dn1982

6 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

I don't blame him. Looks like he got proper wound up,an with the frustration we are all feeling, if someone did it to me in the crowd, they would probably get it too.

Wound up by what???!! He has let us down badly and it sums up our season. Stupid decisions by players and bad refereeing!! 

Wasn't Leicester bottom of the league this time last year and actually spent a bit of money? We have basically given up. I wonder if I can get a refund for my season ticket because if the club isn't bothered why should I be??? 

As far as I can see we have tried to address the problems we have or some of them anyway. We have tried to sign Kalinic but for some unknown reason he can't at the minute get a work permit. We have tried for Debuchy and Remy on loan. These deals may still happen but where do you draw the line on how far down a list you go when in our position? We need top class to have a chance of staying up anything less would be futile and a waste of money. I can live without us getting a GK and a RB for now but for shear entertainment value we need a goalscorer so this is the only area I'd push the boat out for. Bunn and Richards can cover the other 2 positions but we don't have any form of striker. I'd even sue Fletcher from Sunderland if he's available. I think Garde has been backed but he knows in our position it'll go to the wire trying to get the players he wants. 

5 minutes ago, John said:

As has been said before there are players who could make a difference who would sign for us permanently or on loan if we really wanted to bring anyone in.

They may be playing abroad and want an opportunity to play if only for a few months in the PL, they may be playing in the leagues below our current one and want the chance to play in the PL and for a team like us whatever the league we may end up in next season or they may want to play first team football again in some cases to enhance their prospects of playing in the Euros. 

Sunderland's hopes of staying up are little better than our own but unlike us they do not seem quite as ready to throw in the towel.   

I think Newcastle and Sunderland are doing a scattergun approach to signings and they can afford to gamble more as they're in touch we on the other hand have to be more astute with our signings as we are basically down and need a miracle! I still think we'll get a few in. I just hope they're of high enough quality to have a good go at staying up!! 

23 minutes ago, Woodytom said:

But it's not. That's your interpretation. What is it that you want us to be constructive about? 

Can sit here until the cows come home banging on about where the likes of westwood or grealish etc might improve. The fact of the matter is, they're poor players at this level. There really isn't any point beating about the bush. 

Eric black. You can spend hours trying to look for positives and reasons why we might have gone for him. His career spells it out that he is a 2nd rate football coach.

Those are just examples by the way. Not burning issues. 

I bow to your wisdom on all things football related. Grealish hasn't played enough games to be classed as anything. Westwood is a decent player and was one of our best recently he's not top end PL by a long way but when on form he's a decent player. And as for Eric Black most people who've actually met him say he's a good coach but that doesn't mean anything coaches are a bit different to managers you know??? 

The kid has a lot of potential but needs games. If he can play more with his head up and get better at decision making he'll be a star so it's madness to even think about selling him. He'd end up sitting on the bench at another PL club when we could be starting him weekly . If we hold on to the vast majority of our players we will piss the Championship and come back up with a nucleus of young quality players to add to. 

12 hours ago, Keyblade said:

Faster than 99% of defenders which was more than enough, but with the added bonus that he could hold them off now. Even though I personally prefer the wiry, lightning fast Gabby I think it was a very rational decision for him to make and made sense at the time.

The bigger he got the less he worked!! His off the ball movement is shocking 

Basically if it's negative it's true if it's positive it's PR spin!! What was said at the AGM is the same line Fox has been trotting out since he got here. We are trying to get a system in place that negates the comings and goings of managers. Over the last 5 years we have had loads of managers all with different remits and styles what we need is a long term strategy which includes everything from recruitment of players to managers so we keep the same philosophy. Look how well Southampton have done losing Pochettino then getting a similar manager with in Koeman. That's what you need a manager who buys into the clubs plan not the other way around. Having a consistent back room team looking for players that fit the one style is a lot better than starting from scratch everytime. It also enables you to keep an eye of future prospects and not one season wonders. 

3 hours ago, Woodytom said:

Haha well you could be on to something there because we're such a dynamite side when I'm not there.

Seriously tho, although I realise your comment is probably tongue in cheek it really doesn't warrant any support.

I really don't think my opinion towards the team is OTT given were now in our 5th straight relegation battle and we have only won 2 games all season. We were also the worst performing team in the country last year. I mean there is no room to get any worse there.

Nobody will remember nor acknowledge My opinion of the side during the MON days but it certainly wasn't a negative viewpoint. It certainly isnt far fetched to think that this team is the biggest crock of shit ever to grace the premiership.

