First off, let me say that just because this blog is called 'The Optimist' it doesn't automatically follow that I will fly in the face of criticising things that need to be criticised. Believe me, if I want to moan I will moan. But if I don't then I won't. I called it 'The Optimist' because in my years on VillaTalk I have come around to the realisation that on average I do tend to see the positive side of things more than most. So it seemed an apt name.
Anyway, on to Villa.
As a first p
The metaphor I would use to describe Villa at the moment is that of a car that is stuttering to start. But once it does it will be fine. I don't mind that our start has been poor. Most would not have expected an easy transition from a McLeish side. Granted we probably didn't expect the worst start in a generation, but that's what we have. We still need to look at it objectively and not start self-harming over statistics though.
We are going through a phase where it appears that we can't
I hate the term 'must-win'. Apart from being over-used, it is more often than not mis-used too. Saturday's early kick off (12:45BST) against Norwich City in isolation is probably not must-win for our prospects of staying in the league, any more than say a match against any likely-struggler like Norwich would be. After all, it is only game number 9 of a 38 game season and we're not currently in the bottom 3. So technically it's not must-win. Now in saying all of that, having not won in 4 mat
After Tuesday night's impressive and perhaps slightly unexpected League Cup romp in Norwich, Villa rather annoyingly dropped another place in the league owing to one of the teams below us beating one of the teams below us. That's twice this weekend that has happened *grrr*. I think most can agree that we are playing better than results or league position would suggest. Indeed our trouncing of one of the form sides in the league in their own back yard would point at that fact. Yes they were ful
Played football with his son when I was younger, and him and my old man got quite friendly (which the old man loved, as you can imagine!) Terrible news - too young to have seen him play for us, but by all accounts a fantastic player and a lovely man
I heard this news nearly two weeks ago from a good friend of mine who played with Sid🥲. I got to know Sid quite well through my mate. Best memory was when I was at a barbecue at Kenny Swain’s place. Sid was on great form with some brilliant stories from his career! I won’t repeat them on here except one. Saunders used to put his arm around Sid and my mate on Monday mornings and ask if they were ok! Wasn’t to check if they were ok but to see if he could smell alcohol on their breath🤣🤣🤣. Sid was a class act and I’ll never forget or forgive that dirty animal that done his leg😡😡😡. Sid and McMahon would have been some pairing that season!
NUFC apparently stating, or 'leaking', they are not expecting any further punishment for Tonali, reminds me of defence lawyers who attempt to influence sentencing by stating they are not expecting any custodial sentence to exceed any time already spent on remand.
I wonder if NUFC will appeal for any punishment to be concurrent and not consecutive to his current ban and will the punishment depend on a persuasive payment.
Totally agree - a minutes silence isn't right, but, given he wore #10 for most of his Villa career, a massive 'there's only one Gordon Cowans' or similar is the best nod IMO.
Just in general, I'd guess there are many footballers in the same situation, our own club included. Gambling addiction isn't to be sniffed at (that's cocaine addiction, I JOKE) - at any level of income, it can get ya