We are in deep deep shit!!!!

I love that.

i wouldn't ever believe tribalfootball if my life depended on it, i wouldn't mind taking simpson, could be prospect in future, but i doubt the rumours true anyway,

Not really "Key players at other clubs" are they?

Al, clubs don't really want to sell their key players for less than ridiculous sums (see Aston Villa and Blackburn for examples) and we don't really have much money to spend so have to buy what we can afford.

Robbie Savage anyone? ;)

By all accounts Simpson is a good defender but can't cross a ball to save his life. Can't see Utd letting him go what with Gary Neville being so injury prone at this stage of his career.

we cant be after these players. Oneil stated we would be after key players at other clubs!!!
But then him and the club have talked utter BS about signings for the past 2 years so wont be surprised if we get these 2 and the our summer spending is done!!!

Could [b]Downing[/b] be a good Barry Replacement, i think he could i would prefer him over Johnson, why cant we go for Gudjohnson the man is class?
Watching fulham the other day and bullard looked like a half decent player (i might take back what i said) Better than anyone we had in midfield the another night, get him as a squad player [img]8)[/img]

Christ on a bike, I can only hope this is more rubbished churned out by the media. Sorry state of affairs if it isn't...

If you read the Setanta story on the OS, you'll see Villa are so far the only club to have tabled a bid for Gudjohnson. But the real point is reading the rest of the stuff from Barcelona, which goes some way to explaining why many of these transfers are so difficult.

I continue to be one of the optimists because MON has given me no reason not to be yet. He knows a lot more about football than I do, and he knows a lot more about players. And he obviously knows a lot more about his own ideas.

So, I just try to sit back and enjoy the ride as much as possible. He's obviously got his reasons for what he does, and he's in charge, and I'm glad, because he's class.

As I've posted before, I'm in the states. My favorite NFL team, the Green Bay Packers, have a General Manager that has infuriated fans because of his approach toward players. Always works in the draft (selecting young college players), almost never makes big free agent signings. His philosophy is to stockpile talent and develop it, rather than risking big bucks on mercenary free agents. The team have improved a lot, and he's shown a good eye. There are lots of players who don't make the grade, but that's normal business, because evaluating players is widely considered to be an enormous crapshoot. One of his favorite tactics is to "drop down," which means trading high draft picks (1st or 2nd round) for more picks later, because he'd rather have more players to sift through, and doesn't consider there to be many "guaranteed" prospects.

I liken this approach very much to what MON is doing. It will drive some fans crazy, but it's not unprecedented, and shows a patience and calculation that most coaches/GMs don't have, because they're so afraid of not producing instant results.

This is why MON has the dreaded five-year plan. Clear out the deadwood, put in a new ground floor of players, get them the EPL games and European experience, and kick on. Routledge, Salifou, Maloney, Knight...They're all just rather cheap experiments (except Knight, he wasn't particularly cheap, if I remember right), squad bodies if nothing else. NRC, I think MON sees him as the club's Gattusso.

MON is as smart a man as any of us, so he does know the market, the prices, the talent. He's just got his own approach, and it's only fair to judge at the end of each season.

Why are you guys ruining Brett Favre's legacy then? ;) :P

kohoutek stop talking so much sense you will only wind people up. Surely there is a more simplistic, illogical and sensationalist argument you can come up with? Watch out you will get called a sheep if you say anything constructive.

Sorry kohoutek i would agree with you if he actually was stock piling young talent but he isn't. If it was his intention to go after young players then he would have signed the likes of Ramsey, Bostock or Bale for starters. No MON is only interested in buying players that had some potential a few years ago and who he feels have lost their way (in reality they are just shite and have'nt lost their way) and fix them. Perhaps he was a 2nd hand mechanic in another life?

I'm totally behind MON transfer policy. I know signings will come and they will better than what has left.

When you look at these forums every day it is easy to loose the faith. If we where champions league we would not have a problem with getting the players often mentioned on this blog so we have to make do with signing 2nd tier players. Thats is a fact.

Last season gave me hope and this season I think we will be as good if not better.

I think Tribal Football just collects stories from other media spots. That's why most of their postings vary wildly from sourced stories to crazy "My best mate's brother saw Didier Drogba's uncle at a bath house the other day ..." type crap.

At this point, we need enough players that I'll take a Scharner, just so we can fill those last two empty bench spots. The EPL is moving up to seven subs this year, you know.

