The following is a transcript of an interview of the then Villa chairman Fred Rinder, in the week preceding the 1924 Cup Final, by a senior member of the Athletic News, a foremost journal of that time which existed until 1930. The interview is preceded by the interviewer’s comments on the achievements of Aston Villa up until that time.
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All rights reserved: No copying nor distribution without the consent of John Lerwill.
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This is one of a series of summer articles from the archives that I have obtained with the object of writing a book on the Villa. Those articles I’m publishing here will not be included ‘verbatim’ in my book, but I thought it may be worthwhile to publish some of them on Aston Villa Life as an insight into the thinking back then – of 100 years ago and more.
These articles are published ‘as is’ with only a small attempt on my part at being helpful by the insertion of a comment or two.
Doubtless, the reader will find some of the language quite archaic, but I nevertheless hope that you persevere through the article and extract a good idea from it and grasp how evolutionary all the thinking was in those days. And also how much thought was expended on how to improve the game.
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Triumphs of Aston Villa in The Cup Final.
Mr. Rinder’s Views.
No honour in football has been beyond the capacity of the Aston Villa club. Six times have their players won the Association Cup; six times have they been the champions of the League. And yet there are no bounds to their ambitions.
For the seventh triumph in The Cup, directors and players are longing, because it is the Jubilee Anniversary of their foundation, and because it is thought that seven successes will be far more durable than six.
Without accusing Aston Villa of a passion for records it is well to remember that Blackburn Rovers may some day capture The Cup again. They would then share the honour with the Villa. To win once more would give the famous Birmingham club a stronger sense of security.
Besides, seven is a great number in Biblical lore, in the champions of Christendom, and in the wonders of the world. Why not in the people’s pastime of .good King George’s glorious days [as well]? [NOTE: In fact, Villa did not win in 1924, and only four years later, Blackburn won the Cup for the sixth time. But Villa led again, with their seventh win, in 1957.]
No club ever won the Association Cup six times in 33 years. and the League’s premiership as often in the course of 16 of those years by luck. by accident, or by favour. Since Queen Victoria’s Jubilee, Aston Villa have been too consistently clever and too often supreme for anyone to conclude that the very constellations of heaven have been on their side.
In the beginning, Aston Villa hitched their waggon to a star, and they have lived up to their crest of a lion rampant, and their motto “Prepared”…
Aston Villa are making their eighth appearance in The Final Tie this week. They have played and won this match on every ground in London where the struggle has taken place—except one. They never turned out on the old Lillie Bridge ground at West Brampton, for the sufficient reason that the club was not then in existence, or probably they would have done. [NOTE: Actually, the Villa played in the very last Cup Final to be played at Kennington Oval – the cricket ground – in 1892, before achieving four Cup triumphs at Crystal Palace and then a win at Stamford Bridge in 1920].
Anxious to discover the secret which has brought Aston Villa such unexampled success in England, I sought out Mr. F. W. Rinder, the chairman, and asked him if they had preserved some magic stone against which their foes were forever “dashing their feet”?
” No,” said Mr. Rinder, “there is no mystery about the matter. I should say, first of all, that our ideals as a management have been and are very high. We are always triers; no matter what match we are playing. If we play a missionary match, such as when we opened the Cardiff City ground, so far as we are concerned we want to win. Our players are imbued with the creed that it is their duty to do the best they possibly can and to look on every match in the light of their reputation and our reputation.
“Another point—we are never satisfied. We want to be at the top; we always try to get there. We are not satisfied to be in the middle of The League chart. You mention tradition? I cannot say that there is much in that theory, except, perhaps, that players become possessed of a spirit of emulation and are eager to show that they are as good as those who have gone before them. We do not believe in giving our players lectures on discipline. We do talk to them by way of advising them. Thus if a half-back finds he has a chance of running through with the ball it becomes the duty of the forward most suitably situated to fall hack into his place, so that the formation is not spoiled.
“Once that movement is done each man returns to his place as quickly as he can. If either failed to do so one of us would casually meet the man and tell him what he should have done. We never tell a man to do anything; we always ask him. We never make a man feel that be is the servant of the club. We put them on their honour in everything. If perchance he does not reach our standard in play and conduct he does not remain with us. We have let some good players go.
