I can't see us winning another game.I have never been so down as a Villa fan, theres not one player who excites me, not one who i want to get the ball, the quality of passing is the poorest i have seen, we haven't got one good passer in the team, or an enforcer, or a player who can beat a player.CB is a good player, but who creates, no one.Only one man is to blame PL, and i believe we are on a slippery slope with this bloke, not only Championship football but lower.Awful, awful football, full stop.
Relegation?.......a certainty in my eyes, get rid of PL, we might have a chance, but even reasonable players in the team are very poor atm.No i agree Legion, there is a stink of decay down VP atm, and i don't like it.
I posted on another thread that, as much as I didn't want it to, my mind kept telling me that this season had 1987 written all over it. I really can't see where another win is going to come from. That a total lack of activity in the last transfer window in the areas that we all could see were crying out for that little bit of quality is what has convinced me that relegation is only just a matter of time. Sadly, sooner rather than later.Sadly too, a rebuild was more feasible in 87. To do what we did then, again (if we had to) would take some doing in the modern game. You look at the table and see how much money has killed the game and the bottom 10 teams are complete and utter dross. Newcastle and Southampton have largely punched above their weight too.
On a serious note, I think that fortunately they'll be three worse teams again. Which will say a lot about those teams.
I posted on another thread that, as much as I didn't want it to, my mind kept telling me that this season had 1987 written all over it. I really can't see where another win is going to come from. That a total lack of activity in the last transfer window in the areas that we all could see were crying out for that little bit of quality is what has convinced me that relegation is only just a matter of time. Sadly, sooner rather than later.Sadly too, a rebuild was more feasible in 87. To do what we did then, again (if we had to) would take some doing in the modern game. You look at the table and see how much money has killed the game and the bottom 10 teams are complete and utter dross. Newcastle and Southampton have largely punched above their weight too.
If we want to get out this mess we're gonna have to spend some money to do it. We've tried the no money experiment and it's not working.
If we went down I'd see us either going the Leeds, Forrest route, or at best becoming a West Ham yo yo sort of club.
We won't go down.Why do you think that PWS?
We won't go down.Why do you think that PWS?
Indeed.I posted on another thread that, as much as I didn't want it to, my mind kept telling me that this season had 1987 written all over it. I really can't see where another win is going to come from. That a total lack of activity in the last transfer window in the areas that we all could see were crying out for that little bit of quality is what has convinced me that relegation is only just a matter of time. Sadly, sooner rather than later.Sadly too, a rebuild was more feasible in 87. To do what we did then, again (if we had to) would take some doing in the modern game. You look at the table and see how much money has killed the game and the bottom 10 teams are complete and utter dross. Newcastle and Southampton have largely punched above their weight too.
If we want to get out this mess we're gonna have to spend some money to do it. We've tried the no money experiment and it's not working.
If we went down I'd see us either going the Leeds, Forrest route, or at best becoming a West Ham yo yo sort of club.
Tom the money has been sent continuously. An unsustainable wage bill to supplement an ongoing nert spend in transfers - it was spent by O'Neill, (too much to mention) Houllier (30m to avoid relegation) , McLeish (spunked on long contracts for injury prone players) and Lambert. And we don't have much to show for it.
Not to mention £10m + in compensation to get rid of the managerial and coaching duds.
The hysteria around the current situation is on the border between amusing and annoying. I don't think we'll go down. I don't want Lambert sacked. We were in a far worse position last year and got through so let's just get behind them. We're still capable of a mid table finish, which always was the aim. The thing about a mid table season is that there are some tough moments. We're in one, but I'd rather be where we are than where Fulham or Sunderland are.Fair point that.
I think this summer will be and always has been planned to be pivotal in whatever the project is. We've trimmed the squad, we've filled it out with more affordable players and I genuinely believe this summer, they'll go out to buy 3 or 4 (depending on Benteke) genuine first team players rather than the 7 or 8 fillers of the last two years. Add Okore to that, and the third year should be much more positive,
The hysteria around the current situation is on the border between amusing and annoying. I don't think we'll go down. I don't want Lambert sacked. We were in a far worse position last year and got through so let's just get behind them. We're still capable of a mid table finish, which always was the aim. The thing about a mid table season is that there are some tough moments. We're in one, but I'd rather be where we are than where Fulham or Sunderland are.
I think this summer will be and always has been planned to be pivotal in whatever the project is. We've trimmed the squad, we've filled it out with more affordable players and I genuinely believe this summer, they'll go out to buy 3 or 4 (depending on Benteke) genuine first team players rather than the 7 or 8 fillers of the last two years. Add Okore to that, and the third year should be much more positive,
After 16-odd years I won't be. I'll still go down but will use viagogo and the ticket offers from the club.
If we continue to get no points, it won't matter how poor the others are.This is the point that some seem to ignore, we have actually got to go out and win some games and I have very little faith in our ability to do that.
I think we'll be okay this year. Reckon 36 will do it and think we're good enough for 8 points from 11 games, even with our desperate performances of late. I'm just sick of the culture of defeatism that has set in. Going to be tough dragging the club out of this rut.
Even since times under Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish came to the forefront I was convinced that we were not going to get relegated. Even last season under Paul Lambert I just knew we were going to be safe. This season, though, I am no longer quite so sure. Please prove me wrong.
After 16-odd years I won't be. I'll still go down but will use viagogo and the ticket offers from the club.
That's what I'm going to do as well, I think.
They even lost at Villa Park!! How crap must they be?
They even lost at Villa Park!! How crap must they be?
They even lost at Villa Park!! How crap must they be?
Haha!
I'm trying not to think about relegation but as each game goes by my heart sinks.
For all the 'we'll go to new and different grounds and get to sample some different pubs' , I don't think my heart will be in it.
They even lost at Villa Park!! How crap must they be?
Haha!
I'm trying not to think about relegation but as each game goes by my heart sinks.
For all the 'we'll go to new and different grounds and get to sample some different pubs' , I don't think my heart will be in it.
But... but... but... they'll all be "GREAT PUBS FULL OF VILLA". We'll be able to show those Yeovil bastards who's boss.
I have gone full circle on this.After supporting the club all the way down to the then third division and back again i can say it wasn't that bad, remember some great games on the way back. What is attractive about playing in a division that only four clubs have a chance of winning, year after year after year leaving the club i love to struggle between mid table and relegation, year after year after year. If we do stay up we will be back here next season as we have been the last two or three seasons discussing whether to sack the manager etc.
Lambert looks and sounds like a dead man walking, Lerner does not have the money anymore and the club is leaderless from top to bottom. If we do go down it won't be the end of the world we all have priorities that are more important than football.
Of course there are more important things that football, but that doesn't mean I want Villa to go down. For a start there's no guarantee we wouldn't just be mid table or lower in the Championship given the way the club is being run. Additionally even if you're at the top, where's the joy from doing well below the top level when you're a club as big as Villa. If Villa go down it will be a disaster for the club.
Nothing good comes from relegation, nothing.
I do not know if we will go down or not but I am angry as hell we are involved in a relation battle AGAIN.
Nobody at the club seems even vaguely interested in progressing or even (heaven forbid) actually winning things.
I am angry.
Nothing good comes from relegation, nothing.
I do not know if we will go down or not but I am angry as hell we are involved in a relation battle AGAIN.
Nobody at the club seems even vaguely interested in progressing or even (heaven forbid) actually winning things.
I am angry.
I agree, I'm fed up of us perpetually repeating mistake after mistake. As has been said before If I wasn't a Villa fan, we're the sort of side I'd want to see go.
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
I am filing the " we wont go down this season" in the same bin as "we are comfortably mid table"
Hang on it does. If I take 20 and add 0 it becomes 200 and another 0 and it's 2000.....(sorry!)
We will win on Sunday. Cheer up, folksSmelling and breathing chocolate fumes is good.
I have gone full circle on this.After supporting the club all the way down to the then third division and back again i can say it wasn't that bad, remember some great games on the way back. What is attractive about playing in a division that only four clubs have a chance of winning, year after year after year leaving the club i love to struggle between mid table and relegation, year after year after year. If we do stay up we will be back here next season as we have been the last two or three seasons discussing whether to sack the manager etc.
Lambert looks and sounds like a dead man walking, Lerner does not have the money anymore and the club is leaderless from top to bottom. If we do go down it won't be the end of the world we all have priorities that are more important than football.
Pretty much sums it up for me.
If relegation does happen, there will be lots of fun to be had in the Championship.
Relegation would be an unmitigated disaster. It's bad enough having to share a city with the knuckledraggers, but we should never have to share a division with them, let alone a playing surface, ever again. We're better than that.
We need to do everything in our power to stay up, including getting Villa Park full from now until the end of the season. Drop the prices, make it free. Anything. But get the stadium full, because - since we're failing dismally at board, managerial and pitch level - only the fans can save us now.
We will win on Sunday. Cheer up, folksSmelling and breathing chocolate fumes is good.
Relegation would be an unmitigated disaster. It's bad enough having to share a city with the knuckledraggers, but we should never have to share a division with them, let alone a playing surface, ever again. We're better than that.I'm not sure 'unmitigated disaster' is the right phrase.
We need to do everything in our power to stay up, including getting Villa Park full from now until the end of the season. Drop the prices, make it free. Anything. But get the stadium full, because - since we're failing dismally at board, managerial and pitch level - only the fans can save us now.
We will win on Sunday. Cheer up, folksSmelling and breathing chocolate fumes is good.
Everyone is so far beyond depressed on here, we seem to forget that there are still games to play and some teams to beat. Let's try to inject some positivity rather than this depression-fest, which will no doubt lead to an agitated and unproductive atmosphere on Sunday if we're not winning inside fifteen minutes.
unfortunatley the whole clubs in a mess...remember the 5 year plan??That quickly headed down the drainpipe. Soon as mon left, Lerner's ambition left too
I think Villa supporters are the nicest supporters in the league, even when we are angry we are not that angry, we have been conditioned over the years to mediocrity with the occassional ray of light, i just wonder if say Pool supporters had been served the crud that we have had to put up with for the last three years what response there would be from their supporters. Lerner and Lambert are getting off very lightly.
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.i agree
I see a meeting of great minds taking place here.....All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.i agree
Why would anyone want 19 games like the Newcastle away one?
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.i agree
Why would anyone want 19 games like the Newcastle away one?
You can't have been at the Millwall game, otherwise you would have understood the point.
It wasn't the match itself; that will be what it will be, but the cup final it was for the Mickey Mouse outfit we were playing and all the nonsense that surrounded it. As a copper told me during the 45 minute post match lock in "Millwall are out because they want to take a pop at the big club".
23 games of having our kick offs moved incessantly for a Friday night game or a Saturday morning kick off, to go to grim little backwaters where every local Stone Island moron wants to take a pop at us, because one of the biggest clubs in the land is gracing his lulled and dumbfounded town.
That is before we get to the financial catastrophe relegation would bring.
I don't think we will be relegated and I don't even think it will be close. There is not a convincing argument that suggests Fulham, Sunderland, West Brom etc will change habbits of a season or more, but anybody who thinks relegation wouldn't be so bad is truly and spectacularly wrong.
I've never been to Leyton Orient so that would be a positive
Why would anyone want 19 games like the Newcastle away one?
Oh that's lovelyI've never been to Leyton Orient so that would be a positive
I have.... it was shit. Went with a Walsall supporting pal, took a while to find a decent pub and the cup of tea I had a half time was served by a toothless cockney harriden and had a film of what I can think was lard atop it. It was like a scene from Oliver Twist mixed with a space age stand with flats above it at one end with people sitting on their balconies watching the game for free, whilst i'd paid to sit a seat made of balsa wood and got a splinter in my arse!u
Be very careful what you wish for ;)
Even since times under Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish came to the forefront I was convinced that we were not going to get relegated. Even last season under Paul Lambert I just knew we were going to be safe. This season, though, I am no longer quite so sure. Please prove me wrong.
Why would anyone want 19 games like the Newcastle away one?
You can't have been at the Millwall game, otherwise you would have understood the point.
It wasn't the match itself; that will be what it will be, but the cup final it was for the Mickey Mouse outfit we were playing and all the nonsense that surrounded it. As a copper told me during the 45 minute post match lock in "Millwall are out because they want to take a pop at the big club".
23 games of having our kick offs moved incessantly for a Friday night game or a Saturday morning kick off, to go to grim little backwaters where every local Stone Island moron wants to take a pop at us, because one of the biggest clubs in the land is gracing his lulled and dumbfounded town.
That is before we get to the financial catastrophe relegation would bring.
I don't think we will be relegated and I don't even think it will be close. There is not a convincing argument that suggests Fulham, Sunderland, West Brom etc will change habbits of a season or more, but anybody who thinks relegation wouldn't be so bad is truly and spectacularly wrong.
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.i agree
Seriously? You think we will lose at least 10 of our remaining 11 games? Really?
We'll beat Norwich and it will lift, until the next defeat!
It cannot continue like this. Money needs to be spent and things have to improve. I cannot stand a fifth season of reading Levico telling us we're going down. Stop giving the depressant oxygen Villa.
We'll beat Norwich and it will lift, until the next defeat!
It cannot continue like this. Money needs to be spent and things have to improve. I cannot stand a fifth season of reading Levico telling us we're going down. Stop giving the depressant oxygen Villa.
Have I said we are going down this season?
I honestly don't know - just like you don't know we will stay up. All I know is, it will be extremely tight.
I have been to Deepdale 6-10 times a season for the past 12 years, and seen Preston at 20 different Championship & League One away grounds, & I have never ever seen these 1970s wrist scarf wearing fans you speak of.
Except in Burnley - but not only does that go without saying, we've had to play them in the Prem anyway!
If there's one thing that does worry me slightly is our inability to put together winning run. West Ham looked in a bit of a mess up until they played us. Since then they've overtaken us and are looking upwards instead of down.This is exactly it, and its not even an winning run that we are incapable of.
Our result against the Stripeyfilth should have given us the confidence to go on and pick up a few points. Since we beat them, we've lost 3 out of 4. Winning one game every now and again is not good enough really. We don't capitalise on decent results and until we do, we're always going to be down the bottom half of the table.
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
On what basis? We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.
Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.
What does our current points per game ration give us if we keep it up to the end?All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
On what basis? We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.
Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.
Tongue in cheek but the truth is we just don't look like adding points very quickly. How often have we approached so called 'must win/winnable' games and come away with nothing. We could just about put up with it whilst our away matches provided points but that's dried up too.
Relegation would be very hard to swallow. I already feel emotionally drained after 3.5 seasons of pain
What does our current points per game ration give us if we keep it up to the end?All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
On what basis? We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.
Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.
Tongue in cheek but the truth is we just don't look like adding points very quickly. How often have we approached so called 'must win/winnable' games and come away with nothing. We could just about put up with it whilst our away matches provided points but that's dried up too.
We could do a Bolton.Relegation would be very hard to swallow. I already feel emotionally drained after 3.5 seasons of pain
It would be a financial disaster. We are already sitting on a whole load of debt that will take a long time to pay off even with Premier League revenues..
Isn't the debt to Randy though?Most of Bolton's is to the Chairman I think?
We'd better keep up the bad work then.What does our current points per game ration give us if we keep it up to the end?All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
On what basis? We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.
Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.
Tongue in cheek but the truth is we just don't look like adding points very quickly. How often have we approached so called 'must win/winnable' games and come away with nothing. We could just about put up with it whilst our away matches provided points but that's dried up too.
39. And a half. That half point could be vital!
Last season when we played the other relegation contenders we did pretty well, I'm thinking of Reading, Sunderland and QPR all being wins. We also had Benteke scoring at Messi/Ronaldo rates with Gabby and Weimann chipping in.
This season we seem to be determined to give those types of teams a nice confidence boost and 3 easy points. We haven't scored for three games which includes two poor defences.
Norwich have a much easier March than us, facing 4 out of 5 bottom half teams. Even if we beat them we could be behind them in April. Stoke are the same. Palace face three top half sides including Arsenal and Chelsea but they do have a game in hand in reserve. I have a feeling we'll be 16th by the time we play Fulham which would then be absolutely huge.
I think we're still 10/1 to go down though which is bizarre.
Nobody saw the turnaround that came last season with 10 games to go and I bet the posts back then were worse than now, I am not saying we will repeat that form again but we are not dead yet and predictions of us getting 2 or 3 more points are plain daft, I am depressed and pissed off about things like all of my H @ V friends on here but lets not give up just yet.
Nobody saw the turnaround that came last season with 10 games to go and I bet the posts back then were worse than now, I am not saying we will repeat that form again but we are not dead yet and predictions of us getting 2 or 3 more points are plain daft, I am depressed and pissed off about things like all of my H @ V friends on here but lets not give up just yet.
What makes it worse is that the momentum we had hasn't been sustained, despite Lambert spending another 20mill or so over the summer. We now have Benteke not scoring goals, the same shabby midfield and a defence with no real backbone. Unless we get a good run, the same as last year, it is unlikely that we will manage the same points tally as last season. To be fair, it's in our own hands with Norwich, Palace, Fulham, Hull left to play. We also have something like five of our next seven games at home (oh shit!!). That 4 point gap will quickly erode if we don't beat Norwich this weekend. Relegation is a real threat this season, much more than last in my opinion, as we are unlikely to have the same run as last season.
Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.You convinced he's on thin ice?
I will go with ROBBO on this one. If we lose to Narwich.............. then the writing is on the wall for Lambert. There are some rumours around from, well, what you could call reliable sources that all is not well at all. Nothing that has not been said before by the way, but they are getting stronger, these rumours. They are not from the media either but from other sources close to what is going on, so the info says.Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.You convinced he's on thin ice?
The hysteria around the current situation is on the border between amusing and annoying. I don't think we'll go down. I don't want Lambert sacked. We were in a far worse position last year and got through so let's just get behind them. We're still capable of a mid table finish, which always was the aim. The thing about a mid table season is that there are some tough moments. We're in one, but I'd rather be where we are than where Fulham or Sunderland are.
I think this summer will be and always has been planned to be pivotal in whatever the project is. We've trimmed the squad, we've filled it out with more affordable players and I genuinely believe this summer, they'll go out to buy 3 or 4 (depending on Benteke) genuine first team players rather than the 7 or 8 fillers of the last two years. Add Okore to that, and the third year should be much more positive,
I have toyed with the notion of having my eyes gorged out with a hot poker as it would be a blessing not to wear glasses.
I've actually toyed with the notion today if relegation would actually be a blessing. It wouldn't (of course) but if it had to happen to get rid of Lambert and wake Randy and Faulkner from their malaise it might just be worth it in the long run
I have toyed with the notion of having my eyes gorged out with a hot poker as it would be a blessing not to wear glasses.
I've actually toyed with the notion today if relegation would actually be a blessing. It wouldn't (of course) but if it had to happen to get rid of Lambert and wake Randy and Faulkner from their malaise it might just be worth it in the long run
Make no mistake, relegation would be a total disaster. Absolutely zero good comes out if it, and I defy anyone to say otherwise.
Make no mistake, relegation would be a total disaster. Absolutely zero good comes out if it, and I defy anyone to say otherwise.This.
Relegation would be humiliating for a club as big as Villa. It simply cannot be allowed to happen.And this.
Gorged/gouged ...bloody auto correction never works properly when you need it!I have toyed with the notion of having my eyes gorged out with a hot poker as it would be a blessing not to wear glasses.
I've actually toyed with the notion today if relegation would actually be a blessing. It wouldn't (of course) but if it had to happen to get rid of Lambert and wake Randy and Faulkner from their malaise it might just be worth it in the long run
Filling your eyes with food does not sound too bad. We would all love to gorge on a feast of slightly tactically aware football and a consequent victory this Sunday. More likely to be gouged of our ticket money for the opposites, though.
After the horrors of the last relegation, I don't want to experience it again."the horrors"? - we spent one season in the second and came back up stronger with a credible and effective manager, coming runners-up in 1990. Not a bad way to bounce back from the horrors of the mid-80's.
I think if we do lose to Norwich, he will walk before he's pushed.Very few seem to do that these days, MON is an obvious example of one who did, but he had been making noises to that effect for some time, and immediately tried to sue us for constructive. PL seems like one who will stay till the bitter (extremely) end.
What a sad state of affairs at Villa park nowadays.
I think if we do lose to Norwich, he will walk before he's pushed.Very few seem to do that these days, MON is an obvious example of one who did, but he had been making noises to that effect for some time, and immediately tried to sue us for constructive.
What a sad state of affairs at Villa park nowadays.
After the horrors of the last relegation, I don't want to experience it again."the horrors"? - we spent one season in the second and came back up stronger with a credible and effective manager, coming runners-up in 1990. Not a bad way to bounce back from the horrors of the mid-80's.
In a whole different era too. The way the game is nowadays it'll be a hell of a lot worse for us. If we were lucky enough to come straight back up, which given the squad, isn't close to a forgone conclusion, we'd just be coming up to tread water and fight relegation again. That is of course unless there's a significant re-investment.After the horrors of the last relegation, I don't want to experience it again."the horrors"? - we spent one season in the second and came back up stronger with a credible and effective manager, coming runners-up in 1990. Not a bad way to bounce back from the horrors of the mid-80's.
'The horrors' being 1986 - 1987. And it was horrific. Better stuff then occured.
After the horrors of the last relegation, I don't want to experience it again."the horrors"? - we spent one season in the second and came back up stronger with a credible and effective manager, coming runners-up in 1990. Not a bad way to bounce back from the horrors of the mid-80's.
After the horrors of the last relegation, I don't want to experience it again."the horrors"? - we spent one season in the second and came back up stronger with a credible and effective manager, coming runners-up in 1990. Not a bad way to bounce back from the horrors of the mid-80's.
I will go with ROBBO on this one. If we lose to Narwich.............. then the writing is on the wall for Lambert. There are some rumours around from, well, what you could call reliable sources that all is not well at all. Nothing that has not been said before by the way, but they are getting stronger, these rumours. They are not from the media either but from other sources close to what is going on, so the info says.Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.You convinced he's on thin ice?
I will go with ROBBO on this one. If we lose to Narwich.............. then the writing is on the wall for Lambert. There are some rumours around from, well, what you could call reliable sources that all is not well at all. Nothing that has not been said before by the way, but they are getting stronger, these rumours. They are not from the media either but from other sources close to what is going on, so the info says.Lose to Norwich and you don't have to worry about Lambert.You convinced he's on thin ice?
That's clear ;)
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
Yep, and since there's not a chance in hell Lambert will get sacked before the summer, I'll take every point that comes our way.Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
A point closer to safety all the same. I'd hate to lose this game....
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
A point closer to safety all the same. I'd hate to lose this game....
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
A point closer to safety all the same. I'd hate to lose this game....
Agree the worse result is a loss.
The best result is a win.
A draw is the 2nd best result.
A few times over the last few years I was certain we would go down. When Ashley Young hit the bar in the 1-0 defeat against Wolves at home, also when Young missed a pen up at Bolton when we lost 3-2, again when we lost 2-1 to Bolton under McLeish I thought we was gone. We managed not to go down, hopefully it'll be the same this year.
A few times over the last few years I was certain we would go down. When Ashley Young hit the bar in the 1-0 defeat against Wolves at home, also when Young missed a pen up at Bolton when we lost 3-2, again when we lost 2-1 to Bolton under McLeish I thought we was gone. We managed not to go down, hopefully it'll be the same this year.I've felt similar to be honest. But the problem is, if you get to that point year on year, eventually the worst fears will be realized. It's inevitable.
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
A point closer to safety all the same. I'd hate to lose this game....
Agree the worse result is a loss.
The best result is a win.
A draw is the 2nd best result.
Agreed. If we score goals it will be good. If we don't it will be bad.
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.So you would prefer a defeat?
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
Arguably the worst outcome on Sunday is a draw.So you would prefer a defeat?
Ok another valuable point but it defuses the situation a little without addressing the problem. PL survives and we carry on.
I see it going one of two ways; if Benteke remembers what he used to do that made him so good then we'll be fine, if not then it will be tight and we'll just have to hope that enough of the clubs who have been worse than us all season stay that way.
If I was a gambling man I'd put 50p on us staying up by a narrow margin.
I see it going one of two ways; if Benteke remembers what he used to do that made him so good then we'll be fine, if not then it will be tight and we'll just have to hope that enough of the clubs who have been worse than us all season stay that way.
If I was a gambling man I'd put 50p on us staying up by a narrow margin.
I really don't think we will go down I reckon we will do enough to stay up but we need to do something in the summer get some good players instead of average ones in but like the rest of you I'm getting fed up of seeing us struggle each season.
I really don't think we will go down I reckon we will do enough to stay up but we need to do something in the summer get some good players instead of average ones in but like the rest of you I'm getting fed up of seeing us struggle each season.
Darren nails it as usual.
I see it going one of two ways; if Benteke remembers what he used to do that made him so good then we'll be fine, if not then it will be tight and we'll just have to hope that enough of the clubs who have been worse than us all season stay that way.
If I was a gambling man I'd put 50p on us staying up by a narrow margin.
It's more the supply to Benteke, he never was much good when it was hoofed from back to front he's much better when it's played into feet or crossed from wide.
Last season Benteke looked like the complete striker. Scoring from headers, long range shots, tap-ins and taking people on and doing it himself. He looked world class for a large spell.I see it going one of two ways; if Benteke remembers what he used to do that made him so good then we'll be fine, if not then it will be tight and we'll just have to hope that enough of the clubs who have been worse than us all season stay that way.
If I was a gambling man I'd put 50p on us staying up by a narrow margin.
It's more the supply to Benteke, he never was much good when it was hoofed from back to front he's much better when it's played into feet or crossed from wide.
I think he was, Paul. He made things happen with his movement and power and at the same time it tied up defenders creating space for others. That's not happening now, partly I'm sure because teams are better prepared for him but also because he appears to have lost a bit of confidence.
I think that's right. Last season Benteke made a hell of lot of his goals completely off his own back. He spent large chunks of last season not particularly getting great service. Though Gabby and Weimann did make it easier on him from Feb to May when they also hit form. But even when he hit the ground running this season, he still never quite reached the level he had in the previous spring. He scored goals, but you rarely saw him pick the ball up and just plough his way through the opposition...which he can do.I see it going one of two ways; if Benteke remembers what he used to do that made him so good then we'll be fine, if not then it will be tight and we'll just have to hope that enough of the clubs who have been worse than us all season stay that way.
