The "do they mean us?" thread pt 4

[Finnegan]

1 minute ago, Fox92 said:

I don't think the manager is the main problem, and never said that, debate was about Cifuentes specifically. Our club is a mess but people dismiss these terrible managers. There are badly run clubs that have been successful because of a manager (Robins at Cov is probably the best example). Cooper/Van Nistelrooy/Cifuentes all terrible managers regardless which is what my argument was. I'm fully aware the club is a mess, I think anybody is aware given we've fallen from the top tier to the third.

 

Cooper is absolutely dreadful and I'll be amazed if he's ever up to much anywhere in his career.

 

But I imagine Cifuentes and RVN will have decent spells with clubs elsewhere. I don't love their brand of football and they're definitely not any kind of tactical visionaries but they're OK. Good enough to have done better.

 

For both of them I think a lot of it wasn't just about how poorly run the club was longer term but - as a symptom of that - how poor the mentality of the squad we've assembled is and how much none of them give any ****s. It's such a long way from the personality of the squad that Pearson built.

 

I really rate Danny Rohl and I wanted him here but I doubt it would have been significantly different if he'd come. You could have had Daniel Farke here, one of the best proven current managers at Championship level, we'd probably still have been shit. The squad just don't care and have no heart or bottle.

 

[splinterdream]

You are criticising people's views, I compared hodgson to warnock because of their age as thats where i thought your criticism was aimed, i wasn't comparing them like 4 like as they've managed in different leagues.

We are in League 1, and Warnock is a football league specialist so knows these lower leagues, with a win rate of approx 40% over a very long career. 

I was partly mistaken on that fixture, maresca did get the win, but only just, if i remember it was a struggle and lets remember he was managing Huddersfield.

Edited 12 May by splinterdream

[Samilktray]

5 minutes ago, splinterdream said:

You are criticising people's views, I compared hodgson to warnock because of their age as thats where i thought your criticism was aimed, i wasn't comparing them like 4 like as they've managed in different leagues.

We are in League 1, and Warnock is a football league specialist so knows these lower leagues, with a win rate of approx 40% over a very long career. 

I was partly mistaken on that fixture, maresca did get the win, but only just, if i remember it was a struggle and lets remember he was managing Huddersfield.

@Samilktray

[SkidsFox]

In case it's not already posted somewhere here...

 

[davieG]

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit | Leicestershire Live

 

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit
The Aston Villa boss has spoken about competing for the Premier League title, but is wary of how Leicester City have fallen in the decade since they lifted the trophy

Jordan Blackwell
06:37, 22 May 2026

Leicester City are a cautionary tale for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as he targets a Premier League title push.

Emery guided Villa to their first major trophy in 30 years with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday night, former City midfielder Youri Tielemans lashing in the opener.

The next step is to compete for domestic honours. Villa have already cracked the top six, and will claim their second top-four finish in three years with a draw in their final Premier League fixture this weekend.

But Emery is looking even higher, and wants to replicate what City did a decade ago in winning the title.

However, the Spaniard pointed to City’s recent fall into League One to show that any push for honours needs to be done with “sustainability” and “responsibility”.

 

“What we must establish is being able to repeat it over time,” Emery told AS in Spain. “Ten years ago, Leicester City won the league here, above all those other teams. This year, unfortunately, they've been relegated to League One.

“So, we at Aston Villa, with this project I joined, came to be able to grow sustainably and maintain our position.

“That's what gives me the most satisfaction right now: being a team capable of competing naturally with the big teams these past few years, close to Arsenal and Manchester City without quite reaching them, and close to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, but even above them.

“The next step, if we can be consistent, would be to be able to do something similar to what Leicester did, or come close. But with sustainability in mind. That's the Aston Villa project, the one that demands the most, earns the most recognition, and carries the greatest responsibility.”

Villa’s league position would have secured them Champions League football even if they hadn’t won the Europa League. That’s something City were unable to do after their title win, finishing fifth twice in 2020 and 2021.

Emery added: “Being in the Champions League will allow us, beyond the Premier League, to compete against the best teams.

“Last season we played in the quarter-finals against PSG, and even came close to winning that tie. For me, as a coach, seeing your team compete at that level is comforting, motivating, and makes you want to continue being part of this project, to be a coach who wants to achieve things.”

[Steve Earle]

13 minutes ago, davieG said:

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit | Leicestershire Live

 

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit
The Aston Villa boss has spoken about competing for the Premier League title, but is wary of how Leicester City have fallen in the decade since they lifted the trophy

Jordan Blackwell
06:37, 22 May 2026

Leicester City are a cautionary tale for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as he targets a Premier League title push.

