Written by Damian Friday, 19 June 2009 06:24
If you are going to believe reports in The Sun and The Guardian today, then Martin O'Neill needs to go spend some money on some real quality players, otherwise Ashley Young is going to do the off.
I wouldn't blame him either if this is true. I mean no disrespect to the likes of Heskey or Knight or Salifou or Harewood but we are desperate for quality and we are desperate for more players, if it doesn't happen you can almost understand why Young would want to leave. Barry had heard the blarney so many times before he left to a team that finished 10th last season.
If Martin O'Neill wants to turn us into another Leicester or thinks he can win things managing the way Brian Clough used to manage with a group of hard working players, he needs a wake up call. He needs more quality and greater numbers and I'm convinced he knows this and the wake up call isn't necessary.
Although I'm not sure our owner does and I'm fairly confident O'Neill knows exactly how much he has to spend and I'm also fairly sure it isn't going to be enough, but I'd love to be wrong. Lerner needs to fund the addition of five players to walk into the team, if he doesn't, we might as well pack up before the season starts, because that is what we need to move forward.
Someone said yesterday in the comments that O'Neill learns, I hope so, because we made a lot of mistakes last season and it needs to change. I guess we will find out with how he sets his team out in pre-season.
More later, I just thought this should go up sooner rather than later as it was in two papers.
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Milk
said:
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... I wouldnt blame young for wanting to leave either if we cant match his ambitions. I still have faith though. We'll sign some quality soon, we have to! Second half of last season was relegation form, we cant continue like that. |
Cool_it_down
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... Please read Damians last post from the previous thread. Damian - it's just that sort of post from you that makes me sigh, it's negative can you not see that? Are you really a Villa supporter. I don't have enough time to go through point for point right now but I will when I have enough time. Some of us have a proper days work to do. I'd just like to point out to all your other bloggers that you're saying what Martin O'Neill has acheived at Villa thus far is NOTHING??? NOTHING??????????? seriously mate you're off your head. And what's all this take Clough away and he has acheived nothing, I really am scratching my head wondering if you're a Blues supporter runnning an AVFC blog. If I had the time Damian I'd start my own blog with interesting posts looking at the brighter things of Aston Villa, good times and look more into the reasons why transfers haven't happened rather than bang on and on chucking my toys out of the pram like you're. My respect for you is zero, you have no idea, your life must be very dull not seeing positives in anything. You're a dick. |
Damian
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... This is the last comment you can make on here continuing like this. By all means comment on the post but if you want to get into this, visit the forum and bring it up there. Who has said we've achieved nothing unler O'Neill? Not me. but you are saying it's the best for 25 years, well, it isn't. O'Leary got us 6th. As for me taking Clough away, it was on the back of you saying look at what O'Neill has achieved in his career, it was in defence of you telling everyone to look at their careers over what O'Neill has achieved. I should, actually now reading your comment delete it, as you've broken one of the rules about commenting, but I won't, because the site needs people like you. People that believe the PR and nothing else. |
Cool_it_down
said:
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... Damian - you're so blinded with your hatred that you can't see what all normal fans can, you're negative. Take away clough and he acheived nothing? Well take away Man Utd and Sir Alex wouldn't have a job, great argument that. It's an acheivement surely Damain, please tell me you agree or i'll quit here and now trying to put any point of view over to you. MON has also go us 6th two years in a row, you didn't beleive last year that he'd get anywhere with the transfers he made but he did, surely Damain you have to agree that 6th two year in a row with a small squad is an acheivement? Did O'Leary get us 6th two years in a row? did O'leary give you the same hoope and belief??? And why will you barr me Damian, please explain |
AVFCBristol
said:
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... I think Cool_It_Down needs to...cool it down haha... I agree with you to an extent Damian, we do need quality and signing more Heskey's and Knights just won't do. Jenas, Huddlestone and Bentley are just not currently good enough, although the latter two may come good in a couple of years, we can't wait that long having lost seasonsed professionals. We don't have the luxury of buying for the future in the midfield. We did that with Young and Milner, but now it's time to buy players in or very near their prime. Real Madrid are having the mother of all car-boot sales, and even if we didn't manage to sign someone like van der Vaart (who by the way, I think we could sign if we pushed our financial limits a bit), it would still show Young et al that we mean business. |
Jinksy
said:
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... Damian i'm with you on this mate. MON has got to change his ways & Mr Learner has got to Cough up. If neither happens the fans will turn. It's time to put up. He also wants to put to bed these these storys of Carew & Young leaving because if that happens he'll get lynched. |
Damian
said:
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... Cool_it_down I don't think you understand. If you want to continue this, go into the forum. But, I will answer you, for the very last time. Any more that isn't related to this post, will get deleted. I didn't say I would 'barr' you. Read what I commented. I have no hatred towards Aston Villa, Martin O'Neill or Randy Lerner. What I have is a desire for success. As for me not thinking we'd get anywhere near 6th with his transfers; well, I predicted we'd finish 6th, it is no secret. I also predicted we'd finish 6th the season before. So, actually I did. Also, O'Leary didn't get us 6th two season in a row, well done. But he was absolutely useless and I was calling for him to get the sack a long time before others and thought it a bad decision hiring him in the first place. The complete opposite is the case for O'Neill. I think he will do well, but he needs the funds. I am the managers biggest fan and if you look through this site you will see that. My issue is the PR from the club and the people that blindly believe it. Actions speak louder than words. Graham Taylor believes we need five players for the first team this season and I agree with him and that is to move forward. If we were to just replace Laursen and Barry we would stand still. As for Sir Alex and take away United. Well, he would have a job, he had European and League success in Scotland and not with Celtic or Rangers. Get a grip. |
colm tarpey
said:
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... As a rule I am an optimistic Villa fan. I have very much enjoyed the O'Neill years and have not only been excited about us rising through the table but also by manner of football that has been played. The frustrations of watching an O'Leary team that literally could not string three passes together have lifted. I think it's far to say MON has been a victim of his own success a little bit. The new owner laid out a plan that would see us playing champions leauge football in 5 years, and us, as supporters have had our expectations raised from what we've seen on the pitch...and rightly so...you have to think big to win big and over the last couple of seasons, it's been our transfer policy that has not reflected that. This has fostered a little bit of resentment... Questions like: are we been taken seriously by the media?. whom see fit to attach our best players to clubs not doing as well as us...we are a selling club? Why do we not 'show ambition' by trying for big name players? How come we haven't even unearthed a cheap forgein gem like wigan, arsenal have in recent times? With so much going right, what is going wrong becomes easier to see... to improve you must be challenged, questioned...and as supporters with the club at heart..that is our job...and blogs like this are the platform for this so don't be too hard on Damien, cool it down, he does a good job most days...which is why we keep coming back..but he gets frustrated liek the rest of us and its up to you to keep him on track ;o) but lets remember our common goal eh? Peace out.. |
MON
said:
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... Cool_it_down Damina will barr you because you can express yourself without having to insult people. Quote "My respect for you is zero, you have no idea, your life must be very dull not seeing positives in anything. You're a dick. " Take it easy mate this is just a blog and everyone to there own opinion. |
Damian
said:
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... Harleystaggers Lovely .. peace out. We all have a common goal, but for me, this is when the club/owner has to stand up and be counted. If it doesn't happen, I fear we will go backwards next season. My worry is, we'll go all summer not signing anyone and towards the end of July we'll sign someone and it will be all okay, regardless of who it is. We need real quality and I don't think some will be fooled by poor signings this summer. |
DavidC
said:
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... MoN doesn't need the funds first and foremost. He needs the time. He needs the likes of us, the fans, to drop our "want it all, want it now" mentality and give him 5 years minimum to win something. Patience. Time. Please. |
Jason
said:
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... Cool_it_down I don't think you understand how a football team improves, anyone who is happy with where they are achieves nothing. It is people who are never happy and always look at how to improve and how to correct mistakes made previously who achieve great things. Alex Ferguson has won everything at United but he never stands still and just keeps trying to get even better. People on this blog aren't being negative, if anything all us fans who are so desperate to improve are the ones being positive in wanting progress and success for Aston Villa. Also what is the point of having a blog if everyone just commented on how wonderful everything is at Aston Villa. Martin O'neill is the best thing to happen to Villa in a long time and i agree that he should probably get more praise for what he has done for Aston Villa, but i think the point people are making is that he is so close to making Villa great again and we seem to be at the point Spurs found themselves recently - you either break into the top 4 or they all come in and buy your best players, undoing all the good work of the last 3 seasons. No Villa fan wants that to happen. |
kieran84
said:
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... And what is the ambition?win the league?not going to happen mate get real,Break the top 4?That already is our ambition. O`NEILL has already quoted madrid and chelsea 30-40 million so why the f**k would he swap him with spurs for jenas and bentley? I can`t believe how easily led people are. |
Majkee
said:
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... "If Martin O'Neill wants to turn us into another Leicester or thinks he can win things managing the way Brian Clough used to manage with a group of hard working players, he needs a wake up call." I do not agree with you. Did you see the U21 match yesterday? 1 James Milner beat the star team of Spain. 11 of James "Workhorse" Milners could win the trophies possibly. |
colm tarpey
said:
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... Damien, Your spot on in what your saying but i guess the proof will be in the pudding.... I love Villa, and I love football and i discuss it most days and have had the 'what would I do?' scenarios runnin through my head (sad sack i know ;o) but Martin O'Neill has forgotton more than i will ever know and although I would love to have Van der vartt or Kaka haring around Villa park, if MON goes and puts Jenas in there...i will not jump on his back i will wait to see what he does... I guess the stipulation there is " Jenas is my first choice" and if thats the case, in MON I trust.... We do need investment...Martin Needs to be getting the players he really wants.... |
ant0004
said:
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... i think we all need to relax, hardly any premiership sides have made any signings as its so early. we have until september to sign players. and im sure martin o'neill is fully aware (better than any fans) of where his squad needs improving. he's doing a great job at villa, can people remember how depressing the atmosphere was before o'neill, there was no hope. whoever he brings to the club, i will support. i think some people who write on here are just passionate but sometimes a bit dillusional,whatever happens this summer atleast we're not blues.  |
AVe iiittt!!!