If I was a gambling man I'd put 50p on us staying up by a narrow margin.
It's more the supply to Benteke, he never was much good when it was hoofed from back to front he's much better when it's played into feet or crossed from wide.
I think he was, Paul. He made things happen with his movement and power and at the same time it tied up defenders creating space for others. That's not happening now, partly I'm sure because teams are better prepared for him but also because he appears to have lost a bit of confidence.
Jeez yes ...why hasn't anyone else said that?I really don't think we will go down I reckon we will do enough to stay up but we need to do something in the summer get some good players instead of average ones in but like the rest of you I'm getting fed up of seeing us struggle each season.
Darren nails it as usual.
Under Houllier Bent's goals probably kept us up - plus we still had some good players like Young and Downing (that season at least). Last year Benteke's goals kept us up. The Mcleish season I think it was just a case of three or four absolutely gash teams being worse than us. This year I'm not convinced there are 3 worse teams, nor does it look like Benteke is going to smash the goals in. So it could be touch and go this time.Thats just how I feel. We are being so badly run its criminal.
Relegation this season would set us back years and we are already years behind the top teams. In fact relegation this year would see us light years behind the top 4.
As an old timer, Brian, what about comments from the likes of Mazrim and I earlier? I am genuinely interested by your views.Was that the one about Cunty Chops?
All the talk about only needing 37 or 38 points to survive - right now I can't even see how we will get 30 points.
On what basis? We're a very poor side but to assume we'll take only 2 points from 11 games is crazy talk.
Even during the recent poor run of form we've taken 4 points from the last 5 games.
Tongue in cheek but the truth is we just don't look like adding points very quickly. How often have we approached so called 'must win/winnable' games and come away with nothing. We could just about put up with it whilst our away matches provided points but that's dried up too.
A big step in the right direction.
Don't think anything can be taken for granted. Pundits and people keep making statements about who they think are going down based on the current situation, then that team wins a couple of games and it's all change. Basically, anyone from West Ham down can still go down and until we're mathematically safe, I'm not counting on anything.Even so, considering quite a few of the 200+ posts on this thread are saying "I can't see three teams who are worse than us" - I wonder if any of them want to revise that?
Crucial win today as we don't play again until the 15th.
Cardiff, Fulham and Brom to drop.Looks that way to me too. Chopping and changing managers left right and centre hasn't helped any of them.
I'd rather Albion be in the top division, just for amusement purposes.
Swap them with Stoke.
I don't really care who goes down as long as it is not us.
I was saying from around April last year that Albion would go this season. I will piss myself loffing if it actually happens.I was with my Albion mate at the Soho road shed when Wigan beat them 3-2 and I told him then that they will go down next season.
I was saying from around April last year that Albion would go this season. I will piss myself loffing if it actually happens.
Yes, the time when they would lose to any of our rivals in a desperate bid to put us downI was saying from around April last year that Albion would go this season. I will piss myself loffing if it actually happens.I was with my Albion mate at the Soho road shed when Wigan beat them 3-2 and I told him then that they will go down next season.
I'd rather Albion be in the top division, just for amusement purposes.
Swap them with Stoke.
Sod that! After all that "we know what we are" bollocks it will be far funnier for them to actually go back to what they've always been.
If the Stripeys do go down we can claim to have relegated them. Their season started to fall apart when Lambert sent on those three subs.And twice they were 2-0 up. They would need constant reminding of that when they go.
If the Stripeys do go down we can claim to have relegated them. Their season started to fall apart when Lambert sent on those three subs.And twice they were 2-0 up. They would need constant reminding of that when they go.
If the Stripeys do go down we can claim to have relegated them. Their season started to fall apart when Lambert sent on those three subs.
If the Stripeys do go down we can claim to have relegated them. Their season started to fall apart when Lambert sent on those three subs.
The WM phone-in on the event of Albion being relegated would be a classic. I'm sure they would be trying their best to find some kind of moral victory (the old "prefer it in the Championship anyway" line would undoubtedly be trotted out). Of course it would all be Villa fan Andre Marriner's fault, Franksy!!
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games areJesus. If they don't pick up points in the next few I think they'll go. They don't look like there's many goals in them.
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games areJesus. If they don't pick up points in the next few I think they'll go. They don't look like there's many goals in them.
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
Those last 4 mean their next 6 they essentially have to make at least 9 points to have any chance, and already have a -22 GD.That Sunderland game will be massive for them. I'd fancy Gus's lot to nick that one, which could well see a switcharound between Norwich and Sunderland position wise.
9 would take them to 37.
From:
Stoke (h), Saints (a), Sunderland ~(h), Swansea (a), Albion (h), Fulham (a).
Apart from Southampton, 5 of the bottom 7. Whatever they do, it can't be too bad for us, as they are our rivals too, so will be taking points from each other.
Norwich dropping would be wonderful for the whole Hoolahan thing and the delusions of grander. The Tesco's dropping would just be wonderful.
Norwich dropping would be wonderful for the whole Hoolahan thing and the delusions of grander. The Tesco's dropping would just be wonderful.
Those two going and Fulham staying up would be rather good.
Norwich dropping would be wonderful for the whole Hoolahan thing and the delusions of grander. The Tesco's dropping would just be wonderful.
Those two going and Fulham staying up would be rather good.
certainly a decent compromise.
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games are
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games are
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
Ouch. I suppose the sliver of hope there is that those teams may not have anything to play for by that point.
Norwich dropping would be wonderful for the whole Hoolahan thing and the delusions of grander. The Tesco's dropping would just be wonderful.
It's time to start making some more enemies I think.Norwich dropping would be wonderful for the whole Hoolahan thing and the delusions of grander. The Tesco's dropping would just be wonderful.
Half of our home goals this season have come against the two teams in the PL who hate us.
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games are
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
Ouch. I suppose the sliver of hope there is that those teams may not have anything to play for by that point.
A trip to Old Trafford's a piece of piss these days isn't it?
Norwich really have to start picking up points soon, their last 4 games are
H) Racist FC
A) Manure
A) Chavski
H) Arse
I would think Liverpool will have everything to play for, even if it cementing third place and a guaranteed CL place. United may still have a chance of top four and if not will be desperate to get as many points as possible to try for some respectability this season. Chelsea may well still be going for the title and Arsenal may need to guarantee third or fourth. Even in the highly unlikely event all four have nothing to play for at that point how many points would you back the team you saw us play yesterday to get from those games?
I was thinking the same, I'll only believe Man Utd's reign is over when we beat them.
I was thinking the same, I'll only believe Man Utd's reign is over when we beat them.
In the third round of the FA Cup.
I just want a season where we don't worry about relegation. I remember such a time...
I think 35 will be enough this season. There are lots of very rubbish teams in this division.I think the bottom 2 probably wont get near that number, I think 37 points is probably enough though.
Stay up we probably will but they will definitely take a hit on the attendances this time, unless some top signings are made and prices are kept as they are / incentives offered. It is difficult to attract people back once they have walked away.
Stay up we probably will but they will definitely take a hit on the attendances this time, unless some top signings are made and prices are kept as they are / incentives offered. It is difficult to attract people back once they have walked away.
You would think that who ever loses in this weekends game between Cardiff and Fulham will be relegated.
Stay up we probably will but they will definitely take a hit on the attendances this time, unless some top signings are made and prices are kept as they are / incentives offered. It is difficult to attract people back once they have walked away.
I seriously would offer an early bird discount of 25% to all season ticket holders, many of who have endured 4 calendar years of utter dirge at home
If something like that was offered than I would consider renewal.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Can anyone tell me how next season will be any different from this or last season? Because I don't think it will, apart from a different kit of course.
Don't write off Tonev and Luna just yet.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
With regards to this season's remaining 'winnable' matches, the teams can no longer come to VP and be happy with a draw. They will need three points which will hopefully mean they attack and therefore we can play to our counter attacking strength.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
I think a crap kick off time and the fact it was on sky played a part.
With regards to this season's remaining 'winnable' matches, the teams can no longer come to VP and be happy with a draw. They will need three points which will hopefully mean they attack and therefore we can play to our counter attacking strength.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
I think a crap kick off time and the fact it was on sky played a part.
It remained a low key atmosphere even at 4-1 I thought.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
I think a crap kick off time and the fact it was on sky played a part.
Summed up by the Norwich fans singing "4-1 and you still don't sing", considering how important a win it was and the fact it's been so long since we gave someone a shoeing at VP it struck me as strange it was so subdued.
Summed up by the Norwich fans singing "4-1 and you still don't sing", considering how important a win it was and the fact it's been so long since we gave someone a shoeing at VP it struck me as strange it was so subdued.
No it's not a joke. These are young lads parachuted in from a different country and had to play in a struggling team. We should no more write them off at this juncture than Arsenal writing off Ozil or for that matter van Persie in his first few seasons.Don't write off Tonev and Luna just yet.
That's a joke, right?
Don't write off Tonev and Luna just yet.
That's a joke, right?
Summed up by the Norwich fans singing "4-1 and you still don't sing", considering how important a win it was and the fact it's been so long since we gave someone a shoeing at VP it struck me as strange it was so subdued.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
I think a crap kick off time and the fact it was on sky played a part.
It remained a low key atmosphere even at 4-1 I thought.
I remember thinking something similar, although the fact that the second half was really dull (in a good way) might have had something to do with it.
Also lot of the people around me seemed to come for 'Lambert Out Day' and left disappointed. I mentioned it in the post match thread, but there was one guy who was hurling some pretty nasty abuse from before the first whistle (including gems like 'What the f*ck do Scots know about football'). He didnt celebrate our goals, and once we turned the game around the only thing he came out with was more abuse when a pass or shot went astray. He also broadcast his opinion that we were shit and 'lazy' because 'we shouldve scored more goals'.
Its no wonder the younger lads play like a bag of nerves at home when there are fuckwits like him about.
If we want to improve the atmos at VP and make it a fortress of constant, ear piercing noise, then we should sign Louis Tomlinson from One Direction. His debut for Doncaster reserves saw their gates go up from the norm of a couple of hundred, to over 5000, and the noise when he came on was absolutely farking crazy.
It would mean a lot of hysterical teenage girls in the ground though...
...but to be fair us lot can sometimes act like hysterical teenage girls (suffering from a visit from Aunt Irma) when Villa suffer a defeat. ;)
At this stage I think goal difference tells you a lot and of the strugglers Fulham, Cardiff and Nowich are the worst and therefore I reckon the favourites to go.I agree however it will be a shame as Chris Hughton is a very decent bloke. If they are to survive they need to be on 38 points before their last 4 tough games. I don't think they will get 10 from 6.
At this stage I think goal difference tells you a lot and of the strugglers Fulham, Cardiff and Nowich are the worst and therefore I reckon the favourites to go.I agree however it will be a shame as Chris Hughton is a very decent bloke. If they are to survive they need to be on 38 points before their last 4 tough games. I don't think they will get 10 from 6.
Can anyone tell me how next season will be any different from this or last season? Because I don't think it will, apart from a different kit of course.
The games will be played in a different order and some teams will have been promoted and others relegated.
Summed up by the Norwich fans singing "4-1 and you still don't sing", considering how important a win it was and the fact it's been so long since we gave someone a shoeing at VP it struck me as strange it was so subdued.
To be honest I was quite subdued in the second half because I kept wondering how long was left and if Norwich pulled one back now would there still be time for a collapse to 4-4!!
At this stage I think goal difference tells you a lot and of the strugglers Fulham, Cardiff and Nowich are the worst and therefore I reckon the favourites to go.
oh bollocks, wrong thread should have been the worst signing thread,Not your fault. It's easy to get confused when there are about a dozen threads all describing how shit our owner/Manager/Players are.
Patience will be thinner next season. If such a thing is possible
Quite so.
There was a menacing murmuration gathering momentum early doors on Sunday, and the attendance should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power at B6.
I think a crap kick off time and the fact it was on sky played a part.
It remained a low key atmosphere even at 4-1 I thought.
I remember thinking something similar, although the fact that the second half was really dull (in a good way) might have had something to do with it.
Also lot of the people around me seemed to come for 'Lambert Out Day' and left disappointed. I mentioned it in the post match thread, but there was one guy who was hurling some pretty nasty abuse from before the first whistle (including gems like 'What the f*ck do Scots know about football'). He didnt celebrate our goals, and once we turned the game around the only thing he came out with was more abuse when a pass or shot went astray. He also broadcast his opinion that we were shit and 'lazy' because 'we shouldve scored more goals'.
Its no wonder the younger lads play like a bag of nerves at home when there are fuckwits like him about.
I agree with the point about 'Lambert out' day. I know we went a goal down and it'd be nervy but I thought the crowd were ready to jump on any mistake and fact there was a murmuring for Albrighton after seven minutes showed how quickly some people were ready to have a pop at the manager, which I disagree with.
Its the way you tell em. Tonev is useless.No it's not a joke. These are young lads parachuted in from a different country and had to play in a struggling team. We should no more write them off at this juncture than Arsenal writing off Ozil or for that matter van Persie in his first few seasons.Don't write off Tonev and Luna just yet.
That's a joke, right?
Its the way you tell em. Tonev is useless.No it's not a joke. These are young lads parachuted in from a different country and had to play in a struggling team. We should no more write them off at this juncture than Arsenal writing off Ozil or for that matter van Persie in his first few seasons.Don't write off Tonev and Luna just yet.
That's a joke, right?
fuck it, i'm not repeating it again over there
They certainly have a tough run in. And they aren't very good.
I think palace are in the doo doo. Pulis has done a great job but it's hard to see them sustaining recent form and they just can't scoreYep agreed. A win would see us home and hosed to be honest. No way will the bottom 3 get close to 37 points.
I thought Sunderland would get out of it but I'm less sure now
Win tomorrow and we're definitely fine I think
They certainly have a tough run in. And they aren't very good.
One of their matches in hand is Liverpool away - on Wednesday. Another is Man City away.
That's bad.
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
You're a curious man, john e.
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
You're a curious man, john e.
Monday is a school day, but if we win tomorrow I'm going to get shitted. Even I won't give the R word a second thought if we beat Sturk.
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
You're a curious man, john e.
Can we describe him as something else so people don't confuse me with him?
The game will have some meaning as Man. City will probably need to win to win the league so we could always mess up their title bid John? (although I have to be honest given the other two options are Liverpool and Chelsea I'd happily give City the 3 points now, lesser of three evils.)
I will be sorry to see Fulham go down, some great away days there
I've said Cardiff and Fulham have been doomed for months but my money for the 3rd was Norwich given their horrendous form and their last 4 fixtures but their recent upturn seems to have saved them.
It's a choice of Sunderland, Boggies, and Palace for me. I reckon Pulis will keep Palace up. Take your pick of the other two - they're as bad as each other.
I will be sorry to see Fulham go down, some great away days there
I won't. I just don't get the Fulham love in.
One stand which is admittedly old but not a patch on the old Trinity. If the Trinity was a mansion, Fulham's main stand is a row of terracing. And then there's the three other stands that look like they were built to be temporary, anticipating immediate relegation, with all the Mecano structure on show.
It's also miles away - we already have plenty of away days in London and they're a pain in the arse to get to. One less won't be a bad thing.
Oh, and those fucking clapper things. Grrr.
I really don't get it.
We were shocking yesterday but 9 points clear of the relegation zone with less than ten games to go and others 5 and 6 points away from us, and many have to play each other as well. Further more, we will not play that badly for the remaining games so, if you think we are going down you must be a massive pessimist.
Very down about yesterday and who knows what will happen in the weeks to come but i am convinced we wont be heading into the championship Villa first, but next season mmmmmmmmmIf mmmmmmmmm means, wait and see we will destroy all before us with our incredible virtuosity, invincible might and brilliant football (and I think it does) then I agree.
Very down about yesterday and who knows what will happen in the weeks to come but i am convinced we wont be heading into the championship Villa first, but next season mmmmmmmmmIf mmmmmmmmm means, wait and see we will destroy all before us with our incredible virtuosity, invincible might and brilliant football (and I think it does) then I agree.
Very down about yesterday and who knows what will happen in the weeks to come but i am convinced we wont be heading into the championship Villa first, but next season mmmmmmmmmIf mmmmmmmmm means, wait and see we will destroy all before us with our incredible virtuosity, invincible might and brilliant football (and I think it does) then I agree.
Mmmmmmmm can be interpreted as indicating something pleasurable or alternatively something to ponder or be concerned about, now which did I mean?
We only need two draws really, 36 points will probably be enough this season.
We may be inept at various stages of the season but we will comfortably exceed that.
My Stoke supporting colleague at work still believes they aren't safe, which is laughable.
We might allegedly be in better form than this time last year, but we were pushed along with the excitement of Benteke's form and the idea it all seemed to be coming together. The fact we weren't safe until the last week was one of those football ironies.
This time round, we're as energised as a dead badger.
We only need two draws really, 36 points will probably be enough this season.
We may be inept at various stages of the season but we will comfortably exceed that.
We need 42 points or more to improve on last season. Anything less will be failure.
We might allegedly be in better form than this time last year, but we were pushed along with the excitement of Benteke's form and the idea it all seemed to be coming together. The fact we weren't safe until the last week was one of those football ironies.
This time round, we're as energised as a dead badger.
It's this for me. The togetherness and sense of excitement between players and fans was good last year. I almost felt excited to be a villa fan again. That we haven't continued that on this year is a major disappointment.
We might allegedly be in better form than this time last year, but we were pushed along with the excitement of Benteke's form and the idea it all seemed to be coming together. The fact we weren't safe until the last week was one of those football ironies.
This time round, we're as energised as a dead badger.
It's this for me. The togetherness and sense of excitement between players and fans was good last year. I almost felt excited to be a villa fan again. That we haven't continued that on this year is a major disappointment.
When you talk about being energised I think it is, to use a favourite phrase of my old boss, "a moving beast". During and after the Chelsea game everyone was certainly energised. Since Sunday I think we have all felt about as energised as the dead badger you mentioned.
I cannot be alone in the belief that scrambling and clawing your way to survival every year is every bit as bad as relegation You face the same humiliation, the club's standing is demeaned and diminished in exactly the same way being premiership chopping blocks as being championship contenders The way I see it is that out of the prem the club loses the TV money and has less to spend but since we exist on financial bread and water diet at Villa Park anyway it makes no difference to the fans There is no pride no glory no history no sense of achievement in what we have been doing for three years In our predicament relegation is irrelevant, merely words and numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper.I remember back in 2001 there was a suggestion that relegation would be better than playing appallingly under a chairman who seemed more intent on his take-out from the club rather than on developing the Villa. The response generally was one of incredulity that fans might prefer relegation to the status quo.
I cannot be alone in the belief that scrambling and clawing your way to survival every year is every bit as bad as relegation You face the same humiliation, the club's standing is demeaned and diminished in exactly the same way being premiership chopping blocks as being championship contenders The way I see it is that out of the prem the club loses the TV money and has less to spend but since we exist on financial bread and water diet at Villa Park anyway it makes no difference to the fans There is no pride no glory no history no sense of achievement in what we have been doing for three years In our predicament relegation is irrelevant, merely words and numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper.
I cannot be alone in the belief that scrambling and clawing your way to survival every year is every bit as bad as relegation You face the same humiliation, the club's standing is demeaned and diminished in exactly the same way being premiership chopping blocks as being championship contenders The way I see it is that out of the prem the club loses the TV money and has less to spend but since we exist on financial bread and water diet at Villa Park anyway it makes no difference to the fans There is no pride no glory no history no sense of achievement in what we have been doing for three years In our predicament relegation is irrelevant, merely words and numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper.
I cannot be alone in the belief that scrambling and clawing your way to survival every year is every bit as bad as relegation You face the same humiliation, the club's standing is demeaned and diminished in exactly the same way being premiership chopping blocks as being championship contenders The way I see it is that out of the prem the club loses the TV money and has less to spend but since we exist on financial bread and water diet at Villa Park anyway it makes no difference to the fans There is no pride no glory no history no sense of achievement in what we have been doing for three years In our predicament relegation is irrelevant, merely words and numbers on a screen or a sheet of paper.You are not alone by any means Brian. No-one would want to see their team relegated, but many would prefer to watch real committed players earning their wages.
My support for Villa will remain as ferocious and proud as it has for the last seven decades The big sea change which has come about is the massive lowering of expectation. That we now see another "have we got enough points to stay up" "yes just about" as reason to be comfortable about the club is symptomatic of that acceptance.
As for the Europa League-I do not know why clubs enter it at all, it is certainly not for the fans sake.I'd love to see us back in the Europa league. In order to be there we'll either have needed to finished in the top six or so or have reached a cup final.
As for the Europa League-I do not know why clubs enter it at all, it is certainly not for the fans sake.I'd love to see us back in the Europa league. In order to be there we'll either have needed to finished in the top six or so or have reached a cup final.
My support for Villa will remain as ferocious and proud as it has for the last seven decades The big sea change which has come about is the massive lowering of expectation. That we now see another "have we got enough points to stay up" "yes just about" as reason to be comfortable about the club is symptomatic of that acceptance.
Good point. Are we becoming conditioned to accepting staying in the premiership as the pinnacle of what we can achieve? Man City come along to ruffle up the league and we seem to have given up. I know we can't compete and we have to address what has gone before but we should still strive to be best of the rest and try for a cup or two.
Top 6 spender over the last 5 years. Not sure what the ranking has been over the last two years but I'm sure it doesn't reflect our position.
It depends how you do.As for the Europa League-I do not know why clubs enter it at all, it is certainly not for the fans sake.I'd love to see us back in the Europa league. In order to be there we'll either have needed to finished in the top six or so or have reached a cup final.
That would be the only good thing about it. It's a curse of a competition.
Europa League qualification through league position should be our target next season.
Assuming we hold on our better players and we add the required three/four first team players than I don't see why we shouldn't be aiming at a similar level to the likes of Everton next season.Europa League qualification through league position should be our target next season.
Do you really think so? That means finishing 5th or possibly 6th depending on who wins the cups, meaning finishing above at least 2 if not 3 of Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, plus Southampton, Newcastle etc and all the rest. That would be a monumental task even if we spent heavily this summer, and I don't see that happening. 8-10th would be a more realistic target I would say.
Europa League qualification through league position should be our target next season.
Do you really think so? That means finishing 5th or possibly 6th depending on who wins the cups, meaning finishing above at least 2 if not 3 of Man U, Man City, Liverpool, Everton, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, plus Southampton, Newcastle etc and all the rest. That would be a monumental task even if we spent heavily this summer, and I don't see that happening. 8-10th would be a more realistic target I would say.
See what I mean about the downgrading of expectations at our club? and I am not being critical of anybody whose expectations have been lowered.
As for the Europa League-I do not know why clubs enter it at all, it is certainly not for the fans sake.I'd love to see us back in the Europa league. In order to be there we'll either have needed to finished in the top six or so or have reached a cup final.
A club of villa's size and stature should always be in or around the top 8 at the least .
The fact we have had 4 years outside that zone is very disappointing considering the money spent in the last 6 years.
You're right Brian.
That can only sit in one place and that is with Lerner. We can't blame a manager who's working under an extremely tight budget and had to replace virtually the whole squad. It's crap and you'd think and expect that we were at the very least competing with Everton and Spurs. The others all have massive amounts of money, either because they have huge sponsorship opportunities or billionaire benefactors.
You're right Brian.
That can only sit in one place and that is with Lerner. We can't blame a manager who's working under an extremely tight budget and had to replace virtually the whole squad. It's crap and you'd think and expect that we were at the very least competing with Everton and Spurs. The others all have massive amounts of money, either because they have huge sponsorship opportunities or billionaire benefactors.
Lambert hasn't had an extremely tight budget - he's spent over £40m on players .
Granted some have spent more but it's not an extremely tight budget and he hasn't spent all his budget either .
You're right Brian.
That can only sit in one place and that is with Lerner. We can't blame a manager who's working under an extremely tight budget and had to replace virtually the whole squad. It's crap and you'd think and expect that we were at the very least competing with Everton and Spurs. The others all have massive amounts of money, either because they have huge sponsorship opportunities or billionaire benefactors.
Lambert hasn't had an extremely tight budget - he's spent over £40m on players .
Granted some have spent more but it's not an extremely tight budget and he hasn't spent all his budget either .
£40m on how many players, exactly?
That's why it's a tight budget.
You're right Brian.
That can only sit in one place and that is with Lerner. We can't blame a manager who's working under an extremely tight budget and had to replace virtually the whole squad. It's crap and you'd think and expect that we were at the very least competing with Everton and Spurs. The others all have massive amounts of money, either because they have huge sponsorship opportunities or billionaire benefactors.
Lambert hasn't had an extremely tight budget - he's spent over £40m on players .
Granted some have spent more but it's not an extremely tight budget and he hasn't spent all his budget either .
£40m on how many players, exactly?
That's why it's a tight budget.
By his choice - he chose to ostracise Ireland, bent,bannan given , Hutton , etc .
You're right Brian.
That can only sit in one place and that is with Lerner. We can't blame a manager who's working under an extremely tight budget and had to replace virtually the whole squad. It's crap and you'd think and expect that we were at the very least competing with Everton and Spurs. The others all have massive amounts of money, either because they have huge sponsorship opportunities or billionaire benefactors.
Lambert hasn't had an extremely tight budget - he's spent over £40m on players .
Granted some have spent more but it's not an extremely tight budget and he hasn't spent all his budget either .
You can get 2 - 4 decent players with £20m, but the problem is whether players in that price range are going to come with our wage structure. I think that has been the issue rather than transfer fees ever since we became Austerity Villa.
You can get 2 - 4 decent players with £20m, but the problem is whether players in that price range are going to come with our wage structure. I think that has been the issue rather than transfer fees ever since we became Austerity Villa.
You can get 2 - 4 decent players with £20m, but the problem is whether players in that price range are going to come with our wage structure. I think that has been the issue rather than transfer fees ever since we became Austerity Villa.Nobody is asking for us to be rivalling Man Utd for Mata or Man City for Negredo though.
