Written by Doc Bowles Saturday, 11 July 2009 07:42
I want to take you back. It's February or March 2006, and Villa are at home to Portsmouth. It's grey and it's cold - very, very cold. I think we're lying around 15th in the Premiership table after a shocking run of form, characterised by dull, uninspired football and a manager who has nothing to say apart from criticism of his chairman.
We pull into the car park, but if we're honest none of us really wants to get out of the car. Alan Green is commentating entertainingly on a big four game, and we know it's worlds away. And the car is warm.
Still, braving it, we go through our normal pre-match "fun" game of guessing the score. My wife thinks Portsmouth will nick it one-nil with a penalty. I, ever the optimist, go for a two-nil win for Villa, with Baros getting both goals. My two boys, six and four years old, both go for nil-nil. Anybody who has young boys will know what that means.
Despite the meagre crowd, there are no Chicken Balti pies left, as I am raspingly told by the spotty, rude teenager behind the counter. Just pasties. And they're as lukewarm as the beer.
We take our seats. And we're cold. Very cold. And it looks as if Milan Baros is cold as well, or just dumb. He seems to alternate his time between falling over and getting caught offside. In fact, the liveliest thing on the pitch is the linesman's flag.
Portsmouth have come for a draw. And my young kids are right - they're going to get one. We know that because David O'Leary is standing on the touchline in a long trenchcoat. We can't quite tell if it's dark grey, dark blue or black. But it looks like he's attending a funeral, and in a way he is. His face is ashen - somewhere between pale and palid...that colour that only the desperately clueless can really achieve. He has no spark on the field, no spark on the bench and no spark in the dressing room. And he knows it.
Half an hour into the second half, and just after Baros's 14th offside flag, we decide that in the interests of our children we should leave. We've never done that before, so maybe it was our little protest. The youngsters thaw in the car, but we don't bother with Five Live: we know there's no point.
Fast forward
It's September 2007. The light is failing as we arrive for the evening game against Chelsea.
We leap out of the car, and we all predict a Villa win. The boys are ridiculously going for three and four-nil respectively, but my wife and I agree on a tight two-one victory.
Villa Park is rammed full and the Holte End smells blood. When the players run out, we know - instinctively - that they are going to respond. The atmosphere is tense. Though Freddie Bouma exchanges pleasantries with ex-PSV teammate Alex, we know that this is going to be a humdinger.
Martin O'Neill is a livewire on the touchline. God help his water bottle, which is repeatedly thrown to the floor in frustration, passion, anger.
Villa are stretching Chelsea to the limit. It seems they can scarcely cope with the pace of Gabby and Ashley, and Carew is annoying John Terry. Not only is he out-muscling the England captain in the air, but he's straying down the channels and putting himself about there as well.
We all knew it was coming, but years of frustration were vented in a massive explosion of Villa joy when new signing and lifelong Villa fan Zat Knight headed in Ashley Young's cross for one-nil. It was nothing more than Villa deserved, but I mark that moment down as a landmark in Villa's resurrection.
Of course, Chelsea then threw the kitchen sink at us. I still wonder what an O'Leary side would have done. But Laursen and Bouma were both inspired in defence, O'Neill went to fever pitch on the touchline and Villa held out.
Well, a bit more than that. Gabby's late goal not only settled our nerves but set Villa Park on fire. We were back. Villa were back. Yes!!! We've beaten Chelsea.
Back at the car, the kids didn't want to go to sleep. They wanted to listen to all the comments and all the interviews over and over again. Can Villa sustain it? Can Martin O'Neill turn Villa into a top six side?
It was intoxicating
Well, two years on, we are a top six side and we've improved every season under O'Neill. Spurs and Everton have been working for years and years to break the Big 4, but MON is already challenging after just a few seasons.
Within our ranks we have some of the best young players in the league, and more are coming. Our reserves and youth teams are top notch, and our Academy and training ground second to none.
Villa players are getting into the England reckoning over and over again.
So is it all that bad, really? And if you get a bit fed up over the lack of a few July signings, then just remember the sight of David O'Dreary in his funeral coat. That should cheer you up.
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Halfwit
said:
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... Im not doubting martin as a manager and how he can get a team to play im doubting him in the market and because he is to proud to accept help its clearly needed Because we have had the smallest squad in the premership for years Do you people really want the same as last season ? Yes we finnished well but if we had those extra few players we would have finnished above arsenal im sure of it.I dont want another burn out towards the end of the season do you ? |
faangler
said:
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... Yes, this is the stuff. Onwards & upwards. And this season, just when we're starting to run out of steam, our new man Downing will leap from the treatment table and carry us into the top four. Yeeeehaaaaa |
Chris Parry
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... Very nice Doc, but you could use the same idea and go back to times when we were winning league titles, European cups, domestic cups etc etc, not just the same old O'leary example. |
Daza
said:
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... You remember because you were there and suffered the pain! Forrest - simond cup Grimsby - league cup Sheffield - to many times we have improved more over last 3 years than at anytime I can remember - at the same time the English league is getting stronger / this team would be one of top 2 teams 10 years ago. Keep the faith - it is coming!!!! |
FatKevs
said:
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... Getting Desperate for a thread That is just writing for the fairys How about chosing a game we won under odreary or most of the shit games at home last season. I think Mon thinks we are an a break from last xmas to this one How can signing downing now makes any sence. Well at least in the next window he can claim we have a new player. |
Shashwat
said:
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... Nice stuff I think. Hope we reach top six or above this season. Is Bently a sure deal and are the two middleborouh lads arriving at villa park. I'm getting excited. What about fantasy premierleague guys anyone playing it? |
vijay
said:
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... Doc mate, so are we just supposed to be satisfied cos things things are alot better than when DOL was here?? im not saying anything but if another manager can improve us then so be it! then we'll be saying how good it is now compared to when we had MON , its known as progress.... |
FatKevs
said:
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... How can we look forward with excitement, training has commenced ^ once more we are not ready do i need to remind you we have lost GB & ML. Our Centre Halfs look shell shocked & cannot head the ball our goalie has no interest just dreaming of coaching in America. Our stike force contains a goal shy Heskey & Gabby with shit loads of pace but cannot go past his man & has no reations in the 6 yard box. We then have to good players in Ash & Jon but they are being courted by other clubs, I would not put my season ticket on them staying. We are short on funds our manager has no vision £6m on a 3rd division player is not a risk but madness our kids would look great in the 3rd division May laugh at the stys signings but at least they are shopping within there budget & planning for the new season our manager hopes to do something We cannot just trade on history we can only win things tommorrow & we need to build for that not rely on luck Yes pick up players on the up for a sensible fee not shit at the end of there career on there way down. Why do we always pay over the odds for our players, we need to have good PR not this lying yank shit |
Mark Johnson
said:
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... good post Doc, I beleive in MoN, I trust in MoN, yea he's a bit dodgy in the transfer window, name me a manager who hasn't dropped a bollock in the transfer market, even Sir Alex has done it!! It appalls me that this website is full of people who love the Villa, but, are very quick to jump on Martin's back when things aren't done as they want it done!!! He aint done a bad job so far, where would we be if he and Randy hadn't come in?? MoN will get who HE thinks are the right players, for both the team and the squad. Leave him alone you doubters, at least until the end of August!! IN MoN WE TRUST UTV & SOTC |
Mark Johnson
said:
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... oh dear Fatkev, you are a grumpy bum today, STOP moaning and trust our manager, chairman and our team!! |
ruffy
said:
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... lol. Another great post. OK I'll stop moaning about how impossible a task it is to get in 6 quality players in time. There are still spotty, rude teenagers behind the counter though are there not? (Aren't there everywhere nowadays?) |
Tjeiken
said:
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... The post gave me the chills doc, saw both games on television. I'm norwegian so thats why i weren't at the game. I was like your kids, listening to it over and over again. As for the fact that O'neill don't buy players yet I have no worries, it has happened everytime, and he is always slow in the market. Signings will come, good ones! |
Nick
said:
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... That ashley to gabby goal to finish chelsea off was unforgettable. There was just something about it.. magical set up and finish. And then the crowd and players celebrating, thats what its all about~ |
confusedvillafan
said:
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... fatarse you really need to f*ck off and you vijay pair of spoilt little kids,are you only children who are used to getting what you want.villa dont need fans like you your a disgrace |
Paul E
said:
