Would you believe it: Leicester City seem about to grasp the top tier title for the first time in their history. And their once footballing mentors Aston Villa seem about to let go of their grasp on a Premier League place for the first time since the Premier League was instituted. What a remarkable Premiership season when so much has unexpectedly materialised.

Having acquired virtually a brand new squad, Villa were not bonding overly well in the first four games, but their playing record gave no real hint as to what was to come on the 13th day of September having won one, drawn one and lost two matches in the opening sequence. On that ominous 13th day of the month, Villa were matched against Leicester, who themselves were trying to find a level of form that would convince their fans that they would be safe this season after the previous year’s flirtation with relegation.

The Villa fan’s biggest memory from that day will either be the occasion of our Jack’s first-ever league goal, when he went over and threw himself into the arms of his team manager in celebration, or the last few minutes of the game when an average-sized Leicester substitute, desparate to make a name for himself, launched himself into a collision with the strapping Brad Guzan and got laid out for his pains. More importantly for Leicester, however, he (Dyer) had also made contact with the ball to score their winner, having come back from 0-2 down.

The effect of that result has been for all to witness. It propelled Leicester on a run of success that puts them where they are now, and have been for some time, but it also propelled Villa into the first of their two sequences of seven straight league defeats. The Villa manager was gone before the ending of that first sequence. His replacement was also gone before the end of the second sequence.

But surely a Villa fan’s overwhelming topic of conversation when comparing the two teams’ respective records this season must be about one player: Mark Albrighton. There he is, a cast-off from Villa, and arguably the catalyst for the Foxes remarkable recovery last season, making such an impact and seemingly about to collect a major medal. There has been great talk about Vardy and his mammoth goalscoring achievements, but he has needed supporting players to provide the chances, and Albrighton has been one of those two or three major supporting players. Vardy and Albrighton are also the whippet-like players that have provided the remarkable forward drive that distinguishes the Foxes.

The inevitable question is, in a season when the Villa’s team has looked so painfully short of spirit and ability, just how could they have let Albrighton go? It’s strange that everyone talks of the great loss to Villa when Benteke, Delph and even Cleverley moved on during the summer, but in my view Mark Albrighton is another – the d’Artagnan of the Musketeers if you like – whose loss has had such a negative affect on Villa’s status. He was Villa’s winger who carried on Young, Downing and Milner’s ability to whip in dangerous goalmouth centres, a talent that has been so sorely missed at Villa Park these last couple of seasons. Indeed, if Albrighton had been used properly we might not have seen Darren Bent moved on at such a financial loss to the club.

Albrighton is one of a string of players from Villa’s Academy that have moved on to make an impact elsewhere. Players that may never be ‘great’, but whose drive and alert skills have so often made a difference to their team, whoever they have been playing for. I am referring to the likes of Ridgewell, Cahill, Steve Davis, Craig Gardner and (of course) Albrighton. And there may well be others I have missed. In my opinion Ciaran Clark is another who could be on the cusp of leaving but who, if properly managed, could be a more valuable player; his loyalty and determination has never been short.

So, what has the Academy been there for, then? What has been the purpose of going out to purchase players from lower divisions and overseas whose skills and attitude are often inferior? Let alone signings of the ilk of N’Zogbia, Hutton, Richards and Lescott. Reader, does it not seem to you that common sense has largely evaporated from Villa Park in the last fifteen years or so? I suppose if you have a coaching badge that must mean you know more than the regular fan. Doesn’t it?

It would be interesting to hear the opinion of the lad born ‘twixt Birmingham and Leicester, would it not?

Yes, though the owner (in my view) must carry the can for what has transpired these last few years, at a lower level it would seem there have been questionable player decisions made that (also) have had huge and damaging consequences.

Comments 176

  1. interesting thoughts JL

    IMO we would have been better off keeping and valuing all the academy players that left for a fee going back to the likes of davies , wittingham and cahill simply because we haven’t had better sqaud players and in a lot of areas first team players since they left

    It’s all part of what is wrong with the club

    Still onwards and upwards – We are a big club with a huge opportunity to clear away the negative make up of the club and refresh t with possitivety and develop a future worthy of the club and fans
    firstly a manager that is more than capable of getting us up — if we get such a person i believe they can have a lot of fun in the championship at villa

    i reckon most of our players will be sold easily enough as there is reported interest in them

    even the likes of bacuna has been linked with wait for it a champions lge club — what the better he wouldn’t look so shabby in a well run establishment

  2. Runtingz- your right, most players at this level will fit into a team somewhere and that is the crux of the matter for me with the Academy.

    JL- At Villa we buy prospects and hope they will come good not look for players that suit a particular style as the likes of Southampton do. We tend to develop a good team in the U21’s and take the star players and dump them in a totally dissimilar first team, we do not seem to promote the work horses that complement and support these players. When they don’t fit we blame the Academy and sell them on for peanuts. Its always struck me that the academy team has always looked more like a team than the first. Hardly surprising when some have played together since they were Kids while the first team barely get to know each other. We really need a manager that has the skill to blend a team together as Clough or paisley did and not forgetting Saunders.

    Unfortunately for us other managers see something in our Academy players we don’t we don’t and add them to a line up where they can shine or at least be effective. Maybe some find their level but I think its more about the blend and environment provided IMO.

  3. Mark,

    There you are. Sound comment indeed.

    So what appears to be the case is the need for a director of football (Brian Little?) who can see the overall big picture and make it all tick over in a cohesive manner. Right?

  4. Yes I agree JL but that requires a manager that buys into Brian’s vision doesn’t it? and that is the tricky part. When you look at the 8 years Saunders was here you have to think consistency with the right manager is a massive plus. Obviously 8 years with the wrong one and in our case 5 years with the wrong ones is equally a disaster. I must admit I thought Garde would of been a good long term prospect even though the press labelled him a failure. I do not think that would of prevented him from succeeding.

    Adama playing for the U21’s against WBA and doing well, talking about Teams mirroring the 1st WBA are like a pulis side 2 banks of 4

  5. JL
    Thanks for another interesting article. It was a sad thing to see Albrighton moved on. He didn’t seem to need many average games before getting dropped and moved on. No one was happy to see him go, a Villa fan that had previously played some great football at Premier League level. It seemed to be indicative of a team that was losing its community soul, which Villa largely has. The fans have been disenfranchised. The players, owner and management are a motley crew, with seemingly little understanding or connection to the Aston Villa community. Will Brian Little make a difference, or is his appointment to whatever his appointment is just window dressing? I think so, but hope not.

  6. Please don’t let Pulis into our club, their reserves have had 2 sent off and are still winning 1-0 they are so negative its unreal, we have battered them but just cannot finish it. must of had 75% possession and 100 shots

  7. Mark k
    It’s odd but I agree that we had a chance with remi to build something if Lerner had backed him at start transfer window got the 5 players we so badly needed
    C palace got 28 points first 18 games so it was do able,
    We couldn’t do with the poisonous players plus crap ones
    As some have mentioned our youth also think kmac has to get the road our youth set up is not working

  8. Andrew- on what basis does Gary Neville get the job? he has less experience than Tim did and Remi and his first Job has been a failure. He does not fit any of the boards criteria, he may be a good manger one day but not for this job IMO

  9. Mark: Buying into a DoF’s Vision…

    That’s a good point about the team manager buying in to the vision, but that’;s surely something that can get sorted at interview time? Surely the club is more important than the whims of the team manager? And I feel that’s where we’ve gone so very wrong – as the owner has not been able to formulate a vision for the club (he doesn’t know enough). For 10 years it’s been a top brass v. the team manager with both ends getting it wrong. The head doesn’t know what the tail is doing.

    A DoF who appreciates what is needed at Villa would provide continuity amidst the cycling of team managers – though I’d hope that if the DoF is good enough at his job he would usually get the team manager that’s needed.

