Eric

Or it could mean: I know Villa don't want lose me so if they want me to stay (at least more than a year) they have to give me a contract that shows that. And the other quote about his options, could be that one of the options is staying with an improved contract already offered by Villa.

People not rating Ron are just preparing themselves for likely event of him leaving this summer. "He wasn't that good anyway..." and "it will not be difficult replacing him..." The truth is he was oustanding in a very good dutch team. That was way better than for example England. How much do reckon an English international CB would go for? Especially after WC like Rons?

People who do, must have an even worse drinking problem than those two clowns!

I would laugh my ass of if Hoolahan rejects the other club. If there is actually another club in for him and just not bullshit to wind us up.

But indignantly demanding that someone you're disagreeing with post the particular stat that supports your own position isn't petty? If you've got an argument to make, make it yourself. The basic disagreement between the "Lambert apologists" and the "Negative Nellies" mostly boils down to their interpretation of what rebuilding entails and what's the best approach in the long run. It's clear Lerner, Lambert and Faulkner all agreed it's best to start from scratch with young (mostly), hungry, passionate players on similar (mostly) wages to bond and get the high-earners out the door. This approach required spreading the transfer kitty and salary funds among more players, with the obvious sacrifice in quality and greater risk of signing flops. It also means risking relegation for a season or two until ther funds can go to quality vs. quantity. But if the plan works, the club is in a good position financially and can start rewarding the players who did well with better contracts and replacing those who didn't with better quality at higher wages without blowing the wages out of the water again. If you accept this approach, then the club's record since Lambert took over isn't necessarily the most important measure of success at this point in the project, as long as the club stays up. At the moment, you could argue that Lambert has been successful, if only by a margin, against this measure. If the rest of the plan plays out (relegation is avoided, money from clearing out dead wood is made available for better players in the summer), next season is the real test of both Lamber and Lerner. Football style and results need to be significantly better and showing signs of continuous improvement. If you don't agree that a total clearout was necessary, as a number of you don't, then of course it's hard to view Lambert as being successful. As you've argued, the transfer funds could have gone to fewer players of higher quality and results likely would have been better to date. The question is whether the club would be better posed for a resurgence after this season under this scenario. You clearly believe so. Team togetherness and the ability to build up from a good foundation, both football-wise and financially, would probably not be as good but maybe results would be similar without having had to go through 2 seasons of relagation risk and unattactive football. We may never know. Lambert was clearly brought on board to do the job in a particular way. Slate him for choosing to go along with the plan if you want, or slate Lerner for hiring a manager to take this approach. But given the job he was asked to do, I don't think Lambert's been too bad. Spot on!

That is a hell of a throw-in who is it?

I don't think a guy who spend most of his time on the bench in Porto will be that expensive. Especially not when he has publically said that he wants to leave for first team football ahead of the world cup.

Yeah! Looks to have a bit of "chubb there" Looks like he hasen't missed a meal in his life.

Here's a little advice: Don't believe in everything you read and build your hopes on it. It happens that newspapers and other medias just make things up. I know, sounds terrifying, doesn't it?Pelle on the contrary I am very sceptic to what papers says especially during silly season(stupid thing to say) as you can see I am describing what I think a lot of supporters feel. We need to sign well experienced players aswell as young prospects that I believe we need that to get the young a chance to develop without having to take all the heat and preassure it's not about Defour it's about us not signing anything with experience AND quality. someone who would walk straight in almost ever y PL team. And its has nothing to do with me believing what the press fabricates. Its just happens to be in a thread were we are linked (again) with a player that I think would do very well for us. So please don't patronise like I am some kind of 12 year old school boy, idiot! well, why do you get disappointed and frustrated then, when you don't believe it anyway? Sounds a bit contradicting to me. If I read a story I don't believe in in the first place I don't get upset when I realise that it in fact wasn't true.Ok smartass, I didn't believe we were going to sign him. That doesn't mean I can't get dissapointed when Kendrick "confirms" that we are not after him. I mean hopeing is not the same thing as believing it's going to happen. If you buy a lotteryticket in the "eurolottery" you don't think you are going to win £100M, but you probably hope you'll do.... So stop being childish and trying to see something that's not really there, it's I really shouldn't be dragged in to this, but who's being childish calling people idiot and smatass, and for that matter childish? Get off it! Pelle I was not calling "people" things, only you. Because haven't been patronised on this forum before by anyone else. It was you that tried to be funny at my expense, Reading things in what I posted that wasn't there. To be honest, I was quite surprised it was coming from you. I mean with 14.000 post, wich I have read quite a few I didn't see it coming. By the way you're not getting dragged into anything because you started it. And you don't have to worry about this getting into a long debate, as it won't.

