This one has got the stink of death about it.The one thing going for us we are battle hardened campaigners now. A bit like Wigan used to be until the inevitable happened.
No.
Bad start for sure but I feel that many are beating Sherwood with their frustration from the past few years.
If we keep the useless twat currently pretending to be manager in charge after the end of October yes.This.
If we can find someone with half an idea of how to do the job properly, no worries.
The way the fixtures bounced this season it's hard to ask for a more comfortable start.
Every single game on paper was winnable even Yah-nite-ed as 2nd game while Van Gaal was shuffling his pack.
We have been better to watch than last season and eveneasier to beat.
And what if you didn't support the Villa, what would you think.
I remember feeling very pleased to have relegated Coventry. Of course them making out we were arch rivals made it much funnier but also as we relegated them at about their 9th time of asking. They'd had it coming for years and they'd finally gone. Good riddance.
The law of averages would suggest that another relegation battle will be one too many, and the Club would've deserved it too. We've become Coventry.
My worry is that we only just stopped up with Benteke and Delph in the side and we've now lost both of them (plus Cleverley/Vlaar and Given) which can only mean one thing for me I'm afraid. The raft of players we signed with the money had no premiership experience - with the exception of Lescott, who quite frankly looks past it now, that spending spree smacked of desperation, and desperate is what we are.Do you genuinely believe the team and squad are worse than last season? Benteke and Delph were our best players last season but we still finished 17th with them.
My worry is that we only just stopped up with Benteke and Delph in the side and we've now lost both of them (plus Cleverley/Vlaar and Given) which can only mean one thing for me I'm afraid. The raft of players we signed with the money had no premiership experience - with the exception of Lescott, who quite frankly looks past it now, that spending spree smacked of desperation, and desperate is what we are.
six points less than after 7 games last season does tell its own story.My worry is that we only just stopped up with Benteke and Delph in the side and we've now lost both of them (plus Cleverley/Vlaar and Given) which can only mean one thing for me I'm afraid. The raft of players we signed with the money had no premiership experience - with the exception of Lescott, who quite frankly looks past it now, that spending spree smacked of desperation, and desperate is what we are.Do you genuinely believe the team and squad are worse than last season? Benteke and Delph were our best players last season but we still finished 17th with them.
six points less than after 7 games last season does tell its own story.My worry is that we only just stopped up with Benteke and Delph in the side and we've now lost both of them (plus Cleverley/Vlaar and Given) which can only mean one thing for me I'm afraid. The raft of players we signed with the money had no premiership experience - with the exception of Lescott, who quite frankly looks past it now, that spending spree smacked of desperation, and desperate is what we are.Do you genuinely believe the team and squad are worse than last season? Benteke and Delph were our best players last season but we still finished 17th with them.
You know there was once a time when I was never off this site, but over the last 5 years or so I have found myself gazing less at less at it, never mind contributing my opinions on it. I have oft wondered about the main reasons why a site that was the first thing I opened on my browser and my most visited site has become a side show; this weekend I think I got it. The simple fact of the matter is that Villa are my team and supporting them is my hobby. Over the last five years or so I have just not enjoyed my hobby any more; don’t get me wrong I still love football and have a season ticket (albeit at my local team), but the slow steady, grinding, decline of my club has just led me to fulfil my hobby in other quarters. Don’t get me wrong, I'm not making this comment to jump on the oft-trodden bandwagon of ‘reasons why it’s all sh** these days’ I'm just realizing why it is that our constant circling of the drain has led me to shrug my shoulders once more as we slide into the bottom three.
So as regards the question in hand, do I think this year will be the year, well it bloody well shouldn’t be, as in my opinion we’ve assembled the most exciting team I’ve seen in years. However the losing mentality is embedded deep in the club and I fear that this, combining with the absent owner, battle-weary fan base and air of apathy could finally be our downfall. It’s especially galling as I firmly believe that this side has real potential, but if I am honest the only thing that could re-spark my enthusiasm for my hobby once more would be to see my team winning again and an air of optimism to waft over the club. Going down would be a disaster (catastrophic I always maintained), but perhaps this is the only way to reset the club and reignite the passion of the hobby that many of us simply don’t enjoy much anymore.
Our momentum is downwards. Our Manager is clueless. Our first 11 is worse than last year and we only just survived. We have that nasty habit of defensive errors and no chance of a clean sheet.
WE are in the bottom 3 for a reason, we are a bottom 3 team. I think it is our year.
Yes, absolutely.Our momentum is downwards. Our Manager is clueless. Our first 11 is worse than last year and we only just survived. We have that nasty habit of defensive errors and no chance of a clean sheet.
WE are in the bottom 3 for a reason, we are a bottom 3 team. I think it is our year.
Worst 11 than last year? Really?
Yes, absolutely.Our momentum is downwards. Our Manager is clueless. Our first 11 is worse than last year and we only just survived. We have that nasty habit of defensive errors and no chance of a clean sheet.
WE are in the bottom 3 for a reason, we are a bottom 3 team. I think it is our year.
Worst 11 than last year? Really?
Is Guzan any better this year? he is worse, a goal a game.
Richards has replaced Vlaar, you think Richards better than Vlaar?
I know he had injury problems, but better?
Gana better than Delph?
Gestede better than Benteke?
Lescott better than Clark?
Vertout better than Cleverley?
Amavi is the only obvious improvement, Ayew for Weiman, maybe.
I think we have some players with potential, but I don't think we can field a better team thanYes, absolutely.Our momentum is downwards. Our Manager is clueless. Our first 11 is worse than last year and we only just survived. We have that nasty habit of defensive errors and no chance of a clean sheet.
WE are in the bottom 3 for a reason, we are a bottom 3 team. I think it is our year.
Worst 11 than last year? Really?
Is Guzan any better this year? he is worse, a goal a game.
Richards has replaced Vlaar, you think Richards better than Vlaar?
I know he had injury problems, but better?
Gana better than Delph?
Gestede better than Benteke?
Lescott better than Clark?
Vertout better than Cleverley?
Amavi is the only obvious improvement, Ayew for Weiman, maybe.
That's you opinion after 7 games. I'm happy to give them a bit longer.
It would be so nice one day to post in this thread, something we have yearly it seems, and the title refers to us winning the title, getting into the CL, winning the FA Cup. You know, something fucking nice and celebratory.
Spot on PaulWinch. And the FFP rules means there'll be no more Abramovich's coming along and buying the title, and the oligarchy is self perpetuating through the money from the Champions/Runners Up/Also Rans League. I sometimes wish they'd all just fuck off and form a European 'Super' League so the rest of us can carry on and compete for something
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Stats like that are daft though, as you can't compare across leagues.
Stats like that are daft though, as you can't compare across leagues.
But it gives you an idea that no one else has had to watch as many defeats, relentlessly. Which gives an idea as to why patience is pretty thin around here right now. Not that Villa are the worst team in England.
Yes and even then the 3 wins were against Blackburn Hull and Sheff Utd or something along those linesI agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Stats like that are daft though, as you can't compare across leagues.
what wouldn't I give to have three consecutive wins now!
I am fully confident we will stay up. I thought the first 10 games would be rough but as players got up to speed we would improve.
Ayew looked a different player the other night, Adama will cause teams problems as the season unfolds, we are playing more to Gestede's strength in the box now, Gana is back and will hopefully stay fit.
I'm thinking by the time we get to those Christmas games that were mentioned we will have a better idea of our strongest side and will be fully firing.
I also think we need to appreciate the defeats against everyone (including Man. U. and Liverpool) have only been by one goal. Surely too early to be talking sackings ?There's only been 1 goal in all of our wins (win) and losses in the league this season. Fine margins.
what wouldn't I give to have three consecutive wins now!
Three wins would feel like a long unbeaten run to me, I think I'd be walking round like I'd just shagged Angelina Jolie.
I'd be ecstatic with two in a row.
Two halfs of good football would be nice.In the same match
Two halfs of good football would be nice.In the same match
Now you're just being greedy.Two halfs of good football would be nice.In the same match
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
How the fucking hell do you even begin to find out stats like this? Are you Stephen Hawking in disguise?
I'd struggle to name the team that started last week.
Welcome Andy DufrainHow the fucking hell do you even begin to find out stats like this? Are you Stephen Hawking in disguise?
I'd struggle to name the team that started last week.
Time on my hands. Lots of time.
Welcome Andy DufrainHow the fucking hell do you even begin to find out stats like this? Are you Stephen Hawking in disguise?
I'd struggle to name the team that started last week.
Time on my hands. Lots of time.
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Right then, a little bit of number crunching for you.
Disclaimer: Its only statistics so take it with a pinch of salt!
By my reckoning, we have won 3 league games on the spin 190 times in our league history.
The longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
18/02/1939 - 15/11/1947 = 3192 Days
18/04/1914 - 10/11/1919 = 2032 Days
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 1983 Days and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 1113 Days
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 1097 Days
27/10/1888 - 05/09/1891 = 1043 Days
Or in terms of actual games, the longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 199 matches and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 130 matches
06/04/1985 - 05/12/1987 = 114 matches
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 113 matches
26/11/1934 - 27/02/1937 = 99 matches
Welcome Andy DufrainHow the fucking hell do you even begin to find out stats like this? Are you Stephen Hawking in disguise?
I'd struggle to name the team that started last week.
Time on my hands. Lots of time.
For what it's worth, I think we have a good strong squad this season and, although I was carried along with TS's original enthusiasm, at this moment in time, I don't think he has a clue how to pick or line up our best starting 11 or even to make the right subs at the right time. I honestly don't think I could have done any worse than Tim even they had paid me nothing for doing the job. What's the problem with a starting 11 of:-
Guzan
Hutton
Richards
Clark
Amavi
Traore
Veretout
Gil
Gueyre
Ayew
Sinclair
Subs:
Kozak, Grealish, Gestede, Bacuna & Westwood
I see plenty of options there and, I've probably missed 1 or 2 other obvious players out too. Playing Ayew and Sinclair as I think their pace would trouble defenders as well as Traore pushing forward and Amavi doing the same on our left hand side.
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Right then, a little bit of number crunching for you.
Disclaimer: Its only statistics so take it with a pinch of salt!
By my reckoning, we have won 3 league games on the spin 190 times in our league history.
The longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
18/02/1939 - 15/11/1947 = 3192 Days
18/04/1914 - 10/11/1919 = 2032 Days
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 1983 Days and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 1113 Days
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 1097 Days
27/10/1888 - 05/09/1891 = 1043 Days
Or in terms of actual games, the longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 199 matches and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 130 matches
06/04/1985 - 05/12/1987 = 114 matches
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 113 matches
26/11/1934 - 27/02/1937 = 99 matches
Welcome Andy DufrainHow the fucking hell do you even begin to find out stats like this? Are you Stephen Hawking in disguise?
I'd struggle to name the team that started last week.
Time on my hands. Lots of time.
Two halfs of good football would be nice.In the same match
Is this possible?
I'm so tired of having to consider this question season after season.Steak and kidney or Chicken Balti ? Tough one
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Right then, a little bit of number crunching for you.
Disclaimer: Its only statistics so take it with a pinch of salt!
By my reckoning, we have won 3 league games on the spin 190 times in our league history.
The longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
18/02/1939 - 15/11/1947 = 3192 Days
18/04/1914 - 10/11/1919 = 2032 Days
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 1983 Days and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 1113 Days
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 1097 Days
27/10/1888 - 05/09/1891 = 1043 Days
Or in terms of actual games, the longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 199 matches and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 130 matches
06/04/1985 - 05/12/1987 = 114 matches
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 113 matches
26/11/1934 - 27/02/1937 = 99 matches
Whats wrong with Kozak? Is he just not match fit or out of favour?
But, I am afraid that its this season it will happen, esp. when TS said that if we stay up we'll be stronger next year.
Something has to give at some point
This is a guy who had a few good seasons at lazio . He definitely deserves a run and is being treated very unfairly .Whats wrong with Kozak? Is he just not match fit or out of favour?
But, I am afraid that its this season it will happen, esp. when TS said that if we stay up we'll be stronger next year.
Something has to give at some point
The report I read re his performance for the u21s was not very positive. Perhaps he knows he has no chance whatever he does. I thought he was worth a go from his pre-season performances.
Sherwood has a few strange ideas like Bacuna at RB, Bombing out Gil and Kozak, Grealish on the wing, westwood on set pieces, I think it's called inexperience.
Whats wrong with Kozak? Is he just not match fit or out of favour?
But, I am afraid that its this season it will happen, esp. when TS said that if we stay up we'll be stronger next year.
Something has to give at some point
I agree, but when's the last time we got a few league wins on the spin? I'm thinking it's probably years. Not even in our decent run at the end of last season did we ever win more than two on the bounce.
April 2010 was the last time we won 3 league games in a row. Nearly 5 and a half years ago, fucking pathetic.
Right then, a little bit of number crunching for you.
Disclaimer: Its only statistics so take it with a pinch of salt!
By my reckoning, we have won 3 league games on the spin 190 times in our league history.
The longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
18/02/1939 - 15/11/1947 = 3192 Days
18/04/1914 - 10/11/1919 = 2032 Days
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 1983 Days and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 1113 Days
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 1097 Days
27/10/1888 - 05/09/1891 = 1043 Days
Or in terms of actual games, the longest gap between winning 3 leagues in a row is:
25/04/2010 - 29/09/2015 = 199 matches and counting
25/08/1962 - 11/09/1965 = 130 matches
06/04/1985 - 05/12/1987 = 114 matches
22/11/2004 - 24/11/2007 = 113 matches
26/11/1934 - 27/02/1937 = 99 matches
Over the next few weeks we should see that Gabby isn't an automatic starter given that we now have Traore, Sinclair and Gestede available. I can understand him playing for the first few games given the injuries and settling in new players, but if TS continues to pick him ahead of those 3 then its just another black mark against him in my book.Whats wrong with Kozak? Is he just not match fit or out of favour?
But, I am afraid that its this season it will happen, esp. when TS said that if we stay up we'll be stronger next year.
Something has to give at some point
With Gabby an automatic startrer, i think it's safe to say that now, there is no place for Kozak.
I suspect you'd better get that marker pen ready.Over the next few weeks we should see that Gabby isn't an automatic starter given that we now have Traore, Sinclair and Gestede available. I can understand him playing for the first few games given the injuries and settling in new players, but if TS continues to pick him ahead of those 3 then its just another black mark against him in my book.Whats wrong with Kozak? Is he just not match fit or out of favour?
But, I am afraid that its this season it will happen, esp. when TS said that if we stay up we'll be stronger next year.
Something has to give at some point
With Gabby an automatic startrer, i think it's safe to say that now, there is no place for Kozak.
If TS stays we get relegated. If he does then it can be turned around.
It is. I've already made preliminary arrangements with my Leeds mates for next season
I'm not too fussed to be honest this isn't fun at all, I'm sick of it
Having fun is a big assumption, I wouldn't bet on it and hope the club do everything they can to avoid relegation. I didn't anticipate our struggle would last this long with no end in sight, it's soul destroying.It is. I've already made preliminary arrangements with my Leeds mates for next season
I'm not too fussed to be honest this isn't fun at all, I'm sick of it
thats how I feel now. we are well established as one of the worst teams in the league and not sure how it can be turned round with lerner. At least wed have some fun down there
The most depressing thing is this is a decent squad now, that could actually take us forward. Some of the players are excellent, but the team set up each week is mystifying.
Get Allardyce in on Monday. Sherwood is a cock taking us down.I'm no fan of Big Sam but he will get the Sundeland job next week and then that's one of our rivals removed from the relegation mix.
The table doesn't lie. Sherwood needs his P45 ASAP.
Get Allardyce in on Monday. Sherwood is a cock taking us down.I'm no fan of Big Sam but he will get the Sundeland job next week and then that's one of our rivals removed from the relegation mix.
Get Allardyce in on Monday. Sherwood is a cock taking us down.I'm no fan of Big Sam but he will get the Sundeland job next week and then that's one of our rivals removed from the relegation mix.
Rodgers?Get Allardyce in on Monday. Sherwood is a cock taking us down.I'm no fan of Big Sam but he will get the Sundeland job next week and then that's one of our rivals removed from the relegation mix.
Whos left ?
Pearson or Lambert
Before yesterday I was of the view that a decent manager could comfortably get our group of players into mid table.Completely agree, but getting the most out of what we have is the first priority.
I'm not as confident anymore - Gueye, Veretout, Ayew, Grealish, Sinclair,Gestede and Gil were all given decent game time yesterday against a limited Stoke side. Aside from Traore that's all our attacking options really and we aren't going to score too many goals this season I fear with that lot even with the introduction of a competent manager.
I think we're doomed unfortunately. Too weak mentally and physically. Ironically, Sherwood has brought in players who are more capable of playing football but we need scrappers who are willing to die for the cause. Which of the senior players is going to inspire the others, take some responsibility, lead by example? Maybe Micah Richards but that's at a push. Sherwood commented that he was looking for men to come out of the woodwork - his transfer policy of recruiting young foreign prospects is now looking brave but foolhardy.That's bolx to be fair. We just need a manager who knows what he's doing so the players can play football the way they know they can. Under the right leadership and with the right management, this team can put in performances and get results...its just at the moment they dont have any direction or a manager who knows which way to point them.
Rodgers?Get Allardyce in on Monday. Sherwood is a cock taking us down.I'm no fan of Big Sam but he will get the Sundeland job next week and then that's one of our rivals removed from the relegation mix.
Yes to Rodgers though he show gestede and kozak the door
Whos left ?
Pearson or Lambert
If we stay up it will be how we always stay up, find three teams.
If Newcastle and Sunderland remain crap all season we only need to find one more. Maybe Bournemouth.
If we stay up it will be how we always stay up, find three teams.
If Newcastle and Sunderland remain crap all season we only need to find one more. Maybe Bournemouth.
The only team that we or Sterk had beaten in the PL before last Saturday was Bournemouth.
I just had a look on Oddschecker and every bookmaker has us odds on to drop along with only Sunderland.
It would be interesting to see how the bottom three at this stage of previous seasons compares to the final placings.
Increasingly beginning to feel like it, sorry but I don't do blind faith or mindless optimism.
Increasingly beginning to feel like it, sorry but I don't do blind faith or mindless optimism.I do
Sunderland, Aston Villa and Bournemouth forecast for relegation by Premier League supercomputer – while Newcastle predicted for narrow survival
Sunderland will finish bottom of the table and spend next season in the Championship, according to a supercomputer.
The team at sports software firm Stats.com have used their expertise to calculate an estimated final Premier League table for the 2015/2016 season, putting Sunderland at rock bottom with 32 points.
Newcastle are predicted to survive by a narrow margin, however, with 38 points – enough to put them into 15th place on goal difference.
Aston Villa are tipped to come 19th with 34 points, and Bournemouth 18th with 36 points.
Manchester City are predicted to finish top with 80 points, Arsenal second with 78 points, and Manchester United third with 75 points.
The prediction comes at an already grim time for Sunderland fans, as the search continues to find a new manager after the resignation of Dick Advocaat.
The club currently sit second bottom, one place ahead of Newcastle.
Computer says yes.
The Shields Gazette (http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/local-news/sunderland-aston-villa-and-bournemouth-forecast-for-relegation-by-premier-league-supercomputer-while-newcastle-predicted-for-narrow-survival-1-7503411)QuoteSunderland, Aston Villa and Bournemouth forecast for relegation by Premier League supercomputer – while Newcastle predicted for narrow survival
Sunderland will finish bottom of the table and spend next season in the Championship, according to a supercomputer.
The team at sports software firm Stats.com have used their expertise to calculate an estimated final Premier League table for the 2015/2016 season, putting Sunderland at rock bottom with 32 points.
Newcastle are predicted to survive by a narrow margin, however, with 38 points – enough to put them into 15th place on goal difference.
Aston Villa are tipped to come 19th with 34 points, and Bournemouth 18th with 36 points.
Manchester City are predicted to finish top with 80 points, Arsenal second with 78 points, and Manchester United third with 75 points.
The prediction comes at an already grim time for Sunderland fans, as the search continues to find a new manager after the resignation of Dick Advocaat.
The club currently sit second bottom, one place ahead of Newcastle.
I don't believe in supercomputers, but I do believe in bookmakers
Sunderland 28 / Villa 34 / Newcastle 38
Bournemouth, Norwich, WBA 40
Watford & stoke 42
We can turn this around but will need to enter the market again in January. Equally, Sherwood needs to find and settle on a team and formation sharpish. Sadly though, he has no experience of this sort of trouble and is looking out of his depth. I liked his openness and honesty when he got here but now it just sounds like excuses and him trying to distance himself from the poor displays. I think he'll get 20 games.
Jesus, if those predictions are accurate we'd be relegated with a few games to spare too.
If we lose against Chelsea and Swansea he is going to be under all kinds of pressure.If we lose against Chelsea and Swansea I hope the only pressure he's going to be under is finding out if Pickfords can pick up all of his junk from Bodymore inside 24 hrs.
If we lose against Chelsea and Swansea he is going to be under all kinds of pressure.I think it's when not if.
If we lose against Chelsea and Swansea he is going to be under all kinds of pressure.I think it's when not if.
Before long we are going to be needing snookers.
Is Cliff Thorburn available?
Before long we are going to be needing snookers.
Is Cliff Thorburn available?
Cliff Thorbun is primarily a snook...ex snooker player, and as such is an unknown quantity.
Before long we are going to be needing snookers.
Is Cliff Thorburn available?
Cliff Thorbun is primarily a snook...ex snooker player, and as such is an unknown quantity.
Yeah, but he's not under a cow.
Before long we are going to be needing snookers.
Is Cliff Thorburn available?
Cliff Thorbun is primarily a snook...ex snooker player, and as such is an unknown quantity.
Yeah, but he's not under a cow.
Plus if he goes AWOL, we're up Slack Alley.
Actually, neither do I, I tend to go for realism - and the current reality is we're certs for it if this carries on.Increasingly beginning to feel like it, sorry but I don't do blind faith or mindless optimism.
I don't do pessimism.
It's looking very ominous but the only 'certainty' is that if Sherwood stays we are sunk. A change of manager would give us a chance of staying up.Along with a decent striker in January . So new manager and a goal scorer in Jan is the very minimum we need .
It's looking very ominous but the only 'certainty' is that if Sherwood stays we are sunk. A change of manager would give us a chance of staying up.
We're in a death spiral. There's an air of inevitability about it this season.
January? We will be relegated by December at current rate.It's looking very ominous but the only 'certainty' is that if Sherwood stays we are sunk. A change of manager would give us a chance of staying up.Along with a decent striker in January . So new manager and a goal scorer in Jan is the very minimum we need .
