MarkLillis

On 30/10/2023 at 21:27, Mark Albrighton said:

John Gregory was the manager. Villa were joint top after 22 games, behind first place Chelsea on goal difference. Think we were on 43 points.

Then we died. Really died. We were knocked out of the FA cup by Fulham - they were a league one side at the time, albeit a good one - and that carried over for the rest of the season.

We ended the season in sixth with 55 points. Twelve points from the final 16 games. Utter collapse. 

This collapse amongst others (1990 and 1993 - although nowhere near as bad but just as painful) are why Villa fans take "good" starts with a pinch of salt.

At the time it felt unbelievable, we were so good......then so bad in one season! 

l like this guy.

Good player for us to have, composed stylish and reads the game very well.

Its like having a clone of Pau.

I like the star.It reminds everyone that this club has reached the pinnacle of the game.

The only people that it bothers are from clubs without such a history.

All I would like is for it to stay on the outside of the badge.I think it’s classier there.

9 hours ago, villa4europe said:

Said in the match thread the B team more or less has more European experience (and international experience) than our A team

They're good enough, let's not pretend they're not, especially vs opposition like tonight, they have to play better it's that simple, we need them to play better

Tielemans has 60 international caps and 70 games in europe, dendoncker has 30 caps and 50 games in europe, it's bollocks that they can't be good enough vs mostar, it's a mental block in their head

They were good enough…maybe not pretty on the eye or convincing but they did get the job done.

We would all love a 6-1 win every week but most time success is about getting over the line when you are under strength or below par form wise.

On 21/09/2023 at 16:51, OutByEaster? said:

Villa haven't evolved and the facilities for most of our supporters have actually got worse as prices have steeply risen - we've been left behind. If this was a business rather than something more akin to a religion, we'd see the club losing customers.

This is the truth.I already try to spend as little as possible whilst at Villa Park.

I don’t want to give “them” my money “they” are taking the proverbial and we all know it…we have done since Doug was in charge.

The club knows our weaknesses only too well and they are being exploited.

Wouldnt it be nice to be feel part of something  and not the target of something.

 I will still buy my ticket…..but I might have to plan more carefully for when I retire if I want to keep going.

On 19/09/2023 at 16:50, Vive_La_Villa said:

I’ve no doubt they will be great but I bet they just sing non stop rather than reacting to what is on the pitch. Sounds great but doesn’t help the team as much as as a collective roar when they are piling on the pressure for a goal. 

I've often wondered this.

What do players think about fans that just sing and dance without paying attention to what's happening?

Some Milan's fans were doing this the other night......clearly not paying attention to the game just creating an atmosphere.

Which is good..........but sometimes it doesn't relate to what happening on the pitch at all.

Stop taking Aston Villa more seriously than Aston Villa takes you......

This has been my signature since the Doug Ellis days.

Just take what you need from Villa....because they will take what they need from you.

I buy my season ticket and the occasion pint.

Season ticket is good value.

The pint isn't...........  at the current price and service level. Occasionally i decide to indulge though.

So much of our play goes through him.

He also swept up for Ezri on a couple of occasions.

Caught for the goal but Mateta was a threat all game and what defender is perfect and never gets turned?Im sure there are some but I can’t think of names right now.

Good player and he has scope to improve.

4 minutes ago, Rugeley Villa said:

There was a lot of negativity around me yesterday. Players getting abused and just general moaning . In all honesty most home support in England is crap though so we aren’t much different to the rest . 

There’s also a lot of negativity in this thread.

However your final sentence pretty much sums it all up.

We are no different to the rest.

On 07/09/2023 at 11:29, TRO said:

If we play away from home against good teams and choose to be more conservative, more resilient, I am not sure we have enough players with the intrinsic nous to play like that.

We did manage to do it, on many occasions last season....so I can only assume the injuries have affected the specific players who can do it.

I think maybe we should have been a bit more aware of that, when the window was open....but of course, its easy to be wise, after the event.

This is true.....but it is a football fans way. Don't be too hard on yourself

last night i attended with my wife .....it doesn't happen often.

I was surprised to see that she was sent to the back of the queue because the steward couldn't check her as he was a man... she was told to join a queue with a women steward.

It wasn't a big deal....but i didn't know it was even a thing?

This will surely slow things down even more!

55 minutes ago, skarroki said:

If we're paying a loan fee plus wages for a guy that would not get into most fans starting XI,

This is the type of thinking that makes my head spin.

When it comes to football “most fans” don’t know.

I include myself in this generalisation 

1 minute ago, Demitri_C said:

Count me in for ESR

I think he has huge potential and scores goals. Get it done unai!

I'm in the ESR camp too.

Could really develop into a top player given the chance.

Weren't we in for him a couple of years ago?

58 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

Are we going to have a squad big enough to challenge on all fronts if we keep selling our youth prospects?

I would say yes.

Based on the Emery/Monchi partnership know how.

On 22/08/2023 at 13:51, HalfTimePost said:

Charging for it without delivering will lead to reduced commercial revenues as fans drop off and whether we like it or not, we have to cater to a further afield audience

This is already happening.They are charging for it without delivering!

Do we just keep paying and they keep taking? I'd had enough years ago nothing is good value inside VP every fan who attend games regularly  knows this.

On 16/08/2023 at 23:11, andym said:

Weren't we going at top 2 or 3 pace under Emery last year though?

That's obviously not going to be sustainable this year.

I guess the question is if we revert to being consistent with expected points, how does that work out, top 6? 

How many points Newcastle United, Man United & Liverpool need to seal Champions League finish | NewcastleWorld

Here a quick link i found from google stating that the average over the last decade to get top four has been 71Pts.

Emery's points per game so far = 1.92 (my own math's)

1.92 points a game is 73pts.

Unia is on it!

1 hour ago, Mark Albrighton said:

I think there’s a huge difference between having to suck it up and get on with it if suddenly your place of work has been taken over by a despicable regime and if the club you support has been taken over.

One is the source of your income, the other essentially is a hobby. It would be much easier to not do your hobby anymore.

I would find it impossible to “give up” about Villa.

Maybe I could as I have in the past for various reasons not actually go to the game.

However we are talking about things that I have only heard about being done to people I’ve never seen.It’s really difficult to get emotional about it.

Its just doesn’t affect my life and nor will affect the Geordies I guess.

There is a simple solution in my eyes here.

Accept that they don't care about us we are just ticket price figures to them.

If you accept this then you don't expect much.

When you don't get much its not a surprise.

You can even get your own back by playing a little game...… try to spend as little as you possibly can with the club during the season as they are only trying to fleece you every way you turn once you are inside.

Thought he did well.Under absolutely no pressure though.

40 minutes ago, oishiiniku_uk said:

Has Boehly taken some kind of 'Brewster's Millions' type wager where he has to spend all their money as quickly as possible?

I have a feeling that the PIF have guaranteed to buy players from them in the future.

This would explain the carefree spending…

They have an insurance policy.

The PIF get a steam of PL big names filtered through to them via Stamford Bridge 

2 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Only players we don't like can be criticised for poor showings.

 

I think we should stick to the no criticism idea..

After all negativity just brings everyone down

Mannn.

Peace!

Losing Mings is a massive blow.

It really is….

Im sorry for him because he has worked his way back to the top of his game and I’m even sorrier that Villa will lose a “peak” Tyrone.

He is almost priceless to us.

I think Unai will have to work his magic here.

At least it’s the first game.

tried this a few times over the years...doesn't really work for me.

I just don't care enough to get any kind of buzz!