I don’t like to remind about the old Villa motto: “Prepared”. Over recent years the word was adulterated by the way in which the club was being steered, off and on the pitch.

Well, we are now presented with not one but three “P” words: “Passion, Pride, Purpose.” These are the words now emblazoned on the club’s re-vamped Villa Park shop, formerly called “Villa Village”, but now called “Villa Store”.

But, just like the old motto, there’s not much point in having this emotive vocabulary unless there’s some substance behind it, is there? We all too well remember that slogan “Proud History, Bright Future”, don’t we?

Are we in for yet another media-driven ride?

Well, until we start seeing some solid movement in the transfer market, followed by relevant performances on the pitch, we won’t know what to think, I suggest. So far we are being fuelled by positive signals from the new owner, and that is good, but until that and the “three P’s” are translated into action, they unfortunately don’t mean more than an intention.

But as we’ve so recently been made to experience the horrors of yet another England damp squib in international competition, Aston Villa’s horror story of last season seems to ebb into history with a realisation that football problems don’t just exist at Villa Park. Too many English footballers clearly over-rate themselves, aided by a hyper-active media. As the wonderful lady Hannah Hauxwell has observed: “The media isn’t what it was”. (Click here.)

And if it wasn’t for the recent passion and achievement of Leicester City to offer as an example, I would wonder if football any longer had anything of integrity to offer.

As Leicester have reminded us, there is hope provided the spirit and work-ethic is there, 3 “P’s” or no “3 P’s”.

C’mon the Villa!

Comments 122

  1. Hello, John.
    Thank you for once again writing an apt leader for us.
    You’re right, action speaks louder than words, and we won’t know if all the good signs and intentions will come to anything until the season begins.
    “…an industry whose major currency is shock and scandal.” Hannah Hauxwell is someone I certainly agree with concerning today’s media. I wish there were more like her still around.
    I see the new shirt has been leaked (haha). If I get one, it’ll have McGrath on its back. You mentioned integrity…

  2. A bit like Brexit, no one knows what will happen and any comment in the interim is conjecture.

    The jury is out until we have a squad and we see how Di Matteo selects his 11 and the formation. I’m firmly in the positive camp that the structure is being put in place to bring substance to the three Ps.

    Can’t wait for season start and would love to meet up with some of the lifers for a pint and a chat, i’ll let you know in advance what games i’m going to as I have to plan well ahead to get cheap flights.

  3. (from last post)
    DOR- I take your points but mate but what else do we call them? do people in Bangladesh call Bangladeshi’s who live here expats?? I don’t know. I seriously don’t know how you would express it otherwise. I’m sure most polish don’t call themselves brits and I cannot imagine anyone would lose connection with there races place of origin totally no matter where they end up living. Half of America thinks its Irish I would like to know what the English can call themselves now as it now seems to be attached to racism, even I feel that if I call myself English! so it works both ways. Usually though I refer to myself as mark

    I must be immune to all that as I have seen none of that where I live and I travel around for work. Usually you would find at least one that spouts cr*p but no I haven’t seen it yet(except in Poland) and hope I don’t. As I have stated I have spoken to many with varying reasons non of them referred to anyone as less than human, Nobody even said its their fault as they cannot blame someone wanting to better themselves economically. Maybe its been out there all along and now people are looking out for it more? I don’t condone any of it.

    I do hear from friends how their kids are set upon by Asian kids at school if there’s a fall out with a gang of lads arrive, you would think they would settle it individually? One bloke started a Taxi firm in Banbury he was from Bangladesh and the local firms are Pakistani lads, they went down there and smashed his office up and that was that. Its not pleasant but it happens. Not long ago A group of Asian youths 16-18 years old were setting upon blokes walking home after the pub for fun it appears, two of my mates who go boxing layed a few out and got arrested while they walked away? Another friend who is about 6’7″ and 20 stone was set on in a local park on his way home by 20 Asian lads. Is this racism or gangs??

  4. I’m from a place called Sorry, England if anyone asks, not something you’d boast about but still –
    London’s benchmark index continues its remarkable recovery this morning after a savage two-day rout. The FTSE 100 has smashed through 6,270 and is less than 70 points off where it was trading before Britons went to the polls last Thursday to decide on ..

    Reverse racism is the term, never reported but far more prolific.

  5. Thanks JL
    I hope the good doctor can get us sorted and although he is very ambitious with his statements I also sense an underlying steel with him ,fingers crossed. Training starts today I think so he will whittle a few out I’m sure.

  6. Getting a bit concerned about the lack of quality coming in and the pile of shite not going out, we’re not even mentioned where decent established players are concerned.

  7. Just gone on the OS, i thought they were putting up pics of down & outs until i saw the cars, is it compulsory to dress like tramps when you reach millionaire status ?

  8. Steamer- I think RDM is about access them at BMH then fly out to Austria? (if we are allowed in 😉 )
    We might see a few left behind methinks.

