The visit of Everton on Tuesday comes at a time when they are (we are told) to reveal new owners. In other words, the Toffees have emerged from their sticky condition of a few years ago to make themselves more attractive to potential buyers. Their diligence and patience has paid off.
This fact must surely be seen as an indictment of Villa’s owner, who claims to have been trying to sell our favourite and greatest club for some time, but did not do what Everton has done – to ensure that the club remained a viable force and able to compete. Instead – rather than being Sticky Toffee – we have become Suet Pudding.
All we can hope for is that Ayew’s return and Everton’s sense of self-congratulation might conspire to backfire on them and to provide the stimulus for a Villa run that will dazzle: we only need 22 points out of a possible 33 to (probably) stay up! Let’s face it, Ayew’s disgraceful red card performance 3 games ago probably took the stuffing out of the rest of the team. With him absent from up front our one bit of hope in the strike department – and Kozak’s injury – effectively removed any serious contemplation of winning form until his return. A lot rests now on Ayew to restore some self-respect.
But we need to be aware of a flash in the pan. Towards the end of Villa’s last relegation season (of 1986-87), Villa produced a 4-0 win over West Ham and by the end of the match (it was reported) were playing like world-beaters. They then proceeded to lose their remaining games and – of course – went down.
No, I am not really trying to re-ignite hope. But for the fans sake I am hoping that they will be able to see a Villa team play to something like their tradition: a tradition that has all but evaporated. This season has seen too much to compare with the last comparable season of despair: 1966-67. At the start of that season Villa lost their two main stars (for Delph and Benteke read Woosnam and Hateley) and from then on it was a downward slide. Just like this season, injuries negatively affected the situation. But the difference is that for a long time during 1966-67 there was a serious display of pride and determination before their will was finally broken: this season those elements have too often been absent.
It took eight years for the Villa to recover from that relegation and the club’s general downturn. How long will it be this time?
The Author
John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.Comments 153
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Not a lot of hope then John ?
What i can’t understand is that the customers don’t think the worst can happen, if Glasgow Rangers can go bump then Villa certainly can and from what i hear sooner rather than later. Lerner won’t put another cent into Villa, he’s appointed an asset stripper as Chairman and is apparently selling off the clubs assets around VP, the signs are all there aren’t they ?
If the totally useless AVST got off their backsides and asked for an enquiry to be set up by our admittedly pathetic FA and an independent financial institution then the club may be saved, Lerner has shown by his failures in business, personal and sporting spheres that he’s capable of inducing any type of disaster, the idiot is a disgrace.
Steamer , them rumours seem to be gaining pace . l dont think we’ll have a club left soon . and your right about Rangers , who ever thought that would happen to such a big club.
l think learners doing stuff for spite , and l think the Everton purchase has proved what an arsehole owner we have , Hollis l wouldnt trust that cunt as far as l could throw him , asset stripper and l bet he has something to do with the other 7 companies tied in with villa . Mervyn King …why is he here and for what purpose …. villa fan my arse
A very good leader.
Shame what’s happened to Villa. Villa won’t get 22 from 33, so it’ll be a case of damage control, even though, parsimony and poor management has already damaged Villa’s financial prospects irreparably.
Guess we just need to get used to the idea of being a second tier club. Get a new chairman.
Hello Trin, how’s NZ ? everything iv’e seen on TV and read about it is positive.
Just been reading the other blogs, all they talk about is next season, have they got a shock coming.
Villa FC of Birmingham possibly, playing at Sutton Town FC ?
John
If you were ayew watching that crap in front of you for last 3 matches what would you do v Everton
Remi is just hanging in waiting for his pay off ( in fairness anyone agree to work for snake fox needs pay off) he will crawl back to TV work in France another chance ( Fergus backed mcknob Wenger backed remi )
Lerner has been sneezing money out of villa through holding companies football turnover is massive yet we have none TV money sponsorship gate receipts yes wages are high same for every team little stoke have 4/5 champion league winners can spend 12 18 m on players we get Luna tonev bacuna and 3 stone fatso Gabby
I am afraid you are right Steamer. We are about to be stripped to the bare bones, and will end up sharing a super sports stadium near the NEC with the Noses, and it will be funded by the West Midlands County Council as an alternative to Wembley for major functions, and all that will remain of Aston Villa, will be the name…..
Can anyone explain how Alan Hutton has made a career playing football
17 I think now goals from his position yes 17 in about 20 matches watch his effort to close down stoke player, no assists cannot tackle ,cross score what does he contribute when he goes forward ( most of time) he jogs back to position has to be some young lad that can play right back
Remi all talk ,about quality effort so on yet picks ßame crap Hutton lescott Westwood bacuna fatso in most games WHY
PP,
That’s if we’re lucky mate.
James,
I can’t explain anything about this shitpile of a club except to say its made a lot of money for the last two lowlife owners and given very little in return. How the hell can Bournemouth, and i’m not knocking them, be in a higher division than AVFC with their gates, ridiculous and if Fox had any shame he’d resign, what was it he said about having wonderful future a few months ago ?
PP,
But Lerner convinced Garde that he loves the club!
JL
How quickly love turns to loathing when you are getting divorced….!!!
James,
I don’t see any point in having a crack at Garde. When I look at his face I get a sense of a sinking feeling that he knows full well that he’s been sold down the river.
He is the one remaining light at the club in the management sphere. Robin Russell was another, but his role was purely as the counter of chips.
BTW, Russell travelled around on a motorbike. He was a bit of fresh air in his own way.
Fox may well be the major CULPRIT CONVINCING LERNER THAT REMI WOULD TURN THE CLUB round before the transfer window …..and Lerner may well have sanctioned some money….but it did not happen…only got worse…
PP,
Good response that – sadly! 🙁
PP,
It’s pretty obvious – isn’t it? – that we’ve been run by amateurs for a long time.
I thought Faulkner was a nice guy but a very average CEO … but this lot have really shocked us all.
General Krulak has surely no answer to all this? I don’t think he’s been back for along time, has he? VP must scare him more than Vietnam.
John l
Sorry not buying in to this love for remi,he has not showed one inkling of been a manager his record is a disgrace like the performances from his team Sherwood said they were losers last may yet fox gave big contracts to Gabby Hutton Clark baker bacuna steer Westwood LOSERS the French lads showing why Sherwood didn’t play them God vertout makes cleverly,gana makes delph world class,ayew scored few goals no tap ins then his disgraceful show v west ham
I hope remi warched the utd game….thats what playing a few kids can do for you. Gets the supporters onside straight away. If its ok for a club like utd to do it why cant we with an atrocious first team and allready relegated! Staggering team selection and he has also said they dont train correctly……stop picking them!!!!!!! Grrrrrr. Its the old madness quote again….doing the same thing over and over. Not having a remi love in either, mark my words he aint the man to get us out the championship.
