ferguson1

5 minutes ago, dn1982 said:

Plan for next season now. Play Okore and Clark CB when Grealish and Adama are fit play them. If we keep playing the same players the atmosphere will just get worse. We need to try and get some momentum going into next season. 

Whilst I agree with you to a point about planning now for next year, it is difficult if firstly you arn't sure who may remain within your playing staff?  All well and good a player saying "I want to stay" but if good offers are received we will take them, make no mistake about that!  Secondly, the current manager may not be here, either because he walks or the club have a change of heart about him.  Just too many if's and but's I'm afraid to make any real plans.

The club is just rotten isn't it and do agree with you Woodytom. The problem is not just with the board, manager etc.  I'm not even sure who a good influence is amongst our playing staff? Who is vocal and leads in the dressing room? Who is vocal and leads on the pitch?  If I was a young player coming through who would I want to influence me? Players with experience, know how and have seen it and done it.  Richards, Lescott, Hutton, Gabby - no thanks! No wonder we are a mess!!  I only wish we could have a jumble sale in June but realistically that's not going to happen.  However, first signing I would want to make in the summer should be our new captain! Not sure who or what position but someone that is an influence to the rest and a good one at that.

The table doesn't lie does it! Best team finishes top, worst team finishes bottom and quite simply we are the worst team. Whether it be Garde in charge or someone else, I still think we would be going down as this team is just so mentally weak.  As I have said in the Garde thread, my concern now is whether Garde is the man to bring us back?

First time I have ever left a Villa game before the end and in all honestly felt pleased that I did! Even missing a bloody goal.  A good number seemed to leave for what I could see. Fantastic achievement from all those involved and to think that this was only an idea week or so ago - well done guys!! 

Have to say that changing your managers regularly is usually a recipe for disaster but I am now starting to doubt that Garde is the right man to significantly change the culture of the team etc.  There were glimpses after Christmas (especially after Wycombe) that he may have finally got his philosophy and ideas across but we generally look as clueless now as we did last year.  Can fully understand if Okore cannot play three games in a week but why then revert to three at the back? Midfield huff and puff but create nothing and we have a forward line that is just toothless!  I just don't see how we are trying to play?  Also, I hadn't realised until a bloke behind me said tonight that we had finally got our first corner in three games!!  

Now i'm sure Garde knows most of the players are simply not good enough but surely we should now see improvements across the pitch and a pattern of play to take us forward next season?  We have to question the training methods and are the players simply not getting the approach suggested or do they not want to hear it from Garde?  Sorry for the rant here guys but I am just fed up of coming away from a game so annoyed at our short comings.  Most weeks, including tonight I feel the opposition arn't even that great either but they simply find a way of scoring two/three goals against us.  I have fully accepted that we are going down but now worry that Garde is not the man to bring us back! 

Honestly thought we were OK at times tonight but we must be so mentally fragile as a team? Without playing well by their standards, Everton had I think three chances in the first half and scored two of them!   Cissokho, Gana and Ayew are the only ones that can take any credit from tonight.  

Special mention and well done to the guys who organised OTDO74, probably a couple of thousand left I reckon?  At least I guessed the correct score in the pre match thread again!  Really not sure now if we will win another game this season as we are that bad!!

Toasties! Love them to be honest but hate cleaning the bloody toastie maker afterwards. Had a ham and cheese one tonight but do like to put some Branston pickle in sometimes as well. Have to let it cool though otherwise it can strip the skin off your lips!

1 hour ago, Chewie said:

This http://outthedooron74.co.uk/everton-protest-information is how we worded the information...

"As soon as the clock hits 74 Minutes, everyone should leave their seats calmly and head for the exits."

But to be honest, as long as people ACTUALLY get up and leave, then it doesn't really matter what manner they do it in, conga included

Cheers Chewie, much appreciated! 

Can I ask and apologies if this has already been addressed previously but in what manner do people think we should leave the stadium at the 74th minute? I was discussing this with my father last night and we both agreed that fans getting out of their seats and walking out in more or less silence has a far greater impact, then leaving the ground singing/chanting. What does everybody else think?  

Additionally, listening to some of you talk to Stan last night, wouldn't it be great for publicity if Stan just put his headphones down during commentary and walked out with us on Tuesday.  I for one would shake his hand outside if he did.  He would of course be allowed to go back in at the final whistle to host his post match show!  Good on DDID and DK82 talking on the show last night by the way, real feeling and passion there!!

