Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Footy-Vill on September 21, 2020, 01:17:03 PM
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Our first game is upon us!
This thread here is to give comment, discussion and debate to what is being said about us the mighty Aston Villa this season.
For me I think we'll surprise a few people and receive plenty of positive noise . At this moment as we haven't kicked off yet the comments on Aston Villa seem to suggest we'll be battling relegation again.
Gary Neville
"I’m going to say West Brom and Fulham [for relegation],” says Neville. “And I’m also going to say Villa, because I said it a couple of weeks ago, even though I don’t want them to. I just think they’re going to struggle"
Robbie Savage
Says Aston Villa will finish 18th and be relegated
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I'd say Newcastle and West Ham have more to worry about than we do.
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well gary nev saying we're down makes me feel a bit more confident if i'm honest. Savage. meh, pah for the course. I'd be more worried if he didn't predict us to go down
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well gary nev saying we're down makes me feel a bit more confident if i'm honest. Savage. meh, pah for the course. I'd be more worried if he didn't predict us to go down
He did a piece suggesting Leeds would be bottom, maybe relegated, but hedge bets saying although probably finish mid table !
Then suggested Villa as the third team with Fulham And WBA
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Gary Neville can suck my balls, Robbie Savage would if the price was right, and Michael Owen is a successful limited example of AI, based around a ZX Spectrum.
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Gary Neville can suck my balls, Robbie Savage would if the price was right, and Michael Owen is a successful limited example of AI, based around a ZX Spectrum.
I'm not sure he's had the upgrade from ZX81.
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Micah is nice to us cos we made him rich with little contribution back.
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Lineker said this earlier in week
"Punditry’s immensely competitive. If you go into TV punditry now you can’t be lazy, or clichéd because you won’t last.
You’ve really got to work at it. Go back 10 or 20 years and you could come into TV and blag it. Not now.”
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Lineker said this earlier in week
"Punditry’s immensely competitive. If you go into TV punditry now you can’t be lazy, or clichéd because you won’t last.
You’ve really got to work at it. Go back 10 or 20 years and you could come into TV and blag it. Not now.”
Talk about a lack of self awareness.
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Ha, you can't be lazy or clichéd in punditry anymore so its a good thing Lawro and Owen have something fresh to say.
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On BBC radio 5 live:
Chris Sutton : Dele Ali needs to prove himself all over again and it doesn't look like he'll do it at Spurs with Mourinho
I can't believe he's being linked with the likes of PSG
Mark Chapman : where will he go in the premier league
Sutton: Aston Villa ? (Can hear 'chappers' containing himself being amused at the thought! Don't know why so)
Sutton continues "I don't know....He's shown so much promise actually needs to find a club where he'll get regular playing time."
Sutton basically went on to say the clubs competing at top end wouldn't be wanting him.
Seems to think Villa would be a good fit.
Interesting to hear Sutton . one of the better pundits , who will give forthcoming views and honesty . EX professional seems spot on how he sees where Villa are currently which I think is fair assessment to where Dele and Villa are at this time.
Mark Chapman. Doesn't really get football a lot of time.
Pretty low level insight and not much clue outside of the top 4.
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Fuxk "Chappers".
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Sutton is categorically not one of the better pundits. In fact I'd say he was one of the bigger bell ends on the circuit and it's a difficult crowd to stand out in.
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yeah, it's a crowded market for bell ends, but Sutton stands out like a turd in a punchbowl
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I like both Sutton and 'Chappers'. Sutton brings a kind of post-modernism vibe to the job; everything is laced with irony and we have to think about the meaning of 'meaning'. Very Roland Barthes/Jacques Derrida.
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I like both Sutton and 'Chappers'. Sutton brings a kind of post-modernism vibe to the job; everything is laced with irony and we have to think about the meaning of 'meaning'. Very Roland Barthes/Jacques Derrida.
Ha, yeah, I reckon Sutton might tell you that Barthes was a poor goal keeper for Man Utd standards as well as his general distrust of theories.
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Chappers was clear with what the FIFA handball rules are and stated them clearly on MOTD2
Including saying how FIFA want football to have uniformity across the footballing world leagues and competition.
Jermaine Jenas response was "why does the premier league have to fall in line ?"
That sums up the premier league attitude.
The irony it came from Jenas who once claimed "being at Newacstle Utd was like a goldfish bowl"
His dismissive and quite arrogant response to Chappers explaining the hand ball rule and giving due reason said it all.
Because he also said "we know we have to adapt our game when we play in European competition"
Therein lies the point . Shouldn't have to adapt because of a difference in footballing rules . It should be the same all over.
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Yeah, but 'Chappers' is a complete ******.
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Roy Keane: "Fulham are making Aston Villa look like Bayern Munich"
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Roy Keane: "Fulham are making Aston Villa look like Bayern Munich"
Which is Ironic, as Bayern got spanked yesterday...
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Personally I don't give a fiddler's fuck what Roy Keane thinks, yesterday's man that had his chance here and contributed zilch.
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
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Personally I don't give a fiddler's fuck what Roy Keane thinks, yesterday's man that had his chance here and contributed zilch.
Well said Dave. I don't like any of them. All hindsight experts.
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Roy Keane :" I think Villa will be in the bottom half, but I don’t think they’ll be in a relegation dogfight. I think they have enough quality going forward, and I think they’ve got a proper poacher, a goalscorer, I think they’ll be fine "
Keane is a first rate cnut but to be fair, the quote is probably spot on
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
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Michelle Owen:
"The work that Dean Smith and his coaches did during lockdown with the players has carried through to this season. Four games in all comps, Four wins, Three clean sheets, 10 goals scored, just one conceded"
Michelle Owen is a Villa fan so we can expect her to say nice things.
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The Bookies are saying we're no longer favourites to go down, they have Fulham, Albion, Sheff Utd, Burnley, Newcastle and West Ham ahead of us, we're now 4-1 for the drop.
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Gabby Agbonlahor:
"Isn’t it great when a manager can buy his own players not a sporting director called Suso playing football manager"
So true Gabby. And I would say
We can really see this window Deano bringing in Dean Smith type players. They fit the profile and how Dean wants to play.
I even think JT has had some influence in bringing in Traore.
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Gabby Agbonlahor:
"Isn’t it great when a manager can buy his own players not a sporting director called Suso playing football manager"
So true Gabby. And I would say
We can really see this window Deano bringing in Dean Smith type players. They fit the profile and how Dean wants to play.
I even think JT has had some influence in bringing in Traore.
In fairness smith said he had agreed with all of Suso signings And worked well with him,
Which he probably didn’t have to say
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Yeah comes across as a genuine bloke and gets points for ignoring the shite that Roy Keane spouts out (and he doesn’t have a bad word to say about us)
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In the BBC Sport piece about Barkley, Phil McNulty says the signing "continues a fine window for the club."
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all this positive talk....
something's bound to cock up soon, this is Aston Villa :D
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Pity he was so poisonous with his mates gabby and lesscott when he was on our books.
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De-paywalled from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/05/aston-villa-have-wow-factor-calculated-ambitious-transfer-window/
Aston Villa have 'wow factor' after calculated and ambitious transfer window recruitment
Unlike last season when they spent heavily to buy a dozen players, Dean Smith's side has been transformed by quality, targeted signings
JOHN PERCY
5 October 2020 • 10:26am
It was arguably Aston Villa’s finest ever Premier League result and, as one of “their own”, the significance will not have been lost on Dean Smith.
Villa are firmly back in the national consciousness after their remarkable disembowelment of champions Liverpool and Smith’s squad will head into the international break on a tidal wave of optimism.
Smith’s fingernails have only just returned to normal length after last season’s mad scramble to safety on the final day, yet now there is hope that brighter times could be ahead.
