jackbauer24

I'm happy with the signing. I think he shows promise. He seems like a good guy. Now please just shut up! Don't talk about Delph, don't talk about Benteke, don't talk about who we should buy, just play football and if you really must, talk about yourself!

I must admit I believe we will end up spending less than we receive this year, even before wages are taken in to account. But I also admit I'm generally a negative soul!

90%+ you say, £100 bet on that? I'd love to be wrong! I'm not saying it for effect, I think everyone accepts it's incredibly likely. If I could afford to lose money then I'd gamble, but I don't gamble because I might be wrong. I wouldn't gamble if it was 99% either, it's always a gamble unless you know. Who on here is confident he's staying?

NOT six weeks til season starts - ONE MONTH.

Remember season starts very early this year. It is only ONE MONTH until kick off, to the day. That's probably why there has been earlier transfer moves by a lot of clubs. We've brought in Richards on a free. We've nearly brought in Gueye hopefully. But with Benteke leaving the second Liverpool meet the figure (when, not if most likely) and Vlaar gone, Delph looking to go and three or four other regulars already sold I'd say we need to stop being so relaxed about things! I'm getting increasingly concerned, last season hardly suggested we already didn't need considerable work on our squad.

Although it's inevitable that someone will make a tired 50/50 joke... Benteke leaving is pretty much certain, it's just when it happens. Odds must be 90%+ Vlaar has technically left and is very unlikely to return so his odds must be similar. Delph is interested in City (confirmed) so odds must by 75%+ Guzan isn't rated but Given is off so this one really is 50/50 depending on transfer dealings. So arguaby the spine of our very weak team gone. No wonder people are getting worried, however early it is in the transfer window. What odds are that we would replace these players with even similar quality, never mind better? Benteke will be near impossible with our budget to improve on. Richards might be improvement on Vlaar but relatively untested at CB. Gueye (assuming permit goes through) probably not as good as Delph and will need time to settle. Which goal keeper we're linked with is better than Guzan? So team treading water at best. Add on disappearing squad depth in Weimann, Lowton and Given and I genuinely have grave concerns. The season starts in one month. Movement needs to happen quickly as each day that passes increases the likelihood we will struggle even more next season.

Forgetting contract clauses, ITK comments and other journalistic soundbites, if a current Villa player goes on the record and says he's been asking for advice it's fair to say that it's at least 99% accurate to suggest Man City have made contact and probably 80% fair to assume he's seriously interested in making the move. If we argue Vlaar is to be replaced with Richards fair enough. But who realistically replaces Delph and Benteke? We're actually going backwards this summer in my view.

Has left on a free to Middlesborough according to Telegraph. I can't quote article very easily on my phone so can't put link on without getting a warning, so find it yourselves!

So possibility Villa/ Lerner have moved to a Plan B. Roughly about the time 'exclusivity' may have been concluded. Around the same time WBA begin an exclusivity period. 1+1 may well equal 5... but still would like to hear a little more positivity about the takeover. Villa have never confirmed the exclusivity arrangement have they? Why wouldn't they?

Never heard of him but don't believe it anyway, can't see us spending that much on one player regardless of if we sell Benteke and/ or Delph. We'd be much more likely to spread the money to cover the holes that are appearing. Two strikers gone (AW & DB), two midfielders gone (TC & YS) and two defenders gone (RV & ML) that I can think of that have featured at least a handful of times.

Moderators - can we have a warning system for overkill?! There should be a rule about how long a joke can be regurgitated! It's funny for a bit but it drags after three weeks solid of whether we can loan two players from one club, how old Richards is, the maths behind 50/50 and how long is Delap's throw! Yes it's sticky hot and Villa stories are depressing so I'm grumpy and waiting for inevitable pun filled response that covers all the above and more!

Quickest way to please most fans (inc me!) would be to sell Benteke asap for full release clause and attempt to bring in Charlie Austin for the rumoured £15m it'd cost. Soften the blow, England international, scored more for poorer team and then invest rest in other areas of the squad. As much as I recognise Benteke's qualities, I've never really cared if he stays or not and would be happier with Austin, not having a player who doesn't want to be here and a healthier transfer budget than keeping him for another year.

First indications that we were in a 'period of exclusivity' with preferred bidders was on June 8th. So if we count six full weeks from then, it could well be until the week commencing the 20th July before we hear anything one way or the other. So start the countdown! I'd be surprised if we heard anything before this date.

Whilst emotion shouldn't play a part in player recruitment or retention, there are a few players that break that rule. For me, one of those is Downing, how good he may still be is irrelevant and don't want him back as think the way he left was disgraceful - we take a chance on him when injured, we stick by him when injured, he plays well when he finally gets fit and then weeks after saying he's happy, he's hopped off to Liverpool. The fact we screwed Liverpool for a good fee isn't thanks to him but thanks to good money men. Some fans hate anyone who've left us but I'm not one of those and have no issue with Yorke (plenty of service, bad way to make it happen though) Barry (great service, left for right team in the end) or Milner. But Downing is up there with Unsworth for me! No, never, not even for free.

I don't think anyone is saying he's too good to be replaced, it's just a case of it being such a low priority. Especially if it impacts on budget. We more urgently would be better improving on Cissokho, Richardson, Hutton, Cleverley, Sanchez, NZogbia,Gabby and Weimann of just the players who played large parts of the season. I'd personally argue that we'd make greater improvements as a team if we even tried to improve on 'good' players such as Baker, Okore and Westwood than replace Guzan. The realistic replacements for, certainly anyone in that first group, would have a far greater impact on our progress next season than replacing Guzan. It's not that he can't, or even shouldn't, be replaced it's just that is completely the wrong area to be focusing on unless you're 100% sure it won't impact on the more vital areas.

