On Saturday, it felt like the Aston Villa I know and love were back – a team who would give most teams a game, and come away with points.
What feels most puzzling is this is a team who were, until Tim Sherwood’s arrival, desperately unable to score. Since Sherwood has arrived, Christian Benteke has been on fire, scoring goals for fun and showing just what can happen when the shackles are taken off.
In fact, based on recent evidence, Villa have no business being close to the drop zone, with Benteke scoring more goals since the arrival of the new manager than any other player, and this within a team that has zero players added.
It is this kind of situation that proves that a change in mentality – even without a change in the team – can have a massive difference. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that football is one-dimensional, but the fact this team looks transformed speaks a lot about belief and positivity.
In recent years, Villa have found themselves a timid club, from top to bottom – an owner who has shrunk into the distance after his gamble on Martin O’Neill failed, and a series of managers who, for one way or another, ended up constrained by a general attitude of “making do”.
Villa have, for want of a better word, been a scared team, a team who have tried to pin their hopes on a shut up shop mentality and a financial attitude that has been about as little as risk as possible, and it is this see-saw logic that has left the club without a direction for so long as the board have considered the best way forward to be the cheapest.
Which, for a club owned by a billionaire, seems inherently – and somewhat ironically – very risky. Yes, Villa had to spend less money due to Financial Fair Play, but he was a club that seemed unable to know what to do or where to go. Even Paul Lambert ended up dragged into the same whirling oblivion, stuck in the midst of a group of people who had little to no clue of where to go, what to do, and who to ask.
To Randy Lerner’s credit, he has at least had the sense to put Tom Fox in place, and it is arguably this appointment that has been the catalyst for most change. Under Paul Faulkner, there seemed to be no ruthlessness – as though Lambert would still be here under his stewardship, calmly being patted on the back and being told “Unlucky Paul”.
In his place, Villa have a man who not only seems able to make the big calls, but to take a punt where necessary. Although Sherwood did technically fulfil the criteria of “past Premier League experience as a manager”, it seems highly unlikely that Lerner would have taken such a chance had Fox not been here, instead probably looking for a Mick McCarthy or Neil Warnock type – managers who show little but a survival mentality.
Instead, Villa have Sherwood who, despite initial reservations, has taken a positive attitude and spread it through the team. Sherwood isn’t Jose Mourinho by any stretch, but sometimes just belief can make a difference, especially in a game where the margins are so fine that belief can make a major difference.
Sherwood is showing, despite being just two points off the bottom three, that survival is about being unafraid, even if relegation is a terrifying concept. If the manager can go one further and keep the club up, he surely deserves a chance to show how he can move the club on and, assuming a sale does go through, it would be great if any new potential owner gives Sherwood the chance he so sorely deserves at Villa.
The Author
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 195
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Good post Matt; I tend to agree with you that it would be an almighty kick in the teeth if TS was dismissed in favour of some ‘long-standing’ manager.
His record at Spurs and at Villa proves he is no flash in the pan and can get the players believing in themselves – a latter day Venables maybe.
Surely we can take points from Wet Spam and I’m hoping for a result at S’ton even if Villa’s record on lunch-time kick-offs is not brilliant. I don’t fancy a last gasp v Burnley as they will either already be down with a point to prove or fighting for their lives.
Morning matt,
it seems incredible doesn’t it that a team put together by the reviled Lambert is now playing better football IMO than during MONs reign.
Sherwood has got to be given the opportunity regardless of owner to progress us. My Major concern is our squad are either out of contract or near the end of contracts. That means either signing up players that have just won a cup (potentially) to lucrative contracts, something Lerner may be unwilling to sanction or we can afford. This could limit who we can bring in if funds are yet again low.
Also the Vultures will be circling to pick up cleverly on a free, Benteke for £30m+ and I’ve no doubt Delphs resolve will be tested. Things look rosier but are far from an easy ride, it would be disappointing in the least to dismantle such a promising side after so long a period of gloom but it may well be the situation we find ourselves in. Ironic one of the only players left on a long contract is Gil.
Matt,
Yep, a pretty good summing up.
On Faulkner, it’s significant that he’s now working outside of football altogether. It seems his heart was never in it in the first place.
On Sherwood not being a Mourinho, well perhaps that’s OK? Whereas Mourinho already has a long and glorious record in football management, TS is effectively just starting out and – particularly if he steers Villa to a win the Cup Final – could be seen as England’s answer to Mourinho – in time – particularly as both clearly have great motivational skills.
Before TS arrive, we long said that Villa had enough ability in their ranks. Well TS has come in and drawn out that ability. That in itself is a great skill and in my view a prerequisite to true success in football management.
Morning chaps,
Nice post Matt. I really like the manner you explain the diseased mentality of the club from top to bottom, you’re bang on there mate!
I personally don’t think we’ll get new owners in the summer, I think Lerner will feel emancipated from the depressed, shackled state he and the rest of the club was previously in, and invest in the summer on a new left back. Lucky us!
In other news I’ve ordered some tickets for the Saints game so if any of you lifers are coming now south for that one it would be great to grab a pint after the game!
Typical Little goal –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdS8n-nqcE4
Brian Little
The only thing that narked me was when he was going to sign for the mealies for 600,000 quid but had an injury so they signed a full back instead ( Tarantini ).
Another Villa great –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI7ZPRzg1hU
Its undeniable that TS has earned a longer contract and a decent transfer kitty, If we survive it will be totally down to him.
Villa will never be a top club with Lerner involved, his record in sport and, indeed, business is p-poor, his delegation is horrific. The clown has done so much damage to Villa and yet some folk are prepared to gloss over his pathetic non-leadership, possibly to justify their HC status, one chap on TVB a couple of days ago mentioned that a pal of his won’t attend VP because they booted Lambert and he still had total confidence in him, no loss.
Its a crying shame that the club could not have booted Lambert 10 games earlier although that would have probably been too soon after being awarded his new contract, TS would have had us sitting pretty without the worry of the drop by now, nice work by Lerner,Faulkner and Fox.
Sherwood has instilled a confidence into the players and the win against a rejuvenated Everton was nothing short of remarkable, the players know what they need to do as soon as they walk out onto the pitch, and for all those that still believe Lambert was doing a good job TS is doing it with the same players.
AVFC ITWT
SWV- TS’s approach to games is leagues above Lamberts but you cant get away from the fact it is Lamberts players if not team.
I for one wonder whether the last 4 seasons of penny pinching have set the stage for TS to thrive or would he have fared Better/worse given the same set of circumstances?
we will never know but should get a glimpse once he starts trading of what could of been as I cannot see us spending loads.
could be we have wasted 4 years unnecessarily or we’ve gone through the pain needed to start afresh? probably a bit of both.
Yes mate, folk overlook Fox’s part in prolonging Lambert’s reign, not only overlooked the stats but virtually said that the fans know bugger all, no doubt he’s a massive improvement on the clueless Chubster but i don’t trust him, as Granny Steamer used to say before they locked her away, ‘Better a thief than a liar.’
Mark,
No doubt in my mind that TS would have done far better than Lamebert, the coaching, and system are designed for the players not the dumbarse manager, you can see the enjoyment in the players displays, loo at Lameberts staff appointments, how many are back in football ? Sorry mate, IMO Lamebert was a huge blot on football, i hope he never works in the sport again, he certainly won’t be missed at VP.
steamer- don’t be sorry mate its just that out of shit sometimes roses grow 🙂
Thing is back then TS wouldn’t even have been mentioned as a possibility so maybe shit happens for a reason.
I think we have to give Lambert a little credit for fulfilling his remit of survival on a shoestring and recruiting a lot of the players that are having a major impact atm. Some say the scouting and recruitment is mostly down to other people but if the buck stops with him as manager when things go wrong, you also have to give him his dues. He completely lost it in the end because he couldnt get the best out of the players. Have to give Fox credit for forcing the issue and I think he was the one who pushed for TS.
