There seems to have been a consensus formed in agreement against the current owner, not just on this Blog, but amongst Villa supporters everywhere. But is it a consensus without a corrective end to it?

It would appear that if the matter stays as it is – simply an opinion against Randy – then with the likely relegation of the team to the nether regions, the support base may well just evaporate. As an older and distinguished Villa supporter friend of mine said to me the other day: “All those lost jobs! Upper Trinity mothballed! Trips to Burton Albion with a share of the 4500-person gate and Parachute money used to pay off the duds we have under contract, which is 90% of them, at least. etc etc etc. This ain`t 1986 and ‘coming back up’ is as hard as winning the PL.”

It’s not a recipe of hope, is it?

I am one of those that, despite the apparent reality, kept on looking for an optimistic strain until the Sunday just gone. The attitude of the players in the match then just killed the optimistic spark that was still flickering in me. The subsequent £120,000 Mercedes Twitter then put it all into context: this is not a football “club” any more and it hasn’t been for a long time.

Back in 1924, one of Villa’s legends from that time (Arthur Dorrell) wrote:

“… Is there some special magic in the old claret and blue? I am not more superstitious than any other footballer, but I do believe there is something in tradition. It is impossible to turn out with a Villa side without feeling it. A record which sparkles with great deeds and great names is bound to give you inspiration. When a youngster first puts his name to the form which binds him to Aston Villa, he is bound to feel something of this pride of club.

“What helps to keep this appeal so vivid and so real is that so many of the men whose names written large in Aston Villa history are still actively connected with the club. Their value-I mean their actual playing value-cannot be overestimated. Think of the help it is to have the assistance of such great players and such close students of the game as Mr. Howard Spencer and Mr. John Devey.

“The Villa spirit, believe me, still exists and is a very real asset to the club. Perhaps I feel it especially because my father has told me so much about the great players with whom he was proud to he associated, and so many stirring tales of the club’s early history. Who, for instance, could hear of the pathos of the end of that fine player Archie Hunter, without feeling a great respect for the man, and admiration for the club that could inspire such devotion. Archie, as every old footballer knows, died of consumption in a house situated on the road from the city to the then Villa ground. To the last the dying man insisted upon his bed being so placed that he could see the crowd hurrying past to Perry Barr. …”

This extract from a piece written 90 years ago is clearly from a different age. But it’s the remnant of that feeling that was carried through to people like me (post-war) and re-ignited in 1957 through the smile of Johnny Dixon, and more so when Villa had it’s glorious 10-year run ending with the lifting of the European Cup in 1982. Expectations and feeling were again raised in the 1990s.

I think Dorrell’s piece precisely describes my feelings about the club, the descendant of which thought it knew better when it evicted me into the streets six years ago without notice, and who denied me any compensation (later corrected by a tribunal). Worse, those regular fans and season ticket holders who have been treated so miserably by the management in recent years.

Mr. Lerner now seems to claim poverty, but back in 2008 he just put his hand in his pocket to dish out £50,000 for a stack of mostly useless photographs (having been advised that someone should at first evaluate them), and in 2009 was actively planning a great North Stand re-development. It had got to the detailed planning stage. Suddenly – coincidentally with the rise of Paul Faulkner – the North Stand plans were put on hold and then came the exit of Martin O’Neill. Mr. Lerner has had to pay out a lot of compensation to him, and others.

Mr. Lerner was advised by Jonathan Fear (who had close rapport with him at one stage) that someone who knew about the club should be on the board to advise on developments. Mr. Lerner rejected that idea, and following his appointment of a new chairman in January just gone, the new chairman admitted that Mr. Lerner had openly stated he did not want a football man in that job. But Mervyn King has acquired a place on the board: nice guy maybe, but is he another who invented the bicycle kick?

On the previous thread the issue about club values came up and how do we re-instate the values that were clearly once paramount. I fear that the answer can only lie in either (1) the acquisition of the club by a very wealthy Villa supporter, or (2) the acquisition of the club by a group of very wealthy Villa supporters. Without proper empathy with the fans any sense of the club going in the direction of the common good is going to be lost: the club has to be led by someone who has a Villa heart – and who is accessible.

Without that idea coming into fruition, I blanche at the thought of what might happen. Arthur Dorrell and all the old greats would be appalled at what has come to pass, as would that great group of more recent stalwarts who died around six years ago: Harry Parkes, Johnny Dixon and Vic Crowe. Even Brian Little and Dennis Mortimer seem to be worried.

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The Author

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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 296

  1. Archie

    Its Deja vu all over again…..Just like the sixties ……
    Well not really, back then the club was broke, the stadium was crumbling, no training facilities and a board of directors still living in the golden era which you describe John.
    With something in the region of £50m in parachute payments coming into the club and further restructuring of the board why shouldn’t we be able to mount a challenge for a top two finish in the championship, or am I missing something.

  2. Roderick Seel (Sam)

    Excelent piece JL

    There is another option of course and that is somebody buys the club that isn’t a Yank and knows about football. That for me would be a good start, after all anyone with an ounce of football knowledge would get the club moving in the right direction, even with a restricted budget i feel it could be done.

    I have to say though that up until the Pool game there were as Cameron refers to as a few green shoots of optimism beginning to surface. But such is the fragile nature of what we have , the slightest setback can be devastating.

    Now before anyone takes Umbridge with that, i am not saying that alls well and we are not in the poo, but there were signs that fans were a little more forgiving of late as results weren’t as bad. with the team at least. But with one match everything is worse than before such is that frailty.

    The Liverpool result for me is the nail in the coffin and now all hope is gone, at least i can get on with acceptance that we are relegated. Looking on the bright side we will see a lot more 3pm kickoffs on a Saturday, i may even go to a few!!

    Hope was always going to be a bad thing for us in this position, lets get rid of this Moron owner and his Lackeys sweep out all the dead rubbers and start again from the ashes of what we were. When he’s gone lets fill the place again and rock back up to the Prem as Champions!

    Dear Mr Branson…..

    VTID

  3. John Lerwill

    Archie: “… why shouldn’t we be able to mount a challenge for a top two finish in the championship, or am I missing something.”

    Perhaps because the top brass don’t have much of a clue as to what’s required? It’s all business-speak at the top and ‘fans’ are ‘customers’ in their eyes. The chairman apologised for that gaffe, but I still feel that he misunderstands the mind of the fan.

    Also there are various questions that will come up about how we will survive in the Championship if Garde leaves and not enough money is invested in a new stock. For surely players like Okore, Ayew, Gueye, Veretout and Gil (etc) will want out.

    It will, in any case, require some superb management to get a team together that wants to play for the club and the fans.

    If Garde leaves, it will (i.m.o.) be possible to get the club promoted in 2 to 3 years, but only if everything is working like clockwork from the top down. But going by history and the make-up of the board, I’m not at all confident about that.

  5. John Lerwill

    Rod: “There is another option of course and that is somebody buys the club that isn’t a Yank and knows about football.”

    Yes, that’s another valid tack, Rod, I agree. But I’d still like to have proof that he has Villa’s interests really at heart.

  6. B62 Villa

    I can’t see another American buying the club, we are no longer a PL club, therefore there will be no exposure or live games involving us in the states. I think Randy will struggle to offload us, especially with his unrealistic price demands, this will mean less and less investment and the sale of anything of value. Randy still wants to squeeze every last penny out of us and will run us into the ground before riding off into the sunset leaving a trail of destruction and misery.
    VP = The Factory of Sadness

  7. southwestvillan

    John,

    Good article and I think we all feel your pain, but football has been going down the pan for years and all you write is very true but very romantic, but unfortunately the romance died years ago between football and the real fans, even the great establishment of the FA cup looks like being changed to midweek games without any replays because the Sky four don”t like having their reserve teams playing too many games.

    How can the fans have any connection to these so called Villa players who are paid absolute fortunes probably a weekly wage that would take the average fan three years of work to earn, and the supporters pay a big chunk of their disposal income to go and watch their beloved club lose 6-0 at home and are rewarded by one of the idiots posting pictures of his new shiny car worth approximately four years salary to the man on the street, are we really surprised the Villa fans are going to vote with their feet.

    We hear of fans being ejected and banned from VP because they have the audacity to voice their opinions all because they have a love for the club that has probably been passed through the generations, the sort of affection that Lerner and Fox will never understand, the club is dying before our very eyes and if we was to be honest there are not enough people who can be bothered to arrest the decline, why should we save a club and let it again be a vehicle for these parasites – players and directors alike to suck the life out of our club.

    At least in the championship we might attract players who will fight and work for the shirt if it is only to win a move to a premier club, perhaps we can recover enough to have a semblance of respect that was always attached to Aston Villa, perhaps we will regain a touch of class who knows, although while we are still being run by the Lerner mafia I feel that may just be nigh on impossible and the ramblings of a madman.

    SWV

  8. John Lerwill


    SWV,

    Since most of what you have written supports my article, we must both be “romantics”! 😉

    I’m not sure (from what you’ve stated) that I’ve made my point clearly enough.

    The main gist is that any (not just AVFC) sporting outfit needs to have a feeling run through its veins. Without that affair of the heart then it doesn’t really make sense. And it raises the question just what is Lerner in this for? He doesn’t come and share the fans pain, he hasn’t run the club properly, and it doesn’t look as though much will change in my view, so what kind of “love” is he purporting to have for AVFC?

    So all I’m asking for is a new lot to come in who have a far better understanding.

  9. B62 Villa

    Regarding next season and our impending campaign in the championship, we will be in direct competition with our arch enemies, The Blues. Today they have announced they are freezing their ST prices, the cheapest adult ticket being £230( £10 per game), the Spoin Kop will remain £439. These are way cheaper than we have at VP, now this is fine whilst we were a PL club, but does anyone believe we will adjust our prices to reflect the poorer product( if that is possible after this season). My ST on the Holte( lower) is £510, now will they reduce it or as expected freeze it, spouting more games for the same money crap.
    The floating fan or tourist will chose the cheaper option, especially as they could be the better side with a better gaffer, I’m dreading playing the next season, they will stuff us

  10. southwestvillan

    John,

    Nobody knows Lerner and never will so we can only guess as to why he bought our club, he inherited hundreds of millions from his old man and must have decided he needed a new toy, he quite liked AVFC while at University probably liked the colours and thought he would give DD a bell to see if he fancied cashing in, now to invest all that money and not invest any time into the club is something we will never understand, if he really thought of this club as his own he would have been here more often to secure his investment.

    The sort of investment to get this club on an even keel would be massive and I would think most businessmen out there would look at the Villa and think it might be wiser to put my dosh in my ISA at least you are guaranteed some sort of return.

    SWV

  11. Archie

    well it could be worse, it looks like Bolton Wanderers are being bought by a consortium lead by
    Dean Holdsworth…….as they say…how’d like them apples

  12. B62 Villa

    I see Garde has commented we may see a completely different 11 next game, as he only wants players out there who want to be there giving there all.
    This begs the question why hasn’t this been tried earlier and why were players being picked who don’t want go play or who aren’t giving 100%.
    I would start blooding the youngsters, we are now prepping for the championship and we will need those players. I’d also recall Gardener and Robinson( if possible). The youth can’t do any worse than the over paid work shy crap masquerading as football players wearing our shirt.

