Steff The Villan is next for the Vital Villa interview.
Steff The Villan is next for the Vital Villa interview.
1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?
The scene, just before Christmas 1962, AVFC changing rooms, Vic Crowe, Alan Deakin, Nigel Simms, Ron Wylie, Charlie Aitken, Lew Chatterley, Phill Woosnam, Tony Hateley and Dave Pountney were all having a ‘gentleman`s’ competition, Aitken won with the longest ‘shot’ claiming his bottle of Johnny Walker.
They left the changing room as the cleaners entered, one of those cleaners was my mother, who managed to slip on the dribble from Mr Chatterley and landed in the splits right on top of a pile of what can only be described as a ‘team effort’ much to my virgin mothers` surprise she found herself pregnant.
In August of the following year the product of an immaculate conception was presented to the world, it was thought at first that this child could indeed be the messiah reborn, unfortunately it turned out that I was not the messiah, I was just a very naughty boy.
Due to the rampant lion birthmark on my arse and my obvious claret and blue blood, there was simply no option, I was a Villan, and there was much rejoicing.
2) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?
I don`t do all this self opinionated I want x as opposed to y because he is rubbish, the fact is that not one of us can see into the future (although many of us weren`t too far off last season!) a good manager at one club will not necessarily work wonders elsewhere.
As I see it, it`s all down to the “fit” between the manager, the club, players, fans, CEO and owner, and we won`t know about that for some time.
My feelings on the other hand are that he`s totally bostin! He comes across well, he`s obviously ambitious, more importantly it looks according to reports that he isn`t the type to allow any lack of effort, and as that is all most of us want, I feel we may have an entertaining season.
3) Best and worst moments of last season?
Best
In a sea of capitulation, Chelsea stands out, as does the emergence of Weimann, Herd & Co, the release of Eck is obviously the stand out moment.
Worst
The appointment of Eck, the majority of the season, every long mile home after watching that dross, these all pail into insignificance when thoughts turn to Stan.
4) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board, can a decent season next season make up for last season?
I am a man who has had many dealings with our friends from across the pond, and had never met one I liked (I have since met quite a few I like, go figure!) so when he purchased our club, I was very wary, but the man has won me over, a confirmed anglophile, a man with a love of history and tradition like myself, which suits us fine as a club with much history and tradition.
Downsides, he is not wealthy enough! Would I swap him for a sheik? No, I believe wholeheartedly that he has the best interests of the club at heart, with the Eck appointment he has proven that he might very well be in need of other advisors regarding football matters, but with the PL appointment maybe he has done that.
NOTHING could make up for last season, a season best forgotten; thankfully my brain will take care of that one for me.
5) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?
I leave such matters to the manager, only he knows what he is trying to build and the staff needed to do it, but I expect to see a few differences next season : )
6) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?
As above, and if he believes he can improve those we deem not good enough, I wish him well and he has my backing for the season, as all managers do.
7) Favourite current player?
I like a player to show passion for the shirt, I EXPECT a Villa player to show passion, so Stan is right up there, a special mention for most of the youngsters, they may not be fully up to speed, but they certainly worked for the team, I also believe we have a little star in the making with the Weimann.
Gabs has always been up there for me, but I have to admit, he let us down last season, if he`s the man I believe he is, he`ll make up for it this season.
8) Favourite all time player/s?
The team that lifted THAT Cup, every one of them, from the first team down to the bench, the manager (and the great RON), the physio, Doris the tea lady, they all had a hand in the team coming away with a fantastic victory that night. A special mention for one player from that wonderful day, Nigel Spink, ten mins in and Rimmer had to come off, what an occasion to make your debut, thousands of Villans said a prayer, and it was answered, sublime, what more can I say.
Special mention goes to Tayles, what a guy! Bossie, Rambo, Gray, the magnificent Dean Saunders (who assured me years after leaving Villa, that he is still a fan) he who walks on water Sir Brian of Little, the incomparable GOD, he who came closest Martin Laursen, Ollie the bearded one, Savo and Angel, Dalian and Dwight, the magic Merse, Damn! We`ve had some mighty fine players
9) What do you expect us to do/finish this season assuming a decent transfer window with £25m or so spent?
Premier – Win
FA Cup – Win
Carling – Win
Why not! Someone has to win, If you enter a fight expecting to lose, you`ve already lost, football is a funny old game, you never know what`s around the corner, injuries to key players at certain times, a bout of flu running through a dressing room, nothing is a foregone conclusion, if the noses can beat Le Arse at Wembley to lift a Cup, ANYTHING must be possible!
10) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?
Q) What do you want?
A) I want to see Gab take the ball, rip open a defence while it sleeps and score the winner with 30 seconds to go, I want to see players jumping over the sliding tackle, keeping possession, beating another player or two before curling the ball into the top corner, I want to see the screaming volleys from 30 yards out, the immaculate, unsaveable free kicks, the easy tap ins resulting from a 20 pass build up, I want to see the joy on their faces when they score, I want points in the league, I want wins, I want top class players to want to play for us because we are the place to be, I want to feel lifted when the game finishes, I want
to not feel like I did at the final whistle last season.
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? I`m not really into this star struck stuff, I`d have been happy to have a chill with Bill Hicks, or trained with Bruce & Arnie, And as for you Amanda Tapping, I would destroy you, in the nicest possible way of course : )
b) Age 48
c) Location: N Wales
d) Favourite alcoholic drink: On the very very rare occasion, a fine Brandy (and I do mean fine) is acceptable, last time I consumed enough alcohol to affect me, 12yrs ago, we don`t mix.
e) Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Water followed closely by STRONG black coffee
f) Favourite Film/s: Fifth Element, Star Wars/Trek films, Sci Fi is totally my bag baby! Along with Tarantino and Rodriguez, Pulp Fiction is a classic, Enter the Dragon had a profound effect on me, chuck in some Chuck, Van Damme, Arnie, Sly, Willis and I`m a happy man.
g) Favourite TV Show/s: Don`t do much TV, mainly watch DVD`s cause it`s illegal to download stuff, Sci Fi is a staple, Stargate (Carter Mmmmmmm) Top Gear, Fringe, enjoying Grimm at the moment. Can`t stand “reality” TV
h) Music?: , Rock, Blues, Metal, Classical, Rock, and I also like Rock and Metal.
i) Best ever moment in your life: Assisted with the birth of the last two boys, watching the eldest score a stunning header in a cup final (welsh league) and watching the youngest getting his hand raised in his first MMA match, after 5 months of work getting a 70 odd yr old guy to stand unaided and to take one shuffle step for the first time in four years, I must admit, that hit me : )
j) Ambitions: To see my kids grow up and have more grandchildren, to see the mighty Villa back where we belong, to wake people up to what is going on all around them, to be able to walk pain free, to not have to take any more bloody tablets, and one I know for certain I`ll achieve, to go down fighting.
k) Wise words: Ignore the media, Do not believe what you see, do not believe what you hear, believe only that which is proven.
Enjoy the little things, spread love & happiness, mend bridges and right your wrongs, help others whenever you can, and appreciate every day like it is your last, because one day it will be.
now your turn, how to submit an interview: click here
Other interviews:
Other interviews:
Villain307
Stephen Jay Hawkings
1958Villan
Piper
Randy.Stand
Zarch
we`re not fickle
Turkish Penguin
Philo
Draig Cymraeg
Midbedsvillan01
Carew AV Legend
Kieran0121
LuxuryVilla24
Crosswesleyanchapel
JUANPABLOANGEL
Eaton_thevillafan
Villainatplay
BigFatRon
sid is god
Green Villan
JimmyG
AdzVilla11
Surpsy
Greenday
Danny_Villaman
The Fear
speak2guy
Prepared
lartinmaurson
McGrath For Pope
Gordonsleftboot
Steven Green
Matt Herbert
SIMONBIGRON
Benham
Mike Field
mat777
YhQ92
Mister Saxon
Kefkat
Bob Moore
Holte999
Avfc94
voiceoftheholte
Zigthevilla
CoE82
Madirish
Nimmo
Revd Pete
Deanovilla
AVbornandbred
P.Avfc
Toddyav
Chiefy
GodPlayed4Villa
H
Sheriff Kimbo
Smell the Glove
AstonBilla
Juddy
StaggsAVFC
beardofolof
MASON_PARKER
GMVillan
Villan57
DTiller
young_jonah
malacaxeta
Limonvilla
Junesingh
Englishhippy
Lee282
Ormskirk
VillanPete
tomvilla95
Beejay
Villan444
griffgriff
marcobavfc
Gabby2010
col8
CYPRUSDAVE
Villa_Grizzly
Pride Of Lions
Angus Baskerville
Deaf Dean
DMVillain94
Sir Dennis
Nick Shale
Villanut
Proud to be a Villan
