jackbauer24

Arguably, but If Man City but 6/7 past us then the 13 goal difference disappears. Hell, even if we let in an AVERAGE of two goals a game in last 5 games we let slip another 10. Yes, not that likely but unlike Fulham's goal difference which guarantees they need the extra point, Norwich and ours isn't quite far enough apart for be guaranteed. But like I said, think we're 17th.

Not happy today obviously but looking at the permutations we still look odds on to survive, just. If we go for the slightly negative (but incredibly realistic) proposition that Villa lose all their remaining games we are left with the following situation simply put: Fulham need 5 points from Tottenham, Hull, Stoke and Crystal Palace. (their goal difference makes them need five points) Cardiff need 5 points (possibly 6 due to GD) from Stoke, Sunderland, Newcastle and Chelsea. Sunderland look doomed... they have games in hand but are against Man City and Chelsea and one of their other games is Man Utd. Then there's Norwich that need 2 points from Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal And finally WBA need 1 point from West Ham, Arsenal, Sunderland and Stoke and Swansea 1 point from Newcastle, Us, Southampton and Sunderland. I think I'd put bets on one of Cardiff and Fulham possibly surviving but Norwich helping us out. I think we're going to be 17th.

Teacher here! But as it's anonymous I can tell you what a lot of us really think - do it! There are a few caveats though... It largely depends on the age of the child. Children entering Nursery/ Reception learn through play and experiences. That is the philosophy of the curriculum. There are 7 areas of learning and one of those in Understanding the World. What better than experiencing holidays, different countries? And the language children come back with is amazing. In Early Years a holiday is just an extended class trip! Can you not afford to go during conventional holidays? Why should your children miss out because of rich narrow minded politicians? If Year 2 or 6 try to avoid it. If in May to July try to avoid it in all years as this is key assessment, plugging gaps periods. Really importantly, don't ask school for time off for hols. They are legally not allowed to agree anymore. You will be fined. But if the child is sick... But officially of course your children should come to school every day because they will end up on the dole if they miss a week or so of school and that's why teachers spend weeks on absolutely vital Nativity plays and dance festivals and Christmas Parties... You know, same way you're completely lost when you return to work after a week away. Rant over

What I don't understand is why would anyone renew Monday?! Even if you know you're going to keep your season ticket why pay them three months before you need to, or start your 'interest free' payments three months earlier than you need to? Can't think of one reason financially or footballing that would make you think "yes Villa, you can have my money early for zero reason!". Should have at least given you 20% Villa cash for March renewals, 15% for April Renewals and 10% for May renewals. I'm not sure they have a marketing team at Villa...

For what it's worth I remember an incident in the Albion game where I thought a fan had confronted Lambert at the dugout after one of our goals. Despite a definite coming together of lambert and someone who looked like they'd ran from the side if the dugout. I saw no mention of the incident. This also did happen but was quite the reverse of Sunday's incident. The fan at WBA got a little overexcited and got on to the touchline to hug Lambert and he initially thought it was Culverhouse then got a little peed off and pushed the fan away, the stewards took over but recognised it was merely over-exuberance and let him return to his seat. However, they have since added a stronger barrier on the corner between the fans and the dugout - so much so the physios/ coaches that sit behind the dugout couldn't get to their seats against West Ham! But this week they put in a gate!

Sorry, I didn't mean to disbelieve your account - just a worry that it may have been a report of what someone else may have said and so on. That's not a good report at all. Just to corroborate this story and perhaps add a little to it, this DID happen. I sit in C4 and, whilst I didn't hear the exact nature of the incident I both saw what happened and spoke to the steward who ejected him (who I just happen to know through work). Obviously there were a lot of grumbles after the first 15mins or so and, much like Culverhouse on numerous occasions has, Lambert turned round and told a group of fans to get behind the team and to 'shut the f up' or words to that effect. Now, because it was quiet, this became a direct shouting match between the fan and the manager for 10 seconds. A few minutes later Villa had scored and as the celebrations were dying down it became obvious the 'ruckus' was kicking off and the guy was fuming. Lambert kept goading him and he looked like he wanted to tear the managers head off. Fans, the Villa physios/coaches that sit behind the dugout and a few stewards pulled him away and back to his seat but with such force the guys jacket got torn p*ssing him off further. He then disappeared. At half time I bumped in to this steward friend (I say friend, I know him to speak to but actually don't know his name still!) of mine who approached me after he'd had a chat with the young lad who stewards directly next to the dugout. Said the bloke he'd had to eject was f'in and blinding about being sworn at and having Lambert stick a few choice fingers up at him. I think the view of the crowd and the stewards was that this was kind of caused by Lambert for either not ignoring the situation in the first place or continuing to goad him through out it. Oh, and it wasn't the same guy that hugged him a few weeks back! (Which, by the way, Lambert dealt with appallingly by shoving him and swearing etc - but I suppose you might not trust a stranger). The question is: should a manager always rise above it or is there a tolerance level any human being has for what is just words?

