Raver50032

I seem to have suckered myself into thinking that some sort of shroud of mist would be lifted from Villa Park this summer and that the club would literally 'go again.' The last couple of pages makes me wonder if this is now it then for AVFC. Have we reached rock bottom and a new project emerges with some real tangible evidence of progress on the pitch? Are we at a stage (as a club and as fans) where expectations can be realistically set out and explained by the club? (Not that the Club are that big on filling us in on any sort of recognisable periodicity). Where are we going and what are we actually trying to achieve? Have we simply found our true lot in life? (Personally, I **** hope not). -- I just have a nagging doubt that this summer will be as exciting as the 'just wait and see until we've managed out all the dead wood' guidance led me to believe and hope. I think we are being trimmed for sale personally, just my opinion.

Good call Mantis... I've always liked the Netherlands, a wonderful country, a very friendly air force and attractive national team colours. I have a soft spot for Ajax too... They've always been our second team in our house...

It's the other way round. If the big clubs pull away and form their own league no one would watch us anymore. We would basically be a championship club in a championship league with similar TV revenue and exposure. This - a poor comparison I know, but I am looking at this like the PDC versus the BDO in darts... This is why the BBC still have the BDO to broadcast... it's pretty cheap and pointless in the grand scheme of things. The PDC is where the money and big, big crowds are. Mind you, I think the PDC will lose a lot of viewers when Phil Taylor finally packs it in... Though that young Dutch nutcase (Van Gerwen) looks to be a prospect... There will however, never be another Phil Taylor... Up the Power... Get in. To the point being made though - I probably wouldn't watch a super duper league either (unless we were in it), but I think the paying public neutral probably would. However, given that I pay for a TV license and pay a subscription to Sky, I refuse point blank to pay a third company to watch TV/Sport etc. So BT will never have my money unless they take over everything that Sky has and provides a fully comparable service.

Mortimer - for what we achieved under his captaincy. Some of which under some off the field managerial turmoil too... Honorable mentions for Kevin Richardson, Andy Townsend (the greatest, the Holte End say) and Martin Laursen.

From 2000-03 I wore a Spart Prague scarf on match days instead of a Villa one. Similar colours and I like them as well.

Is anyone really a fan of hoofball? The ones who call pass and move football...."tippy tappy" Not really. I don't like possession for possessions sake football, where sides just pass around their half and build up incredibly slow, for instance, I hated swansea under Rodgers, they were quite dull to me. (He's impressively adapted at Liverpool, with a quick counter style) I'm a fan of the jurgen klopp style, or the Real Madrid counters over guardiola and barca stuff. So I don't like "tippy tappy", but I'm not a fan of hoofball at all. Clip-Klopp style? Yeah, I like the sound of that...

Hoolahan didn't celebrate his goal against us because he couldn't think of a way to adequately express how he felt without receiving an FA ban. But seriously, who cares? He isn't normally an exuberant 'show off' celebrator of goals. Obviously no news at all day in Norwich and they needed to sell a couple of newspaper column centimetres. Lols at McNally. You big hairy dog's cock.

Difficult to answer without coming across as some sort of deluded or 'entitled' supporter. The way I see it right now, a new owner might be another false dawn (that's how Lerner's tenure feels to me right at this snapshot moment) and raise expectations too high. We just don't know. I said in another thread, we will know a bit more about where we are headed and with what type of committment in the summer. Although it's a tricky World Cup year, it is a crucial summer for us. Miss the boat on achievable target players (whoever they may be) and it could be more of the same next season. If there is a new owner, given what we were fed in 2006, would the fans believe what they were being told? I had my fingers burned, having bought into the hype. But I won't fall for it again. I will believe it, when I finally see it. I just want to feel good about going to Villa Park again. To enjoy it and not feel as though I have wasted a small fortune on something that has brought disappointment, apathy and 'dread.' Maybe what we need is a flag, or a scarf to make us feel good and patriotic. Then again, maybe not.

Brian Moore (RIP) commentated - "A fabulous goal... for Tony Daley..." It was awesome route 1 football. Spink to Daley to back of the net. Loved it. Pedant alert: Apart from it being Les Sealey who was the goalkeeper and Regis headed it on from him to Daley. [/pedant] Really great goal, though. Cheers - I'm getting old... The club need to get that 1991/92 season on DVD now. Some good times then. I will search Youtube for this goal. Les Sealey - RIP... Mr Angry.

