Straight off, I have to say I haven’t even seen the goals, let alone the highlights of this game.
I’ve been up to my neck in it at a car plant shutdown, which has involved more than 12 hours a day for the last week or more; hence eating and sleeping has had to be my priority (it’s a hard life isn’t it?).
So I can only go with comments I’ve read on here and other sites, where it seems we were really quite good for the first hour, only for us to collapse when Boro equalised, which led to us not being able to keep the ball or even pass it.
Whichever way you look at it, it seems we have a massive fragility problem, where we don’t believe we can win a game once the opposition score. Which er, is exactly the same as last season, isn’t it???
It’s for this reason that I don’t think we have a chance of getting promoted as things stand, as I’ve said previously.
Perhaps though, I’m being unfair.
After all, Middlesborough are now a Premier league team and we’re deservedly Championship level.
They’re on the way up from their already advanced Championship level and have improved with some decent buys, whereas we’re about to find our real level.
Which is the part that worries me.
We’re apparently equal second favourites to be promoted, along with Norwich, with Newcastle being the absolute favourites.
It’s something that will only add to the expectation and again, I don’t think the squad is up to it, as they’re overall a load of bottlers, in my opinion.
Well, it certainly was the case last season and from the sound of it seems the case yesterday, anyway.
My hope was that whatever manager came in, he’d be able to instil a strong fighting mentality and although it is of course very early days, I’m not convinced we’ll get it under RDM.
Still, as I said, they’re Prem and we aren’t.
And us getting beaten at home to a Premier league team is only to be expected?
Hmm, I’m not in the slightest bit convinced, myself.
A team that hopes to be promoted next season should be fighting to the death, regardless of the opposition, even this early in proceedings.
If it was gonna make him look like a lying idiot, then yes!!!
Simple question have you ever fucked up????
Well yes quite a few times😃
But if I was in the public eye and knowing what the fans have been through in the last few years would you not try and be a bit more careful ??
Gana had a specific relegation release clause, which RDM may be referring to as the only release clause. Clark and Richards both have 5M general release clauses, and these release clauses seem to be common to most player contracts these days, so there are probably others with them
Fair point mate
We’ll firstly that proves he’s human secondly he’s got an uphill struggle to get the fans back onside & judging so far by some on here he’s already failed miserably which makes me LMAO don’t fucking pre judge the bloke
Ps comeback Lerner alls forgiven
Was there any need to fucking swear lol
I always FUCKING swear lol
😂😂👍
Can’t believe some of the above –
1) Clark hasn’t actually gone anywhere yet
2) We haven’t kicked a ball in any seriousness yet
At least wait until something goes pear shaped before spreading the doom and gloom.
Not meaning to spread doom & gloom at all sorry
Just getting a bit nervous now that’s all!!
Pat – fair points except Pat Murphy reporting Clarke set for medical and he’s normally on the money.
What worries me more is that Lescott and Richards are still here!
Even tho I think Clark is crap I’d still take him over the other 2
The club should pay up Lescotts contract and send him on his way, he only has a year left. Richards still has 3 or 4 years left, so they may want to try and get something for him if they can.
Agree Lescott should go he’s rubbish
Plus Hutton Bacuna Westwood Gana Gabby and Bunn. I have crossed just one name off my Bomb Squad so far, at least Guzan was #1 so I can say we are working down.
I don’t rate Clark highly as a central defender, but putting that in context, I cannot see 2 better than him in our squad.
The fact that Hutton, Bacuna and Westwood started against Boro suggests they are in RDMs plans. Can’t see anyone offering to take Gabby let alone pay anything for him
@H60
Yes just seen that myself. Agree PM usually is pretty good so looks like Clark is on his way out. Sounds like RDM wanted him to stay.
Personally if he, and any other player, feels that they aren’t fully up to supporting the cause then I want them out anyway.
If RDM wanted Clarke to stay then he’s a worse manager than I actually thought
If Richards stays then he has to play right bk fuck what his contract says. He is no centre half
It’s being reported that Fulham accepted a bid from Villa for Ross McCormack, 12m plus add ons if we get promoted…
Where did you see this???? Skybet odds??
Sky now reporting we’ve made a 12 Mil bid nowt about bid being accepted.
Is McCormack any good never heard of him till recently tbh
Sounds a lot for a championship striker
He’s a proven striker in that league so hell yeah he’ll do for me. Is a bit pricey but if he gets the goals that gets us promoted it be worth every penny imo!
Fair enough
I know McCormack is a goalscorer in the championship but the fact remains we are shit at getting the ball in to the box and even shitter at actually finding one of our own players so that issue needs to be resolved asap or McCormack’s confidence will be shot within a month or two. As for Gueye and Clark not bothered really hopefully RDM gets all the money plus more to spend as like others have mentioned Clark is rather embarrassingly our best defender lol. Lots of issues to solve! Again I do trust the management team. However, We surely can’t start the season with Westwood, Bacuna, Hutton, Lescott in the starting lineup…can we???
Don’t want flabby starting either
Yeah forgot gabby another waste of time. Could also put Richards in the list although he seems to show a bit more heart than the others at times.
I see this site is still full of moaners and groaners FFS. If we get McCormack from the proceeds of the Gueye and Clark moves then I will be well happy. It means we have a whole new (much needed) spine in the team whilst spending FA…..very clever move IMO. Furthermore, we still have the whole if the transfer kitty (whatever that is) for further additions…..good move RDM….at last someone has learnt from past mistakes!
We WILL be promoted, Ian Holloway IS a dickhead and Dr Tone can tweet as much as he wants…..I’m loving it!
UTV
McCormack in, Gana & Clark out
= good business. I for 1 am gonna be well chuffed if this happens!
