A.V.F.C

At the end of the day, we've paid loads of money, those who ran off when the going got tough have crawled back with the high attendances and as much as I keep believing what the generals saying about O'Neill and not sitting on his bum...there just needs to be some proof! 3 signings isn't that bad looking at opposition, but we needed more than them anyway, and it still doesn't balance out the outgoings of Carson, Sorensen, Mellberg and soon Barry, it just about breaks us even. There has been a feel good factor since the takeover and since the MON arrival, but for the first time general i am looking around...and it's fading. When I spoke to Villa fans before it was all ambition, excitement..hope. Now when I speak to Villa fans it's frustration and worry. At the end of the day, as brilliant a manager as he is (and he is) you can't keep backing him up on some of the decisions, the lack of depth is scary, the lack of full backs even more so. The worst thing of all and I speak for everyone, would be too fail this season. We were just shit before, we knew it and as annoyed as we got we knew inside we were shit....we're not anymore, and if that hope we crushed this year I think it'd be a real killer blow, and i think all those rising attendances etc would be a fading memory of what could have been. I'll always be at Villa no matter what league or what state the clubs in but for the sake of our true chance to push on....do NOT let him have another slow, arrogant window where he lets his idealism get in the way of this club, I know he doesn't like overpaying and I know he doesn't like to rush himself but sometimes he has to forthe team. Don't read this as another negative post attacking you, if I didn't fully believe in the new Aston Villa then I wouldn't have spent my money on the ticket, I know we'll get it right, but for the sake of many less patient fans, don't let the season where hopes peak be the season where the revolution comes crashing down! I always have belief, but one of the things I have the least belief in is the players coming in time...and that's the most important thing right now. Keep up the good work either way, whatever the squads like will be ok, but we have the potential to be a lot better than ok.

He's our player, we have no reason to drop a price to suit Liverpool when they come calling. They've made our summer pretty much miserable in regards to this Barry situation and turned his head. I don't mind him wanting to join them, I mind that your club decided to bid before the season had even finished, I mind that some of the bids have been frankly insulting and I mind that you think you have any right to complain about an asking price which is the same as that of Michael Carrick, who Gareth is on par with. We're not doing any of this to suit you, it suits us or it doesn't happen. Frankpy hope it doesn't go through by the 7th of August.

General, obviously as you say you can't speak for MON or the squad...but is there any way this can eventually be forgotten, maybe a Barry apology or whatever. Liverpool can't afford him and as we go on day by day it's painfully more obvious. They're about to sign Keane and if they couldn't afford GB before how on earth are they going to now. Gareth backed himself into a stupid corner with the newspapers comments, but I'd like to think given the chance if they sat down and spoke, MON and Barry could sort things out. They clearly don't like eachother much right now but am sure there is still a lot of mutual respect. Players have done worse than Gareth and recovered at their clubs. I was all for getting rid of him, but now it's coming to it...he's one of our best players and we can't afford to lose him. A few good performances most fans would forget, or at least forgive. Do you think theres any chance?

Well after the comments to his agent it just keeps looking more and more likely. Hopefully the club and Barry put us out of our misery soon...I don't think any of us really believe any more that he is going to stay. Just get a good deal for him, stop putting anything about him on our website..and get this over with. Disappointing.

Any faces (un-named of course) likely to be in before Euro 2008 Gen? Or are you not allowed to answer that? For all the complaints about our season ticket prices as well, A Rangers fan from another forum did a topic today comparing ours with some of the Scottish ones, a season ticket in the North Stand is cheaper than one a Raith Rovers or something, a club which is absolutely nothing on us. Rangers pay over 400 quid and he said entertainment value is nil, he thinks we're great value for a prem club.....so thanks for the good prices and good value we get with the way the teams played. I know the kit is for sale in August, but will it be actually unveilled for us to see before that? Oh and no it isn't a Barry question...but tell Doug Ellis to speak to him..He'll set him straight

Can we bring the August kit date forward? It's ridiculous and we get stuck with that every single season.

Don't agree with everything the guy above says, but he is right about that swap deal. We don't want any of them.

Yeah it's worth looking at in the future. I'd buy the channel, but seems pointless at the moment. General, as CEO does that mean Randy's gonna be more hands on with transfers and things? I have no idea what went on with Fitzgerald but I am glad Randy's decided to get more stuck in. I like how he doesn't make it all about him but it is his football club so it's nice for him to get involved. I know you can't mention names and I know MON is having a well deserved break from things, but are there a few things underway with players and transfers? And completely unrelated to the actual situation, do you personally think Gareth will stay, not based on talks or anything, but your general belief? Oh and only seen the picture of you doing the 5-1 to the Birmingham losers, and with your Mellberg hat on...classic The pig in the mud was nearly crying as the fans of that club finally realised what a clown he is...though I know you cannot confirm that second sentiment for fear of Sky running onto the site and quoting you again

Whens the new kits being revealed general? Oh and..WE'RE ALL GOING ON A EUROPEAN TOUR. Nice one to the board and MON for making it happen.