Of course Everton got a rich investor before we did, the new guy has purchased 49% of the club meaning Kenwright remains as chairman, he putting cash into a new stadium and player investment. We get robbed blind by the Amercian scum running our club into the ground. Everton are a better investment than Villa and have been for years. They are a bigger club, more supporters, better squad and manager. Yes Goodson is dated and they need a new stadium, but they are in a sports mad city, whose council backs the clubs due to the amount of revenue and visitors they bring to the city, a bit like what happens in Manchester . We are perceived as a shit club in the shit part of England, the council only want to help blues as they carry the city’s name. I think PP is right, the club is being stripped of everything, it is dying on its feet without any fight from the supporters. Rangers went bump despite getting 45k gates every week( they still do in the lower leagues), they are on the way back now and will be playing back in the top flight next season.
Villa are on the opposite journey, it breaks my heart to see us ending up as this nothing club, fucking around in the lower leagues with a white elephant of a stadium. We will average 20k next season meaning 22k empty seats each week, the Trinity upper is set to be mothballed, it’s an embarrassment and absolute disgrace. I hate Randy Lerner the sooner he is gone the better , our only hope is calls them all together for another meeting and they all have a mass suicide pact.
James: “remi … record is a disgrace “
Well, I make it W2 D5 L8 since Remi took over. 11 points in 15 matches; Sherwood 5 points in 11 matches.
So, considering Garde inherited this lot and was given no support in the ‘window’, he’s not done that badly.
Agreed with the support for youngsters being given a go, though, but playing for Man U is adrenalin-wise much more of a boost than playing for Villa right now. And while there’s still *mathematically* a chance we can survive I don’t see much point in disturbing the team selection right now.
John l
Has any new manager ever done worse
Read somewhere today the love for remi is dead,comments he is dishonourable in speaking bad on players yet still picking them waiting on his payoff,the players are openly laughing at him ( fatso )
His record at Lyon bit like his mentor Wenger flawed Wenger built his team on Graham famous back 4 plus keeper,Wenger hasn’t won many big trophies since Adams and co retired, remi took over side used to winning yes sold players but what did remi Achieve all bullshit on great remi
Johnl
It’s not just results one point out of four is brutal
Performance or non performances should be
Everton aresnal Newcastle Norwich Sunderland man city ( cup) pool Wycombe ( cup ) were brutal even spurs when he sat in stands fatso 6 touches headache v pool wankeryet remi plays fatso
I’m sorry John, but that last comment shows why we are in this position, I can’t believe you have written it.
2 wins in 4 months, not that bad!!!!! The man has done nothing to stop the rot, if anything he has made things worse, we were 4 points from safety when he took over, now we are rooted at the bottom cut adrift. He hasn’t attacked any game looking to win it, always overly cautious. He bemoans the players yet picks them every week, no thought to changing things up or trying youth. He sent Gardner on loan yet plays cunts like Bacuna and Westwood every week. He hasn’t organised the defence, the players look worse under him than Sherwood, it’s actually painful to watch. If you can’t see much point in disturbing the team selection, then I’m afraid you have lost your marbles mate, saying things like whilst its still mathematically possible to survive, is why youth haven’t been utalisied is a crap excuse, we are down and have been since Before christmas, if he had been braver at the beginning we might still be in with a fighting chance. It took him 10 games to win a football match, he has lost the dressing room. He has made bad players worse, he is out of his depth and knows it, I hope to god he isn’t here next year he is not what we need in a blood and guts battle. He has had an easy ride just because he is continental and NOT Sherwood, rightly so fan anger should be aimed at the wankers running the club, scum like Lerner and Fox, but Remi Garde has been nothing more than a waste of time and money, a bit like all the summer transfers and the over paid shite left from the last few campaigns rewarded for failure. Aston Villa football club is a fucking disgrace, the only way we can ever move on from this catastrophe is to remove everyone involved or has played a part in this debacle, that includes Lerner, Fox, Reilly, Almstadt , Garde and most of the playing staff.
All I can say is people have short memories if Tim got more from this lot where’s the points?? This team has had no cutting edge all season and made mistakes at the back all season. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
B62: “2 wins in 4 months, not that bad!!!!! “
You quote me out of context. I said that given what he’s inherited with no subsequent help, that is not bad. *I agree* it’s not good looking at those figures in isolation – terrible in fact. But do you expect Garde – or any manager (other than the likes of Allardyce) – to have done any better given the cards that have been dealt?
My comments are based on just that – the situation Garde has been put in. It’s not *his* fault – it’s the top brass. Save your rancour for direction against them – not me or Garde!
2 wins in 16 league games is a disgrace Mark, the performances have been dire in the main, the experiment has failed. TS was removed for having a poor record of only 1 win in the league in his 10 matches, but Garde has hardly changed things for the better, the performances have been worse and the fact is we are arguing over 1 win, and who is shitter. They have both been fucking diabolical, and neither deserved the job. Cheers Fox you bell end.
The only positive thing you can say about Sherwood was for a few weeks he got us firing and playing decent, Smashing the Albion twice in a week, The FA Cup Semi , winning at Spurs, Beating West Ham and guiding us to safety, is why he got a chance. He has had his lows too but fuck me he got hammered for them, Garde is getting a free pass for being terrible .
The thing is who are we going to replace Remi with, Pearson can wait for a better club, Moyes was rejected by Fox for wanting to do his job properly, Pep is taken. Just who would be available and want to work for this pack of lying morons ? Rowett isn’t Prem class and would be a last resort. As i said only a no hoper or someone who’s been sacked by 10 or so clubs would be interested, that’s why Remi took the job, he didn’t understand just how bad the situation was and how low the people were who employed him, would anyone really WANT to work for this trash ?
JL
Yes I do expect others could have done better. He has won twice in 16 attempts, and had his arse handed to him on more than one occasion including the most humiliating performance at VP in 81 years. His stats are Terrible your right, and yes I agree they should not be viewed in isolation, we should also look at some of the oeeformances he has presided over, some of the most inept pathetic displays I have ever witnessed.
He can’t continually hide behind not being backed in January, fwiw I think he should have been, but on the flip side he had taken us from having a fighting chance to having no chance by the time the window opened, perhaps they thought throwing more money after bad was futile and a waste of time. Failure is failure no matter how you dress it up, even with his mitigating circumstances, Garde has failed spectacularly and is part of the problem not the solution.
Steamer
That is an entirely different argument mate, your right the trash running this club are lying good for nothing scum. And yes I do believe Pearson or Moyes would have done better ( they couldn’t really do worse).
The only way to move forward and Rebuild this once great club is without the people responsible and I’m afraid that includes Garde.
It won’t happen and we will sink down the gurgler without a trace, and most won’t even care
I can’t believe this is happening to AVFC, criminal. Its reached the point where Lerner wants to, and is, destroying the club, i don’t think anything can save us from administration and no-one will buy this pile of shite. I think we’ll hear the announcement in late June that it’s over. That soon.
