Aston Villa vs West Ham pre-match thread

[eamonn]

Bowen would have been a great buy for us - works hard with plenty of technical ability. He'd thrive under Emery and be far more consistent than Bailey.

I presume we were in for him under Deano when Wham got him from Hull but our stock was lower then, so even with his 'aul fella being a Villa man, it probably wouldn't have been enough.

[paul_e]

Bowen would have been a great buy for us - works hard with plenty of technical ability. He'd thrive under Emery and be far more consistent than Bailey.

I presume we were in for him under Deano when Wham got him from Hull but our stock was lower then, so even with his 'aul fella being a Villa man, it probably wouldn't have been enough.

I doubt there's would've been any higher considering we were above them in the table in Jan 20 when he signed, it's more that we were fully constrained by FFP and needing to sign replacements for Wesley and Heaton so simply couldn't afford him in that window. If he'd waited until the summer I suspect we may have gone for him ahead of Buendia.

[Bernie]

There was a little spell back in the mid to late 70s where we would put 3 or 4 past them without much bother.  I would welcome a return to something like that.

I think we'll still win as Emery will have a cunning plan for their demise. 2-1

Boxing day 1978* there was around 51,000 at Villa Park for the Gray/Deehan show. A fabulous performance from the lads and we ran out 4-1 winners. Brilliant day.
*some stats might be wrong as I was still three sheets to the wind after Christmas day 

1976 I think, otherwise that's how I remember it. I'm fairly sure we played Derby away the next day, or the day after , and lost 2-0.

[ventnorVillain]

There was a little spell back in the mid to late 70s where we would put 3 or 4 past them without much bother.  I would welcome a return to something like that.

I think we'll still win as Emery will have a cunning plan for their demise. 2-1

Boxing day 1978* there was around 51,000 at Villa Park for the Gray/Deehan show. A fabulous performance from the lads and we ran out 4-1 winners. Brilliant day.
*some stats might be wrong as I was still three sheets to the wind after Christmas day

The Boxing Day game I think you mean was 1975 and it was notable for being Dennis Mortimer's debut - Ron Saunders' "Christmas Present" to the fans. The first game to be played in claret and blue by one of the Rotterdam immortals. A fantastic performance from Dennis and the Villa. WE also beat them 4-0 at home first game of the 76-77 season. Boiling hot August afternoon. All the goals in the second half from Gray (2) and Graydon (2). We were attacking the Witton End (as it was then) in the second half. Isn't it funny what you can remember from 47 years ago as if it was only yesterday and half the time I can't remember yesterday? But yes, that Boxing Day game was a brilliant day. The balloons were amazing.

[mike]

Sutton has us to win and he always gets it wrong so we’re fucked.

[Toronto Villa]

Sutton is also a colossal bell end. So anything he says or that twat Savage should be dismissed immediately.

[Lsvilla]

There was a little spell back in the mid to late 70s where we would put 3 or 4 past them without much bother.  I would welcome a return to something like that.

I think we'll still win as Emery will have a cunning plan for their demise. 2-1

Boxing day 1978* there was around 51,000 at Villa Park for the Gray/Deehan show. A fabulous performance from the lads and we ran out 4-1 winners. Brilliant day.
*some stats might be wrong as I was still three sheets to the wind after Christmas day

The Boxing Day game I think you mean was 1975 and it was notable for being Dennis Mortimer's debut - Ron Saunders' "Christmas Present" to the fans. The first game to be played in claret and blue by one of the Rotterdam immortals. A fantastic performance from Dennis and the Villa. WE also beat them 4-0 at home first game of the 76-77 season. Boiling hot August afternoon. All the goals in the second half from Gray (2) and Graydon (2). We were attacking the Witton End (as it was then) in the second half. Isn't it funny what you can remember from 47 years ago as if it was only yesterday and half the time I can't remember yesterday? But yes, that Boxing Day game was a brilliant day. The balloons were amazing.

I did think I was younger than 14 so 75 sounds about right.

[LeeB]

We used to funeral them at home in the 90's with regular ease.

[eamonn]

Yeah, and Julian Dicks' thundercunt penalties couldn't do anything about it !

[Somniloquism]

Think it will be them winners from a couple of Ward-Prowse corners.

[john e]

 trouble in the Holte before the game when we played them in the 70/80’s
I presume it was because we were all wearing the same colours that it was easy for them to sneak in
Didn’t last long before they were rounded up and escorted back to the away fans ( yes that did actually happen in those days they didn’t get thrown out)


one of the worse days for trouble I ever had was against them at Upton Park in 80/81 FA cup quarter final
We lost 1-0 to a last minute penalty, which was gutting but there was violence throughout the whole game,
Absolute carnage inside and outside the ground

Oh they were the days !!

[Axl Rose]

Sutton is also a colossal bell end. So anything he says or that twat Savage should be dismissed immediately.

This.

[adrenachrome]

We will impose our idea on the game in the moment and emerge victorious.

[steamer]

Bring back the baloons

[Hookeysmith]

trouble in the Holte before the game when we played them in the 70/80’s
I presume it was because we were all wearing the same colours that it was easy for them to sneak in
Didn’t last long before they were rounded up and escorted back to the away fans ( yes that did actually happen in those days they didn’t get thrown out)


one of the worse days for trouble I ever had was against them at Upton Park in 80/81 FA cup quarter final
We lost 1-0 to a last minute penalty, which was gutting but there was violence throughout the whole game,
Absolute carnage inside and outside the ground

Oh they were the days !!

Dodgy penalty put away by Stewart if i remember.

I was 16 at the time and went for a piss in our end at HT only to find a guy who looked as evil as Lenny Mclain in our bogs with a sheepskin coat and WH badge on it - i koved away to see there were loads of them

Only ground / time i ever really felt worried

(And that included being battered in the Bristol City end in FA cup earlier)