Sick as a dog.
No, I’m not talking about the year to date – though many will say I could be – but rather offering my apologies for my absence over the Christmas period as I’ve suffered with the flu.
Getting back to Aston Villa, now is as a good a time as any to look back over 2014, what with it being the last day of the year.
As we know, 2014 has felt much like more of the same which, depending on your own view, may well be soul crushing or… well, that.
Moving away from hyperbole for a second, there were positives to be taken. No, Villa are not back to former glories, but there have been steps forwards. The arrival of Aly Cissokho – and the return of Alan Hutton – has meant that the full backs aren’t as much of a cause for heart-in-mouth as they were previously.
To be fair, the issues with Villa’s defence were slightly more nuanced than it being down to an eternal list of poor full backs. After all, when one has a little bit of experience – like with Ron Vlaar and Phillippe Senderos – there’s more chance of organisation at the back, rather than hoping Ciaran Clark and Nathan Baker could just conjure up more knowledge than they had.
In fact, we’ve seen with Clark’s recent performances that he is capable when guided by someone with a little more experience and a little more nous. You can have all the physical attributes – pace, power and ability to tackle – but if you’re out of position within the context of a formation, you’re always going to struggle.
Which, if we’re honest, has been a hallmark not only of 2014, but of many recent years for Villa. When you look at the rather ramshackle structure of the team, with a strong focus on cheap… uh… sorry “young and hungry” to give the official name, is it any wonder that we’ve seen issues?
Any team can try and cobble together a group based on low prices across the board but, like with any other business, there’s a cost to that. For Villa, that cost was a function of historic choices – and poor planning – but it created a less than inspiring product in the interim.
Which, if we’re honest, is the reason why attendances have remained comparatively low over the course of 2014. Villa aren’t so much poor as boring, but limited in funding, ability and entertainment, but rather the footballing equivalent of beige – not awful but, well, uninteresting to look at.
Yes, Villa tickets are, within the scope of the Premier League, cheap in monetary terms, but to call that good value fails to recognise the context in which spending nearly £50 on a good seat sits.
Not only are many people still without the ability to pay out for such a luxury, but there’s little sense of value in such a purchase – £50 per person can get the average person a good night out on the town compared to 90 minutes of a likely 0-0 draw.
OK, perhaps I’m somewhat burned by the fact that both the Manchester United and Sunderland games have been 0-0 draws, but I’ll be brutally honest and say that 2014 was first time I consistently felt like not wanting to go to games anymore.
Which, given my almost 20 year attendance, is something I have had to reflect on deeply. How can a club – one of my first loves in this world – have me almost dreading the thought of travelling the 15-20 miles it takes to get there?
Is it the journey? No. Whilst my trip to the ground isn’t just a walk round the corner, it isn’t a mammoth task either. So, in that case, what is it?
Maybe, I thought, it was down to a busy life between work and home, but I didn’t really end up thinking it was that either. It was, sadly, a lack of desire to be watching Villa.
On reflection, that sounds an awful thing to say, but it is a true statement in my opinion. Fortunately for me, I have a generous Dad who buys season tickets for me, him and my kid brother, but even at free, attending is frustrating.
In a sense, it reminded me of a bad relationship – one in which people engage, not because they have a deep love for the other person anymore, but because of little more than perceived responsibility and routine.
Like that bad relationship though, something has to change. There are signs that Villa can do better, and that there may well be a brighter future for us all, but many of us are approaching a line which can’t be crossed back over once passed.
For me, this site is part of why I keep going to games – because after nearly four years,our shared love of the club has led this site to become a community. Now there are people who are real friends with each other as a result of this site – something that may not have happened had it gone.
So with 2014 almost over, and with the Villa heading into the new year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for making this site what I always wanted – a place for people to make friendships and talk about the club (and everything else) just as we would in our local drinking establishments. Without you, I couldn’t have done it.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year, and a healthy and prosperous 2015. 2014, I thought it was excellent… um, no.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 200
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Matt,
Welcome back from your sic bed.
Ah, well, we have to live for the present, don’t we? The past we can do nothing about and the future is unknown.
But aside from the fact that you must have been asleep during the Man U match not to notice the two goals (1-1), you sum up matters for where we are – today – pretty well.
And, yes, this site is a pretty friendly one … Amazingly tolerant and even witty when the mood strikes … which, sometimes, is hard to drum up when Aston Villa become more like Vanilla – easy to lick.
So, into the New Year we go without much expectation of anything. There was a time when Villa used to go to Crystal Palace and come up trumps in fine style. Or perhaps I’m thinking of those Cup Finals that Villa played there (the original ground) between 1895 and 1913, carrying the Cup away 4 times out of 4 visits.
But we did go to the current CP home 2 or 3 weeks back and came away with a stolen win thanks to the alacrity of CB. I hope he’ll re-find that same alacrity tomorrow. He needs to!
Anyhow … I wish the very best for everyone on this list in 2015. You (we) all deserve it!!
Importantly, it would be nice to re-find the desire to follow the Villa – the lack of which Matt describes. I sometimes wonder if the chairman still watches what goes on.
Now there are people who are real friends with each other as a result of this site – something that may not have happened had it gone. I echo your thoughts here Matt and, as the cyclists say, chapeau to you mate for the concept, the execution and the courage to keep it going.
And thanks to all the Lifers who contribute tot his excellent site.
I have supported Villa now for nearly 58 years and I tend to agree with you that this is the first time I have felt torn about watching them. Since I gave up my season ticket and emigrated in 2008 I watch games live on a Thailand ex-pat TV channel that broadcasts in HD and is excellent value at 120 pounds a year for all EPL games on demand as well as lots of my other favourites Rugby League and Union.
There is an interesting series of articles on 7500Holte about the value of possession football that boils down to the fact that we might all agree, the scoring chances arising from our new style of play are negligible although the defensive stats are better..
I’m hoping for Grealish and Bacuna v Palace and a couple of decent midfielders and a striker to fix things. We eventually need to replace Cissokho and Hutton if we continue with the 3 at the back as the quality of service form the wings is not good enough.
UTV and Happy 2015 to you all.
Hello Matt,
You sum up the feelings of the vast majority of Villans, i only hope that by the time Lerner departs there’s something left to salvage.
Just read a book by David Goldblatt who tells a tale about Blackpool FC, when the were promoted the players were on the same wages as the previous season, the Oyston family took the 40m TV and parachute payments and the club was relegated. Of course Lerner wouldn’t understand the principle of this tale but he’s no better than the Blackpool owners.
What does frustrate the fans apart from the crepe, negative football, bad team selection, substitutions, tactics, favouritism, lies, lack of football nous, lowlife coaches, complete failure, lack of integrity etc, is that they don’t communicate at all with the fans or even listen to the concerns of them, until its too late, Ginger would still be at VP if the fans hadn’t noisily demonstrated at the Bolton game, Faulkner was obviously a disaster but Lerner still wouldn’t admit it, what is the matter with the bloke ?
To be honest i don’t see any escape from this downward spiral even if Lerner sells to Cuban, some folk don’t seem to listen, they know best and Cuban seems that type.
I echo the views of yourself, JL and Clive regarding our fraternity, i follow the other blogs and you’d be amazed at the insults and threats, it’s a shame that some of our posters have lost interest in the club and departed but its what happens when your’e treated like dirt.
Hope Mrs T and the nipper are doing well and also wish everyone a happy new year.
D’oh! Yes, it was 1-1 all United. What makes it worse was that I was there!
Thank you everyone for your kind words and regular posting even when I’ve not been about – you’re what makes this place what it is, and after four years I still can’t thank you enough for helping me realise a vision of a site where people would actively want to come, rather than just one to come to insult each other 😉
Hi Matt and all
yes Matt its a real shame for us villans as football is about competing and aiming as high as possible yet our club owner seems to have dismissed these values — and of course this are unlikely to get better unless the club is sold.
AVL is a great blog for me which of course is down the the characters that contribute
The steamers are always entertaining along with the Irish contingent who are all very witty and have brought many a smile to my face when reading the comments
Frem like mentioned on the last post is just Frem and i too hope he never changes
JL is just a wealth of historic knowleadge and all the other regulars make it a great blog even with disagrements and the rants we all have from time to time
Hope i can meet some of the gang in 2015 – wishing you all health and happiness for 2015 and beyond
bless up to all my fellow villans
oh and Jen is gorg or as they say down south ‘she is a right sort” but not just a pretty face and has contributed some excellent well thought out and researched posts xxx Jen
All the best to Matt, Steamer, Clive, Jenny, Mark, Ian, John L, Proxopera, Frem, B62, S75, SWV, Frem, Runtingz, and all who have contributed to AVL in 2014.
