Why Thommo was right to turn Villa down

By Robbie Savage

Published 22:57 09/09/10

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Not surprised to see Phil Thompson turning down the chance to become Gerard Houllier's Aston Villa assistant.

He admitted that while it would have been a great challenge, the thought of 12-hour days, long scouting missions and so much time away from the family put him off when he's got a great gig with Sky's Soccer Saturday.

It's exactly the same dilemma I am facing as I come towards the end of my playing career.

I would love to be involved as a coach and maybe even one day as a manager, but media work at least gives you a little time to relax.

Aston Villa have missed out on a good coach. But at least the rest of us still get to enjoy one of the great things about football on TV - Thommo's priceless reactions every time Liverpool lose!

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Alberto Bueno, our new loan signing from Real Madrid, looks really exciting in training. But I think the lad's in for a culture shock.

Have a search for him on YouTube. There's a video in which he scores a fantastic goal and is swarmed by Robinho and Wesley Sneijder.

I bet he'll feel just as glamorous if he puts one past Sheffield United on Saturday and turns round to see me and James Bailey running towards him with our arms outstretched.

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ROBBIE HATES... My new reputation. Since that bloke came on 6-0-6 and wrongly accused me of watching as a kid carried seven pairs of trainers out of a local shop and to my car, people have 'spotted' me buying seven pairs of laces at a time. And I've also been seen laughing while my three-year-old lugged 14,000 hairbrushes home.

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