What a year for the underdog! With Leicester in the footballing ascendancy we now have the previously unknown Danny Willett as the Masters’ champion at his first attempt. I now look forward to Durham winning the County Cricket championship and Laura Robson becoming the Ladies Champion at Wimbledon!

For the old European Champions Aston Villa, however, it’s all over bar the shouting now. Maybe it’s time to sit down in my favourite chair and just take a swig of sarsaparilla (some might choose something stronger!) – and reflect: there’s not much else to do now.

There’s something about the fan that wants to cling on to some vague hope, but after the Liverpool debacle I knew in reality that the season had been sealed and that we might just as well shut up shop and finish playing. In fact that’s just what the team has been doing these past eight games.

But what else to reflect on now, especially in the light that we’ve already dissected, masticated and unloaded our views on about every event since 2010.

Well, to rub salt into the wound it appears that Leicester are already guaranteed Champions League football next season, and the thought immediately comes to mind “Just how, then, did O’Neill find it so difficult to find a side that could finish above sixth when presented with the cash he had available?” Leicester – by comparison – are a pauper’s team, and as discussed in the last leader, Villa helped them to fill a vacant slot; and he at a pauper’s price.

All the talk about “needing money” and “the game has all changed since Man City got rich” is mostly, therefore, hogwash, as Leicester have demonstrated. It can be said that even though Lerner pulled in the financial reins in 2011, more could have been achieved based mainly on a simple ethic: the will to win. That and the added ingredient of being able to sniff out players of value, such as the unlikely Vardy; and Mahrez and Albrighton. Plus the revelation from Mark King about their sports science department.

No, I am not saying that Villa would necessarily have won a Championship League place with the application of those simple ingredients, but Leicester’s achievement has made it abundantly clear that Villa did not need to be marooned in the bottom places for the last five years. West Ham and Stoke have also made their presence felt: just what has been going on at Villa Park since 2010?

We are all convinced, I think, about the past mismanagement at our club, but with the revelation that success can be achieved without so much cash as people inferred, Lerner’s faulty actions lie solely but importantly with his CEO appointments, Faulkner and Fox, and the damage that they seem to have perpetrated: mainly by Fox, who seems to have missed the point by a mile. “Pay people more money and you will get results”, seems to have been his primary style as demonstrated in those deeply questioned contracts to Lambert and Gabby. However his now clearly strange management methods and appointments went far beyond those matters.

Whatever the problems were at the club in 1987 (the last relegation) there was still an identifiable link between the youth set up and the senior squad. Players of the ilk of Walters and Dorigo and then Daley, Birch and Olney found their niche with comfort, but in the very recent past the supply of effective youngsters has mostly dried up, though perhaps we are seeing the awakening of a new dawn in that respect. In addition, Graham Taylor (in 1987-90) had the ability that Leicester have shown in being able to pick up highly-capable bargains: McInally, Platt, McGrath and Yorke and the return of Cowans were a great credit to Taylor. It’s interesting that when Taylor took over for a second spell in charge that he acquired the young and gangly Peter Crouch and declared, “He’ll play for England”. Well, he did, but not before he was ruthlessly and cheaply discarded by Taylor’s replacement and yet went on to play well for Liverpool and Spurs, with Southampton making a hefty profit on him in-between Villa and his later clubs.

Yes, mismanagement at Villa has been going on for a long time. It’s such a tragedy that the club’s flag got lowered so much before the penny dropped and the lion’s claws were made to re-grow. But with the club stating it is no longer “Prepared”, what’s to happen now?

Comments 216

  1. Sarsaparilla, the tipple of Brett Maverick.

    Several years ago i read an article about Lerners equally bizarre appointments at the Cleveland Browns rugby club, the author was totally puzzled by most of them especially as they were on better wages than more successful coaches. He came to the conclusion that Lerner gave the jobs to the people who he liked most rather than the most successful, my theory is that he’s just a total nutjob. He won’t lose any sleep over his destruction of AVFC , he probably thinks he’s done a fantastic job, i only hope that whether the new committees turn the situation around or not, we never have Randy Lerner contaminating VP, Birmingham or England ever again.

  2. Steamer: “He came to the conclusion that Lerner gave the jobs to the people who he liked most rather than the most successful”

    Spot on mate!

    That came across to the outside world when McLeish was appointed: Faulkner found him to be a “nice person” and he stated it as though it was pretty well the primary qualification.

  3. Yes Randolph was highly thought of by the Browns fans they could not wait to get rid of the infection that ripped their club apart, this parasite should never be allowed near any sporting institution ever again, we will suffer for years basically because the billionaire that is Randy Lerner can afford to lose £300m and still have a lifestyle non of us could imagine, there used to be a thing called due diligence but it is worth nothing in the footballing world because if you have millions to throw at English football then it qualifies you to enter our game.

    Are we all convinced Pearson has secured the job?

    SWV

  4. I think Lerner is the smiling assassin, as steamer pointed out oblivious to the real world and able to draw people in with what a nice bloke he his. Lambert thought he was Lerners mate, Remi was not so stupid once he knew the backing he was promised was nothing but a lure, luclkily he wasn’t as spineless as Lamberk. Once the spell is broken then Lerner show’s his colours. He is happy when things go exactly as he see’s them and woe betide those that question him ( Remi calling on him to speak in Jan).

    Sadly for Villa haven’t we always been the nearly club in modern Times? hampered by people who thought they knew best instead of seeking the best. On the odd occasion we have got something right we shine but the formula for continued success evades us.

  5. Randy has surrounded himself with friends and got them to run Villa which says a lot about the man

    anyone spending millions of hard earned money surely would be shrewd about who and how it is spent

    seems it has taken the near death of the club for Randy to address this issue

    get Pearson in and let the butt kicking begin

  6. Mark k
    Good post earlier about remi showing Lerner up,only other decent manager under Lerner Mon seen the light and took his pay off
    Houiller like bent was Lerner trying to show old girlfriend ( Mon)what he was missing
    Just to sicken us right Mon old team compared to now
    Friedal. Guzan
    Young. Hutton
    Bouma. Richardson
    Dunne. Richards
    Collins. Lescott
    Petrov. Wastewood
    Barry. Bacuna
    Young a. Gana
    Milner. Sanchez
    Downing. Rudi
    Carew. Flabby

  7. Just seen the tackle from Toner that caused the row last night, Brilliant tackle which took the ball cleanly. These refs get worse, if he said he saw something illegal then he’s not only a pi55 poor excuse of an official, he’s also a liar and a cheat, he should do well in the game.

  8. Not confident of getting Pearson now, he’s a Nottingham lad and Villa’s delay seems to make it more likely that he’ll go to his local club. I wonder if AVFC will ever have a degree of competency at board room level, obviously by recent events we have no integrity or honesty there. I’d also like to know who these ‘football people’ are, pushing a pen for the FA doesn’t qualify you in that respect. At the moment the committees have shown nothing that instills any confidence in me that they’re anywhere near finding the route back to respectability.

  9. James G,
    MON gets a lot of stick for his teams supposed lack of style, total BS, it was EXACTLY the same style and set up that Saunders used, but because RS won the title he escapes criticism.

  10. Pearson was at the forest game last night. Tuned in to see gg and he went off injured!!

    Jury is out on the board but far too early to judge them now. Personally i wanted more football experienced men on board….cetainly more confident than having fox or faulkner.

