ColonelBlimp

Oh, and may I extend an official warm welcome to the Championship, feel free to jump on other fans forums for some insight on the league and players. Obviously I recommend http://dcfcfans.uk/ but also http://www.forestforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=6 ,and http://www.northstandchat.com/forumdisplay.php?20-The-Big-Board (Brighton) amongst the busiest ones. Join in, have fun, moan a lot (we all do it, particularly Forest ) Good luck next season, I'll be at VP in the Holte with my boy for the Derby game (That's county, not SHA) unless by some miracle we win the play-offs!

The same Yo-Yo effect that has seen Leicester, Southampton, West Ham, Swansea, Watford, Bournemouth and Palace not compete in the Premier League? Oh, wait...

Moyes? seriously? Get ready for more dour football and shrinking gates.

So, you think your squad, with it's subpar kids, past-it pensioners and opportunistic Z-list foreigners are going to murder the hoofball championship pub teams? Just how well do you compare to Bournemouth/Watford and Norwich, all of whom have mostly the same squads as last years' promotion teams? If that's your attitude, arrogant and disrespectful, then you're unlikely to get very far or have an enjoyable season. You could get the kids in I suppose, they must be top of the U21 league right? I would suggest, if Villa play together as a team and, as you say, apply yourselves properly, then you would have a good chance of a top six finish. You may well win the league but if you think it's going to be 'nice and easy murdering everyone' you'll likely be sorely disappointed. As you are now, most of the top half of the championship are better than you, teams likely Burnley/Brighton/Boro possibly by some distance. I wish you good luck though, as a Derby fan with a Villa supporting son I would like us both to go up.

And there was me hoping you'd take the record from us Rams. Ah well, nevermind, it's almost a badge of honour anyway. Well done on the win last night, much needed. I shall be up to Villa Park on 6th Feb to watch the Norwich game with my boy in the Upper Holte, where there's hope there's life and you gave yourselves some hope last night. Could you send some of that energy and desire over to the iPro please, we seem to have lost ours.

Seem to have missed Hartlepool v Derby ?

This is exactly the sort of signing i would be suggesting. If he gets goals then you may have a chance of staying up. If you don't then he will score in the Champ no problem. And he's young so he has sell on value.

No idea what sort of funds you have to spend but players on that list (and others) who catch the eye are David Meyler at Hull Marcus Olsson at Blackburn Charlie Austin at QPR (obviously) Liam Bridcutt (Sunderland but on loan at dirty Leeds) Moussa Dembele at Fulham Sam Byram at dirty Leeds Given the number of attacking players us Rams have now it looks likely players like Johnny Russell and Jeff Hendrick/Craig Bryson could be available on the cheap as well, all top end quality Champ players Depends what the plan is I guess, keep the squad so they can make amends or have a clear out.

@Marka Ragnos @New_Jersey_Villa Maybe this would be a good opportunity to set up a Fan Club? There must be more of you guys in the north east US? You could make an event of watching games together. I'm off to New York in May so maybe i'll ask around Manhattan for you

I wouldn't worry about TV coverage if I were you. Sky have had us and dirty Leeds on 9 times so far this season and we also have RamsPlayer. I'd be surprised if you don't get at least 15 live games, maybe 20 and Sky pay 100K a pop so it's a bit more money as well. Plenty of streams around also if you know where to look. I daresay someone will post links if that's allowed on here? If you only spend the one season in the Championship it will be like a little holiday, a fun break. Like supporting your club for 50 years but having a year sitting by the pool somewhere sunny to recharge the old batteries. Then, if and when you go up, instead of dreading the new season, you'll be all excited and raring to go.

Absolutely no offence taken! We should never have got promoted and how we beat West Brom in the play-off final i'll never know, such an obvious gap in class. We had a team of lower end Championship quality players with no confidence and we got 11 points, Still, the fans still came In fact, we gained a whole lot of new international fans due to our embarrasing pitifulness. And yes, i remember the 6-0 at Pride Park, and Stan Petrov's wonder goal from the halfway line. What a guy! Hope he's back to full health now. Which of your players are on the highest wages? Also, Gestede would be a great Champ player but there's no way Austin will go to you. Maybe Reme Garde knows of some quality/cheap signings in Ligue1 he can pick up? Like the guy we signed yesterday, Razza Camara. I promise you, the Championship is so much more fun than bouncing around the bottom of the Prem each year and you get to go to new grounds. The only thing fans in the Championship don't like is an arrogant attitude. Think of all the fun derby games? Birmingham, Wolves, Walsall, Coventry Burton then Derby, Forest. Not forgetting Wednesday and Dirty Leeds.Plus all the lovely away trips to places like Brighton (Bank Holiday in May would be good ) Once you accept relegation in your head you can start to de-stress, relax and look forward to exciting times next season.

Interesting comment. Take Bournemouth/Watford and Norwich from last year. Take Derby/Middlesboro/Hull and possibly Burnley/Hull/Ipswich/Sheff Wed this year. Add in Sunderland/Swansea/Newcastle or whomever may come down with you and I would suggest that your only target should be top 6. That is what you must aim for. Money is irrelevant, Fan base is irrelevant. Structure and belief are more important. Round pegs in round holes. Your average home gate this season is what, 35000 or so? Genuine question, how many will disappear on relegation? 5000? more? less? Add to this the fact that every club will want to beat you and it will be a struggle, but not an unwinnable one. The Championship is a slog but there are always 5 or 6 teams at the top end who could probably compete in the lower end of the Premier League. I'm a Derby fan (my son is a massive Villa fan) and we have both waited for years to go to a league game between us. I really hope we don't pass like ships in the night! But that would most likely mean we don't go up which would make me sad

Hi Guys, Whilst I am a Derby fan, my eldest son is a massive Villa fan and I've accompanied him a number of times to Villa Park, as he does when we go to the iPro. (we live in Sussex so a bit of a trek) Am watching this car-crash season of yours with interest, for obvious reasons but I hope you get the 4 points you need! Up to the iPro on the 16th Jan for Derby v Birmingham ( have told son to keep his abusive thoughts to himself!) Up to Villa Park on the 6th Feb for the Norwich game. Feel free to visit dcfcfans.co.uk should you wish to.