wildwood

Well it looks like Wet Spam are going to take a bullet for us. Steve McClaren is the bookies favourite to take over there.

I wonder what accent he will use there.

Finally got a chance to note down my feelings about the game.

Friedel - 7

I didn't feel comfortable with him, not exactly sure why.

Walker - 8

Very important player for us, he gives us a great outlet. Great vision for the first goal. Gave the ball away a few times, but I think everyone did. Defended well yesterday.

L Young - 7

Played well against a tricky Walcott. Supported attacks well.

Dunne - 6

Didn't think it was a penalty myself, but he wasn't having the best of games.

Collins - 6

Put in some good blocks and a few good headers (and some shockers).

It would be nice to not have to revert to blocking though.

Reo-Coker - 9

I thought he was very good yesterday. In recent months I've been sceptical, but he covered the ground well. Made some good interceptions. I love the way he sprints forward when we are on the break, even though he can't shoot. Passion.

Petrov - 6

I don't like Petrov, it's not a secret, I don't think he offers us anything apart from giving away fouls and moaning to the ref. Makoun would replace him in my opinion.

Delph - 7

I thought he played well. Struggled to get into the game to start off with I think. But he was solid. Think he'll be great next year if he can keep his fitness.

Young - 7

Quiet but solid. He wasn't the main focus, but he worked as hard as normal. Defended and helped L.Young out. Fantastic assist for second goal.

Downing - 7

I wasn't too impressed with Downing, gave the ball away quite a lot. Made some bad decisions when with the ball. A few times, I just wished we had a right footer on the right hand side. But that's not Downing's fault that he's played there.

Bent - 9

Special player. Unlucky not to get a third, with a weak left foot strike. Spectacular finish for the first goal, and great finish for second.

Bradley - n/a

I might have freaked out a bit when he came on for Petrov, I wanted Cuellar on (3 DCs would have made sense to me. Change to a 5-2-2- 1.) But he did well, came forward well, however no end result. I'd start him against Livepool - let's see what he's got.

Heskey - n/a

Again wanted Cuellar. Didn't do anything in the minute he was on

So it looks like we've stopped the rot of losing our best player each season.

Or we've just convinced everyone that Young is our best player.

(How long can we keep the secret about Salifou?!)

Is there a list somewhere of all the unemployed managers?

Never really rated him.

He didn't impress me in his games for Man Utd, nor what I've seen from Blues.

Every goalkeeper makes mistakes, but I'd worry if we bought him.

(Plus he's a Blues player)

Manchester United need a keeper

So do Arsenal... and us.

Grrr don't say that.

I'm hoping for an amazing keeper... not him.

Sounds like somebody who thinks he's close to a bumper contract somewhere and doesn't want to risk getting injured or becoming the next Scott Carson

I really don't rate Foster, but bumper deals - Manchester United need a keeper?!

Would you rather Warnock stay and play in the first team?

Warnock was just an initial example.

I don't think NRC would stay if GH went - GH gave him his chance and I think NRC would sign on if GH were to stay.

What i foresee:

GH stays - fringe/unwanted players go - new players come in/youth players step up.

GH goes - a couple of players join. Fringe/unwanted stay with their huge wages, bad attitudes and lack of fight.

You honestly think a player who's been in our reserves and wants out of Villa will be playing next season? I doubt even the board will be so naive to allow that to happen. He'll be gone.

As I said it was just an initial example.

Do the board pick the team?

Could there be advantages of GH staying?

For instance - Warnock might get back in the squad, etc.

How would that be an advantage exactly?, he was playing awful long before Houllier turned up

Sorry Ulver looking back it does look incoherent.

What I meant was imagine 2 situations

1) GH stays - Warnock gets sold

or

2) GH goes, New manager wants to give Warnock another chance.

The advantage therefore of GH staying is that Warnock wouldn't get that chance with us.

So whats the advantage to Aston Villa ?

Would you rather Warnock stay and play in the first team?

Warnock was just an initial example.

I don't think NRC would stay if GH went - GH gave him his chance and I think NRC would sign on if GH were to stay.

What i foresee:

GH stays - fringe/unwanted players go - new players come in/youth players step up.

GH goes - a couple of players join. Fringe/unwanted stay with their huge wages, bad attitudes and lack of fight.

Could there be advantages of GH staying?

For instance - Warnock might get back in the squad, etc.

How would that be an advantage exactly?, he was playing awful long before Houllier turned up

Sorry Ulver looking back it does look incoherent.

What I meant was imagine 2 situations

1) GH stays - Warnock gets sold

or

2) GH goes, New manager wants to give Warnock another chance.

The advantage therefore of GH staying is that Warnock wouldn't get that chance with us.

Ben Foster has announced his retirement from International football to focus on his club career. I just hope for his sake his future is away from SHA after that decision.

How ridiculous.

A goalkeeper putting a temporary retirement on International football.. at 28.

I wouldn't want to see him in an England shirt anyway, but even less so now.

