Ahead of Sunday’s eagerly anticipated derby, Rob Wildey speaks to Vital Villa editor Jonathan Fear.
WILL YOUR OPINION OF BRUCEY CHANGE IF VILLA LOSE AT ST. ANDREWS?
No. We`ve had too many poor managers. I know looking in at us from the outside the recent years will have looked ridiculous with the manager turn around but it`s not that Villa is a poisoned chalice, it`s our board/s weren`t capable of choosing the right managers.
Houllier wasn`t a bad choice football wise but an awful one health wise, as it proved (and I`m not being anti people with ill health, I`m in that category!)
Bringing in Alex was like a lamb to the slaughter, not just because it was straight from the Blues, it was because no one wanted his style of negative football. It`s a shame because I thought Randy Lerner would back his man because he was the only one who wanted him. He didn`t though and with a few key sales he was stuffed. Really nice guy, he did deserve better.
Lambert was just a swear word, poor excuse for a manager.
Then it just went really silly. Tim Sherwood didn`t have the experience then our then board decided a stats man and they were better at picking players than the manager. We replaced his inexperience with even less experience in Remi Garde. Roberto Di Matteo? 1 win in 10 for WBA. 2 wins in 10 for Schalke. 1 win in 12 for us. There was a pattern!
Bruce, 3 games and we all of a sudden look more organised and confident. Don`t get me wrong, he`s got a lot of work to do to really turn all this around, we aren`t exactly firing on all cylinders but he`s doing the basics right and it shows. 1 draw (it was lucky, Wolves were robbed by the ref.. ahhhh!) and 2 wins.
What was the question again!? ;o)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF A BIRMINGHAM DERBY?
Every single win.
WHAT IS YOUR WORST MEMORY OF A BIRMINGHAM DERBY?
Every single loss!
FROM A VILLA POINT OF VIEW, WHO IS YOUR MOST HATED BLUES PLAYER, CURRENT OR FORMER?
I don`t have much time for hate if I`m honest. I think the obvious one is Robbie Savage but I admire how he`s made the most out of a limited (very limited?) talent! I do, and this might shock you, despise Carson Yeung for what he put you all through. That`s because, local rivalries aside, I`m all for the fans of football, we are a hardy breed and are put through hell at times. None of our institutions (which is what our football clubs are) should be treated like some of these nut job owners treat them. Look at what the Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool fans are going through. Then you have the instability at Nottingham Forest and the Leeds guy doesn`t look the sharpest tool in the box either does he!?
TALK ME THROUGH THAT PETER ENCKLEMAN GOAL…
Two words, second one OFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shame he didn`t know the rules really!
HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL THAT BLUES ARE THE ONLY WEST MIDLANDS SIDE TO LIFT A TROPHY IN THE LAST TWO DECADES?
We have lorded it up enough over you guys, I can take the banter back. For the decent Blues fans I wasn`t upset to see a Midlands club win. I know a few wanted us to do better in the FA Cup final last year, I know a good few more didn`t mind you!
WHAT VILLA PLAYER SHOULD BLUES BE WARY OF?
I actually think we`ve got a decent squad here now and so should be doing SO much better (hence RDM going after such a short space of time, as mad as it looked, was right). I`d love to see Gary Gardner score one of his screamers against you, or two or three! Jonathan Kodjia knows where the goal is as well. Our main problem has been supply. This sort of game might also suit Ross McCormack.
IF YOU COULD SIGN ONE CURRENT BLUES PLAYER FOR THE VILLA SQUAD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
None, too much baggage for players to move from one club to the other.
WHAT IS YOUR PREDICTION FOR THE GAME?
3-1 to the Villa. I will be honest though, I`ve said that for pretty much every game this season so far. I`ll be right one day though, maybe!
I would say good luck but hey, you`d know I was lying if I did!
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