sellyoakvilla

I seriously hope Houllier watched the England game tonight and saw Young and Downing either side of the striker in a front three...

It's easy enough to say get rid but who the hell do we get in? seriously? What half-decent manager is going to come to this club knowing the task he will have on his hands particularly with the recent turnover reports? Don't be so hasty. He had no time to change things and when he tried to change things it's mid-season and everyone moaned because it rarely worked. There have been games we have played well where he has tried to change the system and lineup but because it's an important time of the season it's been difficult to judge him and we're not getting the results because of it. Hence why he needs pre season. All of you calling for his head we will end up with someone like Curbishley or Allardyce if you are not careful. Yes he's made his mistakes yes we've had some shit results yes he's been shit with the media but just let him get his own team in, and if it's still the same next season then yes OK maybe he has to go. But it is far too early to judge for **** sake.

Good news but obviously a quick move to restore a little bit of happiness within the fans after Weds night.

Post deleted. People may have an opinion on a game they didn't travel to

To be fair. He was bringing Young and Downing on at 2-0 down but then they scored.

General, very disappointed tonight. Me and a few others travelled up to Manchester with hope that we could progress to the quarter finals and maybe even get to Wembley again. It was not to be, and we lost. OK, fair enough, you win some you lose some. But as fans, having to book a whole day off work, risk getting stranded in Manchester for a night and spend a whole day's wages to watch THAT - is just not acceptable. The team selection confuses me more than angers me. Why would you play a weakened side against Man City away? Can the team not cope with the world class powers of Bolton flippin Wanderers? Do you have any idea why Houllier's comments pre-game in regards to us going to win, Man City away being the lowest point of his career et al. were completely in correlation to anything I and 3500 other Villa fans saw tonight? It's just not good enough General and it's not very often I say this but Houllier, tonight, was clueless. I'm angry. If it wasn't for good company with the great fans we have then tonight would have been a complete waste of time and money and I'm already beginning to think it was.

Please pass this message on to Houllier:

Do you know the majority of Villa Talk and infact Villa fans in general slave away on minimum wage and unpaid overtime to go to Villa games?

Just a thought.

Thanks.

Shit shit and more shit. I'm behind Houllier but that was just terrible. The completely wrong team selection. I'd rather have won 1-0 at Man City and lost 5-0 to Bolton. Hello!!! Reading at home in the quarter finals!! Clueless.

Oh and I voted for the fans because we were great. Although after that I'd give it to Herd. Bradley was shit which was a shame. Just the wrong team full stop.

And one more thing, what the **** was with all his pre match comments on how Man City away was the lowest of his career and how we will win silverware and can beat Man City - really, Gerard?

Gabby surely has to start?

I think the main reason for him backing out of a lot of challenges is his previous broken leg. He's not the strongest of players and seems a bit worried that his leg might take another crack. Can't fault him for anything else though, always gives 100% and I think I'd be more disappointed if he left than if Young did.

3-1 to us. COME ON VILLA

Don't think they'll release another 2000 seeing as it's this Saturday, Villa would have to pay for the tickets then have over 1000 unsold

Park at the old Boddington's brewery car park it's about £1.50 for the day, it's opposite the MEN Arena and about 5 minute walk from Oyster bar.

Hour walk my arse! 30 mins max and that's with a slow walker!!

£1.70 a pint at Oyster, will be there from 2pm! On the piss m'lord

I bought two yesterday at 4pm, rang up to see if they could still be posted out and he said he'd post them especially even though the deadline had passed, they came in the post this morning at 9am. Quality.

Reckon we'll have about 2400 there which isn't bad considering it's on ITV1 and on a Wednesday night (I had to book time off work to go)

I doubt we would get 5m for Ireland now. Its almost like hes given up, and its plain for everybody to see.

I'm pretty sure the majority of people would be inclined to give up if they knew they had a talent but their employer wasn't interested. If I was sacked or not put on the rota at work I'd be very disappointed and tempted to give up too.

What an appalling attitude.