  9. Too add to your leader JL – England were dumped out the euros by teams that have far less talent and far more togetherness and method

    i have been trying to work out what England’s style of play is and have come to the conclusion that we don’t have one

    other nations seem to know what they are doing collectively and individually which seems to allow lesser players to be a better team

  10. The toon have made a great signing in that keeper and going to get gayle. They will storm that league.

    Hoprfully we will get McCormack now gayles gone toon…..unless they want both!!

    Only going to be happy when all the crepe have gone and we have 8 new players.

  11. The new season will be upon us before we know it, the players are back today. With only Elphick coming in so far, and no cull I’m a little worried or apprehensive regards the upcoming campaign. Looking across the league we are in for a real fight for promotion. Newcastle look red hot favourites to bounce straight back, Derby will be there or there abouts again as will Brighton, Sheff Weds etc, I wouldn’t rule Monk turning Leeds around either and are an outside bet for the play offs, at least Norwich look like they are losing there best players. I’d like to see us get McCormick from Fulham , Gunter from reading, maybe a cheeky bid for Danny Ings , a No1 Keeper and real central midfielder. It was slightly depressing seeing Hutton, Wastewood, Bunn etc returning without any real competition. Petrol looks well, but I honestly can’t see him playing, he has suffered a terrible illness and has been out for far too long, the championship would eat him alive, he would ruin his reputation getting over run every week. This is a massive season and we need to start upping our preparation and recruitment.
    On the new motto, I liked Prepared( just not on the badge, I still love the old circular crest) and its links to our past, with McGregor, Rangers ( their motto is Ready) and the lion rampant. Let’s hope this new direction isn’t just hot air.

  12. Runtings,

    Couldn’t agree more with your comments. After all the efforts of creating spaces in the league season to accommodate England get-togethers and international matches, the standard has gone down, not up!

  13. Hi Steamer

    FTSE250 is a better barometer of the UK as the 100 contains companies that operate at a global level so revenue sources are not limited to UK/EU, it took a battering post referendum and only slowly recovering.

    You’ll find that the markets have got used to the idea of Brexit but the turmoil will return upon invocation of Article 50 and the lengthy discussions required on the new relationship between the the UK and the EU.

    Hi Mark

    I never for a second doubted that racism and extreme nationalism on all sides doesn’t have it combatants, my comments were more on how media reporting underpines racist thought, why not refer to white English people emigrating to Spain as English immigrants or Christian immigrants as opposed to ex-pats. Just interested in how language can influence thought.

    Hi Runtings

    Going to take some time to listen to his music tonight, anything in particular I should listen to, very impressed by him.

  14. Iceland have prospered by good fundamental coaching but also have, like Leicester, a fantastic work ethic, something which seems to have gone out of fashion in UK not only in football but life.
    JL,
    Apparently the FA are going to introduce a winter break for the poor lambs, Villa had a Summer, Winter, Spring & Autum break last year. People are getting peed off with these lazy slackers and yet they still get pampered, i know for certain that i’ll never go to a pro footy game again and won’t even watch it on TV, completely lost me.

  15. HI d.o.r — he has done something the bbc 1xtra run called fire in the booth — he has done 4 of them and no.3 is my fav

    he has 4 albums – not sure if i am mad about the actual music so much but very impressed with his lyrical content

  16. DOR- well we all know who’s the masters at Propaganda and the use of words don’t we? media also likes to keep the fear mindset in the forefront. When the free press is mentioned it does make me laugh. I do feel these days I have to double check everything I say as not to offend though, god forbid it could have double meaning 😉

    Any attacks/abuse need to be stamped out, I expect the few feel they have been given licence to do as they will. Its up to the many to show them otherwise, talking of which where’s our leader?

  17. Don’t worry about causing me any offence, i’m adult enough to take it, any references to potatoes/leprechauns and kiddie fiddling priests will be met with a 🙂

  18. Steamer
    You mentioned the fa picking managers,thank god they didn’t reply to big jack another one like Clough ,fell into Irish job and rest is history
    Why do English manager not pick men in form,hart in goals,smalling Rooney sterling Kane ,injury prone Wilshire and Sturbridge madness like villa set pick same crap and expect different results

  19. DOR- Don’t start on the priests my Ladies brothers works in a branch of the police that deals with paedophilia, the stories are not nice, some scary people out there. Some still have a psychological hold over people from there childhood. They are allowed to vote though along with manic depressives (most of the nation in the winter, er and summer) 🙂

  20. Gday strangers 🙂
    How are we all ? Hope you are well, think the biggest failure in modern day football is most players especially internationals have earned enough money to never have to worry about anything ever again by about the age of 23.

