Rob182

I wont get back from work until 6, so hopefully the press conference will be available on AVTV to watch later. I have access as I'm a ST holder, and it's pretty good to be honest. Extended match highlights (more than MOTD's usual 2 minutes!), reserve highlights and press conferences are worth a look.

Haha tus

Yessssssssssaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Welcome Paulio!

I don't know about anyone else, but with Richard being this chirpy and constantly optimistic, I feel like we could not only qualify but also win the Champions League next season! 8)

:lol: Gee Wiz!

I think people have only commented on it being funny because a Norwich fan called TS saying Norwich are bigger than us. We never said Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool were smaller than us. We were just bitter that they were leaving and most of us said that they wouldn't get half as much game time (and we were right).

Not wanting to get into an England debate, but that is flawed logic unless you can explain why 'Woy' has taken Jordan Henderson or Stuart Downing over anyone? Downing is still the best english left winger and has international experience which is why he was taken. I dont think there is anything wrong with taking him and Henderson is not in the squad. ........ Ashley Young?

Both Steve Bruce & Paul Jewel got them higher up the league than Martinez Times change, I have never seen leagues like the last 2 seasons with so little points difference between the top 4 and bottom of the league, the league used to be 3 tier but is now to an extent 2 tier, ever team seems capable of beating any other team where no one is scared at having a crack at the big boys, there is not alot of difference in the bottom 10 teams. It used to be if you play the bottom teams you expect 3 points, not even the top teams can rely on this now. Hell if we won 4 more games then we could have been in the top 10, this was achievable if we had took chances and did not set out to draw. There is a reason steve Bruce is out of work and RM is in demand. That's an excellent point.

Because, as was said at the time, he'd got a gentlemen's agreement with Whelan that he'd stay at Wigan for one more year. I am starting to feel more confident about us landing Martinez tonight. He was my top choice before Ole came on the scene and I think he'd do a great job for us. I think he'd be foolish to stay at Wigan another season if there are offers to get out. Even a very good manager could find themselves relegated with that club. Same. Martinez has always been my top realistic choice pre and post OGS. I feel he'd be a more revolutionary appointment than Lambert. He might also bring along the likes of Figueroa and Diame, where as I think Lambert would bring Holt and that's something I really don't want. Ditto chaps! Like others, I'd be happy with Lambert, Martinez, Poyet, Rodgers etc etc, but Martinez was my original, realistic choice before the OGS saga. I'm certain Lerner would be more than happy to give him complete control of our footballing philosophy from top to bottom. If he can bring a couple of gems with him, to start the 'rebuild revolution' then brilliant! I can see why he'd turn down Liverpool for us aswell. It's not a simple case of 'he lacks ambition'. There's the fact that we would give him complete control and not place a DOF above him. Also, at Liverpool, if he doesn't get into the Top 4 in the first season, there's every chance that the owners would sack him. Liverpool are shit. It would take Mourinho or Pep to get them in the Top 4. At Villa, Martinez would get a free ride for the first season (which is what he needs if he is to implement his style and gradually get rid of the riff raff). Bring him in Randy!!!!!! Bring him in!!!!!!

- Great stadium. - Good owner willing to back financially, after the wage bill is lowered slightly. (After the likes of Dunne/ Warnock/ Collins/ Petrov end their ridiculous contracts, we'll have more money to spend on reasonable wages/ transfer funds). - Some decent Prem players in Bent, Given, N'Zogbia, Dunne, Gabby (sometimes) - Young players that have proved they can perform in the Premier League, just not consistantly yet (as is expected of youngsters): Clark, Wiemann, Herd, Lichaj, Bannan, Albrighton - More promising youngsters coming through: Gardner, Carruthers, Delfouneso.. - The fact that, even in our 'cost cutting year', the owner still backed the manager with £20m to spend - Any manager will get a fairly free ride for the first few years, if they simply avoid a relegation battle and pass the ball along the floor every now and then.

