QldVilla

I think 7th, but that may change depending on what signings we make.

We could still crack the Top 4, but we would be reliant on a much better Home Form this season, and the purchase of 3-4 quality players that improve the First team, not just the squad.

Who's speculating now?

I'm surprised by some of the comments, suggesting that Villa is pushing Milner out!

Milner has had his head turned like Barry, but wants to eat his cake as well. Man City are playing silly buggers like they did with everton last year, and O'Neill isn't going to play their game. By announcing to everyone that Milner is for sale, it places pressure on Man City as other clubs could come in for him.

I think if Man City drag this out to much longer, United or Chelsea might offer $20m and O'Neill would accept, just to spite City.

O'Neill has done the right thing, either complete the deal or go away, as I'm sure there are a couple of other clubs in the wings.

Good post Blandy.

Even though we all wanted Champions League, I still believe we had a better season then either Man City or Tottenham. We played a lot of extra games over those pair because of cup runs and I think it made the difference in the end.

When Hiddink was coach of the Socceroos, the first thing he did was make the Socceroos difficult to score against. He did the same with the Russian team, and I expect he has been doing the same in the past week with Chelski!

He will be hoping that we don't score early, and will wait until the 60min to bring on someone who can create something, (did the same with the Socceroos by bringing Cahill on fresh, late in the game, and worked well in the World Cup).

Whether he has had long enough to get the back 4/5 organised is another question, he does like his attack coming from his wing-backs, and I do think he may play a back 5 away from home with three central defenders or a sweeper.

Hiddink is a great motivator (similar to O'Neill), it really depends on whether the Chelski players really care, for Hiddink to get the appropriate reaction.

If we can score early, then I think we can put pressure on them and win, but the longer the game goes, and we don't score, Chelski will get some confidence up, and may just nick it.

Prediction 0-1 Chelski, and only because of our injuries, and two tough games already this week.

I enjoyed reading your article, although I have always thought of Villa as a big club. Coming from Australia, seeing these young kids run around with Big 4 clubs jersery's, you have to laugh as they only support them because of their success. i have a couple of guys I work with who are Arsenal fans, and there finding it hard to fathom that they may not be in the champions league next season. But i warned them two years ago that Villa were on th up, and they laughed, their not laughing now.

Since the premier league started the landscape has certainly changed. But when you look at the history of clubs, we are the big 4. Our success has been in cycles and can be ignored by other fans but people seem to forget we finished 2nd twice in the early 90's, and we are only one of 7 clubs who have continually been in the premier league.

We're on an upward cycle again, my only hope is that this regime put in place the paramters for continued success long term.

I went with 7, we definately improved the quality of the squad, Milner will improve our attacking options, but still believe we are 3-4 quality players short of being a Top 4 team.

Well said Blandy.

It was interesting to read everyone's thoughts on the upcoming season.

Last season I predicted 7th to 10th depending on injuries, so a 6th place finish was fantastic. We have bought well but I believe we still are exposed in a couple of areas. So with the extra games that we will be playing through the UEFA Cup and expected further progress in both domestic cups, I think a similiar finish to last season can be expected and will be applauded.

I take note that some supporters are taking hope in a couple of clubs imploding during the season, at the same time I should stress that there's always another club williing to take their place, not just ourselves.

I think we do need a right midfield player, a striker and an attacking midfielder to unlock defences. We need to take the pressure of ashley young, and we need to provide variation in our attack, rather than down the left side. Depending on the qaulity of these signings before the transfer window closes, will greatly reflect on our ability to finish higher than sixth.

My Predictions:

Premier League: 6th

League Cup: Quater-Final

FA Cup: Semi-Final

UEFA Cup: Last 16

I'm a fan, not the clubs accountant. I want the best deal for Villa, not to squeeze as much as possible out of Liverpool. Gillette and Hicks will obviously have different opinions but I think the longer this Barry thing goes on the more unprepared we're going to be for the new season. If MON has said we 'dont need the money' then why is he being so stubborn about a couple of million. Barry does not want to play for us, so he needs to be got rid of. If we can get good money and a good player in a position we urgently need for him, then I don't see the point of the hesitation.

