brummie

He looks like he should be playing bass in Funkadelic or something.

Andy Griffin scored against Juventus, that's much worse. in off buffon mind Still... we battered them that night. remember griffins tackle on di viao(?) more than the goal Aye he nearly put him on Shepherd's lap. Regarding Aaron Hughes, I genuinely don't think he was a bad defender, either at full back or centre half. His problem for me, his main problem was his distribution. Whenever he played behind Nobby and went on the overlap every time I expected a s*** cross, and I was rarely disappointed. Having said that Hughes was a better player for us than ANY of his succesors, and in particular Steven Carr, and I still believe selling him WHEN we did was a mistake. That surprises me, I'd actually say that side of his game has improved of late, and I'd almost go as far as to say he's a pretty decent crosser of the ball nowadays. His crossing was abysmal here. Was like groundhog day watching him cross. Maybe I'm thinking it was better than it was due to the sheer relief of seeing him do something other than "defend".

Andy Griffin scored against Juventus, that's much worse. in off buffon mind Still... we battered them that night. remember griffins tackle on di viao(?) more than the goal Aye he nearly put him on Shepherd's lap. Regarding Aaron Hughes, I genuinely don't think he was a bad defender, either at full back or centre half. His problem for me, his main problem was his distribution. Whenever he played behind Nobby and went on the overlap every time I expected a shit cross, and I was rarely disappointed. Having said that Hughes was a better player for us than ANY of his succesors, and in particular Steven Carr, and I still believe selling him WHEN we did was a mistake. That surprises me, I'd actually say that side of his game has improved of late, and I'd almost go as far as to say he's a pretty decent crosser of the ball nowadays.

Andy Griffin scored against Juventus, that's much worse.

I can't believe Aaron Hughes ever played against Juventus.

It was worth a try, the one you got is better than the one we ended up keeping, at least he was when he was here. That's true enough. He's a tryer, Hughes, and a nice, model pro style bloke, but he just makes the same mistakes over and over again. Stands off his man far too long, lets people start to go past him, sticks a leg out hopefully, gets away with it most of the time, but when he doesn't ..... Got a run out towards the end of the season after not getting a game for months, did precisely the above and we got punished by a goal within 20 mins of starting the game. Aaron Hughes all over. Was probably never really good enough for us, either, despite some outstanding performances. He has simply never changed his style of play since day one and will never be a success at a club with big aspirations. If we'd have had better fullbacks in the Robson era things could have been even better. The stand-off approach of his used to drive me crackers as well . He's like the ultimate soft-shite nice guy on the pitch. Defenders shouldn't be like that. Shame though, because as you say he's a model pro sort of a bloke. Fairly average like, but probably not a bad lad to have in a dressing room. Saying that, nobody's perfect and he did have his moments for us, but what you've just described there is Aaron Hughes all over and you'll find posts saying that about him going back years if they're still on the 'net. In fairness, I wouldn't be that worried at having him at the club as back-up, as you say, his attitude is excellent, and he'd be useful to have around the kids, I'd imagine, but his limitations are tending to get shown up more often these days. I don't want him as our first choice right back, though. Although we took Phil Bardsley on loan from Man United as his replacement for most of the season, and tbh, he wasn't really much better. Expect to see him punted around for more loan deals next season.

It was worth a try, the one you got is better than the one we ended up keeping, at least he was when he was here. That's true enough. He's a tryer, Hughes, and a nice, model pro style bloke, but he just makes the same mistakes over and over again. Stands off his man far too long, lets people start to go past him, sticks a leg out hopefully, gets away with it most of the time, but when he doesn't ..... Got a run out towards the end of the season after not getting a game for months, did precisely the above and we got punished by a goal within 20 mins of starting the game.

I think it will be right man, right time. He's definitely the type to want to put his imprint on the whole club, and apparently, Lerner has involved him pretty deeply in everything he has changed at the club so far, so this is his opportunity to build the club in his image. This year has been strange, he's dropped some bollocks along the way and we've seen some odd tactics (playing Aaron Hughes in midfield at Old Trafford is the strangest thing I've seen from a Villa side in a long time), but after that loathed gobshite O'Leary, he's a breath of fresh air. He's got a decent team behind him, John Robertson and Steve Walford the main coaches as ever (incidentally, one reason I'd love Milner back is to see what Robertson could do with him, that man knew how to cross a ball in his time), plus Gordon Cowans runnng the academy and youth teams. Despite the odd season - very good the first third, dreadful the second third, and at times excellent in the run-in - you'd struggle to find a Villa fan who is less than 100 percent behind the bloke.

