blandy

Agreed. The thing that sticks in my mind about today, apart from the good company, the rather unexpected flea in my ear in the pub, and the great feeling from a full VP enjoying a good performance and the chance to celebrate properly the players from when we were lads, is just the joy on people's faces. From kids like AJ, the students & others not born in 82, the 30 and 40 somethings and the old boys and girls who've been going forever - it was just happy faces and optimism. Applauding, and being given the chance to applaud, the league and European Cup winning players, and Ron Saunders, properly, in the sun, at home, amongst a sea of claret and blue, well it brought a lump to my throat. As the old players and manager disappeared down the tunnel, we fans looked at each other in the stands. And we agreed. Priceless.

Baz, I agree with some of your post, to an extent, but I don't agree with the bit quoted. I look at it like this, if you watch the telly, MoTD or something, and Alan Hansen talks about defending, and explains why Watford let in a goal, it's not "giving it the big I am" it's just the opinion of a bloke who has experience of defending, talking about his opinion of defending. Same with Paulo and the badge. In either example, we're all free to agree or disagree, but it's worth, IMO, thinking about the "profesional" verdict, while reaching your own conclusion, without saying that AH or Paulo's view is tainted. It's obvious that the badge has not been universally liked. Me, I'm fine with it, now. It's our badge, and that's it. But If people who know about "fancy colouring in" analyse why they don't like it, and take the trouble to explain why, then were all better informed aren't we? It's a well written article.

I'm not sure I agree my critical faculties are solely based around who is in charge of the club. I would, I imagine, think exactly the same of the badge, whoever owned the club. Re-branding with Ellis still here - I agree, I'd have "slagged it off". Not because it would have been Ellis, but because re-branding only works, IMO, when you've something new to say and offer. We now have. That's what I was trying to say. The post wasn't really about the badge, that's just, to me, a small part of the picture. The club in my view HAS changed enormously for the better, and there's a lot more improvement to come.

Do I like it? - Yeah, it's decent. Better than the last one. Do i love it, or feel it captures everything "exactly so" . No, but then again, whatever they'd come up with I'd most likely have said no. It's a no win, really for the club. In summary. It's "OK" but not brilliant. But it doesn't reallt matter that much. It's a massively over-hyped issue. They gave us the chance to have say in it, we had our say, the result is decent. Maybe, just maybe, we have some of us, just lost a little perspective, here. The people who know about marketing the club, about making us better, must be happy with it, the likes of IMG, Nike, the board, globally experienced folk are happy with it. It reflects well enough on our past and future. It unifies the effortd the club will make to bring us success, improvement and good fortune. Villa always has been and always will be my club. I'm overjoyed with the people in charge of it, now. The shield is such a trivial issue, really, compared to results on and off the pitch. There's been almost nothing at all to even contemplate complaining about for a season, now, so the badge gets the supreme "over-hyped" attention of everyone. It's a sign of how much we've come on, that it's an issue, as well as a sign that the club and everything to do with it matter to us, always. Of all the things a fan might be unhapy about, the shape/colour/whatevr of the badge is pretty low down on the list. Not all Villans like the badge. Meanwhile, in other news, MK Dons ground is being built, Leeds are going down the pan, Sunderland are promoted under Roy Keane, Torquay are out the league, Liverpool are in Euro Cup final....