Here’s to an excellent 2015.
Too many matches in quick succession reduces the top flight entertainment factor over the festive period, says Lambert, a keen advocate of a winter break
Lamebert actually has the nerve to talk about entertainment.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-manager-paul-lambert-8364342
Afternoon all. Well what a shocking year of football it’s been for us lot. I remember in 2013 we all thought 2014 will only get better, somehow the Berk has made it into one of the worst years in the clubs existence, and somehow he’s still in a fecking job and now taking the piss even more In his interviews because he knows Fox knows even less about football than PF did . Thank god for this blog though. No big headed so and so’s who think they know more than anyone else, know one who thinks they own the place, know one who thinks there opinion is fact and abuses someone when they disagree. Trust me, there are a few blogs out there like that but I don’t bother on them anymore. Why do I need to? The most intelligent Villa fans are all on this site anyway
Matt’s not the only one who nearly fell out of love with Villa either. I can take losing, it’s just how we lose and what our manager says afterwards which makes it worse. I hate the guy so much and can’t wait for the day he leaves this club
Tomorrow is even more interesting now with Pardrew there. Another good old fight for survival coming up yet again even though it shouldn’t be happening in his 3rd season. He will be bricking tomorrow’s night game now
Anyway, happy new year to everyone. Your all fantastic.
And Kristina, if your reading this by any chance, happy new year to you to
Happy new year to you all the good the bad and the ugly, let’s hope for something to cheer for in the new year.
Matt I hope you especially have an easier time this year along with all those who have suffered greatly this past year.
St75 I see in your last post your still thinking about what to wish me I’m just glad you’ve apparently learned to think mate was it a Christmas miracle?
I have missed every game this Christmas including the manure game through family commitments and while I’d rather not have it hasn’t killed me.
I’m up in Liverpool and last night played in an 8 aside game with my ladies brothers. On my side was a certain Dave Unsworth of two week villa fame .while you can tell he’s played at the highest level it was nice to see he wasn’t a million times better than most of us . But Like all decent players he had good Positioning, awareness , tidy and accurate passing, displaying more nous than most of our villa team have shown this season and continue to show. On top of that he is a really nice chap not full of himself, he just likes playing.
One thing I found out was I still had that burning desire to win, from the minute the game started my mindset clicked in and it was serious. While understanding the financials helps I can’t excuse the lack of will to win ever and I realise it’s this I miss the most from our team.
All the best folks have fun
Hello Mark,
Always rated Unsworth and i’d have loved seeing him form a CD with Ugo, still, i think he was the one who missed out ultimately. Agree about AVFC, how many winners do you see ?
Frem,
I’m not confident about tomorrow at all, all these so-called easier games usually end in draws and i think CP will be up for it. Theirs so many times Lamebert would have been booted in any normal club, its actually a miracle that he’s still in employment at VP, Lerner must be the most stupid tw@ on the planet, but then again as long as the parasite gets his $ back he’s happy.
Hello steamer , makes you wonder what goes through the likes of nzogbias heads, my guess is not a lot. It was a bit surreal organising an ex professional, but at the end of the day the games the same for us all and talkings a big part, it’s something that has always surprised me in the modern game, they don’t seem to talk much. Is it the noise or egos?
Matt
All the best for the New year to you and your immediate family and the Villa family that frequent this site. Thank you for all your efforts just wish we could rejoice in the New Year with New Owners so we dont have to witness the demise of our once great club.
Good Luck to all Villa Lifers we need it
Firstly I’d like to wish Matt and all those who contribute or read the site a happy and prosperous new year.
As to Villa, it’s very much Groundhog Day as we continually circle the gurgler, nothing will change under these clowns, 39 pts from 38 games this calendar year tells its own story, 11 goals this season and mind numbingly boring football every week, here’s to a complete overhaul and change of direction in 2015
Even if your a crepe player you can contribute with the yak, conversely You can have a negative effect if your talking knackers, met a lot of both and some of the negative ones thought they were the dogs.
B62,
Bet you wish that you had the opportunity to tell Lamebert that, and a bit extra.
Nice to see Villanto again.
Steamer
Thanks I always appreciate your comments and humour
lately though if I were to post after game I witnessed I would have depressed you all because I’ve been depressed down the social & Villa Park ever since Lambert and Gabby got knew contracts.
thats without commenting on the standard of football and tactics that we see.
So I just have to refrain from posting to stop the profanities that I would be using after matches
All the best for the New Year Steams
Steamer, with you on that mate, the type you don’t want young players within a mile of. You can tell if there talking knackers because your usually losing and arguing.
Cheers mate.
Mark,
Played against one bloke, a big name, his bro played in AVFC 1st team but he only had half the talent of this bloke, his own CD ran into position and called for the ball, this bloke stood on the ball stared him down and yelled “‘eff off, i don’t pass to dummies.’ He was a great player but a knob, marked him once and thought i was doing ok, he went back to collect the ball off his keeper and hit a pass right to his CF’s toenail, who scored, i just thought ‘whats the point’ ? just destroyed me with one pass, knob. Give him his due, fantastic ability but you have to ask why he didn’t make it in the league although he did play for top NL clubs.
Steamer, unfortunately being talented doesn’t make you immune from knobness
Steamer, on the flip side those kind of people can stop others from reaching their potential if they are not strong willed enough
From the shores of Shuswap Lake, Happy New Year to all of you. Can you believe it?—2015. I’ve joined a grass growing blog as that’s more exciting than watching Villa at the moment. I tried a paint drying club but it was much to fast for me. The world certainly has its fair share of knobs and it always amazes me how high up the ladder they get.
Thanks for the blog Matt. 4 years is a good stretch in this world.
What kind of grass was it Ian ?
Actually I was thinking of Kentucky Blue grass as it’s an aggressive plant but now that you mention it I’m going to subscribe to High Times as that grass will get me through the rest of the season. 🙂
My ol’ murky grey matter has just reminded me something else about “Vanilla” and Crystal Palace.
Way back in 1968 I went down to the CP ground to watch the Villa and happily came away having seen Williy (Bill to his friends) Anderson nip the winner. It was the time of the BeeGees as well when they were in fine fettle going down the middle.
Anyway, I was shouting in unmistakeable terms of “Up The Villa” throughout the match and my 6-year-old nephew who was there with me in the stands eventually tried to copy what I was shouting. But he came out with “Up the Vanilla”. Doubtless ice cream was foremost on his mind!
Hey John, that reminds me of Graeme. When he was a toddler he was enamoured with dump trucks. Every time he saw one he would point and shout dumb fuck. Which was funny. Especially on the street corner waiting for the light with people around you.
Thats odd, people shout that whenever they see St75.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ………………..YES EVEN YOU SWW.
been to the panto at the hippodrome , best line , “what do yo call a herd of donkeys ??? ” answer . Birmingham City FC .
met that Sheridan Smith , god she is nuts and an altogether proper person .lol
mark . still thinking , and jeez my head still hurts ,
Jenny xxxxxxx
john l went to that game and willie anderson was brill i rember us all chanting dance Willie dance and some Cockney behind us replied can he fuc kin sing as well rember it well happy new year to all Vila fans and next year could not be worse than the last 4 even going down would not be as bad as the tripe we have had to pur up with and to the happy clappers fuc kin wake up and smell the coffee
happy new year !
Lets start a new saying <
KEEP CALM, I AM A Villa Fan!
Happy New Year Matt and all.
I can relate so well to your latest posting having not renewed my season ticket this year for the first time in . . . . . . Sigh
Anyway. . . . The good thing is that no matter how bad you might feel about the club at any one point, it doesn’t have to be forever. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, if the team plays well and results improve. (Which they will at some point) then the old feelings will come flooding back.
Let’s hope it’s soon.
Great article Matt,
and so glad that you have managed to keep the site going. I love all the banter here, as I am sure everyone else does. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing, and that is a team we can be proud of and get behind every week, with players who are proud to wear the shirt.
Happy New Year to everyone, unfortunately, I have to work today, so will miss the match, and also not got much hope for Sunday at the moment, but hey! who knows, maybe someone will be kind and cover me.
