to beat Chelsea - now we can get it over with early and really start to feel confident (which could hurt us, but is fun).
Reading between the lines
At the end of the day, we were always going to beat Reading. They are 18th in the Championship and you don't get to 18th in the Championship if you don't deserve it. The worrying thing from yesterday was how we nearly threw it all away in the opening 45 minutes.
You see, had we been playing a team maybe a little higher up the Championship or a team from the Premier League, we could very well have not gotten the chances yesterday and we could have found ourselves sitting out the semi-final. As it is, we were playing Reading, but how many times are we only going to play for 45 minutes this season?
Man of the Match
I don't think anyone is really surprised by this, but it went to John Carew. If you score three you deserve it, no doubt, but I was quite impressed with Webcam and Milner, although I have to say, what happened to Stan yesterday? I think the man needs a little break.
Click here for the latest John Carew desktop wallpaper celebrating three against ReadingAston Villa finances
Lots of websites and people are going to try and pass themselves off as experts in the field of finance over the next few days because the club have filed accounts at Companies House, but we're not. We are not accountants and we don't run a multi-million pound turnover company and basically, we are not going to pretend to be something we are not. One thing I can tell you though, is that what we think we have paid or sold players for, isn't likely true.
How do I know this? Well, if you follow this link here you will find a website that seem to know what they are talking about and they've revealed that either the fees we have paid for a player or the brokering cost of bringing the player to the club (or both) were actually higher than what generally thought, or that the income from the players sold was less, because the accounts actually tell us something quite specific.
Sporting Intelligence
Since 31 May 2009, a subsidiary company has contracted for the purchase and sale of various players. The net cost of these transfers, taking into account the applicable levies but excluding value added tax, is approximately £29.4m.
What this basically means is that what we think we have paid or sold a player for is probably wrong is all but it is a little too complicated for me to try and explain and while I could just copy and past the whole thing, you could just click the link above. It makes for interesting reading.
So, seeing as I'm not an accountant, I'm not going to mention the over £7mn taken out by Lerner as "management fees" because, well, he is managing the club and surely everyone is entitled to a salary. I'm also not going to worry or even think about the £5mn paid to his family trust for interest on the loans either. I mean, surely he should be able to get everything he can out of the club - I mean, it is his money.
No, all directors and owners are entitled to make money out of their clubs. Absolutely nothing wrong with taking 15% of all the money the club generates. Absolutely nothing. In fact, I think Lerner should have more. Take what you want Mr Lerner - nobody seems to mind.
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Andi
said:
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...The bottom line is that Randy Lerner is investing heavily in the club, and especially in the wage bill. Below is the relevant section of Reform’s accounts to 31 May 2009 that shows salary costs. Staff costs for all staff combined have leapt a massive £20m in one year, from £50.447m to £70.577m. Kinda of backing our reason to be thankful we have Lerner and not the other Yanks like Pool and Utd have ended up with |
Simon
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... Wasn't the original league set up as a non-profit organisation. What i mean is, directors were not in it for the money as it was aginst regulations to do so. So what has changed? |
Andi
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...So what has changed? the question is what hasnt changed ? the whole world is different now everything is completely different |
Jake Gardner
said:
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... from the fa Each winning Semi-Finalist will be awarded £900,000 from The FA prize fund while each losing Semi-Finalist will collect £450,000 that will pay a big singings wages for a month or two  |
Jonathan Walker
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... I dont know what to say never was any good at maths. I do think the premiership is in danger of collapse though with the money thats being borrowed. I just carnt see it lasting, I mean to compete in European competitions from 2012 clubs carnt be seen to be spending more than their annual income. That in its self will have a big big impact on the league. |
Andi
said:
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...I mean to compete in European competitions from 2012 clubs carnt be seen to be spending more than their annual income. That in its self will have a big big impact on the league. About time to, that will change football and hopefully control this madness. Now the best of young British talent (smalling, rodwell, ramsey, delph) will be brought now to prepare for this as spending will slow right down so books balance and clubs can get into Europe. Focus will move to the marketing and PR of the clubs to increase revenue to balance their books, |
AV Paul
said:
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... jonnie5 - as things stand as of today, aston villa couldn't compete in europe if it were 2012 and the new rules stood as they are written |
Tim Hillman
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...as things stand as of today, aston villa couldn't compete in europe if it were 2012 and the new rules stood as they are written Neither coul Arsenal, Chelsea, Mau Utd or Liverpool! |
Andi
said:
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...as things stand as of today, aston villa couldn't compete in europe if it were 2012 and the new rules stood as they are written neither could Citeh, Chelski, Spuds, UTD (not sure) this explains why villa want a bigger ground and liverpooo its all to help increase revenue and balance books, this closed season might be the last big spend for clubs, its going to be interesting watching how it plays out. has anyone else heard about they are thinking of getting rid of the offside rule to ??? |
swissvilla
said:
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... @damian hi damian you now, that we are 6 villafans from switzerland and we are coming to watch the game against everton. but this game is rescheduled. on this weekend villa plays against chelsea in the semi-final. my questions: - is the game on saturday? - it's possible to take tickets? sold out? we have the hotel and the plane....and now this..... - the tickets goes to the general sale? hope i'm hear from you swissvilla e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
Thomas
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... Thats bad to be honest already operating at a loss, this is why we are chasing hte champions league so badly! The big money stage. |
Andi
said:
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... But this rule for europe from 2012 there is a way round it, more and more clubs will use feeder clubs who have no hope of winning anything from some where in europe, this way the owner of the premier league club could in effect buy a player for the feeder club laden them with the debt, which wont matter cause thats why he brought them, and then loan the player to the premier league club that would have no effect on the premier league clubs figures, I guess there would be rules preventing that though |
keith
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... damian forgive my ignorance but as i see it only one man stands to make or lose money, and he can only make money with a reasonably successful side. |
Andi
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...Thats bad to be honest already operating at a loss Compared to the money spent not really that bad to be honest Lerner would have expected this. Now if you want a proper laugh go look at grandtop holdings results they have posted year on year losses almost since the company was formed that is bad news, the considered their accounts a success because they cut their losses from 100 and something million to 80 odd million |
jerry
said:
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...No, all directors and owners are entitled to make money out of their clubs. Absolutely nothing wrong with taking 15% of all the money the club generates. Absolutely nothing. In fact, I think Lerner should have more. Take what you want Mr Lerner - nobody seems to mind. Now, now..... |
John Samuels
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... One second it's 'I hope Lerner realises he needs to back MoN in the transfer window' and 'we don't need a bigger ground if its just going to sit empty' and the next second it's 'it's no good we're running at a loss' and 'Lerner should put more of his own money in'. Lerner is running a business. Investment in the team may put the club in a modest amount of debt right now, but as long as results continue to improve as it has been the potential for gates and merchandising increases which in turn generates revenue and allows the building to continue. This is why all the off pitch improvements are so important and must continue. Also when people mention the amount we've spent in the last three years compared to the top clubs I argue they've been doing it a lot longer than us so why not compare figures over the last ten years. We've had a lot of cathcing up to do as these clubs already had a huge level of investment and very good squads of players. Calm down and let Lerner get on with it. Everything he's done so far suggests he knows exactly what he's doing. |
Andi
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...Everything he's done so far suggests he knows exactly what he's doing. really he gave the go ahead for EMULE and INVISIDWELL  |