“The policy of the club has always been to keep the team young, not only in years but in effectiveness. This is shown by the fact that we take the greatest pains with our Second Eleven. Every man who will play in The Final Tie next Saturday has moved up from the Second Eleven—even Dr. Milne. We teach the juniors our style of play, which is as simple an A.B.C.—for we try to [prise the opposing] defenders wide apart and then go through the avenue, the opening. If this is closed up we desist and as soon as possible try again. We vary our tactics, but the method beneath is the same.”
“But don’t you think that your success is due in a measure to the timeliness of the directorate and continuity of management?”
“No doubt that is so. We have only five directors. I have been on the executive for 33 years, and 26 years 33 chairman. Mr. John Devey has been on the board over 21 years, Captain P., W. M. Bate and Mr. J. E. Jones since 1905, and Mr. Howard Spencer ever since he gave over playing in 1906-07. We work together as five men. We have no committees. Every one of us knows what the other does or thinks. The assistance of two such old players as John Devey and Howard Spencer is extremely valuable, especially to the younger players. Then there is our secretary, George Ramsay, who has grown up with the club and been connected with the Villa since his playing days. This makes for continuity—for unbroken effort. We have been fortunate to be banded together throughout so many years.”
“Which do you think is your best performance in The Cup—the 1897 Final?”
“That match produced very pretty play on both sides. It was probably the most attractive Final to the spectators. It was also a thrilling game because is was a see-saw struggle and the issue was in doubt to the finish. But Huddersfield Town in 1920 gave Aston Villa their hardest Final—the only one in which we ever played beyond 90 minutes.
“But to my mind the first year we won the Cup in 1887 was probably our most exacting trial. In those days there used to be the Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Wednesbury Old Athletic, Wednesbury Strollers. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts. We were all pretty well on a par. The Old Athletic were keen rivals, and they had beaten us in previous years. But we defeated them in the first round of ties by 13–0. We then played Derby Midland when the Midland, Derby Junction, and Long Eaton Rangers were good teams.
“We knocked out the Midland by 6-0. Next came our prolonged fight with Wolverhampton, and they were mastered by 2-0, though four matches were necessary. In the fourth round, we overcame Horncastle by 5-0. and that brought us up against Darwen–quite a fine club. We led Darwen 3-0 at half-time, then went sick [after imbibing champagne at half-time!] and nearly lost, and only won by 3-2. They were all as good as we were, although their names are not big to-day.
“Then we went to Crewe and met Glasgow Rangers. This was said to be a walk-over for the Rangers. Scottish clubs were then permitted to play, and the Rangers had [a specially formed] international Scottish team bearing the name of Glasgow Rangers. But we beat them by 3-1 and met The Albion in the Final. This was reckoned a certainty for West Bromwich, who had knocked out the great Preston team. Instead of that, we won by 2-0 with a purely local team, for Archie Hunter, our captain, if a Scot, had been in Birmingham a long time …
“Perhaps that competition and Final stand out in my mind because it was our first [national] triumph, but we played sound football, and the Final was a fine game. The 1905 Final was a glorious match. Then it was that Harry Hampton scored both the goals against Newcastle United, our opponents next Saturday.
“In 1894-5 we won The Final Tie in the first 40 seconds—or so. That was the occasion when the burly Bob Chatt made a shot which hit the foot of the goalpost and came back to John Devey, who scored with a ball that never rose.
“Two of our players have been unfortunate in not getting the winners’ medal. Albert Wilkes, who is now the official photographer to Aston Villa, played in the earlier rounds of 1904-05 and was then injured sufficiently to keep him out of the team. We were proud of him then, and are still. Then there was. the case of Harold Edgley, who broke his left leg in a League match at Chelsea 24 days before the [1920] Final was due. That was a dire misfortune for this boy, who came to us from Crewe.”
