villabromsgrove

I want Huntelaar, Sneijder, SWP and Sidwell as our forward based players (I know Sidwell and Sneijder are midfielders but I like Petrov sitting deeper!) L.Young, Distin, Bridge and Boruc as our defensive signings!! Would see us in Top 6-8 next year!!

Klaus Jan Huntelaar and Wesley Sneijder are both very good players and would make a big difference to our goal tally over a season.

* KOLLER

You never know...

Good back up for Carew, whether he'd leave to be a Villa sub is another matter.

Once I saw the teamsheet, that was the first name that jumped out at me, but no, I wouldn't want him here now, after we've got Carew......

What about when Carew is injured? Now that it looks like Sutton will retire we dont have a big man to cover. Koller is the right age to perform that role and those of you who were at the match yesterday cannot have failed to notice that Luke Moore cannot fill that role even for ten minutes.

I 've just noticed that St Etienne beat Lille 2-1 earlier (5pm ko) So apologies for stating that Monaco v Marseille was the only French top division game today. Does that throw up any more targets?

Mon met up with Ian Storey Moore at the new training facility this morning, they spent a few minutes talking in the office and then left for a flight to France at about 11:30am. Monaco v Marseille is the only match being played today (20:00hrs) So it looks likely that they are looking at Franc Ribery, Djibril Cisse, Mohammed Kallon, Toure et al.

Is MON really at the Madrid vs Sevilla match?!?!?!

I don't think so Jas, I believe he's at the Monaco V Marseille match. Ribery, Kallon or Cisse anyone?

i say 2 CBs because, laursen will never be fully fit, dels will no doubt be shown the door, and ridgwell is shite, so that only really leave us with olly and cahill!

maybe someone like phillipe mexes! havent we been linked with him before though?

Ridgewell's certainly not "shite," he's a quality cb who lacks one vital thing, pace. It's sad but he is just too slow for the premiership. He is a leader and I have always appreciated his total commitment to the Villa cause. I will be sorry to see him move on but it is probably going to happen.

I've read in a few sites in the last couple of weeks that O'Neill is interested in Sneider and Huntelar from Ajax, I dismissed it as ridiculous at first, but I keep seeing it.............

Yes please!

They are the kind of players that we have to target if we are going to move up to the top six and beyond. Signing players like Hunterlaar and Sneider would make the rest of the premiership sit up and take notice.

Ajax' manager was in Sweden yesterday to watch a player very similar to Sneijder, apparently, A sign of Sneijder on his way, maybe. The problem is that in the same article they said that it's rumoured that Barcelona and Valencia are efter him and if that is the case I think we won't see him in Villa. But you could only try.

Money talks Pelle, and agents will push any big money deal that is put to them. The Premiership is now the in place for top footballers to ply their trade and as you say we can but try.

I've read in a few sites in the last couple of weeks that O'Neill is interested in Sneider and Huntelar from Ajax, I dismissed it as ridiculous at first, but I keep seeing it.............

Yes please!

They are the kind of players that we have to target if we are going to move up to the top six and beyond. Signing players like Hunterlaar and Sneider would make the rest of the premiership sit up and take notice.

We could have taken 3 points really!!

How with 2 shots on target and one of those was a lame shot into Lehman's arms.

when you consider the missed header, what a chance, and the several times Arsenal got behind our defence, even in the last few minutes I find both your suggestions hysterical.

that against a side of reserves in a team winning their first match in ages on the back of losing in 3 cup competitions daft.

why should I give him 3 seasons to succeed as I said above everything is progressing on at a frantic pace, only in the coaching department is the club failing.

Why, and again I ask, what will be different next season ? Oh sorry O'Neill will have a full summer to do his work, yes that will make a difference I'm sure, he's had 29 matches and as I said above we started well and have gone backwards ever since

Maybe he will get up to speed, in 3 seasons, he should with the conditions he's working under, but again I ask why should we wait for him to catch up

I'm glad you find my suggestions hysterical Malcolm because you obviously need cheering up, you carry on slagging off MON and I will carry on supporting Villa.

