The English Football Thread

[Goofle]

Wenger said we are looking to buy in January.

[Mojo]

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

Villa will be fine.

Gifted you lot three points today. The first half is the story of our season. In control, well on top, dominating possession, but unable to take chances. The second half was a total shambles and Villa had another couple of chances once we went three at the back and brought Jozy on, which totally killed our shape and didnt work at all, but Villa didnt look a team that came to win and yet it was made relatively easy.

Slim margins again as has been the case as of late. Cattermoles error for the goal and an equaliser ruled out where Giacch, after seeing the replay, looked level. But we didnt test the keeper, and the decision making in the final third was abysmal, after long periods of possession play. Its like you can see exactly how Poyet wants them to play, and they can do it until they require an end product, and it just isnt there.

[Cuthbert]

Slim margins yeah. Could easily have lost if that goal was given, would have shifted the momentum. Could also have been 3-0 if our attackers could finish, those two one on ones at the end were piss poor.

I think Sunderland probably could stay up tbh, 14 points, a win puts them right back in it.

Fulham (A)
Southampton (H)
Stoke (H)

5/6 points there.

[Cuthbert]

**** me it doesn't end. After Benteke, Okore and Vlaar, Kozak is now out for the season, broke his leg in training. Heard it on Twatter earlier but assumed it was a wum.

Filled in nicely for Benteke after his dip in form. That's really disappointing, hoping the conker can get back to scoring and fast.

[Cuthbert]

Also in other news, Jores Okore will resume light training in three weeks. Lambert has confirmed he is targeting a return within two months.

He should be back playing in March. Fast recovery ffs.

[Newkie]

It's interesting to hear a Villa fan say not winning something 19 years or whatever is too long without a trophy for a club the size of Villa. That makes me feel weird because I'd still rather survival than F.A cup and relegation- and it's been a lot longer for us! Going down with a Trophy would soften the blow and yes it does give something to the cabinet, but at the same time I'm not sure how much solace that is when you're travelling to Preston or any of the other glamorous destinations week in week out. And you're only really playing for the cup as the European adventure is over before it starts if you're relegated. Hard enough getting it whilst in the prem, given that the Champions League drop outs get another bite at the cherry (which I hate)

The real worry of course is the downward spiral. When we were relegated plenty of pundits and those in the media were predicting us to "do a leeds" as it were, and while most of us thought we would recover eventually winning the championship with ease was definitely not expected, despite how easy it looks in hindsight. The damage it can do to a squad and morale as it get's torn apart for it's "good" players is worrying, and if your owners don't fancy taking on the debt it can be even worse. Generally I like the idea of staying in the Premiership and building a side that can eventually compete with the "big boys" and pushing on when possible - like Everton and Spurs. But again, how sustainable that method is is debatable and it's certainly no guarantee of long term success, as we showed from 94-04.

[Mojo]

Getting relegated, in many ways, seemed to be the best thing that could have happened to Newcastle. I know thats not always the case, and yeah plenty of people did speculate if you's would "do a Leeds" but the Toon had one season out of the top flight and then came back stronger, and in each season IN the top flight they haven't won anything.

My thinking is if a fan feels more comfortable simply surviving and trying to build, then fine. I think you do have to build towards something just to exist at the very least. However, for how long is that acceptable?

If Wigan have a good season, they will be back in the Prem next year with every other team outside of the European places (and look at the table, we're in January and literally any of those teams could go down), except with silverware in the cabinet and a jaunt into Europe in their cap.

[Cuthbert]

Originally Posted by Newkie

It's interesting to hear a Villa fan say not winning something 19 years or whatever is too long without a trophy for a club the size of Villa. That makes me feel weird because I'd still rather survival than F.A cup and relegation- and it's been a lot longer for us! Going down with a Trophy would soften the blow and yes it does give something to the cabinet, but at the same time I'm not sure how much solace that is when you're travelling to Preston or any of the other glamorous destinations week in week out. And you're only really playing for the cup as the European adventure is over before it starts if you're relegated. Hard enough getting it whilst in the prem, given that the Champions League drop outs get another bite at the cherry (which I hate)

The trophy count comes into it for me though, Villa were the 2nd most successful when the PL started (4th on leagues, 1st on FA Cups, 1st on League Cups + the European Cup win too...). I can remember them winning both League Cups and challenging for the title in '99. Too many clubs have overtaken us or are getting close and I don't want to see Villa getting left behind, so that's my reasoning.

[Goofle]

Feo :'-(

[Cuthbert]

Wonder who'll replace him.

Zaha, Young, Sterling are our other wingers. Redmond at Norwich. Tbh I'd take Gabby now. Maybe even Delph could get a look in.