Randy Lerner physically departed less than 12 months ago, but he was spiritually absent well before that. Even though he left so recently we appear to be somewhat impatient that the club is not already showing signs of transforming itself back into the kind of force it was in the mid-70s to early 80s. But recovering from a demise is no easy thing, particularly when the latest downturn was inflicted so harshly.

As a historian (as well as a Villa fan) my feeling is that Villa’s demise started with the departure of the people most involved with the growth of the club in its first 50 years – namely George Ramsay (retired 1926) and Fred Rinder (resigned 1925), William McGregor having died in 1911. From that point on, it seems to have been mainly a case of ego dominating the management of the club – people taking over the reins because they felt they were better able to do the job, but usually falling short. Yes, ego was involved from the earliest days as well, but at least it was an enlightened and enterprising ego!

Apart from that time just before the War when Fred Rinder briefly came back onto the board, the only time since that we have had a Villa board that has been truly enterprising in the development of the club was from 1969 onwards (and particularly from 1974) to the return of Doug Ellis in 1982. The problem with the 1974-82 group, however, was that they ran into debt and hence that sealed the return of Ellis and his ‘manage with caution’ approach as his wily ways beat off the challenge from a rival group.

But that time of resurgence from 1969 (sorry, Christmas, 1968!) happened in such a way for a host of reasons that could not be replicated today. There were still many fans who remembered enough of the great times (some went back to pre-WW1) and the feeling that was in the club during such times. And when the board was re-formed at the start of that revolution it had Harry Parkes as one of its directors, a former player of some 17 years standing as a loyal and valued contributor, and a local man. George Edwards was another former great of Parkes’s era who had stood up and said his piece in the effort to have the former board put to graze. Eric Houghton (from 1927-on, a Villa player for near 20 years) later came onto the board. He was possibly even more claret and blue than Parkes and Edwards.

There were people around then who knew from first-hand, or from primary sources, how great the club’s contribution had been in the evolution of football and were enthused by that. A tradition and mindset was truly in place and one that conveyed an ‘air’ about the club. There were so many from the fan-base that were called for and came forward to re-build their club. One ordinary fan (Ted Small) came forward to do some small building repairs and ended up as being the stadium manager.

Until the start of the Premier League at least (1992), the fans’ connection with the club and its history was strong. But by that time, the occupancy of the surrounding Aston district had already become much-changed and from 1996 the state of football and its management was to drastically change in this country. Football UK started to lose much of its natural connection with the grass roots, not aided by the digital age. And star footballers no longer connected with the fans as they once did.

It can be argued that it was Doug that helped to breed a new style of club management and that he is to blame for so many things, but the story is much more complex than that. And when he went, another – and foreign – management took over at Villa. Ten years later, that owner departed leaving a shell of a club that once was. The heart had been virtually ripped out of it. And many staff lost their jobs: services that had been run in-house became contracted out to save money. An old Villa fan who knows what goes on there says that the backroom atmosphere at the club is not anywhere near what it was even 10 years ago. Where once fans came in numbers to utilise the various facilities in the ground, there has become a lull. It was once a home-from-home for Villa supporters who also worked at the ground, but no longer – thanks to the running-down of the club up to 2016. And the dissipation in the attitude of too many players, which I believe is still present.

It is virtually 50 years since the previous revolution that helped re-build the club and brought it to a greater level of performance – but then lost its way somewhat. Sadly, the kind of revolution that took place in 1968-69 is hardly possible in the way football is today and the club remains owned by someone without a root connection with the club, although his modus operandi appears to be positively different to that of his predecessor. And he is helped by Brian Little, a further step forward from the attitude of the previous administration who believed they knew all the answers yet failed to apply much of substance that worked.

