brummie

Good player though Milner is, 16m plus Ireland for him is good business. We need a bit of guile through the middle, hopefully this is it.

Finding myself in agreement with that flabby Big Four fellating bell-end is quite revolting. Although I think he was very harsh on MON in the past. Holt had a rant about Klingon High Commander General Krulak's comments on Sunday Supplement yesterday, calling him "Colonel thingy" or something, who the hell is he, and why is he using this title etc etc. I don't particularly care for matters military, but he's a former commander of the USMC, a national security advisor to US presidents, and has worked with Lerner for years. To listen to that prick Holt, it was like he was talking about Colonel Tom Parker or something (google him, young people). It really is all a bit pathetic. Seriously tho, if you've been in the millitary and held a high rank dont you retain the titl, even in civ life? Regardless of whether you do, or not, it says an awful lot about that prick Holt that he fixated on that. What a moron. Still, when Holt retires, I shall continue using his title, "That Prick From The Mirror, Oliver Holt".

They do here, too. Usually when writing angry letters to the Daily Torygraph, mind.

Finding myself in agreement with that flabby Big Four fellating bell-end is quite revolting. Although I think he was very harsh on MON in the past. Holt had a rant about General Krulak's comments on Sunday Supplement yesterday, calling him "Colonel thingy" or something, who the hell is he, and why is he using this title etc etc. I don't particularly care for matters military, but he's a former commander of the USMC, a national security advisor to US presidents, and has worked with Lerner for years. To listen to that prick Holt, it was like he was talking about Colonel Tom Parker or something (google him, young people). It really is all a bit pathetic.

Saturday was excellent. OK, West Ham were poor, but you can only beat what is in front of you. Kevin McDonald has done absolute wonders with the reserves for years now, but I think it is daft to be suggesting a permanent appointment on the basis of one game. He's a great coach, being a manager is a different kettle of fish. Petrov made some interesting comments in that article. Incidentally, the character assassination of Lerner as MON's media friends jump to his defence has been remarkable. All this shite about becoming a selling club. I don't remember anyone calling Spurs that when they sold Carrick or Berbatov. They're also talking as if we've sold Ashley Young, as well, which is just ridiculous. The fact is, Milner said he wanted to go. He had made his mind up before the end of last season (and incidentally, part of the reason was the row he had with O'Neill about being played when he was injured). Throughout the summer, MON repeatedly sounded like the one who wanted Milner to go, not the chairman. The fact is, Lerner asked MON to do something about the wage bill, particularly in reference to players on big money who do not get used. He said he would, he then didn't do anything about it, and stropped off when reminded of it. There is not, bar Mancini, a single manager in the league who does not have to juggle squad members, manage a budget (both transfer fees and wages), not a single one. Redknapp has spent most of the summer talking about how he needs to do it, for example. Look around the PL, hardly anyone has bought anybody in. Why should MON be any different at all to all those other managers? Regardless of how you view MON's time with us (and some, lots, of it was great), the ultimate fact is that having spent 120m pounds in four years, he was asked to do some clever stuff with the wage bill, to slow down for a while, for the first time, and said he would, then ummed and aahed about it, then walked out five days before the start of the season. That's really pretty poor stuff.

I reckon I've got more chance of the job. It would be funny, though. Well, if it was to someone else, not us.

Confirmed - from our one recognised "ITK" on Saturday - that there is absolutely no interest in Bob Bradley. There's someone who posts on VillaTalk (which, normally, I would rank alongside the Daily Mail in the "things to read for enjoyment" stakes, but hey, these are interesting times) who works for the CAA, and has access to airplane movements at Birmingham airport. He's kosher, before anyone starts doubting. He says that, intriguingly, Lerner's private jet went off to Milan on Sunday morning.

Change anything? What would it need to change other than the way we play at home, which was for two years incredibly unentertaning and predictable. We passed the ball excellently today. Thank fuck. Entertainment. You were laying it out like you didn't cherish a thing MON has done for you because of one opening game, that is all. And when Milner leaves it will get even funnier imo No. I said we played well at home for the first time in a long time. The football at home has been gash for ages. Milner leaving funny? Were you one of the ones who found it funny when we gave you 12m for him?