    Manger appointment crucial, lets see what happens with that and see what side we kick off with next season. Then ill judge.

  11. The longer we go without a manager, the more worried I am it’s going to be some complete bellend. We could easily announce a manager taking over on Monday ( after we are confirmed relegated). I think Moyes is hanging on for something better ie Celtic , Everton or Newcastle( should they drop as expected). We won’t be approaching the likes of Howe, Dyche or Rodgers, both Moyes and Pearson are out of work so if it was either of them they could be announced and start Monday getting a first hand look at the massive task that faces them and just how many players we need to shift. I honestly think they are waiting to see if Hull go up in the play offs, this could be as late as 2 weeks after the PL finishes and all the players leave for the summer!!! Then it’s straight into the Euros and 6 weeks later it’s pretty much the start of the championship season. Meaning the new manager won’t have time to get his own players in or get these twats out. We would be heading into a tough season on the back of a cluster fuck of a PL campaign and summer transfer window, my hopes aren’t high we will stay up next season if we don’t start turning this round now, and by that getting a manager in now so he can see exactly what he needs this summer and can target his players, he will also see first hand which u21 can step up and just how many iver paid useless lumps of shite need to be moved on and which French players need replacing when they all say au revoir

  12. b62

    I wouldnt worry yet mate. Still plenty of time and im confident a manager will be in place well before season has finished. Im sure Bernstein said thats what was needed and then playing staff can be the one job in the summer. Actions speak louder than words though. If we get Moyes in and a new team for kick off next season ill be happy. Wont be happy with Bruce at all now, was not against the idea a month a to ago but he spent alot of money on that hull team.

  13. Id like at least 3 u21s to feature next season alongside some decent pros. Need a 20 goal a season striker soooo bad if we want to get promoted. Grealish, green, and maybe adama. He did not do much last night though.

  14. dyche and barnsley are getting promoted, no chance whatsover same with howe, might as well be metioning pep! Warburton i know nothing about but he aint going anywhere yet, going to have a go at battling celtic.

    So the list aint that long, bruce, mccarthy, moyes, rodgers, pearson. 1 of that lot.

  15. It is good to see some real hard working folk about to lose their jobs at VP, we will need to cost cut to be able to afford to pay the astronomic wages to the useless bunch of wankers who dropped us in this shite.
    If you were working on the background staff and had actually been a success in your role and are now facing redundancy because the club have paid millions to get rid of Sherwood/Lambert/Faulkner/Fox I just wonder if you would feel slightly annoyed perhaps even a bit miffed.
    There is a stench in modern day football where hard working people get kicked in the knackers and the likes of Agbonlahor still get their £60k a week for failing to do his job, we have created a massive monster that leaves a very bad taste in the mouth and I am really glad none of my cash goes into his fat bank account.

    Well that was the good news and now for the bad I was told this morning from someone who works inside Bristol City that AVFC have made an approach for Simon Grayson.

    SWV

  16. Hi SWV

    I get cost cutting because revenues will be down from being relegated but surely the service staff numbers need to remain or increase because we’ll be playing more games. It’s a false economy to reduce staff when it’s business as usual, the level of service to customers has to be maintained.

    Shame on the owner, board and players for allowing decent staff lose their jobs while they hold Villa to ransom with their extortionate wages.

    JL

    You make reference to Leicester but it appears the football gods have conspired to ensure perennial achievers Chelski and Manure have woeful seasons, Pellegrini completely undermined by Pep’s arrival and Arse doing their usual new year slump has meant consistency by Leicester and Spurs will give them the appropriate plaudits and i didn’t even have to mention History FC.

    Adrian Durham singles out MON for blame but the article is to simplified, why no reference to Lerner not actually controlling MON’s spending, why no mention of controlling player selection or their contracts. Lerner’s fault entirely MON worked within the means afforded to him and had no comprehension 90% wages vs turnover was unsustainable and it appears Lerner didn’t either.

    FOL

  17. Eric Black is in temporary charge of the club until the end of the season, with Villa expected to make an appointment once their relegation to League One has been confirmed.

    Arch,

    A well written article and well researched apparently we are going straight down to league one, blimey give us at least one season to fuck up in the championship, I hope the Grayson link is about as trustworthy as HITC but who knows with our fuck up of a club it could be anyone.

    SWV

  18. Darren,

    Apologies for the rant but it galls me to see these people probably struggling to pay their mortgage while the likes of fatty and lescott swan around in Dubai spending thousands and tweeting pictures of their shiny new motors while the rest of us have to read the embarrassing articles in the daily papers ridiculing our once great club, I feel bitter and fatty would last five seconds if I saw him shopping in the City centre.

    SWV

  19. Villa under 21’s – the pride of villa

    some very promising players took out west spasm last night — Jack was excellent

    in the long term this may be the best thing to happen to villa under the current circumstances – a lot of are young guns may actually get a shot of establishing themselves in the first team

    i hear hammers are after Ayew – also tekkers and possibly sturridge as klopp apparently doesnt rate him as high as orgi — some team the spams could have next season

  20. No need to apologise, i’m in complete agreement with you, just adding my two cents to your comment, i don’t get staff cut backs on low salaries as being an appropriate response to relegation.

    i know they are looking for voluntary redundancy but if they can’t even sign up to minimum wage, i hardly expect the redundancy to be beyond statutory.

    Shame on Villa

    FOL

  21. Steamer- out of mons team who would you have played in Saunders team? My answer has consistently come up as none.

    I don’t know what to mke of the delay, on one hand Bernstein says we need to sort it quick on the other it’s we will take our time and get it right.

    Runtings- I watched the game last night thought jack was ok but Adama was very poor. Abdominal was the best player with hale and toner for me

  22. Unfortunatly with every team thats relegated staff are always sacked. Been happening to every team that goes down for years. With these people on ‘normal’ saleries youd like to think Mr Villa gabby local hero would sacrifice a few weeks wages to keep them in the job…..I wouldnt think twice of doing that if i was a milionaire allready. Would only do it for villa though:)

    Is grayson any good, not followed his managerial career?

  23. mark i only saw highlights in which we looked good but wouldn’t ague with your assessment

    I seem to find positives all the time and are under 21’s are that positive – we could be in for an exciting season if we can get the balance right between the kids and whoever is brought in imo

  24. i read some weeks back that Pearson will only join at the end of the season if given the job

    it’s not as if you need to go into the club to work out who needs shifting and any incoming manager would be likely not to want to deal with the squad as it stands due to the poisonous attitude reported around the place from our senior pro’s

  25. Runtingz I agree with the right pros in place we could have a decent blend. I think half the reason more were not tried by Garde was they would not improve things from the position the 1st teams in. Would be better to play the lot, on Saturday Lyden was overlooked a lot by the others even though he was in good positions to receive the ball, something stinks at villa.

  26. we are getting 50mil next season from the prem , what do they do with all this money ?

