lee_av

Which is a very good point. I think the majority of fans on here, if not Villa fans full stop, would prefer to see Lerner 'win' this battle. We are told that negotiations have started again, and it's all looking good. Seeing as how swift Lerner and the Americans 'pulled out' last week, the quieter it gets, perhaps the better looking it is. Most Villa fans I know hav stated that they want the best man/men for the job. That does not necessarliy mean that would be Lerner.

Who said that Padfield would be running the club?

Why hopefully? Because I hope that this is all going to be resolved very soon and I believe that if one of the first two dont complete the other two will take much, much longer. I fear for us on the pitch if this is not resolved quickly. For the record I have no inside knowledge of any bid. And I haven't impressed by both Neville's and Padfield's comments to date. ... to date

if it drags on that long, you may be right. Big, big IF IMO As far as I'm concerned, if they are as serious as the others, then all the merrier, I'm not waving any flags here I believe that they are serious - very serious. So serious they are talking about joining together with another consortium? So serious they have not even spoken with the board? You may think they are serious but I think the people that matter don't. As I have said, they may be behind with their approach - does that mean that they are not serious?

I wrote a long answer, then deleted it, and was gonna say refer Martin Samuel's article in the Times a couple of weeks ago, then i thought, of an analogous situation Rich people from the UK buy run down Vineyards, or Villas in France, or Tuscany. They do so not because they want a semi derelict property somewhere abroad, but because they see themselves sat on a veranda in the sun, looking out over the sun setting behind the Olive trees, as crickets chirp. Perhaps drinking a glass of locally produced wine. They also have an eye that the value of the property could treble as "the area catches on". They've maybe read or heard of an early mover from their town who has taken the plunge. It's about a dream and an interest and the allure of a return on the investment. It's about being one step ahead of the crowd. But all that's just a dream and "maybe one day", then some documents from Rothschilds land on your doormat "For Sale, ancient property, scope for improvement, price reduced due to poor state of property, this type of offer doesn't come round often..." Then you look into it, find there's a cantankerous old scrote occupying the property, along with a few faithful retainers. You see that they can't manage to look after it properly, even though they like the prestige of being the owner of the Big House....." With experience in your own country of reviving a similar property, with money in the bank, who wouldn't be interested? Here ends the middle class analogy. Another Gin & Tonic, Cyril? Blandy, I respect your opnion, but there is only one club that has managed to buck the trend for investors in British Football, and that's Manure. We may be a play thing for all the groups involved, as long as they leave us in a better position that they took us over.

if it drags on that long, you may be right. Big, big IF IMO As far as I'm concerned, if they are as serious as the others, then all the merrier, I'm not waving any flags here IF??? Surely it is not going to be done tomorrow or Friday.....is it? Nope Fact or guess? educated guess

Why hopefully? Because I hope that this is all going to be resolved very soon and I believe that if one of the first two dont complete the other two will take much, much longer. I fear for us on the pitch if this is not resolved quickly. For the record I have no inside knowledge of any bid. FWIW, I think that the squad that we have can still compete, If, and its a big IF, O Neil is in place, in the short term. this could last until xmas, and if all conluded, we could invest in the interim at the Xmas window.

Who knows if they will join forces? Who's sucking up to Ellis? Beware of the comments as explained in the Forum rules reagrding individuals, includin said Journo And as for the Ellis comments - Rothchilds won't allow him

I believe that Neville needs Padfield more than the other way round - however, Neville has made friends with the "right" people and may have his uses for his "local" knowledge. As for Padfield, he is a front, and I would say that his occupation means nothing. Neville is now marginalised as far as a straight bid goes. He may however, still have a role to play. As for clueless - you can by expertise - ask Abramovich

IMHO it depends on the attitude of said chairman. If he is acting as Chairman of a PLC, he has no choice - that notional role maybe all he has left apart from the £20m in the bank

if it drags on that long, you may be right. Big, big IF IMO As far as I'm concerned, if they are as serious as the others, then all the merrier, I'm not waving any flags here IF??? Surely it is not going to be done tomorrow or Friday.....is it? Nope

Agree 100% thats the reason Padfield and Neville are joining together but they still wont be able to compete! Excuse the pun! :winkold: There is no basis in that at all

if it drags on that long, you may be right. Big, big IF IMO As far as I'm concerned, if they are as serious as the others, then all the merrier, I'm not waving any flags here I believe that they are serious - very serious.

We don't know who is behind the AV06 group - that's a huge assumption you are making.

Apparently it is AVo6 that wanted Laudrup and Jensen

It seems to be what he is saying. Either that or his bid isnt anywhere near ready, in which case he is too late. this isnt going on for much longer. Maybe - but the longer that this goes on the more catch up time is available

IMHO he is going to be disappointed then. He isnt playing with other shopkeepers anymore, some of these guys he is playing with are serious people Agreed, and the players know how to manipulate situations to their own ends - do they give a monkeys if Ellis is sitting in the stands as a notional Chairman and nothing else?

Why hopefully?

Well, exactly, which rather gives credence to the theory that this group are suddenly making alot of noise becasue they just realised they arent in the same league as lerner and Still (and mystery other). First there was this promise of player cash this morning, then this long interview tonight. if this goes the same as last week, I would say that what this interview tells me, above anything else, is that one of the real players is about to make a real move We will see, but personally this interview rather confirms my view that things are actually moving swiftly to a conclusion, just without Padfield or neville on board, and unsurprisingly they arent happy Totally totally agree Pete. It sounds like a public pleaing to us that because they are English we should back them when the truth is they siimply cannot compete with the big boys. Who are these big boys when you don't even know the backers of Stills or AV06 yet.

Agree. The fact that they are thinking of joining forces at this stage surely blows away any credibility they had as bidders. If they both had strong bids and were confident they could seriously challenge for ownership, joining up would be the last thing they would do. A very odd announcement IMHO. Seems amateurish on their part. If I was winning the league as a manager by 20 points and had to buy a player that could guarantee it, and had the no how and money, I would do it. Wouldn't you? that was a crap analogy, but I'm sure you will get the drift

You may be right, but as I asked earlier, why all the noise?[/quote They may be beind the other bids in time frames. If this drags into next week, they could possibly catch up.

IMO any consortium who would allow Ellis to retain any power and/or shares going forward are as welcome at Villa Park as a dose of the clap. AVO6 can **** off if this is an option they would consider. Padfield sounds like a clearing in the woods who has absolutely no knowledge of the club or its fans. And lerner does - give me a break. Ellis may be left with a token holding, who gives a **** if we are competing on a European stage

PP IMO, I think that they are behind time wise, but they could be serious players if required. Only time will tell

Well, exactly, which rather gives credence to the theory that this group are suddenly making alot of noise becasue they just realised they arent in the same league as lerner and Still (and mystery other). Are you sure about that?

Whatever the takeover, Doug will be marginalised - I've heard that he is resigned to that fact anyway - obviously he will not want to give it all up - it's his life blood.