So Randy has acted, its would seem he has selected his man to steer the good boat Villa.

His CV is there for all to be see, its impressive in a business sense. He’s clearly a driven man with ambition. I’m sure you’ve all seen the numerous articles with the details or Nike, Gatoraid, NBA, Arsenal etc.

But is he the football man that Villans want? Is he the man to understand the value of a player? Set out the structure of a football club? Does he really understand Aston Villa and its fans?

Lets dig a little deeper and see what the american is actually all about.

I’m sure you’ll have heard all about the £170m Puma kit deal, which was impressive, though this was helped by being at a Champions League football club. Don’t expect deals that size coming along at Villa.

But what does the fox actually say…

Whilst digging I see the headline and thought… FFS!

“Arsenal fans avert your eyes now… Gunners chief claims winning isn’t everything” printed in the Daily Mail in Dec, 2012.

but then I read on…

“The American, who joined Arsenal in 2009 said: ‘Arsenal Football Club is not only about winning.”

“Obviously nothing instils pride in our fan-base more than winning but there are many things we do that make our fans feel proud,’ Fox continued.
‘Developing the kinds of young talent, finding those players in the marketplace make our fans feel proud.”

“Coming to a stadium that the club built really at a time – 10 years ago when the board decided to build that stadium, everything was going our way, it was Manchester United and Arsenal, but we made a very bold decision and we built that stadium on time and on budget, that makes our fans very proud.”

“When they see that we can attract – even though we haven’t won a trophy in seven years – one of the top global brands in the world for the type of money and financial commitment they’re making, that makes our fans feel proud.
‘So our brand is defined by more than winning.”

In an interview with Marketing Week, Fox spoke about instilling pride in fans being one of his major roles.

The fans’ ire has implications for Fox, even if recruiting and coaching footballers has nothing to do with him, because although he is chief commercial officer he claims his role at Arsenal is not purely and not even primarily commercial. Before that, he says, comes the imperative of instilling pride in the club.

“We don’t exist for commercial purposes, we exist as a football club, to play football matches, to win and to make our fans feel proud.”

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/analysis/cmo-strategy/cmo-masterclass-arsenal-fc/4007749.article

In a frank QA session with an Arsenal Supports group he said;

“In the U.S., sports is entertainment. The deal is that, when you pay money for admission, we’ll entertain you from the minute you get to your seat till the second you leave, through half time shows, displays, dancers on the field and what have you. The difference here is that it’s much more about the connection supporters feel with the players. It’s all about a supporter’s relationship with the club and feeling as though you belong. Now I’m not sure they appreciate what they lost out on in the States when they chased the revenue. I’ve experienced English football and feel US sport misses that. I feel it a lot more now than I did when I arrived.”

http://news.arseblog.com/2012/09/qa-with-tom-fox-and-mark-gonnella/

It would seem clear to me that whilst he is a number man, he has a revolutionary idea (for Villa anyway) or actually trying to inform and please fans. I think he is a smart enough man not to pretend he knows everything about the football side of Villa, lets just hope he will bring someone in as a technical director to put a structure in place to the long term benefit of Villa on the pitch.

Have a read, see what you think of the man.

One thing is for sure, I don’t think he would have joined the club in such a state of limbo if there wasn’t something on the horizon and he wasn’t involved in the long term within than.

Mr Fox may well be the tip of the iceberg in respect to the changes the club are set to go through in the coming months… Onwards and upwards.

UTV!

Comments 96

  1. Eloquently put Graham, I said something similar on my comments from yesterday that this is very significant for AVFC, while on-pitch matters most, it can only be delivered by off-pitch financing. Mr. Fox from his interviews knows this and has the commerical connections regardless of Champions League football to generate better deals than the previous incumbent, I’ve already forgotten his name.

    Short and sweet unlike my typical posts

    UTV

  2. Well Fox is our new CEO. Hopefully can pull some puma deals for 170 mill

    He says it’s great to work with Lambert and Randy. Lol. Lie. Something must be going on. You wouldn’t work with those two useless t**ts

    We shouldn’t sell Vlaar. Not at this stage of the window

  3. Hi Frem

    Randy did something good today, credit were it’s due.

    If we do sell Vlaar it can’t be to a competitior and it can’t be for less than 10/15 mil and a buy in time to get an adequate replacement before the contracts are signed.

