Hughes

I cannot believe why so few points at the players. Sure, MON's actions right before the season started was unforgiveable (at least for me). Sure, GH has been a mess and I think the best thing would be for him to go now rather than later. BUT, the players must take most of the blame. Not wanting to play for a manager? Being "on strike"? Seeing some of the rumours about how some of them just do not give a shit (see for example one of the last post on Ianrobo's site), I cannot help thinking what the hell is going on. They are fooking employees after all, if they don't accept or adhere to the rules of the boss then get them the **** out of my club. If the boss cannot deliver results, he will have to go as well. This shit about player power is probably a reality but it is eating me up. Seriously, these players need to grow the hell up and take responsibility for shit performances.

he is completely wrong Ian. For the past 3 seasons we have been top 6. Idiotic comments from Ged. Great start to his tenure. EDIT: For the past 2 seasons, we have actaully been challenging for a spot in the TOP 4!!! 7th to 12? F off Ged!! I will not ask him to feck off, but it is an incredibly stupid thing to say. First; it is not true, and second he should be smart enough to just keep his mouth shut. What would Pool fans say if the first thing Hodgson said after getting the job was "let's be honest, Liverpool are a lesser and smaller club than Man U and belong, historically, among 4th to 7th place". And for you detail-nazis out there; you could swap ManU with Inter which he actually has managed. I am fairly pleased with this appointment (my biggest negative is his age and that he could easily have many of the same faults as MON), but this was just stupid.

It's the inaccuracy of the statement for me. I'm not really bothered by the Liverpool bit because he is right there (although did that need to be mentioned), but the 7th-12th being the norm which just simply isn't true. if you look at the "all seasons" table here; http://www.premierleague.com/page/Statistics/0,,12306,00.html you will find that it is indeed not true and that Mr H has started off his tenure by pissing off a lot of the fans, me included. Jeeesus, it could almost not be a worse statement, if that is what is actually said.

I mentioned van Gaal and Hiddink. I also said it will never happen. It will be someone that makes us all go "aahh, did not think of him" or "who?".

Of course if won't be Coppell. Without being even close to ITK, I will bed my wife (yeah, that is a reference to all you other pantsies out there wanting to bed donkeys and what have you not) if the grand plan was to get MON away, have Coppell resign from BC and appoint him. They have not come up with a shortlist yet. I am pretty sure we will have to wait at least a week before this is settled, perhaps several weeks. It takes time to identify suitable candidates, then find out whether they are interested, and possible buy the right guy out from his current club. Not that different from player transfers I would gather.

What's van Gaal doing these days? To me, him or Hiddink would be fantastic appointments. Will never happen of course, but still. I think we will get a guy few or none of us have mentioned on this thread. No idea who, just got a feeling that Lerner & Co are searching outside the range of standard shite candidates. Curbishley? Really, are you having a laff?

can you imagine the wankfest the press will be having if Sven was appointed? Throw in Becks as assistant as well and it would be complete chaos Anyway, all this is new to us fans as well as this is the first time in a looong time a manager will be appointed by someone else than Doug. I think it is safe to say that the Lerner team has a far more extensive network within in sports (and presumably football) than Doug and Stride ever had, so I would not be surprised at all that we all end up saying "oh, that guy, did not think of him" when the new manager is appointed. The chance of someone outside of England being appointed is rather big IMO.

Is this a wind up? We need someone with experience from both PL and the transfer market, we need someone with tactical skills and a good coach, and someone who is respected by the players. The stories about champagne pictures and name calling really seems to indicate that they players at least want someone to coach them (and have the ability to do so). I am not sure it is possible to find all of this in one person, so, as others have indicated, we might be looking at two persons, one manager and one director of football. I could handle a more unexperienced manager if we got an expericenced director of football. Bradley might not be a bad shout in such a scenario.

I was thinking the same thing. These are actual squad numbers, right? Now, before anyone points out that Harewood had no 9, I think it is hard to dismiss the fact that Weimann is given this number.

Yup Watch them both be on the bench against Wet Spam don't think Carew will, unless we buy a class striker. Another way of saying that I think he will play...

great goal. first time we played it behind their back 4 with corresponding movement.

maybe. could also be that Benfica has slowed down, they are happy as it is.