How about an Under-rated XI (Premiership era - too young before then!) Thomas Sorensen (limited choice of keepers) Alan Wright (would be my choice if only picking one) Alpay (absolutely amazing to begin with, seriously screwed up later admittedly - but footballing wise, look at his first season + 02 World Cup) Steve Watson (not clear memory but seemed to work bloody hard) Mark Delaney (seems to be fairly ignored in football world) Ian Taylor (for view outside Villa) Kevin Richardson (Our rarely spoken about captain) Stan Petrov (not sentimental reasons at all - work horse who kept things ticking over) Gavin McCann (another workhorse) Julian Joachim (his goal scoring record was pretty phenomenal yet few have even heard of him) Dion Dublin (always harder with strikers as they are talked about loads, but often listed quite low down our best striker list and yet he was epic, broken neck and all!) Manager: (deep breath...) Lambert?! We shouldn't underestimate the financial constraints we are under and we're doing ok. Not in dreamland or anything but he's had a very very tricky job and despite all the mistakes he has made, all the strange substitutions or purchases, I do feel he is quite under-rated. Not sure who else could do a better job given the constraints we are currently under. So not great like Little but no disaster like O'Leary. Chairman: Ellis or Lerner, Ellis or Lerner... errr...

Sure this will start a little debate BUT it's only three minute video and possibly worth a little watch. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-25587528 BBC

Didn't hear this particular incident as missed my first match(es) due to currently being in NYC for the holidays but having been a season ticket holder in C4 right next to the Lambert et al, I can almost guarantee this happened. Culverhouse has sworn at loads of fans, especially last season. Most of the time it's a dirty look but I've heard him swear at fans on a number of occasions, normally on the lines of, "just get behind the f'ing team' whilst patronisingly clapping someone. It happens reguarly when playing crap! Whether its right or wrong is up to everyone else to decide. Personally I dont care!

We've been playing absolute crap for ages. West Brom awful. Southampton awful. Cardiff we were awful for nearly 80 minutes. This was awful too - finally an experienced side has worked out just don't panic against us, or press us too hard, and you'll inevitably beat us. We're easy pickings. Fulham bossed every area, not through greater skill (although they had that too) but simply because they were patient and waited for us to make our own mistake which will always be plentiful. I always fancy our chances against a higher placed team as we have a hope of hitting them on one or two counter attacks (see Southampton!) but up against a team like Fulham or Hull and there is absolutely no Plan B. We can't hit it high and long to Benteke/ Gabby...er what now?! I always had this down as a Banker for Fulham. In fact, I would have fancied us getting more points against United next week, if it hadn't been for Delph suspension. Guzan - ok, flapped a few times but still kept us in this game, could have been embarrassing as well as depressing Clark - reasonable, few last minute tackles. Baker - still looks lost/ panics a lot but no major mistakes - just appalling distribution Bacuna - awful in every respect today, should have either shepherded Sidwell out of play or put a tackle in then played right in to the hands of Fulham by not just standing up for penalty (although soft, there was no reason for it) Herd - always has more of a chance of a red than a good tackle but not his fault he's playing in wrong position El Ahmadi - hardly saw him, can not string a pass together and never looks like he has the ball under control Westwood - what the hell was that? Worst performance in a Villa shirt. Freekick summed that up. Delph - solid enough, got over-ran by having to drag the rest of his midfielders through the game. Weimann - didn't see him, was he playing?! Benteke - could see him never scoring a goal again for Villa, he'll put minimal effort in for next three weeks then be off in January. A passenger. Gabby - Always running, only glanced at the penalty shout but seemed we should have got one. Given little service though Subs: Albrighton/ Lowton not enough time to judge really. Tonev - seriously what the hell is this guy doing, head down, boot it in to row z every time he gets the ball. Has anyone ever seen this guy pass to a teammate, successfully?! Lambert. Actually I'm not going to be too harsh - what can you do with the constraints we have upon us. He's building a team to the best of his ability with a smaller budget than nearly every other team in the Premiership. But money rules, so it's us the fans who have to start being realistic; with our finances our aim should be to stay in the Premiership and that is depressing.

