AVFCinSpain

This is probably the best thing UEFA have ever said, and they need to make it happen, sooner rather than later, before a large number of fans decide to leave Premiership football for another level where there is still competition. When 15 of the clubs have little or no chance of winning the league, except if lucky perhaps, a domestic cup, there's little desire to spend a lot of money to watch your team be also rans year after year.

There have been many examples in the past of money not bringing success, although in Citeh's case, it's a lot of money, but Mancini has to get all these highly paid individuals to gel and that might be more difficult with all the egos. Certainly, they didn't look too good against the Spuds, but early days yet. For Villa, lets see what KM can do while he's got the chance, I'd hope the youngsters will get more opportunity than under MON.

The League Managers Chief Exec was on Five Live today suggesting if Randy had been at the end of a corridor at B6 instead of the States, the matter have been resolved between them, but to me, this guy was trying to justify MON's leaving. As BOF said, until MON tells his side, we are all guessing.

John, It would have been kinder to say he was not on long enough for a mark. He was ineffectual IMO. I thought MON had made a good deal when he bought him, but he's been poor most of the time. Villa do not play like England and don't have the same quality of player, so comparisons to his international role are not relevant, again IMO.

An accurate report, but despite MON saying during the window, we don't need a striker, we can score goals, it's clear we can't score enough. We need at least two a game, as our goal difference is always inferior to the other top 8 sides. We might score 4 or 5 once a season, but mostly we seem to expect one to be enough which gives our defenders no room for mistakes. We needed a regular striker in the window, and I know they are not readily available, but MON has to do somethong about this.

At what point would you start to re-think your position on Martin O'Neill? Initiall at the end of the window if there are no further additions of quality. Anymore mediocrity and I'll doubt his ability to obtain the type and quality of player to improve the team. This assumes he has the money available of course. Beyond this, after 10 games, if we are mid or lower table, my belief in MON will diminish. How far does your support go at a critical time in our (and other teams') chase for the top 4? I'll always support the club and team, as long as the players perform to their best. It didn't look like they did in Vienna. What does Martin have to do (or not do) before you begin allowing yourself to think 'Hold on a second Martin sort it out', Surely your support only goes so far? He needs to show more flair in his tactics and strategy and stop playing people out of position. After some good displays in Spain, he reverts back to the old favourites for Wigan and then some other piecemeal changes last night. If there are no new squad members of better quality by September 1, it may be too late for this season. Only goes to a point? I want to know what that point is. Have we already reached it? Not reached it yet, but could be getting close. His after match comments make me think I've been at a different game. My support for the club will remain, but a change in manager may be the only option if performances don't improve.

A well written summing up of the situation at VP. We will all have differing opinions about MON, Barry and a 1001 other things at B6 but what matters most now, is what will MON/Lerner be doing to build the squad, replace Barry and hopefully, obtain some quality this time. I worry that MON is a slow starter in the transfer market and I see him attributed as saying he won't be rushed into replacing Barry. Fine, but what is he doing about identifying replacements? We seem to again being linked with the old favourites, Bentley, Huddlestone, Bent and maybe Martins. These would improve the squad, but the quality isn't going to be a great deal better (IMO). I'm a fan of MON, but he does seem to be a little to "laid back" in regard to the transfer market. Barry raised the point of ambition at City, this seemed to me that he thought it was a lot less at VP and if this is the case, perhaps today's Mirror headline about Young might be a sign of some wider discontent about the future, and of course perhaps a chance to match Barry's new salary level. There are more clubs with either new owners or owners who are making money available. While this is not a guaranteed route to success, it nevertheless makes Villa's task harder next season unless we match like with like. Lerner has said there's money available, it's down to MON to get the right players to keep our progress going. UTV

Great report, as Faust said, much appreciated by one who doesn't have the chance to see these youngsters developing. You'd hope that a decent percentage of these players will develop into first team squad members. The club has such a good platform for academy players now, the law of averages should ensure a steady supply of lads breaking into the senior team. From this report, perhaps MON will bring Storey back, move Luke Young to his proper position and Cuellar to partner Knight, as Davies seems to need a break.

To be honest, we aren't going to win the UEFA Cup, and though we should give it our best go, IMO we need to rest some players ready for the next Premiership game. The majority of the team have been on the go since July and while it would be good to get into the next round of the UEFA Cup and play another big name, if we then slip out of the top 4, MON will get some stick, so it's an unenviable position for MON, because there seems to be two camps among the fans, so I wonder what he'll do. :!: Interesting dilemma and in many respects, a nice one to be in, rather than mid table mediocrity. UTV

It's all about opinions, and some have said Gardner. I would agree about Petrov or Barry if it were a question of who was the most influential. But central midfielders are supposed to be influential aren't they. Full backs are rarely influential but I really thought that Luke Young and Nicky Shorey put up a tremendous show against same dangerous Russian wing play. Shorey's support of Barry and Ashley Young going forwards was I thought excellent. Whereas Petrov got a silly and unnecessary booking and Barry was, in the first half, passing to the opposition rather often for him. I feel everyone in the team upped their performance so much in the second half that I would make MON my Man of the Match on this occasion because the improvement when they attacked the Holte End was no accident. I wonder what he said. Certainly as a team they all performed well last night, and it's true midfielders are most times going to have a greater impact than full backs. Shorey had a good game and perhaps is getting back to the form that got him an England cap, although some of his passing was woeful at times. Gardner really got involved, but overall, I stick with (IMO) Petrovas slightly above others.

