Zhan_Zhuang

So three RB's competing for one position should give us the options needed rather than rely on a distinctly average player in Hutton.

This is good news as Lichaj and Lowton will be hungry to win that RB place.

Not sure there's much for Silva to prove. Silva v GSP would be the match-up everyone would want to see but It's been spoken about for years though so who knows?

Apologies for the digress but in relation to our other RB Hutton (if you could call him that) I'm hoping Lambert won't let players he views as deadwood or surplus to merely sit around on the bench counting their money.

Hopefully If we cannot sell them then they'll be on loan with any potential loanee club having to pay half their wages. Correct me if i'm wrong though?!

Wow, very emotional. Feel sorry for Stan seems such a lovely guy...incidentally who was that who patted him on the back with Collins at the end of the video?

It's not lost on us. We pat ourselves on the back (as do others) for being 'the best fans in the world' when following our national side. Yet we allow League of Ireland sides (Monaghan Utd amongst many others) go to the wall through a lack of support.

Yeah that's what I was getting at...a shame.

My point was that whatever their current attendance is, it probably won't dip any lower with Rangers not there. I just assumed they sell out. If they don't then that's a surprise. But I'd expect it will remain at whatever level it is currently at.

Oh, i'm sure it will. The interest won't be quite so fervent without Rangers and attendances, sponsorship will all suffer (eventually).

Celtic will secretly hope Rangers get back to the SPL quickly or else they too could well be in financial trouble.

Considering many of their 'fans' are Irish I'm hoping the irony won't be lost!

I wonder if many of the Irish fans who follow Glaswegian teams actually followed their local teams maybe the Irish league would be on a par with the SPL?

Celtic will continue to sell out their stadium. Without checking, I doubt their attendance dips for non-Old Firm games. They're used to shooting fish in a barrel so this won't change much. If anything the fans will be even more enthusiastic to witness a guaranteed title winning season in record numbers. This will affect the other sides who don't sell out their stadiums. They'll lose 2 home games against Rangers and replace them probably with Dunfermline. There might be a slight upturn in attendances for clubs in with a chance of 2nd place.

You're kidding right? 24,000. Celtic count their season ticket holders regardless of them actually turning up and have generally being doing this to attendances for years. I have a vague recollection of a Q/F played at Celtic's ground (possibily against Aberdeen or Inverness) and the attendance was barely 30k.

Hence they won't sell-out because they never do; there are forums discussing this amongst their own fans who think something fishy is happening.

I honestly have never seen Brahimi play but a quick look at his stats tell us he's been capped at every level for the French except the full squad yet he's still only 22 years old. In his two seasons and 68 games playing in Ligue 1 he's scored 14 goals which is a good return for midfield.

At 2.5million this could be a steal.

Good news! I honestly don't think there's much between Guzan and Given; both great shot-stoppers.

Guzan just needs consistent games and hopefully will get this in pre-season; if Given still has injury concerns we may have to look after him more this season than last?

Newco dropping into Division 1 is letting them off lightly and if the rules also change to allow more promotion places then it is indeed a farce. The SPL and SFA are merely bending the rules to accomodate the swift return of Rangers and it basically proves the whole league system thinks they are lost without them...such a shame. Rangers will get promotion and be back challenging within a season and most likely the'll get their name back.

I was hoping Rangers in Division 3 would quickly have repercussions on Celtic and also put them out of business!

"Invest in Africa" what the..., isn't that an oxymoron?

Looks an exciting acquisition based on those videos and the fact he plays for a decent team.

El Ahmadi looks to be quick, good with or without the ball and can play a simple pass and a forward one.

I'd be inclined to agree with you; what right have they to walk into the PL?

Yep Struve is a top fighter and contender due to his skill at all ranges be that striking or submissions.

Hardy v. Sadollah is a good match-up and i'ts tough to call that one, Sadolla can take a puch and Hardy has seemed a little punch-drunk recently.

I like Roy Hodgson and the players too seem to like him; this was likely part of the problem in having a foreign coach previously.

Against Ukraine the England players seemed to exude a passion for the game I have not see for quite a while. Parker took a couple of point blank strikes to the face and Gerrard was pumped up.

