Today, a previously lauded candidate for Aston Villa – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – is on the verge of being sacked. Cardiff City, his eventual Premier League employers, now reside in the Championship with a poor run taking them to 17th so far this season.
What does this have to do with Villa though? As we all know, there were a number of candidates linked with the vacancy before Paul Lambert eventually arrived. As was the case at the time, the options available were limited, and many options relied heavily on a hope and a prayer.
In Lambert, Villa may not have taken the most exciting route forwards, but time has shown that they have at least taken a stable one. Sure, fans may well state the past few years have been stable at the wrong level, but if we look at similar strugglers in recent years – be they the likes of Cardiff or Wigan Athletic – they have both failed to survive.
Both of them also find themselves the wrong end of the Championship at present – never mind the Premier League – illustrating that taking a gamble on managers does not equal success in itself.
After all, we’ve seen different managers go to different clubs and have wholly different outcomes. Martin Jol – a man who was historically seen as someone who took Tottenham to the verge of the Champion League – found himself somewhat unceremoniously dumped when Fulham struggled. His replacement Felix Magath – another lauded foreign manager – has found things far tougher and now occupies an even lower placement than the aforementioned Wigan and Cardiff, stuck as they are to the bottom of the Championship.
Football, for all its entertainment value, can provide some outcomes that many find puzzling. Lambert did exceptionally well at Norwich City, yet his tenure at Villa has provoked mixed reactions. Nigel Adkins performed a similar role at Southampton, arguably setting up the current foundations at the club, but is not even a Premier League manager anymore.
Or what about Steve Clarke? A man who was lauded heavily for his tactical and coaching prowess, but is now unemployed? How can these managers be so good yet seemingly so bad?
The truth is that the clubs that a manager arrives at define their career as much as personal ability. Roberto Martinez, lauded strongly as a football manager despite the relegation of Wigan, has benefitted from the foundations that David Moyes set down at Goodison Park. Moyes, by comparision, took a risk and ran from stability to an anaemic Manchester United where he lasted just ten months.
So when viewed in the context of the managerial and financial instability at Villa – a club previously known for stating their belief in plans whilst acting in a wholly different way – there’s strong reasoning for why the club have been as they have, bobbing along whilst trying to find a foothold.
With Villa sitting pretty in second, Villans are in dreamland. Quite where the club will end up come the end of the season is another thing, but there’s an undeniable fact that context – no matter how much people want to disregard it – is the real reason Villa have struggled over the past few years.
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 192
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villa are lucky there a big club,,, that really helps,,,, but any team can fall from grace, leeds being the largest in england and rangers north of the border
and boy we have really walked that tightrope above the chasm of relegation,,
for once everyone has pulled together and the decisions that have been made have really come off
the experienced signings have brought confidence to the younger players,,,,, the chairman has slackened the purse strings a little, and bringing back the bomb squad and appointing keane has brought benefits no one could have forseen
but its not all perfect,,,
it would be great to see cole and bent force there way into the team and the on loan youngsters state a claim
and if we loose the next few games its not a disaster,,, but i think we could sneak a result against arsenal,,,,,, so that means hutton will get sent off,, sendeross will have a mare,, and cleverly will break his leg,,
maby,,,,,
it would be nearer dreamland if we played half decent football, results to some fans aren’t everything, some of us are fed up of being last on motd.
personally i’d take any of the managers mentioned in the leader over lambert and also add holloway and phil brown to the list.
Steamer’s grabbed my words about the ‘dreamland’ bit!
I’m not sure too many Villans share your thoughts on a dreamland, Matt. The bubble can burst too easily … I distinctly remember ‘Eck’s first few games that saw us up in the top-6 but then an unmitigated fizzle-out followed.
It’s worrying for me that Villa have not scored many. Yes, Benteke is due back but he does have to be supplied with chances, and I’ve not seen too many being created.
I’ll let you know about a ‘dreamland’ when a new mattress arrives!!! 🙂
jl,
you don’t need a mattress to help your sleep, just watch villa, better than counting sheep.
Steamer,
It’s really alarming to me that Matt speaks about Villa and Cardiff and Wigan in the same breath. And I guess he’s not the only one.
Our club is supposed to be the Pride of the Midlands (or at least the West Midlands), but it’s clear that it doesn’t say much for the other local clubs when Villa are hanging onto their unbeaten record based on massive defence. The defence I don’t knock (it’s great!), but the forward 3 or 4 places are without much inspiration about them other than work-rate.
Having said all that Joe Mercer’s team in 1961-62 started in a similar vein (and bored everyone to death), but by the end of the season were scoring 5 at Arsenal and 8 and 5 against Leicester and Notts Forest respectively. So the priority of defence is correct … it’s just a question whether we have enough flair to build upon that defence.
But after the last 2 or 3 seasons I suppose we’ve been softened up enough to think that anything above 12th place is “dreamland”.
Hi matt
I don’t honestly think people realise how hard a task this has been turning the clubs financials around, maybe a more football savvy person like Fox would of made Lambert’s time less eventful maybe not. Either way the Ginger chubster did him no Favours with the fans, hence him getting the heave ho and not Lambert.
while I have not been enamoured of the football on display it has got us to a point where we can improve in future seasons. we all know we are not going to win the league or finish in champs league this time out but we will have to try really hard not to get top half if the rest of the league continues in the same vein.
on managers, I think harry Houdini would of struggled to keep us out of the shit, and none of the people mentioned would of fared any better and probably would of pissed off anyhow. Holloway would of had us doing the charge of the light brigade with similar results, while I like his brand of football he is a loose cannon and while being forthright and entertaining is the wrong side of mad. the one man I would of welcomed, Martinez, gave us the bird. houllier was good manager he fucked up causing us to blow £24m on bent, Mcleish would rather suck the big clubs cocks than attempt to beat them (play on words 😉 ) and people think he was better than Lambert? he wanted the away kit to be all white so he could put it on a stick and wave it. we were in the market for a certain level of manager. and they have all been up and down the leagues faster than ST75 spotting 50p on the floor at least Lambert was on the up.
Lambert left Norwich who lets face it don’t have loads of money, for us, knowing we didn’t have loads of money. He knew the risk to his career and was still confident he could do it fair play to him ( I don’t care if he got paid more ). By luck or fate I don’t care which this great club has come through and I think we will see us develop as confidence grows and players return. they will begin to express themselves in fact I think we might just batter a few. The fullbacks crosses are just begging to be nodded in and I think we have goals in the midfield and from corners. for once I am looking forward to watching games without dread.
steamer- why don’t you ask the nurses if you can stay up later to watch the end of MOTD 🙂
WTF have we done ?
Lambert signs a new deal until 2018. Gabby last week another 4 years
WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get new deals for being shit these days
Still No Vlaar, Grealish or gabby in site
Sorry, delph not Gabby
we are quite obviously in another dimension, no other explanation 🙂
frem- maybe they’ll sign now there beloved managers staying 😉
Matt
did you know anything about this?
Will we ever see better football, quality attacking players being signed, different tactics and player selections for home games then in the next four fecking years
well so much for the RK here to replace Lambert theory and the close to being sold theory, the Lerner has told lambert what for theory, the Lerner recruited RK theory and the no long term plan theory.
