steell

Oh dear.

Anyway, I'd be happy to give OGS a go. Just what we need and maybe only what we can get.

Still hope it doesn't happen, only because that gobshite ITK on Twitter would be correct.

He won't be very far away from where Martin Laursen is currently managing either :!:

Here's where I'm at. I think we all read far too much into betting odds, media speculation and bell-end ITK's, the reality - which barely needs pointing out but plainly does - is that there is only one man who is going to make this decision and that man doesn't speak to the media, the bookies and isn't chatting down the pub to some ITK's sister's best friends hamster. Unless you can read RL's mind then you are not 'in the know'. It's just a fact that Villa now works a bit differently and whilst it's frustrating for us fans, the only way that we're going to get a whiff of who the new manager is is when and if that manager (or their chairman) leaks something out before the official announcement, a la McLeish.

With that reality in mind, I suspect that the real 'manager search' process is much closer to RL having his own opinion, listening to the opinions of others and then drawing up a wish list and asking PF to go through the process of approaching the clubs and individuals on it.

If that is true then I think Lambert, Martinez and Rodgers will all say no to us. I know some will get uppity about that but they're all managing clubs on the up (or seemingly so) and why would they give that up to come to a club that is genuinely struggling (unless they were being promised a big cash pot which they're clearly not going to get from RL - it would make no sense of the post-MON regime approach to a sustainable financial strategy)? I think we are then left with a lower league manager, or a foreign manager who wants to manage in the Premier league. This leaves me to think that Poyet is the outstanding candidate from outside the PL and then the possibility of the likes of Rijkard, AVB, Solskjar, etc come into play if we are to look abroad.

All that to say, I'm therefore ITK and Gus Poyet will be announced the new Villa manager at a 4:15pm press conference tomorrow afternoon (there will be 4 chairs and a pallet of Macron purple shirts in the background).

it's clear some wealthy individuals are having a laugh to make some money during a quiet period.

Someone's ramped it up on McCarthy and will probably make a few quid and then bugger of when normal service is resumed. Talk sport are reacting to the odds changing but have amazingly forgotten to mention this possiblity.

Place a bet on a long odds manager to shorten the odds. When his price comes in lay him big time and make a load of dosh from unsuspecting punters who think there's a bit of insider going on.

i.e

McCarthy stars the day at 20/1 so you bet £1,000 on him = potential win of £20,000 if hes appointed.

this bet (and possibly others involved too) result in his odds shortening to say 5/1.

At this point in time you lay McCarthy for £2,000 and 5/1 and if he's not appointed you get £2,000.

Overall, if McCarthy is appointed you get a profit of £18,000 (but that's the long shot).

if he's not appointed you're still up by £1,000 (your £2,000 from the lay less your origingal stake on McCarthy when he was 20/1).

The risk is whether the odds shorten. McCarthy's odds will now no doubt start to slide out once all the pro gamblers have finished.

End of Story!

That makes no sense. And thats why I don't bet!

Also, don't know if it's been mentioned, but does anyone else wonder if AM was always just a temporary appointment because another, first choice manager had told Lerner to wait until next season? It'd make sense of the amazing risk RL took on AM.

I'm surprised that Hoddle's name hasn't been more closely linked. I have a hunch he might throw his name in the hat.

Poyet. Ticks all the boxes for me. Anyone who thinks we'll be getting any current prem manager or even one from the top flight abroad is kidding themselves. This job is a poisened chalice for anyone who has managed above us this season and that's why I think a hungry young manager is the best route. Rodgers, Lambert have shown that it's possible to transfer good championship management into positive premiership leadership. Get Poyet, while still can.

Why is Ireland playing so deep?? Unless we get N'Zogbia comes on Ireland is the only player who is going to do any damage to this Stoke team, as shown with the goal, so why is he sitting in front of the back 4??

The guy gets slagged off for being too defensive and when he goes for a more attacking line up people are saying we're going to get over run in midfield. Brilliant.

I reckon we'll do well today, Bent will be helped by Keane and Gabby can stay out wide and Marcis due a good game. I've never been as negative about Dunne and Collins, who I think are good CB's, they've just had to deal with far to many balls into the box and dropping Warnock will help today. Just wish Cuellar was there instead of Hutton.

Much better yesterday, in my opinion he's the ONE player that could be the make or break of our season, the departure of Young and Downing could prove truly disastrous if he fails to play to his potential. There was one cross from the left yesterday that was as good as anything Downing or Young ever did - he just needs to do it more often than once a game!

I think its the typical AM tactic, score and hold on to it.

Yeah, I suspect that's exactly what he's saying to them now.

I'm being sarcastic.

That was a funny half for us. In the final third we looked excellent, some lovely touches and good vision, Bannan has been very good there. However we haven't been in the final third anywhere near enough. In the middle of the pitch we're almost invisible. We've defended pretty well though.

Hard to say how this is going to work out - we're nearly playing some good stuff and nearly playing shite, it's too close to call! Hope he doesn't drag Zoggy off to soon, I think there's space there that he could exploit, he needs to get his confidence up.

