Midfielder

What the hell, I nipped out for a few mins, came back and well, WELCOME DANNY. w t f!

Agreed, and there was no need to turn up at the kit launch at all if this was a likely move. Why even turn up to photo shoots commencing the new season's kit if you weren't to be there for fixture one. All minutiae now I guess.

Remember the days when Rory Delap would head up the touchline to take a throw for Stoke, in those days I used to think "here we go again", "bloody Pulis" and think it was almost like anti-football. I am glad they've addressed that we need to be more competitive at set pieces, especially indirect ones. I look forward to his input and hopefully a difference. Marginal gains and all, I will take a goal no matter how it goes in... especially if Jack goes and we need all the help we can get in getting our chances-per-game up. The more I think about this appointment, the more I think it is a sign that we truly have evolved as a forward thinking club, modernising and addressing deficits. We really do want to compete, at all costs. AUSTIN fella, in the 1-in-a-million chance you ever Google yourself and it brought you to Villa Talk, welcome matey!

Me too! But I love the direction the club is going in with appointments like this. All these what I guess people call marginal gains.... everything helps for that competitive edge. Welcome Austin!

In the time of chimpanzees, Austin was a monkey.

Spot on -and in relation to certain sites, I think one is Inside Football or something like that or Football Insider..... whatever it is they constantly have Noel Whelan and Paul Robinson giving their never-correct ITK suggestions about players. I have always wondered, this site doesn't look too big, what incentive is there for Whelan and Robinson to keep commenting. And if they are getting paid by the site then how much can it be per story etc.... I have read many things over the weeks about our club from Whelan and Robinson. They've never been right about any of it so far and yet get paid for that. So many hangers on to the industry, and if you were their mates, you'd share less with them than the queen shares with prince Harry at the mo.

I remember reading that the night we stayed up against West Ham, Jack and the lads celebrated and got drunk, Dean Smith had Jack sign a 5 year contract on a beer mat? Then sometime after it was made formal. I hope all of our players get a round in for the Captain. I hope the lad hiding in the camo / plant pot can see some pens and stuff to write on.

Alright matey - I posted a little one in the Swedish Football / Allsvenskan thread this morning. Lot of life stuff all in a short period, didn't deal with it the best to be honest at first then after... one thing after another (cursed??) and pretty much stepped back from everything was into, all good a while back but overall a 3 years hiatus for VT. Lurked a few times in recent months adn the whole Jack saga... I don't know mate, I couldn't resist logging back in..... Was convinced there'd be news during the day, stay or go. For days now, I have been refreshing Google searches dozens and dozens of times per day of Jack Grealish / Aston Villa - leads to the same old BS, just in case some new snippet of info is out there. One says going, another says staying. I'm kinda affected by this, I can't remember being so hooked-to-know. It's such a huge T-junction for the club and with the absence of accurate media info, well the old VT is still where it's at... it seems. No one knows on here either but at least no one's telling porkies like all the news / footie sites I've been on... accepting cookies and the like, from sites you think ah f--- after all that, etc, nothing. Even waiting for the BBC Gossip page to refresh for the next day's news (anytime after 11pm ish ;o) before I go to sleep, just in case that throws something out. I'm that hooked. We will know either way soon! I just don't want some smug mate breaking it to me, if it's "he's off." Good to see you friend. I'll pull up a chair. This was always the place to be!

It's late for me to say this, but I cannot think of seeing again, such an amazing, enviable, literally beautiful footballing intersection in our lives as fans whereby we have a Villa fan as manager, as captain, with a back-room and exec infrastructure that get things right. It's like the ultimate goldilocks zone for our growth and gradual rise up the table to get the club back to where it belongs and we have missed that until recent times. This steady growth is no fluke, it is a by-product of a well run plan that has buy-in from all levels of the club. Look at the quality of our emerging talent, I can honestly say I have never been so excited by our youth as much as I am at present. Whether it is the standard of player we source young from other clubs lately or those already in the development squads knocking on the gaffer's door to get into a matchday squad. Everything, is right with us, as things stand anyway. Jack - please, the superstar life with Man City, the medals, the glory, the wages and perks, the Champions League games... I totally get the attraction. Intrinsically though, deep down, you have a club / employer for life here that will do everything for you. A fanbase that idolises you. Everything is moving in the right direction, jigsaw pieces such as Buendia and Bailey show the progression. You are 25, not quite young, almost "in his prime" years, from what I have seen, it is scary then, that you're not even at your peak yet. De Bruyne etc would be amazing to play with, sure, would help add something to your game. But nobody is guaranteed a start at City, whereas here, you are captain and the life and soul currently of this club. The players we have and are signing, will allow you freedom, lessen the creative burden we have come to depend on from you. The trickery to come, from Bailey and Buendia, their ability to draw players to the ball, exactly the way you do... it is going to be a different season. You will have total oversight of that as captain, our manager on-the-pitch, extreme footballing weaponry at your disposal. Stick around. See it through. Be part of what is coming. It could be something special, even more so with you. After this last year and all what has come of it, sometimes in life the best thing to do is to stick to what you know and what matters deep down. With you here, we are art. With love and hope... a guy in his 40s.