Mark,
Knew it was in the pipeline due to last year being up and him hitting his targets.
With Vlaar and Delph still in discussions, having your boss committing is a good way of showing he too believes in the future.
Hucking bell,I didn`t see that one coming.Mr Fox is making his mark very early in his tenure,obviously Lerner`s wishes are being carried out.Plenty of contracts being dished out ,all post Faulkner.
Whether we like it or not,whether we deride Lambert of like him,Lerner wants and will get stability.The better shape we are in the easier we are to sell.
Was the target simply to stay up then with no regards of footballing decency and fans ? Most amount of home defeats in our history. Most amount of long balls than any other side. Losing 8 of your last 10 games. Stoke scoring 4 away goals for there first time since they were promoted. Shefield Wednesday. Fulham doing the double over us etc. his close friends bullying people.
Did any of that come into the new contact talks ?
Give Lerner all the stick you want,call him what you will,but I get the impression that he is interested in the club again.Or Fox has told him to make the club more attractive to sellers,by doing this.I thought this might have happened early 2015,not now.A bolt from the blue.
COYVB.
Frem,
We had targets to ensure finances were resolved without dropping from the league.
I know such a view is pretty sloppy in the eyes of many, but it was a necessary pain we had to suffer.
All things considered, he’s done what’s asked of him. Was it ideal or fluid football? No, but it was a bitter pill we had to swallow.
When you consider the bomb squad was forced on him due to financial pressures, and that he had to follow a lot of orders, he has done as asked – in that sense he deserves another contract.
If we were in a wholly different situation and the results were the same when our ambition and finances were far loftier, I’d understand a harsh critique. However, in the context of what’s going on, and what went on pre PL, he’s being rewarded in the context of what was asked, nothing more.
Recent years haven’t been about doing the best the league can offer, they have been about managing finances just the same as you or I might have to if we were swamped – you can’t expect to be drinking champagne when we could barely afford Diamond White else we really would be doing a Portsmouth rather than being low in the top flight.
frem- no the target was to lower the wage bill while staying up, a job done with cheap players IMO. the fact the bomb squad were not sold meant we were limited further, but funny enough its a good job we have kept them. could of been first relegation from the prem be thankful for that mate 😉
brasil- looks like lerners here for a while a you know you have to invest to make profits in the long run, lend us £20
Matt- you think its sprat to catch a mackerel?
Gutted, absolutely gutted, welcome to Aston Villa where failure is rewarded.
This ends any dream of a takeover, any dream of European football, we are now resigned to attritional Stoke City type play, low possession hit it long, nick a goal then stick 11 behind the ball. I cannot for the life of me think of a single reason to reward this retard with a 4 year deal. He has been a abysmal , breaking all the negative records going, and only just managing to keep us up year in year out!
Lerner needs medicating the bloke is clearly radio rental, his choices of managers have been atrocious, it’s plain to see he is only here for the TV money, and Lambert is happy to play along.
AVFC = 0 Ambition
I don`t agree with Lambert`s new deal,but I understand it,it makes sense.He`s done as he`s been asked.It ain`t been pretty.He derseves credit for year 1 when he kept a side with Herd and Holman in the EPL.
Last year he was atrocious,signing Holt,being urinated on 1-4 by Stoke,and we limped over the finish line again.This year let`s wait and see.Steamer over to you,ha,ha.
Could be Mark – who knows…
Understand why people are frustrated and upset looking at just football, but many decisions in recent years at Villa have meant football is third or so in the pecking order.
Brasil
It doesn’t make any sense though, If you are a new owner why would you want to be saddled with a duffer in charge for the next 4 years, it’s gonna cost to fuck him off out of the club, do it makes the club less attractive.
As for finances, we are about to show a profit, we are in the black, Lerner has just received £72m in TV money alone( not to mention all the ticket money, sponsorship etc), and spent £6.7m in the window!!
The bomb squad never reduced the wage bill it increased it, as we also bought plsyers in to replace them( mostly all gone or on loan because they were so shite), whilst the bomb squad got full wages and a year off work !
It’s a Circus a real shambles, and the only reason to keep him is he want to finish around 15/16th every year, and pocket the cash. It’s gonna kill the club, so much terminal damage has been done already, long term we will end up worse than the likes of Leeds etc
Matt: We had targets to ensure finances were resolved without dropping from the league. I know such a view is pretty sloppy in the eyes of many, but it was a necessary pain we had to suffer.
Only a necessary pain as RL deemed it such. After losing the plot financially in so many ways (e.g. giving money away in tribunals as though it was like water) of course he imposed such a pain … but imposing it in such a way that he lost rapport with the fans.
We are far to stoical in accepting what has happened in my view. Yes, RL is human as much as anyone, but he came in knowing that the fans wanted something a lot better than what Doug had to offer, and yet turned out to be a pastiche of Doug himself.
I grasp your points B62,but I`m trying to see it through Lerner`s eyes,not mine.If a new gaffer came in in June/July at the end of Lambert`s deal,then it`s all change again.New coaches,he won`t fancy half the squad,and he woold want £60M to make us competitive,or whatever figure the tabloids throw around.Who could we attract as manager with the club on the market?I beleive it should have been a 1 or 2 year deal,not 4..This way we have some stability,not glamour or a popularity contest but stability.Boring I know,but with the goings on at VP in the last 5 years we are lucky to have a club Aston Villa in existence.
B62
Good points in your first 3 paras, but I’m in agreement with other factions that a corner has been turned this season … whether we ever get much above 10th place is the key question for me though – because he’s followed the plot to now certainly doesn’t mean that PL has what it takes to engineer a successful Villa team.
Agree JL
I said I wouldn`t complain,I would rather enter into organised protest,I`m sticking by that.Moaning just gets me more frustrated.If it`s worth having(takeover)then it`s worth waiting for.
COYVB.
John,
Wasn’t just RL wanting to, though he had say on why we were where we were and are, but FFP too – we couldn’t continue to post losses or we’d have been fined further.
b62- the bomb squad didn’t receive any takers and Lambert did most of his buying early in anticipation of selling them. their wages only made the wage bill go up by 2 mil from 72 mil even though they were a third of the bill. meaning our wage bill was 50 mil without them if they were sold, down 25 mil. most went out on loan in the hope of shifting them in Jan IMO. as you say the tv money went up so 2mil is nothing. it was an utter shambles but it succeeded in all but entertainment. although circus’s can be fun
The wage bill went up last season, and well, we had one of the worst seasons in history so how’s that work?
He spent 20 mill last summer, he’s spent 7 mill this summer so I take it by that our ambitions and standards are the same, even worse in fact. Just staying up whilst spending even less.
It shouldn’t be all about money. It should also be about standards. We are a great club, great fan base, great history but yet the manager and the board accept a dire brand of football and shameful results. You get a new contact for it now.
What happens now if we lose week after week again? What does Lamberk say then after he’s just signed a new deal ?
Matt
I take the view that the club was out of financial control the minute that RL took over … it’s just that we look to other reasons to explain what has happened these past 3/4 years.
Remember, at the end of 2009, RL was ready to go full tilt in rebuilding the North Stand and the area behind it. Someone then showed him that instead of spending he had to pull in his reins before it all went belly-up.