said:
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... I see we have signed some young kid for the future from Northampton. Hope the rest of the signings arent a load of 'cobblers'. Seriously though i get the feeling MON is going to shock us this year if only to show Ashley his intent. But i wouldnt expect to hear about it first. UTV!! |
peter power
said:
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... fulham have bid £4 million for scharner of wigan and have been given the ok to speak to the player,i think he would be a great signing for the villa but does this mean hangerland is on his way out of fulham and coming to villa?? pleaseeeee god i hope it comes off |
Gee
said:
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... Damien.....I can see where you're coming form, but i disagree that having a 5 or 6 big names is the answer. Both Villa and Everton, 5th and 6th respectively, gave Aresenal a good run for their money last season, without having the Ronaldo's etc throughtout the team.Ultimately we ran foul of a horendous dip in form, but even have top brand players doesn't always get you performance (Arsenal & Chelsea's dip in form during in season point in case). We would all like to see top quality players brought in, but at the same time they need to players that will have the neccessary work ethic. Here's hoping MON can satisfy both our needs!!! |
Jinksy
said:
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... Damian - the best in the last 25 years is Taylor 2nd, Big Ron 2nd & Little 4th.....or am i missing something?? |
bob
said:
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... Yes Damian, you do put a downer on things at times, i like the villa blog,.. but if we read back over the last year or so there has been a lot of knocking things one day and then the opposite the day after, i won't read the reply to this as i have to go out! But i understand cool it down's point,... worst thing that could happen would be to loose oneill, he's loyal, intelligent, and a great chap.... bit more positive please bud  you dont want to be seen as a moaner do you as im sure you dont mean to! Cheers |
The Burp
said:
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... All this stuff about ' time to match the ambition of Ashley Young' as some sort of threat is absolute crap made up by the papers and is stuff you usually scoff at Damian. I agree with you for the most part however and I believe that the funds we will have will probably buy us a few more 6 -7/10 players which isn't going to change much unfortunately and it needs to. Players like Knight, NRC, Shorey etc are simply not good enough to sustain us for an assault on the top 4 and may as well be an incarnation of all the other average players we've had over the years such as Draper, McCann, Vassell, Hughes etc etc. If we want to finish 4th or win a cup next year then serious investment is needed - we need both some marquee signings and some squad players to sustain us. Are we going to get that? |
Damian
said:
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... Jinksy It is all about what you want. for me trophies are important, not finishing 6th. but o'neill can win us trophies if he has the squad bob it is okay to moan, but if you look through, you'll see that i'm a big fan of o'neill. i can see his point, he has hit the site on a day when most were not happy. it isn't every day but and it is just my opinion, we need better players and more of them |
keithj
said:
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... i think the problem is the goalposts keep moving. When randy and MON took over at vp it was to compete with the top 4, we accepted we could not compete with the money of chelsea or the pulling power of MU but gave ourselves a chance against pool and arsenal but now there are a lot more chelsea's so do we have the cash to compete |
Damian
said:
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... The Burp It is paper talk and usually I would just gloss over it but it is in two different papers today from two different stables. Now, it could be that one is just copying the other and quite possible. Or it could be a very subtle way for his agent to get a message out. Bottom line none of us know but would any of us be surprised if Young did leave if we didn't go out and bring in players that could help us take the next step? |
ben
said:
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... oh my god. we are starting to sound like fans of the clubs i hate. "Mr lerner needs to cough up" like we were not one of the highest spending clubs in europe last year. I read blogs about the likes of man city, spurs ect and we are starting to sound just like those fans, like we have some sort of god given right to success. might i remind you how close we came to going down just a few years back. i agree we need improvements in the team and any additions will be welcome as clearly a lack of depth was our biggest obstacle last season. lets be realistic " real madrid are having a fire sale " we cannot attract the likes of robben, snider, klaas huntlaar ect unless we completey destroy our pay scale. im sure spurs or teams like them may sign a van nistilroy or robben but at what cost in the dressing room, i mean its not like this is unpresedented, a big wage signing pissing off the rest of the team. I for one am proud that we do not do our business that way and although it is frustrating when we lose out on players for these reasons i can understand why. Maybe we will never win the league again the way football is becoming but i am and always will be a proud villa fan and proud of the fact that we have a manager who has the best interest of the club at heart and a chairman that although not as rich as some respects the history of our great club and will do all he can to bring us success not just short term but long term & also ensure the long term finacial stability of our team UPTHEVILLA |
Keith
said:
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... Damian I understand where you are coming from, we do need the quality signings and 5 of them at least. But you do tend to dig at MON and Lerner at times when it isnt warranted. What cool it down is saying that on your reckoning that if you took Ferguson away then Giggs wouldnt have been successful. Complete rubbish. MON has been a winner as a player, as a manager and in my view as a person. Give him time and if the signings dont arrive then we can criticise MON or Lerner or both. |
Damian
said:
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... ben we came close to going down because of the manager. we have the right manager now. he needs to be supported. if not, not even he, with all his skills and management ability, can take us further spurs are trying to attract the likes of roben and sneijder (spelling mistakes i'm sure) why cant we? |
Keith
said:
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... Gee The problem is that Arsenal with spend to improve, so will Man City and Spuds. We will have to spend and bring in real quality to have any chance next season, a point MON made himself yesterday. |
Damian
said:
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... keefvilla i'm not criticising MO'N on signings. he can only do a job with the money he has. i am having alittle pop for his 'we are on the lookout' comments i will criticise lerner. not for the free scarves or the great PR but for his lack of investment. but others might see his investment as more than enough, it is opinion based as for Giggs and United - it is nothing like that. Giggs would have been a success and i'm not disputing that. i never even brought up Sir Alex |
Chris
said:
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... Damian i think you are forgetting that lerner has bought villa as a business and has made no attempt to hide this fact. He will spend money and will back martin but you need to see that neither will be held to ransom by our players (Young) or teams asking stupid money for average players. I have a season ticket and young was far from impressive late last year if he wants to go let him. We can replace any of them and there are plenty who would love to come to villa. Would you rather be in Millions of debt or a stable club making steady progress. We need time and lots of it before we will ever compete top four and next season will do well to get in to europa league at all. Other teams have lots more money or are willing to get in to lots of debt. Do you really want to be the next Leeds lay of MON we wont be anywhere near top four next year and its about time we all snapped out of it and see that. I am not trying to put a downer on it be the sooner we accept it the less upset we will all be. I am happy with progress at villa and we might be able to mount some kind of attempt at top four in 3 or 4 seasons time but you all seam to still be on cloud nine. Just remember Villa till i die and we have plenty of time to do something before we do. |
testie
said:
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... Harleystaggers - I too am an optimistic fan i think you are spot on mate. I am in my mid 20's and from my memory as an adult this is the best Villa team I can remember. I was not alive when Villa won the European cup/League last. So many of us in my age bracket just crave the success that our fathers and uncles can remember. Cool_it_down - I can see where your coming from pal although i think you have misunderstood Damien. Like you many times i have came on this site and got a little pissed of with the negative comments on here. However, i have came to realise that all on here have a common interest/goal in being Villa fans. Some in a way with their negativity are just a little more realistic in knowing that money is what runs football. The more optimistic fans are just more hopeful that things will work out because all of us regardless of what happens will support the Villa. Damien you do sound a little negative today but it's quite understandable with what is written in the press. |
RichT
said:
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... As of now Villa are moving backwards! The only way to halt this is by investing in quality players. Damian's not being negative, he's being realistic! If our apparent lack of ambition is matched by our spending in the transfer market then a return to mid-table mediocrity is inevitable and our Young tallent will leave to achieve their goals elsewhere. |
Paul Egan
said:
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... I think the Guardian story is over-hyped, but it may well be going through Ashley Young's mind. I don't think he'll be off this summer anyway. I just wonder if Lerner can match MON's ambition! We do need those 5 players. We need 3 anyway before Barry and Laursen went out of the picture. If we sign someone of the quality of Defour though, I'll be happy! |
Damian
said:
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... Chris Our current debt (based on the last filed accounts) is now more than what Lerner paid for the business. Also, if he is going to run the club purely as a business, as in keeping it 100% solvent, then we are as high as we will ever get in the league. He, as owner and multi-millionaire, has to lend money to the business that doesn't get included in the bracket of money that has to be paid back on specific terms - as in, he has to make a real significant investment in his trust of Martin O'Neill. I know that sounds strange and unrealistic, but it was the case also when he took over. You'll never win anything running a football club as a solvent business. It is a big ask, but isn't that what it is all about? If you had £500mn. how much would you put into Villa? But I am on cloud nine. But the club put me there and I agree it is going to take time, it is just extremely frustrating because even though nothing has really happened this summer I can't see us finishing in the top six next season at the moment. |
Nick
said:
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... If we do not continue to make progress there is no doubt that Ashley Young will leave. Players of his caliber do not spend their careers lingering on a team that is not quite at the top level and has no real ambitions to get there. Do we have real ambitions to get there? Im not sure, but I know this summer is big in showing where we want to go. We have a chance with a relatively young core of players to improve and build around the likes of Ashley Young, but for this to work we need continued improvement from Ashley and his teammates as well as proper investment to bolster and push the team on. Will it happen? It's probably highly unlikely in football. You see this sort of strategy work in other sports when done properly but in football it is especially hard to hold on to your top players if you cannot offer CL football (barry for instance). So you really do not have too long to 'build for the future' when top 4 teams are buying up all of your top talent. What im getting at is this summer is huge, like Damian and others have been saying since we fell out of the running for the CL spots. Right now it has been pretty disappointing but I still have faith in MON to make some really smart and encouraging signings. I just wish it would happen sooner rather than later. |
woodinho
said:
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... Does anyone know if players contracts run from July to July? I've just got a feeling that is the reason we don't buy till July, I have no idea if this is actually true, and it's only something that sprung to mind earlier but I was wondering what others thought? Basically My theory is you could treat buying a player like buying a second hand car. In that I mean if a car is an 06 plate you'd pay less than if it were an 07 plate. Does anyone else think it's like that with players, if a players contract runs out in 2011 you'll pay more than one that runs out in 2010, after all you are not just paying for the players services you are compensating the selling club and if that player had a lot of years left on his contract you'll pay more in compensation. Im almost praying that's the reason so I can start thinking he does this slow buying process for a reason! So he can get more for the funds he has been given! Maybe I'm just trying to give MON a break, and some sort of support for his work over the next couple of months. I've been on his back quite a bit lately and just thought it's time to take step back for a second. Mon is a clever guy, very shrewed in the way he conducts himself, I think it's time to like it or lump it! |
Tim Hillman
said:
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... What is this pick on Damian day. He is entitled to have his opinion just like everyone else. It's his blog and he is allowed to report on Villa related news and speculation how he sees fit. It might be a bit negative from time to time but if he was completely optimistic every post then everyone would get on his back about that. Anyway thats enough from the UN peace treaty. Just watching the premiership years 98/99 season, awesome! Villa 3-2 Arsenal. Dublin Brace! |
keithj
said:
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... ok,,here's a game. we are all going to an auction. lot 69 is a beautiful blonde who promises you the time of your life. start the bidding |
Woz
said:
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... Blimey, there are a few with bad moods today!!! Relax, its Friday. Signings will come, but it wont be the quality we all want. MON will work well with what he has but we're not going to get near 6th next season, shame because the wife tells me this is my last season ticket  Can anyone remember the last player we bought that the selling club did not want to sell? (Milner aside)? Watford were happy to sell young because the price was right, where as Man Shitty can come and take Barry even though we didnt want to sell. Great, depressed myself now! |
Kiwivillan
said:
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... I can't believe it when people question MON's ability they're accused of not being real supporters. A real supporter would question the manager if they think he is making a balls of it. What has MON won? If your happy with to 6th finishes you could be in for a lot of disappointment. MON has a gigantic ego and will never sign a player that is more of a star than himself. The chickens are coming home to roost because he has made stars out of Barry and Young who, unlike Gabby, have no spiritual ties to the club and whose ambition has surpassed what MON is capable of delivering. |
villarobin
said:
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... MAY BE IM MISSING SOMETHING HERE, BUT WHERE IS THE ACTUAL QUOTE FROM ASHLEY YOUNG ? IVE JUST READ ABOUT 5 THREADS BUT NONE OF THEM ACTUALLY HAVE A QUOTE FROM ASHLEY. ISNT THIS JUST THE GUARDIAN STIRRING THINGS UP ?? |
jk92923
said:
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... Damien, as much as i agree with your frustration, i, too, want the success we all deserve after years of mediocrity, but i dont agree that Lerner is just a yank with a cheque book. any footie fan, as Lerner claims to be, knows what a team needs for success. i dont believe he does not know how to run a team, know what sort of players we need etc. Villa is a business, and he is treating it as such. i dont see throwing millions at our problems as a way of suddenly getting a champs league spot.what if it backfires? leeds/newcastle/boro, anyone?? i think delvelopment and patience is a major factor. sure, we need players, but we are armchair supporters and i think landing all the players people are tallking about is a little more different than "i'll have him, him and him". i trust MON is working hard, and i trust Lerner has every faith in MON as well. if Lerner made the list of players he wants, then we are looking at the same issues Liverpool have been taking up so much media time with Perry/Gilett etc and i think a smoothly run team will flourish more so thatn one in a boardroom battle between the Lerner and MON. i agree with majority of what you say damo, but we are still a team in progress and i think we will be for maybe another 2 years. once out profile is raised (hopefully giving a good go at the Europa cup) we WILL challenge, and i am certain of that. but it is blatantly obvious that our frustration lies in the fact that we read the papers who pull teams/players out of a hat and decide to link them as "Villa chase xxx" or "Villa keen on xxx". i am the biggest hypocrite in the world, as i will no doubt post later that MON needs to get the finger out but the partial (i said partial so dont tear me apart...  )negativity against our chairman/manager i think needs to be turned to optimism and real belief that we can challenge in time and when we see Villa today against what we saw 4 yearws ago, we should all feel like we are on top of the world the way Villa have come to the fore front of the "best of the rest". other than that, keep on blogging |
Chris Flatley
said:
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... Damian, yes mate if i had 500 million i would have brought Kaka and Ronaldo which is why you cant run a club as a fanatic fan throwing money around (LEEDS). He is running it as best he can in the current climate do you not think randy has been hit by the credit crunch. We should remember where villa were when MON took over. So progress would have been 8th or 9th. We simply wont finish 5th next season and yes the club may have put us all on cloud nine but maybe we are the fickle fans O'leary called us. We all need to grow a back bone and accept that last season was a lucky one. Looking at the attendance league last season it was not one of a top 4 side mate 8th not good enough. An average of 39,000 nearly 3,000 less than the previous. Love the page mate at least I don't have to talk to the wife about it anymore. |
peter haworth
said:
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... This is now the moment of truth for MON and Lerner.The last 3 months of the season were awful and on that form we would have been relegated!!Just to try and stay in the top 6 next season WE need the 5 quality signings if we are to compete on all fronts.Without Barry and Laursen it could be argued we need 7 new signings for the squad to compete.The money spent over the next few weeks will define our season and unless quality comes in then Young and Carew will be OFF!! |
Peter Dragoonis
said:
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... We need significant investmetn to stand still for 2 reasons. firstly, other teams will be investing and pushing on. secondly, we are significantly weaker than this time last year. we now have no Barry, no Laursen, and are lumbered with Heskey. in my mind, it will easily take £20m to get back to where we started the season. |
Gee
said:
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... KeefVilla..."The problem is that Arsenal with spend to improve, so will Man City and Spuds. We will have to spend and bring in real quality to have any chance next season, a point MON made himself yesterday".......Have to disagree that Arsenal will spend more than we do.Man City have more money than anyone else and at some stage Spuds will go bankrupt!! However, i do agree with the quality needed, but not every signing needs to be a Ronaldo. |
confusedvillafan
said:
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... woz, why wont we get near 6th next season? you work for mon/lerner ? kiwivillan you talk utter shit |
Damian
said:
|
... flatley05 Leeds is one example. What about Manchester City this season or for that matter Chelsea? You can't say one hasn't bought success and the other isn't going to attempt it. For all the money Chelsea have spent, they have a plan in place, actually communicated to the fans by the CEO, to start turning a profit. Yes, it isn't nice, but it is the game we are now playing. When MO'N took over he replaced a very bad manager, who with new manager syndrome, got us 6th. I know where we were but the one thing most Villa fans disliked about Ellis was that he ran us like 'a corner shop'. If Lerner is only going to allow the business to develop in the same manner, what has changed? And glad you like it, my wife refuses to talk Villa with me too. |
villarobin
said:
|
... We also need to get things into perspective. Barry , for all his qualities is not a match winner / not a lock picker / not a driving attacking midfielder. We now have Petrov / Coker / Sidwell / Gardner who are all decent (Very good in Petrovs case) holding , ball winning midfielders. For England and a top 4 side Barry is perfect because he fits in, In the Villa side we need something different, so look on his departure as a blessing in disguise. Laursen will be missed but he was knocking on, and injury prone anyway, and we needed to replace anyway, hence signing younger players like Davis.. This brings me to my other point. Players like Milner / Gardner / Davis / Agbonlahor and Young, are all precisely that - YOUNG. We need to develop a young side and them keep them together with the od quality older experienced player like Carew and Petrov. I think Oneil is only 2-3 quality signings, and 2-3 young players with bags of potential off keeping most fans happy, but HE HAS TO GET QUALITY IN.. No more Harewoods / Knights / Salifous.. |
Rob81
said:
 |
... Just watching premiere league years on sky!!! Villa seem to be in a similar situation to what they are in now. The manager had just been forced to sell his best player, we had money to spend, fans expectation was high and although we had a great first eleven, the squad was too small. We was top of the table going into the new year but soon dropped down the table as players got injured and tired and we had to use players like scimecca and grayson. We ended up finishing 6th. The difference is this time i believe we have got a much better manager who demands more respect from players and fans, and a chairman who is hungry for success and will back the team. |
Villan4life
said:
 |
... In MON we trust? lets show it. Mon has come to VP and has done a fantastic job, yes he has over pais gor players i.e Milner, but what milner has brought is the desire comminment that villa do need to reach the neat step (top 4. We do need players and quality, he will bring in players that will have everyone watching AV, our play in genral has improved more quality like Defour would be brill, waych this space and UP D VILLA |
Chris Flatley
said:
|
... Yes saying it is run like a business it like admitting Ellis is back but looking at it randy has spent more on bodymore and the ground than ellis ever spent on players, then there is the 40m spent on players. Not anything like ellis |
Damian
said:
|
... flatley05 But .. work on Bodymoor had actually begun before Lerner took over. As for the stadium, it is happening to generate extra money as was the Holte - all good business but hardly earth shattering. As for the £40mn. on players, yes, he spent that or maybe even a little more, but take away the extra £30mn. we got from the TV money and the noe £73mn. worth of dent the business is in, then it sort of puts things into perspective. I'd love Lerner to put his hand in his pocket this summer and say 'here you go Martin, make me proud'. He can still do it .. I'd be partly surprised but I'd love it too. |
Steve Sims
said:
 |
... Of course we're all happy where MoN has taken us, but it's all about making a statement of intent now. If we really want to push on and not settle for just above mediocrity then let's show that we mean business. I can't stand Redknapp but you have to admit that he has plenty of ambition. MoN has nothing to prove in terms of man management, ability on the training field, motivation etc. But as a club we still have plenty to prove about being taken seriously as contenders rather than also rans. |
Damian
said:
|
... Steve Sims I think you've put into one comment what I'm trying to say. Nobody is really questioning O'Neill, just the intent of the club. |
Rob81
said:
|
... Why do we, Aston Villa feel we need to buy players to keep 1 player happy. Ashley young is a quality player but we should be buying players for Aston Villa's ambitions not ashley Young's. The club is much bigger than Ash and we should trust in the manager, not pander to one player. |
Chris Flatley
said:
|
... Work started but Bodymoor Heath has been home to Aston Villa's training facilities since 1971. At the time, the facilities were considered to be the most advanced of their type. Thirty-four years on, in October 2005, the club unveiled plans for an £8million redevelopment. Work began immediately, but by the end of the 2005/06 season, plans were put on hold (reportedly due to lack of funds). Only finished after randy took over. Yes it is all done to make money but thats what it is all about. We are not the global franchise Man U,Liverpool and chelsea are so we have to try and make the money somehow. Then the lack of support last season dosent help. 70m is nothing compared to the 500m Man U and Liverpool have on themself not the owner. Both of there owners trade with two names so no debt comes back on them its all on the club, randy ownes Villa as his own so our debt is his |
Steve Sims
said:
|
... Rob81, players run the game now don't they, and they all want success, trophies and more money. If they don't think they will get it at our club and their advisers and representatives tell them often enough that they are top class, then chances are they will look elsewhere. Guy next to me at work is a Forest fan and he was just telling me about how they had a great nucleus of a team around Webb, Collymore etc, but when they moved on no one replaced them and others felt as if the bubble had burst. It would be typical of Villa to pat ourselves on the back, say how well we've done and sit still. Whereas the truth is that we have done well but have still won nothing, and if you don't move forwards you'll end up going backwards. |
mikey18
said:
 |
... We seem to be going over the same things in different posts!! Ashleys leaving...We need More players!! MoN needs to pull his fingers out!! I dnt blame the blog because these are the things that villa fans are feeling and thinking!! But on another note, did anyone watch the England U21s last night? Despite being 23 Milner turned out for them and he was by far the best player on the pitch! Won (and missed) a Penalty, Assisted the first goal scored the second!! Outshone the likes of Bojan Kirkic which is a name a lot of the fans craving big super stars would love us to sign!! On his performance last night and towards the end of last season James Milner is the real deal!! He has begun to outshine Ashley and i think has greater potential! I truly believe Ashley and Milner will be the right a left wingers for England soon! We have all seen what petrov can do, he reads the game well, breaks up play and wins the ball...he was excellent at this last season and i think will go from strength to strength if playing with in a 5 man midfield or alongside someone who doesn't just float about doing what they want i.e Barry. We all know what Carew can do and if we can manage to keep him fit all season he will score 20+ goals for us! If MoN uses Gabby wisely out manages to deal with his usual end of season goal drought by using Heskey and the Fonz to provide competition for places he two could be lethal! Gabby was the 5th best Overall Player in the league according to official premiership statstics, actim, which looks at passing, goals, shots, tackles etc etc and the 4th best striker! he scored 12 goals and had a bucket load of assists! Fans need to get behind one of our own. Luke Young, Brad Friedel and Carlos Cuellar are experienced players and did a good job for the team last season. Most doubt Cuellars ability but the guy put himself out for the team played right back when asked and looked solid-ish at centre back. I think its difficult for him to forge a partnership with davies as his english isnt the best but give him time, it was his first season in english football! When we signed Davies from West Brom he was touted as the next Rio, and i think alot of fans have lost the belief in him. Until last season he looked the part, but playing with Cuellar who doens't speak english one week then knight who can't play football the next is obvious is going to affect form. Lescott and jagielka, Rio and Vidic, Terry and Carvahlo are great partnerships which means they shine as individuals! If you look at toure and Gallas great individuals poor partnerships make them look poor players! If you think back to ferdinand when he as Davies age....prone to missing a drugs test or two? and to the off mistake on the pitch? Support Davis and give him time to develop he is abit younger than Cahill!! Shorey given time to settle will be a good buy! we have seen glimpses from him! hes good going forward, comfortable on the ball and has a good delivery! He needs to work on his defensive attributed but is a better all round player than Bouma, who i think is limited on the ball and going forward but who is great defensively! We need 4/5 players of a high quality but when you look at the market it doesn't need the MASSIVE investment which people seem to think. Michael Owen/Sturridge free transfer! With Heskey, Gabby and Carew they would be a great addition to the strikeforce. Defour/Veloso/Joao Mountinho/Elano/Van der Vaart/Sneijder any of these 10-15mil rated CM's would compliment our side well! Bentley/ Richardson 8-10mil both good english prospects, play outwide or inside and would give us good options. Inevitably overpriced, but good for the dressing room and would like to play for Villa. Upson/Hangeeland/Cahill/Lescott i think are realistic targets who would could forge a great partnership with Davies and who are affordable. 10-15mil bid for either would be considered by their respective clubs. Finally Kyle naughton 5mil player for cover for right back which we desperately need. 40mil which could be offset by the sale of Barry, Harewood, Salifou. |
Mowgs
said:
 |
... I think MONs 'we're on the lookout' comment should be taken with a pinch of salt. He's an intelligent guy and realises the benefit of not trampling around in the transfer market like an elephant trying to scratch his own arsehole, unlike some North London managers. Building is a measured process. He would have known that Barry was going for months and no doubt would have already identified possible replacements had we lost him last summer. He's had another year to scout for a centre mid and I firmly believe he will strengthen in that area. The bigger loss in my opinion was the more unexpected injury to Laursen. But once again it was fairly predictable given his track record so no doubt MON has identified his targets. We all know he's a pain in the arse when it comes to moving quickly in these windows and tends to keep us waiting 'til the last couple of weeks. This time round I think he realises that isn't an option. He needs a big name by the first week of July to ensure a snowball process. It's no good signing Defour or Van der Vaart in the last week of the window and expecting others to follow suit. As for Ash - I love watching him week in week out. He's been the most exciting player at VP for a decade. And the truth of the matter is he should be a major star at the World Cup next summer. I see no reason why we shouldn't keep him for another year at least. He knows he is guaranteed a starting berth and that counts for so much going into a major tournament. But if the time comes when we do sell him, hopefully we can charge in excess of £25m and build again. Everton are often seen as a selling club and lost Rooney for £30 when the fans were desperate to keep hold of him. Consecutive top 5 finishes for them after Moyes spent the money astutely and I think their supporters probably aren't grumbling now. |
RayK
said:
 |
... Totally agree with Spanishjon - if people want to come on here and pen MON/Lerner love poems then fine but don't expect everyone else to. It is getting to the stage - and Barry's departure may have been the start - where the better players will want to leave if they don't think the team will improve - that is a positive thing! Its called hunger and ambition - something that Fergie has in spades. Besides, who wants players who are just going to be happy with finishing 6th? I don't believe that MON and Lerner can't see that either, they're not stupid people. But I also don't think that its as simplistic as Lerner not backing MON financially. Sure Lerner isn't going to go on a financial bender and blow £100m of his own money on players (and I'm not expecting him to) but equally I'm really not sure it would be money well spent if all MON did was try and buy up the England team. That's too easy for me. There has to be middle way - yes Lerner has to back MON (and I think to date he has to be fair) but MON is going to have to broaden his transfer horizons if we want a club full of the quality of Young and Barry. Otherwise the only players we'll end up with are the likes of Harewood, Knight, Heskey, etc etc |
theSparkatron
said:
 |
... Since when has Fabrice Muamba been English by the way? I thought he was excellent last night. |
RayK
said:
|
... and by the way top marks to Milner last night. I've not been his biggest fan but I thought he was excellent last night and I'm happy to be proved wrong next season. Not sure if its all the faith that MON has put in him paying off or just the fear of Bentley arriving, but whatever it is its working. |
TheJohnnyVillain
said:
 |
... Ray K, Good point about broadening transfer horizons. There are definitly quality players available, I just wonder how many enquiries have been made to sign any. And I mean real quality, not North London cast offs! UTV |
Kiwivillan
said:
|
... Another thing with Ashley is albeit making the English squad he hasn't really been starting. Is it because he's a right-footer playing on the left or does he maybe think he'd get in if he was in a top 4 club. Not any truth in it, just suggesting the thought may have entered the lads head... |
PhilB
said:
 |
... Ashley has got to do what Ashley has got to do. I dont think Ashley & Barry are the be all and end all of our club, we have other players really wanting the chance to prove themselves and now they can. Gardener, Sidwell, Coker to name a few... Cant wait to the next Villa BCFC derby... lets send them back to the championship! |
RayK
said:
|
... TheJohnnyVillain - I could be completely wrong but I sometimes worry that MON spends the early part of the summer waiting to see if he can get his first choice players - ie young and english etc like Huddlestone, Bentley and Jenas. I then think because he's so dogmatic he spends ages and ages trying to get them and maybe we do get one of them, but by the time he realises that he can't get all of them to fill the positions we need, the only players left are 3rd or 4th choice on his original wish list and so we panic buy. Maybe just maybe if MON's original wish list included the best emerging players from Scandanavian, Eastern European or smaller European leagues (and there must be 20 players that could go on that list) rather than just the young and english criteria (of which maybe there are 5-6 on that list) we'd end up with more of our first choice players in time for pre-season?? |
Daniel Wilson
said:
 |
... Keithj post 43 - I'm not into blondes, make it a hot brunette and i'll start the bidding at 25p. The Burp post 24 - How the hell can you say Draper was average, shame on you. I'm a little worried about Ashley, all these rumours seem to be never ending. The Tottenham thing is just complete rubbish but when it comes to teams like Man U and Barcelona being linked you have to wander where this stuff is coming from and why neither Ash or MON have come out and made a statement saying he wasn't for sale and happy at the club like big John did. Who represents Ash? if it's anyone like Alex Black, Barrys old agent we could be in for some trouble with agents just trying to line their pockets. Would be a nice pay day for someone if they could pull off that transfer especially at a figure of 30+ million. I'm getting a bit impatient with the signings not coming in but still think it will start happening sooner or later. Whats all the talk about 1st July being the day things start rolling? Barry went to City ages ago so the window is obviously open. As for negativity on here, I don't have a problem with it, were all fans and we all have our own opinions, and as long as you have valid points to back up your moans then I don't have a problem hearing anything. Can't believe I'm going to say this but I think Taglor was right all that time ago when he went on about the sheep!! Mon and Randy arn't perfect and we will only go forwards if we learn from our mistakes, and just because you worry about things and want changes doesn't make you any less of a supporter! |
Shakey4
said:
 |
... WEVE MADE A SIGNING! http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_5387531,00.html At last! |
confusedvillafan
said:
|
... woz, did we keep up with man city last year , didnt they spend 55 million on robinho and jo nevermind millions on other players like wright phillips and bridge etc.critisize if we start the season with shit players brought in until then lets just wait and see ! |
Kiwivillan
said:
|
... PhilB, we've had players that have wanted to prove themselves, Cahill, some keeper thats looked pretty good for Stoke and Denmark, whatshisname? we should sign him up. NRC & Shorey have probably already told MON to do one, Sidwell's probably close to because MON played wantaway Barry without fail in spite of the aforementioned mids. |
PhilB
said:
|
... Kiwivillan, Dont you think we should embrace the fact we have a loyal player in the form of Craig Gardener who should go (but in his heart he is a Villan) I believe we have a great team, now the Barry saga has ended (boring me to tears) lets get it on and rebuild. If Ashley is a wantaway, let him go! He is only a ½ decent player but when he runs at decent fullbacks they mob him... time for a change, good fortune for him to leave and make us money to buy players like Craig who want to be at Villa? Time for Gabby to be a winger not a striker? Options options options... |
deansaundersperm that's perm
said:
 |
... all i want to know is, what the f**k does 'mugging myself off' mean? please stop thinking that cockney twat Danny Dyer is cool |
Woz
said:
|
... confusedvillafan Agreed! I just have a feeling that we are going to be left behind, Villa tend to have a cycle that shows improvement, improvement, 1 poor season and the manager is out and we are back at the beginning. Problem is MON has done very little in the transfer market over the last 3 years that excites me. Has never flexed any financial muscle to go to another top club and drag a player away kicking and screaming..... Why do we pick from the relegated clubs, instead of at least trying to take the cream of the crop. We've had 2 great seasons but I don’t sniff anything that is going to improve on the last 2 seasons. Hope I'm wrong but this is what I use this blog for, airing my views and concerns..... Wish it made me feel better! |
Josh
said:
 |
... Personally i don't think Ashley Young has the right to leave us. We've gotten him from last placed Watford, to 11th, to 6th, to 6th again. He's now an England player (although not managed to perform well in any of his chances) and is getting plenty of European experience and will be over the coming season. If we don't match his ambition, he's seriously deluded, as he'd be rotting in the championship if we didn't find him. |
