avfc1982am

Pinstripe saturation.

Loved that kit!!

You can get it on ebay for about £150. I've come close a few times.

Had it as a youth. One of my favs along with the le coq sportif away strip of 83-84. Absolutely gorgeous kit.

http://www.oldfootballshirts.com/en/teams/a/aston-villa/old-aston-villa-football-shirt-s559.html

Pinstripe saturation.

Loved that kit!!

You can get it on ebay for about £150. I've come close a few times.

Had it as a youth. One of my favs along with the le coq sportif away strip of 83-84. Absolutely gorgeous kit.

Just off the phone with a fellow economist who is good mates with ex-Bank of England guvnor (and Villa fan) Mervyn King. King said that Mike Ilitch has been in negotiations with Lerner for months. Ilitch owns both the NFL and the NHL team in Detroit. Used to own a "soccer" team (as the Yanks call it) and is now looking to branch out after Detroit's bankruptcy.

Heard it here first #itk #nilsinfior

Certainly adds weight to what Kwan is saying but a little worried the guy is 84 years of age. A little old to be starting a new venture.

Might be a venture for one of the kids. To be fair if it is the ilitch family they aint that bad at improvement of sports teams. Something lerner has struggled with so hopefully we'll be on the up.

Didn't think there would be any sort of auction going on, was just interested whether the eggs were in one basket or if there are other potential buyers in yhe wings should one pull out. Thanks for the info though mate.

The nature of these deals doesn't really lend itself to other groups swooping in the last minute

I can appreciate that. Anything further you can add on the deal with regards to the interested party?

Didn't think there would be any sort of auction going on, was just interested whether the eggs were in one basket or if there are other potential buyers in yhe wings should one pull out. Thanks for the info though mate.

Club is going to be bought for less than 200 million. Deal isn't done yet as buyers are trying to knock down the price. Claiming that value of the club has fallen in recent years.

No specifics on how long it's going to take and what funds are going to be available for the summer. Everyone here thinks Randy wants it done ASAP but is wary.

I work at BoA

Kwan, do you have any idea on how many interested party's there are?

Pinstripe saturation.

Loved that kit!!

ITK stands for what?

​My English isn't that great folks bare with me.

I touch kids.

I truly hope not!!

The Holte Hotel is alright. On the other hand, the Balti pies temperature isn't perfect, 8 seasons later.

All in all, a very mixed reign.

I preferred it as a ships galley. Used to love boxing there.

I can understand where stans coming from. Problem is it's an ideal and we don't live in an ideal world. Money in all honesty has been doing the talking since the premiership was formed.

Think both him and kendrick are talking sense.. I do think the general consensus is we are at an advanced stage regarding the sale.

There's a massive catchment area around us. We're the biggest club in 100 square miles with little or no competition in our own city. If we are successful there's more room to grow than Man City for instance.

I don't really want Man City type investment. It takes the gloss off any success you have. I want clear, clever more organic investment, I want the best young players we can get and make them into stars rather buying the best off the shelf. Oh and I want a **** big television.

Sorry - but our location goes against us. Ive heard this arguement about the vibrant second city, catchment area,potential - and I really don't buy.

Our ground is in a very deprived area of Birmingham - and Birmingham consists of many such deprived areas.

I just hope we capture the imagination of someone, or someone football savvy can front up a consortium - but as an investment opportunity it ain't great IMO

Don't believe that myself. Most football grounds are in deprived areas that are predominantly lower class, with football being historically a working mans game. Plus it hasn't hindered other clubs, just as it didn't stop lerner buying us back in 2006. Also with the new HS2 line that is going ahead we will be far more accessible. Our crowds are also on par with teams like spuds, everton and man city. With the right investor, development of the North Stand and the team, bringing back the glory day's could be a reality.

Wow, go out for a few hours, come back and the end of season dinner has been canceled and we now know who will be handling the sale. I hope this all sorts itself out soon because I've got a shitload of exams at the moment.

My own lad is in the same boat.Good luck with them exams matey.

Lambert gets absolutely hammered, yet Lerner gets the thanks for pulling the plug on investment and putting us through three terrible years!

Do you know why Mike? In my humble opinion the reason why is he is not Ellis and people invested years and so much effort in his removal to now admit that the man who replaced him was not much (if at all better) is a bitter pill to swallow but that's just my opinion, if people feel that way they are entitled to but thats the reason I suspect.

Where i personally stand regarding your comments mike/richard is that for me Lambert has been a pretty terrible manager at Villa. Not because of the finances but the football which apart from a couple of games here and there has been shocking.

As far as ellis and lerner are concerned, through the 80's I was a kid growing not really aware of the boardroom politics until we went down to the old 2nd division(bit older then) and believe me I used to slag ellis every week as a militant teenager when we were shit. Luckily enough though we bounced back quick. The 90's although yo yo gave us some amazing times, flirting with the big boy's and winning cups along the way. Ellis though needed to go and I was glad when he did.

As for lerner I am grateful that he came along and helped provide with his investment memories I could share with my own kids, cup final,semis etc. The reason I'm not hammering him right now is because I believe he will sell us to the right person/people. If I'm completely honest it's relief more than anything. I do believe he has put us in a strong position to be sold however shit the last few years have been and he is like ellis going at the right time - any longer and I would certainly be hammering him. Life story I know chaps but my explanation.

I truly believe we will get a decent new owner out of this. It might take time to complete but I do think we aren't being sold by an egotistical clearing in the woods only just interested in the coin. If that was the case we could be waiting a long time before randy got the money back he has actually invested. Fingers slightly crossed though!