So many memorable Villa Park moments - and not all scored by Villa players e.g. the previously mentioned Scholes volley... Crespo late on for Chelsea (think we won 2 or 3-1?) and what about Giggs against Arsenal in the FA Cup (not even Villa playing!!). Sheffield Wednesday at home in 92/93 was as fluid and orgasmic as you will see in the build up to that goal. I still dream about that one... Saunders against Ipswich... Carbone against Leeds in the FA Cup... Sexual and so casual... The Phil King Inter Milan Penalty? What balls of steel. Nilis against Chelsea. Cahill against SHA. Difficult to pick an overall special though... Benteke might just take it with his effort yesterday.

Brian Moore (RIP) commentated - "A fabulous goal... for Tony Daley..." It was awesome route 1 football. Spink to Daley to back of the net. Loved it.

Yeah, I'm guilty of that... I pay my money for a ST and expect to get value for money for it. I haven't had that for several seasons now, so forgive me for expecting a little bit back in return for my support. Which does cost real money... which I have to pay for and justify with my family. Think about that before talking down to people from a 'higher' moral horse.

John, I thought he lost the crowd at home to Palace to be fair. Parts of the Holte (my ST is in the lower) were signing 'Getting sacked in the morning' at full time on Boxing Day. I'm guilty of booing at the end of that game as that is exactly how I felt best to express my horror and disgust, but I didn't sing that... Great win yesterday and I am happy for Paul and the team. One swallow doesn't make a summer however and crikey we have had to endure at home. This will be a big summer for Villa. I think we will all know a bit more about the future of AVFC and Paul.

Fabulous and much needed win - and in a lot of places during the game, excellent team work. Just what we have been crying out to see. There was the expected 'here we go again' moment when Norwich netted early doors (the BBC reporter 'Aimee Whatshername' proclaimed that there were boos - was that so? Grumbles for certain... I shrugged with apathy). No celebration from Hoolahan getting the old Sherlock emoticon buzzing... And Ian Wright calling Wes an 'egg?' What does that even mean? The only reference I am aware of is the rhyming slang 'egg and sp**n,' which coming from Ian Wright would be most bizarre and contradictory I would think. Anyway, back to the game... Very sluggish from us - but genius in the shape of Benteke mesmerised us back to parity. Lambert called it 'World Class.' For once, I agree. Quickly, Big Chris nodded us powerfully into the lead - even Pardew would have been happy with that header. Suddenly, it seemed Villa caught fire and Norwich had no fire blankets to cater for it. Very nice interplay through the team for a mesmeric curling finish from Bacuna... Back of the net... lovely stuff... cash back... kiss my face etc... :-) 2nd half seemed a bit stale - but 3 valuable points, a decent home performance and some great goals. That's what going down the Villa should be about. Now... more of the same please Paul. MOTM - Benteke (makes a pleasant change from voting for Guzan) Tactics - average (for the sluggish start again) Referee - Good (2nd half it wasn't hand ball, and gave Tettey the benefit of the doubt for his yellow card. He obviously didn't see it clearly. Could easily have booked Vlaar for a high boot earlier in the half).

Newcastle. Almost 10,000 more seats in their stadium. Yeah, Newcastle are the biggest club to have got relegated from the Premier League - closely followed IMO) by Leeds and Forest (for their history). In a different context, AVFC would be the biggest (IMO) club who were original 1992 Premier League members to get relegated if it happened. History books looking at Man City as they are now, might pervert themselves and say that City getting down to League 1 was probably the biggest relegation. But at the time of their relegations - were they 'bigger' than us than we are now? In terms of history, deffo not.

Well... yeah. I read as far as the often trotted out Alan Hansen quote... I can't believe journos are still dining off that to pen their lazy journalism. It was the best part of 20 years ago. The world of football has kind of moved on since then. Snoooooze.

Leeds is a bit of a strange example I guess given that their fall was more about actually going bust, which isn't what is happening at Villa. I think the Leeds example is a trifle clouded. League 1 slippage - better examples are Southampton and Forest I guess. But the biggest one for me, Manchester City. How did a club that 'big' end up in the third tier? Interesting concept, but Saints and Citeh, two examples of taking a dip before coming back better - and with two different sets of objectives and outcomes. I guess Newcastle to a degree... So, whilst it would be horrible, it might not be the end of the world. For me, I would prefer to stay in the big league (and no, that's not lowered expectations or hyperbole). As Harry Enfield's Tory Boy so eloquently put it... "It's better to be on the train, pissing out... than on the Platform, trying to piss in..."

