Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: rjp on August 06, 2012, 10:31:49 PM
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Guardian Article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/06/premier-league-preview-aston-villa)
A refreshingly well written article in my opinion. It pretty much sums up how I feel about the coming season anyway.
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Read that earlier.
Certainly a lot better researched than most stuff that you get in the press.
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Well balanced article, the only bit I disagree on is the phrase
the feelgood factor is so strong that expectations could be a little unrealistic
I think that after the last couple of years we are realistic enough to accept steady progression coupled with some more entertaining football.
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Agreed, I don't think there's blind optimism here, I'd prefer 'cautiously optimistic with the squad, having full faith in the manager.' The use of Newcastle's climb back from obscurity on a wage bill, dwarfed by our very own is a good comparison.
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A good article that, he even managed to pin-point the exact game were Warnocks decline started.
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Can't wait for the new season
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It's also a nice dose of reality. We did struggle for two seasons in a row so we shouldn't expect miracles. Anything from 12th to 8th would represent significant progress.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2012/aug/06/aston-villa-premier-league-preview-video?newsfeed=true
This is pretty spot on too
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Good article - pretty much on the money.
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Stuart James is one of the less sensationalist sports journlists out there, he does tend to write about football rather than looking to create a story out of thin air.
That's what I'd like to see as well: no mention of relegation, an improvement in the quality of football on the pitch, a genuine assessment of our playing squad (next summer could see quite a number being moved on if they don't up their game) and a happier Villa Park less of the, righteous, disappointment/anger of the last few seasons, a chance to enjoy watching fooyball again, please.
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Isn't Stuart James a Villa fan?
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Isn't Stuart James a Villa fan?
He was certainly on our books at one time.
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It's a good article and I think he's right to caution about over optimistic expectations, most of us are realistic but we all know that there's a small but gobby minority who want it all and want it now.
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"...............expectations could be a little unrealistic"
Sums up the majority of our supporters any season (bar the last one, of course :D)
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Every clubs supporters expectations are unrealistic we're not unique in that one.
It wouldn't be unrealistic to say we might do as well as Newcastle did last based on what we've got and with a positive approach applied, who knows?
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Good article enjoyed reading it.
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Well balanced article, the only bit I disagree on is the phrase
the feelgood factor is so strong that expectations could be a little unrealistic
I think that after the last couple of years we are realistic enough to accept steady progression coupled with some more entertaining football.
I agree with the article in that expectations might be too high. One look at the 'predictions for the coming season' thread and I'm genuinely worried people are going to give Lambert a hard time because we're not evolving fast enough.
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Stuart James often walks up to the ground with Neil Moxley, and stops for a chat with me. That's how he knows what's going on better than most. ;-)
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I enjoyed reading this comment from a Nar'ch supporter:
"Lambo is a genius and will do well for Villa. He gave us (Norwich) three of the most amazing seasons instilling a brand of attacking football and a never say die attitude that was a joy to watch.
He also gets the best out of players and has them playing above their level on a weekly basis, this is allied to a very high percentage hit rate in the transfer market. Only two duds in all his signings for us, and one of those (Vaughan) may come good if he can stay injury free.
He'll have Villa firing on all cylinders and given time right up there (top 8). He will one day go on to manage in the Champions League, I just don't think with the way football finances are currently it will be with Villa, but who knows?
Him, Culverhouse & Karsa are a great coaching team. Good luck Paul and thanks for the memories.
Just don't expect him to give too much away in post match interviews."
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Stuart James often walks up to the ground with Neil Moxley, and stops for a chat with me. That's how he knows what's going on better than most. ;-)
I went to school with Neil Moxley. He was in the year below us, but he'd sometimes come and stand on the Holte with us, despite being a nose.
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"...............expectations could be a little unrealistic"
Sums up the majority of our supporters any season (bar the last one, of course :D)
Is a decent style of football "unrealistic"? That's what most of us seem to want.
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Good article and nothing really to argue with.
As I see it myself we're going to do better than last year, but how much depends on two or more of Ireland, N'Zogbia, Albrighton or Holman having a really good season. We'll tighten up defensively and Bent will score, but that gets you mid table and that extra creativity in midfield is where you jump that few extra places to be in of around the European places.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2012/aug/06/aston-villa-premier-league-preview-video?newsfeed=true
This is pretty spot on too
Good video, that. She knows what she's talking about.
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Very good article that, little I can disagree with here.
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Good article and nothing really to argue with.
As I see it myself we're going to do better than last year, but how much depends on two or more of Ireland, N'Zogbia, Albrighton or Holman having a really good season. We'll tighten up defensively and Bent will score, but that gets you mid table and that extra creativity in midfield is where you jump that few extra places to be in of around the European places.
Think our problem area is going to be central midfield. Again.
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Good article and nothing really to argue with.
As I see it myself we're going to do better than last year, but how much depends on two or more of Ireland, N'Zogbia, Albrighton or Holman having a really good season. We'll tighten up defensively and Bent will score, but that gets you mid table and that extra creativity in midfield is where you jump that few extra places to be in of around the European places.
Think our problem area is going to be central midfield. Again.
I'd say we've improved in that area already by signing KEA and the narrow midfield we seem to be playing will also help tactically.
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Gabby - 8 goals in 62 games!
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I agree that central midfield is the risk area. Remember Petrov played most of last year and I doubt he'll play this season.
We could well improve - KEA looks very good, Bannan looks good in pre-season, Delph and Gardner should be better this season. But there's still not a single one of them who's ever really done it in the premier league. That has to be a massive risk. At least elsewhere in the side, we know what the likes of Given, Dunne, Bent, Gabby, Ireland, CNZ, Albrighton can do.
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Anyone know Brad Woodhouse? He's done the fans predictions for the new season for Villa in the current When Saturday Comes. Sounds like a made up name to me.
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Anyone know Brad Woodhouse? He's done the fans predictions for the new season for Villa in the current When Saturday Comes. Sounds like a made up name to me.
He's been their Villa Man for years. They've never asked me to do anything; even that effete fop Green gets the chance.
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Anyone know Brad Woodhouse? He's done the fans predictions for the new season for Villa in the current When Saturday Comes. Sounds like a made up name to me.
He's been their Villa Man for years. They've never asked me to do anything; even that effete fop Green gets the chance.
What about the 4-4-2 predictions?