    But agree we shouldn’t sell Vlaar at all, he should be the rock that Senderos or Okore can play along side

  4. Taken from Marketing Week –

    The striker of Arsenal’s marketing department, on arrival from the US in 2009 Fox found there was just a handful of people working in marketing and partnerships. Now there are 27. Fox, who has a sports marketing background and has worked at Pepsi, is targeting the Far East and US to provide 95 per cent of the club’s revenue growth, encouraging brands that want to be better known in China and South East Asia to piggyback on Asian interest in Arsenal.

    If he can grow revenues in these same markets for Villa and build a credible scouting system then we are a shoe in for the league next season, welcome to VP

  5. Hi Darren 🙂

    It’s very good we have Fox, he could be great for us, but we still have Randy and Lambert at the club 😉

    Could be worse, could be Crystal Palace

    Was hoping we would sign a player or two this week. Hope to god we are in the market for a couple of creative players still

  6. One thing he’s correct about is that there’s interest in Arsenal in SE Asia, like there is for Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea. You should see the knock-off shirts out here.
    I guess the absence of revenue from ‘real’ shirts serves to demonstrate the value of advertising on the real and knock-offs to the shirt sponsor!

    Guess we’ll all feel happy about that eh?

    Will it produce value on the pitch? No – only results produce that; even Pharrell Williams couldn’t excite euphoria after a season like last one. I reckon the introduction of Roy Keane will produce better ‘happiness’ value for money than Fox. What he will do is demonstrate a corporate desire that could interest buyers.

    I await with interest. Nice post Graham!!

  7. Clive: Will it produce value on the pitch?

    Mmmmmm… It’s a point that will be answered in due course i.m.h.o.

    In my view, one of the problems with Faulkner was that he was something of a yes-man to Lerner. Lerner once said that their views coincided on many things and that is mostly why Faulkner was appointed, I assume.

    In Fox, he’s a man coming in from the outside and who’s attained a reputation in football business. He should be man in his own right who can influence big decisions.

    The matter could go 2 ways. (1) He could successfully influence Lerner in such a business sense that it might well have an affect on ‘value on the pitch’, or (2) that Lerner doesn’t take advice. If (2) happens then be prepared for Fox’s exit within 6 to 12 months. It’s happened to two CEOs under Lerner at VP before.

  8. Fox says he wants to get Villa to there rightful place in the league ?

    Where is that though? To us it’s fighting for Europe and trophies, to Randy, it’s probably just staying up

  9. nice article graham

    the burning question for me is not what Fox can do for villa although that will be welcome, its why he’s here at this juncture? yes we need him but will a new owner?
    has he had assurances by the new owner? is mr lerner about to do a 180? is he lerners love child? who was mrs fox? all questions that will only be answered in the fullness of time but I find it a weird position to put yourself in on foxs part unless he was being pushed at arse or a big carrot has been dangled, as in a huge contract that will pay up if he gets the shove. or he could just be doing it for the entertainment value 🙂

  10. “In the U.S., sports is entertainment. The deal is that, when you pay money for admission, we’ll entertain you from the minute you get to your seat till the second you leave, through half time shows, displays, dancers on the field and what have you. The difference here is that it’s much more about the connection supporters feel with the players. It’s all about a supporter’s relationship with the club and feeling as though you belong.

    What’s entertainment ? Connection with AVFC ? strange man.

  11. Fox certainly seems to be a step up from PF, who incidentally has rocked up at Forest, I’d have thought they would have learnt their lesson after they had Mcleish !!!
    It still seems a takeover is nowhere near, Fox is certainly a step in the right direction, however with Lerner still at the helm investment will be minimal, and Lambert as manager we will not progress on the pitch , unless Fox has a magic wand it’s just a case of treading water, hanging around the lower echelons of the league hoping to avoid the dreaded drop.
    A crowd of 28k possibly less is expected against Newcastle Saturday , frankly that is fucking pathetic, even the Albion are getting more. It show show disgusted the masses are, but even I expected more for our first home game, especially after a win.
    Fox certainly has his work cut out trying to sell Villa to in esters and sponsorship, we’re so shite even our own fans hate us and think we’re crap.

  12. Tom Fox, your first job is to get the missing 14k back through the turnstiles, to achieve this he needs to get the two carpetbaggers out and a proper owner/gaffer in.

  13. B62- indeed it is a pathetic turn out. No surprise though with what Randy and Lambert have done to this club

    Just read a good post on another blog with someone suggesting maybe Usmanov could be interested in buying at Villa ? He’s worth 18 billion, is at Arsenal but only owns a bit of them. Maybe send Fox out to scout ahead before he buys us.

