A.V.F.C

Only thing for me is that he is on big wages apparently and we've all been subjected to constant updates from McLeish that we need to 'trade carefully' etc, I just think that Ireland might end up getting sold on by McLeish for a cheaper option. Would be a shame as I think we will see the best of Ireland next year if we keep him.

He has done reasonably well this season, more so lately. That said he is still a long way off the player who was linking with Robinho and scoring/assisting great goals at Manchester City. We don't have many players, if any, with the technical ability he posseses so I'd advocate just getting behind him because a few more footballing brains around him and a good positive vibe around the team and club and he could become crucial for us next season. I think some of the praise is unwarranted though, I think Keane was better than him in that AMC role when he was at the club.

Really think everyone should just calm down, you can't have it both ways, we spent tons under MON, I think people forget how much we spent, much more than many clubs have had the luxury of doing in this league, MON blew a lot of our money on people like Sidwell who are frankly useless, Nicky Shorey and luke Young for a combined 10m was crazy stuff. Sunderland are a nothing club, not saying we're much better but considering we bought one of their most significant players and he was slapping in requests to join us, I am not too worried about their interest in N'Zogbia. Alot of people are going on about us losing out on him over the sake of 1m, clearly that won't happen, a fee will be agreed and there is no harm in haggling a price with that moron who owns Wigan, when a chairman comes out as he did and said they HAD to sell N'Zogbia to balance the books then it's a dumb business man who goes straight in and pays whatever they want, they backed themselves into a corner the moment they made that public, if Sunderland were as serious as us they'd have bid for him, and they'd have bid the 10m, for all Sky's stories of us having serious competition, N'Zogbia himself has only mentioned a bid from Villa, how is it in this day and age of journalism and sports coverage we've heard nothing about any other bid aside from our own? If Lerner etc thought this dealw as at risk im sure they'd pull the finger out, but I don't think it is at risk. And for those jealous of Sunderlands 9 signings, a few of Man Uniteds rejects, one forever injured, and last I heard they were actually attempting to sign Darren Gibson who quite frankly is shite at everything bar the odd wondergoal. The rest are freebies and cheap shit. He'll sign.

It's difficult to come to a new club when the atmosphere around the club is as it is, and when the team isn't performing, add that to what I consider a pretty big step up from the French League in coming to the prem. We should persist with him as I think we'll be rewarded. As for those mentioning Reo-Cokers contract, I imagine we have offered him one, but would you sign a long term contract with Villa now if you didn't even know if they'd be in the league the next year!

Look at his face the disgusting word removed.

People, do not get irritated by ramblings on TalkSpite, they love being controversial/negative, who would listen to any of them if they weren't! Stan is right it's tons of money but as long as this isn't the end of our activity then I feel it can only be positive. Love him to score the winner vs City if we got him, see the look on Milners face (if the cam pans over to the bench)

I generally like Stan but when he's a cock he's grade A. He really irritated me on twitter once and then blocked/deleted me when I alluded to Dogging. Face the truth Stan.

If Sunderland want a bidding war then they're kidding themselves, nobody else is coming in at our bid. I'm just going to be optimistic and say I would be shocked if it didn't go through now after all that's been said.

Dunno what has gotten into everyone. Ireland has been useless every time he has played, has asked to leave, and doesn't want to be here, what makes everyone think he's suddenly going to burst into life and be a creative force. He's a disease in the squad.

Every player hates being subbed, Petrov is lucky he lasted that long he was **** shit. I don't think he is getting sacked so the best thing to do is everyone pull together. What worries me most is that the other clubs who are doing shit are supporting the team, making it a difficult atmosphere and being willing to go for it, whereas VP was silent tonight and it was just pressure from the off, I thought we'd be going mad tonight to make a great atmosphere post Chelsea, every fan has a right to express whatever they feel at a match I just think we're shooting ourselves in the foot, it's like we have decided we have a divine right to be flirting with the top four and finishing 6th, it's a hard league, no easy games, we can only stick with them and try to back them.

I think everyone should get behind him, i've been behind him anyway because I believe a lot of the problem was to do with the attitudes of certain players not wanting to embrace change, Houllier hasn't dealt with everything very well but today proved they will fight for him and for the club. All I wanted to see today was some pride in what they were doing, and some belief and passion. They delivered all of that with a good game to boot. Sunderland game is absolutely massive for the club and for Houllier.

I dont want curbishley BOF but im interested to hear why you think he would guarantee mediocrity. You only have to look at Charlton now to see he must have been doing a half decent job. West Ham - well there was defo summit goin on ther then wasnt there? Serious question (and I know Im not Moyes' biggest fan) but can people honestly say that David Moyes has achieved more at Everton than Curbishley did at charlton? Charlton were mediocre though weren't they? The job he did in getting them here and obviously their demise after he went suggests how well he did there but they were an average, boring and mediocre side. He, despite escaping blame, is one of the reasons West Ham are so financially ****, we moan about MON and his control of wages here but Curbs was awful at hammers in that respect, money spent on crocks like Upson, Boa Morte and Dyer, not to mention Llungberg, pretty unforgiveable record of signings there actually for me. True things were going on behind the scenes that were out of order and I feel Curbs was right to mantain his integrity and leave, but he has a record of producing mundane teams. I just think he has all the same flaws as MON...a bit of a paupers version of MON if you like. That's just my opinion though, I mean, I truly am dead set against him as an appointment. I do think Moyes has done a better job, I mean, he broke the top four with barely any money, only Spurs have done it since and on a huge budget with a much better squad, remember Moyes team of that year cruising up to Villa for a 3-1, he got them playing above themselves as well, people like Osman played big parts in that. I think Moyes signings have been better, Everton more money than Charlton but then it shows doesn't it, Everton until last season had been 5th for two years running I think it was. Moyes is a much better manager than Curbishley, don't think many would dispute it really.

