Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: SoccerHQ on October 25, 2015, 01:30:58 PM

Title: Bottom of the league.
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 25, 2015, 01:30:58 PM
When was the last time we were bottom of the league after a decent chunk of the season. I remember in the Houllier season we came close a few times but always managed to dig a result out just in time.

97/98 but even that was only after first four games.

Suppose the only way is up....or we just stay meekly there for rest of the season.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: levico on October 25, 2015, 01:33:15 PM
Bottom?

Sherwood out!!  Oh.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: saunders_heroes on October 25, 2015, 01:34:06 PM
Well we've made the change at the right time. Still 28 games to go and they'll be plenty of twists and turns in that time.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: ozzjim on October 25, 2015, 01:34:49 PM
Only positive at the moment - 1. Only 4 points behind which is lucky
2. New manager can't be any more tactically woeful as the last
3. Our goal difference is not too bad
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Toronto Villa on October 25, 2015, 01:36:28 PM
Posted in this in the other games thread but should add here. We made the change early enough to bridge the gap that has emerged. And it should be noted that last season we had 10 points from 12 and barely another point for months. Just because teams above us have started well doesn't mean it stays that way. I'll refer everyone to Hull as another fine example of how things can blow up in this league.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: mrfuse on October 25, 2015, 01:38:44 PM
Bottom?

Sherwood out!!  Oh.

ha-ha like it.

Well at least the only way is up.....unless we get relegated.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: mr underhill on October 25, 2015, 01:41:44 PM
and then it's still up really
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 25, 2015, 01:41:54 PM
This wasn't actually another thread to debate the relegation battle, think there's enough threads to debate that.

I was simply asking the slightly morbid question of when we were actually bottom of the league after a few games in the season.

Edit: People are always quick to post the record breaking home stats so I assume someone knows. I guess August 1997 anyway.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Ormy Droid on October 25, 2015, 01:44:20 PM
Even yesterday you could see there's the makings of a decent side somewhere, if we can find the right man to unearth it. Norwich are fading, Bournemouth with all their injury problems will struggle badly over the winter I think, Watford's bubble may well burst, Sunderland will undoubtedly start to pick up points, and with the right managerial appointment, so will we.

In the words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggart, 'Never Give Up, Never Give in'
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 01:56:43 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Toronto Villa on October 25, 2015, 02:01:37 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Bridging a 4 point gap doesn't require a miracle. It requires the attention of someone who knows what they are doing.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: dave.woodhall on October 25, 2015, 02:02:08 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Dave on October 25, 2015, 02:02:51 PM
Well we've made the change at the right time. Still 28 games to go and they'll be plenty of twists and turns in that time.
Quite.  If we were doing this in March then I'd be panicking.

Pretty much anyone will be able to get us out of this,  and they can't do any worse than last time.

Only way is up from here.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: dave shelley on October 25, 2015, 02:32:48 PM
Please folks, let's look forward.  OK, we're bottom of the league at the moment that's obvious, but after so many false dawns and unfulfilled promise, let's look up, try and put all this shit behind us and get this wonderful club performing to its full potential.

Like all of you, I'm sick of having my weekends ruined by bad results and crap performances.  Even when we've won, I come on here and a lot of the time read that we've won but it was a shit performance etc etc.  I really, really hope our board get the next managerial selection right, I'm sick to death of all the negativity that surrounds us, I want to see positivity the like of what was being said after the semi-final win, real feel god factors.  Come on, make an old man feel better.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: villadelph on October 25, 2015, 02:42:31 PM
It's hard to look at.  :-\
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 02:44:14 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 02:48:40 PM
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9fDsNHCYAEHE1f.jpg)
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Billy Walker on October 25, 2015, 02:51:08 PM
The season starts here.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 02:52:58 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because they are nearly always in our position because the players are shit and who the manager is doesn't matter, they'll still be shit. To stay up all we need is to show lower midtable form. 34+ points from 28 games to stay up, we hardly need to turn into a hybrid of Barcelona and Brazil '70.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 02:56:44 PM
We know what we need to do but can you see this team doing it on the pitch, home and away, that is the question.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 02:58:11 PM
With the right man managing and training them, yes.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: dave.woodhall on October 25, 2015, 03:03:24 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Could you please tell me where I said it won't happen?
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Pete3206 on October 25, 2015, 03:03:47 PM
28 cup finals, etc
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: auntiesledd on October 25, 2015, 04:26:21 PM
28 cup finals

