Normally, the day after the match is dedicated to the post-mortem, but instead, that will come on Monday, mostly because I can't put the energy into that post that it deserves. It will come tomorrow. It will come tomorrow because I'm actually finding it hard to be positive and I don't want to be negative.

Spurs will do well this season but yesterday was very much a game for them to show how far they rally had come and Arsenal beat them. Yesterday was also a day for us to show how far we had come - playing an Everton team that were quite a few players off full strength and who had lost the last three.

Instead, our football was predictable and our chances were limited. We did have a few more shots on target than Everton, but eight in ninety minutes isn't the best return, although it isn't bad. More quality might reignite my expectations.

So, I'm sorry there is no post-mortem today, but I'd rather not get all wound up by it, instead it is November 1st which means the shapely Nadine Velazquez on my FHM calender in the office and 62 days until the transfer window opens and I fancy we need to make a splash if top six is going to be achievable.

We should have Downing back by then also, but there is a rumour today; Craig Gardner is leaving and is going to join Wolves. Okay, one rumour and I'm sorry, but that is your lot.

It is one of those days where I don't want to write what I am thinking and I actually suspect more and more people are seeing it and thinking the same anyway. Don't get me wrong, the game was a little more exciting yesterday, but the football was still just above average - it isn't developing.

So, you've had your rumour, post mortem tomorrow and hopefully something else.

Comments (61)

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John Jordan said:

... Bloody hell Damian..! You sound realy depressed,I don't know why you bothered!Pop down the Doctors and get a Pick me up,

Comment 1, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.31 am

Damian said:

... Its not depression, it's acceptance. I accept certain things, others hope for it or think it will come based on faith. however, i will say, two new players in january and it could all get better ... two players could be the catalyst that we need ... you never know

Comment 2, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.33 am

Aaron Wilson said:

... I hope Gardner moves on, it would be the best for his career. I really cant see him ever holding down a place in the side. But, this time put a 'buy-back clause' in the contract this time MON. Just in case... UTV!

Comment 3, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.34 am

John Jordan said:

... By the way Damion...A very welcome point yesterdsy wasn't it!!!

Comment 4, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.35 am

Damian said:

... a fantastic point. now, surely we'll get three on wednesday shoudl see us in the top 4

Comment 5, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.35 am

stevo said:

... is he ever positive ?

Comment 6, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.35 am

Mike Carter said:

... But our football is always predictable and our chances are always limited, Damian. Aren't you used to that by now? It will never change until we sort out our sub-standard midfield, which most of us here can clearly see is the weak link in an otherwise very strong team. Look, I know Everton had injuries but so what? That gives us no divine right to beat them. It was still a very strong team. When two teams walk out onto a football pitch, the individual players they have sometimes become completely irrelevant, you should know that Damian! Sometimes it's just 11 versus 11. Villa could play Colchester United next week and we'd probably struggle to clearly outplay them as well. That's just Villa for you. Instead of concentrating on the negatives, focus on the positives. 1) This is still a very good start to the season for us, if we win our game in hand we'll leapfrog Liverpool and Spurs - surely you'd snatch at that at the beginning of the season? 2) We have a pretty badass defence. Any team in the league will struggle to break us down and score many goals. In Collins and Warnock I truly believe MON has given us two of the best defenders this team has seen in years - and I include Martin Laursen in that sweeping statement as well. 3) It isn't going to take a whole lot to push us on another level. Any midfielder better than Sidwell can come in and instantly make us a better team. That player will have to be bought though, unless it's Downing. So don't be so glum! We're doing well and there's lots to be happy about.

Comment 7, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.40 am

Damian said:

... stevo actually yes. but people like you, mostly just you though only seem to see the negative things because that is what you want to see. but if you think there are reasons to be positive about the football we are playing then that is your opinion. i dont think there is - differing opinions and most of your comments are negative ones towards me - nothing to do with the content, so who is really the negative person? you go out looking for it ... come on, how negative is that? i'm going to change your name to negative steve next time you leave a comment. until that is you register and i dont have to approve your comments

Comment 8, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.41 am

James said:

... Wasn't a great game. But another point. Would like to see City mess up today and then the weekend will look pretty good. We are very hard to beat. Cueller and Warnock put in excellent shifts yesterday, alongside the ever dependable Collins and Dunne. Now a while back I liked the look of Fallaini and wished we'd got him, but yesterday he was AWFUL. The Everton fans were giving him some fearful stick. I've got a feeling he may be sold in Jan but, based on what he displayed yesterday, I wouldn't want him at Villa.

