KevinRichardsonsMoustache

3 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said:

I'm surprised as well. I had been under the impression - perhaps mistakenly - that we had a woman whose exact job it was to very quickly help new players with finding houses, getting their belongings over, learning language basics etc. I was even under the impression that she was sufficiently well thought-of that it was one of the better features of our club. Oh well. Maybe it's not actually down to her - she might have left, or been sidelined by Sherwood, or something. 

I was under the impression that she was appointed after Balaban and, especially, JPA. I'm pretty sure she was a Spanish speaker - she was in a video showing Sanchez around speaking to him.

I agree that we don't know the ins and outs of this: maybe she left, was marginalised or just isn't very good. These are issues that need resolving, we can't deny.

The issue, for me at least, is that this whole 'infrastructure' thing is now the explanation for everything. This and other infrastructure issues have taken centre stage.

Things don't have agency, though: people do. Lerner and, to a lesser extent, Fox are removing themselves from the decline. Don't blame the fans: people turn up week in and week out. We can't keep blaming very different managers despite their individual traits  and peculiarities. Don't raise prices to compete or raise cash from sales without replacing them adequately. Lerner knew the business when he arrived and it hasn't changed since.

Why is he acting like the rules of engagement, across the sport, have changed? The only thing that has changed is that he lost the bottle for it and needs a way to explain his rather pathetic position. 

He needs a confessor not a CEO.

Had a nightmare at work yesterday so I spent the evening catching up and digesting this. 

First off, I have to say that, despite the occasional complaint that some members on here are being too critical, most of the discussion appears to have been pretty fair. People express their opinions well on here - unlike some other forums.

FWIW, Hollis and Fox would be fools to not be preparing for life in the Championship. Fine. There is still a larger problem that this new and, for the moment, talkative regime hasn't put to bed: the club hasn't explained past decisions or outlined a meaningful vision of what we are going to be.

The problem is that Fox and Hollis are trying to continue the master narrative that investment is worthless without infrastructure. This is a reaction to Lerner's substantial spending in the first few years of his tenure and a false explanation for what it stopped. Secondly, the responses at the meeting assume that football must somehow lag behind our ability to operate a good human resources team. This is a response to the fact that the players from France didn't bed in as well as hoped. Maybe our team working in that needs help - that doesn't need an entire rethink. 

The responses at the meeting indicate that the official club narrative is now about business and sustaining a corporate culture. Fact is, bad football clubs haemorrhage cash. Ones in the Premier League can rely on the massive tv deals propping them up.

We keep getting told that villa is a brilliant brand. The problem is that the processes, that should be behind the scenes, have overtaken the goal: being a football team of which it's fans can be proud. Yes, football teams can and are corporate giants, too - I'm not making out that this is some sell out. The problem arises when the underpinnings overtake the ultimate aim of the organisation. 

I wish they'd stop excusing the past. I want to see them build a footballing culture that has something to it (maybe about style, or community values or local kids from the youth team getting a chance) rather than the mixed approach we have now. It's having a clear and defined goal that has helped the likes of Soithampton and, up to last season, Swansea. Unfortunately, that requires some vision and some money up front. 

Two? Goals? Is this allowed?

Two.

Randy gets an extra £100k just for being at this stage of the cup? Result. 

Just now, Davkaus said:

 the elague.

I'm assuming that's the French amateur division? 

Just now, Chicken Field said:

May teach villa something, when you have players in the box when the crosses come in, you might score

This. Emphatically this. 

The five live guy gave it the full Gaelic pronunciation. Suppose Clark used to do hurling. 

Carles Gil. Just score a wonder goal and let's call it a night. I want to forget about this whole tie to be honest.

How does one 'turn up the screw', Deano?

Wallpaper paste.

I don't want extra time. It'll bore me silly. 

If Wycombe sorted their f-ing shooting radar out then this game would've been put to bed. 

Kieran Richardson with the killer free kick. FFS.

1 minute ago, sexbelowsound said:

I like the combination of green and white hoops. Always preferred it to a vertical stripe myself.

Agreed. Real Betis. Croatia's checkered strip was always my favourite, to be honest. 

Just now, alreadyexists said:

"Cross cum-shot"

Childish. But lovely. 

1 minute ago, Davkaus said:

We lost 8-0 a couple of seasons ago, is the Premier League not a real league?

We might not be a real team? That Chelsea game was Lambert's rubicon. He drowned. 

Just now, terrytini said:

In midfield with Senchase, just in front of Julian Lennoncott.

I wish we had Bryan Griggs.

Just now, osmark86 said:

West is playing according to LiveScore. We're not even worth accuracy anymore..

How old is Taribo West now? Must be worth a punt on a free? Randy? 

I'm happy to give this chap a chance. Any appointment Randy makes will be questioned - especially when this looks like a cabinet reshuffle to placate those who feel Randy is too 'hands off' and install somebody who, you know, is meant to do the job on a day-to-day basis. 

The curious issues for me are: how is this post actually recruited? This guy has come from nowhere. Secondly, why now? Why not at the start of the season? Has Randy fallen even more out of love with the club? Is Hollis a lightning rod? And, thirdly, how will transfer business be dealt with from now on? Do people have to keep flying to New York with a wishlist and a happy look to get Randy to part with cash or is Hollis able to spend a set figure? 

As normal with Villa, this raises more questions than answers. Welcome Steve: you're in for an f-ing bumpy ride. Oh, and your boss doesn't give one sh*t about the organisation you now work for. Joy.

I hope the lazy press don't feel this is all a result of that goalkeeping error. We've deserved this.

Dear Randy,

This absolves you from nothing. I will continue to support those who wear the shirt. They're putting a shift in today. Give them a hand and give a sh*t.

Best wishes,

A. Villafan 

Counter goal? Ayew? If only Gil has some fuel left. 

Rooney has put United up again. 

Ward? A yellow? No, surely not?, FFS. About time. 

I get the impression that Garde is afraid to skew anything here by bringing a sub on. It's so finely balanced.