In 2016, it looked on paper as though a new owner with very substantial amounts of money was coming in to turn things around. And, yes, he did spend, though the situation he found when he first got here was different to what he expected. He got on with the job and appears to have restructured the club’s main operations well enough. But the new owner (Dr. Xia) is reported to have recently Tweeted: “we need [to] get the right environment system back first, then build winning mentality, stable performance, and football style.” In other words, even now (nearly 12 months later), he hints that there is much work that remains to be done; that re-structuring the club does not mean that everything will suddenly start to work smoothly. He’s made a sound start, but to get all the gears properly synchronised does take oil, elbow grease and time.

We – as fans – think that the main issue is what we see on the pitch and look mainly to the team manager as the focal point and the butt of our jibes. In a way that’s correct, because it’s the success (or not) of the play that brings the needed success of the club. And there are a number of accusations that there is “little or no flair or excitement in the team which is [a] hallmark of Bruce”. But for me I believe it’s the old mindset that has to be re-found as the higher priority: there was a time (it was said) when the Villa were afraid of no-one and played accordingly. I know of matches of old when Villa finished a match with only 9 or 10 players on the field, and yet won convincingly! There was one match in the 1920s when an 8-man Villa team held Everton to a 1-1 scoreline until 20 minutes from time, but then finally fell to two late goals. I feel that Bruce is the kind of manager that wants to achieve that attitude in his team, and with his record of gaining promotion, he must surely be well qualified for at least that purpose. In other words, what we’re seeing just now is not truly reflective of Bruce the manager: he knows he has more work to get through.

A key issue, also, is that a football club is not quite like any other kind of business, particularly in that its main employees (the players) have developed a certain power since the 1990s and can directly influence the way the club operates. The players no longer connect so much with the club they play for, except perhaps those that came through the club’s own youth process. Part of the club’s (and Bruce’s) job is to get the old Villa Way into their skulls, and it can’t be done overnight.

Re-formulating a successful system or method at a football club is, of course, not an issue that has affected just Aston Villa. A similar problem has occurred at clubs at all levels up and down the country when a take-over has been necessitated.

One such club was Plymouth Argyle, where the new chairman Paul Stapleton declared (in 2009): “There’s a mindset that we used to have in the football club, and we’ve got to get it back again.” For me, he hit the key issue – that the capability of success in the club can only come about from the kind of thinking that exists, and is a rule that is common in all organisations.

For Villa, it’s a case of how well and how quickly all its new components and people come together and re-find that ‘Villa mindset’ of old; particularly the players. The owner is determined it should not take too long; he has set a target of promotion as being no further away than another 12 months, and, being a Chinese businessman of (apparently) some repute, he will do all he has in his power to ensure that target is achieved, with or without flair. And with or without Bruce (if it all starts to go awry), I’m sure.

Yes, ‘how’ promotion is achieved will be the secondary issue after arriving at the necessary mindset. After all, when the team is 3-1 down you expect them to get off their seats and drive forward in at least an effort to retrieve a point, but we’re not seeing that just now, partly because the squad still has some square pegs for round holes. I feel sure the Doc will ensure that the main drive to get that mindset – and promotion – will begin this summer.

Share On:
Facebook
Google +
This entry was published on / John Lerwill. Posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.

The Author

Profile Photo
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 71

  1. Trinity

    Good morning, JL.
    An appropriate leader you’ve written.
    “But for me I believe it’s the old mindset that has to be re-found as the higher priority: there was a time (it was said) when the Villa were afraid of no-one and played accordingly.”
    You’ve said it all there. Our players need to be lions not pussy cats. They need to remember that they are AVFC warriors. Football is warfare, not for the fainthearted.

    This is what I’d like to see on Sunday, though it won’t happen. Green is injured.

