Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Deano's Mullet on August 04, 2016, 09:01:48 AM
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First time I've felt like this since summer of 2013 - I cant wait. Not sure how we'll do but the thought of playing different teams and maybe even winning some games feels a right buzz. New signings, some of the deadwood already starting to leave. I like the chairmans positivity although he needs to reign in twitter a bit. Hows everyone else feeling?
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I can't remember why the summer of 2013 was exciting?
I'm not very excited tbh, but I think that's because my holiday means I am missing most of the early games and it feels like the season doesn't start for another month. I feel a bit weird about not being there for the start of the new campaign, especially in these circumstances. I am thinking of getting Jane to tell everyone around us that I haven't renewed, but I'm a bit worried that they'd all be delighted!
I feel more anxious I think. The whole 'winning a few games' thing - we don't know that yet. If it doesn't happen (quickly), the atmosphere will be worse than ever, and I'm kind of dreading that it could go that way.
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I've got tickets for the first 2 away games..I've been to 3 away games in 2 Years. I'm excited.
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It's going to be different.
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Excited. We'll bladder this shit house of a league.
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Very excited, but also a a tad nervous. Think we will do really well though.
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Scared but looking forward to our upcoming games more than I would be if we were playing Stoke or Man fucking U.
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Excited. Some different teams to play, a new era off the pitch, encouraging new signings and the prospect that we might actually win occasionally. Onwards and upwards!
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Excited, New teams to play, new stadiums to visit, new management and ownership. Just hope we can finish in the top 6 and secure a playoff spot. Its gonna be a tough league but one i'm looking forward to. Roll on Sunday
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Not excited yet, more apprehensive because we haven't done enough business as yet in my eyes. I'd also like a few more of the shithouses out. More of them gone and 2/3 more signings and I'll be excited.
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Not looking forward to it at all. Our squad still has too many of the shite that dragged us down here especially the likes of Westwood, Baker etc and I'm staggered that Joe Bennett is still a Villa employee. We haven't bought enough to make me believe we'll come straight back up as the defence still looks dodgy and we still haven't got a creative midfielder.
McCormack is a decent signing though.
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I get more apathetic each year. Due to holidays, I won't be seeing a live match until 11th Sept, and that's a frigging 1.15pm Sunday kick-off. Bah!
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I'd be excited if Traore was fully fit and if Richards had an epiphany moment.
Still, keeping hold of Ayew and the signing of Ross has lifted me. I might even be a little excited by the prospect of what that might or really should bring.
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I can't remember why the summer of 2013 was exciting?
I'm not very excited tbh, but I think that's because my holiday means I am missing most of the early games and it feels like the season doesn't start for another month. I feel a bit weird about not being there for the start of the new campaign, especially in these circumstances. I am thinking of getting Jane to tell everyone around us that I haven't renewed, but I'm a bit worried that they'd all be delighted!
I feel more anxious I think. The whole 'winning a few games' thing - we don't know that yet. If it doesn't happen (quickly), the atmosphere will be worse than ever, and I'm kind of dreading that it could go that way.
2013 looked optimistic. We'd finished previous year with top six form, Benteke was at top of his game and Lambert looked like he knew what he was doing. By Christmas that optimism and satisfaction had definitely gone!
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With the current squad, not excited at all. Looking at our CM and creative options, they are mostly garbage (Sanchez, Westwood, Sinclair) or unproven (Tshibola, Grealish, Traore). We definitely need to add a couple of quality players in those areas before we can think about Top 6.
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I'm looking forward to the season we should be able to see a few wins and like others have said get to see new teams.
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With Bacuna Westwood Hutton Gabby Richards Sissoko still on the payroll.
Not very.
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As excited as this day in 2006, rather than looking at the fixtures and trying to forecast where we will get 40 points from, it's going to be refreshing trying to predict how quickly we will get to 70 points, which one of our players will score 20 league goals first and trying to select a goal of the season from the 100+ goals we're going to get.
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Not excited at all.
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
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Can we have a poll?
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Not very. McCormack gives me a little more cause for optimism, but we still have too many of last season's players stinking up the place.
Our midfield is still likely to include Ashley Westwood, and unless Tshibola turns out to be decent, the rest doesn't look too strong either.
Our right-back options are still Hutton and Bacuna.
Richards and Lescott are still here.
We have an inexperienced keeper.