Steamer
I think administration, but I’m not sure about us going bump
Its worse than you think mate.
More effort skill on this site than wearing shirt all season
In what way mate?
B62- you or me believing something would happen does not make it so. Big Sam has spent big at Sunderland and they are still poor but better than us because they have a goal scorer.We have hammered the ball up the Gestede all season and Ayew looks our only source of goals.
Tim played on the front foot fine I get that but he lost all but 2 games and lost from winning positions he was comical in his tactics. Garde apart from sorting out Tims mess and getting the players fit etc has had horrendous luck with penalties and injuries gestede,Amavi,Kosak,Adama,Grealish Gabby,Sanchez,hutton, all have missed large periods for Remi and suspensions at the wrong time ( ayew at west ham and the Sunderland and Norwich games where he had to change 5 players!). He’s had no forward line for several matches now bar Gabby all things Tim did not have to contend with. He even has less players to pick from after a transfer window than before thats how bad it is for the man. Still I’m sure Moyes or Sam would of done fine with the same situation, Not.
Your right Mark believing things may happen doesn’t make it so, and believing Garde is the right man for the job when the facts point in the opposite direction, doesn’t make it so.
Your right we will never know if Moyes could have done a better job, I believe he could have others don’t , but let’s face facts whoever had the job instead of Garde couldn’t really have done much worse.
I can only go with what I watch every week and it’s fucking awful. The team don’t have any clue, passion, fight, organisation, spirit or togetherness never mind the lack of skill or quality.
If they aren’t good enough that’s one thing, however what is unforgivable is the lack of fight, passion, spirit etc and that stems from the manager and poor leadership. They don’t want to play for him or each other and in that respect I do believe there were better options to Garde with the skill set required in our position. I hope he isn’t here next season, along with Lerner, Fox and co.
B-62- But mate they were managed by Tim a manager who is known for saving us last season so has to be a motivational type manager No? there is something awful about this side, the mix is all wrong and there are no leaders on the pitch. If anything Garde gives them the chance to be men and take responsibility, They are weak willed when tested but worse still the qualities needed for this league are not there. Maybe they don’t like Remi thats possible, maybe they don’t like the truth being spoken either? Truth is Remi treats them as grown ups and they respond by shitting on him, themselves the fans and the club.
Mark k
Is there any easy way to go back in post to look up something
Think it wàs either you or Andrew posted on Hutton guzan
Hello Steamer.
New Zealand, imo, has definately gone backwards over the last eight years. There’s lots more homeless and beggers on the streets now. Methamphetimine (ice) is a bigger problem than it was when I left NZ a few years back. The gangs run some places. I’ve had my car pinched and torched-not a nice feeling. It seems to me, NZ’s is a culture in decline.
That said, it’s still a nice place to visit, just make sure not to leave any valuables in your car. Theft is rampant and violent crime is on the rise.
I used to see our bobbies out and about on the beat, not anymore. They tend to stay in their cars, and travel in pairs or groups.
The national parks are pretty safe. The Prime Minister, John Key, is the Minister of Tourism, so there’s some excellent walking tracks.
JG- what was it? may be easier to google it. otherwise no
Mark/B62,
Mark speaks a lot of sense on this matter in my view.
I thought it was polite not to slam a manager unless he’s managing a team that *he* has bought? Garde has inherited all he’s got. Apart from bringing Cissokho back he’s hands have been horribly tied and (as Mark has said) some of the better players have been out injured for long periods – plus Ayew’s criminal red card.
Yes, I agree with you in the feel that Garde was brought in at the wrong time … he’s not the right guy in my view for simply keeping this lot up, but who else would have come? And it is the top brass that do the appointments anyway. They’ve got it wrong big time.
JG-you have to say there is not much difference between him and Richards at RB, between them they have caused more problems than the rest of the team. Put Bacuna out there too and the whole right side is a disaster. The left has stabilised since cissoko returned for the better.
Without Sanchez who allows Gana to play wide and dare I say it westwood too, vertout is stuck in an ineffectual position. A bit like scholes for England.
just shows how thin Gardes options are that he staged a game with the u21’s involved only to find no real options there. The only plus was Ayew scoring 2 for the stiffs.
JL- I think some of the disrespect for fox has rubbed off on Remi who should of been in charge of the rebuild. Fox and co did not like Tims spurs slanted rebuild and took over. Judging by Remi’s jan targets we would have a vastly different squad with some character to it IMO.
Mark,
Precisely.
Anyhow, let’s see if Ayew can make amends tomorrow.
I wonder if we’re having a Player of the Year award this year ?
I’d vote for Senderos.
B62,
1)Can’t see anyway that the club isn’t going to make a massive loss, the figures must be horrific.
2) To Lerner its like buying a Rolls Royce, after 4 years of thraping it the engine blows up, he leaves it a the side of the road to rot and disappears into his wendy house to watch videos of Bonanza.
3) Our debts need to be paid back by 2018.
4 ) HS2 will run straight through BH earning a fortune in compo as will other land belonging to Villa.
5) Hollis is JUST an asset stripper.
6) Someone at VP told a mate that 30.06.2016 is the date.
What with the change of policy regarding the signing of players in January i would say the odds are in favour of us soon being a dead parrot.
Anyone who thinks that Lerner has any affection for AVFC is totally doolally, he’s a shark, dumb as fuck but a shark so its pointless relying on any supposed good nature.
Steamer- its still Amavi for 2 assists and running a lot and he only made one cock up that led to a goal so he’s still one up, fine margins
well even Garde had to admit that we simply are do not have the quality to do the job after the stork game
it seems that he has finally given up on any hope that the playing staff he has can win games
i have to jump to his defence though , and i am not saying he is the new fergie but i think he has improved the team as much as is possible considering it is a very poorly put together squad
I read people slating him for not picking this player or starting that player but if you look at the squad listing there isn’t any room for manoeuvre
Also put the kids in is what i keep hearing but if they get slammed six or seven a few times it isn’t going to do them any good whatsoever
what a mess the club is and its the fans that are paying the price for the poor owner we have
Villa fans have a lot of patience as i would have expected more reaction against the owner ages ago – but saying that he was allowed to bring Mcliesh in without too much fuss
Runtings,
Forgive me, but what Garde said was to the effect that Villa did not have any quality on display at Stoke.
But the thing is that we have some players of ability in Ayew, Traore and Sanchez (also Amavi but he’s out all season anyway). Gueye has improved as well. Veretout is probably better when the other better players are around him.
Ayew comes back tomorrow, Traore has started training. Sanchez?
Steamer: “I’d vote for Senderos.”