My long term view of 10 - 20 years hence is the same as it was in the 1960s We will rise to the very top again. Not with this owner or this manager but it will happen. In Chinese ownership probably.
Me too eastie I think the old historic clubs will become status symbols for the ultra mega wealthy of China just like the founders of American industry bought French chateaux and took them stone by stone across the Atlantic. Last year when Mr Hassan and I sold our good horse to run in Shanghai we mixed with the agents of the Chinese and not only do they have vast fortunes they are by nature risk takers.
Me too eastie I think the old historic clubs will become status symbols for the ultra mega wealthy of China just like the founders of American industry bought French chateaux and took them stone by stone across the Atlantic. Last year when Mr Hassan and I sold our good horse to run in Shanghai we mixed with the agents of the Chinese and not only do they have vast fortunes they are by nature risk takers.
Me too eastie I think the old historic clubs will become status symbols for the ultra mega wealthy of China just like the founders of American industry bought French chateaux and took them stone by stone across the Atlantic. Last year when Mr Hassan and I sold our good horse to run in Shanghai we mixed with the agents of the Chinese and not only do they have vast fortunes they are by nature risk takers.
Pity you didn't pass a few DVDs around of our glory days to them ;)
You can get 2 - 4 decent players with £20m, but the problem is whether players in that price range are going to come with our wage structure. I think that has been the issue rather than transfer fees ever since we became Austerity Villa.
I think we can. Moreso we already have over the past few years. Off the top of my head we've signed Nzogbia, Benteke, Okore and Kozac (Given?) during the austerity years, so such players will come. Hopefully now they'll arrive over say two transfer windows rather than hmmm I dunno about 6.
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
Still not convinced we're safe yet, defence has gone to pot. Attack is off-form. I think Sunderland could well beat West Ham on Monday night which would make things tighter. I'll be surprised if we top 41 points which was last years tally.We will be relegated if we only pick up 2 points from our remaining 7 games. Anything more and we are safe.
Still not convinced we're safe yet, defence has gone to pot. Attack is off-form. I think Sunderland could well beat West Ham on Monday night which would make things tighter. I'll be surprised if we top 41 points which was last years tally.We will be relegated if we only pick up 2 points from our remaining 7 games. Anything more and we are safe.
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
If we got beat by Fulham that would surely be time up for lambert?
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
If we got beat by Fulham that would surely be time up for lambert?
You'd like to think so but no, Lambert is here for the duration whatever, including relegation, happens.
Never has our wonderful club's future looked so bleak.
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
If we got beat by Fulham that would surely be time up for lambert?
You'd like to think so but no, Lambert is here for the duration whatever, including relegation, happens.
Never has our wonderful club's future looked so bleak.
Just like last year, and the year before, and the year before that...
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
If we got beat by Fulham that would surely be time up for lambert?
You'd like to think so but no, Lambert is here for the duration whatever, including relegation, happens.
Never has our wonderful club's future looked so bleak.
Just like last year, and the year before, and the year before that...
Gosh Dave, is it really that long now? I thought we'd been shit for just a couple of seasons but you're right. Time flies when you play the sort of unmitigated durge we churn out each week and you do your best to forget almost every game
Under the current structure of the league it seems to me that there are two ways to progress. One is to spend a lot of money very quickly the other is to build incramentally over a few years. The first makes the second look dull and plodding but for obvious reasons most clubs cannot do it.Agreed however as I said we may need a check point mid season. I hope next season with Okore, Kozak and N'Zogbia available and one or two quality additions we move on and operate in mid to 6/7 position rather than 11 to 13/14th as we have been doing this season.
I think we have to give Lambert another season to try to put his plan into action, there is the basis of a decent squad and a couple of decent decent signing plus the availability of Okore could transform us to where we start looking up not down.
Under the current structure of the league it seems to me that there are two ways to progress. One is to spend a lot of money very quickly the other is to build incramentally over a few years. The first makes the second look dull and plodding but for obvious reasons most clubs cannot do it.Agreed however as I said we may need a check point mid season. I hope next season with Okore, Kozak and N'Zogbia available and one or two quality additions we move on and operate in mid to 6/7 position rather than 11 to 13/14th as we have been doing this season.
I think we have to give Lambert another season to try to put his plan into action, there is the basis of a decent squad and a couple of decent decent signing plus the availability of Okore could transform us to where we start looking up not down.
Am I alone in hoping for a Sunderland win tomorrow to drop the Baggies right in it? Or will that make things too nerve-wracking for us?I think a Sunderland win will suit us very well.
Am I alone in hoping for a Sunderland win tomorrow to drop the Baggies right in it? Or will that make things too nerve-wracking for us?I think a Sunderland win will suit us very well.
Am I alone in hoping for a Sunderland win tomorrow to drop the Baggies right in it? Or will that make things too nerve-wracking for us?I think a Sunderland win will suit us very well.
I think a draw would keep both clubs sweating.
talking of Fulham Collymore predicted on Talkshite the other night they will turn us over. He also thought we would finish with 39 points and implied he'd then like to see managerial change.Oh I like him
If we got beat by Fulham that would surely be time up for lambert?
You'd like to think so but no, Lambert is here for the duration whatever, including relegation, happens.
Never has our wonderful club's future looked so bleak.
Just like last year, and the year before, and the year before that...
Gosh Dave, is it really that long now? I thought we'd been shit for just a couple of seasons but you're right. Time flies when you play the sort of unmitigated durge we churn out each week and you do your best to forget almost every game
It isn't that long and it isn't now, but you keep on predicting gloom, doom and despondency if it makes you happy. Who knows, one day you might be right.
Has anyone said it's acceptable? Has anyone said they'd be happy to stay where we are now?
Has anyone said it's acceptable? Has anyone said they'd be happy to stay where we are now?
Well we've had 4 seasons of this. When will it change?
Has anyone said it's acceptable? Has anyone said they'd be happy to stay where we are now?
Well we've had 4 seasons of this. When will it change?
Just to amend my previous post, we actually finished with 45 points in 2002/2003 not 42.
And for context, we finished eight points clear of the relegation zone in 2005-06.
And Dave, I know you don't think it's acceptable, you are an Aston Villa man and know it's not. I was responding to your reply to a previous poster about if he keeps on predicting doom he will be right one day.
I was trying to show that we are in fact lucky that he has not been right yet because we have come as close to relegation as I can remember in twenty years.
Was that the Allback goal?
Was that the Allback goal?
Just to amend my previous post, we actually finished with 45 points in 2002/2003 not 42.
And for context, we finished eight points clear of the relegation zone in 2005-06.
And Dave, I know you don't think it's acceptable, you are an Aston Villa man and know it's not. I was responding to your reply to a previous poster about if he keeps on predicting doom he will be right one day.
I was trying to show that we are in fact lucky that he has not been right yet because we have come as close to relegation as I can remember in twenty years.
Twenty years includes a time when we went into the last day needing a result to stay up.
Just to amend my previous post, we actually finished with 45 points in 2002/2003 not 42.
And for context, we finished eight points clear of the relegation zone in 2005-06.
And Dave, I know you don't think it's acceptable, you are an Aston Villa man and know it's not. I was responding to your reply to a previous poster about if he keeps on predicting doom he will be right one day.
I was trying to show that we are in fact lucky that he has not been right yet because we have come as close to relegation as I can remember in twenty years.
Twenty years includes a time when we went into the last day needing a result to stay up.
Has anyone said it's acceptable? Has anyone said they'd be happy to stay where we are now?
Well we've had 4 seasons of this. When will it change?
You mean when will we start improving our league position? For the past two years I'd guess.
Just to amend my previous post, we actually finished with 45 points in 2002/2003 not 42.
And for context, we finished eight points clear of the relegation zone in 2005-06.
And Dave, I know you don't think it's acceptable, you are an Aston Villa man and know it's not. I was responding to your reply to a previous poster about if he keeps on predicting doom he will be right one day.
I was trying to show that we are in fact lucky that he has not been right yet because we have come as close to relegation as I can remember in twenty years.
Twenty years includes a time when we went into the last day needing a result to stay up.
It's been a long long time since we had 4 relegation battles on the trot though.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
League placing is surely the best guide for how you have done in comparison to everyone else. Winning the league with fewer points than the team who won it the previous year doesn't make it any less of an achievement.
I don't see much - if any - improvement on last season if I'm honest. Still shit at home, better away and as unpredictable as you like.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
It's been a bloody struggle though, as we're the previous 3 seasons. This has to change.
I don't see much - if any - improvement on last season if I'm honest. Still shit at home, better away and as unpredictable as you like.
I think points totals are the best way of directly comparing the team from last season. I think there will be very little in it. We have kept our head above the relegation battle this season but still go into the final lap looking for the points to take us up to forty. I don't think you have to have been in a relegation battle to be classed as having struggled for points and so far this season I would say we have struggled.
Over the last three seasons (those with McCleish and Lambert in charge) we have won 14 of our 54 home PL games. Of those 54 we've lost 26, or 48%. I'd say Villa have the most tolerant support ever.
Meanwhile, we haven't won on the road since new years day. This is relegation form, there is no doubt about it in my mind.
In our last 17 games it's won 4, drawn 3, lost 10.
Over the last three seasons (those with McCleish and Lambert in charge) we have won 14 of our 54 home PL games. Of those 54 we've lost 26, or 48%. I'd say Villa have the most tolerant support ever.
Meanwhile, we haven't won on the road since new years day. This is relegation form, there is no doubt about it in my mind.
And that is where we will finish.Expect an interview with Faulkner sometime in November telling us we have made an improvement again.Over the last three seasons (those with McCleish and Lambert in charge) we have won 14 of our 54 home PL games. Of those 54 we've lost 26, or 48%. I'd say Villa have the most tolerant support ever.
Meanwhile, we haven't won on the road since new years day. This is relegation form, there is no doubt about it in my mind.
We're 12th on current form.
The reason we are here is because the majority of the key decisions made in the last 4 years have been atttrocious.
The Board, Manager(s) and Players could barely have made a bigger fuck up than if we had been infested by Noses and Bitters secret agents.
I had much hope at the start of the season though that evaporated by the end of November.
A win on Saturday should see us have a comfortable run-in. I just can't see the bottom three winning enough of their remaining games to trouble us.
A win on Saturday should see us have a comfortable run-in. I just can't see the bottom three winning enough of their remaining games to trouble us.
We have relied on the rest being crap for too long. I said it weeks ago. It must be a poor league if we are 12th.
Yes, it's a poor league, no doubt about that. Liverpool could even win it with what is, at best, a very average team with a couple of game winning superstars in it. How many people would remember the names of their players five years down the road if they won the league? And Man Utd won it with a pretty dire team last year comparatively speaking. Which just makes it even more of a crying shame that we can't take advantage as we could easily push up to about 6th or 7th with almost no effort at all, just a few quality players and a decent manager. Good to see some realism about just how bad we are on this thread too
It is the best Premier League season for years on the basis everyone beats everyone else, we have a three or four horse title race that doesn't include the holders and anyone in the bottom half could still go down. But the reason behind all that is that generally the quality is poor.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
League placing is surely the best guide for how you have done in comparison to everyone else. Winning the league with fewer points than the team who won it the previous year doesn't make it any less of an achievement.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
Quite honestly DC5, I couldn't and never have given 2 fucks about England.
Quite honestly DC5, I couldn't and never have given 2 fucks about England.
I don't care either but it is a measure of our league strength. We don't have loads of players in Serie A etc, they are mainly here. A few weeks ago, there were several posters on here coming up with all manner of statistics to try to demonstrate that it is not a poor league. I am offering another benchmark. Take it or leave it.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
I'm glad it is a poor league, if it wasn't we really would be in the brown smelly stuff.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
I'm glad it is a poor league, if it wasn't we really would be in the brown smelly stuff.
How much longer will there be 3 worse teams for though?
If Fulham, Blunderland & Cardiff go this year, there's possibly Norwich, Palace & a promoted team who'll be worse than us again. What fun.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
I'm glad it is a poor league, if it wasn't we really would be in the brown smelly stuff.
How much longer will there be 3 worse teams for though?
If Fulham, Blunderland & Cardiff go this year, there's possibly Norwich, Palace & a promoted team who'll be worse than us again. What fun.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
League placing is surely the best guide for how you have done in comparison to everyone else. Winning the league with fewer points than the team who won it the previous year doesn't make it any less of an achievement.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
It is the best Premier League season for years on the basis everyone beats everyone else, we have a three or four horse title race that doesn't include the holders and anyone in the bottom half could still go down. But the reason behind all that is that generally the quality is poor.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
I'm glad it is a poor league, if it wasn't we really would be in the brown smelly stuff.
How much longer will there be 3 worse teams for though?
If Fulham, Blunderland & Cardiff go this year, there's possibly Norwich, Palace & a promoted team who'll be worse than us again. What fun.
It is a poor league, Liverpool will not win it and we won't be relegated, at least not this season.
I'm glad it is a poor league, if it wasn't we really would be in the brown smelly stuff.
How much longer will there be 3 worse teams for though?
If Fulham, Blunderland & Cardiff go this year, there's possibly Norwich, Palace & a promoted team who'll be worse than us again. What fun.
There will always be poor teams in any league. You'd imagine Burnley won't be up to much coming up as one and the play off winner is say it's Reading or Wigan again.
The crux is you have to be really really bad to be relegated from the prem nowadays, trust me we've tried it over the last few seasons!
Look at West Brom, they've won 5 of their last 40 league games or something and STILL they aren't in the bottom three.
There's a lot of crap below us then, helping to keep us afloat. Sure, we can have our good days (Chelsea) but they are so few and far between.Over the last three seasons (those with McCleish and Lambert in charge) we have won 14 of our 54 home PL games. Of those 54 we've lost 26, or 48%. I'd say Villa have the most tolerant support ever.
Meanwhile, we haven't won on the road since new years day. This is relegation form, there is no doubt about it in my mind.
We're 12th on current form.
Have said all season that the only really good team in the league is Man City. Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal would be about 8th in the Spanish league.
The Italian league is even weaker mind you.
If we cant beat Fulham we deserve to bloody go down ;(
If we cant beat Fulham we deserve to bloody go down ;(
I was talking to a Fulham fan on Saturday night and he said exactly the same. He reckons we'll murder them
They've never won at Villa Park in the Premier League and have the worst defensive record in the league. They probably feel more apprehensive about this than us.
They've never won at Villa Park in the Premier League and have the worst defensive record in the league. They probably feel more apprehensive about this than us.
But we are the worst team, with the worst manager who no one even wanted and should never have been appointed by that clown Lerner who never puts any money into the club.... gnashing of teeth, and repeat several times a day until blue in the face.
Last season and this in some crunch games we have actually turned up and played well. I can understand pessimism but to pretend that we never win, never have, and never will again is just self indulgent negativity with little evidence. We had a shit day against Stoke defensively and lost to United who played quite well but in truth were allowed in by poor defending and woeful finishing from us. No reason to think we won't create chances and get a couple of goals against Fulham.
Fair point re turning up for a few of the crunch games though, good job they're not against better sides than the Baggies & Norwich though or we'd be deep in the shit.
Last season and this in some crunch games we have actually turned up and played well. I can understand pessimism but to pretend that we never win, never have, and never will again is just self indulgent negativity with little evidence. We had a shit day against Stoke defensively and lost to United who played quite well but in truth were allowed in by poor defending and woeful finishing from us. No reason to think we won't create chances and get a couple of goals against Fulham.
Little evidence? We have gone 8 without a win under Lambert, there's not far to stoop to turn that into 8 without a point, anything is possible with this bloke right now, right through to winning every game from now until May.
Fair point re turning up for a few of the crunch games though, good job they're not against better sides than the Baggies & Norwich though or we'd be deep in the shit.
Last season and this in some crunch games we have actually turned up and played well. I can understand pessimism but to pretend that we never win, never have, and never will again is just self indulgent negativity with little evidence. We had a shit day against Stoke defensively and lost to United who played quite well but in truth were allowed in by poor defending and woeful finishing from us. No reason to think we won't create chances and get a couple of goals against Fulham.
Little evidence? We have gone 8 without a win under Lambert, there's not far to stoop to turn that into 8 without a point, anything is possible with this bloke right now, right through to winning every game from now until May.
Fair point re turning up for a few of the crunch games though, good job they're not against better sides than the Baggies & Norwich though or we'd be deep in the shit.
The 8 game run was over a year ago. Our worst winless run this season is 5. It is a bit of a stretch to suddenly think we'll lose 8 on the spin.
We've had a
Houllier/Mcdonald/Mcallister season
1 win in 10 2/10 - 10/12
1 win in 7 1/2 - 9/4
Mcleish
1 win in 8 27/8 - 4/11
1 win in 7 21/11 - 30/12
1 win in 16 1/2 - 13/5
Lambert 1st season
1 win in 9 18/8 - 2/11
0 wins in 8 23/12 - 9/2
Lambert 2nd season
1 win in 7 5/10 - 3/12
1 win in 8 8/12 - 29/1
9 horrible runs in 4 season covering 80 games, is it any wonder some are so fucked off. It would probably take a near record breaking collapse for us to go, and we're not that bad.
That is pretty bad. And in that time we've not had what you'd call a really good run of form. We managed mid-table form between Feb-March last year, but tended to flit between wins and losses.We've had a
Houllier/Mcdonald/Mcallister season
1 win in 10 2/10 - 10/12
1 win in 7 1/2 - 9/4
Mcleish
1 win in 8 27/8 - 4/11
1 win in 7 21/11 - 30/12
1 win in 16 1/2 - 13/5
Lambert 1st season
1 win in 9 18/8 - 2/11
0 wins in 8 23/12 - 9/2
Lambert 2nd season
1 win in 7 5/10 - 3/12
1 win in 8 8/12 - 29/1
9 horrible runs in 4 season covering 80 games, is it any wonder some are so fucked off. It would probably take a near record breaking collapse for us to go, and we're not that bad.
Anyone seen Alan Turing
Fulham will be in our faces from minute 1, expect a long afternoon.Remind me again is that the same Fulham who have been bottom of the table all season?
Fulham will be in our faces from minute 1, expect a long afternoon.Remind me again is that the same Fulham who have been bottom of the table all season?
Fulham will be in our faces from minute 1, expect a long afternoon.Remind me again is that the same Fulham who have been bottom of the table all season?
Fulham is the game that worries me the most of all the remaining matches. They're bloody awful. They're desperate for a win. We should dominate them, we should beat them, but Villa law dictates that when a team comes to Villa park needing a win as badly as Fulham do, we're probably going to oblige. I'm also working on the law of averages. We won two on the bounce and are now in our bad patch. 2 defeats so far and our shite patches tend to stretch longer than our good ones. I think we're due a little bit more pain before we get another win.
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...Yes that was Meulensteen's first match...miracles don't occur twice in the same place!
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
By that logic, I look forward to your predictions of how we're going to win at Arsenal and beat Chelsea at home next season.
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
How long was Newcastle's winless streak before we obliged them in the 93rd minute at Sid James's?
Anyway, we'll beat Fulham Saturday and hopefully that will be that for another season.
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...
How long was Newcastle's winless streak before we obliged them in the 93rd minute at Sid James's?
Anyway, we'll beat Fulham Saturday and hopefully that will be that for another season.
4.
Being bottom didn't stop them in December, ending their run of seven league games without a win against us...Yes that was Meulensteen's first match...miracles don't occur twice in the same place!
this season we are safe, because of the utter drose below us, But if we keep with this policy of trying "all unknowns" in the same team, we'll be having plenty of local derbies sooner rather than later.
We must buy at least 3 known Premiership players.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
What a ridiculous statement.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
What a ridiculous statement.
It is absolute rubbish, but I found it very amusingly written. It's like it's gone through Google translate; from English into Joe Dolce.
SAFE is what we are, relegation is for other clubs not to far from here to ponder.
BUT Mr Lerner, from where I sit in the Holt the future aint looking to Bright.
GET IT SORTED.....
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
With such a poor football and such a clueless manager, it will be a miracle if we reach the safety.
I agree totally Archie. We will reach safety I think, it is a miracle given how crap we are that there are actually teams worse than us, and we won't continue with this sort of luck ad infinitum. Apologies in advance for any poor grammar
This is inconceivable for me, and induces me to think that if we'll be safe it'll be a miracle. Infact it will be because we have beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, and because there are at least three teams worse than the squad that was battered by Manchester United, Stoke, and too many other average teams.
How can you call it if not a miracle?
My problem is that, unlike you, Frank, I am acclimatised to see Italian football. Ok, it is much worse than English, it is slow and boring.
But in one thing is superior.
In tactics.
That is the reason why Italy won 4 World Cups and England only one, even if English football is by far the best of the world.
Tactics didn't let us down at Old Trafford two fundamentals did; positioning when it comes to defending and finishing.
My problem is that, unlike you, Frank, I am acclimatised to see Italian football. Ok, it is much worse than English, it is slow and boring.
But in one thing is superior.
In tactics.
That is the reason why Italy won 4 World Cups and England only one, even if English football is by far the best of the world.
I think messrs Meazza, Scirea, Tardelli, Zoff, Baresi, Cannavaro, Nesta, Pirlo, Totti, and several others would take exception to that comment.
Tactics didn't let us down at Old Trafford two fundamentals did; positioning when it comes to defending and finishing.
You are certainly right, but I had included defenders positioning and movements it in the concept of tactics. Anyhow, it is the manager that should teach these things to the players. . .
Tactics didn't let us down at Old Trafford two fundamentals did; positioning when it comes to defending and finishing.
You are certainly right, but I had included defenders positioning and movements it in the concept of tactics. Anyhow, it is the manager that should teach these things to the players. . .
I personally don't think a manager needs to coach a player to do something as basic as pick up a man, not at this level, it should be second nature.
I certainly don't think Italian football is boring. English clubs are often found out in european competitions because of their naive, almost gun ho attitude.
I was pondering this week why things haven't moved on - all the money in the world and a lot of well respected international managers - and yet Man u/chelsea/arse still get dominated.
Probably down to the thick as pig shit footballers we produce.
I certainly don't think Italian football is boring. English clubs are often found out in european competitions because of their naive, almost gun ho attitude.
I was pondering this week why things haven't moved on - all the money in the world and a lot of well respected international managers - and yet Man u/chelsea/arse still get dominated.
Probably down to the thick as pig shit footballers we produce.
How many of the 'pig shit' players at Chelsea are English?
I certainly don't think Italian football is boring. English clubs are often found out in european competitions because of their naive, almost gun ho attitude.
I was pondering this week why things haven't moved on - all the money in the world and a lot of well respected international managers - and yet Man u/chelsea/arse still get dominated.
Probably down to the thick as pig shit footballers we produce.
How many of the 'pig shit' players at Chelsea are English?
Perhaps Chelsea was a bad example, I do count Terry in that category however
There is much to learn at this regard.The other point in Archie's longer post was about building the game from the back; which I agree with, but this means:
It is quite clear that we have two different concepts of building from the back, mate!
It is quite clear that we have two different concepts of building from the back, mate!
He signs a fast, quick ball playing centre half who is nobled by the footballing Gods. I think it is evident how he wants to play. Vlaar is typically Dutch, his goal at Wigwam with the technique... pure class.
He signs a fast, quick ball playing centre half who is nobled by the footballing Gods. I think it is evident how he wants to play. Vlaar is typically Dutch, his goal at Wigwam with the technique... pure class.
The phrasing you use is particularly amusing to me, because when we signed him I asked a Dutch friend what he's like and he said 'he's not a typical Dutch player.' Now, he still has better technique by miles than your average English centre back and I think Lambert does want to play that way, but I thought your phrasing was uncannily wrong.
I've said over and over again I think he wants us to play good stuff. I just think he doesn't know how to.
He signs a fast, quick ball playing centre half who is nobled by the footballing Gods. I think it is evident how he wants to play. Vlaar is typically Dutch, his goal at Wigwam with the technique... pure class.
The phrasing you use is particularly amusing to me, because when we signed him I asked a Dutch friend what he's like and he said 'he's not a typical Dutch player.' Now, he still has better technique by miles than your average English centre back and I think Lambert does want to play that way, but I thought your phrasing was uncannily wrong.
I've said over and over again I think he wants us to play good stuff. I just think he doesn't know how to.
Maybe he can't, but I would say that we should wait until he actually has access to a creative midfielder or two before making a definitive judgement on that.
He signs a fast, quick ball playing centre half who is nobled by the footballing Gods. I think it is evident how he wants to play. Vlaar is typically Dutch, his goal at Wigwam with the technique... pure class.
The phrasing you use is particularly amusing to me, because when we signed him I asked a Dutch friend what he's like and he said 'he's not a typical Dutch player.' Now, he still has better technique by miles than your average English centre back and I think Lambert does want to play that way, but I thought your phrasing was uncannily wrong.
I've said over and over again I think he wants us to play good stuff. I just think he doesn't know how to.
Maybe he can't, but I would say that we should wait until he actually has access to a creative midfielder or two before making a definitive judgement on that.
I don't think that the style he seems to want to play is defined by attacking midfielders. I think it's made or broken by them, but not built on them. It's built on players we already have, Westwood-types, Delph-types, and Lambert has shown no signs of knowing how to get players to move off the ball in a way balanced between improvisation and planned positioning - it's just all free-wheeling chaos.
It's starting to get precarious and we don't look like scoring many either. Plus the defence is looking ropey at the moment.
There's little between 17th and 12th. What we don't want to be, is the team at the bottom of this pack that one of the bottom 3 looks to latch on to.
That said, Fulham will struggle to win another 2-3 games (if that). Cardiff are abysmal and Sunderland, though they have 3 games in hand on the other bottom 2, have tough games.
Mind you, barring a change in management and attitude from Lerner and Faulkner, we [will] be a good bet to go down next season.
Sunderland? 9 points off us and have a ridiculous run of away games. They could still survive but not at our expense.
Sunderland? 9 points off us and have a ridiculous run of away games. They could still survive but not at our expense.
They've got some awful away games, you're right. They've got two games in hand, mind.
