Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: ozzjim on March 03, 2016, 01:37:20 PM
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So, with the gloom, and the inevitability about relegation, is there anything you are looking forward to next season. This is meant to be a slightly light hearted thread, so not full of anti-board related stuff please!
I will kick off - I am looking forward to Grealish in the Championship. I think it could be the making of him, and he will be a star for us next season.
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Winning football matches again
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Some new grounds to visit, more local derbies and beating blues twice
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Scanning the table from the top rather than the bottom.
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Not having to endure the annual home surrenders against Man U, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
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More games, more time spent on here chewing the football in fat. A weekend where winning is realistic and replaces drawing at home to Swansea as some sort of victory.
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Scanning the table from the top rather than the bottom.
just not been bottom would be good
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The team having confidence. As bad as they have looked I'm convinced a lot is purely down to confidence and belief. Get them winning and players will feel twice as tall and play that way. Even those that we have written off. We are not going to turn over an entire squad so it will be good to see some of these players actually grow and mature.
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I'm getting divorced in a couple of months
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I am looking forward to looking forward to going again which I don't think I've done this season since probably the opening day. Unless of course my spirit has been completely crushed by the time the new season rolls around and I find something better to do with Saturdays.
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Not dreading the football every weekend. Finding some players that you enjoy watching and can get behind. Not seeing something about Villa and automatically thinking fuck off, it's tosh.
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Ritual Slaughter from the likes of Man City.
Parking in Stoke. Getting the tube from West Ham. Beating the road closure near the Etihad.
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Being able to hopefully reignite my kids enthusiasm for the club they support - It was a low moment for me when I was home at Xmas and no matter the argument, could not persuade my lads to go the West Ham game. This season has nearly broken their support, next season could help reignite it.
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The phoenix from the ashes rise to glory.
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Huddersfield away, not wanting Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool etc to win on our behalf, seeing us win a few matches, no Micah Richards.
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Being able to walk from my house to a match for the first time since I lived in Brookvale in the 1980s. (I can hear the crowd at the John Smith's Stadium from my garden if the wind's in the right direction).
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Huddersfield away, not wanting Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool etc to win on our behalf, seeing us win a few matches, no Micah Richards.
I will provide the site with a pub guide etc for when we play Huddersfield.
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Any sort of feel good factor.
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The team having confidence. As bad as they have looked I'm convinced a lot is purely down to confidence and belief. Get them winning and players will feel twice as tall and play that way. Even those that we have written off. We are not going to turn over an entire squad so it will be good to see some of these players actually grow and mature.
I still think that the presence of a few 'leaders' in the side would benefit the rest of the side at the moment. I mean look at our most experienced players in the side at the moment - Guzan, Richards, Lescott, Westwood and Agbonlahor. If we replace them with proper leaders who can organise both on and off the field then it might just bring out the best in other players.
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Being able to hopefully reignite my kids enthusiasm for the club they support -
That's it for me as well.
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The team having confidence. As bad as they have looked I'm convinced a lot is purely down to confidence and belief. Get them winning and players will feel twice as tall and play that way. Even those that we have written off. We are not going to turn over an entire squad so it will be good to see some of these players actually grow and mature.
I still think that the presence of a few 'leaders' in the side would benefit the rest of the side at the moment. I mean look at our most experienced players in the side at the moment - Guzan, Richards, Lescott, Westwood and Agbonlahor. If we replace them with proper leaders who can organise both on and off the field then it might just bring out the best in other players.
Absolutely. We haven't had any consistency in that area post Petrov. We need a player that others respect, the supporters respect and can portray the club in a positive and professional light. Delph might have become that player and person had he not left, but we have been utterly leaderless and rudderless on and off the pitch. I thought Richards might provide it but I couldn't have been any more wrong about that. And Gabby. Well fuck me... You can start to see why we have dissolved into chaos. And Lescott for what he might bring makes a cock of himself too often. We need someone new to bring through the players who are currently being misled. How on earth can we expect Grealish to develop when some of the senior players, the ones who should be helpin him along and steering him correctly are the biggest wankers at the club. He's got no chance.
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Enjoying reading HD more than OT.
