jackbauer24

The kit situation is nothing short of a disgrace.

Nike have messed up, but probably covered themselves by focusing on the 'big' teams and associated profits. Villa have been miffed but probably got some compensation. The only people who have suffered are the fans who are expected to buy a kit for the full price despite being about 5 months late with the compensation being free printing which a lot of people don't want anyway. Should have been a third off the price of the shirts seeing as they're getting a third of the usage.

And I've yet to see us wear a third shirt in all the years we've been advertising them as such.

Can you please tell us in advance what the issue with next years kit will be as this seems to be a regular occurrence at Villa. New kit providers, new sponsors, faulty kits... next year maybe it could be that it needs to be delayed because the players don't want to be seen in the same tops as the fans....

Whilst I have a feeling you won't answer this question, I'll ask it anyway.

How early would the Aston Villa board consider sacking a manager? Is there a set period of time you feel you should give a manager, or is it an ever evolving time frame? Would the board step in if, for example, Villa found themselves in the relegation zone going into the New Year?

I sometimes get the feeling the board are more interested in being loyal rather than clinical. That is admirable in many senses but in football it is dangerous - no one else is and we can't afford to be.

I'm trying not to make you say you're giving GH x amount of time, it's more a general question of how you assess a manager's tenure, whether that be GH or anyone else. What performance triggers a board meeting as to the future of a manager? Obviously there are peaks and troughs throughout the season, but if we were 4/5 points adrift in the relegation zone would there be a meeting?

I can't hide my disappointment at GH admittedly, either his appointment or his performance thus far. He looks lost, behind the times, lacking attacking intent, far too public with his attacks on players and I question the new fitness regime with the numbers of injuries we're having - although I admit that could be a coincidence. However I'm NOT saying he should be sacked or that the meeting I've talked about should be imminent.

I'm a teacher, I assess children's performance on a day to day basis, see what they're doing well, what they need to improve on and assist them as much as I can. Like football there are a multitude of issues, both within my control (my lessons) and outside (parents/ social) but ultimately there is an alarm bell the second a child's performance isn't meeting the requirements, this is monitored but if no improvement is seen after providing additional support (or finance in football terms?!) then I will have to step in and remove that child for one to one support - in football that would be firing them! If bad enough this time frame can be as little as three months as leaving it later (in both football and the child's education) can be extremely detrimental to everyone involved. My headteacher would assess me in the same way - they wouldn't leave it 12 months for me to be an ineffective teacher as the kids would suffer and the school would suffer.

Would you give every manager a minimum of a year regardless of performance?

Three wins this season against teams in the relegation zone at the time. If this was still the case come Jan 1st I'd hope the board would ask the right questions. I can understand the need to get an experienced manager in in Sept/ Oct but I worry we'll stick with him regardless of performance.

A point is a fair result, neither team did enough to win. I suppose the plus side for Villa is that we relatively comfortably held them despite being depleted and having a very poor game. However we've been playing poorly most of the season.

The players are generally not being awful, they're just not playing as a team - and they're average.

Freidel - Solid, not much to do.

L Young - Think he is a good RB and always happy to see him there over anyone else we have. Solid defensively.

Warnock - OK, you get the feeling he sometimes loses track of the game and that means he has a few lunges - hence so many yellows.

Dunne - Certainly not the Dunne of last season, lacks confidence, strength and pace. Lucky Jerome wasn't on earlier.

Clark - What the hell was he doing in midfield?! But to be fair to him did an effective defensive job.

Collins - The ball is a bomb, kick it away as far as possible - don't bother to look just kick it.... More composure needed.

Sidwell - Ireland must have had a leg chopped off for Sidwell to be ahead of him, Sidwell shouldn't even make a reserves team.

Downing - Can be great, can be infuriating. Not a great performance, too many wayward passes but can make an impact.

A Young - Villa's only threat, he knows it and the responsibility is causing him to try and take on too much - needs creative support.

Reo-Coker - Adds a bite to the midfield, you know he won't back out of a challenge - will have more red cards than goals in a season though.

Heskey - Works hard, bit more belief this season but never ever going to be a goalscorer.

Bannan - Not the game for him, too physical and not enough vision to see other players.

Carew - Does what it says on the tin, physical and height - not much end product. Two strikers who just try to nod the ball on, but to who?

I can't see this team getting better until there are some reinforcements and returns from injury. I think Petrov is a bigger miss than some people recognise, he may not be spectacular but he is the link between defence and attack, NRC only goes backwards, Ireland only goes forwards.