It's looking very ominous but the only 'certainty' is that if Sherwood stays we are sunk. A change of manager would give us a chance of staying up.
So who is this saviour?
It's looking very ominous but the only 'certainty' is that if Sherwood stays we are sunk. A change of manager would give us a chance of staying up.Along with a decent striker in January . So new manager and a goal scorer in Jan is the very minimum we need .
I'm just totally fed up of the whole shower this once great club has become. I said after the Stoke game that I'll always love Aston Villa, but that after 27 years, it may be time to think about finding something else to do on a Saturday.
I have a lot of things going on in my life at the moment. Do I really want to continue throwing money at a club that is content to do the bare minimum needed to stay in the league? Many other I know have done the same thing and drifted away, never to be tempted back. Its not just a case of "string some wins together and they'll all come rushing back". People get out of the habit of going, and given what's happened since August 2010, why should people get back into the habit. I'm talking about fans who were far more hard-core than I am. Fans who travelled all over the country an Europe to watch us yet now don't even bother with home games. A lot of people simply don't have the spare cash anymore to pay for tickets, travel and food at grounds (most of which are a rip-off anyway).
I have a job where things are tough and circumstances dictate that so many of us there are not happy, but know that not being employed won't pay the bills. I go to football (and other sports I watch) to be entertained and to be happy, I go to work to be miserable, why should I have to feel the same watching the current players and staff going through the motions?
Just feeling very sad that it has all come to this.
I'm hoping I'll be able to improve my seat if you all don't renew next season.
Even a new manager coming in, I just don't see enough goal threat in this team.
We will have to panic spend on a new striker in January.
I'm hoping I'll be able to improve my seat if you all don't renew next season.
You may well be on the Subs bench mate.
Absolute disgrace that Benteke wasn't properly replaced in the summer.
Whoever made the decision .Absolute disgrace that Benteke wasn't properly replaced in the summer.
By whom?
Absolute disgrace that Benteke wasn't properly replaced in the summer.
By whom?
We're nailed on for relegation. 4 pts after 9 games with our next handful of games unlikely to yield much more than further embarrassment. We'll be marooned by the time Christmas parties get started and unable to attract decent players in the next transfer window. Once we're down no-one will fancy joining us either. I blame a combination of Lerner, Lambert and now Sherwood. To describe our last five years as an omnishambles wouldn't do it justice. Precedents have been set (Leeds, Forest, Sheff Wed) and we're next on the conveyor belt. I could weep.
I'm just totally fed up of the whole shower this once great club has become. I said after the Stoke game that I'll always love Aston Villa, but that after 27 years, it may be time to think about finding something else to do on a Saturday.
I have a lot of things going on in my life at the moment. Do I really want to continue throwing money at a club that is content to do the bare minimum needed to stay in the league? Many other I know have done the same thing and drifted away, never to be tempted back. Its not just a case of "string some wins together and they'll all come rushing back". People get out of the habit of going, and given what's happened since August 2010, why should people get back into the habit. I'm talking about fans who were far more hard-core than I am. Fans who travelled all over the country an Europe to watch us yet now don't even bother with home games. A lot of people simply don't have the spare cash anymore to pay for tickets, travel and food at grounds (most of which are a rip-off anyway).
I have a job where things are tough and circumstances dictate that so many of us there are not happy, but know that not being employed won't pay the bills. I go to football (and other sports I watch) to be entertained and to be happy, I go to work to be miserable, why should I have to feel the same watching the current players and staff going through the motions?
Just feeling very sad that it has all come to this.
We're nailed on for relegation. 4 pts after 9 games with our next handful of games unlikely to yield much more than further embarrassment. We'll be marooned by the time Christmas parties get started and unable to attract decent players in the next transfer window. Once we're down no-one will fancy joining us either. I blame a combination of Lerner, Lambert and now Sherwood. To describe our last five years as an omnishambles wouldn't do it justice. Precedents have been set (Leeds, Forest, Sheff Wed) and we're next on the conveyor belt. I could weep.
And yet there is no reason on earth we should be in this position... just desperately poor management. Everton are a shining example of how an owner who doesn't really want to be one keeps the ship going forward despite his difficult situation.
Even a new manager coming in, I just don't see enough goal threat in this team.
We will have to panic spend on a new striker in January.
Even a new manager coming in, I just don't see enough goal threat in this team.
We will have to panic spend on a new striker in January.
Circa Darren Bent 2011
I'm just totally fed up of the whole shower this once great club has become. I said after the Stoke game that I'll always love Aston Villa, but that after 27 years, it may be time to think about finding something else to do on a Saturday.
I have a lot of things going on in my life at the moment. Do I really want to continue throwing money at a club that is content to do the bare minimum needed to stay in the league? Many other I know have done the same thing and drifted away, never to be tempted back. Its not just a case of "string some wins together and they'll all come rushing back". People get out of the habit of going, and given what's happened since August 2010, why should people get back into the habit. I'm talking about fans who were far more hard-core than I am. Fans who travelled all over the country an Europe to watch us yet now don't even bother with home games. A lot of people simply don't have the spare cash anymore to pay for tickets, travel and food at grounds (most of which are a rip-off anyway).
I have a job where things are tough and circumstances dictate that so many of us there are not happy, but know that not being employed won't pay the bills. I go to football (and other sports I watch) to be entertained and to be happy, I go to work to be miserable, why should I have to feel the same watching the current players and staff going through the motions?
Just feeling very sad that it has all come to this.
I feel your pain. I feel the same
However, I do think people would come back at rhe sign of a decent side. I gave up my ST 3 years ago but would renew at the first sign of some stability and of having people at the club who were going to make us successful.
We may stay up this season, with a new manager, but without a change if ownership we will continue to be mediocre
I sympathise completely. I can't afford to go to the football often due to career change and am already rapidly falling out of love with football. The last thing I want is for the club I love to be the thing that eventually drives me away. I can take defeat, I can take relegation, I can't take the negativity and shot that we repeatedly have to put up with.I'm just totally fed up of the whole shower this once great club has become. I said after the Stoke game that I'll always love Aston Villa, but that after 27 years, it may be time to think about finding something else to do on a Saturday.
I have a lot of things going on in my life at the moment. Do I really want to continue throwing money at a club that is content to do the bare minimum needed to stay in the league? Many other I know have done the same thing and drifted away, never to be tempted back. Its not just a case of "string some wins together and they'll all come rushing back". People get out of the habit of going, and given what's happened since August 2010, why should people get back into the habit. I'm talking about fans who were far more hard-core than I am. Fans who travelled all over the country an Europe to watch us yet now don't even bother with home games. A lot of people simply don't have the spare cash anymore to pay for tickets, travel and food at grounds (most of which are a rip-off anyway).
I have a job where things are tough and circumstances dictate that so many of us there are not happy, but know that not being employed won't pay the bills. I go to football (and other sports I watch) to be entertained and to be happy, I go to work to be miserable, why should I have to feel the same watching the current players and staff going through the motions?
Just feeling very sad that it has all come to this.
I feel your pain. I feel the same
However, I do think people would come back at rhe sign of a decent side. I gave up my ST 3 years ago but would renew at the first sign of some stability and of having people at the club who were going to make us successful.
We may stay up this season, with a new manager, but without a change if ownership we will continue to be mediocre
Same here. I'd love to renew and take my lad but am sick of the club at the minute. The team is so soft and gutless and there's no passion or fight. I've had so many depressing days watching villa in the last 5 years I've lost all faith. The majority of the management and players don't seem to understand the club and I can't relate to any of them either.
When we went down last time , we got such a lucky break that Sir Graham came along arrested the slide , refreshed the club and got us back immediately.
We won't be so lucky again I fear.
if we go down we are finished as a club see leeds, wednesday and forest.
if we go down we are finished as a club see leeds, wednesday and forest.
I'm pretty sure all three of those teams are still going.
if we go down we are finished as a club see leeds, wednesday and forest.
I'm pretty sure all three of those teams are still going.
Yeah.
The problem is, they're still going, but like them, we'd be like Ray Liotta at the end of Goodfellas, picking his paper up off the drive in his dressing gown, eeking out the rest of his life like a shnook
They aren't nothing, they are fine football clubs with plenty of devoted fans. I'm sure there was a time when said fans thought the same as you do, that their club should never be outside the top division and should be up their challenging for trophies, but no club has ever had a divine right to glory, especially one which was last anywhere near the best in the country over 30 years ago and last dominated football when Victoria was still on the throne.
If this IS the season then so be it, fuck 'em, we will still be Aston Villa, and you'll still be supporting a fantastic club, won't you?
If we went down there is zero guarantee we'd come back up straight away. But comparing us to Leeds, Forest and Sheff Weds is tosh imo. None of those 3 are a patch on us size wise, 2 of them went down due to debt not just because they were shite. And the other was soon totally fucked financially. 2 of them are considered big because they got lucky with a manager that accounts for nearly everything they've won, before that manager they were regularly outside the top flight, after that manager they were regularly outside the top flight.So if/when we go down would we be considered the BIGGEST club to ever be relegated from the EPL ??
Not by GeordiesIf we went down there is zero guarantee we'd come back up straight away. But comparing us to Leeds, Forest and Sheff Weds is tosh imo. None of those 3 are a patch on us size wise, 2 of them went down due to debt not just because they were shite. And the other was soon totally fucked financially. 2 of them are considered big because they got lucky with a manager that accounts for nearly everything they've won, before that manager they were regularly outside the top flight, after that manager they were regularly outside the top flight.So if/when we go down would we be considered the BIGGEST club to ever be relegated from the EPL ??
Have they won the European Cup ?Not by GeordiesIf we went down there is zero guarantee we'd come back up straight away. But comparing us to Leeds, Forest and Sheff Weds is tosh imo. None of those 3 are a patch on us size wise, 2 of them went down due to debt not just because they were shite. And the other was soon totally fucked financially. 2 of them are considered big because they got lucky with a manager that accounts for nearly everything they've won, before that manager they were regularly outside the top flight, after that manager they were regularly outside the top flight.So if/when we go down would we be considered the BIGGEST club to ever be relegated from the EPL ??
No but they have named thier Ground after a CHAV Clothes emporiumHave they won the European Cup ?Not by GeordiesIf we went down there is zero guarantee we'd come back up straight away. But comparing us to Leeds, Forest and Sheff Weds is tosh imo. None of those 3 are a patch on us size wise, 2 of them went down due to debt not just because they were shite. And the other was soon totally fucked financially. 2 of them are considered big because they got lucky with a manager that accounts for nearly everything they've won, before that manager they were regularly outside the top flight, after that manager they were regularly outside the top flight.So if/when we go down would we be considered the BIGGEST club to ever be relegated from the EPL ??
I'm beginning to think that if the unthinkable does happen - and it's looking increasingly likely - it may actually be a good thing in some respects, the clubs value should plummet which would force RL to lower his asking price, which may hopefully trigger a few serious bids for the club. Treading water like this is becoming embarrassing for all concerned, a change of direction and thinking may be what's needed.
I hope you have all noticed that this week all promoted teams got a right good hammering. This is due to early season enthusiasm and energetic effort wearing out and other teams working them out. You will see a steady decline for them towards the relegation spots. We have to make sure we don't stand in their way.Good point. Those 6 games ( 1 won already ) will be our cup finals, win them all its 18 points, circa half way to safety.
Absolutely, but we're not exactly beating off suitors with a stick and somethings going to give eventually - probably our Premiership place by the look of it, I'm just looking for a silver lining to "that long black cloud that's comin' down" (with apologies to Robert Zimmerman)I'm beginning to think that if the unthinkable does happen - and it's looking increasingly likely - it may actually be a good thing in some respects, the clubs value should plummet which would force RL to lower his asking price, which may hopefully trigger a few serious bids for the club. Treading water like this is becoming embarrassing for all concerned, a change of direction and thinking may be what's needed.
The flip side of that is that if the club'a value is low enough the likes of the richest hairdresser in Hong Kong get tempted.
It sure as hell isn't great having Randy as owner, but the recent to medium term history of that lot and Wolves, not to mention several other clubs around the country show how wrong it can go when you've got an owner who wants out at any price.
This year is different. I can't think of one reason why we will stay up and I can't think of one team more likely to drop than us. As far as I'm concerned we have zero chance of staying up and it's just a case of waiting to have it confirmed.I can think of two reasons why we won't: Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke.
It's looking very much like we'll really struggle if Sherwood stays. However as I said on the Other Games thread, 37-39 points normally keeps you up, that means we need 33-35 points from 29 games to stay up. With a manager in charge that knows what he's doing that's not exactly difficult.You're talking over 1 point a game average. Not a hope.
He did say with a manager in charge who knows what he is doing, that's not Sherwood.It's looking very much like we'll really struggle if Sherwood stays. However as I said on the Other Games thread, 37-39 points normally keeps you up, that means we need 33-35 points from 29 games to stay up. With a manager in charge that knows what he's doing that's not exactly difficult.You're talking over 1 point a game average. Not a hope.
We are now averaging about 0.3 per game.
You genuinely don't believe another manager can get this squad getting just over a point a game? You seem to be basing your reply on Sherwood, which isn't what I said.
You genuinely don't believe another manager can get this squad getting just over a point a game? You seem to be basing your reply on Sherwood, which isn't what I said.
didnt tim average 1+ last season? Whilst his win record is shite its surprising how few games he draws
You genuinely don't believe another manager can get this squad getting just over a point a game? You seem to be basing your reply on Sherwood, which isn't what I said.
didnt tim average 1+ last season? Whilst his win record is shite its surprising how few games he draws
Its not because he's like Ardiles, all or nothing
You genuinely don't believe another manager can get this squad getting just over a point a game? You seem to be basing your reply on Sherwood, which isn't what I said.
didnt tim average 1+ last season? Whilst his win record is shite its surprising how few games he draws
Its not because he's like Ardiles, all or nothing
Unfortunately with added nothing.
It will only take 2 games to get out of the bottom 3. We are nowhere near gone. As long as we get rid of Sherwood and bring in someone that actually has the slightest clue what they are doing.
It will only take 2 games to get out of the bottom 3. We are nowhere near gone. As long as we get rid of Sherwood and bring in someone that actually has the slightest clue what they are doing.
I agree.
It is fucking grim but there are so many points to play for, we are nothing like done for.
Unless we leave this clueless fuck in charge, in which case that's it.
I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
lets hope you are right mate, and they have to do it now to give it a chance.we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
I agree.
I just don't think it will take a huge change to do a shit load better.
lets hope you are right mate, and they have to do it now to give it a chance.we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
I agree.
I just don't think it will take a huge change to do a shit load better.
we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
I agree.
I just don't think it will take a huge change to do a shit load better.
we are going to have to do a shit load better, because we have allready used a lot of easier games up, the confidence is shot, we dont have a natural goal scorer, the goalkeeper is a basket case and the defence is porous.I really do not know what it would take to get this team and club turned around, you are looking at something like Graham Taylors impact all those years ago.
Honestly, I don't think we need anything like that much of a change.
We look like a team capable of winning matches but shackled by a manager who is just making it up as he goes along. Take the manager away and we will do much better.
I agree.
I just don't think it will take a huge change to do a shit load better.
It's looked like Stoke, Swansea and Sunderland all bought less than they usually do this season, I reckon in part due to it's £40+ for away fans at VP this season. Loads of empty seats in the upper tier of the away end today.
It will be interesting to see how Sunderland get on after today, as I think they have easily the poorest group of players in the league.And they still took a draw off us AND scored twice.
Re is this the season whenever we hit rock bottom I try to find some stats to give myself something to cling to, after the good 4 game start last season we then went on a horror run getting 2 points from the next 10 games, we then won 2 on the bounce but then took 2 points from the next 12 games (TWELVE) and yet still stopped up, I know we had Benteke and Delph but it gives me a glimmer of hope that we might, just might make it.
Bournemouth and Norwich are doing their best to get into the bottom 3 so there's hope for us yet.
I think just picking up a couple of points from draws and stopping the rot would do wonders for confidence within the team. It might not immediately make our position any prettier, but you have to start somewhere. If we could pull a win out of that run that would be a bonus.Bournemouth and Norwich are doing their best to get into the bottom 3 so there's hope for us yet.
Agree, plus Sundcastle arent going anywhere
We need to get points from the next three games though, Spurs (a), Man City (h) and Everton (a).
Need to get on 16 pts min by the turn of the year for me.....So 12 points from - looks tough ask I can see 8 max which will have us on 12 points going into January . Jesus.
I just hope we get past the 11 points that Derby managed.
After last night, I'd say we're struggling to get that many.
" do you want to bet against us"yes
Oh the optimismi don't have any,I am with Richard Moore comment above ,a bunch of average players with a dodgy goalkeeper and no goal scorer, I think we could be adrft by January.
Oh the optimismi don't have any,I am with Richard Moore comment above ,a bunch of average players with a dodgy goalkeeper and no goal scorer, I think we could be adrft by January.
It's the hope that kills you.
Need to get on 16 pts min by the turn of the year for me.....
seems our Haloween will continue to may then.
I have seen the likes of Sunderland, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Norwich, I think we are slightly less crap than three of them (fingers crossed). My big worry is who will score the goals, we have a decent squad otherwise.
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
Why would Rodgers, pardew or hughes consider us? We're too much of a risk for them. We're cut adrift at the bottom of the league if you havent noticed
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
If Remi can save us from where we are now i'll believe in the second coming.This. I just think there is far too much to do for him and I'm really beginning to feel there's a rift in the team especially after KMAcs selection- loves the Villa my arse If he hasn't got his marching orders tomorrow I'll be pissed off.
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
Why would Rodgers, pardew or hughes consider us? We're too much of a risk for them. We're cut adrift at the bottom of the league if you havent noticed
Behave. Pardew joined Palace when they were in the relegation zone, Hughes is at Stoke, and Rodgers is out of a job. I'd say all three would quite happily have taken the £2m a year salary (assuming we still pay the same as TSM got).
Long term, Remi Garde may work (if he's given the time and he's good enough) and his record at Lyon is really impressive but it's the wrong man at the wrong time for me.So who (available) would you have gone for?
What does 'available' even mean? A club of our stature shouldn't just be fishing around for the unemployed and/or unemployable. I'd have put a significant amount of effort in to getting Moyes - the club may have done so but we'll never know.
Failing that I'd have spoken to Rodgers. Given the mess that our club appears to be behind the scenes I'd have even considered the likes of Alan Pardew or Mark Hughes.
As it is we've gone with yet another massive gamble. If you keep gambling eventually you're going to lose.
Why would Rodgers, pardew or hughes consider us? We're too much of a risk for them. We're cut adrift at the bottom of the league if you havent noticed
Behave. Pardew joined Palace when they were in the relegation zone, Hughes is at Stoke, and Rodgers is out of a job. I'd say all three would quite happily have taken the £2m a year salary (assuming we still pay the same as TSM got).
Id say bollocks. Pardew was only too happy to get out of toon to go back to his old club. Stoke are a well run club and Rodgers still has some credibility but wouldn't risk it here.
We may be a big club but we're no longer attractive to decent managers or players.
Richardson, Gabby, Guzan Bacuna Westwood Clark Hutton sanchez Lescott Gestede are Championship level at best.
Then you have Ayew Gana Vertout Grealish that have potential but still lack the ability to play at this level consistantly.
i think that leaves Richards Gil and Okore from the first team that are good enough, that is the size of the problem.
How are you able to qualify those comments? That those players cannot play consistently at this level, when they're not even gone the opportunity to play at this level. Ayew has picked up the pace of the league and looks dangerous. He played well against Swansea, yet was dropped.Amavi cant defend, Gana goes walkabout Ayew keeps getting caught in posession.
Veretout hasn't started a game since August as he was the subject of dim Tim's anger.
Amavi can put a cross onto a sixpence and has electric pace, yet he doesn't feature at full back because he might drop the odd mistake. And Richardson, who drops as many if not more, plays and offers nothing going forwards.
Gana is our best midfielder. He looks better than Delph, as he can actually control the ball while running with it, yet because dim Tim had him isolated in a two against Swansea and an error ensued, he doesn't feature.
Keep picking the shit that we are and we will drop, no mistake.
I am pretty sure that most people would agree on the best 11 or be close to it. We dont see the players train or thier attitude around the club.Even with our best 11 out there we still have a poor goalkeeper and no goal scorer no defensive midfielder and fullbacks with limitations.Richardson, Gabby, Guzan Bacuna Westwood Clark Hutton sanchez Lescott Gestede are Championship level at best.
Then you have Ayew Gana Vertout Grealish that have potential but still lack the ability to play at this level consistantly.
i think that leaves Richards Gil and Okore from the first team that are good enough, that is the size of the problem.
So why on another thread are you saying that team selection has nothing to do with the problem it when five of the seven people that you think might be good enough were left out yesterday for seemingly no reason, and nine of the ten that you think aren't good enough all started?
How are you able to qualify those comments? That those players cannot play consistently at this level, when they're not even gone the opportunity to play at this level. Ayew has picked up the pace of the league and looks dangerous. He played well against Swansea, yet was dropped.Amavi cant defend, Gana goes walkabout Ayew keeps getting caught in posession.
Veretout hasn't started a game since August as he was the subject of dim Tim's anger.
Amavi can put a cross onto a sixpence and has electric pace, yet he doesn't feature at full back because he might drop the odd mistake. And Richardson, who drops as many if not more, plays and offers nothing going forwards.
Gana is our best midfielder. He looks better than Delph, as he can actually control the ball while running with it, yet because dim Tim had him isolated in a two against Swansea and an error ensued, he doesn't feature.
Keep picking the shit that we are and we will drop, no mistake.
We can keep believing these players are better than they are, our league position and induividual performances tell you the truth.
Richardson, Gabby, Guzan Bacuna Westwood Clark Hutton sanchez Lescott Gestede are Championship level at best.
Then you have Ayew Gana Vertout Grealish that have potential but still lack the ability to play at this level consistantly.
i think that leaves Richards Gil and Okore from the first team that are good enough, that is the size of the problem.