We still have Gestede, but no wingers to feed him, meaning he's useless.
Plus points: McCormack, and maybe one or two of our youngsters will come through - Green and Hepburn-Murphy in particular.
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I'm excited about playing some different teams and going into a season without the absolute certainty of battling it out at the foot of the table.
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Get to play Fulham again , great away day and Burton Isnt far for me , Ive already seen Hinckley play in the FACup there , thats going to be a fun day.
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Fairly.
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Not very. McCormack gives me a little more cause for optimism, but we still have too many of last season's players stinking up the place.
Our midfield is still likely to include Ashley Westwood, and unless Tshibola turns out to be decent, the rest doesn't look too strong either.
Our right-back options are still Hutton and Bacuna.
Richards and Lescott are still here.
We have an inexperienced keeper.
We still have Gestede, but no wingers to feed him, meaning he's useless.
Plus points: McCormack, and maybe one or two of our youngsters will come through - Green and Hepburn-Murphy in particular.
still best part of a month to go before the window shuts though. We've sold a few, bought a few; including main priorities: new keeper; new centre back and captain; new midfielder; and now a 12m signing of a striker who is proven at this level in a poor side.
I'm happy for us to take our time, still try and do business to our plans. But also see how the first few games go and maybe do a bit of late business at the end of the window. And I don't mean by that, panic buy. Just that after pre-season and the first few matches, if we don't start great, still be in a position to bring one or two more in- I.e not spunk all our cash right now. If we don't start quick out of the blocks and results in 1 or 2 players leaving and 1 or 2 coming in, in positions we need them, I'm happy with that.
We should maybe look at the transfer window as an extension to pre-season for the management team to be able to have a bit more time to finalise plans. There's loads of games still to play after August.
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
Apologies for any upset caused. The players I despise are still here. Our owner is making some strange noises online. Westwood and Bacuna are still making a living as footballers. I'm worried about playing Sheffield Wednesday. We aren't in the Premier League.
So, no, I'm still not looking forward to it. At all.
However, a few wins, a few signs that the team are working hard, some interesting signings (and outgoings of the degenerates)...and I might feel a little excitement.
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
Apologies for any upset caused. The players I despise are still here. Our owner is making some strange noises online. Westwood and Bacuna are still making a living as footballers. I'm worried about playing Sheffield Wednesday. We aren't in the Premier League.
So, no, I'm still not looking forward to it. At all.
However, a few wins, a few signs that the team are working hard, some interesting signings (and outgoings of the degenerates)...and I might feel a little excitement.
Agree with this. We've been relegated with one of the worst PL teams ever, and the squad that relegated us are virtually all still here. Forgive me if I'm not dancing with delight in anticipation of the new season starting.
A few more signings of the McCormack standard and I'll feel a lot better about it all.
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I am scared more than excited. I feel like I am in the queue at Alton Towers for the Brown Trousers ride. We are nowhere near ready, nor were we ever going to be with Black ring fencing his CV, new ownership, new board, new manager and assistants. We were always going to be forced into "everybody starts with a clean slate" mode when we had watched six years of what was actually going on the slates. We are starting to get there now. A few more wasters out, a few better quality players in and we will become a very robust Championship side. Beyond that? Only Tony and his bank manager can tell you that.
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I feel quietly optimistic. Ask me again on Saturday evening though.
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I feel quietly optimistic. Ask me again on Saturday evening though.
Just had a quick look at the pre-match thread and of course what I meant to say was ask me again on Sunday evening.
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Its a strange pre-season when you get excited for every name in last years 1st team that leaves regardless whoever its is...
(With the exception of Amavi, who is the only one that hasn't disgraced himself.)
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
Apologies for any upset caused. The players I despise are still here. Our owner is making some strange noises online. Westwood and Bacuna are still making a living as footballers. I'm worried about playing Sheffield Wednesday. We aren't in the Premier League.
So, no, I'm still not looking forward to it. At all.
However, a few wins, a few signs that the team are working hard, some interesting signings (and outgoings of the degenerates)...and I might feel a little excitement.
More or less identical to my thoughts. I'll add I can't buy into Xia and I think he's playing us for fools, the board is made up of crooks, Di Matteo is meh for me and we're now playing in a poor league with poor footballers.