    Match-days become routine to them, win-lose-draw what’s the worst that is going to happen to them….Bit of bad press for afew days…Some flak on twitter….Afew choice words from the manager who probably earns a fraction of their wage and they have little or no respect for. After all it’s the manager whom receives the public shaming and the P45, look at Mourinho last season and Woy in the last 48hours.

    The hunger is not there for these spoilt twenty-something year olds who have no grasp of reality, the managing structure of modern football organisations exist only to provide these players with everything and anything they desire. The management structure should exist to govern these so called superstars.

    Until a salary cap is introduced these monumental football collapses will increase in frequency e.g. Chelsea last season & England at the Euros. On the other hand I think the Davids will defeat Goliaths on occasions, why ? Well when you have a team of honest, committed, hungry players such as Leicester and Iceland anything is possible when you take to a field against a bunch of millionaire divas.

  21. I’am Mark currently on nightshift in the middle of nowhere in a hellish place called Karratha Lol. The Aussie Dollar has taken a beating following the exit and alot of pension funds have taken a hit.

    Alot of ex-pats who were thinking of returning to the UK in the near future have put it on-hold now just to see what happens.

  22. Bang on Liam, every time Martin Gregg negotiates a new TV deal its another nail in footballs coffin.
    This Gregg admits to not being a football expert yet he, along with Ashworth and some other plank are trusted with appointing the next England boss, frightening. Maximum wage levels, all generous –
    Top Division – 5k per week with 500 per point
    2 level – 3K per week with 250 per point
    3 level – 2k per week with 200 per point
    4 level – 1500 per week with 150 per point.
    All of which are good wages for actually contributing F-all to anyone.

  23. Liam- Great to live in a world where your future plans really have no chance of being what you thought they would be because of a group of gamblers. How did we decide to live life this way eh? I can’t remember signing up for it 😉

    Can’t see football fixing itself any time soon though.

  24. Totally agree Steamer mate. When will they ever have enough ? Over here in Oz the Prem used to be on Fox Sports similar to France you could pick any game you wanted but now they sold out to Optus and the coverage is only available online. Just no regard for people just money and pure greed, it’s destroying English football.

    Batshuayi who is about to sign for Chelsea was subject to a 30million pound bid from PALACE, it is totally gone bonkers the sums being thrown around. In woman’s football Laure Boulleau would be a high profile name with PSG she earns 60K US a year, it’s a far more realistic figure than what these lazy money grabbers are on in the men’s game.

    Gregg really should resign immediately but they are so out of touch with reality and public opinion they simply don’t comprehend the damage they are doing to the sport. They’ll probably just throw a lump of money at it and get some Sven like figure in.

    I thought with the revelations in FIFA & UFEA recently that this tournament would be the purest of them all, but the disproportionate tickets my Irish lot got against France soon awoken me from an innocent slumber. (5000 tickets in a 59000 seater stadium)

    The game was also arranged for Stade De Lyon, one of the hottest parts of France and KO locked in for the height of the afternoon sun. Now France were the better team no doubt but they received every helping hand going. Again the powers that be want the hosts in the tournament for the cash-flow. The Irish supporters today are being awarded the Medal Of The City of Paris for exemplary sportsmanship a kind gesture but for me it just feels abit of a pat on the back, akin to the 5M we were given after the Henry handball.

  25. Seems like they have a lot in common with Labour MP’s, hope Corbyn stays because the members will return him with far bigger numbers but will the gutless dissenters resign ? noooo, they may have to work for a living. Jowett stole Wembley for London, she’s just a lying cow who should be drummed out.

  26. I see Newcastle aren’t hanging about, New Goalkeeper, Dwight gayle and Matt Ritchie look set and they aren’t finished there, coupled with Benitez and playing in front of 50k every week, they are going to take some stopping. I’d love us to show intent and go and get Ross McCormick .

  27. Mark,
    We are on a ride of mystery and then for good measure we are afflicted with the love of Villa lol

    Steamer,
    The lads did us proud out there, Brady & Hendrick came of age out there and they are our future. Glad we restored some pride after our performance at the last Euros. The people fell in love with the team again. Only worryingly aspect is we don’t have much coming through to replace Robbie and co who are departing the scene. Maybe the Brexit will help us exploit the granny rule more LOL.

  28. Mark: “I found this blog and it was quite an interesting read…”

    Interesting? Yes, perhaps … Germany’s had a dilemma to face (re: conscience) in the past 70 years, but it is questionable that they should (officially) feel quite so obliging as WW2 was helped by an awful Versailles Treaty post-WW1.

    Germany’s situation, however, is a human yet different story to our own where we have something like 54 millions cramped into a narrow space called England, and about two-thirds of that space holding the bulk of those 54 millions.

    Germany, meanwhile has a pop’n of around 80 millions in around 4 or 5 times the amount of space as England.

    In other words, England holds around 2 and a half times the number of people that Germany does in the same amount of space.

