Barney_avfc

StanPetrov19 wearing No10 and the captains armband - gearing up for a return to action for #avfc 10:36 am - 9 Jul 2016

Richards off injured

3-0. Ayew with the 2nd Kozak nets the third

Yes, over and over and over again!

Happy birthday Stan (old photo btw). Bet I can guess what your birthday wish is. Hope it comes true for you.

Yeah, where's the joke in here?

24 today, many happy returns. Stay fit and show us what we've been missing. Seems like we've been waiting an age to find out!

http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2016/6/23/12011702/carlos-sanchez-staying-at-aston-villa-copa-america-centenario Carlos Sánchez says he's staying at Villa in exclusive interview Sánchez's national team is in action again, taking on the United States and Villa teammate Brad Guzan for third place at Copa América Centenario this Saturday. The curly haired midfielder will miss out due to a fresh suspension, although Tim Howard may replace Guzan anyway, as Howard hasn't played so far in this tournament. I caught up with Sánchez after the match, and asked him about his future with Aston Villa. It was a very brief chat, but he was the only player from either team to answer any questions in English on the way to the team bus. Here's what he had to say. Jack Grimse: "Carlos, do you think you’re staying at Aston Villa this summer?" Carlos Sánchez: "Yeah, after the Copa America I will go to Aston Villa, because that’s my team. I have two years (of my) contract with that, so I need to be back." JG: "Are you excited, with the new ownership and manager coming in, do you think that is a new chance for you?" CS: "Yeah, because it’s a new start. So I’m very excited." Admittedly it wasn't much, but it sounds like he may be sticking around, if only because there isn't another team out there that can offer him a better contract. Sánchez isn't the only Villa player hoping for a fresh start under Roberto Di Matteo as the Tony Xia era begins in Birmingham. The full interview audio can be heard on the next episode of the Holtecast. Are you happy that Sánchez is likely to stick around B6? Let us know in the comments!

Looks like the stitching in the badge is going to be there then. Big plus for me.

Oh dear

I don't question he can move money from one bank account to another. Where would he have moved it from is the question? I doubt very much he has access to this sort of amount of money or indeed has any acquaintances who would allow such a thing to happen. Seems more than far fetched to me.

I suppose he borrowed a few hundred million for a few days just to show the football league Tony had the cash and then gave it back. Then faked the entire RECON group?

Hmmm I know you can't tell too much about a player from a YouTube clip but I don't think he actually touches the ball with his left foot, like ever???

Thanks Steve. Job well done.

In all honesty to be sceptical is absolutely fine. To call fellow fans gullible and stupid for being optimistic for the future is just damn right rude!

Little Extends Villa Spell Consultant and all round good egg Brian Little has confirmed he has extended his role at Villa Park amid speculation he will be given a permanent position when Dr Tony Xia's takeover is completed.The man who walks on water has been quoted by the Stoke Sentinel confirming that he held talks with Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite over a potential Director of Football role at the club - but he didn't actually apply for the position, preferring instead to continue his work at Villa Park.'I had a chat but didn`t officially apply. There was talk about a director of football and I had a chat to him but that is as far as it went. I`ve spent a bit of time as a director of football in Jersey and it is something I would like to get into in a longer term. It was great to speak to him, he knows if I can help in any way I will. I am just down the road and am a contact for him. I have a role with Villa and have extended that.'What that actual extension is remains to be seen, it could be a wider role or simply just an extension of time.Whatever it may be though, the last few days has seen plenty of speculation that Little's position at the club could be made permanent when the takeover goes through fully and that would not be a bad thing at all.A Director of Football position with his experience and knowledge of the game, formulating a real ethos and playing style from kids up for the future could only be an asset in my mind. http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7520948

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36506247 Aston Villa: Tony Xia poised to complete £76m takeover By Pat Murphy BBC Radio 5 live 18 minutes ago From the sectionFootball Sharethis page Villa, who won the European Cup in 1982, were last relegated from the top flight in the 1986-87 season The £76m sale of Aston Villa to Chinese businessman Tony Xia is expected to be confirmed on Monday. Xia has proved to the Premier League and the Football League that he has adequate funds and has passed the owners and directors test. He flies in on Sunday night to meet Football League chairman Shaun Harvey to tick the final box of approval. The Football League has to make the final decision because relegated Villa are no longer in the Premier League. That is deemed to be a formality and after meeting Harvey on Monday morning, Xia is expected to travel from London to Villa Park to meet key staff. The last piece in the jigsaw will be getting the necessary documents signed by lawyers representing current owner Randy Lerner. Xia, who will become Villa chairman once the move is ratified, will pay £52m to buy the club with the extra £24m as an overdraft. There will be a considerable sum available tonew manager Roberto di Matteo to buy new players - up to £35m plus any money generated from selling current players. Di Matteo will be getting the players back early to assess their prospects then taking them to Austria for pre-season training after extending the session out there from four to seven days. He will make no decision on their futures until he has seen them face-to-face, and then in training. But the new manager is already planning to be active in the transfer market this week.

Welcome aboard all!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-new-aston-villa-board-11376559 Club legend Brian Little is expected to play a part in Aston Villa's future under Dr Tony Xia. The 62-year-old former Villa player and manager will be called upon by the Chinese businessman in times ahead as the club seeks an immediate return to the Premier League. Xia will make sweeping changes in the Midlands if his takeover is approved. Little, who has acted as an advisor in recent months, will still be around to assist, though. "But the trouble for me is to keep away now. “And I’d be disappointed if I’m not kept on (past the end of this season). “I would probably cry! “I would love to stay for a while and help Villa improve. That’s what I’m hoping for.” I had it slightly wrong in my head in him actually saying he'd like to stay on. But another article yesterday in the Bham Mail stating he is expected to stay : http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-club-legend-brian-11427592 The board advisor was today linked with the vacant managerial role at Port Vale but is expected to stay at Villa. an Little will continue to offer his support to Aston Villa following the appointment of Roberto Di Matteo. The club legend is expected to stick around for the next few months in his advisory role and will assist new owner-in-waiting Tony Xia if needed. Little, who was today linked with the vacant Port Vale job, has enjoyed returning to top-level football and still harbours ambitions of managing again in the future. His immediate focus, though, is on Villa as the claret and blues plot an assault on the Championship title.

It sounds like he probably has applied for the position as it has been reported elsewhere too. The reason I posted about it in the first place was, as someone else has pointed out, he recently said he thought he would be staying on after the takeover. Just wondered why the seeming change in direction?

Yes, I am pretty sure RDM signed him.

http://villatillidie.co.uk/2016/06/04/breaking-brian-little-applies-for-managerial-job-in-the-football-league/ Aston Villa were dealt a blow this weekend with the news that Brian Little has applied for the managerial job at League One club Port Vale. After joining the Villa board in an advisory role earlier this year, many Villans were rightly hopefully that his presence at the club would be of huge benefit going forward. But sources close to Villa Till I Die as well as reports in the print edition of the Stoke Sentinel (there has been nothing published online as of yet) which is a local news outlet for the Stoke-On-Trent area have confirmed that Little has thrown his hat in the ring for the Port Vale manager’s job. With other board members such as David Bernstein jumping ship in recent times, the news that Little is also a want-away does not bode well for Villa’s maiden season in the English Championship this year.

Apparently Mr Little has applied for managers position at Port Vale. Does that mean he doesn't see his services being required with us any longer?

Robert and Tony's claret and blue army !