Hej guys. Loving that this thread carried on, I used to post on this site and always did love the banter and craic with our Swedish / Scandinavian Villans. I had a lot of life stuff happen at once, god 2017 ish, and kinda went under for a bit, personal losses including family losses, best mate passing in his 30s, relationship nightmare. Crazy period, but life basically. Stopped using the site, pretty much all the sites I used, made positive life changes etc and blah blah etc. Through the other side of that sh-- time I scanned the pages intermittently but got used to being a forum voyeur every now and then rather than a poster, on and off. I won't be "all over" the site as much as I used to, but might post from time to time here in this thread. My interest in Swedish football is still as strong as ever. A beauty of life, is that no matter what we all have on, football is constant. I have been hooked especially to the Jack Grealish thread for ages, watching the replies and since I have spent so much lurking in the last few weeks desperate for ITK hints and so today, THE DAY of jack news, I've logged in for the first time in donkey's years. Thought I would stop by and say hej. Time goes very quickly. See you around, in time, with some league updates.

Hey @lapal_fan thanks for the honest reply. I read your reply, and it did actually hit home about selfishness and well I guess I cant argue with your post at all. Respect your opinion though. I have been a bit blinkered by the last few weeks, this sort of thing I have never been part of before. I'm not sure how it is going to play out. nobody I know has given me both barrels like you did, a different take on things and I guess I needed that. Cheers, in a way. @Ingram85 yes it does to me, I have jumped the gun too soon, it just happened but we both wanted it to. The bad news is, you're going to hell with me, but you'll just burn a little, i'll get ass-pokered with a trident for eternity. Still though I get what you mean at first the togetherness and hand holding. The rest didn't come instantly after but headed that way almost destined. Soulmates, truly. In this month, i got to know someone who i waited my whole life to meet and not being dismissive there. Nope . But i fully believe it and sensed this well before i found out for myself. I hear you, could be bull. Could be being used. The discussions leading up to the acts, and the line we were consciously on the verge of crossing also showed me she hadn't done this before. anyway Thanks Brommy, regarding potential custody, and how it works. I have dated single mums in the past and am fine with kids, haven't any of my own. If, it actually blossoms, and if, two big ifs so far i guess with low chances of fruition, then i would totally personally and financially be willing to do whatever is necessary. But anyway thanks. Thanks Chris, again honesty and both barrels. Respected opinion as ever. This is weird but my sort of close knit group of mates haven't said this sort of thing except be careful... not laddish "waheys" or anything just be careful. My bubble isn't burst by the comments, but i am sort of taking my head out the clouds and looking below. and feeling a bit of a c word but despite that, as daft as this is, i kind of wished i had met her ten years ago, but as it is weve met now. We have already had the discussion about the future and their breaking up. I know that is sh-- for the other guy, i have been selfish. Its not even me acting from low self esteem or anything like that, its just if i met her in any other way id have felt the same. But hey. What you say about the regularities of parenthood, all of which are alien to me about the practiclaties of their kids and stuff, that is something i haven't given much thought to but we have had discussions in this regard. @a m ole Thanks bud. yeah we have had all the serious conversations and pretty much did right near the crossing the line. I mean real in depth stuff right down to the small details and so forth. I haven't given an ultimatum but ill keep an eye on it. It has been an absolutely magical whirlwind of a month with no sign of any spark fading. I know novelty, this isn't that. Despite the infidelity, which is bad basis for any potential relationship to start... i can get past that and actually trust. But i do hear you and if i am to continue to be sensible about it. and considerate. Awkward timing as they are moving house and have been in that pipeline for over a year with this n that collapsing again and again within their chain but all going through soon. So that, is double C word on me, for the timing of my entering their lives in this matter. @djdabush thanks - i will take a step back. last paragraph there is key. I'll sort of carry on the way we are going, its started and underway afterall. but not get carried away and like Brommy says too , about being careful. I will ANYWAY. Listen lads, thanks for taking the time to read and reply. I am glad i posted it as of all places, the internet, ive come away with some different thoughts ranging from what a C word i have been, but now its underway, to be mindful of authenticity i guess, and as said since its underway... to not totally fk things up. For the record im an all round nice guy not a C word to anyone, but can see ive come across as one to this husband and the kids. Seriously though, thanks. Ages ago, i said i would post up o this thread when i actually got my arse in gear to join a dating site, all the above in original post happened literally the week i uploaded profile blurb and ill continue with that, but just in case. I'll not post updates on this affair (which in my mind i guess ive been blocking as a definition for what this is) but until anything else that's all it is. still again cheers all the best. kick off time 3pm

