Woody1000

If Downing hands in a transfer request, I would reject it and stick him in the reserves. See if Liverpool are still interested after Stewie's had to pick splinters out of his arse for 12 months!

I'm sick and tired of players who are quite happy to sign the contracts, but then don't want to honour them. Thanks to Bosman's, a 4 yr contract is actually a 2/3 yr contract - 2 years left you can just about get full transfer value, but 1 yr left and you're having to accept cut price!

I know RL won't because football is business these days, but I would love to see us make an example of him, just to show these players who the boss is!!

I don't believe Downing owes us anything - we got him injured in the first place, thus getting in ahead of Spurs and getting a decent price. I just want him to honour the deal he made.

The thing that is really sticking in my throat about this potential deal is that we've seen this before with Barry, Milner, Young and now Downing - it's the old "I want to play Champions League football" line trotted out. Well no disrespect meant, but we're not exactly Wigan so how about you guys roll up your f***ing sleeves and get US into the Champions League!!

The thing that just really sticks in my throat about this is that it just seems that the board couldn't care less about how this affects the fans.

If AM is appointed as Villa manager, I think they will struggle to see more than 25k at any of the first 5 or 6 home games.

I could understand if he was a top coach, but he's been relegated a month ago, and now he's being considered as someone that can take us forward.

This makes me wonder who's already turned us down!

My only break from the Villa in the last 30 years was when Schmeichel played for us. If Benitez were appointed I would stay away again.

One thing that many seem to forget is that he is a pretty shit manager as well.

I think the guy is a grade A clearing in the woods, but how can you call a manager that has won 2 La Liga's, a C.L and a Uefa cup a shit manager?

No idea about La Liga.

CL and UEFA Cup are easily won tournaments nowadays, with the right amount of resources, and the all important membership of 'the club' in the first instance.

On the former, at half time do you think that he gave an inspirational speech at half time, or was sat their wringing his hands?

But then he was lucky, so maybe we want a lucky manager...

Sure, you can have luck go your way in a cup run, but the best team always wins the league. That said, I don't believe that you can just 'luck' your way to a C.L win. There are too many top managers about for luck to take you that far. Plus you say about resources available, he hardley had massive resources at either Valencia or Liverpool when compared to the other big clubs around Europe.

Rafa Benitez is a knob, but would I have a two time Uefa Manager of the year in charge at VP? In a heart-beat.

I understand people not liking him as he is ex Liverpool, and the whole Barry carry-on a few years ago, but as far as managers we've been linked with if GH goes, Rafa is one of the few that actually comes with a history of winning trophies.

CL and EL are easily won tournaments?

wow.

To have a manager that had won either would be a coup for us, even if it was 'lucky'.

My only break from the Villa in the last 30 years was when Schmeichel played for us. If Benitez were appointed I would stay away again.

One thing that many seem to forget is that he is a pretty shit manager as well.

Let's be honest, The Fonz is superior to Heskey

Heskey should be offloaded and Nathan promoted to 3rd choice striker

agreed, personally i'd play him ahead of gabby who has been woeful this season

Gabby has been played on the wing so it hasn't been a fair reflection of the player.

ok, when he has played up front, he has been woeful, happy now? he hasn't played much on the wing

Your player assessments are frankly ludicrous at times - how's that world class player at Cheltenham Town doing?

Great result, 1-0 flattered Newcastle really but was still nervous for the last 5.

I've seen enough today to not be worried about relegation, but we need to start being more consistent or we will get sucked right back in!

This one really has me in two minds.

On the one hand, you just look at it that it's a move that hasn't worked out for him, and he just needs to be moved on as he is earning too big a wage to sit on our bench every week.

But I can't help thinking that there is a player in there, who can produce moments of magic. It's been a difficult season for us both on and off the pitch, so it is difficult to come in and produce top form. You've got all this talk about bringing in Charlie Adam, yet we've got a player who is potentially better IMO already on our books.

Ideally, I'd like to see him go out on loan, it gets his wages off the books for 4 months and then we can look at things again in the summer.

I think this is a very good signing, and definitely what we've needed.

It's been mentioned before that he's the player that NRC thinks he is, which is pretty much spot on.

Could turn out to be a bargain at £5m!!

Will bent be cup tied if he signs?

