Dear Roker Report,
Hope everyone is keeping safe and well.
I would just like your thoughts on Dan Neil and Jack Diamond not being involved in any of our Third Division games this season.
It seems to me that Parkinson does not know talent when he sees it. We are so slow in the middle of the park it’s unbelievable – surely these two ought to be given a chance?
Best Regards
A. Finn
Ed’s Note [Martin]: It’s been disappointing not to see Neil or Diamond feature as yet, and they showed in the Carlisle game they add something to the team. Parkinson isn’t a manager who gives young players too much of a chance, but hopefully these two will get first-team action sooner rather than later – however, based solely on results so far, it’s hard to criticise Parkinson too much this season.
Dear Roker Report,
In a recent article [Fans Letters, 1953 and all that] you mentioned that in Villa beating the reigning champions Liverpool 7-2 they surpassed our 7-1 over reigning champions Arsenal.
No, we only conceded 1, Villa conceded 2 – so Sunderland are still best!
It’s a pity that we have to go back to 1953 for these good results, and actually 53/54 was a dreadful year – we just escaped relegation, which would have been our first one ever.
Bob Tate
Ed’s Note [Martin]: There’s nothing wrong with your eyesight is there Bob?! It took me as while to find that one! But you’re absolutely right – the caption in the picture said Villa surpassed our scoreline in 1953, and they obviously didn’t. It’s certainly a pity that we have to go back that far for our real glory days, however the achievements of the club in the first half of the 20th century just underline that we are a huge club, a giant of the game, and that should never, ever be forgotten.