Josh
said:
|
... "Daily Mail: Fulham are set to sign Paul Scharner from Wigan for £6m. The Austrian international's agent Valentin Hobel revealed Scharner rejected Aston Villa because they wanted to play him in defence rather than midfield." I don't remember anything being said about Scharner until this quote... |
TheJohnnyVillain
said:
|
... I feel the statement made yesterday by MON is one that he's made many times before, and I for one feel none the wiser for it. If anything I have more questions! I think we all have to accept that he keeps things very, very close to his chest, even on whether he expects to make any signings or not, never mind who they might be. I do believe not naming names is the right way to go, but in my opinion, not sharing the likelyhood of signings, is wrong. UTV |
Steve Badger
said:
 |
...Why do we pick from the relegated clubs, instead of at least trying to take the cream of the crop Totally agree with this. How many relegated players go on to do well? Some do, but the vast majority don't, imo. I don't think MON will ever change though, so in that sense he's learned nothing. As others have said, I don't want Spurs cast-offs in place of Barry, I want a £15 mill player to replace him, as that's the sort of quality it will take, although I do accept that Barry was hindering us in some ways. I'm trying to stay positive, but if you look at our form at the back end of the season, I really feel that we'll be doing well to stay in the top 10, if we don't buy quality. That's a scary thought. As for Young, I don't see him going anywhere this season. Next season might be a different story. |
Lee
said:
 |
... So this journalist knows Ash does he, where is the quote from Ash's mouth ???? Even Barry said no other senior players will be leaving Villa. What will happen will happen, and we will be the last to know. Villa don't want to start a bidding war on players, that is bad business strategy. Lerner will spend what is needed. If he came out and said we had £100m kitty then every agent, club and tea lady will be trying to get in on it. Journalists everywhere are paid to put two and two together, come up with five and make it sound viable to the general public. Absolute tittle tattle, can't believe anybody falls for it !! |
Nel-A
said:
 |
... Out of curiosity, where has this Ashley Young speculation come from? I heard that there was an article in the Sun, no quotes or anything, something dodgy like, "Ashley Young is understood to be.." Sounds like the Cockney News Foundation sh*te stirring to me. Also, we as fans can't have it both ways. Some days we'll praise the club for it's professionalism - how they don't 'do a Redknapp' and yabber on in the press; and then other day's we'll all be demanding statements. Are we Newcastle?! lol Lets have a moan if we do sell Ashley Young or, trade Carew for Jenas. Till then, maybe we should give the club the benefit of the doubt. I'm not having a go at anyone here by the way, just my two cents! |
RayK
said:
|
... I'm quite happy if Scharner has 'turned us down' because he wants to play in midfield - he wouldn't get in our midfield.  Nice to see we're actually 'on the lookout' for players though |
Matt
said:
 |
... DanWilson82 for Chairman of the Board please! Dark day on here today lads, bred out of a frustration to see that we are moving in the right direction (as Im sure we are under O'neill) and a desire that we want a signings which signal that intent. Are players like Huddlestone, Bentley Jenas etc the class that is gonna push us up to the next level and compete for silverware? Or would we be merely picking spare parts from those around us in an attempt to keep up with the Spurs,Man City's and Everton's? It's hard to stay positive as the days keep passing and we just keep being fed the "we're on the look out" & "Targetrs are on the radar" . We are use to waiting but it has to really be worth it this season or we will find it difficult to better the season just gone. On a Brighter note, European football is back at VP, something to look forward to next season again and Damian, quality blog! keep up the good work fella. Viva Le Villa |
mikey18
said:
|
... Good players may play in relegated teams!! If you look at Boro and Newcastle they are brimming with good players... Martins, Carroll, Owen, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutieriez, Taylor, Collicini,. Boro Wheater, Bates, Downing, Tuncay. All good players! |
Matt
said:
|
... And how many of them would get us near the top4? We have a team of good players we need to add some quality. |
lindenio
said:
 |
... ALL VILLA FANS PLEASE READ, A PROPER BREAKDOWN OF WHO AND WHAT WE NEED IN THE TRANSFER WINDOW SENSIBLE ARTICLE FORM SKYSPORTS WEBSITE http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12799_5383963,00.html |
Christian
said:
 |
... Mikey18, with the exception of Martins, Tuncay and possibly Downing and Owen, that is the most average/poor bunch of players I could envisage us getting linked with. I remember when we took Philips, McCann and Sorenson after Sunderland got relegated, people were saying they were the cream of the relegated bunch, Jesus... |
Mark
said:
 |
... In my experience most cynics are just a pain in the ass when it comes to getting anything done. Give me an optimist any day of the week, it doesn't make them a sucker or some kind of PR victim, just someone with the positivity to succeed. We as fans also like to call ourselves supporters - you aint supporting anything by being a cynic. If Ellis was in charge we would all have the right to be cynics, damn we all were - but why carry this over to the new regime? They have done nothing wrong to date so for God's sake give them a break! |
Christian
said:
|
... AVMark, I agree to some extent. But unfortunately, and it shouldn't be this way, people become a victim of their own success. It happened to Jol at Spurs, Robson at Newcastle and even Gregory with us, fans become expectant and demand more and more. And they want it all 'yesterday'. Its human nature I think. Danger is, too much pressure and they bosses resign and the clubs go back to square one. |
Rog
said:
 |
... Thought I'd share this little gem with you all to brighten up Friday afternoon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG5-CijHx9Y |
Damian
said:
|
... AVMark you say the new regime have done nothing wrong. for the record, tell me what you think ellis did wrong? |
Rich
said:
 |
... I'm with Dan Wilson. Dervla Kirwan (or Andrea Corr as an alternative) and I'll make a sizable contribution to charity! Sol Campbell - - - NO NO NO NO NO |
Frosty
said:
 |
... Well this is an annoying read, and yet somehow it convinces me too that maybe it's wrong to blame Judas .. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=866 Although this angers me .. "and now City, out of all the teams below the top four have the biggest chance and potential for breaking into the top four. Everton, Villa, Tottenham will all continue to plod along, and make do with playing in the newly formed Europa league, but City, with the correct investment, which they have, and the correct manager, which I believe they have, and the right players, which they are beginning to possess" |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Mikey18, Good players may play in relegated teams!! If you look at Boro and Newcastle they are brimming with good players... Martins, Carroll, Owen, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutieriez, Taylor, Collicini,. Boro Wheater, Bates, Downing, Tuncay. All good players! Yes, they're so good they took their sides down. They are absolutely not the sort of players we need to push on, maybe Tuncay apart. I've mentioned that I'd take Martins previously, but only because unfortunately, he's about our barrow I'd like to know why we weren't in the hunt for Arshavin. I really feel we missed out there and he was the sort of player who would have galvanised Villa in Jan, imo. And yes, I did say so at the time. That's the class of player we need, not cast-offs and relegated players. As has been said, now is make or break and I agree with Damian. This is a defining window and we will see what our aims really are. I'm keeping the faith until the window closes, but if MON doesn't get it right, I suspect he's in for a very torrid time at VP. |
Warwick Kirk
said:
 |
... Sol Campbell - come on, what other sign of intent and ambition do we need!!! Its gonna be a great summer & season! UTV! |
Christian
said:
|
... I'm with Badger. This is a crucial window, the acid-test for MON and Randy Lerner. The Big 4 will again be very strong, and this time around we'll have to deal with Everton, Man City, Spurs, Portsmouth (wait til they start spending!) and if Zola gets it right, West Ham. Add to that we've lost, arguably, our 2 best players and already have a tiny squad and the importance of this window is crystal clear. I'll admit, I'm already very concerned about the transfer noises coming from Villa (for incoming and outgoing) but I really, really hope MON has a few aces up his sleeve and we're in a position to be competitive come the 1st game of the season. |
PhilB
said:
|
... Whilst i do believe in this English - side do any of you think that we can be in top 4 with an English squad? |
Mark
said:
|
... Damian make your point because I don't believe that is a serious question. Do you want me to say he lied so that you can equate that to promises by General whatever his name is? Or do you want some moral argument about what constitutes wrong? I am constantly shocked by some fans capacity to appreciate anything Ellis did in a positive light and can only assume that between the period 1982 - 2004 they were not down the ground every week. I'm not dogding the question but it would take one hell of a long time to list my grievances against DD. |
Nathan
said:
 |
... we need quality, no more fizzy pop league players. we've spent too long in the shadows of the supposed 'big 4' if MON lets ashley go then maybe Mr.Lerner should reconsider MON's position as manager he takes too long in signing players, so when we do eventually sign players they're the leftovers. it's a joke! |
sean jones
said:
 |
... Lads just found this report on aston villa views.com about Steven Defour, which could be of interesting reading. Basically to summarise it up we are favorites for Defour, and he wants to come to us. Heres the link: http://astonvilla-views.com/2009/06/16/steven-defour-still-favours-us/ |
Christian
said:
|
... PhilB, its great to see English players in the squad, particularly home-grown, but I strongly beleive that you need some technically-gifted foreigners to succeed. You only need look at England's current 'Golden Generation' to see that even the very best of the English aren't all that great. In a 'fantasy' game of England v Man United/Chelsea, I can only see one winner- and they don't wear white! |
Damian
said:
|
... AVMark I'm not making a point, you are, by saying the current regime have done nothing wrong and that we were all cynics under Ellis. All I'm asking you to do is list all the things you think Ellis did wrong. When you do that and when you've taken all the things away which are basically not wrong, you'll find the list is very similar to the list that some would and could write about Lerner. The big thing about Ellis was that he ran the business like a corner shop. Hell, when we lost to Blues I started a petition on the back of it to get Ellis, Answell and Taylor removed. The mantra was that they were not good enough to take us to the next level and we needed someone that could. If you want to see the next level, look to Chelsea, look to Manchester City. Hell, look even to Spurs to some extent. We were left behind under Ellis by the likes of Liverpool United and Arsenal. Unless Lerner does something I fear he Can't or won't, I fear we will be left further behind. If Ellis was so bad, what makes everyone think he made the right decision finally in selling to Lerner? |
Daniel Wilson
said:
|
...I'm with Dan Wilson. Dervla Kirwan (or Andrea Corr as an alternative) and I'll make a sizable contribution to charity! Well since were picking, if you can sort me Helen Skelton off Blue Peter out for the night, I reckon I could stretch to a fiver! moving swiftly on... |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Damian, Mr Lerner is miles away from Ellis and I don't see the comparison at all. As you say, he ran Villa like a corner shop and had no clue about modern day business, imo. I thank him for keeping the club stable, but that's about it. Mr Aston Villa, my arse. Mr Ego, more like. He loved the club that much, he was the first to pay himself a wage. I often think back to the pre PL days and Arsenal were very much on a par with Villa at the time. Look at the difference now. You can only blame Ellis for that. Anyway, he's gone and good riddance, imo. Lerner has shelled out, even if it's put us in debt. I'm not sure what the club is worth now, but it has to be 100 million plus easily. We're what? 73 million in debt (and I suspect that's only to suit the books) so we simply have to spend £30mill and the judas money this window, with probably another £10-15mill in the Jan window, if we're looking ok. Will we? That's the question. |
Damian
said:
|
