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The fit and proper test thing officially starts today doesn't it. It's currently 8.04am and the deal has already collapsed. Yeah.. sure. .. It's probably not even properly begun yet.

The issue with funds is going to be Xia proving he has it in a very closed and secretive system. I don't doubt he has the funds, but he'll need to find a way of proving that. Which could actually be very tricky. He can't just show bank statements and transaction history like others can because Chinese government wouldn't allow it.

Surely suggests they don't foresee any problems with Xia's takeover.

Yeah, it's Xia buying a Chinese team who'll work closely with Villa. Still no news on RDM but I'm expecting it'll be announced by the weekend

Xia buying more clubs. Would have liked him to concentrate on us for a little bit I guess the guy has big ambitions to grow this football brand thing very quickly

Be about RDM surely?

He's just retweeted a couple of things about him being a potential villa legend and one guy saying 'stay and I'll buy you a beer'.

I'm sure you can't read much into stuff like yet but thoight is mention it.

Champions League winning manager. It's not often a second tier team can sign a manager with that accolade and fans be quite indifferent to it.

I think he'll be a good fit, but I agree that he's got a lot to prove despite his medal cabinet.

Much rather him than a Pullis or Allardyce, and certainly better than Pearson.

"Welcome De Mattio" on the website by the weekend?

There's going to be as many champions league winning managers in the championship as there are in the premiership..

This guy seems ridiculously open for someone who hasn't even taken control yet. Don't get me wrong, I like it a lot, but he's talked about how the team needs improving, said the scouting team needs to take a lot of the blame (bet that makes the guys signed last summer feel great too), talked very openly about what managers he wants and even shown people bank statements.

I'd be surprised if we got a name. I wouldn't be at all shocked if the 'update' is just 'talks ongoing but positive'.

An update is apparently going to come tonight after (according to the Birmingham Mail) a 'breakthrough day'.

You try telling the Chinese we don't trust them.

After that, go and tell Putin he walks like a girl.

Fit and proper test thingy would have to uncover a huge flaw, not just 'we're not totally sure where all your money comes from'. It's going to be tricky, they could just use the Cameron line of 'of course we can't point to every source of every bit of money..' In fact, I hope they do.

Everything being said about this Samuelson guy, the only positives have been along the lines of 'he's a money man, he'll do his job and go'. Bring chairman is a totally different thing. Not sure I like the sound of this.

Talk coming out of a few media outlets that this dodgy Samuelson chap isn't just involved in the bid process, he's to be appointed Chairman by Xia..

That does calm the nerves down a bit.

The question about Samuelsons role still remains though.

I reckon he's the best candidate they found for moving money around. China would not want to be particularly open about where money comes from, but there's a need for certain information this end. Samuelson is very dodgy, but is also a proven successful businessman in what he does. Seems a good mix. The phrase 'just the right level of corrupt' springs to mind.

Maybe Gabby is the new Dr Who assistant.

Just now, guyavfc said:

No Adama in squad.

Something very dodgy going on, isn't there?

Is Ilori on the bench? Disappointed to see Richardson again but I guess there's no other choice. 

I think someone can start the Remi Garde thread now. I won't, because I'd never heard of him before last week. I am excited though. Purely because I've now got hope, under Sherwood I had just become apathetic towards everything.

He did indeed say it. The question is whether he was speculating or he whether he has been passed some info

Galtier in as favourite now. Yet I've heard nothing but Garde.. Not even heard anything concrete about Galtier yet we know Lerner flew to talk to Garde and Lyon are unhappy about potentially losing coaching staff. Wonder what has spiked these changes in odds

Hmmm. Odds on Garde been getting longer as the day has gone on. This morning Skybet was 1/3, now he's 4/7 and Christophe Galtier is in to Evens

I was hugely excited by this signing, on reputation and limited viewing, I still feel he will deliver and will deliver in style, but this is a huge chance for him to do so. Plenty of time with the squad now, not been involved with the international break, injury to Gana giving him (you'd think) a starting place... show us what you can do Jordan, show us my excitement was justified!

Iceland 

 

as for Holland wow, has a team ever declined so badly so quickly. last summer they were penalty shootout away from a World Cup final

As my other half's family are all Dutch, I am biting my tongue not to make little comments to them.

They have been truely terrible all qualifying. Sadly, such is the new format, I still think they'll qualify. Turkey will lose to Iceland and Czechs and then all Holland need to do is beat Kazakhstan. Even if Turkey do win one, you'd fancy Holland to beat the Czechs in the last game.

This new format means it's almost impossible for a big team to not qualify. Holland are giving it a bloody good go though!

Richards may goto rb. Either way we have options

It'll be amusing having a centre back playing right back whilst a right back plays centre back, at least.

Although going 3 at the back with Bacuna and Amavi as wing backs is looking increasingly likely now IMO