Cjamesk

8hrs until unlock! Ha-ha

Well I started as the Villa ( obviously ) sold a few and got some amazing buys I'll list how much I paid too but anyway....

Ok it's a 4-3-1-2

GK - Given ( Branescu signed for £1.5mill )

DR --- Ferreira Lichaj ( oh Hutton has a broken foot! )

DCL -- Clark ( Dunn )

DCR -- Collins / signed Cahill for £7.5mill joins in Jan "He's coming home"

DL --- Warnock ( I'll be addressing this in Jan but he's been awesome so far)

ML (Box to Box) --- Delph / Bannan

MC (Ball winning) --- Petrov / Jenas ( Works well )

MR (Advanced playmaker) --- Emre Can signed for £4.5mill 10% of next transfer AMAZING! / Ireland

AMC --- N'Zogbia / Thiago on 6mnth Loan ( Jan) BUT signed Affelay as he was set to not needed for £5.5@58k per week joins in Jan!!!

STCR - Moussa Sow ( Signed for £5.5 25% of next sale ) awesome 12in18 / Heskey

STCL - Darren Bent / Aggy

Affelay and Cahill were signed with an increase to the budget to £12mill as I'm 4th plus the incoming sale of Petrov to Dortmund (£3Mill)

This was a Chelsea side who didnt get out of 2nd gear

Those waiting for SI to get "match fit" are in cloud cuckoo land, the guy is a petulant, shirker

**** him off as soon as I say

Tad harsh imo, I know he hasn't set the world alight since arriving at VP but going on the Chelsea game and just focusing on that, his service was non existent zero continuity between defence and midfield even Chuck Norris would've struggled with some of the balls being played to him and Chuck is usually there before the balls played....

We need ball playing defenders and attacking full backs if we need to progress in the modern game, easier said than done but eye opening and alarming how many light years ahead Chelsea are,I know CL etc but still a gap of epic proportions.

Our midfield werent working as a unit to win back the ball. Like i said, no wonder Ireland got pissed off. At least he was trying to close opposition down. A large portion of this can be blamed on our other CM whos name shall not be mentioned.

Spot on, add to that the comedy duo of Dunn and dumber our traffic cones of defenders who's first imperative is to hooooffffff! Then I'm not surprised Ireland was going mad. It would be nice to see them play the ball to feet in all honesty.

Where have all these superb 'ITK''s gone? I'm sure i read quite a few of them putting it will 100% not be Mcleish so where is the updated information from them?

On a rendition flight to Poland.

I thought The General was against torture? This qualifies as cruel and unusual punishment. We don't need a protest - we need a human rights lawyer.

*tuts* it's not torture it's "Enhanced Interrogation" these days.

So what the hell is going on then? Since last night, is there anything to report?

More press speculation filling the void of silence, "alleged" FB posts from General K and the press hammering Villa and Fans biting the bait and phoning Talk Radio stations.

So just the same as last week in all honesty.

Isn't it time the club took Mr Moxley to court over some of the ill informed shite he's been writing in the last few days - he's a poisinous bad tempered spoilt little arsehole who shouldn't be allowed to come anywhere this club for the remainder of his career.

It would be nice and Talksh!te too and how they (allegedly) influence both Paddy Power and SkyBet.

Double post.

Can somebody point me in the right direction of this facebook email the General allegedly sent? What page is it on?

This was it, taken from H&V but the original post itself has been removed from the alleged FB page:

"Richard, you know I am not going to tell you anything. I will say that the uproar over McLeish is absolutely uncalled for....he certainly has proved he can manage in the big leagues...just imagine what he could do if he was with an owner who supported him."

"First off, NO ONE is confirming a rumor...I am just stating a belief. You all cling to the fact that he has seen his lads relegated twice...well, the first time he was not with the Club long enough to make much of a difference. Secondly, ...look at the owners he has worked for and their support of him monetarily. Then look at Randy and what he provides to his Managers. Third, look at his record with other Clubs...as a Manager and player. Check with Sir Alex and ask him about the man...you will get an entirely different sense. All I am saying is that the fact that he managed BCFC should not be the driving factor. Those fans who X the man out because he managed our biggest rival just seem to miss the point. YES, Randy and the Board understand the feeliings of the Fans...we are neither deaf nor blind. At the same time, whether it would be this man or any other, we need to do what we think is right for the Club. NO action is taken without HUGE input from many knowledgeable people. Honest to goodness, if a single man can cause all the fans to abandon ship, that is a sad state of affairs. What you are basically saying is, "Randy, let us pick the Manager...we know more than you, those who are advising you, those who are in the game and know the individuals, those who make a living recommending managers and players, etc. etc" Sorry, that just doesn't seem right to me. Again, I am not confirming the rumor...just simply stating my feelings...as a FAN!!!!!!!!"

Like I posted on another board;

It's the way I which we as a Club are being portrayed in the media that's hurting more than the possibility of McLeish coming in (possibly)

I've had to endure a 20min taxi ride with the horrid "Quinny" and "Saggers" on the radio dragging the Villa name through the mud and by all accounts this has been on-going since the resignation of GH.

Luckily I work and live in London now so the banter isn't too bad as I work with many a Spurs / Gooner fan but even they are shocked about the venom being spouted in the media, god knows what it must be like in the second City.

Can we have a simple poll on this? Just a 'Do you want Alex Mcleish as manager? Yes/No'

Would be interesting to see the results.

Interesting how??

Its quite clear that the more balanced supporters are going to be drowned out by the boo boys

Just like we were with GH.

General regardless I'll back the management as I'm a Villa fan first and utmost, but for all the "good intentions" I fear ( in a historical context ) a Bay of Pigs scenario with the appointment of McLeish.