We are playing some of the best football in memory and it is glorious. Better than we played under MON for the interplay. Have to go back as far as the days of Brian Little or even the good times of Big Ron when we played football with this much swagger and Im loving it!
We should be challenging for Europe playing like this, instead we are still in danger of relegation thanks to 3/4 of a season of dogshite. But I got high hopes for the future, the cup final and next season. Hopefully Sherwood can kick on and this doesnt just end as a ‘honeymoon period’.
Steamer,
Bit harsh about Lamebert personally if Rowett gets poached by one of Europes elite I would love him down at the sty.
AVFC ITWT
Ree- your right,when you look at the opinions of many villa fans on Lamberts purchases you could hardly say they were complimentary. Tekkers and maybe Vlaar stick out and those by accident or someone else’s doing apparently. To be fare most buys are done this way or why have scouts. It seems Lambert knew what parts to make a car with just not how to drive it.
People give Saunders all the credit for building and destroying teams in the 70’s, he never saw Andy Gray play before signing him, Tony Barton was the scout for him. Good old Ron, took Blose and Olbyon down in the same season.
I am hoping all goes to plan and it looks like QPR and Burnley already gone, would you bet against the barcodes joining them, current form last ten games won one lost nine and now lost the last eight on the spin, guess who they beat in that abysmal run.
AVFC ITWT
Steamer, “people give Saunders all the credit” for taking a mid-second division team, getting them promoted, winning cups and the league title along the way and taking them them to the cusp of European glory. That’s people for you, they’re a weird bunch.
Mark: ” It seems Lambert knew what parts to make a car with just not how to drive it.”
Excellent analogy. That’s exactly what happened, but with all his qualifications how could Lambert be therefore called a coach? The mind boggles as TS has come in equipped with just commonsense and a totally +ve attitude and achieved what he has already. So much for formal qualifications. And that applies in ordinary life too in many cases…
Steamer,
I see you’re still in the “Lerner out” brigade! 🙂 I agree with you in some respects but as I’ve posted before, if we have a CEO that can guide Lerner in the right way it doesn’t matter i.m.o.
What’s a chairman for? To approve what’s put in front of him. If we have a CEO with strength of character and has the confidence of the chairman it should be OK. Perhaps Lerner’s only failed before because he was ill-advised?
BTW, Steamer, those were great links of Little and Shaw. Thanks for those.
JL lets hope TS has a good eye for a player or he could end up driving a fiat Punto with wide wheels, bucket seats and a spoiler on the back 😉
Andrew P- Delph looks unplayable at the moment and I think his interplay with grealish is part of the reason. theyu have such contrasting styles yet blend so well. we are no longer a one player team we create from anywhere now, crosses in , well worked goals in the area and players breaking into the box to finish, you have to rub your eyes and look twice to see its actually Villa.
We had a 52 pass sequence on saturday which the old 70’s Brasil would be proud of, wasn’t a fluke or Evertons poor play, we were just that good.
I’ll bet TS is spitting feathers over letting albrighton go, here we are trying to find a right sided winger, fair play to the lad.
Mark – as you’ve asserted, the manager depends a lot on his scouts and other team members to find players. But the fact that he has got Delph and Benteke playing as he has – plus JG’s contribution – indicates that he does know a player or two when he sees them. I believe he’s taking an interest in Gardner as well.
If we’re worried about the best players leaving, I feel that Benteke is the likeliest to go, but if Villa do win the Cup it may help him to decide to stay. But we still have Kozak and maybe TS can do wonders with him as well.
As for Vlaar – I’m not too fussed. I think we’re pretty well equipped in the c-b department.
It looks like a Bright Future! Eh … what did I say? 😉
JL- I agree on Vlaar if clarke comes back 100% and baker gets over his problems, if not he’s too good to lose when we would have to pay out to replace him. Gardner has been mentioned, if he impresses he may get a run out or at least see the bench this season.
As I alluded to earlier we have a lot of loose ends at the moment.
Agree that TS should be kept at the reins if he keeps Villa up.
I don’t see why Fox deserves special praise for just doing what he should have done sooner. His decision to boot PL was probably based on the realisation that Villa will probably go down if he stays and all that TV money would disappear. It was a straight forward business decision. I think even PF would have sacked him when faced with pending relegation.
Reading between the lines maybe fox knew lambert had the chairmans ear so felt he had to tread lightly. Id like to know who pushed the contract extension through for lambert? Was it a reward or a decision based on our good start. If it was Fox i dont see why he should grab the glory for his dismissal. I have the feeling it was lerner tho
Mark,
I suspect that the top brass realised they didn’t have any get-out clause worth speaking in the existing Lambert contract after Fox looked at it as the new CEO. So they therefore gave him a new one as a carrot (as you say, Mark, there was an OK relationship between Lerner and Lambert it seems) but built in the caveat that any drop into the bottom-3 would bring dismissal. or words to that effect. And that (when it happened) was thus the trigger for dismissal.
Sounds plausable jl but wasnt he on his last year anyhow? Surely paying up his contract wouldnt have been anymore expensive. Maybe they wanted the option to keep him as things looked ok and the club up for sale
Mark.
Yes, perhaps they wanted to present an image of stability to any potential buyer, but we just kept losing.
Im sure they did have that ‘relegation zone’ release clause inserted, I mean they did act really quickly. TS was in within a week, Im sure the feelers were already out there during Lamberts last 7 game losing run. We will only find out when accounts are released for this year… which will be a good while yet.
I dont think Benteke is a cert to go, he is enjoying his football… more than at any other time under Lambert I feel. He scored a lot of goals in his first season but I feel TS’s style suits him more. I think he could stick around for another year… maybe. Money talks tho. I reckon when Benteke signed his contract he inserted a ‘release fee’ clause in it possibly at the £25m Lambert was talking about at the time. Hopefully not that low as £25m right now is £5-10m less than his current value.
Ian asked how Helenius is doing the other day well the Lad got a hat trick this weekend, can’t say he’s had a great season but he was going loopy when he left. here are some of the other delights TS has to run the rule over.
http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4693239,00.html?
Ree- heart says Tekkers stays head says not a snowballs chance in hell IMO. as you say I hope there is no clause except santa.
like this idea, worth some of the lads on hear writing in?
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/140-aston-villa-fan-tales-no-4-a-villan-of-the-people/?
Andrew P,
His first half season we were mid table before hitting a brilliant run.
2nd season we were nearly relegated.
3rd season we should have won the League if he hadn’t been so stubborn in playing with no goalie.
4th season, mediocrity
5th season he got out of VP by negotiating with the vermin while under contract and because we were looking like being relegated. Total flop at the skip and Olbyon.
Devious toerag who got his come uppance when Howard Gayle half killed him at Blose because he wouldn’t take his bullying.
ree Its strange with such a poor xmas and Jan they allowed him to buy players, so I think it was very much a last minute thing by Fox, could be wrong but they left it very late if it was calculated. I think Lamberts love in with Lerner bought him too much time.
Mark,
Don’t forget Sanity Claus.
steamer think that left the building with Elvis
Mark – Im sure if Lambert won against Hull he would have stayed on as manager for a few more games by which time we probably would have been out of the cup and in a much worse position than we are now. I dont think they were plotting his sacking before the window closed, but the amount of losses in a row must have forced them to think seriously about the repercussions. I think that 5-0 loss at Arsenal was the turning point, Hull was the final straw.
There’s been studies done about the impact a new manager has over teams and generally they have little to no bearing on results statistically speaking. Looking at the differences between Sherwood and Lambert in the Bmail today its much more significant than the average. The two most relevant stats:
PL 0.88 pts/game – TS 1.3 pts/game
PL 0.48 gls/game – TS 1.7 gls/game
PL 25 games – TS 13 games
Ree, hadn’t seen that but if the Mail’s right that’s a difference of 0.42 points a game or around 5.5 points over Wurzel’s 13 games in charge. Factor in the improved goal difference and bluntly that’s the difference between staying up and going down. I hope he negotiated himself a big bonus if we do stay up. Good work.
