TRO

indeed it is a money exercise, and the transfer in of ireland looks like a means to an end determined by money. Why get the manager involved? Because he's the best qualified on the footballs aspects of it, and villa is there to compete at football, not money. We have by most judgements got the better of the deal, but I'm certain that city have got the better player out of it. They can afford it, they don't care about the cost, it seems. I don't like that balance, I don't like that villa is possibly worrying about the detail of the deal and city about the detail of the best player. Straight cash, theres no argument, the money is there, or as much of it as we can afford to be used for another player, but getting in a player when we don't need to, and forgoing the cash is a risk and i don't know or see why it has been done that way, especially given the reservations we've expressed about Ireland. He might do really well, I hope he does, sincerely. He is talented, but there's a lot of questions over his future career prospects. Man Utd once signed Cantona for 1 mill.....I mill. would that transaction suggest Leeds hadn't got a clue how to value a player. Don't be surprised if Stephen Ireland turns out better than Milner.I'm not saying he will... but quite easily he could. Its all about opinions. its also intriguing, that one of Martin's crony sports journalist's said he thought he was off in March, by his body language and demeanor. Does that mean he had no interest in the Milner deal one way or another?

Maybe a call to mourinho asking who would be the next up a coming manager you would fear might bear some fruit.

.....so thats the criteria?

facts are not for this site opinions are more interesting.....you are well versed , spill the beans. no one will kill you for being wrong.

..bit of a lightweight for me, but yes impressed on his overall. Think Albrighton is the only true winger.

that's a very good point, and i agree TRO. The point about why would Ireland want to join us is exactly right, and something I was trying to het at. villa, in my eyes is better than City, but then Im a lifelong villain. Ireland came through their youth scheme, and will no doubt have been happy until recently at city, and its the change in the way they are now set up that has made him miffed. The whole trading of people at a whim, as city are doing, based only on a money fuelled desire to be an international name is out of kilter, where's the soul in it. Where's the humanity? That's the risk we are playing with. If a football manager identifies that the person and player is the right thing for villa, and the player thinks it's the right thing for him, then great. If a money man decides, then that's another matter, and thats my concern about the signing without a manager with a long term vision for villa being in place and making that judgement. Once football stops being about people, and becomes about money, thats where it loses its way as an element in the social fabric, as something worth all the time and thought and effort and travel and devotion we all put into it. I understand your stance and whole heartedly agree....but,it takes a brave man with oodles of millions involved in a football club to get all sentimental about the rights and the wrongs of appointing the managers.....when the mass media want big names.Randy is right Barton was a caretaker manager, but what he failed to say was this....Ron Saunders had a clear role, so did Barton, so did Roy McLaren....Martin O'Neill had him an his 2 muppets....nodding dogs. I'm really not sure what is right and what is wrong....I am sure about this.O'neill was an imposter, and i wasn't going to renew while he was in charge, now i might.

....riding shotgun

Blandy, you are an articulate writer, are you serious when you say that you don't know why O'Neill left. get off the fence, man. Are you expecting O'Neill to come out and say, none of it is my fault....blah ,blah, blah,....as was said on sunday supplement, he ( O'Neill) had it in his eyes he was going in March....so all that time he was living the lie and no intetion of having AVFC in his thoughts and left 5 days before the season start. ....wonderful

how many of those views actually relate to what i've said. None of them as far as I can see. For example I haven't blamed jm for moving. And Neither you nor I have a clue as to whether Ireland will turn out to be a villa legend, but I haven't remotely claimed he wouldn't, only that there are some concerns about his state of mind, at times. I don't say anything or make any assumptions about the manager, any manager, being the answer to any ills, only that I kind of like the manager to decide who he wants to buy and who he wants to sell, rather than people responsible for catering, or sponsorship, or who knows what. I've said there are things that concern me about the two deals. Maybe I'm completely wrong to be concerned, but at least I've read the words I wrote. No, I understand what you say, but the Manager( Martin O'Neill) has walked out in mid stream.... The chairman is in the middle of a deal involving a player (stephen Ireland) that some of our supporters would be happy in a straight swap, never mind 18 million compensation..... so why would a rookie manager like Kevin Macdonald be put under so much un necessary pressure to be involved in making a claim, when he is probably quite happy to be uninvolved. This is a money exercise, not a football exercise, unfortunately, thats is the sums involved.