John, a good report, but Petrov was the outstanding Villa player last night IMHO. Also, I don't think next week is necessarily a mountain to climb based on last nigh., If we can overcome the plastic pitch, our speed up front might cause more tha a few problems, and we just need one goal if we can keep a clean sheet. Difficult, yes, but if we have CL pretensions, this is what we need to do. Just hope we don't lose too many through injury at the weekend, after all, Chelski have big Russian connections and also the Russian national coach. :winkold: UTV

It isn't all about scoring, Heskey's assists may well make the difference between 4th and 5th. And £3.5m for a current England player is certainly a great bit of business. As for Arshavin, he has to turn his potential into something solid in the Premiership, but would agree, he could be something special, but only time will tell.

It's all about opinions, and everyone has their own. On this occassion I agree with PB, while you don't. Bullard caught Capello's eye but has yet to be a real part of the squad and he's bit prone to injury. I also understand he's a bit of a flash character, so whether he fits the MON team profile might also be a factor. A playmaker would add a further dimension to Villa, but IMO, I don't think Bullard's it.

Spot on Peter, especially about Bullard. We need better than him and I see he missd the weekend game as he was injured .... again.

Realistic assessment Peter. The feel good factor the team are experiencing will hopefully carry us through, even if we have lesser teams for Doncaster and Russia, though I agree, we should take advantage of being in Europe, if only for the benefit of the younger players. When we get Ashley back along with Martin and John, plus perhaps some new signings to provide better depth, we will have a sound platform to take us through to the end of the season. I hope that the occassional loss will not take the edge off the great run we're on, but spur them on. UTV

We are of course all entitled to our opinions on the players that are here,and on the players we'd like to see here, but I think personally I would stop short of a statement as categorical as the one above, because I don't know the weaknesses of the squad in the same intimate way that the manager does. So while I would agree that all these players, with the possible exception of Arshavin, look decent at their current clubs, there is no guarantee they'd fit into our system, no guarantee they'd be happy working for a manager like O'Neill. So I would say they COULD be, depending upon a whole range of stuff I have no way of knowing, the kinds of players to take us forwards rather than stating with such certainty that they ARE the right players. Bentley looked like the right sort of player for Spurs, before he got there. Now it looks like O'Neill made a wise decision to walk away when the price got silly. I wonder how much of our recent success is down to having a small, tight-knit squad lacking superstars? Players who will fight for each other as they had to on Sunday? keeping that squad togetherness,and it is very much the strength of our club currently, is very, very important, and the manager has to get that balance absolutely correct - the balance between the need for a bigger squad and the more important need to keep the team together. I'm glad I don't have to make these decisions, i guess that's why he gets a million a year to get it right and I get nothing for sitting here commenting on it What's wrong with James Milner by the way? I've been keeping away from the main board so I'm not up on who we like this week. Seems to me like a terrific little footballer to me - six months younger than Ash by the way so a hell of alot of development room left in there. Give him six or twelve months and I'm sure he'll look like a bargain. Quality player, hard worker, loves the club. Is he getting stick because of that quiet little spell before Christmas when he played through illness? Seems harsh. Next thing you know people will be having a go at someone like (the imo superb) Sidwell because he hasn't done anything spectacular for a couple of weeks now.... Some great points Peter, very pertinent. Sidwell has been getting some stick after Sunday's game. There will always be those fans who need to pick a player and have a go at them. Petrov, Knight, NRC have all been through it recently and it will always be a part of playing for Villa. Anything less than perfection every week is unacceptable for some fans. I recall Barry being slated as too slow, would never make the England team, lets sell him only two or three seasons ago. Only a few have received total glorification ala God and Ian Taylor.

