Mowen

Young is the best example, just because he's well worth it now doesn't mean you weren't "ripped off" at the time. He's signed some cracking players, and built a very good team, but every £2-3m extra that goes on a player who you're overpaying for hinders the ability to spend it on expanding the squad. Tough balance.

One thing that's struck me about Villa's transfer dealings under O'Neill is how frequently they seem to have overpaid at the time, even if the player does turn out to be worth it. Young's almost a bargain now, but even teh Watford fan I knew was very surprised by the fee. Reo-Coker for £8.5m is far too much despite his attributes, and I was amazed Harewood raised £4m. Milner, although apparently having done well for you (only saw him against us, and he was turd on the last day) should never have cost £12m - he wanted out and had done nothing over the previous 12 months to justify anything like that. Even Sidwell looked a bit pricey at £5m considered he was surplus, Heskey for £4m with 6 months left on a contract (although more understandable). Curtis Davies for £10m? I was very surprised. Zat Knight for £4m was even more of a shock. There's no doubting that MON has constructed a very good team, but I can't help but think that this tendancy to 'overspend' might hinder him when trying to construct a big enough squad. Obviously I'm not saying that we've ever got bettervalue for money when buying players in recent history (as that would be ridiculous) and I'm sure I've got a few prices wrong, but they do look a little high to me. Just makes me wonder how far the Barry money will go (maybe irrelevant if Lerner is happy to prop up the club?)

I liked Setanta this season. Don't have either it or sky, so only watched games at the pub. Always nice to see two companies competing rather than a monopoly.

Thought that was about Shay Given for a second...

American list by any chance?

Just like Beye and Faye Or Rozehnal, Cacapa, Geremi, Smith, Barton. We didn't lose any money on Rozenhal, Cacapa and Geremi were free and Barton remains our best midfielder, he's been robbed of this season mostly because of injury. Smith i'll give you, horrible signing Just on transfer fees maybe, but wages have been astronomical. £2m sign on for Geremi too iirc. I didn't include Viduka as I think he's a talent, but no-one could say he's been worth his (reported) £70kpw. Barton's a decent player that has been a disaster and has to go down as such in terms of a signing. One of his few decent signings (and his most expensive) he didn't even rate himself, and left to rot on the bench. Did we really pay money for Geremi? There was a lot of talk of £2m at the time, my recollection was that it'd gone down as a sign on bonus. Could well be wrong.

Just like Beye and Faye Or Rozehnal, Cacapa, Geremi, Smith, Barton. We didn't lose any money on Rozenhal, Cacapa and Geremi were free and Barton remains our best midfielder, he's been robbed of this season mostly because of injury. Smith i'll give you, horrible signing Just on transfer fees maybe, but wages have been astronomical. £2m sign on for Geremi too iirc. I didn't include Viduka as I think he's a talent, but no-one could say he's been worth his (reported) £70kpw. Barton's a decent player that has been a disaster and has to go down as such in terms of a signing. One of his few decent signings (and his most expensive) he didn't even rate himself, and left to rot on the bench.

Cole was absolutely lethal in his time for us. The cunt. Better (albeit different) for us than he was for ManU imo.

Completely agree. Same here. An understanding of football coinciding with not being a lunatic would go a long way.

I probably phrased it badly, I don't think you go out to patronize people all the time, but that post was about as patronizing as it gets. Even started with "No offence...

Just like Beye and Faye Or Rozehnal, Cacapa, Geremi, Smith, Barton.

That's a staggeringly hypocritical post

I was thinking this the other day. Was really good for Watford when he played week in and week out for them but hasn't really got a chance at Bolton and has kind of fluffed it on the rare occassions he was put in, but I reckon it's more down to a lack of confidence. Could be the big dirty championship defender we need alongside Bassong. I think you'll find it's down to a lack of ability. From what I've seen of him in the top flight, I'd be more than inclined to agree.