Er, who’s that? … Send-‘er-off did you say? 😉
Hi JL – he actually said we do not have the required quality and he looked totally mift
i feel sorry for him as anyone who know the game can see that a manager must be crazy to take the villa job when your main brief in inheriting a very poor side is to cut costs even further
the lack of support for him in the window is a complete disgrace
i agree that there is some decent players at the club jl and if randy would have allowed garde to acquire some much needed fire-power thing could have been a lot different now
Mark,
Can you give Old Villan my best wishes for his wife and tell him those shops are still standing, its where the caff is.
JL/Runtingz- I agree we have some quality but unless they are Messi they are unlikely to affect games significantly on their own. I echo runtingz thoughts that a few quality players in during Jan and its game on considering those around us have also stalled.
I would of taken 2, a forward, any forward and a keeper. The last two games alone could of been much different with a dominant Keeper. Center halves are cocking up because Bunn does not have the required height to help them out. I may be wrong but we have buggered up twice now in our own six yard area playing head tennis and headers from crosses that should of been collected. I think lescott is probably thinking when is he going to come and collect the fecking ball, I know I would.
One very tall 6’7″ athletic Croation would of made a significant difference considering he had kept 8 clean sheets in 12 and made 8 saves in one match 3 being penalties. compare this to what Bunn has had to do and it pales into insignificance.
Some excellent comments from the usual people.
Have not made up my mind about tomorrow yet, but may go, against my better judgement, but at least it is a chance to see what could have been, if we had had Lukaku, Barry and Cleverley….
Will Ayew, Gana and Gil show something different, and will Gabby score his second of the season…!!!
Stesmer your often references to the Caff, remind of the days back in the sixties when I was a sales rep, and passed many an enjoyable hour with mates drinking tea and playing the pin tables, when it was 6d a go, and if you clocked up 50 wins or more you got paid out…..
My memory is not good enough to remember exactly where it was, but around Sparkhill/Sparkbrook side of the city towards the markets, and run by a guy called Stan, I think….
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/pompey/player-by-player-breakdown-of-what-pompey-owe-1-5468027
A very dark look into a very bleak future this is what happens when you have idiots running a football club.
SWV
I read somewhere that a protest at tomorrows game would be pointless, how can it be, what other way can the fans show the world that they hate what is happening at their club, they do not have a voice do you think Lerner reads the blogs, in fact I bet he has very little communication with the club these days.
We are down and that is a fact so walking out will show that they have had enough at least it will give us some exposure, most fans outside B6 do not have a clue what has been happening at VP and to be fair they don”t give a shit, why should they.
Some very dark days ahead for AVFC.
SWV
SWV
Very dark days ahead indeed .
and lm not a happy bunny at the moment as it seems my days of following the villa in the Dougle mob 71/2) are coming back to haunt me (((
Steamer
l got to go Manchester tomorrow , so see you weds instead , Turn your fucking mobile on !!!
Mark,
Thanks for that mate.
Keep an eye on these dummies –
Your text to link
Too pally with Tom for my liking.
Sorry –
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/villa-park-asset-of-community-value-application/
Steamer: “[AVST] Too pally with Tom for my liking.”
Yep, I agree with that. I think I’ve said before that they’re that way inclined and that the club likes them for that.
Yes John, not only the committee holding up the white flag.
Another record for Lerner’s reign
First team to go over 200 mins without a corner unbelievable, remi has them that poor 210 mins since last corner,that’s what you get playing flabby as your striker,think he must still be on strike he never moves
Steamer did you miss my earlier comments about the caff???
been all over europe with the villa ,
just been on phone about insurance for trip to Grozny and phone rep asks “Are you supplying your own ARMED guard or is it being supplied for you ?” l knew we needed it but when your asked , thats when it sinks in , Thankfully its being supplied ) ) and need it as its a requirment for a visa .
why cant he fight in Benidorm ………
looking at some of the blogs . l cant see the walk out coming to fruition, one lad has even started a call for everyone to go in a party mood . mind lv been to some cracking wakes
Steamer thank you very much for the favour mate
If ever we do a meet up again , just make sure PP is drinking on his own as he will probably try paying for his beer with Embassy cigarette coupons ,
and dont ell the tight arse Mark either . 2 years now and still waiting for my £20 …
ST75- when you are in Grozny don’t try your £20 on a string tip trick
St75- Does the armed guard know your an idiot?
PP,
Don’t know Sparkhill too much, S75’s Dad had a caff there though, so he (S75) might know it, i’ll ask him before he goes to Chechnya, he might not be coming back.
S75,
No need mate, everyone else fights in Benidorm.
Mark,
You hum it i’ll sing it.
S75,
Got you a nice Lambretta coat to travel in, you know, the one with the target insignia on the back.
Your all heart steamer .l take it you spent all our £5-30 lottery winnings on that coat. I could have borrowed B62 s one
St75
I have several coats which may be of use to you, provided you are 6′ tall, from leather through to special raincoats, all containing useful pockets, for concealing the tools of the trade…
Brighton 4 Leeds 0….great match to watch…
James Gill,
I haven’t seen Villa’s latest accounts but you say that Lerner has been squeezing money out through holding companies.
Is that clear from the accounts you’ve seen and do you know how much over the past 3 years?
I’ve seen a few of the TV footie luvvies saying that the championship is a tough league and you need a toughened team playing a direct style of football to survive.
Are they right though?
They seem to suggest that we need an allardyce type coach in order to survive, let alone gain promotion. Again. . . . . are they right?
This feels like one of those urban myths that’s touted and repeated so frequently that it becomes ‘common knowledge’.
well it may be ‘common knowledge’ but that doesn’t make it right
There’s been much talk of asset stripping with the strong suggestion that it’s already gathering pace.
Are there specific assests that have been sold off?
I can imagine it may be true bearing in mind the financial people who’ve been brought into the club but it’d be good to see some actual evidence.
Could you imagine the uproar from the happy clappers if they sold BMH as development land – zip, zero, nada, they’re part of the problem because they aren’t prepared to be part of the solution and that is to protest until there is change.
Are there any planning applications in with the council to re-zone BMH for commercial/residential so it makes it easier to sell?
I don’t get many of the AVFC fans and blogs who say stay and support your team, it’s not made a blind bit of difference over the last 20 odd games and if the club’s board is to get any sort of negative publicity around the world it’s by mass protest, the football is secondary to the players, why not let it be secondary for us fans and just protest against the board at every opportunity.
The ‘have a party’ suggestion is hopefully tongue in cheek because the opposite is needed. There should be a hostile atmosphere at every game towards the board, they’re the ones that have ruined our club, the players are a symptom of that, the manager is a symptom of that.
Wouldn’t it be great to survive but that would just paper over the cracks and keep the happy clappers happy. Change has to happen and it’s being forced by relegation.
FOLAF
DOR- I agree we need protest but what is missing in all this is what has been missing for years, an honest dialogue with the management. They are still letting Garde take the flack while rampant theories are spread as to where the club is going. After not getting any players in they should of said why, they left Garde having to hint at money troubles etc and trouble attracting players.