Emery guided Villa to their first major trophy in 30 years with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday night, former City midfielder Youri Tielemans lashing in the opener.

The next step is to compete for domestic honours. Villa have already cracked the top six, and will claim their second top-four finish in three years with a draw in their final Premier League fixture this weekend.

But Emery is looking even higher, and wants to replicate what City did a decade ago in winning the title.

However, the Spaniard pointed to City’s recent fall into League One to show that any push for honours needs to be done with “sustainability” and “responsibility”.

 

“What we must establish is being able to repeat it over time,” Emery told AS in Spain. “Ten years ago, Leicester City won the league here, above all those other teams. This year, unfortunately, they've been relegated to League One.

“So, we at Aston Villa, with this project I joined, came to be able to grow sustainably and maintain our position.

“That's what gives me the most satisfaction right now: being a team capable of competing naturally with the big teams these past few years, close to Arsenal and Manchester City without quite reaching them, and close to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, but even above them.

“The next step, if we can be consistent, would be to be able to do something similar to what Leicester did, or come close. But with sustainability in mind. That's the Aston Villa project, the one that demands the most, earns the most recognition, and carries the greatest responsibility.”

Villa’s league position would have secured them Champions League football even if they hadn’t won the Europa League. That’s something City were unable to do after their title win, finishing fifth twice in 2020 and 2021.

Emery added: “Being in the Champions League will allow us, beyond the Premier League, to compete against the best teams.

“Last season we played in the quarter-finals against PSG, and even came close to winning that tie. For me, as a coach, seeing your team compete at that level is comforting, motivating, and makes you want to continue being part of this project, to be a coach who wants to achieve things.”

This could have been us with a half competent owner.

 

Sack Rodgers in the autumn, appoint the available Emery, extend Tielemans’ contract (or sell in the January window). It was, even back then, obvious. To most people but not our 🤡 of an owner.

 

We’d have won a European title by now.. . 
 

😢💦

[Blue ROI]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit | Leicestershire Live

 

Why Unai Emery has named Leicester City as a cautionary tale in Aston Villa pursuit
The Aston Villa boss has spoken about competing for the Premier League title, but is wary of how Leicester City have fallen in the decade since they lifted the trophy

Jordan Blackwell
06:37, 22 May 2026

Leicester City are a cautionary tale for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as he targets a Premier League title push.

Emery guided Villa to their first major trophy in 30 years with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday night, former City midfielder Youri Tielemans lashing in the opener.

The next step is to compete for domestic honours. Villa have already cracked the top six, and will claim their second top-four finish in three years with a draw in their final Premier League fixture this weekend.

But Emery is looking even higher, and wants to replicate what City did a decade ago in winning the title.

However, the Spaniard pointed to City’s recent fall into League One to show that any push for honours needs to be done with “sustainability” and “responsibility”.

 

“What we must establish is being able to repeat it over time,” Emery told AS in Spain. “Ten years ago, Leicester City won the league here, above all those other teams. This year, unfortunately, they've been relegated to League One.

“So, we at Aston Villa, with this project I joined, came to be able to grow sustainably and maintain our position.

“That's what gives me the most satisfaction right now: being a team capable of competing naturally with the big teams these past few years, close to Arsenal and Manchester City without quite reaching them, and close to Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, but even above them.

“The next step, if we can be consistent, would be to be able to do something similar to what Leicester did, or come close. But with sustainability in mind. That's the Aston Villa project, the one that demands the most, earns the most recognition, and carries the greatest responsibility.”

Villa’s league position would have secured them Champions League football even if they hadn’t won the Europa League. That’s something City were unable to do after their title win, finishing fifth twice in 2020 and 2021.

Emery added: “Being in the Champions League will allow us, beyond the Premier League, to compete against the best teams.

“Last season we played in the quarter-finals against PSG, and even came close to winning that tie. For me, as a coach, seeing your team compete at that level is comforting, motivating, and makes you want to continue being part of this project, to be a coach who wants to achieve things.”

That's Emery top of the list of the Happy Clapper enemies

 

#KPFC4EVA

 

[chapero82]

54 minutes ago, Steve Earle said:

This could have been us with a half competent owner.

 

Sack Rodgers in the autumn, appoint the available Emery, extend Tielemans’ contract (or sell in the January window). It was, even back then, obvious. To most people but not our 🤡 of an owner.

 

We’d have won a European title by now.. . 
 