I have heard a few times on here of late that we once more need to spend big on a striker in January, but given our plight and the seemingly hopeless task that Garde has on his hands you really do have to wonder if to spend any more would be to throw more money at an unsolvable problem. We were incapable of even doing the basics right last night and whatever is said of the lineup, there was enough experience in the first 11 to at least be able to organize themselves. It was once said to me that one of the biggest problems at Villa is that players who play for us know that they can eke out a good career without really raising their game above cruising speed; it’s a nice living for non-ambitious Premiership footballers. The culture is so ingrained at the club that I wonder if only a seismic event will remove it, like relegation for instance. So I ask myself if Fox (let’s not even pretend Lerner cares) has already worked out the risk and is planning for a relegation scenario and an opportunity to move on a large chunk of our team, who are happy to cruise along. If this indeed the case, there is no way in hell we will spend any money in January and as long as we don’t emulate Derby’s infamous low points total, Garde will be the man who will rebuild the club next season from the Championship.
Richardson, Gabby, Guzan Bacuna Westwood Clark Hutton sanchez Lescott Gestede are Championship level at best.
Then you have Ayew Gana Vertout Grealish that have potential but still lack the ability to play at this level consistantly.
i think that leaves Richards Gil and Okore from the first team that are good enough, that is the size of the problem.
I have heard a few times on here of late that we once more need to spend big on a striker in January, but given our plight and the seemingly hopeless task that Garde has on his hands you really do have to wonder if to spend any more would be to throw more money at an unsolvable problem. We were incapable of even doing the basics right last night and whatever is said of the lineup, there was enough experience in the first 11 to at least be able to organize themselves. It was once said to me that one of the biggest problems at Villa is that players who play for us know that they can eke out a good career without really raising their game above cruising speed; it’s a nice living for non-ambitious Premiership footballers. The culture is so ingrained at the club that I wonder if only a seismic event will remove it, like relegation for instance. So I ask myself if Fox (let’s not even pretend Lerner cares) has already worked out the risk and is planning for a relegation scenario and an opportunity to move on a large chunk of our team, who are happy to cruise along. If this indeed the case, there is no way in hell we will spend any money in January and as long as we don’t emulate Derby’s infamous low points total, Garde will be the man who will rebuild the club next season from the Championship.
For pity's sake man, we're 4 points adrift with 23 games remaining, and a new manager at the helm.
We may be only 4 points adrift, but it's taken 11 games to get them! After what I've been watching for the past couple of months it could be another 11 before we get some more.I have heard a few times on here of late that we once more need to spend big on a striker in January, but given our plight and the seemingly hopeless task that Garde has on his hands you really do have to wonder if to spend any more would be to throw more money at an unsolvable problem. We were incapable of even doing the basics right last night and whatever is said of the lineup, there was enough experience in the first 11 to at least be able to organize themselves. It was once said to me that one of the biggest problems at Villa is that players who play for us know that they can eke out a good career without really raising their game above cruising speed; it’s a nice living for non-ambitious Premiership footballers. The culture is so ingrained at the club that I wonder if only a seismic event will remove it, like relegation for instance. So I ask myself if Fox (let’s not even pretend Lerner cares) has already worked out the risk and is planning for a relegation scenario and an opportunity to move on a large chunk of our team, who are happy to cruise along. If this indeed the case, there is no way in hell we will spend any money in January and as long as we don’t emulate Derby’s infamous low points total, Garde will be the man who will rebuild the club next season from the Championship.
For pity's sake man, we're 4 points adrift with 23 games remaining, and a new manager at the helm.
Might be worth the expense of taking the First team squad and the best of the U21s away to a training camp abroad for a "mini pre-season" in decent weather during the international break that is coming up.
This would allow Garde, Duverne, and any other new support staff to assess players, provide intensive training and fitness regimes, together with tactics and formations. A lot of work for Garde and his assistants in that break.
Short term objective must be to stay in touch with the pack at the bottom of the table until the New Year. Then, hopefully with a settled team and a couple of quality signings kick on from there to get out of trouble.
I have heard a few times on here of late that we once more need to spend big on a striker in January, but given our plight and the seemingly hopeless task that Garde has on his hands you really do have to wonder if to spend any more would be to throw more money at an unsolvable problem. We were incapable of even doing the basics right last night and whatever is said of the lineup, there was enough experience in the first 11 to at least be able to organize themselves. It was once said to me that one of the biggest problems at Villa is that players who play for us know that they can eke out a good career without really raising their game above cruising speed; it’s a nice living for non-ambitious Premiership footballers. The culture is so ingrained at the club that I wonder if only a seismic event will remove it, like relegation for instance. So I ask myself if Fox (let’s not even pretend Lerner cares) has already worked out the risk and is planning for a relegation scenario and an opportunity to move on a large chunk of our team, who are happy to cruise along. If this indeed the case, there is no way in hell we will spend any money in January and as long as we don’t emulate Derby’s infamous low points total, Garde will be the man who will rebuild the club next season from the Championship.
For pity's sake man, we're 4 points adrift with 23 gamees remaining, and a new manager at the helm.
Penny dropped this morning that we need to win nearly 50% of remaining games to get to 40 pts.
Penny dropped this morning that we need to win nearly 50% of remaining games to get to 40 pts.Surely win 9, draw 9 and lose 9 would do it?
To get to 40 points from here we basically need a run that is equivalent to gaining 48 points from a 38 game season. I doubt anybody thought that was beyond us from this point.
However, you should be able to lose at most 18 games over the season and be safe, and we've lost that number already.
So I think it comes down to whether we are actually massively underperforming, or if the results we've had so far reflects our actual level.
To get to 40 points from here...
Another shocking record to add to the list. We must be first club in history to lose 18 of our first 11 games. Everyone out!!!Bloody hell, that's disgraceful.
Wanksey on WM in between having digs at Villa mentioned that when Pulis turned up at Palace they had 4 points from 11 games but stayed up easily in the end in 11th place with 45 points winning 12 out of 27 games and this gives me a glimmer of hope, from what I remember he kind of just let them loose rather than adopting his usual sterile negative way of setting up his teams, I have had a look at that Palace squad and in my opinion it was no stronger than our current set of players.
Things look desperate and we are all drained and deflated but if Remi can get that elusive 2nd win quickly like Pulis did we might, just might get out of this huge mess were in.
Aston Villa are where they are because the owner, Randy Lerner, has completely lost interest. This has cascaded down through the club to the point that even the kids serving the beer and snacks in the areas below the stands can't be arsed.
We've failed at everything else over the past 5 or so seasons so there's every hope we'll fail miserably to go down when we're looking odds on.
We've failed at everything else over the past 5 or so seasons so there's every hope we'll fail miserably to go down when we're looking odds on.
You say we have failed miserably but we have not been relegated.
Aston Villa are where they are because the owner, Randy Lerner, has completely lost interest. This has cascaded down through the club to the point that even the kids serving the beer and snacks in the areas below the stands can't be arsed.
If he had totally lost interest, why would he change manager?
It's all about standards. Finishing 1 place above the drop represents miserable failure for us. Well, it does for me.We've failed at everything else over the past 5 or so seasons so there's every hope we'll fail miserably to go down when we're looking odds on.
You say we have failed miserably but we have not been relegated.
For people concerned about the state of our squad, this is the Bournemouth team today:
Bournemouth XI: Federici, Smith, Francis, Distin, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Arter, Stanislas, King
There's absolutely no reason that we're not going to overhaul that lot at the bare minimum.
They're a jeckyll and hyde team Bournemouth, last week they got mullered for 45 minutes against Southampton, second half they played really well and looked far more organised than we do currently. As it stands I can only see Norwich that are possibly worse than us, in the previous few seasons there have been at least 3 crap teams to keep us in with a shout. I think Garde has the toughest task on his hands since Graham Turner keeping us in the top flight, would love to be wrong but I see nothing to change my mind that we'll be in the Championship next May.
Last home game of the season, Newcastle. Could be a winner takes all...
Bournemouth battered Newcastle today, they're just unlucky their main striker and goalscorer is injured. They controlled and dominated the game, we didn't even do that against League Two Notts County.
Bournemouth battered Newcastle today, they're just unlucky their main striker and goalscorer is injured. They controlled and dominated the game, we didn't even do that against League Two Notts County.
Isn't braniac a show on Discovery channel with little twat Hammond?Bournemouth battered Newcastle today, they're just unlucky their main striker and goalscorer is injured. They controlled and dominated the game, we didn't even do that against League Two Notts County.
Yes because the braniac we had in charge though it would be a good idea to play one midfielder...
I feel so much better since I gave up hope...I have some hope back after the huge change in just about everything- team selection, organisation, discipline and commitment.
It's going to be any 3 from us, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Norwich and maybe Swansea if their downward spiral gathers pace.
It's getting close to the time to plot our relegation escape thread again - seems to be getting earlier every year.
It's going to be any 3 from us, Newcastle, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Norwich and maybe Swansea if their downward spiral gathers pace.
Apparently Monk being lined up for the old heave ho after a Lambertesque / Sherwoodesque 1 win in 8.
Changing topic, if we were to go down (and I don't think that we will), I don't think there would be a particularly large exodus of players. Amavi has probably shown enough and built up enough of a reputation that somebody would take him off us, and you'd think that Richards might have his eyes on a move out.
Other than that, I expect that a lot of the others would still be earning a lot more in the Championship than they would have been at Nantes, Lorient, Lille, Valencia, Elche etc. And probably haven't shown enough that anybody is going to come in and give us millions for them. Gestede, Guzan, Westwood, Adama, Sinclair, Grealish have all played lower-league football before so presumably wouldn't kick up too big a fuss - and even if they did, it's not like they've really done enough for anybody in a much better position to want to take them on.
Looking at teams that went down last year, the likes of Fer, Sandro, Austin, Phillips stuck around at QPR. Hernandez, Huddlestone, Diamé, Davies etc have stuck at Hull.
So if we were to go, I'd be pretty confident that enough of our better players would stick around to make a good fist of going straight back up.
Changing topic, if we were to go down (and I don't think that we will), I don't think there would be a particularly large exodus of players. Amavi has probably shown enough and built up enough of a reputation that somebody would take him off us, and you'd think that Richards might have his eyes on a move out.
Other than that, I expect that a lot of the others would still be earning a lot more in the Championship than they would have been at Nantes, Lorient, Lille, Valencia, Elche etc. And probably haven't shown enough that anybody is going to come in and give us millions for them. Gestede, Guzan, Westwood, Adama, Sinclair, Grealish have all played lower-league football before so presumably wouldn't kick up too big a fuss - and even if they did, it's not like they've really done enough for anybody in a much better position to want to take them on.
Looking at teams that went down last year, the likes of Fer, Sandro, Austin, Phillips stuck around at QPR. Hernandez, Huddlestone, Diamé, Davies etc have stuck at Hull.
So if we were to go, I'd be pretty confident that enough of our better players would stick around to make a good fist of going straight back up.
Changing topic, if we were to go down (and I don't think that we will), I don't think there would be a particularly large exodus of players. Amavi has probably shown enough and built up enough of a reputation that somebody would take him off us, and you'd think that Richards might have his eyes on a move out.
Other than that, I expect that a lot of the others would still be earning a lot more in the Championship than they would have been at Nantes, Lorient, Lille, Valencia, Elche etc. And probably haven't shown enough that anybody is going to come in and give us millions for them. Gestede, Guzan, Westwood, Adama, Sinclair, Grealish have all played lower-league football before so presumably wouldn't kick up too big a fuss - and even if they did, it's not like they've really done enough for anybody in a much better position to want to take them on.
Looking at teams that went down last year, the likes of Fer, Sandro, Austin, Phillips stuck around at QPR. Hernandez, Huddlestone, Diamé, Davies etc have stuck at Hull.
So if we were to go, I'd be pretty confident that enough of our better players would stick around to make a good fist of going straight back up.
How many have relegation clauses in their contracts?
I don't foresee us being in the bottom three by the time we kick off against West Ham on Boxing Day.
I don't foresee us being in the bottom three by the time we kick off against West Ham on Boxing Day.
I don't foresee us being in the bottom three by the time we kick off against West Ham on Boxing Day.
Bloody hell... that's optimism for you...
Is that a particularly big deal? The owner who has up to now spent a huge amount (given that we're talking about Bournemouth) on transfer fees and infrastructure is selling a quarter of his stake to an American businessman?
That doesn't strike me as worrying news for us at all.
7 games before New Year. Plenty of points up for grabs there I reckon.i think we need 12 points from these.
Everton (A)
Watford (H)
Saints (A)
Arsenal (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Ham (H)
Norwich (A)
Just looking at the table makes me think that getting to third-bottom shouldn't be beyond us even after our next game (Bournemouth have a worse goal difference). Getting to fourth-bottom and beyond, however, will take some work. Let's hope that Norwich start being as bad as they bloody well ought to be, looking at their team.
Just looking at the table makes me think that getting to third-bottom shouldn't be beyond us even after our next game (Bournemouth have a worse goal difference). Getting to fourth-bottom and beyond, however, will take some work. Let's hope that Norwich start being as bad as they bloody well ought to be, looking at their team.
If we get to third bottom as you suggest, then if we cannot surpass Norwich over the next 26 games then we don't deserve to go down. With this squad, manager and resources we deserve to be closed down as a football club.
Just looking at the table makes me think that getting to third-bottom shouldn't be beyond us even after our next game (Bournemouth have a worse goal difference). Getting to fourth-bottom and beyond, however, will take some work. Let's hope that Norwich start being as bad as they bloody well ought to be, looking at their team.
If we get to third bottom as you suggest, then if we cannot surpass Norwich over the next 26 games then we don't deserve to go down. With this squad, manager and resources we deserve to be closed down as a football club.
Don't you mean we do deserve to go down?
Just looking at the table makes me think that getting to third-bottom shouldn't be beyond us even after our next game (Bournemouth have a worse goal difference). Getting to fourth-bottom and beyond, however, will take some work. Let's hope that Norwich start being as bad as they bloody well ought to be, looking at their team.
If we get to third bottom as you suggest, then if we cannot surpass Norwich over the next 26 games then we don't deserve to go down. With this squad, manager and resources we deserve to be closed down as a football club.
Don't you mean we do deserve to go down?
"We don't just deserve to go down, we deserve to be closed down"
I don't think its a stretch to think we will get five more points than Newcastle in between now and Boxing Day
But as it stands, I think it will be ourselves, Bournemouth and Norwich.
I don't think its a stretch to think we will get five more points than Newcastle in between now and Boxing Day
Except the fact we've only got 2 points since mid-August...
Before the £iteh match I did a prediction at work on likely points we will accumulate up to New Year:-
* Manchester City - 1
* Everton - 1
* Watford - 3
* Southampton - 1
* Arsenal - 0
* Newcastle - 1
* West Ham - 3
* Norwich - 3
Which would put us on 17 points and, although not great, it would be a lot better than the 4 we had before the match last sunday. Also, suggest you take a look at the fixtures up until new year for Norwich, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Sunderland and suddenly, to me at least, the escape does not seem impossible.
I'm literally amazed at the level of white flag waving, and the opinion from some that a 5 point gap isn't a gap at all but a chasm.
It's 5 points. It's November
We have to be better than Norwich, Bournemouth and Sunderland at the very least between now and the of the season. It's hardly Mission Impossible is it?
I'm literally amazed at the level of white flag waving, and the opinion from some that a 5 point gap isn't a gap at all but a chasm.
It's 5 points. It's November
We have to be better than Norwich, Bournemouth and Sunderland at the very least between now and the of the season. It's hardly Mission Impossible is it?
Before the £iteh match I did a prediction at work on likely points we will accumulate up to New Year:-I reckon we will get 10 points from the next 7
* Manchester City - 1
* Everton - 1
* Watford - 3
* Southampton - 1
* Arsenal - 0
* Newcastle - 1
* West Ham - 3
* Norwich - 3
Which would put us on 17 points and, although not great, it would be a lot better than the 4 we had before the match last sunday. Also, suggest you take a look at the fixtures up until new year for Norwich, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Sunderland and suddenly, to me at least, the escape does not seem impossible.
10 points from 7 games may not seem particularly impressive but doing that for the rest of the season sees us stay up as that average points per game will take us over 40 points.We have to beat Norwich and Watford and scrape another win.
I know what you're saying Olaftab, but the nature of the spanking this afternoon has got me seriously contemplating the idea for the first time since Bolton under McLeish, and I can't remember the last time before that.There is no doubt we are in serious trouble A***.
The next six games are all winnable. Shape, structure, heart and luck.
soccerHq, Watford, Barcodes, Norwich. All tough games but we CAN pick up points against all of them. Arsenal have two more players out injured today. This might be a good time to play them. Who knows.
I can picture the scene. Sometime in April they'll be a bloke on the Holte holding up a handwritten sign saying "We'll Be Back". Just like Coventry.
And Leeds.
And Forest.
And Sheffield Wednesday.
And all the other clubs who regard themselves as being "top division" and have been out of it for years and years.
It's been like Final Destination for years now. I just hope there is another sequel.
Not of the actual films. They're shit.
We need a turn round in form of Leicester proportions. This time last season they were bottom of the table and even with a dozen games left they looked doomed, but Pearson for all his faults found away for them to dig themselves out of the shit and they haven't looked back since. As has been said in the post match thread you look at the Leicester side and on paper they look like a bunch of misfits and cast-offs who shouldn't be doing as well as they are. But the one thing they seem to possess that we don't is spirit, they refuse to lie down and roll over the way we do.
Where we'll find that spirit or whatever it is they've got I'm buggered if I know.
I wonder how bad Kozak must look in the reserves to not get near the pitch in a team as woefully underpowered up front as we are?4 managers have decided not to play him, he must look terrible.
What the fuck is he doing? Sitting around smoking? Has he had a limb amputated or something?
Oh, and after the Leicester game I was as angry about a Villa game as I had been in a long time. And I'm still fuming. If we'd held on to win that, I'm convinced we'd be mid table or thereabouts.
We should all write to Scudamore suggesting the Premier League is expanded to 22 teams next season by having three up and just one down.
Just stop the League Cup to make room for the extra games and think of all the extra revenue created.
Just don't mention we are Villa fans or he may see through our desperate ruse.
We're lucky we're only 5 points adrift at this stage. We haven't won since the opening day, realistically we should be well adrift by now.
We should all write to Scudamore suggesting the Premier League is expanded to 22 teams next season by having three up and just one down.
Just stop the League Cup to make room for the extra games and think of all the extra revenue created.
Just don't mention we are Villa fans or he may see through our desperate ruse.
I'd take a last day decider at Arsenal right now, or a winner takes all against Newcastle the week before. As it stands I think we'll be gone by then. No goals in the team and a shambolic defence and keeper is obviously a recipe for disaster.We're lucky we're only 5 points adrift at this stage. We haven't won since the opening day, realistically we should be well adrift by now.
I agree with this bit. I know the stats about only 2 or 3 teams had stayed up with only 4 points after 11 games and no one has with our record after 13 games, but that's not saying anything about the gap to 4th and 5th from bottom. We've still got a shot at it. We could just as easily be 8 or 9 points adrift and as good as gone. 5 is (very) difficult but not impossible.
All that said I think those of us who said we didn't want another season off sweating on our survival going into the last 2 or 3 weeks of the season might get our wish, just not for the reasons we'd hoped for. Hopefully the next 3 or 4 weeks will give reason to rekindle some optimism.
It looked like it was being addressed by Houllier.
We have a decent squad, certainly no worse than any of the last four seasons, yet we failed to bring in a striker of quality who could at a pinch, grab a point or three from nowhere.
QuoteWe have a decent squad, certainly no worse than any of the last four seasons, yet we failed to bring in a striker of quality who could at a pinch, grab a point or three from nowhere.
I think we have a very poor squad, although I agree that it's no worse than the last couple of seasons. I also think it's amazing that we've won only one game this season yet we are "only" 5 points adrift. We're actually quite lucky that, although we are awful, there's a couple of teams who are nearly as bad.
Anyway, Brentford's ground has a pub in every corner. And the Charlton Liberal Club is always very friendly...
QuoteWe have a decent squad, certainly no worse than any of the last four seasons, yet we failed to bring in a striker of quality who could at a pinch, grab a point or three from nowhere.
I think we have a very poor squad, although I agree that it's no worse than the last couple of seasons. I also think it's amazing that we've won only one game this season yet we are "only" 5 points adrift. We're actually quite lucky that, although we are awful, there's a couple of teams who are nearly as bad.
Anyway, Brentford's ground has a pub in every corner. And the Charlton Liberal Club is always very friendly...
I think we're very short on confidence. We have a decent squad, certainly no worse than any of the last four seasons, yet we failed to bring in a striker of quality who could at a pinch, grab a point or three from nowhere...(abbreviated so as to not quote the entire page)
I still am not sure how good our signings are - I believe they probably have potential, but collectively they have done little to impress. Pre-season I was unnerved by how little I knew about our sigings, and the meh reaction from my French mates.
It looked like it was being addressed by Houllier.
I don't think that's quite right.
Some of the most feeble performances I have ever witnessed from a Villa side happened on his watch. They have become the norm now, sadly. But they started with him.
Our return to form at the end of the 2010/11 season also seemed to coincide with the senior pros he'd previously ostracised coming back and Gary Mac taking charge, rather than any Total Football philosophy on his part finally bedding down.
Agree with the rest though.
It looked like it was being addressed by Houllier.
I don't think that's quite right.
Some of the most feeble performances I have ever witnessed from a Villa side happened on his watch. They have become the norm now, sadly. But they started with him.
Our return to form at the end of the 2010/11 season also seemed to coincide with the senior pros he'd previously ostracised coming back and Gary Mac taking charge, rather than any Total Football philosophy on his part finally bedding down.
Agree with the rest though.
I don't know, I think beating West Ham, Arsenal and Liverpool to stay up were pretty exciting (to be honest thats all I can remember from Houllier being in charge)
The result tonight has got nothing to do with us accumulating 36 points. It doesn't make that target harder or easier.
8 points at 4.50 on Saturday would give me hope. Anything less and the gap is becoming huge so early in the season.
The result tonight has got nothing to do with us accumulating 36 points. It doesn't make that target harder or easier.
Yes ok but I suggest that 36 would keep us up and 30 or below would mean certain relegation as its been proved since 3 points per game started.
I see you are peddling the " I only need to out run you not the tiger" argument but Sunderland or Newcastle etc may not be a player in the equation come end of the season. Points accumulated will be a big factor.
Remi has such a massive job on
We have to outrun 3 tigers. Asthmatic ones with dodgy knees and related mobility issues.I see you are peddling the " I only need to out run you not the tiger" argument but Sunderland or Newcastle etc may not be a player in the equation come end of the season. Points accumulated will be a big factor.
It's not an argument to peddle. It's basic maths. If we get more points than any other three teams, regardless of how many points that might be then we stay up.
Picking a random number and assuming that we're doomed if we get anything less than that and safe if we get anything more than that, ignoring the number of points other teams have is neither an argument, nor basic maths.