Ps Please don't anyone suggest leaving in a 'Conga' style departure!  Although, I would want to be the one photographed behind Deadly Doug if we did though 

Well, at least I predicted the correct score in the pre match thread! Dire!! Wasn't there but fans seemed to sing all game - brilliant. Gana apart, midfield is an absolute joke at present and Veretout, Bacuna and Westwood need to be taken out of it, but unfortunately, we lack options. No creativity, toothless upfront. Go a goal down and we simply have no hope of getting anything from a game. Can't wait for Tuesday - Lukaku, Barkley, Deulofeu, anyone in the Everton 11 really must be licking their lips.

1 hour ago, Jimzk5 said:

Traore took a lot of convincing as well as a lucrative contract full of get out clauses (according to kendrick) to convince him to come here

I expect him to be one of the first out tbh

This! No way he will play in the Championship.  Someone better than us will take a punt on him surely. 

Have to admit that I lost all hope of staying up after watching the Liverpool defeat. We obviously don't see what goes on in training but I would now like us to blood a couple of the younger players. That's see if some of them are good enough:

---------------------Guzan------------------------

Hutton------Okore--------Clark-------Cissokho

---------------------Gana-------------------------

-----------Lyden------------Veretout------------

--------Gil------Agbonlahor------Sellars--------

Not a great team is it and think we will lose 2-1, but as long as we see some fight, passion etc.

Bench of:  Bunn, Richards, Lescott, Bacuna, Westwood, Sinclair, Gestede.

Think he is a decent squad player to have around next season but not a regular starter surely? 

Having had a season ticket for the last 9 years I am now done I think for the time being and will pick and choose my home/away games next season.   It will be absolutely gut wrenching to give up my seat though! My decision is partly down to finances but not giving anymore of my hard earned money to people who I believe are not providing value is a reasonable way to act as well.  Supporting the club is a lifelong even generational thing for people and I can still support the team from home like my dad does.   I can't wait though to take my four year old son eventually but I would at least like him to be entertained a bit. 

His follow up comments are unforgivable for me and would rather see Clark take his place for the remainder of the season. Real shame coming from a fan of the club.

1 minute ago, mykeyb said:

Play Lyden instead

Would agree with this. May as well give Lyden some experience and take Bacuna out of the firing line. Lack of quality is truly killing us!

The slimmest of hope died today with that performance because the worry is if we go a goal down in a game it could happen again!  I would seriously consider playing some of the younger squad players now until the end of the season. Give them some game time and experience, and to be fair I for one would rather cheer them on now until the end of the season!

Can't really add to what has already been said previously. Started the game ok and for 10/15 minutes we matched them possibly but soon as the first went in, heads dropped and it was a shambles thereafter.  At least Benteke didn't score to rub salt in the wound.  Great post by OBE by the way and is how I feel tonight. The anger and bitterness towards the club has slowly eroded as the season has gone on to the point where I just want the season to end now. "Proud History, Bright Future" - well at least they got one right!  I will continue to go because I still love Aston Villa but hate what we have become at present. 

Been great since the turn of the year and the goals are just a bonus. Think Cissokho has helped his performances though, as less covering for him to do. The back four we have in place now all look good to be fair and should continue until the end of the season.

Dream team transfer window slams shut and we could have picked Gabby! Damn it, I always miss the opportunity!  On a serious note, good goal and hope we see more of his second half performance for the rest of the season.

6 minutes ago, TrinityRoadSteps said:

Pipedream I know. But imagine beating Newcastle last home game to be safe and relegate them.

How much would they hate us then 

Don't think I could cope with the tension of that scenario TRS. Tell you what though how many of us would take that right now if we could take it to the last day? I certainly would!  We can hope can't we?

Has no doubt had a crap week like the rest of us. Just hope today gives him and the rest of team the belief to carry on fighting/scrapping to the very last day of the season now. Players seem to be on his side for sure. Couldn't be more chuffed for him and hope he stays!

50 minutes ago, markavfc40 said:

Best game in a Villa shirt for me. He ran himself into the ground. Nice to see that him and Veretout were the two last players off the pitch today and both seem to have plenty of passion for the club.

Totally agree with this, covered every blade of grass today and was certainly my MOTM.  Norwich midfield didn't have a second on the ball.