Cardiff are up ‘ere on Saturday. That club’s name brings back some memories for me, not the least being a league match against them in March, 1957 when we won 4-1, but the terraces were very sparse that day. “Why?” you may well ask. Well, the match was played on a Wednesday afternoon! Again, the question “why?” is inevitable!
In those days if a club didn’t have floodlights and a re-arranged match had to be played in mid-week, then Villa played such matches on a Wednesday afternoon, being (back then) a half-day working day for many workers. And you will now have realised that in 1957 Villa did not have floodlights: they didn’t arrive until the next year. So that match I saw played in 1957 may well have been the last that Villa ever played on a Wednesday afternoon.
The scorer for Cardiff that day was a certain Gerry Hitchens, the former Kidderminster player who was making a big name for himself down at Cardiff, having started there with a certain Trevor Ford as his companion in their forward line. What a combination! Well, Ford was past history for Villa, but Hitchens (Blews having nearly scuppered Villa’s ambitions!) joined the Villa in December, 1957 and for nearly the next four years increased several times over in ability and the love-in Villa fans had for him. His 29 league goals (42 in all) in season 1960-61 has not since been equalled at Villa.
Anyway, the story of Hitchens has been told elsewhere over and over again, but in season 1959-60 – when Villa were temporarily in the second tier – Villa had Cardiff as their competitors for the division leader spot, and the match against them late in the season will go down in Villa’s annals as one of the finest and most tense matches ever seen at Villa Park. It was 0-0 with around ten minutes to go when Villa finally took the lead, and it was Hitchens who soon grabbed a second to remind Cardiff of his talent.
Well, though Cardiff did finish as runner-up in that season and reached the top flight with Villa, their history since has been none too great, though in recent years they had a little flurry. As for this season, they now lie in the position that Villa occupied only a few weeks ago. In theory, the difference of just four points between Villa and Cardiff might indicate they are not a team to be taken lightly, but – using my half-glass full philosophy – I would say that since Villa appear to be on the ‘up’, they should win this match fairly comfortably. Yes, even with Rickie Lambert and a certain Peter Whittingham in their squad.
A win here followed by at least a draw at Leeds and then another win – against Wigan – would go down fairly well, I think.
The Author
John Lerwill
I'm a Villan of more than 60 years standing and an occasional writer on Villa history. For me there is only one football club worth supporting, but I am now wondering whether I will again see anything like the pageant that was paraded under Ron Saunders or even that by Big Ron and Brian Little. My glass, however, is always half-full! Click here for my Villa website.Comments 100
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I want a thumping good win but has big potential to be tricky/slip up against Warnocks side.
Got to win the home games though if you want to go up.
They beat Huddersfiled with 27% possession I believe so tells you what to expect.
Concentrate at the back and take your chances we should be ok. Lets carry that second half over. 3-0 to villa
Linked to poss swap deal with hull….gestede for hernandez…..yes bloody please.
Team for Cardiff
Goalini
Bacuna Chester baker amavi
Jedi Gg
Adomah Jack Ayew
Kodger
I’d take a Gestede for Hernandez trade any day! Gestede barely gets a sniff of the pitch as it is, anyway.
John: don’t know about “bluebird” pie, but blueberry pie is my favorite kind of pie; it got me wondering, how common are blueberries over there? Do you guys ever get to have a blueberry pie?
yeah I got some blueberries in the freezer. have em on my porridge.
down in devon we have clotted cream too 🙂
my fav pie is bannoffee.
love jam rolly polly with custard. don’t think that’s classed as a pie
Texas,
Yep, blueberry is common here mainly (I think) as an ingredient in cakes. It seems to have leapt in popularity in recent years but still predominantly imported.
Here’s an article on this matter: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/britains-blueberry-boom-when-it-comes-to-berries-weve-got-the-blues-8735045.html
I grow Blueberries and they do very well. I also believe that they are grown commercially so, at least during the summer, those in supermarket etc are home grown, although the ones currently available are either importanted from the other side of the world or from greenhouses in Spain or Holland.
Back to Villa, John I seem to recall going to a mid-week afternoon match during the miners strike/ 3 day week in the early 70s is that correct? I think there may have been only one such match as, if my memory is correct, the club got a generator! I really think we need to be winning games by wide margins, so would love another 4-1. But Cardiff will be parking the bus, as others have said, & trying to hit us on the break! If anyone can out tactics Warnock it’s Bruce.
Herts,
Hey, that’s an interesting one, but it doesn’t look like it…
These were the VP matches in Jan/Feb 1972 (the time of that particular strike period):
01.01-H Halifax 1-0
19.01-H Shrewsbury 3-0
22.01-H Barnsley 2-0
05.02-H York 1-0
12.02-H Bournemouth 2-1
26.02-H Port Vale 2-0
The only mid-week match listed there is the one vs Shrewsbury, which I went to and was not an afternoon match.
Yes, Villa did get a generator in time for the friendly against Santos (February, 1972), who complained about its noise, I believe.
Not only did they complain about the noise, they refused to come out for the second half. The generator could only power half the flood lights so Villa changed them to the other end at half time and really pi$$ed off the Santos players. After a small protest the lights were switched and the second half got going. Great night, me and our kid dragged the old man down for that one he had a great night.
Rolly Polly pudding, haven’t heard that in ages, used to love the spotty dick at school dinners too, though the custard wasn’t so great. My missus still makes me a treacle steam pudding and not that thing in the can by Heinz neither. For Christmas she still makes an old fashioned pudding from scratch with Guinness though, as her Moms recipe called for Mackey but we cant get that here, but a stout is a stout is it not.