  14. Frem
    Just read that article, I’d love it to be true, but I fear it’s wishful thinking .
    Time is running out in the transfer window, and our fixtures are not to kind, in fact if we don’t get through to the international break with a decent points total, because I’m not hopeful at picking up much after that for a few weeks

  15. I’d hope we will go into the break with at least 7 points on the board. Any less and we might be in some trouble

    Probably is wishful thinking yes. Might not be wishful thinking though that maybe Lambert won’t last long with Fox and CEO. He is use to watching great football, think he might have said playing nice football can even help get money in. Lambert shouldn’t last long then

  16. I think we have to, at least as a background thought, entertain the possibility that Lerner will hang on. Recent events seem to indicate that Lerner is building for the future.

    Yes, it may be that he’s trying to make it more attractive to a buyer, but the club’s on firmer financial foundations now, and, in any event, no-one seems to want to pay his price.

    In twelve months the remaining bomb squad contracts will be retired and then the wage bill will be under control.

    Interesting times.

  17. We now have a decent assistant manager, some reasonably good and experienced players, a new CEO, who knows the job, A good opening result for the first game of the season, and the promise of two more new players before the deadline, one of which is likely to be a winger.

    I will not bother trying to defend Lambert at all, as it would fall on deaf ears, but surely it is time that Frem, and you B62 believed that Randy has kept faith with the fans, and is ensuring that the great name of Villa is protected, and there will be a team that we can be reasonably proud of playing this season. Fox is not a fool, and has accepted the job in order to further his career.

    I am surprised that JL is not more positive, but perhaps is still suffering from his parting from the club under Randy, yet it is his letter and many others, that Lerner has eventually seen, and realised that there are many fans at villa, who have appreciated what he was trying to achieve at Villa, which was much more than just producing a successful team.

    The team’s failings were what prompted him to want to part with the club, but it did not happen, so he has now lived up to his responsibilities, give him his due.

  18. Met Eric Johnson the other night in a local club. He was involved with Villa for many years, and is closely involved with Neil Rioch and the ex-players association. He is still like us all, a keen Villa man, but did not have time to find out much more about him, except that he always organised the meet and greet at VP, when he was there, prior to the arrival of Randy.

  19. Paul: I am surprised that JL is not more positive, but perhaps is still suffering from his parting from the club under Randy, …

    Isn’t that a bit below the belt, Paul? My comments about my departure have been in proper context, I think, and would not have been mentioned except that my misgivings about the club management at the time I was ousted have proved to be fairly based.

    As to why I’m not more +ve, the answer is that the proof is in the eating. I have already said (several times) I am more +ve about this season in the light of what has taken place of late, but they still have to perform and do what they’re supposed to do, haven’t they?

    We’re not there yet!

    P.S. That exit of mine from VP has given me quite a few headaches … unnecessary ones. But I have tried to let bygones be bygones.

  20. First time in a long time I’m actually looking forward to going to Villa Park again. It’s mainly in hope than expectation though, because I don’t expect Lambert to change anything from last seasons home tactics. Sort to counter, men behind the ball, let the opposition pass around us. It don’t work. It’s time we dominate

    He says Cole could start. Mmm. That would definitely mean Grealiah is benched when he should starting. Cole could happen Gabby and Wiemann get in behind, we all know Lambert will start them

    Hope it’s 442 or 4231 and not 433 away like Stoke. At home, you don’t need to play that

    Tomorrow will be a huge game for Lambert. He hasn’t learned from pretty much every home game last season which was a disaster, then he never will

    Anyone else worried QPR, or just me again 🙂 Fer, Vargras, zaha, Remy. They’d walk I to our side

  21. Sorry JL

    Just wanted a response to clarify the situation, and how you truly feel. I know that we all have issues with employers from time to time. I have been there many times, but sometimes it can cloud our judgement. American management often stinks, as it takes no account of the employee.

    You must have come across Eric in your time, or not?

    The proof of the pudding will definitely be in the eating, but as long as we consolidate our position in the Premiership this season, I think most of us will be satisfied. The news is that a lot is also going to happen on the very last day of the transfer window at VP, and I have the feeling that there will be last minute departures, as well as incomings.

    Busy week ahead with three home games. I am sure we are going to see some interesting formations, and hopefully get some great results. i should know every inch of the road by the end of it..!!

  22. Paul,

    I also find it interesting that you are having a pop at JL, B62 and Frem for their negativity when only four months ago you posted the comment below, ever heard the phrase “people in glasshouses”.

    “Villa will be a Championship side, as that is the level they have planned for under Lambert, where he can be a big fish again….

