Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on January 16, 2013, 02:54:24 PM
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Our next game is a big derby with West Brom - and the thing that stands out for me is the fact that this is the perfect game to start our revival.
It would send out the right signals in the fight to stay up if they can win the derby. I believe this strongly.
It would be absolutely perfect to change the situation.
Albion are doing well but this is the ideal game to start all over again and begin that fightback.
I really enjoyed the big derby games. We did well against West Brom in my era. We had a good record.
I remember the 2-1 win from 2008 when Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew scored.
It's great to win these matches. It's always three points for the club, the team and the players, but we know it means more for the fans.
You can tell because of the atmosphere, it's more intense and special.
You have to embrace that atmosphere in the derby, that's key. Our players on Saturday must not feel anxious and the pressure from the crowd.
They must think about what the manager has said, what they need to do individually and just go out there and run their socks off and work their socks off.
They must remember they need the three points for the table. It's such an important game.
I will be following the game, no doubt.
People outside Villa will see me as a former player and nothing more.
But I can assure you, I am a fan of this football club.
I spent five of the happiest years of my career in claret and blue and I still live and breathe the club now.
So our struggles over the past few weeks have really hit me hard. I hate it when we're not winning games. At the moment I really feel sorry for the boys and for everyone around the club.
I shout at the television screen, I scream - not as loudly as a Holte Ender, of course! But I get irritated when we lose and delighted when we win.
I hope I'm delighted on Saturday night!
After the Baggies match, it's the big Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Bradford City.
Villa can still get through, of course, despite the two-goal deficit. It's still very possible.
We need to win the battles all over the pitch. Every player must win their individual battle.
Against these teams, you need to win the battle first and then you can show your Premier League class.
We must be stronger all over the pitch on Tuesday.
A good start - one or two goals in the first half - would be fantastic. That would get the fans onside and get Villa Park rocking.
Playing a fantastic game and getting to a final would create a good atmosphere at the club too and lift the young players.
It will give them confidence, which can push them on with the league programme too.
Trust me, playing in a final is a massive, massive thing!
I read the comments of the manager last week that he wants a strong, physical defender in the transfer window. I agree with him.
I think a solid defensive addition could make a massive difference!
I know I'll never play again. But when I heard the manager's comments, it really made me want to lace up my boots again. That's for sure.
I'd give anything to be out there playing for Villa again and helping them. But I cannot do that. I can think about it. I have drifted back in time before. Unfortunately know it won't happen.
The manager is astute. He's a proper football man and knows how things are and how things work.
Ron Vlaar has been a big miss for the team. I rate Ron highly. He's a top-quality defender. He's a big player and he's been a big miss.
He's a solid defender and he has experience too.
He has been in the Dutch national team and that's a quality side. He's strong, powerful and quick - those are the attributes you need in the Premier League, especially power, which he has in abundance.
He brings that physicality to things. He has a good character too. He's a good lad in and around the training ground.
I hear he trains very hard too. He's clearly a top professional. The more people you can have like that around your football club, the better.
But we must also not put too much pressure on his shoulders either. It's his first season in the Premier League and he's also been named team skipper. It's not an easy transition in your first year of English top-flight football.
That's why I would like to see another strong, solid, powerful player in the ranks, alongside the likes of Ron, Ciaran, Nathan and Chris.
I have confidence the manager will get the right man!
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Pin it up in the dressing room.
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I love you, Martin
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Somebody give him a proper job at Villa please
Top Man!
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Me too.
Couldn't he be helping out at BMH working on the defence?
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Top man. How we could do with Martin Laursen now.
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Love this guy same as Olof really embraced the club ..we would be so much better with those type of guys around again.
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Get Martin in as a motivational speaker and defensive coach, what a legend.
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Somebody give him a proper job at Villa please
Top Man!
Would love it to happen
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You could just send your CV in the post like everybody else Martin! ;)
Have to say that's a bit more uplifting than "I think we'll stay up, why, because I do" and "we'll go again" though.
