I went to see my first game of the season two nights ago.The Albion played Sevilla on the Spanish coast just before the Poruguese border (tonight they play Benfica in Albufuiera).It was sweltering...it had reached 43 degrees centigrade in Seville that afternoon and the game kicked off at half ten in the evening(a common occurance in Spain....although last year's Barca-Sevilla game was taking the biscuit with its midnight kick off.Anyway,along with 20 other Baggies saddoes I witneessed a pretty crap display with Sevilla deserving their 1-0 victory.Great atmosphere since 75% of the crowd were in beachwear....and with beer at 60p and cubatas at 1 pound people were quite happy.Wonderful!! :)

Good to see that you got to see Albion play near you Nacho even if the game was dire.
I'm glad that this thread has been resurrected coz it seems the right place to post this....the ssc fantasy football league has started up again for the coming season. Only Blunther and myself from the Bham area have signed up so far, we could do with a few more and it is good fun. Click on the link.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=235481

Is this good or bad news? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4703991.stm

Too many places like that have been demolished.Do it up I say!

Is this good or bad news? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/4703991.stm

Deadly Doug should stump up the dosh for it's repairs, then again buildings of historical importance don't seem to mean squat....look what happened to the Trinity Lane facade.

I couldn't believe Villa got rid of that.Didn't anyone protest?

It is quite incredible what they did......I'm all for making Villa Park a better stadium but the Trinity Road facade was probably one of the most recognizable views of any ground in the country....steeped in history.

http://www.apwj49.dsl.pipex.com/lost/villa2.jpg

This the only pic i can find of the new stand....it overhangs the park and Trinity Road has to go under it
http://www2.svenskafans.com/aston/bilder/bild3.jpg

Thanks for those.

If they extend the Halford Lane (side) they will do something similar...building it with a road..er..Halford Lane running underneath it.

What's Sevilla's stadium like Nacho?

There are three decent sized stadia.Sevilla's which used to hold more than 60,000 standing now holds just over 40,000.It has two circular levels....very nice.Betis' stadium a little bigger with just under 50,000 capacity.Three levels on three sides and one end that will be done up in the near future.Then there's the Olympic Stadium which was built in 1998 with a capacity of just over 50,000 .The Celtic v Oporto UEFA final was held there two years ago.Nice ground with running track....bit of a white elephant really....the local government have been trying to persuade both clubs to play there but they refuse.

If Villa dont save that church then its a crime!!!
The Club needs to be proud of its history, (after all its all you've got to be proud of these days :lol:)

This rumour's been floating around for a couple of days but it looks more and more likely that Darius Vassel could be joining Man City.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/4714653.stm

Interesting ariel pic showing how far The Hawthorns is from the city centre.

http://yourstadium.com/picview.php?STADIUMUSER=019f84e81306daac5113d3a2533a6318&index=315&mode=0&STADIUMUSER=019f84e81306daac5113d3a2533a6318

I remember once standing on the roof of the works - i had standrews on my right and the hawthorns on my left. Until then i had never realised how close the two clubs were.

RB what are the works...the place where you work?In fact Villa Park and The Hawthorns are really close.It'd be intersting to see an aerial view of both.

Darius Vassel has agreed terms and signed for the Blue side of Manchester then....watch him go and score 15-20 goals for them this season. What is it with Villa and stikers we seem to have a curse. I mean Peter Crouch, he's now a £7million pound forward and playing for the European champions!!

Darius Vassel has agreed terms and signed for the Blue side of Manchester then....watch him go and score 15-20 goals for them this season. What is it with Villa and stikers we seem to have a curse. I mean Peter Crouch, he's now a £7million pound forward and playing for the European champions!!

..and who knows.. like Heskey, he might end up with the Blues in a few seasons time !

..and who knows.. like Heskey, he might end up with the Blues in a few seasons time !

Who, Vassel or Crouch....or both?

Nacho - The works is a club i used to work at on broad st. Next to ugc cinema and above the grovsner casino. its got a fairly good view of most of the city up there.

as for villa - i dont quite understand whats going on. why are they letting vassel go?
I get the feeling that morel is pretty low at the club. There doesnt seem to be any ambition or passion showed by the club.

You've pretty much summed it up RB....we're still waiting for that one big signing, but looks like we'll have to make do with Phillips, O'Brien, Berger and Taylor......not a bad lot but not exactly firing the Villa fans enthusiasm for the coming season

the state of villa is depressing these days

the state of villa is depressing these days

It'd only take one major signing to lift the spirits of the supporters and the club as a whole but mediocre seems to be the way at the moment

Have Villa's season tickets been selling well?How many season ticket holders have Villa averaged in the last few years?I see that it's more expensive at The Hawthorns than Villa Park although both are still some way off the prices at St Andrews.It can't last for ever can it..........the bubble will burst...I'd love to see the prices tumble!!

I've no idea Nacho to your previous question. I haven't had a season ticket for the last 8 seasons due to the upward spiral in prices.
I see Blues have signed Nicky Butt on a season loan deal......still waiting for a big big Villa signing, time's running out :bash:

At least we had a good win last night against the mighty Saddlers :)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/4740675.stm

He He - Wolves 2-1 Villa (EASY! EASY! EASY!) ;) :hahaha: cheers1:

He He - Wolves 2-1 Villa (EASY! EASY! EASY!) ;) :hahaha: cheers1:

We don't talk about that game :toilet:

Oh, ok then :) - I guess i'll have to wait for the next premiership season for it to count ;) :cheers:

Bloody hell AC Tower will be topped out by the timeWolves grace The Premiership again :happy: ;)

arrrgghhhh!

Bloody hell AC Tower will be topped out by the timeWolves grace The Premiership again :happy: ;)

Thats good then cause I have heard the new masterplan includes 12, 2 storey houses ;)

Aparrently Albion Beat athletico Madrid 2 0 in a friendly...what was all that about. And congrats to Walsall for an opening day win away from home with the jammiest last minute goal ever :)

Only just noticed that Walsall beat title favourites Notts Forest 3-2 at Bescot tonight, well done to them and a good start to the season for Mersons lot.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4126974.stm

We won 2-1 - Yay ;)

Good to see none of our teams lost today. Congratulations to Wolves for setting a new club record and bad luck to Walsall for conceding a last minute goal and thus denying them a new a club record.

Aparrently Albion Beat athletico Madrid 2 0 in a friendly...what was all that about. :)

A very dour game televised for the whole of Spain to see.A good point for the Baggies today and yes, an unfortunate late slip by Walsall.Bruce didn't seem to happy about Blues' performance but an away point is OK for now.I imagine Villa will be unhappy with a draw but the opening ten minutes must have been exciting.A great start for Wolves with another victory this afternoon.

on the old thread someone posted a link to watch the games live on the net, does any one know these sites? decent results for all our clubs yesterday, im quite happy with a point at fulham as we ve to home games now, especially as we did nt play well on sat

Following the link below you can see some interesting views of the Hawthorns;apparently the highest stadium in England.I'm glad they retained the traditional floodlights....of course Villa had those wonderful AV lights.Any photos of those?What do you guys reckon..traditional lights or the more modern?Also note the proximity of the stadium to the Birmingham border;thought out years ago to "capture" possible support beyond the Black Country.It's also handy having the Metro/train station so close too.

http://www.albiontillwedie.co.uk/hawthornsgallery/miscellaneous.html#null

Its an odd ground really, nice - but i hate those metal walls in the ground. makes it look like unfinished and small.

However i love the floodlights. you can see the ground for mile with them.
As you leave the M6 north to take the a38 into the city, they appear on the horizon directly over villa park!

Getting seriously worried now. Really do think we have a relegation battle on our hands.

Well done Bruce, we have 3 strikers, none of which seem to know how to score goals!

3 strickers that cant score? forsell? i dont think so, anyway its a bit early to think like that !! bolton had an awful start last year an finished in europe! surley we cant play any worse than last night!?

It is not just a problem with the forwards.. the defence is in shambles ! Melchiot had a poor game against ManCity .. and then there is Tebily !

for a team that doest score much surely atleast the defence must be tight ?

..and there are so many good players..SB seriously needs to talk to them, or think about changing his stratergy..SOON. Otherwise it is a relegtion battle for sure

Brucie are you for real? Morrisson, Blake, Horsfield, Figuero, Carter, John, Purse, Anderton, Savage (yes) - are we that much better for losing these players? Are we f*ck!
Apparently Izzet and Forssell aren't fit yet they were subs last night - where are our squad players Bruce!! Don't you ever think about blooding some of our younger players? And Upson wantsaway, and Cunningham's almost as old and slow as me.
there are 7 days to go and I want 4 players in by the 31st - no buts Bruce.
WBA are losing 4-0 and there's me saying they'd see off Chelsea tonight, because I thought they had the belief....

Oi you lot, this thread's reserved for moaning Villa fans....get off :bleep:

Brucie are you for real? Morrisson, Blake, Horsfield, Figuero, Carter, John, Purse, Anderton, Savage (yes) - are we that much better for losing these players? Are we f*ck!
Apparently Izzet and Forssell aren't fit yet they were subs last night - where are our squad players Bruce!! Don't you ever think about blooding some of our younger players? And Upson wantsaway, and Cunningham's almost as old and slow as me.
there are 7 days to go and I want 4 players in by the 31st - no buts Bruce.
WBA are losing 4-0 and there's me saying they'd see off Chelsea tonight, because I thought they had the belief....

id have to agree with you on most of those except savage, although we could do with his fighting spirit right now, what most blues fans seem to forget is that we were shit last season when savage was there! nothing much changed when he went, in fact the only time we looked good was over xmas period when we won 4 in a row, the difference......dunn!

