bobzy

He has a win % ratio worse than Paul Lambert with a much better team. Is this really the basis to sack our manager and replace him with Cowans? Come on, man... Nice little swerve there away from the original question I was replying to. The poster presented two examples of where an interim manager had relegated their teams and were employed by their clubs in the second half of the season when most of the damage had been already done. I replyed by using the new Swansea manager as an example where using an interim manager can prove to be much less than disastrous which was a valid comparison. Swansea were never really in relegation trouble (I assume there must've been a falling out with Laudrup) and Monk's record really isn't that good at all. He hasn't had to compete in the Europa League during his reign thus far either. Not sure this validates your point nor makes a good enough basis for Cowans being in charge.

He has a win % ratio worse than Paul Lambert with a much better team. Is this really the basis to sack our manager and replace him with Cowans? Come on, man...

Upheaval would be worse for us right now than having Lambert stay on. We've also seen changes in both the last couple of seasons with regards to Lambert's playing style (in my opinion). There have been points where we've looked good (end of season before this one, start of this one) and points where we've looked **** horrific (all over the shop) but the squad is now "in place" and quality needs adding. If we sacked Lambert before a known buyer is in, we'd just have to start all over again. It'd be terrible.

It the wages though as well, for instance you look at the plethora of midfielders at Spurs and think some could slot in nicely here (Sandro/Holtby) but are we willing on the wage front, I suppose would they come, perhaps not anyway! We also need to be smart with the loan system (look at evertons loanees last season, Lukaku, Barry and Deulofeu stand out players IMO) and maybe more experience un-contracted players Of course it's wages dependant - and I wouldn't want any of Spurs' midfielders for this reason (Holtby on loan would be alright I guess?). I think we'd be looking in Europe again for players because of this very reason. Not to raise old issues, but I can't see Kiyotake wanting anywhere near as much as already established but, perhaps, less able players already plying their trade in the Prem.

With Okore coming back and Vlaar/Clark/Baker still around, I'm actually not too fussed about another CB for the time being. I still think the midfield is what needs work. Bring in a creative midfielder alongside a destructive midfielder and we'll look stronger. Depending on the amount of money being spent (let's assume £20m), I think we could pick up good players in both departments. However, I also think Benteke has the potential to be our major problem; and a lot depends on when Kozak will be back too. If we got 2 midfielders in, maybe we should switch up to 4-4-2 and play a narrow diamond with Gabby/Weimann as proper strikers?

MattVillan ‏@dvtavfc 10m @John__Percy any idea how much? Nominal amount? Details Reply Retweet Favorite More John Percy ‏@John__Percy 9m @dvtavfc similar to last two seasons, maybe a little less. Quality over quantity this time though

And it's pretty much entirely true I blame Sky and foreign ownership, though. They've overseen football becoming a right old nonsense. No, I think the point is that people tend to compare the age in which they are living with a fabricated halcyon era that never actually existed. This is certainly fair enough to an extent (and I can only really comment on the football that I've witnessed, which is a lot less than some people) - however I don't think there's been an era quite as pointed towards; - Finishing in the top 4 rather than winning the League/F.A. Cup - Not competing in "lesser" competitions (League Cup/F.A. Cup/Europa League) - Exploring commercial opportunities abroad - Re-branding of clubs/stadium changes - Wanting instant "success" (whatever that may be) due to foreign ownership being involved - Fan expectation of spending at least <x> amount on players Maybe all this did happen pre-2000 though, and I have been suitably blinkered enough to assume it's only a modern day thing.

Yes, it seems not supporting a billionaire cutting costs or not giving a poor performing manager years of patience means you're an instant success craving modern day fan. Terrible really. No-one has "supported a billionaire" in cutting costs - but this is yet more drivel you love to post repeatedly. And yes, almost everyone has said they want significant funds to "challenge for the top 6"; even at the cost of losing the stadium name. Modern football.