Change anything? What would it need to change other than the way we play at home, which was for two years incredibly unentertaning and predictable. We passed the ball excellently today. Thank fuck. Entertainment.

Incidentally. why the fuck didnt MON use Albrighton more last season? Absolutely superb today, as those of us who watch the reserves a bit knew he would be.

Thank god O'Neill has gone, if it means we play like we did today a bit more often. West Ham were shite (and I'm tempted to lump on them going down) but we played better football than we have for at least two years at VP today.

He's retired from football management.

Former commander of the US Marine Corps.

The non usage of the squad players that he bought in favour of running the same team into the ground whilst yet again burning out at the end of the season was bizarre. It was so depressing hearing the exact same starting XI read out, with the exact same tactics which don't work at home, week after week.

On his way to Villa.

He was asked to do something about the wages bill, and refused to. That's what has happened. If he is going to refuse to do that, then he needs to be on solid ground in saying that it doesn't need to be tackled. Beye 40k Shorey 35k Sidwell 40k NRC 50k Davies 35k L. Young 40k That's 240k *a week* sat doing absolutely nothing.

MON apparently hasn't said a word to a number of the fringe players for yonks. He's one of them. I can't understand the likes of MON and Rafa shooting themselves in the foot treating players like outcasts, especially ones they signed. Makes me glad the way Hughton conducts himself on this matter. That's the thing. Curtis Davies 9.5m, NRC 8.5m, Shorey 5m, Luke Young 4m. All ceased to exist, all signed by the manager, then he says "give me some more money, or I'm off". It doesn't add up, really.

MON apparently hasn't said a word to a number of the fringe players for yonks. He's one of them.

Good, I'm glad you approve, but tbh I wasn't being a twat to him this time, in fact he was being a twat to me, I didn't even respond too harshly, but whatever. Which is pretty much where Brummie's dislike for me all started, I crticised his club on a NUFC forum, he attacked me, I responded. To be perfectly honest, I don't really dislike the guy much, he's OK, conducts himself very well for a guest from another club but he's very jumpity with me, there's a lot worse written in this thread about his club and fans, but he ignored all that and attacked me because of our history, it's ok though, water of a ducks back. I don't have a problem with you personally at all. I don't dislike you at all. I'm here discussing MON as a sensible rational human being, and engaging in conversation with a lot of people I've talked with about football for, what, four years now, and who almost to a man have proven to be amongst the most sensible, head-screwed-on people I've encountered on the internet. In fact, in all that time, I can only think of one other poster who has gone off on the same slant you do with me. That's the thing, see, I see other people on here making the same points, yes, but I see you doing it continually, and seemingly more so while I'm around. It'd be dead easy for me to go and take a stereotype about Newcastle supporters from one of the many places on the internet they're pedalled and start believing it, but I don't, because I know - partly but not entirely from my experience here - that they're not all like that. I remember going to SJP to watch us play you in 1986, and one the way out, a Newcastle fan put a brick in my mate's sister's face from about two paces. I remember going to places like West Ham and getting treated abysmally. I remember getting a severe kicking at White Hart Lane in the 1980s, too. It would be dead easy for me to judge all the fans of those clubs by the actions of a few, but I can clearly see that's really a bit daft. I suspect that's not the approach you would take over, for example, the banners, deciding that, actually I'm a twat as well. I've been here for yonks and don't think I've acted that way, but that's the way I get tarred by your logic. I just think it's a bit sad when people from different loyalties can't discuss football sensibly like grown up human beings without regurgitating tired old cliches or petty minded bigotries. That's exactly the sort of approach that made it so easy for football supporters to get treated like shit for decades. If that's the way you want to be, then I don't have a problem with it, which is why, bar saying I think you're daft and maybe making the odd comment along the lines of it being water off a duck's back, I don't really want to go into it.

O'Neill will only go somewhere where he's the biggest name at the club, and runs it from top to bottom. If you want a reason for him leaving now, that's it - first time he doesn't get to call the shots, he's off. Five days before the start of the season, too. I'm actually heartened he's gone, though. Had he got 20m from the sale of Milner, we'd have had 10 on yet another winger, McGeady, and another ten on a shit midfielder (Jenas) to replace another shit midfielder (Sidwell). sounds exactly like keegan I don't think there is anything wrong with managers wanting total control, that's their shout, but I think they have to realise that, if they get that control, and should things go wrong, all the finger pointing is generally done in the one direction. With more control comes greater scrutiny and greater responsibilities.