Less than five weeks ago, many supporters were panicking over a perceived lack of transfer activity and fearing another season of struggle until protracted negotiations with Brentford finally reached their conclusion.
Those negotiations ended with Ollie Watkins completing his club record £28 million move to Villa Park and Smith’s belief in the forward was emphatically rewarded with the hat-trick against Liverpool on Sunday.
Watkins conducted his post-match interviews with the matchball under his arm and bemoaned the fact that he should have scored five goals. Yes, it was one of those nights at Villa Park.
His arrival followed the signing of Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash, already emerging as a fan favourite for the supporters sadly sitting at home, with Emiliano Martínez and Bertrand Traoré also joining.
The loan signing of Ross Barkley from Chelsea, as first revealed by Telegraph Sport, was further proof that Villa mean business this season.
Barkley’s decision to join Villa has enabled talismanic captain Jack Grealish to have more freedom - against Liverpool he became the first player in Premier League history to have a hand in five goals in a single game with two goals and three assists.
John McGinn also appears reborn after a second half to last season ravaged by injuries - as demonstrated by his outrageous piece of skill against Fulham and one pass to Watkins on Sunday night.
Ezri Konsa, the centre-half, has shown rapid progress since lockdown and could be in contention for a place in the England squad soon.
With Grealish also committing his future to the club, following talks over the club’s future direction with co-owner Nassef Sawiris, a mid-table finish should be the minimum target this season.
The recruitment this summer has been calculated and ambitious, led by Smith, chief executive Christian Purslow and new sporting director Johan Lange.
Last season they spent around £140m essentially to build a new squad and while there were a few successes - Tyrone Mings, Douglas Luiz and Konsa spring to mind - there were undeniably a few flops.
Crucially, there was also a glaring lack of Premier League experience and that was one factor Villa wanted to attack head on this season.
Adding “quality” has been the watchword from Smith, and this £75m spend appears to have been shrewdly carried out.
Before the season started, Smith gave some insight into this summer’s business. “I think if you look at last season we spent an awful lot of money but we had to get 12 to 13 players in. It was a big turnaround for the club,” he said.
“We had struggles last season when we lost our player of the year in John McGinn, our record signing in Wesley and our most experienced Premier League player in Tom Heaton. Any team who has that happen is going to find it difficult.
“I always felt if we got over the line the players we brought in last summer would be better for the 12 months and we could then go and add quality rather than quantity.
“There were four or five players last season and we lost a few. Now they are back and we have added quality with the players we are bringing in now.”
Smith is older and wiser after last season’s relegation battle and must be cursing the timing of the international break, with his squad on such an upward trajectory.
His tweaks to the shape of his squad during lockdown proved he is unquestionably a fine operator at this level.
It is also impossible to overlook the impact of his new assistant manager Craig Shakespeare, a wily and brilliant coach on the training ground.
Villa’s return on Oct 17, with a trip to Leicester, seems a long way away now - but the memories of Sunday’s thrashing of Liverpool will last forever.
As Jürgen Klopp said to Smith after the final whistle: "Wow!"
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Pity he was so poisonous with his mates gabby and lesscott when he was on our books.
How do you know? If that's the case, it's weird that successive managers kept him around for his morale-raising effects on the dressing room.
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Pity he was so poisonous with his mates gabby and lesscott when he was on our books.
How do you know? If that's the case, it's weird that successive managers kept him around for his morale-raising effects on the dressing room.
When I get that feeling, I agree with Sexual Ealing.
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Micah Richards is good and he actually knows about the squad.
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Interesting to read back at some of the comments about Richards when he was here and the same people brown nose-ing now.
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Weird reaction - does Richards read this?
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Agreed, that appears to be what's going on. It was noticeable when he retired how many at Villa were wishing him well on social media.
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He does seem a nice bloke, just a jester on the pitch.
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Have to admit I’m warming to Micah.
He comes across as a very decent bloke.
Pity he was so poisonous with his mates gabby and lesscott when he was on our books.
Was he though, I wonder? Maybe he was just shit and unfit. Doesn't seem like a troublemaker at all.
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He will go down a bottler with Lescott.
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He will go down a bottler with Lescott.
what did he actually bottle? He had an injury he couldn't recover from. Is that bottling? And we gave him a stupidly long and lucrative contract. Is that his fault too?
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And not forgetting that we signed him to that contract despite the fact we couldn't get insurance for him. It's easier to blame the player though rather than the ones that gave him that contract.
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He will go down a bottler with Lescott.
what did he actually bottle? He had an injury he couldn't recover from. Is that bottling? And we gave him a stupidly long and lucrative contract. Is that his fault too?
Take a trip down memory lane and have a butchers at the Micah thread.
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He comes across well, I just find he's a bit over-exposed by his regular presence both on BBC and Sky.
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He will go down a bottler with Lescott.
what did he actually bottle? He had an injury he couldn't recover from. Is that bottling? And we gave him a stupidly long and lucrative contract. Is that his fault too?
Take a trip down memory lane and have a butchers at the Micah thread.
I’d rather not. I was uncomfortable with the poisonous hatred he got from some at the time , and still am.
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I think a lot of it stems from that episode where he had a go back at the fans who were rightly having a pop at Guzan for pissing about spitting gum.
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I think a lot of it stems from that episode where he had a go back at the fans who were rightly having a pop at Guzan for pissing about spitting gum.
We can file that away with the rest of the ten years of purgatory since microphone head threw his toys out of the pram. We are finally in a far far better place as a club. Onwards and upwards. UTV.
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On the one hand he was given a contract and sat it out bleeding the club dry but you couldn’t blame him. On the other hand he and his fellow so called professionals showed a total disregard for the club for their lack of professionalism towards Garde in particular. The nadir being the FA cup game at Wycombe referred to above.
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He comes across well, I just find he's a bit over-exposed by his regular presence both on BBC and Sky.
Yeah agree on both counts
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I generally don't listen to pundits, I don't watch MOTD, Sky build-up or after game chat. Just the game with the commentators is enough - and if I don't like those on air I tend to find a different channel to watch the game on until I find ones I like.
The DAZN and NBCSN ones are usually better than Sky BT.
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On the one hand he was given a contract and sat it out bleeding the club dry but you couldn’t blame him. On the other hand he and his fellow so called professionals showed a total disregard for the club for their lack of professionalism towards Garde in particular. The nadir being the FA cup game at Wycombe referred to above.
MON's flounce out (and I was a big MON fan), Houlliers delayed arrival, Houlliers leaving, TSM 1 coming and going in the blink of an eye, Lambert coming and staying too long for my liking, Sherwood going from hero to zero very quickly, Garde and Di Matteo not staying long enough to have their passports stamped, all the comings and goings behind the scenes. The Wycombe game somehow managed to sum up Aston Villa 2010 - 2016. I think the longer time goes on the more I respect Bruce's part in stopping the slide and turning us around. We were an absolute basket case of a club for a while.
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I agree on Bruce I understand the football wasn’t always great but he certainly made us a club to be taken seriously again. Never quite understand the level of vitriol towards him. The timing of his sacking was correct though.
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I agree on Bruce I understand the football wasn’t always great but he certainly made us a club to be taken seriously again. Never quite understand the level of vitriol towards him. The timing of his sacking was correct though.
I didn't hate Bruce. I just didn't think he was very good and in the end he was talking utter bollocks. But it's not personal. He went through immense personal challenges towards the end. He did stabilize the club, but if we stuck by him we may still be playing Bristol City or Cardiff this season and sitting in the top 6 of the Championship vs the PL.
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I agree on Bruce I understand the football wasn’t always great but he certainly made us a club to be taken seriously again. Never quite understand the level of vitriol towards him. The timing of his sacking was correct though.
