Honestly Aston Villa Football Club has had better days. Sacking our Manager after just eight months in charge and with Sunderland winning the Tyne – Wearside derby falling to the bottom of the table.

Yet the gloom this has created is in stark contrast to the optimism following opening day victory at Bournemouth when the consensus was that the club had lost three great players but had improved the quality of the squad overall. The visit of Swansea City on Saturday felt like a rerun of the pivotal game last season when Tim Sherwood’s Villa team lined up desperate for the points against the Swans. Just like last season’s fixture a late goal gave Swansea a dramatic win and left Villa in the midst of a relegation battle although unlike this Saturday, not in the bottom three.

An afternoon therefore that could have presented endless possibilities ended with a team devoid of all confidence and a Manager on the brink of inevitable dismissal. Sherwood’s sacking, seemingly full of acrimony, marked the end of another false dawn for the club.

It is time for the players to stand up and be counted, as Jack Grealish commented on social media ‘the lads should take full responsibility for the results’. Any incoming manager must surely look to the seasoned players in the squad such as Brad Guzan, Alan Hutton, Kevin Richardson, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark, Ashley Westwood, Gabby Agbonlahor, Scott Sinclair. maybe even Charles N’Zogbia at this difficult time and demand that they perform consistently as and when called upon. These players also have a key role in assisting with the integration and development of this summer’s European recruits and ensuring that performances are a team effort. Of that group only Richards has shown any level of consistency although surprisingly on Saturday even he performed poorly; made mistakes and lost all composure.

If positives were to be found on Saturday it was in the performance of Jordan Ayew who responded in the best possible way to the challenge of lining up against his brother, showing an abundance of endeavour and placing his header perfectly for the goal. Indeed the afternoon could have been more fruitful for him had Agbonlahor squared a pass when he found himself unmarked at the edge of the box. Instead the out touch striker tried a shot from a diminishing angle – such are the margins of success and failure we find ourselves in.

The task ahead is enormous. It must be noted though that only five points cover the bottom five placed teams and with 28 games remaining there are still 84 points left to play for. Sadly in the coming weeks as well as trying to get points on the board ourselves we will looking at the results of others and hoping that the likes of Bournemouth, Norwich, Sunderland, and Newcastle falter and Watford get dragged into the pack.

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Comments 244

  1. Jenny Truman

    Here here Matt .
    Whilst I would love to have an Arsenal type football team and if Garde had come in at the beginning of the season and brought his French players with him I would agree – it’s a big step forward . But we are 20th – wasted pre season and 10 games not finding s settled team or formation – and as Lambrtt said , those French kids must be wondering what has hit them. Garde is one for the future .

    I agree Matt – it’s time for the seasoned pros to lead the way out of bottom place and we have a future captain in JGrealish . I love his desire to take responsibility . I remember when we are up against it at the end of GH season , Dunne and Collins having a majestic game against Arsenal who had a far better team but by sheer strength and determination , we beat them. To throw all of our new French players into this scrap without the seniors would be unfair . So like it or not , we may see Gabby and co starting the game tonight .

    I also agree that Anew was great on Saturday – and the look of pain on his face when the three points were lost in the final five minutes was good to see . He really looked like he cared . This is what we want from them and ratger than having a manager to motivate them , we need someone to instil confidence and an I shaking belief that we can and will do this .

    Can’t wait to see our lads tonight – show some fight and with KMac and his miraculous turn around for GH , feel we are in good hands .

  4. runtings

    Thanks for the leader Matt

    i can see it is clear there is a divide of opinion as too what type of incoming manager would best suit villa – mainly for the short term but just as importantly the ling term

    i appreciate our Jen’s views and she along with like minded AVL’ers may be right in what they feel is best for us now

    But — i do feel and have done for a long time felt strongly that we have been hiring the wrong managers and need a completely different approach

    We are bottom of the prem so no doubt it’s squeaky bum time for the club but i have no faith in these brut force managers to save us particularly with our very young squad

    if we had 8 or 9 players like hutton , richardson , plus the senior centre backs we may be then able to force our way to some results

    but we actually have a young , fairly talented bunch of players who will only flourish in a footballing set up that allows them to express themselves and improve individually imo of course

    it is not scary to me getting your team to play proper passing gunner type football and i reckon you would see the benefit quickly providing its the right type of person with the right type of football knowledge guiding them
    so i am sill dreaming that in 8 games time we have a baller manager and our lads are picking up points enjoying there football and the progressive training drill that could benefit them and the supporters
    gunners were one of the most boring sides before wenger came in and the fans didn’t want him

    i fear we will get a person type manager and am not confident that is the right road for the club for many reasons

  5. B62 Villa

    I am starting to get a little concerned at our search for a new gaffer, from the outside it seems we have put all our eggs in one French basket and the process has stalled. Others are seeing our shambolic club for what it is, an utter embarrassment run by carpetbagging money men and liars. Randy Lerner and co are finally being called out, not before time. The alleged sale /non sale of the club is like an albatross around our necks, yet others like Everto, Albion actually progress despite being up for sale, we have gone in the opposite direction. I agree this next appointment is going to shape our future, more than ever. Can we stay up? It’s already going to be very tight as we are cut adrift and sinking. It’s Ironic Lerner is only after the sky money, however it seems just as the deal goes mega, his stupidity over the last 5 years will see us miss out and plummet into financial oblivion in the championship and beyond. Yes we have sunk so low we cannot compete with crap like WBA/Leicester/Swansea/Saints etc etc.
    Tonight is a chance to build some confidence away from the league, but I still think the scummers will turn us over. Fair play to the fans, bottom of the league, club in turmoil, losing every week, no gaffer yet still sell out for a Wednesday night in Scumhampton. It’s a pity we don’t sell at at home anymore , the home gates are dwindling fast

  6. Frem

    Driving down to the South coast in a bit. Not expecting a result but the fact 3,200 of us are going is pretty brilliant

    Hope to see Veretout, Ayew, And Adama start

  8. John Lerwill

    Steamer: (re: your post in the previous thread)

    Quite right – Lerner pretends to do but doesn’t.

    If there was a real will to sell the club, it would have been done by now.

  9. Mark King

    JL- that may well be the situation, it is a possibility he may of done a turnaround when the new deal was announced. Maybe he see’s a way of retrieving his money and getting the price he’s after? wouldn’t surprise me. For me it just cements the need for someone who’s more than a stop gap manager.

  10. Jenny Truman

    Runtingz – maybe you are right – and I agree, long term would be fantastic to get a forward thinking manager . But the scaredy pants in me says are we good enough , and established as a team to play that way with all the pressure that four points and 20th brings. It feels like we have the pantomime horse at the back and a young Prince Charming at the front . Either way – the boring option or the exciting option – it’s one hell of a gamble .

    I have s feeling it will be Gaultier not Garde – I expected announcement today for Garde

    John if RL does resign , do you trust him to pick the right Chairman. His choice in advisors has so far fallen well short .

    Can’t wait to see them play tonight – I expect KMac to revert back to what he knows best – just hope they do him proud . I know Jack will .

    Frem – hoping you see us score a few goals tonight and great away support as always . Villa fans are fantastic .

  11. Jenny Truman

    On the MOMS article , I’ve always thought the Brigada lads were a welcome way to get VP louder And create some atmosphere . Unfortunately there have bee all sorts of accusations of them being political – haven’t a clue if this stands up but from what I’ve seen of them they are a big help in support – which we need . Can’t understand why the club don’t want them as I love hearing them .

  12. Mark King

    Thanks matt- you wait weeks for a post and 3 turn up 😉

    My take on the new manager is go for someone who can take us further than 17th every year. If its our fate I’m prepared to drop no matter how painful. A manager like Garde has so much about him compared to Tim who was given the job off the back of 1/2 a season or so with spurs.

    If we can give a candidate like that the job of rebuilding us then giving it to a man that has worked under Several successful managers including houllier and Wenger, has run one of the most successful academy’s in the world producing players like Benzemar, Anthony Martial ,Hugo Lloris, Alexandre Lacazette the list is extensive (Put that next to our successful graduates, gabby, Cahill and Barry!!) And did an incredible job Keeping Lyon competitive whilst selling their top players. If you thought Lambert had it bad this man worked with 3 seasons of negative spends and won cups and never dropped lower than 5th. Its not the prem you say its not spurs reserves either.

    He will of no doubt looked our squad over and I don’t believe this man is a Muppet eager for prem Gold. he left Lyon to recuperate and learn more after the exhaustion of what he did for them, they are currently second, building a 62k seater stadium and a training facility that make BMH look like the local council run gym. He will know the French players and commentates on the prem which he is desperate to manage in, so will have a good idea about rivals, players,pace and tactics. I think he is someone who will quickly Identify who goes were and how we should play.

    Now the big stumbling block, he hasn’t fought relegation in the prem or in fact at all, as far as I know. How many managers who have made their names doing this are at top teams? nil I think. But who’s to say they cannot do it? Pearson had one season in the prem nearly got relegated and performed a miracle to survive, doesn’t mean he can repeat it with this squad.

