brummie

Was Downing in the last year of his contract? If he wasn't then it's a totally different situation. No, Downing had two years left. Whelan's ace at this, wringing every last penny out of a deal, but if he's going to arse around till the last day of the window, then we need to move on elsewhere.

Ashley has been mediocre by his own standards for 18 months. I think man united will bring the best out of him though. I hope they do. I love him, the little fucking scampster.

no way will we paying wages like that to anyone. We have a massive wage bill issue.

There's a brilliant article in the Daily Heil about Chelsea after ..... Nigel Reo-Coker or Jermaine Jenas. Two players with a combined total of 15 completed passes in the last five years.

It was a hell of a day. *cries*

I wouldn't worry about it as there is as much chance of him going there as there is of Sunderland being declared European City of Culture 2011. seem to remember brummie saying there was more chance of him being appointed manager of villa than mcleish. i'm not worried about it but it seems possible, are villa really that much more an attractive proposition than the mackems? i cant see it. and one thing i know for certain is that if bruce needs any more motivation to go all out for him, then being seen to get one over on us will be ample. Ask Darren Bent. Oh, and thanks for dragging up the McLeish thing I said *slits wrists vertically, horizontally, diagonally* sorry mate, i'm not sure you lot are in as good shape as when bent signed Of course we're not, it was the McLeish thing that got me going. We've sold two players, one of whom we've known was going for months, and another of whom went yesterday. In fact, he stil hasn't actually signed. So long as we replace them properly, we'll be fine. I can't help thinking that Downing out for N'Zogbia and 10 million pounds in is a bit of a winner of a deal, though. If we can then persuade Scott Parker to come and finish the Given deal, that makes: Downing = Scott Parker + N'Zogbia + Shay Given. I doubt anyone would suggest that is not a good result. Still, let's see what happens. I wouldnt be surprised if we didn't get any of them and the whole thing went to tit. Hmmm, a team with those 3 players in.... where've I seen that before?? We sold them all on Ashley's watch. And they would be good for Villa - a team (who saw last season as a terrible disapointment) that still finished above us (who saw last season as a good one), despite the 5-1. Wasn't it 6-0?

I just read this on a Villa forum. Talk about asking for it and making it easy at the same time.

I wouldn't worry about it as there is as much chance of him going there as there is of Sunderland being declared European City of Culture 2011. seem to remember brummie saying there was more chance of him being appointed manager of villa than mcleish. i'm not worried about it but it seems possible, are villa really that much more an attractive proposition than the mackems? i cant see it. and one thing i know for certain is that if bruce needs any more motivation to go all out for him, then being seen to get one over on us will be ample. Ask Darren Bent. Oh, and thanks for dragging up the McLeish thing I said *slits wrists vertically, horizontally, diagonally* sorry mate, i'm not sure you lot are in as good shape as when bent signed Of course we're not, it was the McLeish thing that got me going. We've sold two players, one of whom we've known was going for months, and another of whom went yesterday. In fact, he stil hasn't actually signed. So long as we replace them properly, we'll be fine. I can't help thinking that Downing out for N'Zogbia and 10 million pounds in is a bit of a winner of a deal, though. If we can then persuade Scott Parker to come and finish the Given deal, that makes: Downing = Scott Parker + N'Zogbia + Shay Given. I doubt anyone would suggest that is not a good result. Still, let's see what happens. I wouldnt be surprised if we didn't get any of them and the whole thing went to tit.

Ta. I'm jealous of some of you with all this time to watch fancy pants foreign football.

I wouldn't worry about it as there is as much chance of him going there as there is of Sunderland being declared European City of Culture 2011. seem to remember brummie saying there was more chance of him being appointed manager of villa than mcleish. i'm not worried about it but it seems possible, are villa really that much more an attractive proposition than the mackems? i cant see it. and one thing i know for certain is that if bruce needs any more motivation to go all out for him, then being seen to get one over on us will be ample. Ask Darren Bent. Oh, and thanks for dragging up the McLeish thing I said *slits wrists vertically, horizontally, diagonally*

Who is Richard Law, and who is Joel Campbell? (I know where Costa Rica is, mind)

Bang on the money. Look at us last season. A horrible season and managerial madness was a large part of it, but we had a run of bad luck with injuries and ended up relying on lots of kids we'd never heard of for great chunks of the season. We played Man U with a starting central pair of Barry Bannan and Jonathon Hogg, which says it all. Almost all clubs are a batch of injuries away (and a relatively small one) from having to seriously reassess their expectations. If you don't want to run that risk, then the only option is to have experienced, high wages players sat around doing nish for most of the season (like our Mr Beye, for example). Clubs that are in the CL need that depth and have the money to pay for it (and can attract players willing to do it). Clubs which are not in the CL do not have that option. Catch 22.