Malcolm, I read your post on "news now" and even though I'm short of time tonight I had to come on VP and reply. I enjoyed last nights match and thought we could easily have taken three points with a bit of luck as we totally outplayed Arsenal in the second half. 40,000 fans were there last night and 42,500 will be there on sunday so Villa fans are now demonstrably much more optimistic, and then I read your post.

What a negative outlook you have! I've been a Villa fan for five decades and I've lived through the highs and the lows, but now I believe that we are entering the most exciting period in our history. Give Martin time Malcolm and judge him in a couple of seasons when his team plans have come to fruition. It will take time to reverse our long decline and put us back in the top six, but I'm positive we will get there and I'm also certain that Mon is the man to do it.

General, well done to everyone at VP for a very satisfactory transfer window. If we make the same kind of progress during the next few transfer windows we will be a real force to be reckoned with in two/three years time. Last nights result was disappointing but the manner in which we dominated large parts of the game is an exciting sign of good things to come. Keep up the good work, see you on saturday. Up the Villa!

With the current influx of migrants it might be possible to increase a fan base by looking into expanding support. I know a few migrants who see the Villa, and a few more that look into setting up trips for non local football fans (not necc. Villa fans...you see my point???).

Maybe it is something to look into, especially with the possibilities available in increasing international reputation, and fan base/links.

Obviously there is much happening at Villa Park, and priorities need to be in order but maybe this is a way to increase and reach capacity?

General...over to you! And the rest of you opinionated sirs

When the rumour first surfaced linking Radoslaw Matusiak to Villa my first thought was that if he was good enough to command a regular first team place it could potentially add thousands of Polish supporters to the Villa attendance.

I have done some work recently on the integration of eastern europeans into local education and I was astounded to learn the number of Poles who have moved into the West Midlands in the past couple of years. They have a very good work ethic and are here with the intention of staying. It seems a shame that Matusiak didn't want to come to Villa for a trial as he could well have become a beacon for a whole new section of our community.

Buying a player solely for ethnic reasons is never the best policy, but if a player was available and good enough it would be very astute business.

Hi General, I'm posting this to say thanks to Sheila in the ticket enquiries office for her sterling work on my behalf yesterday. A few days ago my eldest son broke two metatarsal bones and on friday night my youngest son shattered his collarbone playing floodlit football. Even though they were both in considerable discomfort they were desperate to get to the match.

I phoned VP on saturday morning and explained the situation and after three phonecalls from the very friendly and efficient Sheila we had swapped their season ticket seats for one disabled seat and a wheelchair (provided by Villa) on the half way line. We were also given a car parking space next to the players car park which was a great help.

My sons would like to express their thanks to Sheila for making yesterday possible for them, they were at the Everton away game on nov 11 th when we won our last match and would have been desperately disappointed to have missed seeing us get back to winning ways against Watford. (One of my sons was popping wheelies in his wheelchair when we scored with 4 minutes left!)

Yesterday demonstrated to me what great people we have helping to run the club, and I would be grateful General if next time you are in the ticket office you could tell Sheila and her colleagues how much their friendly and polite assistance is appreciated , especially when as on this occasion it is well over and above the call of duty.

A very good post Chris and one that echoes my own feelings and frustrations as far as Baros is concerned. He looked like a top class player today, but will he look the same if he is still a Villa player the first week in february?

Past experience suggests not and that the dramatic improvement is because Baros is putting himself in the shop window and looking for a move, in which case he will have attracted further attention and put his price up today.

I hope I'm wrong because his performance today was a pleasure to watch, but I fear that enigmatic players don't suddenly become committed team members overnight and put club before self.

