HolteExile

Not only did they 'agree' to get rid of them, the western powers pushed them to do so - on the proviso they would guarantee Ukraine's borders and claims to statehood.

It could be that it's totally different sets of people, rather than the same people going back on previous declarations. The eternal optimists already think we've embarked on a 2018/19-style Ragga Tip, whilst the miserabilists still think we'll contrive to get relegated. Broad church, and all that.

Historically we have one of the biggest pitches in the country (at one stage, just behind Wembley, I believe). We could lose some of that width + length and still have a bigger pitch than Chelsea or Norwich etc. Part of the lower tier would sit under the existing stands, so the amount jutting out to the pitch wouldn't be huge. Total flight of fantasy on my part, admittedly. But as well as increasing the capacity it could help make the ground more intimidating - particularly if the section below the current Holte was utilised for safe standing etc.

Not convinced we need an underground car park. We already have land in and around the stadium that could provide adequate space for a multi level car park if we want to go that route. But I have felt for a while that excavating below ground level to give us a smaller extra tier all the way round could solve the capacity question. Both the Nou Camp, Bernabéu and Porto's old ground have one level below ground level and the scale is something else when you enter from the street and look down. If we had had only half the size of the former's lower tiers, that's still prob close to additional 10,000 capacity at a stroke. With no need to bulldoze any of the current stands. 'd still probably look at levelling the Doug Ellis stand, if possible. It's a stand with no real architectural merit, was done on the cheap and won't be missed. With that lower tier, you wouldn't need to build higher than the current stand, so less grief (in theory) from the local residents. You'd still keep the fundamental character of Villa Park as well, but the ground will be that bit tighter and closer to the pitch. Close in the corners similar to the way Rangers have and you'd have a genuine amphitheatre. I'd keep the North Stand personally, and just modernise the back of it and the concourses. It's the last link to our great teams of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Most of their throwback fans prob still wear them.

I think those are positions we'll try to address over the next two transfer windows for certain. I'll be disappointed if we aren't in for a forward as well, as the balance isn't right up top at the moment. But I don't think we'll be bringing in 4-5 players this window.

Aye. It's such an obvious one to do. We'll probably be getting linked with Kostas Tsimikas (reserve left back at Liverpool) in the not-too-distant as well.

Agreed.

Trez's graft in that early part of last season coincided with our good run. He has his limitations, but we've missed that aspect of his game when we've been too open this season. Buendia was meant to be a grafter allied to his attacking abilities. But seen very little of that so far.

If he's the sort of manager that reads a few messages on the internet and lets that get to him he isn't the right bloke for us anyway. I don't think he is the right guy, based purely on his experience so far. But hopefully he's closer to the Terry mould; that is, trying to get fans onside with performances from the outset. That wasn't a universally popular arrival from the outset either.

Aye. If we're 11-14th over the next two seasons, his cheerleaders in the press will still say he's worked wonders. Coming in to a struggling 'club like Villa' who were 17th when he arrived and just lost their best player. They'll gloss over the squad he inherited and the £ he'll no doubt have available.

If Gerrard was managing a team playing good football in the same league as us - on a far smaller budget - and had our lot chasing shadows every time we played I'm sure there'd be a bit more enthusiasm at the prospect. His record in the league he has actually managed in to date (relative to their resources) is fair rather than outstanding.

His Brentford team ran rings around us four times out of five in the same division (even in some of the games we drew). And were generally seen as one of the best footballing sides at that level. With far less resources than us and most of the other sides in that league. He always looked like one who could step up.

Purslow seems to be more highly thought of by Chelsea than the Redscouse.

It's a no from me, Clive.

Most Liverpool fans and ex players are either indifferent to us, or will say summat like "Villa? Good club" in a vaguely patronising kinda way. Apart from Murphy (who hams up his disdain for pantomime effect on a radio talkshow) we don't register.

Aye. It's also not that unusual for bookies (or those who do have a fair idea of who it's going to be) to release a name or snippet of info on fan sites and get people launching money at that. Whilst boosting the odds of the guy actually in the frame. Or just making a killing on the guy they know they won't need to pay out on. Villa have played it tight when it comes to transfers over the past few years. Don't see why they'd be leaking now, all of a sudden. Particularly if it's a dunderhead like Gerrard.

I'm not sure the prospect of a final bout against Usyk is enough to stay in the game for Fury. Usyk is a good fighter, and worthy champion. But AJ is the one he wants. Usyk - like Fury - has that ringcraft and nous that AJ and Wilder don't possess and if Fury's not totally up for it it's a problem. Could see Fury taking the Whyte fight and waiting on the outcome of the AJ v Usyk rematch. If it's AJ - all well and good. And a big final payday to follow. If it's Usyk - call it a day. He could retire now and would have nothing left to prove.

If Oblak goes, was how I read that speculation. It's an easy enough link. Real and Barca are strapped for cash, Simeone as manager of Atletico etc etc. So easy I assume it's made up pish.

Agreed. We've got something approximating a balanced squad and strength in depth for the first time in eons. The club don't need £10 million that badly and the player himself has expressed no desire to go.

Seen a bit of that Kamil Jóźwiak towards the end of the last season and he looked like one to keep an eye on. Wide player, direct and a good turn of pace. It's not an area we are short in now, admittedly. But always good to have pace and options from the bench. He's already played nearly nearly 20 games for Poland at the age of 23, so looks like he's on the up.

It also depends on where you're trying to access it, in my experience. I had used PIA on and off since about 2016. But it was useless for me in Vietnam in 2019 when I was trying to access the BBC website. I met someone there who was using ExpressVPN to do the exact same thing, so switched to that and no problems...until this year, When I was in Dubai and hotels etc seemed to block any sort of VPN. Less of an issue of you go through a local data plan there, mind.

If you were a Burnleh fan - at that price - they can buy ten more Ashley Westwoods. Swings and roundabouts. Or swings and useless pointy barstewards.

At the prices being touted? Naah. I feel we'd be better served with out and out express pace for the remaining wide slot anyroad.

Hmm. Transfermarkt has 27. Still more than I expected, admittedly. After the 97 tournament and Up until the 2000/01 season he scored three over three domestic and CL seasons. So hardly prolific, or the sort of regular threat you'd need to plan against. I do remember commentators regularly panning him for trying to recreate that wondergoal as another effort ballooned hopelessly into the stands. But by the looks of it, in 2000-01 season he bagged eight alone. Maybe Raul and the like were monopolising the chances closer to goal in earlier campaigns and only letting him have a dig from far out before then.