    If I am wrong please tell me. And if Scotland does do a UDI then we will no longer have a useful overflow area to accommodate immigrants.

    BTW, I am certainly not against immigration (in controlled form) but I didn’t see that either the Remains or the Leavers had/have a viable plan to apply controls.

  29. I see Ayew has a novel approach, Mcgrath is going to tell him whether to stay or go 😉

    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-mail-football-live-latest-11544008?

    Steamer- thought it made an interesting comparison to the Racist hysterics aimed at 17 mil here. I had a good look around blogs and we are getting it for being associated with Britain’s former empire and atoning for that. Seems to me the Germans are on a similar trip with Hitler. One article said that the children of north Africa (therefore the parents I assume) think Hitler’s a hero for his anti Semitism and couldn’t understand why Germany were ashamed. That must mortify the Germans, then you have the Gay issue, Germany are Gay friendly the immigrants not so.

    That isn’t to say its not an ideal to aspire to it just has not been thought through and executed to quickly to cope it seems.

  30. JL- totally agree, The cupboard is pretty full and nobody knows how to make shelving 😉

    Germany have kind of decided for the whole EU and that is not very democratic is it? the worrying part is without controls on the standard of people coming in what will we be left with? unteachable people with very different ideas to the average uk citizen. Plus If the educated are showing so much disdain for the less educated why do they want to potentially expand it?

  31. JL- This is very important, IQ is very important, be that a skill or education. I did find an article that said Syrian families are more likely to send their useless unmarried sons who are a burden and potential disgrace west, 70% males under 30 , thats a lot of trouble..

    “They said that Angela Merkel is creaming off the most economically useful of the asylum seekers, by taking those that have shown the gumption and initiative to risk life and limb by fleeing to Europe.
    Precedent suggests they will be the ones that find work fastest and impose the least economic burden on Germany or any other host country.
    By contrast, David Cameron appears to be doing what many would see as the more morally admirable thing – which is to go to the Syrian camps and invite children and the most vulnerable of refugees to Britain.”

  32. That said taking the best from developing countries makes you wonder whats left? they may return to rebuild one day but it won’t do much for stability in the next 10-20 years.

  33. Just had to save a migrant myself, someone startled some starlings on my front garden and a youngster flew into my window and knocked itself out. He’s now sat on my shed until he wakes up, can I get a grant? 😉

  34. The names linked to Villa are extremely underwhelming, I don’t believe we are in for Ross McCormick at £12-15m. Rickie Lambert looks likely and that is a shocker, 4 goals in his last 60 appearances over 2 years, he makes Gabby look like Ian Wright. With 38 days until we KO( 24 hrs after the rest), let’s hope RDM saw in the first training session that he needs to completely overhaul a terrible squad, and gets Dr Tony to dig deep for RM, A decent Keeper, Gunter, a real MF or 2 in fact we need around 7/8 that can improve the starting 11 whilst getting rid of the wank stains that couldn’t be arsed last year and thoroughly embarrassed themselves, the club and poured misery on us the loyal fans.
    I’m not holding my breath, whilst relegation seems the end of the world for us, the Geordie scum are doing the right thing, they are taking the positives, rebuilding quickly and are looking at nothing less than automatic promotion and winning the league. It helps they have kept Benitez and some very decent players whilst adding the right type for this league.
    I know people will say there is plenty of time, the window doesn’t shut til the end of Aug etc etc but we have to hit the ground running( as others will who only need to tweak their squads) and in 38 days time we need to be ready with just a touch of tweaking or so before the window shuts( even if that is a loan or 2)

  35. B-62 RDM has only seen his squad yesterday and there are some still missing. Yes he could watch last years games and make the assumptions we have come to but thats a lot of money to throw away if he feels he can use certain players. He may also be talking to the few want aways that he may want to keep like Gana. I think we will see movement by the time we go to Austria. he’s got a big squad to access plus the youth its no small task. Its frustrating but its his job, Benitez has obviously had games last season to access players so they are street ahead. Its along season and I’d rather he got it right rather than rush it like last season.

  36. b62

    know what you mean but just try and be patient and see where we are come kick off. elphick is an ideal start and pray more to come! and lots out!

    Remember we are dealing with the unflushables though!

  37. Yeah I get that lads and ultimately it is how line up Aug 7th that really matters, but I was hoping RDM would have done some homework knowing he was getting the job with the takeover going through, and we could get on with it( he may well have done). I like the look of Elphick, but there again this time last year( summer window) a lot of fans were creaming there pants over Micah Richards and a French revolution, and we all know how that turned out.
    It will be interesting to see who leaves and for how much, I hope Dr Tony is prepared to dig deep to cover the inevitable losses and yet still invest.