We are in a crap position but not every single thing about the club is negative but some seem to think so. I'm sure if there was a thread about the Tea Lady she'd get it for buying tetley instead of pg tips!!! I don't mind people being negative it's being negative for the sake of it and not being constructive in any argument. It's in times of adversity that you need the fans the most. As for being the biggest crock of shit the Premier League has seen that's just your silly opinion. Let's see where we finish then you can say I told you so with glee and then condemn next season whilst the rest of us mourn! 

1 hour ago, Woodytom said:

I actually gave an unreal win %. Like 70% in about 40 games.

My last 4

Villa 0-4 spurs

Villa 0-0 Sunderland

Villa 0-3 man utd

Villa 0-0 Sunderland.

Truly abysmal watches.

Maybe your negativity rubs off on the team!!! 

23 minutes ago, Villan4Life said:

Senderos has been released from his contract now!!

 

Bet we get no one else in though!!

Well we don't actually need a replacement for him seeing as he wasn't even in the 25!! 

3 minutes ago, StanBalaban said:

According to this, we have the 10th highest attendance in the PL which is remarkable given some of the dross the team has produced, especially earlier in the season.

Perhaps what is more telling is that our percentage full stats are by far and away the worst in the league. Wonder what they'd be like in the Championship?

We have the worst % to capacity ratio by some way so I wouldn't read too much into it!! 

1 hour ago, TRO said:

.......but its not just Leicester is it?

Look, no one is saying it is easy.....but it is doable.

just a few recent examples of poor budget signings

• Illori
• Crespo
• Luna
• Bowery
• Tonev
• Hellenius

In recent times we are notoriously bad at it......but in times gone by very Good.

• Platt
• Yorke
• McGrath
• Gray
• Evans
• Barry
• Teale
• Cropley
• Rimmer
• Swain 
• Morley
• Leonard

just a few off the top of my head.

The difference....The internet yes..... but mainly the people spotting them.

 

and I'm sure in all the years you've covered there was a few duds!!! I think we also paid about £1m for Barry! We need consistency in management and recruitment that's the only way we will improve over time. 

I still be.ieve we will do some business this window and hopefully it'll be with an eye on staying up and not preparing for next season. If we don't however what message does that send to Garde the squad and the fans? Garde has got the players fighting and believing now not adding to them basically says we are down. Who would want to be a part of a club that gives in so early? This time last year Leicester bought Kasmeric he didn't set the world alight but it may have inspired the existing players. We need a CF now go get one!! 

1 hour ago, Neil said:

Would have Nike back in a heart beat, I still treasure all my Nike villa kits.  I never cared for macroni

And Nike never cared for us! I love the badge not the maker 

Who cares?? As long as it looks good and they pay loads of money? The Under Armour gear I've every had has been great. What would people rather have Nike who got our kits out in November? Or someone else who doesn't pay a lot but is classed as a big brand!! 

1 minute ago, bose said:

My point was more pointing out how bad our scouting for potential gems has been.

I realise that to do anything in this league we need to spend serious money - we've done that with Veretout, Amavi, Ayew and Gana for example and to me they all look like potential success stories even given our horrible form. It's more a failure in getting them settled, the previous manager not having a say in transfers or something like that because they are good players.

Supplementing those players with 2-3 extensively scouted cheaper players that fit could fit specific system would be the way to go IMO. We don't seem to be doing that at all or at least not scouting and researching those players enough.

I'd say the scouting is good at the minute but wasn't before. All those mentioned I'd never heard of but you need to get lucky when spending very low amounts otherwise someone else would've took the gamble. Leicester have hit the jackpot but I agree you need a balance. 

4 minutes ago, blandy said:

No It isn't. and No It doesn't.

in every season going back 4 seasons, looking at soccerbase for comparison, Spurs have made a profit from selling and buying. In every season of the last 4, Villa has spent more than it got back in.

We've actually spent net, a lot more than Spurs.

We spent in the summer, net, 8.1 million.  Spurs made 9.3 mill profit.

we spent 5.9 million the previous season, Spurs made 5.1 mill profit

we spent 17.2 million spent the year before , Spurs made 12 million profit

We spent 22.45 mill the previous season to that, and Spurs made 0.5 million profit.

If money were the reason, Spurs having repeatedly sold players off and replaced them with cheaper players, would be struggling down the bottom and we'd be higher up the table.

You could, if you were being particularly stubborn, say "ah, but the total money spent, ignoring money got back from sales is massively higher for Spurs" and you'd be right. Something like 216 million (Spurs) v 101 million (Villa) over the last 4 years." So Spurs have a team on which 200+ million has been invested, and We've got one where only 100 million has been invested.

But if it were just money spent that counted, why are we behind so many clubs who (gross) have spent less than us? Norwich, Watford, Bournemouth, Leicester and even longer established Prem Clubs.