I didn't hate Bruce. I just didn't think he was very good and in the end he was talking utter bollocks. But it's not personal. He went through immense personal challenges towards the end. He did stabilize the club, but if we stuck by him we may still be playing Bristol City or Cardiff this season and sitting in the top 6 of the Championship vs the PL.
Agree, ideally if Bruce had left after the play-off final, he would have been given far more respect.
As I said “ideally” financial circumstances dictated otherwise
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Cheers VillzSkillz. Nice to see Maniche has got new employment after being stuck on the graveyard slot of the Beeb's football league coverage - in studio presenting from a Juliet balcony while Steve 'Romeo' Claridge sat below offering his punditry expertise.
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Alan Curbishley and Andy Townsend post match analysis
What went wrong for Alan Curbishley? He went from the shortlist for the England job to obscurity pretty quickly.
I wonder if he has learnt how to pronounce 'Birmingham' yet.
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I can't help but like Sherwood. Always positive about us. I liked his attitude as manager.
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It’s the biggest management job he ever had, and likely will ever have and I genuinely think he feels great pride in that irrespective of how it ended. I think the size of the club struck him once he got here and certainly as part of the run to the cup final. The following summer and season was a disaster, but we clearly had an impact on him as he rarely ever has a bad word to say about us. Always very complimentary.
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Jim Beglin on commentary last night vs Chelsea
Jack Grealish
"He’s an absolutely fabulous footballer and he’s going to go on to great things - but at times he doesn’t even try to stay on his feet.”
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Our first game is upon us!
This thread here is to give comment, discussion and debate to what is being said about us the mighty Aston Villa this season.
For me I think we'll surprise a few people and receive plenty of positive noise . At this moment as we haven't kicked off yet the comments on Aston Villa seem to suggest we'll be battling relegation again.
Gary Neville
"I’m going to say West Brom and Fulham [for relegation],” says Neville. “And I’m also going to say Villa, because I said it a couple of weeks ago, even though I don’t want them to. I just think they’re going to struggle"
Robbie Savage
Says Aston Villa will finish 18th and be relegated
I came here to watch the match analysis by Ian Wright and Tim Sherwood. Both have really caught on to the idea that we are a serious club with serious intentions. However I felt the need put up the OP and show up Robbie Savage for what he is. A nasty little ex bluenose who is clueless about football and steals a living as a pundit.
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Just watching the football show on sky. Danny Mills is another one who seems to have issues with us. Talking about our equaliser last night he is convinced Jack fouled Christensen and wouldn't accept that the Chelsea player was equally guilty of fouling Jack. The ref saw it as 50/50 and I agree. The difference being Jack got up and played a pivotal part in the goal. The Chelsea player decided to feign an injury and it cost them.
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Just watching the football show on sky. Danny Mills is another one who seems to have issues with us. Talking about our equaliser last night he is convinced Jack fouled Christensen and wouldn't accept that the Chelsea player was equally guilty of fouling Jack. The ref saw it as 50/50 and I agree. The difference being Jack got up and played a pivotal part in the goal. The Chelsea player decided to feign an injury and it cost them.
I've come to a now conclusion for whatever reason Mills chap is bias against Villa
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Danny Mills is not a very good pundit.
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Christensen did what many other players have done before him. Not able to deal with Grealish, he puts his body in his way to check his run. In my book, that would usually be a foul on Grealish but as Jack had managed to release the ball, the ref quite rightly allowed play to continue.
I’m struggling to understand why anyone sees it differently. Perhaps its my claret and blue tinted glasses, but suspect its more likely Mills’ shit tinted glasses as that is normally the sum of what he spouts off.
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On the commentary last night, just after they showed a stats box with Grealish at the top for chances created this season, Beglin and the commentator discussed how JG might soon be 'one of the best players in the country'.
Which I thought was rather odd, and not a little unintelligent.
There seems to be a reluctance amongst some pundits to acknowledge the unique capabilities that JG has; in contrast to the growing recognition amongst opposition fans that JG is indeed incredibly skillful.
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Jim Bogglin made even less sense last night than he does on Pro Evo.
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Danny Mills is not a very good pundit.
I agree.
He's trying to make up for this by going against the tide and hooking himself onto the minority opinion.
It gets him noticed I suppose.
He's the pundit equivalent of Katie Hopkins.
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12174929/how-dean-smith-and-aston-villa-changed-tack-to-pack-a-punch
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12174929/how-dean-smith-and-aston-villa-changed-tack-to-pack-a-punch
Thanks for sharing that, Maidstone - interesting read.
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I honestly couldn’t give a flying fcuk what Danny Fcukin Mills, Savage or any of the ill informed, ill researched pundits think about us (and I include Agbonlahor in that lot). Except to say that if it’s pissing a few of them off then we’re obviously doing something right as there’s a lot of jealousy out there. What would we actually miss if any of this lot disappeared from our screens/airwaves overnight. I was sad when Dimbleby called it a day. Less so when Beglin does.
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Good research in that article.
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12174929/how-dean-smith-and-aston-villa-changed-tack-to-pack-a-punch
Thanks for posting good read.
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12174929/how-dean-smith-and-aston-villa-changed-tack-to-pack-a-punch
What a refreshing change from the usual media (and fan a lot of the time) narrative of “they bought shit players last time, they bought good players this time”. Those shit players being Heaton, Mings, AEG, Targett, Trezeguet, Konsa and Doug.
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Latest Daily Express final league predictions
(https://i.ibb.co/rp03Rs7/7393325-D-EEB6-4-ADE-8-A49-7-C36-F9-C4-B7-BE.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rp03Rs7)
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I'll be incandescent with rage if we miss out on the title by 3 points!
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They have Liverpool losing only two games all season... both against us.
I would be pretty seething if we lost the league to them by three points and not one other team bothered their arses beating them! 😄
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Only 9 home wins is a bit shit as well.
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Made up for by getting what would, surely, be the best away record ever? And it is still only one more home defeat. Would take that, I'll be honest.
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That's a long, long season for the bottom two.
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As accurate as their ‘summer will be a scorcher’ and ‘coldest winter on record’ predictions.
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Can just picture Big Sam punching the air when they reach the magical ten point mark.
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During the Chelsea game pundit said "Aston Villa look a very fit and strong team".
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12174929/how-dean-smith-and-aston-villa-changed-tack-to-pack-a-punch
What a refreshing change from the usual media (and fan a lot of the time) narrative of “they bought shit players last time, they bought good players this time”. Those shit players being Heaton, Mings, AEG, Targett, Trezeguet, Konsa and Doug.
I read that last seasons recruitment was crap to, and thought wtf? Had to bring in so many players, most of them worked too imo. Injuries to McGinn, the Heaton and Wes were massive too. Ultimately, I do think Covid did do us a favour. We were going down otherwise.
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Our first game is upon us!
This thread here is to give comment, discussion and debate to what is being said about us the mighty Aston Villa this season.
For me I think we'll surprise a few people and receive plenty of positive noise . At this moment as we haven't kicked off yet the comments on Aston Villa seem to suggest we'll be battling relegation again.
Gary Neville
"I’m going to say West Brom and Fulham [for relegation],” says Neville. “And I’m also going to say Villa, because I said it a couple of weeks ago, even though I don’t want them to. I just think they’re going to struggle"
Robbie Savage
Says Aston Villa will finish 18th and be relegated
Wow. Only just clicked on this thread.
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MOTD very complimentary to Villa with their "players to watch in 2021" tonight. Martinez, Matt Cash, Doug and Jacob Ramsay all featured.
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Garth Crooks team of the year
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55490450
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MOTD very complimentary to Villa with their "players to watch in 2021" tonight. Martinez, Matt Cash, Doug and Jacob Ramsay all featured.
Yes, I’ve just watched that, Not3bad, it was very refreshing! Hope the respective players feel that way, as well.