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... My god all the people behind their keyboards who want MoN out are getting annoying. He always takes his time in the transfer window because he does things properly. Signing a player, for MoN, isn't about watching someone and thinking, oh, they'd be good here's £xm. The reason we are good but apparently MoN can't buy players is that he buys player for their attitude as much as their ability. The reason we went on a great run until feb last year was that all the players had bought into his tewam philosophy and were playing exactly as MoN wanted. You all like to say how he needs to add quality and list off names, but the reality is he needs to add players with the technical skills and with the right desire to play for him. This means he spends a lot more time than a fat 'arry when picking his players. Yes it's frustrating but what it means is that everyone who joins is going to fit in the dressing room. Whatever else you can level at MoN he isn't stupid, he knows that he needs to add at least 6 players to the squad to be able to compete in europe next year, just because they aren't here yet doesn't mean we should panic. Given the stories doing the rounds we could easily add Tuncay, Downing and Delph, would you all be able to take a breath then? |
robbo
said:
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... Thanks for that Doc, In these dark wet days of summer it reminded me what supporting my team is all about! There's no doubt that we are in a better place than we were in 2006. Last year we managed to maintain 6th place (with a tiny improvement in points)but the extra demands of European football stretched the capacity of the squad to the limit and we ran out of steam. It is exceptionally difficult to compete in both the league and Europe (as Benitez has shown)and it takes a long time to build a squad that can do both. Everton fans seem to appreciate this and continue to give Moyes the support he deserves even though he's actually won bugger all.....the last success for Everton was winning the FA Youth cup in 1998! There's nothing wrong with questioning individual decisions but I do wish that some Villa fans would see the bigger picture and show some of the same patience that Everton fans seem to. |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... hi damian i have been comment now for over a couple of months, and last week joined this wonderful blog has Leicestershire AVFC, i am still waiting for a activation e-mail, has it won't let me join up, could you please send me another email so i can activation my name, thanks mate guess what guys only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july, I've been saying this since the begin of july |
Altan Kargaci
said:
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... I not sure I buy in to this thread Doc , sounds a bit PR to me. At the same time I can see where your coming from to an extent. Yes we are miles better off now than we were back in the gloomy O'leary years but I seriously think that we could be so much better than we are right now if the right players had been brought in at the right times. MON has no eye for a bargain in the transfer market , Players he could and should have brought in when they first became available include Glenn Johnson, Breede Hangerland , Luke Young a year earlyer than he did + £4m cheaper, even Aran Lennon was available for peanuts last summer. Also on the field some of his tacticall decisions have been laughable, bewildering and frustrating all at the same time. He is obviously to stuborn to change anything when it's going wrong for fear of looking a fool. Now don't get me wrong I don't want him sacked or anything but he just frustrates the hell out of me. MON please go out and buy ....Hangerland,Tuncay,Downing,bently, Delph and Naughton . UTV |
robbo
said:
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... oh...and Fat Kev...I wouldn't criticise anyone about their spelling if I were you...glasshouses and stones and all that! |
Anthony Laud
said:
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... no one questions oneils mana managemtn ability DOC - but that doesnt mean we should accept his transfer dealings. he is terrible and the happy clappers who look over this have rose tinted glasses on! you could also mention that oleary actually got us closer than oneil has to champions league. everyone harps on about how close we pushed the top 4 and we havent done that in years when in fact under oleary we went into our last 2 games with a great chance odf coming 4th. Far closer than under Martin Osnail! |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... i know john carew is bigger than me and you, since moscow has scored a few goals, when i when i get time to ground from leicestershire, i have notice how lazy he can be sometimes, his seems his heart isn't in the game, if was mon who was a of darren bent, i would go to spurs and offer carew with a st8 swap bent and bentley plus 10 million off our cash, wouldn't that be a good deal, i really do think we have the best midfield in the TOP THREE at the moment, with two european defenders i believe we can break in the top four, If MARTIN play heskey in midfield because iv been saying this for years heskey isnt a striker, but a world class midfield and was a bargain for 3.5 million only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july,  |
Mark Johnson
said:
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... at last people who actually believe in MoN, trust him and don't bloody get on his back!!! we might even get into the top TOO TO TWOOO, THOO |
FatKevs
said:
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... Robbo It was me who put to not two you muppet. if you want to criticize at least look at it 1st |
Patrick McDermott
said:
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... Doc - Great Post! After coming on and checking the site for weeks and getting increasing frustrated about the lack of activity / news from VP - I'm rallied to respond! Your right to remind us of the Dark days under OL, but having had good times with MoN over the last few years - This is a defining season for him - Can he take us where we all want to be - Can he retain the Dressing room for the full season - (I personally think he lost part of it – if not all - after the Moscow white flag trip). Can he deliver silverware - don't remind me of the team selections with Leicester & QPR League Cup games - Let alone the errors made in the UEFA cup last year (MSK Zilina home game !) There no doubt he is a motivator/man manager but why o why does he wait so long to have any activity in transfer windows. The players have reported back last week (effectively the season has started) yet we have not replaced our 2 best players, with no apparent activity or moves to strengthen the squad. We start playing ‘competitive games’ in 2 weeks time (Malaga – Peace Cup) with less numbers than last season. Based on that I don’t think anyone can just say AV supporters are just moaning – there are major concerns that we could go backwards - with little output from the club to indicate otherwise. Where has the 'bright future' gone to? It's seems to have hit a power cut and we are struggling to find the fuse! However, we live in hope…UTV! |
xandehx
said:
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... Good article, Doc, i'm sure the intention wasn't as some people half mentioned to try and make MON out to be a god, but as a little reminder about how things are on the up, also it's a good direction to take away from the all the recent transfer stories. (or lack there of.) I'm guessing all the criticism of Delph is coming from people who have never seen him play. Sure some of our kids might look a big deal in League 2, but Delph hasnt just looked a big deal in League Two, he's looked like the biggest deal, and the same applies for his games played for England. I agree entirely that ideally we need someone to come in right away and do GB's job, but without spending big money on someone who's unproven in this country is a bigger gamble than paying a little bit more than needed to land a future star. Just like when we signed Ashley. The fact is, MON is getting a hell of a lot of stick for not knowing enough about european players, but the fact is he DOES know an awful lot about players from Great Britain, much more than any person on here, so he's willing to pay good money for a young potentially awesome player, then you have to think that he has good reason to do that. Is Moyes a poor manager then too? Because they're after him? The moral of this is simple. Life isn't Football Manager, as much as some of you wish it to be. |
villa biker
said:
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... ssn just on villa givin go ahead to approach boro for tuncay and downing plus we offer delfounso on season long loan to try and get delph |
robbo
said:
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... Apologies Fat Kev...my mistake....I assumed you were having a go at someone else because your postings are so littered with misspellings that it hadn't occurred to me that you might have picked up on one of your own. |
FatKevs
said:
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... Its not the fact Delph is 3rd div may be good enough it is how MoN will squander what little money we have. £6m is still a lot of money, we could get a proven foreigner for that his obsession with over priced English league players on our limited budget will not save our sinking ship or for the dreamers help us improve on last season. We are not closer today at having a squad for the league & cups. He has talked about small squad & & cannot see us having an average size squad this season You must be able to field a team just to compete |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... i remember last january when ian wright on talk sport bigging the villa, saying how we are bigger than chelsea, guest what we only had barry and laursen then, they weren't world class players, downing is a barry type of player and i really believe he can become better than barry, there are better players out better than laursen, who can replace him, we are villa and we will get our top four place only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july, |
FatKevs
said:
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... Apology accepted with chrome i now have a spell checker just grammar from now on Perhaps it will make you open your eyes a bit |
TrueVillan
said:
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... nice peice! but it is only comparing him to o'leary,who was awful, trouble is, some of us also remember ron saunders & winning a title, barton and winning a european cup, atkinson and a league cup, even taylor and premiership runners up! we have done well, but at the same time have never looked capable of winning anything, i believe, unfortunately, that is down to the buy english policy, the national team mirrors villa efforts in a lot of way, can look good, promise a lot but will always fail to deliver when it comes to the crunch. we do not even have the best of english, mostly 2nd and 3rd tier and simply they will not win anything. MON achilles heel is his failure to invest in foreign talent, this would open up a far bigger transfer pool and get far more for our money, a good example being our pursuit of delph, 3rd division,or the same money jurado is available and has top spanish liga experience, not sure how they aboth worth the same money! until he broadens his spectrum we will always be a 'nearly team' rather like our national team! |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... When Villa won it albeit named the European Cup in those days, it was a) a knock out competition b) for Champions only. How can 4th in the Premier League seriously be in contention in a Champions league when in effect all they are is 3rd loser? If the FA Cup and League Cup winners, along with UEFA Cup winners were entered into it, then fine, you would have champions, you would resurrect interest and respect in the Cups and you could argue the Champions League is set up for Champions, not just for £££££'s, if we put a wage cap on wages or 6 plus 5 rule, we could win the premiership or become top 4 team |