And it's pretty much entirely true I blame Sky and foreign ownership, though. They've overseen football becoming a right old nonsense.

Overreaction much? I've made a few posts about that. My guess would be roughly 14,272? Modern football; where if you're not instantaneously "successful", you're shit. Anyway, about this takeover...

Nobody disputes that, pretty sure that we all want him gone. People can't complain 1 week after he has publicly announced that we're up for sale, that it hasn't happened yet, or that because he publicly announced that we're up for sale he is somehow an even worse owner. No one is soley having a go at him for not selling the club at this point. The point is he has put the club into a bit of mess and happily gambled with our premiership status for three consecutie years. To do all that and fail to sell the club is terrible. Nothing to do with not selling the club right now, he may well sell the club and we'll be better off but it looks like a deal isn't close. If he fails to sell the club we are in serious trouble once again due to the poor state of the squad and the poor manager who has lost the majority of the fans. I know with lerner some seem to just shrug off mistakes but IMO runningt the club the way he has and then failing to sell this summer would be another **** up in a long list of **** ups. The guy can obviously do absolutely no right in your eyes. You don't want him to still be here but criticise him for not having a deal lined up ALREADY. Of course, this is **** nonsense anyway as you can't possibly know whether; a - there are any interested parties b - there are any offers on the table c - the amount of time Lerner has been "looking to sell" or d - the price he'd want for the club By all means be upset by recent seasons, the way you think the club has been run, the lack of quality in the playing staff or perhaps even just waking up each day but why don't you just wait and see what happens rather than post this drivel about the "club being **** up" every couple of pages? The moaning is completely overwhelming.

Haven't read the last 3 or so pages but I'm genuinely staggered at how many people are saying "by all means re-name the stadium, that's ok". **** football, man.

That's already been used

Haven't read all posts - but it's basically this all over. People cite that money is needed to win things - and it is. However, in my time supporting Aston Villa, I've only seen us win the League Cup twice; the last time being 18 years ago. It's not about "winning", it's about enjoying the experience of being a fan. Outside the top clubs, most don't win things but Everton fans, for example, will be more than happy right now. I'd much rather see us run well with a competitive enough team over an investment of £500m out of nowhere, purchase the success and get a whole bunch of plastic fans in the process. It's just not the way I want Aston Villa to be

You don't like people on here, do you? He's right, though. Personally, I don't care much for the individual wealth of a prospective new owner (as I posted elsewhere; I really don't want Villa to be the next Man City/Chelsea) but I DO care about the club being run properly - kingysilvers post is absolutely bang on. People have slagged Lerner off far too much for, essentially, putting his hand in his pocket to the tune of £100m+ - but because that hasn't happened recently and Villa are struggling, it's his fault. What we need, of course, is for someone to chuck a load of money at the problem (a la Lerner in the early days), get short term success to an extent (a la Lerner in the early days) and then have that person to blame if over-investment costs us in the long run (a la Lerner right now). The more short termists amongst us will look at the football on the pitch/results and say it's not good enough - time for a change. I DO think that Lerner has put Aston Villa Football Club in a good position to move forwards after a period of terrible mismanagement. Thus, it's not about the wealth for me; it's about the ability to run a football club well.

Sorry dude - have we gone kwan step too far?

Probably because they Kwan't get no satisfaction on here

If you Kwannabe my lover...

If he really is in trouble, we are going to feel like right Kwankers, aren't we?

Kwan day, I hope ITK's will be able to post freely without the fear of being sacked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYpDJw7fThU

Alongside signing Willian for £30m, Matic for £21m, Schurrle for £18m, Salah for £11m, Van Ginkel for £8m and a young French(?) defender for £12m - all this season. He doesn't spend much though

I have no doubt he'll accept lower wages; I guess it's more "how low"?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27372851 Lescott leaving City at the age of 31. No idea what his demands would be or whether he'd even want to come to his "boyhood club", but this would be a good move wage/attitude dependant.