[POSTSCRIPT: Fred Rinder mentioned ‘Dr. Milne’, the centre-half, but failed to mention the fate of the hugely promising centre-half Tommy Ball, who was shot dead by his neighbour earlier the same (1923-24) season. A huge loss to the club. When Ball’s wife ran out to find out what was happening, it was reported that before Ball expired, he exclaimed: “Oh, Bella! He has shot me.” She ran into the road screaming, at which she heard more gunfire and “felt the wind go past her”. Another shot had been fired from her neighbour’s garden. See https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/dec/17/forgotten-story-tommy-ball-aston-villa-life-death]
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 78
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John Flanner’s Book
I hope you will recall my posting details of John’s book a few weeks ago!
There have been difficulties in getting it up onto Amazon, but I’m glad to say the paperback version is now there.
It’s a good read!
John Lerwill
Thank you for this fine article. Villa men were really at the helm in Fred Rinder’s day. How big is the current board of directors? How many former players are on the board? I know Brian Little has a little influence.
“…old players as John Devey and Howard Spencer…George Ramsay, who has grown up with the club and been connected with the Villa since his playing days. This makes for continuity—for unbroken effort.”
I wonder when the “continuity” was lost.
FR sounds as though he’d not put up with poor conduct. Sounds like one-two of the current lot would be gone if he were here.
Must say, I’ve met a good mix of stalwart Villans in this series, JL. I like them all, Spencer, Devey, McGregor, Rinder. McGregor seems like a good sort. He had high standards for himself, but had compassion for others’ faults. Spencer and Devey were awesome players everybody at the club could look up to. And Fred Rinder obviously knew what made things click. I see George Ramsey there, too.
lana
Ian Taylor, brian little, and mervyn king and regulary in the box with wyness and round at games. which is a great thing after the randy years…we have come a long way in a short space of time. It only been a year since we ridded the old regime that nearly destroyed us. still early days and lots more needed to do but at least its happening! mark Delaney and a host of local people have been appointed behind the scenes too.
terry deal done.
what a coup and a show of ambition from the dr.
yep I said ambition! its back!
Iana,
The “continuity” first suffered when Rinder was ousted (1925) and Ramsay retired the following year. Devey and Spencer aged rapidly as well.
However Jack Jones (on the board since 1905) became chairman and remained there until 1936, after Villa had been relegated for the first time.
All those that had been prevalant during Villa’s great years had passsed on by 1945.
There was continuity on the Villa board after the War, but the board lessened in quality as time went on (with no former player except Chris Buckley – whose boardroom ability was mainly to do with status I suspect) and that led to the big relegation of 1967. Since then the main continuity was Doug Ellis as chairman (1969-1972 and 1982 to 2006).
andrew
wish i had your confidence for next year
no keeper
hutton taylor
terry chester baker
jedi
gabby
sad looking list of players bruce likes
james
I aint confident of next season just thinking of the big picture of where we were 1 year ago and where we are now! gabby wont start, Hogan and kodjer will in a 352.
whats wrong with taylor, jedi, chester, terry! chester especially is great. want him to be captain but obv wont
yeah keeper is a massive position we need to finally sort out. lools like ruddy may come….as a number 1 or 2 though?!
bunn is off
andrew
a year ago i thought yes even with wrong man [rdm] in charge we would fly this league, rdm failed as what i thought , didnt want bruce[ not because who he managed before but he bruce was passed it a dinosaur surrounded by young eager men] who all showed the way
as for players in our squad they are all average , pullis didnt rate chester and thats a clear enough sign of players worth
our squad is bloated with old overpaid players and what does bruce do he adds to it, 5 weeks to kick off and all i have seen is gabby showing how fit he looks well you know what gabby far to little far too late for me and quite afew others reading on blogs and fb,
james
yes re gabby, I want him gone but I do for some reason think he will play a positive part role for some reason! we will see.
mate watched chester all season and he has been quality, my player of the season. god knows why pullis bought him and played him rb, odd one but great for us.
terry signing all well and good re profile of club, a statement of intent etc but what we need to see is the team develop, playing better cohesive footy. that’s down to bruce and if it aint happening by chrimbo, see you later.
thanks JL
JG/Andrew
You have to ask why Middlesbrough are seen as a better place to play than us by Johnson? ruddy at Age 30 looks a good bet to me assuming he has no injury problems.
