Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rick_avfc on May 18, 2012, 12:37:26 PM
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Right, I'm getting quite annoyed with comments made by non villa fans and some media people saying we have high expectations and we need to come down a peg or two but do they know what our expectations really are?
I mean, personally, my expectations for last season were mid table with some decent football, a decent cup run and if we were lucky (very lucky) a trip to wembley. Is that classed as high expectations? If not, what do the media think our expectations are? top 6? top 4? What are the views of the fans on here and what were your expectations at the start of last season?
Going forward and what looks like the possible appointment of OGS, what are everyones expectations for villa next season? For me, I would be very happy with some decent entertaining football, finishing mid table and a good cup run. Does anyone think that this is high expectations and that I should lower them or am I being realistic?
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I'd like to blank out last season.
As for next season, I saw someone say "I just want to enjoy going to watch the Villa again".
That's my immediate concern, any other stuff can wait.
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"I just want to enjoy going to watch the Villa again".
This.
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I agree, Rick. I've picked up on this too. My expectations of Villa have always traditionally been top 6-8 in the league, always think this is our true place in the pecking order. Higher is a bonus. Lower than 10-2th is disappointing.
As things stand right now, for next season I'd be hoping for top half, but would accept 10th, 11th, 12th, a more positive approach, signs of progression. Primarily, it would be to enjoy watching the team again, and to not be 90% certain of the result before kick-off.
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"I just want to enjoy going to watch the Villa again".
This.
And with OGS at the helm I expect us top next 4 season, champions the following and kings of europe the year after. It's not much to ask.
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My expectations,play with a bit of pride,guts and determination
I dont mind getting beat by a better team,but at least go down with your boots on
Oh,and if you do get beat at least have the good grace too look like it hurts your proffesional pride a bit rather than walk off with yorr arm round the bloke who's just pissed in your face.
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In the short term we should be competing with Everton and ahead of Fulham/Stoke/Sunderland.
We should be able to re-establish ourselves there on a self-sufficient footing and then be in a position for the owner to decide whether to financially make the push up to the next level - Chelsea/Spurs/Liverpool.
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I agree. My expectations for last season, and next, are the same as yours. Journo's seem to think we expect to be in the top six, not all of us expect that.
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So far, expectations seem fine and not high at all so where have the media got this idea from? Didnt BFR say the same thing about us fans?
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Entertainng football and no fear of the opposition which is something we've struggled with for a long time.
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Considering what we've just been through last season, if we finish half way and the footballs more enjoyable to watch, I think most of us would be happy enough with the progress made.
A good Cup run being a bonus.
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I get the impression that the media thinks we should just roll over and surrender to mediocity and mid table obsecurity.
To think we have high expectations is sacrilage.
'Do the Villa not know they are here just to make the numbers up and roll over when requested by the sky four' is the medias view.
We should have expectations of success, we should expect our team to put up a fight and give teams a run for their money. Next season, again I want the team to show some fight and spirit and give us hope that we may get that result or even cause an upset.
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I'd like to see:
1) A deliberate attempt to play entertaining, attacking football, especially at home.
2) An end to the abject terror of the opposition getting a corner.
3) A "heads-up" mentality in our players - no visible dejection, even if losing.
4) At least 12th place.
5) Any sort of cup run.
6) Signs of progressive, modern tactics becoming integral to our game - like Houllier at least started.
I don't think those expectations are out of the ordinary, in any way!
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My expectation is to play attacking exciting football and see what happens from that.
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Lets move on the shadow over Villa has gone
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Be nice to watch MOTD not from the back of the sofa, groaning and rocking backwards and forwards shouting 'no no no no'...
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I expected 8th last season but could have lived with 10th-12th if the football was good, same again this season I guess.
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
Admire your stance, but after the last two seasons, it's not very likely!
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
This
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
This
Thats a joke right? We don't have any right to assume we can be top 6 just because of our history, and the goalposts have changed in recent times.
Lets get back to basics after last seasons nightmare, Our expectations should be to play decent football and entertain the crowd for starters
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
This
So was this your view for the last 2 seasons? Even though we lost 2 key players last season was you expecting us to finish top ? Maybe this is the people / fans the media are talking about when they say villa fans have high expectations
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History doesn't score goals or win points.
Our expectations should be adjusted to the spend, as that's what is all important in modern football. And that's where good coaching/management/scouting comes in - getting more for the money being spent.
If Randy continues with austerity for next season, I'll expect mid to lower mid table. A good manager and shrewd signings could see us higher than that, but then they'd be exceeding expectations.
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With a club of our history etc...anything less than top six should be considered a disappointment
I think it depends what you mean by "should."
Given that we are the major team of England's second city then that ought to be at least the level we aspire to, but it is not that often in reality that we have consistently hit that sort of height in our entire history.
At present our stature in the game is not such that finishing below 6th is failure to deliver.
