villaglint

Well Gazton is online right now so maybe he can tell us??

I very much doubt it's abuse, it's more than likely that they don't want to risk exposing their contacts so they can keep retrieving info from them. If Richard for example was to post everything he's heard, then his contact was to read he's been posting all the info on an internet site, his contact would probably then stop giving him info. Yep sounds fair enough. Or maybe everything is being managed much more carefully now. I remember with MON every signing would take several months to happen and every man and his dog knew about it beforehand. Each transfer this time comes right out the blue so maybe even MM and Gazton haven't been clued in.

The ITK's are proving to be an odd bunch of individuals. Why bother going to all this effort if your clearly not ITK. There are very few people who are truly ITK at Villa and for whatever reason (abuse mostly) they are choosing to keep their info to themselves which is a shame for the rest of us. In the mean time we will talk about the Brahimi's of this world incessantly for a week before signing somebody that was never on radar. All good fun I suppose.

For those bigging up Johnson, Carruthers etc and slamming Bannan Can I just agree that Johnson and Carruthers have been excellent in reserves last year. However so was Bannan - in a number of games he looked a cut above everyone else and showed he has been playing at a higher level. Point is they all have talent - it aint easy to be a big player in Prem but they have time on their side. Some (Johnson, Carruthers, Gardner) more than others (Bannan, Albrighton)

If you view Jack Woodward as the Partridge of AVTV he immediately becomes a comedy legend

CI is so boring. I cannot understand how he finds the energy to be constantly on the troll like this. Of course its comments like these that give him the mini hard on he craves so much

If we do sign Whittingham I would be very worried if I was wee Baz

Definitely looks an interesting player. Really like the fact that he is always moving to find space and his control looks excellent as well. Two of the biggest assets needed for a midfielder. I think he would need to bulk up a bit for the Prem. But that is no issue, one of the easiest things a club can add to a player. You can see how Herd has been on the weights looking a very different shape these days.

I am certain that neither Faulkner nor Lambert expect him to purchase players on the say so of board. However by all accounts Eck and the scouts did a huge amount or work last year in locating good value up and coming players across Europe. It is good to hear that that is not all been thrown in the bin. Obviously Lambert will have his own ideas but no point in wasting all that work.

Very happy with this signing - I don't see anyone buying Hutton of us though so I reckon he (Hutton) will be the back up. With Lichaj on left and Naughton on right. Any injuries Hutton comes in and Naughton covers left. Anyone got a feeling Hutton is the new Beye?

He did get asked but as the deal is not done (i.e. Hughton/new Norwich manager causing delays) then he just said he hadn't even thought about it. I think the way to look at Lambert in dealing with the press is as being the Anti-Candleface. Rather than being all matey and giving an honest opinion on any question he's asked if Lambert gets a question he doesn't want to answer he just lies back to them/gets angry or says he has no idea what they are talking about. He could talk back to them in Spanish for all I care

yeah he really is a moody bastard when it comes to dealing with the press. Doesn't bother me at all - just excited to see what we can do on pitch.

If we got him at the right price (I mean cheap in terms of fee and wages) then I'd be for it. When was the last time we had two players in squad who were natural goalscorers. Also gives us a physical option which we've been missing for a long time. Could be the new Carew. If it turns into too big a deal we would be better of elsewhere in my opinion - based purely on his age.

£24m then?

I have shared some info with one or two these last two days and I will repeat here what I have said on PM, I am as optimistic about Villa as I have been in three years That is a scary thing to read

Richard I don't know how to react with you like this. All positive and what not. As a natural optimist I am about to giz myself if what you say is true

Very happy with this - feels like a lower risk than some of the names mentioned while still having lots of potential upside. He is the man to get good players playing like great players. Exactly what we need right now. MON did this too just unfortunate that he paid them like great players. Hopefully Randy backs him this summer to build the squad as he sees fit. As before priorities are. Solid ball playing DM Winger - who is actually good. Brand new defence.

Richard I find your constant negativity infuriating but that last comment is spot on.

To be fair Gazton MM has pointed the finger at the likes of Collins, Warnock, Dunne several times on this site. You have stated several times that MM is ITK so the rest of us are putting 2+2 together

A few bookies have taken it down Paddypower, betVictor, ToteSport, SportingBet, Bwin, 188Bet, Sign something could happen soon? Or is there another reason for this I cant think of?

Great manager but he had recently taken job at Anzi in Russia one of richest clubs in world.

YankeeinMadrid is an ITK and said we had approached Benitez. I would see it as a long shot that we could get him. In my opinion this would be a fantastic appointment. He may not be an open attacking manager but he knows how to win games and that is good enough for me. It is actually quite dangerous to play in a very open attacking way if you haven't got the players to do it. That's why Wigan are always down the bottom because they lose so many games. Same for Blackpool the year before. In contrast to AM who seemed to think a managers job was just to gee up the players Benitez is tactically brilliant and individually has a large effect on games. If FSG dont want him at Plop then I cant see how he can get a bigger job than us in England. He clearly still wants to manage here but is waiting for the right time. Didn't want to do it last year and be on a hiding to nothing like AM. If Randy shows he can invest to at least get us challenging for Europe if not CL then it might, might be enough to tempt him.

Bielsa wouldn't certainly fit the bill as an exciting choice but isn't going to happen. Balague has already discussed how Bielsa wont work in a non spanish speaking country because most of his method is based on meticulous communication with his players

Trees your doing a sterling job - I for one wont hang you if thats the case. You have to take these things in the spirit in which their intended. I have to ask - any reason you think there will be a press conference tomorrow. Seems odd to put these kinds of wheels in motion before they have even met the guy.

I think the current scenario is this. He is being interviewed. Villa end is obviously keen and he is obviously keen. Both putting in effort to make this happen. Others could also be being interviewed, people already based in UK or not requiring jets. In fact I would bloody hope so. Excitement on here relates to people hoping their bets come in. It's still early stages in my book. After the farce of last year and I am going to try and keep a stead hand this year. ....... I got in on OSG at 33/1!