Mantis

In his own way I actually think Stan's been just as good a servant to the club as Young has.

He's not being sold.

Amazing how they always manage to out-do us. We get into a relegation scrap, they get relegated. We appoint their shitty manager and play shitty football, they go into administration.

I'm better than Collins...

Gabby's absence will be McLeish's excuse. You heard it here first.

I agree. He's almost as bad as Guy Mowbray.

He likes scoring away doesn't he?

I disagree. Blackburn are dire, and both Houllier and McLeish have beaten them at home this year.

since the FA Cup semi final i think they have only won 3 games. That cant be a form issue. At the same time, I don't really see how losing one game can trigger such an alarming and sustained run of poor form?

Bloody hope not.

I don't know if it is just bad form. It's sure lasted a long time. I know it's a cliche but home form is absolutely critical. We lost out on 4th in 09/10 because of it and Bolton will lose their Premier League status if they don't improve it.

Petrov, already one of Villa's modern greats, will be immortalised as a Villa legend if he can finish the job on Downing.

If Houllier had taken over as Sunderland manager, you can almost guarantee he would have lost that game. Eck would have gone for a draw, and after Sunderland went behind, his plan would have been to keep the score down. We smashed Blackburn at home 4-1 and 3-1 under Houllier and McLeish.

Can see two of Bolton, Wigan and Blackburn going down. Those are the main candidates. Wolves, Norwich, QPR and Swansea are on the next rung, with the likes of Fulham and Sunderland outsiders.

Agreed. The ridiculously negative football is what people are most concerned about. Even if we secure a top 10 finish I will not be happy with McLeish if he keeps persisting with this style of play.

Indeed. I probably saw MON yesterday than actual football.

If we attack them - could go either way If we submit like we have done against all the other big teams so far this season - defeat

O'Leary on MOTD2. Get him in.

I swear that's like the fifth time you've said that. We get it.

Future Villa captain?

No, I don't miss him. Not one bit. And before somebody tries and spins it - yes I do miss competing for 4th place.

Just thought wanting Sunderland to lose just to spite MON was a bit that way. TBH, given the predicament we are in, a 0-0 draw with 3 sendings off each and bad injuries to a few key players on both sides would have been the best outcome for Villa.Not really. The Villa fans that hate O'Neill are entirely justified in doing so after what he did.I don't think hatred can ever really be justified. it is a thoroughly regrettable emotion. But which bit of what he did is worth hating? The consistently higher league positions and the fact that we were challenging for top 4 in each of his 3 last seasons with us? The cup appearances at Wembley? the players he brought to Villa, like Young, Milner, Downing, and the ones he brought on to star quality, like Barry, Agbonlahor? Frankly, I'd gladly take all that back. Where did I mention hating what he did? Regardless, that's a very one-sided look on his tenure. While it was relatively successful, he didn't achieve anything spectacular. I'd gladly take the level of spending we had under him, but I wouldn't take the man himself back.

Just thought wanting Sunderland to lose just to spite MON was a bit that way. TBH, given the predicament we are in, a 0-0 draw with 3 sendings off each and bad injuries to a few key players on both sides would have been the best outcome for Villa.Not really. The Villa fans that hate O'Neill are entirely justified in doing so after what he did.

Hang on a minute, how is not liking MON being "stampy-footy sulky-wulky"? :|

Even we beat Blackburn. Let's see how St Martin does against better opposition.