Aston Villa has rarely dropped out of the top-flight in over 125 years and, more significantly, for more than 20 years before 1915 the club dominated world football after the club’s former chairman, William McGregor, had created the world’s first football league. Aston Villa was the first ‘Superclub’.

The Villa can also rightly be called the ‘Pride of the Midlands’, despite the fact of the events over the past five years in particular. Nottingham Forest had an upstart period thanks to Brian Clough and the Wolves were very strong for 30-or-so years prior to and after the War, but where are these clubs now? And where are the other Midlands clubs that might challenge the position of Aston Villa?

In 1981, Aston Villa had still won more domestic honours than any other English club. In 1982, the club won the European Cup and throughout the 1990s the Villa remained a leading club in the top-flight of English football. After the achievements in 1981 and 1982 and the mini-revival of the 1990s, we had high expectations back in ca. 2000.

So, what happened?

Time, of course plays its part as the cyclical nature of life takes over, but it’s not just that – is it? In 2000 we thought that ‘the problem’ was a certain Doug Ellis – we thought he was holding us back and we believed that it was the same Doug who had stopped Villa’s continued rise after 1982, the year of European triumph and also the time when Doug had returned to Villa as the chairman. So, when in 2006 he found for us a new owner of Villa we breathed a sigh of relief and welcomed the new chief as the knight on a white horse.

We are now a bit wiser. We also found out that the current owners of Manchester City might have been Villa’s new owners in 2006 but for the willy wiles of our Doug. Our Doug has a lot to be remembered for, and the name of a stand at Villa Park provides that remembrance. However, I have no wish to join the blame game: Doug did no more than try to keep the club in an atmosphere of English thinking that we would probably now regard as ‘old hat’. We might call the attitude a remnant of a bygone age and related to the old-boys network but Doug thought he was doing right though his attitude became little different to that of the chairman and board members whom he supplanted in 1968.

In 1968, the club were penny-conscious and frightened to look towards new horizons: the board members were a pastiche of the club’s leaders of the Golden Years. Meanwhile, on the pitch, a disaster was unfolding in front of our eyes. Attendances were down to 12,000, the ground was crumbling and the old third division invited us if we dared. But the fans stood up at last and said “enough is enough” – and, miraculously, the board actually listened and within a short time a new board was appointed with (yes!) Doug Ellis appointed as a chairman. The maverick but colourful Tommy Docherty was appointed as manager and we suddenly had attendances back to 30,000-plus. Tommy (and the new board, supported by excited, expectant and exceptional, helping, fans) managed to save the club from relegation to the Third Division that season. Suffice to say that a turnaround took place in fairly quick time, culminating in the return to the top-flight within 8 years, and within less than another 8 years, the club’s first European trophy, quickly followed by a second.

The 1970s and early 1980s were a vibrant years of achievement and people remembered that time in 2000 after Villa had produced a very unconvincing performance at a Wembley Cup Final. The fans then spoke out again, and along came the change in 2006. Doug had proclaimed that Villa was still a top-6 club, and we believed that – in fact we thought we were due for greater things.

Today, the reality is that the club is not that much further forward than it was at the time when Doug appeared on the scene at the end of 1968, but at least we are still in the top flight. I did not expect the club to return to the disorganised level we have seen these past 5 years – but it has happened, and our hopes have taken a battering. The last 9 years has seen yet another chairman who has been mostly clue-less about what is needed to re-invigorate the club back into the big-time, despite paying out large sums to commercial entities and media people and (latterly) team managers that have not enthused anyone until the arrival of the latest in February.

Despite the so-called austerity under Randy, he has still opened his chequebook when the need has arisen, though money has sometimes been spent in a strange manner (the story of Darren Bent would be almost unbelievable if told to a stranger, in my view), so the issue is not simply about money is it? You could say that much money is needed, but as I look back to those times in 1968 and 1969, it was not money that saved the situation but the joining-together of a lot of people who loved the club, and the body of belief that it could all be turned around. It was not a case of expecting ‘them’ to do something about the situation, it was about about ‘us’ getting together and breathing life back into the club. That was when Villa WAS a club … again. The atmosphere (we were told) was akin to as it had been in the ‘old days’.

So, just after we have again experienced a very unconvincing performance at a Wembley Cup Final, I suggest to all those who want a big-money merchant to take over the club that we should first of all ask that entity to prove how much he loves the club. With money alone I would not expect a lot: in my view sustained progress cannot be made unless that merchant has had an infusion of claret pumped into his veins, not a mere tattoo placed on the ankle. Haven’t we learnt that?

UTV

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John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.

Comments 283

  1. runtings

    excellent work JL

    It’s an intersting point you make – personally i think it has very little to do with love and more to do with a good business approach and a determiation to succeed — along with the required spending power and backroom staff that enhance your chances of reaching your goals and ambitions

    i dont think the Citeh lot have any major love for the club although that may develop over time – but they have all the thing required to take citeh to the top end of the game

  2. Ian

    JL – A really good and interesting piece to start the working week off again.

    I agree that the ideal scenario is that we get an owner who loves the club to come in and rehabilitate us all and take AVFC in to a brave new world of competing again against the upper echelons, which is where we rightly belong (if there is such a thing of rightfully belonging in this league… just look at Nottingham Forest).

    I suppose the issue is this is very unlikely to happen. To actually compete in this league now, not just at the top but also the bottom, an owner needs to be a billionaire in their own right.. and there’s not to many Villan fans that can claim this at the moment.

    Personally I would just prefer an owner who has a proper sports and business plan both for the club, that will own and manage us responsibly by bringing in the correct structures and management teams and back us in the transfer market sensibly and most importantly when necessary.

    Unfortunately Randy is none of the above. Whilst he is in charge I can only see Villa descending further and without some significant investment this summer I can only see relegation for us next season. We are now not only behind the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd etc but we are now also rans to teams like Southampton, Everton, Swansea and (whisper it) Stoke.

    Admittedly I know I am a glass half empty type of person but for me its heartbreaking seeing where we are at the moment. Even what should have been a joyous day out, the FA Cup Final, turned into a nightmare that even I didn’t think AVFC could create…

    UTV

  3. Mark King

    thanks JL a well thought out piece,

    I find myself agreeing with Runtingz on this, I don’t think the owner has to love Villa.

    When villa have gone into the lower divisions before we still maintained the support we have always had. Indeed fans had something to hope for that was realistic a return to the top eventually and the club was renewed.
    Unfortunately I don’t think you can bring about a similar resurrection in the modern game whilst in the top division. You are forced to tread water while others progress if you do not have the funds. Your best players move on regularly and the feeling of being second rate and unable to compete brings the mood at the club down. Football is a game and games demand a winner, what do you do when that hope is taken away?
    We see our history as second to none but in the Prem era it is closer to none than we want to admit.

  4. Ian

    Mark – completely agree with both you and Runtingz, I don’t really mind if they don’t love us etc… as long as they can manage us properly…

    In regards to our history, I think we have an amazing history but, as I think mentioned before, unfortunately this is only something a fan cherishes, its probably not something a player cares about when deciding his next club. This will come down to money and if the ambition of the club matches that of their own.. In our case currently, that ambition is not there at all.

  5. Mark King

    Ian,
    its mad to expect someone to love something they’ve had no contact with Isn’t it? On the flip side how many Villa fans would be happy to sit at the top and get slaughtered for doing what you think is your best for the club? It would be a nightmare if every fan of the club you love thought of you as an idiot (or worse).
    What’s required is the nous and the will to win, that at least should drag us in the right direction, although without the funds it would be a long long process imo.

  6. Ian

    Mark, agreed. I don’t think the average Villa fan asks for much… someone to come in that can actually run the club in the right way with the right plans in place of how to move forward… all that seem to be missing at the moment. With that in place at least we should be moving in the right direction…

  9. DarrenO

    Love of any club is the preserve of fans only and maybe some players but the days of any commercial enterprise and that’s what football clubs are being run on any other basis than sound financial principles are long gone. Head over heart.

    FFP brought a temporary end to huge single investments and like any other accounting rules, people are employed to work around them, sale of stadium naming rights, getting players on loan through ‘sister’ clubs are all legal without being completely moral.

    To find an owner who loves the club as much as we do is impossible. I’ve said it before any new owner needs to be financially self sufficient and generating huge incomes outside of football, consortiums don’t work because a) it means the consortium doesn’t have sufficient buying power in itself and b) individual conflict within the consortium can arise. A new owner also needs to be clever enough to recognise their own limitations and know when football decisions need to be made by football people. We’ve not had any of that under Lerner.

    His money was father generated, his income is based on investments as opposed to revenue generating companies, he failed to recognise his own limitations and only success is being a blue nose in disguise.

    Doug Ellis was woeful as a chairman devoid of any modernism, devoid of ambition, his only success was maintaining status quo when other teams around us where progressing, it was criminal not to cash in on 1981/82, it was equally criminal not to cash in, in the mid-nineties when regularly qualifying for Europe. Marquee signing to appease fans and the title of top team in the Midlands mean nothing. (Granted I don’t work with blue noses or tesco bags so don’t have that sense of rivalry).

    I’m not advocating we all sell our souls to the devil but patience is thin after years of mediocrity and not just under Lerner, that I’d like some time in the limelight again. I want a team to be proud of, a team that wins or at least challenges to win and a team that other supporters hate cos it would mean we are doing something right.

    UTV

  10. Mark King

    One other thought is if we are looking for a white knight in shining armour to ride in I’d be surprised if there are any in the business world any more. not many Billionaires get to the top without stepping on toes or prising money from the great unwashed in dubious circumstance. Lerners money is from credit cards nothing bent about them eh?