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Hopefully Laursen will be getting some management experience under his belt.
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What a great ambassador for villa.
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Just makes me want to cry when I think about him and where we are now and the lack of passion and interest shown by so many associated with the club
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I actually love him.
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Just makes me want to cry when I think about him and where we are now and the lack of passion and interest shown by so many associated with the club
That's exactly how I felt when I read it, Richard. Brought a tear to my eye remembering how high our hopes were very season with players like him. Not only was he a rock at the back, you also got the feeling he would score from every corner or set piece.
We've had a lot of 'classy' players in recent years but now we have no-one of that ilk. Players who you knew would deliver 9 games out of 10. We really have sunk very low indeed.
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I love Ian Taylor, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg and Dean Saunders as they have lot of passion for Aston Villa. Where is our players with those sort of passion. If we have all of those 4 in right age group we would be very good.
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Somebody give him a proper job at Villa please
Top Man!
Manager's job!!
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Laursen was a truly world class player. Shame he had to give up when he did.
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How we could do with him playing in defence.
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Asked to comment on Laursen's remarks, Villa Manager, Paul Lambert said 'Me and Martin have no problem, I have no problem with Martin and Martin has no problem with me. We pick ourselves up and go again.'
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
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Dolly signed a couple of decent players in his time here. Laursen and Bouma now would be awesome.
If we drop, I would be happy to see him and another ex Villa back as management team to give us that identity back. Mellberg, Taylor and Laursen as a trio.
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Dolly signed a couple of decent players in his time here. Laursen and Bouma now would be awesome.
If we drop, I would be happy to see him and another ex Villa back as management team to give us that identity back. Mellberg, Taylor and Laursen as a trio.
Solano & Milner.
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Dolly signed a couple of decent players in his time here. Laursen and Bouma now would be awesome.
If we drop, I would be happy to see him and another ex Villa back as management team to give us that identity back. Mellberg, Taylor and Laursen as a trio.
Solano & Milner.
Bouma is still playing at a decent level. Must be better than Bennett!
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Asked to comment on Laursen's remarks, Villa Manager, Paul Lambert said 'Me and Martin have no problem, I have no problem with Martin and Martin has no problem with me. We pick ourselves up and go again.'
Made me chuckle.
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The things I would do to Martin border on the illegal.
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Top, top player.
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Villa Legend
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Love that guy.
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Somebody give him a proper job at Villa please
Top Man!
here here
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I used to think that, and was wary of giving an old hero a job out of loyalty. But not better than Lambert? There are people in Amazonian rainforests who have had no contact with the modern world who would organise us better than him.
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Asked to comment on Laursen's remarks, Villa Manager, Paul Lambert said 'Me and Martin have no problem, I have no problem with Martin and Martin has no problem with me. We pick ourselves up and go again.'
You'd hope by now someone at the club with Lambert's best interests at heart would have a word about his "go again" spiel, but he seems as cut adrift as TSM. I know he means it to sound stoic and determined but for most of us, it just means he's going to try the same arse tactics again in the hope they somehow work.
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I'd like to see Laursen doing something similar to what Solskjaer is doing.
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There's no doubt he loves the Villa. Whenever he's in the media over here he rarely talks about playing for AC, but is always going on about us a great club, great fans, great relationship with the fans etc.
For those who can't wait to see him as future Villa manager, he stated it as an ambition when he started doing his coaching badges over here in 2011.
His only coaching experience so far is less 12 months coaching a small team from the outskirts of Copenhagen (no they're called Søllerød-Vedbæk not FC Copenhagen ;D), just as he started his coaching badges (T- Licence?)
He stopped (as planned) after less than a season where he managed to avoid relegation (against the odds, he was brought in as a desperate last roll of the dice with club lying bottom after 8 games - with 8 games left they were second bottom and five points from safety - they went undefeated in the last eight games and didn't concede a goal in the last seven!). He quit citing an ambition to work at higher level and an intention to contact his former trainers Ancelloti, Prandelli and O'Neill for a chance to "come and get some work experience" (best translation I can come up with) at a higher level as part of his continuing trainer education.