Amen brother. Have tried champions league winner have tried promotion specialist all before and etc but Potter is a progressive project manager who undeniably has a gift that could benefit us. Fed up of managerial merry go round. Could be the next (poor mans) ferguson. Just need chance at right club. But yeah congrats again to OStersunds!

Been offline now for the best part of a month. I said months ago, when I fully move into new place new county will join online dating. Did so. Also well good chats some decent women too, genuinely looking for a relationship I'm not just looking to a bunk up. Rifht forget that. Here's the deal. Am totally smitten with a quite senior staff member who is entirely unrelated to our dept. She smitten too. We have been absolutely inseparable for a month. Is messed up. Me I'm single no kids. She's married, two kids, husband retired in his thirties the c--- so is basically a house husband. Min the space of that month forget the boning, which has been incredible, but are actual soul mates. Not saying that cluelessly. Genuinely are. Same everything. Is crazy. Right so you're thinking she will cheat on you that's how the relationship started. I did perform some top notch "game" originally despite the most ridiculous opener but things are at a serious level now. Sorry for long post. My mates reckon she's using me which I deny. Literally inseparable. What's app chats literally all night for days. Finding ways to book fake meetings. Hotels at lunch and going there after work. You name it. Is red hot. I've been in casual things before never like this. So irs on the verge of becoming something else. Dunno what to think. Everyone in the dating site just doesn't add up anywhere near her sum. Actually get annoyed by the messages. So yeah what's messed up is they're about to move in two weeks to some badass house. She wants to leave him, they haven't slept in the same bed for months and intimately for longer. She 40 he slightly older. Shes concerned that if she waits , she will lose her two kids as he is the primary carer or something she called it plus he's well off and all this n that. Don't get me wrong her wage is double mine easily. But yeah not sure if I'm gonna get f'd over or not. Doesn't feel it. Feels so real. So yeah just throwing that one out there. Anyone ever been in something like this and it's actually turned out well? Or always a going back to the husband thing? Her marriage is dead except he's a great dad that's it. Hey have no connection, no intimacy and she makes all the effort. Mates say stop any emotional investment further I say bring it on. Anyway yeah sorry for long post

Hi BP board. I have a suggestion. Why don't we keep Brommapojkarna as our name. This will save on a rebranding exercise and the related expense, effort and diluting of our identity. For the women's team why don't we simply branch off the women's team as BrommaFlickor. This way there is appropriate gender recognition on a par with the men's team. This will be less expensive and deliver the objective appropriately. We will then have unity and equality.

Yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaw It scores about 70-80% depending upon the review site but I got it as soon as it was downloadable off PSN ( £39.99 ). Been playing for a couple of days now, loving it. Features the trucks, Xfinity and of course the Cup series. Won't do a review but google is your friend. Very enjoyable indeed. I don't buy many games but I'm thoroughly happy with this one especially career mode. It came out on Thursday I think, physical copies only by import at this moment but as said is available on PSN not sure when Euro release is. I'm giving it an 8/10. Bonus, that you get to smash Danica's rear end in, if you want. Ooooh la la British redneck, signing off.