Cian Donaghy
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... i dont mind, its his money. he'd be an idiot if he wasnt. is he taking 15% of the revenue or 15% of the profits? |
Andi
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...is he taking 15% of the revenue or 15% of the profits? either way its alot less in interest than Liverpooo and Utd are paying I would imagine its the revenue, because he couldnt take 15% of the profits if we are running at a loss |
Graeme Smith
said:
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... Damian, I am grateful that you make me think about my love of all things Villa. This seems sarcastic I know but I really am. My fault is thinking that so far this season has been great - in fact I'm loving it. Of course it was gutting that we went out of Europe so early. But we have had a final already - 'though a bit pissed off afterwards and for the next week or so. But then Wembley again and FA Cup semi no less. Am really looking forward to that - 10 years since one of them. And we are still in with a shout for fourth. It looks unlikely I know but at the moment all league matches matter. So it is great - it is exciting, the matches are meaningful and they count. The football can be eratic - but boy it is far better than we have seen for a long time. When it is good it is sublime - although I know I should be counting passes. And what could compare with the Blackburn semi - it might have been more complete footballing-wise to have won 1-0 having, to have scored and shut up shop - but there wouldn't have been the singing and dancing. So I get carried away - and I know its not right. And Damian you do make me think I need to take the longer view, look at the negatives as well as the positives, and not get caught up in some O'Neil wonderland bandwagon. For a while I doubted 4-4-2 and I still have the 4-5-1 wallpaper up to remnind me just how fickle football things are. I just hope this service doesn't make you too miserable. |
Jonathan Walker
said:
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... I think Villa are well placed for the future, we dont pay silly wages like some teams. You only have to look at chelsea, liverpool, man city they pay players hundreds of thousands pounds a week to some players. This matched with their ground capacity and annual take home wont last with the new rules. Also our team is full of british talent, this being another change in the future, the amount of foriegn players allowed in your team to play in euro. Teams are going to have start using their acdamies more and start looking for the best young talent from around the world. Hence villa already have one of the best acadamies in the premiership, to me the futures bright the futures villa. |
Christian
said:
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...although I have to say, what happened to Stan yesterday? I'll tell you what happened- he was trying to cover the gaping holes in our midfield, watching the ball constantly soar over his head instead of to his feet and all whilst trying to protect a back 4 that looked frightened to death of Reading's attack. Delighted with the comeback, but these 1st half shockers are becoming a little too common. I could speculate as to why, but I'm not really sure. What the hell happened to our 'solid' defence yesterday? For me, Cuellar (we all appreciate he's not a fullback but does a job) should be put to centrehalf at the expense of Collins. That'll give us more shape either side, and I think Cuellar is a damn good centrehalf and should be used as such. Cuellar and Dunne is a pretty formidable pairing. Heskey absolutely confirmed his place as the 'luckiest man alive to be a professional footballer'. I used to think I was a better forward than him, now I'm actually thinking it minus the tongue-in-cheek. Still, Wembley here we come! And I'm not too bothered that it's Chelsea- we do alright against them. And they're not the Chelsea of 'old' (Mourinho). Very tough, but winnable. Up the Villa. |
Andi
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...Heskey absolutely confirmed his place as the 'luckiest man alive to be a professional footballer'. I used to think I was a better forward than him, now I'm actually thinking it minus the tongue-in-cheek EMULE EMULE EMULE your taxi's is here now do one ! |
GPalmer
said:
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... We wouldn't get anywhere near the level of bargain interest rates on our loans if we were borrowing from the commercial banking sector, and the fact that Lerner's business hasn't upped the rates to something ridiculous or foreclosed on them at any point during the Credit Crunch shows: a) he/they know what they're doing to have weathered the financial storm, & b) they're in it to make money in the long haul, which means success on the field There's also the complicated tax situation and various clever accountancy tricks designed to minimise tax payments. Not everything on a balance sheet is as straightforward as it looks  Going back to yesterday, wasn't it great to see one of our strikers score a hat-trick? What a comeback - I'm sure there's some joke in there about J.C.,crosses & rising from the dead but I'd probably get crucified for coming up with one... |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... A lot of people slate Cueller at Right back. I know this isn't his natural position but when was the last time Villa conceded a goal that came down the right flank? Most goals against us come from the left or from set pieces! |
keith
said:
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... villa fan: hello dragons im an aston villa fan and am looking for a £300 million investment in aston villa for a 100% share in the company, with this investment we are looking to build a team to compete for the league championship, champions league, league and fa cup, playing attractive and freeflowing football. dragons: how do you propose to build this team villa fan: we will just buy the best players who will come to aston villa as we are birminghams first team not manchesters second. dragons: and how long do you expect this to take. villa fan: we are working on a five year plan. dragons: what sort of return would you expect from this investment. villa fan: 20 - 30 million from the cup competitions a further 30 - 40 million from extra merchandising sales plus extra revenue from increased gates when the ground is extended. dragons: and what annual return can we expect on our investment. villa fan: no you dont understand, you dont take out money you reinvest in the team to keep at the top and keep the fans happy. camera pans round to see dragons rolling on the floor so loudly it is difficult to distinguish between im out and f*** off |
John Samuels
said:
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... Keithj, very funny, but on a serious note you've hit the nail on the head. It's very difficult ot make money in football unless you are looking for long term self sustaining success. Villa are geared towards doing that. |
Chris Harper
said:
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... Christian1983 http://www.astonvilla.vitalfoo...?a=7503841 Read that. Anyone with an ounce of footballing knowledge can see what Heskey brinks to the team. So who do you play for if you're so good? Not even any team in league football I imagine. |
Christian
said:
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... This 2012 ruling bothers me slightly. Yes, it'll stop United/Chelsea buying every Tom, Dick and Harry for £50m a piece, but it will still leave the hierachy in place, wont it? United and Chelsea's annual income is bigger than Villa's, therefore they'll still have more to spend on players. Villa and the rest won't even be able to 'take a chance (a la Man City)' and spend like mental to breach the dominance? So in my eyes- I may be wrong- a typical summer transfer window would leave Villa looking at buying a crop of £5-10m players, whilst United and co can still look at buying a bunch of players in the £20-30m bracket? Surely all this ruling will stop are the Sheiks and rich risk-takers trying to buy the league? Confused. |
keith
said:
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... jpa im a realist, if i had 60 odd million to invest the first thing on my mind would be how soon i could get it back. the 5 year plan could be 5years x 15 million. but to achieve this you need success |
GPalmer
said:
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...I'll tell you what happened- he was trying to cover the gaping holes in our midfield, watching the ball constantly soar over his head instead of to his feet and all whilst trying to protect a back 4 that looked frightened to death of Reading's attack. I think this is the most worrying thing about our set-up. We were indulging in Alamo Defending even during the second half against a struggling Championship side - you'd never guess we have the best defence in the Prem. It's the huge gaping hole we leave in midfield that's the main problem. We seem to be playing 4-1-3-2 most of the time, and occasionally 4-0-6! Milner's great going forward, but he hasn't really learned how to do the defensive stuff yet, and Stan seems to be the only one willing to put the spadework in. I'd sacrifice either Downing or Heskey for Reo-Coker. He can help Stan in midfield and allow Milner & Young to do what they do naturally going forward. Downing hasn't done enough IMO to warrant regular selection. He had a couple of nice touches yesterday but overall he's been a shadow of the player he was at Middlesbrough. |
Christian
said:
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...Anyone with an ounce of footballing knowledge can see what Heskey brinks to the team. So who do you play for if you're so good? Not even any team in league football I imagine. Touchy today Chris?! I'm certainly not alone in questioning what he brings to our team. Perhaps all the Heskey-questioning fans don't have an ounce of footballing knowledge. But these are the same fans and bloggers on here who you're very quick and happy to applaud and agree with when what they post suits your views? And who do I play for? Grow up. You a manager are you? No? Get off here as well then. |