People seem to have short memories.

The manager isn't being stubborn, he's setting a precendent, and sending a large message to all clubs.

DirtyPool thought they could unsettle the player, barry say a few bad things in the press and that the Villla would sell on the cheap fo around $10m.

This saga has been a conspiracy from the beginning, make no mistake! DirtyPool, barry and his manager all have there dirty fingers in this, its been a plan that has backfired badly on them all, and they've been left with no option except "ONE"!

For Mr Barry to hand in a transfer request, and why won't he? Because he wants his payout. If Barry forgoed his payout, then the Manager would quite easily except a lower offer.

People want to talk about, oh its dragged on, just let him go, this is about principle, so "NO" we should not sell for anything less than $18m, unless Barry hands in a transfer request.

The only way anything will be done, is if there is a official complaint from the club. The FA have a history of letting things slide, unless there is a complaint, then only they give the club a slap on the wrist. Looked what happened with West Spam, if the FA had of been fair dinkum they would be in the Championship.

This type of thing will continue to go on, as the Top 4 are allowed to pillage the rest of the league. It amazes me that Man Utd are whinging about Real Madrid tapping up Ronaldo, they virtually did the same with Yorke to us.

I have Barry's name on the back of my jersey, but I don't mind Barry moving on, as I think there are better players out there that can play his role. Would I rather him stay, yes, but O'Neill is shrewd enough to overlook this setback and deliver a better quality player to the club.

General,

There's an article floating around with comments from Randy which he may or may not have made, with regards to the FA's decision to want to play a 39th round around the world. From the article mentioned, is the idea that Randy is not supportive of the initiative, one which I have to agree with.

However, what i believe has to acknowleged is that there are millions of supporters of all clubs including Aston Villa around the world. These supporters will most probably never get the opportunity to see Villa park, let alone watch the team play live in the premier league. I have been a supporter since 1975, I live in Australia with thousands of other Villa supporters and nothing would be greater than seeing the Villa play live in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.

Most people don't know that in Bundaberg in Queensland, north of Brisbane, there is a local club called Aston Villa. What other country has this sought of devotion to a club outside of Birmingham?

My point is, is that Randy is right, the supporters make the Premier League, but those supporters aren't just in Birmingham, their around the world. And any initiative that may bring the club I love to Australia, I support wholeheartedly. Maybe the FA can change it to a pre-season PR campaign?

I hope you can pass on to the board, how us Aussie Villa Fans feel.

Qld - I think you have not read one word of the post mate.

You are jumping into defend at all costs mentality. Can I suggest you read what was written?

Drat01, I read the post, I just don't agree.

I like the sarcasm in the piece, but I don't agree with the analogies. I agree we need to look at real quality now being brought into the squad, but not at the expense of those who could be really good long-term for the club.

To use another analogy, will you be buying a ready made diamond ring for your wife/girlfriend this Christmas, or will you be buying the sum of the parts of the ring, and slowly bringing those parts together yourself.

Just because its harder to make, doesn't make it any less valuable.

I'm sorry, but I feel your article is off the mark.

Outside of Harewood, and I'm still not convinced that he is a bad signing, I believe the Manager has made some astute purchases which the club will benefit from in the long-term. Too often people are quick to complain, without looking and tempering their assessments with the long-term future of the club in mind.

Knight has been a good purchase because he adds experience to the team, your concerns with Davies are misdirected, because the Manager has a long-term view to his career, and doesn't want to spoil him by throwing him in the deep end. This season is about educating the lad to help him develop without the pressure of first team football. His time will come in the new year when the Manager believes he has made the appropriate progress.

With regards to Reo-Coker, I don't think you understand what he does on the field, he does the things that go unnoticed, but he does a lot of these little things every game that contributes to the performance of the team. He's unfashionable, and not going to score 10 goals from the midfield every year, but he probably prevents that many and more from being scored against us every season.