  13. John Lerwill

    SWV,

    I think you’ve illustrated very well the foolishness of putting money into an enterprise like Villa unless you expect to get your finances milked a lot. When it comes to sport, the only possible positives you’re going to get out of it is the joy of winning something, the joy of watching real expertise (if that’s what’s been acquired) and the cred that goes with it.

    Hence it becomes increasingly more mystifying why RL bought the club except as just a toy to play with, as you suggest. But I’m more and more convinced that it was a just a plaything to him as he has refused to accept any football-laden advice from anyone.

    But what RL said was that he regarded himself just as a steward and that if the ventured “failed” (what did success mean for him?) then he would hand over the stewardship to someone else. Well, his stewardship has failed and he should have handed over by now as he said he would, not wait to try to get his money back.

  15. Ian

    Lerner is just like us. The members of this blog. He has/had an interest and now it is waning like it is for most of us. Since he has a financial interest he has put caretaker people in place to what else? Caretake. Like a poor investment in the stock market he is just going to let it twist until things might improve. Villa doesn’t affect his day to day life one bit. I doubt he thinks about it. It certainly doesn’t mean shopping at bargain bin shops for this guy. It just doesn’t mean anything to him anymore.
    The premier League have to get involved with this asshole and either take the team away from him or get him to be an owner of good faith. Football in general is given a black eye by people like Lerner and he isn’t the only one. God knows why Birmingham should have two of them. Remember the fun it was to watch Carson Yeoug squirm and subsequently ruin the Blues? Well it’s our turn now. Why oh why would anyone associated with the club turn up everyday and put in an honest day’s work when they have Lerner running the show.

    Thanks for the post John.

  18. Mark King

    I’m afraid we ahve reached the point when we may damage our own club by walking or Taking the chance it fades away. The other possibility is Hollis gives garde free reign with reasonable backing.

    If as I said yesterday things are not rosey in the financial garden then who Knows. The large chunk of money that Lerner and his family put into Villa or at Least Loaned Villa Is £285 mil It was money made available in loans. The first few years they got a return, Not much £5-8 mil until the wage got to 90% of turnover and the sky fell in. Lerner has been waiving loans ever since some very substantial amounts, at one point he waived £24Mil? maybe more to balance the books. Trouble is the loan is due up 2018. So how and who do we pay the £285m or whatever is due back? and what are the consequences if we cannot?

  19. Trinity

    Thanks for writing another thought provoking article, John.

    “The premier League have to get involved with this asshole and either take the team away from him or get him to be an owner of good faith.”
    Does the PL have the power to take an owner to task if the owner is perceived to not be an “owner of good faith”? How could the PL take Villa away from Lerner?

  22. Ian

    Hey trinity
    The NBA took the Los Angeles Clippers away from its owner. They forced him to sell for racial comments in the media. The other owners are part of the tribunal and he was for all intense and purposes told to take a hike. They then put a deadline on the sale.

  23. Trinity

    Good point, Ian. I remember that debacle. They should put a deadline on Lerner to sell Villa at a reasonable price to an owner that has the best interests of the Villa community at heart. He seems to have been insincere about selling Villa.

  24. Ian

    April 25, 2014, entertainment news website TMZ released a taped conversation in which team owner Donald Sterling – who had a history of accusations of racist behavior against African Americans and Latinos dating back to the 1990s – reprimanded V. Stiviano (born Maria Vanessa Perez and of African American and Mexican heritage, who had reportedly been dating Sterling while he was estranged from wife Rochelle Stein) after posting an Instagram photo featuring her, former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson and another woman. Sterling stated that it bothered him that she had “broadcast that [she is] associating with black people,” and that he did not want Stiviano to bring them to the team’s games.[59] The remarks in the tape caused public backlash (including condemnations from many current and former NBA players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant); several sponsors also severed ties with the team, among them Kia Motors (for whom Blake Griffin serves as its television spokesperson), State Farm Insurance and Virgin America.[60] Threats of boycotts against the Clippers were also considered, with the team itself briefly contemplating one of the April 27 playoff game against the Golden State Warriors (the fourth game in the team’s first round playoff series) – players opted to protest Sterling’s remarks by wearing their shirts inside-out, obscuring team logos.[61][62]

    On April 29, 2014, the NBA issued Sterling a lifetime ban from the organization after a league investigation into the recording confirmed that he was the one conversing with Stiviano. The league also issued a $2.5 million fine against Sterling (the highest allowable by the NBA) and barred him from attending games or practices involving any NBA team; being present in any Clippers office or facility; and from participating in any team business, player personnel decisions or league activity. NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated in a press conference regarding the decision that he will try to force Sterling to sell the Clippers, which would require the consent of ¾ of the league’s 29 other team owners.[63] Silver later announced that that NBA would appoint a CEO to run the team.[64] Before the ban was handed down, Sterling said in a phone conversation with Fox News contributor Jim Gray that he had no plans to sell the team.[65]

    On May 9, 2014, the NBA named former Citigroup chairman and former Time Warner chairman and CEO Richard Parsons the interim CEO of the team.[66]

  25. DarrenO

    Great article, reminded of simpler times when my role in Aston Villa was to cheer on the team, an older head and wiser to the machinations of what is happening to Villa in the boardroom and beyond has soured my relationship with my club. The Liverpool result and subsequent social media behaviour has soured my relationship with the football team.

    Completely of the opinion that the U21s should be played for the remainder of the season along with the non-British players and for rest to sever their contracts and make themselves free agents for their next club. I’m not being anti-British in this, my point is it’s the British players who most have an understanding of Villa, it’s history, what it means to its fans and the shame of its impending relegation. They need to remove themselves from the problem as they certainly aren’t proving to be part of the solution.

    Blood the youngsters now in prep for next season without the fear of relegation and see how they perform. We can only benefit from it when it comes to next season. We’ve secured a better points total than Derby so we won’t go down as the worst Premier League team despite Carragher’s verbal diaorrhea.

    Fox and Hollis should come out now and state clearly that Garde is part of the future of Aston Villa and will receive the required backing to gain promotion back to the Premier or allow Garde some dignity and let him walk away from this nightmare.

    FUCK OFF LERNER, FOX AND HOLLIS

  26. Mark King

    Sorry Trinity, I don’t know what time but I recently read an article that stated that It was due up in 2018. Begs the question for me Is Lerner selling or did he decide to sell to pay the Piper? If so he couldn’t get the asking price or is there some other wrangler attached to the Loan?

  29. Mark King

    another snippet says with the banking crisis in 2008 (still with us) Randy who sold his shares in MBNA and bought shares in Bank America (and his divorce) may have fuelled the reverse spending to avoid losses. Don’t forget he sold the Browns, to raise capital I presume?

  30. Paul Pears

    I also wonder if maybe Randy could be in breach of the rules governing the family trust, if he has not earned any returns on his investments by a certain date.

    He certainly looks like he has been a total fool in his control of finance and investment at VP.

  31. Paul Pears

    Elaine Rose’s resignation after working at Villa for the last six years (and a fan of 40 years), says it all, and Tom Fox hiring two hoodlums to protect him from disparaging fans.

    Time for Fox and his crew to know how Villa fans really feel…with a properly organised protest.

  32. John Lerwill

    The Brimingham Mail reports:

    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-exposed-worker-resigns-10914192

    A former Aston Villa employee who handed in her resignation online has slammed the club’s top brass for the current decline.

    Elaine Rose was part of the matchday reception staff for the past six years before recently departing after refusing to work under the new regime.

    The life-long fan revealed how staff morale has hit ‘rock bottom’ during this depressing Premier League campaign which has left Villa inevitably facing relegation to the second tier for the first time in 30 years.

    Elaine, an ex-part-time worker, blasted owner Lerner for ‘only turning up at Villa Park three times in the last four years’ and claims that ‘nobody cares’ at the top.

    In an emotionally-charged interview with BBC WM this morning, she also told how chief executive Tom Fox has hired extra security to sit alongside him on match-days after recently receiving abuse in the director’s box.

    “Things have gradually got worse,” she said on the 95.6FM Breakfast Show.

    “Nobody seems to care about the position we are in and staff morale is at rock-bottom.

    “We all had to re-apply for our own jobs at the start of the season and they got rid of staff who had been there for over 40 years.

    “It’s just dreadful there.

    “The head guy (Fox) has hired himself two bodyguards to stand around him in the directors box because he doesn’t want to take any abuse from fans.

    “If anybody hurls abuse or says anything they are out, no questions asked.”

    Villa sit bottom of the Premier League and are set to lose their Premier League status for the first time.

    Matchday and permanent staff will also lose their jobs if relegation is confirmed as the club will need to cut costs.

    Elaine, who worked in the Trinity Road reception for home games and functions but not on a day-to-day basis, said the club are already sending staff home at half-time to reduce the wage bill.

    She finally had enough after a recent home game that left her wondering where it all went wrong.

    “ The owner has been three times in the last four years to Villa Park, that’s no way to run the club.

    “I worked for the club because I love the club. I am claret and blue.

    “It’s tragic to see the club sinking so low and not looking like they will ever come back.”

    Asked whether she will return to Villa Park, she replied:

    “I will certainly go and support them but I won’t be working there again.”

  35. Mark King

    I feel sorry for the staff but Ihave been there myself when redundancies loom, a once happy work place becomes toxic. I am just waiting for the payload to drop, I hope I’m wrong but there is something in the wings they are keeping stum about.

  36. steamer

    The AVST noticable by their lack of action, useless.
    I wouldn’t rely on the fans to produce any action either, just clap away until the club dies and then support someone else, ‘i did my bit.’
    Tom Fox is an odious bastard, a real piece of shit, the Chairman on his arrival stated that the relationship between fans and club was ‘disconnected’ well now’s his chance to prove he’s not all wind and piss, cleanse the club of Fox, Almstedt and Reilly. Do i see it happening ? not a chance because VP lacks balls, a clueless prick like Lerner has destroyed AVFC. The only consolation is that Lerner is now regarded as an incompetent simpleton in his own country as well as the UK. Its his birthday on Sunday, bet the happy clappers send him a card.

  37. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I feel sorry for the staff but Ihave been there myself when redundancies loom, a once happy work place becomes toxic”

    That may well be, Mark, I agree – but working for the football club you’ve supported all your life and then seen it being brought to its knees – as well as the threat of job loss – is something of a different dimension to your normal job.

    I remember my own thoughts when I was put out of the door – and at that time I didn’t think it would get this bad, though I knew things weren’t right.

  38. Mark King

    JL anything that singles people out like why him and a not me makes for a very nervy situation and I feel sorry for anyone that ends up in that position. As an aside are all Villa employee’s Villa supporters? also my cousin works there according to my mom but we don’t talk much these days other than the odd family do .

