Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

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West Brom could only manage a point against Hull last time out after Allan McGregor saved an early Graham Dorrans penalty.

Sebastian Pocognoli will likely be the man tasked with containing what can at times be a very difficult to handle Aston Villa front line. His stats suggest he is up to the task though given that he has won 80.6% of his 31 attempted challenges this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

Despite his penalty miss last weekend, Graham Dorrans has nonetheless been a key lynchpin in the West Brom midfield this season. He’s completed more passes in the opponent’s half than any other Baggies player this term with 310 to his name, as well as racking up three assists. He is an industry best 24/4 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Defender Craig Dawson has been in typically physical form at the back this season, compiling some impressive statistics whilst marshaling the Baggies back four. No West Brom player has compiled more blocks than Dawson (14), who also ranks highest in the squad for clearances with 101 according tot the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

A winner from Alan Hutton helped Aston Villa to all three points as they secured a 2-1 win over Leicester last weekend to move them within two points of the top half of the table.

Alan Hutton may have grabbed the winner last weekend but it is at the back where he has been most impressive this season. He’s won a remarkable 90.6% of his 32 attempted challenges so far this term, also compiling 50 clearances and conceding just eight fouls.

Forward Andreas Weimann continues to quietly impress this term, consistently getting himself in strong positions in front of goal. He’s had more attempts on goal than any other Villa player (15), working the ‘keeper with 60% of them according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He is 37/10 to score at any time this weekend with 888sport.com.

Expect defender Aly Cissoko to be looking for his target men from the flanks this weekend. The French defender has attempted more crosses than any other Villa player this season, with 62 to his name according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

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Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.

Comments 227

  2. Frem

    Morning

    Winning one game under Lamberk is rare. . Wining two games under Lamberk is a miracle. Wining 3 games in a row under Lamberk I think is hitting the boarder of impossibility . We shall see

    Will be wrong for Vlaar to start today but it won’t surprise me if he does. Would be harsh on Okore and Clark

    Hopefully we will try and control the game.

    Have to watch Anichabie. Huge guy

    I see Fox is out speaking shite. Mentioning Europe and Lamberk in the same sentence is laughable. Also mentioning building a new stand when we can’t even get 20 thousand now

    Anyway, loving my new job. Hope we get another 3 points today

  3. Mark King

    repost from last thread

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2872154/Roy-Keane-created-poisonous-atmosphere-Aston-Villa-explosive-training-ground-feud-Gabriel-Agbonlahor-final-straw-led-departure.html

    the line ‘The problem with Keane is that he demands the same standards that he was used to at United and the lads at Villa don’t get paid enough to put up with that kind of c**p. He just got everybody down.’ speaks volumes but you can’t deny they’ve improved results since keanes gone just goes to show footballers are generally out of touch and complete wankers these days

  4. Mark King

    we should beat these today but we are villa and we make the impossible happen.
    i’m going for 2-1

    frem- glad the jobs going well, someone said to me once you need 2 of three things to be good at any one time to be happy, a good work life, good home life and good love life if you’re down to one things get miserable, ask steamer 😉

  6. Frem

    I’ve got two of the things Mark. Still waiting for one 🙂

    Wieamnn shouldn’t start either today. No surprise we played our best football with him at home. Grealish should start

  8. Paul Pears

    JL

    Your book must be great, and I will have to check out your others. Praise from Steamer is like getting a pat on the back from Keane..!!!

    That article on the truth about the bust-up sounds much closer to the truth, and the reason Vlaar and Delph were not signing contracts. The thing I find poor is the comments about players at Villa are not paid enough to be put through the type of training levels Keane demanded,,,, Again this is probably why Villa always faded after the 60 minutes were up……Maybe we will never have a capable team, until we pay the money and demand the fitness….but all sounds a poor excuse when these guys are paid thousands of pounds per week….

  10. Clive Evans

    1 change. Richardson in for injured Westwood to face former club. Weimann, Vlaar, Delph all on bench!

    #AVFC subs (v @WBAFCofficial): Given, Weimann, Delph, Vlaar, Lowton, Grealish, Herd.

    #AVFC (v @WBAFCOfficial): Guzan, Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho, Sanchez, Richardson, Cleverley, N’Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Benteke.

  11. Frem

    Grealish should be starting. Berk called Robbinson back from first team football for nothing.

    Don’t have the greatest feeling about today’s game. WBA seem to have a stronger starting 11 than usual.

  12. Clive Evans

    Albion subs v @AVFCOfficial: Myhill, Baird, Dawson, Gamboa, Mulumbu, Blanco, Berahino.

    Albion v @AVFCOfficial: Foster, Wisdom, Lescott, McAuley, Pocognoli, Gardner, Dorrans, Morrison, Varela, Sessegnon, Ideye.

  13. Mark King

    frem- he called robinson back to suit bent mate who wanted games. not so happy with richardson but at least he’s recognised weiman isn’t a midfielder

    matt- on the jeff astle story, his family have my deepest sympathy and I hope they get some reaction from the league. unfortunately its a tragic consequence of the game, and something most would still do regardless. If you add up the amount of people on parks on sunday mornings with a dehydrated brain from the sat night drinking the effects go far beyond the professional game. I myself must of headed a ball 1000’s of times and i’m sure i’ve accrued plenty of damage. I suspect when it’s coupled with genetic and dietary factors its either minimalised or magnified still I wish them good luck.

  14. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    You know, sad though it is that someone should pass away as a result of damage to his brain, you could vent equal feelings for the millions that were killed in WW1 and WW2 and demand satisfaction from others for their deaths.

    The type of ball that Astle headed is no longer in use: technology has moved on and the game is much kinder to today’s generation. The way we live has moved on (for the better in some ways) – these days we ask more questions in particular, and don’t just blindly go into something without meaningful answers to those questions. In the 1940s and 1950s the attitude was more like “ours is not to question who or why; ours is but to do and die.”

    Life has moved on too late for Jeff and his generation.

  18. steamer

    Predictable negative selection of Richardson over Grealish.

    Mark,
    accrued plenty of damage.
    I think you’re right about that mate.

    Shame about Mexico Jeff, ‘Mush’ Callaghan died of something similar.

  20. steamer

    Seems to me that the ‘legend’ Crappy thinks he’s something special at VP, shouldn’t have got a new contract, total crepe, thick as squirrel shite and should be booted sooner rather than later.

  21. Frem

    Steamer- Have you seen in the paper where it says Gabby and lamberk were talking tactics and keane came over ?

    I mean, he should have knocked both the twats out.

  23. steamer

    Who’d talk tactics with Scabby ? must be like talking to a bog door. Anyway does Crappy understand Jeerman ? They’re all slagging Keane off but i bet they didn’t say anything to his face.

  29. Mark King

    jl- re: jeff, yes mate i totally agree still you still have personal responsibility, its the wonderful things done by greedy firms that affect millions and never get flagged up that truly piss me off.

    I knew richardson would be off the pace.

    sreamer 🙂

  38. B6toBrasil

    Eff me is it April Fools Day?????????????

