He scored a goal i'm sure in the Euro's, bit of a screamer, he also missed one from the same place a few mins later, but he looks good. Would be a nice player to have, if only.

Don't think there's going to be any new players today.:'(

Damian, you're right about this guy. We may stand a chance against spurs but to convince someone to come to us over Aresenal is going to be near on impossible.

I have a funny feeling Milner might be our first signing, not sure why but I can just see this one being sorted first. No doubt I'll be wrong. I've heard that this is the week for signings but I've taken that with a pinch of salt.

apparently robinson will be shown off today at the kit luanch in the new keeper top

apparently real madrid are pricing this guy at 15mil.i dont think arsenal will pay that for a player who will probably be a squad player for them.i dont kno how the guy plays but im sure he is pretty good if MON, wenger and ramos are all interested.also, didnt we beat arsenal to NRC?i swear i can remember that!mite b wrong!

a little of the subject i know.... and i also know that he now plays for the blue nose scum.... but does anyone fancy mcfadden?... personally i think he was class at everton and he also plays well for scotland.... i think he would be fairly cheap and he will fit our wage structure

FUNNY THING IS...

Rafa wanted him during April, he is an awesome player.

It's cos we'r in Birmingham that no-one wants to visit this sunny, fashionable town... we will never sign a big name because Small Heath deters everyone away...

If it wasn't for the fact that ...' we finished sixth' then I'd have nothing good to say about how the club is being run. All this razzamaztazz with new screens and plush pubs, birthday cards for your kids if their season ticket holders, blah, blah, blah. If I was happy being patronised and bullshitted to then I wouldn't struggle to renew my season ticket at all, or do the god knows how many miles round trip from Aldershot only to wish we had atleast one recognised right back! No, if I was content in being hoodwinked, then I stay at home on Saturday, bar the trip to Tesco's to get my Doritoes in and settle down to watch Big Brother and them two Geordies and the bird with Bottox host a load of Britain's half wits, and it's not like that under Martin we don't get this amae load of transfer window cobblers twice yearly, and quite frankly I'm not interested anymore, I'll just sit in quiet hope that he pulls of another closing hour master stroke like Routledge.
However, what really pisses me off more than anything is, and ultimately shuts me right up.....

...'we finished sixth'.

lgbob, I don't get it, are you annoyed that we finished 6th?

welsh villian id have abit of mcfadden, i know hes a bluenose but ive always thought hes quite a good player would be a good back up player n prob get him cheap to

bill howell in the mail is saying lots of singings coming soon, before the inter two bob games. aparently miguel, sidwell, lee naylor, ferdinand and bentley.

Doesnt history have a habit of repeating itself?
Well remember last January and last summer.
im getting bored with it all now! I mean we will train for the new season with the players we have probably in a 4-4-2 set up. then when the primo Barry goes and we maybe sign sidwell Bentley or Milner we will have to go to 3-5-2 to accommodate the style of these midfielders. when will this happen? maybe last day of August so we can change our style when we have already started the season. great thinking ahead that is !!!, un-prepared yet again. Ironic really as our motto is Prepared

We didnt just finish 6th...we played some good exciting football!

Lets all linch MON at the END of the transfer window...

Getting bored with the negativity....the window is not closing tommorow!

Dometimes we dont deserve MON, bring back DOUG and O'Dreary...

This has been the most depressing summer in the history of being a villa fan. Less than 3 weeks till competive action and we are down 5 players from last season when we had the smallest squad in the league. It is nothing short of astonishing the levels of patronising comments coming from Villa park...All this 'we know that we need to strengthen and we hope to do so' - complete BS. You could have said the same comments for the last 3 years.

The time has long past for actions....pre-season training has allrady begun and rumours has it that Routhledge and Salifou are getting picked for the 5 a sides.

I believe that something is rotten at Villa park and its one of two things. 1. Randy has been talking BS and we have no money - in which case MoN has done an unbelievable job and I do believe that the sun both rises and sets between the two cheeks of his arse. 2. Money has been made available to MoN but he wont spend it. If this is the case then MoN has a lot to answer for and in my opinion is guilty of shocking management.

We are linked with a decent player today, one that genuinely excites me, and yet no-one believes we can sign him. That shows the confidence levels of our clubs transfer dealings.

