After a turgid opening half, Aston Villa finally came to life when Blackburn Rovers broke through early in the second to break a 0-0 deadlock and put the home side on notice. It was Jonathan Kodjia who once again came to the rescue, converting from the penalty spot and then adding the winner to lead Villa to three points at home, 2-1.
That’s 11 of 15 points since Steve Bruce took charge, and Villa are now five points off the playoff spots.
Somewhat strangely, Bruce seemed to succumb to the same temptation that did in Roberto Di Matteo, going to a 4-2-3-1 with just Gardner and Jedinak in midfield. I’m guessing the idea was to overwhelm a struggling Rovers side with McCormack up top and Grealish, Kodjia, and Adomah behind and alongside. Bacuna’s absence may have played a part. But it also makes one wonder why Tshibola isn’t figuring the manager’s thinking.
It also seems to me that Bruce saw an opportunity to give the struggling McCormack an opportunity to get back on track, as well as reintroduce Grealish, given Ayew’s suspension and Rovers’ lowly position.
But once again, despite all the apparent firepower, Villa couldn’t get their noses in front and struggled to create much of anything. Blackburn actually had the initiative, such as it was, during the first period, and two in midfield did not seem to be doing Villa any favors.
The second half was a different story as Villa found another gear. Even so, against the early run of play in the second, Sam Gallagher headed past Gollini, and all the good feelings accumulated over the last few games seemed under threat.
Credit to Villa, though, their heads didn’t drop, and Grealish, as he so often does, drew a foul just four minutes later. Fortunately it was in the box. Kodjia made no mistake with the resulting opportunity to level from the spot.
It was a vital moment for Villa in the game and perhaps the season. Clearly uplifted, just twelve minutes later Mile Jedinak played Kodjia through nicely on the left, and the in-form striker took his chance again to put Villa up for good.
Guess who played a part in that move? Gabby Agbonlahor, the black sheep back from the wilderness who had replaced McCormack two minutes earlier.
Ah, Gabby
I completely understand the ill-will toward Gabby. I’d have banished him, too. But I don’t fault Bruce for giving players a clean slate. Most managers do. One could argue quite persuasively that Gabby is in no way deserving of a third or fourth chance to find his way again. But my guess is that Bruce is looking at several things.
One, he’s establishing that he, and not Dr. Tony, is in charge of team selection. Two, he’s trying to show players that a desire to be in the team counts for something. Three, and probably most relevant, he likely has his eye on the African Cup of Nations and the loss of Kodjia, Ayew, Adomah, and Gestede. If he’s running Gabby into shape now and helping him get the rust off, it might turn out to be a savvy move.
The only flaw in that plan is that whatever scoring touch Gabby might once have had seems for all the world to have deserted him years ago.
What about the youth?
Well, I can only assume that Bruce, like every recent Villa manager before him, is reluctant to rely on players with less experience given Villa still have ground to make up and have only just started to figure out how to win with veteran players. Whether or not it’s a wise decision, I can’t really say. I honestly don’t see enough of the youngsters. I’ve heard lots of praise for Hepburn-Murphy and Green, for example, and can only assume it’s warranted. Perhaps they’ll get more chances if and when Villa are in a more comfortable position. Or if there’s an injury crisis. Perhaps they won’t.
Is it cause for criticism? I wouldn’t say no. But I also can’t discount the fact that Villa are unbeaten with none of them on the pitch.
The real concern for me is that Villa still aren’t getting the returns such a threatening set of attackers would seem to promise. Maybe one of those youngsters would make a difference. But it’s hard to dismiss McCormack’s previous scoring record in the league, never mind Kodjia’s current run of form. For his part, while Ayew has struggled to find the net, he can make things happen and pull defenses out of shape. Adomah has made his case quite strongly. Part of building confidence in a side is not losing faith with proven players when they’re struggling. But faith must be balanced with form and competition for places. It’s a tricky line to walk.
Which means the choice not to include any of the U-23s will likely remain a source of frustration/bewilderment for a while yet. And although I understand what I imagine Bruce’s thinking to be regarding Gabby, I don’t believe after watching him the last few years that he really has any goals in him. I’d be happy for Gabby to prove me wrong, but I just don’t think he will. And if that turns out to be the case, I hope Bruce sees it sooner rather than later and starts seriously considering the other options.
At any rate, Villa remain unbeaten in the Steve Bruce era, and for now, that’s all we can ask for. Confidence has to be growing, but although Villa are now tougher to beat and are grinding out results, they still don’t appear all that threatening.
Captain Obvious Alert
What really needs to happen is for Villa to get all those attackers firing and finding the back of the net more frequently. They really can, and should, score three or four against most any team they play. That would not only put us on the kind of unbeaten run Newcastle are on, it would give Villa the swagger they’ll need to not only just make the playoffs, but win through.
Regardless, Villa have been finding a way to win close matches in which they aren’t always playing particularly well, and that’s crucial for any side, never mind one with so much ground to make up. This really should’ve been the series of results Villa opened the season with. One can only continue to hope it’s the foundation for better and more consistent performances in the weeks ahead.
Over to you.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 176
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Really good write up thanks John.
The first half was so dire I went to get a drink before the end and didn’t even bother looking up at the screens to see how the half ended.
Second half we looked a different team. I don’t know what Bruce says to them but at last we seem to have a manager who can make a difference for the better.
The chants:
1) loud and persistent chanting of “Steve Bruce’s claret and blue army.” Not sure he’s quite earned it yet, but he can’t be far off, and it must have made him feel good.
2) “Gabby Gabby Gabby Gabby, . . . . You know the rest. After all he’s done it was surprising to see just how many fans applauded him and sang his name. He may not be able to score goals but he does still seem to make a difference and give opposition defences something to think about. . . . mightn’t Hepburn Murphy do that too though?
3) the last wasn’t a chant, it was booing for one of our own players. . . . Westwood.
How stupid are these people? ive heard people ask why all of our managers keep getting it wrong and picking him. Well here’s a thought . . . Maybe they’re not the ones getting it wrong!
But let’s just say for a second that they ‘are’ getting it wrong (they’re not), but let’s say they ‘all’ got it wrong, then there’s still the question . . . do these people actually think that them booing the player ‘onto’ the pitch is going to improve our chances of winning? Unintelligent Idiots
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-opinion-fans-would-12133653
Well, what a day. Villa have won three in a row. Good for Kodija.
And all credit to Ireland beating the All Blacks for the first time in 111 years. A great win. These two teams play one another again in Dublin in two weeks time.
r0bb0-
Agreed, can’t see why we’d be booing Westwood and cheering Gabby. I’m on record not being Westwood’s biggest fan. I don’t think he’s a bad player, I just think we could do better. But you could ultimately say that about any player who’s not the best in the world at his position.
In Westwood’s defense:
He always tries—the effort’s there. Seems to be an honest player.
He’s accepted a diminished role without complaint
He provides a safe enough outlet, keeps things ticking over…ie, a decent enough sub as he’s currently being used.
Nothing for me to boo there.
Moreover, I can’t see how it helps any of the others out there to see supporters turning on one of their own, especially if he’s liked and/or respected by the rest of the players (which I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t be). He hasn’t been in trouble, hasn’t slagged off the club or the managers, hasn’t criticized the fans or being put on the bench. He’s held his head up and done what he can do. Grealish and Gabby have brought less honor to the shirt.
I don’t want to set off an argument about the atmosphere at Villa Park. I completely understand and share the supporters’ frustration over these last several years, and you eventually take it out on the team when there’s no one else to go after. And last year, as Veretout’s comments this last week indicate, the players were numb to losing, which merits booing the side as a whole.
But with Westwood, this is an example of how you can undermine your own team. He plays to the limits of his ability. I can’t boo a player who’s putting in an honest shift. If I’m unhappy with his presence, then I point my ire at those who signed him unless he does something to disgrace the club or insult the supporters.
Trinity…
Funny feeling going into a game and now half-expecting a win, isn’t it?
Hope the recuperation’s going well.
Bruce is still hampered by the poor players he has inherited. McCormack is a complete flop and waste of money at 12m & 29yrs old. Agbonlahor doesn’t look any fatter than him.
Midfield is well below par. Some more nasty results to come for this team. Bruce needs to spend wisely in January.
Well said Robbo, and an interesting article JC.
Villa were dire in the first half, and did improve a lot in the second half, and the Blackburn goal was really against the run of play, but fair play to Jack he continued to make an impression and won the penalty with his skill. Villa did continue to fight, but the difference was made when Gabby came on, and he did the business, ingetting us a second goal for the win, and continued to harass and create problems for Blackburn. He put in another impressive display for the time he was on the pitch, and I am sure he will continue to play a part under Steve Bruce for the immediate future.
I think that Bruce is doing it right and building confidence as best he can for the time being with the players he has fit and available. Given time and the full playing squad, things can only get better.
So great to be able to get away from the ground with the M6 back open now.
Paul,
Agreed, if Bruce can bring in another quality midfielder and right back during the window, Villa could really fly second half.