Comment 9, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.41 am

Damian said:

... vivavilla but that is my worry. 4th season, no change, no real development. sure, it is a good start to the season, but you don't have to be a genius to work out that we are getting by on determination and hard work down to the motivational skills of the manager. when other clubs properly wake up and start playing consistently and we start getting tired because he refuses to use the squad properly, despite him talking about it weeks ago, then i for one can see that we will start to lose our way. much like we did last season. the season before that and coincidentally the season before that also i'm looking to january now and cant believe i am saying this, hoping that downing becomes a player i dont think he is

Comment 10, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.52 am

Bobby Park said:

... Damian I know exactly where you're coming from, I'm bored as well. Every away game is the same, a turgid first half performance with a slight improvement in the 2nd, we are a dour, unentertaining side with a decent defence, its hardly the stuff to get the pulse racing. Unfortunately we are always overrun in midfield as we only have one decent midfielder on the pitch (Petrov), and with Ashley off colour we posses little in the way of flair. Would it be the end of the world if MON went to Liverpool ? I suspect Moyes or Owen Coyle would achieve more with the sort of money that Lerner has given to our manager. We're a stonewall certainty for 6th again, treading water but not quite breaking through. Something needs to change !

Comment 11, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.53 am

Rattus NorVillicus said:

... We need a player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and lead by example. Take control of the game and drive us forward. I think that man will ultimately be Delph, but in the meantime it should be the Coker in a 5 man midfield with Delph in front of him with the licence to bomb forward in a way that Sidderolo seems inept at doing. Gabby, being the best of a medeocre bunch should be playing up top on his own, with Fonzerrilla ready to come on at a moments notice. We will never be a great team with Carew, I'm afraid. He's a loafer - get rid. And it's no point playing Heskey unless you build the whole attack around his, er...., abilities. Ie; play at least one fast attacking midfield player with goals in him and a second striker with nous, speed, agility, and clinical finishing ability. So, is this the whole jigsaw we are watching at the moment ? Or can only MON see the full picture because there are currently a couple of pieces missing ?

Comment 12, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.56 am

Aaron Wilson said:

... bobby park, Thats nothing new. We have been calling for "flair" for the last two years. We need Van Der Vaart, Sneider, Diego, Defour or Kranjcar... all were realistic buys but MON never sorts it out. Its like hes afraid to buy a class player. Hes afraid to take the gamble of spending a good 15-16 million on a player. UTV!

Comment 13, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.05 am

OneVilla said:

... Van der Vaart creative midfielder, i believe a player of his ilk will help us push on for the second half of the season.

Comment 14, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.10 am

Aaron Wilson said:

... pancho, it should be... --------ReoCoker--Delph-------- Milner-------Petrov-------Young Reo Coker is the perfect, commanding leader for Delph to learn from and play beside

Comment 15, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.11 am

david said:

... Can we play like Arsenal? No. Do we have the depth of quality of Chelsea or Man Utd? No. Will we challenge top 3 this year? No. Have our expectations risen over the past 3 years? Yes Has our defence improved this season? Yes Do we have a good chance of top 6 again this year? Yes Following a football club is emotional and generates irrational thoughts so I thought it might be helpful to find some things everyone can agree on.

Comment 16, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.14 am

david said:

... Some of the more debatable points: Can we win the Carling cup? Yes Do we sometimes play exciting, incisive football? Yes Has Heskey shown signs of improvement in his last couple of games for us? Yes

Comment 17, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.19 am

James said:

... Pancho That's a great anlaysis of where our attack is and should be going.

Comment 18, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.32 am

Ammar said:

... So don't be so glum! We're doing well and there's lots to be happy about. Yes there is but can you honestly tell me what yesterday's performance or actually last weeks performance what we should be happy about ? We can't always rely on our defence to constantly bail us out. I personally would like mon to do well but as of late I think his stubbornness is getting the better of him. Defence sorted. Centre Midfield inadequate. Strike force is not good enough excluding Gabby but he can be hit and miss. So basically we have no real spine to the team which are the basic fundamentals to a successful team. We put 3 full backs on the subs bench play centre back in as a full back and end up with a striker filling in as a full back. We can look at the Spurs result but they had 3 key players out that would have started in there line up so they have an excuse. What's our ? . To be honest I could not give a monkeys about the results of other teams at this stage of the season at the end of the day its what we actually do and get.

Comment 19, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.33 am

Mike Carter said:

... Yes there is but can you honestly tell me what yesterday's performance or actually last weeks performance what we should be happy about ? If you'd read all of my post and not just the last sentance you wouldn't have quoted that.

