Well, as I suspected, I didn’t get to see the game.
I think I’m probably glad, as it sounds like it was more of the same ponderous stuff with more poor goalkeeping.
Nah, scratch that.
I want to see every game I can, even if we play poorly.
It’s the law isn’t it? although sometimes I do wonder why I put myself through it.
I predicted the score correctly, which makes a change, but it’s disappointing seeing as we’d taken the lead.
About the only encouraging thing is that I’m convinced that if you give Abraham enough chances, he’ll get us loads of goals.
As I said in the preview, seeing as it was pretty much a one-off game, with it probably being KMac’s only game in charge, the result doesn’t particularly bother me.
Future results are a different thing though and it appears the latest news is that the club have interviewed Thierry Henry and John Terry, with a view to getting them both in, as a partnership.
Apparently, Henry has been chosen to lead and Terry will assist.
Just this morning, before I’d heard this story, I was thinking that I would commit myself to being strongly against Henry coming in as our manager. I just think he’d be coming in purely because he’s a big name.
He’d be a massive gamble; an all or nothing bet, that I really don’t think our owners would go with, as much as they might want it.
But couple him with Terry and I can see how this might be a much better bet.
Terry has played in the championship and knows what it’s about.
Equally important is that we need defenders and he could still do a job for us at this level, assuming he’d be player/assistant manager.
I’m very dubious about the whole story and it seems to me to just be a sort of ideal setup, that’s a bit too good to be true.
But it would definitely explain why both Henry and particularly Terry haven’t moved on to other things yet.
I think this link-up covers all the bases, for all parties.
Henry wants to step up.
Terry gets some experience of coaching/ managing at a higher level.
Sawaris gets his man.
And I think fans generally would go with it.
I’ve read comments on here doubting Henry and Terry’s relationship.
I’d suggest that yes, there may have been some serious rivalry between them when they were players at the same time.
But when you move up to a more senior role it all goes out of the window.
It’s a totally different role, where it’s in both their interests to pull together.
I wouldn’t have any worries about that side of things.
Hence, I could live with this combination managing our club and would fully support it.
Although my preference is still for a good foreign manager who knows very little about us, who can look at the club from top to bottom with an independent view.
I’d be looking very closely at why KMac has been in charge of the youth for so long, for a start, even if they did have a blinder on Friday night.
How long has he been in charge?, seeing as a year is a long time in football, these days?
It’s not a criticism of him.
But if many were willing to call Bruce a dinosaur, what does that make KMac?
Especially if you consider many thought he was paying a tribute to Bruce yesterday, with him changing nothing in the one chance he had.
I really don’t know. I’m just putting that thought out there for debate.
What with Henry, apparently going to Monaco, what about a combination of Faria as coach and Terry as manager. They know each other from time at Chelsea, and its no surprise that mourinho he not looked the Same since he left him. Could be a win win situation.
It’s all getting a bit silly now and making Villa a bit of a laughing stock – I’m not blaming the Villa hierarchy per se, but could not some form of official statement be made by the club to back off the media? Or am I being naive?
I don’t think there’s any statement to be put-out on Villa’s part. The club originally said they wanted to appoint a manager by the 20th, and since then all the ‘news’ has just been speculation.
– It’s not as if the club have named anyone that might be on their short-list, or that Henry was pictured sneaking out of The Belfry in the last couple of days!
So what are they supposed to say about him apparently going to Monaco when the only links between him and Villa have been media rumours?
You’re right Ardent – it’s just all this click bait media nonsense. Trying to read between the lines is nigh on impossible and with so many ‘pundits’ and ‘has beens’ trying to get in on the act with either sage advice or ITK the level of reporting has exposed the football media in general for what it is.
I suppose the only ‘positive’ is that Villa is still a seriously big club that is able to attract this level of attention.
I’m still hopefull that we can persuade Brendan Rodgers to take up the reigns as I think he would quickly get us up and running. As for Terry it would be a bigger risk but given his commitment to the cause last season and the disappointment of not helping us get promoted as captain, he will be heavily driven to succeed and wouldn’t like to be outdone by Lampard and Gérard. Either or will do for me.
Terry would be my choice out of those two – simply because I believe he would have the ‘drive’ to show that anything Gerrard or Lampard can do…
I wouldn’t be upset or too surprised if they gave the job to Terry. From reports in the Mirror it seems that he has the backing of the players and that goes a long way in making a football club successful.
Yes it’s a bit of a punt but I’d definitely prefer Terry to the ‘safety’ of someone like Allardyce or Moyes.
Interesting times ahead.
Loads of speculation that it’s Rui Faria as manager with Terry his No 2. Not sure what I think about that. Plenty of positives in terms of places RF has been, winning mentality and all that. Terry knows him so if he accepted the job he knows enough to be sure he can work alongside him.
I’m not sure it ticks the attractive football box, but I guess fans will cut slack there if he can get us out of the Championship.
Faria is out of Mendes stable – now why doesn’t that surprise me!
It seems that our owners not afraid to take a gamble, if not Henry, Faria has not experience of managing a club and, often, No 2’s don’t make good leaders. I like the option of Terry coming in as No 2 though.
Jim White tweeting appointment by the weekend – we’ll see.
99% of what is being said in the media is total bollocks.
In a week we have 3 certs for the job already.
We will have to wait and see.
One person I wish would shut up is Collymore. The biggest disappointment I ever saw in a villa shirt.
Spot on Steve
We’ve been on the box 7 times so far , here’s 3 more dates,
Aston Villa have already been live on the telly seven times this season – and a number of their games in the next couple of months have been selected for live coverage.
The match against Birmingham City in November, and the trips to Middlesbrough and West Brom in December are the latest to be picked by Sky Sports.
The derby clash with Blues will take place on a Sunday, the match against Boro will kick-off later on a Saturday, and the Albion game has been set for a Friday night.
These three games are in addition to Norwich City, already handpicked for live coverage, while Queens Park Rangers away and Bolton Wanderers at home had already been shifted to Friday nights to be broadcast as the main events on Sky Sports.
According to Sky, Faria has now ruled himself out if the Villa job. Media better start adding some new names to the list LOL
So far only Sky seem to be carrying that story; not on the B’ham Mail [or whatever it’s now called] site or on the Beeb…
Just read that Hitch, Hitch meet me at Longbridge Island me and you take the job on.
You’re on Bill – do you think the fans would back us?
100% Hitch, need a bigger car to carry our gear Hitch, my wheelchair and Zimmer frame takes up a lot of room. Do you think the power to be are throwing false news to the press, up till now not one has it right.
Don’t think they need to Bill, the press are quite capable of making idiots of themselves without any help from the Villa!
Just read a number of top Belgium football clubs raided in fraud investigation related to dodgy transfers – agent arrested. You’d think there was enough money in football without ‘stealing it’
Just ask McCormack, Richards and Agbonlahor. ;
Bit of an out the box suggestion during this merry-go-round but i would happily accept the Cowley brothers currently at Lincoln. Think they arrme destined for bigger snd better things and deserve an opportunity somewhere bigger than Lincoln.
It’s Smith and Terry. I am delightedly. UTV
Fantastic news! That sounds like a brilliant pairing to me. Well done the board. I kind of feel all this Henry etc talk was as mentioned just media speculation. Meanwhile this whole time we have had one person in mind or two and thats dean smith and Terry. Happy days this should get the crowd rocking next game. This feels so good!! It feels right and exciting and i’ve not felt that since O’neill. Fingers crossed!!
Agreed Adam. There is no evidence to say that Henry was ever offered the job so to say he ‘snubbed’ Villa for Monaco ( suggesting he’d been offered the Monaco job) is stretching credibility given that latest reports suggest he’s only on the short list.
Anyway he’s history; looking forward to seeing if Smith / Terry can get the best out of our squad. Also think the Sporting Director appointment looks a strong one given his recent roles with Valencia and Athletico Madrid.
Do you think he’ll have a hot line to god!
Yes just came over on my phone Villa are delighted in the appointment of Dean Smith.
Did you just say on hearing the news, you’ve come on your phone? I know it’s exciting news Bill, but calm down!!! 😉
Very happy with the appointment. I wanted Dean Smith at the beginning and getting JT as is assistant is a bonus. Let’s all get behind them and give them time to sort things out. We will have to wait till January before we can truly fix our leaky defence. Hopefully we can stay within touching distance of top 6 till then.
Exactly, Holte!
I particularly like Purslow’s reasoning for the appointments. It appears that heads are screwed on properly. Well done to all concerned. Now it’s over to messrs Smith and Terry to make things happen. I’m quietly confident that they will.
To the more excitable among us, please give them time and don’t freak out whenever we lose a game! We will lose games. We just need to win enough to sneak that second spot, which is still possible if the new management can get a good start…
UTV
P.s. we’ve dodged a bullet in Henry not coming, for whatever reason.
It’s ironic that in the past our paths have crossed, he was a seat cleaner at the ground and his dad was one of my stewards, do I remember him ? no, still that was in 81. I’m happy we have one of our own.good luck Dean.
Definitely the dream team for me.
Honestly never thought that Smith was seriously in the picture, so much for the paper talk.
So now it looks like we’ve got two Villans in charge let’s see what they can do. Let’s give them some time though.
Excited doesn’t cover it!
So we got our man/men!!!!
Well it’s sorted. I must admit I thought the club would go for someone more exotic. That’s not me complaining BTW. I’m looking forward to a more positive style from the players. If we can tighten up at the back we should be in shape for a proper promotion push for the rest of the season. UTV.