We might have a fat Irish one going on the cheap if you're interested? Not after the shit Irish one you sold us last time, nein danke.

I can speak for another club. Since we've had money, some of our fans have lost some of their grip on reality, and it is interesting reading here since the first whiff of your takeover, I can see the same thing starting to happen here. The belief is that because we (or you) have money, that means we (or you) can afford anyone and should get them NOW, regardless of why they would want to come to us (or you). Do all your fans go on about signing Tevez too, mate? I remember reading one of the Villa forums at the beginning of last season and some of the players they were talking about signing were fictional if I was being polite, I agree with you that some are getting that way on this forum too, I've seen posts comparing us with signing top players like Chelsea did in Abramovich's first season yet people are overlooking the fact that they were in the CL where as we haven't even qualified for Europe this time. In a way, it is understandable. You have to remember, we were so fucked financially towards the end of the Ellis regime that we were sending Erik Bakke back to Leeds because we couldn't afford his wages (he was on loan). In fact, that was the straw that broke the camel's back, leading indirectly to the players statement last summer, O'Leary's sacking, Ellis' starting to really listen to potential buyers, and ultimately the sale. Given that history, it isn't really surprising people react like they do. The problem is that now, in that second tranche of clubs, there are lots of clubs with shit loads of money and only a certain number of players, and the fans of every one thinks they are going to be the next Chelsea. We cant all be in the CL, can we?

I can speak for another club. Since we've had money, some of our fans have lost some of their grip on reality, and it is interesting reading here since the first whiff of your takeover, I can see the same thing starting to happen here. The belief is that because we (or you) have money, that means we (or you) can afford anyone and should get them NOW, regardless of why they would want to come to us (or you). I like this fella. Brum, what are your expectations for next season from O'Neill and Villa? What sort of players are you hoping to sign yourself? Carew/Young were already two fairly impressive coups for you, IMO, despite things not going entirely smoothly for either just yet. Can't help but feel that what you describe is only natural and it just depends on people's personalities. I can't blame people for getting carried away/excited about things. It's a nice change from what we've had since 2005-ish. We did this season what I expected, consolidation and mid table, given the fact we were shackled largely with O'Dreary's squad. Next season I want to see a top 7 or 8 finish. The season after that, top six. And onwards and upwards after. When a club is as fucked up as we were and - to be honest - as fucked up as I think Newcastle is, it takes a long time to change things, it won't happen overnight. If Ashley has his wits about him, he'll do what Lerner has done this season and totally change the club from top to bottom. Every single aspect of that club has changed already. You've got to do that and focus on long term success rather than go shit or bust for short term results and risk screwing things up in the long run. I'd like to see us sign a right back, a keeper (preferably Boruc), a defensive midfielder, a creative midfielder and a predatory goalscorer. I don't care how much we spend, I just want him to get the right players in. I'm not arsed if they're big names or not, so long as they do the job to a high standard. I have to say, next season we're going to see good things from a few players we've blooded from the youth academy this year (Agbonlahor played up front looks lethal at times, although we cant rely on him yet, he's only 20), Craig Gardener looks very promising, Luke Moore is back from injury, Gary Cahill should get a decent run. I'd also throw in Shaun Maloney and Ashley Young (the latter looked very impressive the last few games of the season). These are the future of the club. If we can mix in some experienced players, then I'll be very optimistic.

I can speak for another club. Since we've had money, some of our fans have lost some of their grip on reality, and it is interesting reading here since the first whiff of your takeover, I can see the same thing starting to happen here. The belief is that because we (or you) have money, that means we (or you) can afford anyone and should get them NOW, regardless of why they would want to come to us (or you). WE have had a lot of money for a very long time. we are still waiting . . . . That's the other thing, having money does not equate to success. I'm every bit as excited about our very productive youth academy as I am about our huge wad.

I can speak for another club. Since we've had money, some of our fans have lost some of their grip on reality, and it is interesting reading here since the first whiff of your takeover, I can see the same thing starting to happen here. The belief is that because we (or you) have money, that means we (or you) can afford anyone and should get them NOW, regardless of why they would want to come to us (or you).

