Villa 0 – 4 Man City; The aftermath

Judging by the crowd, which was around 23,500 minus 6,000 Citeh fans, it seems that my appreciation of the FA cup isn’t shared amongst the Villa fans in general.
It’s totally understandable that many didn’t bother to turn out though, as there have been a lot of games to pay for over the last few weeks and the over-riding feeling was always that we didn’t have much of a chance in the game.

I didn’t expect us to lose 4-0 though and welcome to what you’re going to see on a regular basis Mr Lerner; massively reduced crowds and the loss of merchandise sales that will go with it. I suppose Fox might actually start to be concerned about that latter point.
Never has the saying “you reap what you sow” been more apt, to my mind.

As for the game, I took part in a genuinely terrifying 6 mile Goan kamkikaze taxi run to try and see it.
We got to the biggest sports bar in the area, only to find that the game wasn’t being shown anywhere and we had to settle for the Arsenal game.
Which gave me the right hump, although I took great solace in the fact that the Burnley fans easily outnumbered the Arsenal contingent and were making a lot more noise too.

So, in short I can’t comment on what happened apart from what I’ve read.

Which is that we offered nothing up front.
I didn’t realise Gestede and Kozak were still injured, but it explained my surprise that Gabby started.
Which shows how desperate Garde must have been, after telling the player that he wasn’t wanted.
I know Gabby got a warm welcome and it’s understandable after his playing for us and being “one of our own” for so long, but to me he’s now become a typical example of what’s so wrong at the Villa.
The player is contracted to the club for another two and a half years at around £65,000 a week.
Quite simply unbelievable, although in fairness, maybe his pace might be some use next season. If he can actually get a game.

Am I the only one who’s wondering why on earth it seems our only incoming player is going to be a right back, in Debuchy, when it’s plainly obvious we need a striker who can put the ball in the net and a bit of quality to actually supply him?
I know we’re cutting back, but surely it borders on total negligence to not at least try and improve the side?
Unless of course, you think what we currently have is going to be good enough for the championship.

So while it seems many aren’t bothered about last night’s result, I’m disappointed that we’re out of the cup.

There’s only one thing to look forward to now.
And it isn’t good.


Comments

149 responses to “Villa 0 – 4 Man City; The aftermath”

  1. We should have gone for Stuart Pearce. We would have had a chance.

    1. As a player? Mind you at 53 he’s still probably got more about him than the rest of the shower down at VP.

      1. Yes. He has just signed for Longford AFC as a player at the age of 53. The worst team in England

        1. Go get him and Carragher and Vidić we could become Dads Army of football…
          “We’re doomed!”

  2. Jvillan avatar

    Hope to read this tomorrow morning
    Remi garde ordered taxi at1201 am on 2 nd Feb after first calling fox and telling were he can stick his job
    If garde stays fans will have no respect for a fox puppet and it is going to get really ugly at villa park worse than McLeish at Bolton match
    What need for Reilly alstad now fox can make savings there

    1. Pitchforks at the ready.

  3. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Hollis is an expert in restructuring companies in trouble which effectively means cutting costs and maximising capital receipts then looking for new investors with a much smaller and profitable business on offer. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Lerner / Hollis are not interested in the success of Aston Villa as football side but as a disposable business. If you think it’s bad now, wait until the summer transfer window when I predict the team will be dismantled with cheap and cheerful replacements and Lerner bailing out with £200m of which only £50 – £75 will come from a sale. He also restructured his equity / debt ratios which will improves his tax position and will probably leave him with useable tax losses.

    This is a very sad time for Villa fans and I fear it will be even worse than the events of the 60’s. We could be witnessing the beginning of the long term demise of a truly great club.

    1. Thanks Randy.
      What was it he called himself the Shunammite?
      Or in Dudley anagram U AM A SHITE.

  4. Jvillan avatar

    Hitchen
    Cheap and cheerful
    Cole sendross were free transfers we had to pay to get rid off
    Crespo helnius tonev were cheap had to pay to get rid off
    Ilor was only on loan no appearances yet 1.5 m
    My god Lerner is a cnut

  5. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Garde has come out and said on video that neither Richards or Lescott are leaving in this window. We shall see. If they go then we know for certain that the manager is overruled by the board and they are only interested in cashing in now. If that were to be the case then I hope that Garde has the integrity which I believe he does to resign.

  6. Lionheart avatar
    Lionheart

    Garde resigns.. then what??

    I don’t trust the edit in charge..

    They have well and truly shafted us in this window.. not to sing anyone is a complete and utter disgrace.. it’s CRIMINAL..

    Lerner is a edit.. simple.

  7. Lionheart avatar
    Lionheart

    *sign

  8. Bum Bum avatar

    Pundits on Sky thankfully saying it as it is. Lerner not interested. No focus or ambition. No leadership no money. No nothing.

  9. VillaFan avatar

    Just watching SSN. They started discussing Villa. When the presenter said ‘Now what about Villa, they haven’t signed anyone and are bottom’, the other presenter laughed.

    Sums up AVFC.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Yep it does

  10. Aston Villa are unlikely to make any Deadline Day signings according to manager Remi Garde.

    “The situation of the team at the bottom of the table was not something easy to deal with for new players but it’s not the only reason.

    “It was also a financial problem but it’s not my job to explain that again. Probably the club realise mistakes have been made in the past and they didn’t want to do it again.”

    “I am disappointed because I know I represent this big club. I am not coming in front of the fans with good news. I always said I will not run away.”

    If Garde doesn’t walk he needs shooting. The club are hanging him out to dry. I don’t believe any fan would blame him one bit if he walked. I actually hope he does because he conducts himself very well and doesn’t deserve this.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Don’t blame him either

  11. Sell to buy in the summer.

  12. Bum Bum avatar

    Bloody hell. Man Citeh’s treatment of Pelligrini has hit a new low. Decent bloke. Consummate professional. Great track record and second in the league.
    Pep or not, appalling way to be treated…

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Agree appalling treatment

  13. Garde has tried his best.
    Just no backing from above.
    He has been used by the board.

  14. Anyone know our net spends over the past 4 seasons ???that’s both Windows.

    1. DSVilla avatar

      I think it’s measured in buttons Giddy.

    2. Giddy according to Vital they are –
      12/13 – £23m
      13/14 – £16.5m
      14/15 – £9m
      15/16 – £7m
      Interesting someone also posted this “I’ve just reworked the figures for the Lerner Years as follows:
      In = £282,400,000
      Out = £164,350,000
      Nett Spend = £118,050,000

      But of that spend £83,200,000 was on Martin O’Neills watch. So only £35m since then!

      http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=61332&start=1

      1. CHEERS MATE chicken feed over the past few years,most clubs even struggling spends these amounts on 1 player.I wish I hadn’t asked it makes my blood boil.

        1. The stupid long term contracts that were given out to average players under O’Neil and Mcleish is what has done us.

  15. LERNERs nett spend he’ll get back in 1 lump sum at the end of the season from the TV revenue won’t he??

  16. Jvillan avatar

    Bws
    Petrov was paid for by Ellis,plus insurance pay outs on Delaney laursen bouma and petrov
    Ellis said he dealt with Lerner because he promised to invest in team 10/12 m a year not much and where did the TV money all go 750 m in ten years plus ticket sales merchandise and sponsorships
    Lerner has robbed villa blind for years ,but can’t see how relegation is good for him unless bags parachute payment and then sells,but villa need parachute payment or they will go into administration minus ten points were is it going to end

    1. ‘Where is it going to end?’

      Probably in Div 1 (sigh)

    2. Were is going to end JV?
      See – Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday,Leeds Utd and Wolves.

      1. Hitchens 60 avatar
        Hitchens 60

        That’s my fear BWS and add Portsmouth, Blackburn and Bolton to that list. Lerner doesn’t give a toss what happens after he has sold out (despite what he might claim) so why should he worry about taking a big chunk of the parachute payment?

        All he needs is for his accountant chum now Chairman to produce convincing set of documents that would pass due diligence on a knock down price and he’s gone along with his mates on the board leaving the club at the mercy of who knows what sort of owner.

        I know you won’t like this but there is an example not far from us that was widely ridiculed not that long ago.

        1. Hitchy I know jack about business but Iv’e just been googling Reform Acquisitions Limited (Randy’s holding company) and seeing as you seem know a bit about this field explain this This site https://www.duedil.com/company/05891280/reform-acquisitions-limited/people gives a profile of RA Ltd, it also gives a list of directorships and these 2 are listed as retired directors.
          (1) Instant Companies Limited
          (2) Swift Incorporations Limited
          Now this is the odd bit I don’t get, they were directors from 31 July 2006 until 31 July 2006? And both registered at the same address – 1 Mitchell Lane Bristol.
          All sounds a bit iffy to me.

          1. DSVilla avatar

            Off the shelf companies normally have a nominee director who resigns when you buy the company (less than £100) and appoint yourself. The company names you list will be accountants or some such that just let you set up a company with standard memorandum and Articles of Association. Nothing fishy about it.

          2. Cheers DS, shame though, could have developed into a nice little conspiracy theory.
            Back to the drawing board.

          3. Hitchens 60 avatar
            Hitchens 60

            Glad DS Villa cleared that up. Also if you look at the number of closed and retired directorships they have listed you can see that they act widely in establishing new shelf companies with a standard set of Mems & Arts.

          4. Hitchens 60 avatar
            Hitchens 60

            I hope Garde resigns tonight and let’s Lerner, Hollis and all the other t**ts running OUR club have both barrels full blast. He would have my total support.

            We also need the Brum Mail to get stuck into Lerner and the board and give them a right mauling.

            The only mandate Hollis has is to get Lerner as much money as possible and by any means

  17. Tekkers48 avatar
    Tekkers48

    My blood is boiling right now. Our club is being run by complete muppets. All through this window I was confident we would get one or two reinforcements into the club. We were led to believe that it would happen. Nothing did. We have died as a club due to the ownership of Randolph Lerner. Relegation doesn’t both me as it is not the end of the road but the start of a new journey. But it’s who’s at the wheel that scares the shit out if me that is the problem. Fuck off Lerner, accept your shortcomings, say sorry to the fans, take what you think you are owed and leave what is left to the fans to build our club again.

    If I could take a pill that would remove villa from my heart I would take it as the pain of all this is killing me.

    Took my lad to his first game back in August v Sunderland. To see his face and his love of villa made me so proud, but I now feel guilty for inflicting this on him.

    1. Tekkers know exactly how you feel. My son now 21 is also a fan. My only consolation is that he also follows my other team Barca (ever since seeing Cruyff at VP).

      I’ve actually paid good money to watch all of the Barca games on demand – it’s not much of an antidote to the poisonous goings on at Villa Park but better than nothing.

      Longest season of my life

    2. Hitchens 60 avatar
      Hitchens 60

      Don’t feel guilty Tekkers – not your fault mate. We will always be a great club with amazing fans. – a real family. All my kids and grandkids are Villa through and through – wouldn’t want it any other way.

  18. Your not alone tekkers it rips me apart aswell MATE along with every fan I’m sure.until that FUCKING yank pisses off its business as usual unfortunately.

  19. Jvillan avatar

    What other business interest does Lerner have maybe time to start posting letters and so same for Muppet Hollis I really hope it gets nasty towards them 2 edit

  20. Jvillan avatar

    Why is remi talking about players not signing for financial reasons what are Reilly Jonah and fox doing

    1. Bum Bum avatar

      I think what he’s saying is the club won’t pay out. He looks well pissed off. He should walk.

  21. Jvillan avatar

    Can some one explain how our club is going to be run next season, with what money,season tickets will halve at least TV money will disappear, fox won t be able to sell shirts,under armor new kit makers will run a mile ,no sane business people would want to be linked with Lerner fox Hollis and co

    1. Just been talking to a business friend and he’s not a football fan but he owns coaches, every fortnightly he takes two coaches to away games of Villa fans, he’s down to 16 fans only on 48 seater coach. Just explained as to what’s going on and he’s telling me what he’s got left are fuming, I said so are 40 thousand others. We have got to walk away, its now the only way.

      1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
        OohAhPaulMcGrath

        Agree time to boycott the club but there will be a hardcore 15-18k mugs who will renew for next season so won’t really affect them.

    2. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Who cares we know how. It will be run…into the ground no doubt. We will go down next year as well

  22. Villain1 avatar

    I’m getting concerned that Remi might end up walking between now and the start of the championship season in August.
    His body language points to someone who is completely fed up and he’s doing well to keep calm and his dignity in the shambolic situation that Lerner and Fox have put him in.

    I remember a few years ago reading about how much the Browns fans despised Lerner, calling him all manner of names and describing their own club and stadium as the “factory of sadness”. It all makes perfect sense now because the exact same situation has unfolded at Villa Park.

  23. Listening to Remi today you can pretty much guarantee he will be gone in the summer. I bet even he can’t believe the shambles he has walked into.
    We’ll soon have to have Football Club taken from our name.

  24. Bum Bum avatar

    Pete Colley on Sky just said Garde left Villa at 3.30 today, something he’s never heard of on TDD. Also said the club just wouldn’t pay up. Feel really sorry for Garde, he looks as pissed off as the rest of us. Why there wasn’t a riot when Hollis met the supporters club mtg the other week. I wonder where the money has gone after the past few years of spending bugger all.
    That so calls loss of £54m several years ago was smoke and mirrors. 90% of that was simply depreciation on aging players. Lerner makes the Glazers look like Father Christmas.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      There is never a riot as audience is hand picked and questions are submitted in advance. But like the left wing liberal audience on Question Time only for football instead.

  25. Excuses day tomorrow can’t wait.

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