8pints

He's away to the Galaxy I think.

Think we should

To welcome Lambert..

BOBBY DAVRO!

Official Site

It is with great delight that the club can confirm on behalf of our long-standing captain, Stiliyan Petrov, that Stan's acute leukaemia is in remission.

Stan would like to take this opportunity to express his deep gratitude to the medical staff who have looked after him so well since his condition was diagnosed just over four months ago.

He also wishes to place on record again his profound sense of appreciation for the incredible outpouring of love and support he has received from Villa fans, his team-mates and colleagues at the club, as well as football fans and many more people around the world during this period.

He and his family have been moved by the depth of feeling stirred in so many people and he has taken great strength from it, too.

Stan's fight is not over. There will be further battles to overcome in the days, weeks and months ahead.

But he would like to share with you this tremendous news now and, in time, deliver his own personal message to all of you.

On Stan's behalf, the club would like to thank everybody for continuing to respect Stan's privacy and his family's throughout his ongoing battle against acute leukaemia and for those who have raised awareness of the condition.

Stan remains very committed to this crusade going forward.

One Stiliyan Petrov

When I used to have Long Hair, I just used an Alice Band, much tidier than a Pony tail, and looks A lot better.

Before the operation I'd always wear an Alice band.

You can't go wrong with AC/DC.

That one is better than that soft-rock Bon Joviesque 'Bells are ringing'.

I have long hair and I'd rather die than wear an alice band.

Alice band or pig tails?

Carroll should try pig tails.

The big question is what song will we be coming out to? They've fiddled about with it so much recently. If it's an optimistic song that's bound to fill me with optimism

Albrighton, Bannan, Delph, Stevens and Clark are all overage this year so thats 5 spaces taken up that wouldn't have been used last year

That puts things in to perspective.

Both with the technicalities of who we have in the squad and also highlights the fact it's time for those five to prove they deserve a first team place.

Very optimistic we will play some good football. I doubt we will end up top half though. But thats ok, I will take supporting a Villa playing great football any day of the week.

I think we'll finish top half still. Around 8th 9th or 10th as we get stuff together and improve on that as we get tighter each season.

I can certainly see Bannan getting in there.

My mate seems to think you can already get good odds on Vlaar being sent off against Forrest. That would be something!

Was he Deadlys' last appointment?

I think he was, although I'm not sure if O' Neill was technically, as wasn't that his last bit of business before he passed the baton to Lerner.

KjParton

"No I'm Spartacus!"

Steward: "Who the hell's spartacus? Sit the **** down!"

I can imagine this

Burke, Williams & Grealish not given numbers this season.

I wonder if they will be? Especially Burke.

crazy times.

Yeah would be handy if they could play in each others positions..

Yes, certainly. They're both versatile players and with this season being one of re-building and experimenting and they're young fringe players coming in for experience, I can see it happening.

I think we'll know a great deal about what will happen with Albrighton, whether he'll be a Villa star or not, in January.

Ultimately, with his wages and our wage organisation this season, I don't think he'll come to us unless we clear out a vast amount of players.

We still have no target man, maybe we won't need one, but it's always nice, in my opinion, to have all varieties of striker to choose from.

a great assembly line

Stoke are an 'effective McLeish team', their type of football philosophy, he should have a better understanding there and do well. If he puts a ball in to the box, even if it's rubbish, he'll have luck on his side as they'll be nine players in the box for it to fall to.

I think if the wage bill is sorted out we'll see Generous Lerner once again

Bannan has looked very good in pre-season. We seem to have a very competitive midfield now.

Holman, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Ireland, Delph, N'Zogbia, Gardner, Johnson etc

Hopefully it's a competitive atmosphere Bannan can thrive in.

Looks very interesting.

I think Lambert will almost certainly play a diamond in midfield and I think it'll be compact, using 4 CMs in various guises.

I'd really like to see KEA and Bannan starting, probably Ireland in there too. Petrov would have thrived in this system - I really hope he plays for us again but I know he probably won't.

Delph seems to getting a massive spotlight on him in pre-season too.

it may be a

---------Ireland----------

Bannan--------El Ahmadi

---------Delph------------

diamond.

Lets hope for the same score-line 18th August 2012

Especially now with selling Collins to them.