Well the poll in the last post I wrote is interesting, isn’t it?
David Moyes is by far the most popular choice with a fraction over 50% of the vote and even though I said I’m not entirely convinced he’d be up for it, it’s perfectly understandable.
To my mind, he’s simply the best we could expect to get in that he’s a proven Premiership manager.
I still have doubts he’ll come to the Villa, but I’d be pretty happy if he did.
Pearson and Dyche are contenders, but what really caught my eye was the fact that more of us wanted Martin O’Neil than Brendan Rodgers!
The truth is I only put MON in for a joke, but it does show that while he’s incredibly divisive in the eyes of Villa fans, there’s many of us hanker for the days when things definitely seemed a lot better. And I’m one of them.
What has to be pretty certain is that the vast majority would take his “backs to the wall”, “no plan B”, “never played half the players” and “wasted money like it was going out of fashion” style of management over what we have now.
The fact that many see him as the cause of our downfall has of course been much discussed and of course, he’ll never get the job while Lerner’s in charge.
Which reminds me.
While I was on my last holiday, I heard a rumour which came from a Wolves fan, of all people.
Apparently, he knew the brief who was due to represent MON at the unfair dismissal case against Lerner and the story is that in the middle of MON and Lerner having a row, Lerner is supposed to have said something along the lines of “You Irish are all the same….”, which of course instantly leads to a charge of racism.
I tried to post all this at the time, but the internet in Goa was so poor, it just didn’t happen.
Oh, the chap who told me was a fireman. Does that make it any more believable?
I’m not convinced and am certainly not stating it as a fact.
But something as daft as that wouldn’t surprise me and we all like a nice juicy rumour don’t we?
You have to laugh.
Until you see the stories that are coming out, that is.
Apparently we’ve put Mick McCarthy on the shortlist for the manager’s role.
I left him out of the poll, but quickly realised that he might be a contender.
While I quite like him and I thought he did an ok job at Wolves, I’ve never been convinced.
He’s a bit too dour for me; he’s too pragmatic and just doesn’t seem to have any “je ne sais quoi” about him.
In other words, I don’t see him as having anything over Lambert or even Mc Spit.
I know his record is not too bad, but I just don’t see it.
And then there’s the story that John Carver has applied for the Villa job.
Let’s just say I don’t see much mileage in that one. But of course, if you don’t apply, you’ll never get the job.
I admire his ambition though, even if it is totally deluded.
And then, amidst all this interesting stuff, we have a game tomorrow against Chelsea.
Ah man, I’ve just realised it’s the early game and watching it will have to involve an even more cunning plan than I’m normally able to execute while I’m at work.
Dam you, BT (in this case).
Not that I expect I’m going to miss much.
Eric Black’s going to be in charge and I’ve expressed my doubts about him already, but here’s his thoughts;
“In the time I’ve been here I’ve never seen any splits in this dressing room. I’ve been in a lot of dressing rooms and have seen splits before.
“We’ve got to try and change something. The atmosphere has been poor in terms of everyone’s been a bit doom and gloom. I can help that process but ultimately I won’t be out on the field.
“We have seven games left, seven important games.
“Firstly I have to thank Rémi for bringing me to the club. I found him an exceptional individual.
“We must move on to Saturday and focus on trying to get a good result against Chelsea.
“We’re running an investigation which is underway. I’ve removed Gabby from the squad on Saturday. My focus is purely on Chelsea.
“I’ve looked at the previous games. I’ve been involved in training. I’ll pick a team I think is capable of competing against Chelsea.”
The good news is that Gabby definitely isn’t going to get a game and it’s about time this was said.
The excuse of not wanting the other players distracted is rubbish though and I’d love for someone to actually come out and say the bloke’s trouble.
As for the split issue, I’m not convinced, but no-one’s going to openly admit to it are they?
I suppose it might be true that there is no split, but I definitely suspect some of the squad are being misled by other players.
Meanwhile, we have Traore and Grealish back in contention, but it’s probably too soon.
Kozak and Amavi are still out.
As for the visitors, Diego Costa is suspended and Eden Hazard is injured
Willian, Oscar and Bertrand Traore will be assessed following international duty. Alexandre Pato could make his debut.
