SonicVillan

I'll be there, R5 as usual (Lower North really is the place to be). Really do need to win this one as we have a shocking run of fixtures coming up. I doubt Jenas will start, but he might add something (I say more in hope than expectation).

I don't want to get carried away with the 'No Hutton or Collins' because I fear I'll just be disappointed.

If I expected one positive from McLeish, it was that I'd stop shitting myself at 1-0 up, but it's exactly the same so far. I reckon we need a couple of early goals.

Also, 20% off everything (I think) from the Villa store before K.O, if you want to get some Christmas shopping done.

Paul Scholes is a role model. For me – and I really mean this – he's the best central midfielder I've seen in the last 15, 20 years.

I've spoken to Xabi Alonso about him. He's spectacular, he has it all: the last pass, goals, he's strong, he doesn't lose the ball, vision. If he'd been Spanish he might have been rated more highly. Players love him.

Good enough for me!

As far as Bannan goes, I think the comparison with Scholes was more making the point that the hope is that he can emulate Scholes to a certain degree. Hopefully he can fill that sort of role for us. Of course, it's massively unlikely that Bannan will ever be as good as Scholes, but he might as well try to learn from him seeing as they're similar types of player.

I would live in Birmingham forever. I wouldn't go back home [to Scotland], I've fallen in love with Birmingham, the city."

God bless you, Barry Bannan.

Loud.

Eaters.

Thanks Wedge!

Do you think I'd be able to pick one up on the night? Might have a drive up.

Hi General,

The banner that I have been working on - that both you and Ian Taylor have complimented - has been given some promotion, thanks to the kind actions of Ian at Aston Villa News & Views. It seems to be fairly popular and most Villa fans who have seen it have agreed that they would like to see it printed and hung across the Trinity Road Stand. Is there anyway that we can get the ball rolling with this one? If the club think it can enhance Villa Park then I'd love to get this going. I want to leave my mark on Villa Park and I do think it would look good. I work for a Print and Promotion Company so getting it made wouldn't be a problem.

Please let me know if this is something that the club are interested in.

A link to Aston Villa News & Views with the piece about the banner: http://tinyurl.com/3br6sga

I designed a t-shirt to let my feelings be known about the guilty tossers involved in this mess.

http://twitpic.com/5sj5oz/full

Stewart_SD Stewart Downing

I got something exciting to tell you guys later, can't wait !!

Clearly a fake. Nothing to see here.

@Stewart_SD is getting some abuse on Twitter and, as Cracker1234 says, the account seems to be genuine. Perhaps not the most sensible time for Downing to be starting a Twitter account, though?

Not sure if this has already been posted, but why on earth is there a 'Birmingham City & Newcastle United Fan Page' on facebook? It looks pretty embarrassing:

Some highlights:

Whats everyones thought on a shared stadium for Newcastle United and Birmingham City...? This was only an idea from someone so no moaning please.

newcastel fan! and i just wanna say how plr[pleased I am] hughton at birmingam and seeing as i support the toon; I HATE ASTON VILLA !!

We're all the villa, haters!! WE HATE VILLA, WE HATE VILLA!!

I HATE VILLA MORE THAN YOU !!! aha

http://tiny.cc/z290q

Watching Training Day at the moment, really enjoy it.

Hi General,

Now that things have been settled with regards to the manager and the sponsor, I was hoping to possibly re-ignite the possibly of Aston Villa getting involved with the banner that I have designed? It has proven popular on here, Twitter and with Ian Taylor, so I think this could really help - along with the Holte and North Stand banners and the Lower Holter Villa flag - to build the atmosphere pre-kick off, if this was hung across either the Doug Ellis or (preferably) the Trinity Road Stand.

http://tinyurl.com/3gewzw7

Thanks General, hoping to hear back from you soon!

Someone just pointed out on Twitter that it must be a fake, because Andy Carrol is next to that woman and she doesn't have two black eyes.

Looks like I'll have to get a new banner made...

A fair few people on Twitter seem to think it's a fake now...

What a clearing in the woods.

If he is going, we'd better not get bent over for him - he's certainly worth equal to the "laughable" £22m bid that was put in for Modric.

General Krulak here:

4. A very nice banner....BUT, how do we determine who is on it? A contest?

Many thanks General!

Here is the VT thread, from my first concept through to the design that I showed you: http://tinyurl.com/3q4g4bm (it's 6 pages long and I recognise that you're a busy man, this is more just to illustrate that we're now in a position where most people seem happy with the players featured). I'm happy to design it according to votes, though - for a start I'd very much like to get Tony Morley on there!

I like Villa4Europe's suggestion to finalise the design as it helps Acorns, which is always a good thing and would generate some publicity for the banner unveiling.

Hello General,

All in all the season ended up ok in the end, didn't it? Looking forward to an eventful summer one way or another.

I've designed a banner (that is still in the draft stages at the minute - people obviously have different opinions about who should feature on it), that I would love to drape across the Trinity Road for next season, similar to the iconic banners across the North and Holte Ends'. I'd obviously love to get this finalised and printed int ime for next season and somebody suggested I should post it on here to see if we can get the ball rolling! What do you think (For what it's worth, Ian Taylor has seen it on Twitter and approved!)?

The theme is to go from our greatest players towards more recent legends, building on the 'Proud History, Bright Future' motif. So far, the line-up is:

Spink, Little, Shaw, Cowans, Withe, Mortimer, McGrath, Taylor, Mellberg, Laursen, Agbonlahor

Full size version: http://tinyurl.com/3gewzw7

Hope you like it! I certainly think it would add something to Villa Park!

The Square Peg do a good breakfast by all accounts. I'm not too sure about anywhere else in town, though, as I tend to go to a cafe in Bournville.

When I was a kid and I used to go to town every Saturday with Mom, there used to be a brilliant cafe on the corner next to Argos Superstore, opposite Oasis. I'm not sure if it's even there now, but it was class back in the day. Anyone know if this place is still going/any good?

If anybody was in this area of the crowd when Ash did this and they took a picture, could you please email or text it to me or send me a message..

It would be really appreciated email is: s_carter5@sky.com

I was sat round the other side, but I veideo'd that. I'll email it over to you and you can see if it's any good for you.

Yeh I did, you must have been very close to me cos I was right in front of him, practically. The stewards had a go at him at one point, and he quieted down for awhile. Speaking of which, I didn't see a single steward in the Villa end at all! Which I'm glad about, kept the atmosphere really good, rather than potentially turning it sour.

Yeah, I would have been near you then. I'll post my videos up later. The only stewards I saw kind of put a halt to a congo line that got going, but I think the one steward felt a bit embarrased to be stopping it. He seemed almost apologetic.

Class, you can see me next to 'Larner 23' dressed as a beer bottle! you must also have seen the Arsenal fan in the chequered shirt?

Brilliant comment from the Arsenal fan. Best away day I've ever had.

I'd like to see that team, though Petrov has looked very good in a lot of our last few games.

Would like to see Gabby and Albrighton get a decent amount of time.

Just had a quick look on the OS, seems as though a massive 22 tickets are still available, in P4, P1 and M5 (Doug Ellis) and A1, A2 and A8 in the Upper Trinity.

Yeah, that's the guy - I agree, looked like what you expect a home supporter at the Emirates to look like. Singing "Sit down, shut up" at him was class.

Villaboy69 - everything you said there was spot on. What a day.