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Garth Crooks team of the year
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55490450
Hi Footy; Do you think Our Garth is going for the statistical best, like Jack, or that he just likes Mings? As we do, of course! 😊
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MOTD very complimentary to Villa with their "players to watch in 2021" tonight. Martinez, Matt Cash, Doug and Jacob Ramsay all featured.
Yes, I’ve just watched that, Not3bad, it was very refreshing! Hope the respective players feel that way, as well.
Yes, in a two or three minute slot practically all the talk was about young Villa players. We're making a move, we're making it now...
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They have Liverpool losing only two games all season... both against us.
I would be pretty seething if we lost the league to them by three points and not one other team bothered their arses beating them! 😄
Kinda how Ipswich must have felt in '81 !
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MOTD very complimentary to Villa with their "players to watch in 2021" tonight. Martinez, Matt Cash, Doug and Jacob Ramsay all featured.
Yes, I’ve just watched that, Not3bad, it was very refreshing! Hope the respective players feel that way, as well.
Yes, in a two or three minute slot practically all the talk was about young Villa players. We're making a move, we're making it now...
I know it was over 10 years ago, and the media is now more intense, but we seem to be taken more seriously already than we were under O’Neill, and it’s down to the style.
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With the news the first game of the season against City has been re-scheduled for Jan 20th, we are really going to see where this team is at over the next 31 days - 6 PL games against many of the big boys, plus an FA Cup date with Liverpool. I think 10 points will be a fantastic return in January given our squad size/depth and the need for some rotation - will keep us on track for a top half finish.
But this is what we all wanted - beats Rotherham, Burton, and QPR any time!!!!
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MOTD very complimentary to Villa with their "players to watch in 2021" tonight. Martinez, Matt Cash, Doug and Jacob Ramsay all featured.
Yes, I’ve just watched that, Not3bad, it was very refreshing! Hope the respective players feel that way, as well.
Yes, in a two or three minute slot practically all the talk was about young Villa players. We're making a move, we're making it now...
I know it was over 10 years ago, and the media is now more intense, but we seem to be taken more seriously already than we were under O’Neill, and it’s down to the style.
That and hammering Liverpool and Arsenal and beating Leicester too. We're credible now and can match any team in the league. We've the youngest squad in the division too.
Going places we are.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
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Oh and right after in previewing the Spurs vs Leeds game - all games Leeds play are great. Of course they are. Tossers
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
That prick has had it in for him from the off, when we beat them the others on there were ripping him about it. It's 100% percieved bias against Brummies, and the idea that we could be intelligent enough to compete with others.
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He must really fucking hate Arteta then!
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Garth Crooks team of the year
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55490450
Hi Footy; Do you think Our Garth is going for the statistical best, like Jack, or that he just likes Mings? As we do, of course! 😊
So new year new hopes wishes to you louzi
So It seems that the perception of Mings is mainly highly regarded outside of Villa circles. How he's progressed his career at villa and became a recognised full England international.
And as you say how highly regarded we all see him at Villa.
Haven't looked stats wise from Jan to Dec but I can imagine he's high up for tackles, clearances, blocks, interceptions.
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Jose Mourinho has just said that Aston Villa are his favourite team in the Premier League
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
Thing is he’s embarrassed himself now. He started with a view that’s been proven to be wrong and just dug his heels in. He sounds more like a fan talking on a message board, rather a professional journalist.
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Hopefully he won't feel like that in a couple of week's time!
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I am quite honoured that Jordan the Arsenal fan has taken the time to give a toss about us. Given the state of his club I would have thought he would be too busy worrying about 'The Arse'.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
That prick has had it in for him from the off, when we beat them the others on there were ripping him about it. It's 100% percieved bias against Brummies, and the idea that we could be intelligent enough to compete with others.
The Sheffield United bugs me as well. Yes it was clearly the wrong decision, but from memory it was before half time. Who says that goal going in doesn’t trigger us to change approach in the second half. Also there were 9 fucking games left after that. It’s hardly like it was injury time of the final game of the season.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
That prick has had it in for him from the off, when we beat them the others on there were ripping him about it. It's 100% percieved bias against Brummies, and the idea that we could be intelligent enough to compete with others.
The Sheffield United bugs me as well. Yes it was clearly the wrong decision, but from memory it was before half time. Who says that goal going in doesn’t trigger us to change approach in the second half. Also there were 9 fucking games left after that. It’s hardly like it was injury time of the final game of the season.
No. It was at the end of the game in the 93rd minute and there would have no way for us to come back had it been given. Everybody knows that. In fact, that decision shaped the course of everything that happened subsequently. Not just for us in the season, but life and the cosmos itself. And for Sheff Utd it has had such an impact that they never mentally recovered and can’t even win anymore in the PL. It is all our fault. Everything is.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
That prick has had it in for him from the off, when we beat them the others on there were ripping him about it. It's 100% percieved bias against Brummies, and the idea that we could be intelligent enough to compete with others.
The Sheffield United bugs me as well. Yes it was clearly the wrong decision, but from memory it was before half time. Who says that goal going in doesn’t trigger us to change approach in the second half. Also there were 9 fucking games left after that. It’s hardly like it was injury time of the final game of the season.
Totally agree, it's irrelevant, nobody can predict what would have happened in the rest of the game. None of these people recall the goal we had disallowed at Palace, which would have got us a point, as it was at the end.
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Jose Murinho being complementary about us today. After stuffing Leeds he said how Villa are his favourite team to watch at the moment.
The fact we play them next probably doesn’t factor 😉
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
To be fair I think both Max and Barry are generally fair about Villa. Jordan is the only one who is utterly unprofessional about it.
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https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/4IRy0SoY2kC16Z5XzsS3zQ/Show/El-Ghazi-the-star-as-Aston-Villa-dominate-Premier-League-Team-of-the-Month
I'll put this here.
Great December by three villa players consistent and high performance in prem recognised in December team of the month.
El Ghazi in particular has been pretty spectacular
Martinez to me is best GK in the league
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https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/4IRy0SoY2kC16Z5XzsS3zQ/Show/El-Ghazi-the-star-as-Aston-Villa-dominate-Premier-League-Team-of-the-Month
I'll put this here.
Great December by three villa players consistent and high performance in prem recognised in December team of the month.
El Ghazi in particular has been pretty spectacular
Martinez to me is best GK in the league
Great to see those three get in when we all already know how well Cash, Targett, Konsa, Luiz, SJM, Jack & Watkins have done.
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Telegraph:
Good business: The signings that have transformed Aston Villa from relegation fodder to European contenders
Emiliano Martinez, Bertrand Traore, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and Ross Barkley have all played a key role in Villa's revival this season
By Jon Culley
24 January 2021 • 10:30pm
As pressure mounted on Steve Bruce and Newcastle slid to another tame defeat on Saturday night, it was easy to forget that it is only a matter of six months or so ago that the vultures were circling around Villa Park as a run of 10 Premier League matches without a win left Dean Smith’s side four points from safety with just four fixtures remaining.
Villa survived by taking eight points from those four games to be transformed this season into candidates for the top six. How? Through many conspiring factors, Smith would argue. Yet clearly the business he did last September is a major one.
Smith signed goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal, forward Bertrand Traore from Lyon, defender Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest and striker Ollie Watkins from Brentford, at a combined outlay of almost £80 million, to which he added Ross Barkley on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
If Martinez was rarely engaged, the match was a showcase for the influence of the other four.
Watkins, scorer of the opening goal after a mistake by defender Fabian Schar, and Cash, both promoted from the Championship, gave Smith particular gratification. Bertrand, who scored an exquisite second after a nicely-crafted link with Jack Grealish, caught his eye too as he looked on from the stands, banished from the touchline after his angry exchange with referee Jon Moss in the contentious defeat at Manchester City.
"If you look at Ollie and Matt, the thing that stands out is their attitude,” he said. “They’ve come from the Championship and they want to play football and improve. That’s a joy for any coach.
“And Bertrand is making a really good contribution. He's settled in really quickly. I always knew he had quality but it's his work rate without the ball that's really impressed me.
“It's great to have Ross back. He wasn't happy coming off but he's done 65 minutes and now 75 minutes after eight weeks out. The quality we've got going forward is improving.”
The result ended a mini blip of three without a win for Villa either side of a Covid shutdown, lifting them to eighth, and with the signing of Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson about to strengthen Smith’s hand further, fans are eyeing up European qualification.
Smith rejected an invitation to encourage them. “It was important we got the win today but as for the table we are just looking at the next game,” he said.
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2021/22 Final Position Predictions
The I news paper writers combined Predict Villa finish 8th place.
Daily Mail :
Predict Villa to finish 9th
One to watch: Jaden Philogene-Bidace - Villa have made some exciting signings but the youngster has impressed when given his chances in pre-season and could get more opportunities in the first team."
Four Four Two:
Verdict: 10th
Villa’s recruitment makes the Grealish sale less of an issue. Could be an outside bet for Europe.
BBC Phil McNulty
Aston Villa to finish 8th
"Interesting times at Villa Park with the £100m departure of club talisman Grealish, but the club worked in smart fashion to ensure squad strengthening before signing off on the Manchester City deal.
I think Villa could be an intriguing prospect this season and, if he can stay fit, England striker Danny Ings, brought in to join Ollie Watkins in attack, could be a masterstroke signing.
Leon Bailey will add pace and threat out wide while Emiliano Buendia, signed from Norwich City, brings creativity even though he must prove he is Premier League quality. The returning Ashley Young adds vast experience.
Last season saw an improvement under manager Dean Smith. I expect the same again this season. Outside bet for a cup maybe?"
Ashley Preece Birmingham Live
Prediction: It's been 17th and then 11th for Smith in his first two seasons as a Premier League boss. He must kick on again with top-half the bare minimum here.
Europe's the aim so in and around those Europa League spots would be ace. Smith's got more than enough credit in the bank, however, the big question is can he do it as Villa's gaffer without a certain Mr Grealish to rely on? This season could well be his most-difficult to date. The floor's yours, Dean.
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The I NewsPaper writers
From all the Premier League overall:
Signing of the season? Leon Bailey
Vithushan Ehantharajah (sports feature writer)
Signing of the season? Emi Buendia
Lawrence Ostlere (assistant sports editor)
His underlying statistics have been through the roof for a few seasons and now he has the perfect scenario to rack up Premier League assists, with an almost certain starting berth at Aston Villa after Jack Grealish’s departure and high-quality strikers to supply in Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings. Patson Daka could also shine at Leicester and help take the strain off Jamie Vardy in what will be a long season with the Europa League thrown in.
Biggest Flop.
Danny Ings
Mark Critchley (northern football correspondent):
It’s harder to say every year as clubs become savvier in the market. Danny Ings’ price felt high given his age and injury history but he’s still an excellent player.
Jack Rathborn (assistant sports editor): Danny Ings
Around £30m is a lot from Villa’s perspective when Ollie Watkins could conceivably kick on and hold down the No 9 role. Both could play, of course, but Dean Smith will surely want to bring out the best in Leon Bailey as the present and future and with other exciting wide options it might eventually be tricky to include Ings week in, week out, which would be disappointing for the price and his age at 29.
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Four Four Two magazine:
Who's your one to watch?
Joe Brewin: Leon Bailey
Aston Villa have made some really exciting signings as they plan for life after Jack Grealish. I enjoyed watching them more than most sides last year (largely because of him, mind), but Emi Buendia, Danny Ings and Bailey look like they could be great fun. I'm not convinced we'll get much consistency from Bailey in his first season – but when things go well, he could be a joy to watch.
Who will be the flop of the season?
Ed McCambridge: Aston Villa
I have to say I'm impressed with the acquisitions of Emi Buendia, Danny Ings and Leon Bailey, but I have a feeling Villa are about to find out how important Grealish was to the whole system. Everything went through him and - savvy business though they've made - none of those three get close to Grealish for sheer ability or leadership. It's a tough break-up - and you just don't get over those very quickly.
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In BT Sports 6 Predictions for the season 2021/22
Emiliano Buendia to make the PFA Team of the Year
With seven assists in a Norwich side that finished bottom of the league, Emi Buendia demonstrated enough in his one season in the top flight to convince Aston Villa to splash out £34.5million on his services after backing up those performances during the Canaries' Championship winning campaign last year.
Now talisman Jack Grealish has departed for Manchester City, most of the responsibility in replacing the club captain will fall on the summer signing.
It’s a considerable burden to bear but in Buendia, Villa possess a tenacious, creative attacking midfielder who probes opposition defences and creates opportunities for his team-mates.
Similarly to Grealish, Buendia thrives coming on from the wide attacking midfield birth and creating centrally....
With more options at Smith’s disposal - and even without Grealish - Villa fans will be hopeful of sustaining a challenge for the European places.
Buendia will be key to that push
Source https://www.bt.com/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-predictions
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
To be fair I think both Max and Barry are generally fair about Villa. Jordan is the only one who is utterly unprofessional about it.
Strangely though Jordan has us to finish 6th along with Max this season. Really dislike the bloke but that surprised me.
Edit: Oh and he still says we are the worst fans in the country.
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https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/aston-villa-fourfourtwo-preview-and-prediction-is-emi-buendia-the-man-to-deliver-villa-european-football
Matt Kendrick preview on Aston Villa for Four Four Two.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
To be fair I think both Max and Barry are generally fair about Villa. Jordan is the only one who is utterly unprofessional about it.
Strangely though Jordan has us to finish 6th along with Max this season. Really dislike the bloke but that surprised me.
Edit: Oh and he still says we are the worst fans in the country.
Not sure why Jordan has it in for us but it’s become a comedy thing on the pod now so he plays up to it - the rest of the panel are very reasonable on the whole.
I do laugh at a self-proclaimed ‘Gunner’ complaining about other fans being deluded. Someone call the irony police, I need to make an arrest…
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan. Dean Smith is only doing an ok job. One of the questions asked of him was along the lines of if your house was on fire and inside was Dean Smith and a stick of butter what would you save. That while we have some good players basically Villa are lucky to be in the PL and should have gone down but for a scandalous decision (assume Sheff Utd). But it was more the stuff about Dean Smith that made my blood boil. And this wanker Jordan made out that Villa fans are needy because he’s being challenged on his hate of Villa.
To be fair I think both Max and Barry are generally fair about Villa. Jordan is the only one who is utterly unprofessional about it.
Strangely though Jordan has us to finish 6th along with Max this season. Really dislike the bloke but that surprised me.
Edit: Oh and he still says we are the worst fans in the country.
Not sure why Jordan has it in for us but it’s become a comedy thing on the pod now so he plays up to it - the rest of the panel are very reasonable on the whole.
I do laugh at a self-proclaimed ‘Gunner’ complaining about other fans being deluded. Someone call the irony police, I need to make an arrest…
Oh he definitely plays up to, it is just really tedious.
I think there would have been a lot of arrests last night.
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Mark Lawrenson . Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Both of these sides lost their opening games and I wonder if Newcastle will stick with the more attacking approach that saw them ship four goals at home to West Ham.
Aston Villa did not do too much better, conceding three at Watford and leaving their comeback too late, but I am expecting more from them this time, especially at Villa Park.
I am mentioning the crowd being back a lot in these early weeks of the season and I think they will make a huge difference to the home form of some sides, including Villa.