There's been a lot of talk about the "re-branding" of the club. Here's some more. Normally, when I read stories, or hear on the news, that such and such a company has "rebranded" itself, I just think sceptically of consultant's fees and "workshops" in which loads of arty types called Nathan and Oliver talk all kinds of gibberish, then go off to "Bistro Riche" for an extended luncheon at the client's expense, before finally coming out with a result that turns out to be almost exactly the same as the previous version - Remember BP spending millions on getting someone to come up with basically the same badge as the last time, but with slightly sloping letters? So when It comes to something that does matter to me - my football club, why aren't I equally scornful? Well the first reason is that the "image" of Aston Villa was somewhat jaded and tarnished. If ever there was a case for a club needing people's perceptions of it re-aligning (apart from Leeds, and they're looking beyond help) then it was Aston Villa. Talk to a fellow football fan about Villa, at almost any time over the past decade or so - a supporter of Preston, or Liverpool, or Norwich, or wherever, and you'd generally get one of two reactions. Either "Big Club, Proper History, you deserve better than to be run by that buffoon Ellis." or less kindly, "Empty seats, the chairman's an idiot, the fans are always moaning, you're mid table fodder for the big clubs to walk all over. Get used to it" The Wigan fans chanted "You're not famous anymore" at us at the JJB, and they were right. "Unambitious and unhappy" was perhaps the wider perception of Villa across football, and the media, until very recently. Things, as we know, changed big style last summer. But aside from making the news for a while, (until attention moved on to the next club to be taken over and McLaren's inadequacies) perhaps there's not really been that much wider recognition of just how much things have changed. Yes, the press the club gets is better than it used to be, though as it was pretty dire before that's not hard. Martin O'Neill has helped, of course, as has the absence of any pompous pensioners blathering on in an official capacity. Since the summer, negative perception has been replaced with neutrality or curiosity - people know the club isn't "miserable" any more, but what is it? That's where the "branding" comes in As Arsene Wenger pointed out, "everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife", yet Villa really does have claim to rather more significance than is credited to us in this SKY+ age. It's acknowledged that Liverpool are England's most successful club, Manchester United have the most fans, Chelsea are the richest, Arsenal the best to watch (though these things can, and may, all change). There's is though, no "tag" for Villa, now that the negative aspects have gone. Fortunately it's not a case that a false "tag" needs to be invented. There is a genuine huge amount to be attribute to Villa and for the world to see. Unlike "richest", "most fans", or "best football" etc, what we have is that the whole "old ball game" was pretty much kicked off by Aston Villa, in terms of founding the football league (and consequently the spread of the game world-wide). It's also true that for a long, long, time Villa was the most successful and glamorous club. Sure it might not mean much now, but it's something to be proud of. It's unique. So let's not hide it away. We can be proud too, that 25 years ago we were at the top of European Football (we should also be more than a little sad that we've got nowhere near since, mind). Chelsea last night, again, showed that it's not easy to get near that level, even with all their money and a league format that helps the money teams - So it's a nice touch that the great players of that 1980/81/82 team will be part of the launching of the new era for the Club, that we'll have a "brand" that both links back to their day in the sun and back beyond that, to the very founding of the Football league. We have a Club that is unique, a Club to once again be proud of and one that is truly aiming to get back to the top while not forgetting the past. Another aspect about the "branding" of Aston Villa is the international element. Here history plays a greater part than perhaps it does in the UK, where we follow each and every result of each club and the evolution of the league table over the season. Abroad, perhaps, for the non-committed, but interested, it's more about what the club represents, what they've done, and why AVFC rather than Anderlecht or Austria Vienna. In terms of the new marketing experience and new impetus and expertise behind the Club, in terms of clearing away the cobwebs of 25 years of neglect, the decision to revise the Club's badge was a good one. A new start, looking forwards and re-connecting with the past pretty much demanded the replacement of the yellow stripey (copyrighted, TM, plc, no you can't copy it) badge from the later Ellis years. We the fans were consulted over preferences for shape and colours and so on. And the new badge has been released to a bizarrely over-excited world. Some fans love it, some hate it, some think it's quite nice, and some not very nice. Well knock me down with a feather! I'd never have guessed that would be the case. Personally speaking, it's got a lion on it, it says "Prepared" on it, it's a pale blue background, on a shield with no nasty yellow stripes. Looks alright on the club website and will look very nice on the kit. It's more than a nod to the past and we'll soon get used to it. And so will the world, hopefully. Right, that's me done, I'm off to Bistro Riche for some Chateau Parafino '07 and canapes.