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If I buy a season ticket I'm hoping for a season where I see it as a benefit rather than a millstone.
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Lots of derbies/local away days (Blues, Wolves, Burton? Walsall?)
Leeds away - used to live up there so know quite a few Leeds fans (all decent ones, contrary to a few of you experiencing bad ones in years gone by)
Huddersfield away - my old man's team
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There's an awful lot of assuming going on here that we'll magically start to win games again. I wouldn't be so sure.
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It cant get any worse.
Can it?
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Series 9 Curb Your Enthusiasm a more than 51% chance of happening sometime.Or a movie.
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There's an awful lot of assuming going on here that we'll magically start to win games again. I wouldn't be so sure.
I don't think that it's particularly unrealistic to think that we'll probably win more games next year than we have won for each of the last three or four seasons.
Given that we'll be playing Huddersfield and MK Dons rather than Man City and Liverpool.
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Winning the league and passing 100 points and 100 goals scored.
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Taking my youngest grandson up the Holte for the first time. Damon's youngest boy, 8 and as sharp as a whip. Nothing like any other member of the family in any direction. He is a smasher and will almost certainly be a life long Villa fan.
Plenty of space to sprawl about. Not getting barged into under the Holte, not having to queue for beer and food, having the bliss of post relegation misery starting to subside, going to grounds which actually are smaller than my garden shed.
Poster mates like TV and Mont and Bob, and Stuart and Lee, and DS and DW and UKR and Mr U and Kuwait and Robbo being less unhappy.
Loads to look forward to.
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Cancelling Sky Sports never to return.
New grounds to visit.
Winning more than losing
Going straight back up as Champions with a new set of heroes.
Taking Gary Rowett off the Blues.
A new owner (hopefully). Or, the present one to come to his senses.
The banners on the North Stand and Holte End coming down. They're not helping now.
Playing Prem sides in the cups and beating them.
Playing Prem sides in the final of the cups and beating them.
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It's got the potential to be the most enjoyable season for about 6 years, Newcastle fans loved their season down there compared to what they've had to watch since they came back up. Let's just hope it transpires that way.
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Cancelling Sky Sports never to return.
New grounds to visit.
Winning more than losing
Going straight back up as Champions with a new set of heroes.
Taking Gary Rowett off the Blues.
A new owner (hopefully). Or, the present one to come to his senses.
The banners on the North Stand and Holte End coming down. They're not helping now.
Playing Prem sides in the cups and beating them.
Playing Prem sides in the final of the cups and beating them.
Yes please. Long overdue.
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Lots of derbies/local away days (Blues, Wolves, Burton? Walsall?)
Leeds away - used to live up there so know quite a few Leeds fans (all decent ones, contrary to a few of you experiencing bad ones in years gone by)
Huddersfield away - my old man's team
If we are doing well, there should be some good away trips next season.
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I forgot one. Being waited on hand and foot by my lovely daughter in law until ten to three and still not missing the Millwall kick off.
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Feeling able to introduce my eldest lad to it when there is a possibility we might win.
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Being able to walk from my house to a match for the first time since I lived in Brookvale in the 1980s. (I can hear the crowd at the John Smith's Stadium from my garden if the wind's in the right direction).
Going to Deepdale 30mins before a game to watch the Villa. Oh and more local games for me again!
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Losing is very tiring to the soul. I just want a break from that for one season.
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Lots of derbies/local away days (Blues, Wolves, Burton? Walsall?)
Leeds away - used to live up there so know quite a few Leeds fans (all decent ones, contrary to a few of you experiencing bad ones in years gone by)
Huddersfield away - my old man's team
If we are doing well, there should be some good away trips next season.
Do you need to be a season ticket holder to get away tickets?
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It's got the potential to be the most enjoyable season for about 6 years, Newcastle fans loved their season down there compared to what they've had to watch since they came back up. Let's just hope it transpires that way.
j
I would actually like to read an informed view from a Barcode as to their thoughts on the year in the Ch'ship and how it compared to the subsequent seasons when they've been back up.
