paulanddonya

Do you know, I'd even forgotten he was a Villa player. Although he has been absoltely awful with an attitude that Mike Tyson would be ashamed of. I'm not going to give up yet, there are many many examples where this has happened then they go on to be a superb player. Berbatov was a flop last year, and remember when Spurs bought Gareth Bale - they never won a game He is only 23 remember

Stupidly optimistic. Can't see us losing this one, and believe we will win. I also think Young being out is a blessing in disguise. Albrighton and Downing on wings, Carew and Gabby up front - and we have the players to do it. I think 2-0 Albrighton and the now traditional Gabby goal

By the way, I am watching a stream on the net, and listening to BRMB. If you are listening to BRMB alone - then just to let you know, take no bloody notice of all the "oooohhss" , "Oh no's" etc. Its nowhere near as exciteing, or the moments as dangerous as they are trying to make out !

I am psychic

We need a third coz the stats show they will get a second. Now time to take Bannan off and get Petrov on to shore it up

Interesting how the pundits are supporting Houllier - yet didn't support hodgson. It almost as liverpool can not be allowed to be bottom half - but bottom 3 is ok for villa. I can't think of manager at any club - who has turned such a run, around - and gone on the be a success You haven't looked very far then, coz I can remember being 16th in Division 2 going into November once !

Oh by the way, if you read my cryptic message a few pages back, and then saw Soccer Saturday, Phil Thompson also stated some of what I had been told. Every one on that panel , which included Thompson, who knows Houllier, and Merson, who knows the Villa - gave support to Houllier. By the way, from what I heard, and what Thompson said, I don't blame MON for this either. It quite clear around 7 senior and very important players are trying to hijack this club. hijack probably the wrong word but you know what I mean. One went yesterday, it is suggested the rest are to follow very quickly. In view of that, I am disgusted we are in the bottom 3, but have changed my mind about Houllier. He needs time to sort this. I have said before, this mirrors 86. Well, if what I am told correctly, it also mirrors 87 - whereby Graham taylor came in, and said "I don't care how big your ego is - you play for this club, or go !" To me, the big thing now is seeing out this year. If we are still in the Premier, even if it is by finishing 17th, in 3 yrs time this club will be in a better position. The only thing that remains for me is can GH keep us in the division - and I'll give him the chance now I know what I know. (and all the pundits state the same - so they cannot all be wrong !)

I am going to do a near enough complete turn around !! I have spoken to two people tonight, who have both have info about what has gone on. One person gave info from an ex-player who has connections at Villa, and the other, also an ex-player, who although doesn't have connections, still does a lot of work at the Villa via being a Sky pundit at some of our games. Both stories and both informants are totally unconnected, and gave similar accounts, although the one was a lot more in depth. I am not going to give any details, names or anything as it would be unfair on the people who told me, unfair on the people who told them, and could even be liable. But all I will say is, if true, and I can't see why it would be as they are both credible and it does make sense, GH has a lot more hs plate than we know, is in no way to blame - is slowly doing something about it by way of there will be several people exiting Villa this month - and could not sort this before now. So, although I still can't fathom putting Gabby on the wing, and Ash up front - I'll give him untl the end of Jan to see if what I have been told, bears fruit (and one has today !)

Who the feck is anyone to call anyone else fickle ? The same people on here who call others fickle for having a go at Houllier, are the same ones who make snide and derogatory comments towards Graham taylor. One (who shall remain nameless) who has just said Fickle - called Mr taylor "Turnip Head" earlier. This is the guy who, if it wasn't for him, Villa quite probably would be where Oxford United are now. As someone said - Fickle -no - we just know what the bloody truth is !

Does anyone remember the McNeill era ? It was the exact of this, the fans , in the main , stuck by the team - didn't make any bloody difference in the end - we went down coz the manager had his heart on a football club - problem was - it wasn't Aston Villa ! Now luckily for us, Graham taylor saved us from oblivion, I can tell you this, there is no Graham taylor gonna turn up this time if we go down. It's all bloody commendable saying "we all stick together" but there is a saying "actions speak louder than words" - and the actions show - the guy has lost the dressing room, the fans, and if i have just read correctly, and that they offerred him the chance to resign at Xmas - the board. In fact, that is even MORE worrying , coz obviously the board have doubts and will not sack him - why ? - only reason I can see is they don't want to pay off his contract - again MONEY ! Think abou tit - if you really believed in a person why the hell would you give them chance to resign ?

As i said, I don't like MON , never did , never will - but I LOVE Villa. I don't give a toss about MON, Lerner, or bloody John Robertson - all I care for is our club. As someone said, this is Damned United being un for a 2nd time. You have two stubborn buggers in MON and Lerner in the same way you had Clough and the Derby board. I blamed MON for August and September, but come on, you can't blame him now for god sake. I took over a new team in July, it was in a shambles, my predessor retired and basically was on run down for 2 yrs, as was one of the workers who retired the same day. I said when I took over, this is a mess, it will take me two months to sort it out - but I'll start getting you results in November. In November, my boss came to see me and said "I've gave you what you wanted - time to start delivering !" - and I have. By the way - that is all TRUE. MON left us in a pickle, there is no doubt on that. but come October, that should have been sorted. You can't blame him now - even if I wanted to !

