Questions From Newcastle Fans

[Dave Clark Five]

This apparently makes me ignorant and somewhere between Robbie Savage and Paul Tait on the scale of "proper villa supporters" then so be it.

Who's over-reacting now?

Anyway, if you're going to come on here and accuse people of being on their high horse and 'circlejerking' just because they have a different opinion, then don't be surprised if they disagree and respond accordingly.

OK fair enough - and as I appear to be utterly alone in my views on this subject. I suggest we agree to disagree and leave it there

You are not totally alone at all. Many Villa supporters joined in the 'Taylor out' chants and need to remember this. His appointment as England manager was the kiss of death as it usually is with Villa people becoming associated with the national team.
We must not become pompous over this. Plenty of people slagged Graham Taylor but have since become to appreciate what a good man he is. An innocent remark about Mr.Taylor being called a 'Turnip' does not need blowing out of proportion. It was obviously not meant to be derogatory.

[B36 Villa]

Im to young to comment on Graham Taylor's first stint in charge but the 02/03 season was up there with the McLeish year for me. I never slagged Taylor off myself but i hated that year. I went to every away game that year and we only won once up at Middlesboro on a Tuesday night, also being spanked by the noses twice and seeing the likes of De La Cruz, Kinsella, Leonhardson and Michael Boulding play. Also Ronny Johnson in midfied. The fact no one knew Ian Taylor was playing his last game for us at Leeds last game also pissed me off.

I remember being at Man Utd away in 02 and there were Villa fans in the pub singing "Graham Taylor has got a fuckin turnip head" and these people were definatley old enough to remember him in charge the first time. Also it sounded like the whole ground was booing him at the last home game when he was trying to speak.

Its strange how people loved him the first time but he got treated really badly the second time by the same fans.

[ktvillan]

However I find them irritating at worst and I'm not about to spontaneously self combust with unrighteous indignation when I read such comments, especially when used in an obviously light hearted context.  Since leaving the UK 9 yeas ago I've noticed an increasing trend for people there to go out of their way to find/take  offence at almost anything, and to come over all precious and pompous at the drop of a hat. I've had over-sensitive professional offence-takers taking me to task several times recently over literally nothing.    Asking someone to "explain themselves" is going a bit far in my book - isn't everyone entitled to an opinion, as long as it isn't promoting hate?  Or do we want to get all quasi-religious, and start using the word blasphemy if anything bad is said about club legends?   I think a bit of lightening up wouldn't go amiss in some quarters, especially n a situation where a mild tsk tsk would serve the purpose.  So tut tut SuperTom you Cheeky Monkey (oh Fuck I hope you isn't black) I mean Scamp.

Oh, please, you talk about people overreacting then put in a prime example of it yourself!

It's an opinion not many people agree with. I hardly think using terms like "explain yourself" or referring to things as blasphemy is over the top - not unless you're going out of your way to take things far too seriously yourself and forget to remember that we're talking about football, not matters of homophobia or racism or whatever, and people are keeping this in mind when reading what people write.

The way I read it, if someone comes on here and says "Paul McGrath was overrated" or "SGT was a total turnip" or whatever, and there are a slew of "explain yourself" / "how dare you" / "blasphemy" replies, people aren't really, actually expressing the same sort of indignation you'd get if someone started throwing around racist abuse or something.

In other words, whilst people's disagreement isn't fake, the way they phrase it is somewhat tongue in cheek.

You sound a bit annoyed Paulie.  Sorry, you normally talk a lot of sense, and I generally respect your opinion, but not this time.  The old "you're overreacting yourself if you think his reaction is an overreaction" trick is a popular rhetorical device but on this occasion I really don't think it holds any water.   For sure you cannot always detect humourous elements like irony, sarcasm and self-deprecation over t'internet but trying to claim that some of the reactions above are obviously tongue in cheek is stretching credibility in my view.  The fact we are talking about football is exactly my point, so I'm not sure why you are invoking it against me.

[Irish villain]

In 02/03 I felt Taylor didn't play our strongest side and signed players we didn't really need like Crouch and maybe Allback.

He didn't really rate JPA who was our top scorer in the season before and the season after Taylor's second coming. I think he underachieved with that side and the fact that DO'L was able to take it to sixth the following season would support that.

Not condoning negative reaction but we did only just avoid relegation that season. Even people who aren't old enough to remember Taylor as our manager can appreciate what he did for the club. Doesn't mean he should be above criticism either.

[pauliewalnuts]

However I find them irritating at worst and I'm not about to spontaneously self combust with unrighteous indignation when I read such comments, especially when used in an obviously light hearted context.  Since leaving the UK 9 yeas ago I've noticed an increasing trend for people there to go out of their way to find/take  offence at almost anything, and to come over all precious and pompous at the drop of a hat. I've had over-sensitive professional offence-takers taking me to task several times recently over literally nothing.    Asking someone to "explain themselves" is going a bit far in my book - isn't everyone entitled to an opinion, as long as it isn't promoting hate?  Or do we want to get all quasi-religious, and start using the word blasphemy if anything bad is said about club legends?   I think a bit of lightening up wouldn't go amiss in some quarters, especially n a situation where a mild tsk tsk would serve the purpose.  So tut tut SuperTom you Cheeky Monkey (oh Fuck I hope you isn't black) I mean Scamp.

Oh, please, you talk about people overreacting then put in a prime example of it yourself!

It's an opinion not many people agree with. I hardly think using terms like "explain yourself" or referring to things as blasphemy is over the top - not unless you're going out of your way to take things far too seriously yourself and forget to remember that we're talking about football, not matters of homophobia or racism or whatever, and people are keeping this in mind when reading what people write.