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Starting a season with a chance of winning or coming second, third as opposed to knowing without a ball being kicked that we will not qualify for the Chumpians league
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Not feeling as miserable as sin every time I think about football. Not having my girlfriend continually saying to me 'if they make you unhappy, why don't you just not support them?'
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It's got the potential to be the most enjoyable season for about 6 years, Newcastle fans loved their season down there compared to what they've had to watch since they came back up. Let's just hope it transpires that way.
j
I would actually like to read an informed view from a Barcode as to their thoughts on the year in the Ch'ship and how it compared to the subsequent seasons when they've been back up.
My mate is a Toon season ticket holder. He enjoyed the season in the championship - going to be grounds, lots of goals and excitement. But they did run away with it. He does concede that it would have been different if they had been average mid table!
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Not being the worst team in the league. Even if we try (and we will) it is just about impossible for us to get rid of allour current players, most of whom are decent to good Championship level players.
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Singing have you won the European Cup at Brentford, and other new grounds.
Tonking teams at Villa Park again. I can still vividly remember beating Plymouth 5-2 in 87/88, when I was thirteen. I could stare at tickets from games three years ago and not remember a thing.
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Some have been mentioned like visit new away grounds. One thing im hoping for is seeing never to see those div Villa fans who were celebrating on the last day of 2004/05 season at Anfeild as WBA avoided relegation. Over the years they must have come to know that the rivalry with WBA is not villa - blues but its not friendly either. They are an embarrassment and I hope they have something more appropriate to do like going to the opera rather follow villa in the championship.
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Respect perrycommoner but going to the Opera is very similar to following Villa. Very expensive, egos out of control, very critical audience, plenty of booing at several venues, stars massively overpaid, lower orders on peanuts, plenty carrying too much timber (see Gregory v Daveed), everything ending in tears. Indistinguishable from VP.
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Seriously, not being anywhere near Match of the Day. Aside from the obvious torture of it, I would quite like to follow a football match that is a genuinely good one, rather than Crystal Palace - Stoke being hyped beyond measure because it's Premier League. The smugness of the 'good' Premier League teams has become really grating the shitter we've got.
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Not much, really.
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Maybe scoring more than we let in.
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Not having to endure the annual home surrenders against Man U, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
and the rest!
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we'll definitely have the biggest ground in the Conference if all these wanky media luvvie fucktrumpets are to be believed.
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Hopefully seeing more of the reserve team coming through.
Catastrophic loss of income aside, with the way the club is now I honestly think a year in the Championship to sort itself out will be good for Villa, so long,of course, as we come back up!
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be nice to see our old trophy back at Villa Park next season...
(http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/sport-football-pic-1981-aston-villa-captain-dennis-mortimer-holds-picture-id79648084)
UTV
The Doc
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Not playing either Manchester club home and away. My least favourite 4 fixtures of the season.
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Seriously, not being anywhere near Match of the Day. Aside from the obvious torture of it, I would quite like to follow a football match that is a genuinely good one, rather than Crystal Palace - Stoke being hyped beyond measure because it's Premier League. The smugness of the 'good' Premier League teams has become really grating the shitter we've got.
Seconded, although I do have concerns about watching the " chaotic dog's dinner " that is the 'Football League Show' on Ch5, that said, needs must etc.
Reading so many of the 'positive' comments on this topic has actually lifted my spirits, somewhat !.....Godzvilla!
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Not getting up on a Saturday morning to watch on TV.
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Not getting up on a Saturday morning to watch on TV.
You can subscribe to Bein sports. I bet we are on every week, and probably the featured game quite often.
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Not getting up on a Saturday morning to watch on TV.
You can subscribe to Bein sports. I bet we are on every week, and probably the featured game quite often.
Don't tell my 4 year old daughter that, she thinks we're going to be going hiking more often if Villa are not in the Premier League and so not live on tv every week.
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Fox Sports in Oz have lost he rights to show the PL from next season so this is my last season of seeing us for a while regardless. Can't say it's bothering me at all.
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Not having to watch or listen to those idiots like jenas, carragher, savage or any of those average so called pundits on sky or bbc going on about us
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More midweek games, so the void between matches is on average shorter.