Ree,
Aplogies, but I think that TS has only been around for 10 league games (not 13) and as the other stats seem to be league-based I assume that you intended the third stat also to be league-based.
John, it’ll be 13 league games assuming he doesn’t get sacked before the end of the season.
Soz John my mistake! I had 13 on the mind since we scored 13 goals but it is in fact 10 league games.
13 goals in 10 games for SHerwood. 12 goals in 25 games for Lambert.
@Andrew imagine where we would be now if we didnt have those additional 4 points (not 5.5 due thanks to my error!). We’d be 18th on 31 points, 2 behind Sunderland on 33 with a game in hand. Not an impossible situation but we’d look odds on for relegation.
Also factor in that Lambert had a great start to the season, imo due to having Keane pushing the players to perform. We had 10 points from the opening 4 games, take that away from Lambert’s 22 points in 25 games and you would have 12 points from 21 games at an average of 0.57 pts/game! Thats a true reflection of the form we were on. Compared to that Sherwood’s 1.3 pts/game is outstanding.
Damn Im getting my numbers all wrong! Forget my comment two up from here, it is actually:
Sherwood: 10 games – 13 points – 17 goals
Lambert: 25 games – 22 points – 12 goals
These are the actual figures!
Ree,
Your point is well made. Especially as the likes of CP, Hull and Leicester have made a real fight of it to get out of the relegation zone, we would have been sucked under without a doubt if PL had not gone and TS arrived.
Ree- I think the early season form was more down to Senderos and Vlaar organising the defence IMO. I’m sure Keane had some effect but it was short lived. Hutton and sissoko too played their part and remember the 3 defensive midfielders!!!
Then we beat liverpool with baker man of the match. next up the squad had that sickness bout against arsenal and we never recovered form again we also discovered what happened if the opposition scored first, a heavy defeat .
The football was horrendous and negative and we created next to nothing seems like years ago let alone this season
TS to make decisions on GG and Bennett in next 2 weeks, no pressure then.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-gary-gardner-joe-9188577?
and bent told to go on hols lucky bugger
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-darren-bent-told-9188291?
Would it be better to keep Benteke and lose out on 30 mill or go for an excellent season?
Only another 490,000 pounds and Bent is gone.
I’d have another look at Helenious. Sherwood would would make him feel at home.
Keep Senderos, Sissoko,and Hutton. With Clarke and Baker a strong defence would be in place.
Kozak should get a run in the pre season to see how he does in the eventuality of Benteke’s possible move.
Ian Maybe TS is trying to make the core of the side brits? unless he’s asked the other coaches for there opinions on some of our loanee’s? strange he is only having GG Bennett and Robinson in for assessment.
Ian would also depend for me on the transfer fund and who’s in our price range for me. heart says stay, head says sell unless its for at least 2 seasons.
Good points Ian.
Ree this backs up your theory on Lamberts departure
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3069820/Roy-Keane-claims-Tim-Sherwood-laying-groundwork-Aston-Villa-job-long-Paul-Lambert-sacked.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
had eough of this 30 mil for benteke nonsense, bale 80mil? Markovic £20 mil, carroll 35 mil… 45 mil is closer to Benteke’s price IMO
Mark: Ree this backs up your theory on Lamberts departure…[link]
With respect, that knowledge of TS being around at Villa was publicised even before TS was appointed, or just afterwards, I forget which.
That disclosure helped me to form the view that Villa had been waiting for the club to drop into the relegation zone (believing it would happen) before sacking PL because of some clause in his contract.
I think it’s awful that the club decided to wait so long before pressing the button, but maybe this is another example of Lerner wanting to trust Lambert to fulfil his (Lerner’s) criteria and refusing to believe that Lambert would let ‘R’ happen. It would seem to me (Villa having got off to that unbeaten run at start of season) that Lerner had a rush of blood to his head and wanted to reward Lambert. As I read it Fox, had no choice but to go with it but made sure there was an escape clause.
This all just my conjecture, of course, without sure facts.
JL,
The photo’s of TS at two Villa games talking to Fox appeared well before Lamebert was booted so all the evidence adds up. If PL had any self respect he’d have resigned, too much to ask for though. Of course the main culprit in the affair was our invisible owner who ignored numerous and obvious signs that PL was massively out of his depth, and some folk want him to stay on, unbelievable.
Excellent post Mathew
And your points made tally with my view of the manager being the most important thing at any club – finally we have a decent one
I can even tell what they are working on in training and am very impressed with how we attack set peices and of course the general play
Tekkers – it would be crimminal for villa to even consider any bids under 50mil and even then unless he can be replaced we are better off keeping him and building on what we have — the lge is not that great quaility wise and with the right additions we can do better than the likes of pool and spurs next season — they aint all that
UTV
Steamer i reckon PL wanted the sack a long time ago but randy proberbly wanted his monies worth so did want to sack him — PL was never going to resign so he could get his pay off — so that left the whole club in the mess we ended up in
i reckon PL was happy and relived to finally get the push with his pockets bulging at the same time
Jl yes i remember it at the time although didnt realise how many visits maybe he was in the bushes at BMH too . Put the article up as keane had noticed it at the time, ts hovering like vulture.
Dont care if lerner stays as long as he keeps his beak out of the football matters.there are plenty of useless chairman and not many knowledgable ones to pick from.
Not sure if its been mentioned but at long last we have someone who can take a corner! Grealish!
I dont mind learner staying if he lets fox and tim get on with things, stays in america and gives us money when needed!
Andrew was thinking the same myself on saturday, imagine TS’s first day at BMH and he’s got the whole team lined up in a row trying to drop the ball into a bin on the penalty spot, Grealish wins, westwoods still there 😉 saying that Delphs crossing is miles better too.
The rumours seem to have the new owners to be chinease, fromted by malaysians and english ot summin like that….sounds well dodgy to me. Worth the risk having these guys come in and potentialy get rid of fox and tim, or keep randy?
This is really starting to piss me off, we have beaten or should of beaten liverpool, spurs, man city and Everton the form team and yet all of them claim to have been complacent or off form?? good job we weren’t trying then.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2015/05/06/11468112/-?
Andrew that’s the risk unfortunately, someone who understands English footy worse than Lerner
anyone else thinking that Keanes comments are a bit rich? especially this one about Benteke
“I thought he’d give them a lift when he came back from injury . . . but I wasn’t thinking ‘The Messiah’s back’.
“He isn’t the type of personality that will get people together.”
says the failed outgoing coach
Yes Mark it seems keano is looking to sell books so the best way he can do that is by pressing a few buttoms of almost everyone he has worked with — not that he is lieing about TS , the club was clearly sounding him out to take over
Thanks Keane on doing tims job for him….no more motivational speechs for tekkers needed.
I think it could be funny when TS responds.
I thought the same regarding British players. Wonder what he sees in Bennett. Bennett did have a couple of decent games not that far back. Latent talent hidden by Lambert’s tactics I suppose.
I would have concerns about next year if Villa won the cup. A lot of teams have trouble doing double duty in Europe. And I think they have the nouse to do Arsenal in. A nice problem I guess. Lerner or whoever would have to provide more money to keep the team fresh for the prem league.
An exciting summer coming up and a few surprises with the players coming and going I’m sure.
Evertons victims –
Manchester United, Burnley, Southampton, QPR and Newcastle, alongside a draw with Swansea City.
Hardly the Champions Lge is it ? Rubbertoe getting a bit above himself, we walloped them and if it wasn’t for Clattenburg we’d have been out of sight.
Keanes bitter, it went downhill when McMumble got his contract, you never saw Keane out of his seat after that,he thought he’d get the job.
Regarding Bennett, glad he did ok at Brighton, we may get a fee for him now, defensively a car crash, i’d take Enda Stevens over him any day, dunno what he did wrong.
Brads Italian cousin ?