I think there's more chance of villa surviving than Leicester winning league or even getting top 4.I'd argue 13 games is not early, it's a third of the season gone. On form to date we're on course for 15 points and while I think we'll exceed that total we've left ourselves way too much to do. The fact that Leicester won't win the league is of no consequence other than to say they'll be one of 19 teams to finish above us.
If people consign villa to bottom place and relegation then lets say Leicester are champions.
I don't expect either wil be top or bottom come season end.
13 games is early and its a supposedly open league.
Though Sunderland's win last night doesn't exactly help our position, we can take a little bit of inspiration at how they turned around a thrashing at Everton a few weeks ago, into a clean sheet and three points. Okay, Allardyce has previous and Remi doesn't, but it shows it can be done even with a defence that has been routinely taken apart and ridiculed by the pundits, as Sunderland's has over the last few years. It's not over yet...
Basic maths is always valid so to win a game you have to score one more and position in the table is secured by having one more point than team below you however rather facile in this case. Stats and law of large numbers applies here and that states that we will have to be around about 36 points to stay up.I see you are peddling the " I only need to out run you not the tiger" argument but Sunderland or Newcastle etc may not be a player in the equation come end of the season. Points accumulated will be a big factor.
It's not an argument to peddle. It's basic maths. If we get more points than any other three teams, regardless of how many points that might be then we stay up.
Picking a random number and assuming that we're doomed if we get anything less than that and safe if we get anything more than that, ignoring the number of points other teams have is neither an argument, nor basic maths.
Though Sunderland's win last night doesn't exactly help our position, we can take a little bit of inspiration at how they turned around a thrashing at Everton a few weeks ago, into a clean sheet and three points. Okay, Allardyce has previous and Remi doesn't, but it shows it can be done even with a defence that has been routinely taken apart and ridiculed by the pundits, as Sunderland's has over the last few years. It's not over yet...
The bit in bold is the key point. If you have a shit squad who'd you prefer as manager?
Garde may well be a very good manager and one for the long term, but he may not be able to polish a turd as well as Allardyce. They may well stop up. We definitely won't - unless there is a massive overhaul in January.
I admire your optimism my friend but the last time we won a league game the kids were still on summer holidays and I'm off to see them in a nativity play in a fortnight! In the intervening period our keeper has spent more time in the back of his net than in front of it, our defence couldn't tackle a fish supper, the midfield have yet to be introduced to each other and the nation hasn't stopped tittering at Sky's condemnation of our 'strikeforce's' figurehead who has seemingly spent the season so far eating chips. I see no valid reason why anyone can reasonably expect anything but a slow and ignominious death from hereon in.It's a good job you're not our new manager 😱
I reckon it will be another 2 seasons before we're relegated. Winter and Spring.
We absolutely need to win on Saturday though, to kick start any hope of recovery. I will be revising my optimism if we lose.
Basic maths is always valid so to win a game you have to score one more and position in the table is secured by having one more point than team below you however rather facile in this case. Stats and law of large numbers applies here and that states that we will have to be around about 36 points to stay up.I see you are peddling the " I only need to out run you not the tiger" argument but Sunderland or Newcastle etc may not be a player in the equation come end of the season. Points accumulated will be a big factor.
It's not an argument to peddle. It's basic maths. If we get more points than any other three teams, regardless of how many points that might be then we stay up.
Picking a random number and assuming that we're doomed if we get anything less than that and safe if we get anything more than that, ignoring the number of points other teams have is neither an argument, nor basic maths.
We absolutely need to win on Saturday though, to kick start any hope of recovery. I will be revising my optimism if we lose.
I agree - a defeat on Saturday and I'll be joining the crowd thinking that we're going down.
Not because of any huge deficit in points that we need to make up, more that if we're not going to get points at home to Watford then where are we going to get points from?
Of course we could all hope for some statistical anomaly where this year 20 points keeps us up, but in the last 20 years that hasn't happened. So lets not pretend points totals don't matter here.
Of course we could all hope for some statistical anomaly where this year 20 points keeps us up, but in the last 20 years that hasn't happened. So lets not pretend points totals don't matter here.
In the last 20 years the previous year's champions haven't been fifteenth in the league after a third of the season either, but here we are.
And nobody is pretending that points don't matter. But suggesting that whether other teams around us win or lose is going to have no impact on what we need to do in order to stay up is a complete fallacy.
Of course we could all hope for some statistical anomaly where this year 20 points keeps us up, but in the last 20 years that hasn't happened. So lets not pretend points totals don't matter here.
In the last 20 years the previous year's champions haven't been fifteenth in the league after a third of the season either, but here we are.
And nobody is pretending that points don't matter. But suggesting that whether other teams around us win or lose is going to have no impact on what we need to do in order to stay up is a complete fallacy.
It is a good job no one is suggesting that then.
But as we don't know "whether other teams around us win or lose" a projection based on points totals that usually secure safety is not "Picking a random number and assuming that we're doomed if we get anything less than that" but the best tool we have at this point in the season is assessing the likelihood that we drop this season.
The result tonight has got nothing to do with us accumulating 36 points. It doesn't make that target harder or easier.
Similarities are uncanny.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/nov/24/newcastle-steve-mcclaren-season-sack
Pinning hopes on unproven French players = check.
Lack of leadership in dressing room/pitch = check.
Manager not signing players, committee recommending = check.
I haven't checked this but wouldn't be surprised if it were true - I'm told our last Premier League home win was 200 days ago today. Happy anniversary!
Confidence is huge, if we can get a win and a few positives like the Man City then it can change everything but right now the negativity is killing us. Last night I dreamt we lost 6-2 to Wimbledon at the old Plough Lane and they were in that Hummel kit and Shaun Teale scored our goal after coming out of retirement. God knows what that means but I have a similar feeling to Musicmaan.
Just a matter of when, not if...
Must get rid of the shit in Jan and bring in championship hardened players as far too many lightweights in squad
yepOur momentum is downwards. Our Manager is clueless. Our first 11 is worse than last year and we only just survived. We have that nasty habit of defensive errors and no chance of a clean sheet.
WE are in the bottom 3 for a reason, we are a bottom 3 team. I think it is our year.
Worst 11 than last year? Really?
We're going down, and when we do, our points tally won't be far off the Derby County record for shitness. We've got the worst Villa team I've ever had the displeasure to witness, and not far off one of the worst in Premier League history. We are truly, truly dire.
Even the shite around us are picking up points and pulling away. We don't have it in us to go on the kind of winning run to get out of this. The defence is the worst I can remember. Just shockingly bad.
That's that. I doubt I will log in here again, watch another game and I will not visit VP again this season. It's been coming and the actions over the summer have nailed the coffin shut. Fuck off Lerner you piece of shit. You keep leading by cowering in the background and failing to address the shit storm you have created.
Worst thing is we've got months more of this to endure.
There's some good players at VP and we may make a pretty penny off them when we go down. The sad thing will be seeing them do well in other PL teams next season. Normally I'd think we wouldn't be down for long, but with RL at the helm I'm really not so sure...
Gana, Ayew, Veretout, Sanchez. They're not awful, the team is.
Gana, Ayew, Veretout, Sanchez. They're not awful, the team is.
Sanchez we'd get a couple of mill for. Ayew/Gana/Veretout £4-5 each. Fuck all really. Consider we will lose the TV money and we are well fucked. We will be selling these players off and replacing them with more Lowtons and the like for the next few seasons.
Sinclair had one good season at Swansea. Richards wasn't good enough for Man City. I'm curious... what's Gil done?
Sanchez we'd get a couple of mill for. Ayew/Gana/Veretout £4-5 each. Fuck all really. Consider we will lose the TV money and we are well fucked. We will be selling these players off and replacing them with more Lowtons and the like for the next few seasons.
They'd all be bargains, and their new fans would be thinking 'how were they in a team which lost so many games'?
Sinclair had one good season at Swansea. Richards wasn't good enough for Man City. I'm curious... what's Gil done?
That's not nothing at Swansea. Richards wasn't good enough for title and Champions League contenders, but he's been fine for us. Gil has done a fair bit for us considering Sherwood didn't play him as a fruity foreigner.
Actually, let's throw in Adama to the 'not a relegation player' category. He came on today and scared Watford shitless.
Sinclair had one good season at Swansea. Richards wasn't good enough for Man City. I'm curious... what's Gil done?
That's not nothing at Swansea. Richards wasn't good enough for title and Champions League contenders, but he's been fine for us. Gil has done a fair bit for us considering Sherwood didn't play him as a fruity foreigner.
Actually, let's throw in Adama to the 'not a relegation player' category. He came on today and scared Watford shitless.
It's like a bald man having a come over for 5 years, you finally have to admit your bald and shave it all off. We've just left the babers.
Hope Garde stays and rebuilds us.
It's like a bald man having a come over for 5 years, you finally have to admit your bald and shave it all off. We've just left the babers.
Hope Garde stays and rebuilds us.
It's like a bald man having a come over for 5 years, you finally have to admit your bald and shave it all off. We've just left the babers.
Hope Garde stays and rebuilds us.
If I wasn't a Villa fan, I would be absolutely delighted to see us go down.
We have stunk out this league for five years now, just about getting away with it year after year. Along the way, we've played some of the most dire football in our history.
Yeah, we can tell everyone we won the European Cup and what-not, but these days it counts for jack shit. We have become a by-word for unambitious, do-the-absolute-minimum football all in the name of clinging on for the money. We are embarrassing.
The sooner this chairman manages to sell us on to someone who gives a shit, the better. The meek acceptance of mediocrity starts at the top and trickles down.
If this club over the last five years were a horse, it'd be a mangy old knacker good for the glue factory.
I've accepted we are fucked now. You can't just routinely lose at home to shit like Watford like we have repeatedly for several years and stay up. You can't go season after season notching up 4 or 5 home wins all year and stay up. You can't defend like we do and stay up.
Lerner has been a disaster. He is a well meaning idiot, absolutely clueless.
Of course, the ultimate disaster is yet to come, because we have managed to create a situation where the year we finally do get what we deserve and drop down to mooking about with the shit in the Championship is the very same year that the PL television money goes stratospheric.
Good work, Randy, good work.
If I wasn't a Villa fan, I would be absolutely delighted to see us go down.
We have stunk out this league for five years now, just about getting away with it year after year. Along the way, we've played some of the most dire football in our history.
Yeah, we can tell everyone we won the European Cup and what-not, but these days it counts for jack shit. We have become a by-word for unambitious, do-the-absolute-minimum football all in the name of clinging on for the money. We are embarrassing.
The sooner this chairman manages to sell us on to someone who gives a shit, the better. The meek acceptance of mediocrity starts at the top and trickles down.
If this club over the last five years were a horse, it'd be a mangy old knacker good for the glue factory.
I've accepted we are fucked now. You can't just routinely lose at home to shit like Watford like we have repeatedly for several years and stay up. You can't go season after season notching up 4 or 5 home wins all year and stay up. You can't defend like we do and stay up.
Lerner has been a disaster. He is a well meaning idiot, absolutely clueless.
Of course, the ultimate disaster is yet to come, because we have managed to create a situation where the year we finally do get what we deserve and drop down to mooking about with the shit in the Championship is the very same year that the PL television money goes stratospheric.
Good work, Randy, good work.
It's like a bald man having a come over for 5 years
There are no players in the squad that I'd care about staying. So when we're down, they can all go as far as I'm concerned
Really looking forward to a wet Tuesday night in Rotherham.
There are no players in the squad that I'd care about staying. So when we're down, they can all go as far as I'm concerned
Really looking forward to a wet Tuesday night in Rotherham.
As I walked out of Wembley in May I said I wouldn't care if I never saw any of them in a Villa shirt again, even the so-called best 4.
How much do we get this year if we finish bottom and are the parachute payments the same amount for 3 years? How does it compare to finushing bottom next year?
Why is everyone getting so worked up. If you've followed the Villa for 50 years you will know we have our good times and our bad times. It's time for a dip again but we always come back for our next adventure. In resigned to Champ football already and quite honestly looking forward to it. Might not be pretty but hey i remember 2 years in the third division and actually I really enjoyed it. It's the fans that make AV great and always will. We will never be small town ever....
Well parachute payments give you a clear advantage over most teams down there.
You can also use the loan system pretty well, we'd still be a big name down there so players at that level could be attracted, you can make loan signings on the day of a game aswell so retro feeling turning up to a night game and seeing a player we've just signed that afternoon.
Obscurity for years.....how?
If I wasn't a Villa fan, I would be absolutely delighted to see us go down.
We have stunk out this league for five years now, just about getting away with it year after year. Along the way, we've played some of the most dire football in our history.
Yeah, we can tell everyone we won the European Cup and what-not, but these days it counts for jack shit. We have become a by-word for unambitious, do-the-absolute-minimum football all in the name of clinging on for the money. We are embarrassing.
The sooner this chairman manages to sell us on to someone who gives a shit, the better. The meek acceptance of mediocrity starts at the top and trickles down.
If this club over the last five years were a horse, it'd be a mangy old knacker good for the glue factory.
I've accepted we are fucked now. You can't just routinely lose at home to shit like Watford like we have repeatedly for several years and stay up. You can't go season after season notching up 4 or 5 home wins all year and stay up. You can't defend like we do and stay up.
Lerner has been a disaster. He is a well meaning idiot, absolutely clueless.
Of course, the ultimate disaster is yet to come, because we have managed to create a situation where the year we finally do get what we deserve and drop down to mooking about with the shit in the Championship is the very same year that the PL television money goes stratospheric.
Good work, Randy, good work.
If I wasn't a Villa fan, I would be absolutely delighted to see us go down.
We have stunk out this league for five years now, just about getting away with it year after year. Along the way, we've played some of the most dire football in our history.
Yeah, we can tell everyone we won the European Cup and what-not, but these days it counts for jack shit. We have become a by-word for unambitious, do-the-absolute-minimum football all in the name of clinging on for the money. We are embarrassing.
The sooner this chairman manages to sell us on to someone who gives a shit, the better. The meek acceptance of mediocrity starts at the top and trickles down.
If this club over the last five years were a horse, it'd be a mangy old knacker good for the glue factory.
I've accepted we are fucked now. You can't just routinely lose at home to shit like Watford like we have repeatedly for several years and stay up. You can't go season after season notching up 4 or 5 home wins all year and stay up. You can't defend like we do and stay up.
Lerner has been a disaster. He is a well meaning idiot, absolutely clueless.
Of course, the ultimate disaster is yet to come, because we have managed to create a situation where the year we finally do get what we deserve and drop down to mooking about with the shit in the Championship is the very same year that the PL television money goes stratospheric.
Good work, Randy, good work.
I can't say I disagree with this, except for the bit about mediocrity. Mediocrity would see us safe. What we've accepted is failure. Abject failure. And it's been brought about by sheer complacency, we-know-best arrogance and pig-headedness, and utter, utter stupidity. We are the masters of our own undoing, and will deserve relegation as much as any club that's ever suffered the drop. Perversely, after five years of crap, it will come as a relief.
If it wasn't irretrievably floating high above the clouds, Randy Lerner's head should be hanging in shame.
Watching the Champoinship on Channel 5 to see what we can expect. Some decent teams in the top 6 with a lot of our ex-players on show.
If I wasn't a Villa fan, I would be absolutely delighted to see us go down.
We have stunk out this league for five years now, just about getting away with it year after year. Along the way, we've played some of the most dire football in our history.
Yeah, we can tell everyone we won the European Cup and what-not, but these days it counts for jack shit. We have become a by-word for unambitious, do-the-absolute-minimum football all in the name of clinging on for the money. We are embarrassing.
The sooner this chairman manages to sell us on to someone who gives a shit, the better. The meek acceptance of mediocrity starts at the top and trickles down.
If this club over the last five years were a horse, it'd be a mangy old knacker good for the glue factory.
I've accepted we are fucked now. You can't just routinely lose at home to shit like Watford like we have repeatedly for several years and stay up. You can't go season after season notching up 4 or 5 home wins all year and stay up. You can't defend like we do and stay up.
Lerner has been a disaster. He is a well meaning idiot, absolutely clueless.
Of course, the ultimate disaster is yet to come, because we have managed to create a situation where the year we finally do get what we deserve and drop down to mooking about with the shit in the Championship is the very same year that the PL television money goes stratospheric.
Good work, Randy, good work.
When you bring up stats like not winning 3 league games in a row since April 2010, that's 5 and a half years ago... you realise how long we've stunk the place out for.
It's a strange feeling but I almost feel relieved to at least have some certainty that I know our fate. We are going down this season I have absolutely no doubt about that at all. I'm not happy about it but I accept it now.My thoughts and feelings exactly
Who knows, We might take the Championship by storm, come straight back and then we've a clean slate. But the way it's gone the last few years this seemed inevitable - we needed a circuit breaker. Life in the PL is miserable.
Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
The full record makes for terrible reading
P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101
I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.
We also have a worse home record than Sunderland over that same period and I'm sure they've held numerous half time walk outs and pitch invasions throwing season tickets at their manager.
We also have a worse home record than Sunderland over that same period and I'm sure they've held numerous half time walk outs and pitch invasions throwing season tickets at their manager.
And yet, we Villa fans just sit and take it. Makes me so cross that this so called custodian, Mr. I have a five year plan, has fucked Aston Villa Football Club up completely and utterly. Mr McGregor must be turning in his grave at this fucking shambles.
Home record read
P 83
W 20
D 23
L 40
G 88
A 117
PTS 83
GD -29
Abysmal, 1 pt and 1 goal per game over 5 seasons at home.
Surely someone at the club should be looking at stats and trend to make sure this doesn't happen?Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
The full record makes for terrible reading
P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101
I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.
We also have a worse home record than Sunderland over that same period and I'm sure they've held numerous half time walk outs and pitch invasions throwing season tickets at their manager.
It looks like we won't be getting any new manager bounce. A sure sign the players aren't good enough. I dread to think how much money has been wasted on poor players while Lerner has been at the club.
No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme. I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season
Be prepared for the flak though until May. I am already getting pelters from the likes of Blues, Man Utd, Albion and even non league supporters at work.
I think we're 1 of only 7 clubs to have been in the newly set up Premier League every season since it was created. The others are Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal (like any of those are ever going down), Chelsea (who have been down since we last came up), Everton (who have been shite quite a bit in the past and almost gone before) and Tottenham. A few clubs similar to us Newcastle, Man City have been out of it at times, and a lot of clubs of reasonable stature (Forest, Wolves, the Sheffields, Leeds, Sunderland) have been out of it quite a bit and in some cases years.
The point is, virtually every club has a shit spell, it's just gutting with the timing of it, but if we can come back strong like we did last time there is no reason to think that we can't be back where we should be in the next five years.
We also have a worse home record than Sunderland over that same period and I'm sure they've held numerous half time walk outs and pitch invasions throwing season tickets at their manager.
And yet according to Keown own goal and many of the other knobhead pundits Villa fans are too demanding.
7 points adrift, I still think we have a chance of staying up, maybe 30 to 40 per cent.
We have a very competent manager, and a midfield with potential. A starting point for improvement is our defence starting to do a few basics right, like clearing the ball, covering areas instead of ball-watching -- elementary things that shouldn't be impossible to implement with proper coaching. If, additionally, Garde can bring in a competent GK, reliable defender and a good finisher in January, we may have a basis for picking up some points. They don't need to be world beaters to be an improvement on the current lot.
The question is whether our players are good enough to accumulate the 30+ points needed to stay up. But if we go down, I think it will be because of our poor start of the season. I don't see us ending the season like a laughing stock with 10-15 points.
No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme. I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season
I think we're 1 of only 7 clubs to have been in the newly set up Premier League every season since it was created. The others are Man Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal (like any of those are ever going down), Chelsea (who have been down since we last came up), Everton (who have been shite quite a bit in the past and almost gone before) and Tottenham. A few clubs similar to us Newcastle, Man City have been out of it at times, and a lot of clubs of reasonable stature (Forest, Wolves, the Sheffields, Leeds, Sunderland) have been out of it quite a bit and in some cases years.
The point is, virtually every club has a shit spell, it's just gutting with the timing of it, but if we can come back strong like we did last time there is no reason to think that we can't be back where we should be in the next five years.
There is every reason to think we can't get back when those making the key decisions have such a poor track record.
Surely someone at the club should be looking at stats and trend to make sure this doesn't happen?Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
The full record makes for terrible reading
P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101
I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.
Since Houllier left we've won, by my reckoning, 38 out of 166 league games.
The full record makes for terrible reading
P 166
W 38
D 46
L 82
F 166
A 267
PTS 160
GD -101
I looked at it the other week and points per game we have the lowest in all English professional football for the last 5 years. Rock bottom of the pile.
No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme. I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season
F me. No streams. I had forgotten that
No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme. I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season
add to that more midweek games, teams that will kick the shit out of you, a half empty vp and teams raising their game as they play at one of the greatest grounds in england. i cant wait
That's that. I doubt I will log in here again,
Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps
Should the seemingly inevitable happen, do any of these players have clauses in their deals where they take pay cuts?
If not, it's another problem. Fox, Reilly and Almstadt have injected poison into this club, while our bored owner cowers in America having discarded his play thing. He might not admit it publicly, but Doug Ellis must ruefully the day he handed the keys over to the club to these vultures.
Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps
Fuck 'em. I'll still be supporting us, won't you?
No big TV deal money, Rotherham on a Friday night, no live match streams, and 30 seconds of highlights on that dreadful Channel 5 programme. I'm shuddering at the thought of it already but this is the reality for next season
add to that more midweek games, teams that will kick the shit out of you, a half empty vp and teams raising their game as they play at one of the greatest grounds in england. i cant wait
much like this season then except for the midweek games
Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps
Fuck 'em. I'll still be supporting us, won't you?
of course I would Dave its in my DNA. however, im not pushing it onto my kids as much as I would like to. The past 5 years have been horrific. Im constantly miserable
You can get streams for Championship games.
Home to Rotherham on a Tuesday night in January is going to be a hard sell even for our inventive, imaginative management team.
Should the seemingly inevitable happen, do any of these players have clauses in their deals where they take pay cuts?
If not, it's another problem. Fox, Reilly and Almstadt have injected poison into this club, while our bored owner cowers in America having discarded his play thing. He might not admit it publicly, but Doug Ellis must ruefully the day he handed the keys over to the club to these vultures.
I recall reading that all the new deals in the summer have pay cuts for relegation. I actually think we have a squad well equipped for the championship. My concern is the massive loss in income and lerner/fox still at the helm which inevitably would be a continued disaster.
it would be interesting going to a few new grounds and 2 games a week would be great
Home to Rotherham on a Tuesday night in January is going to be a hard sell even for our inventive, imaginative management team.