... That is the question Badger and I'm not saying Lerner isn't better, but if he doesn't spend the money and we do stagnate next season and lets say the one after, who is to blame? The manager can't be held responsible for not getting the funds. What then, if we are £73mn. in debt happens, if another multi billionaire approaches the club wanting to buy it does Lerner do? When Chelsea were purchased by Abramovich they were in more debt than we are now (puts things into perspective) but nobody can deny it must be fun supporting Chelsea. It is, unfortunately, the game we are in now and if someone came along and tried to restrict it, the bigger teams (much like what is happening in F1 at the moment) would threaten to leave and start a new league. Change might come, but it will always be weighted in favour of the teams with the money and power. What do we have? |
croni
said:
 |
... hmmm, not very convincing there's no comparison if I had to choose between Ellis and Lerner, I would go with Lerner every time |
Panos
said:
 |
......but I strongly beleive that you need some technically-gifted foreigners to succeed. Well said Christian1983...apparently MON doesn't think the same way and that's probably one of the few things I don't like about him. |
luke
said:
 |
... bluey,i think we were in for scharner aswell but mon wanted him as a centre back and he wants to play in midfield which is why hes going to fulham! Dont think he is going there to replace hangeland which is a shame! |
jason the ace
said:
 |
... please please please lets be more + + + + and less - - - - its really getting me down,no one has really signed any one yet so lets just wait a week or so. |
Damian
said:
|
... jason the ace i'm with you. but for me it's like i'm a kid again and its christmas eve. just much much longer to wait |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Damian, What then, if we are £73mn. in debt happens, if another multi billionaire approaches the club wanting to buy it does Lerner do? Hopefully he does what any sensible businessman does. a) He sells out at a profit or b) He says "stuff you" and piles more money in. Ok b) is optimistic As opposed to Ellis, who never counternanced selling, while watching Arsenal become a club that has 4? times our turnover  |
RayK
said:
|
... Lerner is light years from Ellis but also is no Glazier or Hicks thankfully. I've accepted that we're not going to go on a £100m transfer spending spree and I'm quite happy about that. That doesn't mean we can't break into the Top 4, just that we're going to have to be smarter about how we achieve it. I really do think the bigger problem at the moment is MON's apparent reluctance to sign players from abroad. Rangers bought Cuellar for £2.3m the year before we paid £8m, Fulham bought Hangeland for £2.5m (after we apparently didn't) and now he's valued at £12m. With MON's current transfer policy that £100m could go very quickly but where would the value be? In contrast, what percentage of ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea signings are made from other PL clubs? 20% - 30%? |
Rob The Villain
said:
 |
... Just to show the kind of shit the papers make up, just look at last summer's players we were linked with! I wouldn't get too carried away with some of the links the papers say, it's usually pretty clear that we're about to sign a player. There was definately clear signs from the one's we did actually sign. Goalkeepers: Brad Friedel (Blackburn), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Ben Foster (Manchester United), Paul Robinson (Spurs), Sergio Asenjo (Real Valladolid), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Yoann Pele (Le Mans), Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven), Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea), Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Boaz Myhill (Hull), Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Mark Oxley (Rotherham), Artur Boruc (Celtic), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Marton Fulop (Sunderland), Robert Green (West Ham), Andreas Isaksson (Man City), David de Gea (Atletico Madrid) Defenders: Sokratis Papastathopoulos (AEK Athens), Hugo Campagnaro (Sampdoria), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Marco Caneira (Valencia), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Michael Lumb (AGF Aarhus), Stephen Carr (Newcastle), Paul Scharner (Wigan), Jonas Olsson (NEC Nijmegen), Christian Maggio (Sampdoria), Jean Calve (Le Mans), Joe Mattock (Leicester), Pascal Chimbonda (Spurs), Willy Sagnol (Bayern Munich), Cata Diaz (Getafe), Bernard Mendy (PSG), Daniel van Buyten (Bayern Munich), Cosmin Contra (Getafe), John Paintsil (West Ham), Richard Stearman (Leicester), Jose Angel Crespo (Sevilla), Nélson (Benfica), Jose Bosingwa (Porto), John Arne Riise (Liverpool), Justin Hoyte (Arsenal), Giourkas Seitaridis (Atlético Madrid), Adriano Correia Claro (Sevilla), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Steve Finnan (Liverpool), Joao Pereira (Sporting Braga), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Miguel (Valencia), Carlos Cuellar (Rangers), Nicolae Dorin Goian (Steaua Bucharest), Anton Ferdinand (West Ham), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow), Paul Konchesky (Fulham), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Lee Naylor (Celtic), Elliot Omosuzi (Fulham), Younes Kaboul (Spurs), Marek Suchy (Slavia Prague), Danny Simpson (Man Utd), Badr El-Kaddouri (Dynamo Kiev), Mikael Silvestre (Man Utd), Matteo Ferrari (free agent), Luke Young (Middlesbrough), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea) Midfielders: Miralem Pjanic (Metz), Aaron Ramsey (Cardiff City), Pedro Mendes (Portsmouth), Jermaine Pennant (Liverpool), Sebastian Eguren (Villarreal), Diego (Werder Bremen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Michael Bradley (Heerenveen), Christian Poulsen (Sevilla), Gary O'Neil (Middlesbrough), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Steve Sidwell (Chelsea), Mario Santana (Fiorentina), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Ruben de la Red (Getafe), Esteban Granero (Getafe), Pablo Hernandez (Getafe), Brian Howard (Barnsley), James Milner (Newcastle), David Bentley (Blackburn), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Zoltan Gera (West Brom), Danny Haynes (Ipswich Town), Victor Moses (Crystal Palace), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool), Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Paulo Assuncao (Porto), Danny Guthrie (Liverpool), Andrei Arshavin (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Steed Malbranque (Spurs), Nicolas Marin (Lorient), Michael Johnson (Man City), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Wilson Palacios (Wigan) Strikers: Tarik Elyounoussi (Fredrikstad F.K), Freddie Kanoute (Sevilla), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Jefferson Farfan (PSV Eindhoven), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Giampaolo Pazzini (Fiorentina), Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sam Vokes (Bournemouth), Bafetimbi Gomis (St Etienne), Eidur Gudjohnsen (Barcelona), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), James Beattie (Sheffield United), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Habib Habibou (Royal Charleroi SC), Andy Johnson (Everton), Carlos Tenorio (Al Sadd), Darren Bent (Spurs), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Spartak Moscow), El Hadji Diouf (Bolton), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Fraizer Campbell (Manchester United), Falcao (River Plate), Nikola Zigic (Valencia) |
Spike
said:
 |
... All this negativity and fickleness stirred up by Horrible Hated Harry using his pals in the media to tap up Ashley. This is Redknapp's Revenge for the way he's been treated at Villa Park and you are all adding fuel to the fire he's trying to start. Don't let Harry get us to drive Ash or Mon away. Ignore it for the bullsh*t it is. We were top three last year with a thin squad until Laursen got crocked. We're not going backwards and the only way others can move forwards like us is by spending gazillions and risking their futures because they don't have the managerial talent. Only Everton has the class of manager to compete with us...god help us if they found a sugar daddy or if you lot piss off Martin. |
Mark
said:
|
... Damian we will just have to disagree on that one then. For once I think I will be in the majority and you firmly in the minority. Maybe when I'm sitting in the Lerner stand, in the Lerner Stadium designed by one set of architects for each of the four stands and built by bankrupt builders, and away fans are sitting in the best part of the ground behind the goal chanting "there's only one Randy Lerner" - that's when I will get deja vu - not before. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... RayK, In contrast, what percentage of ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea signings are made from other PL clubs? 20% - 30%? That's the nail on the head mate. You don't buy from clubs below you in the main. You go abroad or you nick players when they're really young. Bale and Walcott spring to mind, for example. Unfortunately we're not in that league and have to make do with Northampton's kids. Not that I'm slating him, he might be great, but how often do we buy kids and they never come through. A swiss kid springs to mind here, as does the two young brothers. I suppose that goes back to the point about not playing the fonz, even though we lost how many games in the last 13? I'm glad I'm not a footy manager |
Damian
said:
|
... AVMark I have no doubt I am in the minority. Like I am with Milner and like I was with O'Leary. The thing is, when others change their mind in a season or two when we are not even getting top six, some will pretend like they've always thought this .. Also, for me, I'm not interested in what camp I'm in .. I'm in my own. |
LukasAVFC
said:
 |
... C'mon everyone! Look right every team is trying to sign players, look at those who finihed above us, who have they signed so far?? I mean Everton fans I bet were like "woooo" when hearing of Naughton been bidded for, but... for it to be taken away by Sheffield. I reckon we are deadlocked like a host of clubs just wanting that deal. MON knowns whats what, he aint stupid just sensible and you know he will take a risk i.e A. Young (BIG MONEY for a championship player at the time) & Salifou who he gambled on because if we heard this story and it never happened we would be yet again p*ss*d off, but he will do what he thinks is best(for the club) to not put 1 decision on what we want and thats a new name added to the squad. If he needs time for QUALITY & not Quantity let's let him get on with it. C'mon the Europa League!! |
mikey18
said:
|
... The players i've listed are called poor but so were NRC, Petrov, Gabby, Davis, Shorey etc and they managed to get us to finish 6th! the players from the relegated teams may not be the quality we need, but they could provide the depth! personally they aren't players that i think MoN should be looking at! has i highlighted who i think we need to sign in a previous post (its the LONG ONE). But i do think that the players from relegated team i have highlighted are on par if not better than what we have! Newcastle went down due to mis management and everybody knows that! boro had a week spine! but still some good indviduals! Alot of the people on here are the same people who moaned when Ramos of tottenham signed Modric 11mil, Bentley 16mil + Gomez 8mil pavlychenko 11mil and the like this time last season and critcised MoN buys then! Well we finished above them...we finished above Man city with Jo, a mysterious south american which some people claim villa need and robhino! |
the villa don
said:
 |
... i kno alot of ppl wont like this but its just the way i feel, we're going no where fast! we r not gonna sign any gr8 players who will improve our team, mon started well wi signings like carew and young, n i even believe maloney wud av been a gr8 signing. but look at recent signings, all mid table players. we might aswell giv up dreaming and cum t terms wi bein just the best team in the midlands |
Greg1981
said:
 |
... Villa will never improve until the fans realise that what they have been watching, by and large, is poor stuff. Possession is cheap and few players are comfortable on the ball. Yes, it was relegation form at the end of the season. We MUST moan more and accept less of this ongoing (nearly 90 years!!) of drought. As far as I'm concerned if you're NOT complaining about Villa right now you are part of the problem. You were probably happy with Gregory (and wanted him to get more money from Ellis); were ok with O'leary and his complete incompetence. Enough is enough. We were poor (compared to where we want to be) for long spells last season and now we are going backwards (again). I'm not saying MON can't do it. But the jury is out and it's up to all Villa fans to bang on about this and raise expectations. We had 3 world-class players last season and we start the new season with one. MON'S buying record is really poor. Trading world class for more players of lesser ability is rubbish. Quality, quality, quality, NOW. Keep demanding more. Then maybe we can make top half next season. |
RayK
said:
|
... Anyone see the story that Wolves have been told by Villa that Zat Knight is not for sale (apologies if this is on your Forum Damian...)? I'd sell if the offer was right - especially if it allowed us to get two CBs in. Also, hats of to Chelsea going back in for Glen Johnson. Wonder if MON will do the same with Cahill |
Frosty
said:
 |
... Basically, I actually don't expect Villa to move forward anymore. In the past two years many things have changed in the league, but most of all things have changed financially. I don't think Randy Lerner is going to risk putting himself and Villa in financial trouble. Now, in someways I applaud him for being like this...however...he knew what he was taking over before he came and the simple fact is...you shouldn't touch unless you have the financial clout to survive. I would like to see him bring one of his mega rich buddies on board and show some trophy winning ambitions. You should always look to win things...in this case...if Villa is just a business to him, I would rather he sold up and went. I am not being unfair, it is what every Villa Fan wants...to win things. |
