privateer

Granted, that is certainly the case! I would be lying if I didn't admit to a twinge of envy any time I see someone with a D2X, a 5D or a 1D Mark II,

all lovely pieces of kit and it looks like you have some very nice glass, too.

I know this isn't ebay but it's relevant:

For sale:

Nikon d70s body, boxed as at retail and as new condition. Upgrading to d200.

£265 inc royal mail special delivery (or cash on collection for a little less)

Pm if interested

That's a nice upgrade. If I was a Nikon shooter I think that probably is what I would be using right now, it's a cracking camera from what I gather.

General Krulak here:

1. The Aston Hotel (north end of Villa Park) is not owned by Villa....it was not part of the purchase.

Aaah, that explains something - why we were referring to it by different names! They are different places! The hostelry you are referring to is still a going concern behind the North Stand. The one I was asking about has been closed for years and is largely shrouded by advertising hoardings now. It is, I suppose, south-south-east of Villa Park. Adjacent to the church, and what was the car park and pretty much underneath the motorway and is called the Aston Tavern. However, I guess this means that it wasn't part of the purchase anyway, which is a real pity - generations of Villa fans have whetted their pre-match whistle there.

When you find you all have a little less on your plate in future perhaps it can be subject to some of Randy's patented regeneration magic!?

General,

Thanks for the answer re: the Aston Tavern. I can understand you have plenty on your plate already. However, one point I'm unclear on and was trying to ascertain was whether it comes under AVFC ownership currently as part of the acquisition or if, in fact, it is "held" by another party.

Cheers

General,

Following on from the superb work being done on the Holte Hotel, can you give me an answer on the fate of the Aston Tavern? A legendary old drinking hole for many of us that is now derelict and adjoins the old Serpentine Car Park.

Does the club have any kind of interest in it because I for one would be very happy indeed to see it restored and re-opened?

Thanks

General, glad you are looking forward to the derby games. I will be honest and state that I know nothing of the Army-Navy and Exeter/Andover affairs but I think it would be fair to say you will find it quite an experience. You have doubtless divined already what we think of our unillustrious neighbours and if they were capable of higher thought processes they would think the same.

I do hope you're right about Gardner. The kid just keeps getting better and better.

I hope you are right. I like the guy. When I've seen him I thought he has that Roy Keane "fearless and nasty" about him and we need that.

It's a No. **** off McClaren with your rictus grin, oversize teeth, fucktard selections and inept "tactics".

News of the World is reporting we're going to offer Angel plus £8m for Keane.

Not sure how I feel about that.

I've seen that as well. TBH, with all due respect to JPA, I don't see Spurs being remotely interested in him as part of any deal for Keane.

One morning last week Billy was at school and the teacher asked all the children what their fathers did for a living.

All the typical answers came out - fireman, policeman, salesman, chippy, captain of industry, etc. but Billy was being uncharacteristically quiet and so the teacher asked him about his father.

"My father is an exotic dancer in a gay club and takes off all his clothes in front of other men and gives them lap dances. Sometimes if the offer is really good, he'll go out with a man, rent a cheap hotel room and sleep with him."

The teacher quickly set the other children some work and took little Billy aside to ask him if that was really true. "No" said Billy, "He plays cricket for England, but I was just too embarrassed to say..."

Looks like the Maloney rumour part is over. £1m apparently which is considerably more than what was talked about on this thread. However, if Yer MON thinks he's worth it, I'll buy that for a dollar (or 2 million of them) of Randy's money!

Interstingy, MON on SSN just when asked about transfers tonight said there's still an hour to go (PAUSE) He's hopeful that Shaun will sign (PUASE) anyone else (Big PAUSE) there's still time left til the window closes. (Or words to that effect)

That sums it up pretty well.

I like the sound of that. It sounds like Maloney and AN Other could be in. Maloney seems like it should be a done deal so it will be fascinating to see if we can get another in as well. We need that second one if it's do-able. Don't know why, I just have a strange feeling if there is another as well as Maloney it might be a biggie.

We could certainly do with a couple of "now" players in before the window closes. I know in an ideal world we will be buying for the future, such as Ashley. However, someone like Diop could be what we need now. We need extra strength in midfield and we need it now as well as in the future, so just because he is 29 he shouldn't be discounted (except on price).

Manu have now rang SSN saying they are not interested in Xavi. Also reported was that Upson didnt train with blues today so he could be off to wham.

Teletext this morning said Upson was prepared to wait to the end of the season and buy out his contract for "less than £1m". I hope Wham now that and get him for bottom dollar. Not that I think anything of Upson or Wham, I just don't wan't SHA getting big money for him.

FWIW, I have a feeling in my water that "Wardrobe" Diop is one of the players MON was referring to when he was talking about trying to get a couple of things sorted his weekend. MON knows we need strenghthening in midfield so that is surely one of the areas he is working on. If he passes the medical and the price is right I would welcome that acquisition, I think. I would like to see a beast in midfield for us and he does qualify for that description. What I want us to have is a Vierra of a few years ago - Dioup possibly isn't what Vierra still is now but if we can't get Barton (please let us get Barton!) - then he could be the available option to go for.

It will be interesting to see who the next couple in are this Jan. because I genuinely believe we are not finished yet. The reality is that that the Unmentionable One always honked about the squad being too small in terms of nmbers and he was right. MON knows it, too. He knows it is too light in sheer numbers, doesn't have the quality in depth and the plyers he has aren't necessarily the players he wants. We are taking the first steps on a long, luxurious journey with Randy and MON so whilst I expect to see a few more events in the market before the 31st, I won't be too worried if nothing more happens until the summer.