Comment 20, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.37 am

THE AV VILLAN said:

... I really think that we only need to sign 2 star players and our squd will be sweet. IF Van Der Vaart and Wagner Love signed in January that would get us a Top 4 finish. Move Sidwell and Heskey on. Keep Gardner and Delph as they both have a bright future and led the competition for places ush us on. It could cost 25 million or so to sign them but after that outlay i really think that Randy will not have to spend much in the summer. I know MON is a cautious man but surely he too can see that we are nearly there!!!! Please MON make us proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UTV!!!!!!!!!

Comment 21, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.41 am

david said:

... Yes, Pancho's analysis is an interesting one. Add to that Dalian Atkinson's view that our attackers should socialise together more to help build their understanding. It's clear that Dunne and Collins are individually good defenders, but perhaps just as importantly, they have formed a mutual respect and understanding which is providing a more cohesive central defence than we've seen for years. I don't see this level of understanding in our attacking play this year. There are signs of it developing between Ash and Warnock but I don't see it between the central partnerships of Heskey/Carew and Gabby.

Comment 22, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.43 am

James said:

... I agree Robbo about the forwards. Gabby is learning and therefore should be guided by Carew or Heskey, BUT both of them are selfish players who are playing to their own ends. Neither, I feel has fully bought into MON's team ethic. As you say this is in stark contrast to Collins and Dunne.

Comment 23, made on November 01, 2009 at 10.58 am

Bobby Park said:

... Good shout AV VILLAN, if only MON saw it like that. Seems to be a bit of a downer on Carew at the moment, I seem to remember his goals and performances stopping last season being a complete disaster from January onwards. He is a class act who's had a couple of ordinary games, thats all. Of course coming off the bench to put one in after a minute is something Heskey does all the time (LOL).

Comment 24, made on November 01, 2009 at 11.12 am

VillaNick said:

... We are talking the need for creativity. Delph & Downing could give us that, so until injurys / suspensions kick in, we won't find out for sure. I only base it on Delph's performance against Liverpool, where he supplied Young & Milner on more than a couple of occasions with decent passing & vision. Downing was the only player that gave Boro' any creativity. Apparently Gary Gardener is quite a player but is probably 18 months away from getting a chance, Bannan & Albrighton are also knocking on the door. The players are at the club, its just a matter of balls.

Comment 25, made on November 01, 2009 at 11.14 am

Ammar said:

... If you'd read all of my post and not just the last sentance you wouldn't have quoted that. vivavilla i did read all you post and my point was there are no positives with our football. Anyway lets look at it this way form for the last 5 Premier games Played 5 Possible 15 taken 6. So no i don't think we have a divine right to win all our games but that tells us were not winning much either.

Comment 26, made on November 01, 2009 at 11.22 am

Majkee said:

... It is time for MON to go for Marek Hamsik from SSC Napoli. I am sure Marek is not prepared for move to Chelsea or Man City, but Aston Villa would be the best option for him. Constant regular in Villa.

Comment 27, made on November 01, 2009 at 11.29 am

tommye83 said:

... remember most of this team had a long night on wednesday, with half the team taking knocks, everton are a good side, even with all their players missing. goodison sounded like a cauldron too. not a bad point in my opinion.

Comment 28, made on November 01, 2009 at 12.01 pm

Fatkevs said:

... Oh come on folks stop making excuses & be honest we play boring football. It say something if our only comfort is seeing Liverpool falling apart. When have we every really challenged them? Fans accepting this shit & defending it will not move us forward just like booing your team helps the opponent

Comment 29, made on November 01, 2009 at 1.07 pm

kiddervilla said:

... got to admit yesterdays game and the one at wolves was dismal the way villa are playing is starting to bore me, thought ide never say it but its true even the sunderland game the way we played is negitive only the pens made it worthwhile thank god for guzan i just cant wait for the day when villa have a hands on forwards like gray withe not like the ones now who hold up play and slow us down, big kicks to them whot comes to nothing negitive crap at its best midfield whos always 2nd best the players are there but not playing for some reason or other, well we will see if it changes at wham but dont hold your breeth prediction wham o villa o top four at its best

Comment 30, made on November 01, 2009 at 3.08 pm

david said:

... FatKev. You have a point about the type of football we're playing but I think you overstate it. I'd agree that it is not as exciting as two seasons ago but even yesterday the Sky commentator said "4 minutes of extra time, I wish there was at least 10 I don't want this game to end". There have been exciting games and some great passages of Villa play, but let's face it, we're not Arsenal and if that's the type of play you hanker after you're going to have a miserable year. There has been a change of emphasis from attack to defence with players (even Carew) tracking back more. This is making us harder to beat but brings fewer goals so we'll have a higher proportion of draws this season. I'm happy for us to play this way if it keeps us in touch with the top 6 till Christmas and then hope that other players coming into the side (either through recovery from injury, natural development of youngsters, or new signings) pushes on onwards in the New Year

