jackbauer24

It's a good point and certainly an area that needs addressing. I needed to pop in to the Villa Park store during the week - I was the only person in there. Financially speaking I doubt there is little point keeping either the shop or the ticket office open on non-match days at Villa Park. If people need either service in person, they can easily get it in Birmingham City Centre. No-one is in Aston on non-match days! Personally I'd close the New Street store and make the Villa Park store only open match days. Reinvest the cash on a prime spot in the Bullring/Grand Central that caters for both services. More footfall, advertising the club and more sales (merchandise AND tickets) from people who are just passing and get enticed in! If desperate maybe make Villa Park a pick up point (counter rather than shop), but still doubt it'd be used. I wouldn't bother with Resort World yet, I don't know many people who have even visited yet.

Reasons this ITK turned out to be wrong; 1. Poster mixed up Morrison with Kodjia 2. Accidentally started thread it in their pocket 3. Account got hacked and poster didn't write this. 4. Things changed at the last minute, it was going to happen, honest. 5. Dr Xia is lying 6. All people who claim to be ITK are full of cr*p with nothing better to do with their time! Which is your money on? But please don't actually bet on it because that'd be ridiculous...

It is just a coincidence that VillaSouthener works for Betfair...

Whilst I think the idea of us being relegated is ridiculous, promotion is almost as fanciful. There are a couple of days left of the window and we are woefully short of even a Play-Off team at the moment. Much like last summer, everyone is raving about the new signings and how good they'll be but I'm yet to see any proof of that. Gollini isn't even looking as good as Guzan. Everyone raves about leader Elphick but his actual play has been slow and I've seen a number of sliced clearances. Tshibola hasn't done anything great and is seemingly injured a bit. McCormack has looked very rusty with a poor touch. In fact most point to the best players so far this season being Gestede, Cissokho and Bacuna! Yes we're only 5 (6 with cup) games in but we've not seen a good 90 minute performance yet. Chester has looked solid. Not seen De Laet or Jedinak in person yet. Naturally not all these players are going to make the grade, no team gets 100% success rate on transfers. So that leaves us with squad depth; Baker at CB, Hutton at RB, who in midfield?, Kozak upfront. What about injuries or suspensions? I can see us gelling, I can see performances and results improving. But I can not see how every signing is going to be a success and how we are going to avoid any injuries or suspensions and therefore we will not threaten the playoff places in my opinion. We've got two days to do some serious work with buys or loans, even if just for squad depth. RDM said he wanted two players for every position, currently you'd struggle to name half the team where there is competition for places. I'm not expecting promotion as it stands.

For years, even pre-Lerner, MBNA have had some sort of relationship with Villa. They have supplied the official credit card for a long time and often do that free shirt if you sign up deal. However, I have no idea if that relationship has been strengthened in recent times.

He's 35. Still playing internationals and captain for LA Galaxy. Not that ridiculous. At least he's still doing it even if he is in the twilight of his career. Drogba and Klose are beyond even that now but what I actually meant was people like Bamford and Hernandez.

I'd like to throw Robbie Keane's name in to the mix. No reasons other than he's played here before, he'd be closer to world class than other names mentioned but he's also on the older side. Would still cause major havoc in the Championship and, who knows, might want a UK return?! Clutching at straws...

I'm not overly fussed on Morrison BUT we need a player that is going to excite people, or make people talk and, ultimately, add a spark to quite a subdued team and fan base. We're solid but have no excitement. So if Morrison isn't on that list and there's only a week and a bit left of the transfer window, I'm worried there no other links at this stage.

Half time report bulletin; Villa dominating possession, Villa hit post multiple times, Villa offer very little in creativity and attack other than pot shots. Opposition offering nothing whatsoever. Copy and paste this to all games this season. I wonder what will happen in the second half...

Fair comments, like I said it's a 'working model'! However I would judge Boxing as an 'Art' in my system as it is scored by judges. And I don't like Boxing anyway! Yes, there is some blur because a KO is a definitive action which would class it as a sport. As for many 'Arts' there is stil plenty of athleticism required and does not diminish the skill required. I couldn't do a back flip on a beam... The argument for muscle control is weaker though. Snooker could be considered even greater skill in that area as there is much greater variation between power screw back and touching ball accuracy. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's a great skill - if I hit any of 5, 20 or 1 I'm doing well! It doesn't diminish the merit in it exactly (snooker is one of my favourite pasttimes) but I've seen a mate hit 180 occasionally with moderate ability. Never seen an amateur throw a javelin 80/90meters as a 'fluke'!

The Olympics always kicks off an argument in my head as to what quantifies as sport. I've come up with a shaky definition that I use that doesn't dismiss activities, simply relabels them. As it happens, I'm not a fan of one category but I still recognise its merit. So, in my opinion, There's SPORT - events that have a score created by player action, either distance, height, speed or getting an object in a target zone. To be a sport you MUST need to be PHYSICALLY tired/strained to complete it. Examples being football, cycling, running, field events. Outside Olympics, I'd include motorsport in this category. Then there's GAMES - as above but without any need for great physical prowess. It may help but it isn't essential. Examples are snooker, golf, darts and shooting. Finally, there's ART - this is any event that is judged. Prime examples are gymnastics and diving. It doesn't diminish the skills required but results are open to interpretation by different people. So that's my opinion. I'm sure people could think of some sports that don't fit in to any category well; it's a working theory! I personally have no interest in ARTS at all, like GAMES but don't think they belong at the Olympics and think it should be reserved for pure SPORTS. Now I await the first person to highlight the fact it's called the Olympic GAMES...

According to Wiki he's part-time coach at Derby...

Is this the greatest ever match Villa played? Bar finals for the ultimate prize perhaps, but this match was amazing. I've watched it hundreds of times and I'll watch it another hundred times no doubt. Atkinson with the leveller was great, but that mazy, Wimbledonesque, attempt right at the end would have been the best goal ever scored by a Villa player. A true Villa legend.

I often read about people worrying about height of players but I never understand it. One of the people I remember winning more headers than most was Alan Wright! Then I think of Gestede and realise that he fails to win about 50% of the headers he goes for - has this great knack of mistiming every jump. So ability is far more useful than just height. I'd prefer any defender who could actually defend, whether they're 6ft 5 or 2ft 5!

You win the points!

Points for the first person to say "we need to focus on the league anyway"...

This is not a dig for the sake of it, he's generally doing the right things. But I take statements like this with a pinch of salt, where is the Technical Director that was suggested before the season starts? I'm not saying he's lying or intentionally misleading but, at best, his optimism sometimes clouds what should be facts when it comes direct from the owner. In fact, as an ITK he's not particularly strong yet!

I'm gutted at this news. Had hoped it'd be permanent! Doesn't have a quick enough footballing brain for British football, no time on the ball and he's slack and often looked lost. You know, like Gardner looked on Sunday...

Bennett may now be better than Cissokho (although there is definitely a debate there) but seeing as Amavi will definitely be first choice then it's just a case of who is back up. If Cissokho isn't getting any interest and Bennett is, then you make money where you can and streamline the squad a little. Replace Cissokho next year.

This was the Championship team of the season for 15/16; GK- Tom Heaton (Burnley) RB - Bruno Saltor (Brighton) CB - Michael Keane (Burnley) CB - Michael Dawson (Hull City) / Daniel Ayala (Middlesbrough) LB - George Friend (Middlesbrough) Mid - Alan Judge (Brentford) Mid - Joey Barton (Burnley) Mid - Barry Bannan (Sheff Wed) Mid - Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) CF - Andre Gray (Burnley) CF - Ross McCormack (Fulham) So if you take out the players who are now in the Premier League you're left with both the best players left in the Championship and an indication of what that standard is. With that in mind should we be looking at Saltor for the RB position? or Alan Judge in the midfield position? Neither player I know anything about but both areas we need significant improvement in. We've managed to get the striker...