Chris Harper
said:
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...And who do I play for? Grow up. You a manager are you? No? Get off here as well then. Capello, MON, Bruce, Houllier and Errikson are all managers and know how valuable Heskey is as a team player. Thats my point. I think you're the one who needs to grow up if you think you're better than a premier league and International player my friend. |
Christian
said:
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... I cannot believe you miss the irony in what I said? Are you American?! Obviously you can name managers who have played him, but I could argue back that Eriksson also played Chris Powell and Gavin McCann! Also, all of these managers had Heskey when he didn't look shot. He was a younger, hungry, more mobile version of what we see today. And i have a feeling Capello is starting to have some doubts too, no starts for England in last 3. You must be a right barrel of laughs to watch a game with, somebody criticises something and you'll shout 'can you do better??'! |
Andi
said:
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...Read that. Anyone with an ounce of footballing knowledge can see what Heskey brinks to the team. So who do you play for if you're so good? Not even any team in league football I imagine. Oi Chris are you saying i dont know ??? |
Andi
said:
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...So in my eyes- I may be wrong- a typical summer transfer window would leave Villa looking at buying a crop of £5-10m players, whilst United and co can still look at buying a bunch of players in the £20-30m bracket? this is only assuiming everyone starts at £0 and books are balanced, obviously it will take the top lot alot longer to get their books balanced as they have been over spending for years and their level of debt is huge |
Andi
said:
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...if you think you're better than a premier league and International player my friend. I am Salifou !!!! |
Christian
said:
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...this is only assuiming everyone starts at £0 and books are balanced, obviously it will take the top lot alot longer to get their books balanced as they have been over spending for years and their level of debt is huge I see. Well Ihope that's how it works. But I have a feeling the power of the big clubs will force FIFA into some halfhearted, loopholed ruling. But then again, you don't rate Heskey or play for Brazil, so I don't know why i'm taking note of your opinion |
Chris Harper
said:
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...You must be a right barrel of laughs to watch a game with, somebody criticises something and you'll shout 'can you do better??'! Ha ha I am actually!  Of course I would shout that if I heard someone say they are better than him. |
Chris Harper
said:
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...But then again, you don't rate Heskey or play for Brazil, so I don't know why i'm taking note of your opinion Exactly! |
John Samuels
said:
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...So in my eyes- I may be wrong- a typical summer transfer window would leave Villa looking at buying a crop of £5-10m players, whilst United and co can still look at buying a bunch of players in the £20-30m bracket? but where will they be trying to buy these players from? Clubs like Villa will be able to charge ridiculous money for their homegrown talent, as will Championship and lower league clubs who are ripped off in terms of selling their promising young stars of the future for peanuts. Players like Delph, Fonz, Albrighton, Milner, Gabby etc will be worth a kings ransom as clubs won't be able to just bring in a cheap foreign player looking for a payday. This rule has it's pro's and con's but I think teams with good academies like West Ham, Leeds, Southampton, Ipswich, Everton and Villa are in a position to do fairly well out of it over the next six or seven season as their current crops of youngsters start breaking in to their respective first teams. |
Tim Hillman
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... I like Villa -Chris's viewpoint but then again I found Christian 1983 opinion quite valid....... There is only one way to sort this out..... FIGHT!!!! |
John Samuels
said:
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...And i have a feeling Capello is starting to have some doubts too, no starts for England in last 3. He wasn't fit for two of them was he?? That's what Imean stats are muggy if you don't know the full story. Also what is the point of bringing all these fringe strikers to try and find a plan B or a different way of playing and then just play the two you've already watched every game in the most successful qualifying campaign ever?? None. We saw Defoe and Rooney which didn't work, then we saw Crouch that did. Even more eveidence that Rooney works best with a target man alongside him and I believe Heskey is among the favourites to start asgainst USA. Just because he hasn't played in a bullshit friendly with Egypt people forget that he was immense in qualifying. The same can be said of Davies and Coker. OUt through injurry and people start saying 'he hasn't been in for ages, we should sell him, dead wood' Rubbish. |
Andi
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... Players like Delph, Fonz, Albrighton, Milner, Gabby etc will be worth a kings ransom they will be worth a kings ransom yes but will never be sold for that amount as clubs will have to make sure they can cover what they spend hence forcing transfer fees down, if clubs want to sell and players want to leave the buying club's will have all sorts of add ons to get the fee down to prevent it from making the books not balance, clubs spending will come down and contracts and signing on fee's will get more complicated to keep the immediate impact to the clubs books at a minimum |
Tim Hillman
said:
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...Anyone got a spare paddling pool and plety of lube?? Vaseline should do the same job Chris! From what I hear you should have plenty of that!!! |
Chris Harper
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...Vaseline should do the same job Chris! From what I hear you should have plenty of that!!! Think I left it around Heskey's... |
keith
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... to those thinking that manu, chelsea, real madrid, etc will not be allowed to play in champs league it has as much chance as a ref sending off a man u player in the first 5 mins of a cup final. sorry, im still bitter and twisted |
John Samuels
said:
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... Good point Chiefy, Maybe we'll see a much more measured and thought out transfer window where squads are slowly and carefully built, rather than just chucking money at numbers of highly rated foreigners who cost obscene amounts of money only to disappoint. It's how it should be really. It puts an emphasis on clubs nurtuting homegrown talent that may only play for one or two clubs throughout their entire career. Imagine Villa having a young side with a spine made up of young English players with a few actually being local brummies and Villa fans to boot....hang on a minute! |
jerry
said:
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...A lot of people slate Cueller at Right back. I know this isn't his natural position but when was the last time Villa conceded a goal that came down the right flank? Absolutely. Sorry to be boring about this but was it you doing the betting thread? |
Andi
said:
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...to those thinking that manu, chelsea, real madrid, etc will not be allowed to play in champs league this is why the rules are being brought in to force teams like this to sort their books out/debt out, on paper known of the big clubs should have any problems because of the revenue they earn year on year over spending has crippled them and just like this recession things have had to be done. |
keith
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... chiefy sorry pal but if they try to force these clubs to do what THEY want they will pull out of cl and start their own cup competition, this in turn will screw the cl revenue ala kerry packer with the cricket. |
John Samuels
said:
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...sorry pal but if they try to force these clubs to do what THEY want they will pull out of cl and start their own cup competition, this in turn will screw the cl revenue ala kerry packer with the cricket. I can't see this happening tbh. |
Andi
said:
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... The forsight that our club has played has been excellent and prepared us for a change in football. Our training complex is one of the best in the country and our academy is also one of the best in the country. We have had a few season of multi million pound investment in the team and perhaps have one more. We have the best motivational manager in the country and some of the finest ENGLISH talent in the league. Our club is PREPARED for the changing face of football we are very lucky we are not in the mess some of the other so called big clubs are. How will the likes of Citeh, Utd, Chelski settle their books ??? Will the owners give them gifts to do this ?? Will they sell players ?? Will tickets go up ?? All the above leads to trouble fans wont be happy In terms of Man Utd they are in serious trouble when this rule comes in how can you balance 750 million over negative balance ?? |
Andi
said:
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...chiefy they wont be able to, uefa, fifa and the fa have pretty much control over everything, I also believe that governments had their parts to play in this rule due to the financial meltdown that we have been through. It is ironic that a team owing 750 million can win a trophy and call it self a champion. This recession has been caused by monumental risk taking and football has been doing exactly that for years. Man Utd and all the rest break away to create their own league it will only every have a limited following because no one will govern it because the teams cant afford a pot to piss in without going further in debt. |
