Thomas Wood is next for the Vital Villa interview.
Thomas Wood is next for the Vital Villa interview.
1) When did you become a Villa fan and why?
When I was about ten I used to hate football with a passion. I was on Holiday in Crete and my dad had a go at me called me a sissy! And told me I should take up a hobby/sport told me to get into football. And sure enough that was it September 1995 was the start of my love for Aston Villa. It should have been in my blood although I always had a choice but I chose Villa. My dad Paul Wood ‘Woody’ was a big fan he had saw us win the European cup and he also started a famous song about Trevor Francis down villa park.
2) What is your favourite Villa moment of all time/most treasured memory?
Watching us beat Leeds United in the Coca Cola cup 3-1 on the T.V I jumped out of my seat when Savo struck that thunderbolt. Apart from that there has been many beating Blues 5-1 was great aswell as Man united away when Gabby scored 2009/10 season. Even more pleasure to me because I have grown up around alot of plastic Man united fans. One that sticks out in memory was on a stag do in Prague Villa vs Blues 09/10 season at Villa park Gabby is tripped by Johnson Jimmy Milner steps up and slams the penalty into the roof of the net. I Screamed the pub down Yes, Jimmy get in!!! and this bloke watching the T.V gave me a dirty look I said mate, that’s my football team on T.V beating their local rivals.. I later found out he was a blues fan.
3) If you could bring back a former Villa player into this team (at his peak) who would it be and why?
In our current team it has to be a defender tough call because we have had some great defenders over the years. Personally I would go for Laursen he was a leader, great in the air and solid in the tackle. He also would keep the younger players calm and nobody can question his commitment to Aston Villa. Crying shame his career was cut short by injury.
4) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?
Warming to him he means well, I did find myself scratching my head about the tactics and some of his substitutes last season . However he is re-building and he don’t want ego’s and he also is trying to cut the cloth accordingly when it comes to money which is important. He has got the best out of some of our players and I think there is more to come.
5) Best and worst moments of last season?
Best- 6-1 home win against Sunderland my girlfriend called me when the sixth goal went in she could barley speak. Win against Liverpool away great football player and it was good to silence the kop!
Worst- Being beaten 8-0 at any team is never easy to accept I was very angry after the game said the players should apologise to the fans. Wigan at home wasn’t pretty either I went to that game and I left convinced that we could be close to going down, I’m glad I was proved wrong. Bradford was also embarrassing but you have to give the opposition some credit they deserved to beat us, but like many who have answered this interview I don’t think we will ever get an easier chance to go to Wembley.
6) Some say last season was a success, others not so much. What is your opinion?
It was a success when you consider what was required for Lambert to do, trim the wage structure and mould a team with inexperienced and unproven premier league players. So in that sense we where successful because after the shambles that was Christmas and January I really did fear for us. At the same time Villa are a massive club and should not really have been down the bottom ok it’s nobody’s right to stay up, however I still think our team should have done better.
7) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board?
Randy has tried hard, but he is ultimately a business man not a football man and to me neither is Paul Faulkner. Both don’t really have a clue when it comes to football, we need a director of football at the club to help us pave the way to a steadier future. It all got out of control when O’Neill was let loose with the cheque book, and Steve Stride was relieved of his duties when Lerner took over. It is shame because I don’t think he would have allowed the sums of money to be thrown around that O’Neill was wasting.
8) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?
I trust the manager to unearth some gems we have already been linked with some potentially exciting buys, and we are trying to get our work done early for a change. We definatley lack balance in the left back position so I would say a centre back,left back and creative midfield player for starters.
9) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?
Anyone who doesn’t really fit into the ethos of young and hungry and is sitting on the bench getting paid silly money not playing so that is Given,Dunne, Ireland,Bent,Bannan maybe N’Zogbia.
10) Favourite current player?
My Favourite villa player is one of my heroes Gabriel Agbonlahor he is villa through and through, and he is basically what I wish I could be a supporter playing for the team doing his best. Yes, he lacks alot of technical ability but he is so fast and as strong as Ox he is in my opinion very under-rated.
11) Who was your first footballing hero and who are your favourite all time player/s?
Michael Owen (non Villa) he was superb when he first burst on to the scene never forget his goal against Argentina.
If we are talking Villa players then there has been loads Paul McGrath, Gareth Southgate, Tommy Johnson, Dwight Yorke, Dion Dublin, Bennito Carbone, Paul Merson, David Ginola, Thomas Hitzlsperger,Olof Melberg, Martin Laursen, John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner, Ashley Young. In the team at the moment Matthew Lowton, Ashley Westwood,Andreas Weimann and of course Christian Benteke.
12) What do you expect us to do/finish this season?
Premier Anything between 10th and 13th
FA Cup: 5th Round
Carling: Semi Final again
13) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?
How much longer will we have to wait for some Silverware?
In my opinion three seasons time if we can keep building and retain our best players big if I know.
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? Dave Grohl, hilarious and entertaining.
b) Age 28
c) Location: Burntwood, Staffordshire
d) Favourite alcoholic drink: Jack Daniels and ginger ale
e) Favourite non-alcoholic drink: Volvic touch of fruit
f) Favourite Film/s: Lord of the Rings, 8 Mile, Back to the Future trilogy,Ghostbusters I could go on for awhile.Don’t worry I’m not….
g) Favourite TV Show/s: Peep Show, Big Bany Theory and The Simpson’s…
h) Music?: My taste is broard like Foo Fighters to the Rat pack if it’s good music I will listen and like it.
i) Best ever moment in your life: Hard to define at 28, I still have much to do can’t really pinpoint one moment there has been a few great moments.
j) Ambitions: Become a husband and loving father just like my own dad.
k) Wise words: The Gambler song by Kenny Rodgers has some wise words ‘ You got to know when to hold ’em..know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run’
Now your turn, how to submit an interview: click here
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