    We need a goal and creativity…….so he brings on Weimann,plus an unfit Vlaar.Another tactical Masterclass Lambert .Thanks a million,

  39. Ian

    That was disappointing. Slightly more possession with 10. These guys are running out of feet to shoot. I was hoping for a draw after Richardson got the boot. Mark was the ref bad I didn’t have a stream to watch and the TV stations here didn’t play the game.

    Well I mistook Keene’s abrasiveness to being competitive. Well good riddance. Steamer you were right about this man.

  40. John Lerwill

    One question. Villa start to play *after* they score! How?

    Even then, not good enough.

    What did Benteke do today? Both he and Gabby did not hold up as they should and nor could they find one another.

  42. Mark King

    steamer- there you go mate that must of cheered you up 😉
    subs today were bad we went 3 at the back then completely lost any shape and balance in the rest of the team. still its hard to play with 9 men, n’zogbia at the moment is complete Pap and waste of a shirt. tekkers looked sluggish and defo wasn’t his finest hour. sending off was harsh considering their centre half had already committed a similar challenge. gabby needs to lose 2 stone or lose himself

  43. Trinity

    Missed the first half. Woke up in time for the second. It’s 2am here and was pretty knackered after returning home from a job related trip. I thought Villa showed some fight with just 10 men. Finishing let the side down, though.

  44. Mark King

    JL- he started dishing cards before anyone got a talking to so set the mood . its a derby and it gets heated. there was plenty of acting going on, his decisions although you could say they were justified had more effect than any player on both sides. that said richardson had no need to dive in

  46. Frem

    Shite Shite Shite Shite Shite

    European football here we come

    So many shite players, having to listen to a shite manager. Then there is Fox talking about Europe and e day after we lose to a bunch of Carrier bags

  47. runtings

    positive start to the game until the sending off which was fully deserved
    richardson and cole are players we shouldnt be investing in imo
    again frustrated at PL reluctance to play glrealish – he worries so much about the defencive side of the game to doesnt leave much room for creative attacking play

    xmas should be intersting for the club

  48. Mark King

    Ian- he stuck a bit to close to the letter of the law 🙂

    runtingz- I agree even with ten we had good possession but he was happy to defend.
    yes richardson should’ve gone but compared that to the tackle that put westwood out last week and the one committed on gabby 4 minutes earlier not much in it, no consistency .by the way how much did we miss westwood today? grealish has to start against united please no more nzogbia

  52. Mark King

    JL- talking of headers Giroud just ran 50 yards pointed to his head and the wide player dropped it on the penalty spot for an unstoppable goal, imagine that players that think ahead

  54. Ian

    That does it–only beer!

    Mark, living in the wilderness, we have a submersible pump 100 feet out and 75 feet deep in the lake. We’ve put in a filtration and UV system. Been drinking straight from the lake. My teeth haven’t fallen out yet but then I’m not quite as old as John or Clive. 🙂 So yeah flouride is a non starter.

  55. Mark King

    Ian- As long as your beer made from fluoride free water, lots of silicon in beer so you can get some nice boobs 😉 it just goes to show what people will do to avoid being sued, these are the very people we vote in to work for us, thanks for that then. So when I’m told there’s no other way I go and look for another way. all over to yours for our water then 🙂

  56. John Doyle

    when will all the fu ckin happy clappers wake up i am fed up of a coward and liar for a manager a spinless moron who is the most negative burk on the planet only way to get him out as i have said many time stay away the away fans are a bunch of spineless morons who are happy with him and the happy clappers whose left say nothing well you spineless morons get what you deserve a useless burk who cannot speak english bull sh iting us every weel and churning out this garbage against a crap team like today stay away thats the only way next week he wil play the same way when we could beat utd as there defence is sh ite but we wont attack damage limitation he calls it i and any true fan call it spineless coward football LANBURK OUT

  57. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    The subject of fluoride is indeed interesting. Brimingham Council actually held a referendum in ’62 (I voted for it at the time) whether to fluoride from the Clywedog Reservoir.

  58. Mark King

    JL- I think the west midlands still has the highest amounts. what vexs me is there is no real proof it has a good effect and its added to toothpaste. someone must like making money off of their toxic waste because the type they put in the water is not the naturally occurring stuff. there lobbying to start up again most of europe have banned it like GMO

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthadvice/10722701/Fluoride-Just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe-to-drink-the-water….html

  60. James Gill

    sick and tired of villa
    lambert is the poorest excuse of a manager ever,going to brom they hadnt won in 5 plays 433 dont know where richardson was playing,should be going with 442 grealish one side try bacuna on other but no zog is so out of form never showed any in villa shirt, his subs a goal down put on vlar god has he ever looked like scoring from set piece takes off sanchez one midfielder that wants to go forward ,cleverly should take up rugby they can only pass back, puts on wiemen when you take hull out of picture has 2 goals in 2014 at least now next week no cleverly richardson,no doubt vlar wiemen will start next week,our defence of clark okore have only conceded 4 goals yet we only won 2 matches

  61. steamers75

    JL/Mark
    the water companies dont add flouride for their benefit , they would’nt ,its the Health authorities who ask for it to be added .

    Frem good to hear about your job mate ,

    steamer thanks for the favour , jeez that whiskey last night , Marks Maker , never heard of it before but its a nice taste ,

    night Jenny xxxx

  62. Paul Pears

    Perhaps next week he will play Given or Herd in front of Grealish…….Where will he find a team from…or will he call another player back to sit on the bench..???

    Perhaps I should have gone to see Santa this weekend….

  64. Paul Pears

    Feel sorry for all Villa fans that have to face Baggie’s, Wolves and bluenose fans on Monday morning….and Tony Morley …..and having to pay his debts..!!

    Time for Prince William to have Lambert committed to the tower..

  65. Mark King

    st75- thank you mate but you have to ask why the health authorities add it? as there are so many better things they could do.

    paul p- why it will do them no harm, what’s happened to morley?

  67. Mark King

    St-75 Fluoride is a neuro toxin that lowers iq in children and adults. Tooth decay has fallen worldwide in areas that have no fluoridation too through better hygiene I suspect. It’s effects in the body are similar to lead and arsenic. It is a byproduct of aluminium and accumulates it and lead in your brain if you are exposed to it which we are. Where’s the benefit to anyone but the people selling their waste? And as for the health authorities they are trained by pharmaceutical companies to dole out pills not much more. We have some wonderful doctors and nurses I wish they were free to actually heal people

  68. Mark King

    SWV- he’s trying something new, we contained them for 70minutes but we also contained ourselves, takes a tactical genius to come up with system that virtually guarantees a 0-0 every game unless they score. He’s still working on that. This week the forwards are going to train too with something called balls and goals.

  69. steamer

    Bizarre innit ? Since Lamebert arrived at VP we’ve been ‘excellent’ in every game so why are we down amongst the dregs every season ? As JD pointed out, PL is a liar, BS in can take occasionally but McMumble really does take the piss. Looking at his record at VP he’s obviously talentless and a handicap to Villa, you’d have to be a moron to employ him and keep him in employment which is where Randy Loser and Tom Fox enter the discussion, the Laurel & Hardy of football, the dumbest bastards to infest our club since it was formed, so inept that we’re losing thousands of fans by the week as well as possibly losing our EPL position.
    Fox, we’re not that bothered about a new stand, most of us just want a credible manager who’s in touch with reality and an owner with a double figure IQ who actually gives a bollox, so for once listen to the fans, you know, the people who care about AVFC not the leeches like Flabby who take, take and take and give fuck all in return or the no-mark, talentless bunch that call themselves players. The one thing that Villa is good at is turning lifelong supporters off the club and football in general, not that we play any, there’s shite and there’s shite, then Villa.

