Aston Villa 2011/2012

Don't forget Pascal Chimbonda. Plus Villa could make a bit of money if people in Birmingham are interested in replica Chimbonda gloves for those chilly August days.

Robbie Keane confirmed now

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2573925,00.html

Winston Bogarde Habib Beye has finally been paid off and left. He certainly earned his place in our first XI of ridiculous waste of money signings. ~£3m + a 45k per week 3 year contract. And for that he started 14 games for us. By my reckoning that means he cost ~£700k per game

debaser wrote:Winston Bogarde Habib Beye has finally been paid off and left. He certainly earned his place in our first XI of ridiculous waste of money signings. ~£3m + a 45k per week 3 year contract. And for that he started 14 games for us. By my reckoning that means he cost ~£700k per game

You should've played him.

Kimbo wrote:

debaser wrote:Winston Bogarde Habib Beye has finally been paid off and left. He certainly earned his place in our first XI of ridiculous waste of money signings. ~£3m + a 45k per week 3 year contract. And for that he started 14 games for us. By my reckoning that means he cost ~£700k per game

You should've played him.

Maybe. He'd be better than Hutton, that's for damn sure.

Hutton got an assist Yesterday...

Was the 1st goal a Keane -----> Hutton ------> Bent combination

That's so Spurs 2008

Starting to get rumours of player unrest.

Ireland was subbed at half-time because he said 'fuck off' either to McLeish or Pardew (depending who you believe) during the first half.

While N'Zogbia has been twatting:

Charles N'Zogbia@CharlesNzo
First time in my life im not happy playing football !!!

That's amazing.

He was happy at Newcastle?

Luis wrote:That's amazing.

He was happy at Newcastle?

Bent out for 3 months...

Sad for Bent as it will most likely mean he misses another international tournament (though 'arry might've dropped him anyway).

Bent and Keane scored nearly all our goals in the last couple months. Gabby needs to rediscover early season form. Likelihood of relegation just went up a little.

Chance for Weimann maybe, but Scotty McGinger will probably just play it 'safe' with Heskey.

Villa made loses of £54m last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/feb/28/aston-villa-losses

No wonder they sold Young and Downing.

Club's in a mess. So many bad decisions made in the last few years.

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insists that he can cope with criticism from sections of the club's support.

McLeish's men were booed off after last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Wigan, which was only Villa's second point in five Premier League games.

That show of dissent was the latest in a line of incidents since McLeish's summer move from rivals Birmingham.

"I believe I'm strong enough and I've got the experience to handle it," said the former Rangers and Scotland boss.

Protests against McLeish began before his announcement as Villa manager.

In June, about 1,000 supporters staged a demonstration at Villa Park against owner Randy Lerner's decision to push through a move to get him.

And the announcement of annual losses of £53.9m , coupled with Villa's current lowly position of 15th in the Premier League and the loss of record signing Darren Bent for the rest of the season, has soured the atmosphere further.

Despite the setbacks, Villa are eights points clear of trouble and, ahead of Saturday's trip to Blackburn, McLeish declared that he remains determined to turn the situation around.

"It's never stopped me," he added. "I've never wavered in my commitment to Aston Villa, in terms of helping the club, working with the club, and the course we are taking.

"Of course, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me, that it was easy to handle and there was no pressure whatever. That would be total fabrication.

"At the moment it is a bit gloomy, with the financial figures coming in and the fans showing a bit of dissent at the moment. A few never really fancied me coming in in the first place.
Alex McLeish

"But, if the fans can leave their grievances for other situations rather than during the 90 minutes and support every player, it would be great."

Much of the Villa fans anger towards McLeish has stemmed from perceived negative tactics, having scored just 29 goals in 26 games this season.

"I have never put the shackles on the lads," he said. "I never have done since the start of the season.

"Yes, I want them to get back and defend and help out other parts of the teams, just as every other major team in the world does - the Barcelonas and Manchester Uniteds of this world.

"But I never put any shackles on anybody and asked them not to go and score goals and play their best football.

"My biggest desire is to make Aston Villa fans happy. I want to turn that corner."

---

Master of understatement.

If your biggest desire is to make Aston Villa fans happy, resign now. Please. For the love of God. Go.