In those first 3/4 years so much money was wasted or misused (MON, tribunals etc etc) … I’m not surprised at the problem that FFP suddenly imposed on the situation.
He’s had time. He can’t blame that. He’s said him self you can’t blame them for being young now, so he can’t blame age unlike last season. He can’t blame a lack of squad depth like he did last season, because we actually have good competition now. I remember once he even blamed the gods which is just unbelievable
JL
surely £120m and bigger spenders than all but one of the league meant he was serious when he first came, but ffp and losses + divorce put the wind up lerner and he had to sell the browns I’m guessing. our rivals at the time spurs sold Bale and then splashed £120M where are they? no further forward in the trophy front and 3 managers later, top end but that’s it. football is Uber expensive to go the spending route now thanks to 25 mil players being the norm for top 6. we are not in that street yet enter mr Fox IMO
Totally agree John with all your points.
Football is a funny old game really. When MON was spending, few cared about money but flip side, it is the main reason for our actions.
Cause and effect sadly my friend, and I too lament our fall but trying to be as balanced as I can given wide ranging issues we have discussed from a lack of a plan to constant change causing increased spending on fixing self inflicted mistakes.
Mark,
I don’t disagree with you on all that but that money was very often spent without proper guidance … In my view RL’s lack of nous in running a sports outfit got taken advantage of by someone who knew exactly what he was doing and succeeded massively at tribunal on top of the mis-spending on players.
But the divorce issue was already under way when RL seemed ready to go ahead with the redevelopment of VP, and since we’ve had (as well put by others) the nonsense of the bomb squad etc etc.
Selling the Browns was probably as much to do with the fact of the fans wanting him out as I see it.
In short, it would seem that at long last RL has been put down a workable and possibly sustainable route by experts such as Mr. Fox. But RL needed that input at the very start but thought his way was better it would seem.
JL- I agree, he has been clueless throughout, wasn’t herbert supposed to be guiding him?
frem- I know its tough when all you want is to be proud of your team but football is also a business and that means money, we have been mismanaged but now hopefully we will see some sanity with fox until we are sold. this team might surprise us yet
Now that is the biggest surprise of all. It is pointless looking for clarity or sense as Aston VIlla have changed direction and policy so many times in the last two seasons that we should expect the unexpected by now.
Is it consistent with a company or club being up for sale – no. AS B62 says – new owners prefer to appoint their own and won’t want to pay off a four year contract. Why give a four year contract – is Lambert’s record so impressive that he can demand this – no . At the end of last season Lambert was odds on to get the sack by most bookies due to the Culverhouse affair and the abysmal form including the least home wins in the history of the club or was it the least wins per se ever. Whether you are a Lambert fan or not – the timing makes no sense at all .
Mark: 🙂 on that Herbert remark.
Anyway, night night. I’ll see if I can catch some c & b visions of success in the next few seasons while I sleep on that new mattress I spoke of earlier!
JL- why was chubby binned was there ever an explanation/ rumour?
Hopefully Mark
Matt- You have a PS4 right ? Have you downloaded Fifa 15 demo yet ? The game play is immense
One thing is certain – the old saying about “Think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur” rings true to much of Lerner’s era.
He took a punt but naive choices have cost him, and the club, dearly.
The human part of me wants to say he gave his best, but there’s that part that makes us think he could have done better with a little more guidance and expertise…
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I have Frem – visuals are awesome.
I’m MatthewSTurvey on PSN for any of the gaming friends of AVL who want a game…
jen- just a hunch but I think Lambert has played hard ball , maybe he has kept the same wage for a longer contract and Lerner thought better the devil you know after previous appointments
Do you think Lamberk is here for the love of the club and for wanting to achieve something ( and not just staying up. That doesn’t count) or does he not really care and just wants the £££££. He’s on on 2 million a year now
Ye, I think they have everything pretty perfect this time time. Not just visuals but the speed of the passing, the movement of the ball, the executions of the pass. Playing with Messi Is a pleasure this time. Putting players in the number 10 role actually has an affect this time because they pick up space. On Fifa 14 there was never ever space for them. The long ball on this one I love as well. It’s actually affective with a target man. The tactics options look good as well
I’ll try and add you Matt. I’m WilfredAVFC
Lerners also changed the clubs motto, it now Whats the Point ?
Absolutely appalling decision that will disgust the VAST MAJORITY of fans, totally undeserved and an insult to Villans everywhere.
Matt,
With Vlaar and Delph still in discussions, having your boss committing is a good way of showing he too believes in the future.
Due respect, load of bollox, he’s hanging on to a job that he’s fucked up from day one, worryingly it seems to confirm the idiot who owns the club is staying too.
Absolutely killed any remaining interest in AVFC fuck ’em.
Some very diverse posts last nights lads – it was sounding like s Star Treckies convention at one point with these rubber ball tribes – John, Prox and Mark – you lost me there but I am going to go back and look at these people .
Runtingz – sounds great – I’m not sure how you can get music to me – help from other technos on here required – unless you post links on here or DM me on this page – which then goes to e mail. Just imagine meeting up with St75 doing his northern soul moves too. He tells me you have a very talented family 🙂
Had a message from St75 saying he was going to be a stooge for his cage fighting nephew – ermmmmmmmmm haven’t got a clue what this means – you’d better check on him Steamer.
John L – you posted a very interesting article – and this also backs up what our Frem has been saying all along about Helenius. I absolutely agree with your comments .
Mark K – belief systems . Now you’re talking . 🙂
Jen,
If Runtingz can let me know what tunes you are after, I can set up somewhere for him to upload and you to download.
Steamer,
Does that mean I’m no longer welcome at the caff? 🙁 Been meaning to text Deano about meeting up…
Mark – he may have played hard ball and let’s face it , team Lerner aren’t brilliant at negotiating (remember Janus’s contract we had to pay him when he was injured – MONs constructive dismissal would have relied on his employment contract etc etc. just to name a few) But what has he got to play hard ball with > surely not four games and an inflated 2nd position on the table. At the end of last season many pundits thought he was flying to the US to get the sack and he only stayed because the club was up for sale. He even said himself that the situation was difficult because the club was up for sale. It was very much – we are in an interim period – hence the refusal to pay out transfer fees. I am gobsmacked.
Matt,
That’s very kind of you – thankyou , much appreciated 🙂
evening all!
So lambo’s here for another 3 years!
I was wondering when that would happen – considering hutton yesterday.
Sorry Jen,
Can’t pick up the phone, just slashed my wrists.
In shock here, wtf has this plank got on Lerner ? Its not rewarding failure its making the club an even bigger laughing stock, morons like Lambert shouldn’t be anywhere near this club and Lerner should be locked away if he’s not going to take his medication, these gobshites have lost it, who next for the gravy train, Bennett on a five year £50,000 per week contract, what about giving Shay Given another ten years and a pay rise. the clubs gone doolally, Lerner, Lambert, Keane and Fox OUT. go on piss off
Bayern 1 0 man city 0
goal in 89th min
sorry
Bayern 1 man city 0
goal in 89th min
and city almost jus scored in 92nd min
jen- have a look at bruce lipton and epigenetics I think you’ll like. I was meaning lerner offered a rolling contract Lambert stuck to his guns? but I honestly think Lerner just likes him
So it is true – here it is
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/aston-villa-boss-paul-lambert-4277025
I’ll add you now on PSN Frem…
Matt great leader as always.
i sense a divide here today the lambos and lambnots!
its a good boost to the team ahead of some tough games coming up ..
