Takeover rumours

[Monty]

The thing is, Randy is many things, but like I've said I doubt he's the kind of guy to sell the club to people who plan to do away with all of our traditions. Randy has never been anything other than enthusiastically supportive of our traditions.

[dave.woodhall]

They're very committed to sport and excellence so in that regard I think it would be great. It goes without saying that nobody wants people fucking with our identity. I doubt they'd even try.

Mass sponsorship, a themed away kit, stand renaming and so on, sure. To be honest, if they could bring entertainment and belief back to this club I could swallow almost anything at the moment. It's not like the premier league is a noble institution that is respectful of history and traditions.

A new injection of ambition, nous and resources would be great. Any other issues, well, that's a matter for when and if they arose. I hope there's something in this but I'm not getting too ahead of myself.

Like when IMG were going to buy us Ronaldo?

[Legion]

No problem with them sponsoring us. No problem with the 'Red Bull North Stand' or whatever. No problem with a different-coloured away kit as there have been a few with a difference. Big problem with renaming the ground and/or the team.

[cdbearsfan]

I could possibly live with renaming the ground as we'd still call it Villa Park. I doubt many would consider that Bayern Munich and Arsenal have sold their soul for playing in sponsored stadia. Admittedly they moved into a new ground rather than renaming an existing one but I don't see a whole lot of difference.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Seems like we have all ironed out the details. The deal can go ahead now Randy.

Sorted.

[eastie]

The thing is, Randy is many things, but like I've said I doubt he's the kind of guy to sell the club to people who plan to do away with all of our traditions. Randy has never been anything other than enthusiastically supportive of our traditions.

If the money is right and he feels the buyer could take villa back to competing at the highest level and be a force again then who knows - probably all pie in the sky anyway but if it did happen I doubt anyone would want to change the name of the club - as others have said the ground will always be villa park to us anyway whatever anyone else calls it .

[Monty]

No problem with them sponsoring us. No problem with the 'Red Bull North Stand' or whatever. No problem with a different-coloured away kit as there have been a few with a difference. Big problem with renaming the ground and/or the team.

That's pretty much my position. The club and the ground have names among the oldest in the sport. We should not change that now.

Also, an away kit which looked like the Red Bull F1 car, with the navy blue and red trim, would be quite natty.

[Clampy]

If it meant a half 'Red Bull' half 'Villa' scarf, then count me in.

[martin o`who??]

The thing is, Randy is many things, but like I've said I doubt he's the kind of guy to sell the club to people who plan to do away with all of our traditions. Randy has never been anything other than enthusiastically supportive of our traditions.

i agree.

[Legion]

So do I.

[paul_e]

I'm sure I've said this before but for me the 'sacred' bits are:

Club name has to be Aston Villa (I could probably come to terms with Aston Villa Red Bulls though)
Lion on the badge (couldn't give a toss if they changed the shape, they wanna put a lion on a blue and white quartered circle with wings behind it's not that different to any of the other badge changes we've seen)
Claret and Blue home kit (not as tied to tradition as some so I don't insist on claret body and blue sleeves but the colours are our main identity)

For me any complaints about the ground or stand names died in the 90s when we announced the new name for witton lane and any advertising they want to shove over the ground/training ground is ok by me, it's not like we don't have adverts everywhere anyway.

[Legion]

No, we're Aston Villa. Not Aston Villa Red Bulls. Aston Villa sponsored by Red Bull would be fine.

[go on the dog]

Correct its Aston Villa nothing else

[paul_e]

As said, I could probably learn to live that as the very extreme.

[Chipsticks]

I'm sure I've said this before but for me the 'sacred' bits are:

Club name has to be Aston Villa (I could probably come to terms with Aston Villa Red Bulls though)
Lion on the badge (couldn't give a toss if they changed the shape, they wanna put a lion on a blue and white quartered circle with wings behind it's not that different to any of the other badge changes we've seen)
Claret and Blue home kit (not as tied to tradition as some so I don't insist on claret body and blue sleeves but the colours are our main identity)

For me any complaints about the ground or stand names died in the 90s when we announced the new name for witton lane and any advertising they want to shove over the ground/training ground is ok by me, it's not like we don't have adverts everywhere anyway.

Agreed on all of those points, to be honest my main concern would be them renaming the Holte End.

If we get a shed load of free Red Bull before game I'll be happy.