Not willing to write off McCormack just yet…I confess to not having seen much of him until he arrived at Villa, but I keep in mind the observations that you have to set up a certain way to get the best of him. But maybe that means we need to write him off if we can’t/won’t do that.
It seems to me that like a kid in a candy shop, RDM signed players without knowing how they would work together. I will say I’m glad it wasn’t my £12m.
Paul Pears…
A player with something to prove can be a blessing. I’m all for Gabby succeeding, and it’s good to hear your observations about his contribution. If he’s adding something, then good on him.
Sad to hear the booing for Westwood, he always gives his all even if it isnt appreciated. But he does a job for the team. I think this sort of reaction from ‘fans’ has now made me think I dont really want to be part of this any more, even after 50 years of complete and utter support for the Villa. And being battered by all sorts of opposition off the pitch – it just seems a different world these days and I’m not sure I can fit in without smacking these idiots who constantly pick on players. If it isn’t Westwood then its someone else. Where have the days gone when we supported our team through absolute thick and thin?
oldvilla
John
Half expecting a win is about right. BTW, nice write up. Thanks. I’m recovering quickly.
People seem quick to write off McCormack. That is, IMO, a mistake. We will need him while other strikers are in Africa. If Gabby is doing a job for Villa, I won’t complain and I like most of us despised him for his antics. Bacuna had done well up to his injury too.
I don’t like people booing Westwood. It is bad for the team, a team that has just won three in a row. Shame there is another international break now.
OldVilla, you wrote: “Where have the days gone when we supported our team through absolute thick and thin?”
Wonderful question, my friend!
John, I’m repeating the Mail’s comments about Gabby:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/heres-how-aston-villas-gabby-12133091?
“Agbonlahor had been on the pitch just a matter of seconds when he started the move for the winner.
“His pass out to Gary Gardner, who in turn set up Mile Jedinak for a brilliant pass which Kodjia converted, was Agbonlahor’s most significant contribution of his cameo.
“Agbonahor was used as a central striker in a 4-3-3 formation and as well as his part in the winning goal he produced a couple of neat touches.
“He spread the play wide with a controlled pass, chested down another ball to a team-mate and showed willing to hassle a Blackburn defender and regain possession for Villa in a dangerous area.
“There were a couple of promising moments around the penalty box when the ball just wouldn’t fall for him, but it was another encouraging cameo.”
BTW, less than 30,000 at VP yesterday … perhaps the rest were shopping for something to warm Steamer’s heart! 😉
I dont really want to be part of this any more, even after 50 years of complete and utter support for the Villa.
Agree mate, basically there’s not a lot i like about Villa these days.
Don’t rate AW one bit but at least he gives effort while the fat parasite gets cheered for causing mayhem at VP for seven years. Most Villa fans are totally stupid an know f-all about the game.
Seems Wulves and AV are run on similar lines, both owned by Chinese, both appointed totally inept Italian failures as managers and have now gone for idiots who play long ball rubbish.
Can’t complain too much about Spud, i’m sure there was 5 or 6 minutes of football in his five games.
Folk on the various blogs seem to have vendettas against Grealish, if all our players were put up for sale tomorrow only two would fetch a decent fee and probably only the same two would go to Premier clubs – Codger and Grealish..
JL,
I don’t have one.
Unbiased view there –
“There were a couple of promising moments around the penalty box when the ball just wouldn’t fall for him, but it was another encouraging cameo.”
So the ball was at fault then.
Brucey and the results…
It seems to me that the first priority was to get confidence re-instilled in the team and grind out a few matches to stop the losing trend – or even fear of winning.
In 5 matches, Bruce has achieved that first stage in my view. The next match will be a big test, as Brighton must be in a good mood right now, and on their ground too. So I don’t expect Brucey to change much for that match – he’ll be concentrating on keeping the team’s shape and the opposiiton out in my opinion.
But assuming we put in a reasonable performance against Brighton we might then start to see the better football that we’d prefer. For the moment, though, we’re still undefeated at VP this season and quietly accumulating some points. Wow!
JL
The poor attendance figure yesterday was because the Blackburn fans stayed away. There were only six seats occupied in the away end, and the Villa fans could not be bothered to sing about sh**e support….!!!
I am sure that McCormack will play a role as the team continues to grow together, and as my mate says. Adomah and Hutton are awful individually, but together, they are building a very good understanding.the same with Baker and Amavi, they are building understanding. The whole problem with Villa over the past few years has been not havig a team that was gelling together, and if there is one thing that Bruce has done, he has got these boys playing for each other.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-opinion-fans-would-12133653
Glad to see others agreeing ……….
Grumpy oldvilla
steamer
you have to laugh at the mail s football writers [westwood wasnt on phone to his agent looking for a move] westwood is getting paid so far above his playing level it s not funny
gabby should have been let go in summer if the doc had really wanted to make a gesture to fans he is poison in the dressing room,what is it 2 more appearances no goals surprise surprise
as for westwood he really is not good enough for aston villa absolutely gives nothing apart from running around a bit can not tackle ,head ,pass the ball more than 5 yards forward ,score ,or assist a goal what do people want from a midfielder surely some of the above
Agree JG.
Folk are reasonably happy at the moment but only because we’ve actually got a few points under Spud, they’ll soon want stuff like entertainment and SB has never provided that at any club.
I see Spud spending a big wad of Docs cash in January on 28/29 year old mediocrities from relegation threatened clubs from the EPL, Huddlestone springs to mind, the slowest pro ever.
Promotion will be achieved in the next two years or Spud will be booted, however, when he’s gone we’ll be left with such a dire staff that we’ll yo-yo for an eternity. The total lack of a plan for after Spuds departure is obvious, look at his selections, where’s Russian ? wheres Green ? where’s Lydon ? kept out by the deadest wood you’ll ever see, Agoalayear, Wastewood, Hutton etc. Bruce just doesn’t do planning, that’s why he lasts three years at most and the fact that our board haven’t noticed that worries me.
The plank is even talking like a cheap fiction writer, on Saggy – “he’s coming from a dark place, a really horrible place.” Enid Blyton springs to mind.
Steamer,
I think that a lot of us feel that SB is not there for the long term, but – as you say – he’s got us getting more points and that, for now at least, is what we need.
It’s better than being relegated – which is what you predicted! 😉
for the first time in ages watched motd last night ,of our players gollina amavi chester grealish and codja are the only ones that are capable of stepping up to that level [scary total rebuild needed if we get up]am watching north london derby and only grealish would even get on the bench, not long since mon was going head to head with both feeling we could win ,now we struggle to beat blackburn after spending over 100m last 15 months and yet hutton baker wastewood gardner and gabby are part of our 14 matchday team
Seems now that although Villa are gradually rising out of the mire in the championship that there are many here who seem to relate to the Birmingham Mail article OldVilla put up.
I am sure that some is the usual banter, but much is not , and shows an undercurrent of no matter what Bruce achieves and his players, it will not be good enough.
I would love Villa to have done better, and be in Newcastle’s position at the top the league, but we do not have Benitez as manager, and when there was a possibility that we could have had him, many on here did not think he was good enough. He has been building at the Toons for the whole of the summer, Newcastle have 52,000 diehard fans to support the shirt, and a team that has been together long enough to gel.
What went on with players before Bruce is really irrelevant, as they were not led by a team leader who gave them the confidence to believe in themselves and the future, one thing Bruce has given them.
Steamer. You say that it’s worrying that our board haven’t noticed that Bruce doesn’t ‘do planning’.
I haven’t studied him enough to know if it’s true that he doesn’t plan. . . You may be right, but I don’t think him rarely staying for more than 3 years is good evidence. It’s very rare for a team to meet the (usually inflated) expectations of club owners so a high proportion of managers move on within 3 years as a matter of course.
As for your comment that ‘our board haven’t noticed’, again, you may be right, but it is pure speculation.
It would be a shame if you started regularly quoting from the same ‘Litte Book of Facts’ as James Gill.
Steamer, I thought your comment about Bruce ‘not planning for the future’ was an interesting one so after making my last comment to you I thought I’d take a look and i don’t think k you were right.
I’ve only looked at his last 5 clubs but actually it’s interesting to see that they all seem to have had their best years under Bruce. Your point though was not how well he seems to do while he’s there, but what legacy he leaves behind him.
This bit’s not so clear. his teams do seem to dip after he leaves, but the encouraging thing is that they generally continue at a higher level than they had been at before he arrived.
You can interpret all this in different ways, but my interpretation would be that he tends to be the one of best managers that each of his clubs has had (the very best in more than one case), that he leaves a good team behind him, but the clubs struggle to replace him with a better manager (maybe because he actually is quite good?)
robbo
what book of facts do i quote
this is a blog to express an opinion
Steamer,
“Folk are reasonably happy at the moment but only because we’ve actually got a few points under Spud, they’ll soon want stuff like entertainment and SB has never provided that at any club.”
I wondered how quickly Villans would tire of winning!
James,
But opinion is better expressed when based on fact! 😉
Bruce and Planning:
Huddersfield, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Hull, Sunderland…and the scum.
