Alex McLeish confirmed as manager

[Brend'Watkins]

The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.

Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off.  I can see the players warming to him.

[PeterWithe]

The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.

Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off.  I can see the players warming to him.

As far as I can see he's no more loyal than the next man and has moved on anytime a bigger job has come up.

[Risso]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. .

Nobody thought that we'd be in a full on relegation scrap.

doesn't change the fact that money was made available to sign arguably the PL very best striker. If money was so tight Randy could just as easily said here's 5 million. The outlay was above and beyond and then some.

I'm not suggesting for a second that he'd sanction another one of those, but to justify this appointment and to keep us in the upper reaches of the league it isn't going to be cheap. One thing that can't ever be levelled at RL is that he understands that attaining and retaining players in sport is expensive and he's shown that he's willing to spend the money. Be it here or with the Browns. There's a ceiling with us obviously based on where we are but I still believe that if McLeish was adamant about a player, and we could get him, he'd be backed in that request.

We'll see I guess.

[JUAN PABLO]

chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas ..        no hughes then

[Toronto Villa]

chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas ..        no hughes then

I think Hughes has received some very poor advice indeed.

[ExclDawg]

Not sure why everyone is down on him ...  He cares about cup competitions and helped relegate the Blues twice!  It's like he reads these forums. 

[Concrete John]

No manager is ever going to come out and say we are going to spend big.

Of course not. However, it was the suggestion that some academy players might be having a 'big season' that points towards reigning in of spending. I'm all for our own talent obviously, but not to the detrement of buying decent players to replace big losses.

It might, but then it also might point to the fact that these kids are good enough and ready so SHOULD be used. 

As it goes I think we'll still spend, but if we say need two £5m players and one of the kids can take one of those spots, we can then just go an buy a £10m player for the other one. 

Basically, what is there to be spent will be spent, but if we can focus that on less numbers, thereby increasing the quality, then that's a good thing!   

[PeterWithe]

chelsea to apoint that Villa-Boas ..        no hughes then

I'd love to know the real reason we didn't speak to Hughes, he seemed the ideal candidate.

[frank]

AM refused to say - for legal reasons - at what point he became a candidate for the Villa job. It's looking more and more as though we tapped him up, isn't it?

[Villa'Zawg]

Lots of talk about treading carefully and keeping an eye on the future spending.  I wouldn't be expecting any exciting signings this summer.

Nobody had any notion that Bent would be signing either in January Risso. In fact Villa led the media a merry dance about sell to buy and similar bollocks. We can always revisit this in September, but Randy has always found funds for his manager. I see no reason that we cannot continue to spend responsibly. That includes buying proven talent that provides quick returns like a Darren Bent as the opportunity arises.

We've balanced the books on transfers since summer 2009 i.e. sell-to-buy.

[garyshawsknee]

Any mention of bathroom staff ?

[Brend'Watkins]

The thing I like about him and possibly what makes him stand out as the best candidate for where we are now is that he comes across as genuine unlike his predecessors.... too good for this place (DO'L), I'm still in love with another (GH), when will the Liverpool job be vacant (MON)'.

Determination for the challenge ahead is all well and good, let's hope he has the necessary ability and nous to pull it off.  I can see the players warming to him.

As far as I can see he's no more loyal than the next man and has moved on anytime a bigger job has come up.

I didn't mention loyalty, I did say genuine though.  If he makes a good job of it it is only natural he will be linked with bigger clubs not that there are much bigger.  If he does the business he will get a contract extension then we will know more about his loyalty.

[PeterWithe]

Any mention of bathroom staff ?

Houllier will be offering assorted mens fragrances and a paper towel.

[Villa'Zawg]

Any mention of bathroom staff ?

Sid is going to remain as our deluxe heated 1st team coach.

[Dave P]

Any mention of bathroom staff ?

Yeah.  He's bringing in Paul Tait to clean the toilets and Robert Hopkins to plumb a new shower at Bodymoor Heath.