Comment 31, made on November 01, 2009 at 3.16 pm

JoelVillan said:

... The football isnt pretty at the moment, but that is mainly due to the fact Ashley has been off colour. Im hoping he will do the opposite of last season where he was on fire for the first half and tailed off in the second. This time round he will help us push for 4th. The biggest wake up call will be when downing is banging on the door for his place. Im keep hearing about us needing players like VDV and other big european names. Its not going to happen, does anyone genuinely beleive that Oneill will go against the transfer policy he has clearly set out. A realistic target is michael Johnson from man city. Under Sven he was Man citys best player and i remember a rubbish game away to them a few seasons back where a bit of inspiration from him was enough to snatch 3 points off us. I honestly beleive he could be our Barry replacement in the making and the perfect foil for Petrov (delph in years to come). We need a player that can = Score goals Make goals produce a bit of magic/inspiration Most of all we need a winner. Sidwell is an ok midfielder but he doesnt excell at any one thing. Once villa are rid of passengers from the first team, we will hopefully start knocking it around better and winning in style.

Comment 32, made on November 01, 2009 at 3.33 pm

bermudavillan said:

... Sick and tired of hearing all you whine on and on incessantly about MON and villa. A more fickle bunch of people I have never seen, and it truly makes me question the footballing knowledge some of my fellow villa fans possess. We have improved every single season under MON, and its looking like we will do so again this year - and yet you want more. You complain about signings, moan about not having an international glamorous playmaker, against the man who has bought A. Young, Carew, Milner, L. Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Friedel, Guzan, Delph, Petrov to our club - all of whom are undoubted success stories, with the exception of delph who we all know is one for the future. Have you all gone mad??? So 1. you have no concept of just how far we have come (see above signings and league positions), and 2. You seem to have zero ability to forsee where we are going in the future. I'd ask you for a bit of rational thought, but by this point I'm not sure you are capable of it. I just hope its not idiots like you who will eventually force MON out of our club through your lack of foresight, inability to appreciate, and incessant ludicrous demands. I know you will tell me you are entitled to your opinion, well guess what, I'm slating you for those opinions, which i find frankly idiotic (that is MY opinion). I just hope your voices are not loud enough to have any impact on the football club, lets hope you are the minority of extremists. That is all. (who the f*ck would we get in to replace MON who would actually come and be better?? Grow the f*ck up.)

Comment 33, made on November 01, 2009 at 3.52 pm

Damian said:

... bermudavillan how long have you supported aston villa? it is s serious question because you sound as if you´ve supported us since the last season we had under david o´leary we´ve finihsed 2nd in this league. we´ve finihed higher in this league than martin o´neill has taken us and a long time after the game was ruined by money you sound like the type of supporter that would actually be happy with mediocrity season after season and will probably be saying in another 4 seasons that ´we are moving in the right direction´ if in fact you did know anything about football - i only say this as you make out you are above people on this site - you would know that it doesn´t take 3 full seasons to impose a little footballing prowess on a team. in fact, we can see, after 3 full seasons, exactly what o´neill is doing. counter attacking, one dimensional football. oh and before you say anything, that isn´t me, that is your footballing pundits like mark lawrenson and alan hansen that have said that, just in case you suggest i know nothing about football the fact that they start saying it a few months after others have is by the by - they are saying it now if you are happy with how o´neill has set out his stall and if you believe we will ever do any better than what we have achieved under o´neill, then good for you, that is your opinion, but it is the opinion of some that the best he will get with this style of football is what we have had no disrespect to o´neill but the best he ever got with leicester, i think, was 8th then a couple of 10th finishes ... i could go manage celtic and win the league and well, without the football getting better and with some money spent, we have proven that we are a top 6 side. all o´neill appears to be doing at the moment is proving that .. if you want further proof - go watch the season review DVD of every one o´neill had at leicester ... we are getting exactly what we will get - nothing more nothing less. hell tony mowbray is going to win the league with celtic and gordon strachan did - does that mean they are good enough for us? want to see a manager make an impact with a football team and change how they play, go look at fulham and spurs and those manages have done it before at other clubs .. the football is much better under both managers.

Comment 34, made on November 01, 2009 at 4.18 pm

bermudavillan said:

... I'm just happy that your thoughts cannot translate into reality, that in essence you are a lame duck, who can spout of at the mouth all you like, without having any real power to change anything at the football club. Its a relief to a lot of us. for the record - I LOVE counterattacking football.

