cyrusr

You don’t need a box. Now TV has an app so you should be OK - subject to paying the monthly subscription for it (can’t remember if they have a free trial or not though...).

Ghost have been announced as support Metallica at their arena dates in June next year (Manchester and London). If there was a more local show would definitely see - however Ghost are definitely the better live band and would prefer them to have a longer set list. However Ghost have announced a European Tour in February 2019 which has about a weeks gap suspiciously in the middle of the dates at the moment so maybe watch this space...

And you’ve got enslaved as well who are fantastic! Great double bill!

Welcome Dean! with the speed this was done and that he was in a job, reckon he was the only real name on the list. Not necessarily the biggest name on the list but definitely has a lot of credintials. My only concern is whether he has the ability to handle the pressure. If he can, he will be just fine! Pleased Terry is back also - will give the players a damn good hiding again for all the mistakes they make!

So, having read the majority of this thread, am I right in thinking either: a) we keep offering the job to lots of people; only for them to know us back instantly and tell the press everything; or b) no one knows anything and all the press/bookies are merely speculating? Personally I want [insert name here] as he will win games and get Villa promoted this season [hopefully in a good attacking style but that’s not a prerequisite].

Explanation as to why no appeal. Sorry - Birmingham Mail: He decided just to take it rather than run the risk of a longer ban.

I’ve plumped for Terry; however would be content with Henry, Flores, Rodgers, Arteta or most of the others. Why? He essentially won the Champions League with Chelsea. And the more I think about the difference between this season and last, the more I think we were good because of him and in spite of Bruce. Plus he can be an option if he was player/manager. We could also justify giving him a bigger wage. The inexperience doesn’t bother me so much, think he’s got the head for it. Bring in a good quality assistant/coach and he will be away. Yeah if Chelsea come calling he will go no question, but it will only happen if he is a success with us, and I’m alright with that! Rodgers - arrogant yes but don’t really care about that will be here to win and can deal with expectations (see Celtic & Liverpool). Not Mick McCarthy though - there’s only one benefit to him and that’s putting one in the hole! Given how quick the trigger has been pulled - I wonder if someone is ready to come in. There were noises that the DOF is nearly there as well - joint appointment anyone? Also I think this will show the true intentions of the new owners - if it is someone crazy good then we know they mean business.

No Jedinak in the back 4! Bunn?!! Oh and no wingers natural wingers on the wings #thereorthereabouts

Don’t forget Adomah to make it 2-3? Seriously though read that Weimann has scored 5 goals for them already this season; and yes it’s the same guy!

Surely a given that Weimann will score against us tomorrow?

OS Story: Bound to have a minimum fee clause but hopefully Jack will kick off proper this season now.

To be fair the FFP, reading the Birmingham Mail article which quotes the Times article (and thus avoiding the pay wall) they would have got a 6 point deduction as they were £7million down (works on a sliding scale apparently); its because they decided to try and sign the player over the summer when they shouldn't have that seems to be "an aggravating factor": Where Villa actually differ is that we appear to have been in open discussions with the EFL about it and decided not to try and go behind their backs...

He’s already here as he’s a Villa youth coach which is good because we need another right back! On Collins.... he will likely be better than Jedinak but meh. Could/should have done better - at least Terry would provide leadership and the extra wage would have been well earnt IMO. Not sure what else Collins will provide other than less chance of Jedinak playing CB...

I genuinely don’t think the position is any different than it was in the summer. He still has a significant minority holding, this was shares that were in essence issued in around May that have been bought back by the club for minimal finances and swallowed up, leaving it in a position we were all aware of at the time of the takeover; i.e. NSWE having majority but Xia still significantly involved. From his perspective he will likely be around until he can make his money back and that won’t be until we are promoted so I imagine we will still hear from him until then. With the sentiments towards him, he seemed to have good intentions, in hindsight he was wholly naive about it all.

Not as exciting as everyone thinks. If you look back at the transfers back in July, it confirms that 30,000,000 ordinary shares are held by NSWE; 24,545,454 ordinary shares by Recon Group Limited and 49,133,436 deferred shares owned by Recon Group Limited. This share purchase is for the deferred shares only. When taking out the deferred shares, NSWE have a 55% share; whilst Recon Group Limited has a 45% share (that is of 54,545,454 total shares). This would suggest to me that this transfer is simply consequential to the takeover generally rather than Tony being quietly bought out after the takeover. You can look at it via the Companies House Records of Recon Group UK Limited. Also given he is still referred to as Co-Chairman on "Who's who" I would suggest this means nothing has changed from the summer. The tweet from Tony remains as enigmatic as all his others though... perhaps something has happened but we won't know about it for a couple of weeks when it arrives at Companies House.

Why are SHA up in 6th?! Even by their standards they are having a pretty poor start to the season I thought? How do they work out the xG?

