I watch football and ice hockey–probably too much so but then so do most of us–football that is. The similarities come to an end once the objective of scoring on your opponent is met. Grass/ice, boards/touch line, 6 men/11 men, ice skates/cleats you get the picture. But there is one aspect that really stands out for me and that is the crime and punishment part of the game.

Ice hockey is fast, brutal, and can be violent at times. Tempers flare at the drop of a hat. Grudges are kept till the next game or in some instances next year. Coaches ask players to send a message (a designated policeman so to speak) using fists, sticks, or overly rough play. This aspect of the game is used to try and reverse the flow of the game by intimidation. To get a team’s adrenalin up. A good scrap. It’s up to the referee to decide how long a message is to be given. Usually when one player loses his balance and falls to the ice during a fight.

In football, there isn’t an outlet for temper or revenge over a perceived infraction other than whinging to a referee who either didn’t see the foul or couldn’t care less.There is no method of changing the flow of the game back to the team that’s flagging other than a vocal flogging from the manager or team captain. There aren’t any ways of removing an aggrieved player bent on revenge other than substitution. If I was getting a clip behind the ear every time the referee or I weren’t looking I’d be making Joey Barton look more than angelic.

There has to be a way to let off steam without the consequence of a yellow or red card. It always seems to be the response that is noted not the original infraction.

I don’t think there are enough levels of punishment for infractions during a football match. For me the fairest is the free kick. One of the least fair the penalty kick from the spot. The most inconsequential is the yellow card for bad play. And then, one more in the game and the player is out. Then to me it becomes one of the least fair. Well, I’m sure you know what I think of a red card most of the time. The punishment is severe. These penalties to the players have their place but (with an ice hockey background) there is plenty of room for penalizing players between the yellows and reds I’ve mentioned. And by the way, can you imagine how frightened a player must be when the referee writes his name down in his note book.

Football infractions penalize the team much more than infractions during a hockey game. With the premier league so tight last year were there incidents where a red card or a penalty kick would not only affect the immediate team(s) but also could affect other teams around said team?-either positively or negatively. Let’s use Joey Barton in the final game of the 2011-12 season. He blew up and then blew up some more.

A tie game at 54 minutes. We all know the result. Manchester City won the title and QPR were close to being relegated. Was that red card fair to Manchester United? Or Mark Hughes if QPR were relegated? Is there room in football for a lesser penalty to the team and not the man?

A few penalties options found in ice hockey could have an impact on football. And for me more fair.

Two minutes playing a man short for a minor infraction not a yellow card. Harsher penalty for a recurring offence. Now a yellow card?

A game expulsion of a player that allows the team to return to 11 players after a more heinous infraction is served-usually five minutes a man short.

A financial punishment. In hockey the team and coach also get hefty fines for bad behaviour on the ice.

Of course technical fouls would stay the same–a free kick.

Two referees to oversee the game. One watching the play the other watching the game that isn’t involved with the action. Both with the same amount of control.

There could be changes to the rules to make the consequence of action less harsh on the team but would it change the fundamentals of the game too much? Rules are tinkered with every year here in all sports. Usually during the pre-season to see how the changes affect the game. Some get implemented some not. Why not football?

Is there anything you would like to see changed?

Comments 166

  1. If like to see more retrospective punishment for cheating and diving etc. I don’t believe we need any more complications during the game surrounding punishments, I think the laws should be implemented properly and with common sense. There needs to be more consistency from the referees in their decision making process, and likewise more respect shown to the officials by players and managers alike like in Rugby Union.
    I see Dirty Harry is lining up a £4m bid for concrete Ron, let’s hope we tell him to FO

  2. Great article Ian.

    I am in agreement with the sin bin type punishment for minor fouls etc, and would welcome the control that rugby union and hockey refs have over the players. all the theatrical nonsense has to stop. it ruins the game, as well as the intimidation of the ref.

    RK and Lambert are now at the Utd bargain basement looking to recruit as LVG unloads ten of the existing squad….who shall we sign..???

  3. I love the £4m and £6m bids for Vlaar, after the tv pundits said if David Lui is worth £75m then Vlaar must be worth £100m.

    I certainly think he will not go for less than £10m.

  4. For me there has to be stiffer penalties for proffessional fouls. Trying to hurt someone is pretty obvious, mistiming a tackle or header is not a crime just clumsy. Where it all becomes cloudy is what constitutes use of upper body strength and cheating to gain an advantage. Players grabbing each other in any way, backing into other players, holding , use of the arms and diving should be at least a yellow or if particularly blatant off ski. Leaner sentences would give refs even more to cock up so it’s a no go for me

  5. Droyd,
    Of course Lambert wasn’t in for Toni Kroos, he’s a young player at the top of his game that oozes class, He possess none of the qualities Lambert generally looks for in a player, Young and Shit or Old past it and shit 😉 as long as there cheap or free.
    But I agree RIP AVFC

  6. i think a sin bin system could act as a good deterant against fouls but i wouldnt like the game to be messed about with too much

    Interesting hearing how Germany have any player they thing could become a good player in the first team by 18yrs old the very latest and playing every match — we seem scared to play young talant in England maybe that is our main problem in not developing top class stars

  7. I like the idea of sinbinning and having an official that the ref can consult to help with difficult to make decisions etc. The kind of thing they have in rugby.
    More respect for the refs, as B62 has said, would help the game. It’s annoying watching often overpaid little shrimp moaning and diving all over the place.

  8. Ahh, the sinbin. Are some of you closet hockey fans? I’m not familiar with rugby. Did rugby have problems with players in the past? And now have them under control?

  9. Ian considering what a tough sport rugby is compared to football -rugby players are mostly very well behaved and never ever argue with refs

  10. I think sin binning could lead to more cynical actions as they know they will be back on soon enough so maybe they would push the boundaries more. on top of that teams with ten men put in more effort and it usually takes 1/2 hour plus for pressure to tell. I’m not saying its a plus point but we have all Seen ten men win games or make it incredibly hard for the attacking team.

  11. Mark

    Yes, quite right. So, you’d pull out a red for the more serious offences, especially “cynical” and acts of violence. The sinbin could, perhaps, be used to discourage simulation etc.

  12. trin

    in the modern game that would leave 2 goalies on the pitch 🙂 I’m sick of seeing defenders get away with blatant obstruction and have it called good upper body strength or shielding the ball, on the other hand someone puts in a robust challenge or uses his strength legitimately and its like he murdered a baby. no player has the right to the space another player is stood in! he has to go around but how many times do you see players levered out of the way with the use of the arms or a player step across an opponent and block his path and get nothing said. the reffing is very inconsistent and therein lies the problem .