  10. Yes Jl its a delicate balance for sure, plenty of managers are probably capable of being a DOF but you really need a Dof to be better than the managers or does the Manager role then become purely about motivation and squad rotation? That then raises the question is the manager going to identify players to buy or does the club? baring in mind we are now working to a template. Most top end managers won’t do this and have there own style and preferences.

    Teams like Spurs have always had an attacking philosophy and if I’m honest for most of the prem years Villa have been known as defensive to a degree, we always seemed to get plenty of draws and been hard to beat until recently, that also kept us from achieving better. Should the Dof’s role begin and end with club identity and intent in that case?

  11. Mark,

    Well it depends on the kind of DoF you have in mind. I see him as a person with plenty of Aston Villa awareness and previous success as a manager, but with a definite job spec. (i.e. it needs to be specific) of what his mandate is … and that to me should be to provide recommended *direction* (not interference) for the club *as a whole*. … covering scouting, academy, and team management.

    He should not to my mind interfere with the first team manager at all, but the team manager will have been recruited having been made aware of the overall vision and that he has to work towards that vision. He signs up as being in agreement with what the club (via the DoF) are trying to achieve, but has the normal responsibilities of any team manager within that scope – including hiring of players where needed – provided the club can fund the expenditures.

  12. Yes Jl pretty much how I see it but the cases of clash of personalities and interference is rife in Prem History. Little is straight talking but not an aggressive type so he should not prove to prickly, if we got a Pearson who knows how that would go and at this point who is choosing the manager?

    Interesting to hear Bernstein say the manager will have to run his choices/ideas through him and he will approach the money men. Now on what basis does Bernstein decide the managers request is a valid one? does he ask BL? in which case its back to interfering and I’m afraid Hollis and co will want checks in place to prevent the Mon era mistakes again

  13. Mark: “but the cases of clash of personalities and interference is rife in Prem History.”

    Yes, but that would be the new chairman’s big test – as to how he handles such a situation.

    It all depends on who is appointed, and if you get one or two big egos appointed, then, yes there are going to be problems.

    Thing is not to appoint known big egos, isn’t it? 🙂

  14. It doesn’t say much about the youth set up when baggies beat us with nine players
    Has any owner ever cocked up a club so bad without silverware/ glory all we got was fat dowd fuck up in final v man u and humiliation v gunners
    We now have 2 boards ,no managers and worst built squad of footballers ever thanks ( mcknob Lambert fox alstad and Sherwood)
    If we don’t clear out all players here before Sherwood along with lescott Richards we are going down again
    People say some of them players are OK,well sorry 5 years of relegation battles means otherwise

  15. JG- we battered Albion just could not score and our 2 top scorers are injured or gone out on loan, we still had Adama and Grealish though. wba played 8 at the back and I kid you not

  16. John l
    Who would take Gabby even on a free,his pathetic no celebration when he scored his ONLY goal in over a year showed for petulant, obnoxious clown he is

  17. Shame to see Gabby go, not because he’s a great asset but because he’s symbolic of what was once great potential that was squandered at Villa. Gabby has probably become territorial, thinking he knows what’s best for him and the club. So, it’s time for him to go. He’s stale at Villa. It’s time to go and find a new lease of life elsewhere. Good luck.

  18. Mark

    Red nev dont have much to qualify him as manager but just got a feeling it may work. He loves local youth and likes to build something, you never know could be a good fit?! Gabby can eff off, local villa fan etc bull shine, a couple of foreigners in mellberg and lauresen showed more for the badge than him. Hopefully/ needs to be one of many to depart. If we can hold on to adama and get grealish foxused those two could smash that league

  19. Andrew
    Agree Adama and Grealish could prosper in the Championship. We don’t want them cocky, though. It’s still a tough league. You’re dead right about the focus that’ll be needed.

  20. Trinity, yeah with 2 games a week you need to be bang up for it. No time for being cocky but they have the ability to do it i reckon. Need a couple of goal scorers asap. Ings would be ideal and i love forestari at sheff wed. Going to be a mental summer with ins and outs. Wonder if the foreign lads will stay and how much of our money we will get back!! We have a new badge for next season….prepared coming off it. Hope its the round badge back

  21. No confidence at all in either committee, Bernstein seems to be handing out jobs to all his mates, whats this new bloke got to offer ? what does he actually do ? Don’t be surprised if he appoints another FA failure as manager, possibly Hodgson after London bomb at the Euro’s.
    Totally pathetic treatment of Saggy, usually in a contract it states that the player should keep himself in condition, now although the others got time off for International week, Saggy is grossly obese and should have either been told or even had the self respect to stay at BH for intensive training, hopefully for another club to benefit. Weak at the top, weak on the pitch, lets see some action, Hollis stated that we have to get shipshape as soon as possible, we haven’t even got a manager and have just appointed a coach from an amateur club in Sc3, still a shambles.

  22. So it seems we our rebranding our club badge, at a cost of £2m. When you first read that, in our position you immediately think of more wasted cash, redundancies and our loss of income. Now I’m all for changing this club crest as it’s horrific and a symbol off all things Lerner and his failures. The problem I have is this process started a while ago( last summer), I really can’t see the club using this as a chance to re connect with the fans they are so out of touch with. They are removing the word PREPARED, ironic I know, but that seems to be it !!!!! No return to the round crest most love so much( or an updated version) no return to actually having the clubs name on the crest instead of AVFC, it smells of more Yank crap, another stupid crest that has nothing to do with our club or its illustrious heritage. The club compound their stupidity by missing the opportunity to get the fans onside by not only designing a badge we want/like and can be proud of again, but we are going with US sportswear manufacturor under armour to make our kit and merchandise next season.
    Now to some this means little in the grand scheme of things, especially in our position , but when u think UA are paying very little for the privilege ( as the big money was dependant on being in the PL and on Sky TV a lot) and we look over the road at the vermin and even across to the caravan site in Sandwell , both have got ADIDAS making their kits next season, both have kept their traditional crests( blues going back to theirs again after this one off season). This helps attract the kids who want the brand stuff and the fans will buy a lot more adidas than an American bag of crap . I hope I’m wrong, but villa never fail to disappoint, as the latest managerial betting seems to be indicating with Moyes drifting and Bruce’s odds shortening.

  23. Hi Steamer

    We are turning a sinking ship into a canoe that floats so it will take time to right the wrongs of the last 10 years.

    I’m prepared (can I use that word anymore) to allow the new board to work through the problems, we’ve been patient enough to allow the situation to develop until now, so we need to be patient to allow positive change to happen.

    Shocked by the lack of punishment for Flabby, what message does that send to the rest of the team/youths at the very least and all those deluded Villa fans who still think Flabby is the heart of Villa.

    Shoot me down because it’s a game of opinions but does Pellegrini have another club lined up or does everybody think ‘Arry wouldn’t fuck up having the players that Money City have.

    FOL

  24. Latest news appears to be that Andy Townsend is in talks to become director of football, and two new names could be interested in the Villa job, Neil Warnock, who is the most successful Championship manager having won promotion from their 7 times, and currently has turned Rotherham round, and he loves the Championship, and finally Karanka has walked out of Middlesboro’………….

    Maybe enough may happen in the next few weeks to rekindle my interest..!!!

  25. B62: “They are removing the word PREPARED, ironic I know, but that seems to be it !!!!! “

    Nope, apparently the lion has had his claws re-grown as well! 🙂

  26. DO’R: “I’m prepared (can I use that word anymore) to allow the new board to work through the problems, we’ve been patient enough to allow the situation to develop until now, so we need to be patient to allow positive change to happen.”

    I agree with that. To me the initial appointment of a football-based committee/sub-board made a lot of sense, especially when considering who was appointed onto it, so it seems right not to condemn too early.