Catch up with you all hopefully with a good result, and some progress……
Matt, Good to see you back happy new year to you, one and all!
the flues a fokker and a half and hope you feel better soon !
its hard being a villa fan these days, it seems to many we are worse when we r keeping a hold of the ball, as regards to chasing it , albeit minus the goals.
yes i know keepig the ball is no guarantee we will be barca circa 2003-2012 . but for fooks sake its got to be better the being a blues/wba/wolvws/manc/cockney fan!
KEEP CALM, I AM A Villa Fan!
(ideal team, for tomorow)
guzan
hutton (was always ok in my book)
okore (fok valrr up da achilles/hamstring/attiude/hole)
clarke /if injured then vlaar
cissy
sanchez (liked the cut of his jib from day 1)
jg (ditto)
cleve (still not sure)
g.gardener ( he’s ready )
big Ben (stop bitching and start scoring u slag)
gobby ( do some tricks with them runs, u fast barstewrd))
fyi
sin city 2 (is arse)
Happy New Year All
I’m going for a 2-1 win tonight. CP won’t like the feeling of Benteke’s cold steel up ’em. Villa have to win this one to stay ahead of the relegation pack breathing down their necks. The last set of results didn’t really go our way.
UTV.
S75,
Sheridan Smith?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You sly so-and-so … firstly you take Jenny away from us and now this one… 😉
JD,
Funny thing is that I lived in CP area from 1987 to 1998 and used to go down to see Villa play at CP whenever they came down. I remember well that year when there was a 3-3 draw, with Yorkie showing ’em how.
Saw Villa play down at Plough Lane (vs Wimbledon) once … We used to say St. Andrews’ was a pig-sty but Plough Lane was summat else!! And that was in the top division! Then they moved to share the CP ground.
Happy New Year all
Now for villa. I’m going to guess today that we will play 5 at the back at HOME, Grealish still won’t start and Gabby will. I’m going to guess that it will be 11 goals in 20 games after today.
You would think The Berk would be desperate to start 2015 on a high after 2014 was one of the worst record breakers ever at this club
Matt,
To be honest mate i have more inclination to come on here and read the comments, than i have to go to VP these days. Its a damn site more entertaining and Cheaper, all in all, a much better value experience!
Frem,
Judging by his comments ( Grealish has to earn the right to start a game ????? ) which translates as Bollox, i don’t like him and he can play footy too, then i think your bang on. What the fuck is he on about ? unless you play you can’t show how good you are and anyway we have half a doz who haven’t ‘Earned the right to start a game’ but thats what they do every week. The blokes a fucking loony tunes.
cheer yerself up –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcMLjIrBIe0
Frem, I may be wrong, but I think that we’ve only tended to have 5 at the back against the top teams. We were 4 at the back against Sunderland. Five at the back has worked well against the top teams so seems a sensible approach?
62 him games. 30 defeats. 15 wins
If we lose today, you would like to think that would be that for the Berk. You would hope Randy and Fox will have the balls to sack him.
Didn’t mention it after Sunderland, but Sanchez was top class. Someone who protects the back four finally and can pass it to.
Who will be sent of today then ?
Go 4231 Berk. Attack and play Grealish
Too true Sam.
Haven’t got a goolie between them.
Robbo- We played it against Swansea for 45 mins and he changed it at half time because it was awful. Remember when we played it against Chelsea and Wigan and Spurs all in a week and lost 15-0 ? Good old Lamberk. We’ve pulled it out in many games and 99% of the time we get battered with he odd lucky win. We would have played it against Sunderland if Okore didn’t need to be rested. If Clark is fit, I expect us to play it today
Steamer- He speaks so much crap. Says he needs to prove him self. What have Gabby and Wiemann done to prove them selfs ?
If Grealish is in the same class as say, a Wayne Rooney then yes he should be starting regularly now. If he’s just below that level then a more measured approach is probably more sensible. There are too many exciting young players who’ve had too much expected of them and have then been crushed by the pressure, not just at Villa, but all clubs.
I’d like to see him getting the occasional start (maybe beginning with the cup games) and to get at least half an hour as a sub in premiership games but there’s every chance that he would flatter to deceive if made a regular starter at 19.
Happy New Year to all at AVL, even got a good wish from ST75 now that proves miracles happen so I predict a 5-0 win today and Lambert to win manager of the year Vlaar Delph and Benteke to all sign long term contracts, its a new dawn at VP.
May have had a tad too much to drink last night.
AVFC 2015
robbo he is the best footballer at the club by a long long way thats the trouble like all great players he thinks on a different wavelength to the complete useless pub runners that lambert picks him takers and sanshez should train together awayfrom the rest of the useless morons
I reckon Grealish will start in the Blackpool match. And maybe one or two other youngsters too.
HNY to all the lovely lifers – young , more senior , home and abroad , a great variety of talents that make this such a great site – and of course a big thank you to Mat for making it happen .
It’s become like a friendly bar that you can pop in and have a chat to your mates.
Runtingz and ST75 , enjoying the compliments you smoothies xx
Frem, if we start with 5 at the back today I will come on here and apologise for questioning you!
As January is the month for resolutions, new beginnings , I’m going for an AV win today . I hope we go and attack manager less CP from the start as two counter attacking teams will result in a stalemate at VP . I think we are lucky to play them now and not when Pardew has got them organised . Bolassi is dangerous – and I would love to see him at AV if we could get our hands on him . Great attitude , work rate and energy and can score goals. The one to watch . Prediction 2-1 .
JD, I’ve seen Grealish through the academy teams and agree that the lad has skill and appears to have a good attitude.
It’s too soon to say just how good he is, as it is for all 19 year olds.
Anyone on this site would be able to list plenty of great 19 year olds who haven’t made it at the highest level.
I think and hope that Grealish can be one if those who does go all the way though!
no 5 at the back then thank fuck
Still no Grealish and the two donkeys leading the line with Benteke
Can’t wait for the day The Berk leaves this club. Hopefully today if we lose yet again
Well, Frem, Bacuna starts at least!
As for ‘the Berk’ leaving … you’d perhaps be better off to forget it. He’s there sine die.
Yes sirree, he’s here to stay until he no longer sees it in his best interests to go. Randolph won’t sack him.
I’ll try and watch this one. 20 minutes to go.
stay
Hello Lads.
Wizziwig is closed down. Can anyone give me another stream
Good Luck in 2015 p all Lifers.
New Year same injury issues with Vlaar,get rid asap.
The players boood of at half time. You’ll have to watch that first half to believe it
No with ( we need wingers) The most dullest slowest pointlessness passing I’ve ever seen. Gabby gets worse as a footballer
palace should be 1 up
Knowone moves in our front 3, they just all stand in tbd same space
The worst 45 mins I’ve ever seen
Frem
You are not exagerating one bit,a dreadful 1st half,really bad.Pointless passing,static players,no inspiration.
In relation to Jack Grealish and any other potential premier lge star for that matter
You only get better by playing games – there are many other 19yr olds in the lge playing for there club and even there country
I believe we have 3 or 4 young players that should have begun there intergration nto the first team long before now
all lambert is doing is stunting there growth – there isnt much the manager is doing that is of any real benifit for the club and players imo
Shame Wiziwig has been closed down.
The last words heard broadcast from AVTV before transmission stopped at halftime was from someone saying, “Appalling isn’t it?”.
whats odds cole comes on only last 10 mins
Wonder if they shut Wiziwig down because they showed the Villa ?
Jimmy Brown played for our 1st team when 15, captain at 17?, 19 isn’t young to be playing first team footy, Gordon Cowans,Gary Shaw, loads more.
I totally agree with runtings last post. The way Robinson and Grealish have been messed around has clearly held them back. Bad management.
this is all set up for grealish to come on and sort this out!
Loving the possession, just need some creativity to go with it!
This is worse than pathetic, if the tw@ had anything about him he’d piss off out of shame but he hasn’t the spine.
SteveW,
Agree with you and Runtingz, iv’e never seen a player improve sitting on his arris.
come you numpties! score already
Think the message is clear from Lerner & Fox, fuck you fans, you don’t matter.
Dreadful,awful,woeful,shameful.
No 10 men excuse,we were NOT excellent,ths is NOT a great point.
Enough.
Lambert out.
“It was a poor poor match, The right result. Nobody deserved to win this one.” AVTV commentator. No propaganda today.