  13. Errr so how do we deal with this one , Front page of the Birmingham Evening Mail today !!, Headbutt Referee banned for life .. ))))))

    Ian will pass on your message to steamer tomorrow in the caff, bad week for him , he’s had his car written off ,

  14. Matt K saying Vlaar is top of QPR’s wish list. We can’t lose Vlaar to QPR

    Wonder who will play tonight ? Gabby KEA and Wiemann ? Probably. Zoggy and Grealish ? Probably not

  15. Sigurdsson to palace looks on, both clubs agree an £8m fee.
    I’m despondent, yet another club that nearly went bust and languished around the lower league having more pulling power and financial muscle than us.
    Never mind we’ve got Hutton back and 3 freebies.
    Lerner is a complete Cunt, and as got his clueless puppet of a manager , they both need shooting.

  16. Quality quality signing by Palace. Bojan to Stoke.

    Is all looks like for us is our second best player might be on the move to a newly promoted side

    Shows just where we are as a club

  17. The blatant penalties that get ignored by the ref, could that be because it would get lumped in with a more serious act? Wouldn’t that mean there is too much room between degree of penalty?

  18. No Jack Grealish. cant wait to get Gabby on though can he

    Second Half Starting 11: Steer, Herd, Westwood, Baker, Hutton, El Ahmadi, Gardner, Richardson, N’Zogbia, Bent, Weimann. #AVFC

    First Half Starting 11: Given, Lowton, Okore, Clark, Bennett, Bacuna, Carruthers, Delph, Tonev, Cole, Agbonlahor.

    Good to see Okore, Carruthers Tonev and cole

    How about that second half back four ?

  19. Evening Ian , really enjoyed reading your article tonight . It’s the most annoying aspect of the game – the cheating and cynical or professional fouls . I swear most corner kicks are rendered useless because of the amount of holding and shoving in front of goal , most of which goes without punishment . I wonder whether the money at stake has brought with it this “win at all costs , dirty or not ” mentality . I don’t know the answer . Although it spoils the game having players sent off , I can’t see any other punishment that will keep them in order .

    As for skating – I wonder if anyone here ever went to the Solihull ice rink – the “dirty skaters” were something else and terrified me !

    Really sorry to hear about Steamer’s misfortune – that’s awful 🙁

  20. @MatKendrick: Apparently, they’ve been working on that on the training pitches – admittedly the youth team training pitches…. #avfc

    DB goal with Hutton assist . Haha Matt Kendrick sticking the knife in somewhat 🙂

  21. Not sure why westwood is playing CB in a back 5. Horrible formation

    Bent has done well. Fair play to him for how hes been treated. Should go smack Lambert one.

    DB is a class above Wiemann and Gabby

    GARDNER SCORES !!!!!!!!! Deserves playing time

  22. Buzzing for Bent. even Hutton done alright getting forward. Could give Lowton a challenge this season.

    Carruthers played some nice passes in CM, GG getting a goal. Those two westy and delph hopefully our main CM options. Sell KEA. Useless beyond belief, Herd and Baker as well.

    Hopefully Tonev and Zoggy can push a claim to play on the wings. Bacuna done well at RM tonight. He’s no RB thats for sure

    Bent, Benteke and Kosak. Should have enough fire power. I dont think Gabby controlled the ball for 45 mins

    There’s some potential if the players are used correctly

  23. weimann has played well this second half as have nzog and bent who finished two and missed another couple. mr gardner did ok in midfield and was great to see him making his trademark runs into the box and finishing his chance well.

    not really played with any pace but all things considered not bad

  24. OMG

    Did the boys play alright and did we win????

    Whatever has gone wrong….

    Should sack the bl**dy manager..this is not supposed to happen….next thing will be fans believing we might have a chance of winning a game before Xmas….

  25. steamer75

    quite right, but at least all the players coming back from injuries moved well and the bomb squad were trying and looked like they cared. the fans where right behind bent which was good for him.

  26. His car has been written off Droyd – hope he wasn’t in it at the time -that’s all I know

    Read the Bham mail extract – bit late IMO . What else could he say when the bomb squad performed better than the rest of his replacements for them .. I’m pleased for the bomb squad – and judging by Petrovs tweets after the game so is he . Let’s see if they get first team paces and can still do it against prem league teams . It was only Mansfield but a loss would have been a depressing start . Great to see Benty getting two goals in 45 mins and the outcast Hutton and Zog performing well too. Will be a good morale boost for them.

  27. hear, hear Jen.

    I am pleased for the bomb squad too.

    There seems to be an inference from Lambert that the bomb squad was not his idea, but that he carried out his instructions.

    roll on the friendlies and let us see what develops…could be interesting..

  28. Jenny xx
    Dryod
    steamers fine , no he wasnt in it , its just finally ran its course , will be back on the road next week , lm his taxi at the moment , and hopefully he’s back on the net from tomorrow , god help some of you !!

    l cant believe a word PL says , l knew they were good players ! yeah l bet , if so why treat them like scum and send them on their own at BMH , any bloke with balls would have kept them with the kids to pass on their skills , the blokes a coward , and l will never take to him, the way things went at the park you wonder how can players turn shit overnight , obviously they didnt but as l said when he first came , he cant handle big name players , maybe thats why RK has been bought in to protect the twat,

    Jenny
    l will find out when carl chinn will be in the social and let you know , happy to meet you , and he likes his beer , its his daughter you have to watch as she keeps him in line .lol

    lm off now for a few days in the pub, have a good week-end all
    Jenny xxxxx

    lot of lightening around , sww do you still wear that cocoa tin lid around your neck , fingers crossed ,

  29. Glad for bent and Zoggy. Hopefully Lambert will give them a key part this season along with others like Grelaish Carruthers and Gards. It’s time he moves on from Gabby, Kea, Baker. Maybe even Tonev might show something this time around. Not sure why Westwood was played Centre back least night, he hardly touched the ball and he’s by far our best passer. I think maybe it was to compromise how poor Baker and a herd are with the ball at there feet so is all they had to do was play a 2 yard pass to Westy and let him play it out. No need to that with Vlaar and Okore but good with the ball.

    I don’t think we desperately need a new addition now, but we need a few to go. Ki is a good player, but I don’t want him being picked ahead of GG and Carruthers. kea Delph and Westy will already be ahead of those two. Don’t want them moving even further down the pecking order. If KeA was to go though ( please) then Ki would be a good addition. If Tonev was to go then someone like young would be a good addition as well
    . I think Bacuna will be used as a winger this season and never at RB again

  30. Paul There seems to be an inference from Lambert that the bomb squad was not his idea, but that he carried out his instructions.