    How do we know Garde doesn’t have the will and nous to keep us up, surely the best way is to win games? he can do that 50.4% he lost 30 games in 3 seasons playing counter attack with decent possession and a high pressing game not typical arsenal tactics then but he is flexible and tactically astute and doesn’t come with a derogatory knick name 🙂

    Lastly 🙂 in the last few season’s we have had mcleish’s mega-negative tactics, how was that for you. Lambert’s open barn door counter attack and Tims knock the barn door down counter attack football so there are many ways to stay up and you don’t know who can do it until they have done it.

    Garde’s going to ether not get the job now or be shit isn’t he 😉

  13. Mark King

    If they seroiosly want him they will be trying to srt the coach situation out, its been 3 days since Timageddon. One other thing His team being young were not known for their defensive capability but still drew 27 games won 60 lost 30. I’m off now to put my bill into Garde’s agent

  14. John Lerwill

    Jenny: “John if RL does resign , do you trust him to pick the right Chairman. His choice in advisors has so far fallen well short . ”

    You’re right of course, but what I was mainly alluding to is that he said he would either sell or find another chairman. He’s done neither … so what is the future?

    That’s what AVST are (legitimately) asking for, and we should be told clearly at least an outline of the road ahead.

    You make the point as to whether he can be trusted … but I’m wondering just now whether he’s actually playing mind games. Anyone who uses his PR man to try to deviate us from the truth has that potential.

  16. John Lerwill

    Mark: ” Garde has so much about him compared to Tim who was given the job off the back of 1/2 a season or so with spurs. ”

    Agreed, but is that fair argument when looking for someone just to get us off the bottom?

    TS actually got Spurs to finish 6th in his half-season if I remember right, so that’s not bad.

    No, Mark … don’t take that as an absolute defence of his appointment .. but he did also keep Villa up. And that’s what we need right now. Unless we’re willing to accept the drop, as you suggest. The reality is, of course, even if we are willing to accept that, is Lerner? And I’d say not.

  18. Mark King

    JL- Or he is now looking at Fox and thinking I’ve cocked up again.

    Wonder how KMac’s feeling, he didn’t want it before but I think he secretly does it just spooked him.
    3-2 villa

  19. Mark King

    JL- To be fair what was Tim’s qualification to keep us up? as you say it can’t have been taking spurs to 6th with quite an expensive team can it? so therefore why do we need a man who’s been through the relegation thing before ? we just need a good manager IMO

  22. steamer

    In my opinion the best way to deal with these vermin is to stay away altogether and don’t buy merchandise either. Lets be honest here, no-one actually enjoys watching Villa and if you were desperate then you could watch them in a pub/club, a few weeks of this and they’ll soon buckle.
    At the end of the day Fox and Lerner are two bob bullies but bullies only win if the victims let them.
    ‘I’m supporting the club’ i hear, rubbish, your killing it, think of the publicity after a few 10-15,000 gates or less. If you want to be a rubbing rag for these parasites then continue attending, they’ll be in the lounges pissing themselves laughing at you. Why go where your not wanted and actually pay to be haranged ? You amaze me, blood like gnats pee.

  25. steamer

    Damage limitation, i did suggest an Amavi/Richardson link up on the left but why play with 10 men ? Kmac at least had the goolies to drop Lescott but then undoes the good by selecting the totally inept Agbonlahor who seems to be running the club over the past five years. Why not make it official ?

  26. Mark King

    looks like 442 with Bacuna and Richardson left and right mid unless Amavi is on the left, gabby and Gested up top, westy and sanchez central. looks like its crosses for gestede. back four hutton,crespo,clark, amavi? Richards rested

    vertout okore gil grealish sinclair ayew on bench its a crime 🙁

  29. Jenny Truman

    @AVFCBlog: #AVFC team is Guzan, Hutton, Clark, Crespo, Amavi, Bacuna, Westwood, Richardson, Sanchez, Gabby and Gestede

    Calm down John Doyie – gabby and Westwood .

  40. Mark King

    Well rumours of our demise are a bit prem. Nice balance with. Bacuna and amavi in midfield as i said last week tim. could do with gil at the tip of the diamond and ayew with gestede

  48. @RonnieBiggs

    We need a new man to come in with ideas, they don’t even have to be new ideas, just ideas!

    At least he won’t have to worry about cups distracting us from the main priority! 😉
    UTV

  49. B62 Villa

    And the rot continues, 2 down and looking like we are heading out the cup. They should have had all the pressure of the league lifted off their shoulders and given it a real go. I just don’t think the talent is there, we seem to have bought a load of lemons, these players just aren’t good enough for this level, which is why we won’t be at this level for much longer. Whoever comes in to take charge has a massive task on his hands

  50. angel_8

    Best result for Villa to get knocked out. Strange team from KMac. I would bring Gestede on as an impact sub and start Ayew as number 9. Ayew can be great if we play him as a striker. Team vs Spuds

    Bunn
    Hutton – Clark – Richards – Amavi

    Veretout – Gana – Sanchez – Traore

    Grealish
    Ayew

  51. RichardS

    Is there one ounce of pride left in the football club.

    Kmac you absolute choker – what kind of team selection was that tonight? We needed to play our best team this evening and try and win the game. We need to try and restore some confidence back in the team.

    Kmac you can leave this club along with the other clowns – you spineless tool.

    I was getting annoyed with Stan Collymore but I believe he is right.

    Not fit for purpose. Nobody at this club is fit for purpose.

  52. B62 Villa

    I look at our squad and can’t pick a strong starting 11, we need an absolute miracle to stay up, lost last 6 in the league, lost 8 from the last 9 away. This club are a national joke, at least there is a Lerner Out banner in the away end, fuck knows if it will make any difference he doesn’t pay any interest in Villa other than cashing the cheques. Well he’ll have fuck all to cash next season when he loses £100m per annum, because that’s what relegation will mean financially with the new TV, loss of sponsors, corporate, match day revenue, merchandise etc

  53. Mark King

    I think 2 changes to the starting line up required, gil for Westwood and Ayew for a gabby would make this team much more effective. nobody spreading the ball out to the wide men so no crosses.
    And gabby unfortunately wastes to many chances.

    Kmac tried to stay solid and that’s what you get if you go behind, brought grealish on when there was nobody working the ball forward in midfield strange sub at that point. we were crying out for gil and more movement up top.

    also why didn’t Ayew take the pen????

    Ayew scored 13 last season to keep his team up, about time we used him up the middle, no brainer

  54. B62 Villa

    RichardS
    This is now a hollow shell of the club I fell in love with as a young lad and grew up supporting. At this rate the only way Lerner is leaving is in a pine box, the twat would still fuck us over. There is literally no one at the club with any bollox, I’m starting to hate my own club more than the unwashed scum from over the road, because that’s how these scum who have run our club into the dirt have made me feel, and I’m a ST holder.
    Fuck off Lerner and take the rest of the useless robbing cunts with you

  55. John Lerwill

    Well. getting a goal in the last minute (even a penalty!) will lift them a tad.

    Yes, best they’re out and can concentrate on winning the League! 84 points to play for!

    Actually, that team did look like more of a team … a better balance. But after Saturday Ayew did deserve to start. Hopefully he will next week. But he was a bit loose in the centre of the park, hence their second.

    Steve Davis – we sold him to Fulham didn’t we. Could do with him now i.m.o.

  56. steamer

    Agree with Ronnie & Angel, Kmac selected the same crepe players that have failed for five years, no faith in the French lads or our young players. He can’t even use the excuse that he was saving them until Saturday as we have a couple of extra days off. New ideas required, complete clear out of coaches and admin.
    Someone on TBAR reckons that Collymore has said that Fox has a hand in picking the side, in fact first choice.

  57. RichardS

    And I really don’t understand why Tony Parks is still at the club? He is Tim Sherwoods best mate.

    Why is he still at the club?

    Sitting next to choker Kmac, giving him support and advice??

    Get rid of both of them.

    Clueless, hapless, chokers.

  58. John Lerwill

    Mark: “And gabby unfortunately wastes to many chances. ”

    Well, he didn’t tonight … one decent shot and well saved. And he has been creating one or two lately, which is as good as.

    But … interestingly tonight he was as you said – very, very average, and that is a bit worrying.

  59. B62 Villa

    JL
    Honestly it will take us over 2 seasons to get 84 points, we averagely win about 7/8 per season, I can’t see where our next win is coming from. We will be down before the Xmas decorations come down

  60. angel_8

    Ayew is a stud, just need to play him in the #9 role. His work rate and pace is amazing. Why play a slow Gestede when we don’t cross the ball?

    I’m pissed we play Ayew as a sudo full back. Let’s get Garde in ASAP..

  61. steamer

    Why no Kozak & Ayew ? Gabby is non-lge, Kmac could have given GG a game, basically anything rather than the same stale non-players like Westwood, Bacuna etc, nothing ventured nothing gained, no imagination, ability and no hope.

  62. John Lerwill

    Interesting stat … we had 7 shots on goal – they had 3 (but scored from 2 of them).

    In fact I thought we deserved something from that match!!!

    Hey – we wuz robbed!