  38. I think Loser used the transfer kitty to hypnotize the fans into believing that he’d sold the club to a mysterious Chinaman with a sackful of $$$$$. When the deadline has gone he’ll snap his fingers and you’ll wake up to Tom Fox babbling on about false narratives and how he’s re-appointed Lamebert.
    Surely RdM didn’t need a holiday, he’s been out of work for over a year and as for checking which players to keep has he seen last years league tables, get yer finger out Rubbertoe.

  39. With the Brexit lads what do you think will happen to Ireland – UK relations. We’ve always had a closer relationship with each other than other countries in Europe, yes we fight from time to time but I personally think that’s cause we are more alike than we care to admit lol. Wars etc are consigned to history.

    For example, will British banks be tempted to move to Dublin to remain in the EU ? Is the dreaded border going to be back in place to Northern Ireland ? (Imagine the cost of manning that)

    There is an estimated 400k Irish currently in the UK and a estimated 250k Britons in Ireland, what will happen to the free trade & movement between us? I’d like to think we will arrange a similar arrangement akin to the Nordic Passport Union.

  40. It seems as though Jordan Ayew is happy to stay and contribute to Villa’s fight to get promotion.
    Good on JA. He’s wanted by other clubs, but says he’s happy to stay.

  41. Hi Liam

    For the first time ever Ireland doesn’t have Britain to fight it’s corner in the EU, and so our politicians have to stand up and be counted (god love us) during the discussions on the new UK/EU relationship so that we get favourable treatment as 40 or 60 percent of our exports go to the UK (can’t remember which is the correct figure).

    I work for a US bank with operations in UK/Europe and while no one can jump to conclusions there has to be contingency plans made to consider re-location and luckily for Ireland we have a good infrastructure and a well educated workforce that would make moving here more favourable, the only problem would be lack of real estate/office space.

    With Ian Paisley Jr recommending Northern Irish get Irish passports the border will be goods only in terms of export documentation but sure doesn’t the border area need employment opportunities anyway (every cloud).

    That 400k is first generation Irish, there are 6m with Irish ancestry and second and third generation as we know from football can apply for Irish passports so they won’t need a visa for their holidays 🙂

    I see on the economy side a lot of money pouring into gold and silver, the markets are not happy with Brexit

  42. Liam- To be honest it will all come down to what Germany/France and their allies want. It certainly will not be what the British want to see happen but a lot depends on who ends up negotiating the exit too. We really need a strong leader at this point and I don’t see one. Still there is a long way to go yet with other countries calling for referendums etc and who knows what end of play will be, personally I don’t want to see the break up of the UK but if Ireland wants to reunite thats fine by me and if Scotland wants out I think they may find it chilly out there, The EU has already said they will have to reapply, what deal will they get? They could be without support from us or the EU.

    A lot of rubbish has been talked about no way back but maybe we should concentrate on our strengths and believe in ourselves and when we become successful it may at least change the EU’s attitude for you lot. The people wanting to do trade deals are beginning to appear and Germanies car industry I heard could lose 750,000 jobs if they don’t trade with us, common sense will prevail and maybe we will end up doing more good from the outside because it was it just was not happening from within.

  43. Happy July AVL,

    Let the clear out begin as we start our push for world domination, the new defender is a good start but we still need to shift a boat load of players before we kick off, Guzan,Hutton, Richards,Lescott,Westwood, Sinclair, Agbonlahor and probably a few more most who should never pull a Villa shirt on ever again.

    I cannot believe some blogs saying Flabby would do a good job in the championship, one the defences are no mugs down here and two as I said before he should never don the colours again.

    Just over a month before the first game and RDM has to build and mould a team capable of mounting a challenge do any of us really believe this is possible given the work that needs to be done.

    SWV

  44. SWV- I think it will be very difficult but considering the option of the play offs that may be where we are heading. I think he will build a team but we won’t see them gel until December at the earliest unless he uses a lot of the youth or can hold on to the French lads and bring in 5-6 solid pros like elphick and a striker min.

  45. Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Andre Green and Harry McKirdy are all training with the first-team after the new boss promoted them from the U21 set-up.

  46. SWV
    No I donr believe we can, Newcastle who finished 20pts ahead of us, are already assembling a good squad and have brought in 3 key players in key areas. I think if we can get Ross McCormick, it will go along way to getting us there with his goals, and show real intent not just PR hot air and bollox. We need a massive overhaul, and it’s not possible in the time we have, play offs looks like the best we can hope for unless there is massive change. Keep most of last years side as the starting 11 and we will be in a survival battle, as they have shown literally nothing, no heart, no fight absolutely fuck all on the pitch.
    Under Armour are our new kit manufacturers and we have signed a 5 year deal, new kits/training gear unveiled at 1200hrs.
    100 years since the battle of the Somme #Lestweforget

  47. Steamer,

    I see you have not managed to get the top off that 60 year old bottle of optimism.
    Although I agree I think we are so far away from making a challenge it will be impossible to construct a side in five weeks, is Reilly still at the club and if so why.