    Also my Mom is now dating a chap named Moss who was a youth player for the Blues in the late fifties, He couldn’t get a run in the 1st team and left only to be tapped up by 2 fellas from Villa. they came round to his house no less. He signed for a year again didn’t get any 1st team cahnces so told them to shove it to, according to him. Any Ideas I don’t know his surname hope my mom does 😉

  39. B62 Villa

    The club is dying on its feet, it’s being killed by fox and Lerner , the pair are like those flash rich Yank bastards that pay huge sums to hunt and murder innocent rare animals like the dentist that ‘bravely’ took down that lion!!
    There will be no protests and bodies such as AVST are spineless cowards.
    I look at teams historically not as big as ours, that have overtaken us in recent years, teams like Saints, West Ham, Swansea, Leicester, Stoke, even West Brom, all these clubs are way ahead of us on and off the pitch and a way bigger draw, we are even further behind clubs we used to see as direct rivals like Everton and Spurs. Newcastle mirror our demise but are at least trying to progress and get out of the mire, we gave up years ago.
    I literally can’t wait for Lerner , Fox and co to leave, preferably in line boxes, they are nothing but arrogant scum.

  40. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    No, not all workers at VP are Villa supporters – but a lot are and that’s what I am referring to.: those those quite numerous people who are Villa supporters.

    “Any Ideas I don’t know his surname hope my mom does” – Not sure I understand the question. His name is Moss isn’t it? 🙂

  41. John Lerwill

    B62,

    Well, mate, it looks as though they probably have a business plan, but whatever it is is scaled to support the owner and his finances. In other words, what we’re likely to get served up is mid-championship fodder and probably in front of 15,000 gates or less.

    Unless Garde (if he stays) is able to work miracles with lack of investment.

  42. B62 Villa

    JL
    That business plan will mean the end of Aston Villa fc, in this modern era we will lose generations of fans to other local clubs like Albion or blues or more than likely the big Sky clubs . We are not a one club City or town like Portsmouth, Leeds etc meaning the whole City/Town/area are behind the club.
    Having lived in Portsmouth for years, they have a seize mentality being an island, the whole City pretty much follows the club, hence why the supporter ownership was such a success, even in the bottom tier they regularly get 16/17k gates, which people might say isn’t much, but that’s similar to Blues in a city 3 or 4 times the size who are pushing for promotion to the premier league.

  43. Mark King

    JL thats what he calls himself but I’ve only met him once and don’t know if that is a nickname, first name abbreviation or surname. He’s obviously not a rolling stone though 😉

  46. Mark King

    JL- yes that one was inevitable lets hope foxes is as the trail continues.

    The chaps name is Morris JL does that ring any bells in your historic mind? Also my cousins surname is Felton don’t know how long she’s been there though.

  49. Ian

    Here comes a week end where villa keeps pace with every other team in the prem.
    This IS sad.
    On another note the MLS season is starting and you should cheer on the Vancouver Whitecaps.

  58. Mark King

    JL- just read this bit of her statement nice touch Villa

    They got rid of members of staff who have been there over 40 years, saying they weren’t capable of doing their own job.
    ‘It is just dreadful there and nobody seems to care about the position of the club
    After the game players are coming out of the changing rooms laughing and joking with each other even though we have had a big defeat.

  61. Ian

    How much do chocolate cookies cost in Birmingham? Do you think I could export them? They only cost about 1.5£ for a big box here. Maybe donate the profits to beer and Mercedes expenses

  62. Paul Pears

    Time for action now boys……

    maybe the fans should all stay off the terraces for the first five minutes after the teams come out at the Everton match, and then all march in en masse and chanting we want our Villa back….

  64. B62 Villa

    Paul Merson has said Villa are in real danger of a double relegation, stating this current side won’t finish in the top half of the championship and every team will treat coming to VP like a cup final and a scalp.
    He also said Garde should have resigned or offered to after the Liverpool debacle.
    I can’t argue with either statement, I’m in agreement with Merse and many others, that performance against Liverpool was the worst I have EVER seen by a Villa side, eclipsing the league drubbings by Chelsea and Saints and the cup final performance against Arsenal.
    I’m still fuming at it, I’m up for any protest that can be organised, if I had my way I’d have a lot of them lined up and shot

  65. Mark King

    B-62 sorry mate Merson talks utter shite, I saw his prediction for that game and he had us down to score 2 and win, he can’t have it both ways based on one shit game.

    Garde should resign?? probably wishes he could with this bunch of cu@ts

  67. steamer

    Does the club actually have the right to eject fans from singing Lerner out ? surely undemocratic, sorry i forgot that we’re run by two Republicans and two Tories. Strange that Yanks are always rattling on about democracy, but when they suppress it in our own, no matter how pathetic, country, then they’re taking the P.
    Wonder if the fans could organise these light thingies that Leeds fans used to protest against Cellini, f-all the knobs could do about it.
    Have a happy birthday tomorrow Lerner, hope you choke on your cake you witless gobshite.

  68. Mark King

    One for you steamer, Elaine the lady that resigned said this of Sid

    “Sid is so lovely and comes in every week, yet the security guard made him empty his pockets before the Norwich game.”

    what the feck is going on Villa Gulag?

  70. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    I feel that you’re not being very fair to Merse! After all, he was feeling more confident probably after the recent VP points success and – like me – was more opti about the Pool game. His win prediction was way out of course (I thought perhaps a draw) but we’re all devastated at the way the Villa played.

    I’m sure Merson wasn’t expecting that. I certainly wasn’t. Therefore Merse’s view counts as far as I’m concerned.

  71. Ian

    I see you are all in fine fettle today.
    Choking to death would be too humane for that man. Doing the heimlick manoeuvre, resuscitating him, then throttling him would be more suitable outcome

  72. Paul Pears

    Gradually more and more is coming out over missed signing, failures and bad management, but mainly the failures at board room level.

    The poisoned chalice has killed this club, and there is a sour taste in everyone’s mouth.

    Once Lerner has recovered his money from the sale of Bodymoor Heath and the other lucrative assets, perhaps he will give the club back to the fans to run for themselves….

    There is very little else left for us fans…

  73. B62 Villa

    Mark
    I think Merse makes valid observations tbh 1) We will struggle next season unless there is massive change, relegation is a real proposition .
    2) that was the worst Villa performance witnessed, our heaviest home defeat for 81 years
    3) Damn right the manager who presided over that sack of crap effort and relegation should offer his resignation!
    Yes his prediction was way off, but looking at Villa, there is simply nothing to look forward to and that includes Garde who is uninspiring and has lost the dressing room and doesn’t affect games standing in silence doing nothing for 90mins. I fully understand he didn’t but these players or build this squad, but he hasn’t exactly set the league alight or eradicated the shite results .
    I fully expect next season to be worse thin this utter debacle. I can see nothing positive to use as a starting point, RL and TF are utter cunts.

  74. James Gill

    I am sick listening to McLeish Lambert
    McLeish came in for the money couldn’t believe his luck relegated the blues and then got offered the chance to manage one the biggest clubs ( history status) in England,yes he had to sell downing young but we had finished top 10 prev 4 seasons Bent a 20 m striker in squad and played most negative football ever to grace villa park from home team,signed The Biggest Knob in ZOGBIA ever add that to Hutton who I personally detest( think worst player to play for us Lambert had hand in him as well) Jena’s who managed less than 20 mins football in season ( as usual we had no get out clause) wasted 20 m on his crap buys and mad wages ( given at 35 a 5 year contract) then has the gall to say it was tough well try fucking watching it,he has not managed since just speaking when villa in the news
    Mad as hell at minutes going to do Lambert tomorrow tosser

  75. runtings

    My opinion on past and previous managers is perhaps non of them are the best – however

    I can’t blame any of them for Villa’s demise because the club has gone through an asset stripping exercise during there time at the club

    Tactics and philosophizes are very important indeed but the most important thing is how good the players that are brought to represent the the are

    If you let Barry and Miner go and bring in Westwood and Bacuna . the list goes on were that is concerned

    My 2yr old grandson asked me to take him to see Aston villa which i have been looking forward to doing since his birth = but honestly it looks like a may have to hold back on my promise for now

    i can’t take him into a poisonous atmosphere – what if they threw me out while i was with my little man ?

    Also it is difficult to cheer a team when the best defender there is so flippant after one of the worse days for the club in over 100 years and players that feel comfortable in offering out the fans

    Aston villa need to replace prepared with embarrassment

  77. John Lerwill

    Trinity,

    As Sturridge came back from injury and re-enlivened Liverpool, Shawcross is I understand due also to come back after several matches injured. Stoke seem to do well with him available.

    If we get a point we’ll be doing well. I love Shaqiri – how does a club like Villa miss signings like that? But I shouldn’t ask, that’s been Villa’s problem for 70 years.

  78. John Lerwill

    Runtings: “Aston villa need to replace prepared with embarrassment”

    Too true. Also the new logo always looked insipid, didn’t it? Gives the impression of a cuddly leo rather than one that has to fight to earn its crust.

  79. B62 Villa

    Runtingz
    I’m just thankful my son is too young to come to VP with me, I’m praying by some miracle we have turned the corner and are challenging again by the time he is old enough.
    I agree with JG, I’m sick to death of Mctwat and Lambert gobbling off, trying to make themselves look like good managers who were held back by the evil empire. Both were fucking useless and wasted any money they were given. Yes Lerner is the overall cancer ably assisted by Faulkner and Fox, that has destroyed the club, but let’s not underestimate the part the managers have played .Leicester have blown any theory out of the water that the crap these bellends have bought were the best available ble for the budget they had. There actions have assisted with our downfall big time.
    Where do we go from here, we have been relegated since Christmas, and following the arse raping by Liverpool there isn’t a single fan/person in the UK that believes we can avoid the drop. So we should be blooding players we will need next season, it’s too late to recall Gards, he is doing well at forest let’s hope we can reap the rewards next season. The summer will see a massive overhaul with plenty wanting to jump ship, the French legion will want out, and TBF they haven’t exactly pulled up any trees or justified there transfer fees, also Nzog will go, unfortunately Hutton won’t,
    We will still be lumbered with sacks of shit like Westwood, Bacuna, Cissokho , Gestede , Guzan and co.
    Also we don’t even know who the gaffer will be, has Garde shown enough?? Who else is there we can attract??

  80. John Lerwill

    Internal Villa Investigation!

    Aston Villa have launched a full-scale investigation into the season from hell, writes our sister paper The Sunday People.

    The inquest into the catastrophic season has already begun, writes Neil Moxley.

    New chairman Steve Hollis and boardroom recruit Sir Mervyn King are conducting an in-depth probe into the club’s affairs.

    Consultants have been brought in to pick through the rubble of Villa’s dreadful campaign and the finances, recruitment processes and day-to-day administration are all coming under scrutiny.

    And that could spell bad news for several senior staff with chief executive Tom Fox most likely to be in the firing line.

    Arsenal’s former commercial officer has been in situ at Villa Park since August 2014 and has acted as the eyes and ears for absentee owner Randy Lerner.

