Graham t

Let's be honest, when was the last time Dean surprised the fans with some tactical brilliance ? Where he surprises me is his faith in certain players who are obviously not Premiership standard. Still, as ever, I hope he can inspire the lads on Sunday and I will be delighted if he proves me wrong and gets everything right on the day. ATB VLD.

Fair enough, you may well be right. My point was that his lack of a successful team is down to the fact that he does not have a plan, other than to chop and change until he gets lucky....or not, as is the case. You may think he does have a plan, in which case I would be intrigued to hear it......As long as it does not include Wesley or Drinkwater who have been an embarrassment to the club and were persisted with beyond any reasonable logic, in my opinion. ATB. VLD.

We are approaching the last few games of the season and our manager still does not know his best team ,or which tactics to use to suit them .Says it all for me. ATB VLD.

Sorry you weren't able to keep up with the topic, is that you in the cartoon? Regards, VLD.

You're up late, does your Mom know..... Regards, VLD.

I told you he was a problem, now look what he has started......

And furthermore..... John Smith was responsible for the only one punch knockout I ever witnessed on a football pitch. The season was progressing normally with defenders lining up to kick me as only a suicidal death wish lunatic would kick John Smith . Then it happened, a suicidal death wish lunatic duly marched up to 'John' as we had our kick in prior to the match and announced that he had heard all about John Smith and he was going to 'sort him out'. John calmly ignored him and carried on his pre-match warm up. We kicked off and the game ebbed and flowed without any further outbursts. After about 10 minutes I was strolling back to the half way line when I heard a sickening crunch that could only be a huge fist smashing into someone's face. I turned to watch the pre- match lunatic sailing through the air and landing with a lifeless thud unto the pitch where he duly stayed , definitely unconscious. John Smith ambled past without so much as a smile. Everybody on the pitch knew what had transpired, especially the referee, nobody said a word and the unconscious idiot was carried limply off the pitch. No, you didn't f#ck with John Smith..... ATB, VLD.

I'm looking for a secretary for my fan club if you are interested? Regards, VLD.

Playing alongside 'John' was an experience I can tell you.... He could certainly play and moved to Bath City at the end of the season ( semi pro). I guess Villa Talk is the wrong section to post this and I have asked admin to move it to a more appropriate area. ATB VLD.

Hi, I have been enjoying a debate today on how things were tougher playing football in 'the good old days'. Here is my example. At the start of one season ( 1960's ) I missed training sessions and had joined a club late and only met up with the players on the first day of the season. They were a good club in the top amateur league locally ( the Mercian ) so I was really looking forward to playing a good standard of football. As we had our pre-game kick around the manager introduced me to the players , most I knew from previous clubs. We then came to John Smith ( not his real name ) who I would be playing next to 'up front' , I knew 'John' by reputation but had never met him. What I did know was that ' you did not f#ck about with John Smith'. He was an impressive specimen about six foot and about 14 stone of solid muscle. He shook my hand a bit too warmly and looked me straight in the eye for a couple of seconds longer than was comfortable. I walked away thinking ' does this guy know we are supposed to be on the same side'. One of the lads I did know trotted over and told me not to worry about John as he was ' like that with everyone at first'. But he continued, I was under no circumstances to upset him.' Sod that ' I thought flexing my 20 year old muscles. My new mate grabbed my arm, 'the police are still after him you know', 'what do you mean ' I replied. Well he said,' he chased a bouncer out of Barberellas ( a night club ) and down Broard St not long ago. 'So what' I said not particularly impressed, 'he was waving an axe at the time' continued my new mate. No , you didn't f#ck with John Smith. Regards VLD.

Okay, no problem. Personally I would not make a remark that was disrespectful to a great man who only recently died after a long battle with Dementia. Regards, VLD.

Have a serious look at yourself chap......

I expect McGinn and Grealish to go to Man Utd. Unfortunately..... Regards, VLD.

Maybe, would you say the late Ron Saunders was a 'boomer' perhaps. Sorry if you don't know who he was.......

Thanks for the link wrong context for my post though I feel.... Regards, VLD.

Absolutely spot on. Thanking you for putting it far better than I could, Regards, VLD.

You have taken some ot the points I raised out of context. please re-visit my original post and just give it a bit more thought..... Regards, VLD.

What is a 'boomer' ? Regards, VLD.

Can someone kindly post a picture of Terry Butcher playing for England with a bandage on 'a slight scratch'. Thanks. Regards, VLD.

Smith will pick the same team, it's what he does......

Only if they are mentally weak in which case they should be a different profession( ballet dancer)?. Regards. VLD.

Very funny, and yes I do 'get it', but I am right and you are wrong. Sorry but us 'old Un's 'do come from a different generation . We were brought up that to show pain was a weakness and it has stuck with us.....To see people faking injury is just sickening. Sorry it's just the tough upbringing we had, perhaps if our team had a bit more fight we would not be in the position we are. ATB VLD.

Well I actually used to get paid to play, ' back in my day' .Who used to pay you young man, ( assuming you are a man, sorry if I got that wrong). ATB, VLD.

As I said, different times....this joker wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes under Ron Saunders or Ron Atkinson. Sorry you weren't around to witness a real manager with 'proper ' players who actually did give a toss...... Regards, VLD.

Okay, let's be real here... I'm no hero but I played on after dislocating my shoulder ( 'trainer 'knocked' it back in for me ). Our full back played for weeks with a broken bone in his foot, different times I know, but Christ, we have not become such Jessie's have we? Regards, VLD.