    THAT would not surprise me one bit.

  31. He does have a point Rod. Unless there are some positive things happening at Villa we don’t know about just about every player there would be thinking of their future. A stable ownership would cure that. A benevolent one with a thought to football

  32. It could be said to every player at Villa at the moment though, without our better players then we are nothing. Where is the line drawn?

    Why not stay and fight, make your career better for having earned the success rather than go to a club that already has it!

  33. Rod
    You know the answer to your question mate, because in the current climate Villa aren’t going to be successful, we have zero ambition or the finances to even challenge the big guns.
    Why stay and fight in a team that is packed with inadequate players, that are simply aiming for 17th??? Lambert is an imbecile do he’s not got much pull and the owner wants to sell everything he can, so why stay if you get the opportunity to better yourself elsewhere. It’s sad, but true, it’s a short career and they have no
    Loyalty to us, he’ll we can’t even buy their loyalty,it’s chaos at B6 and will remain so until our prayers are answered and these clowns are long gone.
    I see the baggies have spent £9m on a striker tonight, let’s hope he is a flop, as that’s another rival trying to kick on.

  34. B62
    if you want to catch up for a pint with me and steamer before the season starts , let me know mate , even after work , my mobile 07957613492 ,

    waterproofs on and rubber soles today all ,

  35. Sounds like Ki is waiting for a bigger club to come in. Thanks

    Sam- I was surprised by that. God on twitter though has said Vlaar isn’t going anywhere. Hope so

    WBA get Lescott over us, now broken there transfer record. Palace getting Caulker and Siguardson. StokeBojan. Shite little clubs are upping the game big time

  36. Hello all, hope everyone is ok, finally managed to escape.
    Anyone want to buy a 12 year old KA with a knackered engine, rotten chassis and two bald tyres ? a snip at £20,000, well some of you lot seem to think Villa have a good team so why not try my luck ?
    Ian,
    I’d like to see a system where if a ref has a particularly bad game then the following Saturday, on the pitch he’s fed to a pack of pit bulls, more entertaining than watching Villa.
    Rowley,
    Alopogies, I know loads of good yam yam Villans, meant Olbyon.
    Mark,
    Lambert is a poor excuse of a man, to come out with that bollox is unbelievable and only shows his spineless, lying personality ( ??? ) for what it is.
    Soon be time for the Jeerman market, wonder if they sell coaching certificates ?

  37. For the fans who want Grealish in the team next season only two players never got on the pitch versus Mansfield, Stevens and Grealish, there’s your answer.

  38. Steamer, that was about the time I saw him. Pacific Colleseum in Vancouver.

    Only pit bulls? You should see what hungry pigs do to a guy.

  39. Great to see you return Steamer – it’s not been the same without your dry wit 🙂

    Ian – thanks for the delightful photo – I stopped reading at the pigs eating diarrhea bit tho .

    Inspite of PL saying he didn’t like pre season friendlies in far away places , we are going stateside to play famous teams like Texas and the like . We can only assume it’s for the shop window as I can’t see the advantage to our players’ preparation for the start of season . Am I missing something . I will be watching with interest who he plays though .

    So Sunderland have got Borini – a player who I liked the look of .

    Sweet dreams ST 75 xx

  40. Jenny, the football here isn’t bad. The better teams,IMO are as good as Championship teams. I think it’s a good level to start the season off with.

    Glad you liked the photo. Didn’t expect you to read the short story. Wouldn’t want to get any sun on them. Pretty pink

  41. I would just say Ian that they can get similar if not better teams to play in Europe so will not be worn out by the travelling (but they’re fit pros I hear you all say :-)) and PL has done another u turn in this as he said the same himself .
    Lee Hendrie is going with them – but not Ian Taylor unless he is flying out later as last night he tweeted
    @IanTaylor7: Off for a little tipple at @mpw_birmingham @HotelIndigoBham….. Who’s in Brum tonight? #lovemycity

    AVFC have featured the unwanted outcast Darren Bent in the two of the three publicity photos for the tour – one on his own . You’d think we’d just signed Messi the attention he’s getting – who’d have thought when he wasn’t even allowed on the tour last year let alone be photographed with the squad 🙂

  42. Have just read on my fb an article in The People (so may be fantasy) which states that Paul Lambert has kicked Ian Taylor off the pre season tour for his criticism of how the team is being ran and replaced with Lee Hendrie . Like I say – it’s The People but would explain why Tayls wanted a night out in Brum .

  43. Hello Jen,
    I think you may be correct in assuming IT was booted, i’d noticed that his criticism was getting a little stronger towards the end of last season. Lambert is a knob who thinks he can’t make a mistake despite the obvious and can’t take criticism in any form.
    At the risk of upsetting the hap…….. sorry, Lambert loyalists, can i state the bleedin’ obvious, the club has been on the market for at least two years and has no takers, not even when RL knocked off £50m, in my book that means we’re fooked unless Loser knocks off another huge lump, i can see him being the owner for years yet until the asking price is a pittance, unfortunately we could be in League 1 or worse by then, can you imagine having that plank destroying us for years more ? Cheers Herbert, you chose the right man to finish off your work.
    BTW, Thanks for the welcome back.

  44. Steamer,

    Lovely to have you back online and once again the moanometer has gone off the dial , that ka was fooked last year when i came up spend some of that money you tight arse and buy a proper motor, fancy ST75 putting his mobile on here lets all txt some abuse after three —-

    UTV

  45. Lambert Lambert Lambert. Has got rid of a club legend because he spoke the truth. Matt K might might of as well. That would be for ” Lambert doesn’t deserve a new contract” article and he’s right. He deserves the sack

    West Ham signing some really good players. Everyone seems to but us

  46. Matt Law of Telefreaph tweeted
    @Matt_Law_DT: If Lambert can’t handle criticism from an ex-player with the best interests of the club at heart then he can’t handle the job in my opinion”

    Also from him
    @Matt_Law_DT: Angry to read of Ian Taylor being left off Aston Villa tour at request of Lambert. Taylor has done more for Villa than Lambert ever will.

    Crazy crazy crazy to treat Tayls like this with all his media connections and love from the villa supporters .

  47. Matt Law is spot on. Also tweeted saying Taylor was in Villa sides worth watching and that Lambert is yet to produce that and never will. He should be sacked. Isn’t Hendrie and drug addict and broke ?

