Tubby

General,

I kept the faith all the way through the window, that MON would bring in the players to plug those gaps. Although Martin is quite rightly specific in wanting to secure players of suitable quality I can't help but think we missed a beat especially on players such as Jonathan Woodgate and Jermain Defoe. Arguably, these players may not have been in MON's plans before, but when they do become available it should probably have been worth a plump on the risk.

I'm not trying to suggest that Martin has gone about things the wrong way as we just don't know what has happened. I guess General that this is the point I am trying to make. I can understand that the club want to keep things under wraps until something happens but the perceived lack of movement in the market is both frustrating and embarrassing. There are many complaints on this board and the others that we were promised quality but aside from MON's initial dealings last January this has failed to be delivered. The question is, have we been approaching these types of players? Are the club prepared to inform the fans who they want when the negotiations get to a sufficient stage? Being left in the cold makes it look like we are happy as we are and that nothing is being done except the odd flash comment about "working on a few things". I am aware that Randy is a man of integrity, but even if we are informed and things fall through it is better than the perceived inactivity that lingers around us during the transfer periods especially in comparison to everyone else.

Ultimately General, I love everything about this club. I am continuously over-joyed with the action on the pitch and the great vibes that have rocked football off it, but our transfer policy is very weak when compared to those clubs around us and the aggression that they show will and probably has left us lingering. As I stated at the start of this little rant, I have kept the faith General (I was watching SSN until 1am last night in case of that extra something) but I now fear for injuries over our remaining 14 games and hope that the consequences are sufficiently managed if they occur.

UTV, here's to the end of the season and an effective summer window and maybe an official club statement from time to time letting the fans know what is actually happening.... :?

General, can you tell us anymore info on the Richard Fitzgerald situation?

Seconded... Please General I and many others would like to know more, the clubs official statement doesn't lead on anything.

General,

We are still to see anything with regards to bringing Juan Pablo Angel back to Villa Park for a proper send off. Have the club approached him to offer him the chance? Considering they are on their winter break in the MLS and the with the success that we are currently seeing at Villa Park I can see no better time to get him over and maybe bring the US press with him....?

Cheers

Jon

O'Neill at the fight!!

So were these two

Didn't see MON though. Wish I had so I could of given him some pre Blose advice before fainting at his very presence.

Back to the boxing, it was a good fight and I gave it to Kessler until I watched it on the telly this morning. He was dangerous throughout and definitely landed the bigger punches. It was just that Calzaghe notched up the points and finished stronger.

Friends of my mum or something like that....! :?

Photo taken in the beer queue at the Millenium Stadium on the night of the Calzaghe vs Kessler fight. I'm the one on the right by the way :winkold:

Gen

I was genuinely gutted when I saw the Browns score last night, my adopted team taking the heaviest loss of the opening weekend was surely not what was planned. I first thought how Randy must feel....

Can I ask, does coming off a weekend such as last when Villa beat Chelski cause a comparison in Randy's mind? I'm sure he is a very mellow man, but does success at either end ever influence the other?

Also out of interest, how much publicity amongst Browns fans do Villa actually get? Were they made aware at the game of our victory last week and do they support Randy and his investment over here?

Cheers

Jon

2. Tubby: All papers were provided the new Badge...but some just don't bother to put it on. We will give them a call but can't promise anything as the media march to their own drummers.

Thanks Gen,

I hope it all gets sorted, I find it quite disrespectful the the Daily Star haven't changed this. The old badge doesn't represent our club anymore and they should adhere to how things are now. Thanks again

Hi Gen

I see you spent a great deal of time replying to lots of different posts but it looks like you missed out mine. I know that you can't answer everyone's queries, but this is something that has really got on my wick and feel the club should put right.

"A slight issue for you to look into. A mate of mine bought the Daily Star today (not my paper of choice) and I was absolutely disgusted to see that they are still using our old badge/crest in their print. It's not only us but Middlesbrough as well. Its yet more poor journalism from this dire newspaper and I was hoping you could hint to Mr Fitzgerald to put them straight."