The other thing with Villa's fans is that they will be looking forward to seeing how their new-look side is shaping up. On that side of things, I think we will see Villa improving as their new faces bed in.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/58295691
Match of the Day analysis: How Danny Ings scored his 'fabulous' bicycle kick for Aston Villa
Match of the Day analysis: How Danny Ings scored his 'fabulous' bicycle kick for Aston Villa
Match of the Day's Gary Lineker, Jermaine Jenas and Danny Murphy analyse Danny Ings' "fabulous" bicycle kick for Aston Villa in their 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
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Thanks for all these links, Footy-Vill
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Aston Villa Vs Brentford is last on MOTD tonight.
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Article titled by BBC Phil McNulty
Premier League: Who had the best transfer window?
Reading through it Villa aren't even mentioned?! Let alone business done
Poor.
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On Football Focus Dion said Danny Ings was the best transfer of the summer and Lawro said Villa had done very good (possibly the best?) business this summer.
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Article titled by BBC Phil McNulty
Premier League: Who had the best transfer window?
Reading through it Villa aren't even mentioned?! Let alone business done
Poor.
Articles that steaming turd are why 6 of the clubs thought they could walk away and create their own little closed shop, supposed to be a review of the window and it just mentions the expected 6 and Everton and ignores everyone else, c**ts.
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Article titled by BBC Phil McNulty
Premier League: Who had the best transfer window?
Reading through it Villa aren't even mentioned?! Let alone business done
Poor.
Articles that steaming turd are why 6 of the clubs thought they could walk away and create their own little closed shop, supposed to be a review of the window and it just mentions the expected 6 and Everton and ignores everyone else, c**ts.
I live in France and the bias towards the Big, sorry Richest 3 of the Top 6 on the footy channel RMC is amazing and even quite funny. Wolves v Man U was just unbelievable - they were begging for Manure to score. They were biased towards Chelsea against Liverpool as well, but a bit less blatantly. It does make you wonder.
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BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson prediction is 2-1 to Spurs but this so called expert reasoning as to why makes little sense from what he says:
"Aston Villa are ticking along nicely and got a great win at Old Trafford last time out. They played well, and stuck at it too - they were so determined, and it paid off.
The opposite was the case for Tottenham in their dismal derby defeat against Arsenal. That was a real worry - if you cannot get yourself motivated for a game like that one, then you have got serious problems.
Nuno Espirito Santo has to improve the mood and morale in his camp, but he also needs to get Harry Kane firing. I think that will happen soon, which is why I am backing Spurs here."
That Villa showed great character and determination n winning at Old Trafford however Spurs couldn't even raise themselves for the London derby?!
He should be calling a draw at best to Spurs based in current form and that Villa are settling while Spurs have not in recent matches shown much quality.
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BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson prediction is 2-1 to Spurs but this so called expert reasoning as to why makes little sense from what he says:
"Aston Villa are ticking along nicely and got a great win at Old Trafford last time out. They played well, and stuck at it too - they were so determined, and it paid off.
The opposite was the case for Tottenham in their dismal derby defeat against Arsenal. That was a real worry - if you cannot get yourself motivated for a game like that one, then you have got serious problems.
Nuno Espirito Santo has to improve the mood and morale in his camp, but he also needs to get Harry Kane firing. I think that will happen soon, which is why I am backing Spurs here."
That Villa showed great character and determination n winning at Old Trafford however Spurs couldn't even raise themselves for the London derby?!
He should be calling a draw at best to Spurs based in current form and that Villa are settling while Spurs have not in recent matches shown much quality.
There for the taking - my faith in this team and management grows by the week.
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BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson prediction is 2-1 to Spurs but this so called expert reasoning as to why makes little sense from what he says:
"Aston Villa are ticking along nicely and got a great win at Old Trafford last time out. They played well, and stuck at it too - they were so determined, and it paid off.
The opposite was the case for Tottenham in their dismal derby defeat against Arsenal. That was a real worry - if you cannot get yourself motivated for a game like that one, then you have got serious problems.
Nuno Espirito Santo has to improve the mood and morale in his camp, but he also needs to get Harry Kane firing. I think that will happen soon, which is why I am backing Spurs here."
That Villa showed great character and determination n winning at Old Trafford however Spurs couldn't even raise themselves for the London derby?!
He should be calling a draw at best to Spurs based in current form and that Villa are settling while Spurs have not in recent matches shown much quality.
Lawrenson is sooooo past it.
I hope Deano shows this quote to the team; not that they will know who the f**k the idiot is.
All of which is not to say that we won't lose 2-1 on Sunday... ;D ;D ;D
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan.
The Guardian's Chief Sports Writer Barney Ronay is a complete arse. During the Euro's he was slagging of Villa's Joe and was fully behind Southgate not starting him. Joe moves to Man City and Ronay thinks Joe's a genius and should be an England automatic starter. My guess is despite his job title he's new to football.
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Just listened to today’s Guardian Football Weekly. A bigger bunch of condescending ****** you will not hear especially some no name Arsenal fan called Jordan.
The Guardian's Chief Sports Writer Barney Ronay is a complete arse. During the Euro's he was slagging of Villa's Joe and was fully behind Southgate not starting him. Joe moves to Man City and Ronay thinks Joe's a genius and should be an England automatic starter. My guess is despite his job title he's new to football.
And he's called Barney you say? I'm going to take a giant leap and file under twat.
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MICAH RICHARDS: I would love to play - just once - for this ambitious Aston Villa team... my injury turmoil and struggles there reduced me to tears - and being unable to help broke my heart
A significant anniversary in my life is approaching. A week on Friday, October 15, it will be five years since I played my last game in professional football.
I was substituted in the 66th minute of a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa at home against Wolves after I'd had what could kindly be described as a 'challenging' afternoon, trying to keep Helder Costa quiet. I'd had a lot of issues with my knee all through my career but little did I know the end was coming.
By the end of play that day, Villa were 20th in the Championship.
We'd only won one of our opening 12 fixtures and were a point above the relegation zone. Six months earlier we had dropped out of the Premier League, described by some as one of the worst teams to have played in the division.
When I signed for Villa, it felt like everything was coming together. I was born in Birmingham and my Dad always had a feeling that I'd play for them even when I was at Manchester City. Unfortunately – and this is something of an understatement – it turned out, football-wise, to be a disaster.
In the summer I arrived (2015), there was a lot of bold talk but then a lot of big players were sold.
Christian Benteke went to Liverpool; Fabian Delph went to City while Ron Vlaar went back to AZ Alkmaar. The spine of our team had disappeared and results suffered.
The biggest mistake of all, though, was the decision to sack Tim Sherwood three months into the campaign. We'd been playing good football and felt things would turn around but Remi Garde came in and the rest was history. I'll say it again: it was a disaster.
But it should never have been that way. I think back to some of the players who were there and wonder how things ended up as they did. We had really good players bursting with potential – look at Jack Grealish and Idrissa Gueye facing each other in the Champions League this week.
There were others such as Jordan Amavi, who ended up at Marseille; Jordan Veretout has played for France and is now doing well under Jose Mourinho at Roma. The talent was there, it just couldn't knit together as everyone hoped it would.
I often get criticised by a section of Villa fans, who claim that I didn't care about them when I was on the sidelines and all I was concerned about was getting paid. It's absolute nonsense. I've never really gone into detail about the two years I spent trying to get fit but I will now.
It broke my heart not being able to show what I could. People see me as a bubbly character but I had to continually put on a front when I was at Bodymoor Heath, the club's training ground, to mask the anguish I was feeling at not being able to contribute.
There were nights I would be at home in tears, wondering when the misery I was enduring would ever turn. All I wanted to do was help. Villa is one of the great clubs, with a stadium and fan-base that many could only dream about.