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Absolute legend.
In fact, there's not an ex player I respect or like more.
Would love to get him involved at the club and at a reasonably high level too.
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There's no doubt he loves the Villa. Whenever he's in the media over here he rarely talks about playing for AC, but is always going on about us a great club, great fans, great relationship with the fans etc.
For those who can't wait to see him as future Villa manager, he stated it as an ambition when he started doing his coaching badges over here in 2011.
His only coaching experience so far is less 12 months coaching a small team from the outskirts of Copenhagen (no they're called Søllerød-Vedbæk not FC Copenhagen ;D), just as he started his coaching badges (T- Licence?)
He stopped (as planned) after less than a season where he managed to avoid relegation (against the odds, he was brought in as a desperate last roll of the dice with club lying bottom after 8 games - with 8 games left they were second bottom and five points from safety - they went undefeated in the last eight games and didn't concede a goal in the last seven!). He quit citing an ambition to work at higher level and an intention to contact his former trainers Ancelloti, Prandelli and O'Neill for a chance to "come and get some work experience" (best translation I can come up with) at a higher level as part of his continuing trainer education.
wow. can't imagine many other ex-premier league players of his standard doing that.
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I used to think that, and was wary of giving an old hero a job out of loyalty. But not better than Lambert? There are people in Amazonian rainforests who have had no contact with the modern world who would organise us better than him.
You know, sometimes I think you actually believe the hyperbole that you come out with.
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I absolutely love this man! If we do happen to go down, I would like to see him join our coaching staff for sure (preferably as AM).
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I love Ian Taylor, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg and Dean Saunders as they have lot of passion for Aston Villa. Where is our players with those sort of passion. If we have all of those 4 in right age group we would be very good.
I'd add Dion Dublin to that list. Although he was apparently a Boggie growing up, he always speaks as if he is a Villa fan. Always looks genuinely saddened when reflecting on the current state of the club on MOTD.
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I love Ian Taylor, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg and Dean Saunders as they have lot of passion for Aston Villa. Where is our players with those sort of passion. If we have all of those 4 in right age group we would be very good.
I'd add Dion Dublin to that list. Although he was apparently a Boggie growing up, he always speaks as if he is a Villa fan. Always looks genuinely saddened when reflecting on the current state of the club on MOTD.
I don't get that impression at all, when he talks of us it's in the generic way the likes of Lawrenson and others do.
I get the impression that Dion would rather be known as an ex-Man Utd star.
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I used to think that, and was wary of giving an old hero a job out of loyalty. But not better than Lambert? There are people in Amazonian rainforests who have had no contact with the modern world who would organise us better than him.
You know, sometimes I think you actually believe the hyperbole that you come out with.
I assumed he was saying it tongue in cheek - though that rarely comes across too well in forums
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I spent five of the happiest years of my career in claret and blue and I still live and breathe the club now.
I shout at the television screen, I scream - not as loudly as a Holte Ender, of course! But I get irritated when we lose and delighted when we win.
I'd give anything to be out there playing for Villa again and helping them.
I once told Mrs Concrete John I'd never leave her for another woman, but I would for Paul McGrath. I think Laursen now needs to be added to that list.
I mentioned him as a managerial option in the summer, but got shouted down on here!
Truely top class player and man. You can't bring him in without Lambert's OK, as we can't undermine the manager, but I'd love him to be back here in any capacity.
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I used to think that, and was wary of giving an old hero a job out of loyalty. But not better than Lambert? There are people in Amazonian rainforests who have had no contact with the modern world who would organise us better than him.
You know, sometimes I think you actually believe the hyperbole that you come out with.
I realise there's probably no room for levity in your life, but seriously, lighten up. I don't think anybody seriously wants to hump Martin Laursen (well, they might, who knows), it's called using a literary device to make a point.
