So I’m currently in Torrevieja, Spain, chilling, after having just bought a very nice bungalow, and it now seems a good time to write something.
Now that the EUFA Nations league (pure money spinning rubbish) is over and we get back to real football, it’s even more a good time.
What to think then, about our upcoming game?
Well, I’ve watched all of Everton’s games and they are truly abysmal in my opinion, hence this ought to be one of the best chances we’ll get to win a game this season.
Of course, the usual proviso, where we seem to have been incredibly prone to losing to any team that’s performed poorly and been on a bad run, over the years, I have to think that even so, it’s going to be difficult to lose against them.
It’s quite strange, as I think Sean Dyche is a decent manager. Yes, he has a very defensive style, that I think Everton needed in an attempt to consolidate and it’s been quite successful for him, but it seems to me that they’ve been getting worse as his tenure has gone on.
I’ve spoken to a few Everton fans of late, with me working in Liverpool and they seem to have resigned themselves to seriously struggling this season. I’ve mentioned the money they’ve pulled in from big fee transfers and the reply is that the new ground has killed the club financially.
I’ve also asked if they’d sack Dyche, and the answer is always “yes, but who would we get in?” That’s a really bad place to be, I’d say.
Ian Wright has apparently predicted that we’ll win this 4-0 and while I don’t quite agree, it is an indicator of things. If indeed, that does happen, I think Dyche will be gone. He’s in the last chance saloon, as it is.
I’ll give my prediction now, as much as it’s a bit early and I’m going for a gritty 2-0 win. It wouldn’t surprise me if Everton get one on a counter, as we go for them, but I’ll live with that.
I’ll post squad news etc after the press conference if I get chance. We fly back just after dinnertime đ
30C back to 15C? I’m not looking forward to that.
It’s not often I approach a game with the view that it’s a banker.
Makes a very pleasant change đ
We’ll probably lose then, Badger!
BFR – I refer you to RSSâs post below đ
From sunny Torrevieja to cold and wet Woolacombe where I currently am on holiday.
I just checked Villaâs 3rd kit and itâs a huge own goal. We will all think it when we see it, as itâs Small Heath colours. Iâm just going to see if they have claret and blue in their 2nd or 3rd kit. Reading Chris Heckâs comments on the reasoning for the colours of the 3rd kit made me want to throw up just like his pathetic PSR / FFP reasons for out pricing most working class people from attending Champions League games at Villa Park. And please donât tell me itâs his job to milk as much money as possible from the loyal supporters who he knows he has over a barrel.
As for Saturdays game, I think we should win comfortably but last seasonâs league cup defeat leaves me uncertain. I will be more worried if Konsa and Cash are unavailable considering lack of options now we failed in the transfer window to strengthen there when it was clear to us all we needed a RCB. Bogarde will probably start with the injury prone Carlos only just back training. I read too that Bailey is unlikely to be fit to play. So just 3 games in and 3 players injured already. The only good news is Everton have key players out too.
We now have 5 games in 17 days thanks to the pointless international break. I can see more injuries occurring during this period which given our squad size could ruin our season before it really gets going. And to escalate the problem, we have an international break next month and November too! Ridiculous and annoying is what it is.
Holte, they did the same with the away kit in 95. Reebok’s first AST Computer offering. Ellis even joked it was the new home kit when it was unveiled; the media gasped while he chuckled. Don’t be too harsh. It’s an effort to get those who want more a fashion statement than a football shirt to buy. Colour aside, I think it’s a very smart design.
I still hear you about prices etc. But I reiterate, no one’s over a barrel, especially with merchandise. Match tickets, I understand if people have been regulars and the prices are hiked, but with buying stuff from the Villa store, like all retail, it’s about choice. We can buy a white t.shirt from Primark for 3 quid, or some prefer a white t.shirt with a little ‘designer label’ (basically an advert) and fork ot 300 quid. I hadn’t bought a shirt for over 20 years but chose to buy this year. I doubt I’ll do the same next year.
Finally, regarding CL tickets, they ARE overpriced. Newcastle’s were a lot less last year, and Liverpool’s are far less, and they’re are a league above us. So I agree the club have overdone it.
UTV!
Second property Badger?
Oh my days, you’ll now being growing hooved feet, horns and a tail (well according to popular thinking).
Back to football – “where we seem to have been incredibly prone to losing to any team thatâs performed poorly and been on a bad run”
And there’s being a Villa fan in a nutshell. There is always that nagging doubt brought on by years of falling at such seemingly simple hurdles and this resulting in a kind of footballing equivalent of PTSD (symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the event).
We all know what’s going to happen, Everton will park the bus in, an hopefully vain attempt to frustrate us but get an early goal and it’s game plan over.
It’s aimed at being a transition, RSS.
I just need to get away from the cold weather, but still need to wait a few years until
I retire.
It’s totally contradictory of me, as I don’t really believe in having multiple properties.
PTSD? Yes, that’s exactly what it’s like!
Badger, no pontificating from me mate, your money, you spend it how you like brother.
Never saw you as a property owner Badger – are you now taking Spanish lessons đ
My advice fwiw is retire as early as you possibly can and enjoy the sunshine.
Back to footie then and RSS has hit the nail on the head about Villa fans – footballing PTSD equivalent describes it perfectly. So, although given our ambitions, we should win on Saturday there is always that nagging doubt.
Probably safer if I donât make a prediction.
Just an aside to welcome Gabi Nunes to the club. At ÂŁ250k – a new club record and one of the highest ever transfer fees in WSL history. Just think what our owners might do without the shackles of PSR!