    Mind you, trying to find positives in anything over the last 5 years is a difficult task, so anything good coming out of this latest round would be a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one.

  27. The Villa Badge

    Well, “Prepared” has been the motto since 1878 so this would certainly be quite a change of direction. Mind you to have a lion that looks like one would be good.

  28. I must say i am delighted that the board suspended gabby as it is there first sign of discipline at the club in donkey’s
    There are many players that have done similar things and it isn’t a stackable offence but at least they laid down a marker re expectable behaviour and perhaps he got a fine

  29. I called for patience with the new board but Hollis has got the wrong idea about creating a connection with Villa fans if he thinks

    1. Townsend is qualified as a DOF
    2. Townsend will provide some perceived appeasement to the fans

    I don’t need to be appeased, I need guarantees that the next manager will be backed financially to get rid of the shite and bring in players that will have a passion for wearing the claret and blue.

    FOL

  30. JL
    The images that are doing the rounds are shocking, it’s a bigger yellow lion with claws but looks very similar to this one with the same background ( sky blue) and AVFC above it. Our colours look like they should be Canary yellow and baby blue, it’s putrid and I’m not buying anything adorned with that shit, I hope there is a massive backlash, once again the supporters aren’t consulted and have their pants pulled down. This isn’t Aston Villa FC anymore, might as well fold , move out of Aston or even Brum and start a new “franchise” like they do in the good ole USA, a bit like MK Dons.
    At this rate future generations will flock to the vermin or the Sky 6

  31. The 2 mill is the price of all the revamp like website and changing the holte end mosaic etc. Apparently a guy on twitter wh does a similar job says a re brand is worth it, ends up bringing millions in. No idea what the crest will look like, fingers crossed for the round one back.

    Townsend may take a similar role as little, not a dof. Id welcome him in, always showed passion for villa and a geniune guy. Dont get the hate on the new board….its what we have been crying out for…just think of faulkner and fox running the show solo….

    The proof will be in the pudding though.

  32. B62: “The images that are doing the rounds are shocking, it’s a bigger yellow lion with claws but looks very similar to this one…”

    I’ve seen it but that’s just someone’s idea of it, not the real thing afaiaa.

  33. Lot of blogs etc …now talking about Neil Warnock, as I mentioned earlier, and he is happy to be considered….

    Any further news on Karanka, anywhere yet???

    Andy Gray has ripped in Gabby….and I am sure everyone agrees with him.

    I am sure that Townsend would be a good appointment, and our other ex payers would be there with him…

  34. Paul,

    I also don’t have anything against Townsend as a personality … but is TV punditry sufficient qualification for the job (aside from his playing career)?

    I’m dubious. Mind you, having not been a team manager anywhere would therefore not be a threat to an incoming team manager, so perhaps there are arguments both ways.

  35. Reading different sites,people bigging up gg baker Bennet a d so just had a peak at all our former players playing in championship
    Steer passable
    Lowton at Burnley not a regular
    Baker at Bristol city not standing out
    Bennet at who, now very average
    Gg great at start poor reviews now
    Wiemen shocker no goals ,not in team
    Bent same as above
    So where do are new lot fit in

  36. Paul

    Have to disagree, what experience does Townsend have in being a director of football, again if this an appeasement thing, I don’t need it.

    Hate the media and the simplification of Villa spend 2m to remove the word Prepared. it’s the bricks and mortar of the change in the stands as much as paying some designer to interpret what the badge should look like.

    Having said that, lack of consultation with fans on the badge was a missed opportunity for Tom Fux in getting something right. There’s a surprise.
    Withholding judgement until I see it launched but it may well mean another 2m being spent rectifying the issue. Tom Fux the gift that keeps on giving.

    FOL

  37. HI James

    Just fans clutching at straws to find away that Villa will be better, if the likes of those you mention couldn’t make it at Villa and then can’t make it lower down, then absolutely they aren’t good enough for us next season.

    Even GG has had enough time to prove himself, granted more injuries than is fair but how can so many Villa managers not take a punt on him, they can’t all be wrong.

    FOL

  38. I can understand the feelings with regard to Townsend, but I think if it was suggested months ago, most of the fans would have jumped at having an ex-Villa player being involved with the decision-making process.

    Townsend does not necessarily need management experience, but a sound knowledge of the game, and also a close involvement with seeing how players are developed by successful clubs.

    there are, I am sure that there are other players with Villa connections, who could fulfil the role, but would they want to, and are they available.

    We need someone who will speak up, be willing to be counted, and capable of exerting their influence on the new board.

  39. DOR

    I am sure we would all like to see Brian in the role, but the reason he is only an advisor to the board, is that he has not been willing to take on the full role, because of his other commitments….

    Something we fans must understand is that players, managers, etc have a choice about where they wish to be employed, just like us…!!

  40. Runtingz,
    Interesting choice of words, Gabby, Club & Donkey.

    Well Tom certainly enjoyed spending Lerners $$$, he did say on arrival that he came because “I wanted to work for Randy.” Easiest $3m he ever made and easiest 150m he cost AVFC.

  41. How can Newcastle make a profit of 32.4m and spend 80m while doing it yet we spend peanuts and make huge losses ?. I know NUFC get bigger gates but something smells.

  42. Steamer,

    I know what you mean, but they have been paying their donkeys less, have got better payments for tv coverage…it is based on how far up the table you are, as well as how often.

    They have also got sales from Cabaye, etc.

    There average crowd is double ours, and then better shirt sales, and so on and so on.

  43. OS just posted a statement regarding the club’s new brand identity…
    The Club can confirm that we will be refreshing our badge this summer as part of a comprehensive visual identity rebrand project.
    The whole project has cost less than £80,000 – not the £2m quoted in press reports this week.
    The work, which was undertaken to make us more effective in the digital age, affects Club publications, retail products, AVTV graphics, the current and the new official website and the stadium.
    However, we will not be spending significant sums on changing the branding in the ground this summer.
    Looks like that shit mock up maybe the real deal , FFS

  44. The mock ups are from the ones Villa trademarked last summer, given the fact we aren’t changing the livery or badge at the ground I’d say they are the real deal. They may only have paid £80k for the rebrand but they have lost far more ??????? As they haven’t consulted the fans( yet again) as 90% want the round badge back or updated version. The amount of revenue lost due to relegation will now be added to when no-one buys crap UA merchandise emblazoned with a fat yellow cat. It seems Fox is still fucking us over even though he has gone. The managerial search is now turning into a farce, I hope we are relegated Saturday so that stumbling block is removed( if that is a real hold up)
    RIP Aston Villa FC
    I’m seriously considering watching Rangers instead next season

  45. If I put on a corporate hat, is it not worse that it’s only a partial re-branding. i.e. we can’t afford to change signs etc in the ground or we didn’t consider that we should re-brand completely.

    There may be a logical explanation but when it’s Villa and given the last 10 years, I have to doubt everything they do.

    FOL

  46. That is even worse than the current crap. Whoever designed that shit needs shooting. Fuck off Lerner you have murdered my football club, absolute thunder cunt

  47. Dor
    Think it was the Burlington hotel that day ,few of us from Donegal were at the final v Leeds but meeting Tommy Jonson and Taylor was nearly as good
    Steamer
    I ve been saying for long time our books stink like club,got to laugh at commentators spouting crap Lerner’s a great owner ,he s not he is worse than the chap in prison owning the scum across city

  48. The communication seems to be getting better from the club, getting info quicker and quashing stories like the 2mill quoted.

    Just an updated version of bage, no biggie. Looks better to me but hope to get the round one back one day.

  49. It is an improvement, but bring back the old round one.

    Any word on a new sponsor? I doubt it’ll be a Hong Kong based sponsor. Pretty much bet Villa has lost most of its Hong Kong fan base.
    Leister is making millions in Thailand. Hey Clive! You seen many Leister City shirts around the place?

