JUANPABLOANGEL is next for the Vital Villa interview.
JUANPABLOANGEL is next for the Vital Villa interview.
1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?
I would love to say I was a fan when we won the European Cup, but I wasn`t so I can`t! It was the 1983-1984 season, and I remember Dad driving past VP when we were playing Wolves. We had the game on the radio (BRMB I think) and as we drove around the stadium, and parked up outside, Villa scored (and won the game 4-0 if memory serves). I couldn`t get over it and a few weeks later in April after my 9th birthday, we went to see them play Watford, where we won 2-1 with Sir Dennis scoring (Steve Foster got the first – remember him!). The rest, they say, is history….
2) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?
Excellent!!!!! Really happy with this appointment – this is, you fell, a really big turning point in our recent history, and real opportunity to build something. Young, determined, plays football the right way and deals with his players really well. At least, it looks that way. Let`s hope he stays for the long haul (10 years plus) and is not a serial ‘resigner` (if that is even a word!!), jumping ship at the drop of a hat if a better offer comes along. Can there be a better offer than managing the Villa though?
3) Best and worst moments of last season?
Best – Beating Wolves 3-2 at Molineux with Keano`s goals. Showed us what we had missed out when he went to Cov all those years ago! Worst – pretty much every McLeish press conference, wondering what cringeworthy excuse he would come with, and who else he could blame for our ever-worsening season.
4) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board, can a decent season next season make up for last season?
Having got their fingers horribly burned over McLeish (both in terms of fans` goodwill and indeed financially) I think they have learned their lesson. Houllier was a gamble, McLeish an even bigger one, but if they`d got the latest appointment wrong, it would have been three-strikes-and-out for me. Let`s hope this is the start of something special, not least a return to ENTERTAINMENT at VP. A comfortable mid-table finish with maybe a cup run would represent huge progress in my book.
5) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?
A striker would help- maybe Steven Fletcher from Wolves? A decent defender or two (Carlos Cuellar anyone?!) and why not Owen Hargreaves on a pay-as-you-play basis? Depends on how much money Randy is prepared to give Mr Lambert I suppose….
6) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?
Where to start?! Hutton, Collins, Dunne for a kick off; I have never really warmed to them, and in Collins` case, he has been taking the piss for a couple fo years now and should have gone last summer. Delfouneso looks like another Luke Moore/Darius Vassell/Gabby Agbonlahor (!) so wouldn`t lose too much sleep if he went. But we aren`t the biggest squad so can`t be too cavalier!
7) Favourite current player?
Shay Given or DB9 maybe, but for sheer determination and passion for the shirt, I would have to say Stan. Let`s hope we see him again before too long.
8) Favourite all time player/s?
Alan McInally was always a favourite, and Juan Pablo Angel of course. Also Ian Taylor – a proper legend, as was big Paul McGrath. And Sir Dennis. And Gary Shaw, Peter Withe, Ian Ormondroyd. Er, sorry, got a bit carried away with that last one….
9) What do you expect us to do/finish this season assuming a decent transfer window with £25m or so spent?
Premier: 8-11th would do nicely I think. As long as the football improves, I will be happy.
FA Cup: Nowhere. We are destined never to win this cup ever again! God-forbid we go 2-0 up against ANYONE!!
Carling: Decent run, semis maybe? I just want to watch good football again! I don`t really care about the results at the moment – just want to spend £40 a pop on something I enjoy and want to talk about again!
10) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?
Q: Why did the board of Aston Villa feel the need to spend an awful lot of money on a manager who`s record was mediocre AT BEST?
A: To selflessly show the football world what a desperately poor manager Alex McLeish really is, despite what everyone in the media seems to think!! IT WAS NOT WHERE HE CAME FROM IT WAS WHERE HE WAS TAKING US!!!!!! Yes Alan Shearer, I`m talking to you.
11) Just to change the theme slightly, a snap shot of you outside of football, answer or ignore at your leisure:
(based on our WHO ARE YOU thread!!!)
a) Which celebrity/s would you most like to meet and why? Peter Kay – surely no one can be that funny really?
b) Age 37
c) Location: Stratford-upon-Avon
d) Favourite alcoholic drink: Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. Or maybe Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2004, if I was having a nice roast beef lunch….
e) Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Friij Banana Milkshake
f) Favourite Film/s: Pulp Fiction, Crimson Tide, The Empire Strikes Back
g) Favourite TV Show/s: Criminal Minds, Family Guy, Yes Minister/Prime Minister
h) Music?: U2 (how predictable for a thirtysomething…!), Bruce Springsteen, GnR, Lady Gaga (shhhh!)
i) Best ever moment in your life: Two actually – witnessing the birth of my two wonderful boys. My wedding day goes without saying, obviously….(!)
j) Ambitions: To see Villa appear in the Champions League (not just the qualifiers – lol), more specifically beating Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and to finally get a ‘proper job`.
k) Wise words: Don`t eat yellow snow.
now your turn, how to submit an interview: click here
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