keith
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... jpa what i cant see is the regulators being able to tell the big clubs how to run their business |
keith
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... chiefy i agree with your principles but te big boys formed their own league, and there is nothing to stop them, where do you think the biggest income( tv money) would go. |
Andi
said:
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...jpa the regulators arent they are imposing rules for competition entry it is upto the club if it wants to compete in the competition. They wouldnt be telling them how to run their club although anyone in business will tell you 750 million in the red is and operating at a loss year on year is not good business it is an effort by the sport to do something about the levels of debt in the game, the same has F1 is having to its from the governments and just the regulators |
Damian
said:
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... keithj they are not going to tell them how to run their business - just incorporate new rules into the game MerryMan don't know yet .. there is a meeting on March 11th between the sime-finalists, which is when i assume they will make an announcement |
Frankie Pimblett
said:
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... What is it with MON and Carew, our manager treats the big man like he's a naughty schoolboy, any praise he gets is countered with a warning about the consequences should he not get a hattrick every week. The fact is that when Carew is on the football field he gets goals on a regular basis regardless of how lacklustre he appears, he even gets the fouls for his own penalties for gods sake. On the other hand it seems that some individuals are beyond MON's criticism regardless of how shite they may have been (Downing, Heskey, and Collins), and MON can't stop going on about how delighted he is with them. If I were Big John I would be seriously pissed off with MON's patronising attitude. By the way that article extoling the virtues of Heskey is utter bollocks, he ain't fit to wear the shirt, full stop. |
keith
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... jpa didnt the f1 regulators have to change their original proposals because the bigger teams threatened a breakaway competition? |
Andi
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...chiefy F1 tried to do it and it fell on its arse because Max Mosley holds all the rights and advertising loop holes and the teams that wanted to break away couldnt because of the legal contracts they signed when entering F1 which effectively ended it before it started. I should imagine some where in the FA, UEFA and FIFA archive said contracts also exist and imagine all the footballing bodies have done exactly that now to prevent beak away leagues and cups being introduced, their t.v contracts are almost set in stone so again nothing would ever come of it. You can be the biggest clubs in the world but if you have nothing to play for and no one can watch it who is going to pay you ??? |
Tim Hillman
said:
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...Absolutely. Sorry wasn't me but would like it back up and running! |
DavidC
said:
 |
...Maybe we'll see a much more measured and thought out transfer window where squads are slowly and carefully built, rather than just chucking money at numbers of highly rated foreigners who cost obscene amounts of money only to disappoint. It's how it should be really. Think we've seen that in the last few years to be honest with you. Man U haven't bought anyone for obscene amounts since Berbatov. Chelsea have tightened their belt too. Arsenal just won't sign anyone for silly money. And Liverpool have to balance the books (sell Alonso before buy Aguilani etc). As much as Sky try to hype up the transfer window, its been a damp squib for 2 years now. The top have tightened their belts. The only excpetions are the stupid/lucky (ie Man City) and the permanent wheeler dealer that is Redknapp. The new reality has dawned in football like everywhere else. There's no money around in this current financial climate. |
Andi
said:
|
...jpa A compromise was reached although the F1 body got what it wanted but the speed in which it got reduced. Same could happen with football they may say well as long as you losses reduce by 20% year on year thats ok by 2015 everyone should have balanced books either way UEFA will get its way |
keith
said:
|
... guys lets get real, show me anything that has been incorporated in any sport where it has been to the detriment of the big boys. for christs sake why wasnt vidic sent off (had it been dunne or collins its a no brainer) wolves fined for playing an understrength side, something man u and arsenal have been guilty of for years, believe me its not going to happen unless it starts from the day the rule is incorporated ie. your 750 million debt is your starting point next year if its 760 your out |
keith
said:
|
... chiefy a compromise was reached because ferrari threatened to pull out if it had just been honda they would have been told to *** off. do you agree? |
Andi
said:
|
...chiefy It wasn't just for Ferrari's sake that the agreement was made, the original rule was unrealistic and as the F1 body only work with rules they had no idea of the effect it would have, Mclaren, Renault, Sauber also has issues with the rules and it was renualt he said they would start a new division. Having check their legal contracts they realised they couldnt so they signed back up. But you see the F1 board got what they want it is just going to take longer and the teams think they have got something but they havent they are still dancing to the F1 boards tune. In football if they did break away fifa could change the registration criteria for internationals so that players to be registered with approved FA teams which would cripple the break away teams because no player would want to go there. The govern bodies will work with each other to make these rules water tight. A break away league wouldnt work it wouldnt get of the ground |
tubbydunne
said:
 |
... Would like to congratulate the boys on getting us to Wembley again. What a comeback yesterday great heart and fight. Brillant. Damian and the rest of the neggos must have been very happy at halftime but got their faces rubbed in it again. Brillant. |
Andi
said:
|
... You see the other problem in all this is that the clubs rights are owned by lots of different people and paid for years and years in advance so the owners of the rights, sponsors and so fourth have more say in what the club does and a lot of them wouldnt allow the club to form a break away league and if the club did they could request their money back as the club would have broke the contract again crippling the club UEFA have thought about all this |
keith
said:
|
... chiefy sponsors of man u have payed x millions to have their name on man u shirts do you think if they are knocked out of cup competitions or relegated the sponsors have a right to a discount |
Andi
said:
|
...chiefy Maybe not but I bet in the contract somewhere it mentions about the team playing in a league regulated by the countries governing body. Leaving a league regulated by the governing body would result in the contract being breached |
keith
said:
|
... taken from the times online The threat of a Ferrari withdrawal is seen as mere sabre rattling to get its own way to obtain a better deal, a tactic it used regularly before its relationship with the governing body became so good. |
Jonathan Walker
said:
|
... To me UEFA are just trying to preserve football for the foreseable future. If things carry on the way they are going we are going to see what is happening to portsmoth become more regular. Fans carnt be expected to keep paying more and more money every season to watch their team there has to be a cut off. Look what happened in Italy they out priced the fans, and they now still struggle to fill their grounds on a regular basis. |
keith
said:
|
... jonnie5 football will be with us for the foreseeable future regardless, it may end up with walsall as champions but it will be here because when all the big money has gone the fans will still be there. at this point the club will have to operate within their income as probably they did in 1910. the circle of life |
John Samuels
said:
|
... FrankiePimblett, What is it with MON and Carew, our manager treats the big man like he's a naughty schoolboy, any praise he gets is countered with a warning about the consequences should he not get a hattrick every week. Read the article again. He simply wants a higher level of commitment form the guy and I can see that. If Carew put the kind of work in that young Gabby does he'd be unplayable. Instead most of the time he just swans around giving away unnecessary free kicks. He was anonymous in the first half. All the hard work was being done by Heskey. It was only after the grilling at half time that Carew looked like scoring. He began to anticipate crosses and gambled on a few deliveries, getting into decent areas. If he did this every game he wouldn't get any problems from O'Neill, in fact he'd play every game. Tha fact is he's looked lazy and disinterested for most of the season. Heskey is much more consistent and hard working and that is why he plays. Carew is potentially a world class player, but two good performances against championship opposition after getting the hairdryer is not going to be enough to convince me and I doubt it will be enough to convince O'Neill either. |
Andi
said:
|
... Thats it Keithj they have messed about with how football runs and how it works and come to the conclusion that it was fine how it was isnt that the same with everything ? ? in this process all that happens is they make a few people rich, take a few to court, lock a few up, make a few heros and then start all over again ! |