Not really sure anyone managing those sides would have much of an opportunity to plan beyond the short term.
If we take him at his word, Bruce’s comments about Villa being the biggest club he’s managed and the kind of place he always wanted to be probably are rooted in the fact that Villa have been PL mainstays. With the resources that seem to be at Dr. Tony’s disposal, resources he’s not had before, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Bruce could take the team up and re-tool it to stay up.
Of course, he might very well not be up to it. But I’m not sure his CV says he can’t when we consider the clubs. What it seems to say to me is that just like Bruce the player, he’s managed to do the most possible with what he’s got, and that the teams had their own built-in limitations.
We’ve seen a lot more movement of players like Cabaye and Chadli to unfashionable clubs, or even Tekkers, in recent years. Which leads me to believe that if Villa have money to spend, the club can beef up as required.
john l
fact that villa have won last 3 matches wastewood started on bench
since hutton signed we have gradually got worse and worse
gabby has a shocking record for a striker
3 true facts
JG,
Don’t want to speak for JL, but I think it’s a credit to Bruce that he has had Westwood on the bench, and figured out a new pairing to complement Jedinak. Dunno if Bruce would’ve stuck with that midfield trio yesterday if Bacuna had been available. We’ll soon see.
At the same time, I think it’s a credit to Westwood that he seems to have taken the demotion in stride.
It also seems to show some degree of perceptiveness on Bruce’s part that in putting that trio together he’s getting more out of Jedinak, Gardner, and Bacuna individually than RDM did. Not sure how healthy Elphick is, but he was on the bench yesterday and Bruce persisted with Baker for at least another week, which Baker probably deserves.
Not saying the man’s a genius, but he has made changes that have helped the side find a footing and start gelling.
James:
fact that villa have won last 3 matches wastewood started on bench
I think JC has summed up that one quite neatly. 😉
since hutton signed we have gradually got worse and worse
Fact? Well, maybe until a few games ago … but we’re doing OK now aren’t we not?
gabby has a shocking record for a striker
Well, I’d suggest that there’s an argument that he’s got to the stage now where he’s no long a “striker” per se … A bit like Rooney really! 😉
JG – “since hutton signed we have gradually got worse and worse” …….. but hasnt he played in the last 3 matches we’ve won? Or 5 unbeaten matches we’ve played? Fact.
JC really good read for the leader
”So the ball was at fault then” 🙂 another steamer classic
I have got to be happy with the returns since Bruce came in.
Clearly he inst here to bring a philosophy to the club but to get u back in the Prem.
Brighton are on fire at the moment and it;s a massive test for are lads , a win wold give huge belief i think but a loss could out a major dent in our promotion hopes and knock the renewed belief sideways
Heres a thought when gauging how well Bruce has done, he has had more players with match fitness available than RDM had in 12 games. RDM’s squad and the late arrivals like Jedinak and Adomah and to a lesser degree Amavi have all proved invaluable, Adomah and Kodjia another late arrival have played well together, RDM only had his full squad available for 2 matches and by then the team was shot through and players like Adomah and jedinak not fully fit anyhow. Other notable absentees baker, De Laet, Tishbola through injury.
Yes he brought in Gardener and Bacuna to midfield and fare play for that but he’s played with a better set of cards in 5 games overall than RDM had at his disposal in 12 games.
He did spend at Sunderland £40mil in one season and it was later suggested as Sunderland’s fall from grace to scraping by.
“Bruce made wholesale changes to Sunderland’s squad, signing 13 players and selling 15 in his first 18 months at the club.[163] On 25 February 2011, Bruce signed an extension to his contract, keeping him at Sunderland until 2014, with chairman Niall Quinn stating that “In only 18 months he has reshaped our squad beyond recognition, bringing in some fantastically talented players. He embodies the ethos of teamwork and the importance of camaraderie in creating a wonderful spirit of togetherness amongst the players and staff”.[163]
Bruce was dismissed as manager on 30 November 2011, with Sunderland in 16th position following a poor run of form which culminated with a 2–1 home defeat to bottom club Wigan four days earlier.[164] He later linked his dismissal from the managerial post with the fact that he is a fan of Newcastle United”
not sure I trust him to rebuild us at all, Jan could be an eye opener
Got to say being realistic Bruce is here to get us promoted after that it all changes again.
I agree with the fact that RDM spent money like a kid in a candy store. He brought good players rather than a team, only question mark in my eyes is tish but give him time.
The plus for Bruce is their not his buys so he can be more ruthless and he’s made some good decisions. A midfield 3 with two work horses in bacuna and gardner alongside Jedanik.
Kodjia come good, adomah finding his feet & ayew still being frustrating (he should tear up this league).
Bacuna manning up & gardner showing his potential is a big bonus.
Looking ahead I hope we take another look at Gil come Jan as we are weak on left hand side.
Bring on B&H
oldvilla
hutton is the worst full back for villa in my time[ late seventies]supporting
as well we are playing championship football not up against chelsea pool or city
imagine hazard ozil v hutton
As far as Westwood goes, I’m happy to see Steve Bruce utilizing his skill set in the manner which I’ve advocated for over the last couple of seasons: bringing him on as a late substitute to help protect a lead and close up shop. By using Westwood in this way, you’re bringing in a player with fresh legs and a high energy level, and one who’s careful tidiness with the ball means that he’s very rarely likely to give the ball away. That skill set is perfect for running out the clock and putting the game to bed.
Texas
Thats superb…you put skill set and westy in he same sentance!!
One of the worst players ive seen but dont like to boo him.
Like bruce or loath him, he has hit the ground running. Its been superb imo. Fulham, not lost away, beat them, reading not lost at home, beat them. Not won 2 on trot in 18 months…done. Not won from going goal down, done. Won away match first in 14 month done.
Listen there aint much attractive footy in the champ, never has been. Suck it up. We have come from being the worse side i have ever bloody seen to finally seeing some fight, togetherness and team spirit. A bit of back bone. Baby steps! Fair enough long term if one happy day we go up boot him. But now in the war zone of the champ and trying to re build our club after years of crepe brucey has my support. Bottom line best man for the job at the moment. It sucks but thats where wevare at
No idea why tisch aint starting, does my head in.
What a player we have in kodger though. Turning out to be awesome signing. His second was a superb finish. Henry in his pomp! Takes a good pen too.
Reminds me of asprilla a bit.
Mark, I don’t want to be an apologist for Bruce because I didn’t want him and wasn’t happy when he came in. Since we seem to have started well under him though I’ll admit to having started to wonder how good he is, or might be.
You point to his record at Sunderland and seem to infer that he failed there. His period there however was their second most successful since the 1950’s.
You’re main point is aboutbwhether he can be trusted to spend money and that’s a harder one to judge. Yes he did spend a lot of money reshaping the squad but a lot of that money was the proceeds from the sale of Darren Bent who was always going to be hard for them to replace.
Of course it’s impossible to know where they’d have ended up in the 2011/12 season had he stayed, but the fact is that they stayed up and still did well compared with their previous 50 years.
To be honest, It’s hard to judge how much we can trust him to spend The Doctor’s money but I don’t think his performance at Sunderland clinches it one way or the other.
Bruce brought bloody well at wigan….not sure about other clubs.
At blunderland he did give hendo his debut and played him.so not adverse to youth if good.
Love the reports tonight. Bruce on first half. It was shit!
Play like that and brighton will punish us. Also said half time was home truths time and jedi said it was full hair dryer treatment
Nice after the lame asses we have had in charge. Players were prob shell shocked!!
Even better words from bruce…can ubderstand the club buying champ proven players but playing for fulham, bristol city or boro is not like playing for a club like villa!
Agree with a lot of the comments because I believe Bruce is here to get us up and he will be gone, I truly think this is the plan by Round and Dr.Tony.
You try to play football in this division and generally you get burned, Brighton was probably the best footballing team last season and missed out on promotion, they have now learned that being a solid unit first and a football team second is the key to getting up.
I think Brighton will be the big test of how much Bruce can get out of these players, they have a solid back four with a hard working midfield that press for 90 minutes, their front players start the defence by not giving the opposition defenders any time on the ball.
Bruce was not my choice but the one thing you cannot take away from him is that he is a manager for this division, if he can keep us in touch with the top six come January then he will have funds to strengthen those areas where we are weak, but so far so good unbeaten in five is an achievement in itself.
SWV
More evidence that Spudhead is stupid –
“He’s been battered here for a while, for whatever reason. Maybe he’s say he deserved it at times.
“But make no mistake he wants to be a player again here.
“In the moments he’s played, he’s showed exactly what he wants to do. The rest is up to him. “There’s no better centre-forward in this league if he’s fit.”
Tis the other way round…bruce knows he aint the best. what he does know is he needs gabby onside and motivated. everyone in it together. same he said about westy. Giving the squad confidence and togerness is all.
We want a striker in jan which says it all!
Wants a winger…frem! And the spine strengthened.
