Agbonla-score

I don't think it was ever Lambert's project. I don't think he chose to buy cheap young players instead of better experienced players, and bomb out the expensive quality, just for a wacky experiment. It was Lerner's project. It smacks of an economist dictating transfer policy. Buy players young enough to have a sell on value / don't buy depreciating assets. It didn't work. Now Lerner has told Lambert to do what he feels best to keep us up on a shoe string. Back come the bomb squad. Lets now judge Lambert on how he does with some experienced and quality to the team. Back on topic - Lowton is a good footballer. He's not a good defender. I've not got false memories of Hutton, but I'd prefer him at RB to Lowton. Bacuna is a good back up if he's not playing in midfield. Lowton is surplus to requirements. Lets free up some funds and get a bull dog in midfield.

George Friend? Was thinking of Aaron Cresswell who never even played for Middlesborough. He signed for Wet Spam this week

We would have heard about it on Twitter if they were

Yep That was the one I was talking about. She had a real gob on her!

Hmm but only one of them is any good - maybe the B flats would be more approprate. or even the B-Team

Lots of numbered bullet points in your posts today BoyAngel.

One thing I always remember about Kieran Richardson is his gobby cow of a cousin who appeared on Big Brother one year. He signed for Sunderland whilst she was in the BB house. Her reaction was "Who are they?". When it was explained to her who / where Sunderland was, she said "If they're not that good I bet my uncle (his dad) won't stand for that". The missus made me watch it by the way.

".....we ain't jam hot"

Yup. Anyone remember Alpay? Had a belting World Cup. Named in the team of the tournament. Came back thinking he was billy big bollocks. Gregory put him in his place and he just fizzled out after that. No big money moves to anywhere. There are a lot of players playing well over in Brazil. David Platt on the other hand...

Didn't make the Oz squad then. Was he injured or just out of favour?

You lot are quite pleasant company when you're not moaning about the Villa

Never really seen Pitbull before. Not what I was expecting. Tight white trousers pulled up too high with the legs rolled up wouldn't look good on any man.

It's Matt Smith I can't stand. At least Robbie Earle got the can.

I've been going around feeling dreadfully ignorant ever since I saw that Italy were playing Fluminese. I assumed Fluminese were a country because Italy were playing them. I'd never heard of them before. I've now plucked up the courage to google them and much to my relief - discovered they're a club side and not a country. My geography isn't so bad after all. Still ignorant I suppose, but not as much as I thought I was.

Well in Rob

Not quite as hansom though are they. No seriously, if it was taken at Villa park he'd be carrying the whole team, as usual.

...or a midfielder

I've heard that we're signing Phillipe Senderos too.... Isn't the club up for sale? Cant be as we would have heard from Lerner about it What I don't get is - if we're hiring Keane as assistant manager, what will happen to Culverhouse?

I remember that game and Big Ron's speech. The best time I've ever had at Villa Park. I was only 15 at the time. We went to that game in the day and then to a mate's party later that night. I even pulled! Fantastic day. The fans were fantastic that day.