For the next few years I would settle for attractive attacking football, 7th - 11th finishes and a few decent cup runs.
What I really want to see in my lifetime is an Aston Villa captain lift the FA Cup at least once.
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I don't care how we play, never have, just want us to win more often than we lose. The footy under MON was never that good, but I liked the results.
I would say as a bare minimum top half with 40 points achieved before Easter at worst would be my expectation for our club. A Wembley visit a couple of times a decade and the FA Cup once in a lifetime as well should be achievable with our resources
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We are the second city. To have not qualified for the European Cup (`champions league` as they now call it) for 30 years must be considered underachievment.
The aim of anybody managing Villa should be at least Europa Cup qualification.
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Two very poor years have clouded our views...we are a top six club at the very least..not currently a top six team granted.
Form is transient....Class is permanent
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So far, expectations seem fine and not high at all so where have the media got this idea from? Didnt BFR say the same thing about us fans?
The London media have no real interest in Villa, so gauge fan opinion from phone-ins on Talksport and SSN. As we all know, such media outlets are after a story and overlook any sort of sensible opinion in favour of sensationalism. A couple of idiot callers soon become the voice of the fans.
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In the grand scheme of things, my expectations of Villa and football have changed quite drastically over the last few years. We have a great history and heritage, but in order for us to return to our glory days we need to look to our "bright future"...
Investment in youth rather than the expensive transfer market is the way forward...investing in the Villa academy and potential stars of the future with claret and blue blood running through their veins.
If we can stay mid-table during the next few seasons with a few good cup runs then I'll be happy as long as their is a decent footballing side playing the game the way it should be played.
I'd struggle to find anyone more suitable to lead this project than someone like OGS, so hopefully he will buy into this as a long term project and be here for the long term to see the fruits of his work come to fruition.
...well thats what I'm hoping for anyway, the reality could be a lot different.
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If you look at the Premiership table for the past couple of seasons, there has been a pretty tight grouping of clubs from 7th to 14th. I would say that somewhere in that grouping would be about right for us at the moment and a good season could result in a top ten finish.
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Oh,and if you do get beat at least have the good grace too look like it hurts your proffesional pride a bit rather than walk off with yorr arm round the bloke who's just pissed in your face.
Biggest disappointment last season was the number of Villa players on the final whistle wanting to exchange shirts.
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I think in general top 10 and being in the frame for a Europa League spot is what I expect for the club. In the short term I'll be happy with a solid mid-table finish next season, signs of the club moving forward and for us to be back in the top ten within three seasons.
I don't see why we should be content to sit between 10th and 16th with the likes of Fulham, Norwich and Sunderland, especially when you see where Newcastle and Everton finished this year, with budgets similar (or less than) our own.
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I've never gone for this "we're Aston Villa, we should always be in the top six" bullshit. It smacks of snobbery to me.
Maybe it's down to where Villa were when you started supporting them. In my first season as a regular we finished 18th in Div 2, and in my second season we were relegated to Div 3. Every single decent season since then has been very much hoped for, enjoyed and appreciated... but never expected or even demanded.
I think the most important thing for us next season is playing a brand of football that makes home games something to look forward to again.
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Form is transient....Class is permanent
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Agreed. We are a proud, classy club who have seriously underachieved the last couple of years. At the same time I think we were punching above our weight when we were hovering in and out of the top four. Let's get the sustainable foundations done in the next couple of years (not the MON buy at any price approach) and go from there.
This season I want entertainment and a cup run, and to be nowhere near the relegation places
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Oh,and if you do get beat at least have the good grace too look like it hurts your proffesional pride a bit rather than walk off with yorr arm round the bloke who's just pissed in your face.
Biggest disappointment last season was the number of Villa players on the final whistle wanting to exchange shirts.
And not just the final whistle, that you tube clip before our Man City game at their place was a disgrace.
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So far, expectations seem fine and not high at all so where have the media got this idea from? Didnt BFR say the same thing about us fans?
The London media have no real interest in Villa, so gauge fan opinion from phone-ins on Talksport and SSN. As we all know, such media outlets are after a story and overlook any sort of sensible opinion in favour of sensationalism. A couple of idiot callers soon become the voice of the fans.
I've always thought this sums up what most of the media thinks of us, media favourites like Spurs, Newcastle considered bigger by everyone apart from people like Merse, Stan Collymore, BFR etc.
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I've never gone for this "we're Aston Villa, we should always be in the top six" bullshit. It smacks of snobbery to me.
Have you taken a look at the All time Premier League placings by chance?
It places us fifth so by finishing sixth or lower that has to be considered a disappointment or a step backwards.
It's not snobbery it's just about having certain standards and living up to them.
And I go back to the late 50's so I've had my share of disappointments but still keep coming back for more
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Any Villa manager who fails to get us in the Top 10 has failed in his job.