I dropped a mention in the Next Manager thread a few days ago. Someone clearly who is loyal, a project manager with the vision and drive to achieve continuous improvement and beyond expectations at that... and above all a superb manager. Regardless of it "just being in the Swedish leagues" that doesn't matter, the standalone achievements of him and his team whether it is Ostersunds or The Queens Head Sunday League team show he has plenty in his locker. Someone will snap him up. One of those coaches maybe who if given his chance say at a Chanpionship or League One club, would come in, work with the squad, not demand so much money to spend and get the best out of the squad, install ambition, work ethic, togetherness. I know a team that needs those qualities.... No doubt most have never heard of Mr Potter or even Ostersunds which is fair enough... but the VT Swedish League fans know. Hats off, to the inducted.

terrible reading that. Dunno what to say, it's just shameful and disgusting and that guy is probably one of many who were abused

Still think this above. Some will say it is too soon, his CV is too light. I can totally understand and respect that opinion. The above is mine I stand by it. Time for a younger candidate effectively with a progressive, problem solving attitude. Not just short termism but an appointment that combines the now / the future in one. Also again, light on CV maybe. But in the football industry over the years there are many success stories of plucking an up and coming manager from a lesser side or division and benefitting from their ethos and (unproven at that point) ability. Which brings me to suggest Graham Potter of Ostersunds as a second choice for me. I'm sure many will not have heard of him but to summarise his candidacy in one sentence: took a shit team, continually improving the club as they rose through the divisions, winning recognition to the point they are getting scalps in European football repeatedly against all odds. Someone at some point will snap him up and they'll prosper. Same with King OLof. So Potter as second but Mellberg as first choice. Progressive, young candidates that are the MIRROR OPPOSITE OF BRUCE. The opposite of Bruce would be just what the doctor ordered and couldn't be any worse at all than our current "manager". Plus they wouldn't come in and demand money to spend, they'd form a team from our current stock, build an ethos and identity and I'm sure get results. At present, we have no ethos nor identity nor.... the results. Night VT.

Lazy of them to leave Woy Hodgson as a backable bet after he has taken Palace job. But from that list I'm surprised they have Terry the outright favourite. Unless it's just baiting. Probably is. The house always wins I guess. On this thread a while back I sounded out King Olof of Sweden , I still think that. Just my opinion.

Tony! You know it makes sense!

Hope it's not against rules to post betting info. Sorry if so. But times like this I want a feel for who the bookies think is amongst the light at the end of the tunnel.

DIF are my Swedish team and their form this season is kind of shocking. Almost overachieving (especially with a manager that used to be a full time hairdresser at the helm ) . That tifo display is pretty funny has to be said. I take it that's Blomqvist at the front and Andersson behind? You see the thought, preparation, crowd-funding behind it, and the direct jab that it is and have to admire it. At Villa Park we get the crest / big shirt passed through a shame this doesnt catch on here. so hats off to Swedish League and their fans for that passion.

And after a break too, in which time they've had all that time to prep on working to a "plan" on what to do in the Brentford game to finish convincingly having beaten an inferior team for three points. Did I say "plan" ?? What a massive failure. Again. Despite Bruce still being here like a turd that won't flush, I was really looking forward to today just to get our fixtures going again and yet again, points dropped and alarm bells ringing. Quite simply if we cannot beat Brentford, at home, after a break with all that prep time, we have little hope at promotion, no signs of ever producing the required manner or consistency of a promotion-chasing team. Rest In Pieces - here lies Aston Villa's 2017/2018 "promotion charge"

long break over better squad than brentford And an urgent need to start climbing the table and gain consistency .....so..... NO EXCUSES, three points and a very convincing win is a must from this tie. Come on boys

It pains me to agree with TrentVilla. FM has had a hold over me since secondary school back when I X copied the first ever one on the Amiga I have had every one every year since. Kind of weird to think come release day I won't be there. Has always been a ritual for me to hermit up that very weekend , an annual event. Literally sat playing in the training gear for whatever club I would manage real geeky stuff I confess. Have confessed that before in prev FM thread. I consider myself an FM veteran then. Not an FM know it all, just an absolute fan. However , my game time has lessened recently and so I'm out of the FM pattern. Writing this, feels weird. Almost like I'm planning to dump a girlfriend. That's what FM sometimes is in a way! The time , the excuses. Anyway. So yeah I just read this post and I agree. I could think later in the year sod it and give in but... I've already decided I'm borderline giving it a miss. If I get the urge , I have unfinished business on FM2017 in two saves anyway. That, once you're in about 2030 etc and real players are virtually all retired then a new version won't grab me. For the first time it'll seem like a "data disk" if anyone remembers that phrase. And then it'll only be the new features that raise one of my eyebrows. I'll pop back in the thread when it's out and no doubt get jealous reading the posts but I dunno it feels weird breaking literally the habit of a lifetime. Without doubt, year on year though, that 30 quids spent is absolutely incredible value for the money and so rewarding. This isn't going to be an amicable break up. No tears but definitely a broken heart.