Nevermind, at least it’s Friday.
Lerner and his negligent incompetence are killing the club.
shameful
5 matches ONE GOAL wba man u swansea sunderland cpalace
3 points ONE GOAL
ANYONE GOING SUNDAY PLEASE DONT OR STAND OUTSIDE PROTEST
lambert is a joke can break up clark okore but not gabby wiemen cleverly
benteke turned to mush cant blame him
LAMBERT OUT
FOX IF YOU CANT SEE LAMBERT NO MANAGER OUT TO
If any of you rate Gabby one bit as a footballer I urge you to watch that game. His all time low as footballer. Even tackled his own player at the end
Lambert out chants at the end.hope Blackpool finish him off
Awful
11 goals in 20 games now.
We will go down. Teams are getting better
one goal in five games 🙂 herse for lambert sod the taxi
steamz – the only hope we have of lambert leaving before randy is if we are rooted in the bottom 3 i reckon —its hard supporting a club that is just bidding there time treading water
It sounded god damn awful i have a great deal of sympathy for anyone who paid to see that today if Lambert mentions excellent just once he deserves the sack no questions asked.
AVFC RIP
WM radio commentator . just said “its the worst football l have ever watched in the premiership ” and franksy asked whats going on in the villa camp . last week the radio show helped hound Irvine out , why arn’t they helping us with that fucking fraud of a manager ,
lv been asked to go out as my language at the moment is horrible , l really want to stamp on lamberts head ,
Steamer,
It seems an utter irrelevancy this stat in the context of today’s showing (sorry, non-showing) but Jimmy Brown was captain at 19, not 17, but how many games did he last … only 80+. Then his career was effectively over – he was launched too early perhaps.
I don’t think that Jack is good enough to turn games the way Villa are playing … but I expect he’ll start against Blackpool. A chance for him to turn it on and gain confidence.
Runtins — Herse ….class .
my brother rang me up this morning at 10 am asking if l want to go the game , language was terrible and l have’nt got my xmas pressie off him yet , dont think l will either after putting a flea in his ear-hole ,
and glad lm not there as anyone telling me lamberk is doing his best , well l’d be having a jam -buttie in the morning in steelhouse lane again . fuck lv had it with the club till he’s gone ,
Hearse ..even
Really hope Blackpool batter us on Sunday
Frem,
In my view it’s the whole set up that’s not working, not just Gabby. Even CB looks like a bag of potatoes to my mind.
There’s lack of quality width (a theme you’ve been on about) and no urgency, so opposing defences can cover at their ease. That’s the big problem – not just Gabby. None of them up front looked different from one another and without inspiration.
Wow another nail biting game. In a bigger picture the whole league is shit. Talk about false hope for any of the bottom teams. And the bottom teams start at 7th place. This really is disheartening as I see quite a few players who are decent and are being stunted at Villa Park. Is Vlaar hurt again? I missed it.
Well guys go grab some Advil, (3 is a good number to start with) mix with plenty of beer, sit back and forget about Villa for a while. It doesn’t do you any good to blow a vessel on this bunch.
What have we become,how did this happen?Our expectations have been manipulated to such an extent that nil nils at home are dressed up as a positive.
Lambert out.
John- But him being in the side doesn’t help anything. He can’t play football and The Berk playing him in a creative role is a crime against football. The two of them together are a crime against football
The first time the Holte turned against the berk today but was to late and didn’t get going as the whistle went. It was a shame.
You watch Lambert say how we created plenty chances, played great football and dominated
Well, Palace had the better chances and the football we played was shocking as Collymore has just said
That was awful. The worst of the problems were up front today.
If that’s the best that Benteke can do then let’s cash in on him.
His attitude stinks. He should stop complaining about his team mates and the opposition and show that he can play football.
When Vole came on it looked to me as if he was indicating to Gabby to move out wide and Gabby ignored him. I’ve been a supporter of Gabby but if that really is what happened then he needs to be shipped out as soon as possible.
Jonny Gould reckons there’s interest from Azerbaijan, dunno the bloke but apparently he has a good record.
If Speroni had missed one of those good saves then we may have been able to at the ball around, control the game, draw them out and score more. The fact is. . . he didn’t. Under those circumstances we need to change it around a little. Fans were complaining about playing the ball long but that doesn’t mean it should be completely banned from our game. The once that Guzan did kick it long Benteke took it down and might have created something. It would make the opposition think a bit too.
We lacked imagination today . . . . it was a tough watch.
Frem. Palace didn’t have the best chances. They had one good chance but didn’t even have one shot on target. It was bad enough as it was without making things up.
RoBBo,
Been telling you for ages, Scraggy’s got too much say in the club, he’s just a thick winker who got lucky, Villa fan…my arse, he’s just filling his boots. Someone told me he lived on a gated estate, one morning the gates wouldn’t open so he called up security, the security bloke told him they wouldn’t open because he was using the TV remote control, there’s thick and there’s Tatty. And that story is true.
Can you imagine BFR’s reaction to the way we play ?
Turgid, Dire, clueless, depressing and 3rd rate. Lambert has fooled the masses for far too long, he is beyond incompetent, he simply must go, we are firmly entrenched in yet another relegation battle, it’s Groundhog Day. The players haven’t got a clue once they reach the halfway line.
Another low gate, and it’s easy to see why with the tripe that’s on offer, it’s got to be killing Lerner pocket, 12000 empty seats every week, that’s roughly £475K in seat money alone if you multiply that over 19 games, even taking into account the gates against the big boys, that between £6-7.5m per year, add in the money those fans spend on food/drink and souvenirs etc and it all adds up, it actually doesn’t make financial sense to retain this fuckwit as manager, and goes to show the levels of stupidity by those in power at VP by giving the useless cunt a new contract.
Lambert Out
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/dec/19/black-gold-sporting-glitter-azerbaijan-modern-sport
Possible new owners, seem like a decent bunch.
Robbo
Place went great but we’re a lot better than us and fluffed there lines on many occasions in front of goal, and when clean through on a one v one, really should have scored rather than smash it against the crossbar
B62,
Just about sums up the situation, but fuck Lerner pockets he’s got plenty, its the club that worries me, we must have the most docile bunch of fans on Earth, HTF can you pay good money to watch that shite ? Sorry, not only do they deserve what they get they should know that they’re contributing to the demise of the club that formed the Worlds oldest league.
Steamer- Where have you seen that they could possibly be our new owners?
Lambert is pleased with our performances and thought we dominated.
Okore is a class act
If I hear once more after a top 6 side smashes us that “we gave a bunch if games coming uo that we can win” then I will scream,vomit and punch the cat all simultaneously.
Albion lost
Swansea lost
Sland nil nil
Palace nil nil
Lambert go elsewhere asap.
Aww come on Steamer. did you read the whole article? Not long enough. 🙂
Steamer
I’m not sure boycotting does any good, real protests and a packed VP frothing at the mouth screaming for change might, if all else fails the peasants should revolt and storm the castle, these fuckers need a good kicking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagit_Alekperov
Is this our saviour ?
Yes Ian, IMO they’re just misunderstood.
Frem,
TBAR
B62. We were lacking in imagination, passion and movement up front but we were still much better than crystal palace. What makes me angry is that our front players didn’t try hard enough to break down a very poor Palace side who lacked any ambition or skill.
Ian,
Just jesting, read somewhere that they boil political opponents alive, good incentive and i hope Lambert realises whats in store. arf arf. or is that Kazakhstan ?
r0bb0,
In one sense you’re right .. the front players didn’t do anywhere near enough.
But … we have a wide pitch that cries out for a fast player to get down those wings and put over the right centres. Do we do that?
As B6 pointed out we had a good run of fixtures to all but make us safe on around 30 points. We’ve failed miserably and can’t keep expecting the defence to bail us out.
We’re in yet another relegation battle and there’s no point pretending otherwise.
I said all but safe because even Lambert should be capable of picking up 8 points in 18 games but now we need double that I’m not so confident.
Why can’t Lamberk just be honest for once in a interview and say we were crap? We took Shit to a completely new level today
Robbo- There chance was a sitter and he fluffed it. We created Jack shit as per usual.
In one day of football, Spurs Chelsea, Newcastle and Burnley have scored more goals than we have all season
” Boring Boring Lambert ” as the Holte chanted today
And they had a chance right at the end but thankfully Okore saved out bacon. We had a 30 yard free kick and a corner to get excited about
I would never advocate wanting Villa to lose a match,and I still don`t .If Bpool beat us then most clubs would take action,but if this occurs Lambert will probably get another contract extension.
