jon_c

Just out of interest which of the backroom staff also left? I assume Robertson and Walford, have definitely gone. I heard that Ian Storrey-Moore also left. Can anyone confirm who went?

My biggest worry is if the board decide to 'take their time' over a decision as General Krulak suggested in his thread. Then its to late to get any new players transferred in. (Which IMO we really need.)

Which leads to two problems.

One it is sure as hell going to look like the board is stalling so they don't have to fork out money on players (whether the case or not.)

And two, this season is at best looking a mid table write off. And that to me is the most damaging. It'll affect attendances, therefore profits. It'll affect the view of pontential players who you'd like to join, and the view of players you wouldn't want to leave. We've spent the last four seasons making us a constant top six, european qualifying team. I hope we don't throw away this good work.

If I was going to be meeting with a potential candidate, I'd do it somewhere neutral to dim speculation in case talks didn't go well. So my guess is a manager with no connection to Milan at all.

Kevin MacDonald, Bob Bradley and Sven Goran Eriksson all 9/4 joint favourites to be next Villa manager with SkyBet.

http://www.skybet.com/betting/football/manager-specials/t10002896.html

Top 6

Macdonald K 9/4

Bradley B 9/4

Eriksson S 9/4

Jol M 10/1

McLeish A 12/1

Koeman, R. 12/1

I don't know who it will be, but I'm certain it won't be any of those three.

That's not Lock anyway.

My main problem with Kevin Mcdonald is that he hasn't got reputation to persuade players to the club.

He is a very good coach though.

Bring in a DoF with KMac as coach?

Who for DoF?

I'd love Taylor. I was bought up on Taylor's Villa and he pulled some amazing players out of obscurity.

I'd agree with you totally. If it wasn't for the impending closure of the transfer window. With Milner looking to leave, we'll still need a few new bloods in.

Do you see more than 1 new face (besides Ireland) being signed as I just cannot see time permitting it even if we appointed a new manager tomorrow!

Possibly but doesn't mean that's not what we need.

I think Randy can afford to take his time and not rush and make a poor appointment as Kevin Mac appears to have done a great job today.

I'd agree with you totally. If it wasn't for the impending closure of the transfer window. With Milner looking to leave, we'll still need a few new bloods in.

Just occurred to me, who does make the decision? Is it Randy, or the CEO, or does it have to go to a board vote.

Aguirre seems a pretty good manager, but there were also some accusations being flung around. About him receiving money from television companies to alter team selection. Don't know if they were baseless or not.

General,

A quick technical question. When a contract would be signed with a new player, who exactly has to sign it on the clubs side?

Who signs a players contract from the clubs side?

I suspect I might be the only person that thinks 16m and Ireland is a shit deal. He doesn't have the consistency alone to replace Milner. So we will need to spend that 16m on another midfielder aswell, just to put us back to where we were last season. And then if thats the only money we'll be using, we also need a new left back. Just to keep us on par with last season.

Then whatever's left to improve the team. (and those new players will likely have to be on less wages than the ones we have already.)

Because he's got the charisma and pull of a OAP prostitute

So he could attract Wayne Rooney then?

One of the rags is leading with we want Moyes

I would be **** delighted, but there is no way in hell we'd get him from Everton.

I can honestly not think of one available manager that would be able to take the club forward at this moment time.

No sorry raymond domenech, or diego maradona

I can honestly not think of one available manager that would be able to take the club forward at this moment time.

Insomnia is on BBC1 tonight at 1040pm - it's very very good

Agreed. Pacino is fantastic in it.

- McGeady - Petrov - Young - Downing -

- Keane - Agbonlahor -

Ew, I don't know if that's good or bad?

I'd say if you're going to play Young in the middle it needs to be part of a three man unit. Possibly with two holding. He's a little two lightweight otherwise.

I was there a couple of years ago when Barry got the bird. I thought it was embarrassing and sad then and if the same happened to Milner I would again be sad but I wouldn't be surprised as mob behaviour tends to take over from common sense on matchdays. Fans are the only ones who can't change clubs, for everyone else it is just a business.

Exactly. Anybody who says things like "he earns enough money" is living on another planet.

I've met dozens of millionaires, including my current boss. There isn't a single one of them who thinks "I've got a big house, lots of nice cars and will never have to work again, I'll start turning down any more money that's offered to me".

I've said it before, but if I was on £50K a week at Villa, and Blues offered me £100K, I'd be doing a Craig Gardner special pretty bloody quickly!

I wouldn't. Id stay at Villa for 50k a week over anyone else on the planet and become a hero.

I've always said I'd play for Villa for the wages I get at my current job. (and they're not that great). I think its because if your not a footballer, you realise what a bloody privilege and a joy it would be to play professional football. Even more so if it was for a club you loved.

Crock of Shit tonight, No way Cruise's time was that fast. Clarkson Hollywood asslicking, nice to see.

Where did the incredibly hard up west ham suddenly get there money from ? 'Cause it sure as he isn't from Gold and Sullivan.

My bet is they're in administration by the end of the season.

oh well...

BLACKBURN Rovers have this morning denied reports that they are interested in Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey.

Rovers have been searching for a forward all summer and made a bid for a front man yesterday.

The club are keeping the player's identity a closely guarded secret for fear of jeopardising the deal but it is understood the striker in question is not Heskey, who is not on Rovers' shortlist this summer.

The last thing City's owners seem to want, is to look small time by quibbling over price. Everton stuck to there guns and got a ridiculous amount of money for Lescott. Man City could have easily had someone else there for cheaper. But they didn't.

Correct but Everton never said their entire plans for the summer went hand in hand with Lescott's future either.

Ok I've been having a look but I can't find where we said that.

And now, their manager's come out and said they want him. A new player every five minutes comes out and says they want him. There's pressure on both sides to complete a deal.

Its all about who blinks first.

He does look to have great feet, and to be fair I'd rather risk 5 million on him from the eredivisie than risk 20 million on Suarez.