Here's a little advice: Don't believe in everything you read and build your hopes on it. It happens that newspapers and other medias just make things up. I know, sounds terrifying, doesn't it? Pelle on the contrary I am very sceptic to what papers says especially during silly season(stupid thing to say) as you can see I am describing what I think a lot of supporters feel. We need to sign well experienced players aswell as young prospects that I believe we need that to get the young a chance to develop without having to take all the heat and preassure it's not about Defour it's about us not signing anything with experience AND quality. someone who would walk straight in almost ever y PL team. And its has nothing to do with me believing what the press fabricates. Its just happens to be in a thread were we are linked (again) with a player that I think would do very well for us. So please don't patronise like I am some kind of 12 year old school boy, idiot! well, why do you get disappointed and frustrated then, when you don't believe it anyway? Sounds a bit contradicting to me. If I read a story I don't believe in in the first place I don't get upset when I realise that it in fact wasn't true. Ok smartass, I didn't believe we were going to sign him. That doesn't mean I can't get dissapointed when Kendrick "confirms" that we are not after him. I mean hopeing is not the same thing as believing it's going to happen. If you buy a lotteryticket in the "eurolottery" you don't think you are going to win £100M, but you probably hope you'll do.... So stop being childish and trying to see something that's not really there, it's just boring!

Here's a little advice: Don't believe in everything you read and build your hopes on it. It happens that newspapers and other medias just make things up. I know, sounds terrifying, doesn't it? Pelle on the contrary I am very sceptic to what papers says especially during silly season(stupid thing to say) as you can see I am describing what I think a lot of supporters feel. We need to sign well experienced players aswell as young prospects that I believe we need that to get the young a chance to develop without having to take all the heat and preassure it's not about Defour it's about us not signing anything with experience AND quality. someone who would walk straight in almost ever y PL team. And its has nothing to do with me believing what the press fabricates. Its just happens to be in a thread were we are linked (again) with a player that I think would do very well for us. So please don't patronise like I am some kind of 12 year old school boy, idiot!

I like the idea of young, hungry players that improves at our club. But the problem is that young upcoming players need exprienced players to help them improve. Players that have been around and know a trick or two. Experienced quality players that don't shit themselves playing at home in front of 40.000 demanding homesupporters. We don't need more talented prospects (we have plenty). We need to mix it up a bit. And it's a shame that Lerner doesn't see that and protects his investment better. You can't compare Aston Villa FC with Norwich, Swansea, Southampton (after their time in lower Leagues) etc theire fans are just happy "to be invited to the party), therefore the preassure to stay competitive at lest top 10 battling for a place in one of the European cups is much higher. That's why I get disappointed every time we are linked with someone like Defour and turns out to be just a rumour...

He's under contract for another 18 months - he's worth whatever Norwich say he is worth, unfortunately for us. I would say he's market value is what anyone is preparing to pay Norwich for him. If Norwich are willing to do business is another story. Sometimes you don't make rational decisions in business and let emotions take over. In this case I think Norwich have to play hardball and get as much money as they can and at the same time show their supporters that they are standing up and don't gett bullied by either Villa or Lambert.

I Think that the "one direction" had severe hangover and took the Opportunity to get subbed, because he had to vomit.

Good luck Bannan! Liked that he thanked the fans, can't imagen he'doesn'treading this thread. I remeber when nobody gave a shit about the wage bill. Back then fans didn't abuse players on internet forums and weren't this happy to see academy players leave. But now when the bill is factor people should start blameing the ones handing out this contracts. Don't get me wrong I am glad he found a new club, because Lambert doesn't rate him, but I rather see our youth players succeed here at Aston Villa FC!

FFS I get it! Con really think Bannan has massive potential and should start every game. A lot of you think his absolut shit and abuse him and Con because of him defending Bannan. It's gone that far that Bannan is a gready bastard because he wants the best deal possible with the best team he possibly can, and therefore is willing to wait and see what happens. Nobody knows how much Blackburns offer was. And to be fair who would want to join them with the mess them are in. He said he would accept a paycut, so imagine the offer wasn't very good. So give the guy a break.

You have nothing against Bent, but you keep slating Bannan all the time. If there is a player that doesn't seem to give a shit any more, Bent is one of them. I only slate Bannan's total inability. Bent v Bannan? Are you having a laugh? I agree with you that Bannan is not good enough for us at the moment. But don't think Bent is either. And to be honest I think Bent has been as shit as Bannan last season, even though he didn't play much, injuries and so on. Do get me wrong I think Bent given the right cicumstances is far better but still think you have double standards giving Bannan far more shit than Bent. For me I have much higher expectation on Bent than Bannan therefore it annoys me more to see him completly average as he has been lately, even though our formation doesn't suit him.

You have nothing against Bent, but you keep slating Bannan all the time. If there is a player that doesn't seem to give a shit any more, Bent is one of them.

Whats your problem with Bannan, except that you don't like himla as a footballer? Has he stolen/fu**ed your girlfriend? Because the whole Barry thing seems very personal to you. I agree with other posters that the kind of abuse he gets here is almost childish and I don't think he deserves it, even though I agree with that the best thing for him (and Villa) is for him to move on and get his career going.

It says that hi goes back to Mallorca for free (coste cero). Anyway it opens up for further signings.

Why don't wait one more season and play for Real Madrid or someone with the same chances to win CL, not only playing Europa League with a half decent team like Spuds who hasen't won anything worth mentioning in ages. If playing with the "big boys" and makeing a name for himself is his ambition, playing with Belgian teammates should not be his priority, even though I can understand that you as a fan of your national team would love to see belgians play together in PL team an do it well.

That's what meant to say

We can always hope that the Montpellier chairman find Brum exotic and Aston Villa, even more so. If Kenyes right that he has chosen between higher wages in UAE and the PL, it explains the comments made yesterday saying he always wanted to play Premier League football and didn't choose money over ambition... cluthching at straws

From L'equipe: "Via son compte Twitter et la voix de son président, Louis Nicollin, Montpellier a annoncé avoir reçu «deux propositions concrètes fermes sur lesquelles nous sommes d’accord avec deux clubs » pour Younès Belhanda, qui a un bon de sortie et a fait part depuis de longues semaines de son envie de quitter le club héraultais. «C'est au joueur de choisir», précise Nicollin, sans faire connaître les deux équipes intéressées par le milieu de terrain marocain. Elles semblent être des destinations "exotiques"." Google translate: Via his Twitter account and its president, Louis Nicollin, Montpellier announced it has received "two farms concrete proposals on which we agree with both clubs" to Younes Belhanda, who has a good output and expressed from long weeks of his desire to leave the club Herault. "It's the player to choose," says Nicollin, without knowing the two teams interested in the Moroccan midfielder. They seem to be "exotic" destinations. So it seems like he is not coming to Villa...

Spot on for me that Big John Whats the Milner talk for? Are we linked - James Milner is exactly the player we need imo. Bit older, wiser and more know how but doesnt stray away from the hunger that Lambert desires. Or he's just on holiday. Just such a weak argument - im pretty sure Weimann was on holiday Yeah and I'm sure there is a hell of lot more clubs out there that's in for Benteke. Weimann did very well but a has come though the ranks and therefore: A is more loyal and more "emotionally" connected to Villa. And B allthough he has progressed a great bit and showed real future potential he wasen't close to score 20 goals. And i am sure with 3 years left on his contract the need for an extension is something you can wait for a couplebof extra weeks - part of the negotiation so to speek. You don't want to give more than you need (neither Villa or Bentekes agent).