Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[eastie]

3. "Premiership experience" was NOT a KEY criteria...it was simply something that we were looking for. I think the rationale is pretty obvious...the understanding of the ins and outs of the Premiership. It was NOT a KEY criteria.

Well, McLeish knows the ins and certainly the outs of the Premiership. But this comment from the General makes the appointment even more inexplicable. I had the impression that we had a list of available PL-experienced managers with Ancelotti and Moyes on top, Martinez and McLeish at the bottom. But if we had the fantasy to look abroad, how come we had to settle for Big Eck?

maybe we tried for carlo, moyes etc and they werent interested?

[Villa'Zawg]

not sure if this was posted ....

posted 4th July...

General Krulak here:

1. The key question asked is, "Will Randy support AM during transfer window?" The answer can be given in two parts 1) When has Randy not supported his Manager? and 2) Yes, Randy will support AM. He will support AM as he has supported all of his Managers...he will work to keep the wage bill at a manageable level and, at the same time, will recognize where the Club needs to be strengthened and support the Manager in meeting those needs.

2. I am on holiday for the 4th of July....which is a weekend, not just one day. Call it a "Bank Weekend."

3. "Premiership experience" was NOT a KEY criteria...it was simply something that we were looking for. I think the rationale is pretty obvious...the understanding of the ins and outs of the Premiership. It was NOT a KEY criteria.

4. jackbauer24: You raise some valid points...not sure I would agree with them but so be it. As an example, I just answered a "Transfer Question" above. I would also say that MUCH has been accomplished through Villa Talk and this thread. Simply put, MUCH has been passed up the line from the Fan's perspective. Over the years I have spoken to many volatile issues....to the degree that I have even found myself on the sports pages of the UK papers. I would not agree that I haven't been up front when I could be.

5. Tjab: Not sure what you mean about "breaking a promise made in late 2006". I think we have tried to adhere to every promise made. "Selling Club?" Barry and Milner....As if we didn't try to keep these two players...as if we didn't try to sign them to a new contract. Totally not true. At some point, a decision needs to be made or you lose the value of the player...simple as that. If the player does not sign the new contract and wants to go, you need to recognize your situation. Downing? Again, rumors that I would only ask that you acknowledge are rumors and not fact. As for who have we replaced with who...let's start with Bent.

6. "Steve McClaren was left out of the process due to Randy taking the fan opinion into account." I am not sure where you came up with that but, although it will make some Fans angry, Football Management does not choose Managers based on "fan opinion." That would not be a smart thing to do. It may be very popular with the fans but it would not be smart.

Well I'm glad that's all been cleared up.

[hilts_coolerking]

We have a nucleus of a good side

That's not a lot to show for 5 years and however many tens of millions is it?

[UsualSuspect]

We are never going to sell Beye, he is going to sit on his arse for another year collecting his 42k per week which added to his transfer makes 8 MILLION wasted

We could sell Warnock but will take a massive loss. See Steven Ireland

We could sell Heskey but I suspect he will be content to see the remainder of his contract out

[UsualSuspect]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

For fucks sake, give the guy a chance. Signing Darren Bent wasn't a Vauxhall move from the board.

No. It was more of a part exchange as Bent was bought with the Milner money.

Unless things change in a radical way, we'll have to assume that Mr Lerner Sir is a remixed Doug Ellis.

If so, that's a real shame after the big strides we made in the first 3 years.

Yeah, spending fortunes on mediocre players that we've had to give away or sell for fraction of their purchase price. Obviously there are the three exceptions, Young, Milner and Downing we have or have to sell to recoup a small bit of the hugh transfer fees we payed for Marlon, Nigel, Petrov et al...
We have a nucleus of a good side and I have no doubt that we'll get the players in to settle the club down and move onwards.

The nucleus of a good side???

I hope that's tongue in cheek

[olaftab]

After these latest developments, all I can say is that Downing is a fucking scumbag.
We know players have no loyalty at all, but his actions in engineering this move are taking the piss.

We signed him injured, when he finally played that season he was sub standard.
He then plays well for a full season and then wants out.

I wish him nothing but the worst in his career. Fucking little weasel.

My feelings exactly.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

not sure if this was posted ....

posted 4th July...

General Krulak here:

1. The key question asked is, "Will Randy support AM during transfer window?" The answer can be given in two parts 1) When has Randy not supported his Manager? and 2) Yes, Randy will support AM. He will support AM as he has supported all of his Managers...he will work to keep the wage bill at a manageable level and, at the same time, will recognize where the Club needs to be strengthened and support the Manager in meeting those needs.

2. I am on holiday for the 4th of July....which is a weekend, not just one day. Call it a "Bank Weekend."

3. "Premiership experience" was NOT a KEY criteria...it was simply something that we were looking for. I think the rationale is pretty obvious...the understanding of the ins and outs of the Premiership. It was NOT a KEY criteria.

4. jackbauer24: You raise some valid points...not sure I would agree with them but so be it. As an example, I just answered a "Transfer Question" above. I would also say that MUCH has been accomplished through Villa Talk and this thread. Simply put, MUCH has been passed up the line from the Fan's perspective. Over the years I have spoken to many volatile issues....to the degree that I have even found myself on the sports pages of the UK papers. I would not agree that I haven't been up front when I could be.

5. Tjab: Not sure what you mean about "breaking a promise made in late 2006". I think we have tried to adhere to every promise made. "Selling Club?" Barry and Milner....As if we didn't try to keep these two players...as if we didn't try to sign them to a new contract. Totally not true. At some point, a decision needs to be made or you lose the value of the player...simple as that. If the player does not sign the new contract and wants to go, you need to recognize your situation. Downing? Again, rumors that I would only ask that you acknowledge are rumors and not fact. As for who have we replaced with who...let's start with Bent.

