So just how have Villa managed to get around any sanctions at all ?

Excluding promotion & other one off costs & income, Aston Villa made an operating loss of £84 million in 2018/19, a record for a Championship side #AVFC https://t.co/TzLhRApGzo

Aston Villa appears to have made £36m profit from the sale of Villa Park, £14.5m in HS2 compensation, £10.6m from player sale profits, paid £16m bonuses on promotion & paid £30m to Randy Lerner on being promoted #AVFC https://t.co/XbfwnNww1o

Aston Villa had £22m in the bank at end of 18/19 and have racked up total losses of £449m over the years #AVFC https://t.co/PpeY1jznzO

Aston Villa paid £175 in wages (including promotion bonuses) for every £100 of income in 2018/19 #AVFC https://t.co/l65DvwhlXZ

Aston Villa player trading 18/19. Purchases £31.2 million, sales £12.8m https://t.co/SYC71QIV4i

Aston Villa owed £56.7m for the sale of Villa Park at end of 18/19. Appears to write off £30m due from @Dr_TonyXia who failed to pay for extra sum due to Randy Lerner in event of promotion https://t.co/QoCQ5bOVnP

Aston Villa, despite 7 years in the Premier League & 3 years of parachute payments, made operating losses of £450 million in the 2010-19 decade #AVFC https://t.co/36XXvu6fr5

There's lots more on Twitter plus the postings of invoices for all to see ...
Amazing

Well it is "straight out of the frying pan and into the fire" for Hibs after a disgraceful capitulation v Hertz on Tuesday night!! THERE HAS TO BE A REACTION FROM THE MANAGER AND THE PLAYERS!!! I DEMAND IT AND I'M SURE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF ANGRY, SHORT-CHANGED HIBS FANS WHO SHARE A SIMILAR SENTIMENT!! So where do we start?? IMO we deal with this accident-prone defence that I've been "banging on" about for months!!! Jackson and Hanlon together? Stevo at full back? Whadya think? Does Jack Ross ignore this issue and just "read the riot act" or finally impose changes? We need to toughen that defence now!! It looks like McNulty will be suspended but I'd actually play young Jamie Gullan anyway as McNulty was dreadful v Hertz! Also secure a mid "anchor role" and lets protect our defence in the same way that we used to do it with Mark Milligan and more rigidly with big Marv!! We need effective action and must move forward positively!!! Lastly one question I'd pose after watching that debacle last night - "Is our manager as tactically astute as we assume that he is"? Has he learned from his Sunderland failure? I'd like to think so but wonder if that is truly the case!! IMO never as good as Neil Lennon but Jack Ross can easily change that by managing with real vision, nous and awareness in the weeks/months ahead and proving any doubters to be wrong.

GGTTH

Good end to end game that could have gone either way.
They were quick on the counter attack and ran rings around our defence when they had the ball.
They were a good team but why oh why did they have to resort to dirty cheating tactics. With the weak referee we had they just got away with falling over, players repeatedly going down when we were on top to slow our tempo down and blatant handballs some of which they got away with. They were in the refs and linesmens faces every single decision. They annoying thing was they could play and there was just no need for it. It needed stamping out early doors by the ref but as usual he bottled it.

For once Pemberton got his subs wrong IMO, he took Tyson off who was having a good game for Fondop who was just woeful. He took Mandeville off who was doing ok for Boden who looked well below par but was in the right place at the right time for our 3rd. The inspired sub was Hutchinson. We were 2-3 down and my thought was god, a baptism of fire but the lad was superb. He looked confident, quick, good on the ball and single handedly laid on the 3rd goal on for Denton to nod down to Boden. He really is one to watch and showed plenty of promise.

Disappointing to lose in the last minute again but we were in it right through to the end. Some minutes earlier we hit the side netting with most of the East Stand thinking it had gone in, if only it had.

Our defence should have done better for all 3 of their goals but they were very fast. Watching Evans and Hollis is like watching the Titanic turn. Cropper made a bit of a hash of it for the 3rd and I don't rate him that much considering he was supposed to be one of Burnleys emerging talents.

Oh well onwards and upwards - hopefully.

THE MATCH

WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 7:45PM KICK OFF

v

LAST MATCH



Normal service resumed as we slump to a another pathetic defeat. The game was over by the 30th minute after an unfortunate deflection for the first goal but then we gave the ball away for Derby's 2nd & 3rd as they waltzed through to score on both occasions. Some fans decided to leave after the third goal and you cant really blame them. We made a few changes and we were the better team in the 2nd hald although this was more down to Derby being happy with 3 goals. We did pull one back through Windass but never really looked like getting anything from the game.