    The only alternative is that he resigns this weekend…

    UTV

  23. Frem
    Chelsea like to play a cagey game. With a DM I hope if we are going to stick to the counter attack style we mean to develop in that direction. Solid at the back and enough talent further forward to switch things about. Even they hit drogba early . unfortunatley we dont have the talent to implement that style of play yet. I think he’ll do what we need to do to win , especially with keane there.

  24. Mark- difference is, Chelsea know how to do it. Lambert doesn’t have a clue as shown week in week out by last season. We out 11 men behind the ball and Stoke still scored 4 past us. I’ll never forgive Lambert for that game. That was painful

    You really think we have enough ability going forwards with Gabby up top and a Wiemann on the wing? There awful in those positions

    Let Zoggy Grealish Cole and Bent express them selfs tomorrow, let the full backs get forward and Delph, leave Sanchez to cover

  25. Obviously let them get forwards at the right time 🙂 not all the time for 90 mims. Guzan Sender Vlaar and Sanchez would have there work cut out

    I hope Westy and Richardaon aren’t played in a 3 man midfield. Straight away you can tell it’s going to be defensive

  26. SWV

    I like to balance the debate…times change…so do opinions…Maybe Cole will produce that magic Lambert is dreaming of, and by the end of the season Villa will be the new kids on the block…who are the magic signings to come…..and Foxes are very cunning…

    I am just enjoying a moment….like many other Villa fans….that maybe..just maybe…we are at a turning point… Ferguson was one match away from the sack before the Scummer’s turned the corner..

    Maybe, in a couple of months…..it will be a different feeling…but for the moment it is just good to enjoy it…..One day at a time….

  27. Hello fellow sufferers,
    Just heard a couple of interesting titbits from a club employee, not saying they’re true but a lot of strange things have happened at VP recently, Lerner finding his wallet etc. Firstly, the club has been sold, to someone from the middle East, the deal will be finalised just after Crimbo. The new owner is planning to invest a TEN figure sum over the first five years, as i said, we’ve had false dawns before but this sounds genuine.
    Another tale the source told me concerned Lerner and O’Neill and if true is probably the real reason that MON resigned. all to do with Milner, Ireland and Robbie Keane plus two other ingredients in the story.
    Dunno if the HC’s will be pleased, most seem to be delighted with our decline.

  28. Frem

    agree with your choices, but think Grealish will be a second half sub, and will probably get his full game against the O’s on Wednesday.

    Looks like he intends that Cole will play the major creative role tomorrow.

  29. Paul,

    I understand to a certain degree as I was willing to give Lambert a chance when he first came, anything should have been better than McLeish, but he quickly made up my mind that he struggles to be a manager at this level, with Bennett gone most of his signings have been moved on because as most of us said they were never good enough and whoever was responsible for scouting/signing these players should be strung up from the North Stand.

    One win as last season proved means nothing and Sanchez could turn out to be another KEA or even Sylla god forbid, so lets give it six to ten games and see where we are, but thinking Cole is going to bring magic to VP is a stretch he will spend more time in the treatment room than on the fields of BH.

    UTV

  30. Paul

    Apology accepted. Thank you for that.

    For me the writing was on the wall at VP when I left … there was a strange situation going on which I mentioned at the time and people ignored what I said thinking I was biased because of my exit.

    Interestingly, the two main culprits that engineered my exit (including Faulkner) have both since had to leave.

    I always try to remain objective whether there’s an up or down. Rudyard Kipling advised that we should treat those two extremes (“imposters” he called them) just the same – and I believe he was right. It’s actually a central teaching of the Vedas, which is probably where Kipling got it from.

    As to ‘Eric’. No, I’ve never met him, sorry to say. I met quite a few others (my chats with Charlie Aitken and Bobby Thomson in particular will always be special) – including am amusing run-in with General Krulak on one occasion.

  31. Yep. I’ve seen the Palacios links. Not sure on that one. We need wingers. KEA could be on his way though

    PP- what does that mean? Grealish wants first team football? He won’t get that with Lamberk. Can’t be easy watching shite like Gabby start ahead of him every week

    Interesting Steamer. A lot of links going round now. So,e think a new owner will be in before Xmas. Mega rich Arab would be lovely. I think I’d prefer to wait until then to get him

  32. Rich arabs at christmas time…that would be a good present.

    I would use Grealish as a sub at the moment, start Nzog and replace him after the hour mark.

    Cant believe a club our size will only have 28k first game of season. Knowing we are up for sale and changes taking place.

    Teerible support. Would not see that at everton, man city, toon army

  33. Andrew- it’s a shame the home support doesn’t follow after our away support. I’m going tomorrow, and mid week but I can understand people not turning up. Lambert has shamed us, he’s made awful to watch as well as losing every well. He says we were excellent after every game. It’s annoying, even after we win.