  70. steamer

    Mark,
    You know i hate these arseholes with a vengence, been searching the web for a vial of some sort of incurable disease to send to them but can only get ones that destroy the brain so not suitable for L,L & F.

  71. steamer

    According to a bloke on TVB who met Fox yesterday, Lerner is flying in either today or Monday, he’s aware of our feelings and something is about to happen that will cheer us up. Could it be the sale has gone through ? For the sake of AVFC i hope so.

  72. Mark King

    steamer- good news mate fingers crossed. there are plenty of conspiracy theories about that ties Adolph and the russians to fluoride in water as it makes people docile and infertile in large enough doses overtime. whether true or urban legend I don’t know, there are proponents on both sides. ellis must have introduced double rations at villa park when he came in.

  74. Mark King

    steamer- this it

    Met Tom Fox tonight.

    All your dreams are going to change. I want Lambert and Lerner gone, but what i was told by Mr Fox, then we have to get behind the club. To the doubters, i will prove what i am saying tomz.

    In the meantime take the piss….

    WE ARE IN GOOD HAND’S!!!!!!!

  75. Mark King

    looks interesting whatever it is lets hope its not more bollocks

    “We need to get behind the club until the end of the season. Tom Fox has total control. I know we have heared it all before, but trust it from the biggest cynic out lol.

    And guess what?

    Tom Fox approached and introduced himself to us!!!!!!!

    The man is star….back him.”

  76. Mark King

    heres a bit more speaking to JD

    John Doyle….

    He knows!!!!!

    I cant say to much, but he knows a lot more than we credit him for. He also knows the need to invest during January. At the end of the day, i am just a one eyed fan who tells it how it is, and i did to Mr Fox.

    He came to us and asked us about the club. He was honest, looked us in the eye, and what he said is defo not bull. Admits the club has got a long way to go to get the trust back.

    Hes one of us guys, its not PR, and hes not a yes man to lerner. All the complaints i read on here, he knows. Survival this season is vital, thats the message i took.

    I am happy about what i was told, and beleive me, it takes a lot to win me around. He did!

  78. Paul Pears

    JL,

    I have the feeling that Mark has been taking things he should not, and has started hallucinating…..

    Time to come down to earth and get ready for work and another week of drudge…..and look forward to a trip to VP on Saturday and drown my sorrows with anyone left out of my mates in the Holte End, as it will be my last trip there this year..!!

  79. muz1

    My opinion is the club are experts in the field of bull*shit.
    I’m still waiting for one of these statements that they continue to make, to become reality.

  80. John Lerwill

    Yeah, Paul, it would seem as though you’re right!!!!

    Muz1 – I’m having difficulty in coming to terms with the alleged player statement that seems to suggest Villa’s players are not paid enough to develop into the dream-world which Keane had in mind for them! If the players are not up for a challenge then it doesn’t matter what the management spouts!!

  81. Paul Pears

    JL

    What interests me, is the improvement in players like Clark, Okore etc, something to do with Keane’s period at the club, while Lambert’s soft boys, i.e. Gabby, Weimann and Cleverley, gone the other way????

  82. steamer

    The comments were posted on The Villa Blog last night so we may have more info tonight, the chap uploaded a photo of himself with Fox and he really is a hard core fan so i don’t think he’s bulling.

  83. muz1

    John,

    Players are always telling whoever is willing to listen to them that money is not the motivation that drives them on, so, yes, whatever the management spouts they should be up for the challenge.
    It’s not only the management that spouts bull.

  86. steamer

    Wonder if Lerner’s taken note of the last two attendances and thought “god, we must be crap, i’ll go and have a squint at the muppets and give my not inconsiderable assistance to the club,” or “Bollox, they’ve finally found me out, that’s me sweetie money gone”.

  89. steamer

    Just looking at Liverpool’s line up, awful, they haven’t got a defender who would get in the Villa squad and their best players were at Anfield before Rogers joined, think he’ll depart this week.

  92. Mark King

    just read this caveat

    Dont expect anything Monday lads!!!!!!

    The message i took was lets get to the end of the season and survive. I get the feeling so much is riding on that. What happens then is anybodies guess, except that we know lerner wants out, and i can tell you honestly, that Tom Fox will be here a lot longer….

    Read into that and the rest ive said as you like. I’m like you lot, i want the best for the club. Im not here to bull, life is to short, and a lot shorter for me after today!

    Even begged the coppers for a banning order lol. Villa…. Hey!

    steamer- I see churchill is posting on AVB do we smell? 🙂

  108. John Lerwill

    Steamer,

    I can safely say that if this Cuban takeover becomes reality then I shall retire from watching Villa and any further Villa chat.

    It’s been bad enough under Lerner, but what this takeover will turn the club into doesn’t bear thinking about. Well, for me, anyway – others may think that this guy may well have loot and that it would mean potential glory for Villa. I don’t read it that way.

    Admittedly, a takeover always stood to be of this variety – or an Arab sheikh – but when it becomes a reality then I’ll be gone.

  109. steamer

    i can understand that John, he looks like a spiv with that cigar the type you wouldn’t want at any cost even allowing for our current owner. I was only saying to S75 this week that i’ve done my whack with AV, the old marlies are playing up again and the club and football in general just isn’t worth a thrombo. Do you remember, even in the bad old days when Aston Villa was the byword for CLASS, not any more.

  110. John Lerwill

    That’s exactly the word … “class”. Even in the bad days of the Third Division you thought you were helping a great club back on its feet, but the football world is (sadly) changing (sorry, already changed) in a way that causes us old ‘uns to want to distance ourselves.

    If only it were possible to put together a counter investment offer from the UK.

  111. Mark King

    he has about the same money as the southampton benefactors and they don’t want to throw fortunes at them. foxs speech the other day makes sense and you would think this cuban bloke has been around sport long enough to know the fans are key. over to mr fox to put that over to him as it appears he is a fixture. wouldn’t be surprised if they are talking already. feel for you john and all the older supporters as its the end of an era possibly, we all have a lot of time and emotion invested in our club lets hope this man respects that while pushing us back into contention.

  113. John Lerwill

    Mark … before I go…

    I primarily hate anything that links Villa with (further) gambling concerns, which is what has been stated. It just doesn’t equate to what sport should be about for me and my read into this group is that they’ll take the whole gambling thing to a new level.

    For me, the only sponsors for Villa round here should be JLR or something like that.

  114. Mark King

    unfortunately John sport and Gambling have been long time bedfellows and sport has lost its original noble Ideals as in the greek ideals. maybe if the changes I feel must come for this planet to prosper happen you’ll get your wish, hope so mate.

    steamer- my mrs is watching xfactor and said who’s this old git? it was Ronnie wood, oh the shame

  120. steamer

    Off Cubans website –

    People hate dealing with people who are jerks. It’s always easier to be nice than to be a jerk . Don’t be a jerk

    He should have mentioned this to Lerner and his stooges.

