Deanovilla is next for the Vital Villa interview 2013….
Deanovilla is next for the Vital Villa interview 2013….
1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?
From birth pretty much as my Dad is Villa so I never really had a choice. Couple of mates tried to convert me to the evil ways of Everton and I seem to remember even owning some Everton shin pads at the age of about 4, but luckily my Dad steered me in the right direction. Villa through and through from the age of about 5. i.e. 1985.
2) What is your favourite Villa moment of all time/most treasured memory?
The 2 League Cup Finals in 94 and 96 immediately spring to mind, but I’m going to plump for the 96 one against Leeds. In 94 I was up in the Olympic Gallery with the prawn sandwich brigade. In 96 I was just about old enough to make my way down to London with friends and sneak a bottle of Sunny D onto the coach filled with Vodka. Was a brilliant day, a brilliant match and Savo’s goal just topped it all off.
3) If you could bring back a former Villa player into this team (at his peak) who would it be and why?
Bit obvious I guess but has to be Paul McGrath. I honestly believe we are not far off a decent team at the moment. All we need to do is stop shipping goals. God would sort that. Imagine the impact he could have on Baker and Clark too.
4) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?
Was unsure to begin with. Wasn’t one of those who clamoured or even wanted his appointment, but he is winning me over slowly. He obviously has a directive. Reduce the wage bill, reduce the age of the squad, improve the football and try to improve gradually. For me he’s hit all those targets this season. Some might say he did too much too soon. Had we got relegated I’d have agreed but the proof is in the pudding. We improved on last seasons points total and improved the style of play with Lambert sticking with his convictions and playing the kids. It was a brave move and it worked. Now its time to push on. Add a little bit of quality in the defensive areas . I’m sure he’s on the case.
5) Best and worst moments of last season?
Best. Sunderland at home.
Worst. Chelsea away, just pips Bradford for embarrassment of the season.
6) Some say last season was a success, others not so much. What is your opinion?
Success in my book. Not a massive one, but a success never the less. There were the obvious embarrassing ‘blips’ along the way such as Chelsea and Bradford, but in the main PL’s remit would have been –
Keep us in the Premier League – achieved
Get more points than last season – achieved
Finish higher than last season – achieved
Reduce the wage bill – In Progress, but at least he managed to achieve the above without the likes of Given, Dunne, Ireland, Bent etc.. playing any kind of major role which suggests the wage bill is being sorted.
Improve the style of play as fans have been screaming out for – achieved. Compared to what we had under McLeish we look like Barcelona now.
Increase the average attendance – achieved
Unite everyone – achieved. In the main, board, manager, players and fans are for the first time in a long time, all pulling in the same direction. This can not be underestimated! It’s a massive thing for a club to be successful.
There was never going to be a magic wand waved to send us back to competing with the top 6. It’s all about taking small baby steps now to steadily improve while keeping within the new budget restrictions. It’s not where anyone wants to be, so don’t give me this ‘Expectations have dropped’ nonsense. It’s just realism.
7) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board?
My opinion on Randy Lerner is pretty low at the moment. He is solely responsible for the mess the club is in.
He gave MON free reign to waste millions and put the clubs financial future at risk.
He appointed Houllier when it was obvious he was never a long term solution.
He appointed McLeish which in my humble set the club back 3 years due to all the infighting between fans, board, management and players.
The buck stops with him.
We now have to cut our cloth accordingly and I’m all for the way Paul lambert is coping with that, but it should never have got this bad in the first place.
8) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?
We need defenders. 2 centre backs and a left back. Thomas Vermaelen would be the perfect signing for me. I’d almost accept making no other signings if we were to get him, I’d be that happy. Not sure how realistic it is though.
Been a long time since I played Football Manager so my knowledge of the foreign talent is not as good as it once was. Guess we just have to trust in Lambert to bring the right people in.
9) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?
So many. Given, Hutton, Dunne, Ireland, Bannan, Holman, Bent, Delfouneso. That’s probably 320k per week right there. We could then buy 3 decent players and still save 200k a week.
Jury is still very much out on Vlaar, N’Zogbia and El Ahmadi too, but if they are both undisruptive and happy to be squad players I’d keep them.
10) Favourite current player?
Oooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh Christian Benteke!!!! The guy is unplayable. Already one of the top 5 strikers in Europe in my ever so humble and claret & blue tinted spectacles. Lewandowski who?!?! I’d rather have Benteke. Pray we can keep hold of him.
11) Who was your first footballing hero and who are your favourite all time player/s?
Warren Aspinall. lol. Just timing really. As a kid, at one of my first ever trips to Villa Park, remember him coming off the bench against Bradford and scoring a brace in the last 5 minutes. Loved him from that moment.
Favourite players…. too many to mention but will give it a bloody good go –
McGrath
McInally
Cowans
Staunton
Taylor
Saunders
Laursen
Barry
Petrov
Angel
Yorke and Platt (said through gritted teeth coz kind of hate them now)
12) What do you expect us to do/finish this season?
Premier: 7th is there for the taking. Everton will struggle now Moyes has left. West Brom are rubbish. Improve the defence and we’re a match for either of those.
FA Cup: last 8
Carling: last 8
13) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?
Do you believe Aston Villa will ever win the league again in your lifetime? Unfortunately not. Sky and their money have ruined what was once a highly competitive sport!!!
14) 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? Would love to go out for a drink with Kiefer Sutherland. Seems like a good laugh.
b) Age 33
c) Location: Malvern
d) Favourite alcoholic drink: Lager
e) Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Tea
f) Favourite Film/s: Shawshank Redemption, Goodfella’s, Pulp Fiction, Back to the Future, Star Wars, Team America, Rocky.
g) Favourite TV Show/s: Breaking Bad, Dexter, Top Gear, Family Guy and my guilty pleasure…… Come Dine With Me.
h) Music?: Noel Gallagher, Kasabian, Oasis, Blur, Stone Roses, Prodigy, Pendulum, Bob Marley.. bit of an eclectic mix really.
i) Best ever moment in your life: They haven’t happened yet.
j) Ambitions: To be happy. To make others happy.
k) Wise words: If at first you don’t suceed, sky diving is not for you.
Now your turn, how to submit an interview: click here
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