Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: russon on December 28, 2016, 10:40:29 AM

Title: Rock Bottoms
Post by: russon on December 28, 2016, 10:40:29 AM
I'm scribbling a few words for the next issue and was hoping people might share what they consider to have been our lowest ebb in recent seasons (post M'ON). I'd like to think we have no depths further to plunge but I aint complacent, who knows what Villa might do to us next.

I've come up with some contenders but please shout if you have others - Bradford, Doncaster, Millwall, Gabby pulling his socks up instead of closing down (was that at Man City?), relegation...

Thanks. And finally, some music ...

Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: LeeB on December 28, 2016, 10:45:42 AM
(https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/Guardian/lifeandhealth/gallery/2008/mar/26/1/GD6705405@Pop-icon-Rod-Stewart--6084.jpg?w=700&q=55&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&s=ac78681688c83aea2c53a2c4e519264f)
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Jimbo on December 28, 2016, 10:46:08 AM
The FA Cup final. Crushing, embarrassing and humiliating. Nothing particularly new about all that, but the worldwide audience of millions heightened every depressing sensation. It was as bad as I've ever felt as a Villa fan, but it numbed me to the humiliations to come so that I could hardly give a shit any more.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Nev on December 28, 2016, 10:49:46 AM
That Christmas that contained the 8-0 at Chelsea.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Broughty-Villian on December 28, 2016, 10:52:19 AM
Yeah FA Cup for me. Its the only trophy I need the Villa to lift and I have the full set. Worse than the insipid display against Chelski
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 28, 2016, 10:54:37 AM
Kevin Macdonald's team selection with Garde in the stands. Unforgivable.

Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: exigo on December 28, 2016, 11:01:50 AM
All of the above. And the Delph 'loyalty' film. And while we're talking about shite on the big screens, that Christmas film with the players cackling.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: aj2k77 on December 28, 2016, 11:07:32 AM
For me it was the point when we sacked a second manager in a season. For years I've watched clubs implode and always thought they'd hit the point of being utter mickey mouse when they are sacking multiple failed managers in the same season.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Richard on December 28, 2016, 11:08:02 AM
The 0-6 at home to Liverpool was utterly shambolic.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: aj2k77 on December 28, 2016, 11:14:56 AM
Keeping our ''powder dry'' in January when we decided to choose hard relegation and go down without a fight whilst screwing over the manager we'd bullshitted in to joining us.

Any time Tox Fox spoke his deluded sales manager nonsense whilst we rolled around the bottom of the barrel with a handful of points and never scoring.

Watching a Remi Garde interview in February and knowing he hated it here and wanted out asap.

I've hated the past few years, there's absolutely loads of them isn't there.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Jimbo on December 28, 2016, 11:17:36 AM
The 'I feel a bit sorry for Randy, and wish him well' bollocks following his departure.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: saunders_heroes on December 28, 2016, 11:18:31 AM
The lowest point for me was when we were finally relegated with just 16 points on the table. That was the culmination of nearly 6 years of sabotage by Lerner and is quite simply unforgivable for a club as big as Villa.
Saying that though we've got to put all this behind us and just get on with winning promotion this season. The play-offs are still within our grasp.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Chris Smith on December 28, 2016, 11:25:05 AM
After years of always staying until the final whistle finding myself on several occasions last season streaming out early in the second half, along with thousands of others, because I was getting zero enjoyment from the football.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: OzVilla on December 28, 2016, 11:37:09 AM
Can't argue with any of the above but a special mention goes to the General's re use of the "Proud History, Bright Future" slogan for some southern College in America he'd managed to weasel his way into.

I knew at that moment we were being totally fucked over and we'd all been had by those wankers.

The Liverpool 0-6, Gabby going off with dizzyness and the Lescott tweet was the one day last season that shamed them the most.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Lucky Eddie on December 28, 2016, 11:46:07 AM
The lack of Mcleish protesters on the Holte End steps.

A clear sign of how our support base has changed.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: luke95 on December 28, 2016, 11:51:57 AM
Signing McLeish as manager , he'd just relegated Birmingham City Ffs .

I do believe that was Randys 'fuck you , this is my club' statment to the fans & it was only a matter time before the inevitability of relegation.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: eamonn on December 28, 2016, 12:04:48 PM
The Valentine's Day massacre at home to Liverpool. A display so wretched it ceased any green shoots of the previous few weeks with a gleaming guillotine-bladed precision and instead marked the pinnacle of half a decade of sliding into the abyss and confirmation that there would be no way back without a revolution at the club.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: cdbearsfan on December 28, 2016, 12:16:43 PM
Agree with the Liverpool hammering. We were always likely to go down, in humiliating fashion. That was the game that extinguished any hope of, even, vague respectability. And it was on telly, as most of our truly abysmal performances seem to be.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: The Man With A Stick on December 28, 2016, 12:29:11 PM
Liverpool 0-6 for me too.  Any minor chance of us staying up well and truly shat upon.

Didn't help that I was on holiday in mid-Wales at the time and they're like rats up there, you're never more than about 10 feet from a plastic Scouser.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: joe_c on December 28, 2016, 12:46:52 PM
Liverpool for me too. Even Klopp felt sorry for us.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Fin Feds Dad on December 28, 2016, 12:59:52 PM
Liverpool at home for me too .
Have never left a match so early ....was just completely disgusted by the 'players' on the pitch and what we had become . Bastards .
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: tomd2103 on December 28, 2016, 01:13:41 PM
At the time, the defeat to Bradford was as low as I'd felt following the Villa.  We were having a terrible season at that point and a trip to Wembley would have been a real lift.  To deservedly lose over two legs to a League Two side was awful though and it was compounded by Lambert's complete meltdown towards the end of the second leg. 

Looking back, I still think we would have beaten Swansea in the final, as we had found some decent form by then.     
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Lucky Eddie on December 28, 2016, 01:21:23 PM
Signing McLeish as manager , he'd just relegated Birmingham City Ffs .

I do believe that was Randys 'fuck you , this is my club' statment to the fans & it was only a matter time before the inevitability of relegation.

And in our thousands; we stood for it.

Ellis would never have got away with that appointment.

Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: PeterWithesShin on December 28, 2016, 01:28:36 PM
Losing at home to Leyton Orient. Can't think of many other games I've been so bored watching. Almost a relief when they scored late just so as we could go home and not be subjected to another half an hour of utter dross.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: damon loves JT on December 28, 2016, 01:39:05 PM
Losing 3-0 at home to Wigan. A glance at the calendar suggests that it happened four years ago today.

Maybe the sudden realisation that the results weren't a fluke; that suddenly, Aston Villa were genuinely as bad as everyone said.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: john e on December 28, 2016, 01:45:01 PM
Steve Bruce for me
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Ads on December 28, 2016, 01:46:11 PM
Aye, aye BrexitVilla is back on the troll.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: ktvillan on December 28, 2016, 02:01:55 PM
Signing McLeish as manager , he'd just relegated Birmingham City Ffs .

I do believe that was Randys 'fuck you , this is my club' statment to the fans & it was only a matter time before the inevitability of relegation.

And in our thousands; we stood for it.

Ellis would never have got away with that appointment.



McLeish appointment for me too.  How the purveyor of some of the dourest football you will ever see, a man happy to get nil,  a relegation specialist and one of the few managers who had managed to come third in a two horse race in Scotland, was ever deemed an appropriate choice to manage Aston Villa is utterly beyond me.  I laughed out loud when I heard it suggested, convinced that even Lerner could not be that incompetent.  When it came out to be true it was confirmation that our owner was not only incompetent, but also terminally thick and possibly lacking full mental faculties.  At that point I think I knew it was downhill until he was gone.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on December 28, 2016, 02:08:23 PM
All of the above plus Luton this season. Just when you finally start to regain a tiny bit of hope along they came to kick us in the nads.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Pat McMahon on December 28, 2016, 02:12:51 PM
Losing 3-0 at home to Wigan. A glance at the calendar suggests that it happened four years ago today.

Maybe the sudden realisation that the results weren't a fluke; that suddenly, Aston Villa were genuinely as bad as everyone said.

Amidst many candidates in the past few years that is my low point too. At the time I said it was our worst performance since Charlton away on Easter Monday 1987-88. We have suffered heavier defeats but to lose so convincingly at home to such weak opposition was utterly depressing.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Scratchins on December 28, 2016, 02:22:40 PM
Finally having relegation confirmed at Old Trafford with hardly a whimper. No tears, no defiant 'we'll be back'. Most had been resigned to it since before Christmas and the passion had slowly seeped out of us. We had sunk that low.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Legion on December 28, 2016, 02:44:12 PM
FA Cup final. Last season. Heavy defeats with no fight. Bradford. Leyton Orient. KMac team selections. The inevitable spiral into relegation after years of stinking out the Premiership (or whatever it is called now) with our insipid, pathetic displays.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Morleys left boot on December 28, 2016, 03:07:58 PM
The FA cup final for me ,when the whole  world  got to see what a big pile of  bollox  we had been reduced to
Hated every minute of it
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Chris Harte on December 28, 2016, 04:21:31 PM
Signing McLeish as manager , he'd just relegated Birmingham City Ffs .

I do believe that was Randys 'fuck you , this is my club' statment to the fans & it was only a matter time before the inevitability of relegation.
Yes, absolutely this. The honeymoon was over and he showed he was going to run/mis-manage it as he saw fit, in spite of the strong concerns of the supporters. Y'know? The lifeblood of the club.

And the 6-0 versus Liverpool, who didn't even (and to be fair didn't need to) get out of first gear that afternoon.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: brian green on December 28, 2016, 05:03:23 PM
The Cup Final yes, Liverpool yes, Lerner getting in his jet and flying to Corsica for McLeish personally, KMac's f*ck you game at Spurs and Gabby's 8 touches, the laughing hyenas on the Secret Santa video some twat decided to make and show on a match day but the lowest I felt was when Remi Garde did not even get to buy one player in the last window of our existence in the Premiership.  Even the goalkeeper we had bought was blocked by the Sunderland CEO, a woman without shame or scruple. 
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: KevinGage on December 28, 2016, 05:32:06 PM
Hard to pinpoint one exact moment. The Bradford and Chelsea games in Lambert's first season and meek surrenders against countless other sides despite his protestations that we were "excellent" will all be on rotation in Room 101.

Most of last year's starting XI looked like they were individually competing to make it into one of those end of year sporting bloopers compilation shit-fests. Notable contributions from all at various points, a really commendable effort.

On a personal level, it was probably losing to the likes of Watford and Bournemouth at home - and being told that we realistically couldn't expect to beat those sides. The number of games we've had to write off as an unlikely three points had increased from Manchester United, Liverpool et.c from the noughties onwards to just about every other side in the division by the end.

I had misgivings about Garde, but not backing him at all in January was the final grim act of industrial sabotage from that idiotic man-child Lerner.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: dave shelley on December 28, 2016, 05:36:51 PM
I can agree with most of the above but for me, I was at the Watford game at home last year on my birthday and I realised then that we were gone and I genuinely felt that we were going to be gone for a long time.  Lerner wanted out with no prospective buyer on the horizon so it all seemed so forlorn.  I could have cried that day.

When you can only get to Villa Park infrequently, you always go with that little bit of hope that you are going to win because you are there.  The last six years or so removed that hope.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: passport1 on December 28, 2016, 06:05:38 PM
The appointment of every manager post MON were ,in my opinion, a succession of low points that simply underlined the basket case we had become. Its got to the point now that I wouldn't be at all surprised at the appointment of Ian Holloway, Steve McLaren Phil Brown or any of the chancers masquerading as managers.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Nelly on December 28, 2016, 07:13:15 PM
There was a game away at Southampton before the FA Cup Final where they effortlessly and joyously ripped us to shreds. Even after so much disgrace to Villa's good name prior to this, it was a kicker. Here we were being shown how to play the game while we had nothing at all to show in response. Did it end up 6-1 or something? Awful.

Bradford was pretty horrible. Also losing 6-1 to Newcastle when they had just been promoted. All of these times when you wanted Villa to back your case for once, just so we could say, "There, told you!", when all we've done for years is to help solidify the belief in the media and amongst supporters of others clubs that Villa aren't anything special.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Jon Crofts on December 28, 2016, 07:25:48 PM
It feels like we bumped along the bottom for years, dragging through the silt, the detritus, the downright shit, week after week with the odd dalliance with a foot or so off the bottom hoping and praying that it was a corner turned only to have those hopes and dreams crushed a week later by a team like Wigan or Bradford or Watford. The axis of stupidity, Lerner, Fox & Lambert grinning their way through the whole sorry affair completely clueless as to how to reverse the slide or just completely unwilling to do so in the case of Lerner.

Where were the real depths in all this? Liverpool 0-6, FA Cup Final, Bradford, 0-3 Wigan, Houillier at Anfield, the McLeish appointment, the McLeish fist pump after Bolton at home, Micah Richards Christmas video, Lescott's tweet, the bomb squad, how Lambert destroyed Darren Bent, Chelsea 8-0, Erik Black, the Delph video. I'm sure you can add more.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: gnrpoison on December 28, 2016, 08:37:04 PM
Perhaps not Rock Bottom but Paul Lambert's first home game in charge, a new start and optimism after what was seen as a horror show of the 2011 - 2012 season. Playing Everton, a team we are hoping to keep on the same level with in the table and we are 3 nil down at half time. We scored in the second half, had a player sent off and Weimann hit the post, maybe it was a sign to come that things were going to get very difficult in the near future.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: andrew08 on December 28, 2016, 08:48:28 PM
Having endured all of the above and after having long become immune to either pisstakes or even a semblance of hope my even lower point than was last seasons norm was Watford away. I just wanted to see us win again and at 2-1 up and going into injury time I allowed myself to begin to start the thought that we may even win a game again and I'd get back that footy happy feeling again.

A bluenose who wouldn't even have got a sniff of a game for us 5 years ago let alone even be playing against us for a flipping side like Watford scored the winner against us. I nearly never came back after that one.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: peter w on December 28, 2016, 09:20:30 PM
The atmosphere at games last season. From booing, to outright unpleasantness, to mockery and laughing at the players. never experienced anything like it. That also led into not looking forward to games and never, ever, expecting to win.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Legion on December 28, 2016, 09:38:56 PM
The atmosphere at games last season. From booing, to outright unpleasantness, to mockery and laughing at the players. never experienced anything like it. That also led into not looking forward to games and never, ever, expecting to win.

Good point. My Libby does not want to go any more because of this.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: nuninho on December 28, 2016, 09:47:35 PM
The atmosphere at games last season. From booing, to outright unpleasantness, to mockery and laughing at the players. never experienced anything like it. That also led into not looking forward to games and never, ever, expecting to win.
Yeah, I think that was my lowest point - the Southampton game at home where no-one cared.  There was more interest in the 300 paper planes dotted behind the goal - that will be my enduring memory of a poor season.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: ez on December 28, 2016, 10:02:58 PM
Signing McLeish as manager , he'd just relegated Birmingham City Ffs .

I do believe that was Randys 'fuck you , this is my club' statment to the fans & it was only a matter time before the inevitability of relegation.
Yes, absolutely this. The honeymoon was over and he showed he was going to run/mis-manage it as he saw fit, in spite of the strong concerns of the supporters. Y'know? The lifeblood of the club.

And the 6-0 versus Liverpool, who didn't even (and to be fair didn't need to) get out of first gear that afternoon.

Yes it has to be the McLeish appointment for me too. There was just no logic to it at all. What also sticks in my mind is McLeish punching the air after a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Joshua Fineman on December 28, 2016, 10:33:33 PM
That Christmas that contained the 8-0 at Chelsea.

I think we lost 3-0 at home to Wigan a week later.  That was a bit of a hard bottom...
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: VillaAlways on December 28, 2016, 10:44:31 PM
Steve Bruce for me
Yep. Those 5 consecutive home wins have been a really low point for me too.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: olaftab on December 28, 2016, 10:50:23 PM
The 10 days that spanned between Bradford twice and Millwall. Just can not get worse.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: AV82EC on December 28, 2016, 10:51:47 PM
That Christmas that contained the 8-0 at Chelsea.

I think we lost 3-0 at home to Wigan a week later.  That was a bit of a hard bottom...

And 4-0 to spurs a few days after that. Followed a week later by a 3-1 defeat to League 2 Bradford.

The 6-0 at home to Liverpool was the nadir for me. The whole rotting corpse on show for everyone to see. Even Klopp who'd only been in England a few months could see something was amiss and his kind words made me realise that maybe this club means something which wasn't apparent to that clown Fox or his paymaster man baby Lerner.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: tony scott on December 28, 2016, 10:55:23 PM
I would love to think it was the Mcliesh appointment, but really dragged our heals over that so our options became limited. For the awarding of a 4 year contract to P Lambert last season was the low point but I could never envisage a season with 3 wins I still can't believe it happened.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Des Little on December 28, 2016, 11:23:56 PM
It's a bit like falling down the stairs and being asked which one hurt the most. Far too many, each with differing reasons.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Fasth56 on December 28, 2016, 11:59:08 PM
The atmosphere at games last season. From booing, to outright unpleasantness, to mockery and laughing at the players. never experienced anything like it. That also led into not looking forward to games and never, ever, expecting to win.
Yeah, I think that was my lowest point - the Southampton game at home where no-one cared.  There was more interest in the 300 paper planes dotted behind the goal - that will be my enduring memory of a poor season.

I thought the paper planes were one of the high points especially the one that "flew" to the 18 yard line. However whilst agreeing with most of the other low points, I thought Wycombe away was the lowest along with the couldn't give a shit attitude of the players.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Axl Rose on December 29, 2016, 12:23:56 AM
It feels like we bumped along the bottom for years, dragging through the silt, the detritus, the downright shit, week after week with the odd dalliance with a foot or so off the bottom hoping and praying that it was a corner turned only to have those hopes and dreams crushed a week later by a team like Wigan or Bradford or Watford. The axis of stupidity, Lerner, Fox & Lambert grinning their way through the whole sorry affair completely clueless as to how to reverse the slide or just completely unwilling to do so in the case of Lerner.

Where were the real depths in all this? Liverpool 0-6, FA Cup Final, Bradford, 0-3 Wigan, Houillier at Anfield, the McLeish appointment, the McLeish fist pump after Bolton at home, Micah Richards Christmas video, Lescott's tweet, the bomb squad, how Lambert destroyed Darren Bent, Chelsea 8-0, Erik Black, the Delph video. I'm sure you can add more.


All of these, mate. Saddening and infuriating.

Genuinely hating players didn't sit well with me at the beginning, but my emotions took over. I'd never genuinely hated a Villa player before last season.

Lambert must get a special mention. An utter ******. The garbage he served up, and the garbage he's spouted since being sacked. I look forward to him being torn apart on his next visit to Villa Park. Champions League wanker.

Great post by the way, Jon.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on December 29, 2016, 12:49:33 AM
For all that happened last season it was sort of inevitable once Christian and the snake went.

However, I just couldn't stand Lambert.  His 'excellent' post match bollocks week in week out, his constant boasting about his German trips to get the very latest in total football styles which manifested itself at The Yawnthorns with his infamous goalkeeper passing backwards techniques.  His constant post exit barbed comments aimed at trying to make out he didn't do a bad job,  completely ignoring the fact that subsequent managers had to do without Christian and the snake.

However his utterly repugnant tenure was no more summed up in one inglorious month between 22nd December 2012 and 24th January 2013.  Chelsea, Spurs, Wigan - 0-15 then Swansea taking the lead making it 0-16 before we scored a goal - yet another record.  Then Bradford - the sheer and utter incompetence of it simply defied belief.  Thank God I was out of the country for the 2nd leg.

One other candidate would be Spurs fans yes Spurs fans joining in with 'Randy Lerner out' song last season at home.  Fcukin Spurs fans for Christs sake.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: London Villan on December 29, 2016, 12:58:53 AM
There have been so many, but Christmas 2012. Chelsea, Wigan, Bradford, Milwall. Shame on everyone involved.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on December 29, 2016, 01:02:27 AM
Just how was he not sacked after the Millwall game.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: ciggiesnbeer on December 29, 2016, 01:03:02 AM
Keeping our ''powder dry'' in January when we decided to choose hard relegation and go down without a fight whilst screwing over the manager we'd bullshitted in to joining us.


This for me. Unforgivable. It still makes me angry.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: robbo1874 on December 29, 2016, 02:13:58 AM
Toss up between Wembley 2000 and 2015.

2000 I actually thought we had a 50/50 chance and was crushed by the insipid no-show. Totally numb on the way home. Fucking hate Chelsea because of that day.