Seeing some old familiar faces: Forest, Sheff Wed, Leeds etc.
Getting away from the circus and hype and going back to a bit more of a retro football experience.
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There's one thing to look forward to maybe this season.
7th May, Newcastle come to Villa Park with new manager Alan Shearer knowing a defeat will consign them to the Championship ... Start printing the banners now?
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Not playing either Manchester club home and away. My least favourite 4 fixtures of the season.
Anyone braver than me want to tot up our aggregate score in Manchester over the last 10 years?!
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This is the first time in 5 years we've not been involved in the relegation battle :)
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Never been to Elland rd or city ground. They would be big crowds. We'd take a big following to both
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Anything that isn't this season is what I am looking forward to.
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Agree with TV... looking forward to August
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Being first on the Saturday night highlights show.
No more half and half scarves outside the ground.
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Micah Richards leaving.
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No more competitive, and I mean competitive in its loosest sense, games for a couple of months come May.
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Well I've already arrived at a pretty good place and one I never thought I would arrive at. I actually am looking forward to Match of the Day tonight and can watch it as a neutral would watch a game. Previously I could only watch MotD if Villa won or drew and any game I'd watch would be enjoyable because we played a part in that game on some level. But now I've no interest in us I can look forward to seeing the North London derby, Leicester, West Ham's comeback. Just enjoy the football. I have no emotional attachment to it.
Let my family enjoy it. A few more months where Villa are unable to ruin my weekend and by association become a thorn in theirs. I'm also kind of enjoying it. Like being weaned off a drug I guess. I know that come next season I'm going to be right back in it and suffering again but for now I can just kick back and chill.
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I've barely watched any other PL football. I catch bits of games here and there, but avoid all the review type shows. Next season I'll watch and enjoy those shows for the football, hoping in the background Villa are doing well and will be part of the 2017/18 PL season.
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Not playing either Manchester club home and away. My least favourite 4 fixtures of the season.
Anyone braver than me want to tot up our aggregate score in Manchester over the last 10 years?!
After a quick look through the results of the last ten seasons, including this nightmare, I'd hazard a rough guess at the following:
Goal difference of -15 at home and -32 away. 6 draws and 3 wins all up?
Apologies for any errors but our eldest had a sleep over last night. We now have a house filled with feral over-tired kiwi kids whose parents are refusing to acknowledge that their offspring are still here.
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Well I've already arrived at a pretty good place and one I never thought I would arrive at. I actually am looking forward to Match of the Day tonight and can watch it as a neutral would watch a game. Previously I could only watch MotD if Villa won or drew and any game I'd watch would be enjoyable because we played a part in that game on some level. But now I've no interest in us I can look forward to seeing the North London derby, Leicester, West Ham's comeback. Just enjoy the football. I have no emotional attachment to it.
Let my family enjoy it. A few more months where Villa are unable to ruin my weekend and by association become a thorn in theirs. I'm also kind of enjoying it. Like being weaned off a drug I guess. I know that come next season I'm going to be right back in it and suffering again but for now I can just kick back and chill.
I've felt this way for a while, certainly since the Liverpool debacle. I'm actually more interested in cheering on Leicester at the moment, which feels weird. All things Villa have become too depressingly predictable, I've given up for this season and will start again in August.
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Walking down Trinity Road thinking "I fancy us today..." Genuinely can't remember the last time that went through my head.
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Starting over.
The new fixture list being published and the novelty of games which we look like we could win.
Not knowing what to expect good or bad.
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Prays...
Never seeing Richards or Agbonlahor in a Villa shirt again
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sadly it's not going to happen though is it? GabtheFlab at least is going nowhere until 2018
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Starting over.
The new fixture list being published and the novelty of games which we look like we could win.
Not knowing what to expect good or bad.
Not knowing what to expect is a good shout. Sometimes a change of any kind is needed, because the status quo has brought you into such a rut.
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Well I've already arrived at a pretty good place and one I never thought I would arrive at. I actually am looking forward to Match of the Day tonight and can watch it as a neutral would watch a game. Previously I could only watch MotD if Villa won or drew and any game I'd watch would be enjoyable because we played a part in that game on some level. But now I've no interest in us I can look forward to seeing the North London derby, Leicester, West Ham's comeback. Just enjoy the football. I have no emotional attachment to it.