FatKevs
said:
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... there are better players out better than laursen, who can replace him, we are villa and we will get our top four place And Randy will give every one a bag of sweets as we enter the ground After Beating spurs 6-0 Harry will take the mike & say he deserved to have 50p thrown at him & how he loves Villa Fans When we win the FA & Euro cup this year Mon will bring it around to every season ticket holders house so we can have our photo taken with it |
robbo
said:
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... FatKevs. Don't assume that people who don't agree with you have their eyes closed.....they may just have seen more than you have. I am not totally unquestioning of MoN. My biggest concern is his use (or non use) of substitutes, even though I think I can see where he's coming from. He is confident that he knows what his best team is on any one day and is reluctant to compromise it by changing it during a game. I would hope that at the end of this year's transfer window (and let's not judge him until it closes) he will have players that he is confident to bring on during a game. For example, I would like to see Gabby start on the bench sometimes and then come on as a high impact player in the last 20 minutes in some games. This way I believe he will be able to make a bigger contribution in more games and is less likely to appear a little jaded at the end of the season. |
colm tarpey
said:
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... Good Post Doc, A timely reminder of the progression made on and off the pitch. Also a reminder that it takes time to build a successful club....it took us 90 odd years to win our first European Cup! IT took SAF a good number of years to create his first title winning team...who did he get rid of in those times? McGrath, Whiteside, Robson etc....who has gone when they have been sucessful? Beckham,Stam,Keane,Schmeichel etc Players went when they did'nt want to player for them anymore. Just like Barry left us...and it's difficult to find players who have the right temperment, and who want to play for us and who would'nt upset the dressing room....I would wager that Robinho isn't the life of Man citehs party, highest paid who does the least runnin... Can't believe the stuff thats been posted on here. Where would we be if MON and Lerner had'nt come in? Dread to think...would we be like Newcastle? sunk by highly paid player who did'nt give a toss...or like Spurs? Rovolving door for managers because they have no patience, or Sunderland, bobbing up and down betweem the PL and championside desite mountains of investment... |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... randy did give flags and scarfs, mon did take fans out to dinner, what kind of manager or chairman do that, how many chairmans have a tattoo on his leg, randy was a fan in the 80s and guest what hes still a fan, he wont sell this club for 100s of millions when he loves this club so much |
FatKevs
said:
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... Robbo, i just do not think Gabby has it in his locker Yes he has scored goals but its not about confidence like most failed strikers. As for waiting for the end of the window, that means we cannot field our best team till part way through the season. It is not as if we are just adding to the squad we have to replace key players. We should of topped up in the last window bur i guess we had no money. |
jinksy
said:
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... FAT KEV IS RIGHT.....Wake up lemmings Wake Up.... Where is the Barry Replacement? The Laursen replacement? These kids & Boro players are not going to make our team any batter. MON says he HOPES to make signings....He hasn't got a clue, the bloke is living in the 80's. As for Learner he'll walk away shake Doug by the hand & make a fortune. & you Lemmings with your Villa tinted spec's on can't passed you're nose. |
FatKevs
said:
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... You forgot the coach trip, ive had all the gimmicks from the plastic yank (Except the dinner) i will cherish the shirt from OLOF Mellberg he was in touch with the fans But the Yank is just taking the piss. I was at the annual dinner Randy was no where to be seen again this yesr thats how much he cares |
upthevilla
said:
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... As long as Webcam stays and we get another 5/6 players we will be ok. Someone previous mention the league cup against Grimsby. A Tuesday night, and very poor. Only one who played well was Stauton. We have come on well, however, is this as far as MoN can take us?????????? |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... jinksy. fat kev. if you want a winning team why dont you go and follow man u for a bit, when we are doing very well you are welcome to jump on the band wagon again. you two seem the type of fans we don't want, if we done a newcastle, you would be a leeds fan, i don't follow football anymore. i live north leicestershire and guess what i bet money iv been to more games this season than both of you only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july,  |
Adey Stuttard
said:
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... FatKevs, I don't buy into all this needing the team to gel, etc. If we were to but Hangeland and say Bentley, both are Premiership players and are used to the pace of the game. One would partner Davies or Cuellar (who to be fair are still getting used to each other) and the other would fit into a midfield that is already fairly steady having played the majority of last season together. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not saying that those are the only 2 we need, but the likes of Delph, Naughton etc will be squad players, improving our already fragile bench. |
FatKevs
said:
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... Lets Not Forget the 5yr plan loosing GB down to one reason False Promises & lack of ambition. Yes it will look like he has gone for the money but he was always going to leave he made that clear last summer. He clearly had feelings for the club if he had not been lied too by the yank a great servant to the club in modern times would not have had to leave under a cloud. |
Phil
said:
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... I was at that chelsea game, that was a cold night also, i was with a friend of mine who was a chelsea fan an he said that was the first time any team had chelsea running scared for a while. Has anyone thought that O'Neill may be buying up the English youngsters because the new UEFA ruling comes into action within the next two years. Also not many continental players will want to come England due to the high tax on their wages, the one's that do come over will want ludicrous wages. Just a thought that O'Neill maybe looking to the future that why Downing may be a sensible purchase, because over the next few seasons the prices on English players is going to rocket |
TrueVillan
said:
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... on the topic 'the signings will come' there appears to be truth in downing, tuncay and delph, would any of them be on the field come kick off? 24mil for some subs! thats a nice bit of business! lets find a hangeland when he costs 2.5 mil not 9mil! its great waiting to see if they are successful first.if we have mega millions, but we dont, most of the players linked appear to be nothing more than subs. god forbid we buy someone who would be first choice over gabby, heskey, petrov etc the MON blue eyed boys! |
FatKevs
said:
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... "don't buy into all this needing the team to gel" " (who to be fair are still getting used to each other) " Enough said except IF IF IF HOPE HOPE |
Trezzy
said:
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... why is everyone bickering over MON? when he says he hopes to bring players in its because he doesnt want to sound stupid when he cant? I for 1 am now getting slightly worried by his lack of action, i believe we should of signed delph and naughton by now, but wouldnt think 18mil for tuncan,downing would be money well spent. also the spurs are yet to move in the market. look on the bright side, we all no we need 5-8 players,theres only 5 weeks till the big ko so that averages over 1 players in every week? In martin I trust,he has told us we need a big influx of players so its up to him, all the O'neil lovers on here,myself included will surely question him if he doesntr make this happen surely? cuz im positive the spurs,city,everton will all be with us next season |
Adey Stuttard
said:
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...i live north leicestershire and guess what i bet money iv been to more games this season than both of you Where do you live Leic3stershire AVFC? I am on the Leics, Lincs, Rutland border and go every home game too. |
testie
said:
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... Some people come on here just to moan. I suppose i see the points being made we have not replaced G.arry and Laursen, MON is slow, we are standing still and so on. I say f**k you all, i don't mind being a so called lemming or sheep, we pushed for forth last season, finished sixth, things could have been much worse as Doc reminds us in his post. Yeah MON could have signed some players by now, but he hasn't and i don't give a f**k. I think under MON the clubs has the scope to improve and progress. Those of you who constantly bitch and moan need to chill the f**k out, your opinions make some of you sound like spoiled manu fans. |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... beds villa for life. great post mate, this uefa rule is great for teams like us but not for arsenal or chelsea, liverpool, five year plan we are only done 3 years so far only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july, |
confusedvillafan
said:
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... stop talking shit fatty, barry went for money nothing else even benitez could see that |
FatKevs
said:
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... I would of been happy to Keep Routledge Cahill & Ridgewell. I have come home happy from games where we have lost but give it a go. No I am no glory hunter I just long for the sport i love. Not the blatant lies from the Yank re 5yr plan & investment not competing in games for a CL spot we could never compete in. Lets promote our own youth & pick players from around the globe. I like james honest player not great but why pay so much when it means we could not field a team for all competitions |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
