Gabby0878

We shouldn't be surprised, Everton and to some extent Newcastle and Spurs have been up for sale for the last five years. Billionaires aren't stupid, they don't want to pump money into a closed shop league (unless you are Qatari's who are off the charts rich). It's just throwing away cash to get a Champs League place (at a push). Doesn't matter... Feel like we are getting better back on to a level place! We go again!!

In my view the club has been crying out for someone (for want of a better word) who is a 'winner'. I'm tired of the 'we only lost three nil' attitude when we play big clubs. I like the thought that he isn't looking lovingly over to Mourinho thinking what's great manager he is. Keane wants to win and if that runs off on the other staff and players while he's here then I will be pleased!

As Roy's such a fan of the song Dancing Queen ( in his autobiography he refers to it being played in Sunderland's dressing room), and it rhymes with his name surely room for some sort of song? Annoyingly not that easy to chant: Could be something along the lines of "Roy Roy Keane, big and mean, Villas wrecking machine"...

Further to my earlier message, I asked whether FFP would affect the chance of a club like Villa being be sold, as it might put off new owners. Keith wouldn't get drawn on specifics, however he feels there is a lot more demand for 'aspiring premiership clubs' than there was three years ago. Back the Championship clubs were more appealing as their books were in order and investment could get them promoted.The influence of a strict FFP regime in the Championship has pushed investors back to Prem teams. He then said again that he could assure me there was strong demand for these 'aspiring teams' Not ground breaking, sorry. But in my view that bodes well. Sounds like there is definite interest.

Off to a talk tonight on FFP which is being chaired by none other than Mr. Keith Harris. I will report back if I hear anything.

Think a refloat would be very unlikely. Due to the number of financial institutions that would be on board, it would be a miracle if it wasn't leaked to the financial press! The City types like to let the journalists know that their firm is working on a big deal, especially if is a Premiership team. Maybe if it was in the US it might not get out as we have less profile there! However if Randy is struggling to find a seller though, it is an option that would make sense. Give the club to public ownership, making the whole organization more accountable! Don't think share prices did that well last time around though so maybe not!

Looking for Palace or Swansea if possible. Annoyingly can't do City. Overall have just been surprised by the speed they have gone. I remember easily getting tickets in MON years when we were third and pushing for a top four finish!

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post (although have asked this question on specific away match threads) but I wanted to see if other fans have struggled to get hold of away tickets this season? Over the years I have never had any trouble getting tickets to away games (non ST holder, but strong booking history home and away), unless it was against the Blues or at a newly promoted team i.e. Blackpool (due to size of allocation and infrequency of fixture). Normally most games even go to general sale, however this season the vast majority of away days have sold out before non-season ticket holders get the chance to buy. I don’t want this to descend into an argument of who is the better fan, as I think everyone widely accepts that if you have a season ticket you should 100% get priority, I just wondered why we have sold out so much. I read somewhere that the Premiership was making clubs invest £500,000 for their away fans, and Villa had put on free travel to all games. Is this true? I presume our strong away performance this season has also helped. Wondered if anyone could shed any light on this? Would be gutted if my chances of going to away games were over for the foreseeable future.

Why are away games selling out so quickly his year? I used to be able to get then with an away booking history but they sell out so quickly this season. Seen a couple of people mention that the club has been putting on free buses? Is this part of the Premiership Away fans program that started this year or just Randy?

Got some today, still some left! First game of the season for me, can't wait!

I am excited yet also nervous. It obviously worked for PL at Norwich, but if we continue to lose games, the fans and the media will use this window as a major attacking point e.g. 'Why didn't he sign more experiance etc.' In my eyes this is PL putting his ball on the table and saying "I'm a good enough manager to make these youngsters into a good premeirship side!" I bloody hope hes right, because if its goes wrong wer could be in trouble. Anyway its better than palying 6-3-1 under the ginger long ball merchant.

Think its just a case of footballers/men in general not great at dealing with emotional situations.

My concern with Rafa is the strong links to Liverpool. I can't handle another manager who flirts with other clubs and general blows smokes up their arse. Saying that, I can't imagine OGS would have given the Stretford End the middle finger if he had taken the Villa job. He would have been calling Fergie the gaffer, and talking about how great it is to return to Old Trafford. Is it too much to ask to get a manager in who has Villa as their number one priority? Look at John Gregory, not saying I want him back, but he put AVFC number one. Its the same with the players, that’s why we love Laursen, Carew and Mellberg. They all appreciated the support they received from the fans, and didn't live off past glories at old clubs.

Wait..... Orlando Bloom is going to be our new manager! I'm not sure about this appointment. I know he worked under one of the best ever, Peter Jackson, and his involvement in the Lord of the Rings treble will go down in history. However he is still learning his craft, and let’s face it Kingdom of Heaven and The Three Musketeers isn’t the experience he needs for a club like Villa.

Agree, sorry being down this end of the table has got me on edge. Can't wait till this nightmare is over.