Not surprised, I've always said they never deserved a manager as good as O'Neill. Southgate is more fitting form them or even Souness. Still doing your predictable, smalltime routine, I see. I'd point out where you're making yourself look a bit daft, but you're doing such a great job yourself, it seems a shame to tread on your toes. LOL, still jumpity when someone on a Newcastle forum criticises Aston Villa I see, perhaps we should introduce a new rule that stops that thing from happening. If you look I was just responding to someone elses criticism of your crap fans, and I don't think you'll find too many people with a lot of time for your club on here after the way your supporters went on the last time we played them. *munches popcorn, slurps flat Sprite*

Not surprised, I've always said they never deserved a manager as good as O'Neill. Southgate is more fitting form them or even Souness. Still doing your predictable, smalltime routine, I see. I'd point out where you're making yourself look a bit daft, but you're doing such a great job yourself, it seems a shame to tread on your toes.

O'Neill will only go somewhere where he's the biggest name at the club, and runs it from top to bottom. If you want a reason for him leaving now, that's it - first time he doesn't get to call the shots, he's off. Five days before the start of the season, too. I'm actually heartened he's gone, though. Had he got 20m from the sale of Milner, we'd have had 10 on yet another winger, McGeady, and another ten on a shit midfielder (Jenas) to replace another shit midfielder (Sidwell).

I think there may be some truth in that, but there's more to it.

I was going to ask if you were joking, but I've just had to remind myself how far we've fallen since I was pointing out o'Neill's was totally unproven as a top quality manager. I do think he's someone who can consistently achieve that top ten/UEFA hole with virtually any club, and that combined with his particular style as a manager mean it might not actually be a bad move for us just now. Still don't like him and don't much want him, though - would be happier to press on with Hughton. Same! Been waiting for something to laugh at Villa about since the horrible c***s acted like small time c***s about us going down. Hopefully they flog all of their best players and plummet. Don't count your chickens - unless Lerner's lost interest, which he hasn't really so far as I'm aware, I'd be over the moon if I were them and this could be the best thing to happen to them since o'Neill was appointed. The timing's pretty horrible of course... but nevertheless. Why the f*** would you be over the moon ? Are you insane ? The bloke totally transformed a strugglling prem club into one of the top clubs 8 clubs in the country, there's nothing better out there available for Villa right now. Randy Lerner transformed them. Any manager in the league could take a team that changes from one of the lowest budgets in the league to one of the highest in Europe from the bottom half to the top. He's still finished no higher than every Villa manager I can remember and looked clueless has to how to take them further. What is this nonsense about Liverpool ffs His tactics and transfer policy (What is it, 3 foreign signings ever?) belong in the bottom half. He barely bought anyone as he was brought in just before or after the window had closed, took over a team that had finished just above the relegation spots and suddenly they were top half of the table. He's worked wonders with the likes of Agbolohar (sp?), Milner and Barry. Lerner had a part to play in all that of course, but it's his manager that's transformed thm. As a side note, Lerner's Cleveland Browns have been one of the worst franchises in the NFL for as long as Lerner has been in charge, he's not thought of in great light on this side of the pond. Lerner is the man who has done most to transform the club, far far more than MON has. Anyone who thinks otherwise is talking nonsense, I'm afraid. Or appreciates the influence on the team on the pitch better. Look at us, we were backed to the hilt and probably beyond our means by Freddy, put a crappy manager in there like Souness and your strggling at the wrong end of the table. Have fun without O'Neill, you'll miss him more than you think, if Lerner doesn't get the appointment right, and trust me he doesn't always hit a home run with his appointments at other organisations. You're missing the point. The point is that lots of money does not automatically equal success, but no money automatically equals no success. Lerner has been magnificent in everything he's done for the club thus far. He's facing his biggest challenge now, but to be honest, I don't think there will be a shortage of applicants to work at a top six club, under a chairman who has been widely lauded as possibly the best in the league, and where so much of the ground work has been done. There are no guarantees, and MON has done some excellent work, too, but he wouldnt have been able to do it without Lerner.