All praise must go to those who attended this fixture,watchin online was torture.I would rather have a 90 minute prosTrate examination than sit through that.At least the doctor performing this procedure would be honest with what he was going to do.AVFC screw the fans and charge them money for the privelege.
Lambert OUT ASAP.
Frem
Charlie Austin has scored more league goals than our entire squad this season, 12 in a struggling QPR team.
We create very little and are easily the most boring inept side in this league, we will be battling survival right up to the last yet again, as others show more fight and pick up results we go the other way.
Lambert has the cheek to lie to our faces, I actually thiink the only way he will leave is through ill health, as he has pretty much done everything else to deserve the sack.
Everything about the villa is now second rate, from the kits the sponsors, the business side, the crest, some of the facilities, the board/owner , manager/coaching staff and players, we are a bland boring she’ll of our once great selves, thanks Randy you cunt
I’ll be going to Blackpool as well on Sunday and going by Lamberks record against lower league teams, they will beat us and so be it if it means the twat finally leaving
He’s won 14 home games as Villa manager. 14!!!!!!!!! In 2 and a half years
when was last time you got excited about villa signing somebody for me it was bent someone mon should have signed, we probably have one of best target men in football yet every thing is slow sideways backwards forget about your trip to germany pep thought you where waterboy anyway ,get 2 wide men swing the ball towards benteke get players around him not this back side and any way but forwad rule
Lambert has proven once again,that he is simply incapable of imroving this team in the final 3rd of the pitch.
Cheap kits,bully boy coaches,talking the clubs expectations down,shrinking attendances,cheap rubbish signings,a crest that doesn`t declare who we are or when we were formed,defeats to lower division clubs in the cups,no tactical awareness,playing his favourites week in week out,a string of unwanted footballing records-and I don`t mean Hoddle and Waddle.A bright yellow away kit,An injury list longer than Steamer`s bar tab,pink rather than claret in the home kits.No aspiration other than to exist,how the truck did this happen?AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHH.
it is now a fact no club in europe or usa or south america have scored less goals than us is that half the planet earth
if that is not a reason for the happy clappers to wake up what is Lambert will never be sacked untill the gates do not hit 20k
those are the simple facts the idiot poxy fox will not turn untill the fans do and they could not give a toss lambert will be kept no matter what untill the useless happy clappers wake up but seeing as the majority of them have no balls we are stuck with him the mail must be on the pay role of poxy fox and all the local radios as well he is the worst manager on half the planet earth facts do not tell lies
As stated, there’s not a lot of quality about AVFC in any department but you have to wonder about the folk at the top who are screwing the fans, how can anyone lose interest so quickly and why ? That Lerner is the financial equivalent of Benny out of Crossroads is undeniable but his incompetence is staggering. I put it down to him being a complete winker.
Must say that i hope Blackpool stuff us, quite possible too, it wouldn’t be the end for Lamebert but it may make Lerner think. The gate will also do that, probably less than 20,000.
Thinking about the Azer rumours, its quite possible that either David Camoron or Prince Willy have had words with the Azer President who has close links with Prince Andrew who spends a lot of time in Azerbaijan. If they really are serious about investing in Worldwide sport then why not consult the people with influence who can offer them possible business and trade connections in return ?
Aston Villa FC goal of the month competition is taking on a life of its own now……..
Benteke needs to man up – the signs were there when he slapped that lad from tottingham rather than punching him! He had a very good chance today that he blasted over and a couple of decent headers that on another day may have bounced off Clarke to go in.
There is too much wrong – Joe “tampon” Cole making his monthly appearance looked to be trying to get the players organised a bit – why haven’t we got a number of players who can do that?
Bacuna looked like he wanted to play that will see him dropped then. Cissoko – if only he could cross, made some good runs today. Grealish did OK but that was still five times better than weimans contribution.
Okore – very good no wonder they tried to drop him last match.
Vlaar – good bye please go.
Heard there may be a swap deal Delph for Dembele – anyone else heard this? To my mind we should bite their hands off if its true.
UTV!
John- That’s amazing if that’s true about us basically being the lowest scorers in world football.
It’s amazing how he still has a job. He is the worst manager in our history
3 points from a possible, and 3 wins from a possible 15 Games
JD,
One of the many reasons that i loathe and detest Lamebert, and believe me there are loads, is that he must know that he’s totally fucked up at every level, all of the fans polls want him booted and to be honest he’s despised by most, yet he continues to take the piss, he has no self respect, a shallow wimp of a man who needs a physical back up so that he can occasionally bully the staff, how TF can he hold his head up and work under these conditions, he really is trash, a typical product of modern sport,take the money and run. To be honest i’d bet he’s terrified to leave his house in case someone snots him.
We would improve if we signed two wingers, played a number 10 and sold Gabby and Wiemann. He still Insists on play playing 3 centre mids and two donkeys all the time at home
You have to wonder what the modern Villan is all about, skim the blogs and you see criticism of Grealish because he can’t defend !!!!! Others insist that we miss Westwood and now we have no-one who can take a deadball kick, could Westwood ? If he was listed i very much doubt if another EPL club would sign him. Most fans seem to have become Hansen clones, talking technical bollox about tactics and systems when they couldn’t explain what a switch throw is, Johann Cruyff once said ‘leave the rules alone, football is a simple game,’ mind boggling what they’ve done to that ‘simple game.’.
i cannot have that our players are useless it is just the mentally mind set that has been instilled into them that is all bar cleverly who is boredom personified all you all have to do is take a look at the sty down the road there players are complete and utter sh ite but they are wining and scoring goals why?
the manager instills belief into them and they are told how to play to win .
we on the other hand have a manager who is to close to the players and cannot see the trees from the wood keano tried to get certain players to train harder and to get firt and was hounded out the club we all know this is the truth as i told you at the time the players run the club gabby for one is in charge never dropped and is useless there are the chosen few who are running the club today they would have been told again how great they where another fabulous point they do not have to run off the ball or score as they all know they will all play next game they simply have an easy life and are the same as lambert in that there is no one in charge who will tell them off those are the simple facts of how the club is run and will not change as the twice it has been challenged they have been shown the door and lamberts boys can carry on living an easy life.the fans or entertaining the fans are the last thing on there minds as a point a game is all they play for
Iv’e never known such an unprofessional club, its like a corner shop, i’ll give Fox some credit, he’s a huge improvement on Chubby who was way over promoted but at the end of the day he’s Lerners lapdog, Villa come second at best in his loyalties. Talking of Chubby, just how much damage would he have to have done before Lerner booted him, as B6B and B62 have pointed out, crepe sponsors, crepe kits, crepe everything, yet he has the satisfaction of resigning as though he was actually an asset.
Steamer- I don’t read any other blogs anymore, just this site and Twitter so I don’t know what other fans think but there are some twats at there. There is this one kid on Twitter who is unreal. Defends Lamberks record all the time
Apparently Fox knows even less about football than PF did which is amazing, because he knew nothing about football either
John- Some of our players are beyond useless. In fact some aren’t even football players let alone useless football players. Gabby and Wiemann for example, took shit to a new level today. Should be lined up and shot, but yet our twat of a manager keeps starting them, out of position as well
Credit to what Dyche has done at Burnley.
Oh and Cleverley. No goal to assist in 17 games but we are going to spend 7 mill on him instead of buying a quality creative winger for that
as frem put it 14 wins from 52 league matches at home
22 DEFEATS FROMSAME
its not just the record its the performances palace keeper no saves from open play cant think of any sunderland swansea keeper made 2 in injury point blank miss one of them from gabby bar bentekes header against man u west brom 4 matches one goal and hardly double figure in efforts on goal and BUFFOON SAYS GOALS WILL COME
I always thought that Lamberts childlike comments were a symptom of stupidity how about this one off the OS –
He added: “I am not 100% sure but he’s thinking it could be the same sort of thing that he hurt in the World Cup. It’s his knee.
Yes Paul, that thing halfway down either leg.
“They had a back six at times. It’s not easy to break that down. You have to be patient.”
“They packed everyone behind the ball. It was tough to break them down.”
Actually having the nerve to complain about negative tactics.
Obviously severely limited intelligence which explains his rent – a – cliche tactics for every question.
