Straggler

Doesn't the idea of introducing ID cards incrementally just mean that it will be done in such small chunks that we won't notice that the law is in place until it is too late? Make each bit so small that it makes you look small and petty every time you make a stand. Eventually we are told that we are 90% of the way there and might as well finish the job off as so much has been invested in getting us this far.

Sounds a bit like amending existing European treaties until it looks like a European Constitution without having to go through the nasty inconvenience of referendums. Why prevent perfectly useless and unwanted legeslation from passing just because the unwashed masses don't want it? Poiliticians all know better than us anyway, after all that is why we voted for them isn't it?

Please let it be Shearer. I have voted for him because they belong together strugging at the bottom. I don't think he will take it though as he knows there is nothing to gain and everything to loose. I don't think anyone on that list will take the job, I can't imagine too many coaches will want it.

I've listned to the debate for some time now and have been mulling the idea of id cards in my head. I have voted no to id cards for a couple of simple reasons. None of the arguments for have convinced me we need them, I am not convinced that the issues the cards are supposed to be solving are genuine or that the cards if implimented would solve said problems.

I have complete faith in this and all future govenrments ballsing up the implimentation and running of such a system. It would almost inevitably run over budget, not be fit fur purpose and over time used for corrupt, inapropriate and incompetent purposes.

Gabby Agbonlahor! To feature in the next series of Heroes

I believe totally selfless acts happen pretty often. People will lay down their lives for friends and family, even their country. For some it is trained into them for others it is instinct, however it has to be selfless as posthumus praise no matter how glowing is useless to the deceased machine that is in it for itself.

Marvelous stuff, I can't wait for the next report, they never fail to raise a smile. The bit about Lowry raised a very satisfying chuckle.

I don't think Second Choice Steve should resign.

He should be fired

Depends for me. Under Ellis I found it very hard to care in the same way about the Villa and compensated a bit with the National team. I also love the unity of fans in this country when England are playing well in a big competition. Try telling me you were not bothered about England when we were spanking 5 past the Germans, or ripping Holland apart (a while ago that one). They joy is the same for me watching England score, but the roar comes from the whole country, which I find quite special. The problem is that it is easy to drift away from a club or country team that Second choice Steve is in charge of. You can be reasonably assured that I would not have a season ticket now if MON was in the England job and SCS was filling the Villa hotseat. I struggled to work out which one to vote for as I do love the big national competitions, but I do miss the day to day interaction with club football.

I went for the England team in the end. It should be the pinnacle of a players career, but the more we treat it as second choice the less the players will care too.

I have just tipped the balance back in favour of MON. Jose is a formiddable manager, but I was happy when MON arrived and I am happy to see where he takes us. I like the honesty and the integrity that the club exudes, MON is a big part of that.

I really enjoyed that read, thanks for telling us about it.

It always seems to be the Mazda 6's that get on my nerves.

Luke

When Gabby learns to dribble,pass and cross he will be better.

Same could be said of Michael Owen. He seemed to do ok. I think the two of them have a great deal in common when it comes to phtsical attributes at this age.

I chose Gabby as the better of the two. The goals he scored at the end of last season really impressed me. The calmness he had when one on one you cannot buy. The problem is I really like the look of Moore too, but I do not get the same wow factor from him.

OWEN!!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)

i wish it was him he was looking at.

Imagine that for a partnership Owen and Carew up front.

I reakon he was looking at Milner though or maybe Doyle?

The Owen shout is not such an unrealistic one. Newcastle have Martins now who is pretty much a like for like with Owen and has done ok in his first season. Newcastle is not Owens first choice, so it is not unreasonable to see him leaving. the managerial situation will cause a little uncertainty, which can be explioted and a fit Owen would be a fabulous foil to Carew. Give Newcastle the chance to recoup a good portion of the money they spent on him and there is every chance he will be up for sale.

Owen would fit well into a rotation system as I can't imagine him playing all the games, giving Gabby his fair share of match time and imagine how much our young strikers could learn from him. Owen would also add the perfect combination of high profile, quality, experience and proffessionalism for which his is rightly admired.

