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Aston Villa's Christmas gift-giving is almost as shambolic as their season so far

The Villains gave us more laughs than they have Premier League points in this ‘bad Santa’ video.

Aston Villa FC / YouTube

OFFICIAL FOOTBALL CLUB Christmas videos are usually dull as dishwater.

Why would anybody risk doing anything entertaining when they can just stand glumly and tick it off the list of club obligations until next year?

But, this holiday season, Aston Villa no longer care about being a laughing stock as they sit propping up the Premier League table with just one win in 15 games. On Villa’s YouTube channel, in between such seasonal dross as ‘Christmas shopping with Ian Taylor,’ Remi Garde’s pre-match press conference, Zat Knight’s left-foot swinger against Arsenal in ’08 and John Gregory’s appearance in a music video, there’s this incredibly entertaining ‘Bad Santa’ gift-giving clip – where, thankfully, the players’ dire league situation is not mirrored by their mood.

This is a great video for many reasons, but we have to separate them out into two categories: the scripted forced-banter parts brought by the presents and the free-flowing, off-the-cuff slapstick nature they just can’t help lending to it.

In the scripted corner [SPOILER ALERT, YouTube fans]

  • There’s a blow-up mattress for Jack Grealish, in case he wants to lie down… 

jack g

… y’know, in Tenerife or wherever.

  • Ciaran Clark has a brand new Daniel O’Donnell album.

“You pretend you’re Irish, so we thought…”

villa

It’s the unscripted treats that really make it worth watching

  • Micah Richards’ laugh is more infectious than man flu.
  • And then there’s this grand finale.

villa christmas

While Richards’ laugh screeches over everything, his playful jab at Gabi Agbobonlahor causes a domino effect that ends with Angry Alan Hutton careering over the Christmas tree.

At least they can smile at this difficult time, God love them.

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7 Comments
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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 13th 2020, 10:15 PM

    That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.

    Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Sep 13th 2020, 10:17 PM

    @Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Sep 14th 2020, 12:20 AM

    @Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.

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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 14th 2020, 9:22 AM

    @Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
    I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Sep 14th 2020, 9:47 AM

    @Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.

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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 14th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!

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