    Hogan/RHM
    Jack
    Hourihane Lansbury Hutton
    Baker Jedinak Chester Taylor
    Johnstone

    Subs: Adomah, Amavi, Bunn, Gabby, Bree
    I’d have Gabby as a sub. He might be good for 25 minutes in 2nd half if we need a change or there’s an injury to our injury prone forwards. If we had more choice… Gabby has done the job before and knows what a derby against Small Heath is about.
    Hourihane and Lansbury have been called similar players, but the derby might get them firing.
    Jack gets a go at 10. Will need to track back too.
    Adomah and Amavi could come on as wings later if change needed. Amavi can also cover wing back.
    Big game for RHM, but he’s a Villan. He’ll have the experience of Hogan next to him, been training/playing with Jack for years.
    Hutton is there on merit.
    With Jedinak at the back the formation would be more fluid. Got Baker there for height and he’d be up for the derby.

  3. John Clark

    Interesting squad, Iana…I’m thinking Grealish is only going to ever work as a 10 or something like it. As you say, he needs to put himself about to make it work.

  4. John Clark

    Oh, and this bit:

    “…the previous administration who believed they knew all the answers yet failed to apply much of substance that worked.”

    It boggles the mind how much Randy undermined his own investment, never mind the club.

  5. DarrenO

    Hi JL

    Great article, i do understand where you are coming from.

    Given it is Small Heath’s biggest game on Sunday, can I put you under pressure to do an article on previous derby days in advance of the game plus your thoughts on its outcome.

    It might distract us all from the existing debate on how we see or don’t see progress and we can all unite under the banner of laughing at the inbreds.

  6. IanG

    Thanks JL, good article & pretty much spot on.
    Unfortunately in the modern game money is so important we may have to find a new hybrid villa way.
    Small Heath lost theirs years ago, & if they think money is all they need they are delusional.
    It’s sad to reflect on the practical disconnection between the fans & the club.

  7. John Lerwill

    Darren,

    That’s good of you to ask, but the very strange thing is that I’ve only ever seen three derby matches against Blues before this season. And I saw them back in 1956, 1961 and 1963 – the last being the first leg of the League Cup Final at St. Andrews when they beat us, and won the Cup.

    It’s a weird thing – I feel strangely unqualified to write about that aspect of Villa’s history!

    Sorry! 🙁

  10. Mark King

    Thanks JL although a manager with a big personality can do wonders like Big Ron did, some say owners look like their dogs, certainly think this team has been neutered or it needs a new Master.

    Poor old ehigo has collapsed at spurs training ground hope he gets well soon I remember when him and southgate made VP a fortress, they had 17 draws in one season once I think.

    Not liking the look of this as the only loanee to hold down a place in his adopted team Niall Mason is thinking of leaving. I would be very pissed off he he goes without a chance hear.

    http://www.doncaster.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=488662

  15. Mark King

    This might have something to do with the lack of pride at Villa, this is from steve round.

    What about the future of the club – the academy and bringing young players through?

    I’m also working with the academy and the head of department Sean Kimberley – who I must say has done an outstanding job on the resources and the neglect he’s worked under in the past few years. David Hughes has left the Welsh FA and will come in as U-18s coach. We’re interviewing for a head of medicine in the academy and we’re interviewing for a chief scout for the 10-16 age group. We have no scout there which is incredible. We’ve done a deal with the local team – Phoenix – who bring a lot of local boys through.

    All the best young players in the city need to be coming to Aston Villa. Villa always used to have one of the best academies in Britain so we need to take the city back, then we need to take the Midlands back then we need to be competing nationally with the best. We’ve got such a good catchment area and such a good facility. Historically, Villa has led the way in youth development and we need to get back to that.

  16. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    That certainly illustrates how the club had been run down under that appalling chairman who never Lerned.

    And also how much work has to be put in to get it back up.

    Oh, how I remember how people laughed at Ellis and said that Lerner was making him look a fool. We all got taken in, I think.

  20. John Lerwill

    Steve Round: “Aston Villa had lost its way a little bit culturally in the training ground environment. People are positive or negative depending on the results and the situation but I felt internally we needed to rediscover what Aston Villa really is. It`s a football club not a ‘brand’ or ‘commercial tool’. I wanted that heartbeat to come back but I also recognised that there`s a hangover after a few years of decline so we needed to flip that mentality.”