Milner wanted to join us. Ireland didn't. Maybe it makes no difference. But we'll see. while the whole world wants to join Man city, why would Stephen Ireland want to join us.....on the surface. deep down we are a great club....as are Everton imo I as many others could write reams and reams and reams of lines on why money does'nt buy happiness and it seriously doesn't but on the surface it does. because synthetic people believe that... there are managers by the bucket load have proved that theory wrong.... but its hard work and nobody likes hard work these days. Don Revie, Harry Catterick, Howard Kendall,Bertie Mee, Ron Saunders,Brian Clough,Arsene Venger. The Man City thing is a joke to me.... its just that they have won the lottery.... Chelsea and Man U were doing it way before them.... i say good luck to them.

you are making one monumental mistake....you are assuming the manager is the answer to all the ills. Fabio Capello is an eaxample imo of an over hyped misfit. Matrtin O'Neill is never the person so many think he is /was. you make so many assumptions its untrue. How do you know that stephen Ireland is not to respond to a thoroughly decent club.... and go on to be a legend. I remember many villa fans saying " paul **** merson"... why are we signing him. James Milner has been offered a kings ransom and while many of us with a long standing bit of experience can say " not all that glitters is gold" will understand his stance... he has been offered a life changing experience.How can you blame him. I think we can go on and be awesome with the right attitude from within the club.The players are millionairres, but they are human too.....treat them occordingly and you might be surprised with the response.....treat them like shit and you will get shit. I don't think you quite understand how many players are pleased with O'Neills departure. draconian measures are not the answer to everything.....ask the great leeds team.

No, because him and players like him had it drummed in to them to stay back. we don't always know what instruction these players are given and moreover we are not always told....perhaps some managers think we don't matter.

Not to put a damper on KM but he has been with us for 15 years and while no one wants to deny the guy a bit of glory by being the top man....but,it could consume him. I would imagine it is fairly easy in managing a team that is generally winning.... you become everyones friend.The tricky bit is having the experience and nous to manage throught the dark bits and have a coherent plan as to how you are going to turn it around without having Bill Gates as your best friend.You also need to be logical in your approach to correcting things something that will endear you to the fans, much in the same way Moyes has kept the fans on side through his darkest moments, because he is logical as opposed to quirky. we need a manager who can deal with the tough bits and at the same time avoid bouts of depression doing it. Depression or losing your calm manifests poor decision making. I don't think we are likely to be involved in our new manager managing massive ego's as i don't envisage us being linked with those type of players on the whole. Someone like sven might be a good shout, especially if he took KM as his assistant and helped to groome him.He has the global experience for player recruitment and has that calm exterior that i think is essential in modern day top flight football.He is battle hardened. Villa has been called a poison chalice in some quarters, i disagree, but i understand the slant.I would say the club is a great opportunity for someone of the right pedigree. The expectation at Villa has never been too high, if anything its the opposite, we need to strive a bit more and that doesn't always mean money. Harry redknapp said when asked about his chances of the title " I have to believe we can" of course he does. many clubs with less resource than us are having a go, so, so should we.

I agree. Whilst I'm delighted with him Tony Mack and Sid, I'd like someone with huge international knowledge of the game. I was disappointed with the attendance too, caused by our lack of signings I feel and the fallout caused by MON. I'm not sure if we'll get better attendances if Kevin Mac takes the job. I never went today, i miss very few home games, but O'Neill has had a very negative effect on me..... 5 of my pals have not renewed either, which doesn't help. many more games like today will be getting the fans back. Winning is the most important, but the way you win is almost as equally important, that is the bit that gives confidence that the win is not a one-off. Fans are not fools,when you have been attending for years, you do have an idea whats going on, hopefully.

I've heard all the reports on our young centre backs over the years.... but i like this lad, i think he has a real future.

Steve, I hope I'm wrong too, because like big Ron i think we need a big name manager. I just don't think it will happen. I've got a feeling it might be a big name, Eriksson! beckham as assistant?

Steve, I hope I'm wrong too, because like big Ron i think we need a big name manager. I just don't think it will happen. Ps Ron Saunders wasn't exactly big name thou, came in from Norwich with a half decent record.... but he had side kicks in Tony Barton and roy McLaren who were very knowledgeable and Tony really had an eye for a player. I had the pleasure of meeting Barton after a mid week game.... had an hour with him in a hotlel on the Hagley road.....The knowledge of the man in terms of football, just blew me away.

they will say one thing to the media, if it suits them.

Thats a bit rich, but then again you would expect him to defend one of his members. it didn't seem to trouble Martin in the first 2 years when he was basically running the club and probably/arguably instrumental in driving 2 chief exec's out of town....No it was when the players he bought he felt he couldn't play that suddenly Randy was too far away to help him. nice try Martin ...you made your bed you lie on it.give em enough rope as they say.

....Any big name manager by definition will demand big bucks....and they know they can.That will not be an attraction from the current owner having just recently parted with a huge sum over 4 years for debatable return. My suspicion the new manager will be of a limited reputation looking to chance his luck....with a belly full of hunger. I rather fancy the new guy will be grateful for the job rather than we are grateful to him for coming.

is milner and young representative of the feelings of the whole squad?

its an article that has a lot of credence. it is not fair to name names, but it may shock you to know Petrov, will not be broken hearted....strange one that hey. as they say....your article is getting very warm. like you i think he had his uses and created a bed of stability, it has been well documented my feelings towards him.... very mixed. I am very optimistic for the future and have no fear of doom & gloom.... i think the club has had the tourniquet removed.

...Very good article and agree with 90 % I don't go to as many away games as you so I have a slightly jaundice view on his quality of football...it was unconvincing for me at times, despite 6-6-6

...guus hiddinck reach for the stars and......

I agree with Ron atkinson....we need a good no 10 a young Luc Nilis would do fine