A win each at last for Bham City and Villa. Great news that Baros scored on his debut but by the sound of it himself and Phillips should have got a hatful between them. Some of the goals in the Baggies vs Blues derby were down to some shocking defending....what reception did The Horse get from the travelling Blues fans?

I stand corrected, Birminghams third goal was class and that's from a Villa fan :eek:

atlast a win :) that eases off the pressure.. and well done to Villa too on their win !

But somehow I still think it will be a rough ride this season. The team seemed to have worn off by the second half.. that too against a mediocre Baggies side !

yeah we did look tiered, when hesky went off we seemed to have little idea attacking wise, long balls to pandiani aint gonna work, he needs some football played if hes gonna score goals. Still a wins a win and hopfully we can push on from this now!?

Unconvinced myself - was really frustreted by our defence at times, i mean baggies second goal was a proper fuck up.

Well ,nothing to do with Birmingham football but I've just got back from the Betis V Liverpool game.Great atmosphere,and both sets of fans were magnificos !!

Wycombe 3 Villa 8

Wtf was that all about? I worked late tonight and had all the blues fans at work taking the piss coz we were 3-1 down. On my journey home we managed to get 4-3 ahead and by the time I'd turned the tv on we were winning 8-3....Bonkers :nuts:

Nuts... I were gonna go to that, but thought better of it after seeing West Ham match. I'm gutted now though :(

A tale of two clubs and their potential Sep 20 2005
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::






As football fans in Birmingham ponder new stadiums and Russian oligarchs, chief sports writer Hyder Jawad wonders what the future holds for the city's Premiership pair...

The two were not connected, but on the day that Karren Brady purred like a cat, Aston Villa Football Club was telling anyone who would listen that, yes, there had been a " preliminary approach" that could lead to an offer to buy the company.

No serious person could believe that Doug Ellis will sell his stake in Villa - you only have to look at his past to know that - but takeover talk is always good for raising eyebrows.

Brady's eyebrows were certainly raised, but for different reasons. She either did not know about the Villa takeover announcement or was not interested, but she was certainly eager to reveal what a new 55,000-seat stadium would mean for Birmingham City. Her enthusiasm was tangible. Villa's was not.

In one sense, while yesterday was not a typical day for these great clubs, the announcements were handled in typical fashion. Birmingham acquired a trumpet and blew it loudly; Villa crawled into a shell.

To be fair, Villa could do nothing else. On company issues as sensitive as possible takeovers, announcements must be made through the London Stock Exchange and are designed to be as prosaic as possible.

But one wonders how Brady, the Birmingham managing director, would handle such an announcement. With a press release, just like Villa, and in accordance with rules, but her's would be on glossy paper and in colour.

She invited press to St Andrew's yesterday ostensibly to talk about Birmingham's commercial ventures but really to discuss the plans to build the stadium at Saltley, near Digbeth.

"Thank you for asking about the stadium," Brady said after answering the final question. It was perfectly choreographed.

Brady has a good feel for the momentous. The significance of yesterday could be felt long after we are all propping up daisies in our chosen cemeteries.

If Birmingham moves to a new stadium, the club immediately rises into new and higher spheres. If Villa is bought out, possibly by a Russian billionaire, they will at last have a future that matches their past.

The battle to become the largest club in the city of Birmingham, which began more than a century ago, has taken a new twist. And the rivalry between Blues and Villa is as fierce in the boardrooms as on the pitch.

Since moving into the Premiership in 2002, Birmingham have realised the limitations of their ghastly St Andrew's headquarters. In the three years since, the team has been better than the stadium.

Indeed, there is an argument for saying that the main stand (so called because, in the Fifties, it was considered impressive) would be better suited for a bonfire.

Villa do not have such problems with Villa Park, except that its stadium has, for the past decade, been better than its team. The club has suffered because Ellis, while full of good intentions, has walked into a timewarp.

He wants to keep Villa financially sound (a worthy cause) but has done so with such meticulousness that the days of risk have long since gone.

Villa are ripe for a takeover. The club has a good brand name, a great history, tens of thousands of supporters, and more potential than most.

Villa in 2005 is a club comparable in size to Chelsea in 2000. All they need is a Russian billionaire with a desire to sign blank cheques.

Birmingham are not ripe for a takeover but who at St Andrew's would want that? They are 12 years into a long-term plan to ensure that the club lives up to its name. Birmingham is the second-largest city in England. Why is Birmingham City not even in the top-ten largest clubs?

That could change if, as is likely, the club is granted the right to lease the stadium at Saltley. By 2010, Birmingham could be playing in front of crowds of 50,000 plus in a stadium fit to stage the Commonwealth Games in 2014. No wonder Brady's face glowed with pride.

When London hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, the football tournament will be spread around the country. It is certain that the matches assigned to Birmingham will be played at Saltley rather than Villa Park.

The balance of power is shifting ever so slowly.

In 1966, when England hosted the World Cup, St Andrew's was an unlikely collection of wood. Villa Park was used to stage four matches. In 1996, when England hosted the European Championships, St Andrew's had improved (just) but Villa Park was used to stage four matches.

"Our rivals up the road have a capacity of 48,000 [sic]," Brady said. "But ours is only 29,000. We need the potential of a stadium that holds 55,000."

Ah, yes, potential. Both clubs have it in abundance. To realise theirs, Birmingham needs that stadium. To realise theirs, Villa needs that new owner.

The perception remains that Ellis will only leave Villa Park in a box. He talks a good game, and is fitter than most 81-year-old men. I like him. But he would make a better life president than chairman.

Birmingham is in better shape because its owners, David Gold, Ralph Gold, and David Sullivan, are there because it is best for the club and would sell if it was best for the club.

No wonder Karren Brady was prancing around like a teenager. And no wonder Ellis was forlornly hopeful that his obligatory statement to the Stock Exchange would keep Villa supporters up to date with the news.

Villa has its annual general meeting in two weeks and Ellis is sure to have a rough ride. Brady will have no such inconveniences and will sleep much easier.

Baggies 2v1 Arsenal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Get in !!

Cracking result WBA! I don't like the idea of all the ex-Blues players scoring with ease though - Carter, Morrison, Blake.
I've got absolutely no idea how the match is going to go today. If Villa win 0-3 I won't be surprised - likewise a 3-0 win for Blues won't amaze me either, although I'd be a tad pleased!

Great goal by Carter.

0-1 Phillips.

Finally

I see Villa are losing 2-0 aleady....have BCFC / WBA / AVFC beaten or drawn with any team from Lancs / LIV / MAN this season yet?

yes, blues drew 2-2 with liverpool a few weeks back

C'mon You Blues. We are putting up poor performances and are shit at the moment

C'mon You Blues. We are putting up poor performances and are shit at the moment

At least you're not the only ones :bash:

Nothing from the NW for the Baggies I'm afraid.Last night the pubs down here were bulging with Chesea fans in preparation for tonight's game.1-1 I predict.

Y'know what I predict, 7-12122334. Eh a world record, to Blues

Watch out Real Madrid we're on the move!!

£2.7m projects boost for club
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
By Andy Toft
Nov 3, 2005
Albion have received two major behind-the-scenes boosts as they won the go-ahead for a £1million development of their training ground at the same time as work finally got under way on their indoor centre.

The two projects, costing a total of £2.7m, are aimed at creating a 21st-century infrastructure which will serve generations of players to come.

The scheme to build an indoor training complex a stone's throw from The Hawthorns has now begun after the go-ahead from Sandwell Council in July.

A full-size indoor pitch will be the centre-piece of the new development at the rear of the Tom Silk Building on Halfords Lane. Once completed, it will be one of the largest playing surfaces of its kind in the country.

The indoor centre is a key component of the Baggies' move to Academy status this season. But, as well as playing host to the club's youth teams, it will also offer much-needed practice facilities for Albion's first team when bad weather makes their Great Barr training ground unusable.

Currently Bryan Robson and his players have to find facilities elsewhere when the pitches at their day-to-day base freeze.

Last season that saw them take refuge at the Walsall campus of Wolverhampton University. But that situation is far from ideal and the new centre will be a welcome addition for players and coaching staff alike. The club hope to complete by the end of this season.

The second phase of Albion's bid to upgrade training facilities will centre on their Great Barr base.

Walsall Council has given the go-ahead for plans to extend the pavilion at the training ground. The club plan a £1m overhaul which will double the size of the current building.

A classroom and weights room will be incorporated, while gym and physiotherapy space will also be increased.

New offices, a kitchen and dining area and six new changing rooms will complete the re-development which leave the Baggies well-placed among FA Premier Academy clubs. Work, set to begin this month, should be completed by the start of next season.

What are the odds on Peter Crouch scoring his first Liverpool goal today??

What are the odds on Peter Crouch scoring his first Liverpool goal today??

15/8 to score in the match and 7/1 to score first/last goal.

I was going to have a few quid on Vassell scoring the other night but talked myself out of betting against the Villa. :doh:

west midlands footy really is in self destruct mode!!

It is all a bit shit isn't it :bash:

Lets all just hope that Chasetown can at least put one over a side from the NW

wahay!!! Bloody good game that, a real scrap and fairly even IMO. May be a different story in the next game but the attention is certainly deserving.

Well done Chasetown :banana: :banana: :banana:

3 out of the bottom 4 - another nul point too for the weekend! We're all goin' down boys!