So whilst the rest of the country work their balls off for £20k p/a, it's okay for Stevie to sit around picking up near that per day without applying himself, cos his boss doesn't like him.

awwww, poor him.

No - he was pushed out at Man City, didn't play for over a year for the team he supports, grew up with and loves and then came to Villa right at the time where the manager left and the team was going through drastic changes. We had no manager for his opening stint here and he was played in the wrong position in a 6-0 defeat at Newcastle in his first game... he then fell out of favour with a manager who prefers a team who track back at every given opportunity and he's a "luxury" player who is class at what he is meant to do but not much better at anything else. He's never had to track back at Man City, but please don't forget the fact he was playing with a bunch of reserves and youth for the majority of his playing time at this club. Once he has some playing time in an established team he will be a great asset.

--------------------Bent----------------------

------------------Ireland---------------------

Downing - Makoun - Reo Coker - A.Young

Much better than having Hogg and Bannan playing behind you.

I doubt we would get 5m for Ireland now. Its almost like hes given up, and its plain for everybody to see.

I'm pretty sure the majority of people would be inclined to give up if they knew they had a talent but their employer wasn't interested. If I was sacked or not put on the rota at work I'd be very disappointed and tempted to give up too.

Is GH pissed off with SI though? Genuine question really, if he was that pissed off with him, he'd be getting the Beye / Warnock treatment. (Training with the kids) Instead he's been loaned to Newcastle to try and recover his form / lose his mental affliction. GH still see's something in there I think, I know he did slate him in the papers that time but maybe that was his idea of trying to buck the player up, it didn't work so now he's sent him to Scotland, trying a different approach.

There's a decent player in there somewhere. He just needs releasing from Disneyland or wherever his head is these days

Houllier has always said Ireland has special qualities he really likes but just didn't contribute to the team enough, so he obviously likes his ability, just perhaps not the attitude. We'll see in the summer. I'm sure whoever is manager will be able to see the commitment of the player in the first month of pre-season.

At the end of the day Ireland is fighting with Young for one position in the hole. Houllier said he tried Ireland there and it didn't work and there's nowhere else for him at the minute. We can't drop Ashley Young or put him on the wing and drop Downing either so he's going to have to wait it out until close season or go out on loan to play for a bit - which he has. Then we can reassess in Summer - which we are going to do. That's all it is.

I got one about three years ago but you don't need an invite anymore just need to get there early and pay on the door.

Still doesn't beat a quid each way on National Express

You'd probably get a much cheaper coach with National Express. I've got £2 returns to London before from Birmingham.

Incidentally I manage them too... they are supporting Wild Moccasins at that gig I'm putting on at The Victoria on March 28... come down if you are free (I believe you said you liked WM aswell)

My good mates have just formed a new band -

They're very good in the sense that they have an american "surf" sound when really they come from Birmingham.. probably one for Gareth!

He's impressed me this season but is often too greedy and tends to shoot when he could easily pass to someone in a goalscoring opportunity - similar to a chance against Blackpool away. He has a good shot on him though to be fair so I don't blame him for having a pop. And yes I agree he is incredibly pacy when he wants to be.

Hello General,

I am seeing yet another non season ticket holder deal for match tickets and I'm starting to wonder why I continue to renew. If I added up all the deals that have gone on this season for practically every single league game I would save money buying single match tickets as opposed to buying for the season in advance. Now this is not a kneejerk as I've been a season ticket holder since 1997 but I'm seriously considering not renewing next season now because of a change in circumstance and your single match ticket deals are not helping a lot of season ticket holders renew really, are they?

I know what you are going to say, a season ticket holder guarantees a seat, away games, Wembley should we get there again et al - but what kind of deals can we expect for season ticket holders in the not so distant future? Why don't we get discount on cup games? Do all of our fans want to see Blackburn for the millionth time in two seasons for a higher price than any other cup game in the same round that I've seen over the past 4-5 seasons?

I feel the club need to reward season ticket holders more. That is all.

Thanks.

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