HanoiVillan

Yes.

I'm sure we'll find out in the fullness of time. Sad though, he always put a shift in, even if he wasn't quite up to standard. Hope he gets things back on track sooner rather than later.

Different world.

As NSmith22 said, his agent spelled out that this isn't really true. Certainly his agent said he was fit and ready to take part in the last 5 games or so. During that time, Holt (loan signing with one goal and no pace), Bowery (signing from League 2 with no Prem goals who spent a lot of the season on loan in lower divisions) and Robinson (eighteen, never played before) all got minutes ahead of him. Bowery even started two of those games. I guess you posted this as a joke, but I wonder if there's some truth to it? He'd been in around the first team squad before it happened.

The least surprising news I've ever heard . . . his agent was hinting at this months ago. I predicted it, but it hardly required being Nostradamus. It's been on the cards since Cornelius returned as well . . . the step up is just too big from Danish football. It's kind of understandable for PL minnows like Cardiff to make that sort of mistake, but we're supposed to actually know what we're doing in the PL. Should never have bought him, total waste of money and an embarrassing situation for all concerned. The difference is that Helenius actually looked good in the minutes he got, even got himself a goal (and a few in preseason too). I don't understand why he wasn't given any sort of chance after playing relatively well initially. I agree, to be honest. He should have been given a few more minutes, especially after Benteke was out, Gabby and Andi were totally off form, etc. But the coaches must have thought he couldn't hack it - he's been below Holt, Robinson and Bowery for months. Can't even remember the last time he made the bench, and I don't believe that stuff about his 'injury' that was never announced until people started wondering where he was. I doubt he'd have been good enough, but there was no harm in trying, especially in all of those games we were 3 or 4 goals behind. Most of the rest of the players aren't good enough either, and certainly nearly all of those on the bench. Still, I think it's a signing that's fair game for criticism - we spent about 10% of our yearly budget on him. A total waste.

If this is the case, something must be in the offing as they'll need sorting out sooner rather than later. Well, we're more or less giving up on Albrighton in that case, his contract is up in a couple of weeks or so.

The least surprising news I've ever heard . . . his agent was hinting at this months ago. I predicted it, but it hardly required being Nostradamus. It's been on the cards since Cornelius returned as well . . . the step up is just too big from Danish football. It's kind of understandable for PL minnows like Cardiff to make that sort of mistake, but we're supposed to actually know what we're doing in the PL. Should never have bought him, total waste of money and an embarrassing situation for all concerned.

Why didn't they play him instead of that Dan Burn guy then? He didn't seem very good. I'm not saying you're wrong by the way, I'd never heard of the guy until now. Just wondering why he hadn't got in the first team? He just came into the team a few months before they changed manager. When Magath arrived he chose to play other players like Dejagah that he knew from Wolfsburg Thanks for this. Also realise I thought he was a CB when he's actually a forward. D'oh! Ignore me from now on!

Why didn't they play him instead of that Dan Burn guy then? He didn't seem very good. I'm not saying you're wrong by the way, I'd never heard of the guy until now. Just wondering why he hadn't got in the first team?

Sorry - but our location goes against us. Ive heard this arguement about the vibrant second city, catchment area,potential - and I really don't buy. Our ground is in a very deprived area of Birmingham - and Birmingham consists of many such deprived areas. Been to Manchester lately? True, True... I used to live in Levenshulme! and it's an absolute dumphole, just like other parts like Gorton, Moss Side, Rusholme. In my honest opinion Birmingham/Solihull is lot nicer place to live than the over-rated Manchester! Manchester may be rougher than Birmingham, but I'm sad to say it does more than make up for it by being a lot more exciting place to live.

Try sitting in your underpants and a dunce's hat, or better yet a sackcloth and ashes, and make a vow you won't smile until August. It's the only way you can win back VT's respect.

I know David Bick and he was involved when Ellis sold - VFC was approached by him as he was consultant to Lerner over the sale. The guy is a real good bloke (West Ham Fan) but has a soft spot for the Villa and what he says is true - Lerner won't sell to just anyone. Myself and Fear met with him so I know what he says is absolutely true - we are a very good investment and can get to the top 4 with investment and I am excited by the prospect of getting someone better than Lerner and hundred fold better than Ellis. Good times ahead I feel - but we need patience - it will not be a quick sale or quick fix. Need to give the new owner(s) time (and of course the manager who ever it may be). You appear to have accidentally typed a pair of brackets here, instead of the words 'even though he's a'.

