Jordanderve

I've been keeping a keen eye on the seating plan (I am a very bored person) and am noticing that seats which previously seemed to have been sold are suddenly becoming available again. For example a couple just popped up in the lower holte. Wonder why?

Not sure but if you click on select a seat, even in the majority of blocks which are still green (except the wings), a lot of the seats have gone. From the ticket website, it doesn't seem too far off being right.

Someone mentioned the other day that 3k left.

i understand the reasoning behind not releasing these tickets on general sale but this game has to be a sell out. The club should do whatever it can to get people through the door. It's a FA Cup quarter final under Saturday floodlights vs a team only 4 miles away from us. It doesn't get much bigger than this.

Lets do it. I am so excited. 

I live in Leeds but managing to get down for this game. It is going to be the best game since the Ajax game for atmosphere I reckon. Unfortunately, I'm in the Trinity Upper but my heart will forever be in the Holte!

Is the atmosphere that bad in the Trinity Upper?

Wont happen, too bloody weird.

How many people said that McLeish could never become Villa manager? Like many, I thought it was a joke when I heard.

The managers the bookmakers have as candidates did Sunderland are so utterly dour. I can't remember seeing a worse list of possible managers as that which have been drawn up for Sunderland.

 

 

I see McLeish's path mirroring McClaren's. He'll go to a decent Championship side and bore them to tears. He doesn't deserve a Premier League job after what he put us through.

McLeish has already been to Forest and lasted as long as a bad rash.

 

Ha, I'd forgotten about him at Forest. I feel McLeish, like McClaren, has finally been found out. There must be better options than these dinosaurs.

 

Yep, Kevin Ball, Stuart Pearce & Tony Pulis.

I haven't had this much fun at work since we beat them 6-1 last season

I really do hope this happens.

It is said that it isn't necessarily a certainty but the Mcleish interview is the sole reason why Poyet hasn't already go the job.

Word is that McLeish would take GMac as his number two.

Odds have come in on betfair today too (it doesn't take much for this to happen, I appreciate).

Hi Everyone

On a reasonably grey, gloomy and dreary day, I thought I would pass on some possible news to cheer everyone up.

I work with a Sunderland season ticket holder and there are certain snippets coming out up there that McLeish is a very strong possibility for Sunderland after 'interviewing very well'...sounds familar.

He enjoyed every minute of taking the piss out of me when that clown was in charge of us and so in the words of a certain Mr Keegan ..."I would just LOVE IT!" if McLeish ended up at Sunderland.

Season starts 2nd November. 6 of last seasons top 7 in the first 9 games! If we are mid-table at the beginning of November, we could be in for a good season.

Other than the trail of tweets Yesterday and the Mirror article Today, is there anything else, anywhere else, saying it's done? Could it not just be another BS rumour?

It is on SkySports' live transsfer centre too with 'reports emergin gfrom Holland'

I think programme sales will go through the roof early season as we will all need them in order to work out which player is which from the squad lists.

Lambert is the most interesting manager we have had since Gregory. I love what he is trying to do with us.

Whether it works is a different matter but I am enjoying the ride.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-sign-leandro-bacuna-1950316

Aston Villa to snap up highly-rated Dutch midfielder Leandro Bacuna 13 Jun 2013 13:39

The Holland Under-21 international was at Villa to undertake a medical today before completing his switch from FC Groningen

Aston Villa are set to sign highly-rated Dutch midfielder Leandro Bacuna.

The Holland Under-21 international moves to Villa Park from FC Groningen.

Bacuna was at Villa to undertake a medical today before completing his switch.

Despite only being 21, Bacuna has made over 100 appearances for Groningen since making his debut in 2009.

Bacuna is most comfortable in midfield, but can also operate as a wing back on either side.

Villa manager Paul Lambert hopes to make at least six new signings this year

Having wrapped up deals for Aleksandar Tonev and now Bacuna, Lambert is aiming to seal the transfers of striker Nicklas Helenius and Jores Okore.

We don't seem to be hanging about this year do we!