West Brom v Everton, 17:15
Birmingham v Bolton, 20:00
Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00
West Brom v Man City, 15:00
Aston Villa v Man Utd, 12:45
Man City v Birmingham, 17:15
Aston Villa v Everton, 17:15
Man Utd v West Brom, 15:00
Birmingham v Man Utd, 19:45
Liverpool v West Brom, 15:00
Birmingham v Wigan, 15:00
Wigan v West Brom, 13:30

These are the Brum v NW fixtures upto the New Year - what's the betting on them being all 3 points to the NW? It'll be interesting to look back on this in 2006.

West Brom v Everton, 17:15
Birmingham v Bolton, 20:00
Bolton v Aston Villa, 15:00
West Brom v Man City, 15:00
Aston Villa v Man Utd, 12:45
Man City v Birmingham, 17:15
Aston Villa v Everton, 17:15
Man Utd v West Brom, 15:00
Birmingham v Man Utd, 19:45
Liverpool v West Brom, 15:00
Birmingham v Wigan, 15:00
Wigan v West Brom, 13:30

These are the Brum v NW fixtures upto the New Year - what's the betting on them being all 3 points to the NW? It'll be interesting to look back on this in 2006.

I'm still putting all my faith into Chasetown

Apprently you can get odds of 100 to 1 , on Villa , Birmingham , and WBA all goin down this season, now that would definatly make it the Black Country.

I think one of these will go , and im not saying which :)

Baggies go and blow away the first of the NW opponents! Will this trend continue?
BTW, if St Andrews had a roof, we wouldn't get fog in the way would we - hmmm....a stadium with a roof, now that's a great idea........

Yesssssssssss! Blues are eyeing up the 17th place! Everton and Pompey to bottle it!

in all seriousness, that was a massive result, nothing other than a win would do, it may not have been the most convincing performance, but with west ham and fulham at home next, and a fully fit squad, we re looking at our best chance to pick up some points, 4 hopefully 6 out of that should see us climb out the bottom three, maybe then a bit of confidence will see us through a tough xmas period? fingers crossed!

WTF!!!!!!!!! Losing 3-0 to Doncaster! I'm gonna get the piss ripped out of me tomorrow at work coz none of the Bluenoses or Baggies fans have had any ammunition so far this season.....fucks sake :bash:

btw well done Doncaster!

Don't think I didn't notice Villa boyz!!!

Fucking pathetic performance. To think they're all going to bugger off home with twenty grand each in their pockets for that display.

Anyone watching would think Doncaster were the Premier League side.

Fucking pathetic performance. To think they're all going to bugger off home with twenty grand each in their pockets for that display.

Anyone watching would think Doncaster were the Premier League side.

The players who played should cough up and refund the travelling fans who witnessed that pitiful display!

Right I'm off to work, wish me luck!

Yeah! Blues are in the Quarter Finals of the league cup and we've now won 2 games on the trot... watch out Chelsea.

Fingers crossed for the rest of the season as we are still struggling to beat bad teams

Blues quite like the League Cup - I was at the Semi against Leeds in the 90s and the final of 2001, so I think this year is the year!

dont think we can count it as two on the trot, technically the milwall game was a draw, a poor one at that! does any one know when the draw for the qaurters is? doncaster at home would be nice

Draw is Saturday. Also, come on Worcester!!

Although Blues are now our religation rivales I wanted them to do well last night.I like Blues and want them to stay up.Who can we drag into the dog fight??

we aint dragging no one into it, i can see the bottom three now being there at the end of the season

I did want blues to stay up, but I decided last night, fuck it, I'm gonna enjoy their demise :D

Bottom three now to go down for me. Sunderland haven't a hope, and if Blues do anything but beat Fulham next week I think they're fucked. Four straight defeats at Man City, Chelsea, Man U and Spurs methinks.

I watched the game live on Fox Soccer Channel and thought Blues were a tad unlucky, but pissed about so much in defence I'd chop their bloody wages. Fulham is a MUST WIN now.

West Brom 2 v 1 Man City

Bolton 1 v 1 Aston Villa

Blues 2 v 0 Fulham

Crystal Palace 1 v 1 Wolves

Coventry 1 v 1 Milwall

Nottingham Forest 1 v 1 Walsall

West Brom 2 v 1 Man City

Bolton 1 v 1 Aston Villa

Blues 2 v 0 Fulham

Nottingham Forest 1 v 1 Walsall


Wow!! that was close!

Just got in from a night out and the Gods point towards a 1-2 victory for the Baggies.

What an absolute disgrace from the 2 Brum teams today. Villa could have lost by about 7-0 and Blues could have lost by about 8-1. These 2 look like they're going down. Albion only lost by a goal but seemed to at least show some bottle.

Defence was absolute rubbish. Funny red card.

It seems the only Midlands team to be in the Prem next season will be Wolves ;)

Anyway looks as if Villa fans have got thier wish, consortium to buy them in new year for £64.4m

Three important points for the Baggies this afternoon;nine more points than we had at the same time last year.I'm still hoping that Blues will beat the drop too.

Strange how no one has mentioned how fantastic West Midlands Football has been doing in the F.A. Cup

Tamworth, Burton and Nuneaton all doing well.
With Walsall, Cov, Blues, Villa and Wolves still in the runing.

Today...

Absolutely fucking disgraceful non-performance ! Can it get any lower ? :bash:

Please, for all that SB has done being honest and hard working ( and thanks for that ) it is high time he is SACKED unless he walks away on his own.

He has absolutely no clue how to take the team forward or to get ANY workable tactics.

I felt this embarassment was long due, and wish it had come a lot earlier for the board to stop saving SBs ass.. now it's too late. SB can't shrug off responsibility by philosophising poor performances for ever.. he has had more than his share of tries that too with a board that's backed him up a lot. Now its time to QUIT !


ps. next call Man U then Chelsea.. how very charming :cry:

Today...

Absolutely fucking disgraceful non-performance ! Can it get any lower ? :bash:

Please, for all that SB has done being honest and hard working ( and thanks for that ) it is high time he is SACKED unless he walks away on his own.

He has absolutely no clue how to take the team forward or to get ANY workable tactics.

I felt this embarassment was long due, and wish it had come a lot earlier for the board to stop saving SBs ass.. now it's too late. SB can't shrug off responsibility by philosophising poor performances for ever.. he has had more than his share of tries that too with a board that's backed him up a lot. Now its time to QUIT !


ps. next call Man U then Chelsea.. how very charming :cry:


FWIW, I've thoroughly enjoyed myself watching that.

Takes our minds off the problems we have with a manager even WORSE than yours. In fact, your post could equally be about DO'L.

Spare a thought for my poor old Blose supporting dad. Flew in from Spain just to go to the match

:-(

Awful it was absolutely awful how can we lose 7-0 at home...

Think Steve Bruce should stay, one bad season does not a bad manager make. Want him to be given the chance to help us come straight back up when we get relegated - sorry impossible not to be pessimistic after that

I went to the game tonight and my god I thought I was watching some sunday morning pub team playing down the parks!: what a totally embarressing and inept performance (again!). How the players can have the temerity (sp) to pick up their paycheque after that kind of rubbish I really don't know!

Nearly 30,000 people attended and for a moment playing in the FA cup quarter finals gave us the slim hope of reaching the semis and temporarily pushing our nightmare league performance into the squalid depths.

Not so - after spending nearly £75 for tickets, programs, parking and food we end kicked out of town and nothing to show; not even a gleaming of a team performance.

The board can't afford to sack SB on his contract: but I would have thought he should do the honourable thing and resign and walk away NOW! Whoever takes his place probably won't keep us up but we need to rebuild kick out some of the deadwood and try again!

Blues deserve to go down, no question about it. The people I feel sorry for are the fans having to watch that crap and wonder whether it's worth ever going again!

Mind you, you think Blues fans have had a bad night. Think about poor old Karen Brady: not only has she seen her team get thrashed; but also BCC have opted to go for the NEC/Casino bid and dumped her Sports Village plan. Poor old sod: wouldn't surprise me if Brady, Gold and perhaps Sullivan decide to call it a day and move on

Mind you, you think Blues fans have had a bad night. Think about poor old Karen Brady: not only has she seen her team get thrashed; but also BCC have opted to go for the NEC/Casino bid and dumped her Sports Village plan. Poor old sod: wouldn't surprise me if Brady, Gold and perhaps Sullivan decide to call it a day and move on

I have it on good authority from a friend who works in the Sullivan empire that currently, the football club is supporting the newspaper.

You are right about how the Board cannot literally afford to cut short SB's contract.

But imagine how much SB has wasted on crap players..

Morrison ( record signing at that time ), Dugarry, Pandiani, Blake, Gronkjaer, Yorke !!!! Martin Taylor, Tebily..

yes, with the exception of Dugarry, the other players stiffed SB, took the money and ran. Its a great shame we sold Andy Johnson to Palace (can't recall whether it was Bruce or Francis that sold him), but what a great striker he is. Ten times better than the "strike" force we have now

It was Bruce. Aj was Trevors baby. We never got the best out of him and when SB came we needed a goal scorer to get us promoted so he bought us Stern John who did the business in Div1 and scored the goals that got us promoted. SB decided that if AJ couldn't score in Div1 he wouldn't score in the Prem. looked logical at the time.

Hmmm... you shouldn't have revived this thread Fusi. ;)

You won't like this, but that was the easiest 7-0 I've ever seen. I'm glad I don't support Birmingham right now!