  63. Mark King

    JL he huffs and puffs about at least one ball bounced off his shins in the box and the keeper didn’t even have to dive to save his shot tonight sad to see. same fro Westwood, keeps popping up but can’t finish, does some good stuff but its not enough to start.

    angel_8 – I would even go sinclair and Ayew as a front 2

  64. RichardS

    JL – the difference is that Southampton made two forward moves of quality. Especially their second gaol involving Tadic and Pelle – quality players.

    We don’t produce any moments of quality in the game.

    It is pointless playing Gestede – we don’t play to his strengths and he is not good enough to dominate Premier League defences.

    We need a rethink for Spurs on Monday evening.

    I cannot believe I have a ticket

  65. angel_8

    Steamer – agreed on Kozak, what does he have to do to get a game! Didn’t we pay 7m for him? Let him go for free in Jan if he’s not good enough.

    Glad Clark is back…please do not start Lescott again. WBA laughing all the way to the bank

  66. Mark King

    You can only think Kosak is still not right physically or mentally, he did blow his top pre-season at a poor tackle on him. I’d put him in up top with Ayew in a blink

  67. B62 Villa

    JL
    We weren’t robbed, we look like a very average championship side, devoid of ideas and quality. There doesn’t even seem a sense of pride or real effort to bust a gut or fight. This shower are as good as gone, I can see Spurs putting 4 past us and City will be a cricket score completely destroying any confidence whatsoever
    It doesn’t look like Garde is coming, we are nowing looking at Poyet and Galtier if the bookies/media are to be believed. Neither are good enough, whoever comes in needs to be able to get us back up from the graveyard that is the championship

  69. James Gill

    anyone see john doyle on other site with no name
    he got it bang on
    mcdonald is a bigger knob than sherwood putting out that team felt sorry for fans that nade the trip don t worry only one more to st marys and then to relegation
    guzan bunn
    hutton llor
    clark clark cap
    crespo okore
    amavi amavi
    bacuna traore
    westwood vertout
    sanchez sanchez
    richardson gil
    gabby cap sinclair
    gestede ayew
    team put out team that should been put out

    makes my blood boil every time you see villa concede bald head hutton running 10 yards behind man gabby couldnt hit barn door if he was standing on it ,westwood huffs and puffs and thats it, need new man tomorrow and clean out all coaches none of them any good

  71. James Gill

    playing gestede with gabby off him laugh out loud only place gabby can score now disco saturday night
    hutton was crap when mcleish signed him and he ain t no fine wine

  73. John Lerwill

    B62: “We weren’t robbed, …”

    Of course not! I was just raising a wry smile, mate! 😉

    But first half it did go Villa’s way more than Saints. And, actually, I didn’t think it was too bad – just “could be better”.

    Whether we get as much in the next matches though is another thing.

  74. RichardS

    There is a huge devoid of talent at this football club.

    Westwood – Gestede – Gabby – Bacuna – Richardson – Sanchez – Hutton – Crespo – what did they actually achieve this evening on the football pitch? Sweet FA. Nothing. Nada. Fooking useless the lot of them.

    We need Gil – Grealish – Gana – Traore – Sinclair – Ayew – all on the pitch together at the same time.

  75. B62 Villa

    Mark
    I just checked the odds again for our next gaffer, Poyet is still high on the list but looks like we may dodge that bullet as AEK Athens have offered him their job

  76. steamer

    Apparently Garde won’t be coming for three weeks and our leaders have given Kmac the job meanwhile.
    I must say in defence of Nigel Pearson, he got Leicester promoted and miraculously kept them up, he stupidly got himself some bad publicity but no worse than Maureen or Ferguscon did, and his son let him down with his antics in Malaysia, while i favour Garde i certainly wouldn’t object to Pearson who could be the strong manager we need and his teams also play decent footy.

  77. James Gill

    lambert is starting to look a good manager with this season ,bad and all it was this is lower than ever
    why do our managers keep picking crap ,sherwood said new players wheren t good enough most of them played in win against bournmouth why why why mcdonald did you not at least try them

  81. B62 Villa

    RichardS
    3/4 of our squad are utter shite, we wasted the summer window and are getting what we deserve due to stupid kid in a sweet shop transfer policy , and constantly replacing our best players with inferior shite. This has been going on for years under Lerner, enabled by the constant conveyor belt of crap managers and yes men with their hand out.

  82. B62 Villa

    Watching Villa is like enduring the death of a thousand paper cuts, but it’s the hope that kills you.
    I never want to see the crap like Westwood, Hutton, Crespo, Bacuna , Richardson etc in a villa shirt. All this could have been avoided, if only we had done our business properly in the summer, RichardS I’d go with that 11 mate, we might as well try something different, we are gonna get thumped starting the crap we usually do.

  83. Jenny Truman

    Sadly I did t get to watch the game as I have spent all night looking for my daughter’s provisional licence – she takes her test tomorrow. I am still looking ….
    Listened to Franksie on Radio WM and he said we were unlucky not to get something from the game . This is heartening as we hit a pasting last time and from the commentary we seemed to contain them well . I was cheered by this , particularly as I thought that KMac had bottled it a little with his selection. so I was surprised that the lifers were so despondent with the performance . Maybe Fox told him to save our best team for Spurs / the tv money being more important than the cup . It wouldn’t surprise me. If expect to see Gil, Greslish and Anew start against Spurs at least .
    Poor old Kozak – can’t make a cup game / we won’t see him in a villa shirt again .

  85. angel_8

    How did Sherwood lose the plot?

    By playing Guzan and Leacott. It’s like 9 vs 11

    Unless you take Chelski into account when it’s 9 vs 13

    Please, please, no more Guzan. The 1st goal we let in vs Swansea…did you see where Guzan was standing!! By his left hand post. He left the whole goal open. It wasn’t even a good free kick!

    Guzan is a joke. Play Gabby in goal instead.

  86. angel_8

    As for Garde,

    I would wait for him. It’s just some BS with getting his assistant manager from Lyon. Let’s pay 2m to get him out of his contract

  87. John Lerwill

    Jenny: “I was surprised that the lifers were so despondent with the performance .”

    I’d say fans remember the parts of the game when it went against our team … or rather we let it go against us. That is, in the middle of the second half.

    These are some of the issues fans are upset about …

    Team selection. Well, I didn’t think it was a bad one given the players we have. Crespo had a pretty good game i.m.o.; Clark wasn’t quite at his best but did OK. The idea of having Amavi in front of Richardson was something that one or two Lifers had suggested before and seemed to work well. Despite what people say, I thought Westwood was one of the better players, as was Hutton (first half at least, in both cases). Sanchez played reasonably well.

    Main Weaknesses: Bacuna iffy – Ayew should probably have started, but I could see KMac’s reason for choosing Bacuna, to feed Gestede; Gabby quite average but one decent shot on goal. Villa were sloppy in the process of Saints’ two goals, though both were very well taken.

    Subs: Grealish looks as though he’s going to do something (as always), but didn’t impress me. Ayew didn’t do much apart from gaining the late penalty. Sinclair did nothing apart from scoring the penalty.

    Overall: First half, Villa kept Saints pretty well under control and might have scored at least one (Bacuna and Gestede drew good saves from their keeper). Second half, Saints pressed up and Villa did not make such good progress as first half. Overall, Villa were a tad unlucky to lose but rather surrendered the game second half.

    The immediate future: No “brighter” than before really. Am a bit apprehensive of the next few games, but I’d say that KMac has a better idea of what side to select than TS. We need width, and better support from the flanks is vital if we’re going to get more success out of Gestede. He and Ayew – I agree – could be a winning combo with proper support.

  88. Mark King

    Fair assement jl . i would put gil or maybe vertout at the tip of midfield to start ayew up top with gestede. Gives us solid base wuth enough going forward. I think ayew would of caused them loads of problems up top and dropping into midfield.

    That formation gives us options to chsnge without massive upheaval. Can easily switch to more attacking or defensive stance. Not what happened last night. Grealish for richardson drop amavi back for instance. It loses the square hole round hole look. Sinclair for gestede gives more pace and guile up top. Adama for bakuna you get the drift.

    One thing i noticed was we look more composed at the back without richards. Maybe the constant heroics approach is not what we need? Hes a rb learning to be a ch again and we cannot afford it. It confuses the other defenders when he tries to do too much, simply put we lose shape.

  89. James Gill

    john l
    team selection
    did mcdonald take from sherwood
    guzan hutton westwood gabby we haveseen enough they i would guess have worst win ratio of all villa players at least top ten
    why where bunn okore llor vertout kozak not starting nothing to lose trying them along with amavi clark sanchez ayew traore sinclair subs crespo gil grealish
    why when doing the wrong thing not understand if it doesnt work once twice keep going its never going to
    we need new man in friday at latest wake up the happy click happy to pick up wages without breaking sweat guzan hutton always caught on camera runnning behind his player at least 5 yards gabby half hearted shots on goal then stupid grin on his face we are hurting 6 years since mon left and hewas right heard caller on with collymore monday night about mon teaching lerner lesson one he never learned

  90. James Gill

    markk
    you didnt see skysports last night
    macinally gave good thoughts on richards that he was trying to hard covering right back leftback midfield his partner that he maybe forgot what he supposed to be doing
    though he had some good points along with rest of panel

  91. B62 Villa

    Extremely disappointed at the team selection last night, it seems Kmac is sticking with the same shite that Sherwood did. Last night was a free swing, a real chance to be brave and build some confidence, yet another opportunity wasted. These coming weeks will decide our fate, we will be well and truly cut adrift at the bottom of the league, a place I’m not sure we can come back from.