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I'm strangely excited. I feel like we're turning a corner and I'm also just looking forward to being in a more competitive league. The Prem is of course the place to be, but a nice break from the likes of Utd, Chelsea, City, Liverpool, fucking Spurs, fucking Arsenal and all those other pricks, is more than welcome. We'll play small clubs. We'll be a big fish here. By the same token there's still more than enough big "event" games. We've got the Blues games, Wolves. There's other big clubs to play like Forrest, Leeds, Newcastle and we start against Wednesday. There's also a couple of good away trips that suit me locally, like Fulham and Reading.
Bring it fucking on.
Signing RM was a good statement and if we keep Ayew, we've got a really good strike force. If we finally see Amavi and Traore too, there's no shortage of talent. Grealish too has the potential to be the player of the season in this division, if he knuckles down.
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looking forward to it because it means getting down to vp again
excited no, nervous yes
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Not very.
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Not very excited. Too many of last seasons charlatans are still here. I hoped they would never kick a ball for us again. And while the McCormack signing has piqued a bit of interest, I'm afraid I might be falling out of love with the game.
Also, I see that quite a few seem to think all we have to do is turn up to win in this league. They're gonna be in for a rude awakening.
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Not very. Too many false Dawn's.
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Not very. Too many false Dawn's.
Dawn's what?
(Now I'm excited).
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I get excited about every season the feeling don't last that long though
But this time
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I may order a new Villa mug if we win our first game.
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Mixed feelings. Like a lot of other have said - excited about new teams to play & places to visit, new players to watch, games we may win (even at home) but worried that we actually may not do as well as we hope or think and we get stuck where we are for a few years.
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Not very. Too many false Dawn's.
Dawn's what?
(Now I'm excited).
Oops!
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Not very. Too many false Dawn's.
Have to admit that caused a titter
Dawn's what?
(Now I'm excited).
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Not very much at all, hate games in early August as cricket is still in full swing.
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Can't wait for it to start.
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Well I've been using this and predicted us to get 138 points.
http://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-championship/
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
Apologies for any upset caused. The players I despise are still here. Our owner is making some strange noises online. Westwood and Bacuna are still making a living as footballers. I'm worried about playing Sheffield Wednesday. We aren't in the Premier League.
So, no, I'm still not looking forward to it. At all.
However, a few wins, a few signs that the team are working hard, some interesting signings (and outgoings of the degenerates)...and I might feel a little excitement.
Agree with this. We've been relegated with one of the worst PL teams ever, and the squad that relegated us are virtually all still here. Forgive me if I'm not dancing with delight in anticipation of the new season starting.
A few more signings of the McCormack standard and I'll feel a lot better about it all.
Come on fellas - this is a new start for all of us, we have a clutch of players back from tours of duty in the championship, Amavi is back from injury, Ayew is staying and Grealish is back from his gap year. If you add in the preseason form of Andre Green and Heddie-Murphy you can't help but feel a little bit of optimism. Now we've added McCormack and possibly binned off Lescott anything is possible.
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I have been going since 1963 and this is the least excited I have ever been for a new season !
There is not one single player that really excites me or gives me great optimism for getting back into the Premier League.
I am about as excited for the new season as when we were in the Top 4 and signed Emile Heskey
and when we were in the Top 2 and signed Tony Cascarino.
I long for the days to return when we can sign quality like Ian Ormondroyd!
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Also, I see that quite a few seem to think all we have to do is turn up to win in this league. They're gonna be in for a rude awakening.
I think you're right. Some might be confusing the historic size of our club with the current first team.
This relegation is the most seismic thing that has happened in my time of following Villa (2 League cups and a few finals and epic games are the others) so for me, it's a macabre sort of intrigue - tinged with embarrassment at us now being a second tier club. Like others I hope we play like a Premier league team and hammer our way to where we belong but but but...
At least we're making good moves to sort the team out. There lies the hope for me.
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I've been going a fair while too and I'm much more excited than the last 4-5 years. I don't expect us to have an easy season but it'll be nice to be competitive with everyone, and I love the fact there is now a chance we could be in a significantly better position in a few years ... hope, it's called
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I'm going on an all inclusive holiday for the 1st time in my life and I'm exited because hotel has WiFi and I can but a skysports day pass on my phone 8)
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...and when we were in the Top 2 and signed Ian Cascarino
Did we sign his brother Tony too?
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Not excited at all.