    SWV

  48. More than 60,000 new members of the Labour Party since Brexit and the plot to oust Corbyn and the socialist left, bring ’em on and when we defeat them, expel and de-select the gutless vermin starting with Hilary Benn. Not one of the dissenting MP’s voted against the Tory austerity bill.
    Harman & Jowell have never been an asset to either the LP or the UK.

  49. Bruce staying at Hull because everyone else recognised he was a mug, and some Villans wanted him at VP, mind i’m wondering if we’ve appointed a new manager, anyone sees him let us know.
    Hope the Welsh get trashed tonight, Monkey boy reckons they’ve got one over England yet W/Bales lost to the worst team at the tournament. Hypocrites and parasites sums up these Welsh twats who make/made their living in our crepe league and are now slagging off the English nation

  50. Steamer
    You sound as chipper as ever, your that much of a red I’m very suprised you don’t support Man Utd 😉
    The Labour Party made a rod for its back allowing £3 membership which the socialist worker party exploited for its own end. In order to hold the governments feet to the fire, you need a strong opposition, and that isn’t Corbyn or the Labour Party at present. They keep putting up plums as opposition leader ie Milliband, Corbyn etc. these are people large parts of the country can’t get behind or vote for and quite frankly don’t like, the best way to keep the Tories in power is keep Jeremy in his scruffy cords and crazy ideals in place. On the other side, God help us if Theresa May gets in, she really is a bitch who will completely destroy the country( finish the job off she has been doing as Home Secretary), she should be put down quickly within the Tory party.
    Yeah I’m not cheering on Wales today either, I don’t think they have been that good and have that air of obnoxious about them, they always put the boot in on the English, so why should I cheer them on, I’m cheering for Italy for the rest of the championships( til sat when they will lose to the Jeeeermans)

  51. That’s the problem mate, no convincing politicians any more, not even good liars. One of the differences between a socialist voter and a Tory voter is that if it is a crepe Labour front bench they won’t get the votes, it doesn’t matter who is on the Tory bench they vote Tory, its not politics, its class distinction. Still if May gets the nod we’ll have the last laugh.

  52. A wonderful article by Mark Steel in to-day’s ‘i‘, including this bit:


    … we’ve got our country back. Instead of Britain resting in the hands of unselected bureaucrats from Europe, it’s now ruled by accountable people, such as Rupert Murdoch and Michael Gove’s wife.

  53. Don’t like the collar or badge but its a deeper shade of Burgundy, 2 out of 10 for me.
    Like the away kit it comes in S,M,L, XL, XXL, XXXL, Huge & Gabby.

  54. The Labour Party

    In terms of impact, yes Corbyn is a bit of a problem

    However, I rarely hear anything he says that I disagree with and I think he’s still a welcome change after Blair. Also, the council election s and by-elections fought since Corbyn came in have gone reasonably well, and the middle and right-wing press said nowt about that.

    How to translate Corbyn’s clear integrity into more appeal to the electorate is something of an issue, but integrity should be a main consideration for a leader i.m.o.

  55. JL,
    If honesty and integrity is a problem to the Labour Party then we’re stuffed because there certainly isn’t any in the Con Party.
    Blair had the dynamic but nothing else except the touch of evil, i know what i’d sooner have, whatever the cost.
    Who in their right minds would vote for Gove, except Mrs Gove. Fox has always been popular in the Cons, another evil so and so.

  56. I think we have known it will be too much of a ask to get automatic promo. TOO much turnaround in short space of time. Which we needed. But new owner, manager etc and having to rebuild is a massive task. Id be ok with hanging around play off places and having a new team. If we keep ayew, amavi and adama it will be like 3 new signings there. Id bet money he wants a spine in before the Austria trip. Got a def and bet we will have a gk and a st.

  57. Steamer,

    Yes – if there had been integrity in the Tory party then *perhaps* they might at some time have got my vote, but they never have. I’ve always voted Labour except once (Liberal) and the last time (Green).

    Honesty and integrity is what the Labour Party should concentrate on, but these days the voters want a superstar figurehead rather than someone who speaks heap big truth.

  58. Cheers for the insight DOR & Mark,

    So ironically I might be better off getting an Australian passport if I ever want to live and work in the UK eh lol !? My Uni Degrees are British too lol

    Like the new kits even though they are cloned from the Stan Collymore years, some of the other gear is pricey. 100 quid for the matchday jacket bloody hell , you’d want to wear it to afew weddings to get value for money out of it.

    I’m shocked at the Matt Ritchie proposed move to Rafa’s boys, he should have options to stay in the prem surely.

    Signings wise we desperately need CMs I think it’s the one position we cannot take chances on

  59. JL- Lord Rothschild is upset as we have buggered up his federal reserve for europe up 😉

    We obviously need a plan to go ahead with and I think it should include representatives from all the parties that got votes at the last election and various experts to give there view. At least then it would represent the peoples of Britain and not one lots and big businesses concerns. Farage may be disliked but he also is voicing a lot of peoples concerns as they voted UKIP. If this is allowed to be a conservative only discussion we might as well pack in and rejoin.

