The Footie Thread

[Canary_Yellow]

I think we achieved a lower league position last year than we should have - we were in flying form and then lost JG for 12 games - winning only 1 of them... Had he stayed fit, we might have finished as high as 7th.

Serious investment has been made in our squad since our promotion. We are the third highest net spenders in the prem since we came up - our owners have serious ambition of getting us back into european football.

Before the start of this season myself and a few mates that go home and away all agreed that finishing 11th again this year represents progress having lost JG in the summer and rebuilding without him was always going to take time. So realistically - that should be the goal for the year.

What do I expect from Gerrard? Not really sure. No question that he needs to be successful with Villa to get where he wants to in the future - he installed a great style of football at Rangers and he plans to do the same at Villa. He just might not have all the players yet.

With another window coming soon, honestly success this year is mid table I think. We have a very capable premier league squad of players. Anything better than that is a bonus. Id then expect improvement year upon year. I know leicester won the league - but theyre not as big as villa as a club and we should have aspirations of over taking them at some stage in the next 5 years. Same goes for Everton, Spurs etc.

Smith was a great manager for us. Not a bad word to say about the man. I wish you all the best with him going forward - he will play attractive football and youll be entertained. He improved pretty much every player that he worked with at Villa - and he found a system that got the most out of JG and all his talent, which some managers would and do struggle to do (Gareth...).

I think every so often, some fresh ideas help, whether Gerrard turns out long-term to be a better option than Smith, only time will tell, but in the short-term, I think he should get some fresh impetus going.

It's interesting how things have changed during my time as a football fan (I'm mid 30s, so I'm talking 1994 ish onwards), and that back in the day, the size of the club and therefore it's spending power came primarily from the size of the fanbase, and in particular the stadium. Since then, Champions League money changed everything, and now it's all about how rich your owners are.

I agree Villa have historically been a bigger club, but Leicester have significant clout. Not to say Villa don't too of course, just that it's less clear these days that "size" in the traditional sense of fanbase etc. is what actually dictates relatively where different clubs should sit in the table due to it no longer being directly linked to playing budget.

I don't disagree though, that with good management, Villa should be one of those clubs in the pack of Everton, West Ham, Leeds (they've got work to do to get there too), Spurs etc..

 

[Bdill93]

I think every so often, some fresh ideas help, whether Gerrard turns out long-term to be a better option than Smith, only time will tell, but in the short-term, I think he should get some fresh impetus going.

It's interesting how things have changed during my time as a football fan (I'm mid 30s, so I'm talking 1994 ish onwards), and that back in the day, the size of the club and therefore it's spending power came primarily from the size of the fanbase, and in particular the stadium. Since then, Champions League money changed everything, and now it's all about how rich your owners are.

I agree Villa have historically been a bigger club, but Leicester have significant clout. Not to say Villa don't too of course, just that it's less clear these days that "size" in the traditional sense of fanbase etc. is what actually dictates relatively where different clubs should sit in the table due to it no longer being directly linked to playing budget.

I don't disagree though, that with good management, Villa should be one of those clubs in the pack of Everton, West Ham, Leeds (they've got work to do to get there too), Spurs etc..

I agree, thats why I gave them the respect of saying within 5 years. Leicester are a club successful in the modern era of football - not something that villa have been! But something that we have all the infrastructure in place to become - and possibly build to be greater than due to a larger fanbase etc.

I imagine for a Norwich fan you hope of maintaining premier league status at some point again soon? You lasted a few years and seem to yo-yo at present, must be somewhat frustrating?

 

[nickjdavis]

As you can see from the bit in bold, the very first post on this suggested they shouldn’t be allowed to play in WC qualifying.

You yourself agreed they wouldn’t develop as a team by playing bigger Nations and now you are suggesting them and teams of a similar standard play each other and are then given preferential treatment to get the WC Finals! Who misses out?

I agree the current system is flawed, but changing it so these Teams are handed a place is also wrong imo.

OK....I missed Colchester FC's post!!

They're not given preferential treatment....they've qualified by right....whether the qualification process is good or not is another matter....was just putting an alternative out there. At the very least I think we agree there's got to be a better way than simply letting these teams get pummelled every week.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Why are you getting so offended? Nobody is accusing anybody of anything here, and specifically said so. You seem extremely defensive, but perhaps that is a result of todays society that people feel they need to be.