No pie , Chris, I had an organic cheese burger outside the ground. I kid you not (with cheese, onions and an inferior brand brown sauce). Beer was 2 pints of GMT in Wetherspoons, a Deuchar's and 2 Timmy Taylors Landlord in the Waldorf (plastic glasses in there, mind). Mmm Beer. Dipsomania is not an illness....is it?

Well I reckon it was NW trains at fault - probably they did it to avoid paying some fine for the number of late trains, or something - cheaper to miss the fares of a few folk, than to pay a fine. But it really was only 4 minutes late. because it is the same train going up and down one line, people could eventually get off, but it made me 30 minutes late, and other people later than that. Not good. It may not have been the driver's fault, but he was laughing about it with the next drivr at the end of the line, when they changed. Twunt.

Global warming - don't ya just love it? The season is almost at an end, and in the north west of England today, the sun shone, warmed the bones and made promises of things to come. But being northern dwellers, Jon, his Bro and myself protected our pasty winter complexions within the shelter of a packed boozer near piccadilly, watching the SKY telly game from Goodison. Can't be too careful, what with them ultra violent rays beating down from the heavens. Anyway, after pleasant chat and pleasant beers, we trooped on up to the upside down space spider that is the COMS, home of low (should that be "No") scoring Manchester City. So did around 40,000 others. about 3000 of them Villans, the rest being of course the fans of the also rans of manchester. Their support is numerically excellent, but on todays evidence, sonically dire. Not as bad as their team though. The game, which let's face it, was not one of the weekend's more important fixtures, kicked off lively enough. City were perhaps the brighter, early on, but truth be told, both sets of players looked a bit enervated. Olly and Martin laursen seemed to be handling the efforts of Mpenza, Samaras and Vassel pretty comfortably. Neither goal really looked under much threat. After this initial "getting to know you" period, Villa started to come much more into the game from an offensive viewpoint. But still to not much effect. Then, in the calmness that is only present when the game means not so much, I knew we'd score, before we did. Ashley Young wriggled on the left, beat his man and put over a terrific cross. I was certain, even before seeing Carew head it superbly into the corner, that we'd score. It all looked so pre-destined, in that moment. All those worries about bogey sides, Darius and poor records in Manchester rendered meaningless and groundless by a bloke taking on the defender, crossing, and a big lad heading in across the keeper. Simple game, Dunno why we get so tangled up. In the end of season sunshine Gareth Barry was the one player on the pitch who really looked like it meant something to him. He had a top game this afternoon. Ran it, really. Others did good too, but GB was the stand out. Nevertheless, with Halsey refereeing, you just can't take things for granted. Shortly before half time Tommy turned away a City shot for a corner, the corner was crossed in and Tommy, in coming for the ball, was either prevented from getting it by Vassel, merely didn't get there with no one being at fault, or if you're Mark Halsey, fouled Darius heinously and gave away a pen. Joey "youse lot are all sh*te" Barton, showed his average team mates how to do it, by, er, tonking the pen miles over the bar. Diddums. Half time. Second half was much more one sided, Villa were well on top. Not as much so as at Boro a week or two ago, but nevertheless, we looked easily the more able side. Really I suppose, we should have made more of this superiority, but we never looked like letting one in....until Mpenza got clean through, following a foul on Carew, not given, City broke quickly, but Tommy saved excellently in a one on one. Carew was subbed off, not long after, Shaun Maloney replacing him. You know your luck's in when a sub comes on and scores straight away. It happened at Boro with Luke. This time it was wee Shaun. A free kick maybe 28 yards out. Wall, keeper, etc. Easy. Ball over the wall and into the goal. Keeper static. It was the second time I knew we'd score before we did. Wierd. City fans streamed, sullenly, to their exits, Villans stayed and enjoyed the last 15 or 20 minutes. Game over. Job done. It wasn't a classic, I doubt MoTD will be able to make much of it. It was all so end of season meaningless, in the wider context. For Villa though it wasn't meaningless. Apart from the duty of the players to damned well earn their devotion and their money, there was the issue of ending a "hoodoo", of keeping on the improvements so that next season starts on the right lines, of fighting to earn their places in the team. No game is truly meaningless to the fans, and nor should it be to the players. Some marks Tommy - 7 - Crucial saves, Bardsley - 7 - Did well defensively, best game for a while from him. Freddie Bouma - 7. You know the thing, without me saying. Olly - 7 Crazy Horse - 7 - the pair of them were on top of their opponents throughout. Craig Gardner - impressed again - 7 Stan - He had another good one. 7 Ashley Young - A lively 7 Gareth Barry - Didn't put a foot wrong, ran the game. 9 Big bad John Carew - 7 - looked a bit unfit, but effective. (wee shauny 7 - lovely free kick) Gabby 7. City were pants. I haven't had a moan about the trains for a bit. SO here we go. Coming back tonight, and this is true, the train announcer (on the train) said "we're not stopping at [any of the stops] as we're running late" 4 minutes late, that's all! Consequently...well you can guess, but how daft is that? - People stood by platforms as the train howled past, having to wait another hour because the fecking driver must have been on a promise. Utter twunt. Grrrr. It didn't detract from a good day all round, though. But North West trains are still ****s.