People can knock these opinion all the like but if you look at all evidence from the previous 4-5 transfer windows or just windows as villa fans now call them - well its clear to see how these conclusions were reached.

I would absolutely love it if I am wrong and if I am I will be the first to praise MoN and Randy but I have serious reservations.

Welsh Villan!

As a BRUMMIE born and bred,I resent some guy who's used to chasing sheep round the valley"s in wellingtons calling my fellow BRUMMIES blue scum...They live and breathe just like you and I...It's just that somewhere in their updringing they lost a few valuable brain cells!...Be more caring for these "Lost Souls" in future!...Now about Macfadden?...Is he Welsh or Irish?

another point... does anyone know the availability of fletcher from united?.... he was only a bit part player last season and i think he would thrive at vp.... should be fairly cheap too

Good call welsh villian i think he would be a good signing. He would offer something different that we don't have at the moment a striker who drops deep and creates chances for others. Plus we could probably get him for around £5m.

come on scouse eater.... no need to get personal... its only a bit of banter.... you shoulnt even be on this blog....

championship blog for you no doubt

Stop being so miserable. The tone of your article brushes closely with a call for a new manager, exasperation drips of your last paragraph in an all-too-familiar moaning Villa-fan style. What are you upset about? We're getting better and better and even better at getting 3 points on a Saturday. So what it your precious summer hasn't been jam-packed with massive hype celebrity-footballers. Don't start trying to predict the future based upon what signings we're making. Spurs/Boro/Newcastle will all tell you that's a fools errand. Mr O'Neill is getting on with a job in the way that he does it. I accept the progression we've made with open arms and big grin.

Your site is viewed by loads of Villa fans, and as such I don't think you should be putting the club down when you've got no real reason to. (Yes, yes you'll say 'but we haven't signed anyone yet' - the summer has hardly been packed with the other clubs going signing mad has it.

OK, rant over.

I'm just tired of reading attacks on the club, the manager and even the owners (!) over the fact that Henry/Bentley/Dos Santos/Ronaldinho/Kaka/Van Der Vaart/Other Big Name Here hasn't signed for us.

Evoflash

Every single transfer window has been a let down in my opinion - but you really should read what I've written above:
[quote]What I can see myself reading is something along the lines 'we were let down in the summer' sometime around October, although I don't think I will be or again, I hope we don't need to be writing that, because it won't be the first time.[/quote]

what i've written is [b]i[/b] expect to be reading it. that is me reading it ...

what i've also written is that i (again me) hope that we (all of us) won't be writing it

i'm not having a pop at anyone. if you read through this site you'll see i'm a huge fan of martin o'neill

but seeing as you bring it up - i believe lerner is here to make money and isn't going to spend big. i believe he's here to sell the club as and when a good enough offer comes along - bu that's just my opinion too

this story is simply his agent fishing for a new contract at madrid

we'd be better off going for a loan deal but i still cant see that happening

Fresh rumours circulating about Maloney moving back to Celtic. Just what we need.... >:(

Ive heard of this lad before. Apparantly Getafe bought him for £2.3m and now value him at £15m :S
some improvement!!
Can't see him turning down Arsenal and Spurs to come to Villa Park but i can onlt hope.

There are many good players we could sign, really the list is endless. Its just so disapointing when we leave it so late to transfer players? Is there something wrong.....

None villa fans??? we couldn't careless about your opinion you dont even support villa plus your club is not the smallest like ours! WE NEED PLAYERS OTHER CLUBS DONT its really very simple

I think you'll find that this window will be the same as all the others. Everything left till the last minute.
I was looking forward when it opened but with the first two weeks passed i knew Villa would do nothing.
I don't knock MON for tectics and man management but he ranks so poorly when it comes to getting people in. I wonder if Villa need people in place to get things moving. I know he was Ellis lapdog but Stride always got things done or at least moving.
I so want to be proved wrong but Villa will not improve on next term without serious numbers coming in and I'm talking 8 / 9 / 10 players

How can they let Maloney leave, with the size of the sqaud we have atm. if we want naylor why cant we just buy him, but surely hes not good enough for us

Damian - I might be a romantic but I don't see a man who has a tattoo of Villa on his leg someone who has just simply come into this club to make a buck. His actions just don't match the intentions you beleive he has. I appreciate it's just a difference of opinnion but you're wrong ;)

Damian-

You're right, RL's a businessman, but there are also a number of owners, in the US, anyway, who basically enjoy being sports owners. They do try to raise the value of their holdings, which is generally good for both themselves and the fans, but they're not always looking for the turnaround and the franchises become the family business with which they're inextricably linked.