Billy7
said:
 |
... Fulham have moved a step closer to signing Scharner, his agent says Aston Villa were interested but wanted him as a defender, so no go!...............why? Anyway, i dont want him, would have him but not as a replacement for Laursen. |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Mikey18, Well we finished above them.. I seriously think Spurs will finish above us this season and by a fair way. I'm also going to predict a very poor start to the season for us too. You know when you just get a feeling???? I'm trying not be pessimistic, but I can't help it I just think we've achieved the best we're going to with the standard of players we have. And no, none of those players is better than what we have now, imo. They're not crap, same as ours aren't, they're just decent standard mid-table prem players, same as ours are. We need at least a couple who are in the next bracket up to match the likes of Young and carew etc, imo. |
jk92923
said:
|
... i assume by 90 years, Greg is omitting league cups/FA cups and European cup glory along with league titles??? well observed Greg, ya cabbage! |
gregdavillain
said:
 |
... greg1981 Trading world class for more players of lesser ability is rubbish who had we that was world class??? We've only ever had 2 world class players in the last 15 years and that was Paul McGrath and DWIGHT Yorke, with the latter not proving to be world class till he went to utd and played at the highest level. Go on and tell us which world class players were traded in for inferior one's? im dying to know |
RayK
said:
|
... Vermaelen signs ...... for Arsenal. So with Vermaelen signing for Arsenal, Barry having signed for City, Glen Johnson signing for Chelsea or Liverpool - that's righ none of our rivals our doing anything in the transfer market are they? |
RayK
said:
|
... sorry my grammar in last post was crap. i meant.... that's right none of our rivals are doing anything in the transfer market are they? |
Altan Kargaci
said:
 |
... Great just found this .... http://www.fcbarcelonanews.com/fc-barcelona-target-ashley-young/ To be fair if Ash goes anywhere I wouldn't mind it being there. |
RayK
said:
|
... yeah, but just think who we could get in with the £30m - £15m on Wheater (bargain!), £15m on Downing (a steal!) ... pants that's it all gone already |
Aero-For-Villa
said:
 |
... im just amazed that nobody has bothered their arse to come out and deny these reports! Seriously, MON writes off almost every player we are linked with and then never makes any effort whatsoever to write off players being linked out of the club! Its a disgrace... hes making Villa look weak and unsteady... Do something MON, your pissing me off! |
Billy7
said:
|
... man city have bid of 18mil excepted for Santa Cruz!! They.re doing it early ent they? Barry, Ireland, Santa-Cruz, Robhino, SWP, Martin Petrov, they.re looking good, fair play to em. |
RayK
said:
|
...Billy7 said: at least that means Carew should still be at Villa next season - some good news |
Aero-For-Villa
said:
|
... ins -Bentley 7 million -Defour 10 million -Lescott 8 million -Cahill 10 million -Huntellar 15 million 50 million spend overall Outs -Barry 12 million -Harewood 2 million -Maybe More ? million 14 million income taken away from 50 is... Villa spend 36 million and have the best squad out of all our rivals (Everton, Spurs, Man City) By the way, i want more signings then that! Bit of optimism guys??? UTV! |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
... £18mn for him...!!! He aint knowhere near that good. Tuncay is better in my opinion and would only cost about £8mn. Crazy money season is very much well under way ..!  |
karl
said:
 |
... Its just a game its not real life its just a game that i pay 405 p/y for and i enjoy going and i enjoy what happens young wont go to spurs because he is and Arsenal Fan we will get bentley Cause his mom and or sister was looking for houses for him in Birmingham. sol Cambell is a Cert i think so that is not a bed roll up i think so far. i dont car as long as we beat Spurs and the Blues |
TrueVillan
said:
 |
... here we go again, same old transfer window! we are now linked with sol cambell and giles barnes! and why is it i can actually believe this is true over the likes of defour and bentley increasingly lookin like young is try to get himself out of the club, MON is crap in transfer window, we all know that, but having lost laursen he should have had a replacement lined up for barry before lettin that deal go through, that would have sent a positive message to team and fans, instead we look like a selling club and now we are linked with second rate shit! someone needs to takeover the transfers in our club cos 5 windows have shown how useless MON is, ashley young aside the quality in our team was pre MON, even milner was here before, so not exactly a discovery and carew was a bye product of the baros sale, if lyon did not want him would MON have gone 4 carew? i doubt it! |
Mark
said:
|
... Damian: The thing is, when others change their mind in a season or two when we are not even getting top six, some will pretend like they've always thought this ..Other people try to hedge their bets by alternating their opinions day to day or are you schizo? Seriously mate for someone who gives an opinion almost daily I really don't know where you stand. So is that your prediction that we will fall away from the top six over the next few seasons? Or is that "other people's" opinions that you don't agree with? |
RayK
said:
|
... I'm starting to think Sol is a dead cert to. Maybe MON's new strategy is to buy the 2002 England World Cup squad Heskey, Owen, Campbell ... roll on the signings of Nicky Butt and Danny Murphy |
Aero-For-Villa
said:
|
... SHUT UP PEOPLE!!! look at TrueVillan... buying into press... "increasingly looking like young is try to get himself out of the club" he says Do you people have any brains??? -its the press -is there any quotes from Young saying this? no! -is there any quotes from Harry? no! -is there any quotes from MON? no! Its just complete and utter made up bullshit! Relax, you people just add fuel to fire with all your panic. Ash is going nowhere! UTV! |
Damian
said:
|
... AVMark My opinion is quite clear to most. If Lerner doesn't invest, then yes, we will drop away, because teams like Spurs and Manchester City will and Everton have a better overall team than us. If he doesn't invest, I also wouldn't be surprised if Fulham over take us as the football they were playing towards the end of the season was far better than I'd seen us play all season. |
paul
said:
 |
... If it comes down to if we have the money to sign quality players to compete next season or that we dont have thye money, should we look at getting a sponsor (i do feel some pride in having acorns as a sponsor)but when you see man u getting 35 mil from there sponsors, shouldnt we think of putting the success of the club first |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
... pprid Good point, why is Randy giving up on X million pound a year if he is running Villa like a business? Or is it just a long drawn out publicity thing . Wonder how much a 6th place premiership team would get per year from a sponser ? |
Aero-For-Villa
said:
|
... Why doesnt Randy sell the Browns and invest everything into Villa, a sports team with an actual realistic chance of success! Them Browns are a lost cause! UTV! |
Damian
said:
|
... Aero-For-Villa There is actually more chance of success in America Football than there is in the Premier League .. maybe his lack of success in that league should be telling us something. |
avfc fen
said:
 |
... close sources tell me that daniel sturridge will be on his way to villa, watch this space x |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Damian, Interestingly the Browns are one of the most financially sucessful/prudently run teams in the game. But never win anything and are seen as a middling club. I wonder if we have got Ellis 11 after all????? |
ak_27
said:
 |
... Badger i think the fact that Learner owns 2 clubs could hinder us. He is not a billionaire anymore and he has to split his cash between both clubs. avfc fen i hope your not just another person taking the piss. I would be delighted if we signed him. |
Mark
said:
|
... Damian - "if's" and "buts" - sometimes in life you just have to get on the bus and see where it takes you! I will judge Lerner and MON at the end of next season. I always said that and if they fail at least I can look myself in the mirror and say I got behind the team. |
Greg1981
said:
|
... jk92923 Blimey, some people need a history lesson!! Perhaps that's the problem: Villa fans don't know their history. League title's'?? Cup's'?? How have I missed them? It's just one league, one Euro and one F A Cup in well over 80 years. (Can't include the mickey mouse League cup, surely). Further: We won the League in 81. We were the third best team that year (I went to all but 2 games). We were fortunate in that there were no injuries to speak of. The monkey wrote Shakespeare the day we won the European Cup the following year when we triumphed against the run of play. In 1957 it was a snatch and grab. Wembley was built and knocked down with just a single victory and two appearances (if that's what you call the 2000 showing. So there it is. So what are these title's' and cup's'? Go back to school. You can only be a phoenix if you know you're in the ashes… |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
... Naughton And Sturidge would be a good start , very talented and very young.. |
Damian
said:
|
... AVMark I never got on the bus, it was full when it stopped for me but for a while I believed it would change under Lerner. I just don't believe it will right now although it is one of those things that can change. Funny thing is, when O'Leary became our manager, I knew it could never work and I knew there was nothing he could do. Lerner could do something, but it really does have to be this summer, because if he doesn't, in my opinion anyway, we will just be too far behind come next summer the likes of Spurs and Manchester City. You will judge at the end of next season, I've sort of already judged, but you're not stupid and I believe if you are going to judge at the end of next season your mind will be fairly sure of what is going to happen by the end of August, you'll just be living on pure hope for the rest of the season. |
THE AV VILLAN
said:
 |
... Cool-It-Down - you my friend are the dick!!! How you have got the front to come on here slating Damo is beyond me. He posta daily and always keeps everyone up to speed. This is by far the best sight on the web for Villa banter and has been for a long time!! Damian is NOT always negative but with the current state of our squad he has every right to express his thoughts. I know that IF we spend BIG then Damo will be the first person to praise MON and admit that he was wrong to worry, however i think for now we all should be worried!!! We desperatly need to sign some players!! I hate the thought of being left behind in the chase to be best of the rest!!! UTV!!! |
Altan Kargaci
said:
|
... Aparently it's a three year deal , good going for a 32 year old . Good luck Olaf . |
adam
said:
 |
... would be a better bet to have had olof on a 3 yr deal rather than sol f**kin cambell me thinks |
truevillan
said:
|
... reply to aero-for-villa in reply to no brains, im a solicitor, so probably more brains than you my friend and as for young not saying anything, he has, he is now stating we need to make big signings if we want him to stay, that is the first sign of someone paving the way to go! and who would not b worried when linked with sol and a kid who never played last year! i hope naughton and sturridge are true rumours, but from wot iv seen and heard defour would be the most exciting buy! |
Mark
said:
|
... Damian, I can't argue with that. I have hope however. Greg1981 I know where you are coming from but that's a bit harsh. Three points for a win would have put us well clear. |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... I'm back Damian hard day at work but let me contribute! AV Villain - spend big that's what will make you happy? future club security doesn't matter? the fact that these big names you want to sign aren't attracted to the big lights of Birmingham isn't a problem?? Our wage structure isn't a problem and breaking it wouldn't create caos in the dressing room??? come on buddy be real. I know a lot of you on here have a problem understanding what it takes to sign a player so I thought I'd put it in childrens terms as I am currently undergoing this opperation right now, here goes: - My 4 year old boy wants an Elephant, you try to explain that we can't afford to keep him in food, the enviroment isn't right for him, he'll be without his friends and family, the lure of a small back garden doesn't appeal to the animal and although he'll love him dearly the elephant is much more likeley to want to stay within a known enviroment. Bit crazy I know, but you'll have to understand that signing big names isn't going to happen, not just yet, so keep things in prospective and lets hope MON can work his magic on those signing we do make. Hey there is no one out there who wants success more than MON don't you think? |
Jason
said:
|