Cheers

Jon

General,

Great win today I can't believe. I am over the moon with joy at the fact that Zat Knight scored on his debut, I couldn't think of anything greater than for a Villa fan living the dream to score on his debut, please pass on mine and everyone elses congratulations and remind him we are all jealous.

A slight issue for you to look into. A mate of mine bought the Daily Star today (not my paper of choice) and I was absolutely disgusted to see that they are still using our old badge/crest in their print. It's not only us but Middlesbrough as well. Its yet more poor journalism from this dire newspaper and I was hoping you could hint to Mr Fitzgerald to put them straight.

Cheers

Jon

General Krulak here:

"if Randy is allowed to proceed as he desires"

I love those words

General Krulak here:

6. We are already working on the preliminary drawings for the North Stand and North end of Villa Park. My sense is that we are 3 years away.

Great news this General, its something that is of great interest to me personally and I'm sure many other Villa fans will be eager to see what comes of it.

I know I am not a professional in the design field, but may I suggest the possibility of having underground drive-in facilities for team coaches and player vehicles etc. This will also aid access to the new stand and external conourse area.

Any possibility of a themed area in the corner or something similar to what they have in baseball? Or is it purely to get as many seats as possible?

Ok, thanks for the reply General. You sure are enthusiastic about your NFL, the Browns are as lucky to have you as we are.

General Krulak here:

1. I am glad you brought up the Browns...and Brady Quinn. There is a perfect example of Randy supporting the Manager and Player Personnel. Randy did not get into the negotiations...did not pressure people...just told his folks that he was "prepared to support them." This is exactly what he did and the result was that Brady is in camp.

General,

Thank you for your reply, but could you ellaborate more on the following part:

"I read that the hold up was to do with incentive based contract negotiations, is this a system that Randy personally likes to work with? If so, has this system been brought in at Villa and could this be part of the reason that our transfers are taking so long?"

I remember MON talking about incentive based contracts just after he came in, was that his thinking or something that Randy endorses?

On a conversational note, do you expect a good season for the Browns? I am a big Gridiron fan and would love to get over to watch my adopted team. Luckily I have tickets for the Wembley game between the Dolphins and the Giants to curb my enthusiasm for the time being. I don't suppose you will be in attendance will you General?

Cheers

Jon

General,

I see the Browns finally sorted things out with Brady Quinn well done on that. It also shows that it is not just Villa being cautious in the transfer market. I read that the hold up was to do with incentive based contract negotiations, is this a system that Randy personally likes to work with? If so, has this system been brought in at Villa and could this be part of the reason that our transfers are taking so long?

I am not one of the pessimists by the way, I can be patient as i know what MON and Randy are attempting to do not just for this year but for the future. We must build strong and remain secure.

Up the Villa!!! I have faith.

Thanks

Jon

P.S. I was at the Inter game and am taking my dad to the Liverpool game for his 58th birthday, I love what you have done with the place, both the signage and the screens looked awesome. Let's just hope for the same result.....

Hi General,

Just wanted to say it was nice to see some training pictures on the OS, it has certainly whet my appetite even more going into this new season. I was wondering whether this could become a regular feature on the OS, perhaps a weekly review of the training sessions without giving too much away to our competitors?

Thanks

Jon

Can't this be included in the chants sticky?

Alright enough already, is someone going to offer a link to where this has been said?

But sometimes the fact that young players are our "own" clouds our judgement to how good they are.

Very true for the rest of the squad who have become our "own" also i.e. Angel. It's hard to let go sometimes and whether we know they should go, we just don't want them to.

I think MON will get things right, out with the trash and in with decent players, top quality or not, who have signed up to play for the cause not just for their pocket money!

We are getting slighty camp here chaps! We are football fans not netball!

A couple of suggestions for the PAOK chant and the Barry chant

Oooh, Aston Villa

THE mighty Villa

Let's show the world

Aston Villa fans are the greatest of them all

and with this very anthem, we'll sing a little more

Changed MY to THE and it works better. You could imagine it getting repeated for a few turns over the course of a few minutes. The "sing a little more" part would link nicely as it get's repeated too.