Houllier concerns me, not sure he believes in the squad - fairly negative set up for a home game. Get the feeling he's biding his time til he can get some of his own players in. Strikers are needed desperately, two big strikers flicking on the ball to no-one is going to result in very few goals and he obviously has no faith in Delfounso who isn't even getting on as a sub - bit of pace may have worked today. And with all this work around passing and fitness it seems odd that we've suddenly taken to booting it forward to Heskey/ Carew again - loads of passing along the back line, to midlfield, back again and then to Friedel who boots it down field.

We're average and will probably end up around 10th/11th. Losing Milner, any manager, Petrov and Gabby to injury and early in a campaign is going to greatly damage you - regardless of effort to address it. Only bonus I see is that at least Blose will still be below us - they're looking at relegation of they can't threaten a team that played like we did today; and with all their key players back.

Evening General,

Encouraging comments from you as always!

I'm not sure who is entrusted in publishing the "Weekly Wallpaper" feature on the Official Site, but whoever it is has not earned their pennies for October!

This weeks wallpaper is simply the wallpaper from 7 weeks ago but zoomed in!

If it is proving difficult for someone to take one photo per week then please order them to pack their bags and I will happily take a photo every week for the small wage of.... the new villa shirt :winkold:

Though I'm joking, I do like the wallpapers and was disappointed to see this weeks poor effort.

Rob

I further this. Whilst the wallpapers themselves are nice, I'd like to see two things:

Firstly the rest of the squad given the same treatment as the likes of Ireland, Petrov and Gabby have been (those wallpapers are ace, and even better as they follow the same theme) and I imagine quite a 'quickie' job. I also think it's good if kids can get their favourite player and not just get three to pick from as it is at the moment.

Secondly, the 'weekly' wallpaper becomes something truly weekly - a game, picture of training session, pitch repairs or whatever - there must be loads of pictures taken over the week that could be uploaded as a wallpaper in a matter of minutes.

This really would be great and a simple thing to be done.

I was wondering which one was likely to happen first General;

1) Houllier will be OFFICIALLY signed up as manager

or

2) Villa fans will be able to wear this seasons replica top

It's all a little corner shop now.... where have I heard that before?!.....

Fearing you may miss this with the last thread being closed I've posted this on the start of the new thread.

What are your feelings on the following article?

Daily Mail:

Gerard Houllier's appointment as Aston Villa manager descended into farce on Friday as he admitted he has no idea when he will take charge.

The 63-year-old Frenchman was unveiled as Martin O'Neill's successor but confessed he is still to negotiate a departure date with his current employers, the French FA - and is yet to sign a contract at Villa.

Houllier compounded the sense of unease among Villa fans by revealing he has been turned down by three potential assistants.

He then scored a major PR own goal by describing his new team as belonging 'between seventh and 12th in the Premier League' - even though O'Neill took them to three successive sixth-placed finishes - adding: 'Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool.'

As unveilings go, it was light years away from the acclaim and excitement generated by O'Neill's arrival four years ago.

Then, 1,000 supporters had to be let into Villa Park to witness the event. On Friday, the media outnumbered interested supporters by a ratio of 30:1.

'I haven't signed a contract yet but for me it's a formality. My word is more important than what is signed,' said Houllier, who could be forced to serve three months notice with the French federation.

'I apologise. I can't get back for the Stoke game on Monday. I have meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The other thing is that if I don't do the three months' notice, maybe I have to go back one day and maybe spend time there...

To me, it paints a picture of dampened expectations for the fans, the press and perhaps even the wider footballing community - no assistant yet? It's all very uncertain at the moment....

There are some people who believe if you question Villa/ the manager/ the board then you don't support the club as much as those who follow blindly do.

Today has thrown up some disappointing or worrying issues - no contract, possibility of him having to stay in France for three months (unlikely but shouldn't even be a possibility), Assistants turning us down left, right and centre (for whatever reason) and he's seemingly still hung up on Liverpool and seems to underestimate our recent history.

All very concerning. People will try to put a positive spin on as it means they love Aston Villa more but they are all facts which need answering, some will take time but others (such as contract) should be answered now.

I can't think of any other club at any level (EVER!) having a press conference to introduce a new manager who hasn't signed any contract, can't attend for at least two weeks and potentially three months with no clue as to who the assistants will be. Farcical in the extreme and if it was happening to any other club then we would ALL be saying how ridiculous it is.