Well if one game of FIFA is anything to go by

Bennet will be the greatest left back in the prem

Westwood can't shoot for shit

And Benteke makes heskey look graceful.

I was just thinking, can anyone give an example of a player coming from league 1 or 2 into the premiership and being good straight away?

Because we've signed 3.

Now i'm sure i'll be called negative but i'm being realistic, what are the chances of these players having a real impact on THIS season? When someone as highly rated as delph at that level struggles are we not expecting a bit much from these players?

Its alright to say Lambert wanted them, but not everything he touches will turn to gold.

Like i said can anyone throw out any examples?

Top of my head but Dean Ashton? McLean last season for Sunderland?

Like it or not we are where we are, Can't you just leave it and get behind the team ?

Getting behind the team is going to games and cheering them on. I do enough of that.

I don't class writing on the internet that everything will be great as an important aspect of getting behind the team.

In my view Big John, you are under estimating the power of the internet. Instantly, such views have an audience of potentially millions of people. How many views has this thread received?

Constantly airing negative views, time and time again, infects a fan base and negativity spreads like wild fire. Within a crowd, a negative voice can be drown out, if, it is a minority view. On an internet forum, it is so much more difficult for such views to be drown out, even if the views are that of the minority.

I am not solely pointing out your posts and I am not saying that people do not have the right to air any view they wish. However, getting behind the team on an internet forum is an important aspect of 'supporting your team' and it isn't just the fact that you turn up every week that makes you a 'good supporter'.

Happy to finally see this spate of links to players, I think 4 good signings and we're looking a very solid unit.

Of the many linked to us in the last 48 hours or so, i'm confident we could realistically get to a good first team and strong bench when all fit...

--------------------- Guzan -------------------------

Lowton ------ Vlaar ----- Dawson ------ Bennett

-------------- N’Zonzi ---El Ahmadi ---------------

Holman ---------------------------------- Downing

------------- Benteke --- Bent ---------------------

Subs

1. Given (only here as I think he needs a wake up call)

2. Dunne

3. Clark

4. Lichaj

5. Ireland

6. Nzogbia

7. Gabby

Now that is a bench of players all of whom are capable of coming on and adding quality, not just make up the numbers. Lambert also likes to rotate - and again this group would alow him to do that as well as change formation if he wanted.

Plus, you have a healthy set of squad players to move up to the subs bench when injuries mean our regular players are out...

Baker

Bannan

Herd

Weiman (unlucky to miss the bench)

Fonz

etc

Agreed for the most part although I personally wouldn't like us to go near Dawson (high wages, no resale value and slow). We have Dunne who has these attributes.

Also, the team you have outlined includes 5 signings!

Lerner has spent money... Source: http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html

Last 5 seasons Premier League transfer spends by club.

