jackbauer24

Just out of interest, although it doesn't directly effect me (I'm lower Trinity), have you been promised your old seats back if and when Villa are promoted or they decide to reopen the area? I do think that they should be reserved or it'll just be adding insult to injury when your seats are taken by others at a future date despite all your loyalty.

Got to say, one of the only reasons I'll keep my season ticket is because I like where I sit and those around me but if that was taken away I'd seriously question whether I'd renew next year. Think they may lose some season ticket holders over this.

Anyone else get this tone to the day; We apologise again for the fault in the subtitles. Those responsible for sacking the people who have just been sacked, have been sacked. The directors of the firm hired to continue the credits after the other people had been sacked, wish it to be known that they have just been sacked. The credits have been completed in an entirely different style at great expense and at the last minute. Actually, maybe that's just Villa's management in a nutshell...

There is very little chance this is from not being able to agree on a manager or anything else so relatively small. This is the result of deep rooted problems. If it were a marriage, not agreeing over a manager would be the equivalent of arguing over new curtains, bit of an argument but one side wins or better still there's a compromise. But the marriage wouldn't break up over what is such a short term issue in modern football. Even the best appointment might only last four years at best. No, this is likely to be much more fundamental. This is 'life goals' sort of stuff and our footballing people clearly realise there is no future with Lerner so have asked for a quickie divorce. We're in a MASSIVE hole, I think it's fair to say the biggest in our history. Aston Villa are going to be a very different football club in 12 months time and no one knows which way that will go for sure. But all signs point to much more negativity, the idea of another relegation and administration seems entirely realistic. Villa aren't in a fight for promotion, I think it's more likely our very existence in it's current form is in question. No board, No manager, No players we want or who want to stay, no Premier League, no money and a wantaway Chairman. It now can't get worse.

The newspaper reports of Moyes joining us accompanied with a large transfer funds are obviously completely made up. Moyes may or may not join us but you can virtually guarantee there'll be no 'huge transfer kitty'. My money would be on Pearson. Unemployed. Question marks remain. Would split fan base. Pretty much perfect for Villa! For the record, Moyes would top my list. Pearson would be... interesting. Bruce would be a disaster.

It's taken you 12 years to graduate? I'd try a new degree mate...

He is a player that joined Villa and within minutes said he was using us as a stepping stone to a big club. He is a player who on the day of our relegation either instructed or allowed his agent to say he was off this summer. So yes, his attitude. I don't fault his effort (certainly his quality) most of the time but when push comes to shove he actually doesn't care in the slightest. His attitude is that he above the likes of Villa when it is as much his fault as any others that we're going down.

Everyone is just waiting on one thing now, the manager. For all the talk, the boardroom shuffles and the open letters, it is the first bit of ACTION that this board will make that we can judge. You can't blame the current lot for much, if anything, but this is the first real move that will give us an insight to the future. I'm not sure why there should be much more of a delay now we're officially down. It's quite simple really, to get some positivity back in the fans they only need to do a few thing; 1. NAME THE MANAGER (OR GIVE ROUGH TIMESCALE TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT - IF IT'S NOT TIL END IF SEASON, SAY SO) 2. ANNOUNCE COMPETITIVE TICKET PRICES TO KEEP ATTENDANCE ON THE HIGHER SIDE 3. CONFIRM WE WILL BE VERY ACTIVE IN TRANSFER WINDOW (OBVIOUSLY CAN'T MENTION BUDGET) 4. LERNER STATEMENT REGARDING SALE PLANS, IS IT OFF TIL HOPEFULLY BACK IN PREMIER LEAGUE? It's all about being transparent. Not making promises you can't keep, not even revealing exact detail, just tell us the rough plan. Otherwise the void will be filled by the papers and the divide will become greater and greater. We're down, SHOW us how we're going to come back up - don't just say we want to.