  123. John Doyle

    ian thanks for the sunny side but there aint no sunny side at villa park steamer be careful going out in the dark you might get mugged in that rough area i think it is all yank bull sh ite about something happing had a few quid on hamilton for spoy will he win

  124. John Doyle

    played magnificent yesterday i ask you fuc kin MAGINFCENT the guy has a serious mental deficiency and as i said earlier it is like never never land with all the fairy tails that are coming out of poxy fox and Lambert i repeat again the words of the great Lambert yesterday “i thought we where MAGNIFICENT” if those are not the words of a person who needs putting in a straight jacket i don’t know what are

  126. John Lerwill

    Mark: unfortunately John sport and Gambling have been long time bedfellows and sport has lost its original noble Ideals as in the greek ideals. maybe if the changes I feel must come for this planet to prosper happen you’ll get your wish, hope so mate.

    You say that, but it has really only been getting that way since ca. 2000. And when Lerner arrived and put Acorns on the shirt I thought this club had turned a corner.

    Sport is drifting further and further away from so-called Greek ideals (what are they? 😉 but – as you say – it’s part of a total planetary drift away from reality.

    Yes, there will be big changes happening on the planet soon. Sooner than we may expect.

  127. southwestvillan

    It might pay Mark Cuban to send Lambert his book ” How to Win ” , I read that about the same as Steamer does, looks like the deal is done with a takeover at the end of the season IF we stay in the EPL, get your money on Lambert to fuck that right up because he knows the first thing the new owners will do is kick him out the door.

    Blimey Matt just seen the competition not much of a prize is it, think I would prefer two tickets to watch the pantomime at the Rep.

    AVFC RIP.

  129. Mark King

    JL- are you talking 2000bc john? that whole betting on stuff is as old as the hills second only to prostitution. the thing with the greeks is they had some ideals or code to live by. unfortunately it included sleeping with young men to form a stronger bond in battle. imagine Lambert coming in after reading the iliad and telling the team to pick partners, some might be happy some not, der hammer would probably swiftly unretire 😉

    steamer- didn’t stop lerner 🙂

  131. southwestvillan

    Steamer,

    Think that might be a bit of bullshit to throw people, anybody involved in sport have heard of Aston Villa, although we are shite at the moment most people know who we are.

    AVFC RIP

  132. DarrenO

    Can someone remind to give up on positivity and Villa, I’d forgotten our ability to facilitate strikers on a bad run of form to break their duck against us and entire teams on losing streaks to come good against a wimpering excuse of a team.

    What if anything goes through Lambert’s mind when it comes to substitutions, he neither has the ability to positively influence or protect, he ends up unbalancing the team and the lack of leaders on the pitch ensures we have no controllers to set up two banks of 4 with Benteke as the outlet to counterattack after going a man down and ignore PL entirely.

    I know there are Keane haters on here and there is a suggestion that we improved when he left but look who we played. What is wrong with telling our overpaid prima donnas to train harder or differently, I’m absolutely sure Keane’s approach may have direct or inappropriate but these are grown men and Keane was hired as a number 2 so had authority to tell players what to do. Seems to me the Gabby’s of this world think they are the big cheese, when reality is they’d never play at a higher level.

    Onwards to Manure, I’ve not seen the highlights but I seen the scoreline, and given what’s available and not available to us, then thank god i won’t be in Murrays to see the game as originally planned.

    Any more info on a number 2 or are we at the stage nobody would want to work with PL and our players.

    I made a comment about playing an Aston Villa edition of Candy Crush, that may still happen albeit Fruity King will spread the wealth among a number of clubs in different leagues. How unfortunate are we that we have to be fourth time lucky in avoiding relegation to secure a new owner based on the info above, bridge too far?

    VTID

  133. Mark King

    darren – I watched a fair bit of the manure game, defensively poor but with a keeper thats on fire, as for the other end we will get a hiding if they get the chances. liverpool couldn’t get past the keeper simple as.
    I know what you’re saying about the subs, it wasn’t the worst idea to go 3 at the back but why sub sanchez who was keeping them out on his own and keep both n’zogbia and gabby on who constantly gifted the ball to wba and fucked are forward play up better than wba. we are carrying too many players to be effective.

  135. southwestvillan

    Darren,

    Unfortunately we do not have jeerman coaching badges and therefore cannot see the tactical nuances that Lambert has, he sees things that us lesser mortals don”t , he said we were excellent and magnificent god knows what he will say if we manage another win this season.

    PP,

    Yes rumour has it Cuban watched Lamberts post match interview on Saturday and decided to put his money into bagging and selling rocking horse shit.

    AVFC RIP

  136. John Lerwill

    Mark: are you talking 2000bc john? that whole betting on stuff is as old as the hills second only to prostitution

    Very funny! Again, I’m afraid you mis-read. I was talking about the degree by which gambling has entered sporting circles (particularly football) this last 14/15 years … not how long gambling has been inexistence!!

    Before about 2000 you did not see gambling organisations being involved in club sponsorships. Apart from the Acorns period (which I thought was the turning point for Villa) nearly all the last 10 years have seen gambling companies displayed on Villa shirts. They look horrible and bring down the tone very much i.m.o.

    If you think about it, it’s a little bit chancy to use a gambling company for that purpose … you could say that they might be participating in a bribe to the club they’re sponsoring, could you not, in the same way that Rover had a deal for their cars to be driven around by players.

    I’m suspicious of the whole thing.

    Sorry, I’ve delved into the life and work of William McGregor and totally concur with him on the matter. Call me outdated if you wish, but apart from a silly period in the last 20 years I’ve not gambled in any way for 40 years.

  137. Paul Pears

    Unfortunately JL,

    You are in a minority, as our country has become a nation of gamblers, all probably not helped by the downturn in the economy over the last decade. The figures are almost frightening for the number of adults who buy scratchcards, gamble on lotteries, and participate in online gaming.

    I am the same about the association between football clubs and their sponsors, especially the gambling ones and others like Wonga, but it is a fact of life now, and really no different to the days when all the sponsorship in sport came from the tobacco companies…..Remember the John Player girls and the Rothman lovelies??

    There will always be reasons to dislike sponsors for one reason or another. Perhaps the interest in Villa may start to make other organisations take an interest.

  138. Steve W

    Lambert picked the wrong team and then compounded his mistakes by making the wrong substitutions – something he does far too often for it to be a coincidence.

    Clearly he can’t be blamed for Richardson being sent off, but he can be blamed for selecting him in the first place. Richardson was very poor when he came on against Leicester and shouldn’t have been given the opportunity to put us in a hole. N’Zogbia did nothing against Leicester and has done nothing all season. Grealish needs to replace him right now, but Lambert’s record with youngsters is even worse than his substitiutions.

    Cleverley won’t be able to play against his parent club. That is no loss.

    With any share of the ball Benteke can give this Man Utd defence problems. We need to have a go, not sit back defending like dogs awaiting the inevitable 0-3 defeat.

