tricella

Baptista has problems to come to life in England. He plays for Arsenal and therefore he should have a lot easier to find himself in that club more than at Villa. If he decides to leave he will go to Spain or Italy...

AVFC aren't averse to things controversial - take this week for instance We need a bit of nastiness in the side - we are too soft in midfield and have been for years. Do I like Barton as a footballer - Yes Do I like Barton as a person - No But as many have said the important thing is what happens ON THE PITCH and Barton would be a step forward on what we have at the moment. Barton was eliminated when Villa played Man City!! Barry and Petrov made him look like a small boy... Nope...Barton might be good at his best days but I really cant see his greatness after I've seen him a few times. Yes...we need to have someone like you mention...but I would rather see that we found ourselves a new Ian Taylor or George Boateng. We need a fighter and a big man in the centre...

What rubbish to say that Barton started the fight because he wanted to get out of Man City! It is obvious that this bloke has some issues and if everyone made notice when Villa played Man City, Barton was very lame...or should I say totally disgraceful performance! He is not the type of player OR the type of personality Villa needs to be connected with. Bellamy is also a player that can be marvellous on his days, but he has his downsides off and on the pitch. Bellamy is a hot head and he cant control that. We dont need Bellamy...ever! What we need is a true leader...someone who is aggressive when there is time to be aggressive...someone who make himself heard on the pitch and someone people and players respect ON and OFF the pitch! Roy Keane was an idiot at times, but he had the respect among the players in Man U... Robbie Savage is an idiot at times, but he has good qualities besides how he acts on the pitch...or even in the ref's room. There is a few players that can handle their aggression and their will to win. Barton and Bellamy is not that type of people...I just think that those two could really make the team have a meltdown and MON heading for a team from Hell! Nope...I trust MON on this and think that he will be very concerned not to bring badwill points to Villa. I think Bellamy and Barton would be very bad investments as they have attitude problems...

General, How has the new crest been appreciated by sponsors and working partners? I like it but there is a few things that irritates me about the crest. "AVFC" should've been "Aston Villa FC" and the "Prepared" font look a little bit silly and doesnt melt together with the crest. It isnt centered and that is surprising... How has the new crest been taken by Lerner and everyone at the board? People keep saying that the crest is not so important, but I would say otherwise. The crest is the clubs trademark and if it isnt liked by most it will work against the club. The most important thing is of course the club and it can market itself but the crest is the clubs identity and therefore is it very important. In the same way I love the simplicity and the choice of blue colour as the background. It is all refreshing and up-to-date. However...there are a few "wrongs" that irritates as I mentioned. Maybe there is some kind of marketing value in that too.... I remember a very good marketing from Sweden (where I live) and it was for the company Viking Line (ferries). A marketing company just took their logo and cropped it and only showing "ng Li". That was a crazy way to market themselves but it became an awardwinning logo and one of the most successful ever. People saw the logo and if they didnt know what it was it became something people talked about. This might not be the same as Villa crest, but maybe the mix of fonts, "AVFC" instead of the more known "Aston Villa FC", "prepared" being off centre, can be good for Villa. :winkold:

We need a star striker that gives us 20 goals per season...I dont know if Bellamy is up to it really. Carew is not going to do it, but his quality is very good if he gets a player beside him that has a true eye for goal. I think that the choice of Defoe is much better at this than Bellamy...but that is just my gut feeling.

That is true. I would like us to buy a much more qualified player for the defensive midfielder role than Sidwell...but if MON wants to buy him then I do believe him to be a far better player than what we have now. I dont think that MON rates any of our young players in the middle to be honest and McCann should be playing his last season as a regular for the team this season. I think that Sidwell is one of two or three players coming in that will hold a central midfield role.

That is imagination on the highest level! McCann would make ANY team struggle...WHY do you think Villa is in the situation as it is now and has been almost since he arrived at the club? Too many people trust too much in McCann... He is not alone in being, at best, a mediocre player...but he has a position that is crucial for any team to make success and progress. Villa need to get a better player in this place or we´ll never compete for Europe. Sidwell and Sneijder is quality....just look at Sidwell and you´ll see that he is an upcoming player whereas McCann has had his best time...a few seasons ago. ANY player that can hold the ball, break up play and pass the ball to the right address on more than one occasion during a game is better than McCann. As I´ve said before...it is there for everyone to see...McCann loses position...he tries to gain it back again by tackling...he sometimes succeed...but most often after he succeed with a tackle he gives the ball right back to opposition because his huge lack of passing skills and when he gives the ball away our defence is even more vulnerable than they were the first time around when McCann was nowhere near his position. This is why we struggle in the midfield...because McCann GIVES IT UP every game!!! One of the reasons why Villa looks so poor is that Villa doesnt have the players to forfill MON´s tactics and gameplay desires. Quaresma has such a high skill that it would be the robbery of a century if he went to Villa. That would really show ambition...crazy high ambition! And I would love it!

Exactly. I can't believe for a second that he'd be that silly. Unless he believes he can be a world beater. I'd hope Steve Coppell would talk sense into him. Can't believe Chelsea want him either. Well...how many believed that Baros was on his way to Chelsea? Sidwell is a very good player and I dont think that Chelsea value him any different. Sidwell would be good for Villa...and probably even for Chelsea.