Good advice once more, also great to see people kind of agreeing on the 'musts'. I am 33 but unfortunately I am 'blessed' (cursed, trust me!) with boyish looks and often get asked for ID in this country so I'll make sure I have some on me at all time - guessing passport or driving licence! Think I'm definitely looking forward to seeing New York at night - it's those pictures where it looks at its best.

Afraid Ice Hockey comes bottom of the list as regards American Sports, the 'ball' (yes, I know puck!) is too small so it can't be seen, they are all too padded up and it's just a little bit of an excuse to have a fight on ice! Personal opinion and all that For me it's Baseball, Basketball, American Football then Ice hockey for America 'only' sports.

Cheers, brilliant pieces of advice and ideas. Will make a note of it all and bear in mind. Think we'll do Empire State and Rockefeller, got to do whole Sleepless in Seattle thing apparently! Yeah, saw the football factory place when I did a search for NY Villa fans so will check that out, very close to Empire State as well isn't it? Food neither of us are overly fussed by but happy to pay for quality. The missus is a bit of a picky eater though so imagine sushi is out the question! As for Knicks, its just for experience and Madison Square Gardens - if they were playing I'd prefer Yankees as I prefer baseball of the American Sports. Looking for best NYE place to go now really; lots of choices it seems. I know it won't be cheap but hotel is 0.5miles from Times Square ball drop. Oh and Christmas Day - missus really wants as authentic a Xmas meal as possible! Ok, saw that adverised online - will add it to list!

Yep, it is that open! I have a huge list of things I want to do, some obvious like Empire State Building, others more random like take a yellow cab or buy a hot dog from a street vendor NYC style! Just wondered if there are any thing VTers would count as an absolute must? Sport, sights, bars, pubs - whatever. Looking at Knicks tickets, Broadway Show, Ice-Skating, Shopping, Central Park, Helicopter Tour, Movie Tour, Ride the Subway, go to all the great buildings, Times Square for NYE (Hotel 0.5miles away). And obviously got to find a good bar for Premiership football for the two games I miss while I'm away! Without being crass, budget not a major issue for this holiday - within reason! I've done plenty of mega cheap holidays so this is a bit of a blow out!

I'm going to NYC this Xmas and New Year and wondered if anyone had any tips or must do's etc whilst there. I will be doing the tourists traps while I'm there as I've not been before.

Although not my home town, on a trip around Europe I stumbled across the shopping centre in Frankfurt which is very clever, the building has a 'hole' in it that pulls the glass inside the building. Can't put pictures up as tablet is messing around so Google it!

We played our B team too - except our A team only just about passes as a Premier League team so this was always going to be a big loss. It's the young and hungry vs. just not good enough debate and when it gets to our back up players it's not much of a debate! We are not good enough. A whole host of players out there will never be of a high enough quality to ever put fear in to the opposition. Albrighton was ok tonight but let's be honest, even he's crap. Steer will never be a No. 1 at a Premier League Club. Bennett is useless. El Ahmadi is average lower league table quality. Albrighton isn't consistent. Bowery will never be a first choice Premier League striker. Sylla, Tonev, Helenius, Kozak and Bacuna will all need at least some time to settle and the success rate of that happening is likely to be only 50/50. Out there tonight there was only Lowton and Vlaar who would get in the first team on merit and neither of them are exactly having stellar seasons yet. Our strength in depth is appalling but with the way the finances have gone the last few years that doesn't really surprise me. We have put all our eggs in a stronger first team XI and when a big injury hits we can't cope: Okore pushed it, but without Benteke or Gabby we are shocking. Penalty of not we looked dire. Fortunately this has almost no impact on Man City as it'll be mostly a different team. Unfortunately, we'll still get stuffed...

