Vital Villans Interview – Beefy

1 – How long have you been a Villa fan and how did you first get the Claret & Blue faith?

My granddad used to own a hardware store In Aston and it’s where my dad was bought up, so it’s in the family blood. I now reside in Bristol so have resorted to naming my daughter Abigail Victoria – hopefully forcing her hand to support AV. It’s the first stage of my responsibility as a parent to brainwash my off spring to follow the mighty Villa.

2 – What was your first game?

My first game is very hazy, but it was home to Forest in the season we got relegated.

3 – What is your most memorable moment as a Villa fan?

Most memorable moment would be both legs of the Tranmere Semi and the subsequent final or The Holtes last stand. It broke my heart to walk away from B6 knowing that the thing that gave me the most pleasure in life was now gone forever. Honourable mentions to beating Everton 6-2 and the 2-0 over Inter Milan with Big Kent gobbing on the pitch after he scored.

4 – And the worst moment?

Worst moment – throwing the title away after we signed Cascarino, and obviously, those first few Blose games with Enks in goal.

5 – Who are your favourite current Villa players?

Fave current players will get very obvious answers that I imagine everyone will give – Laursen and Ash. We would have got relegated if Laursen hadn’t have got himself fit in DOLs last season and Ash will be the vital cog in England’s World Cup triumph (as soon as Capello wakes up and smells the coffee).

6 – Which former player/s are your ultimate heroes?

Former players who are my hero would be Tony Daley, because he is the only player to truly excite me everytime he touched the ball and Ian Taylor, because he is one of us and a great example for any human of how to conduct your life and deal with ups and downs.

7 – Which player do you think was the worst to ever put on the team colours?

The worst player ever is difficult one to choose, but I suppose when you consider the money spent it is hard to see past Penrice or Fashanu. It would be ridiculous to say Balaban as he was never given a chance.

8 – What is the best goal you have seen Villa score and which is your favourite game?

Best goal I’ve seen us score is Dalians v Wimbledon but I wasn’t there, so I’ll choose Deano v Ipswich or Daley v Millwall in the Simod Cup.

9 – Best away ground visited?

Best away ground is, rather predictably, Old Trafford – but my favourite will probably always be the Baseball Ground. Always a great atmosphere there and who can forget Cascarinos debut on a baking hot day when we went five points clear at the top with a game in hand and six games left. I partied like we had won the league.

10 – Who would you like to see Villa sign this summer?

I’d like Villa to (realistically) sign: Morten Gamst Pederson, Darren Bent and Scweinsteigger. I know none of them are Keepers or right backs, but there is nobody who truly stands out in them positions. Robinson is probably the best choice of keepers and the right back will have to be a foreigner who I have possibly seen very little of.

11 – What are your predictions for us this season in the:
a) League 8th, ,
b) Europe UEFA Cup third in the group stages
c) Carling Cup Semi
d) Fa Cup WIN

12 – What is your opinion of Martin O’Neill?

My opinion of MON is we have the best we can realistically get. He is an exceptional man manager, motivator and tactician who gets the best out half decent players. His transfer capabilities do worry me greatly, but is that down to him? Anyone who wants Martin sacked will feel the wrath of my fist.

13 – What is your opinion of Randy Lerner and the new board?

I’m far, far from convinced about Randy and the board. He has righted the wrongs bought about by decades of neglect off the pitch but the costs of these were probably took into account with the ridiculously low price paid for the club. I greatly admire the way he respects the clubs heritage and tradition without it being too tacky, but after a couple of seasons and five transfer windows I would have expected some signal of intent or show of ambition where it truly matters – on the pitch. I hope my concerns are proved unfounded, but we will at least find a buyer with no problems should he leave in the near future having made his quick buck.

14 – Where do you sit at Villa and are you a season ticket holder?

I sit Holte Lower or, occasionally, Holte Upper. I haven’t had a season ticket since the terracing went…in them days I was the left side, we’re the left side, we’re the left side of The Holte. I had my name scratched into the barrier that protected me from a trampling for many years and would always lean on it.

15 – And finally (stolen without shame from Vital Arsenal!) if you could invite 4 people connected to Villa, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would they be? And you can add one bit of top totty as well to make the party go with a ‘bang’ ;o)

Villans to my party? McGrath for a pi55 up, Tayls so I could chat for hours with a fellow Villa nut, William McGregor because he sounds a fascinating visionary and (controversially) Doug. I’d also like Tommy Sorenson as guest speaker so I could find out what really happened in the dressing room that lead to DOLs downfall. Totty? Any bird with a natural chest ‘F’ cup or above.

With thanks to Beefy

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