    So many people around the net don’t want Gabby playing anymore. It will be an insult to Grealish of Lambert stats Gabby instead. He’s such a bad player

  34. Frem

    I am sure that like the friendly against Parma, many will turn up on the day and the ticket office will be inundated again. I am sure there will be well over 30000 on the day.

    Grealish was about considering whether he will now switch to being English for the senior level. Could be Keane’s influence, who I am sure would loved to have captained England in his day.

    I agree with Andrew, bring him on at about 60mins, then give him a full run out on Wednesday.

  35. I won’t be attending or even watching, i loathe that type of football and i’m ashamed that my team use it. If another team played that style consistently most would slag them off, e.g. Stork, so why not Villa ? the sooner this mob are gone the better and then the missing thousands may return and hopefully plenty more.

  36. Like all communists, they still like good jobs with the chance of living in opulent palaces, they could never have dreamed of…….now it is called something else…not allowed to say in public now…

    China and Russia now have the richest men in the world…..where does that come in Communism..???

  37. Paul: but for the moment it is just good to enjoy it…..One day at a time….

    The last bit I certainly agree with, but “enjoy” what?!!

    A superb defensive display against a minion called Stoke was not exactly a football-fest … was it?! 😉

    As has been said by another wise head … it’s a case of observing 6 to 10 games before we can start to assess what’s happened.

    But tomorrow should be v. interesting.

  38. They made their ££ by the fall of Communism, buying all the shares given to the ordinary folk. Encouraged by Yeltsin they pillaged the working classes like Royalty has done for centuries.
    Just a thought –
    For hundreds of years the Byzantine Empire coined the most popular reserve currency in the history of the world.
    Merchants all over Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and further, used it in trade for centuries.
    It was called the solidus, and was introduced by Constantine I in 312 AD.
    The solidus held steady at 4.5 grams of 24-carat gold for nearly seven centuries. Hence its Latin name – ‘solid’. The durability of its purity is nearly unprecedented in the history of money.
    Its weight, dimensions and purity remained constant until the 10th century when the government began to debase it.
    The debasement was gradual at first, then accelerated rapidly.
    In a matter of decades its gold content was reduced to almost zero as the Byzantine Empire was scrambling for cash to finance its numerous wars.
    Consequently, Emperor Alexios I Komenos drastically overhauled the Byzantine coinage system in 1092 and introduced a new gold coin, the hyperpyron.
    It too was soon subject to gradual debasement. And by the mid 1200s the hyperpyron’s gold content fell drastically again.
    As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
    The rest of Europe had seen this movie before. And when they saw the gold content in the hyperpyron fall, they quickly lost confidence.
    By that time, the Byzantine Empire was weak—a shadow of its former power.
    Meanwhile, several small kingdoms in Italy were rising in prosperity, especially Florence, Genoa, and Venice.
    The Florentines and the Genoese took up the task and minted a new gold coin called the florin, which at 3.5 grams of pure gold was the most wildly circulated trade currency in Europe and around the Mediterranean for a while.
    The Venetian ducat gained wide international acceptance in the 1400s. The ducat contained 99.47% of fine gold—the highest metallurgical purity possible at the time.
    As the Venetian merchants traveled far and wide the ducat became an internationally accepted trade currency throughout the world.
    Even though he didn’t live in Venice, for example, Leonardo da Vinci was paid by the King of France in Venetian ducats—exactly 400 ducats per year, which in today’s dollars equals to roughly $56,000 (and he didn’t pay any tax…)
    The ducat was ultimately supplanted by the Spanish dollar (real de a ocho, or Pieces of Eight) with the onset of the Age of Exploration.
    Pieces of Eight became so widespread in international trade that they were legal tender in the United States until the mid 19th century.
    The clear lesson here is that this stuff changes.
    It’s common for the world’s most powerful country to issue a currency that becomes adopted around the world as the standard for international trade.
    But whenever that country reaches a point of epic, terminal decline, and especially when it rapidly debases its currency, the rest of the world seeks an alternative.
    The US has been enjoying this special privilege for decades now.
    The US dollar is the most widely used currency in the world for international trade. Central banks and sovereign governments around the world hold trillions of US dollars.