What I’m trying to say is unless the protest goes above and beyond and demands guarantee’s that we are not being sold down the river we might as well be shouting at a Leopard up a tree to go away when he is in a position he cannot move from and is just getting more pissed off.
We need communication not placation from the board, we need to know will garde be backed or fired? the players need to know that!! what is the extent of our troubles financially? or are they winding villa up. Anything else is just disgruntled customers in the media’s Eyes and lets face it we can’t get much lower as a club with the attention we have had. They could for instance sell certain assets to bring a turnaround in fortunes and a quick return or pay Dept or it could be curtains? Please tell us what the crap is going on. maybe a full page advert in the New York times would be more effective 😉
As usual JL well written piece,
Considering this is the most played fixture in football history, all i get is a great sense of loss that we shall no longer get to see it, not only that but we are the only ones who care!!
We have been playing Everton since 1888 this will be our 200th meeting, its a damn shame, all that history down the drain. The Lerner legacy has broken all records, for the wrong reasons, how did we get here?
All this makes me think of a song by Nina Simone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9ycirYfmcY
says it all really.
VTID
Meant to say over 200 meetings, my bad! Cant see through the tears! 😉
MK,
Like the analogy to the leopard.
Nothing Villa fans do will stop the train crash taking place, the brakes are off and the club is headed for disaster.
Once the assets are sold, and the Lerner loans are repaid, whatever is left will be the starting point of the new Aston Villa, and we have no alternative to offer.
Protecting the ground as a community asset is about all that is left to us.
Tonight as the shut down goes on, The Holte Hotel will be closed, The Upper trinity is being mothballed and the junior area.
Lions Club will be open, but much reduced facilities.
PP- I could of gone with Skunk 😉
The planned protest is fine and will let the world know exactly the mess that AVFC has become, but don”t we all feel it is a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has done one, this has been happening for years and the time for major protest was when Lerner appointed McLeish, that showed his disdain for the fan base and it should have been the one factor that told us he did not have a clue as to what AVFC stood for.
Yes Garde has been hung out to dry by this club and to be fair Lambert went through exactly the same, asked questions by the media that he had no rights to answer only because our board hid amongst the comfort of the panelled offices of VP, where is our new chairman, should he be stepping out to tell the fans and the press what is going on at B6, the truth is he is nowhere to be seen because along with Fox and the other miscreants they only turn up to pick up their pay slips.
The championship is a very unforgiving division you need a mixture of class, grit, hard work and endeavour, you will need a proven goal scorer at this level to just survive let alone make a promotion push, look at the teams at the top no coincidence that Hull and Burnley are there, they have kept the bulk of their squads and improved with the parachute money, what will happen to us when we have to pay the likes of fatty, n”zogbia plus loads more for sitting at home watching sky soccer special.
This season has been a well documented disaster and next season could be worse, the fans will walk out tonight but Hollis , Fox etc will most probably be sat in some posh restaurant drinking champers and eating lobster basically because they do not give a shite.
SWV
Completely agree MK, that the protest needs to be organised and have a set number of desired outcomes and a set number of questions that the board should respond on, not advocating protest for the sake of it.
But i am dismissing the idea of doing nothing, of happily clapping along and making the board’s life easy by having a party, its like the band keeps playing as the ship sinks.
If the board don’t get a hard time, they’ve nothing to respond to. They and Lerner need to be held accountable for all that is wrong at our club.
AVST should be disbanded as they are completely ineffectual in supporting the fans. Not a single word from them in response to the Internal inquiry, the situation or coming out in support or not of protesting. Shame on them.
D.O.R
its on one of them facebook villa pages and you know its picking up mate , l think some of the fans deserve whats coming , l look at the profiles of some of the people who comment on them sites , last week l put about DD being a nose and l had this upstart have a dig , so l looked and he was all of 16 years but looked 10 , so l told him l lived outside the sty for years and watched him driving in , l was even there when he crashed the gates, a few things lv noticed is there isnt a mob culture now its all little packs /groups and this is one reason there has been fights in the crowds , its all about who are the hardest, in the Aston Social we have had it as they think if they got one over on us they would be a big name , fortunatley they’ve been sent packing with a kick up their arse plus the sons of us have grown and arnt really kids so they have slapped a few when needed , has as my nephew , for all the shouting of boycotts /protests ect ect it wont happen in numbers as there is too many factions all wanting to do something different , i’e , boycott vs party. in our day there were around 2 or 3 main mobs , ours The Small Heath skins . and The Quinton mob , there were a few scuffles between us but then it became one when we needed to be , a certain greek came over once asking where’s this Boots , when asked why .he said he wanted to knock him out , Boots who asked him said ” Im Boots ” one punch and he was out , and thats how we met the greek ,
lv listened to some of the happy clappers and yes we have a couple , but l just leave them to it ,
the other thing is looking at the crowds now lv noticed how many would have been there in the 60s there are a good few , but even some of ours have passed , and l think most have only seen the prem and l do wonder what will happen when the penny finally drops and they realise where were going next season, some will have a crack and some will think Fuck this , rotherham on a cold tuesday night, the blues , baggie are yo-yo clubs and obviously dads have took their kids to the games and made them fans of them clubs and they have grown up going up and down , ours have’nt mate
Afternoon all .
Sorry I haven’t been around – I’ve been on a self imposed exile from Aston Villa. I took Ian’s advice after the Liverpool game and had a break . When kolo, Kolo Toure scored it was good night Vienna !
There’s nothing I can add that hasn’t been said before and sadly foreseen by the supporters but not those in power .
Well done John L for holding the fort at AVL Towers with your first class commentaries .
Remi looks done in and I’m in the camp of ‘no one else couid have done better given the state of the squad ‘. That is not just in talent but in unity, experience and balance . As God tweeted ‘feel sorry for Remi #hiding to nothing’.
Don’t expect anything out of tonight , the best villa fans can hope for is its not going to be too embarrassing . Times are so bad that a loss by one goal feels like a win !
So Tom Fox isn’t the only one needing a body guard , our own ST 75 going to Borat Land / you couldn’t make it up
This will be even more exciting than That time you met God ….. !! X
I hope the fans stay long enough to see us win a corner, you know it may be a small victory but a victory none the less.
SWV
The Match Tonight
Intriguingly, today I watched a MotD clip from the 1981-82 season of an Everton v Villa match (on YouTube).
For whatever reason, Villa played a number of second-string players that day … Donovan, Bullivant, Burke and Geddis … and with Mortimer and Withe missing and Shaw actually rested (!) Villa looked a sorry team. Their performance was a bit like what we’ve been watching for so long 34+ years later. … But they did win the EC just a few months later!!
Villa lost 0-2, December 1981.