It's about time we had a bit of luck and hopefully at last we might have a manager who truly understands both the modern game and the nature of the British/English game.

We can beat the Italians and winning two games from the group is a big confidence boost. Chiellini out is also good for us and we've got to make that pay!

As Lambert was on a one year rolling contract that was due to expire why is compensation necessary?

Because a one year rolling contract always has 12 months left to run, otherwise its not a rolling contract.

Ad infinitum?

As Lambert was on a one year rolling contract that was due to expire why is compensation necessary?

I just hope we don't listen to that horrible man Alec Ferguson because we may end up with Willie Miller; it makes you wonder how Ferguson has existed this long with his backing of McLeish?!

In all seriousness I hope we get Andre Villas-Boas as he has a great deal to prove; you never know? Failing that Moyes i'm not taken with Lambert but what do I know?

I'm not watching this shit no more, toothless performance.

Likely 5 or 6 to Arse!

Fantastic article in the Birmingham Mail

Great article and well thought out as to why we are currently sitting where we are, and it is not because of McLeish.

Unfortunately I'm not sure the McLeish haters would let the actual facts get in the way of their belief that he is the devil reincarnated!

Is this really a "great article"?

I may have misunderstood it but it seems to be arguing that MON wasn't the man to take Villa to Cup and top 4 success but Mcleish is the man to do it.

This is completely deluded nonsense. While I don't go along with much of the anti-McLeish stuff that gets posted on here these days, there is very little evidence so far that he will do anything other than steady the ship and keep us safe in mid table.

After last season's relegation scare I welcome that but I can't really see McLeish as the new Messiah who will lead us out of the trophy wilderness.

Considering McLeish won a trophy with vastly inferior funds at his disposal with Blues it surely is evidence enough that he can be a success at Aston Villa. I for one think that is a tall order but we have to have faith; maybe signing players driven by more than money is a start such as the Holman's of world?

I will also remind the fickle one's who slag MCleish one minute and the next want him to stay on.

You can remind us now if you like, just for future reference.

My name of course will not be included as once a manager is employed by Aston Villa they have my full support. Especially considering Villa have amassed five points in three games with one goal conceded; I like to look on the positive side and say things are slowly improving.

Fantastic article in the Birmingham Mail

Great article and well thought out as to why we are currently sitting where we are, and it is not because of McLeish.

Unfortunately I'm not sure the McLeish haters would let the actual facts get in the way of their belief that he is the devil reincarnated!

Under MCleish the football will always be boring and the signings will make you yawn.

I love how people around here change their tune after a VERY VERY VERY fortunate win which if im honest Villa didn't deserve to win. But now its ok because we have won a game when really MCleish should have gone 5 games ago but because Lerner has spunked loads on crap which he has had to pay off we can't afford to.

THE FUTURES BRIGHT THE FUTURES THE CHAMPIONSHIP

You are talking absolute nonsense! Villa dominated against Fulham and really could have won the match by two or three. We had 8 shots on target to their 1, ONE SHOT ON TARGET FOR FULHAM! Villa had 55% possession and played rather well particularly in the first half against one of the form teams of late.

he plays for AZ Alkmaar for a reason and its not because he's good or class or world class its the complete opposite.

What about Rasmus Elm, hmm? Adam Maher's looking quite the talent. Pontus Wernbloom got snapped up by CSKA Moscow. Even Beerens and Moisander could probably do a decent job at a higher level.

Going back further, let's see; you've got Stijn Schaars, he got snapped up by Sporting Libson. Sigthórsson won himself a move to Ajax. Héctor Moreno moved to Espanyol where's he's doing a decent job. Romero, the Argentine national #1 was at AZ last year. Further back still there was Jeremain Lens (now at PSV), Dembélé at Fulham and El Hamdaoui who also went to Ajax.

Joris Mathijsen made a name for himself at AZ, they were Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's second ever club, oh but my favourite one (and you'll like this); one Phillip Cocu came through the youth ranks at AZ. They were his first professional club.

In summary; stop talking pork.

Then you've also got players such as Gregory van der Wiel and Jan Vertonghen at Ajax who are two hot properties at the moment.

Holman was also named Australian Writers Player of the Year for 2011 which is quite an accolade considering they've done very well of late as an International team.