Quote from: pauliewalnuts on December 28, 2020, 12:58:14 AMLet's not get carried away. Let's just enjoy it for what it is.He's currently showing himself to have done a very good job. No need to pile on the expectations or to point the finger of mistrust at this or that section of the media, at ourselves, or anyone for that matter. Just sit back and enjoy what is currently a very interesting time for us.We are going to continue to be volatile - we're not going to start beating all and sundry, we're going to lose matches we never expect to, and we're going to win others equally unexpectedly. The most important thing by far, though, is that there's currently a degree of excitement and hope that hasn't been there for a fair while and the direction of travel, despite the peaks and troughs, is in the right direction.What matters most right now is what we're seeing thus far, and it's much, much better than we have seen for a long time. Let's just enjoy it without piling on added pressure or letting unnecessary eexpectations grow.Nah, in the middle of winter with a pandemic stalking the land I want to get carried away. I want optimism and thrills not caution and patience. I want to shake off the doubt that has become my normal pre-match feeling before every game and replace it with the belief that we are now the team others have to worry about and I want all of that to happen with Villa fans as manager and captain. In short I want romance and excitement not caution and pragmatism and for my kids to experience the same feeling I had in the 70s and early 80s.
Let's not get carried away. Let's just enjoy it for what it is.He's currently showing himself to have done a very good job. No need to pile on the expectations or to point the finger of mistrust at this or that section of the media, at ourselves, or anyone for that matter. Just sit back and enjoy what is currently a very interesting time for us.We are going to continue to be volatile - we're not going to start beating all and sundry, we're going to lose matches we never expect to, and we're going to win others equally unexpectedly. The most important thing by far, though, is that there's currently a degree of excitement and hope that hasn't been there for a fair while and the direction of travel, despite the peaks and troughs, is in the right direction.What matters most right now is what we're seeing thus far, and it's much, much better than we have seen for a long time. Let's just enjoy it without piling on added pressure or letting unnecessary eexpectations grow.
Quote from: Chris Smith on December 28, 2020, 09:51:50 AMQuote from: pauliewalnuts on December 28, 2020, 12:58:14 AMLet's not get carried away. Let's just enjoy it for what it is.He's currently showing himself to have done a very good job. No need to pile on the expectations or to point the finger of mistrust at this or that section of the media, at ourselves, or anyone for that matter. Just sit back and enjoy what is currently a very interesting time for us.We are going to continue to be volatile - we're not going to start beating all and sundry, we're going to lose matches we never expect to, and we're going to win others equally unexpectedly. The most important thing by far, though, is that there's currently a degree of excitement and hope that hasn't been there for a fair while and the direction of travel, despite the peaks and troughs, is in the right direction.What matters most right now is what we're seeing thus far, and it's much, much better than we have seen for a long time. Let's just enjoy it without piling on added pressure or letting unnecessary eexpectations grow.Nah, in the middle of winter with a pandemic stalking the land I want to get carried away. I want optimism and thrills not caution and patience. I want to shake off the doubt that has become my normal pre-match feeling before every game and replace it with the belief that we are now the team others have to worry about and I want all of that to happen with Villa fans as manager and captain. In short I want romance and excitement not caution and pragmatism and for my kids to experience the same feeling I had in the 70s and early 80s.You've hit the nail on the head Chris. This is exactly what i want as well.
I’m enjoying this team as much as the Brian Little season where we came 4th. There’s just a joyfulness about the whole set-up. Smith has played a big part in that.
Quote from: john e on December 27, 2020, 01:19:55 PMstill think Shakespeare was the missing ingredient and I don’t say that to take anything away from Smith I’m a firm believer that great leaders delegate well and aren’t threatened by those around themIndeed. In contrast to O'Neill and other dinosaurs who spent a career giving jobs to their mates and never adapted their style. He trusts O'Kelly, clearly. But was open to the board suggesting Terry and is happy to get input from an experienced coach at this level like Shakespeare.
still think Shakespeare was the missing ingredient and I don’t say that to take anything away from Smith I’m a firm believer that great leaders delegate well and aren’t threatened by those around them
Switched channels after a couple of minutes tonight, to mute the ridiculous crowd noise (Old Trafford is NEVER that noisy).Thanks to the stadium atmos, I now know that we colour code our corner routines.Shout of 'blue' means high outswinger to the far post. Shout of 'white' is fizzed in under the crossbar.Nice to have a management team that actually work on these things. We seem to have developed the art of keeping possession from our own throw-ins as well.
Quite rightly nominated for December Manager of the Month.