That's all well and good but Spurs generally only get inflated prices for players who have performed. Villa took a massive £9m gamble on Gana and he's proven he is not up to the task either technically or attitude. So we won't be getting our money back. Based on his performances he's probably worth £4/5m tops. Ayew at least has shown flashes and contributed and arguably he's shown enough glimpses for someone to buy him for the same money we spent to see if he can perform even better with a decent team. We will lose money on all but Ayew this summer if we try to sell them. Even Lescott. But I couldn't care less if they all go, few of them a good enough even for the Championship. We'd be better off with the likes of Gardner than Gueye, players who know the Championship, have performed well and WANT to be at Villa. I expect we'll be seeing Gardner, Baker, Bennett and Steer in the first XI next season in place of Guzan, Bacuna, Lescott and Gueye and personally I think we'll be marginally better for it. Similar skill but with less wages and a lot more desire.

Genuinely couldn't care less. See ya! He's been at best average and the only reason he has such a good tackling ratio is because we've spent all season defending and because he loses the ball so regularly he's had to dive in to try and win it back. Won't be going to a decent Prem team that's for sure. Off to a newly promoted team or to Germany it is. We don't NEED to keep any of these players, none are good enough to be vital. The best accolade any player in our squad gets is that I wouldn't mind them staying! And that only applies to a very select few!

Arguing over who is worse is much like deciding how you want to be murdered... However, for what it's worth, I think Lerner has messed up far worse than Ellis ever did and I have one simple reason for believing that. Without all the ifs, buts and mitigating circumstances people could argue for and against either of them, the simple fact is the disparity between the big teams and the little teams is greater than it has ever been so to mess up in 2015/6 means a lot more mistakes have been made over a prolonged period of time. Once money drowned the league, as much as many despise it, there is really little excuse to fail as you have so much of an advantage over other teams regardless of your Chairman's personal wealth. With even basic competence, a club Villa's size should not be in this predicament. Back in the 80s there were still big teams and small teams but the field was more level. Liverpool were the massive team but lost their dominance when money gave Man Utd the advantage that was only compounded by more and more money being injected in to the league. We've been part of this 'great excess' since its conception in 92 so to fail now is, in my eyes, so ridiculously abhorrent that Lerner has to go down as not only the worst Chairmen in our history but one of the worst Chairmen in modern footballing history. Perhaps only Ridsdale would challenge him for the title but then again, Lerner's not finished yet...

I only occasionally pop in this thread this days, it's become so ridiculously polarized and for the life of me I don't understand the hatred towards him. What's even more unusual is this is the only Player thread that doesn't echo what I hear week in, week out at Villa Park. We all hate Lescott, we all like Ayew but I don't hear any hatred towards Westwood. I don't think anyone is saying he's world class or anything. But of the absolute drivel we put out every week he comes so much further down the list than others. With the current squad, I personally think he has to start. Sanchez is a liability, Veretout and Gana never have a good game on the same day, youngsters have shown very little and Westwood is solid enough. Could he be replaced? Of course he could. But I'd rather find replacements for Guzan, Hutton, Bacuna, Lescott, Sanchez, Richardson and Gestede first. Westwood joins the group of Cissokho, Richards, Clark, Sinclair, Veretout etc that could easily be improved on but aren't walking disasters with bad attitudes. They're just limited. So why the hatred? He's been picked by a majority of managers, he works hard, he's never been caught in a controversy, he's made less mistakes than a lot of players and he gives the impression he's loyal and actually cares. I just don't get the strength of negative feelings towards him that is only really found on Villatalk. He might not be good enough for Villa, but he's a mile more reliable and effective than at least half the squad so I'm not sure why some single him out.

