Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[OneIanTaylor]

I'm worried whether I'll be able to capture my past ability on a football pitch, as I play my first game in absolutely ages later on.

The legs have gone. Which at 20 is a sad thing indeed.

Isn't that what players with absolutely no ability use as an excuse?  :smt002

Possibly. I was pleasantly surprised with my football, just not my extreme lack of fitness.

[peter w]

I'm worried whether I'll be able to capture my past ability on a football pitch, as I play my first game in absolutely ages later on.

The legs have gone. Which at 20 is a sad thing indeed.

Isn't that what players with absolutely no ability use as an excuse?  :smt002

Possibly. I was pleasantly surprised with my football, just not my extreme lack of fitness.

Is this where you tell me that you smoke 80 a day, drink like a fish, and think exercise is a film about the devil?

[OneIanTaylor]

I'm worried whether I'll be able to capture my past ability on a football pitch, as I play my first game in absolutely ages later on.

The legs have gone. Which at 20 is a sad thing indeed.

Isn't that what players with absolutely no ability use as an excuse?  :smt002

Possibly. I was pleasantly surprised with my football, just not my extreme lack of fitness.

Is this where you tell me that you smoke 80 a day, drink like a fish, and think exercise is a film about the devil?

I don't smoke, but I do drink a bit. In the last year or 18 months though I haven't really done anything, and I got my reward yesterday!

[peter w]

I'll leave the quotes...never give up, if there's one thing I'm dreading its the day I stop playing. I did fall out of love with playing about 3/4 years back because of all my injuries and operations. It was just getting beyond a joke. I hated playing. The strangest feeling. I lost that yearning to have a ball at my feet. To just kick a ball. my dad had the same experience in his early 30's and he understood what I went through in terms of falling out of love with playing. In one game one of our midfielders berated me for not chasing a pass, and asked what was wrong. I just said, "I'm bored". The incredulous look on his face said it all. Then 4 months before coming out here I got another knee injury and thought that was it. No more. But, coming here, having a proper footie trainer, getting games, playing in warm conditions, and I've got a new lease of life. My injuries- some of them serious, compound fracture of tib/fib being the worse- have done for my pace but the enthusiasm is back. I love playing again.

One of the players here, he's 38, broke his foot playing and the doc told him to quit playing and what he said in response was true. He said, "you don't play football, do you?, "No" replied the doc, "Thought not. I can't give up, I can only stop playing football when I don't want to play anymore. Its as simple as that". And it is. That's football for you. Anyone out there who plays football will know exactly what I mean. You're a long time retired. Ex-players just want to kick a ball again, and those getting to the retirement age will put it off until they know they can't do it anymore. OIT, you're 20. Keep playing. One day you won't be able to play anymore, for whatever reason, and boy will you miss it.

[peter w]

And after that enpassioned diatribe I'm off to footie training. \/

[OneIanTaylor]

Cheers Peter, have a good one!

[JD]

Peter, you never truly retire. I retired about five years ago (yeah right  [-X ) and have played a few games over the past five seasons. I was a player coach and I am now coaching kids so that I have an excuse to have a kick around a couple of times a week, without getting the injuries.

Your friend is right, I was told to retire in my mid twenties (due to broken ankles and knee ligament trouble) and I have still continued playing into my forties.  8-[

[acwilliams]

We're not worried any more! \/

[JD]

Well you should be.  [-X

You should be worried that one of our players may get injured in the internationals for a start.  [-(

[ROBBO]

I remember my last game simply because I knew as I walked off that i would not play again. Mortgage, young family and the knowledge that I was a shadow of the player I had been. It was one of the saddest moments of my life so to all who are young enough to play i say enjoy every minute it is a long time gone.

[peter w]

Morning JD, Robbo. I knew deep down that coming over here would give my football a boost. It was the coming to a new place, seeing new people, nobody knowing if I could play the game, and the old having to prove something. To me more than anything. My weighjt now is down to the weight I was 20 years ago. Even when I was playing semi-pro standard my weight was 10 and a half stone, then hit 11 stone when I got to late 20's early 30's. Balloned to 12st 2 when I left the UK! I'm 5ft 7 . Now its down to 10st 3. Feel great for it. My knees hurt like anything but that's the price for twsting and turning on the pitch for 30 years, plus injuries and operations.

Thing is I know when I go home that it will be all over. I won't want to go out to training in the night. Rain, wind, cold. Then have the same conditions in games. This place is conducive to sporting activity. There's loads of sports to do- a bit like Oz- never been to NZ JD, but I guess its similar to Oz in that nature, but football is the one for me again. When its gone I'll miss it, and I know its sooner rather than later. So, I'll enjoy this 'Indian' summer.

[JD]

Loads of sport here Peter, they're probably more fanatical about sport here than in the Uk. Doesn't matter what it is, if a New Zealand or NZ are in it then there is interest. Be it Rugby, League, Cricket, Football, Netball, Sailing, Surfing, Mountain Biking, Mountain Running etc, you name it they love it.

When I left the UK my team had just won the Essex Junior Cup the previous season, so I suppose I left on a real high. I came over here, played in my first friendly and scored twice and the team thought they had signed George Best (such is the standard of football over here I was playing in the same league as ex NZ internationals). Alas, they were fooled.

You must be a skinny runt Peter only being 10 and a half stone  8-[ . I am 5 foot 9 inches and weigh between 11 and a half to 12 stone (depending on how hard I am training for a Marathon etc).

[peter w]

You must be a skinny runt Peter only being 10 and a half stone  8-[ . I am 5 foot 9 inches and weigh between 11 and a half to 12 stone (depending on how hard I am training for a Marathon etc).

 [-X 10 st 3. \/

[JD]

10 stone 3lbs!  8-[ My 13 year old Son is nearly that heavy.

[Drummond]

Oh bugger, now I've got something else to worry about. I'm 15' 12.

I was over 17 at the end of last season but had a good pre-season to get in shape!