I think if the season had another two games on top of what there is left to play, we'd go down. Our current form is just so abysmal and there's no Benteke.
How long will it take to the board and to certain fans to realise that this manager is bringing us to the hell? It is inconceivable, he should have been sacked three monts sgo, at least!
I stuck a fiver on us to go down when Benteke got injured, at 50/1. Just checked Betfair and it's now 10/1.
Hopefully Randy will push the same panic button as the bookies.
Fulham beat Norwich at home and we lose and it's a gap of four points this time next week. It may start getting squeaky. We are the team in free fall at the moment.
How long will it take to the board and to certain fans to realise that this manager is bringing us to the hell? It is inconceivable, he should have been sacked three monts sgo, at least!
12 months ago
How long will it take to the board and to certain fans to realise that this manager is bringing us to the hell? It is inconceivable, he should have been sacked three monts sgo, at least!
12 months ago
I think we'll get draws with Hull and Swansea and that'll be it for the season in terms of points added. It will be just about enough. I think Palace will beat us, they've been pretty efficient and well drilled under Pulis and I suspect that will continue. He'll be able to outwit Lambert with consumate ease. And this is Pulis we're talking about too.
I think we'll get draws with Hull and Swansea and that'll be it for the season in terms of points added. It will be just about enough. I think Palace will beat us, they've been pretty efficient and well drilled under Pulis and I suspect that will continue. He'll be able to outwit Lambert with consumate ease. And this is Pulis we're talking about too.
Palace will absolute thrash us. We lose to spineless shit like Fulham twice. I was 8 months old when Fulham last won in the League at Villa Park
Fulham beat Norwich at home and we lose and it's a gap of four points this time next week. It may start getting squeaky. We are the team in free fall at the moment.
As much as Norwich? If they do lose to Fulham (which I think they will) they'll be at least two points plus a much (irrecoverable) goal difference down on us with four games to go: Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal.
Though at 40-1 for us to go down it's still a little tempting! I think we'll lose our next two (Palace and Southampton) - in fact I feel certain of it. But I reckon we might get a 1-2 points from Swansea and Hull (heady days!) so we still should just about be ok.
I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Easy to find out if we've improved and by how much, compare last season's points total with this one's although i expect some will choose to use league placings instead.
League placing is surely the best guide for how you have done in comparison to everyone else. Winning the league with fewer points than the team who won it the previous year doesn't make it any less of an achievement.I don't think we are in a relegation battle and I don't think we have been at any point this season.
To be revisited after: Fulham at home, Palace away and Hull at home. The pessemist in me refuses to lie down until we have 40 points on the board (ok this season 37 could be enough).
Its hard to believe that I am responding to Ads about the exact same topic we discussed this time last season - do you honestly think we have moved on or improved (albeit slightly) from last season?
I fail to see any improvement whatsoever and the "quality" of football on offer at home has been dire. For that very reason I will not be renewing- the owner and CEO don`t seem to bother - why should I? OK the Villa are in my DNA but there comes a tipping point and I appear to have reached mine.
Having said that I have "fallen out of love" with football in general for so many reasons - looks like I will be spending more time in the garden in future !!!
Whatever way you look at it though just scrapeing past 40 points each season isn't exactly going to get us even competiting for 8th anytime soon is it?
In fairness we've been mid table pretty much all season, our results reflect this. Anytime we've started to drop down the table our results have suddenly picked up (look at the 7 points from Sunderland, Liverpool and WBA after the awful xmas run and the two wins v Norwich and Chelsea after 1 point from WHam, Cardiff and Newcastle).
But we have failed to kick on every single time and that seems to be a problem with the manager.
Sunderland? 9 points off us and have a ridiculous run of away games. They could still survive but not at our expense.
They've got some awful away games, you're right. They've got two games in hand, mind.
I think if the season had another two games on top of what there is left to play, we'd go down. Our current form is just so abysmal and there's no Benteke.
I think that 36 will be the line. Which side of it we are going to be on is a flip of a coin. Point next week at Palace, and a point at home to Hull might see us safe. But we have got a couple of real beatings still left to come.
Beat Hull, Swansea and Palace, draws with Spurs and Southampton.
Can anyone honestly see us getting another point? I can't. We are in free fall.
Can anyone honestly see us getting another point? I can't. We are in free fall.
What are the odds of us getting relegated at White Hart Lane on the last day of the season ,like some other club we know did . The way we are playing and the injuries we are getting,it becomes more and more possibleWe're a best-priced 40-1 to go down.
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
I would be amazed if we got no more points.
I don't think we'll go on any sort of great run of form, but I don't think any team in the league is going to lose every single game that they play from now until the end of the season. I reckon even Norwich with their horrible run in might scrape another point.
That kind of thing doesn't really happen.
I know we'll take this until Hull at home. If we are lucky, three teams will have fallen short of the required points by then...one thing is for sure - we won't get clear ourselves.Cue Shane Long taking us apart to leave us needing to win at Tottenham. That game is intended to be a party but it could be a wake!
' we won't go down only because there are 3 worse teams than us '
Why do people write that bilge, that's how the league system works,
The worst teams are at the bottom and they go down, because err..... They are the worst
Even as bad as we are, if everyone above us were shitter than us we would win the league
It's utter nonsense
I see what you mean, but if it's used as an indictment of how poor we are and not as a description of how a league system works, I think it's a fair enough point. We aren't actually good enough to ensure our own safety, particularly on current form, so we have to rely on others to do it for us. The worst team is at the very bottom of the table and outplayed and beat us yesterday.
I can't see another win this season - we will not reach 41 points, so won't surpass last season's tally. We played well in April last year. but awful now.
So Norwich have fired Hughton and replaced him with some youth team boss...I recognise the name, is he an ex players of theirs? (Neil Adams).
I think they're done if the lose at Fulham personally so not sure if this will help them or not as they're a very poor team in reality.
Shame their board hate Lambert now as we could send him back there.
' we won't go down only because there are 3 worse teams than us '
Why do people write that bilge, that's how the league system works,
The worst teams are at the bottom and they go down, because err..... They are the worst
Even as bad as we are, if everyone above us were shitter than us we would win the league
It's utter nonsense
' we won't go down only because there are 3 worse teams than us '
Why do people write that bilge, that's how the league system works,
The worst teams are at the bottom and they go down, because err..... They are the worst
Even as bad as we are, if everyone above us were shitter than us we would win the league
It's utter nonsense
I think what they mean is that we are lucky that the standard is so poor. Ie in an 'average' season, we are so useless we'd be relegated but as there are some unusually shit teams this year we are likely to be ok.
The Blues comparison is very worrying actually. When they had 6 games left in 2011 they were 14th, 5 points clear of the bottom with a game in hand, only -10 goal difference.
They then managed only one point from the last 6 games and went down....
The Blues comparison is very worrying actually. When they had 6 games left in 2011 they were 14th, 5 points clear of the bottom with a game in hand, only -10 goal difference.
They then managed only one point from the last 6 games and went down....
...which means Norwich and West Brom should be worried (and they've only five games left, I think.)
Need spurs to win tonight I'm afraid just to give us a bit more of a gap over sunderland in case they get a few good results
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
next season it may be more appropriate to follow 3 shit teams all season from the start . there is more hope than following Villa
I am getting really tired of wanting top half teams like Spurs to beat our relegation rivals every season.
Christ, we used to BE one of those top half teams for gods sake.
There used to be a time when we would be cheering for Sunderland as we would be hoping to leapfrog Spurs in the table.
Dammit, I hate this small time relegation battle shite.
I am getting really tired of wanting top half teams like Spurs to beat our relegation rivals every season.
Christ, we used to BE one of those top half teams for gods sake.
There used to be a time when we would be cheering for Sunderland as we would be hoping to leapfrog Spurs in the table.
Dammit, I hate this small time relegation battle shite.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
It does highlight just how much of a weakened team we had to field though. I think most sides other than Man City would find it difficult with so many important players missing.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
It does highlight just how much of a weakened team we had to field though. I think most sides other than Man City would find it difficult with so many important players missing.
Whilst that's true, you could also argue that it doesn't excuse the games where we've lost with a near full strength team out.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
It does highlight just how much of a weakened team we had to field though. I think most sides other than Man City would find it difficult with so many important players missing.
Whilst that's true, you could also argue that it doesn't excuse the games where we've lost with a near full strength team out.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
It does highlight just how much of a weakened team we had to field though. I think most sides other than Man City would find it difficult with so many important players missing.
Has anyone seen the facebook post which suggests that the squad last Sat averaged £700k per player? About £12.6m in total.
I saw that although it was an easy thing to put up when we had 7 players missing.
Nor did it include Benteke.
It does highlight just how much of a weakened team we had to field though. I think most sides other than Man City would find it difficult with so many important players missing.
So what's the excuse for the other 9 home defeats?
I don't think we'll get 10th now.
Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
I am not too sure we are going to survive. At this point of the season it is about momentum as much as anything, and we have just lost four games in a row - games we'd have expected to get something from mostlyNew manager bounce?
It doesn't really matter though as unless something major changes it will happen next season or they one after.
We have become a shinier more famous Wigan staving off the drop increasingly desperately.
A total shambles from top to bottom.
The trouble is I can see a combination of the above more likely than us getting any more points unless something changes.Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
I so hope you are correct.
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
My question is always the same. How long will it take to some of our mates to acknowledge that we are in the hands of a clueless man that is driving us straight to hell?
I can not understand how the legendary claret and blue army can remain so supine.
In Italy fans would have done the revolution and the so said manager would have been sacked 5 months ago. . .
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
The vast majority of us were happy when Lambert got the job, you can't rewrite history on that front, no matter how much it suits your argument.
The fact is that, since then, his performance has been way way short of what is acceptable. Anyone can see that. Suggesting he was in some way not met with almost total approval when he came is untrue.
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
The vast majority of us were happy when Lambert got the job, you can't rewrite history on that front, no matter how much it suits your argument.
The fact is that, since then, his performance has been way way short of what is acceptable. Anyone can see that. Suggesting he was in some way not met with almost total approval when he came is untrue.
Not every Villa fan was dancing with delight when he was appointed you know.
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
The vast majority of us were happy when Lambert got the job, you can't rewrite history on that front, no matter how much it suits your argument.
The fact is that, since then, his performance has been way way short of what is acceptable. Anyone can see that. Suggesting he was in some way not met with almost total approval when he came is untrue.
Not every Villa fan was dancing with delight when he was appointed you know.
Yes, I know, which is why i didn't say that.
I'm sure you saw this coming a mile off, so award yourself a gold star and slap yourself on the back, but if you think he didn't have "almost" total approval, then you've not got a very good memory.
He managed to have approximately 90 percent approval at the end of last season, too.
Welcome to Villa Park NVM. May the good times roll!
I'm also going to go on record and say i'm not 100% convinced by him, but I hope i'm so wrong and regardless, he's a million times better than OVM!
Just out of curiosity SH, was there anyone you fancied back then? Were you in the OGS camp for example?Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
The vast majority of us were happy when Lambert got the job, you can't rewrite history on that front, no matter how much it suits your argument.
The fact is that, since then, his performance has been way way short of what is acceptable. Anyone can see that. Suggesting he was in some way not met with almost total approval when he came is untrue.
Not every Villa fan was dancing with delight when he was appointed you know.
Yes, I know, which is why i didn't say that.
I'm sure you saw this coming a mile off, so award yourself a gold star and slap yourself on the back, but if you think he didn't have "almost" total approval, then you've not got a very good memory.
He managed to have approximately 90 percent approval at the end of last season, too.
Not from me he didn't.
Same for me, Richard.
George Bernard Shaw wrote that only cows never change their mind.
At least at a certain moment (6 months ago as far as I am concerned) we realized that we were wrong. I wonder how long will it take to the others.
I was one of the vast majority who was happy with his appointment. I bought into the idea of young, hungry players, attacking, entertaining football.
It seems, as it will for most of those who welcome Lambo's appointment, that I overestimated his talent, and furthermore he's failed to deliver on his promises for the most part.
I suppose there weren't a whole heap of options around at the time either. Had we genuinely harboured hopes of getting Rodgers for example, I'd have wanted him over Lambert undoubtedly.Same for me, Richard.
George Bernard Shaw wrote that only cows never change their mind.
At least at a certain moment (6 months ago as far as I am concerned) we realized that we were wrong. I wonder how long will it take to the others.
Me too my friend. We shall leave it there I think ;-) !!!
Lerner has mad some bad appointments but the majority wanted lambert. I think we can excuse him that one. Very worrying who will be appointed next though.
Egg on face with martinez
Just because a bunch of away fans sung Lambert's name at Norwich doesn't mean the whole fan base wanted him nor does it mean we should stick by him. At least 2 managers we know of turned down the job, and that has to be because of Lerner and his budget for the new manager.
Lerner is the problem.
The vast majority of us were happy when Lambert got the job, you can't rewrite history on that front, no matter how much it suits your argument.
The fact is that, since then, his performance has been way way short of what is acceptable. Anyone can see that. Suggesting he was in some way not met with almost total approval when he came is untrue.
Not every Villa fan was dancing with delight when he was appointed you know.
Yes, I know, which is why i didn't say that.
I'm sure you saw this coming a mile off, so award yourself a gold star and slap yourself on the back, but if you think he didn't have "almost" total approval, then you've not got a very good memory.
He managed to have approximately 90 percent approval at the end of last season, too.
Not from me he didn't.
I was one of the vast majority who was happy with his appointment. I bought into the idea of young, hungry players, attacking, entertaining football.
It seems, as it will for most of those who welcome Lambo's appointment, that I overestimated his talent, and furthermore he's failed to deliver on his promises for the most part.
I really bought into it after a couple of months, even when we were shit I could keep seeing glimpses of something and stuck by him 100%. At times we scored some of the best goals and played some of the best football since the mid 90s. Been very little sign of any of it this season.
We found a way that had us playing pretty effectively. Even so, our Feb-May results were only mid-table level. We played nice stuff at times of course. However Lambert got worked out pretty quickly this season. Teams get wise to you if you only have one way of playing. This season has been mostly a shambles. Half our wins have been incredibly fortunate too.I was one of the vast majority who was happy with his appointment. I bought into the idea of young, hungry players, attacking, entertaining football.
It seems, as it will for most of those who welcome Lambo's appointment, that I overestimated his talent, and furthermore he's failed to deliver on his promises for the most part.
I really bought into it after a couple of months, even when we were shit I could keep seeing glimpses of something and stuck by him 100%. At times we scored some of the best goals and played some of the best football since the mid 90s. Been very little sign of any of it this season.
I thought there were plenty of positives last season, despite the poor results, and despite the fact that people tend to see last year as being like the last quarter of it, which was good, whereas prior to that it was considerably less impressive.
Despite all that, there were positives, we were making progress.
This year, though, it has been pathetic, we've gone backwards and the results have been dreadful.
We are 4 points above the drop-zone. I think we ARE teetering on the edge.
Probably why Paulie said vast majority rather than everyone. I wasn't exactly thrilled when he was appointed.
Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
Despite how shit we are we won't drop. To catch us
Sunderland need at least 9 points from away Chavski, Citeh and Manure, home Cardiff, Bitter, Swansea. And they currently have 1 point in their last 8 games.
Cardiff need at least 6 points from home, Stoke & Chavski, away Sunderland & Newcastle. They've won 3 of their last 18.
Fulham, are one that could catch us, but they still need at least 5 points from Spurs and Stoke away, Hull Palace home.
Norwich need (barring a big GD swing) 3 points from Liverpool & Arsenal (home), Manure & Chavski (away).
So i'm confident we'll stay up, i'm also as sure as I can be we'll win at least one game before the end of the season, but I repeat, it's just not sodding good enough to be in this position again
Sunderland could well win there home games (9pts).
Cardiff could well beat Stoke at home and either one of Sunderland or Newcastle away (6pts).
Fulham could well catch us with there run in (hull & palace at home 4pts and stoke away 1pt).
I don't see Norwicjh picking up more than a point at home to probably Arsenal.
Where that would leave us if the above happened, Christ knows?
I'm scared to look..
I find it astonishing that we're still not being talked about as relegation candidates by the press. At the moment, I would go as far as saying we're one of the favourites.
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
But then I find myself thinking we look like we won't take another point this season.
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
But then I find myself thinking we look like we won't take another point this season.
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
But then I find myself thinking we look like we won't take another point this season.
True but surely you can apply that logic to Norwich given they themselves actually lost to Fulham aswell, we battered them a few weeks back and they have a far harder run in than we do?
Or is the case of being instantly a million times harder on your own team than opposition you just watch highlights on?
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
But then I find myself thinking we look like we won't take another point this season.
True but surely you can apply that logic to Norwich given they themselves actually lost to Fulham aswell, we battered them a few weeks back and they have a far harder run in than we do?
Or is the case of being instantly a million times harder on your own team than opposition you just watch highlights on?
You're probably right, but I just wish we'd do something to help ourselves rather than bobbing around so rudderlessly as we are.
We are in freefall.
Our only hope is that Norwich lose all the remaining games, that are very difficult for the canaries, against the top teams.
There would be a miracle. . .
Not that I'm a happy Villa fan right now BUT it must be said we are still above the Baggies and Swansea also... We're 4 points clear with a game in hand. It's extremely unlikely that we'll go down.
But then I find myself thinking we look like we won't take another point this season.
As poor as we are, I just can't get my head around us losing 9 games on the trot
I think it is no points from the last 4 games which included Sturke Palace and Fulham that has got a lot of us scared. I don't think anybody thought our points total would be 0
I think it is no points from the last 4 games which included Sturke Palace and Fulham that has got a lot of us scared. I don't think anybody thought our points total would be 0
Even the most pessimistic fan would have suggested one win amongst that lot. Certainly you'd have been pretty bold to have predicted 0 points.
If Lambert wants to try and keep his job, whether that is possible is another point, but surely he must looking at 5 points from the next three minimum.
I think it is no points from the last 4 games which included Sturke Palace and Fulham that has got a lot of us scared. I don't think anybody thought our points total would be 0
Even the most pessimistic fan would have suggested one win amongst that lot. Certainly you'd have been pretty bold to have predicted 0 points.
My concern is that if we play like we have played against Stoke, Fulham and Palace, every Premier League team can beat us easily.
I count more on the fact the Norwich must face 4 very difficult games in which they will struggle to make more that one point.
Very sad the we, the once mighty Villa, are reduced in these conditions to have to count on the opponents disgraces, but this is the actual situation.
Even since times under Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish came to the forefront I was convinced that we were not going to get relegated. Even last season under Paul Lambert I just knew we were going to be safe. This season, though, I am no longer quite so sure. Please prove me wrong.
What is our record number of consecutive league defeats? Could be in danger...
Good news that Hull made the FA Cup final, with any luck they will send their reserves out at Villa Park and we'll scrape a point.
If Lambert wants to try and keep his job, whether that is possible is another point, but surely he must looking at 5 points from the next three minimum.
Even since times under Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeish came to the forefront I was convinced that we were not going to get relegated. Even last season under Paul Lambert I just knew we were going to be safe. This season, though, I am no longer quite so sure. Please prove me wrong.
I still stand by my opening post but just recently am getting even more worried as each match goes by. I will also add that IF we stop up this year I really fear for us next season if nothing changes on either the playing side or at managerial/boardroom level.
Yesterday I received an NHS text from my Doctors practice. I think they are trying to help.
"A temporary Walk-in Centre will be open at:
Chelmsley Wood Primary Care Centre, Crabtree Drive, Chelmsley Wood B37 5BU.
9am to 6pm (No appointment needed) Saturday 19th April / Sunday 20th April / Monday 21st April.
m89027.admin@nhs.net"
Yesterday I received an NHS text from my Doctors practice. I think they are trying to help.
"A temporary Walk-in Centre will be open at:
Chelmsley Wood Primary Care Centre, Crabtree Drive, Chelmsley Wood B37 5BU.
9am to 6pm (No appointment needed) Saturday 19th April / Sunday 20th April / Monday 21st April.
m89027.admin@nhs.net"
Are they dispensing morphine?
Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar sounds relegation warning after fourth loss in a row
"This isnt the sort of excitement we wanted at the end of a season" admits skipper as Benteke-less Villans face nervy run-in
Apr 13, 2014 22:30 By Mike Walters
Once upon a time in the Midlands, there was a club everyone considered too big to go down.
When fans moaned after a record 10th home defeat in one campaign, the manager advised them to take a reality check.
But it did not solve the basic problem: Aston Villa are not very good.
And after the Villans dabble with relegation lurched towards full-blown crisis with a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace, skipper Ron Vlaar admitted: This isnt the sort of excitement we wanted at the end of a season.
After four defeats in a row, and with talisman Christian Benteke crocked, the fans are turning on boss Paul Lambert and unfurling banners about Villas dearth of ambition.
We assumed they were safe as houses after they beat Chelsea and wiped the pout from Jose Mourinhos face last month.
But at the corrugated fortress of Selhurst Park, Villa were so poor their escape tunnel from the stalag would have surfaced in the exercise yard under the commandants nose.
Honest Vlaars rallying call was not just a timely reminder to wake up and smell the coffee - it was a double shot of espresso.
He said: We need to realise the situation were in and stick together. Results havent gone our way in the last three weeks and we need the fans behind us.
Weve lost four in a row since we beat Chelsea. We have to stop the sequence and change it around as soon as possible.
The gap is down to four points, the bottom threere not far behind us and we realise were going to need more points.
I know, and I believe, were capable of getting the results we need. Everyone says one more win will do it, but a lot of teams below us won today suddenly its all squeezed together down there and we have to realise where we are.
I can understand the fans frustration. They feel it the same as us, but we need to stick together now. This isnt the sort of excitement you want at the end of a season, and we would have preferred to make life easier for ourselves, but the reality is different.
We have the quality to turn it around, but have to earn the right to change our fortune in the games. We worked hard here and know everything good starts with hard work.
Of course the injury to Christian Benteke does not help, and it is worst of all for the player himself, but we have to deal with that, take responsibility and not use it as an excuse.
As a team, weve come through a tough situation last season and Ive every confidence we can get through it again, but everyone must fight for it starting next week against Southampton.
If Villa cant scramble a win in their next three games, the last two are against Manchester City and Tottenham. Surely Lambert is not going to escort his former club Norwich below stairs... is he?
Palace are just about safe now after Jason Puncheons 76th-minute winner, celebrated by Damien Delaney, and goalkeeper Julian Speronis terrific late save to deny Villa sub Andi Weimann an undeserved equaliser.
All I can say is 'fuck me, it's depressing to be in this situation....AGAIN!'At least we have a progressive manager...
Norwich need a miracle. Cannot see them getting another win. Arsenal at home could be key for them, particularly if Everton have pulled the gunners trousers down and mathematically nabbed their fourth spot already. Arse players may well then sleepwalk the last game with the FA Cup in mind. Conversely, if Arsenal have sewn up 4th spot by this point, the same might apply.
Based on his previous games against them, I'd expect that Liverpool could field Suarez on his own and that would be enough to dispatch Norwich.Norwich need a miracle. Cannot see them getting another win. Arsenal at home could be key for them, particularly if Everton have pulled the gunners trousers down and mathematically nabbed their fourth spot already. Arse players may well then sleepwalk the last game with the FA Cup in mind. Conversely, if Arsenal have sewn up 4th spot by this point, the same might apply.
Could see Naarwich getting at least a point against Liverpool, just can't see the Redscouse's run continuing.
My concern is that if we play like we have played against Stoke, Fulham and Palace, every Premier League team can beat us easily.
I count more on the fact the Norwich must face 4 very difficult games in which they will struggle to make more that one point.
Very sad the we, the once mighty Villa, are reduced in these conditions to have to count on the opponents disgraces, but this is the actual situation.
Des I am really losing patience with you. Two pages back you said 2 points and now it's 1. Please tell me the truth as my nerves are at breakdown point?
If there is any beauty in a relegation scrap Im feeling far too stressed to see it. F*ck beauty I just want it to end!Des I am really losing patience with you. Two pages back you said 2 points and now it's 1. Please tell me the truth as my nerves are at breakdown point?
I'm sorry. The truth is I don't know. Who does? That's the beauty of a relegation scrap.
I agree 3 is the number.
I agree 3 is the number.
Then shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Eleven of Aston towards thy foe, who being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.
iv'e done my own failsafe system on the relegation battle, and can confirm that the three to go down will be -
Cardiff
Norwich
Sunderland
iv'e done my own failsafe system on the relegation battle, and can confirm that the three to go down will be -
Cardiff
Norwich
Sunderland
Just how failsafe is failsafe though John?
iv'e done my own failsafe system on the relegation battle, and can confirm that the three to go down will be -
Cardiff
Norwich
Sunderland
Just how failsafe is failsafe though John?
trust me, its failsafe
iv'e done my own failsafe system on the relegation battle, and can confirm that the three to go down will be -
Cardiff
Norwich
Sunderland
Just how failsafe is failsafe though John?
trust me, its failsafe
Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo?
It beats my technique. I put the names of all the teams on a dart board, blindfolded myself and threw the darts. I wouldn't call it fail-safe though.iv'e done my own failsafe system on the relegation battle, and can confirm that the three to go down will be -
Cardiff
Norwich
Sunderland
Just how failsafe is failsafe though John?
trust me, its failsafe
Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo?
Rumbled
So Sunderland get a point no one expected. Is this the beginning of their revival?
So Sunderland get a point no one expected. Is this the beginning of their revival?
So Sunderland get a point no one expected. Is this the beginning of their revival?
No.
They so nearly won, and to be honest, having watched the whole match, I think it would have been a fair result, but that's it for them, really. Their situation is just so awful, there's no escaping that. Three unlikely points tonight would have given them at least a straw to grab, but without that, they're done for.
Good thing is Sunderland still have to play Cardiff. I fail to see how the loser of that game can actually finish above us, both will be down if it's an unlikely draw.
Lee Hendrie: Villa need investment or they will be relegated
The former Holte End star reckons his old club need to spend big to avoid the drop...if they survive this season
Apr 17, 2014 17:00 By Brian Dick
Villa hero Lee Hendrie fears his former team could be relegated next season unless there is investment over the summer.