I will not cheer if Villa buy Bellamy...he might be a good striker..but he is such an idiot that it will give us more problems than what we gain...NO THANKS! And he is pretty expensive too if you look at salary he gets from Liverpool! No chance...it is just bad business.

I dont think we´ll be as humiliated with Lerner and MON as we´ve been with Ellis and DOL... We have a better team now...and the best of it all...we have a better club and a better manager than the last time around! I agree that if we could choose then I would choose West Bromwich Albions and Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead of Birmingham City to join us in Premier! WBA is a team I even can say that I admire...ever since that team they had that played a historical game against a very good Man U team and they won it 5-3 in 1978 I think...and what a team they had then. (sorry) This game is still the most popular game in Sweden when we have made surveys about "The best game seen on Tipsextra" (Swedish TV program that covered english football for ages).

I would welcome derbies against Birmingham, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton! It lifts the buzz around the matches to something special and I like it very much. This hatred as many shows against Birmingham, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton is very childish. Liverpool and Everton battles derby games and they are very attractive. Man U and Man C also...along with derby games for Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and West Ham. Why doesnt people want us to play these attractive games?? Why do we need to be afraid of the other teams from Birmingham? As Tazzy say..."we dont need that scum holding us back!"...that shows me that you are afraid of losing to this teams...why? Isnt Villa a better club now? I will enjoy it very much if they come up to Premier because we now have Lerner and MON!! I say...bring them on! It will be fun to beat them! On a more serious aspect...it would be GREAT for Birmingham to have more than one Premier team and believe it or not...it would bring up interest for our own club by media and sponsors! If the city of Birmingham can provide more good football teams it will benefit EVERYONE!

I stand up and applaud you and everyone working with Villa because of the recent deals for Aston Villa FC. First we have a successful january window where we invest smart in good quality...and now...in early february...you yet again impress us all with getting a deal with Nike as our new shirt sponsor. This is top quality business and I´m getting more and more proud of you all! I hope that you, Randy Lerner, Martin O´Neill and everyone working with Aston Villa FC, feel that the fans are with you in every step you take! I just love it! Thank you!

General, Do you follow the thread about "New Kit Suggestions"? There is a shirt on there that I think would be a very good design for Villa...on side 11. It has a modern design and I love it... What are the talks around this issue at Villa Park?

If we could find a new "Vidic" and a new "Vieira" I believe that we could very well challenge for titles next season or at least get a place for Europe. Now we have pace and strength in attack...lets look at the defensive midfielder role and try to get the central defence a little bit tougher and more skillful.

Agree! It has been to long since I saw that many players from Villa be included in national teams! It is lovely and as you say...it shows the direction the club is moving. We all cant thank you enough for what you have accomplished at Villa Park in such a short time and I am very excited to see what will happen to the club I love when you´ve been here for a longer period. It is good times ahead for AVFC!

Mellberg-Laursen is the best pair without doubt! If Laursen could be fit and play a longer time in the team it would be great for the club and for Mellberg!

Bah!

Where is Thetrees?

In a dreamworld I would like a experienced defender to come together with a new defensive midfielder and Maloney...I still keep my fingers crossed... But at the end of the day I am more than happy with Bardsley, Young and Carew.

Does MON really rate Maloney so high so he sits at Villa Park only for him? I doubt that very much...it must be someone else that drives his attention. Maloney has had a injured season so far as what I´ve read and that seems a little bit tough to sit and wait for a player that might not get through medical... I believe they will try and strike a deal for Maloney, but their main target must be someone else...

Yes if you read what is said there is most certain more than one player they are closing in on...but as you also said...it might be only one coming. I keep my fingers crossed that MON takes some aces up his sleeve and shock us all with great signings! Carew and Young made a good buzz...and still do...imagine if we get two more with the same kind of buzz around them...wow! I am getting excited and nervous now!

Sneijder and Lahm? Going from Ajax and Bayern Munich? Nope...dont think so...it might be true though...2009!!

Oguchi Onyewu..."Gooch"...Standard Liege... I´ve seen Newcastle been linked to this player but I would really like Villa to give it a go...he is a tall and good central defender that has made Real Madrid and Inter interested. A few Premiership teams have also made some visits and he has reportedly had a few bids for him from Fulham, Middlesbrough and Chelsea. He has a desire to play in Premier and I think he would be a very good player to sign for Villa. He is as big as Carew and Villa need big players in the team. He is good in heading and could be an answer to our problems at defending corner kicks and free kicks.

If the latest rumours has anything to it then MON has done everything according to what I´ve had on my wish list for Villa. I always wanted size and strength (Carew) together with pace (Young, Carew). He also might get players like Keane and Smith...and that means he has been seeing what I´ve been seen for such a long time...Villa needs aggression! Both Keane and Smith is aggressive in their play and it would benefit Villa hugely! Keane is an all out striker whereas Smith is a well known striker, BUT he can also play as a holding midfielder...and THAT would be a marvellous signing! Smith is better than McCann in my opinion and he is also more versatile. He has loads of experience and he has played for one of the worlds biggest teams in the biggest games. Smith would be a very very smart signing if it was to be true. It would be a crazy dream if Villa tied up Young, Carew, Smith and Keane during this window...I would go crazy! Speed, Skill, Size and Aggression...that is a formula for success!

Who´s going for a medical? Smertin? Smith? Someone that´ll be a shock buy? Well...I do believe that we´ll see another signing on monday or tuesday. :winkold: