Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on June 07, 2019, 05:48:50 PM
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What a relief to be back in the PL. For all it's faults it's the only place to be. Three years in the wilderness; it was hard to accept we could be staring at a 4th had events unfolded differently at Wembley. Being back means a lot of things. Different to different people but for me it's as trivial as being able to watch the games on TV again in high definition. Also paying attention again to players at that level which I'd become so detached from. And even silly things like actually playing fantasy type games online.
So what's it meant to you?
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Looking forward to that twat Martin Tyler shouting 'and it's live'.
The prestige, and also seeing where these owners take us. Being taken seriously again.
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Being in the mainstream media (is that a good thing, I wonder?!).
Playing against the teams that feature in the REALLY BIG competitions.
Hopefully, having a full house each home game.
I have to tell you, though: I'll miss the Championship - soooo many away games nearer to home than VP.
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What it's meant to me is one of a father/son persuasion.
I took my two boys for the first time to Villa Park when they were 6 and 4 respectively. My youngest has tailed off, couldn't really give a shit about football, but my eldest has turned into a die-hard Villan. He's about to turn 16.
He can recite the score of any Villa fixture, the scorers (and also around 90% of the time will even get the minute of the goal(s) scored in those matches) for the past 4 seasons. Give him any fixture, he'll tell you the result within seconds.
He had his first season ticket in our relegation season (what a great dad I turned out to be there... but all Ben has known is Villa's abject performance for year upon year whilst seeing other teams thrive (ala Leicester), He's never had anything to shout and cheer about and never sang and joined in with any Villa song, ever.
For him to witness the joy of last Monday in person at Wembley, the players' celebrations at the final whistle, the lifting of silverware at the home of football (especially after he watched Norwich celebrate at Villa Park) and hear the shear noise and happiness of the fans was simply outstanding.
But the thing I took the most pleasure from, was when I heard him joining in with all of the singing when we clinched our return. That meant more to me than the millions the Club will receive by way of our promotion.
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It’s important as a means to an end. I hate this ‘we are Premier League’ bollocks. It’s disgraceful that we spent 3 years outside the top flight.
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Have to admit I quite enjoyed the championship. Probably because of it competitive nature.
But, as TV says, the premiership is the place to be.
And, as Newby, I'm excited as to how far these owners want to take us. They have the financial clout to do something very memorable.
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I'm still coming to terms with the fact that the season ticket I bought a few months back won't be bringing the likes of Charlton and Luton.
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Loved the Championship and I’d watch Villa whatever division they were in, as would everyone else I guess.
However I do feel we have a chance of actually doing something with the set up we have in place.
The last few years in the PL were bloody awful so it has to be better than that.
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It,s a case that we had to return for many reasons. But...I am sure I wont enjoy the premiership as much as I enjoyed the championship. It was like real football.
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It means we are slowly repairing the damage inflicted by profligate owners and serially negligent managers both on the pitch and in the boardroom.
It means we are able to watch Jack develop at the club he loves
It means that actions are once again more important than cheap, throw-away platitudes and marketing taglines
It means that the most important club in the history of worldwide league football is once again respected
and it means that our glorious club is there, not thereabouts.
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A step towards reclaiming our glorious identity and not allowing the lustre to lessen over our wonderful football club any further. Aston Villa aren't a second tier club.
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It,s a case that we had to return for many reasons. But...I am sure I wont enjoy the premiership as much as I enjoyed the championship. It was like real football.
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No club has the divine right to be in the Premier League, but after years of mismanagement from top to bottom, Aston Villa FC is back in the top flight of English football where it belongs.
We have a lot of catching up and work to do, but the club is now in a much stronger position to enable development and progression both on and off the pitch rather than stagnate and decline.
The accumulated wealth and stronger squads of other clubs means it’s not a level playing field yet, but we will be challenging for honours with our genuine competitors rather than mere bragging rights with our local rivals.
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Not having to play Sandwell Town or Small Heath Alliance for a while.
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Not having to play Sandwell Town or Small Heath Alliance for a while.
Ever again, hopefully.
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Being relevant again.
Being able to get commentary or a stream easily.
Being excited by potential transfers.
The usual really.
I hope the club can start to fulfil its potential now.
It's also important for our city to have a club in the top division. The past three years have been damaging. Hopefully now the Villa can become great again!
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Match of the day. No more Quest! Woop woop
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It means I'll see more games and have more of an interest in the top flight generally - I've hardly seen any over the last three seasons. Just a feeling of being more involved again.
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Lots
I am in Stockholm enjoying unseasonably good weather getting pissed and feeling good about the world.when we were in the championship it would Have felt hollow.
I quite enjoyed the Championship until this time last year when Villa nearly went. I am so relieved that we are back now, and I feel like a great weight has been lifted.
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Most of my friends are PL club fans (glory hunter or otherwise) so it means not having to explain to them how Villa are doing,which in turn helps me feel like we're less irrelevant.
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Match of the day. No more Quest! Woop woop
I’m also looking forward to seeing Villa on MOTD again.
Woop woop.
😁
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Because it felt wrong being the poor relation to Brighton and Huddersfield and clinging to the shirt tails of Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich.
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Everything.
Though I'll miss the Championship's competitiveness and the lack of blatant glory hunters amongst the opposition fans when they came to Villa Park.
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Money end of!
Gives the club chance to reboot & the owners opportunity to spend.
It will be good to be on motd again...it will be annoying to be in the middle of the inevitable utter shambles that will be VAR....it will be good to get more Sat at 3 games as we won’t be the big boys of the division this season
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Delighted that we're back, pleased to be in the public eye again, but also angry about all the wasted years after 2010, the lack of direction, rank bad managers and bizarre signings. I think that we have stable leadership now, on and off the pitch, and just hope I'm right.
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For me, it’s almost like the rebirth of the club. I look back fondly at the second division season in 87-88, and how fantastic it felt to be part of it all then...I’m pleased for all the younger Villa fans to feel the same now. I’m absolutely certain it cements you as a Villa fan when you’ve experienced the club rising once again - I actually pity fans of clubs who don’t get the opportunity, however daft that may sound. To truly enjoy the highs, you have to suffer the lows.
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In the short term it means financial stability and FFP is put to bed.
Long term we are a PL club in every sense, whether that be in terms of support or stadium or training facilities.
We are Aston Villa the one and only and we deserve to be in the top flight
We need to make sure that we fight to remain here though now and not take it for granted
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Simple, seeing the words "Aston Villa" in the English top division.
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Panini 19-20.
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Was a bit meh at seeing this thread, I'm very much of the 'normal service is resumed' / nothing to see here, as it was the anomaly/news to be down, not back up.
But.... well it was massive wasn't it.
Losing the play off final would have been like another relegation in losing Jack and more.
Instead, well my in-laws, friends and colleagues in East Africa will find 'themselves' playing my team, we're back on the map.
I moved to Luton recently, went for a quick walk with a colleague who dropped me home on his way back to London after the first leg. A little kid at the other end of the street asked if I was wearing a West Ham shirt. I brushed it off and corrected him, but it was only then it dawned on me, that it was probably all he knew at his age, likely in his living memory Villa were not in the top flight.
I haven't been so positive in many years.
0-3months 18/19 home kit baby grow is washed & ironed and packed waiting in the hospital bag. May she never know us down.
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Well it is great for fans (first and foremost), the city and the wider region for starters profile and economically.
Yeah and hope my new boy who was 2 weeks old when we beat Derby has to deal with much less dross than we have put up with in recent years.
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Being back where we belong, and feeding at the top table.
As much as we (pretend to) love it, The Championship is irrelevant to anyone outside of it. Being the biggest tiddler in a small pool is really no place for a club like Villa.
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Last chance saloon for me. The gap is widening between the Premier League and Championship, and with FFP we'd have probably had to go through a summer of asset stripping, regardless of our owners' wealth.
Getting promotion nipped that in the bud, and now we can slowly but steadily get this magnificent club back on track and competing where it should be.
Good responsible RICH owners, a cracking manager, a team spirit which hasn't been seen for years, and the bond between club, players and fans has been restored.
Onwards and upwards! :)
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An opportunity to finally realise our potential on a consistent basis. We're the biggest club in the second largest city in Britain with a population of many millions within 30 miles of the stadium, with only Wolves as a local PL rival.
Apart from the odd couple of seasons we've very much failed to punch our weight on a regular basis, due to a combination owners, managers and chief execs who were either inept, deluded, lacking in ambition or a combination of all three. It appears that we finally have all the ingredients in place to give us some consistent clout. Genuinely wealthy owners who also seem to have more than a few brain cells and business acumen between them, a Chief Exec who seems to know what is required and is not afraid to get on with it, and a coach who seems to know how to coach.
With newly positive momentum, apparently competent people in charge and a re-engaged fan base I'm hoping it's good times ahead.
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My earliest memory of supporting Villa was when we won the League Cup in 1977 when I was six. I went to my first game as an eight year old in 1979 and then went to all home games from 1981 onwards when I was eleven. Until these last three years the only season I had known Villa not being in the to flight was 1987-1988. Which happened to be one of my favourite seasons as I had just left school and was earning YTS money which allowed me to go home and away most weeks. After being a season ticket holder with my son during the McLeish/Lambert/Sherwood/Garde days I enjoyed the fact that in the Championship I always felt we had a good chance of winning any given game. I tried kidding myself that not going up this season wouldn't be the end of the world but the way I felt when we won the final gave away my true feelings. We are back where we belong but we now have to prove we belong there.
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I need to swat up on the premier league. I've ignored it almost completely for 3 seasons.
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It means normality is restored. You earn your seat and you deserve your demise, but we've spent 100 odd years at the top table, more than anybody bar Everton.
This is where we belong.
The difference this time is genuine optimism that we will try and compete. We went into decline badly post-Houlier, when clinging on for dear life was the only aim.
Now I feel we have an ambitious manager who wants to play good, attacking football and seemingly wants to coach and develop players. We have some joined up thinking with regards to recruitment and scouting. And critically we have wealthy and ambitious owners.
None of it is a guarantee and we may fall short, but the impression I have is that we're not just back to hunt for autographs, we're back to hunt for scalps.
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I need to swat up on the premier league. I've ignored it almost completely for 3 seasons.
I'm the same. I've surprised myself with how accepting I am of my not knowing who England players are nor for whom they play. And if the current Arsenal or Chelsea managers knocked my front door right know, I'd genuinely not know who they are.
I do not wish to turn into my dad.
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Looking forward to renewing hostilities with Sunderland and can't wait to go to White Hart Lane. Hopefully we will be able to stop Rooney and give Man U a bloody nose and maybe piss Wenger off by beating Arsenal.
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Normal service has been resumed, that's all.
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Looking at the table and there's not much there to get the blood pumping these days.
Bournemouth
Brighton
Burnley
Palace
Leicester
Southampton
Watford
How we managed to get relegated from a league that now contains this set of shithouses is the real killer.
My London away picks for this season: Arsenal and Chelsea.
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It means normality is restored. You earn your seat and you deserve your demise, but we've spent 100 odd years at the top table, more than anybody bar Everton.
This is where we belong.
The difference this time is genuine optimism that we will try and compete. We went into decline badly post-Houlier, when clinging on for dear life was the only aim.
Now I feel we have an ambitious manager who wants to play good, attacking football and seemingly wants to coach and develop players. We have some joined up thinking with regards to recruitment and scouting. And critically we have wealthy and ambitious owners.
None of it is a guarantee and we may fall short, but the impression I have is that we're not just back to hunt for autographs, we're back to hunt for scalps.
I think this is the important thing, if we were just going back just to survive then it would have a lot less meaning.
What is more important is what is happening to the Club, getting back to the PL is just hopefully the beginning.
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Anyone else been to the ground to have their picture taken with the trophy? Might be small time to some, but I wanted to have that moment.
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Pride
Prestige
Passion
Promise
The last two times we went up we had a tricky first season (1975 under Ron and 1988 under SGT) and then really took off. No reason to believe we can't thrive again with the new owners, management team and Jack as captain. The elation when we left Wembley was palpable.
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The 2nd division hasn't all been bad as a fan, but I can only say that now we're leaving the bugger. Like others have said, we're back to where we belong with players and a manager we like a lot and with owners who are mega wealthy. This should be a springboard to fun times and if we get it right, historic ones.
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Ive enjoyed seeing us win again but looking forward to seeing us play at the top again. My lad is 6 so can’t remember us being in the top division and he’s so excited by it all.
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Money mainly. Getting the cash will keep the wolf from the door and allow us to determine our next moves.
After that, not much. Better away games, regularly winning, more authentic fans/clubs are all things I’ll miss about the championship.
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Playing once again in the best league in the World.
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Ironically less live games on Sky(?). It always seemed like we were more a regular fixture on there in the champ than we ever used to be in the Prem.
Aside though, financial stability, better opposition, big games again and hopefully we'll be decent to watch. If we're not last on MOTD with great regularity I'll be happy. If we can upset some of the top 6 next season and pick up a surprise result here and there, brilliant. And if we're safe with a month to spare I'll be cartwheeling.
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Seeing the envy and jealously from the Noses and Baggies fans!
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It made me go paint my shed yesterday and download the PL app now that we are on it again.
(https://i.ibb.co/vhbW4dX/D9-D67-E2-E-E8-B3-4-C73-9-FB2-77-CCD4-A3-A458.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vhbW4dX)
(https://i.ibb.co/wdvLhbW/83-D8317-C-8-C14-44-BF-B7-AB-35-D893-BDF182.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wdvLhbW)
I think I need something on the door though, like a crest.
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I really enjoyed the Championship - It re-ignited my enthusiasm. That said, I wouldn't have fancied another year down there.
For me, I always knew that we'd get back up sooner rather than later. However, what was important was doing it now so as to ensure we keep hold of Jack and SJM. If we can sign Mings as well, it will be the icing on the cake. I couldn't bear the thought of not watching Jack in a Villa shirt.
I'm pretty sure that had we failed this time around, we would have rebuilt and done the job next season. For me though, I love the guys we have currently and wanted to build around them, not start from fresh.
We are a PL club and we all know that - We are now back where we belong and I'm relishing the challenge.
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One negative of being back in the PL is having to put up with Martin Tyler's ramblings.
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Coming home..
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One negative of being back in the PL is having to put up with Martin Tyler's ramblings.
AND IT'S LIVE!
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One negative of being back in the PL is having to put up with Martin Tyler's ramblings.
AND IT'S LIVE!
That fucks me off no end playing FIFA.
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This:
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Like it!
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Aston Villa - Back On the Block
[ VERSE 1: Super-JM ]
SJM, let me kick my credentials
A young player, bred in South Glasgow
Govan, home of the bodybag
You wanna die, wear the wrong color rag
I used to walk in the park and yell: "Lay down!"
You flinch an inch - AK spray down
But I was lucky cause I never caught the hard time
I was blessed with the skill to bust a dope pass
All my homies died or caught the penzo
Lost their diamonds, cops towed their Benzos
Livin that life that we thought was it
Fast lanin, but the car flipped
I'm not gonna lie to ya, cause I don't lie
I don't kick thick game, some people say: why?
Cause I'm back on the block, I got my life back
So I school the fools about the fast track
I get static from the style of my technique
Profanity, the blatant way in which I speak
But the Dude knows the streets ain't no kiddie game
You don't know the Dude? Dean's his first name
He told me: "John, keep doin what you're doin, man
Don't give a damn if the squares don't understand
You let em tell you what to say and what to write
Your whole career'll be over by tomorrow night
Play from your heart, and your heart's with the street
Play on my record, man, Jack, send John the beat"
The Dude is def no doubt, what can I say?
The man can roll with John or Alex Cropley
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Am I right in thinking there are less midweek games in the Prem than the EFL?
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A subscription to Optus Sports. Only chance for me to see the games.
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Seeing what we can accomplish with a coherent playing structure & recruitment drive, with owners having the spondoolies to fund both.
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It means we're back in the top league, which is great, but not enough. Now we have to have a team that can contend with the top teams in the Premier league, and that will not happen immediately. However I'm confident we can put the elements in place to achieve this.
So with the players giving 110% and the usual tremendous backing of the Villa faithful let's get it done.
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Looking forward to that twat Martin Tyler shouting 'and it's live'.
What's Martin Tyler done to you?
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Financial security.
And a chance to rebuild under the care and craft of committed owners and coaching staff, leading to getting somewhere close to our potential and adding to our wonderful history....and therefore big lumps of happiness for all of the great Villa fans and family that I share AVFC with.
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it means i can watch all the games live on Sky
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It means that with my IPTV I will be able to choose to watch the VIlla with Arabic, Chinese, Spanish or English commentary on a Saturday at 3pm. I reckon I will plump for the ENglish
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More tourists, harder to get served in the pub, matches at 5:30 on a Saturday, getting hammered by Man City, any player who performs well for two weeks running being linked with moves away and VAR making games last for two and a half hours.
Other that I can’t wait.
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We averaged 36,000 last year so it's not like there will be that many more people there. We will probably have fewer games shifted for telly than we have in the past three seasons. We would already be bracing ourselves for the departure of Grealish and McGinn if we had lost our last game. We've more chance of winning at Man City than we would have had at sodding Brentford. And I prefer VAR to being cheated like at The Hawthorns.
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Oh, and I don't have to miss the first game of the season as the start of the Premier League doesn't clash with the Edgbaston Ashes test.
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Slightly bigger crowds on a regular basis. This means longer queues at Aston Station which is terribly managed but a few more bandwagon knobs. Success always bring these out.
Cheaper away prices note Sheff Wed and Leeds.
Less midweeks.
No scrambling for blooose or albion tickets.
New grounds , West Ham and Spurs.
After that not a great deal.
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I really like(d) the Championship - good, evenly matched games pretty much every week - it's just a decent and evenly balanced league and I have to admit, enjoyed our time there!
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Slightly bigger crowds on a regular basis. This means longer queues at Aston Station which is terribly managed but a few more bandwagon knobs. Success always bring these out.
Cheaper away prices note Sheff Wed and Leeds.
Less midweeks.
No scrambling for blooose or albion tickets.
New grounds , West Ham and Spurs.
After that not a great deal.
Blimey, you must have been gutted when we won the play off.
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Going against the grain but i didn’t like or enjoy being in the championship at all
I thought it would be enjoyable for a season but with Bruceball and an extended stay I ended up hating it
I’ve seen us play in the old third division and the old second and remember those days fondly so something must have changed and it’s probably me getting old but it didn’t have the same feel this time round
Like I say it’s probably just me but I remember standing in the away end at Barnsley on a Tuesday night under De Mateo looking round and thinking what am I even doing here
and that was before Bruce and his festival football
so happy we are back in the top league I won’t miss the championship one bit
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Signing a player and seeing it on the BBC football page.
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Not just you, john e. It was mostly poor until Smith arrived, only bearable because we won more than we lost. When we stopped winning, it was just awful. I'd rather see us struggling to impose ourselves on the PL than struggling to impose ourselves on the Championship. In our three years down there, we spent a total of six days in the top two. Crap.
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I've also seen us play at our lowest level and all that went with it. The difference for me this time in the second division as opposed to the last is: for years I'd been watching mainly nothing but shit, the club was going nowhere other than down the plughole, for me, there was little expectation, hope yes, but no expectation. This time, I expected it, we had to get promoted and quickly or we would find ourselves gone for a very long time and I became worried that I would never see the Villa in the top-flight again in my lifetime.
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I've also seen us play at our lowest level and all that went with it. The difference for me this time in the second division as opposed to the last is: for years I'd been watching mainly nothing but shit, the club was going nowhere other than down the plughole, for me, there was little expectation, hope yes, but no expectation. This time, I expected it, we had to get promoted and quickly or we would find ourselves gone for a very long time and I became worried that I would never see the Villa in the top-flight again in my lifetime.
Yep, from where we were last season we could so easily have done a Leeds Shef Wednesday Forest. From there to where we are now is miraculous.
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Yes. From that day Bruce was flogging Jack off to the fastest bidder to being back up, well lead in all senses, with fans back in love (even if I speak only for me and my Dad), is a hell of a turnaround.
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Man Ure and Liverpool fans infesting the pub before a match. Yuck. We might get a beer in with Attila the Stockbroker when we play Brighton though.
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Twatting ManU home and away - after being 2.0 down in both matches.
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Never having to remember what channel number fucking Quest is on.
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I'll miss the West London aways. I'm not looking forward to (potentially) losing a lot of games. I therefore anticipate that we'll fuck everyone in sight off the pitch.
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I’ll keep more of an interested eye on what’s happening on the championship than I did when we were in Premier before I think
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Quite simply not having to play the Dog-Shit or the Bitters anymore
I know there are others like any red filth fans, 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' etc that are a ball ache to be around but nothing like the bile and spite from these cretins
I bet they will be doubling the size of our match threads on their sites
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I’ve enjoyed the Championship. It reinstated my love of the game. I even just about convinced myself that losing a second play off final wouldn’t have been too bad - my joy at the final whistle told me I was kidding myself.
Now my concern is a potential return to the latter PL days of sweating 40 points just to survive another season. Also, the inevitability of big defeats at Man City, Chelsea, Man U et al. Now hoping for some credible team strengthening to give Deano a chance.
As much as I love our new owners, I think they’ll be pretty ruthless if we have a bad start - I guess that’s a good thing really.
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The Premier League app is very good and has loads of old games on it with just some great Villa goals and memories.
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What it's meant to me is one of a father/son persuasion.
I took my two boys for the first time to Villa Park when they were 6 and 4 respectively. My youngest has tailed off, couldn't really give a shit about football, but my eldest has turned into a die-hard Villan. He's about to turn 16.
He can recite the score of any Villa fixture, the scorers (and also around 90% of the time will even get the minute of the goal(s) scored in those matches) for the past 4 seasons. Give him any fixture, he'll tell you the result within seconds.
He had his first season ticket in our relegation season (what a great dad I turned out to be there... but all Ben has known is Villa's abject performance for year upon year whilst seeing other teams thrive (ala Leicester), He's never had anything to shout and cheer about and never sang and joined in with any Villa song, ever.
For him to witness the joy of last Monday in person at Wembley, the players' celebrations at the final whistle, the lifting of silverware at the home of football (especially after he watched Norwich celebrate at Villa Park) and hear the shear noise and happiness of the fans was simply outstanding.
But the thing I took the most pleasure from, was when I heard him joining in with all of the singing when we clinched our return. That meant more to me than the millions the Club will receive by way of our promotion.
Beautiful.
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Match of the day. No more Quest! Woop woop
I’m also looking forward to seeing Villa on MOTD again.
Woop woop.
😁
It was one of the first things I thought about.
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What it's meant to me is one of a father/son persuasion.
I took my two boys for the first time to Villa Park when they were 6 and 4 respectively. My youngest has tailed off, couldn't really give a shit about football, but my eldest has turned into a die-hard Villan. He's about to turn 16.
He can recite the score of any Villa fixture, the scorers (and also around 90% of the time will even get the minute of the goal(s) scored in those matches) for the past 4 seasons. Give him any fixture, he'll tell you the result within seconds.
He had his first season ticket in our relegation season (what a great dad I turned out to be there... but all Ben has known is Villa's abject performance for year upon year whilst seeing other teams thrive (ala Leicester), He's never had anything to shout and cheer about and never sang and joined in with any Villa song, ever.
For him to witness the joy of last Monday in person at Wembley, the players' celebrations at the final whistle, the lifting of silverware at the home of football (especially after he watched Norwich celebrate at Villa Park) and hear the shear noise and happiness of the fans was simply outstanding.
But the thing I took the most pleasure from, was when I heard him joining in with all of the singing when we clinched our return. That meant more to me than the millions the Club will receive by way of our promotion.
Beautiful.
Seconded. What a lovely post, mate.
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What it's meant to me is one of a father/son persuasion.
I took my two boys for the first time to Villa Park when they were 6 and 4 respectively. My youngest has tailed off, couldn't really give a shit about football, but my eldest has turned into a die-hard Villan. He's about to turn 16.
He can recite the score of any Villa fixture, the scorers (and also around 90% of the time will even get the minute of the goal(s) scored in those matches) for the past 4 seasons. Give him any fixture, he'll tell you the result within seconds.
He had his first season ticket in our relegation season (what a great dad I turned out to be there... but all Ben has known is Villa's abject performance for year upon year whilst seeing other teams thrive (ala Leicester), He's never had anything to shout and cheer about and never sang and joined in with any Villa song, ever.
For him to witness the joy of last Monday in person at Wembley, the players' celebrations at the final whistle, the lifting of silverware at the home of football (especially after he watched Norwich celebrate at Villa Park) and hear the shear noise and happiness of the fans was simply outstanding.
But the thing I took the most pleasure from, was when I heard him joining in with all of the singing when we clinched our return. That meant more to me than the millions the Club will receive by way of our promotion.
Beautiful.
Seconded. What a lovely post, mate.
I meant to respond to this at the time and forgot. Absolutely lovely post and made me think of my son who’s about to turn 21 and the similar journey he had had with his Villa support over the last 15 years. We had a great day at Wembley together and I saw him singing for the first time.
I seem to have something in my eye.
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Looking at the fixture list and not having to work out how to get to Rotherham away on a Wednesday.
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Looking at the fixture list and not having to work out how to get to Rotherham away on a Wednesday.
That reminds me of the old Ron Atkinson quip. How do you get to Coventry?
Go nine games without a win at The Villa.
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Much prefer the league we were in, however we are in the land of loads of money......
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When you look back 12 months we have had one hello of a journey. 12 months ago it looked like we might have to sell an decent asset we had but the vultures hoping to pick our bones couldn't even find anyone at the club to negotiate with as we were in such a mess. I am under no illusion that the coming season will be testing but at least we will be tested by some of the best club sides in the world. Bring it on and we can show that The Villa are going to be a pain in the arse for many clubs. Fuck the fuckers. Then fuck the other fuckers. Then fuck everyone.
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So bearing in mind that miracle of the last 12months, what being back has to mean to all of us is keeping the faith in Deano when the going gets tough.
I have a strong memory of being impressed by the Baggies when they came up but were rubbish and were boinging between divisions for a while. As much as they were poor their supporters supported loudly throughout - yes it’s easier to do that away - but I felt there was something very noble, loyal about that, that we don’t always see.
It’s thankfully our best chance to stay loyal with manager and captain as one of us; I liked the bit in the TIFO podcast where it talks about how unique it is to have such love for a local lad who is the star, and had such unique qualities. We’ve struggled for years for this sort of player and we have our own gem. It’s still sinking in how close we were to a different trajectory.
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I have a strong memory of being impressed by the Baggies when they came up but were rubbish and were boinging between divisions for a while. As much as they were poor their supporters supported loudly throughout - yes it’s easier to do that away - but I felt there was something very noble, loyal about that, that we don’t always see.
Final written warning.
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Supporting loudly in a match a couple of miles from your home ground in a local derby is hardly a big deal. I'd be more impressed if they filled an away end more than a couple of times a season.
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I resisted outing myself on a Facebook thread earlier as obviously not being a proper Villa fan if I decline to fervently hate our rivals- though I don’t have x thousand posts on their discussion boards btw ;)
I agree it was an away section and we have often done the same, so fair point it wasn’t that big a deal.
Yet it stuck in my memory for a reason: I think there is a bigger symbolic debate here around the balance of *supporting* and moaning/griping, It’s been done many times I guess and I wasn’t meaning to open it up as a debate, yet...
Beyond the points when a crowd turns to literally eject a manager who is a dead man walking: for me during 90mins it’s about supporting the team, encouraging them to do well and helping them to do so, rather than influencing things in a way more likely to have negative outcome.
I hope we do comfortably well enough, but there will be new players to bed in and teams that for years were streets ahead of us and have developed since. So it just comes to mind as we’ll have some painful match days no doubt. I’m hopeful there will be plenty of patience.
I am so excited, and still hoping the band get back together to include Tyrone, something talismanic about him it felt.
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I've just been transferring next season's fixtures onto my phone calender, and realising what a difference having 8 fewer league games makes to the season. All this blank space: I won't know what to do with it!
I'll end up keeping tabs on the Championship and the (mis)fortunes of Blues & Albion, I suspect!
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Enjoy it while you can mate, midweeks will be full again once we are in the Champions League.
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Enjoy it while you can mate, midweeks will be full again once we are in the Champions League.
So long as we remember to respect the 'Champions League Anthem' and don't get fined for not doing so. ;)
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I have a strong memory of being impressed by the Baggies when they came up but were rubbish and were boinging between divisions for a while. As much as they were poor their supporters supported loudly throughout - yes it’s easier to do that away - but I felt there was something very noble, loyal about that, that we don’t always see.
Boinging between the divisions represents success for that lot. Maybe that's something to do with it.
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Whilst looking for something else I have just stumbled across the relegation odds.
Sheffield United 4/6
Norwich 10/11
Burnley/Brighton 7/4
Villa 2/1
Southampton 9/2
Bournemouth 11/2
Which means the bookies would have us finishing 16th in the table.
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Little things #73. Seeing that the draw for the first round of the Caribao Cup is this week, and knowing we won't deign it with our presence until later.
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For me I feel like I did in 1975 when we clinched promotion to Div 1. I was 14 then and that summer was pure magic, desperate to see the fixture list to see when we would go to Spurs or Liverpool and constantly checking who we would buy, when the new kit was out. I’m 56 now and full of optimism for what’s to come. It’s gonna be a fabulous summer and I feel like a teenager again
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For me I feel like I did in 1975 when we clinched promotion to Div 1. I was 14 then and that summer was pure magic, desperate to see the fixture list to see when we would go to Spurs or Liverpool and constantly checking who we would buy, when the new kit was out. I’m 56 now and full of optimism for what’s to come. It’s gonna be a fabulous summer and I feel like a teenager again
That's exactly how I feel as well Allan. It has the same good feel factor that it did in 1975.
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Half of me is very wary. I still remember how bad it was from 2011-16 and we were so bad we would lose to to both decent and shit teams all the time barring the occasional decent result Vs a Liverpool, City or Chelsea. The Lambert days where we would concede a goal five seconds after our own corners or throw ins were diabolical. I almost expect it to be the same because we just grew so used to it. But other half is telling me the club is rejuvenated and has the right manager and
Board and that we shall, after a testing first season, be ok. I know it's the same for 15-16 other clubs but the prospect of being happy to be rest of the rest for eternity or hoping we can do well in a cup only to be humilated in the final by a rich rich club leaves me a bit cold. The championship at least felt like the old days. But we are back and thats where we needed to be both in prestige and obviously the money. I haven't missed the patronising banter though from PL "supporters."
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Its wonderful that Villa are playing in the Premiership again - it wont be easy, but not much worthwhile is.
We will get beat more, but as a team they will improve.
As a Club, we are in a much better state than we were last time ( and I'm not talking just about the money at the club )
Negatives? VAR, which I think will destroy the game.
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A chance to relegate Newcastle for a third time.
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For me I feel like I did in 1975 when we clinched promotion to Div 1. I was 14 then and that summer was pure magic, desperate to see the fixture list to see when we would go to Spurs or Liverpool and constantly checking who we would buy, when the new kit was out. I’m 56 now and full of optimism for what’s to come. It’s gonna be a fabulous summer and I feel like a teenager again
I’m 57 and concur
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Weirdly, I'm really pleased that all of our highlights will be in HD. Criminal that the main footage of Jack's volley against Derby wasn't in the best definition with more than 2 camera angles.
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A chance to relegate Newcastle for a third time.
Now there is an inspiring thought.
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For me I feel like I did in 1975 when we clinched promotion to Div 1. I was 14 then and that summer was pure magic, desperate to see the fixture list to see when we would go to Spurs or Liverpool and constantly checking who we would buy, when the new kit was out. I’m 56 now and full of optimism for what’s to come. It’s gonna be a fabulous summer and I feel like a teenager again
I'm 61 and 110% this
I’m 57 and concur
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For me I feel like I did in 1975 when we clinched promotion to Div 1. I was 14 then and that summer was pure magic, desperate to see the fixture list to see when we would go to Spurs or Liverpool and constantly checking who we would buy, when the new kit was out. I’m 56 now and full of optimism for what’s to come. It’s gonna be a fabulous summer and I feel like a teenager again
I'm 61 and 110% this
I’m 57 and concur
Agree entirely,though i'm only 64.
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So do we have agreement to relegate Newcastle again?
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I'm getting a bit weary of the " newcomers,Aston Villa" malarkey like we've never played in " The top league" before
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I agree Mersey. Some of our fans on Twitter don't help though, tweeting photos of the club badge being on a sky sports premier league promo for example. Maybe it's an age thing !
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So do we have agreement to relegate Newcastle again?
They must've been well shite if they get relegated by the time they play us!
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So do we have agreement to relegate Newcastle again?
They must've been well shite if they get relegated by the time they play us!
Works for me! Shearer in meltdown on MOTD. Media bitching about Benitez departure. 6-0 defeat at Villa Park. Nice.
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Steve Bruce tipped to take over, let it be so.
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Steve Bruce tipped to take over, let it be so.
20/1 outsider at the moment, not even they'd be that stupid, surely.
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I heard on Talkshite today that Monk was the favourite - if so then Panini will have to bring out a sticker book of all the clubs he has managed - I think he is going for all of them ;D
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Thousands of born again villains
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Thousands of born again villains
Twas ever thus at any promoted club, though it was great how good our attendances were in the Championship.despite the economic climate.
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Thousands of born again villains
Return of the Happy Clappys.
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I heard on Talkshite today that Monk was the favourite - if so then Panini will have to bring out a sticker book of all the clubs he has managed - I think he is going for all of them ;D
I hope not...
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Hold on to your seats!
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Buying FIFA 20 or Football Manager when it comes out will be fun. Villa in a PL and all these new players to play or work with.
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Important to be back where the club should be.
Great that we have done it under serious professional ownership with the resources to do it properly. Can you imagine if we had gone up with "Dr" Tony in charge.
Being able to read Villa news without having to stoop to the depths of Birmingham Live.
But ... last season was a lot of fun. Really memorable. The first time I consistently enjoyed watching Villa in too many years.
I'll also miss being able to pay to see every Villa game online (overseas). It's back to illegal streams I guess.
Up the Villa!
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The PL:
- hype and idiot "expert summarisers"
- games moved for TV
- even more arrogant away fans at VP
And:
- a rocking VP
- a real chance to re-establish us and the Midlands
- the joy of seeing Villa represented in national sides around the world
- pride!
I have mixed feelings, but the current close-season approach brings nothing but optimism. I hope that Deano and others can bring this squad together, grounded, focussed and bonded.
Grealish must be wetting himeself at the opportunity this squad offers!
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Know-nothing Mark Lawrenson predicting we’ll lose every week instead of know-nothing David Prutton predicting we’ll lose every week.
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I’m going to miss Rosenior as a pundit.
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He’s joined the Derby as coach anyway so suspect his pundit days are over.
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Arguably the best pundit around. Talks sense and knows his stuff.
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Looking at the fixture list and not having to work out how to get to Rotherham away on a Wednesday.
That's the biggest drawback for me!
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Arguably the best pundit around. Talks sense and knows his stuff.
Agree totally, he doesn't mind telling it how it is and ruffling feathers of the pundit hierarchy
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Steve Bruce tipped to take over, let it be so.
20/1 outsider at the moment, not even they'd be that stupid, surely.
;)
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Looking at the fixture list and not having to work out how to get to Rotherham away on a Wednesday.
That's the biggest drawback for me!
We've still got Sheffield United, at least!
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For this to be the start of us re-establishing ourselves as a Premier League club season in and season out. Not flirting with relegation and with the potential to do more than make the numbers up.
If you look at this league probably only Manchester, Liverpool, and London have clubs you can say that about.
Aston Villa should be at that level representing the second city.
This is what being back in the PL means to me.
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Must confess I will miss having a chat and a laugh with away fans at Villa Park with one or two certain exceptions. Met some nice folk in the championship.
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Must confess I will miss having a chat and a laugh with away fans at Villa Park with one or two certain exceptions. Met some nice folk in the championship.
The Championship is better in almost every regard. I'm delighted to have left it, but it's really good.
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Having £100m + to spend to make it an exciting summer in transfers - surprises happening almost daily! Then reading the SHA message board where the noses are hugely jealous of us!
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I'm must admit I'm getting really excited the new Premier League season is just around the corner and with all the transfer business we have done can't wait for the big kick off it started to mean more now because we are making a statement with what we are doing I can see good things happening this season.
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I pretty much avoided all top level football discussion shows while we were down. I’m listening and watching all of them again because it directly impacts us and that off course we are a part of some of those discussions. So much more fun.
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The new Sky PL advert has Jack in it 😎💜💜💜
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It means having Villa players in the fantasy football team. Did a ff draft league today which boasts 5 outfield Villa players (ie will have to play at least 2 every week). I'm that bloody confident (Big Wes, Jack, Trezuguet, Jota, and Engels).
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Can someone link up the new Sky advert with Jack in it, can't find it anywhere.
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Must confess I will miss having a chat and a laugh with away fans at Villa Park with one or two certain exceptions. Met some nice folk in the championship.
The Championship is better in almost every regard. I'm delighted to have left it, but it's really good.
Agreed. A more competitive league where there are surprises every weekend. Probably the best league in the world, given the combination of decent football, big crowds and uncertainty in the league table.
A downer this season will probably be getting tickets.
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Can someone link up the new Sky advert with Jack in it, can't find it anywhere.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SkySports/status/1152593060603334658
Or, if you prefer, an alternative version...
https://mobile.twitter.com/mrjimmyhessel/status/1152608743886065666
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Can someone link up the new Sky advert with Jack in it, can't find it anywhere.
https://mobile.twitter.com/SkySports/status/1152593060603334658
Or, if you prefer, an alternative version...
https://mobile.twitter.com/mrjimmyhessel/status/1152608743886065666
Thank you mate I am on mobile so will watch later but appreciate your reply 👍
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It means I can eat chocolate and bitter birds cannot.
(https://i.ibb.co/SyrCmwP/7-D917-C25-2-E1-D-4-B81-9625-5-ACBA1-D166-FB.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SyrCmwP)
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Interesting noting the amount of people who've said they've hardly watched premier league since we've been relegated.
Interested if the intensity today came as a shock or not.
The championship is a fun league and in many areas the premier league is overhyped but in terms of pace and precision it really is night and day between the two leagues.
Playing like that we eased to many 1-0 or 2-0 away wins in championship but completely different standard today.
Worth remembering in the time we've been away Man. City and Liverpool have really raised the standards in terms of pressing and pace upfront. If people thought today was a very hard workout wait until we play those four games.
Still the good news is teams like Crystal Palace and Bournemouth are nowhere near that so I'd like to think we can get some points on the board in next three games.
Also think with what we showed in first 60 minutes we can get some points off Arsenal, Man. Unired and Chelsea. They're the "easier" three of the top 6 to play.
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I’ve not watched top flight without us and yes summary above is fair.
Main difference now is less clicks to see the league table on bbc sport app!
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What does being back in the Premier League mean to me?
Ask me around Christmas time.
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I hope I'm still around at Christmas, the nerves on Saturday were off the scale. The Championship was a walk in the park in comparison, even the Play off final. I really enjoyed the Championship, even with a defeat there was another game a few days later to fix things and get it right. This waiting a week between games just adds to the tension. I wish we could play Bournemouth tomorrow.
Hopefully things will settle down once we get back to winning ways but I somehow doubt it.
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I’m reading Heroes Discussion more than Off Topic.
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It's the intensity that got me too. Jack would have a quick shimmy and been away from that situation leading up to the 2nd goal time and time again in the Championship. They will all need to up their game in speed of though and accuracy to aid ball retention, but I'm sure it will come. I'm not expecting Bournemouth to be the walk in the park many on here seem to be anticipating.
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Main difference now is less clicks to see the league table on bbc sport app!
Oh yes indeed. Everything about the BBC site for Championship teams is annoying, including the fact that they listed our results third, after the Premier League and the SPL. And to find the table you had to start to type in a team name, or the name of the division. Now it's there, front and centre again. Hopefully we won't have to scroll down too far to see our position soon!
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No more quest, Colin Murray or that Bristol twit
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No more quest, Colin Murray or that Bristol twit
They have the rights for the league cup highlights....
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It's really exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. Shitting myself in the hope that we are good enough to survive and also excited to see what Dean teaches them, knowing that our owners will bail us out of the shit if things go pear shaped. I don't want us to be the yo-yo club but I know we have to be patient.
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I didn't mind the EFL from a match point of view. I think we all agreed it was exciting and the games came thick and fast. However, for recognition especially for a club with our history then it's all about the PL. Being able to compete in the transfer market and more notably keeping hold of our better players gives us a platform to be what we all crave for.