nik986

We should let any player who does not want to play for the club leave on our terms. Otherwise they run their contracts down and we get dictated to. Anything over 18m for downing is daylight robbery, and if there is anyone else in the squad who wants off then get rid. We may have fallen in status and stature over last year or so but its still a **** priveledge to play for the villa and many players would chop off their right nut for a chance to play at our club and prove themselves at a higher level.

Has Downing gone yet? I cannot wait to see the back of the word removed.

The times have a reporter named Tony Barrett who is a Liverpool fan, he's the same guy who spouted that Young was opting for them ahead of United.

The guy is a douche. When on the times football podcast all he can do is 'liverpool this' etc. load of bollocks - same delusions as many liverpool fans, not actually realising that their club aint that big anymore!

Lichaj will come good and the Leeds experience will help him! Expect him to push Lucas Young for) position this year!

I rate lichaj, and would have him playing RB with Young at LB if we cannot afford a very good RB.

Sell downing - we should sell anyone who doesn't want to play for club on our terms. We should allow players to have less than 2 years left on contract.

I'd rather Charles n'zogbia than downing anyway - so a 20m fee for downing - 12m for N'zogbia (the fee whelan has publicly set) gives us an extra 8m to improve our central midfield options. Downing is a limited player - would rather see n'zogbia and Jimmy back to replace him.

He will not be the last. I suspect we will see others leave this summer as our squad takes on a completely different look to match our ambitions. Wouldn't be surprised to see Bent leave in January either at this rate

Do you think its avoidable Richard??

I mean, we both cottoned on that Randy wasnt Rich enough some time ago, but I dont think that should hinder ambitions (what you set out to achieve)!!

I dont for one minute think they are not aiming for top 4!! Weve tried one way (to an extent), and it would have killed us in the end.

Now were trying a harder way. The chances are unlikely but its not impossible.

While top 4 shouldnt be our main goal, Id hate to think it was our top goal. That should surely be to win the league etc. Again, highly unlikely, but not impossible.

Now, of course goals should be realistic and thats why our main goal this season should be a top 7 finish and a good cup run. Now Stewart Downing, would be handy in that but hes not essential. However, what is essential is a stable club and I see signs that that is what RL has set out to achieve over the last 2 years or so.

So, I suppose the question is, if we don't sell Stewart Downing (and get the money we might need to help stabalise the club (we dont know of course)), do we hinder our realistic goals??

I dont think Lerner should be criticised for not being ambitions. If anything, he was maybe too ambitious - and that while a mistake in itself - is far from a crime.

(the examples in this post Richard, are not aimed solely at you btw)

we tried by having MON sign mostly average players on very high wages hoping they would all raise their game 2 levels from what they had previously achieved.

the costs were too expensive so it was stopped although it had reasonable success

now we are trying the peter taylor method at leicester which got them relegated

why cant we try getting a top manager who supliments the youth with top signings and stops buying shit to average players and a manager with shit tactics?

it isnt rocket science however it seems to have aluded this club

The 'peter Taylor' method? Pathetic. Be a. Little more negative why don't you! When average over-paid players a re blocking young players we moan, when players are being moved on to re-fresh the squad, players who want out, we moan. The MON system didn't work, and almost financially crippled the club!

I still think AM has all the Young money available plus almost 30m and any other sales. Villa are more than happy with this 'we have no money story' means prices are much much lower than if we say 'Alex can spend whatever to improve the squad' which is the mistake made under MON. And as for Downing, for 20m he can **** off. He aint that good!

Its a steady appointment - we will be fine. Fingers crossed for a good cup run

I think it's anything but steady.

It could prove to be a masterstroke, but more likely be a disaster.

Half decent manager, Decent team - Steady Top half finish for me.

I cant see the potential masterstroke as much as i cant see the disaster

Wheres the proven track record of him being a steady appointment? Ridiculous. This is a big risk!

What does FTW mean?

Fat.........taiwanese.......waiter?????

Rafa's relative?

AMc will bring his trusted team of aitken, watson et al

Bet the clowns are glad they didnt sack him now, would have missed out on £2m!

We must finish top 8 next year then. We finished 9th this year and it was an awful season. Pressure is on with what sounds like very little money ontop of sales.

Maybe Gus Poyet with GT/GH joining the board to advise on 'football matters'.

Still think its coyle.

I have renewed, but am not looking forward to seeing the poor brand of football than McLeish will bring.

General, I will never lose faith with Villa and still back the board, and believe you have the clubs' best interests at heart but have to question the thought process behind this appointment. I wont patronise, or repeat what others have, but just say please reconsider, and bring a manager on board who will play an entertaining brand of football to reward the fans.

Thanks

If MM isnt telling the truth you can only assume he's a lunatic/psycho....look at all his tweets, why would someone bother posting all this

if its not true, cant see it beeing THAT funny to try to fool everyone until they dont even believe/listen anymore.

