Jonas

Keep such things handy on the laptop. They always come up. Saves any reasearch.

I could just let them go, but then they'll come up with stuff like this unchallenged. There's an irony in them flagging up certain occasions in that it highlights them as exceptional rather than something common place. (ourselves, Man U). When they took 15k-200k (estimates vary) to Manchester City for a crucial game. The week before they got 22,000 at home to Arsenal. 22,000 was their average. They took x amount to the league cup final (who doesn't) but had a half-empty stadium for the semi-final against Man United and a more than half empty 20,000 in the Quarter-Final against Chelsea. (Who else has ever done that?) Before the 1992 FA Cup final that 40,000 plus came out the woodwork for, their last league gate was 19,000 and their next home gate was 16,000. The cup run started with a 15,000. They were mid-table, we were bottom. We got 26,000 the same round for a televised game against Bournemouth pre Keegan with hardly any Bournemouth fans. 28,000 against us in 92/93 was preceded and followed by 14,000 and 15,000 gates. 40,000 against us in 05/06 was preceded and followed by gates of 28,000 and 29,000. 15,000 for an FA Cup game at home to Arsenal in 96, the same night we had a 36,000 sell-out against Charlton Its a cheek because along with Villa I consider them the most fickle fans in the country. (Villa would get 45k against Man U one week and 15k against Norwich the next back in the day).

was a joke like but thanks

Maybe THE goal that could best sum up the FA Cup (before they ruined it)

Weeks dragging. Can't believe its only Tuesday.

84/85 02/03 and 05/06 too. Even if getting record low points in the latter two (ha ha) provides them with some cover then were responsible for that. I like the distinction though of celebrating qualifying for the champions league twice whilst they were relegated whereas they celebrate qualifying for four points ahead, when were relegated. Almost like they celebrate our demise rather than any acievements of their own, because there aren't any, or something.

He also used to be Fernando De Napoli

Hope its not the case Liverpool turn their season around in this dead-rubber. Ah they've got Spurs next so, taketh away with one hand, giveth with the other

My favourite Murray (historian and fortune teller) quote within: 'Mr Murray has now been quoted as saying Sunderland cannot compete with Newcastle and Middlesbrough because "our prices are half Newcastle's prices - you just cannot compare the clubs", adding: "We're stuck between a massive city that's vibrant like Newcastle and a club at Middlesbrough who put £20m a year into the club." Murray is clearly suggesting, according to my interpretation, that Sunderland charge half price because Sunderland is not a vibrant city and punters will not pay the full admission price.' 10/2/03

Cant instantly recall a tidier, classier three at the back. Come a long way since the omni-shambles of Koeman and Van Gobbel

Definite shirt out where allowed (at certain levels they just wouldn't let you) Liked the casual look of not really trying at least partially inspired by Waddle also. And long sleeves wherever possible. Liked things baggy generally, was the Madchester era.

They legit did do a 'the big three' DVD a mackem (good lad) I worked with told me, around 2006 or 2007. The three wins at the point covered quarter of a century, damning themselves with feint praise. We could have released a video in April 93 and April 03 with the same theme covering just thirteen and fourteen months. But didn't. Cos that'd would have been sad as f**k and they weren't big, they were just wins against them.

slagging the players and performance off has gone as quiet as the Villa fans

A spoiled prone to booing and complaining mute button exists?

Just reading that made me here Alan Price's "Blaydon Races" and "Get Down On It" by Kool and the Gang, and for the Paddock "Suicide Blonde". Pretty much the same, players warming up right in front of you. The curvature of the pitch. Cables for televised games and a menacing red light at night games from a chimney or something in Leazes terrace, like something off the Mothman prophecies. Consiering our plight at the time, it pretty much was.

Before they lost all this land to Keegan, they were averaging 16,000. Just over minus the bumper crowd against us. They averaged pretty much the same throughout his spell here and even worse before. It doesn't matter how much land mass they have, had or claim getting the people therein to shift to the ground for a match has always been a problem for them. If they weren't going and had no interest in going to the match what's been lost? Keegan spent 7years here as player and manager but our attendances have been higher 95% of the time we've both existed. Too much to ask to just look at the numbers and facts when you can concuct a myth to excuse the inferior support you have to your rival.

That's how I think of him now. A modern day Sheedy/Kilcline that got caught out in the level and speed of resurgence.

They're saying were trying to appropriate 'Geordie'. I'm saying thats ridiculous in itself and because you could apply that stupid notion to anybody, including themselves.

Ashley/Bruce's signings like Joelinton and Almiron. Great example of two players that have improved beyond all recegnition coincidentally since Ashley/Bruce left. This might be the weirdest yet: "Geordies make up a significant % of our support and always have done!I will stick with the time honoured Mag C**t to label my under rock dwelling neighbours who support NUFC and leave the term Geordie to label people living in a geographical area nomatter how hard those Mag Cu**s try to appropriate the term." So were not Geordies, Everton/Liverpool aren't scousers, London teams aren't cockneys and England fans aren't English because some people from those places don't suppose those teams.

Even smaller things like getting Shelvey fit to alternate and relieve the central midfielders, who I can't believe aren't knackered.

Jo's the one, even more than Bruno, I get kittens about when he might not be available now. I suppose especially for games like this. Trying to burst forward in stoppage time after that graft today on top of the knock...on top of his story, is endearing as fuck.

They used to get very excited, giddy really, at the idea of Keegan getting the England job when Taylor got sacked. Sir Bobby too. I've twice made the mistake of things going well for us letting them off the hook through lack of interest. The second time under Sir Bobby despite how they made so much hay at finishing above us and beating us for the first time in a generation. Their finishing above us was by about 4points, twice, whilst we were finishing more than entire divisions ahead of them for years either side of that. Wont make that mistake again.

Could almost be Kane and Son. He's been thinking so much about Newcastle that its dictated what he wore to an airport, what he takes on holiday with him, and gives him the need to photograph and report on this momentus event in his life and that was before the banter that he didn't want. What a pathetic bastard.

His media mates might have spun it a success but I don't think anybody else would have considered it an achievement for Gerrard to just be mid-table. Which as you've pointed out is average for Villa. Notwithstanding the new finances which I'm not up on. Thus he'd had to have done better than that and the margin was too fine, imho, for someone with his lack of experience to achieve. I'm not at all saying he hasn't done a poor job or that he shouldn't have been sacked I'm saying he shouldn't have taken it because the chances of doing better than average with the top 6, maybe even 7, taken was too much for him at this point.

I never thought he or anybody could move Villa out of that middle tier. O'Neill spent a fortune and couldn't. So what could he achieve? At the absolute best 7th. Kinda where Villa often have been. You'll know better than me Brummie but in the PL era doesn't that include O'Neill, O'Leary, Big Ron, Brian Little, Gregory. So Gerrard could have done what they did at most. He would have had to break into the top 6 to be on track for Liverpool and it was never happening. So he should have bided his time and learned his trade better at Rangers. For me. If it was a Man City situation then by all means.