Bruce has to solve our goal scoring problems, if he does we are in with a shout otherwise there are plenty of teams on a roll with momentum on their side, Derby, sheff weds, Fulham, reading, then you have Sunderland with Grayson a decent appointment and monk at Middlesbrough , Thomas Christiansen at Leeds an unknown but I have a feeling they will be up there . What I think they all have is a better starting position than us ( going by recent seasons) and are looking to add to that with some decent signings where as we are assembling dads army, its a gamble worthy of harry Rednapp I think, who will also be a threat at the sty along with Bruces old club Hull.
Looking at our links so far I do not expect to see us play any different to last season, converting chances will be the Key and making more often leads to that, Leopards rarely change spots imo.
Oh and I forgot Cardiff, they will do well
mk
can bruce solve the problems?, for me no, his way is buy or sign 10/13 players a season most of them older experienced pros, and from watching last season league 1 its all about effort and hard work which 35 matches of bruce reign never seen it
as you write mark why do other players prefer to go to boro,probably because they can see bruce getting sack in late sep early oct and terry will be new boss
JL
Thanks for that info. Do you know why Rinder was ousted? I guess McGregor, Rinder, Ramsey, Spencer, Devey et al would have been a hard act to follow given the on field success of Villa in their day. Obviously, the competition got stronger after they left.
Doug Ellis is a funny one. Villa seemed financially stable in his era. However, he didn’t become known as Deadly for nothing. After 27 years as chairman, he saw Villa lift two league cups. I know Villa came close to winning other silverware in those /these lean times. Nevertheless the lean legacy is plain to see. I remember once watching Sir Doug pull up to VP in a flash Bentley, which I thougt seemed odd. Is it true he turned down selling Villa to Mansour in favour of Randy Lerner?
Andrew-Yes, fair play to Dr X. It’s only been a year. This is a big year, though. The heat is going to be on soon. All the big questions will be answered.
People are already (justifiably) asking where the goals are going to come from. Has SB got the nous and coaching staff to succeed? Will the players gel into a champion team? Will JT be a good addition for Villa?
Iana,
Fred Rinder was ousted in 1925 as a result of being under pressure from shareholders on two matters: (1) The costs of the then new Trinity Road stand – which actually paid for itself many times over but the shareholders didn’t think of its future potential and saw the stand as a self-testimony to Rinder’s glory, and (2) the fact that Villa had failed to win a trophy in 5 years (!!!) and had not won the League in 15 years (again !!!). The shareholders were riled that Villa didn’t win the Cup in their jubilee year (1924).
There was also suspicion of fraud in the costs of the Trinity Road stand but that does not appear to have been proven, and I doubt that Rinder would have stooped to that.
The board that took over in 1925 failed to properly continue youth development and started resorting to the use of the chequebook from 1927 onwards. That was a big factor in how Villa were relegated in 1936. having spent a fortune (then) in 1935-36 trying to avoid relegation.
The new board of 1936 included the return of Fred Rinder (not as chairman) and it was largely down to him that Villa got back to the top-flight in 1938. Rinder died later that year and the board has never functioned properly since, in reality.
Yes, I believe Doug did turn down Mansoor.
JL
Thank you for the excellent answers. Feel a bit sorry for Rinder.
Must congratulate the British & Irish Lions on their win in Wellington and keeping the series alive. On to Auckland.
Iana- yes a good result for the Lions even though they tried their best to lose, sets it up nicely for the last game, win there and they will have something to crow about 🙂
JG- Terry as manager lol
Iana,
When you think about it, the success of the Villa in its first 50 years was down to the arrival of non-Midlanders. Ramsay (Scottish of course), the Hunter brothers (also Scottish), McGregor (Scottish) and Rinder (born in Liverpool, brought up in London and Leeds). These guys faced a lot of jealousy from some Brummies in the 1888-92 and 1920-25 periods in particular and usurped power – only to be proven to be mostly incompetent.
JL-You shoud go on Master Mind. Let’s just hope the current crop aren’t found wanting in the competence area this year..
I see the new Villa strip has another betting company sponsor. Thought Villa might do better than that, I won’t be buying it.
Iana,
Mastermind?! 🙂 Ah, it’s just that I’ve become aware of how different and special even that Villa’s history is. I’m determined not to let it be lost.
