Villa & Chelsea - Same but different

[Vanilla]

Has anyone else noticed a few similarities between AVFC and Chelsea over the past couple of seasons. . . 

Both had good seasons in 2009-2010 season relative to their ambitions.

Then the problems started, when at the end of that season the purse strings were closed and they never replaced influential players: AV- Milner, Chelsea - Ballack etc.

Then for the 2010-2011 season, both teams experienced disruptions in their management team: MON resigned and Wilkins was dumped by Chelsea.

Both teams then had to open the purse strings, making huge emergency purchases in the January transfer window: AV - Bent, Chelsea - Torres.

Both teams experienced disquiet amongst their players.

Both teams ended up having poor campaigns relative to their ambitions.

Both ended the season removing their respective managers.

Both then appointed managers that came as a surprise to their fans.

Both started the 2011-2012 season fairly soundly; players stating that they were unhappy with aspects of the previous season.

Both teams have now hit choppy waters.

. . . or is that just me?

[PaulWinch again]

I can see quite a few of the similarities you highlight there. However as far as the manager point goes it's massively different, we hired a proven Premier League failure and they hired one of the most promising managers in Europe. The football philosphies now are also poles apart.

[pauliewalnuts]

In summer 2011

Chelsea spent 23m on Juan Mata and 12m on Mereilles. Not to mention 15m on Lukaku, suggesting their purse strings were open again

Villa on the other hand ...

[itbrvilla]

Wish we were in their  shoes.

[Vanilla]

In summer 2011

Chelsea spent 23m on Juan Mata and 12m on Mereilles. Not to mention 15m on Lukaku, suggesting their purse strings were open again

Villa on the other hand ...

Good point. I suppose the Chelsea owner realised his mistake. However, if they had perhaps given Ancelotti that money, he could have built on his success.

[TheSandman]

Like us, they have a number of aging players they really need to ship out and replace.

[Merv]

I see the parallels in terms of both clubs needing to recruit a new manager in the summer. Chelsea, however, hired the most coveted young coach in world football and hence, although they're in the middle of an indifferent period and there are undoubtedly one or two ageing players past their best who need moving on, they definitely have a long-term plan in mind.

[richard moore]

The day I start comparing my club to that chavvy, classless scum is the day when I finally realise I have fallen out of love completely with football. I loathe them. I love us. Not in a million years could I contemplate having anything in common with them...

[Barca 2011]

The day I start comparing my club to that chavvy, classless scum is the day when I finally realise I have fallen out of love completely with football. I loathe them. I love us. Not in a million years could I contemplate having anything in common with them...

Couldnt have put it better. Loathsome club, even worse ''fans''

[paulcomben]

Identical, aside from the quarter of a billion regular transfer budget, stellar cast of international players, top four finishes, double win the season before last, hope of winning every game, coherent defensive and attacking play, popularity in the burgeoning Asian market and constant Champions League football. Oh and winning the only FA Cup Final involving Villa in our lifetimes. Etc etc.

[john e]

Identical, aside from the quarter of a billion regular transfer budget, stellar cast of international players, top four finishes, double win the season before last, hope of winning every game, coherent defensive and attacking play, popularity in the burgeoning Asian market and constant Champions League football. Oh and winning the only FA Cup Final involving Villa in our lifetimes. Etc etc.

yeah, but apart from that ?










sorry, someone had to say it

[pauliewalnuts]

Identical, aside from the quarter of a billion regular transfer budget, stellar cast of international players, top four finishes, double win the season before last, hope of winning every game, coherent defensive and attacking play, popularity in the burgeoning Asian market and constant Champions League football. Oh and winning the only FA Cup Final involving Villa in our lifetimes. Etc etc.

yeah, but apart from that ?










sorry, someone had to say it

Their manager looks a bit ginger, too.

[Hookeysmith]

At least we win in the moral high ground stakes

We dont have a dodgy, thieving rascist scumbag or a slag slapping knob jockey in our team

We do however have Heskey 

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd put up with Ashley Cole's antics if we could have him in our team, he's such a super player.

He even managed to come out of the last world cup with some credit.