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/video-torino-keeper-passes-the-ball-into-his-own-net-for-outrageously-bizarre-own-goal-31200795.html
This is funny from Keane considering we are now playing better football than under Mon and scoring for fun, even says Lamberts a quality manager too. Hope Grealish signs for England just to piss him off.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3070519/Roy-Keane-slams-tired-club-Aston-Villa-woeful-strikers-couldn-t-finish-dinner-new-chapter-memoirs.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Hey Mark
I read what Keene said and have to admit I tend to agree somewhat in his assessment of the players treating it as a nice payday and nothing more. Happy with staying up. But that is what Lerner wanted so that feeling would seep through the organization. Isn’t it up to the coaches to help players maximize their potential? Methinks old Roy should look in the mirror and not expect the moon just because he is Roy Keane.
And why wouldn’t Sherwood scout the team. He would be an idiot to just walk in without a shnook
hello Ian, he was probably right mate but he wasn’t good enough to handle them is what it comes down to. players are now playing at full match intensity during training, taking extra fitness sessions, why didn’t Keane implement this? as we have seen a positive but honest approach has transformed these listless lot something they never got from the depressive and the scowler. Tactics have a lot to do with getting goals and Lamberts were negative yet Keane says he’s a good manager? sounds like sour grapes form Roy and he’s getting the first shot in before people realise he was there too. As you say the players made all the right noises in the press but I suspect Roy didn’t get the hero worship he felt he should, I don’t imagine he made to many friends or has any now.
Roy Keane has taken a swipe at his former employees by declaring Aston Villa ‘a tired club, and a tired brand.’
I wonder whether Mr. RK might have done Villa a favour by writing this in his book?
If any of Villa’s competitors take seriously what he has to say – or, even, the Villa players themselves – then it could just help Villa in all their remaining games.
On the other hand, perhaps not! Clearly RK is just hearing the clink of cash in his imagination, anticipating massive sales of the book. And maybe people are not daft enough to ignore that probability.
JL I have lost any remaining respect I had for him. If Villa are a tired brand what does that say for all but the top 4-6 teams in his opinion? Bearing in mind he might be commentating on these teams or dealing with Irish players from them. I don’t mind someone speaking their mind but talking trash like this just shows how deluded the man is.
Wonder if it says anywhere in his book that he failed as a coach at villa and left them and his so called friend Paul in the shite when their need was greatest? when the going gets tough roy gets going and blames others 😉
Never rated Keane as a player, as a hard man, captain, manager or human being, good riddance.
If Roy Keane made those comments, it doesn’t say much for him, does it? Looks like he was one of the first to abandon what he thought was a sinking ship. What a chicken! I hope Villa survive and RK is exposed for the mercenary and poor manager he probably is. Yes, good riddance to him and his ilk.
He got the complacency bit right but. Then Sherwood turned up:)
Hard men my Arse , some of the names l heard bandied about , were joke , steve mcmahon , l remember watching him bottle it against noel blake , mark Hughes who l admired for a long time as a player , came back from abroad and l saw him go down with the slightest touch , out my book , vinny jones , dont make me laff, there arn’t any real hard men in the game , if you played at any level , you didnt let an opposing player know he had hurt you , you looked him in the eye and ask “is that the best you can do ?2 and you made sure the next tackle , he felt it , really glad l watched the game when it was real men not the pussy wimps of today ,
Frem lv text and email you mate , let me know about those questions
I love this article in the Daily Mirror… http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/general-election-2015-west-ham-5650358
Apparently, the top Google searches for Cameron during the election campaign have been:
1. Does David Cameron support West Ham?
2. Does David Cameron support Aston Villa?
Now does that suggest that the nation’s mind will be made up by this blip he made about which team he supports? 🙂
In other words, does it prove he doesn’t know which end of society he feels more strongly about … the top 1% or the bottom 10%? I think we know the answer to that…
It’s bloomin’ clear to me that his so-called allegiance to Villa has purely been because the family connection with Dugdale. Will it mean he will lose all support from Villa fans after this faux pas?
No doubt we’ll still see Cameron at Wembley on May 30.
Keane has an agenda to be on TV, get column inches and sell books, it’s an unfortunate deterioration in what was a great football career that he is reduced to self promotion and sound bites.
I still believe the Villa players needed a kick up the arse and Keane’s approach was wrong and Sherwood’s approach has been correct and it’s proven week after week that Sherwood is far more capable as a manager than PL and Keane ever where. But hey, it means the media are talking about us rather than ignoring the second city.
What a sea change in both the blog and the comments that follow, i’m sure we are all looking forward to the Hammers game now as opposed to fearing it, when we look at results around us there is less fear although it would be great for Newcastle/Hull/Sunderland to continue losing so we can get greater advantage from our wins.
Really do hope Sherwood’s perfomance is recognised either by Lerner or new owners and he gets a chance to retain the current crop and add to it, he deserves backing financially. i’m glad the likes of Bennett, Robinson and Gardner are being looked at, they all deserve a chance as for Bent you know what you get and on his wage being a bit player it doesn’t make sense so no need to be looked at and more time to see who can contribute to Villa’s future undoubtedly Robinson and Gardner can, Bennett like others may be transformed under Sherwood’s leadership, how many players have we called for to be removed under PL who we wouldn’t want to see at any other club under Sherwood now.
UTV
“No doubt we’ll still see Cameron at Wembley on May 30.”
He’ll turn up thinking it’s the Olympic Stadium he’s gone to to watch West Ham!! 🙂
Darren,
It looks as though Cameron had already decided that AVFC was not good enough for him to support despite Sherwood!
Sorry folks, but this very funny article in the Brum Mail has just been published on-line about Cameron:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/prime-minister-david-cameron-fan-ifesto-9189777
JL,
Very funny, Matt Kendrick has a very wacky sense of humour.
Did my duty today and voted Green in both elections, David Camoron is a knob as are all Tories, Labour not much better, Miliband is a decent and intelligent sort but the rest of the party is crepe. Would be nice if Mr Putin was English, the outstanding World leader of the last fifty years.
DO,
Nice to see you’ve fully recovered.
This is a real hard case –
https://www.facebook.com/plastician/videos/10154036450012281/
tony adams to buy villa…install himself as manager
Bet Charlotte has got a ticket.
Andrew,
I thought that when the possible Azerbaijan consortium was mooted, dear oh dear, looks stupid, talks stupid, is stupid. I don’t mind the Azers but not this idiot.
Steamer,
Went to Tesco today and the girl we know at the checkout asked which party she should vote for.
“The Pink Party”, I said. “Is there a Pink Party?”, she asked!
Yes, Steamer with you and me behind ’em, the Greens will show ’em how! 😉
Steamer/ JL off to vote for the green,claret and blue party in a moment 🙂
here’s a bit more Keane bashing, lovely.
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/roy-keane-excuses-sherwood-being-vulture-for-villa-job/?
wouldn’t want to mess with someone who can flick like that, imagine what his Chinese burns like?
Steamer – I wondered who the fruitcakes voting Green were. You are the first person I know that admits to such lunacy.
Just check out their policies on law and order. Try not to cry with laughter as you read this madness…
http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/cj.html
Hahaha. Very funny Steamer.
🙂
hello droyd,
there’s some good some not so, same as all the others , which don’t really work anyhow. I have mates in the prison service and believe me its dire and I haven’t seen a police presence in my street since the 2 officers that lived here moved. As the alternatives are more of the same or the macho party I’m going to vote for the parts I do like until the common sense party is born. who are you voting for? aren’t you a libertarian?
Droyd, just read the Green Party crime manifesto, Christ on a bike what an unworkable bag of hippy bollox, within a few months of that being imposed we will require Marshall law as every scrote will have a field day, with those hippy trippy policies. Saying that there is no way you can vote for the Tories after this debacle of a term nor a party like labour who spent cash like George best in a threshers , leaving a note saying there’s no cash left( and propose to put the same bell end in charge of the dough again).
I hope that drunken donkey Tony Adams stays well away from our club, the bloke is a complete knob and very overrated as a player.
