Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[peter w]

But realistically we cannot offer Huntelaar, Riquelme, and players of that ilk what they want. Exposure through European football and/or success through winning trophies. So, we are not at that level yet. MON is going to have to work with the Zat Knights, Marlon Harewoods, and Curtis Davies's of the footballing world until they get the club in a position to tempt those types of players.

The January sales wil be crucial. But only to a point. The better placed we are in the league the better chance we will have of recruiting decent players. However, clubs very rarely let decent players go in January. They are too important. So, we will be looking at squad players at other clubs. We may get a few players but not ones that everyone is hoping for. It will be in the summer that happens.

Why would Rangers, in the CL, let their right-back go to Villa? Why would he want to at this point of the season? Or at this point of his career? The same for Bentley? The decent players are playing for decent clubs who are likely to be having hal-decent seasons. They won't sell simply because we want them to.

Its going to be difficult for MON. Can he keep the club paced in line with the stated ambition? I think so but it will be hard. How long will the board give him? How long will the fans give him?

[JD]

I think Riquelme just wants to play and Huntelaar is not currently playing in Europe, so maybe if the Club was sold to them properly???

Although, it was a bit tongue in cheek, we should be at least trying to target these kind of players.

Now I'm worried that Gabby will be out for a while.  ](*,) Best read the other threads.

[peter w]

Why read the other threads when everything is covered here in one fell swoop?

[ROBBO]

I'm worried that we Aussies are being discriminated against, started a new thread ,had a reply, then the thread disappears. Have I offended those on high?

[tonyh]

I'm worried that we Aussies are being discriminated against, started a new thread ,had a reply, then the thread disappears. Have I offended those on high?

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=21373&highlight= Its here its been merged

[JD]

Are you all getting paranoid on New Zealands West Island Robbo, that there's some sort of conspiracy against you.  8-[

[ROBBO]

I am now, they had the bloody cheek to merge me, as if my golden words were not good enough to stand on their own.
Have you heard that record numbers of Kiwis are coming into Australia? you'll soon  have the place to yourself.

[JD]

All the simple Kiwis going to Australia, a big increase in English coming to New Zealand. It really is starting to become a home away from home Robbo.

Did you know there are now more kids over here playing football than Rugby.

[ROBBO]

Well the Poms would be used to the cold weather so thats an advantage I bet they are all old English as against new English see over here we are different we let any bugger in.
My wife keeps nagging about a visit but she's got Buckleys.

[peter w]

Oi Robbo. You're a pom. be proud that we are recolonising the antipodes. The one we've got is shite so we want to take your two places back. If you don't mind.

Anyway, it'll be an interesting game tomorrow. Has Carson's concentration/confidence been knocked indellibly? Will MON be able to get everyone's mind on the game? How will the fan's react on both sides of the ground?

We will be getting a lot of stick from Boro fans, you'd guess. how we react is the measure of the team. I stopped believing in The Clown a week after we beat The Shit 1-0 and meekly lost at home to Wigan 2-0. It proved there and then that he wasn't up to it. MON has a similar situation tomorrow. We beat The Shit 2-1, there's been a week off poor international performances by two of our players and so they got lamabasted. The manager is linked with the International job. have we got the stomach, the skill, the manager, to bring us through all of that and get the 3 points?

[ROBBO]

I think the MON announcement will give us a kick along but i am still not convinced that the style of play MON is after is going to excite us.
He seems to me to be an old fashioned coach. It's a worry.

[peter w]

I think we are more exciting than people give us credit for. It is simply that we haven't got going yet. We were playing great football at the end of last season. Against Chelsea we gave them the ball in areas that they couldn't hurt us. When we got the ball we looked to break with pace. Even that means hitting it to Carew, who is no slouch himself, for him to hold it for Gabby, Young, et al to join him.

[JD]

I agree Peter (sorry Robbo). I think MO'N is building an exciting team and whereas it is far from complete, what we do now have are different options and an ability to change personnel and game plans.
I should be worried, but this morning I'm not.  [-(

[ROBBO]

I may have to see about getting you two deregistered your a complete disgrace to the ideals of this thread. We now have a labour government in all states and federally, i feel unbalanced.

[peter w]

I realise that I am becoming a liberal worrier but my worry is that MON is being burdened with too much hope from the fans. What happens if it doesn't work. Another false dawn? How long will the Yanks give it. if we can get it right over the next 18 months or so, which i think is crucial to the whole 5 year plan thing, then we will really take off.

I find it interesting that the board say that we are trying to be in a place to qualify for Europe regualarly in 3 and a hlaf years time. (Part of the 5 year plan) Yet when they and MON first came in the talk was of Champions League. They realise how difficult it is. So, will we still be getting 40 000 for games against Derby/West Ham etc next season if we finish outside of Europe this season?

There is a tangible progression of the team. Slower than that of the club, but real all the same. I just hope the fans will allow for any set-backs.

What if we were to finish like this over the next two seasons

11th (last year)
7th - this season
7th - next season

Will fans hold on? When we last won the league it followed to seasons of being 7th. Or something like one 7th spot finish, and then an 8th spot. if that was to happen will we be able to convince Gabby/Young et al to stick with us? We need to be building a team quickly around thiese players to convince them we can match their abilities and ambition this season and next. Obviously, MON is trying to do that. But, this is where I do worry. The lack of European football next season is tantamount to playing Russian Roulette the season after. We absolutely must finish in a European place. I don'tt hink Europe vis the League Cup would keep hold of our better players after the 3rd season if we aren't progressing closer to the top 4.

Anyway, John Blackwell inspired dissertation over.