The Centre Cannot Hold

[Merv]

Actually, at this point in time I'm very excited about Villa's future.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm quite excited by the thought of a new manager with money to spend.

With or without money, you do love your managers. (winky)

Agree with you though, this really could be a very special Villa summer. Bring it on!

[Chris Smith]

Is 3rd of June a new record for writing off the season?

I'm quite excited by the thought of a new manager with money to spend.

I'll take untempered optimism over baseless negativity disguised as "reality" any day of the week.

You're still here?

You don't miss a trick do you.

Do you still think we forced Reo Coker out?

[AsTallAsLions]

Is 3rd of June a new record for writing off the season?

I'm quite excited by the thought of a new manager with money to spend.

I'll take untempered optimism over baseless negativity disguised as "reality" any day of the week.

You're still here?

You don't miss a trick do you.

Do you still think we forced Reo Coker out?

Never said we forced him out. I don't think we offered him an adequate deal.

[Hopadop]

Things fall apart the centre cannot hold.

Rough beasts slouching towards Bethlehem?

The Second Coming?

This can only mean the return of John Gregory.

[maidstonevillain]

As Mazrim says it may all go tits up. But that is no different to every season. But is not the anticipation of what might be exciting. Can see no reason to be depressed. Presently looking forward to next season more than any since MONs first season. Only really tempered by the departure of GH. I really thought there was a good chance he would do well with a good pre-season behind him.

[Lee]

Houllier gone. Reo-Coker and Carew gone. Friedel gone. Young and Downing f

Houllier, would have liked to see a full season, but not going to happen because of circumstances.

NRC, Carew and Friedel -  no issues with any of them going. 2 past their best  and far too expensive, and one that although had a decent season, is not as good as some, including himself think that he is.

Young and Downing. Neither have actually gone yet. It's possible, but so are a lot of things. The time to worry, is when we are in a mess at the wrong end of the Summer.

[Summers]

Definitely exciting. New manager, new players. Should be an amazing and event  (pre season and) season ahead.

[Concrete John]

Is 3rd of June a new record for writing off the season?

I'm quite excited by the thought of a new manager with money to spend.

I'll take untempered optimism over baseless negativity disguised as "reality" any day of the week.

You're still here?

You don't miss a trick do you.

Do you still think we forced Reo Coker out?

Never said we forced him out. I don't think we offered him an adequate deal.

Adequate is a very subjective term, but asking for his salary to be doubled is beyond adequate in any sane meaning of the word.

[Concrete John]

As Mazrim says it may all go tits up. But that is no different to every season. But is not the anticipation of what might be exciting. Can see no reason to be depressed. Presently looking forward to next season more than any since MONs first season. Only really tempered by the departure of GH. I really thought there was a good chance he would do well with a good pre-season behind him.

I think there's a sense od excitement as we literally have no idea what the new season might bring.  That uncertainty creates an anticipation and eagernes to see what develops. 

[AsTallAsLions]

Is 3rd of June a new record for writing off the season?

I'm quite excited by the thought of a new manager with money to spend.

I'll take untempered optimism over baseless negativity disguised as "reality" any day of the week.

You're still here?

You don't miss a trick do you.

Do you still think we forced Reo Coker out?

Never said we forced him out. I don't think we offered him an adequate deal.

Adequate is a very subjective term, but asking for his salary to be doubled is beyond adequate in any sane meaning of the word.

And how do you know he asked for his salary to be doubled?

I doubt it somehow, given that he would have been well aware that the alternative was being released.

[pauliewalnuts]

Whatever the figures, we clearly offered him a deal (at the very least, it'd guarantee us some kind of fee).

If the deal wasn't enough for him, that's his choice.

The "alternative was being released" thing, fair enough, that's the way it was, but it's not "being released to unemployment", it is being released to a multi million pound pa deal he'll do with another club.

Another club where he'll also get a fat signing on fee, as he'll have no transfer fee.

[AsTallAsLions]

Whatever the figures, we clearly offered him a deal (at the very least, it'd guarantee us some kind of fee).

If the deal wasn't enough for him, that's his choice.

The "alternative was being released" thing, fair enough, that's the way it was, but it's not "being released to unemployment", it is being released to a multi million pound pa deal he'll do with another club.

Another club where he'll also get a fat signing on fee, as he'll have no transfer fee.

Unless nobody wants to pay that. We'll see.

[pauliewalnuts]

So, nobody wants to pay him a signng on fee?

If nobody is prepared to pay anything for him (what do the buying club care if the cash goes to Villa or NRC), then he's clearly not much of a player, and not worth us cutting ourselves up about in the first place.

[Stu]

Whatever the figures, we clearly offered him a deal (at the very least, it'd guarantee us some kind of fee).

If the deal wasn't enough for him, that's his choice.

The "alternative was being released" thing, fair enough, that's the way it was, but it's not "being released to unemployment", it is being released to a multi million pound pa deal he'll do with another club.

Another club where he'll also get a fat signing on fee, as he'll have no transfer fee.

Unless nobody wants to pay that. We'll see.

Yeah, he'll be really on his uppers won't he? He'll have to stay at home counting his money until a club want to talk to him, poor lamb.