Linked to some young lad from Scotland. Don’t forget round has massive input on transfers. Bruce aint going to do a o neil and have free reign. structure in place to stop us buying his son.
steamer
all our managers, failed ones as well must drink from the same goblet of truth, lambert on sky sports I DID A GOOD JOB AT VILLA WITH NO MONEY TO SPEND, EVERY PLAYER BAR BENTEKE HE SIGNED WE LOST MONEY ON EVEN THE ONES ON FREES COLE SENDROSS WE HAD TO PAY TO LEAVE
bruce will do for promotion but for the future we need a structure which involves using our academy players
Robbo- Bruces time at Sunderland I was just pointing out that after 21/2 seasons he was sacked he claims because he is a Newcastle supporter not the fact the team were going backwards at the time W2D5L7 in 14 games. This was his 3rd season and he’d bought a lot of players so to my mind if he was building and he was any good surely you would see some improvement? and he bought Titus Bramble and had Hutton on loan 😉
JL- “His pass out to Gary Gardner, who in turn set up Mile Jedinak for a brilliant pass which Kodjia converted, was Agbonlahor’s most significant contribution of his cameo.”
Just watched the extended Highlights and I don’t know what they were looking at because the ball is headed backwards and forwards until Gabby jumps up and kind of flicks the ball with the outside of his foot into the middle of the park, Grealish is running back for it and Jedinak forward, Jedinak then plays a ball for Kodjia . GG had no part in it, Jedinak also played a great ball out to start the sequence for the pen and several more. I think someone likes gabby at the mail to state that he had a huge part in the second goal 😉
https://youtu.be/3mpIz7EjAgk
Mark,
Well, I’ve watched it again and have seen what I saw first time, that Gabby played a pass to (it seems) Jedinak, who set up Codger. So, the Mail’s report is not that wrong, and they don’t say anything about Gabby having played a “huge part”. All the article states is that he played a part soon after coming on.
OK, so you don’t like Gabby, but please don’t split hairs .. especially when I have precious few! 😉
JL- Not that wrong? what happened to quoting facts? 😉 what I’m saying was it was written by someone who either hadn’t seen it or in a rush and maybe a little Gabby bias thrown in because to my Eyes it was just a hopeful flick not a pass quoted by the mail, not even in the same direction mentioned to the right player 😉 From a factual point of view he had a hand in winning the ball so Jedinak could play his pass so fair do’s.
JL- what bothers me is the amount of influence Gabby could still have now he is back in the nest, he will never be the quick forward he once was his weighting has changed and thickened his frame(skeleton) he would have to lose and awful lot of muscle to be that and it would take 7 years ( full body turnaround of cells) so short of osteoporosis he won’t lose that much weight. He does have some know how around the box and a presence on the pitch (physicality) but cannot see him as a striker.
when Kodjia goes to the African cup we just might need the likes of Murphy to step up. So to my mind the time to blood him is now not in Jan, gabby is in his place and undeservedly at that, what does that say to a young player who’s contract is due up in the summer?
JC- Gestede isn’t going to the cup I think his team didn’t make it and is Adomah still in the Ghana squad? I don’t think he is at the moment. so it could just be Ayew and Kodjia, not good I know.
Also think Bruce is looking at Gabby to fill Gestedes shoes as he is a more mobile lump.
interesting with lambo at wolves and timmy at qpr? if they raid us for any of our players.
Linked to a brighton midfeidler today.
The way Westwood is being treated he’s probably rang them 😉
So Lamebert admits he spoke drivel while Villa manager, he’s still talking drivel and if he was so narked why did he sign a new four year contract ? like everything connected to Lamebert its bollox,the numerous coaches and assistants, the pathetic surrenders to lower division clubs and the ignoring of our best talent, the blokes a fraud i bet he confused them with his Jeerman badges and his name dropping of Carlo, Pep and Jergun, he’ll last two years and then make his living by commenting on Villa.
Nigel Spink hit the nail on the head wondering why the idiot fans booed Wastewood and cheered a tw@ who DISGRACED the club last season,just another example of how standards have disintegrated at VP even further.
I bet the dummies give Lamebert a standing ovation if he’s still in a job next season and he hasn’t relegated Wulves.
tis very strange how gabby has been taken too again. If he was messi then fair enough I could forgive but he is crepe. used to go villa a lot years ago when he was first on the seen. thought he was crepe then. remember sitting in the lower holte and watching him do the shooting drills in the warm up. he was utterly garbage at finishing.
Back from a few family days at Eurodisney, lack of wifi and tv meant i’ve only seen the goals. I met some fellow Irish Villans on the bus outside Dublin airport and they say the same, dire first half and a kick up the arse in the second.
Probably a better chance to assess progress when facing Brighton next. Never pushed by Bruce’s arrival either but if the purpose is to turn the club around results wise with a view to promotion then so far so good.
Good luck to Wolves and QPR, they’ll need it, ha
villa after kayal at brighton. good player.
Gregory not sitting on the fence…’bruce has done more in 5 games than learner, fox, Faulkner and the rest of the shower of shit in 7 years’!
mark k
a bit of a storm you whipped up on tvb today on westie
must be int break if westy still being talked about. One thing im concerned about is tish being overlooked.
Thats my one and only gripe so far. Happy jedis form improved with 3 in mid and amavi in for cissoko.
I think the problem with Tishbola is the same as Adomah from time to time, being too easily knocked off the ball. whereas Grealish if he is, will nearly always earn the foul.
First off, all this about Westy taking it like a man is BS. If my boss bless his little bald head came to me and said i want you to work a third of the time for the same money i would be so against it (not).
Secondly, love him or hate him King Edward is around for two or three years with out a doubt. He wont take us up and be gone like a lot of you are wishing for, he’ll get us up and stabilized for a season or two before the Doc makes the requested change. I say requested as you never know, results wise it may not be required, if we are top half does that mean he still needs firing just because his style is safety first, glitz second? I have never been a fan of his, but if continues to improve the club he’ll have my blessings, even in the prem if he takes us back. Up above Mark says he was fired from Slumberland with this record, W2D5L7 in 14 games, now that to me adds up to two more wins than we’d have had lol.
Mark … and all Gabby doubters…
I don’t see what you see … maybe I only see positives, and from Gabby’s two cameos I would say he added something to the play on each occasion. Whether he makes the starting line-up remains to be seen, but if he can maintain over 90 minutes what he did in the 20 mins on Sat then I’ll be happy, as he seems to cause some worry in the opposing defence.
agree Canadian villa
If bruce takes us up the dr will let him have the chance to get us mid table which was his plan. but to gate crash the top 6 or 8 he will be replaced. But cross that bridge when it comes!
agree on westy, I doubt he gives a toss tbf if we don’t like him.
Mark, your line about Gabby — “so short of osteoporosis he won’t lose that much weight” — gave me such a laugh! Haha!
John,
I think you’re missing the point with GA, i couldn’t give a ff if he scored a hat trick every game until the end of the season, the point is that he has de-stabilized AVFC since Houllier was boss, he has been beyond disgraceful and according to Spink actually refused to play while enjoying a contract worth 60,000k per week. GA did more to accelerate our decline than Lerner did and yet this moron (Spudhead) decides to ignore his behaviour. Its all about standards an GA doesn’t have any and if Spud can’t see that then he’s obviously not good enough for AVFC or as i said earlier our standards have dropped to the level of the gutter rats at Small Heath. My stance is that while Bruce and the parasite are in residence at B6 then AVFC can do one.
Steamer: “I think you’re missing the point with GA, i couldn’t give a ff if he scored a hat trick every game until the end of the season, the point is… “
Not \t all, my dear Coleshillian! 😉
I choose to disregard the issue you re-state as anyone can make amends. None of us (I’m sure) have gone through life without making some big contretemps on some issue or other so my view is that we should be forgiving.
From what I see in Gabby now is a different person to the previous 2 or 3 seasons. I think he’s had his hat pulled down over his ears. Therefore let him get on with it and show he’s of benefit to the club.
Strong arguments on pro’s and con’s of gabs
last season in particular stuck in my throat as we lost our best players gabby not only downed tools but welcomed our young French contingent to the dressing room by asking how to say the word S–t in French — o set the tone for what was already a desperate situation.
but like JL says we all mess up sometimes and should be given another chance if we show willing
in terms of when bruce will be sacked i think the dr will remove anyone that do not reach there objectives and spending anytime in a bottom 3 would spell the end
saturday in the club minding my own business talking to an old mate about the fucking fat fraud and l have this fucking nosey twat l have never saw before telling me l need to wind my neck in , now if l was 5 years younger l would have caught up with in the street and would probably be doing time now , lm bound to bump into him again,
lm amazed how what that cunt done last season to the moral in the changing room and decided not to play for us , if l could have found him in the kfc , both his fucking legs would have been broken and we wouldnt be having this conversation about the shit ,
to welcome him with fucking open arms just disgusts me ,
Runtins
yes we have all made that one mistake , but never drawn it out for a year mate . sorry l dont go along with that ,
and if l ever see that twat in the club again l will swing for him as l would if l bumped into the fucking fat fraud .
westwood . lv never rated him but he didnt hide like that cunt so l was sad to hear the holte boo him , but applaud that cunt ,
yes lm mad at this moment and l really want to kick the shit out of something , with the last 2 months lv had and those two mentioned above come into it with flying colours .