    On the other hand, the Holte end against Hull sang Taylor’s name and he stood up and bowed. What a mess he’s made

  48. Frem,
    Lambert really is bitter and twisted, but what does he care ? he gets his £25,000 per week he could send out a team of chimps and Lerner wouldn’t give a shite, in fact i think he did it a few times last season. I can see a few results like we had at Chelsea the other year coming.

  49. Tayls is an absolute legend, Lambert is a clueless gimp, and when his old and master Lerner tugs the chain he comes running.
    Mat Law is correct in his appraisal, of the situation.
    The club is well and truly going down the gurgler , let’s be honest, if we can’t get a buyer interested at a time when there is more money flying around the game, and on the back of a hugely succesful World Cup , we never will. Several papers and media outlets banging on about England’s top clubs touring the states to attract the dollar, we never even got a mention. Talksport( I know, but iv been in the car half the day), have been assessing the upcoming season, and asked who would do what, us and the Albion were named as the two clubs fighting out the final relegation spot, going down with Burnley and Leicester. They said it could again be any one from half way down but the likely candidates were those listed, even the likes of Hull, Swansea, QPR, Saints, Sunderland, Newcastle etc are considered far better than us, it’s criminal how far we have fallen under this regime, the sooner they fuck off the better, if I thought Lerner had left us all his dough in his will, I’d organise a whip round to knock him off!!

  50. B62- it’s because they are far better than us. They have managers who are different class compared to our twat who doesn’t care about AVFC one bit. He’d happily shit all over us. There players as well are in a different class to ours. The way West Ham are buying they will be fighting for a European spot

    A bit of Twitter tonight seems to be sounding like Vlaar is of to Saints

  51. The OS site has made a big thing about Tayls being on tour – you always get vids and photographs of him being very much part of the action and encouraging and cheering the lads on . As club ambassador it’s obvious he should be there in addition to him being club legend , life long villa fan who is one of the few ex players/players who earn the label “villa through and through ”
    To be replaced by Lee Hendrie is inexplicable . Is he the best choice ?!
    Ian Taylor must be gutted.

  52. Agree with many about the Taylor debacle but I think it tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong at VP at this moment in time, we are a complete shambles from top to bottom and if you read this article by Martin Samuels from the Mail then we could be like this for years to come, more dark days ahead.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2699215/MARTIN-SAMUEL-If-Financial-Fair-Play-gift-club-owners-buy-Aston-Villa.html

    AVFC RIP

  53. SWV… was just about to post that link.

    But hang on its taken Martin Samuel this long to realise FFP was a tool to appease the big clubs… to all but cement their positions as the elite in the game with very little threat of any little upstarts being able to challenge them.

    This was said from the very start… by the people that often clock these things first… the fans.

    Plantini is nothing but a servant to the likes of United, Barca and Bayern. He’s scared of the prospect of a European break away league… scared because that will damage the pockets of Uefa and its Champions League Baby.

    One thing the football powers has forgotten is that without the competitiveness of clubs like Villa and the chance for them to progress through investment, you are actually going to push these “super clubs” toward the exit doors of domestic leagues far quicker. Competition and the unexpected is what makes sport exciting… anyone else think we’re losing it fast in football?

  54. GOG,

    The competition and excitement has already gone, we know the premier winners will come from one of three teams, we know in Spain it is a choice between two, the French league will be won by PSG, Bayern will win the bundesliga, it is so predictable and we are destined to be struggling at the bottom until the day comes when we eventually lose our place in the top division.

    UTV

  55. Has it got to the stage where the fans are probably wanting a European breakaway league? Do we crave competition ahead of the apparent “quality” that will disappear if United, Bayern and the like go?

    Have the fans of the so called “also rans” given up on the dream that is, seemingly, now impossible to reach?

    Personally SWV I don’t think the position currently is irretrievable at this point, the balance has always been in favour of bigger clubs but never has the gap been as wide between the us and thems… A gap that now is safe guarded by the European body that over see’s football.

    UEFA have appeased the powerful men at the head of football clubs and effectively taken away the dreams of the fans… who are the true power in football. They grow their global brands across continents leaving a rotting decaying mess behind them that will take them down from the inside eventually.

    Decisions need to be made for the good of the game that might not be in line with actual laws on earning and competition… however this at its heart this is a game not a business… and as such must be treated as such.

  56. very interesting article, and one that makes one question, why should anyone invest in a club,other than, someone having a lack of a business brain, and too much money to play with, unless they can see a potential far beyond just the football.

    Aston Villa could have that potential, as a modern club, with excellent facilities in a growing European City, close to excellent transport links, but it needs to offer more, and needs to show sponsors, etc that it can, like Man Utd become a global name.

    May be we the fans should be doing more to bring the clubs name into the limelight for the right reasons, and helping to sell that potential. At the moment we would appear to be only full of negativity, and if I were looking at the potential of the club, it would certainly not be a good factor.

    We need to show the world that the name of Aston Villa and its world-wide support can move mountains and deliver a product that is a world beater. Then we may get the Addidas’s of this world to invest £750m in our club.

  57. No suprise to see what is happening at the moment with every prem club except villa making quality signnings and getting rid of sub standard player – generally to us

    We can’t expect too much more and with a manager that struggles to attract any one worth while the task is even harder — if we can keep vlaar we may have enough to stay up but if he goes we may be in big trouble come xmas

    Great club ,great history but its all about the here and now and in that respect we are less attractive than even palace and we may have some better players than then but due to mis managment they will be above us again this season

    fingers cross a takeover will happen in the coming months

  58. As for Vlaar… A move to United will be a bitter blow but one many a Villan will be used to… and on reflection you couldn’t blame the player for wanting such a move… A move to Soton though would be a huge slap in the face to the fans. We’re at our lowest… Soton have reached their pinnacle. How it can be that Soton could sign one of our better players (that we want and need to stay) is beyond me…

  59. Runtings… There is a perception every summer that every other clubs signs quality whilst we stumble about. I’m not so sure this true, I’m not convinced by some of the signing some clubs have made. So far Lambert has at least got the type of play we need…. probably not the nae we where looking for, but its the right area of the pitch… Bent and Zog to will be like new signing if… and its a big IF they can be managed properly and play at the level we know they can…

  60. Steamer is currently out looking for a replacement for his Ford Ka that decided it could take no more of his erratic driving and committed auto suicide, I told him last year that when you put more litres of oil into a car than petrol on a weekly basis then it may be time to get rid, in fact he took it to Halfords for an oil change and was advised to keep the oil and change the car.
    He has got his eye on one of those electric smart cars has he is currently on a eco-warrior course to save the planet, he can be seen hugging trees around Chelmsley Wood and selling the big issue outside of Poundstretchers.

