Takeover rumours

[danlanza]

We are Aston Villa, always will be. We could play in Hongkong, we would still be Aston Villa, nobody can take that from us, nobody.
I just have this feeling that change is needed to take us to the next level. Should this change happen, then, me as a fan, ex season ticket holder, and my true passion, i would take it all. We have to move on to be competitive, it is just the way the game has changed, and we as a club are getting to far behind the rest of them.
Yes, we can except a mid table finish as progress, we can also accept the odd spot inside the top eight.
For me, with so much cash involved in the game, i want my team to try and be at the top, the very top.
Can we not Just go for it, or are we going to become the next SHA, Albion or Wolves ? Sheffield, both clubs ?
We deserve better, we will get better in the future. UTV.

[Clampy]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

[Legion]

It was. Everything was.

[mrastonvilla]

If you're a club the size of Hull and are paying Huddlestone the thick end of £90k a week you need all the money you can get.

[Ad@m]

I was at the ATP Tour Finals the other week where aces were sponsored by Mercedes Benz and the ball boys and girls were sponsored by Barclays.

I felt like weeping!

[Dave Cooper please]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

That's something done at loads of clubs, a couple of seasons ago Tamworth had the time added on sponsored by Bank of Scotland business loans.
A few extra quid for the tannoy announcer to mention a company now and again, a bit like product placement.

[saunders_heroes]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

Small Heath started it as soon as they were promoted to the Premier in 2002. Both subs and injury time.
No thanks.

[Chris Harte]

Were they so broke back then that they could only afford two subs?

[Fergal]

The main thing is that we don't sell our soul or become a classless as Chelski.

[Dave Cooper please]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

Small Heath started it as soon as they were promoted to the Premier in 2002. Both subs and injury time.
No thanks.

Yet you'll happily walk around in a shirt advertising a betting company?

[saunders_heroes]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

Small Heath started it as soon as they were promoted to the Premier in 2002. Both subs and injury time.
No thanks.

Yet you'll happily walk around in a shirt advertising a betting company?

I wouldn't be seen dead in any football shirt, and certainly not one with a gambling advertisement on it.

[peter w]

From what I gather no-one really seems to know what Red Bull want. We don't know if they want Aston Villa, much less what strings might come with it. So it's just the stadium name? What else can go out the window for a bit of glory?

I don't even want us to play at The Red Bull Stadium personally. I don't care if we'd still call it Villa Park, I don't want to hear it called something else every time I watch a game in telly. I'm not even saying I'd stop going, or that it'd be the end  for me - I am simply saying its not what I want.

For those who aren't bothered about what the rest if the world calls our ground, where is the line? Red Bull Villa or Aston Red Bulls? I'm sure we can find a way of living with all of it perfectly happily, and despite what I do or don't want in this scenario - I'd probably be at Wembley cheering as loudly as anyone when those orange & blue ribbons get put on the FA Cup.

It's just that I'd rather watch us build something of our own If we can. I like what we're trying to do now. I want to see if we can make it work. If we can't, then that's just how it is. Aston Villa being average in this division, or playing a couple of divisions lower would still be Aston Villa - I'm not sure who those orange & blue bastards are.

Fair point amfy. Even if we did sell our soul to the highest bidder we would still be known as the team that plays at Villa Park. Even if it was renamed with some bullshit name like the Reebok, Bolton..... Madjeski, Etihad, the list goes on. It is not about what our stadium is called, it is about the people who fill it, Villa fans. Nobody can take that away from us, never. If we are going to progress into the bigtime then some sacrifices need to be made.
We will always be Aston Villa, always. That is ours to keep for ever and a day. But, we have to be realistic. To get to the top you have to be willing to sell your soul, ish. Will we do it ? I do not think so, in the immediate future but one day we will. Do us the Fans go with that decision, or, do we do a FC United of Manchester like Mr Woodhall posted earlier.? The World changes every day, football changes every day. I think that we should get used to the idea that the great game we grew up watching has nearly dissapeared, time to move on, unfortunately.

Yet Spurs have managed to gradually build something that's putting them in amongst it now. I know they have spent more than many clubs, but we're not talking soul selling levels. We're talking about good steady investment, stability & a bit of luck.

If the only way we can ever win anything is oligarchs & sheiks, & it is completely impossible to simply build towards success, then I think I would rather be at Everton losing 4-1 & singing about programmes (the other thread I've posted on today), than trying to defend my support of a club that's bought everything it's won in the last 20 years. To me, that is actually more fun. I am a bit odd like that!

and if tottenham had have moved to a new stadium, what name do you think the club would give it? anything a sponsor wanted them to call it.yes, tottenham have more or less done it the 'right' way. but,as dan said it seems they are testing the water beforedeciding to really try to get up to the top teams. Football has become a business, some time soon naming of grounds after sponsors will be come the same as when sponsors first appeared on shirts. Its inevitable, its a shame, but I guess if thosewatching from the 1880s were watching the 1950s they  would probably not recognise 'their' game. Football does move on.

But, it may not happen to us. But if not, we're risking consigning the name of the great Aston Villa to be forever a mediocre onlooker just trying to be relevant again. I want more than that.

[andyh]

I want us to be a relevant force in the game again.
That will take a shit load of money, there is no way in getting away from that.
As much as love the history, aura and mystique around our club, I would welcome any investment that would bring us success.
I would consider taking massive investment not as 'selling out' but more as 'moving with the times'.

[Dave Cooper please]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

I can't remember where it was but we were at a game this season where the subs were sponsored. It might have been Hull actually.

Small Heath started it as soon as they were promoted to the Premier in 2002. Both subs and injury time.
No thanks.

Yet you'll happily walk around in a shirt advertising a betting company?

I wouldn't be seen dead in any football shirt, and certainly not one with a gambling advertisement on it.

Fair enough, but the team you support are wearing them in every game they play.

[olaftab]

I wonder if we'll ever see the day when someone sponsors injury-time as they do at Hell City.

A few seasons ago we had Wrigley's Extra  advertised on the big screen for the durations of injury time.