nick76

Even though I love Villa, my answer would be yes. Being professional means acting like one as well and football player play football for their living. It's their job. Just like referees. Everybody support a team but cannot underperform because of the fact that they aren't playing for their favorite club? I'm from a small town in Stockholm named Sollentuna. We had three teams before. Two of them joined together and became one club instead. I was in one of those clubs. First two-three weeks was like an audition to stay in the team so the rivalry between us was a lot even though we would end up playing together. Not because everybody wanted to get past the audition, it was mainly because of old derby feelings between the clubs. This story is about boys in the age of 18-25 and 26. The club is now up and running and all those feelings are gone. Two teams that hated each other are now playing together and going up to a higher divison. This is about young unprofessionals, if we managed to play with people we "hated" (of footballing reasons) then professionals can do it with ease. So my answer to your question would be yes, I could imagine playing for the blues if that was for the better of my career but I would never change my mind and love for the Villa. I would be playing football as a professional for them and support Villa when outside the pitch! I don't think it's about being professional because you may not want to work for another company due to any number of reasons and that doesn't make you less professional. In fact you could argue that it makes you more professional as you know you could't give your all for that company and thus your professional ethics dictate that it is not right to move to that company. I do see your point though I'm just not sure I could do it especially if my belief is that I could play at that level which I'm sure this lad thinks he can, so I also suppose it depends on what you think your options could be in the future.

To be fair do you think any of you could play for Birmingham??? I think I'm a fairly level headed bloke, late 30's, work in a global company at senior management level and standard family life but I don't think I could play for them. Obviously if my only source of income anywhere and it's my family's only way of living then obviously but that is an extreme. Under normal circumstances like this guy whose coming through and probably believes he could play at a higher level then I'm not sure I could play for the rival team. Growing up it was ingrained into me to dislike the Blose and that emotion stays with you. I don't care about their results anymore, don't care what league they are in, enjoy the derbies when we do occasionally play them but never really pay much interest in them but playing for them would be a big no no for me. What about others? could you play for Blose? or I know other Villa fans have more of a rivalry with West Brom or Wolves, so the question is if you had the ability and played football at a high level could you play for the rivals of your childhood team.

Delighted with his goal, love his efforts but definitely don't think he's a first XI. Circumstances allow that he is currently but with a fully fit squad I wouldn't start him

might also be a kick up the backside for Gabby if this happened as maybe he believes he's an automatic choice

Yeah I'd settle for this if we started the season this way..............wait, oh Benteke is still injured

whereas I think it will make a difference. I know from your previous posts you really don't think it'll make a difference especially under the current regime but I really do and the problem is you'll likely never be able to tell because others will get the credit. For me it's one of the key positions in the club and obviously in any business whether in a thriving business but more so in a struggling/restrained business, that's when good CEO's can make a real difference. It's never going to be exciting like signing a great player or an exciting new manager comes in but I am very intrigued/interested who the next CEO is because that will, in my eyes, affect the future of the club.

Assuming the rumour is correct and we have approached a CEO, assuming they are already have a job then surely that CEO has a substantial notice period at their current company?!?!

Great to see some optimism just wished I could feel it. Our midfield is still as weak as last year I think and our strike force (or should I say goal scorers) are out injured and the rest of them just don't score enough goals at all.

One word money they control how much we make And how are they meant to increase the money we make with a team that finishes low in the league with decreasing attendences? Like I said, a good CEO will make little difference to the success of this club while we have an owner who wants out and sets such ridiculous limitiations A good CEO can make a massive difference to the success of this club.....the difference between relegated and not being relegated, the difference of a few places in the league, the difference of acquiring a certain player or not. Through increase of revenue, branding, reputation, negotiating skills, strategy of the business on limited funds, these are the things that a CEO can affect, which while won't bring you the league title can make us significantly better than we are. It could be the difference between relegation fighting season after season to lower midtable, which isnt the level we want to be at but it better than what we are. Getting Vlaar to stay could be the difference between staying or leaving could be the difference between us being relegated or not, a CEO along with the Manager would be talking to the player. Branding in other markets may get us a reputation and thus players from there may be keener to join us...........etc etc. No point underestimating the influence a CEO has on a club like ours.....

Dunno an enterprising CEO could make the world of difference - what we need is someone who can grow the club, land big sponsorship deals, recruit good managers. What we have had over the past few years is what i call "bean counters" - they work within the current financial constraints and have no vision how to make the club grow. would love Graham Taylor as CEO you have to be kidding? Just as we need a football man on the board we also need a proper CEO who has the vision in business to grow. Graham Taylor could do that on the football side but not the business side. Get graham Taylor and a CEO in and I'll be happy, no way just Graham Taylor as CEO, that would be foolish

I'm no lambert fan, I think his tactics are poor but in your comparison I wonder how much Bruce and Pullis have spent in equivalent number of premiership management seasons

The list is fairly depressing. Even though it means nothing as well, looking at the first XI which should have key players looks below premiership standard.