AVmark you are so right... that he is far too sensible... lol good banter both of ya :D

AVMark.
That was quality.

Jinksy will get back to you shortly.

Another good post from Kohoutek - and nice little insight into the NFL system to boot! I'd welcome your views on how RL is perceived in the US too.

I recall (possibly wrongly) that he resisted overtures from other franchise owners to increase ticket prices... they wanted it to increase their pooled revenues but he didn't want to alienate the typical Browns fans. I'm not saying Villa is a totally aesthetic project but I think he has a very balanced attitude to increasing the value of his asset and sees it as a function of investing in going forwards on the sporting side but also being grounded in the community. I have seen enough so far on both sides to be satisfied that this might be a truer reflection of his method than thinking he must be a Hicks, a Glazer or (not to make this a US comment, which it isn't intended to be) or an Ashley.

Villa's stock is increasing amongst players and I think we'll see action once Saturday's match is out of the way. The only activity before will probably be a keeper. Outfield players will depend on whether we get through.

Have faith... I think we have a fairly benevolent owner actually and a manager who is motivated to achieve at our club rather than the 'easier' challenge of one of the perceived top 4. Think of where MON played his football, who his manager was and the number of stars in the side. Clough signed one true star (Francis) but generally it was about finding someone that would fit the team, the ethos and not be swayed as soon as something tempting raised its head.

Anyone who isn't FAR more optimistic now than 2 years ago needs to do some introspection. Impatient for more? Fair enough... but remember who gave you the appetite back.

Scharner would be an excellent signing, a hard man in midfield or defence, but what is probably more important is getting a couple of right backs. Does this Simpson chappy play right back? I've heard of him, but don't know too much about him.

Come on Farmer O'Neill...get the sheep in...bah bah bah bah bah :P

Dave T, great post. Especially the section referring to a need for introspection.

With this in mind, I'd be interested to know the age of the people calling for a new manager.

SIMPSON WHO THE FCUK IS SIMPSON............realy scraping the barrel now.

Isn't it a lot nicer to have a sensible comment rather than the usual "MON is Crap", or Why can't we sign Bently for 100million just coz he had a few good games"???

Khoutek top, top post thanx for the injection of a little sanity into what has been a kickabout using a tin can and arguing about why we havent got a bigger can or at least a better make of can.

Vogra, please don't mention sheep. I think that Kohouteks [b]comets[/b] are rather sage. Nan, Jinksy is probably out of breath from his earlier discussions elsewhere.

The draft system in America gives teams a static benchmark on which to plot their strategies. The somewhat [i]ad hoc[/i] system here leaves so much activity being on a wish list before becoming reality. Sadly the pecking order of the dominoes leaves aspirant clubs such as ours waiting for other, higher things to fall into place first. You can look at past windows and identify the catatlyst for many moves, time will tell who that will be this year, but I suspect that GB will be heavily involved. Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are going to be very busy this summer. We, because of our perceived lower position, will just have to bide our time. Obviously the Routleges and Sidwells of this world are ever available. The Bentlys and SWPs need to be courted to win their hearts to our cause. MON is probably out a-wooing like some modern day Lothario, tarting the Claret and Blue hither and thither.

paul scharner would b a great acquisition for us i reckon, he can play in either midfield or defence!! i can see him and our new captain fantastic laursen score 10-12 goals between them!! danny simpson i think would be a good signing aswel!! he plays at RB and really does have some talent!! so i wouldn't mind either of these two playing for us, although i would see danny simpson as a cover for a more experienced RB for a 2-3 years:D

any comments??

Both players martin o neill sort of player by that i mean

Totaly and utterly crap he signs these sort so he can try and get the best out of them which is not the way sign a player that is allready class and will go and do a job for you week in week out

If we are going to sign these sort players id rather have a new manager to be fair and thats the first time iv ever said that but seriously if we sign those two then we are going to be a just inside top 10 club

Villa–Rules, how can you say that when we finished 6th last season with "MON type players"? The only exception being Ash and Gareth. Ash was a big gamle which paid off, and GB was only an average player revitalised by MON. What's the biggest gamble; spending shed loads for mercenaries who mught upset the existing journeymen, or spending wisely on prospects who [i]want[/i] to play for MON and the Villa? Lt's wait for the end of the window and then have our moans. Until then we are completely in the dark, who on earth knows what MON is doing? He could be waiting for certain "world class players" to become available after things settle down a little. We can only have faith whe there are so few facts.

I told you all about this story yesterday! it was in the People on sunday.