Thankfully there were some good people around to provide support, notably the physio John Hartley and Dr Ricky Shamji. Both told me there was a life after football and how you can never tell what the future holds. They kept me going at times when I felt helpless.
From my position on the sidelines – I spent three years trying to get back – I saw Villa experience wild ups and downs, the relentless fight to get the club back where it belonged. Losing the play-off final to Fulham in 2018 was an especially grim day as they had put so much into campaign.
I was there, too, for the big change when Dean Smith arrived on October 10, 2018. I hoped to convince him that I could play for him but he was very honest with me early on in his reign – he told me I wasn't fit enough and, in possession, I was going to slow his team down.
Those aren't words you want to hear but, in many ways, I respected the truth. Smith is a good manager, who lifted them out of the Championship and the stylish team he has built is thriving after beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, a result their bold approach fully deserved.
Villa's owners are ambitious and the way they conducted their business this summer after selling Jack for £100million shows how determined they are to make sustained progress. We have seen teams go backwards after cashing in on an exceptional talent but Villa have been smart.
So why shouldn't they be the team that emerges from the pack to put pressure on the top four? I'm not saying they will break in to it this season but why shouldn't they make that their ambition? John McGinn has stepped up, Ezri Konsa looks like he could play for England with Ollie Watkins.
Smith is getting Villa rolling and it is fantastic to see. If I had three wishes, one would be to play one game for him in peak physical condition. I watch Matty Cash flying up the pitch now and think how I'd love to do that, too. Here is a club moving forward. They won't take their eye off the ball.
Source Daily Mail
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Merson:
"Villa were really good against United
They deserved to get a positive result and they did as Bruno Fernandes missed a stoppage-time penalty to restore parity at Old Trafford. Ultimately, the game will boil down to the version of Tottenham that turns up.
Will it be the side that got absolutely rolled over by Chelsea and Arsenal, or will it be the team that gave Chelsea a game in the first 45 minutes and also beat Manchester City on the opening day of the Premier League season? If Spurs hit the front in the opening exchanges, they are a hard team to play against.
I like Villa and after careful consideration, I fancy them to win this one 2-1"
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Dion Dublin:
"I like Dean Smith, I like the way he goes about his business. I think Villa, yes, they have lost arguably their best player but I just believe that they’ve just come together as a collective,” he said
Having played for that football club for six years, when Villa Park is bouncing, when the fans are behind you, that club can do stuff that people won’t expect.
Villa is one of those sides who will, when they all play well, they will surprise a few people and I think they’ll get the win at the weekend
...That is good recruitment from Aston Villa. Two very good forwards, but two very different centre-forwards, so they can compliment each other. That pairing could be really dangerous this season.”
Leon Osman:
They’re really affecting the opposition at the moment, they’ve caught Manchester United out who looked like they weren’t used to playing against two up front, their full-backs weren’t sure whether to stay or go, their centre-backs always wanted help
If you can do that with good balance, they’ve got a good back five, their defensive shape was very good, in the midfield with McGinn, the energy they’ve got to get around the pitch. They’re covering space and doing an extra man’s role which allows them to play two up front.”
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"Why is it acceptable for a team to use a long throw if a ‘specialist’ coach has decided it’s a good idea – but it’s football from the dark ages if the likes of Pulis, Allardyce or similar do it?”
Austin MacPhee has got Matty Cash causing havoc when he tosses a long ball in.
It’s a smart move if you’ve got someone in the team that can throw the ball into the 6-yard box.
MacPhee is winning a lot of friends with his set-piece work at Villa, but it does make me laugh When others have done it down the years they’ve been slated for it.Perceptions eh?”
Writes Keys
https://richardajkeys.com/index.php/blog
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‘Why is it acceptable to have hands as hairy as yours Richard?’ Keyes, Keys, Quays.
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Always had his outdated concepts of perceptions something he ultimately was sacked for at Sky.
Big Sam and Tony Pulis are punditry mates of his so he's just trying to give a nod to them for anytime we or other teams make success from the set piece throws.
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Villa-hating misogynist Coventry fan Richard Keys? I can't think of many whose opinion I would care less about.
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I haven’t read the article, but my view is that the long throw in isolation is neither a sign of “dinosaur” football or specialist coaching. It’s how it fits as part of a wider strategy. I’d suggest Pulis set up a strategy that looked to win long throws, with us it’s used when we get the chance but our game plan isn’t set up to win them.
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If we've got someone that can do them, which it turns out we have in Cash, it'd be a bit petty to turn down their use on some sort of moral grounds. What next, not using someone for corners because their unerring accuracy when whipping them in at pace to the near post leads to too many flick-ons?
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Villa-hating misogynist Coventry fan Richard Keys? I can't think of many whose opinion I would care less about.
he's a moron
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Tactics Tim Sherwood:
"It’s easy to manage in hindsight and I think Dean Smith will look at it as well and think perhaps he made some changes he wish he’d never, now. It’s easy when you look back.
The three at the back turned into a back five. The midfield was too deep, they just conceded the territory, and to be fair Wolves kept going - they kept loading the box, crossing the ball into the area
Villa weren’t getting their heads on it, weren’t clearing their lines. When Conor Coady scores, if you’re Villa you’re just thinking we’ll take the draw, but it was a silly foul from Ramsey on Traore and it’s the last kick of the game - Neves lines it up, Targett turns his back on it, he’ll be ashamed when he looks back, and it deflects past Martinez"
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Tactics Tim Sherwood:
"It’s easy to manage in hindsight and I think Dean Smith will look at it as well and think perhaps he made some changes he wish he’d never, now. It’s easy when you look back.
The three at the back turned into a back five. The midfield was too deep, they just conceded the territory, and to be fair Wolves kept going - they kept loading the box, crossing the ball into the area
Villa weren’t getting their heads on it, weren’t clearing their lines. When Conor Coady scores, if you’re Villa you’re just thinking we’ll take the draw, but it was a silly foul from Ramsey on Traore and it’s the last kick of the game - Neves lines it up, Targett turns his back on it, he’ll be ashamed when he looks back, and it deflects past Martinez"
The irony of Tim Sherwood lecturing managers on game management
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I agree on what Sherwood said and also had same observation of Targett because Neves free kick was way off and going nowhere near the goal
Also telling MT looked like he was gonna cry when he realised what he done and seemed very upset himself at the final whistle.
I think that will only spur him on next time to improve. Hopefully just as a left back and not wing back!
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I agree on what Sherwood said and also had same observation of Targett because Neves free kick was way off and going nowhere near the goal
Also telling MT looked like he was gonna cry when he realised what he done and seemed very upset himself at the final whistle.
I think that will only spur him on next time to improve. Hopefully just as a left back and not wing back!
Wouldn't it go down as an own goal if it was way off. I've not seen it yet. I turned off as soon as Ramsey conceded the free kick.
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Very candid inteview with Stewart Downing talking about his ups, downs and bust upsthroughout his career. The Villa chat starts at around 51 minutes. Interesting peek behind the curtain as he doesn't hold much back.
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Downing: "no tactics"; "days-off, 2-3 days off a week"; "no pre-season training in Dublin".
MON didn't seem to give a sh*t.
No wonder JT claimed that they'd wait for for 60 minutes for Villa teams to tire.
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Richard Dunne has just released an interview saying more or less the same thing. Must be gang up on Pubehead day.
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Could be true, but could also be an element of Downing making excuses for fucking right off after 18 months in the team (after we nursed him back to fitness) and Dunne for being a big fat sweaty piss-flap for most of his Villa career.
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MON would argue he got results.
For me, the biggest revelation there is that Houllier, despite being our contracted manager, basically encouraged one of our best players to move to Liverpool and blabbed on about how he would love it. Disgrace, they let us down so badly.