2015 was more the financial blow of flights back from Aus and the 250 quid club Wembley ticket. I didn't think we'd win, but didn't anticipate getting bent over in the potting shed like we did.

If we make an FA cup final every 15 years, I reckon I've probably got a 1 in 3 chance of ever getting to see us lift the fucking thing.

I've a good mate here who is a Spurs fan who I'll watch the match with. Kevin Keegan wouldn't have have loved winning the league as much as I will if we beat the cockney c***s 😄

Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: j66acd on December 29, 2016, 07:51:09 AM
But don't look back in anger, I heard you say.

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: martin o`who?? on December 29, 2016, 07:53:29 AM
Unfortunately we really are spoilt for choice on this one and everyone will have their own "favourite" for want of a better word but for me the total break-down of relations between the players and fans towards the end of last season will take some beating.Most clubs have their ups and downs and shocking results/weeks/seasons but the hostility around VP towards the end of last season was both unique and scarring.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: wittonwarrior on December 29, 2016, 08:08:36 AM
Although not season changing apart from the Liverpool home match last season the way we just layes down against  an city reserves in the cup. Would also mention Everton away when after a half decent performance against city in the league we were truly aweduk for the first time under garde
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: The Man With A Stick on December 29, 2016, 08:46:19 AM
I've changed my mind and now nominate Millwall away in the cup in 2013.  Was on a work trip to India and, thanks to the time difference, I woke up to find out we'd been humiliated by both Bradford and Millwall within a couple of days of each other.  The Millwall one stands out as I had a chronic case of Delhi belly that Saturday morning (the game was played on a Friday night if I remember right) which was the icing on the cake.

The damage had been done in the first leg of the Bradford game but I still thought we'd turn it around.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: oswald funkletrumpet on December 29, 2016, 08:56:08 AM
Bradford for me

being unable to beat a fourth division side over two legs is the most embarrassing result in our history

the fact lambert kept his job is the second one
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: russon on December 29, 2016, 09:23:32 AM
here's the sorry story so far, it fair makes you think and shudder -

FA Cup final 2015
Chelsea 8-0
Kevin MacDonald’s team selections
Delph’s ‘loyalty’ film
Sacking two managers in one season
Liverpool 6-0
Not letting Garde buy in Jan transfer window
Tom Fox’s bluster
Relegation with just 16 points
Having to leave Villa Park before the final whistle cos could take no more
Gabby’s behaviour
And Lescot’s
Lack of support for ‘McLeish Out’ protest
Appointing a manager who’d just relegated Blues
Bradford
Orient
Being relegated without even a whimper
Secret Santa video
Wigan 3-0
Losing at home to Watford & Bournemouth
Southampton 6-1
Luton
Houllier at Anfield
McLeish fist pump v Bolton
Poisonous atmosphere at Villa Park
Millwall
Wycombe
Lambert’s entire tenure
Cup surrender v Man City’s reserves

...this exercise has been sobering indeed. We are owed massively by our club.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 29, 2016, 09:28:25 AM
I forget the statistics but that goal drought - that was painful.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: brian green on December 29, 2016, 09:34:45 AM
Yes and the Goal of the Month piss take that went with it.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Legion on December 29, 2016, 09:42:51 AM
The Month of the Goal.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on December 29, 2016, 10:02:40 AM
I forget the statistics but that goal drought - that was painful.

Didn't Ronaldo score 20 goals before we eventually scored?
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: The Edge on December 29, 2016, 10:11:52 AM
Love him or hate him I think the day O'Neill left the club we were like the Titanic fatally holed below the water level and the inevitable sinking of our club was a slow,chaotic, painful experience. All the painful moments have already been picked out but I think Jon Croft summed things up brilliantly when he labelled the Lerner/Fox/Lambert regime as "the axis of stupidity." Reminds me of Lamberts mumblings "I thought we were excellent today" when some crap club had just had our pants down. But...... thanks to Dr Tony I believe we are on our way back and good times lie ahead down in B6.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Lastfootstamper on December 29, 2016, 10:15:00 AM
I forget the statistics but that goal drought - that was painful.

Didn't Ronaldo score 20 goals before we eventually scored?

And didn't Barcelona win 5 trophies in the time it took us to win 5 games?
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: aj2k77 on December 29, 2016, 10:24:56 AM
I forget the statistics but that goal drought - that was painful.

570 minutes without a goal, we almost made it to the 10 hours.

Edit : It was actually 662 minutes without a league goal, 20th December until 7th February.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: aj2k77 on December 29, 2016, 10:31:22 AM
Another ''laughable'' phase of our decline that I remember is when during a period of 10 games or so under Lambert didn't we manage to get players sent off in something like 4 of the games. We were just spiraling out of control.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: VillaAlways on December 29, 2016, 10:33:46 AM
The news that the  Upper Trinity would be closing and staff redundancies.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 29, 2016, 10:34:40 AM
And the corners, my god. We did look like conceding at any set piece.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Legion on December 29, 2016, 10:36:55 AM
Ah. The cornalty.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: russon on December 29, 2016, 10:51:30 AM
Ah. The cornalty.

Found it in the new English dictionary Lee....

Cornalty. A passage of footballing play whereby Aston Villa FC's opposition win a dead ball set-piece situation in one of four corners of a football field which is inevitably converted with a headed goal.