It really isn't about just money. That's easy to prove with facts. Unfortunately it's about waste, incompetence. lack of continuity, neglect - Intangible things.

 

 

It's all about money. We never grew our revenue or reinvested our sales aswell as Spurs. They also had the luxury of selling a player for our total yearly revenue!! We have been badly managed so let's hope we have the right people in place now to do it properly. 

1 hour ago, bannedfromHandV said:

I wouldn't renew anyone's contract (for those up in the summer) and I would allow anyone who wants to go to leave, provided we get a sensible bid.

We need to completely rebuild now, no patch jobs, I can accept a season or two in the wilderness if we can put the club back on to a course and platform which will benefit us for decades to come.

We completely rebuilt last summer. Keep the good ones like Ayew regardless of bids get rid of the crap who've milked us for years. We would only need a couple of signings that is of course if we sign some this window!! 

30 minutes ago, R.Bear said:

Who's "everyone else?". Let me break it down to you. When Villa get relegated, every other clubs fans will be pissing themselves. Just like we did with Newcastle, Leeds, West Ham and of course, Small Heath. Remember those pathetic Coventry fans in 2001 who held up "we'll be back" signs. How did that work out? The only way players with come here is if we give them a better contract that any other team. Players wont give a **** if the "place was rocking" when they got relegated. And when the **** does Villa Park rock anyway? After we score for 5 minutes?

Whatever mate but we'd be the biggest club in the championship so when signing players things like that do actually matter. It's a momentum thing we'd go into next season as a united fan base not one that blames everything else. We'd be the biggest team to be relegated as we've never been out the PL so it'll be massive news showing a full house behind the manager would be reported massively but I'll let you wallow in your pity. 

8 minutes ago, R.Bear said:

I admire your blind optimism/naivety but that is plinly ludicrous. Do you really think the players give two **** what the fans do/dont do in the final game? The ones who can get better contracts will sign them before their boots from the last game are cleaned and the ones who dont are just too shit to get signed by a better club (which is most of them).

I cant believe that in 2016, fans still think players make decisions based on anything the fans have got to say.

No but it'll show to everyone else that we are still fighting and that we'll be back. It may not encourage people to stay but imagine a sellout crowd v Newcastle and the place rocking it'd be a place people want to come to instead of a poisonous atmosphere on the slide!! 

If we fight for everything from now to the end of the season no. Being relegated is not a booing thing playing badly with no passion shows is just about a booing thing. Actually being relegated there's no need to boo everyone will know it's not good!! 

28 minutes ago, El-Reacho said:

Could also mean they'll not let anyone go if they can't replace them. We'd probably have to pay well over the odds to make them sell.

They're heavily linked with another CF if he can't get in now with 3 other CF injured he's got no chance I know it's a pipe dream but.....

1 hour ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

Absolutely this.

I've no idea if he can cut it at this level, but that in itself is worth the gamble to us. He's proven at the level we are likely to playing at next season.

I would happily give them say £10m and Gestede. Over the odds of course, but it's January. It is what it is.

We may even get a better deal than that. Aren't they still under embargo and can't spend money?? I've not watched him so I've no idea what he's like but his record is very good. 

2 minutes ago, TRO said:

It does and as some point out, there are always the perfect examples....yes there are ,but they are tangible.

My point is.......its the ratio's of good v bad  signings is what is disturbing.....It has to change we have to find a way of getting more hits than misses.....If its sackings so be it.

We have simply signed too many duds (and in some cases for decent money) and let go of players we should have kept.

That has drained everyone including the owner.

Its been incompetence boxed up with a bow ribbon around it.

The Recruitment of players needs an overhaul.

One single format will not get us back to decency.....It has to be gems/Academy/ and trophy signings etc a broad church of activities.

The academy needs to be reassessed, the scouting network needs to have some strategy and success and the board ( despite the setbacks with so many duds) need to realise that money is still required to progress.....They cannot say due to the amount of duds and subsequently financial drain....we are not doing that....its a must.

In my view this is the area of priority for our future.....so many other problems will dissipate when the success on the field surfaces again.

 from the board.......ACTION not words.

In general you get what you pay for! When Lambert spent decent money money he got decent players. This summer when we've spent good money we've got mainly good players. There's only Gestede who cost a bit who's crap IMO and that was a Sherwood pick! I'm still baffled as to what scout watched him for a few games and never listed his weaknesses!! A lot of your points were addressed at that AGM but got sidelined as people jumped on the negatives but as you sat actions speak louder than words!! It's hard to bring academy players into a relegation threatened side and that has hurt us for the last 5 years when we did have a decent crop coming through from the next gen win.