Jenny,
Hello lass! 🙂
Your words always present a chirpy spirit!
the only positive i can put forward is that Ayew is available – the one thing we lack is fire-power upfront – so hopefully we may have a goal threat tonight — we haven’t looked capable of scoring goals since he has been out
nice to see jen to see jen
Nice
Hello Jenny, hope you’re well.
Totally agree about Remi.
Don’t worry about St75, if the bandits capture him he’ll just tell them the Dublin story and when they’re asleep nip out of a window.
Can’t see our MF touching the ball tonight, 0-3.
When you consider that the chap who bought into Everton for 200m only got 49% it makes you wonder exactly what Lerner wants for Villa, personally i think he just wants the land.
yes Steamer it does seem that Randy completely has his own interests at heart when you think of how many teams have been brought in the last few years
the fact villa are such an amazing base to build on makes me scratch my head when i see other clubs getting investment
We are in bad hands and there seems to be no good will coming from the owner in terms of the club he is holding on too
Right now I’m ‘sad’ about the state of my club. . . . I can’t get ‘angry’ because I don’t know what specifically to be angry about!
I’d be happy to join any protest if it had a focus, but I can’t see one.
It’s undeniable that the owner and board have messed the club up, but are they now trying to prudently cut costs for the Chanpionship or actually strip the club bare?
Does anyone actually have evidence of the latter? I don’t mean closing sections of the ground for some games or not paying the ‘living wage’ I mean actual selling of assets or active preparation for sale.
Happy Birthday JD …..))
Robbo,
So you think Hollis Fox et al are making plans for the championship, can any of us state on here just what qualifications any of this lot may have to prepare us for the lower leagues, Lerner absolutely clueless about the English game of football, Hollis already admitted to being a football luddite, Fox a commercial buffoon who thinks a 4-4-2 is a piece of wood, O”Reilly and Halmstadt two idiots who think they have the talent to spot a diamond of a player but neither could find their own arse with both hands, oh I apologise I left out Mervyn King a man who has spent all his life in the financial sector but is actually a Villa fan.
The championship teams will be quaking in their boots facing this lot and their plan B.
SWV
SWV- I’m afraid that they are talking financial and not Football preparations. As I have said we don’t know wether They will try and Keep Remi or not? they are keeping stum since Remi said he will decide. If he stays then he should be given full backing or whatever that may be financially and allowed to shape the club on the football side. Otherwise as you say these lot know nothing.
After the 6 nil, there’s no point worrying about goal difference, I’m expecting us to be clinically destroyed by a very effective Everton side.
Swv, sorry, yes I was only referring to the board preparing us financially for the championship rather than in a playing style or squad.
The sad thing is that they still show no signs of having grasped the very basic truth that ultimately, success in football comes from what happens ‘on’ the pitch rather than off it.
The board would be horrified ( or more likely, patronisingly amused) if anyone were to suggest that we give over the financial management of the club to football players, and yet they don’t seem to see that it is just as laughably ignorant of them to expect a board of accountants and financiers to make the right decisions about how to build and manage a successful football squad and first team.
Tonight, I hope to see some fight from the team, led by Jordan Ayew. Prior to his sending off we were well on top against West Ham and had we go on to win that, our revival and even survival could have looked much more plausible.
We’d have more than halved the gap towards survival, been one of the ‘in form’ teams in the premiership and we all know how momentum and confidence can build from there.
At the moment, sadly, it looks as if both he and his brother will be playing championship football next season.
I’m getting picked up about 18:15 to go to the factory of sadness, I can’t see anything other than a heavy defeat, but if I’m being honest I don’t think we will another game this season. It is now a matter of playing for pride, but it seems the club, manager , players and even the fans have given up, and I don’t just mean in terms of this season.
The football, effort shown and the way the club has been run this season eclipses all that have gone before it, and has effectively killed the football club off. I’m seriously considering giving it all up and not renewing, a few of my mates have already said there not and some have stopped going this season altogether. I honestly don’t think there has been any preparation for the championship or relegation despite flirting with it for 5/6 years. These idiots have no idea about preparation or planning, this is evident with the money saving knee jerk reactions .
Robbo
We haven’t seen any tangible evidence of asset stripping but everything is starting to point that way, with Lerner looking to get blood out of a stone by any means.
On ST prices for next year, does anyone believe ours will be reduced?? The cost of mine is currently £510 in the Holte, at the sty on the Spion it is £395, they also have other much cheaper ST prices around there shithole ground. My point is we will be asked to pay PL prices for a Championship product, and I’m sad to say it the Blues will have a better chance of promotion next season than us, they certainly have a more seasoned squad and a decent gaffer that knows the league.
I also think tonight is a particularly sad day as it brings an end to the most played fixture in English football, especially as we won’t be back for many years.
I’m not sure the protest tonight wil happen, or anyone will notice the exodus on the 74th minute, it’s been happening most weeks anyway , against Liverpool it was like a fire drill at half time
Robbi
No not privy to accounts need to be an accountant but do know
John said in post when he had case v villa numerous holding companies named
In one of first published accounts there was think 9/10 m payment to who?
We have a spend of about 10 m a year
Lerner promised Ellis to invest decent amount in team
We had a turnover of about 1 billion since Lerner took over
Lambert said his signings Westwood lowton Bowery tonev helnius where on about 10 grand a week,Cole sendross Richardson on 25 grand yes some got payrises
Where has money all gone
Not going tonight. First home game I’m not going to through my own choice
And I’ve just seen the line up.
5 at the back. Laughable. Horrible system. Veretout, Sinclair on the he bench. Sinclair was decent against Stoke
Don’t get where these managers get there qualifications from
Remi has lost the plot
Guzan shite keeper
Hutton most useless player ever
Richards
Lescott joke player
Clark
Cissko
Wastewood as carragher says if he good enough anyone is
Bacuna lazy laughing boy
Gana
Ayew
Fatso joins guzan Hutton 3 worst pl league players in position
We are going to get hammered
What i find ridiculous is that despite all the negative records, wasted money, lack of information, brutality by our stewards, pathetic football and downright incompetence, the club seems to take the stance that the supporters are at fault. These morons have potentially lost AVFC many thousands of fans who won’t be coming back even when these cowboys have gone ( assuming we survive ). I’ve never known any football club to be such a disaster.
Remi doing a Sherwood and can’t blame him
Must be our worst side possible saying that he left out Richardson
Can’t wait to read jd on TVB
Richards, Hutton and Bacuna all operating on the right and getting in each others way, Okore dropped and the fat wage thief at CF alongside Ayew. Thought Sinclair was ok on Sat but ………
Veretout dropped and Clark CB. 0-3
Never noticed, Guzan back in.
B62 and JG. I’m really not sure what to think about the asset stripping rumours.
My instinct is to believe that they are just trying to prudently save as much cash as they can to allow for the much reduced revenue next season.
In itself, that’s fine.
I have personal experience of having to do a similar thing on more than one occasion so I’m struggling to be critical, in fact I’d applaud it.
