Gizmo

The theme tune to Jamie and his magic torch

General, could you tell us who exactly is involved in negotiating with potential new players? I mean the people that are tasked with 'selling' the club to the player. Clearly Martin O'Neill is in the meetings but who else? Richard Fitzgerald? Randy Lerner? Yourself? The other directors? All of the above?

Ok General. Us Villa fans have drawn a blank so now it's your turn to hopefully come to the rescue. When the players run out on to the pitch there is a short brass fanfare tune played (after the 5-4-3-2-1 Thunderbirds countdown). Like many people, I'd really like to know what this tune is. Was it made specifically for the club? Is it part of another piece of music? Is there anywhere where we might be able to download the music? Obviously I'm not expecting you to know the answer off the top of your head but who better to find out for us?! I'd also like to point out that if it were available as a ringtone via the website (or licensed to an existing ringtone provider) i'm sure it would be popular. If you don't know the answers, but you know who best to contact, please let me know. Cheers.

No. In the years that they were in the Prem, the first thing I did when the fixtures were out was look for Blues V Villa. I miss the derbies. Or at least I miss the build up to the derbies anyway.

General, The other day, Prince William was watching England play Rugby (as seen on TV). Obviously the man has nothing to do at weekends... Any chance you could see if he's available to visit Villa Park so that he can watch a REAL game or two? It's gotta be worth getting your people to at least ask his people. More valuable exposure for the Villa, I would imagine.

Ah now you might have hit the nail on the head, nice post etc etc. If you look at O'Neill's signings Petrov, Sutton, Agathe, and possibly Mahoney were all known to him from Celtic. He says that he has been following Carew's career since his days at Celtic so he's had him on his list for some time. Young well I'd guess if you are looking for a young attacking winder he must top anyone's list Doesn't suggest to me that O'Neill has managed to improve the scouting within the club too much as yet in comparison to other clubs. It could also suggest.............. no I won't go there too inflammatory Inflammatory? You? Never! If he has first hand experience of a player it's a million times better than getting a report from a scout. Buying good players that he is familiar with is FAR from a weakness.

Exactly. The press make stuff up because they don't what's really happening. I don't recall reading about Nobby Solano's imminent arrival a couple of years ago. I wouldn't mind another one of them.

Why not? the press would know. Perhaps Villa have decided not to tell the world's media that they are secretly trying to buy a player? No offence mate but you've said about 100 times on this very thread that we're not going to sign anyone and you have so far been wrong every time. I hope you're wrong again.

Why not?

We were winning until the last minute. It was the replay that saw our usual capitulation. Oh yeah. I remember now. Still... at least we were able to concentrate on the league form!

Well it made me laugh. Jamaican-Villan. The fact that we stayed level till the last minute IS by our recent standards... a cup run.

Here, here. In the upper Holte it's quicker than I ever thought it could be.

MON didn't say that he wouldn't go after him again... He said he never went after him in the first place. He basically said that Saviola was over rated and crap now. Normally I don't believe a word managers say about transfers but on this occasion, I think he was telling the truth. So even if Saviola is up for grabs, he ain't coming here.

They actually said "Sign up two players" Then they ran the McCann and Mellberg story. Haha Sky... that's funny.

He WAS shit in the Champions League final. And the World Cup. Not good enough for the new Villa.

No more signings this season and we COULD challenge for Europe.

Maybe he needs an extra badge to be in the champions league. And he's anticipating using it soon?

Just because someone plays/has played in Scotland, it doesn't mean they're shit.

If Young or SWP or any of the others turn out to be stars then £10 million is a bargain. You just never really know. I'm sure if Arsenal had bought Henry for £10 million years ago, people would have thought they were mad. It's not our money to spend really. If the clubs think player X is worth £10 million, that's up to them.

The newspapers don't get their info from the agents. They get it from their arse! At least 99.9% of it anyway.

Incidentally, I'm on your side Broomy, about patience. I'm just saying that if Randy wants to pay more than a player is worth, that's his decision, not mine/ours. Technically, if he didn't want to buy anybody at all, it's his decision.

Actually £40 to me is significantly more than 2 million to Randy Lerner.

Why though?. Just because fans are desperate for a signing. No. Because we need a right winger. Supposing hypothetically, MON said he really wants SWP but he's really only worth 6 million. But Chelsea would only sell him for 8, Randy might think the extra money was worth it. It's got bugger all to do with appeasing fans. As an example of what I mean, before christmas I needed to buy a printer for a present. I knew that if I went to a shop that was an hour away, I could get it for £40 less. But because I needed it and didn't have time to go to the cheaper shop, I bought it for £40 more than it was worth in the local shop. Supply n demand. Big difference in £40 and a couple of million tho isnt there Not really. £40 to me is the same as 2 million to Randy Lerner.

Why though?. Just because fans are desperate for a signing. No. Because we need a right winger. Supposing hypothetically, MON said he really wants SWP but he's really only worth 6 million. But Chelsea would only sell him for 8, Randy might think the extra money was worth it. It's got bugger all to do with appeasing fans. As an example of what I mean, before christmas I needed to buy a printer for a present. I knew that if I went to a shop that was an hour away, I could get it for £40 less. But because I needed it and didn't have time to go to the cheaper shop, I bought it for £40 more than it was worth in the local shop. Supply n demand.

Yes, because we'll end up like Chelsea who have to pay over the top for every player they want as other clubs know they've got loads and loads of cash. And that's no way to run a football club in the long term, imo. I'm not suggesting we do it for every player. But the occasional one wouldn't hurt. There's no way Randy would do it for every player anyway. Like I said, he's a business man.