    UTV

  61. Runtingz,
    Rant, Rant how dare you consider my well balanced observations to be rants.( ta anyway ).

    PP,
    very interesting article, and one that makes one question, why should anyone invest in a club,other than, someone having a lack of a business brain, and too much money to play with
    Did you have Lerner in mind when you wrote that ?

    Graham,
    I you had a choice of who to play for out of Koeman and the dummy, who would you choose ? also, they may have lost some half decent players but ours are total crap.
    Regarding breakaway leagues, FIFA could step in and ban any player in the so-called Superleague from playing International football or return to affiliated leagues when they’re inevitably discarded.

  62. Steamer… You’re right the “could”… but would they? Would Fifa damage their billion pound competition to protect football? Would they have the balls to play heavy handed games with these big clubs and suffer the short term consequences that from that… the hit in their back pocket would be immense… the focus is on money not the “good of the game”.

    But if the let the game continue an its current path you you effectively destroy what people fell in love with… Short sighted approach to filling the coffers.

  63. Steamer if you had the choice to play at Villa Park or St Marys?
    If you had a choice of playing for a team that is as high as its ever going to be or a team that has the infrastructure and standing to go further with a change of fortune… As Lerner is finding its difficult to sell the dream when the dream has been encased for the elite who are already living it.

    Football has always been about cycles, successful periods, ups and downs, clubs rising, clubs falling. Now is just seems its about an elite few and the rest who are all destined to make up the numbers.

    Aston Villa has its positives, it has its draws to players. They’re just harder to sell…

    Undoubtably tho their are very few places like a rocking Villa Park and the atmosphere is creates, there are very few sets of fans that relate to players and care for their club as much as Villans.

    St Marys sounds likes a school boy international crown at times? Villa Park? Even when at its most hostile has a crackle and feel about it.

    At the end of the day lets face facts, if united come in he’s gone, if its Soton it will come down to the simple fact of money on the table… if we offer more he’ll stay…

  64. Agree Graham, if it were actually about football matters then we may be able to compete but ever since i began supporting AVFC we’ve been run by small minded folk incapable or unwilling of fulfilling our potential, go back to Tommy Doc extolling the fans support.
    At the end of the day most players want four Ferrari’s in the garage rather than one.

  65. The point I was making earlier has been missed, not surprisingly……Deadly Doug and the Bendalls did their best for Villa, and on the whole succeeded……Arsenal were no great side and we always beat them in my younger days, Chelsea were non-descript, managing to win just one league title, Man City were a joke and had about 2 fans,Man Utd were average since the days of the Busby babes, until Ron Atkinson sold us down the river, and failed to win the first Premier league title,with his insistence of playing Saunders and Atkinson when they were out of form.

    it is time we stopped knocking Doug. He did his utmost for Villa and is still a loyal supporter.

    The fans constant knocking does not encourage wealthy local business men to invest in club where the fans turn on you at the first opportunity…

    Liverpool had their purple patch for the first time under Shankly, in the 80’s and early 90’s and Spurs had done nothing since the captured Danny Blanchflower from us, and beat us to signing Dave Mackay back in the 60’s when they had a great side.

    The main interest in Soton is there huge support along the South Coast, with little competition, and a newish chairman who has the vision to see what can be achieved.

    We need to stop looking at our past as fans and be looking at our future…the one positive I saw on F/b this week was the “Villa away of LIfe” banner and the boys going out to Texas, and that is the sort of support we need right now….!!!!!!

  66. With no limits to spending when it comes to buying players, with no infrastructure to make trades (player for player), with unlimited finances used regardless of the outcome, with too many people outside of football making huge financial gains from the game, and too many people who run the sport with no desire to see leagues solid from top to bottom it’s never going to become healthy (the game that is)

    Take a good look at sport in North America. Poor teams given a leg up every year. A draft for players coming of age every year with the last place teams getting first pick, a maximum spend level and a minimum spend level for player salaries. IE: the NHL has a maximum spend level of around $65,000,000 for the whole team for the year. A league board of directors so to speak to keep the owners in line. Lower level league teams owned by top teams for player development.

    There are numerous levels of rules to keep the leagues competitive. No one wants to see teams default financially, or be beaten year after year. There are regulations in place to keep the players in order both on the field and also off the field. They can’t bring disrespect to the team or the league. A tweet can leave them suspended if deemed damaging to team or league.

    The health of the league(s) is paramount to the sport. There is order to the running of the league. Don’t step out of line or you are out, just ask Donald Sterling the past owner of the LA Clippers. A racist, he was driven out as an owner by a conversation he had that was overheard and deemed detrimental to the league. (NBA)

    Unfortunately, football is run and played by lunatics for the most part. A collapse of the money train is coming and only then will they realize things need to be changed. It’s in the fans hands. Without us they wouldn’t exist. Vote with your feet, don’t support the sponsors. Re-invest your love of the game in lower league or pub league leagues. The quality might not be there but the desire and love of the team and game will be.

  67. Sorry steamer that came out all wrong 🙂 what i meant was it aint the same without you mate

    Paul P – i agree with your last post but also agree with steamer’s post before it
    Villa have never gone as far as we could have or taken advantage of being one of the strongest UK teams for long periods

    At the end of the day most of us will moan but that because we all know things could be done a lot better and that is the frustrating thing
    When we kick off the new season we will all be behind the team.

    One thing i will say though is i will buy the shirt but i won’t go to a game unless thing improve and not because we lose a game but i can’t stand watching anti football and the lkast game i went to which was palace away was one of the worst few hours of my life

  68. PP,
    When did Ellis become a Villa fan ? S75 will tell you that even in his early days infesting VP he drove into the sty every day, Blues director, Derby director and Wolves director, also tried to worm into Chelsea with the other lowlife Ken Bates, sounds like a true Villan to me. Believe me, Ellis is motivated by two things, £££ and the biggest ego in footy, no prestige being on the board of Blose but Villa are a different proposition, remember this clown was never re-elected to the board on a vote, he had to use his proxy which he manipulated to make his position stronger at the cost of the real fans. i’ll tell you a true story about this piece of shit, i was watching Bromsgrove Rovers and was talking to a local who, like me, swore never to watch Villa while Ellis was contaminating the place, he told me that one of his mates had recently died, when his family got home after the funeral Ellis was waiting with an offer for their shares, scum, pure scum.