I've said similar in discussions about season tickets and match ticket pricing. The thing that is the problem with other times is the transport arrangements, for me. the reason they do it is aruling regarding protecting incomes for clubs in other leagues. Which is on the face of it fair enough. But then they have their midweek games clash with TV games. I'd like to see the Prem effectively "buy out" this protection and pay non prem clubs "compensation" butthen Prem games be televised on Saturdays at 3 or 4 pm. I accept that this is currently unrealistic, partly because Sky will always want to spread gaes across as many days as poss, to protect their audiences. Nevertheless, if the situation doesn't change, then prices are too high. Even at Villa. Me or you as an individual don't matter in money terms, just now, but we will if things carry on as they are. For all that Man U increased their prices (to pay oof huge debts due to the takeover) it's also the case that Wigan and others will be dropping their prices. I'm not fussed about the money, because I can't afford it - I can, but because it is just not genuine value, for me. The odd dissident doesn't matter, but I just think the trend will be for price re-adjustment, over the next year or two, if TV keeps up it's insatiable demands in return for it's huge injection of cash, and it will.

No camera knowledge whatsoever, just another big up for Cat's pics. I love 'em. Critters are brilliant, and the images capture that glory.

Nice post. Was he not signed the day Brian Little left? It's one of those factlets that seems stuck in my mind - but either way time flies.

I reckon I'm up at 25 + now

Don't know what you mean :oops: edited now, to make it look like I didn't mess up

Thanks folks. Couple of points Risso - yep, I ran out of steam in my quest to get it done before my tea. I should really have said that Freddie Bouma controlled his full back position like the dominant Jackdaw ensuring no twig was taken from his nest atop a tree, no juicy morsel of snail or carrion was able to escape his firm and solid hold on proceedings, but I was hungry. And Scott - Flat!! the flat bit! Pah! The road winds across (and up and down) some mighty fine lumps. It's all hills and valleys, peaks and windswept, er, windy parts. There are these strange circular stone walls, with just a small gap on the leeward side in some of the fields, there are wind turbines lurking just off the M6 and there are sheep. I saw Rabbits and pheasants, village pubs and wooden benches, and er, people in shell suits eating burgers and crisps in lay-bys. The English countryside was in all its glory. Flat....Good grief.

