Deano & Dalian's Umbrella

I will be clapping but I feel that something like this deserves a minute's silence. Clapping just doesn't feel right.

Although Gary Speed's family made a firm point of saying there was no evidence that he was abused by paedophile youth football coach Barry Bennell, he was interviewed by police  about Bennell twice before his death.

Gary Speed was one of 4 players coached by Bennell to have killed themselves.

One of Bennell's victims has stated he is 99.9% sure that Speed was also one of Bennell's victims.

If you google "Gary Speed" and "Barry Bennell", you will see quite a few articles about it.

I first googled it after watching the 3-part BBC documentary "Football's Darkest Secret" in which Gary Speed's name was mentioned.

It is worth watching and is on Iplayer but I spent a lot of time crying while watching it and it really knocked me about.

1 minute ago, a-k said:

Noticed he didn't really celebrate when Hause scored, and if not mistaken that's not the first time this season he hasn't showed emotion after a goal.

I thought this too. I wasn't sure if it was because he thought he was offside.

1 hour ago, Talldarkandransome said:

So it's more of a training exercise for the staff then. I don't have official proof of jabs as only have jab card.

Exactly - it says nobody will be denied admission.

2 hours ago, MNVillan said:

Do they sell masks at the Villa Shop? I’m sure I’ll have one until I get to my seat at least (not for this match). Mrs MNVillan and I are also getting our vaccination cards laminated so we can show them whenever we need to

Looking at the Villa website, if and when you do need to prove your covid vaccination status, you will need to show a NHS covid pass - not your jab cards.

"Going forward, match-attending fans should be prepared to show they have been fully vaccinated or have received a negative lateral flow test in the previous 48 hours. Fans will be able to do this by obtaining their NHS COVID Pass through the NHS app or website".

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Matchday-protocols-and-COVID-guidance-for-supporters/

I worry when Dean Smith goes from using a very specific medical term one week such as "bone bruise" to claiming that he doesn't know what's going on the next.

Case in point from the championship:

One week: "Player X has a stress injury". Next week: "The medical staff don't really know what the problem is".

A "bone bruise" isn't just a kick on your bone - it is a bone marrow lesion and normally when people get them at the knee, it is the result of an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Villa have now published info about masks on their website.

"You must bring a face covering to wear in all indoor areas. Government have stated they “expect and recommend that members of the public continue to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed spaces where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet”. Therefore, all supporters aged 11 or over are expected and recommended to wear a face covering whenever located in indoor areas other than when eating or drinking or where exempt. Face coverings are not required to be worn by fans when they are seated in the Stadium bowl, which is left to personal choice."

https://www.avfc.co.uk/returning-to-villa-park-faq/fans-code-conduct/?utm_source=www.premierleague.com&utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=link

Villa have now published information about this on their website.

It says:

"For our game against Newcastle on Saturday, no fan will be refused entry to the match. However, spot checks will be taking place in readiness for the implementation of COVID-19 status certification at future matches. Spot checks will be carried out randomly around the ground and will involve a member of staff asking you to show your National Health Service Covid Pass, if you currently have one."

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Matchday-protocols-and-COVID-guidance-for-supporters/

So you don't have to take proof of your covid status, but you could be asked to show it anyway. Well, that makes sense!

In the press last week, there were some news articles saying that fans at premier league games could be subject to random spot-checks to see if they have either been vaccinated or had a recent negative lateral flow test.

Here is a BBC article reporting this:

Quote

Premier League fans will face random spot-checks of their Covid-19 status at grounds in the first few matchdays of the season, the league says.

The top flight announced protocols for the new season, saying fans must be prepared to prove they are fully vaccinated or have had a negative lateral flow test in the last 48 hours.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58153110

I would have thought that if this was going to happen, we would have heard something from the Club. Has anyone else heard anything about this?

Do we need to bring this evidence to the matches?

I am going to wear one and also thought I would be the only one.

1 minute ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

So that means all of these players are signed "using the Grealish money?" We are done for the summer then?

He didn't say that - he inferred that they were bought in case Grealish left.

With the Purslow video, then the City video, I just felt like when Vince McMahon appeared on NItro and Raw to say he had bought WCW.

2 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

Did he just confirm all of these signings were done as replacement for Grealish?

Yes

He's going to pull his mask off to reveal he is Vince McMahon,

Then he'll pull that mask off to reveal he is CJ Golson.

1 minute ago, osmark86 said:

If for whatever reason the move fell through it's safe to say the reputational damage has already been done

Grealish's team would be negotiating with City on how much to pay them to say Jack changed his mind.

The Sun have photos of him being driven away after his medical.

Just now, est1874 said:

What, to bring him back? Like a lost child

That's what I was hoping.

On Sky about 30 minutes ago, they said Jack's family had turned up at the Man City training ground.

2 minutes ago, El Zen said:

Cheeky!

1 minute ago, It's Your Round said:

From the NW branch of Footy Insider. Just cold hard facts from those guys. 

Tracking it back, it seems to have come from Man City France

3 minutes ago, TRO said:

I'm primed to see it through now......I think we will be a better team in the medium term.

I have no animosity towards Jack and when he comes to Villa Park, I will stay silent, no booing, no clapping. There is a part of me that understands his feelings, but I don't want to understand them, to be honest.

I will never see Jack in the same light as I once did....That flame has died.

 

I'm planning on doing the same. Although, if the City fans start singing "Super Jack" to taunt us, I may feel compelled to sing "Super tw*t" over the top of it.

2 minutes ago, Wainy316 said:

Been in a meeting for an hour.  Is he confirmed as training with us yet?

I just watched Sky sports news and there was no mention of him training with us.

I saw on another forum that someone said Sky had seen Matty Cash at distance (yes, that again!) and thought it was Grealish.

Just now, Vive_La_Villa said:

We’re pushing them through quickly because as soon as we have a confirmed 100m in our pockets the fee’s will be doubled. 

or this