Other than that a cup every 5 years or so would be nice.
I think until or unless there's proper fair play rules, that's what we should realistically hope for.
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I've never gone for this "we're Aston Villa, we should always be in the top six" bullshit. It smacks of snobbery to me.
Have you taken a look at the All time Premier League placings by chance?
It places us fifth so by finishing sixth or lower that has to be considered a disappointment or a step backwards.
True, but that table doesn't take into account some of the recent developments that have happened at clubs like Man City. As a matter of interest, how many times have we actually finished above sixth in the Premier League? 1992/93 and 1995/6 are the only seasons that spring to mind.
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I expect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be our manager next week.
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So far, expectations seem fine and not high at all so where have the media got this idea from? Didnt BFR say the same thing about us fans?
The London media have no real interest in Villa, so gauge fan opinion from phone-ins on Talksport and SSN. As we all know, such media outlets are after a story and overlook any sort of sensible opinion in favour of sensationalism. A couple of idiot callers soon become the voice of the fans.
I've always thought this sums up what most of the media thinks of us, media favourites like Spurs, Newcastle considered bigger by everyone apart from people like Merse, Stan Collymore, BFR etc.
People who are from the Midlands or who have played at Villa will always understand how big the club is. Most of the media are based in London, so don't have a feel for the club or the area in general. I lived up in Glasgow for a while and it was only after I had spent some time up there that I got the true sense of how big Rangers and Celtic are (albeit in a poor league).
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Every year we don't win a trophy is failure. We've failed a lot over the past century.
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The 10 year table shows our position as 8th so by that reckoning we have underperformed / failed to reach our longterm expectations consistently. I therefore refer you to my statement that form is passing but class remains..unless we fail to recognise true class and not the plastic varieties currently available.
Perhaps the last ten years have just reduced the levels of performance we find acceptable, that is our standards have slipped and we are content with it, for fear of appearing snobbish.
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My own expectations have changed from what we do to how we do it.
I do not think we will win the League again in my lifetime, I hope we win the FA Cup as that is the only major honour I have not been part of with the Villa, but I do not expect it.
What I really expect is that Aston Villa is/are a role model of decency and high values on and off the pitch.
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My own expectations have changed from what we do to how we do it.
What I really expect is that Aston Villa is/are a role model of decency and high values on and off the pitch.
True Class and expectations to be proud of
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- Pride in wearing the shirt.
- Plaudits from the football commmunity for our contribution to football across several fronts.
- A progressive manager who has a good scouting network, an eye for talent and potential, and who has a football-approach that seeks to play the game well and winningly.
- A chairman and board that focus on excellence off the pitch as well as on - good financial management, good members of the football world, attracting great sponsors, corporate supporters, brilliant with the B'ham / Aston neighbours, etc.
- Fans that have some class, support the club through thick and thin and are the "12th man" on the pitch.
- A club for whom other players want to play.
Achieve all of this and winning games / trophies will follow.
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I expect better football and at least midtable.
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6 - 8 is par. ANything below 10th is poor and above 6th a bonus.
A the very least I want to be entertained and go into every game with the hope of winning.
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In this weeks football weekly we came up. Barry Glendenning said something like 'Villa fans will be kind to their new manager, they just want their team to play some nice football, bang in a few goals and they will be happy enough."
Thats about right for me. I just want a bit of something to look forward to when we play. Not really bothered about position for nxt season, just want us to be interesting to watch.
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I have high expectations
I want us to SCORE from a corner
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In this weeks football weekly we came up. Barry Glendenning said something like 'Villa fans will be kind to their new manager, they just want their team to play some nice football, bang in a few goals and they will be happy enough."
Thats about right for me. I just want a bit of something to look forward to when we play. Not really bothered about position for nxt season, just want us to be interesting to watch.
Not a bad resume of the expectations of any fan (other than the glory hunter-types)
I want to be walking up the Trinity Road feeling we can beat anyone on our day - remember that?
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Based on the net spend and wages we should be 6th, that looks pretty unlikely from the base we have.
I want to see some indication that the people running the show have gained some idea of how to run a Football Club but in particulat Aston Villa.
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It's difficult to know what my expectations are before we appoint a new manager and more importantly before we see what he has to spend but my expectations will certainly be higher than avoiding relegation by the skin of your teeth and playing shit football!
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In this weeks football weekly we came up. Barry Glendenning said something like 'Villa fans will be kind to their new manager, they just want their team to play some nice football, bang in a few goals and they will be happy enough."
Thats about right for me. I just want a bit of something to look forward to when we play. Not really bothered about position for nxt season, just want us to be interesting to watch.
Not a bad resume of the expectations of any fan (other than the glory hunter-types)
I want to be walking up the Trinity Road feeling we can beat anyone on our day - remember that?
Bllody hel that seems like a lifetime ago :( Hopefully those days will be back soon.