Mark – I’m broadly Libertarian but have some Authoritarian leanings, especially with regards to crime and punishment.
I object to taking part in what is in essence an advanced auction of stolen goods. Voting for who is going to steal slightly less of your stuff than someone else makes no appeal to me. Voting for these people only encourages them. I think today will be the last time I vote. Next time I move (probably this year), I won’t go on the electoral register as it is a means of the govt collating info on you. The less they know about me the better. They can also shove their Telly tax where the sun doesn’t shine.
For his tireless work over the last 20 years or so in being vehemently anti EU and being proven right on most of his predictions, I came to the conclusion that Farage deserved my vote. I went to the polling station with the intention of spoiling my ballot paper but had a last minute change of heart. I first voted for UKIP in the mid 1990s. I don’t like the fact that they have dropped their flat tax proposals or that they now support that Soviet shit, the NHS. They are also against the misleadingly named “bedroom tax”, one of the few good things the coalition introduced.
I don’t like what UKIP are becoming as they grow (leftist) but on balance I wanted to give Farage some loyalty for the remarkable work he has done in keeping the referendum on the EU on the agenda.
I have come to the conclusion that Labour/SNP coalition will be the best result, although I have taken 5-2 on another ConDem coalition. For 5 years of hell, it will ensure the Jocks get another referendum on independence. They will vote yes next time and as Labour rely on the Scottish vote to get into power, we would never see their ruinous governance in England ever again. A price worth paying I think. Scotland can have their socialist paradise like Venezuela, whilst England can prosper. They will be importing whisky within 30 years.
The lolz of Miliband operating on the international scene, coming up against the likes of Putin would be hilarious. PM Beaker would be most entertaining despite the ruinous policies.
Try and think of 10 countries you would rather live in out of about 200. I run out of places to live very quickly.
Droyd,
I agree, pretty much what flavour of vanilla do you want. Personally I would be a lot more radical than any of them. Its pretty much a contest to see who’s going to give your money to their buddys. We shouldn’t be voting purely on how much is it going to cost us, there are bigger issues we are not allowed a say in.
On Farage, a friend of my Mrs met some at a party conference in a Manchester hotel, basically pissed and groping anything in reach, a right bunch of chauvinists. If you want to vote on EU vote conservative as they said we would definitely be voting on it soon, really soon, well maybe in our lifetimes. Lost all faith in politics when Blair got off Scott free.
Ian- do you think we would all fit in Switzerland? 7 year waiting list last I looked. Your right there aren’t many but I’m guessing its because the ones we want to live in have swiped it all 😉
You’ve got a point there Mark. Switzerland is too cold for me. Actually if you have the money you can live anywhere. Malta anyone?
Tony Adams to buy us
Hahhahah. Ffs no. If they need to borrow money then they ain’t rich enough to buy us
Tony Adams leading a consortium to buy Villa, according to Daily Mail. This is truly frightening. But I take it with a large pinch of salt.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3072355/Former-Arsenal-defender-Tony-Adams-plans-150m-takeover-Aston-Villa.html.
Mein Fuhrer Droyd,
Love the Tory policy on law and order, if their stinking rich or in a position of power let them off.
I’d have thought you would have appreciated the Soviet system – guilty – shoot ’em, innocent – shoot ’em, it worked ok until the traitors and liberals got a foothold, lets try it here.
Seems the Adams story is moving on, didn’t Villa announce last week that the weren’t looking for a DoF, could be Adams, Smith could be Chairman, too many Cockenees for me, we’re a Birmingham club and we have Villans who are qualified to work for Villa not a management failure like Adams, who next sol Campbell ? all we’ll ever hear is Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal. Having said that, we do have some obvious connections at the moment. Lets go for Russian mafia money.
Mark,
Didn’t you mean Swaziland, although the skiings crepe there.
steamer- I’ve heard dick van dykes in with a shout
Have a bad feeling that the Tories will win easily.
Dick van Dyke was the only decent cockenee.
think droyd would like Swaziland
“King Mswati has shown no enthusiasm for sharing power, but banned opposition parties and trade unions have been vocal in their demands for greater democracy and limits on the king’s power.”
hope next seasons kit has pearls on it
Ian scratched Swaziland of my top ten
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14095303
I’m in.
Just seen Messi’s goal from last night, the blokes a genius, unplayable.
Maybe the opponents are sub par
Steamer- not cockney enough for me genius or not
I read the Droyd’s comments and decided that he must be an illegal immigrant. 😉
Well, time approaches … anything can happen except UKIP winning it!
Apparently the Smith mob have 80m and are tapping up the banks for the rest.
Honestly, who would vote for Nigel Farage ? possibly Camoron ? probably Boris. When Boris is suggested as Camorons successor you know yer scraping the barrel.
So was the voting outcome, better the devil you know or plain apathy?
Congrats to Benteke, well deserved recognition, the beast is back
What a complete joke that a sacked Chelsea executive with limited financial resources and attempting to put together a consortium to buy Villa should even be considered. If you don’t have the financial clout to buy then you don’t have the financial clout to maintain a premier league club.
Paul Smith can walk on because what this club needs is an owner with sufficient wealth not to worry about 150m price tag, with sufficient savvy to know he shouldn’t make football decisions but employ people he trusts to make them for him and with sufficient business knowledge to know how to grow a brand globally. Paul Smith doesn’t meet any of these criteria.
As for the football personality front man in Tony Adams, is that the best he can get, sure an Arse legend to Arse fans but you would have thought both brain cells would have pulled in a Graham Taylor or Brian Little to say they were happy with the consortium and wanted fans to get behind it.
Chinese money sounds better than this eejit.
UTV
DO,
Great post.
NOT WANTED.
Had a good laugh watching the TS interview re Keane comments, he was asked a question about comments made in his latest version of his book and TS said ” What did he say ” quite brilliant put down.
And when told Keane said he was putting himself in the Villa frame by going to VP while Lamberk was under pressure he said well next time I am out of work I will go watching games at the Nou Camp, you gotta love the guy with a sense of humour like that he could have been a brummie.
AVFC ITWT
This morning, we bathe in Socialist tears. 🙂 🙂 🙂
DO
I don’t think it was apathy mate, more no real credible opposition to the Tories, Labour have been crushed and it goes to show how much they have relied on the Scottish vote in the past. They first past the post system is flawed ie 1.5m people have voted for the SNP giving them 56 seats, yet nearly 4m have voted for UKIP and they will only get 1 maybe 2 seats. It means more years of austerity and no real change.
More importantly I hope there is no way we will get bought out by a consortium of cockney spivs short on readies!!!!!!
B62 – I agree with everything there except for austerity. There has been no austerity. It’s a myth. We are £1.5 trillion in debt, a figure that was doubled by the coalition. What austerity? Making some sane attempts to within our means is not austerity.
Have to be optimistic for the West Ham game, although I would prefer some full backs in the team that can defend, like Hutton and Cissokho. Would be tough on Bacuna and even Richardson has improved but we are dominating games but only narrowly winning due to poor defending.
B62: “it goes to show how much they have relied on the Scottish vote in the past”
Let’s not forget that the main drive for the Labour movement began in Scotland and they feel that the English-led party has let them down by not sticking to old principles.
Droyd: “What austerity?”. I think you should talk to the disabled and many others in the poorest 10% group who by any stretch of the imagination have been treated in despicable fashion. *I totally agree* that living within your means is the right solution, but not at the expense of those less able to fend for themselves. By doing so we become a less civilised society.
Apart from which the sheer argument that you improve matters for all by expanding the economy has past its sell-by date. Mother Earth cannot take any more violation – in that sense it’s more true that we need to live within our means.
How have the disabled and poorest 10% of the population been treated in a “despicable fashion” John?
I will make no great comments, except that Leanne Wood has failed to make any impression in Wales, Farage failed to win his seat, and helped David Cameron defeat Labour. Ed Milliband will resign, and Labour at last will lose its cloth cap image, that it has gone back to, and perhaps be more representative of the people.