Purchased Gross/ Sold/ Net/ Per Season

Man City £498,450,000/ £102,800,000/ £395,650,000/ £79,130,000/

Chelsea £293,300,000/ £77,600,000/ £215,700,000/ £43,140,000/

Stoke City £71,225,000/ £8,650,000/ £62,575,000/ £12,515,000/

Man United £180,950,000/ £120,800,000/ £60,150,000/ £12,030,000/

Aston Villa £144,100,000/ £89,350,000/ £54,750,000/ £10,950,000/

Liverpool £239,150,000/ £192,050,000/ £47,100,000/ £9,420,000/

QPR £36,500,000/ £850,000/ £35,650,000/ £7,130,000/

Fulham £46,800,000/ £24,700,000/ £22,100,000/ £4,420,000/

West Ham £70,400,000/ £53,300,000/ £17,100,000/ £3,420,000/

W B Albion £38,725,000/ £24,810,000/ £13,915,000/ £2,783,000/

Tottenham £163,700,000/ £152,250,000/ £11,450,000/ £2,290,000/

Nrw City £12,050,000/ £1,100,000/ £10,950,000/ £2,190,000/

Sunderland £101,900,000/ £91,550,000/ £10,350,000/ £2,070,000/

Wigan £54,600,000/ £50,250,000/ £4,350,000/ £870,000/

Sthamton £16,450,000/ £14,600,000/ £1,850,000/ £370,000/

Swansea £16,430,000/ £21,860,000/ -£5,430,000/ -£1,086,000/

Reading £9,200,000/ £25,850,000/ -£16,650,000/ -£3,330,000/

Everton £57,000,500/ £75,816,000/ -£18,815,500/ -£3,763,100/

Newcastle £72,850,000/ £109,550,000/ -£36,700,000/ -£7,340,000/

Arsenal £137,400,000/ £181,400,000/ -£44,000,000/ -£8,800,000/

Total gross spend under Randy Lerner £177,500,000.

Doesn't include wages. Randy was worth approx £600m prior to our takeover if I recall correctly, has spent approx £200m on Villa and sold the Browns for approx £600m. If we have to start breaking even, so be it. Lerner has invested in Villa and cannot continue to do so at the same level!

But then are those who say we shouldn't dicuss the downbeat scenario - because thje closing of the window hasn't happened yet. A view I can never really fathom - as if you think about 90% of the healthy dicussion is our interpreation of what todays events\non events mean for Aston Villa on the pitch if future weeks\months\years .

Exactly.

We might as well close the match threads because you might as well wait for the final whistle instead of discussing what might happen.

If match threads start having comments in like FFS how did we lose that 10 - 0 before the game has been played. Absolutely, close the thread.

What people get frustrated about is when people with downbeat/negative opinions are speaking as a matter of fact, when actually the window hasn't closed hence the 'moan after the window closes' comments.

The 10-0 before the match has started is a poor analogy, more like 2-0 with 10 mins to go in this transfer window .

Apologies

But then are those who say we shouldn't dicuss the downbeat scenario - because thje closing of the window hasn't happened yet. A view I can never really fathom - as if you think about 90% of the healthy dicussion is our interpreation of what todays events\non events mean for Aston Villa on the pitch if future weeks\months\years .

Exactly.

We might as well close the match threads because you might as well wait for the final whistle instead of discussing what might happen.

If match threads start having comments in like FFS how did we lose that 10 - 0 before the game has been played. Absolutely, close the thread.

What people get frustrated about is when people with downbeat/negative opinions are speaking as a matter of fact, when actually the window hasn't closed hence the 'moan after the window closes' comments.

Could it be that we are on to some kind of deal with stoke with Hutton/Dunne going one way and K. Jones going the other?

Wouldn't mind it.

This is looking like the best case scenario at the moment !

There is quite a strong chance now that we will go with what we have - this would be the weakest squad I can recall since the mid eighties.

On the balance of the rumours and market we are in - I think we will get Olson\cresswell and Jones

Its already stronger than last season....

How do you figure that?

We have replaced Petrov with KEA (not sure if that is an imporivement or not) and Collins with Vlaar (that looks to be an improvement) then brought in a league 1 RB and have released or transfer listed a load of players.

It looks like it will be a struggle to name the 7 players on our bench this season. When the injuries and suspensions strike we are going to massively struggle.

The squad is extreamly weak.

This is one of the weakest and worst villa squads for some time. We need to bring in about 8 players to the squad to be any good. We need another 3/4 minimum if we are going to avoid a relegation battle

Agreed, it is a weak squad but it is weak because of the ridiculous amount of overspending on wages that occurred when we were buying players left-right-center. Lerner should have had a tighter grip on this but can we criticise him if he was giving the top four his best shot? That is what everyone is asking him to do right now - overspend. The club has no money. Lerner has invested hundreds of millions to date.

Our most recent accounts showed us that we have to cut our on-going liabilities if we are to be run a self sufficent football club. Lerner is not rich enough to be able to absorb £50m losses year after year and as a fanbase we have to accept that. How many Billionaires with excess of £2b are there out there who would be willing to invest in a club outside of London. Not many I would suggest.

