Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on August 23, 2013, 12:39:57 PM
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This is a dedicated thread for articles written by Villa fans that are posted elsewhere. The rules are simple. Please provide a link (preferably embedded) and a copy and paste of the text in quotes. Please restrict such articles to this thread only in order to avoid repeat postings elsewhere on the board. Feel free to PM a Mod with any queries. Thank you.
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Ok let's get this thread started. Here is my latest offering (though my first article of the season) on Villa...
Lambert Keeps Us on the Edge of Our Seats (http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/19-08-2013/lambert-keeps-us-on-the-edge-of-our-seats/843002)
A single round of Premiership games is over and we've already been treated to a memorable away victory in one of the toughest fixtures of the season (supposedly, let's wait and see how Spurs next week and others beyond get on there before we get carried away).
Naturally Villa fans are fairly cock-a-hoop at the moment, though some are desperately trying to hang on to a realistic 'anywhere above 16th will do' line while the rest of us do cartwheels round the living room. And why not? As opposed to the beginning of last season Lambert knows his best team, has improved it, and those callow first-teamers from last season seem to have added a bit of grit and steel to the style we all recognised.
Here is a taster, read on to find (gulp) a small criticism of the manager, and any feedback/debate would be much appreciated.
Also I know loads of people on here have blogs on Villa, we could turn this thread into the epicentre..
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A new article, published today, by yours truly. It's about where we go from such a position of optimism, including today's first home game:
"How satisfying is it to be an Aston Villa fan at the moment? A week ago, there were murmurings that the majority of supporters would have taken a point at Arsenal. Now, after two away games, we’ve managed two victories; one literal, one moral. Of the two, it’s arguable the Chelsea defeat and the kudos gained from it have set the tone for how Villa are going to be regarded from now on..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/23-08-2013/liverpool-test-to-really-kick-off-aston-villa-season/843645#comment#ixzz2csjRBhgZ
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Nice article, Chris. I like the your sentiments but have to disagree with one thing - your comment that Chelsea was a moral victory.
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Some food for thought there Chris.
It's gonna be an interesting season and I think we're going to see a lot of highs and lows - for a good example see the last 7/8 days!
Agree with Pat - Chelsea's victory was IMmoral! ;-)
UTV!
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Cheers boys, though I stand by my thoughts that Villa were the moral victors. But points today will suit me more than plaudits!
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This is my verdict on this summer's transfer window:
"You can only truly appreciate a transfer window well used once Jim White has been neutralised and re-captured. For one day of the year, hopes and dreams come with a freckling of rabid spittle in the guise of hyperbole, and in my opinion, it’s best not to get involved. Rise above it, just like Aston did…"
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/aston-villa#ixzz2dmRKDwIp
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My new piece on Villa is published this morning. I don't think Benteke will be the difference today.
"It will be interesting to Aston Villa fans which side they see welcome Newcastle this afternoon. Will it be the growling nutters who impressed at Chelsea, or the limp lettuces that handed an easy three points to Liverpool?"
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/14-09-2013/newcastles-villa-visit-brings-silly-season-to-a-close/846732#ixzz2eqrGhBdr
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the limp lettuces showed up
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the limp lettuces showed up
I didn't see the match as i was otherwise engaged, but the level of vitriol in the post-match thread leads me to think we've used up all of our energy already in the first two games!
What worries me is that other sides I was thinking we'd do a lot better than (Stoke, Everton for example) have learnt from their shortcomings and are picking up unexpected points now. Meanwhile, three out of four games lost is a terrible return. If you turn that on its head, and we'd have lost three before finally picking up a win, we'd be talking of crisis already.
The only thing that gives me optimism is that we can obviously improve massively.