I get the feeling that RL enjoys being an owner, and saw the PL and Villa as an exciting oppty to get involved in the world's game and branch out. I wouldn't say he's not going to sell someday, but I don't think he's in it for a quick profit. I think, as a businessman and sports owner, it's an interesting challenge to try and restore a grand old club, become part of a new fraternity, and perhaps get Villa back into the elite. I live in Denver, Colorado, and Stan Kroenke, who's been linked with Arsenal, owns the local NBA and NHL franchises, the cable channel that airs their games, as well as the arena (which he financed privately) in which they play. That's a tidy operation and a great revenue stream (and he's married to a Wal-Mart heiress, which is where he got the money to buy into the game), but it's also a unique business position, and a much more exciting and entertaining sort of business, very high profile (very ego satisfying) and all that. So, I do think RL (given Acorns and the National Gallery gift), while not a 'philanthropist' per se, is probably getting a lot more out of owning Villa than just money. The Cleveland Browns were owned by such an NFL titan, Paul Brown (hence the name), and RL is very aware of this sort of ownership model, where the owner feels he is the steward of a community asset. It seems very consistent with how he's run Villa so far.

youve got to think about it

we need 18 players to make a full squad in the intertoto and the league and we've got 17 players and we losing barry surely thats a big enough hint for new signings

and go on website to see new kits home ones nice but i think the away ones a bit dodgy

Just been to the kit launch! Home top is really nice! I'm not too keen on the away one! Its a sort of turquoise blue with black sleeves! But the home one is exactly as leaked last week!

guys lets not get carried away, lets face it mon is not good enough in the transfer market. i gurantee that we wont sign a single player b4 the inter toto cups starts, if this happens then its a fucking disgrace!!! i am a very worried villa fan. i cant believe that this bullshit of not buying players is virtually taking over my life!!!!!!

just fucking buy some1 you twat mon!!!

just seen the new away kit and i have to say its very nice i would definantly buy it

the away kit does look good

I now see that Sidwell is probably going to Newcastle. Why do any transfers that we are linked to seem to ramble on for ever wheres other team just announce deals done? Years ago players would have seen it as an honour to play for Villa now it seems that no-one wants to come.
Other teams seem to not find high transfer fees a problem. What has happened to all the transfer kitty that we are supposed to have?

Just been to the newsagents to buy a magazine. They price stated £1.80 so I offered £1.30 as I'm a bit hard up at the moment. They refused to sell the mag to me as they don't need the money, can you believe it? So I offered £1.50 and some crap I had in my jacket pocket. They insisted that the price of the magazine was £1.80 and they would not accept a penny less.I would have to pay that amount or forget it The Bastards!!!! I've written to Rafa Benitez to complain.

Have you guys noticed that Villa haven't put any pics up of the new goalkeper top on the website thats strange don't you think.. maybe robinson in or foster to show it off?? ;)

Unless Mon is that astute, we are in real trouble. B'ham it not an atraction so you have to sell club via money, which we dont have.

Kohoutek, I like your commets! RL does seem to me to be the right sort of owner for a "community asset" like our club. Until we win three Prem titles back to back the doubters will be the noisiest. Fans like you and I will simply enjoy the roller-coaster that is supporting a sports club.

The big names [i]will[/i] arrive. MON wants the Intertoto done and dusted before bringing in the supernames. That way we will have a set pf players already in place who have actually achieved something significant [i]before[/i] the new arrivals come in. MON knows how young minds work, you just need to trust him a little.

keef nice one!

LMAO Keef, BRILLIANT

keef - Try and offer them the £1.50 plus one of your old magazines that you no longer want. They may go for that! Rafa. x

De La Red..nah, he's not coming.