James,
Seems he’s convinced himself but no-one believes him.
Paul, make yourself a char, sit down and look at the facts, 11 goals all season, they ain’t coming mate.
Frem,
Haven’t met anyone who doesn’t think that TC is crepe or wants us to sign him, even worse iv’e never heard a compliment about him except from Lamebert, 7M could buy a half decent player, however i think Everton will save us in January.
Some of our players are beyond useless. In fact some aren’t even football players let alone useless football players. Gabby and Wiemann for example, took s**t to a new level today.
Another classic.
The good thing about Cleverley is that he has been so mind bogglingly ordinary that not even our dimwitted club would spend £7-8m on him.
That’s what I thought. Some smug Man U fans think it is already a done deal – a condition of the loan. If that turns out to be true then it ranks alongside the decision to give Lambert a new contract.
do you know that Aston villa are the lowest goalscorers in
1 the whole of Europe
2, the whole of the USA
3, the whole of Brazil
4, the whole of Argentina
i do not know about any where else as i cannot find there pro league tables
but i would say that the above is roughly half of the planet earth
how is any one allowed to keep a job and given that much slack with the above figures to back them up.
to the happy clappers please read these stats to mr poxy fox please read these stats as they tell you we are the worst entertaining side in half of the planet earth and probably the other half as i have not checked those stats
the players led by scabby do not care as they have it far to easy under mr buffoon no running off the ball nothing to try to score a goal ,
when they where told to work harder the two assistants where forced out of the club by the players saying they want us to work to hard
well as far as i can see they are running the club and cleverly is the most boring footballer on planet earth 17 games no assists 2 shots fora midfield player worst stats in all the uk .all the above are facts that do not tell lies unlike mr Lambert the cheat and fraud when will all you happy clappers the mail and mr poxy fox wake up and sack the worst manager on planet earth as stats do not lie
watching match of the day
i could cry i did
leicster tore pool to shreds only for ref would won easy passing the ball with purpose
burnley 3 injurys first half battered newcastle
every body but villa scoring for fun playing entertaining football we dont do anything
cleverly wiemen gabby zog wouldnt get with hundred miles any other team
would any body like a bet that the tea bags finish at least 10 points above us at the end of the season if the clown is kept
The recent run of games have been 6 pointers and we have failed therefore 12th looks fantastic, however at the end of season these 6 pointers will come back to haunt us definately now I believe we will be the biggest club in the championship with the smallest crowds if this fraud hangs on. Im embarressed to say that even though I have a season ticket I stayed at home, because its affecting my family life with negative depressing shite football that my family cant understand why I go. So knowing what I would be served up when I seen that Gabby, Wiemann & Cleverley were starting I decided that I better stay at home or I would be starting the New year in Queens Road Cop Shop.
Please forgive me lifers I feel disloyal but I have to admit I made the right choice & feel that it might be time to admit defeat and not renew ST, in fact its probably best to find someone to purchase my ST for the rest of the season but I bet I cant give it away
Happy New Year guys. I think everyone has fallen out of love with Villa, unless you’re a robot. Even Burnley and Leicester try to play, push men forward, and try to win games.
Under PL, I’m not sure what our goal is during games, but it’s not to win. The guy is like cancer, slowly spreading his virus until – bam – we’re down.
I would let both Vlaar and Delph go next week…and TC.
I vote we bring Paul McGrath in as our new manager. At least he cares….right now I feel the Villa are going thru the motions to just survive and the attitude is f*%k ambition and trying to get better each year. Watching Villa drags me down. I thought sport was supposed to be fun?
Villato -you’re not alone.
BTW – MT, thanks for the great site. Steamer, Frem – best of luck in the New Year.
Angel 8
My love for villa will always be there hence the reason I still had to witness game on a live stream through gaps in my fingers and also check on sites for any news and views on our once great club.
I did not get a adequate view of all the game because it keeps cutting out frequently, however there was a moment the I seen Gabby the legend make a late run from the halfway line un opposed, a villa player had the ball at the edge of the box.
a square ball was on ready for Scabby to receive if only the twat called and stopped could not believe me eyes when the clueless fucker kept running past the players straight into two palace centre halfs & Benteke.
Well if he is a footballer and Lambert is a manager, Im the future king because I had to bite on the sofa to stop the pain and laughter. I dont want to comment on Wiemann & Cleverley because I need some sleep and will be writing for a week
Happy New Year Lifers,
Well, my decision to work, was the right one,….but probably made for me, and after the Slumberland game, i did not have any fight in me.
Watching tonight was no different, except we had 11 men on the pitch, but was amazed that I had been watching for a whole 20 minutes that Weimann was playing, as his name had never been mentioned.
defense again had a good match apart from the early blunder, but there is still no improvement in the final third, although Cleverley did almost have a chance converted until a defending leg steered it to safety.
Did feel that Lambert at his end of match interview had lost his usual bluster of we gave it a real good go and we were unlucky….H4e knows that Blackpool will now probably be his final act with Villa, unless he comes up with an amazing result, which needs to be more than an odd goal victory.
He knows he has run out of excuses, and the writing is now on the wall.An empty stadium will not keep him in a job, one which has proved to be too big for him. Oh! if only we could have grabbed Ronald koeman when he was interested, but hey maybe with the right backing, he would still come….but not the Tony Pullis’s and many other managers, who are now struggling…..how many Villa fans are now ready to choke on their words over Martinez, and many others…..Lambert is sh**e, but many others are also s**e, and had a lot more to play with. Villa now need a positive mind coach and true footballing coach….and one who is not another Sc****sh Tw*t, who thinks he knows the game.
I find it amazing that people still think that Lambert might get the sack.
To me it’s as clear as daylight that he’s still in the job because Lerner wants him to be in the job … until the season’s end at least.
The only possibility of him going is if 25,000 fans turn up for the next league match, with 15,000 or more standing outside in Aston Park in protest.
Tim Sherwood was being shown around VP by Fox yesterday, Photos on TVB also Christensen of Fulham was there. I don’t think Sherwood would be interested in the assistant managers post so there’s hope yet that Lambert will soon be gone.
V. interesting, Steamer. Very interesting indeed…
It begs the question, though, that if Villa *are* prepared to ditch PL, why the hell give him a 4-year contract? It makes no sense whatsoever. OK, Villa had just gone 4 games undefeated, but it was not a glorious run and insufficient reason to give him such a contract. Unless it has one or two salient clauses in it…
John
I would have thought that maybe TS is being considered for a post within the academy.Just an idea,as as you rightly say,the ink is barely dry on a 4 year deal.It is remarkably difficult to write that term “a 4 year deal”.It never ceases to amaze me ,how failure and mediocrity are so well rewarded.Which brngs us back to the argument,that Lambert is doing as he`s asked which is to retain our EPL existance.Drawing at home and losing away is a formula for relegation.The chance of 6 points has,once again,passed us by.
B6,
Well, I’d doubt that TS would be interested in an academy job, especially when Albyun wanted him and he’s turned them down.
It’s an interesting situation – maybe Fox is doing a good job? We’ll soon see perhaps.
JL,
As you mentioned – clauses, iv’e seen it mentioned that he would receive one years wages if he were to be booted, peanuts considering the lost revenue from low attendances. They could even get the money back by having a prize draw, 10 pounds a go, winner gets to give Lamebert his p45, i’d have a few quids worth.
think it was steamer who mentioned skim other blogs and lambert out grealish to easy knocked over ,maybe true about grealish our only one decent chance came from a foul on him crossed in cleared to sanchez who put it on a plate for benteke and to think all he gets 15/20 maybe30 mins if good boy
people comment on lamberts signings first season
vlar 3.5 ok nothing more
westwood 1.5 passable
bennet 3.5 disaster
kea 2.5 very poor
bowerey .750 cant get in division one side now
lowton 2.5 looked good fell out with lambert disaster now
benteke 6.5 diamond
guzan ok
sylla 1.5 what happened looked good disappeared
dawkins who
10 1 season 4good 6 bad
steer 1.5 why waste money
luna 2.5 great debut out team before xmas out onloan
okore 4 looks good only for injuries would not have played
bacuna 1.5 looked good in parts yesyerday 1 startall season
tonev 2.5 makes gabby wiemen shooting look good on loan banned for racial abuse
helnius 1.5 looked good in patches never got chance why
kozak 5.5 good goal return BUT WHY TAKE OVER YEAR FROM BROKEN LEG GIROUD BACK 11 WEEKS
HOLT he a mans man awful
bertrand is he player at soton different claas at dell LAMBERT GERMAN COACHING SHOWING
2good 2 dont know 5 rubbish
sissko 2.5 good enough defender
sendross joke signing even if he ;looked good first couple results which have shown won 3with goal difference of plus 3 lost 6 goal minus14
cole joke signing fit for 1 start in 20 matches same for last8 years
sanchez diamond same as okore only for injuries wouldnt started
cleverly most inept footballer to grace villa park in villa shirt
richardson same as cole sendross last 3 clubs in relegation fight
25 players in yet most teams have base of guzan hutton baker clark delph wiemen gabby zog grealish that where already here never mind his treatmentof hutton dunne zog bent
fox wake up or you will be trying to sell tickets for division one next season
JamesG,
Agree with every one of your assessments and comments.