    It seems we have people thinking the right way at Villa. Again, reversing the commercial mindset that Lerner had put in place.

  21. John Lerwill

    Steve Round again (speaking last November – how come I missed this! Doh!)…

    “I`ve not had enough time yet to be able to establish a methodology and a Villa engine – the style and the way we`re going to play. It`s been about short-term re-building and making sure the foundations and building blocks are in place. We`re going to start the process of coming up with a ‘Villa way` and the Villa strategy on the pitch. Obviously the manager plays a fundamental part in that but we also want to build something that`s sustainable. In the future the way we do things needs to be right. Villa has always been a hard-working, tough, aggressive, forward-thinking, forward passing, dynamic club. I used to bring youth teams in the late 80s/early 90s to Villa and they`d spank us every week! it would be the hardest game of the season. The kids were talented and hungry, I think maybe we`ve gone away from that. We`ve got to get some of those basics back and then evolve the rest of it as we go. I`m pleased we have Kevin McDonald and his assistant Mark Delaney with the U23s. They know what it takes for young players to play for the Villa. The club was like a ship sailing in one direction. With the takeover in the summer we’ve managed to slow it down and in the last month we`ve probably turned it around and now we`re starting to go in the right direction. There`s a long way to go and a lot of hard work and effort but I feel for the first time I`ve got heads of department that are dynamic, expert, professional and entrenched in football and we`re just starting to move forwards. You get that ship called Aston Villa moving forwards and fast enough – you try and stop it.”

  22. Mark King

    Yes RIP ugo ehiogu, a timely reminder that footballs a game and no big deal in the scheme odd things.

    JL- Yes that was good article in which round said we had slowed the good ship AVFC, unfortunately I think we have to be careful not to end up becalmed with the wrong Captain. Xia is right that we needed a strong man at the helm unfortunately I think Bruce in truth works against what round is trying to implement. We can’t have club and manager singing from a different Hymn sheets tactically and expect people to not notice the discrepancies. the here and now is the opportunity to change things not in 18 months when we have or haven’t made promotion. People are hoping next season we will be the big dog we should be but there will be 3 from the top 6 and 3 coming down so potentially every season the task gets harder by at least one prem team potentially with Knowledge of the champs and more money. The Knowledge of how to run a tight ship monetarily is invaluable in a league that offers little return on that front. And add the hungry clubs coming up its no shoe in.

    WE have no plan B, When we bought Hogan from Brentford they adapted the emphasis of their play and shared the goals among the team, we lose Kodjia and ? We don’t even have an effective plan to use Hogan as yet (although I think If RMC can buck up he could be the solution, forget age, Brightons top scorer is 35).

  23. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Yes, looking at how things have transpired you can say what you have.

    But as I said in my article, Bruce has a c.v. of getting teams promoted and you can’t tell me that what we’re seeing is a fixed situation. I’m sure it’s not and I think the Doc, Round and Bruce will collectively have it sorted in time for next season.

    After all, there’s no reason to be concerned much about what’s happening the rest of this season, and if Bruce is using it to find the weaknesses that remain in the squad, then he’s cleverer than all of us.

  24. Mark King

    This is the part that I question

    “Our scouts with a massive knowledge on football need to know that a particular player is capable of thriving at our club.”

    Question is thriving in what style? rounds vision? Bruces requirements? players that can do both? As good as Bruces record is seen the evidence so far speaks of a cautious approach, I can’t believe once we hit the prem (if) we will spring into life as this forward looking aggressive attacking team.
    The lessons of the past are screaming at me.

    Mon- counter attack
    Houllier- cultured possesion
    Mcleish- defensive
    Lambert- counter attack
    Sherwood- dynamic attacking?
    Garde- possession based?
    RDM- attacking
    Bruce- Park the bus counter attack.

    Now one thing these managers have in common? they inherited players generally not suited to there style, some had no chance of implementing anything and were handed players too. Its as plain as the nose on my face that all we have done is chase our tails and wonder why the players we buy seem poor. The last prem summer window was the icing on the cake that sank us, a completely unbalanced side that no style could fix.

    We now seem to think that letting Steve Bruce have his way so we get promoted will fix something? It wont if what we want is what Round has proclaimed, it could generate many more years of wishy washyness. Thats why Bruce is a no from me and why I think a better fit could of been found for RDM’s first attempt at rectifying the squad (if indeed he had failed by Xmas), now we are into Jumble of players version 10.1.

  26. Mark King

    I will add that all this is the reason we see so little return from the youth,they are taught a completely different style of play come into the first team and are bewildered

  30. John Lerwill

    Mark: “we see so little return from the youth,they are taught a completely different style of play come into the first team and are bewildered”

    But the problem is you want matters to be sorted instantly! A few months in the job (Round and Bruce) and you expect to see it sorted!

    Mark, time … Mark, time … 😉

    Their whole stated intention is to see the issues you speak of becoming a thing of the past, and so I’ll wait a reasonable time to see that happen.

  31. John Lerwill

    The Passing of Villans

    It’s perhaps worth commenting that I can think of 5 great Villans who have passed on in their forties since the 50s…

    Sleeuwenhoek, Hitchens, Birch, Atkinson (D) and now Ehiogu.

    Also (in his 50s) John Robson, of MS.

  32. DarrenO

    What Round is saying in terms of the long term future of the club and the ship sailing fast towards some sort of footballing utopia is to be supported. I hope this future Villa way is at odds with the cautious approach taken by Bruce and that under Bruce (subject to him being hit by a football lightning bolt) or the next manager, we see a bit more possession, a bit more control, a bit less of give the ball to Kodija and a bit more flair.

  34. Mark King

    Jl- I don’t see how patience comes into it? If you want to produce a BMW you don’t pick up the plans for a Mercedes that once built it wins the race you dismantle it for scrap and start again. Every team that has gone on to some level of success in the prem had a base to begin with and did not change their philosophy once promoted, Southampton and Leicester being the best examples. How does this fit with drxias top six in five years and top team in Europe spiel?

    Are you thinking Round is influencing the player purchases to minimise problems in any transition? Will he produce a youth team of stunning attacking quality to replace the first team once promoted? I cannot see that happening in either scenario no matter how long we wait.

    For Bruce to succeed I think he needs full say on players,he is that type of manager

  35. Mark King

    In fact I was prepared to keep Garde drop out the prem and come back in a couple of seasons as a changed club,how’s that for patience? It’s like sitting in the back of the taxi wondering why it’s drove past the quickest turn and being told by the driver it’s ok I know a long way round 😉

  37. John Lerwill

    Mark: “Every team that has gone on to some level of success in the prem had a base to begin with “

    Yes, true. And I’m sure that’s what Villa are trying to get together – as I see it, and that’s what’s been stated. Just that we can’t see that much of such a plan working just now.

  38. Mark King

    JL- I guess what I am saying is we may be implementing two plans when one would do, We could get promoted playing either way from the champs (although the teams we see recently doing well don’t play in Bruces style) might be the difference between 2-3 years establishing ourselves in the prem or 5+ treading water while we learn to swim.

    Once we are in the prem our advantage will be our size and monetary position, hopefully that would help us move up fairly quickly if we sort it now Vs the good old rebuild cycle and years of precarious relegation/mid table battles. We have already seen the effects of owning many players we cannot shift and without a specific plan we will repeat this cycle, This should be apparent in the teams play by now, Huddersfield for instance bought 15+ players in and had no problem with them understanding whats required and implementing it, if they can do it on £3m net then why can’t we?

