This is true, we are the Second City reaally in name only now. The media (Beeb especially) and Government bias towards Manchester as the only other place worth talking about than London now is overwhelming!
I tend to think of everything inside the M60 as Manchester, even if it actually isn't, like Salford. Everything outside it like Bolton and Bury is very much "Greater" Manchester. I can't think of anywhere else in the UK off the top of my head where you've got two cities separated by about a 5 metre width of river.
Sandwell definitely, as an example Bearwood is Sandwell despite being a lot closer to the city center than most Birmingham suburbs.
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on June 20, 2018, 04:21:52 PMSandwell definitely, as an example Bearwood is Sandwell despite being a lot closer to the city center than most Birmingham suburbs. Yeah Bearwood is silly but i you look at the solihull council border map around places like Marston Green, Castle Brom and Kingshurst (https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/2538.html) it's clearly 1 place.
I still can't fathom how Villa aren't up there with the most successful clubs. We're the biggest club in England's second city, great infrastructure, lovely stadium, distinctive brand, illustrious history, former European champions, excellent, loyal fan base and potential for a frankly huge following across the West Mids conurbation and beyond.The potential is massive. It's a tragedy that for so long we've been run by people lacking the vision and judgment needed to fulfill it.
Over last 20 years we've developed the unwelcome habit of freezing/bottling big chances.It started in 2000 with how negative we were in the FA cup final
Quote from: Mortimer's Bear on June 20, 2018, 09:11:46 AMQuote from: ASHTONVILLA on June 20, 2018, 08:57:31 AMThe recent turmoil has made me realise just how much Villa are a constant in my life, it is ghastly imagining a world without them. I dpn't think I could bring myself to ever support another team if the club disappeared.Surely with a club as large, old and famous as the Villa someone will pitch up and take it off Tony's hands. I hope so, as I have zero confidence in him to get us through this. When Man City had issues wioth their dodgy Thai owner (Taksim Shinawatra?) they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat by finding very wealthy new owners. Villa are far bigger than Man City were at the time, lets hope this ends well.We are still a bigger club than Man City.I agree. It is a shitty state of affairs when pisspot teams like City and Chelsea have managed to spend their way big, but rules stop larger clubs like Villa from doing the same. I don't see what is fair about FFP, load of old bollocks.
Quote from: ASHTONVILLA on June 20, 2018, 08:57:31 AMThe recent turmoil has made me realise just how much Villa are a constant in my life, it is ghastly imagining a world without them. I dpn't think I could bring myself to ever support another team if the club disappeared.Surely with a club as large, old and famous as the Villa someone will pitch up and take it off Tony's hands. I hope so, as I have zero confidence in him to get us through this. When Man City had issues wioth their dodgy Thai owner (Taksim Shinawatra?) they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat by finding very wealthy new owners. Villa are far bigger than Man City were at the time, lets hope this ends well.We are still a bigger club than Man City.
The recent turmoil has made me realise just how much Villa are a constant in my life, it is ghastly imagining a world without them. I dpn't think I could bring myself to ever support another team if the club disappeared.Surely with a club as large, old and famous as the Villa someone will pitch up and take it off Tony's hands. I hope so, as I have zero confidence in him to get us through this. When Man City had issues wioth their dodgy Thai owner (Taksim Shinawatra?) they managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat by finding very wealthy new owners. Villa are far bigger than Man City were at the time, lets hope this ends well.
Quote from: SoccerHQ on June 20, 2018, 05:40:26 PMOver last 20 years we've developed the unwelcome habit of freezing/bottling big chances.It started in 2000 with how negative we were in the FA cup finalIt started WAY before then. Doug failed to take the risk/plunge numerous times when we had greatness within touching distance.