  11. John Lerwill

    Well, that “love of the club” comment of mine was written to challenge y’all to some thoughtful response, but y’know – is the concept so wrong?

    If we were to think about it, “love” promotes understanding, so to have a genuine feeling for something will make the ‘thing’ better treated. In this context a football club (which is partly to do with emotive issues) given TLC might just get the best results.

    Right or wrong?

  12. Clive Evans

    Excellent piece as usual John. I note your comments and would venture to say that it is not just the change of ownership that will determine Villa’s future but a change in mind set for the supporters.

    In the historical context the fact that Villa got back up to the top flight each time it was relegated owes as much to the loyalty and honest support and encouragement from the terraces as to the change in management.

    Fast forward to the present day situation of the mercenary players, TV money and increased mobility (that enables more leisure attractions) and the scenario changes – supporters want value for the money they are now being asked to pay to watch; the clubs are not so dependent on supporter income, more interested in lucrative sponsorship and TV money.

    The supporters will not turn up for rubbish – we older fans that make up the majority of subscribers here (I hazard a guess) will remain loyal whatever, even if we moan and groan, but the new breed will walk away after a few games where they boo the team off the pitch.

  13. runtings

    JL
    The thing with love is it can blind you and make you do things you wouldnt normally do – it can cloud your judgement and make rash decisions
    if there was a mega rich person that was totally blinded by there love of the club it wouldnt be such a bad thing — but i think its for the fans to love there club and the board just to progress it as much possible

  14. John Clark

    It’s an interesting thought, JL.

    Love is a funny one. With the right environment, players can learn to love a club, whatever their roots. However, players are mainly just employees now, and as others have said, don’t tend to care much where they ply their trade as long as they think they’re getting the best deal they can in the footballing labor market. And various jobs they take on the way up are generally hoped to be stepping stones. Much the same as with us. Just more money on offer and shorter shelf lives.

    At the top-level, much the same applies. The owner is more likely to be an “investor” or someone who can afford a very expensive hobby that puts them in them limelight against other billionaires, like owning a racing team or some such.

    So, I do think there’s any escaping the money.

    That said, on the inside of the club, I do think a particular culture can be cultivated. One that makes good operational and business sense. Someone can end up loving the thing they own and identify with, want to see it done right, something that becomes an extension of themselves. So, it’s a love of football, I guess, that we’d be looking for in a new owner, someone genuinely excited to have a role to play in building up a club and a brand that is known for good football

  15. southwestvillan

    John,

    Another good article but somewhat hypothetical in my opinion, to think that we might have any say or input into the next owner of AVFC seems as ludicrous as thinking there is no corruption within FIFA.
    We the run of the mill supporters have become a by product of football, we are never considered when these major decisions are made, take the McLeish scenario as a case in point was any thought put into the impact on true Villans, one he managed our closest rivals and got them relegated a job well done some would say, two he nearly completed a second city double by taking us down and three he was crap.
    We have witnessed owners take over clubs and change team colours, re-name stadiums even try to change the clubs name, blimey we got off light with that crappy club crest, history and heritage mean nothing to these business men, all they want is to get into the CL and collect the big bucks and the fans fall for it because they have been starved of success for so long they feel their Christmases have all come at once, look at Untied one season without CL football and they are up in arms, knobheads.

    Whoever buys AVFC will run the club how he sees fit, he will not consult the fans it will be a like it or lump it situation, don”t forget when Lerner took over he showed all the right intentions but eventually his true colours showed through.

    AVFC

  16. John Lerwill

    Runtings: “The thing with love is it can blind you and make you do things you wouldnt normally do – it can cloud your judgement and make rash decisions”

    *Very* true, mate!!

    But … how does it explain how the Villa grew as it did between 1876 and 1900?

    I suspect there was a lot more love in it than business in those days.

    OK, OK … I know … them there days were different and it’s all change. But is the principle so wrong to get the best results?

  17. John Lerwill

    … a point about things in the old days was that they used to decide by committee of course. An elected committee. Yep … that’s different! 🙂

  18. John Lerwill

    SWV,

    I am – of course – talking about revolution!

    You know, how the fans rose up in ’68. But it is hypothetical if you think that the amount of money involved these days is too much for the fans to cope with.

    It makes you wonder how the Leicesters and the Stokes of this world manage…

  19. Mark King

    JL a truer comparison would be how does the wealth of the clubs compare to the old days? today its truly a global market, back then more how many fans can you cram in.
    The money available to lesser teams through tv has levelled the playing field in the mid to lower reaches of the table . The difference at the top is there fan base and marketing strategies have been better for longer and they are grabbing market share globally.
    Maybe a club built on love could attract an untapped market but you have to say the most successful clubs have the most world wide fan-base these days and make more money. A rich benefactor has been the catalyst in 2 of the most recently successful teams. It can work if done right.

  20. Mark King

    I would also add the likes of stoke etc probably have less of an historic mill stone around there necks so less fan expectation. also they are clearly better run than us to go with the tv money

  21. Mark King

    Also will we reach a tipping point or saturation of billionaires who realise only 4 clubs can win and they are generally the richest? or will it become standard to need one just to survive?

  22. runtings

    JL

    Yes the game has certainly changed and it’s not just a case of being well run i guess
    good managent doesnt seem to be enough on its own niether is just having lots of cash as randy proved
    in the modern game i think you need all the above otherwise you will be also rans

    southampton and swansea have all required ingredients except the cash but due to there philosophy the can maintane a decent level , but they will be very lucky indeed to get beyond the level they have reached

    it’s a ugly game in many respects — but the reality is you get all the ingredients or fall by the way side

  23. John Lerwill

    Mark: “also [Stoke] are clearly better run than us to go with the tv money”

    Well, there you go… Maybe they have directors who have a better feel of the roots in the club … and I think that’s important.

    Incidentally, if we’re talking about “history” don’t let’s forget that Stoke are the oldest club in the Premier League by a long chalk (1862) … and Stan Matthews thought they were worth playing for! 😉 … plus Alan Hudson, Dennis Violet, Roy Vernon, Jimmy Greenhough, Mike Pejic … and Harry Burrows and Peter Crouch. OK, also Steve Ireland!

  25. John Lerwill

    DO’R ” it was criminal not to cash in on 1981/82″

    Yes, I’m of course aware of all the arguments about Doug, but as I’ve stated my Superclub book, the situation in 1982 was that the club was marred by debt and attendance that were dwindling at 22,000 even though we’d won what we had!! In those days, attendances were mega important.

    So Doug inherited some poor management and the economy crisis inherent in the West Midlands at that time. The club won its trophies at the wrong time by the looks of it.

    Yes, you could say that Doug did not market the club well enough, but at a time of severe recession it was not easy.

  26. John Lerwill

    JC: “So, it’s a love of football, I guess, that we’d be looking for in a new owner, someone genuinely excited to have a role to play in building up a club and a brand that is known for good football”

    Yep … I’d go with that in the absence of anything better (if there is anything better!).

  27. Mark King

    I hope the likes of Southampton continue to do as well but I have a feeling that as good as there academies are at producing cash for them (and that is exactly the model they use) you have to wonder how many lean years could they withstand? what if they don’t see as many top players coming through? last season they got a lot of money from the top clubs and bought well, this season they will be raided again, can they repeat last seasons feat? my guess is it will only take one or 2 bad batches and they could sink.

  29. Ian

    If Darren Bent has now signed for Derby (just seen that) does this mean we wont be getting rid of Weimann as well 🙁

  30. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    You provide the downside element of the position with the Saints and Swans very well, but it’s a fact that *any* entity in business can go belly up if it’s not producing what is wanted (quality) and/or if poorly managed.

    I’d prefer (again) to stick with the glass half-full view that the tack taken by Swans and the Saints is to be admired. OK, it’s probably the only sensible route they could have taken, but it is a formula that has (so far) produced reasonable success as it did for Villa all those years ago. Therefore, that route stands a chance of being sustainable.

  31. Mark King

    JL if history has any sway in this then you have to say Academies blow hot and cold. manure hit the jackpot with giggs, scholes, beckam, the nevilles but had the money and ambition to keep them and build. We had our golden period as you said but were not financially able to keep the players.
    This has happened recently for Southampton who do historically produce good players but not in the amount they are at present. Middlesbrough have produced a good bunch this year, Crewe used to but not so much now.
    Maybe Southampton have cracked the code but IMO these things have always appeared cyclical whichever way you view the glass.

  32. steamer

    Excellent leader and merit in every post showing, again, why AVL is the best Villa blog out there.

    A new owner also needs to be clever enough to recognise their own limitations and know when football decisions need to be made by football people. We’ve not had any of that under Lerner

    That caught my eye.

    The Aston Villa brand has been degraded by Ellis and Lerner, we all thought that potential new owners would flock to buy our club but the global perception is of an unambitious, average sized club playing unattractive football in an equally unattractive city with virtually no chance of winning trophies or catching the public imagination, we can’t really disagree can we ?

  33. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    As I said “You provide the downside element of the position with the Saints and Swans very well [re Acadmies]”! 😉

    In fact, over the years the Saints have produced a number of brilliant players … Paine, Channon, Chivers, Le Saux and Tiss come to mind immediately. They’ve had a rich vein that has continued to be tapped when the right regime is in place.