I feel for you Debbie, I really do. I wouldn't wish McLeish on my worst enemy

I also like how he says he never put shackles on anyone and tries to make out that he's attacking/progressive (because he doesn't tell them not to score goals ), but I've yet to see any interview with him where he outlines exactly what our forward philosophy is supposed to be. It certainly isn't clear on the pitch, we just don't seem to have any attacking tactics. The only time I remember him explicitly talking tactics is where he said we play with a Dutch-style 433 (I think it's earlier in this thread) which was the most laughable statement I've ever seen.

Or I can't help but requote this beauty about being a negative manager:

"I just think it’s a myth," said McLeish. "I think in all my days as a coach and manager I’ve had pretty dynamic teams all the way.

"Even the Birmingham team that went down when I took over from Steve Bruce. James McFadden and Mikael Forssell were magnificent until McFadden got injured for the last few months.

"I don’t think they’re examining the facts, so there’s nothing much I can do about that. But it’s a myth. That’s for sure and that’s a fact.

"I shouldn’t have to explode it. If they examined the facts and they looked at my teams over the years they’d see they were entertaining teams"

I think we're seeing a level of delusion with this man that I've rarely come across before in football.

I see the Fonz is back again..looks like he didnt score any for Leicester either, guess he's not going to hit that potential..

Might be needed though, with Bent injured and Prime Robbie Keane back in America.

Leaves us with a half fit Gabby, Heskey, Weimann and Fonz..

“I don’t say to players: ‘Go and play negatively, go and pass the ball back’,” he said.

“I’ve not got a magic wand and I don’t tell the players to be negative. If they are having a poor game, it’s not because Alex McLeish is negative.

“It can be down to quality and maybe we’ve not shown it enough at certain times and in certain games we have.

“I don’t tell the players not to attack. You’ve really got to trust the individuals to go and do that for you.

“Is it a mental block? Who knows? But there is possibly enough experience in the squad in certain games to steer us through those difficult moments.

“People talk about a negative style of play. It’s a myth. I don’t ask the players not to express themselves.

“Every week they are told to throw off the shackles, do their very best and show what they can do in the forward play for the team.”

Surely a manager admitting that he is incapable of managing footballers is grounds for sacking

Also, he's started talking about himself in the third person. Sure sign of a breakdown.

“I’ve not got a magic wand and I don’t think there are a lot of managers who could do a lot better than the job I am doing just now,” said the Villa boss.

“I know how hard I work and I want a bit of respite. I knew when I came that there was going to be some demanding times ahead and that changing the squad around would take time. But I took the challenge and I’m certainly not going to quit it now.

“I think Randy Lerner realises the massive challenge I have got and that we have opted to go down this road. There has never been any pressure from him.”

debaser wrote:Might be needed though, with Bent injured and Prime Robbie Keane back in America.

Leaves us with a half fit Gabby, Heskey, Weimann and Fonz..

To be fair a half-fit Gabby shits all over a very fit Emile Heskey. Heskey should be playing in the Championship, if not League 1 by now.

Yep, we gave Heskey way too long a contract, given his age. Thanks for that, DISGRACE He'd be back at Leicester by now if we hadn't been so stupidly generous.

I'm hoping we give Weimann a go ahead of Heskey. Been scoring a lot for reserves. McLeish will go with Heskey on the wing and Gabby pushed up front by himself.

What's up with Albrighton?

On raw talent alone


Albrighton----------Ireland------ Zog

-------------------Gabby

Should be a decent front 4.

Almost like McLeish believes that that win at Chelsea over Xmas have given him all the time in the world. HAS HE NOT SEEN CHELSEA IN OTHER GAMES???

Albrighton's okay, but fairly limited. Never gonna be more than a midtable, Etherington type.

I'd probably try:

Petrov-Bannan
Zog-Ireland-Gabby
Weimann

Haven't seen much of Weimann yet, but worth a go. Not sure Gabby fit enough to lead the line by himself right now.

Debaser - what's the deal with New York Red Bulls and... Stephen Ireland going there? Apparently he is moving there, which is killing Ballack hopes of signing with NY Team.

Btw, Ireland expects to get a raise going there and apparently he's already on 80k pounds pw

No idea. We're trying to cut our wage bill all round though, so wouldn't be surprised if we let him go, if there was interest.

Came across this by chance...thought of you debaser.

Is it because you knew I'd be sickened by the awful grammar?

I will be honest, it took me a good 10 minutes to spot the mistake.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17566188

Fuck

Hope he gets better

Shocking news. Can only hope it is treatable and he is okay.