You beat me to it lol
Well good luck lambert. Like the stability. Not sure who else id like as manager, lets get the results steady and hopefully see better football in time.
For all there money, City just can’t handle it in Europe
Mark – cheers I will look that up. I know the name sounds like clap trap but Maxwell Maltz wrote a book on Psycho Cybernetics which is excellent too. He started off as a plastic surgeon and then became a psychologist and his case studies are fascinating.
The article adds to the confusion. A new four year deal as old contract expires – so no rolling contract . It was decided when Fox appointed – so following our worst losses in history – and Lambert is to continue with the vision of taking the club to where it should be historically. I think they need your help John L with that !! What happened to the “handing over the stewardship to someone better able to take the club forward”
Steamer – I am not surprised !
steamer don’t slash your wrists, how will you type :-0
her a laugh at some yank numpties trying to shoot guns
🙂
& here is what i meant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h83rxNVB6ck
Well I would hope now that he has a new contract that he can ditch the beard and clean up his act and the same goes for Old Father TIme aka Roy Keane ! Studies show that men with beards do less well at interviews – but then there is always the exception to the rule. 🙂
They just don’t give a monkey’s what the fans think do they ? All of Lerners fine words when he arrived have been proved to be BS of the highest calibre, this Fox is out of the same mould, knows F-all about AVFC or football in general, we’re fooked.
Was planning to watch the game in the Sacred Heart, problem solved.
Jenny, they don’t have time time to shave they are to busy working hard on extending the 4 game streak in a 4 year one. 🙂
Andrew
16 mins ago
Well good luck lambert. Like the stability. Not sure who else id like as manager, lets get the results steady and hopefully see better football in time.
Amen!
and this unbeaten run to go on for a while
Three weeks after losing at home to Leyton Orient reserves, dropping home points to bottom of the table Toon, Lambert gets FOUR years, oh Lord what have we done to deserve this ? This is a p take of the highest order.
Tom Fox, you are a knob, bugger off back to London and give us a chance.
Looks like all the arse kissing paid off then.
Ok so signed up so far
Gabby 4 years
hutton 3 years-
lambo 4 years –
in the next few would not be surprised to see
jack g 4 years
vlaar 3/4 years
Delph 4 years
few weeks! – damn i cant type
Steamer – cheer up – or are you felling abused like
king arthur in this classic clip ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0wvGiAH9g
Had a beard at my interview and did OK Jen. 😀
PS don’t start Kris on beards – she loves them!
Ooops – no offense to bearded lifers intended ! You must have really excelled then Matt against all beard odds 🙂
Roger Muffin 🙂
When I first read the headlines ” Paul Lambert- Club statement” I honestly thought he’d been sacked, resigned or had died. The last thing I expected was to see him given a new deal
Still can’t believe it
Frem
Me too,I thought,well,this looks serious.I can`t get me nut around the 4 years tbh.18 months or 2 years,but 4 is a bit excessive in my humble.
It’s a bolt from the blue alright .
4 years is a shock . Pardew was given a ridiculous 8 when Newcastke finished 8th. And Ashley regretting that now .! 15th two seasons running is no guarantee or even a sign of progress .
Can’t see Keane sticking round 4 years playing second fiddle can you .
No chance will he Jenny. Think Randy might be re-considering his position though. Wonder how much he will put in for us to spend in Jan ?
Everton moving to a new stadium. Spurs to. Hull and Newcastle up for sale. We might be left even further behind
Want a new owner to knock down the north stand a fix a new 10 thousand seater stand. He will have to spend the £££££ to get fans to turn up
jen- I have heard of him, Lipton was the first to see that the environment, including you emotions and beliefs shapes you, your cells and your genes and what you do in life, if you look at Itunes free podcasts he’s done loads of talks 3 books too.
feels like april the first 🙂
well there is nothing for it but to give him a chance, its either that or protest and that’s going to look stupid if we do ok.
bruce lipton talk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Vyh_sBMcs
Cheers Mark
– will take a look at that – are you sure he was before Shulz ? Surprisingly , He was doing around in the 1950s ? It forms part of what I do in NLP so always good to see alternatives and more !!
walked into the office and read the announcement. How thoroughly depressing that we are stuck with him until 2018? This is not about continuity, stability or steady progress, it’s about a clueless owner having a clueless manager accept his policy of spending just enough to stay up. Villa is a joke- how on earth can this failure be rewarded. By all means let him see out this season but to give him a 4 year contract on the back of 4 average to decent displays beggars belief!
And yes , us being 2nd in the table was totally unpredicted and a gift for AV to announce this . I bet Fox can’t believe his good fortune .
Let’s be honest, the attacking side of the game has been non-existant-i think it’s 7 shots on target and 4 goals scored. You can either view that as clinical or toothless. With Gabby and Weimann spearheading the attack, i’ll go with the latter view. We have defended exceptionally well but for how long? Remember John Terry saying how Villa would run out of steam around the 60 th minute in games and would be there for the taking? He was proved right and this was when we had infinitely better attacking players under MON. PL is simply a poor man’s MON footballing wise. The sad thing is I can see PL sticking with this same formation simply on the basis of the defensive stability it brings. It will be interesting to see whether he gives grealish and n’zogbia a real chance to stake a claim. Similarly a lot is made of PL’s transfer restrictions but the fact is from midfield forward the only change he will make to the first 11 is cleverley in for sylla/el ahmadi. Doubt sanchez, grealish, n’zogbia will get a look-in.
jen- don’t know about before shultz but he discovered that the cells brain is not the nuclei (which contains DNA or blueprints) as thought for ever but the cell membrane. this is covered with receptors which turn on and off DNA according to the environment IE nutrition, emotions, beliefs and other outside stimuli. therefore the DNA is not in charge as first thought, we are! very interesting stuff that lays out why stuff like NLP and energy psychology work and how powerful the mind actually is especially beliefs.
mark king plc has put out a statement that he magnanimously doesn’t want an apology for the stick he got about who recruited RK etc and why, and indeed any other correct observations made about the goings on at villa park. He also reserves the right to completely ignore and fluff over anything he got completely wrong thank you for your understanding 🙂
dee
yes it does look bleak but the shots on goal have gone down at both ends, remember post and bar don’t count as on target. I think the new found stability is more than just luck and its something to build on. I have noticed that we have become more controlled in our attacks and while a clinical finish is lacking Benteke and kosak should provide this. the fullbacks crosses have not yet been met by anyone as you correctly point out there’s only gabby up there (witness gabbys miss from two foot out ). I don’t mind us accruing points by any means at this point of the season as it build confidence in what should of been a very tricky time. in time it should give us room to experiment, if not then Lambert is a Knob 🙂
Mark,
All that stuff about DNA proves we get carried away about science which has proved itself as still a baby relative to the knowledge that is in the cosmos.
