villabromsgrove

I'd be amazed if N'Zogbia doesn't sign for us very soon. He is a perfect fit for the Villa jigsaw. AM's not daft and will have made Randy fully aware of that fact. I'm guessing we're dotting the i's and crossing the t's on the contract even as I type.

We need to sign N'Zogbia because we don't have a natural speedy left winger among our crop of exciting youth. Apart from this "one more quality signing" McCleish is in the happy position of having probably the most talented bunch of young players around to introduce into the team (steadily). He can quite rightly claim that the financial restraint on wages has forced his hand. AM is not going to be risking his reputation by using new young players, which may have deterred other past managers.

It's annoying because the final figure is not the figure that the player will cost the club. It's a simplistic bit of maths based on him a) staying for the entirety of his contract the club getting zero for him after that and c) it even ignores the possibility of a re-negotiated contract. The actual final cost to the club probably bears little resemblance to the fairly simple figure arrived at today. It also ignores the intangible benefits of league position bonuses and/or cup wins that the player will earn the club. It is inaccurate and totally meaningless. That's why it's annoying. And people say "ZOMG" to this mythical figure. If they want to work out the first year then fine, transfer fee plus wage*52 but the rest is just usually people trying to negatively paint a transfer out to be more expensive than the player should be. I don't think that a healthy dose of realism among fans is a bad thing. The fact that in a very general way we are starting to appreciate that if you take these sums and then realise that the entire squad each have their own financial package, then perhaps we can begin to accept that wages have rightly become such a pressing issue for Randy. When you buy a house you don't just need to figure out whether you can afford the deposit. You add in every single financial outgoing to make sure that you don't end up living in a cardboard box.

We've got to be tough in negotiating the right purchase price, and then we've got to be tough in negotiating a suitable wage for N'zogbia. ie .... 9 million + £60,000 pw x 4 years = £21,480,000 10 million + £75,000 pw x 4 years = £25,600,000 The difference between negotiating sensibly and giving in is at least 4 MILLION PLUS of Randy's own money.

Ireland has great ability but can he get (and keep) his head right? Can he also manage to stay fit more? Albrighton already has a very sound temperament to add to his 100% passion for the claret and blue. We've seen both his ability to cross a ball and also his ability to hit the target. He's also up there in the Darren Bent school of anticipating the right position to get on the end of things. He's not the finished article because he still needs to learn the optimum moment to release the ball, and although he's more than willing to defend he makes a fair number of wrong decisions about when to tackle and when to hold off. AM will work on that aspect of his game. Two good players .... if they both have good seasons we will do well.

I think this is why some think the youth players get overrated. From the start of last pre season until the beginning of this year when he almost ceased to be used, he was our best player imo. He was my player of the season even with his lack of games from january on.

This poll is flawed! 50% + 49% is not 100% representative. :?

General, there is an hilarious spoof GK thread on another site that will cheer you up. I cracked up reading it, not least because it closely mirrors a lot of the airhead (imo) comments on here, and of course other sites. Will you please read it and let me know whether it cracks you up to? Cheers

It was only the one night and I was a bit drunk, honest. Besides the lack of teeth has its benefits! :winkold: LMAO

Chelsea have been looking for a ground sponsor for over a year and nothing. Newcastle have been looking for a ground sponsor for 2 years now, and nothing. Have we even had a look though? No we haven't, Randy has said he wouldn't change the name of the ground. Can you imagine the uproar amongst fans if we were to change the name of Villa Park. We moan enough as it is, this site would be in total meltdown. No doubt you're right about fan's reactions, but doesn't that mean that the same fans cannot then moan and carp at Randy for not spending the multi millions that a really good stadium renaming contract could bring in to Villa's coffers.

Definite approval from me, but I do firmly agree with the point you make about the board's naivety which can be gut wrenching at times. Randy really does need to employ a vastly experienced football man of stature (ie David Dein type) as Chief Executive, in order to properly focus his considerable financial commitment to Villa. Imo Paul Faulkner is an excellent and loyal personal assistant to Randy and that should be his job at the moment. He may have gained the experience and gravitas to step up to the plate in ten years time, but not now.

Genuine question .... If several of your young players are actually already the best footballers at the club, what do you do? I'm not daft and I know that putting half a dozen young players in the first team at the same time is a possible recipe for disaster. However playing two or three of the clubs best footballers with experienced seniors around them is the way forward for Villa imo.

Let's hope the Villa boo boys will give McCleish and the lads a chance.

The extremities of opinion from people who love the same club never cease to amaze me! I really am looking forward to seeing the good players that we already have fully motivated and busting a gut for the Villa cause. We've got some great young talent to add steadily into the mix. I'm looking forward to this season with relish because I genuinely believe in the quality of our squad, and AM's ability to motivate it. How about you General?