General,

I have been a season ticket holder for approx. 20 years and my 6 year old son for 2 years. It is my personal choice and I do not expect any reward for purchasing a season ticket. Each season I miss 2 or 3 games due to travel or other commitments which means financially I do not gain any benefit, however I continue to buy the ticket(s) because

1.I want to sit in the same seat every game

2.I dont want the hassle of having to organise tickets for individual games

3.I want priority for purchasing tickets for away games

4.I want to be guaranteed tickets for cup finals etc

5.I want to be guaranteed my seats when the masses return and are locked out.

I'm not crying because the christmas presents I bought are half price in the January sales. I dont care if you give 10000 free tickets away every game, I'd rather see the ground full and I expect so would MON and the team. I just want to see us win. Whatever it takes to fill that ground do it if it helps us win.

Keep up the incentives, the missing thousands will return, and with a bit of luck the trophies will follow.

Couldn't agree more with that.

I hope villa do what ever it takes to get the ground full, it makes it a much better time for me.

I would like to add my 100% support to the above comments. I choose to be a season ticket holder because of the pleasure and excitement it gives me and I don't want to be subsidised. Spend the money on the team General, and by all means pursue ticket promotions to fill the stadium because a full Villa Park further enhances my matchday experience.

Here's my view for what it's worth. Martin O neill has had twelve days of this transfer window and a handful of days at the end of the summer transfer window to try and bring players in. He signed Petrov, almost signed Milner and has got a potentially good right back on loan courtesy of his good friend Sir Alex.

He is having to try to sign players despite the media led expectation that Villa have pots of money to spend and may be prepared to throw large chunks of it at vastly overpriced inexperienced players. Mon has to contend with media and fan expectation and give interviews when he would like nothing more than to quietly go on with the business of getting good players to come to Aston Villa.

It is far to early to make judgements about either the new owners or the new manager, because that is what they are, NEW! Let's wait two or three years by which time both the boards intentions and the ability of Mon to turn those intentions into a winning team will be self evident. Until then we need to recognise that there is an enormous job ahead and it will take time. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will the new Aston Villa be.

Having just watched 90 minutes of Steau Bucharest against Real Madrid I'm starting a SIGN DICA CAMPAIGN. The guy was awesome.

Merry Christmas to all Villa Talk posters with special thanks to you General and to Randy for making us all feel proud and valued fans once again. Have a great day.

General Krulak here:

GREAT WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOHHHHRRRRAAAAHHHH!!!! I LOVE IT! MON AND HIS CLARET AND BLUE ARMY WERE SUPERB!!!!!!!!

Why did Randy buy the Club? Well, for one reason...so he could be with you today and watch a good Team, managed by a superb leader, go to someone's home pitch and win!! Randy is a business man but he is also a Sports Fan. He went to school in UK, worked with me in UK, has always loved football...and what better Team to be with than Aston Villa with its tradition and ethos. He is not here to lose money and with his savvy, he won't. BUT, the fact is, he does love the game and he loves Aston Villa. I know it is hard to believe that it can be that simple, but you are dealing with pretty simple people...people who wear their emotions on their sleeves and who love the game and OUR Club. You are just going to have to deal with us crazy Yanks.

Semper Fidelis, General Krulak

What a great post! I've had the most amazing week following the Villa with my sons. We went to Vp to see us beat Blackburn, to Chelsea to witness the awesome Villa army at our very best, and to Everton to be part of another outstanding display by the Villa away fans (the team did well too!) General you have given us our pride back, keep up the motivational posting.

Those who saw the Villa army marching out of Goodison Park yesterday singing in concert at the top of our voices, at the end of another fantastic day could have no doubt that something special is happening at Aston Villa.

"We have money for transfers, up to £30million in the August window if we can get the deal done quickly enough and we are confident we can.

"But we are more than prepared to step aside if Mr Lerner can match our £30million transfer budget inside the next 17 days."