Vedanta states that there’s more to it than DNA and that belief systems are produced by a mixed set of circumstances which can only be set on a right course by concentrating on the atma and its relationship to the paramatma.
dee
if you take the three newish defenders and Richardson and cleverly and also nzogbia ( has had 3 starts) that’s 5-6 players changed from last season, that’s a lot of changes all for the better. also we haven’t gone out and defended from the off, we may of had few shots on target but we have sat back only once in front and we have tired, we have defended in a very disciplined manner from front to back, that’s the change IMO. grealish will get more cameos and once he makes a real impact with goals assists he can’t be ignored.
Mark: I have noticed that we have become more controlled in our attacks and while a clinical finish is lacking Benteke and kosak should provide this.
And so says a true c & b fan! 🙂
The fact is (as I said earlier) there’ve been precious few scoring chances created so it doesn’t matter whether Gabby Benteke or Kozak is leading the attack, unless we create more chances the goals still aren’t going to come.
I feel we have produced a very hard-working and committed side that contains very little flair. Only when the likes of Grealish come into play will we see a better goals for stat.
jL
have you read liptons work? he goes on to postulate the manner in which the physical and the spiritual world meet and that are cells receptors link us to more than the immediate environment indeed he likens it to a tv receiving broadcasts.
DNA is just stored info like blueprints that get followed or rewritten who’s reading it? us, who are we god only knows.
most peoples belief systems appear to be mostly from parental guidance and immediate family stored by the subconscious, where that subconscious is is another matter. we run programs 95% of the time and do thing consciously only 5% unless you learn how to stay in the present. we are essentially running our lives with other peoples beliefs.
JL
not so mate, we only count shots and shots on and not the umpteen crosses put in from the fullbacks and corners and free kicks with no-one on the end. Benteke would be looking to convert those. we lack shots from open play but again Benteke is good at making those himself, and with a real goal threat pulling the defence about the midfield should get more chances, especially as Delph and Richardson are pushing into the box more.
Mark – on reflection (about crosses from the backs) you may well be right on that one. But it is a limited form of supply and one that good defences can handle.
Mark: …unless you learn how to stay in the present. we are essentially running our lives with other peoples beliefs.
Well summed up, mate. The answer is to live and sleep on a bed of nails in order to stay awake! 🙂
Jl
I think its back to the wait and see again mate, not on the bed of nails though 🙂
why was chubby let go? did he not meet targets?
Chubby?
I believe the story goes that PF was offered a chance to go and work in another area of PL’s business concerns but that PF refused to migrate (his young son has a medical condition I recall) but wanted to stay on at Villa in some guise – presumably to keep his seat on the FA.
Beyond that I know not.
JL
speaking of things indian, have you ever come across info on the radioactive town/city out in the north west of india? it is dated at over 10,000 years old and appears to have been bombed with huge area of glass excisting in the desert. the local villagers apparently still get radiation sickness and other related diseases.
JL
not seen as fit for purpose then, where as Lambert is?
oxlaid chamberlain thinks we looked good going forward 🙂
http://www.suttoncoldfieldobserver.co.uk/Arsenal-man-hoping-revival-Villa/story-22945584-detail/story.html?
Mark,
No, I’ve not heard of the specific Indian locality you mention, but in my readings I did come across Jebel Barkal in the Sudan and blackened boulders at Sinai which people are curious about.
In all honesty I’m not going to worry too much about those findings … there are accounts that Atlantean culture was way ahead of ours scientifically and ancient aircraft are referred to in sculptures in Egypt and in the Vedas. So I think the likelihood is that a previous way of life was wiped out and then we had to start all over again.
One thing that regularly happens after footballer’s sign new contract is massive dip in form. why do they have to when they have just signed a new deal? Will we see Lamberk even worse than usual, same with Hutton Gabby? Gabby knows now he can be shite for four seasons straight and still get a new contract. There is no reason for him to give a shite. he hasn’t since MON left
dee- The attacking side of our game is worrying. Newcastle we had ZERO shots on target, and a league 1 reserve side we had ONE shot on target. We created little last season, we created little in Pre season and yet we did nothing in the summer to improve us in the final 3rd.
You would say Benteke would help us, but Lamberk will play Gabby and Wiemann on the wings which will all but eliminate his threat. They can’t supply him
For Saturday, I hope we don’t have 11 men in our half again for 90 mins. Dortmund shown if you press you them they can’t handle it. Hopefully Gabby can be tasked to get in behind the slowest player in the Prem in Mertaskaer and not man man marking Arteta. There is no need to.
I guess Wiemann will be stuck on the wing on Saturday as well to do a defensive job and be invisible in terms of getting forward.
Frem
I wish you were clairvoyant mate with these predictions , maybe you are causing them. Try writing a massively positive post and see if it happens
Jl
It’s been bandied about in the alternate history arena for a while just wondered if you knew anything concrete connected to it. I’ve seen it argued for and debunked
It’s what happens though Mark. They have been stuck on the wing, Wiemann signed a new deal last summer and was dire last season, same as Westy, Lowton etc. gabby has been for four years straight now because he knows he will stay what ever
I still can’t get my head around Lambert. Me and Runtings were at Palace away and 2 thousand Villa fans were singing ” we want Lambert out” and now look what’s happened
frem
someone has to give way for Benteke eventually. whether its a midfielder or a forward we will have to wait and see.
Frem loads of us – including the morris dancer – had high hopes for Weimann, but last season which was full of disappointments, he was probably the biggest. Season before last our best front 2 were Weimann playing off Benteke. His movement is better than Gabby’s and those 2 looked like they could play together. When Benteke’s fit I’d be binning Gabby and I’d give Weimann a chance.
BY the way, MK I thought your joke about PP’s psychic steak deserved more credit than it got.
frem- look at westy this year, forget what’s gone on before, christ, hutton was treated like a child molester when he played for mcliesh now he’s the flavor of the month. times change and things move on, Lambert getting four years is about as weird as its got this season but so is second in the table unbeaten and winning at liverpool, I’m hoping next is beating arse at home, we haven’t done that for a while.
Maybe breaking all the negative records bar relegation has whetted Lamberts appetite and he’s going after some positive ones.
one thing is for sure there has got to be an announcement from Lerner soon, you don’t in my mind hand out long contracts if your offski, fox is talking long term plans why is Lerner making those? if not its someone has agreed a deal and has asked for these things to happen including fox as security. if the deal takes six months then half the team worth having would of left by then in the Jan window knocking maybe £100mil off the team
andrew P
well spotted sir, bloody Luddites on here 😉
Mark, pearls before swine.
13/1 for a 1-0 win 4/1 for a win
http://www.tamworthherald.co.uk/Bookies-unconvinced-Aston-Villa-s-chances-Gunners/story-22946426-detail/story.html?
maybe we should insist on a statue outside Steamers cafe?
