honest_bertie

have been very impressed by what I've seen of Lambert's three signings so far and have full trust in him to sign the right sort of players to play in his system/s. I just hope he can get the 2/3 more in we need to solidify the starting 11. At the moment I think we have 3 players in CNZ, Ireland and Holman who all have potential to do ok (in their own different ways) but playing all 3 together is not necessarily going to work, all far to inconsistent for my liking. I think Ireland could have the most to offer if we can get him firing, with the other 2 I hope PL can get them playing but I really don't think we'd have CNZ and Holman here if Lambert had have taken over when McLeish did.

Vlarr fast becoming my favourite Villa player, hard as nails, can play a bit as well and seems to genuinely care for the club he plays for and the fans. Future captain (and not to distant future I reckon)

can't believe that people are so worried about not having Dunne and Colins, Vlarr and Clark might not be up to speed yet but I'm happy to give them a chance, they need games together and Clark needs a run of games, this could be a big season for him much like it could for Bannan, I think he's got the making of a good CB and PL obviously rates him. Personally think Clarks main problem is all preseason he has had a left back next to him that is not good enough in Stevens and Warnock and has got dragged out of position a lot.

would be happy with that as a deal.

oh yeh, he signed in the Jan of GH year didn't he? So guess that would mean he'd have a year left at the end of next season.

if the loan is for a full season then he is pretty much off our books at the end of it anyway if I am right in believing he was on a 3.5 year contract. Can anyone confirm thats the case?

Agreed, the modern player has no need for a testimonial unless it is to raise money for a selected charity or cause. This way the player can get the acknowledgement of his service to the club but also raise money for a worthy cause rather than topping up their already substantial bank balance (and if they have blown all their earnings e.g Lee Hendrie then more fool them). I hope that would be the case with Stan and an organisation like Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, he has been an excellent servant to the club, fully deserves appreciation and acknowledgement for his time and efforts at Villa and would be raising funds to a very worthy cause. Football players need to re-enter the real world and take heed from sportsmen and women like many of the olympians, sport and achievement first over money.

if thats still the case by the end of the transfer window then I'd agree, very wrong.

still hoping we might be in for Guidetti, maybe we are one of the other possibilities other than Feyenoord Guidetti weighing up options

I was all for giving J2M a chance this season but I just don't get what going on with him and his situation and have now lost patience with the whole charade. When he signed I was hopeful we might have a decent player on our hands and at the time thought he was a step in the right direction in terms of playing style, thought he started ok, could improve with time and he was a good age to play and develop into prem league player but that was now 2 years ago now and although I think he was shipped out in haste by he who shall not be named and was to quickly written off by many on here I think now the time has come to cut our ties and go our separate ways... Don't think it was easy for him coming in then GH leaving so soon after, McLeish coming in and destroying all thought of passing in favour of hoof and then shipping him out first chance he got but by now I don't think there is any reason to assume a) he wants to be here and we are particularly trying to get him back, feels a bit like everybody involved would just like to sweep the whole thing uder the carpet and forget about it, him and the club.. Just would like to see the whole sorry debacle done and finished with either way, just hope if he is on holiday as reported we not paying his wages.

considering the way he's been playing last few years and the thought of getting his 45k wages off the books I think I'd let him go for next to nowt. Isn't this the final year of his contract (not sure), if so either way, sale or loan wouldn't a 12 month loan effectively see him off the books anyway? Maybe he has a couple of years left, anyone know?

couldn't seem to get the link to work but rumours on ESPN that Warnock might be off to Sunderland.

sorry if this has been posted already but some hope Warnock might be off.... http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1133315/sunderland-boss-martin-o'neill-eyes-stephen-warnock-reunion?cc=5739#Warnock to Sunderland?

bang on, people were saying Vlarr was a questionable signing because of how Holland did at the Euro's.

You may not think so but you certainly have. I already do thanks. Perhaps we should continue this via PM, as it doesn't really have any place in this thread? Do you not define calling someone childish as being rude? I mean its in your posts Mantis and I'm afraid if you can't see or admit that then there's actually no reason to PM. I'd much rather debate with someone who can actually debate without resorting to those type of insults. Not when they actually are acting childish by calling people's opinions "invalid" just because they don't agree with them and saying condescending crap like "didn't want to upset you". Perhaps you should heed your own advice then because when you act in the way you do a lot of people are going to fight back with the same stuff you throw at them and believe me, some of it will be way ruder than what I've said. Well at least you have now admitted to being rude which is something! Secondly, i didn't call your opinion invalid due to not agreeing with it, i actually proved my point when you finally agreed that Gabby wasn't the same player of a few seasons ago thereby stating that McLeish wasn't the only reason why we scored so few goals last season. My comment 'didn't want to upset you' was in fact meant with no hidden agenda as i was enjoying the debate and i didn't want you taking it personal but you have misconstrued it as something else and thats what i mean by you replying to something you think i said rather than what was posted! Finally i would challenge you to find where i have been rude to anyone on VT, so there would be no need at all for anyone else to reply to me in such a way. I would suggest you leave it at that Mantis. yawn yawn yawn, please do us all a favour and sort out your argument in a PM, so bored of both arguments now.

this.. patience from the fans and time for players to get used to systems is needed. Still need a couple of players in if poss before end of window, especially if we are to make the tight midfield our default formation. I like the way we have been trying to play in preseason, we may let a few in this year but I think Lambert is on the right track and I like the style he is trying to implement.

think you might be right (to not believe anything he says)

bloke who originally reckons he broke the KJ link has just said he's be told by Jones he knows nothing of the move if I understand twitter correctly that is.

i'd be happy with Kenwyne Jones to Villa if it meant a) a deal involving Hutton going the other way and the price was no more than 5/6 mil. When he and Bent played the one season together Bent got 24 goals and I believe when asked who his favourite strike partner has been over the years DB has said Jones. Maybe not the most exciting signing that we might have been hoping for but one that might work on a few different levels and at 5/6 mil that should leave a few more pennies for other areas we need new signings in. At 28 he's still got a couple of good years in him, might have a point to prove, been off the pace for a while some might say but miabe Lambert might be the manager to get him back on track? Dunno, see what happens I guess.

Or like with all 3 of PL's signings so far (with the exception of Concrete Ron due to a photo from VP tourist) maybe no one other than PL, Faulkner and a few others at Villa really know whats going on and we are looking/talking with other targets. At least thats what I'm hoping.

Agreed same, Warnock cannot be starting at LB at the beginning of the season.

He is more like their equivilent of Doug Ellis though and I have seen some very nasty things said about uncle Doug on this forum. Not to mention the venom and abuse our last three managers have recieved on here. I don't think we should be getting on our high horse. fair dues LondonLax... don't mean to be getting on a high horse, you're right all fans everywhere have their moments and Houllier especially did get some bad personal abuse if I remember rightly. Just found that Browns quote ridiculous, that amount of hate and to wish violence on someone like that I find very sad.

can't believe the hate in that Browns forum quote. Fair dues Randy has made a few mistakes at Villa and he has had a fair amount of stick for it but I don't think I've ever seen a Villa fan talk as badly as that about him, well out order. Hope this means he's a bit more around at Villa now and hopefully we'll get a bit more funds made available but not expecting any massive Man C style signings just yet, maybe a 10-15 mill forward would be nice though I like the approach we are taking at the moment, it seems measured and sensible, we are getting our house in order and I think long term it will only benefit us.

McLeish no question, terrible manager who proved us all (majority) right.