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What is the point of Villa these days. A once great team with a decent bunch of fans that are drifting into obscurity.

They will probably stay up just, like they have done the past three seasons and will likely do the same next season.

If I was a fan of Villa I'd almost hope we went down. I'd much rather support a yoyo club than a team that aims for 15th every season.

They are almost in the spot that Boro, Blackburn and Wigan had for years where you wonder what they add to the league and know you would not miss them if they went. Wigan finally did go and managed to win a cup, play in Europe, get the the semi finals again and will be involved in the play offs this year. That's more excitement in 9 months than VIlla have given their fans in 5 years.

ross.mcfc wrote:What is the point of Villa these days. A once great team with a decent bunch of fans that are drifting into obscurity.

They will probably stay up just, like they have done the past three seasons and will likely do the same next season.

If I was a fan of Villa I'd almost hope we went down. I'd much rather support a yoyo club than a team that aims for 15th every season.

They are almost in the spot that Boro, Blackburn and Wigan had for years where you wonder what they add to the league and know you would not miss them if they went. Wigan finally did go and managed to win a cup, play in Europe, get the the semi finals again and will be involved in the play offs this year. That's more excitement in 9 months than VIlla have given their fans in 5 years.

There but for the grace of God....?

If someone buys Villa and puts some cash into them they'll be a major team again who are worth watching. Of all the fans of Midlands clubs theirs are the ones I have the most time for.

DoomMerchant wrote:

ross.mcfc wrote:What is the point of Villa these days. A once great team with a decent bunch of fans that are drifting into obscurity.

They will probably stay up just, like they have done the past three seasons and will likely do the same next season.

If I was a fan of Villa I'd almost hope we went down. I'd much rather support a yoyo club than a team that aims for 15th every season.

They are almost in the spot that Boro, Blackburn and Wigan had for years where you wonder what they add to the league and know you would not miss them if they went. Wigan finally did go and managed to win a cup, play in Europe, get the the semi finals again and will be involved in the play offs this year. That's more excitement in 9 months than VIlla have given their fans in 5 years.

There but for the grace of God....?

If someone buys Villa and puts some cash into them they'll be a major team again who are worth watching. Of all the fans of Midlands clubs theirs are the ones I have the most time for.

Someone did and it failed. Why would anyone buy Villa?

It looks like they are set for a "£200m US takeover" if they stay up. I could see them doing a lot better next season.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... ay-up.html

Don't know who'd buy they but did I hear right that Randy is looking to sell? Seems bored with it all ever since sacking O'Neill

Is Deadly Doug still alive? Maybe he's still got a few bob in the bank

If they are taken over the new owners will only be able to advance the club in line FFP which the current owners voted in favour of so large scale investment will prove tricky I would imagine.

Like most clubs they're just waiting for a rich man to court them, take them out and buy them new shiny things so they may then socilaise with the elite.

Until then they'll survive how they can, striving to sit at the top table so that they're more noticeable to Mr. Right.

I hate Villa. Possibly the most boring team to watch. I want them to go down..but then they won't get bought and maybe that new owner will inject some cash into the club and make it more exciting. Hmmm...decisions.

ross.mcfc wrote:
Someone did and it failed. Why would anyone buy Villa?

Calling what Randy Lerner did, initially, a failure isn't true IMHO. His problem was he kept MON on too long and let him spend a big wedge chasing top 4 when he had a couple really solid seasons.

Their shit buys and resulting performances put him off more investment and here they are.

Someone with an actual long term plan and the wherewithal to support it would do well there. Same for Newcastle and West Ham I believe.

Saul Goodman wrote:I hate Villa. Possibly the most boring team to watch. I want them to go down..but then they won't get bought and maybe that new owner will inject some cash into the club and make it more exciting. Hmmm...decisions.

Christ on a bike. Thought I was the only one. Hate villa hope they relegated. And southampton too. Ill take one now and one next season.

some arrogant/rag type comments here which are quite embarassing.

villa are a big club, and have top fans. To me their are a similar club to us, much like west ham and newcastle.

Have easily been the most investable club along with everton and newcastle IMO.

DoomMerchant wrote:

ross.mcfc wrote:
Someone did and it failed. Why would anyone buy Villa?

Calling what Randy Lerner did, initially, a failure isn't true IMHO. His problem was he kept MON on too long and let him spend a big wedge chasing top 4 when he had a couple really solid seasons.

Their shit buys and resulting performances put him off more investment and here they are.

Someone with an actual long term plan and the wherewithal to support it would do well there. Same for Newcastle and West Ham I believe.

True about the spending under O'Neill towards the end...Villa had a lot of players on big money who were coming in without improving the first eleven and then not playing. If I was Lerner Id have been questioning transfer policy too

Perhaps time to dispel the myth that Martin O'Neill is a great manager

Alex McLeish. In the history of clubs employing managers was there ever an appointment that encapsulated so much the phrase "doomed from the start". (maybe city appointing Alan Ball came close).

Benjay wrote:Alex McLeish. In the history of clubs employing managers was there ever an appointment that encapsulated so much the phrase "doomed from the start". (maybe city appointing Alan Ball came close).

There is another obvious choice. Though to be fair he wouldn't be alone in being shit. Following Bacon was always gonna be a tough ask

I thought about Moyes but they probably thought he came from the same mould as Fergie (ie Scottish, runs the club as if he owns it, drinks a lot of wine) and so they more than likely thought it would be a seamless transition. Re McLeish - appointing the manager of your bitter rivals who had just taken them down bordered on the insane.

Benjay wrote:I thought about Moyes but they probably thought he came from the same mould as Fergie (ie Scottish, runs the club as if he owns it, drinks a lot of wine) and so they more than likely thought it would be a seamless transition. Re McLeish - appointing the manager of your bitter rivals who had just taken them down bordered on the insane.

It was an astonishing appointment. He made Pearce look adventurous and tactically astute. One assumes he won't be employed by another club in a coaching or managerial role again

In defence of Alex McLiesh, he had a good record before joining Villa.

Took Motherwell then Hibs into Europe. As good as it gets for them.
First manager to Scottish club into the last 16 of the CL.
Had a better head to head record in terms of league wins than Martin O'Neil during their time in Glasgow.
Takes Scotland to within one game of winning a group with Italy and France in it. Guided Scotland to their best individual result in 20 years with a win in Paris.
Takes Birmingham up and they finish comfortably mid table in their first season.
Wins a major trophy against a much better side.

So they went down the same season, Birmingham were for about a decade a yoyo club. He did not do a very good job at Villa but has Lambert done any better?

I never understood why Villa fans hated him so much, he had been associated with Birmingham for two brief years and had done a pretty good job all things considered. Small minded stuff. He did not help himself by playing negative football but a team will fail if the fans make up there mind on day 1.

I remember the press having a go at us when Hughes was in charge and holding Villa and MON up as a better model; don't see them retracting now.

That said, other than that brief period when Barry and Milner came to us, the Villa fans I have known have always been decent so I wish them no harm.