neil324

You're assuming that Downing wants to go to Liverpool.

I'm assuming Liverpool are interested.

Quite possibly, but let's be honest Liverpool are now a top 6 team at best. No CL, plenty of superior teams in the Prem, even if he wanted to move on and the Chairman would sell him without a new Manager's say so (0% chance of that), I'd assume that he would want to make a genuine step up from Villa?

I suppose you could have made the same point about City chasing Milner last summer or Barry the year before.

Sorry matey, it has been clear for a number of seasons what trajectory Citeh were on and I don't blame Barry or Milner for going there. Liverpool are not even in the same league in terms of ambition, prospects, finance or ability.

That remains to be seen.

What a fantastic mood-killer that article is. McLaren set to be our new manager AND Ancelotti not interested. I'll go jump off a bridge now.

On a Monday morning as well. Depressing.

How much is this muppet on 70-80K a week, 4 year contract?. Christ on a bike, we got seriously rogered taking him. No way is he going to take a pay cut even if a club was interested. We would need to pay a club to take him, when all added up i can see this meaning we go fook all for Milner.

Why would Hughes quit without a job lined up? Who else is looking at the moment, Chelsea,? yeh right, it has to be the Villa.

cardiff?

it might also be part of a chain that involves redknapp going to chelsea

Fingers crossed.

Why would Hughes quit without a job lined up? Who else is looking at the moment, Chelsea,? yeh right, it has to be the Villa.

Wow it's Hughes.

What a great statement of intent, get used to being mid table fodder.

Boring as ****.

Are you surprised every man and his dog wants out?

I'm fairly sure that if Young and Downing both leave, Bent will be on his way.

Sorry, not having a day of optimism.

I think his words of "i came here, to play with the likes of Young and Downing" is a clear warning that hes becoming unsettled by what he sees has, Villa allowing their star players to leave.

Translated, it could mean, "god, what have i got myself into"

What was an important summer for the people that run Villa, is turning out to be a massive one, and places more emphasis is getting the managerial selection right, and then soundly backing him.

No, he came here for more money and to play for a bigger club with better prospects than his previous. But rather than come out and say that, he came up with some bullshite that is going to back fire on him.

If we sell both Young & Downing the club will no doubt try and replace, besides, Bent is not in a position to dictate **** all, with the length of his contract and age.

Very interesting news regarding Ancelotti (if true) - it would certainly represent a major coup and make for a pretty emphatic statement of intent by the club.

However, I have a couple of reservations. Whilst I genuinely like the man and admire his approach, I think it would be almost impossible for anyone to assess from afar exactly what his motivation would be for a job such as this. Undoubtedly it would take a big salary to get him here and the position could offer a very comfortable outlet for him in the wake of his Chelsea dismissal. Any targets set by Mr. Lerner and the board will be in stark contrast to those issued by AC Milan and Chelsea, and the incentive of contesting the major prizes (league titles, the Champions League) will not be on the immediate agenda.

There has to be questions as to his ability to impose his methods and style of play on a group of players inferior in technical ability to those he has been used to coaching, and we could find that we are in for another season of transition depending upon how quickly he settles and how many of his own players he is able to recruit. He has, to the best of my knowledge, not been in a position where he has had to actively 'manage' the wage bill as any incoming manager will have to do here and there is still much deadwood to shift. There is, perhaps, something to be said for his adaptability in conforming to the wishes of maniacal owners and chairman (something which he would not have to deal with here thankfully) who have imposed their wishes on player aquisitions and team selection - and always done so in a admirably professional manner. It's a different kind of versatility though and, again, it's very hard to know one way or another how he would ultimately take to working with a more limited squad in need of overhauling.

I am also concerned that we would be continually living under the threat of his inevitable departure. He will be linked with every significant vacancy that arises on the continent and there will likely always be a suspicion that he will be tempted by offers from Italy and Spain. We may be used to having top players poached from us but in many ways any unrest that is created by their being unsettled or their subsequent sales is a lot easier to cover than the uncertainty that surrounds a figurehead. Such a situation would make it very difficult to plan beyond a given season. Hence, appointing Ancelotti would signal a desire, if not an absolute need, to obtain tangible success very quickly so that a) he may be convinced that he can take the club on to a bigger stage, or we ensure that the first team is in a much stronger position for any replacement to take charge of. Looking at our current circumstances, that is a very big ask on both counts - and it would arguably take a level of drive from Ancelotti that extends beyond what has previously been required of him.