Its already bad enough but we'd lose lots if fans with a few years in the chumps
Fuck 'em. I'll still be supporting us, won't you?
of course I would Dave its in my DNA. however, im not pushing it onto my kids as much as I would like to. The past 5 years have been horrific. Im constantly miserable
Keep the faith, class is permanent.
What's not to like? More games - 46 league games rather than 38. More games within a short travelling distance - eg Birmingham, Wolves, Derby, Notts Forest, Coventry and Walsall. More of our games are likely to be shown live on TV, even if we continue to be crap. And there's that Sky midweek programme where they show every goal from the Championship games just a few seconds after being scored.
But would they reduce the price or just freeze it?There is no way on gods green earth that ticket prices will drop.
Home to Rotherham on a Tuesday night in January is going to be a hard sell even for our inventive, imaginative management team.
"Come and see Villa actually win a game!"
Easy.
But would they reduce the price or just freeze it?There is no way on gods green earth that ticket prices will drop.
More games to play.
There have been teams like Norwich, Hull and West Ham that have managed to go down and come right back up. Look at Hull now with the magician Steve Bruce in charge. You've to be really shit in so many ways as a relegated club not to have a chance of coming straight back up.I think we pass the shit in so many ways test.
There have been teams like Norwich, Hull and West Ham that have managed to go down and come right back up. Look at Hull now with the magician Steve Bruce in charge. You've to be really shit in so many ways as a relegated club not to have a chance of coming straight back up.I think we pass the shit in so many ways test.
Randy LernerThere have been teams like Norwich, Hull and West Ham that have managed to go down and come right back up. Look at Hull now with the magician Steve Bruce in charge. You've to be really shit in so many ways as a relegated club not to have a chance of coming straight back up.I think we pass the shit in so many ways test.
Didn't those other teams I mentioned qualify? They all got relegated. So what makes us any worse than them?
Randy LernerThere have been teams like Norwich, Hull and West Ham that have managed to go down and come right back up. Look at Hull now with the magician Steve Bruce in charge. You've to be really shit in so many ways as a relegated club not to have a chance of coming straight back up.I think we pass the shit in so many ways test.
Didn't those other teams I mentioned qualify? They all got relegated. So what makes us any worse than them?
And what if our owner wanted to change the name of the team to Aston Villa Lions. How would you feel about it? Or what if your owner was David Gold and Sullivan? The only question is would Randy provide the resources to the manager to get us back up?Not sure what any of the above means, if you want to defend Lerner that is your choice.
And what if our owner wanted to change the name of the team to Aston Villa Lions. How would you feel about it? Or what if your owner was David Gold and Sullivan? The only question is would Randy provide the resources to the manager to get us back up?
Randy LernerThere have been teams like Norwich, Hull and West Ham that have managed to go down and come right back up. Look at Hull now with the magician Steve Bruce in charge. You've to be really shit in so many ways as a relegated club not to have a chance of coming straight back up.I think we pass the shit in so many ways test.
Didn't those other teams I mentioned qualify? They all got relegated. So what makes us any worse than them?
Fuckwit Fox.
But would they reduce the price or just freeze it?There is no way on gods green earth that ticket prices will drop.
Thinking back i think Doug actually put the prices up when we went down.
I see it as the next 9 matches up to end of January that define league season. Picking up points in these matches are crucial especially as we are only playing Newcastle who are amungst us.We only get to play Newcastle once in those 9 games.
Agreed. We will all know if we truly have hope or not by 3/1/16I see it as the next 9 matches up to end of January that define league season. Picking up points in these matches are crucial especially as we are only playing Newcastle who are amungst us.We only get to play Newcastle once in those 9 games.
Agreed. We will all know if we truly have hope or not by 3/1/16I see it as the next 9 matches up to end of January that define league season. Picking up points in these matches are crucial especially as we are only playing Newcastle who are amungst us.We only get to play Newcastle once in those 9 games.
Thing that's pushing me to the edge are all the pictures on facebook and twitter from nob ead Albion and blues fans. It's not Christmas ffs
I really admire some folks' optimism on here but can we really expect this mob to suddenly start turning in a win every 2/3 games? We are leaking goals alarmingly and don't have a decent attacking option in the squad. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong but I just cannot see any conclusion other than relegation. The whole place reeks of it.
Can we lock this thread now? The answer has become pretty apparent.
I really admire some folks' optimism on here but can we really expect this mob to suddenly start turning in a win every 2/3 games? We are leaking goals alarmingly and don't have a decent attacking option in the squad. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong but I just cannot see any conclusion other than relegation. The whole place reeks of it.Very true.
Let the fans of lesser clubs mock and, even better, let them think we are finished. My approach is to take it on the chin whilst ignoring the temptation to respond. Deep down, though, their mocking and desperation for us to fall makes my belief that we can turn it around all the stronger.
While I was looking at the table this morning, one thing did come to mind and kind of cheered me up.
Sure, we have to get another 35points, but Newcastle and Bournemouth have also got to get another 30 points from somewhere, and Sunderland another 28 and Norwich another 27.
It seems like we are miles behind and cut adrift, but there are still so many points to play for. We just need to get 5-8 points more than those other teams, and it's not like there are half a dozen games left. There's still more than half the season left!
Anyone feeling better?!
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.While I was looking at the table this morning, one thing did come to mind and kind of cheered me up.
Sure, we have to get another 35points, but Newcastle and Bournemouth have also got to get another 30 points from somewhere, and Sunderland another 28 and Norwich another 27.
It seems like we are miles behind and cut adrift, but there are still so many points to play for. We just need to get 5-8 points more than those other teams, and it's not like there are half a dozen games left. There's still more than half the season left!
Anyone feeling better?!
That's more like it. We need dooers like you in our movement! As glum as it looks, it's not over yet.
Or we could just prepare the squad for the championship.
Before Saturday I thought we have 4 batches of 6 games and need 8 points from each batch all things being equal. Gives us 37 which would probably be enough.
First one takes us to Christmas. 2nd to the end of Feb to get us near to where we were when Lambert was binned.
Saturday was a great opportunity to get the ball rolling and we fluffed it.
Before Saturday I thought we have 4 batches of 6 games and need 8 points from each batch all things being equal. Gives us 37 which would probably be enough.
First one takes us to Christmas. 2nd to the end of Feb to get us near to where we were when Lambert was binned.
Saturday was a great opportunity to get the ball rolling and we fluffed it.
More like we will stay up and relegate them again
I don't know why, because every time I've seen us this season we've been awful, but I still think that we could get out of this. There are obvious problems with the squad, but enough talent to be doing better than we are.
Completely get why some fans think we have no chance, but I have visions of one win sparking a run - is that completely insane?
And I've been getting stick from a Cov fan at work saying we'll be in the same league next season...
I don't know why, because every time I've seen us this season we've been awful, but I still think that we could get out of this. There are obvious problems with the squad, but enough talent to be doing better than we are.
Completely get why some fans think we have no chance, but I have visions of one win sparking a run - is that completely insane?
And I've been getting stick from a Cov fan at work saying we'll be in the same league next season...
It's not insane. But massively improbable now. Crucially, being adrift in 5 weeks time won't help us as we won't even be able to buy our way out (players won't come). It's a bit of a perfect storm.
We have to pick up enough points (I'd say at least 9) from Southampton, Newcastle, West Ham and Norwich to be in contention when the transfer window rolls around to stand any chance of attracting some better (and by that I mean more effective in a scrap) players in Jan.
Beat Southampton (they are a solid team, but not world beaters) and build from that.
This is the formula that will keep us up....
Southampton- draw
Newcastle- win
West Ham- win
Norwich- win
Palace- draw
Leicester- win
WBA- draw
Norwich- win
Stoke- draw
Everton- win
Spurs- draw
Swansea- win
Bournemouth- win
Southampton- draw
Watford- draw
Newcastle- win
Just totaled that up and that's 34 points which would take us to 39 points which would surely be more than enough. Infact you could probably scrub a draw or two out of that list and 37 points would probably be enough.
I've omitted the games we'll get nothing from e.g. Manchester games etc but you never know, everyone thought Man. City would win and they didn't so who's to say we won't do something random like Arsenal at home with all their injuries.
I'd probably subscribe to Ads opinion, it's possible but massively unlikely atm baring in mind we can barely even draw games currently.
We do need to get cracking though starting in Newcastle.
We haven't won a game since the opening day. What makes anyone think we are suddenly going to win every other game? Don't get me wrong, I admire the positive attitude, however lets get real. This team stinks.
We haven't won a game since the opening day. What makes anyone think we are suddenly going to win every other game? Don't get me wrong, I admire the positive attitude, however lets get real. This team stinks.
I suppose last season we hadn't scored for seemingly three months and we then won 5 league games in I think 8 games which must've been our best run since the MON era.
It does make me chuckle when this time last year people on here were saying this was our worst ever team...no it had quality players in like Benteke and D***H but was woefully mismanaged. This time it is an awful squad. I'm not as sold on Garde as some but he does have little to work with.
When I look at the players, the situation we're in, the whole feel of the club, how can it be anything but??.
I don't know why, because every time I've seen us this season we've been awful, but I still think that we could get out of this. There are obvious problems with the squad, but enough talent to be doing better than we are.
Completely get why some fans think we have no chance, but I have visions of one win sparking a run - is that completely insane?
And I've been getting stick from a Cov fan at work saying we'll be in the same league next season...
Enough talent. ... I just dont see talent or endeavour. Bournemouth just deservedly beat Chelsea. Something we couldnt do
If I'm walking back to the car after the West Ham game still waiting for the 2nd league win of the campaign then I think this will most definately be the season, we need wins and fast to stay in touch and have a shot at survival.
If I'm walking back to the car after the West Ham game still waiting for the 2nd league win of the campaign then I think this will most definately be the season, we need wins and fast to stay in touch and have a shot at survival.
forget talk of the transfer window, the next ten games, so and so coming back/coming good
our survival depends on the four games after arsenal. anything less than 6 points and we are down no question. above 6 and we have a fighting chance albeit a small one.
If I'm walking back to the car after the West Ham game still waiting for the 2nd league win of the campaign then I think this will most definately be the season, we need wins and fast to stay in touch and have a shot at survival.
forget talk of the transfer window, the next ten games, so and so coming back/coming good
our survival depends on the four games after arsenal. anything less than 6 points and we are down no question. above 6 and we have a fighting chance albeit a small one.
I agree, 6 points from next 5 games minimum giving us 12 points after 20 matches, that would give us a glimmer of hope.
If I'm walking back to the car after the West Ham game still waiting for the 2nd league win of the campaign then I think this will most definately be the season, we need wins and fast to stay in touch and have a shot at survival.
forget talk of the transfer window, the next ten games, so and so coming back/coming good
our survival depends on the four games after arsenal. anything less than 6 points and we are down no question. above 6 and we have a fighting chance albeit a small one.
I agree, 6 points from next 5 games minimum giving us 12 points after 20 matches, that would give us a glimmer of hope.
even then we still need 26 points from 18 games so literally 9 wins' a 50% win rate and 1.5 points per game, not impossible but highly unlikely. 34 points taken from the last 49 games
We're down people, get used to it & start preparing for the Championship.
Just though I’d pop in to depress you all again.
Really wanted us to win today. Another record surpassed….
Longest league run without winning
14 - 14/08/2015-and counting
13 - 24/03/2012-02/09/2012
12 - 13/12/2014-28/02/2015
12 - 27/12/1986-25/03/1987
12 - 10/11/1973-02/02/1974
11 - 19/11/2006-13/01/2007
11 - 28/03/1967-23/08/1967
11 - 23/03/1963-04/05/1963
11 - 29/08/1955-22/10/1955
If I'm walking back to the car after the West Ham game still waiting for the 2nd league win of the campaign then I think this will most definately be the season, we need wins and fast to stay in touch and have a shot at survival.
forget talk of the transfer window, the next ten games, so and so coming back/coming good
our survival depends on the four games after arsenal. anything less than 6 points and we are down no question. above 6 and we have a fighting chance albeit a small one.
I agree, 6 points from next 5 games minimum giving us 12 points after 20 matches, that would give us a glimmer of hope.
even then we still need 26 points from 18 games so literally 9 wins' a 50% win rate and 1.5 points per game, not impossible but highly unlikely. 34 points taken from the last 49 games
I probably like you know were done but after every fixture is ticked off as we get nearer to halfway you cannot help but work out a new points scenario and dream of a mini run of wins, its the hope that kills you.
We're down people, get used to it & start preparing for the Championship.
Luke how dare you interrupt my private unrealistic conversation with Oswald and spoil it with your negativity :)
Just though I’d pop in to depress you all again.
Really wanted us to win today. Another record surpassed….
Longest league run without winning
14 - 14/08/2015-and counting
13 - 24/03/2012-02/09/2012
12 - 13/12/2014-28/02/2015
12 - 27/12/1986-25/03/1987
12 - 10/11/1973-02/02/1974
11 - 19/11/2006-13/01/2007
11 - 28/03/1967-23/08/1967
11 - 23/03/1963-04/05/1963
11 - 29/08/1955-22/10/1955
So the 3 worst runs in our history have all been achieved during fuckwit Lerners regime. What a failure of a chairman.
Just though I’d pop in to depress you all again.
Really wanted us to win today. Another record surpassed….
Longest league run without winning
14 - 14/08/2015-and counting
13 - 24/03/2012-02/09/2012
12 - 13/12/2014-28/02/2015
12 - 27/12/1986-25/03/1987
12 - 10/11/1973-02/02/1974
11 - 19/11/2006-13/01/2007
11 - 28/03/1967-23/08/1967
11 - 23/03/1963-04/05/1963
11 - 29/08/1955-22/10/1955
So the 3 worst runs in our history have all been achieved during fuckwit Lerners regime. What a failure of a chairman.
Yep. The next three were all under Doug. So there it is: the unequivocal evidence that Randy is the worse Chairman in our history.
Opens popcorn...
I don't think it is a certainty, yet, but I do fear for next season unless something changes drastically. Championship players on a Championship budget will eventually end up where it belongs.
Head says we will lose against Arsenal, heart says look at Bournemouth beating Chelsea, Newcastle beating Liverpool, Leicester top of the league. We will have a surprise result at some time this season, just don't know where or when.
It does look like the stars and planets are aligning.
Mid December '98. 2-0 down at half time, Santa falls from the sky, Collymores last good game for us(?), Dion and Judge Jules Joachim get us the points. Come to think of it, Remi may have been in the Arsenal squad.What a game that was, but how embarrassing that we haven't beat them at home since. Especially as they're known for being a bit flakey and slipping up.
Head says we will lose against Arsenal, heart says look at Bournemouth beating Chelsea, Newcastle beating Liverpool, Leicester top of the league. We will have a surprise result at some time this season, just don't know where or when.
Hasn't been a great weekend has it? Not many would have had Bournemouth winning at Chelsea or Newcastle beating a very in form Liverpool.
*sad face*
I suppose the only thing it proves is that no result is locked in and we can win games we might on paper lose. Onwards and upwards.
We'll be the only constant.Hasn't been a great weekend has it? Not many would have had Bournemouth winning at Chelsea or Newcastle beating a very in form Liverpool.
*sad face*
I suppose the only thing it proves is that no result is locked in and we can win games we might on paper lose. Onwards and upwards.
It's been a strange season all round really, which is why we shouldn't write it off just yet.
From February 2014:The real worry is we've recruited Championship level players but we're not on a Championship budget. The Sunday Independent prints a list of PL clubs' annual wage bills, and ours (at August 2015) was £69m a year - smack bang in the middle at tenth in the list. This compares, for example, to the Manchesters on (£216m or £205m), and the likes of Watford (£11.9m), Bournemouth (£17.3m), or even Southampton (£55m). The parachute payments are designed to soften the blow of taking PL wages into the Championship, but the whole situation reeks of a financial omnishambles - we've recruited Championship level players and haven't effectively reduced the wage billI don't think it is a certainty, yet, but I do fear for next season unless something changes drastically. Championship players on a Championship budget will eventually end up where it belongs.
It's not looking good is it really, Bournemouth winning and Newcastle, next 3 games are massive. Bottom of the table is beginning to look like a lonely place
The depressing thing is we were close to getting that illusive win, if Guzan comes and catches that corner, (he should have it landed in the six yard box) we might have hung on.
That is part of the problem , you just know that an unforced error or 2 will happe every game.
It looks like we have at least 6 more Guzn mstches and that is 6 too many.
The depressing thing is we were close to getting that illusive win, if Guzan comes and catches that corner, (he should have it landed in the six yard box) we might have hung on.
That is part of the problem , you just know that an unforced error or 2 will happe every game.
It looks like we have at least 6 more Guzn mstches and that is 6 too many.
He was good on Saturday. He caught nearly everything that came over. He had no chance of catching the one which lead to the goal. If anything, it should have been cleared.
Disagree, it was a regulation catch for a decent keeper. I agree the rest of the time he looked OK.The depressing thing is we were close to getting that illusive win, if Guzan comes and catches that corner, (he should have it landed in the six yard box) we might have hung on.
That is part of the problem , you just know that an unforced error or 2 will happe every game.
It looks like we have at least 6 more Guzn mstches and that is 6 too many.
He was good on Saturday. He caught nearly everything that came over. He had no chance of catching the one which lead to the goal. If anything, it should have been cleared.
Just looked back through last seasons results and had forgotten how truly awful it was. After the decent start (10 points from 12) we then managed 12 points from a possible 69. Which means if we got 16 points from the next 12 games we'd be where we were last season at the beginning of March. We'd then need to do what we did towards the end of the season and take another 16 points from 11 games. Piece of piss!Yes you are right with Benteke Del£$, Vlaar a decent second choice Goalkeeper
To think, Bournemouth have achieved something we've failed to do in 20 years - beating Man Utd in the league at home! And it's their first season in the top flight.
home to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Quotehome to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Can't see more than 8 pts there. The only thing I cling to is that this time last season Leicester City were in fuck street.
To think, Bournemouth have achieved something we've failed to do in 20 years - beating Man Utd in the league at home! And it's their first season in the top flight.
[/quote
It's a bit like all the relegation talk that has seeped in over the past few years, climaxing with people now throwing in the towel with five months of the season still to play. From just having a complex about one club we now seem to have a complex about every club. Belief is the missing ingredient.
Fickle ay we...
Next 10 games for me are make or break time ... if we can't get 4 wins and at least 15 points from this lot and get to 21 points with 13 games to go then we are well and truly down ...We surely will win one or a couple of those, just for the fact we're due a win. However I honestly can't see who we're going to beat, I'm not looking at any of those thinking "we'll win that one".
home to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
the games after that are much tougher but we will need to have rediscovered how to win to have any chance by then. At least the first 4 games are with the current squad.
Quotehome to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Can't see more than 8 pts there. The only thing I cling to is that this time last season Leicester City were in fuck street.
Quotehome to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
i see prob 7-8 points and a new record for us
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Can't see more than 8 pts there. The only thing I cling to is that this time last season Leicester City were in fuck street.
Leicester were playing decent football and not losing by more than a goal though...
Quotehome to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Can't see more than 8 pts there. The only thing I cling to is that this time last season Leicester City were in fuck street.
L
W
D
D
W
D
D
D
D
W
15.
Look how many must win games in that lot,I can't see us winning many of them.
We have won once all season and we now need to win 5 out of the next 10.
It is not going to happen.
Look how many must win games in that lot,I can't see us winning many of them.
We have won once all season and we now need to win 5 out of the next 10.
It is not going to happen.
Look how many must win games in that lot,I can't see us winning many of them.
We have won once all season and we now need to win 5 out of the next 10.
It is not going to happen.
this
You're right it mightLook how many must win games in that lot,I can't see us winning many of them.
We have won once all season and we now need to win 5 out of the next 10.
It is not going to happen.Look how many must win games in that lot,I can't see us winning many of them.
We have won once all season and we now need to win 5 out of the next 10.
It is not going to happen.
this
But it might.
Quotehome to Arsenal (3rd)
away to Newcastle (18th)
home to West Ham (8th)
away to Norwich (17th)
away to Sunderland (19th)
home to Palace (6th)
home to Leicester (2nd)
away to Baggies (13th)
away to West Ham (8th)
home to Norwich (17th)
Can't see more than 8 pts there. The only thing I cling to is that this time last season Leicester City were in fuck street.
i thiink leicester were on 13 or 14 points after 19 games so we need to take at least 7 from the next 4
A win and everything changes.
A win and everything changes.
The question is who's coming with us.
Boxing Day.
To be honest I'm kind of at the point where I'm thinking that if it is this season then so be it. I mean what is the point of this purgatory we've been living with for the last few years. It's utterly miserable week in and week out. I personally get zero enjoyment out of Villa games now, when they used to be something I looked forward to. They are now just a complete chore, partially down to what football in general has become, but also the fact that of all the teams currently in the top flight we are by far the most inept. If we are put out of our Premier League misery this season I don't think we could have any complaints.
To be honest I'm kind of at the point where I'm thinking that if it is this season then so be it. I mean what is the point of this purgatory we've been living with for the last few years. It's utterly miserable week in and week out. I personally get zero enjoyment out of Villa games now, when they used to be something I looked forward to. They are now just a complete chore, partially down to what football in general has become, but also the fact that of all the teams currently in the top flight we are by far the most inept. If we are put out of our Premier League misery this season I don't think we could have any complaints.
Sad it's come to this but I have to agree with this.
10 points adrift now
10 points adrift now
You're right Phew ! ;)10 points adrift now
Still 'only' 8.
Newcastle just won
Our last 15 league games
W0 D3 L12 F12 A30 GD-18 Pts 3
nothing probably about itNewcastle just won
It's probably irrelevant to us now.
Our last 15 league games
W0 D3 L12 F12 A30 GD-18 Pts 3
Have we taken a single point after going behind this season? Don't think so. We are absolutely buried, short of an actual miracle.
Have we taken a single point after going behind this season? Don't think so. We are absolutely buried, short of an actual miracle.
Sunderland.
Nothing changes for us. We just have one less game to escape. No point in getting depressed that other teams are occasionally winning. None of them have turned into Barcelona. Even Newcastle and Bmouth after their exploits still have no more than one point per game. It is still in our hand as but........it's a big but!
We'd be bottom 4 of the Championship on current form - same as last season.
No striker on the bench today. I know that he's not exactly Gerd Muller but Kozak must have killed Remi's pet cat or something
We are truly doomed but no one can take away our history.