I don't accept that. My point ANYWAY, was this Nani, he see's the toon in for him, a club clearly on the up, with a fan base Spurs could only dream of (in good time and bad), in for him, paying great wages surrounded by good attacking players like Martins and Owen, and with the likelyhood of many more to come, against a club who can't hold on to their best players (Berbatov. Carrick), who have NEVER qualified for the CL in a small stadium in front of some of the most passionless fans in Britain. Hard fuckin choice. 4FS. If only it were that simple. But it isn't. For one thing, Spurs are in London which gives them a massive advantage in attracting players over clubs in the rest of the country. Now half the league has billionaire backers, can afford anyone they like, and can offer big wages, that is one factor that is going to play a big role in attracting players, especially foreign ones. Oh, and CoachHTT is absolutely spot on with his post above. I know but we're Newcastle United and they're Tottenham mate. The London thing comes in to play with Arsenal and Chelsea definitely, but players at your middle of the road clubs, Spurs/West Ham etc... have never had a problem moving to bigger nothern clubs in the past mate. The bigger northern clubs thing is a fair point, but what that actually means is Liverpool and Man United, who are both amongst the most successful clubs in the world. I honestly think players these days care about two things - 1. themselves and 2. winning things. If there's a decent chance of doing point 2 at any one of a bunch of clubs, but at one club they get to live in one of the four or five best cities in the world, then a good proportion of them will go for the London club. That's why West Ham will punch above their weight too. Galling though it is to admit it, they can offer the London lifestyle.

I don't accept that. My point ANYWAY, was this Nani, he see's the toon in for him, a club clearly on the up, with a fan base Spurs could only dream of (in good time and bad), in for him, paying great wages surrounded by good attacking players like Martins and Owen, and with the likelyhood of many more to come, against a club who can't hold on to their best players (Berbatov. Carrick), who have NEVER qualified for the CL in a small stadium in front of some of the most passionless fans in Britain. Hard fuckin choice. 4FS. If only it were that simple. But it isn't. For one thing, Spurs are in London which gives them a massive advantage in attracting players over clubs in the rest of the country. Now half the league has billionaire backers, can afford anyone they like, and can offer big wages, that is one factor that is going to play a big role in attracting players, especially foreign ones. Oh, and CoachHTT is absolutely spot on with his post above.

How do you know there revenue is in a different league to ours? I doubt that (depending on what you consider a different league to mean of course). Even if it was it was there wage bill is likely in an even bigger league, in a league of its own entirely IMO. I mean they have numerous players on well over 100,000 per week, Ballack's on 140,000! They'll become self sufficient if they can continue to be successful while cutting that wage bill significantly. Again according to the Sun Abramovich has told them they have to cap the wages, which means they can't afford to renew many of there players contracts without them accepting pay cuts. Chelsea's turnover last year = 150m Their loss last year = 80m, was 140m the year before (!!) RA's investment since 2003 = circa 500m

Don't Chelsea actually owe RA a massive amount of money, ie the money he put into the club was loaned to the club? If so, then the only thing that will fuck Chelsea up is if he calls in those loans. What annoys me most is that they are now in the position where there are enough horrible little scrotes running around playgrounds all over the country in Chelsea shirts to guarantee their place as one of the country's top clubs for the foreseeable future.

I actually meant the filthy Tesco bag yam yams playing at Wembley. Disgrace. :parky:

It truly is an absolute fucking disgrace.

That new Inter kit, which boasts the flag of Lombardia, is going to be well popular when they wear it to away matches in the South. Not.

I'd still take the bet. And as of now, lest we forget, Parkster, Fat Freddy is still in charge! Muhahahahaha!!

that would take the average down. But as we're going back to 1993, we'll take our second, and assign Newcastle 23rd place for being top of the second flight, so that puts that one right ;-)

I think we should really go back to 1874 for a true assessment.

The problem with having loads of money - and this is going to be a problem for all the newly minted second tier clubs - is not that you can't afford the players, it is that you have to convince the players to come. Call it the Sidwell effect (except he cost nowt, obv), could have gone to have the premiership, probably, opted for Chelsea's reserves.

PS can we go back to 1993 so we can have our second place, too? Or back to 1990 so we can have our other second place as well? Or even 1981 for that matter? Screw the past, the future is what counts