Thank you Tonyh29, that’s all I was trying to say! While I got slightly carried away and contradicted myself, I didn’t think I warranted briny’s heavy handed response. Don’t worry, will go back to non-posting again!

Make your mind up about the probability! I think the "unlikely" judgment is the right one. You are wrong to argue that Man C could go into the QPR game with no chance of winning the title. Oh I’m sorry briny_ear if you couldn’t understand! Yes, while I did say easily and then unlikely, what I meant was that it is still possible that we could go down, and wouldn’t be a complete freak set of results. Yes, it is unlikely but much stranger things have happen in the Premiership. I personally don’t think its nailed on certainty. If you want me to make it any more basic for you I can try and write it phonetically. Leaving aside your rather heavy-handed attempts at sarcasm, will you at least acknowledge that a key assumption in your "unlikely but easily possible" scenario - that Man C could go into the QPR game with no chance of winning the title - is simply wrong? Fine I’ll give you that, although I think it was fairly clear what I was trying to say, even if it was slightly contradictory. A United victory coupled with a City loss, would almost hand United the title. This would then be compounded if United scored some early goals against Sunderland. Thanks for calling my sarcasm ‘heavy handed’, I forgot so many pseudo-intellectuals hang out on Villatalk. What are you some comedy critic? Your obviously a real laugh, that’s for sure.

Even if Newcastle beat Man City, Man City can still win the title on the last day. They will be trying for it. You're right, but if United go 2-0 up within 30mins, City might take their foot of the gas?

Make your mind up about the probability! I think the "unlikely" judgment is the right one. You are wrong to argue that Man C could go into the QPR game with no chance of winning the title. Oh I’m sorry briny_ear if you couldn’t understand! Yes, while I did say easily and then unlikely, what I meant was that it is still possible that we could go down, and wouldn’t be a complete freak set of results. Yes, it is unlikely but much stranger things have happen in the Premiership. I personally don’t think its nailed on certainty. If you want me to make it any more basic for you I can try and write it phonetically.

Everyone is slightly jumping the gun saying we are safe! This could easily happen: Sunday QPR beat Stoke, and Bolton beat West Borm. We lose to Spurs. We are all equal on points (villa above on goal difference) Next Sunday (13th May) QPR draw with Man City (after City lose at Newcastle and can’t win title, so don’t try), Bolton draw against Stoke. Villa lose at Norwich Villa go down! Unlikely, but it’s a little bit early to be opening the champagne from where I’m sitting!

Remember, Taylor doesn't write the headline or the article. If you look at just the quotes, he critises McLeisn IMO.... "Anybody that's at Birmingham City and moves to Villa, if they don't 'win, win, win' as soon as they start, the criticism of their appointment will get fiercer. And that's what happened to Alex to the extent that, when you're not winning games, the players lose confidence." "It's been hard for him to make the players get belief in him as to how he wanted them to play." "There was a fall-out between Martin and the club and Martin left. What is very difficult for Alex - and is not his fault - is that it was most surprising that he was offered the job. "I was most surprised at that and thought it was very rude as well. And yet, immediately after that within a week or 10 days, they appointed Alex McLeish from Birmingham. And there were far more comments on the internet than there had been about Steve McClaren, but they took no notice of them on that occasion." "If you are preparing your side not to lose - and I'm sure Alex would disagree, but that's how it looks - then, if you don't win that game, you come in for a great deal of criticism and that's what's been happening at Villa."

The SwissRamble is always such a good read. We should do an Oakland A's (Moneyball) and make the author our CEO.

Well thats the thing, the longer you tread water the more you tire..... eventually you go down.

Exactly, as in everything in life it is never a case of black and white, instead huge areas of grey. Yes MON was slightly over hyped, but he brought some good players and got some other players who weren't as good to play well. He will go on and do great things I'm sure, however he isn't going to be the next Fergie. He made some great signings like Young and Milner, and he made some shocking ones like Sidwell and Shorey. Randy loves the club, but after putting in quite a bit of cash has decided that he needs to stop the spending and tighten the purse strings, as we aren't going anywhere fast. The only manager who has willing to take the job on, and therefore taking the ensuing shit storm that followed it, was big Eck. Randy has almost inadvertently made him his fall guy. The reason we all feel so angry, is because we have been left with an ambition vacuum. We are just treading water and it sucks. Where we go from here is anyone's guess, but I think we need to hunker down, get behind the team (even though at times it can be incredibly trying) and hope for a bit of a cup run to lighten the gloom till the summer. After that we can slowly rebuild but it’s going to take some very astute signing and I’m not sure if Big Eck will be able to do that. Otherwise we need to hope that Randy realises he did his best and can’t get any further, and sells up. I know it’s not exactly a ground breaking theory, but I hate this anti MON/Love Randy or anti Randy/ love MON back and forth. Surely it’s clear that they are both to blame along with Houiller and Faulkner. Big Eck is stupid for agreeing to take over the club when he should have known how it would/will eventually play out. Apologese for the typos/spelling mistakes.

Morning General, Can the last one out at Villa Park please turn off the lights? I think it is very important to be environmentally friendly these days.