I never ever thought I'd say this but I actually agree with Stan Collymore now. If I was Lerner, I'd meet up with MON, have a good old chat, totally be honest, Lerner can say he made mistakes, MON can say he made mistakes, they can come up with a way we can take the club forward. And get him back. I've seen pages and pages on here , all saying the same - no matter if we keep Houllier / or sack him and get someone else - we are gambling. getting MON back is the only way we are not gambling. I do not like MON but if all could accept part in the blame, and come up with a long term plan - it would be the best option. Its been done plenty of times before - rdknapp did it at Pompey. At this point, I don't give a shit about who I like and dislike - I am just thinking of how the hell we can get out of this mess ! EDIT - above Can I ask where does this myth of Foreign youngsters = cheaper wages come from. I think you will find we learnt that was not the case last week, and as I've just said on a different matter, leads me to believe the board think they are playing Fifa 11 !

Two things a) If we have been lumbered with a load of players on high wages that we can't shift - then why are Wolves and West Ham fighting it out for Steve Sidwell. Just an excuse ! People make jokes on here that real life isn't football manager. Well I get the distinct impression our owners seem to think that is exactly what it is. They feel the likes of Sidwell / Cueller and all are not good enough as footballers. Well i have news for them, football isn't played on paper, it is a team game and it is how you mould a team. I sent a letter to Graham Taylor the once slagging him off for selling McInally for 1m - whilst replacing him with a nobody Celine Dion lookalike from the reserves. Result - we finished runners-up - playing to Olney's strengths. We were a team of workhorses that gelled. Question - how many quality players did we have when we won the league. We were Euro Champions, had a team made up of vistually all englishman, and only Tony Morley made the World Cup squad !. It's how you mould a TEAM ! - and the owners don't get this.

Call it support you say ? , I'd say I've just woke up to the fact I'm being taken for a sodding mug. Listen to yourselves, all this "It's MON's fault, it's the players fault" NO IT ISN'T , IT IS THE MANAGERS AND THE BOARDS FAULT. I fecking hated O'Neill as a man, but I can tell you this, I can catagorically state Martin O'Neill wasn't at Villa Park last night, and he wasn't the one who was telling the players to play a ore "continental style of football" Which begs the question, what is this style - is it, by any chance, the style of putting you 5'4" central midfielder and 5'7" winger in central defence so they can welly the ball up field onto the heads of our 6'3" centre backs, that, because we've screwed it totally up, are now playing as forwards ! The manger and the owners are taking us to the fecking cleaners. Now i saw this happening in 1986, and as a niave 15yr old, I backed them, I sang my heart out at Bradford and Huddersfield. But do you know what, at the age of 40 - I ain't prepared to do it again mate, as they said in Fever Pitch, "I now realise my life, and the successes and failures are a direct result of Aston Villa Football Club. I still go there yeah, but it's no longer my life". And sorry, slowly but surely, and it started with the famour Mr Krulak rant about people being bigger than the club, I have realised this new board care about one thing and one thing only - MONEY !, and after spending 25 yrs of my life hating Ellis for it - I ain't gonna put myself through it all over again !

Well thats it then, Villa have confirmed his job is safe. Well you better give him, at the very lesat £30m quid, and we WILL have to pay higher wages than we are now, as that is th eonly reason players will now come to us. I've said since the Blues 0-0 - this is 1986 being relived. That has just confirmed it - we WILL get relegated. For me, that will be it with the Villa - I'll see out this season, but I've done my time, if the board don't give a shit about this club, I won't until we have one that does. Lost complete and total faith in Lerner and Co - maybe, after slagging off our old manager for putting players on high wagers, they have took the decision it will take too much to pay off a guy with 3 yrs on his contract.

Sorry but he sealed his own fate. The night he had a public love fest with his lover Liverpool - that was the beginning of the end. As with Hodgson, since then it is only a question of when. That night lifted the coffin lid for me, tonight certainly sealed it. As for Allardyce, I'd take him, I think it is the same as Redknapp, always been seen as a "Big guy at a small club". I think he'd do a job at a club of us, or Everton's stature. Oh, and before someone points out Newcastle, they were 9th when they sacked him, and if I remember correctly, above us at the time !