The ex-midfielder says he is baffled by Villas home form and while he isnt overly critical of Paul Lamberts management he concedes the club have gone backwards under the Scot.
But he says a lack of funding from owner Randy Lerner means Villa are forced to field young players. who struggle to cope with the pressure of playing at Villa Park .
Having come through the ranks to make more than 250 appearances, the 36-year-old identifies with the expectation of appearing in front of some of the countrys largest crowds.
More than 30,000 will turn up again tomorrow as Villa take on Southampton in what could be a pivotal match in Lamberts tenure.
Having lost their last four matches, Villa have slipped to within four points of the drop zone and after a week of off-field upheaval, the pressure on those youngsters will be greater than at any stage in their careers.
And Hendrie wants those youngsters to given help if Villa are to break the cycle of scratching around the bottom of the league in an annual search of enough end-of-season points to stay up.
Do we blame Lambert? I dont know. Do we need more money? The clubs at the top end of the market are slowly drifting away from us, he said.
Your Tottenhams are spending a few quid and trying to get into Europe. I think we are on par with the likes of those clubs its just how much money you get to spend in the transfer window and whether Randy Lerner is willing to throw a few quid at it. Which doesnt seem to be the case.
I think you have got some great young players, Ash [Westwood], Delph, Benteke, we have got some good players and if you add four or five to them we are back with a fighting chance of getting back into Europe.
Without three or four players I think we are going to struggle again and each year teams are progressing and getting stronger and stronger.
Thats why we are ending up down the pecking order where we could end up finishing fourth or fifth from bottom. Thats not Aston Villa.
Aston Villa are mid-table-upwards and for whatever reason it just hasnt happened. I can see them getting caught short one year.
I think if we dont do something for next season I think we are going to end up getting caught. Now teams are starting to win, which is a little bit too late for some of them. We have had a lucky escape. [And] Last year we did.
Hendrie was speaking as host of the Footiebugs Golf Day at Edgbaston Golf Club, a fund-raiser for Cure Leukaemia. He was supported by current pros Ashley Westwood, Peter Crouch, James Morrison and Liam Ridgewell.
In my opinion there is zero chance we will finish the season with 9 straight defeats. Although if we somehow managed to be that spectacularly shit we'd deserve to go down.
In my opinion there is zero chance we will finish the season with 9 straight defeats. Although if we somehow managed to be that spectacularly shit we'd deserve to go down.
Even then we still might not. But yes, I think there's at least a couple of draws to come, maybe a couple of wins. However, in my view that still shouldn't save Lambert, as it would be a regression on last season's points total.
I can actually see us winning our next 3 games now
we're more than capable of getting no points from our remaining games and I wouldn't rule out a goal-difference shattering humping from Man City & Spurs so my sphincter will remain on twitch duty for a few weeks yet
I can actually see us winning our next 3 games now
That's either the most staggering piece of optimism or you've begun the weekend early with a few light ales.
Statistically speaking ....
There are 6 teams below us, we need 3 of them to stay below us. No-one has games in hand on us. We have advantadges of respectively 1,1,2,4,5 and 8 points over them. We have the second best goal difference, although that could close.
Teams at the bottom rarely accrue more than 1.5 pts a game average (of those below us I would see only Fulham being capable of exceeding that).
So to throw it away we would I summise have to :
a) Get less than 3 points total from 5 games - so only 2 draws.
b) 3 other teams would need to get 37 or more points :
- Swansea - probably
- Baggies - possibly
- Norwich - never
- Fulham - very difficult, away at Spurs , Sat at 12.45
- Cardiff - no chance
Sunderland - no chance
By Sat 5pm, we could be statistically safe.
By the way, the best relegation escape in the Premier League years was I think West Ham under Redknapp about 1997, 21 points from 9 games. No-one else has ever exceeded 2 points average to get out of the bottom spots.
we're more than capable of getting no points from our remaining games and I wouldn't rule out a goal-difference shattering humping from Man City & Spurs so my sphincter will remain on twitch duty for a few weeks yet
Absolutely. I see this more likely than us managing two wins if more. We are much more adept at losing, we've got really good at it.
My concern is that we have not got a proven goal scorer and therefore will not pick up another win. I think Norwich and Sunderland will go but can see the others picking up some points in their games unlike us. They are all scoring and picking up points now . I really hope I'm wrong but can't see past us finishing third from bottom
I can't really see who's going to score goals for us and we don't seem capable of keeping a clean sheet. My hopes are all resting on the other sides not doing it
I hope people don't panic if we lose today as I fully expect to!
Looking forward to this thread being closed after the game today. We are going to win, ladies and gentlemen.
Cardiff worry me more than Norwich
It would take a huge tornado of results to relegate us from here
It would take a huge tornado of results to relegate us from here
Do you mean like Sunderland currently winning at Chav$ki?
It was a crucial point today. Now suddenly Norwich need to win one game from their run in from hell and also take a point from another game as their GD is inferior to us so a fluke win for them won't be enough for them.
I'd like Sunderland to stay up tbh. Good fans and a rare team we actually still regularly beat. I can see people worried with their win but surely to stay up they'll need to beat Cardiff and WBA at home?
If they beat Cardiff, then Cardiff would need to win their last two and hope we didn't pick up another point. And WBA would be stuck on 33 with Man, City and Arsenal away still to play and running out of games to overtake us.
And there's still Fulham needing to win 2/3 to overtake us which is not set in stone given the form Palace are in.
I think that point today has kept us up, it was all that was needed.
Remaining games for the teams below us.
Sunderland: Cardiff, West Brom, Man Utd, Swansea (need 2 wins and a draw to catch us)
Fulham: Hull, Stoke, Crystal Palace (need 2 wins & a draw)
Cardiff: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea (need 2 wins & a draw)
Norwich: Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal (need 1 win & a draw)
West Brom: Man City, Sunderland, Man City, West Ham, Arsenal, Stoke (need 1 win or 2 draws)
I can't see Sunderland catching us, if they do, it means they'll have most likely done it at the expense of West Brom & Cardiff. Fulham or Cardiff might do enough to catch us, but it would mean them and Norwich putting an unlikely run together and I can't see that happening.
I think that point today was vital.
It was a crucial point today. Now suddenly Norwich need to win one game from their run in from hell and also take a point from another game as their GD is inferior to us so a fluke win for them won't be enough for them.
I'd like Sunderland to stay up tbh. Good fans and a rare team we actually still regularly beat. I can see people worried with their win but surely to stay up they'll need to beat Cardiff and WBA at home?
If they beat Cardiff, then Cardiff would need to win their last two and hope we didn't pick up another point. And WBA would be stuck on 33 with Man, City and Arsenal away still to play and running out of games to overtake us.
And there's still Fulham needing to win 2/3 to overtake us which is not set in stone given the form Palace are in.
I think that point today has kept us up, it was all that was needed.
West Brom have west ham next weekend at home though....
No need to be nervous. 3 teams at the bottom have played very well in the last few games getting some surprising results however we are still 5 possibly 6 point clear and games are running out. Don't like our position but it will be equivalent of hell freezing over to get us relegated.It would take a huge tornado of results to relegate us from here
Do you mean like Sunderland currently winning at Chav$ki?
I'm really starting to get nervous. There's just the feeling that everyone we play is better than us.
Remaining games for the teams below us.
Sunderland: Cardiff, West Brom, Man Utd, Swansea (need 2 wins and a draw to catch us)
Fulham: Hull, Stoke, Crystal Palace (need 2 wins & a draw)
Cardiff: Sunderland, Newcastle, Chelsea (need 2 wins & a draw)
Norwich: Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal (need 1 win & a draw)
West Brom: Man City, Sunderland, Man City, West Ham, Arsenal, Stoke (need 1 win or 2 draws)
I can't see Sunderland catching us, if they do, it means they'll have most likely done it at the expense of West Brom & Cardiff. Fulham or Cardiff might do enough to catch us, but it would mean them and Norwich putting an unlikely run together and I can't see that happening.
I think that point today was vital.
I think we still need another point to ensure this is accurate.
Can someone in authority please confirm we can't go down
To all the doom mongers, go to the Bookies and put a bet on a) Cardiff winning their last 3 games, b) Norwich winning two of their last 4, c) Fulham to win 2/3, Sunderland to win 3/4 (if you count them losing to Cardiff but beating Man. United) and d) us to lose all our games..........................and you'd probably have enough winnings to buyout Lerner. ;)Well we are only 16/1 to go down
Sunderland have picked up 4 points this week.just shows anything is possible for any team apart from.......Aston villa
Hull is the game we will pick up the points needed.I think Mr Bruce will want to put one over on us
We could get relegated if everything goes against us.No that's impossible as teams below us play each other so everything can not go against us.
Why? (has asks with incredulity dancing all over his face!)Hull is the game we will pick up the points needed.I think Mr Bruce will want to put one over on us
Stay undefeated in the next 2 games and we're home and dry.We need to negotiate a pass ball game with Swansea s 1 point will suit both teams.
Our definitive salvation will come at Swansea I suspect.
I don't get why the Bitters don't get taken more seriously as being deep in the shit. They have Citeh and Arsenal away, West Ham and Stoke at home. They have a truly abysmal record against Stoke going back 20 odd years and have won at home twice in 7 months.
As soon as we say such and such a club are in deep trouble, they pull off a surprising result - look at Sunderland today.
The only club in the bottom six or seven I don't think are capable of such performances are us. Even with the negative affect of Culverhouse and Karsa and the reported positive training session we were absolutely clueless today.
We remain in serious trouble.
I don't saying they are in trouble, and currently more than us, is gloating.
The problem you have now is there is getting less to fight for near the top end.Liverpool should easily wrap up the title now leaving Chelsea concentrating on Champs League and City coasting waiting for the beach.Arsenal and Everton are the ones really fighting it out now.
Sunderland on paper City and Chelsea away should have got nothing on form instead they got 4 points.
Cardiff have gotten points from no where in last 2 games and have to play Newcastle who are on the back of 5 defeats in a row.
I fear we like 4/5 teams are going to go into the last weekend fighting to stay up.
Using that as a point, then surely the teams we have left to face don't have a fat lot to play for either?
Using that as a point, then surely the teams we have left to face don't have a fat lot to play for either?
Using that as a point, then surely the teams we have left to face don't have a fat lot to play for either?
Like Southampton.
Using that as a point, then surely the teams we have left to face don't have a fat lot to play for either?
Like Southampton.
We nicked a point. We just require one more.
Using that as a point, then surely the teams we have left to face don't have a fat lot to play for either?
Like Southampton.
We need to be pretty much safe after the hull game as we never get anything at man city or spurs in the league.
We need to be pretty much safe after the hull game as we never get anything at man city or spurs in the league.
My take on it is that if you can't guarantee safety after games against Southampton, Swansea and Hull, you should expect an uncomfortable end to the season.
Norwich will finish bottom i reckon. Then 3 or 4 sides spread by about 2 points above them.
Fulham have the handiest run-in though.
We need to be pretty much safe after the hull game as we never get anything at man city or spurs in the league.You mean just as Sunderland got nothing at Mancity and Chelsea?
If we could sneak a win at Swansea and others lose next week we could breathe a bit easier.If we beat Swansea than it really doesn't matter what others do. Sunderland are not going to get 10 points from last 5 or Norwich 7 from last 4.
If we could sneak a win at Swansea and others lose next week we could breathe a bit easier.If we beat Swansea than it really doesn't matter what others do. Sunderland are not going to get 10 points from last 5 or Norwich 7 from last 4.
I see on VT it mentions an article by the Mirror saying C Palace knew our line-up over 2 and a half hours before kick-off....interesting.
I see on VT it mentions an article by the Mirror saying C Palace knew our line-up over 2 and a half hours before kick-off....interesting.
Doesn't this imply that Lambert knew the line up 2 1/2 hours before kick off?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/spygate-ii-how-crystal-palace-3434213
I can't see us scoring again this season . We've scored just 4 in the last 6 games and zero in 2. This season cannot end quickly enough.
I can't see us scoring again this season . We've scored just 4 in the last 6 games and zero in 2. This season cannot end quickly enough.
I can't see us scoring again this season . We've scored just 4 in the last 6 games and zero in 2. This season cannot end quickly enough.
Chill. James Chester defender for Hull has scored two own goals already this season and is tying with Liverpool's Skyrtel & Bardsley at Sunderland. Hopefully on 3rd May he'll put ano in his own net in front of the Holte End in the 94th minute and we'll all be happy.
Yeah, I saw that. He is another piece to get us thinking. I am worried for the first time this season:I am shocked that we are not bottom. Just shows how bad you really have to be to be down there.
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/form-guide.html
Apparently Des these teams at the bottom are now competing with Liverpool and will wash us away in their relentless point gathering march!
Yes you do but Sunderland have to play Cardiff and West Brom so I would welcome them winning both games. We benefit either way.Apparently Des these teams at the bottom are now competing with Liverpool and will wash us away in their relentless point gathering march!
You get some very funny results this time of year. Look at Sunderland yesterday for starters.
I would have been nice if Norwich had got a draw. Liverpool are Champions all bar the fat lady singing. Norwich staying to 32 means the 3 teams below have hope and reason to fight. A draw and 3 points gap, 4 with goal difference, would have killed their spirit with only 3 games to go.
What with injuries, do people think we have the weakest starting 11 in the premiership at the moment? Anyone actually weaker than us?Well Gabby and Weimann means we're pretty much two men short right off the bat, because they do absolutely nothing at the moment. Throw Grant Holt into the equation and there's few more feck awful strike forces at the moment.
Bloody hell there are some miseries on here this morning. Aren't we asking Cardiff, Fulham ans Sunderland to win 2 games to catch us? At this time of the season it's a big ask. I'm the biggest worrier going but we are looking at long odds for circumstances to go that far against us. That said, we simply have to take things into our own hands - if we don't get the 2/3 points we need then we only have ourselves to blame.
I'd wager we have the lowest collective IQ of any team in these fair isles.
And Palace v Villa.Bloody hell there are some miseries on here this morning. Aren't we asking Cardiff, Fulham ans Sunderland to win 2 games to catch us? At this time of the season it's a big ask. I'm the biggest worrier going but we are looking at long odds for circumstances to go that far against us. That said, we simply have to take things into our own hands - if we don't get the 2/3 points we need then we only have ourselves to blame.
You think this is bad?
Just wait till Cardiff-Crystal Palace is replayed...
We will get them in singles, McLeish stylee.Or like Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
Norwich on paper have it tough but if United play how they did today can see Norwich pulling off a result.The only thing I can see Norwich pulling off is some Norfolk pigs!
Or maybe we'll get nothin and go all Chris TavareWe will get them in singles, McLeish stylee.Or like Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
Or Brian Lara, and win all our last games 6-0 :)Or maybe we'll get nothin and go all Chris TavareWe will get them in singles, McLeish stylee.Or like Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
Just hope we stay up so we can get bought out.
Just hope we stay up so we can get bought out.
This is all I'm hoping for too. If not, we'll be right back here this time next season and I fear it'll be one relegation battle too far for us.
Myself and Mrs OzVIlla are currently in Texas visiting family. Driving between Austin and Houston earlier we went through some small town with the motto "Proud past, Stronger future". It just made me go cold at the thought of those numpties that own and run the Club and the mess we are now in.
The quicker we secure our PL future, Lerner sells up and we get some fucking ambition back around the place the better.
Fulham was probably our biggest fuck up regarding safety from relegation this season.
All this talk of take over...remember...be careful what you wish for..!
All this talk of take over...remember...be careful what you wish for..!
All this talk of take over...remember...be careful what you wish for..!
True to an extent but I think the risk is worth it.
After all can any of us see anything other than perpetual relegation battles under the current board and management?
All this talk of take over...remember...be careful what you wish for..!
True to an extent but I think the risk is worth it.
After all can any of us see anything other than perpetual relegation battles under the current board and management?
That's true, but I believe Lerner basically wanted the best for Villa he just messed it up. We don't want someone just trying to make quick money out of us or something.
All this talk of take over...remember...be careful what you wish for..!
True to an extent but I think the risk is worth it.
After all can any of us see anything other than perpetual relegation battles under the current board and management?
That's true, but I believe Lerner basically wanted the best for Villa he just messed it up. We don't want someone just trying to make quick money out of us or something.
I'm still extremely wary of a takeover even after all this terrible football. There have been too many Yeungs, Tans and Gaydamaks to feel entirely comfortable.
Yes I remember that draw we never looked like getting where they scored eight minutes from time!Fulham was probably our biggest fuck up regarding safety from relegation this season.
Agreed, a draw was all we needed. And we never looked like getting it.
Yes I remember that draw we never looked like getting where they scored eight minutes from time!Fulham was probably our biggest fuck up regarding safety from relegation this season.
Agreed, a draw was all we needed. And we never looked like getting it.
I'm still extremely wary of a takeover even after all this terrible football. There have been too many Yeungs, Tans and Gaydamaks to feel entirely comfortable.
True, but none of them spent £200m just to start playing the game.
And any buyers would be buying from someone who'd spent nigh on a quarter of a billion pounds and failed to make it work, so they'd be under no illusions about the cash required.
It'd be telling if we did get taken over by a billionaire for a second time, though, whilst the likes of Everton go totally ignored.
Manure makes money for the owners, its about the only club that does though.
Aston Villa
It really isn't fun being a Villa fan right now. Since May last year they have won consecutive matches on only one occasion, it's now six victories since September and since December alone have suffered defeats to Stoke (twice), Crystal Palace (twice), Manchester United (twice) Fulham (twice), Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. They have also failed to score more than one goal in each of their last six games (and just 3 of their last 21 matches).
What's more, Paul Lambert's side are being dragged into a relegation battle they have been lucky to keep at arm's length given their woeful form. Lose to Swansea on Saturday and they could be two points from relegation with three games remaining, the entire bottom three still able to catch them.
With visits to White Hart Lane and the Etihad in their final two matches, Villa could well be the team dragged into the mire. Given the mind-numbing nature of their football of late, it would be difficult to have too much sympathy.
Do you know, I think with all the bru-ha-ha about takeovers and whatnot, I'd managed to miss just how near we are to disaster! The following is from Football365;QuoteAston Villa
It really isn't fun being a Villa fan right now. Since May last year they have won consecutive matches on only one occasion, it's now six victories since September and since December alone have suffered defeats to Stoke (twice), Crystal Palace (twice), Manchester United (twice) Fulham (twice), Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. They have also failed to score more than one goal in each of their last six games (and just 3 of their last 21 matches).
What's more, Paul Lambert's side are being dragged into a relegation battle they have been lucky to keep at arm's length given their woeful form. Lose to Swansea on Saturday and they could be two points from relegation with three games remaining, the entire bottom three still able to catch them.
With visits to White Hart Lane and the Etihad in their final two matches, Villa could well be the team dragged into the mire. Given the mind-numbing nature of their football of late, it would be difficult to have too much sympathy.
Do you know, I think with all the bru-ha-ha about takeovers and whatnot, I'd managed to miss just how near we are to disaster! The following is from Football365;QuoteAston Villa
It really isn't fun being a Villa fan right now. Since May last year they have won consecutive matches on only one occasion, it's now six victories since September and since December alone have suffered defeats to Stoke (twice), Crystal Palace (twice), Manchester United (twice) Fulham (twice), Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. They have also failed to score more than one goal in each of their last six games (and just 3 of their last 21 matches).
What's more, Paul Lambert's side are being dragged into a relegation battle they have been lucky to keep at arm's length given their woeful form. Lose to Swansea on Saturday and they could be two points from relegation with three games remaining, the entire bottom three still able to catch them.
With visits to White Hart Lane and the Etihad in their final two matches, Villa could well be the team dragged into the mire. Given the mind-numbing nature of their football of late, it would be difficult to have too much sympathy.
What a horrible read. Let's get the win to keep us up then hope we're taken over in the summer. We're all sick to the teeth of reading crap like above.
It's probably best to expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised. I've tried the 'we can't be as bad as we were last week' line but even that doesn't work. We often end up being even worse.
Do you know, I think with all the bru-ha-ha about takeovers and whatnot, I'd managed to miss just how near we are to disaster! The following is from Football365;QuoteAston Villa
It really isn't fun being a Villa fan right now. Since May last year they have won consecutive matches on only one occasion, it's now six victories since September and since December alone have suffered defeats to Stoke (twice), Crystal Palace (twice), Manchester United (twice) Fulham (twice), Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. They have also failed to score more than one goal in each of their last six games (and just 3 of their last 21 matches).
What's more, Paul Lambert's side are being dragged into a relegation battle they have been lucky to keep at arm's length given their woeful form. Lose to Swansea on Saturday and they could be two points from relegation with three games remaining, the entire bottom three still able to catch them.
With visits to White Hart Lane and the Etihad in their final two matches, Villa could well be the team dragged into the mire. Given the mind-numbing nature of their football of late, it would be difficult to have too much sympathy.
I am afraid I not only think we will not win a game but we will not score a goal. I really do believe that without Benteke we are utterly toothless.
I think we'll bore a 0-0 in the Hull and Swansea games, get a twatting from City, and lose in a toothless display to Spurs 2-0.I am afraid I not only think we will not win a game but we will not score a goal. I really do believe that without Benteke we are utterly toothless.
I am struggling to come up with a single argument against this. Without checking, surely Hull are odds-on favourite to beat us? And it has to be worth a few quid to bet we wont score again this season.
I think we'll scrape a 0-0 somewhere and stay up on goal difference.
ManUre win and a nice 0-0 for S-land v Cardiff please.
we'll get at least 4 points from the next 2 games, so fook everyone else's results.
we'll get at least 4 points from the next 2 games, so fook everyone else's results.
Bloody hell!!!! The makers of Football Manager have lost all credibility after simulating us to get NINE points from our last 4 games!!!!!
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/25/football-manager-predicts-how-the-season-will-end
I'm still extremely wary of a takeover even after all this terrible football. There have been too many Yeungs, Tans and Gaydamaks to feel entirely comfortable.
True, but none of them spent £200m just to start playing the game.
And any buyers would be buying from someone who'd spent nigh on a quarter of a billion pounds and failed to make it work, so they'd be under no illusions about the cash required.
It'd be telling if we did get taken over by a billionaire for a second time, though, whilst the likes of Everton go totally ignored.
Bloody hell!!!! The makers of Football Manager have lost all credibility after simulating us to get NINE points from our last 4 games!!!!!
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/25/football-manager-predicts-how-the-season-will-end
I heard once that they were Villa fans though. Don't know how true it is.
I think things are every bit as dire as that, the stats don't lie. Any other season our form would have us relegated.Do you know, I think with all the bru-ha-ha about takeovers and whatnot, I'd managed to miss just how near we are to disaster! The following is from Football365;QuoteAston Villa
It really isn't fun being a Villa fan right now. Since May last year they have won consecutive matches on only one occasion, it's now six victories since September and since December alone have suffered defeats to Stoke (twice), Crystal Palace (twice), Manchester United (twice) Fulham (twice), Sheffield United, West Ham, Newcastle, Arsenal and Everton. They have also failed to score more than one goal in each of their last six games (and just 3 of their last 21 matches).
What's more, Paul Lambert's side are being dragged into a relegation battle they have been lucky to keep at arm's length given their woeful form. Lose to Swansea on Saturday and they could be two points from relegation with three games remaining, the entire bottom three still able to catch them.
With visits to White Hart Lane and the Etihad in their final two matches, Villa could well be the team dragged into the mire. Given the mind-numbing nature of their football of late, it would be difficult to have too much sympathy.
Now I'm a paid up member of the miserable pessimists club, so much so that I don't expect us to get another point all season. However, this analysis trumps my Brummy miserableness. Firstly, he's forgotten we also have Hull to play. Secondly, that scenario of us being two points off the bottom also requires Norwich to beat a (hopefully) regenerated Man Utd at Old Trafford.
It doesn't make any of this comfortable, it certainly doesn't make it right, but things aren't quite as dire as that. I think we'll scrape over without getting another point. I also believe we will. E relegate next year.
Bloody hell!!!! The makers of Football Manager have lost all credibility after simulating us to get NINE points from our last 4 games!!!!!
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/apr/25/football-manager-predicts-how-the-season-will-end
I heard once that they were Villa fans though. Don't know how true it is.
Here's some encouraging stats:Well lets hope we turn those stats on their head today otherwise on that form we'll be a tad closer to the bottom 3 today.
Aston Villa have won just one of the eight Premier League games that Christian Benteke has missed this season, netting only six goals in the process.
Seven of Aston Villas last 10 Premier League games have been 0-0 at half-time. SHARE ğ
Villa have gone three hours and 20 minutes without scoring a Premier League goal. SHARE ğ
Come on lads chin up, we'll get something today :)
Isn't there a concern though Brian that whatever the club says and whoever from the club is saying it some will always interpret it as corporate marketingspeak? I think ultimately it's about actions and if Randy does sell the new owners have to be seen to be doing things. Much like it feltwhen MON first arrived and he was backed significantly in the market to help us bridge the gap from also rans to contenders for a CL spot.
Looking bleak for me now. A sinking stone
This will be hard to take. I never in a million years expected us to go down but its looking increasingly likely now. cheaper seats next season tho I suppose
Did Hull City just save our bacon there?
Did Hull City just save our bacon there?
Did Hull City just save our bacon there?
Hull have done us a massive favour with the 2-2 draw. Think we'll scrape safety by the skin of our teeth. Probably draw next week against Hull who now look safe.
Hull have done us a massive favour with the 2-2 draw. Think we'll scrape safety by the skin of our teeth. Probably draw next week against Hull who now look safe.
And with a cup final on their minds. That might just be enough to help us at their end because nothing we do on the pitch will
11/1 against the drop from William Hill now, and the best on offer is 20/1. It was 50/1 a couple of weeks ago.