I thought he had been a bit of a success at Villa, his name was timidly thrown around for a Spain callup the season before the WC. At right back mostly. As I said, it's a bit of a peculiar one, that.

It's a bit confusing to have three managers now not really rate him at centre half. Mind you, AM is only going on what he's seen on telly, as Cuellar can't train at the moment. In fact, he probably can't stand up, his knee is fucked.

Footballers are such f***ing arseholes. I understand he's just being sincere and we should not expect footballers to bleed the club's colors, but he's been the fan's favorite for a few years, at least show some respect for the Atlético crowd. Anyway, in the same interview he opens the door for coming to England, something that hadn't been the case until now. Really? I imagine we are at this very moment preparing a swap deal involving Stephen Ireland, Habib Beye and Emile Fucking Heskey. *wink*

Carlos Cuellar on his way back to Rangers for 2m, by all accounts. Curious one, that. Frozen out by Houllier, dumped at right back by MON (mind you, MON dumped so many people at RB, even after he went out and bought two proper ones, if he was still here it would probably have been my turn soon enough), not really had a chance for ages.

Football fans are funny, really. If you read our forums, our lot are slashing their wrists over transfers in the same way you are, except a lot of them see you as having done good business this summer. Transfer windows really do bring out all the paranoias we have.

Footballers are such fucking arseholes.

People have been saying this for weeks, but I still don't see why it's such a given. Villa seem like a club in decline to me, I'm not so sure Zoggy would be keen to go there. They had enough money to buy him after selling Young anyway, I suppose. In decline in what way? We've sold a player we knew was going all year, and to the champions, and we've sold one who threw tantrums about getting his move. So long as we reinvest wisely, we'll be absolutely fine. We've also started shedding a lot of the utter, utter dross that MON left us with, so whilst I'd say decline is somewhat over the top, consoldiation makes more sense. Happy to accept your opinion is more accurate than mine probably, I just mean that you've sold the two players who were absolutely key to your success. At least they seemed to be from an outsider's point of view. True, but, I repeat, one went to the champions (if Man United want your player, he goes, ask Spurs about that) for 17m with one year left on his contract, and one has submitted a transfer request to go to Liverpool. It happens to all clubs, and it is unfuriating. Spurs will sell Modric, Liverpool sold Alonso, Torres and Mascherano, Arsenal will lose Fabregas and Nasri ... happens everywhere.

N'Zogbia in presumably then? £10m (ish) and an extra £10m to strengthen the squad out a bit? Given apparently is going to happen. I hope N'Zogbia comes in. To be honest, had i been offered the chance of a straight swap of N'Zogbia for Downing, I'd have gone for it. We need a left back, as we can't trust Warnock to get his head right, and something in the centre of defence, I think.

People have been saying this for weeks, but I still don't see why it's such a given. Villa seem like a club in decline to me, I'm not so sure Zoggy would be keen to go there. They had enough money to buy him after selling Young anyway, I suppose. In decline in what way? We've sold a player we knew was going all year, and to the champions, and we've sold one who threw tantrums about getting his move. So long as we reinvest wisely, we'll be absolutely fine. We've also started shedding a lot of the utter, utter dross that MON left us with, so whilst I'd say decline is somewhat over the top, consoldiation makes more sense.

Downing is a self centred cunt for engineering this after we bought him knowing he'd be on crutches for months. I'd rather have kept him, he's a more than decent player, but if it is true that it is 20m then that is well, well over the top, and we've got some money to buy a replacement. Liverpool are certainly going for it, but, really Downing + Adam + Carroll + Henderson for 85 million pounds? Looks a bit silly to me.

Don't believe anything that little spunkweasel - or any other footballer - says.

Finally, after a season and post season of being force fed meaty dog shit, something to bring a smile to the face.

That would be a really bad move on Liverpool's part. Not to mention terrible maths.