perchman

Thanks mate. My ten year old is a villan through and through, god love him, out of the 16 games he's been to with me, he's only seen us win twice but he gets it. Once the youngest sees what a real stadium atmosphere is like, I'm sure, as you say, he'll swing round. Glad I decided to call it off, I currently look like a punched turnip.

Absolutely gutted. I took my youngest for his first ever game the other week, for his 5th Birthday. I didn't want to risk the 250 mile round trip only for him to hate it so I tested the waters by taking him to Reading v Wolves at the Madejski seeing as it's only 15 mins from home. Well, stupid me, he left there being a bloody royal didn't he, which not only broke my heart but upset his ten year old brother immensely. Anyway, after umming and arring for about 4 weeks, on Thursday night I bought Myself, and the 2 boys tickets for the Reading game to see if it wasn't to late to swing him back to being a villan. This morning I wake with the most horrendous pain in my face and before I know it, I'm being pumped full of anti-biotics due to an abscess. I'm guessing I'm not going to feel well enough to take them tomorrow and I think that hurts more than my jaw right now. Gutted From just outside Reading.

The round red one is Gardner. The guy with the red hands is Gabby.

The problem is, when you have too many who were used to being the figurehead, even if a group naturally gravitate to one 'leader' there is resentment and subconscious defiance from the others. I think having too many captains is a bad thing. I really honestly think Bruce needs to take them to some remote island for a few weeks and bond them through some survival challenge. Until these guys start getting to know each other better, they won't gel.

True, I guess I'm clutching at straws as to why one of the biggest loves of my life is going to ruin. I bet being married to Joan Crawford was similar.

I remember hearing a story about a curse changing hands between the Blues and the Villa....something about Barry Fry having a piddle on one of our corner flags....I'll try to find it.

Well that was **** dire. Thank McGrath I only live 40 miles up the road, sorry for the traveling fans. First 15 minutes it was long 'here we go'....then we started sitting right off them, as soon as they worked us out, game over. We were well stretched at 4-3-3 and I was certain Bruce would make us a 442 at half time....then after the third goal....no, fick all. I gave Green MOM as he took on a few and made things as interesting as it got. I've given so much faith to Bruce but this one is on him entirely. I'm spitting

Anyone driving to the game, there is free parking at Strand on the Green and Thames Road, this is the road that runs parallel to the Thames if you turn right after Kew bridge (if coming from M3) or left before Kew Bridge if coming from M4, about 20 min walk max from ground. Loads of Boozers there abouts.

Mersons late winner against Everton....I squeeled like a bitch!

Who were the three that made villasborough in the nineties, Boateng, Ehiogue and ???

I think Hutton would benefit from taking a bit of a back seat TBF. Kept his head down during all that nonsense the other year and seems to me to be a conscientious pro. Squad player definitely.

I was a bit suprised that more of an event wasn't made of it, I was only looking out for them because I saw a tweet in the week asking former players who wanted to attend to get in touch with someone.

Well, I had to take the boy on the 236 mile round trip, purely to pay my respects to GT, the phone lights on 72 minutes were spectacular. Nice seeing Vassel, Staunton, Platt and co pitch side. First half was terrific, constantly pulling their back 4 out of shape and lots of free space created........really we could've been 4 up at half time. Impressed with Green today, worked hard. I hope Brucey didn't tell them to sit back in the second half, our intensity in the first half made it hard for them to come at as, sitting back was always going to invite them in. Hutton is so frustrating, can't fault his work rate....he's just not very good in the final third. Grealish looked like he had a cobb on today, I counted 3 times when he could've reached the ball but didn't. Lansbury looked decent and looks for interesting options which will see some interesting football (unless any flair and intelligence gets knocked out of him) Now, credit where it's due, I rolled my eyes when I saw Gabby solo up front but he worked his socks off today, led the line perfectly, did some essential defensive work and didn't stop running, he gets my MOM, I never thought I'd be saying that ever again.