    Agreed, it can be spasmodical, but I feel that it mainly depends on the kind of aura and policy that a club wants to stick with and have the right management to carry it through. Man U (To my mind) have now just got too big and players who come out from there tend to think they are internationals just because they’re from Man U – and the FA seem to think so too.

    Saints are still more of a family club and I think it comes back to that kind of theme again – where there’s a (caring/loving) family relationship there the best development results emanate.

  34. Mark King

    JL what can I say I’m a trouble shooter, time will tell my friend. If Gabby is anything to go by the education system at villa needs an update, although he certainly knows how to create a family 😉

    Steamer sometimes you wonder if a biblical size disaster and massive rebuild is the only way Brum would be attractive. unfortunately its always held us back, that’s why the last three games were so crucial to next season for me and we fecked it up.

  36. John Lerwill

    Steamer,

    You’re certainly not wrong about how we’ve been badly led.

    Despite what I wrote earlier, I agree that Ellis was something of a self-seeking power merchant, but the poor economy situation of the times and the dependency on good gates means that you cannot blame Ellis much for what happened after 1982. Having said that, the situation laid by Graham Taylor and through the 90s should have produced a more imaginative response from the chairman – and he failed miserably. Listing on the stock exchange was just a false dawn and the receipts from that mainly helped to re-build the new Trinity anyway.

    If a better economy had existed in 1982 then I suspect we might have had a different chairman coming in, but instead we’ve had a situation where the management of the club since 1945 has shown no imagination except in the 1969-82 period. That’s 70 years of nearly all mediocre activity by the board of the time.

  37. John Lerwill

    I should have added that since Fred Rinder died (1938) we’ve never had someone in a position to help drive the club who has had the same feeling for the club as he.

  39. Mark King

    JL I think the biggest block to your Family type club is the money the players can get. If a cap was in place then we would probably see more clubs keep more of their decent players. Unfortunately the lure of money and silver ware trumps loyalty these days

  40. Mark King

    JL “I should have added that since Fred Rinder died (1938) we’ve never had someone in a position to help drive the club who has had the same feeling for the club as he.”

    that’s the other factor, someone with a forceful personality can drag a club forward, they go and the club falters. Its surprising how average most of us are 🙂

  41. Paul Pears

    Excellent leader JL, as usual, and glad to see that you are putting the positives to Doug Ellis’s chairmanship, without whom Villa may not have survived. He has made mistakes, but his love for Villa still survives now, in his nineties, and I believe some years ago he sacked one of our managers ,as he offered him money for new players, and the reply was we do not need any….Cannot imagine that of the chairman today!!!

    Whilst Villa are sleeping and TS is on holiday, I see the Bindippers have already signed two great players in Ings and Milner….How many of us would have loved to see Villa do the business instead…We will probably end up with Joey Barton and Peter Crouch…but maybe Peter would be good if he was supplying Charlie Austin!!!

  43. steamer

    Ian,
    That story seems very likely although some blogs are saying that the deal could be closed this week, most agree that apart from the Smith bid that its a biggie.

  47. Paul Pears

    Major multi million pound deal signed for the Women’s FA Cup…….

    Will Villa Park be one of the first major venues for women’s premiership football????

    Remember a post I made about 12 months ago on the future of women’s football….

  48. steamer

    PP,
    Herberts no Villa fan, he’s a nose, ex chairman of Wolves & Derby and wannabe Chelsea director under his mate Ken Bates. When Ellis first crawled into VP, courtesy of Pat Matthews, he loaned the club 20,000 quid he’s actually put bugger all into Villa just taken, iv’e put more into that club than he has. He manipulated the shares issue so that he made a fortune at the expense of ordinary fans and has pimped off the club for 40 years.

  49. Frem

    Looking better on he take over front. Just hope it’s not Adam and smith. The guy from china who’s worth 13 billion will do. Just don’t want some tight got who can’t put a load of money into us

    Bent gone. Now for a about 15 more. Given, Guzan, Hutton, baker, dross, Vlaar, sissy, rich, Gordon Bennett, Luna, Zoggy, Wiemann, gabby, here

    Shower of shit

    Clear them out Sherwood

  50. Paul Pears

    Frem,

    Do you believe a new owner will have enough money to buy a complete new squad…..as the only ones you have not mentioned, will probably off within the next few weeks, the only exceptions will be those still receiving treatment…..and maybe Jack Grealish….and he may not b e certain..

    If only dreams could come true Frem….then maybe Villa would have won the cup….and beaten Burnley…

  51. John Lerwill

    Mark: “JL I think the biggest block to your Family type club is the money the players can get. ”

    No denying it … that’s certainly the biggest challenge for a club like Saints … and Stoke, Swansea, Leicester … and Villa (at present).

    But as I’ve written before, it’s strange that Everton seem to have a formula – based on a combination of youth and very experienced players – that keeps ’em going, and generally in better shape than Villa. They, though, can’t win anything either, and that’s the rub for all the teams below (say) 7th place.

  52. Trinity

    Interesting, John.

    Agree fully with Runting’s fine reply

    “That was when Villa WAS a club.” We noticed your emphasis on “WAS”. Generally speaking, the love thing is more for the fans and those players and associates who have an affection for the club. I still use the word “club” for want of a better word. In that respect the fans love what Villa was rather than what it is.
    Those that live in the past are often the most disappointed when they realise that they’ve been delusional in thinking that Villa’s still that “super club” of a 100 years ago.
    Villa’s fan base, is what makes Villa a big club still. Most hang in there, even though, the club is a mere shadow of what it’s been in the distant past, a great football club with that’s struggled to adapt in the modern era to changing realities.

  53. John Lerwill

    Trin: “…the club is a mere shadow of what it’s been in the distant past, a great football club with that’s struggled to adapt in the modern era to changing realities.”

    Yes, but other clubs have had exactly the same challenge, haven’t they?

    That’s why I mentioned the “cyclical” issue – that the time comes when something else takes over from what went before … such as the replacement of the British Empire by the power of the USA etc.

    But it is disturbing that we’ve had so many chairman of Villa that (though they have usually been nice-type guys) have provided little real leadership these past 70 years. If we’d had more of the right leadership then maybe we *would* have adapted and not “struggled to adapt in the modern era to changing realities.”

    Man U, for example, have grown from strength to strength during almost all the same 70 years that Villa have atrophied – that’s an awful long period of time for a club to maintain a high presence, indicating that a structure was established early on that enabled new people to come in and seamlessly take the club forward. What has Villa been doing?

  57. runtings

    JL not forgetting that Arsenal brought there way into the top flight at Spurs expence due to there ground being to small when they won promation

  58. Ian

    Vlaar has apparently come out and said his career can go a step higher and he’ll leave quietly… Does this mean he is joining Everton as well then?

    Seriously though AVFC are a complete shambles!!

  59. Mark King

    JL I know but we spread our wage bill over a lot of players on £30,000+ a week under MON. Everton had a first 11 on similar wages and the rest on amounts that Lambert had started to pay £5-15,000 a week they achieved it sooner than us that’s all. we should now be in a position to achieve something similar if we can attract and pay for the right quality players and some potential to bring through.

  60. southwestvillan

    Mark,

    Just a quick note on the ST prices published in that table and interestingly only Man Cite£ cheaper than us, with all the TV money now being pumped into the game don”t you think some of that should go to making ticket prices cheaper, if you are a father with two young kids you can be looking at spending about £100 plus for a home game with tickets and extras, if you want to go to an away game god knows what the cost would be with travel.

    We have to make the game affordable to the average working man or the game is meaningless, we see nearly 40% of the FA cup final tickets handed to people who have no connection with either club, can that be right, imagine what a spectacle it would be if both clubs had half the capacity, but the club Wembley wallers get there tickets and stay in the bar for another 15 minutes after half time making the game look a bloody joke.

    Lets be honest with what the fans at VP had to put with the last four seasons at £335 they are being ripped off.

    AVFC

  61. southwestvillan

    And as for Vlaar and anybody else who does not want to play for AVFC do one and don”t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out, I am fed up to the back teeth of all these knobs who believe AVFC are not good enough for them, Vlaar spent more time on the physios table than on the pitch and has taken more in sick pay than Darren Anderton, I hope someone looks at his playing time last season before spending some of that cash on a player who”s only claim to fame was a half decent World Cup, overpaid and over rated in my opinion and I could count on two hands the amount of games he stood out, if my house was made of that concrete I would be living on the streets now.

    AVFC

  63. steamer

    Following on from Runtingz and Arsenals rise to the English elite, Guildford Untieds post war rise was financed on the back of the Chairman selling rancid meat on the black market. there’s always been a dark side to football, its seems that a spell in clink is almost a qualification for the owners of Birminghams smallest club.

    If Vlaar had had even a half decent season i would have wished him well, he hasn’t.

    Looks like the nightmare is almost over.

  64. steamer

    From the Wall Street Journal on the acquisition of a major Swiss sports organisation –
    “The acquisition is expected to help boost sports in China and increase Wanda’s influence in global sports, Mr. Wang said, adding that he is planning two other acquisitions this year. He didn’t disclose details.”

  66. steamer

    Although i think it will be Micky Arison who buys us, there are outstanding reasons to consider the Chinese bid, for a start Birmingham has one of the largest Chinese populations in the World, Villa are one of the best supported clubs in China and the CF showed the level of our support worldwide, a lot of folks will regret not buying us imo.

  68. steamer

    Maybe if its a biggie we can turn down bids for CB and show enough ambition to get him to sign a new contract. Anyway, the dog walkers reckon Chelski have bid 15m, Poo #12m and AC Milan 24m, so his CF performance obviously didn’t impress.
    Vlaar stating he’s too good for Villa seems to be an attack on the club which can’t be ignored, once it gets personal its over.