We are truly doomed but no one can take away our history.
We are truly doomed but no one can take away our history.
Thanks for your time Gary, but shouldn't you be celebrating your point at Anfield rather than badly trolling people who don't really care about you?
Newcastle are no great shakes and are still a pretty poor team, but how many of our players would actually get in their team? None in my opinion.
Newcastle are no great shakes and are still a pretty poor team, but how many of our players would actually get in their team? None in my opinion.
Did you see their second goal? We don't have the players capable of doing that, and they will beat us easily.
Newcastle are no great shakes and are still a pretty poor team, but how many of our players would actually get in their team? None in my opinion.
Did you see their second goal? We don't have the players capable of doing that, and they will beat us easily.
I don't know why everybody's so despondentI'm not sure we'll win four all season, never mind getting four "quick" wins.
4 quick wins and were right back in it
Newcastle are no great shakes and are still a pretty poor team, but how many of our players would actually get in their team? None in my opinion.
Did you see their second goal? We don't have the players capable of doing that, and they will beat us easily.
The records keep coming.
Longest run without a home league win:
9 - 24/05/2015 – and counting
8 - 04/05/1987 – 17/10/1987
8 - 11/12/1920 – 12/03/1921
7 - 03/12/2011 – 12/02/2012
7 - 16/11/1985 – 08/03/1986
7 - 17/11/1973 – 02/03/1974
7 - 24/12/1960 – 01/04/1961
Our next 9 league games will decide things I reckon. Get a good haul of points and we're back in it with the bonus of confidence being up. Carry on being shite and it will be a foregone conclusion.to have any chance and I do not think we do, we have to win Saturday get another 4 wins, can't see it
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Aston Villa v West Ham
Norwich v Aston Villa
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Aston Villa v Leicester
West Brom v Aston Villa
West Ham v Aston Villa
Aston Villa v Norwich
To have had any chance, we needed to beat Watford. For me, we sealed it then.
Looking at that 9 games, you would have to say 16 points is the mark. 5 wins and a draw from the 9 games is never going to happen though. If it did, we would still be bottom 3 but would be right in the fight. 7 from the next 4 seems imperative. I would take a draw this weekend though to 1. stop them getting ahead and 2. start the ball rolling.
I think we have to be on 21 points after Norwich away to be in with a chance. 8 games - 4 wins & 2 draws.
I think we have to be on 21 points after Norwich away to be in with a chance. 8 games - 4 wins & 2 draws.
two wins from the next 3 minimum
never mind the next ten games
two wins from the next 3 minimum
never mind the next ten games
That would us back in touching distance and give us some belief. A couple of new players in by that point too. Play like we did second half yesterday, for the whole game and who knows.
two wins from the next 3 minimum
never mind the next ten games
That would us back in touching distance and give us some belief. A couple of new players in by that point too. Play like we did second half yesterday, for the whole game and who knows.
This! If we can string an entire 90 together like the second 45 yesterday then we might have a shout.two wins from the next 3 minimum
never mind the next ten games
That would us back in touching distance and give us some belief. A couple of new players in by that point too. Play like we did second half yesterday, for the whole game and who knows.
We're down and people need to get used to that. We'd need around another 30 points from 21 games, and having won 1 game all season, that just isn't going to happen. That's either 10 wins, or say 7 wins and 9 draws. Isn't going to happen, we just don't have the players to achieve it.sadly this is true.
I think the next few games our key to our season, we need to beating the teams around us to at least give us a fighting chance. Get into January with one or two results going our way, and one or two solid buys then I can see a foundation. Otherwise I think we're down and should start planning for life in the Championship.
no we are not and no it is notWe're down and people need to get used to that. We'd need around another 30 points from 21 games, and having won 1 game all season, that just isn't going to happen. That's either 10 wins, or say 7 wins and 9 draws. Isn't going to happen, we just don't have the players to achieve it.sadly this is true.
no we are not and no it is notWe're down and people need to get used to that. We'd need around another 30 points from 21 games, and having won 1 game all season, that just isn't going to happen. That's either 10 wins, or say 7 wins and 9 draws. Isn't going to happen, we just don't have the players to achieve it.sadly this is true.
UTV
Go down Ladbrokes and bet your mortgage on Remi Garde being Manager of the Month next April
April 1st?Go down Ladbrokes and bet your mortgage on Remi Garde being Manager of the Month next April
For winning his first game in charge?
West Ham looked to have all the penetration of a butter knife on the weekend. Score a goal and we certainly wont lose, score twice and we will almost certainly win.
The 6th Army pushed Ivan so far back that they could feel the Volga lapping at their heels. All around them was chaos and certain defeat until one successful probing counter attack re-took ground against a blunted attacking force. When we beat the Facists (yes, Chelsea would work better but those Chicken Run gimps must be both pwopa right wing as well as pwopa nawty) we can replenish with Siberian reinforcements in January and launch a huge counter attack, only possibly because of our disasterous five year plan.
I guess the point is, I like history and the Villa. More importantly you are not defeated until you accept it.
Watching West Ham the other day I thought Fat Sam was still there. Not much going forward but very solid and hard to break down. It will be 0-0 or 0-1.
Agreed. Payet is a huge miss, good player.Watching West Ham the other day I thought Fat Sam was still there. Not much going forward but very solid and hard to break down. It will be 0-0 or 0-1.
To be fair to them, all of their first choice front five are injured. That's bound to hit a team's creativity.
Target of 30 more points to make it 37 which might just be enough.
So the equivalent of 10 wins in 21 games. I just can't see it happening.
We need administrations now.
Target of 30 more points to make it 37 which might just be enough.
So the equivalent of 10 wins in 21 games. I just can't see it happening.
We need administrations now.
Remi agrees (with the 10 wins bit):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35161976
Target of 30 more points to make it 37 which might just be enough.
So the equivalent of 10 wins in 21 games. I just can't see it happening.
We need administrations now.
Remi agrees (with the 10 wins bit):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35161976
Go on admit it. You really are Remi Garde aren't you!
So we need to go from winning 1 game in 17, or none in 16, to winning 1 every 2 games for the rest of the season. Hmmm.
Target of 30 more points to make it 37 which might just be enough.
So the equivalent of 10 wins in 21 games. I just can't see it happening.
We need administrations now.
Remi agrees (with the 10 wins bit):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35161976
Oui.
The one straw to cling on is that we've rarely been battered - other than at Everton; we've lost most of our games by the odd goal. If we could somehow get a prolific striker it could turn losses into draws, or draws into wins.
Go on admit it. You really are Remi Garde aren't you!
Remi Garde avoiding relegation with Aston Villa would be up there with Harry Houdini
Villa are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, and survival is looking more and more like mission impossible
By John Percy8:00PM GMT 24 Dec 2015
Remi Garde declared he was not "the magic man" on the day of his appointment - but he has been unable to make Aston Villa's problems disappear.
Villa are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, Garde is yet to win since taking over and navigating a route to survival seems to be Mission Impossible.
Not many people outside of B6 believe there is any chance that Villa can defy history by somehow scrambling to safety, with the icy fingers of relegation clawing away at their necks.
But Garde is continuing to talk defiantly - he has no other option - and the next three games are likely to tell us everything we need to know about whether they can achieve the Great Escape
The visit of West Ham on Boxing Day, plus trips to Norwich and Sunderland, do not get any bigger and surely Villa need to win at least two of them to move closer towards the dreaded dotted line.
If they can achieve that, Garde's hopes of strengthening his squad will be infinitely better. If their position appears as grim as it does today, however, which players with their heads screwed on will view a move to Villa as a step forward?
Last week chief executive Tom Fox bravely insisted that Villa's size, reputation and infrastructure sells itself and despite the club's miserable position, there will be no shortage of players wanting to join.
It is difficult to share his optimism, however. Even players in the Championship will be wary of moving there for the threat of returning to the division in under six months is all too real.
Loan players could be an option, but chairman Randy Lerner is notoriously opposed to them and would prefer to bring in permanent signings.
Villa have already begun mapping out their strategy for the January window, with Everton striker Steven Naismith, Gent's Laurent Depoitre and Leicester's Swiss international Gokhan Inler all on the radar.
That strategy will only appear realistic if Villa give themselves a good chance of extracting themselves from the pit of slurry they are currently sitting in.
Garde agrees with Fox, claiming that Villa still remains a big pull to players across Europe.
"Even at the bottom of the table Aston Villa is still attractive for some players. They know we are not relegated yet and hopefully before the opening of the transfer window our situation will be a little bit better. Many players are interested in coming to England and joining Villa," he said.
"It depends on the mentality of the player. As you can imagine some loans would be very helpful for the club but also for the player.
"For example if some players want to play in the Euros at the end of the season but are maybe not getting enough games at their clubs, maybe it's a good deal for both."
In the next few weeks the picture will be clearer - but if Garde does pull off an improbable escape, it will be up there with Harry Houdini.
Just though I’d pop in to depress you all again.
Really wanted us to win today. Another record surpassed….
Longest league run without winning
14 - 14/08/2015-and counting
13 - 24/03/2012-02/09/2012
12 - 13/12/2014-28/02/2015
12 - 27/12/1986-25/03/1987
12 - 10/11/1973-02/02/1974
11 - 19/11/2006-13/01/2007
11 - 28/03/1967-23/08/1967
11 - 23/03/1963-04/05/1963
11 - 29/08/1955-22/10/1955
What really pisses me offa bout Lambert is the non -specific "problems " he mentions.
So what were they you dull over paid under achieving wanker?
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10109693/aston-villa-are-worse-off-since-i-left-says-paul-lambert
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10109693/aston-villa-are-worse-off-since-i-left-says-paul-lambert
Yeah, we could be on an exiting promotion charge right now instead of having to wait till next season.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10109693/aston-villa-are-worse-off-since-i-left-says-paul-lambert
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/10109693/aston-villa-are-worse-off-since-i-left-says-paul-lambert
In fairness, the time he went to Germany for a few days and came back with the tactic of Guzan passing it to the full back then him passing it back to Guzan was a masterstroke and ahead of it's time.
It's not over until the fat lady sings, but the sound check has finished and the support band are on.I think the make up is on, hair done and she is waddling towards the stage.
Way to look at it is Swansea had a very similar game to us today at home to West Brom and they won their game, we couldn't.
Results like that will be the difference between Swansea scrambling clear and us going down imo.
Way to look at it is Swansea had a very similar game to us today at home to West Brom and they won their game, we couldn't.
Results like that will be the difference between Swansea scrambling clear and us going down imo.
the way to look at it is we have won one match in 17 and that was a flukey opening day result. Next week will seal our fate I reckon. I fear Norwich and Sunderland will brush us aside on their own turf with decent support behind them. we'll then have to face facts that we wont be playing in the prem next year. Merry xmas
I fear Norwich and Sunderland will brush us aside on their own turf with decent support behind them.Yes they are both Barcelona at home. Not much point in spending club's money and sending the team out there we may as well fax them both 3 points each.
It's not over until the fat lady sings, but the sound check has finished and the support band are on.The fat lady will sing when we play man city away on 5 March however rehearsals can start as soon as we are ready from today.
I still keep looking at the table and thinking if we beat Norwich and Sunderland we'll be right back in the mix.
...and then I remember we haven't won since August.
I still keep looking at the table and thinking if we beat Norwich and Sunderland we'll be right back in the mix.
...and then I remember we haven't won since August.
I fear Norwich and Sunderland will brush us aside on their own turf with decent support behind them.Yes they are both Barcelona at home. Not much point in spending club's money and sending the team out there we may as well fax them both 3 points each.
So o take it you were not at the match today? Or watched the second half against Newcastle last week?We have taken two draws against 2 teams every bit as shit as us.
know what you've been watching this weekend oswaldI still keep looking at the table and thinking if we beat Norwich and Sunderland we'll be right back in the mix.
...and then I remember we haven't won since August.
exactly
but dont worry everything will be okay when we sign quality players in january and win every other game
this time next year rodney
So o take it you were not at the match today? Or watched the second half against Newcastle last week?We have taken two draws against 2 teams every bit as shit as us.
One of them at home, with half a dozen regulars missing.
I'm not getting too excited.
I'm not being argumentative when I say I'm not getting excited.
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Add it to the list. Home games against Sunderland, Stoke, Albion, Swansea, Watford and now West Ham all on very poor runs when we played them = 2 points. Says it all.
We're in of those situations where we need to win games but at the same time can't afford to lose any either. I can understand Garde being cautious.
So o take it you were not at the in match today? Or watched the second half against Newcastle last week?
I could definitely see the point of keeping it tight, if we were able to do it!! It was better yesterday though, so let's hope it's something to build on. Drawers aren't any cop from a staying up point of view, but if it creates some belief in the team then it can only be a good thing.We are pants
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Just because you think we're down doesn't make people who still think we can get out of it delusional.
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Just because you think we're down doesn't make people who still think we can get out of it delusional.
Well, that's your opinion, and mine is that thinking we'll escape relegation is delusional.
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
We're in of those situations where we need to win games but at the same time can't afford to lose any either. I can understand Garde being cautious.
So can I.
I certainly get the caution of the last few games. However that is going to be increasingly less useful as we are going to start running out of games
I've just read a "season so far - fans verdict" type thing on the Grauniad website. Speaking for us is someone called Jonathan Pritchard, who appears to be Sherwood's lover, or brother, or mother. He peddles all the favourite pundits' myths, including labelling all the foreign signings "not surprisingly useless". It's bad enough when hacks and ex-players come out with this lazy shite without one of our supposed supporters reinforcing it all in the media. Where do they find these people?
We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
I've just read a "season so far - fans verdict" type thing on the Grauniad website. Speaking for us is someone called Jonathan Pritchard, who appears to be Sherwood's lover, or brother, or mother. He peddles all the favourite pundits' myths, including labelling all the foreign signings "not surprisingly useless". It's bad enough when hacks and ex-players come out with this lazy shite without one of our supposed supporters reinforcing it all in the media. Where do they find these people?
A truly awful piece of writing wasn't it? User generated content at its worst. I'm surprised they could make out the words through the tear stains when they came transcribing it for publication.
I've just read a "season so far - fans verdict" type thing on the Grauniad website. Speaking for us is someone called Jonathan Pritchard, who appears to be Sherwood's lover, or brother, or mother. He peddles all the favourite pundits' myths, including labelling all the foreign signings "not surprisingly useless". It's bad enough when hacks and ex-players come out with this lazy shite without one of our supposed supporters reinforcing it all in the media. Where do they find these people?
A truly awful piece of writing wasn't it? User generated content at its worst. I'm surprised they could make out the words through the tear stains when they came transcribing it for publication.
If I remember right, they've been using him for years; since before the days of mass blogs and social media, when everyone who did 'fan views' tended to be well-known, yet his name was a complete mystery.
I've just read a "season so far - fans verdict" type thing on the Grauniad website. Speaking for us is someone called Jonathan Pritchard, who appears to be Sherwood's lover, or brother, or mother. He peddles all the favourite pundits' myths, including labelling all the foreign signings "not surprisingly useless". It's bad enough when hacks and ex-players come out with this lazy shite without one of our supposed supporters reinforcing it all in the media. Where do they find these people?
A truly awful piece of writing wasn't it? User generated content at its worst. I'm surprised they could make out the words through the tear stains when they came transcribing it for publication.
If I remember right, they've been using him for years; since before the days of mass blogs and social media, when everyone who did 'fan views' tended to be well-known, yet his name was a complete mystery.
How many different ways are there to say pathetic? Our fate was sealed in the summer when we failed to replace Benteke and Delph. Signing an unknown, inexperienced and not surprisingly useless foreign legion, and some ageing statues to add to a bunch of perennial underperformers was always an utterly idiotic strategy and we now find ourselves barely among the best 35 teams in England. The blame lies 100% with the owner, who has systematically sapped every ounce of fun, pride and passion out of our wonderful football club (although our away following has remained superb). That the Holte End doesn’t sing constantly for his removal bemuses me weekly. The club cannot move forward while Lerner and his ridiculous cronies stay in situ. 1/10
Stars and flops Ayew is the only summer signing who will move to a bigger club. Hutton has tried hard. The Grealish media-fest would be embarrassing enough if he was any good, but his lack of pace and end product has been found out within 15 games. He will likely follow the “non-league by 25” road taken by some other recent Villa “wonderkids”.
Happy with the manager? 2/10 It’s hard to get excited about Garde: he seems to be about as dull as the team he inherited. He will inevitably be replaced in the summer by Allardyce/Pulis/Dyche/Hughton. I’m in a minority of one in thinking that we should have stuck with Sherwood until Christmas – nobody could have gelled the squad in the time he was given.
If he was a cartoon character, he’d be … He’s so faceless I could barely pick him out of a police lineup. Mr Benn?
Jonathan Pritchard, Observer reader
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
I think we will stay up and anybody who thinks differently is a smelly poo pants.
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
I'm not saying we will, but it's still possible we can get out of it. It's all about believing. There's nothing wrong with having belief.
We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
I'm usually optimistic but what's worrying me almost as much as our position is the thought that seventeenth is going to be almost a record high points total this season I think. Some of the relegated teams this year will consider themselves very unlucky.
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Just because you think we're down doesn't make people who still think we can get out of it delusional.
Well, that's your opinion, and mine is that thinking we'll escape relegation is delusional.
Am i'm entitled to think that we can do it. It doesn't make me delusional.
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Just because you think we're down doesn't make people who still think we can get out of it delusional.
Well, that's your opinion, and mine is that thinking we'll escape relegation is delusional.
Am i'm entitled to think that we can do it. It doesn't make me delusional.
In my opinion you are.
We are down already. Trying to believe anything else is just delusional.
Just because you think we're down doesn't make people who still think we can get out of it delusional.
Well, that's your opinion, and mine is that thinking we'll escape relegation is delusional.
Am i'm entitled to think that we can do it. It doesn't make me delusional.
In my opinion you are.
I'd call you a pessimist, but i'm a little bit more polite.
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
I'm usually optimistic but what's worrying me almost as much as our position is the thought that seventeenth is going to be almost a record high points total this season I think. Some of the relegated teams this year will consider themselves very unlucky.
i think it will be closer to 40 this season
the stone cold fact is that we need a minimum of 30 points to stay up as the average over the past ten seasons is 37.3
i just find it hard to understand how given our current form (the worst in all four divisions) that some think that we are going to achieve top 8 form
each to their own
I'm usually optimistic but what's worrying me almost as much as our position is the thought that seventeenth is going to be almost a record high points total this season I think. Some of the relegated teams this year will consider themselves very unlucky.
i think it will be closer to 40 this season
As things stand 16th place have 18 points from 18 games and I don't see anything to suggest that sort of ratio is likely to be change so getting to 38 points will probably give you a pretty good chance of staying up.
The league is pish though, which helps. Even a side that has dropped more dollar than a Saudi stag do in Yanited look utter mince.
We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
I agree with the thrust of that but walking out of the ground yesterday I could not escape the thought that despite our best performance of the season and dominating possession we still only had a point to show for it. It is as though the Gods have decided we are going down and there is nothing that we can do to stop it. Perhaps when the fog of 2 days worth of alcohol induced melancholia clears I will regain some rational perspective but at the moment I think we are being punished for the combined idiocy of our recent managerial appointments and our Saviour has arrived too late.
We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
I agree with the thrust of that but walking out of the ground yesterday I could not escape the thought that despite our best performance of the season and dominating possession we still only had a point to show for it. It is as though the Gods have decided we are going down and there is nothing that we can do to stop it. Perhaps when the fog of 2 days worth of alcohol induced melancholia clears I will regain some rational perspective but at the moment I think we are being punished for the combined idiocy of our recent managerial appointments and our Saviour has arrived too late.
Same. Which is a shame as in another season this team & manager could have been rather exciting. But I just cant see any way out of this one.
We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
I agree with the thrust of that but walking out of the ground yesterday I could not escape the thought that despite our best performance of the season and dominating possession we still only had a point to show for it. It is as though the Gods have decided we are going down and there is nothing that we can do to stop it. Perhaps when the fog of 2 days worth of alcohol induced melancholia clears I will regain some rational perspective but at the moment I think we are being punished for the combined idiocy of our recent managerial appointments and our Saviour has arrived too late.
Same. Which is a shame as in another season this team & manager could have been rather exciting. But I just cant see any way out of this one.
Same again. Fair play to Garde for getting that performance out of them but it feels more like a defeat. I think by the end of the season he could make us an average premier league team but it'll be too late to save us.
I think we will get points in the second half of the season, but agree it looks too much. Such a shame as some of these players look as if they could be good. Such a shame re Amavi as he was excellent, Veretout is showing he is a player as is Ayew.
The fear is that we finally knit as a team in time for relegation, then have to start it all over again in the summer. And on that cheery thought I'll bid you all goodnight
The fear is that we finally knit as a team in time for relegation, then have to start it all over again in the summer. And on that cheery thought I'll bid you all goodnight
Yeah thats the final insult. Relegated teams do not keep their good players and lose their overpaid useless ones, it is the opposite.
I fear we are in for a large rebuild over the summer replacing some of the new blood while keeping those who are past it, indifferent and useless.
Another way of looking at it, think what he could have done with last seasons squad.We have lost one out of the last four and to the team that will come 2nd or 1st. We have actually started to play well, show increased fitness to press as a unit and to sow character and salvage a point from a goal down. Its small but purposeful steps.
We have some confidence, we have a striker in good fom and we have an opportunity to beat two sides to bring us within a result of Newcastle and Norwich, whom we play again in February and May. Its far from over.
I agree with the thrust of that but walking out of the ground yesterday I could not escape the thought that despite our best performance of the season and dominating possession we still only had a point to show for it. It is as though the Gods have decided we are going down and there is nothing that we can do to stop it. Perhaps when the fog of 2 days worth of alcohol induced melancholia clears I will regain some rational perspective but at the moment I think we are being punished for the combined idiocy of our recent managerial appointments and our Saviour has arrived too late.
Same. Which is a shame as in another season this team & manager could have been rather exciting. But I just cant see any way out of this one.
Same again. Fair play to Garde for getting that performance out of them but it feels more like a defeat. I think by the end of the season he could make us an average premier league team but it'll be too late to save us.
As a couple of us have said, yesterday would have been an acceptable "Shows promise, needs a few more additions" performance in August, but we're too far behind now.
Norwich is our 38th league game in the 2015 calendar year. Our record in the first 37 is W6 D7 L24 Pts 25.
