TrentVilla

The most shocking part of that article for me is the women who is out shopping on her lunch hour (always what I would do when I'm short of cash) saying she has had to start working 5 days a week! I had no idea things had got so bad in the land of Oz!!! Whatever next?

Looks like now is the time to buy that property in Sydney harbour I've wanted for the last 10 years...

Well I would imagine the forth coming presidential race and eventual new candidate will see the introduction of measures to help turn around the American economy and also give a substancial boost in confidence to the nation at large.

There may be a blip in the road ahead but little more than that although the days of easy borrowing are perhaps gone for a little longer.

Hi General.

I'm really looking forward to the youth side's semi final against Chelsea and I would really love there to be a big big crowd to cheer the lads on.

I think the free admission is a great incentive so I just was curious to know if the club are planning to market this to the fan base? I think a lot of fans will perhaps be unaware of this game or the free admission and if marketed to ST holders and those who have attended games it would see a lot of interest.

Further my partner is a teacher and when I told her she immediately started looking into taking a party of pupils. It would be a great chance to invite local schools to VP and welcome the next generation of fans to VP.

Keep up the stirling work and thanks as always

TV

[Further I may be wrong but I do not recall Labour campaigning on the basis that there would be no change of leader. They may not have said there would be but that is not quite the same thing.

blair will serve full term

However the tories never said they would ditch the witch half way through her final term, so as such implied that the lady would go on and on and on and on ....

I stand corrected, I don't remember that.

Totally agree Jon. It is no different to the situation with the Conservative governments change in PM and your 100% correct when you say that there is no constitutionaly requirement.

Labour can effectively call a GE when they wish and I'm certain despite your belief Nick that in the current climate there is no chance this will happen in the next 12 months.

I'll take issue with that. It is.

There is no constitutional requirement for an election if thegovernment changes leader, I agree. When that government campaigned on the premise that the intended change of leader would not take place during the next term of office, I think there was a moral obligation to either see that through or ask the electorate.

I was talking about legally not morally. Two entirely different things especially within politics so I stand bye what I said in the context in which I said it.

Further I may be wrong but I do not recall Labour campaigning on the basis that there would be no change of leader. They may not have said there would be but that is not quite the same thing.

Yep I will, there will be pressure from the press and peers as GB will keep screwing the pooch.. it's gonna happen, mark my words, if I am wrong 20 bucks to VT!

20 bucks? Thats about 10 quid isn't it? Not that confident then?

$20 is quite alot, when interest rates are at 10.55% over here, guess what under a Labour Government... Tories will be back in here in the next election pretty much 100%... Nice...

As will happen in the UK.... GE in UK next 12 months definately!

Ok I'll match your bet Nick. Money goes to VT on there being a UK election within 12 months of today, start that clock ticking...

Yep I will, there will be pressure from the press and peers as GB will keep screwing the pooch.. it's gonna happen, mark my words, if I am wrong 20 bucks to VT!

20 bucks? Thats about 10 quid isn't it? Not that confident then?

Totally agree Jon. It is no different to the situation with the Conservative governments change in PM and your 100% correct when you say that there is no constitutionaly requirement.

Labour can effectively call a GE when they wish and I'm certain despite your belief Nick that in the current climate there is no chance this will happen in the next 12 months.

.... Labour are putting pressure on the BofE to lower Interest rates as a vote winner

hey? :?

there is no looming GE in this country. Not for the best part of 2 years, anyway. Do you know something we don't?

If the independant BofE were to lower IR as a GE sweetener, i doubt they'd be doing it now.

Exactly why Labour will not be losing power any time soon. A GE is not even on the political horizon at this moment in time.

As for the BofE and interest rates would that be the same Labour party putting pressure on the BofE that made it independant in the first place? mmm

Then you are wrong TV.... in the next GE, landside to the tories, not a doubt in my mind!

Just because there is no doubt in your mind does not make me wrong Nick.

I wonder if this stable economy, you know the one you defend Ian, is a contributor.... you know high interest rates, drives down house prices... boom and bust Ian...

Labours time is over... and not a moment to soon!

Not wishing to go OT but I can't see Labour losing power any time soon

Hi General.

As I'm sure your aware there has been a sad loss to the Villa family with the death of a club legend Jimmy Dugdale.

I have total faith that the club will act accordingly to mark the passing of this great figure from our past so will no suggestions in direct relation to that.

But I have for some time thought that the club and the fans would benefit to something akin to either a museum or hall of legends that remembers those players who helped make us the great club we are today.

It would be fantastic to be able to pay hommage to those of the Villa Park family no longer with us and somewhere on sad days such as this that the fans could pay their respects. I think a club of our heritage and standing within the game in this country merits something along these lines and could also be tailored to oversea's visitors to Birmingham.