  69. Trinity

    John
    “Yes, but other clubs have had exactly the same challenge, haven’t they?”

    That was certainly true for a big chunk of that 70 year period you mentioned. Obviously, they got something right that Villa didn’t.
    Clubs like Arsenal and Man U have different challenges now. They worry more about winning silverware. Villa worries more about avoiding relegation and being sold off to some chump:)
    It’ll be even the more interesting to see if a new owner can genuinely reinvigorate and breathe new life into the lion. It’ll need a good feed after being resuscitated.
    John, How much did that recession in the early 1980s affect Villa and Birmingham in general? Did it affect London and Manchester to a similar degree? What I remember of the era was a lot of factories closing down, the Falklands and lots of people protesting against Margaret Thatcher. Financially, how much of a windfall was winning the EC in 1982? I think you’re right.

  70. Heroes-and-Villans

    Great write up John.

    We aint going to find an owner who loves the villa like we do…maybe the owner will GROW to love us though?
    It’s all about the £££ and has always been that way imo…just nowdays its loads of £££!!

    Anyhow, new owners seem to be on the horizon. Cant help feeling very excited and hopefull but more than likely going to feel flat when we find out who they are! In my mind there going to be brilliant minted owners!

    Id like the Chinease guys too Steamer.

  71. Trinity

    Steamer
    I think you’re right. His pretty lousy CF might just keep him at Villa. Maybe. Hopefully, he’ll hang on to see an ambitious new owner arrive at VP.

  72. Trinity

    C’mon the Chinese! They might improve the food around the park, too.
    As long as they value Villa tradition and don’t try to change the name of the club or VP etc.

  74. John Lerwill

    Trin: “John, How much did that recession in the early 1980s affect Villa and Birmingham in general? Did it affect London and Manchester to a similar degree?”

    That’s the interesting thing, mate … when I did my research for the ‘First Superclub’ book, I was astonished to see that attendances at the London, Liverpool and Manchester grounds were hardly affected – yet Villa’s plummeted at a time of success!

    It seems the recession then was mainly to do with the West Midlands, and probably the North East.

  75. B6toBrasil

    Heavens above,I can`t believe Vlaar has been made an offer by AVFC.It would appear he will sign for us as a last resort,if nothing else emerges.Have some pride and self respect Villa,ditch this over injured player with the over inflated opinion of himself.Suprisingly he is injured and pulled out of the game for his country.
    Plus it is astonishing that we have not released Herd,and are “considering” offering him a new deal.He hasn`t been good enough since day one,how might he be good enough in the next few weeks?Got that off me chest.

  76. John Lerwill

    B6,

    Am inclined to agree about Vlaar (and certainly on Herd!).

    However, the almost constant -ve press from players who are or seem to be going through the door is unfortunate. They seem to think they suffered the most in the cup final!

  78. John Clark

    I have to believe the constant relegation woes and the CF debacle have not helped anything. The players seemed to dig deeper to fight off relegation, just. But, they obviously don’t believe Villa are capable of pushing on. I’m sure the ownership limbo doesn’t help.

    Someone like Vlaar is looking for a payday and higher profile. Can’t say I blame him. I do rate him, however, for as much as he’s been injured, he’s not the been the constant we need him to be, and haven’t seen him play consistently at his best, for whatever reason.

    This, in the end, may illustrate part of the fundamental problem…Players come in, the team doesn’t move up, they get disillusioned and want to move on. We’ve got to find a way, with new money, obviously, to get past that. Lambert’s young and hungry was an attempt to move around this impasse, stretch the money and try to assemble a new squad. There wasn’t enough money to spend, and the requisite experience was lacking. And you win a few lose a few with gambles like that.

    My guess is that if he can’t spend big, Sherwood at least wants some fighters with an underdog mentality.

  80. John Clark

    In other words, I don’t think it’s a referendum on Sherwood, but on the “lack of ambition” for lack of a better term. Which I guess would be “Money.”

  82. steamers75

    D.O.R
    got the CD today , great stuff,

    Jenny, steamer, Runtins will make you a copy and be in post by the weekend ,

    hiya Brasil

    went to morrissons with steamer . met an Ex and had a little chat , lost steamer , then found him in car-park trying to get in a Hyundia , forgetting we came in my car , you can bet cctv will be on Midlands Today , expecting PC Plod any minuet now ………….doh!!!

  85. John Doyle

    steamer told you carnival park is a step nearer all his staff on the ships know it is a done deal only problem if it is one is that they all say the German klinsman will come as well

  86. runtings

    st75 thanks so much for that , I don’t know what brazil was talking about as far as i am concerned you are a top bannana 🙂

    so excited now we can see the takeover is actually happenng ,, in the words of James Brown ”I could just back and kiss myself”

    i would love the chinese to come in too but failing that the US guy seems like a winner and anyone that get into the rng at WWE gets my vote

    let the good times role

  88. Mark King

    Vlaar do one, Herd!!!! must be F………. joking.

    would like the Chinese for many reasons, one being they like a long term plan and are bloody good at it . I particularly liked them giving us Hong Kong on a 100 year lease and letting us develop it for them. I also like that there is bloody millions of the buggers. don’t like MSG though

    would rather have the wrestling boat owner than tony Adams though.

  91. steamer

    JD,
    Dunno about Arison, sounds a tight git by everything iv’e read about him and a nasty piece of work too. A consortium of Chairman Wang, Jack Ma and the other bloke sounds about right, in fact any Chinese mob will do. Still, anyone’s got to be better than this idiot.
    Hopefully the Witton Lane stand will become The Carnival Stand ridding the fans of a reminder of the parasite and bringing in $$$ in sponsorship.

  92. John Lerwill

    A Very Interesting – but Disturbing – Stat

    Of the 20 teams in the Premier League, Villa had the *lowest* attendance % – 79% of capacity.

    The next lowest teams were Sunderland (88%) and Burnley (89%). All the others had 90%+ attendance.

    I find that very worrying.

  97. John Lerwill

    Mark: ” is it recession or lack of interest i’d say the latter”

    Oh, yes, agreed. Generated by the events since 2010…

    Av attendances since 2007-08 (96+% then):

    2014-15: 34133
    2013-14: 36081
    2012-13: 35060
    2011-12: 33873
    2010-11: 37193
    2009-10: 38573
    2008-09: 39811
    2007-08: 40029

  98. steamers75

    steamer did you see the chinese consortium , one of the blokes had a black eye ! think his name is Ulamb Choo ….

    Carnival , just the thought makes me feel like downing a gallon of cider , jeezzzz

    just listened to the brother strut cd in the car , brilliant stuff,

  99. steamer

    The general feeling over the various blogs is that the successful bid is Chinese.
    A planeload of US billionaires led by Joe Gorder is arriving at Elmdon today but its doubtful if they’re connected with a bid, i think they’re worth $165b.

    I wonder that now Jeerman Klopp has announced he wants to manage in the EPL if he has been approached by Villa or fancies Liverpool who have already said that Brenda will stay.

  103. steamer

    JL,
    He also wants Lerner to stay, this is what happens when you employ folk with no affiliation to the club, it becomes self preservation, i’d sack him with Lerner.

  106. Mark King

    I like the bit where fox has a go at the lad that’s phoned tekkers agent, terrible thing to do, almost as bad as releasing information that might not be strictly true to boost tickets sales.

  108. runtings

    cynical view there Mark 🙂
    understandable of course – we have to be the most frustated and let down fans in the lge

    clearly something is happening thou and if by any chance the owners have ambitions for the aqustion on parr with chelski or citeh i fear for TS as they may want someone with the profile that can attract big players

    Either way the villans nightmare seems lke its nearly over

  109. Mark King

    I’m liking the friendlies this year much better opposition and a Midlands connection, will be even happier when we announce a game against Real Madrid to mark us buying Ronaldo for the reserves

  114. John Lerwill

    Article Review

    The idea I put forward of the owner needing to love the club didn’t meet with great acceptance. Your responses seem to emphasise (I think – please tell me if I’m wrong) the view that firstly should come sound business sense and the willingness to put football decisions in the right hands. I think it was JC who said something like a love of football (not just Villa) should come into the equation. I don’t disagree with those views being part of the package – they’re sound views i.m.o.

    However, may I suggest that the notion of loving the club may be more recognised if I were to include the idea that “love” might have something to do with a genuine real interest in the subject. Whether you ‘love’ maintaining cars or ‘love’ carpentry you will know what I’m getting at. It’s the appreciation of the subject through working at it and developing knowledge about the subject and, therefore, a practical idea of what is right or wrong in its usage. It’s that kind of love that I was alluding to.

    An owner who has a genuine love of football would certainly be the best prospect in my view. To get the best results about anything surely you have to care about it and not just be looking at the bottom line.

  115. steamer

    JL,
    Couple of snippets on the OS that may interest you, Chris Nicholl talking about Brian Little and the sad news that Ken Barrett has died.

    Looking good for the takeover, reckoned to be in the next two weeks.

  116. Mark King

    JL- I think I know exactly where you are coming from and its a worthy ideal.
    Unfortunately the governing body of this great sport have lost sight of its roots and why it exists, Football is a true community game. Until a stronger and more caring approach comes from the top to resist or regulate things better I don’t think things can change. You only have to see the pimping out of Wembley in the cup final to see how bad its become. maybe the de-bagging of FIFA will bring back some sense but I doubt it. As with most things mankind needs a disaster to awaken to its own greed and stupidity.