If this is true, then despite my main concerns regarding budget and misdirected funds, I'd also like to point out we'd be losing one of the most important/influential players in the squad. Although it's been an awful few years, most people would acknowledge that at different times over that period, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke have been the spine that hat have kept us up. We could realistically lose all four this summer and how that can't fill people with dread is beyond me. It's this that highlights we are still a slowly sinking ship, why arent we replacing the average/poor players rather than patching up significant departures? If it's true of course. But a bit tired of depressing rumours rather than inspiring ones.

I know none of it has happened and it's all paper rumours but why is it all so bloody depressing?! Can't keep Cleverley (despite saying we wanted to) can't keep Vlaar (despite saying we wanted to), selling Benteke (because we have to) selling Delph (because we have to). Key players from an already poor team. And we've got rid of other players who we might have been needed considering ever shrinking squad depth. And we've brought in one free and have fairly limited rumours of other signings especially considering the calibre of players we need to be replacing. Rumours of a replacement keeper in the light of above looks even more ridiculous! I know it's all rumour but I'd like some positive ones please! Worse still, Richardson is still a Villa player!

You're misunderstanding my point I think. I don't expect five first choice players, I'm just saying that's how many we'd need to justify spending any money on the goalkeeping position. Another words, I'd far rather see at least five other positions strengthened before our keeper.

Rumoured fee for Cech is £11m. Rumoured fee for Begovic is £10m. Nah... I still don't agree with spending any budget we have on a keeper (unless by the end of the season we've improved every other positions) but I think spending anywhere near £10m on a keeper who's only got a year left on his contract is madness when we have a perfectly adequate keeper for our current position. We sign any first choice keeper this summer and I'll question Sherwood's decision making unless by September 1st at least five other first choice players have also been signed.

Lincoln is my second team too! University reasons for me, so much so it's the only football shirt other than Villa I've ever bought - the season they were sponsored by the Uni...and got relegated from the league!

Every player is replaceable, or more accurately, can be improved on. However, if you listed our squad in order of their value to Villa, then I'd say Delph comes top, followed by Guzan. Benteke wants out and is worth a lot so his sale at least makes some sense for the improvement of the squad as a whole. Other players are a mixture of good, average and poor but are more easily replaceable than a keeper. If the intention is to improve every position this summer then fine, replace him. But we more urgently need defenders, midfielders and strikers. Hell even more desperately need squad depth than a new keeper. So if improving on Guzan makes any of those less possible it's simply not worth doing. Improving on Richardson, Hutton, departed Lowton and soon gone Vlaar is VITAL (1 done in Richards) Improving on departed Cleverley, Sanchez, N'Zogbia is VITAL (no replacements yet) Improving on departed Bent, Weimann and not goid enough to lead Gabby is VITAL (almost bare bones) Improving on at least a very adequate keeper (being unkind) is a LUXURY Think it's frankly ridiculous this is being discussed unless we've money to replace starting XI. And that's ignoring fact he was praised beyond belief most of his time as number 1 and has perhaps had even just one poorer season.

So we'd potentially have a back four of Richards, Richards, Richardson and one other? Makes me wonder if Sherwood made his shopping list very clear or just said "get as many Richards" as you can...

To be fair, the KEY data is backed up; 95% pictures were cloud linked. It's just silly things like game saves where I don't want to start again. Or bookmarks to websites which I'll have forgotten! It's more principle of it just dying. With old windows stuff, however bad the machine has got, I've been able to recover data but that doesn't seem to exist for Android. Ah well, live and learn then. It was 2 1/2 to 3 years old so well out of warranty. Bought from Currys in Brum.

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Wifi (GT-N8010) that has always been 'stock', never rooted or anything like that. Tonight I was browsing VillaTalk... and it crashed and will no longer get past the boot screen. Not added any new apps, nothings changed, just suddenly given up. To cut a very long story short, for the past 8 hours I have been trying all sorts of reboots or fixes or anything else I can think of, or have researched, but have got nowhere. I can only open it in Odin mode and not in recovery mode - if you're still with me here, I bet you know far more than I do! I'm currently waiting for my second version of a 'Stock Rom' to download to try that through Odin after the first one made no difference. ROMs are only available through crappy things like rapidgator.net which strangle download unless you pay for premium access. No direct downloads or torrents available. Ultimately I have ordered a new tablet. Fixable or not, it was aging, getting slow and I simply don't trust it now. Fundamentally however, it still is a plastic brick too. SO. First and foremost does anyone know of any other ways of repairing it? Secondly can I at least get my data off it and how? (pictures/game saves etc) Computer and Kies don't read it and as it's effectively bricked I can't put it in USB/MTP mode. Thirdly does anyone know of any reputable, and also importantly, cheap places that would be able to fix it? Don't want to spend a fortune and then nothing can be done. Any help appreciated, tearing my hair out.

Not really important but just interested; who edits the Member Title?! I was doing my daily browse of the site and suddenly noticed my Member Title has been changed to 'Official Food Taster' - doesn't bother me, just wondered who, why and when?! Thought it was based purely on posts so think I was 'Reserve Team' previously as I read a lot but post fairly sporadically or in spurts. However I then noticed that a few people have specialised ones like 'Sweaty Git' or 'Bronzed Goddess' but you can't edit it yourself from what I can see. The secrets of VT....