S75,
I seem to recall that this time last year we were pretty well all agreed that the problem in the club was essentially Lerner, with his CEO a close second and the rest of the staff in close contention.
Now if we were fed up with them, perhaps the players were too … especially GA as the longest serving and had gone through so many managers since MON left, and constant turnaround of players.
So he had a blip in frustrationj … a mistaken one perhaps … but still a blip.
Are you telling me you’ve never had a blip?
Steamer75:
Sorry you’ve had a rough couple of months. I so enjoy reading your comments and I absolutely love your sense of humor and the banter between you and your old mate Steamer. Here’s to hoping that things start looking up soon!
And as an American … I truly thank God this horribly ugly election season is finally over!!
Texas: “I truly thank God this horribly ugly election season is finally over!!”
I suspect we’ve seen nothing yet!
With the Republicans in control over all sections of the government, Trump has a clear run.
What the fall-out will be from all this I hate to think.
Not into politics at all.
What do people think trump will do that’s so bad?
JL- My friend forgive one mistake yes, a campaign stretching back since mon no. He stated Houllier didn’t know what he was on about when asked to drop some weight, I would love to know about his involvement in Lamberts staff leaving? both sets Keane especially. His demeanour on the pitch says he see’s himself as a bit of a hardnut, the bigger he got the worse it got. He supposedly welcomed one manager I think it was garde with He was the man to see if he wanted things done.
We all know a toxic dressing room can do for a team and a manager far more quickly than any owner (see Chelsea), the hastily retracted Xmas video where he receives a French translation book, Hilarious in a successful team, in a divided one with a new French manager? And the drop in form for years now? how has any of that served the club and the fans? As a Villa fan surely his first thoughts should of been doing his best for the club he loves? its not like we have had a great owner in my lifetime.
He will get games and quite likely do ok but cheer him? no he has a long way to go and I echo st75’s sentiment on Westwood who has at least been professional.
thats the last I’ll say on him.
Was the election really a shock with 90 mil not voting last time out? Like Brexit it was a vote against the establishment and he will likely go for the Banks, Quite likely he will get shot soon. Feel sorry for America that all they had to choose between was that pair.
I will say Trumps Victory speech showed him to be a bit different to his campaign persona, there is hope in that, he won’t be the first to appeal to the lowest common denominator to get voted in.
Oh Gawd….spare us
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/11/09/report-aston-villa-waiting-in-the-wings-to-sign-rangers-outcast/?
Don’t fret Lifers, Its an agent flying a kite. It’ll never happen.
Archie
Mind you, Gabby and JB in the same changing room……….
haha good point archie. Barton would batter him!
Mark: “I will say Trumps Victory speech showed him to be a bit different to his campaign persona, there is hope in that…”
Rhetoric and action can be two utterly different things, can’t they, and his speech was directed at his own supporters.
Since his policies seem to be anti Obama-Care and anti Paris Climate Agreement, there’s a good chance of some pretty harsh implementations taking place. I wonder whether he intends to re-build the auto industry in Detroit – complete with the old American big cars?!! Anything to restore America to its old vision of itself as I read it.
But I agree that it was a harsh choice the Americans had.
Mark,
By all means have your view of GA, but “since MON” is 6 years ago and GA is now 28-ish. That means that back then he was still a bit wet behind the ears and maybe he’s just beginning to grow up.
JL- He’s 30 mate and was still at it this season with his refusal to go out on loan to prove himself
Forgive Gabby for he has sinned against Aston Villa. I’m afraid I’m not ready to forgive however terrible that sounds when it’s only football and not a crime as such. But having taken a wage without earning it for years, there’s no way a couple of cameos will repair the damage.
He’ll never be mentioned in the same breadth as other Villa legends when having had an opportunity most of us dream about, he squandered it and that’s my particular problem with him, when there has been countless Villa youth shown the door, when if given the chance would have showed what desire for playing for your club is all about.
Mark/Darren,
OK – that’s your view. But at least accept the fact that he may still have a part to play – so we might as well look forward, I suggest, and not back at what’s happened.
JL- what choice do we have? we could boo him like Westwood but the past is the past it seems at least for some.
I see the planning at the beeb was not in favour of trump, straight after the election special on BBC2 they have aired a film set in the Indian wars on the Mexican border, surprised they didn’t go with the Alamo 😉
My apologies to the world for what my so-called countrymen did yesterday.
JC- I’m amazed those two were the best your country could offer both completely OTT, my sympathies
Exactly my thought, how did a country size of usa end up with those 2!!
Remarkable westy and gabby take up some much debate. Just 2 rubbush players. No worth the attention or time.
Yes John … either you or Texas should have made a pitch!
Yes JL lv had a few blips during my life. But l never shit on people who are paying or feeding me . On record here . I wont forgive FFF . And l reiterate if l saw him on the street ld give him a kicking. And to think hes keeping our youngsters out WHO Want to play for the club. Put it this way . I think the shit realised no one was coming in for him . And once this contracts up .then what . I dont think solihull moors would touch him . Your happy with him . Then so be it. This is my oppion on the shit.
Texas thanks mate . All the best over there.
S75,
You may be right – I don’t know – but the fact is that he’s a player who seems to want to play *now* and may well be able to help, particularly in January when we’ll be short of forwards.
The Centre for European Reform has uttered the following opinion after Trump’s trump… (and this is only part of it – see more at http://www.cer.org.uk/)
In terms of Brexit, the UK should focus on leaving the EU with the minimum damage to its relations with its European partners. That argues for minimising its demands and trying to achieve a quick agreement. Any illusion that some combination of the US and the Commonwealth would be a workable alternative to partnerships within the EU should have been dispelled by May’s visit to India and Trump’s victory (though some on the right wing of the Conservative Party may urge the UK to adopt anti-immigration and counter-terrorism policies more like Trump’s).
If the UK is not to take a big economic hit, it needs to stay inside the single market. It should therefore look for the best fig leaf it can find for conceding to the EU on free movement; it should not make cutting EU migration its top priority, and then try to salvage what it can of its market access. And it needs to step up its reassurance to allies and partners that it sees British security and European security as indivisible. The UK has already increased its planned contributions to NATO forces in Central Europe as a way of showing that it is not turning its back on allies and partners; it needs to redouble its efforts, and to encourage others to do likewise.
Warning: Political Rant
Sadly, Mark, that’s the false equivalency that has now given the executive, congressional and judicial branches of government to those who want nothing more than to undo a halting, 80-year march toward equality and away from America’s Original Sin.
The presidency in this election was a bulwark against the worst motivations of those in a civil war that had gone cold after the Civil Rights Act, and began heating up again when Bill Clinton became president. The right then refused to accept the election of Barack Obama—obstructed, refused to govern, refused compromise of any sort. They had no other agenda than nullifying the majority will of the nation. Even Clinton won the overall vote last night.
Now there is nothing to stop them. Trump may be nothing more than a buffoon who believes in only in his own aggrandizement. In ordinary times, he might simply be an ineffective one-term president. But he is a dangerously uninformed racist, xenophobic misogynist who only believes in government that personally enriches him. He will appoint at least one if not two Supreme Court justices, altering the judiciary for a generation. That alone is damage enough.
I hope my worst fears aren’t realized. But there’s nothing standing in the way of them. And I have no idea what it means for the rest of the world for the U.S. to be led by an incompetent, impulsive and vengeful megalomaniac.
Good article, JL. The conclusion says it all (as good ones tend to do):
“Trump’s election is a watershed moment for ‘The West’ as it has existed since the end of the Second World War. The American population has voted for a man who has shown no attachment to the ideals of democracy, free trade or the rule of law that (to varying degrees) motivated his predecessors from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama. It may in the end be possible to work with him and to protect the essence of the post-war international order. But 2016 has been a year when Western voters decided that they wanted to try something different; all the signs are that it will be something worse.”
John Clark, I concur with your rant completely!! I’ve never despised a politician as deeply as I’ve despised him.
However, many people in other places around the globe may feel that Americans have spoken with a solid voice in favor of Trump; this however was not the case:
If Clinton had managed to get just 69,000 more of her supporters to the polls in Pennsylvania, just 28,000 in Wisconsin, and only 13,000 in Michigan — and that equates to a mere 110,000 extra voters in those three states — then she would have won.
Of the last four Republican candidates for President (Bush in ’04, McCain in ’08, Romney in ’12, and Trump this year), Trump actually won the FEWEST overall votes! Now, for accuracy’s sake, there are still a very small number of votes still to count, so it is conceivable that Trump may eventually surpass McCain’s vote total; he has no chance, however, of passing either Bush’s total or even Romney’s total.
Hillary lost, not because Trump created any new surge of voters himself, but because she simply didn’t get her supporters to the polls.