  39. Mark King

    To put it Bluntly if we miraculously went up playing like we do we will get murdered where as the likes of Burnley Bournemouth Leicester etc look like a team, I cannot see 2-3 players changing that for us unless the focus of the team changes

  40. DarrenO

    In fact I was prepared to keep Garde drop out the prem and come back in a couple of seasons as a changed club,how’s that for patience?

    With you on this MK

    And agree about getting promoted based on the current approach to football, even the weakest of the settled sides in the prem would know how to beat us, mark Kodija out of the game and put pressure on our full backs.

  42. Mark King

    JL- its if from our point of view yes but if you look at the evidence of even this season there are no negative teams in the top 6

    when it comes to progression the old adage there’s no smoke without a fire comes to mind only someones pissing on our bonfire. I do not believe it takes this long and the evidence elsewhere suggests it doesn’t take this long imo, if it did I’d shut my cakehole in the knowledge all will be well 😉

  43. Paul Pears

    I’m with MK and DOR on this JL,

    We should be much further forward than we are in method of play, tactics, squad and position in the table, given the players we have on the books, the money that has been spent and the number of coaching staff we have employed since Lerner sold the club to the Doc.

    Villa’s prtoblem throughout the Lerner period was every time we developed a playmaker, we sold them, and started over…..Barry, Milner, Delph and Idrissa Gueye. The main thing we lack now is a playmaker, and should have been the priority in front the RMC and many other forward recruits.

    No engine room = no wins. I know we have won, but that has been down more to the individuality of one player.

    Excellent article Jl, in spite of my comments….Bruce for me , is still on trial….

  44. John Lerwill

    Paul,

    You’re all entitled to your view, but we’ll find out by the end of the year whether anything you say is based on firm evidence i.m.o.

    What I say is (as inferred in my article) is that the harm done to this club has been horrific – and that was up to less than 12 months ago.

    Because of that very fact I think they deserve some leeway. For the time being at least.

    The Doc and Round have made it very clear why they appointed Bruce and what they’re trying to do, and someone of Round’s capability is surely not going to be so far out.

    And that’s more reason why I think leeway is deserved.

  45. Mark King

    I think Colin Calderwood and Bruce may be to defence minded as a pairing, just as Tim and Butch had the defensive knowledge of a punch-bag. Calderwood has worked with Houghton a lot, followed him to Brighton who last season were less solid and missed out on promotion this season, they kept their attacking flair and tightened up and then Calderwood joined us, maybe for a raise maybe because he lives in Northampton 🙂

  47. Mark King

    JL- All joking aside I have never associated Steve Bruce with a rebuild of this magnitude, or heard anyone else do that for that matter. He’s a results orientated manager that can grind out a season and get a promotion place/win playoffs. So whatever Dr Xia and Round say that was the primary motive for employing Steve Bruce on a rolling contract, they may have changed tact in jan after more change/players and no results but?

  49. Mark King

    Jl – nothing to be sorry about mate it will prove true or it won’t hopefully not , it just seems we have the same inadequacies to me despite the words. Unless we have discovered a fool proof plan 🙂

  52. Mark King

    Just watching Soccer AM and in the pen shoot out it was Villa v the scum. they have rubbish bins strapped in the top corners (top bin) and it doubles your score, well one villa lad gets it in the bin to double their score and the brum fans go to pieces, is this an Omen? 🙂

  54. IanG

    MK
    I hope it’s an omen, we could do with some help.
    Trinity
    Hopefully RHM will be playing, but by the paper’s accounts Gabby will be instead.
    Bruce’s logic seems to be veering towards desperation if this is the case.
    Hope you’re right.

  56. r0bb0

    Iang. It seems to me that Gabby would be a good choice against Birmingham, even if just coming off the bench. Despite what anyone may think of him he’d just love to get one over on Birmingham. . . probably more than any other player we have.
    Last game he played he was one of our best performers. Tomorrow he may give us exactly the bite and aggression that we’ll be needing.
    Don’t expect him to score but I can see him playing a valuable supporting role and getting the crowd going.
    He’ll be seeing this as his best (maybe only) chance to redeem himself and I’ll be surprised and disappointed if he isn’t given it.