    Villa park will be packed out if we are actually winning games in the championship and current player automatically take a pay cut of 25% i believe so the staff cull seems a little harsh

  27. Mon spending
    Makes me laugh ,yes he spent a fortune but resold as well when here to leave him with about 80 m spend,add sales of milner,young and downing his end is only 15 m
    We finished top 6 3 years running and following season 9 the ,a cup final spoiled by fat ref dowd,semifinal fa cup
    Since one shameful cup final,with biggest shame of all bradford disgrace
    As for players yes Mon signed few duds, beye been worst but REO coker sidwell Davies never reached their potential, Cahill left yes happens to every team aresnal released Kane
    We have spent about150 m since Mon walked with less than 50 m reçouped and look at squad now,seen somewhere yesterday villas squad value at 80 m by who? 40 m far too high of value

  28. Steamer
    Moms teams where all set up same not Barcelona by any standard but never beaten before played( bar Russian trip) he got results,and was unlucky he had red nose at utd,Wenger at gunners,Chelsea side built by mourino f8rst time at their prime,pool under benitez all top 4, plus Moyes Everton who spent a fortune which keeps been swept under carpet,Harry’s spuds and then,city new owners,7 strong sides to compete with for top 4
    Watched Ireland 3 times in Autumn live won 3 ,3 clean sheets, Clark looked very good player not one I am watching now
    Lazy journalism by Durham, why not highlight the lowlife that is. Lerner,all the harm he has done

  29. Rimmer
    All right backs were crepe
    All left backs were crepe
    Evans had his one good season in 1981.
    All CH were crepe
    Bremner
    Milner
    Barry
    Morley
    Shaw
    Withe
    Subs –
    Cowans who had a nightmare season
    Deacy
    No-one else worthy

  30. JG,
    Not knocking him mate,in fact just before his final season i remarked to a mate that the moaners would miss him WHEN he went.
    Mark
    Dunne would get a game too.

    Never rated Mortimer, Swain, Gibson, Williams, Geddis.

  31. DO’R: “You make reference to Leicester but it appears the football gods have conspired to ensure perennial achievers Chelski and Manure have woeful seasons…”

    I concur, sir, but that’s not really (if you don’t mind me saying) related to the gist of the article.

    The main point was about the fact that Leicester have shown that it has not been necessary for Villa to have been squirming in the bottom reaches these past 5 years. They’ve had direction and been organised – what a difference to us who have primarily just tried to keep the 1982 achievement alive before the start of each game.

  32. DO’R: “Lerner’s fault entirely MON worked within the means afforded to him and had no comprehension 90% wages vs turnover was unsustainable and it appears Lerner didn’t either.”

    Agreed in general, but it’s been said many times that MON was at fault in several ways, particularly in buying a fair number who made little contribution, yet got rid of Cahill, Davis and Gardner.

    It’s also been said that the Academy – First Team link got broken by MON, though Gabby and Clark were given their chances.

    I don’t think that MON was lillywhite by any means, but amidst the revelations about the club’s overall management MON does look like a knight on a white horse.

  33. Was impressed with Toner in the game, and for taking no shit, must have spent time with Roy Keane in training…!!!

    Larry Grayson for manager, maybe Bruce Forsyth or the Scottish joker, Sir Alex……Still a long way off an appointment, waiting for the sale of Villa to go through, once relegation and the price is confirmed…..

    Did manage to see Ayew’s goal before departing the Holte End on Saturday, shame we did not put away the other opportunities created..

  34. Steamer- I was young then so I still remember them fondly through my rose tinted glasses, can’t say I ever saw mon’s team put in 90 mins though usually fell apart at 70.

    Runtingz where did you get £50mil from? I think its £64m over 3 years, £24m the 1st year it changes next season to 55% of the prem earnings

    JG- the point with mons spending was we had to get rid of the better players and we were left with dross we could not shift without big losses, we had to sell our best assets to survive, the others were worth Zilch and were on steep wages for their involvement.

  35. If you look at it now Mon might as well used the youth players in the squad as he did not rotate players at all, saving us millions and getting the same result

  36. Mark k
    Ireland
    Bent
    Makoun
    Given
    Hutton
    Jena’s
    ZOG that bad had to write in caps
    All of Lambert’s bar benteke
    Richards
    Lescott
    That’s all crap we can’t blame Mon for

  37. Imagine if Tim had got his signings, Adebayor, Townsend and Lennon, the entire playing staff without the French lads would be valued at approx 20m.
    AA can’t get a game for CP, Townsend is once again a reserve and Lennon continues to be a road runner impersonator. For Wilkins to say they could have kept us us with that crepe is ridiculous and the wages would have taken us over the edge.

  38. JG- not blaming mon for those at all but he is not blameless in buying crap which pushed our finances to the brink so we had to sell the better players and then replaced them with poorer players, Bent was the exception as he was a panic buy that saved our season, next season we sold his supply to make ends meet. Mon was the sole director of footy matters by then so whether he knew about the finances or not he still wanted those players which he then did not play, a lot of them.

  39. Steamer
    Wasn’t thinking you were knocking him
    To me he seen Lerner for the horrible human being that he was and got out quick,deadly said he left 20 m for transfers and that Lerner would put money into team,all lies from Lerner per usual
    Mark k
    At Mon time all clubs were spending massive money plus wages,to get the likes of Dunne from city took big money,players wanted London or Manchester
    One first things mcknob had to do replace friedal who hadn’t missed a game from signing to then,our wise board wouldn’t give a new contract but signed off on over 20 m for given a 35 year old,Lambert got rid of Collins( mom last match at villa park) for sicknote vlar

  40. Steamer – Wilkins makes my blood boil, Tims attempts at buying players was a disaster from the off, Ady as our great hope and the bloke wouldn’t leave london, where was the plan B?

  41. My opinion of MON is that he believed his own publicity, poor judge of a player, not a good man manager and tactically a one trick pony, probably a good short term boss, however he put the club on the right road and we became popular with the media which is important in today’s footy, why i don’t know.
    A mate of mine was a coach at Villa under him and i remarked to him that Cahill looked a good CH and could make it, he replied ” yes, but he won’t make it here.” Personalities.
    I remember MON being a pundit for one of the international tournaments, his opinion of Zlatan was “the most overrated player in the tournament.”

  42. Mark k
    In 12 months after Mon left ,Lerner fucked up finances
    Ireland 7 m fee 12 m wages
    Bent 18/24 m fee 15 m wages
    Makoun 6 m fee 8 wages
    Zog 12 m fee 13 m wages
    Given 3.5 m fee 15 m wages
    Hutton 4.5 m fee 10 m wages

  43. Mark k
    In 12 months after Mon left ,Lerner fucked up finances
    Ireland 7 m fee 12 m wages
    Bent 18/24 m fee 15 m wages
    Makoun 6 m fee 8 wages
    Zog 12 m fee 13 m wages
    Given 3.5 m fee 15 m wages
    Hutton 4.5 m fee 10 m wages
    Mental wasn’t it

  44. JG,
    Apparently Lerner & MON came to blows regarding the direction the club was going, MON wanted the 25m from Milner but after the row Lerner allegedly gave it to the Browns.
    McKnob could have given Friedal a contract rather than sign Given another 35 year old injury prone GK on 80k per week. Then signed Ndog on 65k but now tells us he cut costs.
    The mis-management of this club since the war is amazing but Lerner has taken it to a new level.

  45. JG he went on a free so got a nice big lump sum from spurs as a thank you forget wages he probably pocketed £5m

    Yes our entire approach was bizarre mate, sticking expensive small plasters on a gaping wound

  46. ASTON VILLA have offered Brad Friedel a new deal — but they must fight off interest from rivals West Brom.

    The Baggies are keen to strengthen their goalkeeping department and have also been tracking Manchester United No 2 Tomasz Kuszczak.