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... 1874avfc i moved to syston near melton mowbery, 6 years ago from brum, i have had a season ticket for 4 years now, this season i can't buy one until mid september due to my car beening made, has soon has i get my keys i will renew my season ticket then |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
|
... i found this on footballlastest.com Who is Fabien Delph, and why are Everton and Aston Villa linked with him?July - 11 - 2009 The Leeds United youngster Fabien Delph has only played one season for Leeds in their unsuccessful promotion bid, but has earned the attention of some of the Premiership’s top clubs. The papers in Liverpool are concvinced that Everton are going to sign him, while the Birmingham press say that Aston Villa are poised to make a £6m bid immediately. So why is he rated so highly? Well for one he is English, which is always a bonus. He was born in Bradford and was signed by Leeds Utd when he was just approaching his 12th birthday, and has spent his whole career there. He was given a two-year scholarship at 16 years-of-age, and was made captain of the reserve team within a year. in 2007 he made his full senior debut and became a regular in the side at the beginning of last season. His performances in his first full season earned him a plethora of awards, notably the Football League Young-Player-of-the-Year. He was also named in the Team-of-the-Season. At Leeds he won nearly everything! Young-Player-of-the-Year, the PLayers Player-of-the-Year, and even the Goal of the Season award. The only bong he lost out on was the Player of the Year award which went to Jermain Beckford. To say he had an impressive first season would be an extreme understatement. He also won his first cap for the England U21’s in November last year. The only blot on his career was the drink-driving ban he received in December. If his career progresses at this rate he will be a brilliant addition to the Premiership, whether he plays for Aston Villa or Everton. only 6 days now until we sign our first player, friday 17th july, ; |
robbo
said:
|
... I really don't see a problem with MoN leaving it late to buy players. Let's face it, our problems have come after Christmas not in the first part of the season. Early season 'gelling' is not the issue, becoming tired and jaded in March is. |
mikey18
said:
 |
... There are doubts over MoN in the transfer market yes, but we don't know the in's and out's. It has come out recently we had a bid turned down for Zaki and one probably turned down for delph, who knows who else we have been in for and go turned away from. Its much easier for you so called fans to blame MoN's inability in the transfer market, rather than the clubs lack of pull be it financially or otherwise. Yes MoN played Luke Young at left back, Milner, Cuellar, Reo-coker and Gardner at RB, Heskey Left Wing last season but he also had Arsenal running scared at the VP and beaten at the Emirates, he was so close to an emphatic victory at Man Utd, Thrashed Man City (who had invested heavily) and he got us within touchin distance of fourth with his "dellusional" Tactics. Lets Judge MoN the best way we know how, results and progression of our club. No one on this blog and question his tactics unless we start loosing games or stop progressing. No one can question is ability in the transfer window until we put out an inadequate team to match our realistic hopes and ambitions. I think the failings is not within MoN as a tactician or in the transfer market but in many of us as fans! |
Adey Stuttard
said:
|
...1874avfc i moved to syston near melton mowberyYeah, I know where you are at, I am further East just the other side of A1 near Colsterworth, go past Queni on the way to games. |
Ian_Villa
said:
 |
... i agree with a lot of comments on here, yes we have come along way under Martin o neil but the 3 years he has been in charge will count for nothing if we dont bring in fresh faces we need to carry on moving forward bringing in the new players as well as holding onto our better players, ash big john. i believe we have the right men in Learner and Mon and will take the club to great heights! Petrov for captain next year?????????? |
Tjeiken
said:
|
... IN Fabian Delph (MF) (Leeds United) (*pending negotiations) Stewart Downing (MF) (Middlesbrough) (*pending negotiations) Tuncay Şanlı (FW) (Middlesbrough) (*pending negotiations) David Bentley (MF) (Tottenham) (*pending negotiations) Steven Defour (MF) (Standard Liege) (*pending negotiations) Giourkas Seitaridis (DF) (free agent) (*pending negotiations) Samir Carruthers (MF) (free agent) (*pending negotiations) Courtney Cameron (FW) (Northampton Town) (confirmed) this is the players we are talking to etc |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Barry Got Money Yes His ambition was to play with the best to tyr & win something. Man City may again win FKall but they will give it a serious go as will Everton & Spurs. We on the other hand are just Talk. We had a great chance last season but chocked at every opportunity. So you believe the Fat Waiter now then All a player wants is the best chance. I am afraid our manager has shown he will not give us our best chance buy sticking with his policy of buying players like Heskey & fielding weakened teams without the recognized positions being filled. I was over the moon with the appointment of MoN but apart from his good fortune he still only gets 6 out of 10 for me. MoN has had the best chance of any of our managers in Decades. Even though i hate the Yank owning our club there was an initial good feeling around the club but we failed to capitalize on it. We are back in that place of a selling club where players do not want to come. Part of this is down to the Chairman being so distant, do i want Ellis no but why the extremes. I no longer think MoN has what it takes to be great he will be good for us but Great no we cannot compete in this money driven game |
simondgm
said:
 |
... i am frustrated but not panicking - still plenty of time and for sure, there will be activity in the background to bring players in (the right players too) - swan-like MON! inactivity in january 2010 window if we are still in with a shot of the top 4 or other silverware is when the criticism should emerge really. I doubt Lerner is holding back - he's openly planning to invest more in the ground and team. confused by the downing link - bit of a risk buying a player with a long term injury isn't it? if he is bought in this window, THAT shows guts and ambition by MON (assuming of course Ashley remains villa player). |
Tom Smith
said:
 |
... Great Post Doc, did you see o'leary's swipe at MON the other week saying that Mon has never finished above him. what a p***k. signings are coming and it looks like its going to be fabian delph, and the tuncay story seems to be getting stronger ! UTV |
robbo
said:
|
... Just another thought about leaving it late to buy players. By completing the Barry signing on June 2nd, we've already saved £300,000 in wages. If we were to sign 4 top class players at the end of the window instead of the start we'd save a further £2,000,000 in wages. That's the equivalent of over 5,000 season tickets. I'm not saying that this is a major consideration but I'd rather that money was in our club rather than someone else's. |
Rich
said:
 |
... B4 I try my luck on a Boro bloog site, can anyone tell me just what we are likely to get with Tuncay and Downing. All I really know of Tuncay is that he is well thought of in the North East and a forward thinking, creative footballer who possibly is best suited playing just off the main striker. He has supposedly a very good work ethic and I believe did have permission (unlike the other two) to return to pre season training late due to International commitments. Downing, obviously is more well kown in the English game and is someone I just don't get! It seems that everyone whose opinions counts (includiing pundits and managers) really rate the guy yet I never really see what he actually achieves. He always seems to be one paced, unable to take on/get past his man and no better than any other of the players on the pitch. I appreciate that Bentley may have an attitude problem and is inconsistent, but on his day he can be an exciting, productive player. To me under John Robertson and MON he would appear the better bet. |
dave
said:
 |
... Great post doc got the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as you fatkev why pay a lot money for a over priced foreigner that counld nt give a toss about the villa |
FatKevs
said:
|
... agree with you rich on Downing, I would not touch him with a barge pole, my Boro mate rates them both highly & thinks i am mad not wanting downing. |
Rich
said:
|
... Tjeiken The list is worrying in one aspect as it contains no centre half. I think we need 2!! |
Rich
said:
|
... FatKevs This is what I'm saying. Everone seems to rate him up in M'Boro and they see him much more than us. |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Robbo after the years of gloom under ellis the place had hope & MoN did have money up till the last window did we need it. But from there on the chairman has been remote & more interested in things away from the football field. He has now lost a lot of money like everyone & has shown no interest in attracting big investment into Villa Park. If you look back to what Graham Taylor & DoL had to deal with it was a different world. But i beleive we are going back to that dark place. Now we fans own nothing & are just guests for the day |
FatKevs
said:
|
... With Downing though at present team intact we do not need that position to be filled. Waste of money for someone that cannot play. Lets pick up a few bargain wingers like manu & hope they come good Replace strengthen the defence & i would go as far as saying the goalie for someone who commands the box. We have to give midfield a chance as we do not have pots of money A Quality striker is a must i hate to rely on Gabby definately not Heskey |
god
said:
 |
... I was at both games too. I nearly past out after our second goal, it was a dream come true. Still, I can guarantee our excuse for finishing in the top 8 this season will be ''small squad'' Just becasue MON shows a bit of passion on the touchline it doesn't hide the fact he has no clue about transfers. Just for the record, I do think MON is a great manager and it would be suicide to get rid of him. UTV |
confusedvillafan
said:
|
... how are we now a selling club then fatarse? barry going for the money makes us a selling club then you dick,everton and spurs will give it a go and we`re just talk ? what the f*ck you on about, who have spurs and everton signed then.you dont know who we`re gonna sign so shut the f**k up with your constant drivel |
taglor
said:
 |
... Damian, please stop doc's posts, I think they are absolute trash, so one sided and uber "I am right" |
Mark
said:
 |