    Steamer reckoned by who mate?

  117. Andrew P

    JL, MK, football used to be predominantly a community game and in some senses it still is. However, at the top level it is huge business generating thousands of millions of pounds in income and everyone from FIFA downwards has got their nose in the trough.

    If we want to scratch around in the Premiership I guess we carry on as we are. The alternative is to become a community club again like AFC Manchester or Wimbledon and write off any chances of winning anything ever again. Or we find a serious injection of cash from a mega-rich owner who wants to bask in the glory of running a successful football club, we adopt a hard nosed business approach and employ the best football people we can regardless of whether they have any previous Villa connections. Sadly, for me, these are the only choices we have and wishing it was any other way won’t change a thing.

  118. John Lerwill

    Mark, Andrew …

    I hear what you say and acknowledge that’s how things are…

    But unless you have a vision of a higher reality nothing will change … without a higher vision everything deteriorates further. Who knows, the way things are going footballers might in future be equipped with gladiatorial gear and have to fight their way through – to make the game more enticing! 😉

  120. Mark King

    Andrew P, football of all sports is a working mans game, as such it is watched by Billions of quite easily lead people who tend to believe what they are told. The power for change is in our hands but not within our mindset, no surprise there. Your right there isn’t much hope for change until we realise we are the market.

  121. Andrew P

    JL, I would love things to be different, but I think that when things do change, and inevitably they will at some point, then those changes will be dictated by commercial factors rather than by a “vision of a higher reality”. Either a European Super League will be formed to satisfy the demands of TV companies and commercial sponsors, or, longer term, if the public’s appetite for football and TV revenues decrease significantly, then the English domestic game will return to something resembling the game we grew up with …but don’t hold your breath!

  122. Andrew P

    Hello Mark. It was a working man’s game but now it’s the game of oil rich Arabs and Russian oligarchs. 10,000 Villa fans could boycott Villa Park and it wouldn’t cause more than a slight ripple in the football matrix, but if 10 million armchair fans – working men or otherwise – were to cancel their Sky Sports subscriptions then we might be on to something.

  123. Mark King

    Exactly andrew p now your on my wave length although 20 empty stadiums might raise an eyebrow or 2. Wouldbut happen would it f…. Unless your Scottish

  125. Andrew P

    JL, changing subject, last week you mentioned Dickie York who played for Villa in the 1920s. Coincidentally, I’ve actually got his 2 full England caps and his England school boy caps along with other representative caps and photos and bits and pieces. His school boy caps are really decorative, and his name is hand written on the lining which is threadbare, presumably because he wore it to school every day. Different times. If you would ever like to see them give me a shout.

  127. John Lerwill

    Andrew,

    That’s quite a coup of yours! (re Dickie York)

    To be frank I’m not really bothered about collections, but I appreciate your very kind offer and I am sure they mean a lot to you. Well done in acquiring them!

    I was at his old KE school (Aston) last year giving a talk on Villa as part of a class on writing history and have helped them update their history of Dickie and Walter Corbett, a well-known Villa amateur player in the early 1900s.

  128. steamer

    JL,
    Sorry about the delay, computer was shot down. Agree with the ideal absolutely but where money’s concerned virtually anyone changes their tune, Ken Bates was a Burnley fan who bought half a dozen clubs, Mandaric too and Blues fan Herbs destroyed Villa before moving on to Wolves and Derby before returning to have another crack at finishing us off. I think the amounts of dosh required is beyond most genuine fans.
    Mark,
    It’s been was general consensus on TBAR for the last few days.

    St75,
    He never passed away, vampires don’t die.

    Andrew P,
    Didn’t know you were a collector, i know a bloke who has every official badge, bar two, since the club was formed. I had hundreds but sold them a few years ago with nearly every H&A prog since WW2. Met a binman villa fan once, they were taking a skip away from VP just after the 68 takeover, it was full of bound volumes of Villa progs, he had a few but couldn’t move the rest, he had a bv of the last time we won the lge with an England prog of a game at VP. Herbert was a philistine even then.

  130. Andrew P

    Hello Steamer, I wouldn’t say I’m a collector although my Mrs does say I’m a hoarder. I have got 100s of old Villa programs including bound sets and bits of Villa rubbish I’ve acquired over the years. Dickie York’s caps and stuff were offered to me by a bloke who knew I was a Villa fan. They’re interesting. There are photos and York’s copies of his Villa contracts as well. I don’t buy programs now.

    No surprise about Ellis there then. Mr Aston Villa my arse.

  132. The Droyd

    Micah Richards was 10-1 to join us last night. This morning he was 1-2 and now SKYBet have suspended betting.

    Would be an ideal replacement for Vlaar that can also play right back. Brummie Villa fan too. I like the sound of this.

  135. steamer

    Nice one Mark.

    The new rumour is that is definitely Chinese and someone not previously mentioned who is loaded but not mega loaded. Its a consortium, not Wanda.

    If Bentekes been offered 100k to stay and Micah is a target on his wages then i think its fair to say we’re no longer shopping at Poundland.

  139. Trinity

    Micah Richards, the Villa fan, is now a Villa player. At around 65k a week, seems Villa have loosened the purse strings a bit. Looks like Gabby’s decending down the pecking order.

  140. Frem

    Richards, what a good signing. Very powerful right back. What we need. Now for many other signings

    New owners in soon please

  141. Heroes-and-Villans

    Potentialy a superb signing…..worrys me richards has dissapeared for last 3 or 4 years though.

    Turned down 90 k at sunderland

    Wages are going to go mental from here on…..tv deal has kicked in.

    Players coming into the game now will be rubbing there hands££££££’

  149. John Lerwill

    S75,

    Well if he’s a good player … then he’s a good player, innit? 😉

    Man City have predominantly shown a preference for non-British players these past few years so perhaps we should understand it in that light. We’ll soon find out how he plays, but it sounds good to me…

  150. Mark King

    He hasn’t played much because they signed Pablo Zabaleta, I doubt there are many better full back than him bar Ivanovic at chelski so I’m not surprised. He has said himself he got away with a lot because of his physicality but now he’s more aware positionally and he wants to get back into the England squad. He may actually play as a centre half, he is quick and good in the air and he prefers that position anyhow. A good addition I think, there are plenty of players who were bit part at city, Milner for one I’d take him in a blink. the new manager at Florentina went to 3 at the back so he didn’t play much there. He is defininatley a better option than our right-backs and gets goals and assists.

  152. steamers75

    Mark /JL
    you could say that about the tea lady at Man city , but where’s he been for 3 years , bench warming and l do get the man city thing about the players , having won all cups whatever does’nt mean much if you havent played ,
    l know a lad who played for us (well he had 10mins in 2 seasons) but he had 2 league titles & 6 cups !

    hopefully he still as good as when the git scored that cup goal against us , villa fan my arse ….))

  153. steamers75

    oh and l think the Man city tea lady would be better than the full backs we got although the pie seller at the Etihad was better looking )

    have a good weekend all
    Jenny xxxxxx

  155. DarrenO

    Welcome addition in my book re Richards, solid pro during his early Man City days, hopefully picked up some good habits in Italy, if he’s prepared to join us for less then he’d get with Sunderland then clearly he wants to play for us (albeit he’ll have 65000 reasons per week to help with his decision) but the point is he could be money hungry and skip us altogether.

    Thank god for international weekend to occupy the papers so there are less Benteke stories.

    A great weekend to all Lifers

    UTV

  157. steamer

    Thats how bad he is, unfortunately some knob gave him a ridiculous contract last season so we’re stuck with him. I couldn’t tell you the last Blose signing that iv’e heard of or even the last signing that wasn’t a loanee or cost a fee, pathetic imitation of a football club.
    On one of the sites a number cruncher came up with the value of Olbyon ( 155m ), Villa ( 148m ) and Blues ( 7.4m ) think he was trying to be kind to the Blue few.

  164. James Gill

    it s very quiet on here
    better vibes now with richards due to sign and burnley full back linked ,vlar hopefully no more ,cleverly 3 good matches did nt deserve new contract,sherwood maybe has learned from short spell in charge how to get best out of players

  167. Frem

    If Sherwood signs Vardy he should b sacked

    Talk of Clark going to WBA. Wouldn’t want that. Baker, Vlaar, Bennett, Richardson Hutton better go though

  168. Paul Pears

    Benteke and for Andros Townsend and a few quid on top then……..Fox also says that that the take-over is holding up transfer deals……

    Still not looking good…..How long before we actually turn a corner????????

  171. steamer

    Couldn’t Chadli’s comments be construed as an illegal approach ?
    Dunno if Timbo’s got a CF lined up, hope he has because Townsends not going to be an asset without one, may not even be an asset with one. I think he’s total crepe, Albrighton is far better.
    This obsession with London players is dangerous, can anyone name half a dozen London/ English players who have been successful after moving North in the past 40 years ? It doesn’t happen.

    Watching the WC commentators and thought they were commenting on Barcelona, there isn’t a team in Canada that would beat a decent Sunday team, the standard is appalling.

  173. steamer

    Agree with Frem,Jamie Vardy is crepe, a CF who scores FIVE goals and gets capped is something that can only happen in England.
    Disagree about Guzan though mate, not many good keepers about nowadays.