... I think O'neill - (well more Lerner than O'neill)needs to spend big money this summer. I think the way MON is trying to do things now would have worked 6-8 years ago, there was only really a top 2. Both Leeds and Newcastle occationally were playing Champions League and Liverpool and Chelsea were in and out of the CL. Things have changed now and there are too many clubs after the same players. To be taken seriously as a real top club, you need to spend. I would like none of our players to leave - and MON to buy: CD - Haanglerland RB - Richards RM - Bentley CM - Sneijder CF - Sturridge I think this lot would cost £45million, I don't know if thats realistic or optamistic, but it's 3 young english players, which is very MON, and 2 quality players who aren't. |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... Sneijder - brilliant mate but can we afford his wages and ego in our precious club? I'd like a 911 but I can't afford it, should I ditch the kids, wife and house to buy it?? Why does nobody talk about reality here? we have a limited budget at present, we need income to support players wages. |
Jason
said:
|
... Also I would add Drenthe to that list - i have heard a lot of people talking about how he's a left back. He's not, he was played there by his first club as he had just broken into the team, remember Gabby played right wing when he first got into the Villa side. He is best on the left or right wing, if you remember, he was the best left winger in the under 21 championships - which included Ashley Young. He has maybe an even better delivery than Young and is probably quicker and slightly better at going past players. What he obviously lacks is Youngs consistancy and decision making. But he would great on the right wing and the perfect cover if Ashley ever got injured. Lets face it, if that happens with our current squad we can kiss top half goodbye. |
Jason
said:
|
... Cool_it_down - we just offered Barry £75,000 a week, and he's no where near as good as Sneijder. We could easily pay him £80,000. You can't tell me he's on more than that now. At the end of the day, the 2 biggest wage bills are Chelsea and United and they pay £110,000/£120,000 a week to their best players. We can affords 2 big earners. Maybe not a whole team full, but i think with the sale of Barry for £12 my list above would make a net spend of £33 miliion. I don't think thats unreasonable for us fans to expect. It's just the money we get from Sky basically. Lerner could certainly cover that out of his personal wealth. He is richer than the owners of Liverpool and they pay big wages and bought Torres. (and yes i'm aware of their finaial situation but that is mostly down to the £400million they paid for the club) |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... So you think he'll be excited about a transfer to Birmingham? He might hear the strip clubs are good but are they as good as spains? Would he hold out for champions league offers? Just trying to put you in the picture, it's not that easy to say sign this player and that player, MON whilst a great manager will really struggle to attract big players to Birmingham over say London or even Liverpool. Until we do acheive we have to gamble on lesser unknown players who are hungry to acheive rather than pay high fees to a well known player who will ultimately be unhappy with the enviroment not to mention annoying the other "squad" players. |
robbo
said:
 |
... Cool it went too far in his comments, but I can see where he's coming from. Damian. You say you are MoN's 'biggest fan' and you certainly do say positive things, but frequently after you have knocked him, and that can make it look as if you are trying to hedge your bets. In the last few posts you have said: "Someone said yesterday in the comments that O'Neill learns, I hope so, because we made a lot of mistakes last season and it needs to change." "Has he just looked at his calender and discovered the transfer window is open?" "Martin O´Neill is not the quickest to act in the transfer market.....The reason we bottled it in Moscow and why we threw away our chance of a top four season was down to numbers and the only thing he had to do was go strengthen and he isn´t doing it" Reading those comments you should be able to see why someone might think that maybe you're not MoN's biggest fan after all. |
Jason
said:
|
... I agree Birmingham isn't as attractive as London, but Liverpool and Manchester are much worse places to live. If you don't believe that you can't have been. I was born in Liverpool and i would never want to live anywhere near the place. All the players from those clubs keep getting robbed - while they're in their houses sometimes. I know those football clubs are more attractive, but we are a bigger name than you think. Just look at the Spanish league- Valencia are shit now, but if you were a player and they wanted to sign you, it would interest you, the same with AC Milan, i don't think they made the CL again this year, but all players would be interested in moving there. Aston Villa aren't in that league but we are officialy the 18th most succesful club in the history of world football. (I saw a list o Sky) - Real Midrid were top, Liverpool second, AC Milan 3rd etc. But it shows that we are well known outside England. When i used to go on holiday, everyone used to know who's shirt i was wearing. On my list of players, everyone else is acheivable wouldn't you agree - Sneijder is the only one we would struggle to get. If I was the manager of Villa i really believe i could come up with something to encourage him to sign - i would offer 1. First team football in the Premiership 2. Playing in his prefered position 3. A buy out clause of £15million if we didn'y make CL 4. A good salary 5. The oportunity to play in a team with nice players - i would hate to be in the dressing room at united or Chelsea. What a bunch of w****rs (Drogba/Nani etc the list is endless) |
Damian
said:
|
... robbo as a manager of a football team, i am. there are areas where he needs to improve. we all have them although this coming season we need to see some tactical changes too .. but that is for next season Cool_it_down i fully accept that it isn´t easy but man city signed robinho and they were, according to someone that should know, extremely close to signing ronaldo (the first one) and while i appreciate some things are hard, they´re not impossible and if they need work and the people can´t do it, then people should be brought in that can |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... Robbo - perhaps I did go a little too far, but I'd hate MON to read some of the posts on this site, rarely anything positive is ever said about what he has acheived, things are good and i'm sure come the end of the transfer window we'll still have doubters but I for one believe in the club and its ambition. Damian in my opinion can only create negative posts to ensure the followers of non beleivers continue to follow his site and contribute to more negativity. I'd like to see a positive post Damian before you through your toys out of the pram. Don't believe the press believe in your gut feeling, and my gut feeling is that MON hasn't let us down but the supporters have thus far in the transfer window. Things are bright, we have lost Barry but that was to be expected, the squad is 1 man down from the end of season, additions will be made so lets wait and see, good things come to those who wait |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... Damian - good comment but surely you must see that Man City are well and truely above any football team on this planet when it comes to money, and you can't tell me that Ronaldo was interested in getting Man City into the top four? Money talks and all that. We don't have the money, Ronaldo would have cost Randy approx 10% of his personal wealth, think of it that way, what have you purchased that is 10% of what your total assests are worth? and knowing that it would depreciate????? |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... SpanishJon - nice post mate but you're not dealing with these money grabbing managers, they don't care about a club or nice people, look at Kaka he knows where he wants to go but the powers that be are in control, yes he signed his life away but that is the world of football. We need to suceed without big names, being nice gets you nowhere, unless of course you're Milner who of course goes through a proper agent cos he loves to play football and not for the money |
ak_27
said:
|
... Cool_it_down how do explain Popmy getting Distin, Defoe, Diarra, Johnson, Cambell and Crouch to start with? |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... ak_27 - seriously do you need me to tell you that? read my previous post management teams and all that |
Jason
said:
|
... I agree with the Milner thing - he seems to be the nicest footballer. I wish more people had his attitude to football on and off the pitch. Even if we just signed: Bentley (although i'm not sure about his attitude) Drenthe Richards Sturridge Haangerland ...it would be a massive improvement. I would accept Petrov taking over Barry's role and playing Milner as the defensive midfielder. I think most people who play DM aren't as good as milner on the ball and he certainly puts enough of a shift in to play the position. On that note, i do prefer players to player in their prefered position, but look at Neville at everton, a full back at united - when he played. and now he's one of their most important players. |
Cool_it_down
said:
|
... sorry didn't fully read that post - look at who you're talking about they are not world class players, crouch used to play for us and Defoe struggles to make the england squad, tells you something. Are you saying these players are better than those at Villa??? Carew, yound etc??? |
ak_27
said:
|
... I don't get what you are saying about management teams? Are you saying that Pompy had a better management team in place to bring them or that they couldn't resist the bright lights of Portsmouth? |
FatKevs
said:
 |
... As for managers The Best manager in recent times has to be Ron Saunders only for Ellis to f**k it up. My Favorite football was under Big Fat Ron, Great Times with Graham Taylor shame he messed himself up with England & that Brian Little Lost the Plot For me Martin has dissapointed only because i expeted so much from him so am I being unfair yes but i cannot help it that the football has been shite Points are not everything |
david g
said:
 |
... I like Lerner and O'Neill, and can see the benefits that have accrued to AVFC under their tutelage. However in my view, the club has now hit the glass ceiling, and in saying that, I think I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. In Laursen and Barry, we've lost two of our very best players, and if the rumours are anywhere near true (and they refuse to go away), Ashley Young is now getting itchy feet. On top of this, the quality of players the club keeps getting linked to, the Huddlestones and Jenases of the world, simply aren't going to allow us to make the vital next step up the ladder. I've said this elsewhere, but for once, I would give anything to see Villa go out and sign a couple of players of real quality, as a statement of intent to the other players, the fans, and to the football world in general that the club really does have the ambition and the will to move onwards and upwards. I really believe that this could be a catalyst. Of course it's risky, and naturally we'd never attract a Ronaldo or a Torres in their prime, but is it unthinkable that we might attract some of Real's surplus Dutch contingent, such as van der Vaart, or the likes of Wagner Love? Regretably, I believe it is, due largely in my view to a) conservatism and lack of imagination on Martin O'Neill's part and b)the wages structure currently in place at the club. Given these limitations, we'll likely continue to recruit from amongst the second tier of players; taking those unwanted at the likes of Spurs, or from relegated clubs forced to sell. No doubt we'll pick up some reasonable, dependable players along the way, and may unearth the odd gem from the Championship, but top four, no chance, and in the short term, I think we're really going to struggle just to stand still. I reckon that sixth next season would be some achievement. |
paul
said:
|
... Cool_it_down the thing is MON comes out wit we dont have a big enough squad, well he is the manager so shouldnt he be the one sorting that problem out, he does not seem to like using subs most of who he bought in, is that because he dont think they are good enough,and is saying we dont have a big enough squad a dig at RL |
FatKevs
said:
|
... I was alway critcal of Ellis when he returned back after Europe , I hated the way he promoted himself as the supplier when he just took money out of the club. But if i look back in the cold light of day. He did far more for the club than the Yank has & when fans still owned a small part of the club. Now we are all just £signs Doug managed to get in High Profile stikers like Collymore, Angel how much would they of cost today £30m? So Mr Ellis I was wrong spending all that time protesting for your removal The only thing i have learned from those sad years is that the majority of Villa fans cannot be bothered with how our club is being run If you question you are negative If you say how great things are you are the Best Fan. Now we have no say what so ever, that is reaaly shit when our familys have made this great club, for some johny foreigner to own it lock stock & barrel |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Fat kevs, You're talking shit again mate. The everyday shareholders never had any clout whatsoever. And if you think Ellis ever did anything that didn't benefit him, you're totally deluded. This is the bloke who was on the board at the scum before he came to Villa, ffs! |
Aero-For-Villa
said:
 |
... TrueVillan insists Ashley is paving a way out of VP and has expresses his feeling TrueVillan says - "he is now stating we need to make big signings if we want him to stay" Can someone point me to an actual link with quotes from Ash expressing this? no? exactly! just tabloids stirring shit and doing the thinking for Ash! For Gods sake... UTV |
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