Let my family enjoy it. A few more months where Villa are unable to ruin my weekend and by association become a thorn in theirs. I'm also kind of enjoying it. Like being weaned off a drug I guess. I know that come next season I'm going to be right back in it and suffering again but for now I can just kick back and chill.
That's exactly where I am with it all now. Before I would have been eaten up by jealousy just watching the West Ham game, but now I can appreciate what a great job Bilic has done.
I've started watching so much more football in recent weeks, because I've detached myself completely from it.
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I am looking forwards to the argy bargy outside the away end at St James' Park for a third year running. This time we can remind them that we relegated them twice.
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Not playing either Manchester club home and away. My least favourite 4 fixtures of the season.
Anyone braver than me want to tot up our aggregate score in Manchester over the last 10 years?!
After a quick look through the results of the last ten seasons, including this nightmare, I'd hazard a rough guess at the following:
Goal difference of -15 at home and -32 away. 6 draws and 3 wins all up?
Apologies for any errors but our eldest had a sleep over last night. We now have a house filled with feral over-tired kiwi kids whose parents are refusing to acknowledge that their offspring are still here.
No just meant at Old Trafford and Eastlands!
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I'm actually looking forward to a much more enjoyable league.
The Premiership has little to offer the mid-to-lower table teams, with very little chance of European places being available to anyone but the same, obvious teams. But drop down a league and there's something worth playing for, week in, week out. It's a far more evenly matched league overall which should mean consistently entertaining games, quite a few 'unknowns', as in teams we've got no specific history with and something to aim for in promotion.
I genuinely think it'll make a nice change particularity after the last few years. A new start, and hopefully one with a bit of optimism thrown in!
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that'd just bravado though Tim isn't it? I'd much rather we didn't drop out of the top league
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that'd just bravado though Tim isn't it? I'd much rather we didn't drop out of the top league
Hmmm - I don't know to be honest. If we weren't in the position we are, then I'd certainly feel different, but I think that with the way things are I can't help but feel that dropping down really isn't as a big a disaster as it could be. We presently have no prospects of achieving anything in the Premiership, so why not have a go elsewhere, somewhere that brings a bit of enjoyment back to the weekly games.
If we win the next three games though I'll be backtracking pretty swiftly, mind!
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Rewriting our records, i.e worst parts of our records outside of the top flight, Randy wants to do this properly.
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The away game at Fulham. Its on my to do list!
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I'm actually looking forward to a much more enjoyable league.
The Premiership has little to offer the mid-to-lower table teams, with very little chance of European places being available to anyone but the same, obvious teams. But drop down a league and there's something worth playing for, week in, week out. It's a far more evenly matched league overall which should mean consistently entertaining games, quite a few 'unknowns', as in teams we've got no specific history with and something to aim for in promotion.
I genuinely think it'll make a nice change particularity after the last few years. A new start, and hopefully one with a bit of optimism thrown in!
Try telling that to Leicester and West Ham.
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that'd just bravado though Tim isn't it? I'd much rather we didn't drop out of the top league
Hmmm - I don't know to be honest. If we weren't in the position we are, then I'd certainly feel different, but I think that with the way things are I can't help but feel that dropping down really isn't as a big a disaster as it could be. We presently have no prospects of achieving anything in the Premiership, so why not have a go elsewhere, somewhere that brings a bit of enjoyment back to the weekly games.
If we win the next three games though I'll be backtracking pretty swiftly, mind!
Again, by this rationale, we'd have so much fun as a non-league club.
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Not sinking into ever deepening depression after every game.
Unless of course we end up in a relegation scrap to Div One. Which could easily happen with this shower running the club.
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I'm actually looking forward to a much more enjoyable league.
The Premiership has little to offer the mid-to-lower table teams, with very little chance of European places being available to anyone but the same, obvious teams.
Try telling that to Leicester and West Ham.
