As I’d mentioned previously, AVL’s longtime host is doing something that doesn’t involve hosting AVL anymore, or really hosting in general. No idea why, only got about a month’s notice.
Unfortunately, even though they were offering assistance, they ended up providing none. I couldn’t find the theme or database files, and they’ve been unresponsive to my pleas for help
Service ends 6/30. Which means I’ve purchased a new theme, found a new host, and am busily working to get some sort of functionality up and running. Obviously it’s not the end of the world if there are a couple glitches, but fyi.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. astonvillalife.com will remain the address, so you’ll be coming to the new place via the same old route
2. Since I can’t access the previous database, we’ll essentially be starting from scratch. While that’s perhaps a bit sad, I don’t think there’s necessarily anything on our current platform that will be missed by future generations. And since I don’t use the database for marketing or sell your information or anything like that…that’s not really much of a loss, either. Just the minor hassle of recreating your accounts.
3. Since we’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to recreate your login. See 2 above.
4. There are many things I don’t really know right now about the theme, but it is a very robust and well-regarded build so fingers crossed. And it’s designed for people like me, aka terminally online but not a website designer or administrator.
5. Any issues, please reach out to me via my personal email: clark3290@comcast.net. I’ll do whatever I can to help if there are any issues.
6. I should’ve gotten this word out earlier, my apologies. This naturally coincided with the busiest season at work for me, and I was preparing for and out of town for our annual conference. However, since it’s the same address, it’s not really a big deal, you’ll just arrive somewhere that looks a bit different.
7. I hope you like the new site build. Not a terribly big departure, and it should allow me to access certain functionalities that had broken over time.
Again, don’t hesitate to reach out. See you in the remodel.
Best,
John
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 43
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Thanks for the heads up John. You did give us advanced notice at the start of June so all is as expected. There’s sure to be a few teething issues but Lifers can bear with that. See everyone on the new platform in a day or so and once again, many thanks for keeping this site going. It permits all of us to cheer, groan, despair on matters AVFC but most of all some sensible discussion can always be found. See you on the other side guys.
So much for the experts,selling all our stars,sold the woman’s team this year and have the new warehouse earmarked for next season, the horror year 130m losses drops of the books now as well,all we need is few new players and season to start
Cheers, Plug.
I think I’ve got the basic functionality set up on the new build, so as soon as the host stops traffic to the URL, I’ll switch it over.
Yeah, JG…So much panic-mongering going on. Same crap every ‘article’, so tired of it.
Oh, and for all those who’ve struggled with Gravatar, there’s now a module that allows you to create a profile and load your photos/avatars directly.
Old host still working. Nice avatar John. Best wishes to Kesler on joining Coventry.
Yeah, I keep checking in, Plug, and it’s still working. I’m a bit reluctant to flip the switch on the other one in case it creates some sort of conflict.
Shouldn’t be surprised, though. The hosts haven’t been particularly useful, don’t know why they’d start now.
You are still here. Is you is or is you aint?
However the replacement site works, that scurilous Newsnow Aston Villa will hunt you down and find you.
Then we will all know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Checking in again
Ha…Yeah, I dunno jbd. And tbh, the more I think about it the more unsure I am that I had to build something new. Didn’t really occur to me that the files are most likely local, it’s simply about migrating to a new host.
But I’d signed up for blog hosting for another purpose and am using that, and it gave me something to do. Hadn’t actually ‘built’ a site before, so.
Wonder if we have got any secret webmasters on the blog who could offer up some advice about how things are done and where files are kept and how to transfer them. Presumably they could contact you on twitter. I assume AVL is still on twitter.
I suppose I should be referring to that rubbish “X” imposter.
Several fifa/football managers elsewhere are losing their fecal matter because we haven’t spent squillions on getting in a few international class superstars to win the eurocrap chumpions league in 2 years time. I suppose the young turkish defender and young dutch forward can’t be any good because they haven’t cost anything.
I should’ve put out a call, jbd. Though I don’t patronize twatter any more.
Shaping up to be a cagey window. The young buys are smart and it’s all very amusing because if it were Brighton the critics would all be saying that’s what we should be doing.
Obvs the trick now is lowering the wage bill, knowing what deals can be done and what can be taken on. These rules are a f*cking joke.
