ozvillafan

That's 70k for being bald, basically. I'll take some of that ;-)

Source?

Wow. Great video. Loved the lion roaring effect. Sensational.

And this is what I said earlier. We're now meant to be happy because our owner MIGHT have a plan to take us back to a level that we were at under our previous owner, which we deemed unacceptable. The same could also be said about what you posted above. You have a disturbing habit of picking odd sentences out of context to try and prove a point. Might have a plan? These deductions are based on what we are seeing on the pitch, in our transfer targets under Lambert and our financial results. If you have an alternate view on these events, you are free to voice them. And I never mentioned that we should be happy - you made that one up. Neither did I claim that these plans put us back to where we were under Doug - you made that one up too. It might be a good idea to be a little more objective and a little less dismissive when responding to others views.

Competing for places is not what Bent wants to do at 28 years of age - he wants regular football. A fit Benteke would always get the nod over Bent. It's not a tenable situation.

I work for a company whose owner lives in France and only makes the odd appearance here down-under (our head office). Yet he's still the owner and as committed as ever. I know football is an unusual business, but business owners that aren't always "there" isn't strange.

Bannan is a luxury we cannot afford in our squad. His defensive frailty means he needs to be creating a whole lot more than he has been to be considered before the likes of Westwood, Delph, Sylla, KEA, Holman and even Gardener. He has had ample opportunity. I think a move away is his best bet - and ours.

I think he's a victim of the manager merry-go-round that has been Villa Park over his time here. Signed by Houllier with delivery coming from Young and Downing, he was exactly what we needed - a "fox in the box" that could put away the opportunities. That changed when Young and Downing left and McLeish played anti-football and changed again with Lambert's more "work for the team" ethic, meaning he had to create as much as he received. Good player and, in the right system, a prolific one. We didn't make the best use of him over the last 2 years, but I think a move away is the best thing for him and us.

Our wage bill is currently 7th highest, despite dropping 13mill from last season. Over the last 3 seasons we have seen finishes of 9th, 17th and 15th. Clearly we are not getting the return we should be. So what is good business practice? Throw more money at the problem in the hope that it solves itself? Or reign back expenses till it is more in line with results and then build from there? Both options have their own risks - financial ruin in option 1 and reduced revenue in option 2 if we drop out of the league - but it is obvious we cannot compete with the likes of Citeh, Chelski and ManUre in wages and transfer amounts. So how, then, do we compete? It is obvious that Randy has decided on a new course by building on youth from within our own academy and from the lower leagues both in England and abroad. He has picked a manager that can build a club this way and backed him with 20mill. Despite spending the majority of the season in the drop zone and turning in some truly abysmal performances, we finished higher than last season. A watershed season in many posters eyes, with most agreeing that we are on the up after a torrid few years. So where does Randy fit in this? Most see him as losing interest. Others see him setting up the club to sell. Both of these may be true, but they appear to be based on nothing more than gut feeling and rumour as Randy is not one to blab everything to the press. What we do know is that he has backed his managers every season. Certainly not with the amounts we see from the top 4 clubs, but backed nevertheless. He has allowed the manager to do his job, which includes scouting the players he wants. He has provided the infrastructure needed both within the club and the training grounds. As such, I'm not convinced that Randy deserves some of the hate shown in this thread. Certainly he is not above criticism and he has made mistakes - but what I see is someone who is learning from those mistakes and has a plan in place to grow the club (albeit a different plan from when he first arrived) which, after a difficult season, I think has laid the foundations for success.

Apparently he was part of the "poison in the dressing room" along with a few others - a rumour that is backed up by his drunken rant with Collins at a day off under Houllier. Couple that with his recent injuries and it's a no brainer to let him go.

Out of the top 4, only Arsenal have an unchanged manager. This is good news for the rest of the competition, as I suspect one of them will fall below expectations next season. That means a closer competition at the top, which (I hope) means a closing of the gap to the rest of us. Villa? Assuming: - we keep our important players, AND - we rid ourselves of overpayed bench warmers, AND - we are as successful in the transfer market as we were in the season past then I see us finishing top half, but short of Europe.

I'm not sure I can dismiss experience so easily. It probably applies more to foreign players than anyone else. They need to settle, get used to the league's pace and style and it's day-to-day routine. To say that means nothing is a little too over simplified, for mine.

I noticed that during the game and was disappointed too. Not much to take from this game - both clubs were at the beach already. We could use some strengthening defensively and we have to work on our set pieces. Most of the corners, free kicks and even throw-ins were just pub level stuff.

He doesn't score boring ones, does he? A finish any striker would be proud of. Top stuff.

He's now been suspended for his comments. That doesn't necessarily mean he is going to Everton.... ... but he's not likely to stay where he is now.

Seriously? So firing McLeish and hiring Lambert was not an indicator of improved decision making? So lowering our ridiculous wage bill does not show that Lerner has learned from past mistakes? So making 20mill available to Lambert shows he's no longer interested? Next you'll be touting that we were better off under Doug.

To say there has been no improvement in the defense is to overlook how much we have improved from set pieces. Ok - it's not much, but it was a problem area and it was addressed. I suspect our defence will get more attention in the off season - including a new signing or 2.

That’s a bit of an over statement. How many results can you tell me from 1932-33 season, or the 1892-3 season? or the 1986-7 season. You mean it was the most embarrassing in my memory. 8-0 is our worst defeat in the PL era, if not ever (anybody help me with that one?). That would make it our most embarrassing defeat.

The job has only just started for Lambert. Having survived a season where many "experienced" high earners were not used, he needs to bolster the team in the summer. The upside is that his existing squad will get better next year just for the experience they had this season and many of those aforementioned high earners are coming off contract. Should make an interesting summer.

Just saw the highlights of the Arsenal - Wigan game, a game Wigan had to win. Makes me appreciate Guzan even more given our lowly position for most of the season. Thanks, Brad!

The biggest indicator of Bannan's influence on the first team is how well we have done lately without him in the side. I'm not a Bannan hater, but I don't think he fits into Lambert's plans/style/formations. Squad player at best.

Lee Hendrie and Alpay. At least that way people will stop linking them in the "worst villa team ever" thread

There are some positives to take from this season and things (potentially) look good for next year...... .... but there is simply no way this season can be described as "a success".

I can't disagree with that. For a long time we looked like nothing more than a stepping stone for players to use as a move elsewhere, including under MON and Houllier. Kinda puts Barry's move into perspective - what more could we offer? Though you could argue he moved from one club lacking solidarity to another, just with more pay. I reckon players that love the club - Taylor, Merson, Laursen, Mellberg et al - are a necessary part of any sustained success. Good thing we still have Gabby

He just needs extra cover from midfield, like Lowton did against Sunderland. If the opposition persist against Bennet, then that should then free up Lowton defensively so switching to his side quickly when we win the ball back would worry them and force them to rethink their attack.