  57. IanG

    r0bb0
    I don’t think he should start as for one it would give the wrong signal to the other players.
    I can’t see him starting with one striker at VP [I hope not], & if he did it should be Hogan who’s as fast as the current geriatric Gabby & more committed generally.
    If it’s 2 up I still think he should start RHM & with Gabby on the bench.

  58. John Lerwill

    IanG,

    I think the players basically think they’re playing out the season now, which is what they are doing. I cannot see why they should be getting adverse signals just because Gabby is playing – who, incidentally, has an excellent scoring record against Blues. The players are more likely to be enthused about that record I would have thought!

  60. r0bb0

    John, I agree. I’d expect his passion tomorrow, (along with the others who’ve come through the academy) to rub off on the other players.
    I reckon you need someone like that to show just how. Ugh this game means.
    Here’s a thing though . . . . if we were to win tomorrow and then lose to Blackburn the week after, have you seen where that could leave Birmingham?

  62. John Lerwill

    r0bb0,

    Yes, some of the media are harping on about how Villa would love to put Blues down a league.

    I suppose there are fans that would, but as being of the old school I don’t see it like that. Just as long as Villa win! 🙂

  63. IanG

    JL
    I’m not sure that you’re right as there are been other players playing every match & are professionals who know what a derby is, & it is a team, so Gabby’s importance is overstated I feel.
    But I’m sure Bruce is using him to wind them all up for the game as man management.
    For the academy kids & younger players maybe Gabby would be more importance & impact.
    I also think that with RHM on with Hogan we would have more chance of scoring enough goals to win, & it would be fine for Gabby to come on as a replacement in a derby instead of starting, as he is not match fit.
    Do you think Grealish should be playing, or a different formation?

  64. IanG

    sorry my keyboard skills as it gets dark are getting worse, it looks like I’m drunk, but just bad eyesight.
    I too don’t really care what the poor neighbours do, as we know too many of them to be that vindictive except as a wind up.
    It does highlight how the B,ham Mail has changed from being a local brum paper to a mirror clone.
    I prefer the express & star as it’s still got a local feel.

  65. John Lerwill

    IanG,

    Yes, the quality of Brum reporting is pretty poor. With the Post only published weekly, there’s nowt of any real quality now (apart from the Express for local news, as you say) … all down to the digital age probably.

    As for Gabby, I’m bot trying to big him up particularly, I thought I was just stating facts. If he comes on as a sub then that would make sense to give some fright to Small Heath.

  66. John Lerwill

    Spurs vs Chelsea

    Did you see that sublime Spurs second goal?! Brilliant pass and wonderful anticipation.

    But Chelsea? I hate ’em … 4 shots (2 of them from dead balls) and 4 goals until late on they should have put a header away to make it 5.

    Even Kane’s late shot spun back from going over the goal line! Not Spurs’ day.

  67. Mark King

    Jl- Yes the the classic possession v defensive encounter and boy were Chelsea clinical when they got the chance, that I am afraid is where we fall down, when Chelsea go forward they do it quickly as a team and offer goals all over and put them away. That said Spurs could easily of won with the same finishing quality.

  68. James Gill

    mk
    chelsea very good at what they do, with much better players than mon tried to do it with, and for spurs nice play how many saves had courtois to make

  69. James Gill

    hard to believe a few short years ago we were equal to spurs and giving chelsea a good shot
    compare todays match to last monday was it 2 different games/sports, not a bit wonder sky not showing us again this season

  70. John Clark

    JG,

    It is hard to believe how far we’ve fallen and how quickly. Obviously in retrospect it all seems inevitable, but it never seemed like happening at the time.

Leave a Reply