brummie

Well, strictly speaking, we'd finished sixth under O'Leary two years before MON arrived. You want O'leray back ? And if you take that one year out of the equation, it's not so rosey. Yes it is, actually. Since football was invented in 1992, our average position is about 7th. And no, i dont want O'Leary back, but assuming villa pre MON was entirely about DOL's last two years is daft.

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.

Well, strictly speaking, we'd finished sixth under O'Leary two years before MON arrived.

Nah, it won't be that. MON has been the one who has sounded like he wanted to cash in on Milner this summer, apart from anything. As I said earlier, I think it goes back to the fact that over the last two years, we've accrued an immense wage bill, including a lot of players on big deals, who never get a game. Habib Beye, 31 years old, 3 year contract, 40k a week. Nicky Shorey, 40k a week, never used. Sidwell, 40k a week, comes on for ten mins here and there (and is shit) Also, revealed recently that Emile Heskey (3.5 year contract at age 31, on 60k a week) is the highest earner at the club. Personally, I think that is the thing which has done for him. Is it good for us? Well, I don't know. I do think that had he stayed, he'd have got us to 6th or 7th this season again. That's not his problem, he could get most decently funded teams to around that level. His problem is that having got us there for three years, he plainly didn't have what it took to move us on. And that's not just judged on points / positions, it is judged to a large degree on what we've seen on the pitch at home for the last two years, where the football has been terribly predictable, and unproductive. It is good for us if Lerner appoints the right man. Were it not for the fact I've just heard he's been installed as favourite, I would be putting money on Martin Jol right now. He's the sort of manager we could use, and he's got an affinity for the club (used to watch us play on his days off when he was playing at Albion). As an outside bet, what is Klinsmann doing these days? Rumours he is a friend of Lerner, and he was widely considered to be his planned manager before the takeover, until he heard everyone else wanted MON.

He got a game on Saturday, as well. And he was one of our best players on the day.

Kerching!

Us v Valencia. Friday night Fifteen pounds Valencia playing again tomorrow Live on telly No, ta. Mind you, look at that, Habib Fucking Beye. I thought he'd died.

Jesus wept. Imagine how much Gazza or Beardsley would be worth. I was never as much a Beardsley man as I was a Gazza man, so dunno, but even ignoring the MilnerLescott distortion, Gascoigne, for me, would be 50m plus, easily. When i started watching you lot in the mid 80s and first saw him, I couldn't really believe what i was seeing, a kid, shoulders back, head upright, waltzing around like he owned the place. What a terrible waste.

He's been excellent for us, last season in particular, but yes, that's fucking insane money.

James Milner. 27.5 million by all accounts.

Staying in Manchester, he actually said. Maybe he's being clever with that, not saying "City" *remembers which player he is talking about* As you were

No way is that a real name.

I don't really have to say anything, do I? You can probably guess what I'd say.

That almost trumps MON's "Harewood and Knight" double whammy.

Is he!? Get in Said to be. Please, please God (who I don't believe in, with me being an atheist, but just in case) make it happen.

Gutted that Luke Young is going to Liverpool. WTF are you on, Martin? Overjoyed that Heskey is going so Sunderland. Just away. Away away away.

I've a horrible feeling we're going to sign Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady. Then we'll snap up Jenas, and I'm going to jump of a fucking bridge. No rivers in Brum. It'd have to be into a canal or onto a motorway.

Excuse my ignorance but it's not much different to the old one isn't it? Those horrid checks down the side (which you cant really see in that pic).

Hmmm. New away shirt, which I do like (modelled by Cuellar and second and third choice right backs): http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/9d/ce/0,,10265~8900253,00.jpg New home shirt (which I don't like at all) http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/9f/ce/0,,10265~8900255,00.jpg

Man City are vile, arriviste scratters.

Not kit, but nice new training kit. http://www.astonvilladirect.com/product_images/maxzoom/prd_maxzoom_villa-71108.jpg

1.30 KO for our match at you, first train gets in at 1.22. Brilliant stuff. time for a quick couple of pints then. Ha ha, good stuff. first away game now on a sunday. i can see some of your lot making a weekend out of it. not tempted ? I shall see how I'm sorted for shekels closer to the date, but yes, it is quite tempting.

1.30 KO for our match at you, first train gets in at 1.22. Brilliant stuff. time for a quick couple of pints then. Ha ha, good stuff.

1.30 KO for our match at you, first train gets in at 1.22. Brilliant stuff.

I thought Dave and Gideon told us "we're all in this together"? Well, anyone who can spaff 20 large on a fucking watch isn't. So he had it nicked? Good. Come the revolution, he will be against the wall with all the other horrible, arriviste shysters we have to put up with in our faces. Hell, yeah.