Gareth Barry's magic,

He wears a magic hat.

He SHOULD play for England,

BUT McClaren is a clearing in the woods.

I think it's more relevant to say SHOULD than saying he never does....!

I disagree with plenty of those suggestions. We will see how the summer pans out, but I wouldn't be too pleased if some of the players mentioned above came in. Richardson? What an egotistical little word removed! Not MON's type of player at all.

We can attract better players (not saying world class) and certainly more players from outside of the usual mid table box!

Up the Villa!!!

I still like the one to the tune of We Are Sailing, we might need to sign a few players with 4 syallables in their name for it to work now...

This is roughly how it went:

Olof Mellberg

Liam Ridgewell

Gary Cahill

and Luke Moore

Gareth Barry

Gavin McCann

Steven Davis,

AGBONLAHOOOOOOOOOR.

That's quality, but I have a feeling some of those players will change. How about Stilyan Petrov instead of Ridgewell, Martin Laursen instead of McCann and Shaun Maloney instead of Davo?

Olof Mellberg

Stilyan Petrov

Gary Cahill

and Luke Moore

Gareth Barry

Martin Laursen

Shaun Maloney,

AGBONLAHOOOOOOOOOR.

Good idea for the New York tune. Here's my take on it

[To the tune of New York New York: http://tinyurl.com/yp5yaz]

Start spreading the news, The lions ready to roar

We want to be a part of it – VILLA.. VILLA..

Our European blues, are fading away

Were the very heart of it – VILLA.. VILLA..

We wanna wake up and beat City.. to a pulp,

To think they're Premier League.. that's just a joke!

Those small time blues, Oh we’ll make them pay

We’ll make a brand new start of it - in Villa Park..

If we can make it there, we’ll make it anywhere

Its up to you – VILLA.. VILLA..

Anybody know the Mellberg chant? And the proper one that the Holte sing for Luke Moore?

For the record I agree with the VILLA bit instead of my AVFC howerver I think the beating Blues to a pulp bit is wrong. Firstly I can't see the club printing any songsheet that advocates fighting with our local rivals and secondly we need to stop paying them any attention. I know I included the line 'Those small time blues, Oh we’ll make them pay' but to be honest it was only because it was the only thing I could think of that fitted! It also need a couple of very small changes to fit to the music so can I suggest:

Start spreading the news, The lions ready to roar

We want to be a part of it – VILLA..VILLA..

Our European blues, are fading away

Were at the very heart of it – VILLA..VILLA..

We wanna wake up the lion, from his sleep

And find were champions - top of the heap

Those small time blues, Oh we’ll make them pay

We’ll make a brand new start of it - in Villa Park

If we can make it there, we’ll make it anywhere

Its up to you – VILLA..VILLA..

VILLA..VILLA..

We wanna wake up the lion, from his sleep

And find were A number one, top of the list, king of the hill

A number one

Those small time blues, OH their going to pay

Were gonna make a brand new start of it - in Villa Park

And if we can make it there, were gonna make it anywhere

It up to you – VILLA..VILLA..

Even though I'm blowing my on trumpet I really like this idea because it's a real belter that everyone knows, a proper anthem. I don't think it would be that hard to get started especially if there was a piped instrumental. It's singing about us going into our new era, awakening the lion as such. Then theres the american connection?

I think we should try and change the A number one bit etc. because it is the original song and not imo representative of Villa. The rest of it works though

To the tune of "William, It Was Really Nothing":

Oh Stiliyan, Stiliyan Petrov

Is really something

He'll score tonight

(some other dude came up with most of this)

Can you provide any reference to how the song sounds?

Cheers

IMO - the 'new york' and 'ooh aston villa, my might villa...' should be the main chants to refine and get down on a chant sheet

Don't get too excited too soon, there is plenty of time before the new season starts

Check the very first post of this thread where I have been compiling all of the chants that people have been writing. Any more that pop up will go in there and we can then look at refining them when idea's become more sparse.