It's a marathon, not a sprint... 
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Rudy65 on October 25, 2015, 04:32:47 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because its only October, not March. You seem to think we are twent points adrift with seven to play
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: saunders_heroes on October 25, 2015, 04:40:40 PM
28 cup finals, etc

I hope we play better than we did in our last final!
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Des Little on October 25, 2015, 04:40:41 PM
I collapsed doing a half marathon last week. I'm therefore ruling myself out of the job.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: mr underhill on October 25, 2015, 04:43:07 PM
I'm sure funds will also be released in January ; our predicament is far from irreversable
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: ciggiesnbeer on October 25, 2015, 04:44:30 PM
Another record?
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 05:53:53 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because its only October, not March. You seem to think we are twenty points adrift with seven to play

And you seem to think someone was talking to you.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 05:55:04 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Could you please tell me where I said it won't happen?


Okay, I should of worded that slightly different.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: cdbearsfan on October 25, 2015, 05:56:03 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because its only October, not March. You seem to think we are twenty points adrift with seven to play

And you seem to think someone was talking to you.

It's probably not worth posting if you're going to throw a strop every time someone questions you. Staying up is far from guaranteed, but it's hardly a "miracle" either, is it? Unless you noticed the McGregor statue crying blood yesterday?
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Goldie.7 on October 25, 2015, 06:27:35 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because its only October, not March. You seem to think we are twenty points adrift with seven to play

And you seem to think someone was talking to you.

It's probably not worth posting if you're going to throw a strop every time someone questions you. Staying up is far from guaranteed, but it's hardly a "miracle" either, is it? Unless you noticed the McGregor statue crying blood yesterday?

If it's not a "miracle" needed than we need something pretty damn close to it. No one is throwing a strop, I just think for us to stay up we need a hell of a lot of things to swing our way. I don't think we'll go down but what else would you call it for it not to happen, factoring everything in.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: cdbearsfan on October 25, 2015, 06:30:31 PM
We probably need thirty-six points from twenty-eight games. That's about the same points per game ratio that Watford have managed so far.

Hardly that big a task, for a vaguely competent manager.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: myf on October 25, 2015, 06:40:28 PM
We probably need thirty-six points from twenty-eight games. That's about the same points per game ratio that Watford have managed so far.

Hardly that big a task, for a vaguely competent manager.

Problem is we aint taken that kind of points per game in last 5 years.  I'm optimistic tho
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PaulWinch again on October 25, 2015, 06:44:24 PM
Plenty of time to turn it round.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: cdbearsfan on October 25, 2015, 06:47:40 PM
It's only three more points than we managed in McLeish's first twenty-eight games. A new manager should be capable of beating that (even matching it might be enough for survival).
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: The Man With A Stick on October 25, 2015, 06:48:59 PM
I still think we'll be ok.  Bournemouth have been unlucky with injuries and are really struggling now, Norwich and Newcastle are shite, and Watford are bound to go off the boil soon. 

Make the right appointment now, not another loudmouth charlatan, and we'll stay up.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on October 25, 2015, 06:56:28 PM
I still think we'll be ok.  Bournemouth have been unlucky with injuries and are really struggling now, Norwich and Newcastle are shite, and Watford are bound to go off the boil soon. 

Make the right appointment now, not another loudmouth charlatan, and we'll stay up.

Exactly. How many points would we have picked up this season if the side had been organised? We've got a good group of players, get them out there knowing what is expected of each and every one them and the results will come.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: dave.woodhall on October 25, 2015, 07:17:48 PM
We need another miracle to escape the horrendous mess we are in.

Making up four points in 28 games is hardly a miracle.

Yes, lets just ignore the fact that the majority of teams in our current position (even with their change manager) at this stage have got relegated.

Why do you think it won't happen to us?

Because its only October, not March. You seem to think we are twenty points adrift with seven to play

And you seem to think someone was talking to you.

It's probably not worth posting if you're going to throw a strop every time someone questions you. Staying up is far from guaranteed, but it's hardly a "miracle" either, is it? Unless you noticed the McGregor statue crying blood yesterday?

If it's not a "miracle" needed than we need something pretty damn close to it. No one is throwing a strop, I just think for us to stay up we need a hell of a lot of things to swing our way. I don't think we'll go down but what else would you call it for it not to happen, factoring everything in.