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My new article, concerning the Okore injury:
"It was already a bad weekend without the football gods rubbing it in. If it wasn’t a Tuesday and I was feeling a mite more Shakespearean, I would start off by bemoaning capricious fate, but it is, and I’m not, so I’ll just say this: Aston Villa having to go the next nine months without Jores Okore sucks more than anything has ever sucked before. Eat your heart out, so-called Bard of Avon..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/17-09-2013/injury-to-okore-leaves-villa-indefensible/847272#ixzz2fAvCMKPY
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Started a blog addressing football in general, not just Villa.
http://carelesspassing.blogspot.co.uk/
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So it's an England match, but I still had time to shoehorn in the Villa:
"All praise Saint Roy and his wonder tactics! Who knew that by playing in-form players in their favoured positions could reap such rewards? Well, it's not job done yet, and even if England return to the Wembley dressing rooms clutching some well-tanned Polish hide, the hype leading up to the World Cup will begin. I can see the story now: a flare of expectation, followed by the inevitable disappointment. It's so much like being an Aston Villa fan, it's depressing..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/15-10-2013/england-and-aston-villa-the-future-is-here/851370#ixzz2hop4RIe9
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Or, just enjoy the moment.
That's what being a football fan is all about.
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My new article in anticipation of tomorrow. I'm looking forward to hearing off the Spuds fans on Twitter.
It's back to reality this weekend. That's the lot of the modern football fan, I'm afraid: you barely get a couple of days in which to savour a good result before you're forced back into action. By action, I mean that stuttering tension that grinds the weekend between rusty teeth, when nothing's right until kick-off, everything's wrong during play and there's desolation afterwards. Or, in other words, Aston Villa are playing host to Tottenham Hotspur.
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/19-10-2013/keep-calm-aston-villa-its-only-tottenham-hotspur/851977#ixzz2iBnJbys9
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So it's an England match, but I still had time to shoehorn in the Villa:
"Who knew that by playing in-form players in their favoured positions could reap such rewards?
Superfluous preposition there.
Alternatively, you need a subject in front of "could reap", such as he, they, the gaffer, the team....).
I usually charge €41/hr for this.
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You can take it out of the fifty quid i got, if it wasn't already spent.
Besides, i consider common usage as the tabloids do it.
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You may as well get your tits out at the end of each article then. :-)
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You may as well get your tits out at the end of each article then. :-)
They're substantial enough.
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My new article following the Everton defeat.
"I, like thousands of other Aston Villa fans, was invited to an open training session today. I couldn't go, because I passed exams, got myself a job, and have been forbidden to have any fun on a weekday since. But I bet I didn't miss anything. If the 0-2 defeat to Everton proved anything, it's that spectators would have seen a whole lot of running, a few pretty triangles and probably some ineffectual pointing. If scornful looks earned points, Aston Villa would be Champions League."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/29-10-2013/half-term-homework-required-for-lamberts-villa/853583#ixzz2j8vh5Ikk
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My new piece following Saturday's game can be found here. It discusses whether Mr Lambert's decisions have anything to do with Lady Luck.
"It seems churlish to complain in victory, but it’s one of the things football fans specialise in. I’ve been so used to adding ‘yeah, but...’ when discussing Aston Villa recently that I’m a syllable away from being sued by Matt Lucas..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/12-11-2013/paul-lambert-genius-or-just-lucky/855981#ixzz2kSvxUKIf
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My new piece following Saturday's game can be found here. It discusses whether Mr Lambert's decisions have anything to do with Lady Luck.
"It seems churlish to complain in victory, but it’s one of the things football fans specialise in. I’ve been so used to adding ‘yeah, but...’ when discussing Aston Villa recently that I’m a syllable away from being sued by Matt Lucas..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/12-11-2013/paul-lambert-genius-or-just-lucky/855981#ixzz2kSvxUKIf
Nice article :-)
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Finally got round to doing another blog post. '5 Reasons Why Modern Football is Great'.
http://carelesspassing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/5-reasons-why-modern-football-is-great.html
Contains the words 'Pro Wreslting', 'Orgasmic', and 'Muggles'. So, y'know, there's something for everyone.
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Muggles? I might slip Hermione one.