6. "Steve McClaren was left out of the process due to Randy taking the fan opinion into account." I am not sure where you came up with that but, although it will make some Fans angry, Football Management does not choose Managers based on "fan opinion." That would not be a smart thing to do. It may be very popular with the fans but it would not be smart.

Well I'm glad that's all been cleared up.

I think it's now safe to say that whatever The General comes out with, can be taken with a skip load of salt.

[Holy Trinity]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

so what do we do greg , give up, or just wait until we get a new buyer with wads of cash?

I'm guessing the new '(2)5 year plan' is to follow Everton's route - lower wages, a more balanced budget sheet in regards to transfers, with a much bigger reliance on our youth set-up. Getting the big earners like Downing off the wage bill would fit into that sort of scenario

Perhaps then we, too, could have a site like this:

http://www.evertontime.com/

Having signed Jermaine Beckford all further transfer activity is unnecessary ;-)

but beckford was a free transfer and that site says except for loans, youth or free transfers

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Sportinglife reckon we'll accept £19m for Downing.

Liverpool still keen to foist Ngog on us.

[Le Lapin]

No it's not

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

For fucks sake, give the guy a chance. Signing Darren Bent wasn't a Vauxhall move from the board.

No. It was more of a part exchange as Bent was bought with the Milner money.

Unless things change in a radical way, we'll have to assume that Mr Lerner Sir is a remixed Doug Ellis.

If so, that's a real shame after the big strides we made in the first 3 years.

Yeah, spending fortunes on mediocre players that we've had to give away or sell for fraction of their purchase price. Obviously there are the three exceptions, Young, Milner and Downing we have or have to sell to recoup a small bit of the hugh transfer fees we payed for Marlon, Nigel, Petrov et al...
We have a nucleus of a good side and I have no doubt that we'll get the players in to settle the club down and move onwards.

The nucleus of a good side???

I hope that's tongue in cheek

.

No it's not in cheek.

With the addition of Given, a good young backup keeper, N'Zogbia and someone like Bentley we will be a good side. We are not going to be competing with Citeh, Chelsea, Manure and Les Arse, but we are more than capable giving the rest of the sides a good game. Look at what Citeh have spent, and look where they finished, throwing money at it won't get instant success. Get real.

[Matt C]

We have a nucleus of a good side

That's not a lot to show for 5 years and however many tens of millions is it?

We had a nucleaus of a good side, I'm not convinced we do anymore.

[VillaAlways]

Sportinglife reckon we'll accept £19m for Downing.

Liverpool still keen to foist Ngog on us.

Ngog was shocking against us in the RESERVES.They can piss off

[Concrete John]

The sad thing is we'll probably see an entire england midfield next season at some point with all Villa ex-players. Maybe even Cahil in defence *facepalm*. 12 months time who would bet on Bent not joining the ex-club? I take on board the General's point about trying to keep them but at some stage things have gone wrong. I've mentioned before the need to continually negotiate new contracts and it needs to be looked into - both the length they sign initially and the point we start talking about extensions. It was pretty slack under MON and it didn't seem to noticably improve under GH.

As long as we are outside that elite set of clubs that are either in, or believed to be capable of getting to, the CL, then we'll always have our better players wanting to leave for one of them.  Contract length only is only significant in terms of the money we get for them, not in our ability to keep them. 

[Clampy]

i think most of us already know where we stand with the approaches for Martinez and AM.  Average managers used to surviving (or not) on a limited budget.You don't go and buy a Vauxhall vectra if you're planning to enter formula 1.

so what do we do greg , give up, or just wait until we get a new buyer with wads of cash?

I'm guessing the new '(2)5 year plan' is to follow Everton's route - lower wages, a more balanced budget sheet in regards to transfers, with a much bigger reliance on our youth set-up. Getting the big earners like Downing off the wage bill would fit into that sort of scenario

Is that such a bad thing? 

If you look at the spending power Randy has brought to bear since he took over it's not inconsiderable, yet it isn't enough to buy our way into the top 4.  Even if it was before the whole Man City thing has put paid to that.  So we look to the youth set up, which is a strength of ours anyway, and this allows us to re-focus the money we do have.

I still want to see deals like Milner/Ash/Downing coming it, but no more of the Sidwell/Beye/Harewood.  The kids taking the place of the latter so we can get a few more of the former.     

I guess its not that a bad idea. I have no problem giving the young players a go, in fact i'd welcome it. But its depends if its a means to an end or an end in itself. Its one thing flogging the likes of Young and Downing every year, it would be heartbreaking doing the same with albrighton and co.

Stop all this NEGATIVITY!!

Mat Kendrick
@MatKendrick Mat Kendrick
#avfc unlikely to do any outgoing/incoming business until after admin staff return tomorrow and players report back on Friday
4 hours ago via Mobile Web

Mat told me Villa will be signing players he has assurances of this from his contacts at villa! he couldn't mention any names but did say we have inquired about N'zogbia but more will happen in next 5 to 10 days!

please everyone lets just give it a bit of time

also still 56 days left in transfer window!

mat also said its his understanding there is only cash available for a keeper and any other cash will have to be made through selling.

Yes and we've sold Ashley so we'll use the cash from him to buy a replacement. McCleish has sais as much and to be honest i'd rather go by the word of the manager than a local journalist.

[DB]

Things are not looking good at the moment are they?