It's always the best journey of the season, for me, Middlesbrough. Not necessarily the best game, or the best away ground, but just the best trip. The reason why is the scenery on the way and today it was even more beautiful on the way back. The sun's gentle rays alighting in their soft, evening, way on the ancient landscape between the East and West of the country. Lambs with their little black heads trotting and mewling after their shaggy coated mothers in their stone wall enclosed fields, Lapwings twirling and wheeling, like black and white mini-stukas. Crows waiting for fresh road-kill. Marvellous. I'd set off this warm morning in hope. Hope because of recent better performances and results and hope because Boro seems to be a lucky ground for us. Lucky in that we always seem to play well there, even if we lose. The Riverside is a similar distance from Lytham as is Villa Park, so, it's not exactly a home game, but it's not to difficult to get to, at all, and with the aforementioned glorious scenery, I got my kicks on the A66 (except the bit with the roadworks, which was a pain - still I should have got up early enough to catch the train, but there you go, another story..). My arrival in 'Boro was made all the more pleasant by meeting up with PMS from VillaTalk, his lads and Jan. We talked of Blackpool, Edinburgh and Vodka aversion, and last year's tonking of the 'Boro over a couple of drinks and some food and then meandered our merry way to the ground. It sits there, spaceship like, or maybe just ship-like, on the waste-ground the other side of the A66 from the town centre. And so to the match itself. I guess most people will know the result, 3-1 to Villa, and I think it was a fair reflection of play. The game had started off with both teams playing the ball around nicely, a couple of chances for Villa - Shaun Maloney should really have scored, clean through, but turned instead of taking the ball on, and the chance was gone. He hit another long range effort left footed, which Shwarzer tipped for a corner. Anyway, the play was bright and tidy, neither side had any fear or any massive objective to chase, but it was entertaining. Then Boro were given a free kick about 25 yards or more out. Rochenbach (the announcer said) hit a powerfull shot past the wall, but Tommy was well positioned, and caught the ball half on his chest, half in the crook of his arm....and then let it squirm through and trickle into the goal, at his right hand post. Some of the maybe 1800 or so Villans cussed and abused, some chanted Tommy's name. Me, I just thought, hey ho, it's team game, all of us need to make up for the error. And we did. The goal had come after about 20 minutes and by half time we were level. Phil Bardsley, I think, played Gabby through, and his run down the right and subsequent cross found Craig Gardner unmarked in the middle to finish nicely, for his first Villa goal. Gabby's rocket heels and endeavour troubled Boro all game. With the goal coming just before half time we went for our half time refreshments lifted. The second half was much more one sided than the first. Villa ran it. The previously slightly tentative Ashley Young and Phil Bardsley improved and the rest of them maintained or lifted what was already a good standard of play. With each side attacking their own fans we got to see plenty of Villa pressure and skill. While George Boateng is a fine player, he was outplayed in midfield by Stan Petrov and Gareth Barry, ably assisted by Craig Gardner and Ashley Young. All game Martin Laursen and Olly were well in control of the tricky Yakubu and Freddie Bouma has his side sewn up, too. Perhaps 20 minutes or so into the second half Luke Moore came on for Shaun Maloney to freshen up our control of the game, and within a couple of minutes he was celebrating. A free kick played in by Ashley Young was headed down by Martin Laursen and Luke swiveled and shot past the blameless keeper. Luke looked mighty pleased. 5 minutes later, we were further ahead. Barry picked up the ball, passed nicley to Petrov's good run, Petrov slipped past the defender and shot into the corner. Sweet for Villa, sweet for Stan, and sweet for my friend Yordi (a Bulgarian), next to me, who would collect Stan's shirt after the game. Despite the sunshine outside, in the shade it was cool, and Villa kept their cool too, to easily see out the rest of the game. Steven Davis (lively) and later Aaron Hughes had a run out. All was well with the world. Some marks Tommy 5 - His distribution of the ball was good, he wasn't that busy, but he did drop a ricket. Still it happens. Bardsley 5 - Still learning, plenty of time to get the necessary "nouse" Olly - 8 - Dominant Martin Laursen 8 - Dominant - the two centre backs were absolutely rock solid. Freddie - 7. Good Craig Garner - Worked his socks off, scored a nice goal - 7.5 Stan - Lovely finish, lovely passing. He knows how to run a game when we're on top 7.5 GB - Class, as always - 7.5 Ashley Young - eager, 6.5 Shaun Maloney - 6.5 - another youngster with time on his side. Gabby - 8 MoTM - Full of it today. A right handful. Subs - Luke 7 (1 for the goal) - he scored, That's what forwards are there for. Steve Davis - 7 Aaron Hughes not on for long, 6. We played keep ball, we passed and moved, we entertained. Let's hope that our tomorrows bring more of the same, but better.

