and then who?

[BC54 VFC]

I met Pat Murphy at a cricket dinner in Shrewsbury towards the end of November; he was compering the event. I had the chance to chat to him before the formalities began and asked him what he thought the score would be in the derby match (Albion / Villa) which was on the following Monday. He responded 'a score draw' but when I then went on to say that us Villa fans thought he had a soft spot for the Baggies he was quite indignant, in a friendly way. He stated that he was born in Chelsea and supported them until 'Sexton lost the plot and sold Hudson and Osgood in quick succession; since then I have been totally impartial'.

Coincidentally I was reading a copy of 'The Villa Bugle' (issue 3) yesterday evening, published at the end of the 1993/94 season. In it there is an interview with Pat and the very first question was: Do you support a team?

His answer: I used to support Chelsea. I followed them everywhere during the 1955 championship winning season but lost interest when in the space of 24 hours in 1972, Dave Sexton sold Paddy Mulligan and Charlie Cook then a few months later flogged Hudson and my all-time favourite Peter Osgood. I enjoyed watching Forest under Cloughie but really I believe a good reporter should be impartial and therefore not support a particular team.     

[Dave Cooper please]

To try to be a bit fair to Pat Murphy, how old was he when he decided to give up on Chelsea (I have no idea how old he is now BTW), if he was at that impressionable age of, say, 10 -14 or so than I know loads of kids who changed their allegiances. I was a Sunderland fan in 1973 when they won the FA Cup! Next door neighbour started taking me down the Villa shortly after that.

He was probably early twenties, and it was about the time he became a proper broadcaster, so supporting a team might not have been a good career move.

Possibly a decent enough excuse if he wasn't a fanatical fan, not everyone is you know, it's not like he actually changed his team.

Keep your bile for the likes of Tim Lovejoy rather than Pat Murphy I say.

[Monty]

It's a funny thing, but I don't necessarily blame someone for giving up on a club: if they sell your idol players then, as a kid, maybe it's hard to get over that. Flitting from one successful club to another is near unforgivable, but just giving up on one club in favour of being a general football fan is a bit insubstantial, but  I suppose he can be forgiven for it.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I do not care for Pat Murphy, but I understand where he is coming from. When Tony Daley faded my interest in Villa dropped. If we had sold him in his prime I might have quit the Villa.

[eastie]

He followed them everywhere in the 55 championship season ? Crikey , that was 59 years ago , he must be a lot older than he looks.

In that case even if he was 11 when he  followed them everywhere that would make him 70 now - surely he's not that age ?

[john e]

I don't mind Pat Murphy, don't think he dances to anyone's tune,
Can have a bit of his own agenda sometimes, but better than just coming out with obvious banal stuff all the time

What we all have to get used to is the media will say nasty things about the Villa from time to time especially when we are shit, better than being ignored,
which has always been my point about the Daily Mirror

[Matt Collins]

I do not care for Pat Murphy, but I understand where he is coming from. When Tony Daley faded my interest in Villa dropped. If we had sold him in his prime I might have quit the Villa.

Tony Daley was my favourite too.

I sometimes wish I could stop supporting villa and just enjoy football. I think it's been a great season so far but the villa bit has been mostly shit

[JUAN PABLO]

OGS going for talks with cardiff

[citizenDJ]

OGS going for talks with cardiff

I just saw that news, too. Seems pretty strange if the idea that he's been looking for a good owner to work for is true. Then again, I suppose it all comes down to timing in the end - if he's decided he wants to move from Norway now, then there's only Cardiff available I suppose. Plus, he can't really lose in terms of his reputation. Relegated? Well, that Tan's mental, isn't he? Stay up? Blimey, that Solskjaer has done well to overachieve with Cardiff! Especially with that mental owner!

I'm still a bit jealous though.

[eastie]

OGS going for talks with cardiff

I just saw that news, too. Seems pretty strange if the idea that he's been looking for a good owner to work for is true. Then again, I suppose it all comes down to timing in the end - if he's decided he wants to move from Norway now, then there's only Cardiff available I suppose. Plus, he can't really lose in terms of his reputation. Relegated? Well, that Tan's mental, isn't he? Stay up? Blimey, that Solskjær has done well to overachieve with Cardiff! Especially with that mental owner!

I'm still a bit jealous though.

Surprised the Albion haven't made a move .

[preston28]

OGS going for talks with cardiff

I just saw that news, too. Seems pretty strange if the idea that he's been looking for a good owner to work for is true. Then again, I suppose it all comes down to timing in the end - if he's decided he wants to move from Norway now, then there's only Cardiff available I suppose. Plus, he can't really lose in terms of his reputation. Relegated? Well, that Tan's mental, isn't he? Stay up? Blimey, that Solskjær has done well to overachieve with Cardiff! Especially with that mental owner!

I'm still a bit jealous though.

Surprised the Albion haven't made a move .

BBC now saying Cardiff about to appoint OGS. Interesting move especially as he turned down the Villa for family reasons!

[eastie]

Can see the OGS stay at Cardiff ending in tears and regret .

[garyshawsknee]

I do not care for Pat Murphy, but I understand where he is coming from. When Tony Daley faded my interest in Villa dropped. If we had sold him in his prime I might have quit the Villa.

I was crushed when he nearly signed for Udinese.

[supertom]

I hope OGS turns them down. It would be good to have him as an option in the summer. I'm not confident Lambert will do enough to warrant being kept on. I dunno. Finishing in a similar spot to where he and McLeish have in the last two seasons wouldn't be anywhere near good enough. Simply surviving isn't good enough.

[supertom]

I do not care for Pat Murphy, but I understand where he is coming from. When Tony Daley faded my interest in Villa dropped. If we had sold him in his prime I might have quit the Villa.

I was crushed when he nearly signed for Udinese.

Fucking hell we couldn't half do with a player like Daley at the moment. We're crying out for someone with that sort of quality and threat.