... Fatkev amongst all the bollocks that you spout and the generally dreary moaning that reflects poorly upon you; despite the size of the chip on your shoulder that no doubt matches the size of your belly, there are nuggets of truth to be unearthed that emenate from your years of suffering like all true fans down VP. I think your points would carry a lot more weight if you could just drop the petty "yank" jibes and conspiracy theories. Is Lerner such a bad guy? Really? That you have to villify him? I suggest you read the report that came out yesterday on the Ken Bates libel trial - it might open your eyes a bit. |
Nel-A
said:
 |
... Thank you so much for this little oasis of fresh air and positivity. (Reality!) The middle segment had shivers down my spine as I recalled the goals against Chelsea. It *was* momentous. |
Villa Nick
said:
 |
... It's not just a matter of "look how far we have come." The club have every opportunity to consolidate it's position from last year. Everyone is frustated as it looks like Man city will over take us and a few other might be looking stonger at an early glance. For too long the fans have been looking for a bit of transfer magic to get this once great club, great again. I trust MON will not lets us down!!! Nice Jackanory Doc BTW.  |
Keith
said:
 |
... FatKevs You just got home and found your wife in bed with the milkman or something? I think testie summed it up best. Excellent post again Doc, some people are missing the point. They need to remember just how bad we were a very short time ago and how far we have improved. |
jinksy
said:
|
... Leic3stershire AVFC I've had my season ticket since 1985 went to my 1st game div3 1971........ I've been home & away since i was 13 when i used to save my dinner money so i could go. So don't f**king tell me you are a bigger or better supporter than i am just because we have different opinions. When MON & Learner buy the players we need to push on & thats top class not Coker, Sidwell, Knight, Shorey types then i will start believing. And don't f**king tell me to go and support Man U you p***k. Perhaps if you supported your local team they might be in the Prem not the Championship you dick. |
taglor
said:
|
... Yeah, well pointed out Doc, we were winning nothing and now we are ............. oh hang on winning nothing again, nothing has changed at all 6th or 16th what difference does that make ? you still win f**k all for that. |
paul mclafferty
said:
 |
... ive said it before and i will say it again, WHY is it all our top transfer targets end up signing for everton???????? it now seems kyle naughton is going to them aswell, GOD !!!!!!! ..............IT GIVES ME THE BLOODY HUMP.................... |
FatKevs
said:
|
... AVMark The same was spoken about Ellis loving the club by many . The fans deposit their hearts in the club. Everything changes Wives partners freinds but Aston Villa will always be with you that does not change It drives me mad they are in it for themselves at that level and if we do not prepare correctly & have a vision being £73m in debt worries me. Yes Randy like Ellis have done many good things for the club, we only have to look across the city over the years to see worse chaimen. We will see at the end of this window our real ambition hopefully i am wrong Confused who am i selling the club to on here? no one, we should all be villa fans The Club Sells itself & by not stating we are building our team around Ashley or saying JC is not for sale like boro are sells the club Not Try or Hope We should go for players we can get/ Afford & then try our bloody best like the noses are. How many years was MoN chasing the protuguese player Out of his reach |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... ok put it this way keef we have been very strongly linked to cahill, lescott, jagielka, felliani and now kyle naughton, or tell me i am wrong or have i followed the villa longer than you? |
Michael panizza
said:
 |
... Blah blah blah. Nice article, but it'd be like sending a little girl full of good sentiments and armed with a little bunch of flowers to explain to the North Korean government that playing rough with nuclear weapons is wrong. Now what we need is facts, false dawns come and go for many clubs, hell knows we've seen enough of those at Aston Villa. Yes, we are in a better place but so are many others out there: Man City, Everton, Tottenham (dare to say they wont have as bad a start as last season) are not standing still either. So thank you for the nice memories and sentiments and let's have some quality in at once. |
Keith
said:
|
... holteend paul I don't see how it makes a difference how long you have supported a club but I attended my first game in 1975. I don't think MON tells any newspaper reporter who he is trying to sign. We were also strongly linked to Titus Bramble so that must be true as well. Fatprat I really touched a nerve didn't I? If you need a good divorce solicitor let me know |
dave
said:
|
... about fatbastard (kev)don t know about someone shagging his fat bird but think he caught someone eating his pies.STOP MOANING YOU p***k |
james
said:
 |
... great post doc, that game was absoluetly brilliant. vp was electric and as for taglor saying 'theres no difference in 6th or 16th, you win f#ck all with that'this is the dumbest thing i've heard all day. going from 16th to 6th clearly is a massive improvement and european football. some so called villa fans are so impatient. mon is the best thing to happen at vp for years and we are going in the right direction. like doc said, i remember the o'dreary days, the football was awful to watch and thank god we are a million miles away from that. people think to get champs league, all you need is a bucket load of money but it doesn't work like that. look at the money spurs have spent over the last 5 years. fergie didn't just turn up at man u and start winning trophies, it's takes time. |
Fitzy_7
said:
 |
... just got back from holidays... nice to see everyone's getting on like a house on fire as always  |
Martin Clabon
said:
 |
... Great wake up call Doc Fat Kevs, seriously mate seek help. At least choose your posts to come out with the same whiney shit. Occasionally it might have an impact. Continuously you sound like a 4 year old. Fickle, fickle fans |
taglor
said:
|
... No its not dumb actually, obviously there is a difference, 10 places to be factual. What I am alluding to is the point that it makes no difference silverware wise, in however many years whther we have finished 2cnd or 16th or 6th we still haven't won and at the end of the day all football is about is winning, it is a competition. So for me 6th by a few points is irrelevant, we are either in it to win it or what is the point? I almost wouldn't mind us getting relegated as it would at least be exciting to try and get promoted and have a fair chance at that then what this season will be, which is another season of mid table mediocrity, I mean really, some of our matches last season were so poor and boring, if we continuee to play the long ball we are going to lose respect with football fans. |
dave
said:
|
... Taglor what are you on about ask newcastle fans what they would have perferred you idiot |
confusedvillafan
said:
|
... vijay ive told u once shut the f**k up you boring idiot. fatkev you still havnt answered my question how are we now a selling club ? man u sold ronaldo are they now a selling club |
Stathis
said:
 |
... Very encouragin post Doc, thank u for the moments of a Villa family shared with us! Moments i very much wish to be livin myself after a couple decades, but first i gotta find myself in Birmingham =) Lets not forget where we stand indeed as a club and lets not be ungrateful. |
covvilla23
said:
 |
... Don't know if I'm repeating someones comments as haven't read all posts but .................. Sky Sports News today have somehow stepped back in time and teletext is reporting events from history inc, wierdly, Villa's game against Portsmouth and MON saying Baros will soon come good!!! Don't know if you saw this Doc, before you wrote the piece. But I must say I agree with the progress idea --- like everyone else I want it to continue and the frustration is hard to bear, but after 48 years of supporting I live in hope. Isn't that what the game is about??? Seems better to me now than for a long time |
Mark
said:
|
... Fairs fair, Taglor's last post had some validity (but then again one swallow doesn't make a summer). Thing is what people forget is that we challenged last year. For half the season we were in there worrying the big boys. Tottenham, Everton the rest have never done that and neither had we. That's progress. |
Tim
said:
 |
... If MON sells John Carew i will go stark raving Mad !! Just who does he think will score goals for us next Season ? It will also signal the intent of his ambition at Villa and if it happens ill be banging on Randy's door calling for his head !  |
Tim
said:
|
... I also told you that all the top quality Players that we have been linked with over the last few weeks are signing for other clubs ! This does not suprise me one bit ! We seem to have a manager who dithers far too long then misses the boat so to speak ! All we will buy is the usual crap the week before the deadline ! You mark my words we will finish no higher than 10th next season unless we buy real quality, and to top it off the Noses will beat us !! If that happens ill be calling for MON to be strung up by the short and curlies and drummed out of Villa Park. |
Michael panizza
said:
|
... You know what, for all his vocational negativity sometimes Taglor makes the odd point that makes sense. Fair play. |
covvilla23
said:
|
... Taglor, as a fellow RMN (am I right that that is what you do) I can only sympathise with your clients/patients. How can you get through the day with such unreasonable expectations and manage to instill optimism and hope. With such a 'miserable' personality it must be very hard for you. Perhaps you should give yourself a break and accept that you can never be satisfied in reality, regardless of the achievement. Set your sights just that little bit lower and then every now and then you might feel just a twinge of contentment. We all get frustrated sometimes.... with you it just seems to be constant. Or maybe its all just a ploy. Be happy -- achievements are achievements. It's not always neccessary to be perfect. UTV |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Monkey Wrench - which was the point that makes sense from taglor, I must have missed it buried in all the shit. Surely not it doesn't matter if we are 6th or 16th if we are not winning things? This is only correct on such a narrow baisis it is unbelievable. Would anyone really rather be losing far more games than we win? Be narrowly avoiding relegation and shitting themselves we might go down? Only be able to attract players who would be willing to play in the Championship? Wouldn't you prefer to be improving and challenging the top teams (even if ultimatley unsuccessfully). Have a chance of attracting decent players. Build something for the future that might be great even though there is a good chance the buildign won't get us as far or as fast as we would like The point about boring football is nonsense as well. We may not be the most cultured team but it is often exciting and is not all long ball by any means. There have been times we played great stuff last season and there are times nearly every team plays dour stuff, even Chelsea, Man U, Leverpool and Arsenal. And don't start me on Everton, during the Moyes reign thay have played some truly dire stuff and yet according to plenty on this site Moyes is some kind of genius. Man U looked dire against us for a long time last season before exploding to get a couple of goals. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather be playing cultured silky football that won trophies but that is not the choice we are faced with. We can get behind a regime which has moved us forward on and off the pitch (maybe suffering from some of the eccentricities which come with the territory) and hope to be part of a very difficult and maybe long process of becoming a top team or we can moan, whine and create a negative atmosphere around the club which drives players, fans and manager away, slump further in to mediocity and have a shit time while it happens. That's what following taglor get's you and what's more he'd be there the whole time saying I "told you so" as if he's some type of prophet when in fact he helped cause the problem. Wanting trophies now with nothing else good enough is the attitude of a spoilt child not someone who loves the club and won't accept anything less |