I'd call it mid-table form, which this squad are more than capable of.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 07:19:55 PM
We actually don't need to play that much better than we have been, bear with me mental as that sounds!
As shit as we've been, if we had a manager that can organise us and cut out the stupid errors that cost us at Leicester & Palace and at home to Sunderland and Swansea we're on 13 points. That would be 1.3 points per game, about what we need to reach 38+ points from the last 28 games. Never mind the shit performances at home to Stoke and Bitters. Which probably wouldn't have happened if we'd got the results mentioned as we'd have had more confidence.

It really isn't a miracle we need, just a decent manager.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: ACVilla on October 25, 2015, 07:22:21 PM
I still think we'll be ok.  Bournemouth have been unlucky with injuries and are really struggling now, Norwich and Newcastle are shite, and Watford are bound to go off the boil soon. 

Make the right appointment now, not another loudmouth charlatan, and we'll stay up.
Newcastle looked very very decent today until the sending off. I think they will go on a run and be ok, they also have some very competent players.

Sunderland however, I think are doomed.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 25, 2015, 07:25:38 PM
Newcastle have conceded 22 goals so far, their defence is rubbish.

Are we any closer to answering my question yet? ;)
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: olaftab on October 25, 2015, 07:27:28 PM
We actually don't need to play that much better than we have been, bear with me mental as that sounds!
As shit as we've been, if we had a manager that can organise us and cut out the stupid errors that cost us at Leicester & Palace and at home to Sunderland and Swansea we're on 11 points. That would be 1.1 points per game, we only need about 1.3 or something to reach 38+ points. Never mind the shit performances at home to Stoke and Bitters. Which probably wouldn't have happened if we'd got the results mentioned as we'd have had more confidence.

It really isn't a miracle we need, just a decent manager.
I can not but agree with this. A very good assessment of the situation.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 07:30:10 PM
Actually we'd be on 13 points not 11, so exactly matching the 1.3 per game.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: SoccerHQ on October 25, 2015, 07:34:07 PM
Leicester away was the death knell for Sherwood.

Win that as we obviously should've done and that would've been 7 points from 5 games which would've been a perfectly decent ratio. I'm sure we wouldn't have lost the next 5 either so yes we could've been on 10 points or thereabouts and been in the mid table pack.

Let's be under no illusions though, we have had a comfortable start to the season and used up our credit. Next few weeks we'll be playing a Spurs team who've just hit 5, Man. City the league leaders and Everton away where we got smashed last year.

We will need new manager bounce big time.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: cdbearsfan on October 25, 2015, 07:34:17 PM
Newcastle have conceded 22 goals so far, their defence is rubbish.

Are we any closer to answering my question yet? ;)

We were bottom on the morning of 30th August 1997, before beating Leeds that afternoon to move up to nineteenth.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Ron Manager on October 25, 2015, 07:36:49 PM
I can assure any doubters that not only will we survive but we will finish in the top half of the table.The players bought in are of a good standard but the new manager will have to hit the ground running

We go again........upwards!!
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 25, 2015, 07:38:04 PM
Newcastle have conceded 22 goals so far, their defence is rubbish.

Are we any closer to answering my question yet? ;)

;)

We were bottom after Brian lost the first 4 games in 97/98.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: cdbearsfan on October 25, 2015, 07:48:53 PM
Being realistic...

Tottenham (a) - if Sherwood won there, anyone can. WIN.
Man City (h) - if Lambert beat them, anyone can. Delph win come on and, overcome by guilt, smash the ball into his own net for the decisive goal. WIN.
Everton (a) - tricky game, but Remi Garde has never lost or drawn with Everton in a league game. WIN.
Watford (h) - hardly worth them turning up. WIN.
Southampton (a) - the psychological blow of our 7-0 win in the League Cup will be too much for them to overcome. WIN.
Arsenal (h) - if anyone can get the better of L'Arsenal, it's a Frenchman. WIN.
Newcastle (a) - pah! If they lost to Sunderland they'll lose to us. WIN.
West Ham (h) - we'll poison their jellied eels before the game. WIN.
Norwich (a) - by this time, they'll be begging us to go easy on them and just call it 0-5. WIN.
Sunderland (a) - the home fans will set a new record by leaving en masse before kick off. WIN.
Palace (h) - might have picked up a few knocks from the weekend's cup win at Old Trafford, but still. WIN.
Leicester (h) - just for a laugh, we'll let them go two up. Then we'll.... WIN.
West Bromwich Albion (a) - Pulis sacked at half-time, new boss Tim Sherwood unable to inspire the hosts, whose players seem confused by his instruction of "just whack it to Ben'eke!". Easy... WIN.

