Jores Okore

[eamonn]

I like how Stanley Victor is so effusive in his praise for us on Twitter and in the media these days. I wonder though, as a player (and I know he head his mental problems at the time) did we mean as much to him.

Could he have stayed at Liverpool in '97? He was still getting a fair amount of games there, as far as I can recall.

[Duncan Shaw]

I believe it was his "dream move" and he was the final piece in our attacking jigsaw.

Shame it panned out like it did.  He does have a genuine affection for the club.

[jeowje]

Didnt stop him predicting a 15th place finish and stating that we would finish below the Albion last week.

[Matt Collins]

Stan does seem to have discovered a new found fondness for us. The sceptical side of me wonders whether its part of a deliberate attempt to create a fan persona as part of his media role. Or perhaps he has really got into watching football as part of the job and recovered his passion

[bob]

I have a great deal of respect for SVC.

[robbo1874]

I have a great deal of frustration about his time at Villa. I was so excited when we signed him, really thought he'd become a legend in the villa tradition and I went to that pre-season match at the hawthorns when he scored down the other end - very good goal.

Read his autobiography last year too, and for one reason or another its sad it didn't work out for him.  I think it's mostly down to him, but Gregory handled him very poorly if reports are to be believed.

Crying shame and huge waste of talent.

[Clampy]

I've read snippets of his book and the way it came across to me from what I read was that he seemed to point the finger at a lot of people for his troubles rather than himself. I do like the bloke though, I think he's one of the better broadcasters on TalkSport.

[Villafirst]

I hope Okore plays against Chelsea on Wednesday night. After all, he was impressive against them for his former club in the Champions League. We will need his extra power and pace. Mind you, Terry and Cahill look slow at the back for them - our front three should go at them from the start.

[johnc]

I've read snippets of his book and the way it came across to me from what I read was that he seemed to point the finger at a lot of people for his troubles rather than himself. I do like the bloke though, I think he's one of the better broadcasters on TalkSport.

I think this is what you could call damining someone with faint praise

[Toronto Villa]

Stan does seem to have discovered a new found fondness for us. The sceptical side of me wonders whether its part of a deliberate attempt to create a fan persona as part of his media role. Or perhaps he has really got into watching football as part of the job and recovered his passion

I genuinely think he loves the Villa and doesn't care that people view him that way. The game where he went mental just allowed him to make it very public and he has rolled with it thereafter. As much as he loves MON I think he has really bought into what the club is doing. He's like most Villa fans, worried, sceptical and becoming happier.

[Ads]

I think he loves the Villa.

I remember somebody playing a clip on here of him practically shooting his bat at Stamford Bridge when we scored what turned out to be a later winner (Stan getting our 2nd in a 3-1 win). You cannot fake that kind of spontaneous explosion of sheer joy.

[supertom]

How can you not love Stan after this?

[saunders_heroes]

Stan does seem to have discovered a new found fondness for us. The sceptical side of me wonders whether its part of a deliberate attempt to create a fan persona as part of his media role. Or perhaps he has really got into watching football as part of the job and recovered his passion

He's always been a Villa fan.

[paul_e]

Not sure what it has to do with Okore but my understanding of the SVC situation was tat he was struggling with depression so he spoke to Gregory who told him to get over himself and get on with it.  Not a particularly enlightened attitude, but I know plenty of people who would think how can a professional footballer with loads of money and very hot girlfriend be depressed.

I like the guy and I wish he'd had more support to make a success of it when he was with us, he could've been a special player for Villa and England if he'd got the help he needed.

[PaulWinch again]

I don't think Okore is injured, as others have said he didn't get much of a preseason so he'll take time to get up to speed.