That's the spirit
Apologies for any upset caused. The players I despise are still here. Our owner is making some strange noises online. Westwood and Bacuna are still making a living as footballers. I'm worried about playing Sheffield Wednesday. We aren't in the Premier League.
So, no, I'm still not looking forward to it. At all.
However, a few wins, a few signs that the team are working hard, some interesting signings (and outgoings of the degenerates)...and I might feel a little excitement.
Agree with this. We've been relegated with one of the worst PL teams ever, and the squad that relegated us are virtually all still here. Forgive me if I'm not dancing with delight in anticipation of the new season starting.
A few more signings of the McCormack standard and I'll feel a lot better about it all.
Come on fellas - this is a new start for all of us, we have a clutch of players back from tours of duty in the championship, Amavi is back from injury, Ayew is staying and Grealish is back from his gap year. If you add in the preseason form of Andre Green and Heddie-Murphy you can't help but feel a little bit of optimism. Now we've added McCormack and possibly binned off Lescott anything is possible.
Ok mate, you have a point. If those players you me too okay well, it'll be a positive season! I hope you're right!
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...and when we were in the Top 2 and signed Ian Cascarino
Did we sign his brother Tony too?
Apparently so !!
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Can't wait for it to start. Moving out some of the dross and starting to build a decent team. Digressing slightly, it's an interesting choice of picture for pointy boy on the BBC website.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276)
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Can't wait for it to start. Moving out some of the dross and starting to build a decent team. Digressing slightly, it's an interesting choice of picture for pointy boy on the BBC website.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276)
"Yes mate, the door is over there. Now kindly fuck off through it."
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Can't wait for it to start. Moving out some of the dross and starting to build a decent team. Digressing slightly, it's an interesting choice of picture for pointy boy on the BBC website.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276)
"Yes mate, the door is over there. Now kindly fuck off through it."
I know what you mean. He is rubbish. My son reminds me I said he was the new Dennis Mortimer when he first signed. Ouch. However, he looks like a nice lad, ideal son in law material so I cant be too harsh on him
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Can't wait for it to start. Moving out some of the dross and starting to build a decent team. Digressing slightly, it's an interesting choice of picture for pointy boy on the BBC website.......
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36856276)
"Yes mate, the door is over there. Now kindly fuck off through it."
Don't get me started on Ashley Westwood. I genuinely lost the use of my legs eighteen months ago and had to learn to walk again and I was still more mobile than that waste of space. Although I had nerve damage to my hands too so he probably would have beaten me when it came to pointing.
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I have been going since 1963 and this is the least excited I have ever been for a new season !
There is not one single player that really excites me or gives me great optimism for getting back into the Premier League.
I am about as excited for the new season as when we were in the Top 4 and signed Emile Heskey
and when we were in the Top 2 and signed Tony Cascarino.
I long for the days to return when we can sign quality like Ian Ormondroyd!
Dont go near the oven or sharp implements. Progress is now being made on the squad and we might actually win more than 3 games this season. Cant be worst than last season
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Excited enough to have bought a ticket for the Huddersfield game earlier today. My Rotherham and Huddersfield tickets combined cost me less than £40, fuck you Sheff Weds!!
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I hope the fact that Newcastle lost makes us even more determined not to lose on Sunday. I will be more excited once the window has closed and we have completed our business. I think we are good enough, as it stands, for the play offs but with three or four new faces will challenge for the title.
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I'm intrigued at this point more than excited. A couple of wins and I will be very much in the mood
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Not quite excited about the season, hopefully its just a holiday for one season.
Anyway, in an attempt to muster some enthusiasm I thought I’d do a bit of number crunching on the players who played/scored for us outside the top flight.
There’s some great names in the list.
(http://i.imgur.com/YVitbv1.png)
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Thank you Morris. Reading the name of Brian Greenhalgh took me back. Nearest I ever got to having my name on the Villa team sheet. Give or take a halgh
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Just watched the shit that is 'football on 5'. Christ!
I know we haven't played yet, but get the feeling we will be 'persona non grata' on this program just like on MOTD the last few years.
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honestly, not too excited, but primarily, because I'm worried that it will be a continuation of last season. I'm shittin it! Sorry
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That highlights programme on C5 is truly awful and amateurish - I take back all the shit I've given MOTD in recent years. Looks like the standard of refereeing in the Championship is pretty crap too - the non-penalties in the Fulham/Newcastle game and the red card for the Wolves player were 'surprising' to say the least.
