cheltenham_villa

Have not heard or seen anything to back this up, but a work colleague has been to VP to renew his season ticket today and says that all the talk around the ground is that Man Ure have had a bid rejected for Gaby. Neither of us have found anything to back this up, anyone else heard anything?

Jagielka is also considered to be that good a goal keeper that Sheff Utd would often name 5 outfield players as substitutes. I'd like to see him at villa, would want him in as a right back ideally.

Not good enough for everton = not good enough for villa. ummm, not a great basis for not signing someone, look at crouch at villa, now he's in the champions league final. Personally think beattie would be a good signing and excellent backup for Carew, who i really dont think has a full season in him. Hasnt he already picked up two injurys since signing. On similar thoughts i think Kevin Davies would fit in well. has played well as part of a front this year, wins just about everything in the air and should have the hard work ethic that MON seems to crave.

Ok. Owen's agent spoke to the press about the release clause - an attempt to put Owen in the shop window and drum up some interest from buyers. Shepherd knows how upset the Newcastle fans would be if Owen waltzed off this summer after spending an age on the injured list, so he spoke out to let the fans know that the club wasn't the source of the story and wouldn't be a willing seller. Steve, in your interpretation of events, if a club outside the top four had made an enquiry about Owen, what possible motivation could Shepherd have for making these comments? What would it achieve? I'm not ruling out the possibility of Villa making a bid for Owen this summer (although I don't think it's very likely), but there's nothing in this story to support the idea that that might be the case. this was my understanding also, Shepherd is implying that Owens camp have released this and i guess he's trying to pressure the same camp into pledging alliegance to newcastle. Should this fail then i think he's trying to cover his back and paint Owen as looking for a move rather than other clubs trying to get him. On a slightly honest note why would he leave for us. The clubs are similar, he's likely to be playing for one of the most respected managers in the game, Newcastles aims for next season are likely to be very similar to ours and im not sure that we would match his wages.......If only he could read the generals thread

dont think we'll get SWP, had a good finish to the season at Chelsea and already turned us down once. He'll stay and fight for his place.

i do think if woodgate leaves and doesnt go to a top 4 side then he will quite possibly stay at boro. They've never really been short of money and hes a boro lad. Said he cried when asked to captain them this year. Dont get me wrong, id love him but just think hes more likely to stay at boro

You mean you didn't go on the outside of the queue right up to lane closure bollards - saved 45 mins! whilst i certainly considered this and cursed every driver passing me, this was quickly stopped by the lorry driver in front of my who decided to block both of these lanes and travel at the same speed as the inside lane.

General Its very possible something is in place already with the transport group being setup but would it be possible for villa to look at displaying information about transport delays during the game. For instance last night myself (and im sure a number of other villa fans) spent the best part of an hour sat on the M5 as road works had been put in place. I realise that as a responsible driver i should have checked these things etc but a general announcement at half time or full time about any road closures, roadworks on main roads or train delays would be greatly welcomed by myself and im sure others. Keep up the good work ps if your worried about villa related stress you should see my cousin, he's early 20s and the greyest man i know.

not a big point general but somethng i noticed, was looking at the pics of the training ground, all very impressive but one of the pictures showed the new shower rooms with the old crest emblazened on the tiles.

forget the partnership, just get olof in on his own, he's trys to win every tackle and header himself anyway. playin just one centre back will also support the 5 strikers were now playing in every game

for 18 million i would want one of the top strikers in europe. this is not bent. i do wonder if we had slapped a 12 mill bid in at the start of the window if we'd have been successful. charlton cant sell now, they have no time to find a replacement.

on another note id be shocked if we got ashton, i expect curbishly to try and buy bent and maybe he'll be successful. would think he would look to partner the two. West ham have got money and are looking at a potential relegation battle. who in their right mind would sell the striker they have so badly missed. to get ashton in january you would have to pay massivly over the odds.

Reo Cocker is on the bbc today saying that he thinks he'll be sold in january, personally think he is an excellent player and could be ideal competition/cover for mccann. would see this as an area we urgently need to strengthen. The games we have had to play without Mccann this year we have really struggled.

at the end of the day WHAM are a selling club, i think to get Ashton in January would be a touch optimistic but if they continue to struggle then i wouldnt be surprised if he became available. He wouldnt be cheep and we certainly wouldnt be the only club in for him. But for injury he'd be an england international and given recent fortunes would probably be starting. in short, id love Ashton but i think we've a lot of work to do in order to attract players like him. More realistic transfer targets, i still think a target man is likely, what about Kevin Davies. look at how hes playing with anelka and diouf either side of him. could see him doing an excellent job with Gaby and Moore.

depending on how things progress at West Ham i wonder if Ashton would become a possibility. think he would suit villa and MON down to the ground. I fully expect us to go in for a target man.

christ lets not fall into that trap again.....do you remember Djemba Djemba, bet ferguson is still laughing