We need a word now for the Westwood floaty corner which drifts into the box with all the menace of a beach ball.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 29, 2016, 11:07:04 AM
The only enjoyable thing about last season was the party against Newcastle.
They expected revenge or at least a laugh, we laughed at ourselves.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Tayls_7 on December 29, 2016, 11:09:17 AM
Ah. The cornalty.

Found it in the new English dictionary Lee....

Cornalty. A passage of footballing play whereby Aston Villa FC's opposition win a dead ball set-piece situation in one of four corners of a football field which is inevitably converted with a headed goal.

We need a word now for the Westwood floaty corner which drifts into the box with all the menace of a beach ball.

Floatality. An amalgamation of float and futility.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Perthvillan on December 29, 2016, 11:47:25 AM
Agree with Robbo.
I can't remember how much it cost for flights from Oz and dodgy scalped ticket for 2015 Cup Final so that was worst for me but watching the 0-6 to Liverpool on TV was sickening.
Reading through all the posts is pretty depressing as I have tried to forget a lot of it.
Onwards and upwards now.
UTV
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Comrade Blitz on December 29, 2016, 11:53:51 AM
The long list of players brought in who've just been taking the piss out of this club and its supporters. It's not hard to see that agents soon discovered that Villa was a goldmine for their turds.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Jimbo on December 29, 2016, 12:00:30 PM
I went down to VP to get a cup final ticket. There were a couple of days to spare and a few hundred tickets left, and the queues had disappeared completely. They still wouldn't sell me a single ticket because I didn't have enough booking refs. By the Saturday night I couldn't have been more grateful to the twats.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 29, 2016, 12:14:06 PM
Thinking about it, the biggest low was the cup final. Not the result but finding out Drummond had been scammed, he'd found me a ticket too.

If I'd known at the time, I'd have given him mine.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Pat McMahon on December 29, 2016, 03:42:20 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Rupert on December 29, 2016, 03:51:49 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul
did she die this year or have i mixed her up with some one else.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: damon loves JT on December 29, 2016, 03:58:17 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul

I thought it was going to be a thread about which Villa player had the biggest arse. McCormack's gets him into the fringes of the Aston Villa Fattest Arses XI
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: joe_c on December 29, 2016, 04:05:27 PM
Ah. The cornalty.

Found it in the new English dictionary Lee....

Cornalty. A passage of footballing play whereby Aston Villa FC's opposition win a dead ball set-piece situation in one of four corners of a football field which is inevitably converted with a headed goal.

We need a word now for the Westwood floaty corner which drifts into the box with all the menace of a beach ball.

Floatality. An amalgamation of float and futility.

At a game towards the end of the season, we were awarded a corner at the Holte End. Guy in the upper tier yells to Westwood as he trots over to take it "FLOAT IT IN." He does. It's cleared. "BRILLIANT."

Also, I refuse to believe that the decline of the club in the latter half of Lerner's tenure was down to deliberate sabotage. Neglect and disinterest certainly but not a wilful act of destruction.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: eamonn on December 29, 2016, 04:21:19 PM
What was the game where inflated beach balls and blow-up dolls were batted onto the pitch? All that was missing were Postma's dildos.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: brian green on December 29, 2016, 04:21:38 PM
I think a Westwood corner should be a Fetherlite, like the condom.  In it goes.  No ultimate end product.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheMalandro on December 29, 2016, 04:45:54 PM
I think a Westwood corner should be a Fetherlite, like the condom.  In it goes.  No ultimate end product.

Hopefully in future, Bruce will use the withdrawal method.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: cheltenhamlion on December 29, 2016, 05:22:44 PM
Getting to the point at the end of last season where I was forcing myself to turn up out of duty but having to get blind drunk before the match to dull the pain of what I knew I was about to witness.

It's nice being able to actually watch games again.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: russon on December 29, 2016, 05:34:51 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul

I thought it was going to be a thread about which Villa player had the biggest arse. McCormack's gets him into the fringes of the Aston Villa Fattest Arses XI
Aspinall & Sims used to compare arses in the showers to see who had the biggest
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: pipe on December 29, 2016, 07:19:07 PM
The Russon list seems the most conclusive and thouough
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TheTimVilla on December 29, 2016, 10:11:36 PM
Lambert was a ******, there's no two ways about it. And he gets rewarded for his fuckwittery with another job. Isn't football marvellous?
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Pat McMahon on December 29, 2016, 10:54:05 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul
did she die this year or have i mixed her up with some one else.

Apparently she departed in 2012.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: adrenachrome on December 29, 2016, 11:01:04 PM

I was excited when I saw this thread thinking it was going to be about WWE and favourite finishing moves.

I thought it was about Lynsey de Paul
did she die this year or have i mixed her up with some one else.

Apparently she departed in 2012.

Here is the ghastly song, anyway.



I remember this one more fondly.




Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: ChicagoLion on December 30, 2016, 04:41:21 AM
Dave Woodalls rock bottom was running out of turtle wax.


I'll get my coat.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: martin o`who?? on December 30, 2016, 07:45:15 AM
Ah. The cornalty.
First time i saw that term i howled!!!  - "Cornalty" - Genius, and totally appropriate at the time.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: dave.woodhall on December 30, 2016, 09:31:54 AM
Dave Woodalls rock bottom was running out of turtle wax.


