PaulC

Wlishere, not Wiltshire (County in SW England).

 

Thank you for correcting me.

Its a strange weekend in that few of us hold out any hope in this game so the Stoke, Wigan and Sunderland games take on extra importance.

Will be interesting to see whether Fergie rests a few this time around or will he give us the utmost respect by fielding his best team?

I think they will try to close the title out first and then think of resting a few

At least Lawrenson has predicted us to loose 3-0.

Although Bale is still young he's been around so long he shouldn't be considered for the young player of the year award. Don't really understand why Wiltshire who hasn't played that much and Wellbeck are considered.

Would have been a full house if played on a Saturday. I think 37/38k

All the young lads struggled last year under Mcleish. He's got to get fit and stay fit then maybe we will see what he is capable of. He's more talented than his brother. I wish him all the best.

Yes I know but my point was he still has substantial wealth, whether his interest in Villa has declined is another matter.

from the Guardian

 

 

Accounts for the year to 31 May 2012

Ownership: Owned by Randy Lerner, via Reform Acquisitions LLC, a USA company

Turnover: 9th in league, £80m (down from £92m in 2011)

Gate and matchday: £20m

TV and broadcasting: £47m

Commercial: £14m

Wage bill: 7th, £70m (down from £83m)

Wages as proportion of turnover: 87.5%

Loss before tax: £18m (following £54m loss last year)

Net debt: £122m

Interest payable: £7m

Highest-paid director: £256,000 to unnamed director (Paul Faulkner is the chief executive)

State they're in:

Exceptional among the US buyers, Randy Lerner has spent hugely on Villa – in equity and loans, now at £107m – yet his promising tenure has declined. Lerner has been financially hit by the banking crisis, having sold his MBNA company in return for Bank of America shares, and he is trying to cut back on overspending and losses. Ashley Young, Gareth Barry, James Milner and Stewart Downing, four England internationals, are now memories; Villa's accounts state Paul Lambert's "youthful, highly motivated first-team squad … will prove eminently sustainable in the long term." That remains to be seen, and is not a statement of grand ambition.

Didn't he sell the Cleveland browns for 1billion. That 87.5% wages to turnover is far too high. New legislation is being brought in anyway so we have to get it down.

 

Villa 6-2 everton

Sir graham era

Was that our only televised game that season? How times change.

 

Yes I enjoyed that game. I think there were only about 17k in the ground. Didn't Platt get a hattrick?

He played well against united at home didn't he?

If they have already allocated the matches for that day they cant switch I don't think.

Yes not convinced by him really. 

 

"and sadly there were no cameras there!" There were cameras there Mike the goals were shown on the local news the following evening. My understanding was that the tape had been recorded over or not kept by Central although I think John Lerwill might have once suggested that there might be some hope of that clip turning up again and how if it did I am sure we would all like to see those goals go in again.

"So we did Liverpool 5-1 in 76 and again in about 79 I think ??". I think not CI. We beat them 3-1 on 16/4/79 with goals from Evans, Thompson (og) & Deehan and then 4-2 on 19/9/92 with goals from Saunders (2), Atkinson & Parker. There is no other 5-1 against them but we did have another 5-1 beating Arsenal by that score on 25/4/79 with goals from Shelton (3) & Deehan (2).

 

Didnt know that John and dont remember the news next day - I was probably still drunk! 

 

Real shame there is no televised record!

 

I still get goosebumps remembering that first half display. An abiding memory was the sheer sense of awe amongst the crowd at the end of the first half!

 

Spoke to John Deehan about it a while back and he said the team were on a high for weeks afterwards!

 

yes remember the 5-1 against Liverpool. I think that was the half-time score as well. We just ripped them apart. We did the same to Arsenal and a few other teams that season. most exciting Villa team ever. Cropley and Mortimer in midfield, Gidman right back and Little, Gray and Deehan up front.

I think ITV or ATV as it was then just had cameras to cover one game and they normally went to derby at that time.

 

 

I don't think he has been 'terrible' tactically,

Narrow diamond formation with no width.

3 at the back.

One of the worst teams at holding on to a lead in the league

One of the worst teams for getting something when going behind in the league.

The ridiculous decisions during the Bradford game.

I don't think he's been good tactically at all.

 

 

Just like to point out that those aren't "tactics"

 

It's just to point out that the 3 in the back formation was ridiculous from the start and that, in general, there is a concerning lack of width and a proclivity towards long ball especially when we are chasing a game, but saying that we can't hold on to a lead or can't get something when falling behind and mushrooming it under "tactics" is disingenuous.

 

Short of PL suddenly reverting to 3 in the back and telling everyone to get forward when we have the lead, you can't possibly say those two things are tactics.

 

But I suspect you'll find other reasons to have a moan.

 

Yes I agree but winning at Norwich 4-1 and then Liverpool 3-1 made Lambert believe it was the way to go.

if we avoid defeat for the rest of the season we'll stay up....

 

because of our goal difference we'll need 40 points really. 2 wins, dont care where or how we get them, just needs to happen - with that in mind. Sunderland is must must win. 3 points out of three games puts us in a better position

 

interestly i just used the bbc predictor - had us down as drawing with Sunderland at home, win at norwich away (think we'll get 4 points out of these games either way)

 

had us drawin against wigan away and staying up by one point ahead of stoke with them losing to tottenham last day of the season. My nevers couldnt cope with that...

Yes I had us getting a draw against Sunderland and winning at Norwich but had Stoke going down with 36 points but who knows, there will be some unpredictable results before the end of the season. Maybe we will beat Chelsea. Love it if we did and it keeps us up and stops them from getting a champions league spot.

Yes we just don't want to concede an early goal. When they come we have to take our chances and Guzan will have to play a blinder. Can't see anything else other than a united win to be fair. I just hope its not a big margin and have an effect on morale and confidence.

We'd just beaten Liverpool 3-1 then went to Stamford Bridge and lost 8-0. It took us about 3 months to get over that.

Yes for me he's our worst ever signing.

Yes very true. I think Benteke is the best we have had since Andy Gray.

I'm not so sure he has been very fair to Bent who has a record of a goal in nearly every other game in the Premier League, Injuries have cost Bent as well but although he plays in a different position I am not sure he should be picking Bowery when we have a proven top class scorer on our books.

I really think both teams will not be safe by the time that fixture comes around. I just hope we only need a draw. I think Sunderland will be safe unfortunately. I don't like Di Canio but he has given them a lift.

Lambert hasn't mistreated Given, Guzan has been excellent. Dunne is another big waste of money. Collins, Warnock and Dunne were all panic buys by Oneill.

How long has he got left on his contract? Cant be more than a year can it. The amount of money we have wasted on long-term contacts with new signings is ridiculous. That's why I don't blame Lerner. They should only give 4 year contracts to really good young players like Benteke and Weimann

yes very true. Lets hope your theory works for Chelsea then

Yes there was never a better time to play Man City. Its weird that when we played Liverpool they were really up for it and in their next 2 games they haven't been.