  69. Runtings

    There you have my sympathy

    Towards the end of last season, I just became immune to what was happening, and just enjoyed my visits to Villa Park, meeting the legends from our European Cup side, as there was always at least one of them in the Lions Club, and having a great chat with Brian Little.

    I will be there for the new season, and I do have great hopes that now we have the Bomb Squad back and a few sensible signings, and a handful of young up and coming, we may have a few surprises for the doubters. We at least now have the mix we all craved for over the last two seasons. They do not have to be big money players, just genuine guys who want to play football and be proud to wear the shirt.

    This may be part of what Lambert is about this time…with the experienced ones…none of whom have said ..how much??….but where do I sign….I am out to prove myself.

  70. Runtingz,
    Only having you on mate.
    Ian,
    Agree again mate, thats what i did when Herbert crawled back into VP and i enjoyed watching the game with no stress and knowing that my money wasn’t going into Ellis pocket, £7m one year wasn’t it ? for the first paid director in English footy !!!! Villan be fucked.

  71. Steamer

    Glad you can put some detail to some of the stories, just hope they are all factual.

    Never really got to the bottom of why the Bendalls, after their short heady success, pulled out, and sold back to Ellis.

  72. PP,
    North Stand mate, long story but all to do with overcharging, i think the bloke in charge, Terry Rutter was sent down. All linked in with regime change. i’ll tell you what i know and my theories when i see you but ask yourself why the Bendalls sold out to someone they hated.
    All the other tales are accurate and i’m pretty sure this one is too.

  73. PP
    l watched him going into the sty most days , you couldnt miss him, and l was there when he came out pissed one afternoon and crashed his car into one of the gate pillars …FACT !!!

    whats the blueprint you got for showing the world The Villa .

    thankfully l was never interested in the sale of the villa , l just waited to see what happened , l noticed on a few of the other blogs that the “itk” people seem to have disappeared , if it happens good , if it dont , then l can only see one way lv never seen so many bloggers making more U-Turns than this goverment , one minute the managers a cnut the next he’s our saviour , lm still in the” He’s a cnut “camp and have been since the fans started singing his praises at norwich , wanting him ,

  74. PP,
    This is the bloke who gave Sir William Dugdale, who was Chairman at the time, a tie with the initials SBE on ( Sacked By Ellis ), very classy. Its all in Dugdales book.

  75. Does anyone think maybe Lamberk went down the local Blockbuster video shop and rented Moneyball, and thought i can do that!
    So he set about getting all the players who aren’t great but have consistent stats so that they can win the league????

    This is the only explanation i can find!

  76. Let’s have it right, the current regime are nothing more than lowlife cnuts, Clueless to a man and make no mistake they are killing this club on a daily basis.
    It’s evident Lerner has wanted out since 2010, if the price was right, and has fucked up in trying to offload us with his lack of business acumen, greed and constant throwing of his toys out of his proverbial .
    There is no light at the end of the tunnel, no knight riding in to save the day, as Lerner has made us an unattractive proposition.
    The US is on a high after the WC, there are multi billionaires in the UK, but none will touch us with a barge pole, FFP and Lerner’s disastrous ownership have ensured that. We are now a bottom feeder club, aiming for 17th and the TV money for Randolph.
    I pray for a takeover, and the day these scum are run out of VP.

  77. B6,
    yes mate, i think that Lerners reputation as a knob has tainted the clubs name, what successful businessman would deal with this loser. I’ll take some welly but i honestly think we’re stuffed for donkey’s years if not permanently.
    I hear ST sales have gone over 10,000 ( big wow ), not as many sold as Hearts who were relegated last season. Pathetic, just shows how much damage has been done.

  78. Sam- Love that film so much. What Billy Beane, DePodesta and Bill James did was was amazing.

    People on twitter mentioning that Randy may have taken us of the market. the Saints want Vlaar and Lambert still( the worst manager in history)

    it’s looking to good

  79. I was at the Hull game and left before the players came back to do their so called lap of honour. I had no interest in abusing them but I’m angry that we have a squad stuffed full of players who are no more than super fit Sunday League standard.

    Lerner has completely shafted this club over his obsession with quick fix Champions League football. Look how long and how much money it took Man City and Chelsea to become regulars – and he expected to do it with net spend of £80m while assuming all other clubs would stand still and let it happen?

    I’m not setting foot in Villa Park again while the pinnacle of the ambition of the club is to finish 17th. Which means until Lerner has gone I won’t be back. And he can take his out of depth puppet with him.

  80. Well said Steve W, the only way to get Lerner out is by destroying him financially, when he sees his inheritance going down the gurgler he’ll drop the price rapido. Anyone will do, just get this moron out of our club.

    Ian,
    Going on about tough sports, we had the overweight rounders player Andrew Flintoff moaning that cricket was becoming soft like football, this coming from someone from a sport where they see a cloud hovering and they run off for a sarnie, overweight, overrated and thick covers him.

  81. My old man tried to get me interested in cricket by taking me out to his cricket club. I swung the bat like a baseball bat and called it a day when I caught the ball in the chops. First and last day at that sport.

    Might as well put up some beer as a bet on tomorrow’s game. I’ll go Villa 3-1 over Huston.

  82. 3-0 to Huston. Let’s not forget Lambert is still the manager and who ever Hustons is will out class Lambert in every single aspect of management possible

    It’s a sad day. Football has officially moved on from AVFC. We can longer compete. Stoke fucking City who played football more like Rugby for years have actually signed a player we can only dream of in Bojan. This Rugby team beat Lamberts so called football team

    22nd of July 2014- Bojan signs for Stoke. Sad sad day. Knowone will understand my hatred I have for them. I’d rather The scum win a title than Stoke. It won’t be long Until the blue noses catch us up

  83. These muppets have got away with it haven’t they ? Iv’e never known our support so disheartened and that includes when we dropped into the third. Make the most of the clubs TV £££ Lerner, its the last you’ll see of EPL money.

  84. It looks like this blog site has almost died……no new articles….no intelligent life forms….even JL has retired to his archives…so sad that it has come to this….

    Time to find fans who are looking forward to a new future perhaps…

    where are the great commentators and wits….looks like Jenny has almost joined Monty and given up…

    You would not believe that we played a game a few days ago and there were players who actually looked like they had potential, and the new season could bring in some fresh hope…oh dear…I forgot we have not spent any money…..

