A win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win, a win is a win.

Boring as f**k but a win is a win and if we get into a European competition, I will be very happy. UTV! 

On 15/04/2023 at 16:42, OutByEaster? said:

We were superb, completely dominant; from Watkins hitting the post in the first minute to Doug bullying Guimaraes as the final whistle went.

Our football was fantastic, passing, movement, dribbling, creativity, control, we were a pleasure to watch.

The third best side in the country, on a winning run, full of confidence and we made them look like Burnley Arabia - reduced to chasing shadows, trying to kick their way back into the game, Dan Burn holding on to John McGinn for dear life, grasping for a hold in the game - dizzy, confused and outclassed, all eleven of them. This Newcastle are a good side, there won't be many teams reduce them to this - but today we were just on it - today, I think we'd have beaten anyone.

Much of that credit goes to the man who makes the plans, the man who makes sure these players know what they should be doing, know where they're most effective, know when to hold em and when to fold em - we look organised, confident and full of ideas, full of desire, we look a very intelligent team right now, we're outthinking opposition, outworking them and flat out outplaying them too..

The ref let Newcastle kick us around the pitch in the first half, let them grab hold of shirts, push, pull and shove their way through the half and when they got to the break only one down and with only one player booked, I'll confess I wondered if there might be a sting in the tail.

But no, not this side, not this manager. If anything, we were even more dominant in the second half - in the end, three-nil doesn't flatter us and we could have had more - Ollie has scored two, hit the post, had one disallowed for offside and forced two good saves out of Pope - he alone might have had six.There were performances everywhere, Mings and Konsa superb, Moreno electric, Luiz calm and controlled, putting Guimares in the shade, McGinn a livewire, Ramsey dangerous and the man himself, Ollie Watkins looking like a player in the form of his life up top - too strong, too quick, too good.

The sun shone, Villa Park sang long and loud, the players loved it, the fans loved it, the manager loved it, I loved it. It's been a long, long time since I saw us this good at Villa Park. My throat hurts, my heart does not and the end to this season could yet be an incredibly exciting one. I am starting to believe,

Under Unai Emery, we could do anything - and we're doing something right now that could be very special.

Raise a glass gents, it's a great day for it.

 

 

“..we made them look like Burnley Arab…”

2 minutes ago, KentVillan said:

Would love to see Emery managing this England side

Can we keep him till he helps us win the Premier League

Article in The Times

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/john-carew-facing-two-years-in-prison-for-alleged-tax-evasion-0tmnp552n

John Carew facing two years in prison for alleged tax evasion

Carew insists that his failure to disclose his earnings from abroad was due to bad advice provided by his former agent, but the prosecution believes that he had plenty of chances to provide the correct information, but chose not to.

“I trusted him blindly,” Carew said. “I have been convinced that he was right. He controlled me almost like a puppet.

“I understand that it is grossly negligent of me to trust him so much, but that is why I have done it.”

Carew was charged with several counts of tax evasion by Norwegian authorities, culminating in 5.4 million NOK (about £454,000) between 2014 and 2019. During that period Carew claims that he did not live in Norway.

Norwegian law states that anyone who lives in Norway for more than 183 days (more than six months) in a year has to pay taxes. The trial showed that in 2014 Carew’s debit card was used 900-1,000 times in Norway, most often at golf courses. The prosecutor claimed that Carew had spent 259 days in Norway in 2015, while other years had totals of 299 days, 282 days, and 289 days.

The prosecutor believes that Carew acted with gross negligence from 2014 to 2016 but acted with knowledge and intent in the final three years of that period. The maximum prison sentence for this offence is six years.

Carew became the first black player to represent Norway, and scored 24 goals in 91 caps. He spent four years at Aston Villa before leaving in 2011 to play for Stoke City and West Ham United, where he retired the following year.

Prior to moving to England, Carew spent the first three years of his professional career in Norway, playing for Valerenga and Rosenborg, and then never turned to his home country, joining Valencia for four years before spells with Roma, Besiktas and Lyon. As a player, Carew won Norway player of the year three times, La Liga, Ligue 1, the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, and was a runner-up in FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League finals.

Since retiring from football, Carew has begun an acting career, including featuring in Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil alongside Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning and Chiwetel Ejiofor in 2019.

I don’t think we should worry about Coutinho’s age. De Bruyne is 31, Fabihno is 29, Eriksen is 30 and Thiago is 31 and they are all playing at the top of the PL.

If Emery can make him click he could be one of the best midfielders in the England again.

2 minutes ago, smg said:

Villa fans don’t do patience. We are a massive club. We won the European cup ffs. This bloke better be good, by half time in his first match.

