DCJonah

Gutted.

That depends really, I mean if Lambert does indeed have £8m left I'd rather he uses a chunk of that to tie up Grealish, Delph and Vlaar rather than try get new players. Could we offer a wage now that's more than he'd get if he left on a free next summer? I seriously doubt it. I would imagine his agent will be advising him to not sign any deal with us.

I just can't see why Vlaar would sign a new deal. Moving now or on a free next summer would probably both be better financial decisions than signing a new deal now.

No I wouldn't base his ability on just our games. But it doesn't matter much if he's playing great for other teams if he's not doing that for us. I do however think vlaar did play well for us last year and he's an important part of the team.

His performances at the World Cup are plenty relevant when talking about his ability. As is talking about his time at Feyenoord and with us. Relevant to his ability but if he's not performing at that level consistently for us it doesn't really matter to me.

I don't think I'd say vlaar was excellent last year and I don't think he was good the year before. I thought he was decent last year and struggled during his first year. He's had a good world cup but these performances are pretty irrelevant for what he does for us.

Actually it would make a lot of sense to delay it, if the new owner was somehow able to sanction/fund spending in the meantime. The second we get new owners you can guarantee that selling clubs will bump up the asking price quoted to us for players. At the moment we're seen as paupers and as such that actually puts us in a better bargaining position. Saying that I don't believe it. I can't see it making much difference. If we started spending then clubs will realise we're not flat broke. Also by not announcing they're losing big numbers in season ticket sales and continuing to contribute to a fan base getting more and fed up

Two 5M players? Sorry but after three years of underinvestment in the team to think that two 5M players is all we need is basically a tad naive. What does 5M get you in this division? Not much and when relegated teams are spending way in excess of that just trying to survive it shows that 5M these days just doesnt cut it. I'm afraid that's the nature of the game we are in. We have a squad of players that is around 17th in this league to top 8 in the next division down in terms of quality in my opinion and two 5m players will not rescue that. We need major investment and major overhaul of the playing squad and two 5M players is tantamount to getting an elastaplast and trying to fix a bullet wound. I didn't say that it was all we needed but as was pointed out above, think of the difference another couple of players of Vlaar and Benteke's level would make. We narrowly missed 10th last season and that was more to do with injuries than quality - our squad really isn't as bad as you're trying to make it out to be. We would have required an extra 12 points to finish 10th. We averaged 1 point a game. I'm not sure how you can claim we narrowly missed out on 10th.

I believe merson said those things. I don't believe Merson knows what's going on. It would make no sense to delay an announcement till september.

I think he's slightly overrated and I also think he'd be a fool to sign a new deal with us.

So that proves its rubbish about him not signing to play last season.

Before Fulham were took over they didn't have years of getting worse and worse, extreme cost cutting and an owner who openly wanted out. While it didn't work out for them I think a takeover significantly increases our chances of improving.

The defence let's in too many goals and we haven't got enough players capable of scoring consistently. Two major issues in a squad that will result in struggle yet again.

We've just had two guys who have worked with Lambert for years sacked for bullying players. It really can't get worse than that. I don't see how this appointment can be anything but better than what we had.

But it's not like the things you've mentioned. Its a club with history and thousands of fans, being the owner doesn't mean you have the right to do as you please. I think he has a responsibility to do the right things for the club and the fans. Surely you wouldn't defend his right if he changed the name, colours and sold all good players to keep the money would you? I appreciate it to. Not sure it's enough to cancel out the negative side of things. I do find this very surprising. I think had the last few years been different I'd think of him fondly but he's made such a mess of things. And we don't know what the future will hold and how his failure to sell us this summer will effect our future.

I don't agree that it will end badly. I can't see it being worse than last year. I think keane could have a positive effect but I don't see it making much difference. Roy Keane is not the difference between this team struggling like the last two years and this team playing well.

Sorry wasn't trying to dismiss it. In terms of I couldn't agree less. I don't think him putting money in then entitles him to do as he pleases. On the one hand you said you admire the fact he hasn't changed the stadium name or colours but then you seem to suggest he has the right to as he's put money into the club. Not sure selling something you don't want makes him much of a man. I think if he accepted his mistakes, lowered the asking price a lot to sell the club and not try to claim back as much as he can, then I'd respect him a bit more. But honestly I'm not sure what he's currently doing deserves much respect.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I can't think of many youth players who have had stick straight away. I think it's taken a long time for fans to lose patience with baker and Clark.

Imagine a fit benteke with quality around him. I was really hoping a takeover could make this a reality in the near future.

Is that really worthy of admiration? And I question what he's done that deserves respect. I won't clog up the page with a huge quote so I'll simply say what a fantastic post from trent. I would say I agreed with pretty much every word of it.

Was it a similar injury that destroyed angel's leaping ability? You'd hope an athlete like benteke will be able to keep a lot of his physical attributes after this injury.

But they didn't when they first broke into the team. I think villa fans were very excited about the potential of both of them when they first started playing.

People didn't get on their back for a few mistakes. People have criticised both players for constant mistakes and not being good enough. Now that's probably more to do with the way the club is run which has forced young players to play more and be relied on more than they should.

I'd say as it stands we look more likely to drop than have a season that surprises us all in a good way.

Given the poor standard of our squad, the lack of a sale and Lambert still in a job. The likes of Gardner and Grealish are the only real things stopping me from handing back my season ticket. Hope he gets a chance to live up to his hype.