Football 2015/16

[mrtourette]

It wouldn't have matter, even with Benteke and whoever the other one is (I can't think off the top of my head) he was a poor manager.

It might highlight some differences in aspirations between the team/manager/fans and the board, but I can't see how putting someone like John Gregory in would solve that. For a team with so many holes selling Benteke was a no-brainer. 

Who are the players that were signed that he didn't want? Something like that is always worrying but that's why a strong experienced manager would always be a better option.

[mrtourette]

Got it, Fabian Delph.

Looking at the Villa team it really is shit. That defense of Hutton, Lescott, Richards and Richardson is about 5 years past it's sell-by date. Grealish is not as good as he was hyped to be last season, and Agbonlahor must be due to retire soon?

I haven't seen much of Carles Gil but remember thinking he was pretty good when he first signed, has he been injured?

Villa are dangerously close to slipping into Sunderland territory, and endless cycle of shit starts, relegation escapes and a new manager every 18 months. What they need is some stability and with that will come identity. As much as I loathe Allardyce he's a good appointment for Sunderland and the type of appointment that Villa need - not an inexperienced manager with perceived passion who they think will play good football.

I'm not sure where Remi Garde fits in to this, clearly he has some experience of doing the things that Villa would need him to do long term - sell high, buy low/young - but with the position they're in the early stages of that long term vision could be taking place in the Championship.

 

edit - fucking hell I just checked and Agbonlahor is only 29. Did he make his debut at 12 or something?

Edited October 26, 2015 by mrtourette

[TheGayTent]

Who are the players that were signed that he didn't want? Something like that is always worrying but that's why a strong experienced manager would always be a better option.

Rumoured to be Adebayor, Lennon, Cleverley, Moses, and Cambiasso. The first two he's managed before and got a lot out of, the rest all have premier league experience.

He ended up with Ayew, Amavi, Veretout, Traore, Gueye, Gestede, and a couple of free transfers. A net spend of £7m and losing Benteke and Delph. He was hardly dealt a great hand. I'm not excusing Villa's results, just wondering where exactly the Villa board expected them to be given the squad they've got.

[mrtourette]

It certainly is a bad squad. Not sure about Cleverley as I'm sure he was always going to Everton as that was his preferred destination, and I'm not surprised they balked at Adebayor.

Are you saying that he didn't want any of those players? I know Villa have one of those fucked up player recruitment set-ups but at the very least they act on some kind of shortlist form a manager of include him in discussions.

[gary1979666]

Fucking c**ting shitting fucktards.

Whoop whoop!  Couldn't have come at a better time!

[luckysalt]

What I mean by Gregory and Identity, It's hard to put across to non villa fans who know whats going on, I mean you have Lerner who is never there, Fox and his mates in charge who aren't footballing people, Gregory would have Villa as a football club and not a business at heart, if you get what I mean. Especially when you bring in a guy from France, he could just be someone at the club who has Villa at heart, we have Gabby on the pitch who is club captain and Kevin McDonald and Gorden Cowans at the club, these are Villa people, but no-one at board level. 

That's all I meant by that. 

As far as the squad is concerned, I do not believe we have a squad which is one of the three worst squads in the league. 

And Gil hasn't been injured no, Sherwood just didn't fancy him, nor any of the other players with creativity or flair.

[mrtourette]

DWIGHT YORKE TO THE RESCUE

“In the 30 years I’ve been involved in football it’s been the same people getting job after job, so why are young managers doing all their coaching badges but not getting that opportunity?

“There are young people ready to break into management and I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t put my name in the hat.

“Villa need something to really spark them up right now. I spent ten years there, I had a fantastic relationship with the fans there and I just feel when I look around at the managers up for grabs at the moment that they need something a bit more exciting to come in and really lift the place.”

[WS_Jack_III]

Colo red card overturned. 

 

Club charged with failing to control players for their reaction to a desicion that has now been overturned. Bit daft that.

[DomDom1984]

That charge is daft no matter what the circumstances are.

[LondonTom]

Colo red card overturned. 

 

Club charged with failing to control players for their reaction to a desicion that has now been overturned. Bit daft that.

Not the first time this season!

[eFestivals]

so ... Moaniho to get the boot if the special one loses to the normal one at the weekend?

[ThomThomDrum]

Cant decide if these are fake............most likely are but they are great to watch

 

[eFestivals]

going by their ages and the perfect pitches they're using, I'd guess they're pro's of some kind. In fact, at around 3.10, you can see what looks like the Chelsea logo on the fences behind the goal.

And of course, it probably took more than one go to get that stuff on film.