Ed Balls lost his seat, and shows that the British people did not want him anywhere near our finances, even though the BBC seemed to give the impression, that he is a leading economist.
Feel sorry for Nick Clegg, who will probably resign too, for putting his country before party politics 5 years ago.
We will have a majority government, and it gives a mandate to get on with the job of continuing to put this country back on it’s feet…
Now David Cameron can concentrate on getting his mind in order ready to give total support to Villa at Wembley on 30 May 2015…and another unexpected win..!!!!
Droyd,
Not really worth discussing, as I have several family members who have to rely on disability benefits, and they have certainly not suffered under the coalition, as they are genuine cases.
The benefits are now much more severely tested, but if the claims are genuine, then there are no worries…
Droyd,
It depends what the definition of austerity is?? And what it means to the people on the receiving end. The massive cuts in public sector spending and parliament changing laws to implement them, now mean we have a police service stretched beyond its limit set to lose another 2000+ officers( and like them or not they have been royally fucked over in their pay/pensions, despite the politicians upping their own benefits) , Fire stations closing and staff cuts, and the NHS still in a real mess. Add to this council services being cut etc etc and people are feeling the pinch big time . I’m not a politician or economist/accountant so I don’t know the answer all I know is I am personally worse off than before Cameron came to power, so I voted UKIP as I don’t trust Milliband , Balls and co.
West Ham is another must win game, and one we can win, I just hope all this takeover talk isn’t unsettling Sherwood and the troops, TS has been quoted as saying ” I can keep villa up and win the FA Cup, yet still get the sack” add to this Man Utd/Cheslea have joined Liverpool in the race for Tekkers, I don’t want his head turning yet and not for £30m more like £40m or more.
Well it does not come much bigger than sat. However well we are playing we are still 2 points off safety and 3 points at home to west ham is a must if we are going to get out of this mess.
One of the only times i feel confident of a win…and thats dangerous!
Gabby is fit and i do like the formation when he was playing
Given
Bacuna Okore Vlaar Richardson
Westwood
Cleverly Delph
Grealish
Gabby Tekkers
Be interesting if he starts with gabby or not…..ts has said he will def play a part.
The takeover talk is random. One thing we do know about Learner is he is private and keeps things under wraps. For this to come out in the media now is very odd.
Plus they do sound like a shambles
i think the SNP are the reason labour took such a trouncing as people are not prepared to risk having a goverment how has a party holding a gun to its head that also are hell bent on breaking up the UK — imo
who
Runtings,
The UK is already broken, and has been for a long time, with the strong feelings of the Welsh, Scots and Irish towards England, but the interesting thing for me in MId-Wales, is that we are now worse off under the Assembley, than we were under direct rule from Westminster, and that is always the danger, that the strongest will always look after themselves. Scotland has only had this great National feeling because of oil, and now that the oil industry is suffering, they could not survive without English money, which also applies to Wales. What is needed is for the UK to be developed on a much fairer basis, and the encouragement of growth away from London and the South. What a difference there may have been had not the deveopment of Birmingham not been restricted many years ago.
Enough of politics, time to be united in our support of our new guv’nor TS and the team, and a must win on Saturday.
Is it time for a complete change in political structure, would proportional representation work in Britain, it means highly populated areas get the most seats but it would also mean local issues being a driving force in elections and more representatives across the political spectrum as opposed to first past the post and the real potential for an MP to not be an idealogical representative of the majority of their electorate.
We have PR here and a number of seats per constituency to fill so while parties can ‘manage’ votes and determine one constituency is better with a single candidate rather than splitting the vote by running two or more, it does mean more rounded representation for a constituency from large parties to single issue candidates. It does tend to mean shared government and the part played by the smaller partner has little prominence beyond one/two ministerial positions. But we’ve had Green coalition partners in the past and that would never happen in Britain.
DOR
I think that would be a much fairer system and also would give more chance of the UK being held together — ukip i understand have got 3.1million votes and only have one mp , surely that cant be right when others with less votes have seats
Another cup final tomorrow – and as long as the team continues in the same vain as they have under ts i can only see a villa win —- hope the lads keep there focus and do the biz
Droyd: How have the disabled and poorest 10% of the population been treated in a “despicable fashion” John?
The verified stories of disabled people who became obliged to have Atos medical examinations made me close to weeping – I’m surprised you have had your ears and eyes closed to all that.
Apart from disabled people often needing the extra bedroom for their equipment and that not being taken into account.
Foodbanks? Never heard of them?
Droyd: if the claims are genuine, then there are no worries…
You clearly don’t realise that Atos bent the rules beyond recognition to improve their return to work stats. Even some medical practitioners who participated in the tests have whistle-blown on what happened.
PP Feel sorry for Nick Clegg, who will probably resign too, for putting his country before party politics 5 years ago.
Er … Since the Libs have traditionally been closer to Labour, wouldn’t it have been in the nation’s interest for the Libs to have joined with Labour. As now, Labour had their own deficit reduction programme but not at the pace that the Tories (and Libs) were invisiging. And the ConDems failed to achieve their targets anyway – by a mile.
DOR: Agreed about PR.
Anyway guys, the Tories will fall flat on their face within 6 to 12 months, so their brutish form of politics will go before too long.
Aside from all that, will Cameron back West Ham or Villa tomorrow? 😉
Socialist tears ? Are you mistaking the Labour Party for socialists now ? The Labour Party are now paying the price for abandoning any socialist principles 50 odd years ago, Prescott, Blair, Kinnock, Blunkett, Straw, Brown et al should be publicly flogged and then put up against a wall and shot for treason and war crimes. The absence of any talent in the Labour Party means it is finished for good and won’t be missed.
A Tory Party without any credence is now ruling the roost, the wimp, “Dave” is posturing as if he were some kind of political genius, that is the real Blair legacy.
I wonder if Dave, Gideon and Boris celebrated by smashing up a restaurant as they did many times in their student days, to think the Sun readers voted for a bunch of second rate hoolies.
Right, on to important stuff, apparently the Smith consortium have been organising the takeover since last May and if completed then it will be around July, approximately one month before the season starts, not a good sign. I don’t want my local club run by a group residing over 100 miles away which has no connection to Villa, Birmingham or the West Midlands, if they were mega-rich then ok but this mob sound as though they’ll take the TV money and let us scratch around like Herbert did. Previously i was ready to accept almost anyone over Lerner, but cockenees ?
JL,
Atos were inhuman, the mob replacing them are even more barbaric.
3-0 to Villa tomorrow if Gabby doesn’t play, 0-1 if he does, keeping my fingers crossed that he aggravates his hammy and misses our cup win.
Still not clear whether GG can play.
Steamer: “A Tory Party without any credence…”
Yep … smear and fear where their main tactics. And the Libs helped them in their disinformation about Labour.
John – forcing the taxpayer by gunpoint to give their cash to the disabled and the unemployed is an issue where we disagree. If someone is disabled, that’s their problem not mine. I should not be forced by the state to fund these people’s lives. As a decent human being I gladly give money via charity to the needy. I work for a local charity and we contribute very positively to the needy in the Stourbridge area.
I would give more if it wasn’t for the state forcibly making me pay for these people. For me it is a case of voluntary versus forced by the state. This is charity, pure and simple. Anyone that talks in terms of entitlement to other people’s cash can get stuffed. To me that is totally immoral. To you it is the opposite.
I’m not even going to expand on the amount we are forced to pay in foreign aid which ultimately either lands in the lap of questionable dictators or contributes towards the world’s single biggest problem – overpopulation.