Duno why anyone is advocating Curbishley! Not great football, something levelled at MON. Has a horrible second half of season record, same as MON, something MON was constantly criticised for. His signings were overpriced and outrageous wage wise, Boa Morte, Dyer, Upson all for big money all with a questionable injury history and all served to totally **** up West Hams finances with their huge wages and lack of impact. How much was Freddie Llungberg on for god sake. Is any of this sounding familiar? He is basically an Aldi's version of O'Neill without the character and enthusiasm. No thank you. In fact, **** right off.

oh my god , what does that matter !!! Though the Hitler comment could prob be taken badly, I will go out and say it's a bit cringeworthy to watch people on the site pretend they care and go down the whole self-righteous route. The site has mods, if they feel there is a problem they will handle it and dish out the punishment, doesn't need people jumping in with lots of superior bullshit, I thought it was a bit of a nothing comment myself but there we go. You wonder if anybody would have felt compelled to say anything if one person hadn't been offended, I think not. Anyway, back to Weimann, feel desperately sorry for him and just when he seems to be on the fringes and getting minutes here and there he gets a seemingly serious injury. I agree with those who say it wasn't a malicious challenge. It was v.disappointing to see some of the Rapid fans throwing water on him when he is on a stretcher, throwing it at the medical staff as well is just an extremely poor show, throwing the lighters etc at baby Brad as well was annoying to watch, that's what happens when you go to these intimidating grounds though, always a small bunch of animals who think they can break the rules.

Is Lerner really going to Milan or was that just bull? If so, though its a bit outlandish, maybe Leonardo is who he wants to speak to. Young, which fits with MM thing about him wanting someone who will build his own dynasty, he is a free agent so no compo payments, and his English is fantastic. My own personal preference is someone whose managed in the league before but he might not be a bad outside tip. Certainly a risk tho, only just read back a few pages there and people are rightly commenting on his results with Milan oaps.

My outside bet is we go for Hughes, pay them the compensation which they then use to go for their orginal first choice of Jol, Al Fayed might not actually be annoyed by the move at all as many think, he might welcome it as the quickest buck he's made in a while which he can throw at Ajax to get his man. We get Hughes and the guy who got some of Irelands best form, plays better football, and whilst being a total penis did a v.good job at Blackburn before whatever went wrong at City went wrong. Could suit everyone, I imagine we'd all be relatively happy? He might even end up going out and getting his old fave Bellamy as well.

I don't really want McGeady, he comes across as a total sulky knob to me, he's been sent home for half time tantrums before and hes given it back to Celtic fans when they've got on his back which...if we're all honest with ourselves, our fans are no stranger to doing ourselves if someones playing awful. Some supposed footy itk on twitter seems to think we've enquired about Barnetta, know v.little about him. We seem to be linked to lots of wingers, am I the only one who thinks thats bottom of the priority list?

See, I think Fletcher is overrated. People have been all over him for about two seasons now. Either way Fletcher is first time and not realistic, I think Carrick will actually leave them this summer (not to us, I think he'll go back to Spurs). Just no point in us discussing Fletcher though as it's just not a goer.

I think Bendtner gets a really raw deal, he is pretty shit sometimes but I definitely think there is a good player there. Despiseable arrogant rocket polisher type but he would get goals I think and he offers presence and goals instead of it being a one or the other scenario like with Heskey. I think he'd do v.well here, not that it would happen mind and not that it's exactly my first choice. Steer v.clear of Eduardo, he's been actually attrocious since returning from injury. I live with an Arsenal fan and they really all think he's lost it. The transfer i'd really like but that I know won't happen would be Michael Carrick. On the fringes a bit at United now, would definitely be available imo with their financial situation if a good bid came in, but without champions league I could not see him looking at us, and he might be happy to be a squaddy there anyway just for the kudos of being at United. Him and Milner in the middle would be pretty awesome for us though, I do like Petrov but I think long term we need to be looking at someone better next to Milner.

Easy question, City and Barry.

General, My housemate is at University doing a business course and he wants to do a year in industry, marketing I think, he's a huge football fan so he has gone about trying to apply to do it at Aston Villa. I was wondering if you had any number or contacts of anyone whom he could e-mail or speak to directly about doing something with the club for his placement year? I think Birmingham City and West Brom offer something like it, but let's be honest, who wants to work for those chumps?

I agree with that completely, i'd like Martin O'Neill to read that post. I fully support O'Neill but he is known throughout football as a stubborn man and maybe reading that will let him know that the situation is NOT ok. As he says, it's not about being fickle, this is one of the worst runs in the history of the prem I believe and that shouldn't have been the case last January, it was OUR fault cause we didn't bring in players when we were in a brilliant and attractive position to do so and that lies at Martin's feet. I am still going to go to all the matches but as said, throwing cup competitions like we did last year and have done so a couple of years was never what I thought O'Neill would do...I believed we'd win something, and this tiny squad gets smaller rather than larger every year, it seems we've completely lost our way and it's up to him to do something about it, but he isn't.

Stay, Moyes has had some shocker times at Everton and they always stuck with him and now they've been the best of the rest twice in a row and been in the top 6 for even longer. They aren't the same man but consistency is always best and MON will sign more players before the end of the window and in the not too distant future this will all just be a horrible memory hopefully never to be revisited.

Right, this is such an unecessary touch but...IF (and its sure as hell a big if at the moment) we get the champions league spot, then can we play the champions league tune nice and loud after the final match at Villa Park this season! Give us all a taste of what would be to come next season.

Ha, every single sporting outlet has had the 30m player comment in. Nice one General!