Oh, I think we all have ambition. The point is that some people seem to be about to spit the dummy if we don't make the Champions League this year, whereas others, like PB, are more interested in the longer term building of the foundations for sustainable success. Me, I'm in the latter camp. Less interested in short term glamour, very supportive of the long term vision which is in place in the club for the first time in many, many decades. Not impressed with throwing money at people like Robinho, very impressed with building a team of players and player support which will be there when the flighty billionaires have developed another interest like space shuttles and gone off to do that instead. Like Peterms, I am also in the PB camp. As Villa fan since the late 1940s, this period is now potentially the most exciting time I have followed the club. Brief spasms of success followed by much dross and disappointment are now replaced by the building of a sound platform from which to move upward. It may not be this season, but already, the progress is significant, even if, as PB said, it's come earlier than expected. Top 4 this year would be great, but not the end of the world if we don't make it. Yes Sting is correct that next year it may be tougher, but then again not necessarily. Everton need financial input to really progress and Arsenal may well get back to their former glory, but this is the true interest of football, the great uncertainty. IMO, I don't think Man. City will necessarily be up there next year. They might throw large sums of money about, but this does not guarantee success as has been seen in the past. The transfer fees and wages being mentioned in the media does not make a great team or one with spirit, often only unrest between players who want some sort of parity with the newcomers. Hughes has a difficult balancing act to perform. Spurs, well they are still in transition with Redknapp, so judgement on where they are in May and what money he has will dictate their progress. Sting has definite views on who MON should bring in, but so does every other Villa fan. Personally, I think Defoe will follow Redknapp, I'm not an Upson fan, and Arshavin would be a risk in terms of will he settle in the Premiership. All in all, MON is paid to make the decisions and the one certainty is there will be mixed reactions. I'm happy with the progress to date, but there is still work to be done and it's clear MON knows this as well. UTV

As ususal, a well balanced piece Peter. Villa are still work in progress, but there is progress and it's significant. There is still much for MON to do, but with Randy's support, financial and otherwise, we are at long last being recognised as a danger to the established four. I agree with you about Milner, he's coming along really well, his work rate is good and his skill level also seems to be improving, together with Gabby and Ash, they could be big in the England set up in years to come, especially if Capello stays on. The Hamburg game I think has done us a favour, as it shows how much we still need to do to have a big impact, but it was also as much about not gelling very well, and I'm sure they will all be disappointed at their lack of performance and that MON will have made his points to them. If some of these guys want to make the first team, they have to take these opportunities. Arsenal is a big game, and the cards seem to be falling for us in terms of their injuries, so now's the time to complete a double. The Hull game however, I think might be a difficult one, as they have given all the top teams a tough match, but if we could take all 6 points, I suspect it won't be just Arsenal worrying about us, as the Red Scouse might also slip and ManUre may yet regret their Japanese jaunt. Merry Christmas to all and a very good 2009 for Aston Villa.

Good points Peter, and valid in many respects. With the benefit of yesterday's result, we are in the mix again and creating a gap between many of the others who might challenge after January, but we need to strengthen as well, especially up front and IMO a creative midfielder.

Some great stories on this thread about becoming hooked on AVFC. My first visit with my Dad was 1946/47 and seeing players like George Cummings, Bobby Iverson and all the others whom hadn't been drawn into WWII. Standing at the Holte End behind the red barriers that had been painted by the players was always the highlight of my week when Villa were at home. There was something special about VP that invaded your soul and has remained there ever since. The Christmas period matches were always big crowd games when Wolves used to be the visitors home and away within a few days, no segregation and no fights, just loads of good natured banter. Until I went into National Service, never missed a home game and saw quite a few away, but even when in Egypt and Cyprus the Villa results were keenly sought. Back home involvement in a local running club eventually took over Saturdays and evening training sessions the mid week games. The occasional match was always a special treat into the sixties and seventies until a family and moving away from the Midlands, meant the games became even less, but not the interest and love for the Villa to do well. We had some bad times under Ellis, but our resurgence under Randy and MON has given me such a great expectation that perhaps I'll see the Villa emerge once again as a top, if not the very top club in the Premiership and a major force in Europe. I may not be able to see many matches unless they coincide with a visit to the UK, or they visit the Nou Camp, but being a Villa fan is something to be proud about and a life long dedication. UTV

Hopefully we don't have to worry too much about the Mirror's Barton rumour then!!

We won't meet a weaker team this season and yet we couldn't beat them. Don't care we had the tie won, the lack of desire and little motivation was awful. The top four wouldn't have let them off so lightly.

Jon, A very persuasive view of the future, backed by some good analysis. We were very lucky that Randy chose the Villa and that despite what Ellis would have us believe, that MON joined because he liked the view being put forward by the soon to be owner. Their combination, backed by a shrewd management team augers very well for our future, plus Randy doesn't need all the jam today, unlike certain foreign owners. He seems happy that our progress is steady but well planned, and despite the more pessimistic of Villa fans, success WILL be achieved. UTV

Good article Peter, and in the main, I have exactly the same thoughts about it being a short sighted decision on GB's part. I've always thought Barry was a good player, even in the days when he was getting loads of stick from posters about his lack of pace and we should sell him. He is a quality player, but not irreplaceable, and I trust MON to find an adequate replacement, but better than Sidwell I hope. With Villa on the up and the 'pool stagnating, (at present anyway), it would be really pleasing to see us above the Reds next season, and with the right signings, this could be.