pete165

Be patient and a goal will come. Relax people.

we could easily be 3 up - no problems, goals will come. Just be patient.

...to be fair, the live console on the official site does give plenty of regular play updates. In summary, it sounds like Bannan is running the show and we've had practically all the play and a few good chances - Ireland effort saved, Bent nearly in a few times but offside, etc. Sounds fine overall, but as long as we don't score, you just never know!

have always said it - he's class and will only improve.

A good start was always important and from where I'm standing, McLeish hasn't put a single foot wrong yet. Honest integrity in interviews, humble with fans in the face of considerable vitriol and has used the players who were out in the cold as well as some youngsters. Early days but nothing to criticise so far.

I would like to see: ---------------------------GIVEN------------------------------ ---YOUNG------DUNNE-------CLARK--------WARNOCK---- --------------------MAKOUN---PETROV---------------------- -------------------------IRELAND----------------------------- ----ZOG------------------BENT-----------------GABBY------ But I think it'll be Heskey for Ireland like Braga or mybe Delph for Ireland in a more defensive 'away' lineup.

brilliant for first 25 minutes tonight - in the heart of every good thing we did - looks really really good. sadly off injured, was pulling all of the strings.

fonz warming up - someone injured!!!!

Pete Colley on SSN just now reporting live from the Bescott for our friendly tonight. Alex McLeish gave up his time for an interview and said that he'd like to add 'one name' before the Hong Kong tour but said chances of Nzgbia looked 'pretty slim' at the moment. He also said there was a 'list' of targets so that we don't 'get caught short' if targets didn't work out.

The Times Midlands correspondent Peter Lansley looks at where Alex Mcleish will turn after completing the signing of Shay Given, claiming that Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia is high on the hit list and wants to come to Villa Park. http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/kickoff/blog/2011-07-18/lansley-charles-nzogbia-wants-go-aston-villa?

Under the right manager, with the right system and a run of games to get his mojo back, Stephen Ireland is a top class player who could be worth 15m this time next season and could be our player of the season in a heartbeat. He's shown NOTHING for us, no question. That doesn't stop him from being a very good player IF he can get it right.

I love Aston Villa. But if the decision that seems on the cards to appoint McLeish goes through, I will no longer support you and the board. If you do not listen to the dissenting voices, I'll tell what will happen: -poor results -a lack of faith in the whole board and Randy -everything you've worked for being ruined - including the relationship with us fans -poor atmosphere at VP -you needing a new manager in November I have had enough now. You've shamed us and can say goodbye to my support forever.

I love Aston Villa. But if the decision that seems on the cards to appoint McLeish goes through, I will no longer support you and the board. If you do not listen to the dissenting voices, I'll tell what will happen: -poor results -a lack of faith in the whole board and Randy -everything you've worked for being ruined - including the relationship with us fans -poor atmosphere at VP -you needing a new manager in November I have had enough now. You've shamed us and can say goodbye to my support forever.

So, to summarise this so-called 'epic' last couple of weeks: Houllier leaves by mutual consent - Villa state they have started search for new boss. Statement by Villa that they will update when there is more news. Whelan says Martinez was contacted and will decide if he wants to go for talks. That's it. Finito. All the rest of this thread - Corsica, Moyes, Rafa etc is utter rubbish and no worth even thinking about. It's not been a huge, epic process and it's not been worth all of these pages.

The impatience on here is ridiculous. Our search for a new boss is not a 'laughing stock', 'ridiculous', 'epic' or 'going to go on all summer'. The reason it seems like this is that people are checking the news on forums, twitter, odds, etc every 5 minutes because they're excited about what's going to happen. We can't stop news outlets from creating rumours, all the club can do is be careful not to make any official statements or give away silly interviews to people - and they haven't. The rest is mere speculation and if you're getting angry with the club for doing or not doing things that have been merely reflected on sky sports tickers, you're a fool. In the REAL world, the time from Houllier to interviews has been just about right, given manager's availability, the range of candidates we're looking at the thought that any villa fan would want to go into the process. It's not like we're sitting here on the Thursday with no sign of Randy - he's here and the interviews are being concluded soon. Personally, Martinez would be brave and good for us. He's a smart man, with the Catalan style in his head that we've all secretly yearned for. We don't just want results - MON showed us that. We want style and we'll get it with this guy. Yes, he might not be the man to get us to the promised land, but he could start a legacy in playing football that another man could take on. If we've not got a massive money pot, we'll need someone who can spot a player. Think of Swansea getting promoted under Brendan Rodgers - I'm pretty sure that's the first of his legacies reaching fruition.

You COMPLETE and UTTER IDIOT. You are lying and making it up. I know you are. There's no way Mourinho would take a job in a bar.

just stuck 100 on rafa that should pay for my 5* summer holiday this is all working out nicely don't ask how I know - I just know

I've just had the call from Randy. Are you guys happy for me to take over instead of McClaren?

Is that what you thought when we were 4 up at Boro, with Cattermole in tears and a fan ran up to his own manager and ripped up his season ticket?

general I've never posted on your thread. but here's the warning - and I speak for thousands: If McClaren takes over at Villa, it's over. I mean - OVER. Pete

Hate to say I told you so, but this is NOT news. IT was ALWAYS going to happen. Ancelotti was never going to come here in a million years. Nor was Sneijder before. Some people's imaginations run wild. Funny how when McClaren is mentioned, suddenly Rafa's not so bad after all isn't it?!!!!!

The Turkish Football Federation has accepted that Guus Hiddink is likely to leave his job as national team boss and return to Chelsea. According to a senior source at the TFF, the Dutchman "can't say no to Chelsea, we believe he wants to leave". Hiddink led Chelsea to an FA Cup victory as caretaker manager in 2009. Despite an indifferent qualifying campaign, Turkey remain in contention for a Euro 2012 play-off place after a 1-1 draw against Belgium on Saturday. Hughes more likely now?

Fellow Villa fans - can you REALLY not see what's happening here? We're setting ourselves up not just for disappointment but mockery. Yet again some itk nonsense has people writing stuff about Ancelotti's signings, etc. forgetting that there's not a chance that we'll attract such a big name. The truth is that McClaren is far more likely. I hope and pray that it's going to be better than that, but with all of this false hope going round, this is going to be the latest in a long line of threads that we look back on years later and curse ourselves for taking the bait. I understand it - we all like to dream - but let's not make ourselves look like fools! We've done it SO many times before...

It's good to dream, guys. But really worried everyone's going to be disappointed. Ancelotti will probably go to a top team. He's been linked with us but it's just one interview away from him being out of the running. No statement from him means nothing. I'd want him here - of course I would - but every year there's a thread on here that makes people forget that we're NOT a top team. It was the same with thoughts of buying Sniejder etc. There was never a real chance, but people buy into it and their imagination runs. Don't get your hopes too high! (can't help but hope either)

Count me as one. Houllier had won a fair bit up there as well. those were the days when liverpool were funded man city style - and we had endless pundits discussing the secrets of liverpools success how long ago was his last trophy we don't want \ need a another overhyped ex scouse boss Sorry to do this but when exactly was OUR last trophy? 1996 But we are looking for a bloke to win us the next one. and a bloke who was bankrolled 7/8 years ago - isn't going to do that That's a bit strong. All I'm saying is that he HAS won trophies - if you took away 'bankrolling' you might change quite a few managers' credentials. Winning two Spanish titles isn't to be sniffed at, by the way.