thetrees

I only want the Villa to accept what they have indicated to Liverpool in the first place. MON and Mr Lerner have held their ground so if 16m and Finnan fits with what they are asking then fine. If not, then such a bid should be rejected.

But Liverpool can only make a 'final offer' when they have the money to see it through, and it appears that at the moment they don't.

The likelihood of GB still being on the Villa's books come September 1st is still there.

As someone who enjoys guitar based rock music my two nominations for worst band in history are:

Iron Maiden - post 1981

Bon Jovi

both are completely unlistenable.

I have gone for lamb as it is the least manipulated meat and very tasty whether fresh (UK) or frozen (NZ). The only problem with lamb is that very few people cook it pink, and it is too often served very overdone.

Beef is great, but good beef is so hard to find nowadays. Australian or US seem to offer the best taste, but they are so expensive.

On the more obscure side the other week I diced up a mutton leg and cooked half as a stew and half as a curry and both were fantastic.

General,

I have renewed my season tickets this morning by telephone. My call was handled in a completely friendly and efficient manner and took no longer than a few minutes. My questions were answered and I was offered the options of joining the away and cup schemes.

I was left with the impression that the club are employing quality people and, just as importantly, giving them quality training.

If only the banks and utility companies in the UK could take a leaf out of the Villa's book!

For the record the lady that I spoke to introduced herself as Donna.

Thanks.

Just finished 'Sovereign' by C.J.Sansom, a murder/mystery/conspiracy thing set around the court of Henry VIII. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

I'm getting into reading history based fiction, perhaps it's the only way I can learn something.

Hope it's close to the truth :winkold:

General,

Does the club prefer the use of certain hotels for possible signings and if so, which ones? I thought we could stake them out over the next three months...

:winkold:

Please feel free to contribute to the 'In the Know' thread anytime you like...

To help the General I will answer this slightly loaded question :winkold:

My understanding is that the club will return to Newhall for their pre-match preparations next season, thus meaning that Arsenal and Newcastle to name but two will need to find alternative accommodation when playing at Villa Park.

I assume that Newhall will therefore be the club's 'preferred' hotel.

Just converted the live version of that from the flip side of the 'Burning for You' 12"

Currently spinning (converting) the Montrose album, with 'Make it Last' playing out.

a royal family orrepublic is all about democracy and you made a statement which you can back up with either evidence or a country you feel that fits the bill

On that basis Ian would you argue that the USA, the most prominent republic in the world, is more democratic than the UK?

Far too many great guitarists to have a 'greatest'

On the rhythm front I find Malcolm Young to be part of (IMHO) the most powerful rhythm section in rock.

One guitarist that was highly impressive on the only occasion that I saw him play live was Randy Rhoads. Unfortunately he didn't live long enough to become a great.

If you listened to Giggs you wouldnt think he was Welsh!

he isn't !!

hasn't he lived all his life in Manchester ?

Yep, adopted his mother's name and Welshness when his parents split up

I'll take everyone's word on the fact that it was a good game.

It was still a draw though

It seems that the scum missed their opportunity to match redscouse's three wins.

Nice to see that the world's best league contrived to bore the crap out of the rest of Europe (assumed, I didn't endure the game)

Ah well, there goes Avram's chance of a knighthood

No sign of that great Midlands tipple, Mild.

It may be an 'old mans' drink, but I grew up on it. Ansells and Banks were much loved.

Nowadays I normally get my mild fix with some obscure guest beer served in Wetherspoons. I also enjoy a pint of bitter and the occasional Guinness.

At home I will drink stuff like Becks, San Miguel and Leffe, but I have never ordered a pint of lager in a pub in my life and don't think I ever would.

To be fair Rob Halford was so camp he made Freddie look like Warren Beatty.

I liked some Priest and pretty much disliked Queen, but Mercury was far and away the better performer.

Acutally Nick, any PM is voted in

remind me when exactly it was that Gordon got voted in as PM ??

and John Major ?

Was that the John Major who won an election against all the odds and subsequently served a full term as Prime Minister?

Or another one?

My preferred option is similar to the Irish model, the PM retains the exec powers, we have two chambers, commons and Senate with all being elected by PR (form is open to debate)

A Socialist who wants corruption. Now there's a surprise :winkold:

AC/DC original line up, altogether stronger.

Iron Maiden were consistently brilliant live in the early days, but after the debut album things just didn't live up to expectation.

Then they employed that clown from Samson and that was it for me!

it was so wierd to watch the final and see so many British flags for a Scottish side

As opposed to watching a UEFA Cup final and seeing so many Irish flags for a British side?

HP or Daddies, Ive even tried Branston brown sauce which was pretty tasty! Tomato sauce is cack!

I think that you will find that Branston sauces and baked beans are actually HP recipe.

HP beans now are definitely Heinz recipe and produced in the same factory.

I call it the great baked bean con, but better not get too

Republicans just want to kick the royals out so that there is more room at the trough.

Ten years of New Labour have taught us that.

President Tony and First Lady Cherie?

Neither. Tiswas.

Swap Shop all the way for me :winkold:

Saturday Superstore for me.

Now then Trent, you are possibly too young to know that one side of the Holte chanted 'Tiswas' to the other's 'Swap Shop'

No sign of 'Saturday Superstore' anywhere :winkold:

(Swap Shop was crap by the way)

Neither. Tiswas.

Swap Shop all the way for me :winkold:

Two bands that I love, but for me Rush.

BOC have made some great music, but they have interspersed with some real turkeys. Also, when they were 'big', their live performances were disappointing. Fortunately they are a bit better live nowadays.

For me Rush from their inception through to Moving Pictures are simply the finest band that I have known. Signals onwards the direction was a little too different for me,although I can still pick out some good moments, but last year's 'Snakes and Arrows' was reminiscent of past glories. I have never seen a bad live performance from them either.

But, having said all that, I wouldn't have compared these two bands, but then accept that it is difficult to find a comparison for either.

Never heard of Nightranger.

Foreigner went a bit dodgy when they got beyond 4. I remember their set at the Odeon rocked, with no sign of 'Waiting for a girl like you'. A few months later they played the NEC and dropped 'Love on the telephone' in its favour.

Loverboy are superb. 'Turn me Loose' is one of the best pop/rock songs recorded.

All a bit commercial for the zillions of rock music snobs that reside in the UK though :winkold:

Certainly going to be the final with the fewest viewers in the last 20 years.

I am surely not going to see it!!

Curiously I haven't watched a final in years, but will certainly watch this one.

Conversely on next Wednesday evening I will be doing anything else more interesting than watching a Manure-Chelsea game.