James G.
A touch harsh on Cleverly.We could fill 2 phone books with the number of inept wage thieves we have seen pull on our claret and blue.
Djemba Djemba
Sylia
Steve Foster
Mark Lillis
Nigel Callaghan
Ian Ormoddroyd-spelling,sorry.
Balaban
These spring to mind,but there are dozensI rate Cleverly as a one million pound player at best,if we pay the reported £7M then we may as well shut the club down and wear black armbands.
How the truck did we end up in this mess?Total carp on and off the pitch.
James,
Good comments in the main part … except I regard Benteke as a former diamond. He’s now showing a remarkable inclination to ape Belotelli i.m.o.
Cleverley I see as a useful player, though, and would probably be seen as a better player under a different manager – Tim Sherwood?
John
Cleverly would be an ok MF player IMO for £1.5M tops,if these two sets of circumstances occured………
A .Different gaffer and B..with different players around hin..
Westwood has been cloned and the MF we have,play the same,are coached the same ,and think the same.Not one of them is allowed to take a risk,or run with the ball.There is a place for the neat and tidy grafter in all levels of the game,but not 4 or 5 of them in the same team.Our MF believe the opponent`s penalty box is mined and surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by pit bulls.Crossing the half way line is a no no.
b6 to brazil
yes we could all name a heaps duds from past but cleverly our manager going to blowdouble what he spent on sanchez cissko
john l
if messi played for lambert he would pack it in watching mod last night leicster burnley qpr attacking 4/5 in attack watch benteke nearest to him gabby wiemen who will neither pass to him or run into space gabby will run to where benteke standing
James,
Agreed that CB doesn’t get much support … but have you looked *closely* at what CB does when he does get it – which is more often than you might think? I saw CB make one useful contribution yesterday, and zilch anticipation nor making space for himself.
B6,
Agreed with your assessment there. On Cleverley, though, I think that 1.5m is too low in this market. £3 to £4m would be more like a true market worth i.m.o.
Oh, and James, although he only had one very good chance to score, CB blazed over when I reckon even Gabby or Andi would have scored.
Who was the last Villa MF to set foot in the opposition box or run past his own forwards or even pass the ball forward ? According to David Platt, Trappatoni banned any MF going the other side of the Juventus strikers.
have to agree with cleverly he is useless and always has been spoke to loads of manure fans who said worst player to play for them happy the crab has gone as for all the rest of the comments want to win against blackpool as a new manager might inspire a cup run i would love Zola to take over all out attack as would rather lose and see a few goals than this tripe week in week out in all my life have never known a man so stubborn and useless as Lambert the players love him as they all have it so easy and get praised week in week out for playing crap only here can that happen and those who think Poxy fox is any good he is showing now he simply is a yes man who is thicker than the last twat or lambert would be out ,
no takers on my bet that the tea bags will finish 10 points above us get on now at 2 to 1 to finish top midland club money from america and the stars it is a certinty should be 100 to 1 on now
Steamer,
In all fairness, Bacuna showed up well in the early part of the first half, playing a lovely through-ball to Hutton and another attempted through-ball later on that half. He later seemed to become just a number, like the rest: devoid of ideas.
But it was Sanchez that got forward to pull the ball back for CB’s chance – the one that he managed to send over the bar.
It’s that what we need – players to get down the flanks and pull the ball back. There were occasional signs yesterday of that happening, but the forwards seemed still too full of Christmas brandy to be alert and take advantage.
JG like that post a lot very good and fair assesement
As for Tekkers – he is light years ahead of everyone in the team except grealish and Okore
Tekkers is a top 4 player and thats were he will end up — he seems to spend more time in midfield – this is not a acciedent but because we rarely cross – he has no idea what a throu ball looks like – and i see the frustration in him knowing he may if he is lucky get one or two chances to shoot or head towards goal
Last rant 🙂 the grealish is lightwieght comments all over the internet is laughable to me
any skilful player that runs at teams , dribbling and trying to open teams up will need game time to perfect there skill and strength – McManaman – rolaldo ect all got knocked of the ball for there first two seasons — some people
Hope there is something in TS being shown around. He’s no world beater, but he is compared to our current twat. Time for Bpool to finish the knob off now
Isn’t that Fulham bloke a defender? We don’t need one. We need attackers but we have for 3 years and he’s done nothing about it
It would seem to me that people are still thinking of Benteke as he was before the injury last season.
Apart from two excellently-contrived goals he’s done very little for himself or his team this season.
Of course we have other problems with the Villa team, but CB these days spends too much time taking umbridge with his team-mates instead of scoring from the chances he does get. The one against CP was (for him) a *terrible* miss. And it’s not been the first bad miss.
He may well do better elsewhere, but wherever he goes he’s going to have to learn how to buckle under. Or take the consequences a la Bollatelli.
JL,
I think that playing with these mediocrities is frustrating him, over the years we’ve seen potentially great players destroyed by this environment, John Sleeuwenhoek and the other minors as examples. If we can just get rid pf Lerner & Lambert and bring in some genuine talent and a proper manager then hopefully he can regain his edge. Mind, i remember saying something similar in 1967.
Steamer,
Oh, yes, I don’t doubt that frustration is part of his problem. But let’s put it this way … if the manager here was Bill Shankley or SAF, CB would be *scared* out of that frustration! 🙂
Well, everyone is still really pissed and I can’t blame any of you. I remember the take on Benteke when he first arrived and it appears he is being true to form. Ok John I’ll take you up on the bet but beer has to be part of the equation.
This just might be quite a transfer period. Not players, but Lambert. I think he IS a dead man walking. He has lost emotion and looks beat. I don’t know how much his contract was for but you would have to imagine it isn’t worth anything like some of the players so giving him the boot wouldn’t be that expensive. 2 years/4 years what difference does it make? Pardue got a 10 year contract. Managers are hired to be fired and not one of the candidates we wished the last few years have done that well. A new man will only produce for a short while. Look at Pulis, he only lasts part of season. Either he knows or the management knows his appeal with the players is short lived and off he goes. With the quality on hand I don’t think anyone would have put many more points on the board. It gets harder and harder to get up at 6:30 every weekend to watch this stuff and that’s way too early to start drinking to ease the view on TV.
In a nutshell? The players, good, bad, or excellent don’t give a toss.
JL tekkers isnt at his best and clearly isnt happy -is this due to him not being bothered or due to him playing in a sub standard team for standard manager in sub standard tactics
The manager takes the can for me as he has some very good players and some half decent ones and he is not getting anywhere the best out of them — the buck stops with PL
my guess is a new manager would make villa look like a half decent side again
Runtings,
Yes, a good manager is needed without doubt. It’s a comfort zone as things stand for some players.
As to CB, I’m not bothered as to what’s causing his lack of performance. To me each player should be his own -policemen and play according to what he’s therefore and according to his ability.
Sorry, I remember the days of Stan Matthews, Tom Finney and Johnny Dixon too well. They thought they were lucky to be able to play top class football. I remember the story of Ron Wylie who said that in about 1962 his pay packet went up to £60 p.w. after the maximum wage had been abolished (pay up to then £20 p.w.) and said he didn’t know what to do with the extra cash!!!!! Even Dennis Mortimer only got about £500 p.w. The present lot are just plain spoilt.
Yes, before anyone says it … those were the days! 🙂 Nevertheless, these guys need to be reminded as to how it was they came to be paid such dough.
Money, that’s the big problem in sport, Ian mentioned a couple of years ago an ice hockey player who’s contract had expired received several million $$$ just for talking about a contract with another club. At the end of the day the fans come bottom of the pile.