WTF - how long have you supported the club? I can only assume you are a fan who arrived in the last 20 years.

I have supported the club for decades. We are still here, I was in Rotterdam don’t ever **** belittle our achievement you…word removed.

1 minute ago, Philosopher said:

Not a joke 2-0 is flattering us! So is 3-0. 

Sorry misunderstood 

1 minute ago, Philosopher said:

Never a penalty, never a red card, probably should have had a penalty, but still 2-0 is flattering!

Are you joking? It could be 5 or 6

Hopefully Truss mk2 coming up!

Cannot believe on Sky he said something along the lines of “…. not a lot wrong…”

We really are ****** S*** and it is down to Gerrard. One of the worst managers we have ever had.

20 hours ago, messi11 said:

Gerrard really is a Representative for Wellingborough. There really was no need to try humiliating  a “fan” of Archer and Villa. GTFO of our club.

He hasn’t a clue. There is no pace, no tactics, no energy, no ***** clue.

In the 20 years from 1990 to 2010 we had seven managers, who enjoyed some respectable positions in the league and league cup wins.  In the last 12 years we have had nine managers and next to no success apart from cup runners up and promotion via the Championship play offs.  
 

Supposedly one of the ‘sleeping giants’ it is like we have fallen into a coma. Gerrard is almost certainly finished and in my opinion our current owners don’t have much to crow about. What is it going to take to wake us up?

Gerrard hasn’t got a clue. Losing this game was to be expected but in the first half the gulf in class was frightening.

Needed the confidence boost. 1st half was poor but dominated 2nd.  Luiz should start and I would also start Archer. Only on for ten mins but he has great movement.

Jeez!!! this is a depressing thread.

On 11/05/2022 at 11:17, MikeMcKenna said:

Don’t know if anyone else noticed but in the first half Gerrard had a massive go at Mings. We had a freekick just inside our half, which Mings passed side/backwards. Gerrard went ballistic at him for not playing forward. A few minutes later when play stopped for an injury, Mings went straight to Gerrard and appeared to be saying whats the problem and ‘having words’?

In view of the fact that Gerrard publicly raised the question of who should be captain next year, I don’t think he rates Mings and that he will move him on in the summer.

As I said above two weeks ago, I still think Gerrard wants to sell Mings. Carlos’s signing plus our interest in the likes of Tarkowski and other defenders reinforces my opinion.

Sadly, imo we are going to get hammered. Greedish is also probably going to score. 

Reason to be cheerful: This season is nearly over.

Don’t know if anyone else noticed but in the first half Gerrard had a massive go at Mings. We had a freekick just inside our half, which Mings passed side/backwards. Gerrard went ballistic at him for not playing forward. A few minutes later when play stopped for an injury, Mings went straight to Gerrard and appeared to be saying whats the problem and ‘having words’?

In view of the fact that Gerrard publicly raised the question of who should be captain next year, I don’t think he rates Mings and that he will move him on in the summer.

From the outset, the Gerrard appointment didn't feel right to me. And the media (and L’pool fans) suggestion that we are only a stepping stone till he is appointed L’pool manager was arrogant, ridiculous and stupid. His achievement at Rangers was outstanding but it was not evidence that he could do well in the PL. Like Lampard, he reputation as a player boosted him. I have seen little to suggest that he is an outstanding coach or that he has superior tactical nous. His more recent public pronouncements make me wonder whether there is already division in the dressing room. Bringing in Coutinho on loan was a master stroke but it was all for nothing. His decision to stick with Watkins and Ings upfront is a pathetic - has he looked at their goal talley lately? His decision to stick with Ramsey is farcical, he will be a great player, but imho it has all gone to his head and he needs resting. His decision to loan out Targett was unbelievable. Imho sadly Gerrard is not going to take Aston Villa forward. 

Signed 

P**sed off of Bournemouth! 

15 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

Have you not seen Ramsey carelessly give the ball away multiple times today?

Must admit since HT he has been awful so regret saying anything! 

We have been poor in midfield and upfront but I think it is largely due to SGs team selections. On paper the team looks like an attacking formation but in reality Coutinho and Buendia is not working and are rarely getting on the ball. Watkins is so isolated that it doesn’t make sense. It looks like we are playing 4-5-1 but clearly that wasn't SGs intent.. I don't get the criticism of Ramsey as he all over the pitch trying to make up for Arsenals dominance in MF. 

Just got home. It never gets better or easier does it? I fear Gerrard is another false dawn. It is so disheartening. One step forward, then three steps backwards.