Wof

I'm as happy as a shitty pig with the changes since the end of the season. I'm not expecting a miracle but it's very nice indeed to be going in the right direction for the first time in over two years. A potentially great new manager who is a winner to the core is the perfect start, we've dumped some more dead wood and bought in some astute signings, won every game so far in pre-season, our owner has found his marbles and our captain is on the road to recovery from life-threatening illness. Optimistic doesn't quite cover it, i'm bloody ecstatic. But my expectations remain grounded all the same. Up the Villa!

I guess that refers to my post, if so I suggest you read it again if you took it as negativity. not referencing any one post chap, just the general gist of the thread, although i see why you would think that. i think we're on the same page to be honest.

woops. who's counting anyway...

so pleased for the lad to get a goal in his first league start. did well staying onside whilst making sure he had the run on the defender - great work from ash as well of course - and put it away cool as ice. how many times have we seen gabby miss from there? far too much negativity about nathan on here, after these whispers about his attitude. he's learning, will keep learning for many years, he's 19 for crying out loud - give the boy a chance. "good at times, poor at times" - yeah, just like every other bloody premier league striker - rooney's been entirely shit for 6 months, torres was crap for 3 months til his brace at the weekend. expectation levels are maybe unrealistic? let's not forget nathan basically scored twice (i know the record books won't state that obviously) on his full prem debut. another quality british youth to come through this year, up the villa.

europa cup for me, following villa in europe is fantastic. fair point, it is more meaningful once you play someone who you've heard of with a crowd of more than 25k but it does take a lot out of the players to get anywhere in the competition. league cup to me means a lot, it's all i've ever seen villa win and it takes 1/3 the games to win than the europa - hence my overall preference. i bet that game the other year against ajax was amazing live. the 2-1 loss to msk zilina was a right disappointment for me, especially as delfouneso hasn't kicked on since scoring that awesome left foot volley.

i'm sure i'm not the only one to admit to wishful thinking about this being an amazing deal for the club, but what is this about 'us' thinking villa is football's mecca? and our players being foolish to look to move on when more money and a swifter likelihood of medals comes knocking? if anything more people on here understand than don't the reasons why barry and milner decided to leave, we just don't like it, and it's natural to hate on the judas, money grabbing, ambitious, talented bastards. city have had all the luck with refs and linesmen so far. they're not that much better than us and they've spent well over £1/2billion for crying out loud. at least we're in the league cup stilll, they have 17 or whatever games to get to a final in the europa and we've got 3 in the league cup. i know what i'd rather. back on topic, stephen ireland will come good; as others have said, young, milner and downing were shit when they joined. form is temporary, class is permanent.

so happy - went to grab a curry at half time, pretty miserable, had a lovely munch watching some telly and i come back to see that ivanhoe has turned the game on its head! with a bit of help from ash of course. brilliant.

my view is that the £16m - £18m difference in value between the two players is all to do with their respective attitudes. milner, what you see is what you get; 100% without fail. ireland, far more likelihood of fluctuation in his performance and attitude. talent-wise, equals. so from a purely mathematical perspective if we get more than 40% out of ireland we have done well out of the deal. and i truly believe the setup here at villa will enable ireland to get closer to the 100% level that milner always gave us. still sad to see james leave us though, i felt very proud to have him as a villa player.

we don't even have 25 over 21's so it picks itself to be fair.

sigh.

best thing i've ever read on here. probably the best thing i've ever read about football on the internet to be honest. cheers obe. shame martin doesn't see it that way? whatever the reason, i'll miss him.

made me laugh out loud. scary thought though, curbs.

He's also a winner. If he doesn't win things here it seems inevitable he'll want to win something somewhere else. However there's plenty of cause for optimism about winning things at Villa (honest) so I doubt he'll be going any time soon. I'm with you on both points. We've got closer this season than we have since 1996. I have faith we can get a trophy in the cabinet in the next couple of years, Milner may well be captain by then!

Is Martin off then if we don't beat blues? Given the response from the fans after our 2 home draws and the loss to Chelsea, if we don't beat Blues and then give a lame performance against City i wouldn't be suprised if the fans turned again, and fan support is clearly a big factor for Martin. However my comment was more that he will definitely stay if we beat Blues and play well against City. Rather than definitely go if we don't. If you get my drift. OBE you are probably right about the agents. But the fact that Jimmy was happily represented by the PFA for so long does indicate he's not fussed for giving over 10% of his salary for an agent's services, and he's not an egotist who's salary demands double after a good season, like for examlpe Adebayor.

Milner will stay. He is a man of morals and loyalty, with no agent agitating for his payout. We will give him a big payrise and a 4 year contract, he will further cement his standing as the rock of our side. This is if MON stays - which he will if we beat Blues at the weekend, and give Citeh a run for their money. A lot is riding on the next couple of games! As for people saying Carrick this, Ireland that - you're missing something which is ablsuoltely key. Both decent players, yes, but what Jimmy has is the attitude and commitment only matched by the likes of Rooney and Gerrard. You can't teach that, or buy it for less that £25million.

Absolutely the next Gerrard. Without the diving. Jimmy is gonna get better and better, and he's already bloody good.

For me Sidders removed himself from the running with that ball-boy effort against Hull. No-one else deserves the title Worst Player. Unfortunately cos i haven't voted i can't see how many mentals have gone for Ash Young! Surely not? Even off form he's won us as many points as anyone!

I went for Milner, but it was a very tough choice. Gabby, Dunne, Big Brad and Carlos have been awesome, and Warnock, Collins, Young, Young and Petrov very effective as well. That's practically a whole team of joy.

James Milner was hewn out of coal

Beautiful.

Nice article heystally. There is a sorry lack of positivity on VT a lot of the time, i'd hate to see what it would be like on here if we were in the bottom half of the table. It's depressing enough when we're top-6! Being a glass-half-full kind of guy I agree with most of what you've said about our key players above. We have some awesome talent and some strong potential, hopefully all will click this season like it did for the majority of last season, and this board will be a happy place to be. Fingers crossed eh!

Only 1 of the 2 has scored the best goal ever. Only 1 of the 2 is (let's be honest here chaps, and i like the guy) a **** Judas. Petrov for me.

I actually can't believe anyone would have him here. A complete and utter see you next Tuesday, the most horrible out of all the really horrible footballers.

Are you **** joking?

Blimey, i'm suprised by the number that have gone for A. I did too, mind. Shows the draw of the Champions League is not just attractive to top players...