Well no doubt Monchi has given Calvo the spreadsheets for PSR and SCR which will illustrate how much he (Calvo) has to raise in new sponsorship this financial year. He also needs to find a lucrative replacement for Betano for next year.
Selling the women’s team to another branch of V-Sports is insurance as I see it. A 10% sale to an American Investment Company for £5m heads off any issues with the authorities about the reasonableness of the entire stated value. And by agreeing the 10% stake in principle before the transaction is completed means it can be included in the financial year just ended (a useful makeweight if needed when the final numbers are known) or the new current year depending on player sales/purchases.
As James has pointed out, the big £119.6m loss falls off the new 3 year cycle so I have every confidence our owners have their fingers on the pulse. And the rules are a joke John. Being told what we can and can’t do after our owners warded off bankruptcy and turned Villa plc into a slick well oiled machine beggars belief.
Couts gone to Vasco Da Gama on a permanent deal. Whilst wishing him well, I’m pleased he’s gone at last. He was an expensive loss of funds for negligible return, his performance early doors in our 3-1 win against Manure at VP being the highlight.
How dare you upstarts from Aston attempt to challenge the top clubs in Europe by being superbly well run. Cop a £9.5 million fine and let that be a lesson. And if you don’t pay it over the 3 year period ordained, a further £13 million will be levied. FFS, UEFA are bent as a 9 bob note.
Chelsea copped a £27 million fine with a further £52 million levied if they breach their payment plan. Here’s hoping Calvo makes absolutely sure that the sum fit UEFA’s allowances for the financial year just ended or they’ll screw us a boat load.
Reports saying that Villa could be prevented from registering new players for Uefa competitions for the forthcoming season unless they have a positive transfer balance by the end of the summer transfer window. So far we’ve bought nobody.
Same applies to Chelsea. However, their buys so far this window is £150 million. They are going to need to shift some players.
Flicking through YouTube,come across an interview with jihn Gregory, haven’t seen it all just up to when he takes our manager job brilliant character, must watch end tonight
SEEN FE
Also came across few matches from oneills time,Gregory time,big Ron s team ,God the pitches were awful,deadly and his green sand at one time,but also the way the game was played, straight from kick off launch it forward,keeper hoofed it every time
Some players merson carbone Saunders Atkinson mcgrath
Then watching james in goals gave me the wobbles ,even thinking about replacing martinez
The first week of July has passed and for Villa it’s all quiet on the western front. Seems to me that since we require Europe in some form each season if revenue of £400 million is to be achieved, then we must comply with the UEFA agreed “glide slope” on our SCR situation. Which in turn means reducing the wage bill by 10% this season and a further 10% reduction next season. Which in turn means offloading players is more important/urgent than new arrivals. So perhaps this summer window is going to be quiet for Villa as far as team strengthening is required. I can only see players out before players in being the MO this window.
Yeah, it’s all very interesting and frustrating, the squad situation. I’d hate to see him go, but you can understand why we’re open to selling Emi. The others, Bailey, Digne, etc. I’m not terribly fussed about.
I don’t necessarily think it has to be a huge negative, though, because to my mind we still needed to get younger and faster overall. Naturally it all hinges on good scouting and finding those gems.
As you mentioned, Plug, getting Phil off the books was very helpful.
Also puts the Kamara negotiations in a new light. I’m not sure he’s making big money, but with the wage situation, him obviously looking for raise and maybe a CL suitor, could see him going, too. That would hurt.
Pre season starts, international players get an extra week so it a lot young lads at minute
Transfer woes accordingly to some as for all the experts including the media,they know absolutely nothing about what is going on behind scenes
Yes we need players in but a full preseason for Ramsey kamara watkins and Bailey has to be a help
Me I want a new right back cash just isn’t good enough,a new back up keeper hopefully martinez ain’t going anywhere, not fussed about asenio thinking he would be new coutinho,
The FIFA club world cup has finished and I can gladly say I never watched any of it. Just a load of exhibition matches between the invited few. Meaningless. Despite this, Infantino has been blowing his clarion about its success and stating the age of global club football has arrived. He can piss off with his greedy money bags. Here’s hoping it has a detrimental effect on both Chelsea and Citeh in the coming season.
