Aston Villa vs Birmingham City Pre-Match Thread

[andrew08]

Yes Philly,but nobody is achieving in the PL other than 3 or 4 clubs. At least we're part of the process. Blues never will be again. This game is as close as it gets for you. We have this every week, our next game after Blues is at Anfield, where you'll know yourself we do quite well. Who are you playing?

[dave.woodhall]

And yet it still contains digs about us.

Opinion - it's a bit different from "you is all from Wusta and wee is gonna sit in de Olt"

Yes, there is opinion for which I don't apologise.  I've tried to be honest and balanced, perhaps even given a relatively unbiased view (I'm allowed to be slightly delusional).

You should all be apoplectic about the amount of money that's been wasted by your club for at best mediocre, relegation avoiding results.
You have been in the Premier League since it's inception, but are only achieving at a level similar to the clubs that bounce  between divisions.
"Where's the money gone Tom?"

Now you're talking bollocks. Look at the Premier League since it began and you'll see about half a dozen clubs who've done better than us - and two of them are bankrolled by billionaires. Nine top six finishes (remind me again of your higest ever) and eleven European qualifications in 23 years is not "at best mediocre, relgation avoiding".

[PeterWithesShin]

You have been in the Premier League since it's inception, but are only achieving at a level similar to the clubs that bounce  between divisions.

Currently, or for the last four years. You make it sound like we've been like that since the PL inception.

That's what I mean. During the timeframe of his Blues stuff, we've nearly won the league twice, nearly been relegated a few times, won 2 trophies, been in 3 other finals, a bunch of other semis, numerous European campaigns etc. Hardly what i'd call boring.

[QuintonVilla]

Meanwhile over on SHA their forum oracle 'Gary Rowett' is really having his balls tickled tonight having wrote a blog about us for the Birmingham Mail. Biggest load of bollocks ever written. I love how they all look up to him over there and elevate him, if he was on a forum with normal people he would have the IQ of a lamppost.

[philly]

Currently, or for the last four years. You make it sound like we've been like that since the PL inception.
[/quote]

Following a quick trawl of wiki:

Agreed.  Martin O'N spent a lot of money attempting to break into the top tier and nearly made it.  The financial chasm even within the Premier League is enormous and the Financial Fair Play rules are a joke.

In the past decade, your average league position is 12th.

N.B. My intent was not to provoke you.

[LukeJames]

Perhaps as an interlude to this chest thumping and bravado, you’d welcome a view from a Bluenose on the other side of the Atlantic.

I’ve supported The Blues since I was 6, which is more decades than I’d like to admit.  As Birmingham fans we’re used to disappointment, as it’s frequently piled on top of us.  As a balance, watching Villa’s remarkable lack of achievement over the past 30 years can deliver an exquisite level of schadenfreude.  Has anyone every calculated the income you’ve received and wasted from Sky over the decades? Has it reached a billion pounds yet?   In comparison, our own financial tightrope walk is almost what we’ve come to expect.  From essential bankruptcy, through the porn baron years, via a imprisoned Hong Kong hairdresser, to the appointment of Ernest and Young who will hopefully oversee a sale which would put us on a more stable platform.  Whatever you think about The Blues, it’s rarely boring.  Can the same be said about following Villa over recent years?

However, about the upcoming game:
Birmingham’s primary focus this season has to be on the league.   The financial chasm between the Premier League and everyone else is widening, and at some point may become too wide for any club to bridge.  Despite the off field chaos, GR has taken a collection of generally average players who, under Lee Clark’s tutelage looked like they’d never played the game before, and forged a strong team spirit where each player knows what’s expected of them.  The club has a happy vibe at the moment and we can only hope to keep hold of GR to continue his work.

The results so far this season are far better than I expected, and though there’s a very long way to go, there is some sliver of optimism that we might stand a chance of at least making the play-offs.  We have 3 league games before the trip across the city, and then another 2 before the end of the month.  A hectic schedule, which will require GR to prioritise.  Our squad is not deep and a few injuries will weaken us severely.

Expect to see a lot of the ball.  Our average possession under GR must be hovering at about the 35% mark.  We rely on counter-attacking, assuming we can stay solid at the back.  Having watched a couple of your games this season on NBC, I’m not yet impressed by your attacking threat.  You’ve several new players who may still be bedding in, but the loss of Benteke is huge.  As an aside, though Gabby A always seems to score against us, I think he’s looked very poor this season (and put on quite a bit of weight?).

Being realistic, and assuming that both managers can, and do play full strength teams, I would expect you to win in 90 minutes about 6/10 times.  We’d head to extra time 3/10 and you’d win 2 of those.  The last 10% of the time we’d win in 90 minutes.  We have nothing to lose and have some extremely fond memories of evening matches against you.  In reality, the 5 league matches in September may have a greater bearing on the future trajectory of the club.