Andi
said:
|
...Heskey is much more consistent and hard working and that is why he plays. i dont care who is interested who scores the goals ?? the stats prove other wise JPA |
Andi
said:
|
... Heskey is there to score goals and this is the big area of his game which he can not seem to get quite right, he can create enough room to build a 3 bed semi for all i care but if he cant put the ball in the net whats the point in him being there ?? carew has ten for the season so far mostly from of the bench MULE has a couple that have bounced in off his arse, I usually love you work JPA but while i understand what your saying about the MULE it doesnt benefit us we need goal scorers first and foremost |
Andi
said:
|
... Heskey is there to score goals and this is the big area of his game which he can not seem to get quite right, he can create enough room to build a 3 bed semi for all i care but if he cant put the ball in the net whats the point in him being there ?? carew has ten for the season so far mostly from of the bench MULE has a couple that have bounced in off his arse, I usually love you work JPA but while i understand what your saying about the MULE it doesnt benefit us we need goal scorers first and foremost |
Tim Hillman
said:
|
... People seem to forget that MON didn't buy Heskey for a goal scorer!! If you look at Heskey's career you can see he has never been prolific so MON must have known that before he bought him. I would understand if he was scoring 20 goals a season for Wigan before we bought him but he wasn't and never really did. He was bought to hold the ball up and give space to the other attacker in a 442 formation. This is way you will never see Heskey playing up front on his own in a 451 formation. |
Jonathan Walker
said:
|
... I would love to see gabby and the fonz play along side each other would be interesting. The problem there though is MON loves his big men on the pitch so wont happen goes against MON's way of playing. |
Mike Carter
said:
 |
... Heskey should not be playing. He does not contribute enough as a striker to warrant playing. You cannot use any logic to justify that he should be. People seem to think he's good enough to play because of his non-striker spefic talents. Being able to "hold the ball up" and "lay it off" to other players. I'm sorry, this is crap. 3 goals in 21 Premier League games this season. How can you justift that. A record most midfielders would be ashamed of. Ok, ok. So he doesn't score goals. He can hold it up and pass the ball well, so he must get a few assists right? 1 assist in 21 Premier League games this season. 1 solitary assist. A record some defenders would be ashamed of. The bloke can't score goals. He can't create goals. He possesses absolutely no striker abilities. He's an average central defender/midfielder hybrid playing out of position. I'm sure he's a lovely bloke and he can perform certain roles to a fairly acceptable level, but anything he can do is surely not the role of a striker and he's wasting a valuable space in the team by playing in that position. |
Andi
said:
|
... CSM & JPA - my mistake EMULE for ever no i see how he works and what he offers us you can see it more when he plays for England although one goal every now and then wouldnt be to much to ask would it |
Bosko
said:
 |
... I've got it on good authority that our semi against Chelsea will be played on Saturday 10th April, KO 5.15pm. |
Frankie Pimblett
said:
|
... to JPA 11 goals so far this season mainly after coming off the bench speaks for itself don't you think ? you don't have to run around like a blue arse fly to be a great player and goal scorer (Yorkie, Robbie Fowler, Alan Clarke, Gary Shaw). It's down to Carew more than anyone that we're in the semi final. I pay my money to watch entertainers like Carew, not donkeys who spend half the game on their backsides in the centre circle when they should be in the penalty area. Start with Gabby and Carew, you'll get goals, defend with Dunne and Cuellar and you'll stop them going in, simple really isn't it ?, and would probably have won us the final. |
Jonathan Walker
said:
|
... I think the simple fact is neither Heskey or Carew are going to win us the league lets be honest about it. I'd ship both players out in the summer and get a fresh front. |
Tim Hillman
said:
|
... I agree Heskey doesn't score enough goals, I just think MON new this before he was bought. I personally prefer Carew to Heskey and have noticed Carew's form has improved since he shaved his head again. Maybe Heskey should try shaving his head (although he would probably end up cutting himself!!) |
Bosko
said:
|
... Villa_Chris..... No, this has come out of the club. Fingers crossed it's right, time for a good Wembley session on the Saturday! |
Andi
said:
|
...Carew's form has improved since he shaved his head again. Maybe Heskey should try shaving his head i said this yesterday although EMULE would surely lose an ear or something if he shaved his, the big lump. Someone said to me yesterday that makes you think do you realise how much money EMULE has made being registered as a striker and not scoring any goals ! Its like being a police officer and not making any arrests. I think EMULE has created his own position THE MULE will from this day forth be the position for the player who doesnt really do what they are there for, THE SID will be none for as the position for the player who doesnt really do anything, nothing at all |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... Great! I doubt I can make the Sunday you see! Do you know when it will be formally announced then? |
Christian
said:
|
...Heskey should not be playing. He does not contribute enough as a striker to warrant playing. You cannot use any logic to justify that he should be. People seem to think he's good enough to play because of his non-striker spefic talents. Being able to "hold the ball up" and "lay it off" to other players. I'm sorry, this is crap. Precisely. It's a bit like being a painter and decorator, who can't paint, or decorate, but is good at standing on the ladder... |
Andi
said:
|
...
best i have heard love it |
Bosko
said:
|
... I believe the clubs are meeting on Thursday and an official announcement will be made then. Same for the tickets; Thursday. Not sure how they're going to distribute them, let's hope they organise better than the online farce we had last time!!!! |
John Samuels
said:
|
... I don't know if I really want to get into this again, but Heskey is a good player and so is Carew. I'd like to see more goals from Heskey and more effort from Carew. I've often saif before that if they were one player he'd be a world beater. Carew has had a couple of good games recently. Name me another game this season apart from Palace, Reading and Bolton at home where he has changed the game. He often looks lazy and disinterested and only really plays well one game in three. Heskey is very useful considering the amount of goalscoring midfielders we potentially have in the side. He wins the ball and consequently posession high up the pitch putting pressure on the defence before bringing other players into the attack. If you watch his movement he is always trying to find space and move defenders away from either the player in posession or those who might receive the ball. He's not the most prolific, but we are winning games with him in the side. He often drifts wide and provides assistance to our wingers, making it much harder to double mark our more creative talents such as Downing, Young or Milner. He is strong and mobile and is worth his weight in gold when back defending set pieces, it's like having an extra CB when defending and we don't see enough of this from his Norwegian counterpart. Heskey's been an ever present since xmas and we've only lost on game!!! He can't be that bad. Both players have their merits and on current form i'd pick Carew for the next match and see how Emule responded. He played his way back in during the beginning of this season and we saw some good performances from him. Now this competition is seeing the best of Carew come to the fore, I'm glad we have both because the healthy rivalry gets the best out of both in fits and starts... Why can't we have both?? I know opinion is divided, but as long as one of the two is playing well at any one time what is the problem. If we buy a goalscoreer in the summer I still think Carew will be the one to leave. I hope he'd decide he needs to up his game and we see a lot more from him, but I believe this is the sort of personality he is and he's under achieved his whole career as a result. That's my opinion and you can take it or leave it. |
Andi
said:
|
...but I believe this is the sort of personality he is and he's under achieved his whole career as a result. I take my friend although thats a little harsh, he is something of a legend in turkey is he not ? and has a couple of leagues and cups under his rather large belt doesnt he |
robb david
said:
 |
... Learner is a brilliant brilliant chairman. One of the best in the league, of course the city boys would be popular, and abramovich, behind those two i dont think their is anyone else. The performance on sunday was simply not good enough, we cant get by playing well for 15 miniutes in a game. We did it against burnley and know reading, a ecent side would have put us away on sunday. Surely Carew has done enough to start in front of hesky, who was awful once again. I actually think the best part of carews game was the finish when he was offside, world class finish. I like collins, i like cuellar and i like dunne. We cant keep playing them in the same side, the amount of times cuellar and collins went after the same ball leaving holes in the defence. We need a proper right back, we have the second best english right back, but for some reason we dont use him. Cuellar does a stearn job filling in as right back btu he is not a permanent answer. for me he has to play inside along side dunne, young on the right. Bite the bullet drop collins, use a little bit of rotation. The whole squad needs to be rotated more, i keep saying it but the team are looking tired. We no longer match other teams workl rate and we are getting by on quality alone. We need to get delph, delfouneso, davies, young, beye, Bouma? sidwell, reo coker involved in the team more to give some of our stars a rest. what a brilliant season this has been, i have loved it, people will say its about winning things, and if we lose to chelsea and finish 6th we wont have won nothing, or showed any real progress. I dont care, this season has provided entertainment and excitment. two trips to wembeley to play the two best teams in england, two of the best in the world. If we go into the last game of the season still in with a shout of forth i will be so happy, the excitment at villa park, we win 3-0 the anticipation waiting for the spurs and man city results come in, i would love us to make it, but for me the excitiment is what makes football great, and if we dont quite make it, well f**k it we were in with a chance, and this year has been the most exciting for a long long time. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
