Stevo71

Thanks both. After Unsworth I don't even count on it AFTER they've signed!

Maybe I'm just reading way too much into what you've put, but this also hints at knowing something is going on! Why this evening?! That's rhetorical...I'll be patient and try not to get too carried away

What you seen mate?

Must be all these Threads...

Even then I'm scarred by Unsworth. Why's it so hard being a Villa fan?!

Wes: <checks pockets>

Great thread. Real "Fatherland" vibes with alternate timelines. Can't add much over what's been said, but I always wonder what might've happened had Ellis not returned in '82. Kick on or start to collapse under the accumulating debt? Also if England hadn't come knocking for Sir GT.

Of course! And some of that was even with ice-man Tammy available.

That's a good point. Hope you're right about Bailey too. In fact there's a few I'd like to see get some serious tuition from UE and team, not least Ollie - let's hope he can push on.

Your main forward not able to be trusted to take your pens does have me scratching my head a bit though. When I think of watching a brimming with confidence Yorke making a mug of David Seaman... Is it common? Struggling to think of a situation like it over the years. I get we've had players *even better* than our main strikers - Barry, Staunton I think, but not completely instead of due to lack of faith. Hope that doesn't come across harsh, I do really like Ollie and fully respect his progress and contribution.

Not for the first time yesterday, there were passages of play where I spontaneously...made some sort of noise somewhere between a whoop and a gasp and cheer! What it is to be coached by an elite manager!

Sadly I think you're right about him winning, so for me the nomination alone is the win.That's very good company he's in there.

I caught the end, and the gushing w@nkfest from the media. As astonishing to me as cheering Ben Johnson or Lance Armstrong whilst knowing AT THE TIME that they've cheated. Difference being I suspect all athletes of PED usage, whereas this situation with Citeh is a smaller sample size.

He's gone full Rigsby there...

Thanks mate. Agree with every word.

Thank you! That is terrific stuff, so on the money.

I have not mate - is there a link please?

Personally I think part of it is that the London-centric media would need to do a 180 on their ridicule of him at Arsenal and that would take a maturity and moral fibre they simply do not possess.

Totally agree, was saying this to someone just the other day; must be a hell of a job to keep players motivated for you when (I think) it seems clear that there's going to be a big overhaul in the summer. Maybe I'm reaching but I do wonder about the downturn in results and performances coinciding with major rumour alerts and Alemany's arrival. Some must know they're in the crosshairs, surely? Keeping positivity and energy high has to be tricky. But if one word was going to summarise Emery and Alemany, I'd say "ruthless" was a strong contender.

Just watched the whole thing on AVTV, but I do have a membership - not sure if that's needed for the pressers. The guy is just spellbinding - his talk of key moments sharpens the mind so well to focus just on what's at hand in the short term. I believe there is talk of the long term, but strictly behind closed doors. Manage the expectations and, should we have a reverse, it won't feel like the sky fell in. He is genuinely so respectful of any opposition we face. Does anyone know whether he did take the squad out for a meal recently, or if that's a myth?

You could argue he had that chance with PSG, but here's the thing for me - Unai seems to be a builder that requires control and, for want of a better word, obedient players - not prima donnas. Telling comment from the Athletic interview was that he likes to build but at Arsenal you first had to knock the walls down. PSG was probably a horribly overbearing - win immediately - situation, and I just don't think it's for him. This is why I think we're a match made in heaven - we have resources, we're elated he's come to us, the board sought him out and trust him, the players were starving for world class coaching and are drinking it up and responding well. He can build. And the fans seem to universally love him. He'll feel that. Arsenal fans strike we as deluded, entitled, chippy loud mouths who ultimately hounded him out with the help of the equally obnoxious, London-centric media. We're not and we're hardly mentioned by that same press, so he can just get about his work for now.

Was it Lambert who had a poster up in his office about us beating Sunderland 6-0? Whoever it was, imagine Emery doing something like that…the mind boggles at some of the chancers we’ve had managing us.

We've hit 1800 Elo for the first time since the MoN era. Getting more difficult to find superlatives for this guy. http://clubelo.com/AstonVilla

Enjoyed this, apologies if posted before:

Would be nice. Suspect Unai will have one eye on the goal difference, as that may become a factor. A multi-goal game from Watkins is also brewing I reckon.