Texas,
Another data point: The percentage of the vote under “other” in WI, PA and FL (as summarized in the NY Times) would have tipped each of those states to Clinton.
From the outside looking in the email investigation revelations surely played part in swinging things trumps way
May well have done…which is what the whole investigation and Benghazi crap were intended to do. Nevermind that her Republican predecessors did the same thing (email), and the entire Libyan intervention was not actually “led” by the U.S. More than 200 soldiers were killed in the Beirut attack under Reagan, yet four people dying in dangerous and fluid environment where they clearly knew and accepted the risks was somehow worthy of a show trial.
This is what the Right in America has spent the last eight years doing. And they’ve been rewarded for it.
jc tex thanks for the insight
Villa under 23s are playing Celtic with tish , Elphick and gabby starting – gabby just subbed , missed pen and had a stink – currently 3 – 0 down
jc- seems to me that the lunatics have taken over on both sides, government have become so full of themselves that that they no longer serve those who vote them in anyhow, short of rioting how do you show decent these days, a strongly worded letter? even the wall st protesters are no longer mentioned. I don’t think the average citizen has a voice except for an election and even then they are told half truths on both sides, fear mongering rules.
A strange thing has happened since the Brexit and the fall in the pound, I work in the building trade and the polish have packed up and gone back home, enough of them to notice a difference. I now have plenty of work and can charge a fair price not the undercut rates forced on me in recent years. They have gone home because they can make the same in Poland and its crying out for builders. When the pound was strong they bought housing in Poland too, it makes me laugh because on the whole labour has always gone where the money is hence why other EU countries don’t have so many people camping on their doorstep. Doesn’t do much for our tradesmen or the youth becoming skilled in the long run here and as we did in the 80’s our tradesmen may have to go abroad again, the show auf wedersein pet was based on that scenario.
Mark,
Interesting perspective, thank you for sharing.
In the States, the influx of labor from Mexico has done the same thing…virtually every labor crew in large swathes of the country will be from Mexico, and it has undercut labor. I favor controlled immigration. But I favored the compromise path laid out to allow immigrants who have crossed the border illegally to follow a “path to citizenship” rather than be a nation hunting down hard-working people who are just trying to make better lives for their families and forcefully deporting them. I’m not religious, but it seems the “Christian” thing to do.
Overall, it’s a tough question. Yes, governments generally tend to be detached from those they exist to serve. Part of that is structural, part of it the nature of power. But just like a general with a broader mandate to achieve tactical and strategic objectives, oftentimes people lose out or feel disenfranchised by decisions actually made with the greater good in mind. Other times, policies are purely self-serving acts benefiting a few.
For me, I think voters abdicate too much of their own responsibility. It’s working in all the off years where change is accomplished. In the states, that means mayors and state legislatures and governor’s offices. That’s where the candidates of the future come from. We just tend to accept whatever’s put in front of us, make a choice, and move on. Then complain later about the corrupt/inept/disconnected politicians we put in power instead of actually—and god I hate this cliché—”getting involved”. That goes for me, too.
Mark: ” seems to me that the lunatics have taken over on both sides”
I’d say this statement is pretty near to the truth, but aided by populist ideas that have allowed this to happen. “Populism” is hugely dangerous i.m.o. – sorry to say it but the people who follow that banner may be “right” in their ideals to a point, but the effect is hard to imagine and I fear for those in America who are anywhere near the poverty level.
And the green light will be given to more fracking in the US it would seem, with the Tories taking the opportunity to press hard on this policy here as well.
Well, the die has been set. I see around 10 years of mayhem being triggered by this year’s public protests.
BTW, how many migrants is Canada able to take?
Well what a to do, this Trump thingy is very similar to when McLeish took over at Villa but on a smaller scale.
JC / Texas apologies for making light on your situation but lets be honest if you don”t laugh you will cry, if these two were the best your country had to offer to run for president then you are deep in the crappen housen.
Americans must be shuddering in their boots at the prospect of this idiot being in the white house, I wouldn’t trust him to run a bath, he has made so many promises to the people and he will struggle to deliver on any of them some would say typical politician, but even those people with a modicum of common sense would see that putting all Americans back to work, building more schools, colleges and hospitals and looking after all our veterans costs money, where are those funds coming from.
Something that hardly gets a mention in this farce is that Clinton is a woman and America have never had a female president, I wonder how much of a handicap this was in some states where it is frowned upon for women to play any sort of major role in day to day life.
I make a prediction, it has been the best part of thirty years since someone tried to assassinate a president, Reagan correct me if I am wrong, but I feel we may have another one coming very soon.
SWV
Swv- Yes mate you can see it coming.
JC- Isn’t part of the problem the dumbing down of the populace? certainly is over here, talking like your favourite rapper is more important than learning and the school system is still slanted toward producing compliant citizens rather than useful ones. Every facet of health is ignored for profit, a food supply where rubbish is readily available 24/7 people exist on treats. Led lighting is causing massive problems with circadian rhythms but uses less electric so thats fine, child cancers up 40% in less than 15 years but don’t worry we will have a cure soon, what about the cause or modern lifestyle as its known.
250,000 die from illicit drug use world wide every year, Out of the 783,936 annual deaths from conventional medicine mistakes, approximately 106,000 of those are the result of prescription drug use [1]. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, two-hundred and ninety people in the United States are killed by prescription drugs every day. Aren’t Patents great? 😉
If our governments can ignore all that then the reality is they are just keeping the status quo and not working to some Ideal imo. To much emphasis is put on profit over community and the glorification of the individual and as you say who does it profit?
Mark: “Isn’t part of the problem the dumbing down of the populace? “
God gave the “populace” a brain of their own, did they not?
I think we need the Borg to invade the Earth as they have one Brain and its called a collective . And l think it could benefit a few on here . Especially Steamer and Swv . And the stupud idiots who went to watch the U23s And booed the players at the end. Fucking ejits who many probably have never kicked a ball in their life . Have a good weekend all and Sww
Jenny xxxxxx
Worst villa 11 in my lifetime
Guzan
Hutton lescott tyler cissoko
mccan westwood
Leonardson salifou
fashanu balaban
gabby showing his finishing skills last night! what a terrible pen. no idea how to finish
JL-Yes they did John but I don’t suppose god had a plan for fluoride in the water, mercury poisoning and horrendous diets. And as you know very well if your fed BS long enough and early enough you may never see the world as you do.
Mark,
Well, I say that it only takes a touch of commonsense. What’s the point of consuming stuff that poisons? Simples, init?
andrew
my worst had to go for matchday squad to get them all in
encklemen
hutton
beye
lescott
richards
callaghan
westwood
sidwell
curcic
cascarino
penrice
subs
guzan richardson senderous berson hadji balaban kozak
JL- Not when its put in the water supply, the air you breath and your dentistry mate and sold to you 24/7 most are oblivious and who said they have common sense 😉
Mark,
Yes, point taken, but there’s a huge amount that everyone can avoid, and in fact the potential harm of what does get through can be negated … if you have faith, put a reduction on wants, try not to harm anything and live positively. I had two heart failures before the truth of that really sank in. Trouble is, that sounds like a boring life to many! 🙁
I’ve come to know a living example of that – he’s a Villa supporter and has been blind since 19 (now aged 69). His book is coming out in the Spring.
Oh, and if you watch Gareth Malone putting together choirs for a national choir competition, you will have seen a choir in Leicester that have so much happiness in them and ability to raise the hair on your neck! Magical!
And, no, they’re not so happy because City won the League! 🙂
Mark the water companies dont want to put flouride in the water .its a goverment directive. And dont get me going about gareth malone and the choir. The other year severn trent won it and my wife knew it. Did she tell me. Did she fuck . I could have had a few mates putting bets on for me. To fucking straight !! My wife.
I cant help but laff when l think of trump in the whitehouse. George bush jnr must be happy as they have elected a bigger idiot than him .
##I think we need the Borg to invade the Earth as they have one Brain and its called a collective ”
Bang on for me st
We are on a spiral towards oblivion and the one thing that drives us there is profit and politics
I have read of some of earliest older systems from the times Africa was leading the way with a no money system with the motto ”If its not good for everyone its no good at all”
what a fantastic world it would be with such a system with everyone working for each other
There was always a hierarchy but even if you didn’t have what you wanted you had what you need
JL- sounds like a recipe for less stress and gives your system a fighting chance, Fluoride calcifies the pineal gland sounds rude but its in your brain and as you probably know mystics consider it the site of the third eye, it also regulates melatonin and crucially your reproductive hormones, the Nazi’s nicked the idea from the Russians apparently for control and pacification of the populace, funny enough a lot of European countries have banned it, teeth my arse 😉
ST75 no surprise there mate, the stuff they use is not even usable for the function they claim.
Runtingz- Spot on and by everyone we have to include this planet
Villa & USA running on parallel lines, both have just got new leaders, both are ‘effin idiots except Spud tells more lies.
Wonder if the Scabby apologists will moan when RHM leaves for buttons and in five years he’s an England international with a 50m pricetag and all because Spud wants to play a joker with 1% of his talent to keep the players amused.