Comment 35, made on November 01, 2009 at 4.49 pm

Damian said:

... not sure if you are aware but this site isn´t anything to do with the club and we don´t spout club message or propaganda because we can think freely it is one of the reasons why people visit and read - because it isn´t what you will get from the club and is fairly unique but fortunately, others are catching on to the limitations of the what we have in place although i´ll throw my hands up and say that if we spend in january it might be possible to do better than we have done the last 2 seasons ... but only if spurs or man city implode but ofcourse, we now have to worry about birmingham city because they just got a point against man city so they must be turning the corner too can i ask. are you about 26 years old

Comment 36, made on November 01, 2009 at 5.06 pm

david said:

... So Damian. You weren't keen on Doug Ellis and you couldn't stand O'Leary,. Now you don't think MoN is good enough for us and you think Lerner is a "sly bastard". You're also starting to make personal attacks on contributors to this site because they don't share your (increasingly negative) views. Do you know better than everyone else out here?

Comment 37, made on November 01, 2009 at 5.14 pm

bermudavillan said:

... ummmm yes I'm aware that this site is nothing to do with the club. In fact that was exactly my point, I'm glad your opinions and point of view can have no impact at the club at all - because i fear we would be in trouble if they could. Maybe you can elaborate a little bit - what exactly are the limitations of a MON led villa?? He doesn't make the right decisions 100% of the time? We don't play excellent football 100% of the time? I guess what i'm trying to say that it surprises me that you are so surprised / upset that MON doesn't always do the right thing, that we don't always play excellent football. The man isn't perfect, he can't do everything right at all times - but then again what manager is?? United, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Pool, City have all dropped points this season, on a regular basis due to lacklustre performances. I'm surprised that you don't understand some of the innate characteristics of football - you will have times where you don't play well, where the managers decisions don't work out. I guess thats the difference between us, I understand this concept, and can yet simultaneously take this fact in consideration while still noting that we are undoubtedly headed in the right direction. Crazy huh??? Maybe you should try it. You seem so taken aback and offended that MON doesn't do everything right 100% of the time. Thats hilarious to me, cause it tells me where your mind is at. Can I ask how old you are?? Because unless you are about 14, I would expect a more rounded sense of perspective from you. Who would you have in his place?? I know MON isn't perfect, but could any club ask for more?? Are you asking for more than MON for this club?? I myself am overjoyed and appreciative that we have a man of his obvious talents at the helm, especially when I look at the alternatives. Anyone who isn't, i reckon they need their head looked at. Yet there are a whole bunch of you who are seemingly more than happy to throw it all away, who think that is actually the right direction. Blows my mind. Anyway as I say, you are entitled to your opinion, and I to mine. I'm just glad that yours don't hold any power. Now we have to worry about birmingham city as well??? Are you having a laugh?? If you think MON is sitting in his office quivering at the thought of Birmingham drawing City, then you've got the wrong man mate!

Comment 38, made on November 01, 2009 at 5.34 pm

Damian said:

... r0bb0 i think o´neill needs more money to get a proper chance and if it isn´t provided by lerner for whatever reason then we need to go find ourselves a new manager who can work within restraints adn hopefully develop the footballing side of things at the same time. because all o´neill does is spend money and hope it gets better whereas we might very well one day need a manager who can push the football on also if however lerner is going to find the funds and allow o´neill to spend it, i´m all for o´neill getting a chance. lots of ifs there ... also - where is the personal attack by me? honest to god show me a personal attack, please. you cant say these things, again and again, when it hasn´t happened and just because you say it expect it to turn out to be true or pass something of as true if you are referring to my jab at bermudavilla - it is because he came on here calling people fickle and questioning football knowledge so i through back at him what two of the best paid football pundits in the land say about us who also used to be professional footballers to sort of demonstrate that it isn´t just fans having a swipe at o´neill now - it is poeple that he can not call into question over their footballing knowledge - it was a jab, not a personal attack - i really would have though better of you than stooping to that to try to score points bermudavillan i got to you wanting me to elaborate, so i will. look at his leicester days. look at his celtic days. look at why he didn´t get he england job and look at why he isn´t with a top 4. i dont need to elaborate, just look at the football from the weekend and look at the football from his first game. they are the same. i dont need to elaborate as for my comment about ´worrying about blues´ it was a sly dig at all those that said drawing with man city was a good result considering the money they had spent and that it showed how we have developed as a club .. please but you are right, o´neill isn´t perfect and it isn´t for me to say who i would have in his place, but go on then .. i´d have any manager currently ahead of us in the league apart from mark hughes and i´d also have roy hodgson over him. now you are going to say they wouldn´t come to us ... and i´m going to say how do you know and then you´re going to say your daddy is bigger than mine and then i´m going to say no he isn´t then you´re going to say that i know nothing about football and you are going to think yo have won and i´ll let you think that, because, you need to think that because it appears, based on what you´ve said, that power of opinion is important to you ... so i´ll give you the power