    But it has emerged that Hawthorns boss Roy Hodgson has identified Friedel as his No 1 choice.

    And West Brom will offer the out-of-contract veteran a competitive deal to prise him away from Villa Park.

    The USA ace, 40 next week, and Villa have been slow to agree a deal.

    Villa No 2 Gary McAllister said: “Brad’s at the end of his contract. I don’t know if there’s other interest but there have been discussions and an offer has been made.

    “He’s had a fantastic season. Everyone is aware of his age and it’s something we’ve got to be looking at.”

  47. Very astute of our committee to begin compiling names, you can’t say they’re not on the ball. Prepared eh, this is the club where two weeks into the season the manager complains that the team isn’t fit enough, at the launch of the new AVTV all communications die. Getting worse.

  48. I see Pearson is now the bookies favourite for the Nottingham Forest job, he was there watching the game v Brighton adding fuel to the speculation.
    And we are now being linked with Simon Grayson, dear god this torture never ends, absolute joker crap player and crap manager.
    Mirror also taking the piss that the club are to ask fans for their player of the season!!!! You couldn’t make this up, although they aren’t having an end of season bash( they will prob all jet off to Dubai ), we can be relegated before we even kick off Saturday, either way we are going down Saturday so let’s get on with rebuilding for NEXT season and get the new manager in to give him enough time to start sorting this shambles of a club

  49. B62: “And we are now being linked with Simon Grayson, dear god this torture never ends, absolute joker cr*p player and cr*p manager.”

    So, Ron Atkinson was a great player was he? 😉 … He didn’t even play in the Villa first team.

    From what I read Grayson has done fairly well at Preston.

  50. JL
    Fairly well?? He bombed at Leeds, did ok at Huddersfield and is hardly ripping up trees at Preston, he is a poor choice and under him I think we would struggle. Perhaps when we get relegated next season to Div1 he could be the man as that’s his level. If we are serious about getting up we have to look at better than the likes of Grayson, Bruce and McCarthy, we have to at least try or the club will end up folding having hit the bottom tier, if we don’t stop this tailspin now we will continue to hurtle on to self destruction

  51. B62,

    We all share your concern, mate, and I don’t really think that Grayson would be a wise choice. Villa certainly needs someone with oomph, but not so much oomph that it becomes an ego issue.

    A careful balance has to be struck.

  52. I really dont see it being grayson or bruce. Going to get linked to everyone but the board are just in place with little advising. Its surly going to be someone we will be fairly positive about?! It just has to be moyes, a no brainer.

  53. Would not be surprised to see the man in place for next weekend. Get the official R next to our name and we will then see a new manager. Trust it to be away to Scummer utd to offically go down.

    Pearson at forest could be a ploy to hurry villa up and get him? The longer i think of pearson the more positive i am about him. His strength and no nonsense would be welcome

  54. Hi JL

    I read the article, I was merely pointing out that while Leicester have shown what’s possible on a small budget, it shouldn’t be under-estimated that the traditional top 4/5/6 have been mediocre at best and contributed to Leicester dominance.

  55. had enough of the lester love in. They are crap to watch and vardy is a horrible bugger. Its just the same when greece won the euros, its just a freak occurance. Im going to put some money on them going down next season.

  56. DO’R: “I was merely pointing out that while Leicester have shown what’s possible…[etc] “

    Sorry, Darren, I should have said that I appreciated why the fact was stated, but to me it’s not the issue that Leicester are standing to win the league but the fact they’re in the top-6 at all!!!! It could have been the case that if the so-called top clubs had all their usual stuff, Leicester may have been in the leading bunch anyway.

    Sorry if I’m re-iterating but Leicester are a complete contrast to Villa’s swimming in mire these past 5 years and their performances since January 2015 (with Albri at their helm) have just underlined how bad the Villa management has been.

  57. On Albrighton

    I noted on Matt’s podcast that his partner in the discussion said (effectively) that it was better in his view that Albrighton moved on at that time.

    I found that a perplexing statement. I recall so vividly that he came on as a sub against West Ham that season and was the only player that gave West Ham trouble. Even their fans were asking why he hadn’t come on earlier!

    To me he was just wasted under the management we had. Even Sherwood said it had been a mistake that he’d been allowed to go and I think he was right.

  58. No doubt we should of kept super Mark. Young, villa fan, english. Its criminal he was allowed to leave especially when Bacunas been his replacement really!

    When i have seen him for lester i have noticed he crosses the ball really early. One touch and whips it in. Great work ethic like the rest of them but does get subed alot and have seen him struggle a bit in games. Some make out like hes messi we got rid of! Mind you he would look like messi in our team.

  59. Andrew,

    Yes, he would rather stand out amongst our lot! Don’t get me wrong, though – I never thought he to be a superstar!

    Yes, he does have frailties but he has skills like that you’ve mentioned which can make all the difference.

  60. DOR,
    Its possible that the author of that article is either attempting to provoke a bid or knows something is happening, lets hope so.

  61. The last villa game i attended albrighton came on with 15mins to go and was our MOTM by a long chalk so seeing him leave a month or so later showed what a clueless club we really are

  62. Hard to say what has gone this season, the rise and fall of so many teams it seems. A levelling out for at least a season and an underdog who just happen to possess the best strike force in the league. Not one regular top four team has put a run together, the three teams coming up have performed better than expected, The bottom ten teams except for us have achieved positive results against the top 10 regularly enough for it to upset the balance. There is such a strange mish mash of circumstance its like the perfect storm, the three teams threatening to shoot themselves in the foot for years now, Us, Newcastle and Sunderland have finally achieved that goal.

    Next season will be harder I’m sure with some big name managers coming in to the league at top teams and more money to splurge, of the 3 teams likely to come up I cannot see any staying up but hey we said that this season. Spurs, west ham, Leicester and maybe Everton will all have a say in things again but I expect the usual suspects to re-emerge.

  63. Andrew
    On subbing albrighton
    It’s way Leicester set up and play their two widemen are subbed on 70 min mark most matches because they are knackered covering up and down line
    And as for our shameful lot last week Bournemouth ran over 5 kilometers more than us every game lazy bastards are outrun

  64. I think the premier league is changing Mark
    my take is it will be harder for those in Europe to fight for the title and do well in cups at the same time

    the money coming in means the so called small teams will have a lot more quality in there rank and if it’s a well run club with a good manager (which seems to apply to most teams now )they will be fighting for domestic cups and upsetting the big boys on a regular basis , especially before and after European games

    should be one heck of an exciting premier lge

  65. Hey Steamer

    I thought it was strange that he should single out Wanda from the many newly created billionaires that are in China.

    I’d be happy if there is smoke and fire on the story. Not down to pure money but this is a country that wants to be internationally successful and new found billionaires who want to be recognised globally. What better vehicle than a phoenix from the ashes story, we have Chinese owned MG up the road in Longbridge so the connection is there already.

    Still imperative we get a decent manager in and decent backing to rip the squad up and start again in the second division.

    FOL

  66. DOR,
    And a few months ago while on tour Prince Wills had a long conversation with him (Wang ?) about footy. And Birmingham has the biggest Chinese population in the UK.

  67. Now there’s someone who could fill an AVFC Ambassador role, Prince Will would be a very good exponent on the virtues of investing in Aston Villa. Lets hope he had a conversation.