What the hell?! Have you even looked at the team we have out there?! Friedel, Dunne, Petrov and Young are the only first team regulars on the pitch. Some people need to get a grip... THIS!!!! FFS peeps its a "FRIENDLY" here is a definition An exhibition game (also known as an exhibition match, exhibition, demonstration, demo, exhibit or friendly) is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor (such as tournament or season rankings, or prize money) regardless of the outcome of the competition define as much as you want. we have no movement, no passing, no technical ability and no game plan. are we supposed to be this bad 14 days before PL kick off just because it is a friendly?

half time. nothing new here. Shorey and Petrov too slow. No movement in front of the ball. Only movement is one striker running down to the corner flag, the other stays out of the box. Sidwell not participating. No game plan except lumping it up on strikers standing still or giving to Ash for him to do something special. And, what is this "it's just a friendly"? Sure, let's not care that we are thumped, playing crap and nothing new from last year. ManU hardly ever loses friendlies do they? Why is that I wonder. Parts of it is called attitude and always, always wanting to win. My god, losing 3-0 at half time is not amusing, friendly or no friendly.

General, seeing MONs statements today about the possibility of reaching 4th spot, I wonder what you think of a leader going public saying that the goal cannot be reached. I know that was not his exact words, but the message seems rather clear. To me, any leader must believe in the project, if not he should resign. Reading the quotes from MON lately at least they print a picture of a frustrated leader with a clear lack of belief. I am afraid that's not a good leader to me. MON is the manager of this club, equivalent to a CEO of a corporation. He should bring enthusiasm to the organisation, and not the opposite. How will these comments make it easier to sell season tickets? Keep Milner? Bring in new players? Sometimes I think it is better to keep quiet, or if you as a leader lack belief you need to take the consequence.

Exactly. ManU sold Ronaldo based on the same principle IMO. All players are for sale if the price is "right", only a very few clubs can afford to pay crazy fees and not sell their best players if such crazy fees are offered.

Not quite right as Ellis and co's undertakings will be null and void if a bid or more than 5% more than Lerner is recommended by the board, cf. offer item 2 second last para. I think that we could see a bid which fulfils the former, but which will be rejected by the board because the bid in totality in not better.

As I just said; this is killing me. I know Mike McKenna spoke to Padfield earlier in this saga, Mike; where are you? Have you spoken to him again? Anyone else apart from the guy at the Villa Blog site who are in the know about this? Could someone please calm me down as I am not able to do so myself and tell me it's going to be Lerner?

I am starting to think that we will end up with AV06. The quotes and rumours about a new bid cannot IMO be completely without foundation. IF a bid of say £70 million was submitted, it would be extremely hard for the board to turn it down I think. Money is the key, and a difference of more than £7 mill will be too much not to accept. Think about it: £7 mill is more than £2.5 mill more to Ellis and way more than £1 mill more to Petchey. Will they turn down this kind of "extra money". I fear the answer is "no" as I think, based on what has been said and written in the last few weeks, Lerner is the ideal owner for Aston Villa Football Club in the long run and like so many others AV06 has not done or said much to make me trust them. I trust Naz and Jon and I trust that they have not been completely fooled by Lerner and his advisers. In the end, my hope is that a AV06 bid (and I am becoming more sure that there will be a bid) has so many conditions and weaknesses (other than the bid amount) that Rot's and the board cannot recommend it. Typically for Villa, we got rid of Ellis but we are still not happy. I want to go to sleep and wake up next Wedneday and find that Lerner is still the new owner. No more crap, please.

No, Ellis is finished, I think even he knows that now. I think so as well. In hindsight, I think this was only a matter of time (which admittedly it still is) when Rot's were appointed. They would not accept, and absolutely not continue, their appointment if they had reason to believe that Ellis has no intention to sell. They are dependent on completion to get paid their commission and also have their reputation to think of. Moreover, I think Ellis fckd up in the first meeting with Lerner, both Rot's and the executives at Villa from that point in time took control of this process. My opinion only.