myb

dates are wrong regarding the cup final which (unfortunately) gives it a bit less credibilty. Hope that isn't the case though!!

Different topic, but what a load of bollocks. You should be ashamed.

They inferred quite heavily that Bellfield should have not have been able to defend himself in the traditions of our legal system. He is a vile man, and clearly guilty, and sadly he chose to defend himself on cruel and degrading matters that often had only fleeting relevance to the case, and had only initially arisen in the police investigation after her disappearance and were quickly dropped by the authorities - however they remained in the case file and thus could be called on to defend himself. Had he not used that line of defence, it would always remain in the case file and would always be ready for him to call on for an appeal in the future. Now, barring the discovery of new evidence, his defence is spent.

It isn't the fault of the law that he chose to use particularly nasty and humiliating lines of defence, it is a fault of judge who let him continue that line of defence when it became clear it was becoming too much of a vindictive and cynical attack, or that the judge did not order the court cleared so that, as far as possible, such sensitive lines of 'inquiry' were kept out of the public eye.

I don't agree with what he did in court. I don't like it. But demanding that the accused has the balance of law turned against them and preventing aspects of defence that are in some way (however small) relevant to the case, thus undermining the idea of a fair trail, is not something I'm ever going to agree with, no matter how it may be abused by some particularly detestable individuals.

I won't be ashamed of that either.

Anywho, back to another vile topic...

I think the fault lies with the Judge, who shouldn't have allowed the public humiliation of an already traumatised family. The fact that it took the family in a post court statement to reveal the trauma they had suffered and how appaling the questioning was is a poor, poor indictment of the system that allows it to happen in the first instance. There was absoultely no relevance whatsoever to the aspects of the defence which were raised other than to try and tarnish the name of a good family in the name of 'defence'. That is not a fair system or one which should be allowed.

(as an aside, thats probably the first big public statement to come from the Dowlers in recent weeks that was bang on the money, given their comments inferring that a defendant shouldn't be able to er... defend... themselves... by the by anyway).

Different topic, but what a load of bollocks. You should be ashamed.

the england away is smart

Factually Mick McCarthy is a better Premiership manager than McLeish

how do you work that one out?

More Premier league experience .

Has managed to stay up two season in a row on lesser resources than McLeish.

I wouldn't be so sure. He's been relegated a couple of times with different clubs and probably spent as much as AM (Doyle, Zubar, Hunt & Fletcher at least £18million between them)

oh well, wasn't behind the appointment but he'll get a fair chance from me. Just focussing on the fact that he was working under a bunch of muppets at the sty and, considering they're a small club, did well with them.

Also think Randy must have some money for signings lined up to bring around some better feeling. Lets go Foster, Dann (that'd piss them off), Nzogbia and Adam.

I hope for a decent away game in his first fixture where we nick a win. The away fans know how to support the team and this would be a good platform for his 1st home game.

Moyes, we've probably wrote a letter. Remember MM saying about a certain someone coming back off holiday. When is he back?

I'm sure we've written a letter to a lot of managers. If we have sent one to Wigan we must have sent one to Everton. Surely.

That's where I am. We have a list of managers, some with clubs, and we're asking permission to speak with them. I'd be amazed if we're not trying to get permission to speak with Moyes. We only ever found out about Martinez because of their chairman harping on about villa doing things properly. Shame he didn't reciprocate.

Martinez won't be the man to take us forward if he is the new manager. His defence at Wigan was absolutely appauling, losing 9-1 at Spurs, 8-1 against Chelsea with a 6-0 at home to the same team as well? That is horrendous.

I know... Imagine getting hammered at Chelsea.

Could be worse though, he could have been in charge of a team battered by newly promoted newcastle as well.

moyes please. Martinez would be a gamble worth taking but moyes would be a fantastic coup.

would be delighted with Hughes. Whilst Ancelotti may be a big appointment and a statement of intent i'm not convinced it would work out. Hughes did well on limited funds at Blackburn, was well liked at Man City and should do well here with a decent budget and the not so mad cap approach at City.

I'd be delighted with Hughes and don't understand the negativity towards him. Done well where he has been, got a decent transfer record and is a winner. I think Ancelotti would be a huge flop here. I just don't think he is right for our club, don't care how you try and dress it up.

cannot stand rafa. please no.

I think we'll sneak something here.

I also think that if we get well beat the board will lose their patience and Houllier will go.

Or anytime someone goes near one of their players thousands of them let out a high-pitched scream.

they are without doubt the worse team in the league for that. it's embarassing!

General,

Hope you are keeping well. Not normally one to come and post here in order to moan but last nate was one of the most disappointing I have ever had as a villa fan. I gave up my season ticket of 10 years at the start of the year, mainly because I was falling out of love with football.

I've been to 3 games this season and the last I watched was against Blackburn. I was starting to be won round again and got a little of the bug back - we had a big, what seemed winnable, cup tie coming up and me and my pals were planning the games we were going to get tickets for in the event of us progressing (with a chance of a wembley ticket in mind).

Then we go and do that. I think we have to see the bigger picture here. Not onlu have we lost the last chance of a trophy this season but I think we have lost fans. Houllier has, in one swoop, lost the little bit of credibility he was starting to establish. The most amazing thing is that his selection is completely and utterly unexplainable. The team has had 2 weeks off. The looked fresh and raring to go against Blackburn and, whilst we were robbed of the chance of ever knowing, looked like we could beat a mancity team who we turned over a little more than a month ago.

I wont be back at VP this season. Just gutted. Maybe next season we can remember that fotball is about winning trophies, not finishung tenth in the league.

Thanks for listening.

only bright spot on an otherwise awful night

he was just starting to win me round too, rocket polisher.

I think, importantly that the small group of nations whose people are against military action includes the not unimportant name of Libya. The people don't want our 'freedom' imposed on them, they want their own.

How do you know that? Any footage that has been leaked has shown Libyan's desperately calling for help.

massively impressive tonight. Redknapp really earning my grudging respect. He could make a heck of an England manager...

So why the hell are we intent on playing Young up front !. 3 yrs - 1 goal from open play - its disgusting !.

I think this may be another one of your made up stats.

some superb touches looks like he has a lot of class. impressed and when he gets up to speed looks like he'll be some player

Borussia Mönchengladbach have brought in Mike Hanke (Hannover 96)

Always worth saying this, but he is the subject of one of my favourite football facts - he's allergic to grass.

So he has hayfever :winkold:

Could have won it if we had pressed a bit more. By the time we realised how easy they were to contain it was to late. Not sure why they have come over all Billy big bollocks, they had a good little spell but didn't get remotely close to turning over a weak and lacking confidence team. Shit game which we really could have won.

I'm going to miss virtually all the match cause I'm playing Sunday morning. I am truly gutted. Can't believe it isn't on Sky either.

9.30 kick off for me my friend! insist on it - get the lads to pull rank!

I find it staggering that we can have a group on here who actually believe the cuts announced are fair and proportionate. I find it even more staggering that there are people who believe 'the other lot' would have made a better job of it.

Both useless, both out to protect their own vested interests and both not proposing anything which would deal with the root cause of the problem.