villabromsgrove

I would love us to sign Nico. Not for what he's achieved so far, but for what I believe he could become under Emery's coaching. However, I would only want him to join us if he was honestly and openly 100% committed to joining us. My concern would be that he may become homesick, fail to settle and want to return to Bilbao in the next couple of seasons for a much reduced fee.

The Spanish transfer window opens on July 3rd. Other European windows open on July 1st. So there's no "rule breaking" if we're targeting foreign players.

I bet Monchi and Unai are working away in virtual meetings even before he's got his work permit. It's going to be such an exciting summer!

Before people condemn Monchi, take a bit of time to research the yearly celebration that concludes Christmas in Spain. It's called the "Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos", and is a much looked forward to celebration especially for the children. The three Kings that are supposed to have visited the baby Jesus in the stable, make a procession through the streets given out copious amounts of sweets to the children. These Kings wear their historical robes and as "Balthasar" was a black man he is always portrayed with a black face. It is considered an honour to be asked to represent one of the Kings, and Spaniards would be dismayed to think that this is considered offensive by "far away football fans" who seem to have very little idea about their culture. Monchi is a superb new 'signing' and this is what we should be discussing on this thread in my opinion.

I think that NSWE have been waiting patiently for the club to reach the point we're at. Villa have now arrived at the "lift off" stage where our owners are able to implement big structural changes they have been planning to facilitate considerable growth over the next "five years". What I find hugely exciting is their intention to be available to the 'operations team' on a day to day basis. With a lot of owners this might be a worrying thing, but Nassef and Wes are very accomplished and powerful businessmen who will sit effectively at the top of our new operations structure. We now have seven top professionals driving Villa onwards and upwards.

I'm just going to bed after celebrating Monchi's appointment. This is a huge statement for Villa going forward and it surprises me that on a day when NSWE reunited two guys who are at the top of world football, I have to search back to page two to find this thread. NSWE are the two people who have made this happen. Let's give them the full appreciation they deserve. I'm putting it at the top of page one where it should be!

It was going to be a quiet night in, but now we're heading out to Malvern town for a mini pub tour celebration, then returning to sample some serious 18 year old Whisky. Welcome to the Villa Señor 'Monchi'.

Pace frightens the opposition. I noticed a few managers last season say in their pre match press conferences that they were wary of Bailey's pace. Signing Williams would potentially give us a 90 minute pace threat on one or both wings depending on how Emery chooses to use Bailey and Williams.

I haven't got a clue about seedings, but I do have a good idea about the strength of the Villa team that will play the qualifying matches in August. Why are we worried about seedings? Our very talented squad will have had a full pre-seasons coaching with Emery and his staff, (plus some outstanding additional players that we don't yet know about). We will be big favourites to win a qualifying round against any other team,

I guess because I'm an old guy and I've been retired so long, I forget that most of you don't have the unlimited spare time that I have to browse and read the huge amount of often meaningless info (on the net) related to European football. I assumed that a lot of us had heard about Monchi, because he's reached an almost iconic status over the recent decade. The guy has a huge network of scouts and contacts world wide and is totally obsessive about what he does. He is highly regarded as a director of football.

I cannot believe that some of us are bored about waiting for Monchi to sign! I've had my fingers crossed since I first realised there was a chance that he'd join Emery at our club. If it happens (as I believe it will) I will be opening my whisky cabinet and celebrating, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy the excitement of anticipating top class people (world class?) coming to us. It's amazing how far we've come in the last five years. NSWE, EMERY, MONCHI .... This will be the best AVFC set up that I have ever seen in my seven decades of supporting the mighty Villa!

Top post!

He looks brilliant (I know it's only YouTube). He's lightning quick, genuinely two footed and is developing a good physique. He has very little end product in goals or assists to show for all his dominance and that would normally be a red flag, but he's still not quite 21and with Emery to coach him I think he has all the tools to be a real contributor to our goal tally. One thing's for sure, if we sign him opposition defenders are going to hate playing against Nico as they will have to double up on him all the time which will create space for others. I have this mental image of Williams on the right and a fully fit Bailey on the left setting fire to both touchlines in some games!

I read that Monchi speaks Spanish (obviously), French, and English fluently, and is now also proficient in Italian. That's very important in his job.

Monchi will be our most important "signing" this summer. Emery is brilliant as a coach, manager, motivator and whatever else he turns his hand to. Not only is he extremely hard working and superbly talented, he is obsessive to the point of compulsion when it comes down to even the finest of details. That's why Monchi is going to be such a huge addition, because Unai needs someone alongside him to share the massive work load so that he doesn't burn out. Monchi is so experienced and equally obsessive and driven as well as being supremely capable and knowledgeable, he will be invaluable to Emery. The two of them are a perfect fit for each other.

I get the impression that the only players who leave Villa will be those that we want to leave from now on.

Monchi has quite an imposing persona. He looks like he won't be dicked about.

If anyone hasn't watched Monchi's YouTube "master classes" yet you really should. It's one of the reasons I'm buzzing about having him here at Villa.

I wouldn't mind betting that as Emery and Monchi are good friends Unai has already been discussing his main targets and asking Monchi to check out best alternatives (strictly off the record between mates just chatting as mates do of course) if top targets can't or don't want to join the Villa Project.

I might have known that you would go for the musical statement Mazrim. It's not the heavy rock that I associate you with though.

I'm buzzing with excitement at this proposed appointment. Let's get it over the line!

We're upgrading. I've used an expression "Tier One" recently that I don't particularly like but it sums up our current transition. Our owners have decided that the time is right for a move from Tier Two up to Tier One. To do this we have to have Tier One management and staff who are at the top of football in terms of respect and reputation. Emery and Monchi both fit that description and Heck is a much respected sports marketing man with a top reputation, whereas Christian is a decent administrator who represented us professionally and with a fair bit of gravitas, but was neither a footballing brain or a real sports administrator. Purslow did a decent job for us (apart from the obvious), and is now being replaced by more talented people with a higher ceiling. Thanks Christian, and good luck for the future.

We may finally have identified the right man to get rid of our unwanted players.

Boubacar Kamara is a lucky man. He has a lovely family that adore him, tens of thousands of Villa fans who love him, and finally Deschamps is showing him a little bit of love as well.

For those concerned with our lack of goals, can you imagine a trio of Felix, Watkins and Goncalves! If that's too expensive for us then how about Goncalves, Watkins and David. Maybe this is what we've been saving our money for.