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-manager-paul-lambert-7793003?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2202904-how-christian-bentekes-return-will-spark-aston-villa-back-to-life?
frem
even the arse’s fans think their managers shit and plays people out of position
http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/3111135/THREE-things-Arsenal-must-change-for-the-Aston-Villa-game.html?
last one
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/11104980/Roy-Keanes-role-in-Aston-Villas-resurgence-under-Paul-Lambert-should-not-be-understated.html
last last one 🙂
http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=546304
Mark- I’ve never been a fan on Wenger anyway. We can have Arsenal of we get at them, hassle them. Give them a battle. Don’t dtand of, cus if we do, they will cut us open for fun
Good points on Randy, or be it the new owner. God knows which one. Think Randy might want to stay on now, why wouldn’t he after our start? Think he might at least hang around to see how it turns out
I really really hope we can beat Arsenal
. Can you imagine if we do, Chelsea lose this weekend, we go top, hen go to Chelsea and beat them as well ? 🙂
Two defeats in a row will bring us back down to earth and make Lamberks new contract look even more stupid then it is.
frem- if randy is basing his and are future on 4 games he is 50x more stupid than we thought
Mark et al
I wonder whether RL is doing what he’s doing as a result of pressure to do by the old sly Fox?
You know, he may have said to Randy: “Look, to give the club stability you’ve got to show faith in your manager. He’s got off to a good start as a result of a new philosophy, so why not give him his head?”
typical villa fans. 2nd in the league. 3 wins out of 4. 1 goal conceded. All without 2 star strikers.
What am i reading……’we havent had enough shots on target’.
Lmao
I give up.
And we slag mcleish and lambert off for being negative!
Jl
Its got to be someone’s idea, can’t believe lerners been on a manage your football club course
Andrew. 🙂
Havent had to chance to read all the comments yet – its nuts at work today
Wel well – i thought something was up when players like hutton were offered contracts
Matt asked the question of hoping for a new manager/owner but questioned weather it was wise to think like that when you consider OGS was the fans choice and he turned out to be s–t in the end
I am not a PL fan purely due to the non style of his football but also get it in terms of how hard his job has been and what a shambles of a setup he walked into
No point moaning at this point now its done – but the jury really is out on PL now as the club is now stable and he has woke up to the fact he doesnt have the insight or skill to build a young side on the cheap
It is now not about excuses but proggression and seeing how far PL can take it — he has had a dream start so he finally has something to build on
Also tekkers coming back in the team should give us a real boost on the pitch
My main wish is that somehow PL find a way to get his team to learn more about ball retention — this doesnt mean you can’t be direct but sometimes when you are under pressure if you work out ways of keeping the ball a little you may find that you are no longer under pressure and it becomes a litle easier to get or protect a result
? if you could pick any mamager that is not at a huge club already how would you go for ?
who
Runtings
If it all went wrong tomorrow-or right in Steamer`s eyes-and Lambert was poached by Real Madrid.If we want a football philosophy to be built at AVFC,throughout the age groups,and a fella to build a club,challenging,then it would be Gus Poyet for me.
“it`s nuts at work today”.are you all vegans then?Not a very inspiring choice at the canteen is it?
runtingz- I like are new manager Paul Keane and his coach Roy Lambert couldn’t believe when they were announced. other than that I’d take Martinez from that little club Everton or Poyet at a push
Brazil, nuts?
runtingz- your right if he gets proper backing no excuses
Benteke has 29 goals in 60 Premier League games for the club and this was while we were mostly shite maybe just maybe 🙂
Evening folks,
I think somewhere in an earlier I said about Lerner changing his mind about the future, He is keeping the club for the foreseeable future, and intends giving Lambert his backing, as he has achieved what Lerner asked him to do. I also said that Lambert would be rewarded for this.
Lambert now has to achieve Lerner’s next objective of Champion’s league football. Remember and watch this space….
For Mark K .
Thanks for the Lipton clip Mark . I read up a little about him . I’m more of the Prof Winston school on the nature nurture bit but with a big dose of mind over matter / belief building changing / importance as well. I read “how your mind can heal your body” by David R Hamilton PHD – excellent – which is similar to what Lipton is going on about. The panacea effect is discussed where scientific tests show that the body produces the same healing chemicals when the mind believes it has taken a drug , as if the drug had been taken . This is true for some ailments and I never underestimate the power of beliefs on motivation , and performsnce , self esteem etc etc – but , there are some things that the mind can’t heal . From the little I read about Lipton , he seems to be suggesting that religion / spirituality / mind can heal anything . Maybe I’ve misunderstood this. The power of the unconscious and brain though is probably 95 per cent untapped resource according to some writers .
John – you refer to Verdana – I looked that up and could only find referenced to wall paper ?!!!!
Back to football .
Still bemused by the timing and the CEOs statement does little to clarify matters
“We have a long-term vision for Villa and Paul is completely integrated into our plan to manage the Club carefully and ambitiously back to a position in the Barclays Premier League appropriate to our history and collective expectations”. What’s he on about ‘”We have a long-term vision for Villa and Paul is completely integrated into our plan to manage the Club carefully and ambitiously back to a position in the Barclays Premier League appropriate to our history and collective expectations.”
What’s he on about
‘Long term vision for Villa’ when only yesterday Lambert said Randy’s decision to come clean about the club being up for sale had “galvanised the players and fans “.
Aston Villla have had more flipping visions than the entire cast of the Old Testament !
My phone repeating bits for some reason .
jen- as he as got further into his work lipton has become more spiritual as lots of scientists do as certain phenomena are not explainable by conventional means ie the conscience residing outside the body, even Einstein went that way the more he discovered . its doesn’t mean they are any less valid though but he does tend to drift that way at times. his books are written in lay-mans terms to present the principles but they are very informative and empowering to know how much say you have in your bodies running and in changing your belief system through various modalities.still worth a read. only about 5% of people are born with genetic traits they can’t change. 95% basically get ill through stressors, poor diet choices and the wrong belief patterns in their subconscious . stress IE anything that gives the cell info from outside can change its operation is the basic message and we can control that to a large extent through choice. Not only that but your basic gene set up is determined by your grandmother and what her stress/choices were if she was healthy you will have a more robust set up but it doesn’t mean you can’t change it. Explains why some people can smoke and drink all their lives and appear to be well but what they pass down is damaged DNA .
jen- its villa from another dimension 🙂
if anyone wants to put Lamberts new contract into perspective read this
http://www.naturalnews.com/046945_medical_martial_law_Sierra_Leone_Ebola_pandemic.html
so Scotland stay with us and on the whole I’m glad. 45% voted yes which is half a country and its left me wondering how many of the English population would choose to lose Scotland,Wales and Northern Island if a referendum happened? I find it all a bit puzzling as are DNA has been mingling for 1000’s of years and who is really who any more? the problems are not ones of race or accent but of Governmental and moral issues and a of an attitude that to put it frankly stinks. what do you think? most people are too stunned and pissed off to talk about one mans extended contract, I’m interested to see what people think of the UK
Mark – yes I totally agree with all of your last post and have spent the last ten years working with ways to effect belief change with ppl in my work , whether through NLP, CBT , Anthony Robbins, Steve Peters , Joseph OConner et al. And thank you for bringing another perspective into the vast array of ideas there are out there. You make a good point in the spiritual leanings – and as Joseph OConner wrote “you don’t need to know how electricity works to turn on a light switch “. He’s also written some great coaching books on all areas which are readable and informative at the same time – an unusual trait in this field as so many books are 95 per cent padding and obvious bull shit . I will investigate Mr Lipton further . Can yiu recommend a good book to start with – I’m no scientist so needs to be pretty basic ! 🙂
I saw one comment which made me smile Mark – which was “we can stop rebuilding Hadrian’s wall now “.