Not that any of this matters.
While I thought that if Remi Garde was still in charge of this game, we’d get a thrashing, I don’t see a fat lot changing under the caretaker, except maybe the final score.
We’ll play pretty much the same team, with maybe the odd change (Grealish straight back in?).
Because that’s pretty much all Black can do, if we look at it logically.
Play our best crap and lose.
Probably to another early goal, where we’ll again struggle because this team doesn’t have enough about them to win a game.
We might show a bit more fight, as a demonstration of how some of the contemptuous players are glad Garde has gone, but it won’t be enough.
My heart says we might scratch a draw.
But I’m going for a 0-2 loss.
Hutton sent off lol
LOL ! Just need the missed penalty now !
Bloody hell. Even the stewards are holding up the protest banners!!!!
Well done to BT for showing and talking about the protest…….if it was live on BBC they would have only pointed cameras at pitch…..Owens still a twat though.
I’ve been wondering if Cuzan is on the American pay roll? Like fucking the club up to get the drop money.well its a thought, I cannot understand why he Black never changed the team at 2 down?, what’s Sinclair done? Why has he been put into the shadows and not picked, why did the board send out Bernstein to appease us fans? by saying the club had problems and will be addressed in their time, to me its still shut your mouths and leave it to us, the club is crooked from top to bottom.
Bill, I really love the way you call him Cuzan! Makes me smile every time!????
Sorry Bum bum the other word cannot use on here.?
the big screen in the ground showed a sign saying
LEARNER U COWARD
SHOW YOUR FACE.
the club staff must also have it in for him.
sorry LERNER
no guarde same result. we really can’t get any worse can we. can we get any better ??? not this season. we have nothing to hurt teams. but thought grealish looked bright.
thank god for chelsea happy with 4, could av got embarrassing. thought referee was awesome. fabregas clearly should av been sent off. the foul on grealish in the box must av been a pen.even without my villa tinted specs on.
can we not declare our season over (innings) 16 points the end
Can we go down next week if result s go against us today .
Don’t think so, there’s a possible 18 points left.
Doesn’t matter anyway we’re down and out. Shambles from start to finish.
I’d keep Ayew, Gueye, Gil, Amavi and possibly Gestede (if they’d be willing to stay that is) but the rest should be on their bike ASAP.
Yes
This is exactly why all the manager discussion is completely pointless. We need the biggest cull of playing staff in the history of the club because otherwise it doesn’t matter who is appointed, they will fail.
It was refreshing to see Bacuna getting booed, though if he gets booed so should Richards, Lescott, Guzan, Westwood, Gestede etc
I also have to say i’m very surprised how so many people are reacting so positively to Bernstein and Little. The quote from Bernstein about wanting a “British or English” manager is extremely worrying as surely we should be going for the best manager, why the hell is nationality being brought up.
And for all the love in around Little, lets be honest, his only involvement within football in the last decade has been at Gainsborough Trinity and Jersey….. that tells you everything you need to know.
As the banner said, Lerner is a coward hiding behind these token appointments and the players are complete tossers. We are a million miles away from even competing in the championship next year
Agree I think Little is nothing more than a figure head IMO. Bit like Charlton at Utd. I don’t get why a change in board is seen as such a big deal Bernstein is well past his sell by date IMO.On the manager front I think it’s a question of who we can get no decent manager will come to us now. I personally think we will go down next season too especially if most of the current crop stay. I couldn’t stand another season of watching Guzan, Lescott etc no matter what division we are in.
Oh for pete’s sake OohAh get a grip man. I presume you would be quite happy to see the previous board in charge! Let’s face it whatever happens at VP you will not be happy.
Well you said that for past 4 years and yet again IV been proved right. Yes the board is an improvement but let’s face it that’s not hard I could a better job than Fox so could you! Only time will tell but action is louder than words let’s see what happens next season. I do t care who the board or manager is if we have the like of Guzan, Gabby, Sanchez, Richards etc next year then we will go down again guaranteed. That team out today would struggle big time to beat a championship side
At least I’m consistent LOL! Actually OohAh I do agree with you over the need to deeply cull the squad and although we might disagree over individual players, I suspect that we will agree on most that should go and it will be a disaster if it doesn’t happen.