    But the awful state of affairs has prompted a roots and branch review and Fox himself – appointed on a £1m-a-year salary – could be the first casualty.

    The American was the target of fans’ anger last week as Villa slumped to their worst home defeat in over 80 years in the six-goal thumping by Liverpool.

    However, all decisions on Villa’s senior management will be delayed until the end of the season with the positions of sporting director Hendrik Almstadt and head of recruitment Paddy Riley also coming under the microscope.

    With manager Remi Garde likely to consider his position at the end of the season there could be a complete overhaul of Villa’s hierarchy as they begin to re-build the former European Champions.

    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-root-branch-inquest-10923444

  81. John Lerwill


    All the indications are that Randy Lerner is a nice pussycat (hence the logo) and somehow believed that the Paul Faulkner and then Tom Fox CEO appointments would be the answer to his problems.

    With this investigation taking place (assuming it’s true) then it’s more understandable that Russell left.

    However, at one stage I thought Fox seemed to be talking sense. Just shows…

  82. B62 Villa

    JL
    The crest is an utter disgrace, it’s a pale imitation of what’s gone before. It’s very amarican in its design, they seem to prefer a simple design in their sports crests, something easily identifiable and easy to merchandise. However Iv hated this effort Lerner lumbered us with, it have very little claret and is a bright yellow kitten chasing a snowflake on a Man City blue background!! Even the crest shape is all wrong.
    In an era where tradition is all but forgotten, even Man City have gone back to an updated version of their traditional round crest, as did Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton etc only Arsenal kept their crappy version( the old cannon was far better). Man Utd haven’t tinkered either, as the brand is so recognisable. Ours current badge is NOT a Villa badge, like Lerner it’s not fit for purpose and the sooner as its dedicated the better, along with these scum bags, he’ll bent on destroying our club.

  83. B62 Villa

    Let’s hope their is some truth in the investigation, I doubt it will be as ruthless as it needs, I expect Fox and co to wriggle free of criticism, after all they are running the show. At best we may see a couple of scapegoats ie Reilly and Almstadt

  84. Mark King

    B-62/JL I cannot put much stock in comments that claim we will do this and that in the championship. As Garde said when asked about would we be in this position with Benteke here? He answered “that’s just Fantasy” and so is saying we will do this and that in the champs based on one horrendous match when claiming we would win previously, mainly because we had improved and Liverpool were poor previously. We have also beaten champs sides etc with our second string in the cups this season. The biggest thing is this will not be the team that plays here next season if Garde stays, no funds, he’s gone. I won’t judge a manager who’s brought no players in, has took over a collection of rubbish from 3 previous rubbish managers and a committee under review. On Gardes sideline manner, I cannot remember Saunders leaping about much ?

    JL I’m glad the inquest has begun at least Lerner has stepped back, maybe he knows his judgement is flawed and just wants the club to work. Lets hope Hollis comes up with the answers.

  85. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    It seems the inquest won’t have any outcome until the end of the season, but I suppose it’s too late this season for any action to be beneficial. The damage is done.

  89. steamer

    The inquest will be a whitewash, who’s conducting it ? the blind leading the blind, expect the Jeerman to be the scapegoat.
    Lescott supports Lerner, get rid.
    There won’t be any cash available for next season because no-one will buy our current players and Lerner won’t provide new funds. Clark may raise 2m on his international form, Okore 3/4m, Grealish 8m, Sinclair 2m, Vertout 4m, Gana 4m, Ayew 8m Gestede 2m, the rest can go for nowt, unfortunately we’ll have to pay up the contracts of Bacuna, Westwood and Flabby.
    Bennett will go free as will Guzan. Get shut of Steer.
    I’d keep Cissoko, Baker, Amavi till he’s fit, Bunn and any promising reserves. Never mind promotion, we’ll be lucky to get the same amount of points in the Champs as we have this season.
    The club is finished, when Lerner has got his $$$ back he’ll sell to another American dud, never mind all that crepe about letting someone else having a go, its all about Lerner and $$

  90. B62 Villa

    Mark
    I’m not basing next season on 1 game, even if it was our worst home performance in 81 years, I’m basing it on this entire season. We have been poor from day 1. Listening to the Blackburn v West Ham commentary, they were saying how well West Ham have done this season and praising their transfers, Payet who has been mustard, cost 500k more than Ayew!!!!!! One looks world class and one bang average, guess which one we bought. At LB they have Creswell , how many shite LB have we bought in recent seasons, we should have bought him instead of Bennett when we had the chance. They have done well with loans etc and generally put together a team far better than anything we have had in years. Next season they move to the Olympic stadium and will play in front of 55k every week( there ST are cheaper than any other PL team next year).
    This summer will be turmoil, we will need a new manager and at least 7/8 players, with roughly the same going the other way. I can see us ending up like Blackburn , just another crap ex top flight club struggling in the football league, the longer we are out of the mega rich PL the more terminal the damage. I have sat through some of the worst football I have ever seen these past few seasons, it’s painful, not one manager since MoN has got the fans off their seats, they have ALL been atrocious, even Garde who has changed very little from when he took over from TS, I would even have thought TS could have got as many if not more points than Garde, I really don’t get what others see in him, tactically he has been clueless, far to reactive instead of being pro active, he afraid of going for the win, he still can’t organise the defence , we are goal shy and don’t attack, in fact the ONLY thing he has done is come out and publicly lambast the club, but he didn’t resign, meaning that it meant nothing in the end.
    Undoubtably RL and TF are the real criminals, but I can’t fathom the argument to keep Garde when I have to sit through that drivel every week.

  91. James Gill

    Lambert spouting drivel ( shite) week in week out now about how happy to be sacked,well we are still suffering the crap manager person he was,he oversaw 29 yes twenty nine players signed in 5 transfer windows and out of that benteke was great the rest crap or worse example Leicester got Vardy we got Bowery Swansea got michu we got helnius,even kozak,okore half decent are like glass men always injured sold Collins for 2.5 m signed vlar for 3.5 m yet vlar always injured Collins still playing, Mon v us few weeks ago
    His assistants were accused of bullying and sacked,took Roy Keane in Gabby seen to him along with all the pies
    He offered to resign ,yet signed new contracts 4 months later,gave flabby new contract and most stunning sent Hutton to bomb squad for 2 years yet 4 matches into next season gave Hutton new contract
    Started a bomb squad which no other club tried amazingly enough

  92. Mark King

    B62- Its plain I won’t convince you on Garde for whatever reason but Merse is basing his thoughts on one match having previously thinking we would win.
    As for Tim would of done this and that how do you Know? we can only deal in facts and to my eye I can see a more organised side than under Tims Reign. What would we have by now? a French bomb squad? Yes Garde is hesitant to throw all forward but how can you blame him? We have no cutting edge and a poor defensive record. Its no less than several so called prem survival specialists would try to do with this lot. The difference between us and Sunderland? Defoe, Now they have bought a few players and mostly ones Garde wanted who look decent. Doesn’t take much thinking that if Garde had took Tim’s place with £50mil we would be talking about mid table. Why did Tim and the other idiots not Identify Khazri etc?? ask yourself that, Garde has contacts an eye for a player and more Importantly how mentally strong they are and whether they would settle quickly.

    Food for thought but this is his team at Lyon,boring? I don’t think so

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlLZliZ2qMQ

  93. James Gill

    Meant to add he should been sacked after Bradford new record first top league team to lose over 2 legs to bottom tier team,following the 15 0 over Xmas Chelsea spuds Wigan shameful,top it of milwall beat us as well that spell,along with conceding from set piece 20 that season at that stage

  94. James Gill

    Mark k
    Your always on time case yet back remi
    Ray Wilkins said last week Tim never seen french lads the committee signing players meant he didn’t get chance to watch them in live action
    How can committee explain gana verse lad Leicester got can t remember his name,same with vertout against payet at west ham,Lambert was offered ayew for less than a quarter of money previous summer
    Sherwood seen what was going on and wanted pay off only way to get it was be sacked( in my eyes he should have went after cup final)
    And that’s my only reasoning why remi still here to get his pay off either be sacked or relegated, no sane man would want any part of this excuse of football club why

  95. B62 Villa

    Mark
    Sherwood never had £50m , these players were bought by the committee , the players TS wanted were of a different type, he wanted players that knew the primer league. I didn’t want EA, but I would have had Lennon or Townsend, I think we will have to agree to disagree with Garde, because for me he has failed and I’m not sure he will be here next season, if he is I fear the championship will eat him up, he has been found wanting in the PL the championship is even more cruel.
    On another blog, someone is reporting Hollis was brought in to get the club sold ASAP. We will only be worth £50-60m now we are a lower league club. The piece in the Wall St Journal is excellent, it hammers Lerner for his stupidity and lack of business acumen, it even slates him for destroying a real English sporting institution, now this will hurt him more than any sports article, as his peers will give him hell and avoid any further business dealings with him as well as just take the piss.

  96. Mark King

    Also I can’t remember Lambert or Tim offering to go after hammering’s either? why should Garde?? and don’t forgot those beatings came after the team had been together much longer with supposedly better players

  97. Mark King

    B62 no they were not at least not all of them, They were bought to suit what Tim had in mind no matter how badly and he could of said no I’ll keep the ones I have. How the crap were we going to get prem players for that money?? 13 of them?

  99. B62 Villa

    Mark
    We didn’t need 13 of them, and Yes Lambert should have gone( many times over) and resigned, TS had enough good will in the bank having rescued us and got us to the cup final.
    What we should have done, as was said by some at the time, is gone for less players but of a higher quality. 1) GK 2) Proven striker ie Austin 3) LB 4) RB 5) and 6 MF . These would then be supplemented with what we already have/youth. But no we went and spunked all our money on French crap and kept our under performing british crap.
    My point is Garde hasn’t done anything so why bring him here, the ONLY reason he is here is because he is French, and the bellends wanted to be proven right in their transfer policy, the problem is Garde hasn’t got the experience of ability for what the job entailed. If anything we look worse now than when he got here, we certainly don’t look any better

  100. B62 Villa

    Guzan, Hutton, Gana, Bacuna, Westwood, Gestede, Steer, Kozak, Nzogbia, Gabby should all go this summer IMO , The jury is still out on Veretout, Ayew, Bunn but the championship may actually be there level Amavi is injured sin at stay anyway. Grealish needs a massive season or could find himself out aswell.

  101. B62 Villa

    In fact I’d go as far to say I couldn’t care if they got rid of the lot, No one has played well this season or earnt their wages, that includes the coaching staff.

  102. James Gill

    B62
    Some good posts
    Did Sherwood Not say he wanted rid of all losers yet someone ( fox) gave big contracts to
    Steer bacuna baker Clark Westwood 9 months after doing same with Hutton, and gabby
    What fucking world is fox in
    Paid Cole,sendross to leave,actually paid for lescott when he was available on a free one year previous
    Back to lescott moxley had good piece in paper today saying he should have been given written warning or so last Sunday after tweet and then sacked during the carry one during week,which with all going at villa doesn’t seem remi has any say apart from put team out for match do media duties,when flabby was reinstalled 3 stone overweight, carry on at cup match with Wycombe, ayew madness at hammers players don’t give a dam about him so why stay

  105. John Lerwill

    Steamer: “The inquest will be a whitewash”

    I have some doots about that…

    When he arrived, the chairman has already said that things were done wrongly from a business perspective, so he’s already hinted enough that he’s got some integrity i.m.o.