It was a simple and topical question originated by Pauljames. Negative comments about people of different nationalities is considered acceptable, as you acknowledge. Exactly the same would have been said years ago if similar comments were made of people of colour. Now it is called racism and people lose their jobs and reputation for making such remarks. 50 years ago someone might have said to me "don't be a pleb" if I questioned their comment on a racial subject matter.

In todays society, context means little when it comes to race. I've no idea what was on Michael Vaughan's mind, but perhaps he truly felt it was banter and he had no ill feeling or awareness of any harm he was doing. Today, he will probably struggle to stay in a job because of it.

When it comes to nationality, context is certainly key, and we can almost say what we like. However, like race now, will this be something to also change in the future? This is simply a discussion, nobody is trying to throw anyone else under the bus.

I'm not offended nor defensive. I simply answered your question that you already knew the answer too.

For me, why do we feel the need to end peoples careers,Micheal Vaughan in this case?

If what he is alledged to have said is correct many years ago, wouldnt it be better to educate him and others instead of throwing them on the scrap heap?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

OK....I missed Colchester FC's post!!

They're not given preferential treatment....they've qualified by right....whether the qualification process is good or not is another matter....was just putting an alternative out there. At the very least I think we agree there's got to be a better way than simply letting these teams get pummelled every week.

Currently there are 55 European Nations competeing for 13 spaces at the WC, if you give 1 or 2 guaranteed spaces to the worst of the 55 how can that not be seen as preferential treatment?

As a side note, Africa has 54 teams competeing for 5 spaces, the whole system is flawed.

 

[Liverbirdie]

If Michael Vaughan said what was reported to a racially specific group, it doesn’t look great but only he (if it was said) will know his motivation. Context can be key as he didn’t use a racially specific insult.

The French/Scots/Irish etc aren’t a race. Same as jokes about scousers nicking stuff aren’t racist. They may not be funny but they aren’t racist.

If your don’t celebrate/recognise difference the world is very vanilla

Oh, there is lots of form on this thread, particularly from CERTAIN west ham fans giving it the victim / robbers big un, but as it doesnt fit into the xenophobia / rascism tropes, it gets passed by as harmless.

Let him without sin, and all that.......

 

[Swango1980]

I'm not offended nor defensive. I simply answered your question that you already knew the answer too.

For me, why do we feel the need to end peoples careers,Micheal Vaughan in this case?

If what he is alledged to have said is correct many years ago, wouldnt it be better to educate him and others instead of throwing them on the scrap heap?

Apologies, but you were the one that called me a "pleb", after no provocation from me. I just asked a simple question. I assumed you got offended which is why you reverted to name calling, but perhaps that is simply how you like to debate?

Personally, I hate to see people's careers ruined when they did something years before where they were completely oblivious that they were causing any harm, and society didn't make it clear it was unacceptable at that time. That is why I think context is crucial, and often ignored. Pauljames simply asked if xenophobia was any different to racism, but he could quite easily have used homophobia, bigotry or any other form of discrimination as a comparison.

However, I agree with others, this discussion has probably gone too far off topic on football. And, it isn't like any of us will change the world by continuing the debate, so best get back to discussing how Gerrard will get on in his first game, and how amusing people will find it when Watford beat Man Utd 3-0, and Ole tells us after how the "boys played well, can't criticise their desire and we are building towards something special"

 

[Bdill93]

Apologies, but you were the one that called me a "pleb", after no provocation from me. I just asked a simple question. I assumed you got offended which is why you reverted to name calling, but perhaps that is simply how you like to debate?

Personally, I hate to see people's careers ruined when they did something years before where they were completely oblivious that they were causing any harm, and society didn't make it clear it was unacceptable at that time. That is why I think context is crucial, and often ignored. Pauljames simply asked if xenophobia was any different to racism, but he could quite easily have used homophobia, bigotry or any other form of discrimination as a comparison.

However, I agree with others, this discussion has probably gone too far off topic on football. And, it isn't like any of us will change the world by continuing the debate, so best get back to discussing how Gerrard will get on in his first game, and how amusing people will find it when Watford beat Man Utd 3-0, and Ole tells us after how the "boys played well, can't criticise their desire and we are building towards something special"

A sweet 3 points or Gerrard out from me

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Apologies, but you were the one that called me a "pleb", after no provocation from me. I just asked a simple question. I assumed you got offended which is why you reverted to name calling, but perhaps that is simply how you like to debate?

Personally, I hate to see people's careers ruined when they did something years before where they were completely oblivious that they were causing any harm, and society didn't make it clear it was unacceptable at that time. That is why I think context is crucial, and often ignored. Pauljames simply asked if xenophobia was any different to racism, but he could quite easily have used homophobia, bigotry or any other form of discrimination as a comparison.