Are you actually saying he's an alcoholic? Because he's been pictured drinking a beer? And I suppose you've never drunk a beer in your life? It's not just this picture though. It's clear he likes a drink, it's clear for all to see how his performances have dipped from last season, clear to see how his attitude has changed, clear to see how gobby he has become,clear to see the weight he's put on, clear to see he is blowing out of his arse after a few runs. Clear to see he is often amongst the least touches per game. This myth that he works hard is nonsense too. Is the evidence for this supposed 'gobbiness' the infamous cupped-hand celebration as well? Look, it isn't at all clear to me that 'he likes a drink' in any way other than that in which almost everyone commenting here 'likes a drink'. If you believe otherwise, fair enough. But I'm not seeing the evidence for it, and 'somebody I know says she's seen him on Broad Street' doesn't persuade me either. If he was turning up to training drunk or with a hangover, we'd know about it, and he wouldn't be playing week in week out. Lambert isn't averse to canning his own signings for discipline problems, as Lowton knows. All that's really happened here is that a dismaying number of posters have thrown a snit at a picture of a young man drinking a beer with friends after a game of football. If you're still thinking about this in 48 hours, you're nuts. Nothing has happened.

Lerner has been a better chairman than Ellis, ie. he's cleared a pretty low hurdle. He's been average-to-poor basically. You wouldn't put him down with your Ridsdale's and Tan's, but he's hardly the pick of the bunch either. I do feel grateful to him for deciding to quit now, rather than holding on through inertia and arrogance until the club got relegated and sank into administration.

Well, given the extended knicker-twisting occasioned by a picture of a man enjoying a beer after a game of football, I can understand why they might feel it would go against the mood.

Well, then I suppose they won't get him, will they? Are we broke? No. Relegated? No. Having a firesale of assets? No. Is he out of contract in the near future? No. So why would we sell someone who's played more than 30 games this season, and featured in every one he's been available for, for absolutely nothing? Because most other managers would look at him and not see any reason to buy him. He works hard but that's about it. If Albrighton wasn't out of contract he would be worth more than Weimann. So what? If no-one wants to buy him, we don't sell him, not sell him for less than he's worth. For all of the reasons I gave above, we don't need to sell him, ergo his price is dictated by us. If people don't meet that valuation, then great, we get to keep the player that we want to keep anyway. I'm not quite sure what part of this is difficult to understand? Unless you think he's going to go on strike to force a move, of course.

How much a go? What's fair? a quid? You'd have to allow that you'd probably get a lot better at it the more you did, and up your price accordingly. I can do the projections if you want, doing nothing else today at work. Well if we say that after every 100 BJs (Big_Johns), my skill goes up 0.05% - thus, so does my pricing, how many BJs would it take to get to £200 million? Sorry was on lunch just under 23,600 big johns. Alright, gonna be a busy afternoon for you at The Hawthorns then.

Ever read on this site, or ever read on this site from Con? Your sentence left it open to interpretation . . .

Well, then I suppose they won't get him, will they? Are we broke? No. Relegated? No. Having a firesale of assets? No. Is he out of contract in the near future? No. So why would we sell someone who's played more than 30 games this season, and featured in every one he's been available for, for absolutely nothing?

Are you actually saying he's an alcoholic? Because he's been pictured drinking a beer? And I suppose you've never drunk a beer in your life?

This picture looks like it's going to very useful in determining which posters will take offense at basically anything.

Not saying it's the right or wrong decision. But how can you really be expecting to see anything else? Because hes a very good (potentially) young player who is talented and has had a terrible run of luck? Guess we should have released delph a few years ago by that logic. Why?? He spends 90% of his time injured and when he does play he is utter bollocks When has he ever played enough to be considered "utter bollocks", please try and make a valid point because that one is utter bollocks! He's a 6th or 7th choice central midfielder even when he's fit. If you really like him, you should want him to leave in my opinion, because he's never going to have a career with us. Anyway, you need to wrap your head around the fact that he's gone. Next year he'll be old enough that we have to name him in the squad. That isn't going to happen, and frankly, nor should it.

Well . . . at least he put in one good performance in his Villa career. It was threatening to get awkward that day, like we might have to re-evaluate our opinion that he's complete rubbish. On the positive side, at least we were right all along! Thank you for that cross, and good luck in League 1.

Bring on the McLaren revolution!

Hmm, Aston, that reminds me of something . . . wasn't there a football team there at one time?