Raver50032

See Butterfingers - there are more than two types of people. Didn't think it mattered where the points came from? Perhaps he thinks you get more points for a home win? The kind of person who would prefer to forget about last night & start bleating about home form instead will never change-I'd place him in the same category as the other bloke so imo there is only 2 types of people. Interesting. o.O I wouldn't give a toss where the points came from either, if I didn't pay to go to Villa Park. Happy Friday... Looking forward to three more nailed on points at Craven Cottage on Sunday. We have a taste for mugging people in their own back yard now.

And without sounding like a clearing in the woods this is not helping our home form either. generally, playing away from home does nothing for your home record no. Maybe we should request all our games be played away from home? As it suits our style? That would save me the best part of 500 quid each year. Bring it on.

Not for me I'm afraid. He had some good things about him and his time here - but I found him quite frustrating even when he played for us. Always seemed like getting himself booked cheaply for dissent, kicking/throwing balls away... and of course, he did used to dive for us. I thought he was exciting at times, but generally frustrating. Then he went up north and he dived even more... There is no barge pole large enough that I would be inclined to touch him with. And for the win, no to Downing either when he looks for an escape to European football with us as his West Ham nightmare continues.

21 chances, 75% possession and winning a 5 goal thriller... That would actually be value for money and would keep me going.

Cannot argue with your first statement as I don't know the guy. On the second point, I really really want to believe... just like I want to believe in life after death. Or life on other planets... or that I can one day go back in time and tell my younger self not to worry about what will become of my life. Showed a lot of courage to drop our 'best player' to the bench after Saturday's dicey game at Villa Park. I respect him for that, and I would like to think that young Benteke will bounce back accordingly. It's always great to win... last night was a big surprise actually to me (especially after last season's stuffing down there, and Ricky 'the word removed' Lambert's cheating at Villa Park) and I have that nice warm glowy feeling inside that makes me feel good about being a Villain. So thank you Paul. All the talk about possession being irrelevant and previously about whether we have luck or not... All opinions considered and valid. My view is, we won't go on and actually beat many teams (maybe those 'worse' than Southampton on occasion) with such low possession and shots. I get the mantra about it being more what you do with possession i.e. creating opportunities to score etc. Smash and grab wins like this always feel good and sneaky... But it feels like it papers over the cracks for me. Kind of like when we beat Man City at home. It bought us more time and alleviated a bit of pressure. And Paul - please do it at home. Entertain your main crowd. (Apologies to away goers only... you play a big part... but sending your home supporters home bored and frustrated is damaging in the long run). You nearly did it against Everton, but somehow the wheels came off in that game quite spectacularly. Football's feel good factor is quite short termism at times and we're always as good as our last result. Last night gives us hope... But let's not kid ourselves that we are going to nonce our way to becoming media darlings or top half dwellers with 28% possession, an incestuous handful of shots and an occasional wonder strike. I can't see it personally and it's only my view. Up the Villa - a great win... even if maybe not the way we would all like to see it done. Credit where it's due last night.

It's an internet forum, they all get ridiculous, even those run by greying old men who like model railways* I don't forget where we were at all - I boycotted McLeish after the Swansea game despite having a ST. It was making me angry, and so enraged was i at that game, I had a 'sensation' in my chest, so I stayed away until the day he was given the tin tack. For between four and five hundred quid, it's a lot of money for common men (with more than just football as an interest) like me to spunk up the wall each year on a season ticket, project or no project, patience or no patience. The club does well to run itself as a business these days. A successful business needs customers 'through the door' to help keep it afloat. To keep customers interested (apart from the blind loyal), they need to be entertained. A lucky win (debated before) against Citeh, does not cut it I'm afraid. Through all the bluster (not you Omariqy) we have seen over the last weeks about fixtures at the start being so difficult and that we should be grateful and happy clappy for the position we currently enjoy (to be fair, I feel comfortable about all that) - I cannot explain why we were so unable to make any headway into a winnable fixture against bottom of the league and flapping Sunderland. Even finding ourselves so cheaply 2-0 down and on our arse at the Hawthorns. After the tough start, we're suddenly some way into a run of winnable games (debatable that ANY game is winnable). Project or no project, something isn't right and it needs changing. I'm not saying the manager requires sacking, no... not at all. But he needs to change something before we do end up back down there in a scrap when the 'too hard' fixtures come round again. On the 'journey' we are on, our position is acceptable in my view and it is clear progress if we finish the season where we are now. Some entertainment and value for money would be very welcome along the way. Especially if they want me to part with 500 quid next term. *Nothing wrong with model railways. I've got one round my garden. Keeps me off the street and out of the pub**. **Nothing wrong with going down the pub. I just find it expensive for not a lot of reward anymore.

I am hoping that these comments are very much tongue in cheek? Indeed. In truth, I seemed to spend more time looking up into the Trinity stand towards the Holte End trying to spy Prince William, or checking out the glorious claret and blue inspired sunset I could see than on what was happening on the pitch. However, Guzan was deffo my man of the match - yet again. That save was brilliant. Still - 4 games unbeaten, can't argue with the logic that things are 'great.' I am grateful that we are not getting stuffed every week, for sure. But something isn't right at Villa Park - we really are a chore to watch. I'm not looking for people to be sacked, far from it. But after our tough start, we are finding it difficult to 'even beat' bottom of the league Sunderland who have struggled for results thus far (and will o so for the next fortnight as well I might add looking at their fixtures). I'll park that there for now. How long before the difficult fixtures come round again and everything becomes just too hard once more? Sorry folks, the tricky fixtures bruhaha is all done with now, we are where we are... So why are we not winning our winnable games?

After a very tricky opening set of fixtures, we managed to get a fabulous home point against Sunderland who have a new manager and are destined for much better than their false league position currently shows. We're 11th now following on from the despair of last season's challenges which represents such a massive improvement in the direction that our own club is going. Why were some people booing at the end of the game on Saturday? Some people seriously thought we would walk all over the Mackems considering their current position and on the bizarre result from last season. We played some excellent football and got our just rewards in a very hard fought point indeed. Well done boys. Hopefully the manager gave you the day off yesterday. I couldn't fault the effort and I thought the lads, especially Albrighton on his timely return from loan was excellent. Man of the match for me was Guzan - fantastic save at close range, tipping the ball onto the bar and away for to relative safety. Apart from Okore, I think all of our key injury worries are now out of the way and I am looking forward to stomping all over Southampton on Tuesday night. It's a nailed on Villa win with our previous hard fought results, and the threatening, progressive talent we have. Europa League here we come. It feels great to be a Villain right now.

So... will the same team start versus les chats noires?

Big Ron messed that up by signing Townsend. Parker is one of my favourite players ever, he was just quality on the ball and scored a few...he just lacked pace and movement. But Richardson and Townsend was never as good or as good football as Richardson and Parker. Awwww... I used to like Townsend a lot... He hit that fabulous shot away at Ipswich for a goal - the shot bending impossibly in three different directions as it flew to the net from his foot. He put himself about on the park and chipped in with his fair share of goals - especially under Brian. It was great to see that lovable side lift the League Cup in a perfect Wembley performance in 1996... Townsend and Taylor - lovely stuff.

He picks up £1.5 million a year for turning up to reserve team training. I wouldn't feel too sorry for him. He was very poor and rightly replaced. It is disappointing for all concerned that he hasn't been sold. His contract is up in 2015 but I'm sure he will be gone by next summer, maybe even January. Yes, and adding to this, he appears happy with his moral compass to take that money, even though it seems that he has no prospect of turning out for his employer on any sort of regular basis. If he really had confidence in his ability and marketability to other clubs, then why not do the decent thing and just agree with Villa to cut up that contract and leave by mutual consent? Contracts can be broken at any time if both parties agree - it just needs one side of the contract not to demand a stoopid pay off. Hopefully, Charles Adam and Mad-dog Ireland will put in a good word for him with Sparky at Stoke. Obviously, it's easier (and more comfortable for HIM) to pick up that money and run around with the youth. To be fair, on that money, yeah, I'd sit on that contract and let it run down. It's the scourge of the modern game. And for the win, AVFC are not blameless in this sitch either. Why would he cut up his Villa contract?? They guy would be mental to do that. He will have to take a pay cut for a new club to agree to take him but he might as well keep getting paid by us whilst he is waiting for a decent contract. That's the problem and my point... If he really cared about playing football and his long term career, he'd b**ger off. As it is, he is too comfortable earning the money he is earning instead of wanting to prove and better himself. He could do the decent thing, but he won't. Villa gifted him, and now he is getting paid pretty much for naff all. I thought I had made that clear in my initial post, but hey-ho. Yes, my issue with your post was that you seem to be judging him harshly for it but I would suggest it is perfically rational behavior and we would all do the same. If you imagion yourself in his shoes and you have signed a fat contract for a club you don't care about (Sunderland perhaps?), every one of us would wait for a good opportunity to come along before giving up that contract. Yep - fully agree. And I think you will find I said in my initial post about it. Yep, I am guilty, I judge him harshly - it stinks that somebody like that can milk the system. Especially at our club. Can't wait for him to fook off. That nasty challenge he did in the dying moments in our home fixture against Arsenal during Eck's tenure showed me all I needed to know of him.

That picture of Eck reminds me of the 'evil troll' who comes good in the Goonies.

He picks up £1.5 million a year for turning up to reserve team training. I wouldn't feel too sorry for him. He was very poor and rightly replaced. It is disappointing for all concerned that he hasn't been sold. His contract is up in 2015 but I'm sure he will be gone by next summer, maybe even January. Yes, and adding to this, he appears happy with his moral compass to take that money, even though it seems that he has no prospect of turning out for his employer on any sort of regular basis. If he really had confidence in his ability and marketability to other clubs, then why not do the decent thing and just agree with Villa to cut up that contract and leave by mutual consent? Contracts can be broken at any time if both parties agree - it just needs one side of the contract not to demand a stoopid pay off. Hopefully, Charles Adam and Mad-dog Ireland will put in a good word for him with Sparky at Stoke. Obviously, it's easier (and more comfortable for HIM) to pick up that money and run around with the youth. To be fair, on that money, yeah, I'd sit on that contract and let it run down. It's the scourge of the modern game. And for the win, AVFC are not blameless in this sitch either. Why would he cut up his Villa contract?? They guy would be mental to do that. He will have to take a pay cut for a new club to agree to take him but he might as well keep getting paid by us whilst he is waiting for a decent contract. That's the problem and my point... If he really cared about playing football and his long term career, he'd b**ger off. As it is, he is too comfortable earning the money he is earning instead of wanting to prove and better himself. He could do the decent thing, but he won't. Villa gifted him, and now he is getting paid pretty much for naff all. I thought I had made that clear in my initial post, but hey-ho.

He picks up £1.5 million a year for turning up to reserve team training. I wouldn't feel too sorry for him. He was very poor and rightly replaced. It is disappointing for all concerned that he hasn't been sold. His contract is up in 2015 but I'm sure he will be gone by next summer, maybe even January. Yes, and adding to this, he appears happy with his moral compass to take that money, even though it seems that he has no prospect of turning out for his employer on any sort of regular basis. If he really had confidence in his ability and marketability to other clubs, then why not do the decent thing and just agree with Villa to cut up that contract and leave by mutual consent? Contracts can be broken at any time if both parties agree - it just needs one side of the contract not to demand a stoopid pay off. Hopefully, Charles Adam and Mad-dog Ireland will put in a good word for him with Sparky at Stoke. Obviously, it's easier (and more comfortable for HIM) to pick up that money and run around with the youth. To be fair, on that money, yeah, I'd sit on that contract and let it run down. It's the scourge of the modern game. And for the win, AVFC are not blameless in this sitch either.

Problem is, Villa is a poisoned chalice of a job. For a whole plethora of reasons, who has ever managed Villa and then gone on to much bigger and brighter things? I can think of nobody. Irrelevent in this discussion, but I can't think of a single Villa manager who has gone on to excell elsewhere.

Good Ugo Ehiogu - 40k from West Brom - for the win. Dwight 'traitor' Yorke - was he 10k from some beach football team? Paul Merson - I thought he was over the hill when he came to Villa, but soon proved me wrong. We've missed him since. Bad Stephen Ireland Bosko Taliban (sic) Gary Penrice

Ahhhh f**k it... Glad to say Villa proved me wrong against Cardiff, despite a 'sigh' of frustration at half time. We did it... great. Well done Villa... keep it up. As a glass half empty man... I am quite happy at this moment.

Fabulous free kick Leandro... again... I take my hat off to you... Keep up your good work, wherever you play for us...

Why would you ever believe we're going to get 'fingered three nil at home' against Cardiff? There is nothing in reality whatsoever to suggest that Cardiff City are about to inflict our biggest league defeat of the season. People were saying exactly the same thing before games last season—like against Sunderland, and look what happened. Why bother going through the week between games that negative? And for no reason whatsoever? We were good against Everton in the game before last. We could quite easily have won that game, and the West Ham game. If we win you'll just look like you're negative for the sake of it, or you're on a wind-up. Personally, I think you might be trying to get a reaction No, not me - I don't post for a reaction... it's just how I feel, caring much less about 'how I might look.' After the back of an 8-0 drubbing by Chelski and a 4-0 Boxing by Tottingham, I didn't expect to then get mullered by Wigan... Circumstances are a little different this time I admit, but... The statistics (whether believed or not) indicated over recent pages on this thread tell me that tomorrow is not a foregone conclusion. Does anybody have Cardiff's stats to compare? Obviously, Cardiff will have had a different fixture list so all a bit moot. I wouldn't say I was being negative for the sake of it - though after Everton, I am finding it harder to be convinced about everything that is going on and the direction we are taking. No... rather, I expect some reward for the money I invest in the club each season in terms of value for money. The statistics (believed or not) and the results together tell me I am not being entertained - and football (for the money I pay) is more than just a hobby. It's entertainment. Yes, tomorrow could be a Sunderland (2012-13) - hope it is. Current form and statistics tell me I am in for a disappointing afternoon though. And there really are no excuses this time. No more 'could have,' 'should have' etc. I'm not happy right now - and I fully expect to be unhappy for a long time during this ongoing, never ending austere transition. But I still go... Reverse psychology maybe - fear the worst and if things are better, then we're all winners. I'll give them a cheer and a clap when they stroll out tomorrow and hope for the best.

Nice and succint HH. But as I said imo after the Everton game - the excuses no longer hold any weight. We've played the big boys... we've had the injuries... we've got some points on the board... And now we've got that 'massive' point to stop the rot away at West Ham. Tomorrow, we have the easy peasy game at home against Cardiff. I can see that like me, you do not necessarily think that tomorrow's game is a home banker. Our form (albeit temporary) dictates that it is going to be agony to watch. So... what happens 'if' we don't win that? Will the 'good, honest bunch of lads, who's effort can't be faulted' just 'go again?' If I were Malky, I would be rubbing my hands right now, hairy or not. I wouldn't like to be in the dugout at full time if we've been fingered three nil at home. I hope I am very wrong... but I think tomorrow's game is going to be the 'Wigan' of 2013-14. We've been through some shit, but from where I sit, I can't see any excuses for tomorrow's game - unless Phil Fcking Dowd is the referee.

Does he spit on his own fans? <ooops, wrong Milosevic...> ;-)

It's a strange one for sure... It's like when you hear a teenage girl call One Direction 'sick.' What she actually means is that she is getting a little bit excited, when old twunts like me (old at 38 :-/) believes that she means One Direction are either poorly or a bunch a bastards with one thing on their mind.

Seriously? 5 goals in 9 appearances isn't bad at all, and let's not forget he's not been fully fit since that Norwich game. Essentially 2 of those were pens and one was against Rotherham. He has been injured and has no service and but he hasn't been as effective as last season. I'm not blaming him but its hard to disagree with that statement. I agree the doubling up has stifled him, doesn't help that gabby and andi don't seem to be benefitting from him being doubled up anymore, the end of last season we seemed to work our way around it, this season we have abandoned it and now just seem to hoof it to him one of about 6 players who just haven't looked right so far this year I would expect that if players are double teaming 'Big Chris,' then there should be more space for our other attackers to exploit and score instead... Step up to the plate then Gabby and Weimann.

Wasn't he outed as a war criminal during the Kosovo conflict of the late 1990s?

And whatever happened to the 'bright future?' I guess there are 50 shades of 'bright' huh? One man's 'bright' is finishing without relegation and making up the numbers. Another man's 'bright' is a tilt at qualifying for Europe... I'd actually like to have a go at winning the FA Cup in the colour/high def era. 'Bright' for me, is feeling secure in the future of my club, and feeling as though we can compete - and that includes competing for silverware of any flavour. 'We've done it before, and we'll do it again.' It's just when. If my club can't ever compete, and we are just making up the numbers, what is the point of us being there? We might as well just re-live the glory days on DVD or in our books. Save ourselves a few bob in the process. Look, I have no issue at all with people who demand/expect more than what we've got right now. I am one of them... and I am prepared to be miserable for a long time if I have to. Even die I guess and come back to haunt the Holte. But by Christ, I would expect and hope that both Lerner and Lambert want us to be in a place much better off than we are now. So figure that into the equation please folks. We all seem to agree at least that nobody likes where we are now. That is progress. Accepting our lot now will ultimately end in a Charlton, a Coventry, a Leicester, a Forest, a Derby, a Blues etc. Certainly no spoiled child am I, and I am not in tears either because the moon is still the moon. I just want better for my club... What we need is to give somebody a good 'dicking' over the next few fixtures. Are we playing Sunderland soon?