When we dropped into the old Second Division in 1967, we looked safe going into April. Then this happened:
25 Mar 1967 Aston Villa v Stoke City W 2-1
28 Mar 1967 Aston Villa v West Ham United L 0 -2
01 Apr 1967 Everton v Aston Villa L 3-1
08 Apr 1967 Aston Villa v Fulham D 1-1
15 Apr 1967 Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa L 3-0
19 Apr 1967 Manchester City v Aston Villa D 1-1
22 Apr 1967 Aston Villa v Burnley L 0-1
29 Apr 1967 Manchester United v Aston Villa L 3-1
06 May 1967 Aston Villa v Everton L 2-4
13 May 1967 Southampton v Aston Villa L 6-2
What made me look this up was talking to an old friend who said he was getting an unsettling sense of deja vu.
It seems very unlikely that we'll go down, but very unlikely things sometimes happen in relegation fights. It would be very nice if we could get a point against Hull!
It seems very unlikely that we'll go down, but very unlikely things sometimes happen in relegation fights. It would be very nice if we could get a point against Hull!
The problem is that, with each passing game, the likelihood we'll go down is growing, not shrinking.
We could sort this out ourselves if we could manage to overcome Hull City at home. That's home where we've lost 10 league matches already this season.
How many of us would back us to beat Hull at home - with real, actual money?
18 league defeats this season. When was the last this happened?
If it was still a 42 game season i'd be terrified. I've said for a while though that I thought it would be a struggle for enough teams to catch us. Sucks the big fat one relying on teams being too shit to catch us.
If it was still a 42 game season i'd be terrified. I've said for a while though that I thought it would be a struggle for enough teams to catch us. Sucks the big fat one relying on teams being too shit to catch us.
Pretty much how I see it, we're crap so by definition all the clubs below us must be truly abysmal. We'll scrape home because of that. There then needs to be a massive rethink this summer because we won't get away with it again.
heart is broken, weve got an owner who knows fuck all about football , hence fuckners appointment, and typical of he's race American, when it gets tough looses interest, I hated doug ellis but our circle of hell is getting deeper.
If it was still a 42 game season i'd be terrified. I've said for a while though that I thought it would be a struggle for enough teams to catch us. Sucks the big fat one relying on teams being too shit to catch us.
Pretty much how I see it, we're crap so by definition all the clubs below us must be truly abysmal. We'll scrape home because of that. There then needs to be a massive rethink this summer because we won't get away with it again.
I'd agree re next season, but at this time, it's not just about how the other teams have been prior to this, this season, it is how the momentum is moving, how current form is shaping up.
Ours is truly terrible. We're reliant on those below us looking equally terrible. It's not much fun.
The team look awful, the club looks a shambles with several strands of off-the-pitch madness going on, we are starting to look like Newcastle in that sense.
I think our saviour will be running out of games.
Despite everything, I still don't totally blame Randy Lerner.I think hes made mistakes for sure. Allowing MON to run everything and waste so much on average squad players, sure. Not appointing a proven football man on the board, sure. Not being more vocal (in good times and bad),sure
But he has put a lot of money into our club, and he has given this manager money to spend.
However I totally blame this manager. It awful beyond words and we are a laughing stock. Sack him now and give us a lift for our one remaining home game and realistic chance of points
Despite everything, I still don't totally blame Randy Lerner.I think hes made mistakes for sure. Allowing MON to run everything and waste so much on average squad players, sure. Not appointing a proven football man on the board, sure. Not being more vocal (in good times and bad),sure
But he has put a lot of money into our club, and he has given this manager money to spend.
However I totally blame this manager. It awful beyond words and we are a laughing stock. Sack him now and give us a lift for our one remaining home game and realistic chance of points
If it was still a 42 game season i'd be terrified. I've said for a while though that I thought it would be a struggle for enough teams to catch us. Sucks the big fat one relying on teams being too shit to catch us.
Yes Chris i think you're right, he does have to take some blame, but not total blame. I don't dislike him like I did Ellis towards the end of his reign. The cutbacks, particularly in wages, have been brutal I agree, but cutbacks were necessary. But Lambert has still spent a fair few quid and he has bought, with the odd exception, dross. And the coaching seems to be non existent from what I've seen on the pitch. For me, Lambert is to blame
One of the frustrating things about this policy of cutbacks is that it was never explained or explicitly stated why it happened. It was like something out of '1984' - one day we woke up and all of a sudden Villa couldn't afford to pay decent wages to players, for no reason. So we had to shrug our shoulders and say, 'ah, okay then'.I'm guessing divorce and credit crunch hit him hard
What Lerner does with his money is his concern, but he went from being a sugar daddy to being an absent father with no clear reason as to why.
Updated.
For us to drop 2 of these clubs need to do the following (i'm pretty sure i've worked this out right) based on us getting 0 points from the last 3:
Fulham: Must beat Stoke (a) and Palace (h) anything less than 6 points and they can't catch us.
Norwich: 4 points (barring a 15 GD swing, if that should happen they would need 3 points) from Chavski (a) Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: 6 points from Sunderland & Newcastle (a) Chavski (h)
Sunderland: 6 points (maybe 7 depending on GD) from Cardiff (h) Manure (a) Bitters (h) Swansea (h)
Updated.
For us to drop 2 of these clubs need to do the following (i'm pretty sure i've worked this out right) based on us getting 0 points from the last 3:
Fulham: Must beat Stoke (a) and Palace (h) anything less than 6 points and they can't catch us.
Norwich: 4 points (barring a 15 GD swing, if that should happen they would need 3 points) from Chavski (a) Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: 6 points from Sunderland & Newcastle (a) Chavski (h)
Sunderland: 6 points (maybe 7 depending on GD) from Cardiff (h) Manure (a) Bitters (h) Swansea (h)
And to summarise that Norwich and Fulham will not finish above us so it comes down to whether both Cardiff and Sunderland will.
If it's a draw tomorrow or Sunderland win, Cardiff need to win their last two games which they won't do.
If Cardiff win tomorrow Sunderland need at least six points, maybe seven from their last three, which again, they won't do.
As others have said, the season end is going to save us.
One of the frustrating things about this policy of cutbacks is that it was never explained or explicitly stated why it happened. It was like something out of '1984' - one day we woke up and all of a sudden Villa couldn't afford to pay decent wages to players, for no reason. So we had to shrug our shoulders and say, 'ah, okay then'.
What Lerner does with his money is his concern, but he went from being a sugar daddy to being an absent father with no clear reason as to why.
Updated.
For us to drop 2 of these clubs need to do the following (i'm pretty sure i've worked this out right) based on us getting 0 points from the last 3:
Fulham: Must beat Stoke (a) and Palace (h) anything less than 6 points and they can't catch us.
Norwich: 4 points (barring a 15 GD swing, if that should happen they would need 3 points) from Chavski (a) Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: 6 points from Sunderland & Newcastle (a) Chavski (h)
Sunderland: 6 points (maybe 7 depending on GD) from Cardiff (h) Manure (a) Bitters (h) Swansea (h)
And to summarise that Norwich and Fulham will not finish above us so it comes down to whether both Cardiff and Sunderland will.
If it's a draw tomorrow or Sunderland win, Cardiff need to win their last two games which they won't do.
If Cardiff win tomorrow Sunderland need at least six points, maybe seven from their last three, which again, they won't do.
As others have said, the season end is going to save us.
Hmm, how are you taking for granted that Fulham won't win both those matches?
Or dismiss Sunderland so easily, given that they have just taken 4 points from Chelsea and Man City away?
Hmm, how are you taking for granted that Fulham won't win both those matches?
Or dismiss Sunderland so easily, given that they have just taken 4 points from Chelsea and Man City away?
Updated.
For us to drop 2 of these clubs need to do the following (i'm pretty sure i've worked this out right) based on us getting 0 points from the last 3:
Fulham: Must beat Stoke (a) and Palace (h) anything less than 6 points and they can't catch us.
Norwich: 4 points (barring a 15 GD swing, if that should happen they would need 3 points) from Chavski (a) Arsenal (h)
Cardiff: 6 points from Sunderland & Newcastle (a) Chavski (h)
Sunderland: 6 points (maybe 7 depending on GD) from Cardiff (h) Manure (a) Bitters (h) Swansea (h)
And to summarise that Norwich and Fulham will not finish above us so it comes down to whether both Cardiff and Sunderland will.
If it's a draw tomorrow or Sunderland win, Cardiff need to win their last two games which they won't do.
If Cardiff win tomorrow Sunderland need at least six points, maybe seven from their last three, which again, they won't do.
As others have said, the season end is going to save us.
Hmm, how are you taking for granted that Fulham won't win both those matches?
Or dismiss Sunderland so easily, given that they have just taken 4 points from Chelsea and Man City away?
The worst thing about being in this awful position (again) is the fucking pain between games.
I can't wait for the Hull game to come round because (hope of hopes) we might get the result to save our miserable season, and put this misery to bed.
But, I'm also absolutely dreading it because I know it's gonna be absolutely fucking horrible.
I'd say with that Shane Long goal our luck is right in. Shane fucking Long.I hope we are not uttering those utterances next week!
I'd say with that Shane Long goal our luck is right in. Shane fucking Long.Very good player.
I'd say with that Shane Long goal our luck is right in. Shane fucking Long.I hope we are not uttering those utterances next week!
The worst thing about being in this awful position (again) is the fucking pain between games.
I can't wait for the Hull game to come round because (hope of hopes) we might get the result to save our miserable season, and put this misery to bed.
But, I'm also absolutely dreading it because I know it's gonna be absolutely fucking horrible.
Yes I feel exactly the same. I'm miserable for a few days after a game, then forget about it by the end of the week, then the nightmare reoccurs on Saturday/Sunday. Its been like this pretty much for the last three seasons now.
I'd say with that Shane Long goal our luck is right in. Shane fucking Long.
I'd say with that Shane Long goal our luck is right in. Shane fucking Long.
We have been by and large very lucky this season imo. What makes it all the more galling that we are still where we are. We are definitely one of the 3 worst sides in this League and I have been saying that for a good, good while.
In a weird way I'm looking forward to next Saturday. I'll be in the holt end with my son. And whatever happens it'll be exciting. Either the players give it everything or the crowd will give it to Lambert and Lerner. The players lap of (dis)honour should be interesting...I tend to leave on 87 mins to beat the rush. Next Saturday I may stay behind to vent
I'm anti Lambert even though I've never booed or sang for him to be sacked. After seeing another packed away end let down again, not for the first time, I've come to think it's not just Lambert but Lerner and Faulkner are to blame as well. We're a club that deserve to be relegated. Gutless, pathetic end to the season.
I made an attempt to get on the team coach to ask questions but was told by a Villa 'staff member' (in tracksuit anyway) that he "doesn't give a fuck". I can quote that! This is somebody, looked like a youth player, who was on the teams official coach and that's his response.
Obviously I recommended he get off the coach immediately and repeat his words to me but he just beeped the coach horn to call on the police to bail him out.
I feel sorry for all the die hard fans that have been let down once again
Whatever happens next week, it's about time Lerner got some stick. We've given Deadly more stick for far less. Lerner hides from the scene and is a complete coward. He's presided over the last 4 years, so it's his responsibilty.
Cant remember, but I don't think Lambert walks around with the players.
I do remember O'Leary trying to keep up with the players whilst dodging the old paper season ticket booklets that were aimed at his big noggin.
In a weird way I'm looking forward to next Saturday. I'll be in the holt end with my son. And whatever happens it'll be exciting. Either the players give it everything or the crowd will give it to Lambert and Lerner. The players lap of (dis)honour should be interesting...
I just want the season over and done with.
I just want the season over and done with.
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
Let's say that regrettably, Chavski cheat, bore and bribe their way to the non champions league final.
And they can't win the league.
Can you begin to imagine the stunts he will pull in their last two league games?
At the expense of his great friends in B6, whilst taking the piss out of the league.
A dish best served cold.
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
In a weird way I'm looking forward to next Saturday. I'll be in the holt end with my son. And whatever happens it'll be exciting. Either the players give it everything or the crowd will give it to Lambert and Lerner. The players lap of (dis)honour should be interesting...
The players and management should be made to sit in the stands whilst we parade around the pitch in front of them
It looks like we are going to crawl across the line on our hands and knees, covered in shit and with rags for clothing. Because I dont care about the money (its Randy's not mine) I'd swap a season like Leicester have had for this weekly shite-fest.
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
I think the best reaction would be to just do nothing. As they do their parade, everyone should just stand quietly and stare at them. No booing, no clapping, nothing. That would seriously get the message across.
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
I think the best reaction would be to just do nothing. As they do their parade, everyone should just stand quietly and stare at them. No booing, no clapping, nothing. That would seriously get the message across.
silent, slow head shaking
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
I think the best reaction would be to just do nothing. As they do their parade, everyone should just stand quietly and stare at them. No booing, no clapping, nothing. That would seriously get the message across.
silent, slow head shaking
Let's say that regrettably, Chavski cheat, bore and bribe their way to the non champions league final.
And they can't win the league.
Can you begin to imagine the stunts he will pull in their last two league games?
At the expense of his great friends in B6, whilst taking the piss out of the league.
A dish best served cold.
If we go down, we cant blame anyone else but the pile of tripe that has been served up this season, right from the top in Lerner, then Faulkner and Lambert, then the bunch of spineless twats performing in shirts we would love to be in. They should all be ashamed of themselves, need someone like Ian Taylor to tell them how they should feel playing in that great shirt. John Carew played with some great teams, but still has great pride in wearing our shirt.
Let's say that regrettably, Chavski cheat, bore and bribe their way to the non champions league final.
And they can't win the league.
Can you begin to imagine the stunts he will pull in their last two league games?
At the expense of his great friends in B6, whilst taking the piss out of the league.
A dish best served cold.
If we go down, we cant blame anyone else but the pile of tripe that has been served up this season, right from the top in Lerner, then Faulkner and Lambert, then the bunch of spineless twats performing in shirts we would love to be in. They should all be ashamed of themselves, need someone like Ian Taylor to tell them how they should feel playing in that great shirt. John Carew played with some great teams, but still has great pride in wearing our shirt.
To be honest, I don't blame the majority of them as they simply just aren't good enough. The blame should lie with those who brought them in and set the parameters for players of their level to be bought.
I just want the season over and done with.
Yep, I need to get started on my planning for where to park in Brentford
Let's say that regrettably, Chavski cheat, bore and bribe their way to the non champions league final.
And they can't win the league.
Can you begin to imagine the stunts he will pull in their last two league games?
At the expense of his great friends in B6, whilst taking the piss out of the league.
A dish best served cold.
If we go down, we cant blame anyone else but the pile of tripe that has been served up this season, right from the top in Lerner, then Faulkner and Lambert, then the bunch of spineless twats performing in shirts we would love to be in. They should all be ashamed of themselves, need someone like Ian Taylor to tell them how they should feel playing in that great shirt. John Carew played with some great teams, but still has great pride in wearing our shirt.
To be honest, I don't blame the majority of them as they simply just aren't good enough. The blame should lie with those who brought them in and set the parameters for players of their level to be bought.
Do you think these players are inferior to Crystal Palaces, Stoke, West Ham and the like? The tactics are shocking, we should be doing better than they are.
West Ham, Guzan better than their keeper, right back is better than Demel, Bertrand better than McCartney, Benteke certainly (obviously injured now).
Stoke, right back and left back again, Benteke again, Whelan or Westwood?, not much difference really, but these clubs have tactics and plans.
By the way, Palace have won 5 games on the trot, so Lambert needs to take some responsibility
Chavski have already confirmed they are playing a reserve team tomorrow . They will beat athletico and play reserves v Norwich too.
So stop looking for favours off the moaner
Didn't request favours from anyone nor mention reserve teams. If we go down we deserve to.
So stop making assumptions.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
they're not daft, they'll give it the old 'scoop up their young kids routine' after the final whistle and carry them around with them so we haven't the heart to give them too much stick
I think the best reaction would be to just do nothing. As they do their parade, everyone should just stand quietly and stare at them. No booing, no clapping, nothing. That would seriously get the message across.
silent, slow head shaking
We should all stand up and do this.
(http://www.pigskinbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/jaguars-fan-gif.gif)
Chavski have already confirmed they are playing a reserve team tomorrow . They will beat athletico and play reserves v Norwich too.
So stop looking for favours off the moaner
Didn't request favours from anyone nor mention reserve teams. If we go down we deserve to.
So stop making assumptions.
I wasnt making any assumptions, merely saying if we go down it will be down to ourselves. So calm down :)
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
Mods, please, please purleeese, can we lock this thread? It's doing my head in. I'm depressed enough without coming on here and reading this. I know I can bypass it but, I'm feckin drawn to it like a magnet. Have pity on an old man who gets chest pains just reading this.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
Bad enough WBA are going to finish above us yet again.
Deary me.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
He's posted about 28,000 times on here so I don't for one minute believe he's "not that bothered". He's probably hurting as much as the rest of us.
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
We'll be fine and then there will be a bright new dawn and we shall do this all again
I'm counting on the shitness of others
The weekends are depressing but by Wednesday I'll be looking forward to the game, then the real killer is about 10 mins into the game when you remember again how bad they are.
Draws are the best we can hope for - we simply have no goal threat. 1 point could be enough but I am haunted by the thought of us following the Blues out of the league by losing at Spurs...Small Heath did quite well that day only losing 0-1
Bad enough WBA are going to finish above us yet again.
Deary me.
3rd year on the trot. Has that ever happened before? Not since I've been a Villa fan that's for sure.
Next match for me is Man City away,
so I hope we can still mathematically go down just to make it more interesting
I hate dead rubbers
Looking good
I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
He's posted about 28,000 times on here so I don't for one minute believe he's "not that bothered". He's probably hurting as much as the rest of us.
Apologies to Chris for speaking on his behalf, i'm sure he cares about the Villa and would prefer us to be in the top flight and winning etc, but after what he's been through I doubt he sees what division Villa are in as that big a deal in the big scheme of life. And I doubt he's not the only one that applies to.
We are an awful side and if we go we can't really have any complaints.
We are an awful side and if we go we can't really have any complaints.
VF I think it is clear that C and K are scapegoats. The dressing room is still devoid of morale and confidence. Sid and Shay have not made a scrap of difference. The big fat finger of fate points directly at Lambert for the performances on the pitch and directly at Lerner and Faulkner for letting the club get into such an unholy everlasting mess.This worries me most. I accepted two weeks ago that there was a genuine bullying case against the two mentioned and Lambert as manager has taken the right action without fear or favour. However if it is that this was a concoction devised by Lerner/Faulkner/Lambert to give a perception of change then it's almost unforgivable. Do they really take us for total imbeciles?
These are the remaining results in one place, as I got sick of googling them all the time. Cut and pasted from the new thread.
Villa
Hull-H (1)
Spurs-A (0)
Man City-A (0) 36 Points
Sunderland
Cardiff-H (1)
Man U-A (0)
W.Brom (3)
Swansea (1) 34 Points
Cardiff
Sunderland-A (1)
Newcastle-A (1)
Chelsea-H (0) 32 Points
Fulham
Stoke-A (1)
C.Palace-H (3) 35 Points
Norwich
Man U-A (1)
Chelsea-A (0)
Arsenal-H (1) 34 Points
W.Brom
Arsenal-A (0)
Stoke-H (1)
Sunderland-A (0) 37 points
So even with my pessimistic head I reckon Sunderland Cardiff and Norwich to go. However, what really worries me is that there's always a few freak results on the last day. Not with us, I'm sure, we'll get stuffed Royally.
It makes next week the biggest game in a long time!!
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
I certainly shan't be renewing this week, which is when the cash incentive expires, and the club's reminder to ST holders on Facebook has attracted a huge amount of anger and derision. I would guess that ST sales are/will be well down and that a few thousand fans well be registering their disapproval in this way.
It's an obvious thing to say, but Fulham letting slip their two goal lead yesterday is looking like our get out of gaol card.
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.I'll have a tenner on myself feeling used and dirty five seconds after the season ends.
I'm pretty much at the stage where I don't give a toss. Stay up or go down, keep Lambert or sack him, Lerner or new owner, £10m or £100m to spend - so fucking what? I'll keep going because I enjoy the company and get a buzz out of the odd win but it's just Monopoly with a ball and I refuse to let it get in the way of real life.
When someone like Chris is saying this and Frank over on the match thread is saying he might not renew his season ticket, then I know things have really hit rock bottom
I certainly shan't be renewing this week, which is when the cash incentive expires, and the club's reminder to ST holders on Facebook has attracted a huge amount of anger and derision. I would guess that ST sales are/will be well down and that a few thousand fans well be registering their disapproval in this way.
So Cardiff and Fulham have to win their last 2 games to go above us (goal difference) and Norwich have to play Arsenal and Chelsea.
I feel a little bit better today. Just a bit though.
So Cardiff and Fulham have to win their last 2 games to go above us (goal difference) and Norwich have to play Arsenal and Chelsea.
I feel a little bit better today. Just a bit though.
That looks to me like Cardiff and Fulham are now in a position where they won't catch us.
I think we are probably safe, but as people are saying, the fact we are concerned about it, again, is unacceptable.
The club needs investment, it needs energised leadership and ambition at boardroom level, it needs a manager who can sort the basics of passing, moving, pressing, marking and have us playing something that passes for football.
we just need to get something out of next weeks game; at least a point. Has Lambert got it in him? Hull's fightback yesterday was as worrying as Fulham's capitulation was relieving.That looks to me like Cardiff and Fulham are now in a position where they won't catch us.
And if you accept that then you must also accept that Norwich won't get 4 points from their last two games.
It's a horrible process to go through but we really shouldn't go down. Sadly, it's probably going to go to the last day.
So Cardiff and Fulham have to win their last 2 games to go above us (goal difference) and Norwich have to play Arsenal and Chelsea.
I feel a little bit better today. Just a bit though.
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.
I certainly shan't be renewing this week, which is when the cash incentive expires, and the club's reminder to ST holders on Facebook has attracted a huge amount of anger and derision. I would guess that ST sales are/will be well down and that a few thousand fans well be registering their disapproval in this way.
I think we are probably safe, but as people are saying, the fact we are concerned about it, again, is unacceptable.
The club needs investment, it needs energised leadership and ambition at boardroom level, it needs a manager who can sort the basics of passing, moving, pressing, marking and have us playing something that passes for football.
That looks to me like Cardiff and Fulham are now in a position where they won't catch us.
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.
I certainly shan't be renewing this week, which is when the cash incentive expires, and the club's reminder to ST holders on Facebook has attracted a huge amount of anger and derision. I would guess that ST sales are/will be well down and that a few thousand fans well be registering their disapproval in this way.
Seems a bit daft to renew before we know what division we will be in any road, I'll almost certainly renew but I'm not paying premier league prices for championship football.
The Chelsea win at Anfield could be massive for us.Cardiff and Norwich both need to win both to go above us don't they. Chelsea won't lose both, so you'd say that's one of those two certain to finish below us.
It keeps Chelsea well in the hunt, and with games against norwich and Cardiff, you 'have' to fancy them to win both ?
I'm prepared to clutch at every bloody straw available.
The Chelsea win at Anfield could be massive for us.
It keeps Chelsea well in the hunt, and with games against norwich and Cardiff, you 'have' to fancy them to win both ?
I'm prepared to clutch at every bloody straw available.
The Chelsea win at Anfield could be massive for us.
It keeps Chelsea well in the hunt, and with games against norwich and Cardiff, you 'have' to fancy them to win both ?
I'm prepared to clutch at every bloody straw available.
Norwich and Cardiff are gone, so only really Fulham to worry about as I think Sunderland will escape. Baggies still not quite safe yet.
2 years ago I didn't renew immediately and the ticket office rang me (and, I'm sure, thousands of others) to ask why not. I was probably always going to renew but told them I wouldn't renew till McLeish went. They rang me the day he was sacked to ask whether I was reconsidering.
I certainly shan't be renewing this week, which is when the cash incentive expires, and the club's reminder to ST holders on Facebook has attracted a huge amount of anger and derision. I would guess that ST sales are/will be well down and that a few thousand fans well be registering their disapproval in this way.
Seems a bit daft to renew before we know what division we will be in any road, I'll almost certainly renew but I'm not paying premier league prices for championship football.
But............ what about those extra home games we'll get to see ?!?
Cardiff and Norwich are screwed.
Between us, Fulham and the Mackems now.
Think Fulham will win next week
If they get the one next week, you'd back them to get the other at home to palace. They are the team I fearCardiff and Norwich are screwed.
Between us, Fulham and the Mackems now.
Think Fulham will win next week
Thats the way i see it too. I doubt we'll get any more points this season, Cardiff & Norwich will stay below us, Sunderland will overtake us so its just really whether Fulham get the 2 wins. It's possible but pretty unlikely.
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
At least the Norwich Chief Exec can comfort himself with the knowledge that he held onto Wes Hoolahan in the January window. Hopefully he'll get a lot of satisfaction out of that as he watches his team at a Griffin Park next season.
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
It could well be. If Sunderland behave and lose against United then a point for us would rule out the possibility of their overtaking us on goal difference.
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
It could well be. If Sunderland behave and lose against United then a point for us would rule out the possibility of their overtaking us on goal difference.
Youre forgetting the goal difference position will be very close by the time citeh beat us 6 nil
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
Please post something that will fill the glass up then!
I know you go to the away games so im amazed you can be so up beat!
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
It could well be. If Sunderland behave and lose against United then a point for us would rule out the possibility of their overtaking us on goal difference.
Youre forgetting the goal difference position will be very close by the time citeh beat us 6 nil
We just need to focus on beating God damn Hull feckin' Tigers. Fail to do this and we may well deserve to go down.I think if we can even curl out an ugly 0-0 like we did at their place that should be enough
It could well be. If Sunderland behave and lose against United then a point for us would rule out the possibility of their overtaking us on goal difference.
Youre forgetting the goal difference position will be very close by the time citeh beat us 6 nil
6 nil won't make a jot of difference when comparing GD between ours and Fulham. A 25 goal swing in 2/3 games? Not gonna happen.
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
Please post something that will fill the glass up then!
I know you go to the away games so im amazed you can be so up beat!
Well all I will say is that a negative thought process benefits no one. Yes I know we are shit, I watch week in, week out but if you don't believe we can get a result against a safe mid table team with one eye on the final, what hope is there?
This weekend, the only result that has gone against us is our own and Albion's. The Fulham, Norwich, Cardiff/Sunderland one and even Chelsea winning has improved our chances. I therefore calculate that as a success ratio of 80%, yet some are dwelling on the negative 20%.
