El_Hierro

Gut feeling Simon Grayson. For whatever reason his name keeps popping up in my head whenever I try to think about probable candidates :? Never known to be clairvoyant, but perhaps I am? :bonk:

I agree with you. If Ajax go out tomorrow then I think Jol would jump at the chance to return to the PL with a big club. However we would have to compensate Ajax to get him, and with the General's comments in mind (which could be read as we're only looking at 'available' candidates), it remains to be seen if we're prepared to do just that. Me, I think Randy might be tempted to spend some of the Milner money if it meant we could get Jol. If that's indeed what we're waiting for then I for one have no problem waiting. Hey, perhaps he could bring Suarez with him. Sulky little f*cker, but at least he would have saved Barton's shot on Sunday. Excellent shot-stopper from what I could gather at the WC. All eyes on Ajax-Dinamo Kiev tomorrow.

If Ajax lose on Wednesday I think there's a chance we can get Jol. If Lerner is willing to spend the money that is. I think that's our best option at the moment.

I hope i'm not the only one who never wants to see that kid in a villa shirt again. Awful display in Vienna. although it is a surprise to see no specialist CB on the bench. Agreed, but Beye was the better CB in Vienna so I think we'll be okay.

A little thin on the bench with all the injuries we have.

I'm okay with that side Lets see if the people who said this wouldn't work (Ireland next to Petrov, but no NRC) were right or not.

Lots of confident Villans here which is good to see, but perhaps too confident? I can see this being a very tough game, and I think it'll be a draw or a one goal win to whichever team with that little bit of extra luck you'll need to win these kind of tight matches. I say 1-1. Goals Carroll and Carew.

Well, I didn't want neither Bradley nor Klinsmann at first, and I still don't, however, after seeing even worse candidates for the job, like Koeman and Curbs etc, step forward and say how much they'd like it, it's almost as if getting Bradley or Klinsmann wouldn't be so bad afterall, if you know what I mean. Still want someone better though (Jol or Löw my preferred candidates), if not Kev Mac might as well get the job.

I agree with those saying Albrighton should be 'rested' for this game (on the bench). He's been great so far, absolutely immense, and will continue to be great for us, but don't want to wear him out too soon. I'd rather want him to play Vienna and be MOTM again in that match. I'd go with experience over youth on Sunday. Like this. ----Reo Coker----Petrov---- Downing---Ireland---Young -----------Carew----------- And I hope Cuellar or Collins are fit to face the aerial threat of Carroll, although that doesn't seem likely at this point.

Ref's an idiot.

Heskey's been quality so far. Go hang your heads in shame :winkold:

BANNAN!!! Albrighton really is a god.

That MacDonald likes to spring the odd surprise, eh? Brave man. It'll be interesting to see how Hogg does as I don't think I've ever seen him in action. Pretty strong defence, some exciting players in midfield and an experienced one upfront. I think this team will do well tonight.

Put it this way. If we manage to win convincingly at Rapid tomorrow with the squad he's picked, then he's even more tactically astute (and aware of the quality of his youngsters compared to our European opponents) than I thought he was. While in the process he will have rested key members of the first team for a very important game on Sunday. If he pulls it off then I for one am going to be mightily impressed, and his stock surely must have risen, even if it's just ONE more game. It's a risk picking a squad like that when you consider the significance of the game (MacDonald himself said it's very important we go through) and the fact that "his job is on the line" (if he wants it).

Found this on the OS Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Elliott Parish, Eric Lichaj, Stephen Warnock, Ciaran Clark, Curtis Davies, Nathan Baker, Isaiah Osbourne, Habib Beye, Nigel Reo-Coker, Barry Bannan, Stewart Downing, Marc Albrighton, James Collins Jnr, Nathan Delfouneso, Shane Lowry, Emile Heskey, Jonathan Hogg, Andreas Weimann Hmmm. MON out. Oh... Seriosuly, if there's anyone who knows if these boys are ready or not, it's MacDonald. ------------------Guzan-------------- Beye--------Davies-----Clark---Warnock Albrighton - Reo Coker-Downing---Bannan ----------------Delfouneso------------- ------------------Heskey--------------- I've got one complaint though. Where's Salifou?

Easy. Give Kev Mac the job until next summer, if he's done well and wants to continue then great, if not give it to Jol. Ronald Koeman can stay the f*ck away and never set foot in Birmingham. Probably the worst candidate for the job apart from the fat Argentinian. Would rather have Bob, Sven or even Curbs if I'm being perfectly honest.

I will celebrate every single point dropped by Citeh this season, even vs SHA.

I think I'm basically agreeing with most here, I think that this particular deal was probably too far down the road for it to be stopped. Now, say if Randy had gone to Italy and brought a couple of players back with him, then that's where I'd start asking questions

This for me. If/when a new manager arrives he will have 25 (more or less) new players he might like/not like, not just Ireland. And if Ireland had been wrapped up a week earlier, would it really have made any difference?

Dunno, but GK did say that: Make of it what you will. So that's Ireland and Flamini then?

Nah he definitely wold have gotten Sidwell off Villas books if he thought he was going to take up the post. Good point

How about a straight swap of Davies for Keane or Davies for Bentley? Any takers?

So, Fulham wanted Luke Young, but had to wait for a new manager, Hughes came in about 3 weeks ago and said he wanted Luke, why didn't anything happen in the 2 weeks prior to MON leaving? Down to wages? Or did/does Hughes know something we don't?

That's quite a big place, can you be a bit more specific? :winkold: On his way to Milan Make of it what you will. Finally the Wesley Sneijder transfer saga comes to an end when he admits he was wrong and wants to come to Aston Villa

I think there's a huge difference between a striker playing well but not scoring and a striker missing a ton of chances. Then you're not doing your job - all players should take their chances, but for strikers it's what they're paid to do. As a pro, you have to stick one of those away. The one-on-one or header at least. It wasn't good enough. However, good day for Big John to have an off-day. He'll be back. And as long as we keep making those chances, we'll be fine. Agreed the header was very poor, and his first touch in the one on one, but that should have been a penalty anyway when Green brought him down. I think the ref "forgot" about it or decided to overlook it in the commotion whenTomkins hit the post. Other than that I thought he made a nuisance of himself and made life very difficult for the WH defenders today, didn't get half the free kicks he should have and held up play well today.