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

[olaftab]

Stop winding them up Fletch...

Don't blame me.
I only cut and paste 'em.

Gutted. I thought all your work was original!

[Karl Bridges]

I think some people need to wake up and smell the coffee, unless we replace Michael Bradley we are going down and that is cold hard reality.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not concerned with the striking options. However we need a winger, a centre mid, a centre half and a full back at the very least.

[GJH]

Yep Bradley the midfield Dynamo!

[Karl Bridges]

Now we've lost our first friendly 3-2 to Boldmere. We're going down folks, if the reserves can't even beat Boldmere we should just sell Villa Park and turn it into Morrisons.

[ozzjim]

I really hope that Naughton is in the 3-4 million range of Matt Kendricks possibles - he is exactly the type we should be after.

Is there not an athletic, decent ball winning midfield player in the championship we can steal!?

[Ian.]

I was sure last week we would have quite a different team this season. I was sure 4 or 5 players would be signed. I'm still quite sure more than one more will come in. I understand the reasons why we need to sort ourselves out and I'm sure Randy will never give the manager as much trust as MON had.

I was taken in by the whole MON thing and the whole legend status he seemed to carry, I'm sure Randy was too. Now when I look back and I think we spent that much on him and that amount of wages, you think to yourself what the bloody hell for? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We have spent a lot of money on players fees and wages and it does look like we are paying for it now. If it was my money I probably would be less trusting letting it go on whomever.

I can understand why after the MON regime why we didn't go for Rafa, and for this same reason I can see why Martinez was a big attraction. I don't think AM will be a puppet and I'm sure he was explained the financial situation prior. This season is going to be one of team re-building in trust and in winning harmony from within more than anything which I believe is the thing AM can achieve. I still don't believe Randy has thrown the towel in yet.

[Greg N'Ash]

Good points Ian. I'm not sure we're going to have a season of harmony though with AM in charge at least off the pitch. Some have got his card marked already unfortunately.

[Grande Pablo]

Perhaps it's Franz or Willie.  Cheaper.

[KevinGage]

Now we've lost our first friendly 3-2 to Boldmere. We're going down folks, if the reserves can't even beat Boldmere we should just sell Villa Park and turn it into Morrisons.

Randy Lerner is stripping the lead out of the stadium as we speak. I always KNEW he was a rotter...

[PeterWithe]

McLeish was implicated in that Despatches expose dragging the good name of the club through the mud, is only buying one player and hence pocketing the money from the Young + Downing transfers and has now lost to Boldmere. How long is Lerner going to let this blue nose twat take the piss? Take him on a tour around the rose garden.

[Dante Lavelli]

McLeish was implicated in that Despatches expose dragging the good name of the club through the mud, is only buying one player and hence pocketing the money from the Young + Downing transfers and has now lost to Boldmere. How long is Lerner going to let this blue nose twat take the piss? Take him on a tour around the rose garden.

I have absolutely no idea what you're trying to say there.

[King of the Nørth]

I was sure last week we would have quite a different team this season. I was sure 4 or 5 players would be signed. I'm still quite sure more than one more will come in. I understand the reasons why we need to sort ourselves out and I'm sure Randy will never give the manager as much trust as MON had.

I was taken in by the whole MON thing and the whole legend status he seemed to carry, I'm sure Randy was too. Now when I look back and I think we spent that much on him and that amount of wages, you think to yourself what the bloody hell for? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We have spent a lot of money on players fees and wages and it does look like we are paying for it now. If it was my money I probably would be less trusting letting it go on whomever.

I can understand why after the MON regime why we didn't go for Rafa, and for this same reason I can see why Martinez was a big attraction. I don't think AM will be a puppet and I'm sure he was explained the financial situation prior. This season is going to be one of team re-building in trust and in winning harmony from within more than anything which I believe is the thing AM can achieve. I still don't believe Randy has thrown the towel in yet.

Man 2:30 am and Ive finally got through the whole days posts! Without trying not to be too negative (as much as I would love a good moan, its been covered) I would say here's my outlook for this season;

 Got high earning barely used squad players in Heskey & Beye on 60k and 40k (wow just found out last wk or so, unbelievable!). If we cant shift them this season, use them. Then wait till next season when we can get rid of them. In the mean time not buying in replacements gives us the chance to look at the likes of Lichaj and Delfounso/Weiman. This gives us an opportunity to see if, once we get rid of the deadwood, will we have to buy next year? Or can they step up and fill the void? Same could apply for Petrov/ Delph, Clark/Dunne, Albrighton/Downing.

 So I can see another average season of ups and downs. The ups being finally seeing Delph, Delfouneso, Bannan get more starts, the emergence of one G.Gardner aswell as Albrighton and Clark holding down regular starting positions. The downs being a 4,5 or 6 nil hammering by one of the top 4 teams in the league.

 The ONLY reason Im looking forward to this season are for the youth. If we didnt have such potential coming through then tbh I dont think Id even have the enthusiasm to watch us on MOTD anymore.


 

[Dante Lavelli]

That seems a pretty fair assessment tikka masala. Next season will be painful at times but I'd expect at least one of the yoof to prove they're premiership quality. This will effectively save us 10m-ish next year.

With few more of the high earners off the wage bill too we really should be able to push on next season.

[King of the Nørth]

That seems a pretty fair assessment tikka masala. Next season will be painful at times but I'd expect at least one of the yoof to prove they're premiership quality. This will effectively save us 10m-ish next year.

With few more of the high earners off the wage bill too we really should be able to push on next season.

 Yup unfortunately another season is written off because we cant get rid of the deadwood. But the following season Heskey, Beye, Young and others will be gone so thats when we will start to see McLeishs team. Im still hoping Amc's comments just means we want to get Nzogbia deal done, take him on tour, see how the squad are playing and where they're at. Then last week of window bring in some bargain buys off the likes of Spurs who are desperately trying to shift some of their overpaid, unused players ie Hutton, Naughton etc. If we cant get someone like Hutton cheapish now, then it gives us time to bed him in for when Beye and Young are gone next season. Although I still cant see why we cant go for someone like N.Clyne. After all McLeish is famed for picking up Dann & johnson from the lower leagues. Here's hoping he can find us a few gems down there. Very much what Spurs have done with Huddlestone, Lennon, Walker etc


 Ps man am I excited about the cricket tomorrow, cant wait!