mikey18
said:
|
... In a way Man Utd are a selling club. Over the years the list of players that have left them is endless! Start with Ronaldo, Obi Mikel, Van Nistleroy, Beckham, Jaap Stam i'm sure theres many more. But they deal with it extremely well. Gabby Agbonlahor is the best striker at the club! he was last season, he was the season before! The statistics speak for themselves and it annoys me when people who don't have the foggiest about football say Gabby is not good enough! The kid is 22 year old! why can't we support him? Even if he isn't good enough maybe he will develop into something special? was Henry a world beater at 22? no i think he'd just had a flop of a first season at arsenal! Where was Van Nistelroy at 22? Ian Wright? Drogba? Berbatov? People want to sign marcus berg of the same age, gabby would score more goals in a prem season all day long! Fat Kev i don't understand so if Lerner and MoN are the problem what is the solution? We are in the 5th best position in the league im telling you. People are being silly if they think we will struggle to finish in the top 10!! there will be a battle for top 6 but please have faith in your team and manager, who have not let you down to date! |
taglor
said:
|
... covvilla 23 - As you yourself must be aware in our profession we are around dying people daily. If anything this makes me enjoy life more and makes me want to see Villa win something now as you never know what is around the corner, I do not want 5 year plans when you may not be there to see them. I had a 21yo villa fan patient this week diagnosed with testiculat cancer and he wont live to see them win, it just makes me see how fleeting life is and yes i am impatient, but after 20 years with 1 league cup surely that is reasonable??????????????? Sidneycowanslovechild - you do make me chucjle, I never knew you cared so much about me, thank you baby x |
Leic3stershire AVFC
said:
|
... jinsky if you read comment 64 it says i moved to syston near melton mowbery, 6 years ago from brum. guess what villa was my local team, now i have moved to leicestershire, if my two year old wants to follow villa or leicester city, i will be happy even thought he has every villa kit so far since has been born, i love the villa so much and it winds me up seening fans slagging this club or dragging it down ,if i have upset you about you following man u i am sorry |
villa biker
said:
|
... ME well i believe its a true fan that follows his club through bad times as well as the good times and lets be fair the times are pretty good at the moment just go back to oleary days its not that long ago and the knockers were pretty quiet up till december. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... taglor, I know I should have learnt my lesson but as you know you are very important to me! I am hoping to save your soul but admit to not being very hopeful. I wonder if in real life you are a bundle of laughs to be with but on screen you are a bit of a pain in the ass. I would love you to turn a bit more positive just to cast some more light in a dark world. Terrible to hear about your patient but if we do not have a long term view (not 5 year plan) he may live long enough to see us relegated or go in to administration While there's life there's hope |
Keith
said:
|
... taglor "after 20 years with 1 league cup" so the know it all knows nothing!!! Two league cups 1994 and 1996. Anyway you can hardly blame MON and Lerner for the failings of Ellis can you? "we are around dying people daily". I suppose they prefer death to listen to your constant moaning!! |
taglor
said:
|
... Cool comment Sid, thanks my friend. Actually in real life I am very happy, I think on here its just a forum for discontent with Villa not winning or signing who I would like, spoilt and impatient? yes maybe, but it causes no harm on here and if you were with me and my friends or work colleaguues you would see that i wont hear a bad word said about villa and have always baked them to the hilt, including taking countless bets for a pound a goal with workmates and losing nearly all the time lol |
taglor
said:
|
... keefvilla, don't worry lil un all you have to do is not read my posts, its that simple, any more comments from you and I will take it that you wanted to know my opinion, so thank you. |
The Oracle
said:
 |
... STOP PRESS…..STOP PRESS……STOP PRESS Players leaving Villa Park over the next few weeks are: Nigel Reo Coker (Everton), Zat Knight (Wolves), Nick Shorey (Reading), Ashley Young (Manchester United) and John Carew (Spurs) Players arriving at Villa Park will be: Stuart Downing, Jermaine Jenas, Mark Noble, Peter Crouch and/or Sol Campbell. Players not coming to Villa are: Tuncay Defour Veloso Bentley Delph Naughton Laugh or cry all you like. Unfortunately this is the gospel truth. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... taglor, I for some reason thought you were a bit more cheerful off screen. I kind of look at things the other way though in as much as this site is a window on Villa and no matter how foolish this might be, if we are tossers on here the world can see and think all Villa fans are tossers. It is a bit like my rules for being at the match, I never leave early and I never boo the team, I only make ngative comments to individuals where they look like they are not trying not because they have played rubbish. However minor my part might be I would rather try and create good karma than bad for the club we love so much (and so irationally). Everyone needs an outlet and mouthing off on here is better than beating your wife or fighting a stranger but I'd like to see positive comments in with the rest as, all in all, while things could be better they sure as shit could be a lot worse as well. |
Steve
said:
 |
... oracle - u are a complete and utter joker. So MoN is stupid enough to sell 5 players (including our 2 best players) and only bring 5 in leaving us with a squad of about 14 players??!! Will replace Barry with Jenas/Noble and Laursen with only Campbell. MoN may be slow in the market but he isn't stupid. Oracle mate - Jog on |
Andy Pepper
said:
 |
... The Oracle Lose another CB without a replacement cause campbell is in talks with Sunderland i think not.!!! |
Panos
said:
 |
... STOP PRESS…..STOP PRESS……STOP PRESS Players leaving Villa Park over the next few weeks are: Players arriving at Villa Park will be: Players Tuncay Defour Veloso Bentley Delph Naughton Hangeland |
Andy Pepper
said:
|
... STOP PRESS...STOP PRESS VILLA TO SIGN MESSI,ETO,XAVI IN SWOP DEAL FOR ZAT KNIGHT The Oracle your an ASS |
The Oracle
said:
|
... SidCowanslovechild I can't quite beleive it myself, but this source did leak the news of Ashley Young coming to Villa. I lived in Stevenage for twelve years until 2007 when I went to work in south East Asia. My youngest son is friends with Kyle Young. These rumours come via the Arsenal academy who seem to be in the know. I only hope they are way, way off the mark this time. |
Steve Badger
said:
 |
... Taglor, I seriously worry about you. If you're going to constantly moan when we're doing ok, what are you going to do when/if we're seriously struggling? You need to open your eyes and see, that while things aren't perfect, they're really not too bad and could be decidedly worse. And as said, everyone outside the top 4 may as well just pack up now by your way of thinking. There can be only one winner ultimately and when you consider Manure have £80 mill burning a hole in their pockets, it's easy to see what we're up against. But the vast majority of fans just carry on, supporting and hoping, which is what it's all about. You ought to try it mate, especially on this blog, because frankly, if I were a neutral coming on here, I'd be pissing myself laughing at some of the moaning. There are 86 clubs who would have liked to have been in our position last season. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Oracle, not exactly a cast iron source. If this happens it means there is something really wronf at the club, no money and Lerner lst faith in MON. Nothing is impossible but this looks very unlikely. |
Steve
said:
|
... Oracle - pretty impressive that Kyle Young knows more about whats happening at Villa than Randy or MoN. Clearly Stevenage/Arsenal academy would know all about the happenings behind the scenes at Villa Park. Keep your ridiculous thoughts to yourself and stop trying to wind people up |
Steve
said:
|
... Oracle: is their any truth in the rumour that Stevenages favourite other son Lewis Hamilton is being lined up to become our next big striker?!?!? chump |
Fitzy_7
said:
|
... yawn all this bull**** speculation is starting to depress me the oracle do you also believe in santa clause and the easter bunny? |
Simeon
said:
 |
... Marty, for goodness sake, sign these uninspired, mediocre footballers you've got lined up so the Quack can have a rest from childishly defending the indefensible. For his sake if no-one else's. |
The Oracle
said:
|
... Jonnycarew I do not claim that Kyle Young knows more about Villa than Randy or Martin, but his brother does happen to play for us. Whether this information comes from Kyle, the Arsenal Academy or even if it just bullshit, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that two footballing brothers may actually talk to each other once in a while. As stated earlier, Kyle knew Ashley was Villa bound weeks before any announcement. |
Keith
said:
|
... Fattwat You seem to have an obsession with gay sex, time for you to come out of the closet? |
Steve
said:
|