  139. John Lerwill

    Paul,

    I understand completely what you’re saying, but links with tobacco (and alcohol) were fairly low key compared to the logos now displayed on shirts. We now get the full frontal and can’t miss it even while Villa are (ostensibly) playing!

    By the way, a recent Villa sponsor was Genting, who have something of (let’s say) a cloudy reputation in Malaysia.

    I don’t believe for a moment that this phenomenon is going to go away of it’s own accord. If change is to occur (and I believe it will) then it’s going to come from a *very* sudden jolt to our sense of values.

    Anyway, what I was saying before was that when RL put Acorns onto the shirt, if you remember there was great praise from the media for him having done so, “Ooo, look, Barcelona is the only other club to take this line!” At the time it put Villa into a kind of special (and classy) status.

    Since then we’ve really gone downhill. Barcelona haven’t.

  140. Mark King

    Jl- was just being a smart arse mate 🙂 would gambling exist without sport though? Its synonamous with competition so is a natural bedfellow to a group of people hell bent on lining there pockets . imo its escapism from the drudgery the majority feel. Most of us would like more money to escape and you have to wonder what from ?

  141. John Lerwill

    Steve,

    I think we’d better swap Benteke for, say, van Persie … then we might see Villa scoring goals!

    It seems that way at the moment. Because CB has got a class ‘A’ status because of his scoring efforts before this season, his recent profligacy seems to go unnoticed. But if he suddenly finds his touch against Man U then all will be well again! 🙂

  143. Paul Pears

    Have sent a message to Richard Branson

    asking him to look at our club as a vehicle for the Virgin brand, and rescue us from the horrors of gambling organisations…

  144. John Lerwill

    Paul,

    Er … another of his projects has just got sunk. His project to make a submarine that could take paying clients to the bottom of the Pacific for sight-seeing has given too many technical problems.

    He experiences so many non-starters we perhaps should wonder what he’d do to Villa!

    I can just imagine “Virgin” splashed across a Villa shirt.

  145. Mark King

    JL- what about virgin tattooed on lamberts forehead? 🙂 I’m not knocking your principles but I think you’d be hard pressed to find a corporate entity with clean hands and impeccable morals. maybe superficially but the money still comes down the same pipe.

  149. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    1. Yes, if I had been expecting a lillwhite owner I would have lost interest yonks ago! I think what it comes down to is that any English club – not just Villa – should have an owner who has a strong British connection. Only that way do they understand the football fan – and we have been complaining about a lack of understanding. Money is part of the equation, but by itself is not the solution.
    2. Benteke – the point is that he has not been shooting according to his own standards, not anyone else’s. He’s actually achieved a direct contribution in the scoring of 2 goals in three matches (one of them he scored) and missed about 5 quite clear chances when shots should at least have been on goal. Against Albion his distribution was no better than Gabby’s.

  150. runtings

    Saw a video of Cuban at WWE getting slammed through a table – i like him after that
    The fact he clearly knows who we are and his tounge in cheek reply to the tweet hopefully is code for of course i know who villa are but i aint discussing it with you.

    light at the end i hope — apperently we have change to a passing style since PL chilled with Pep — pity he is to scared to play the creative players within that style

  151. runtings

    I don’t agree that you need an englishman to run the club successfully – just look at the best teams in the country – not an englishman in sight as chairman — its about ambition and planning which is all that we lack — the wigan chairman is english and is the biggest muppet out there

  152. steamers75

    PP
    l sent a e-mail, to Santa , he told me to fuck -off …..

    had a email from the villa saying its my birthday saturday (no shit sherlock) and would l like to go to the game this coming saturday , l replied that l want to enjoy my birthday , so l will decline the offer , unless PL has gone by then , still awaiting a reply

    Steamer
    why did you let me buy that nose a drink on friday ??? brother just told me . mate !!! my arse
    Band was good though ,
    well if dont post before

    Merry christmas everyone xxx and you sww

  153. Mark King

    JL- the successful english teams are multinational now with a worldwide audiences so when you say fans you mean locals or british people I presume? most fans want success and thats what grows the brand and attracts more fans and not the emotional/family ties the likes of you and I have, although that would perhaps come in time. unless the population of brum tops 5MIL we need the rest of the world. you have to remember some of our fans have never seen success too and would have it at any cost. not me personally but I suspect a lot would. I don’t see a foreign owner as a problem as long as he is not an idiot, as runtingz pointed out there are plenty of british idiots too. maybe mr taylor can add a his tuppence worth.

    against albion benteke was among our worst 3 players all unfortunately up front but at least he had the chances, gabby at one point was in the clear with the commentator talking about his pace, the defender then caught and overtook him instead of bearing in on goal he had to stop and come back. we are supposed to create chances for benteke yet he does most of the donkey work for himself. if he was being peppered with chances i’d agree like andy cole who would miss a hatful and still get 20+ a season

  154. steamer

    Dafy sod,
    I mentioned it just before you fell over ( 3rd time ), i asked why you bought a deadbeat a gargle and he replied that he didn’t actually buy it. Still he looked happy when they took him back to the home.

  156. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    I’ll take the simplest first … Gabby’s “chance on goal” happened to be a situation where he was up against a defender who was at least as fast as him and that may have surprised him. But what I thought we were talking about was actual attempts on goal. Gabby didn’t have any … but we’re not talking about him but CB a much better striker (according to previous seasons) who we believe should be getting his chances placed on goal at least. As for getting 20+ goals this season I would say he’s rapidly running out of games to get ’em. He’s already had 6 starts this season … how many games does it take to get your shooting back on the mark, Mark? 😉

    Aside from which a big man like CB should be able to hold up the ball far better. I haven’t seen much of that.

  157. John Lerwill

    Mark: the successful english teams are multinational now with a worldwide audiences so when you say fans you mean locals or british people I presume? most fans want success and thats what grows the brand and attracts more fans and not the emotional/family ties the likes of you and I have, although that would perhaps come in time. unless the population of brum tops 5MIL we need the rest of the world.

    Mark, please excuse me – I did not think that I have to explain every syllable?!! If I am writing a full-blown article I generally take some time to clarify what I am writing on, but here we’re of course talking about the core support of the club which by definition (as they actually attend matches) lives locally. Overseas supporters are warmly welcomed (and I was rudely ignored by officers at Villa back in 2008 when I tried to point out that their interests need to be provided for as well), but as they are not able to offer their match-time presence then their presence is not felt during the heat of a match.

    It is the local supporter that somehow finds the dough to pay the entrance fee for himself and his family and their nutritional requirements at half-time and before the match. If he’s bought a ST (or more than one) he can’t so easily cancel his subscription if he becomes dissatisfied with his Villa Park experience. And it is he – the local man – who also has to endure both middle-of-winter conditions and the cold play in his seat in the stands.

    Though the world-wide support is important to Villa (but the club has not been treating them too kindly), Villa is essentially a Birmingham club whose supporters (world-wide) in the main derive from the area, as you have inferred.

    The owner’s *first* responsibility i.m.o. is to engage with the local situation; the fans and the community, and the ground.