However, I agree with others, this discussion has probably gone too far off topic on football. And, it isn't like any of us will change the world by continuing the debate, so best get back to discussing how Gerrard will get on in his first game, and how amusing people will find it when Watford beat Man Utd 3-0, and Ole tells us after how the "boys played well, can't criticise their desire and we are building towards something special"

Apology accepted.

I never called you a pleb, i said "Dont be a Pleb". There's a difference.

You posts are usually well measured, so your post 18244 looked dubious and added nothing to the debate.

As for PJ87 we spoke via PM and clarified our posts.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

Apology accepted.

I never called you a pleb, i said "Dont be a Pleb". There's a difference.

You posts are usually well measured, so your post 18244 looked dubious and added nothing to the debate.

As for PJ87 we spoke via PM and clarified our posts.

Indeed we did, no offence meant either side ? sorry if I took the thread the wrong direction

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would think Villa are capable of beating Brighton at home especially with the Gerrard effect and the players wanting to impress the new boss although Brighton are well organised and stubborn. Palace away after will be a more litmus test of where Villa are. A team that are beatable even at home but another that can surprise teams. Wouldn't it be nice for a club to actually realise they need a rebuild and give a manager 2-3 seasons without any fear of the sack to get the job done

 

[Bdill93]

I would think Villa are capable of beating Brighton at home especially with the Gerrard effect and the players wanting to impress the new boss although Brighton are well organised and stubborn. Palace away after will be a more litmus test of where Villa are. A team that are beatable even at home but another that can surprise teams. Wouldn't it be nice for a club to actually realise they need a rebuild and give a manager 2-3 seasons without any fear of the sack to get the job done

I dont think our owners are the hire-em fire-em type. I imagine Gerrard gets some time to make things happen!

As above, no bad word to say about smith but I think the general consensus amongst fans is he took us as far as he could. That and he didnt win many games without JG.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So just £2bn then - double what the previous rights where.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I dont think our owners are the hire-em fire-em type. I imagine Gerrard gets some time to make things happen!

As above, no bad word to say about smith but I think the general consensus amongst fans is he took us as far as he could. That and he didnt win many games without JG.

Agree with your view on Smith and have to say I thought Parker had done as much as he could at Fulham even before Bournemouth came calling (and he had an hankering to go there anyway). Same when we had Hodgson and once we got to the Europa final I think he had got as much out of that squad as he could. I think Gerrard will bring new ideas from Rangers and his playing days under great Liverpool managers which will help. As long as he get the tools (money) and time Villa could certainly start kicking towards Europa league next season

 

[Pin-seeker]

Agree with your view on Smith and have to say I thought Parker had done as much as he could at Fulham even before Bournemouth came calling (and he had an hankering to go there anyway). Same when we had Hodgson and once we got to the Europa final I think he had got as much out of that squad as he could. I think Gerrard will bring new ideas from Rangers and his playing days under great Liverpool managers which will help. As long as he get the tools (money) and time Villa could certainly start kicking towards Europa league next season

Or he could Slip up ?

 

[4LEX]

Lets hope he gets the sack before the World Cup and that the FA have seen your post here, as you clearly know more than Gareth and would do better.

What an ignorant comment. I don't want him sacked and think he's done a lot of good. But the fact is, he's had a better team in both key games, gone a goal ahead and bottled it from there. He's shown nothing since that suggests he'd do any different in Qatar. I'll be there whilst you're watching on your TV pretending to be an expert.

We need to get away from this small time thinking, England are the best team in the world based on squad quality. A lot of that is down to other top nations having dry spells but we should be winning major trophies or we'll end up like Belgium. We underachieved in Russia and at Euro 2020. Qatar is a golden chance but I can see us making it a hatrick of bottle jobs.

 

[DanFST]

We need to get away from this small time thinking, England are the best team in the world based on squad quality.

Love a striker that can't score and a ropey defence.

 

[Bdill93]

View attachment 39562

So just £2bn then - double what the previous rights where.

Premier league is MASSIVE

 

[Rlburnside]

Or he could Slip up ?

??. Good one

 

[Bdill93]

For the first time in 3 years I have absolutely no idea who starts for Villa tomorrow.

I think Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings and McGinn pick themselves.

Likely to see Buendia, Watkins and Ings but not sure all 3 start?

Cant decide if he will start Targett or Young for some experience. No idea on the other midfielders (besides McGinn) as we have injuries..

Interesting times