Wes

That is some horrific defending. Absolutely dreadful.

I'm so sick of Collins trying long balls.

Guess we're not going to know for sure until the first 5 minutes.

Who's the stunner in red on SSN. Yikes!

Sweet Jesus.... I think I have a new favourite sky sports news presenter lady...

This is the most important question of the afternoon.

ESPN: Bent agrees personal terms with Villa

Darren Bent's £24 million move from Sunderland to Aston Villa has edged closer to completion after sources close to the transfer told ESPNsoccernet that the striker has agreed personal terms.

Bent, 26, found himself at the centre of the January transfer window's most surprising piece of news on Monday when it emerged that Aston Villa had succeeded with an initial offer of £18 million, rising to £24 million, for the England international.

Sunderland subsequently revealed that Bent had handed in a transfer request and manager Steve Bruce told ESPNsoccernet he was "disappointed" to be losing a player who has scored 32 goals in 58 Premier League appearances for the Black Cats.

It is now understood that Bent has agreed personal terms with Villa and could earn as much as double the £35,000-a-week salary he currently enjoys at the Stadium of Light. However, there are still some outstanding issues to be resolved before any transfer is announced.

A source told ESPNsoccernet: "By and large the deal is on track but there are some negotiations with Sunderland to conclude. The player has agreed his personal terms and by and large the figures mentioned are correct. There is still a lot of detail to be ironed out but the deal is closer to being completed."

If Bent does join Aston Villa then he will shatter the club's current transfer record, which is the £12 million paid for Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing in the summer of 2009.

Villa have already strengthened in January with the signing of Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun.

HESKEY!!!

On Radio Five Live, just before the show finished (10:28ish), Pat Murphy came back on to say the Houllier deal was all but confirmed. He's with the French national team in Sarajevo at the moment but will be back in France on Wednesday to get out of his contract with them. So it'll either be Wednesday or Thursday when its finalised.

Something along those lines anyhow. There was no mention of who would be the coach under him (as i recall). Have to listen again on the iPlayer when it's up.

today or tommorow randy will release a statement about the search for a manager according to General, most likely that his got a potential list of managers and thinks KvM is doing a good job in the meantime etc.

On Radio Five Live they just said Aston Villa will release a statement regarding the manager position within the next hour.

What would people be happy with over the next few years? Clearly a new manager needs time to build their own squad but do people think getting closer to 4th than MON did last season is a realistic aim in the next 3 years?

A smaller wage bill and remaining in the Europa League spots.

If we could get Jol then he would be my choice but that's unlikely (unless they don't qualify for the Champions League maybe).

Pickings are slim at the moment. Hitzfeld would be fantastic but is he a realistic target? Bilic or Bradley maybe.

The club stand by MONs interpretations of events. In that case so will I.

£24m would be fine. I think they have to accept it now, just because there is no longer a relationship between player and manager.

I just don't get this.

We signed him for £12 million.

He's played well for a couple of years.

We'll sell him for double that.

It's a pretty good deal all round to me.

I agree with everything you say. I would also add I would hope the majority of the money is spent on younger players rather than players who only had a few years left.

Hmm the Sessegnon and Flamini links make some sense (if true). If the rumoured valuations are correct a combined £15m for both sounds good to me.

Post removed - we have a thread in Other football for other teams kits, this is a Villa thread.

5 - Striker, Two Midfielders, a Full Back and a Youth Prospect.

Brilliant, people honestly think MON can replace the hole left by Milner?

Whats his track record like for CM's... Good, Potential, Shit.

Downing to play in centre mid next season confirmed! All part of a master plan.

Credit to Downing for a change for a lovely timed assist.

Warnock will be raging about that tomorrow!

Really glad the Saints won in the end. Some ballsy calls. That onside kick and 2 point conversion were awesome.

WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!!!

What a game.

My heart doesn't feel so well.

Warnock redeemed for the first goal.

Come on guys let's use this to push on!

Cuellar is getting destroyed by Olsson.

Cuellar having a shocker.

I would be delighted with a point at the Emirates. I believe the more key game will be against Liverpool and making sure they do not gain any ground on us.

Basically if we can keep our undefeated streak going during these two games.