Midfielder

19 minutes ago, Xela said:

@Midfielder  I am a little bit disappointed that a man of your ilk decided to purchase it. I thought it was the reserve of women, effeminate hipsters and woodland animals 

im not sure I have any ilk at all my man. but did feel after quinoa purchase like I had disgraced the Y chromosome somewhat

must avoid quinoa purchase tomorrow as two days in a row I'll run risk of buying some Shirley basey off iTunes and getting my eyebrows done on the way home kinda thing

5 minutes ago, wazzap24 said:

I asked for the correct pronunciation at my local restaurant. It's 'Egg-Fried-Rice'.

 

That would be the ultimate three quid Tesco meal deal. "Wazzaps Quinoa" with chicken or shredded beef option, prawn crackers instead of crisps, and a curry sauce or sweet n sour instead of the drink. Three quid. Supermarket generic , not just Tesco.

Sorted. Let's pitch that on Dragon Den, you do the sales pitch I'll be the human flipchart. 

4 minutes ago, Xela said:

I always thought it was pronounced '"Quin-ower" as well @Midfielder and only learnt otherwise after I heard someone talk about it.

 

Damned straight brother. It's Quinn ower to me for sure. I can't recall ever hearing it said before but how can anyone read that as being pronounced keen wahhhh I could be wrong but I'm sticking with Quinn Ower. 

This is what happens when hipster graduates get given marketing jobs in food retail / FMCG. Keenwahh my arse. 

On 01/09/2017 at 19:08, TRO said:

so apt,

I guess if there is ever a type of player that gets an owner having doubts he wants to carry on in football........He is that player.

Whoa.... I forgot I wrote that. I think it was the AM after the window closed. Short post this time but yeah was disappointed at our residual passenger just well , oh never mind. You know what though he's not even worth the breath or the typing. Could be the nicest guy in the world but I don't care. Atrocious attitude and awful value for money. Have seen more get up and go from certain Jeremy Kyle guests. 

What's this? Clearly, it's Niall Quinn and a lawnmower. Right? Now delete "lawnm" from lawnmower and delete "Niall". Put them together and you have QUINN OWER.

So there I was at lunch, rushed, didn't fancy sarnie and crisps. Tesco meal deal, sorted. Bitch at work asks oooooh what's that. ITS QUINOA I say (which I pronounced Quinn ower) and she laughs hysterically like I just used the wrong fork in silver service dining. So she says no it's pronounced 'KEEN WAHHHH" , but laughs cut short when some other bitch butts in to say no its 'KINWAR.'

w t f. Part of me wonders how to pronounce it properly but fk it QUINN OWER , loud and proud. It's not even accented like French pronunciations are. Pretentious shite. Tastes alright though but fk it ploughmans it is tomorrow

1 hour ago, sne said:

At least 170 people arrested outside the stadium after fans clashing with the police after the Stockholm derby.

Business as usual...

good job Badji f-----d up then really would have been a lot more arrests  

kind of weird to think hooliganism so , how can I say this .... overground ... in Sweden

sure it happens in all league any country, but we saw a decline or maybe a transference for it to go underground in the U.K. I guess in that the hoolies want to do what they do and NOT get arrested or stadium bans etc so go underground I guess and use social media / the internet  

not condoning hooliganism, just a bit weird / uncomfortable to see those scenes. Albeit a fierce / hateful derby but that was way past Villa v Blues more like Celtic v Rangers 

all that aside and let's face it it's only the minority I'm talking about, it's nice to see the passion and belonging. As you say 30-33k for that fixture. People can say or think what they like about "other" euro leagues, but that is a massive massive game and gate too. Yes of course add the gates when say IFK or malmo play at home and big gates too

what Allsvenskan needs, is for me, to win the lottery, buy a small team, get Graham Potter in, or the next Potter, and be like a peasant version of Abramovic. I'll be low key. But attend all home games and also be an advocate for the Swedish infrastructure itself  , exploit grass roots too  

forget the Malmos or IFKs etc  I wonder how much , all assets lock stock and barrel, it would cost to buy an Allsvenskan team, a smaller one... hmmmmmnnnnn

13 minutes ago, Zatman said:

2-2 now. He not that much of a genius now  

Mellberg out 

Sne out

Just now, Zatman said:

good prediction

He isn't just our scout he's our Nostradamus. We should make him fill out our accumulators and coupons

What a disgrace. Mellberg OUT. Bruce IN

You're right. Half time sure got tense

looks like home fans got close to the away fans. Couple of grades up from handbags at dawn. 

