Smell the Glove is next for the Vital Villa interview.
Smell the Glove is next for the Vital Villa interview.
1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?
I became a Villa fan at around 8 years of age after a brief dalliance with Liverpool in my early school years. Hailing from the North Wales area, there’s a disproportionate number of Liverpool, Everton and United fans and I suppose that I just just fell in with the wrong crowd and followed the red shi*e for a year or so as a nipper. My allegiance with Liverpool ended, and my love affair with Villa began on November 5th, 1989. Sparks flew (metaphorical ones, not actual sparks because it was bonfire night) and I was smitten with the boys in claret and blue. I sat watching ITV’s live coverage of Villa vs Everton from Villa Park and witnessed an impressive display of dynamic, fast-paced attacking play by the home side. A 6-2 annihilation of a decent Everton side later and I was converted. I received my first Villa shirt that Christmas and the rest is history.
2) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?
Paul Lambert’s a very decent appointment I’d say. As I understand it, the guy’s a motivator, a tactician and a disciplinarian and I expect him to build the squad in his own image. I also expect there will be plenty of new arrivals to supplement our meagre existing squad if he is backed financially by the board. Those who’ve underperformed for too long will be found out and shipped out, hopefully. I hope we (the fans) give him the time he deserves though. Rome wasn’t built in a day – he’ll need all of our support and backing to make a success of the job.
3) Best and worst moments of last season?
Best moment of last season – Technically the season was over at this point, but the day McLeish was sacked.
Worst moment of last season – Plenty to choose from in this category – probably our second-half capitulation in the cup against Arsenal which extinguished any hope of salvaging a dreadful campaign with a decent cup run.
4) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board, can a decent season next season make up for last season?
The board’s appointment of Lambert has restored my dwindling faith in Randy Lerner. His flagrant disregard for the concerns of Villa fans who knew that McLeish would be an unmitigated disaster at Villa, was a real nadir in our recent history. Mercifully, he’s now seen sense. Our prospects are altogether rosier with Mr Lambert at the helm I believe. So yes, next season looks brighter.
5) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?
I’d like to see a pair of decent full backs at VP. I’m so sick of Hutton and Warnock costing us points, the pair are liabilities but are rarely dropped. Kyle Naughton’s been mentioned and he looks a solid enough proposition and perhaps Nathaniel Clyne from Palace who’d both be an improvement on Hutton. I’d like us to go for Jordan Rhodes at Huddersfield too, that kid looks every inch a goal machine and I’d love us to take a chance on him if the price is right. Perhaps we should go for Jarvis from Wolves too (seeing as Adam Johnson’s exorbitant wage demands will nullify our chances of getting him), it might give N’Zogbia the kick up the arse he so obviously needs.
6) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?
We’ve a paucity of talent at Villa so I don’t envisage too many departures (due to a lack of interest!).Delph and Hutton perhaps? If we can get a decent fee for Ireland than perhaps Lambert can sniff out a more committed and less tantrum-prone playmaker.
7) Favourite current player?
My favourite current player in the Villa set-up is Gabby. Rightly or wrongly and as frustrating as he is, on his day (rarities I know) he’s brilliant for us.
8) Favourite all time player/s?
Paul McGrath, Dwight yorke, Martin Laursen and Dalian Atkinson.
9) What do you expect us to do/finish this season assuming a decent transfer window with £25m or so spent?
I’d expect a much stronger league campaign next season – top 8/9 is about our level right now. A decent cup run (preferably the FA) seeing us get a Wembley appearance would be joyous.
10) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?
Q. Do you believe in the Villaaaaaaaa? A. Yes. Yes I do.
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? Kris Akabusi. The man, the myth, the legend
b) Age 30
c) Location: Bangor (The North Wales Riviera).
d) Favourite alcoholic drink: Heineken/Guinness
e) Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Um Bongo
f) Favourite Film/s: Withnail and I/Reservoir Dogs/A Prophet – each one a fine specimen of celluloid.
g) Favourite TV Show/s: The Sopranos/The Wire/Mad Men/Generation Kill/The Shield – anything sourced from HBO is a-ok with me
h) Music?: The Small Faces/ The Jam/ Weller/ Television/ Stone Roses/ The Beatles etc etc.
i) Best ever moment in your life: Too personal.
j) Ambitions: To triumph in my pursuit of happiness
k) Wise words: ”She was like a candle in the wind…unreliable.” Confucius.
now your turn, how to submit an interview: click here
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