    The current owner has done little to strengthen the local pride by, for example, a museum – even Wolves and Charlton have of late set up their museums – or (perhaps more urgently) providing a quality of football and entertainment that Villa fans (of longer than 15 years attendance) can relate to.

    To get to grips with issues such as those needs someone who is willing and able to understand where those fans are coming from, and to be British and have a similar background is a big plus i.m.o. to be able to empathise and see what is meant.

    That, in my view, is what an owner needs to have as an ideal qualification. And have enough dough. If there is no local man available to take over, then it needs someone who is willing to understand the local bias and not *impose* foreign ways. BTW, do you remember that when Lerner came in he insisted that the Villa programme cover had to be a particular design. It took about a year I think before he backed down.

    But he still imposed a weak and insipid club logo onto us, claiming it to be an amalgam of democratically-derived preferences.

  158. Mark King

    JL- sorry john you feisty bugger 🙂 was merely pointing out that the league we play in has changed, prawn sandwiches at chelsea and extortionate ticket prices which the working man is hard pressed to pay. if we don’t embrace it we can’t truly compete in this league and without funding on a much higher level we will just stay where we are with randy competing for scraps at skys table and remaining a paper tiger. its a tough choice. even if our team played better football and was entertaining it would still be like watching a film every week that you know has a sad ending, one thing you had 20 years ago was hope, that i’m afraid has been taken away

  160. Heroes-and-Villans

    Whats this talk of us playing a new way?

    Apparently the stats from the last 2 games have guzan throwing it out to the full backs who are on the touch line…..less hoofball. Apparently pl has thought of this after seeing pep in germany.

    If pl read this blog years ago it would of saved him a trip.

  162. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Well, that’s the difference between your outlook and mine.

    Each club needs to evolve it’s own personality in my view. What suits Chelsea shouldn’t be the case for Brummidgams. To have STs prices beyond the ordinary man’s pocket (and definitely the prawn sandwiches) is a London condition that we should most definitely avoid.

    Evolve? Of course – but in a way that suits the Midland condition. Whatever you do must be sustainable and workable.

  164. steamer

    Some good points made tonight.
    JL knocks the Lerner situation right on the head, he just doesn’t understand, football, England, Birmingham or Villa, the tripe he came out with when he first came has turned out to be bull, the first thing he did was spend 500k changing the club crest. The Acorns was just PR, Gurgle Lerners family, it doesn’t make nice reading.
    For folk like John who have seen VP in its pomp its really difficult to accept the modern no values sport turned into a cesspool where players who wouldn’t have been decent non-lge players twenty years ago become multi millionaires ( Raheem Sterling ).

    Andrew makes a good point, we were taught that at junior school, our teachers didn’t have Jeerman badges, just brains. More evidence that Lamebert is a totally clueless phoney.

    Mark,
    Personally i think we can evolve without selling our identity, lets stay Brummie and lets stay English in outlook if not ownership, for me the destruction began when the philistine, Herbs, who pillaged the club for years demolished the Trinity Road stand, he’s a vulgar little man who bought a knighthood and has an inflated opinion of his worth.

  165. steamer

    Yes Andrew, Lamebert thinks he’s a player in the coaching game, one season in Jeermany has tipped him over the edge, apparently he doesn’t quit, look at his record and its yet another lie, he’s a serial quitter, i fuckin hate the lying twat for what he’s done to OUR club with the assistance of Lerner and Chubby, winkers the lot of them.

  166. Mark King

    JL- I don’t disagree just examining the possibilities. given that the richest clubs generally dominate this league and as in the corporate world the big boys feast on the rest when they pop their heads too far above the parapet. A genuine wage freeze or limit would create a fairer league which is what i’m after. the players might whine about rights but they can always work at mcdonalds or become entrepreneurs. I wonder if you asked man city or chelsea fans would they go back to relative obscurity? I doubt they would, they might reminisce about the good old days but not being in with a chance to win something? the constant whining that they have only made champs league and paid out £50 mil on players tells you a lot how expectancy levels rise. we lost on saturday and the world ended 🙂 I don’t think its possible to take the brumagen out of the club

  169. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    No, it’s not “examining possibilities”, you just like getting responses out of people! 😉

    For me the matter the matter is too serious – well, as serious as a non-life-threatening matter can be serious – to be monkeyed around with. To me Aston Villa is an institution and one that should be treated effectively but kindly. Just like a lady.

  170. John Lerwill

    Mark: if you asked man city or chelsea fans would they go back to relative obscurity?

    Were you trying to wind me up?! Neither of these clubs had any history to speak of (apart from occasional flashes) before the big money arrived … so their fans had no great tradition to uphold. In Villa’s case, until 1981 Villa had won more domestic trophies than any other club, and in 1992 Villa were still on a par with Man U.

    After Man U was taken over, if you remember. a lot of Man U fans broke away and started supporting Macclesfield and other local clubs and also formed a new football club.

  171. Mark King

    JL- I’m surprised you see other clubs in that way, yes their history pales compared to ours but they had to start somewhere and so are part of their local history as we are ours, and matters just as much to them i’m sure. we have to have other teams to be compared to after all.
    chelsea have been going 109 years man city have been with us since 1880 manure 1878. question is in another 100 years if the balance stays the same other than starting the league will we matter as much if we have won nothing?
    the man utd scenario is a perfect example, are they any less successful or supported, not to my knowledge they are so big others have filled the void. I think you would be horrified to see what passes for history in the modern class room these days.
    thats why the system needs changing it has become slanted as most things today to suit the rich much more than ever in history. It would be great if Villa retained its roots but this world and game needs a big change.

  172. Mark King

    JL- by the way I’m only interested in your thoughts as a historian, I have great respect for you and trying to have a conversation on here makes things look confrontational. and please bear in mind its the most writing i’ve done since college. I was told I had great imagination but a poor grasp on English 😉

  173. steamer

    Youth team knocked out of cup by …………….. Chesterfield, leading 2-0 as well, clear our required from top to bottom of coaches and management. They’ve even ruined the academy, what a shambles, who said “The buck stops here.”

  175. runtings

    Why does AVL hate stirling so much – imo one of the best player we have for england and still only 19 — i don’t get it

    JL history and tradition are a great thing but they are not linked with success in the modern game unfortunatly – football is far from an ideal world i guess

  176. r0bb0

    Just catching up on an interesting discussion between Mark and JL.
    I liked the analogy of Lerner having list interest in his puppy when it turned round and nipped him.
    I have more sympathy for Lerner than most on here as I still believe he’s a decent man who wanted to do the right thing for Villa and the local area but didn’t have the footballing knowledge to make it work and failed to bring in the right support team.

  177. r0bb0

    When he first arrived he did invest in the club and the local area and if success had come along I’m sure he would have continued to do so.
    It didn’t. . . . and neither did he.

  178. Paul Pears

    Looking like the Mark Cuban rumour is about to become fact, taking in stories in the media on both sides of the pond, and Fox’s speech at the Xmas party.

    JL

    Don’t like to say it, but you are a great writer and historian, but occasionally you do appear to come across as if you might have a slight chip on the shoulder. It is time to move forward and hope that this great club rises once more like the Phoenix from the ashes of mediocrity.