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I'm intrigued at this point more than excited. A couple of wins and I will be very much in the mood
I was just going to post the same. Intrigued is the word for me. I'm also looking forward to it, the £100m player league above us can wait for a season.
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i'm starting to look forward to it now that i can see we are shifting some of the shift and buying in the new.
Just need to see the back of Richards, Agbonlahor, Lescott and Bacuna
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That highlights programme on C5 is truly awful and amateurish - I take back all the shit I've given MOTD in recent years. Looks like the standard of refereeing in the Championship is pretty crap too - the non-penalties in the Fulham/Newcastle game and the red card for the Wolves player were 'surprising' to say the least.
Agreed. I just watched it and have decided that I'll record it to fast foward everything to get to our highlights. Lynsey Hipgrave said we've now seen all the teams play. Really? Even the adverts on that channel are worse than the other ones. Channel 5 strikes me as being pretty amatuerish all round.
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Not quite excited about the season, hopefully its just a holiday for one season.
Anyway, in an attempt to muster some enthusiasm I thought I’d do a bit of number crunching on the players who played/scored for us outside the top flight.
There’s some great names in the list.
(http://i.imgur.com/YVitbv1.png)
That list needs a serious update Morris
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Its a fresh challenge in a more exciting league than the highly overrated PL. We have a chance and I'm pretty happy with the first round of fixtures. Not overly thrilled with the manager or most of the siginings so far. But am pretty excited to get things underway. Ask me again tomorrow at about 6 O'Clock 8)
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Same old story I'm afraid. We just looked like we did in most premier league games over last few years. Lots of huff and puff but very little creativity or quality in both boxes.
Big thing for me is how much poorer quality the championship is, so many poorer decisions in the final third by both teams and this is supposed to be one of the "glamour" fixtures of the division.
Just seems to be more low key all round.
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Same old story I'm afraid. We just looked like we did in most premier league games over last few years. Lots of huff and puff but very little creativity or quality in both boxes.
Big thing for me is how much poorer quality the championship is, so many poorer decisions in the final third by both teams and this is supposed to be one of the "glamour" fixtures of the division.
Just seems to be more low key all round.
Spot on, we switched over to the community shield half time it was like switching from rugby league to a union game. The middle of the pitch was more congested than the M6, didnt deserve that result but might act as a good wake up call.
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Same old story I'm afraid. We just looked like we did in most premier league games over last few years. Lots of huff and puff but very little creativity or quality in both boxes.
Big thing for me is how much poorer quality the championship is, so many poorer decisions in the final third by both teams and this is supposed to be one of the "glamour" fixtures of the division.
Just seems to be more low key all round.
Thought we played well second half today and I can't remember playing well at all last season.
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Can I watch another 45 games of that?
Probably yes but it's going to be one hard slog as the quality will be even worse than that even if we start picking up wins.
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Can I watch another 45 games of that?
Probably yes but it's going to be one hard slog as the quality will be even worse than that even if we start picking up wins.
I had the Test Match on another screen and was more intent on watching that.
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Same old story I'm afraid. We just looked like we did in most premier league games over last few years. Lots of huff and puff but very little creativity or quality in both boxes.
Big thing for me is how much poorer quality the championship is, so many poorer decisions in the final third by both teams and this is supposed to be one of the "glamour" fixtures of the division.
Just seems to be more low key all round.
Thought we played well second half today and I can't remember playing well at all last season.
Second half on first day last season we played quite well...
Tbf losing the first game probably dosen't matter a huge amount in long run as we've tended to win our first game in recent seasons and had terrible seasons.
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Yes I'm still excited.
As SHA we actually played well today. We created chances, gilt edge ones too that maybe with a bit more sharpness would have seen us win the game.
Despite us being poor first half, I feel that some of the solutions exist already within the squad. I similarly think Xia will back RDM. Also worth noting that Wednesday are supposed to be a top side and are a well piled unit, yet they looked to me to be nothing special. The quality of delivery they put in the box compared to McCormack and Green was atrocious.
I think with Amavi, Tshibola and the emergence of Green we will add those physical dimensions that seem strangely absent in the league; pace. Hutton looked rapid today. It's strange.
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Can I watch another 45 games of that?
Probably yes but it's going to be one hard slog as the quality will be even worse than that even if we start picking up wins.
I had the Test Match on another screen and was more intent on watching that.