...Heskey's been an ever present since xmas and we've only lost on game!!! He can't be that bad. And we've only won two, so does that mean he can't be that good? I don't put any stock into logic like that. Not having a go at you JPA as it's a stat lots of "experts" bandy about, but I hate it when people say "we've only lost X number of games since so-and-so has been in the side". It means very little. |
Keith
said:
 |
... Damian Just for clarification why do you think I am negative? You are joking aren't you? Chris You can borrow my pool but will have to supply your own lube |
robb david
said:
|
... =====> People seem to think he's good enough to play because of his non-striker spefic talents. Being able to "hold the ball up" and "lay it off" to other players. I'm sorry, this is crap. I backed hesky a while back using these exact arguments. I satnd by them a forward player that creates space and holds the ball up is a massive asset. The thing is hesky doesnt do that, he doesnt hold the ball up he doesnt create space, he just f**kin losses it or falls over or gets in the way or misses a sitter. He is crap he deserves to lose his england place and he will lose his england place. |
keith
said:
|
... jpa this has gone on all season with these two, carew plays well so heskey is a waste of space, carews a lazy sod so we see what heskey brings to the team. the only consistant is we all see the need for a new goal scorer |
robb david
said:
|
... JPA =====> Read the article again. He simply wants a higher level of commitment form the guy and I can see that. If Carew put the kind of work in that young Gabby does he'd be unplayable. Instead most of the time he just swans around giving away unnecessary free kicks When Carew can be arsed he is as good as Drogba, (well close) ive said it before, RIo Ferdinand said he was the most difficutl forward he has ever played agaisnt. When carew actually tries he is unplayable, completly unplayable, he just doenst try that often. |
Andi
said:
|
... Going to have to come up with a new song for Big John now ?! nobody thought of that did they ?? John Carew Carew he bigger than me or you hes gonna score 1 or 3, doesnt quite work. EMULE EMULE EMULE has created lots of space ! again not really got the ring to it |
robb david
said:
|
... John carew, carew. he is bigger than me and you, he's gonna socre one or two john carew, carew. John carew, carew, he is bigger than you and me, he's gonna score two or three, john carew, carew. |
Andi
said:
|
... ronrabbit -- usually we can only just get to the end of the verse before it starts dieing out so two versus you got no chance, and thats at home !!! |
dan
said:
 |
... If we could combine the better attributes of Heskey and Carew, the resulting player would be one of the true greats. However, this is the real world and it comes down to a bargain between Heskey's work rate and unselfish play and the occasional brilliance of Carew. MON sees more benefit in Heskey bringing the midfield into play than in gambling on Carew. The Gabby/Fonz thing is a nice idea but it would require a dramatic overhaul in the way we play, which I suspect will have to wait for the summer. Villa have started to play through teams, but bear in mind Milner has only had 3 months or so at CM and will need a little longer to develop his game as a box-to-box player. I would not be surprised to see us playing something like this (based on current squad) next year against stronger opposition, which is why I called our starting 11 at VP a glimpse of the future. -------GK ------Back 4 ---Delph--Petrov-- Downing-------Young ------Milner------ --------Gabby------- Gabby's back to goal play, still gives the option of going direct, but Delph's vision, in an Alonso, type role, coupled with the organization and work-rate of Petrov, will give a freer more Lampard esque role to Milner. I would expect a few personnel to change in the summer, but Villa have for the first time in a long time a squad to build on rather than build and that I feel is an important distinction. I imagine a younger more clinical version of both Carew and Heskey could be on the cards which is why the Oscar Cardozo rumor from a couple of months ago carries a bit of weight, with Vila reverting to 442 against so called weaker teams. The difficulty lies in how to balance it, I would imagine a variant on the 442 diamond like at Chelsea. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Viva, exactly. I believe we have also played six cup games. ron, he does exactly that. I don't understand how you can't see what he does. Im not saying there aren't better players out there, but he puts the work in and helps the team. keithj, you're right and we got Heskey in a jan window on a tight budget. He does well enough and we do need a striker. I just can't abide the claims that Heskey is sh*t and does nothing because it simply isn't true. I take my friend although thats a little harsh, he is something of a legend in turkey is he not ? and has a couple of leagues and cups under his rather large belt doesnt he If he had the commitment of Heskey and Gabby and turned out 100% every match he could be every bit as good as Drogba. He has an excellent touch, great awareness and a deadly finish. He was practically taking the p*ss out of Reading yesterday and was loving it. If he did this every game we'd make top four. The fact is he doesn't, in fact he disappears and doesn't look interested for large periods of games and hence has disappeared and looked disinterested for large periods of his career. He could have won a lot more than he has and could be a household name globally. I'd love to just see him kick on a make a name for himself. He has the talent to be the first name on the team sheet, but he doesn't realise it and I can't see him ever doing it regularly. |
robb david
said:
|
... -------GK ------Back 4 ---Delph--Petrov-- Downing-------Young ------Milner------ --------Gabby------- I thought we had finally got over this 451 one thing. Chief the John carew second verse, is to be sung instead of the first verse when he has already got two goals. I still think we should scrap that and sing carew, carew, carew is on fire, we dont need no water let the mother f**ker burn, burn mother f**ker burn. We could sing it in a happy jovial way to carew, and then switch carew with hesky and sing it with real contempt. |
Andi
said:
|
...We could sing it in a happy jovial way to carew, and then switch carew with hesky and sing it with real contempt. I do try to start EMULE EMULE EMULE is on fire but it never seems to get going for some reason Still stands is EMULE scores at Wembley i will have EMULE on my shirt |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... JPA Of those 6, four were against Palace x2, Reading and Brighton. Sorry, but any Villa team should be able to comfortabley beat those lot. Heskey or no Heskey. |
robb david
said:
|
... ron, he does exactly that. I don't understand how you can't see what he does. Im not saying there aren't better players out there, but he puts the work in and helps the team. IVe seen him do that a couple of times in a villa shirt. He was great in that game where he milner slotted ricky dunne in because of his movement. HE jsut doenst do it enough, he was crap in the final, he looked rubbish yesterday on the tv. He was poor against burnley, but at least he got the goal. He is continually poor he gives the ball away far to much, he doesnt create, and he doesnt score. He cant head the ball straight, he can barely jump. He is big and strong but then proceeds to not actually use that assett. He can be a real good player, he has looked for england a couple fo times, but for villa to often he just loses the ball continuosly. |
Andi
said:
|
...-----GK isnt it 4-2-2-1-1 |
robb david
said:
|
... JPA dont you think he should be given a place in the semi agaisnt chelsea. We all know he is brilliant when he turns up, surely playing at wembeley will motivate him. I would love to see it, A rampant Care destroying John terry. He blasts his thrid into the roof of the net, jumps into the crowd, makes a bee line for john terrys wife, and shows him what it feels like to be a pathetic england player looking on as the superiour man f**ks his woman. |
Andi
said:
|
... heard a little whisper that MON is interested in Palace's Nathan Clyne not sure of the how valid it is just something I have heard |
dan
said:
|