Dr Xia is making a much worse first impression than Lerner did. When Lerner took over it was quiet confidence, universally approved Manager and real hope for the future. That continued for a few years with decent investment, projects like the Holte Pub and a dignified relationship with the fans who seemed to have some places to go to get the communication they needed. It was only after that it all went to sh*t. Dr Xia has come in promising the world, slating anybody who doesn't agree with him and, at best, making cringy worthy statements. He has employed a manager that somewhat splits the fan base and has made practically minimal input to the club as a whole or the squad. By the end of the week it's more than likely we will once again be in profit on player sales/purchases. HOWEVER it's not how you start it's how you finish. He's got off to quite a bad start truth be told but that doesn't mean it's always going to be that way, in exactly the same way Lerner's good start couldn't be maintained. The other problem is that Villa fans are definitely 'once bitten' so are treating any new owner with suspicion, never mind one that has an unknown and relatively secretive background. Dr Xia has a lot to prove. A lot. But that doesn't mean he's guilty of being a bad owner yet.

AS IT STANDS it's hard to argue Holloway's assessment. We had an awful squad that has not bern obviously enhanced. The biggest weaknesses have not been addressed as we lack any potency in attack. Even if our keeper is much better it just means we'll lose 2-0 instead of 4-0. However that doesn't mean relegation. The quality has dropped so we can expect to avoid relegation with relative ease, and 17th would be in a 24 team division. I personally think we'll finish marginally higher than that but still a way of playoff places. Unless of course we get some proper investment, but that is looking increasingly unlikely. Unfortunately most signs point to us not even being the third biggest team in the Midlands in five to ten years, never mind the world.

You're right... but. The difference between asking for the likes of Barry to return is a world away from wanting Benteke or Milner back. Unlikely those, Barry is a realistic if very ambitious dream. He's getting on, Everton have money to spend and we might have some historic pull for him - former Captain returns to save the fallen club; he'd cement hs place as a Villa Legend. For a time his exit was seen as a mark on his reputation but history has shown he was very wise, he ignored Liverpool for one more year and joined City. Getting Barry back would be a hell of a statement from the current owner. I doubt he'd drop down yet, there'd be a lot of interest for him if Everton dud release him but wating him back is just win win for us; captain, Villa, experience, intent.

No more signings and we have practically zero chance of making the playoffs. Defensively shaky, midfield is physically weak and our attack is impotent. Get a striker in and playoffs become possible. Get an attacking midfielder in too and the playoffs are practically guaranteed. Get a RB as well and we'll fight for automatic promotion with luck with injuries. Three signings needed at least. Lots to do and I'm very disappointed that a week tomorrow we kick off the new season and we're in this position. I can see now why 'prepared' was dropped from the badge! Bored of the talk/tweets, would like to see some action.

It's funny how people see different things. I'm a season ticket holder so I watched him every week (not saying that makes me opinion more valid though) and thought he ranged from on overly aggressive (as in dangerous) to sloppy and lacking awareness. The stat of him intercepting loads feels skewed - how is it worked out? Did it count every time he lost the ball and then tackled them back? That'd count for about half! Then it'd also take in to account the fact our midfield was constantly being attacked, is it pure numbers? The stats can say whatever you want but, in my opinion, he was a liability most of the time. He offered nothing going forward, was sloppy and seemed lost a lot of the time. I think midfielders especially can influence a game far more than most however bad you are as a team - an amazing striker in a rubbish team might get cut off but a midfielder should be taking a game by the scruff of the neck and I never saw Gana do that. He's better than Sanchez, he's better than Veretout perhaps. Doesn't mean he's good. I don't think he'll achieve anything in the Premier League, whichever team he's at. Not desperate for him to go like some but couldn't care less he may well be.