    And while these changes never happen overnight, it’s clear that the dollar is quickly losing this status.
    The French Finance Minister recently called for a ‘rebalancing’ of currencies in global trade settlement. The British, French, Canadians, and Swiss are all on board with this trend.
    As are, clearly, the governments of Russia, China, and India. Nearly the entire world understands this trend. Everyone but the United States government.
    They’ll be the last ones left in the room after nearly everyone else has headed for the exit, oblivious to their own destruction.
    People who understand this shift and get out in front of it will make fortunes.
    Those who play Ostrich, stick their heads in the sand, and keep all of their eggs in one frail basket are taking the gamble of their lifetimes.

  39. frem
    even steamer can copy and paste 🙂

    steamer
    the dollar owes its power to being the currency we trade oil in, suddam husein got his arse handed to him by trying to get it changed to the euro. the dollar itself as all modern currencies are based on nothing as its not backed by gold any longer it has become meaningless. when the federal bank creates 1,000,000 with the touch of a button a bank is aloud to lend $9000,000 so $10000,000 is created further devaluing the currency and they are creating millions to run there government, army etc. China meanwhile has little oil and holds a whole lot of Americas dept, America is Chinas biggest customer. potentially if America goes china goes too. this and a whole lot more is playing out as we live in incredible times, the economy is now a world economy and if one goes all go so if I was you I’d save food and Water 😉

  40. Steamer,

    A riveting piece and I hear what you say.

    However, I’d take a different slant. So-called democratic governments do not want to frighten their electors, so I believe the US government knows full well what their position is.

    What they do about is the big question and, as you suggest, any corrective action may be too late.

    I think the US government are just trying to work out how to deliver a palatable scenario to their gun-happy population.

    Talking of which I heard a story the other day about an American who tried to enter Canada thinking that the country was a state of the USA! He was most alarmed when he was told that he had to leave his weaponry at the border checkpoint and pick it up on the way out.

  41. john L

    the USA’s internal security forces (basicallly the same people that pat you down at the airport) have stockpiled billions of rounds of rifle and machine gun ammo and several hundred armoured vehicles and and awful lot of body bags along with several very big internment camps
    I’d keep my gun. now that’s alarmist 🙂

  42. I reckon Angel rang him as we all know its only a few little countries stuck together over there

    3) Palacios to move to Villa

    Stoke City’s Wilson Palacios is on the verge of a move to Aston Villa, according to reports in his homeland of Honduras.

    “The midfield enforcer has been put up for sale by the Potters this summer, after he has slipped from first-team contention in recent times and Villa are reportedly prepared to offer him a reprieve.”

    “Palacios already had a move to Qatar lined up earlier in the summer, but it fell through at the last minute and he will be hoping that his second prospective transfer is finalised soon.”

    I wouldn’t say no as back up to Sanchez or to come on for the last 15 when closing out a game?

  43. steamer
    you little minx 🙂

    I am really getting to like joe coles interview, this is Joe on talking to Sanchez a man who needed an interpreter at the press conference and clearly spoke no English

    ‘I have spoken to him a little bit. I haven’t trained with him yet because when he came in on Monday, I was playing an U21 game,’ he said.

    so Joe, not only a talented footballer but a multi-linguist

  44. Ar, Cockney and doolally.

    Lambert really does BS, i wonder if he’s ever told the truth, if he was a puppet he’d have a bugle a mile long.

  45. Steamer
    I think Lambert tried to sign pinocchio after someone shouted it at him from the crowd thought it was a tip for an Italian left back, we haven’t had one of them yet

  46. Steamer- Sanchez will be first choice eventually, might even start tomorrow. Might even turn out we have finally bought a proper DM :0

    Mark- would be surprised if we get Palacios. Pointless signing really

  47. Mark I’d keep my gun. now that’s alarmist 🙂

    That’s what I called you – (an) alarmist! 😉

    There are a lot more +ves to think about in this world … it’s just a matter of orientation, I suppose.

    Think +ve!! It works.

  48. JL
    Alarmist Moi? I’ll take piss taker or even knob head I have standards 😉
    talking of positivity I like to discuss our games on their own merit and not drag the whole villa politics into it and that’s why Steamer thinks I’m a happy clapper, I am a very positive person ask steamer and I give money to poor wino’s ask ST75

  49. JL

    on a serious note the right to bear arms is part of their constitution and an attempt is being made to take that right away. Right or wrong it was put there to protect the people against the government should they get to big for there boots. with the last change to the constitution which allows the government to detain anyone indefinitely under the guise of terrorism I’m not surprised they are worried. personally I don’t want a gun and I can understand why people in this country don’t understand the gun culture. incidentally every man in Switzerland is allowed after national service to keep a automatic rifle at home for defence of their country.