Out the league before the FA cup, now that takes skill.Quality (clap clap)
In a perverse sort of way I hope the bottom 3 stays as it is. The promoted teams have been brilliant this season and deserve the cash bonanza next year, shambolically run clubs like ourselves and the North east two don't.
Yes it will make next season much more difficult bu
t let's try to assemble a decent championship team and take it from there, at least in the championship you don't need to spend 50m to be competitive.
In a perverse sort of way I hope the bottom 3 stays as it is. The promoted teams have been brilliant this season and deserve the cash bonanza next year, shambolically run clubs like ourselves and the North east two don't.
Yes it will make next season much more difficult bu
t let's try to assemble a decent championship team and take it from there, at least in the championship you don't need to spend 50m to be competitive.
I agree it's time clubs like us and Newcastle took their medicine. It's horrible for the fans, but those owning the clubs need to be given a wake up call.
Five years of unwatchable football. Five years.
"We are not awful but we are ineffective. That is now a long-term state spanning three seasons. Nothing is changing. Not so much a roller-coaster more a slow glide to oblivion"
Witton Warrior 2012
The thing is, Westood might be ace in the Championship and the mainstay of title winning side. And then we get back into the Premier League again and he's crap. Build a side around a player we know isn't up to it? No ta. I'd rather build a team with good partnerships; players who may never have touched the Premier League but by God, know how their colleague plays and want to play with those colleagues.
I like Ayew and Veretout, and would like them to stay as I think they are top division players, but keeping dross like Westwood and Sinclair? Remnants of an order that's in the process of being sacked. Get rid.
The thing is, Westood might be ace in the Championship and the mainstay of title winning side. And then we get back into the Premier League again and he's crap. Build a side around a player we know isn't up to it? No ta. I'd rather build a team with good partnerships; players who may never have touched the Premier League but by God, know how their colleague plays and want to play with those colleagues.
I like Ayew and Veretout, and would like them to stay as I think they are top division players, but keeping dross like Westwood and Sinclair? Remnants of an order that's in the process of being sacked. Get rid.
The thing is, Westood might be ace in the Championship and the mainstay of title winning side. And then we get back into the Premier League again and he's crap. Build a side around a player we know isn't up to it? No ta. I'd rather build a team with good partnerships; players who may never have touched the Premier League but by God, know how their colleague plays and want to play with those colleagues.
I like Ayew and Veretout, and would like them to stay as I think they are top division players, but keeping dross like Westwood and Sinclair? Remnants of an order that's in the process of being sacked. Get rid.
I understand the point but its not really practicable. You've got some players under contract on wages that the sort of clubs that would want them, couldn't afford them. You either pay-up their contracts and buy replacements (I can see Randy going for that one) or you select those that can do a job in that division and still have the self-respect/ambition to play in that division and add in 6 or 7 new names to freshen things up.
I still believe we'll smash division 2 next season. Look at sha, 1 point off the play-offs and they are gash. Something like 3 wins in the last 9 or 10 home games, 3 wins in their last 12 games home and away, and they are still up there. The standard down there really is shit.The problem is what is in those player contracts, so without knowing that we have no idea how the squad will look like.
blues may be 1 off the playoffs but are miles off the top 2
38 league games in 2015. W6 D7 L25 Pts25.
You know you're fucked when the likes of Joe Bennett get recalled to the squad...
Off where?
I don't see them being poached by anybody outside England. We paid a lot for both and we pay both a lot, with good length contracts.
The domestic market is about to inflate to more ridiculous proportions, so even with parachutte payments, we won't be stuck for cash and with little need or interest in selling, so if they go, then somebody will have to make it rain.
Lescott is likely beyond being a first team centre half in the top flight, but with a mobile centre half, like Okore, he has something to offer in the second division.
I'm not sure anyone would buy Traore, not for the money required. What's he done that is going to get someone paying £15m or whatever? And up to now he's played for Barcelona reserves, a year in Division 2 is hardly going to be a step down.
I wonder what odds on all six west Mids teams being in the second division next season? Blues and Wolves aren't going anywhere, we'll be there and Walsall look a good bet for promotion. Cov are there about and West Brom aren't entirely safe. West Mids Police would have a field day.
So you agree now?While I was looking at the table this morning, one thing did come to mind and kind of cheered me up.
Sure, we have to get another 35points, but Newcastle and Bournemouth have also got to get another 30 points from somewhere, and Sunderland another 28 and Norwich another 27.
It seems like we are miles behind and cut adrift, but there are still so many points to play for. We just need to get 5-8 points more than those other teams, and it's not like there are half a dozen games left. There's still more than half the season left!
Anyone feeling better?!
That's more like it. We need dooers like you in our movement! As glum as it looks, it's not over yet.
Or we could just prepare the squad for the championship.
Ultimately if you keep buying players from the second tier (either in the UK or France) you're going to end up there. This has been coming for seasons, compounded by crazy managerial appointment after another. The only hope we had this season of staying up was to get a manager in who'd been there and done it before (a la Allardyce, Pulis, etc). For a young manager learning his trade this was always going to be near-impossible.
So there are now two objectives for the next five months - try to salvage some pride (ie don't break any more records!) and prepare for the 2nd tier (bring some horrible bastards with experience in who know how to deal with the bullying we'll undoubtedly get down there).
I wonder what odds on all six west Mids teams being in the second division next season? Blues and Wolves aren't going anywhere, we'll be there and Walsall look a good bet for promotion. Cov are there about and West Brom aren't entirely safe. West Mids Police would have a field day.
I think Albion will have enough. Important win for them today. 4 is a distinct possibility.
Someone on here described the modern day AVFC as grotesque and I think that's the most apt description. Over time we've gradually morphed into something horrid yet most of us on here grew up with a completely different Villa. The ground felt different, the club carried itself with pride and players were proud to represent us. Today we have a pretty stadium with disillusioned inhabitants, players who treat the club with utter contempt (gabby, Richardson, bacuna...) and a rudderless leadership team from a planet far far away. My default line on here is l could weep and with a couple of minutes to go today I nearly did. What the hell happened to our club?
Like most of us have been saying for ages, it's been coming for a long while. Just shame it had to happen this way. I don't know what's worse though. Going like this or going last day of season. Either way it's horrible. A big fuck you to everyone at Aston Villa shame on you from Randy, to Fox and the playing staff. They don't deserve us
I'm almost at the point where I will be happy when it is confirmed that we are relegated. It's murder this week after week thinking this is when it all turns around and then you are met with a firm kick in the groin. A few more defeats and I will actually look forward to playing new teams and possibly even having a chance to win a few games. I can't even recall what that is like anymore.
I think it's fairly clear to most now that it is the season we go down, which to be honest is sadly fully justified. It's important now that we start the preparations for next season, so that we're fully prepared to give it a proper go of coming straight back up. Part of that is identifying the numerous players that need the boot, the new players we need in and also hopefully winning the odd game before the end of the season. We also need to get the coaching staff fully in place. The only luxury our uselessness has afforded is that we have plenty of time to prepare.Agreed and I said similar on the Lerner thread.
I'm not sure anyone would buy Traore, not for the money required. What's he done that is going to get someone paying £15m or whatever? And up to now he's played for Barcelona reserves, a year in Division 2 is hardly going to be a step down.
Maybe he'll even get at least half a game.
However, if he tries to much of his 'stand still, knock the ball past a player and run after it' tactics in the Championship, someone's gonna kick him into the middle of next week
This is my first post.Welcome Gato. I doubt it if Lerner and Co will be vacating any time soon.
Not sure what I can say that is not already out there. We beat Sunderland 4-0 away (by half time) last season- so there is still a chink of light now. They really are a pretty dire little football club and big Sam is not saving them this time around and we must take advantage of it.
This is NOT the season - until it's mathematically impossible to survive. Small steps (the home form - not getting beaten) Yes it's been awful this season so far but 2016 will see us rise again - once we clear out all these sh it players and hangers on and bring in some hunger for the fight.
Come May Lerner, Fox etal can then do one and give us our club back
This is my first post.Welcome Gato. I doubt it if Lerner and Co will be vacating any time soon.
Not sure what I can say that is not already out there. We beat Sunderland 4-0 away (by half time) last season- so there is still a chink of light now. They really are a pretty dire little football club and big Sam is not saving them this time around and we must take advantage of it.
This is NOT the season - until it's mathematically impossible to survive. Small steps (the home form - not getting beaten) Yes it's been awful this season so far but 2016 will see us rise again - once we clear out all these sh it players and hangers on and bring in some hunger for the fight.
Come May Lerner, Fox etal can then do one and give us our club back
Aston Villa: No chance, no hope, no surprise
‘Done. Finito. Over. F**ked.’ By any and all measures, Aston Villa’s fate is sealed. Nineteen games in this most remarkable of seasons remain, but Villa escaping relegation is the most unfathomable outcome of all. A season in which Leicester are level on points with the leaders at the halfway stage, where Crystal Palace sit one point above Manchester United, and where reigning champions Chelsea are bravely staving off relegation teaches us that nothing is impossible. Villa provide a painful anomaly. They are doomed.
Bookmark it, screenshot it, print it off and laminate it: 19 games in, Villa are out.
Inability to secure a first victory since the opening game of the season against either West Ham or Norwich over the Christmas period has not condemned them; not even half a season of terrible performances has truly done that. The club has been afflicted by mismanagement for years. This is merely a culmination of numerous failures from boardroom to pitch.
Blame must be apportioned between Randy Lerner, Doug Ellis, Tom Fox, Hendrik Almstadt, Tim Sherwood, the players and even the relatively untouched Remi Garde. The Frenchman, with no prior Premier League experience, was handed an unenviable task, but four points from eight games is simply not good enough. Nor was Sherwood’s haul of four from 11, ‘transfer committee’ or otherwise.
Yet hopes of a revival linger. They are misplaced, and horribly so. Only one team has suffered a bigger points gap from safety after 19 Premier League games. Sunderland were 13 points adrift in 2005/06 by December, and finished bottom, a further 10 points behind. Since the first 20-team Premier League in 1995/96, only three sides have survived after sitting bottom at the 19-game stage. The ‘miraculous’ exploits of West Brom, Sunderland and Leicester are well-documented, but they were only five, two and three points from safety at this stage. Swansea, in 17th place, are 11 points ahead of Villa. Derby were on seven points and nine behind 17th after 19 games of the 2007/08 season. Villa still need four more points to breach their record low points total.
The finger is pointed firmly in the direction of the owner. Lerner purchased a controlling stake in the club in August 2006, and has overseen close to a decade of spiralling results at Villa Park. An 11th-placed finish in the 2006-07 season was followed by three consecutive finishes in sixth. Villa have placed ninth, 16th, 15th, 15th and 17th in the following campaigns. It has become an oft-repeated statistic that Watford have accrued more Premier League points in 2015 than Villa despite only being promoted in August.
But the rut was carved a long time ago. Since the start of the 2011/12 season, Villa have accrued 163 Premier League points; no ever-present in that period has fared worse. Southampton have 181 points in that timeframe, and were only promoted in 2012/13. West Ham have one point fewer having played three-and-a-half seasons to Villa’s four and a half; Crystal Palace have 39 points fewer in two-and-a-half seasons. Villa’s tally from the 2011/12 campaign to now averages out at 36.2 points per season, enough to finish 17th in each of the last four campaigns. For too long Villa’s survival has been the Premier League’s recurring abnormality, achieved more through the incompetencies of three other clubs, rather than their own efforts. Such luck has expired.
“I owe it to Villa to move on, and look for fresh, invigorated leadership, if in my heart I feel I can no longer do the job,” Lerner said, when announcing he had put Villa up for sale in May 2014. He has ‘owed’ the club, the fans much more for much longer. More glib excuses came a year later this May: “The responsibilities that I have at home in the US both personal and professional come first. I don’t disagree with the (fan) criticism. And what I should have done several years back was bring in a chairman. The club remains for sale. I have had interest from nearly every corner of the globe.”
But what investor, sound of mind and bulging of wallet, would maintain an interest in Aston Villa? This is a club destined for the Championship, with a largely uninspiring and inexperienced playing staff, a wage bill not suited to second-tier football, and a boss whose management career extends to one previous club.
On the other hand, this is the fifth most successful English side ever, a former European champion, one of seven Premier League ever-presents, a club with a proud record of producing youth players, with the eighth biggest stadium capacity in the country, and with a set of fiercely loyal fans. Fans who deserve better. If Steve Parish can claim Crystal Palace have the “biggest potential of any single football club in the country”, what of Villa? The club has spent over £120million on players over the past five seasons; only eight clubs boast a bigger outlay. With this comes the caveat of net spend, with Villa spending less than £7million on average per season, more than only Everton and Spurs of the fellow ever-presents. If 11th is seen as gross under-performance for the former, how can Villa’s diabolical last five years be described?
January often provides struggling sides with an opportunity for respite, but such transfer profligacy only threatens to deepen Villa’s mire. Only five clubs spent more on players in the summer, but just Liverpool and Manchester United generated more through sales. Villa spent £52.5million on 12 players in preparation for this season; ‘over-achieving’ sides such as Leicester, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Watford all spent around £20million.
“I’ve got some ideas on players who hopefully could still believe we can improve,” said Garde earlier this week. “Aston Villa is still an attractive club for some players. You can find players who fight everywhere in Europe. But we also have to get some good football players to play good football as well.” How can further expenditure possibly be justified? Garde has imprinted no discernible identity on this Villa side, so why would he be trusted with further funds?
The common claim is that relegation can help a club. The idea is that dropping to the second tier would send a shockwave through the club. For Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One. Portsmouth, relegated in 2010 and fourth in England’s fourth tier, provide a troubling outlier. To expect Villa to emulate Southampton or Leicester is foolish; mirroring Leeds or Wigan is just as likely.
Yet relegation is a certainty. Considering the owner’s intentions, a reckless transfer policy, and the club’s worrying lack of identity, it remains the only guarantee in their future.
Thanks for posting Dave. That is a very, very good article from Matt Stead - I must keep an eye out for him.
He makes one comment which concerns me - that Garde has made no discernible imprint on the team. That has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now.
Thanks for posting Dave. That is a very, very good article from Matt Stead - I must keep an eye out for him.
He makes one comment which concerns me - that Garde has made no discernible imprint on the team. That has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now.
I'd disagree somewhat with that. There has at least been a consistency to his team selection and a game plan that involves retaining the ball and in some instances, a willingness to win it back when lost. I hope such an imprint would be more evident when (or if...) the team actually gets a win but we are still firmly in stemming the bleeding mode.
Thanks for posting Dave. That is a very, very good article from Matt Stead - I must keep an eye out for him.
He makes one comment which concerns me - that Garde has made no discernible imprint on the team. That has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now.
I'd disagree somewhat with that. There has at least been a consistency to his team selection and a game plan that involves retaining the ball and in some instances, a willingness to win it back when lost. I hope such an imprint would be more evident when (or if...) the team actually gets a win but we are still firmly in stemming the bleeding mode.
The biggest consistency has been in our results, Joe. 4 points from 8 games compared to 4 in 11 under Sherwood. Under Garde we have scored 5 goals and conceded 14 - there is no discernible improvement in the team, though I think Ayew and Veretout are definitely improving.
Don't get me wrong, even thinking of sacking Garde this season would be madness, but we have had no tangible improvement since he arrived.
Thanks for posting Dave. That is a very, very good article from Matt Stead - I must keep an eye out for him.
He makes one comment which concerns me - that Garde has made no discernible imprint on the team. That has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now.
I'd disagree somewhat with that. There has at least been a consistency to his team selection and a game plan that involves retaining the ball and in some instances, a willingness to win it back when lost. I hope such an imprint would be more evident when (or if...) the team actually gets a win but we are still firmly in stemming the bleeding mode.
The biggest consistency has been in our results, Joe. 4 points from 8 games compared to 4 in 11 under Sherwood. Under Garde we have scored 5 goals and conceded 14 - there is no discernible improvement in the team, though I think Ayew and Veretout are definitely improving.
Don't get me wrong, even thinking of sacking Garde this season would be madness, but we have had no tangible improvement since he arrived.
You're quite right, in every meaningful regard, it's been as bad as it was under his predecessor but I'd rather Garde's approach than any more of Sherwood seemingly picking the team with the assistance of Guinevere and set of balls number three.
I still don't think it's quite over yet. 11 points yes I know, but if we can beat Sunderland, we'll close the gap between us and them to a single point. It will be an 8 point swing required providing Swansea lose (they are away at Man. United) and Newcastle lose (away at Arsenal). Plus I think other clubs will drop down as well.
It only takes a couple of wins to put you right back in the mix.
I'm still hopeful (or deluded ::)) but we need to beat Sunderland. Lose that and it will be all but over for sure.
For Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
its easier for the Yoyo clubs because they have the financial blueprint including player contracts to adopt to both leagues. You can bet that we don't .QuoteFor Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
Wow.
its easier for the Yoyo clubs because they have the financial blueprint including player contracts to adopt to both leagues. You can bet that we don't .QuoteFor Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
Wow.
its easier for the Yoyo clubs because they have the financial blueprint including player contracts to adopt to both leagues. You can bet that we don't .QuoteFor Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
Wow.
I've said it before and will say it again. We have not planned appropriately for the Premier league, why the fuck do people think we will suddenly put together a master plan for the Championship? No, it ain't gonna happen. Aston Villa is run by back of a fag packet Muppets and a completely disinterested owner. Under Lerner, until he fucks off, we will be making do. My only hope is that, whoever the new Chairman is, has very different ideas and understands football well enough to plan properly. I am frankly embarrassed to be a Villa fan given the disgraceful decision making, yet will continue to love and support them regardless.
QuoteFor Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
Wow.
The underlying problems are still there, but it's amazing how much better things look when you win half a dozen games.
The underlying problems are still there, but it's amazing how much better things look when you win half a dozen games.
We've won half a dozen games this year & it really doesn't look any better .
He might have had a better chance if Sherwood hadn't drained every last inch of confidence from them. We were the better side against Norwich, conceded and collapsed.
QuoteFor Villa, Lerner would finally sell, players on big wages would find other suitors, and promotion would be guaranteed within a couple of years, if it even takes that long. It’s a common misconception; rarely does it ever work. Over the past five seasons – excluding the bottom three of last year – 10 of the 15 relegated clubs still reside in the Championship. Two, West Ham and Norwich, have returned to the top flight, but the same number have dropped further into League One.
Wow.
Not bothered about these sort of stats because as we have seen, Villa are fantastic at blowing all sorts of statistics right out of the water.
This is.
When is it likely to be mathematically confirmed given that we're unlikely to get to 20 points? My guess is mid-march. Can anyone remember when mackems and derby were confirmed?
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
I don't believe were that bad to drop twice.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
Do fans need to marketed to? Surely you can't be persuaded to became a fan, you either are or you aren't and I don't believe any of us will be persuaded to go to games based on an advertising campaign.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
Do fans need to marketed to? Surely you can't be persuaded to became a fan, you either are or you aren't and I don't believe any of us will be persuaded to go to games based on an advertising campaign.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
Do fans need to marketed to? Surely you can't be persuaded to became a fan, you either are or you aren't and I don't believe any of us will be persuaded to go to games based on an advertising campaign.
I still keep getting marketing emails from Fulham from the time I applied for tickets in their neutral end against us about 10 years ago. What a waste of bytes.
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Same for me with Reading
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
Do fans need to marketed to? Surely you can't be persuaded to became a fan, you either are or you aren't and I don't believe any of us will be persuaded to go to games based on an advertising campaign.
A fair few people I think would be persuaded to go to games should the price be cheap enough. I'm not saying thousands upon thousands but I suspect the season ticket numbers will fall drastically next season and a financial incentive could negate some of the losses.
It will be interesting to see how the club market next season's season tickets.
Bright new dawn. Something moronic. They should be branded as half price and a fucking apology.
Do fans need to marketed to? Surely you can't be persuaded to became a fan, you either are or you aren't and I don't believe any of us will be persuaded to go to games based on an advertising campaign.
A fair few people I think would be persuaded to go to games should the price be cheap enough. I'm not saying thousands upon thousands but I suspect the season ticket numbers will fall drastically next season and a financial incentive could negate some of the losses.
A sop to the poor sods who have witnessed years of shite would be a gesture though. Years served meaning pounds off if you renew in whatever division 2 is called this week.
Martin Lipton has ripped into us on BT sport.
Abomination of a club.
Theyre awful
Shambles
Stunk the Premier League out for years.
Dont deserve to be in the FA Cup.
Big shock would be Villa beating Wycombe.
Harsh criticism, but can't really argue with much of it
Martin Lipton has ripped into us on BT sport.
Abomination of a club.
Theyre awful
Shambles
Stunk the Premier League out for years.
Dont deserve to be in the FA Cup.
Big shock would be Villa beating Wycombe.
Harsh criticism, but can't really argue with much of it
“Villa have been a great club, are still a great club, and always will be a great club.” - Frederick Rinder, 1936.
Martin Lipton has ripped into us on BT sport.
Abomination of a club.
Theyre awful
Shambles
Stunk the Premier League out for years.
Dont deserve to be in the FA Cup.
Big shock would be Villa beating Wycombe.
Harsh criticism, but can't really argue with much of it
Martin Lipton has ripped into us on BT sport.
Abomination of a club.
Theyre awful
Shambles
Stunk the Premier League out for years.
Dont deserve to be in the FA Cup.
Big shock would be Villa beating Wycombe.
Harsh criticism, but can't really argue with much of it
Hard to argue with any of that apart from us being an abomination of a club. Aston Villa are a magnificent football club no matter how much we've slipped over the years. Lipton can shove that where the sun doesn't shine.
Martin Lipton has ripped into us on BT sport. is a twat.
Abomination of a club. F in silly statement
Theyre awful Yes if you are referring to our team.
Shambles ---ditto---
Stunk the Premier League out for years. No you C*** football isn't about premier league and we were top 6 a few years ago and 2nd and 4th in the first 3 seasons.
Dont deserve to be in the FA Cup. What a c***ish statement.
Big shock would be Villa beating Wycombe. No and we will beat them you moron.
Harsh criticism, but can't really argue with much of it
Martin who? Never heard of him.
Thanks for the clarification.Martin who? Never heard of him.
Chief football writer for the Sun, who they took from the Mirror.
With credentials like that, I'll take his opinions on football about as seriously as I would take those of say, Bruce Forsyth or Robbie Savage.
Martin who? Never heard of him.
Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
He does. We're a very friendly forum.
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
He does. We're a very friendly forum.
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
He does. We're a very friendly forum.
I feel all warm inside now!
Tell you what, I'll lighten up when you grow up.Is there really any need for that?Martin who? Never heard of him.
He posts on here under the name of saunders_heroes.