  174. runtings

    I can’t see Vardy or anyone else coming in before a takeover apart the a free player
    i also woundnt be shocked if the new owners bring in a more high profile manager

    think the press are jumping the gun a little with speculation of these Lidel type signings as new people may be looking more at harrads ect

    Guzan was amazing for USA but think it has a lot to do with how Klinsman sets up tactically as brad had a solid unit in front of him that seemed to now there jobs and did there jobs very well

  180. Trinity

    Someone should have dragged him off the road and put him in the recovery position so he won’t choke on his vomit or swallow his tongue, which can happen.

    The lad’s young, hope he learns from it and that Villa take better care of their youngsters.

  181. runtings

    Blimey not huddlestone linked – surely just lazy Journalism otherwise will will be a team of spurs cast off that were not good enough for them

    Jack being a typical teenager from the UK – i don’t think you will catch too mant spanish of geerman young talents doing such things though

  183. Paul Pears

    Jack will learn….if it is true……who has not made a mistake…..I am sure TS will take him to task and ensure it does not happen again…

    Looks like Vardy, Huddlestone and Richards could all happen this week, so we must assume that the new owners are happy with these deals…Richards medical tomorrow, perhaps the others will also be up for the same, with Townsend.

  184. runtings

    isnt it funny how each countries culture shines through in how they play football

    England – hard working – strength , power
    France – flash and flambouyant
    Germany pricise , power – effecient
    Brazil – samba – skillful rythmic — ect

  185. Heroes-and-Villans

    Grealish

    Know he is young and we have all been there but we was’nt on 30k a week and in the public eye.

    Things like this just gives aston villa ball ache.

    He needs to play the game a lot more cleverer if he wants to go out on the lash. Where was his mates!

  186. The Droyd

    If the alcoholic behaviour of our footballers is a problem, then give us more problems!

    Paul McGrath and Paul Merson are two of the best footballers I have seen at Villa. I didn’t care what they got up to off the pitch as long as they are good on it. Same goes for anyone else today.

    If you put footballers on pedestals and use them as role models, then see a doctor. They are footballers. Nothing more nothing less. What the market decides to pay them is completely irrelevant.

    Luis Suarez diving and biting people is far, far more despicable than Jake Livermore having a bit of coke in his sample.

    As usual, there is no balance in this highly corrupt sport, so I don’t think moralising over Jack Grealish is of any worth whatsoever.

  187. steamers75

    lv heard off a couple of young lads that isnt Jack, and to be honest l saw blokes 3 times his age worse than that at wembley and one is a millionaire , and l think after watching that pile of shite on that day l deserved to be in the state l was ,

  189. steamers75

    As you know steamer i dont put my real picture on here as it has an effect on the women so lm trawling the net for pictures to use in place , must say lv found some scary ones that l will use , l have to keep Keith J off The Villa blog guessing , so lv got a few ugly mushes in my catalogue to use . and l must say some abuse the word ugly , maybe over the next few weeks l can change the avatar and you can all vote which was the worstess (as steamer would say ) and l will keep , l just hope l dont get banned by Matt for scaring the posters on here ,

  190. John Lerwill

    Runtings,

    I like your list of countries and their attributes…

    I’d add …

    Spain – no time for a siesta
    Italy – trying to apply Leonardo da Vinci’s designs
    Argentina – trying to re-find the Hand of God
    Sweden – ice cold efficiency

  192. DarrenO

    Disappointed with Jack any true Irish man would be still drinking while on holidays, no need to hit the bed so early. England can have him.

    Ireland – play better with sticks

  193. Paul Pears

    Totally agree Darren,

    At that age I would still have been on my feet and looking for the next venue….waiting for the news of all the new signings arriving at B6 today…..!!!

    and maybe a new leader……..maybe Jenny should be asked, as she always has great pieces on here, or Steamer could use his time more usefully between beers and curries….

  195. steamer

    I reckon deals have been set up and the holdup is the ok from the takeover. Its been suggested that Lerner has given the club 10m with another 20m when the takeover is finalised.
    It sounds to me as though TS will use Richards on the right of centre alongside Vlaar with Clark on the left side, which sounds quite formidable, if he signs Trippier that theory goes the way all my others go, down the gurgler.
    When things happen it’ll all happen at once, signings galore, takeover, sackings, the lot.

  197. runtings

    Bit worried with a few of the linked players like huddlestone and a number of other championship players — doesnt actually scream out ambition or good times ahead

    i do like micah and townsend thou who would improve us imo

    but i refuse to buy all the speculation until we know what these new owners are about

    they have only been going through the books for around 2 weeks and from what i read if all is well it should take 4 to 6 weeks providing there is no sale price haggling to be done

    Steamer if that’s true its a nice gusture from randy

  198. southwestvillan

    Just for the record and for those that have not met ST75 that really is him in his avatar and in all honesty I have never seen him looking so good.

    As for young Jack is it not typical of our gutter press that when the football season finishes they have bugger all to write about and spend their time putting all the young and old premier players on a pedestal ready to knock them straight off as soon as the chance beckons, fucking tripe.

    Having said that I had to chuckle about Yaya Toure on £220k a week paying for a prozzie did you see the picture of her/him delete any of the above, it did look like Chris Eubank in a dress, ffs.

    AVFC

  199. Heroes-and-Villans

    I think Grealish needs to have the fergie treatment from TS.

    Giggs was always out with sharpe and fergie straightened him out.

    However much we know its all bs and blown out of porpotion the fact is grealish seems to be a marked man by the media and gets the attention. And pics of him are on the back pages for wrong reasons. Villa and grealish dont need the negativity. Needs to wise up.

    Linked with 2 players from Nice who sound ok…delph linked to man city!

    I would be upset if we got huddlestone. lazy, immobile player.

  200. Heroes-and-Villans

    Steamer

    I have heard we may go 3 at the back too. Find out pre season.

    TS sounds like he wants main players in early so will be interesting to see what happens.

    How much will takeover hinder/improve us!

  201. steamer

    Wonder what would happen if all the points gained by QPR last season when Sandro, who had no work permit, played 17 games went to the opposition, how would it affect relegation, the title and, indeed, can action be taken retrospectively ?

  202. steamer

    I suppose all the other clubs who had pitch invasions have been fined 200,000 quid as well.

    Dog walker gave me a load of progs yesterday, it was interesting reading McMumbles page, after every pathetic, clueless surrender he could see an improvement and insisted that we’d turn the corner. I’ve never read such absolute knackers in my life, that idiot was raving.

  203. Mark King

    thought we had 3 at the back this season,

    How come its all right for athletes to punch, kick, choke, throw and engage in dangerous activities for entertainment but not have a drink out of season with their mates?
    They should be role models because kids look up to them? nope some are kids. You wouldn’t catch the parents of these disappointed kids having a drink or smoking or having sex would you, well maybe the sex just once per child as per the regulations, load of bollocks.

  206. steamers75

    sww
    if you look at the paper he put out, as another poster pointed out on such important contracts it would’nt put Randy Learner !! .
    hows you going . and that is not me , l think Jenny could vouch for that .)

    JL what do you know about Amoss Moss Please , did he play in goal one week and outfield the following week , thanks matey

  208. steamers75

    will do mate , not looking good with Ginger either , only found out last friday , also lv found reggae ray gonna sort a pint out with him , all the best mate

  210. steamer

    Hugo Smyly isn’t a nose, real Villan, well off and a good job. I hope he’s got his facts messed up though, not just because the TO he mentions wouldn’t be right for the club but because it looks as though nothing decent is happening and also Lerner would sell us out. I do believe that a TO is going through because of the relaxation on spending.
    Huddlestone bought a house in the Midlands.

  211. B62 Villa

    New fixtures released, and it’s a sad indictment of the times that one of the first things I now look for is what our run in is like, and if we can avoid the drop. It could be better TBH we could need vital points and I wouldn’t want to have to win at the Emirates on the last day. Bournemouth in August could be very messy 🙂

  212. Frem

    Bournmouth away. Will be a great day out for the fans. Hope I can tickets. Lets show them Prem class footy and away fans

    Takeover has fallen through acording to someone on twitter. Hope not but wouldn’t surprise me if it did. Its Villa, we have been a mess for years

    Still no deals even though we need a new 25 man squad near enough.Annoying

    Huddlestone is just a big fatter slower westwood.

    We have bid for a couple of players from Spain and France but both have failed

    Its going to be a long summer but can’t wait for pre season games to go to. Hope the takeover still happens

  213. B62 Villa

    Huddle stone is pretty shite and it worries me this is the level of player we are scouting if a takeover is close. I wouldn’t read too much into him buying Graeme Swanns old house near Nottingham, it’s his home town. But the lack of genuine player links/activity and takeover news is worrying, even at this early stage, as I’d like to get a settled squad in early as we need so much work it’s unbelievable , unless we get some real quality in and shift a fair whack of this shite we currently call a squad, we will again go into the season aiming to avoid the drop, and will again be one of the favourites for relegation. Our final few matches last season showed our massive weakness’s and those of Tim Sherwood .

  214. Mark King

    Can we start a new league with vegas as the only other team?

    Until the folks at vp say we are sold/not sold im gonna ignore the lot. At the rate we are losing players we must have funds and targets or its suicide. Commen sense says we are making changes

  216. Mark King

    Anyone going to turkey on hols be aware you need visa which requires 180 days left on your passport. Unlike mine, hence im sitting in a coffee shop in peterborough waiting for a new one 🙂 flying out saturday.

  219. John Lerwill

    S75: “JL what do you know about Amoss Moss Please , did he play in goal one week and outfield the following week , thanks matey”

    You’re talking about a second cousin of mine (and his brother Frank jnr)! 😉

    But I don’t have a record of what you suggest. What probably happened is that he had to go in goal to deputise for the keeper during a match and then played as normal the next week.

