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.
Comments
118 responses to “Manager speculation and the Chelsea game”
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……..
I’m not one of those wishing relegation on anyone else.
It’s bloody painful and the fans in the North East have been loyal and supported their clubs through thin and thin just like our fans have.
I must admit that I hope Sunderland stay up though. I used to visit the Nissan plant there a lot in years gone by and they were a good bunch of lads.
However if Newcastle and Sunderland do drop down it might take a little bit of the pressure off Villa next season. Every game is going to be like a cup tie anyway but at least we’ll have some company.
I like Sunderland too. I don’t think they’ll escape though. The 3 that go down are the 3 teams at the bottom already…
P.s. Come on Leicester!!!!!
Well done Leicester, now that’s a team that plays for each other and I can add to win the game, what a load of shit we picked up over the years, who do you blame, the board, the owner, .
It’s odd how their best players, and there are many, are being linked with ‘bigger’ clubs. If their squad pull this off, and by God I hope they do, then these individuals will NEVER achieve anything like this again, no matter where they go.
It’s a problem created by the ‘top 4’ effect. Players are cajoled into thinking they have to be at one of these clubs to succeed. Previously when only the champions got a European place, players stayed clubs for longer thinking anything was possible, and it generally was. Those who’ve restructured the game are at fault for the insecurity of both clubs and players, and for the disparity in the game. 99% of clubs are now there just to make up the numbers and that is shameful. Who wins? Everyone but the fans. The recent meeting in London of England’s ‘top clubs’ cements this. Talk of fixing the CL places and removing relegation as though it’s the next step and completely natural????? If Leicester win, it will be the final hoorah of ‘proper’ football, and I can’t think of a more fitting epitaph.
Rant over. Now for some rice pudding.
Like we do with everything else in this country – copy the Yanks for good or ill – mainly for ill. We’ve already inherited the ‘sue everybody’ and ambulance chasing mentality and now there’s a suggestion that we should follow the franchise type approach to sport with no relegation / promotion. Why not just abolish any football below the PL and be done with it – because that’s effectively what would happen.
That dislike Hitch, is someone That doesnt understands common sense, the Yanks are dangerous people in business, you can see that in their attitudes to gun laws.never trust Yanks.
Gonna be another tough old season next year….even if we manage to put together a workman like side,even more so with Sunderland and Newcastle there as well.
Hmm, just thinking about all this speculation about doping in the Prem.
Don’t steroids bulk you up rapidly and make you fat and useless when you stop taking them?
Surely this can’t apply to anyone on our team, can it?
Be careful how you reply, because any claims that this might apply to Flabby will be deleted or at least modded, unless you specifically state that it’s in your personal opinion.
We couldn’t possibly condone that sort of thinking.
Lol!!!!! Spivvy Mexican ‘tache anyone?…allegedly!!! ????
We have enough dopes in our team, (allegedly ), we might get bigger dopes running the club (allegedly ), or have we.
My personal opinion says it definitely looks like a spivvy Mexican ‘tache, Bum Bum 🙂