  68. Black has been told that he’s manager for the remaining games which suggests that the target is already in a job which probably means Bruce or Grayson, either would destroy season ticket sales and prolong the mediocrity currently reigning at VP.
    The current redundancies indicate that the committee aren’t too bothered about a promotion push next season, if Villa were challenging then the gates would be at least on a par with this seasons attendances and we would need the same quota of staff. On that note it seems that everywhere Hollis goes working class folk lose their jobs. To be honest i wouldn’t trust ANY of our admin in any capacity, i’m bewildered that the customers refer to Bernstein and the other FA lackey as ‘football people.’
    Newcastle, Sunderland and Villa are three of the biggest clubs in England yet all three are being relegated, why ? two are owned by American idiots and the other is owned by a Cockenee, the last people you want owning your club.

  69. A lot of talk it is going to be Pearson with Chris Powell in the media today, not exactly my first choice and if we have to appoint Pearson I’d like him to have Craig Sheakespear with him and some of his usual back room staff. Personally I’m not a massive fan especially of his abrasive and arrogant personality( although there’s no denying these fisters need a good bollocking/kicking). I’d rather of had Moyes as we can’t attract the likes of Howe/Dyche/Karanka/Rodgers.
    Pearson is getting a lot of credit for the Foxes superb season, but he nearly got that team relegated and fell out with the media/fans/owners and was very negative in his approach. Leicester have flourished under the tinkerman and tanking the shackles off, a lot of leicester fans are saying good luck if we do appoint him. However he is a far better option than Bruce/Mcarthy/Grayson etc.

  70. Steamer

    Buck bets ten a new man will be in charge before season over and it wont be those two.

    Does look like Pearson to me, too many widespread reports. Brave appointment, fair few villa fans dont want him. Is ok with me though. Although who bloody knows, i’m not sure i know anything anymore. I got hopefull when kean became assistant thinking he would sort us out, i truly believed in the summer with all these new players and wilkins as assistant to tim we would be ok. Villa have killed me

  71. Pearson has done well with lester on 2 occassions in the championship and also with hull. I can see why we want him and his personality maybe what we need but he must be able to make wholesale changes. This lot has seen off roy kean and lots of other coaches so they wont be too afraid!

    For me he has been very unlucky and must be fuming as to where lester are now. Ranerie has come in and done nowt, they play the same style with the same players barring kante who was lined up anyhow. Could be good for us though, might be very motivated.

    Only big shame his staff wont be coming.

  72. Andrew,
    Same here mate, despair just about covers it, i’ve had enough of the modern game, only watch the odd Villa game on satellite. Been going to VP since 1962, a few great times but in general its been crepe mainly because of the owners.

  73. When you look at the clubs who have employed Ranieri and see how little he’s won you realise what a crepe manager he is, he couldn’t build a team like Pearson did with Leicester. When the Faroe Islands beat you then you should realise that you’re in the wrong biz. He never lasts long in a job anyway. He’ll probably get MoY too.

  74. Sacked from virtually all.
    Cagliari, Napoli ,Fiorentina, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Parma, Juventus, Roma,
    Inter Milan Monaco.Leicester
    Greece – Sacked after 4 months after losing to Faroe Islands.

  75. Steamer
    Yeah its bad times. Whats sad is i used to run my life around villa, making sure im watching results or live games whenever there on. When i was a kid i used to sit transfixed to teletext results page 304 i think it was and waiting for scores to change! It took me days to get over a defeat. Now im just numb to it, does not effect me at all.

    Tis a long time steamer since 1962…you have seen it all! My first game at vp was beating utd 3-1 with the kids wont win you anything utd side. Ive only seen 2 league cup wins, great time though. Ive always thought us a top 6 side.

  76. Agree with a lot of the point on Pearson particularly Andrews last post

    I don’t think people realise that the team about to win the title are going to do so because pearson was the last manager and built the side and the mentality #

    they were the form side in the league for the 2nd half of last season and have just continued they form and style of play this season

  77. Haha i said the other day im not having this lester love in anymore. I think Ranerie must go home and think hmmm im not sure how this is happening but im riding with it! Its pure dumb luck. The smartest thing he has done is change nothing at all since taking over. Wait till the best players go and he has to re build the team himself. He has found himself in the right place at the right time being in charge of an achivement that happens once in a lifetime. Greece won the euros and everyone said the games chaging etc but normal service will resume next season.

  78. I think Ranieri will take over as Italy gaffer when Conte leaves for Chelsea in the summer., he won’t be able to top this season domestically, he has finished 2nd multiple times in Italy and Spain .
    I see the government are helping out London football yet again, West Ham to pay £2.5m per year rent to play at the Olympic Stadium, that is a minimal amount and a real piss take. I believe there are other areas where they are being subsidised, WHU will play in front of 60k every week, with the cheapest ST in the PL. That is a club going in the opposite direction to us and another we will never catch or compete with again. Sad times

  79. No wonder they fought the bill 2.5m !!!! What with stealing the London Olympics as well. What next free entry to hammers fans paid for by the taxpayer ?
    have you seen the proposed extra payments, 1m if WHU win the Champions Lge WTF !!!!!

  80. Andrew; “1950! Baggie shorts have been in and out of fashion lots of times since then:)”

    Oh, no, those in 1950 stretched from the belly button down to the knees and below – depending on how tall the player was!

  81. My first Villa game the manager was Dick Taylor cannot remember who it was against, I used to go into Harry Parkes shop to buy my football boots ( this was before we found the internet ) and Harry would always be there to chat about the club really nice bloke think he died about six or seven years back, John will correct me if I am wrong. Being born in the year we last lifted the FA cup gave me the right to support the Villa although being brought up in Balsall Heath did help.

    SWV

  82. Two right feet you numpty, at least I gave my teams the benefit of staying on the field for 90 minutes although I was crepe, whereas your boots lasted a lifetime at 3 minutes per game over ten years that tin of dubbin still never had the lid levered off.
    Oh and you were sine high for seven of those.

    SWV

  83. I remember one local referee shouting ” Hey Steamer you have kicked every one of their players including both subs any chance you could connect with the ball “.

    The ref was a bit of a wag but he had a point we had only played 9 minutes.

    SWV

  84. SWV,

    Great feller was HP, they say. I never met him but people tell me he was and a great comedian too.

    I vaguely remember his original shop not too far from Villa Park.

    Yes, he died while I was at VP – about 2008-9 time. As did Johnny Dixon, Peter Aldis, Vic Crowe and one or two others, I sometimes wonder whether Lerner was waiting for the ’57 team to depart this Earth before he brought the club down, but Peter Mac, Jackie Sewell and Nigel are still around.

  85. Ron Saunders,Barton,Turner ,McNeill Taylor,venglos ,best for me BFR,little,Gregory Taylor again,odreary,Mon ,houiller mcknob,Lambert Sherwood remi,black and kmac as temporary
    Loved big Ron’s teams,little Mon and Gregory just for saying about Yorke if I had a gun I would shoot him
    Favourite team
    Bosnich just shades it
    Mellborg had to put him in
    Station
    McGrath
    Laursen
    Platt
    Brenner
    Morley
    Cowan’s
    Withe
    Shaw
    Subs
    Spink,Evans,Taylor Townsend ,benteke

  86. Strange that, i seem to remember myself as a ball playing sweeper in the Beckenbauer mould, inspiring my team mates by my selfless sportsmanship.