    I talked to a mate today who works for Oxford universities as a security guard, His wage is no great shakes. He has a Hungarian who works with him who cannot understand why he does not want the EU. The Hungarian lad on similar wages has bought several flats back home and is having a house in the country built for him, my friend is wondering how he will pay his mortgage and live when he retires?? that is the problem isn’t it? we have to keep cheap labour here to pay for us instead of being able to pay for ourselves so that the rich can get richer. Am I missing something??

  60. Alright lads,I aproach this political blog with much trepidation……as I wish to discuss the Villa.I would like your support please,I feel strongly about how awful the club crest is.It doesn’nt offend me as such,it’s lovely to see a kitten playing with a snowflake.However,I believe the crest should state what we are…..Aston Villa….,and when we came into existence ….1874.I have written to Wyness to express this,and I would like any of you to do the same,if you feel the same.I know Wyness has a lot on his plate for the forseeable,but I believe this is important,well it is for me.If you are happy with the current crest ok,lets not fall out.Thanks for reading.

  61. B6,

    I agree with you, but I’d go further than what you suggest.

    On the other hand, I really have lost motivation to follow up the Villa any further *for now* … their e-mail inbox must have got hot at one stage due to the input it was getting from me! 😉

    I may come back to it once they’ve started to re-enthuse me!

  62. Mark,

    I can only see it (the Brexit negotiations) as mainly a Tory only thing, but once the two parties have got their leadership issues sorted I do think we should have another general election.

    UKIP? Well, they still only have one MP and he doesn’t like Farage!!

    I think UKIP should just vote itself out of existence … I only see them as trouble-makers. They (Farage) probably raised a good issue to start with but I get the feeling they’re developing into a rabble, and the British (English) should recognise that instead of backing them. Especially as UKIP have made their basic point. What policies do they have beyond getting out of Europe? The answer is in the label – UKIP.

  63. B6B,
    I’m with you on the crest, i’d prefer the VERY old one from c1956, very classy and says everything about the club that we hold dear. There’s probably 20 on google images that i’d prefer to the current one and would look great with Burgundy.

  64. John,
    The close season is so boring, we’d have nothing to talk about if it wasn’t for our success in the Eur……
    Nah, Villa are becoming a bit boring, football used to be the big thing, a fashion even, but disillusionment has set in with the public, when the Sky viewing figures drop dramatically Murdoch will plough his billions into something else.

  65. JL- that’s what I was getting at, Farage at least approached the unapproachable. Yes UKIP should be over and probably will be at election time with the smell now following them. Can’t say I trust any of the available partys to do much good at the moment if I’m honest if we had an election. As you said earlier honesty’s not in vogue.

    I can’t help but look at our Country/Economy and see Rome in the time just before the civil war that Caesar started. Also similarities with the time that led to the splitting of the Roman empire when I look at the EU.

  66. Mark,
    Lifelong ambition to be a season ticket holder at least once in my life so I’ll bring the life jacket lol, might possibly be next season.

    I know I’m a gluten for punishment 🙂

  67. Liam- That must be an Irish thing as my girls dad regularly kills small animals with his bare hands, Pulled to crows out of his chimney at xmas and wrung their necks lucky santa had been already 🙂

  68. Hey Liam,the Irish passport and visa offices in London are on CROMWELL RD.,……..of all the addresses to choose.I hope you are keeping well.

  69. Starting to worry a bit more about us now. still only one signing. Hopefully we will get a couple next week. A keeper looks likely thankfully

    I worry we will give the likes of Guzan, Sinclair, Richards, Huttoon, Gabby another go. Awful players who need to go

    Newcastle signing good players. Will we even be able to keep ayew and Amavi? we need to.

  70. It’s such a strong league and we are so unprepared. we have an awful squad, with awful players mostly

    even shef wed signing Fletcher is a very good buy for them.

    we need a couple of strikers with Ayew and Rudy. Both might go so we’d need 4 then. I like Lambert, but not as the main striker. We’d need Ings or wells

    So much work to do. even if the useful players stay, we still need 8 signings at least

  71. Like the new away kit and the yellow keepers kit. The training gear looks nice. Might have to pop to the store and buy a shit load of stuff

  72. Not at all John what i meant was its easier to understand and explained well.

    The Gov could save 50-80b by cancelling the pointless HS3.

    Talking of wasted cash has anyone seen the price of the tat in the Villastore ? 20 quid for a hat, Tom Fox really stitched us up with this UA deal like everything else he did.