As to the new strip, I share your disdain of a betting company again being ‘in’. I’m still waiting for Land-Rover to put it’s logo there! But perhaps they don’t want to upset Small Heath supporters, as LDV and Rover might have done – and went under.
mk
terry as manager
richards as assistant
gabby as fitness coach aided by ross
hutton as new contract coach
JL
“…But perhaps they don’t want to upset Small Heath supporters, as LDV and Rover might have done – and went under.”
Never thought about sponsor deals like that. It definitely would have an influence on any decision. Wonder if Small Heath supporters abstained from supporting Acorns. I should hope resentment wouldn’t stoop so low.
Who owns Land Rover? I’ll check that out. Villa has a lot of work to do to attract better sponsors. Thought a Chinese company might have come to the table.
Iana: “Who owns Land Rover?”
The big Indian industrial company, Tata – who also own Jaguar, which is also partly Birmingham-based.
years ago in glasgow, celtic and rangers had the same sponser as not to fall out with any side,
think we would have been better doing a lerner giving a charity the space children can t get same shirt as parent or uncle ,really poorly thought out again, so much for new board doing things better
Thanks again JL.
JG
I was thinking the same thing. It would be better to give the space to Acorns again. Is there any sensible reason why Small Heath and Villa can’t have the same Brum related sponsor?
Re: John Terry
My gut reaction is that the chant should stay the same for now.
boro aint a better place to go than villa.
matey on twitter says he will come to us.
well welcome jt. if you can stop the silly last min goals…help the away form, make people sit up and take notice of us and earn the villa brand some money then its a genius signing.
linked to walters….would love that.
we seem to be going down the bruce path of experience…now that’s ok with me if we keep to the plan.
build a team to get up
build a team to stay in the prem
build a team to dominate the world
TERRY SIGNS
http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7523162
Johnson could be a permananet deal too. that would be terrific. better than terry deal!
well theres life in the old dog yet (villa) to pull a deal like that off. come on villa.
The impression jt gives grealish, murphy, green could be his greatest gift to us.
Its also nice to see us going on a pre pre season! Not wanting to do a tour pre season as a lot of work to be done too. first season in yonks we have a proper plan in place!
maybe we will be fit for once!
just imagine the villa players though when JT walks in for training…that’s fairly mental!
andrew
at least they won t have to worry where their wives are,if terry istraining
haha yeah
off the field questionable…but saying that with his profile and how long been in game he aint too bad….just likes wives!!
on the pitch…superb
its going to be mental seeing him at the back for us!
think we will go 352.
Johnson
Chester Jedi terry
de laet Lansbury hourihan Taylor
grealish
Kodjer hogan
johnterry signing is a puzzler is it bruce trying to say he can attract big names or is it the doc wanting trophy names,
keeper and midfield were problems last season and 4 weeks to go no sign of soorting them out
bruce and keith great work to get jt on board.
Imagine us trying to get terry under learner and fox!
james
they say keeper is done. Johnson.
Transfers will hot up now players back.
amavi off and cissokho.
only wanted 3 or 4 players.
Johnson
Terry
whelean or mccarthur for mid?
Walters?
shirt sales in china will fly! jt very well known over there….£££
got recon on the back
andrew
lerner signed some of my favourite players carew young milner bent yes he made a mess as did all usa owners
if the doc doesnt get us up this season we are doomed,bournmouth are signing 2players from chelsea for 30m and we are boasting about 36/7 year john terry
james
that was oneil! who ran the show!
a mess! that’s 1 word to describe it, jesus! learner ran us into the ground!! one of the worst owners ever!
don’t worry about the prem…all that’s happening is players who were last season worth 10mill being sold for 4 times as much. agents and players are laughing!
last summer bournmeouth spent 40mill on 3 attacking players who scored 5 goals amongst them 🙂
the moneys gone up is all….the players aren’t miraculously improving.
andrew
ross and hogan cost 30m didnt even get 5goals for us
not really looking forward to this season, burton hull and milwall is pretty poor compared to sanchez pogba and hazard we have to hit season on fire
James G, you say that you aren’t looking forward to this season, but lets face it – have you ever looked forward to a season with the villa? You can compare us and our players with whomever you like and I can choose another team to show you the opposite – stats and figures show what you want them to show and not necessarily the factual side of things.