I said a season or two ago that there was more chance of us playing in League 1 in the next 10 years than there was of playing Champions League football. I am quite fearful of our immediate future and having tasted relegation in 1987, I hope that we can pull through yet again. Sooner or later, the trap door opens - Coventry and Charlton and Wigan... survived for several seasons and then down they went. You know... I can't help feeling a bit of guilty karma here. Back when we were all jizzing over Small Heath getting relegated with that 'going up, they're going down' chant - remarkably catchy and humourous though it was... seems to be coming back to haunt us... Remember what happened when we took the piss out of Newcastle... Next game against them, we got royally dicked 6-0. I have to hope that should we go down we would make a sustained attempt at coming straight back up. But it's a very tough league for a plethora of reasons... not least being the increased number of games, the 'cup final' factor of everyone playing the 'mighty' Villa etc. There are no guarentees. And every season out of the Premier League makes it that more difficult for us to have that 'bright future.' I bet Lerner rues the day he ever endorsed that buzz line. It certainly makes me cringe now... Up the Villa... always.

I'm out after this season, but it's not necessarily due to the current manager. I just don't enjoy going any more, having lost a lot of love for the game as a whole since the 2010 World Cup... I've said that before. I barely watch any football on TV any more. Just leaves me with a 'meh' feeling. It's broken. Ironically, I might renew if we get relegated and we have a proper fresh start. Would be some good away days and all in a league in which we could actually compete and expect our fair share of home entertainment. I don't really do football tactics - I don't fret about 4-4-2 or 5-3-2 etc. Not having played the game seriously (field hockey was my game), it always been about being part of a big crowd... a happy crowd singing in union... the 'wow' factor of actually going to and being at Villa Park... goals, goals, goals and results. I'm not getting that right now. So I am out. Haven't been since the Swansea game (given my mate my ST). To be honest, I ain't really missed it. I feel a lot more chilled out though as a result, and it's nice not losing so much of a weekend watching 22 men chase a **** ball around a pitch.

Pffffftttt.... <shrug> My wife cooked lasagne for us all yesterday and we had a lovely lunch as a result, topped off by a fine raspberry pavlova dessert. That set us up nicely for the family crowding round the TV to watch the mighty Villa in 3D. It looked great and I can fully understand using that technology on the Sky 5 only. I don't really fancy watching Villa get stuffed in 3D any more. So, special effects aside, it was painful to watch at times, particularly 2nd half. Hey ho... Rough with the smooth... rough with the rought with the rough... etc. Their goal was coming for some time it has to be said and I smiled ironically when they finally netted in injury time. Man of the match - **** it... it was you guys, you band of merry folk who paid your money, took your choice and sang your hearts out for the claret and blue so far away from home. Hat off to you all. Hope you had a safe journey back - you deserved that much. The toon were silenced in the first half and we could hear you loud and clear... (and no, we ain't posh, despite a 3D TV, dinner was served on a lap tray, Royle Family stylee). My old chap simply tut-tutted... his limited experience of the Villa this season has come from my description of what I have seen at home and from what he has seen on TV. And even he believes 'It'll get worse before it gets better at Villa. They just have that look about them...' That's what I am dreading right now. What if we haven't hit rock bottom yet?

Will be an interesting summer on here then.

For info - if you are not going and you have a 3D television, this game is available in 3D...

Yes, their FA Cup 1/4 final match against Wigan is scheduled for that weekend so who knows when we will play the Man C tie... AGUEEERRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Errrm, Gary... can you pass me a handkerchief please?

Fair point, Briny. Think it all depends how they get on in that first leg against Barca. If they still have a chance I can imagine them resting their their best players against us. This game could also be called off depending on the result in the FA Cup between them and Chelsea, pretty sure that weekend is the QF....would be interesting to see where our game would be slotted in assuming a City win. Oh god... Don't tell Sky, they'll want this on TV so that Martin Tyler can cum in his pants when Aguerro nets in injury time to give them the title. 2nd season running, we could be on TV giving a Manchester club a goal fest spunkathon... as they 'clinch' the title... LOL.

Let's face it, they could drop 11 players and probably still muster a team capable of beating us. like last year Carling Cup Yes, I take your point. Citeh have already had an off day against us this season though - I can't see them fluffing their lines a second time (law of averages and all that). When was the last time AVFC did the double over a top 4 club...