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I'd love to see him as our manager one day, and I think it will happen.
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club. See Henning Berg at Blackburn.
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club. See Henning Berg at Blackburn.
Nope but who knows he might, and I'd hope that if he proved to be good that Villa would be an option for him in the future. I don't think anyone is suggesting he should be manager now. It's just a nice future idea amongst the horrendous gloom that has enveloped this club for the last couple of years.
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Didn't Pep Guardiola step straight into the Barcelona job after retiring as a player?
EDIT: Just checked and he had one year with their B Team first.
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club.
There's not much evidence of Paul Lambert turning things round either.
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Just because we love him and he was a good (but very injury prone player) doesn't mean he would be any better than Lambert, or McLeish.
I used to think that, and was wary of giving an old hero a job out of loyalty. But not better than Lambert? There are people in Amazonian rainforests who have had no contact with the modern world who would organise us better than him.
You know, sometimes I think you actually believe the hyperbole that you come out with.
I realise there's probably no room for levity in your life, but seriously, lighten up. I don't think anybody seriously wants to hump Martin Laursen (well, they might, who knows), it's called using a literary device to make a point.
Well I suppose it's an overused device then, you seem to use it often enough.
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It's no different to you gamely sticking to your faux positivity approach Drummond, despite the lack of any evidence whatsoever to support your view.
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club.
There's not much evidence of Paul Lambert turning things round either.
Agreed.I'd trust Gary Megson to do a better job than Lambert at the moment
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club.
There's not much evidence of Paul Lambert turning things round either.
Oh yeh I would agree with that - just saying it isn't necessarily the case that by simply having wonderful memories of a player translates into a great manager. Two entirely different skillsets are required. I think that if we lose to Bradford, PL will be gone with Sid put in temporary charge until the end of the season - the owners would see that as a way of appeasing the fans, but that would be awful too.
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There's absolutely zero evidence from a management perspective to suggest he would make it as a manager of us or any other club.
There's not much evidence of Paul Lambert turning things round either.
Agreed.I'd trust Gary Megson to do a better job than Lambert at the moment
Based on Faulkwits record in recruiting managers you may get your wish. Just have to wait until May
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I'd trust Alex McLeish more right now.
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I'd trust Alex McLeish more right now.
Yes,there was us thinking he wasn't getting enough out of the team,when in fact it was because the team was utterly shit and he knew it especially when all the injuries kicked in
He wasn't backed in the January transfer window either.Wasn't it just Robbie Keane on loan for 6 weeks.Disgraceful when you look back
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It's no different to you gamely sticking to your faux positivity approach Drummond, despite the lack of any evidence whatsoever to support your view.
I'd still stick with Lambert as would 3/4 of people that have expressed a view since our last shit defeat.
I believe we had started to improve before further injuries took out important players (including our captain, who has been widely reported as being a good leader).
I'm not sure how anyone can think negatively of Paul Lambert so quickly, given that he has been successful for a number of years. McLeish was a negative manager playing a negative and soul destroying way.
Lambert has done probably as well as anyone could in the circumstances, I'd say his transfer record, El Ahmadi aside, is good. Yes, Bennett isn't a Premier League standard yet but he's playing around players who are just as inexperienced.
Laursen is saying some good things but others calling for him to be offered a job doesn't make much sense, he can lead on the pitch but we've no idea of his coaching ability.
I'm trying to see positives. You appear to refuse to consider that there may be any. I will accept the current playing squad aren't good enough as a team, but I don't believe it's Lambert's fault.
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I believe it's partly Lamberts fault as he didn't buy enough experience in the Summer which we were all concerned about the time.It was clear to everybody that the team needed a couple of experienced heads and Lambert chose to ignore that and didn't even spend all the money that was available to him
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Mcleish was still a negative useless manager, let's not get revisionist here.