Also saw somewhere on twitter that we could have had him for 10 mill when he went to Spurs but Oneill baulked at the price!(Signed Heskey instead) :/

:!:

This is the kind of signing that would restore my faith in randy and houllier.

I will happily look in a mirror chanting "you're an idiot" while slapping myself hard across the face several times.

Hopefully, this will help push us up the table, and back to where we all want us to be!!!

How anyone can vote to back him is totally beyond me.

In fairness Trent, I still back him.

He must be financially backed in the next month, or we will go down - it's that simple.

I wouldn't trust him with the change from the back of my sofa, I can't for the life of me think what makes you think he should be given another game let alone money to spend in January.

I can see where you're coming from, but I just feel that if he can bring in a few of 'his' players, he could turn things around.

It's a difficult decision for Lerner, will he make the right one?

Only trouble is the guy is tactically clueless and unable to inspire, organise or motivate a side. Doesn't really matter if there his signings or not.

I just hope we don't go for somebody like Bg Sam - he just plays the same long ball shite that an ex-manager of ours used to play!

If Houllier does indeed get the chop, I think it's got to be Jol surely?

How anyone can vote to back him is totally beyond me.

In fairness Trent, I still back him.

He must be financially backed in the next month, or we will go down - it's that simple.

I wouldn't trust him with the change from the back of my sofa, I can't for the life of me think what makes you think he should be given another game let alone money to spend in January.

It's a difficult decision for Lerner, will he make the right one?

How anyone can vote to back him is totally beyond me.

He must be financially backed in the next month, or we will go down - it's that simple.

I'm just lost for words - just when you think it can't get any worse, it does!

I don't think it's the best way to go, but on today's performance it seems Houllier has lost the players (if he ever had them in the first place), and if that's the case then he's got to go.

FFS, if there is a god please can we have 3 points tonight!!!

4-4-2 will see us well beaten I feel.

Yes we have won games recently with this formation, but they were against Pompey (already relegated), Hull (soon to be relegated) and Blues (wish they were relaegated). The latter of whih had plenty of moments of dominance in the middle. Man City are above and beyond all those ive just mentioned and could roll us over very easily if we only have two in the middle.

Id play 4-5-1 with Gabby up front. Reo-Coker or Sidwell (gulp!) packing out the middle. Need to get something in this game! Its a must win - but playing Man City away is as tough as going anywhere in the country. We've beaten Man Utd and Liverpool away so perhaps that could spur us on - but I honestly cant see us even getting a point.

Bellamy and Tevez would take some stopping.

For me this has got to be 4-5-1 with Sidwell or Reo-Coker coming in.

Carew has looked a bit off lately, so he is the one to come out for me.

It terrifies me with Cuellar at RB up against Bellamy, I think he will give him a torrid time on Saturday, but I hope I'm wrong.

Backs to the wall, 1-0 win to the Villa - Dunney to break the Citeh hearts!!!!

Could not the second one to look right because the shape of the logo.

Hmmm, not sure how Vodafone would look on our kit. After all, isn't there a large amount of red in their logo? Unless they changed it to Villa colours it might look a little off.

Ugh, I hate people bringing up these bloody topics to make some kind of point.

This time last year, everyone was turning their nose up at the prospect of Richard Dunne joining the club.

Think that’s a bit of an exaggeration.

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=54934&postdays=0&postorder=asc

I would accept a bid of around £24m for Milner.

Don't get me wrong, I think he is a fantastic player for us, but some of the posters on here make him out to be World Player of the Year!!! I wouldn't say for one minute that he is the easily the best player at the club like some are making out.

If United came in with an offer of say £8m plus Carrick, I would be happy with that as I think he would offer us that creativity through the middle of the park that we currently lack.

You think Carrick is worth £16 million then?

I would accept a bid of around £24m for Milner.

Don't get me wrong, I think he is a fantastic player for us, but some of the posters on here make him out to be World Player of the Year!!! I wouldn't say for one minute that he is the easily the best player at the club like some are making out.

If United came in with an offer of say £8m plus Carrick, I would be happy with that as I think he would offer us that creativity through the middle of the park that we currently lack.

Have you ever seen Michael Carrick play?

This time last year, everyone was turning their nose up at the prospect of Richard Dunne joining the club. Who feels that way now?