When MON revitalises Routledge, Knight, Petrov and Salifou I might start to believe in him more. At the moment he just seems to buy crap!

nhuggy, Petrov has had quite some time hasn't he? Routlege could still be a goodun, Salifou - who knows. Knight - he'll be ok. If MON spends millions on someone like Sheva who bombs in the Prem we'll be on his back for wasting money. The poor man can't win can he? Do you think RL knew what we were like when he bought the club. He must be having nightmares.

Bah Bah MON sheep have you any wool...yes sir,yes sir 3 bags full...One for AVMark, one for AVFC101 and one for little RON who lives on Witton Lane..

Only joking boys... ;) ;) ;)

Come on taglor ALLLLLL TOGETHER NOW.....BAH BAH MON SHEEP...blah blah...

Vogra, there are certain people on this blog who have a sort of liking for sheep. Your last post could be considered provocative!

[i]If[/i] we go into meltdown next season because we have no RB, and we lose GB with no real replacement, if we have a lot of injuries and need to play youngsters. [i]Then[/i] I would be calling for answers, if not heads. Until then I [i]will[/i] sheepishly believe that there is activity behind the scenes to get in the players we all want to see. You never know, I may join your chorus.

Wow - I thought I was on the wrong site. The positivity is infectious. Are people really beginning to see the light?. I used to think there was just a handful of us but now the tide seems to be turning. Great stuff!!

On balance though, I do think MON should be sacked!! Taglor (the original, and still the funniest, pessimist) deserves a shot with Jinksy as his assitant. :D

Dave-T, Great post. I did a bit of research yesterday on RL and you're right about the ticket prices thing. He doesn't do many interviews so it's difficult to know what he's all about but one of his philosphies is not to talk too much but to show people through his actions. He also seems, with the odd exception, to be really well liked by pretty much everyone, press and fans alike!. Can't all be wrong. He has also turned down several offers for the Browns. It seems when he took over he went through a fairly steep learning curve on how to run a football club (American football of course) and after a rocky period has really got things working well. A lot of things that he has done/learnt over there he is sort of translating to here and they seem to make sense to me. In short, he's a good Lerner in more ways than one (we won't go into the Randy bit!!).

as far as i'm aware MON is still on some sort of rolling contract, which isn't going to help my point...

[i]but[/i], apart from that, everything he does suggests to me he's here for the long term and buying for the long term too. i hate to mention 5 year plan, but there you go.

he either buys cheap and gambles on short term deals; salifou and routledge, or invests in longer term prospects, with the occasional stop gap player.

i'm pretty certain if we had someone else in charge they'd happily be spending the owner's money keeping all you fans interested in big name signings engorged, but wouldn't be doing the long term future of the club any favours.

from my perspective, MON is not only trying to build the club back to where it should be, he's doing it with the even longer term view of sustaining it. i just wish more people could see that and show a little patience.... you've only got to look at where manure came from a few seasons before the birth of the premiership - can you believe ferguson was a match or two away from getting the elbow during his third season??

we [i]might[/i] be in for a tricky third season and i'd expect the 'MON out' crowd to grow louder. but stick with it, i've a feeling we'll start seeing the silverware starting to fill our trophy cabinet during the forth season and we might not look back from there since MON's built the foundations.

guys , calm down, we will win this saturday, as we on home soil and our players will now know what to expect from the opposition plus we will be closer to match sharpness. the signings will come they have to and MON knows this (as always in the premiership its a snowball effect (anyone one the reo coker signing, we had to wait until the transfer merry go round . wasnt it Barton to newcastle reo coker to villa etc. keep the faith

Ghosthunter, you can't have Taglor. He's earmarked for next Prime Minister, Secretary General of the UN, and Health Secretary - yes, all at the same time. RL is certainly here to be a sports club owner, not an asset stripper. I think we should (and surely will be) be the envy of other clubs in the Prem, especially those like Liverpool and Chelsea.

I would be more than happy with having Sharner at villa park next season. He along with Heskey was Wigans best player last season. He is a good defender (much better than Knight) and can score goals. Would be a great acquisition.

villa need to buy zigic just have a look on youtube bloody amazing and for 5Mn cant complain he score all sorts of goals hes 6"7 imagine him and carew upfront gabby on the right and ashleys lethal crosses would be undefendable still need another half a team mind ;D micheal johnson swp,and maybe glen johnson at rb???

Younes Kaboul anyone?!

