Sunday morning banter: Liverpool, Richard Scudamore, Aston Villa on YouTube and Sir Alex Ferguson
Sunday, 14 September 08, 05:10 AM · Comments (28)
I'm sure a scouser will confirm or deny this for me but I think yesterday was the first time Liverpool have beaten one of the top three, in the league, under Rafa Benitez and they did it without Gerrard for most of the game and with Torres on the bench.
It was a good game and they've a new winger in Riera that looked very good and I don't want to piss on any scousers parade, but it wasn't because they out played Manchester United, it was because Manchester United didn't have a good day.
Sure, Liverpool played well but in the second half United didn't really wake up. Sure, Liverpool fans will say they stopped United playing but that's exactly what they have to say. The way Jamie Carragher is talking about "breathing space", is also quite laughable. Liverpool have about as much chance of winning the league as we do.
Moving on quickly to Richard Scudamore. I've just had to listen to him on 5 live convince me that he is so far removed from the average fan that it's clear to me he has to go. I'm surprised he kept his job after the 39th game fiasco, but today he used Manchester City as an example of the wealthy clubs not always getting it their way.
The fact that Manchester City played Chelsea yesterday and only became one of the wealthy clubs a day before the transfer window closed just goes to sum up how much he doesn't know what is going on.
He even said you had to go back to the 19th century to find a time when money didn't control the game. The game is now very much about the top three, if not the top two and a team is only going to challenge for the league if they spend a huge amount of money - if he doesn't know this, he's a mug.
Anyway, enough of him and please remember, you're getting this post this morning, because there really isn't much Aston Villa to banter about, so I'm picking things that have interested me. Talking of Aston Villa however, we now have an official YouTube channel, which is nice and just another reason why you have no need to subscribe to AVTV.
Lastly, some comments from Sir Alex Ferguson. After a few glasses of his favourite red wine he tipped us to do well this season. Talking after the defeat to Liverpool yesterday he said “As far as the title race is concerned Aston Villa could be the dark horses,"
“Martin O’Neill’s buys this summer have been very impressive. He’s building a very solid squad.
“Martin O’Neill is doing a very impressive job and this season they could surprise everyone.”
We're a long way off in terms of getting into the top four, let alone challenging for the league. I'm not going to get too carried away with what Sir Alex has said but it is nice that he's seen what is happening at Villa and I've got a feeling he's a secret fan.
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
28 Comments · Add yours
Sir Alex
Nice words from Sir Alex, lets hope he is right. Tomorrow is a massive game, win and we could go upto 4th but lose and we are with a group of sides on 4 points. Very congested table at present. A draw is the most likely result.
well done sir alex, its better listening to him than the sour grapes from arsene wenger and the arrogance of benitez. but he is good at the mind games so wont read into it to much. i can see alot of people being a secret fan of the villa, we go about things quietly, we never get talked about in the media and we have a good transfer policy of buying young british players and making them better. also were in the middle so would have less rivals than teams up north or down south so blues (and liverpool) aside, i think we are a much likeable second team.
love that video on youtube, 'a night to remember' some quality memories and nice to see players doing well, if they were about these days wouldnt be in the premiership - the likes of phil king, alan wright, mark draper - couldnt see them being given a chance against soome unknown foreigners with most clubs.
damian i dont understand your point and reason for commenting on liverpool and making those remarks. You and all the other fans on here need to get over the whole barry saga and move on. its becoming embarrassing!
Wouldnt you love villa to be able to beat Man utd without Barry and Young playing - thats effectively what liverpool did - i doubt they care how they won but the fact is they did.
liverpool are far far ahead of us, way further than last year IMO having signed keane and riera who looked class, and the sooner you realise that the better - we need to concentrate on ourselves and the teams we will be challenging against.
we avent signed players that can take us to the level to challenge for 4th - liverpool will finish top 4 whether you like it or not!
was it after a few glasses or bottles of wine
Liverpool will win the league by 20 clear points.
Spurs second and Chamions League winners.
United will narrowly avoid relegation.
MMmmmm, this wine's lovely.
Well its about time
Wow!
My respect for Fergy just rose ALOT!!
Its nice to see a big four boss comment on other clubs like that, it rarely happens and just shows that if Fergy thinks that, then maybe we are better than we are hoping!
Im not getting my hopes up for a title challenge but im hoping this will give the players a huge lift.
Nice 1 Fergy!!
craig gardner has just signed a new 4 year deal.
i remember everyone in the know tipping spurs last season and look what happened to them. i think we should wait and see at christmas where we are to give us a benchmark for the season.but all said it is nice to be noticed by the big boys so mon must be doing somthing right.
We do have the potential to brake into the top four. Liverpool got a good win yesterday but they don't convince me at all. Mind you the last time Fergie said we were dark horses for the title, we lost our first four games and Brian Little resigned before Christmas!
Fergie is the master at mind games and I think that he has noticed that Villa have quietly improved each season under MON and are not getting any recognition for this. His comments will throw some attention onto us and bring with it a bit more pressure. Exactly what he wanted.
Reply to Tonebone:
Tonebone. Mate, everybody is entitled to their opinion but let's look at it objctively for a second. Firstly concerning Liverpool i understand that it is engrained in their nature to graft wins from nothing. They have players who will always compete, and as such, with the inclusion of expected brilliant touches from Torres and Gerrard win alot more games than they lose. However, to say that buying Robbie Keane, a 'decent' striker, and Reira, a potential bit-part player in a squad that was clearly fourth even considering Torres massive return and a solid season from Gerrard makes them scores above Villa is a massive laugh. It is more than likely that Liverpool will finish above us this season. I think the only reason for this though is that it will take us a season or two of balancing a demanding schedule for our young players potential to turn into European standard class. Liverpool when it comes to this are seasoned professionals, and as such deserve to be considered at the level they are, however if even 1 semi serious injury comes to Torres or Gerrard, (or here's hoping both
), then based solely on individual quality, not only Villa, but also Spurs, City and possibly even Everton with the addition of Saha have more talented squads. To use the performance of United yesterday as a yardstick is laughable, as they are in Dire straights in terms of form at the moment, and of course are minus Ronaldo. I think rather than playing the eternal pessimist you may be better served looking at both the playing squad, (still thin but overall vastly better quality than last year), Manager and Backroom Staff, arguably right at the top of the league, as well as our reserves, (undefeated start), and also our academy to realise a finish above Liverpool, and perhaps Arsenal is difficult but not out of the question. Quit languishing and start start seeing what is plain to many people. UTV 
Methinks Sir Alex is secretly pining for the Villa job
lets forget bout the liverpool saga and concentrate on mondays game think this wil b a good test to see how far we have come. They may have sold a couple of quality players but also bought quality playes have seen tot play couple of times thy get theball down and like to break quick this will show how far our defence has come althugh spursare renowned for leaking goals lets hope we can capitilise on this.
nan bet u can hardly speak by now yet alone type onthe fergie wine.
i think spurs and ourselves are very even standard so even if my heart is praying for a win my head is telling me a very hard earned draw.
I agree with Tonebone......why are we still hearing about Liverpool? If i wanted to know anything about them id google fatchef or replace my hubcaps.com. I know its been quiet as we have not played for a bit, but Gardener has signed a new contract and Barry is a target for Chelsea if you believe the papers. Whats next an injury update for Torres? Sami Hyppia not expected to play in the champions league?
didnt bet on man city game so won nothing.
bet a tenner villa to beat stoke won nothing.
change of tactics so bet on pool to win bloody draw won nothing.
so how should i bet tomorrow because i dont think i could pick my nose never mind a winner.
dont tell me not to bet because it makes it fun for me
Reply to _AP68_:
hard fought score draw 2 2 i predict i was right about the pool result but d id not bet on it going 2 this time feeling in me bones hope lennon does ot play rate him highly not being bias but if anyone will win we will nick it just
askpaul - I always like to have a little bet on the team I want to lose just so either way I win! So id put my money on spurs and happily tear up the betting slip when we stuff them
Reply to danwilson:
done that against pool and we drew
Reply to _AP68_:
Everyone go to the YouTube page, right click on the background and set that as your desktop wallpaper. It's mine now and believe me to any Villa fan it looks a peach.
However they did it they still beat the League Title Holders; something I'd be happy to do by any legal means.
Also, I disagree with your comments re. Scudamore and money in the game.
If you look into it enough and read enough of the right books and old papers, you'll find that his comments are indeed true and it is only the first few years of the league that it wasn't about money and unscrupulous behaviour easily on a par with today's various scandals.
The major difference is people's ability to look back at history with rosey spectacles and when they do, they find that there's not much to look at anyway. The media simply wasn't there to expose corruption. Even if it had been exposed, the inherent deference in the working classes through most of the early 20th century would have counter-acted it pretty much anyway.
The main difference is these days is that the money and perceived corruption usually comes with an unpronouncable name from abroad as opposed to the local factory owner or whoever. Also, the players now hold untold wealth compared to the fans (thanks to Bosman, largely) instead of being on similar if not lower wages than the folk who watched them as it was until very late 1950s at least.
Good news about Gardner though. He embodies what footy should be about.
UTV
Reply to RobL:
You say everyone is entitled to their opinion and then later you say quit languishing and start seeing what is plain to many other people.
You are deluded if you think we will finish above liverpool. They were 16 points clear of us last season. Riera is far better than a bit part squad player. on top of those 2 players they added dosena and degen 2 better full backs than we have in our squad.
what do u mean give the squad a year or 2 to settle - it isnt even that young a squad mate?? arsenal and spurs have younger squads than ours for starters! In 2 years unless we are in the champs league Ashley young will have left for one!
As for the academy - who have we produced in the last decade that has been good enough to play for a top 4 side - which is what we are talking about here???
and you compare there team without torres and gerrard to the others. ok so that team would still challenge for 4th. then compare our team without young and barry - 10th at best!! that shows the difference in the 2 squads.
Wheres this link to these comments by Sir Alex then
Thanks Sir Alex! But is there any chance we could have 3 points against your lot this season you tw*t? Pretty Please?
Alex Ferguson is just starting the tapping up of our manager. He knows he is going to retire at the end of the season and knows the only replacement is OUR MON. Lets not be thanking alex for his comments lets be wary!