Bent, signed from Sunderland for £24million in January, has netted just once in four league games although he is confident Villa will rediscover their free-scoring touch.

"It has been quite a good, solid start - especially for the manager who was under a lot of pressure," he said. "We are defending well and working well as a team but we need to find a balance.

"We have to find the right formation for the team to be solid and offensive. The gaffer is looking at different alternatives and hopefully it will work.

"It is about finding a system where we are a lot more dangerous and potent.

"When you are a striker you are used to scoring left, right and centre and when the ball is not coming and you are not getting as many opportunities it is going to play on your mind.

"You are going to get frustrated but I am a team player and as long as the team is doing well I won't grumble."

The media do my head in, the opening line of the story about Gabby I read this week talked about Gabby being on fire after scoring 2 in 4 games, yet here when they want to imply that Bent's been poor they quote he's only scored 1 in 4!

We were poor but I think there were some moments that showed some hope. I thought Delph was OK, surprised that he's had so much grief on here, he is going to be an important player for us - he certainly wasn't any worse than Bannan in the second half but he seems to be the latest 'golden boy' whilst Delph is turning into the scapegoat.

I honestly think that we'll get better than this, we're a very young team that is still bedding in, we've got the players and we're still unbeaten.

Doesn't sound like Makoun is grabbing the opportunity tonight - all the mentions are of Bannan and Ireland, if he gets subbed in this game it could be curtains for him.

Getting rid of the one quick thinking one touch midfielder we have seems mental to me. Offer them Petrov FFS. He's had one good game and now he's suddenly captain marvel instead of a lead legged crab

Someone on another forum said let Makoun go and bring Parker in ...

So, let a 28 year old on no more than 30k a week and with champions league experience go for peanuts, and bring in a journeyman pro who'll be 31 in October, cost around 6-7m and command 60k a week wages

BRILLIANT business!

That would almost rival Doug's let free agent Carbone go and sign Ginola for 3m and on a lot more lolly fiasco

Or the best player in the Premiership last year - funny how people see things differently.

Behind Bannan, Petrov, Delph and Ireland IMO. If we can replace him with Parker then I'll be very happy. Sorry but anyone who says he's class and 'our best midfielder' based ON WHAT HE'S DONE IN A VILLA SHIRT, is sadly deluded.

I think he's a good player. People were raving about him for the first few months he was here claiming he was an absolute bargain, similarly with Dunne. I can't see any reason why he can't play like that again, he's coming in to his prime and had an excellent game against Blackburn.

^^^And that's my point. I don't think a single Villa midfielder has been linked with any other team - because they're not good enough. RL needs to manage the wage bill fair enough, but that has to balanced with finishing several places higher, higher attendances, sales of shirts, etc. We NEED another CM player, otherwise keeper, defence and strikers will all fail to do their tasks to the ability they can.

I've said it before but I can't understand why CM hasn't been the absolute priority this close season. Anyone could see last year that despite having two very good wingers, that two of the best teams in the league paid out nearly £40m for, we still scraped to 9th place - the real problem was a very lightweight and poor central midfield. I'm happy that N'Zogbia and Albrighton can provide balls from the wings that will be quality but if we're overrun in the middle it won't make the slightest bit of difference. Our defence could be world class but with no protection in front of them they're always going to ship goals. We MUST get the midfield sorted.

It's just possible that the head case that is Ireland could come good, Makoun is actually half as good as some on here think (I'm from the 'say it as you see it' rather than 'I'm a football expert and if you can't see that he's world class then you're an idiot' brigade - IMO he's not going to cut it in the Premier League, he's been less effective than Sidwell so far) or Bannan really steps up BUT if I was manager I'd be absolutely pleading with RL to bring in some KNOWN quality. Parker is the outstanding candidate for me, but even Barton (gulp) would improve us.

Last piece of the jigsaw for me and if we did get Parker I think that he'd make more of a difference than just one player. We've never had a decent 'spine' as a team over the last few years, just when we had a class central midfielder in Milner, we didn't have a decent CF, when we sorted that out with Bent we lost Milner. Given, Collins, Parker, Bent looks good enough for me.

Not starting today. My guess is he's not impressing AM so far.

I'm not being funny but if we got Parker in as well, we'd have a better first XI then MON ever assembled - the kids have come good, a world class keeper, an explosive and consistent winger and player of the season last year (and making a PROFIT on player sales!)

We're still thin on the ground but this is an exciting team:

Given

Young Dunne Collins Warnock

Albrighton Parker Petrov N'Zogbia

Ireland

Bent

His facial expressions are hilarious.

Glad to finally have him on board.

One of those pics seriously looks like someone's holding a gun to the back of his head saying 'just hold up the shirt and smile'.

So maybe the General has found a use at VP!

Along with Bent I think this is the most exciting signing in the last 10 years IMO. We've done well with unproven and inexperienced younger players (Milner, Barry, Young) but rarely have we captured a good experienced player who is on the up - you won't find a genuine football fan, manager or pundit who doesn't think this is a great bit of business. Welcome Charles!

Chill Winston. It's done.