We are extremely fortunate that after losing 5 in 6 our future is still in our hands...for Gods sake let's take this and create a can do attitude before we all head for the knife drawer.
Up the Villa!
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
Please post something that will fill the glass up then!
I know you go to the away games so im amazed you can be so up beat!
Well all I will say is that a negative thought process benefits no one. Yes I know we are shit, I watch week in, week out but if you don't believe we can get a result against a safe mid table team with one eye on the final, what hope is there?
This weekend, the only result that has gone against us is our own and Albion's. The Fulham, Norwich, Cardiff/Sunderland one and even Chelsea winning has improved our chances. I therefore calculate that as a success ratio of 80%, yet some are dwelling on the negative 20%.
We are extremely fortunate that after losing 5 in 6 our future is still in our hands...for Gods sake let's take this and create a can do attitude before we all head for the knife drawer.
Up the Villa!
Fair enough and I Hope youre right.
It's half empty glass city on here isn't it?
Please post something that will fill the glass up then!
I know you go to the away games so im amazed you can be so up beat!
Well all I will say is that a negative thought process benefits no one. Yes I know we are shit, I watch week in, week out but if you don't believe we can get a result against a safe mid table team with one eye on the final, what hope is there?
This weekend, the only result that has gone against us is our own and Albion's. The Fulham, Norwich, Cardiff/Sunderland one and even Chelsea winning has improved our chances. I therefore calculate that as a success ratio of 80%, yet some are dwelling on the negative 20%.
We are extremely fortunate that after losing 5 in 6 our future is still in our hands...for Gods sake let's take this and create a can do attitude before we all head for the knife drawer.
Up the Villa!
With Sunderland's win today I fancy them to catch us up - including goal difference
So for me it's all on
- can Cardiff win their last two including v Chelsea. Can't see it
- can Norwich win one and draw one v Chelsea and arsenal. No chance
- can Fulham beat stoke away then palace at home. I doubt it, but it's the most likely of the three scenarios to happen and we only need one of these teams to go on that run
Our last home game we did scrape a draw against a Southampton team that the next week mullered Everton, all is not lost, we can 0-0 Hull, put a back 5 out again.
Why didn't Lerner invest in Scott Dann & Lescott in January? An outlay of say £10M would've been worth it with over £60M TV money at stake...
How can we beat man c and Chelsea at villa park but be so generally useless that fans can't imagine us beating Hull? Let's fill the ground, get the noise levels up and for once let the visitors know we are up for a fight. We need high energy and plenty of tackles and above all, do the bloody basics right.Our last home game we did scrape a draw against a Southampton team that the next week mullered Everton, all is not lost, we can 0-0 Hull, put a back 5 out again.
If we accept Sunderland will now finish above us, Norwich and Cardiff are cattle-trucked so the only (admittedly unlikely) permutation to really fear is Fulham getting six points then a point v Hull won't be enough. My brain hurts.
How can we beat man c and Chelsea at villa park but be so generally useless that fans can't imagine us beating Hull? Let's fill the ground, get the noise levels up and for once let the visitors know we are up for a fight. We need high energy and plenty of tackles and above all, do the bloody basics right.Our last home game we did scrape a draw against a Southampton team that the next week mullered Everton, all is not lost, we can 0-0 Hull, put a back 5 out again.
If we accept Sunderland will now finish above us, Norwich and Cardiff are cattle-trucked so the only (admittedly unlikely) permutation to really fear is Fulham getting six points then a point v Hull won't be enough. My brain hurts.
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Why didn't Lerner invest in Scott Dann & Lescott in January? An outlay of say £10M would've been worth it with over £60M TV money at stake...
Because they're twats.
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Go and get laid sad sack.
On Saturday we need to put some hard but fair crunching tackles in early on and get the Hull players worried about getting injured or getting a red.Human nature being what it is, some if not all Hull players are bound to have one eye on the F A Cup finalWe should deploy the Hutton
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Who would be sent off by half timeOn Saturday we need to put some hard but fair crunching tackles in early on and get the Hull players worried about getting injured or getting a red.Human nature being what it is, some if not all Hull players are bound to have one eye on the F A Cup finalWe should deploy the Hutton
We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Go and get laid sad sack.
Less of that please.
On Saturday we need to put some hard but fair crunching tackles in early on and get the Hull players worried about getting injured or getting a red.Human nature being what it is, some if not all Hull players are bound to have one eye on the F A Cup finalWe should deploy the Hutton
I'm sorry I don't share your confidence. My fear is this team and manager is truly spent. It's run it's course. We cannot defend, we don't create and we rarely score. They have players like Long and Jelavich who will terrorise our back line .We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Go and get laid sad sack.
I'm sorry I don't share your confidence. My fear is this team and manager is truly spent. It's run it's course. We cannot defend, we don't create and we rarely score. They have players like Long and Jelavich who will terrorise our back line .We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
Go and get laid sad sack.
I'm a miserable dog , I'm a ST holder and I guess the last 4 years have gotten to me.We'll smash 'ull out of site. Job done, thread locked.I think we will lose
So you keep telling us. You might feel a bit more positive if you didn't repeatedly post negativity on every single thread.
So how much have you put on us to get relegated?
(http://americaexplained.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/hell-freezes-over.jpg)I see that those icicles look a little watery!!
So basically no team below us can afford to lose one more game
and two of them have to at least win one and draw one in there final 2 matches to drag us into the bottom 3
After Cardiff's defeat today we probably have just enough points in the bag to be safe regardless of what happens in our last three games. I certainly think a draw next weekend will see us safe. Then the inquest can begin in earnest.
It's an obvious thing to say, but Fulham letting slip their two goal lead yesterday is looking like our get out of gaol card.
I shall be attending villa park at the weekend.
I have a 100% win ratio based upon my appearances this season.
First game, then?
I can't wait to buy that "We survived the drop" t-shirt form the club shop.
First game, then?
Lol no it's number 4. My worst ever attendance, but it's hardly a tempting invite nowadays. :-(
Glory hunter.
Just think, in 10 days' time, we'll have secured safety by smashing Hull, and completed the double over Citeh. You lot had better start getting your negatives about the length of the new away shorts lined up, otherwise it's going to be a long summer.
Chaps, I fully appreciate the run we've been on, but can we try - just try - and talk about the run in without assuming we'll get no points? Yes it's planning for the worst/hoping for the best, but some of you lot are depressing the life out if me. It's in our hands, and until it isn't then I'll be remaining confident we'll get the required points. Let's be 'avin you!!
I'm still hoping we'll put on a late surge for a CL spot.
If not this season, simply by luck and the skin of our teeth, relying on others to do worse than us then most probably next unless there are serious changes made at managerial, boardroom and playing level.
It's at times like this I wonder what SeattleVillain is up to.
It's at times like this I wonder what SeattleVillain is up to.
I can see us possibly scraping another point, but I can't see a win, and that's what we need to be certain.
I think Norwich and Cardiff have too much to do, but Sunderland should get another win, and Fulham are in form, and have two opponents with nothing to play for.
It's at times like this I wonder what SeattleVillain is up to.
I can see us possibly scraping another point, but I can't see a win, and that's what we need to be certain.
I think Norwich and Cardiff have too much to do, but Sunderland should get another win, and Fulham are in form, and have two opponents with nothing to play for.
Look at Chelsea today. All week the press were harping on about them playing a weakened team, practically giving the title to Liverpool.
Look what happened.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
This ones for you Damon !
@FootballQuote_: Geoff Shreeves: "Can you explain your tactics?"
Jose Mourinho:"Ask Jamie Redknapp, he knows everything, he has a brilliant football brain"
Superb
Well we need a celeb heading our 'I Like Mourinho' club like the British film industry need a Yank as the lead in a film to be able to sell it. Damon fits the bill. You are our Reese Witherspoon.
Well we need a celeb heading our 'I Like Mourinho' club like the British film industry need a Yank as the lead in a film to be able to sell it. Damon fits the bill. You are our Reese Witherspoon.
I think I will re-post this on the 'have you ever been mistaken for a celeb' thread in Off Topic.
Can you believe it was 3 years ago that we played our final game v Liverpool winning 1-0 and leaving the ground knowing the Bloose were relegated.
We finished 9th on 48 points.
All the teams finishing 14th postiton and lower that year are now no longer in the Prem. Only one of them West Ham have returned.
How low have we sunk...........
Can you believe it was 3 years ago that we played our final game v Liverpool winning 1-0 and leaving the ground knowing the Bloose were relegated.
We finished 9th on 48 points.
All the teams finishing 14th postiton and lower that year are now no longer in the Prem. Only one of them West Ham have returned.
How low have we sunk...........
From the previous season, 8 of the bottom 11 have been relegated. Only Stoke, Sunderland and Fulham finished lower than 8th in 2010 and haven't been relegated. Yet.
This ones for you Damon !
@FootballQuote_: Geoff Shreeves: "Can you explain your tactics?"
Jose Mourinho:"Ask Jamie Redknapp, he knows everything, he has a brilliant football brain"
Superb
Ha ha ha, that is absolutely brilliant.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
I am with you.
Albion aren't safe yet - if they lose on Saturday at Sunderland they'll be bricking it again.
We would need to beat Hull and them lose to Sunderland to put them in the shit again and sadly I can only see one of those scenarios happening.Albion aren't safe yet - if they lose on Saturday at Sunderland they'll be bricking it again.
Sadly, the fact they're ahead of us probably makes them safe!
Albion aren't safe yet - if they lose on Saturday at Sunderland they'll be bricking it again.
Sadly, the fact they're ahead of us probably makes them safe!
Albion aren't safe yet - if they lose on Saturday at Sunderland they'll be bricking it again.
Sadly, the fact they're ahead of us probably makes them safe!
I think we'll be back above them on Saturday.
I didn't realise West Ham were only on 37 points. They were 10th themselves not so long ago and must have collapsed as we have.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
I am with you.
I know he's an ass, but I think he's pretty funny
Think we will just stay up, but the result yesterday makes Hull on Saturday a must win, we might get one point out of City and Spurs if we are lucky.I think we are every bit as bad as all the others, and worse than most at the moment.
Feel we will stay up mostly because we are not quite as bad as a few others. I always thought we would be alright this season, but yeah its looking very dodgy right now.
Think we will just stay up, but the result yesterday makes Hull on Saturday a must win, we might get one point out of City and Spurs if we are lucky.I think we are every bit as bad as all the others, and worse than most at the moment.
Feel we will stay up mostly because we are not quite as bad as a few others. I always thought we would be alright this season, but yeah its looking very dodgy right now.
What will save us is the fact there are only 2 or 3 games left for everyone, rather than 5 or 6.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
I am with you.
I know he's an ass, but I think he's pretty funny
That he had so many Liverpool fans and Alan Green frothing at the mouth makes him a hero in my eyes. Very amusing.
I know I'm in a minority liking Mourinho, but it's for a quite specific reason: he totally takes the piss out of the sports media. They hang on his every word and all he gives them is deadpan bullshit. The man is an artist.
I am with you.
I know he's an ass, but I think he's pretty funny
That he had so many Liverpool fans and Alan Green frothing at the mouth makes him a hero in my eyes. Very amusing.
I was watching on Sky so missed out on Green's reaction. He has been a tit most of this season but credit to Jose for that one.
Of course we could get 9 points off the last three games and finish mid table.
They are safe now.Albion aren't safe yet - if they lose on Saturday at Sunderland they'll be bricking it again.
Sadly, the fact they're ahead of us probably makes them safe!
Fulham are the team that worry me, could see them maybe beating Stoke and Palace, who have nothing to play for.
Pretty confident that Norwich and Cardiff will finish below us.
Fulham might get a win and a draw. 2 wins would be remarkable.
Those thinking Fulham can't win their next two games should look at how Sunderland did against Man City and Chelsea. They're playing two mid-table sides with very little to play for, we are definitely not safe yet.
Sunderland haven't conceded the best part of 80 goals and are largely where they are thanks to that whacky fascist giving them 1 point out of their first 21.
Fulham's miraculous run includes beating an awful us and an even worse Norwich, who just about everybody has been beating of late. Fulham shipped two late on against a side supposedly on the beach.
Fulham and Cardiff are gone and given Chelsea's win yesterday, so are Norwich.
Darren Bent scoring the goals to keep them up and send us down would really top the whole season off.
Sunderland haven't conceded the best part of 80 goals and are largely where they are thanks to that whacky fascist giving them 1 point out of their first 21.
Fulham's miraculous run includes beating an awful us and an even worse Norwich, who just about everybody has been beating of late. Fulham shipped two late on against a side supposedly on the beach.
Fulham and Cardiff are gone and given Chelsea's win yesterday, so are Norwich.
This is what I keep telling myself, but Christ I hope we win Saturday so we don't have to rely on other teams fecking up.
Darren Bent scoring the goals to keep them up and send us down would really top the whole season off.
Yep and it would perfectly illustrate the folly of our approach to the 'bomb squad'.
All down to Stoke. Thankfully Hughes has motive after the way he split with Fulham.
Those thinking Fulham can't win their next two games should look at how Sunderland did against Man City and Chelsea. They're playing two mid-table sides with very little to play for, we are definitely not safe yet.Of course they can but they won't. Honestly we could sit here and worry about all sorts of scenarios against us but there is a reason why Fulham are where they are and they have conceded about a million goals. The sad thing is that this is where we were last season with Wigan and Mr Lambert has done it again.
If Fulham beat Stoke in their next game and we don't beat Hull I wouldn't be at all confident going into the remaining games. Stranger things have happened certainly.
Darren Bent scoring the goals to keep them up and send us down would really top the whole season off.
Yep and it would perfectly illustrate the folly of our approach to the 'bomb squad'.
Even if people considered us relegation candidates at the start of the season, which they didn't, people didn't think Fulham were after the amount of money they'd spent. So it wasn't a case of loaning Bent to a relegation rival, even if it comes back to bite us.
Even if people considered us relegation candidates at the start of the season, which they didn't, people didn't think Fulham were after the amount of money they'd spent. So it wasn't a case of loaning Bent to a relegation rival, even if it comes back to bite us.
Even if people considered us relegation candidates at the start of the season, which they didn't, people didn't think Fulham were after the amount of money they'd spent. So it wasn't a case of loaning Bent to a relegation rival, even if it comes back to bite us.
You can see it written in the football gods though, Bent scores in the 90th minute at Stoke to give Fulham a 1-0 win
Sunderland haven't conceded the best part of 80 goals and are largely where they are thanks to that whacky fascist giving them 1 point out of their first 21.
Fulham's miraculous run includes beating an awful us and an even worse Norwich, who just about everybody has been beating of late. Fulham shipped two late on against a side supposedly on the beach.
Fulham and Cardiff are gone and given Chelsea's win yesterday, so are Norwich.
And Crystal Palace are also safe with nothing to play for.
Sunderland haven't conceded the best part of 80 goals and are largely where they are thanks to that whacky fascist giving them 1 point out of their first 21.
Fulham's miraculous run includes beating an awful us and an even worse Norwich, who just about everybody has been beating of late. Fulham shipped two late on against a side supposedly on the beach.
Fulham and Cardiff are gone and given Chelsea's win yesterday, so are Norwich.
I'm not gay, and neither am I drunk but with that kind of attitude, I love you, man.
SSN
BREAKING NEWS: Lambert sacked and replaced by Ads
This club has gone nowhere under his stewardship.
This club has gone nowhere under his stewardship.
Who, Ads?
Give him a chance his only been in the job 20 minutes!
Ads has only been doing the job half an hour, and he's already won the Scottish Cup
Sorry, I'm not having that. Since Ads took over we haven't scored a single goal or picked up a single point. In fact he's so bad we haven't even played a single game. Out of his depth and has to go.
Leave Ads alone, as Joe Lovejoy would have it,
"Paul Lambert took them to the brink of relegation playing eye-bleedingly turgid football and that wasn't good enough for them. Now Ads gets appointed on an online message board and suddenly he's not good enough either. What a bunch of ungrateful wretches those Villa fans are. Disgusting, I hope they get relegated then Paul Lambert will deserve a knighthood but all he'll get is more abuse."
Leave Ads alone, as Joe Lovejoy would have it,
"Paul Lambert took them to the brink of relegation playing eye-bleedingly turgid football and that wasn't good enough for them. Now Ads gets appointed on an online message board and suddenly he's not good enough either. What a bunch of ungrateful wretches those Villa fans are. Disgusting, I hope they get relegated then Paul Lambert will deserve a knighthood but all he'll get is more abuse."
I hate that article. Such a load of shit. How brave of him, as well, to have tucked away his calumny in the match report not open to a comments thread.
I'll say one thing, if results don't go our way this weekend then next week is going to be very long and very hard to take.
I'll say one thing, if results don't go our way this weekend then next week is going to be very long and very hard to take.
I'll say one thing, if results don't go our way this weekend then next week is going to be very long and very hard to take.
I'll say another. If results go our way then we won't have to worry about relegation for the last two games.
I have been busy planning my first training session. I have some modern and novel ideas about how to improve things, so I plan to introduce them to something called a "football".
I have also been working on standing with my hands on my hips, looking pensive, whilst furiously chewing gum without biting the inside of my cheek.
For all those going on Saturday, nothing less than half an hour of chanting Ads' Claret and Blue army and I will label you all fickle.
I'll say one thing, if results don't go our way this weekend then next week is going to be very long and very hard to take.
Tell me about it, I am starting to feel slightly sick about this Saturday as it is, another 8 days of this after Saturday would be a mare.
Lets look on the more optimistic side. By 5.00 we will be safe and SHA will be in League One.
I thought he'd already drafted in Gripper Stebson as assistant?
I'll say one thing, if results don't go our way this weekend then next week is going to be very long and very hard to take.
Tell me about it, I am starting to feel slightly sick about this Saturday as it is, another 8 days of this after Saturday would be a mare.
Lets look on the more optimistic side. By 5.00 we will be safe and SHA will be in League One.
Folks, we have an Assistant Manager to work alongside Ads. Richard, welcome to Aston Villa...do your best, keep us up, don't bully the kids or tell the fans to f*ck off and you'll be fine. We're with you.
I thought he'd already drafted in Gripper Stebson as assistant?
No, Gripper's running the Youth Academy with Tucker Jenkins
I thought he'd already drafted in Gripper Stebson as assistant?
No, Gripper's running the Youth Academy with Tucker Jenkins
Unfortunately, the club have confirmed that the coaching team, Gripper Stebson and Tucker Jenkins have been suspended with immediate effect.
It is believed Gripper called Mrs Miggins in the BMH tuck shop "a fucking clown shoe", whilst Jenkins is believed to have referred to a member of the ground staff as "a clueless fucking hobo".
Look - What it would take for Aston Villa to get relegated this season
Mat Kendrick crunches the numbers ahead of the claret and blues final three games
Apr 28, 2014 08:32
By Mat Kendrick
Villa have 35 points, with a -17 goal difference, the best in the bottom five.
Three points or more
Villa would mathematically guarantee safety with three points or more in the final three matches, taking their tally to 38 or higher. Doing so with a home win against Hull this weekend would be best. But, failing that, a win at Manchester City or Tottenham would keep them up, as would three draws.
Two points
If they get two draws and two points, taking their tally to 37, they are 99.9 per cent safe, barring a dramatic results/goal difference swing against them.
One point
If Villa get one draw and one point, taking their tally to 36, then two of the following scenarios must happen for Villa to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h), with a 21-goal swing.
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h).
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h) or get four points from a win and a draw, with a 15-goal swing.
4 Sunderland take four or more points from Manchester United (a), West Brom (h) and Swansea (h).
Even if two of those were to occur, Villa could still stay up if West Brom fail to take a point from Arsenal (a), Sunderland (a) and Stoke (h) and there is a five-goal swing in Villas favour.
No points
If Villa get no points, leaving their tally at 35, then two of the following scenarios must happen for them to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h).
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h) or get four points with a win and a draw, with a 25-goal swing.
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) or Arsenal (h) with a 15-goal swing, or win both, or win one and draw one.
4 Sunderland win one game with a three-goal swing, or win one and get a least a draw in the other two games.
Great ... now I can't even watch football without Ads popping up.
Birmingham Mail (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/look---what-would-take-7039722)QuoteLook - What it would take for Aston Villa to get relegated this season
Mat Kendrick crunches the numbers ahead of the claret and blues final three games
Apr 28, 2014 08:32
By Mat Kendrick
Villa have 35 points, with a -17 goal difference, the best in the bottom five.
Three points or more
Villa would mathematically guarantee safety with three points or more in the final three matches, taking their tally to 38 or higher. Doing so with a home win against Hull this weekend would be best. But, failing that, a win at Manchester City or Tottenham would keep them up, as would three draws.
Two points
If they get two draws and two points, taking their tally to 37, they are 99.9 per cent safe, barring a dramatic results/goal difference swing against them.
One point
If Villa get one draw and one point, taking their tally to 36, then two of the following scenarios must happen for Villa to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h), with a 21-goal swing.
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h).
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h) or get four points from a win and a draw, with a 15-goal swing.
4 Sunderland take four or more points from Manchester United (a), West Brom (h) and Swansea (h).
Even if two of those were to occur, Villa could still stay up if West Brom fail to take a point from Arsenal (a), Sunderland (a) and Stoke (h) and there is a five-goal swing in Villas favour.
No points
If Villa get no points, leaving their tally at 35, then two of the following scenarios must happen for them to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h).
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h) or get four points with a win and a draw, with a 25-goal swing.
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) or Arsenal (h) with a 15-goal swing, or win both, or win one and draw one.
4 Sunderland win one game with a three-goal swing, or win one and get a least a draw in the other two games.
I wonder where he got all that from?
Is Ads the new boss cos everyone else think's we awful but he doesn't really?
Birmingham Mail (http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/look---what-would-take-7039722)QuoteLook - What it would take for Aston Villa to get relegated this season
Mat Kendrick crunches the numbers ahead of the claret and blues final three games
Apr 28, 2014 08:32
By Mat Kendrick
Villa have 35 points, with a -17 goal difference, the best in the bottom five.
Three points or more
Villa would mathematically guarantee safety with three points or more in the final three matches, taking their tally to 38 or higher. Doing so with a home win against Hull this weekend would be best. But, failing that, a win at Manchester City or Tottenham would keep them up, as would three draws.
Two points
If they get two draws and two points, taking their tally to 37, they are 99.9 per cent safe, barring a dramatic results/goal difference swing against them.
One point
If Villa get one draw and one point, taking their tally to 36, then two of the following scenarios must happen for Villa to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h), with a 21-goal swing.
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h).
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) and Arsenal (h) or get four points from a win and a draw, with a 15-goal swing.
4 Sunderland take four or more points from Manchester United (a), West Brom (h) and Swansea (h).
Even if two of those were to occur, Villa could still stay up if West Brom fail to take a point from Arsenal (a), Sunderland (a) and Stoke (h) and there is a five-goal swing in Villa’s favour.
No points
If Villa get no points, leaving their tally at 35, then two of the following scenarios must happen for them to be relegated.
1 Cardiff beat Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h).
2 Fulham beat Stoke (a) and Crystal Palace (h) or get four points with a win and a draw, with a 25-goal swing.
3 Norwich beat Chelsea (a) or Arsenal (h) with a 15-goal swing, or win both, or win one and draw one.
4 Sunderland win one game with a three-goal swing, or win one and get a least a draw in the other two games.
I wonder where he got all that from?
It does look vaguely familiar...
Depressingly, in normal seasons there would be no mention of 25 goal swings because of the utter impossibility of it, but given our record under Lambert a 25 goal swing in 3 games is easily achievable!!!
I don't think that any one doubts that Sunderland will get 3 points. Cardiff are done. Norwich getting anything at Chelsea unlikely.
So it comes down to Fulham not beating stoke. Not exactly a slam dunk.
Is Ads the new boss cos everyone else think's we awful but he doesn't really?
I thought it would be standard practice for a professional outfit.
I find the term "mathematically safe" really annoying.
Carry on.
I thought it would be standard practice for a professional outfit.
Not our neighbours though. Or at least not where Zigic is concerned.
I had the thought that, if we do stay up and Norwich go down, then we could probably say with some justification that Benteke kept us in the league and relegated Norwich. I know it's over thirty-eight games and doesn't really come down to one match, but if there was a turning point that 4-1 was it.
Reasons to be positive about this weekend
Hulls away record is W3 D3 L11. The three victories came against Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff. There are only three teams with a worse away record - Cardiff, Norwich and Stoke, which brings me to my next point
Stoke may be poor away, but their home record is W9 D6 L3. They have only been beaten at home by Norwich (back in September), Liverpool and Spurs. They have beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd and drawn with Man City and Everton.
Fulham have won four away games. They were against Sunderland (opening game of season), Palace (back in October when Palace were shit), Norwich (in December) and us. Their victory at Villa Park was their only away win in 2014.
Villa to get a point. Fulham to get a point at best. Norwich wont win at Chelsea. Well be safe by Sunday evening. I hope.
Reasons to be positive about this weekend
Hulls away record is W3 D3 L11. The three victories came against Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff. There are only three teams with a worse away record - Cardiff, Norwich and Stoke, which brings me to my next point
Stoke may be poor away, but their home record is W9 D6 L3. They have only been beaten at home by Norwich (back in September), Liverpool and Spurs. They have beaten Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd and drawn with Man City and Everton.
Fulham have won four away games. They were against Sunderland (opening game of season), Palace (back in October when Palace were shit), Norwich (in December) and us. Their victory at Villa Park was their only away win in 2014.
Villa to get a point. Fulham to get a point at best. Norwich wont win at Chelsea. Well be safe by Sunday evening. I hope.
I likes the cut of your jib.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/10794375/Aston-Villas-top-earning-players-face-pay-cuts-if-club-are-relegated-from-Premier-League-to-Championship.html
Might have to let the club masseur go if the disaster occurs
I really would like to go into the Man City game knowing the battering we are likely going to take won't matter.
I don't think Hull have beaten us in the league either have they?
very long and very hard to take.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
We could also draw and end our worries.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Hull aren't as poor as us at the moment, no team in the league is.
