brummie

Watch out for MON pushing his glasses up his nose, a bit like Woody Allen does.

I quite like Rafa - I even like his current "donut munching lieutenant from American cop series, circa 1978" look - and I can't help but agree, he came out well on top in this exchange. However, seeing today's result, it looks like Liverpool's inconsistency remains, and he must surely be living on borrowed time if they end up as far from the top as they did last season. Said it the first day of the season, against us (flukey, unjust free kick bought by Gerrard apart), they were much the better team for a 30-40 minute period, and if that had been Man United, they'd have taken us to the cleaners. Liverpool didn't, though, they had to rely on pure fluke to avoid dropping two points. That's why they won't win the league.

Relegation certs at the start of last season to 11th? With no squad strengthening possible until January? That's a major improvement in my book. We beat a Chelsea team that not many people will beat this season, although in the same way that your Derby game is just one game, so was the Chelsea match. EDIT what I mean is, you've (and we have) got to be realistic. The fact you had a good spell and CL football a while back may have got your expectations up, but as of now, right now, it means absolutely nothing. You are where you are, and if you're going to improve - and I think you will - and do it for the long term, it will happen in stages.

True, but by the same measure, it isn't the end of the world if you don't take the points. The main positive thing i drew from that match for you is that it is one which you would have lost last season, without a doubt (although, thinking about it, you won the fixture last year, despite being under far more pressure from us, but that was a fluke ). I understand why you'd be concerned after a result like the Derby one, but really, this soon into the season, you've got to put your trust in the manager. You've got to give him the full season, in fact, which is why I think people who were predicting CL were madly off the mark. If at the end of the season, there hasn't been a distinct improvement on last year, then you're at least criticising the bloke after giving him a chance to prove your initial worries wrong. Brummie, were there any derby like skeletons in your own performances locker last season? I imagine there was probably one or two. How did Villa fans react? Losing at home to Bolton, drawing at home to Fulham, playing Aaron Hughes as a defensive midfielder at Old Trafford and going 3 down in 20 minutes. We reacted in the same way - the world is going to end. Except it isn't, it didn't, and it got better. We also won 3 games in something like 17 matches at one point.

True, but by the same measure, it isn't the end of the world if you don't take the points. The main positive thing i drew from that match for you is that it is one which you would have lost last season, without a doubt (although, thinking about it, you won the fixture last year, despite being under far more pressure from us, but that was a fluke ). I understand why you'd be concerned after a result like the Derby one, but really, this soon into the season, you've got to put your trust in the manager. You've got to give him the full season, in fact, which is why I think people who were predicting CL were madly off the mark. If at the end of the season, there hasn't been a distinct improvement on last year, then you're at least criticising the bloke after giving him a chance to prove your initial worries wrong.

Isn't this the point though, looking at last year's table, Newcastle and Villa were exactly the same things, mid table sides. Mid table sides looking to improve, admittedly, but you're not going to suddenly start playing like a top six team, because you're not a top six team. Not yet. Unfortunately, clubs like Newcastle, Villa, City, West Ham, Blackburn, Spurs, Everton are playing in a crowded area, they all want to be top six, and they all think they should be. At each one of those clubs there will be much pressing of panic buttons this season, look at Spurs for a start. Our lot are doing it now after losing to City and looking shit last week. Forget about this result, look forward.

Listening to the radio yesterday, they were saying that shortly after Leicester had allowed Forest to score that goal, the Forest fans were chanting "Megson, Megson what's the score" at the Leicester manager. Fantastic football humour, right there.

Unfortunately there's a lot of room for different interpretation of the term "similar seats", that's the way they manage to do it, I believe.

They're charging Man United fans £45 this weekend, but apparently we get the special treatment and an extra tenner slapped on.

Thing is, charging 55 quid for a match is bad, but then going public complaining about the prices clubs are charging when your own filthy little club is amongst the worst offenders just beggars belief.

£55 is ridiculous like. blueyes.gif I just think the possibility of humiliating them on their own park is too good an opportunity to dig your heels for. How would you feel if you whacked them 0-4 and you missed it because the ticket was £55? They know it's a high-demand game and they're pushing it as far as they think they can. To be honest, I doubt I'll get a ticket anyway, as I don't do enough away games these days so will be too far down the priority list, but even so .... Hopefully these scum will be back where they belong next season.

Word is there will be a boycott. 55 quid to soil myself by setting foot in that festering, decaying shit hole, probably exposing myself to foot and mouth in the process? I think not. 55 pounds. Jesus fucking Christ.

David Gold, Birmingham City director, today, after introducing cut price tickets for a match for the first time ever: The price Birmingham City are charging Aston Villa supporters to attend the away match at St Andrews? £55.00. Spot the inconsistency.

Will he be fit for England's next game? /joke

Chelsea, on pretty much any level you care to look at it, are a vile club. Vulgar, vulgar, vulgar.

Let me guess....... Villa (a) for the winners?? Correctamundo!

Off you go, Pennant, you vile fucking jailbird.

I'm not going to comment on the way you played, as I was only half watching the match as I dozed on the sofa, and I don't really know most of your players well enough to pass an informed comment on that side of things, but when a new manager comes in, massively overhauls the playing staff, has just begun to impose his own way of doing things on the club, has just started organising the club and team his way (something most people agreed was a total mess last season), surely results like this are going to happen?

Well done to Leicester, very sporting indeed. Especially considering the glittering prize awaiting the victors in the next round.

Well less than 50% of the MPC are actually government appointed. So whats your take on Barclays securing a £2bn emergency loan within the past month? Should we all be taking money out of Barclays also? I was thinking earlier today that i was sure I'd heard Barclays did the same a couple of weeks ago. Now you've confirmed it. I bow to you and your knowledge, my benevolent banking and finance overlord, you've saved me a trip to Google News..

I don't understand. Last week it was all "who will be the last unbeaten team, will it be us?" style postings, and now it is "Allardyce, he's Roeder in a more expensive suit". He's not going to change things definitively for the better in 5 games. (obv, I'm aware it wasn't all postings of the above style, but you know what I mean)

Fulham don't have a rubbish ground! They've got an Archibald Leitch designed stand, for a start! For my money, bland, retail park holes like the Reebok and the JJB are the worst in the league. Interesting point about teams that don't give you a reason to dislike them. I was thinking maybe Reading, until I read your point about Hunt's hair, at which point I did one of those vinegar-face expressions, sucked my lips, and said "oh, yes, forgot about that".

Villa Newcastle Everton Fulham Man City --- 12 other teams in some random order --- Chelsea Man United Birmingham City

And the person who mentioned Savo .... firstly, he only cost 3.5m. Secondly, he scored 29 goals in 85 league matches. Hardly brilliant, but one in three is hardly flop territory. Eh? EDIT: Quoted completely the wrong bit there. I was meant to be eh-ing at the Ivo Stas thing... Scored an own goal against us for Banik Ostrava in the UEFA cup. We decided to buy him, he got injured in training, never played again.

Luc Nillis. Shame, that one. See also Ivo Stas, who we signed, who never played a game for us, yet scored for us in Europe. Work that one out. And the person who mentioned Savo .... firstly, he only cost 3.5m. Secondly, he scored 29 goals in 85 league matches. Hardly brilliant, but one in three is hardly flop territory. I think you may be thinking of Bosko Balaban, our Luque.