Comment 39, made on November 01, 2009 at 5.58 pm

stevo said:

... oh damien it appears you are getting on the nerves i've quite a few people on here so it is'nt just me phew ! i think our football has improved i like our particular style of football too, we will never play like chelsea as much as id love us to and if you look at the so called top 8 teams i would argue that top players are far more attracted to the likes of man city spurs and everton probably cos they also pay higher wages aswell so what martin is achieving at villa is not to be sniffed at by likes of yourself as i've said before martin is the best manager for villa there is no one else out there who could a better job in the current situation i hope your posts are more positive in the future because they are becoming tedious and tiresome yours in sport stevo !

Comment 40, made on November 01, 2009 at 6.15 pm

stevo said:

... damien did you ever play football yourself ?

Comment 41, made on November 01, 2009 at 6.20 pm

stevo said:

... i would'nt have hodgson and don't think fergie rafa carlo or wenger would come either so i'm very happy with oneil cheers

Comment 42, made on November 01, 2009 at 6.33 pm

Edward Riordan said:

... I think its a good point gained yesterday as Everton won't loose many at home this year but I'm alittle concerned with our away form. We have to start winning a few more away with a perfect chance on Wednesday. We HAVE to get the 3 points to keep us in the mix! Cheer up Damo! UTV

Comment 43, made on November 01, 2009 at 6.55 pm

Damian said:

... ed i´m happy, just hard to see light in this tunnel steve hodgson is very highly regarded in the global game for his coaching and management skills . . . maybe too old now but still only 5 years older than o´neill

Comment 44, made on November 01, 2009 at 7.22 pm

david said:

... Damian, Bermudavillan went too far with his comments but I don't think I was "stooping to score points" by suggesting your attack on him was personal. Mind you, I must admit I can't define where a "jab" becomes a "personal attack". I do still reckon you had a go at him though which is unusual for you. The main point is whether each of us feels that Villa are still making progress and whether MoN is the right man for the job. You ran a poll not that long ago where a minority wanted a change of manager. My guess is that the percentage wanting a change of manager would still be well in the minority today. I wish I could resist coming back at you when your naked negativism towards MoN and Lerner come to the fore but I can't help myself because I think that sort of attitude can be corrosive to the morale of fans and ultimately can be damaging to the club. There are times when it's fair enough for fans to be critical of a chairman or manager (I reckon its fine for Newcastle fans to have a go at Mike Ashley for example)but I just don't think Lerner or MoN deserve that at this stage of their attempted renaissance of Aston Villa. Your poll suggests that the majority of Villa fans would agree with me. At the time of your poll you said that you'd back off your criticism for a few months but you just don't seem able to and I don't think I'll be the only Villa supporter on here who wishes you would.

Comment 45, made on November 01, 2009 at 7.23 pm

david said:

... Damian, I agree that Hdgeson has done a remarkable job at Fulham but that doesn't mean that they always play great football. Last season they had a very tight defence and that brought them greater success than most had predicted. I've not seen that much of them this year but the one time I've seen them live (at Villa park) I was glad I was supporting the claret and blue both for the quality of play and the result.

Comment 46, made on November 01, 2009 at 7.36 pm

Damian said:

... r0bb0 it is unusual for me to makle a response but i was defending the people on the site. you included. as he was making out most were fickle and didn´t know what they were talking about. yes, we have a few, but for the most part, the regular visitors/contributors to the site have a fairly balanced and clear view about football and i find it hard to disagree with most hodgson will come good this season much like he did last season - but he is somewhat limited by the type of player he has .. imagine what he could do with the money o´neill has had .. i´m not aying lets get hodgson, but it was just a quick example that i´d have 7 managers over o´neill. imagine how man more i could add if i started looking maybe my attitude is corrosive, but if you go visit the other sites - all the main ones, villa talk, h&v, vital villa ... they all have the exact same as me .. and the numbers are increasing all the time. finishing below 6th this season will tip the scales in my opinion for a lot of people, finishing 6th will just about be acceptable and for some, me included, it has to be 5th now ... it really is also worth noting that i have a few buddies that go week in week out to villa park that don´t ever come on here ... but their comments are either going the way of the dark side or some are really very close to it but they just won´t admit it yet, but the way they talk it is almost as if they have had enough i want it to be different .. i want us to be really challenging and i want us to fighting for and i cant believe this a ´top four´ place - just so then we can go and buy the players that want champions league football only just so we can stay in the champions league and then maybe we challenge for the league in a season or two more ... i want all that. i just cant see it with o´neill. can you, hand on heart say you see it happening with o´neill ... ever?