  50. Well the new badge received a Luke warm reception, MOMS ran a few polls, 82% wanted the round one back, also the club getting slated for not consulting with the fans, like so many other clubs have when updating the badge( Everton fans got theirs changed after 1 season they hated it so much, our apathetic lot won’t though), it’s not even in Villa colours.
    As for the club quashing the rumours of the £2m cost and stating its only £80k, I think that is a bit of a spin , it prob only has or will cost £80k but that doesn’t include any of the livery at VP or BMH,( as they aren’t doing it this summer) once they start replacing all the signage/badges/mosaics etc etc I think the figure will be closer to £2m than it will be £80k, which is why it should have been done properly, although its fits in with the thinking at VP and our new motto of “buy cheap, buy twice” or 3/4/5 times in our case.
    If this was an attempt to boost the ‘brand’ and commercialism then it’s an epic fail, the clubs who are seen as a global brand are successful on the pitch first and foremost, but also use their traditional club crest/badge. You can look at certain badges across the UK and the globe and instantly recognise it, also the foreigners like the traditional English way, this is why Chelsea went back to a traditional badge and Man City will next season, tradition sells. We have sold our soul and are a laughing stock given the amount of mock ups on the Internet by other fans, kittens chasing a snowball, seals balancing a beach ball, sad looking old lions etc and all the ill prepared jokes just compound the shite we have had to endure under Lerner, I hope he leaves very soon or chokes to death on his bank statements, he has taken our football club, destroyed it and put us back 25/30 years.

  51. Trinity: “Leister is making millions in Thailand. Hey Clive! You seen many Leister City shirts around the place?”

    Interestingly, my wife (who’s just got back) reports that a lot of people in adjacent Malaysia are rooting for Leicester! They reckon it makes a pleasant change from the Man U’s and Chelskis.

  52. On That Issue About Leicester

    In 2008 I sent an e-mail to relevant Villa management (when I was employed there) pointing out the absence of Villa shirts in Malaysian sports stalls/shops.

    I even sent some Villa publications to Malaysia to stimulate interest – and that was when we were doing quite well!

    Did I get an ack from the management that it was relevant issue? Not on your Nelly. They probably thought I was interfering in their private domain.

    In fact I think you can count the number of Villa fans in Malaysia on two hands.

  53. B62,
    I’d bet that Lerner hasn’t worked out where its all gone wrong, JL told them 10 years ago and the customers have repeatedly informed them, ASTON VILLA – ENGLISH football club, they just didn’t listen. They think that the NBA, Baseball and American Rugby are run in a similar mould to Association Football. Obviously Lerner is stupid but surely he should have twigged years ago that he’d ballsed it up.
    I trust these committees about as much as i trusted Herbert’s dictatorship, i see no ships, only hardships.
    How Fox finds work i’ll never know, he’s good at spotting a mug though, i’ll give him that.

    Should be loads of Leicester shirts in Thailand they’re only 5 bob, the only club you won’t find is the vermin, even the Thai’s couldn’t make money out of that shower of shite.

  54. Steamer
    The circus just seems to continue, it’s like they are doing it on purpose in order to stay the nations joke. We will hopefully be relegated on Saturday , that way there will be nothing stopping us getting a new manager in. The search has has continued in the theme is a farce, Why Moyes hasn’t been begged to come I don’t know , I can only assume he doesn’t want the job, rumours are he will go to Newcastle rather than us if they go down as Benitez will walk. Pearson is hedging his bets he is waiting on Boro, we can forget about Dyche he will stay at Burnley, Rodgers is out of our league, the bookies have Steve Bruce’s odds shortening and Mad Mick McCarthy is also amongst the favourites, we have Neil Warnock being touted. We have no money to spend and the lunatics are still running the Assylum as we just keep handing out jobs for the boys with no structure or long term thinking(Brian Little only here until the summer). The club is dying on its feet and will soon be one more forgotten has been like so many others in the lower leagues, only with the new TV cash we may never get back to where we have fallen from. The BS still flows from the upper echelons of VP, I don’t know about closing the upper trinity, keep getting things this wrong and we may as well ask Walsall to ground share, as VP will be a sorry empty ghost town. It truly is a sad state of affairs with no end in sight.

  55. Well the list isn’t exactly inspiring to start with, a few promotions between them and relegation’s and sackings galore so it just shows how far our club has slipped. Someone on another blog swears he saw Moyes at BH last week, assuming he had an interview but didn’t swallow the lies like Garde did. This is another problem, apart from being tragic on the pitch we now have a deserved reputation for being the worst run club in the Universe with a core that is undeniably dishonest.
    All the features that drew me to AVFC when i was a kid have been either destroyed or eroded by the last two gobshite owners, no class, no integrity, not even competing in a crepe league anymore, time to face the facts, we’re the vermin only wearing burgundy and blue.

  56. The vultures have appeared according to the media and circling suprisingly not a single first team player but Andre Green, with a lack of football mgmt who is defending Villa against a possible sale.

    Green and the rest of the U21s will and should make up a significant percentage of the first 11 next season.

    A compatriot can’t let it lie with Jack Grealish, move on, he’s made his decision internationally. But do people think it would be a huge loss for him to leave the club, a symptom of our circumstance or genuinely someone we’d rely on in the championship

    http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/comment-jack-grealish-paying-a-heavy-price-for-choosing-england-over-ireland-34606717.html?

    FOL

  57. To be fair the list of supposed managers does not excite you but lets be honest beggars can”t be choosers, Neil Warnock a professional fire fighter and not a builder of teams, I know we are shite but Warnock really, I have said it before Eddie Howe knows the lower leagues has gained promotion, he knows where players fit into a team and can build for the long term, it never worked out at Burnley but I honestly believe he would come to VP, the only problem would he see through Hollis etc and decide better the devil you know.

    What qualifies Andy Townsend as a DOF other than him being an ex player?

    SWV

  58. SWW
    you want to hear the 6 fingered lot in sandwell you would think its them going down not us , they got this one twat “Helium Eddie” l call him , shouting for Pulis head !! fucking crazy . l know he is not everyones cup of tea and his still can be classed as negative , but l would have taken him on just to shore us up and keep us up which he has done and they cant get it in their thick skulls by keeping them up they are Guaranteed £ 100 mill plus , l would have took him on just for that ! then when were settled at the end of the season maybe we move him on say thanks and then get a manager who could build on it and maybe get us playing the football we want , and as for the shite we got l think he would have knocked a few heads together , Remember Berahino , wanted out , drove to QPR and then moped about it, their top player but he fucked him off in the stiffs till he realised “hang on l need to be playing ” so l dont think he would have bothered about dropping our so-called prem players , so l think l would have took him for the season , just remember when we did win the League , some of the games where fucking shite to watch . but some of the fans now have only watched the prem and the games that are shown from that era are the good ones , Steamer will remember the shite ones ))
    And the noses never let us down , moaning about Rowett because they arnt going to be in the play-offs , fucking brilliant still the same deluded lot. and lm not even thinking about who were going to get in as l think they dont even know ,
    Now Next saturday in the windsor , a steamers meet up as Gwilly is over for his 60th if you can make it (hopefully you got to paint the fence) . steamer we got to let some of the lads know ,

