The Fun Factory

Yep basically he was shot when we bought him on a 5 year contract. 5 years on a 35 year old. I think we were used to superfit old keepers as Friedal has just left us, but big brad is a machine. Given reminds me of that Indiana Jones quote- its not the years, its the mileage! Even though he is a good pro unlike Ireland, I think we are going to end up to pay them both off to leave.

Sorry to hear about this. But firstly what does she want to do with her degree if she does finish it? Criminology suggests perhaps an interest in police work, but it’s very hard to get a job in that sector since they are having a 25% cut back. She needs to have a serious think about what she wants out of it. You have to be focused about what your degree is about and what job you want after. The days of getting a general goodish degree and getting a graduate job are long gone. It is not studying for studying’s sake anymore since basically the libcons have privatised higher education. I am speaking from experience of getting an okay first degree and masters and haven’t really been in full time work for 4 years. Perhaps she should quit, travel and try and get some voluntary work in the job area she wants to do. This might be cheaper and more fun than to re-do a university year.

Youth players coming into the first XI is always a gamble. If they show signs of promise like Bannan did, it is sensible to tie them down to a decent medium term contract before any other club nabs them. Then the fans moan that we dont show any faith in our youth set up. I think Villa have been totally fair with Bannan. He has had at least 3 seasons under in fairness a lot of different managers, to prove his worth. He isnt good enough for us, but if we can get a bit of money for him from a championship side I will wish him luck at his next stage of his career.

Possibly but then all other clubs would know we had a monumentally outrageous figure sitting in Randys bank account, and will adjust prices on players accordingly who we might want to buy. But yes anything less than 25 mil is a no-no for me, unless Benteke throws a wobbly and goes on strike or something.

23 pages on something that has no chance of happening?! He would have to take about a 70% wage cut and Lambert to do a U-Turn on his transfer policy. At Villa and at Norwich. Think people better should get out more!

Be almost a 'signing' if Stoke or another club was daft enough to take Ireland from us. Dunne and Given to Doncaster- wtf? The silly season has started!

Look GazBaz did very well for us, he left under a bit of a cloud, but that was a different era. There is no way we could afford his wages, and Lambert has not once bought a player over 30 since he has been at Villa. Not going to happen. He if he did leave Citeh Spurs or Liverplop would be far more likely for him.

Okore. As our defence was cack last year and given his 7 caps already for Denmark (and the Danes are usually pretty solid) and is only 20, makes me hope Lambert has got a blinder here. All the other signings make sense as well, a replacement for Bennett, extra width and a back up striker as we all know Bent is off. Just need a couple of keepers and maybe another midfielder and job done.

No way we will be getting this guy. I mean I have heard of him unlike the 5 Lambert have brought in. I reckon this could be the end of our signings already.

Another signing from someone I havent really heard about. Either Lambert is a scouting genius or next season could be a tricky one!

He came. He ran around a bit. He leaves. See also Sidwell, Steve. Bye Brett, and best wishes.

You sir are correct, 100% spot on. True to a certain extent, but all Premier League clubs are going into the new tv deal this season and will be flushed with cash. Owners like lerner are hoping to freeze the wages and for once to have their clubs make a profit. Agents and players will want 200k a week deals. Fans would like tickets at sensible prices. I wonder who will win?

I increasingly dont care about this but I am pretty sure nothing will be sorted until the 31st of August- either he goes, or we will hang on to him for another year.

Like the interview with him. Seems hungry, wants to learn, wants more responsibility in the future. At 20 with 7 Danish caps looks promising. Wish him well!

Just watched the avtv bit on him. Looking forward to him in action, will be another option for next season. I think it will help having Petrov around to settle in. It great to see stan looking better by the day!

They are ok- they are growing on me esp the away one. I might get that one in april when it is a tenner, like it is always is. Why pay 45 quid for em?!

Villa at the moment remind me of those aldi adverts- (english) product you have heard off, compared to far cheaper foreign one. Just hope they are just as good and not leave a nasty taste.

On my hols, and find out we have signed 2 players in one day- and nowhere near August! Whats going on! Is this chap any good? Going with the young and promising players again, in Lambert we trust (I hope!) Seem to be going quietly in our business getting the players in. I guess a few big earners will be off to balance the books. The feel good is carrying on from the last few months of last season.

I think our bid was accepted a while back? The club haven't said anything yet. Call me old fashioned, but I am a on the shirt, on the pitch kind of guy regarding player signings.

wow 25 pages on this guy and not even a bid in yet!

Although I cant get really exicted over england anymore, I think some of the coverage Woy's team gets is a little harsh. They are okay, like about 80% of all england teams I have watched in my time. Probably a top 25 team, last 16 World Cup sort of side. The ox did a good job and the sooner wiltshire becomes the central player for england, the better. Never been a fan of Johnson, the boy can't defend. Must be taking lessons from lambert, lol. Brazil look average, nowhere near Spain. I think they will just implode next year under the pressure. I mean the 1950 failure is still talked about in Brazil like its a national disaster!

Older members on VT may have to help me here but the first plans post Taylor report was to redo the witton lane/doug ellis and just put seats on the holte terrace, like at the kops at the sheffield clubs. They then changed their minds to rebuild the Holte altogether. They added a new roof on the old terraced Holte about 4 years before they knocked it down as I mentioned the first plan was to convert it to seats. But then the roof and terrace all got demolished together! I also think they had to redo the seats in the doug ellis a couple of years after it was built, as the original seats were too narrow. I think they then angled the last few rows covering over some of the new Holte. I hope I haven't confused you!

I will be surprised if either team goes further than the last 16 of the world cup next year based on that peformance.

Great- have 3 months of this shit. Villa have to play hard ball on this given our recent history with star players.

I have cancelled my ESPN subscription as they will not have any Premier League next year and I cant be bothered to get a new one with BT. They will only be around for 3 years and fail like all the other sports channels when they take on Sky.