Having read Fergie's last book it sounds like Keano struggles with his interpersonal skills. Cascarino recently said he's brilliant tactically but can't talk to players. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27661727 " Celtic: Man-management Keane's downfall, says Tony Cascarino Roy Keane could not refuse Celtic if he is offered the manager's job, according to former team-mate Tony Cascarino. Keane, 42, is a strong candidate to succeed Neil Lennon, having met with majority shareholder Dermot Desmond. But Cascarino, who played for Celtic between 1991 and 1992, thinks his old Republic of Ireland colleague has to alter his approach to man-management. "One thing Roy really needs to change is how he manages people," Cascarino told BBC Scotland. "He sometimes takes things a bit too far with individuals and takes things a little too personally with them." Following Keane's "informal chat" with Desmond, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell confirmed the former Manchester United captain is one of "five to 10" people being considered. After spells in charge at Sunderland and Ipswich, Keane has been assistant to Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill since last November. "I've always seen Roy as more of a number one than an assistant," said Cascarino, who played alongside Keane for eight years with Ireland. "He's a Celtic fan and I just think it's an opportunity he would not be able to resist. "I was led to believe at the end of last week that it's basically a done deal, so I can only see Roy being the new Celtic manager." Cascarino spent the 1991-92 season with Celtic Keane played 13 times for Celtic before retiring in 2006. He joined Sunderland as manager just over two months later and took them from 23rd in the Championship to the title. However, his second season as a top-flight boss ended with him leaving the club while they were in the relegation zone. In April 2009 he joined Ipswich, but was sacked 20 months later. "His times at Sunderland were fantastic at the start and then there were problems," added Cascarino. "He bought and sold lots and lots of players and that continued at Ipswich. "Working under Martin O'Neill and having time out from football - with that fear of not being involved in the game - I hope would have made a change in Roy in the way he deals with people. That's been his downfall. "It was well documented at Sunderland and Ipswich that players would be sent off to the reserves for three weeks and wouldn't be heard of or spoken to, but then suddenly reappear after a couple of defeats. "That type of management just can't exist in the modern game. I don't think you can get away with it. "And I don't think he would try that at Celtic. I think he would use everybody, knowing what he has done before and that management is about getting the best out of people." He should fit right in to our backroom staff.

A lot people seized on the fact that his statement had an element of 'goodbye' in it - with a sale starting to look some way off - I'm just wondering has he washed his hands of us ? - Like the Randy Lerner years were 2006-2014 - Whatever happens now isn't on his watch. Also looking at the prices that championship clubs go for, why would pay £200m for Aston Villa. I know Reading have debts which need to be paid - but the bidding price is £1 !!!!1 - buy that ...£30m on players - would give you a decent crack at promotion - perhaps another £40 to keep them in the prem. Where as Aston Villa is £200m - £30m to stay in the prem - perhaps £70-80m to make us competitive. It would seem to me the value for money thing to do is to buy an ailing championship club.. That's why £200m is far too much for us as we stand at the moment. 4 years ago maybe £200m was possible but not now. Where is everyone getting this 200mil price tag from? Far as i'm aware it was only reported in the papers and lets face it, what have they got right lately? They prob know just as much as us. 200mil price tag is pure speculation. The company is capitalised at £223m, so that is the indicator. Who by? The true value of the club is whatever the buyer is willing to pay. Football has moved on so much since Randy bought the club back in 2006. Just to put this in perspective, the relegated teams this year earned more money from being in the premier league than United won for winning the title a couple of seasons back. A mid-table premier league club now earns more money from the TV deal than being in the champions league 3 seasons back. I don't know the precise figure but I think we earned £67mil from the TV deal alone this year. You don't need a business degree to know that a business that generates that amount of turnover per year could fetch about 3 times that amount if sold. Then add the gate receipts, merchandise turnover and other assets (including playing staff). Taking all that into consideration and £200mil is not so much at all.

Was just thinking the same thing. Can't see Baggies selling us anyone though He could be a thorne in our side for many a season. That's if he's not out cleaning windows

Sorry mods off topic but just needed to say that Harry Redknapp is the jammiest clearing in the woods there's ever been.

Was just thinking the same thing. Can't see Baggies selling us anyone though

Clearly cobblers because if there was a takeover all of the staff would transfer automatically under TUPE. TUPE? Yes. Without being too anal, the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. Ah thanks, as I'm not from UK I don't know english laws. TUPE - Just means they honour service of previous employers - then can still make you redundant on day 1 - but they have to pay you for your years of service. I doubt it applies - we aren't merging, we will still be Aston Villa Indeed. A transfer of shares does not amount to a TUPE transfer so it won't apply. If what that TBAR chap says is true, it sounds like there may be a redundancy situation going on. Maybe Randy is planning a cull of non-playing staff to get the operating costs down. That in turn implies a deal has not already been stuck.