bose

jesus red card for Baker!

Bradley has joined on loan according to Soccernet. Good news that!

Assist by Baker - well done!

GOAL GOAL DELFOUNESO!!!!!!! Get the **** in!!!!

Goallllllarssssooooooo - old man Pires!!!!

Goallllllarssssooooooo

Ah ok that explains the timing then, cheers.

Anyone know if this is on TV?

anyone actually read his wikki entry in full. Doesn't make great reading TBH - His cup treble was very much a one off - rest his career is littered with big money flops, promises of 'turning the corner' - and fans unhappy with his negative style of play.

I would think a cup treble would be a one off for most managers? Not exactly many who manage more than one.

WTF?

It's a nice feeling to have optimism back at Villa!

I actually think we'll win this one. Wouldn't be to bothered with a draw though.

I think it could be wise to rest Petrov here, he worked his socks off on Saturday.

I hate how insecure us British are. Whenever you hear an interview with an American artist it's always "do you like coming here" and " what artists do you like over here".

Equally annoying is the "yeah, it's my home from home maaaan" reply.

Icelanders do it aswell. "How do you like Iceland?" has been the standard question in all interviews with artists from other countries. Cringeworthy.

Obviously the board have the utmost faith in him, considering the money they've paid for Bent. It's up to Houllier now to show he knows what he's doing and today was a good start.

Check out the match thread for the game on the Sunderland forum. It's good fun. They go mental when Bent scores.

Link

Fantastic. Bent is what we've been looking for for 15 years and he didn't take long to do his job!

As most have said Petrov was fantastic, one of the best performances from him in a Villa shirt. But most players did very well. Dunne and Collins were like their old selves again.

Everyone really did put in a shift today and worked their socks off.

Let the run begin...

Pretty sure this will be the starting line-up:

------------------Friedel

Walker---Collins----Dunne----Clark

---------Petrov----Reo-Coker

Albrighton------Young---------Downing

------------------Bent

With Young actually playing as a second striker/in the hole.

Bent's arrival will help to raise the atmosphere but I still think we will lose. If Tevez plays we just have to put a man on him (Reo Coker?) and let his sole purpose be to stop him.

Cuellar has man-marked Tevez successfully on a number of occasions.

Yeah that would probably be ideal but I doubt he will play (sadly).

Bent's arrival will help to raise the atmosphere but I still think we will lose. If Tevez plays we just have to put a man on him (Reo Coker?) and let his sole purpose be to stop him.

All you need is an Allardyce-esque headset and you're doing a decent Jim Tressel impression.

I think your references to american sports will go mostly amiss this side of the pond mate. :winkold: (I at least haven't gotta clue who that is (please don't explain )).

Mat Kendrick on twitter:

#avfc I'm being told 6.30-7 for unveiling now.We must be patient.

I tell you when the Sunderland thread does load up it is brilliant, only up to about page 7 when they realise it's true.

Realistically he's got to be worth at least 5million more than they paid which was about £10m. Then there is the fact they don't need to sell. All in all we're not going to get a player that scored 20 odd goals for any less.

Please let us tie it up today.

Haha yeah I'm reading that thread as well, I'm still to get to the part where they realise it's true. It's taking ages to load, their forum is in meltdown!

I still think he should be sacked but there is not much we can do if the board are all set on keeping him despite everything.

The only thing we can do is hope he miraculously turns things around and gets a few good players in.

If the performances and attitude lately aren't enough to make Randy change his mind on Houllier I don't know what is.

Just look at Petrovs reaction at being subbed, they have no confidence in what he is doing!

What was his reaction, out of interest?

Mat Kendrick

#avfc Houllier was reassured by chief executive about his job at the end and insists he has 'firm' backing of Randy Lerner

Are they **** masochists?