I remember reading that the Villa team that won the league got 500 squid basic and 250 per point, and the current shower reckon they don’t get paid enough to take criticism from Roy Keane.
JL,
Remember that story about Stan Mortensen going in for a pay rise from 8 pounds a week in the Summer months to 10, he wanted parity with Stan Matthews, ‘Matthews is a better player than you,’ said the chairman, ‘not in the Summer he isn’t’ was the reply, he got the 10 squid.
JL,
I think we’re about to find out where exactly Fox stands regarding Lamebert, unless he’s 100% behind PL then i don’t think he’ll allow the signing of Cleverly, if he is, then unfortunately Cleverly will become a Villan and we’ll know exactly where we stand, either way we’ll be in the shite.
Strange that a team that can’t score goals absolutely refuses to play Darren Bent,and Lambert reckons he doesn’t have a problem with him, another lie.
I’m not unhappy about the Clever player, Steamer.
A bit over the top at the price, yes, but if managed/coached properly (by TS?!) then he’d by OK I reckon.
The key issue for me is about PL himself. Is he staying or what?!!
Hey Steamer, In hockey they have a plus minus system where a player is rated by the number of goals scored both for and against during a game. For example if a player got a hat trick but was on the ice for 4 opposition goals his +/- would be -1. IMO Bent might score but he would be responsible for opposition goals as well since he is so one dimensional. It would be interesting what his +/- would be.
What are the odds of PL staying?
lambert quote when asked about boos
don t here them if we had won one nil it would been perfect day
same theme one of the hacks fell asleep villa park yesterday
steamer
agree about bent
but you can make case for all grealish robinson bacuna cole okore not playing lambert is most pigheaded manager ever
forgot to mention above lambert said yesterday 2 defeats in 10 now when it really is 2 wins in 16
pluslast 10 matches where pal 2 sunderland swansea mutd wba only win in 6 leicster burnley west h sotonwho lost next 4 where we scored grand total of6 GOALS LAMBERT IN CUCKOO LAND
I think we are about to break a new attendance record, against Blackpool we are closing the trinity rd upper, hardly any tickets sold for any stand and Blackpool have only sold 1200. I’m embarrassed to be a Villan, this is what we have become, a nothing club, West Ham had 10k more against WBA than we did against palace.
The damage these scum have done this once great club, is irreversible or at the very least long term losing out long term as future fans go elsewhere, Sky 4 clubs, London clubs, baggies and even blues as Villa offer very little in terms of ambition or enjoyment..
The distain I have for Lerner, Lambert and co knows no bounds, we will end up relegated playing in an empty stadium, which is now too big for us, sad but true
Villa Didn’t Win the Double in 1897 – BBC
Forgot to mention that the other night there was a 2-hour prog on BBC3 about 50 FA Cup highlights.
One of those 50 highlights was the 1961 win by Spurs, when the won the double – the first side to win the double since Preston in 1889 according to the Beeb.
I’m beginning to think that Villa has begun to be rubbed out of football history. Interesting that Preston are still remembered though. 1889 was the last major thing they accomplished apart from the 1938 Cup.
Oh, and Preston had to beat 2nd division Villa in the semis that year.
do you know that when pulis took the palace job he had 20k at 33to 1 on them to stay up they where 8 points adrift at the time and 14 points behind us funny they finished 14 points above us for those who did not want him
Pathetic John, even the commentators haven’t got a clue,they don’t know the laws but can tell you everything about Untied, Arse, Spuds, Chelsea and Pool, bigger cheats than the refs who blatently ignore wrestling matches in the penalty box and award the scousers a sackful of non-existent penalties every year.
Lot of peeps knocking Martinez too, they forget how easily Everton swatted Villa, it could have been another hiding like the Chelsea game.
So many peeps taking the p out of the ticket sales ( lack of ) that they’ve taken the select a seat function down.
I’ll revise my prediction of under 20,000 to approx 10,000, humiliate the bastards.
JL i agree with your reply up to a point but
behind every great man there’s useally a great woman and behind every great team there is always a great manager/leader
from my observations the player are not beng instructed or guded in a way to benifit the team
Gabby is a great example of that point for me — he can and has been a dangerous player when he was used n the right way for the benifit of the team , somethng i don’t believe is happening at present
I am afraid that all the comments here are right. i AM GETTING text msg’s and emails trying to persuade me to buy tickets for the Blackpool game, and Viagogo gave up months ago of trying to get me to sell my season ticket when I am not using it. Just watched Colchester lose to Cardiff City in an empty stadium, and now I fear this will be Villa now. Even the pundits on MOTD have no comments to make on Villa’s boring drab efforts in the final third of the pitch, it just the brave efforts of Okore, Clark and Guzan….
Runtings,
Yep … there is a need for guidance from someone, especially towards younger players and there appears to be something lacking about our manager in that respect. It’s a good point.
With particular reference to Gabby, he is now regarded as a senior professional. He should know what is what by now, especially acting as captain.
Berk not even sure Grealish will start tomorrow
If we play 433 tomorrow I’ll kill him. You don’t need 3 midfielders at home. Play 4231 or 442
Bacuna Cole Grealish
Benteke.
Won’t ever happen though. It’s attacking
Will be funny as fuck if Blackpool beat us and we don’t score. Hopefully the end of Lamberk. ” we want Lamberk out”
Found this. Amazing
Statto Alert- We have scored six less than the second lowest scoring team in the Premier league and almost half of the amount of goals as the team bottom of the league, who we play next I believe.
Only Everton Ladies and Copsewood Coventry Ladies have scored less than us in the 20 Pro and Amateur leagues listed on the BBC.
Tomorrow we will line up like this
Guzan
Hutton
Okore
Clark
Sissy
Richardson
Cleverley
Zoggy
Wiemann
Gabby
Benteke
Could have Robbinson, Gardner, Grealish but we won’t. Boring boring Lambert
Even Bacuna has said he will be back on the bench, so why not gabby and Wiemann to ?
Its getting more and more difficult for the club to justify keeping McMumble on, a Blackpool victory would make the situation extremely volatile especially with some tough games and probable defeats ahead. Personally i think we could lose every fixture this season and Lerner still wouldn’t boot him and Lamebert certainly wouldn’t resign because he has no respect for the fans, no dignity and no class.
Frem,
If your going to commit to a lifetimes support for Villa take my advice and develop a defence mechanism, after every defeat do what i do, find a comfy seat and sit down and giggle, if your in a pub, folk will give you a strange look but think your pissed, if your with friends and family, they’ll understand, just don’t let it nark you.
‘Eager to progress,’ he’s changed his tune from last year, if Pool win it’ll be ‘We can now concentrate on going for a European place.’
we are stuck with lambert until some what of revolt ,18 months of madness is to blame for this mon walking then letting faulkner run things ireland houiller bent makoun mcleish zog hutton given jenas
like mon you have to admire pardew stuck 2 fingers to ashley necastle fans walked out only problem lambert unlikely to be offered any other job
if we dont beat leicster only 17 matches left with both pal and leicster games ended not be easy getting points LERNER DO IT NOW SACK LAMBERT GIVE FOX ROOM TO WORK YOU MIGHT SAVE YOUR INVESTMENT OTHERWISE I SEE RELEGATION COMING LIKE A SPEEDING TRAIN WITH ONLY BENTEKE OKORE WORTH ANYTHING SQUAD VALUE IS CRIMINAL FOR HAVING SPENT OVER 200 M IN YOUR TENNURE AT LEAST WITH MON SPENDING WE WHERE COMPETING AT RIGHT END OF TABLE CUPS BAR EUROPE
Ellis made out that he was doing AVFC a huge favour when he chose Lerner over the Man City lot, that shows exactly what a knob he was, Lerner has just followed a long line of dickheads who have run Villa into the ground since WW11. What pees me off about him is that he obviously thinks he knows something about the game and makes these appointments and stupid decisions willy nilly despite all the evidence to the contrary. Lets be honest here, what the fuck do Lerner and Fox know about Footy and as for Chubby, i read somewhere that he wanted to appoint Clive Woodward and Martin Johnson as managers that’s how fuckin stupid that knob is. We’ve had no-one at boardroom level who knows jackshit about football for seven years, and doesn’t it show ? every facet of the club has gone down the gurgler and will get worse while these knobs remain.
Vlaar signs a pre-contract with Napoli.