  50. last seasons newcastle game team
    01 Guzan
    04 Vlaar
    05 Okore (Clark – 30′ )
    14 Luna
    34 Lowton
    08 El Ahmadi (Kozak – 67′ )
    15 Westwood
    16 Delph
    10 Weimann (Tonev – 88′ )
    11 Agbonlahor
    20 Benteke

  51. these are newcastle’s teams from last years game against us and last weeks game. almost two different teams

    01 Krul
    02 Coloccini
    03 Santon
    13 Yanga-M’Biwa Booked
    26 Debuchy Booked
    04 Cabaye Booked (Sa Ameobi – 88′ )
    07 Sissoko
    08 Anita (Tiote – 74′ )
    10 Ben Arfa
    14 Remy (Gouffran – 63′ Booked )
    09 Cisse

    01 Krul
    22 Janmaat Booked
    36 Dummett
    02 Coloccini
    06 Williamson
    08 Anita (Obertan – 63′ )
    11 Gouffran (Aarons – 74′ )
    07 Sissoko
    14 Colback
    20 Cabella
    29 Riviere (Pérez Gutiérrez – 83′ )

  52. Steamer

    Interesting piece of history. Another telling fact from the Byzantines is when they asked their western cousins in Rome to help them fight the Ottomans. Instead of helping defend Constantinople, the westerners attacked it and took most of the gold back to places like Genoa and Venice, an act Constantinople never really recovered from. It helped pave the way for Islamic expansion into that part of the world.

    It’ll be nice if old Joe Cole can live up to the accolades the club regularly throw his way. I wish they’d stop talking him up. Most Villans don’t appreciate the BS and Joe could do without it, too.

  53. Mark

    On the constitution issue about arms in the States, it seems to me that they should have moved on a tad since 1785.

    We also have a constitution but it’s not written down as one concise document (with the odd amendment) and we in Britain (arms wise) have moved on since 1785. Only 30 years ago you didn’t see police with arms in the UK and certainly not with body protection but what’s happened since then is another story.

    When you carry arms there’s the defensive element, yes, but it can also be seen as a threat. That’s not conducive towards peace I would have thought and the tendency for the police in the U.S. is to shoot first. The last 2 weeks over there has seen the result of such an attitude, and I believe it does happen fairly regularly.

    Thinking with a positive viewpoint (on how to move towards peace and transcend our situation) would eradicate these sad conditions.

  54. Steamer It helped pave the way for Islamic expansion into that part of the world.

    Forgive me for pointing out that Islam during those times expanded exponentially in the arts and particularly in the sciences. Their work in science has left a lot of traces in our own language … like the so-called “Arabic numerals” we use and only started to do so when we found that fiddling with matchsticks (like III and IX) didn’t lend itself to arithmetic very well.

    I know that you would love to remember or realise that the word alcohol comes from the Arabic al-kool. 😉

    The Arabs considerably expanded the study of optics and physics and left Europe behind as a backwoods in science for a long time.

    In Iberia, the Arabs created a flourishing society of learning and creativity that was fully tolerant of Judaism and Christianity, and was replaced there (by 1492) by a form of Christianity that taught by cruelty in the Inquisition.

  55. Jl
    Yes maybe they should but they have a huge gang problem and some feel they would be left defenceless as the criminals wouldn’t give up their guns. I went to California 20 years ago not long after the LA riots and was told not to look at people if the car stops at lights god knows what its like now. Its bad enough in this country as they mimic the states. I talked to policeman there and only one had ever shot at anyone and he was firing a gun at them so I’m not entirely sure how much is truth and how much is not. I am not condoning anything but you have to walk in other peoples shoes before you can judge anything. are the governments not supposed to lead by example? they are rarely the will of the people that’s for sure

  56. My goodness the level of discussion has reached new heights during my absence at work.

    Steamer i am impressed by your ability to assimilate knowledge of such depth, or your ability to cut and paste at will.

    is anyone going for a taster in the new Aston Tavern, which I last have fond memories of as Vibart’s with a giant black guy on the door, who no-one would dare argue with..!!

    Will probably make it to the Lion’s Club before the kick-off just to see if the prices are sensible.

  57. Comment on Jeremy Vine the other day….Police in Germany fired 85 rounds of ammunition last year.

    Last week in America the cops fired 84 shots at one guy…..

  58. Mark I am not condoning anything but you have to walk in other peoples shoes before you can judge anything. are the governments not supposed to lead by example? they are rarely the will of the people that’s for sure

    Well, Paul has just offered one stat that sounds about right to me.

    I agree with your comment above, but I again say that the world needs to move towards peace in a big way and toting guns everywhere is just not an aid in that direction.