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I believe it's partly Lamberts fault as he didn't buy enough experience in the Summer which we were all concerned about the time.It was clear to everybody that the team needed a couple of experienced heads and Lambert chose to ignore that and didn't even spend all the money that was available to him
Did he ignore it or was his brief on joining to develop youth and bring in young hungry players. Dont recall much outcry on here about his summer signings at the time.
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I believe it's partly Lamberts fault as he didn't buy enough experience in the Summer which we were all concerned about the time.It was clear to everybody that the team needed a couple of experienced heads and Lambert chose to ignore that and didn't even spend all the money that was available to him
Did he ignore it or was his brief on joining to develop youth and bring in young hungry players. Dont recall much outcry on here about his summer signings at the time.
Maybe,but I believe it's PL's mantra also,which you can achieve and indeed he did when building from League One but not with an established Premier league club.The fact that we didn't sign any British players above league one is unbelievable and incredibly naive.
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I believe it's partly Lamberts fault as he didn't buy enough experience in the Summer which we were all concerned about the time.It was clear to everybody that the team needed a couple of experienced heads and Lambert chose to ignore that and didn't even spend all the money that was available to him
Did he ignore it or was his brief on joining to develop youth and bring in young hungry players. Dont recall much outcry on here about his summer signings at the time.
Exactly.
We keep hearing about not buying enough experience in the summer, which ignores the fact that he had a lot of players we needed to bring in and that £25m wasn't a huge budget given that. And that's without taking the wages issue into account.
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Mcleish was still a negative useless manager, let's not get revisionist here.
He was, but that doesn't excuse Lambert's dire performance.
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No true, but let's not forget that Mcleish got 11 points from the second half of the season. If Lambert does that badly we will be down and he should go, but there is no just argument that can suggest Mcleish is anything other than terrible.
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Have I wandered into the "Paul Lambert - in or out thread" or is this one about Martin Laursen?
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Martin Laursen is by far my favourite ex-Villa player of this generation. I really hope we get him signed in some professional capacity as he would most definitely help us. Perhaps a defensive coach position would suit him perfectly?
In terms of PL: he took a chance on a younger squad with inexperienced players from lower leagues - he clearly didn't get that right 100%. He now has two weeks left to sort that out, and if some of the (rumoured) players I've seen do come in then I think we'll be a much stronger side.
Fuck the negativity - yeah, the team are doing rubbish, every man and his dog can see that, but if you don't get behind the team now, when they most importantly need it, then we can start waving at the Prem from the lower division.
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I believe it's partly Lamberts fault as he didn't buy enough experience in the Summer which we were all concerned about the time.It was clear to everybody that the team needed a couple of experienced heads and Lambert chose to ignore that and didn't even spend all the money that was available to him
Did he ignore it or was his brief on joining to develop youth and bring in young hungry players. Dont recall much outcry on here about his summer signings at the time.
Maybe,but I believe it's PL's mantra also,which you can achieve and indeed he did when building from League One but not with an established Premier league club.The fact that we didn't sign any British players above league one is unbelievable and incredibly naive.
It's also not true as Bennett came from Boro, but even if we ignore that 3 of the signings came from abroad so it's a slightly misleading statement.
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I would like to see Martin Laursen moving back home to work on our team and we should groom him as Paul Lambert's replacement when the time to come. Laursen to be our manager with Mellberg as no 2 in future would be fantastic.
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I would like to see Martin Laursen moving back home to work on our team and we should groom him as Paul Lambert's replacement when the time to come. Laursen to be our manager with Mellberg as no 2 in future would be fantastic.
What happens if he's equally as shit?
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"People outside Villa will see me as a former player and nothing more.
But I can assure you, I am a fan of this football club.
I spent five of the happiest years of my career in claret and blue and I still live and breathe the club now.
So our struggles over the past few weeks have really hit me hard. I hate it when we're not winning games. At the moment I really feel sorry for the boys and for everyone around the club."
Beautiful words, Martin. An absolute gent and a true Villa legend.
