Gizmo

Yeah. I vote for the "Get William to Villa Park" campaign. He's a definite Villa fan - he's said as much numerous times. Randy and the General need to give him a formal invitation!

I don't think Darren Bent can keep Charlton up.

The only realistic chance of survival they have is cashing in on their only valuable asset and use the money to get a few cheaper players that might keep them up.

I'm not saying Villa should get Darren Bent (they might not even want him) but in my opinion, Charlton seriously need to consider selling him.

Hello General...

I have two questions that have been bugging me for a while. To be honest I'm not expecting anything other than a diplomat response but it's worth a go.

Question 1: When Randy was looking to buy the club he had a meeting with Mr Ellis. It was reported at the time that Randy pulled out of the deal because Doug said something that upset him? Is there any truth in this?

Question 2: When us Villa fans thought that Randy had walked away because of the incident mentioned in question 1, a lot of us sent letters and emails to Randy via the Cleveland Browns and via the Cleveland local media. Did Randy ever get to see any of the many emails and letters that were sent to him?

I'm just curious really. Coz I'm nosy.

Merry Christmas by the way...

I am interested to find out why so many people think we are going to get Milner in January?

They didnt want to sell him to us in August, and since then they have endured an injury list like no other - which got even worse last night with N'Zogbia being stretcherd off.

Why would they sell him now?

I'm thinking the same thing now. Depends how much Villa want him I guess.

Matt Murray signing a contract last week was to ensure Wolves get their moneys worth when he goes. That's all.

Still, we don't need a keeper yet.

Roughly translated, Nugent meant.

"In all honesty I'd much rather be playing for a big club in the Premiership. But I'd better say nice things about my current club in case the big club don't manage to agree a deal in January... Coz I'm clever like that... and my agent told me to."

James Milner said much the same thing the other week.

Are you suggesting Milner is NOT currently playing for a big club in the Premiership Ooh I am a devil

I chose my words very carefully

Roughly translated, Nugent meant.

"In all honesty I'd much rather be playing for a big club in the Premiership. But I'd better say nice things about my current club in case the big club don't manage to agree a deal in January... Coz I'm clever like that... and my agent told me to."

James Milner said much the same thing the other week.

Amazing, we are on the up and have millions to spend, yet people rave

about average Championship-players. What are your ambitions?

Gera, Koumas etc.... players who would never play for Everton and West Ham.

Randy Lerner has millions to spend. It shouldn't be automatically assumed that Villa have millions to spend.

One would presume that if we're going to pay a lot of money for a player, the club who is selling the player will want it done quickly so they can spend the proceeds.

So maybe... just maybe it'll be done at the start of January - not midnight on the 31st.

I heard a rumour that Villa were buying Saviola last August. Keep it to yourselves though...

I'd rather have Bent than Heskey and Martins.

£15M is probably a decent estimate of Bent's value unfortunately. Depending on how long his contract has left.

Funniest thing I heard in ages was Tony Butler reading out a text message from Isaac Hunt on his show the other night.

(I'm easily amused)

I believe we will try to sign some players.

I believe we will be partially successful.

Tell you the truth I wish we did hear a few words from Randy. Nothing spectacular... just a 'hello'. But there you go. I guess we'll save that for when we win the European cup.

Well alright... maybe not tapping up as such.

But it's almost unheard of for Club X to publicly say they want to buy Club Y's player without Club Y getting irate about it.

Unless, Club Y have accepted that it's gonna happen and therefore don't mind.

If Mourinho said on Sky Sports News tomorrow, I think Agbonlahor's great, has loads of potential and I really want him to play for Chelsea, we wouldn't be too pleased would we? It's unsettling for a player and seriously frowned upon.

General... have you learnt the Villa songs yet? Do you wander round all day whistling the Gabby Ag-Bon-La-Hor tune like I do?

(Some light hearted questions for a change)

Must just be me then... Oh well...

General... have you learnt the Villa songs yet? Do you wander round all day whistling the Gabby Ag-Bon-La-Hor tune like I do?

(Some light hearted questions for a change)

Villa boss O'Neill: We'll try for Newcastle's Milner

tribalfooball.com - November 27, 2006

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill admits he will try again for Newcastle winger James Milner in January.

"We will be striving in January to try to improve the team," O'Neill said. "We do need to strengthen if you are going to compete. The chairman (Randy Lerner) wants to do that.

'I don't think he wants Villa to be under-achievers and wants to have a go.

'I'm not so sure at the moment if we are in the market for the very best players in the world. That's a different issue.

"But are we going to try to improve the team? Absolutely. And yes, James Milner has been a target of mine in the past and I would like to see him at Villa Park."

Hardly suprising is it - id take him now....

Never seen a clearer case of tapping up in my life. If O'Neill said that and Newcastle haven't complained... it must be pretty much a done deal.

he has scored today for Lyon against Madrid in the CL and still the only team with a 100% record, why would he leave them ?

Because he has an agent. If his agent says he'll make more money in England, he'll go. Just like the rest of 'em.

The fact that the General is taking time out to talk to us lot when he almost certainly has better things to do is mind boggling enough.

But to learn he's doing it for free makes it that bit more amazing.

I must admit my first thoughts were that the general was coming here and saying all these nice things because RAL's PR department have told him to (no offence Mr Krulak).

But I am changing my mind now.

He will not put a kit on the players that has not been on the Villa pitch before...

Well can you ask him really nicely to avoid the stripey one that they wore in 93/94. Thanks

RE the smoking thing... It's banned next year anyway. There'll be no smoking in the concourse whether anybody likes it or not.

(The spoilsports)

While we're asking questions to the General....

Is the board planning on hiring someone to run the club day-to-day? A Chief Executive if you like.

Or are you/Steve Stride taking on that role?

Unbelievable scenes!

I've just been reading back over the takeover thread (Sticky) and Randy Lerner first seemed to get mentioned around 20th July (page 160-170 of that thread). Everyone's rightful scepticism on here about the Neville bid and the whole saga makes for amusing reading now. Only 3 months later and Ellis has gone, we have MON as manager, we're playing decent football and there's not an ounce of negativity. I'll echo everyone's thanks to Randy and Chuck and the team for re-igniting my Villa pride. Here's to the future of Aston Villa FC!

Dicky Plums.

I read the entire Takeover thread last week. It took a whole 'working' day but it perfectly illustrates the ups and downs of being a Villa fan.

Literally every single day since the 'Players statement', there's been good news out of Villa Park.

And to think I almost cried with sadness the day I renewed my Season Ticket in May.