The end is nigh.

[not3bad]

I've moved on from being one of the "Well who is better?" crowd to "Who would Randy realistically have got that would have been worse?"

I've got a fucking migraine and I'm utterly pissed off with the Milner bollocks, the Warnock bullshit, the Young crap, the lack of signings, the lack of plan B, the lack of any tactical nouse, the lack of creativity, the lack of anything resembling football from this century, the lack of anyone with a fancy European or South American name, the enormity of the money that ingrate footballers get paid......

You could always stop reading this thread.

[Mazrim]

Snap out of it Troy. Your time would be better spent taking the piss out of idiots and there are a couple about on the electronic savannah.

Stop shaking like a shittin' sheila and grow some Mangefruit.

[BannedUserIAT]

Yes. I'll do that.
And I'll also go stick my head in the sand and imagine that everything is just fine and dandy!

EDIT: I'll be back when the Excedrin's kicked in.

[sfx412]

Who played him first in midfield, for England, not O'Neill.

I've been thinking about this for ages, can you tell me the answer please? Are you saying James Milner hadn't played in midfield until he was chosen there for England?

He was played in central midfield several times in England U21 games and occasionally while at Newcastle I'm told

[Merv]

Occasionally for Newcastle, sure.

U21s? Don't recall that myself.

But anyway, I'll play and say yes: James Milner was an established central midfield player when we bought him from Newcastle and a nailed-on certainty to play for England at the 2010 World Cup. Martin O'Neill only used him last season as was blindingly obvious. Come to think of it, O'Neill was a fool - a fool! - for wasting a year of Milner's career by playing him right wing/midfield in his first season at Villa when EVERYONE else knew his best position was in the centre.

[Mazrim]

Milner was a winger (left or right) or second striker before MON moved him to central midfield.
That's a fact.
He was never considered a central midfielder before MON moved him there.

[Merv]

I thought that too Maz, but... but... obviously not. Everyone knew he'd make a great central midfielder all along, it seems.

[Clampy]

Occasionally for Newcastle, sure.

U21s? Don't recall that myself.

But anyway, I'll play and say yes: James Milner was an established central midfield player when we bought him from Newcastle and a nailed-on certainty to play for England at the 2010 World Cup. Martin O'Neill only used him last season as was blindingly obvious. Come to think of it, O'Neill was a fool - a fool! - for wasting a year of Milner's career by playing him right wing/midfield in his first season at Villa when EVERYONE else knew his best position was in the centre.

And we're only going to get a paltry £24m for him. What was MON thinking?

[mshurst]

Don't get me wrong, I am pretty annoyed that it's 11 days before the season starts and we're yet to get any signings, but I was saying the same last season, especially when we lost Barry.

But, personally, Warnock, Dunne and Collins made up for it. Adding Cuellar (yes, I know he's not a natural RB but I don't think he did that bad) and Big Brad to that defence is brilliant. Last season we amazed everyone by having one of the best defensive record's in the league ... until Chelsea.

I know that we have a small squad and that some of our players do get tired towards February, and for that we need more players, but I've always said that MON takes his time and snatches players at the right moment.

I agree that MON has perhaps lost the 'fire' that he had once he started, but I'm also losing all hope in football. Villa have had some great players, but bigger, better clubs come along and offer them double their wage and that's it - they want to up-and-leave.

When MON took over we were 13th (can someone clarify exact position?). Since then we have had 6th place every season. Yes, I would love to see that go to 4th but with the money MON has we cannot do that.

I am going to slightly contradict myself and say this though; I wish MON would stop playing around and get some more foreign players in. There's only so much affordable talent in the UK, and we can't get it all.


EDIT

I also agree that Heskey should be sold. And £24m for Milner is stupid money to turn down. Let his boots rot on their bench, that's what I say.

[Mazrim]

MON took over after we finished 16th.
There are bigger clubs than Villa but none better and Man City are neither, just richer.

[mshurst]

There are bigger clubs than Villa but none better and Man City are neither, just richer.

I was referring to squad.

[VillaZogmariner]

I find that on here peoples views of his strengths and weaknesses aren't all that different, just a matter of how much importance you place on them

I find a huge amount of importance on the fact that he's invested nigh on £16m on Emile Heskey.

That decision alone is unforgiveable.

£3.5m fee plus a (reported) £60k a week for the 1.5 years he's been here = £8.18m.  Whatever it is it's not well spent, but's lets at least try and keep the figures right.

Whatever way you look at it though Emile has been a condom on the prick of progress.

[mshurst]

Whatever way you look at it though Emile has been a condom on the prick of progress.

That is one of the best metaphore's I have ever read. Kudos to you, sir.

[Mazrim]

He hasn't even been posh wank. Just plain old wank.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Just Wank .................