😢💦

He was the one I wanted back then and was completely gutted when he signed for Villa

[21st Century Fox]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/22/bayer-uerdingen-miracle-berlin-bayern-munich-dfb-pokal
 

We get a mention in this article about Bayer Uerdingen. Spooky coincidence about the twin cities.

[davieG]

 

The English Football Record  · 

Chris Roe ·2d ·

 

 

On teams meeting whilst on long winless runs

 

With 4 matches left to go of the 2024/5 season in the Premier League, the bottom 2 (and already relegated) clubs Leicester City and Southampton met on the 3rd May 2024 at the King Power Stadium with the hosts coming out on top 2-0. This bought to an end an 11 match winless run for the Midlands team, whilst it extended an already 10 match winless run for Southampton.

 

This was the only occasion last season when two teams met with both on a winless run of at least 10 matches. This was one of only 5 of these in the Premier League era, with the others being:

 

1) Derby County (16) and Bradford City (11) on the 8th November 2000.

 

2) Aston Villa (11) and Watford (10) on the 20th January 2007.

 

3) Queens Park Rangers (10) and Reading (10) on the 4th November 2012.

 

4) West Bromwich Albion (13) and Sheffield United (12) on the 28th November 2020.

 

Up to the end of the 2024/5 season there have been just 62 matches between two such teams across the entirety of English League history.

 

On the 11th January 1890, Burnley and Stoke City met, with the latter winning 3-1. At the time the pair were on a 16 and 12 match winless run respectively. This was the first time two teams met whilst on a 10+ match winless run in the English league.

 

With the same restriction of at least 14 matches (as in the earlier post on unbeaten runs), there have been just 5 instances in league history and the most recent 2 have both been in tier 2 and both have involved Stoke City. The first of these was on the 14th October 1989 in a 1-1 draw against Hull City. Stoke were on a 16 match winless streak and Hull were on a 21 winless streak. More recently on the 1st October 2019, Stoke City were on a 15 match winless streak when they lost 0-1 to Huddersfield Town who were on a 19 match winless streak.

 

It was on the 4th March 1977 when Newport County (19 winless) met Southport (17 winless), and it was this fixture which is the record holder for a pair of teams with the biggest minimum value.

[HankMarvin]

About Spurs but seems mighty familiar 

 

Venkatesham added: “Our training centre is amazing, one of the best, if not the best in the world. But when you look around, it looks more like a five-star hotel than it does a performance environment

[Blue ROI]

1 minute ago, HankMarvin said:

About Spurs but seems mighty familiar 

 

Venkatesham added: “Our training centre is amazing, one of the best, if not the best in the world. But when you look around, it looks more like a five-star hotel than it does a performance environment

Interesting comparison but they don't have imbeciles running the show to the level we do so they won't fall as far 

[Lakeside]

Guardian Quick crossword No 17,494 https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/17494

[when_you're_smiling]

1 hour ago, Lakeside said:

Guardian Quick crossword No 17,494 https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/17494

Liquid measurement (5,5) - utter shite.

[davieG]

 

Lincoln City Fans ·

Follow

 

These are the clubs with the most relegations in English football (out of the Top 4 divisions). The Imps are in there, along with a very surprising Premier League club!

[Steve Earle]

1 hour ago, davieG said:

 

Lincoln City Fans ·

Follow

 

These are the clubs with the most relegations in English football (out of the Top 4 divisions). The Imps are in there, along with a very surprising Premier League club!

I won’t be alone on here in having seen, I think, 10 of them, beginning in 1969.

 

Still, there’s a record there for the taking. Go on Top my son, you can do it. 18 here we come!

[davieG]

35 minutes ago, Steve Earle said:

I won’t be alone on here in having seen, I think, 10 of them, beginning in 1969.

 

Still, there’s a record there for the taking. Go on Top my son, you can do it. 18 here we come!

Same here 

[davieG]

 

 

 

[davieG]

The Lower Tiers ·

Follow

 

EFL Clubs Who Have Most Matches Won In The Premier League

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

15 hours ago, davieG said:

 

Lincoln City Fans ·

Follow

 

These are the clubs with the most relegations in English football (out of the Top 4 divisions). The Imps are in there, along with a very surprising Premier League club!

Most of those teams have spent as many years in the EPL as us. Anyone over the age of 40 shouldn't be surprised to see Man City in there, who are "new money" that were essentially on a par with ourselves in the 20th century.

[Les-TA-Jon]

7 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Most of those teams have spent as many years in the EPL as us. Anyone over the age of 40 shouldn't be surprised to see Man City in there, who are "new money" that were essentially on a par with ourselves in the 20th century.