... Ron If a defender in a 442 is pushed up front in the last few mins of a game when chasing a win by his manager, the formation changes. One could not say that the team are still playing 442 simply because there are 4 defenders on the pitch. Therefore if a midfielder plays in the role of a second striker it is not possible to say that there are 5 midfielders on the pitch as only 4 of them are playing AS midfielders. The debate itself is pointless as it is a feature of the modern game that teams play this way. To rigidly call it 451 is, however, a misnomer. Just because a midfielder plays in an advanced role does not mean it is 451 or 442 for that matter. Look at the formations Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea etc use against stronger teams. If you want us to play through the middle we will have to play a combination of deeper/ defensive players and a playmaker, be that a nominal second striker or an attacking midfielder, it is ultimately the same position and formation. If a striker drops deep is he a midfielder? and if a midfielder pushes up is he a striker? The tactics used at times last season by Utd show how outmoded conceptions of positions/ formations are. Was Ronaldo playing as a lone striker at times or an attacking midfielder and does the fact he is called a midfielder negate the possibility of him playing as a striker? the 442/451 debate argues this point. Does Stephen Gerrard play as a striker or a Midfielder? When liverpool have a fully fit team do they play 442 with Gerrard up front? No. Why? because he helps out in midfield? Does this mean Man U play 460 when Rooney comes scampering into midfield when he wants the ball? 433/442/451/ are all in effect the same thing and are only called different things as people like to label stuff and the BBC like nice graphics of team formations so they have things to talk about. |
John Samuels
said:
|
...JPA dont you think he should be given a place in the semi agaisnt chelsea. I actually agree and if you see my post above you'll see that I believe Carew should now get a chance as he has outplayed Heskey, firstly in the replay against palace and now against Reading. Lets see if he can win us a game away at Stoke and maybe he'll be in the frame to start against Chelsea. As for Heskey, I agree he has had a few good games and a few bad, but doesn't any player? His movement isn't something that really comes through on the tv. You have to watch him off the ball and the reason the movement for the Dunne goal was so obvious is because it was there to see on camera. They both need to up their game sand Carew is looking handy at the minute so he deserves a chance imo. If he starts looking lazy again then whip him out of the side. The nice thing about Carew is he hasn't once come out and moaned at not playing, he's just got on with it, got fit and looks good at the mo. I like that. |
George Templeton
said:
 |
... I just want to say how proud I was of that second half from the Villa yesterday. Unlucky to draw the blue mercenaries, but hell. Bring on Slapper John Terry and the Chelski. If were lucky we might see another temper tantrum like the one at Villa Park! |
robb david
said:
|
... Doubledown Playing a midfielder behind the striker just means 451. its what liverpool do with gerrard. its what arsenal do with arshavin/nasri/rosicky. Which ever way you dice it up playing the way you are suggesting you end up with one more efensive minded player, and one less attacking player, it is therefore a defensive formation. The reason it works for arsenal is fabergas is amazing. The reason it used to work for liverpool is alonso. The reason it doesn't work for man utd is carrick isnt good enough to play like alonso or fabregas. Chelsea haven't played a 451 formation in ages, hiddink has started anelka and drogba nearly every match. For that formation to work well you need delph to be better than carrick. now im not going down the delph road again because i get shot down, but he is certainly not as good as carrick. |
robb david
said:
|
... All kidding aside i think we have as good a chance as anyone against chelsea. Their defence struggle against pace, and drogba struggles against strong defenders. It could be a special day for gabby and ricky dunne. |
Steinar Haram
said:
 |
... I'd just like to point one thing out: This Reading side got the better of Liverpool over 210 minutes. People seem to forget this. Add Reading's recent form after their new manager arrived, and perhaps you realise that it's not that awful after all. UTV! We'll lift the trophy come May!  |
AVFC 4 LIFE UTV
said:
 |
... can i say i was unaware that carew has scored 11 goals this season! how many has gabby scored? This isnt a criticism on gabby as i think he has improved massivly at holding up the ball and he is still young but 11 goals this season from prodominantly a sub is very,very good. |
McParland
said:
 |
... Can not believe the villa against reading on sunday they never turned up first half and when everyone thought they were in for a good hidingincluding myself they turned in a most memourable display of fotball and determined effort to turn it around completely leaving the royals shell shocked. If only they came out like that for every game we would be sitting far higher in the league than present and have to fear no one at all.Carew was just brill and ran them ragged as did many others during the second period.Not bothered at all that we have drawn chelsea in the semis and can beat that lot if we play like sunday ,those 3 goals were a pleasure to watch and were befitting a top premership side WELL DONE LADS |
African Lion
said:
 |
... Just got in and scanned the blog. Very good Gentlemen, but I am very perturbed about the images created concerning Heskey and "lubricant". It is a pity, should his penchant for lube be true, that the man can't apply the KY Jelly, slip around a keeper, which is his job - and make the keeper see his arse. |
Michael
said:
 |
... why does it only say we payed more money for players than reported, why doesnt it say we received more money for players than first reported? |
richie
said:
 |
... One thing that I have yet to see brought up is that we have a trial run against Chelsea prior to the FA Cup Semi. I hope we show 'em up in both matches, though they'll both be tough. Great second half. Here's to lifting a cup come May--the boys deserve it! |
jerry
said:
|
...Sorry wasn't me but would like it back up and running! So would I, mate. You can't remember who it was can you? |
PAT.PORTAFERRY
said:
 |
... Thank God 4 CAREW.The last time we were 2 down in the FA Cup & came back i think was v Crewe under Taylor.Now i think Mon should drop Warnock 4 a few games so he can get his hunger back & play Luke Young @ left back,also give young Del boy 25-30mins on Sat V Stoke 2 Run the life out off them.We got out of jail on Sun so lets dig in deep & keep a CLEAN sheet so we can boast of the best DEFENCE,there's only ONE MON  |
david
said:
 |
...We got out of jail on Sun It did feel like that, but in truth we've done this a few times recently. It reflects the improved quality and belief in the team that we can now come back from a poor start. This wouldn't have happened a couple of seasons ago. |
James
said:
 |
... Oh joy. A Monday and I'm not cross. Able to read the whole blog without swearing. Also, had several little chuckles courtesy of Villa Chris, Keef and (I think, and can't be arsed going back to check) Keithj. Good work people. Sorry if I missed any of the craftsmen out. Happy days on the Villa blog. |
david c english
said:
 |
... 3 - 5 - 2 and come on the wigan, if the pool lose this they are out of the equation |
Nik Skilton
said:
 |
... just want to point out for all those who slate MoN, it could be worse, he could be the FSW..... |
Scrumpy
said:
 |
... Those "supporters" knocking Heskey should maybe take another look at the game on Sunday.... First goal, Heskeys movement inside box drags the central defender out the middle, this allows Cuellar to get in the space created occupying another defender leaving Young free on the back post. Second Goal, Heskey drops and holds up the ball (drawing two defenders out to him), feeds Milner coming forward, who feeds Downing whos cross finds Carew (where there are one or two fewer defenders having followed Heskey) Third goal, Heskeys run to the near post and blocking off the defender gives his partner space in the box and means the ball gets to Carew to score. Forth goal, Heskey comes wide to left wing, gets ball played to him by Milner, then feeds Carew's run in the box, ball played to his feet, giving him time to control and draw the foul. Doesn't seem like a bad contribution to me. If Fonz/Gabby had played a similar part as a team player would you be treating them the same way?? Time to support ALL the players. Form from Gabby, Heskey, Carew and even Fonz could mean a great end to the season, but you gotta support your players not constantly (and more often than not unjustified) knock or belittle them...UTV! |
tubbydunne
said:
|
... Have to say again am delighted with yesterday. It shows how much we have come on as a team that we can come back from two down and win. Also delighted with season, someone mentioned earlier on about the excitement that the team has generated and it is true, they have treated us to a cup final, we are on our way to Wembley again and we are still in the hunt for fourth. We are being spoiled and I feel sorry for some of our so called fans who are unable to enjoy it because of various agendas. Just a little cloud on the silver lining. Warnock is really going trough a very poor patch of form and was poor yesterday again. If this continues it will cost us points and I think L. young might be getting a run at left back soon. What is the state of Bouma's recovery? Also central midfield is a big problem for us. We needed someone in there yesterday to dictate things and we simply didn't have anyone. There will be an enforcer on the way in the summer. Anyway happydays. |
Damian
said:
|
... tubbydunne we will see at the end of the season if we have 'come on as a team' by where we finish in the league reading are 18th in the secnd division. we could have been 3 down at half time and still won fantastic win at the weekend - but some perspective people please. we have won nothing and are 7th. if we win the fa cup or finish higher than 6th, we could have come on a bit - but not because we beat a team 18th in division 2 |
TPU
said:
 |
... Amazing John Carew, at his hungriest. Hattrick hero. Our side has character unlike any other side, we came back to victory from behind. MON must have given a hell of pep talk during the break. |
david
said:
|
