JLohn

I don't think Simpson is actually a Billionaire and that's probably why you can't find his wealth online. Apparently he made around 400 million dollars from oil company.

He earns £40m a year from his company as CEO...10th best paid CEO in the USA. I reckon he's a billionaire...

Bob Simpson earns about £40m a year as CEO of his oil company...not bad.

I think the Ellison rumour is false... so who can it be? I've heard a number of names in the last 29 pages. Can anyone summarise who they are and how rich they are?

Guggenheim Partners - 200 billion.

Club statement - looks like a sale is on!

In February 2013, Fortune magazine, which is owned by Time Warner, did an investigation into the Guggenheim Partners. They noted that when Magic Johnson bought the Los Angeles Dodgers he was joined by a team which turned out to be the Guggenheim Partners and it was "the main force in the deal, and the eye-popping Dodgers acquisition has been only one of a handful drawing ever more attention to the firm".

Later in the article they said that since the Guggenheim Partners managed so many billions in assets that they were almost like a private equity firm. Also, they noted that the group is very secretive in its dealings and likes to work behind the scenes with its members consisting of former employees of Bear Stearns, Yahooand Apollo. At the end of the article they noted that the partners might buy a sports TV channel owned by Time Warner and if not that, it is "on the hunt for deals"

That pic looks like Graham to me. Same nose, same hair...etc.

 

 

Paulinho and Soldado are both top 4 quality for sure. as are Vertonghen and Lloris.

 

They are talking about Southampton, not Spurs.

It's annoying isn't it. I got engaged in an editing war to revert it back to how it should be! The admins are thick as poo though. 

It is clear what Lambert is doing. He has seen what players like Bannan and Delfouneso have turned into without getting experience of what it is to be a footballer before it is too late. Both the two mentioned did go out on loan, but it seems by that point they already thought they'd "made it".

I'm all for as many of the youngsters who are ready to go out on loan, definitely better than getting 10 sub appearances / cup games in the season for Villa. Going on loan creates a better mindset.

 

Maybe we should sign Draxler as a false nine? Should only cost around 8m.

 

Draxler only 8m when Nuremburg want 10m + for Kiyoake. Right o.

 

You missed the running joke...

As much as I would love this to happen, it just isn't. Although I think he would be within our reach financially and in terms of stature, the amount of stuff being said about this deal on twitter for me signals that this won't happen. Although loads of transfers break on twitter early, it's normally via journos, not some random "selected" by the club to reveal it.

 

Also if the transfer was to get messy like a twitterer is suggesting, the club would shut them down immediately as they wouldn't want any leaks that could accidentally be revealed and used against them in a court battle. No club would let this amount of attention occur around a transfer that they would have seemingly tried so hard to keep quiet with local journos being in the dark and no official comment apart from Lambert confirming to fans there was interest at some point.

 

If the club has really started using random fans on twitter to reveal transfers, I'm afraid Randy and co have lost the plot completely, and should probably reassess how they conduct business. It took me a while to let go of this one, like Belhanda, but having really thought about it, and how this would make our club look if it happened, I think this will not happen this summer. It would make look pretty small time if we revealed transfers via fans on twitter. Maybe next year or the year after that, probably never.

 

 

Note: Sorry OBE, I tried to keep it about Kiyotake, but twitter is kind of central to my view of the whole transfer.

Even if we end up signing him, that doesn't mean that we're going through twitter. All that has happened is that it was revealed we made an inquiry for the player by the CEO of Nuremberg. This has then been jumped on by people who are 'ITK'. Twitter has nothing to do with how likely this is to happen or not...just because people are bleating about it doesn't mean it's happening, and just because people aren't doesn't mean it isn't, yet also just because they are doesn't mean it isn't.

We were at least obviously interested in him and we shall see where it goes from there now. But don't go believing that because stuff is on twitter the club are feeding randomers information, they most likely have nowt to do with it.

Ivelin Popov 'injured' for Kuban Krasnodar's game tonight against Motherwell...

Pescara were relegated in 20th this year! So at least he knows how to be in a defence under pressure...

 

For Villa, the threat of him refusing to play is more significant than is being acknowledged in this thread. Each time it’s mentioned, it’s also pointed out that’s is WC year, so he wont do this. But that suggests you’d be happy to let him strike for the whole season, which is very unlikely to be the case. Even Man City, with all their money, relented and brought Tevez back into the fold with the hope he’s re-ignite their title challenge. If you are in a relegation fight, which most would predict without Benteke you will be, he’d be back in the team in no time. No matter how much pride is at stake, it simply isn’t worth getting relegated over, which would be catastrophic for the club.

 

 

See, you're confusing a player going on strike and refusing to play, and a club refusing to play a player. 

If Benteke stays I am sure Lambert will play him, because as you say he would make the difference. The only thing stopping Benteke playing is Benteke himself, and he isn't going to refuse to play come September if he is still at Villa (which I don't think he will be).

Reports are he's packed all his shit and won't be back.

Fine him 2 weeks wages for every week he's not around. He'll come back quickly seeing how much he seems to be driven by £££.

The Christian Benteke twitter account is a parody - so retweets and tweets from that account mean less than nothing.

The quote was from the AVFC verified Benteke account. @bentekechris20

Anyway, Spurs ITK on Twatter saying the deal is basically done, £22m.

If he was one of Lamberts targets then great.. but if not.. I want Lambo to go sign the players he wants. So cash only

Yeah, I agree with that completely. Only if Lambert actually values him and the player actually wants to come rather than being forced, like Ireland was.

People on Spurs forums speculating about including Sigurdsson as part of the deal.

Now I don't like swap deals, especially with Ireland, but I can't help but be intrigued about this option, especially with Paul looking for a AMC. I'd probably accept £20m + Sigurdsson.

Just to note the team in question are actually called Sevilla not Seviile. Seville is the city where they are based.

 

Luna is decent. Spends most of the time bombing down the wing, linked with Navas well. Surprised we were in for him. Sad to see Sevilla selling all their team to the Premier League though. Sign of the times indeed.

Seville is actually the British name. The city and football club are both actually Sevilla...

He came from Denmark

To play at Villa Park

That's Okore

He is a rock at the back

Like our Lion on crack

It's Okore

Great signing! This really sends a signal out to other possible signings.

It is going to be 35 and 36 that decides relegation. Villa, Norwich, Sunderland and Stoke...none of those four play anyone apart from each other! If we can get 4 points from those two games, I think we will be safe.

We have got 33 points this Calendar Year, from 38 games.

Today was our worst home defeat in the Premier League.

We need to win on Saturday.