... So Mon has told Ashley Young who has told his 12 yr old brother the exact 5 players being sold and to whom, the exact 5 we are bringing in and the ones we are missing out on. Does MoN really strike you as the type of guy who would tell his players who exactly he is buying?! |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Sidcowans why on earth would you "make negative comments to individuals where they look like they are not trying". Are you the fukin manager or team mate. On Matchdays you should fully support the team negitivity at a game only helps the other team. How can that help a player having a Bad day. Get off your high horse thinking the rest of the world visit here to read your posts or anyone else to make an opinion on the club. We may get the occaisional opposing fan if it relates to their club |
Rich
said:
|
... Is it true Sol in talks with Sunderland? If this goes through thats at least two great pieces of news this week fiollowing Pennant's move to Zaragoza. I'm beginning to sleep more easily. I know we will sign players eventually and the more dross we have been linked with that sign elsewhere, surely the greater our chances of us getting better quality. |
Tim
said:
|
... I think a lot of fans will be wating to see who goes and who stays before they decide to buy their season tickets this year. If it is true what Oracle says then that will be one less Villa Fan attending this season ! All the promises of a Bright Future seem to be heading down the drain !! If we are losing top quality players to the likes of Everton, Tottenham, Fulham and alike there must be some big problems behind closed doors at Villa Park. Its about time that Lerner and MON came clean and told the fans the truth ! We need to know that you are not going to sell Carew & Ashley Young at any price, and are not being bullied into swap deals for crap players. It is just so damned annoying that MON wont come out a tell the truthy about players. He will end up with a serious backlash from the fans if he gets rid of our best players and buys subs and has beens from other rival clubs. |
FatKevs
said:
|
... A quote from an independatant source "There is talk of swapping John Carew for Peter Crouch, but that won’t drastically alter the look of the team. And if Ashley Young gets poached, and he is rumoured to be replaced by Stewart Downing or David Bentley, that could only be seen as another step backwards. I wonder if Villa fans are getting a little worried as the new season approaches with little progress in the market-place. They have no axe to grind yet the majority of fans on here are blaase to our current plight Moaners we may be buti think we have a just cause |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Fatkevs, no you don't have a just cause, imo. If any of our best players actually get sold, then you'll have just cause. And I'll be moaning with you, trust me! But I very much doubt it will happen, because that source of Oracle's is just bollox, imo. |
FatKevs
said:
|
... I think you will find that there will be no shortage a season ticket holders this year. The real fans are not just fine weather supporters. I admit i have protested not renewing my away scheme for the 3 strike rule but i will still attend many away games Midweek games are impossible if you work, I cannot see the problem with returning midweek games in good time as the clubs fees are coverd in the £25 another chip at the ordinary fan |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Fat Kev, not on a high horse mate. The rest of the world do read this blog (not my posts any more than yours) and that is the trouble you gormless depressive f**kwit. If I want any tips on negativity I will come straight to you Simeon, uncalled for mate. You can disagree with the Doc but the slagging you have given him don't do you any favours |
Tim
said:
|
... Why do we have to do swap deals to get players to come to the club ? We need to add to what we already have and not sell the likes of Carew and Young. If MON sells those 2 players and gets in below par players id sack him tommorrow ! MON must be living in cloud cookoo land if he thinks that selling our best 2 players is a move forwards for Aston Villa. I hope and pray for his sake that its not true because he will seriouly live to regret it ! I can see another protest day at Villa Park come the 1st game of the season if Carew and Young have been sold. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Keef and Kev, shouldn't we stop with the gay stuff? While I would stop short of saying some of my bes friends are.....I don't hold anything against.....oh no that sounds even worst. Is it time to stop with the personal stuff, with admittedly me being one of the worst offenders but at least I feel guilty. Sory Kev for my previous comment. |
Jimmy Villain
said:
 |
... doc you should write every post for this blog, you are thoroughly entertaining and a great story teller - you also have a great way of expressing your opinion. I look for you posts now and only read the ones you write. Brilliant and inspiring mate. |
Keith
said:
|
... Sid The voice of reason as always, please point out where I have called anybody gay, especially FatKevs (VillaChris doesn't count as he loved it really). |
avfc1983
said:
John Jordan
said:
 |
... OK guys!...Reading between the lines...This is who will be playing in the villa strip in a few weeks time! S Downing...Bentley...Fabian Delf...Tuncay..Defoe and possibly Miguel Veleso. We will loose Nigel Rio Coker and Big John! W |
avfc1983
said:
 |
... Love to see Tuncay he would be an wicked signing delf yeah, Downing not sure Bentley yeah Veleso looks good Defore No |
Keith
said:
|
... The Pensioner Can't see that happening mate, Defoe one of the 3 players Redknapp has stated he will not sell and I think MON will keep Carew. |
god
said:
|
... Is anyone else excited about the new season? We may have had a disappointing transfer PERIOD; but at the end of the day UTV! all together now! My old man said 'be a city fan', And I said' b***ocks you're a c**t (you're a c**t), We hate the blues and we're gonna show it, We hate the blues and we f**king know it, With Spinksy and Burchy Alan Mcanally, They're the boys who gonna do us fine, You support the blues ur a blue nose b***ard and you ain't no friend of mine, ALL TOGETHER NOW... I'D rather shag a bucket with a big hole init. Than be a city fan 4 just 1 minute With Spinksy and Burchy Alan Mcanally, They're the boys who gonna do us fine... |
Tim
said:
|
... I dont want Carew to go at any cost !! I'd rather see him stay and get rid of MON if given the option !! Carew is the best target man in the Prem and some of his finishing is spectacular to say the least ! Carew must stay, no one has the strength or presence in the box like him, he seriously worries defenders like no other. |
Matt
said:
 |
... UTV!!!How's it going ppl? not posted for a while. alot of mixed banter though as usual. Have we actually put a bit in for Downing and Tuncay or is Southgate just sayin' he'll accept bids as he;s resigned to losing them? |
Steve
said:
|
... I do think the next 3/4 weeks are the most important seen at VP for a long time. We have the opportunity to really put a marker down by keeping our best players and bringing in 4/5 signings which will really make teams wary of us. For me those players would be Hangeland, Defour/Veloso, Bentley and Wagner Love. Plus Delph and Naughton for the future. Now for me, as a team that challenged the top 4 for 9 months of the season, there is no reason why we cant match those players ambitions and get them in. However my worry is that the opposite will happen and that we may lose either one of Carew or Young. I think most Villa fans are realistic enough to realise that Young will leave us at somepoint either for a top 4 club or a big foreign club as he is that good. I hope he stays for at least a year and i think MoN could play the "cement your WC2010 place" card. I do think Villa need to wise up though and if we do sell Young then it should be for 25mill plus. Now this will make some of you laugh but if Ronaldo is worth 80 mill, Downing quoted at 13 mill, Darren Bent at 16 mill, Crouch at 13 mill and J Terry a slow, injured 29 yr at over 30 mill plus, then one of Englands brightest wing prospects who has delivered in 2 consecutive years really must be worth over 20 mill. By the same token, if we do sell Carew (which i think would be a travesty as he is our only genuine threat) then I hope we actually get the true value. I think MoN is a great man motivator who I agree hasn't made use of substitutes, mainly becos the squad players he has brought in havent been good enough which he has clearly realised. But I do worry about him in the transfer market somewhat. I think the likes of Redknapp and Ferguson may see MoN as someone they can get the better of. Any swap deal for Carew or Young which includes Huddlestone or Jenas or Bentley is a clear NO. We should look to buy the likes of bentley for cash only, if Vinegar face doesnt like that, then fine we will look elsewhere. I hope I am wrong and we come through this window in much better shape and MoN shows the world the defiance he showed in his dealings with Rafa last season over Barry, lets face, the way he stuck it to the Spanish waiter was brilliant. Come on MoN, move harewood & salifou on and keep the rest. We need a big squad to compete in 4 competitions next year and you can no longer use the "small squad" excuse credibly as you have been here for a while now. Friedel - young hangeland cuellar bouma, bentley petrov defour young, carew love Subs: Davis, Milner, Gabby, Carew, Sidwell, NRC |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... keef, thought you and Kev were swapping gay insults? Maybe not, you know my reading's not up to much and I'm easily confused Remember the last time I got involved in one fo your rows? 60 days war that one! |
p
said:
 |
... to..jonny carew.......ur namesake that good he can play in 2 positions...erm..wot a player.............UTV.....PREPARED.. |
Keith
said:
|
... Sid Remember it well mate ha ha ha. Fatty calls everyone gay who disagrees with him, I just asked if he was in denial. |
mikey18
said:
|
... You support your club through thick and thin thats what it means to be a football fan! I've got a friend who is a millwall fan and he has been through it all as a supporter and sat there in his 1988 or wateva millwall top happy as larry when they beat leeds the play off semi's and fair play to him! Fair enough do not renew a season ticket in protest, but what exactly are you protesting at the moment? The sale of Gareth Barry for 12 mil for a 28 yrold in the last year of his contract is great business? For ML Knee giving out? Or because MoN gives two shits about the club and won't sign any old shit! Protesting because a manager takes there time in the transfer window is as insane as not supporting a manager and chairman who have done nothing to progress the club since they arrived. Regardless of the debt we are in, which in comparison to others isn't that much, we are still the 6th best placed team in the Premier league! |
Michael panizza
said:
|