For what it's worth Pobbie, have a look-see at Liverpool's record defeat - yes, that's right - a 1-9 thrashing by Blues in the pre-Shankly days. That puts me in a slightly less suicidal mood......

I know, I was commenting on that last night and how laughably ironic it was. How times change. I don't see us conceding seven anytime soon. :pepper:

Don't spoil my fun. ;)

Maybe if you met Barcelona......

Although I'm a Baggies fan ,I didn't enjoy that at all.Nowadays (especially if goal difference/average isn't important) teams seem to ease up going in at 0-3.Maybe Liverpool were fearing a Milanesque cock up!

Well that's that then! After Blues' defeat at Vile Park today and Portsmouth winning against 'Boro yesterday which puts Blues 3rd from bottom and 3 points adrift its looking like a decidedly lost cause for Bruce's men! Although to be fair I think we do deserve to go down because we have been shocking this season, culminating in a 7-0 stuffing at home to Liverpool.

I wonder how many rats... oops I mean players will jump ship once Blues are officially down! I just home that Brady, Sullivan and the Golds stay otherwise we're going to find it extremely hard to get back up again without their cash

Well that's that then! After Blues' defeat at Vile Park today and Portsmouth winning against 'Boro yesterday which puts Blues 3rd from bottom and 3 points adrift its looking like a decidedly lost cause for Bruce's men! Although to be fair I think we do deserve to go down because we have been shocking this season, culminating in a 7-0 stuffing at home to Liverpool.

I wonder how many rats... oops I mean players will jump ship once Blues are officially down! I just home that Brady, Sullivan and the Golds stay otherwise we're going to find it extremely hard to get back up again without their cash

Well, as a Villa fan, I thought it was absolutely fantastic. You outplayed us for long spells of the game, but didn't make it count.

The difference between two poor teams was that your defence was worse than ours, and Baros was absolutely on fire today.

You'll have to excuse the gloating , but that is what midlands rivalry is like, we want the worst for your lot, you want the worst for us.

and Baros was absolutely on fire today.


Should of been sent off well before his second goal.


Sorry but villa cheated.
1st goal was a blatent foul on sadler ....Even Andy grey and David Platt admitted that.

2nd goal was off side.

as for the 2 hand balls in the villa goal mouth........

Well, as a Villa fan, I thought it was absolutely fantastic. You outplayed us for long spells of the game, but didn't make it count.

The difference between two poor teams was that your defence was worse than ours, and Baros was absolutely on fire today.

You'll have to excuse the gloating , but that is what midlands rivalry is like, we want the worst for your lot, you want the worst for us.

Fair do's: And you summed it up very well: our defence has been leaking goals all season, and yet even more shocking is that our frontline seem totally inept at scoring. Yes we should have scored a few more goals passed you today but again, the usual suspects failed to deliver. And this has cost us so many games in the past. Heskey had a hatful of chances today but blew them all.

Oh well, Villa have the bragging rights this season, but unfortunately I think you're going to miss us next season when we're faffing about in the Championship!

we only had to defend 3 times !!and it was sloppy for two of the goals, though a great finish for the second, tebilly was back on his usual form, crap! we played quite well generally, but its been like that pretty much all season,
lots of possetion,
lots of injuries,
lots of missed chances,
no defense!

looks bad now really, still to play for though, just remember, the villa did nt sent us down, it was all the other games as well!!

keep right on!

even though we won the match - we shouldnt forget that we are a joke of a side compared to what we should be

we need to start again from scratch -
half the team are not up to standard

we should be up at the top
unless something drastic changes, villa are gonna be a poor team untill the day i die

.... yeah and Portsmouth suddenly finding form just when it mattered: something like 4 wins out of their last 6 or something like that. Fair play to them. But hopefully their winning spell is now at an end and they'll lose their remaining games by huge margins, as to the Albion. And Blues will win their remaining game and we'll survive and all will be happy & light once again ... and the little pink piggies will be taking off from Gate 2 at BIA ......

even though we won the match - we shouldnt forget that we are a joke of a side compared to what we should be

we need to start again from scratch -
half the team are not up to standard

we should be up at the top
unless something drastic changes, villa are gonna be a poor team untill the day i die

Yes as much as I hate saying it but Villa should really should be in the top 6 clubs in the Premiership: they certainly have the pedigree and the history to be justify being the leading club of the West Midlands.

They have a fantastic ground and fanbase - and yet for years you've had some pretty poor managers - Gregory, Venglos, Taylor, Turner and McNeil. And to a lesser extent Little, Atkinson and Barton (winning the EC with Saunder's team) And now you're stuck with DOL.

And whatever happened to the mooted takeover a few months back!?

Deadly needs to step down, as does DOL. Get a new broom in, build a new team of youngsters, bide your time. You deserve better!

Yes as much as I hate saying it but Villa should really should be in the top 6 clubs in the Premiership: they certainly have the pedigree and the history to be justify being the leading club of the West Midlands.

They have a fantastic ground and fanbase - and yet for years you've had some pretty poor managers - Gregory, Venglos, Taylor, Turner and McNeil. And to a lesser extent Little, Atkinson and Barton (winning the EC with Saunder's team) And now you're stuck with DOL.

And whatever happened to the mooted takeover a few months back!?

Deadly needs to step down, as does DOL. Get a new broom in, build a new team of youngsters, bide your time. You deserve better!


The problem at Villa is Ellis, nothing will really improve until he has gone. O'Leary is, probably, the worst manager we have ever had. And when you consider how bad things were under McNeill and Turner, that is saying something.

Gregory did a decent job, as did Little. However, they both - esp Gregory - found it impossible to work with Ellis.

And I don't know how you can class Taylor (first time) as a poor manager! He did a good enough job to get the England job.

It is telling that of the last 30 or so years, Ellis has been in control of Villa for all but 2. In those two years we won the league and European Cup. We're now run like a corner shop. Says it all really.

I meant Taylor second time round lol

Thankyou Villa

yeah villa were always condsidered a top six club in years gone by, but you ve fallen considerably behind in the last 10 or 15 years of the premeirship, when you look at all the birmingham/west midlands clubs this season, its a pretty sorry state of affairs, but despite bluses' predicament at the moment, fans should nt loose heart, were a well run solid club, yes weve had a very poor season, but were not going bust like leeds or anything, look at other prem teams like blackburn, bolton, charton, man city etc, they did a bit of yo yo ing before they found there feet at this level, this might just be a bit of a (painfull) lesson to all at the club, some how i dont think it will be too long before we see premiership 2nd city derbys again ,if we go down that is!?

Thankyou Villa
go ring yor f**kin' bell some where else mate!!! (only kiddin!) :evil: :mad:

I'm too depressed to offer a sensible comment on this thread but i just feel bad for steve'bruce - he's done so well for Blues until this season and it's just gone so spectarily wrong i dunno what exactly it is but the time for an inquest will be at the end of the season not before.

Thankyou Villa


Yeah just what the top flight needs, small clubs with shit grounds and 20 thousand fans!

pompey lost to Charlton after conceding two late goals ! Nerves beginning to show ??

there is still a tiny ray of hope... :)

Thankyou Villa

..and thank you Charlton :cheers:

well there was one gleam of hope today with charlton coming from behind to beat Portsmouth. Which means they're still 3 points in front and a game over us.

Trouble is though our remaining games are not very promising:-

Blackburn @ home
Everton away
Newcastle @ home
Bolton away

Realistically I don't see Blues getting more than about 5 or 6 points from a possible 12

Portsmouth on the other hand have:-

Sunderland @ home
Wigan away
Liverpool @ home

4 points I would say

ho hum

We'll meet again, don't know where dont know when
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day.

Yep

Blues will be promoted next season, but Villa, on current form, will be relegated. So it could take a few years!

I'm sorry about that but while listening to 5live earlier today, yesterday actually, I couldn't help chuckling when it was said that 'they will play the championship'. At least the name of the league will provide of some sort of consolation. I've been following the relegation fights as Stefanovic used to live in my neighbourhood and he genuinely is a decent chap.

Bye, bye blose - you definitely won't be missed. Even the redscouse at Anfield were pleased when it was apparent you were down. I don't think we'll be seeing you visiting VP for some time. With the freebie stadium going tits up and relegation Sullivan will see this as the perfect excuse to get out and I feel Gold may go also. The Kumars - come on down!!

As for Villa - I'd exepect O'Leary fired in the summer and Curbs to be in place next season. The squad will remain pretty much as it is but with some decent coaching, a couple of additions and a little motivation a top half finish is quite achievable.

Up the Villa!!

Right up them.

(sorry, devil made me)

Pint of bitter?

Stout and Bitter please barman

Wheeeee, all the smelly teams got relegated. :)

in the words of The Terminator "we'll be back!" (of course exactly how long this is going to take is a moot point!)

Until next year, there have just gone down to keep Wolves down.

Yeah just what the top flight needs, small clubs with shit grounds and 20 thousand fans!

LOL!

...and the bell ringing...f**king annoying if you ask me.

So will this have an effect on the Birmingham City Super Casio bid?




Owh! Stop throwing things at me!

Wheeeee, all the smelly teams got relegated. :)

Great innit? I've got face ache from smiling so much at Small Heath Alliance going down, although I do feel vaguely sorry for the Ollbeeyun.

Oh, how SHA laughed at the run of derby victories, how they goaded us over the Enckelman cock-up.

I wonder just how hard they're laughing today. :)

PS I stumbled across you on another message board this week.

Great innit? I've got face ache from smiling so much at Small Heath Alliance going down, although I do feel vaguely sorry for the Ollbeeyun.