  92. Mark King

    Its what ive seen james. The formation last night puts less emphasis on the full backs . still think he has a lot to learn and may be more valuable at right back this season. As captain its his job to tell them but when ts continually pushed them forward thats difficult. Last night showed what ive been saying for weeks ts was at least as much of the problem as the players he selected

  93. Mark King

    B62

    I think kmac started where ts should of. I can see the reasoning but was over cautious with westwood and gabby. If ts had done that and slowly introduced the rest we wouldnt be in the crap imo

  94. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I think kmac started where ts should of. I can see the reasoning but was over cautious with westwood and gabby. If ts had done that and slowly introduced the rest we wouldnt be in the cr*p imo”

    Good reasoning. I’d go with that.

    Not happy at all with Sinclair, though. I don’t know what you see in him. I think he needs a certain kind of player behind him (Delph?!) – and I don’t think we have that.

    Grealish is not what we want right now i.m.o. Gil? yes to him. He’s a busy enough player with skill and able to do something a bit more i.m.o.

    The Richards issue is interesting, though. I thought he started the season brilliantly, but seems to have got worn down a tad.

  95. Mark King

    Jl sinclair had to chase the ball in midfield. Get him off the shoulder of a defender or around the box different player. Your correct with grealish he needs others to bring the best out of him gil is the prime example. Sinclair fares better when matched with similar players who can see his runs.

    Imo ch is a cerebral position as much as physical and at this level and being captain is stretching richards to the max. Bit more know how is required ala senderos

  97. Mark King

    If you want to see what sinclair can do watch his goals for swansea. It brings up a problem we have had at villa for a long time. Signing players that look good for someone else who plays differently rather than fit our teams style. Our players are not good enough to get the best from them

  98. RichardS

    Last nights team selection was just as bad as Tim Sherwoods. I feel sorry for the 4000 Villa fans who made the journey.

    KMAC took advice from Tony Parks who was Tim Sherewoods right hand man – FFS.

    Why is Tony Parks still at Villa?

    Grow a pair of balls KMAC you choker.

    This big man up front is not working. It is pointless trying to fire in crosses for Gestede. We have just lost seven games. We are not capable of playing that way.

    I would start with Traore up front. He is lightning quick. Play are best footballers – Gil – Grealish – Gana – Sanchez. Keep possession of the football – move it quickly – use our skills.

    I am so incredibly frustrated with Villa.

  100. Heroes-and-Villans

    Ah Richard…you are going through the ‘frustrating’ step of being a villa fan. Dont worry in a few more steps you will reach ‘acceptance’. I am 100% sure we are down and am fine with it in my inner self.

    Our whole club have the ingrediants to go down, it’s the perfect storm. Owner who wants out and does not care, a board with no football intelligence. No manager. The poorest villa team i have seen (no new manager is going to make them any good).

    The only thing we need is Learner out, a decent new manager to rebuild us in the summer and pray we take the championship by storm ala newcastle when they went down.

    I bet if you ask a geordie whats there fav season in years go by that one will be up there……all we want is to see villa win mataches and score goals.

  101. John Lerwill

    Mark: “sinclair had to chase the ball in midfield. Get him off the shoulder of a defender or around the box different player. … If you want to see what sinclair can do watch his goals for swansea. … Our players are not good enough to get the best from them”

    Mark, if you’d read carefully I said: “I think he needs a certain kind of player behind him (Delph?!) – and I don’t think we have that.”

    In other words I more-or-less said the same as you – in fewer words or perhaps not as accurately.

    I’m quite aware what he did at Swansea, but this season he’s rarely done much – and that may well be because of the players around him.

    This mis-reading happens quite a lot. 🙁

  104. John Lerwill

    Andrew: “……all we want is to see villa win mataches and score goals.”

    To be relegated certainly provides that opportunity. But remember 1987/88? It was a very nervy promotion season, luckily avoiding the play-offs by a thread. And no great performances to recall.

    1959-60 and 1974-75 was very different – but that was then.

    To be relegated now to me just so unbelieveably unnecessary … promises of a “Bright Future” in 2007 and relegation in 2016? What an owner … what lies …

  105. Godfrey

    Andrew,

    Your quote:
    “Our whole club has the ingredients to go down, it’s the perfect storm”.

    Along with many others, I totally agree.

    However, I totally disagree with your comment about Villa taking the Championship by storm.

    This current squad would struggle to get halfway up the Championship table.
    My personal feeling is that they would be scrapping against relegation to Sky Bet League One.

    Whilst I agree that a new manager is required, he will have precious little raw material to work with to help the club avoid relegation.
    Somebody like Garde or Galtier is not what is required in Villa’s current plight.
    We need an urgent short-term fix and missed a golden opportunity to appoint Sam Allardyce, a specialist in such situations.
    Waiting 3 weeks for a French manager is sheer lunacy.

    Get Pearson or similar in pronto.

  106. John Lerwill

    Godfrey,

    Spot on. I believe that’s what I’ve been saying …

    I agree with the view that we need to be planning a la clubs like Southampton, but first we should try to get out of this mess. … Or re-build and work through a plan when relegated – if given the opportunity, we can’t assume we’ll get back.

  107. RichardS

    I don’t deny I miss Tim and his sartorial presentations!

    I am just utterly hacked off with the state of our football club and the idiots running it.

    I have a ticket for the Spurs game on Mondauy evening sitting behind the directors box at Tottenham. I should able to vent my frustration directly at Fox et al.

    I’m off to watch the bond movie to cheer myself. I love the Tom Ford suits that Bond is wearing in Spectre.

    I think that Daniel Craig has been a great James Bond.

  110. Heroes-and-Villans

    Godfrey…i said pray we take it by storm! That league is tough and exciting…im up for it. Watford, Bornemouth showed you can play good footy in the league and get out of it so its not the hoof it to the big man league some make out…its tough and unpredictable though.

    Mark

    KMAC can make as many changes as he wants and we still wont be anyway good enough to trouble spurs. they will batter us!

  111. southwestvillan

    If Tactics Tim is to be believed how can anyone argue with the current plan which has been applied over the last six years – to finish 17th, cannot see anything wrong with that in fact it is a work of pure genius, our leaders would have sat in the boardroom for hours and hours trying to come up with a fool proof plan one that could not possibly fail.

    The lunatics are running our asylum into the ground, we have some truly shocking players, I watched the cup game and two words just kept spinning through my head ” Gabby Why ?”, we have been spiralling out of control for years and we still manage to take the best part of 3.2k to the south coast on a wet Wednesday night, some things still make me speechless.

    If you were a manager who had a modicum of self respect you would not come within a thousand miles of Villa Park being interviewed by Fox and Lerner must be a real eye opening experience, if you are a manager desperate to get back into the game and enter into a no lose contract then this could be the job for you.

    GSAVFC

  112. Mark King

    Jl- I dont think delph is that kind of player otherwise he would of played last seaso so didnt mis-read it but i know what your saying goes both ways too 🙂
    Andrew – we can but wait and see.

    My sister said is fox gay? All the managers he’s hired and is looking at are good looking then she said the chairmans called Randy she does have a point 🙂

  114. Mark King

    For five years we have been saying are players crap we are going down yet here we are so while it may be true I find it heartening and its nailed on we won’t if we keep the moaning up 🙂

  115. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    Tekkers and his goals was the key, and that only JUST saved us. Is it better to win more often than not in hte championship ot continue like this every week in the prem winning once every 2 months?

    SWV

    Its amazing our away support, best in the land.

  116. @RonnieBiggs

    New rumour making the rounds on social media that kmac picked the team by sticking the names in a paper bag and Then him and tony took turns pulling out names and had a good laugh afterwards that it was still almost as good or better than the one Tim and Ray picked. The kicker is the cheeky monkeys had the nerve to actually select that very team! En garde!
    UTV

  118. @RonnieBiggs

    Stop the presses this has given me a great idea on how we can help kmac pick a team on Monday as he is clearly lost. We get 11 bags and place all the players who could play in that position ie 9 bag gestede Kozak ayew gabby and shout out ‘ monday’s number 9 is’ then select that player and do it 10more times til we have the team. Even better turn it into a raffle to raise money for Acorns!
    UTV

  119. @RonnieBiggs

    Im with you Mark re the Garde appointment just don’t want kmac and tony in charge for 9 potential points!

    Angel8 love your team. RichardS stick to selecting outfits for the rich n famous but seriously I found your team too lightweight mate!

    Steamer glad ur back!