FWIW I believe Bernstein, Bevington and Little’s appointments are very good ones for Villa. Bernstein in particular has a wealth of experience in football and at a senior management level – something we have all identified as being sadly lacking over the whole of Lerner’s ownership. He was instrumental in turning round the fortunes of Manc City and you just can’t undervalue that sort of knowledge nor can we criticise Hollis for bringing him onto the board. He certainly not past his ‘sell by date’ in my book – or would you prefer more younger inexperienced board members like Fox and Riley
Agree Hitchens under the circumstances it’s the best board were will get. I’d like to have seen someone like Houllier in there or someone of that ilk. The appointments are a step in the right direction but Bernstein is in his 70s and football has moved on big time since his spell at City. Hard to say if it works but we could have pep Guadiola in charge next season of those players and we’d still struggle. They are not good enough and even worse don’t try and their attitude stinks
Hot off the press player ratings:
Guzan 2 – surely the prerequisite for and footballer is to be able to kick straight?
Hutton 2 – wouldn’t look out of place on a Sunday morning. Tried.
Lescott 1 – get out of my club
Richards 1 – cadge a lift with lescott
Cissokho 1 – comical defending
Westwood 2 – never a prem player in a rain of pig’s pudding
Gueye 2 – fell over more times than he made a complete pass
Sanchez 2 – headless chicken
Gil 2. – lightweight waste of space?
Ayew 5 – best player by a mile but that’s saying nothing
Gestede 2 – about as useful as a condom machine in a convent
Ratings are a bit too generous there IMHO
The only bright spot was Grealish who was easily our best player when he came on. Him and cissoko linked up well second half. Ayew as always tried his damdest but to no avail
Apart from Gana I cant disagree!
What did you see Benno that I didn’t? Thought he was piss poor. Too easily knocked off the ball, gave it away and obviously forgot to put his studs in this morning.
Dont get me wrong, I dont think he played well, but he is always head and shoulders above the other midfielders in this abysmal side. He is definitely a good defensive mid and at least he tries to move the ball forward from midfield, he is just surrounded by muppets.
i think the new board will turn us around but not overnight. we just need to get relegated and get the new manager in.
I would like moyes purely because of all the clubs in england we are most like everton. he did a good job there and I know a few Everton fans that would have him back now.
a player clear out will happen at the end of the season. I just hope gabby is out the door first.
Problem is can we get rid of Guzan Lescott gabby etc to mane way for new players. I don’t think we can and until that crap is out the club we will always struggle
As I celebrate the passing of another year with another Villa defeat! I’m pleased to say that my lovely (and long suffering) wife with brilliant forethought took me out for lunch so I couldn’t ruin my day by watching a pile of sh**e!
Nice bottle of wine, great food and now a nice large martini – don’t know why everyone is so depressed LOL.
Hitch, sod that mate, I’m up the allotment with my rotorvator, had 20 ton of manuar turn up today, thought it was the Villa coach at first with all the players.
LOL – lots of turnips then Bill!
Can’t understand all this negativity, if we win our last 6 games we could stay up ……………Nurse,….Nurse!!!!!
I know it was Black’s first game in charge…but surely he must realize that the fans do not want to see the same rubbish playing for this Villa side. Results are irrelevant now, we have to start looking to next season…so the likes of Guzan, Lescott, Westwood are a waste of a shirt. Even Gil is now pointless, as no way he can play in the championship.
Disagree matey. I want those useless twats, that shambles of a starting 11 to be the 11 faces that officially relegate us.
I want them to get every ounce of abuse that day its official, the day we become a championship club is because of those lazy, useless, ungrateful wankers.
Let them walk the walk of shame. Not the youth that will have to play a part next season. They need to start a fresh!
Problem is Tom they won’t give a toss
Oohah, never a truest word said, if I was one of that lot I’d hold my head in shame for being known as one Villa player that failed in football. Still with a bit of luck, my two young grandchildren might hit the high time in football one plays for WBA under 10s the other for Coventry under 13s both are Villa fans.
Your grandchildren would have more passion than the useless bunch of mercenaries we had on show today Bill!
Every game we have left is going to be a shambles so i dont expect any kind of performances.