What are your feelings on the following article?

Daily Mail:

Gerard Houllier's appointment as Aston Villa manager descended into farce on Friday as he admitted he has no idea when he will take charge.

The 63-year-old Frenchman was unveiled as Martin O'Neill's successor but confessed he is still to negotiate a departure date with his current employers, the French FA - and is yet to sign a contract at Villa.

Houllier compounded the sense of unease among Villa fans by revealing he has been turned down by three potential assistants.

He then scored a major PR own goal by describing his new team as belonging 'between seventh and 12th in the Premier League' - even though O'Neill took them to three successive sixth-placed finishes - adding: 'Villa is not a club on the same level as Liverpool.'

As unveilings go, it was light years away from the acclaim and excitement generated by O'Neill's arrival four years ago.

Then, 1,000 supporters had to be let into Villa Park to witness the event. On Friday, the media outnumbered interested supporters by a ratio of 30:1.

'I haven't signed a contract yet but for me it's a formality. My word is more important than what is signed,' said Houllier, who could be forced to serve three months notice with the French federation.

'I apologise. I can't get back for the Stoke game on Monday. I have meetings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The other thing is that if I don't do the three months' notice, maybe I have to go back one day and maybe spend time there...

To me, it paints a picture of dampened expectations for the fans, the press and perhaps even the wider footballing community - no assistant yet? It's all very uncertain at the moment....

Whilst I will withhold judgement on Houllier himself, I do think the bits in the press and that Press conference have conveyed a future that has been dampened down a lot. Houllier seems he's on the same songsheet as the board with their updated plan for the future.

* We belong 7-12th

* We need investment

* Unlikely to be much money

* We will struggle to compete

* We'll mostly go for cups

It's not all bad. It's sensible, progressive and sees us try to keep a pace without risking everything.

All good - just not quite the dream we were sold four years ago. Now the plan looks like survival with cups rather than reaching for the stars.

I'm tired of getting into what I think the board are and aren't doing right so, inspired by a thread in the main Villa chat area, I'd like to ask you what you think the Board have done WRONG since they took over. Fans are being honest enough to admit the mistakes about Villa they've made over the years.

I think it's important we can admit what mistakes we make and I'd love an actual example of a mistake you feel Aston Villa have made.

To even it up (speaking as a teacher here!) you could say 1 thing you feel we've excelled at and one thing we messed up.

I really can't believe people still think it's anyone other than Kevin MacDonald.

We leave it three weeks to see if he wants the job. He then publicly announces he wants job. OS highlight this fact. Players all clamour for him to be signed. Very easy (and cheap!) for Lerner to appoint him. It's a done deal.

BUT don't make that obvious to the public. Look like you're going through the options, look like you're exploring every avenue. Pretend you would have had money for transfers if the transfer window hadn't been closed on announcement of new manager. Finally leave it at least a few days/ week until after transfer window has closed to try to dampen down any suggestions of previous comment.

I'll quite happily eat my words but I'm convinced this is the case. Villa want to reduce the wage bill.... mmm, very lucky inexperienced guy desperate for a job in the top division or someone like Sven who may demand a reasonably high wage.... tricky....

Brilliant article IF we sign any other manager than KM.

Now that's not a slur at KM but if it is him then all of the things you have said are simply not the case at all. He's lost, has never hired in the Premiership before and gone for one of his mates who already works at the club in a footballing capacity.

And when, and I'm sure it is a when, KM is announced as the permanent manager your whole article, as well written as it is, holds no water at all.

Oh and regarding investment in the PLAYING side:

According to Mr. Fear's list over on VitalFootball Villa have spent an average of £15m a season in transfers (very quick rough sums) and Villa's prize money for finishing 6th is £12m a season. Now forgetting everything else like ticket receipts, merchandise, TV money, cup runs this isn't the biggest expenditure ever is it?!

I'm not saying we should be bankrupting ourselves and keeping a sensible financial head on is a great idea but on the same hand we've spent very very little in Premiership terms and RL has not been bankrolling a massive expenditure in improving Villa's fortunes. He's a business man and slowly making us a better financial prospect for himself or others - again nothing wrong with that but we just want honesty rather than suggesting RL is investing heavily in the club.

There is no question it's been a bad summer for the fans.

But I suspect it's been quite a good one for the club owners:

1) Got rid of a manager they didn't so eye to eye with (either passively or not)

2) Sold the clubs most influential player for a huge profit.