Of course when you have loads of cash and then don’t donate some to the needy then you are a colossal bell end. However, it’s your cash and you should be allowed to do with it as you choose. That is called liberty. We should try it some time.
interesting views Droyd
i think what you are suggesting is that if you can’t afford to live in this society and there is no charity available well it’s tough t-ts and society as a whole should have no responsibility to those type of people.—— if society has no regard for it’s citizens why should it’s citizens have any regard for society ?
maybe scrap the health service and go completly private – get rid of social housing ect – but these are the things the UK is built on and without them the rich would still be rich but not very safe imo and only a police state that would be able to uphold any type of internal security ——–
the idea of going down this route would lead the country rapidly into the dark ages imo —-
What about the filthy rich Tory’s who don’t pay their taxes ? subsidised by the majority who do. Billions every year, the Gary Barlows and the crepe comedian who’s as funny as a dose of the crabs and all the pals of the Tory Party who before every election tell the world that if Labour win they’ll leave the country, Cilla’s still here unfortunately, Phil Collins, Michael Caine and the others. This country has no values, how do you account for a million sun readers who signed a petition to re-instate the racist bully who battered a midget, nearly re-ignited the war with Argentina and basically is undeniably talentless vermin, if a member of the working class had his record they’d serve 10 years in the pokey.
Once more on to important matters, reading about the takeover, seems that three mobs are in the running, one is VERY big, one looks like the Gilan lot from Azerbaijan which, again, is big and one other. Regarding the Gilan crowd, the Villa commercial director previously worked in Baku and Adams is also an advisor to them. It looks as though Adams won’t be part of the takeover, if it happens, but Smith has an outstanding record in both sport and business. The bloke who runs things for his dad at Gilan plays polo with Prince William so another connection. Just too many coincidences for it not to happen.
Jimmy Carr, that’s the bloke.
Yes runtingz, no NHS so whats going to happen ? folk are going to turn to crime and what with the lack of police who’s going to stop them ? its bad enough already but its going to be a very dangerous society under this crowd, of course they’ll have the met thugs protecting them won’t they ? all paid for by the taxpayer.
I think there’s one family that owns 12 huge houses, totally useless, never done a days work between them, a history of treason, subbed by the taxpayer, foreign of course and worshipped by the sun readers, lets start with them.
Droyd: “… That is called liberty. We should try it some time.”
Historically, the monasteries once catered for the needs of the poor and infirm – until Henry the 8th “I am” came along and got rid of them. It’s been proven that the state of affairs for poor and infirm and children then became intolerable and stayed like that for about 30 years..
It was under Eliz. 1st that the state then “interfered” via the Poor Law. Charity was there but not much was getting to where it was needed and it considered that a “safety net” was necessary.
The Poor Law was developed; workhouses came about, and they survived until the 1940s would you believe. The Birmingham workhouse entrance was known as “the Gate of Sighs”, giving you an idea of that it was a situation of desperation that caused people to enter there.
It was then deemed that the state should be more magnanimous and give liberty (note the poor are entitled to liberty as well!) to those in need by removing the workhouse and providing a better financial ‘safety net’.
What you seem to fail to realise Droyd is that people very often enter that ‘safety net’ through no material fault of their own. Yes, charities can help in various ways, but there should always be a reasonable safety net and treatment of all people in such a way that they can live in dignity.
That – in my view – makes us a more humane society.
One day you may have a need. I wonder how you’ll feel than?
Steamer,
Yep, you’ve given the other good reasons and very appropriate style! 🙂
John,
I think you mistake Droyd ‘failing to realise’ with him not giving flying fuck
Here’s my plan for the western world. 🙂
Legalize drugs. Put the drug lords out of business. Tax the product and create free clinics for those that become addicted. We have gambling, smoking, and drinking sessation programs already so what’s the big deal.
A guaranteed income for every citizen over 18. Get rid of all the government grants. This will be cheaper. Just the government spending on all these programs is astronomical.
Get rid of all government taxes. Introduce a purchase and service tax instead. All basics tax free and a sliding scale as the product or service increases in value. This gives citizens the ability to run their finances unhindered by government.
Most people will continue to work as its inherent in 99% to improve their lot.
The whole thing would be run by one person and their staff. A lot cheaper imo..
And business? Not tax but tight environmental conditions. This would improve employment.
Government can then focus on the well being of the nations people.
I’ve been drinking
Rags: I think you mistake Droyd ‘failing to realise’ with him not giving flying f**k
You have a point, mate, but I’ve told him to wait until his turn comes along. And he can’t say “it won’t happen” because life is such that the unexpected *does* happen. And often when you least expect it.
Ian,
Interesting ideas. Very.
It’s certainly one possibility.
evening folks,
so the jocks have had the last laugh and are now the third largest party in the commons representing about a third of their own people and none of the vast majority of the UK, what a great system.
I like libertarianism if its joined to a social conscience and not just a vehicle to grab all you can for yourself. Unfortunately that not our mind set and we are stuck with the money grabbers from another “Ism” for another 5 years.
Can anyone tell me what make the rich tick? I don’t understand the mind set of the rich because once you have a certain amount there is no point having more other than I guess, status, an inflated ego and a tendency to think you are more important than others. Try being rich without a lot of poorer people to do the work.
I have just put in the underfloor heating in an 800 sqm house built for the man who designed the shard in London, it is ridiculous, you could have a decent game of five aside in his Kitchen!! the cost of running it would cripple a small country why? because I can is not a good enough answer for me.
Yet here we are hoping a rich bloke turns up so we can have a half decent football team thank god the Tories got in 🙂
Mark: “Can anyone tell me what make the rich tick?”
Interestingly, an American businessman found out that any income beyond about 47,000 dollars/pounds does not give you additional happiness – according to a study that he’d read.
So he went and cut his salary by 90% and brought his employees’ salaries up!
Like it Ian,
what about a return to organic local foods supply so we don’t have 7 billion sick people to make a profit off of and a need for massive health care?
A pooling of technology and Ideas and if environmentally friendly use it! not stock pile for profit.
Plus an open minded scientific community that’s not weighed down with Dogma and the need to turn a profit or slant the results to suit any one company/corporation?
To boldly go where no man has gone before….. erm captain 🙂
JL now that’s progress 🙂
Mark,
Yes, you’re right … we’ve become slaves to ‘the profit motive’ and to whatever is thrown at us as ‘the cure’ for any ills we must surely develop in the act of consuming what we consume. Social ills as well as personal ills.
This is so-called “progress” (!!!) but in fact seems to be taking us backwards and reducing our capacity for clear thought.
Definitely JL the Latest research on the effect our food choices have on our gut Biome
( the 3lbs of bugs that live in our intestines) is very revealing. anti-biotics and weed killers on food wipe them out and allow other bugs to set up home causing havoc with health and mind.
these symbiotes share DNA with us and produce various vitamins and hormones such as serotonin which have a very real effect on our minds. A book worth reading is brain maker by David Perlmutter .
One microbe found in cats when introduced into mice made them unafraid of Cats putting the microbes back where they wanted to be 🙂
meanwhile we should have 10 more points
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-find-out-how-9218928?
I know all about antibiotics. I had a stubborn infection that would keep coming back so the Dr gave me 3 years worth of antibiotics. It wreaked havoc on my tum. I won’t go into a lot of details but blocks of concrete was my daily constitution. Over a year to get over it.
I like your ideas too Mark. What say we run next election. I’m still a British citizen.
Ian we should be a shoe, in how hard can it be, Cameron won
joke election first past the post is a joke PR is the thing this country is a joke if we are in europe why dont we vote as they do not this stone age first past the post
Canada is first past the post too and with 5 1/2 time zones by the time it gets to us the election is done and dusted.
“…if society has no regard for it’s citizens why should it’s citizens have any regard for society ?”
Well said, Runtings!
I expect Villa to win against WHU. Villa need the win more than them and is playing some pretty good football at the moment. Hopefully the team is consistent and play with the confidence and skill shown against Everton and Spurs.
Maybe, all going well, they can bring Gabby on later in the match. Given the injuries, TS has picked s good starting lineup, an attack minded one. Zoggy to score today:)
3-1 to Villa
Runtings: “…if society has no regard for it’s citizens why should it’s citizens have any regard for society ?”
There’s actually a very good spiritual reason why not, but I won’t go into it here.