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I would like to see Martin Laursen moving back home to work on our team and we should groom him as Paul Lambert's replacement when the time to come. Laursen to be our manager with Mellberg as no 2 in future would be fantastic.
What happens if he's equally as shit?
He could get us into a League Cup Semi Final in his first season in charge. Though I suspect he wouldn't be left with such a shit squad and atmosphere to deal with.
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I would like to see Martin Laursen moving back home to work on our team and we should groom him as Paul Lambert's replacement when the time to come. Laursen to be our manager with Mellberg as no 2 in future would be fantastic.
What happens if he's equally as shit?
He could get us into a League Cup Semi Final in his first season in charge. Though I suspect he wouldn't be left with such a shit squad and atmosphere to deal with.
I wonder if he'd get £25m to spend on that shit squad.
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Martin Laursen is by far my favourite ex-Villa player of this generation. I really hope we get him signed in some professional capacity as he would most definitely help us. Perhaps a defensive coach position would suit him perfectly?
In terms of PL: he took a chance on a younger squad with inexperienced players from lower leagues - he clearly didn't get that right 100%. He now has two weeks left to sort that out, and if some of the (rumoured) players I've seen do come in then I think we'll be a much stronger side.
Fuck the negativity - yeah, the team are doing rubbish, every man and his dog can see that, but if you don't get behind the team now, when they most importantly need it, then we can start waving at the Prem from the lower division.
Agreed 100% behind the team every game - they are trying thier best and I hope we do get some strength and experience in before its too late.
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I`d give anything to see this bloke back in a Villa Shirt. Him and Ollie were an absolute Nightmare for the opposition from free kicks out wide. God, that seems a million years ago now.
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We need some Vikings in the current team.
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Awesome read !
Surely there could be a role for him at our club, he has the passion, desire and leadership qualities we are crying out for, understands the defensive role and has played for some top coaches. I wouldn't want to face him in the dressing room if i'd defended like a tosser - and Lambert et al are clearly failing in the defensive/motivation department.
True our collective squad is dire, and arguably our midfield frailty is exposing the defence to a degree that they see worse than they may actually be, however....
If he can't be part of the staff - then Martin, next time you get the urge - lace the boots, grab a shirt and muscle past Baker / Clark (wave to Dunne in the chippy on the way to the ground) and show them how it's done - would rather him on one leg than what we are showing at the moment.
Legend
UTV
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Martin Laursen is by far my favourite ex-Villa player of this generation. I really hope we get him signed in some professional capacity as he would most definitely help us. Perhaps a defensive coach position would suit him perfectly?
In terms of PL: he took a chance on a younger squad with inexperienced players from lower leagues - he clearly didn't get that right 100%. He now has two weeks left to sort that out, and if some of the (rumoured) players I've seen do come in then I think we'll be a much stronger side.
Fuck the negativity - yeah, the team are doing rubbish, every man and his dog can see that, but if you don't get behind the team now, when they most importantly need it, then we can start waving at the Prem from the lower division.
my sentiments to
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Him and God as a centre back pairing with Mellberg at left back.
Thou shalt not pass.
Matron.
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He's on twitter as of the other day.
@MartinLaursen5
quite clearly still has huge affection for the club.
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I love that man, typifies the lion on the crest. What we could do with a man of his stature in defence right now
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I love that man, typifies the lion on the crest. What we could do with a man of his stature in defence right now
Amen to that.
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Would still love him on tge coaching side at the back.
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I love that man, typifies the lion on the crest. What we could do with a man of his stature in defence right now
Man of his stature?! I'd be quite happy to see Martin Laursen in our defence now - aged whatever he is!
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I love that man, typifies the lion on the crest. What we could do with a man of his stature in defence right now
Man of his stature?! I'd be quite happy to see Martin Laursen in our defence now - aged whatever he is!
To be honest I'd be happy with George Curtis.......
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I love that man, typifies the lion on the crest. What we could do with a man of his stature in defence right now
Amen to that.
Had those Sopranos dvd's out again?