3) Soon to hire internally for the manager so save a fortune and get a bit of a yes man.

4) Have reduced the wage bill by selling or releasing several players and management, ensuring we have smallest squad in the Premiership

5) Since the start of the year have made about £20m+ in transfer fees alone and not spent on new players for 14 months (Ireland doesn't count as part of deal Man City wanted and we as the small club had to accept)

6) Have MADE approximately £1-2m in transfer since BARRY left.

7) Gone out of Europe nice and quickly as Europa League actually costs the club money until latter stages.

8 ) Managed to get a huge sponsor in which means even more money for us (messed up shirts but that's just fans so not a biggy)

9) Have convinced the fans that we really care and it's all good in the long run and we aren't just feeding them positive PR.

I'm sorry General but I would have a lot more respect for the board if they were just honest with us. Say we have no money and can't do x and y and fans will stick by the club and back them to the hilt. But say "well we could and we might and we want" knowing full well you can't just p*sses everyone off.

It's not the last three weeks, pretty much since the turn of 2010 this club has been going backwards and it's only in the last three weeks that this has begun to accelerate to a degree where more people are seeing it.

Please General - tell me one good thing that has happened this summer where it REALLY matters - on the field. Smallest squad has got smaller despite knowing that Dunne, Collins, Gabby, Carew and now Ireland have all had injuries within the first month of the season.

I know unless we're telling the board how great we think you all are we won't be listened to, or will be over-reacting or aren't thinking about the long-term but the facts are I've supported this club for 25 years with season tickets whenever I can afford them and are beyond fed up with being told one thing while another is going on.

Randy's flights to Europe at this sensitive time give me hope that it will not be MacDonald. It tells me he is trying hard to get someone else. Or else it's me reading wrongly into it

Or, more likely, he's already given the nod to KM and no longer needs to be here. Let people keep up the pretence that we're looking at all the options and dart off before transfer window closes just to ensure not a penny can be spent. Successful summer - few players sold/ released. Less management. All results in cheaper wage bill. Oh and £19m in bank. Nice work.

I have no issues with KM particularly - you never know how a manger will work out, experienced or not.

I have an issue with the timing if it is KM - it could have been sorted a lot earlier. If he's an intelligent man like you all suggest then he's not going to throw his hat into the ring unless he's been given VERY strong indication that he's going to get it.

KM manager - ok, will support him. But the timing sucks and is almost as bad as MON's choice of departure date.

The job is Kevin MacDonald's.

He has spent weeks deciding whether we wants the job? It doesn't take weeks to decide if you want a set job in any profession - if it does then you really wouldn't want it.

Sorry, the cynic inside me says he knew he wanted the job and has already assumed those responsibilities from day one knowing that. However as part of being given this great opportunity for someone relatively inexperienced he has agreed not to 'throw his hat in' until the last day of the transfer window to save the club from the 'why haven't you signed anyone?' questions that would have been put forward if he'd been confirmed as Manager within days of MON's departure.

KM's manager, no players coming in and Villa fans led a merry dance again. Losing faith rapidly.

It may all be me being overly cynical but I have no faith in a manager that can't decide if he wants to manage us for three weeks.

The bookies know nothing, they purely respond to the betting patterns. Because the Villa Manager market is probably quite small, it won't take much for a small flurry of bets to change odds drastically.

Does anyone seriously (deep down) believe we are a) after Moyes could get Moyes or c) Moyes would want to come here at the moment?!

All that's happened is a few people have got overly excited at a handshake, a few others have pretended their ITK and the rest is people finding meaning in unrelated Official Statement!

All I do know is these little flurries of betting (JK last week) all help the bookies make even more cash!

Got to love how some people grab the bits of information they want to make decisions on what's going to happen!

Random guy says we're after big manager in job, people want it to be Moyes - therefore it must be happening. Krulak says wouldn't want manager who'd bailed on club - ah but he's not the owner. Krulak says something you like and that part's true!

There are precious few FACTS anywhere. I personally doubt many will be happy with the next appointment, but we won't find out for a while yet. No, I don't know anything, I'm no ITK and I very much doubt there are ANY ITK's on here - that's the other thing that bugs me, very little evidence that anyone is really ITK other than the General. Being intelligent and saying the bleeding obvious or predicting quite well known things will happen is hardly being ITK. Those who pretend to be ITK are no different from psychics, suggesting very open possibilities that can then be bent into "I told you so's...."

