Eric Black

[peter w]

See? He's doing as well as can be expected.

[Malandro]

He was appointed to bring this ship to port, he's boring but actually professional.
Do I believe him over Okore? 100%.

Why get worked up over a caretaker manager?

[Edvard Remberg]

There's no point carrying on, you're determined, for some reason, to nothing wrong in anything Black has done, I see little from him to suggest he's been worth his salary so lets agree to leave it there.

Oh and Okore is the best central defender in the squad based on the fact that any time our defence has looked remotely solid in the last 2 years he's been in it, bar a short run with Vlaar and Senderos (who could both have been great defenders if they weren't made of glass) who aren't here.  If you're going to champion Lescott then I suggest we go and get Terry, he's a knob who's best days are long behind him but he's been England captain.

Okore has been poor this season. They all have. Have a gander at the league table. And not sure where you've seen me champion Lescott. I've even got that ability to read between the lines and, nope, still not there.

You won't let it go then ...

Lets simplify things, Leicester are top of the league so they must have the best players in every position and we're bottom so everyone in our squad must be shit so if a temporary member of staff pisses a few of them off and they leave it'll be no loss, is that about what you're wanting to see?

I personally don't prescribe to the idea that all our players must be shit, it's a ridiculously shallow way to judge the squad, so you have to judge them on merit.  Doing that for defenders is always difficult but there are a few options:

Stats don't mean everything but here they have Okore as the 3rd best player this season (I'd agree with them on 4 of the top 5, not sure how Richards snuck in there though).


Results in games he's involved in should be less controversial so here's the list I make that 26 conceded in 14 (1.857 per game) against a team performance of 82 in 42 at 1.95 per game.  Not a great improvement but definitely above average.  And he's badly affected by the awful performances against Man city in the cup and Liverpool, aside from those 2 games the defensive record with him in the team is much better.


You can also add the fact that the only period where we looked capable of staying up was in January where he was a regular.

The Lescott bit was tongue-in-cheek because you said you could call him the best based on England caps.  I know you backed away from that afterwards but it's a worryingly naive approach to deciding the worth of a player.


What has Black done to deserve your defence of him?
Had us playing good football - no.
Stopped us matching our worst ever run of defeats - no.
Given the fans something to show that we can come straight back - no.
Called out the players who are roundly idenitified as being the source of the problems - 1 of them, the rest have been regulars in the team.
Kept the players we might want to keep happy? - no, not just Okore, he's also sidelined Veretout, Traore and Grealish and taken Ayew off twice when he's been our best player.


So what positives has he done?


I don't really care about the situation he came into because my opinion is that you could've had poll for the replacement on here and we'd have been no worse off for the run-in.  I don't expect him to win every game but I do expect him to try to win 1 of them and I don't think he's done that in his first 5 attempts.

The bit in bold is the reason why I wouldn't trust EB's statement and actions as "100% right". How in the f... does he keep on with those? It is like the "old friends clique of Sherwood" will always play.

[jimmygreen]

Like a crap Winston Wolfe.

(Disclaimer: Since he moved into advertising insurance products, you could argue that Winston Wolfe is like a crap Winston Wolfe.)

[Malandro]

There's no point carrying on, you're determined, for some reason, to nothing wrong in anything Black has done, I see little from him to suggest he's been worth his salary so lets agree to leave it there.

Oh and Okore is the best central defender in the squad based on the fact that any time our defence has looked remotely solid in the last 2 years he's been in it, bar a short run with Vlaar and Senderos (who could both have been great defenders if they weren't made of glass) who aren't here.  If you're going to champion Lescott then I suggest we go and get Terry, he's a knob who's best days are long behind him but he's been England captain.

Okore has been poor this season. They all have. Have a gander at the league table. And not sure where you've seen me champion Lescott. I've even got that ability to read between the lines and, nope, still not there.

You won't let it go then ...

Lets simplify things, Leicester are top of the league so they must have the best players in every position and we're bottom so everyone in our squad must be shit so if a temporary member of staff pisses a few of them off and they leave it'll be no loss, is that about what you're wanting to see?

I personally don't prescribe to the idea that all our players must be shit, it's a ridiculously shallow way to judge the squad, so you have to judge them on merit.  Doing that for defenders is always difficult but there are a few options:

Stats don't mean everything but here they have Okore as the 3rd best player this season (I'd agree with them on 4 of the top 5, not sure how Richards snuck in there though).


Results in games he's involved in should be less controversial so here's the list I make that 26 conceded in 14 (1.857 per game) against a team performance of 82 in 42 at 1.95 per game.  Not a great improvement but definitely above average.  And he's badly affected by the awful performances against Man city in the cup and Liverpool, aside from those 2 games the defensive record with him in the team is much better.


You can also add the fact that the only period where we looked capable of staying up was in January where he was a regular.

The Lescott bit was tongue-in-cheek because you said you could call him the best based on England caps.  I know you backed away from that afterwards but it's a worryingly naive approach to deciding the worth of a player.