As always General thanks for your continued efforts and for taking the time to stop by on this and other message boards. I have to say over the last 12 months you have started to sound more and more like one of us. Have you noticed any difference in your feelings on match days?

Best Wishes

TV

I had a chicken sandwich for my lunch.

Now that is totally useless information for you

but thats fine if the aspiration of this country is to own houses then there is a probnlem.

We are not like the majority of the world where renting is a decent alternative, through Thatcher the whole society has been indoctirnated into thinking buying your house is the only way and that is not always going to be the case.

the fact is if you have kids you wants a solid base and most housing now is unaffordable to those on the national average wage of around 25k

I just wonder how those on less than 20k a year survive.

I think though that aspiration remains largelly thanks to Thatcher there is a growing reality amongst people that renting is often the only viable option.

I agree on the average salary its very very hard but while the gap to those at the top continues to grow then there will continue to be people willing and able to invest in property and as a direct result of their investment, customers.

If you are going to invest, stay away from the new build "bargains" and stick with the solid 30+ year old homes, near main streets. But I think you might see better prices in 18 months time. It's true the rental market should remain strong, but there is a possibility of an april shock, if many large portfolio holders sell out to take advantage of the new CGT regime - though that too may lead to some bargains to be had, with some properties already kitted out for renting and maybe with long term sitting tennants.

Agreed Gringo. The new builds should be avoided at all costs especially city center ones. These properties are being thrown up as cheaply as possible by companies who have been committed to the build for a number of years even though they now know supply out strips demand thus they are building as cheap as possible.

In a few years time these properties will be worth a fraction of there current market value. The smart money is in those properties 20/30 years old which tend to have larger floor plans and gardens and thus more attractive lets for families.

There are certainly some bargins to be had out there at the moment. Although fee large portfolio holders are dropping properties its more small investors scared of a possible crash most larger investors are holding tight or buying.

the housing market needs to come down. there is now a lack of first time buyers and this is causing at the bottom end a severe problem.

Take my example brought my house for 50k at a time when I was 18k a year with a 44k mortgage, just around 2.5 times my salary, the preferred level. Of course I brought in 1999, just on the upcurve of Gringo's graph, so at the right time.

Now my house is worth £130k but the same job would only pay 22-25k a year, so I woudl still be living with parents until i was on 30k or living with someone else on same salary.

so as you can see there is a massive problem there, because of this I can not upgrade as the next step is simply unaffordable, so it makes you wonder how stretched some people are.

Once the first time buyers go a lot of demand goes and then the market whilst not crashing, hopefully willl go to a more realisitic level.

I agree with that. But the market at the bottom end is continuing to be supported by those in the higher salary brackets who can afford to buy to let. Which has seen a rise in the number of rented properties in each of the last 3 years which is in tern supported by those who cannot afford to buy.

Guy on the local radio up here yesterday "This is a great time for those that can afford to buy property. House prices not going up as much as they were which means some good bargains. The fact that the mortgage lenders are making it harder for first timers means that there will be more people wanting to rent. Plus those that don't want to rent but live in it as a home will get more done on their own house which means more work for local tradesmen" - It's maybe something in the Sheffield water!

I agree. Its a great time to invest in property and thats exactly what I'm doing.

It certainly is not a great time to invest in property!

Just because you put your opinion in bold doesn't make it any more factual its still your opinion.

While most people worry about a possible crash others are making a killing.

Guy on the local radio up here yesterday "This is a great time for those that can afford to buy property. House prices not going up as much as they were which means some good bargains. The fact that the mortgage lenders are making it harder for first timers means that there will be more people wanting to rent. Plus those that don't want to rent but live in it as a home will get more done on their own house which means more work for local tradesmen" - It's maybe something in the Sheffield water!

I agree. Its a great time to invest in property and thats exactly what I'm doing.

Houses prices may slow but they will not crash. The doom and gloom merchants have been telling us they would crash for the last 5 years via the front page of The Daily Mail and yet they continue to rise.

No chance

If we're being pedantic (well, it's not pedantry really, it's a fact) there are 8 days left (including today) in the window, not 7

Well if you really want to be pedantic there are 7.5 as we are into the afternoon.

You see, what chance have we got of agreeing on how many players we'll sign when we can't even agree on the number of days left You can join my pedant's club, Trent

7.5 and 2 it is then (that's days and signings) :winkold:

No you can join mine...

If we're being pedantic (well, it's not pedantry really, it's a fact) there are 8 days left (including today) in the window, not 7

Well if you really want to be pedantic there are 7.5 as we are into the afternoon.

I'vr said 2 all along and I'm still sticking too it

Said 2 before and still sticking too it.