I’m sure I went to a mid-week afternoon match & have always thought it was during the 3 day week! John you are right about the Santos game & the generator! I also remember Bruce Ricoh asking to be subed just before the end and then running on the pitch at the end to exchange shirts with Pele ! Although we won, I think 2-1, it felt like Santos could have scored anytime they liked & were just being kind! Who scored? Seem to recall McMahon scoring but can’t remember the other goal. I remember their goal which was a “banana” shot from quite some distance. I was in the Holt end which was packed. I was standing about half way up but with the goal celebrations ended up almost by the railings. It was a wonder there weren’t more deaths at grounds! Or maybe there were!
Herts: “I’m sure I went to a mid-week afternoon match & have always thought it was during the 3 day week! “
Was it a reserve match – or FA youth cup match?
Canada,
You remind me of the time 30 years ago when I had an office in Wimbledon which was close to the Wimbledon Theatre and opposite that a “Dirty Spoon” eating place. They did the best puddings there … spotted dicks and all … no wonder I put on weight. It didn’t help when a Canadian restaurant opened there where they did the best fudge cake I’ve ever tasted!
Sorry off Cardiff topic but a question to the Lifers
Anyone missing the premier league, personally not at all
Firstly, the obvious after 5 years of nothingness and being the butt of every prem joke, it’s a relief not to have to put up with that bar baggies being obsessed with us on Twitter recently
More importantly for me, I don’t miss the hype, the faux rivalry created by Sky in its efforts to create these new fangled ‘narratives’ that don’t exist or click baiting headlines.
I don’t miss being last on MOTD
I’ve watched a handful of prem games and not having a vested interest in seeing teams being beaten to allow us to survive another season, I’ve been able to watch them purely from a football perspective and apart from flashes of brilliance mainly from non-English players the standard of football isn’t great.
Before this descends into wasn’t life better before Sky and decimalisation, there is a sense from the championship that the story is the football itself, there is a realness about it, like Leeds proclaiming 30000 tickets sold for the Villa game as an achievement based on supporters wanting to show up for the football despite being on the box as opposed to Wenger has never beaten Mourinho crap.
Even though teams like Villa,Newcastle etc have an international following, it’s absolutely about local people supporting their local team, too much of what the premier league is when you look at the top six especially is around the global product, fans don’t exist because someone travelling from Asia to see their team spend much more in the shop/on the experience than a local fan.
Back on topic
Cardiff, not beaten us at home since 1954, that will continue but also to give credit to Warnock, he has also transformed them so it will be a tough game, please god Flabby is at best on the bench
UTV
You may seen my post last week regarding Paul Futcher, former Man City and England U 21 defender.
Paul passed away last night RIP Paul. One of the good guys and a great professional. Just 60.
Arch.
DO’R
I have to agree with your observation on the EPL. The focus is purely on a selected half dozen. The gap between the big money clubs and the rest is alarming and it’s getting bigger. With less financially equipped clubs having only EPL status as an objective, who wants that? Leicester remind me of our lot in many respects, when we won the league in 1980. Its difficult to sustain that level of success.
The importance of being a global brand will, in my opinion, take the game away from the regular fan. In short I think football will eat itself. The decline in Sky viewing figures has already been noted. Once that decline becomes a trend, It may all revert to how it was pre Sky, not for a long time though.
Probably less difficult to maintain in 1980 as there was a more even playing field and money wasn’t the huge factor, what held us back was a small minded travel agent who didn’t either wish to capitalise on our success or knew he didn’t have the where with all to fund the expansion to become another Liverpool (in terms of European success) and selling the club to a more generous benefactor/chairman would have meant the end of the road for Deadly.
Leicester however have to compete with a global market for their players, 3 clubs with the ability to massively invest (Man U, C and Chelski), a further club who’s manager doesn’t know how to spend like the big boys (Arsenal) and the best of the rest with big budgets (Spurs, Pool). Fair play to Leicester for player retention and enjoying being in the Champs League unlike Spurs who didn’t see themselves as ready to challenge and therefore didn’t bother, they are the quintessential Europa League team.
Only a few years ago we were equal to Spurs if not better at one stage, in years before Harry Redknapp.
I genuinly think in the next five seasons we will be that good. Hopefully one season in this division a season of containment then push on. If Dr X sticks around…If he invests in quality….If we have the right boardroom structure, lot of ifs. I would like to think Dr X’s talk of competing positively in European is not just talk but genuine ambition.
On RdM, I was chatting to my bro in law whose a recruiting officer for another Championship club and very matey with Sean Kimberly our head of Academy , it was stated that RdM was a “myth”and a certain Nigel Pearson was in post and did the pre season up until Dr X took over and was dazzled by the myth. All history now.
archie- does not surprise me I was told he was nailed on by a Leicester employee at the sports academy.
DOR- premier league without us? can’t be arsed, have always preferred playing to watching and now if we get back up I want to compete because otherwise whats the fecking point? I would 100% rather watch the England Rugby union team than England football, no passion no commitment no hope. China is hoovering up players at a rate and if we don’t hurry up that audience will be watching its own stars, actually I hope they do
DO’R,
Loved your bit about the Prem – I thoroughly agree!
But I’m sorry I can’t quite agree about the “small minded travel agent”. Though I accept he displayed a number of faults in his long tenure as chairman, the situation in 1982 onwards was a lot to do with falling gates that had started to manifest itself around 81/82 time. In those days there were not many other options for revenue than people coming through the gates, so HDE did have limited options. I don’t believe he had that much by way of wealth to spend, did he?
Having said that, to pull in players of the ilk of Rideout and McMahon – as well as producing players from the youth like Walters and then Daley – demonstrates that ambition was there on HDE’s part. It was just a huge, huge shame that we lost Cowans for an entire season and Shaw’s career was effectively ended. If those two had been around a completely different scenario may have resulted.