Got him playing the best football of his career here though. Pretty sure you're just fishing mind

I'm pretty sure he turned us down as he had a clause in his contract saying he didn't have to extend if we didn't finish top 10.

Agree with that assessment brummie, I just think the appraisal of our fans in that game was a means to have a cheap dig as that was one of the best I'd been to that season, if not the best. I've been to much quieter ones this year (Arsenal in particular wasn't a great showing by us iirc) but I think the reaction to the final whistle was pretty special. Also, the Everton fans were very disappointing at our place this year. I'm continually amazed by some of the foreign fans, I went to Blackburn Leverkusen for a fiver with a few mates a couple of years back, and the commotion they made throughout a dire 0-0 draw would put almost any set of fans to shame. Would love to get to a European away myself, can't see it happening for quite some time now mind.

One of the better outfield displays as well - post season 01/02 as well. We resembled a football team with the required passing/build-up play & movement that wasn't seen since. Definitely had the better of Villa in two thirds of the paddock. Our back four simply imploded that aftenoon. Kluivert's first touch and link-up play across the central corridor complimented Bellamy's movement & pace in the wide channels. And Bellamy was becoming more of a threat through the middle, becoming more adept at reading the play and knowing when to ghost into the box off-the-ball. You can spot the this improvement with the increased number of bread & butter opportunities presented to him now, and prior to his departure here. Kluivert-Bellamy should've been allowed to flourish, as opposed to the resulting emergence of the crack-strikeforce that was Shearer'Shola ie. nil movement, two statues simply occupying space/providing no outlets and a less than 50/50 receiving option further up the park. Kluivert was one of the best players I've ever seen with his back to goal and linking up the play. Shame he had lost his motivation by the time he came here. I think he would have done well under SBR if he had stayed, however under Souness his weight just ballooned and he wasn't interested at all. His goal scoring record wasn't bad mind. I was so excited when we signed Kluivert, and in the odd flick here and there he could show why. Ones that spring to mind are the goal against Palace and the assist for Bellamy against Everton. Like you say though, I just don't think he was interested and iirc his goal scoring record was dramatically skewed by a number of goals against weak opposition in the waffa (4 against Bnei Sakhnin?)

Did you used to write articles for the main site under the name Shaman?

When I'm old, I'm going to look old and saggy anyway, so who gives a s***? Trust me when you get to your middle ages you'll be looking for a way to get rid of that hidieous "art" that you put on yourself. This is the time to invest money in shares of tattoo remval companies. I was right about our Ashley and our struggles with relegation and I'm right about this. But if it's something that you enjoy, and is not overtly on show who really cares? Exactly. Mr dullface can go have his herbal tea and I'll get Shearer's face tattooed on my scrotum, as long as you're happy with it then who cares!? Why feel the need to berate the other person for the choices that they've made. I got my tattoo mainly because I was going to go snowboarding, but there was no snow. So I thought it would make my arm look less boring if it had scrawl on it. Same reason we all wear specific clothing that we like I guess... You like rubbish clothing as well tbf

I don't see how any Villa fan could think we were poor that day. I'm not into self-congratulations or any "our fans are better than your fans" but I felt reasonably proud of us that day.

He's one of the few I reckon we'd hold on to get a bit more money for. I think his sale would anger the fans more than most. Would be surprised if he went for much less than £5m.

It's absolutely wild. I can't believe they won't let you take a bottle of water in. Been twice now but haven't bought anything inside. It's a fantastic arena but it doesn't feel like it has any character at all, similar to the Emirates imo. Both look excellent, but they're just sat on a huge expanse of concrete and are entities unto themselves.

This. Takes the charm away. (although I can see the argument for having them there, makes it easier for smaller clubs like Barnsley and Cardiff last season, to have a day out at Wembley). I think the main argument for having them there is that Wembley cost a gazillion pounds to build and they need to recoop as much of it as possible.

If they offer £5m he'll be off in a flash.

As with all of our players, he'll be off like a shot if a mid-table prem team a la Spurs or Wham comes in for him.