JPAngel

How is that so much different from the last one

I reckon we need @Deisler123 to translate that!

I don't think Hollis feels the need to constantly pander to the press making things up. The press put doubts in everyone's mind and both Hollis and Xia came out and and basically explained that is was all tosh and that everything will go through smoothly and without any issues regarding the fit and proper persons test. Now they've just made up new problems I don't think Hollis or Xia feel the need to come out and say the exact same things again. My money says RDM will be confirmed today/tomorrow with the takeover going through next week. Chill, people!

Can't watch videos at work... Can someone relay a basic jist of the info please?

The official website has just announced a finalised pre-season tour of France. Surely they wouldn't do this without the go ahead of a new manager? Methinks RDM has had a hand in this.

I can't imagine the air tight contacts of Randy Lerner would finally leak some information (after ten years of silence) to the Daily Mail/Metro If this is true though, it's just another addition to an already full catalogue of errors.

Xia: "I'm proud to announce the triple signing of Gary Megson as manager, John Carver as his assistant and Joe Kinnear providing the scouting nouse at a high level." Absolute dream team!

I reckon you could lump Mellberg and Laursen in that list as far as Villa are concerned. Those are the last two real gems that stand out that we didn't pay a huge amount for other than Tekkers and Delph.

I am now confident in saying his name. Cheers dude!

I've been pronouncing it "shee-ah". Is that right or am I butchering it?

That's given me an idea about who his first dismissal should be. Sod Paddy Riley, get rid of Jack Woodward

A lot has been said about paying around £10mil for players but has anyone ever looked at the record fees for teams buying players in the Championship? Andre Gray - £9.3mil Jordan Rhodes - £8.9mil Ross McCormack £8.9mil Jordan Rhodes £7.6mil Bradley Johnson - £6mil Those are the all time top 5 transfers (granted, two of them are the same player!). We wouldn't be looking at signing 5 Andre Gray type signings. Maybe two at most? After that we could make at least a further five signings of a really high standard. If the new boss gets £50mil we'll be absolutely cushty this season.

All brilliant news. Someone needs to make a flow chart for how these interviews work along these lines: Xia gives interview -> certain statements are scrutinized -> gives another interview and quashes fears -> certain statements are scrutinized. etc. etc. etc.

It was either in the Brum Mail article or on that Tom Ross podcast. He definitely said it though.

I don't know if Xia is a multi-billionaire and I don't know if he's broke. Lerner entrusted the takeover with Hollis and he seems to know what he's doing and has a good track record in previous business. The recent stories that have come out about his business(es) don't look great, I'll admit, but if we are to trust Hollis then we have to hope that he's made the right call. Even if he's totally cocked this up we were facing serious trouble with Randy at the helm so even as a worst case scenario this is still better than Lerner. The fit and proper persons test should prove that Xia is decent enough and if he managed to convince Hollis that he has our best interests at heart then that's good enough for me. Should he fail the test then we will have dodged a bullet. This still doesn't change the fact that he made all the right noises yesterday even if he was being a little overly ambitious! I for one think he'll pass the test and the proof will certainly be in the next two weeks worth of pudding. Fingers crossed.

You say this but there are no other comparisons to the men themselves. Yes Yeung and Xia have both promised great things, but what owner would take over a football club and say "Yeah, I think I'll relegate the club again and generally not give a toss". Xia is self-made in legitimate business and has 35,000 employees under him. Yeung was a money laundering hairdresser. Any comparison is laughable.

Echoing this thought I think Ayew and Traore would tear up the championship. Especially Traore.

Not too sure about that as it's hard to be effective without service. Absolutely battered the championship the season before last with Blackburn. 19 goals was it? Might be worth giving him a shot?

Not at all how it came across in the Guardian interview: "“I grew up in a very normal family,” he said – but according to reports in China’s domestic media he was far from a normal child. They describe Xia, who was one of three children, as a child prodigy who left home to study at university in Beijing at the age of 14."

Interesting stuff on Xia from Hollis. Especially about the Beijin National Stadium. Had no idea he had a hand in that incredible stadium!

I think it's important that we're not following that template. It can't be sustainable long term and I think as soon as Mansour (or whatever his name is) gets bored of Citeh he'll leave them to it and sell them on to whoever fancies a punt.

Wow. He couldn't have said anything better than he did in that Guardian interview could he? Up to £50mil in transfers available this season - CHECK Wants to communicate better with fans - CHECK Wants to integrate quality youth team players into the first team - CHECK Plans to sign 6/7 players in 6/7 positions - CHECK Planning for the long term, not burning through cash like Citeh - CHECK I think I'm in love

I sort of hope they don't appoint a DOF. I'd honestly be happier if this was just left to the manager and his own scouting team. He chooses the players and then uses the players. That way the buck stops at him and there's no doubt at who to blame or praise when all is said and done.

Can someone spill the beans if there's anything decent on Talksport? I can get away with being on the forum at work but I think putting the radio on in the office is a step too far