    Harry Parkes had to deputise as such on one occasion, and that resulted in him having the record of playing in every position for the Villa, except that he was never selected as keeper before a match whereas he was selected for every other position.

    Con Martin was famous as a defender and as a keeper – he was first choice keeper at Villa for some time, and for his country.

  221. Heroes-and-Villans

    Not a bad set of fixtures to start off. Back end a bit dodgy but we will be safe by then wont us.

    Walker and Richards would be amaaaazing. So prob wont happen along with the takeover.

    The last 4 years has taken a toll on me, i have been stripped of all hope.

    I feel like Reek from Game of thrones

  223. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    Yeah think Richards will be ch by the sounds of things.

    Thrones is going to kick of big time.

    Spoiler Alert

    I refuse to believe snow and stanis is dead.

    Cerci is going to go on a killing spree with the mountain

  224. B62 Villa

    £1m for Matty Lowton seems cheap, but he is surplus to requirements as things stand, I think he will do well for Burnley, and going forward is decent.
    Looks like MR will play right sided centre half, Kyle Walker at RB would be a vast improvement on what we have. I have a feeling joe Bennett will be challenging for the LB berth, as TS clearly doesn’t rate the ones we have( TBF nor do I)

  225. steamer

    Possible for Walker to sign, Spuds are signing Trippier aren’t they ? Personally think Walker is crepe, said it after his first Villa game and he’s confirmed it every game since. While we’re filling the team up with Spurs reserves why don’t we go the whole hog and change our kit to White & Navy.
    AAARGH Joe Bennett.

  226. steamer

    We could change the Holte Hotel to The Cockenee Pride.
    Change the Lion rampant into a scraggy chicken.
    Introduce Bagels to the catering department.
    And produce crepe teams, oh we already do that.

  227. steamers75

    A ticket for Bournemouth they’ll be like Rocking horse shit , this will go to away stamps and you can bet it will be a few years , dont hold your breadth , still will be a good weekend away , will our bus passes be legal tender down there, grab a granny Frem , gold thong methinks ,

    JL l have some old photos from the junior and infants school l went to and on one of the football teams picture is the lad Robert Shannon who for quite a few years from around 1965 , he was the mascot for all the home games for the noses , well on Face book there is a site for 50+old friends and pictures are wanted so l put that one up asking all the blues fans if they recognised him , Jeez the names they put up , francis, gallagher ,hatton ,johnny vincent even , and a clue l put was that during the warm up before one of the games he was whacked by a ball and it knocked him out , typically no one got it so told them , then l got asked being a villan if l knew who played in goal and outfield , Con Martin l put but the woman reckoned it was Amoss moss and beings you’d be the only person knowing l asked. and thats how l have come to ask for your advice , steamer was going to ask the dog walkers , iv seen them , might get the answer in latin looking at the age of some of them

  229. steamer

    Told you yesterday it was Con Martin, knob.
    Aah, the sixties at the sty, the geezer with the flask selling tea and coffee with a couple of Mars Bars and half a doz bags of crips on a tray, Blose catering, top class.
    Ron Toss used to stand by the players entrance and when the so-called players arrived he’d greet them, after a few weeks they knew him by name, then he wrote to the club to ask if he could play a few records and that is how the myth of knowing what your talking about in sports journalism was debunked, the perfect example of not what you know but who you know.

  231. runtings

    Steamer Tommy Steal was a top cockney too for me – the little white bull – total classic 🙂

    i think walker looked like he was going to develop into a top player during his season with us but seemed to loose his way after he left – maybe he just needs to be in the right place for him and for some faith to be shown in him

    very suprised how townsend has fallen away at spurs as he was pulling up trees before the loss of faith in him

  232. John Lerwill

    S75: “l got asked being a villan if l knew who played in goal and outfield , Con Martin l put but the woman reckoned it was Amoss moss

    It’s occurred to me that Amos and Con looked quite similar facially and hairstyle-wise – both were fair-haired and curly.

    I think the lady got confused between the two – it must have been Con.

  236. Mark King

    Andrew- defo the red witch brings back Snow or why is she there at castle black and she’s got to get her tits out again its been nearly 3 shows. Stanis and the mountains brother are both alive I reckon and Cerci is going to have a meal of Sparrow on toast with a nice bottle of blue nun.
    Reek and sansa are 2ft shorter as they missed the moat. 🙂

  237. J.P. Wilson

    Hey everyone!!!! been reading posts, but been kinda lost on the villa front. havent missed a game on tv or a article on newnow, just havent been posting on sites.

    Frem- dammit man the window isnt even open!!! calm down. lol jkjkjkjk

    Steamer- how r u mate?

    Lets hope this deal happens, pick up richards, walker, and a new LB (bennett, cissoke and richardsons suck cockney well… C#$%)
    and charlie austin and we should be fine for next season.

  239. steamer

    Wazzup,
    Hello JP, long time no see, hope things are ok over in the colonies. Still coaching ??? What did you think of our cup run ? Nice to see you remember your old pal Frem.

    Mark,
    Is that some sort of code ?

  240. J.P. Wilson

    I am still coaching, we actually won a huge tournament, Dallas invitational cup, our top league in so cal, and are ranked one of the highest teams in the US.
    https://home.gotsoccer.com/rankings/team.aspx?TeamID=335946

    I was over the moon with our cup run, but I had another coaching course that I had paid a lot of money for, so I had that on the day of the final. I heard the score as the class was going on. Heartbreaking.

    Other than that, just enjoying the sun over here in bright sunny southern cali.

  242. steamer

    Cerci, Sparrow on toast, Blue Nuns, Mountains with Brothers WTF ! Have i just walked into a parallel Universe ?

    JP,
    Some decent prospects for coaches in the USA, a mate’s lad emigrated approx five years ago, he’s coaching at Kaka’s club, never played pro or for a decent non-lge club, so reach for the stars and you might meet a Blue Nun or Red witch.

  243. Mark King

    Steamer you have to watch Game of thrones from the start, it is the dogs. keep some tissues with you as you may need to wipe the steam from your glasses though, think I’d happily take relegation if GOT was on instead of corry every week

  245. steamers75

    Have told steamer about GOT but l have to be honest the first 3 episodes of this series l fell asleep through them ,
    1200 tickets for bournmouth , not a chance ! the hotels ect are already getting booked and nearly full , so a lot will be staying in POOLE so it seems . although we could do a shrewsbury l suppose , l think Big H could still do the gates , he done the one at Oxford a few years ago , (its on youtube ) they wont throw beer over us again.
    suns out so time to wash my gold thongs methinks , started packing my travel bag last night and Jessie look horrified , she asked “if your going for 2 nights how come only one pair of underpants ?”
    “l travel light babe and l just turn them inside out the next day ” kids eh!! dont know they’re born

  246. @RonnieBiggs

    Morning Lifers,
    Ever the eternal optimist (perhaps labeled a Happy Clapper by some factions within the Villa Camp) I’m feeling better about the new manager, new signings and new fixtures.

    UTV!!!

  247. southwestvillan

    Morning Homos and Jen,

    Well the Richards signing looks like it might work out free transfer so no outlay except wages for a decent player who can play right back or in the middle, cannot get too excited about some of the others we have been linked to but ITWT.

    The downside is we may find ourselves again with a surplus of fringe players on decent salaries which will halt any progress forward, players like Hutton, Sisssoko, Richardson, Bennett, Gil and probably a few others I can”t think of, add to that the ones who are out on loan but still on the books and TS certainly has a job on his hands to sort this squad out.

    We could do with a clean sweep just get rid of those the manager does not want and are draining the wage bill so he can get in players who can impact on the first eleven, lets hope if there is a take over just around the corner that they can see what needs to be done to move the club forward.

    AVFC

  248. B62 Villa

    ST75
    I looked on Trivago/booking.com/late rooms last night for bournemouth, unfortunately the town is 94% booked that weekend, Poole is an option as its only a short cab ride away. I doubt I’d be able to get a match ticket ( will tell the wife I did just to go) but will try anyway and its a good night on the lash it’s like a modern day kings landing ( no not kingstanding)!
    I like the signing of Richards, and like the link to Heaton the GK from Burnley, but the likes of Huddlestone, Vardy and Robson -Kanu fill me with dread, as there can be no takeover close if we are signing dross like these. Bookies have us as 12/5 against Bournemouth with the cherries at 6/4 and we are as low as 3/1 for relegation!! They obviously don’t share our hope and after our last few games getting thumped who can blame them

  249. steamers75

    Frem
    all lads going to bournemouth l have been in touch with Doris (see picture) and she will be waiting open armed to meet all the young/old villa fans making the trip , she has a twin sister (which l found very confusing last year) and 8 cousins who will willingly be able to accommodate us all over the weekend , as lm hearing this may be a monday night game , Rags she has said she may have made your acquaintance over the years ,do you have 4 sugars in your morning coffee ?
    Frem she so wants to see you in the gold thong ,she’d like a picture for her day room wall mate , l said your a nice lad and would’nt mind , i hope you dont mate ,as she said l will get a discount on my room ,
    sww
    let me know if your dropping over as she did ask if that ARSE (her words not mine) from the 70s will be joining us .

    have a nice day all and let me know if you will be joining me and steamer.
    oops nearly forgot , steamer her nan will be there , still alive and kicking mate

  250. John Lerwill

    S75,

    Forgot to mention yesterday that Amos Moss never really settled in as a first-team player – it was his brother Frank who was the success of the two. The beauty is they had a third brother (Denis) who was supposed to have been the best prospect of all three but who never took up football as a profession!