Petrov has been a little disappointing, but I beleive he has started to turn things around, and should be given more time. Carew is a good player and has started to show over the past few weeks his worth, considering he missed 6 weeks through injury at the start of the season, I think your assessment is unrealistic. Maloney, good player shown very little time on the pitch.

The one thing most of these players have in common is their young age. They are going to make mistakes, and develop their game at different speeds. I believe all were bought for the future of the club and the Manager is prepared, unlike yourself, to let them make mistakes, as long as they learn from them and grow as players. Both Davies and Maloney were bought for the future, Young and Reo-Coker where bought as first teamers but knowing that they would take time. Carew and Knight are good experienced first teamers.

The Manager is prepared to spend money for the sake of it, he will wait until he gets the player he is after. I see the merit in this, its a long term plan, and we need to be patient.

General krulak here:

1. I am afraid I have reached the stage of simply saying that we should "agree to disagree." MON has let his feelings be known. Randy has let his feelings be known. We have someone post a statement that unless MON makes an even more emphatic statement than he has made to date ("rubbish" and "I want to stay at Villa") that it "will destroy our Club". With that kind of negative statement, there is not much more I can say. I disagree!! I have provided my rationale on several occasions....I can do no more than that. MON is an honourable man and someone who I have faith in. I will let this play out and, hopefully, the majority of you will do the same.

General,

I agree with your sentiments, unfortunately situations like this one breed an uneasy feeling amongst all supporters.

No one has to explain to you what the fans had gone through over the past years, and the anticipation that we are finally heading in the right direction again, only fuels the uneasy feeling with regards to this situation.

As an Australian Villa supporter, I really don't care who coaches the English side, but I do hope it won't be Martin O'Neill.

Since this has started I have beleived that Martin will stay because of his life goals. No one doubts that it was his ambition to be Manager of England, and he turned down other management jobs to do so. When the FA decided to go in another direction, Martin realised that he may not achieve this goal, and went about setting a new one. That goal is to get the Villa back to the top again, and competing with the best teams in England and in Europe.

Martin to me seems the type of person who would not walk away from something he has started, let alone to not achieve the goals he has set himself. Relationships are important to him, and he doesn't want to let the club, supporters, Randy and people like yourself down. Yes we would all be supportive of that decision, and wish him well, it's a great opportunity. But I think Martin is a lot deeper than that, it's what makes him a tremendous Manager, and a man of integrity.

I know Martin will stay, it's an unfortunate by product however that fans are uneasy, because we don't want him to leave.

Agree with your comments John. I watched the game live in Australia, there last goal Defoe was offside clearly, so harsh that we dropped 2 points. I didn't think when Gabby was brought down was a penalty though, he played for it too much.

I keep harping on it, but again the inexperience of the young players again shone through. Brilliant to get up 4-1, but they dropped off after and were awful for the last 30 minutes. O'Neil needs to take a lot of the blame, as i wouldn't of made the substitutions until the last 10 minutes, if it's not broke don't fix it, and both harewood and Petrov were the wrong players to bring on at that time. (hindsight??) We sat too far back, instead of what was working well.

I thought we were going to get a touch up before this game, Tottenham looked prime to batter someone. For the first 50 minutes of this game, we looked like a Chelsea or Man utd, not playing particularly well against a good team, but taking our chances. It does show that this team is on the right path, but for two or three top class players, that game could of been 5-1 to the Villa, than 4-4. It's frustrating, but the positves far outweigh the negatives.

General,

Just to give you some positive feedback.

My wife decided that she was going to splurge on some Aston Villa gear for me on our 2nd year marriage anniversary. She ordered the gear on Tuesday 11th September (Australian Time) and arrived seven (7) days later on Tuesday 18th September. For the gear to be delivered from Birmingham to Brisbane in Australia, within seven days is great, and the club should be congratulated.

It's been hard to find the new Aston Villa gear in Australia, and far easier to buy online, and cheaper in the long run.