Oh, how SHA laughed at the run of derby victories, how they goaded us over the Enckelman cock-up.

I wonder just how hard they're laughing today. :)

PS I stumbled across you on another message board this week.

yes ok we got relegated. We're not a perfect team and can't score goals. However, when one looks at the "success" of our neighbours at Vile Park, they're not exactly shouting from the roof tops are they. Just avoided relegation even though you're supposed to be a "premiership" team with loads of all-star international players, top class ground, manager and chairman. Whereas in reality you have a manager who hasn't got a clue, a chairman who spends most of his time coffin-dodging and the so-called "takeover" which has been going on longer than War & Peace and still nothing has happened.

So yes, Vile boss the City but after all these years in the top flight you haven't got much to show in terms of Europe, cups and top 4 league positions :)

Avoiding relegation (Just) twice in 4 seasons!

Such a great club,
Such a huge respect they bring the west midlands,
So much Ambition,

Put it this way Our board is worth £1.1 billion, and are determined to succed.

What would happen to Vile in the championship??
Hmmmm

Nottingham Forrest.....Remember them (They won Europe Twice.)

Avoiding relegation (Just) twice in 4 seasons!

Such a great club,
Such a huge respect they bring the west midlands,
So much Ambition,

Put it this way Our board is worth £1.1 billion, and are determined to succed.

What would happen to Vile in the championship??
Hmmmm

Nottingham Forrest.....Remember them (They won Europe Twice.)

Which is still a better record than not avoiding relegation in any season, wouldn't you agree? Let's face it you've just a had your best spell in over twenty years and we're as bad as we've been in twenty years or so and we're still better than you.

As for your board they are wealthy but they seem reluctant to spend don't they? hence the begging bowl for the new stadium. And how long before that odious little porn peddler Sullivan gets shot of his shares? As for respect, Small Heath Alliance are generally disliked where ever they travel due to the large minority of thoroughly unpleasant individuals who support the club. Only Saturday did the steward I was talking to at Anfield express his deep desire to see the blose relegated and there was a substantial cheer from all sides of the ground when Pompey went ahead.

We've always looked down our noses at the noses cos they're a nothing club, no history, no tradition, no class. We always have the last laugh - as they say form is temporary, class is permanent. And class we've always had by the bucket load.

Up the Villa!!

Villa have class?...please!

History?
1 fa cup
1 championship
1 european cup since the war.
WOW!

Tradition. Yeah, i'll give you that, its a tradition at Vile park to achieve Fuck all every season and to talk about 1982.

As for Blues,
The bored has spent 10's of millions since we hit the premiership. Which only stupid people wouldn't have noticed.

As for "Begging bowl for a new stadium". Do some research and you'll find we already have plans to redevelop St.andrews, Then the offer of a life time came along for a FREE state of the art stadium. Only a fuckin moron would turn that down.

Oh and think about it dick head!
Liverpool dislike us cause Steve Bruce is a Man Utd Legend!!! same goes for Arsenal, Everton and Man city fans.

Any more shit/unresearched arguments i can shoot down?

Villa have class?...please!

History?
1 fa cup
1 championship
1 european cup since the war.
WOW!


Plus 4 league cups.

And, to be honest, the vast majority of clubs would happily take a record like that. I wonder what, for example, Newcastle fans would say given that option?



As for Blues,
The bored has spent 10's of millions since we hit the premiership. Which only stupid people wouldn't have noticed.

Indeed. And look where it got you.



As for "Begging bowl for a new stadium". Do some research and you'll find we already have plans to redevelop St.andrews, Then the offer of a life time came along for a FREE state of the art stadium. Only a fuckin moron would turn that down.

Not looking too likely now you've gone down, mind.


Oh and think about it dick head!
Liverpool dislike us cause Steve Bruce is a Man Utd Legend!!! same goes for Arsenal, Everton and Man city fans.

Not just those clubs. You are (oops, sorry, WERE) probably the most widely disliked clubs in the Premiership.

there are many genuine villa fans out there that will be sad to see two birmingham clubs relegated, they will miss the derbys, the banter and the buzz created in the city by having 3 prem clubs, which is what this great city should have, they will also realize that the best thing for villa is to have some local competition to spur them onto bigger things ang try and get back to being one of the top 6 clubs, which even as a hardened blues fan, i feel villa should be.
unfortunatley there are others who will be pleased that villa have had another sucessful season purley based on the lack of sucsess of its local rivals, and are now relishing some great away days next season at the likes of wigan, fulham, and of corse portsmouth instead! if this is how villa now judge sucsess then you ll never be back as one of the top clubs, think about it...

keep right on..

yes ok we got relegated. We're not a perfect team and can't score goals. However, when one looks at the "success" of our neighbours at Vile Park, they're not exactly shouting from the roof tops are they. Just avoided relegation even though you're supposed to be a "premiership" team with loads of all-star international players, top class ground, manager and chairman. Whereas in reality you have a manager who hasn't got a clue, a chairman who spends most of his time coffin-dodging and the so-called "takeover" which has been going on longer than War & Peace and still nothing has happened.

So yes, Vile boss the City but after all these years in the top flight you haven't got much to show in terms of Europe, cups and top 4 league positions :)

We've got the worst manager we have ever had. Worse than Billy McNeill, inho. We've got no money to spend - partly because O Dreary wasted everything he was given, partly because we're in prolonged takeover period.

We've also got the worst chairman in any league. Although he isn't a dildo retailer, mind.

However. O Leary will be gone in the summer, Doug will sell up to someone eventually (hopefully not the Comers, mind), and we'll still be in the Premiership.

Muhahahaha!!!!!!

see what i mean! :doh:

We've also got the worst chairman in any league. Although he isn't a dildo retailer, mind.



shame really, he'd make a bloody furtune with all the c***'s like you down villa park
!

In answer Royal Blue, that's three trophies more than you since the war, actually ever. You missed five league cups out as well mate. Your incredible haul is a Leyland DAF and Auto Windscreens shield. Phenomenal! The only way you could manage to get your hands on the FA Cup was to buy the trophy - how fucking small time can you get? We've lost the cup more times than you've won it...

As for spending, your board has pissed millions up the wall in that case. You've achieved one top ten finish (we were sixth that season incidentally - equalling your best ever league finish from some point in the distant past) followed by twelfth then relegation. Your mob sure know how to get value for money in that case.

Incidentally, has the Sty ever hosted a European final, European championship match, World Cup game, FA Cup semi final or England game whilst Wembley has been rebuilt? I think that is a resounding NO. Looks like all that 'redevelopment' has reaped wonderful rewards.

Tradition at the Sty amounts to singing 'Wipe that snot off the end of your nose,' or summat like that. Classy... Whereas we've enjoyed big European nights against the giants of the game - Barcelona, Juventus, Inter Milan have all played at Villa Park and in real competetive games. That's what builds tradition. Not some stupid drivel about Gypsy curses and some shoddy old song.

The simple reason that you're disliked is because a large minority of your fans are knuckle dragging scum. Do you really think you'd be welcomed with open arms where ever you go when old fist face is no longer manager. Unlikely. Check the Newcastle boards- many described leaving the Sty as like a trip to Ayresome Park in the eighties. Deeply unpleasant, intimidating and a throw back to the bad old days. They won't miss you either.

By every single measure you can use to judge a club you're in our shadow. Ground capacity, attendances, League placings, trophies won. The fact is living in the shadow of proper Footbal Club, that has achieved moments of true greatness has made you all very bitter. And what's even better is it is so easy to belittle you, wind you up. Rubbing your noses in the shit you lot have wallowed in for years is tremendous fun. KRO on the the Championship. Hope you enjoy your trips to Southend and those other giants you're on a par with.

Up the Villa!!

"The simple reason that you're disliked is because a large minority of your fans are knuckle dragging scum"



i can remember on the way to the play off final a group of albion fans hanging a banner from a motorway bridge, it said good luck blues , and they cheered the blues coaches as they went by, after the great escape last season for albion, when the result was heard at st andrews thousands of blues fans cheered and even sang for the albion,

something you'll never understand i suppose... obviously not as well educated as your LARGE MINORITY?

Blah blah blah

Aston Villa are a has been.

Reflecting on former glory and fadeing memories instead of trying to build future success.

Your going no where, doing nothing.
Pure and Simple.

In your shadow maybe....But it isn't a big shadow by any standard.

We may be a league below you next year. but while your struggling to scrape points every week, we'll be turning over most teams we play.

It might not be the prem, but being one of the best teams in the league, being feared by all who visit is something to look forward to!

We may be has beens as you put it, but you're never were's. I know which I prefer.

Glad you're looking forward to the championship cos we all know that's where it's at. If it's so good being there why did you want promotion in the first place and why were you all so pissed of with relegation? There's putting a brave face on it but fucking hell that some biscuit you're taking there.

I seriously don't see you bouncing back that quickly. Look at the clubs who have dropped in the past few years and not made it back. Forest, Leeds, Ipswich, Norwich, Coventry, Southampton to name but a few. You'll have a mass exodous of players - Forsell, Heskey, Upson, Melchiot, Pennant, Izzett, and Dunn will all look to move. I admire your optimisim.

As for the future, well Doug cant carry on much longer so we'll have new blood in the boardroom and O'Leary will be gone as well. With some decent management we should be top half again and can look to build from there. As for your lot, I expect Sullivan to pack it in and you'll have to build virtually a new team from scratch. It's not gonna be easy. I think you've returned to your natural level. Enjoy...