I find this thread funny - it's like brainwashing!! But I fully endorse the practice!! I'm fortunate in that I took my girlfriend to her first game against Blackburn Rovers in the semifinal a few years back - not a bad first game!! She too wasn't really in to football but now is joining me in her second year as a season ticket holder in the Trinity Stand. I asked her if she genuinely likes it (considering cost) and she does. She'd never watch a match on TV but she'll tell me if she's read or heard something Villa related. Only piece of advice i can give you is consider the stand you go for. My girlfriend hated Holte and North because it is grimy and dull, she loves the cleanliness of the Trinity (in comparison) and doesnt miss out on the atmosphere. No way would she have a season ticket in another stand. She also likes being closer to the pitch than up in the gods.

The bits I remember more clearly: 1) Marque signings are not something Villa are going to do - that's unrealistic 2) PL says that there is an argument for youth vs experience but the way he approaches it is to use young hungry players (suggesting he won't go for experienced/older players "they struggled the year before") 3) Believes Petrov 19th minute thing has had it's time and could even be a distraction BUT that it has to come from Petrov himself 4) Lowest point was Chelsea 8-0 5) Biggest regret was 'something' in the Bradford game - would have been interesting to be pushed 6) He hasn't heard of the 'bomb squad' but tries to treat everyone fairly so is just going with the squad he feels he will be working with all season (Given is a model pro - yet still not training with 1st team) 7) He may look to buying more players but who knows "never say never" 8) Kiyotake was looked at but no offer made - inquired only 9) He has not set a target for next year 10) When the time comes he'll look at his own contract with Paul and Randy 11) He considers last year a bit of a failure but not completely - they didn't do as well as he expected. 12) From February onwards he was happy with how the team progressed 13) He has a rough idea of the starting XI for Arsenal 14) The team against Malaga will not necessarily be the starting XI for Arsenal 15) If players want to leave for bigger clubs then you kind of can't get in their way 16) Grealish isn't ready for the first team and needs to go out on loan if that's possible 17) Won't give squad numbers to kids as it risks making them think they've arrived 18) Kids have it too easy anyway More as it comes to me...

I wear this watch, although it's not in same league as some others on this thread in terms of name or cost, I do get a number of positive comments regarding its style/unusualness;

80 euros each face value but would take some loss to get it sorted - just can't afford to throwaway 160euros completely.

Anyone know of good sites I can SELL GP tickets? Bought some for Hungarian GP but theyve turned up and theyre only Sunday General Admission and I wanted Weekend ones as I booked hol holiday there! Cant return or upgrade so it seems only solution is sell and re-buy. Need to sort this. Gutted.

CryptoN, your video was outstanding. Your shirts are truly hideous!!

For fear of turning this into a Pro/Anti Apple thread I too must jump on the bandwagon of Hate! Other than their business practice (probably not that much worse than many other businesses) I hate hype. Apple have cornered the market selling white plastic crap at inflated prices to people who like to be told what to do. Compare an ipad with an Android tablet and the gulf in personalisation is huge. Android is open to all, Apple tells you what you want and charges for it. Worse still is the fanboys who queue for exactly the same phone except it now has a 5 after its name! There was an American comedian who went round showing the old version saying it was the new one and everyone was gushing over it! Hilarious brainwashing! People who tell me their iPhone is the be all and end all I try and compare with my Android phone... Mine always does everything theirs does and more and for a fraction of the cost. The look on their faces as the curtain covering the wizard is torn away is priceless - although Apple would probably try to patent it! Fortunately I think the public is slowly becoming wise to it. Back on thread, I also avoid Fiat, Kwikfit, HP and Barclays for a mixture of them being useless. Oh, and Dunelm purely because its the most boring shop in the world!!

Current players is quite easy; Cahill, Young and Milner. Would say Walker but he was only on loan. Of past players (ive seen) it'd be Laursen, Merson and Taylor. On a separate note I always think Alpay gets a rough deal on these boards, quite a prick but one of the better defenders we had in the Premiership.