    UTV

  120. @RonnieBiggs

    Richard,
    I’m still waiting for your weekly column! S is for Style! Fashion tips for the aspiring lifer.
    A life sentence doesn’t mean your style sense must be criminal. Dress for premier life success and keep the fashion police at bay! One day all our traveling fans may be sporting gilets and smoking jackets! I won’t hold my breath.
    UTV

  121. Mark King

    As I mentioned earlier Garde deal could be closer

    “It’s being reported that Remi Garde has now withdrawn from television duties implying a decision is close on his arrival at the club and Dwight Yorke has now said he’s ‘deadly serious’ about his interest in the job and apparently Sir Alex believes he’ll make a good manager.

    Beginning with Garde and the only sensible part of this article.

    The front runner for the job is said to be very keen on taking up the role but there is a certain amount of doubt given the fact their clubs don’t want to release Gerard Baticle, Bruno Genesio and Robert Duverne, and Garde is said to be insistent a deal is based on them joining him.

    The whole thing does seem to twist on whether we can agree a deal with Lyon and Metz for their services, but if he has pulled out of the television work for this weekend that would imply ‘talks’ are now advancing on a solution.”

  124. John Lerwill

    Mark: re: Sinclair

    The mention of Delph was in any case tongue in cheek as the emphasis should have indicated.

    I’m sorry you *did* mis-read otherwise you would have not harped on about how Sinclair played at Swansea.

    I think it’s coming to a point where I really question my suitability on this blog if I can’t make myself understood correctly. I’m going away for a day or two to consider that issue.

  125. Mark King

    JL- You asked me what I see in Sinclair I answered you??

    We are not all literary experts on here I got a B in English (CSE) and today I was commenting on my phone on a building site not the most relaxed place to mull over things if they are more complex than first appear. So reflect if you must but I’d suggest not getting to wound up, you are a valued member of the site and considered a friend even if we have never met.

  130. @RonnieBiggs

    Mark,
    That match is a sore spot for me.

    I was visiting the UK and staying with my cousin, who’s a Gooners’ fan, in London and suggested that he accompany me to the match. His response was ‘Villa that’ll be dull’ or something to that extent so I missed it and we ended up attending some family meetup and missing the match.

    As you can imagine I was gutted when I saw the highlights and all he could say was ‘oh wow, did look like a good match after all’… could’ve bleeding strangled him!

    UTV

  131. @RonnieBiggs

    Inspiring words from Kmac: ‘I don’t think they’re one of the worst three teams in the league’… you’re not really sure that we’re not going to relegated then. Wow that would light a fire under me!
    En garde!
    UTV

  135. Mark King

    interesting from Richards about potential language problems maybe they are a problem already

    “The manager who comes in needs to be able to get us going straight away.

    “We haven’t got any time to settle in or blend in. We need to get going from the start. Whoever it is, whether it is Garde, lets hope they can do that.

    “If they speak French obviously it is going to be easier for them [the French players] to understand how they want to play. Let’s hope he speaks just as good English as French because we’re in England. When I went to Fiorentina I had to learn Italian and I had to try to adapt.”

  136. Jenny Truman

    Exactly Ronnie – this atmosphere of “there might be three worse teams ” from KMac and the “we haven’t got enough quality ” from Sherwood is killing the self belief and our chances of improving . It has to stop .

    When will managers learn that telling ppl the are shit is more than likely going to make them shit than help them improve .

    If there was any proof needed that ex pros don’t necessariuiy make good football owners or managers then the programme in the class of 92s ownership of Salford FC provided it all and more . The Neville bros, Scolesy and Goggs / looked on as a manager who would be better suited to an army camp – demoralised and bullied the players and all GNev could come up with was “I feel like going in at half time and ripping them to pieces ” I don’t know where Salfird are now , and they did eventually change a mgr who was so unfit to do the job it was untrue , but those players , great in their time were surprisingly clueless when it came to man management, organising a team or running a club , So if Yorkie thinks he can manage Aston Villla , I’d say he should watch that first .

    So it was KMac and Parks – a goal keeping coach that picked the team. Explains why we were so defensive and doesn’t fill me with confidence . The lack of belief in the camp is permeating into our team selection . At least KMac admits it didn’t work and so presumably will change for Spurs .

    I still believe there is potential in our team – at least enough to get us 17th up . If Ricgards is saying that the frebch players are finding it difficult to understand then I will agree with you , we need a French speaking coach . Maybe Garde is the right man as he speaks English and French . I assumed football clubs employed interpreters . Poccitino has one . How did Pardew communicate with his French players? Watford has 13 different nationalities- how do they manage . It’s an interesting and vital point .

  137. Godfrey

    Lyon president says Remi Garde’s former assistants are going nowhere, which rather neatly sums up the position with Villa as a club.
    Prior to Sherwood, who was out of work, there has been a long drawn-out saga involving compensation etc with the appointment of every single one of the 3 previous managers, Houllier, McLeish and Lambert.
    Why, I ask myself, should this appointment not run along similar lines?
    Talk about refreshments and brewery!
    The club is a total shambles from top to bottom and has become a laughing stock. It is now viewed in a worse light than even Sunderland or Newcastle.
    Nothing will change until Lerner sells the club and the club is restructured with quality football people who actually know what they are doing.
    It saddens me greatly that such a well-supported, famous club finds itself in such a terrible situation.
    UTV

  138. Jenny Truman

    I agree with all of that Godfrey – and after five seasons of engineering an escape worthy of Ronnie Biggs the clock is ticking . I just wonder whether the Lyon “they are going nowhere ” protestations are more “they are going nowhere unless you offer us millions more”. the Aston Villa compensation gravy train there to help other clubs . How much has Fox and co cost us over the nonsensical Sherwood appointment and Lambert new contract No wonder there’s no money for players .

  139. Jenny Truman

    Has our short sighted managerial appointments and player recruitment resulted in us effectively being held to ransom by a French football club ? Is a French manager going to get more from our new future stars than Tim Sherwood could or was pressed to do ?

  140. Mark King

    Jen- what about on the pitch? I don’t think “stay tight you effing frog ” would come over to well 😉

    It appears Tim wasn’t a great physiologist just someone who got by on shear personality. I don’t think Garde’s a shouter, possibly the worst thing to gee young players up with. After all the winners talk I think Tim began to doubt his own capability and that was the end for him no matter how likeable. again IMO.

    It seems every man jack is bemoaning Villa not going for an English manager but in every case the reasoning is not very good IMO. Stuff like he doesn’t know the league? he played in it at the top and commentates on it. A small point is all the top clubs have foreign Managers and the only reasonable one we have had lately since mon was houllier!

    Next up is he can’t communicate with the English players? again 3 seasons at arsenal when they had an English core and he explained the tactics to them!

    He’s used to the money ball approach and how to implement it, non of the others are that I can tell.

    Is used to getting the best out of youngsters, can’t comment on the others.

    If Richards is a reflection of the worries of the English speakers it just goes to show what a sorry lot we have at Villa and they don’t know how to use Google.

  142. Mark King

    Godfrey- the Lyon owner is very well known for playing hard ball, he’s a bit like Alan sugar or Levy.

    On restructuring, If we have to put up with our unwelcome friends Garde just may bring the overall expertise we lack. I get the feeling Fox is more likely to listen to him as he has done it at all levels of football management vs Tims harry Rednapp culture approach. Of course there are no Guarantee’s

  144. Jenny Truman

    I’d say Mark that most ppl are not wanting an English manager per se , but a manager who is more experienced and is used to fighting relegation type battles . So this could be foreign or English . Tim had neither and I don’t think he was a good motivator either . He was at Spurs who had a team of experienced decent players . Even then , the signs were there with his falling out with players and blaming them . He benefitted from new manager syndrome at Spurs and at Villa – a change gives hope , until you start losing.
    When the chips were down , did he support his team or blame them?
    Garde has some excellent characteristics . He seems more considered , a thinker , a good communicater in his role as Wenger’s and GH assistant and his leadership qualities with young players .
    This would be great if we were starting the season. But he’s coming to a new tough league , to a team flat on the floor confidence wise and bottom of the table . He’s got three years in management where his team was a top five contender . Though fair play he did have his best players sold so he would fit in at villa . It may be though , and we don’t know , that the frebch players are so disconsolate that only a French manager like him will do .
    A Raneiri type would in my mind be preferable – but as usual , we will not see managers queuing up to take us on. Working under the system we have in place with Fox and Co may make Garde’s appointment even more likely too. I don’t know is the answer !

  145. Jenny Truman

    Mark I agree with that chap’s assessment of Sherwood -but I don’t agree that it is some narrow minded “English bull headed ” mentality that is concerning villa fans about Garde or that we would choose a manager based on his passport . (The writer is a Liverpool fan btw)
    It is not Garde’s nationality – he is totally missing the point . It is his lack of experience in bring teams out of a relegation battle. He chooses as an example , one villa fan who said Garde wasn’t good enough because ge only played 31 games st Arsenal. Since when did One misguided villa fan talk for the millions of reasonable minded villa fans . The article lackd understandinv of the real issues – what can you expect from a blogger who supports Liverpool . If you offered villa fans Morinho or Moyes I doubt whether they’d plump for Moyes because he’s a British Manager !!!

