bigwheels

"wE shud buY verporkasis he ROX on CM",

Māris Verpakovskis is actually pretty decent. One of Latvia's all time top goal scorer if I'm not mistaken

In order to qualify for the award, the player must have started his first Premiership match for Villa this season. Poll runs for 7 days

Thought it would be closer between Laursen, Berson and Davis.

Davis has played more matches and has come through the youth, which would be a slight advantage, imo. Laursen has looked better in the games thta he has managed to play.

The pair, plus Berson, should improve into next season.

if he fails he gets pushed into a corner labelled "£lies lapdog"

Had he not started his job in that position?

Call it pedantic, but how is it an Ellis lie when he's not said anything about it?

As was said, trust is earnt - the two people who have said anything are the two with the cleanest slates, the ones with the least amount of distrust to overcome. That alone reassures me, and looking at the postings, a few others around. Seems like a deliberate move to break the news with the relatively popular manager and then back it up deliberately a week later with quite a lengthy break down of what they are doing.

Seems interesting that its also not a simple 'we have money' but its linked in with a strategy. They have a plan - OK, not much revealed to the masses but does it really need to be?

Posted on the 'wrong' thread

David O'Leary today dismissed reports that he is preparing a summer swoop for England striker Alan Smith.

The Villa boss managed Smith at Leeds United and it had been claimed that the pair could be reunited at Villa Park next season.

But O'Leary, who is currently planning for a summer spending spree, told www.avfc.co.uk: "I'm not even going to call Sir Alex about Alan Smith. He's a quality player and there's no way Manchester United will want to lose him this summer."

Who wants the first bit of real, bone fide transfer news?

We're not buying Smith

David O'Leary today dismissed reports that he is preparing a summer swoop for England striker Alan Smith.

The Villa boss managed Smith at Leeds United and it had been claimed that the pair could be reunited at Villa Park next season.

But O'Leary, who is currently planning for a summer spending spree, told www.avfc.co.uk: "I'm not even going to call Sir Alex about Alan Smith. He's a quality player and there's no way Manchester United will want to lose him this summer."

As for the question, remember the one manager that turned Bowyer into a consuistent performer.

If he was cheap enough and O'Leary could keep him on the straight and narrow, then maybe.

He can be good enough to walk into our first XI.

drat01: English (well, perhaps British and Irish or even British based) players tend to cost more than foreigners. It was more accentuated a few years ago, but its a price difference that does still exist.

That may well be the case but he's been in and out of the side for a year now and hasn't scored, his record is worse then Cole's. Theres a limit to how long I can keep justifying the inclusion of a striker who has never scored.

In terms of how many the front two have scored between them, then its not. I accept that he hasn't scored - although he obviously thinks that he has.

Luke Stakes A Claim

Luke v Pompey

Luke Moore showed the instincts of a top striker as he left Portsmouth claiming the goal that set Villa on the road to a 2-1 success.

The Young Lion, who turned 19 yesterday, certainly had a key role in the opening goal at Fratton Park, leaving the Pompey defence flat-footed with a surging run. But defender Arjan de Zeeuw clearly supplied the finishing touch.

Even so, Moore was staking a claim, telling www.avfc.co.uk: "I'm claiming it, of course I am. I'm not sure whether I'll get it, but I certainly put in all the work for the goal.

"Whoever gets the goal though, what matters is that we won and I feel I played my part.

"All I've been after is a run in the side and to start two matches on the trot is a real confidence booster.

"I think I link-up well with Juan and I'd love the chance to continue that partnership in the next game. This is my chance to stake a claim and I know I can do a job for the gaffer.

"I try to work hard whenever I get a chance and that hard work paid-off at Portsmouth with the first goal.

"It was an unbelievable feeling to see the ball go in and, even if I don't get credit for the goal, I won't forget that feeling."

Warms the heart that does.

I have a photo of Bosnich and Yorke enjoying each other ... intimately

We need a squad. This requires players.

The answer to the main question is 'no'

The question you wanted to ask was 'Has Carlton Cole played his last Premiership game for Aston Villa?'

And the answer may well be yes.

Luke Moore looked good on his own and in a partnership with Angel.

Vassell back by the start of March.

I was actually smiling when I saw Cole not on the bench. He is talented, very talented but it has become obvious that his mind is not right. Now that he's 'failed' at Villa, I can't see him trying to right that.

Gary neville

Oh, and Shaun Teale. But he's bought me beer.

surely a cult hero by defintion is one who is not that good but does something different that endears him to the crowd.

Alan Wright was a regular in our side for about as long as Ian Taylor, playing to a similar standard week in week out at the top end of the Premiership and was 5'4", bald as my nan and a top bloke.

And he got injured because he wanted to drive a sports car.

Alan Wright's another one.

Tommy Johnson

Ian Taylor

Savo

Chris Price

Tony Daley

players that weren't great players but were great Aston Villa players.

Think it simply shows how highly rated Cole was/is, and that there's something more psychological holding him back

I'm actually on the 'No' side.

We've heard from O'Leary that he's only after quality.

Other than Bellamy, there are very few players that would move clubs in the window that are also good enough.

Can't see much movement at all, barring a late flurry twoards the end.

funny that - how come you never disagree with JPA and 1982, you can tell us dont be sheepish

I have done. I will do again.

In this case, JPA has a point. And the main reason for the bigger crowds? The bigger team coming to play. Its not rocket science.

baaa!

I think with the big teams, the main extra draw is the big team and the smaller factors, such as TV, time of day, time of year get swamped by 4,000 people whose idea of football is prawn sarnies and the 2 yearly Engerland thing.

Not fans

But in the stands

The trick would be getting a percentage of them to return for Blackburn or Portsmouth. But this ain't going to happen.

You also get a small amount of people who want to 'face' the big 'mobs'. I don't see the appeal. Eg vs Oxford a few years back - half the Oxford 'fans' there were locals up for a fight.

And our attendences are 2-3,000 higher when United, Arsenal, Chelsea come calling.

Am also trying to see why people can't see that first game of a season isn't a bit of a draw as well.

What does anyone hope to gain from this thread ????

Nothing. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever will be.

I think ego's have been massaged

Hardly. JPA made a point that was exaggerated, but ultimately has more than a grain of truth in it.

I still think that its amazing that we do not have anything at the club that comemorates that day. By putting it towards that night, which was a fantastic night for the whole club, we as fans would be making a statement that we have great pride in the club.

Not even an official DVD of the match.

Which would sell a hell of a lot, if you ask me.