  87. Sims;
    Gidman, Mellberg, McGrath, Laursen, Staunton;
    Milner, Barry, Cropley:
    Little, Gray.
    Subs – Rimmer, Cowans, Broadbent, Shaw, Graydon.

  88. hahahaha gabby declared not fit enough for the prem. Black your a ledgend for saying that…..FINALLY someone has noticed! Twitter rumours suggest Moyes does not want the job, clever man.

  89. Gabby undergoing personal fitness program, a professional footballer, he’s a complete joke.

    Worse still Taco Bell owners of KFC have announced the closure of KFC in the Midlands because of the expected drop in revenue. 100’s of jobs lost.

    A Spokesman for Taco Bell, said if we weren’t so consumed by making cheese that pulls apart correctly we’d buy AVFC and allow Gabby spend all his salary in KFC

  90. GK N.Spink
    LB A.Wright
    CB S.Teale
    CB God
    RB K.Swain
    LW A. Young
    CM D.Mortimer (sorry Steamer my hero as a kid)
    CM G.Barry
    RW P.Birch
    ST J.Carew
    ST A.Gray

    Subs Bosnich, Cowans, Platt, Evans, Yorke

    Hard decision to make when there’s the likes of Aitken, Rimmer, Bremner, Benteke, Solano, Merson, Ginola, Carbone, Townsend, Staunton

  91. Tommy Johnson class man. Super squad footballer was picking my best skillful side but as you mentioned
    Sealey
    delaney teale nielsen wright
    Daley draper Mortimer solano
    Dublin angel
    Side gave it all

  92. Loved little alan wright. Could jump high for a little un. Scored a belter against boro at the riverside.

    I loved ray houghton too. like a yorkshire terrier. Gary Parker imo was a class act and goes under the radar but he was a lovely passer of the ball and could score some beautys. Bit lazy thought. Think he is a painter and decorator now.

  93. the club have actually grown a pair and seem to be squashing this ridiculous player power at the club — i could understand it a bit more if they were world stars

    anyway this is music to my ears – run gabby ruuuuuuun

    steamer these stories of your playing days are a little unnerving 🙂

  94. Heart breaking to see all the quality players we have had and compare them to the complete bell ends that make up our current first team.

    ALSO very shocked and dismayed that people have missed probably two of our greatest players- Bosko Balaban and Sasa Curcic.

    SWV

  95. Runtings,

    Those are not stories they are facts ST75 will back me up Steamer would have been a half decent player if he could have stayed on the pitch, we used to have a set formation to change to for every game for when we inevitably went down to ten men.

    SWV

  96. DOR,
    Worse still Taco Bell owners of KFC have announced the closure of KFC in the Midlands because of the expected drop in revenue. 100’s of jobs lost.
    Brill.

    Yes we’ve had some great players alongside crepe managers and nutjob owners.

    Without a doubt, scabby is the worst professional i’ve ever seen, even a fit, average plodder would contribute something but he has no shame and yet there are people on the blogs who still defend the parasite. In fact i reckon the stories are all bs, he won’t play again this season, hopefully he won’t play again ever.

    Some of the folk slagging off Pearson for LCFC being at the bottom of the league last season are forgetting when Villa were promoted under Taylor, we were right down the table when Derby came to VP with Dean Saunders banging in the goals, everyone knew that Herbert planned to sack Taylor if we lost but Saunders missed about five sitters and Villa won and then went on an incredible run to finish 2nd.
    Also the year after we won the League we were in deep relegation trouble until Saunders went to the sty and Tony Barton saved our bacon and won the EC, folk were saying “Oh it was Saunders team.”
    It only takes a spark or a slice of luck to change a teams fortunes either way.

  97. JG,
    They would have made a superb combination, Alpay was quality and Stas was a tremendous player. saw quite a bit of him on early satellite, really good player.
    Curcic was brilliant for Bolton but when he came to Villa adopted playboy mode. Balaban was described by World Soccer before we signed him as ‘Future World class.’
    Angel could have played for anybody in the country, Hansen slated him for lack of pace, bollacks, if anyone lacked pace it was Hansen, pile of crepe.

  98. It’s good to have memories good ones mind
    Think back to GT season we finished 2 nd
    Think it was 6 2 v Everton Daley ripping every full back apart,God cleaning up at the back
    Dr Joe at inter birch was magnificent deadly sold him weeks later
    Big Ron’s first game 2 down ba k to win 32, Tranmere bosnich saving pens,beat red nose to stop his treble bid

  99. I’m so glad Black is using his time to stick it to the lazy Cnuts that got Garde the push. Hoe the crap can a so called professional be unfit even to start in April what a wanker.

    Was going to do a team of all our worst players but it ended up with 80% of this seasons 1st team

    Steamer I can’t believe you were a clogger you seemed so nimble for a one legged man

  100. JG – you forgot that twat Steve Hodge …….
    My first visit down VP was in 1962 when I was 8 ……….. taken there and told this will be MY team, certainly not the rabble from the dark side. Stood up the Witton and heard someone shout out “ruddy” which was swearing in our house ……. thought to myself – I’m going to enjoy this ….
    Over the years had some great times on and off the pitch ……. all the way down to the 3rd division and back up again, quite a few Wembley trips after the first one against Spurs in ’71 ……. the first european adventure to Antwerp …………. those great days for us when following the Villa meant taking thousands away with us …………. football specials ………. going to Highbury for that great day in ’81 …………….. and that foreign trip to see Peter Withes shin in action ………….
    At least the Villa have been there and mostly done it which is more than most clubs have – just worry for our future. Although I do have faith in what is starting to happen at VP and the people involved (excluding RL) …… and of course with moving abroad soon, I wont have the pleasure of watching the games on sky anymore, so I will see very little of the Villa. But I will return for the Noses games next season ……..
    The rollercoaster life of following the Villa eh?

  101. OldVilla,

    Villa have been there and done it and you also by the sound of it!

    Well, you later-born fans had something to shout for over the years, but back in the 50s – excepting 51-52 and 56-57 – there was precious little to shout for in terms of finals. And certainly not a hint of a high standing in the league – the 50s were mainly a series of relegation scraps … a bit like the later 60s and the last 5 years really.

    But in the early 50s there was Danny B and Tommy T and Johnny D for good measure. All fine players, with old Harry Parkes and Frank Moss behind ’em.

  102. i expect as club captain, Fox used Gabby as his eyes and ears on the training pitch, someone was clearly taking Gabby’s side down the years and his successful efforts in getting rid of Keane.

    Imagine Keane dealing with our current group of players, we’d be in a different position as no one would want a bollicking of him after the game, the joy of ‘what ifs’.

    FOL

  103. Regarding ‘Fat club Gabby’ i’d play him in the final home game just so the customers can show their appreciation for his efforts this season, also to celebrate what hopefully will be the last sighting of him at VP.

  104. OldVilla,

    Yes you are bang on we have had some good times lets hope the phoenix can rise from the ashes once again, Spurs was my first final still can see Perryman clearing that toepoke from big Andy.

    Where you moving to ?

    SWV

  105. Steamer,

    Agree 100% lets throw him to the wolves and the rest of them leave the kids out of that last game they don”t deserve it put the useless lot on the pitch and let the fans take them apart.