  146. Heroes-and-Villans

    My OCD has kicked in a bit. Watching some highlights of villa years ago on you tube and vp looked so much better. I think now the pitch seems too big and it looks vast and empty.

    I liked it when we had small chequered square pitch design and the pitch was tighter. Bring back the triangular nets too.

  147. John Lerwill

    “It saddens me greatly that such a well-supported, famous club finds itself in such a terrible situation.” (Godfrey)

    Overnight dwelling upon the state of Aston Villa FC brought me no closer to a solution to their future, but total agreement with Godfrey’s statement.

    However, he also said:

    “Nothing will change until Lerner sells the club and the club is restructured with quality football people who actually know what they are doing.”

    And that is definitely the underlying issue – to my mind at least. The biggest concern (beyond the present state of affairs) is the one concerning who will be the new buyer, and I fear he/it will be nothing more than a clone of Mr. Lerner, who (in turn) has been something of clone of Doug – with the added factor of being remote and out-of-tune with Brummidgam and Brummies. And also the “brightest” exponent of spin.

    When – and if – Aston Villa’s ailments are sorted, only then we will have something truly to cheer about. Yes, we will always be disappointed from time to time results-wise (that has always been the case) but so long as we see the club being restored to something recognisable as that we recall from our youth then the disappointment will be transitory.

    You know, looking back as to what fans said 100+ years ago when there was a poor patch makes me wonder whether they would have survived what fans have suffered this past 5 years. But, alas, I can’t see our troubles being removed – Garde or no Garde.

    But I doubt that Villa will be revived – in the form that we’d hope for, anyway.

    These events concerning Villa, plus the ‘words’ I’ve exchanged on AVL of late, cause me to wonder what I’m doing. I’m now significantly past 70 and certainly (by far I think) the oldest regular poster here. I now feel something like a dinosaur, but then I recalled that the only reason why I joined AVL 2 or 3 years ago was because I saw it as a good vehicle for promoting the greatness of Aston Villa, through writing (mainly) about it’s history. But, since I now see little hope of the club being properly revived (and because there’s no swell of support for the promotion of the club’s history), I’ve decided that I should mainly concentrate on other things.

    In fact, on the matter of debate, I just happened to switch on to BBC’s Parliament channel yesterday afternoon, and caught it just a little way in to a debate on “The Effect of the Tax Credit Reforms”, and have to say it was perhaps the best thing I’ve done for a long time. It actually restored my faith in Parliament (whoever has their MP the member for Nottingham North is to be congratulated), and it also restored my faith in wholehearted cerebral debate.

    Therefore, though the posters on AVL are a great bunch, my attendance on this site will now be rare, and my writing will be devoted mainly to politico-spiritual issues, and non-football history.

    My Villa history site will continue to be updated: http://www.lerwill-life.org.uk/astonvilla/a_villan0.htm. You can reach my Villa Blog from there.

    My politico-spiritual (“Practical Thoughts”) blog of weekly (week-end) posts is at: http://john-lerwill-diary.blogspot.co.uk/

    Sorry for the length of this post! Apologies also if I sound negative about the Villa.

    Cheers for now … and UTV

  148. Mark King

    all good points Jen

    My own View on the manager that’s been there point is they all had to have a first time fighting relegation. How do you know that they can do it unless they got there club in the shit and had to get them out. Those type of managers tend to be British, why’s that? because they are not all that and they rarely get the top jobs for a reason.

    Maybe Pulis could bore his way to the league title at a top club but big Sam couldn’t cut it at Newcastle or wet spam or he’d still be there, Sunderland may be a bridge to far this season time will tell. Indecently Newcastle get Steve and wet spam got slaven. Pardew is decent but not known for relegation battles.

    Garde was doing well with a reserve side against the likes of PSG who gave our top sides a run for their money in the champs, all French sides are not totally useless but their better players tend to get sold to other leagues. I don’t think his 3 seasons in that league should be held against him, Its his tactical awareness we should be looking at and he’s renowned for that.

  151. John Lerwill

    Mark: “All the best in your new Endeavours John, all I can say is in life you never Know what’s around the corner and its rarely what you anticipated.”

    Thank you Mark. Yes, I’ve been round the bend a few times! 😉

  153. steamer

    JL,
    Its a shame you feel that way but totally understandable, Villa are bad or your health. I felt exactly the same a few months ago, no hope, just watching the club being destroyed by morons who had no affiliation with anything in the UK except an opportunity to make money or feed their ego’s. Lerner and Fox probably still don’t know what they’re doing wrong, whatever, they should know that they are THE problem, unfortunately our fans aren’t informing them, which is another matter. I think its fair for you to assume your articles, leaders and posts have given us all a great deal of pleasure not to mention knowledge from your recollections, hopefully the tide will turn at VP and we can look forward to your return.

  155. Jenny Truman

    John – we can only hope that it changes very soon – the villa hierarchy that is – so you can be back with your regular articles and posts . You will of course be greatly missed , with your Aston Villa knowledge, memories and charming wit. Please don’t stay away permanently though can understand your reasons for doin so x

  156. steamer

    Having had a few days to contemplate i’m now 100% in favour of Garde being our new victi… sorry, manager. One of the pluses would be the possibility of a few loan signings from Arsenal.
    A lot of talk about who Villa would turn to if Garde, for some reason, isn’t appointed, Galtier of St. Etienne is the most mentioned, possibly because of another Arsenal connection, St. Etienne are an Arsenal nursery club, we are fast establishing that label to ourselves.
    Jen,
    Hope you are better. Did your daughter pass her driving test ?

  157. steamer

    Mark,
    I remember after Houllier left a few of us on the various blogs suggested Bilic for the Villa job, apart from the ‘EPL experience’ thing he was more than qualified. Still, Lerner and Chubby always know best don’t they ?

  158. Mark King

    steamer- what we need is the next Steve Jobs to be born in Brum and to a Villa family, finds a way to fix all the worlds ill’s regenerates brum and has StAndrews made into a sewerage works.But right now I’d be happy with 3 points on Monday, small steps

  161. Jenny Truman

    Steamer – thanks for asking . Had a disastrous 2 days – up until 3 am looking for driving licence – not found – no test . Then yesterday her rare eye condition flared up so had to get her into Kiddermister opthalmic hosp as emergency . After about three hours on phone – huge stress – got there to wait the usual 2 hours – but now stable . Consequently feel like death warmed up – flu come back with a vengeance . But at least Liz is sorted . Her condition if not treated the same day can result in her having her eyes injected (twice before ) and worst case scenario blindness . We caught it in time yesterday thankfully .

    So more rest – paracetamol and thumping headaches 🙁 Can only get better 🙂

  162. steamers75

    was at a funeral yesterday for one of the steamers moms , and after in the pub , the villa came up , and it was unanimous that we will go down and for that reason we thought about some of the away games we will go too (although l will be staying in the pub with a few of the others) to have a crack (craic if your Irish) and that will be it for me , until a new buyer comes in l wont be watching the games , even on tv , 5 years of shite has taken its toll on some hardened villa fans here thankfully with youtube l can watch old games and have some great memories of following the team , l feel for Frem and B62 , who l believe will still renew tickets year in , l suppose years ago when we went into the 3rd and still followed our team l was kinda like them , that whatever shit we was in the team still battled on , not nowadays lm afraid , money spoiled it all , dont get me wrong we all would like more , but when the system of win bonuses went you knew it wouldnt be long when just like it is now that players bugger off home with not a care in the world , when you see managers and players ,”especially ” after playing local derbies and losing saying “were hurting as well” my arse they are , how many times have we saw/read about them out in clubs and sometimes with the opposition players, l saw a post on Facebook this week ” APATHY KILLS” and bloody hell it does , l saw some of those happy clappers in the lions club when we played the noses , and l was bloody angry watching them , but they pay there monies , lv seen on other media pages about who fans want and who they dont want , and while we have fox and leaner still in charge , l couldnt give a fuck , this isnt the Villa l signed up to all those years ago , so until new owners come in lm off to look for a new hobby , all the best all
    Jenny xxxxxx

  163. Jenny Truman

    The Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas, told Le Progrès: “Remi, I hope, will go to Aston Villa, he deserves a big English club. But an assistant under contract cannot leave. And a deputy cannot ask that.”

    I’d say to Aulas – you can’t force employees to stay and if the deputies want to move then they can . Breach of contract and compensation may result but if AV pay the money and the deputies want to move , then Lyon can’t keep them against their will . I’m not sure why the papers are making it out to be such a stumbling block. The Q is more “how much do the deputies want to move and how much are AV prepared to pay in compensation for breach of contract to get R Garde . If a French mgr is their main choice just pay the money . Not liking the three games KMac scenario .

  164. steamer

    Jen,
    Thats awful, give her my regards, just shows how life throws this BS at you. One of the dog walkers had that, he didn’t know the consequences and is now blind in one eye and can’t drive. If he’d had it sorted within 24 hours he’d have been ok, she’s lucky you were on the ball.

    Mark,
    You mean St. Andrews isn’t a sewage works already ?

