Deisler123

Sure. Just got annoyed by someone who always likes to link everything to 'communist' - everytime I see him quoting me, that word keep coming. Hate that word. Sorry.

No, it won't be. It is like, if an English businessman owns a club in Amsterdam, and wants to have a sponsorship of a drug making industry (assume if he can). Think about what British government and people will think.... If he wants to deal with the limit imposed by FFP, then it is very likely to have sponsorship from related company. Maybe not in the first season (or before returning back to PL) though.

But what is the point here, may i ask? The reason why I said Xia will not like a gambling-related sponsorship is - IT IS ILLEGAL IN CHINA!

I personally never gambled once in my life, in casino or in private occasions - neither did any of my family members as far as I know. And I am a Chinese. Gambling is ILLEGAL by law in China. That is why you got that impression, because the only place Chinese can gamble is, in fact, in overseas countries. I am sorry. But what is your point? If a party (communist or not) bans the gambling, I would love that party. Yeah, yeah, i know cold-war thinking man, you like to disagree on everything that is linked to China. Just out of curiosity, did Communism China hurt you sometime in your life before? Knowing that will help me understand why you always have a problem with China, seriously.

OK. Don't think Xia will fancy a casino-related sponsorship. It is a big no no for a Chinese-owned business.

Guys, got a question - what is the current main sponsorship Villa has? Any casino related business? If so, how many years of sponsorship contract left?

edited. Misread, sorry

haha it has to be third tone though (which has 100+ letters) SHA the first tone could mean: Kill; the second could mean (in certain scenario): WTF?

In the short time since Xia hit the headlines, it is impossible to verify everything about him. Even his birth-date has been questioned. Xia, whose full name is Xia Jiantong, says he was born on October 26, 1976, and that the confusion arose because he started school as a precocious four-year-old whose parents needed for legal reasons to pretend he was six. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3602825/Saviour-dreamer-Sportsmail-talks-Aston-Villa-s-owner-waiting-Dr-Tony-Xia.html A lot of reports in China that I can find through Baidu (chinese google) all said he went to scholl at the age of 4. and went to university at the age of 14. Being a chinese these are perfectly normal to me. I went to Primiary school (without pre-school) at the age of 5. And my parents changed my birthday in order to send me to the school 1 year earlier, then changed it back later. This happens to a lot of chinese kids. A lot of Chinese students went to university at the age of 13-15. They were chosen to do this - they had to show super high IQ and exam results (normally mathematics and physics) in order to be admmited. I am not that good to do this, though.

Tony Xia, Aston Villa’s owner-in-waiting, chuckles when asked if he is a dollar billionaire. ‘I think it’s rather more than that,’ says the 39-year-old Chinese businessman, explaining that just a few months ago he sold one of his companies, Teamax, for £430million, which is sitting in a bank account waiting to be spent, in part on Villa. ‘I own quite a lot of private businesses and I think I can sell some of them for the same amount or more,’ adds Xia, who has provided The Mail on Sunday with a bank transfer certificate purporting to show the funds from the Teamex deal. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3602825/Saviour-dreamer-Sportsmail-talks-Aston-Villa-s-owner-waiting-Dr-Tony-Xia.html Hmmmm.....

I actually look forward to seeing journalists calling him Dr. Sha. It is like calling someone, hello Mr. Stupid, in English. So funny

you guys are crazy....

SHA the third tone in Chinese means stupid. His name is /Sh-i-a/, 'i' being the 'ea' of 'easy'.

If Xia passes the owner and director test, I will watch Villa's games next season if it is broadcasted on TV. If Villa has 1 Chinese player in the 1st team, I will not miss a single match. If Villa has 1-2 youth players from China, I will watch (if I can) all youth matches. I dont think these mean I am a Villan tbh. But I dont have any club to support in this country, so why wouldn't I?