I think the question marks around attitude and culture at Villa are really only a result of the lack of quality. These are either players who no longer have quality and came looking for one last pay check (Lescott), players who moved to UK looking for a payrise but don't really have any quality (Sanchez) or players who tried to make the step up the division and lack that ability (Gestede). The only player who has a possible attitude problem that effects his form is Grealish. The rest are just useless with or without a bad attitude. We wouldn't care half as much if we were winning - I don't think our players are particuarly anymore obnoxious than a majority of other players in the league, it's just we're not as distracted by good play and victories. Look at two biggest controversies this season (spit and car) and if we're winning no one cares, they players are idiots in both circumstances but we get more offended by them if we're losing. Most footballers are selfish idiots, we just focus on that more when we're losing. I'm far more concerned by the lack of quality, no amount of attitude changing will turn poor players in to good ones. They're just not capable. I'd keep Okore, Amavi, Traore, Grealish (attitude) and Ayew. The rest? Somewhere between not fussed and please go. For what it's worth, I'd still prefer to keep the likes of Lescott over Richardson despite Lescott being a massive pr*ck. Few footballers are 'nice' so the choice only normally boils down to who's better.

I imagine a new manager will be in place shortly after relegation is confirmed. It makes sense all round, probably won't take an active roll and will be just announced but then the new manager doesn't have relegation on his CV and Villa can try and create a positive story instead of focus on the relegation story. I think it'll be a case of relegated Saturday, new manager, kit and badge announced within two weeks and try to boost season ticket sales with the positive angle. The exception to this will be if the manager is still employed elsewhere. There is no reason once we're mathematically relegated not to get new guy in so if it doesn't happen quickly after next weekend I think we can count out Moyes and Pearson and start focusing more on Bruce or McCarthy.

Can you genuinely not see past bad results = bad manager? It truly boggles my mind that some people think he's the worst manager ever based on his stint here. Not wanting him to stay or not particularly rating him is understandable but to judge him as the worst ever considering the HUGE mitigating circumstances really astounds me. Without meaning to sound rude, how can fans be that short sighted? It's almost as if they believe that a good manager is all you need and you'll win Champions League! It's pretty much universally agreed that this is our worst ever Premier League squad. Most people now also recognise that the players simply aren't good enough either talent wise or attitude wise. It's not a case of tactics or training etc, these players just don't have it in them. And never will. Could Garde have done better? Possibly, but who knows! The squad really is that bad. This squad has struggled for years and then sold it's only decent players (who also can't get game time at current club) and Garde didn't have a preseason, inherited the squad when it was struggling (confidence) and has bought ZERO players! By all means, if he goes I won't shed a tear but he won't go down as the worst ever manager by a long shot in my eyes. Those spots are reserved for managers who did get a fair crack at it. Absolutely no manager in the world could have kept this squad up, I'm 100% convinced of that.

According to wiki he's third (573) in the list behind Lampard (609) and Giggs (634). For the record, Speed is fifth behind David James. Regardless of all that I think if there was the remotest chance of getting him it would be a no brainer. Perfect captain for us, experience and knows Villa. But it isn't going to happen, he's still far too good for the Championship. Watching him versus us a few weeks back and he'd still easily replace any of our first eleven... although perhaps that isn't much of an endorsement...

There is a fine line between experience and just simply 'past it'. Unfortunately, without exception, we are past that line; Richards and Lescott being prime examples. Let's not forget we started the season with Cole and Senderos too. I don't think Cissokho, Richardson, Hutton or Gabby will have ANY demand from Premier League teams next year either! As for internationals... which are those players?! Genuinely can't think of any significant internationals. Guzan? Clark? Are any of them regular starters? As for other teams, Swansea are nearly man for man much more talented. Fabianski, Williams, Gomis, Sigursson, the real Ayew and a few others would walk in to our team. Sorry, not attacking you, just surprised people still overestimate how good, or how much potential, our squad has. My view is not one of them is truly worthy of being called a 'solid' Premier League player. We have a few who might be ok on the occasional day, but most just aren't at, and never would be regardless of manager, at the right level.

