Chairmen signing players

[Pete3206]

Shit loads of money and a quality player to boot? It's a no brainer.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Perfectly sensible way of going about things given the unusual circumstances we find ourselves in.
But it is another reason showing the disadvantages and stupidity of having a transfer window.
A system which allows the richest clubs to manipulate the market to their advantage as they hold all the cards.
The sooner we go back to the old system of a transfer deadline the better. A perfectly sensible system which was put in place to prevent clubs trying buy promotion or get out of relegation at the business end of the season.

[Ger Regan]

He's worked with Ireland before so would have a better idea of him than MON, say.

When was that?

[jonzy85]

It is a bit of unique situation with us being left managerless only a few weeks before the deadline.

I did ask the General was there any transfers that may go through that had been lined up while MON was here...he didn't respond.

Looking increasingly unlikely that we will get anyone else in before the end of the transfer window.

Unless K-Mac and the board are working on it as we speak. I could see perhaps a couple of last day ones going through e.g. Santa Cruz, who surely will be looking for a new home...I'd be happy enough if he found it at Villa Park.

[jonzy85]

He's worked with Ireland before so would have a better idea of him than MON, say.

When was that?

During the Staunton era for Ireland......

God, I had banished that from my memory, nearly forgot K-Mac was involved in that debacle...

He was the man in charge when we lost to Cyprus 5-2 because Staunton was in the stands for a suspension. Seem to remember he got a pasting in the Irish media for not being able to cope with being in charge or react when Cyprus had the upper hand.

[Ger Regan]

God, I had banished that from my memory, nearly forgot K-Mac was involved in that debacle...

As had I!

[Brend'Watkins]

He's worked with Ireland before so would have a better idea of him than MON, say.

When was that?

The Irish squad

[Phil from the upper holte]

Im sure that this was part of the deal before mon left so its stayed the same now his gone. We are also totally unaware of MaCdonald's part in this signing. I think I was the only way we would have got the Milner deal done and speaking for myself im very happy with the signing

[dave.woodhall]

We had three options

1) Scrap the deal and be left with a potentially unhappy player

2) Make it cash-only, and be left with a pile of money we couldn't spend until next summer

3) Go ahead, bringing in a new player, and a quality one at that.

[PaulTheVillan]

I'll have Ireland on the back of my new (old) Villa shirt. When they ever get released.

[sfx412]

I hadn't realised RL was choosing players.

I am confident he's now involved in negotiating the deals, for the best of the club, which as Mr Woodhall, sir, suggests above is what he's done.

[Ad@m]

Can you imagine the outrage if Ellis had done this?

Can't believe I'm the first to say this but didn't HDE sign Daveeeeed Ginola when he met him on holiday in the south of France?

That transfer worked out brilliantly!!!!!   

[not3bad]

MacDonald key to Man City ace Ireland making Villa move

Kevin MacDonald had a big influence in Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland agreeing a move to Aston Villa.

The Mirror says MacDonald will be in charge today when Villa fly out to Rapid Vienna ahead of tomorrow's Europa League play-off first leg.

Ireland, 23, is unlikely to travel as he is still completing his switch from Man City in part-exchange for James Milner.

He will sign a four-year contract worth £65,000-a-week to become Villa's top earner alongside Ashley Young.

And Ireland is keen to play for Villa caretaker MacDonald, who he knows well from international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

MacDonald was the Republic's assistant under Steve Staunton and was supportive after Ireland's controversial international exile in 2007.

Ireland was given compassionate leave from the Irish camp, pretending his grandmother had died when in fact his girlfriend Jessica had suffered a miscarriage.

But MacDonald still remains a huge admirer of the talented Ireland.

"I think Stephen is an outstanding footballer," said MacDonald.

"I thought he was wonderful when he played for the Republic of Ireland."

Source

[Mister E]

With the imminent signing of Stephen Ireland we are facing a situation where the chairman is deciding which players to sign. ... My concern is not the quality or not of Ireland, but the precedent that this sets. Can you imagine the outrage if Ellis had done this?

Isn't this just a little naive? - Chairmen who own clubs and put up the funds are unlikely to completely hand over responsibility for expenditure (and with 'Ol Dead Hand we saw the extreme - wishing to see all of O'leary's expense chits before signing anything off). There WAS outrage when Herbert did it - and he seemed to do it more when his trust in a manager was on the wane.
The fact that RL has got so involved in this deal is, I suspect, a reflection of his diminishing faith in MON's judgement and a desire to protect (as he would see it) his investments.
Not that surprising when you look at it.

[Concrete John]

Yet another sign that Kev Mac is getting the job full time.  Can any of you regular punters tell me if his odds are dropping?