Mark , That Ebola article is shocking and does put everything into perspective . Sport is a diversion from the woes of the world which is not to say they should be ignored .
I saw a photo yesterday of a young refugee ” from Callais , who had attached himself to a motorised home’s axle , so basically travelled underneath the motor , from Callais to some place jn England . He was discovered by the surprised owners absolutely terrified and hungry , a young lad of 18. So what do they do , call the police – who no doubt will transfer him back to the region of atrocity and terror he is running away from , It hit me again what a dreadful cruel world we live in . I wonder where he is now that poor frightened boy.
jen- totally agree, there’s a lot to wade through, but in the end you can begin to connect the dots yourself which a lot of these experts never seem to do. they are so fixated on there own train of thought that they miss connections to others work. they are all arriving at the same destination from different directions and get locked into this is the only way. Liptons first main stream book” the biology of belief ” would be a good start from amazon. also his web sight has loads of resources, he uses energy psychology to change belief patterns, the hard part is identifying what the belief is 🙂
https://www.brucelipton.com/
must be tough in Scotland knowing half of the people you meet have a different view to yours 😉
good article on westwood and why he’s in the team over Sanchez
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/ashley-westwood-stats-villa-next-level/?
jen- they have had limited out breaks in the states too with world travel and immigration comes risks unfortunatley.
Mark
You’re quite right.
The fact that 45% of people in Scotland voted “Yes” means there is a deep disatisfaction with the Westminster goverment.
I think the UK will now find it easier to resist European pressure demanding the UK executes sweeping austerity measures.
You’re right what you say about the intermingling. Even Villa, as you know, has pretty strong Scottish ties. I suspect William MacGregor wouldn’t have liked Scotland to break away from the UK.
It’s a credit to the UK that such a referendum could take place. I’m glad Scotland voted “No”.
Jenny: John – you refer to Verdana – I looked that up and could only find referenced to wall paper ?!!!!
Must have written that while my DNA was in a state of flux! 😉
Vedanta is the word!
trinity- the difference is in beliefs, and that goes for the whole world. as I posted yesterday most of our beliefs are ingrained by age 7 and don’t change much unless we realise and question them. basically we are using someone else’s beliefs! our parents, their parents, society and culture and they are not necessarily right or good. don’t get me wrong there not all bad but a big shift in mindset and beliefs of who we are as a whole would set us on a better path than hate, greed and fear.
what do think of lamberts deal by the way?
Scotland
It’s just as well that 10 percentage points difference was achieved! The “yes” campaign seem to be saying that at 45% the question is still hanging… What would have happened if the split had been 51-49?!!
But the outcome of all this must see some radical changes in our politics … surely you cannot promise Scotland the earth without other regions also receiving an improved deal!
jl- your worrying me with this DNA fixation 😉 DNA doing anything would be the equivalent of a book reading itself IMO
JL- exactly and its about time we all become first class citizens and not just played off against each other
Mark,
Are we talking about the same DNA?
I thought it meant “Did Not Attend”! Meaning my mind was not properly on the job! 🙂
JL Heretic 😉
Mark,
The notion of “One Nation” politics has certainly gone away since the 1980s … and a remark by a Scot underlined that when he said that in 1979 he thought we were one country … only to find that latterly we have been split asunder … divide and rule became the norm and hence why he voted ‘yes’.
Having said that perhaps it’s WE that are the problem in expecting others to do the work for us. Perhaps WE (each of us individually) need to think outside the box (your point of being in ‘the now’) to address what is really important and thus to effect a more sane way of life.
JL- the welfare state has been turned a vote generating machine far from its good intentioned beginnings. it was originally set up when we had money in the pot and the working man was on a pittance and didn’t live long 🙂
jen
this will interest you
https://www.brucelipton.com/resource/article/nature-nurture-and-human-development
Mark,
Yes … but I wasn’t thinking just about the welfare state and in fact I don’t look upon it as simply “a vote generating machine” though particularly the NHS portion of it is of that category.
Ahem, we didn’t really have “money in the pot” in 1947 … it was only the proceeds of the Marshall Plan (effectively a US post-costly-war bale-out) that enable the NHS and an upgraded pension scheme to go ahead. Otherwise there was austerity then that puts today’s austerity in the shade.
I am thinking mainly of some of the angles that were highlighted in the Scottish referendum campaign. e.g. should Trident seriously be gone ahead with? There is a notion that anything that generates jobs must be sacrosanct, but the sheer cost of Trident and the fact that the philosophy behind it (still, despite recent Russian affairs) is redundant. The sheer inanity of building any kind of nuclear weapons – which if used would virtually erase the western world) – is profound.
But my feeling is that simply identifying a more sane way of life is the priority, and improving regional education and opportunities towards that. e.g. a recent documentary about long commutes highlighted a young mother who spends 6 hours a day commuting from the Isle of Wight to London, depositing her daughter with her mother at Southampton on the way. This seems to me the height of folly. But that is just one aspect of the inanity of the lives of many. Issues about diet, alcohol and community responsibility (and education on those matters) figure highly to me.
Mark
I’m a little surprised that it runs until 2018. Hopefully Lambert doesn’t get too comfortable, a lot of clubs would have sacked him last season. I guess the chairman wants stability and doesn’t want to pay out any more fees to sacked managers. Perhaps, RL shouldered a fair bit of the blame for last season’s shananigans, so he’s been lenient to PL. I think they’ve got a bromance thing going PL and RL 4EVA:)
To be fair, Lambert has said that last year was horrendous and recently the team has been looking pretty good playing wise, with, perhaps, the exception of the Newcastle bore. We have to beat them next time. When was last time Villa beat them?
I find it ironic that it was RL that ordered PL to utilise the bomb squad, and on the face of it, it seems to have been a deft piece of management from RL. I guess they had to do it.
Roy Keane seems to work well with PL. That, so far, has been a plus.
As always, time will tell if we’ve just been lucky these past 4 games. The Arsenal test will tell us a lot. They’re disappointed with the Dortmund loss and might want to prove something against Villa. Villa know that. It’s how Villa responds that counts. We can beat them. If Villa do win tomorrow, a lot of people will be sat up.
If PL has learned from his past mistakes, he should do well by Villa.
John
Did the UK actually get any Marshall Plan money?
You’re right about that post war austerity. I remember watching a show called Betty Blue Eyes, which played at London’s Novello Theatre in 2010. There was severe rationing in post war Britain that much of today’s lot couldn’t comprehend. That said, there is genuine poverty in Britain that governments need to get a much better grip on. It’s just getting too hard for too many to make ends meet. I hope want nearly happened with Scotland today makes the politicians think again.
Apologies for the apparent moralising.
Mark
Thanks for the piece on My oldman said about Ashley Westwood. It is a very perceptive piece,and confirms PL’s current team selection. PL has now said that Benteke will have to earn his place back in the side, but hopefully it will only spur him on.
Really looking forward to tomorrow’s game and a full house. How different from a couple of weeks ago.
A good result on Saturday is really going to get the fans buzzing,something that has not happened for years, and for me, is a great pleasure, after coming back after years of working, to be able to be a season ticket holder once more at my beloved football club. It has taken 3 years, but hopefully is now paying off for me.