If GH does go - and I think it's probably 90% sure he has (it seems to have gone very quiet, but I may just be closing my ears to it) - the new manager won't come in and get rid of all the players that have been rubbish this year like GH might.

Could there be advantages of GH staying?

For instance - Warnock might get back in the squad, etc.

I highly doubt that considering Warnock hates the club, the fans and Birmingham - he wants out more than anyone at the club.

Sellyoak - do you suspect he'll come out in the media in the closed season and make a "come and get me" plea?

He seems to be a forgotten man, and I doubt manager's are aware of his availability.

In any case, would you like next year to start with Dunne and Collins in defence because the manager wanted to work with what he's got?

I just think keeping GH may have it's advantages.

If GH does go - and I think it's probably 90% sure he has (it seems to have gone very quiet, but I may just be closing my ears to it) - the new manager won't come in and get rid of all the players that have been rubbish this year like GH might.

Could there be advantages of GH staying?

For instance - Warnock might get back in the squad, etc.

If his good at what he does how come it's looking likely we'll be finishing at our joint worst number of points? This was his first appointment and instead of putting things right (sacking when he should have numerous of times), he refused to causing us to end up in a disgraceful position. He deserves absoutely no respect in that regard when Liverpool did the right thing and are finishing on a high. They're gonna embarass us in the final game at Villa Park and I hope Randy feels the heartache that all the fans have suffered this season. The whole club has suffered due to his stubborness and the soft approach towards GH.

I also hear bad things about him at the Browns as well. Again, how is he good at what he does?

He also allowed MON to spend like crazy with huge wages causing us to announce a major loss this year. How is that good business?

Stubborn, trustworthy and inexperienced. Three major weaknesses of our chairman. Expect more to turn on him if he gets another appointment wrong and if you dare to be patronising again then it's clear you're more of a tourist than a fan who prefers the sights of Villa Park than the results.

OnlyOne == Doug Ellis.??

I think that we would be in a stronger position if we employed someone who is currently in the PL like Hughes or Moyes.

Sure there may be times when these don't fit, like Hodgson with Liverpool - but with Fulham and now West Brom he is a fantastic manager.

Sometimes risks do pay off, and if you are a huge club and you have the reputation and money to get a huge manager from Europe - sure go for it. But that's not where we are.

Grant has Premier League experience. It's really working out for West Ham isn't it?

I'm so thrilled we went with the safe option and chose Houllier. He only nearly relegated us. Let's do it again.

[_________] had PL experience he was rubbish.

[_________] had PL experience he was good.

As mentioned before we can go on and on about this.

Martinez has actually done an excellent job in England so far, although he played here before he managed.

surely thats a joke. have seen where wigan are in the league? he has been a disaster for them

Are you ignorant?

He did an excellent job at Swansea and Wigan are in a position in which you'd expect them to be given their resources. They just keep drawing too many games. If they stay up their fans won't be complaining.

So... Martinez is now an excellent manager?

We need Premier League experience; and I'm talking in the last couple of years.

I think we need to stop thinking about players that can be brought in, and contacts possible managers have.

A good manager can work the majority of players (barring Balotelli etc).

No we don't. What good does it do? Did Arsene Wenger need Premier League experience when he came into the league? Did Carlo Ancelotti?

A good manager would be able to handle any league.

How about Ramos? Grant? Martinez?

We could play this game till the cows come home if you'd like?

We don't need another transition season of a manager getting to grips with PL. And why do you think we'd get the quality of Wenger or Ancelotti?

Agent Ridgewell up to his old tricks again this weekend I see.

We need Premier League experience; and I'm talking in the last couple of years.

I think we need to stop thinking about players that can be brought in, and contacts possible managers have.

A good manager can work the majority of players (barring Balotelli etc).

Big Sam would be a worry, didn't he have heart surgery recently(?!) too?

Was about to post about their little windfall.

Tried to make £16m ended up only managing to whore out 1/4 of the shares they wanted to. Atleast they just earnt the money they are surely regretting spending on Curtis?

edit: I guess its bitter sweet for SHA, they had £28m loss to make up and show UEFA they are in good financial position. But only made £3.8m so that sucks.

But [correct me if im wrong]. Yeung bought 30% of SHA for £15m [100%=£45m] and now they are selling just 6% for £3.8m [100%=£60m]. So effectively increased their worth by 33% in 4 years.

Saying that they are still in debt to the tune of 38% of their entire value.

[again, i could be wrong, im tired]

:shock:

Are you Alan Sugar?

One side of a story is better than nothing. Thanks for the information.

From what I'm told, that's what he wants too.. He doesn't want special treatment, he just wants to be treated equally as a squad member.

Gazton, I'm not asking for you to reveal your sources, but how strong are they? Because I'm finding it so hard to read this Ireland situation.

I'm gutted he didn't get a chance with Newcastle to show that he's still got it. I guess we'll just have to be patient.

EDIT: Coding Error

What formation we playing/who's playing where?

Anyone else bored of this *woodytom says something controversial about Bent...everyone else replies with opinions, stats and counter arguments... and repeat*