I agree with everything that has been said. I also am disappointed by the lack of a RB coming in but there is always January hopefully... i believe MON has seen that the defence lacked confidence with the clown Sorenson behind them, and wouldnt be bothered if he left next summer as long as we get a capable replacement(Carson permanently, hopefully). I do think we will have a steady progression up table this season maybe 2 place improvement would make me happy, or pushing for uefa spot at best. If we get a bit of luck and the squad is motivated and kept fit then i do think a top 7 finish is achievable but id rather we didng run before we can walk.

I agree. I think we'll finish somewhere between 8th - 10th, and maybe a little higher if a couple of teams implode during the season.

It is obvious that the Manager is going to give the young players every chance to develop this season, and if they don't meet the grade, will be replaced next season. I'll put my hand up and say that Gabby could be in that boat. He needs to start making intelligent decisions on the pitch or end up like Vassell.

I do think we needed to sign a RM to help provide width and variation in attack, as well with an AM who can play regularly and unlock defences. Gabby & Petrov aren't the players, and I think they may being looking elsewhere next season. But the Manager is giving them the opportunity, to prove me wrong.

It will be an interesting season, and hope we may nick a UEFA Cup spot, but I won't be betting on it.

Oh dear what a panic the writer of this article has got himself into! Its all for nothing though.

People seem to forget that the wage structure we have here at Villa Park under HDE and now under Lerner is set with the intention of keeping us out of debt. There is no point paying excessive wages (which is what the big clubs and most of those trying challange them are paying) to players that will accept a lower wage (refering to GB), or to past their prime players.

MON has adopted a very workable strategy of investing in young hungry players, young players at any level cannot expect to earn as much as proven players in their prime. Therefore our current wage budget is very workable. Second do you not remember Darren Bent turning down an £80,000 a week contract from West Ham to play for Spurs at £50,000 a week!

Another point is do we really want to be signing injury prone players, who are past their prime like Dyer on £60,000 a week contracts? West Ham are paying ridiculous sums in wages to secure players unlikely to take them further than mid table. Do you want villa to do that? Plus people must remember that Villa have spent 9.5 mill on Young and 8 mill on Reo-Coker, each one of those transfers is more than what West have spent on a single player, and in the case of Young he represents more talent than any of West Hams recent signings.

In comparison to Man City, their highest transfer fee was the 8.8 mill on Bianchi, very similar figure to Young and Coker's fee. Man City have also invested heavily in Youth, however their young players are from the continent which makes sense, as Sven's work for the England national side has shown his style does not suit that of the English player. We must remember that MON is a British manager who is excellent at getting the best out of British players.

Another point is that the hungry players, hungry to play football and win titles will alway chose the big clubs over the smaller ones even if the smaller one's offer more wages. The players that chose money over success are not welcome at Villa Park as far as I am concerned. In addition players that want to play football above all else would much rather come to a team like Villa where there is a greater chance of first team football then your Tottenham's and Newcastle's. Curtis Davies for example is likely to find himself stuck on the bench once Dawson and King return (if he were to go to Spurs) plus they have 4 other CB's, whereas at Villa we have Laursen (who won't be able to play twice a week) and Cahill who has yet to threaten Laursen or Mellberg for their places. So maybe, just maybe having a small squad makes us a more attractive option for young players as it means a little less competition and so a greater chance of winning a first team spot. As hungry players alway want first team football.

The first two seasons of the five year plan is surely to achieve european qualification, that will allow us attract a higher class of player and to invest in Young player that can become future greats, as the last thing we want is to be signing up average players to long expensive contracts and then not being able to unload them as they will not accept a drop in wages (Remember to problems DO'L had getting rid of players like Hadji). This is why the investment in Youth has been the focus, None of the players we have been linked with are over 25, with the exception of Defoe and Wright-Phillp's who are better than your average and still only 26.