  85. PP
    you made a few barbed comments on here about people being some kind of thicko s because they’re not overawed about our new signings , if its right about the season tickets then you have 10’000 friends to talk to , also look at the calendar , quite a few are on holidays , and tell me , what positives is there to write about
    it wasnt so long when you came on saying things about Lamberk ,
    l look forward to meeting you in the social after one of the games , as l like people to say things to my face , if lm not one of the intelligent life forms ,

    Try TVB

  86. Paul,
    All close seasons are quiet, it’ll pick up in a couple of weeks, if you look at ALL of the other blogs then you’ll see that their dead. Another factor is that the club, no denying, is a mess, the main object for its existence is to get Lerners £££ back nothing to do with football, no-one cares about the people who live and breath AVFC, those are the FACTS mate. I would suggest that you sample TVB, VV and TBAR before criticising AVL and its followers and you’ll find that this site has sensible, funny and decent contibutors.

  87. If all the blogs comprised of satisfied fans then they wouldn’t exist because the fans are totally dispirited and disillusioned. The ST sales indicate the fans moral and if i’m not mistaken Wolves, Olbyon and the vermin may all have higher sales figures than us, still if your happy ……

  88. Some reaction…..

    Maybe there is life…but not a lot…..down to the Steamers…..where would we be without you…..at least you are still passionate…

    Is everyone really basking in our beautiful British sunshine….or perhaps many are still in Brazil…and enjoying a continuous party…..

    Runtz

    Only mildly happy that Lambert has found some experience and with the Bomb squad and few returning from injury we could kick on this season, and certainly not be worse than last.
    It is great to know that Gary Gardner is looking to fight his way back in the team, and Cole is relishing the challenge. We have a great deal more to look forward to this season, than last, and looks as if Kozack and Benteke are getting back to fitness.

    So long as we do not lose Vlaar or Delph, then with Grealish and many more of the youngsters, there is a lot more to look forward to, than last year.

    Let’s get the friendlies out of the way and see what the season brings…

  89. http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2014/7/22/5924101/aston-villa-depth-chart-preseason-2014-15 This is interesting and make’s the job so much harder

    PP the players coming in are far from glamor buys in fact we could get any further away from glamor buys than we already have — but i take your point that maybe the experienced guys coupled with the bomb sqaud return may just be enough for a slightly better season

    The only worry is that there are some good players going to the teams expected to be around us ,which could mean a worse season for us

    The proof is always in the pudding so hopefully we have enough to be better

  90. Runtz

    I am sure the competition this season could make a whole lot of difference, and with Keane’s input into the midfield, we could see a much different Villa.

    Bent looks sharper than he has done for a while, and given this chance, along with playmakers, like Cole, and the chance of Zoggy reaching his full potential, and at last some solid defence in Richardson and Hutton, alongside Vlaar and Sendeross,the team should look very different.

  91. John

    Sounds like your wife is really suffering. I hope she improves soon.

    Everytime, I log onto the official AVFC site, this “Glory Glory Man Utd” advert plays in the AVTV window. It’s sponsored by Chevrolet. I didn’t sign up to AVTV to hear Man Utd promotional ads.

  92. Yes, hope Mrs L is OK John, can’t do triathlons with dodgy legs.
    That article doesn’t exactly extol enthusiasm all it seems to do is say that Chubby is a good laugh when he’s had a pint or two.
    PP,
    Thats more like it, SC and CR lost a years development because Lambert persisted on playing crap instead of them, same with GG, Burke and Drennan, still don’t see why Bennett, Herd and a couple more should be out there.

  93. Interesting article JL.

    As very often happens, the real truth does not come out until a long time after.

    I hope that Faulkner still gets the opportunity to prove his worth somewhere, as on the growing PR side, he had been doing well, and working well on trying to get decent sponsorship.

    Also my best wishes to your wife.

    Steamer, let us hope that Lambert can still make a success this season, in spite of Lerner.

  94. PP
    I believe MT is busy and there are a shortage of people willing to write/edit articles through no fault of their own, hence no knew piece every day /couple of days.
    Add to that the fanbase are completely disillusioned with the state of the club. We were all hoping the club would have been sold by now and we would be actively recruiting players and manager fitting our great club, with an ambition to give it a real go this season.
    Unfortunately we have the opposite, we are aiming to line RL pockets, and are only challenging for 17th and no more. We are a joke, our signings are a joke and the on coming season will be a complete joke, bumbling from disaster to disaster. No wonder we have only sold 10000 ST( of which I have one), the club cannot be arsed, there isn’t anything go to look forward to, no matter what we saw at Mansfield town.
    All around us clubs are strengthening whilst our owner rapes the club assisted by his pet lap dogs

  95. I’m still here Paul !!
    Hope your wife’s poor legs are recovering Jphn.
    Re PF – after hearing about his son , I wish him the best .
    There’s little going on from AV bar being told that Lee Hendrie has overcome his fear of heights and his now ‘expert’view on squad on the OS .

    The comments from villa fans are probably not what the club had in mind when appointing him as ambassador . Neither is it helpful really when his sister and uncle come on to defend him and have a go on the OS

    Oh and a few more pics of the players training in 100 degrees . Well I’m suffering in 80 so hats off to them !

    When are we playing again – is it tonight ?
    It will be intersting to see who plays .

    Hi ST 75 xx

  96. Paul, you’re an erudite feller. Put a few words together and send it in to Matt. No only will he welcome it but so will we-the rabble at AVL. 🙂
    We have had discussion on music, food, vacation spots, bad humour, and pets. Sometimes with a Villa flavour. Such as Steamer’s car and the current condition of the team. Or vintage Monty Python as the current administration. I particularly like it when a more personal note seeps into the discussion. It makes all of us a little more close, more like friends, less cold in posting.
    This really is a slow time of year. Add in summertime and the blog becomes a more empty place. The current condition of the team doesn’t help either. When nothing exciting happens the desire to chip in goes away somewhat.

    B62 Villa-so you bought season tickets. You make me smile

  97. Jen, I never get xxx! What does a guy have to do?

    John, hurting one’s legs or feet is probably the most frustrating injury one can have IMO. Being able to move around is the most important aspect of life. I hope the effects of the injury are short for your wife.

    Now, I have a task for you lot. Find positive things about the team how ever small. Frem, do me a favour and compare Stoke’s team to Villa’s. Are we really that far behind?

  98. Fellers,

    Thanks for the good wishes. You made ‘er indoors blush! 😉

    To explain, the issue is about a second knee replacement with the first one not yet being quite recovered either.