  180. r0bb0

    Runtings. Is there a general dislike of Sterling in here? I’ve seen a comment from one renowned old curmudgeon on here, but he sees everyone and everything as shit.
    I feel sorry for Sterling, having to manage without both Sturridge and Suarez this season and trying to do it all on his own must be tough for a lad his age.

  181. John Lerwill

    Paul: …but occasionally you do appear to come across as if you might have a slight chip on the shoulder.

    The only chip I have on my shoulder, mate, is as a result of the way they have dealt with Aston Villa Football Club.

    That’s the second time you’ve hinted at that Paul. Please stop publicly inferring that I’m motivated for wrong reasons.

    What I write about is according to how I see it – yes,, some from personal experience, but if you’d experienced what I’ve experienced then I’d hope you would feel about it the same way.

    I write a lot on philosophy and even other aspects of history, and my own experience is imbedded in what I write about in all fields. It would not be realistic to do otherwise.

    But no “chip”. If there had been I would have taken this club to the cleaners!!

  182. John Lerwill

    Paul: It is time to move forward and hope that this great club rises once more like the Phoenix from the ashes of mediocrity.

    Please forgive me for saying so, but that attitude is what caused Villa to be relegated in such a state in 1967!!

    Just “hoping” doesn’t get you anywhere.

  183. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Perhaps I’m being mis-read again! (Maybe that’s my fault, and I must be careful what I say in case Paul gets the wrong impression!)

    No, I’m not intending to knock Chelsea and Man City nor their supporters. It’s simply a fact as I said before that both clubs had done very little before recent years for them to be considered as “big”. Man City did well in the late 60s under Joe Mercere, and there was that fine win (against Blews) in the 1956 Cup Final, but that’s it before the last few years. Chelsea didn’t win their first trophy until 1955.

    It seemed that the only way they were going to become “big” was by the injection of a huge amount of cash, and that’s what we see.

    Villa, in contrast, was *the* club that developed and led the way according to a method that was adopted and (of course) improved upon by other clubs, including Man U. Villa’s mistake was in resting on their laurels, but in the 1970s we had something going that was great. The club was restored to greatness. In my opinion what was needed in 2006 was a new ownership that would find a way of belatedly continuing that success using the skills of some of those involved at the time (Gordon Cowans, who was already in place, Denis Mortimer, Peter Withe, et al – even Ron Saunders to sit on the board, or Graham Taylor).

    It would seem we’ve missed that chance … if it ever existed.

  184. John Lerwill

    Mark: I think you would be horrified to see what passes for history in the modern class room these days.

    Oh, I know. My wife was involved in teaching for some years and a cousin was a headteacher.

    My wife (who’s from Malaysia) tells me that in Malaysian schools they’ve re-invented their own national history so that it’s an utter distortion of the reality.

    Education is another topic I would like to get onto, as it’s not just the quality of facts that’s a problem but that the very purpose of education seems to have been lost.

  185. Steve W

    I don’t feel sorry for Lerner one bit.

    How much money did it take Man City and Chelsea to spend their way into the Champions League from a much stronger base? How much money do Spurs and Liverpool throw at it and still don’t succeed on anything but a one off basis? How much are Man Utd prepared to spend to make sure they’re never out of it again?

    City and Chelsea spent ten times what Lerner did and if he thought his spend on a previously relegation threatened club spread over 4 seasons was going to achieve it then he’s a fool. And if he thought all the other clubs would just stand back and just let it happen then he’s a fool. And if his masterplan was to give it a few years where the team improved each year and then just give up, bank TV money and put the club in real jeopardy, then he should have told the fans. And he’s a fool.

    Every decision he’s made starting with that wretched new badge that a 5 year old could have made a better job of has been a masterclass in how not to run a football club.

  186. Paul Pears

    JL

    History written and taught in every country is rarely factual, beyond the odd time and date of an incident. After that, it is influenced by the writer, by governments, and by the people teaching it. I have a book which is fascinating, as it depicts the same story written in the first person by various witnesses to the events, An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears. Each story is different.

    I have to agree with you that in many ways, the purpose of education seems to have been lost and how it should be shared.

  187. runtings

    JL i agree re teaching/education good points from PP also on the matter

    Every country serves its own intersts were education is concerned and tend to focus on things that makes there own country look better when it comes to history

    One thing about the UK at present is the lack of apprenterships for young people or the oppertunity to gain work expereince — very worrying for the up and coming kids of today

  188. John Lerwill

    Paul,

    As a formal student of history, I am well aware of what you state. Which is how I came to write “The Villa Chronicles” – to state how it really was according to first-hand accounts, and not some glossed-up interpretation.

    I also have acquired considerable material from history in general, recording first-hand accounts.

  189. Trinity

    Runtingz
    “Why does AVL hate stirling so much – imo one of the best player we have for england and still only 19 — i don’t get it”

    True. It might be tall poppy syndrome.

  190. southwestvillan

    “I feel sorry for Sterling, having to manage without both Sturridge and Suarez this season and trying to do it all on his own must be tough for a lad his age”

    Robbo,

    Perhaps his 70k a week salary may be compensation for having to run around for 90 minutes each week unless he is too tired of course.

    AVFC RIP

  191. John Lerwill

    I’m afraid I am of the Sterling dooters. Yes, he’s a neat looking player at times and may well develop pretty well – but I don’t see what all the hype is about him.

  192. John Lerwill

    Runtings (on apprenticeships),

    You hit on a very good issue there…

    When Blair said Labour’s target was to get 50% into Uni, I said “what for?” Was he hoping to provide fodder for the firms of solicitors, accountants and bankers?

    The lack of root industry in this country is very apparent, and that is what needs stimulation with apprenticeships to go with it. Not so much in the old industries but in new, sustainable, industries.

    It amuses me when I hear people clamouring about the need to come out of the EU! Doing that may see any sizeable industry disappear from these shores and us then reliant on banking and finance houses. Ugh!!!!!!

  193. Mark King

    JL-I think it would make more sense to produce quality goods that don’t have built in obsolescence in this country. thereby reducing the need to constantly buy new inferior stuff 10x a lifetime. corporations will take their operations to wherever is cheapest as more moneys is the aim, co-operatives, (the workers owning the business) would stop this.
    corporations were not allowed 150-200? years ago and only allowed for certain projects like bridges or dams when the projects were finished they were dismantled. constantly escalating production to make more money is killing this planet IMO

  195. runtings

    Trin tall poppy sydrome – wow didnt know what that was and had to google it – well i have learnt something today

    st75 i got a call that a package has come for me – not back home until friday but thanks so much – let me know if you and jen have access to the rare grooves folder i put up and more to follow

  196. steamers75

    Runtins
    yes l got the tunes mate , speakers blasting most days , thanks mate , will ask Jenny ,

    dont worry about the buzzing sound from the parcel its probably turned itself on , lol

    did anyone hear Merson saturday , he’s reckons Benteke will be at Pool january , l could see that , stirling ,sturridge & Benny , (not you sww)

    jenny xx

  198. John Lerwill

    Mark: I think it would make more sense to produce quality goods that don’t have built in obsolescence in this country. thereby reducing the need to constantly buy new inferior stuff 10x a lifetime.