GB by an absolute country mile. Which I guess reflects both how really well he has consistently played, and also, sadly, how no-one else has managed to come anywhere near the level of consistency and performance we'd have liked.

I've just gone the other way, picking Gabby, over Gaz. Very close call, either would be a deserving winner. Gabby definitely had a dip in form, and should have been rested, I felt, but I think he's had more impact on results, so that's what tipped it for me.

Bouma for me, too. He's settled in nicely, now.

Blandy writes A sunny Easter Saturday saw 4000 Villans in Blackburn Lancashire. Spring, don't you just love it? Certainly today was a beautiful day. The early morning mists cleared to make way for a blue sky and short train ride to Ewood for my local game. One of the highlights of the season for an exiled Villan is to be able to make just a short trip to the game, rather than endure hours travelling each way. The local train pulled into Blackburn, and 4 of us went for a few sociable pints in the Adelphi. "Black Sheep" was drunk, perhaps in recognition of recent feelings about a few of the team. There were a few concerns about the line up, but I felt nervously hopeful as we caught the bus to the Fernhurst, closer to the ground. The beer's a bit averarge in there, but standing in the sun, meeting with a veritable horde of VTers, no one seemed to mind. The fans were boisterous but well behaved, as we wandered into the ground. After a quick meat n'potato pie (they had no brown sauce, which is shocking) I settled down to watch Villa control the game. All the action seemed to be down the far end. Villa's midfield probing and passing, and Blackburn doing little but defend. Friedel, that excellent shot stopper, was at it again. Last season he'd played a blinder in the correspondng game, though Baros had been hugely wasteful. This season, with no Baros, and his replacement out injured, we played with "wee Shauny" and Gabby as a tiny tots front two. No matter, they posses speed and trickery and with Berger giving a bit of a masterclass Villa were well on top. Like last season though, things didn't quite go to plan. Blackburn got the ball up to the Claret and Blue packed Darwen end, Gamst-Pedersen ran into the box, Bardsley tackled and down went MGP, for what looked like a delayed dive and a penalty. Somewhat soft, I thought. McCarthy lashed into the corner. Villa didn't bat an eyelid, we just kept attacking, and before long had equalised. Bardsley crossed, and Paddy Berger in yards of space seemed to flick the ball past Freidel with the outside of his heel. A bit of justice. We should really have been winning, but parity was the least we deserved. Straight after half time, Villa got a very dodgy penalty for a handball. Right in front of me, Craig Gardener, playing on our right, on the edge of the box, knocked the ball into a Rover. He couldn't get out of the way, really. Up stepped Gareth Barry, and after a delay he powered the ball from the penalty, but Friedel made a stunningly good save. I guess the ball was perhaps too close to him, but still, the power of it, and the ability to keep it out, rather than divert it into the goal was impressive. Blackburn, perhaps sensing their luck was in, and revitalised by their Manager making a number of substitutions, started to get on top a bit. Happily the ever popular David Dunn was closed down, Berger collected the ball and rolled it through for Gabby to zoom onto, round Friedel and roll it into the net. It was at about this point that I lost my voice, and the last 15 minutes took an age to pass. We were now under the sort of pressure that I'd have expected us to be under for more of the game. Free kicks and corners, headers, shots - they all seemed to be down the far end, now. Tommy and the defence stood firm, though. Aaron Hughes came on for Bardsley, Gav for Berger and Steven Davis for Maloney. Rovers hit the bar, we had a couple of breaks, and eventually the game ended. Huge relief was evident amongst the players and fans. A number of the players threw shirts into the away end. And then the Big Screen showed that the other Claret and Blues, Burnley, had triumphed at the Sty. Further cheering and joy. We have had far too few of these sort of days in recent seasons, but it was immensely enjoyable. The only thing left to do was go for some more beer, and then a curry. Some marks Tommy - 7 very assured Bardsley 6 - daft challenge for the pen, otherwise sound. Assist for the goal (Hughes 6). Bouma - 7. Rovers had no threat to us from his side. Olly - 7.5 Martin Laursen - 8. Both centre backs did exactly what you want them to. Craig Gardner - 6. Solid on the right. Stan Petrov - 6. Sat back a bit, but was tidy and cleaned up a lot and kept the ball. Gareth Barry - 8. Missed a pen, could have scored a couple more, but played well, as ever. Patrick Berger - 8.5 MoTM. Superb. Won the ball, held the ball, passed the ball, absolute quality. (Gav 6) wee Shaun - 6 can be pleased with his efforts (Steven Davis 6) Gabby 7 - Far, far, better through the middle. Looked confident. Took the goal superbly. Just a top top day out. I hope and believe there will be many more to come.