I wonder... If Remi does get sacked and either the caretaker manager or permanent replacement still don't get a win in the remaining seven games, will some fans finally recognise that with this squad it is nearly impossible to judge a manager as the best they could ever do is just make us slightly less, but still significantly, sh*t! Three managers will have tried with this squad. There simply is no talent in there. The belief that our manager(s) aren't getting the best out of them astounds me, it's just that their best is still absolutely useless. No one in this squad has had a good season under either manager and not a single one of them will be wanted by a top half team. Why do some people steadfast believe that a good manager can get good results whatever the squad?! You put a lowly Championship team in the Premier League, get Mourinho or Pep in to manage them and they still wouldn't survive. Some players just aren't good enough so motivation, tactics, training or whatever isn't going to make them decent. Otherwise we'd all be professional footballers rather than talking on here! I'm so jaded by Villa, I couldn't care less whether Garde stays or goes but to call him a failure is just irrationally short sighted. You make gourmet meal, hell an edible meal, with a ball of wool, two buckets of diarrhoea and a mixing twig...

Garde is going, we all know that, it's just a matter of when. Whether he's had a fair crack is up for debate and I'd certainly be in the 'no' group, but few will be overly fussed to see him go. However, when you hear names like Pearson and Bruce being the favourites then it hardly fills me with optimism. I think I'd rather stick! Rowett, Moyes, Rogers are all more interesting but equally unlikely. There isn't really anyone inspiring who'll join us in the Championship. Depressing.

100% see your point. And, like I said, if he goes it won't bother me. I think in one of two veins; the ones who MUST go (board, players etc) and the ones I don't care about (manager, backroom staff). There is no-one at the club I'd feel bad about losing!

Couldn't care less if he stays or goes. Makes no difference when everything else is broken. BUT not a single player he manages (that he didn't buy for the record) will ever achieve anything in the future. The whole squad is either average or just down right useless. He simply can't be judged, it's like putting Shrewsbury Town squad in the Premier League and whining that Mourinho can't get them to outperform any team.

Oakes Nelson, Cuellar, Ridgewell, Charles Reo-Coker, Stone, Wittingham, Bannan Harewood, Heskey A team of former Villa players who were much ridiculed during their spells here. If they'd all been from the same era, the team above would still beat our current team. Pretty much man for man this team has ZERO quality. That isn't a sweeping statement, it's just so bloody obvious. Swansea are useless and we still offer no threat. Couldn't care less if every single player we had was sold. Not a single player one could rate as a diamond in the rough or one for the future. They are all useless. The experienced players are actually just past it. The youngsters have no talent or steady temperament. The french players don't care. The 'skillful' players are overrated, physically weak and too selfish.

Armstadt gone... shrug my shoulders, no one knows what he did anyway. Fox goes... raise a slight smile, probably just because he was the figure head I'm happy to see him go. But no board movements are going to get me particularly excited bar one, Lerner leaving. Who works under him is irrelevant really, they just become the easy target whilst the real bad guy hides in America.

Can someone please explain to me why people are expecting, even accepting, a big loss? The last financial report showed a loss of £4m. I can't think of any reason why we can have lost more than this in the latest reported year. We have only ever cut costs so how can we have made more losses? Genuinely interested in any reason we can have lost more than £4m.

I genuinely never understand this argument. Quite a few posters seem to think that Lerner must/ will invest time/ money into getting Villa back in to the Premier League if only for his investment interests. But it was in his interest to never let us drop out the league in the first place. The current situation isn't a shock to anyone or a weird anomaly, we've been on this trajectory for five years but it has not stopped him cutting and cutting. Bringing us up to date, it was in his interest to invest more than £8m in the summer when we lost ALL our best players. It was in his interest to invest in a few new faces in January. Not for love or because he cares but because it would have been a step towards protecting his asset from losing further value. So why do people think it wasn't in his interest to keep us in this league for the last five years but he suddenly will have an interest in getting us back up?! I have ZERO faith there will be any change in attitude whilst Lerner remains. He will just spend this summer further cutting costs and removing high earners and expect to get back up with close to zero spend. Which ever two teams come down with us will be much more prepared for an instant return than we are. They will have finished above us (comfortably) and much more likely to invest in their squads. If Lerner stays, we're not coming back up any time soon.