The Press-ipice awaits

[dave.woodhall]

http://thebirminghampress.com/2016/04/close-to-the-edge/

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

As Glenn Hoddle said this weekend, whoever takes over needs to get rid of some bad eggs before they can rebuild again. We all know who he means by that.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Nice piece. I am relieved its going to be over early in a way. No hopes to be dashed, that was done in January.

I do hope this summer those players who do not want to be here, or seemingly actively dislike the club (why else play the way they do?) go away. I don't want to see them ever again in our shirt. Its a cliche but they simply do not deserve that honour.

Spoiler for Hiden:

minor typo on assembled fyi

[PeterWithesShin]

Good article.

As an aside

It was said that not one of the relegation side of 1987 would have got near the squad that conquered Europe five years earlier.

I remember hearing that a lot and never really getting it considering 5 of them were in the squad (ok counting Gary Shaw & Blair is a bit iffy!), Walters, Keown and Dorigo were no slouches, neither was hodge even if he was a wanker. Daley as well wouldn't have been far off the squad.

[dave.woodhall]

Good article.

As an aside

It was said that not one of the relegation side of 1987 would have got near the squad that conquered Europe five years earlier.

I remember hearing that a lot and never really getting it considering 5 of them were in the squad (ok counting Gary Shaw & Blair is a bit iffy!), Walters, Keown and Dorigo were no slouches, neither was hodge even if he was a wanker. Daley as well wouldn't have been far off the squad.

They were decent players, or rather became decent (Walters excepted as he was at his best then) but at that time none of them were in the same class.

[PeterWithesShin]

They were probably better than Donovan, Bullivant, Heard and Linton as examples. I know it's nit picking but this is the internet.

[ChicagoLion]

Very well put.
Is there any hope that this disgraceful bunch of players ever get to see or hear the utter contempt that We have for them?

[pbavfckuwait]

Hits the nail on the head Dave, especially with the task of whoever comes in, this is my major concern because if we cannot get some of this lot and by that the ones that need to go, Richards, Gabby et al, I see just more despair.

[Ron Manager]

Close to the edge mmm yes.Close to the edge of obscurity unless Mr Lerner has finally
found a buyer to offload the club to.The future looks distinctly bleak at this present
moment.

[levico]

Can't argue with that but let's hope Moyes doesn't read it.

[mrfuse]

Close to the edge mmm yes.Close to the edge of obscurity unless Mr Lerner has finally
found a buyer to offload the club to.The future looks distinctly bleak at this present
moment.

Well Im hoping that the recent appointments off the field will steady the ship and hopefully get the right man in charge, which for me is also Moyes.
Okay if it was to be him he would have his work cut out, but he also needs to rebuild his own reputation and I think he could achieve that with us.

Good article again Dave.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Good, honest article Mr Woodhall.

The comments about the current crop of Villa "players" are pretty damning yet totally deserved.
The clear-out has started at the top, let's hope - even allowing for contracts etc - that we can move some of these so-called "professional footballers" on...to somewhere else...just anywhere else!

[Jon Crofts]

Frighteningly accurate.  Let's face it, who'd want the Villa job in these circumstances?

[Richard E]

Frighteningly accurate.  Let's face it, who'd want the Villa job in these circumstances?

Oh, I dunno, you do it for 4-8 months and then get a six-figure payoff with no expectations of achieving anything worthwhile in the intervening period. Sounds like not a bad gig to me.

[darren woolley]

Spot on Dave.