McCormack is 30 next week it’s a lot of money for a 30 yr old imo
True – but proven goalscorers who are 21 or younger are being snapped up by any top div team in Europe. If he does the job for one season he will be worth it.
True but knowing us we will put him on a 10 year day!
McCormack is a do-it-yourself style of forward. He is quite capable of hunting for the ball, running at and beating two defenders and picking his spot. He does not need centre-forward service – so if he comes to VP he is coming to the right place not to get it!
Nearest (not so) recent player of that type at Villa was Dean Saunders. Why isn’t he in the Prem? He probably isn’t fast enough and physical enough, but he has be a contender for leading goalscorer in this division for 3 years.
moaners and groaners your can’t be talking about me. i am always optimistic well almost, i believe we will go up, if they get a striker to lead the line. at present with just gestede up front, i think we would struggle. he doesn’t fit the style of RDM wants to play. ayew is dropping to deep, he will terrorize the championship defenders. but we don’t want him picking the ball up on halfway beating 10 players. we need him in and around the box
this mccormack seems to shoot at any chance he gets, McNally like, same as ooahahaha i haven’t heard much of him, i recall him joining fulham for a massive fee from leeds. its a transfer fee we won’t get back. but if he scores the goals that wins promotion who cares. to win promotion we need goals and plenty of them. his record over the last two years speaks for itself
Ha, just said pretty much the same thing in a reply to oohah😃 Then scrolled down and read yours! Well said, goals win games simple as that
My earlier post about McCormack seems to have vanished in the blogosphere. He is a do it yourself style forward, hunting the ball and capable of running at two defenders, beating them and picking his spot. Last of that type at VP was Dean Saunders. He does not need centre forward style service, which is good because if he lands at Villa he won’t get it.
how comes teams want villa players, but only on loan, then when we want their players they add on 5 million on top of the original demand
i thought that riley had left his role. i just red somewhere hes still chief scout ??? is this true
Watched the summer’s events from a far and to be brutally honest I’m not particularly optimistic short term.
Rebuilding the pathetic shambles from last season is a huge task and I have to admit I agree with Holloway’s assessment on our chances this season (even if he is a prat, he knows this league well)
The wasters are mostly still here unsurprisingly as no club will pay their wages and nobody knows enough about Dr Xia to make a reasoned assessment of his credibility long term yet.
Looking at the squad and seeing 7-8 names from last season is not encouraging at all. These players have no confidence and for far too many no passion or interest in our club. I’m concerned Di Matteo is going to give the likes of Gabby, Richards, etc another chance and they absolutely do not deserve one. The lack of goalscorers is also worrying, though hopefully we can sign mccormack. Its a lot of money for a 30 year old, but we are desperate for a proven scorer at this level.
Overall, we need to be realistic. We are working with a core of players who won 3 games out of 38. Considering you need 20+ wins to consider even getting into the play offs, I just cant see such a dramatic turnaround even given the drop in opposition. We’ll do well to finish top half imo
Agree completely.
Give McCormack a 5 year deal with a 2 million pound release clause.
Got to find some way of being entertained cause the shower of shit our squad is they won’t be capable entertaining us.
I do think all the signings seem to have been done with a measured approach. Plus if McCormack signs that’s a new spine. Add to that players like Gardner, Bennett and Baker coming back from loans and the 11 is starting to have a different look to last season.
I know we’re all eager for the time wasters/bomb squad to be sent packing, but until RDM finds the elusive magic wand we’ll have to be patient. Even though the leagues kicks off this weekend there will still be the best part of a month to sell/sign players and a lot does seem to get over the line in those closing days/hours.
News seems to be filtering in that we are about to sign Ross McCormack after upping the offer to £14m. He is supposedly due in Brum for a medical today (weds). From what I can see of this guy he seems to know where the back of the net is, and that is a quite a large splash of cash from us, so let’s hope we are actually moving in the right direction.
£14m for a 30 yr old that could get injured and past his peak! Wtf is going on
Sky now saying 12mil bid accepted should have medical today very pleased once completed.UTV
Shame about gueye, he would have played a big part this season I think, definitely worthy prem player.
Delighted Clarke is out the door, potentially the most overrated player, totally error prone and cost us many points over the last few years (man city springs to mind to name one) shocking defender!
He will only be a bit part player for them a utility player.
McCormack – consistent proven goal scorer playing with Ayew could be a ‘game changer’ for us. Must hold onto Amavi as well. We can’t hold onto 1-0’s so have to increase the goals we score and the friendlies just reinforced that point.
Would still like to see another right back and creative mid come in.
Let’s hope this deal gets across the line quickly.
So what happens if he gets injured or suspended. We’ve no back up whatsoever and that’s what could cost us
He could of been 20 you’d still find something to have a dig at.boring
OohAh was complaining about lack of investment by Dr. T and now he’s moaning because it’s the wrong investment!
Can I point out Oohah that we have problems without him so how can buying a 20 goal a season striker make things worse?
Good point. But Dr X is only spending money from sale of other players his nett spend is crap. Having said that IV just watch Ross McCormack on u tube which I know can be misleading. But the good thing about him is he seems to be able to create goals himself which is just as well as he will get sod all service from the rest of the team. He reminds me a bit of Charlie Austin but a bit more mobile.
True
Totally agree Hitchens 60
I do think Gardner could play a big part for us this season. Surely this is his last opportunity with us? Always seems to do well on loan then never feature for us. McCormack is a good signing just need to sort the defence almost entirely! And find that magic spark to link midfield to attack.. Gary Gardner maybe??
He deserves a shot imo
On BBC just now confirmed Fulham have accepted Villa’s bid for McCormick.
A brave and quite necessary move. With a bit of a cutting edge we might actually win a few games.
Agree with H60 that, with the addition of a decent RB and another mid-fielder, we might be just about there.
Well said pat57