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It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Houllier was a Liverpool-supporting waste of space. Couldn’t even start work on time, then there was all that tapping the fucking Anfield sign.
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MON would argue he got results.
For me, the biggest revelation there is that Houllier, despite being our contracted manager, basically encouraged one of our best players to move to Liverpool and blabbed on about how he would love it. Disgrace, they let us down so badly.
He could argue it but for a third of a billion quid I’d argue he didn’t for the money spent. I’ve put that era down as yet another in along line of Villas missed opportunities as the whole Lerner project was built on foundations of quicksand constructed by one M O’Neill. I realise this is said with the benefit of hindsight but I’ll never forgive MON for the opportunity that was squandered on his poor mans Clough impersonation, UKIP transfer policy and lack of any tactical, professional or modern approach to coaching or managing. Downing just confirms what many of us suspected about his supposed genius, it’s a myth.
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O’Neill has been discussed to death on here, but his main fault was so many signings just didn’t deliver.
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Could be true, but could also be an element of Downing making excuses for fucking right off after 18 months in the team (after we nursed him back to fitness) and Dunne for being a big fat sweaty piss-flap for most of his Villa career.
Tbf, we did injure him in the first place.
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MON would argue he got results.
For me, the biggest revelation there is that Houllier, despite being our contracted manager, basically encouraged one of our best players to move to Liverpool and blabbed on about how he would love it. Disgrace, they let us down so badly.
I was reading something recently, I wish I could remember where, which said that over the last 20 odd years, the most reliable indicator of league position in the premier league is wage bill - something like 90% accurate in terms of predicting a club's relative position. I'd love to know what our wage bill was under the peak MON team and how it compared across the league. It always felt like we bought players at (or just beyond) their peak and put them on big fat contracts.
So as much as the MON years felt like they were relatively successful in terms of competing for European positions/top 6, I do wonder if we actually under or overachieved based on how much we spent on those players?
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Also a great interview with Alan Thompson (https://youtu.be/0RBAXPz9RME?list=TLPQMjAxMDIwMjHipCppspbH7g) - 38 minutes in for villa-related stuff
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MON would argue he got results.
For me, the biggest revelation there is that Houllier, despite being our contracted manager, basically encouraged one of our best players to move to Liverpool and blabbed on about how he would love it. Disgrace, they let us down so badly.
I was reading something recently, I wish I could remember where, which said that over the last 20 odd years, the most reliable indicator of league position in the premier league is wage bill - something like 90% accurate in terms of predicting a club's relative position. I'd love to know what our wage bill was under the peak MON team and how it compared across the league. It always felt like we bought players at (or just beyond) their peak and put them on big fat contracts.
So as much as the MON years felt like they were relatively successful in terms of competing for European positions/top 6, I do wonder if we actually under or overachieved based on how much we spent on those players?
I wonder if we've ever debated what ours was Vs, say, Spurs?
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MON would argue he got results.
For me, the biggest revelation there is that Houllier, despite being our contracted manager, basically encouraged one of our best players to move to Liverpool and blabbed on about how he would love it. Disgrace, they let us down so badly.
I was reading something recently, I wish I could remember where, which said that over the last 20 odd years, the most reliable indicator of league position in the premier league is wage bill - something like 90% accurate in terms of predicting a club's relative position. I'd love to know what our wage bill was under the peak MON team and how it compared across the league. It always felt like we bought players at (or just beyond) their peak and put them on big fat contracts.
So as much as the MON years felt like they were relatively successful in terms of competing for European positions/top 6, I do wonder if we actually under or overachieved based on how much we spent on those players?
I wonder if we've ever debated what ours was Vs, say, Spurs?
Funny you should say that, I was reading a few posts by a chap called <checks notes> Villadawg and he said….
<Lone gunshot rings out>
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I thought Downing came across quite well really, seemed genuine and sounded as though he was quite impressed with MON and the set up to start with but realised that things were going south by the time he left. As soon as we took McLeish on we all knew as fans that the Lerner dream was over and we were never going to do much thereafter so it also must have been obvious to the players.
Thompson was also interesting to listen to, the clash of big personalities being a problem. We used to sign a lot of big names that were slightly damaged or past their best back then, with mixed results.
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Both good interviews, I was quite surprised by Downing.
Always had it in my head that he was a bit of an arrogant bloke, but he was the total opposite and seems down to earth.
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You won't see me defending O'Neill. We all know his faults. My point was I am still shocked that the Aston Villa manager in 2011 sat down with one of our main players and basically helped sell the Liverpool move to him. I think that is an utter disgrace and surely unethical.
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You won't see me defending O'Neill. We all know his faults. My point was I am still shocked that the Aston Villa manager in 2011 sat down with one of our main players and basically helped sell the Liverpool move to him. I think that is an utter disgrace and surely unethical.
To you or I, yes. But if the club wanted the money, it wouldn't be a new phenomenon, plenty of players down the years have been told thanks and fuck off, we'd rather the money than you.
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You won't see me defending O'Neill. We all know his faults. My point was I am still shocked that the Aston Villa manager in 2011 sat down with one of our main players and basically helped sell the Liverpool move to him. I think that is an utter disgrace and surely unethical.
To you or I, yes. But if the club wanted the money, it wouldn't be a new phenomenon, plenty of players down the years have been told thanks and fuck off, we'd rather the money than you.
Brown envelopes
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Gary Neville after Arsenal match
" I do think there is a bedding in period and an element of settling down into a system and a way of playing
It was a disturbing first-half and those results we have seen there, there is nothing that stands out as being shocking.
You can get beat 3-0 by Chelsea, that is obviously the one that looks like a bad one.
I think Villa are fine, personally and I do not think it is time to panic.
I think those players on the pitch, when they got into a way of playing that was a lot more comfortable in the second half, they played a pretty decent game. I feel really comfortable with Villa in terms of what I am seeing."
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The Times
Five substitutions in football set to become permanent - proposed at International FA Board panel meeting today and strongly supported. Will put renewed pressure on Premier League to follow the rest of football from next season.
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Ashley Preece comments on a Q& A
About Dean leaving
"It's conceivable but I've been told the board remain right behind the manager despite the run of results. It's the manner of Southampton on Friday which will point to which direction this ship turns. November is critical with Saints, Brighton and Palace. December starts off with Man City, Leicester and then Liverpool, for example.:
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Where next for Aston Villa and Dean Smith after four straight defeats?
Villa knew they needed a defensive midfielder in the summer. Their failure to sign one has left them in a precarious position
By Martin Laurence for WhoScored
https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2021/nov/02/aston-villa-dean-smith-four-straight-defeats-premier-league
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I don't know the journo but that article sums it up very well.
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Sam Cummingham inews headline
"Jack Grealish gone, £200m+ spent and relegation not ruled out – Aston Villa’s great gamble"
Starts with
"Villa have spent big again as new boss Steven Gerrard is tasked with firing them up the Premier League table. Will it pay off?"
....
Ends with
"Time will tell if this is all shrewd business to restore the club’s place in the upper echelons of English football, or a great gamble that backfires"
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/aston-villa-steven-gerrard-philippe-coutinho-lucas-digne-signings-january-transfer-window-1402272
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Rio Ferdinand BT Sport pundit believes Ramsey could become an incredible player in years to come
“The glimpses he’s showing us at the moment, for a kid so young, with the inexperience he’s got, the lack of exposure at this level, is beautiful to see. We love watching young players, you hear us here in the studio salivating over them and they’re the players we want to come to the stadium and watch.
He’s just another one who we’re sitting here going, ‘what’s that going to look like in two, three, four years? Where’s he going to be?’. Stevie will be hoping it’s here, but there’ll be big, big, big clubs, far bigger than Aston Villa, with all due respect, circling and wanting that type of talent in their team, I’m sure.”