  59. Steamer
    The comparison with the vermin , Wolves etc is spot on. If you take away our history ( which counts for nothing in the lower league), and look at the clubs as they stand going forwards into next season and beyond. We are no better than them, in fact we are possibly worse off, as they have a settled squad with a manager who knows the league, we don’t and God knows who we are getting as gaffer, both teams will be playing in half empty stadiums, with little money to spend on players, whoever loses the Derby games will be ridiculed mercilessly ( especially if they win). Their ST and Matchday prices are lower than ours and they have done better in getting Adidas to make their kit rather than Under Armour, they have stuck with their traditional badge , we haven’t . I would hope we have a better away support( we currently do) , however if the club continue to take the smaller allocations we are entitled to in order to save on cost that may suffer. Our squad needs a massive overhaul, during a summer when it’s the Euros and players will be away( championship starts earlier than the PL). It’s going to be a massive struggle especially given than it looks like Newcastle and Sunderland look like dropping with us( they are both in a stronger position squad wise) and don’t have the debt we do. Add to that the likes of Derby, Hull, Wednesday , Boro, Burnley, Brighton can’t all go up, I am dreading next season already. The club needs to get this next appointment right, it’s got to get the fans back onside , the disconnect between us and them is bigger than it’s ever been and it’s got to the stage a lot of our fans hate Villa ( what we have become)more than the Blues and Albion lot do.
    Without fans football is nothing, however the Villa heirarchy can’t seem to grasp this fact nor what tradition means to us.
    We are a joke, we used to sing about blues being a circus, well the big top is now firmly up and running in B6

  60. Load of twats the lot of them Olbyon think they should be challenging for CL but what can you say when most of them have never seen inside a school without being arrested for grooming, as for the vermin I thought we had run out of expletives for that shower of shite haven’t met one who had a clue about football although some of the new Villa lot are going the same way, they will be out there buying the new crap kit with the crap crest as soon as it hits the shops.

    As for Steamer he can”t remember what day it is let alone our game versus Derby on a Tuesday night.

    You must have a sixth sense ( not sure what happened to the other five ) I am decorating at the moment but if it is Saturday 16th I could make it up, get Miffy out the fat slag and ask Steamer if he has done that spare room yet it has only taken seven years the idle bar steward.

    SWV

  61. Well it looks like Ray is bigging himself and Tim up again.

    “When asked by talkSPORT if he and Sherwood could have kept the club up, he responded: “Yes, I believe we could have done. We never got trounced. We never got badly beaten. I think we were just on the brink of doing really well.

    “We played some very tough opponents in the early stages of the season and we’re probably one of the only teams who had the opportunity to beat Leicester.

    “I honestly feel that with the staff and the players we had that we could have staved off relegation.”

    What a knob, tough opponents? Bournemouth, manure when not playing well, palace, Sunderland at home 2-2, Leicester before they were firing an all cylinders, WBA at home, Liverpool again not playing well, Stoke at home, Chelsea when they were shite, Swansea at Home.
    As you can see we played some really hard teams there that had not got going either. Him and Tim had abandoned the French and looked clueless at the end what is he on? All that has happened is we have been poor against average teams and horrendous against good teams.

    The way the search for a manager is looking we could be left with egg on ours faces for not backing Remi at least Vocally if not with money, if the players had known he was staying regardless what then? rather than the drop off we had once the window was closed when it looked like he was off, Big mistake IMO.

    St75- I listened to the Villa v WBA u21’s the other night feck me WBA had everyone and his dog behind the ball, fluked a goal got 2 sent off but still held on. Pullis needs to have 4 CH’s to play his system we struggle to field One.

  62. According to Pat Murphy we haven’t spoken to anyone regarding the managers position, and don’t expect to for a while yet!.
    FFS if true we could well be battling it out with Newcastle for a gaffer, and like it or not they are much the better choice, bigger stadium, bigger crowds, better squad and more likely to bounce straight back than us, we need to get in early, get the man we WANT not who is left after a game of musical shares, do these morons never learn? We have very little time between the end of the season and the start of pre season, the summer is punctuated by the Euros, so that 4 weeks less than usual, add to that the championship starts 1 or 2 weeks earlier than the top flight, gives whoever comes in very little time to oversee a massive rebuilding job. We can’t afford to do it the same as last summer, whereby some idiots just went out and brought in a load of crap for £50 odd million last minute without building a team!! That worked out so well didn’t it!??

  63. B-62- I would not worry we won’t be buying anyone involved in the euro’s thats for sure and we haven’t got many involved Clark is the only one I can think of!

  64. Sww
    yes its the 16th , and lv already got in touch with Percy , he letting me know later , have you and steamer bought a job lot of paint as he is decorating at the moment , and lm sure Bella will let you share her bed , so see you next week then .

  65. B62
    The club needs to get this next appointment right, it’s got to get the fans back onside , the disconnect between us and them is bigger than it’s ever been and it’s got to the stage a lot of our fans hate Villa ( what we have become)more than the Blues and Albion lot do.

    Would you trust this lot to get something right ? If they haven’t approached anyone yet then i don’t think they will, 30.06.2016, the end.

    SWV,
    What Derby and which Tuesday ?

  66. DOR,
    That article was bang on, I think Grealish could be a top player, certainly far better than Jack Wheelchair, but like a lot of players he’s at a crepe club. I bet he wishes he hadn’t signed that contract under the lying baynard Lamebert. At least he’s a GENUINE Villan and so is his dad who’s taking some welly off the customers.
    Like a lot of Villans i hoped he’d choose Ireland but he’s got to live with his decision in the fact that he’s got to be twice as good as any midfielder from London before he plays for Engerlund, then he’s got the Mancs and Scousers.

  67. MK
    I have no doubt we won’t be buying from the internationals at the euros even the crap ones, it’s just pretty much everything in the football world grinds to a halt when there’s a summer tournament on. It will be worse if they employ that plank Coleman ( although his missus is very welcome)

  68. Hope the rumour is true. Moyes will be looking to prove himself again, should be hungry for success. The board and chairman must support the new manager.
    We’ll soon see what happens.

  69. Yep whoever is the new manager has to be funded else we are screwed whoever it is.

    Main reason inwant moyes is he likes a blend of youth and experience and any signings are checked for every detail under the sun. They used to call him the ditherer as everton cause he took so long to look into a signing

  70. Moyes? Not the worst we could get, will he get us to defend? yes but not with Richards hutton guzan Lescott and cissoko as our defenders. will he make us hard to beat? yes he always does (ironic as Garde has been slated for being too negative) will he make us decent going forward? never has before, forwards generally workmanlike never been much use against the top half clubs for some reason. A solid but for me a limited appointment. If we return will he be able to get us up in the top 8? the league is moving on, west Ham, Spurs, Leicester, Southampton, Bournemouth, Watford all play attacking Football generally and I would be surprised if he can recreate Everton’s fairly solid league positions. Open to being convinced.

    When he went to manure they were champs, SAF won the league with an average squad, with Moyes caution and now LVG’s similar tactics they are and were nothing much to write home about.

  71. Can’t say i am excited as most about moyes – we need to come straight back up and that nutter pearson is the man that has a nack of gaining promotion

    Moyes hopefully can do the same if he gets the job

    Anyone getting the job though should have an exciting project as they will be able to clear most of the current squad out and start afresh

  72. Dyche, Howe or Warburton would be something to get exited about for me.

    Whomever comes in I hope he gives up on using Fullbacks as our favoured attacking option, once we lost Amavi that was that this season . I think Tim wanted to go down that line but wanted wingers too, we never got them bar a raw and un-ready Adama. That combined with the colander defence we have set the tone for the season.

  73. MK
    I can understand your reservations about Moyes, but he is the best option we have, he will steady the ship and sort the mess out, as for the three you have mentioned, we simply have no chance in attracting them to VP. Howe would be amazing, but he isn’t going to leave his hometown club, who he loves and is building something in the premier league against all the odds, he left once before and got his fingers burnt, if he leaves it will be for something better than we can offer. Dyche has already ruled himself out, again he looks destined for the Premier League(again) with Burnley where he has unfinished business and Warburton has God like status in Glasgow, with a few additions he could be challenging for the title and heading for the champs league. All we can offer is a mess of a club dropping into a real dogfight of a league, with a shite squad and little money coupled with massive expectation.