We have every right to worry, but the fact remains MON and Lerner have done nothing wrong. The only player I was unhappy to see leave was Davis, but he didn't want to stay, he wanted first team football and was probably tapped up a little by Laurie Sanchez. All the rest that left were either not good enough (McCann), lazy (Djemba Twins), or whingers (Samuel). So we don't have a deep enough squad, at least we know the atmosphere in the dressing room is good, all the players want to play for Aston Villa and are hungry to do well. Getting the right players must be our focus, any players who are report to have a little class won't do. Almost every player in the Prem has class, but class means nothing without, hunger, desire and team spirit.

Remember you don't suddenly became a top four Team overnight. People seem to forget that Chelsea were already in the Champs League and had their to two most important players when Abramavich's money came along, not to mention the only other club that had big spending power at the time was Man Utd.

Judge the transfers situation on the 1st of Sept and stop bloody panicking! As that is our only real worry.

Well said!!

If there is a $45k salary cap, then it probably reflects our position financially. If the club carry out the plans they say they will, then further incomes streams will be found, and that cap (it it actually exists), will increase.

The club is being run professionally and as a business, like everyone I would like to see more signings, but if we finish 7th or higher this season, then I will be happy.

General,

With The Villa just completing a pre-season tour of the statea, and other teams from the premier league having been in asia on pre-season tours, is there any chance in the future that The Villa may have a pre-season tour n Australia?

As a Villa supporter since the 70's, it would be great to see The Villa up against some of the A-League teams from Australia, and they would get some great crowds.

all posters are requested to PLEASE read through previous posts or do a search to see if "your question" has already been asked/answered (as this one has about 5 times). [No plans at present] ta blandy

I've woken up in Australia to see the news that we're close to signing Harewood. I soon spat out my weet-bix and started to scatch my head, to come up with some reason why we are signing Harewood. Yes he has some positve attributes, and he is probably being signed as a back-up for Carew. Only the manager knows why he believes he can do a job for the Villa, and if we do indeed sign him, I hope O'Neill is proven right.

But as the days go on and we get closer to the opening of the new season, I would be lying to say that my confidence has not started to be shaking. there has been a lot of statements made by this club over the past few months, and in different areas they have delivered. But if the quality of player we are buying is going to be the Reo-Coker and Harewood (I do rate Reo-Coker, but that has to be proven), then Europe will be yet another seaon away. We still lack depth in this squad, and we still lack the quality to make the Top 6.

I think whatever formation the Manager decides to play, whether a back three or four, Reo-Coker will be sitting in the whole in front of them. I would question a back three though, as you need wingers who will be dropping back in defence. I don't see Wright-Phillips, if thats who where looking at fitting into a back three. But there are a few players who we we have been loosely linked too, who can perform that job with a back three, time will tell.

I think people are missing the point, O'Neill has his plan a, b, c and d. Whether Sneijder is in that plan, only O'Neill knows, and we are just guessing. But if O'Neill wants him, he will get him. As far as Nakamura signing, I think he might be a plan b behind Wright-Phillips. I am so confident that O'Neill will get the players he wants and can do a job for us. I can't wait!

Kewell grew up in Australia in the mid to late 80's when Liverpool were kings, hence his adoration for them. It is likely that he doesn't want to leave Liverpool as it was his dream move. But if as reported Benitez gets the players he's after, Kewell will be surplus to requirements. He he stays fit, and reports from the Socceroo physio say that he's never been fitter, then he would be a great addition. Kewell is Australian, and we don't particularly like to lose, so he won't be turning it up. One more thing is that I beleieve he will suit O'Neill's style of play far more than Benitez's style.

I think people are underestimating the attraction of playing for Martin O'Neill. Players across Europe know that he has been a success as a manager where ever he has gone. So they know if they come to the club, success should be just around the corner.

I like the fact that where not being linked to every man and his dog. Just going about our way quietly, and firming up those deals. Most of the sales so far are reactionary sales, because players are on frees, or they have been relegated. Managers making those sought of purchases have to be questioned. Martin O'Neill knows what type of player we wants, he's identified them, now it's just closing those deals, if they havn't already been confirmed.

In a few weeks time we'll be asking how the manager got him to sign for the Villa.