He hasn't played for Celtic and is not in nappies..he doesn't fit the requirements ;)

wahahahahahaha...like he's going to leave Real Madrid to come here...is this the best rumour we can get....no chance

Ok, so we win the intertoto cup and then find ourselves in the UEFA Cup (Yes!!). So we have to select a number of eligible players... correct? Any idea of the deadline for that, cos if its shortly after the Intertoto game that gives us a window, my friends, of precisely... well i don't know precisely but not very long. Happy to incite more panic. New kits are sweet!!

quality ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Interesting point about the goalkeepers kit is it because we haven't got one? Like the home kit, just ordered it not to keen on the away one. Is anyone out there like me where every waking hour is spent worrying about who we're gonna buy? Should I get out more?

If he's from madrid,hes bound do be good.If wenger wants him,think what happened with that Modric dude,loads of great teams linked but look where he is.With a rubbish spurs side,so don't think oh no we've got no chance,and if you do think that,F*** YOU! BELIEVE
UTV ;D

the GK kit is even more of a nike template than the main kits (check manyoo or arsenal), the only question is the colours - im going for black with a gold stripe and green with grey

Yeah! What Joey the ak said. BELIEVE!!

"Rumors that 2 unidentified females from Liverpool have today invaded Bodymoor Heath in search of Gareth Barry, temporarily causing the suspension of the training session, were quickly denied by official sources when it was in fact confirmed that the invaders were 2 rottweilers escaped from a nearby farm".

Me too....Yeah! What Joey the ak said. BELIEVE!!

UTV ;D

i am a little bit worried that no signings want to come to villa this summer but i know its just me bein paranoid...i know O'neil wil buy players we need!...he isnt just going to buy a bunch of players just to shut up moaning fans!
he is taking his time to bring in quality, which i totally agree with...and for all the fans who are worried we havent got a squad to play the part timers we are against in the intertoto...ur having a laff!!!!!the transfer window is still very early...good things come to those who wait!...
id rather buy 6 quality players at the end of the window than 10 half decent ones now!stop moaning!!!!the weather is depressing enuff!!!!!

Yes Joey that's right a rubbish Spurs side. Not one with 2 fifth place finishes and a cup in the last 3 years? You had a lucky season last year with injuries and I honestly hope ye get into the UEFA for the simple reason you'll end up fighting relegation trying to compete on 4 fronts. As things stand with the 7 subs change you can't even fill a bench. 12 days until your first match.... sign some players, fast. Maybe MON is afraid to splash the cash as then he can be judged on his achievements after all only 4 of his purchases were regulars last year. MON must be class though he won everything in Scotland. So did Strachan and how many clubs did he relegate in England. COYS!!

MON is nothing short of a joke in the transfer market!!! I am sick of his be patient lines. I am sorry we have been patient before and what last minute signings did u make Mart, Salifou, Routledge, Maloney etc!!!
He may be a great man manager, but that will be no good this season because of how weak the squad is and will be!!! Not even oneil will achieve a top half finish with the dross buch of players we have now.
we over achieved last year with the squad we had finishing 6th and from that squad hasnt just lost squad players but our 2 longest serving players (assuming barry goes) and captain and vice captain.
I dont think there has ever been such a small premiership squad as what we had last year and as it currently stands we have 5 less than that. There is a reasobn why every other manager in every league in the world has a bigger squad than ours - because they are needed!! the big clubs and in fact most clubs in england and abroad have between 25 and 30 players. we have what 17 if that!!
Cant wait for Oneils excuses and then panic buying when laursen, young and reo coker get injured this week in pre season. we would well and truly be relegation fodder!!!

Welsh Villian

Shouldn't be on this blog?....Don't be daft Taffy!...I've been a Villa supporter longer than you have!...My Nickname is Scouse eater!...Does that sound like a Liverpool supporter?...Sorry if you were offended,I lived in Gilvachreda in mid wales for several years and it was just a bit of lighthearted banter!

Oscars Arse!

Why would we need a Goalkeepers kit?...MON reckons that the defence signings for next season will be that good we will not need a goalkeeper

Ghosthunter. Tried doing what you suggested but they said that the magazines I already had were rubbish and nobody in their right mind would want them! They even said paying £6 for the mag called "Pennant" was stupid and a waste of money. How dare they! Anyway a bloke called Harry might buy one of me so I can afford the new mag now. Thanks for your help anyway.