El Zen

I really know nothing about this, but it should be possible to sort this out faster than that? If O'Neill really is lined up to take over tomorrow then I wouldn't exactly be surprised if an agreement regarding the takeover to be imminent. If an agreement is in place, then surely it would be possible for us to see some transfer action even if we weren't formally taken over yet? Someone care to enlighten me about this?

O'Neill would never accept that, though. He won't work under Ellis, and would not sign anything if he wasn't sure a takeover was going through. If Ellis did trick O'Neill into signing, not selling the club after all (which is highly unlikely),O'Neill being the man of principle that he is he'd resign immidietly and bring some serious heat on mr Ellis. If this was to happen, Ellis would be removed by Villa fans by the use of physical force.

Could just be a polite gesture, though. "Welcome to Birmingham, let me give you a tour of the stadium" etc etc.

But surely, people must care enough to buy it, or else the paper wouldn't be around. The editor must have a good reason to believe Howell's story was true, or else I can't see him running it as their main headline. I tend to do that, don't know why :roll: :winkold: Digsby's point is a valid one too, though. Howell has always been regarded as Ellis' puppet, so he must have fairly reliable sources inside Villa Park. He wouldn't run this story if he didn't know anything, the way I see it. He may have been premature with his reports, but I definitely believe O'Neill isn't far away from being the new manager of Aston Villa. It may be a done deal already, or it may be an agreement subject to certain things being sorted out first. I'm just speculating, obviously.

Is this Baggie Bill a different journalist to the Bill Howell of the Evening Mail? because that one has no reputation based on the fact he's got nearly everything wrong recently. He has however said whatever it is that the Ellis regieme has asked him to say I guess I don't know the local press of Brum as well as you do, but I'm not wrong in thinking it is one of the more popular rags in Brum? So if people do buy the paper, they must trust what it prints? And they did run this as their main story this morning and covered their front page with the headline, didn't they? I can't see a newspaper taking a risk with a big story like this, to be honest. If Howell's story is revealed as being bollo*ks, then I can't see his editor trusting him much from now on. Maybe the British press is even more tabloid then I thought, but getting things like this wrong can't be good for business.

You see, that's the problem with this takeover. As a teenager with no school to worry about for the summer, I like to sleep in. However, while this circus is on, I just can't go back to sleep when I first wake up in the morning. Anyway, if it really was Lerner's men at Villa Park today, then we should hear something tomorrow. I can't see the press letting this one pass by. And, if Baggie Bill says O'Neill will be the next manager, then I think we have reason to believe it's true. You can say alot about Bill Howell, but he wouldn't risk his rep with information that may or may not be true. Tomorrow could be buisy. Then again, I said that to myself at this time yesterday too :roll: . Takeover rollercoaster - the main attraction at the Aston Villa fun fair circus.

We'll storm the place if that happens. Do our own hostile takeover. I will strongly consider coming over for the Reading game only to stay outside and protest if that happens. Alternatively just stop watching Villa games all together until Ellis goes, including telly.

Around £50? What does that mean £48.78, £50.34? :winkold: Probably means he placed the bet in Norwegian Kroner, TT

Nah. No 6ft 4" blonde vikings in that picture I'm afraid 8) Besides. I'd never EVER throw away a bottle of lager

Cheers, Fart, I owe you one.

I predict a very narrow escape. And, as others have said, it'll be because there are worse teams in the league not because of Villa battling well.

I just got the Rotterdam retro shirt, and the round badge on it is absolutely beautiful. I wouldn't mind if we reintroduced, to be honest. Though, I still rate the new one as one of the better looking in the Prem. Of the two, I'd go for the old round one.

It's Merrell, and they really are great. I had a pair once, and loved them. Will definitely buy Merrells again, and this thread riminds me that it's time to get a new pair of shoes for spring.

