The underlying problem...

[Louzie0]

I can see Saturday being scarcely 30,000 , possibly 28k.
Interest is waning. Our home form is diabolical and it's not entertaining whatsoever .

Good try, Silhill.
Seasoned GTC players will dismiss this scarcely veiled attempt at influencing their guesses and go ahead regardless.

Having said that I don't expect capacity, myself.

[aj2k77]

If Klopp is a gamble then Sherwood is the equivalent of sticking your cock in a crocodiles mouth and hoping it doesn't bite. We've sold ourselves short for years, culminating in appointing Blues like Sherwood, Mcleish and Lambert and now everyone thinks we are a complete joke. There is barely a drop of ambition left in the club.

If we'd have been linked with Rondon you can bet your arse most people on here would have said he wouldn't come, be realistic, he's played in the champions league. It's the same with the managers.

[silhillvilla]

Heads to GTC thread 

[Louzie0]

Heads to GTC thread 

Remember. It's Stoke.

[pbavfckuwait]

Paulie Walnuts reference putting this guy in place regardless of his title will see hopefully an improvement, but again that will take time, it is the same with our scouting system, we actually look like we issue them a passport now, not a rail card.

As to us playing our part, I think for the older supporter we have seen cycles like this a number of times before, but have that hope and the memories of when we came good, but as I stated after the cup final at Wembley, I was in the hotel bar feeling miserable and stated , balls that would have made the full set, I would had seen us win and a young lad about 19 stated, lucky you, I've seen us win fuck all in my time of supporting them, so the younger Villa supporters really have nothing to hold onto or compare to and such probably allows for a lower estimation of where we sit in the grand scheme of things, allowing for a lowering of expectations that have been pushed out by the club over the last 5 years especially.

[Hookeysmith]

Paulie Walnuts reference putting this guy in place regardless of his title will see hopefully an improvement, but again that will take time, it is the same with our scouting system, we actually look like we issue them a passport now, not a rail card.

As to us playing our part, I think for the older supporter we have seen cycles like this a number of times before, but have that hope and the memories of when we came good, but as I stated after the cup final at Wembley, I was in the hotel bar feeling miserable and stated , balls that would have made the full set, I would had seen us win and a young lad about 19 stated, lucky you, I've seen us win fuck all in my time of supporting them, so the younger Villa supporters really have nothing to hold onto or compare to and such probably allows for a lower estimation of where we sit in the grand scheme of things, allowing for a lowering of expectations that have been pushed out by the club over the last 5 years especially.

That is an excellent point regarding the younger fans. We have been almost ridiculed in the media, apart from when Golden Balls MON was around and it is based on history only being around for as long as Sky promote it. Its the same with the spoilt brat arrogant wankers that follow United that are around 30/35 they can only recognise a world where they dominated and that players would walk over hot coals to get there. All this league is about is who spends the most. there is no skill in scouring lower leagues for a gem or bringing your own academy players through as they will be picked off with impunity.

I am actually quite glad that I am not following one of the wankfest teams to be honest

[aj2k77]

Hookey I agree and disagree with the point about it's all about who spends the most. To finish in the top 4/5 then it's a given you have to have a massive outlay on players but from 6th-12th it doesn't have to be that much.

We've seen Swansea, Southampton, Everton, Palace, Stoke all finish around those spots and we have by and large outspent them even during the last 5 years but have nothing to show for it. They've scouted some very very good additions from the lower leagues and abroad where as we've bought very badly.

[silhillvilla]

Spot on especially when you see arsenal fans having to stump +£100 for a standard ticket to a CL game or ManYanited fans threatened with bans if they don't pay for and attend cup games . Fuck that

[Vegas]

Hookey I agree and disagree with the point about it's all about who spends the most. To finish in the top 4/5 then it's a given you have to have a massive outlay on players but from 6th-12th it doesn't have to be that much.

We've seen Swansea, Southampton, Everton, Palace, Stoke all finish around those spots and we have by and large outspent them even during the last 5 years but have nothing to show for it. They've scouted some very very good additions from the lower leagues and abroad where as we've bought very badly.

There are short term examples of bucking the trend but robust statistical and economic analysis inSoccernomics (link to it on Amazon, below, can't link to the 92% quote direct) found that 92% of variation in league placings, over a very long period, is explainable by difference in wage budget.  The other 8% is the difference between good and bad managers, broadly.

This might change in the scenario where all premier league clubs are significantly richer than everyone else in Europe I suppose


http://www.amazon.com/Soccernomics-Australia-Turkey-Iraq-Are-Destined/dp/1568584253

[aj2k77]

And we've had a very high wage budget including the last 5 years.

Last year 11th highest
Season before 7th highest
Before that 8th highest

We've spent the money very badly on players that have been poorly scouted.

[PaulWinch again]

If you think back over the last 5/6 years it's quite incredible how bad we've been. Every season ends in a squabble on here as to whether we will or won't be relegated. Now fortunately thus far those in the latter camp have been correct, but frankly it's embarrassing that this is an ongoing debate year on year. There is a real acceptance of defeat within the club.

[silhillvilla]

Ridiculous to think how much Lerner has pumped in overall and what he has to show for it ! I make it 1 Peace Cup, a carbon free ground, a nice pub in Aston and a letter from siralex.

[Legion]

A revamped BMH.

[aj2k77]

A mosaic.

[Jimbo]

There is a real acceptance of defeat within the club.

There you have boiled it down perfectly.

There is no pressure. When you're a millionaire - which managers and players tend to be these days - you need pressure to spur you on. But the likes of Gabby can coast on the pitch, and each manager will have a ready-made excuse, because every season is all about staying in the league.