    That sentiment is spot on … but the companies don’t want to do that as if a thing never breaks down then it may be a long time before it’s replaced. They particularly like the idea of fashion so that we buy because of changing fashions.

    It’s us that provides the answer: not to change with fashion.

  199. Ian

    If you want a drop in your standard of living which is unsustainable IMO stop buying stuff. Consumer spending is what makes the world go round. Manufacturing is geared to provide something new and different not to replace stuff that has out lived its usefulness. Yeah corporations make money but honestly, where would we be without them today?

  200. Mark King

    Ian- difficult to say as we don’t have the choice, having more doesn’t automatically make you happy either. we haven’t had an Ism that wasn’t built around economics even marxism was. corporations have become like separate countries and unlike people are rarely culpable for their crimes, pollution etc. they sway politics to suit their needs not ours.

  203. steamer

    Runtingz,
    RE Sterling, my opinion only, flashy novice with an eye catching style who doesn’t actually achieve much, not worth the wages mooted, Grealish is the same age and in my opinion could football him to death but he hasn’t got a manager with a footballing philosophy or even the nous to play what is one of his greatest asset.

    Lerner ‘a decent man’ mmmm Lerner’s family is the biggest donor to the Worlds most murderous political party which encourages the barbaric torture of innocents. It has also devastated Central America, several Asian countries ie Indonesia by agitating against democratically elected governments, also in South America, Chile, Brazil, Venezuala etc and has now moved on to the Ukraine. The Republican Party is the politics of the insane as is Lerners ownership of AVFC.

  204. Ian

    Steamer you should see those idiots from my perspective. You make them sound like Mary Poppins. You forgot the invasion of Grenada. The right to open carry in Texas is quaint too. I was in Las Vegas not long ago and the sign on the shopping mall doors as you went in were: and I kid you not: No knives or guns allowed. This along with no shoes, no shirt no service.
    The open season is upon them again and the Republicans steadfastly stand by the NRA to bear arms. And the gun racks in trucks. They do it to their own people.

  205. Mark King

    thought sterling did ok off of the movement of saurez and the other injured one, was always going to struggle without . he probably needs to thank them for the pay rise though.

    Ian- my favorite bunch are monsanto, using gmo technology to develop plants that resist
    roundup which they sell so that they can pour more on, the genes then spread to the weeds which are now roundup proof and dead soil to boot. trying to dominate nature and the worlds food supply a noble aim indeed.

  206. Ian

    Mark, you are right. Monsanto is a favourite of mine too. There was a documentary on psycopaths here not long ago and it was found that they don’t really go on killing sprees although some do, but become CEOs. People with no remorse when it comes to making money on the backs of others.

  207. Ian

    In order for some to become millionaires and billionaires, the rest of the population take it on the chin and then told it’s good for them to work hard by the TV evangelists.

  208. Mark King

    ian- not to mention putting genes in plants to magnify their insect killing power, only trouble is when we eat them they affect our microflora killing some and giving others the same ability to produce its own roundup, I shit you not.

  209. Mark King

    ian- look up “the good psychopaths guide to success” 😉 trying telling the dead farmers in India who committed suicide with roundup when the crop failed.

  210. John Doyle

    steamer you are spot on mate sterling is a young scabby pace and thats it he should have scored 3 on sunday no class or skill
    and have to say if grelish was at utd .liverpool or chelsea 3 of the clubs he could have gone two all offered him a deal he would be in the england team now as he would be in there first team but he listened to that lying cheating scumbag Lambert who told him he would be part of the team so he signed for villa only to be sh ite on from a gteat height watching what me and you gaz would call ” broadway” players at best being picked and playing sh ite by Lamburk .
    as for this poxy fox the guy is a complete yes man another stupid yank who has not got a fu ckin clue why ? as he gives Lamburk his complete support so he knows absolutely nothing about football

  215. steamer

    RE Sterling, at AVFC we’ve had players like Brian Little who won a solitary cap,Gary Shaw, no caps and numerous others far better than some of the media faves, Butch Wilkins, David Beckham, Carrick, you could name hundreds of crepe players with a draw full of caps won because of a succession of dire England managers hadn’t the goolies to ignore the London media.

  216. Mark King

    its co-written by andy mcnab of sas fame as he is according to tests a good psycho, basically someone who doesn’t react normally when the shit starts flying. so yes you could be one, its the inability to blink that gives it away

  218. r0bb0

    I’d like to see more of Grealish but I’d question whether he’s ready to start every game. Not long ago Berahino was England’s next big hope and then it’s gone to his head and he can’t even get a start for the baggies

  219. r0bb0

    It’s not so long ago that some were ridiculing our manager for not appreciating that if only he’d regularly play Bannan, Albrighton and Delfouneso then we’d be challenging the best. . . . .

  220. John Doyle

    to every one jack is on a complete different planet to any kid we have ever had at the academy just look yourselves at the links i posted Sid says he is the best he has seen kean says he is the best he has seen he can do things with the ball that not one of the england u21 team can do that from the irish coach he has far more skill than any other player at the club
    these are the words of sid not me i just pass them on he needs playing from the start he is not a flash in the pan like those that have been mentioned he is the real deal and the best thing is he is villa barmy that is why he signed he was offered more than double the dough villa pay him from 5 other clubs these guys who offered him aint barmy but he was told he would play in the first team by lambert these are facts from his old man and sid the kid was conned by that scotch w anker
    gaz off to florida end of week foe cruse from tampa see you when i get back take you down to body more have a drink with sid at the dog and doublet he will tell you the same as i have just wrote

  222. John Lerwill

    Steamer,

    Exactly my thoughts. My goodness, Brian Little and Gary Shaw were worth a bagload of Sterlings.

    Having said that, I reckon the overall skill factor of the English game has gone down – especially since the importation of so many foreign players.

  223. runtings

    Guys totally agree on glealish – super talent — i disagree on stirling and reckon he will play for one of the best clubs in the world before too long — pool spent 120mil or something but yet at 19 apart from our danny he is the best player at the club

  225. John Lerwill

    SWV,

    That’s a wonderfully full account of Tommy Ball, mate. Thanks for that pointer.

    In fact, he did have an unsure start with Villa and even when taking over from Barson, but he soon lost his nerves and showed real talent. They said he would be an England ‘cert’.

  226. steamer

    SWV,
    Was that “Rock on Tommy” or the other one ?
    Tried to find his grave several times opposite the Church Tavern, never found it. Apparently Villa have an area in Witton Cem where Archie Hunter is buried, Villa corner or something, can’t imagine Westwood being buried in Villa corner though, he’d waste it.

  227. southwestvillan

    Steamer,

    Very droll indeed, I saw Cannon and Ball at the Nightout, remember that one, the biggest cabaret venue in the country 1200 seats always remember the food being awful, soup in a basket followed by chicken and chips in the same basket.

    I thought Cannon and Ball were really funny but now when I watch any archive footage of them I bloody cringe, just goes to show how your humour changes as you get older, I don”t even find the noses funny anymore just sad inbreds taking too much oxygen out of our eco system.

    AVFC RIP

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