His appointment would certainly create a genuine buzz that most, if not all, of the other candidates wouldn't be able to match, and people outside the club would indeed be forced to take notice - if only for a short time. But I think success - as defined by winning trophies, qualifying for the Champions League and laying a sustainable foundation for future progress - would be far from guaranteed.

On balance, his experience as a player and a manager is beyond question and he would bring a heavyweight presence to a club that has often failed to punch its weight. With the right financial backing, the appointment of a sensible no. 2 (such as Ray Wilkins), a good start and bit of all-important luck, the potential with Ancelotti is almost certainly greater than with any of the other contenders and if he is genuinely up for the task then I could see him emulating what Harry Redknapp has done with Spurs in the last three years. As such, he is worth the gamble - but I think people would need to steel themselves for the reality that keeping him may be even more difficult than persuading him to come in the first place, and we could well find ourselves back in this situation again within two years.

Interesting times lie ahead.

Top post m8, all very true. But surely worth the gamble?

Some interesting quotes to appear in tomorrow's papers from Downing.. Asked outright if he would be at Villa next season. Said he was "not sure".

Meaning he will be off if a better offer comes along and he gets the chance I'm guessing.

Someone lives in the real world.

I think Houllier had to go, for health reasons more than anything.

The turmoil of changing a manager again is worrying though. Just hope it's quick and we get a nice surprise. Then we can move forward positively, albeit slowly requiring patience from the fans. But if it's a half arsed appointment the patience will wear thin very quick.

Fingers crossed.

Ffs, for a side who've had exactly twelve pounds to spend in the last five years, Everton play like Barcelona. You need to look at the bigger picture a bit I think.

Play like Barelona

This is getting stupid now. Where just a stepping stone, next years, will he, won't he debate.

Did we not take a gamble on him because of his injury, gratitude or what.

AVFC. Feeder club.

we have had many players over the years that can play up front, but seem to struggle when asked to score goals.

This guy might not be the best footballer in the world, but wow he knows how to execute the art of putting the onion in the bag.

The way he plays on the last shoulder he is so canny. His awareness in that pressure cooker of the 18 yard box is rare too.

Its an art of its own and very few players have it... Michael Owen in his prime, Jimmy Greaves.

Lineker?

No surprise that Fabio Capello was there yesterday, and i'd say it's a given that Bent starts to become a fixture in the England setup.

Infact i bet Capello was drooling inside.

Seems to have been a snip at 24 mill, remember what some of the press where saying about it at the time, when you look at Torres for 50 mill as well. At least Houllier has done something right while he's been here.

Anyone remember the hand shake video, i think a tentative approach was made but the circumstances made it impossible.

I hope in the summer things will be different and we get him, nothing but respect for what he has done at Everton on the budget he has been given.

Is this our marquee signing? if so, great. I just hope he isn't a flop if he comes here for that price.. i'm pretty sure he won't be as his career stats says so (different clubs too) plus with albrighton, downing and ash whipping in the crosses I can see him getting a couple of goals... but at the price I always have that concern and pray to god he isn't a flop.

This is what Collymore was saying on Talksport, there is no guarantee he will bang in the goals. Also if the money spent now means no more now or in the summer for other areas then it's a BIG gamble. The pressure will be on Bent from day one to deliver.

Of course lots of 'ifs'

But also now we are hearing the wages involved. Hmmmm.

The fee is eye watering.

:shock:

I had a season ticket the last time we went down, also travelled to many away games, good days out because our away record was great that year.

Was also at Swindon and Western Super Mare after the day we got promoted.

Try and look on the positive side of things.

Carew aint scoring today

Where are people watching / listening to Francis?

I'm watching Fox Soccer Channel.

Bah, I really don't want to be installing any freeware onto my beautiful new mac, but I think i'll have to bite the bullet sooner or later.

Does it stop you viewing porn sites

Heskey :shock:

Mervin King is in the stand just seen, sitting below Gerarad Houlier.

Nerve racking this is.....

Thats the best ive seen em play in a very long time, maybe 2008 ish.

We started **** gash and all of a sudden bang......

Great 10mins by Villa, impressive.

I hope that miss by Ash does'nt cost us in the 2nd half.