I take it due the date, the lack of manager and the fact you've dodged every question on it that there will be no incomings or OUTGOINGS before the transfer window closes then?!

You may feel this is an over-reaction, all these fans whinging based on a couple of games, but we feel the club aren't really communicating and we can all see a very bad season coming up. Serious struggles and back to square 1.

MON is not bigger than the club but it seems silly that whatever made him decide to walk was not addressed at the start of the summer. Surely no 'new' issues arose five days before the start of the season to instigate such a drastic decision.

And then we find we have a Caretaker manager for longer than we were led to believe (new manager before Newcastle). A caretaker manager who shows very little desire or eagerness for the job - hardly instils passion into the team or fans.

We have one of the worst results in our history against Newcastle. (Bad games are one thing, but that was unacceptable)

We have another flash in the pan European adventure against a really poor European team and it is again unacceptable to let the same mistakes happen again.

All of what has happened has been unacceptable and someone needs to come out and say so, stop passing the buck and say it's unacceptable.

We all know that no new players are coming in, so come out and say it rather than mislead fans.

I think the strides have been good for Villa in the last few years, I don't particularly doubt intentions, I think occasionally backwards years will happen before another push but I do think clubs have a responsibility to come out and say that was unacceptable and tell us the truth.

Villa fans would be much more appreciative if Villa came out and said "we can't find a suitable managerial candidate at the moment, KM will stay in charge til January advised by x and there will be no more incomings or outgoings until that juncture" This would allow the club and fans to accept the predicament, settle down and pull together rather than try to guess what is happening.

Stop feeding fans little bits of positive spin and just tell the truth - we can accept it and move forward, we know we don't roll in money, but Villa fans are in the dark and getting exasperated at the lack of information.

With a group of very similar managers (in stature) couldn't someone start a poll on this site (with no comments required) on who they'd LIKE to come to Villa - including all the current forerunners.

Say, Bradley, Sven, Curbs, Jol, Hughes, Southgate, Pearce and any of the other realistic names we've been linked to.

It'd be interesting to see who the fans want.

General,

Are you saying this is completely MON's thing and he's left us high and dry then? Surely even with the best Rose-tinted glasses on you can't see how we are possibly going to attract any players in this season now?

The fan reaction is extreme, and I too am guilty of that. I think a lot of us feel that we began to get a little hopeful; ok Milner was leaving but possibility of Ireland coming in and maybe Keane and we can see the benefits. But we're all checking the sites and this comes out of know where and makes Villa, and by extension us fans, a laughing stock.

Simply put, I want one question answered - nothing to do with today's events but tomorrow's: CAN WE BUY PLAYERS WITHOUT A MANAGER?!

Anyone who believes the General will be on these boards in the next few weeks is deluded! He can't/ won't answer any questions and will continue to drip feed the 'we love the club PR' that he has done so for years. But it is clear the boardroom has interfered at a playing level and that is unacceptable at ANY club. Not saying this as a massive MON fan or anything but there is absolutely no excuse for losing your manager days before the start of the new season.

No players will join a rudderless ship and I'm sure a few will leave which will ultimately please the accountants. No manager before transfer window closes.

Villa will survive but I suspect a little asset stripping will now start before the inevitable sale to whoever wants a new toy so our American friends can make some money.

Villa were bought very cheap in the grand scheme of things and there is a very healthy profit to be made on resale.

Well done Board, you've actually managed to tarnish your image as the only foreign owners who understood 'soccer'. MON is not blameless but why couldn't this have been done in May - the timing is UNACCEPTABLE. And I feel free to vent as the General will give only political PR answers that answer nothing. Goodbye MON, goodbye Milner, goodbye Young (?) hello.... oh yeah, nobody.

Oh and I'm off to the bookies to put cash on Bradley taking over....

General Krulak here:

1. jackbauer: I am not sure where you got your information but....there is NO WAY that the Fulham contract was executed AFTER us and NIKE produced a Fulham kit 2 months before ours.

General,

According to all sources Fulham announced their deal with FXPro on June 25th and we announced ours 15 days earlier on 10th June.

Fulham's kit is now made by Kappa and was released on the 5th of August.

So we knew about our sponsors EARLIER than Fulham did and Nike are taking nearly two months LONGER to produce a shirt Villa fans can buy.

This is why I think Nike are letting us down. Did you realise the above information? I know it's hard to keep track of all the goings on in the Premiership!!!

Thanks