SSN: "Downing won't commit to Villa"

[Legion]

With due respect, I can't take your arguments seriously if you insist that your club was solely responsible for forming the league. Has it not occurred to you that you needed other teams to play against?

If it was your guy who first said, "hey, lets have a league with points and stuff", is that what you're most proud of? I'll stick with Shankly's vision "My idea is to build a  bastion of invincability... so they have to send a team from Mars to beat us" and all that.

I much prefer:

  “For brilliance and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found.”

Our man William McGregor said that - long before old Shanks even thought of such things.  It's great to be the originals.

What I love about what McGregor says here is that The Aston Villa Football Club was not merely a sporting institution, it was also a philanthropic enterprise - a club deep-rooted in community and the welfare of others.  Everything you laud about Liverpool is superb, but give credit to the club that did it first, the club that fathered this great game.  Doing things first, being the originators is what makes Villa peerless.

We're all looking forward to the big kick-off in August.  When the big day comes and we start the weekly battle once more, tip your hat to McGregor and Villa.  We gave the world this unrivalled competition.

Stands. Claps.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

Why are we arguing over who's the bigger club.

Clearly Liverpool are a bigger club.

That's not to say that we are a small club, just that they are bigger.

However, a year ago, I would say that we were the better team (proved since we finished above them.)

Obviously that has changed this season thanks to Liverpool's number 1 fan Gerard Houllier.

However we only finished 3 places below them and neither of us are in Europe next season.

That's why I guess people are annoyed because Downing was going on about how great the Champions League is yet he wants to join a club who aren't even in the Europa League yet alone the Champions League.

Liverpool are in the same boat as us.

Premier League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.

So I can see why some people would view it as a sort of a sideways move.

In terms of current, now, Liverpool aren't that much ahead than us compared to Man Utd and Chelsea.

However if you're looking at the history and sizes of the two clubs. Liverpool are the bigger club without doubt.

We love to remind everyone that we won the European Cup.

Liverpool have won it five times!

[Louzie0]

I want to keep him.  He's very good.  Until and unless AMcL signs somebody better.  Or Liverpool offer silly money.  He gains nothing at this point by putting in a request as I understand it but he has, sadly, got form for that at Middlesborough. It got knocked back there (Jan 2009) so maybe he has learned something.

[Handsworth Wood Villa]

I want to keep him.  He's very good.  Until and unless AMcL signs somebody better.  Or Liverpool offer silly money.  He gains nothing at this point by putting in a request as I understand it but he has, sadly, got form for that at Middlesborough. It got knocked back there (Jan 2009) so maybe he has learned something.

Yeah he said he regretted putting in a transfer request at Boro.

So I would be surprised and disappointed if he hands in a transfer request at Villa.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

With due respect, I can't take your arguments seriously if you insist that your club was solely responsible for forming the league. Has it not occurred to you that you needed other teams to play against?

If it was your guy who first said, "hey, lets have a league with points and stuff", is that what you're most proud of? I'll stick with Shankly's vision "My idea is to build a  bastion of invincability... so they have to send a team from Mars to beat us" and all that.

I much prefer:

  “For brilliance and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found.”

Our man William McGregor said that - long before old Shanks even thought of such things.  It's great to be the originals.

What I love about what McGregor says here is that The Aston Villa Football Club was not merely a sporting institution, it was also a philanthropic enterprise - a club deep-rooted in community and the welfare of others.  Everything you laud about Liverpool is superb, but give credit to the club that did it first, the club that fathered this great game.  Doing things first, being the originators is what makes Villa peerless.

We're all looking forward to the big kick-off in August.  When the big day comes and we start the weekly battle once more, tip your hat to McGregor and Villa.  We gave the world this unrivalled competition.

Stands. Claps.

Stands. Claps. Chants. Shouts quite loudly. Sings in unison with thousands of likeminded, dedicated, committed true fans of AVFC. Screams bollocks off. Sighs proudly. Sleeps peacefully.

Can we do this every week please?

[Mazrim]

Billy Walker wins!

[Legion]

With due respect, I can't take your arguments seriously if you insist that your club was solely responsible for forming the league. Has it not occurred to you that you needed other teams to play against?

If it was your guy who first said, "hey, lets have a league with points and stuff", is that what you're most proud of? I'll stick with Shankly's vision "My idea is to build a  bastion of invincability... so they have to send a team from Mars to beat us" and all that.

I much prefer:

  “For brilliance and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found.”

Our man William McGregor said that - long before old Shanks even thought of such things.  It's great to be the originals.

What I love about what McGregor says here is that The Aston Villa Football Club was not merely a sporting institution, it was also a philanthropic enterprise - a club deep-rooted in community and the welfare of others.  Everything you laud about Liverpool is superb, but give credit to the club that did it first, the club that fathered this great game.  Doing things first, being the originators is what makes Villa peerless.

We're all looking forward to the big kick-off in August.  When the big day comes and we start the weekly battle once more, tip your hat to McGregor and Villa.  We gave the world this unrivalled competition.

Stands. Claps.

Stands. Claps. Chants. Shouts quite loudly. Sings in unison with thousands of likeminded, dedicated, committed true fans of AVFC. Screams bollocks off. Sighs proudly. Sleeps peacefully.

Can we do this every week please?

Apologies for the multiple quote, but a big, "Oh, yes!" from me.