    If you mean that Lerner might not accept his recommendations, then that’s a poss. and in which case I’d see the chairman going and there will be an almighty mess. If Lerner accepts the recommendations then providing they’re something like what we’d expect them to be, there’s a tad of hope for the club. But it will be too late to stop relegation and whether we recover after that is still a moot issue, regardless.

  106. Mark King

    B62- garde is here partly because he is multi lingual yes but I suspect The real pull for fox is the job he did at Lyon and the 60,000 seater stadium they were able to build with the savings whilst keeping afloat in the league with three successive negative spends.

    I think Tim thought he would keep the best of the squad and bring in the likes of Townsend, if so then he’s a bigger idiot than I thought. And good will? after the cup final? that alone destroyed our ability to attract anyone and hastened the exit of any decent players we had. please tell me how buying 2-3 decent players could fill the gaps we had by June? £100mil would not of covered it unless they brought in foreign players. Tim could still of done that by the way, he had the say so on who he wanted to keep, none of the players I saw him after were remotely replacing Delph, cleverly or tekkers and after pre-season he ignored the youngsters.

    JL I agree I think Lerner is after blood on this one, Hollis is the grim reaper

  109. B62 Villa

    Mark
    The Saints drubbing was BEFORE the cup final, you asked why he hadn’t resigned or offered to, like I advocated Garde should have done, that is why I alluded to some goodwill.
    I also think you give Fox too much credit, I doubt he knew anything about Gardes time at Lyon, he was prob pointed in that direction from Wenger and his Arsenal old school tie buddies.
    Also the French league is pretty dire and not competitive especially now PSG run away with it every year, the amount of upsets and tough games are far less than in the Premier league.
    I agree TS is an idiot, it just depends what bollox he was told when he took the job, as Garde has found out, these twats will rarely spout the truth. I’m not trying to make Garde out to be the Villain in the story, I just don’t get why he gets an easier ride from some quarters, when he has done nothing to earn it, after all he is the manager with the relegation on his CV and will have been in charge for well over 3/4 of the season, TS didn’t relegate us RG did. We can argue all day long about the whys and the whose to blame, but the fact is RG will have presided over the only relegation from the premier league in the clubs history, he may have mitigating circumstances and reasoning, however the fact is he took over with us 4 points from safety and then failed to win any of his first 10 league games and has only won 2 since ensuring we go down as one of the worst teams ever to grace this league. Unfortunately he is part of the losing culture that has engulfed the club and seems to have lost the dressing room( if he ever had it). He looks lost and out of his depth, I felt sorry for him and the lack of backing during the window, but by then we were so far adrift I suspect the money men thought why waste money on a lost cause, especially with the financial Armageddon relegation brings

  111. Mark King

    B62- No he never has had the dressing room, he knows it and Lescott has hinted at it. In truth this team has had a losing mentality from the off and has never lost it. There are not enough winners in this team to make a difference. As I said earlier I think Garde would of made sure his buys were of that Ilk. Tim and the committee obviously didn’t although the French lads for me have been dropped into the most unprofessional bunch of players with Zero pride. At least Ayew was pissed off enough to lash out.

    I’ve read Teales assessment it isn’t far wrong steamer although saying Gabby and lescott shouldn’t be playing when there is Zero alternative other than the kids is a bit much. that said garde has had enough of these tossers and has said he wants players that want to fight for the club.

  112. Archie

    Mark King February 21, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    Yes Mark,
    I did here through a family friend, golf course gossip by the way, Steve Hollis’s instructions from RL are to get the club sold ASAP, thats from a reliable source who spoke to SH personally. Thats about it mate. Wait and see.

  115. B62 Villa

    Steamer
    Just Read Shaun Teales interview and its spot on, I loved that team it had everything this shower of shite don’t . And he is right, Garde is frighteningly out if his depth and no-one at the club seems care we are going down the shitter.

  116. James Gill

    What we would give for Shaun teale at centre half now
    Think it was you mark k Gabby and lescott are a disgrace and I don’t care were remi gets two men to replace them,Clark over the prick lescott every day of the week god remi let sendross go at least he never shamed us fans,I wouldn’t mind lescott has been awful think back to spurs match when remi watched from stand Neville carragher slated him as older player he hung Clark out to dry for first goal Gabby got 6 touches that night

  117. Paul Pears

    Some good comments, but I am sure that Shaun Teale is close to the truth, and the club is about to have all its assets stripped away, and there will not be a lot left.

  118. John Lerwill

    Archie, and all:

    I’m sure Hollis has been briefed to get the club sold (and to put it into order before selling) …

    I don’t see any surprises in that as Lerner did say that the sale was his first intention.

    As for “asset stripping”?

    The players *are* the main assets of the club apart from the properties and the sale of the properties as separate lots doesn’t make sense.

    I really can’t think of there being anything else to “strip”.. Sounds like a touch of wild talk from Teale, who, as a player, I admired enormously.

    Believe me, although the club has such a great historical place, the real historical assets were stripped from the club long ago … many things “disappeared” over the years. An example is the football that was used in the 1897 Cup Final. What remains (though a great number of items) are of small value in total.

    Eric Houghton’s family gave his England caps to the club on loan but they were taken back by the family while I was there, a year or two after Lerner took over.

  120. steamer

    As i understand it we’re having a new badge next month, dread seeing it, also i hear that the new kit is ALL claret. The last time we had an all claret shirt we were relegated to Div 3. What with the BS that surrounded the ridiculous lamp post that re-wrote our beginnings i’m wondering if Fox would now describe Lerners period as our ‘golden age.’

  121. John Lerwill

    B62: “I loved that team it had everything this shower of s**te don’t .”

    Isn’t it the case that from 1996 onwards, attitudes and meaning in the game changed beyond recognition?

    After the players that came into the game before 1992 had retired, “character” seemed to disappear pretty quickly … it’s now all about material gain and winning trophies. Any sentiment has gone by the board … and that’s not just at AVFC but everywhere in the Premier League.

    That’s why it’s much more interesting to support clubs at a level below the Premier League. And more interesting the lower in status a club is. That’s where you find any real link still remaining between fans and players. The Premier League is mainly all show.

  122. John Lerwill

    Steamer: “What with the BS that surrounded the ridiculous lamp post that re-wrote our beginnings…”

    Yes, but don’t forget that lamp-post (together with the WW1 memorial plaque to fallen Villa players) was erected with the connivance of AVST, if I am not mistaken.

    Both items contain errors. I sometimes think there’s an industry that thrives on changing facts to suit the memory.

  123. B62 Villa

    John
    When ST refers to Asset Stripping I don’t think he is talking about smaller things like England caps, Rare footballs or trophies. He is talking about infrastructure, things like BMH which has the HS2 line running along /through it, the land could be redeveloped around this and would fetch millions, the ground could be sold or have massive sponsorship deals a bit like Ashley tried at Newcastle. He’s already sold players off, he will do again if he can any £££ for any of them. If you think logically about it and are cold hearted and don’t want to re invest in the team, he can pocket the parachute payments sell off anything and everything, cut payment/wages ( non essential staff already told they are gone) cut investment or completely stop community projects/youth/ladies/Acadamy teams. This is all short term thinking by an asset stripping carpet bagger, he will then offload the club for £50m or thereabouts to any old chancer that can bluff the right and proper test.

  125. James Gill

    Read somewhere Lerner has had 7 different holding companies taking money out of villa,our staff levels went from 90 to 150 within a year of taking over,Lerner has turned about a billion pound in 10 years,we have spend of just 11 m per year,average wage last year was 1.7 m for pl player nearly 33 thousand per week,Lerner has cooked books for years

  126. southwestvillan

    I have to say I loved ST and that team and you have got to love this line:

    ST: We had a pride and a Passion firstly for our performance week in week out. We had a pride in playing for such a huge historic club and as professionals we demanded a performance out of each other.

    He was spot on in every answer not one of the current mob all together have less guts than Shaun, not the greatest footballer but made up for it in effort and hard work, I hope they all read his piece and if any take offence I would love any of them to have a pop at him, he would put any of this shower of shite on their arse with one punch.

  127. Paul Pears

    B62,

    As you say, and I have said many times, the main asset stripping, will be Bodymoor Heath and another major piece of land near Villa Park. The land near the ground is worth over £20 million and Bodymoor Heath is worth around £250million plus, with its mineral rights, and development potential. It is why Lerner’s people bought it in the first place, and where most of his money was invested, not in players and the ground.

  128. Mark King

    PP if Lerner just wanted to sell BMH what spend millions developing it? why not buy a plot of land elsewhere build his training facility there and develop BMH years ago for profit?

    JG if lerner had made a Billion why is it he won’t sell for less?? The only return on loans I’ve seen is about £8-10mil in the early years before the wages went sky high and swallowed our income. he has had to waive fee’s galore to keep us afloat.

  129. B62 Villa

    MK
    I believe when he arrived he truly wanted to take us forward, that included the training facility, fast forward to now and he wants to sell as much off as possible. I’m not sure how much he has taken out of Villa, I doubt it’s £1bn , but I have read about him using Villa with several holding companies to move money around, he certainly isn’t £2/300m in deficit like he is making out , yet like all big businesses, greed is the driving factor, he doesn’t give two fucks about the club or its fans, all it is to him now is a) a chore b) a means to recoup money until he can offload it.
    And now he is apparently “re branding” with a new crest. I hate the current bollox effort, God knows what the new effort will be like, but I bet the fans aren’t consulted or get a vote.

  131. John Lerwill

    B62: “When ST refers to Asset Stripping I don’t think he is talking about smaller things like England caps, Rare footballs or trophies. He is talking about infrastructure, things like BMH which has the HS2 line running along /through it, the land could be redeveloped around this …

    Of course he didn’t mean “England caps”! I was putting that in as I couldn’t visualise anything that *could* be asset-stripped other than historical matter.

    As for the above about BMH – then so what? … The new owner then builds another training ground. It’s happened before in Villa’s history … the training ground that was sold off in ca. 1964 and not replaced until BMH in ca. 1971.

    I don’t regard the BMH possibility a matter to worry about if we have a new owner coming in with ability to spend.

  132. John Lerwill

    B62: “he will then offload the club for £50m or thereabouts to any old chancer that can bluff the right and proper test.”

    Well, that won’t happen as Villa supporters of any standing will combine to make sure it doesn’t.

    If they don’t then with the soul of the club gone there’s nothing to save anyway, so why worry about it?