Even allowing for the fact that, by and large, Villa fans are way out on their own in terms of pessimism and their willingness to be miserable, the sheer nosedive that the general optimism seems to have taken after one solitary competitive game is surely a new record even for us. I'm saddened and to be honest a little frustrated that we can't even seem to give a manager most of us had fairly high on our wanted list a bit more than one game before we start slitting our proverbial wrists and writing the season off.

These are my feelings exactly. Why can't we just look forward to the season. People are writing off our youngsters but they have only really had 1 season in the prem and that was with McLeish as manager. I said it last season but Gardner's development would have been better suited by sticking in the reserves with KMac. At least in the reserves the ball didn't bypass the midfield. All of the youth lads last season must have gone from playing decent football, on the floor with the reserves/youth to coming into the 'big-time' with the first team and thinking what the hell is this when 'tactics' were being given out by McLeish.

Signings or not, I believe that with the crowd behind the team, the team will progress this season. Prior to Swansea being promoted, how many of there team would you have been happy with if we had signed them!

I want AVFC to be here for the next 100 years. If that means that we can't sign Fletcher, Jarvis and Dawson for £30m, what a shame.

Now Brunt_ear, I do not disagree with the points which you have made and would actually say that I agree with you for the most part.

We were not great against West Ham, however I found the performance encouraging. If other fans viewed the performance as disappointing but didn't feel encouraged, fine. I am not suggesting that everybody looks at each performance through rose tinted glasses. I just don't get the negative posts that are made about all manner of Villa related topics on every forum when we are so early into a new season, the transfer window is open and we have a new manager who has generally been well accepted.

In relation to the cliches you say I have used i.e. where I believe Lerner invested enough money to get us there, it is my opinion that he did. I am not suggesting that we would have stayed there, but we could have and I believe that with the money we spent we should have got there in one of those early Lerner seasons. That is not a cliche, that is my view.

Source: http://www.transferleague.co.uk/league-tables/transfer-league-table-last-five-seasons.html

Last 5 seasons Premier League transfer spends by club.

Purchased Gross/ Sold/ Net/ Per Season

Man City £498,450,000/ £102,800,000/ £395,650,000/ £79,130,000/

Chelsea £293,300,000/ £77,600,000/ £215,700,000/ £43,140,000/

Stoke City £71,225,000/ £8,650,000/ £62,575,000/ £12,515,000/

Man United £180,950,000/ £120,800,000/ £60,150,000/ £12,030,000/

Aston Villa £144,100,000/ £89,350,000/ £54,750,000/ £10,950,000/

Liverpool £239,150,000/ £192,050,000/ £47,100,000/ £9,420,000/

QPR £36,500,000/ £850,000/ £35,650,000/ £7,130,000/

Fulham £46,800,000/ £24,700,000/ £22,100,000/ £4,420,000/

West Ham £70,400,000/ £53,300,000/ £17,100,000/ £3,420,000/

W B Albion £38,725,000/ £24,810,000/ £13,915,000/ £2,783,000/

Tottenham £163,700,000/ £152,250,000/ £11,450,000/ £2,290,000/

Nrw City £12,050,000/ £1,100,000/ £10,950,000/ £2,190,000/

Sunderland £101,900,000/ £91,550,000/ £10,350,000/ £2,070,000/

Wigan £54,600,000/ £50,250,000/ £4,350,000/ £870,000/

Sthamton £16,450,000/ £14,600,000/ £1,850,000/ £370,000/

Swansea £16,430,000/ £21,860,000/ -£5,430,000/ -£1,086,000/

Reading £9,200,000/ £25,850,000/ -£16,650,000/ -£3,330,000/

Everton £57,000,500/ £75,816,000/ -£18,815,500/ -£3,763,100/

Newcastle £72,850,000/ £109,550,000/ -£36,700,000/ -£7,340,000/

Arsenal £137,400,000/ £181,400,000/ -£44,000,000/ -£8,800,000/

Total gross spend under Randy Lerner £177,500,000. I do not feel insulted by Mr Lerner looking at these figures above.