Saw the stills of the Celtic game, the fat tw@ is still two stone overweight, probably celebrating at KFC that he’s hoodwinked yet another manager and i use that term loosely. He’d make a good Santa with all that timber.
Mark,
Yes – but you’re always referring to the physical element. Whether fluoride affects the pineal gland may well be true but the extent of its negativity rather depends on your spiritual focus.
Runtings: “I have read of some of earliest older systems from the times Africa was leading the way with a no money system with the motto ”If its not good for everyone its no good at all”
Yes, that’s a very good point. Similar concepts have been employed elsewhere: examples including ancient India and the Ismaili community of “the old man of the mountain” fame, before they were massacred by the Genghis Khan hordes.
Interesting programme about the ancient presence of the black community in Britain, on BBC2, Tuesdays.
most of all the planet for me mark –
Bruce like many others may have thought gabby will be effective at this level – but the more game time he gets the more his failings will be exposed
yes nice one jl i have been tuning on to bbc 2 9pm each night some really good stuff there this month
JL- its all energy at base level, whether we can ignore physical limitations is doubtful as in nobody has done it yet. the mind can effect the physical through thought and visa versa and does every day, if you are talking about the observer in us I don’t know enough to comment but if you get shot its a tough one to side step
Mark: “its all energy at base level, whether we can ignore physical limitations is doubtful as in nobody has done it yet”
Pardon?!!! .. People are doing it all the time, sir, but no-one realises it…
You probably think that you’d know about it if that was the case, but Truth is never in the main news.
JL- In what sense John? there are plenty of theories but little solid evidence ( by that I mean someone repeatably demonstrating it whatever it is) there’s been Edgar Cayce and others and quantum theories has demonstrated phenomena in some experiments but to me its occurs outside of our realm of senses so goes unnoticed, other animals clearly see smell and sense better than us.
There’s Wim Hoff a Dutch bloke that controls his physiology to such an extent he can stand incredibly low temperatures, has climbed mountains in shorts and was even intravenously infected on purpose to show he can control his Immune system, should of died he didn’t. All incredible but I would not call it spiritual.
Mark,
Your references are always towards western people, but if you would examine events in the East there have always been more profound examples of what we’re talking of.
One small example: according to Ramakrishna (Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) and his biographers, there was a small growth in the lower part of his spine resembling the tail of a monkey (following his deep devotion to the monkey-god Hanuman).
You said: “There’s Wim Hoff a Dutch bloke that controls his physiology to such an extent he can stand incredibly low temperatures, has climbed mountains in shorts and was even intravenously infected on purpose to show he can control his Immune system, should of died he didn’t. All incredible but I would not call it spiritual.”
Well it depends on what you mean by “spiritual”. To my mind spirituality is mainly concerned with right thinking through control over the mind. What you have just stated demonstrates that mind can be controlled and therefore is a guide towards spirituality.
JL- In that case John I agree but there are limits, we have incredible control and effect on the body through our minds but there is also epigenetic effects from the environment ( and I mean all the environment including emotions, relationships,food air, water, chemicals). Cells placed in certain mediums grow into tissue from different parts of the body but its also been demonstrated that thought has similar effects as does light, magnetism, electrical energy, chemicals, sound,water, radiation. Can we avoid or transcend these things I’m not sure, We see the effects of it in ever increasing disease in the young.
Our body is a community of cells, cells have constraints on there physical size so formed together in cooperation. Thats why mans quest to conquer nature is doomed as it will find a way to exist or survive. Mankind has maybe reached the heights of its intelligence? logically the next step is cooperation be that through the mind the internet or whatever medium turns up.
Runtingz,
I have read of some of earliest older systems from the times Africa was leading the way with a no money system with the motto ”If its not good for everyone its no good at all”
Hegel & Marx alluded to a similar system.
Reckon the sweaties are going to do Engerlund tonight, equivalent of Latvia vs Estonia, two unbelievably pathetic teams without a world class player amongst them and two failures as managers. Southgate had the worst record of any Boro manager until Strachan took it off him which just shows how rigged the FA is for the top jobs, U21 boss Boothroyds last job was at Northampton where he was sacked with the club bottom of the entire league, now how this qualifies him to join the Engerlund set up i don’t know but it seems quite normal for our FA to appoint dummies, in fact its probably a qualiication. Anyway 2-1 to the Jocks, dire they may be but at least they battle.
well lm off to paint a wall and watch it dry !!!
also got a bargain , the whole series of “The league Of gentlemen ” £10 ,so may start and watch that .
england vs scots . zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
used to be worth watching these days its second rate at best
Mark: “Mankind has maybe reached the heights of its intelligence?”
Most definitely not in my view, particularly as it’s been known for years that there’s a big chunk of the brain for which there’s no properly understood function.
Mark: “used to be worth watching these days its second rate at best”
Bit like Villa vs Blews really! 🙁
Fred Rinder
Was doing some research on another topic today and in the process of that picked up a little something on the great chairman.
I think it’s probably pretty well known that Fred went down into the bowels of the earth to sign Steve Smith ca. 1893 time, but today I’ve learnt that after he signed Smith, he couldn’t find his way back to the railway station and instead got himself lost amidst the pits as it was getting dark – and was actually in danger of falling down something! To preserve life and limb he ended up sleeping overnight in a cabin by a canal.
not often i agree with savage, but comments today on flabby spot on he is a disgrace not fit to do his professional job which he has been well paid for
England vs Scotland
Well, I saw it and thought it worth watching.
But England can count themselves lucky, even winning 3-0.
After England had gone 1-up, Scotland had 4 good chances to score, and should have been leading in my view before England scored their second. Strachan was almost beside himself in despair.
3 goals – all headers.
Interesting that Southgate put together a team that won convincgly, not pretty, maybe a little lucky, but if it had been ‘Arry, he would have been treated like a Messiah…..
Southgate chose players who would not only work together, but played for the shirt, and I include Rooney in that.
Bruce has not got amazing results, but he is doing a similar thing, but once again, he is treated with suspicion, whereas had he been Big Sam, or Moyes, I anm sure he would be viewed differently.
I see branson has now spoken out andsaid that business leaders must be prepared to step in and do whatever is necessary to protect the future, if Trump does not tone down his orginal plans, but I have the feeling that by January, Trump will have watered down an awful lot of his rhetoric.
JL, you are perfectly right about our knowledge and use of the brain, and we have a long way to go in understanding its capabilities to not only repair and control the body, but its many other dormant uses, including its ability to store information to a far greater extent than we already use it. We also have not discovered the many dimensions that it is probably capable of working in.
Paul,
“I have the feeling that by January, Trump will have watered down an awful lot of his rhetoric.”
I hear (on RU TV) that Trump is already climbing down somewhat on Obamacare.
“… also have not discovered the many dimensions that it is probably capable of working in.”
Precisely. But I wonder what or who really makes it all tick …
JL- What do you think of the theory that the brain is transmitter and receiver and the mind existing beyond the brain?
The gut is linked to the brain too, its thought of as a second brain. Recently they have tried feeding live yoghurt to alzheimer’s patients and they improved because the gut Biome has a tremendous effect on the mind through the production of chemicals and hormones by the microbes that live there. The heart too has brain like cells and transmits a magnetic field up to 15 foot and its thought to extend further than that, why?
Mark,
Quite agreed – and is a fundamental teaching in Vedanta: the notion of atma and paramatma. But there is a whole spiritual connection that science has not yet addressed that links these issues and can make them whole.
“The gut is linked to the brain too, its thought of as a second brain.” Yes, again known of in ancient times.
Love this
https://youtu.be/CH1QPlQiaPU
but this is even better
https://youtu.be/Ql4YDKaKqVA
The Brain.
As some know i suffered a subarachnoid heamorahage some years ago and lm one of the lucky 5% that survive. Now l will be honest . Some days l wish it had taken me. I have a constant headache .its never going to go. I have 3 dead patches on my brain.and my short term memory is non existant. After the insult l had an appointment with a phsych who questioned on 3 occasions of 2 hour bouts. And l got asked everything. A couple of things that standout was the feelings l had afterwards. One was . In my mind i saw black and white . But l couldnt explain it . The shapes .the times and l must admit it drove me nuts as l couldnt find words to explain. Also l have times where l just close down especially if lm in a crowd and more than one person is talking to me. I also get a warning if lm going to close down for a while . I see in the distance a tiny perfect square of neon blue. Then its to bed for at least 10 hours and nothing will wake me . I sometimes wake up with a compact mirror by my nose as the wife checks lm still breathing with it . My short term memory is fucked completely (and l do get pissed off with people saying “oh l suffer that ) no they dont . When lv logged off from here l will have forgotten l have posted this. But !!! My long term memory seems more enhanced now. Yes some of the things do come back to me but its about 2/3 weeks later. Iv managed to cope with it now . But l do get lapses . Like the fuckers who owe me £20 . . I was told that they dont know more than 10% of what the brain is capable of. I have a new nickname down the villa, Braindead !! Or 2weeks . As l been told thats about the time l remember to call someone back . And l used to hear my daughter aged around 7 years old . Telling her mates . “Oh my dads got holes in his head ” . Now if there was such a thing as brain transplants l would wait until Steamer has kicked the bucket and have his brain . As its never been used and another thing l can watch a film again the next day as l will have forgotten what its about .