I'm getting a little giddy thinking about it all.

I liked that very much. It's good to have a positive vibe back on th front page.

Bent is younger and already has a better goal to games ratio. So for me it would be Bent out of those two if we had the choice.

Tbh if we were going to spend £11m on Defoe then I can't see why we can't throw that same amount into the hat for Bent.

This is my feeling too. Goals are the money. Defoe is flash and gets some goals, but Bent gets more and that is what counts. I would still welcome Defoe though.

OH MY GOD!!!!

...my mates brother told him that gareth barry was spotted in a service station near london colney.. for real!!

Arsenal train near there dont they?

Here we go again...

I once bought a dog off this guy who used to know someone that was a friend of Ellis's milkman, apparently we were gonna but Ronaldinho if DOL and HDE had stil been in power.....

Yeah cool! .. and no word of a lie! I once delivered David Ginola's Christmas Tree

I can tell you where you should have put it too. He was more suited to fairy on a tree than winger.

SkySports said:

Adrian Boothroyd has rejected bids for Ashley Young, but insists Tottenham have not made an offer for the Watford winger.

Young has been among Watford's most impressive performers since the club secured promotion to the top flight.

Though The Hornets are bottom of the Premiership, Young's displays have caught the eye of several bigger clubs.

Reports have claimed that Spurs will look to lure the England Under 21 international to White Hart Lane in January.

Boothroyd refuted those rumours, but the Watford boss confirmed he has knocked back offers from other clubs.

"Spurs have not made any bids," stated Boothroyd. "I have had bids from other clubs and I have rejected them.

"Ashley is a key part of what we want to do here."

Young recently revealed he would be happy to stay at Vicarage Road, even if the club are relegated back to the Championship at the end of the season

clicky

Do you think that we made a bid for Young????

Good Addition??

Look at it...

So what about that Eygptian lad then? Pretty exciting stuff... :winkold:

Pandas can't get a stiffy, polar bears are getting stiffed. I vote for Polar bears

Its all over the papers up here that Barry Ferguson will be MON's first signing of the transfer window.

Ive already voiced my concerns over this guy ,, but i suppose mon knows a lot more about footy than me

I hope not, we dont need more players for the centre at the moment, we should really be concentrating on getting in the wide players and a striker before anything else is done!

Not true IMO. We need cover for Gav. We look desperate without him in the team. Despite the decent number of central players in the midfield, no one else effectively covers his job.

Bookies aren't stupid, they are rich. I'll bet you a tenner that you loose the bet.

But not at 125/1 presumably!

errm no. I will however throw in a Russel Brand DVD I got for Christmas as it is complete and utter drivel.

Bookies aren't stupid, they are rich. I'll bet you a tenner that you loose the bet.

Outstanding, truly, truly outstanding. This is the sort of thing I was hoping for when Randy and co came in. I'm happy for Paddy, it sounds like a cracking day, and happy for me as I support the best team there is.

There are very few good songs in the world of football and the Spizz song is a case in point. I voted for the ride of the Valkyries, but I would prefer to have our team to walk out to the approving roar of the fans and sod the music all together.

Beattie? Yes please.

A lot of people have said no to defoe, i cant understand why, he is a quality player. Look at his goal on the weekend. I watched spurs get hammered by reading two weeks ago and when defoe came on for twenty minutes, he hit the post, and brought out about 3 good saves from their keeper. Really dont know why people dont want him at villa.

I wouldn't mind him. He is the sort of striker that can create something out of nothing.

Mayhap he is, but I would prefer a striker that scores the goals that should go in. Becasue they go in from 30 yards does not make them count double. You know the feeling that you would get with Shearer or Van Nistleroy bearing down on goal. You just knew they were going to score. I don't get that feeling from Defoe and it is something I would love to get from the Villa number 9. I do still like Defoe though and would welcome him into the squad, however I don't feel that he is the answer to our 20 goals a season man problem.