Also, season tickets.

This sort of leaves those who have already renewed in a somewhat precarious position - what about the "maybe" fans like myself - who will get a ST if we turn into the next Man City?

I'm a glory hunter, so what?

I'm not sure I'll buy until I know what the future of the club is, I bet others are in the same boat.

Not that ST holders hold much weight anymore - fans are pretty much unimportant these days to the running of a club. What - about £10-£20 million quid a season?

Good point, I think a good proportion of ST holders will wait to decide after the season we've had.

I don't know anymore raver 8 of the 9 clubs accepted sanctions so they must think its legal I hope city win.

I hope man city fight uefa all the way with this. It wouldn't surprise me if the clubs accepting the sanctions realise they are likely to get screwed over worse due to their own malpractices and underhand dealing's. Clubs on mainland europe especially spain and italy are as corrupt as they come. I know this country is corrupt but it's far better regulated on the whole imo. Uefa just like fifa are scabby thieving bastards.

Wonder if he'll recover just in time to be sold in January to Arsenal.

He wont be going anywhere til at least next summer now i wouldn't have thought. And if we get the owners we all hope for maybe longer.

Christian Benteke has voiced his frustration at having to miss the World Cup but is determined to return ahead of schedule for Aston Villa next season.

Benteke's hopes of playing for Belgium in Brazil this summer were wrecked when he ruptured an Achilles tendon in training at the start of April.

He had been relishing the prospect of showcasing his talent on the biggest stage after an eye-catching 18 months for Villa in the Premier League, and admits it has been a difficult period.

However, he has received the support of his Belgian team-mates and national team boss Marc Wilmots, who battled through a number of injuries during his own playing career.

Reflecting on the moment he got injured, Benteke told RTBF: "As soon as I heard a noise, I fell down.

"I immediately asked a team-mate if it was not broken or if he saw a wound. The fact that he said 'no', was a relief for me. 'Phew, I'm likely to go to Brazil' was what I thought. I tried to stand up, but immediately fell down.

"My balance was gone. I went to the physio room and the doctor told me I would probably out for six months as my Achilles tendon looked torn. I kept on hoping as long as I hadn't had a scan, but when the diagnosis was confirmed, I didn't feel sad, I felt frustrated.

"I was thinking about all the sacrifices I'd made and that I'd deserved to be at the World Cup. That's what I mean with frustration.

"People have said lots of positive things to me. To be honest, I didn't expect that. There were many people who were disgusted with what happened to me and not only people from the world of football. This is what gives strength to stand up and move on."

Benteke added: "When Belgium play their first game against Algeria, on June 17, there will be a little frustration, but I think I can easily watch.

"Marc Wilmots, the national manager, called me on the day I injured myself. He told me injuries are a part of football.

"In a career, there are tough times. He has even bounced back, after a lot of operations, to play at the age of 33. Why shouldn't I? I got a lot of support from Marouane Fellaini and Eden Hazard, but also Vincent Kompany called me to encourage me."

While a six-month lay-off would rule Benteke out of action until at least October, the striker is optimistic that he will come back sooner than expected.

Having missed the end of the season as Villa staved off the threat of relegation, the striker is looking forward to getting back at the earliest possible opportunity.

He said: "I'm convinced I will be back faster than expected. After my injury I also thought about Villa. I had ambitions, but a lot of things crossed my mind.

"At that point we weren't even sure we would stay in the Premier League, but I'm relieved the boys avoided the drop.

"There are many people who have said it will take me six months to get back, but I am sure I will be back faster."

A man that is deliberate and determined.....those qualities.

Putin gets my vote also. No one will f*** with us with him in charge. And we may possibly see executions on the pitch should players not be pulling their weight! Great shout stan!!

Tim Sherwood is the 4th best manager in the Premier League since his appointment, and he is about to become available.

For a young british appointment i really like sherwood. Been a breath of fresh air, straight talking and no nonsense. Personally though i would like to see us look abroad for our next manager.

I realise it's a little of track but where does this leave us as far as contract renewals. Albrighton, gardner etc. Also the pending investigations into karsa and culverhouse. Can anyone shed light on these issues?

It is entirely possible that he will say we are "up for sale" but it that would leave us in a strange & the worst kind of limbo.

Anyone interested in buying a PL club would already know this so maybe Lerner wasn't happy with what he has been offered.

In other ways it doesn't make sense. I can't remember a time when any PL club was publicly "up for sale" - it has always been done on the QT. This doesn't bode well if true.

My thoughts excactly. Would be better of saying nothing until something concrete happens. Afyer all they've said pretty much nothing for the last few years, another month or 2 would make no difference.

I think the supporters are patient.....I think they are as loyal as it gets.

As I've seen written elsewhere, if your lamp doesn't work with three different bulbs it's the lamp that's the problem, not the bulbs.

Maybe the batch of bulbs are faulty and not the lamp!

You are right though about expectations however I don't think anyone expected miracles, just get the basics right. Which hasn't been delivered. And lets be fair you dont need messi, ronaldo etc to get the basics right do you.

I think people expected us to finish higher than 15th, but to be quite frank, do we have even the 15th best squad in the league? Not without Benteke and Okore IMO. Us our squad better even than Fulhams, who finished bottom? Not sure.

Personally I expected better than last season considering the added investment in the summer and the addition of 8 players. I believe the squad is better than 15th and our problems have also been brought about from not just minimal investment but poor decision making from the manager. I don't just blame lambert, but blaming the fans is a bit shortsighted imo. Especially when they have been very supportive until recently.