I’ve been wanting to post something for a few days, but it’s been very quiet hasn’t it?
I really couldn’t give a flying proverbial about what Jack Grealish has been doing on his holidays, for example, as long as he’s not making the club look bad.
The Football Manager game predicts we’ll finish ninth in the league, but that’s based on our current squad, that will surely be a lot different from what it is now, because hopefully we’ll get rid of at least some of the gutless wimps. And it’s only a bleeding game anyway, so you know it’s going to be wrong.
And amongst loads of other speculation rubbish, we’re supposedly interested in Ross McCormack at £12 million.
Yawn.
But what did arouse my interest, was the Villa’s leaked fine list.
Now, the name of the site in that link suggests it’s taking the mick, but I’ve read things on there a few times and I’ve not previously perceived it to be a satirical type site. Perhaps I’m being naive.
Whatever, there’s no clue as to where it’s come from and I can’t see any other site saying the same, so perhaps it is rubbish.
But while I know clubs already have this type of thing, it’s just nice to see that we might actually have some semblance of discipline being instilled from the off, as I firmly believe that there’s been none for a good while.
Consider that I’ve suggested for a while that if the bloke at the top doesn’t care a toss, so that will trickle down.
For all I know, this might be a standard list that’s just been changed re the part where it says to pay Kevin Bond.
I don’t know.
I’ve actually been given VP tour tickets as a birthday present recently, so I could go and look for myself, but I have to wait for other family members to be ready, so we can make a day of it (read go on the lash).
But while the fine for turning up in flip-flops made me laugh, so I think there ought to be some other things added.
Like a dirty big fine for wearing headphones when getting on/off the team bus.
That’s the height of ignorance, in my opinion.
I know.
I’m talking a load of nothing really and I’m just trying to keep your attention.
But there’s nothing happening is there?
Not that it matters much, as whenever I do write something, so the headline gets sidetracked and discussion moves on.
Which is just the way we like it and as it should be.
I’m hoping we actually get something decent to comment on soon though.
I feel some movement coming on, as it happens, although it could just be the Shepherds Pie I nuked earlier.
The only comment I have to make is about Gareth Southgate as England manager.
Good god, NO!
He’s utter crap, but will probably be considered because he tows the FA line.
See, I’ve diverted my own post already 🙂
Sorry Badger, I don’t agree about Southgate being rubbish, think you’ve been spoilt with rubbish England been having, Southgate CV alone warrants him a fair crack at the job and might I add its just a stand in till they find a foreign idiot to take it on. Think most on here knew that England would not go far for years with Hodgson, as for Villa and having ban on head phone’s could be that the club wants them to interact with fans, seeing players getting off coaches and ignoring fans shows blatant ignorance of who pays their wages, yes Mickey mouse and all will be added to who Villa will sign this season , its just garbage from tired sports writer’s that’s got no information to write.
That fine sign must be old though as it has the previous ‘prepared’ badge on.
Can’t be that old it states that fines must be paid to Kevin Bond…
I just hope Xia puts his money where his mouth is.
Lambert on the cheap might be a good addition but another regular scoring striker is needed.
Southagate, based on leading the U21s to European Championship winners, is without doubt a major contender for the England job.
The downside being it clearly shows how far the level of English football regarding English players, managers and coaches has fallen.
Take the foreign players out of the English game and the level of our top league wall fall to that of below Championship level.
The English league is apparently the toughest league in the world that has been taken over by money, foreign players, managers and coaches. Inevitably leading to the demise of the national team.
Having a decent manager obviously helps, having players that clearly aren’t good enough is there for everyone to see.
If the players and coaching are that bad, why did the U21’s win the tournament in Toulon then? Why did Wales just dump Belgium out of the Euro’s? Why did Iceland dump England out? Why did Leicester win the Premier League?
It’s because those teams played as a team to a solid tactical plan. That is coaching, not just picking the 11 most expensive players available, it’s playing the team to their strengths as a collective group. Just ask ask Ron Saunders!
England players did not care as much as the Welsh players did, and they will go home with a big check to cash, not giving a shit about the country or supporters.
hate to mention this about england on villa chat site, but england had wrong tactics to progress deep into tournaments, roy of the rovers was out of his depth. no width for example plays sterling to suggest he knows how to beat iceland width is needed but everybody knows sterling only drifts inside at every opportunity.
iceland sat deep and said come and beat us. we tried to pass through them into their strengths, never once did a england player once try to dribble past a player or two. thats how you beat a pack deep defense. go around them or dribble past um
wales just utilize their players with tactics to suit their skills. roy just played too many players in wrong positions, totally wrong tactics over complicating things. i bet we could muster a team on this site that could beat iceland
glad we are out, now concentrate on going up first time
i forgot to mention rashford the utd youngster, did dribble past players and attacked the wing , but he was alone and too late, but was another playing in wrong positions sturridge played on the right wing wooney deep midfield. he isnt a midfielder yeah he can play there. but its not his preferred position and when things went alittle bad for him, he struggled more cause he was in a foreign position to him
As for the lull before the storm I think you might be right.
TBH I was hoping that a bus load of dross would be driven away from VP two minutes after RDM arrived.
However I’m hoping that the lull is due to RDM and Clarke taking a long hard dispassionate look at what we’ve got and giving some real thought to what we need.
Hope Stan the man makes the grade. Even if he’s only brought on in the last 15 minutes to help manage the game he could turn out to be very valuable to us in a transitional season.
UTV
Sam Allardyce for England. He won’t put up with pampered players
Agree Steve. As for Southgate he has ruled himself out. Thanks goodness.
I agree…
Ross McCormack would be a great signing, a prolific scorer at this level.
Is this the Fulham striker? 12 million? Fulham were hovering over the trap door most of last season so I don’t see him as a bargain at that price.
… And he’ll be 30 around the time that the season starts.
This would be good if its true……
http://africanfootball.com/news/632665/Jordan-Ayew-prepared-to-stay-with-Aston-Villa
Yes it would be good but I don’t believe any player these days. If an offer matching or bettering his wages from a decent Premiership club came in he would be off. I wouldn’t blame him if that was the case. I just hate the fake loyalty crap that these player some out with.
if ayew stays this would be a massive bonus. he is definitely gonna rip the championship defenses apart. he scored 7 ISH goals with no services, just think what he will score with service.
i thought he would be the first one to demand a move away. things are looking good for a quick bounce back
“He’s utter crap, but will probably be considered because he tows the FA line.”
This comment sounds like you were possessed by the spirit of Oohah!
Heh, not at all 🙂
I just don’t see what he’s done as a manager at any decent level.
I thought he was terrible at Boro, given the resources he had available, for instance.
I read an article that questioned whether the England manager was being forced to choose certain sponsored players and I immediately thought of Rooney.
If this is true, it’s BS and we need to get away from it.
And if my thinking is right, in Southgate follows the FA line, it means he’s totally the wrong choice.
It seems he’s ruled himself out anyway.
Good, imo.
Great defender (before he moved to what he thought was a better club), but not a proven successful manager.
Ok he’s choses to rule himself out, but you cannot knock his CV Badger,
Gareth Southgate (born 3 September 1970) is an English football manager and former player. He served as manager of Middlesbrough from June 2006, until he was dismissed in October 2009. He was appointed as manager of the England under-21 team in August 2013.
He won the League Cup with both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough (in 1995–96 and 2003–04 respectively, and as captain), and captaining Crystal Palace to win the First Division championship in 1993–94. He also reached an FA Cup and UEFA Cup final as a player, and made 57 appearances for the England national team, featuring in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and both the 1996 and 2000 European Championships. His playing career ended in May 2006 at the age of 35, and after more than 500 league appearances, he was appointed Middlesbrough manager.
Any legs to these rumours about Gollini the Italian GK do you think?
Also note that Darren Randolph might also be available – he had a good tournament playing for ROI.
Anyway glad to hear something might be happening as it will mean that Guzan will definitely be on his way out of VP. Can’t happen soon enough for me!
According to reports we have bid £4m on the recommendation of our new goal keeping coach. He’s well thought off and tipped for full international selection – the goalie not the coach! (-:
Will be behind Donnarumma for international selection but will often be 2nd choice so still, a great option if we get him.
See Newcastle are signing good players – has anything really changed at VP where the silence is deafening!
I’m beginning to wonder Hitch, nothing coming out from the club to show interest of getting people to buy tickets, shirts, I’m not getting nothing till I can see willing from the club.
Newcastle are signing players but are they any good?
Definitely not convinced about Gayle, especially in the Championship.
The silence is deafening but we can only hope that our club is like an elegant swan – not much happening on the surface but loads going on underneath 🙂
Hope the new season is better than the new strips, they’re the worst kits I have known!
See some are moaning that no news has come out of the club for a few days and the silence is deafening, Is the club supposed to issue statements every few hours or something?
Not moaning purely posing a question and yes there is a responsibility with the club to keep fans fully informed and updated.
And i there is nothing to inform the fans about then what are they supposed to do?
We have some moaning about the strip as well, bloody moaners.
Hitch the club have stated that RDM will assess the squad he has first. They just got back for pre-season so I wouldn’t expect massive change yet.
On the other hand Rafa coached Newcastle at the end of last season and was able to assess the squad, but I have to say his signings have been underwhelming to say the least, and they just sold Andros Townsend.
Good points CAV – must have been having a bad moment when I posted that!
Sorry STUBBS i like the new kits the away one is brilliant lookin forward to getting that.
Have a great weekend everyone.
No need to apologise LITTLE8. It’s all about opinions. Unfortunately some can’t accept it when others differ and get upset when they have a dis-like lol.
I’m glad you realised that Stubs, takes a man to see that.
Thanks Bill, it means a lot hearing that. 🙂
Well done Wales, million times better than England’s games.
Have to agree. They were incredible, a real band of brothers.
They had everything that England didn’t have, passion, pride and purpose.
Er…have I heard that somewhere else before?
Not wasting my money until the hit list is gone.
I don’t expect anyone to agree with all the selections, it is purely personal, but several favourites will be on most fans cards.
I will be buying a ticket home or away for the first match in which none of these appear in the starting XI, but not until then.
Guzan, Gabby, Richards, Lescott, Hutton, Bunn, Bacuna, Gana and Westwood.
Nothing wrong with that Originallondonlion, fully agree, New players please with better coaching staff, I’m getting impatient at the minute seeing other clubs getting their player’s , I’m aware he’s assessing what we have and probably seeing their mind set on Villa, but get on with it for me it starts next month.
Yes Bill I agree, Ritchie is a good capture for the Barcodes, We will have to hope RDM has links to Italian or Spanish hidden gems if he is not picking up useful players here. We have tried French hidden gems. RDM has tactical management skills in a different class as a CL winner, perhaps he can get good performances out of some players who were a shambles last season. Those are not on my hit list. Here’s hoping.
RDM won the Champions League and was fired and replaced by someone who didn’t. Eric Black who didn’t win a game as Caretaker at Villa has landed the assistant manager’s job at Southampton. Roy Hodgson said “Football is a results based business.” If it is – it occasionally stands on its head to look at them.