Marka Ragnos

Sounds like King Arthur.

His language teases but it also leaves himself an out. I don't know. I wouldn't call it certain.

why not? he walked out on Palace 2 days before start of season he has zero loyalty. I couldnt tolerate another gutless walkout as manager I would gleefully accept a gutless walkout next season by a manager in a baseball cap if that manager saved us THIS year.

No comparison between them, in my humble. Pulls more complicated -- in a good way.

My Dad's a Spurs fan and I remember that game. I'm guessing the "incredible" part comes not from anything inflammatory he said but rather from the audacity to throw his entire team under the bus just to cover himself after being completely found out tactically in that game. Exactly. He's not that bright. Wily, but not sophisticated and not quick-thinking.

I know! My Tesco bag uncle just left a nasty little insult about AVFC on my Facebook timeline, totally unprovoked. I guess he's taking the mick now that Villa is 18th. But I would never have thought of going after WB if they were on edge of relegation, which, actually, they kind of ARE.

I'm intrigued. Please go on. Haha. Don't get me started! The short version is that, in my experience in England particularly, there was a kind of self-loathing I encountered, especially among the intelligentsia, but also a social fear of seeming too willing to embrace the wonder that is Britain. I think you often almost need to go abroad from Britain to gain a proper perspective of Britain's huge cultural and scientific achievements. Maybe there's something about being English that prevents the English from too brazenly celebrating themselves -- tall poppy syndrome -- but I find this a little depressing. I feel that much of the world appreciates the English more than they appreciate themselves, esp. in places like America and India. Admittedly, these views from abroad often rely on stereotypes. I don't for example think many readers outside or INSIDE England quite understand how incredible writers such as Alan Sillitoe were. He's almost been forgotten! It's a shame! I also wish that contemporary British literature and art could see Britain's centrality in the world with greater vigor and ambition.

Do you British folk have a lot of men shaving their eyebrows lately? It's all over the USA at the moment, and I find it creepy -- and not in a good way. It's elsewhere, too, but I notice it especially from younger men. When did this all take off? When will it end? I think I need to get over it and accept it but I think I just getting too old!

Yes -- too great for the British, actually. If you're British, you may not understand that, but I often find myself feeling that the greatness of Britain is wasted on the British. Is that a compliment? An insult? A bit of both? Have no idea!

Hoddle's win percentage has been south of 40% since 2001. How on God's good earth is this man going to keep up safe? What are people thinking?????

REALLY having trouble understand how Ivanovic escaped an FA ban for this against James McCarthy at Everton. He is a menace to the game ...

Awwwwwwww ... what a sweet little lad (the one on the left!) ... Jose Mourinho responds to six-year-old Aston Villa fan’s letter urging Chelsea boss to take over at club

Hmm, this almost reads like a slightly stereotyping, old-school view of American corporatism, and I think it's worryingly outdated, although I am probably over-reacting, too. I wouldn't put Lerner in that category, frankly. He inherited his assets. And I don't want to pick an off-topic fight, but if you think British and European-headquartered companies are somehow less cutthroat, you are mistaken, as I'm, sure most on this board would agree. British-Dutch Unilever has been slashing jobs all over the place here. We in the US are more and more at the mercy of companies based abroad, esp. Britain, Germany, and -- believe it or not -- Mexico. All over the world, the super-consolidated wealthy have workers by the scruff. Not anti American in the slightest. I stated a fact about my girlfriend's employment situation and I speculated, as have many others, about Randy Lerner's affairs at AVFC. I am also employed by American owners and haven't said anything bad about them, which I guess I would have done had I been anti American corporations. As I said, probably over-reacting! I have that tendency lol!

Hmm, this almost reads like a slightly stereotyping, old-school view of American corporatism, and I think it's worryingly outdated, although I am probably over-reacting, too. I wouldn't put Lerner in that category, frankly. He inherited his assets, and he's not really that ruthless. If you want to get a sense of him, imagine a kind of non-confrontational and even very shy child of wealth who is pretty family oriented and just trying to his legacy from falling apart but not without a sense of feeling for those affected by/working at his companies. He's exceptionally passive rather than some dark, Machiavellian figure. And I don't want to pick an off-topic fight, but if you think British and European-headquartered companies are somehow less cutthroat, you are mistaken, as I'm, sure most on this board would agree. British-Dutch Unilever has been slashing jobs all over the place here. We in the US are more and more at the mercy of companies based abroad, esp. Britain, Germany, and -- believe it or not -- Mexico. All over the world, the super-consolidated wealthy have workers by the scruff.

Lerner will actually play almost no role except to rubber stamp and bankroll Tom Fox and Paddy Riley's choice. Obviously, the contract/money side could require his involvement, but he's generally going to be at arm's length from this process.

Heard last night's BBC Villa-related interview with Martin Laursen, who's just got his badges, he says. Sounds like he's not ready for top slot, but it was great to hear someone who seems so obviously devoted to Villa.

I agree, and I was thinking exactly the same things. Does he address our problems? Nope.

That is the most incredible piece of British slang I've ever seen. Is that regional to Brum and/or the Black Country? National? Northern? London?

They had a chance to keep this parting classy, but ... too irresistible not to feed dirt to the Sun. Reflects badly on the backroom.

Can you tell me the moment in your life when this view of Lennon was cemented? Sorry, I just don't get this.

Curiouser and curiouser.

a. he is an asshole b. he is as defensive as McLeish c. he is an asshole d. he is a disciple of MON similar to Lambert e. he came 2nd in the scottish league I appreciate this funny response, but A and C could be applied to probably one of every three great managers, right? And being defensive in terms of personality or playing style? Don't know enough about MON to know much about D but I appreciate. Not sure I understand E. I see this and it looks pretty good.

I know this is sick and wrong, but that is sounding very attractive indeed to me at this second.

It seems likely that said bloke's contract would probably contain contingencies related to this question, right?

Can someone explain why Neil Lennon is a terrible choice? I am not being coy here; I genuinely don't understand the revulsion among certain VTers. He seems like he has a very strong record and has played on the big stage. There was one post about 60,000 pages ago where someone called him something along the lines of "the worst human being in the universe" or something equally subtle.