For all the thousands of pounds Randy must be spending on "Football Experts" / advisor's I can't fathom why his CV would even be brought forward for consideration, and why a club like Villa can't attract anyone bigger and more successful.

His football is dire and a chimpanzee with ADHD could be successful in Scottish Football. To inspire you need confidence and I can't see this appointment being either.

UTV

Ancelotti would be a coup de grace

Villas-Boas I'd have a wet dream every night the guy's class, I remember my mate forwarding me a scout report he drew up ( Chelski Vs Newcastle in the Shearer / Owen days ) when he was Mourinhios underling and it's mind blowing I'll have to dig it out, but that's too "Hollywood" for an appointment. Plus he's still got a job to do at Porto and I don't think enough people would be patient enough much like Martinez if he came in.

heres the scout report - here

That's the one!

Ancelotti would be a coup de grace

Villas-Boas I'd have a wet dream every night the guy's class, I remember my mate forwarding me a scout report he drew up ( Chelski Vs Newcastle in the Shearer / Owen days ) when he was Mourinhios underling and it's mind blowing I'll have to dig it out, but that's too "Hollywood" for an appointment. Plus he's still got a job to do at Porto and I don't think enough people would be patient enough much like Martinez if he came in.

Hughes meh I think he could do a job but I really think the board need to lay down a marker and punch high with the appointment, I want the excitement that over came us all after the take over and MoN was appointed surely we deserve it after a car crash of a season.

How about Mike Bassett? He could bring in Robbie Gee, who can't forget the hatrick against Romania........

Nike, but play hard ball with them over the farce over the release this season.

Let the fans design the kit and Nike judge the competition, win win Nike get exposure so does Villa.

Can't think of many other clubs where this would happen even if it was just a one off novelty idea.

General,

Watching coverage of the Superbowl last night, there was a bit during halftime where highlights of the season were shown. I presume this, and other, reels were put together by NFL Films.

It brought me back to the NFL Films production of "Proud History Bright Future" from a few years ago. Filmed, if I remember, during a match vs Sheffield Utd.

Given that it's been a couple of years and lots has changed at Villa Park, would the club consider commissioning NFL Films again to update things?

Seconded I think that would be a great idea, the original was really good.

How about a "Tekkers" type competition ( Soccer A.M if you haven't seen it sir ) between fans and players? AVTV subscribers get to vote and win a car or something, just shooting ideas out there

Makoun was finally prised from Lyon for a fee of £5million last week after a lengthy pursuit by Houllier.

And the 63-year-old has revealed that midfielder Makoun, 27, is desperate to make his mark on the Premier League.

He added: "Jean came here for that reason, he didn't come here for money. It's a dream move for him.

"He has all the attributes needed for this league. He plays with a smile on his face and is always happy - but he's also a moaning and whinging player!

"When he came back into the Lyon team they went on a run of 13 games without defeat so the manager was understandably reluctant to let him go.

"I had to travel to France and get things sorted but fortunately I've got a good relationship with the chairman.

He started with the question "if you were the manager of Lyon would you let him go?" I said no!

"But there was an agreement that they would let him go in January and they stayed true to their word. He will be a great player for us."

http://tinyurl.com/4b8kd3l

What the **** does that mean?

He`s going to be our midfield general, our own Essien.

Sometimes the players need a kick in posterior and he`ll dish it out.

I may have heard it wrong but Robbie Keane says deal was never on the table at Blues and they were just looking for publicity!

This week just gets better and better lmfao!

just out of interest how does his goal scoring record compare to lets say Rooney or Drogba over a select period, I suspect he doesnt come close at all and it may be difficult to look up the figure.

what period did you have in mind?

Unsure, I dont know lets say since August 2005

EH? I bet those have at least .... say 80 goals each

May have been posted already but;

Drogba = 82 RPL Goals

Rooney = 82 Premier League Goals

Bent = 81 Premier League Goals

Hope we got more than one chair ready think we are in for an exciting week 8)

MM that`s just teasing now, your like the Riddler

Any snippets about another LB and AM?

Wow this sell to buy policy is certainly turning out to be exciting hey

I think this has to be the first transfer window in quite a while I`ve been excited about it in a long while.

Good price for a proven Premier League striker, much rather that than 8mill+ on an unproven "Bentinhio" we need goals and fast.

Makes me chuckle at the people on the radio saying "I could understand it if he went to a top 6 Club" amazing truly amazing :bonk:

As for 8 internationals last night, I`m sure I was one of thousands last night that wouldn`t call them internationals at all.

Well they have all played for international teams so they are and therefore managers must have seen something in these players for them to play there.

Of course but after recent results and performances how many would get a call up now?!

The here and now is more important and were in the mire and as I said before, GH and the players need to get a grip and fast.

Players play to tactics. If there are no tactical ideas what are the players supposed to do. An example is in the first half when Downing was doubled up on he had no clue what to do as there was no movement in front of him and none to the side. I don't think effort was the problem last night, just a complete lack of ideas on how to beat the opposition.

It`s been like that at home games for years now.

Yet we have picked up enough points home and away to be up the other end of the league.

At this current moment I agree but we`ve always struggled in recent seasons at home needing that midfielder than can pick that one pass as to combat what Mourinho used to describe as "parking the bus" we need a midfielder with a footballing brain who dictates tempo imo.

As for 8 internationals last night, I`m sure I was one of thousands last night that wouldn`t call them internationals at all.

Players play to tactics. If there are no tactical ideas what are the players supposed to do. An example is in the first half when Downing was doubled up on he had no clue what to do as there was no movement in front of him and none to the side. I don't think effort was the problem last night, just a complete lack of ideas on how to beat the opposition.

It`s been like that at home games for years now.