I do think that there’s been some mythology paraded about HDE amongst Villa fans – basically because he wasn’t perfect! 🙁
HDE
Just read snippets from Ron Atkinson’s book in which Ron states (about his sacking):
‘Doug did it in a fit of pique – the meeting to dismiss me lasted precisely four minutes. Years later, I said to him, ‘You lost your temper, didn`t you, Doug?` ‘I`m afraid I did, Ron.`”‘
Yes, there was something a little eccentric and OTT about HDE, but not quite what people make him to be i.m.o.
Read more: http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7521872#ixzz4QxTBhhGk
Thanks for a nice article, John.
Villa should win this one.
Blueberries are great brain food. Anyone see that Heston episode where he tries to improve the food in the RN”s submarine service. He uses blueberries a lot and helps the RN in an unexpected way.
3-1 Villa.
Hi JL
I suppose I’m looking with modern eyes on an old issue when the same could be said about Forest or Ipswich to a lesser extent not capitalising on their success but we had the same chairman in place in the 90s when consistently qualifying for Europe again failed to take the next step.
Hi Mark
As bad as this sounds but due to being crap at football, I prefer to watch. As a kid with just MOTD or Saint and Greavsie and the FA Cup final as the only way to see football of a high level the focus on the skill and not the dark art of defending always in my mind told me I was doing the ugly part of the game, my preference is to watch those more skilful then I’d ever be, being completely left footed, I’d always ended up as left full and there were lads who were right footed better at being a left full.
My now brother in law, took great joy in going up to the manager to get his subs back if he didn’t play, should have done the same.
I take great solace in the fact that most great managers had poor football careers so who knows I could have gone into football mgmt 🙂
UTV
The idea of the poor quality Prem sides gels with me – I watched 4 games this week – 2 UCL and 2 UEL and turned each one off by half-time to watch the highlights on ITV later to find out the score; I watched Leicester the longest but they are no dark horse like Villa was when they played in the European Cup.
The First Division teams had sussed out Villa after one season of Withe, Shaw, Morley and Mortimer like they have sorted Leicester this season;the only successful sides now seem to be those that change like chameleons and that takes money.
Championship football, at the moment is a lot more honest and enjoyable; the problem is the bait of income from the Prem jeopardises managers’ long term prospects and the managerial merry-go-round is in full swing at some clubs. Goodness knows why Monk took on Leeds.
Villa should beat Cardiff and need to get climbing up the table before the African Cup of Nations
DO’r: “we had the same chairman in place in the 90s when consistently qualifying for Europe again failed to take the next step.”
That I do agree with … there was definitely a ‘thing’ about Doug that stopped the club from taking off, especially during that time. And the sacking of Big Ron was just wrong i.m.o.
I wonder whether he lived by the rules of his grannie … “Income £1, expenditure 90p = happiness; income £1 expenditure £1.10 = misery.”
But – compared to what the Rt. Hon. Lerner did in his 10 years of tenure after teasing the fans initially – was Doug to be preferred? For me, I’d say a wholehearted “yes”, despite his faults.
Thats like a Clinton v Trump vote, who is the lesser of two evils for different reasons, is there a third party candidate 🙂
DO’R,
Not quite! 🙂
I’m saying that (for me) HDE was actually reasonably competent – and consistent! Lerner proved to be more like a Jekyll and Hyde character – and with a sting in his tail!
Dor- No shame in that mate good players and managers have brains too 😉
I have listened to a few podcasts about the the Trump v Clinton election. I actually have some sympathy for trump as the leftist media and even the republicans with vested interests were determined to de-rail him. He funded his own campaign so beholden to nobody ( you hope) and the same media that employed him for 13 years accused him of sexism/racism while Hillary had her women molesting/rapist (allegedly ) husband by her side. When the sexist slurs started against Trump he brought 4 women to the debate some with cases against Clinton and one who at 12 was raped and that Hillary as an attorney had got her attacker off with a polygraph test which she was later heard to laugh about on tape as he was guilty as hell. His wife is a clever lady and foreign so racist? someone clearly doesn’t want the apple cart upsetting.
Hope this doesn’t offend anyone I know it invokes strong feelings but the media in our country have done there darnedest to do the same.
I think the far right and centre that voted for Trump will soon realise the only vested interest he has is himself, there are 1000s more billionaires from construction who take no part in having a media presence. Not saying he is precluded from running from office but he is media hungry first and a politician second.
Trump is entirely self-serving, I expect like everyone with even a passing interest in politics/economics/society would be able to garner votes in America by saying the right things in the right town, so down to Texas and say aren’t all these illegal Mexicans ruining your lives, let’s build a wall, up to the rust belt, remember when you used to manufacture things, we’ll let’s bring that back.
I see Trump has already spoken to Tim Cook of Apple and through tax incentive schemes is looking for manufacturing plants to be relocated to the US with an expected price increase of 30/40 dollars per phone not much of a difference but would decimate the local economies in those countries where Apple currently manufacture.
The determination to rip up trade agreements with the intent to become insular and protectionist will impact the global economy and regardless of your opinion on capitalism or making money, it’s our current system so any detrimental change in the global economy has an impact. The other side is the likes of TTIP should be got rid of anyway, there is no need for Californian oranges to be sold here just to allow Spain to sell into the US and the environmental impact of transportation as well.
Trade agreements while necessary should be just that an agreement to allow the free movement of goods, not an imposition of product placement globally.
As for his backroom team, Mr Breitbart Steve Bannon has the senior position, vested interests in the oil industry will hold environmental positions. Farage will become US envoy to Brexit torn Britain.
Being married to a clever lady from a different country doesn’t preclude him from being racist though. We now know that most Mexicans are criminals and rapists, we know that he’s identified an entire religion as being terrorist or sympathetic to terrorism, who knows what he actually thinks about Native Americans, African Americans. His VP Elect Pence is a staunch Christian and his views on the LGBT community are abhorrent. He’s so staunch he probably is a Creationist anyway.
You’ve covered Clinton apart from her warmongering past
When the alt right where nazi saluting and saying Heil Trump, what was the reaction, not a condemnation of their actions but ‘ i don’t want to energize that group and i disavow them’ . Hardly the actions of someone who doesn’t want white racists supporting him.
Mark,
Well, though I also have reservations about Clinton, at least she knows about politics and has had great experience in that arena. I suppose someone (like Trump) coming in with none of that may be better qualified in some ways! 🙂
DOR- I suspect a lot of things were done or said to get in on both sides, Clinton was just more corrupt than the man she wanted to slander and at the end of the day more people voted for him and strangely lots of minorities didn’t bother to vote against him. She also used her gender to garner favour with the feminists. I suppose if you want your own people to sit on their arses and vote for more government handouts while you bring in cheap labour that also votes for handouts that’s fine. Surely a nation in work will have more about it? Nothing wrong with helping those who cannot help themselves but it’s got to the point now when the hand of entitlement is permanently held out and expected. Nationalism is a dirty word these days when it’s really internationalism that’s the bigger problem. I’m no nazi but I cant say I admire a system that has allowed the breakup of family and single mums as an occupation.
I’m not against capitalism either, we have never had a real free market to my knowledge.
JL- he yet may surprise us 😉 it certainly has the establishment who cry racism at the drop of a hat, if multiculturalism is to work (correct me if I’m wrong but has it ever in known history?) then there has to be dialogue between the groups or it will get worse as I see it, and if legitimate concerns are not heard what then? Can always call them racists 😉
More people voted for Clinton, she has 2m more of the popular vote, it’s the Electoral College voting system that got Trump in, effectively winning states that had more college votes
No issue with Clinton looking for the female vote, it’s the final glass ceiling in America for women unfortunately the representative for women was as corrupt as they come so why should they vote for her.
Don’t disagree with you about the disincentive to work from social welfare, it’s the same in this country, where taking a job might remove access to the medical card or other hand out and we don’t have the NHS so being sick is costly to your health and wallet.
Nationalism is a dirty word because governments have failed to challenge the far rights use of nationalism to loosely cover racism. I’m a proud Irish man, we’ve travelled the world bringing our music, our stories and the craic. I’m very proud of those who survived the famine and progressed to become leaders of industry and countries and for the most part we remember our history of being second class citizens in our own country and therefore don’t look down on others for being of a different race or religion (there are exceptions).
Multiculturalism has never worked because state institutions always prevented it and hundreds/thousands of years of oppression/slavery can’t just be forgotten nor can the previously dominant white male quickly adjust to no longer being dominant. Add to that elements of the world under the guise of Islam trying to drive a wedge between the people of this world will ensure that race hate will continue to survive into new generations especially in the Middle East due to how the ‘West’ has dealt with the region.
Gentlemen,
Where there has been a national concept of unity, multiculturalism *has* worked, in the new Islamic empire (early medieval period) and in India over thousands of years… and even more recently in countries like Malaysia (though it’s now falling apart).
I think you’re talking of multiculturalism in the West, which – because of the way western nations operate, with little underlying philosophy other than capitalism – was never likely to work too well.
India? with it’s caste system meant multiculturalism didn’t cross boundaries surely, it’s still fully functioning today, it just allows them to co-habit. As I’ve worked with many Indians down the years and challenged them on this and arranged marriage and other cultural differences I wouldn’t get exposed to within my circle of friends.
Surely multiculturalism extends beyond ghetto-ising it but influences how other people act/think. Are we multicultural already in our minds having been influenced by other writers/musicians where the colour of their skin or where they are from matters but only because it defines who they are, not what we think they are.
Dor- you should try being English 😉 not allowed to be proud yet the welsh, Scots, Irish, Cornish, Asian community, Jamaican, yadda yadda can, its a weird world out there. I’m amazed the Italians have got away with the Roman period these days. do you really think there is a dominant white male thing? how many men were ruled by the mrs?
As for slavery isn’t shipping in cheap labour just that in a way? doesn’t that give them lower status than women supposedly have? and yes the west has dealt badly with the middle east it powers our world so no surprise there, what surprises me is there own hatred of each other tribally, why have they not helped the Syrians ??
JL- India’s religion was very good at absorbing other religions which came along, a good way to keep peace but it hasn’t done so with Christianity to my knowledge. Your right in the west there are many problems on that front to find a compromise.
what do you think of the invention of god/gods as a means for older males to stay in power in communities rather than get threatened by the up and coming younger men they pulled the invisible ally trick?
JL And I should say it hasn’t done so with Islam either when I was there there seemed a great deal of animosity between the two, we had Muslim taxi driver for two weeks around Rajasthan and he clearly disliked anything the Hindus did
DOR- I’m afraid that it must come from an evolution aspect, as rational as we may like to think we are a lot goes on biologically that goes unnoticed. We are programmed to survive, eat, procreate and die, being sentient and intelligent kind of messes that up a bit, add what we learn as a child to the pot and we are reacting but don’t know why. JL would call it becoming aware of yourself I think and thats all you can do, plenty don’t , makes it bloody hard to live in peace
Gentlemen,
On the statement: “India? with it’s caste system meant multiculturalism didn’t cross boundaries surely,” I am afraid that the caste system you refer to is a completely retarded version of what once existed. There is a history about the caste (varna) system to be understood to put India’s history in context. In fact, India’s history has never been told properly.
The statement “And I should say it hasn’t done so with Islam either when I was there there seemed a great deal of animosity between the two” is not related to what I said. I said that in the early Middle Ages there was huge toleration of Islam towards other groups … Christians and Jews, for example, were allowed to carry on their own religion without interference. The Hundus were alo hugely respected at one point.
In the case of India and (Sunni) Islam there have been retrograde developments and that is what we are witnessing today, not what once was. Fastback a thousand years or more and you would have found something entirely different.
Ahem, Hindus not Hundus. … nor Hondas! 😉
Henry winters been at bodmoore heath today. Big interview in tomoz paper or online tonight. Forget who he works for now but always found him to be decent.
Says the place has its buzz back and the dr has a very sharp mind.!
JL- Trouble is John it is now we are dealing with and people did not have have the ability to be on your doorstep in less than a day from almost anywhere ( not talking about even earlier history here 😉 )
Andrew- used to be the telegraph don’t know now, I agree with him on the Dr
In the Aston Tavern enjoying a pint and ready for the rumble with the Blue birds!c UTV!
Great write up JL. Many happy memories of Gerry Hitchens.
Is there a live audio commentary of the game anywhere?
Firstly. . . . The referee was so so poor.
Warnock had clearly told his players to foul and disrupt us in the second half and the weakness and inconsistency of the referee allowed that tactic to work. He finally lost control of the game and Jack managed to buy a sending off and penalty from him.
Talking of Jack, what a wonderful player he is turning into. His work rate, team ethic and control have all moved up several levels this year and he was my man of the match.
He was run close by Jedinack and Amavi and Adomah did really well too.
Three points off the play offs, 3 points closer to the top, still unbeaten at home, player and fan togetherness finally returned and there has to be a shout out for Steve Bruce. . . . 4 wins and 3 draws is a better start than even he could have hoped for.
Oh . .. . and a chairman who so wants to get under the skin of the club and fans that he invites fans to share his corporate box with him. That’s original, impressive and classy behaviour from him.
hello folks this is worth reading and tells me we are moving the right direction with Round, he really stresses the physiology side and says the man he brought in has done wonders
http://www.avillafan.com/24463/fans-consultation-group-meeting-steve-round/?
Mark, I just read that article and was thoroughly heartened by it.
What a difference our new owner has made. He understands that the success of the club club is all about success on the putch and he’s building a strong team behind the scenes to deliver that, not just now but fornthe ling term too.
He also understands that the fans are the heart of a club and he’s making genuine efforts to inform and involve us in the club.
Clever little ploy to get fans in the ground tweeting in order to win a place in his corporate box and then playing these up on the big screens.
My twitter feed has been taken over by happy Villa fans tonight. . . . Clever.
Very Robbo which bodes well in this media happy world, he has something extra over the likes of wolves owners and other eastern owners, a human touch
Up The Villa!!!
Walking on air tonight after a solid victory over Cardiff. We continue to improve game-by-game, and you can tell the lads are really enjoying playing for one another and the fans. As I said earlier, every match till the end of January is theoretically winnable as we won’t be facing any top clubs — this is when we need to rack up the points.
Warnock is complaining about Grealish ‘trying to get players booked’
Well here’s a suggestion Colin Wanker.. . . tell your players not to hack him down and you know what?. . . they won’t get booked.
I used to be embarrassed by Ashley Young’s theatrical dives but Jack today was not like that. The referee was disgraceful in not protecting him when time and time again he was cynically kicked and tripped as Cardiff tried to take him out of the game.
Last season I’d feel nervous when he received the ball that he’d give it away. This year he has so much more control and opposition players can only get the ball by fouling him .
Referees need to to do their jobs and penalise opponents. Today’s ref let them get away with it for far too long
I was so sorry when Westwood made that stupid mistake that led to their goal.
Up till then he’d been looking more confident, was linking play all over the pitch and made one superb pass out to the wing.
There were glimpses of a good player and I wonder if that’s what he shows on the training ground.
Bruce clearly has faith in him (as have previous managers) so let’s hope that he is eventually able to express himself consistently on the pitch
Blimey, positive comments on here!!!!!! Good to see that what some of us thought is now actually happening and people are coming round to the fact that progress is being made. But it was never going to happen overnight as some people seemed to be expecting. Long may our progress continue.
Steamer – my previous comments on the other thread were not against you at all, I know you are Villa through and through plus you wind people up just a tad! Your comments and observations will always be welcome here and missed when you’re not here. And bring back ST75 and Jenny et al whilst you’re at it mate.
oldvilla
A solid win. Keep that up and it might become a habit. It wasn’t vintage stuff, but three different players scored, so things are looking up.
BTW, where is Jenny? Steamer will be happy since Villa hasn’t lost for about 7 matches and are within striking distance of the top six.
Hello Old Villa.
Trust Gabby to get a card for gobbing off. We will need a properly fit McCormack in a month.
OldVilla: and someone please find Frem and bring him back as well!
I’ve been watching and rewatching the Adomah assist for Kodjia’s headed goal: he sends in one pass which is blocked straight back to him, at which point he coralls the rebound with his right foot (in midair, mind you) and then sends in an inch-perfect, high-arching second pass right to the one spot where Codger’s head could control it. Albert Adomah is far and away the best winger we’ve had since Ashley Young, and that’s a hard fact! He and JG both have real wizardry in their boots.
R0bb0: Westy is purely a confidence player — he’ll play quite well for a confident and in-form team (like he did during the spring of 2015, when he was one of a trio with Delph and Cleverley), yet he’ll hang his head and allow opponents to push him around unmercifully when playing for a dismal side. The fans that chose to boo him at Villa Park should realize that there’s no use complaining about the way he is, that’s just the way his psyche is constructed.
Trinity. Jenny is on Twitter a lot and also had an article in the Birmingham Mail online the other day.
Mark: “JL- Trouble is John it is now we are dealing with and people did not have have the ability to be on your doorstep in less than a day from almost anywhere”
Of course we’re ‘in’ today! 😉
What I am saying is that if there was a formula so many years ago that worked then it’s about time it should be re-found. But I would agree that to do so needs us to change our mentality to make it possible.
The real answer is in the minds of people.
v. Cardiff
I was down souf yesterday and highly pleased when I eventually got the result, and more highly pleased to read from y’all that JG and Odamah … and Westwood … are strutting their stuff.
Ayew and the Jedi
I see that he continues to flatter to deceive. A great shame as he could be doing a lot better – he has the ability.
Meanwhile the Jedi is getting rave reviews. We needed such a player and I’m very glad that he’s delivering the goods.
JL- yes mate that is the key, was shown a video of a teen blind-siding another with a punch out of the blue they then told him to stand up and did it again, they were truly chuffed with themselves, I have to think has it ever been this bad before? At least animals have a reason for violence and it isn’t pleasure and ego, utter cowards.
Steve Bruce knows how to play this league there is no doubt but there are many factors that have been happening at Villa park since Round came in. A sports psychologist for one arrived at the same time and according to round has had a massive impact on moral, so I am not surprised the results and and in particular some players have turned it around.
Amavi was coming back from a very serious injury and is now fully fit and back to his best, Adomah barely played and jedinak was way off the pace early on through injury and huge flights. Couple that with Richards and elphick getting injured and cissoco’s suicidal penalty habit I think Steve Bruce has had the rub of the green because the team almost picked itself and the late comers are now match fit, he also has no leanings toward any player, he bought no-one, the Adomah/Kodjia act has turned up trumps too, another treat denied RDM.
Yesterday we played 4231, the system that didn’t work under RDM is now an attacking tool and the players seem to be assuming their defensive duties better with Jedinak now turning in MOM performances.
Old Villa will probably accuse me of negativity 😉 but I believe that changes brought about by round have had a part to play. That said Bruce has done the right thing made us solid first and worked from there, I think RDM just thought for christ sake some of these shots have to go in soon and coupled with the pressure of the rebuild and Tony X’s world domination plan the players collapsed under the weight, Steve Bruce is a master at managing expectation and grounding the players there is no doubt at this level.
Round spoke of us using analysts and the recent goal at Brighton being a direct result of work on the training ground thought up by a collective think tank. This is something that Brentford use a lot, they have analysed from what position’s most goals are scored and how to engineer them.
I was amazed at how much he has had to implement including a defensive coach that coaches at all levels once a week including the top players if needed, and apparently we have no local scouting in the very area we reside, other clubs hoover up most of the Midlands talent while we look elsewhere! crazy stuff and its should not surprise us that we have been so poorly set up and run but it did surprise me how bad it actually was. We now have football people at every level too a mix of the old and new is where we are headed. He is yet to implement a style/ethos for the club but that is on the cards and will be discussed with Bruce but will not I suspect be solely his ideas.
Tony Xia is delivering on every level and we will I believe become something way better than Maybe I have seen in my time supporting Villa
Mark,
Excellent comment on what’s happening at t’ Villa.
It is definitely astonishing that Dr. Tnix has managed to get this far in less than six months. The previous incumbant didn’t even try by comparison.
Mark agree mate. Good post that.
The exciting thing is now having a structure in place, love that shit. Feels like a proper club again.
Does anyone know the structure/ jobs and who is in place. I can think of
Dr
Wynass
Round
Psycologist
Is there a new head of recruitment?
Know theres a new scouting chap
Calderwood assistant
These are people in place that are club men, if bruce one day leaves we will still have the same plan.
Which is great.
Most excited confident and happy ive been for over 5 years. Love it.
I actually think and believe we can win games now.
Did anyone else hear Tony Morelys comment on Gabby on the radio? he basically said if it was up to him Gabby would never have wore the shirt again, he said he had turned his back on the club when it needed him, can’t argue with that.
Id give bruce more credit though mark than just better timing. Buck bets ten rdm would still be here not kniwing his brst side and still making steange subs and players not motivated.
You look at ex players under bruce, to a man they say his man management is superb. Knows when to give a bollocking which rdm never did and puts an arm around.
Was it 4231 yesterday, heard jack was in cm?
Looks like 4231 at home 433 away?
Point away win at vp is bruces plan
Id say that was most villans view on gabby!
Still concerns on what the hell is wrong with tisch and the day i dont see westy and hutton in the team will be amazing.
Fair enough now we are on a run but moment we loose i want hutton and westy out. Sulry bacuna over hutton
Andrew- yes I agree he does maybe deserve more credit from me 🙂
thing is there is a lot going on and has gone on in the last two seasons and the changes being made are massive and can’t be ruled out. he just may have come in as the wave was about to rise? I wonder what the team would of looked like if he had been here in the summer? how many of the players form last season would still be here? would we have Kodjiah, Adomah? who knows?
RDM went to pot under the pressure along with the team IMO he had £60m reasons to play his players too.
I know this will interest a few definitely jen and JL. rounds head of medicine is Danny Donachie
I’ll post two links see what you think 😉
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/former-everton-fc-head-medicine-11191802
http://www.embodyism.com/author/danny/
Mark K – “Old Villa will probably accuse me of negativity”
Not at all mate – the negativity is when there’s no debate/discussion and the same old words are dragged out time and time again, almost like cut and paste. And also that no-one can see the bigger plan and that progress is being made albeit slower than we would all want.
What a few of us were saying months ago is that after so long of mismanagment in every area of AVFC, it would take a more than a couple of months to turn things around but that the signs were there.
I still dread stalking this site when we’ve next lost and seeing the same old comments about ‘Mutton’, ‘Wastewood’ etc etc …….
If we manage to get to the playoffs this season then great. If when get promoted then maybe even better. But if we have to wait until next season then so be it, maybe we will be even stronger and more together by then.
We are were we are, nothing can change that. We have to accept that the old Villa that we knew is not here any more and we have to scrap it out with lesser mortals lol. WE no longer have any divine right to be up there with the big boys. And to some extent I’m not unduly phased about that …… we will return!
oldvilla
I think that the reason Hutton keeps playing despite his woeful lack of crossing ability is surely due to the emergence of the best winger in the Championship, Albert Adomah. Prior to now, in a squad devoid of true wingers, our fullbacks had to be rushing forward constantly as there was no one else providing the width necessary for those crosses — hence Bacuna was getting all the starts and the playing time; but now that we have AA, at least the rightback doesn’t have to be bombing up the pitch as much and can concentrate more on his defensive duties — and apparently, Bruce feels that Hutton is better as a defender than Bacuna is (and in my opinion, that’s correct). Though we don’t have a true winger on the left side, that isn’t as much of an issue because Amavi’s crosses are frequently superlative.
\good to see the positivity coming through to everyone now, and that it is permiating from the chairman through his management and staff to the players and the fans. It really seems that we are in exciting times, and being in the Tavern, then in the ground, you felt it all around. The Holte Suite was so packed yesterday, that they stopped admitting people….not bad for a Championship side, playing in a clash that was not even top of the table, and Villa continue to attract the biggest crowds.
There was plenty to enjoy yesterday, as the team played with confidence, togetherness, and never let their heads drop. Our forwards, as has already has been said were great in comparison to recent seasons, and JG was outstanding, showing off his skills and tormenting the Bluebirds.
He should have had a penalty much earlier than the one given, but he was clever enough to make sure that he got one the next time. Gabby did show touches, and maybe he will improve and score when the opportunity arises in the future, but according to the players he is now making a didderence in the dressing room, and aiding the positivity, so maybe Bruce’s arm round the shoulder is working. Everyone seems to agree that Bruce is a first class man manager, which is paramount in the game.
Hope that Leeds have a really punishing cup tie and that wecan then beat them on Saturday..!!
Cheap deals available for Leeds/Wigan games for those interested.
Great result on Saturday, again lack of coverage has meant I’m reliant on the goal highlights and the written word. Looks like we found the game tough in parts but the quality of our players and play won out.
Quite pleased that Bruce listened to me and put Kodija upfront, he has the legs and intelligence to pull defenders around and eventually getting Grealish out wide to give him a bit more freedom of the park. Man of the match performances all over the park and even those who quite rightly get stick on here played their part.
Apart from maybe Newcastle away and an odd blip, I actually don’t see us being beaten again, solid through the back and midfield and different styles of forwards to cause defenses different problems. In fact odd as it sounds I’d like to see how this team would respond to a defeat to have proof positive that we were strong minded to withstand a setback and go on another undefeated streak.
Thanks for the article link Mark re supporters meeting with Steve Round, so much has gone on in the background to correctly build what Villa should be. To the point that my often stated approach to build a Villa way of playing at all ages and that this would be best done through a younger coach/manager seems to have been addressed. The confidence I have in what the club is trying to do has grown based on that article alone. Which leads me to say why isn’t the pr of the club revealing more of this good news story.
Can’t wait to be in Elland Road watching my team. Any Lifers going up?
I find it hard to think why we should be thinking about anything other than positivity! 😉
FOUR wins in the last 7 matches … that’s been unheard of around this neck of the woods for so long that the sensation (to me) is almost like winning a trophy!
And in Jedi, Amavi, Codger, Adomah and (now) Jack we have signs of real ability in the team. The only disappointment amongst the players really is Ayew, who I expected to score a basketful. The team is so good now that any shortcomings from the likes of Hutton seem to get covered over.
We’re only a breath away from the top 6 now, and every chance of arriving there before Christmas. Maybe that’s our Christmas presie! 😉
This season is beginning to remind me of 1974-75 and that outstanding run we had to get promotion. This time the run has started earlier and the only fear is whether they will run out of steam.
Yes you have to admit Bruce is getting the job done unbeaten in seven is a decent run and against some of the better sided this division has to offer, must admit Kodija is surprising me I watched a lot of him last season and he looked like he could play a bit but he now looks like a genuine striker and not afraid to put a shift in.
Where I stand on the Bruce debate is I never wanted him but when RDM got the bullet I knew he would get the job, you sometimes have to swallow your pride and go for the man who can get the job done, although I still do not believe he can do it at the next level.
I think come January he will bring in a couple to freshen it up possibly right back definitely in the middle of the park and even a keeper, we will miss Kodija when he goes to the ANC but it is something we will have to deal with.
SWV
What odds on a Villa v bluenose playoff final!
Hi SWV
I think the article Mark shared proves that the backroom staff, the scouting structure and the developing Villa ethos will put pay to the importance of the manager as any new manager will have to fit in to an existing system, while Bruce may have the final say so much less of an old school manager would do is in his hands and so with excellent coaching staff around him, less and less post promotion will a change of manager be necessary and continuity becomes more important allowing Bruce to relax in the position as opposed to knowing he’ll face the chop.
I had/have the same reservations about Bruce but if the Villa ethos is being developed from the ground up as opposed from the manager down then I think the club is in a stronger position.
We’ll wait and see but I don’t see Bruce being all that powerful in the new structure, going to give him the credit for turning us around and similar to Sherwood keeping us up deserved a transfer window, if Bruce gets us promoted he deserves the chance to manage us in the prem.
Villa Herts
No chance, you are making out that Small Heath would get to a final, they’ll fall away as the season goes on.
If you take the current 3rd to 6th, I can see Small Heath and Huddersfield falling away to be replaced by Norwich and ourselves, it’s so close and there will be many changes throughout the season.
DOR
Not so sure that the Noses will fall away, but agree that other teams may do so. I just want to make sure that finish in front of them, and after the Toons wobble at the weekend, who knows what will happen. If Villa continue as we are under Bruce, we could be challenging for the top of the table by January, especially as this team continues to gel.
I amsure the noses could be in the play-offs, while Villa need to qualify automatically, and there is no reason why we should not with the playing staff we have, and a coupe of new recruits..!!!
Darren,
I totally agree I was really impressed with Round in that article he seems to have a sound idea of how the whole club should be structured and hopefully our future will be secure under him, he seems to know the people he has put in place and trusts them to get the job done, Bruce will have all the control he needs to run the team but will not have the power other managers have previously had.
I like Hernandez from Hull a very lively striker who could strike up a very potent partnership with Kodija a very dangerous pairing if a swap deal can be done with Gestede or even Ayew.
SWV
DO’R,
Yes, you and Mark make good points, and I have also had doubts about SB in the long term, but the fact is that the structure at VP is only now being finalised … it wasn’t there so much when SB arrived. And – let’s face it – players do react depending on how they’re treated. SB seems to be doing something right in the dressing room, and in identifying who can contribute to Villa’s success.
love the positivity…now if we could get a win at a place like leeds then things could go through the roof. A big win like that is what we need now to get us to the next level. Being greedy and will take a point!
next level to be very very happy.start beating the leeds, norwichs, brightons. Stay in the top 6.
Replace hutton and westy. Id be the happiest ever.
Joe Bennett
I completely overlooked the fact that Joe Bennett played against us on Sat.
How did he perform – anyone know?
JL- he was blamed for one of the goals I believe so not a happy return, I presume he was up against Adomah.
I’m pretty much in line with the thinking on Bruce well done but I won’t get attached. if you look at Derby under The brolly wolly he has topped steve in the same number of matches and gone above us
Villaherts: I was thinking the exact same thing after Saturday’s match …. how wild would a Villa v. Vermin Wimbledon promotion final be?!?! It staggers the imagination!!
Joe Bennett’s been given a ton of chances as a fullback, but his defensive lapses keep holding him back. I doubt if he will ever be good enough defensively to be a truly effective LB, but managers keep using him because there’s such a paucity of players who can deliver excellent left-footed crosses. His best position would be for a team playing in a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2, and lining up as a left-sided wide midfielder or perhaps left wing-back.
was looking at the fixtures and thinking chrimbo going to be massive for us…then see brucey saying same thing!
Midweek footy coming back for us. 2 games a week. table could turn on its head by jan. COME ON VILLA
Was away for a long weekend holiday, but listened to the match, and was everything you want.
Bossed it in the first, didn’t hang our heads when they equalized, got a second, and scrapped through the ugly and truly negative football to get a result. I think the third was important, showed that Villa were not just hanging on, but adapting to the opponent and still creating chances.
Basically the old winning-when-you’re-not-playing-well storyline, at least in the second half.
Was funny to see Bruce using the 4-2-3-1. I was worried about the lineup, but it worked.
Also excellent stuff from Steve Round. All of what he’s talking about, that’s where a true foundation for success comes from.
And, yes, Andrew and others…lots of points to play for, and there’s every chance that the teams who were on a flyer to start the season will come back to earth a bit.
John Clark: “there’s every chance that the teams who were on a flyer to start the season will come back to earth a bit.”
As exemplified by the recent woeful form of the Canaries.
Such a terrible tragedy in Colombia as an airplane crash killed at least 76 people, including almost the entire Brazilian football team Chapecoense from the small city of Santa Catarina. I know I speak for us all in saying that they’ll be in my thoughts and prayers today …
Texas
It’s horrendous that.
We have 2 away games in 4 which is a bummer, qpr and Norwich.
JC- I had a little chuckle when 4231 was used as most fans are now convinced its 3 in midfield is a must, I just thought how much it showed that late comers not being match fit (particularly Jedinak ) and loss of confidence when it seemed we’d never win again hampered a decent squad under RDM, his reaction didn’t help ( basically keep going forward and sod defending ). Mr Bruce may have walked in at the perfect moment for him and us with all thats going on now.
thanks for another top leader JL and the memories and history
Had to put my 2p worth in the current thread of debate
For me RDM got a lot wrong and there inst much excuse for a 60mil squad getting constantly turned over by teams worth less than 2mil
Motivation and organization is what i credit for the impressive turnaround
These things were severely lacking for me and that is exactly what has changed under Bruce
anyone that can do the above should have lots of fun in this division
RDM’s buying was also very unbalanced and i feel he should have made some different choices in both his buying and letting go
Watching the Brighton game hammered home the above points for me and if we were further down the line under Bruce we may well of given them the beating the gap in spend between the club deserves
RDM did have a lot to do but on a massive platform and a huge wad of cash — reminds me of sherwood , hollier ect – was never going to be quite enough
steamer come back fella – the balance is all wrong without you
runtings- makes wonder whether any manager would of faired the same as RDM in the time-scale?
Bruce knows this league but this was huge rebuild considering, would he have kept a few more of last seasons idiots? think Gabby second chance? he would have lost the French lads regardless, Gana has been the real miss and would of been part of RDM’s plans, Clark too. the disjointed pre-season did not help either and that would of been the same for whoever got the job, I’m not defending RDM he made mistakes no doubt, just pointing out time was against him.
Someone else put it better than i could saying teams often mirror there managers. Rdm was lax as hell and boy did it show
Mark i can’t argue with the points you made as it was a massive rebuild and i agree that bruce may well have kept even more of the dross – he isnt may dream manager by any stretch , but i feel he is the more capable for our situation than the last few – apart from Garde who got completely shafted
Andrew- I’m looking forward to us being overweight and looking like spuds then 😉
Runtings- He knows the league and the players and how to win here, RDM and surprisingly Clarke didn’t. RDM said something along the line of the quality of the league had changed a lot since he promoted WBA
Steamer get back on here mate your worrying me now, I’m thinking you’ve found ST75’s stash of £20’s and done a bunk to Bogner
************************
New Post!
************************