[RespectVilla]

“For brilliance and, at the same time, for consistency of achievement, for activity in philanthropic enterprise, for astuteness of management and for general alertness, the superiors of Aston Villa cannot be found.”

Brilliant post, but (and you know there has to be a but) while yours was a philanthropic exercise, ours was an exercise of conquest. A team built to tear through the opposition all over the world. Your man was "aiming for consistency of achievement", but  Shankly built a club to conquer the globe.

Was going 20-odd years without a league title part of his vision as well? - Haha

I do remember Kevin Keegan and Emlyn Hughes planting big wet smackers on Margaret Thatcher.
- ouch

I never knew you were the originals, I'll bear that in mind in future. Got to go now guys, all the best.

[Billy Walker]

I'm blushing!  The thing is, though, it's the truth.  We're far too modest about our club and we really need be proud of what we have achieved and use it as the basis for taking the club forward.  There's no club out there that can match our history or influence - regardless of what cockney/north west media folk spoon feed us.  I hope every young lad at Bodymoor learns all of this, appreciates all of this and realizes that this is THE club to build a career at and to win trophies at.  This club's natural station is second to none and there should be no greater thing in football than winning trophies in the original claret and blue shirt.

If any of these plastic, Johnny-come-lately clubs come sniffing around any of our youth players I hope they (the players) have been taught to reason, to think for themselves and to tell whoever it might be: why would I want to leave the greatest club in football?

[Mazrim]

Shankly my arse. When we were the first superpower of football there wasn't a globe to conquer. Our idea of league football was just getting around you see.

[sg]

Is this still the Downing thread?

[Redman]

I'm blushing!  The thing is, though, it's the truth.  We're far too modest about our club and we really need be proud of what we have achieved and use it as the basis for taking the club forward.  There's no club out there that can match our history or influence - regardless of what cockney/north west media folk spoon feed us.  I hope every young lad at Bodymoor learns all of this, appreciates all of this and realizes that this is THE club to build a career at and to win trophies at.  This club's natural station is second to none and there should be no greater thing in football than winning trophies in the original claret and blue shirt.

If any of these plastic, Johnny-come-lately clubs come sniffing around any of our youth players I hope they (the players) have been taught to reason, to think for themselves and to tell whoever it might be: why would I want to leave the greatest club in football?

Sorry to shit in the punchbowl but this is still just an arbitrary claim to greatness, isn't it?

It is, of course, a claim you're perfectly entitled to. As are supporters of other clubs with their equally arbitrary claims.

[richard moore]

Shankly my arse. When we were the first superpower of football there wasn't a globe to conquer. Our idea of league football was just getting around you see.

He was that twat who said football is more important than life and was then venerated by twats of the same ilk such as Jimmy Tarbuck and numerous other unfunny and unwitty scousers who thought it was awfully clever and insightful and showed how special he (Shankly) was. Instead of which it just made him sound thick and uneducated, particularly in the light of Heysel and Hillsborough

[ozzjim]

I'm blushing!  The thing is, though, it's the truth.  We're far too modest about our club and we really need be proud of what we have achieved and use it as the basis for taking the club forward.  There's no club out there that can match our history or influence - regardless of what cockney/north west media folk spoon feed us.  I hope every young lad at Bodymoor learns all of this, appreciates all of this and realizes that this is THE club to build a career at and to win trophies at.  This club's natural station is second to none and there should be no greater thing in football than winning trophies in the original claret and blue shirt.

If any of these plastic, Johnny-come-lately clubs come sniffing around any of our youth players I hope they (the players) have been taught to reason, to think for themselves and to tell whoever it might be: why would I want to leave the greatest club in football?

Sorry to shit in the punchbowl but this is still just an arbitrary claim to greatness, isn't it?

It is, of course, a claim you're perfectly entitled to. As are supporters of other clubs with their equally arbitrary claims.

Well quite clearly no Redman. You have what you have, we have this, which is the truth, and only we have it. Essentially, you would not have yours unless we did what we did, or a least it may look different to the way it does. So be grateful, and respectful of our rather large piece of the history of football.

[Redman]

I'm blushing!  The thing is, though, it's the truth.  We're far too modest about our club and we really need be proud of what we have achieved and use it as the basis for taking the club forward.  There's no club out there that can match our history or influence - regardless of what cockney/north west media folk spoon feed us.  I hope every young lad at Bodymoor learns all of this, appreciates all of this and realizes that this is THE club to build a career at and to win trophies at.  This club's natural station is second to none and there should be no greater thing in football than winning trophies in the original claret and blue shirt.

If any of these plastic, Johnny-come-lately clubs come sniffing around any of our youth players I hope they (the players) have been taught to reason, to think for themselves and to tell whoever it might be: why would I want to leave the greatest club in football?

Sorry to shit in the punchbowl but this is still just an arbitrary claim to greatness, isn't it?

It is, of course, a claim you're perfectly entitled to. As are supporters of other clubs with their equally arbitrary claims.

Well quite clearly no Redman. You have what you have, we have this, which is the truth, and only we have it. Essentially, you would not have yours unless we did what we did, or a least it may look different to the way it does. So be grateful, and respectful of our rather large piece of the history of football.

I am grateful and respectful but let's keep it in perspective. Nobody involved with Aston Villa built what they did so supporters could use it to score points by making arbitrary claims to greatness on their behalf a century later.