AVFCinSpain

It's another draw for me, 1-1 with another goal from our top scorer.

Don't rate Viduka personally, and certainly not at £2m. Have to trust MON and his judgement, but if it is Viduka and he scored 10/12 goals by the end of the season, getting us in the top 6, it would be good business, providing the price was right.

hmmmm. if this is already 100% completed, then it narrows our prospects in the January window even more :x According to FiveLive today, they are only now going through due diligence and are not expecting to complete any deal until in the new year, so perhaps the window will be nearly over by the time Benitez has any additional money. Also, a large part of the £450m being talked about is for a new stadium and I'd sooner have Randy and MON in charge rather than an Arab and Benitez.

Totally agree Demitri, Taylor was not that poor and the defence was shocking, non existant a lot of the time. The time and space they allowed City was awful.

He's been out with a knee injury, so I hope he's not another Laursen, because otherwise he sounds like a good buy. As ever though, I rely on MON's judgement, at least until proven otherwise.

Malcolm, Considerably more upbeat than your previous post!!

Malcolm, I don't think my reply said or implied you didn't like/rate etc. MON, and in any case, your opinion is as valid as anyone elses. I am interested to know though, the several reasons you doubt MON's ability to reach Mourinho/Ferguson's level. His exposure to the really top level of European football has been limited at present to his Celtic exploits, but of all the other managers in the Premiership other than the two named, I think we have the best, with the potential to eventually be on a par with them. Of course he has still to learn more about guiding a club to the top of the European tree, but all of life is a learning experience, right up until the end. It's the ability to learn and want to that's important and MON gives every indication of doing this. His intelligent, thoughtful and realistic comments when interviewed marks him as very different character to many managers, and he has, as you observed, achieved quite a lot in a short time. As you point out it is 2006/07, and requirements are very different now, but to date in his career at all levels, MON has demonstrated an ability to man manage, and this one element alone marks him as having a distinct advantage over many managers with more European experience. Pots of money helps of course, but in the end, it's how a team gels and MON seems to have this inate ability and the personality to gather his team behind him. All in all Malcolm, perhaps you should be a tad more optimistic, without going overboard, as perhaps some have, and give MON the benefit of any doubts until at least into the New Year. As ever, Up The Villa :wink:

Interesting, the range of replies Malcolm's initial article has produced. As an old codger, I believe that true to form, his opening paragraph was intended to provoke responses, but I think that BOF has summed his article up very well. However, using a phrase with "I Hate" in it, it was perhaps inevitable with Malcolm's reputation for the controversial, going to bring forth some strong views. I wonder if an analysis of responses would indicate an age bias for each end of the spectrum of replies. As someone who first went to VP in the 1940s, I have seen them through many ups and downs, (too many downs unfortunately), but like most, I really believe that a true revolution is underway and we have an owner who will take the club back to the pinnacle of European football, and that we also have a thinking, intelligent manager who will make mistakes, but I fancy, they'll be significantly less than his predecessor and that he'll prove to be eventually on a level that bears direct comparison with Ferguson and Mourinho. :roll:

Last night shows what we need to aspire to. We can be a top 6 -8 team, but above that, we will need some more quality in January and a better attitude from some of the players. However, we are still going in the right direction and results like this will tell MON a lot more about the players.

Now, how come me having some opinions on MON or DOL, make me having a problem with MON? Thats just silly, and once again people turn to this, when they cant argue the case. TRL, Apologies if I misinterpreted your posts, but they seem to be clearly targeted at MON from two perspectives. Drat01, I wasn't suggesting the manager was the sole key to success, because clearly, a supportive chairman and board is also vital. It seemed to me that TRL however, had a problem with MON, when it is too early in his tenure to judge him. However, TRL now seems to be justifying his posts from a different position. I think we all hope we achieve a top 6 finish, and maybe we could if everything fell right for Villa, but it isn't a failure if we finish in the top 10 given our starting position.

TRL, You've changed the direction of your argument, first it was about signings, now its about your expectations of where we will finish. As others have said, DOL's first season was always thought of as Villa overachieving and some of the other clubs under performing. Since then clubs other than the big 4 have enhanced their squads with considerable spending so the competition could now be said to be greater. Villa may well be a top 6 finisher, but I would be happy with 8th to 10th, seeing it as a major improvement from where DOL and Ellis left us and anything better than this would be great. It seems however, that you have an axe to grind about MON for whatever reason. Time will prove whether MON is "the almighty fantastic" you have called him, but one thing is sure, the majority of fans are certainly glad we have him instead of DOL. :confused:

TRL, You seem to be totally ignoring the reality of the situation and timing. Ellis still in charge initially and even sticking his oar in until RL promised to underwrite the Petrov deal. As far as having a plan B for Mlner, he wasn't at the club long enough to be making those judgements or knowing how much money RL would make available, and Milner was again a known quantity and therefore a less risk buy, as well as someone who wanted to stay at B6. He was also at a price that MON knew there was money for. Yes Sutton & Agathe were signing, but clearly stated as squad fillers and not long term signings, so again not comparable to DOL's. :|

One could argue MON is heading the same way with his transfers. 2/3 right so far. TRL you're not seriously comparing MON's firts signings with DOL's are you? MON didn't have the comfort factor of a few weeks to bring in new players did he, plus Ellis was still in control of the money and even then, tried to screw up what MON wanted to do. Given that situation, you can't compare it with DOL. Sutton and Agathe were free agents, were available outside the window and known quantities to MON, also He wanted to retain Milner, but Fat Freddy scuppered that.

In total agreement Peter, once again a voice of common sense and reason. Sometimes, Malcolm submits controversial arguments against the general concensus and there's nothing wrong with that, if it promotes a good debate without rancour. In this instance though, Malcolm is well out of step with the majority. Only time will tell who's right. :|

A thought provoking article Malcolm. However, I believe the fans have to give the new management team some time to consider the situation at B6 and draw up a medium to long term plan. Given the lack of time MON had to obtain new players, Petrov apart, the ones we have are short term stop gaps and obviously the wages are not the critical factor they used to be under Doug. Given the General's posts on here, things sound good and they have to have time to put whatever their plans are, in motion. Of course they have the money, and it is not necessary to wait for an influx of new players (transfer windows permitting), but that I imagine will be MON's call, as when he identifies players he'd like and they are willing to come to Villa Park. MON comes across as a shrewd person, and seems to be saying he's looking across a full spectrum for players, not just the big names in the UK and Europe. I don't think he's a "throw money at it" type of manager, unlike his predecessor, but he will live or fall by his judgements. I think you just have to give them time Malcolm. Your last sentence sounds like you think that what Randy and co are saying is simply bulls**t, but it seems to me, that everything they said since taking over is being borne out. You may be saying I told you so in a year or two's time, but I don't believe you will. Look at what's going on at West Ham, I know who I'd rather have in control at B6, and it's not a get rich quick Iranian. :roll:

I think we can just shade it by the odd goal. If they have Martins in and we have Baros back, I think that favours us, but only just.

If Villa Park could be incorporated within a new name, then I'd be in favour, as the fans will still only call it VP. But it's a fair point that if waiting until our profile is higher and worth more money, it might be better to wait a season or so, unless of course, Randy's connections would bring in a big sponsorship deal earlier than we think is possible.

You have to wonder if friend Padfield isn't attempting to pull a few strings behind the scenes to influence shareholders against Lerner. A search on Google for Villa Matters didn't produce anything related to a Fanzine of that name, so does it really exist, except of course to stir the s**t. :roll:

Because there is a short period of grace as it were, where someone else can offer 5% or more above Lerners bid amount. This improved bid would then either be approved or rejected by Rothschilds, Ellis/Petchey and the AVFC board. Anyone of those can say they don't approve of the bid. But surely if Ellis and Petchy sell their 56% to Lerner, the others could sell to AV06, but Lerner would be in the Ellis position of the last 20+ years, e.g. he calls the tune. If AV06 can't obtain a majority holding, I'd guess they'll head elsewhere. I think that Padfield and co. have based their £70m bid on shareholder greed to ditch Lerner. Just hope they've misjudged the situation as far as Ellis and Petchy are concerned.

But who are the billionaires, Padfield keeps referring to?

I think O'Neill being brought in by Ellis is a last sop to his ego. He won't get a place on any new board, so he wants to be remembered as the guy who brought in MON. Probably the best thing he's done in the last 24 years. Lets hope next week's Ellis' last one.

Pat Murphy on Five Live this morning said today's a crunch day, with Lerner back in but not wanting a repeat of his last experience, also that there was no way he would give Ellis an executive position if he buys the club. Good on yer Randy.

Do you have solid facts to support your allegations of "near bankrupt" and "selling off assets to pay banks" and "checking to see if there are any court actions ? If so, I am sure we would all be pleased to hear them What do you call using the sale of the Serpentine to go towards clearing debts, if it's not paying the banks? As Malcolm as alluded, the actions and statements from VP of late, all point to financial difficulties at B6.

The above might be true if you believe Ellis really want to sell. After all the months that have gone by since last October, Ellis wants an unrealistic amount for the club to allow him to retain control and his maintain his ability keep his personal ego trip. Success on the field would be great and I'm sure Ellis would also like that, but it's been secondary to personal financial considerations for many seasons. I still believe that his famous quote that "he'll only leave VP in a box" to be the truest words he's ever uttered.