... Signings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are comingSignings are coming Wake me up when the summer ends. SidCowanslovechild: we're all entitled to be suspicious of the real intentions of our club and their real level of ambition, no need to write The Divine Comedy to prove otherwise. You called this article a "wake-up call", I'd prefer to name it "another boost to our hopes" and nothing else: I keep the faith but leave the rose tinted glasses to you Sid. Time will tell and hopefully will prove me wrong. |
Paul Bennett
said:
 |
... Brilliant stuff. I remember those days well. I couldnt believe I was paying my hard earnt cash, travelling from Portsmouth to Birmingham (which is an 8hr round trip!) to watch it. These days I leave VP thinking ive robbed them and I should chuck in an extra 10 spot! Things are good in my opinion, they could always be better, but even Man Utd fans say that! Im more than satisfied. UTV |
Eoin Greene
said:
 |
... Why dont we go back to when we were in the lower leagues and compare that to now - everything would be even rosier in the garden. What about January this year when we were 4th and 7-8 points ahead of Arsenal. Fast forward to now - our tiny squad has been blown out of the water in the race for forth place. We have lost our captain to one of our main rivals who with their money will become one of the biggest clubs n europe. Our best player has retired. One of our greatest hopes has been booed by his own fans. MoN pulled us out of europe, despite playing about 20 matches and coming back 1 month early pre-season to qualify for the damn thing, because our squad was too small - this despit him having money to spend for nearly 6 full transfer windows now. Gary Cahill has gone on to show exactly what all villa fans thought - that he was class. Curtis Davies continues to show that he is a donkey. We signed Emile Heskey. We play hoof ball football. Everything is not rosy and the sun doesn't shine out of MoNs arse. He has made some huge errors. Unless he pulls off some masterstrokes in the next few weeks, and signs about 8, yes 8 quality players - I will have lost what little faith I had in him. And this old 'Mon makes good players better' - he has signed 2 players who are worth more than he bought them for, which is an absolutely appaling statistic. Apologies for negativity but my patience has officially left the building. |
mikey18
said:
|
... eoin MoN got us into that position though? He has got us closer to the top 4 than any other manager almost! So because MoN dared to suggest we could break the top 4 he should be replaced? If you were starved for a year and then given some food you wouldn't complain regardless how poor it was in comparison to the food you ate in the year previous to you being starved! We have a rich history and the only way to relive those moments is to support the team and the progress they we are making |
Doc3d
said:
 |
... Why you thinking just because everton hav been given permission to speak to Kyle Naughton he'll sign for them?? He prefers villa as a destination and mon will know this. If he wants him, he'll put in a bid. |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
...when did we buy our first player last season? July 10th steve , Sidwell Season before July 5th , Reo C UTV |
vogra
said:
 |
... I agree with everything Eoin1981 has said. IMO Mon has taken us as far as he can, without huge and i mean HUGE further investment from Learner i just cannot see us doing any better than last season. I like many other people in this site are just dumb founded with MON lack of urgency in the transfer market. Man City have now over taken us,Spurs,Everton and i even say Fulham will have a better team and squad than us next season. I thank MON for what he's done but its time for a fresh approach. I'm obviously going to get slated by the sheep on here who insult people who dare say anything bad against MON..i'm just stating what i think,that's all.. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Monkeywrench, I named you the hardest man on this site the other day so not going to disagree with you too much. Will try to keep it brief in future, but suspicion is ok, constant moaning and criticism is not. If you can find a post by me where I have been over the top rose tinted I would be very suprised. Even last year I never once said we were going to qet champs League and I also have never said we are going to we are going to sign any world class players. So where's he rose tinted? I just don't like people boring me about how bad our club is when in fact we are doing better than we have for a long time |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Your correct Sid i should not of called keefy gay I or just thought he was, as for saying his partner shaged a hamster that was a childish comback no more such accusations will be cast Keefy you are wrong again you are the 1st person i have refered to being gay |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Mikey if that was aimed at me, my season card arrived on friday its the away scheme i did not renew (3 strike) sorry if wrong |
avfc1983
said:
|
... JOHN CAREW CAREW HE`S BIGGER THAN ME AND YOU HE`S GONNER SCORE ONE OR TWO JOHN CAREW CAREW UTV Carew is going no where |
jinksy
said:
|
... Leic3stershire AVFC - I tip my hat to you sir.......... We have different opinions & i respect that so please lets not spout off telling people to go support Man U etc it's very insulting. I've stood & sat in that ground too many times to remember & the closet we came to winning was in 1989 When Mcinally crossed for Sid to score & make it 1-1 oh and the game in 1993 when Staunton scored that screamer so you can see i've felt the pain. 1984 1st game of the season saved up my dinner money & went on the train i was 14 got chased all over Manchester & we were 4-0 down at half time...can you see why i got upset...I'll never forget the Brummy Reds Flag in the Stretford end and being baffled by it. Anyway 1 final thing if your son tries to support anyone else beat him until he changes his mind......only joking. |
confusedvillafan
said:
|
... vogra another doom merchant. man city will overtake better teams than us and everton fulham and spurs have signed who exactly, why will they have better squads than us |
jinksy
said:
|
... I think it was 1988 Sid scored thinking about it....1989 was a night match & we lost 2-0 Was it Robinson?? the Rotherham manager scored them both. |
Keith
said:
|
... FatKevs so I am wrong again am I? I'm the 1st person i have refered to being gay? Your comment number 29 "Testie i guess you like licking balls you queer" You are an idiot and full of shit!!!!!! |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Wise words Jinksy. My daughter a few months ago told me she wanted a Chelsea shirt. An hour of indoctrination as to why Villa are the proudest team in the land, invented the league, provided the most England players of all clubs bar none, won the league 7 times, the FA Cup 7 times, European Cup, Super Cup and the Legaue Cup 4 times have put her right. She even understands some teams are better than us but no clubs are and that we will rise again. She does a great edited version of "F..ck you Chelsea FC, you ain't got no history" and calls any of her friends or teachers supporting Man U, Liverpool etc glory hunters. She is 6. While I am ashamed of my poor parenting I am proud of her passion for the club. |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Keef, you are spending too long reading back old comments. Let it go now, it's saturday night and we are on a Blog. Some life getting required all round |
Billy7
said:
 |
... I Think we are in good hands at VP, BUT....... i'm getting very anxious, frustrated and impatient!!!! is there ANY new rumours of late????? |
FatKevs
said:
|
... Sid 3 strikes ie if you return 3 tickets you are out of the scheme i think that it a bit unfair when you are paying £25 to be in the scheme. I mean what chance do you have with midweek games the 1st to away games are midweek £25 down the drain |
Keith
said:
|
... Sid How many League Cup wins? That aside you seem to be an excellent father to me. Fatty Its agreed then you are both homophobic and stupid. |
Chrisodon
said:
 |
... God some people on here are touchy. Taglor has a valid point success is judged on silverware not where we finished two seasons in a row. Look at arsenal & liverpool fans they wanted they're mangers out because they've not lifted silverware in a few seasons and us Villa fans just say i'd rather finish 4th or 6th, least that way we'll be in europe and we'll get better players......it's not quite working that way now is it ?. How many players saw us throw away our uefa cup run last year for 6th place and probably now think i'm not going there. People say bring in Vagner Love as much as i love the idea of that it just simply isn't going to happen. We'll end up with Bramble and other mediocre players. |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
...Wise words Jinksy. My daughter a few months ago told me she wanted a Chelsea shirt. An hour of indoctrination as to why Villa are the proudest team in the land, invented the league, provided the most England players of all clubs bar none, won the league 7 times, the FA Cup 7 times, European Cup, Super Cup and the Legaue Cup 4 times have put her right. She even understands some teams are better than us but no clubs are and that we will rise again. She does a great edited version of "F..ck you Chelsea FC, you ain't got no history" and calls any of her friends or teachers supporting Man U, Liverpool etc glory hunters. She is 6. While I am ashamed of my poor parenting I am proud of her passion for the club. Absolutly priceless , my daughter is two and a bit and I'm already tyring to teach her to sing the John Carew song . Love it...! UTV |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Keef, it is 4 league cups isn't it?Can't be arsed to look it up but pretty sure |
Martin Clabon
said:
|
... Keef, she''l be delighted. I've sold us short, even prouder history. Brighter future a well? Could do with some signings if next season's going to be bright. We will see. Going to change habit of lifetime now and talk to wife. Out |
Doc3d
said:
|
... Hey, I'm wanting my daughter to be called olivia cos it's as close to an anagram of villa as I can get without scaring her for the rest of her life. I'm as nervous as anyone we havnt signed anyone yet but lets face it we'd all be more frustrated if mon went out and bought any player just to get the numbers up. I have great faith in the way villa is being run now. Remember a few short seasons ago we were 3 points off going down, now we were battling for 4th. You think it's that easy to improve on that with players who aren't holding out for one of the top 4?? Have patience. |
Mozza
said:
 |
... Vogra if mon can't take us further with the budget given to him by RL then I guarantee no other manager could!! Therefore why would we want him out??? Surely we'd be better off getting a new owner? Not for me though IMO we have the second best manager in the PL and an owner who really cares about tradition and history! They clearly have a great relationship and that will show over the next few weeks. Wait and see... 5th place this season ahead of man shit, spuds and everton. Not a chance we ain't making top 6!!! UTV! |
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