So that's forty-three points gained by the end of January. We can then ease up and concentrate on winning both the cups.

Piece of piss.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: OCD on October 25, 2015, 10:05:51 PM
I'll have some of what you've had cd. The last 7 fixtures don't look too bad though...just a matter of getting through the next 3 and then the Southampton/Arsenal games.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Des Little on October 25, 2015, 10:14:43 PM
I can assure any doubters that not only will we survive but we will finish in the top half of the table.The players bought in are of a good standard but the new manager will have to hit the ground running

We go again........upwards!!

Nurse!!!
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: MorrisNielson on October 26, 2015, 08:59:10 PM
As cdbullyweefan &  PeterWithesShin have stated the last time we were bottom was at the beginning of the 97/98 season.
I have collected info on the league position on the day of any league match Villa played. By my reckoning, after at least 10 leagues games into season we have been bottom of the league 76 times in our history.
Just to clarify, it does not include dates in-between matches (such as today, as we were 19th on Saturday night!). It just refers to matchdays only.

(http://i.imgur.com/lfqI9M5.png)
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Bishop Brennan on October 26, 2015, 09:35:48 PM
Great detective work, Morris.

I could have sworn I remembered us being bottom during the season when Allback saved our bacon, but evidently not. Thinking about it, that was probably when Leeds hit rock bottom.

Bish
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: LTA on October 26, 2015, 10:02:50 PM
Crawled out from under his rick again.

Former Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert thinks the club needs investment to match expectations.

Following the sacking of Tim Sherwood on Sunday, the Villans find themselves bottom of the Premier League after 10 games.

Speaking to Kelly Cates on the Monday Night Club, Lambert said: "To compete in the Premier League you've got to have money. A lot of people think i had a lot of money to spend, I didn't. You can't be that size of club and not be prepared to bring in big, big players".

Regarding the club's decision to spend the majority of their summer budget on foreign players, the Scotsman thought communication could have been an issue this season:

"I think one of the big problems is the language barrier. I know from my own experience that it can become difficult. You've got to know the basics of the football language", he said.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: PeterWithesShin on October 26, 2015, 10:42:20 PM
"I think one of the big problems is the language barrier. I know from my own experience that it can become difficult. You've got to know the basics of the football language", he said.


So many potential jokes!
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: pbavfckuwait on October 27, 2015, 06:11:02 AM
Mumble, Mumble, Mumble We go again
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: saunders_heroes on October 27, 2015, 07:16:12 AM
Lambert seems to be on a mission to be heard taking about the Villa. He was on Radio 5 last night and he's on Talkshite this morning. I hope he's not looking for his job back.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Toronto Villa on October 27, 2015, 11:00:36 AM
Lambert seems to be on a mission to be heard taking about the Villa. He was on Radio 5 last night and he's on Talkshite this morning. I hope he's not looking for his job back.

He's obsessed. Paul, Move the fuck on and stop talking about us. You fucked up.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: Comrade Blitz on October 27, 2015, 11:05:26 AM
That 1969-70 season looks like it was a nightmare.

As cdbullyweefan &  PeterWithesShin have stated the last time we were bottom was at the beginning of the 97/98 season.
I have collected info on the league position on the day of any league match Villa played. By my reckoning, after at least 10 leagues games into season we have been bottom of the league 76 times in our history.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: QuintonVilla on October 27, 2015, 11:55:56 AM
We're bottom of the league, We're bottom of the league, We're bottom of the league...

And repeat.
Title: Re: Bottom of the league.
Post by: ktvillan on October 27, 2015, 12:14:59 PM
We keep hearing from failed managers and their cronies about how it's all down to lack of investment.  That may be part of the challenge, but I don't think the likes of Albion, Swansea, Palace, Stoke, West Ham and Leicester have had massive investment either.  Yet their managers seem to be able to sned out teams that look like they have a clue and pick up results with the players they have.  Which goes to show what bollocks it all is.
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