That's a generous compensation package, considering their current plight

La la la la la la la laaaaa *fingers in ears* laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa That'll cover it up CF! We all know that Salifou / Martin O'Neill / David Batty / Glen Hoddle / Jermain Defoe / Tony Blair / Charlie Dimmock / Yossi Benayoun / Cheryl Cole and The 3rd Son of the King of Egypt are the sources (in no particular order) of Mantis / GarethRDR / Designer1 / kidlewis / smetrov / Milfner & Stevo985....... but.... it's up to the journos to figure out which one is telling the truth, which one is telling them a 'curveball' (as I believe that call it in the states) or which one has been given duff information. Go on journo scumbags!!! Give it your best shot!!

What are the chances that Martinez will say 'I am not going to Liverpool', but leave his options open to come to Villa? I can't see it happening myself. Not because we're not a good club to manage, because I think we are. But because I can't see how Martinez or Whelan would answer questions, without it sounding like Martinez isn't fully committing his future to Wigan :S RM: 'I'm not going to Liverpool. We had talks, but we have not agreed terms and I am not going to sign for their club'. Press: 'So are you staying at Wigan, or signing a new deal?' RM: 'Eh?....' I can't see it. I'd love him to come here, but unless he is announced as the Villa manager in a Wigan press conference (), I can only see him saying he's going to Liverpool or staying at Wigan. (btw... I know that the press conference isn't officially happening... I'm just speculating)

I'm not too sure about that, to be honest. Though there is no immediate rush for them to appoint a manager, their board will be under a lot of scrutiny and they'll want to make the right appointment as soon as possible. Firstly, Liverpool fans will have been angry at the sacking of Kenny. Then most of them have been underwhelmed about talks being held with Martinez. So, though they can wait, causing us to wait, it does themselves no good. I just think we should ignore Liverpool's targets, ignore everyone else that's looking for a manager and just go all out for someone realistic that still fits the criteria. Maybe not from our 'ideal' group of candidates, but from the next lot. Poyet, perhaps?

Ahaaa I see. I honestly hadn't seen/ heard that from PF. It was hard to keep up, amongst the excitement of us sacking Eck!

Have they? Was this officially announced?

I don't know about that.. :winkold:

You're assuming we're going to be signing players who are involved with the Euros?! I've got it on good authority that we're signing Jermaine Defoe.

Personally, I'd still really like Martinez to be appointed. I just think he's a very likeable guy and, despite his constant relegation battles with Wigan, I could see him easily acheiving mid-table finishes with Villa (as a starting point, to then hopefully work on......... and eventually come the new Arsene Wenger :winkold:) Answered a couple of times but here you go, my full "groupings" I wouldn't be gutted with either. RDM is in the Meh group for me , not the gutted group. You also have to be realistic about where we are as a club, that controls the degree of guttedness. For me the groups are Gutted Group Strachan, Mcarthy, Grayson, Clark, Holloway, Withe, Bruce, Bradley, Ince, Grant, Mcallister, Southgate, Wlater Smith, Neil Lennon, Mclaren, Roy Keane, KMAC, John Gregory, Mcoist Meh Group RDM, Bentiez, Curbishley, Hoddle, Hughton, Sven, Klinsmann, Zola, Ranieri Yes I'd take these group Lambert, Adkins, Martinez, Poyet, Avb, Brendan Rodgers, Di Canio, Moyes, Bilic, Rijkaard, Capello And I think for an order in terms of the I'd take these for the top three would be Lambert Adkins Martinez Cheers, I was just wondering. My 'Yes' group is pretty much the same as yours. Although, I don't know enough about the managerial experience/ capabilities of half of your 'Meh' and 'Gutted' groups to really have an opinion on them.

Sorry if you've answered this question previously in the thread Richard, but who would you like as manager? Or who are your choices in order of preference?

Or how about this?

watching paint dry would be more interesting than last season... Unless it is Mcleish's house that has just been painted

It's Gunnar be a landslide

Comolli? Though Lerner doesnt want a DOF

Okay dudes, anyone know of a good sci-fi film on LoveFilm? I'm cancelling it Tomorrow, and I fancy a good alien/ monster flik before I tell them to sling their hooks.