Ponky

He didn't show up for a medical at VP this morning too did he?

try here

Just had a look at this site Which has only one rumour about Villa: 'Freddy Adu will start a trial period at aston Villa on thursday'. Hmmmmm......Man U didn't want him but he's a very popular transfer target on Football Manager....

I think in those circumstances the only real option MON has to appease the masses is to sign championship players (or league 2 stars like Jermaine Easter!) or players from clubs in other countries; both of which type player is untried and has a much greater risk of failure than proven premiership quality. If he does this and the experiment fails, then he is doubly damned because not only did he not sign premiership stars but he also wasted Randy's credit rating on some overseas duds. I would suggest he has several overseas targets lined up, but he knows there is a chance that such signings might not pay off for 6 months (if at all) and so he will focus on his 4-5 big targets from the premiership and when those are clearly unavailable he will look elsewhere. Not foolproof but who knows of a better way for January signings? After all, whoever we sign we'll want them stuck into the rotation ASAP won't we?

If you go back to that article where he says he wants to bring in 5 Petrov-quality players you need to read the whole thing - because he goes on to basically play down expectations by saying it might not be possible, but he will try his best. So he can't win - he's raising expectations by saying what he wants to do, but others will say he's too negative by saying 'oh, but it might not happen'.

GEe how loved must Sheva feel at the moment, with Chelsea apparently willing to throw mega-buck players at Villa to get hold of a bloke that many Villa fans would happily give away.....

Maybe pinch Viduka from under WH's noses as well?

Dont think we are in for him to be honest..... And its only the carling cup as well... Doesnt really come into it, there not going to not play him purely because theres speculation around his future.... Surely Bellamy will be begging for someone to take him away from Liverpool after last night!

As Marty has come out and said just recently, we'd rather see the new faces being unveiled at the club than hear him talking about who he's going after. So if all you local lads can head down to Villa Park can you let us know when you see anyone??

The was defo the problem in August daholteend. Newcastle wanted Viduka, which fell over meaning they didn't need the money and no need to sell Milner IIRC.

Hi - first time poster, posting here from Perth, WA. I am a very new Villa fan, having decided (through a complicated process) to follow Villa just before the start of this season, and having only followed Premier League only casually in previous years. From a relative newcomers perspective, it seems to me that many people here are assessing activities during this window by the standards of the previous administration and management. For example, if Villa has not been mentioned as making a bid for SWP, Bent, or whoever, it must because MON is too cautious, Randy has spiders in his pockets or the club as a whole has not enough ambition! I understand completely I do - you guys have been burned before over so many years to the point where you expect to be disappointed by inept management or stingy transfer budgets. I have been paying close attention to the things MON has been saying over the past 3-4 months and it seems to me that he has a plan for Villa, to build it into a powerhouse club with quality players and quality people in behind it. He has also made it clear he has been leaving no stone unturned in searching for players to come in and bolster the squad. He says he is in it for the long haul. Randy has also said this, and is clearly a sports nut so it is evident he is prepared to put the cash into the club to build a great squad (and come on - he owns a credit card company - if he can't afford the transfer fees he'll just whack it on the Visa card and pay it off in 18 mths time!!) The fact that Villa is not being mentioned in the papers as being after this or that player, and MON was saying he wasn't sure how much money was available and Randy hasn't made any statement about what he wants to do with the squad these are all very encouraging signs IMO. It seems to me that, unlike Curbs, who is under pressure to save his club's arse RIGHT NOW, he does not have to throw money left right and centre, he can pay attention to the market, select his targets carefully, and do what he needs to do to get them over the line. In fact it seems to me - from reading the papers only - is that Villa are waiting and watching the main action with other clubs' bids and then jumping on the wagon when a price has been set. Yes, MON says nothing will happen till after the FA cup match - but really that's a no brainer - who else has been signed yet apart from Boa Morte and a few loan deals? Like everyone else, I am busting to know who we'll get, and I hope things start to gather momentum this week, but I think we should try and save the angst and defeatist gloom and doom until the first of Feb!!! Cheers - Ponky from Perth