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My new article on Villa following the West Brom game. It deals with the antipathy our 'rivals' have towards us:
"Following Monday’s derby with West Bromwich Albion, I have been informed more than once that Aston Villa aren’t very good. Granted, this was by supporters of teams from the local area, who already have a vested interest in demolishing my club’s reputation. But unless I’ve missed something, the only thing that’s changed since the win over Cardiff is that we have an extra point."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/28-11-2013/aston-villa-draw-as-good-as-it-gets-for-west-bromwich-albion/857854#ixzz2lwTz7PKq
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My new article on Villa following the West Brom game. It deals with the antipathy our 'rivals' have towards us:
"Following Monday’s derby with West Bromwich Albion, I have been informed more than once that Aston Villa aren’t very good. Granted, this was by supporters of teams from the local area, who already have a vested interest in demolishing my club’s reputation. But unless I’ve missed something, the only thing that’s changed since the win over Cardiff is that we have an extra point."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/28-11-2013/aston-villa-draw-as-good-as-it-gets-for-west-bromwich-albion/857854#ixzz2lwTz7PKq
Good article CO.
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My new article on Villa following the West Brom game. It deals with the antipathy our 'rivals' have towards us:
"Following Monday’s derby with West Bromwich Albion, I have been informed more than once that Aston Villa aren’t very good. Granted, this was by supporters of teams from the local area, who already have a vested interest in demolishing my club’s reputation. But unless I’ve missed something, the only thing that’s changed since the win over Cardiff is that we have an extra point."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/28-11-2013/aston-villa-draw-as-good-as-it-gets-for-west-bromwich-albion/857854#ixzz2lwTz7PKq
Good article CO.
Ta. I'm hoping to antagonise a few Bitters on Twitter to get my page views up!
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A new piece on Villa here, following Wednesday's win. A side going somewhere, but where?:
"Last Saturday evening, if you’d have offered me the chance to stop the 2013-14 Premier League season dead, I’d have shrugged and accepted. Aston Villa aren’t going to get better, I’d have replied, and a turgid 0-0 draw against Sunderland seemed like the average result we could expect to see until the end of time itself."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/06-12-2013/aston-villas-win-shows-a-team-going-places/859398#ixzz2mhlOdFCj
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One of my author friends here in Chicago has a dedicated Villa blog. He not only writes about his views post match, but also does a "Villan of the week" piece that gives a fan stateside an opportunity to tell their story about how they became a Villa fan, and some other interesting facts. Hopefully some of you will find it worth a read too. Here is the latest Villan of the week piece...
http://astonvillausablog.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/villan-of-the-week-mike-reed/
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Very good.
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One of my author friends here in Chicago has a dedicated Villa blog. He not only writes about his views post match, but also does a "Villan of the week" piece that gives a fan stateside an opportunity to tell their story about how they became a Villa fan, and some other interesting facts. Hopefully some of you will find it worth a read too. Here is the latest Villan of the week piece...
http://astonvillausablog.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/villan-of-the-week-mike-reed/
Looking at this reminds of that pseudo-scientific report a few years back that said we were the next big thing if someone knew how to manage it properly. The advent of billionaire owners makes that moot now, but if we did hit the big time we already have an established world base core support. Add the hangers on when we'd win trophies and we would be huge.
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One of my author friends here in Chicago has a dedicated Villa blog. He not only writes about his views post match, but also does a "Villan of the week" piece that gives a fan stateside an opportunity to tell their story about how they became a Villa fan, and some other interesting facts. Hopefully some of you will find it worth a read too. Here is the latest Villan of the week piece...
http://astonvillausablog.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/villan-of-the-week-mike-reed/
Looking at this reminds of that pseudo-scientific report a few years back that said we were the next big thing if someone knew how to manage it properly. The advent of billionaire owners makes that moot now, but if we did hit the big time we already have an established world base core support. Add the hangers on when we'd win trophies and we would be huge.
The thing that I see Peter is that Villa fans have a unity that other teams supporters just do not have. Whenever we meet up, we are together as a group, whereas all the other "big" clubs may have decent numbers, they are all in pockets of 2,3, or 4 people. I know it is corny, but we really do see other Villa supporters as part of our extended family, and as Mike mentioned in his interview, it doesn't matter where you come from, or how long you have been away, you are always welcomed into the group with open arms! That is the way you build long term support.