I love this gloating lark. You lot lorded it after 03/03/03. Now I'm laughing last and laughing best. The shit are down!!

Up the Villa

By the way just to help a simple Bluenose understand English (a common occurrence granted) - people who voted for Tony Blair were part of the large minority. He obtained less than fifty percent of the popular vote but close to half. Therefore any proportion that is less than half but close to it can be decribed as a large minority - a large proportion of the minor part. Simple - much like yourself.

Yes, some clubs fans dont like us, thats up to them, but by the same token, a majority of clubs fans dont like villa either and the knuckle draggers that follow your club, hence why 'shit on the villa' is an almost global song.

:weirdo:

May 1 2006

By Ian Clarkson


David Sullivan revealed that Steve Bruce's future as the Birmingham City manager will be decided within the next two weeks.

However, the club's co-owner still wants Bruce to mastermind a swift return to the Barclays Premiership after their relegation was confirmed on Saturday.

A goalless draw against Newcastle United on Saturday, allied to Portsmouth's 2-1 win away to Wigan Athletic, condemned Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion to Coca-Cola Championship football next season.

Bruce has already reiterated his desire to remain as Birmingham's manager, but Sullivan admitted this season might have taken its toll on the man who led the club to the Premiership four years ago.

"We will sit down with Steve, as we always do at the end of the season and that matter will be resolved in the next two weeks," Sullivan said. "Steve has got to decide whether he wants to stay, whether he's still got the energy to take us back.


Story continues Continue story
ADVERTISEMENT

"It's been a tough year for him and he may decide he wants to take some money and walk away. We would like him to stay, but we also want to know whether he wants to stay.

"That will be resolved at the latest by a week on Tuesday or Wednesday. There are a few things we have to sort out with him, financial arrangements and so forth.

"It is subject to sorting these out, which are confidential. If he doesn't stay, then we will explain exactly why he doesn't stay. We will be 100 per cent clear with the supporters as to what's gone on. It will all be discussed after the Bolton game.

"It's the worst year I've had here. It's been the least enjoyable and the least fun from day one, because we've been fighting relegation and I knew we had a serious problem."

Sullivan says that he drew no pleasure from being the harbinger of doom, but could see the writing on the wall from an early stage.

While others accused him of being a pessimist, he was ultimately proved right with his words of warming regarding the team's performance levels.

His outburst after the 7-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup last March was not well-received within the confines of the dressing room and drew a stinging rebuke from captain Kenny Cunningham, who telephoned Sullivan to voice his displeasure.

However, Sullivan was unrepentant and only wished he had aired his views in public far sooner.

"My one regret is that I didn't speak out sooner. I had a pop at the team after Liverpool and I wish I'd done it a month earlier," he said.

"I know the team felt I shouldn't have done it publicly, but I felt it had to be done publicly because it needed to have an impact on the team. If I'd done it privately, it wouldn't have had an impact. I do think it did have an impact. They played an awful lot better since the Liverpool game but, unfortunately, it's too little and too late.

"I feel very let down. Every supporter will feel let down and we at heart are just supporters. Unfortunately, I've seen it coming. All season, I've had the wrong feeling. I've wanted to be wrong.

"It's sad but I said, right back in October, that every alarm bell was ringing and everyone thought I was mad. Unfortunately, the team didn't wake up until the Chelsea game [a 0-0 draw on April 1]. We've played a lot better since then."

Sullivan is no respecter of reputations and is certainly not afraid to vent his spleen. While propaganda and spin permeate the world of football with constant declarations of harmony, Sullivan prefers to operate in the real world, a world where harsh words are exchanged in order to provoke a response.

However, he thinks he was a lone voice that was ignored for too long. "No-one else saw it coming and I think if they had done, then they'd have done something about it," he said.

"There was too much complacency and over-confidence. People say in football that confidence is a good thing and you have to talk the players up.

"I actually believe the opposite. I believe that you have to face up to what you are and make the best of it. Had they realised earlier that we had a serious problem, then we might have got out of it."



http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/sport/tm_objectid=17016108%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=sullivan%2dto%2ddecide%2dbruce%2ds%2dfuture-name_page.html

May 1 2006

By Hyder Jawad


David O'Leary expects to be the manager of Aston Villa when the play-ers begin pre-season training on July 10 but Alan Curbishley, soon to leave as manager of Charlton Athletic, has already been linked with a move to Villa Park.

Villa are in a state of decline and O'Leary, a diminishing figure despite the sharp suit and relentless excuses, is consistently being asked questions about his future at Villa Park.

"You can bet that I will be manager next season," O'Leary said, but the pressure on him is increasing after the 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool on Saturday. This is, officially, the worst Villa team in Premiership history.

Curbishley, a former Villa player, will leave Charlton after 15 years in charge. "There is no sinister plot at all, it is just a decision we have come to which is best for Charlton and best for me," he said.

He is linked with a move to Villa whenever a manager leaves Villa Park. Some consider O'Leary's job to be there for the taking. Curbishley would be the obvious candidate if the position became available.

Whatever, one must admire O'Leary's fortitude and composure in the wake of such speculation. "People in the game, good people, know what is happening at this club and the big expectations at Villa," he said. "But I was unable to do anything in the last transfer window. We have had to use the youngsters and dig in.

"We will give another couple of youngsters their chance before the end of the season. If someone else comes into the club and has money and wants to change things, so be it but I am not expecting it."

O'Leary was probably too busy watching Steven Gerrard destroy Villa on Saturday to realise that some visiting supporters exhibited a banner that said: "O'Leary for England". The irony was as rich as the joke was funny.

He must know, deep down, that Villa will begin next season among the favourites for relegation. The best moment of Villa's season came at about 4.50pm at Anfield on Saturday when news filtered through that Birmingham City had been relegated.

Birmingham's demise has helped to overshadow what has been a miserable season for Villa and a public-relations nightmare for O'Leary. The summer cannot come soon enough for the Irishman.

Ditto for Curbishley, who began the calendar year as a candidate for the job as head coach of England and will soon, technically, be unemployed.

"I have been thinking about the future since the start of the season," Curbishley said. "I just felt it was time for myself not to extend my contract and Richard [Murray, Charlton chairman] felt that if it was not being extended, then the commitment might not be there and he is quite right.

"We have had a couple of discussions and it came to a bit of a head yesterday. It is an amicable situation - most managers are booted out of the back door; well I have been clapped out of the front door, which is what I wanted. I would have liked a better result and performance but am going with the best wishes of the club."

Doug Ellis, the Villa chairman, admires what Curbishley has achieved with Charlton. If Ellis does want to dispense with O'Leary's services (and the chairman has not said anything about the subject), it would cost Villa about £2 million in compensation.

It is unlikely that Villa would dismiss O'Leary while they are considered to be ripe for a takeover. Villa cannot finish higher than 16th this season and, even if they defeat Sunderland at home next week, they will amass their lowest top-flight points total since 1991.

If they lose, their total will be their lowest since 1987, when they were relegated from the top flight. Will O'Leary join the players on the traditional, endof-season lap of honour on Sunday if Villa lose?


Looks like its going to be an interesting summer for both Birmingham camps, Not sure if Curbs is your man though ..... someone like O'Neil would be good for you, or us, or indeed anyone. Quality Manager, Martin

Next season will be the first time in history that the Midlands will only have 1 team in the top division.
How sad is that?

Yes, some clubs fans dont like us, thats up to them, but by the same token, a majority of clubs fans dont like villa either and the knuckle draggers that follow your club, hence why 'shit on the villa' is an almost global song.

:weirdo:

Inside St Andrews maybe. We're not the ones who are proud in having the lulu's or whatever they're called. We get called many things (mainly boring cos we're usually mid tablish, usually slightly higher) but we do not have a reputation for a thuggish following. Blose on the other hand do and significant section of their support revel in it. Still you live in your own deluded world like most of the other sty dwellers I've met. You know the spiel, big club, friendly fans, sleeping giants, great board, upand coming manager, going places blah, blah, blah. SOTC.

Up the Villa!!

there are many genuine villa fans out there that will be sad to see two birmingham clubs relegated, they will miss the derbys, the banter and the buzz created in the city by having 3 prem clubs, which is what this great city should have, they will also realize that the best thing for villa is to have some local competition to spur them onto bigger things ang try and get back to being one of the top 6 clubs, which even as a hardened blues fan, i feel villa should be.
unfortunatley there are others who will be pleased that villa have had another sucessful season purley based on the lack of sucsess of its local rivals, and are now relishing some great away days next season at the likes of wigan, fulham, and of corse portsmouth instead! if this is how villa now judge sucsess then you ll never be back as one of the top clubs, think about it...

keep right on..


Oh, don't think for a moment Villa fans are happy at the way the season has finished. Take a look at www.heroesandvillains.info for an idea of the general feeling - the season has been a disaster, from start to finish.

And I think you'll find the vast majority of Villa fans very happy indeed to see the Sty Dwellers back down where they belong.

The Villa- Blues rivalry has never been about friendly banter, mainly due to the actions of your fans over the years.

Not to mention your team - having fielded a team that boasts Tony Coton, Mick Harford, Noel 'Thief' Blake, Robert Hopkins and Mark Dennis just sums up the seedy little club.

And as for the gloating, well, note the relative lack of gloating aimed at the Ollbeeyun. What does that tell you? We had shed loads of gloating to put up with over your good run of derby results, and if we had gone down and you had stayed up, I wonder what the response would have been.

We didn't though. Because, as has already been pointed out, we were as bad as we have been in almost 20 years, yet we were *still* better than Blose.