I think that's all fair enough and appears very sound thinking to me. I have some sympathy with your confusion and believe that they are valid concerns. It's interesting to hear your thoughts on the subject and I share both the worry about the contract length (and what may follow) and the opinion that Shay Given's a good 'keeper. Let's hope he performs well enough to justify all of the decisions.

I apologize in advance for personalizing my comment but that seems to be, at the very least, a change in tone from you? I'm still the same optimistic fan Snowy, but I'm a tad confused by the events of the last few weeks. I liked Houllier and what I thought were his plans for Villa and was saddened but not surprised by his health relapse. I understood our interest in Martinez because it was an indication that Randy intended to further GH's plans if he could. I was gobsmacked by our boards about face in employing Alex McLeish not just because of the possibility of fan unrest this season, but because AM's footballing pedigree up till now is probably the opposite end of the spectrum to Houllier's. AM is a good bloke and more importantly is now the Villa manager so he has my unequivocable support. My current concerns are based on my understanding of Randy's position with regards to the financing of Aston Villa. Given is a good keeper and I would welcome him on a two year contract with a years option, because it would fit in with what I perceive to be Randy's plan, but to award a top earning 35 year old a five year contract makes me wonder how we proceed from here. If it's fine to pay Given 10/12 million in wages at his age how do we explain to the players like N'Zogbia that money is limited when it comes to trying to entice them to Villa? You're right Snowy it is "a change in tone from me," but I'm still 100% Villa even if I'm scratching my head at this moment in time.

I think Given has been a superb keeper, but I cannot understand how Randy can announce through the General and PF that reducing the wage bill is his number one priority at the same time as awarding a five year contract to a thirty five year old player at the top end of our salary scale. I think we all worry that he may struggle to remain fit for even the next two or three seasons. I worried about the apparent inconsistency in our approach to appointing a new manager, now I'm a little bit concerned about the rationalisation behind our first purchase this summer. If we have a plan let's have it fully explained to us and then let's stick to it.

Sorry mate - i know you are entitled to your say, but that statement is balls. Luke Moore had a shoulder problem - do you honestly think Aston Villa, with our medical staff and facilities at our disposal would sign a goalkeeper - a position that you are prone to diving about on the floor rather a lot - that has a 'bad' shoulder as you put it did you stop reading after the first sentence? Nope.... But i saw the line ' but he has a bad shoulder though' and instantly thought that the rest of the post cant be as bad as this...and to be fair you pulled it back a bit - doesnt mask how factually incorrect it is though. Shay Given does not have a bad shoulder any more than I have a bad shoulder (which i dont) ever dislocated it? coz theyre notoriously problematic Can't say I have - but quite frankly, and dont take this the wrong way - i trust some of the best medical staff money can buy over your medical opinion doctor p3te I trust they're not the same doctors who failed to notice that a patient with a repaired dissection of the lower aorta has a life expectancy of 10 years on average.

I'd love to see Randy offer 8 million take it or leave it, and give Dave (the lip) Whelan until tomorrow at 1pm to tell us whether he's going to take it or leave it. Echoes of the RM situation. We have to be prepared to walk away if we're not going to get jerked around by clubs who think we're a soft touch.

I doubt the holdup is about Whelan wanting more than £10,000,000. He knows that if he mucks Villa about then he will be left with a player that he has to sell, and nobody else willing (or able) to pay more than £7,000,000. Imo it's far more likely to be N'Zogbia's agent trying to screw extra money out of both ends of the deal.

General, my question is this, do you have the phone number of a good psychiatrist because I obviously need one. I've been a Villa fan for six decades and I reckon that we are doing ok. I hope we don't buy too many players this summer because having watched a lot of our young players in reserve matches over the past few seasons I think that we may be sitting on a goldmine. Please message me that number as I apparently need treatment fast. Up the Villa as always.

I would love to say yes as I've really enjoyed my time here, but I've just been invited to much better orgies in both Manchester and Liverpool. You know what, i promised you a beer ages ago and i still haven't brought it you yet. This season at Villa Park beasley, I'll hold you to that.

I would love to say yes as I've really enjoyed my time here, but I've just been invited to much better orgies in both Manchester and Liverpool.

I'm sorry but YOU are always posting tweets... I give up with you lot I really do.... You're turning Villa Talk into Villa Moan! I agree, Villatalk has become pretty terrible recently with a major influx of moaning and negative people. I took a break a few weeks ago and may well do again soon as you just get dragged into the crap. Don't let the buggers grind you down beasley, I've always enjoyed your posts.

Liverpool may have struggled recently, but they are a top club by reputation and have a massive world wide fan base. Who gives a monkeys about reputation, is that why he signed I'm guessing he's signed because they should challenge for a top four position this season which means that he may get the chance to play champions league football in 2012/13. He probably won't get the chance with Villa while he's at his peak. I'm being realistic and not trying to score any points. I'm also guessing he's getting a hefty signing on fee and at least a million pounds a season more pay.