Comment 47, made on November 01, 2009 at 7.59 pm

Steve Oldaker said:

... i just hope when fegie or rafa go they don't come calling for martin thats how highly he is rated

Comment 48, made on November 01, 2009 at 8.10 pm

Steve Oldaker said:

... damien, prior to oneil and lerner coming in the thought of champions league was a pipe dream now already we are talked about last year and this year as potential gate crashers for the top 4 maybe we have over acheived under oneil but you can't just expect this to happen over night our ship is being run on a different level to the top 4 and man city spurs (i think we are on a par to everton) i really cannot and will not understand what you want from lerner and oneil oh and billionaire owners dont grow on trees

Comment 49, made on November 01, 2009 at 8.29 pm

david said:

... Damian, yes....I honestly do believe that MoN can succeed. I know I am an optimist by nature but I don't think that necessarily invalidates my opinion. I look back 4 years and remember feeling that a good proportion of our first team were inadequate...I don't feel that now. A year ago I felt that we were short of back up in many positions....I don't feel that now. Many seem to feel we are short of a bit of invention in midfield and up front but I believe that will be fixed too. On our day we can beat anyone and that's with MoN in charge. With a bit more quality our consistency will improve and we'll be well on our way to being where we all want to be....with MoN in charge.

Comment 50, made on November 01, 2009 at 8.40 pm

david said:

... One other thing that frustrates me is the lack of appreciation of just how difficult it is to break into the top 4. Some seem to believe that we either deserve to be in the top 4 as of right, or at least should have made it there by now. Chelsea broke in with huge investment. Man City may do the same, although despite the £200m they've put in so far they didn't look so hot this afternoon. Without mega bucks the best way seems to me to be steady incremental progression and that's what I believe (hope?)is happening at Villa Park. The first team has improved (and continues to improve), the facilities have improved (and there are plans to improve them still further), the squad has improved and the increased investment in youth players will give us further options in the future. What the fans need is a bit more patience. If it takes 2,3 or even 4 more years.....I'm prepared to wait. We made big steps in the first 2 years of this regime but it's bound to get harder as we get closer to the top and that's when the fans really need to keep the faith because it would be so easy to go back to square one again.

Comment 51, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.25 pm

Tim Hodgetts said:

... Damian, do you think that you may have post natal depression? You seem to be struggling to see the bright side of anything at the moment. Looked at even remotely objectively we are doing just fine. Sure we're not playing the greatest football and quite a few of our better players aren't really in nick and yet we right up there. What's not to like? You don't win anything playing pretty football in October squire.

Comment 52, made on November 01, 2009 at 9.55 pm

Faccundo said:

... Damo I know where your anger is coming from but you are misdirecting it at MON, one of the finest managers in the Premiership (and the best in the world that we are currently able to attract). The figure of our scorn, derision and ire should be tightarse Lerner and his propaganda minister "30m pound signing" "European champions" General Goebbel, oh im sorry Krulak, who constantly lie to the fans about our ambition. I mean next article up is somebody experiencing schadenfreud over Liverpool's demise but they've still had a net spend of 4 times more than us over recent years. If tightarse Lerner can bring himself to prise open that notoriously closed wallet of his, he SHOULD BUY MAREK HAMSIK WHO I'VE BEEN SHOUTING ABOUT FOR 11 MONTHS NOW AND JUST SCORED A BRACE TO LEAD THE PARTENOPEI TO AN AWAY VICTORY AGAINST JUVE Damian, Hamsik is the answer to our lack of creativity in midfield Get on the "HAMSIK FOR VILLA" CAMPAIGN NOW!!!!! ----> YES WE BLOODY WELL CAN!!!