...fantastic win at the weekend - but some perspective people please. we have won nothing and are 7th. if we win the fa cup or finish higher than 6th, we could have come on a bit - but not because we beat a team 18th in division 2 Damian, now I'm wondering just who it is who needs some perspective. Do you honestly think that your comment above has perspective and balance? Honestly? You describe Reading as a team who are 18th in Division 2 but you know that is in no way a true reflection of their form since their change of management. They have the best recent form of any team in the Championship having won 5 of their last 6 games. They have also beaten Liverpool Burnley and West Brom in the cup. Of course we should be beating Championship sides (even the one with the best recent form in that division) but you deliberately choose to ignore their form in order to belittle Villa's performance which was excellent in the second half. I don't see people on here getting carried away, they are just enjoying a high league position plus two trips to Wembley in a year. Why do you feel the visceral need to keep downplaying how we are doing? Really...there's no need for you to continually act like the grumpy old man next door who keeps banging the wall and shouting at us to turn the music down. |
Andi
said:
|
...fantastic win at the weekend - but some perspective people please. we have won nothing and are 7th Damo I agree with you there, if anything the FSW has shown us that in this league anyone can beat anyone we need to keep our feet on the floor and perform like our lives depend on it, like the second half against reading !!! Its all there for us to take |
DavidC
said:
|
... Damian - not having a pop, but you're fighting a losing battle mate. 99% of us can see we've improved this year. The proof is in the fact that we have beaten 3 of the traditional top 4 this year. We've had a real go at them, for the first time in living memory we don't look like rabbits in the headlights when we come up against them. We've got to one final, with a very good chance of getting to another. We've lost one game in the whole of 2010 (unlike last season's collapse). Finally, we're well placed in the table with 3 games in hand on our rivals. You can say "wait until the end of the season and see what the table says", but why bother? The proof is there for all to see now. C'mon, enjoy yourself man. It doesn't hurt to smile a little. C'mon. Enjoy the ride. It won't / doesn't get any better than this I'm afraid. |
keith
said:
|
... damian lets not focus on the we have won nothing, however i think we have, and support an end of season push. i say we have won something because last night the fsw admitted defeat, a few weeks ago fsw was bullish that they would qualify for cl and now he cant understand how his preparations went wrong and now he will have to try and win whatever games he can. 1 down 2 to go 4th is ours keep the faith |
Damian
said:
|
... DavidC Not having a pop back, but it doesn't come down to one off matches, it really does come down to where we finish this season. If we finish 5th, I'll agree that we have improved - or if we get silverware. If we finish 6th, it will be that we have consolidated for another season (or stood still) but if we finish 7th - we would not have improved. We would have, quite literally, gone backwards if that is all we end up with. But it does get better ... much much better. |
david
said:
|
... Damian, Surely reaching a final and a semi final is also evidence of progress. When did we last do that? The fact that we lost the final so don't actually have silverware should not be the only indication of progress in the cups, after all, that was just one match, and as you say, "it doesn't come down to one off matches". |
S
said:
 |
... Surely Carews performance should earn him a spot back in the starting XI. If Gabby and Heskey were playing i doubt we would have won 4-2. And to the people that say Heskey did contribute so he shouldnt lose his spot think about it this way. He might have helped, but he is a forward who didnt score and if Carew wasnt there to save the day we wouldnt be in the semis. |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 i can see that doing well in two cup tournaments is fantastic and why it is seen as progress and to an extent it is, but the overall barometer of how a team is performing and if they are moving forward, really is the league and i think you know and accept this ... when you look back in 20 yers time - you don't look at who did well in the league or fa cup - you will look at the league table. also, if we finish 8th and lose 2 finals - how will that feel against finishing 5th and losing 2 finals? a byproduct of success in the league will be silverware in other competitions - it is just natural if you are winning more league games, that the continuity will flow over into the cups - lets hope that happens with our 3 games in hand over liverpool ... |
Damian
said:
|
... r0bb0 also - man utd losing to leeds in the fa cup doesn't mean they have gone backwards - it just means they had a bad day - it is one offs. no one will plot cup tournaments over a period of time to demonstrate progress or decline ... but they will plot where a team finishes in the league |
DavidC
said:
|
... Damon - every year for as long as I can remember, when my Bluenose mates ask me what would constitute a successful season down the Villa, I've ALWAYS given the same reply...... "Top 6 and a trip to Wembley". The latter has been completed (twice). The former WILL be completed comfortably. What were / are your goals? What's your measure of a successful Villa season? I bet we're on track for them whatever they were. Stop worrying / carping about things that may (or may not) happen. Life's good. Yes, we all need to strive for improvement, but you've gotta celebrate and relish and enjoy the good times along the way. UTV!!! |
Damian
said:
|
... DaveyBoy there is a difference between successful season, years ago, to what is progress this season. a few years ago, under ellis, i would have said the exact same thing if asked what would constitute a successful season. i remember though, not so many years ago, going into the season with real aspirations that we could win the league. as it stands now, we have had a semi-successful season just by losing the league cup final and securing another trip to wembley. but success isn't coming second. i was under the impression that we had moved on from our time under ellis and were now a club going places - so to answer your question, success for me this season would be progress in the league |
DavidC
said:
|
... Damon - I do understand where you're coming from. I like having these conversations with you. They help keep me sane. I think fundamentally we differ in so far as I can NEVER remember having real aspirations that we would/could win the league. I've been around for long enough to know that 1980-81 was a blip. A beautiful, joyous, freaky one. But still a blip. I'm like you - I yearn for us to progress. Getting to Wembley is progression. Holding our own against the big boys is progression. Being within sight of 4th place at this late stage of the season is progression. Significant, considered, incremental steps over time. Thats what is patently obvious to all. The majority of us fans, neutral observers, reporters, journalists, ex-pros, the fans of other teams, commentators, summarisers, other team's managers and coaching staff also. Yes, the tangible measure will be our finishing place come May. Completely agree with you there. But, the fundamental difference is that I believe we will finish in the top 6. Whereas you don't. And as a result, you discount all the empirical evidence that things are improving at VP, and look for problems that simply aren't there. |
john doyle
said:
 |
... i cannot belive that some clowns on here are having a go at randy he is the best thing that has ever happend to villa ever this man who has given martin 120 mill to spend i will show later also in real terms acorns 35 mill as we could have a sponser for 25 mill and the 10 mill he gives to sick children we are one of the 2 clubs in the world alongside barca who do this and this alone should get him a knighthood look at man citu chelskie and the rest all on the take this guy randy is a saint have any one of you out there had to look after termanly sick kids what this guy provides to them is hope as for his expences of 12 mill a year do we expect him to fly back and forth from the usa by monarc air no him and his family must have the best as for martin and the team he has given him 120 mill here is the break down big brad littel brad 3m shorey 5m beye 3.5mill l young 6.5mill c davis 10 mill z knight 6 mill r dunne 6 mill collins 5 mill warnock 7.5 mill thats 52 mill on the back 4 what other team has spent that then the midfeild are milner 12.5 mill dowing 12 mill a young 9.5 mill petrov 7.5 mill sidwell 6.5 mill NCR 8mill delph 6.5 mill salafu 1 mill thats 53 mill on the midfeild who else has spent that then we come to the front line which shows where martin has his faults haskey 3,5 mill cerew swap 6 mill malony 2 mill thats 11.5 mill on scoring goals which when you look at the vast amount spent othe rest is a joke this lot adds up to 120 mill i might have missed some which i am sure that you will tell me but when you look at the money randy has spent on the ground the holt and the training ground he is the best thing that ever happend to this club |
Michael
said:
|
... how much debt are we actually in then? couldn work it out from that article. hope we dnt do a portsmouth. |
Michael
said:
|
... im not criticising randy lerner but how can people be allowed to buy a club and then take out loans in the clubs name to spend on the club, it should be done with revenue or the owners own cash. iv probably mis read the whole thing and that is not the case with villa but if it is it has pissed me off a little. |
FatKevs
said:
 |
... If we are not masking money then the charman should not reward himself with £ms especially as he is only part time. I is ther job of the board to run our club & ensure we have a future We are all pissed off with the Bankers taking out £ms thisd should be no different Take the rewards once you have earned them |
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