    I just hope our fans turn up in fancy dress and have a giggle, no tears so the noses have nothing to feed off, we have been a great club and will come back one day whereas they have always been a bag of shite.

    SWV

  106. SWV that’s hilarious -steamer what are you like mate 🙂

    mind you if he is anything like st75 he has the glint in his eyes that says i am a great mate but an absolute nightmare of an enemy 🙂

  107. Runtings,

    We played one game on a sunday afternoon against a team mainly made up of waiters who worked in the restaurants in the city centre, now bear in mind we had all played on the sunday morning and had been in the local drinking prior to the match, well the game went pear shaped and was abandoned due to us having too many players sent off, Steamer took one lad out the tackle and I use that term very loosely was about mid thigh region and this bloke flew through the air and took ages to land, Steamer did not even wait for the ref he just walked off, priceless.
    ST75 or Steamer will probably remember the name of the victims sorry I meant opponents.

    SWV

  108. Has anyone actually heard any of Pearsons ex players slag him off ? No because as he stated in the interview with Pat Murphy, “I’ll always stand up for my players,” That, IMO, has to be commended if the players deserve it.
    If you look at the picture where NP was supposed to be strangling the Palace lad, both were laughing and Pearsons hands were barely in contact with his throat, just banter.
    Anyone would defend themselves against inane questions from the media, i thought he was a bit childish in his attitude but sometimes you lose it.
    Ron Atkinson also speaks very highly of NP in his book.
    Seems like a winner to me.

  109. SWV – yep that Spurs final was my first Wembley final as I said I would only go to Wembley to see my team play there. Perryman was the only Spurs player to run after that Locheads toepoke or else that was a goal. We played great that day especially considering our standing in football at that time! I was only 17 then but remember the buzz of all the two sets of supporters together and seeing the Villa skins in action …… with their sheepskin coats and rolled up umbrella’s (sharpened probably) lol ……..
    I’m moving to Switzerland in 6 weeks time mate, so just trying to find some claret and blue liederhosen to take with me ………. and practising my yodelling …….

  110. OldVilla – I wish you well in Gnome-land, mate! 🙂 It’s a lovely country. I was close to it from birth as my aunt married a Swiss confectioner/photographer and they lived just across the road from us. So as they visited Gnome-land every year I got to know a bit about it … and went there myself 2 or 3 times.

    Steamer – Makes you wonder why NP wasn’t appointed over Garde, doesn’t it?

  111. OldVilla: “Perryman was the only Spurs player to run after that Locheads toepoke or else that was a goal. “

    Yes I was there in 1971 – a great day out even though Villa didn’t win.

    That Perryman recovery was a flash-back to the time Mullery did the same 5 years before at WHL when Deakin tried to score the last-minute winner in what ended a 5-5 draw.

  112. Thanks for your wishes JL, appreciated. I’m looking forward to it (even though I will also be getting married over there!) but it will be quite a change in my life…………….. I will be living in Basel …… and yes, it is a lovely place with plenty to do out and about. I suppose at least FCBasel will be in the Champions League …………….

    NP wasn’t appointed over Garde because of the lunatics we had in charge at the asylum at that time …… and their grand plan …..

  113. yes pearson was not appointed because foxs plan was to get the best out of the french lads. And to do that the manager had to be french!! Im looking forward to pearson now. bring it on.

    More on twitter that moyes def does not want the job 🙁

  114. Arsenal haven’t exactly done us any favours recently have they ? Fox, Almstedt and now its been revealed that we paid several hundred 1000’s to hire a pair of fitness experts from a firm they use.
    Garde had them booted because they were crepe, if Flabby is an example you can see why.

  115. Elaine Rose has just had an email from Villa asking her which job she wants to apply for, and folk have confidence in this admin ? Hope she doesn’t apply for managers job she might get it.

  116. steamer: Whenever someone mentions Basel i think of Faulty Towers. Good luck over there mate and don’t mention the war.

    I already have mentioned the war – several times ……. got to lay out the ground rules from the outset!!
    When the Villa come over and play Basel in the Champions League, I’ll buy you half a pint mate ….. coz I’m generous like that :o)

  117. Old Villa- Even if garde was chosen over NP I don’t believe the result would of been much different other than Pearson would possibly have walked sooner once he realised what a Circus it is. They would of told him he’d be backed I’m sure and as much as we would like to think NP would deal with the Villa Ego’s Richards, gabby, Lescott etc it could of been very much like Clough going to leeds, a car crash.

  118. SwV
    that game the starngest thing to happen was their center forward bearing down on Goal And Alan Dewar shouting ” Hey Cunt ! remember me ? ” he was the doorman who started the ruck in the club and Dewar knocked out , the bar staff the doormen and even the dj started , but got panned , and yes some of us got sent off but l think when the ref asked me and jammy our names l said Donald Duck and jammy said Mickey mouse , then it went downhill from there , and after we hit 6 players left on the pitch the ref abandoned it , we were still winning at the time , oh and the club was Snobs and our team was the Meadway , happy times , funnily enough Steamer was still on the pitch , he got MoM that day lol

  119. I think today will be a new low in the history of AVFC, the game could easily end in a double figures defeat especially if Untied score early. 10-0 for me.
    What a disgusting shower of utter tripe we have for a team, anarchy ? invite Gordon Taylor to the game to see the lack of effort and possibly negotiate free transfers for the entire pathetic bucket of shite.
    Congratulations Crabby you’re now the most reviled player in the history of AVFC, you deserve it.
    The entire staff has to be purged in the close season, far too much dead wood on huge wages and bad influences as well, professionalism left VP years ago.

  120. Steamer,

    I don’t agree on your prognostication, but a 3-0 , 4-0 or 5-0 defeat wouldn’t surprise me too much.

    Yes, Gabby’s downfall is awful. Our model professional forgot the ‘professional’ bit.

    Well, with a clear-out it really will be the time of the phoenix … starting again virtually from scratch isn’t a bad idea.

  121. Agree John,
    You could cope with one or two bad apples but we must have 6 or 7 and thats on top of a generally poor playing staff and basically its not their fault that they’re bad players.
    Its difficult to find a single highlight since MON left but the situation now is that virtually everyone we’ve employed since he left, players, managers, admin, has trampled our name into the mud and made us a national laughing stock and when crappy little clubs like Watford lord it over you then you know your in trouble.