  168. steamer

    Just stumbled on this, two great bands ( Grateful Dead and Steeley Dan ) have had lights on buildings in the US syncd to their records. We could have Claret & Blue lights around Grand Central, has anyone made a record of ‘We’re shite and we know we are ‘?

  170. steamer

    George Osborne may have to drastically reconsider his cuts to tax credits after a succession of Conservative MPs warned him in the Commons that his measures punished the wrong people and could permanently damage the party’s “reputation for compassion”.

    Sometimes the Guardian amazes me.

  172. Mark King

    Steamer- i see the gestapo want full access to our browsing history. Does this mean villa fans will be labelled potential suicides and shite fans animal lovers in the worst sence?

  174. @RonnieBiggs

    Chrikey Jenny, and here’s me complaining about having to wear reading glasses! Well if some of my favourite lifers are endorsing the Garde choice then that’s reassuring! Would be nice if he’d gone through a relegation scrap but then again with the number of matches played he’s not exactly parachuting in with death at the door to save us. Win two matches and we’re out of the bottom 3. We dodged a bullet not choosing Ollie but I think Remi is a better choice!
    JL hope you enjoy your day passes but just remember you’re a lifer and will be back just ask Steamer what a seductive mistress the Villa is… All the charm and looks Jenny yet unfortunately none of her brains and good sense hahaha.

    UTV

  175. @RonnieBiggs

    No Steamer no, I loathe Steely Dan. If I go to hell I will most likely be met by Mr Lerner who will admit he’s a noses fan, serve me only Budweiser and insist he will never sell the villa into eternity while cackling hysterically and asking Chubby and the General to turn over Steely Dan greatest hits LP that drones on and on and on in the background!
    UTV

  176. steamer

    Ronnie,
    Loathe Steely Dan ? wash your mouth out and stand in the naughty corner. There was a bloke on Youtube who had a radio show that played just Steely Dan music….. heaven, with a Bud served by Lerner and crisps on a plate courtesy of Chubs.

  177. @RonnieBiggs

    It would only be bud and ud have to hear ‘how can Brits drink WARM beer’ constantly! Sorry mate that’s a nerve ur touching with the SD! I’m one of those people who believes u r responsible for ur mood but when I hear SD I instantly tense up and get nervous and hostile! Like some kind of allergic reaction! Avante Garde
    UTV

  180. @RonnieBiggs

    I honestly believe that if we get a proper manager in (Lambert after what he did at Norwich was a massive disappointment and the hype surrounding Tim after he saved us and took us to the cup final also led to expectations that were way above his current level of experience and expertise) and I believe Garde is that man then we have the talent at the Club to not only improve but to improve quickly… Christ we’ve been playing teams even for most of the seasons and finding ways to lose when we should’ve been winning matches!

    Good leaders have that extra bit of magic if that’s what u want to call it!

    I truly believe if they are healthy and available that this lineup is a match for 90% of the teams in the prem:
    Guzan (Remi to buy a new goalie in Jan from the continent because Brad does not inspire trust)

    Amavi Okore Clarke Richards

    Sanchez

    Veretout Gana Bacuna (pulled at half time if not playing well for Gil or Nzogbia)

    Grealish

    Ayew

    Trust me! This team can and will win matches if properly coached!

    UTV

  183. Mark King

    ronnie- most seasons we spread the crap out with the odd false dawn this season its going to be full on. And we have been our own worst enemy next to our Tim

  185. Trinity

    Nice leaders by JC and Matt.
    Agree with JL that if Lerner had the will he’d have sold the club by now.
    The club seems to suffer from indecisiveness at the top.

    Just finished five days of walking through a national park in New Zealand. I wore my Villa shirt, which attracted not a few comments from English tourists.

  188. steamer

    Stour panned Kiddy in the last round 3-0. Hacketts a very good manager, i used to watch Bromsgrove a lot, they sacked him for finishing 3rd or 4th. Great pitch at Stour.

  191. B62 Villa

    Not a bad day for sport. Blues , Albion and the Aussies all get a tonking, Halesowen lose the No9 Derby , come on Villa we need something from the Spurs away

  196. rogermuffin

    i so hope kmac gets the team right in his few games he has and gives remi garde ( or whoever) a easy obvious platfomr to start with.

    gk guzan or better

    micah okore clarky amvi
    sanchea gana
    vertotut
    bacuna sinclair/gabby
    grealis/kozak/gestade

    this team can work really with lwith kozak or gestade

    or is it whisky i am drinking?

  198. rogermuffin

    ronnie ,

    Leicester are really kickin arse aren’t they?

    i got vardy and mahrez in my dream team, that clubs is being run really well. i hope that they can stay 3 rd , i rather it was us , but still its a midlands team eh?

  200. rogermuffin

    Matt,

    Bang on article / leader.

    i would just like to add

    i felt not sad that day, not sick. i felt numb, a little incedulous.
    Seriously have these players doning the red white and blue shirts, not seen the cups of 81-82 in villa park history room?

    I mean why do i/we scream and shout at the tv when we score , shouting at the screen to the players who cant hear us?

    “keep the ball” i say, then westwood gives it away again
    carry as you we doing b4 i say, the michah gives a a foul by jumpiing around or switiching off, giving the lame ass ref a non foul against us. .

    defend i say, talk to each other, the the whole team starts to panic , thinking “the other sides gona score” u silly fookers.

    i mean its simple every 5 seconds shout out loud,
    (whilst always looking at the relevent people you need to do this)

    shout “get back”
    shout “defend”
    shout ” watch your man”
    shout ” gimme the ball”
    shout ” ref book that fooker” whilst waving an imaginery card
    after you have been fouled , ie chelsea game ramires fouled all of us an got not one 1 card, grealish and one orger player fouled him once and got booked instantly .

    shout ” you sheep sheep shaggerss” every 5 seconds or whatever the releveant insult is for the team we are playing

    because then the procession of spunkstains managers since gregory, have not instilled this in the team and for every game played , ( including o’neil as he wasted a golden chance to do something and he knows it.).
    Doesnt seem to hard or compliated to instill this simple thought process thing. i am sure this is the basis of fergies succes…?

    these lyrics are in the tune of hold the line by toto

    if you start with the chorus!

    hold the line
    a win isn’t always on time
    hold the line
    its not in the way the refs is always on their side
    hold the line hold the line
    , the final whistle isn’t always on time.

    its not in the way you can’t keep the ball
    its not in the way you fall over like pansies
    its not in the way you dont open your mouths to talk to each other
    cos its not in he way you dive in ,
    tis not in the way you all look at each other like panicked little childeren

    hold the line
    a win isn’t always on time
    hold the line
    its not in the way the refs is always on their side
    hold the line hold the line
    , the final whistle isn’t always on time

  202. steamer

    Rog,
    Love it.
    Airbourne are Ozzies and don’t half rock. Some good stuff on youtube ( a concert in Germany ? ).
    Same with Toto, some great Steve Lukather stuff with the Ringo Starr All-Star Band with Gregg Rolie, Mark Rivera, Todd Rundgren etc. Bang on.

    Rowett or Villa ? yer jesting, every time the vermin lose he blames the ref or says “we just gave bad goals away” or “They did a job on us” you’d think they were Barcelona not the third raters they are.
    Can’t even get 19,000 for a local derby, pathetic.

  204. B62 Villa

    My big fear is that it is already too late, or as near as damn it and relegation is our destiny for this season. Obviously this could change if we start winning football matches, but I can’t see us having a massive upturn in fortunes and complete u turn in our form, not with these players and not with their confidence shot to bits.
    Will Garde come?? Will his back room staff knowing there is a fair chance next season we will no longer be a top flight club, the cash flow will cease completely and there will be yet another fire sale and rebuild on a cheap cheap scale.

  205. RichardS

    I have a ticket to the game tomorrow evening at Spurs. This must be the first time that I cannot really be bothered to go to the game

    Because I know that KMAC sill set the team up to try and not lose the game and contain Tottenham. We cannot play that way.

    We cannot play with the big guy up front

    KMAC has nothing to lose. Just go out and try and win the game. Spurs are slow through their central defence. Go and play our quick players and our creative players.

    Guzan
    Richards Okore Clarke Amavi
    Sanchez
    Gil Grealish Gana Ayew
    Traore

  206. B62 Villa

    We really need Everton to do us a favour this afternoon and really spank Sunderland, ruin their GD and destroy their confidence. November and we have a miserly 4 points, God help us.

  208. Frem

    Everton winning thankfully. Big Sam prem expirience. Sunderland conceding 6. Prem expirience is a load of old bollox. Get Garde in

    Good results so far. Setting us up for a win tomorrow

  209. @RonnieBiggs

    Read what Stan had to say about Moyes and he makes a lot of sense however I would still take a small gamble on garde partially due to the number of French ‘speaking’ players(some African not French). What he says about getting rid of these hangers on makes sense and hoddle who was probably angling for a job said the same thing more or less about putting football people in place! I honestly don’t think kmac can pick a worse team than he did against saints; lost a massive chance to try players like Kozak ,Gardner or even give players like traore a bigger role and instead went for the old broken formula! Expecting he’ll go for a team with more potential like veretout(talking up) ayew, Grealish et al but one never knows what they’ll stick out there, always a crapshoot with the villa!