AVFCMysteryMan Sky Dream

#avfc the interview did not go well. Speak later

18 minutes ago

Sky Dream

AVFCMysteryMan Sky Dream

#avfc well they have not gone well. They never were going 2

30 minutes ago

Sky Dream

AVFCMysteryMan Sky Dream

#avfc has the interview gone well?

32 minutes ago

Sky Dream

AVFCMysteryMan Sky Dream

#avfc interview will #fail Moyes still 101%

45 minutes ago

THIS IS NOT THE REAL MM! When will people realise?

Surely a Poyet or Grayson wants to join us? With an experienced number 2, surely we'd be ok?

Great letter nik986, I really hope he reads it.

Thanks, I wont be handing back my season ticket or not turning up, but i want the board to know my feelings. If that means having a banner while at the game and sending letters to the board every day, i'll do it.

General,

I understand why you have looked at Mcleish, but it should have been a quick glance and then look away. If he had done great things at the club, then we could understand where you were coming from, but he has got a decent side relegated twice; whilst playing the most boring, negative football seen in the premier league. You will hear some very emotional views, and will get a lot of abuse, but most of us moderate fans could understand this appointment if he had done something (the carling cup does not count in a season with a relegation). For me it is not that he has managed Birmingham City, that makes no difference, I would get no more delight than stealing their manager had he achieved something, but they are the ones laughing at us, as he has not proven himself to be a competent manger in the Premier League.

You (the club) released a statement recently after Roberto Martinez had declined an interview, and although many thought the manager of Wigan was not good enough for Villa, everyone could see the thinking; Young, ambitious manager who plays good football with an eye for a bargain and so, quite rightly in my opinion, we thought we had a window in on the criteria from which you were choosing a new manager. From this names such as Coyle, Lambert and Grayson sprung, and although these have differing levels of premier league experience and many were underwhelmed, we could see the thinking behind them. How does Alex Mcleish fit into this profile? Yes he has premier league experience, two seasons of relegation and one of struggles until a 12 game unbeaten run including a number of draws and lucky 1-0 wins ensured their survival and a 9th place finish in what was a tight mid-table.

You will not fill Villa Park next season, I would say that you will struggle to 25,000 for the first game - so from purely a business/economic point of view this does not make sense. I really hope that you see sense in this appointment and tell Alex 'Thanks for the interest, but you do not fit our criteria' and move on to a young manager who fits the profile originally drawn up.

I would urge you to think about this appointment very carefully, and re-consider very, very swiftly before Randy does irreperable damage to his reputation with the Villa fans.

Yours,

Mr N Skilton

Season ticket holder

General,

I understand why you have looked at Mcleish, but it should have been a quick glance and then look away. If he had done great things at the club, then we could understand where you were coming from, but he has got a decent side relegated twice; whilst playing the most boring, negative football seen in the premier league. You will hear some very emotional views, and will get a lot of abuse, but most of us moderate fans could understand this appointment if he had done something (the carling cup does not count in a season with a relegation). For me it is not that he has managed Birmingham City, that makes no difference, I would get no more delight than stealing their manager had he achieved something, but they are the ones laughing at us, as he has not proven himself to be a competent manger in the Premier League.

You (the club) released a statement recently after Roberto Martinez had declined an interview, and although many thought the manager of Wigan was not good enough for Villa, everyone could see the thinking; Young, ambitious manager who plays good football with an eye for a bargain and so, quite rightly in my opinion, we thought we had a window in on the criteria from which you were choosing a new manager. From this names such as Coyle, Lambert and Grayson sprung, and although these have differing levels of premier league experience and many were underwhelmed, we could see the thinking behind them. How does Alex Mcleish fit into this profile? Yes he has premier league experience, two seasons of relegation and one of struggles until a 12 game unbeaten run including a number of draws and lucky 1-0 wins ensured their survival and a 9th place finish in what was a tight mid-table.

You will not fill Villa Park next season, I would say that you will struggle to 25,000 for the first game - so from purely a business/economic point of view this does not make sense. I really hope that you see sense in this appointment and tell Alex 'Thanks for the interest, but you do not fit our criteria' and move on to a young manager who fits the profile originally drawn up.

I would urge you to think about this appointment very carefully, and re-consider very, very swiftly before Randy does irreperable damage to his reputation with the Villa fans.

Yours,

Mr N Skilton

Season ticket holder

Rafa and Moyes are more direct. AM plays 9 at the back with one up top. Its like he doesn't wanna score!

Come on, he was NEVER gonna get SHA playing like Barca was he.....

Style of play whilst there is irrelevant really

Totally agree - but when it is his style of play everywhere he has been.....

Gonna be Moyes or coyle, I can still feel it

Coyle coyle coyle. Why have we not busted a gut for him?