Found this on the internet today, made me laugh anyway: +15°C / 59°F This is as warm as it gets in Norway, so we'll start here. People in Spain wear winter-coats and gloves. The Norwegians are out in the sun, getting a tan. +10°C / 50°F The French are trying in vain to start their central heating. The Norwegians plant flowers in their gardens. +5°C / 41°F Italian cars won't start. The Norwegians are cruising in cabriolets. 0°C / 32°F Distilled water freezes. The water in Oslo Fjord gets a little thicker. -5°C / 23°F People in California almost freeze to death. The Norwegians have their final barbeque before winter. -10°C / 14°F The Brits start the heat in their houses. The Norwegians start using long sleeves. -20°C / -4°F The Aussies flee from Mallorca. The Norwegians end their Midsummer celebrations. Autumn is here. -30°C / -22°F People in Greece die from the cold and disappear from the face of the earth. The Norwegians start drying their laundry indoors. -40°C / -40°F Paris start cracking in the cold. The Norwegians stand in line at the hotdog stands. -50°C / -58°F Polar bears start evacuating the North Pole. The Norwegian army postpones their winter survival training awaiting real winter weather. -70°C / -94°F The false Santa moves south. The Norwegian army goes out on winter survival training. -183°C / -297.4°F Microbes in food don't survive. The Norwegian cows complain that the farmers' hands are cold. -273°C / -459.4°F ALL atom-based movent halts. The Norwegians start saying "[mind your language], it's cold outside today." -300°C / -508°F Hell freezes over. Norway wins the Eurovision Song Contest. True story

Didn't Doug invent "Doug invented" jokes? I'd get my coat if I wasn't going to bed, sleep tight lads.

It used to be Man United, but now Chelsea has taken the throne. I like their manager, and I've got nothing in particular against their players either. It's just that Roman Abramovic's money (which was gained through highly questionable methods) is ruining the game and making the Premiership less interesting. I have no respect for what Chelski has achieved as a club, just the individual achievements of people like Mourinho and Frank Lampard. With Man United, it's the other way around. I can't stand the people, but the club's achievements are honest enough. Liverpool are ok, and Arsenal I actually have a soft spot for.

I'd agree with that, I think. I don't believe DO'L is the best man for the job, however I trust he wouldn't waste funds if he was given a chance to spend. In the transfer market, he's done quite well - it's more rather his coaching abilities I question.

Right now, I wouldn't sack him. Obviously, as it would be madness sacking the manager when the team is having a good run. However, should we lose our current form again fairly soon, and drop back into the shambolic state we were in just a few weeks ago starting another period of depression, he'd have to go.

I used to love them, and I have all of their albums. Simple, hard-hitting, good-time rock and roll. I saw them live at the Kristiansand Quart festival this summer, and had the time of my life. Dave Grohl is a true entertainer. Though, over the past couple of years I have turned soft. I prefer the bitter-sweet pop of Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub, Wilco and REM. I haven't really listened to Foo for months. It's a shame, because they deserve attention. Even my attention (edit again: didn't notice the "my" in "escaped....attention")

Thirty isn't that much. JPA may easily have four good years left in him. And in modern football, you have to regard four years as "long term". To actually replace him next year, would not be a good move imo. Increase competion, yes please, but I do not think Angel should be sold just yet.

There will obviously be a great deal of healthy rotation. Whoever is out of shape, will be dropped. At the moment, Phillips is looking sharp, while JPA isn't. Unless JPA really outshines Phillips tomorrow, I reckon it'll be Super Kev alongside Baros when we entertain the Rovers. However, in the long term, I really regard JPA/Baros as a very solid partnership. I think they compliment eachother perfectly, and I am indeed very excited by the thought of them working together up front.

I have to say, Kalim, Davis has impressed me a lot more than Hendrie lately. Not only because of his potential, but in terms of present quality as well. He's just a class or two better than Lee, I think.

Surely Davis. I rate him the better player already. Davis has got what it takes to be a top quality midfielder. He just needs that extra edge to make him a very good player, in terms of passing and creativity. He's a lot younger than Henders as well, and still has a good five years to develop his qualities. Possibly a future star player for us, imo. Hendrie is sadly just really average. Bar his usual streak in November when he scores his five brilliant goals then only to turn really mediocre again. Nothing more than a squad player.

Tommy Sorenson. No doubt in my mind, he's the far better goalie at this club.

I'm anti Ellis and a member of the Norwegian Labour Party. Should fit in well in the first category, then.