    A great man once said that when you say “I want peace”, just remove the “I” and “want” from the phrase. That is key to it all.

  59. The thread may be dead…

    But I was reading the stuff above regarding America. It’s funny, not because it’s wrong or naive, but just because many people here see it the same way, and sometimes you’d never know it’s the majority.

    The whole gun rights business basically started during the revolution, and what’s in the constitution simply was a reflection of the thinking of a rebellious federation of states that had no standing army, and remembered the confiscation of arms from frontiersman and the rest…People who, at the time, were encroaching on Native American land, and so had to secure themselves as well as hunt.

    “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

    What’s ludicrous is that the very first part, “A well regulated militia”…has been completely dropped from discussion. Right or wrong, “the security of a free state” is as well secured by the US military as it could be. There is no militia, or need for one, because there’s a giant army continually on the prowl. At least since WWII. The road to hell, and all that…

    But an identification with original American armed rebellion…Well, it’s stuck around, reinforced by the romanticizing of the Wild West. The nation’s fundamental identity became wrapped up around a man and his gun standing against all odds. For some people.

    There are dangerous places and safe places. You do want to think twice about staring down a rude and surly teenager. The outcome likely won’t have anything to do with how tough you are. By the same token, this sort of thing touches very few lives, in the end.

    It’s a thing.

    Me, I’m deeply ashamed. Others are fiercely proud. It’s surreal and disorienting.

    But I’m off to bed.

    UTV

  60. Phew … that’s a heartfelt and erudite statement, John. Many thanks for that. And I am sure there are a great many Americans that are peaceful – it’s important not to lump everyone under the same banner. I’ve worked for American companies and had chance to know various Americans that way and personally, and I know full well they did not come under the gun-toting heading.

    And I used to watch Frasier. 😉 … And ‘I Love Lucy’ as well! 🙂

    What John does bring out (amongst other things) is that we can so easily misperceive the reality of a situation. My awareness of the origins and evolution of the gun thing has been markedly improved by John’s comments, but it is broadly as I felt it to be.

  61. Well Lambert has to show he’s changed from the shite of last season. If he hasn’t, then there is no point in him being our manager

    I hate it when he says there is no magic formula like we are in a Harry Potter world.we are in a football world, so there are magic formulas so try and find one

    Drop Gabby. Start Greaslish and Sanchez. Pass, control the game, attack

    Newcastle new striker and winger could rip us apart though today

    3 home games in a week. It’s time Lambert pays the fans back and wins all 3. Not even that will ewe pay for what he did last season

  62. I know our playmaker wasn’t good enough for West Ham and our new centre half couldn’t keep Fulham up, and Bibulus won’t even cut short his morris dancing tour to get back for the game, but I don’t care – I’m looking forward to it. There’s plenty of time ahead for disappointment and gnashing of teeth. Win today, why not? Anyone who’s going, enjoy it.

  63. Match Day, usually I’m on the Isle of Wight for the international scooter rally on this weekend, but this year with the baby coming up, having a ST etc I’ll be at VP. Iv managed to get out of my 3 yr old nephews birthday party, but I have got to go down straight after on the train to W-S-M.
    Weather looks good, Aston Tavern looks good, I’ll be looking good ;), and on the back of a win and a half decent performance I expected a bigger gate today, 28k is poor, but it shows the feelings towards Lerner/Lambert, sadly both look like their going nowhere soon.
    Newcastle look a decent team, they will bring the usuall massive away support, hopefully despite recent animosity a degree of respect will be shown and a minutes silence/applause will be shown for the two lads who lost their lives flying to their pre season tour.
    On the game I think we need a win to build up the points going into a tough run, however I’m not sure we are good enough to beat them and look blunt up front, I think it will be 1-1/2-2.
    Enjoy the day.

  64. Blunt up front. Describes us perfectly B62

    Yet Lambert has done about it ? We were blunt all season going forwards, even worse this pre season but yet, nothing. No wingers, just left backs

  65. Fortress Villa Park, didn’t he say exactly that when he arrived two years ago ? Someone put this idiot out of our misery.
    It’ll be the same stagnant hoof ball, that’s all he knows.

  66. JL
    we are taught history is the great teacher and history repeats itself. for instance the voluntary disarming of the Jewish populace by the Nazis before they began marching them off to the camps stands out to me in recent history.
    what we are not taught is we can create a world in whatever way we choose and unfortunately fear and distrust is wielded as a weapon by most governments to stay in power. working together is the only way forward guns don’t kill people, people kill people, more people are killed by cars, blunt weapons , knives and worst of all a profit driven food and health industry. sad but true

Leave a Reply