Darius interview.

[supertom]

Interesting read about his thoughts on leaving, his time here and his view on the current side. Darius is a decent fella. I felt he left a little too soon. Interesting to hear his thoughts on his partnership with JPA. Largely I'd agree too.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3188454,00.html

[VILLA MOLE]

didnt he say something along the lines of moving to big club

[glasses]

didnt he say something along the lines of moving to big club

What he said at the time was something like he was sad to be leaving Villa, but pleased to be joining another big club in Man City.

It was a fair comment twisted by the press.

I met him not long after he left Villa. He said playing for Villa was a dream, whereas playing for City was just a job.

[PeterWithesShin]

The deal to bring the 25-year-old striker to Eastlands on a four-year contract was completed this morning, and before heading off to start training with his new team-mates, Darius was obviously pleased that everything had been tied up.

"In the last couple of weeks I found out there was a little bit of interest, and I got quite excited and fortunately today I've made a dream come true.

"I thought the time was right for me to make a fresh start and I have always wanted to go to a big club when that time came along, and with City coming in for me there was only one decision for me to make."

Darius played against City as recently as early May, when the Blues came away from Villa Park with a 2-1 victory, and the striker was impressed by what he saw that day.

"They scored against us straight away and I thought 'Oh-oh!'. They had been doing well in the Premiership for a while, and if you look at where they finished and where they could have finished if they had scored the penalty at he end, it was a fantastic achievement. Hopeully we can build on that this season."

As well as being impressed by the City team he faced that day, Darius says that what manager Stuart Pearce has achieved off the pitch was a factor in his decision to make the trip up the M6, after playing for Villa for the whole of his professional career so far.

"I played against him a couple of times, his record speaks for itself. When I found out he was interested in me it was a great confidence booster when I was at a bit of a low, having been injured for a while. I met him a couple of days ago and I really like the ideas that he has got for the team, and I can't wait to be a part of it."

Darius will also see some familiar faces when he arrives at the Carrington training ground, having been in the England set-up alongside the likes of David James, Robbie Fowler and Danny Mills on many occasions, especially the World Cup in 2002. This, he feels, will be a great benefit as he settles in to his new surroundings.

"It's always a great help, I've never been in this situation before and coming to a new club you think about what players you know, or what do you know about the other players.

"I've actually experienced spending a bit of time with these guys in the World Cup, I'm sure they'll look after me. I've already met Robbie, he's a great lad, and I can't wait to come here and start training and start learning."

[VILLA MOLE]

didnt he say something along the lines of moving to big club

What he said at the time was something like he was sad to be leaving Villa, but pleased to be joining another big club in Man City.

It was a fair comment twisted by the press.

I met him not long after he left Villa. He said playing for Villa was a dream, whereas playing for City was just a job.

fair enough he didnt seem the type to say the former

[Darlo Dave]

I was at Infant and Junior School with Darius, and can confirm he was a really nice, down to earth lad, who loved the Villa as much as any of us. Reading that has made me feel quite sad. I remember feeling the same way, when finding out about the hard time he was having while out in Turkey. Saying that, he lived all our dreams, and went out to play and score for the club he loved and his country, and undoubtedly made a shed load of money, so there are worse things that can happen. I'll always remember him as the lad I used to play Thundercats with all those years ago. 

[supertom]

It was slightly annoying actually, how good he looked for a time playing for England. He seemed to have another level with them. His goal record for the national side was pretty decent.
I also think Gregory leaving hampered him and JPA quite a lot. Like he said, he had a good partnership with Pablo. GT came back and inexplicably dropped our top scorer, opting for the target man option of Rodders or Dubbers instead. JPA was well on his way to getting 20 that season before losing his place. Das Vass seemed to produce his best playing alongside Pablo. Not just his overall play, but chipping in with a few goals too. Pablos two best goal scoring seasons were also Vassell's two best as well.

I'm also surprised to see he's been without a club for a year. He's apparently been quite careful about the offers he's had and he's very wary of agents now, which is a shame. I think Darius was also one of those players who'd have been twice as good if he'd had the belief in himself to go with his ability.

[myf]

Remember that film of him driving through the Queesnway in his lambo with his friend wielding a machine gun!?

[supertom]

Remember that film of him driving through the Queesnway in his lambo with his friend wielding a machine gun!?

You can imagine Darius being a bit oblivious to it though. He's not the sharpest knife in the draw. Remember him being a laughing stock for a few weeks after the infamous power drill incident.
Das Vass almost comes across like a sitcom character at times.

[eamonn]

Interesting to see him say he wishes he had been more selfish as a player. He had pace to burn, quite skillful and a decent finisher but he did seem to lack the confidence to be a real predatory finisher. He invariably made the wrong choice on one v one's and I was never confident when he was stepping-up to take a penalty. Was it his miss in Euro 2004 that sent England out or was that the Beckham divot one?

[eamonn]

Blimey, just saw that he has his own website. Presumed it would be out of date and mothballed but he blogs once a month on his life! Good lad.

[Damo70]

Before we lost touch I used to be friendly with 'GG' the barber who had a shop in Alum Rock. I went in there once about ten years ago and Darius was in there. I think the aforementioned car was outside. I got more attention than him. I think I was the first white bloke they had ever had in there. Some were in there just for the music, some for a social smoke and others for various weird and wonderful patterns and styles. My request for a simple haircut was met with a combination of banter and bemusement.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

He seemed to go off the boil after signing an improved contract for us.
The edge went off his game and O'Leary got rid.
A better manager would have brought him back to his best with us in the same way as Gabby is now firing on all cylinders again. 

[JD]

He seemed to go off the boil after signing an improved contract for us.
The edge went off his game and O'Leary got rid.
A better manager would have brought him back to his best with us in the same way as Gabby is now firing on all cylinders again. 

Well at least it gives us another reason to hate Pugface, getting rid of one of our own.