Yeah admittedly this year has thrown up a bit of 'top of the table madness', but I don't think anyone is looking it and thinking that this is the shape of things to come. No-one in their right mind would genuinely expect Villa to do what Leicester have done, and West Ham's position isn't really achievable in Villa's foreseeable future, so I stand by that statement as there may be a slight variation each year but in general it's fairly predictable.
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that'd just bravado though Tim isn't it? I'd much rather we didn't drop out of the top league
Hmmm - I don't know to be honest. If we weren't in the position we are, then I'd certainly feel different, but I think that with the way things are I can't help but feel that dropping down really isn't as a big a disaster as it could be. We presently have no prospects of achieving anything in the Premiership, so why not have a go elsewhere, somewhere that brings a bit of enjoyment back to the weekly games.
If we win the next three games though I'll be backtracking pretty swiftly, mind!
Again, by this rationale, we'd have so much fun as a non-league club.
I think you know what I mean - the team we have at present is nowhere near suitable for the top league. It is at best a decent Championship side, so why not embrace it and for however long it takes to get back up just enjoy being part of a competitive league where we are (sadly) a better fit..?
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that'd just bravado though Tim isn't it? I'd much rather we didn't drop out of the top league
Hmmm - I don't know to be honest. If we weren't in the position we are, then I'd certainly feel different, but I think that with the way things are I can't help but feel that dropping down really isn't as a big a disaster as it could be. We presently have no prospects of achieving anything in the Premiership, so why not have a go elsewhere, somewhere that brings a bit of enjoyment back to the weekly games.
If we win the next three games though I'll be backtracking pretty swiftly, mind!
Again, by this rationale, we'd have so much fun as a non-league club.
I think you know what I mean - the team we have at present is nowhere near suitable for the top league. It is at best a decent Championship side, so why not embrace it and for however long it takes to get back up just enjoy being part of a competitive league where we are (sadly) a better fit..?
You're either a realist or defeatist, but whatever it might be, for Villa fans it's a bitter pill to swallow seeing our club downgraded so much since 2010.
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The end of the season.
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Again, by this rationale, we'd have so much fun as a non-league club.
I think you know what I mean - the team we have at present is nowhere near suitable for the top league. It is at best a decent Championship side, so why not embrace it and for however long it takes to get back up just enjoy being part of a competitive league where we are (sadly) a better fit..?
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You're either a realist or defeatist, but whatever it might be, for Villa fans it's a bitter pill to swallow seeing our club downgraded so much since 2010.
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A realist - we've been way below average since 2010 and our strategy for staying up appeared to be "let's hope there's 3 teams shitter than us". This year there isn't. Things are not going to change any time soon so I say swallow the bitter pill and accept our fate. In doing so it doesn't have to be so miserable, we can look for positives and try to regain a bit of pride, rather than moan and argue every week when we're shown up by opposition that have progressed and simply left us behind.
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there is, of course, the possibility that we might well be in the same position next season - being left behind, and shown up by the opposition, only this time with the further ignominy of it being in an inferior league. ( Obviously I hope that is not the case)
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there is, of course, the possibility that we might well be in the same position next season - being left behind, and shown up by the opposition, only this time with the further ignominy of it being in an inferior league. ( Obviously I hope that is not the case)
Indeed. I personally can't see that being the case - I think even with this team we'll do alright, although I certainly don't see the straight return that some have predicted. If this team don't want to fight to stay in the league then I'd be surprised if they have the fight to get directly back into it, but I can see us doing pretty well overall.
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beating Middlesborough away live on TV and seeing off Millwall would be sweet . . . if good karma is listening.
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Searching for Aston Villa positives with Joey Barton MOTD 2 analysis. Searching is the key word here.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35800024
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Andre Green looked pretty handy.
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So do Lyden, Sellars, Davis, Traore and Grealish. Add in Amavi and Okore and we could actually have a really exciting young team. Is going to take someone brave to stitch in some good experienced championship players.
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I just to want to stop crying. That's what I'm looking forward to.
That and breakfast tomorrow. Eggs! Yum!
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Quite looking forward to seeing Gary Gardner in a Villa shirt again. Especially if he can score a goal like his one tonight. Or any goal to be honest.