Trinity: Did the UK actually get any Marshall Plan money?
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/marshall_01.shtml
Trinity: Apologies for the apparent moralising.
There’s a difference between preaching and discussion, mate! 😉
And the subject of morals (I would prefer the term ‘values’) is an important area of philosophy. How else do you make progess except by questioning (and experimenting)?
John
Wow, thanks for the site link. I got caught up in the “myth” that’s spoken of in that article, so I’m glad you sent it.
Apologies for the apparent “valuaising”:))
Seriously, I hear you regarding values.
JL sorry mate I was thinking of the original decision to give us a pension oops 🙂
JL
I agree mate ,Maggie gave us the right to buy our home but also the necessity to travel 200 miles a day to work, this drove all sorts of industries mainly the car and oil in the process. but in the light of day? gave us the right to have 5 tv’s 4 computers and no contact with neighbours because they are always working isn’t such a great deal.
trinity- there is a lot of poverty that goes unseen but how much is driven by the need for more and the life we are sold by adverts? steamer was more than happy when he didn’t know about soap
trinity- far from releasing pressure on Lambert who was in a no lose situation ( the valid excuses were there for all to see) the heat is now on. Lambert might implode or shine!? all I want is a win against arse who we haven’t beat in 15-16 years at home that will be a start
Mark, et al…
It is really amusing to think that exactly 20 years ago I got the internet (on an old-dial-up line) at a time when most did not know what it was and a year or two later I got my first mobile at a time when they were coming down in both size and price to make it available to the masses. I didn’t realise then I was entering the Switched-off Age and part of the trend towards it … I am horrified now.
Up to that point the pressure was simply on trying to keep the kids away from too much of the TV and videos. Today must be a nightmare for parents if their children are constantly demanding something. I’m glad I’m not part of that.
Consequently I now rarely give my mobile number to anyone and it mostly does not get used, and I refuse to buy any of the latest gadgets or take an interest in gaming.
I sound like a right old fuddy-duddy, but it does help to keep a quiet mind and have time to see what else is going on.
Did anyone see Martin Shaw on last night’s ‘Who Do You Think You Area?’
A really great mooch down memory-lane in this Brummie’s family history, looking at and discussing Sheldon (his grandfather was a sergeant in the ant-aircraft battery at Sheldon and was involved in trying to keep the bombers off the Castle Bromwich aircraft production centre) and Winson Green and Key Hill cemetary.
Shaw told the story that he was involved in providing theatrical entertainment amidst bombed out buildings in his younger days … he reckoned you could collect a wonderful audience to sit amongst the rubble and enjoy what was theatrically on offer – foc except for the round-robin at the end.
Oh I forgot to say that TV-wise, 20 years ago we didn’t know about cable or satellite TV and just had the bulk-standard 4 terrestrial channels. Wow!
Hi JL.
It was great to see the Martin Shaw programme, and the many places his family were connected to, as there were memories there for me too.
Liked the bit about him working as a clerk in Hockley at a similar time to my mother working there, and I used to collect her to take home, as we had moved out to Tamworth by then. Used grab the odd pint in the Steering wheel in those days in Newhall St.
JL I have sky and TBH I watch very few programs, Game of thrones etc but most of it is dross including itv and bbc . I think sky should let you pay say £1 a channel per month I’d get by on £6 😉 and let steamer have the other £14 back.
where is he ? he’s gone all quiet since the statue of Lambert went up
paul p
whereabouts in Tamworth ? that’s where I lived after kingshurst until 14 then down to Banbury, globetrotter me 🙂
wenger speaks
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/09/19/wenger-on-old-adversary-roy-keane-if-hes-happy-there-why-not/?
anyone else seen this about Tonev? its been up for a week and nobodies mentioned it
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1986&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=13753
Hey Paul,
D’yer remember the old science museum in Newhall Street? A bloomin’ good collection of old racing and record-breaking machines in there once-upon-a-time I recall – including the Railton Mobile Special.
Mark,
I started off life as legal-something-or-other in the old Town Clerk’s dept. in Brum and then moved up an extra few increments on the payscale by moving to Banbury’s T.C. dept. (in 1965). After 6 months I had a row with the Town Clerk, I left in a huff and then miraculously started another career back in Brum … but that’s another story.
I liked Banbury, though … and surrounding places like Adderbury and Braunston (sp?) … it suited me.
JL
Banbury has its moments John and villages and countryside are lovely. surprised you never headed this way on retirement that’s, if you have 😉
Adderbury is just up the road from me, Braunston nearer Daventry. its a small world the Midlands, I’m not surprised you fell out with Banbury council its like a yokel Mafia 🙂
Mark,
I came back to Brum from London to take up that job at Villa Park … and health issues affecting the wiff have kept us here.
But Oxfordshire in general is an area we’re seriously thinking of moving to in a year or two … but maybe the Banbury area is too far north as we want to be closer to our families in London.
JL take your pick there are some lovely places mate although the chiltern hills take some beating and its about half way,but its expensive. banbury is right on the edge of the cotswolds though.
Hello everyone, I’ve been reading all of your posts now for a long time so I thought it was about time I got involved! And what a wonderful time too… Is it xmas day tomorrow bec it sure does feel like it! Wow, I’ve not been this exited to sit in my lower holte seat in a long time. Just a quick post for now as I have cold beer to enjoy in the local. Look forward to getting involved with you lot on match day tomorrow.
Hello Ed , good to hear from you and welcome to AVL or should I say the blog that caters for all ! !
Speak to you soon 🙂
Jenny: … or should I say the blog that caters for all ! !
What catering is provided then, Jenny? I’ve been hoping for some cream eclairs but I’ve received none yet!
But apart from that, welcome Ed!
John – thanks for the reference . Some more reading I have to do .
Also , I was kicking myself for not watching WDYTA and then I found on my tv a section called Catch UP TV and it’s on there – so now watching it – brilliant ! Inspiring me to do more on my family tree seeing the military historian .
Also found episode 1 of Peaky Blinders – don’t know of repeat or new series until I watch it .
Mark – very intersting article . Cheers .
Ed- welcome mate, try and keep the enthusiasm to a minimum or you’ll have the mood moderators on your case 😉
Hi Mark
I lived in Warton, near Polesworth from 1963 until around 1968.
JL
The other connection to Banbury in those days was the famous Birds Custard moving there from Deritend….and that would start another story for me….
paul p
I lived at elizebeth drive, cotton green and finally reindeer road Fazelly backing on to drayton manor park, the lions and various animals would wake me up at dawn good times. and my dad was a maintenance electrician at birds, still smells of coffee
John, I remember the old science museum with huge affection . From the age of about 11 it was my favourite place for a few years. I used to get on a bus into town just to go there, look at the engines, press the buttons and play with the giant gyroscope. . . . far more exciting than Gran tourismo, FIFA or world of Warcraft eh?
Yes, R0bb0. Thanks for that – you’ve made my recollections even more clear now.
I also used to go to the art gallery and museum quite a bit at around 11, and do some sketching … We were without daytime TV and all kinds of other distractions then. Thankfully.
And we had ‘natural’ colour TV too! 🙂