THE MATCH



On to the Cup and the daunting task of playing Manchester City, fresh from winning the League Cup on Sunday. City wont be winning the league the is season but could win 3 of the cups on offer - League, FA and Champions League, with the League Cup already secured. They have a talented squad and will, have a strong line-up on Wednesday, with the likes of De Bruyne, Silva, Jesus, Mahrez possible starters. Pep Guardiola is in charge and seems to take most competitions seriously. Even the most ardent of Wednesday fans knows this will be damage limitation on Wednesday, with a lot fearing a cricket score.

CURRENT FORM

OWLS               -                            

CITEH              -                                

THE BASTARD IN THE BLACK

Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant Referees: Adam Nunn & Stuart Burt
Fourth Official: Peter Bankes

NO VAR THIS GAME

THE TEAM

Does it matter, whoever he pick will get thrashed

(451)
Dawson
Palmer Iorfa Borner Fox
Murphy Lee Pelupessy Bannan FF
Fletcher

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

0-5 Jesus

ATTENDANCE

20211

BML STANDINGS

SCO 19
Washington 18
Pei 16
Imre 16
Wereham 16
Owlkev 11
Stateside 10
Southey 8

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Leicester v Birmingham
Tottenham v Norwich
Kilmarnock v Aberdeen
Livingston v Celtic
Rangers v Hamilton

HHAAH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC





One for Washington



The thread awaits the Meggo of Statesides choice.[/b]

Did you catch Jordan Flores's goal for Dundalk at the close of last night's Match of the Day?

I'd take him back now in the hope he might one day do it again.

It must be somewhere on the net or YouTube.

By the way Ricky German came on after 12 minutes for Crawley at Exeter. An' I hadn't had the sense to go.

And double by-the-way Jamie Lowry featured for Plymouth Parkway in the Quarter Final of the FA Vase. Unfortunately they went down 2-0 at Hebburn, but they do currently lead the Western League.

Player Pts CS CR GB BB SB
Beefy 21 1 6 5 3 1
Zinman 20 2 5 NP 3 1
Bomber 19 2 3 5 3 1
Themaclad 15 0 5 5 3 1
Sanjay 15 1 5 5 -3 1
A.A.A. 13 1 4 NP 3 0
B.B.B. 8 0 4 5 -3 0
St Charles 7 0 4 -3 3 1
Derby -2 0 2 -3 -3 0

A good scoring week again for most. Beefy hits the top this week, scoring 21 points and picking up points on 7 of the games. He was one of 5 players to pick up a CR on the Gamball and scored points on his other 2 balls as well, will he be able to claw his way out of the relegation spots?? Second place goes to Zinman on 20 points. He seems to have found some form again and while it won't win him anything it should see him stay in the division!! 3rd spot is our leader Bomber on 19 points and considering the only two above him are battling against relegation he will clearly increase his lead at the top!!

Themaclad and Sanjay are 4th with 15 points. Themaclad is still pushing the top 2 places but he will need to step it up if he wants to catch Bomber!! Sanjay is solidifying his place in mid-table. AAA is 6th on 13 points. He could actually still challenge the guys at the top if he can just put in some great weeks, but his reluctance to play the Gamball is costing him most weeks, this week it cost him 3 points, maybe its tile he took a Gamble by playing the Gamball??

Past leader BBB comes in 7th, he got a CR Gamball but not much else. This score will see him drop further behind Bomber and his second place could be in danger now as well. St Charles is 8th on 7 points, his usual zero CS keep his score low and being one of only 2 players not to score points on the Gamball sums up his season!! Derby comes in last on -2 points, a complete mare for him, missing all his balls and only getting 2 CR!! He is right in the relegation mix with SCO and with Beefy scoring well the relegation scrap is well and truly on!!!!

Cheers
SCO

   


Snooty 20pts 2CS 5CR 5GB 6BB 1SB
MightyB 19pts 1CS 6CR 5GB 3BB 1SB
Amelia 17pts 1CR 7CS 5GB -3BB 1SB
Stairs 13pts 0CS 4CR 5GB 3BB 1SB
Baggie1 9pts 1CS 3CR 5GB -3BB 1SB
LadyJane 9pts 0CS 5CR -3GB 3BB 1SB
Twerton 9pts 0CS 4CR 5GB -3BB 1SB
Joker Didn't turn up!

Joker, where are you? We missed you! Is this a desperate attempt to make sure you're in the same division as Beefy next year?

