blaineyboy

Said many times before, there is that player from 3-4 seasons ago just waiting to get out. Too many people on here not giving him a fresh chance. Last season GH shot his confidence to pieces by ridiculing him the media. The guy was frozen out and never got a consistent run of games to even prove himself. You can't expect all players to hit the deck running (as was the case when we signed Milner & when Downing made his debut in the December). Lets give the guy a chance to prove himself under a manager seemingly willing to give him a chance and fulfil potential he has already shown like when Hughes gave him a chance before for an average Citeh team at the time.

Surely on a windup? No, are you? Kid, you really aint a clue on football judging by your posts. The player is making an upward step in his career to a club that are closer to challenging things, a club closer to what we are. He has gone to join a club who have shown intent with signings they have made since January. Liverpool are a big club, bigger than us, there fans are awful and I can't stand them, but take off your villa tinted glasses and realise villa are not the biggest club in the country and are some way of it. Anyway, must be past your bed time ay

Surely on a windup?

The guys hands in a transfer request, he don't wanna be at villa anymore, we get offered 20mill for a player with less ability than A. Young - can you blame the board. Anyone want to get perspective as to where villa are as a club, last time I checked we were winning **** all. Better players always move to bigger clubs. Players come and go, but the club is always there. We will have a new star player who will come and go - it's the cycle of football.

A lot of our fans really are thick. Top 5 club comes calling + big money + player wants to leave to go to said club + player won't sign a new contract = Sell for a big fee. It really isn't that hard to figure out...

More money and bigger ambitions, it's that simple. Villa are challenging for **** all right now. We are paying the price for snapping up the best english players, eventually they all want to move on to the bigger clubs where they have more chance to win stuff. That's football so don't know why we are all suprised here.

Given would be a great signing. Keepers are notoriously better over the age of 32. Yes, I would like Foster but why pay twice as much for a player who is less experienced (but yes very good) who will no doubt want to leave us for another club in a couple of years. We could get a solid 4/5 seasons out of Given I reckon.

I am a Villa fan that will give Ireland a chance and support him from the off 1. Firstly, last season was always gonna be hard for him when he hadn't played consistently in so long (you can't train for match sharpness, only way you can is by playing game after game) 2. His confidence was shot to pieces by a manager (who yes probs would never have bought him) ridiculing him in the media saying he has to train harder etc etc. Put yourself in his shoes, if you **** up at work, would you appreciate your manager sending an email around your company saying you weren't doing enough? No matter how well paid someone is, you can still have your confidence shot to pieces 3. I truly believe that the player he was at citeh can be brought out by a manager who is willing to give him a chance, give him the confidence he needs to perform the level he did. 4. An example of the top of my head is Gareth Bale. Was great at saints went to spurs and played 40+ games for spurs in which they won none of the them. Manager told him behind the scenes what he needed to sort such as his attitude and his game out, now look him - a class player. I am not saying Ireland is as good as Bale, just an example of how you shouldn't give up on a player who has shown glimpses of what he can offer.

As much as I would love Foster, Given makes more sense. We would pay twice as much for Foster and in a couple of seasons he would likely leave us for Arsenal or Spurs. Given on the other hand will hardly any resale value and keepers are in their prime at their age.

General , Happy 4th July I for one am very grateful for Randy and his team, I also believe the board take a lot of unjust stick when you look and the money Randy has poured into the club and it is a very different club from what he took over. I certainly hope the abuse you and Randy take makes you more determined to succeed. My only question, which remains unanswered is - when you gonna accept my fb friend request? (My username is a clue to who I am) Thanks!!!

According to @GregFarrimond (who is wigans equivalent to Kendrick) when I asked if a deal with us and Nzog was close, his response was some way off. He wouldn't disclose anymore that that, make of that what you will though.

General, When are you going to accept my fb friend request. My username should give you a clue as to my name on fb. Cheers

I am not giving some kind of defence to McLeish but maybe looking at this from a diff perspective. Yes McLeish football has been very negative BUT, with the right backing and with some of the players we have, can anyone see McLeish expanding his game. What I mean is, building a rock solid defence like he did with Blues' 1st season up and then bringing in the players to compliment Bent, Gabby, Super Marc, Delph, Bannan. Lets face it, Lerner likes the fact we got a youth academy and we know they are good enough to make the step up, so he is gonna make it known to McLeish what he expects. We have got great players at that club and with the right players and tactics to suit we could do well. What I am saying is, McLeish maybe had to play a certain style of football based on the limited resources he had. Just a thought so don't kill me for it.

I am not saying I want McLeish in or anything, but playing Devils advocat. If he was to get the job and bring in Dann, Johnson, Foster and based on our current resources at the club AND backing from Randy - does anyone think he can be sucessful for us? The style of football may change? Just putting it out there

My money is still on Alain Perrin