Oaks

Don't ask me why, lol, but I feel a signing coming on today.

Hmmmm.

Why?

They have another wing(both Ronaldo and Young can switch wings). Also Arsenal need a wide player, and Pennant has hardly set the world on fire at Liverpool. Put it this way ive seen him a few times, he doesnt excite me. And spending more than £6 million on him would be a waste of money, in my opinion.

Lets put it this way, rumors have it that watford want £10 million for a good young player. Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal dont seem to be to interested in him, in my opinion think its a bad sign.

Another way of looking at it is that if any of those clubs WERE interested, we wouldn't have a hope of getting him. So I hope you're not suggesting we only be interested in players we haven't a hope of signing Cuz that's a vicious cycle and it's akin to saying if he's not good enough for ManUre then he's not good enough for me - which is simply not true.

Im not saying that, but a young player worth £10 million surly one of the top 4 would be interested? Im not saying that if his not good enough for Man U, his not good enough for us, but if the asking price is around there for a young English player, why are they not interested?

Lets put it this way, rumors have it that watford want £10 million for a good young player. Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal dont seem to be to interested in him, in my opinion think its a bad sign.

I think there will be as least 1 player in this week. I quite confident.

There is very few people who know who we are really after.

Hi General i have to admit i agree somwhat with Risso. We need players in now. Certanly before our game against Watford next week.

No, you may want to buy an Aston Martin but can't get the one you like for 6 months so instead of buying a car you don't like and getting the depreciation of it you borrow your mates Mercedes for 6 months because he isn't doing anything with it.

Agreed - but if Darren Bent is the Aston Martin - we know he is available.......The cover has been blown me thinks

Would you pay up to £15m for him? When you see that Kuyt went for £10m and someone like Huntelaar is available I would rather spend it on him. Rather have Nugent for £6m than sign Darren Bent for £12m

I dont know Bent id young and quick and IMO would suit our 4-3-3 system, with Moore and Gabby(or somone else), because he played all last season up front on his own.

Yep - bringing in loans - can only mean - we can't afford to buy ...............a bit like a loan to buy a car ... .....if you have the cash you use it - you don't have a loan

Manchester United have over £25 million to spend, yet bring in Larsson on loan.

Last season Chelsea brought in that Manich(**** how you spell it).

General Krulak here:

Today's game was critical...we needed, at least, one point. We got it. The lads played their hearts out. I am sure we will all find something we wish had gone better but...a point from Chelsea right now...with a real hard effort by Villa...is a good place to start 2007.

PLEASE believe that Randy and all of us want what you want....VICTORY, CONSISTENTLY! It WILL take some time.

Its so great that you came on here so quicky after the game. It was a great effort, i hope this point can give us confidence to push on a little.

Fansfc. Does anybody read all there shit?

I realise that with modern technology that its not hard to run a football culb outside the country. But its nice to see Randy in the crowd(im sure he loves being in the crowd too).

Anyway get back to chatting to all them players.

6. Cashless stadium. Obviously both Randy and I are very familiar with credit/debit cards that are wireless and conduct transactions through a receiver located at the entrance to a stadium, underground, etc. I agree that this is where we eventually need to go. Right now, we are probably a few years from that point. Why? Because of infrastructure costs and other associated costs to such a program.

Could it be possable to put in a few cashpoints around the ground? Might just be me, but many times i forget to get out cash, and its a bit of a walk to the closest. You can charge 1.50 for the privalage.

Villa are ready to lay down a transfer marker for their January spending plans by entering the race for Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Manager Martin O’Neill is said to have put the England international at the top of his transfer wishlist. It is a signal from the boss of his ambition to transform Villa into a club fighting for honours.

Wright-Phillips, pictured, would cost £10m, less than half the £21m Chelsea paid Manchester City for the 25-year-old.

Villa face competition from West Ham, Everton and the player’s former club Manchester City, who have already entered negotiations with Chelsea.

from the express and star

come on MON sign him up :nod:

http://www.expressandstar.co.uk/2006/12/29/villa-chasing-chelsea-star/

I hope its just that list of players after him, because i would be quietly confident. I cant see him going to West Ham, they are in a relegation battle.

nice article on the General.

Villa's general wows fans with talk of Becks and thongs

Randy Lerner's right-hand man has gone online to reveal his thoughts about the state of the club

Stuart James

Saturday December 23, 2006

The Guardian

With an American owner at the helm, the notion that democracy reigns at Aston Villa should hardly come as a surprise. However, even the most open-minded fans have been taken aback by a Villa director's willingness to post messages on supporters' websites, discussing everything from signing David Beckham and extending Martin O'Neill's contract to receiving sloppy kisses and the need for more comfortable women's underwear to be stocked in the club shop.

Article continues

Enter General Charles C Krulak. Randy Lerner's right-hand man, a former US Marine Corps Commandant and military adviser to the White House, has spent the past two months enlightening Villa fans with his candid and, more often than not, comedic views on internet message boards. Supporters could have been forgiven for dismissing "C Krulak" as an impostor when the name first appeared in October but club officials have confirmed this is not the work of a prankster.

Indeed, in one of his early messages Krulak explains: "I am on this site because, like Randy, I truly care about what fans say and feel." It is a novel approach which Villa's supporters have warmed to, with the general's response to those applauding his contribution typical of the bizarre humour that characterises many of his messages. "Thank you!" he writes. "In the immortal words of that famous centre-half, Clint Eastwood, 'You made my day!'"

