AntrimBlack

If Benteke leaves, no matter who we've brought in, we'll always be weaker until we replace his goals IMO. That's what happens when you become a one dimensional team. This. We need another decent striker. If Benteke gets injured we do not really have adequate cover.

Money?

I doubt if our preparations are being effected at all.

I see. What would a quintessential best versus hero comparison be? Say, Yorke versus Taylor? I hate Dwight Yorke. And yet, in my eyes, closer to any exalted status than Benteke.

Just to clarify, I do not have heroes, just players I respect or like. It is only football, not war.

Where the hell did ``hero'' come from. Do you mean ``legend''? No matter really, he is not close to being either. I want more from my ``exalted ones'' than someone who professed a desire to move on as he joined us, and has been persuing that goal ever since.

Thats about £10 million, lest hope he is here by the end of the week..Makes you wonder what on earth is there to convince.....did someone say Takeover? It looks as though he was waiting for Lyon, his favoured destination, but that has not happened, and he has given up and decided to come to us.

No. At this stage, it looks more than likely that Benteke will stay than not.

If we still need to sell to buy after 3 years of austerity and multi billion pound TV deals then I just a ) don't appreciate how strict the rules are or b ) understand what the hell is going on!! I think we could have spent a lot more the last few seasons and still been within the rules, but Lerner for one reason or another didn't invest. This year we seem to be willing to spend up to the limit. Something has obviously clicked. Selling Benteke, however harsh that will be as he's a star on this team, will allow us to further enhance the squad in other areas and be a more competitive side. Benteke = 3 10m rated players. I just don't get why Sherwood had to come out with that FFP comment. It's almost like making excuses before something even happens. I hate that! I suspect he may just be damping down expectations.

If we were to improve our position in the League and therefor also our financial position year on year, I suspect Lerner would remain, but leaving the running of the club to Fox, Sherwood and/ or the new chairman. I get the feeling that he is gradually renewing his affiliation with the club since the black days last year when he wanted no more to do with it. I am not bothered who owns the club as long as he facilitates an improvement.

As Sherwood has stated that he is going nowhere unless the release clause is met, and it is looking unlikely that it will be met, could we possibly in the future assume that he is staying in stead of constantly assuming that he is going.

We have Fox and Sherwood this time, and that is what I am pinning my hopes on.

Not at all. It's about time someone said something. People don't want the complete ins and outs. Just a little bit of communication. Another 17th placed finish will be a good year by the looks of it then. And yet when you get this little bit of communication that you desire, you respond with negativity. I haven't responded negatively about the communication. I welcome the communication. Don't we all? I'm disappointed that Lerner is stuck with Villa, and Villa are stuck with Lerner. But I am not the only one to express this opinion. Am I? That is negativity based on the communication, quite clearly. As for your last sentence, nothing to do with what I said.

What's changed this year compared the the last few for us to suddenly spend anymore that £10m? The financial footing of the club.

Not at all. It's about time someone said something. People don't want the complete ins and outs. Just a little bit of communication. Another 17th placed finish will be a good year by the looks of it then. And yet when you get this little bit of communication that you desire, you respond with negativity.

I don't think he is talking about Benteke. ``Some exits'' and ``might'' is all quite vague. And I doubt he wants to show his hand in the transfer market.

Does not seem to be anything new here. We have heard the same thing for some time now. Not exactly enthusiastic, is he.

A bit premature, perhaps. But hope you are right.

Far from being the best I've seen, Lexicon, but that is probably down to our respective ages.

A bit like the rest of us then.

I will believe all this when I see incontrovertible proof. After what happened earlier in this saga, we should know not to jump to conclusions.

I would like to know exactly what happened. Best scenario; there was no contact or they triggered the release clause, and he turned them down. Major brownie points. Otherwise, if he had spoken to them, or a medical had been arranged, the intention was there to leave, and no matter about him now staying, he was being disloyal. And I am not interested in what Twitter and the media suggest happened, I would want it from a reliable source, preferably himself.

Classic Villa Talk.

This every time. For both incoming and outgoing.

It's a football club, Useless, not the CIA.