steell

Surprised people thought he was very good today. Must watch the game again, for me he was OK, nothing more and still wouldn't be in my starting XI.

The nearest player we're going to get to Milner on his day. Come on Stevie, get your shit together and we'll worship you (and then sell you to a top four club next summer!)

But sadly the purveyor of said newsagents knows that his newspapers may be better than the newspapers in other outlets, and also knows you just sold your best newspaper before entering his shop :winkold: I think a fairer example is: a football club owner sees a rival club sell two players for nearly £40m, they own a player who they believe to be as good as either of those players so reconsiders his valuation of his player. It's not particularly greedy or unfair of WAFC in my opinion, just exactly waht we did to Liverpool (how many times did I read 'if they paid £20m for Henderson then Downing must be worth £40M!!") Just pay the sodding £10m, IMO he'd be a steal at the price.

How about we pay them £9m and then further instalments of £10 each time he throws a strop. On second thoughts, let's just pay the £10m.

Sorry if it's been said but surely there's an obvious link in making Heskey part of this deal?! It would be perfect for us, £9m plus Heskey means we get the wage bill down a bit, lose some dead wood and they get a player they like.

If we had money and RL was still investing then let him go but we're not in that position so we need to grow up a bit and move on. IF he's up for it then he's good enough for us, he put in a few excellent performances for us and several decent ones, for me that's proof that he is capable. If he and Ireland can play to their potential then that will be very good news for us.

All the talk seems to be that he's the option we'll go for should we get the offer from Liverpool for SD, so if we accept their increased offer but Whelan sells N'Zogbia to a higher bidder then I think we're really up the creek.

I have a hunch that Whelan went on the offensive the other day because he's a wily old bugger and wants to start a bidding war. I reckon we and others have put a bid in and he's stalling until he's convinced that others won't come in with a better offer. If that is the case I don't think we'll get him, because ironically Liverpool unsettling Downing and us standing firm means that neither Zog or SD will end up playing for Villa next season. And that is bad news.

I've never got as emotionally attached to the players like some on here so I couldn't give a toss what he says, wears or looks like, I just want him to play well for my team (let's face it the players have consistently shown a lack of loyalty and disrespect for the fans for decades now, maybe we need to treat them more as assets and less as heroes). With that in mind I'm quite excited about Ireland this season, I'm glad he's staying and saying that he wants to give it his best - genuinely as good as a new signing if he does do this.

@carroll9andy

Eh? They're both saying the same thing!!

Could it be a very clever marketing viral by Lucozade??

The picture which has been uploaded to the world by the media with Stewart and I in it is not genuine! #LFC #AVFC Just tweeted by Carrol

It's not a fake but it proves nothing. Some people going over the top here. By all accounts Downing is a good lad and whether he's off or not, we all do stupid things we regret - especially on holiday after having a few. Reality is this, if Kenny wants him and meets Randy's valuation then he's gone, simple as. Players will chose Liverpool over Villa for as many years as it takes Villa to prove that they are a bigger club - and quite honestly we're not giving out signs that we're heading that way anytime soon. Get over it. I'd like him to stay just as I wanted Platt, Yorke, Bosnich, Barry, Milner and Young to. It's not so much can we keep him but more who can we get to replace him for me and N'zogbia would be a good start.

Maybe they meant 7pm, Eastern Central Time.

Ok chaps, Mcliesh is unveiled as manager and in the weeks that follow the signings of Dann, Foster, Adams and N'zogbia are announced and Downing commits to stay. How do you feel and what would your expectations be for the season?

You gotta say, if he takes the job he's either stupid or has balls the size of melons. In many ways just the courage to accept the challenge says a lot about his character. I've always been taught that when employing someone you should ensure they have Competency, Character and Chemistry. Randy's convinced he's got the chemistry to work with his chairman, I'm beginning to see he has the character so that just leaves competency.....

Smells of bullshit on twitter - apparently the story broke on Capital FM! As an ex-Londoner, Capital wouldn't report it if Alex Ferguson joined Villa, inbetween playing Adele and TAke That, it's difficult to imagine them talking about our situation. Made up story.

If only. It'll be 100+ standing round in the rain looking sheepish, whilst Sky interview ASBO from Erdington telling the world how 'we was better off under Ellis' and 'why didn't we bovver getting Mourinho?' Can't wait.

No, that's not far off from the truth. Cheryl Cole is nothing special. I wouldn't even say she's that good looking to be honest. Yeah, what a munter:

That is ironic.

"Watching #BCFC & #AVFC fighting over Alex #McLeish is like watching Cheryl Cole & kelly Brook fight over Luke Chadwick.....Ridiculous" Cheryl Cole and Anne Widdecombe more like.

Does it mean Nigel Spink and Tony Daley will be back? There's a funny thought. It'd make a bit more sense of that stupid song we sing.

Brilliant article in the Daily Mail, never thought I'd say that, but Moxley has absolutely nailed it - can't stand the man but in fairness it's the best piece I've read on the matter.

I might be clutching at straws here but does anybody think that AM might turn down the job? He may be holed up in Corsica but he'll no doubt be aware of the fans reaction. If the vibe was 'I'd rather not have the blues' manager but he's done brilliant for them so let's bring it on' but the fact that he's genuinely not wanted by the fans might just put him off. He seems like a sensible man, he might just realise he's on a hiding to nothing. This is NOTHING like Saunders going to them, I wish the media would stop using that as some kind of comparison (or 'Arry to Portsmouth for that matter), this is a manager who is universally unwanted by the very people who can make or break his career. Like I've said before, he'll get my full support IF he comes but so would Robbie Savage (shudders at the thought). BUT can you picture the scene: AM walking down the touchline at VP on the opening game of the season...muted applause from the optimists, silence from the majority and boos from the mentalists...strange atmosphere for the opening moments of the game...then the opposition score - oh shit, can you imagine it??