Hendrik Almstadt has left the club

[dave.woodhall]

Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.

didn't realise that Houllier left on bad terms, did Randy blame him for getting sick :-)

[Clark W Griswold]

Littles signings were better overall than Houlliers and apparently they want him to be involved in scouting and recruitment so that's good enough for me. Just learn from the 2 big mistakes he made and steer away from anyone with 'baggage'.

[ozzjim]

Little as DOF with Larry Grayson as manager?

[rob_bridge]

Little's signings until the summer of 2006 were really good. Not to mention gleaning more than we should have for those going out the door IMO.

Thereafter the signings were largely terrible - Curcic, Collymore and Grayson

[go on the dog]

Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.

Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?

[SamTheMouse]

All managers sign a few crap players from time to time. It's just that the ones with unlimited cash get to make more mistakes.

[Risso]

Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.

Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?

Can't think of any others, but then we haven't signed many Brazilians , Germans or Argentinians over the years.  I assume that everybody in a world cup squad gets a medal by default, because I don't think that Pires played much, other than as the odd sub in the group matches.  Think the 98 World Cup was a few years before he was in his pomp at Arsenal.

[joe_c]

Pires was probably the best player in the world who could have been signed at that time. He was here at a time when we had so many injuries we could barely have a five a side match in training. You can hardly blame Houllier for Bent's injury and as with Makoun, Bradley may have been a different prospect here. Anyway, it's all immaterial as it's a matter of record that Ged left on bad terms so he won't be back.

Talking of Pires, is he the only player to play for The Villa that has won the World Cup?

Can't think of any others, but then we haven't signed many Brazilians , Germans or Argentinians over the years.  I assume that everybody in a world cup squad gets a medal by default, because I don't think that Pires played much, other than as the odd sub in the group matches.  Think the 98 World Cup was a few years before he was in his pomp at Arsenal.

Had a look and Pires made two appearances in the 1998 World Cup, one fewer than the greatest ever player in Small Heath Alliance history.

[go on the dog]

TA lads, but if Doug had had his way and Brian Little hadnt said no we would have had Juninho and Roberto Carlos