Once the season is over hopefully most of the squad and coaching staff are given their p45s.
I know it was blacks first game in charge of some kind but why oh why bring on baccuna as every man and his dog can’t stand him.
We had opportunities to make changes months ago from top to bottom and my opinion was to bring in the kids as they can’t be any worse than that shower of shyte and im sorry but garde was a daft appointment. So the club not the fans deserves to go down end of
I like the idea of an experienced Board and a clear out of all the useless, gutless footballers that have destroyed our club….. But lets remember we have been trying to clear out the shite for years (bomb squad) but our board always signed ridiculous contracts, so do not expect too many relegation clauses – I think we will be stuck with the majority of them !!
Lots more of this shite for years to come.
I would have to take the bet Saddened, that none of our players is on a contract without a “break or renegotiate” on relegation clause. There was a standard wording for this clause recommended by the FL and PFA. I think the club has the option to get rid of all the named first team squad at the end of the season.
Frankly I hope they use it. While it would be harsh on the players who played well and got injured in the first quarter of the season, a clean break with the whole lot would get rid of the smell.
With luck the two senior tossers who think that 90 minutes on a pitch is an annoying contractual obligation which gets in the way of their real lifestyle, which is jet-setting between discos from Manchester to the Middle East, will never work again in the game come May.
I pray you are right on this one – But have a feeling we will see some of those mercenary faces next season !
The BBC focused on the protests to on MOTD. Good to see everyone is focusing on Lerner’s global failure.
most fans know the players at villa are inadequate, not just for premiership but championship or champs league (bacuna). another manager received his p45, but the results and performances stay the same. the players have nobody to hide behind or blame. now the ppl outside our club are pointing fingers at our players level of effort and quality of their ability.
looking forwards to next season, championship will be much harder with these players, if we can’t sell or release the worst of the rotten apples. plus norwich pulled off a shocker beating newcastle. i thought norwich were certain to join us. but newcastle now looked doomed ( they av 3points against us guaranteed) but championship with us magpies and maybe sunderland , thats tough plus the usual top already established championship teams
oh if gabby was suspended,for breaking club rules, couldn’t they sack him outright. hardly club captain standards. glad to see our past greats speaking out like Sir Paul McGrath and collymore about the players, voice of the fans have a greater voice when voiced by ex pros and legends
Imagine if our only win in the remaining games is Newcastle and we relegate them – That would not be pretty !
Oh that would be such a sweet finale to the season. The Spanish Waiter exits through the trap door 🙂
I know what you mean but I would not class collymore as a great. he was as big a tosser as gabby is today.
That’s one of our major problems Nath, every club, and players, they all know we are sub standard wherever we go to play, we do not want all but 3 of what we have, Villa has become news now to all media out let’s, they got what they wanted for the sake of the game, i.e. not having players wages cut. Lerner in the sports world must be a laughing stock to them for what he tried to achieve, will we get back over the next 5 years ? No, why, the club will be seen as an untouchable club and only for has been and just a Job to players like Lescott and Richards.
if we relegate newcastle that would be hilarious as they hate us for putting them down the last time.
People on here hoping we relegate Newcastle, thinking it would be hilarious. Would it be just as hilarious if we needed a point to guarantee promotion next year and they scored in the last minute to beat us 1-0? Then to make it really really hilarious imagine if they then beat us in the play off final at Wembley! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Fucking hilarious!
Seems people love dishing it out but when fans of other clubs or pundits are laughing at us and taking the piss out of us they get all defensive and grumpy.
I would also love to see Newcastle go down but only due to the fact that John “I’m the best coach in the Premier League” Carver has the nerve to apply for the Villa job when last season he actually stated that he wanted us to go down. I would also like to see Sunderland go with us. The championship will have two big sets of derby games with us playing the Blue noses and the Tyne/Wear battle. Just a pity that Channel 5 and their “Now that we have shown you a goal, it’s time for a commercial break” policy on the championship show have the TV rights. Not to mention all the presenters and pundits carry a tablet around with them. Even I would rather see Steve Claridge on BBC1.
Ch5 really interrupt games for adverts????? Honestly???
Villa discussion coming up on MOTD 2 now……..