  74. Runtings: “we need to come straight back up “

    But not to go back down again the next season, I hope?

    What I mean is that getting someone in for his specialist ability (promotion) is one thing but I’d be a bit nervous about their ability to sustain the ride.

  75. Agree JL but Pearson built a side that did stay up but of course now look like they will win the title – not to be snuffed at

    if we come straight back up we then have the luxury of deciding weather another manager is better to take us on from there.

    my fear is that we don’t come straight back up which for me will set the club back a lot more than staying down with a perceived good manager

  76. Very interesting how we have diffeent opinions on footy etc. To me Moyes negative attitude is very unjust. My best mate supports everton and i have always had a soft spot for them so have always had and eye on them. If you look at the stats everton score a fair few goals whilst finishing top 8 or 6 most seasons with bargain flair players brought by being scouted very well like arteta, yakubu, mirallis, piennar, cahill. Also improved kevin campbell, marcus bent and big dunc. Chuck in the signings of stones, coleman, baines, nigel martyn, distin, lescott all solid signings at a good price. This is my number 1 reason for wanting moyes, we need a new squad and moyes scouting and transfer record is very good. perfect man to rebuild us. The job at utd was mission impossible, firstly following fergie and secondly allthough they won the league there team was on the way out. His years at everton and preston are the fair times to judge him.

  77. Agree dyche and howe certainly will never come in a million years.Why would howe with a good growing reputation leave the prem and his fav club to us in the div 1! If i was howe id have 1 eye on the everton job.

    Pearson is a maybe but without his backroom staff i have doubts. Just for once id like a manager who has his whole network with him! Not had it since lambert and his bully boys! Bruce is a def no now, built a decent enough hull side that should be up really. Mccarthy id be ok with, similar to pearson, no non sense and know the championship like the back of his hand,would be a sound appointment. Moyes, pearson and mad mick are the 3 the board i reckon are thinking of.

  78. what we must try and remember is that we are shite got relegated, and the worst squad imo of the history of the prem so we have no divine right to be getting the klopps of this world! For me moyes would be a coup for us.

  79. very good points Andrew = i do like Moyes btw

    my opinion is purely based on hiring someone that is nailed on to get us back up at the first attempt – however it doesn’t mean i am right or that moyes wouldn’t – its more about who has a proven record in that division for me and this is were Pearson stands tall imo

  80. Andrew- my mrs family are all evertonians they dont mind moyes but the type of football compared to martinez is chalk and cheese. I suspect the same goes for pearson and Rannieri.He dirs seem to pick up good deals and I think the money involved at manure for players and the pull of his name went against him. Maybe inspiring multi competition winners wasn’t his thing either. I do think he could be a slow burner though although getting promotion from the champs only becomes a trait once you have done it it seems. Pearson dyche and howe all on 1 club which they had to build up 1st no one season wonders only houghton and sam did that

  81. Mark spot on about the over use of full backs. I know in the modern game they are more attacking now but we have relied on them as our only source of assists! Get some pace up top. Really in ayew, grealish and adama we might have enugh to do some damage. IMO our best 3 forwards but how many times have they been on the pitch together this season!!! You never know gestede could be useful in the championship. Is Kozac alive?

  82. Hello Runtings

    Know what you mean about pearson but remember non of his staff would be with him. TBH style of football is the last thing on my mind at the mo…first things first get rid of this crepe and get some solid pros in who give a damn! Our only style of play for years has been watching it hoofed to tekkers or defend for your lives and counter! Moyes team will be like watching barca compared to what we have put up with.

    Mark The toffees seem to be on martinez back for a while now, they dont like the patient build fromthe back footy tipy tap, they get very frustrated with it. Everton always like it a bit old fashioned tackles flying in and in your faces.

  83. Runtings,

    For me the situation is worse than it was in 1967, and it took 8 years to get back then.

    I reckon we have quite a bit of rebuilding to do before getting back to the Prem will be sustainable.

    I don’t like to be a party pooper, but I think we should not come back *too* quickly.

    However, if I’m wrong and the new set up manages to achieve all that’s needed in 12 months, then hurrah!

  84. So the Legend is ‘injured’ again and out of the squad, does anyone actually believe this bull ? OK he’s garbage but now he doesn’t even make himself available for his 60,000 quid.
    Another defeat on the horizon 1-3.

  85. steamer

    just read that, the villa legend that is gabby eh! Coward, lazy, un proffessional, selfish, i could go on.

    We wont get another point all season, prob wont score. As against chelsea they have all given up and thinking of the next move or summer holls. Anyone who turns up and pays to support this rable must be bonkers

  86. I would do everyting to expore the possibility of getting Barry back to lead us again. Not sure how long he has left on his contract? They guy is a class act and a real pro, would be a great example.

    Christ we used to have so many good pros from southgate to teale to houghton our teams used to be litered with them. How the hell have we got to this!

  87. Wondering if this new number 2 from scotland is Moyes pick? seems random why black would want someone in with 6 games left, whats the point? He could be allready spying for moyes?!

  88. I have a feeling that the new bloke and Black will take over the academy, Queens Park are known for producing players, other than that i haven’t a clue because he’s certainly not qualified to assist the 1st team permanently.
    The PFA should have a look at Agbonglahors dealings at VP, but then Gordon Taylor is out of the same mould, as long as he gets a massive wage then he’s happy to do bugger all, especially being an ex-nose, where Villa are concerned. If the doc says he’s faking the virus then sack him although Black gives the game away by saying GA is coming in to see the doc, who would have someone with a virus among other athletes. As far as i can see the liars and conmen are still at VP.

  89. Steamer
    That’s a poignant article in the Telegraph.
    I hope Gabby moves on. He shouldn’t stay at Villa and earn such big wages for often little in return. He should instead go and prove himself elsewhere. There’s others like him. Too comfortable.

  90. If black doesn’t change it all today he deserves pelters my team
    Bunn/ sarkic leave Coco clown out
    Reserve right back
    Sissko
    Clark captain
    Okore
    Gana
    Sanchez
    Gil / sinclair
    Grealish
    Ayew
    Adamq
    Leave British and Yankee experience crap out

  91. I see the vermin are clubbing all their dole cheques to hire a plane with one of those banners to take the pi55 at our last home game, this coming from the club thats had more relegations from the top division than any other, delusional as ever, wonder if they’ll sell their allocation for VP next season for a change ?
    Really can’t see why folk are getting excited by Moyes, his teams are boring and he doesn’t win trophies + he’s a Jock, McCleish signed Given and Zog on 145k per week, Lambert destroyed our team and shifted Johnson, Albri and others while signing crepe, sorry, as far as i’m concerned, NO Jocks.

  92. Apparently Black thinks Adama doesn’t do enough defensively, possibly because we have defenders do do that stuff, we’ve scored 22 goals this season i have a faint idea that Adama, being an attacker may be an asset in this department. ye gods its a sign we have another dumb Jock as boss.

  93. Connection between Jocks and Villa being crepe, Tommy Jockerty managed us for most of our relegation season to Div 3, Billy McBungle relegated us in the 80’s, now a combination of McKnob and Lamebert culminates in this relegation, are Black and Moyes going to finish us off ?

  94. Steamer,

    Amazing isn’t it? George Ramsay (a Scot of course) couldn’t do nowt wrong but since then they’ve let us down badly – in the main.

    Jimmy McMullan (1934) didn’t last long.
    Alex Massie followed by George Martin (1945-53) didn’t do badly at all – let badly down by the board. Both managers walked out.

    But from Tommy Doc onwards being a Scot has been an indictment against them!

