MarkLillis

32 minutes ago, It's Your Round said:

I’ve listened to all (or nearly all) of the various Villa podcasts over the years, and I’ve started to get bored of a lot of them and stopped listening. There’s a lot of repetition out there, and I’m very easily irritated by little things. 
 

Claret and Blue is one I’ve fell out with, John and Dan are nice lads but I find the content annoying now. Dan is constantly signposting and over explaining the show, and I find John’s voice/cadence hard to listen to, it’s so rushed and kind of short and clipped. Doesn’t sound good to my ear. 
 

For The Love of Paul McGrath - my brain just can’t contend with that level of excessive words, Neil knows his stuff but I just wish he’d slow down and deliver a more considered presentation. 
 

1874 - I’ve listened to Dan Bardell’s views ever since Villa View started, and I don’t mind him now. What I do mind is that he perseveres with Gregg Evans still. I get why but I can’t abide him so don’t listen when he’s on. Jacob Tanswell on the other hand, I’ll always listen to him. He’s like the anti-gregg.

The Holy Trinity - I watched maybe five of his videos, and again I can’t abide him. There’s something about his demeanour that’s really off putting for me. 
 

The only ones I listen to now tend to be:

The Villa Podcast - these lads are sharp and witty, plus they give a very detailed analysis of the games. 

UTV podcast - I’ve only really started listening to Luke’s pods recently, he has good guests on, both Villa fans and rival teams. He’s ever passionate about Villa and has a good grasp of the tactics. 

Omar’s Villa Talks - no need for any further comment, I’m glad this is back. 
 

I dabble with the Athletic podcasts, Tifo and other general football discussion shows. But they mostly focus on the ‘big six’ which is boring. Villa come up occasionally but it’s rare that the commentator gets us. I am a fan of Football Cliches though, that always gets a listen. 
 

 

I listen to lots of football podcasts too especially Villa.

Quite like Dan and John but agree about Johns over explaining.

Also agree about FTLOPMc he knows his stuff but isn’t so watchable to me.

1874 - I like both Dan and Gregg… Gregg brings a balance (no Villa biases)

Other football based podcasts just don’t seem to take us seriously or even understand what we are as a club.They make me smile when I listen to their uneducated opinions which they deliver with almost absolute certainty.

1 hour ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Hey, @Stevo985, I was redoing the permutations in my head, and isn't it actually the case that it could be true, ie, it's mathematically possible that if we want CL, we must get all the points from our remaining PL matches? Not trying to be a git -- just hoping to get it straight in my feeble mind. If Spurs miraculously win everything, we must win everything, too, and protect our GD, right?

Yes.Spurs losing to the Arsenal puts it in our own hands.

We win all our fixtures there is nothing they can do.

4 hours ago, Davkaus said:

The baffling thing about Man United is we think almost all of their players are shit, and that their manager is a clown, but they're only two places below us  

I don't think that their players are shit.

I just think they are shit when the play for Man Utd.

That clubs needs a serious overhaul which it looks like they are going to get now.

12 minutes ago, TRO said:

Are we ready for Champions league?.....missing out on the Europa, is a huge step up.

Don't get me wrong, I want to achieve it, but I wonder, if we are actually ready for it.

No we are not ready.

However there will be time to prepare and add to our squad.Im sure there will be games in the competition where we can compete.

Leicester got to the Quarterfinals.

Its not impossible to make a mark on the competition.

I like him.

The fee we paid was high but that's not his fault.

We pay a lot for him and a little for Rogers Its swings and roundabouts but....for a combined £58m we get.....

Diaby - 13 goal contributions in 35 appearances 

Rogers - 4 goal contributions in 10 appearances

Is that the going rate in PL?

It doesn't look far off to me?

Players bounce off him.I like that.

6 hours ago, tonyh29 said:

If I’m reading 52.04 correctly it doesn’t  seem to matter ? 

Surely that’s all we need to know right? EMI will be fine.

Is there a world where the two German teams get knocked out in the semis losing both games.

Surely in that world as long as Man Citeh are still around then it’s not all that bad?

3 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

Under Levy, Tottenham established themselves as a regular European team - taking part in the three UEFA cups from 06/07 to 08/09 and every season since 2010/11 until this one, in fact - and often (6 out of the 14 years since  2010/11) in the Champions League.

What have they got to show for it? Besides a League Cup win in 07/08, a cheese room and a few American Football matches.

Lets face it most of the trophies have been bought and paid for by a certain club... but if we ignore that elephant in the room then.....

They a nice shiny big new stadium.

They generally win more often than they lose (don't quote me but it has seemed like this to me in the last 15 years..).

They have big name players and managers.

Their fans have travelled to all of the big clubs in Europe and seen their team compete against (and beat sometimes) the very best.

I know they haven't won anything but that's their fault for not using the vast resource's at their disposal correctly. I wouldn't want Villa to not win anything like Spurs don't get me wrong....... I'm desperate for a trophy win, but if waiting means we get all of the above then ill take that bitter pill.*

*ask me again after another five years without a trophy and i will reassess

I see it like this…

Do we want a trophy to shut the Bluenoses up? I’d wager that the majority of us do.

They won’t shut up they will just tell us it’s the European pub league. 

Of course we know it’s not just like we knew the League Cup isn’t a Micky Mouse Cup back in 2011.

Trophies were what it’s all about once and they still have to be the aim but football is different now. The top level is about money and I want Villa to operate at the top level.

This for me is like the marshmallow test where they leave a kid in a room with a marshmallow and tell him not to eat it because if he waits he can have two.
 

For me I’ll take CL and 8 massive matches next year along with the opportunity to continue operating at the level we have this season over an admittedly wonderful one off experience in Athens.

On 08/04/2024 at 10:31, MarkLillis said:

Yes.

Perspective is needed here. However it is difficult considering the media coverage. I listened to Jamie O'Hara  telling us Villa are limping across the line on the way home and giving the audience an impression that Spurs are marching into their rightful 4th place.

As i was listening it did really seem that way at the time too....

But the last five games tell us different story

Villa - DLWDW = 8pts

Spurs - WDWLW = 10pts

Spurs have just overtaken us and stepped into 4th on goal difference yesterday simply due to a mad 10 minutes during a game we have dominated..... otherwise we are still 4th and our current form is exactly the same.

Or flip it and say that Spurs who also had a mad ten minutes at home to Forest actually concede a couple more and go 3-1 down before they comeback. If you had watched the match you will know it could have happened.

The fine margins involved here do not require such wailing and gnashing of teeth. It is football...its how it goes and will continue to go until the last match of the season.

 

Just one week later

Villa WDLWDW = 11pts

Spurs LWDWLW = 10pts

What limp Jamie….can’t hear you? Speak up.

18 hours ago, Hank Scorpio said:

If we won't pay to build a single stand, why do people think we will build a whole new stadium and associated costs of land prep?

Villa have one plan. Wring every penny than can out of the existing 42k or so fan base, and shoehorn as much corporate into the space as they can at the detriment to the lower value paying fans.

 

I wish this didn’t seem so realistic

14 hours ago, useless said:

Of course we've had a dip in form, what do people expect, if we'd have carried on the way we were we would have been title challengers, Spurs have also had dips in form, hence them taking just seven points from West Ham, Fulham, Luton, and Forest, rather than the ten plus points some were predicting, and also hence them being on the exact same points as us

Yes.

Perspective is needed here. However it is difficult considering the media coverage. I listened to Jamie O'Hara  telling us Villa are limping across the line on the way home and giving the audience an impression that Spurs are marching into their rightful 4th place.

As i was listening it did really seem that way at the time too....

But the last five games tell us different story

Villa - DLWDW = 8pts

Spurs - WDWLW = 10pts

Spurs have just overtaken us and stepped into 4th on goal difference yesterday simply due to a mad 10 minutes during a game we have dominated..... otherwise we are still 4th and our current form is exactly the same.

Or flip it and say that Spurs who also had a mad ten minutes at home to Forest actually concede a couple more and go 3-1 down before they comeback. If you had watched the match you will know it could have happened.

The fine margins involved here do not require such wailing and gnashing of teeth. It is football...its how it goes and will continue to go until the last match of the season.

33 minutes ago, Callum said:

The manner of how we dropped points should be an anomaly if we’re to progress as a club

It’s is an anomaly….i can’t remember anything like that recently.

Spurs are well known throughout football for being Spursy.

Whereas a lot of football fans don't really remember our top 4 challenges or drop offs because they were so long ago. However Villa have been Typically Villa quite a few times over the years in my memory.

Most of us have seen Villa fall away when our hopes have been raised before in at least one season. So take your mind of this year it hasn't happened yet...... and cast your mind back to previous disappointments.

When did you realise we didn't have enough during a potentially good season?

I'll start 

1998/99 - we lost 4-1 at home to Coventry i knew it was all over then, i can still picture Boateng smashing the ball into the roof of the net and there fans going mental.

That was the 4th defeat in 5 games and we went on to finish 6th after being top at Christmas.

If you give the ref a reason to send you off then he probably will.

McGinn handed him that reason 

It was a red

It was stupid

I only hope we can get results whilst he is out.

4 hours ago, Bazmonkey said:

Increasing revenue would help a great deal

I have said it before and some have said here...they spend before they get to the ground.

I would pay more if i get more....for example...if a bottle of pop was £2 id buy two one for me and one for my lad....instead of it being £3.50 and share....yes its only pinds and pence more to the club but you get 40000 each home game it will son add up...that goes for food....merchandise too. 

Agree.

There is nothing that’s good value once you get inside the ground.

I mean a can afford extortionate prices for crap food/drink but I choose not too pay.

Im sure there are many more who simply don’t see value so don’t buy.

He left to win stuff and earn more money.

He’s done that.

It worked out for us and him.

Always thought he might come back but the way it’s going for him right now he might not be fit/good enough.

Sad.

12 minutes ago, Xela said:

If we had to sell one big player, I'll say it, it won't be popular, but it would be Ramsey. 

We've proved we can play well and cope without him.Other players who miss games... Martinez, Torres, Kamara, etc, we are much weaker. 

 

I think (I may be wrong of course) that we cope quite well without Kamara.

I don’t doubt he is a high quality player but we seem to get on ok when he’s out too.

Really wouldn’t like to lose Ramsey he is a massive talent.

For what it’s worth here’s my top three.

I just think it’s great that we can watch these things now.Much better than having to listen to TalkSPORT or Sky.

1.Claret and Blue - all of them are likeable and try to balance out their opinions.

2. 1874. - Dans good Greg is a bit disinterested in my opinion but knowledgable.

3. FTLOPMc - they know their stuff on here even better during the transfer window.

1 hour ago, stewiek2 said:

When we beat Arsenal we sat 8 points clear of Manchester United. Despite our crap run and their form upturning they've only gained 3 points on us.

This I like  

I think Tim could be our answer.

A good young player that understands what is expected from him and is surrounded by confident experienced professionals that can help and guide him.

Its already happening at Liverpool who play Bradley and Quansah.

I hope he will thrive and take his opportunity 

29 minutes ago, est1874 said:

Give me a break with this glass half full shit, we've had 4 ACLs in one season.

Fans are entitled to see this as incredibly bad luck, because it is.

Toxic positivity is just as bad as toxic negativity, the facts are the facts.

Enjoy your football much do you?

Not the best news.

However we have to deal with it the best way we can.

We aren’t the only side with crucial players out injured.

We are just the only side that the media will ignore when it comes to injuries.

There will no injury hit Villa battling on reports you can bet on that.

Ok so the result wasn’t good.

However the performance was!

I’m with Unai ,this thing isn’t going downhill at all.

In comparison with the last month it’s looking up again.

UTV