Krulak's knowledge of football is clearly embryonic - he describes the strip he recently bought his "soon to be 94" father as "an Aston Villa game kit" and one supporter points out that he should be using the word "pitch" not "field" - but the 64-year-old does not mind being educated. "Thank you for the English lesson . . . and I mean that," he writes. "Last thing I want to do is appear to be some Yank who doesn't understand the King's or Queen's English."

He is not completely in the dark on footballing matters, though. "We all understand who David Beckham is (remember, Randy and I lived and worked in the UK from 2000-2004 and Randy still has a home here . . . and we are both here very often)," he writes with regard to reported interest in the former England captain. "Becks is a great player and a huge name but we only want those that Martin wants. There is absolutely NO sense in telling the manager who to go after!"

Krulak, who reveals that Lerner "is a brilliant musician . . . a guitarist that plays with some of the best ever", admits the owner could see dollar signs when he took over. He is not just after a quick buck, though. "Although Randy believes that we can make money at Aston Villa, he realises it is not a 'cash cow' and was never interested in that as a mission. With that as a given, he was and is taken by the tradition, ethos and 'soul' of the Aston Villa FC."

His analysis of matches is not so eloquent. "Great win! oooohhhhrrr-aaaahhhh! I love it! Mon [Martin O'Neill] and his claret and blue army were superb!" he wrote after the 1-0 victory at Everton. Recent results have been less uplifting and Saturday's defeat to Bolton prompted him to describe the away match at Charlton tomorrow week as "must win".

Krulak does admit on one website that he did not imagine that sending messages would be "so time-consuming" and, as a result, he now sets aside an hour daily to post comments. He encourages feedback and claims each suggestion "will have its day in court". He is also not afraid to ask supporters for advice, recently seeking help to find a website where he could view images of old kits, with the club apparently considering reverting to a more traditional design.

According to Krulak, a new strip will not be the only noticeable change at Villa. "Stadium expansion: first the Holte Inn, then Holte End, then North End . . . just watch us," he writes. "Global brand . . . absolutely! As an example, we are on our way to Soccerex in Dubai just for that reason . . . we are looking into a foray into the Czech Republic and, obviously, we are looking at ways to expand closer to home . . . a year from now we will be in many locations that are just a dream now."

As for the festive period, Krulak has four wishes. After "health for my family" and "safety for the troops deployed around the world", he hopes his presents will include "a continuing steady progress on the pitch for Aston Villa" and "a return of the fans". He has also been thinking pants. "How many women like to sit on a cold seat at Villa Park wearing a thong???" asks the general. "Hev", a "female fanatic" who offered Krulak a "sloppy kiss" for his postings, did not reply.

link

Guardian or the sun for me depends on what i want to read.

I do hate the mirror because its shit and the daily mail/express because of the amout they still go on about Diana, also one of them kept going on about inheritance tax on 90% of the front pages.

Rumours in the some papers linking Alan Smith to Villa in January.

Thoughts?

Well he must be good he gets in the England squad above Bazza.

What if he's no longer concidered first choice? Suddenly not so silly......

CAN I JUST ADD WHY IS HEINZE NOT 1ST CHOICE. EVRA IS ABSOUTELY SHIT. he is only 1st choice because heinze is just recovered from injury

Evra has slighly improved from rubbish to bad.

I dont think youve seen Evra this season. His been superb. No really he has, being that he was so awful last season, his the most improved player outside Villa park i would say.

Hi Sir and welcome to Aston Villa.

May i say just this little thing means so much to so many people. Only a few months ago, this would have been impossable.

I have 2 suggestions.

1. Its only a little thing, but it matters to me. Is there any chance of getting the words "FOOTBALL CLUB" or "F.C." back on the club badge? Its not a biggie, i just hate the fact Aston Villa (and other clubs) have become more brands than football clubs.

2. Its a big thing to me. Villaworld has the worst commentator in the world. And im not over exaggerting either. Im not one for complaining either, or for getting people the sack. But he is truly awful. I just wish you could listen once. We dont know whats happening in the game, he talks utter rubbish, and his not even a Villa fan.

Thats all really. I already like what im hearing. Building for success and building a club, is worth way more than a club selling its soul and winning things like Chelsea. Although i would enjoy the ride, i dont think Chelsea have been successful more Abromovich has brought success.

Anyway welcome and enjoy the sunny sights of Birmingham.

Bridge at left back is a good shout, i bet with the Chelsea sell off prices we could pick him up for about £3-4 million. Ild add Milner to that for another £4 million and i would have a pop at Nugent at Preston. His strong quick and good in the air and only 21. Then maybe a crack at Wright-Phillips.

My house mate is an Aberdeen fan and they have 2 stars on there shirts. One for winning the cup winners cup and one,

Wait for it

its a good one.

really its good.

for winning the European Super Cup.

A thing thats come to my head. When the full takeover happends can/will we have F.C. put back on the badge?

Are all their fans retards????

Yeah ive always wondered why they think consortiums are such a big things. These so called "billionairs" have big egos,i really can't see why they would like to share control of a football club, when they could do it by themselfs(like Lerner)?