Modern Life Is Rubbish!

Its fair to say that like a dog facing the midday sun, the recent transfer window's have driven us all slightly mad. It got me thinking, because I've never known such hysteria in all my years following the Villa. Why?

In years gone by, with clubs able to sign players all the way up to Easter, I kept one eye on the papers for most of the year, hoping for links to players, and ultimately, transfers. I remember, a long long time ago, I had a little habit of going on teletext looking for the adverts for 'clubcall' type phonelines. You know the type, the old premium 49p a minute things.
Under the names of each club would be a headline. The one I remember specifically was 'International defender in £1m link'. A few days later we signed Staunton.

But that was it. The odd mention in the Sun, The Evening Mail and bloody clubcall(!).

Now its fair to say the rise of the internet webby thing happened a while back, though its current reach probably peaked within the last 5 years. Most of those 5 years coming at a time that Villa could not/would not compete in the market.

So, this is new to most of us, no?

Basically its my belief that with the level of access we all now enjoy to information, to rumours, makes everyday without a signing feel like torture. I've read a lot of posts this week, brimming with frustration at the lack of our activity. But who, so far has made moves? The relegation threatened teams, certainly, doing exactly what the authorities tried to stamp out by introducing the transfer window to this country in the first place. The Bradford City business model of signing a shed load of average players on inflated contracts, in the misguided belief that relegation can be staved off at this stage of the season.

In fact the biggest story on skysports news today is about a manager cancelling a press conference!

But its not just football that this 'new media' influences. Foreign Affair's are now a minefield and no move can be made without the details appearing on a conspiracy website, news site or blog.

So I for one would like to raise a glass to the Defoe/Doyle/Chimbonda/Boswinga/Miguel/Mellberg/Laursen/Barnes links and the access to Villa directors and the chance to argue the toss.

UTV

ps Tenner says we sign an Egyptian right back from the Austrian third division.....

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