I sincerely hope there is no protest tomorrow over ticket prices. Can we remind ourselves of how far we have come in a 10 year period, even a five year period and even a 2 year period. The world has gone made, everything costs more! I paid ÂŁ7.30 for a pint the other day! Compare that to our ticket price increase and itâs nothing! Football at this level and in particular in this country is becoming an occasion and it will cost more! But please for the love of god, our first season back in big time and people want to protest!!! Letâs keep it positive please.
Ohhh loving the third shirt beautifully done and definitely getting one of them sorry Holte
I’ve just seen it too. It may be blue but it’s not Bluenose blue. It’s quite tasteful and if I was in the market for a Villa shirt! Not a fan of nylon. My vintage replica is a really thick heavy cotton! Tasty!
I expect a win against Everton. Hopefully an opportunity for Ramsey to play 90 minutes.
I for one hope that there are not protests at Villa Park. I appreciate this view this view might be controversial. Sometimes in life you have to take stock. Not that long ago we were in the Championship with average crowds of 32/34,000 and within 48 hours of being wound up by HMRC. If it were said within 6 years Villa would be finishing in the top 4, qualifying for the Champions League and Villa Park packed out every week, virtually everyone of us Villa fans would have jumped at it. But like all things in life it comes at a cost. Ticket prices will be one of those affected outcomes.
Sadly there is a polarisation occurring at the club. All things football under Emery is wonderful. All things commercial under Heck woeful. To be fair Heck has overseen some great commercial strides, but also a number of own goals.
NSWEâs ambition is being attacked by PSR/FFP. Itâs totally unjust but the rules Villa must operate within. NSWE believe we need turnover of ÂŁ400m+ to have the economies of scale to be in the top handful of Premier clubs. And by definition a global force. To meet this aspiration it reminds me of a quote from the film Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. Nick the Greek is told âyou can have a gold painted Rolls Royce, as long as you pay for itâ.
Yeah, for all the achievements on and off the field, a protest to me feels totally off. It doesn’t take much for social media muppets to gather around the campfire and turn it into an echo chamber.
I heard a TalkShite piece the other day about the pricing structures. Very balanced and the bottom line is it’s what it costs nowadays for top tier ‘entertainment’. Sport included. Sad but true. We want to compete at the top level so we need the funding…I’ve noticed a number of ‘in depth’ negative articles about Villa recently and it looks like the status quo doesn’t welcome any interruptions.
3-1 for me today but a clean sheet would be better. Gagging for KO quite frankly!
And well done on the holiday home, Badger! Just don’t tell the Labour Party! (Unless you’re a train driver!).
We’re complaining (bitterly) about the club not “reading the room”. Any kind of protest at this moment in the club’s history, with everything going on, from the 150th anniversary, to CL football, to elite managers, players and kit manufacturers, would be a spectacular and horrible “misreading of the room” and also therefore, totally hypocritical. Read the room! These are good times! Close to the best the club has ever had! Don’t let the shit-stirring press upset the Villa apple-cart; that what the f****** want!!! They want to derail it all! They’re jealous and they don’t like that their darlings are floundering below us! Ignore them!
UTFV!
Agree! Gold painted or gold plated?
BFR you are right it was âgold platedâ
Haha. I wouldn’t have my roller painted gold! Talking of painting cars, I recall an old story of the late Les Sealey – a proper character – painting his car with Dulux!
Just talking with a pal in the last few days about painting my car with Hammerite. Just loved the hammered effect.
Just done a bit of a Google search and Sealey’s unfinished autobiography was released this year, using cassette recordings he left after his untimely death at 43. I had no idea he essentially rescued Fergie’s career with his 1990 Cup Final performance. I think I feel an impulse purchase coming on.
You can probably get it sprayed professionally in a hammerite effect.
2 tales about car colours. I have a 1968 Mercedes in ‘Whiskey Gold’ which is often admired, and that colour may come round again soon. There is another garish gold Mercedes did – I asked the salesman what that was called. “Jewish Racing Gold” was the reply – Icon Gold in the catalog.
I used to export 2nd hand Mercedes 500 SELs to Thailand. One day my partner out there sold 5 of them to a notorious warlord in 5 different colours appropriate for the day of the week. Orange was one. You will get us killed I said, only Dutch cabs come in Orange. We managed to buy a shamrock green 500 SEL below market and get it resprayed.
Brilliant, OLL. How much for a Mercedes 500 SEL, may I ask? And do warlord’s get a discount?
Everton rock bottom and Villa looking to slot back into the top 4 early season with an apparent home banker. But protests are afoot. Foolishly, very foolishly, from all concerned, club and fans, in my opinion. Could this be one of those self-sabotaging “let’s shoot ourselves in the foot because we don’t know how to enjoy the good times” Villa moments? Probably…
Put it this way, I wouldn’t be comfortable betting the price of a CL ticket on 3 points. And I definitely wouldn’t be comfortable betting a CL ticket on 3 points.
Fans shouldnât protest about prices. If you canât afford it then donât go! Why not go and support Liverpool who charge 2/3 the price for Champions League tickets.
Win today and up to third which would be a great start come onnn
Liverpool lose at home to Forest – nothing is guaranteed – and whilst our away form has been excellent, our home form has suffered.
Protest with your feet not at a game we want to win!
Warned you!
Yep. Me too.
SURPRISE! No clean sheet. Again.
Everton parking the bus and looking for breakaways.
Weâre too slow, too measured.
Weâll get sucked in and suckered again if weâre not careful!
Yep. Home form has disintegrated since the spring. Worrying.
Believe it or not, I was just about to say what price Calvert Lewin to score, because he’s so shit. And shit players are guaranteed to score. I really should be a betting man.
Emi should do much much better with that.
Shouldn’t we be hammering Ashley Young’s flank?
Absolute crap – our defence is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
Top 4 and CL – youâre having a laugh!
Need a goal before half time.
Forgot to mention, how many players’ minds a on Tuesday? Psychologically, it’s there, no doubt.