VillaDave

Would you if your Dad was being slated by 30,000 plus people weekly?

Because Ellis, like many of us, has kids, grandkids (I assume) to pass his inheritance onto.

Couldn't care less if he was a Villa fan or not to be honest. Also couldn't care less if he was 45 or 85 years old either. As long as he is committed to us, able to spend ALL his working hours on us, has the vision to take us forward, and doesn't take an inordinate salary from us, is all I ask.

I assume Michael Neville will be relinquishing these positions if the Comers bid is successful? Wouldn't want to be lumbered with another chairman/board member with more pressing outside interests than the goings on at VP.

I think the Comers are a busted flush now to be honest. The positive news is that we are clearly up for general sale now. The negative news is that £64M IS the asking price - take it or leave it.

If the Villa is as badly run as people would have you believe on this forum, it'll be a doddle getting that 10% surely?

As a shareholder you have the right to do so. Minority shareholders rights are embodied in English Law (Companies Acts). You could request an EGM. You could put in a Derivative Claim. You could put in a Personal Claim. However, you will loose the case and be made bankrupt.

Are you a Villa shareholder? If the answer is 'yes' then you have recompense to the courts to air your grievances as a minority shareholder. If the answer is 'no' then, you're stuffed

I'm not criticising those who are sincere in saying the one reason they stay away from VP is Doug Ellis. Its their choice afterall. What I am criticising is the fact they believe that staying away will have any impact whatsoever on the boardroom. Attendances are down this season no question. However, Doug's response will be to simply blame our league position and fire the manager at the end of the season. As someone far more eloquent than I once said, when Doug goes, the missing thousands will merely think of another convenient excuse to stay away.

Compare with the highest average attendance for 25+ years last season? Something just doesn't quite stack up to me.

How noble the Villa Park martyrs are. How enlightened that they can see what us 'normal' Villa fans cannot. Did your boycott mean you didn't go to Rotterdam? Did it mean you didn't got to Wembley for the FA Cup final or League Cup finals in the 90's/00? Thought not.

Well said Gizmo. I liken being a Villa fan to being married. You stick with your missus through thick and thin. You don't do a runner if some more seductive bird (eg Chelsea) suddenly looks appealling. Its exactly the same with the Villa - you have to keep going regardless. You can't just not turn up because things are not going your way. Its in the blood. Its passion. Its love. Its what being a fan (shortened term for 'fanatic') is all about.

Hellelujah! Its raise, call or fold time at long, long last.

Agree also. Perhaps its just me, but its only in the last 18 months that I've felt truly disillusioned. Ellis takes some of the blame for that. so does O'Leary. So do the players. To say that there's been no highspots, or no reasons to feel proud of the Villa in the last 20+ years is ridiculous. As Pete so eloquently put, it all comes down to money. Ellis has set his stall out. The Comers have set theirs. Who is prepared to budge (or will the both)? Liken it to buying a secondhand car but on a larger scale. You NEVER pay the original asking price. You NEVER pay less than it is truly worth. You should NEVER pay more than it is worth. 99 times out of a hundred you meet in the middle and amicably agree on a satisfactory price for both parties. That, to my mind is exactly what is going on behind the scenes at VP currently. The leaks to the press are just attempts to apply pressure and strengthen negotiating hands.

And conversely, you don't become a millionaire by selling things for less than someone is prepared to pay (even if it is over-priced). Its business. Hard nosed business. Bluff, smokescreens and bluster. And we're caught in the middle. There's no point getting worked up about it. Just sit back and try to enjoy the ride.

Your choice mate. Personally I prefer to support the Villa through thick & thin. As for the takeover - I think there's an awful lot of posturing and attempts to smoke people out going on currently. I wouldn't believe ANYTHING you read in the press until it has concrete quotes from both sides in it.

I hear what you are saying, but how do we know its serious? Has anyone seen any details on how the Comers will fund it? Do we know what they plan for us if they do take over? Have they even got the cash to invest in us? Yes, they may appear to be wealthy in net terms. But if they cannot even provide simple details as to how it will all be funded to the seller (Doug) then it does not fill me with confidence. I hope it does happen. But only if it improves on what we currently have. Not hard I know, but I want to be sure.

Isn't this what is known as managing our expectations?

Ouch. Would get hammered week in, week out down the flanks I'm afraid. Baros would not have been my first choice at the start of the close season, but I'd bite your hands off if he was offered now. Not that it'll happen mind.

Hughes, & Berger will unquestionably go straight in I reckon. In addition, I reckon Phillips will be a surprise inclusion at either Angel's or Vassel's expense (whichever one fails to shine in pre-season) Taylor will be on the bench. To me they are significant improvements on what we had on the first game of last season (cole, delaney and hendrie).

Or maybe he considers Phillips and Berger to be proven quality players and Hughes and Taylor to be unproven quality players? Maybe he rates Phillip higher than Angel or Vassell? Maybe he rates Berger higher than Barry or Hendrie? Maybe he rates Hughes as better than De la Cruz or Delaney? I trust O'Leary's view of what is deemed as quality over yours or mine.

At the risk of repeating myself...... We have realistic bids on the table for Bellamy and Distin (allegedly). Those are unarguably to my mind "better quality players". Do you want us to stop signing anyone else until we have signed those two? What more do you want us as a club to do?

Completely agree. Hell he can even take penalties (Angel take note!).

Hope you're right but I'll be amazed if it happens. I think I'm right in saying he would be the first since Peter Withe in 1981 to do that! Bellamy. Although we badly need another centre half (Laursen too injury prone, Mellberg suffered a loss of form, Ridgewell not ready, Samuel and Delaney are defintely not centre-halves). We DESPERATELY need a quality forward.

A statue?! £2500 or so we have so far! That'll buy something that will last as a fitting tribute to 1982 I'm sure! And to think we slag Ellis off for doing things on the cheap! The club will refuse the money. Or take it and donate it straight to charity. Cue kudos for the club. Cue laughter at the protestors. Win-win really.