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One of my author friends here in Chicago has a dedicated Villa blog. He not only writes about his views post match, but also does a "Villan of the week" piece that gives a fan stateside an opportunity to tell their story about how they became a Villa fan, and some other interesting facts. Hopefully some of you will find it worth a read too. Here is the latest Villan of the week piece...
http://astonvillausablog.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/villan-of-the-week-mike-reed/
Looking at this reminds of that pseudo-scientific report a few years back that said we were the next big thing if someone knew how to manage it properly. The advent of billionaire owners makes that moot now, but if we did hit the big time we already have an established world base core support. Add the hangers on when we'd win trophies and we would be huge.
The thing that I see Peter is that Villa fans have a unity that other teams supporters just do not have. Whenever we meet up, we are together as a group, whereas all the other "big" clubs may have decent numbers, they are all in pockets of 2,3, or 4 people. I know it is corny, but we really do see other Villa supporters as part of our extended family, and as Mike mentioned in his interview, it doesn't matter where you come from, or how long you have been away, you are always welcomed into the group with open arms! That is the way you build long term support.
Loved this quote about one of the reasons that guy chose to support us.
it was a cool sounding name
Just something else that sets us aside.
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I think all the articles on Villa can be summed up in one word...
"DOH!"
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My latest Villa article, brand new for FA Cup weekend:
"It’s probably a good job that what goes around doesn’t come around, because otherwise Villa Park would be the place to be if you fancy an FA Cup giantkilling, based on the stories surrounding Villa boss Paul Lambert this week."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/03-01-2014/paul-lamberts-fa-cup-comments-exchange-romance-for-realism/863769#ixzz2pLIcu5GI
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New reaction piece to the evening's events - Arsenal and Holt...
"I heard a strange thing at the end of Aston Villa’s loss to Arsenal on Monday night: applause. I’ve been so used to switching off coverage of a Villa match to a muttering of boos, I’d forgotten that people could leave Villa Park relatively content. A loss is a loss, granted, but as the old saying goes, better to die on your feet than live on your knees..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/13-01-2014/aston-villa-must-build-on-belief-by-bringing-in-quality/865660#ixzz2qJzHquDy
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New article from moi, discussing the Hoolahan transfer:
"If Lambert wants to carry on his assault of the Premier League with Norwich City circa 2009, that’s Villa’s gamble. But putting personal issues ahead of a player’s career is petty..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/23-01-2014/why-norwich-need-to-sell-wes-hoolahan-to-aston-villa/867374#ixzz2rF4bMHIQ
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New article based on - what else? - the West Brom win:
"Aston Villa fans have had a most satisfying morning, if the online claret and blue community is any indication. Twitter is full of Wolf of Wall Street memes, Facebook is stuffed with West Bromwich Albion bubbles about to be popped, and forums are still sighing dreamily over Fabian Delph’s wonderful Exocet finding its way in off the bar. To paraphrase Ice Cube, today is a good day..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/30-01-2014/aston-villa-halfway-to-success-with-west-brom-walloping/868659#ixzz2rsp1eSIQ
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Mine remains about football in general, not just Villa, and I wrote one about 'Football Snobbery' in answer to Mourinho's insults of Allardyce's tactics. Compared it to our game last night to make a point, so there's a bit about Villa.
I think I was pretty nice to Allardyce and West Brom which obviously won't appeal too much to many on here, but I'd really appreciate anyone taking a look.
http://carelesspassing.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/football-snobbery.html
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Here's my take on today's game. Very cathartic to rip into this bunch of jokers:
"I’ve always hated slapstick comedy. It may have been clever, and genuinely hilarious back before movies had sound. But time marches on, and I feel that falling over or lack of spatial awareness isn’t enough to merit plaudits. Which is unfortunate, because I follow a team that are masters of the art. Aston Villa, the new Keystone Kops, marshalled by their very own Mack Sennett, Paul Lambert..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/08-02-2014/villas-comedy-football-deserves-to-be-booed-off-stage/870346#ixzz2skksbVHu
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Here's my take on today's game. Very cathartic to rip into this bunch of jokers:
"I’ve always hated slapstick comedy. It may have been clever, and genuinely hilarious back before movies had sound. But time marches on, and I feel that falling over or lack of spatial awareness isn’t enough to merit plaudits. Which is unfortunate, because I follow a team that are masters of the art. Aston Villa, the new Keystone Kops, marshalled by their very own Mack Sennett, Paul Lambert..."
Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/news/08-02-2014/villas-comedy-football-deserves-to-be-booed-off-stage/870346#ixzz2skksbVHu
An excellent article. Matches my view exactly.
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Written a piece about the relegation fight, how to survive it, and my picks. I even made a table using my 'survival formula'.
http://carelesspassing.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-million-pound-drop.html
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Thought I'd jump back on the bandwagon (blogwagon?) rather than pontificating my entire family to death. Also I came up with a marvellous punny name for a blog, so I thought I should write a blog just so I could use it. In the weeks to come I shall be combining my thoughts on Villa with more general football opinion, and I am also working on a piece that I hope will oust Robbie Savage from his role as a media being. Got to be worth a go. Anyway, have a gander at this; I bring you Claretty Of Vision...
http://clarettyofvision.wordpress.com/
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Decided to carry on doing blog stuff but to focus on Villa, doing match reports and random articles about small things I find amusing like how good our balti pies are.
Match report from today: http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/match-review-aston-villa-0-0-newcastle.html
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Did an article on our start to the season here: http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/jump-start_31.html
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Match review from Saturday: http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/match-review-aston-villa-0-2-manchester.html
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No idea what people are gonna think to this but I tried to write something thought-provoking (for a change ;) ). How my love of Villa has helped me understand religion.
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/football-and-religion.html
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The Paul Lambert Show – Thanks for the Memories:
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-paul-lambert-show-thanks-for.html
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My match report from last night, plus more of me romanticising football:
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/match-review-aston-villa-3-3-qpr.html
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Start of Season review:
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/early-season-review.html
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Wrote an article after last night's game: http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/its-hope-that-kills-ya.html
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Match review from Saturday: http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/match-review-aston-villa-1-1-leicester.html
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Good read that.
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A couple of points that have nothing to do with the content:-
"We could have got more.... it certainly payed dividends...Leicester have gotten to where they have"
You used the past participle 'got' and 'gotten'. One or the other, preferably the former; you are not American.
Prefer 'paid' to 'payed' which is used in a specific nautical context (You are PAID monthly but the seaman PAYED out the line).
Tony Pulis' Stoke team
I prefer s' with common nouns ending in 's': The players' lounge but 's with proper nouns: Tony Pulis's team.
7 points is possible
Grammatically,SEVEN pointS ARE possible.
We're certainly showing there's some fight left in us, and if we are to
Stylistically, I avoid mixing contracted and uncontracted forms. Use one or the other, preferably uncontracted in the written form.
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Stylistically
Didn't they sing
"I can give you anything but my lurve"
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Just wrote a piece attempting to sum up Brucie's first month.
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/brucie-bonus.html
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Just wrote a piece attempting to sum up Brucie's first month.
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/brucie-bonus.html
Decent read Chipstick - I would only take issue with the statement that Gabby is a Villa fan - pretty nailed on Gooner is the general consensus
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Just wrote a piece attempting to sum up Brucie's first month.
http://chipsticksvilla.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/brucie-bonus.html
Good article Chipstick, I enjoyed it
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Nice article. I agree with your "I don’t expect him to win us any silverware, but he’s easily the man for the job" comment, but (in his defence) Bruce did get Hull to their first ever FA cup final where (unlike us the last couple of occasions) his team actually turned up on the day.
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Nice article. I agree with your "I don’t expect him to win us any silverware, but he’s easily the man for the job" comment, but (in his defence) Bruce did get Hull to their first ever FA cup final where (unlike us the last couple of occasions) his team actually turned up on the day.
Very good point about the final with Hull, here's hoping...