    Anyway, I just wanted to underline again that Amos is hardly likely to have been the keeper-turned-defender. In fact Amos suffered a lot of booing from Villa fans at one stage – he never was a favourite.

  251. runtings

    morning all = did anyone see how great our sanchez was last night – he didnt give neymar a sniff all game — in the right set up he could be a great asset for the club

  253. southwestvillan

    ST75,

    If it is a Monday night game I am out I made a decision when Sky and all the other money media knobs ruined the game that I would not attend games on a Monday or Sunday especially on a Sunday as the good lord said it is a day of rest.

    Give my regards to Doris and I can see by your picture that she has lost none of her original charm and looks.

    AVFC

  254. steamer

    Supposed to have been three potential signings at BH yesterday, all have been mentioned in the papers previously. Hope they didn’t all come in the same car from Tottingham.
    Mixed views on Huddlestone on the sites, i think he has ability, but is lazy, immobile, overweight and isn’t a winner, i’d pay 1.5m at the most, not much of an upgrade on Westwood and higher wages, lets set our standards a little higher. Spurs are a crepe club and currently most of their players are crepe, what are we doing looking at the likes of Townsend who can’t get a game ?
    Part of the transfer policy, imo, should be no English and no Spuds, whatever the nationality, folk are saying ‘Well TS knows them,’ well if they’re all he knows then his qualifications are tenuous to say the least.

  256. B62 Villa

    Where did you hear it’s a Monday night game? I hope not as if so I’m out, I’m hoping they keep it on the sat even if they move it until 1730 for TV, I expect it will be televised as they can smell a home win in the cherries first ever PL game, some would say it would be an upset………..

  258. John Lerwill

    Steamer: “Mixed views on Huddlestone on the sites, i think he has ability, but is lazy, immobile, overweight and isn’t a winner”

    Inclined to agree, but I’d be interested to see whether the “Sherwood Factor” can get him to ‘up his game’. He produced marvellous moments when at Spurs early on and if he was to reproduce some of that early promise he could be fine.

  260. runtings

    i remember townsend coming of the bench at villa park and ripped us a new one — i also recall when before potcho went to spurs he was a key player for them#

    hope we get him as i think unlike huddlestone he would be a major upgrade

  261. Heroes-and-Villans

    Odds on the villa bournmouth game will be on sky…always show a new boy.

    Townsend and Walker i wouldnt mind at all….simply better than what we have and will help us get to mid table safety.

    Huddlestone is slowly growing on me in my hopeful mind. Seems that TS want more physical impossing players. Richards, huddle, walker are big strong guys. If Huddle can get his spurs form back he will be ok.

  262. Paul Pears

    Matt,

    after a couple of days or so, would it be an idea for JL or one of the boys to throw out a one-liner , so that a new post can start, rather than us keep having to troll through loads of comments to get to the current point…

    Still have been unable to load an Avatar, perhaps it would be simpler to cancel and then re-join???

  264. Lionheart

    Haven’t posted for a while just been reading the messages.. hope everyone’s well..

    With regards to signings.. I wouldn’t mind Townsend for 10M.. i think he is a decent player and a massive upgrade on N Zog.. for where we are right now he is a decent signing.. will push us on.. same goes for Kyle Walker but can’t see that one happening..

    Not sure about Huddlestone thou.. for the fee and wages i am sure we could get someone better in..

    Either way we still need a Left Winger.. CM.. LB.. RB.. ST.. so plenty of work to be done this summer..

  265. steamer

    Hello Lionheart,
    Up until mid-May i was following the ups and downs on TVB, i saw your various disagreements and have to say TVB has got some egotistical twats, some are funny, some know their stuff but others just want a row and play Billy Big Bollox, you know who i mean. Anyway, nice to hear from you again.

  266. steamer

    J.P. Wilson,
    If you log in tonight i agree with your comments on TBAR some football fans just want expensive players who are no better than what they have. GG could be a top player, he’s better than Huddlestone is now.

  267. steamers75

    B62
    was told by a mate who works in office at VP , l hope its not either as a load of mates have already booked ,at the moment its around £240 a room for 2 sharing , think Poole will be our destination , Doris wont be happy ,

    just hearing remote controls will be a thing of the past as the BBC have developed a tv that you will be able to change channels with your brain , thats fucked it for steamer and sww , keep that analogue tv you got lads and dont lose your remote

  268. B62 Villa

    Fuck me a TV controlled by your brain! They won’t sell many of them in Small Heath or Sandwell, they will have to stick to family nights in and a game of naked twister!
    I’ll keep checking Sky for its scheduled matches, I’m not gonna book anything without a refundable deposit.

  269. Mark King

    steamer I’d rather give Gardner a go than get huddlestone too, a lot will depend on this magical formation he said we would turn to this season. Or at least he said that what we saw last season was only temporary like a wind break and he was going to build us a proper seaside hut ( getting into the Bournemouth feel ). I think walker and Townsend suit TS’s style of play, similar to harry redcrapp I’d imagine.

  270. Mark King

    I see weimann has left villa park with handkerchief on a stick over his shoulder off to seek his fortune in derby good, was never good enough or played in the right position enough either way good luck

  271. steamer

    Yes, he always gave 100% despite being played out of position, i hope we put in a sell on clause because with proper, non Jeerman, coaching i think he’ll score loads.

  272. J.P. Wilson

    Thats what im saying, we dont need to spend on shit, when we have players who are just as bad, or possibly, god willing, better.

    We should spend more on players we need. A LB, another striker. We need a prover goal scorer to work with benteke, (austin). We need a proven LB, we have kinsella as backup, but we should buy a starting one. NOT A LUNA OR BENNET OR CIsSOKO.

  274. Lionheart

    Steamer..

    Lol.. Yes there are plenty of WUMS on TVB. Think some people make multiple accounts. All good fun and games thou.

    With regards to takeover. Surely we will hear something one way or another soon. If no sale then I hope we can at least get a few in that means we don’t fight relegation again.

    On a different note. The U21’s lost tonight.

  275. steamer

    he missed most of the first half of the season due to injury and our use of the 3-5-2.

    I think he is approximately 4,589% better at right back,

    As I have alluded to above, Richards is a player who will not shy away from a battle, but can be exposed when he has to think too much. The only lasting stereotype about Italian football that I will endorse is that the tactical side of the game is much more important in Serie A than it is in England or La Liga (it definitely is). His tactical IQ is very low.

    Significant comments from a Fiorentina expert.

  276. steamer

    Well if Roy Hodgson, Aidy Boothroyd, John Beck, Gareth Southgate and that crepe FB from Leeds who’s names escapes me are tasked with forming Engurlands bright, new future, then we’re well and truly down the gurgler. Southgate actually thought Engerlund played well, mind boggling. What with our clueless FA giving leadership i would say Engurlands demise into the lower ratings will continue, ten years and we’ll be ranked alongside Mali and the Soloman Islands, i see no ships, only hardships.

  277. B62 Villa

    You still as a side note, West Ham have released their new kit today, it’s made by umbro and is nothing short of superb, it’s everything Macron isn’t . The claret is a proper claret, not some shade of purple, proper sizing, clean design without excess fussy designs and company logo plastered everywhere. WHU share the same colours as us but in recent years have had far better kits designs, with umbro ( 2 stints with these recently)and adidas. The sooner we can get rid of macron the better, and hopefully sign with a proper sportswear firm ie Umbro or Adidas. If we are taken over let’s hope the crest is also revamped as this current version is horrific

  278. Heroes-and-Villans

    Okore, richards, Grealish, sanchez, tekkers, sinclair, delph, clarke, Gardner are the only ones i can think of worth keeping. I am now thinking i would welcome the likes of huddlestone, townsend, walker with open arms.

    4 years of being pretty lucky to stay up…..beggars cant be choosers.

    Like it or not Townsend would prob be a coup for us!!

  279. Clive Evans

    Just watched the Colombia v Brazil game and I have to say I agree with these comments in the UK papers
    It would be wrong, though, to suggest that Colombia only stopped Neymar by underhand means. They mainly stopped him by means of a colossal performance from Carlos Sánchez. The Aston Villa midfielder stifled Lionel Messi in Santa Fe when Colombia held Argentina to a 0-0 draw four years ago; here he not merely neutered Neymar but also carried the ball forward.
    Brilliant Sanchez – known in Colombia as La Roca (the rock) – not concrete but a bit more adaptable.

  280. steamer

    Spuds turned down 12m for him last season plus the 2.5m spent on Sinclair who TS doesn’t want and i reckon you could buy 2 decent players.

  281. steamer

    B62,
    The current regime don’t respect our heritage, the first thing Lerner did was spend $$$ changing the crest and, as you say, some of the kit has been horrendous. Lets go back to our roots, CLARET & Blue, one of the older badges and THAT name taken off the Witton Lane stand.
    Apart from our heritage i think the club has little respect for the fans, Fox has already shown that by his comments about Lambert, i’d like him removed, from what i understand his reputation outweighs his achievements and he knows f-all about footy anyway.
    The fans deserve the odd snippet about club affairs too, how many bought ST’s in the hope that Lerner was leaving ? is it the same this year ? I understand certain matters need confidentiality but IMO this shower are needlessly, again, using a big stick.

  282. steamer

    Roy Keane escapes YET again.

    The public purse will pay over 270m pounds to convert WHU’s stadium to a footy ground.

    When’s the revolution coming ?

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