LeoTheLion

A good, article like Trinity Tom says, although I don't agree with it all either. The new owners have done more so far than Ellis ever has. Actions not words, and had Agathe and Sutton arrived in January I would have been surprised. I have and will be up to VP more this season than ever, principally because I believe, and want to believe, certainly not any less than when E**is was in charge. Good points raised about O'Neill, I openly admit that the feelings of hope I have now are similar to those I had when O'Leary first took over and we were doing well, so in some ways remain pessimistic because look how quickly that one went tits up. Ellis and O'Leary were proved to be bullshitters of the highest order and their collective incomptence brought them down. Will the same be said of RL and MON? Gut feeling says no, if they were I'm sure the training ground and the Holte Hotel refurbishment would have started on the last day of the transfer window, along with the arrival of Danny Mills and Phil Jagielka. I can only speak for myself but the new regime get a completely clean slate, regardless of how it might turn out. But if the supporters get to fill the away end at important games now and again with free coach travel, and things continue the way they have done then I can't expect any more. Although the pie makers and Holte End bar staff might feel differently, the amount of shit they seem to have been taking lately :winkold: VILLA FOREVER

All depends on annual income I guess. Must go, time for a baaaaa-th.

What would be nicer than to have Vass as a fourth choice striker... I get this feeling that for him to 'realise his potential' he's due a move away* The problem is it now appears we are a selling club with feck all to sell. Oh sorry, Striderman's locked in the Control Centre 'keeping the powder dry'. Look on the bright side, we saved 3-4m on Carlton Cole. Another trip to Rent-a-Loaf anyone? *Possibly into hurdles, or the 400m

I quite like D'Jay Jay :?

Couldn't agree more. Although by all accounts Barry was particularly pants yesterday, it's so much easier to become a scapegoat / become indespensible within such a small squad. Peter Whittingham, for one, Lee Hendrie, Tommy Hitz, Ulisses - barring bad days all effective players when played in the right positions, even if that is just for half a game or whatever. For instance, Whitts - it surprises me that with our supposed ambition he is the only other alternative to a player who is a having a bad run of form - and if not him (personally I think he would be ineffective over a full 90 minutes) then playing Hitz out there, and running the risk of him taking the mantle of Scapegoat of the Week. That's why I wrote what I did about the January transfer window being so important - if we don't spend some decent money (OK, wrong argument-) If we don't buy some proper quality soon and have our first teamers pushed then it is only a matter of time before DO'L lands the role. Its the legendary Circle of Managing the Villa.

Well I read it as 'which player is the weakest link'. It seems to be (and I may be wrong), that JPA's argument is based on a technicality rather than logic, and he is most indignant that Mellberg's name was not on the list, rather than the fact that Mellberg is the weakest player. However I would suggest that a poll is created with a simple 'yes or no' with the title "is Mellberg our weakest player?". I predict, and I could be wrong, that the answer would be 100% no, and the thread would be full of comments like "bloody hell, have your eyes fallen out?". If this were to be the case, then it would indeed make Olof's exclusion from the list a mere side issue and not one of real debate at all. But I am only second guessing - is this the case JPA?

JPA, are you saying that our games so far, including the ones that Mellberg has made mistakes in, would have had better results if Mellberg had not been playing?

I know, I was joking. Maybe we should say that fate is the weakest link, I was so looking forward to a settled Delaney/Mellberg/Laursen/JLloyd back four. Whoever is our latest 'weakest link', for whatever reason, we lack the squad depth prepared to cope for the situation.

I voted for Laursen - leaves far too much for Olly to cope with with his arse sat on the treatment table.

I reckon we would miss Tommy Sorenson big time if he was out for a while - but still rather him than Big King O.

I reckon that it's in our hands whether Beattie signs or not, but my gut feeling is that if somebody like Charlton or Spurs stuck in an 8 million offer, we wouldn't match it. But I'd love to be wrong!!! I think Beattie will leave anyway and his preferred destination would be Villa. Maybe we'll do a 'Berson' and get him for 6million and Makan at the end of the month?