  122. Steamer
    I expect same kind scoreline
    With report like
    Coco the clown flapped at everything, missed it,stood with hand apologetic
    Hutton left gaps you could drive hgv down villas flank,pretend to care by ambling back to pick ball out of net with stupid grin on face,then kick someone to get booked,( by the way watch a Madrid back 4 never more than 10 yards apart watch villa Hutton never same picture as rest back 4 ,something remi should been fit coach into players)
    Wastewood will pass the ball 2 into opponents half,make late tackle get booked
    The rest lazy bastards will not break sweat

  123. So today is the day we will finally be officially relegated, the texts and pictures I have been bombarding my phone from noses and Sandwell town fans, they are truly loving our demise.
    Eric Black is worried about the club imploding and Anarchy. That is already happening, the club are a joke from the top to the bottom, we are in a dark period in our clubs history and there is no evidence we will emerge from the darkness any time soon or even if ever.
    The list of managerial candidates are hardly overly inspiring, Moyes has seemingly ruled himself out, he can obviously see far better options in the premier League or even in the North East once the fat Spanish waiter returns to the continent. The players are so disconnected from the fans, most Villa fans hate them, in fact most hate our club more than those wankers do from over the road, some have never seen relegation, never seen the dire standard of the championship( it’s not all like the play off final), its a long hard slog. We are going to be playing in front of 20k most matches with 22k empty seats, no atmosphere unless we are playing the likes of Blues, wolves, Newcastle , leeds etc.
    unlike the last time we dropped, we won’t be coming straight back, the second tier is a completely different animal these days, it’s a graveyard for clubs like ours.
    A quick mention to Steve Froggatt who said the first team squad should have clubbed to gather to try and pay the long serving staff wages following the redundancies being announced, did the players take any notice?? Did they bollox absolute bunch of wage thieving thunder cunts the lot of them.
    RIP Aston Villa Football Club

  124. well its called Karma and thankfully lm going to be in town tonight with the rest of the Steamers as one of us has reached 60 (again) . hopefully Norwich do the business earlier today and beat sunderland and we are down by the time we got to OT , the Karma bit is my wife as she still remembers us sending them down a few years ago so tomorrow it will be ear ache , as tonight l will make sure lm out of it on cider and braindeaders , so me and steamer might wake up in a hedge somewhere around brum,
    the lad who’s 60th it is ,will be going to OT first then meeting up with us later , what a birthday , he’s flying in from south africa for this ,
    l really feel for the likes of B62 and Frem , season ticket holders who have sat through through this shit for the whole of this season and IMO have had every right to come on here and slag that fucking team off after sitting in the fucking freezing weather ,the rain , snow , and listened to the away fans loving every minute of our demise . i take my hat off to you lads ,
    well have a good weekend all ,
    Jenny xxxxxxxxx

  125. “JG I think the lack of wingers in the squad set the tone for our fullbacks taking the brunt of the work on of crosses.”
    Mark, I remember ole Frem saying something to that effect years ago. Lambert didn’t like playing with wingers, did he? You are right that Amavi getting hurt was a big blow to Villa.
    I suspect MU will win by 3-4 goals.

  126. B62,
    Footballers live in their own fantasy world, under educated, overpaid, ignorant chavs. They don’t deserve your support but expect it unconditionally. When a mediocrity like Zlatan demands 600k per week to play in this crepe league and the jokers going to China for similar it makes you want to be sick. Remember that selfie of Ridgewell wiping his arris with 20 pound notes ? sums them all up, could have fed Small Heath for a year with that. IMO their should be a wage limit imposed, top division 5k per week, level 2 – 4k etc, 500 quid a point, 5k for winning the cup, 10k for the league, still a lot more than most skilled workers get.

  127. Mark k
    Remi/ Sherwood wouldn’t play traore saying he can’t defend,Hutton here now 5 years can neither defend or cross absolutely garbage footballer,
    Along with most of squad yet we are on 4 the manager of season and they all pick
    Guzan Hutton Richardson lescott wastewood ricchards bacuna and finally fat Gabby ????

  128. I know that no matter who you select it will be a crepe team but Richardson & Bacuna WTF ?
    Changed my mind 12-0.
    Lets have some anarchy.

  129. JUust how unecessary is Black……????????
    He says the youngsters “have to earn it”…..well don’t the nobs ,the seniors have to earn it too???? A nother incoherent twit in charge picking up easy ££££££ until MAY,spewing platitudes.THis lot don’need a manager,they need a firing squad.

    An easy stroll today,at pre season friendly pace for the reads……0-3.

  130. It’s that bad I actually want the entire 1st team squad gone, I hate this bunch of cunts, they are a fucking disgrace to mankind I actually hope Man Utd thump us 6/7/8 nil, I want however is coming in to be under no illusion these scum need taking out and putting down.
    Norwich losing has given both Newcastle and Sunderland hope, ours was snuffed out months ago. Even Birmingham City fans gave more to look forward to in the future than we do, I’m not sure the club can come back from this, I fear this relegation could be terminal.

  131. Black will be saying that before the final game of the season, another boss with no faith in the academy, its not that we don’t produce good players its because we have crepe managers who won’t select them. Another Jock, will they ever learn, what did Einstein say ?

  132. Black out lol
    Worst ever preimer league
    All players ticked black
    Kieraran Richardson wouldn’t get time in pub game for fuck sake
    3 touches in first 4 mins lol ha ha
    Black out and take most 1 St team squad with him

  133. What a fucking disgrace this football club is

    Black – FUCK OFF YOU CUNT – HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU PICK RICHARDSON BACUNA HUTTON GUZAN LESCOTT ET AL.

    What is Blacks agenda? To bring our club into further disrepute.

    WE ARE A FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT

  134. Very worrying is the fact that Gareth Southgate is sat next to Brian Little at Old Trafford, they are both sat in the Villa executive area with Hollis, Taylor, Ellis and co.
    Looks like our troubles are about to get far worse with horse head as our new manager, if he does get it I give up.

  135. B62
    It doesn’t matter who the next man is UNLESS they are allowed to ship out
    Guzan
    Hutton bacuna
    Lescott Richards
    Sanchez wastewood gil
    Gabby kozak
    7 international s
    Zog Richardson are out of contract that’s deadly dozen give grealish kick up ass
    Riley has to go too
    Kmac and Cowan’s out the door also if youth can’t get in ahead deadly dozen time to quit

  136. James
    I agree we need a cull so large and wide in this squad that it will make the livestock slaughter during the foot and mouth crises, seem like a stroll in the park

  137. In blacks defence I honestly think he is making an example of these twats, Richards can’t get on the pitch even with us being shite. I have heard Wilkins bragging he and Tim would of turned it around well these are you preferred players mate enjoy

  138. The And there it is, confirmation that Villa are relegated , once ever present in the premier league. Inept, Gutless, Lazy, useless cunts the lot. My only hope now is Lerner catches ebola

  139. Thought it wasn’t going to hurt but fuck it does.

    Not one of those players showed any emotion after, and gareth Southgate our new manager. That just makes it worse

  140. Frem
    It does hurt mate but not as much as I thought, I’m just angry as I can see this being terminal and the people in power at the club don’t seem to give a fuck, and as for the players, well what a waste of oxygen and skin they are, personally I’d euthanise the lot and harvest there organs for those in need, unfortunately we wouldn’t find any heart or backbone amongst them!!

  141. Just caught up on the comments on here and was shocked to see that Southgate has been confirmed as our new manager!!!
    So I went to check and . . . . . he hasn’t. . . . . it’s completely made up.
    Why do that guys?

  142. This won’t be popular, and don’t get me wrong , im not suggesting he should be our permanent manager, but I’ve gained a bit of respect for Eric Black.
    Under the circumstances I don’t think he’s done a bad job.
    He seems to be quite straightforward and straight talking (see how he’s treated Gabby). He’s not pandered to idealistic fans by throwing a team full of youngsters to the lions.
    Yesterday the team did at least show a bit of fight in the second half.
    He was keen to acknowledge the fans at the end of the game
    lets face it, he took on an impossible job, but he seems to me to have actually tried to make something of it without any bullshit or compromise.

  143. Until Lerner confirms next seasons budget a manager won’t be appointed, so basically we’re still being stuffed by the idiot, any decent manager will be snapped up before we’re in a position to offer terms and conditions and inform him about how much he can spend.

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