What has Black done to deserve your defence of him?
Had us playing good football - no.
Stopped us matching our worst ever run of defeats - no.
Given the fans something to show that we can come straight back - no.
Called out the players who are roundly idenitified as being the source of the problems - 1 of them, the rest have been regulars in the team.
Kept the players we might want to keep happy? - no, not just Okore, he's also sidelined Veretout, Traore and Grealish and taken Ayew off twice when he's been our best player.


So what positives has he done?


I don't really care about the situation he came into because my opinion is that you could've had poll for the replacement on here and we'd have been no worse off for the run-in.  I don't expect him to win every game but I do expect him to try to win 1 of them and I don't think he's done that in his first 5 attempts.

The bit in bold is the reason why I wouldn't trust EB's statement and actions as "100% right". How in the f... does he keep on with those? It is like the "old friends clique of Sherwood" will always play.

I can see your point Edvard but what agenda?

Player sale? If so, that comes from the top. No need to apportion the blame to a caretaker.

[Edvard Remberg]

There's no point carrying on, you're determined, for some reason, to nothing wrong in anything Black has done, I see little from him to suggest he's been worth his salary so lets agree to leave it there.

Oh and Okore is the best central defender in the squad based on the fact that any time our defence has looked remotely solid in the last 2 years he's been in it, bar a short run with Vlaar and Senderos (who could both have been great defenders if they weren't made of glass) who aren't here.  If you're going to champion Lescott then I suggest we go and get Terry, he's a knob who's best days are long behind him but he's been England captain.

Okore has been poor this season. They all have. Have a gander at the league table. And not sure where you've seen me champion Lescott. I've even got that ability to read between the lines and, nope, still not there.

You won't let it go then ...

Lets simplify things, Leicester are top of the league so they must have the best players in every position and we're bottom so everyone in our squad must be shit so if a temporary member of staff pisses a few of them off and they leave it'll be no loss, is that about what you're wanting to see?

I personally don't prescribe to the idea that all our players must be shit, it's a ridiculously shallow way to judge the squad, so you have to judge them on merit.  Doing that for defenders is always difficult but there are a few options:

Stats don't mean everything but here they have Okore as the 3rd best player this season (I'd agree with them on 4 of the top 5, not sure how Richards snuck in there though).


Results in games he's involved in should be less controversial so here's the list I make that 26 conceded in 14 (1.857 per game) against a team performance of 82 in 42 at 1.95 per game.  Not a great improvement but definitely above average.  And he's badly affected by the awful performances against Man city in the cup and Liverpool, aside from those 2 games the defensive record with him in the team is much better.


You can also add the fact that the only period where we looked capable of staying up was in January where he was a regular.

The Lescott bit was tongue-in-cheek because you said you could call him the best based on England caps.  I know you backed away from that afterwards but it's a worryingly naive approach to deciding the worth of a player.


What has Black done to deserve your defence of him?
Had us playing good football - no.
Stopped us matching our worst ever run of defeats - no.
Given the fans something to show that we can come straight back - no.
Called out the players who are roundly idenitified as being the source of the problems - 1 of them, the rest have been regulars in the team.
Kept the players we might want to keep happy? - no, not just Okore, he's also sidelined Veretout, Traore and Grealish and taken Ayew off twice when he's been our best player.


So what positives has he done?


I don't really care about the situation he came into because my opinion is that you could've had poll for the replacement on here and we'd have been no worse off for the run-in.  I don't expect him to win every game but I do expect him to try to win 1 of them and I don't think he's done that in his first 5 attempts.

The bit in bold is the reason why I wouldn't trust EB's statement and actions as "100% right". How in the f... does he keep on with those? It is like the "old friends clique of Sherwood" will always play.

I can see your point Edvard but what agenda?

Player sale? If so, that comes from the top. No need to apportion the blame to a caretaker.

I can't see that helps player sale, as the price would drop for them.

I just going to conspire that it is the English group staying loyal to each other (just like TS was praised and RG was crap by the pundits, who happened to have played at same era). Why? plenty of stupidity has been happening for me to be surprised if it was just in spite.

[Steve67]

Black has been fucking useless. He has been the cause of booing because of his team selection, not addressed the poor defending and not taken us even a millimetre in the right direction. The Gabby thing HAD to be dealt with, so he gets no plaudits there either. Get rid as soon as the season is over.

[Malandro]

There's no point carrying on, you're determined, for some reason, to nothing wrong in anything Black has done, I see little from him to suggest he's been worth his salary so lets agree to leave it there.

Oh and Okore is the best central defender in the squad based on the fact that any time our defence has looked remotely solid in the last 2 years he's been in it, bar a short run with Vlaar and Senderos (who could both have been great defenders if they weren't made of glass) who aren't here.  If you're going to champion Lescott then I suggest we go and get Terry, he's a knob who's best days are long behind him but he's been England captain.

Okore has been poor this season. They all have. Have a gander at the league table. And not sure where you've seen me champion Lescott. I've even got that ability to read between the lines and, nope, still not there.