Hopefully all ok for all on ways home. 1-1 probably a safe result given the hostilities

In half an hour : Tvillingderbyt (twin Derby)...

AIK v DIF 

And there's also Bromma v Falkenbergs at 4pm. 

Sweden civilised enough to host a tense Stockholm Derby at 2pm in one part of the city and not have to worry about Bromma kicking off at 4 across the way

Draw done. Could have been kinder , could have been worse. Tough though...

Ostersunds are in group J with 

Athletic Club - ok we're stepping it up a couple of gears there 

Hertha Berlin - surely a notch above PAOK

ZORYA - who? Someone from Ukraine

( linky - https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2495741.html )

Group D: AC Milan (ITA), Austria Wien (AUT), Rijeka (CRO), AEK Athens (GRE)

Group E: Lyon (FRA), Everton (ENG), Atalanta (ITA), Apollon Limassol (CYP)

Group F: København (DEN), Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS), Sheriff (MDA), Zlín (CZE)

Group G: Viktoria Plzeň (CZE), FCSB (ROU), Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR), Lugano (SUI)

Group H: Arsenal (ENG), BATE Borisov (BLR), Köln (GER), Crvena zvezda (SRB)

Group I: Salzburg (AUT), Marseille (FRA), Vitória SC (POR), Konyaspor (TUR)

Group J: Athletic Club (ESP), Hertha Berlin (GER), Zorya (UKR), Östersund (SWE)

Group K: Lazio (ITA), Nice (FRA), Zulte Waregem (BEL), Vitesse (NED)

Group L: Zenit (RUS), Real Sociedad (ESP), Rosenborg (NOR), Vardar (MKD)

Also one mention here for Norways Rosenborg who have impressively knocked AJax out, what are the odds OFK get Rosenborg in their group... I'd bet on that. 

Here are the goals. First goal, off side my arse . Second goal , take aim, pull trigger, kaboom! 

Recognition now on BBC site... 

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40997915

'Graham Potter will be the only British manager in this season's Europa League group stages after leading Ostersunds to a comeback win over PAOK Salonika in the play-off.

The Swedish side - who have risen from the fourth tier since Potter's 2011 appointment - lost the first leg 3-1 in Greece.'

DRAW FOR EUROPA LEAGUE LATER TODAY. What do OFK fans think.... when they see Milan pulled out of the hat?

50 minutes ago, Tegis said:

Holy shit. They did!!!!

Jesus f---

i think this is nothing short of magnificent. There's almost a Bournemouth thing going on there, to an extent, Potter their Eddie Howe. Rising the divisions and well Howe hasn't got Bournemouth into Europe yet but god damn lads I think a round of applause is in order to might OFK. Again. 

If anyone beats me to it, cool but I'll be looking for YouTube highlights. I want to see the pandemonium when the second goal goes in! 

Those football fans in Sweden , regardless of who they support, surely tonight must be proud of their OFK and their dragon slaying antics. That, to PAOK is a proper kick in the balls make no mistake. I'm not saying OFK are Wimbledon / Crazy Gang of the 80/90s as clearly OFK can play but what isn't there to respect from a team born of humble origins who in stature and performance, continue to excel, against the odds. 

The bulk of us on VT are U.K. / Ireland based fans but those who read this thread, all have a little Swede-love for the progress this underdog has made and continues to make. British football, definitely English football, we love the underdog. This kind of story flicks our switches and long may it continue. Mr Potter, the new Roy Hodgson (before he was shit). Swedes' will understand what I meant. Or maybe a Svennis in the making. But yeah UK VT'ers feeling and sending the love over to our Northern brothers tonight. 

OFK I love this thread !

"DRAGON SOUL ABSORBED"

Bye bye PAOK, I get the feeling they WONT be buying any Absolut on their way through duty free tonight! Have a nice trip home. Two words:

ARSES

SPANKED

9 hours ago, sne said:

Mellberg and BP losing another of their best players.

Viktor Gyökeres going to Brighton for roughly £1 m.

Good luck to the lad. What a jump that is. I wish the lad well but as said before on this thread , if there's any prospect of Prem quality talent to this lad, why weren't we in for him. Damn our scouting. Sne, buddy, have you even sent your CV to Tony yet? We need you man. 

Edit also that Antonsson lad got the winner for Bristol Shitty the other day I think it was his first goal. I hope he has a bad game tomorrow

What a difference it is, to have the rest of Saturday evening NOT spoilt by a shite Villa result. 

Whatever I think of Bruce I'm glad we got 3 points and hope for many more. I like this thing called , oh what was it, oh yeah that was it, "winning". 

That third goal of his, that was my kinda goal. Proper daisycutter. Received, toyed, lined up, nice precise placement. Lovin it

well done Hourahero agreed with SnE

A worldie , Green. Nice

1 hour ago, jjaacckk91 said:

Bloke on talksport(Tom Ross?) 

Apparently we broke even over last January and then made 25m this window, Bruce just needs backing by xia. Basically it's not Bruce's fault it's xia's for not backing him or ours for not supporting the team enough. And 10 months is too soon to judge him. 

I know talksport tries to wind people up but my blood is boiling.

 

I was driving and heard the same. Completely ignored last seasons issues as if they were magic times. I almost Ashley Cole'd off the road

2 hours ago, wazzap24 said:

Unless there was another, it was me who's lad is going to his second game. 

I'm worried in the sense that, at 5:20pm when we are walking back to the car, I don't want to be saying 'it's not always like that mate', or 'no they don't always just boo and call the manager names', you know, that kind of thing. 

I've deliberately not taken him for a while, becuase I want to try and build some positive experiences around it for him, so it becomes something he enjoys. 

He's excited this morning, whilst I'm just wondering if I should have left it for a few more weeks. Bit sad really isn't it. 

Yeah I think it was you bud. I totally get everything you've said and I was thinking when I posted that about the difference when I was (maybe) his age and what your lad will got, comparatively. <edit, as in, it's one thing seeing it on the telly, but to be in the mix, no martin Tyler or whoever, just the sound of the crowd, amazing. The sights obv but the sounds, scary as a kid, 40k people packed together for Church. Ain't no Church these days, the sermons are shite) but yeah hope your lad gets the best of the villa atmos one day soon>>>

I found VP daunting and scary because of how electrified the place was and how united we were and passionate, at a time, back then when we were just "meh" but it was great entertainment. Not like today where as you say things are sort of proper tense in a is he / isn't he (Bruce) a dead man walking / lost some fans etc. As in negativity and stuff beyond his comprehension unless you explain the back story of our predicament. 

AnywY as much as I think we need new manager I'd still happily take 3 points and as many 3 points as we can get so also on that score I hope your laddie there has a good one, sees a good game! Im out near Welsh border but will be tuning in or accessing the game through whatever means I can. Have a good one Wazzap!

I've made no secret in many posts that I get to max 3-4 games a season. Brummie exile. But what about all you lads that get to more games, our season ticket holders. What about the lad I read about on here today / yesterday who is taking his boy to only his second game... I feel sorry for that kid the way things are at the moment, what he will experience. 

I first went as a young kid with my sisters BF, crushed up against a bar in the Holte. Scary as every corner, people piled forward, the exhilarating craziness when we scored... incredible. Awe and excitement, then the Big Ron years when my parents allowed me to go unsupervised with school mates. How in my youth we knew we weren't going to win the league or every home match but we were entertained and got value for money. 

Next appointment needs to bring a, sorry don't know how best to put this, but a value for money factor. That, win lose or draw we go away at the final whistle at peace with what we saw, the opposite of the now. 

We know we won't win the premier league when we're up or even at this rate the Chanpionship but the next appointment hopefully gives us the above. Whoever that may be. 

About time we broke this effing curse on us. Just takes amongst many lesser factors, the right appointment. 

Last mention for Mellberg. Remember the old Batman series on telly. That spotlight thing with the bat silhouette shone into the sky? We should get a beard silhouette and shine it as far as Stockholm. SOS Mellberg! 

Although in saying that, judging by @theboyangel 's avatar, he might answer the call. But do you know what, fk it, here's a vote for The Boy Angel as our next manager as backup. This lad, can do NO worse than Bruce. 

Night lads

Just now, rubberman said:

Lovely, impassioned post. But do you really want to hear the Mellberg out chants in 10 months time?  I'd give him a bit longer to get experience and for villa to sort itself out.

Well said regarding the effective dilution of icony. That's the one thing that is a shame in football that icons can have their reputations tarnished by a bad stint at the helm. Many examples in history. 

However, I think if given the chance he would get a higher win ratio overall than RDM and Bruce and certainly not be worse. All opinion only. 

Maybe won't happen "this time" not that there's even a vacancy, but he will be manager in max 5-8 years at the most. Some players in our history, not many, some, have a destined path back to VP. Mellberg is one. Somebody that embodied not just the lion on the badge, but also as an individual, in his character something needing to be installed from the top-down in our club. Better, than what the no-cojones man currently at the helm could ever hope for. 

For the record I'm not Mellbergs agent nor his Stalker 

worse candidates out there. Better candidates out there.

But after years of getting it wrong and all the BS on the pitch, off the pitch, one day a manager will come and unite all. There'll be minimal fanfare from "he", no promises, no big talk. Just someone who comes in and gets to work, accepts the squad they have, gets the best of them and lets the results do the talking. That's Mellberg. 

Still, interesting seeing others thoughts. Just my opinions above. 

Peace lads

Also, I respect the opinions of others and their wants for who the next manager would be in their eyes. Even if I disagree with them. 

Mine, Mellberg manager, Laursen assistant, or secondarily, Terry as player/ assistant manager. Yes, laugh away. However. My logic is this. 

The appointment of RDM didn't work. This, a man who (however it happened en route) was a Champions League Manager. Superb accolade. You'd think. Bad choice. 

The appointment of Bruce hasn't worked. A man, with several promotions and apparent "track record" but seemingly too old school and dinosaur taking us backward, stagnant at best. Not the right man.

Nkw for my choice. 

Mellberg, inexperienced yes. Only Bromma on CV. However. Having failed with the two managers above who make more sense than Mellberg in theory, what would Mellberg have in his corner, that would be worth the risk? 

Knows the club, despite it moving on since his time, deep down it's the same club. He is and will always be part of the tapestry. 

Progression. This is a man who will I'm sure manage a top division team in Europe in the near future and I don't think his career will go down the Solskjaer route. We could be the glove that fits. His career is on the up, minimal apprenticeship served, yes, but a promising candidate. He was a flawless captain and that carries forward for some, into management, the traits I mean.

Lionheart attitude. There's something infectious about Mellberg or his type of personality that we need. You could have all the experience of Steve Bruce and RDM and still not have a tenth of Mellbergs passion, work ethic. His organisation and drive. 

A risky appointment I don't disagree. However, one day, someone will take the job that actually gives a shit about this club, picks us up and drags us forward. Someone who learns from issues that emerge from our play and tweaks things to try to stamp it out. Someone progressive. Young. Hungry for success and as said, knows this club. Things like that also tie in to being a manager who feels the pulse of this club. 

Whatever people think of John Terry, he's here he is ours. A captain, like a manager on the pitch. We all remember that iconic photo of Terry on the touch line with RDM in the background... but Mellberg, a god level central defender with Terry available as captain? Well that fits too. I'm sure they'd have massive mutual respect and work well together. 

Some people believe in Jesus. I believe in Mellberg.

Yes whilst Bruce is in charge it is a thread about who we want, that's just my want above. Some will definitely think it is crazy but anybody here, who has ever been part of a selection panel or job interview panel, so frequently it is the case that the outside bet candidate, I mean the inexperienced one with all the fire and drive, many times over often proves to be the right choice. You just have to find the right one. 

I'm going back to my padded cell now 

The thing is though, it's passed the point of no return with Bruce. From hereon, wins will pacify at best, appease, but won't be enough to secure us promotion. The evidence is clear from our three league games with the many questions raised when we have no excuses for getting 1 point from 9. 

Maybe the players deserve a lot of the blame too. But, that also comes down to the ineffectiveness of a manager to either lose them, or not be able to get them firing. And it's mostly his squad too, so no excuses there. It is "harsh" to have a next manager thread before he's even been sacked but, I like many genuinely feel his time is over. And before / if Bruce ever gets sacked, it is interesting to see the consensus as things stand with regard to who could take over or who we would want. 

As for Benitez no chance. We are a massive step down for him, a risky one at that. Last year there was similar talk with Premier League Burnley's Sean Dyche which didn't have any realistic chance either. 

The squad we have is nowhere near a complete jigsaw puzzle for the next manager. However, with what we have we should be Playoff standard minimum in terms of expectation should a change occur, furthermore be playing like that as soon as possible as with each week going by, we are drifting further away. Early days yet but the signs are not encouraging. Losing / lost sections of the fan base and it won't be long before sections of the dressing room lose his support too, if that hasn't happened already. 

Change is due. It's a matter of time. Superficial wins they'll be if we get them as they won't come from consistent - Champions form all of a sudden, there's too much wrong with the ability / performance of the management team for that to happen. 

Sorry long post.