Close call between the 60s and 70s for me. Went for the 60s in the end.

General krulak here:

Lots going on. Hang in there with us.

Well, General, if the rumours are true there are things going on that we like! As we say in these here parts, "Get in there, son!". Don't worry, if not everything works out, we'll still be hanging in. We're funny, paradoxical creatures, us Villans. Squawk like parrots at times but have the patience of crocodiles with the loyalty of dogs! That isn't a suggestion for a new club mascot. A scaled, four-legged, beaked creature that pisses up the corner flag would just leave us as an object of derision.

Keep up the good work, my man. We are all behind you.

General, is there any chance you can scoop in the old Aston Tavern as part of the restoration/regeneration programme? It closed in 1995 but to many of us older fans it was a big part of our matchday experience.

It went something like this: In to the tavern for a few beforehand, go to the match, roar the boys on, have a few in the Tavern post-game. There was nothing modern about the place but that was its charm, it had character and history. It strikes me that it would make a superb "real ale" type place to have close to the ground. There are dozens upon hundreds of warm English beers that could be sold there, but half a dozen or so would do the job! I can supply you with a list of beer brand candidates very easily, although I suspect you have sampled a few of our offerings already. I don't deny it will take some coin to get it open again and the return will probably only really come in on matchdays. However, it is/was as much a part of Villa as the Holte Hotel in may ways.

One other point, can we have our AV floodlights back, please? They were truly splendid.

Paul I love the composition on your Illfracombe shot.

Couple of recent 'ish' ones from me. Finally got around to buying a macro lens - albeit at the wrong time of year as the ruddy bugs are either deceased or in hiding!!! DOF is far shallower than I'm used to, so bit of a bugger to begin with, but more than happy with it for £20. Am heartened to find you can do photography on the cheap!!! Canon S2 with a Raynox DCR-250 for anyone interested.

£20???!!! They are very nice shots from any priced lens. DOF is a bugger with macro stuff and I haven't sorted it yet. I'll post some shots when I work out how to do it, I would be interested to hear what you guys think.

Mmmm. 2 in 17, you say? Not prolific at that level, then!

Much like with that African bloke, its unfortunate that in the prem defenders actually mark their men and keepers make attempts to keep the ball out the goal, but still, I'd give him a chance. Can only beat what's put in front of you I guess.

I thought that - he ain't going to get that time and space in the Prem and he will be having to get the ball past better goalkeepers than that lot. However, he looks like he has a sweet touch with the the lob and chip and is two - footed on the shots. If we have scouted him and are happy to buy him, then bring him on.

geez Figo is going to sign for a Saudi Arabian side. Why didnt we make an offer?

He isn't going there because it is the best league in the world or for the nightlife! Therefore it is because of the wages they are going to pay him. Athough I can see where you are coming from in one respect, he would be a very expensive option. Obviously I'm guessing but I would reckon he will get paid twice the amount Distin is demanding and is he worth that now? I remember watching another one-time great player in game after game who, despite his declarations in hair product commercials, that "He was worth it", clearly wasn't! Could be that Figo is and would lift us enormously but it's a bit hypothetical now if the deal is done. However, I must say if he was unveiled as a signing I would not complain one bit! In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea!

I liked Baldé a few years back at Celtic, always seemed to put in a good performance when I saw him, haven't seen him play for a couple of years now though so could have gone downhill a bit.

Totally agree and I've seen little this season of him to further qualify my opinion. He may be a poor signing now but I think if MON signs him he will have watched him and know whether he is worth taking on. I do love the idea of a 6' 5" athlete-beast in our back line, though!

SM,

I will pass your words on to Russ. I have asked him to do one thing for all sites....and that is to have a "before" picture of the training ground building as it now looks...and then have the new site to compare against as we move forward. We are making huge progress.

Randy and I depart for UK tomorrow so I will be off site for a few days.

A safe trip General, and don't forget to travel in the new aircraft and land at Birmingham, not Luton

I appreciate that Randy has just upgraded his jet, but when you arrive at Birmingham you will park next to a factory fresh BBJ. This was ordered by a local Gazillionaire who has now decided that he doesn't want it, but he ordered it, so he's had to take it.

A reasonable offer will buy it, so if Randy fancies something a bit more luxurious.....

If you have ever checked out Wayne Huizengas aircaft, a BBJ would look great in Villa colours one side, Browns the other.

If you land from the North I'll make sure I lean out of the window and give you a wave. Don't forget to sit on the left side of the aircraft :winkold:

Sorry, Christmas irreverence is getting the better of me ........

Sorry, a bit OT but BBJ? Is what? I understand it is obviously an aircraft but...

Did he decide he didn't want it because it arrived in claret and blue livery, rather than old gold and black? If it's not in keeping with what's in your veins, I can see the problem and

the only player im not too keen on is bobo balde, i would happily give him a fair chance if he came but the general celtic view from a forum i went on is that hes rubbish, and they can't wait to get his 30 grand a week off there books

As I've said before, he is a player I'm keen on and I think we'll sign him. I think his contract is up at the end of the season and he has been coming back from injury. He said a few months ago he wasn't interested in a move - like he could move anyway as the transfer window was shut - and he just wanted to get back to full fitness with Celtic. Maybe I'm wrong but I took this to mean he would be moving in the January window if the right offer came in, otherwise he would be off in the summer.

I like him because he makes me think of a nastier version of Ehiogu. He seems to have that loping speed and won't be bullied by anyone in the PL. If we could send out a back line comprising of a permutation of him, Mellberg, Laursen, Ridgewell and Cahill I can see that being pretty solid.