Depends what you mean by 'most' 

 

[kushiro]

This is a pretty cool way to follow the full story:

 

 

[davieG]

Ok not us but the language sounds oh so familiar

 

Tractor Guy ·

Follow

 

So after weeks of happy clappers proclaiming “he’ll never leave” and “he’s got a job to do here”, and shouting down anyone who pointed out he was off, McKenna has finally gone.

It was apparent from his end-of-season comments that he was unhappy with how last season was handled. He said it was his hardest yet to due the personnel changes being forced onto the club by Ashton at the top, meaning we entered the season on the back foot and unsettled an established side. It is widely believed now that the Farage incident, where the club openly lied to the fans about it initially, was the final straw.

He (and Ipswich) was expecting to be in line for another job, with his team pushing for Fulham, but with Fulham not biting the best way around the compensation thing, and not having to potentially have another poor season in the top flight with Ipswich, was to stand down, come back unblemished and unhindered by the £8million compensation. The stumbling block (the compensation) allowing him to move to boyhood club Celtic has now been removed, with Martin O'Neill set to retire again in a year, allowing McKenna a dream move to Glasgow. This is the plan.

Ipswich, however, go into the Premier League season, scraping the barrel for a manager with an egomaniac CEO and Chairman in charge, of course happy clappers, despite Farage-gate, will lap up the “family reasons” and “break” story as it fits their narrative; however, you would have to be totally naive, and a fool, to believe that. This is another mess of Ashton's making, and while we got away with a promotion last season due to the Championship being so weak, Ashton's luck will soon run out, especially now his golden boy has escaped his clutches.

People don’t quit jobs, they quit employers.

McKenna has escaped Ashton's toxicity with his reputation intact; he acted for himself; however, Ipswich Town will pay the price for this long-term. However, another bad season in the top flight, without the appreciation for McKenna acting as a shield, will shine a light on Ashton, and he will be the one blamed when we drop.

The happy clappers, as ever, are wrong, but they will never admit that.

“He’s going nowhere, he loves it here, kids are settled. Job to do.”

Yeah, right.

@followers #Ipswich #ipswichtown #ipswichtownfc #PremierLeague #EPL #CelticFC

[Brizzle Fox]

18 minutes ago, davieG said:

Ok not us but the language sounds oh so familiar

 

Tractor Guy ·

Follow

 

So after weeks of happy clappers proclaiming “he’ll never leave” and “he’s got a job to do here”, and shouting down anyone who pointed out he was off, McKenna has finally gone.

It was apparent from his end-of-season comments that he was unhappy with how last season was handled. He said it was his hardest yet to due the personnel changes being forced onto the club by Ashton at the top, meaning we entered the season on the back foot and unsettled an established side. It is widely believed now that the Farage incident, where the club openly lied to the fans about it initially, was the final straw.

He (and Ipswich) was expecting to be in line for another job, with his team pushing for Fulham, but with Fulham not biting the best way around the compensation thing, and not having to potentially have another poor season in the top flight with Ipswich, was to stand down, come back unblemished and unhindered by the £8million compensation. The stumbling block (the compensation) allowing him to move to boyhood club Celtic has now been removed, with Martin O'Neill set to retire again in a year, allowing McKenna a dream move to Glasgow. This is the plan.

Ipswich, however, go into the Premier League season, scraping the barrel for a manager with an egomaniac CEO and Chairman in charge, of course happy clappers, despite Farage-gate, will lap up the “family reasons” and “break” story as it fits their narrative; however, you would have to be totally naive, and a fool, to believe that. This is another mess of Ashton's making, and while we got away with a promotion last season due to the Championship being so weak, Ashton's luck will soon run out, especially now his golden boy has escaped his clutches.

People don’t quit jobs, they quit employers.

McKenna has escaped Ashton's toxicity with his reputation intact; he acted for himself; however, Ipswich Town will pay the price for this long-term. However, another bad season in the top flight, without the appreciation for McKenna acting as a shield, will shine a light on Ashton, and he will be the one blamed when we drop.

The happy clappers, as ever, are wrong, but they will never admit that.

“He’s going nowhere, he loves it here, kids are settled. Job to do.”

Yeah, right.

@followers #Ipswich #ipswichtown #ipswichtownfc #PremierLeague #EPL #CelticFC

Ah this reads like Mark Ashton doing Mark Ashton things.

 

Surprised it's taken this long, but reassuringly consistent 

[davieG]