Parker Villan

If Keane signs then we're sold. Hurrah! ;-) Looking forward to a bit of Lambert/Keane good cop/bad cop!

The Mirror are talking cobblers if the BBC are to be believed: Roy Keane has decided to remain assistant boss with the Republic of Ireland despite holding talks about becoming the new manager of Celtic. Ireland boss Martin O'Neill, who managed the Parkhead club for five years, had revealed the approach to the 42-year-old from Celtic last week. But a source at the Scottish champions said: "Roy was not offered the job - no-one has been offered it yet. "But he has ruled himself out and asked not to be considered for the position." O'Neill had said he expected a decision on Keane's future before Wednesday, when Ireland fly out to the United States for friendlies against Costa Rica and Portugal. The Football Association of Ireland said in a statement: "Roy Keane has confirmed he will travel to the US after deciding not to pursue talks with Celtic any further." Steve Clarke Former West Brom manager Steve Clarke has become the bookmakers' favourite Irishman Keane finished his playing career with Celtic before management experience with Sunderland and Ipswich Town. Dermot Desmond, Celtic's majority shareholder, brokered a deal for Keane to become O'Neill's assistant in November. The former Manchester United midfielder became a strong favourite among bookmakers to succeed Neil Lennon at Celtic after O'Neill revealed that Desmond held talks with Keane last week about a return to Glasgow. However, Keane, who combines his coaching duties with work as an ITV pundit, said on 23 May: "I've got a job - I've got two jobs - I can't have another one. "They are a brilliant club, an absolutely fantastic football club, one of the best in the world. But I have got a job." He later added: "I'm not taking a pay cut for anybody." http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27668334

I would find it a bit odd and random if it wasn't on the clubs website. I thought that was precisely why it was a bit odd. What exactly does a director of sporting integrity do?

Does this article strike anyone as a bit odd? http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~3873528,00.html

Lambert hasn't been a disaster, we're still in the Premier League, he did that two years running on a small budget. The transfer funds issue is not the most constraining issue he had to deal with, it was wage restraints which stopped us getting better players in on loan. Everton got Barry, we got Holt. Large wage differences between those two I imagine. However, Lambert's tactics have been one-dimensional, too easy to work out, his man-management has been questionable (although we don't know who was actually making the decisions re: The Bomb Squad), his choice of Culverhouse & Karva turned out to be very flawed indeed and he collected less points this season than last with what, on paper, looks like a better squad. So I'll put a question out there. Do you think the same squad would have done better, with less fuss, if we'd had Tony Pullis in charge, for instance? IMO the answer is yes.

Let's be honest, with a full squad is Bent likely to get a place in the first team ahead of Benteke, Gabby, Wieman or Kozac? What's more probable is that he's back in the squad because it's a shop window. He's more likely to get noticed, and we can ask a higher price for him than if he's playing with the reserves. I don't imagine he'll still be with us come August.

My name is Matt, West Midlands based life-long Villan. My dad started taking me to home games in the early 80s and I've been hooked ever since. I also play drums in Steve Withe's band Paradise Forum, and we performed at the 2012/13 Villa kit launch show, which was a great honor!!! Strange season ahead of us I think but once a Villan, always a Villan!!