  95. Aston Villa
    1. Brad Guzan
    7. Leandro Bacuna
    16. Joleon Lescott
    6. Ciaran Clark
    43. Aly Cissokho
    38. Jordan Lyden
    15. Ashley Westwood
    8. Idrissa Gueye
    18. Kieran Richardson
    9. Scott Sinclair
    19. Jordan Ayew
    Subs
    4. Micah Richards
    20. Adama Traore
    24. Carlos Sanchez
    31. Mark Bunn
    39. Rudy Gestede
    40. Jack Grealish
    46. Kevin Toner

  96. Hello all .

    A really good article John and I agree , how many pundits have said that our downfall is due to Benteke and Delph leaving and Albi doesn’t get a mention . Fact is Teckers has had a torrid season and Delph has played very little . But our local boy is playing a major part in Top of the table Leicester’s amazing season .

    I always liked Albi but fit some reason Lambert kept him out – even when he’s been the best player on the pitch , her find himself dropped inexplicably next game . I’m so happy for him as local journalists have said he didn’t want to leave Villa .

    Eric Black has disappointed with the pathetic excuse “it’s the modern footballer” No it isn’t : it’s the behaviour of the non committed , don’t care enough.

    No one expects anything from today , and I salute anyone who has gone (I know Frem is going ) .

  97. Hey Deano,just got home and opened the book you sent me in 2014!!!!!!!!!!!It arrived in March 2015 when I had left.Thanks a lot.Still no sign of the 200 quid inside the pages though.Cheers.

  98. Hello Jenny,

    Thanks for the comment.

    These be awful times, these be, and when Richardson missed that glaring opportunity early in the second period I thought “that’s it, they’re never going to score”. Well, they then gave away another goal before actually scoring … but where is a player in the team who can make a real difference?

    Even Jack sauntered on with a few minutes to go as though he’s got 90 minutes to sort the game out. Richardson’s inclusion was bizarre after not being selected since December – and he was the feller who missed that golden chance.

    But I was glad to see Clark back. On their second goal I don’t actually think he thought that Cissy would play the ball all the way back when there was no need to … and it was not a good pass back either.

  99. Hello Jen,
    Very good points especially about excuses, thats the only thing that the club is good at. No place for Black at VP.
    Agree with JL about Clark, also thought Gana had a decent game, Westwood anonymous as in his last 150 games, get rid.
    Grealish looked totally dejected after being omitted for KR, JL and AW and so he should be, pathetic selections, can see him moving on for peanuts and becoming a top player elseware.

  100. Well that was god awful, I got out of work early for that shit. We weren’t even officially relegated( mores the pity) although it’s only the tiniest of margins as even if we win every game we need Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich to get nothing ( we can only match the canaries 31 pts, but have a 20 goal worse GD).
    Let the vermin waste their hard earned dole money, we know we are shite and their were no tears at VP like those bellends at Spurs a couple of years ago.
    I doubt Moyes will be coming, no one in their right mind will touch this club, it’s career ending. I really fear a double drop, at least the players are under no illusion they are absolutely hated, and I mean hated, booed at every touch and line up announcement bar a couple.

  101. Steamer,

    Well that may be right about Grealish, but it’s a poor response, professionally, and maybe Grealish’s downfall. Maybe he wasn’t started because of his tantrums? He seems to have been glad that Garde had left, and yet Garde may well have been the boss he needed to set him straight!

  102. B62,

    I’m not sure that the club will not be turned round. Think back to 1987 and remember that GT had a big problem with what he inherited and had to institute different attitudes in the club.

    It’s how long it will take that concerns me, and whether the right team manager will accept the job offer.

  103. JL,
    Apparently he did well as sub the last game and must have thought he’d play, we have such a wealth of talent available that it was wrong assumption.

  104. Agree John,
    The commentators were saying that we could drop further and the fans are coming around to that thinking. I agree with them, this side is unbelievably pathetic and i don’t believe there is a manager in our range that could turn it around. Its not just the team, the whole club is rank rotten and that includes Hollis, King, Bernstein and his appointments from the joke known as the English FA who are all clueless, what exactly does the latest dummy do ?

  105. Oh, BTW, Steamer…

    I saw Grealish’s appearance last match and he didn’t impress me that much apart from one run to the byline and pass across goal, which was a shade too firm. But someone should have been on the end of it, admitted.

    But in the context of what the other lot put together – mostly zilch – his contribution was a half-step up.

  106. Well peeps why do managers continually pick these players? have to wonder are the others all that in that case, I would have to be down to ringing my mates before Richardson got on.

  107. JL
    This situation is far worse than in 87, when GT walked into a shambles. It’s gonna cost a lot more than we have or are willing to spend to turn this sinking tanker round.

  108. Chap on TVB talking to Carlton Palmer and reckons BFR told him that Pearson is the new boss and that Villa have a new source of finance.
    So thats Pearson AND Moyes for next season, bearing in mind Bernie said English i’d be inclined to go for NP.

  109. Wrote that about Richardson before seen his miss and effort in first half,
    Who ever takes over has first job anyone signed or gave contract extension under Lambert have to be shown the door( Lambert signings worst ever) along with superfans lescott Richards
    Watched my son’s under 12 this morning effort skill and heart by bucket load watched mofd black is clueless ( were do we get them all) 4 managers this season no lift from any of them,and you no what play the crap let them take abuse,shame world wide coverage of how bad they are
    They will never get another club as equal in status as villa( not under Lerner mind you) bacuna champions league ha ha

  110. Imagine picking a team and thinking Richardson should start, black F off, where do we find these people! I’d be surprised if it’s np, the guys nuts, but maybe what we need! Lot of teams seem to be going down the route of just getting investment in rather than takeovers

  111. B62: “This situation is far worse than in 87, when GT walked into a shambles. It’s gonna cost a lot more than we have or are willing to spend to turn this sinking tanker round.”

    I didna say not. You may well be right, except we don’t know about the finances. The way the board behave seems to tell me they’re not unconfident on the money side of things. That’s why Hollis/King have been brought in I’d say, to sort that bit out. But what crown jewels/rights have they sold?

  112. Have a feeling that Bruce will be sacked after recent results and his de-stabilising of Hulls promotion drive with his comments about moving on. I hope, if it happens, that the board don’t take the cheap but crepe option.

  113. I’ve said all along we will wait until the summer to appoint Bruce, and that’s what the sun is saying. We will pay them 2 million for him. Our board are still twats then. I’d rather Pearson than Bruce. Why don’t we just pay the 2 million to Moyes now ?

  114. I really can’t see why folk have got such a downer on Pearson, the Palace thing was obviously banter and the player involved said so, Pearson can’t be accountable for what his adult son does, the ostrich remark was both deserved and hilarious and we’ve all heard worse than the firk off and die quip. No doubt that this is Pearsons team that is going to win the league, he built it over two seasons and Ranieri will be getting the plaudits. No-one mentions Ranieris mediocre career and his last game in charge of Greece when they lost to the Faroe Islands.

  115. Lerner’s agent must be on commission for all the pay offs,Mon outgoing,hoillier incoming,outgoing, blues for mcknob,mcknob outgoing,Lambert outgoing,remi incoming ,fox out going,alstad outgoing,remi outgoing plus all their staff,players galore getting paid not to play bent makoun Ireland given Hutton zog
    All media now understand it’s old experienced players that are problem
    But how does an employee in a fitness sport get away legally been 3/4 stone overweight lazy b

  116. JG,
    Easy mate, just sign for the only club who will put up with this crepe. Don’t forget he was obese when Fox gave him his new contract, i bet he couldn’t believe his luck.

  117. That sums him up, rather than admit you know f-all about footy and the job your paid to do, you just say fook it and virtually bankrupt the club. Who’s worst, Fox or Lerner ?