  133. James Gill

    Mark k
    Meant to say villa turnover since Lerner came in
    And plenty wrote on other sites about different holding companies taking out money in last 5/6 we can’t compete with stoke wba Swansea ,Lerner on takeover promised deadly he would invest in team Mon he did for 3 years
    We had no debt when Lerner came in have any money been spent at villa park or other facility

  134. steamer

    B62,
    Just bits and bobs off various sites, the kit rumour was last week, the crest was probably 6 weeks ago. Whether we’ll have a new badge must be doubtful now, i think last time we changed it cost us several hundred thousand pounds.
    Just had it confirmed that Fox hasn’t a friend in the club, everyone, staff & players are united in the belief that he’s the major problem at VP, while he infests VP we’re knackered.

  135. Mark King

    JG- well that is what you get for chasing the champs league with no plan and little idea in the first place. when have stoke etc ever attempted that? Leeds tried and shot themselves in the foot. Its very hard to do without a big income and this clubs is now average. Exactly why Fox has been trying to raise revenue from all sources which includes buying players to sell on. its a way of moving up the ladder. We may of turned over 1 Billion in ten years manure will of turned close to 5x that.

    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-post-518m-loss-6759930

    If lerners making money I’d like to know how.

  136. Mark King

    Steamer- yes I think foxes actions are of a worried man, crass statements and now guards mark him out as a worm. If Hollis has anything about him he will not be impressed by Mr slimey

  137. Paul Pears

    MK,

    When he started it was about building a club to match the Chelski’s and Arsenal’s, but the assets that were bought, still have to have a fall back value. That is just sound business. I always bought property that I knew could be sold on eventually for a much higher price.

    The guy I work for, Peter Blakemore, has quadrupled the value of his father’s company, because he buys when prices are low, and business in recession, then he develops these old warehouses etc into very modern and profitable sites. and then took out his major rival supplier.

    I get the feeling that you are right Steamer, and that Fox & co could be gone come the end of the season. He also has a big relegation clause in his contract….!!!

  138. John Lerwill

    PP,

    What assets did Lerner buy when he arrived apart from the intrinsic worth of Villa Park and BMH, which he wants to sell (with the plaers) anyway?

    Incidentally, it has occurred to me that The Holte could be sold off spearately. In fact it didn’t come into Villa ownership until the past 25 years, so it’s never before been really tied with Villa itself – but the original building was there before Villa was formed.

  139. John Lerwill

    JG: “different holding companies taking out money”

    That’s actually a very good point. When I came to post my tribunal action to Villa I was struck by how many companies there are and (as I recall) under an umbrella company.

  140. John Lerwill

    PP,

    Actually Steamer said that the inquiry would be “a whitewash”, but I disputed that and if in fact Fox has been sent to Coventry (which American state is that in?!) then I’m as sure I can be he’ll go.

  141. James Gill

    Lerner has been only interested in himself from day one his ego but above all money bit back here bit back there ,small but steady would love what they say a forensic look at our books
    Sat at cup final all smiles the prick

  143. steamer

    Runtingz,
    Where did you see that ?
    I don’t believe this guff about if the kids were promoted and they took a couple of heavy defeats it would knock the confidence, kids today are more resilient and have more nous than in previous years, plus, some have talent whereas the seniors ……..
    Anyway the customers would give them better backing than they do with the cowards X1.

  146. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Reform Acquisitions should be renamed Unreformed Shambles perhaps!

    Yes, I recall that was the name, but I was alluding to the clearly divisive business structure. Makes it possible for all kinds of financial affairs to be actioned, even if legal.

  147. John Lerwill

    Steamer,

    Interesting view you have of today’s youngsters, but while I agree with your assessment of those who have cause for confidence and are confident, I’m not sure we have too many of that calibre. I could be wrong – and a 3-0 tanning of the first team may prove I’m wrong.

  149. Mark King

    JL- I know people with businesses who use a similar structure, selling between companies even though they share the same staff and director, I’m sure the benefits are tax based though and allowing dividends to be withdrawn plus wages from several sources?? its always puzzled me why its allowed

  151. Paul Pears

    Yes, Remi was less than impressed when the under 21 side beat the first team 3-0, but probably confirms his opinion of the squad he has at his disposable.

    JL, I understand that the Reform acquisitions own large tracts of land, including the old Serpentine car parks, around the railway and motorway, to the rear of the Aston Tavern, which is all fenced off.

  152. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Oh, yes, I’m familiar with the practise … I’m just so intrigued that a sports outfit is organised along those lines. Just proves the greater attention to business over sport perhaps.

  154. steamer

    That 3-0 reminds me of the time i nipped up to BH to watch the 1st team play a mixed res & yth team, the first team full backs, Swain, Gibson & Williams were ripped apart, destroyed by a young Scot, Brian McClair, Saunders covered his embarrassment a week later, he released McClair, no wonder he relied on Tony Barton to scout the players, he hadn’t a clue and before you mention Andy Gray, Saunders never saw him for a single nano second before signing him, as usual he relied on Barton’s recommendation. Same with Paul Kirk, James Gill would know about him, saw him at Hereford in a friendly for Villa and he had a great game, Saunders was sat at home, not bothered, think he ended up record scorer in Ireland.

  155. steamers75

    steamer makes sense what l told you today about the club and the 1st team ,
    a player uses a caff l use and last week left his wallet in there , he picked it up saturday morning as the owner had to go on twitter to tell him he’d left it there (2 days later)
    he was asked whats going on down there and his reply was that since the twat Fox walked in the club he has turned into a shambles and it seems most of the team dont respect Garde and had no idea who he was when he showed up , now looking at that score between the 1st and U21 l think that about says it all , he’s not rated there , and it seems he wont be there for long , this players injured but the press would have you believe different , he said the club is a complete shambles from top to bottom and some of the players cant believe how the club is treating the fans , l wouldnt worry about getting rid of players at the end of the season as it seems most are walking anyway ,
    well lv got better things to do on a saturday now , so until next season and hopefully hollis has sold the club , l will be spending my money in The Coleshill FC clubhouse , got dark cider on tap , . BYE till then

  156. Mark King

    ST75- It doesn’t surprise me that some don’t respect Garde at all, lets face it how many of them are any good? Nobody walks out onto a football pitch and trys to look a fool but this lot have managed it under 2 managers this season and some under 4. Answer is get a bunch of players in that will respect him and I’m sure if the U21’s get their chances they will be his best mates. Professional footballers they make a mockery of the word. Cider sounds good, dark you say??

  157. Mark King

    This statement from Garde say’s it all

    “I am trying to concentrate on my job and working with the players who want to fight.”

    If that it is fact they are purposely playing badly they should be suspended ( preferably by the neck)
    Without pay and ejected from the club, I don’t want to see them in the side again. Its one thing if the managers an arsehole but another not to do the job you paid thousands for and shaft the fans in the process.

  159. Mark King

    Now this is the U21’s side playing tonight against swansea, I’ve seen these lads enough to know this is a strong team they are putting out, Not just U21’s either.

    ASTON VILLA U21s: Victor Johannson, Tom Leggett, Joshua Webb, Jordan Lyden (Capt), Niall Mason, Easah Suliman, Riccardo Calder, Henry Cowans, Kienan Davies, Jerell Sellars, Andre Green
    SUBS: Rory Hale, Emmanuel Idem (GK), Khalid Abdo, Callum O’Hare, Ben Swift

  160. Mark King

    Rémi Garde made the most of the free weekend to take a look at several senior players and young lions in a behind-closed doors match at Bodymoor Heath.

    The manager mixed teams on Friday as he observed players coming back from injury, those who haven’t featured recently as well as several young lions eager to put on a show.

    Garde rested his whole back five – Mark Bunn, Micah Richards, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott and Aly Cissokho – for the encounter.

    Strikers Libor Kozak, Gabby Agbonlahor and Rudy Gestede also took no part in the match.

    Keinan Davis and Scott Sinclair led the line for the more senior of the sides, with Leandro Bacuna and Jordan Ayew playing for the more youthful XI.

    Garde watched the 90 minutes as he looks ahead now to Saturday’s 3pm clash with Stoke City.

  163. steamer

    Need Clark in MF on Saturday to sort out Adam.
    Bunn.
    Richards, Okore, Lescott, Cissoko.
    Gana, Clark.
    Gil, Veretout Lyden, Sinclair.
    Subs – All U21 players.
    Play with no orthodox strikers for Storks big CH’s to mark and run them ragged.
    Just shows what a mistake it was to let GG go to Florist, another blunder by Fox, how this knob finds work amazes me, what amazes me even more is how he keeps his job.

  164. Mark King

    Good team Mate, No GG’s a mystery really hope the lad gets the chance but I think you would be impressed by Lyden in the DM role cool as a cucumber gets stuck in and gets in the box to score.

  171. steamer

    JG,
    Just assuming they’re unfit, i may be in a minority but i think we miss Sanchez, Mason will make a few appearances before the end of the season IMO, but i’m banking on Lescott making a point, Kenny Miller raving about him being a great player in today’s paper ( but that was for Wolves about 15 years ago ).
    Lochead played in that game vs Hereford so i think Mr 10% had either just taken over or Vic Crowe was still boss, prob Saunders.

  173. Heroes-and-Villans

    Can’t see randy selling us soon so thats the main hope gone. The second hope i have is that King & hollis have some sense and fox, almstadt, reilly and remi are sacked. Stop the money ball experiment or whatever its meant to be and get moyes in to rebuild us with hard working pros who will be well drilled/work hard and give everything in 90mins. How refreshing that will be! I wont hold my breath though.

  174. Heroes-and-Villans

    adama to be on 90k a week. Jesus bloody christ tom fox. Thats adama gone in the summer.

    I couldnt even dream up this nightmare if someone said think of the worse thing that could happen to the villa.

    Sack off a majority of the 1st team now and play the reserves/kids now. Give them experience and give the fans something to support. All this talk of not doing it for pride or being professional is bs. We loose all the time and are going down anyhow.

    Any Gk fapart from guzan/bunn.
    Richards Okore young cb young lb
    Gana the young midfelder lyden
    sellars vertout Grealish
    Any striker from kids murphy/green?

    Take the hit financialy and pay off hutton bunn, guzan richardson, cissoko lescott westy sanchez bacuna gabby nzog gestede kozac. These are all not fit for purpose and are killing the club. Get rid of them and fox, reilly, almstadt and let moyes rebild us and ill be able to watch us again.

    Get Big ron/ gregory/little, graham taylor on the board and let footy matters be discussed with that group before decisions are made. Get southgate coaching part time with ian taylor, shaun teale also on the training field who will make sure training and behaviour is spot on. At the moment we have nothing in place, the players are running the show and could not give a toss.

  175. Mark King

    Andrew why not let garde get rid of the players?, Moyes will not know the squad and will have to access the lot in the summer leading to snap judgements again.

  176. southwestvillan

    What the kids only beat the first team 3-0 Christ on a bike our youngsters must be crap all hope fades into the distance for our future.

    A big question is Garde the man to mount a promotion challenge next season, does he know anything about the championship to give it a go, believe me it is a brutal division to get out of and the one ingredient you need is a decent goalscorer, perhaps we should be putting the feelers out for people like Shane Long or Danny Ings players who know how to play at that level, we also need a solid no nonsense back 5, a keeper with guts to dominate his box something we do not have, a solid back four with winners in the middle, I have seen Baker playing for Bristol City and he is suited to this league but certainly not a premier player.