Lighten up, Farty Pants. S_H knows I love him, the miserable barstard.
And I don't know whether Saunders knows you love him or not.
He does. We're a very friendly forum.
I feel all warm inside now!
I don't love you.
Okay, I'll pack in asking if there's any need to abuse other members of the forum.Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
It means pack it in both of you.
Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
Okay, I'll pack in asking if there's any need to abuse other members of the forum.Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
It means pack it in both of you.
Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
It means I probably have a better memory than you, Chris. Cast your mind back a few years to the Lower Holte Phanton Farter.
Does anyone want a biscuit?I am warning you all DO NOT accept a biscuit from this man :-\
Okay, I'll pack in asking if there's any need to abuse other members of the forum.Tell you what, I'll grow up when you stop farting in the Lower Holte.What's that supposed to mean?
It means pack it in both of you.
Too many forums are destroyed by petty bickering and fighting. At the end of it all we're all fans - you may disagree with somebody's point of view, but please respect their right to have it and express it on here.Now maybe this needs to go to PM.
It's like this, Paulie. That's the second time today that I've seen someone have a pop at the guy, for what seems like for no other reason than people don't like his opinions. As for a reaction from you guys, well... where was it? I can only assume if I'd not said something it would have been left to fester like it was on the first occasion I'd notice someone have a go at him.
Do you recognise this quote?QuoteToo many forums are destroyed by petty bickering and fighting. At the end of it all we're all fans - you may disagree with somebody's point of view, but please respect their right to have it and express it on here.Now maybe this needs to go to PM.
I didn't know that that was genuinely the case. Actaully, I still don't. All I see is someone being picked on. Didn't really help when Rudy continued with infantile references towards me.
re the person you're mentioning, Rudy has just said it was a joke and explained the reference, but you seem determined to find fault with it.
Still, I'll do as you ask and use the Report to Moderator link in future.
When Holloway had a go in 2011 I thought 'the club will soon shove those words back down his throat'. We didn't.
When Dave Whelan took the piss in the summer of 2011, again, I thought 'him and Martinez will soon look like fools'. They didn't and we hired McLeish.
After the first couple of relegation scares I thought 'we'll spend some serious money this summer and put an end to this nonsense'. We never did and things just got worse season after season.
This BT guy is just the latest dude to come along and have a go at the Randy circus. I am quite sure he won't be made eat his words either. The fans have pride in the club, the current 'custodians' don't. If they did we wouldn't be where we are today and we'd have been riled up enough to show the football world what we really are these past five years.
Let's be perfectly honest, with the exception of the (vast majority) fans, as a football club we are a complete laughing stock at the moment, and the buck stops at the owner.It certainly does.
im going to cancel bt!!!!!!This Saturday.
or are we scheduled to be on there again :)
oh well sunday it is thenim going to cancel bt!!!!!!This Saturday.
or are we scheduled to be on there again :)
Quote“Villa have been a great club, are still a great club, and always will be a great club.” - Frederick Rinder, 1936.
Up yours, Lipton.
I didn't know that that was genuinely the case. Actaully, I still don't. All I see is someone being picked on. Didn't really help when Rudy continued with infantile references towards me.
re the person you're mentioning, Rudy has just said it was a joke and explained the reference, but you seem determined to find fault with it.
Still, I'll do as you ask and use the Report to Moderator link in future.
Does anyone want a biscuit?I am warning you all DO NOT accept a biscuit from this man :-\
| Aston Villa V Crystal Palace Tue 12 Jan 19:45 1 Aston Villa V Leicester Sat 16 Jan 17:30 1 West Brom V Aston Villa Sat 23 Jan 15:00 1 West Ham V Aston Villa Tue 2 Feb 19:45 1 Aston Villa V Norwich Sat 6 Feb 15:00 3 Aston Villa V Liverpool Sun 14 Feb 13:30 3 Stoke V Aston Villa Sat 27 Feb 15:00 0 Aston Villa V Everton Tue 1 Mar 19:45 1 Man City V Aston Villa Sat 5 Mar 15:00 0 Aston Villa V Tottenham Sat 12 Mar 15:00 3 Swansea V Aston Villa Sat 19 Mar 15:00 0 Aston Villa V Chelsea Sat 2 Apr 15:00 3 Aston Villa V Bournemouth Sat 9 Apr 15:00 3 Man Utd V Aston Villa Sat 16 Apr 15:00 0 Aston Villa V Southampton Sat 23 Apr 15:00 3 Watford V Aston Villa Sat 30 Apr 15:00 0 Aston Villa V Newcastle Sat 7 May 15:00 3 Arsenal V Aston Villa Sun 15 May 15:00 0 26 |
When was the last time we went on a seven match unbeaten run?
Not to be a party pooper but if Swansea beat Sunderland tomorrow night we will be 10 points adrift again.
Not to be a party pooper but if Swansea beat Sunderland tomorrow night we will be 10 points adrift again.
Anything is possible after tonight, what are the odds on both Swansea and Slumberland to lose? Come on!
It's a very remote chance, but there's a chance. Keep that level of performance up and we can win games.
When was the last time we went on a seven match unbeaten run?
We've taken the first tiny step, we've matched Derby's total!
We've taken the first tiny step, we've matched Derby's total!
Just shows how bad Derby were that season, there's still 17 games left of this season.
Not to be a party pooper but if Swansea beat Sunderland tomorrow night we will be 10 points adrift again.
It was the manner of the win that springs a little hope; fight, determination, organisation, no lack of ability and winning by the opposition doing something daft for once.
Hmmm. Getting carried away I feel. Sunderland have taken 6 points from last 2 games so they're likely to get many more than 6 over the next 4 months. Newcastle are strengthening as well.
We'll need at least 24 points from 17 games as I see it. A humongous task with this squad which looks like it won't be strengthened in the window
Sunderland will get more than 6 points rest of the season, have we not learnt anything from their miraculous run ins of previous seasons? They are winning games earlier this season.
I'll say it again, if survival rate is something like 38 points which has been our bar in recent seasons we have no chance.
However something low like 32 or 33 points, why not? 21 points isn't an impossible task, it's 5 wins and 6 draws from final 17 games.
No one is joining any time soon,Hmmm. Getting carried away I feel. Sunderland have taken 6 points from last 2 games so they're likely to get many more than 6 over the next 4 months. Newcastle are strengthening as well.
We'll need at least 24 points from 17 games as I see it. A humongous task with this squad which looks like it won't be strengthened in the window
I'll be dumbfounded if we don't strengthen with at least 3 players this month, it'll feel like we've been sabotaged if we don't. We can't give up half way through January and I don't think we will. I'm sure Garde has put his foot down and demanded support from the chairman. We can still stay up.
No one is joining any time soon,Hmmm. Getting carried away I feel. Sunderland have taken 6 points from last 2 games so they're likely to get many more than 6 over the next 4 months. Newcastle are strengthening as well.
We'll need at least 24 points from 17 games as I see it. A humongous task with this squad which looks like it won't be strengthened in the window
I'll be dumbfounded if we don't strengthen with at least 3 players this month, it'll feel like we've been sabotaged if we don't. We can't give up half way through January and I don't think we will. I'm sure Garde has put his foot down and demanded support from the chairman. We can still stay up.
No one is joining any time soon,Hmmm. Getting carried away I feel. Sunderland have taken 6 points from last 2 games so they're likely to get many more than 6 over the next 4 months. Newcastle are strengthening as well.
We'll need at least 24 points from 17 games as I see it. A humongous task with this squad which looks like it won't be strengthened in the window
I'll be dumbfounded if we don't strengthen with at least 3 players this month, it'll feel like we've been sabotaged if we don't. We can't give up half way through January and I don't think we will. I'm sure Garde has put his foot down and demanded support from the chairman. We can still stay up.
Sunderland will get more than 6 points rest of the season, have we not learnt anything from their miraculous run ins of previous seasons? They are winning games earlier this season.
I'll say it again, if survival rate is something like 38 points which has been our bar in recent seasons we have no chance.
However something low like 32 or 33 points, why not? 21 points isn't an impossible task, it's 5 wins and 6 draws from final 17 games.
The reverse fixtures against Leicester and Albion earlier in the season were the start of the real problems. A reversal of those two results would be very nice indeed.agree with that , some outstanding business that needs sorting
When the boggies survived does anyone know what the points difference was at this point between 17th and 20th?
When the boggies survived does anyone know what the points difference was at this point between 17th and 20th?
No idea. Someone on VillaTalk the other day said teams have been 8 points adrift in March and still stayed up. No idea how true that is but it would make thimngs look very good if true.
When the boggies survived does anyone know what the points difference was at this point between 17th and 20th?
No idea. Someone on VillaTalk the other day said teams have been 8 points adrift in March and still stayed up. No idea how true that is but it would make thimngs look very good if true.
Interesting. The worry is that the players see all the stats about no team surviving with our points tally but surely what is important is the points difference.
Next week we could have really done with some pace in our team, but we haven't got any. Albion play 4 centre backs in defence, all big lads and good in the air but slow. They struggle against pace but it will play into their hands with Kozak and/or Gestede up there.
Next week we could have really done with some pace in our team, but we haven't got any. Albion play 4 centre backs in defence, all big lads and good in the air but slow. They struggle against pace but it will play into their hands with Kozak and/or Gestede up there.
Sinclair? He might have a point to prove to the Albion as well.
How are we below Sunderland let alone lose to them? They're fucking horse shirt.
How are we below Sunderland let alone lose to them? They're fucking horse shirt.
How are we below Sunderland let alone lose to them? They're fucking horse shirt.
They've got a goal scorer in Defoe though, which is what we're desperate for.
When we do drop the thing that will rankle with me is about half of the premier league will be made up of clubs smaller than ourselves. It doesn't seem right.
When we do drop the thing that will rankle with me is about half of the premier league will be made up of clubs smaller than ourselves. It doesn't seem right.
Name me ten clubs bigger than us. Go on, I dare you.
I'd go for more than three-quarters, myself.
Back to 10 points adrift then. Surely gone aren't we with only 16 games left. It would take an almighty surge from us and some of the best form in our history with one of the worst teams in our history, coupled with three teams above us going on nightmare runs. Not going to happen.
Losing the Sunderland and Norwich games were the final nails in the coffin of our PL status.
Shocking state of affairs.
Losing the Sunderland and Norwich games were the final nails in the coffin of our PL status.
Shocking state of affairs.
No they weren't.
The plus point is we'll all have accepted our relegation by February/March so by the time we are down and when the end of the season comes it will be old news.
Let's just enjoy the rest of the season, let's sing our hearts out, be full of gallows humour and go down with our heads held high. Starting at the Albion Saturday, let's be willing to laugh at ourselves and take the piss, they won't know what to do if we're self-deprecating about ourselves.
Losing the Sunderland and Norwich games were the final nails in the coffin of our PL status.
Shocking state of affairs.
No they weren't.
Is this just pedantic Dave talking or are you saying you think there's a chance?
I agree that Norwich and Sunderland sealed our fate in seriousness but it was the Watford home match when I knew we were going. Since then I've been getting used to it. Those that wait for mathematical certainty are just deluding themselves Imo.
The home run against Swansea, Stoke, Sunderland, Albion and Watford (1 point) was where it really went wrong.
when was it then?Losing the Sunderland and Norwich games were the final nails in the coffin of our PL status.
Shocking state of affairs.
No they weren't.
when was it then?Losing the Sunderland and Norwich games were the final nails in the coffin of our PL status.
Shocking state of affairs.
No they weren't.
For me, the start was the 1-6 v Southampton last season. The catalyst was the 2-3 v Leicester this season. The final nail will be delivered well before May.As is so often the case, nailed it in a couple of sentences, where I'd have used 6 paragraphs.
our big problem is we are 11 points from safety if you include gd.
the next 3 games we can pick up points from but the next 5 are tough
if we were a couple of wins from safety i would fancy it
I don't get the GD is another point. We win 4 in a row, Swansea lose 4 in a row that's a minimum of an 8 goals swing. In reality they won't all be 1-0 wins/defeats so our GD will be better than theirs.
Ah, I remember us winning 4 in a row, shame it was so long ago my memories of it are in black and white.
I don't get the GD is another point. We win 4 in a row, Swansea lose 4 in a row that's a minimum of an 8 goals swing. In reality they won't all be 1-0 wins/defeats so our GD will be better than theirs.
Ah, I remember us winning 4 in a row, shame it was so long ago my memories of it are in black and white.
swansea are ten goals better off
if we get 10 points from the next 4 and they lose them all and their goal diffence goes down by -5 and ours goes up by +4 we are still be behind them.
I don't get the GD is another point. We win 4 in a row, Swansea lose 4 in a row that's a minimum of an 8 goals swing. In reality they won't all be 1-0 wins/defeats so our GD will be better than theirs.
Ah, I remember us winning 4 in a row, shame it was so long ago my memories of it are in black and white.
swansea are ten goals better off
if we get 10 points from the next 4 and they lose them all and their goal diffence goes down by -5 and ours goes up by +4 we are still be behind them.
That's not an extra point though, it's needing to win one of those games by another goal (or them to lose one of their ps by another goal - actually more likely).
When you imagine a 4 win/4 loss swing, how likely is it that every single one of those 8 results will be by a one goal margin?
I'd rather Swansea stopped up than Newcastle so i'm happy with that result.. I just want Albion to get dragged back into it now. They won't win many playing like they did yesterday.I want the two who join us to be less likely to come straight back. Think Norwich more likely than Newcastle to drop and Sunderland (black cats) have run out of lives too.
I'd rather Swansea stopped up than Newcastle so i'm happy with that result.. I just want Albion to get dragged back into it now. They won't win many playing like they did yesterday.I want the two who join us to be less likely to come straight back. Think Norwich more likely than Newcastle to drop and Sunderland (black cats) have run out of lives too.
IF we could win at West Ham, on the same night Norwich play Spurs at home so you would think Spurs will win that one. Then we play Norwich and IF we could win that we would then be just 4 points behind them.Can't see us beating West Ham though, watched their game yesterday and they look a very decent side now with perfect balance. What I'd give to have there two fullbacks, Creswell and the young lad Byram, superb footballers.
All sounds pretty feasible until you remember we've won twice all season. While we have been slightly improved lately it's still not exactly great football, we had all of the ball on Saturday but not once did I think we were going to score. The way we're playing now has probably brought us up to a par with how the likes of Sunderland and Norwich are playing, whereas we need to playing much better than they are. Mind you although they lost Norwich scored 4 at home against a top 7 side on Saturday, something we could only dream of.
I just think there are too few games left to do it, and if we were ripping teams apart all of a sudden and creating loads of chances I'd give us a chance but we're not. It's paint by numbers football and we haven't got a clue once we cross the halfway line.
Agreed. Lots of pace in their team aswell, we haven't got any in ours. Payet looks a real find, he's been superb this season.IF we could win at West Ham, on the same night Norwich play Spurs at home so you would think Spurs will win that one. Then we play Norwich and IF we could win that we would then be just 4 points behind them.Can't see us beating West Ham though, watched their game yesterday and they look a very decent side now with perfect balance. What I'd give to have there two fullbacks, Creswell and the young lad Byram, superb footballers.
All sounds pretty feasible until you remember we've won twice all season. While we have been slightly improved lately it's still not exactly great football, we had all of the ball on Saturday but not once did I think we were going to score. The way we're playing now has probably brought us up to a par with how the likes of Sunderland and Norwich are playing, whereas we need to playing much better than they are. Mind you although they lost Norwich scored 4 at home against a top 7 side on Saturday, something we could only dream of.
I just think there are too few games left to do it, and if we were ripping teams apart all of a sudden and creating loads of chances I'd give us a chance but we're not. It's paint by numbers football and we haven't got a clue once we cross the halfway line.
Payet looks a real find, he's been superb this season.
Payet please.
Payet looks a real find, he's been superb this season.
This is why the club should just follow my advice*.Payet please.
Still, N'Zogbia for more money two days after my post wasn't without it's charms.
*obviously not really. Otherwise we'd also have had that hapless Lugano character that ruined Albion's defence for a season.
Why aren't you scouting for the Villa?Payet looks a real find, he's been superb this season.
This is why the club should just follow my advice*.Payet please.
Still, N'Zogbia for more money two days after my post wasn't without it's charms.
*obviously not really. Otherwise we'd also have had that hapless Lugano character that ruined Albion's defence for a season.
Why aren't you scouting for the Villa?Payet looks a real find, he's been superb this season.
This is why the club should just follow my advice*.Payet please.
Still, N'Zogbia for more money two days after my post wasn't without it's charms.
*obviously not really. Otherwise we'd also have had that hapless Lugano character that ruined Albion's defence for a season.
Looking at the Division 2 final table from 87/88 and assessing who is likely to go up from the cjampionship this season, looks like we will only be playing about 6 teams next year who were in that division with us last time. Incidentally our home form wasn't great that year either winning just 9 out of 22 home games.
6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
And I thought we'd only play Walsall in a friendly game. Just can't believe it could be a league game next season and Burton too.
And I thought we'd only play Walsall in a friendly game. Just can't believe it could be a league game next season and Burton too.
Well to reach the top again Man. City had to go through the embarrassment of playing Macclesfield in a league game so guess Burton would be our equivalent.
6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
now that's got me thinking :)6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Thinking about it, it was probably a late night phone in when I was working shifts.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Thinking about it, it was probably a late night phone in when I was working shifts.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Thinking about it, it was probably a late night phone in when I was working shifts.
I have a feeling it was a caller talking about Scottish football on something like Over the Moon. Only reason I remember it is i'm sure it was mentioned in an issue of H&V back in the day.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Thinking about it, it was probably a late night phone in when I was working shifts.
I have a feeling it was a caller talking about Scottish football on something like Over the Moon. Only reason I remember it is i'm sure it was mentioned in an issue of H&V back in the day.
6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Thinking about it, it was probably a late night phone in when I was working shifts.
6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
None of those clubs have ever been as good as we've been, and will be again, nor have we ever been as bad as they've been, and will be again.
6 years ago today Palace went into administration and we're docked 10 points in the Championship. We must have been top 6. It is very scary how badly we have been managed as a club since.Even if every club was run brilliantly and had billions to spend there'd still be three teams relegated and half the teams knocked out the cups each round.
I can't remember where I heard it, but a quote from the nineties that has stuck with me.
"The problem is, league football is a hierarchical meritocracy which means that someone has to be shit, even if they aren't really."
Although it does work both ways - for the last few seasons 17 clubs are technically deemed to be good enough, even if some of them are shit. Us, for example.
None of those clubs have ever been as good as we've been, and will be again, nor have we ever been as bad as they've been, and will be again.
Has anyone else heard that some of the sty dwellers are banding around the idea of getting one of those aeroplanes with a banner on the back to fly over villa Park if we get relegated? They're not obsessed with us though.
8 points from the 6 games since New Year. Won 2, Drawn 2 lost 2. That's reasonable form that would normally give you a more than decent chance if you kept it up.Agreed. It is a decent run by our standards and for a team battling relegation, but as you say we need a spectacular run not a decent one. We need to somehow win 4 or 5 from the next 6, not 2, and draws are no good to us.
Unfortunately it would only get us to 32/33 points. We would need to suddenly pull a run of form together that we haven't seen in 5 years to stand a chance. Those botched games against Norwich and Sunderland are looking ever more expensive.
Draws are Ok as long as we don't draw all of them. Decent or not they are all worth 3 points no more no less.
draws are no good to us.
until we beat someone decent.
Fair enough, but where a draw at say Old Trafford would usually be a good result, this season it might not be enough. We're probably going to have to win 2 or 3 'surprise' games at least to have any chance.Draws are Ok as long as we don't draw all of them. Decent or not they are all worth 3 points no more no less.
draws are no good to us.
until we beat someone decent.
Watford at home was when I expected we'd be relegated, Sunderland away was when I accepted we'd be relegated.
Nothing will change for me after today. I think we need to be no more than 3 points from safety with 3 games to go before I'll think any differently. I refuse to do it to myself.
Relegation confirmation match is still Saturday 2 April at home to Scumsea.
Fair enough, but where a draw at say Old Trafford would usually be a good result, this season it might not be enough. We're probably going to have to win 2 or 3 'surprise' games at least to have any chance.Draws are Ok as long as we don't draw all of them. Decent or not they are all worth 3 points no more no less.
draws are no good to us.
until we beat someone decent.
no , because we haven't got no goalscorersFair enough, but where a draw at say Old Trafford would usually be a good result, this season it might not be enough. We're probably going to have to win 2 or 3 'surprise' games at least to have any chance.Draws are Ok as long as we don't draw all of them. Decent or not they are all worth 3 points no more no less.
draws are no good to us.
until we beat someone decent.
Leicester did it last season without any surprise wins.
At this stage they were 1 point better off than us and in their next five games they picked up two points (losing to Arsenal, Man City and Spurs). But from the start of April they won 7 of their last 9 games, beating West Ham, Baggies, Swansea, Burnley, Newcastle, Southampton & QPR. The two they didn't win were a defeat to Chelsea and a draw at Sunderland.
What it does show though is how important wins are. From early Feb onwards Leicester won 50% of their games and draw three of the others. The question is, does this Villa team have that in them?
If we 'haven't got no goalscorers', that will be brilliant. Onwards and upwards.
Vardy scored five last season, would it be beyond a Gabby of Saturdays effort and determination to replicate that?It's the hope that kills you.
With Traore back in March, would a front three of him, Gabby and Ayew give us a lot of pace and an ability to go direct?
Leicester made three signings last January, two of which were duds, with only the dirty Huth making a contribution. We appear to have found a way to stabilise the back four, maybe that's is the platform that we need to get the wheels of momentum turning.
If we 'haven't got no goalscorers', that will be brilliant. Onwards and upwards.aaah the old double negative , I do apologise but I think you know what I meant
We're done. Put the R next to our name and get it over with.We are staying up, say we are staying up!
I'd rather we take Newcastle with us than Norwich. A heavy defeat for them tomorrow will put them back in the drop zone.
I'd rather we take Newcastle with us than Norwich. A heavy defeat for them tomorrow will put them back in the drop zone.
They KO in 20 mins.
It's horrible to say but how many worse teams have there been in premier league history?
That awful Derby team definitely. I think there was a shocking Sheffield United team? Forest definitely.
Can't remember too many more. At least we've got time to try and put in place a proper plan for next season
As there always is when the owner completely detaches himself from his responsibility and employs temporary money men in positions to help make any parties more interested. No one has a goal apart from getting by and keeping things tick over. What a shite existence and it's primarily one wankers fault.