Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[hilts_coolerking]

As I've said before, I made that comment at different times, in different circumstances, and certainly not when failing to run around screaming that the end is nigh is perceived in some quarters to be a crime.

No, I understand it doesn't suit you to say it these days Dave. 

But to get back to Drummond's point, it appears that despondency at our current situation is the crime.  It's actually Drummond who appears to be playing the better fan than you card with all that bollocks.

[dave.woodhall]

When will you realise that this running around end of nigh accusation against those of us who won't conform is in itself an overreaction to some of us.  I don't want to be right, I don't want us in the position we are in, I don't want these kids that we have bought to fail, I don't want us losing every week and getting whipped in quite a few of those games.  But the facts are the facts, the management of the club over the last 3 or so years has bought us to the brink of Premier League survival or not.  From 4 years ago almost to the month holding onto 4th place after a draw against the Arse.  And worse still - 14 points, yes 4 wins and 2 draws behind West Bromwich fucking Albion.  I think we have a right to be concerned.

You can say what you like but I'm getting a bit tired of the idea that anyone not conforming to the mantra of Woe Is Us is some kind of lesser supporter.

David, I am not saying anything of the sort.  In actual fact, I am feeling like the one who is persecuted for my views not you, yours. 

I know it's your pet hate so I will choose my words carefully here because believe it or not I hate the bastards as much as you.  But if you look at the way them Smethwick lot have been managed/owned over the last few years compared to us, then surely you must concede there have been some very bad decisions made at the top in recent times.

How the fuck are you being persecuted? You haven't been prevented from saying what you want, you haven't been warned about anything. I've stated many times that we've made some cock-ups. I also think that the Albion have been managed very well in recent years and part of the reason is that they've stuck to a plan. They may have stumbled across it in the beginning but they've kept to it and part of it has been the patience of everyone at the club.   

[dave.woodhall]

As I've said before, I made that comment at different times, in different circumstances, and certainly not when failing to run around screaming that the end is nigh is perceived in some quarters to be a crime.

No, I understand it doesn't suit you to say it these days Dave. 

But to get back to Drummond's point, it appears that despondency at our current situation is the crime.  It's actually Drummond who appears to be playing the better fan than you card with all that bollocks.

Come on then, why "doesn't it suit me"? This I've got to hear.

[hilts_coolerking]

Come on then, why "doesn't it suit me"? This I've got to hear.

Evidently because these are "different times, different circumstances."  Only you can tell us why.

[kippaxvilla2]

It's persecution by stealth.  I am refusing to get into it anymore.  Can I just repeat by the way that I don't want the manager to be sacked, I want him to be properly backed by a completely spineless and disinterested billionaire, (still 224th richest American) owner.  Is that too much to ask?

[kippaxvilla2]

But I do want the manager to pick Bent!

[dave.woodhall]

He's injured. And what does properly backed mean?

[ozzjim]

It's persecution by stealth.  I am refusing to get into it anymore.  Can I just repeat by the way that I don't want the manager to be sacked, I want him to be properly backed by a completely spineless and disinterested billionaire, (still 224th richest American) owner.  Is that too much to ask?

Top 6 in the net spend last summer, after sacking a universally unpopular manager, acknowledging his cock up, and appointing the man the vast majority of Villa fans wanted clearly not enough to show interest or support then.

Randy has made some terrific cock ups but people love to re-write the backing he has given the club continuously to suit the shit owner doesn't care argument, which is simply not true.

[Risso]

Three seasons of relegation struggle though, tells its own story.

[hilts_coolerking]

Top 6 in the net spend last summer, after sacking a universally unpopular manager, acknowledging his cock up, and appointing the man the vast majority of Villa fans wanted clearly not enough to show interest or support then.

That was a solution to a problem that should never have existed in the first place.

[Irish villain]

Oh I agree and I am sure he will. Its just expensive players may not have time to gel and save us.

I am going to ask something now, dont get mad, just asking it.

I dont recall McLeish getting us actually in the relegation zone last season did he?

McLeish was a disaster for Villa, but I don't care what anyone says, this season is worse!

Houllier had us in the relegation zone the season before but of course we finished ninth.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Oh I agree and I am sure he will. Its just expensive players may not have time to gel and save us.

I am going to ask something now, dont get mad, just asking it.

I dont recall McLeish getting us actually in the relegation zone last season did he?

McLeish was a disaster for Villa, but I don't care what anyone says, this season is worse!

Houllier had us in the relegation zone the season before but of course we finished ninth.

Is that right? Well that makes me feel a tad better for sure. I didnt remember that.

[Californian Villain]

Three seasons of relegation struggle though, tells its own story.

More than one season of "relegation struggle" is almost always followed by...relegation. Oh dear.

[somec]

Disapointing to lose so heavily.

This time last season we had more points on the board under Mcleish but personally I'm far happier and optimistic with Lambert as the boss, since we're actually trying to win games and having shots on goal during a game.

The fixture list has not been kind to us but I'mconfident the results will come good soon.

[Steve R]

With regards the lino's performance and bribery/corruption, when was the last time a match offical was sentenced to championship duty for giving a bad decision in, say, a match between the likes of Fulham and Wigan?

If the decisions yesterday had gone against ManU rather than us, a) Fergie would be gobbing off for days about it b) SSN would wheel out any number of experts saying how bad the linesman's performance was c) It would be a while before the linesman officiated at the top level again.

It is no longer the  case that officials are worried about losing 'top matches'. The result of making officials highly paid is that it hits them in the pocket if they piss off the wrong people.

Witness last week when we went 2-0 up. Ferguson wanted the tempo of the game to remain high. He immediately got on the referee's case with the watch pointing act. The referee was then straight in the face of Guzan at the very next goal kick about time wasting. The commentators actually talked in affectionate terms about what was going on. Late in the game with ManU 3-2 up their goalkeeper seemed to be at liberty to read a few chapters of War and Peace before taking a free kick.

Geoff Winter openly said a few years ago that if he booked too many of the wrong players someone would have a word in his ear. It will be interesting to see how much comment/aitime is devoted to the linesman's performance on Saturday.

I cannot believe that clubs are bribing officials as such. It is far more subtle than that.

Whether this all constitutes corruption depends upon how you look at it. The fact remains that people have gone to prison in Italy in part for doing things that are seemingly accepted as the prerogative of certain managers in this country.

It was earlier in the match thread that we have become paying customers rather than supporters. That happened years ago. It feels as if we are fast becoming extras in a production that makes a lot of money for broadcasters and the Premier League alike.

As they are the de facto rulers of the game I don't see anything changing soon.