First off, I want to apologise for my rant on the previous thread.
I wrote the article simply because there was little to talk about and wanted to create some debate. It was simply a bad idea.
I’m on holiday and as you do, had had too many beers, leaving me in an overly-argumentative mood.
Looking back, I think it backfired on me big time, as it led to me saying things I didn’t really mean.
Particularly regarding Hourihane, who, although I still see him as lightweight at times, definitely brings value to the side.
I totally agree, his goals and assists speak for themselves and as long as he’s part of an achieving side, I’m happy.
I’ll try and learn a lesson there; at least it hopefully shows that I’m human and passionate about the Villa.
Anyway, moving on, it’s a year to the day that Dean Smith took over as Villa manager and it’s gone very well hasn’t it?
I’ve said previously that I don’t think Smith is some kind of God.
He’s a manager/coach and they come and go all the time.
Yes, you occasionally get the likes of Stein, Ferguson, Wenger and Shankley etc, but they’re incredibly rare.
That said, you can’t fault what he’s done for the Villa up to now.
His aim when he first came, was to try and achieve promotion.
Maybe not at the first attempt, as we looked like we never had a prayer, but definitely on the second.
He achieved that first time, which I thought was very impressive, although maybe slightly lucky, with Grealish coming back at exactly the right time.
That might seem a bit mean-spirited, but then I can counter that I also thought it was an inspired decision to make Jack our captain, which I didn’t fully agree with at the time.
It all makes sense, doesn’t it?, because a Manager and Captain who are both Villa fans just adds to the good feeling for the club that we now have.
Let’s not forget where we were just before Smith was appointed: a manager who played pragmatic, boring footy, where the fans had become bored to near death.
I genuinely hope Dean Smith can continue to push us on and I currently think he will. To survival and more.
And then add on good owners.
They’ve not said a lot, but have demonstrated intent once again, by pumping another £57 million into the club, making it about £250 million so far.
Even by the Premier league’s standards, that’s a serious amount of money and is to be massively applauded. For some reason, I doubt it will be the last either. I don’t know what they have in mind for us, but you have to think it’s big.
And then the racism thing came up in the comments.
I have to be really careful what I say here, as everything seems to be taken the wrong way, these days.
I don’t know the actual words of the song that was sung and have no interest in even looking for them.
What I have seen is that there was some sort of reference to Nakamba’s (?) appendage.
I don’t know if that’s the worst of it, but if it is, I admit to being slightly perplexed.
If you sung that you thought I had a big ‘un, about me, I’d probably be embarrassed, but not upset in the slightest.
Indeed, I’d probably counter that the missus thinks I’m hung like a hamster.
God, I hope that’s not true (it’s not, I’m just normal).
The point is, it’s said jokingly and means nothing, so I’d just laugh it off.
And it makes no sense to me that Villa fans would sing a racist song about one of our own players, particularly when he’s done really well for us up to now and is being praised everywhere amongst Villa fans.
Racist? It doesn’t seem like it, to me.
Massively stereotypical is more like it and while that’s not right either, it doesn’t seem to be in a bad way.
I’m bound to upset someone with that comment, but please be aware, that I don’t know all the facts.
Whatever, the club itself, seem to have led the protest/complaints and that’s a good thing, particularly when I believe there is a massive Asian market ready to be tapped on our doorstep and further out.
i swore i wouldn’t watch another england game down too the last game. but Mings is playing, suddenly i change my mind. hope he has a good game and doesn’t pick up any knocks or injuries.
again the opposition i really poor tonight, no wonder we don’t get beat often in qualifying, they should do away with these games and just qualify us automatically
Oh dear! 45 minutes watching England play against a team who would struggle in our championship. Add to that shameful ‘fans’ who should be rounded up and thrown straight into jail. Will we see the game abandoned?
did you see the hard core idiots leaving stadium. they just go to games to cause trouble. football doesn’t need them.
your right the opposition standards are of championship and even lower. i cont believe how poor they are and england players basically strolling this through this match and taunts ‘
i can see this match getting suspended
I did implement travelling stewards Badger, I still have the letters from the grounds , it was frowned on by the club but after the letters they conceded. I believe in marshalling your own side.
Just seen that Mings currently being rated (voted) the best England player on BBC web site.
Not able to watch the game as still bumming around Africa (OK – not exactly bumming around 🙂 ) At least we have proper showers again!
he did ok mings but todays game was hard to judge players especially the defenders and goalie. he should have played on friday instead of keane
he should keep his place next game
Copied’ fron another site. It is understood Villa will pay £250,000 for each of his first four England appearances, taking the total amount up to £1 million on top of the £21 million fee. The total deal could eventually come to £26 million on appearances at club level, which will be a transfer record for Villa.’
UTV
I’ll bet the club are happy to pay it Bill.
His value has appreciated way more than we’ll have to pay out.
Just got back from the holiday and didn’t see the game. Nasty business off the pitch.
From the clips I’ve seen, it’s looks like it wasn’t footy fans at all, but just a bunch of right wing extremists, given the way they all waked out together.
It seems that officials had turned a blind eye to that game, the opposition fans was dressed to make trouble, black hoods black shirts, and the Nazi salutes was the order of the day. They must have had some knoledge of what might be. The full book should be thrown at the people that organised it, that also means fifa as well. A man was stabbed previously that should have told them more manpower was wanted and scrutiny before the match of who was who. Animals that’s what they are,.
Another problem for the English FA, UEFA. are charging them for not respecting the Bulgarian national anthem, also not having enough traveling Stewards.
It’s a joke…
Interesting, on both points.
In fairness, there’s been plenty of history in this fixture and if either or both prove true, there’s no excuse.
I know having as many travelling stewards was a bit different in your day, Bill, but I thought you’d have been supportive of that part?
Especially seeing as it’s England and not a small league club?
But yes, I agree, it’s a joke when you consider the main issue at the game.
I did implement travelling stewards Badger, I still have the letters from the grounds , it was frowned on by the club but after the letters they conceded. I believe in marshalling your own side.
Ah, aplogies then, in that case.
I only remember the odd ones when I used to do the trains around the country, following the Villa.
Happy days, but bloody violent!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199512023503270/permalink/2396044347183359/
The apparent 50 million valuation of McGinn is laughable. He is worth at least double that in today’s market.
Badger, I do hope you’ll use the article I uploaded earlier for the next thread. It’ll stimulate lots of discussion on Grealish and McGinn…
Of course I’ll use it BFR.
In fact, it’s up now.
I’d love readers to post more often, as I get sick of hearing my own opinions 🙂
It’s word for word, with slight punctuation edits and a bit of formatting to make it a bit easier on the eye to read (which might just be down to the way it’s formatted when I receive it).
Feel free to post more opinions as and when and thanks for the contribution.
BFR, I think it is inevitable that the likes of McGinn, Mings and Grealish will be tempted away in January or next summer. Our owners are showing real commitment to our future but reality is we are many years away from competing with the big six. If Man Utd, Citeh or Liverpool come knocking, then player power will probably force moves. Our best hope is to dig our heels in to get maximum sale value. Good re-investment will then be key to ensure we go from strength to strength.