Its amazing how Villa fans always paint themselves as whiter than white, and yet even performing a quick scan of ICBirmingham for the word "hooligan" produced the following damning article. Yes its going back 2 or 3 years but the fact is Villa "fans" are just as yobbish, loutish and violent as anyone else.

Top of the yobsAug 18 2003




By Lisa Smith, Evening Mail


Rival Aston Villa and Birmingham City fans are among those at the top of a new hooligan list of shame produced by the Home Office today.

Its report said the emergence of a new generation of brash, young football hooligans was also to blame for a 19 per cent increase in the number of arrests at matches last season.

There were 4,793 arrests in total in England and Wales compared with 4,035 the previous year, according to the Home Office.

The figures included 3,695 arrests at league matches – the highest since since the 1994-1995 season. Of the 1,636 arrests at Premiership games, 137 of those arrested were Blues fans compared to 55 the previous season when the club were in Division 1.

These included thugs who twice invaded the pitch after their team went ahead against their bitter rivals in the first league derby of the season last September.



In all, 91 Villa fans were arrested compared to 60 in the previous season. Many of the arrests came when Villa hooligans clashed with rival Blues supporters in the infamous Battle of Rocky Lane. More arrests followed when fans clashed with the police at the return fixture at Villa Park on March 3.


Many of those arrested that night were young members of Villa’s new and emerging hooligan wing, the Villa Hardcore Apprentices.


A Home Office spokesman said the increase reflected “lingering domestic football disorder problems with indications of an emerging new generation of troublemakers” as well as tougher policing.


Worries that a new generation of hooligans is breaking through was underlined by the fact that clubs such as West Ham, which in the 1980s had a notorious band of followers known as the inter City Firm, actually saw fewer arrests last season.


But arrests at Premiership clubs such as Chelsea were up from 63 to 92, at Everton they increased from 65 to 108, at Manchester United from 96 to 134 and Sunderland from 130 to 154.


Arrests at West Bromwich Albion were up from 35 to 62 before their drop back into the First Division.





Also in the article is the hardcore villa thug group called the "Villa Hardcore Apprentices!". So please don't take the moral highground by saying Villa fans are nice, peace-loving, tree-huggers because you're not. Like all clubs (blues, villa and albion included) there's a hardcore of morons who care nothing for the game of football but all for sticking the boot into someone's head

Exactly Sonny, they just like to make themselves seem superior to everyone else with their self-appreciative drivel.

Erm, no, 'shit on the villa' is sang not just inside St Andrews, but from fans as far south as Southampton, and all the way up to Newcastle.

Its amazing how Villa fans always paint themselves as whiter than white, and yet even performing a quick scan of ICBirmingham for the word "hooligan" produced the following damning article. Yes its going back 2 or 3 years but the fact is Villa "fans" are just as yobbish, loutish and violent as anyone else.



Also in the article is the hardcore villa thug group called the "Villa Hardcore Apprentices!". So please don't take the moral highground by saying Villa fans are nice, peace-loving, tree-huggers because you're not. Like all clubs (blues, villa and albion included) there's a hardcore of morons who care nothing for the game of football but all for sticking the boot into someone's head


At least ours aren't so notorious they have books written about then:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1903854482/qid=1146572657/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-1166935-3396429

Apparently your lot were trying to provoke the Newcastle fans on Saturday. In a similar way to how you tried provoking the family enclosure during the derby the other week.

If you seriously don't think you are one of the most despised sets of fans in the country, then you need to take those blinkers off.

By the way just to help a simple Bluenose understand English (a common occurrence granted) - people who voted for Tony Blair were part of the large minority. He obtained less than fifty percent of the popular vote but close to half. Therefore any proportion that is less than half but close to it can be decribed as a large minority - a large proportion of the minor part. Simple - much like yourself.

climb down from your own arse mate and take a look outside, what makes you so fuckin' great? , you know nothing about me yet call me simple, those are the statements of a simple person, on first impressions you apperar to be a closed minded, snobbish biggot!

i am 100% a proud brummie who loves this city and champions for its cause, i do not wish the villa mis fortune or revel in it,it does not make blues any better and it upsets me that between the 3 of us brum cant make a half decent team,i would love us all to be fighting for cups and titles, it would be great for the city, the whole reason i support blues is because they carry the citys name, not because i want to fight people, i dont expect us all to love each other, the rivalry is great and so is the banter, but just think ,when you sing "shit on the city" thats what your doing! but i assume you dont care ?

Ive travelled far and wide in this country, only to find supporers of others clubs have nothing but respect for Birmingham city. Everyone loved the whole "underdog success" when we beat villa twice our first season up.

Aston Villa are arrogant and believe they are far greater then they really are. Other clubs see that as plainly as we do.

As for the hooligans, Not like they used to go after innocent people is it. how about clubs like:

Chelsea,
Liverpool,
West Ham,
Leeds Utd,
Stoke city,
Millwall (by far the worst)
Cardiff City.....

The list goes on and on.

In these dark times, can't we just get on and share the love?
:grouphug: :hug:

Well, we need it. 3 Brummie teams in the bottom 5 clubs in the Premirship. Terrible.

in all seriousness it doesn't project a good image for Brum does it, having two clubs go down and another struggling for form? Just like in the construction & music world Manchester seems to have plenty to shout about on the football pitch and rightly so. No wonder the city is often considered to be second to London

Even though it pains me to say, but Villa is the city's standard bearer & representative. And yet they are struggling compared to the London, Liverpool and Manchester clubs. Its also quite galling to know that the national media and Sky Sports don't consider the Brum Derby to be very serious and hardly ever show it live compared to the other major cities.

Neither do we have a truly world class stadiium either: Manchester has the City Of Manchester, Liverpool are due to have a new stadium and of course in London you have Wembley and Arsenal's new ground. Birmingham has Villa Park which is a fine ground but really we could, and should expect better. And we had our chance recently but that was blown out the water.

So just as with construction, airports, music and now footie Birmigham always seems to tolerate second best and it just isn't bloody fair

at last some sense spoken! interesting view of the derby games on sky though, i ve always thought the've covered them pretty well, most have been shown live and they're always rightly refered to as "the second city derby" something we might miss for a season or two!?

climb down from your own arse mate and take a look outside, what makes you so fuckin' great? , you know nothing about me yet call me simple, those are the statements of a simple person, on first impressions you apperar to be a closed minded, snobbish biggot!

i am 100% a proud brummie who loves this city and champions for its cause, i do not wish the villa mis fortune or revel in it,it does not make blues any better and it upsets me that between the 3 of us brum cant make a half decent team,i would love us all to be fighting for cups and titles, it would be great for the city, the whole reason i support blues is because they carry the citys name, not because i want to fight people, i dont expect us all to love each other, the rivalry is great and so is the banter, but just think ,when you sing "shit on the city" thats what your doing! but i assume you dont care ?

I haven't said we're great - I've stated that we are better than your lot. I'm pretty sure there are a good many clubs out there who would like a trophy cabinet like ours though. In fact if I'm not mistaken you lot would just like a trophy.

As for calling you simple, it was tongue in cheek although your poor grasp of English might not be far wide of the mark (tongue firmly in cheek again there). You should also check what you post - you charmingly called me 'dickhead' prior to that. There's a saying about stones and glass houses that springs to mind.

The problem I have with Vermingham shitty is that you're the ones who are seriously deluded. You've this bizarre idea that you're a big club when there is no evidence to back such an assertion. I can also say that you are genuinlely disliked coutrywide. Far from bringing credit to the City on numerous occasions you're travelling supporters have bought nothing but shame with their loutish behaviour. The fact is you've been a stain on the city for many years.

You're heading back to obscurity and that's where you belong. From your porn peddling owners, to your jail bird wingers and your delighful lulu warriors there's something deeply seedy about the club. It's not the image Birmingham needs to project. Good riddance I say.

i did nt call you a dick head, its not a term i would use, however in your case i might make an exception, we'd just turned this thread around to civilised talk again and then you go and spout more rubbish,
i dont know were you get this idea that blues are the countrys most hated club, obviously you spend a lot of time trawling internet forums, i however have a home, a wife ,a life and a lot of love and pride for my city (somthing you dont seem to understand) and its football club,
i dont mind a bit of banter, the bragging rights in this city are once again yours for at least another year, but your silly name calling is now boring me and your childish use of the citys name (vermingham shity) would be offensive to many proud brummies on these forums (blues and villa alike),so please when you ve grown up come back to this thread and add something constructive why dont you?

thank you.

I agree. Let's not let the B'ham thread go the way that some other's have.
We're better than that.

No we're not. You git!

No we're not. You git!

What do you mean by that?

Feeble attemt at humour.

tough times for Midland football.. so there is bound to be some heated argument

It will all be nice and cool once things settle down.. :)

Back from the dead, I hope you guys do Arsenal over today.

Currently watching the game .Not good for Blues ;down to 10 men at the begining of the match .

Currently watching the game .Not good for Blues ;down to 10 men at the begining of the match .

idiot. :bash:

Sounds like Eduardo may have broken his leg. Whilst I love a bit of hard tackling (and fouling I suppose), I don't advocate injuries - especially broken bones! :ohno:

1-0,woo hoo:)

LETS GO FUCKING MENTAL LETS GO FUCKING MENTAL LETS GO FUCKING MENTAL NANNANANANAAAAA

Apparently it's now 1-1. As you can tell, I am not watching the game - just reading it off the Guardian website :|. And they haven't even said it is 1-1 yet, I just got a text saying it!