When we won the the European cup on that fantastic night in Rotterdam, did you say “well that was crap, only won one nil and that was a fluke goal off Peter Withes shin”? Or did you go mad and celebrate the biggest night in villas history like the rest of us over there in Rotterdam?
Terry said he came to the villa because of Bruce and Round … and not for the money …….. yet so many people seem to be saying that our season is over before it’s begun, plus Bruce and the rest of the management team are rubbish.
Give the team, the manager and the management team a chance to show us what is going to happen this season ……. or then if it doesn’t happen, like Andrew says, we need to see some changes. I feel that this set up is the best we have had for years, and yes we are in the championship so suck it up and get used to it …… for now anyway. This is our current standard as set up by Lerner and his cronies.
The team, the manager and. The management team are there to do a job and they DO know more than us about the game, that’s why they are there. But if they fail then I will wholeheartedly say get out of my club and make way for someone who can do this job better than you can.
Rant over – for now.
Oldvilla
Season ticket sales, Shirt sales world-wide…all will contribute to paying Terry’s wages….at last Villa are waking up to what puts money in the coffers. a hugely astute signing, and one Villa fans would never have dreamt of in their wildest dreams. The formation at the back will probably be a four, which Terry is used to playing in, rather than a three. Johnston deal seems to be close, if not done.
What a wonderful signing JT. He won’t struggle what so ever and him and Chester should be solid
But, Bruce still needs playing more football going forwards. Also needs to sign a winger.
Whelan and Walters linked, bit depressing. Give Gil and Tshib a chance
Frem! – Good to see you popping in! 🙂
OV and Paul – well said!
apparently season ticket sales are at 26k!
Frem
yep agree…terry gives the youth someone to look up to, will have a positive effect around the place and hopefully improve our away form and stop conceding silly goals/last min ones.
But I agree if we are to have a good season we must score more and be more positive/fluid in attack. we shall see.
paul well said
I loved how we announced the signing too…very funny and very clever.
just little signs that we are thinking and caring about the club again.
alan hutton wanted by sheff wed 🙂
has been said again will only sign potentially 3 players more outgoings.
don’t mind that. just get the team developed and settled more.
Hourihan and Lansbury must be allowed to attack and create. they are key.
If those 2 are allowed to do that and jack turns up and we get a tune out of McCormack we should be more than ok
will be difficult next season…Fulham and sheff wed are my stand out threats.
sunderland are too unsettled to do anything…they remind me of us last summer. derby could be decent. Cardiff under Warnock could be a surprise. usually 1 or 2 that come from no where.
ill add wolves and leeds to the unpredictable list…wolves could be signing some stupidly good player neves who should be in a top 6 prem team!! dodgy dealings!
imo villa should be fighting top 2 very close. don’t think dr will pull the trigger unless villa are adrift of 6th.
my aim is automatic promotion…balls to the playoffs…I don’t trust it.
Hogan is the man im predicting to come good.
He is too good not too. his movement is fantastic. has to stay in and around the box with jimmy drifting about and he has to have service…again the key is Lansbury and hourihan. they have to be up the pitch…can assist all day.
Well done Andrew!! That is the longest run of consecutive comments by a single person (8) that I can remember! And strangely enough I agree with most of them ……………..
Keep up the good work 🙂
oldvilla
haha old villa
I was just thinking out loud!
hope your well mate.
Will my last prediction of Joe Hart now come true following my previous ones of the arrival of the Chinese to buy Villa, and then for John Terry to become a Villa player…..!!!
Nothing is impossible in this coming season….
Who’s the oldest Bruce or JT? 😉 no pressure on these to to do the business then, I’ll give JT his due he has had the balls to come to us after the last two seasons. Not expecting to see much different to last season in how we set up, cautious is SB’s style at every club he’s been at But if we can convert those chances we spurned last season then its all to play for. I can see why we are trying to get Johnson it will bring the average age of the defence down to 30 🙂
the new weapon might well be to bring on JT for the last ten in case we get a corner, he’s got almost as many goals as Gabby in his career.