Proportional Representation (PR)
The old argument why *against* it is that under the first-past-the-post system we actually vote for our own specific locally-appointed representatives. In practise I accept they are invariably work to their Party orders, *but not always*.
Although I can see the argument for PR I also support the old idea.
JL- our locally elected Tory is on 12 business boards as well as his duties a busy Man indeed.
what would be wrong with both? have an election to decide who’s selfish needs (manifesto) we are going to follow, then elect local representatives at council level for balance. but they need to have life experience, be able to work together, be able to pass at least some form of exam plus not have any business interests.
As for the likes of Alan Sugar, Branson get them involved in think tanks. And for everyones sake get spiritual leaders together of every sort and find some common ground.
that would mean anyone could form a way forward (manifesto) for the country such as Droyd, we could break away from the labour, Tory, liberal Tags and vote where we truly want this country to go. party identities have become very vague in my opinion and if you keep doing the same things and expect change its a sign of madness.
Feels strange today. Doesn’t feel like last week where I was buzzing for the Everton game.
I don’t have a great feeling really. West Ham are shite but that’s when I worry more with Villa, when we shite teams and scoop down to there level
Just hope we win and a few bellow lose and we are all but there
Hope WBA batter the Toons
‘Benteke is going nowhere no one can afford him’. I can always rely on TS to put me in a good mood!
Mark: “if you keep doing the same things and expect change its a sign of madness.”
And there the ‘ayes’ have it! 🙂
Very true … something new needs to emerge from all of this. I’ve been saying that for a long time ..
… and it will. Perhaps sooner than we think at present.
Meanwhile, the Tories seem set to virtually scrap green energy development and fracking will get the go-ahead…
talk-sport are calling it the Cameron derby, I think we will win, wet spam will test us in the air at the back but I think they will be having way more problems with our attack to be a consistent threat. Hope we get a strong ref who’s been to specksavers today getting tedious with mistakes costing us and I think we will get kicked a lot. However I think our midfield will dominate theirs. 2-0 the villa
… in other words there will be a lot of suffering that is likely to be felt amongst ordinary people, whether on benefits or not. Especially when the affects of fracking through water contamination becomes evident, plus subsidence. Birmingham, however, may well be spared that.
And how Ms. Sturgeon reckons that she’ll be able to implement what she’s been voted in for must be the biggest red sturgeon (er, herring) ever! The Tories have got an absolute (effectively a 15-seat) majority and nothing will shift ’em
JL yep backed by the Tory rags who’s owners have shares in it, personally I don’t think national papers should show political bias. If they produced a paper and called it Tory or labour politics no-one would buy it so why are they allowed to lead people with their tub thumping bollocks?
I expect Newcastle to get 3 points today. I hope Everton do Sunderland in the early KO today, then we get our 3 points
JL its frightening how dangerous this fracking will be, we are not the biggest country and the water table will knackered, only hope is the tory MP’s come to their senses.
‘Aint no stopping us now , we’re on the move
Ain’t no stoping us now , we’ve got the groove ‘
In the words of Luther Vandross – cheeses maybe but this is our team now , thanks to Tim Sherwood .
Excellent article Matt and comments . I voted with my heart and went fir the greens .
Hope the steamers had a good time watching The beautiful Jessie Steamer performing High School Musical !! Xxxxxxxc c
Don’t worry we will blast the hammers – my prediction 4-1 .
Massive game today, just as last weeks was and next weeks will be, today if the results go with us we can pretty much seal our survival. However this could still go down to the wire, West Ham will be no pushover and this will be a tough test perhaps tougher than the toffees last week. I predict a narrow victory nail biting to the end, I don’t want to have to get a win at Saints as they are back in form, and Burnley could have nothing to play for except pride and freedom to thank there travelling fans as they return to the championship.
Horror
There we are, the country is about to sink and we start worrying about the Villa! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Mark – yes, I unfortunately buy the Daily Mail on Saturday just for its superior TV guide, and it is soaked with Tory Gloating. A couple of pages you expect, but this one goes on and on …
Can the Tories govern alone?
Is it true they’re going to offer the second QE II class aircraft carrier to Australia for an undisclosed amount?
trinity they have 51% so I’d say they will take some stopping, no Idea on the aircraft carrier wouldn’t surprise me that they would want Australia to have it if things got hairy with China.
http://www.worldfirst.com/uk/blog/daily-update/tories-look-set-govern-alone-majority-government-sterling-flies/
Mark-51% is a majority, so they will take some stopping.
The carrier thing isn’t out of the question. Remember before the Falklands War in ’82 the then Thatcher government had agreed to sell Invincible to Australia. The deal only fell through because of the outbreak of that war.
Droyd
l hope your super immune ,
2006 Dec 28 at 11pm , l was making a cup of hot chocolate and felt dizzy thinking l had stood up to soon , went back into lounge to ask wife if she wanted a cup , only to find myself on the floor banging my head on the ground trying to grab something out of the back of my neck and head , ended up at george eliot hospital to be told to go home with some paracetomol by a locum doctor , and only a passing nurse noticed something was definatley not right , x-ray proved l had a bleed on my brain and was rushed to walsgrave hospital , suffering an arachnoid haemorage and was told later l was one of the lucky 5% that live and l know that as a villa fan mate of mine died 6 months earlier ,but you know some days l wish it had took me out as thats how l feel sometimes , l asked later was it my job ,stress ect , ect NO its a Berry on the brain and WE all have them and they can go any time during your life if your unfortunate to have an insult (as they are called) and the consultant asked my wife “can you support him” l cant do a full day as the parts that died on my brain wont let me , its hard to explain the feelings i get but it has ruined my life as to working and enjoying myself , thats why l had to give up my ST at the villa as sometimes l struggle with noise , (l’d be ok being a nose ) but yes my life is fucked , l had a successful business, done whatever l wanted and gave a lot to charities , l also give to these people who have to sleep on the streets as l dont know the circumstances they may have gone through, and they could be military who have been shit on by the goverments , but thats me , always have done ,
you know the saying “l would’nt wish it on anyone ” well l would’nt , but the back of my mind l know a few l would wish it as it would make them realise how lucky they are ,
l paid taxes since i was 15 and signed on for 4 days once as l was told too , but but l cant claim anything and l think lm entitled after 50 odd years of paying into the system , but hey ho , l hope you never suffer one , but just a little thought , it came onto me and no one saw it coming , neither did I !!
well enjoy your weekend all
3-2 villa
Afternoon all,
Looks like I missed all the sh1ts and giggles with the politicking the last couple days! Personally I choose not to vote because the parties/politicians are all the same. Any party that stands to make an actual change ie Green/Ukip (although im massively against those bigots) will never come to power. Atm voting Labour is like choosing the lesser of two evils and I refuse to partake in this farce of an election which gives the illusion of democracy while reliant on voter manipulation and even downright fraud.
But enough about that and on to the Villa…
This is probably a tougher match than the one against Everton, even though on paper you would say this is easier. West Ham will seek to destroy much more than Everton and historically we play much worse against teams when we have to break them down than against teams who come to play. Big Sam will have them organised thats for sure, question is will his players all stay switched on. I still feel we will win this since West Ham have been pretty bad lately since the start of the year, the players know Sam is leaving at the end of the season so they’re not playing for him as they should.
I see no reason to change the two 10’s formation, same team as last week. I dont think they will offer too much threat going forward, Im sure Downing will want to have a good game thought. Collins will want to aswell but he is not good enough. They also have a young 18 yr old CB Burke who has played the last 2 games due to injuries, he hasnt come up against anyone like Benteke thats for sure! Benteke to give both their CB’s all sorts of problems.
2-0 Benteke and Delph. UTV!
well thanks Everton you are truly shite Martinez. A good win and a result for wba will drop the tuneless army right in it.
TS beat all the lower teams bar wet spam with spurs and lost to the top teams by big scores. I think we have a better midfield and attack than them so fingers crossed for what should be win.
just seen the goals from Sunderland OMG! one massive deflection the other a foul before the shot which deflects off an offside player and a penalty not given for Everton