Even though the Test Match ended before kick off?
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Can I watch another 45 games of that?
Probably yes but it's going to be one hard slog as the quality will be even worse than that even if we start picking up wins.
I had the Test Match on another screen and was more intent on watching that.
Even though the Test Match ended before kick off?
No it didn'tt, it finished at half time
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Can I watch another 45 games of that?
Probably yes but it's going to be one hard slog as the quality will be even worse than that even if we start picking up wins.
I had the Test Match on another screen and was more intent on watching that.
Even though the Test Match ended before kick off?
No it didn'tt, it finished at half time
Then I apologise
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I am happy as there is more standing in this league. People on here have mocked pre arranged and self designated areas, but west ham ham fans have set their own site up where fans can swap tickets for standing and sitting areas at their new ground , we should do the same for the play off final at wembley.
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ant I.T data base types out there who can copy thE MODE AT coyi seat exchange
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So are we all loving the championship then?
The cries when we went down with many sick of the Premier league were:
At least we can win some more games......We aren't winning any more games than we were in the Premier league. Indeed we had better starts under Lambert!
At least we can win some more home games....1 win in 4 so pretty much what we were averaging in PL.
At least we'll be closer to the top than bottom.....nope try again.
At least in the rare games we'll be leading we won't be hanging onto dear life and sitting back....something isn't adding up here.
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No mark teams celebrating late equalizers instead of winners, I guess this is an improvement? Either way it feels just as shit.
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Ghastly
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In the Premiership we would have lost all the games we have drawn so far and would be on 3 points - improvement takes time when the raw material is so poor
I'm not here to enjoy the Championship, I'm here to support the Villa to get out of it...
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I'm still excited.
Under Lerner, the overall strategy meant that our relegation was inevitable - it was just a matter of when
I may be wrong, but I think that with the new strategy and the players we've been buying, our promotion is also inevitable. It may take a couple more Windows to get the right players in - eg in midfield. But I do think we'll get there
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I'm still excited too. Forest was the first game I've been able to make all season, and those two minutes when we scored brought it back to me why I go.
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Our promotion is only inevitable if Tony Xia continues to bankroll the club. Much more dross and I cannot see that happening.
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Our promotion is only inevitable if Tony Xia continues to bankroll the club. Much more dross and I cannot see that happening.
I'm not sure what you mean. More dross and we won't go up or he'll stop spending if there's more dross?
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I'm happy that we are part of the a much better league than the over hyped and dull PL. I have my doubts right now, but it is still early and I don't see us dropping down another division just yet ;)
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I'll be excited as soon as we start turning our dominance in games into wins. It's not as shit as the PL because we never used dominance unless we were referring to the opposition. What it has been so far is massively frustrating.
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Basically the same thing. A continued run of poor results and RDM and Co will have two choices. Become effective before the season becomes more about not going down than going up or go back to Tony Xia in January with another shopping list. I can't see this owner accepting failure as weakly as the last one did.
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Basically the same thing. A continued run of poor results and RDM and Co will have two choices. Become effective before the season becomes more about not going down than going up or go back to Tony Xia in January with another shopping list. I can't see this owner accepting failure as weakly as the last one did.
Don't see Dr Tony accepting another shopping list if Villa continue playing as they have so far. RDM has been allowed to buy the players of his choice and if he's not been able to deliver a successful team, and his role requires success, he will have to go.
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Put it this way, from a position of fearing no one a month or so ago, I am now dreading the games against Newcarrsul and Barnsley.
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Up until a few days ago I was enjoying this season, despite the lack of wins. I don't think it takes much with our mindset based on the past few seasons to see and fear the worst. And 8 points, 1 win and a lower league placing is enough to send our collective heads into our hands. Yes, so far it isn't good enough but there is potential for it to ignite. A bit like, dare I say it, the early days of Sherwoods reign I don't think it will take much to light the box of fireworks and for the place to explode (in a positive way), such as Albion in the cup. The will of the fans is there and if we can spark that somehow on Saturday then there is a real opportunity to shift things into a much more positive trajectory. Dr T gets it, some of the players get it, both of which is a marked improvement on a year ago.
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Basically the same thing. A continued run of poor results and RDM and Co will have two choices. Become effective before the season becomes more about not going down than going up or go back to Tony Xia in January with another shopping list. I can't see this owner accepting failure as weakly as the last one did.
I'd agree with that. My concern is that the season could have been defined by 4 event horizons of varying desirability.
1. Automatic promotion. Chances of ending on the right side of this one are starting to look a little slimmer.
2. Play Offs. Based on what I've seen from individual players, this should be very doable. However that's dependent on actually forging a team from 18 individuals. That's where this starts to look less certain.
3. Mid table mediocrity. Must surely be nailed on as a minimum isn't it?
4. Plughole city. The ultimate black hole event horizon.
I think if it at any point it becomes obvious that 2 as a minimum isn't going to happen, he's a dead man walking.
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I started the season thinking we all (team and fans) "had a job to do" - namely get back into the Premier League - didn't care how we did it but it was the priority. After 8 games I think that priority is now to get a decent team to make a late challenge on the play-offs or, at the least, begin next season as favourites to go up based on the displays in the second half of this season.
Reality has bited for me
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Unfortunately WW favourites lose far more often than they win. Oddly I have become much more relaxed since the Ipswich game. Like VID I see all the potential futures and I am resigned to accepting any of them. The bedrock damage was done long before this season and it will make very little difference if RDM goes or stays. Lambert masterminded the policy of reducing fan expectations. Those expectations are now to all intents and purposes zero. Perhaps now it has happened we can be a little less unhappy.
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I'm happy that we are part of the a much better league than the over hyped and dull PL. I have my doubts right now, but it is still early and I don't see us dropping down another division just yet ;)
I agree, I haven't even glanced at the PL table and have only taken a meh look at some of the results...I suppose Manciteh are top?
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Considering "Fans" favourites were clearly either Moyes or Pearson then I think we could do a lot worse. Holding on to Benitez was not about his managerial ability (as I am not sure he has much) but by having 6 months previous, changing a few here and there with decent players gave the club stability but more importantly continuity.
I am not happy with the results or even the shape of our team or style of play yet, but lets not lose sight of the huge amount of change we have had. I really do not want a boom and bust team, one that comes straight back but is not prepared.
I am sure it will click at some point
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I think my honest answer to the question is "less and less as each game goes by"...
I was really looking forward to us winning a few games and unfortunately I still am looking forward to it - only happened once so far and I was in bloody Florida!
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Started off moderately excited but this has diminished to zero now I see that the really important things (I.e. Grinding out wins) have not changed.
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Considering "Fans" favourites were clearly either Moyes or Pearson then I think we could do a lot worse. Holding on to Benitez was not about his managerial ability (as I am not sure he has much) but by having 6 months previous, changing a few here and there with decent players gave the club stability but more importantly continuity.
Not sure about that. Benitez is one of the top managers in the world and has been for 10-15 years. Yes, the Barcodes like their marquee names but he's also good at what he does, otherwise his CV wouldn't have all those clubs on it.
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Holding on to Benitez was not about his managerial ability (as I am not sure he has much)
Really?
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Considering "Fans" favourites were clearly either Moyes or Pearson then I think we could do a lot worse. Holding on to Benitez was not about his managerial ability (as I am not sure he has much) but by having 6 months previous, changing a few here and there with decent players gave the club stability but more importantly continuity.
Not sure about that. Benitez is one of the top managers in the world and has been for 10-15 years. Yes, the Barcodes like their marquee names but he's also good at what he does, otherwise his CV wouldn't have all those clubs on it.
He took them down
They lost both opening games
Brendon Rogers has an impressive CV - and I would not want that twat anywhere near us
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In the unlikely event of Villa offering Benitez the manager's job are you saying you wouldn't want him?
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as ive put a few quid on Villa to win the bloody thing, (before all the purchases) I'm not so much excited more tight lipped ashen faced kind of motif.
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You can't compare bloody Brendan Rogers' CV with Rafa Benitez!
Two la liga titles with Valencia, a European cup and losing finalist with Liverpool.
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You can't compare bloody Brendan Rogers' CV with Rafa Benitez!
Two la liga titles with Valencia, a European cup and losing finalist with Liverpool.
Didn't he win the UEFA cup too with Valencia?
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You can't compare bloody Brendan Rogers' CV with Rafa Benitez!
Two la liga titles with Valencia, a European cup and losing finalist with Liverpool.
And a UEFA cup with Valencia at a time when it still meant something.
Can't help but feel his time is in the wain, but still too good for that bunch.