NASTY_LEE

It's not even a debate IMO.

Hi General, I'm sure this must have been mentioned in the past, I'd be shocked if it hasn't - What are the plans regarding the PA system at VP? I sit in the Holte and any announcements are completely inaudible, which can be a tad annoying but also poses a safety concern.

This is all going to take some explaining. If these comments are true then, as a fan, you can't help but feel let down by the club. This report certainly does not match the picture that has been painted over the last 8 weeks. General, I will be interested to see how the club handle themselves over the next month because I for one feel very flat at the moment. There are also nagging doubts about how much clout we actually have in the transfer markets since this is another transfer window that promises much, but like most of the others has failed to materialise. I understand it is still early doors, but am not convinced we are able to compete in the market you are portraying. With rumours of our other top targets considering elsewhere it is not exactly inspiring. If this is the case, then the club need to understand - when you target a player other clubs want the only way to get him is to offer more money. If Bentley is going to Spurs over us then we need to convinve him otherwise. This is threatening to be another summer of discontent.

General, thanks for your reply. Perhaps 'acid test' wasn't the right phrase but I'm sure you know where I'm coming from. At the end of the day, as I'm sure you'll see, it's just a little disappinting for fans when we see the club take a step forward only for a potential step back, together with the knock on effects. I don't doubt you'll do your best, cheers.

Well, I'm afraid it is an acid test. This is the first major issue that's fallen at the door of the board and many will see the outcome as pivitol to where the club is heading. While I agree the club has made major progress both on and off the pitch, fans are still waiting for major incoming transfer deailings. This may sound harsh, but we have had many false dawns only to have the rug pulled from under us. Regardless of what deal is struck, Gareth will be very difficult to replace. Players of his calibre are all playing in the 'big 4' so we cannot tempt them meaning we will bring in someone inferior such as Sidwell, or gamble on a foreign player. Add the effect on the younger players who look up to Barry, the media perception and the message it sends to not only to our fans but those of other teams and I think it's fair to say this is a 'test'. Give it your best shot!

As already mentioned, the Barry saga is the acid test. If we sell our best player and club captain we are sending out a message that Villa cannot and wll not be able to compete with the current top 4. If Barry goes, how long before Young feels the urge to move and as his head turned by a perceived bigger club? If Villa are serious, especially at season ticket renewal time, then they need to show a statement of intent. Barry is the public figurehead of our team, a top pro, England international and I will be seriously pissed off if we sell our prize asset just as it appears there's some hope. It's happened before with Platt and Yorke but now is the time for us to stand up and show the country that we are serious players and not just making up the numbers.

No he hasn't, just the fee agreed.

Barton scores, NRC doesn't

Ranieri is crap.

Isn't it amazing that you can post about football and it gets ignired, yet the keyboard warrior posts a load of shit with a yellow face and it add 3 pages of more shit. **** sort it out, it getting tedious now.

Let's face it Parker, NRC and Barton are involved in a transfer triangle. If Parker goes the destination of the other two will be resoved quickly. As for which one to Villa - You have NRC and Barton, two players who have 'baggage' and rumours surrounding them. Therefore, it's down to ability. My own opinion is Barton is superior, he has a physique more suited to midfield, height and scores more goals. Under the right manager I think he could be a great player.

I saw him once against utd, not enough for me to start claiming he's any better than what we have.

Boruc is an unknown quantity. How anyone can judge him when no one can be arsed to watch that crap that passes for footie up there is beyond me.

Get pederson

And there is absolutley nothing wrong with a deal being agreed next week. Ok, the window doesn't officially open yet, but everything can be put in place apart from the registration forms to the league. Is that a pesky fact?

Although we may break our transfer record, thoughts of players in Ribery's class are wide of the mark. This is a player who has been touted amongst Europe's ekite, the fella probably has never heard of B'ham and Villa.

Anyone for Nolan now Sam has gone?

Would it? There is no room for sentiment. He had a reasonable start to the season compared with a joke of one last year. If, as we are led to believe, we are investing for European football, then Ridgewell has no place at VP. Get used to it, I've been saying for a long time many of aour youngsters won't be here in a couple of years. They might be good but they're not in the same class as the big four's teenagers.

I think it's a shame because I reckon the last few games would have seen JPA prosper. For years JPA and the fans have had to suffer long ball shit and recently due to the introduction of Berger we've actually started to pass the ball. I'm sure this is the style of play JPA has waited for and it's a shame it's come when he's out of the frame. The last couple of games are the first examples of us penetrating a defence and putting dangerous balls across goal since the season he scored 23.

Anton Ferdinand is utter shit. He's living off his brother's reputation and would be no improvement on Cahill or Ridgewell.

NRC is not the answer. We need a powerhouse, a physical dynamo who can win headers and run from box to box.

Should have been him for him when he was £2.5m.

Villa fans not backing their own players, surely you're getting us confused with someone else?

I think his size puts me off. We're a small team and I'd much prefer my midfielder to be of the Taylor/Viera stature so that we win headers and physically dominate. NRC doesn't do it for me if I'm honest, just another over-rated London based player IMO.

he's been given the all clear