DCJonah

Sounds promising with the two American names. They sound like the kind of owners we need. On a side note anyone else think its terrible that Lerner won't sanction new deals? I think its bad enough the position he's put us in but to then risk losing key players for no money 12 months down the line just adds a bit of an insult to it all.

A good post mark. I really don't think we can just use lack of funds to explain the poor form of last season. The manager was not able to use his squad effectively.

I think okore was signed as first choice but he might not have been a consistently good premier league player given his age and lack of experience. I think he will be good but I can't see him making a huge difference to the amount of goals we concede. Our defence and the way its organised and protected is terrible and I doubt we'll see a significant change in the goals conceded column next year.

I wouldn't write the season off but I think there's more reasons to think we're in for another struggle than there are to suggest we'll have a decent year.

I think it will take more than a few prem season games for kozak, okore and nzogbia to be sharp and completly match fit. You don't miss that much time from the pitch and return quickly. The fans do need to get behind but I'm not sure they all will. Is the squad stronger than the one that finished the season? Probably. But when the squad was better previously in the season we still were performing at a poor level. With the club up for sale, a manager losing support and annoyed and fed up fans, I don't think the slight improvement in the squad will make up for that.

I don't see how. There's really nothing going for us to make me think we can improve. Key players will not be match fit till later in the season. The manager has lost a lot of support and will take the brunt of abuse as the owner that wants to sell us isn't around. I can't imagine any of the players will be highly motivated knowing the club are just trying to survive and I think the atmosphere most home games will be hostile and negative. I think we're in a mess and it's a very worrying situation IMO.

I can't see how this season can be anything but a disaster for Lambert. A lot of fans have already turned and with an absent owner Lambert is the face of Aston villa. The team isn't good enough to perform well next year so unfortunately I can't picture anything other than Lambert getting a lot of stick from day 1. And while I don't think he will want to walk away from a payout how much will he be willing to take?

I'd have to agree. I don't really understand the don't judge him till he plays for us argument. He's not an unknown prospect or someone who plays in a league no one really watches. It's like when we signed Heskey, we know exactly what we're getting. I think he's a poor player but that's the level the owner has decided we're at. Until that changes then this is what we have to expect.

I put Barry in. I thought he was very good at a young age on the left hand side of a back 3.

I thought the wedding day blues was a myth but I have to say a couple of days after it I was on a right downer. Just the fact something you've planned and looked forward to for so long is now over. I don't think it helped getting married abroad, we stopped at a venue with around 40 family members and a few days after the wedding everyone had gone their separate ways and we we're just in this huge venue on our own. I think its good leaving it a few weeks with pictures. I know I'm really looking forward to seeing mine and the wait is adding to that. You shouldn't worry about showing them they're very good. I'd love to be able to see a picture in my head and then capture it like you can.

Yeah maybe. I think that one year, dunne was just outstanding as a defender. I don't think vlaar has played at that level just yet.

That's not many to be fair, especially when we're talking about 20 years of CBs here. I wouldn't include Dunne in that list either - he was very good for most of one season but that was about it. Oh I'm not trying to take away from vlaar being a decent player. I'd have to keep dunne in there because while he only had one top season I think it could be said vlaar has only had one good season.

I'd say those 2 plus southgate, ugo, Barry (part of a back 3) obviously McGrath, dunne (for one season)

From what I think as I said before it's in the last stages, and might be even just finalizing things. I'm trying to figure out about the partners. how long might it takes and wether it's already sold (or agreed on everything) or not yet. Because I read here in VT that Man City when they were bought it took some time to finalize lawer papers and these kind of things. Abdul are you getting your info from your local media or do you have inside knowledge with potential buyers camp? Inside knowledge, The media haven't said anything other than quoting what Al-Baltan said about buying an English team. I don't remember it saying more (maybe a prediction as the only PL team for sale is Villa). I don't usually take anything from the media seriously unless it had quotes (either locally or internationally). I've put a post couple of pages ago about which makes me thinks that this deal is on with more details. Excellent, well thanks for sharing. You're obviously confident about your inside knowledge so hopefully it all comes out soon. I look forward to reading more.

From what I think as I said before it's in the last stages, and might be even just finalizing things. I'm trying to figure out about the partners. how long might it takes and wether it's already sold (or agreed on everything) or not yet. Because I read here in VT that Man City when they were bought it took some time to finalize lawer papers and these kind of things. Abdul are you getting your info from your local media or do you have inside knowledge with potential buyers camp?

Tarjei those final two pics are fantastic. I was quite against the whole posing for pictures leading up and during the day but they really are worth it once you get them back. They help deal with the wedding day blues after.

I heard the same things being said about Norwich last season. Keep Calm and watch the World Cup. Well I wasn't too impressed with the signings Norwich made last season. I know there's little point worrying about it but it will become a serious concern if teams continue to spend. We're in a unique position, we're the only club who has an owner open about not wanting to be here. Other teams will be implementing plans to achieve the best they can and we'll be doing very little in way of a plan. We'll be spending a minimal amount to try and remain a premiership team. Which we've done for the past two seasons. I don't think that means its a given it will happen again.

I doubt it. Don't forget we've still got a few players here on massive wages, it's just that most of them aren't good enough to be starting. I'm not sure our existing players are relevant to the first point. At the moment it seems that west brom can currently offer better wages than us.

I heard the same things being said about Norwich last season. Keep Calm and watch the World Cup. Well I wasn't too impressed with the signings Norwich made last season. I know there's little point worrying about it but it will become a serious concern if teams continue to spend. We're in a unique position, we're the only club who has an owner open about not wanting to be here. Other teams will be implementing plans to achieve the best they can and we'll be doing very little in way of a plan. We'll be spending a minimal amount to try and remain a premiership team.

West ham and west brom making positive signings that I'd have liked. Hope we have some takeover news soon as I fear we'll be looking at relegation rivals with envy at how they're improving their squads.

Maybe I'm being very negative but I'm seeing about 18 pts on the table by Xmas. Like others have said though we'll pick up points in unexpected games and drop a few where we should win.

The news about arison is interesting. That's an awful lot of money to then not reinvest it in something. Has a sporting background as well.

I hope that's rubbish and that Lerner would accept a fair amount for a club he's run very poorly.

To be fair I'm 6ft 5 so 8pints will look down on me, I'm not at his level. I have to always get to the airport very early to try and get emergency exit seats. I'm aware I'm ruining a nice wedding thread by complaining about issues faced by the taller man so I'll stop now.

Let's bitch about leg room on flights and the tutting that comes from behind when you sit down in the cinema or theatre