Which teams did you compare with which and have you done it as now? Always wary of that as form can play a significant factor in those stats, particularly early on in the season. I did it with the same teams, but replacing the best team respectively with the relegated ones, so Wigan=Barnsley; Blackburn=Burton Albion and Rotherham=Sunderland. I got last seasons as W5 D2 L0 and therefore 7 points worse off [apologies to the phone people - table will skew the screen I believe]: 2017/8 2018/9 Pts Diff Home Score Away Home Score Away Hull City 0–0 Aston Villa Hull City 1–3 Aston Villa +2 Aston Villa 3–1 Barnsley Aston Villa 3–2 Wigan Athletic 0 Ipswich Town 0–4 Aston Villa Ipswich Town 1–1 Aston Villa -2 Aston Villa 0–0 Brentford Aston Villa 2–2 Brentford 0 Aston Villa 3–0 Reading Aston Villa 1–1 Reading -2 Sheffield United 0-1 Aston Villa Sheffield United 4-1 Aston Villa -3 Burton Albion 0–4 Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers 1–1 Aston Villa -2 Total Points Difference -7 Agree entirely with the sentiment though, in comparison to the games last season against the same opponents, we are already behind far behind. I know there are arguments to say the relegated teams were dire last season, but actually its only the Blackburn result which is affected. Even then, over the over 6 games we are still 5 points down.

Don't forget at the time, there was not many alternatives and it certainly matched what we were looking for. He had just had another promotion and yes probably did hold their sway, however at that stage "money was no bar" and he could, and did, spend quite significantly. At the time it did make sense and whilst didn't necessarily send the heart racing, it was a sensible option to push for promotion and to go from there. I don't blame Xia for hiring him. With Bruce, I have tried to stay out of this topic, mainly because it goes round and round in circles. He lost me around this time last year with the poor start of the season. Whilst the players definitely improved, and to be fair to Bruce that could have been because of him, but at some points it still felt in spite of him. With most results, it felt that we were doggedly fighting for it rather than commanding games. In hindsight, it definitely seems that he was aiming for the playoffs rather than the automatics and he genuinely thought we could nick it against Fulham... Foolish and we all knew it. What is exceptionally troubling this season, is that he has had another window to sort out the problems. Yes, I appreciate that he may have had trouble to begin with regarding the finances but, IMO, that is fundamentally flawed. He would have had targets all along to bolster the squad and yet he has left a gaping hole in the centre of defence. Whilst it was nice to have Tuanzebe play in the centre for a change, it then showed our weakness at LB with Taylor. With both of these positions under-strength, particularly for an ex-defender manager, it is bordering on criminal. I don't think he had a "Plan B" for the summer should we not have been promoted and was relying on being able to keep Johnstone & Terry at the very least. To have let De Laet & Elphick go without cover coming in is unfathomable. Whilst Elphick has been suspect at times, De Laet has looked good, and would have been fantastic cover/competition. Attacking wise we seem to have improved but we are now unbalanced massively and it is costing us. Yes we may only have lost once in the league, we have had no clean sheets this season and that is really worrying. We have relied on individual brilliance rather than a tactical force. It is clear all the teams we have played have found us out and know how to stop us from winning. It simply isn't good enough to again lack a "Plan B" and the longer this goes on, the worse it is likely to get. The more it feels that Terry provided the leadership and strength at the back and to the squad generally. The logic to keep Bruce has been there right up to the end of the window, it would have been risky to get a new manager right at the start of the season but the logic is not there. We are struggling to win and it isn't the players, they are clearly amongst the best in the league and are under-performing. This to me leads to Bruce being the problem, he has looked more lost this season and the plug now probably should be pulled. I don't have the confidence of Bruce pulling it back, particularly without Terry to hold him up. Bruce's demeanour is like a man who is lost and out of ideas and steam. They won't sack him before Rotherham, but it will be curious what they will do following that game. Possibly costing up what Terry would want as a player/manager? Feelers out to Arteta/Henry or even Villas-Boas? Which ever way we go, it does now seem like the grass is definitely greener elsewhere.

Whilst I hope you are right, I am not as optimistic!

Subject to injuries/fitness etc. team I want: Nyland Elmo Chester Tuanzebe Hutton Whelan Grealish McGinn El Ghazi Abraham Kodjia Bench: Moreira, De Laet, Bjarnason, Hourihane, Bolasie, Adomah, RHM Team I expect: Nyland Tuanzebe Jedinak Chester Hutton Whelan Grealish McGinn Elmo Kodjia El Ghazi Bench: Moreira, Taylor, Bree, Bjarnasson, Hourihane, Adomah, Abraham Expecting a 1-0 win to be ground out like the dogged fighters we are and it is Blackburn after all...

So been listening to new Clutch album. Not necessarily as immediate as the last couple of albums but enjoying it a lot none the less! Clutch are always good fun, particularly when one of the songs is essentially a recipe for crab cakes...

Twitter spouts a lot of rubbish though... Are Celtic in the need of a CB? Genuinely don’t know. If they do, that might make sense but would be surprising if Dundee allowed them to directly strengthen.

I think he bought it out or something. Very peculiar thing to do right at the end of the window. Must have somewhere to go to...

And also he pushes Elmohamady back to RB and Axel takes Jedinaks position instead. At least then we have 3 “centre backs”. Could really be the difference between going up and not with the defence as it is... hoping for a damn good freebie!

When's his contract up? Don't think we shall see him in a Villa Shirt again, but good luck to the guy!