Cutting out cost is only a means to and end and not an end in itself though.
In my experience it’s best to cut as much cost as possible, maybe even a bit deeper than you really feel you can, but. . . . that is to enable you to invest in the future growth of the business in places such as sales and marketing or more efficient production. (Or in the case of a football club, the manager and players) It’s also important to find and recruit the very best people in those key areas and give them a real say, ‘right at the top of the organisation’
we seem to be doing the cutting but without the vision of where the extra investment needs to be and without the right people to drive it right from the top.
If you cut and don’t reinvest you’re going to enter a vicious circle of permanent decline.
Got to say, even as a fan of Remi, that team is ‘effing garbage.
Steamer I think as he can’t get a tune from the fiddle he’s swapping to a guitar formation. Sometimes it works lets face it they can’t play in any other formation. Not surprised over Guzan should of happened 2 games ago but surprised Sinclair isn’t up top with Ayew.
Pitiful how easily they lost their markers.
Ha
That second one went under Guzan. Wanker
5 at the back
This is what you get
That wasn’t Guzan’s fault. Lescott and Clarke didn’t mark Lennon.
This is fucking embarrassing – i am seething watching these hapless cocks.
What the hell is Lescott doing ? ye Gods.
Three central defenders and none mark, three defensive MF’s and none pick up, basics, this could be 6 again.
my six year old son defends better than the Villa defence
He won’t change a thing at HT either
slow witted fuckwits I hope remi drops them the nut
I’m watching a text commentary with just the goals shown and the commentary hasn’t mentioned the fat man once in the first half, did he walk out early ?
Feel sorry for the fans having to stay in the ground until 74 minutes so they can walk out.
Three corners.. impressive.
Anyone else remember when Aston Villa was a football club ?
Lescott AGAIN.
From my commentary –
The referee signals that it is time for a substitution and Rudy Gestede (Aston Villa) comes onto the pitch so that Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) can be given a rest.
Thought he’d had a five year rest.
Just looked in
Steamer you are like one man and dog show solo
Relegate us please FA
Charge Lerner under some rule or another
Hooray we scored
Who fuck cares
This is it …the fightback, three more goals and we’ll have the confidence to stay up.
JG,
Is stupidity classed as a rule ?
Fair do’s, very good header from a nice cross.
i am so utterly depressed – truly mortified by this situation, close to tears.
And fast losing confidence in Remi Garde and his team selections/formations – which is a shame.
I am shattered – distraught.
RIP AVFC
It’s obvious remi wants out and I can’t blame him
Lie cheated ,conned by MR FOX
If our youth ,reserves don’t have better options than that side tonight sack the lot of them God Almighty I watch under 10 more skill effort
Guzan Hutton lescott wastewood bacuna and Gabby no manager should have to start one of them never mind 6
Steamer went on sky printer fatso mention about 3 times first half maybe 2 second unbelievable
A few questions:
Is it really Tom Fox’s fault that we’ve defended as badly as that in so many games?
What characteristics would a magic manager or coach need to have to give 8 of the 11 Villa players something close to a first touch?
How many times did a Villa player slow our own attack down by playing the ball square to a team mate when there was space for him to play it forward and run onwards? How many times does it happen per game this season?
For every pass that a 10 year old child might consider ‘difficult’ – how many ‘difficult’ Villa passes were played to the correct player and to the correct foot/side of his body?
How many Villa crosses were put in that we were at least 10-15 yards away from?
This is a football travesty before it’s a wider issue about ownership, Paddy Reilly or the bad press office at Villa park.
Put away the drama, screeching, booing, walk outs etc etc for just a minute and at the bottom of it, you see a shockingly incapable side. Incapable to amateur or semi-pro level. Why will nobody manage simple marking at set pieces?
That’s the scandal.
When NOTHING and nobody seems to be working (young Ayew perhaps exempted) it’s impossible to have the full picture on the source causes of what is going wrong.
Tony h
Fox signed off on contract extension for Hutton Clark wastewood bacuna Gabby signed off on rest team( crap)
Did anyone see mock up off team on MYOM Facebook page class
Do we think that Gestede – Ayew – Traore will give us enough firepower to get out of the Championship?
Well what can I say, another home game another appalling inept effort from the home side, I couldn’t wait until 74 mins so I could leave( which I gladly did). That team were beaten before the KO, this football club is dead, it is down to The owner, board, Mansgers and players . Anyone that stayed after 74 mins did more harm than good, it’s estimated 7k walked out which was about 30% of the home support, the other 70% must love watching dog shit every week. That manager and those players should hang their heads in shame, not being good enough is one thing, but lack of fight, effort and basic organisation is unforgivable .
More protests are needed, more pressure on the idiots running this club, more pressure on the manager and players, because that shower of shite organised by the barman from ‘Ello ‘Ello are gonna get truly fucked over next season, not only aren’t they up for the physical endurance of the championship, they will be out thought, out organised and definately out played.
RIP AVFC
RichardS
No, and i don’t think either Ayew or Traore will be here next season, Gestede is bang average and we have no supply line. We also can’t keep a clean sheet, and a pitifully weak midfield and a plank of wood as a manager.
Another insipid awful display…..Lennon’s goal went through Guzan’s legs Frem…..
Like B62, in the end I could not wait for the 74th minute to walk out, even though there was a tiny bit more effort which in the end bought a consolation header for Gestede, but several times as the fans sang Lerner out, and several other ditties, you felt Everton almost sympathising with the Villa players to let them score a consolation…
Many fans shook hands with the stewards and said their final goodbyes….not many will be returning from this for the Spurs match….fans that are lost for ever….
All the guys round me in the lower Holte….this is their last match….the board , the pundits and the media do not realise this really is the beginning of the end of this great club.
Tony H.
Your comments are spot on re tactics. The flabmeister was less than useless tonight…
I am driving home last night listening to talkshite when I hear the words that made me seethe more than the result, there is another goal at Villa Park — Tom Ross, well you could hear the joy in his voice when he said Villa were being ripped apart.
Can Remi or any manager for that matter put a side together who is capable of staving off relegation next season, any manager will get no backing whatsoever either financially or on any football level.
Looking at that side tonight it is very clear Garde has thrown the towel in, yes he knows we are down but at least put up a bit of a fight.
I will be glad to see us put out of our misery if we were a animal they would put us down now.
SWV
As soon as I saw the team selection last night (3 centre-backs and Guzan in goal) I thought that there was a touch of panic in it (the selection).
Garde had got to the point where he didn’t know what to do next and that the team he put out last night was his last throw of the dice.
The first goal was a disgrace. Villa didn’t start playing until the 15th minute and (in fact) might have scored until Everton broke away in superb style and scored a second – but, again, through poor defensive cover.
There was some improvement up front for Villa. Ayew’s return provided more options and Gueye intercepted well at times, but there was just no convincing final effort.
