Rds1983

4-2-3-1 DM Wide works well for me in general on fm15. I can't remember how I started my Villa save but I always end up at 4-2-3-1 with attacking, possession based football.

Distracted reading about Alan Rickman dying today, obviously meant Lerner lol.

Reading the statement a few things jump out. 1. Ellis is going to remain engaged but at a somewhat further distance? I didn't think he was closely involved at all nowadays and wonder when he will next be at a game? 2. Talks about Villa as a business and needing to grow. The opportunity cost of relegation this year due to cost saving in the transfer market is immense due to the TV deal. No business model should have allowed this and greater investment should occur (last summer ideally). 3. Stev's statement about 'money no longer buys success' is worrying. It doesn't guarantee success on a football field but it certainly makes it more likely. He talks of Randy's previous financial backing and references last year (ignoring our net spend and lack of real backing) but then implies future success will not be due to Randy's backing but due to a winning culture. 4. There is no talk of strong January recruitment to try and avoid relegation and these things to me imply that we will not be splashing the cash this window on players to keep us up but instead be looking to rebuild in the Championship.

I assume that the intended sale is downgraded then. I doubt he would join as Chairman knowing the club is likely to be sold imminently.

I used to get up in the morning at half past ten at night, half hour before I went to bed. Eat a lump of freezing cold poison. Work 28 hours a day at mill, and pay mill owner to let us work there.

Similar to what QPR did with Remy, loaning him to Newcastle when they went down in 12/13. They didn't manage to keep him when they came back up but we might get lucky. NB I would prefer he stayed with us and helped us back up though.

True but LVG will surely get the sack soon (although I've been saying that for ages).

I'm thinking the same but I'm dreading Utd doing something crazy like actually managing to buy Bale. Or Villa signing Lacazette and him scoring 40 goals this season to keep us up lol.

Would be ideal but doubt he will clear, I believe my little brother has bid for him.

Question for you guys: I'm number one on the waiver wire and someone has released Cabaye. Should I pick Cabaye up and lose my waiver place or wait and see if a superstar joins someone in this window knowing that the would be mine.

Add Veretout and Okore to the keep list and I'd agree.

It's why we should go after Sam Byram now.

Afobe to Bournemouth has been completed, scratch that link off. Shame, thought he could have done well for us.

If this is all that he is supplying then surely Kozak could offer this and maybe more?

Loaning him to a Championship team to help him develop and then using him next season has to be the best idea. It is would be nice to have a bit more height in our midfield and he is about 6'2" I believe.

The FAQ implies that play offs are coming in this season.

He got Delefou instead.

That is very close. I kinda think that if teams are within X amount of each other then there should be a draw to make the league more realistic. Fyi the top of our league let Cabaye go this week, brave call as they play Villa next.

He has joined Preston on loan again. Hopefully he gets games and goals in the Championship and can do a job for us next season.

Sounds about right for Villa.

Very close games this week with teams losing by 0.5 points, still no draws yet though. Any in your league?

Let's hope Arsenal have the title wrapped up by then and that Wenger does Garde a favour.

Garde has previous with Remy so that might help, and he could get goals for us which would help with the Euro's. Just think how many chances we fluffed against West Ham that he could have put away.

How has Christmas treated your league? There has been a big shift in mine with the bottom team picking up their first two wins and are nearly off the foot of the table (hope for Villa yet?) and the top team picking up back to back losses (assuming Coutinho doesn't score 50+ points tonight).

As most of our summer signings were from smaller teams in less respected leagues we should have had a decent amount of negotiating strength with the players/agents. They would have had decent pay rises in joining us and whilst release fees are probably in place they shouldnt be ridiculously low and we should hopefully recoup what we spent.