I feel I owe a bit of an apology. Well, I don’t really, but I’m a nice guy and feel a bit guilty about not commenting much lately.
I want to do a Max Bygraves and tell you a story.
I’ve been with Virgin Media for their broadband for the 25 years I’ve lived here. And probably 10 years before that, when it was Birmingham Cable, then Blueyonder.
And so it came to renewal time. Long story short, they wanted 54 quid a month for 200ish Mb. Which is a total joke. I rang to negotiate, but they weren’t having any of it.
So, sick of this total ripoff, I told them I was done and cancelled.
The reason Virgin have been able to charge so much is because there’s no competition. I remember Openreach installing Fibre down our street about 2 years ago. We’re the last house in the block. I thought they’d done ours too, but they hadn’t and because of that , Virgin knew we had no choice if we wanted an ounce of speed.
Which is where I looked around and Vodafone said we had Fibre installed and they could do me a deal. I signed up and long story short again, They’ve messed me about for 2 months now, with no installation.
They’ve even credited my account with 300 quid for my trouble. Great, except I’ve never used any of their services.
Hence I’m hotspotting off my phone for internet and it’s abysmal. Some days I can’t even get half a Mb.
And so it was for the Brugge game. I saw the first goal and missed the other 3, because of buffering.
The moral of the story?
The big boys have it all their own way and rip you off. Until the customer decides he’s had enough.
And the funny part of all this, is that while I await Openreach giving me a supposed connection, I’m here in Spain for the weekend, where my 600Mb up/down connection is working perfectly at around a quid a day. Go figure. Which one is the third world country, I ask myself? Spain or the UK? I’m happy with my thoughts.
Tomorrow then and I don’t have a clue again.
Squad news is that Unai’s comments confuse me somewhat.
Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara and Pau Torres are sort of okay, but need to be protected. Barkley is out, as is Onana, who is apparently close. García, Malen and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba {sorry, but who?} are all okay after being ineligible for Europe.
As for Brentford,Norgaard is back after a concussion injury and Mathius Jensen will be involved. Rico Henry is in full training, while Gustavo [Nunes], Igor [Thiago] and Josh [Dasilva] are all running.
I wish they’d just say if they’re ready or not, but hey ho.
It’s quite simple, this one. We’re rubbish, so the best I expect is a 1-1 draw.
Except I think we really ought to start proving that we’re better than what I perceive.
I think we might sneak this, 2-1. I’d love that. A win it is.
UTV!
Great goal for Maatsen last night. Good luck Roger’s for tonight
How about Foden’s fringe this evening, RSS? 😏
He looked the dogs matey 😂
Seems to be going the way of Deli Ali – more interested in his hair 🙂
Eze just showed Rashford what to do when coming in from wide left. I hope he takes note…
Like shoot so wide of the goal it deflects in off the arse of a defender? Well they all count. Rashford contributed to Kane’s goal while he had switched wings by feeding in Rice.
Shoot and something will happen, OLL. If you don’t shoot, don’t expect goals or results. Buy a ticket…
OLL I think that was Rogers who played the ball for Rice.
Credit where etc.
Reported that Villa have started negotiations with Kamara for a new contract – get him signed up!
Whilst Rashford might be available for £40min the summer – £300k a week is not viable – and that applies to most clubs, so I can’t see Villa exercising the option to buy unless Rashford takes a massive reduction on his salary. I’d like us to sign him but not on those wages.
On the other hand it appears that Emery is pushing to sign Asensio which I think is more likely to be Villa’s primary target in the summer.
With one player on so much, it disrupts the dressing room. Shame as he looks happy, he’s learning from Emery, and he’s at a club with his head screwed on. I can see Rashford nisediving at one of the ‘Big’ European clubs.
Certainly agree that Rashford’s salary is out of most clubs’ price-range; even if he was playing at his ‘full potential’ – PSR affect everyone now.
While I think he’s done a decent job for us, he’s not back to his best form – and there’s not a lot of time left on his loan in which to reach that.
I agree with all the comments regarding Rashford, he’s no doubt quality but value for money?
And we do without a Philippe Coutinho mkii?
That then begs the question, just what are his options?
Barca are skint, the Italians don’t pay that sort of money. Can’t see anyone in the Prem forking out those sorts of wages, so that leaves Bayern? Real? Or some Saudi outfit?
Can’t really see him donning the Claret & Blue next season so my money would be on Saudi.
I’ll offer the value of one kidney to contribute to Kamara staying. A cracking deal if you ask me.
That’s just offal.
I can’t live(r) with that.
7 (count them) MASSIVE games incoming in the next 4 weeks. 4 weeks that will define a season (and maybe more). Forest and Newcastle at home and two HUGE quarter finals, not to mention Brighton and Saints away, the latter just 3 days before PSG at home, which is ideal – hopefully we’ll still be in the tie and Unai can give some big guns a restful weekend!
And then same again in May, starting with City away on April 28th. 2 mini-seasons, if you like…
FULL STEAM AHEAD AND UTV!!! UTFV!!!
Anyone else not fancy Palace at Wembley on that big pitch? Assuming we do the job tomorrow, of course…
Nor Filthy Forest. BTW how much bigger is the current Wembley than Villa Park?
Found it. Wembley is the same length 115 yards as VP but 1 yard wider at 75 yards. It is Palace who might be puffed at Wembley, Selhurst Park is only 110 yards long.
Was thinking the same! Don’t fancy Forest either!
Proper footy back TOMORROW!!!!!!