I'll get my coat.

You do just that.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: ColinMac on December 30, 2016, 10:30:01 AM
Bradford for me

being unable to beat a fourth division side over two legs is the most embarrassing result in our history

the fact lambert kept his job is the second one

This is exactly what I was going to say. It's embarrassing to lose a one off tie to a lower league team, but over two legs, and in the manner we did, Lambert should have resigned straight after, nothing over the last few years has been as bad as that.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Tayls_7 on December 30, 2016, 10:49:02 AM
Bradford for me

being unable to beat a fourth division side over two legs is the most embarrassing result in our history

the fact lambert kept his job is the second one

This is exactly what I was going to say. It's embarrassing to lose a one off tie to a lower league team, but over two legs, and in the manner we did, Lambert should have resigned straight after, nothing over the last few years has been as bad as that.

Is the correct answer, especially towards the end of the 2nd leg when
Lamberk unleashed his revolutionary 3-0-7 formation. Just the utter buffoonery of it all should have seen his departure. Unfortunately, we had a manager without shame, with voices in his head telling him he was the victim of circumstance, plus a clueless regime who really didn't give a fuck except to instill their managing expectations policy. Truly depressing for far too long.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on December 30, 2016, 11:57:14 AM
Villa were the 'better side' - Lambert
By Sutton Coldfield Observer  |  Posted: December 26, 2014

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert said he thought his team were the better side during their defeat at Swansea today.

The Swans won the game thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson's early free-kick, but Lambert felt that has side had the chances to merit at least a point in South Wales.

"I thought we were fantastic the whole game," the Scot said afterwards. "I thought we deserved to take something from the game. I thought we were excellent.

"Coming here, we did to them what they do to most teams; we looked the better side. Sometimes you come off the pitch really disappointed because you haven't played well. But today I am proud of them because of the way they have played.

"I am disappointed to lose the game but I was proud of the way they played."


Read more at http://www.suttoncoldfieldobserver.co.uk/villa-better-lambert/story-25769121-detail/story.html#q4YLmUxlJo7tO0hf.99
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on December 30, 2016, 12:00:28 PM
Paul Lambert reflected on the 0-0 draw with Southampton and insisted: "That was a huge point."
After four straight defeats, Lambert said it was vital that Villa "stopped the bleeding."
And they did just that, with a solid, efficient performance against the Saints.
Lambert praised the players as they "stepped up the plate when questions were asked."
"I thought we were excellent in the second half. We gave as good as we got against a really good side. They are a really good football side.
"In the second half, we were excellent. Marc Albrighton and Gabby Agbonlahor were excellent. They were great.
"I am really pleased. It's been a really hard week.
"But as has documented the lads have been excellent for us.
"When you look at the way they played - and their determination - they really stepped up to the plate when questions were asked.
"I told them I was proud of them for what they did.
"We had to stop the run and get something.
"We gave a right good account of ourselves, especially in that second half. We stopped the bleeding. That was a huge point."
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: oswald funkletrumpet on December 30, 2016, 08:25:31 PM
Stopped the bleeding?

Fuck me just reading it made my eyes bleed

and to think he has got two jobs since
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Nelly on December 30, 2016, 08:28:52 PM
That same interview was just copy and pasted for all of his post match interviews, surely?

"I thought we were excellent"
"We go again"

I hate those words now!
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: leylandalbion on December 30, 2016, 10:43:23 PM
Jordan veretout and Aaron Tshibola get player and young player golden boot
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: KevinGage on December 31, 2016, 12:54:15 AM
That same interview was just copy and pasted for all of his post match interviews, surely?

"I thought we were excellent"
"We go again"

I hate those words now!

Aye.  The poor Tatters.

They have had to endure Stale Solbakken. Now they have Stale Miseryarse McCracken.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: TopDeck113 on January 01, 2017, 03:01:29 PM
I tend to think that the nadir is reached when the fans stop booing/crying/venting their spleen and start laughing at the team.  I wasn't at Vicarage Road last season, but when my phone bleeped twice in quick succession, whilst I was stuck in traffic on the M6, I knew instantly what those goal alerts meant. When the radio confirmed it, I laughed. 
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: not3bad on January 01, 2017, 06:06:31 PM
The 0-6 at home to Liverpool was utterly shambolic.

Another vote for this - this defeat was followed by Lescott's sports car tweet.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Chris Harte on January 01, 2017, 07:04:29 PM
I tend to think that the nadir is reached when the fans stop booing/crying/venting their spleen and start laughing at the team.  I wasn't at Vicarage Road last season, but when my phone bleeped twice in quick succession, whilst I was stuck in traffic on the M6, I knew instantly what those goal alerts meant. When the radio confirmed it, I laughed. 
I was in the pub. While I didn't have the beep of a mobile phone to tell me, I instead had Jeff Stelling saying, "and there's another goal at Vicarage Road." There was an inevitability about his words.

And yes, I laughed too. If I hadn't, well you know the alternative.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on January 01, 2017, 08:12:05 PM
The African Car Reverser.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: cheltenhamlion on January 01, 2017, 08:17:26 PM
I pissed myself laughing as the goals kept going in against Liverpool. I was sat in the Holte Suite at half time and had a battle going on in my mind. Two down, freezing cold, no hope of getting back into it. And that is when I gave up.