Barry has the armband, Reo-Coker does the job...might as well give him the armband and make it official.

To be honest, what can General or Lerner do about Barry. If he leaves it's down to only one person and thats him himself. We're never gonna sell him willingly, it would take him saying he no longer wants to be a part of it...do we want him if he doesn't want to be here. He's been here 10 years and has itchy feet, am positive that if he goes he'll regret it but that's his choice in the end, MON kept all his promises to him and has him playing the best footy of his career, if he wants to sacrifice that for the circus that is Liverpool his choice, i obviously hope he stays though one of my favourite players. All I will say General is....rip them off good and proper. Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves went for the 18m mark, if they don't want to pay that then bargain until you get something as good as. If not then make sure MON gets the players he wants in exchange....I'll trust your bargaining ability if you did Richard Branson Villa is bigger than Barry, Villa goes on without Barry....Barry can be replaced.

Yeah mosaic looks good, classy. General do you know if the giant flag is unveiled for defo against Birmingham? It will be this season I remember the club saying but not sure which game, would be a good debut game for it just before we smash the shit.

Ha, I love you general.

There is no harm in asking, being as our return in numbers is the life blood of this club. Was only a thought.

General, read a thread about Mellberg earlier, obviously it's a bit cheeky, but could the club provide some stuff for his final home game vs Wigan. Just some cheapy Viking hats and fake beards, or Sweden flags or whatever, even if just for the Holte End if it's considered money wasted? Would be a brilliant send off for a player most people really will want to give a big send off, we didn't do anything for Angel, would be a bit criminal to let another long standing team member go the same way. Plus we have to make the viking hard man cry on his last day

I think people are being harsh on Gab, I think he's already someone we can't afford to lose. Come a long way in such a short space of time, got a good attitude the staff say and I remember in an interview they said he's always listening and learning, I'd hate to lose him, very few limits on what he could achieve with his talents. I'd go with Barry, losing him would actually turn my whole stomach.

General, I haven't read the previous pages so not sure if this has been brought up, and I doubt you can say anything about it but... What exactly is going on with O'Neill and the England job, it's a huge set back if he goes, he is one reason why I feel we can keep our best players, people like Young, Laursen etc have pleaded that he stay after the last bit of speculation linking him with the England position. All of us are desperately waiting for him to say the words that he's committed to the cause, but what we got was 'lets take it one step at a time' We stood by him through the worst run of form in the clubs premier league history I think it was, that run without a win, everyone loves Martin O'Neill, all of us back him and know he's the man for the job. Why is it he seems to be edging towards the England job which they didn't even want him for in the first place. I know you can't comment etc, but it looks to me atm that if McClaren gets sacked after the euros (or wed if we fail to qualify) then O'Neill seems ready to jump at the chance to abandon us for England? We could recover I guess, but I wouldn't want to have to get another new manager, theres nobody out there as good as him on the market. If he is going to leave at the first opportunity, then we're wasting our time, if he isn't...and I have faith in him that he wouldn't do it to us surely....then encourage him to release a statement to re-assure us. I'm not being negative on him, I think he is a great manager, I would be devestated for him to leave, but he's not exactly calming our nerves is he?

It was nice to read earlier on that Doug Ellis is ok, I think even though we all wanted rid of him we all respect what he did do in making the club what it is today. 1. General do you still come to some of the Villa games? I know Randy comes to a fair few which is super, I remember you sitting alongside him in the Scunthorpe Cup match but just wondering how much you come to see us, do you actually like 'soccer' as you guys call it 2. Villa World, I was just wondering, cause I know he really likes to stay in the shadows and fair play, but it would be great to have maybe one proper interview with Randy Lerner, I know he likes to avoid spotlight but at the end of it he's bought this club and put loads of money into players, get him behind a camera and let him tell us how it's all feeling on his end, it won't (as he maybe thinks) look like him trying to be in the spotlight, but will show him to be the down to earth guy he's seemed so far. I remember you podcast, was good! 3. What is the situation with MON's contract, I know he said paper isn't important too him etc, but I remember he was on a one year rolling deal then there were rumours of a 6 year deal? Did he ever sign an extension or is he just around on the basis that him and Randy have a good understanding? Man Utd fans seem to reckon he's theirs when Fergie steps down, but i'd prefer him to be in it for the LONG LONG haul. 4. Get Martin O'Neill to do the head turning thing that we have on our screens when the players line-ups are announced, i'd love to see his crazy little head turning lol. 5. Does anyone in America even know who Aston Villa are yet, I was in New York a year ago when Randy Lerner bought Villa, and I thought i'd return the favour and buy a cleveland browns shirt, and the man in their sports shop knew Randy Lerner but couldn't believe he'd bought a 'soccer' club, and certainly didn't know who we were? I notice we do have quite a little understanding now of Cleveland Browns, but do any of them in short, give a shit about The Villa? Just interesting to know cause I know of all the markets to crack, it's your homeland thats toughest with this sport. Thanks a lot, and thanks for what you and Randy are doing--Tell him from me to do an interview