Not sure we'd be able to, we've already got a permanent signing with a surname beginning with J

I was 5/6 when dumped on my relatives who lived in Witton, born in a leafy southern county, it was a frightening time, what got me through it was the vibe of the Villa and its presence on local life and the genuine positive air around the place after winning THAT cup, it was all of that and the great nature of the people of Birmingham that made that time easier for me. When I came back home, everyone around me was either Spurs, Luton, Liverpool, wimbledon etc.....no one Villa, I'll admit, I wished I could talk with my 10/11yr old school mates about a team we all connected on......just in time, GT came along and worked his magic, we had players that everyone envied, I didn't have to keep explaining why I supported Villa. It was a brilliant time and I love GT so much for that, he nailed my love for the villa hard and true. Now i'm 40, and I reflect, I'm sad, sad that time does indeed move on....and that's what it is with the death of a celebrity you are particularly fond of.....it's not always utter heartbreak at their loss, it's the realisation that the reference points are further behind and you're nearer the end of the conveyor belt than you thought. It's a shame GTs second stint at the park wasn't so good but many players from that time are paying some lovely respects, Hitz is trully gutted. I hope there will be a permanent tribute at VP, without him bringing us up in 88/89, I don't think we'd have been the club we have been, are and will be.

I sense the change in his game might have come about due to him (perhaps being told to ) being more mindful of his defensive covering. He gets back way more than he used to and at times has made crucial tackles/blocks when Amavi is nowhere in sight....and I think more to the point, no other midfielder. No one really showed for either of the wide players today so options were limited and as for his resting bitch face, I just think he's his own worse critic. I'd much rather that than watch the likes of Lescot and Richards skipping off having a laugh at full time after another defeat. Whoscored have him as our 3rd highest rated player based on his stats, highest successful passes and second highest with assists(4) to Adomah (5), highest for successful dribbles (by a long way) Defensively, he is only second to Chester for successful tackles, 5th highest for interceptions. I just think calling him out as useless is a bit short sighted and you'd see more expression from him if he could trust the ability of some of his colleagues to read the game a bit better.

@TRO has no trouble with consistency, each of those posts were as good as each other.

Laursen-esque today. Brilliant.

Oh and the ref was a cock arse.

Found it hard to choose between Chester and Amavi for MOTM, had to give it to Amavi for his work toward Alberts goal. Chester only made one mistake all game, well impressed with him. Westwood obviously cocked up for their goal and played a ridiculously heavy forward ball for what should have been another for us. He's reached his limit I feel and envisage him going either in Jan or the summer. Adomah keeps getting better but he's not terribly strong so lost out a few times. Jedi just fills every gap, I'm glad he's becoming what we hoped he would. I think most have got Ayew sussed now, I really really like him but the opposition can anticipate his every move, that was the difference between him and Grealish today, Grealish totally got into their heads....and boy did he take a battering. I'm quite a sentimentalist but when Gabby made that run, everyone around me were on their feet but I honestly couldn't get that excited....I guess I knew he'd bollocks it. We weren't brilliant but looked comfortable but if we can keep doing that, I reckon we'll be going up.

And the JVlife, both my boys are JV life members. 25 quid and in with a shout for mascot (eldest did 2 seasons ago) the odd freebie, quarterly mag, xmas and birthday cards and some home game tickets for £1.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/avfc/memberships.aspx?findmembership=0 Scroll all the way to the bottom and add it to basket....hey presto!

You can join villa cash as a stand alone for £20.

Agree with FIB. It's a shame none of the more well known Brum bands have any anthems in the vein of those that would qualify as terrace chants. I can't stand oasis, but more to the point, they are indeed all about Man City. I can only think of a handful of Brum bands that have at least one anthem that the majority would know....not sure how relevant that anthem would be mind. Duran Duran, Black Sabbath, The Move, Wizzard, Traffic, Slade, The Beat, Moody Blues, Fuzzbox...even UB40....any more that have at least one anthem that the majority would know?

Had a few good run outs in pre season too.