Fuck it, I could be at home in the warm pissing about with my lads rather than forcing myself to watch this shit and putting up with the shoddy Sunday evening train service home.

So I left and caught the train from Witton ten minutes later. We were four down by the time I got to New Street I'd I recall correctly.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: peter w on January 01, 2017, 09:16:40 PM
You could also add a transfer window that was Joe Cole, Kieran Richardson, and some other free agent. Senderos? Ugh.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: brian green on January 01, 2017, 09:32:56 PM
We probably bought that trio by weight.  "Quarter of a ton of footballers please". "Righto chief.  Open or wrapped?"
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Tony Erdington on January 01, 2017, 09:53:00 PM
Randy lerner - disliking Doug, I was full of hope when lerner came in, then "me" making excuses for the absolute shambolic running of the club by this charlatan of a business man, lerner was out of his depth and I was took in, until it was so bloody obvious.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: john e on January 01, 2017, 10:18:41 PM
Remember that January window when Lambo thought the answer to something was Grant Holt

that was pretty low
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Risso on January 01, 2017, 11:47:03 PM
Remember that January window when Lambo thought the answer to something was Grant Holt

that was pretty low

And the "real man" quote.  Ugh.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on January 02, 2017, 01:03:24 PM
I know it isn't in the last 5 years but GT Mark II - Oyvind Leonhardsen injuring his hamstring whilst cantering towards a ball going out of play for a throw in.  And also, Oyvind Leonhardsen.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: not3bad on January 02, 2017, 01:10:05 PM
Oh yeah, I just thought. I was coming up from London and thought kick off time was 3.00 but it turned out it was a lunchtime kick off. As I approached the ground people were already streaming out because we were losing 4-0. Let's just say I wasn't that downhearted that I'd got the kick off time wrong. We were playing Spurs I think.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Tayls_7 on January 02, 2017, 01:17:14 PM
I know it isn't in the last 5 years but GT Mark II - Oyvind Leonhardsen injuring his hamstring whilst cantering towards a ball going out of play for a throw in.  And also, Oyvind Leonhardsen.

Shit the bed. Quick, let me get over to the players you forgot played for the Villa thread.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: not3bad on January 02, 2017, 01:21:43 PM
There was another one as well - during Mcleish's time. We were playing Liverpool at home and I got to the game with about 30 minutes already gone and Villa 2-0 down. I thought "why the f*ck should I put myself through an hour of Villa not even look like they're going to score themselves, and indeed concentrating more on damage limitation"? I bought myself a pie and fucked off. The pie was good.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: amfy on January 02, 2017, 02:05:20 PM
Well this is all very depressing, but going a little off topic, Mr Amfy's version of rock bottom was when PNE had to apply for re-election to the football league, AND had to ask to play all of their matches earlier in the day because they couldn't afford to put the floodlights on. Despite everything, we still can't beat that.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Chris Smith on January 02, 2017, 02:39:04 PM
There was another one as well - during Mcleish's time. We were playing Liverpool at home and I got to the game with about 30 minutes already gone and Villa 2-0 down. I thought "why the f*ck should I put myself through an hour of Villa not even look like they're going to score themselves, and indeed concentrating more on damage limitation"? I bought myself a pie and fucked off. The pie was good.

I was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy for the second half of the  McLeish spell and reckon I was having a better time than those going to games.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: in exile on January 02, 2017, 02:40:46 PM
I was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy for the second half of the  McLeish spell and reckon I was having a better time than those going to games.

How are things now Chris (if you don't mind me asking)
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: Chris Smith on January 02, 2017, 02:48:12 PM
I was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy for the second half of the  McLeish spell and reckon I was having a better time than those going to games.

How are things now Chris (if you don't mind me asking)

Good thanks, in remission for 4 years and feeling fit and healthy (or as healthy as you can after Christmas and New Year indulgence).
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: dave shelley on January 02, 2017, 02:49:32 PM
Very pleased to hear it Chris, long may it continue.  Mind yourself.
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: in exile on January 02, 2017, 02:53:42 PM
I was in hospital undergoing chemotherapy for the second half of the  McLeish spell and reckon I was having a better time than those going to games.

How are things now Chris (if you don't mind me asking)

Good thanks, in remission for 4 years and feeling fit and healthy (or as healthy as you can after Christmas and New Year indulgence).

Excellent!
Long may it continue
Title: Re: Rock Bottoms
Post by: cdward on January 03, 2017, 12:36:56 AM
A lot have already been mentioned, but my personal ones -
Chelsea 8-0.
 Bradford over 2 legs (I actually bought return flights for the final, and still get reminded of that by mates at work).
 Watford at home-  I knew Deeney would score and resigned myself to relegation after that defeat.
The shafting of Remi Garde in the transfer window, although I had resigned myself to relegation to see it spelled out by the club was hard to take.
Liverpool 6-0 defeat- I found this the hardest to take, it really felt personal, like someone was kicking the life out of a family member.
The FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal I found OK, we were easily beaten by a better team, I was there sat close to the Arsenal fans, and watching them celebrate just made we think that one day our day will come, and Villa fans will celebrate an FA Cup like nobody has ever celebrated it before.
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal