villanwesty88

What would be your academy XI? I'm annoyed at the lack of opportunities our players get and how easily we let them go - be it for free or massively undervalued. I think it would be a solid Premier League side all home grown. 

I'm creating my XI from living memory so about mid 90s onwards 

Here is my choice;

--------------------- Myhill -----------------

Ridgewell---- Cahill ---- Clark --- Scimeca

Albrighton ---- Barry --- Davis ---- Hitzlesperger ---- 

-------------Vassell -----Agbonlahor (pre 2012)-----

Rest of the squad;

Grealish

Weimann

Johnson

Graham

Lichaj

Hendrie

Craig Gardner

Whittingham

Bannan

Olejnik

Ward

Hogg

Herd

Carruthers

Luke Moore

We all know he isn't a top Premiership midfielder but he has some key ingredients we are massively lacking at this club. He isn't out partying, you don't hear any of any controversies surrounding him (apart from his team mates surrounding him on the pitch - loads of controversies there!), he always gives it his all and he is a level headed character. He is the mould of a Leicester player - fought to play at a higher level from the lower leagues and goes about his business with effort and professionalism. If we had more players with these kind of "soft skill" attributes that he possess we'd never be in the crap. 

He would be one of the few definite keepers for me for next season. 

If this is true we are more screwed than we thought

8 minutes ago, Kingman said:

Maybe you should start selling some happy clappers next to H&V Dave next season 

You'd probably buy one!

That is a massive point in the circumstances

SCENES

Wow!

I think Vardy was going down because of a 50/50 challenge. Not a foul and not a dive.

The conning element came as he was going down. He made it look worse in the hope of cementing a penalty. Had he not done that it would've just been a goal kick probably - or possibly he would've got a penalty. 

So, conclusion - he hasn't dived in the first place, he has "dived" / made it worse after he knew he was going down. Frustrating because he really didn't need to do it.

4 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

So diving then?

I think it is diving when there is no contact at all. 

There was contact and it knocked him off balance so he was going down. Once he was going down he made it look worse. I don't know, it's not an out an out dive if that makes sense? 

I think it was harsh to get a second yellow for it as there was contact. Making a meal of it to make it look worse than it was is what has cost him. 

7 minutes ago, Kingman said:

**** them happy clapping whoppers and **** Vardy. 

Looks like the type of rat boy, who if he hadn't of made it as a footballer would be an irritating word removed working outside a bar in Tenerife!

How dare they clap and cheer! 

Would rather we had some "rat boys" who would work hard for us. We've got a bunch of millionaires who don't give a crap. Hats off to Leicester and Vardy and I hope they win it. Two fingers up to the Premier League billions. 

22 hours ago, Rob182 said:

I feel like Leicester's good run in their survival season and Ranieri's Leicester this season are giving people a slightly skewed memory of Pearson's achievements and ability.

He has, what?, one promotion to the Premier League? Other available managers have many more.

Those three mentioned transfers were great. What happened to that Russian striker he bought for about £9m?

1x Championship title, 1x League title and 2x Championship play off (appearances not promotion). Then of course that great escape last season where they finished 14th from the grave. 

The Croatian striker they brought in is on loan at Hoffenheim because they want him to get game time. I think he has scored some goals over there and is doing ok. But yes he hasn't worked out like the others mainly because he can't get in the side with the other guys firing on all cylinders. 

I wasn't keen on Pearson being the next manager but I've warmed to the idea. I didn't like that he comes across as a bit of a bully and loses his rag easily. However I think he will have learnt from his mistakes at Leicester but will still clamp down on our squad and get the best out of the ones that remain. We need someone who is perhaps feared a little rather than a nice guy. 

Also I like the fact that he has experience of gaining promotion. He has an eye for transfers too - Vardy, Mahrez and Albrighton - £1.4 million for a front three that have been devastating.

How important is it for us not only to get a good manager but also a good set of backroom staff? 

This is our current set up. Are there any positions missing? I think a good assistant manager would be important and more coaches. Out of that list it only looks like Duverne will be the one who leaves and possibly Black. I think getting Brian Little on the Board was important - I'd like to see an ex player in the coaching staff too (so long as they're qualified). 

(source for below; http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/WhosWho )

Anyone know why they changed the camera angle they broadcast from at Spurs? It must have been this angle for a good 5 years now. I preferred the higher up view as you could see where the players were more clearly it that makes sense.

Simply superb! Kante has some engine!

Just now, Zatman said:

5 teams will go through, Spain had 5 this season

And if Man City win the Champions League as well (unlikely I know!) then do we get 6 teams?

If Liverpool win the Europa League then do we have 5 Champions League sides from England? Or do Liverpool steal the 4th Champions League place. Still not quite got my head around it. 

I've been trying to think of some players that I've completely forgotten about but the trouble is I've completely forgotten about them.

15 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Stourbridge battered Kiddy in the FA cup a few months back.

I think they also beat Kiddy in the FA Trophy too! Stourbridge are good! 

2 minutes ago, briny_ear said:

It's a very sad decline. They're likely to swap places with Solihull Moors, though, who seem to be on the up. When I was a kid, Moor Green (now the "Moors" part of SM) were my local club and my brother had a trial with them. So there is potential (if things went very badly for us and extremely well for them) that in three seasons Villa could be playing the Moors!

Stranger things have happened! Look at Burton Albion who have a very good chance of being in the same division as us next season. Burton were below the conference as recently as 2002. What a rise!

1 hour ago, briny_ear said:

If you go down to Vanarama National League as well, Kiddy could get the chop on Saturday also.

A great shame! They should've got back into the Football League a couple of years back. If Stourbridge go up from the Evo Stik Prem then Kiddy will be in the same division as Stourbridge in the Conference North (unless Kiddy are put into the South)! Amazing really when Kiddy have an actual stadium and Stourbridge play at a cricket club. 

Ollie Watkins looks pretty good. Could he be the next big thing emerging from the lower leagues? Look at this for a winning goal v Plymouth Argyle in the Devon derby in the 93rd minute!