So Joker chose to take a mid-season break this week, but everyone else did OK. It was a very good weekend for our friends from 'Uddersfield as a rare win for their beloved stripes coincided with their game being the gamball. Balls were generally well played this week with only one player missing out on the gamball and everyone picking up the scoreball point. Bonuses were not so great with 3 players losing points on it though all from different games.

After a poor recent run, Snooty is back on top thanks largely to his maximum bonus ball. He had fallen to joint bottom of the table but, perhaps spurred on by the fear of the ridicule he faced from Amelia, he appears to have refocused his efforts. MightyBrom is another one who had fallen off recently but he rediscovered some form to collect 19 points, actually scoring on more games than Snooty. Amelia went one better in terms of correct result predictions but was let down by a bonus failure to only claim 3rd place. She is however making a late charge for promotion and is now very much in the running - it just shows the benefit of using Beefy's balls properly (something the master himself could learn from....master???)

Stairs failed to get a correct score and only managed 4 correct result predictions, but a full set of balls helped him to a respectable 13 points though not enough to lift him from bottom place which he now again occupies on his own. Lady Jane was the only person to lose points on the gamball but scored on 50% of the games to end up level with both Baggie_One and Twerton - 9 points would normally be ok but this week it appears Beefy picked some easy games!

And then there was Joker.....or rather there wasn't Joker.

Twerton still has a commanding lead at the top but the chase for 2nd place is hotting up!

Zinman, or as I should really be, Cabman (and no, I haven't just got a job as an Uber driver).

   

2 points for a correct result
4 points for a correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score       
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Random Badger gives you 2 points

The random badger is used for any random prediction used once in each matchday sequence. For instance, a scorer at a particular match, the number of red cards in the matches or yellow cards or own goals or owt you want really within reason, I do need to be able to check whether it's correct or not. Please don't put stuff like....."Commentator says...."  
The joker   is played for one match in each sequence and if correct you get double points. So if you've predicted 1-0 and it finishes 2-0, you get 4 pts, but if you've predicted 2-0, that's 8 pts. But if you get it wrong, it's minus 2.
Jokers and badgers are optional. You don't have to play one if you don't want.


Cup games:
In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  

Friday 6th March:
Nottingham Forest v Millwall

Saturday 7th March:
Leeds v Town
Town scorers:
Leeds scorers:

Bristol City v Fulham (12:30)
Barnsley v Cardiff City
Birmingham City v Reading
Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday
Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough
Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers
Stoke City v Hull City
Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion
Wigan Athletic v Luton Town

Sunday 8th March:
Derby County v Blackburn Rovers (15:00)

Bonus match:
Sunday:
Premier League:
Manchester United v Manchester City (16:30)

Table after Matchday 31:
neonfoxinthebox = 713 pts
jjamez = 687 pts
theo_luddite = 673 pts
Baggiebob(BBB) = 667 pts
themaclad = 664 pts
St Charles Owl = 629 pts
ritchiebaby = 613 pts
SHEP_HTAFC = 598 pts
Lord Snooty = 583 pts
Amelia Chaffinch = 560 pts
Beefy 1965 = 536 pts

So we have an Embro Derby match following success for both clubs in their Scottish Cup quarter-finals and being drawn together in the forthcoming semi-final in April. However, for Hibs it is a case of "put that aside for the time being" and focus on a match v a team that is bottom of the Scot Prem and severely weakened as a team as well as playing "dodgy" hi press tactics with the wrong players! Also note Hibs have only lost one match since the turn of the year. So the emphasis from Jack Ross must be to continue with this positive momentum v a bottom league team that disnae win league matches and is under severe pressure to play because they are embroiled in a relegation battle while Hibs must be looking up towards the achievable 3rd or 4th spots that they have got close to due to the positive results under JR's stewardship. C'mon Hibs! We wanna win this match and possibly even win it well as we now have the striking capability to "do damage"!

GGTTH

And a plucky Saints' team finally "undone" by Ryan Christie who was sorely missed v Copenhagen on Thursday night. Saints probably didn't deserve this defeat but remember this is a record 34th consecutive domestic cup win for the Hoops and they know how to "grind out" a result even though the Saints definitely had the scoring opps to cause an upset this afternoon. Anyway, the Hoops are now "hot favs" to lift this cup and attain another domestic "treble" following Rangers embarrassing "rank rotten" performance/defeat v Hertz at Tynecastle. IMO, barring injuries, Celtic now have no Euro distraction and they will become stronger as the season draws to a close and so many decent players fully recover from their injuries to find their best form.

Dreading it already, hopefully our lads are up for it as we know for sure Hearts will be.