Kaboul is apparently on his way to VP according to Harry Redknapp (on setanta sports)

Vogra you're flockin mad.

routledge 4 england ;D ;D ;Din heard mulder and scully r at villa park for some unexplain goings on.the truth is out there jazmundo i love you xxxxxxx.even mulder cannot explain y we aint signed a right back yet.bring back cancer man!!!!!

Just to say that just because its not in the press doesn't mean its not happening. M'On likes to work under a veil, and who can blame him with the way the transfer market works in this day and age. Take for example Harry Redknapps comments today (about Villa bidding for Kaboul).. which paper exactly picked that one up. Although I must say, Harry Redknapp is immensely annoying by just making all his transfers public (and other teams transfers for that matter). Either way, its very easy to be a pessimistic Villa fan. I've got faith, even if the vast majority (including the editors/writers of this blog) haven't. See you on Saturday! Johnny, UTV!

villa transfers today nil zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.this will be repeated tomorrowzzzzzzzzzzz

what is mon's transfer policy?wait,wait,wait,and oops to late.Where is the right we need.People our season started on saturday,and if he thinks that this is good enough he needs to think again.....cant believe how things ae going im very disapointed.

>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( >:(

no comment!!!!!!!!!

mm,bm,m,

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

we all said and wrote the same stuff last summer,we waited and hoped and got salifou,,then we all said and wrote on here again in january and got routledge..now here we are again and MON is still assing around,,still no sign of a rightback,STILL having major problems adding to the smallest squad in the league,still talking the same old crap...wonder what MONderful player he has up his sleeve this year,,cause dont forget mon knows best,,silly MON quote no 1...salifou is the african zidane....silly MON quote no 2...harewood could be playing for england very soon..and who can ever forget that famous old over used quote..we have a small squad and the lads are doing marvelous,but we will try and strengthen the squad,we have players weve identified who would add quality and numbers to our team..used ever since he got the job and most likely till he gets the boot...Headline news,, MON sacked..aston villa today followed there new found fame as trendsetters in the PL ,not only the first for wearing free sponsorship on shirts..but now the first to officially sack there manager for being a slow moving,dithering idiot who never sees anything coming till its to late..chairman and owner Randy lerner doing only his second ever interview said..It had to happen,no longer could villa maintain there place in division two,the board thought that going into a new season with only 12 players 5 of whom were right backs was beyond a joke...

Just got back from Poland & Czech Repubilc. Speaking to people in Ostrava (Remember them?) well the young Czech defender Suchy if we get a chance he is one of the most highly thought of players there!

Also I went to see the Polish Super Cup between Wisla Krakow & L Warsaw which I must admit was one of the worst standards I've ever seen and that the top two clubs. Ok Wisla had a 2nd team out as the 1st team drew with Liverpool the night before ... however one player stood out Piotr Rocki the sad thing is he's 34 but a different class. Wish I had more to report.

I agree with some of the comment saying we are in serious trouble.

DEEP DEEP SH*T

steve b said:
I'm totally behind MON transfer policy. I know signings will come and they will better than what has left.

When you look at these forums every day it is easy to loose the faith. If we where champions league we would not have a problem with getting the players often mentioned on this blog so we have to make do with signing 2nd tier players. Thats is a fact.

Last season gave me hope and this season I think we will be as good if not better.



MON, what are you doing writing on this blog.... should be signing people!!!

:D

Somersetvilla, doesn't sound too far fetched does it? That's if you look at the surface, but I'm sure that beyond first glance there is alot more going on. Is our present transfer strategy (?) as sanctioned by RL? If so RL is in this for a quick buck and MON has eyes on Sralex's job at ManUre. Is MON beavering away behind the scenes to get top class players in? If so, RL is here to help Villa regain the glory days, and MON is the cannniest manager around (if he succeeds).

Simon Jordan bought into football because he loves the game. He will walk away from football now, having said that players' agents are the scum of the earth. How sad. If Simon had a little more financial clout at his disposal and a manager like MON he would have avoided losing a player for a paltry sum. My point is; we are very lucky to have RL & MON on our side.

To think all of this arguing over £2m for GB the unrest it has caused.
Our fans look like a shower & are known for Booing players.
That after the way Melberg had left on such a good note
Now it give Southgate & the likes a chance to air there Demons.
We are haggling over the 2m our manager cannot buy players because we have no funds till the player is sold
This is our Golden Era under Randy ??
Get your cheque book out & force the signings