Praying for 17th, anything above would be a bonus. Problems with tactics, problems with injuries and problems with confidence

Not sure what a feel good signing would be in our budget range....even if we spent 5m on a player

I think we'll hear some major hype through unofficial sources close to the club within two weeks to boost season ticket sales only for it to be denied after the season starts. Not that I'm cynical

It's just bizarre statement. What did he say that was worth saying? When what he did say is just going to frustrate fans, surely better to say nothing than what he said?

Not sure what the point of that statement was unless he's being harassed a lot. If anything it makes fans more depressed so not much of a PR. He makes a statement, we automatically thinks he's sold but sadly no. Worse, it hasn't happened yet and now a club he hasn't been interested in that he's now going to focus on until he's sold. Not only that, it's a response to a promise to Lambert....never mind the promise to us about the guardianship of our club, nah just his promise to Lambert. Oh and by the way, stop bothering him as he's not making any more statements until we are sold.

I think the mirror story is just guess work and probably written to cause a reaction because no information is coming out of the club. I suspect Lerner knows the club will be sold in the next 4-6 weeks and why would you sanction purchases if the new owners don't want them. At the same time if the club is unlikely to be sold while he won't be splashing the cash he wouldn't be so stupid as reflected in the article, never mind how much he has lost interest in the villa. It is still a better sale asset in the premiership than if we were relegated obviously. So logically to me I have to believe we will be sold by mid August. We have no information, the media has no information which frustrates all but that doesn't mean something isn't happening.

Yeah I agree it's Lerner who has got bored not a Russian or Middle-Eastern owner. Obviously I want an owner that lavishes riches on us but will be content with an Owner that keeps us consistently in the top 8, fighting for European places and once in a while a glimpse at Champions League place (generally falling away at the last minute ) and a manager that plays good attractive football and makes Villa Park a fortress and we become a team that is respected again is what I want

After having time to think about it and get over the initial disappointment of truly understanding the position Villa are in with our second signing being free and signing him 10 years further on than when we would've liked, I'm going to think positively with absolute no foundation. I need to think on the brighter side as Villa at the moment is taking us to a low at the moment. So on a positive side hopefully he will be our new Merson or Carbone, that he does still have some ability to play at this level, that he's fortunate with injuries going forwards, he fits well with our team and that he didn't play well or often at West Ham because of Sam's tactics......welcome Joe, your skills are what we need.

Hope he turns out to be a Robbie Keane type signing as I was disappointed with that signing and he turned out great. So I'm crossing my fingers as he's the type of player style wise we desperately need. Who else is a free transfer in the market with relatively low wages that we might punt for?

When I read this I was emotionally not moved at all, so neither bad or good. I'm not sure whether that is because of the apathy I am currently experiencing with the Villa or that I'm assuming the Villa will be taken over in due course or that this move will neither make us or break us as I suppose it depends on what else happens and then I can make an assessment over the bigger picture rather than just this one component. Even if this had been an inspired appointment it still doesnt deflect away from the fact this club needs a roots to branch overhaul for anything to change.....so this drop in the ocean, whether good or bad seems to have had no emotional impact on me. I'm really scared though as it should have an impact on me, I should be happy or sad about this potential appointment.....I'm just not.

ahhh it's ok, it's growing on me.....have pre-ordered a couple for my nephews as I know they love new kits....plus it pisses off my sister-in-laws family who are trying to make them bluenoses but it's funny when my 4 year old nephew just keeps screaming "Villa". Part of me feels bad in bringing them into the Villa family at a time when we are so troubled but I'm hoping that the future can only get better and my nephews wont know of these times....and at least we aren't the blue half of the city.

yeah there is no way Sterling would be investing in us, the problems he's got himself into with what he's said and the reaction means he's going to be a very busy man both being kicked out as an owner and then knowing him his retribution through the courts and by media. Also not sure he'd be very welcome with his views into this country and football, I'm sure there would be uproar from supporters and concern from governing bodies who are trying to kick racism out of football.

my answer is No and I'm not a Lambert fan. The squad is very poor with key players injured, despite poor tactics and all the other issues at the club, avoiding relegation with this squad of players who were available was a minor success. While there might be unique managers that may have got us to mid table or above, the average premiership manager, which I include Pulis, would've probably attained roughly the same position with this poor squad.