Smacks of desperation. Why would RL now divulge his transfer budget. Very unprofessional to expect otherwise knowing that he cannot do that. Desperation.

The AV06 spokesman added: "We are certainly not looking to spoil their deal just for the sake of it but we have concerns about their immediate intentions.

"We are solely interested in strengthening the team and two players now could make all the difference. As regards Lerner, so many questions remain unanswered."

And of course there are no unanswered questions on tha AV06 bid are there? Your immediate intentions are perfectly clear.

Underhand tactics these

I haven't had time to check all the posts but has anyone asked the question about how AV06 will be able to spend even one penny (let alone £30 million) on transfers, given that they could not take control until 21 days after the date that their bid is recommended?

Does the Mails source understand the rules, or is this challenge to Randy to match the £30 million expenditure in the next 16 days (when he is also unable to spend his own money until September 4th) nothing more than a wind up. It seems a strange way to do business.

Simon wrote:

£lie$ and Petchey have agreed to hand over their shares to Lerner. Basically, Lerner now has 56% of the shares. There's virtually NO chance Neville, Padfield or Still will be able to do anything now.

Not correct, as shown below:

"All of these undertakings will cease to be binding if a competing offer is

announced for Aston Villa which exceeds the value of the Offer by more than 5

per cent. and which is recommended for acceptance by the Aston Villa Board".

What are the chances of a rival bid? Is this likely to restrict Lerner's activity in the meantime?

The reality is that no competing consortium can now hope to supercede Lerners bid whilst retaining goodwill. The board, on Rothschilds recommendation have accepted Lerners offer, not just on price but on the infrastructure behind the bid, so if a bid at 5%+ was now made it still would not be a more viable offer in the longterm interests of the club. Remember that word "goodwill", should any consortium try and gazump the Lerner offer they would face an angry Villa backlash. To give Ellis his due he has always said that he would only accept an offer that was in the best interests of the club.

Can't remember where I read the information but I have read that Lerner's wealth is $1.4 billion BUT he also has assets of $4 billion to draw upon

Can't remember where I read the information but I have read that Lerner's wealth is $1.4 billion BUT he also has assets of $4 billion to draw upon

You're right stewiek, that is his families total wealth, but as I've said before it's his business acumen that we need, allied to his ability to improve a club on the banks' money, not his own.

I agree VB but we heard the same with the Ranson bid and a confidentiallty cluase is a must IF AV06 refused to sign them, they could have not been that serious.

or they could be so confident of their bid and insider information, they don't need to know the due diligence.

it boils down to the desire to buy and the desire to sell

AV06 desire to buy a football club, just like Ranson does, they seem to have both a greater desire and a bigger cash book, and aren't on their own.

Lerner too has a desire, Villa will not be his only target.

Neville wants Villa, has a bid designed to please the major shareholders, has suposed deals with one major shareholder, and was the first man to mute O'Neill as a possible manager.

Only one bid came to see Ellis, walked away saying little and is still there, interesting isn't it.

Again I say show me where Lerner has said he is back in town with a bid, this year let alone this week ???

Hope he does though, look out airplane spotters ......

I don't think we need "The Trees" quality information now. Either Lerner knows enough about Villa to make a bid, or he knows enough to walk away. If it's the former he can make a bid from the states and fax or courier the paperwork. I would hope that the next time we see Randy in the UK is in the directors box at VP with his arms raised in ten days time.

No, I think we'd know if something had broken down, or if something had been completed, or if something had stalled, I'm just wondering if the time it takes is for paperwork or for planning.

For both and never forget how awkward Ellis is.

aV06 wanted details and Ellis never provided them,

apparently there has been pressure for Ellis to provide details.

To be fair to Ellis (and I very seldom am) it has been rumoured that AV06 were not prepared to sign confidentiality forms due to the fact that it might reflect on their ability to pursue interests in other clubs. If that is so then you can hardly blame Doug for being less than forthcoming in their case.