The way I read it, if someone comes on here and says "Paul McGrath was overrated" or "SGT was a total turnip" or whatever, and there are a slew of "explain yourself" / "how dare you" / "blasphemy" replies, people aren't really, actually expressing the same sort of indignation you'd get if someone started throwing around racist abuse or something.

In other words, whilst people's disagreement isn't fake, the way they phrase it is somewhat tongue in cheek.

You sound a bit annoyed Paulie.  Sorry, you normally talk a lot of sense, and I generally respect your opinion, but not this time.  The old "you're overreacting yourself if you think his reaction is an overreaction" trick is a popular rhetorical device but on this occasion I really don't think it holds any water.   For sure you cannot always detect humourous elements like irony, sarcasm and self-deprecation over t'internet but trying to claim that some of the reactions above are obviously tongue in cheek is stretching credibility in my view.  The fact we are talking about football is exactly my point, so I'm not sure why you are invoking it against me.

Because I think you too are overreacting.

I don't know why you thought I sounded annoyed. I'm not. I'm just disagreeing with you.

Actually, weren't you complaining about people being unable to disagree?

[ktvillan]

Paulie I am quite aware you disagreeing with me and have no problem with that. The annoyance thing was merely an observation - perhaps the "oh please" and exclamation mark created an impression of irritation on your part.  Interesting that you started with saying that the posters I referred to were not overreacting at all, and they were merely tongue in cheek rebukes, and now you appear to be saying both them and I were overreacting.  You appear to be contradicting yourself.  In any case, by all means feel free to try and sell the idea that my comments are as much of an overreaction as the others as much as you like, but I aint buying it.   

[Godfrey Brian]

Im to young to comment on Graham Taylor's first stint in charge but the 02/03 season was up there with the McLeish year for me. I never slagged Taylor off myself but i hated that year. I went to every away game that year and we only won once up at Middlesboro on a Tuesday night, also being spanked by the noses twice and seeing the likes of De La Cruz, Kinsella, Leonhardson and Michael Boulding play. Also Ronny Johnson in midfied. The fact no one knew Ian Taylor was playing his last game for us at Leeds last game also pissed me off.

I remember being at Man Utd away in 02 and there were Villa fans in the pub singing "Graham Taylor has got a fuckin turnip head" and these people were definatley old enough to remember him in charge the first time. Also it sounded like the whole ground was booing him at the last home game when he was trying to speak.

Its strange how people loved him the first time but he got treated really badly the second time by the same fans.

Coming onto the pitch after his last game and trying to acknowledge and explain about the season to the supporters was one of the bravest acts I've ever seen from afootball manager and is a mark of his integrity.It's a pity a number of the crowd,not all, refused to listen and booed him.Iwrote to him about it and,the day after he left recieved a response that was direct,modest and humble.Even with all the things going on at that time he stil took time out for an ordinary supporter. He'd be a great bloke in any walk of life.

[supertom]

I've so killed this thread. It's something akin to Mr Magoo almost blissfully unaware he's left a trail of destruction behind him.
 

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't want to get into a back and forth about your comments vs the original ones, honestly, I can't be bothered, and what's the point?

I'm genuinely, honestly not saying anything other than that when people write stuff on here like "blasphemy!" or whichever other over the top reaction when someone offers a controversial opinion, really, it's worth remembering, it's just a web site where a group of us - mostly people who would argue with their own arses, given a chance - spend stupid amounts of time bickering, and you should really take pretty much every single thing you read here in HD with a pinch of salt (or at least a hint of it).

To compare it to people overreacting about real problems in life just strikes me as giving this place an importance which it doesn't really merit.

It's like when people talk on here about how Villa is more important than this or that real life concern, it's right up there with family in terms of importance etc etc. Personally, when I read stuff like that, I just roll my eyes and remember that they're really just grandstanding. They don't actually mean it literally.

I thought SGT did a great job for us, I really do. If I read another poster, say someone too young to recall that period, calling him a turnip or whatever, I might offer a "WTF?" or a "how very dare you!" but I'd be doing so with the tacit acknowledgement that I'm not really as mortally offended as my reply suggests, which i really think is the way the vast majority of people on here would be.

[YCCMY]

Is it me or do any villa fans go on to other clubs websites and ask such stupid monotonous boring dumb ass questions,

If you were a vegetable, give me strength please god

Where do you think you will finish, no please I beg no more

Question back- why was Alan shearer a hero to you when he was a thug in stripes- kicking neil lennons head off and saying to the f.a. If you ban me I won't play for England.

P.s. Is bohemian rhapsody still at number 1 in the Geordie charts

Hmmm, I'm guessing not much of that will make the final cut 

On the contrary, it makes the final cut

[Legion]

Any chance of a direct link, please?

[YCCMY]

This thread has been fun to read, thanks for the great response, most forums don't bother! Thanks for bothering. I'm expecting a draw tomorrow, but you guys could easily win. You play well away from home and we've been dreadful for the past month. Our last goalscorer was Cabaye so that tells you everything you need to know about our recent form.

The thread is here if you want to check it out.

http://toonforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6155

[Legion]

Thank you.

[rob_bridge]

This thread has been fun to read, thanks for the great response, most forums don't bother! Thanks for bothering. I'm expecting a draw tomorrow, but you guys could easily win. You play well away from home and we've been dreadful for the past month. Our last goalscorer was Cabaye so that tells you everything you need to know about our recent form.

The thread is here if you want to check it out.

http://toonforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6155

Fair play mate - we normally respond to other fans constructively providing they are not WUMs. Ask Liam the Baggie.

As you can see brief Graham Taylor did for us what Keegan did for your lot but without leaving us with a huge debt.

He was also margainly better England manager than Wor Kev. Only just mind.

Also like KK he should not have took the job the 2nd time.

[ChicagoLion]

Good to see a sense of humour still exists In Geordie land. Good luck.