I can't believe how optimistic some are beingDeep down few would be genuinely optimistic, I am certainly not. But I am determined to turn up Saturday and be as positive as I can be and hope for the best and hope that all the team play as well as they possibly can for once.
I can't believe how optimistic some are being
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Going by the last 6 results Newcastle are worse than us.
I can't believe how optimistic some are being
I can't believe how optimistic some are being
Well you have a choice - expect a defeat, and be miserable all week, or be optimistic, expect a win and look forward to the game. If you do the former, you're in for a long few days.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Hull aren't as poor as us at the moment, no team in the league is.
My brother in law has spent most of the last few weeks pointing out how shit they are. If you look at the table, it indicates there isn't too much difference between their shitness and ours.
I appreciate no game is easy, but I think we can get carried away with ourselves and start talking all other sides up when, clearly, they're shit as well.
There was an interview with one of them who reckoned Hull were safe after the draw on Saturday, so between that and the upcoming cup final they might not have the same urgency on Saturday.Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Hull aren't as poor as us at the moment, no team in the league is.
My brother in law has spent most of the last few weeks pointing out how shit they are. If you look at the table, it indicates there isn't too much difference between their shitness and ours.
I appreciate no game is easy, but I think we can get carried away with ourselves and start talking all other sides up when, clearly, they're shit as well.
I don't doubt they're poor, as highlighted by going 2-0 down to Fulham but they showed fight and got a draw out of that game. I can't imagine us fighting back like that in our current malaise.
I'd be a lot more optimistic if Fulham were playing a team with something to play for.
I actually had a dream last night that we beat Man City, so fingers crossed.On Football Weekly, they raised that as a possibility. In a season with so many unexpected results, they suggested that us winning away to Man City would be the ultimate one to finish the season off.
Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Hull aren't as poor as us at the moment, no team in the league is.
On Football Weekly, they raised that as a possibility. In a season with so many unexpected results, they suggested that us winning away to Man City would be the ultimate one to finish the season off.
Newcastle are
There was an interview with one of them who reckoned Hull were safe after the draw on Saturday, so between that and the upcoming cup final they might not have the same urgency on Saturday.Yeah, they had beaten us at Villa Park 2-0 under McLiesh.
Hull are just as poor as us.
Hull aren't as poor as us at the moment, no team in the league is.
My brother in law has spent most of the last few weeks pointing out how shit they are. If you look at the table, it indicates there isn't too much difference between their shitness and ours.
I appreciate no game is easy, but I think we can get carried away with ourselves and start talking all other sides up when, clearly, they're shit as well.
I don't doubt they're poor, as highlighted by going 2-0 down to Fulham but they showed fight and got a draw out of that game. I can't imagine us fighting back like that in our current malaise.
Indeed. If we were in Hull's position we'd still be calling for Lambert to be sacked.
Indeed. If we were in Hull's position we'd still be calling for Lambert to be sacked.
After the cup final?
Indeed. If we were in Hull's position we'd still be calling for Lambert to be sacked.
After the cup final?
Standard for where we are, but that's only point a game, so still pretty shit, really.
Standard for where we are, but that's only point a game, so still pretty shit, really.
Oh yeah, its still a bag of wank, but not as big as the bag of wank we have become.
That comment is just typical of the fickle nature of the fickle support I received from fickle fans like you throughout my tenure.
That comment is just typical of the fickle nature of the fickle support I received from fickle fans like you throughout my tenure.
We weren't fickle, we just....
I noticed on my Twitter feed last night that some Liverpool supporters are trying to convince themselves Villa could get a result at Man City. Their season may well be relying on Nathan Baker.
I noticed on my Twitter feed last night that some Liverpool supporters are trying to convince themselves Villa could get a result at Man City. Their season may well be relying on Nathan Baker.
I noticed on my Twitter feed last night that some Liverpool supporters are trying to convince themselves Villa could get a result at Man City. Their season may well be relying on Nathan Baker.
I don't see why Fulham are more likely to beat both Stoke and Palace than us picking up at least a point at home to the equally rubbish Shane Long FC Tigers.
Yes, he gave Baker a doings in the first ten minutes at the Shrine in November, but he is still bang average and Hull are almost as equally as shit as us, even if in slightly better form.
The fact they're safe with the biggest game in their existence to come against Arsenal will have an effect. We will get at least a point.
I don't see why Fulham are more likely to beat both Stoke and Palace than us picking up at least a point at home to the equally rubbish Shane Long FC Tigers.
Yes, he gave Baker a doings in the first ten minutes at the Shrine in November, but he is still bang average and Hull are almost as equally as shit as us, even if in slightly better form.
The fact they're safe with the biggest game in their existence to come against Arsenal will have an effect. We will get at least a point.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
I noticed on my Twitter feed last night that some Liverpool supporters are trying to convince themselves Villa could get a result at Man City. Their season may well be relying on Nathan Baker.
Funny to see people at both ends of the league clutching at straws.
I don't see why Fulham are more likely to beat both Stoke and Palace than us picking up at least a point at home to the equally rubbish Shane Long FC Tigers.
Yes, he gave Baker a doings in the first ten minutes at the Shrine in November, but he is still bang average and Hull are almost as equally as shit as us, even if in slightly better form.
The fact they're safe with the biggest game in their existence to come against Arsenal will have an effect. We will get at least a point.
My point is that Fulham won't beat Stoke.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area.
I noticed on my Twitter feed last night that some Liverpool supporters are trying to convince themselves Villa could get a result at Man City. Their season may well be relying on Nathan Baker.
Funny to see people at both ends of the league clutching at straws.
It's a sign of a Misplaced Childhood.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area.
That's not true at all.
If we went down, it would be a big story.
Honestly I think we are a lot less relevant than we think we are , albeit the media have been waiting for us to be relegated for 3 years now so it will grab a few pages on the rags for a day or two. Then we'll be forgotten again.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area.
That's not true at all.
If we went down, it would be a big story.
Getting relegated would be a big story. A story about pay cuts at Aston Villa IF we are relegated, who cares?
We're hardly Liverpool in the media stakes, but I think that when it eventually happens, us going down will be every bit as big a media story as when Newcastle went down.Honestly I think we are a lot less relevant than we think we are , albeit the media have been waiting for us to be relegated for 3 years now so it will grab a few pages on the rags for a day or two. Then we'll be forgotten again.
That's what I think unfortunately. We're just not that relevant in the media. Newcastle a few years back was a big story because they are media darlings/Shearer/Geordies etc. If Villa went, we'd be devastated as would those in the media who might have fondness for us, but after that it would be washed over in couple of days.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area.
That's not true at all.
If we went down, it would be a big story.
Getting relegated would be a big story. A story about pay cuts at Aston Villa IF we are relegated, who cares?
That's really not the same as nobody giving a damn about Villa outside the relevant catchment area, though, is it?
We're hardly Liverpool in the media stakes, but I think that when it eventually happens, us going down will be every bit as big a media story as when Newcastle went down.Honestly I think we are a lot less relevant than we think we are , albeit the media have been waiting for us to be relegated for 3 years now so it will grab a few pages on the rags for a day or two. Then we'll be forgotten again.
That's what I think unfortunately. We're just not that relevant in the media. Newcastle a few years back was a big story because they are media darlings/Shearer/Geordies etc. If Villa went, we'd be devastated as would those in the media who might have fondness for us, but after that it would be washed over in couple of days.
I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area.
That's not true at all.
If we went down, it would be a big story.
Even if it isn't positive news at Newcastle, it is more newsworthy than our board that nobody really knows and but for a couple of players, nobody really knows.Since last year Newcastle have been even worse than us and it's been every bit as much of a non-event. They're only bothered if Pardew headbutts somebody, and if Lambert did that then it would be every bit as newsworthy.
Newcastle haven't been worse than us since last year. They had a brilliant start to the season. The fact that they have lot 9 out of 12 or whatever it is has stopped their season dead in its tracks. They have been on 46 points for ages despite the disaster of the past three months.Since 2013 (last year), they have got fewer points than everybody in the league apart from Cardiff.
Newcastle haven't been worse than us since last year. They had a brilliant start to the season. The fact that they have lot 9 out of 12 or whatever it is has stopped their season dead in its tracks. They have been on 46 points for ages despite the disaster of the past three months.Since 2013 (last year), they have got fewer points than everybody in the league apart from Cardiff.
Now you mystify me. Do you not think that a very reputable national heavy weight newspaper printing an article like that is not evidence that people are interested in what happens to Aston Villa FC? It's very in-anachronistic to be dismissive of this article as space filler only.I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area. Either that or it is a paper/journalist writing an article to fill space as opposed to it really being any proper news story.
Newcastle haven't been worse than us since last year. They had a brilliant start to the season. The fact that they have lot 9 out of 12 or whatever it is has stopped their season dead in its tracks. They have been on 46 points for ages despite the disaster of the past three months.Since 2013 (last year), they have got fewer points than everybody in the league apart from Cardiff.
Good statting.Newcastle haven't been worse than us since last year. They had a brilliant start to the season. The fact that they have lot 9 out of 12 or whatever it is has stopped their season dead in its tracks. They have been on 46 points for ages despite the disaster of the past three months.Since 2013 (last year), they have got fewer points than everybody in the league apart from Cardiff.
Since 2013, Sunderland have scored more goals at St James' Park than Newcastle have.
I just don't think they really do. Just my opinion. I think most football fans are primarily obsessed about their own clubs, and beyond that it is what is being fed to them on daily basis by the likes of Sky and Talksport. I can tell you over here, the radio stations talking about football will talk endlessly about Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U and never mention anyone else but in passing. If clubs like Villa get mentioned then it is for about 30 seconds because we might have beaten Chelsea, and then for 5 hours about Chelsea and their problems. I just don't think we are a relevant club at the moment. As a club we have done it to ourselves too that we have just floated along since MON from one miserable year after another to the point where people expect us to be like Stoke or Fulham. Just existing. The one thing we have over clubs like them though is if we get it together people are far more likely to jump on our bandwagon than theirs. Even clubs like Everton for as good as a season as they have had barely get mentioned other than to say Martinez has done a good job, but nothing truly in depth as to how and why. Yet Spurs by comparison are discussed at length for farting loudly.
Now you mystify me. Do you not think that a very reputable national heavy weight newspaper printing an article like that is not evidence that people are interested in what happens to Aston Villa FC? It's very in-anachronistic to be dismissive of this article as space filler only.I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area. Either that or it is a paper/journalist writing an article to fill space as opposed to it really being any proper news story.
Now you mystify me. Do you not think that a very reputable national heavy weight newspaper printing an article like that is not evidence that people are interested in what happens to Aston Villa FC? It's very in-anachronistic to be dismissive of this article as space filler only.I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area. Either that or it is a paper/journalist writing an article to fill space as opposed to it really being any proper news story.
I'll believe it to be big story when The Guardian, Independent, Times run with it also.
I just don't think they really do. Just my opinion. I think most football fans are primarily obsessed about their own clubs, and beyond that it is what is being fed to them on daily basis by the likes of Sky and Talksport. I can tell you over here, the radio stations talking about football will talk endlessly about Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U and never mention anyone else but in passing. If clubs like Villa get mentioned then it is for about 30 seconds because we might have beaten Chelsea, and then for 5 hours about Chelsea and their problems. I just don't think we are a relevant club at the moment. As a club we have done it to ourselves too that we have just floated along since MON from one miserable year after another to the point where people expect us to be like Stoke or Fulham. Just existing. The one thing we have over clubs like them though is if we get it together people are far more likely to jump on our bandwagon than theirs. Even clubs like Everton for as good as a season as they have had barely get mentioned other than to say Martinez has done a good job, but nothing truly in depth as to how and why. Yet Spurs by comparison are discussed at length for farting loudly.
I totally disagree. I think it might be because you're judging it on what you see the other side of the Atlantic, but we got lots of coverage under MON for being decent, and since then, we've had lots of coverage for being shit.
It's also worth noting that this discussion is coming out of an article in the Telegraph about our players having relegation clauses. That to me doesn't sound like a club nobody gives a shit about.
You mentioned Newcastle and the Shearer effect, but I don't think there is another non CL club with as many high profile supporters as we have. We have an extremely high profile when you consider we last won something 18 years ago.
The media do wank off about the top four and hardly anyone else, yes, you're right, but that's the case for almost everyone. Spurs are media favourites and get disproportionate coverage, that's a totally different issue.
Believe me, if we go down, it will be every bit as newsworthy as it was when Newcastle did. They weren't even PL ever presents, for a start.
Now you mystify me. Do you not think that a very reputable national heavy weight newspaper printing an article like that is not evidence that people are interested in what happens to Aston Villa FC? It's very in-anachronistic to be dismissive of this article as space filler only.I hope the Telegraph are going to publish an article about potential pay cuts to players at Norwich, Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff this morning too.We are a big club in a big city that is why they have covered us. Others you mention here are minnows or provincial. No one is interested in them.
Really, I think the only people interested in us is us. We might be all of those things but in football terms nobody really gives a damn about Aston Villa outside of the obvious geographical catchment area. Either that or it is a paper/journalist writing an article to fill space as opposed to it really being any proper news story.
I'll believe it to be big story when The Guardian, Independent, Times run with it also.
Isn't that just moving the goalposts to suit your argument? It's a story if it's in all four of those, but not one of them?
not at all. If it is a story carried in a number of outlets it has generated interest and therefore relevance.
It would be a big story here - same as if Everton or spurs went down.
As for other fans - I think a lot would like it if it happened. Not because they necessarily hate us, its just a novelty
It would be a big story here - same as if Everton or spurs went down.
As for other fans - I think a lot would like it if it happened. Not because they necessarily hate us, its just a novelty
Of course they would.
The time to worry about it is if you go down and nobody bats an eyelid.
It would be a big story here - same as if Everton or spurs went down.
As for other fans - I think a lot would like it if it happened. Not because they necessarily hate us, its just a novelty
Of course they would.
The time to worry about it is if you go down and nobody bats an eyelid.
And of course we've offered nothing for essentially four years. I think a lot of supporters of other clubs would be delighted to see us down.
Paul Lambert, the manager, is also understood to be facing a wage reduction if he fails in his mission to retain Villas top-flight status.
QuotePaul Lambert, the manager, is also understood to be facing a wage reduction if he fails in his mission to retain Villas top-flight status.
Hell yeah a reduction. A 100% reduction. And a P45.
It will only be a story if they're talking about it on 'Loose Women'. That's the show where all the big stories go.
It will only be a story if they're talking about it on 'Loose Women'. That's the show where all the big stories go.
I hear they've already got Janet Street Porter outside the ground with a microphone.
Don't know about that but New Street Porter is waiting outside for Mr Lambert's luggage!It will only be a story if they're talking about it on 'Loose Women'. That's the show where all the big stories go.
I hear they've already got Janet Street Porter outside the ground with a microphone.
I don't know how much more of this anxiety I can take. I wish I was with our friend Purple Trousers, at least he doesn't know how bad it's got. When he gets back he won't have a clue which division we'll be in.
One of my grandsons' is three today and we're staying with them for a couple of days and, even that doesn't help to take my mind off it. It should never have come to this.
Don't know about that but New Street Porter is waiting outside for Mr Lambert's luggage!It will only be a story if they're talking about it on 'Loose Women'. That's the show where all the big stories go.
I hear they've already got Janet Street Porter outside the ground with a microphone.
I dreamed the other day that we beat City, I'd say yours is more likely. We just need to find a way to beat Hull and then an enormous rebuilding job is required in the summer or we'll go next year.
My nightmares are doozies. I am eight years old again walking to Villa Park and I am lost. I can hear the cheering but I can't find the ground.
My nightmares are doozies. I am eight years old again walking to Villa Park and I am lost. I can hear the cheering but I can't find the ground.
Cheering? You must be near the away fans then!!
I'm not sure this is just Villa-related, but I've had a headache pretty much continuously since Saturday afternoon.
I'm not sure this is just Villa-related, but I've had a headache pretty much continuously since Saturday afternoon.
Binned. It lost the magic.
(http://www.mightyline.net/images/stories/virtuemart/product/3.75dotp.jpg)
Is there a soundtrack by Prince for it?
Villa Park never used to be a "Gimme" for away Teams, quite the contrary, it Did used to be "Fortress Villa Park" and not that long ago either, sigh - how times change!.My nightmares are doozies. I am eight years old again walking to Villa Park and I am lost. I can hear the cheering but I can't find the ground.
Cheering? You must be near the away fans then!!
I fancy a Ribena
Villa Park never used to be a "Gimme" for away Teams, quite the contrary, it Did used to be "Fortress Villa Park" and not that long ago either, sigh - how times change!.My nightmares are doozies. I am eight years old again walking to Villa Park and I am lost. I can hear the cheering but I can't find the ground.
Cheering? You must be near the away fans then!!
(http://www.mightyline.net/images/stories/virtuemart/product/3.75dotp.jpg)
Surely Villa Park has to be a fortress, so it can safely store our transfer war chest.
Villa Park only becomes a fortress after dark. We need more night games !
Sunderland 6-1
Spurs 1-0 (the great lockout)
Liverpool 5-1 77?
Gornik Zabreze 2-0
Athletico Madrid 2-1 SVC
Inter 2-0 Kent !
SHA 6-0
Yanited 1-0
That's just a small sample off the top of my head. I think we are better with the lights onVilla Park only becomes a fortress after dark. We need more night games !
Sunderland 6-1
Spurs 1-0 (the great lockout)
Liverpool 5-1 77?
Gornik Zabreze 2-0
Athletico Madrid 2-1 SVC
Inter 2-0 Kent !
SHA 6-0
Yanited 1-0
So, eight "fortress" games over a period going back 37 years?
Not exactly (pre this week) Bayern at the Allianz, is it?
There is a light that never goes out ;D
In all my years watching and following the Villa, Villa Park has never been a fortress. At times, very strong at home but, never a fortress. I wish it had been/was.Same here. I can't remember us ever winning 3 home games on the run!
In all my years watching and following the Villa, Villa Park has never been a fortress. At times, very strong at home but, never a fortress. I wish it had been/was.Same here. I can't remember us ever winning 3 home games on the run!
It's as though 030303 never happened. Or all the other regular Monday night beatings, or European fuck ups. *wink*
For as long as I can remember our home form has rarely gone above good, and is more often in the crap-average bracket.
There is a light that never goes out ;D
Uh oh, you're in trouble when you quote The Smiths around here.
I am reassured to see you can still get 9/1 on us going down.
We are 10.5 (19/2) on betfair. Just emptied my account.I am reassured to see you can still get 9/1 on us going down.
Yeah and with a matched bet from most bookies you can double those odds. Lump on.
In all my years watching and following the Villa, Villa Park has never been a fortress. At times, very strong at home but, never a fortress. I wish it had been/was.Same here. I can't remember us ever winning 3 home games on the run!
The last good years for Villa Park were 89/90 and 92/93 IMHO.
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.
In all my years watching and following the Villa, Villa Park has never been a fortress. At times, very strong at home but, never a fortress. I wish it had been/was.Same here. I can't remember us ever winning 3 home games on the run!
The last good years for Villa Park were 89/90 and 92/93 IMHO.
Sod matching anyone else's result - let's just go out there and win.
We are playing Hull sodding City not Barcelona or Real Madrid!!
Come on you Lions!!!!!
Sod matching anyone else's result - let's just go out there and win.
We are playing Hull sodding City not Barcelona or Real Madrid!!
Come on you Lions!!!!!
Sod matching anyone else's result - let's just go out there and win.
We are playing Hull sodding City not Barcelona or Real Madrid!!
Come on you Lions!!!!!
You could have posted that before the Stoke, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Swansea games recently.
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.
I don't know about that, we could fail to get another point and still be safe.
It's as though 030303 never happened. Or all the other regular Monday night beatings, or European fuck ups. *wink*
For as long as I can remember our home form has rarely gone above good, and is more often in the crap-average bracket.
19 home defeats in less than 2 seasons. It was never as bad as this, ever.
It's as though 030303 never happened. Or all the other regular Monday night beatings, or European fuck ups. *wink*
For as long as I can remember our home form has rarely gone above good, and is more often in the crap-average bracket.
19 home defeats in less than 2 seasons. It was never as bad as this, ever.
Regardless of how shite we are at home currently, what I said is true.
It's as though 030303 never happened. Or all the other regular Monday night beatings, or European fuck ups. *wink*
For as long as I can remember our home form has rarely gone above good, and is more often in the crap-average bracket.
19 home defeats in less than 2 seasons. It was never as bad as this, ever.
Regardless of how shite we are at home currently, what I said is true.
This run has highlighted how reliant we are on Benteke. It is crucial we learn different ways to play and how to hurt teams if Benteke isn't available.
It's as though 030303 never happened. Or all the other regular Monday night beatings, or European fuck ups. *wink*
For as long as I can remember our home form has rarely gone above good, and is more often in the crap-average bracket.
19 home defeats in less than 2 seasons. It was never as bad as this, ever.
Regardless of how shite we are at home currently, what I said is true.
You can dress it up as much as you like, but this season's home form has broken all records for shiteness. It has literally never been as bad as this in our entire history. No matter how much you claim, "we've never been that good at home anyway" it still won't make this season look any better.
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.Win=safe, Draw=safe, Lose=safe.
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.
I don't know about that, we could fail to get another point and still be safe.
Yes, the draw is really only relevant with regard to Cardiff, who are doomed anyway, unless we get a point against Man City or Spurs. Win and we're safe, any other result we're relying on Stoke or Palace to at least draw. In theory that makes us pretty secure. Doesn't stop me worrying though.
Cardiff and Fulham need to win both of their remaining games? Norwich need at least a win and a draw if Villa lose to Hull City. Just clarifying my own thoughts. I hope we beat Hull City so we can at least say we did it ourselves, rather than having to rely on other teams. Cardiff and Norwich to play Chelsea? Fulham's last game, I presume is at home, to who?
This is quite simple, win safe, lose down, draw - rely on Stoke.
I don't know about that, we could fail to get another point and still be safe.
Yes, the draw is really only relevant with regard to Cardiff, who are doomed anyway, unless we get a point against Man City or Spurs. Win and we're safe, any other result we're relying on Stoke or Palace to at least draw. In theory that makes us pretty secure. Doesn't stop me worrying though.
A point would also mean Norwich would need to win both remaining games to get above us.
I'd like to know more about the training regime. What sort of process do you go through to get a leg breaking tackle in training ?This run has highlighted how reliant we are on Benteke. It is crucial we learn different ways to play and how to hurt teams if Benteke isn't available.
The best way of doing that would be to have a backup striker in place who doesn't break his leg.
Lambert has clearly made mistakes but we do seem to suffer more than our fair share of injuries.
I'd like to know more about the training regime. What sort of process do you go through to get a leg breaking tackle in training ?This run has highlighted how reliant we are on Benteke. It is crucial we learn different ways to play and how to hurt teams if Benteke isn't available.
The best way of doing that would be to have a backup striker in place who doesn't break his leg.
Lambert has clearly made mistakes but we do seem to suffer more than our fair share of injuries.
I'd like to know more about the training regime. What sort of process do you go through to get a leg breaking tackle in training ?This run has highlighted how reliant we are on Benteke. It is crucial we learn different ways to play and how to hurt teams if Benteke isn't available.
The best way of doing that would be to have a backup striker in place who doesn't break his leg.
Lambert has clearly made mistakes but we do seem to suffer more than our fair share of injuries.
I don't think it's fair to criticise the training for Kozak's leg break. It's just something that can happen, and was likely just Clark mistiming a tackle.
I am reassured to see you can still get 9/1 on us going down.
you know that there will be strange results in the last couple of games
Lets hope we get a strange result and WIN!!
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
I know what you mean but haven't we pissed ourselves laughing at small Heath for doing that?I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
I know what you mean but haven't we pissed ourselves laughing at small Heath for doing that?I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
I am reassured to see you can still get 9/1 on us going down.
I was surprised. Even tempted. I dont think the bookies look properly at the form tables. I think 3/1 is more reasonable.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
Most areas are all but sold out. Looking very 40K'ish.
I am reassured to see you can still get 9/1 on us going down.
I was surprised. Even tempted. I dont think the bookies look properly at the form tables. I think 3/1 is more reasonable.
That's because they don't. The odds are purely a reflection of how much money has been placed on us compared to our "rivals". ie plenty of people think there's more chance of 3 other teams dropping than us. If we get a remotely unfavourable set of results tomorrow, those odds will only fall if people lump on us, rather than what the bookies think will happen.
The bookies aren't that interested in predicting what will happen.
They are interested in using computers running mathematical models to ensure they have maximum chance of turning a profit and minimum chance of taking a hammering.
The odds are 9/1 because not much money is going on us to be relegated. If any serious gambler thought we would they'd lump on at those odds and bring the odds down. So sleep reassured.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
Most areas are all but sold out. Looking very 40K'ish.
I'm sure versions of this post have been done a few times already but the way I see it:
Regardless of what happens at Villa Park:
If Cardiff fail to win, they cannot catch us
If Fulham fail to win, they cannot catch us (they could with a draw, but they'd need a swing of 25 in GD and they'd have to beat Palace on the last day)
Norwich can lose and still catch us, but would need to beat arsenal and get +15 swing in goal difference by the last day).
Sunderland need 3 points and +3 goals from ManU (A) and Swansea and West Brom (I think they'll manage that)
This is assuming we don't pick up another point all season. A win or a draw today would take a whole string of bizarre results for us to go.
I think we will win. Hull have only sold 1000 tickets, which shows you how arsed they are about this game.
Good, the less away fans the better. I kind of wish we'd knocked prices way down to get the place rammed tomorrow.
Only 4 tickets left in P6, which indicates a fairly decent attendance in my experience.
Bolton winning will start the afternoon off on a positive note.
Bolton winning will start the afternoon off on a positive note.
Not exactly positive for Midlands football is it or for the friends we have who support Birmingham!
I hope they win and I hope we win.
I will be honest I am not really bothered what happens in Bolton today, but I don't see how Midlands football is really affected by the Noses dropping. There is only one team in the Midlands and they're playing in Aston today.