What is shocking is that Villa are now on the kind of run that was witnessed only at the end of the very sad 1966-67 season. Then Villa started shipping goals once their will had been broken towards the end of the season. Now it’s already happened and continues to happen. 11 goals conceded in the last 3 matches and Man City and Spurs come next.
The demise of a once great club. Who – who?!! – is going to pick up the pieces?
I never thought I would see a return to the bad old days. And this is worse.
Tony H: “Is it really Tom Fox’s fault that we’ve defended as badly as that in so many games?”
I sometimes wonder … statements like that make me think you are planted by Fox onto this blog!! 😉
In a sense you are right … the defenders were awful, but we already know that a Richards/Lescott combination doesn’t work. Last year’s Okore/Clark would have done better – so we’ve effectively signed 2 more c-bs and gone into reverse.
But the blame lies with the top brass in what they did during the summer. And for what has been regressively done over the previous 4 to 5 years.
TH: “it’s impossible to have the full picture on the source causes of what is going wrong.”
Now I know that you’re a Fox plant! 😉
The basic problem can be simply identified: too much attention to presentation with no understanding of the product they’re dealing with – nor of the club’s traditions.
Whoever heard of a football chairman that hides away in the way Lerner has? A person who’s upset because someone’s upset his board game.
Tony H,
Put away the drama, screeching, booing, walk outs etc etc for just a minute and at the bottom of it, you see a shockingly incapable side. Incapable to amateur or semi-pro level. Why will nobody manage simple marking at set pieces?
Fox is only partially to blame, yes this is a god awful side but a side steadily built by a series of bad managers appointed by Lerner Fox and his predecessor Faulkner, also a side built by Reilly and Halmstadt moneyball people employed by the hierarchy at this once famous club, the decline has been happening for years and the responsibility to turn it around lay squarely with the board but because they had not got a clue and no experience of the game they bumbled from one terrible decision to another.
When they had the opportunity to appoint football people onto the board they decided that they knew better instead we got the likes of Hollis and King finance people who”s knowledge of the game you can write on the back of a stamp.
So in summary yes Fox and others are to blame for those wayward passes and piss poor defending because all those shocking decisions made at board room level is the result of what we see on the pitch today, and here is something more frightening I truly believe this is just the tip of the iceberg and things are going to get a whole lot worse.
AVFC RIP.
The end can’t come quick enough, it’s a pity there’s another 10 games to play, that equates to another 10 embarassing performances, devoid of effort, passion and basic footballing premise. Last night again showed not only are the players not putting it in and in many cases aren’t good enough, but again reiterated to me that Garde isn’t the man to lead us next season. Yes he’s been hung out to dry by the board in the transfer window, but he hasn’t done anything to address the slide, in fact he’s accelerated it, lost the dressing room( whom he will need next season) and looks out of his depth and shot.
There was no basic organisation again last night, the defence parts like the Red Sea , his selections and formations are as bizarre as Sherwoods and we don’t look like ever winning another football match.
When he arrived we still had a chance of survival, but week by week that has slipped away and we were cut well adrift before the window opening. When he got his first win some 11 games later , I said the rest of the season was a job interview for him to show what he is made of, I thought he would only win one more game and asked the question, would Garde still be the man everyone wanted to lead us next season, if he only won one more game?? People said that he would win more than that and could see real improvement. Well now here we are and still only with one more win and we aren’t improving we are going back at an alarming rate, I can’t see us reaching 20 points. We have just conceded 9 goals in 2 games, this against sides that are fighting it out for 7/8th, Everton found it so easy last night they didn’t even break sweat, I feel if they had tried it could have been 6. We have Man City Saturday and I fear we could finally break the record for the heaviest league defeat( premier league).
The club is dead, fans being alienated and leaving in their droves, 29k there last night my arse, it was nearer 24/5k thousands of ST holders simply aren’t going , the football is that bad, it’s no fun being humiliated every week.
Looking ahead to next season and I’m worried, looking at getting promoted , I would say that already we are worse than Norwich/Newcastle/Sunderland/Swansea( which ever two from those who join us), in the championship I would say we are worse than , Hull, Burnley, Boro, Sheff Weds, Derby and worse than anything Blues. Anyone who thinks we will come straight back up needs medication, unless there are massive changes this summer in ownership, Board level, Manager and an overhaul of the playing squad we will struggle to stay up.
And for all those that didn’t want Allardice ( I didn’t want him long term, but he would have seeded the ship) at least Sunderlands fate is in their own hands as they moved out of the drop zone last night. The teams above us at least show fight, passion and organisation.
The only thing Villa achieved last night was to make me watch the game beyond the 70th minute, if only to see the response to Out the Door on 74. As someone commented they should have picked 18.
John I looked at your predictions from 14 Jan and we are already 4 points down on what was effectively a prophecy of doom.
After supporting Villa for 60 years I now think I can stand this situation no longer; the only happiness on the horizon is that Leicester might just stop the Mancs and London clubs from winning the league, and I never thought I would say that.
Let’s face it the Villa has been doomed to relegation from the first day of the season; we now look forward to watching the highlights (?) on Channel 5. Thank goodness the Super Rugby has started is all I can say.
Well unless Hollis can sack the lot all way down to youth coaches we will never return to premier league, how garde named that team last night I will never know,yes it looks like remi has thrown in the towel gave up,after been lied ,conned by FOX, we needed a minimum of 5 players in January and it seemed remi had them all lined up but plug was pulled and worst was decision by alstad to stop debauchery deal because remi used HIS contacts to get it done well blow me down after crap that fox Riley alstad put on us last summer I wouldn’t let them buy me a KFC
Remi last night
Guzan showed last night again why we are bottom of league only watched few mins highlights God he is awful,and didn’t think bunn was to bad in matches played yes second goal v stoke could done better 2 brilliant saves from okore,even pool match would only put free kick down to him
Hutton gets praise for effort running around with tongue out,last nighs conceded from 2 corners his side field,Lennon goal Everton wingers acres of space as normal Hutton in opponents half,all our opponents have to do when Hutton plays lob ball into his area( he always AWOL) and wouldn’t mind going forward he worse can’t cross for toffee,cissko gets hammered for his ability yet we don’t concede from his side,he put in 4 great crosses last few matches ( shook his head at Gabby for not trying last night great cross Gabby pulled out like stoke at weekend) if you look at screen shots of villas defence when Hutton playing never init always up the field
the look of foxes face when the Holte started giving him pelter’s was classic and long over due – watching him squirm around in his comfy chair was better than the goal we scored or even better than getting our first corning in 3 games
another frightening stat was when they said villa have won 10 lge games in the last 70 matches gulp
James Gill – I said this about Hutton when we signed him – he goes AWOL and ball watches thus leaving his wing wide open for counter attacks (one thing the Villa souvenir shop will not experience for a while!)
corner in 3
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