Press-ing about

[dave.woodhall]

Over to you.

http://thebirminghampress.com/2021/02/aston-villa-and-the-hinges-of-history/

[Damo70]

Has anybody else noticed how quickly Dave is producing his columns since the pubs have been shut? 

[garyellis]

Has anybody else noticed how quickly Dave is producing his columns since the pubs have been shut? 

That probably accounts for the improvement in the spelling!

[Legion]

Done.

[frank]

I agree with what you say about our defending. We were under pressure for much of the second half but we didn't panic, unlike in one of our worst capitulations, when we allowed Arsenal to score 2 late goals at the Emirates after we'd led 2-1. Since then we've beaten them 3 times running without conceding a goal.

Here's the Peter Morris piece you refer to, for the few that don't know it

The door to the lavishly appointed Guest Room at Villa Park was open and out in the corridor the little boys, dodging the commissionaire, were calling for Brian Little and John Gidman. Quite rightly, they took no notice of myself and the elderly bald-headed man, bespectacled, stooping a little, who was quietly finishing his tea. He looked at them for a moment, a whimsical look, and moved to the long windows overlooking the now deserted playing pitch.
“Every time you come back here it must bring back memories Pongo” I said. He stared out for a long while. I thought he’d forgotten I was there. “Aye,” he said suddenly, “aye, they’re a great club…the greatest.” I stood and looked with him, this old man whose goals had set the Villa crowds roaring so long ago. It was not quite dusk on that March afternoon and I saw them too…they were out again, the old ghosts…Jack Hughes, scorer just about one hundred years earlier of Aston Villa’s first goal (perhaps to the very day)…George Ramsay…the Hunter brothers…Willie McGregor…Denny Hodgetts…legion upon legion of them on parade now, filling the field with claret and blue…the century with pride.

[darren woolley]

Brilliant read Dave.

[dave.woodhall]

Brilliant read Dave.

Thanks Daz but there's only one brilliant read on this thread.

[maidstonevillain]

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Aston-Villa-First-Hundred-Years-1874/16797217609/bd

[DYWTBAU?]

Only Morgan Sanson will understand us being described as arrivistes Dave, upstarts will do. Good read, spot on as usual. Got me reaching for the Peter Morris books again for a lockdown read.

[Villa Lew]

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Aston-Villa-First-Hundred-Years-1874/16797217609/bd

Yeah bought it when it came out in 74, excellent read

[steamer]

I have plagiarised that last paragraph in a few posts on here, Brilliant.
I must have a look at that quote about underachievement.

[dave.woodhall]

I have plagiarised that last paragraph in a few posts on here, Brilliant.
I must have a look at that quote about underachievement.

All he said was that we went one way and Arsenal the other. The rest was me.

[LeeB]

That's an interesting point you make at the end. I'd be inclined to utilise the time for the youngsters were it not for the need to try and maximise what we can get from the best homegrown player we've probably ever had.

[The Edge]

A really good read thanks. You described Emi Martinez as world class and I agree. We also have Jack Grealish who I also consider to be world class. In both cases I think of world class clubs like Barcelona & Real Madrid and ask myself would they fit in there? I really do think they would. It's all opinions of course but it's so amazing and almost surreal that after years in the doldrums we actually have two players who could even be considered as world class.

[dicedlam]

It is criminal to think that Emi did not even make the bench in Argentina's last game back in November.