  118. Steamer- I couldn’t care less if Pearson punched the player 😉 he does have a reputation for being a tad on the bullying side, you know the type, like to have a laugh but your never quite sure if they are going to lump you, maybe thats whats needed?
    would certainly have him over moyes or bruce for entertainment but would still rather have Howe or dyche or warburton. Howe by the way gets pelters for his time at Burnley but he did bring in Danny Ings, Kieran Trippier, amongst others left for personal reasons not booted.

  119. Mark,
    Ron Saunders was a bully but Brian Little made him look foolish when he started on him and Howard Gayle wrecked him when he tried it with him.

  120. Righto lifers I have some news, I thought I would break it here.

    I have just been to my local gym, while I was there I got talking to a lad who was doing some weird and wonderful exercises, not your average gym goer I thought. Turns out the lad is a first class cricketer and works on the Leicester city Sports science Team. I got chatting and he said they have a sports science department second only to Arsenal and liverpool, they leave nothing to chance, use cryogenics the lot. They make our bunch look like amateurs.

    Anyhow I said I happen to support Villa, he said our recruitment has been useless for the last few years at least (nothing we don’t know) he then said that Pearson still keeps in touch with all the staff at Leicester and is fondly remembered and was a great driver in there approach. He then said
    that Pearson has been in advanced talks with Villa and his no2 Craig Shakespeare I presume? who goes everywhere with him is coming too, the other staff are not for obvious reasons and Rannieri will bring in his No2.

    So there it is Nigel Pearson looks very very likely to be villas new manager, and not a dog in sight Steamer

  121. MK
    I think we all need a lift and they need to announce whoever it is sooner rather than later. The list of candidates doesn’t exactly sort the pulses racing, each have question marks against them for various reasons , they also so,it opinions. The two favourites with the bookies and many fans were Pearson and Moyes, although it would be great to get an Eddie Howe or a Sean Dyche/Brendan Rodgers etc, they are so out of our league its embarassing. As a club we sit bottom on 16pts with a -41GD, beggars simply cannot be choosers. The entire playing staff needs an overhaul and those remaining need a massive kick up the arse. We also need to stop fooling ourselves, we are not a big club anymore and won’t even be the biggest club or draw in the championship as it looks like Newcastle and Sunderland will be joining us, both have a better starting point than us and far more fans( they aren’t shutting half the stadium due to lack of interest) Sunderland had almost 47k at their game today, we had 31k if you believe the official figure unc ST who didn’t attend, but I read the actual fans in attendance was 23k and Bournemouth sold out their allocation. Unless their is something to get behind and a price reduction we will struggle to get 20k for home games meaning 22k empty seats every game!!!! Bet the accountants are shitting themselves over that, on top of the massive losses we will make from the relegation ie TV sponsorship etc.
    If it is going to be Pearson( not my choice TBF), I hope he comes in and drags this sorry excuse for a football club up by its bootstraps and kicks some serious arse.

  122. Also fair play to Albrighton, a villa lad who will be getting a PL winners medal and is playing in the champions league next season!!!!
    Spare a thought for the VP staff, big staff meeting at 6pm tomorrow to announce the redundancies etc.
    Lerner you are an absolute Thunder Cunt who deserves a slow and painful death, in the same manor you have slowly killed off our club, we aren’t coming back from this disaster anytime soon if ever, I think it could be terminal.

  123. B-62- when he was talking about Pearson he changed my perception of him a bit and at first I thought he meant he was going back to Leicester but he said no in advanced talks with Villa,we will see. fits doesn’t it? English (Bernstein) cheap (unemployed) assembled Leicester on a budget (soon to be champs) champs and prem experience and will kick the shit out of Gabby and the new blokes his mate

  124. Said last week that Pearsons staff hadn’t signed the contracts offered and Craig Shakespeare was a Villan from Great Barr.
    BFR rates him and he knows his stuff.

  125. If Pearson is the man then I hope he gets the back room staff he needs to turn this club around, can you imagine the hero status of the manager that gets this Phoenix to rise from the flames, I can see a few egos fancying that. I’m keeping an open mind on NP, he’s not my first choice but he will get my full support if he does get the job, he certainly seems to have the minerals for it.

  126. Yeah im ok with pearson, very good stints in the championship with hull and foxes twice. Will be swayed more if his team join him.

    Good info mark.

    Should of been him after tim and maybe we wouldnt be going down.

  127. Andrew
    Good point Pearson should have been appointed after Sherwood,but at the same time remi knew and wanted to replace
    Coco the clown guzan
    Giveaway goal Hutton
    Super fans lescott
    I want to be centre half smokey Micah
    KFC biggest fan flabby
    And was let down by board ,whoever takes over has to cut them 5 plus bacuna wastewood kozak loose along with out of contract zog and I don’t believe black picked him Richardson
    We need complete new spine that will not have to be replaced with promotion

  128. The lad told me its Pearsons no2 and thats it as far as staff, all other staff are staying for champs league etc. He did say Pearson was instrumental in building the structure of the club so I’m optimistic he can do similar for us.

  129. we’ll i commented a few days ago that i’d changed my opinion from Moyes to Pearson and remember Pearson has won the championship.

    Wonder if Ranieri will be gracious in winning by mentioning Pearson.

    Anyway fuck them, it’s all about Villa and Pearson would be the kick up the arse our players need, i think having played against us and building up all the review tapes, he’d know very quickly the causes of our downfall.

    Our big problem is the Euros and the earlier start to the championship season, i’m not saying we are after internationals but other players could become available as club buy in the from the Euros but will that give us enough time to rebuild the squad or will we be shouting Nigel Pearson’s Claret and Blue Army while watching the very players that got us relegated.

    The manager would clearly be a boost but there is a massive chasm between us and the players after what they’ve done and more correctly not done this season. Don’t think i could stomach seeing Lescott play for us again and listen to him issue a rallying cry for all the fans to get behind the team.

    Our other big problem is Lerner so if fresh investment is true then we may have the investment in playing staff we need.

    Finally i’m at our next game but behind enemy lines, can’t believe i’ll be there to see us get officially relegated, going to have to make every effort to drown my sorrows

    FOL

  130. Mark,

    You go to the gym on a sunday proper hardcore, well if it is NP then so be it anyone who thinks he can sort this shit out deserves a break and our full support. we are in a shocking mess and if he can turn this club around he deserves a knighthood.

    Watched Bristol City play Sheff Weds on Saturday and Barry Bannan was their star player and Baker had a really good game at the back for BC, the talk down here is that the Villa will recall Baker and make a bid for Aden Flint the other centre half who to be fair looks a decent champs player but nowhere near good enough for the prem.

    SWV

  131. SWV- I thought I’d better as I went out last night for a couple of ciders and that means Monday is a blur. Turned out to be good timing. I think whomever they pick will be in after Sat at the latest.

    I definitely think the plan is to use the youth players, so many are out on loan that have been around the 1st team for 1-2 seasons now. It will just remain to see what remains of the 1st team we have when the dust settles. Any manager worth his salt will have players in mind at this point.

  132. Well i reckon the 3 would be Moyes, pearson and mccarthy. By the amount of people tweeting little not to get bruce i dont think they will further piss the fans off and go with him.

    Moyes at Preston saved them from relegation, got them promoted the next season into div 1 and with same team got them in the playoffs before moving to everton and imo opinion doing very well with a tight budget and breaking the top 4 on one occassion.

    Pearson coached for a few years then done ok at southampton before going to lester twice doing very well getting promotion and in between having a good season at hull.

    Mccarthy is probabaly the daddy of the championship and is his level and has done very well. Numerous playoff finishes, 2 titles, he knows what needs to be done. In the prem kept wolves there for 2 seasons which is his best achievment.

    The board have said they want someone who knows the championship but also what it takes to stay in the prem. Moyes must be stand out followed by pearson. The board will have to pay off our crepe players or sell them and let whoever manages us build a new team.

    Be interesting as to when we will appoint someone.

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