villamark

Sad news about the death of Jerry Collins and his wife. I met him a few times and he was a really nice guy without any ego. The story about him playing for Barnstaple 2nds is typical of the type of guy he was. RIP

Got to Jim thompsons house when your in bangkok, I stayed at a hotel called the lit and it was good value, was about 2 years ago. I went to an island called ko racha yai and stayed at the racha which was really good.

I think fairer taxation may be the way to go, rather than minimum wage. I'm sure someone can come up with a way to ensure the cake is sliced more fairly than it is now. Tax people 90%

No the local cornershop wants to pay high wages to his staff and as much tax as possible.

Would small business pay higher wages than minimum wage?

No indpendant trader would be able to pay the high business rates so that would be a few billion lost in taxes

Roger Lewis has come out and said the pro 12 teams will not join the break away. If you want a european competition than you need teams from across Europe. The Itailian sides have no chance of getting in the top 6 of the pro 12, not unless they pack the teams full of imports from SA and NZ.

England get 6 places, France get 6 places , Ireland get 3 places, Wales get 3 places and Scotland and Italy get 2 places. This has nothing to do with qualification; it has to all to do how the money is carved up. France and England spread it between all the teams in the league. The Celtic nations have regions so it is spread amongst fewer teams so the regions are better funded. England and France want a bigger share of the money as they think they are the big draws, the only problem is that more viewers watch games involving Munster and Leinster. The pro 12 have already said it will not join it, it is brinkmanship. You have to look at the bigger picture, if you exclude Italy and one of the Scottish teams from the top level completion how will that affect the 6 nations, surely it is better for Italian players to get some more exposure at the top level which could help the Italian national team.

Will do some running,, might see if I can squat in a week or two. Just started to feel that the training was making an impact, have lost quite a few inches off the waist with a mix of training and diet, doing the paelo.

I am gutted, was back into lifting weights, routine sorted, I have dislocated my thumb, had to have an operation to to reattach the ligamnents. Doubt I will be able to grip for 12 weeks.

If you cut the frivolous claims by charging a fee then, the people who have had their rights violated will get justice much quicker as the ET will not be back up with frivolous claims.

I would be interested to see / hear your evidence for that, especially the blackmail comment. Maybe the fact that workers rights are so eroded now is worthy of consideration and the costs impacts of any righting wrongs that typically happen when employers act illegally / immorally (or both) are worthy of debate? The way I read your comments is that only people with money should have the right to legally question these things? 1600 pounds for a full hearing is a pretty serious amount of money - especially as you are claiming it should be more. I wonder how many people can / would afford that? Wife works in HR, quite a few employees put in cliams knowing the employer will pay out rather than spend thousands of pounds winning a case at ET. it's a numbers thing, they end up doing a comprimise agreement because it is cheaper. How about the empoyee pays the employers legal fees if they lose.

People use ET as a way of blackmailing empolyers, they know it costs an employer money to get a case prepared, the ampount of time HR spend on it plus getting legal advice. Most employers give a grand or two to avoid the cost of going to ET, the only problem with this policy is thast the fee should be much higher.

Cameron is a villa fan when asked he says he is a villa fan because of his uncle who used to bring him to villa park. I would imagine he does not make a big deal of it because people jump on the "oh he is trying to be a man of the people" you might not like his politics but that does not exclude him from supporting us.

Lazy Cow is good, the Bar is quite nice as well. You could try the boot in lapworth, nice outdoor drinking area.

To be honest, as much as Gabby obviously loves the club, I'd imagine if Spurs were offering 20 odd million for him and offering to triple his wages, he'd probably be making the move himself. Exactly. If spurs came in for any of our players they would be willing to make the move. How do you know this exactly? I'm pretty sure most of our players would stick around at Villa as they seem to have all bought into what Lambert is trying to do. It is my opinion, spurs are pushing for a CL, they are a step up from us at present. Do you really think players do not want to play CL or a team who have a chance of playing in it. That they would not like a huge pay rise. How do you know they have all brought into what Lambert is doing?. Because our players (apart from one) all seem to be renewing their contracts and publicly stating that they like what's happening at Villa. They obviously have the belief that Villa are on the way back up and I'm pretty sure the majority of them who have been in English football for a while, know very well that Spurs are not a step up from Villa and are just as likely to be hitting the skids in a couple of years' time. When Newcastle hit fifth last year did you think our players would be all off up there? Because nobody else is in for them, talk about claret and blue specs. what are they meant to say, well none of the top 4 are interested in me so I am going to sign a longer contract on more money but next year if a bigger club come in for me than I am going to kick up a fuss. To say that spurs are not a step up from us at present and any of our player would not jump at a move to them is just deluded Lay off the tabloids, mate, you are being brainwashed and falling into their short term, extremist way of thinking. Believe it or not, some players can actually think for themselves and see a bigger picture and plan taking shape at Villa Park. Let's see what happens in the next 12, 24, 36 months. Brainwashed, yeah that must be it. Sorry your right players dont really care about their careers or about playing for a team that is pushing for CL. They are just happy to play for villa with the hope in 3 years we might be in a position to push for the top 4 if things go well. So when we are going for the top 4 and can attract better players, lambert will say no I am going to stick with the players who got me here and you as a fan will be happy with that. football careers are short, players want to play for the best team that they can and earn as much as possible.

To be honest, as much as Gabby obviously loves the club, I'd imagine if Spurs were offering 20 odd million for him and offering to triple his wages, he'd probably be making the move himself. Exactly. If spurs came in for any of our players they would be willing to make the move. How do you know this exactly? I'm pretty sure most of our players would stick around at Villa as they seem to have all bought into what Lambert is trying to do. It is my opinion, spurs are pushing for a CL, they are a step up from us at present. Do you really think players do not want to play CL or a team who have a chance of playing in it. That they would not like a huge pay rise. How do you know they have all brought into what Lambert is doing?. Because our players (apart from one) all seem to be renewing their contracts and publicly stating that they like what's happening at Villa. They obviously have the belief that Villa are on the way back up and I'm pretty sure the majority of them who have been in English football for a while, know very well that Spurs are not a step up from Villa and are just as likely to be hitting the skids in a couple of years' time. When Newcastle hit fifth last year did you think our players would be all off up there? Because nobody else is in for them, talk about claret and blue specs. what are they meant to say, well none of the top 4 are interested in me so I am going to sign a longer contract on more money but next year if a bigger club come in for me than I am going to kick up a fuss. To say that spurs are not a step up from us at present and any of our player would not jump at a move to them is just deluded

I got dumped because my boobs were too big, but I am a bloke.

To be honest, as much as Gabby obviously loves the club, I'd imagine if Spurs were offering 20 odd million for him and offering to triple his wages, he'd probably be making the move himself. Exactly. If spurs came in for any of our players they would be willing to make the move. How do you know this exactly? I'm pretty sure most of our players would stick around at Villa as they seem to have all bought into what Lambert is trying to do. It is my opinion, spurs are pushing for a CL, they are a step up from us at present. Do you really think players do not want to play CL or a team who have a chance of playing in it. That they would not like a huge pay rise. How do you know they have all brought into what Lambert is doing?.

To be honest, as much as Gabby obviously loves the club, I'd imagine if Spurs were offering 20 odd million for him and offering to triple his wages, he'd probably be making the move himself. Exactly. If spurs came in for any of our players they would be willing to make the move.

This. He is 22 years old and probably more worried about getting his hands on a PS4 than his immediate future. He has taken advice, whether good or bad, and acted accordingly. He will turn up for training with the first team squad and be welcomed by Paul Lambert as such. What will be, will be, but I don't think that it will affect day to day training one iota. Yeah like none of the baggies players cared when odemwinge tried to leave. Of course it will be awkward, they are a tight nit group all buying into lamberts plans, Benteke doesn't want to part of it so it will feel a little strange. Just because they earn good money doesnt mean they are devoid of feelings. Just don't agree, it is not a cult. the players do not care the same way fans do. It is a job to them, I do not get upset when someone in the office I work in goes for a better job. It simple isn't the same as an office job. Why release an article about sylla having to help intergrate him back into the squad if there wasn't some ill feeling towards him from certain players. Some media hack puts a story out to fill some space. I would imagine he will turn up, some of the players will makea joke about him being in the wrong changing room, ask him if he needs to a sat nav as he should be in London etc

Do you think the players will not talk to Benteke? or that they will be upset with them?. I can maybe see lambert not being too happy with him but that is about it. they will just get on with it.

Exactly, shouldn't be an issue at all really. In normal life it's akin to someone handing in their notice and everyone being told and that person is leaving and then working with said person for the next 4 weeks. The only difference is Benteke doesn't know who his next employer is (or atleast he shouldn't know at this stage). Football isn't normal life and it isn't an office job. It is a normal job if you are a footballer.

This. He is 22 years old and probably more worried about getting his hands on a PS4 than his immediate future. He has taken advice, whether good or bad, and acted accordingly. He will turn up for training with the first team squad and be welcomed by Paul Lambert as such. What will be, will be, but I don't think that it will affect day to day training one iota. Yeah like none of the baggies players cared when odemwinge tried to leave. Of course it will be awkward, they are a tight nit group all buying into lamberts plans, Benteke doesn't want to part of it so it will feel a little strange. Just because they earn good money doesnt mean they are devoid of feelings. Just don't agree, it is not a cult. the players do not care the same way fans do. It is a job to them, I do not get upset when someone in the office I work in goes for a better job.

Will it really be an issue, it is a job to the players, sure they understand that he wants to move onto a club which at present has better prospects. Not sure it will be awkward at all.