An update, chris Samba is still at Villa on trial so average age with Johnson 32 😉
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/pictures-john-terry-trains-chris-13282298
MK
That makes me feel years younger.
I wonder what the average age is on here?
IanG -we are all ageless and timeless on here mate
john terrys first disappointment hearing scot sinclair had been sold or more important his wife would not be attending games
JG,
Lock down on all the Villa WAG’s has already been arranged by the good doctor.
The odds on Joe Hart coming to Villa, after an official approach, have been halved to 4/1.
Always liked Vertout I hope he stays but very unlikely
https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/7/5/15923714/the-case-for-jordan-veretout-at-aston-villa
pp
hope its abetter lock [canteen]down than they tried with gabby and ross
Paul,
What kind of spectacles do you have? They seem to be far-seeing! 🙂
Mark
Would love vertout to stay.
dr says if no one bids enough and he is happy he may stay. apparently trained well.
McCormack looks fit as a fiddle already…he would literally be like a new signing if his head is right.
amavi off for 7mill…
not sure about joe hart tbh….he loves a mistake.
Think Joe Hart will only happen if we fail to sign Sam.
JL,
Maybe I see more clearly since I had laser treatment in 2000!
Lukaku signs for the Scummers and the not so “Special One”……
I also would love to see Veretout given a run. He had some very impressive moments at Villa, and could make a difference.
Everything seems to be very positive coming out of Villa now. I am sure that the good doctor and Bruce see the signing of John Terry as a defining moment, and that they can now do more to make Villa a club that will not only attract the people they want, but draw fans to the club worldwide.
It may well prove to be the £5million bargain of the coming season…!!! Without Terry even kicking a ball!!!
Paul
Bit of ambition…the club being run sensibly and showing willing. Its not much to ask for. But something learner starved us off for years.
Dr tweeted today replying to someone saying are we finally being run properly…he said we are getting there…the rot is stopping but lots more to do! 🙂
we’ve got our villa back
matey who is 100% on all rumours does not know or heard anything re hart.
says it’s unlikely he would drop to the championship in a wc year?
I hope Kodjia is fit but would love to see a fit McCormack and Hogan as a front two, I think they would be on each others wave length way more than the maverick Kodjia. Especially if lansbury and Hourihane can ramp up the assists. RMC, Lansbury and Hourihane linking up with Green/Grealishout wide right and Kodjia/Adoma out left could be very Tasty indeed.
Good thoughts MK,
We are now starting to look more like a solid squad with plenty of options.
I’ll be a lot more convinced when we know who is leaving, as we almost have 3 players for each position, & 4 at right back.
Let alone who Bruce brings in.
I hope Vertout stays also.
Good to see the upbeat on here at last. Whoever decided to shut the ticket office for a week needs a spanking – they’ve had all the off-season to do an upgrade.
I’m looking forward to seeing an exciting Villa when I pop over to UK in August/September.
But before that some serious rugby to watch tomorrow and, just as we shout at Villa Park, we will be shouting ‘Come on you Lions’
Clive.
Be a bone cruncher of a match. Expect to see Julian Savea on the rampage. Same Lions’ team that played lastweek. ABs’ pack is the same. A few injury, sick and suspension forced changes to the backs.
Mark
I wouldn’t be surprisedif they go with McCormack and Hogan up front. If they can score goals, JK could be the ace in the pack when Villa need to hold a lead and only need one up front.
Kodja is the main man for me. Win a game in the blink of an eye and even if he is having a bad game the opposition are still scared of him. id seriously play all 3 of ross Hogan and kodja at times at vp. ross dropping off in the 10 role.
the more I think of ross the more hopefull ive become. he is a guy who has proven to tear the champ up…just got to get him fit and focused. fingers crossed.
lana
outgoings are going to happen, will be double figures. trim the squad right down…and wage bill! hutton and micah they want gone.
elhamady will be more rw cover for adomah.
bree could well be the 3rd cb?
Good to see people looking forward to what’s now just around the corner!
And as the new season is just around the corner, I’ve just posted my last of the summer articles written long ago. I’m sure we’re now getting more into the mood to discuss current affairs at VP, not what was there a century ago!
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New Post Up!
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