Nice article, Scott. Just as a bit of info, I thought I'd write down last season's last 7 results Arsenal 5-0 Villa Villa 0-0 Albion Villa 3-1 small heath alliance Wigan 3-2 Villa Villa 0-1 Man City Liverpool 3-1 Villa Villa 2-1 Sunderland Won 2, drew 1 lost 4 F8 A14 GD -6 Pts 7 I think we'll do better than that, this time round.

Neither are "worse". That implies they are "bad" They are not bad, just because they follow the fortunes of one team or another. Sport is a "free" choice - a small boy in the most dictatorial country can follow the fortunes of any team from anywhere in the world, and the results can make him happy or sad, same as for us lot. I guess that once upon a time, people just went along and watched their local team(s), but it's not like that now. Electronic communications and the like have made the world a small place. 'Noses mainly follow their local team, Brummie Reds follow Man U on the telly, some go, I guess. It's their choice, their decision. So what? I guess people who never go might not be (able to be) "supporters", but they are still "fans". They're them, we're us. We're not so different.

I was quite disgruntled with the style of the Sky presentation. I don't think they were "unfair", but they were sensationalising the game both in the build up and commentary. All this Villa plummeting, only won 2 in 19 or whatever. Well yes, but they made no mention of the number of draws, or gave any context really. Just over-egging the whole thing. Then, having done that they seemed mildly miffed that it didn't go according to how they had pre-ordained it would in the second half. Strangely, I thought Peter Reid talked some of the more common sense stuff on the programme, along with the presenter bod in the box who asked decent questions of him. At least beelzebub wasn't on.

Has JPA pissed off MON big time too? I agree, I think it very strange that neither of them was on the bench. And that 2 out of form players in Gabby and Ashley were in the team. Most peculiar. There must be a reason, but I dunno what it is. JAP I can guess is on the way out, so maybe MO'N has decided the same with Ridge and Luke. I hope not, with Luke, as he seems to be a genuinely good prospect.

same points after the same numer of games as last season. So on the field, no change according to the stats. We don't have the right blend, yet, and it's a transition from heading downwards, to heading hopefully in the right direction. As much as some people understandably get nervous looking down, it's also the case that the results yesterday, with Boro and Newcastle losing, give the opportunity to jump upwards and clear. Off the pitch, things are just immensely better. I believe that the transition has been remarkable, and it's still progressing. Once the effects of that huge improvement start to have more of an impact on the playing side, then we'll be a happy bunch again. I don't think the effect of the euphoria that accompanied the new board and manager should be ignored. That euphoria carried the team and fans and manager to some above par results in the first period of the season, but as it wore off, and as the weaknesses of the squad kicked back in, it has been hard work, and at times hard watching. Ultimately it's players that will make the difference on the pitch, and whilst we've recently got some good new ones in, there's a lot still to do. Until that happens, we'll have to keep on biting our nails and waiting...

That's blatant anti-Guardianista-ism, Nick [glad to be of service, between mung bean salads]