Comment 53, made on November 02, 2009 at 3.31 am

John Jordan said:

... WELL!...That was 3-0 to someone,but I haven't worked out WHO at the moment....Nice discussion guys

Comment 54, made on November 02, 2009 at 6.39 am

Jeremiah Wood said:

... Villa fans ARE fickle. I know we haven't cracked the Top 4 yet, but we're competing for it, every year, and we're looking at probably a third straight year qualifying for Europe for our league finish. We also could end up winning the League Cup or FA Cup this year, which might temporarily halt the negativity constantly coming from this and other Villa sites, at least. So I'll look forward to Wednesday's blog, which probably will be about a "boring win" that takes us back into the Top 4 again, with people complaining about how the style of football has not improved and how we can't compete unless we buy big names in January. News flash: It's never going to happen, so you might as well give up on that thought and support the team on their way to 60 or 70 points and hopefully cup glory again, so that next year we'll have more blogs or blog comments about how we didn't sign enough players and that are style of football hasn't improved in MON's time in charge, even if we're once again fighting for a Champions League spot. Even more fascinating is the constant praise for clubs like Spurs who are below us in the table consistently, yet are apparently a better team for some reason that is undefinable. Can't be their league position - we have been better the last two years, and we'll once again be ahead of them with a win Wednesday. We also have six points in two matches with the Big 4 clubs, to their 0. We've scored more goals than them over the last three years and conceded less. They did win the League Cup two years ago, but they did it with a larger expenditure than we did that year, and were, what, in last place after 10 games that year? The grass is always greener, right?

Comment 55, made on November 02, 2009 at 7.41 am

davidc said:

... Wouldn't worry about Spurs finishing above us. The only thing they're good at is talking themselves up. And I have serious doubts about Man City finishing above us either - what's that now....4 games without a win is it? Hughes will not last to January, and the disruption will eliminate any chance they have of doing anything noteworthy this season. I tell you - in my opinion, its too close to call between us, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal as to who will finish 4th this season. You can discount the rest. You just gotta believe.

Comment 56, made on November 02, 2009 at 7.50 am

Chris Harper said:

... Excellently put Jeremiah! Damian, I thought you weren't bothered about the standard of football as long as we are getting results? That is what you said a couple of months ago. People are growing increasingly negative and this is a result of a rise in expectation. Don't forget there are another 19 teams in the league trying to achieve bigger and better things, and we are always up there come the end of the season....something we never achieved under the last regime (consistency). Its getting quite boring now. Lets be patient and see what happens. Lets have our moan near the end of the season.....if we've failed miserably. Bring on Wednesday and bring on top 4! Over and out.

Comment 57, made on November 02, 2009 at 8.13 am

Derek Gordon said:

... Sorry lads, but I'm picking up what Damo's putting down. If we've come along we should easily whip up on West Ham Wednesday night but I really think we're going to take a draw at best out of that match. It's beginning to piss me off. We should have picked up six in the past two and not even have had to worry about the game in hand. Spurs, Man City and Liverpool have been doing everytihng but beg Villa to leapfrog them in the table and we can't put the same heart into Wolves or Everton that we did v Chelsea. I pray with all of my heart that Villa can go to Upton park, beat a team that is relegation placed and tell me and my lack of faith to go suck it. But I shouldn't have to pray for this. It should be a given. Sorry to jump on the doom and gloom wagon, but until our form changes v the crap clubs I have no choice.

Comment 58, made on November 02, 2009 at 3.29 pm

tubbydunne said:

... Some people on here are calling for Freidel to be dropped. Why? What has he done wrong? The back up keeper had a good game in the Carling Cup, great but it doesn't mean we drop the current no.1. Just be glad he is being given serious competition and stop making ridiculous, childish calls for him to be replaced. Ceullar played at right full when Dunne and Collins nailed down the center half spots. He has acquitted himself very well there and defensively has been super solid. Yet week after week on here people are calling for him to be dropped. Now he will miss game time trough suspension and the messiah that most have been calling for will get his chance. I have nothing against L.Young and its great to have him as cover but like most things on here people have gone way over the top on his supposed attacking ability. Then on the other side of the coin you have Emile Heskey who had been playing poorly and rightly lost his place. Again people on here went way over the top and totally ripped Heskey to shreds and wanted him out. Ya because Villa are so blessed with attacking talent we can do without an international striker. The same logic applies with most people on here when it comes to Steve Sidwell and Reocoker. Sidwell is limited and that's no secret but the criticism is way too much. Reo because he is not playing suddenly becomes a midfield maestro in the eyes of these same people here. We aren't playing attractive football at the moment but by God are we hard to beat. We are blessed to have a manager of the ability of Martin O'Neill. But you have the same people on here using their childish logic calling for him to be replaced. GROW UP.

Comment 59, made on November 02, 2009 at 5.33 pm

Steve Oldaker said:

... very well put tubbydunne could'nt have worded better myself

Comment 60, made on November 02, 2009 at 5.52 pm

Martin Clabon said:

... Damo, "this site isn´t anything to do with the club and we don´t spout club message or propaganda" no shit? The Blues web site is more likely to spout the Villa message than this site

Comment 61, made on November 02, 2009 at 10.14 pm

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