I dont give a shit what MON did - that was nearly 6 months ago !!!. Did MON leave with the entire squad -no he didn't !. Now I dont like MON, I agree with your comment about wages - but dont give me this fecking tosh he bought players that were not good enough. Our captain who was not good enough to get in the 18 last week - was voted by his peers into the Premier Team of the Year last season. Our winger, who for some reason, the current manager thinks is an inside forward was Young Player of the Year, Gabby - you know that forward who was scoring 12-15 goals a season - is suddenly a winger - a shit winger yes - but a winger none the less. I HATED MON - but the fact is, we had a squad we haven't had in sodding years. If you remember NRC couldn't even get into it !. I never liked MON, I had many arguament on here about him - but dont try and blame this fecking shit on him - coz it is just burying your head !.

Are you awake ! You think it is basically bollocks that people think we may go down. We are one point off the bottom - come mid January you know !. It is very likely we will be bottom going in February - as Blues away - no chance, Wigan away - jesus don't bare thinking about. If we are bottom in February mate - we WILL go down, tell me how many teamsave beat relegation from that point ! Wake up for god sake !

I put th epost up who is to blame - I voted Lerner - I still believe it is Lerner. I was no MON lover, but there MUST have been a reason he walked out - I don't give a toss what Mr Krulak says - something happened to make him walk. However, who ever was to blame, it doesn't hide the fact, Houllier took over a squad that finished top 6 thre years running minus one player. I expected a small blip - maybe a 10th place, but BOTTOM 3 !!! - that is indefensible. It is clear he isn't up to the job, its just now a case of who is. Time to go, get rid of McAllister with him, put K.Mac in charge with Cowans for the cup game then go and get a manager who can use 3 weeks of the window to buy someone. Allardyce, Jol , even MON - but we need something to happen that is for sure, or else, I will have my wish - I always wanted to go to Hull, never got there, I'll have my chance next season thats for sure

Well what can you say about that - really summed up in two words..... Absolutely disgraceful !!!!! I just don't know where to start Heskey - well clearly MotM by a bloody mile, but still the best and worst of him. Works his absolute socks off, looks like he is the only one who gives a shit - but then misses two open goals and gets a stupid sending off - meaning he misses the next three games ! Young - the guy has done absolutely jack shit for the Villa for 8 months - is it written in his contract he has to play up front - coz that decision (obviously there are others - but this one in particular) is going to get us relegated. You might as well play Salifou up there ! The sub - Albrighton - should have been made after 55 minutes - and Houllier must be totally incompetant not to see that. Gabby - if you play Salifou up front, we might as well go and rebuy Djemba Djemba and put him on the wing - coz he'd be better than Gabby thats for sure. I could go on - but there is no need. It was an utter disgrace, and thats it for me with Gerard - I started the thread who is to blame. Well I still don't know - but who-ever it was - we should NEVER be in this position and it is down to him we are. And I sang it - it it needed singing !

My heart says a win, my head says a draw. Hoping for a 2-0, expectig a 1-1 I think our best chance is a set piece or penalty as I can see Sunderland parking the bus

Well what a surprise ! Very gutsy performance, still not great, but much improved. I was very annoyed Freidal got MotM as, to me, that says if it weren't for our goalie, it would have been a rout - which I feel is not right. To meHeskey shaded MotM - won everything, held the ball up and scored. However, one guy who hasn't got much of a mention ran him close in my eyes - NRC ! Thought he closed, tackled and won everyything, then played it simple - a huge difference with him in the side. How it effects the future - only the next three weeks will show us, but we really should be aiming for 9 our of 9 , and that should then cement us in the upper table. Fair result, good performance, great fighting spirit

Forgot to say I also think, if we get through this season still in the Premier League, in 3 years time we will be in a healthier state than we were under MON - ie: in the top 6, but with some silverware, and a young squad with a better scouting network. The major major major problem for me is - I don't think we will be in the Premier next year !

In response to the above that Houllier is out of touch with the Premier League - I think that is the main problem, in that - he is not ! The premier league has, over the past few years become much more continental, on and off the field. Apart from Man C- gone are the days of paying millions - sa clubs cannot afford it. We / and others need to go the way Arsenal and Barcelona have done for the psat 10 yrs - and that is what Houllier is attempting to do. NOW - the problem for me, is, if we are talking just about Houllier - he has attempted to do far too much too soon - and we are in turmoil. I kept saying it to the general - "You can't turn Richard Dunne into Bobby Moore !" Houlliers issue is that he has come in, said "It's my way - and try and question me, and you are out" to players that just can't do it his way. He has alienated a lot of the squad, and the ones he hasn't, aren't experienced enough to do sod all about it. For all I hated MON, that was one thing he did well when he came in. He saw what we had in a squad that was nearly relegated, and he got them playing in a way that made us safe until he could start bringing in his own players. I blame a lot of this mess on the board - but Houllier has done some bloody stupid things, and it could be very very costly !

I am not saying this to provoke a reaction but unfortunately I think this will be 6 or 7 - nil. If we concede an early goal - say - in the first 15-20 mins, our confidence will just go. I said 5 against City , it was 4, but in truth should have been much heavier. 6-0 and as said above, Houllier will be facing the sack, no matte who is at fault for this !