Lastly, I hope the knuckle-draggers on both sides of the aisle stay at home, don’t drag the city’s reputation into disrepute and don’t threaten the majority of supporters who just want to enjoy a match with an intense atmosphere.  I think they happen too rarely nowadays.

KRO!

Welcome, I've heard this 'it's never boring at the blues' trotted out a few times but seriously? I mean this with genuine respect , every time I see highlights of a game at St Andrews, which granted is only now and again, the place just looks devoid of anything resembling positivity, like you've all just accepted that its not going to get any better,  maybe im missing this magic of the Blues that you guys speak of but from an outsider looking in I just don't see it at all, its all just a bit meh.

[PeterWithesShin]

Put it another way. We consider the last 4 years to have been absolute shite by our standards. What do you think a small heath fan would class 4 years of not being relegated, an FA Cup final and a LC semi?

As for our league average being 12th, by our standards again, that is crap. You've managed that or better about 5 times in the last 65 years.

[Jimbo]

Philly, may I ask a question? Why are blues fans so interested in events in Aston, and wouldn't it be better for their club if they concentrated all their efforts in supporting them, rather than hating the Villa?

[philly]

Welcome, I've heard this 'it's never boring at the blues' trotted out a few times but seriously? I mean this with genuine respect , every time I see highlights of a game at St Andrews, which granted is only now and again, the place just looks devoid of anything resembling positivity, like you've all just accepted that its not going to get any better,  maybe im missing this magic of the Blues that you guys speak of but from an outsider looking in I just don't see it at all, its all just a bit meh.

and perhaps this sums up why we support our respective teams.  It's irrational.  If we'd been born in another place we'd be equally happy supporting whichever random team we grew up with.  I think people who support the teams they grew up with are all essentially the same.  I have far less time for people who support teams that they've never even seen live.  Where's the emotional connection.  I find it bizarre.

[Fasth56]

As Birmingham fans we’re used to disappointment, as it’s frequently piled on top of us.  As a balance, watching Villa’s remarkable lack of achievement over the past 30 years can deliver an exquisite level of schadenfreude.

So having won the League cup in '94 and '96 which was only 20 years ago and it is equivalent to the only major trophy you have ever won, why come on a Villa site and tell us this when SHA have a far greater lack of achievement. As you keep telling us that you carry the name of the city and have the majority of the support within that city can you explain why out of a population of 1,100,000 you can only attract gates of 13,000?

[Risso]

And yet it still contains digs about us.

Opinion - it's a bit different from "you is all from Wusta and wee is gonna sit in de Olt"

Yes, there is opinion for which I don't apologise.  I've tried to be honest and balanced, perhaps even given a relatively unbiased view (I'm allowed to be slightly delusional).

You should all be apoplectic about the amount of money that's been wasted by your club for at best mediocre, relegation avoiding results.
You have been in the Premier League since it's inception, but are only achieving at a level similar to the clubs that bounce  between divisions.
"Where's the money gone Tom?"

We're mostly all livid at the money O'Neill in particular wasted.  £65K a week for Heskey, £10m in signing on fee and wages for Marlong Harewood.  And if you look at the Premier League now, the TV money means that everybody outside of the top 5/6 is very much of a muchness.  Even Bournemouth now will be one of the biggest clubs in Europe based on turnover.  Still, despite the last few terrible years, we have had lots of very good years in the Premier League era, and compared to SHA, we're Barcelona and Real Madrid combined.

[philly]

Philly, may I ask a question? Why are blues fans so interested in events in Aston, and wouldn't it be better for their club if they concentrated all their efforts in supporting them, rather than hating the Villa?

Honestly, is this any more true for Blues fans rather than Villa fans, or Bristol City and Rovers fans?  I can say I hate Villa at all.  Generally, I'm relatively oblivious to what's happening to you, but this game is a focal point.  Also, I live 4,000 miles away so my perspective may be different.

[SoccerHQ]

Everyone spends in the premier league now and wastes ridiculous money, you see it with some of the newly promoted clubs outspending us and the top 6 can get away with it.

Spare me the drivel, likes of Hleb and Zigic cost 5p did they?

[philly]

What do you think a small heath fan would class 4 years of not being relegated, an FA Cup final and a LC semi?

As for our league average being 12th, by our standards again, that is crap. You've managed that or better about 5 times in the last 65 years.

Our expectations are clearly different.  When Obafemi was gifted the last minute goal I was completely stunned, as that's usually the sort of goal we concede (ref: Fulham semi-final replay 1975).

[PeterWithesShin]

If we're talking only PL era, 9 times we've been 6th or higher. That's 9 times we've matched or bettered the highest position in their history. How very boring.

What i'd give for the excitement of getting an 0-8 shoeing at home to Bournemouth in Division 2 in front of 13K while our owner is in prison in another country. I can only dream of such things.