  73. JL_ thanks mate I will give it a read, makes you wonder though with all there info why they got no airplay? maybe the out vote was necessary in the end to highlight the peoples exasperation and the governments covering up about where the EU was heading since its birth. Something that could of been viewed favourably by the UK people is now viewed as a bogey man. It does at the end of the day have massive problems from what I have read so far though.

    Well done to the Welsh can’t say they did not deserve that, bring it home, Bale v Ronaldo next

  74. JL- I was torn over the green issues and the mention of the use of GMO’s once we were out. I will say this I live in a rural area and they are building everywhere. what damage does that do in the long term? Its now up to the people of this country to say what they want not blindly be dragged along by the government, if that means protests then get out there

  75. This part in the conclusion just looks like the EU attempts to control agriculture.Considering they sell us their cars things won’t change much as far a air quality unless they lie like VW did about there emissions 😉

    “EU directives have led to a network of
    protected areas in the UK – though some of these
    protections are designed to limit the intensive
    agriculture which the EU itself promotes through
    the CAP. The British presence has strengthened the
    regulation of chemicals and improved EU climate
    diplomacy. Overall, British membership has benefited
    the environment. ”

    Will the EU now change their policies on climate/chemicals etc because we are out? If we become involved in a nordic block then I can see us taking on more of there ideas and they are the best in the world. They have a huge stash of heirloom seeds put away from around the world, now thats thinking.

    https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/20/the-doomsday-vault-seeds-save-post-apocalyptic-world

  76. Mark: “Will the EU now change their policies on climate/chemicals etc because we are out? If we become involved in a nordic block then I can see us taking on more of there ideas and they are the best in the world. “

    Agreed with that sentiment, but our old record in EFTA was not that good. Mind you, environmental issues have come closer to the top of the pile since 1975.

    Yes, on balance you could be right there.

    In respect of the trading argument for being outside the EU, on the other hand, none of the countries already showing signs of wanting to trade directly with the UK (outside of the EU) are of any great size population and GDP-wise, except an apparent turnabout by the USA! And I suppose Australia with the 10th largest GDP should be considered sizeable.

    Here’s an interesting thought:

    In the 1960s, Dutch economist Jan Tinbergen discovered
    that there is a close analogy between Newtonian physics
    and trade flows. Newton discovered that the gravitational
    force between two objects is proportional to their mass
    and the distance between them. Tinbergen found that
    trade flows between two countries are proportional to
    their GDP and the distance between them.

  77. Oh … And On The Matter Of Footie!!

    Well done Wales!! And they could beat Portugal, too.

    We have the spectre of a Wales vs Iceland final 😉 … Now, if that happens wouldn’t that indicate that (taking also the Leicester achievement and Brexit onto account) the world IS in a state of big change!

  78. JL- We should look to help the poorer common wealth countries develop in a sustainable way I think along with other emerging markets. Add whatever The Eu chose to give us which I seriously think they cannot ignore us or block us for their own good. They would have to make the sales up from somewhere and that means making agreements quickly, not their forte.

    One thing that vexs me is we as a nation export ideas and tech/software etc we are very good at it, why do we not think we can think ourselves into a better future?

    Also the remain element form the university educated (partly EU Funded Universities, no pressure there then 😉 ) don’t seem to have noticed that voting out and the ensuing fluctuations in the markets are caused by what? the 0.01% having half the worlds wealth and gambling on the markets, It certainly wasn’t the vast billions of people not buying stuff was it?
    The World has been in the muck since 2007 and refuses to deal with it, how much longer do we carry on with a monetary system that works for the rich and does not reinvest in the rest of us or a future we can aspire to. Forget The Eu having a big say in your futures the likes of Bill Gates , zukerberg etc are doing it anyway with their various pet projects.

  79. Mark,

    Am in sympathy with most of your comment, except that what the EU is also worried about is the UK acting as a precedent for other countries to also secede from the EU.

    If the EU is very kind to the UK it may act as a green light for others to say “ah, well, that’s an OK agreement, maybe we should go the same way”. Will the remaining members of the EU want to take that risk?

    It’s all on a knife edge i.m.o.

  80. P.S.

    The only saving grace for the EU is that its main members (except us, we’re still in – for now) are members of the Euro and those members would not be likely to leave because of that.

    The more I think about it, the Euro seems to have been a way of tightening the bond to make it very difficult for anyone to leave.

  81. JL- Yes I agree on both comments, I wonder what will be said behind closed doors? Nobody wants to see the other countries suffer but if something isn’t working for all the EU has to adapt or perish. Its Idealism vs common sense IMO. We now know why we never went into the Euro, it was the last fingernail on the cliff edge.

    Despite our size we are an influential country in many ways, Europe has never really understood us I suppose and our quirks and despite our financial clout we were stifled by it IMO. I cannot think of another country other than France/Germany who have had the nous to Innovate the way we have historically, I may be wrong but right about us but right now the west needs direction. I feel like the Eu has become bigger than the people it should serve.

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