 

[eFestivals]

oh, and I missed that where there's the Chelsea banners, the guy who takes the shot is also wearing a Chelsea trackie top.

My guess is that they're a club's training staff, who are quite probably failed footballers cos of an injury (rather than because they're not good enough).

[The Nal]

so ... Moaniho to get the boot if the special one loses to the normal one at the weekend?

Can't see it but stranger things have happened. Its a full on meltdown isn't it?

[mrtourette]

Can't see him getting sacked, more like another negotiated payoff and 'left by mutual consent'.

They're likely to be worried by a lack of possible replacements, probably just get Guus Hiddink back again until the end of the season and then go after Guardiola.

[eFestivals]

Can't see it but stranger things have happened. Its a full on meltdown isn't it?

I can't really see it, but the papers were full of suggestions that would happen even before they lost last night.

It's very odd. It makes Utd's post-fergie crumble look like a great season.

Edited October 28, 2015 by eFestivals

[The Nal]

I can't really see it, but the papers were full of suggestions that would happen even before they lost last night.

It's very odd. It makes Utd's post-fergie crumble look like a great season.

Will other clubs go near him now after this? How damaged is his legacy? He can't rebuild teams. This is now proven. He takes a season to get a team to his liking - few nice players in midfield and a bruiser thug of a striker - wins a few things and at the first sight of needing a rebuild things go tits up.

[eFestivals]

Will other clubs go near him now after this? How damaged is his legacy? He can't rebuild teams. This is now proven. He takes a season to get a team to his liking - few nice players in midfield and a bruiser thug of a striker - wins a few things and at the first sight of needing a rebuild things go tits up.

I'd say you're way over-stating things.

It's pretty much the same team as last season. The only major change is the goalie ... so it'll be interesting to see if they pick up when matey is fit again.

[WS_Jack_III]

I disagree. Whether or not the decision is wrong, the ref's decision will not be changed and should be respected. He made a mistake, fair enough, but that doesn't excuse how footballers react to these things.

 

(disclaimer: I haven't seen the incident, so if there was no overreaction, then I agree, but I'm talking generally).

there certainly is an argument for that i suppose. The Newcastle players were fuming and it took a while for the penalty to be taken because of their protests.

[LondonTom]

I disagree. Whether or not the decision is wrong, the ref's decision will not be changed and should be respected. He made a mistake, fair enough, but that doesn't excuse how footballers react to these things.

 

(disclaimer: I haven't seen the incident, so if there was no overreaction, then I agree, but I'm talking generally).

Nah if you was allowed to slate the ref after with a calmer head, it would be fine but you are not. If the ref is wrong, you can see why the players might get a tad angry over it.

The refs are crap atm, it breeds contempt for them.

[eFestivals]

good to see Utd not being as shit as Chelsea.

And Klipperty-Klopperty finally gets to chalk up a win. They'll probably gallop to the top of the league now, after such a big win.

[Celery]

oh, and I missed that where there's the Chelsea banners, the guy who takes the shot is also wearing a Chelsea trackie top.

 

You also missed that the guy taking the shot is Eden Hazard

[eFestivals]

 

You also missed that the guy taking the shot is Eden Hazard

I did wonder if it was a face I should recognise

Tho in my defence there's only a quick flash of his face, and I was looking at the badge.

[Celery]

Will other clubs go near him now after this? How damaged is his legacy? He can't rebuild teams. This is now proven. He takes a season to get a team to his liking - few nice players in midfield and a bruiser thug of a striker - wins a few things and at the first sight of needing a rebuild things go tits up.

PSG would still probably take him. If he leaves with things as they are, then his reputation would definitely be severely damaged. However, both Jose and Chelsea committed themselves to the long term project so I reckon it'll take another month of similar results before anything happens. 

I'd say you're way over-stating things.

It's pretty much the same team as last season. The only major change is the goalie ... so it'll be interesting to see if they pick up when matey is fit again.

I don't think Courtois has been a massive miss tbh. Begovic not really at fault for any goals recently though he could probably have done a bit better in the shootout the other night. 
I think we've been shit for several reasons: 

• short pre season which meant the players didn't start fit
• players were still knackered from last season's exertions when Jose didn't rotate
• poor transfer window
• several key players off-form (Matic, Fabregas, Hazard, Ivanovic)

Anyway, despite the last 2 results, things are looking up. Performance-wise anyway. Unlucky to lose against West Ham and should have beaten Stoke once it came to extra time. Just no confidence in front of goal and some bad luck. The game this weekend against the Normal One will be very telling.