    You need winners in the middle of the park and although I hate the bastard Barton is made to do the job, add Gardner to that and you are starting to build a side, you can get away with a few Gil/Vertout style players but not many you need 80% graft and guts cut with some skill factor.

    Is Garde the right man to put this type of side together and go to Preston on a Tuesday night and get a result, somehow I have grave doubts.

    SWV

  178. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    This experiement with Garde aint working. Stop gambling and act now. For the good of villa we should do everyting to pursuade moyes to come. He has all the experience and characteristics to get us out the championship and imo bring in the players needed for the championship.

    Garde comes across well in interviews but thats not enough.

  179. Heroes-and-Villans

    Use this time to re build wisely and start afresh. A big clean sweep at board management and players. Bad times happen but the wise thing is to use it to our advantage. start from ground zero and build something solid.

  180. steamer

    Got to be honest Andrew, i think Moyes is no better than the last two Jocks we kept in employment, never came close to winning anything at Everton and his teams were totally boring. British managers are finished, devoid of tactical nous just like British players.

  181. Heroes-and-Villans

    Steamer

    Thats fair enough.

    Imo Moyes worked wonders there. Brought through a balance of youth and bargain signings and for me the tag of boring footy was very harsh. When i saw them play i thought they were decent and had many exciting games. And just to keep everton competing in the top 6 or 8 is like winning a trophy and those resources. For me he is the number 1 choice to re build us.

  183. Heroes-and-Villans

    they say Josef was ahead of his time. A genius we just was’nt ready for.

    The best villa managers for me since i supporeted villa have been
    1 big ron
    2 brian little
    3 john gregory
    4 taylor first time around
    5 o neil

  184. Heroes-and-Villans

    Hollis and king on the board with taylor, big ron, Little, gregory, making football decisions.

    Southgate, teale, taylor, laursen (who speaks abouth the game very well) involved in training. Moyes manager and a revamp of the squad.

    Its do able and imo would at the least bring pride back.

  185. steamer

    Tell you a true story about Dr Jo, a few years ago i was walking the mutts in Sutton Park when it started peeing down, plenty of trees in SP but under the nearest one was a bloke who used to play for Villa and was also Assistant Manager, spent about 20 years at Villa and also assisted the Vermin and the Boggies, he was also a big mate of Herbert the Doom Monger, he told me that Venglos did the coaching and Herb picked the team, also that Herb constantly interfered during Graham Turners short reign. I remember when Venglos arrived and Ellis actually stated that we’d be using the ‘Continental’ method of management without expanding on what he meant. Very convenient system, win or lose Herbs escaped criticism while Venglos has been, undeservedly slated by Villans for years, you’ll find the reason for most of Villa’s problems is HDE, a gobshite of the highest calibre.

  186. steamer

    Andrew,
    Most of those actually give a monkeys about our club, surely that would rub off on these mongrels, that’s a great line up, wish it would happen.

  189. southwestvillan

    I suppose we cannot blame the good old doctor for not seeing DD for the idiot that he was he probably still believes HDE invented the bicycle kick.

    Would love to see Teale on the training pitch when Gabby comes up to him and says if you want anything done in the club see me because I run the show, it would be lights out for our star striker.

    SWV

  190. Mark King

    If as people seem to think Villa couldn’t hack it in the champs what will Newcastle do? they have spent £73mil on continentals, will they sell them all and buy some bricklayers?

    As for Garde has failed, let me just point something out. Tim Sherwood came in and saved us with a better balanced side built over 3 seasons and a bit of geeing up after The mumbling Jock had depressed the team.

    Tim and committee promptly bought the current team after many departures, Tim then depressed them in short time.

    Garde gets handed the golden turd of transforming this lot and may well be residing over our demise Because these players are crap, The committee and Hollis leave Garde high and dry with no players brought in to change our fortunes yet Its Garde’s fault. I actually wish we had got Moyes because I think you would see an almost Identical copy of events, possibly worse as he would not of known the French players either or been able to communicate with them. Leaving him with the worst bunch of Brit players in the prem.

    If he’d won more matches we would have got players? probably not as it would then be seen as he is doing ok with what he’s got. This group of players have shown little pride or gumption under 2 managers now. Might be the players???

  194. Ian

    I don’t think anything is going to improve until Lerner goes. It doesn’t matter what happens regarding fans anguish. He brings a new meaning to the word caretaker.

  197. Archie

    Steamer, tell me this, you always call the mongrels the mealies, where does that come from?
    The only other person I recall who called them the mealies was a bloke called Gary, Gaz who was buddies with Roscoe. Gaz stopped going to VP late seventies because he hated Ron Saunders so much. I once asked Bootsie where Gaz was one night fixture against who knows, Geoffs reply, “Proberbly gone to watch the reserves at Coventry”.
    Anyway….mealies??

  200. steamers75

    Archie
    will do mate , we found Reggae Ray a couple of months ago and going to see him soon for a pint around solihull, l think steamer has an inkling who you are.. lol.

    Confirmed that my Nephew will be taking part in a 8 man fight competition in Grozny ,Chechneya , got to go to London to see if we can get Visa’s to support him , need body armour methinks ))

  202. southwestvillan

    Archie,

    Yep that’s the one he always wore the same cardigan to matches but always evaded capture by the fashion police, he played football although I use that term very loosely he thought he was a defender who could play in midfield or a midfielder who could sweep up, although we never really seen him play much due to him being sent off more times than I can remember, the FA refused to sine him high because he was their main source of revenue.

    SWV

  205. Paul Pears

    Mention of “The Undertaker” took me back to the early days of the WWWF and the many wresting bouts there were. Great entertainment, but not as good as some of the old Dale Martin days with the Royle Bros and Mick McManus and Jackie Powello.

    Be interesting to see what formation Remi will go for on Saturday, which will determine how many turn up on Tuesday night.

  206. steamers75

    lv got about 10 programes from the 60/70s for the wrestling at Digbeth Civic Hall on Tuesday nights . and yes my mom had her brolly with her , Mick Mcmanus felt it a couple of times and jackie pallo . lol

  208. Paul Pears

    Tamworth Civic Hall was another good venue in those days, remember seeing a couple of the boys unhitching the top rope and tying it round this Welsh wresters neck and puling it so hard his eyes were bulging and they nearly throttled him…!!!

  209. steamer

    Saw Bert Royal and partner against the Undertakers, only went for a laugh after a gargle but surprisingly enjoyable. The Undertakers carried a coffin in the ring.

  212. steamers75

    my moms favs were Billy Two Rivers, Count Bartelli, and the Head -Butt king Johnny Kwango , we also went to the one opposite my dads restaurant in Walford Rd , the Embassy , not long ago a channel on sky mixed in with all the sports channels started showing all the old saturday wrestling and all the greats at the time , especially most peoples Fav , Les Kellet . and the arse (in a funny way ) Jim “cry Baby ” Breaks .lol . l remember my Uncle fred used to come over to ours to watch the World cup (1966) and when the wrestling came on he’d start on me , twisting my ears , getting my arm up my back ect ect , till l kicked him in the nuts , then l got a fore-arm smash off my mom , weird fucking family …mine . maybe thats why l turned into a 60s hooligan ….and lm possibly a 60s hooligan now in an aged way , Steamer bring the Cardigan over mate l got to wash the jumpers today , can throw that in with ours ,
    Fuck The footie

  213. John Lerwill

    S75: “…we also went to the one opposite my dads restaurant in Walford Rd , the Embassy …”

    Hey! The Embassy was also a roller skating rink. Anyone remember that back in the 50s?

    About wrestling, back in the mid-60s my former wife’s grannie was moved from her house (which only had gas lighting – in Lowestoft) into sheltered housing. She experienced TV for the first time at the age of nearly 80 and straight away got hooked onto the wrestling in the days of McManus.

    She’d also stay up to the end of the programmes at midnight so that she could say “Good night” to the presenter that appeared in those days.

  216. steamers75

    Steamer
    l just gave a few lines on Ellis on Facebook , some of the sites have had posts off ejits saying we should bring him back , all of a sudden must be fans around our age have come on and also blasted them ,))
    on the wrestling side lv noticed some of the bloggers on here remind me of some of them from the days
    SWW- Klondyke Kate. in mask Kendo nagasaki . with a face like that he’d have to wear one
    You- Les Kellett
    Ian -Adrian Street
    Brasil- Scrubber Daly
    runtins – The Dynamite Kid .
    Prox – Cyanide Sid Cooper
    Mark- The Gay One .( he was a real wrestler and the resemblance is uncanny)
    PP- Kojak Kirk
    B62 and frem – The Royals
    JL – Pat roach.
    Archie- Black Jack Mulligan
    JD- Big Daddy
    James gill- Zoltan Boscik
    Matt – Adrian Street
    Me – Alan Dennison . so my mom used to say
    Jenny could have been the girl who held the number round card . ))
    have a nice day all .

  217. Paul Pears

    Some great blasts from the past there ST75.

    I also remember the Embassy club on the corner of Walford Road, Gigi Coffee Bar on St.Mary’s Row, Moseley, and the Warwick Bowl in Acocks Green. Anyone remember the Metro Nightclub built into the railway arches in town??

  220. DarrenO

    I’m more familiar with the wrestlers of the 70s like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, again my granny was mad into it. ITV was the only station watched in comparison to local TV but then there were very few stations anyway

    Unbelievable from Doug, re-writing history while still alive, thought everyone waited until the person responsible for this mess had died. Not a hint of regret about selling to Lerner beyond he should see more games. How about: Lerner should sell up, Lerner should invest more money or seek new revenues through his US connections or Lerner should apologise. (I know it won’t happen).

    What a terrible decision by Doug to sell to a man who wasn’t self made, had no form of income other than investments via the family trust fund. Why accept a role as club president but then offer no influence on the current owner to even get him to go to games.

    I won’t shed a tear when the board, Lerner and Ellis depart from this world nevermind depart from this club.

    I don’t get this argument between fans about not protesting. What have we left, all for supporting the team but if you don’t protest then you are complicit with the regime that has killed this club. MOMS might be starting things off with a financial protest but that doesn’t go far enough as it won’t get media attention the way footage of 1000s of fans walking out on their own team would have.

    26 leagues games of full support hasn’t garnered much response from the players while acknowledged by other clubs on our away support so not being there isn’t going to change the results that much in the remaining 12. Vote with your feet.

    Of the many chants that should be sung in the direction of the board, can ‘We want our money back’ be one 🙂

    FOLAF (H is on hold while he either gets rid of the likes of Fox or demotes him to commercial director, if this becomes a whitewash, then he’s back on the list of fuckoffees)

    VTID

  225. steamer

    DOR,
    I wouldn’t entertain the idea of a piece of shite like Fox working for Villa, hard to remember another scumbag as low as him working for Villa or even in England. The sooner he departs the better, although he’s obviously hanging on for compo, what did he say on his arrival ? “i joined because i wanted to work for Randy Lerner,” of course he did, work for a plank and get a guaranteed pay off when he realises your a useless piece of scum who fucks up everything in his remit.

  226. DarrenO

    Agree Steamer prefer him to be out but if the board/Hollis aren’t prepared to sack him, the a demotion to something he is actually good at, i.e. commercial contracts would be the best of a worst case scenario.

  229. runtings

    good to see Garde flatly refusing to join the hype that villa are already relegated – which for me is the only attitude the manager of Aston villa should have

    It does sound though like he is struggling to convince the players he has to work with , questioning certain players attitude publicly today

  232. southwestvillan

    I wonder how the big pow wow went at VP yesterday, as they sift amongst the wreckage that is Aston Villa FC, probably Hollis asking the question ” Hands up if you think we are in the shit”, yep unanimous meeting over.

    SWV

  234. steamers75

    PP if your on facebook , join these groups . Birmingham Memories …the way we were . Bloke who runs it puts about 10 old pictures of Brum up every day ,also , Things you dont see anymore , great for old things . as the title says
    and theres one which is good if your looking for old mates .Long Lost Friends 50s to present , lv found quite a few old mates . onced joined there is also a long lost abroad , so people who emigrated ,
    steamer tried and the computer told him to” fuck off you only got one mate ” yes thats me !!
    have a good weekend all

    Jenny XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ps D.O.R
    lm still looking for a wrestler for you . my daughter reckons Seamus who is world champ now , but her mate said he’s a bit of a looker , so l will keep looking mate ,

  236. DarrenO

    I’m a member of that Birmingham memories group, love looking at the old pics, especially as a classic car fan.

    There’s been a few Irish wrestlers down the years either by birth or by parentage (we’ll claim anything) like Giant Haystacks. I’d take Seamas as my wrestler but for the ginger hair.

    D

  237. Paul Pears

    We missed out Kent Walton who did all the commentating on the early ITV wrestling, a former DJ for Top Rank….and I think he used to do the top twenty on Radio Luxembourg.

    Thanks for the Birmingham Memories ST75…will take a look.

  239. steamer

    If the blogs are anything to go by then interest in AVFC is dying, hardly a comment on any of them for days.
    Interesting to see the team that Remi selects today, can’t see anything other than another heavy defeat.

  241. Frem

    I’ve never felt so uninterested about us playing a game. I hate our players. They won’t want to play today either.

    Sinclair, Guzan, Hutton will all be back today. Hahah.

    I hate them all. I never want to see any of them playing for us next season. If they get slaughtered again they deserve it

  242. Paul Pears

    New life…..!!!!

    Where have you been Frem???

    We need to hope we can emulate our best win against Stoke in 1889, when we won 6-1…….

    Perhaps Remi will find a magic formula, and Gabby will come to life after his dizzy spell against the Bindippers…

    Maybe Rudi will find his shooting boots at last, or Westwood may hit the target for the first time….

    Today must be about the last day of any hope of survival…

    Then maybe after this Remi will only play the ones who have enough pride to play for the club.

  243. Mark King

    Garde has intimated Bunn will start, the only one who might get a look in will be Sinclair. Hutton might if Garde was as unimpressed with Richards as I was, but I doubt it. My surprise inclusion Lyden

  248. Paul Pears

    Frem,

    I think for today, he has to persevere with this team, only the Liverpool result really went against them, and I am sure there will be changes at half time if we are losing…

  252. Mark King

    JG mate until you get the job of training the villa team you’ll have to accept Garde is doing as he see’s best with whats in front of him. I’d like to see some youth, doesn’t make it the right decision, and last time I looked I work in the building trade.

  254. steamers75

    Steamer if your reading this , give us a bell , your mobile off and landline going to answerphone mate , did drop round yesterday . have you won the lotto and fucked off ,
    puzzled by the line up , thought he was dropping a load for the game ,

  258. Paul Pears

    ST75,

    I think it may be last chance saloon for some players today….as he will have Ayew back on Tuesday, and he may be ready to change one or two, and then Grealish may be available soon, and Adama.

  259. Mark King

    JG i’ll look forward to collecting on that guarantee mate. Clark has not played well this season.

    ST75 He has nobody to put in mate too many injured still I suspect, Sanchez and traore can’t be far off a return.

  260. James Gill

    Well blow me down Clark hasn’t played well,lescott has been a walking disaster, bacuna runs round with silly smile,Gabby eats everything in sight,Hutton gives goals away for fun ,Richards has not been in same league as them yet dropped remi out

  262. Mark King

    well as first half’s go not the worst , no cutting edge as per. lescott playing well and mutton not fucked up yet but there is still time . I’d like to see green get a run and Lyden would help Gana out.

    JG Richards is a walking disaster no positional sense at all.

  263. Frem

    What a load of shite

    Our front 3 wont cause any problems to anyone.

    Need Rudy and Sinclair on. some power and pace

    everything is so slow. always sideways and to feet.

    we play like we don’t need the win

  264. Mark King

    Makes me wonder if Lescott get the hump because he’s not Captain with Richards on the pitch? would not blame him he’s more a captain than Richards for me.

  273. Paul Pears

    The game is up….!!!!

    All bets are off….

    No need for a walk out on Tuesday…….

    No-one will be there….Well done Westwood….you will be the only player in the Championship…the rest will have left..

  279. James Gill

    Remi can’t absolve himself of blame any longer performance and effort non existent, putting out the same team that shamed the club,fans v pool
    Gabby is 3 stone overweight (remi in charge for4 months) pulls out of flight ball should never play for the team again only for mad Norwich keeper it would be nearly a year since a goal from flabby
    Hutton up another goal down his side,just watch his effort on tackle leading to goal,safely say worst ever full back to play as many matches God he made bardsley look like Robert Carlos
    Westwood how has he managed 4 years at premier league level Wycombe midfield were too good for him,think he was one carragher was talking about if he can play anyone can in premier league
    Bacuna he scored boo ho useless what can he do can t cross dribble ,or tackle
    Gana,vertout well fox Riley almsad signed them ,fox ,and co wouldn’t know how to find their own arse with both hands

  280. steamer

    If the committee boot Remi any new manager will want to give the likes of Agbonlahor, Bacuna, Lescott, Okore, Hutton, Wastewood, Sinclair, Gestede yet another chance, how many do they need before they’re booted ? Everyone knows they’re crepe so why prolong their stay ?
    So Remi believes Lescotts excuse about the car pic ? the pic was sent at 6 mins past 5 giving him 20 mins to get off the pitch, shower, change, get to his car and drive, sorry Remi thats the sort of BS Fox would invent.

  282. James Gill

    Steamer
    Remi bit more cuter that Sherwood he wants out but wants pay off too,
    Statements like today we played better,
    1 shot on target GOAL
    0 corners
    No effort
    No passion
    Fuck off back to France remi could anyone honestly say Sherwood would have been worse
    Phil Thompson on sky said shambolic
    Stream I was on called Gabby yellow ,,plus villa a joke

  283. James Gill

    Steamer
    Do you think Lerner ever tried to sell us ,if he has been taking money out through holding company every year it just wenttits up this year, it’s all the yes men appointment that have been the problem,allowing fools To spend the money mcknob 20 m wasted Lambert 50 m wasted then the fiasco with fox Riley(gana vertout looked really crap today again)

  284. Mark King

    I don’t know why fans can’t see the blindingly obvious and want to concoct a million daft conspiracies for what Remi should do or is doing. This team is shocking, he just happens to be the poor sod in charge. Do we need to remind ourselves that this is all he has available of the 1st team squad? and that we loosely call them a team? Maybe he is trying to play too much? from what I see we don’t have the players to implement any style, there are many holes in this squad without the injuries we currently have.

  285. steamer

    No mate i don’t think he realised the mess he’d made of the finances and put the club up for sale in the hope that a similar imbecile to himself would fall for his BS. Too many clubs have attracted investment or been taken over since he put us on the market and there are now some nasty rumours going around about our future, if we have one.

  286. steamer

    Mark,
    Agree to a point, we’re pathetic, but what gets up peoples noses is that he constantly selects non-triers like Aggy, Sinclair and others, absolute rubbish like Aggy, Bacuna, Westwood etc. Lack of effort is unforgivable and should disqualify ANY player, i’d rather player a promising reserve who gave 100% effort than this mob.

  287. B62 Villa

    Well another week another defeat, it’s getting beyond Groundhog Day , the club, the players and the manager are a complete joke. Garde can longer use the same excuses, his teams produce very little effort, offer no attacking threat, can’t defend and no fight. He bemoans the useless twats yet selects them every week! No use of the promising younger players, no changing it up at all. He has been a massive flop as have the players, we will be shite for years to come. Anyone that thinks these cowards will cut it in the second teir needs to give their head a wobble, Garde is clueless and his players inept. PP is right, no need for a walk out on Tuesday , there won’t be anyone there. The protests are futile, the club don’t care about us, I’m with Frem I hate the players, the manager and those idiots running the club. These scum have made me hate the club I have loved since my first game aged 6 in the late 70’s. I hope that the scum responsible leave soon, hopefully this summer penniless and destitute

  288. James Gill

    Mark k
    If that last comment was for me
    I seen things under remi that Sunday league players wouldn’t do
    More effort from father Ted’s team
    Yet he keeps picking same crap play the young lads
    Look at different dropping guzan has done ,yes bunn slipped for second goal but overall major improvement, Hutton AWOL for second goal that’s normal,lescott second goal stoke lad could smoked cigar waiting on ball,playing Gabby is a disgrace on remi if even a member ladies team would make more effort, one ball played to him at semi circle on 18 Gabby’s touch took it to halfway line
    Why is Clark not given a run out,likewise Richards puts in a effort not like laughing boy bacuna,Sinclair put in more effort than gil Gabby last two matches my blood boiling watching that crap,listening to crap coming out remi mouth

  290. Mark King

    JG- it was for many fans across the net mate nothing personnel. lescott has been one of the better performers and Clark hasn’t when played what can I say?

    Steamer- I think we all would but I suspect Remi feels the result would be the same and they don’t deserve that, these clowns do though. In the fans eyes its damned if he does damned if he doesn’t.
    I must admit I would of just put green on as he has pace and trickery, but we cannot know Remi’s thoughts on it and he does not have our attachment to the club, just the outcome of the games.

    This car crash has been a long time in the making and is now nearing collision time.

  291. Mark King

    JG these players particularly the ones here already and the brits have been crap all season, the mistakes have not been just under Remi otherwise god forbid Tim would still be here.

  292. Mark King

    By the way stokes goal scorer should or could of been sent off for 2 professional fouls before the second went in, Just saying 🙂 then again ours was hand ball.

  294. James Gill

    Imagine telling your boss you gave 5 year contracts to Westwood laughing boy bacuna not playing Clark loaned out steer baker on top of last year’s balls up with flabby Gabby ,give away goal Hutton,two managers Lambert Tim and fox still has a job

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