Enjoy your evening all . And you Swv
Jenny xxxxxx (never forget you )
S75,
Thank you – I mean that – for sharing your devastating experience.
The “tiny perfect square of neon blue” you see “in the distance” interests me quite a bit. There’s something fairly spiritual about that … I kind of indication of destiny, I think.
Mark: “The heart too has brain like cells and transmits a magnetic field up to 15 foot and its thought to extend further than that”
It’s been seen in the case of highly spiritual people to radiate a great distance.
It indicates our inter-connectedness. The fact that we are not at all separate from one another.
ST75 That explains a lot like your inability to remember that it was your round and that it was you that owed me the twenty quid.
S75
All the best with the SAH. Glad you are still around to regale us with your experiences and humour. Thanks for warning us about Steamer too.
Come to think of it, I loaned £20 to people in 2001 and 2009. Hope they are still around too.
See what l mean JL , just be careful on here as we do have some right spivs , makes our cockney Arry look like an angel .
Trinity Thanks mate . lm ok . l have to be with my so-called mates . l’d have them trying my shoes on for size if l didnt have the laces done up ,
well off to fit a dashcam to the car . worth getting as it helps with the “Cash for crash ” shits on the road ,
ST75 – amazing story mate and really interesting about what you see and feel. Maybe it’s also enhanced your sense of humour as no-one else on here comes near it!
Seriously and joking aside – is there still danger for you? What would happen if you got a smack on the head for example?
Take it easy ……
oldvilla
5% that survive. Wowzers all the best st75. Very interesting story, thanks for sharing.
apasrently rusdn murphy is a bit of a billy big bollocks. Wants a prem move and aint going to sign. Twat. 2 words for him. Dan crowley..
Old Villa- are you volunteering to whack him? at least he won’t remember its you for a few weeks, by that time you’ll be back in Switzerland.
Reminds me of an account written by a doctor who got a brain eating disease, nearly died and had an out of body/ vision of heaven. lost over two thirds of his brain mass yet was still fine, by that I mean he was still himself and wrote the book obviously.
Its called; Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife
Oldvilla
yes l think you can say Walking dead, as l was told l will have another anytime and that would be it . its something lv come to live with, and yes lv got to be careful as a good punch would probably finish me , l do carry something that would floor someone if they came at me , assuming l get the first one in, (no Mark not a beer ) , it is a disability but its one of them you cant see so no one see’s the problem , but hey lm still here , but jeez the villa last five years havent made it worth it , lol
all the best mate and thanks lads , fuck when l do go l got a long list to haunt )))
Three dead patches on yer brain, you only ever had two ya mug.
A spokesperson at HS2 Ltd said: “Approximately 10 per cent of Aston Villa’s training ground is needed for phase one of the HS2 project.
Let them have the 10% that scabby’s supposed to train on, he never uses it anyway.
Russians off to WATFORD !!! now no-one would choose them over AVFC if they were going to get a fair deal so we lose a potential international because of the Spudhead effect, playing garbage instead of going for ability.
Trinity,
Hope that Tsunami doesn’t do much harm to NZ, watch yer step.
Would you believe there are those that go to the beach to watch tsunamis coming in?
There was a long quake here just after midnight. We escaped unscathed. There has been some death and destruction around the country. It may not be over yet. If a big quake hits Wellington, it’ll be a disaster. There trains and ferries have been cancelled today.
Enjoy the stable earth there.
Trinity,
I hear there’s been another quake a bit further up the coast on South Island and that there’s some devastation.
I am sure we all wish you well. We think we have problems but there are some places where the sheer unknowing of what’s coming next must make life exceedingly difficult.
steamer
sadly I don’t think its the bruce effect. Its the effect of us being shit and in the championship. Rushden thinks he is prem league.
Apparently bruce has gone out his way to chat to his parents etc, charm offensive.
Best thing is him to go on loan imo.
Andrew,
Thing is though mate that Audrey is looking at that team and the out sized blob of lard thats keeping him out of the team and thinks, well if that pile of shite is considered better than me, then i’d best be off because it can’t get any lower. If you saw the stllls of the Celtic game you can see the fat git is still at least 2 stone overweight and then look at the warm up where they jog and lift their knees, he doesn’t even bother to do that, he’s a cheat and should be out the door. One rissole on twitter was complaining “he’s one of our own” well its about time he showed it.
For those Villans unlucky enough to miss out on the pleasure of sitting in the most beautiful stand on planet Earth there’s a great photo of it on TVB. Herbert hang yer head you philistine.
totally agree steamer Rusden should be ahead of gabby. travesty he is picked ahead of him.
Yeah saw gabby in the u23s . TBF looked slimmer to me! Might be the lights!!
Anyhow slim or fat the guys crepe. want him gone.
Reminds me of an account written by a doctor who got a brain eating disease, nearly died and had an out of body/ vision of heaven. lost over two thirds of his brain mass yet was still fine, by that I mean he was still himself and wrote the book obviously.
Its called; Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife
Mark ,
please tell me you’re making this stuff up !!
st my sincere best wishes to you , only those who feel really know – deffo will holla you with dates of my visit back to the midlands
Our Jack should be a starter for England tonight – he seem to be improving at international level
Well that’s been some interesting reading catching up today. First I’d like to comment on elections, here the the joke has been the US this past week took and failed their joint IQ test as a nation and now cant do anything about it until 2020. And it’s no better here, i have to go and vote on Thursday not because i want to, but have to. our old PC leader Tim Hudak resigned his seat after loosing it in the last Provincial Election. The Richards running the party have gave the position to a 19 year old, jeez he’s not old enough to have a beer with me for Christs sake let alone know damn all about having and loosing a job, they without doubt are taking the piss out of the common man world wide in politics.
The other thread that got my mojo going was the brain. As i may have mentioned before, in the 80’s before leaving Brum for Canada i was a milkey for B’ham Dairies, any one remember that now extinct building on Island Road. Well my point, i would run around all day, drop Mrs Grace her loaf of bread or half dozen eggs she’d leave a note out for and never stop and enter the changes in my round book, wouldn’t even be able to remember who had what when i got back to the depot on Middlemore Road. However, come Thursday evening when making up my books i would have total re-call of every change that had happened that week, no worries. I bet you i could write up up my old round with at least 80% accuracy still now 30 years later, not that there’s anyone around to confirm it i bet. My point is you can train your brain to recall certain thing at will, and then there is the stuff that it searches for all on it’s own, like what was the name of that band that sang so and so, and it always wakes you up at three in the morning with damn answer, I’m sure many of you have that happen too.
PS: I paid national insurance for 20years before emigrating, so I’m entitled to a reduced pension, as today is my 60th birthday can i start collecting does anyone know, or is it still 65? I ask as when i left the women could get it at 60.
Cheers
Prox- unfortunately not, his brain looks like a two thirds eaten apple 😉
It will be crap deal if Murphy does go, TBH if he did sign he still wouldn’t play despite the talk of using the youth
Canadian Villan-you can claim you’ve had a sex change? hope this helps 😉 p.s I think its probably about the price of a pint of milk in old money . oh and happy birthday 😉
Canada,
is this link any good for you? … https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad/how-to-claim
Thanks John, I’ve book marked that and will take a closer look at home.
Canadian,
Happy birthday mate.
Canada: “My point is you can train your brain to recall certain thing at will”
Absolutely. Harping on the delivery round theme, my Dad was a bread delivery man way back and would empty his satchel onto the carpet every Friday after all his collections, and count up all the cash. I quickly became aware that he was very very quick at counting and accurately totting up the amounts. Before I was a teenager I made myself able to count as he could …
Decades later I was zipping up a column of figures and the person with me looked at me in blank amazememt at my speed! … Since then they use calculators and spreadsheets to do things the brain can do.
But that’s the mechanical capability of the brain. There are other functions the brain has that are not at all understood. For example, my wife had an intuition a couple of days ago that her son’s partner was pregnant. Last night it was confirmed.
More congrats to the Lerwill family.
Regarding the brain, i had a premonition that St75 was going to buy a drink in Amsterdam before the European Cup Final, still waiting and several 20 quids lighter, is there still a chance ?
Steamer,
Don’t worry … ST75 is an honest guy … he’s simply waiting for a cheap-enough banknote printing machine to come available! 😉
Trouble is they’re now producing fivers in plastic.
Steamer,
I remember Amsterdam blimey we spent some money there strangely ST75 came back with more money in his pocket than he went with the bloody charleton, naughty night over there if I recall with a couple of our lads getting stabbed around the red light district think it was the Turks.
If I hear the words ” It can”t be my round I bought one at Old Trafford in 1977″ then I will scream always used his memory as an excuse back then so nothing has changed.
SWV
NEW POST! 🙂