I hear Parish whining on about Palace’s “biggest injustice in football ever” after UEFA demoted them to the Conference League. Well in money terms that may cost them around £15 millions tops. What about Bramall’s decision to disallow Roger’s goal at Old Trafford? That’s going to cost us around £40 million, a much greater injustice. I do hope the EPL don’t try and be smart by putting him in charge of any Villa game this season.
And what is the outcome of Citeh’s 115+ charges? Have the independent tribunal taken their considerable fees and fucked off on holiday’s until Xmas?
Nearly every body back today, Bailey seems to still on holidays
Friendly Wednesday v Walsall,not many new faces yet
I’ll confess to watching a little of the CWC, Plug. Wanted to see a couple of the teams.
But, yes, it’s completely unnecessary and now Chelsea and PSG have played 65 and 66 matches. Not sure what that does to their summer preparations, was obviously part of it, but definitely disrupted the timing of their rest, etc. And of course Chelsea get more money to spend.
Seems like the louder the calls for protecting the players the more matches they add.
Welcome our new keeper bizot , much improved on olsen without even seeing him play
Good thing to have sorted, JG. Funny how a lot of the early talk re Emi and Ollie has quieted down.
Doesn’t mean things won’t happen, but never count on a move until someone’s holding up a shirt and talking about what a big club they’ve joined.
Also, I heard from the hosting company again and they’re talking about August now. They sound very helpful, but each time I reply and ask a question I don’t hear anything. A bit frustrating.
I think the new site is largely ready to go. I’ll probably DM a couple of you, ask you to try accessing and see if it works. It’s a very advanced testing protocol.
Last night’s game at Walsall provided very little excitement for the Villa support. No cutting edge up front from the players on view and therefore just a useful exercise in fitness. We’ll all be monitoring the pre season games and hopefully see improvements match on match as the team steps up its preparations.
John, feel free to DM me if you need any testing on the new platform. Happy to test on phone and laptop.
Plug
Excitement, you must have missed water sprinkler going off,it woke up fans and subs quickish
Nice to see some young lads,the Colombian lad looks an impressive build,Turkish lad nice shot on him,few others impressed as barrie and dobbin unimpressed
Our transfer business has been quiet, but the media no very little of what is happening inside villa park listening to all experts nothing guessing since end may even Jacob aswell from athletic zilch,the new keeper news only broke last Thursday night done deal by Sunday
Cheers, Plug. I’ll drop you a line.
Has been very quiet, but I’m glad we’ve been shopping young talent. Not sure what anyone thought before Kosta and Barrenechea were signed, but it’s interesting how quickly they were evaluated and moved along.
Millwall, now that was the proverbial ‘getting minutes in your legs’ and seeing how various kids look.
Bizot, Garcia, Mings, Pau, Moreno, Bogarde, Kamara, Barkley, Ramsey, Burrowes, Jimoh-Aloba.
Subs
Marschall, Proctor, Dobbin, Barry, Rowe, Hemmings, Borland, Patterson, Ozcan, Mosquera, Pavey, Carroll.
Pretty underwhelming, that, but Emery’s clearly giving a lot of the senior players extra rest.
Thought the officiating was terrible.
It was a real training ground game. One piece of quality from Ramsey put Villa in front whilst Hansa missed a couple of great chances in the first half. The win was sacrificed when Unai made a raft of 2nd half changes removing all first team experience from the pitch and sending on the kids. The majority of them should not be anywhere near the first team because they are not ready. The 3rd tier of German football proved too much for them and the error by Powell for the equalizer would have drawn a bollocking from a junior school headmaster in the playground.
I do feel sorry for the away support that travelled to both friendlies. Very little fitness put into the legs of some first teamers and none for others. Instead we’ve just seen the kids struggle.
I suppose it’s worth giving the kids a longer look, given finances, Plug, but like you say, nothing of note on show. They were trying to play the system and all the fouling didn’t help them get settled into anything, but not enough strength and lots of naivete.
Have to say, I’m always a bit ambivalent playing sides for whom these games are ‘statements’. Definite risk of injury. Sort of like cup ties against League 1 sides.
Have been watching a lot of youtube last few weeks,must admit beundi played a lot better and was involved in more goals than I gave credit for,watching cash too he got forward a hell of a lot more decent crosses some goals too,
Watching last season compared to previous the goal scorer seemed to be much fewer