Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Friday July 20 2007
Time: 9:00AM
UK time is: 01:34:01
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West Ham Fan On Villa Arrivals
So what do you think of Villa buying Nigel Reo-coker and Marlon Harewood?
I'm not sad to see them go. Both departures were widely expected.
Which, if any are you most sorry to see leave?
NRC is the better player - and younger. He's unpopular with the fans though, so neither.
Seems we like Hammers players, any others on offer?!
What's that I see in the West Midlands? Why, it's a Lee Bowyer shaped-hole!
Villa fans were fairly disappointed at the purchase of Marlon Harewood, any words in his defence or - as we are meant to be aiming high now - was it a bad buy?
It seems odd given the money invested at VP, but.. Harewood's had 2 seasons in the Premiership - one good, one poor. If he learns from last season (and he was hardly alone in underperforming) then who knows? MON is a good motivator after all. I suspect he'll have a decent spell at some point this season but probably won't win the Golden boot. He's a confidence player - see hat trick from 2 seasons ago (v Scunthorpe or Burnley or some other claret and blue rubbish that isn't West Ham!) and then see penalty miss v Watford last season (at home, 1-0 down, we were in the relegation zone at the time, Watford were pretty much already down.) Overall, I'd be disappointed in your shoes.
Hammers fans don't seem to like either NRC or Harewood. Why is that, the one was the captain so must have done something right and the other seems to have a relatively decent scoring record?
NRC was always popular before this season. In August 06 it seems we turned down a bid from one of the big 4 for him without telling him. He was playing badly after that (as were many of them) but Reo-Coker bore the brunt of the fan's frustrations. I don't know how fair this was. I would suggest that perhaps being captain didn't suit such a young man when he clearly had problems with his own form and, perhaps, motivation. The team improved noticeably the day Lucas Neill was given the armband. Despite what many fans say, NRC is a good player in my view.
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Your Comments
An honest assessment, though I think he was being a little diplomatic and trying to hide some bitterness there. It doesn't matter now how well/badly either of them performed before, its a fresh start and a new club under a new, highly motivational, manager. I hope and believe that MON can get the best out of both of them....time will tell.
jonah
It seems the ammers fans are bit unforgiving I know they had to put up with some rubbish from their team but I don't think they helped the situation much either,a few seeds of negativity (sounds familliar) quickly snowballed after a bad start,and that couldn't have helped the players.
Pking
All fans are quite notorious in turning against players they perceive as being disloyal. In their heart of hearts I think they badly wanted to keep R-C. They have been particularly hard on Harewood but the fact remains, last season aside, he did a very good job for them. He may not win the Golden Boot it's true, but neither will Bellamy at triple the price. Interesting to see if Bellend scores three times the amount of goals as Harewood this season.
Saurat
Seriously, all it takes is a look at a few West Ham forums from any time of the past season and you'll see the issues they have with the two players started way, way before they left!
DerryVillan
Well the majority of Villa fans have shown they don't want Harewood, the West Ham fans don't seen very upset about his departure, yet the excuse makers still try to explain it away.
Why is that ?
On the one hand we are expected to accept O'Neill is great can do noe wrong o
avfc48
avfc48 - Totally agree with your comments - I think MON is a great manager and a good motivator - However he is only human and can make mistakes like the rest of us - I think that we need to remember this from time to time
VillaBob
avfc48,have you ever worked for the samaritans?
Pking
have you ever seen one foot in the grave?
Pking
I don't know about him working for the samaritans Pking, reading much more of his doom and gloom will have me calling them!!!
jonah
Tell you what AVFC48, how about if Harewood scores 10 + goals this season will you agree to never come on this site and write your never ending drivel. To everybody else, lets judge at the end of next season.......(and lets hope Harewood scores 10+, just to shut up AVFC48)
astonmilan
Check out this link to a post by gmvilla on Villatalk, this guy posts proper constructive thoughts, unlike some people we all know. It just about sums up the reality of things. http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3672
astonmilan
To be fair, astonmilan, that may sum up your opinion of the "reality" of things but would be highly presumptuous to suggest that is the only view out there!
DerryVillan
Are these the type of players you need to get you breaking into the top4, or Even UEFA glory?? They seem a little lightwieght for that.
huscarl
the best teams are greater than the sum of their parts.
Pking
i think it shows how different fans can be. for example he ses that he had 1 good season and 1 bad, which means in their eyes hes not a good player and they dont like him.
while over at villa angel had the same thing, one good season and a hell of a lot more bad seasons but some of us still see him as a villa legend! how odd
holtevillan
First, avfc48, I absolutely dispute your continued implication that "the vast majority of villa fans have shown they don't want Harewood". Try reading some of the posts that DON'T agree with your negativity and clear hatred of Martin O'Neill. (Did he accidentally scratch your new car or something?) Second, I am really frustrated with statements such as "are these the type of players you need to get you breaking into the top 4". Of course they aren't! Read this very carefully: IT IS VERY UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL FINISH IN THE TOP 4 IN ONE SEASON. There. I've dared to say it. Fans with functioning brain cells understand that it will realistically take a number of seasons to get our beloved club into the top 4, and we have to be able to compete for those top spots BEFORE the top players will even consider coming to us. It is a vicious circle that managers outside the top 4 have to break somehow. IT WILL TAKE TIME!!!
BobTheBuilder
I really believe NRC and laterly Tevez were West Ham's best players last season, NRC was blinding against us. AVCFC48 - you had the same negative views Ashley Young when he came. Also the continual scapegaotism is tiresome (e.g. Petrov) - Come on what players should we be signing then? Give us some concrete examples.
tarzan
I'm crocheting a doily and have run out of yarn, can anyone help?
Aiden McGreedy
Bias and bad blood. thank you adam mansell
AussieVilla
Interesting comment bob tthe builder.
pity the poll recently conducted on theis site suggested 47% were gutted at Harewoods signing. don't know much about your grasp of language but that looks like a pretty big majority.
when have I ever said Villa will finish in the top 4 this season ?
I have never condemned the Young signing, like I have never condemned Reo Coker's far from it. I haver said and repeatedly so that the price paid was a little over the top which from a manager who today said he would pay over the odds seems a little hypocritical ??
As to those wishing to throw insults carry on, anyone reading them fully understands the limitations that make you do so.
avfc48
avfc48 what a giant you are, an intellectual in a sea of idiots, enlighten us oh great one. Actually the only thing giant about you is your ego, What a sad little man you are.
jonah
I'm just looking for solid progress over the next few yeas and that should be the wish of every true Villa supporter. Just get behind MON and the team and give them 110% support every week - "rain and shine". Ron Saunders did it 30 years ago against insuperable internal Club problems and given your unerring support and trust, I'm absolutely convinced MON will do it for us now. "All you true Villans, get down on your knees and pray (Tony Butler, BRMB 1981)"
villacross
I might be a sad little man in your eyes jonah but at least I can put a sentence or two together, make a point and not criticize or try to denigrate a fellow Villa fan, simply because I can't do either of the other two.
Surprise me put up an article yourself.
In days gone by Villa were always buying other clubs caste off, Collymore, Baros, to name two.
We now have a new regime, a new optimism and what are we doing.
avfc48
AVFC48 - Shut up man, you bug me. Your diatribe is insipid and inspiring of the remarks you recieve...you reap what you sew. Also, whilst on the point of contradiction you stated in a previous article that villa had "a goodish start" then went on to say we had a "great end" to the season - both were 9 game unbeaten runs but you had to concentrate on the middle "stutter" didn't you (rhetorical). So, in fact, it is you who are contradictory my fellow. UTV. p.s. you were also being contradictory and hypocritical when you typed "make a point and not criticize or try to denigrate..." as it is you who always do this to Martin in your 'articles'. Jonah, give us an article and show this dude how it's really done. p.p.s It must be nice being perfect.
koolbill
Jonah - Please disregard the personal remarks aimed at you. Unfortunately those that cannot find facts or evidence to destroy your opinions will always resort to personal insults. It must be their animal instinct. If I was an outsider and not a Villa fan I would have to agree with you that Harewood's signing is very questionable. But I am not an outsider, I am a true Villa fan and am prepared to back the manager 110% until he has had sufficient time. ie 3 or 4 years, not less than 12 months. I think you should also give him more time. He won't let us down!
villacross
Ah I see, you're one of those who mistakes opinion polls for fact, avfc48. You'll be one of those who believed Neill Kinnock was going to No 10 then. Lol. I don't have any problem with you having a view on MON or NRC or MH. My problem, and I suspect that of most on here, is that you do your best to damn everything and everyone about the current Villa setup with faint praise. You sound like a really big Doug Ellis fan, bitter and twisted after RALs takeover, who can't bear the thought that anything good might come after the Ellis years of sterility. I for one am prepared to give MON and RAL a good deal of time to make good their promises. After all, HDE had 23 years. If you have an opinion on a player, or MONs ability, or anything else, then fine. But for heaven's sake come out of the closet and don't keep trying to wrap it up in fine words. Stop undermining everything that Villa do - you sound like Quisling!
BobTheBuilder
villacross - plz not the 110%! Mathmatically impossible! - 100% is your maximum I'm afraid. If you over step this mark again I'm afraid I'm going to have to believe you are exceeding all expectations and being totally unrealistic. I will say MON is building a team and a team is comprised of all sorts of 'pieces'. Fitting these pieces together is what he is doing. When you buy any player, AVFC48, technically they are castoffs. Name one player bought from another team that isn't! Every player has a price and it's up to each club to meet that price. Henry was an Arsenal castoff - doesn't make him a poor player does it? What I think u need to do is buy a cast off of your own and perhaps you'll be smiling like the rest of us!
myleftfoot
Who is this sad little man of yours (his quote) who is trying to take my title. There is only one Arse48 - no other 48 can compare. Why not try buying our cast offs - Bentley and Sidwell have done OK.
arse48
avfc48 as you well know, I put up an article a few days ago. And there is no might about it, you ARE a sad little man.
jonah
There`s enough tributes to Marlon on youtube to suggest we may have a bargain my friends! Feel free to view Carew/Gabby and Marlons goals with a big smile :)
ASPINALL
An honest appraisal by our West Ham friend. I'm pleased with both arrivals though. Two good pieces of business in my humble opinion.
glensider
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