Apparently it's now 1-1. As you can tell, I am not watching the game - just reading it off the Guardian website :|. And they haven't even said it is 1-1 yet, I just got a text saying it!

1:0 half time

Yeh, the bastard was bullshitting me. :bash:

Yeh, the bastard was bullshitting me. :bash:

BBC football site the skysports live web service are the best ones. Anyway I have work now, so I won't know the final score for a while unless I get the radio on, the shoppers might not like that.

Now it's 1-1.

now it 2-1 to them:(

2-2, wooooooooooooooooooo

My mate is insisting that Theo is on a hattrick... :| Good score for Blues indeed!

Hope Eduardo's going to be okay. For all we know his career may be over. :( Being treated at Selly Oak right now apparently.

Yeh the injury sounds very serious. He's already out for the rest of the season and Euro 2008. I hope he makes a full recovery. He's at Selly Oak Hospital and they are deciding whether to operate.

It sounds terrible:

Sickening Eduardo injury shock

Eduardo lies injured during Birmingham City v Arsenal matchArsenal striker Eduardo da Silva suffered one of the most horrific injuries ever seen at a Premier League match, in this afternoon’s clash with Birmingham City

The Brazil-born Croatia star suffered what appeared to be a compound fracture of his ankle before being carried off on a stretcher following a tackle from Martin Taylor.

The Express & Star photographer from the match captured images of Eduardo’s agony which the editor deemed too strong for publication.

The injury was so horrific that SkySports, showing the game live, did not show any replays of the tackle.

Eduardo, aged 24, was in extreme distress as he was treated.

Paramedics feared the player was losing too much blood and tried to stem the flow before rushing him to hospital.

The game, which was halted for nine minutes in the first half while Eduardo was treated, finished 2-2.

James McFadden gave Blues the lead, before Arsenal’s Theo Walcott grabbed a pair early in the second half.

McFadden then grabbed an injury time penalty to share the points.

I've just seen the pictures... :puke: The bone has not only gone through the skin, but through the sock! :eek:

"one of the most horrific injuries ever seen at a Premier League match" wasn't just hyperbole then. :shocked: Djibril Cisse proved that it's possible to recover from something like this though, so here's hoping.

It is without doubt worse than Dave Busst's and Luc Nillis' injuries - as Erebus said, the bone is protruding, the foot seems to be hanging off, what a terrible, terrible thing to happen to anyone.

On the positive side, Eduardo is only 24, so is in a better position to recover than either Busst or Nillis were.

Best wishes and good luck to the chap.

Great result for the blue side of Birmingham and the red side of Manchester. Had it on in work on the radio. When he said Penalty I couldn't believe it and then it just got better and better.

Great point for the Blues .I hope the player recovers soon .

the referee wasn't having a good day.

they showed the replay of the tackle on match the day. it was horrible! his ankle was like dangling..dear me. i hope he is okay

Its horrible aint it, but I dont think Taylor should have got a red card because it was an accident

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/2402_horror_tackle.shtml

looks like it hurt a bit :ohno:

Its horrible aint it, but I dont think Taylor should have got a red card because it was an accident

Accident or not it was a foul that deserved a red card. The ref had a right mare, neither the free kick nor the penalty should have been given and Adebayor should have had a penalty seconds before blues were given one. The card was the only decision he got right all game.

Well I think the ref gave him a red card because of the injury and not the tackle, besides tackles happen like that alot its just bad luck. And yes alot of people agree with me and beleive the red card was a mistake.

By the law of the game a high studs up tackle is a red card offence so the ref got it right. Never a penalty though.

2-1 Villa:D

We're now 4th! :pepper:

^^ we are still sixth:(

liverpool fourth with 47, everton with 47, both teams have a greater goal difference than villa. and everton and liverpool have a game in hand

Accident or not it was a foul that deserved a red card. The ref had a right mare, neither the free kick nor the penalty should have been given and Adebayor should have had a penalty seconds before blues were given one. The card was the only decision he got right all game.

Arsenal's first goal was a foul on maik Taylor our keeper. Strangly biased post i feel.

^^ we are still sixth:(

liverpool fourth with 47, everton with 47, both teams have a greater goal difference than villa. and everton and liverpool have a game in hand

BBC News said we were fourth! Pssh, there goes my trust in BBC News! :bash:

VILLLALAAAA WHHHYYYWWWYYYYYYYYYYY:D

He was immediately taken to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham where he underwent surgery on Saturday evening. The operation was successful and Eduardo was transferred to a London-based hospital on Sunday afternoon.

They weren't risking leaving him in Selly Oak.:)

Wolves and West Brom are UK's greatest rivals
Feb 29 2008

Football's biggest rivalry is not in the Premiership but between West Brom and Wolves, according to a new survey of fans out today.

The Midlands clubs have the most keen rivalry of any other football neighbours south of the border, followed by the 'Old Farm' pairing of Ipswich and Norwich, the survey of 6,000 supporters revealed. Liverpool and Manchester United came in as the third biggest grudge match.

The 'Football Rivalries Report 2008', produced by The New Football Pools, owners of Littlewoods, combines an indepth survey of all 92 League clubs in England and Wales and a statistical analysis of club records and histories, to uncover the reasons why fans harbour such bitterness and jealousy towards each other.

Baggies' and Wolves' fans were deemed to have the most intense rivalry in the report, with one in four fans from both clubs claiming that their rivalry went much deeper than football. Manchester United are still the club fans love to hate - with 12% of fans of English teams seeing the Old Trafford club as their main rival.

Arsenal fans felt that Manchester United were a bigger rival to them than local foes Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Manchester United overlooked their neighbours Manchester City, in favour of picking Liverpool as their biggest competitor.

Jon Sheehy, marketing director for The New Football Pools, which also own Vernons and Zetters Football Pools, said: "Football is based on competitive rivalry between clubs, regions and fans.

"A surprising aspect to our report is the extent to which 'local' rivalries are in decline. It's a sign of the modern game, with greater media coverage, when fans are overlooking their near-neighbour as rivals, in favour of a club which plays over 200 miles away."

The survey said the top 10 biggest rivalries were:
West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Norwich City and Ipswich Town
Liverpool and Manchester United
Portsmouth and Southampton
Cardiff City and Swansea City
Aston Villa and Birmingham City
Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday
Bristol City and Bristol Rovers
Newcastle United and Sunderland
Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace

Always shit on the tesco carrier bags ... da da, da da, da, da, da da dah .

Thats bollocks -

Bristol City - Cardiff City is the main rivalry in the SW for a start.

Brighton - Crystal Palace, bigger, then Arsenal - Man Utd, don't make me laugh!!

Nobody said bigger, they said intensity and have you ever been to Brighton/Palace.

I was lucky enough to be invited to one about 3 years ago. Its a very intimidating derby.

Im suprised Lincoln/Grimbsy is'nt on there.

I think WBA - Wolves is the oldest derby too. Isn't it sad that the long distance rivalries are becoming more important than trying to beat the neighbour? I must say it was great to get the Blues Villa games back in 2002 because not only did Blues rule for a couple of years, but the pure hatred on the pitch was seething and that's a great spectacle!

I must say it was great to get the Blues Villa games back in 2002 because not only did Blues rule for a couple of years, but the pure hatred on the pitch was seething and that's a great spectacle!


I totally agree and Blues fully deserved their victories in the early derbies: a memory that will always last though is Dion Dublin nutting Robbie Savage! Obviously I'd never condone anything like this on a football field but a cheeky side of me was :banana: at the time even if it was a deseved straight red. I just wonder what Savage said to enrage the normally placid DD?

Sky Sports fucked up with the early 2nd City derbies too - wanting to air them late not realising what "potential" hatred there was between the attending supporters...and players lol

Well actually older genrations of Albion fans will tell there biggest rival is Villa.
Fact is those are the closest grounds out of all the midlands clubs too.

It was a survey 0f 6000 people across the country - therefore a complete joke. What kind of cross section of supporteres can that possibly acheive?

Last weekend I was after City to win and this week am after Villa to win. COME ON VILLA!!!

Well actually older genrations of Albion fans will tell there biggest rival is Villa.
Fact is those are the closest grounds out of all the midlands clubs too.

It was a survey 0f 6000 people across the country - therefore a complete joke. What kind of cross section of supporteres can that possibly acheive?

Yes, they will. But things change. And I dont really think 2 miles is a major difference in distance between Molineux and the Hawthorns and The Hawthorns and Villa Park.

How else can you do a survey? Ask everyone? I think there seems to be a bit off an ill feeling that Birmingham Villa is the 2nd derby in the Midlands. It was also done with analysis of thier history and events between each club as stated.

It was also conducted by the countrys largest football pools.

Blues are winning .

1:0 to VILLAAAAA GET IN!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ARSENAL :bleep: :bleep: 1 -1

Where on earth did all that extra time come from in the Villa - Arsenal game? And why do all of these potentially season changing decisions seem to always be made by Mark flippin' Clattenberg? :ohno:

A point against Arsenal's a good result but still, I feel absolutely gutted after that.

Fucking Outrageous!!!!!!!

2 minutes extra time - he played 5 according to Tom Ross

Fucking TWAT!

im sorry we deserved the win. arsenal suck

Whoo, hoo! :banana:

Blues 4-1 winners over Spurs. Wouldn't mind playing them every week...

Pity about the Villa, sounded very harsh to me.

He didn't seem to mind the fact that Arsenal were kicking lumps out of our players either. Bit hypocritical from Arsenal too considering Wenger was ranting last week about the same happening to his players. Tit.