    I’ve told her that it’s karma for the way she used to dish out punishment playing hockey.

    Ian: Yes, you’re right … there’s enough reason to be +ve about Villa just now. Frem’s fear that Vlaar would go Flaar has not yet materialised and doesn’t look like materialising as I see it.

  99. Ian
    What else you gonna do, follow the blues! 😉
    TBF I’m surprised the bride was ok with a ST this year, perhaps she wants me out the house, which I don’t mind especially as come Oct there will be a new little Villan screaming their lungs out in the gaff

  100. John i echo everyones best wishes to your better half

    B62 well done for getting a season ticket – it shows that dispite the fact you feel the club is at rock bottom you would never turn your back on the villa

    Ian — The positives about villa

    The fans ,, Jack Glealish ,,,, Ron Vlaar ,,, the history
    btw Ian you knoe Jen only has eyes for st75 , he stole her heart with his sweet witty words 🙂

  101. Hello Jen,
    Don’t understand the Hendrie/hate thing, OK, the bloke wasted his career but he seems to have grown up now, iv’e seen him play for the Legends XI and he really does have talent and now he seems to have replaced petulance with respect. Another thing about him, my mate was a steward at VP and also the skip, when they beat us at their rathole and he told me Mario Melchiot was gobbing off at him in the tunnel after the game and said “if i see you in the street i’ll kill you” Hendrie left him in a heap, players just like fans, all bull.

  102. B62 ,,who’s the daddy then …….lol congrats mate , possibly be wetting the head then at the next meet , l think thats when Brasil is over and lm working on Prox ,will see if Runtins can get up as well , is Frem on bloody holiday again ??

    JL hope the wifes ok , steady on the massage , my nephew has been showing me a massage technique he uses in his fights ….. few necks on here need massaging . next meet up .

    Ian
    l will give you a few XXXXXs when lm over next ,

    a mate of ours nicknamed Manson lives in Texas and he’s going the game , he really wants a word with Lamberk , lm not religious , but l pray he gets to meet him, steamer , he rang today sends his best to you , altho he thought you were pushing up daisies , never one to mince his words , lol

    Hi Jenny . knew you hadnt left . xxxxxxx

  103. Steamer
    I agree about Hendrie, he got a lot of stick for having nose family( haven’t we all, even Gards!!!mine are now in a secure home 😉 )
    He was a decent player, I’m not sure he deserves all the stick he got , and after his flirtation with disaster he is now a lot more mature.
    W should embrace former players like Taylor, Hendriw, God, Teale etc etc because lets face the current bunch of mercenary cunts couldn’t give two shits about us

  104. St75
    Iv narrowed it down!!!
    Upset the in laws( yam yams) as iv made sure the nipper is being born in the QE rather than any Black Country hospital

  105. B62 . i got the . who’s the daddy t-shirt ………………………what they wear in nick lol .. wasnt asking who the dad is , those good looks will now be replaced with bags under the eye’s mate , l was quite lucky !!!!

    l made sure my daughter was born in brum as where we are they wanted her to be born in 6 fingerland ,nuneaton , no way pedro ,

    Runtins
    well remembered mate , ian .indeed

  106. St75,
    Won’t be long mate.
    B62,
    Congrats mate, feel free to name him after me if you want to.

    We need a few themes on here, best away game, crappest player, first game etc, look forward to seeing a few tomorrow.

  107. Steamer
    Haha
    I can never understand a word those two are on about!
    And as for naming him after you, I think it’s a bit harsh to name a baby, cantankerous old sod 😉

  108. Ian – yes, it feels like we are light years away from Stoke. They done the double over us, out passed us, this summer out spent us on real quality unlike our over the hill shite

    S75- not on holiday unfortunately. I got your email mate. Passed my practical last week, and as you know passed Gn3 a few weeks back. Only BS7671 exam left now which hopefully is next week sometime. That job sounds great if you could get it mate

    Will Grealish get his chance tonight ? Carruthers? Robbinson ? Donacian ? Oh wait, Lambert hasn’t even put 3 of them in the squad. Gabby, Kea, baker it is

  109. Ian, my head was turned by St75s passion wagon with klaxon lights – and no other can cut a dash like him in stockings 🙂

    THe problelm is that Ian Hendrie Ian Taylor’s big boots to fill and I really hope that Tayls isn’t gone for good as IMO there couldn’t be a better ambassador for Aston VIlla. But if Howard Hodgson is to be believed, Tayls was told by Paul Faulkener that Paul Lambert didn’t want him on the tour as long ago as May.

    Thanks for the time Runtingz – I thought they were playing at 2 am . That is a hell of a lot of time for Jack Woodward to fill !!!!!!!!!!

  110. Frem,
    Passed exams, great, well done.

    How the fuck that slimey treacherous gobshite Lerner has the nerve to attend tonights game shows what a deluded knob he is, bet he expects an ovation from the fans so he can wave his wad of EPL TV money at them. Laugh my goolies off if someone snots the twat.

  111. Frem
    well done kid , and l think l will get the install , alan dewar is doing work there , its 3 massive flats , from scratch , glad you done well in your practical , you’ll have muscles on muscles with all the cable pulling , ))))),

    night Jenny xxxxx

  112. No joke, Lambert has said” I thought we were excellent” for last night. He’s back ffs

    Nice to see Zoggy score. Bent involved In Wiemannas goal

    We have no wingers though which pisses me off

    Thanks for the kind words on my exam.
    That’s will be great Steamer. I need to build some muscle so ever better

  113. Frem: We have no wingers …

    That happened in 1966 didn’t it?! 😉 A certain Alf Ramsay started the craze…

    I agree, though, there’s nothing like a good winger to get bums off their seats.

    Come back Morley and Daley!!

    I would have won several thousands on Pointless a couple of nights ago. The question was name winners of Goal Of The Season on BBC’s MotD, and Morley was a winning pointless answer.

  114. Bent set up Weiman’s goal and Zoggy scores. The bomb squad doing well . How do I know this – because it was so hot I couldn’t sleep and as Texas were live screening it I watched it on my phone – must be mad! Today’s going to be a long day !! Yawn .
    Would be happy with the spurs deal . I had hoped we would go in for Holtby before . If he’s going to go then we may as well get a couple of players who could play a part in return.
    Morning st 75 x

  115. Looks like a good work-out last night, with a pleasing result. Grealish had a reasonable game, a few mistakes, but showed nice touches, and good to see plenty of competition for places.

    I do feel that we have a better squad now than a lot of the teams around us, if we can remain injury free.

    Good to see some more life on here.

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