You won't let it go then ...

Lets simplify things, Leicester are top of the league so they must have the best players in every position and we're bottom so everyone in our squad must be shit so if a temporary member of staff pisses a few of them off and they leave it'll be no loss, is that about what you're wanting to see?

I personally don't prescribe to the idea that all our players must be shit, it's a ridiculously shallow way to judge the squad, so you have to judge them on merit.  Doing that for defenders is always difficult but there are a few options:

Stats don't mean everything but here they have Okore as the 3rd best player this season (I'd agree with them on 4 of the top 5, not sure how Richards snuck in there though).


Results in games he's involved in should be less controversial so here's the list I make that 26 conceded in 14 (1.857 per game) against a team performance of 82 in 42 at 1.95 per game.  Not a great improvement but definitely above average.  And he's badly affected by the awful performances against Man city in the cup and Liverpool, aside from those 2 games the defensive record with him in the team is much better.


You can also add the fact that the only period where we looked capable of staying up was in January where he was a regular.

The Lescott bit was tongue-in-cheek because you said you could call him the best based on England caps.  I know you backed away from that afterwards but it's a worryingly naive approach to deciding the worth of a player.


What has Black done to deserve your defence of him?
Had us playing good football - no.
Stopped us matching our worst ever run of defeats - no.
Given the fans something to show that we can come straight back - no.
Called out the players who are roundly idenitified as being the source of the problems - 1 of them, the rest have been regulars in the team.
Kept the players we might want to keep happy? - no, not just Okore, he's also sidelined Veretout, Traore and Grealish and taken Ayew off twice when he's been our best player.


So what positives has he done?


I don't really care about the situation he came into because my opinion is that you could've had poll for the replacement on here and we'd have been no worse off for the run-in.  I don't expect him to win every game but I do expect him to try to win 1 of them and I don't think he's done that in his first 5 attempts.

The bit in bold is the reason why I wouldn't trust EB's statement and actions as "100% right". How in the f... does he keep on with those? It is like the "old friends clique of Sherwood" will always play.

I can see your point Edvard but what agenda?

Player sale? If so, that comes from the top. No need to apportion the blame to a caretaker.

I can't see that helps player sale, as the price would drop for them.

I just going to conspire that it is the English group staying loyal to each other (just like TS was praised and RG was crap by the pundits, who happened to have played at same era). Why? plenty of stupidity has been happening for me to be surprised if it was just in spite.

I just don't think its believable. What reason has he got to drop Okore, or indeed say he's causing a problem?

[Dave]

Well done to all, this thread is now officially the most tedious thing about this season, even allowing for relegation and 11 defeats on the spin!

Maybe we could have a nice long debate about Spurs' accounts to liven things up?

[Risso]

Well done to all, this thread is now officially the most tedious thing about this season, even allowing for relegation and 11 defeats on the spin!

Maybe we could have a nice long debate about Spurs' accounts to liven things up?

Oooh go on then!

[Villa in Denmark]

I just don't think its believable. What reason has he got to drop Okore, or indeed say he's causing a problem?

I don't think he's following an agenda other than what he thinks is easiest for him.

Gabby is a monumental pain in the arse. F##k him off to thunderous applause.

Okore is giving him grief about not playing.  F##k him off so I don't have to listen to him.

[LeeB]

Well done to all, this thread is now officially the most tedious thing about this season, even allowing for relegation and 11 defeats on the spin!

Maybe we could have a nice long debate about Spurs' accounts to liven things up?

Oooh go on then!

No, that's old hat. More pertinent is whether Doug or Randy is worse.

[paul_e]

I just don't think its believable. What reason has he got to drop Okore, or indeed say he's causing a problem?

I don't think he's following an agenda other than what he thinks is easiest for him.

Gabby is a monumental pain in the arse. F##k him off to thunderous applause.

Okore is giving him grief about not playing.  F##k him off so I don't have to listen to him.

Exactly.

Peter, I honestly give up, you talk about Logic but don't even understand what it means, as a hint it doesn't involve making huge assumptions and then coming to a conclusion based on them, that's been my point all along you're creating a scenario where Black is right and then saying that you back him 100% but that is only true if all of your previous assumptions about what happened are correct and the only thing you can defend those assumptions with is by asking 'why would he lie?' but you refuse to accept a reply of 'why would Okore (who has a reputation of being brutally honest with the press) lie?'

I offered to call a truce and agree to disagree because I was worried we might upset Risso but you wanted to carry things on making the same point over and over and ignoring me making the same points in response.  I now fully accept your right to reply but I'm not going to bother any more, you're welcome to continue thinking that Black has done a good job and that Okore is some sort of lying vigilante arsehole who'd rather sit in the stands than play but I'm always going to think that you're completely wrong.

[mr underhill]

as I said earlier, I really can't see the point of keyboard handbags over someone who is patently not part of Aston Villa's future. Black has a few more weeks in the sun and then he's history. Time to look to the future and Eric isn't it.

[edgysatsuma89]

It's a shame Eric isn't looking into the future.