From what I know about most owners of Chinese clubs, what Xia has said in a few interviews made perfect sense and in fact is very good sign of potentially a good owner for Villa. What normally Chinese owners (who knows nothing about football) will say: 1) we will appoint a world-class manager. 2) we will get promoted back to PL next year, and then finish in the top 4. 3) We will buy 1-2 Chinese players to play for Villa next season. What Xia has said: 1) we want a manager with experience in getting promotion from Championships, at the same have Europe football ambition and experience. 2) We will be back to PL in 3 years. 3) We will recommend Chinese players to the manager, who has the final say on that. You guys (who don't know how Chinese wealthy people do things) may find what Xia said perfectly normal. I found what he has said is too 'normal' to be one of the normal Chinese owners, so he in fact could be very good.

Don't think anyone here will agree on that, but ok....

I think Villa fans may have over-reacted to some negative aspects to Xia as a businessman, like 1 listed company instead of 5 as claimed originally. Xia DOES have some bad reputation in China (like calling himself a harvard professor in his application to 1000-people plan (leading researchers), and his ex-wife accusing him about him cheating on her which was then made public). None of these seem to be very bad imo. BUT i have to say something very honestly - these 'bad' reputation Xia (may) have is in fact very little compared to the 'normal' bad reputation of most rich men have in China.

Yes, his education in US is a good sign of a businessman who may have (good) attributes from both cultures. Lets wait and see.

I do believe so. Isn't that what Villa fans want in the end? The few days I have spent here, it seems most of people here want to get rid of most players from the club because they are too lazy (or do not deserve their wages?)

Yes, Hebei Fortune just got promoted to super league, and they spent huge and bought Lavizzi and Gervinho. They are doing well. I will attempt to answer your questions. I have more confidence in my answer to your first question, than to second one. 1. In early 90s, J-League had huge investment from owners - they also did the same thing as what Chinese super league are doing - buying famous players from Europe. And FA in japan made a lot of good decision, especially on youth training. So their national team started to do well in mid-90s. However, due to gobal financial crisis, Japanese companies no long have the money to invest in football. But still, their youth system has been built already so their national team is doing well and will do well in the next 20 years. And the top japanese players come to europe to play. Without the investment and the top players, J-league cannot do well in Asian championship. Korea has the similar issue - there is very little investment from owners. Their youth system is also good. Between China, Japan and Korean football - In most cases, Japan can win Korea, Korean can win (99% games) China, but China do well against Japan (relatively speaking). It is thought to be due to the fact that Japanese players are very skillful but fear physical contact, which is what Chinese players are good at. And Korean players are very good at stamina, so they are not afraid of skillful Japan. In the next 5 years, Chinese super league will become the best league in Asia (arguably they already are). But the national football team requires at least 10-20 years plan in terms of building the youth system, which China just starts to have a few year ago. 2. I dont know enough about Chris Samuelson - who seems to be an agent for financial talks? I don't think it is a bad idea to have an agent working for you in between you and the club you want to buy, specially for a chinese businessman who may know little about how to buy a football club, which Chris seems to have some reputation on that (mostly bad reputation i know but at least he has experience....)

I have to say that, we do not know if the mistakes were made by Villa current owners, or by Xia intentionally. My feeling is, the mistake might be made by an intermediate person (as an agent or introducer), who may do this either purely by a mistake or intentionally. But let's not waste our brain cells on this thing - because we will never find out whose fault it was!

I pretty much agree with what he said, except partly that 'it is easier to acquite premier league club than other leagues because of how clubs are structured.' It is true for most of buyers, but not exactly true for Chinese buyers. UK is both economically and politically important to China, therefore football in UK is particularly attractive to Chinese buyers especially when they have state support. There is why Chinese buyers have little interest in Italy/France and other small leagues. Germen leagues are different indeed because they must be owned by (at least 51%) by fans. But if there requires the same amount of investment to make the club equally succesfully, if I were the president or the boss behind the state support, I will rather invest in English league, because of the side benefit (political mostly).

no, interference by owner in the squad is no good anywhere in football. The reason that Xu (Guangzhou Evergrande) becomes successful is, he does not allow anyone (other than manager) to control the squad. And absolutely ZERO tolerance against players being lazy and arguing with manager. Xia needs to learn that from Xu.

RDM knows Villa wants him - he talks to the other club, in order to make the contract negotiation leaning towards his favor - Villa may panic. And he was spotted in Birmingham airport 2 days ago btw.

In my opinion, it is a sign of Di Matteo wanting to negotiate a better constract/control with Villa.