    The talent is there and outside of Arsenal and man city with a fit aguero and silva anyone is there for the taking given the parity in pro sports these days!
    UTV

  210. B62 Villa

    Moyes isn’t coming, he has as God as said so, he won’t want a relegation on his CV, he is trying to rebuild his rep not trash it further. I see Garde odds are starting to drift, he is no longer odds on he is still fav at evens tho.

  212. B62 Villa

    Mark
    Seems you may get your wish, the Sun and social media seem to think Remi Garde will be unveiled tomorrow as our new manager. Dunno what’s happening re back room staff

  213. Mark King

    B62- they’ll stump up the cash, heard a rumour he left Lyon as he couldn’t work with the owner he’s a bit of a levy character, so maybe the belligerence is down to that and he’ll squeeze as much out of us as he can.

    I want him for his club building rep as much as a manager and another Brit manager may be the last straw for the French contingent considering how it went last time.

    Played a game of football in ormskirk near Liverpool today and got chatting with one of the players. He said Tony Morley was born there and he grew up playing footy with him, said his party trick was juggling a golf ball with his feet

  217. @RonnieBiggs

    Don’t agree with those who say we don’t have a hope against spuds n city! Spurs r nothing special and neither are city minus the superb aguero and sublime silva and delph if he plays is no better than Gana! Toure looks old and debruyne can’t do it alone; so lucky to win against Norwich and played for a bore draw at utd. Just hope garde takes over and can have an impact by the city match who we could’ve beaten if it weren’t for that tit guzan!
    UTV

  218. r0bb0

    It’s encouraging that the club seems to have a strategy now.
    It’s not going to be easy for a new manager to get this squad working together in time to save us this season though. He’ll need to settle into a new country and learn about the premiership, the players, and the opposition.
    He may not be able to save us this year but could be the man to build success over the longer term.
    It’d be nice to think that the club and fans will give him time and make allowances for it not all falling into place straight away.

  219. Heroes-and-Villans

    Haha ronnie, spurs with ericksen, kane and on form lameil will batter our defence, and we aint gong to trouble loris in goal, bet he cant sleep tonight worrying about our fearsom attack! It will be a monday night massacre.4-1 spurs.

    Good luck garde you must be mad….someone show him the before and after pics of lambert!!

    Massive blow we cant get his staff in.

  220. @RonnieBiggs

    Andrew, don’t believe the hype the London papers r feeding u!
    Kane scores most of his goals from pks and Ericsson is a free kick specialist. Oh and that Lamela has really taken the prem by storm, good job his manager is from Argentina or he’d be gone by now. Ayew, Adama and Amavi are better athletes than any of them! Bring it on! Garde will have them terrorizing Hugo in no time
    UTV

  221. Mark King

    Its interesting that the coach Reginald Ray is coming with Garde, He’s an Ex-striker we haven’t had one of those in the coaching staff for a good while. Might fare better than the goalie picking the team 😉

    I agree Ronnie we haven’t been spanked yet, could happen but I don’t think so

  222. steamer

    Moaning all,
    Apparently this monsieur from Bastia is a bit of a tyrant and won’t take crepe from anyone, good, AVFC stand anything lately, 200,000 fine for the Olbyon game fiasco while Blackpool only got 40,000 for having a match abandoned !
    Recent defeats against Spurs can be put down partially to cheating officials, the non – pen for the shorts business and Bentekes sending off were criminal, if the decisions were the other way around they would have been front page news. The refs in the UK are pitiful and getting worse while nothing is being done to get them in line.
    Anyway, 2-1 to Villa, Spurs haven’t had a half decent team since 1961 and can’t be considered a top club although Spurs fan Roy Hodgson seems to think so after selecting every qualifying Spurs player for England. And they wonder why the England team is crepe.

  224. southwestvillan

    Yeah just read Kmac on the main site saying we need Gabby more than ever now.

    First job for Garde is to send McDonald on his way, if he cannot see Agbonlahor is finished then he needs a kick up the arse.

    GSAVFC

  225. runtings

    Finally a little light at the end of the tunnel
    hopefully i won’t be retracting my endorsement in 3 months time but my first wish was for a footballing coach that can revolutionise the club to one method of play which involves more focus on pass and move and letting the ball do the work

    Hopefully Garde is the man to start things off at the club in that vein

    viva la revolution – keep our uafa spot warm spurs 🙂

  226. southwestvillan

    Runtz,

    At least Garde has experience in the managers role something TS was desperately lacking, as for premier experience I am not sure what that means how many managers truly have that kind of experience on their CV, for me football is football no matter what league you are in.

    RGSAVFC

  227. Mark King

    SWV- if your names Pearson 1 season, not that I don’t rate him its just a load of codswhallop.
    We shouldn’t be in this mess so it was either the players fault, Tim’s fault or a bit of both

  228. steamer

    Changing my prediction if Agbonlahor plays, Spuds to win 1-0. You just can’t keep carrying this idiot, strange that Kmac was talking about ‘earning’ a place in the team, what has GA done in the last 5 years except shitstir, cause havoc in the club and do f-all for the club….club captain, disgrace.

  232. B62 Villa

    Garde has got a very tough task keeping this club in the premier league, out immediate aim is simply survival at any cost, the overhaul of the footballing ethos and club DNA can wait until we are safe. The light at the end of the tunnel is that Norwich and Bournemouth are now starting to struggle, and their managers whilst being talented are used to the relegation dog fight, nor are their players in the main. Add to this Sunderland took a right confidence kicking and Newcastle are shit or shine, and we have a glimmer of hope. But this time around we can’t rely on others, we have to start winning and fast , is Garde gonna be our saviour?? Who knows but after the dross that’s gone before hi let’s hope so.zSadly tonight I don’t see anything other than a heavy defeat, followed by another one on Saturday .

  233. @RonnieBiggs

    Randy finally speaks:
    Chairman Randy Lerner added: “Rémi came with ideas, honesty, humour and a steely sense of what it will take for Aston Villa to be what it is meant to be – hard working, tireless, creative and unwilling to concede.

    “Nobody at Villa can deny that we are way behind. We recruited aggressively this past summer and it is our responsibility to now harvest this talent rather than buckle under pressure and criticism – we are better than that. On behalf of the Board we wish Rémi every success.”

    Onwards and Upwards!
    UTV

  234. Mark King

    B62- At least the French players will be doing more than playing Boules in the corner. We will soon see what he’s made of I think Tim may of struggled to get his tactics over, To anyone 😉

  236. John Lerwill

    One of John’s rare moments back in the fold…!

    Having just read the contents of this link…

    http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/02/revealed-what-to-expect-from-new-aston-villa-manager-remi-garde-5475737/

    … I am a little more heartened about Garde’s suitability. I’d take Lerner’s comments (above) with a touch of salt, but this article makes a simple statement or two that seems to ring true with me. His English isn’t that good apparently, but he might put out a side consisting of just 3 French players! 🙂 (joke!)

    Well …” the proof is in the eating”… and there’s a huge amount of work to do to turn things round. 10 wins and 8 draws out of 28 matches needed i.m.o.

    Firstly, tonight is the focus – as it will be for him.

  237. Mark King

    Hello John 🙂 yes a good article and Its why I want him over Moyes, pearson etc glad your warming to the idea, saw a tweet by Dixon from his arsenal playing days who said he had good English and that’s in the 90’s so he may be rusty also said he’s a good solid bloke.

  238. steamer

    Seems that Fox is still confused about Garde, a contract until the end of the season with an option of another two years, meanwhile, Fox approached Galtier and was turned down by St. Etienne. Now imo you either want Garde or you don’t, i he’s any good you go the whole hog to get him. absolute disasterous admin.

  239. Mark King

    would be daft to have one option when you sack your manager steamer surely? we also had the coaches episode which you’ve got to hope is settled, It may be his stipulation not ours

  240. Mark King

    Tom Fox, Aston Villa Chief Executive, said: “For the past year we have been working purposefully to transform the Club in order to build a successful organisation that can compete and succeed in the Premier League.

    “Finding a manager who shares and believes our vision and has the ability to bring it to life through performances on the pitch is essential. We are confident that Rémi is the manager who can deliver the best from the current squad and help set the club up for future success”.

    Rémi Garde said: “It is an unbelievable honour to be the manager of such an illustrious football club.

    “I’ve had extremely positive meetings with both the owner, Randy Lerner, and Chief Executive Tom Fox. They have ambitious plans for the Club and I’m excited that they have turned to me to help them realise them.

    “Obviously we have a difficult task in front of us but I’m looking forward to the challenge with the support of everyone who loves Aston Villa.”

  241. Matt Greenhill

    It will be fascinating to see what Garde does going forward, he has a massive job on his hands. The club need him to make a good start but hopefully gradually introduce his own methods and in January bring his own players in.
    What a great opening fixture for him v Man City lets hope we’ve shaken off this losing run by then!

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