The Takeover Thread - Recon Group - NOW WITH NEW POLL

[Duncan Shaw]

From reading his twitter and other stuff, Matt Scott has a bit of a bee in his bonnett about Samuelson (understanbly so to a point) so I think most of what he is writing has a negative slant to anything he's involved in.  I'm not trying to defend Samuelson here by the way and would be awry of him joining our board, but just saying the Matt Scott stuff may be not overly objective.

[tomd2103]

I think Pat Murphy can be a bit of a prickly character with the limit amount he gets on Twitter, but his articles are usually well put together. I feel sorry for some journalists on social media because it's pretty much designed for exclusives and showing off. I don't agree with everything Pat Murphy says but there's a few sports journalists who I think have credibility and he's certainly one.

Might be totally wrong, but I get the impression that he doesn't care much for the direction in which football has gone and some of the attitudes that are prevalent in the game today.  Seems far happier and jovial when covering cricket. 

[Dante Lavelli]

Nothing ever seems to run smoothly for Aston Villa does it?

Maybe is all running perfectly smoothly and totally as expected.

Its only the chatter on the interweb and gossip and hearsay that is putting the willies up people.

Indeed.  What's the expression 'A watched kettle never boils'?

I have spent the sum total of zero minutes reading about the deals for Swansea and Everton this close season and they seem to be progressing at a similar pace to the Villa takeover. 

[dave.woodhall]

I think Pat Murphy can be a bit of a prickly character with the limit amount he gets on Twitter, but his articles are usually well put together. I feel sorry for some journalists on social media because it's pretty much designed for exclusives and showing off. I don't agree with everything Pat Murphy says but there's a few sports journalists who I think have credibility and he's certainly one.

Might be totally wrong, but I get the impression that he doesn't care much for the direction in which football has gone and some of the attitudes that are prevalent in the game today.  Seems far happier and jovial when covering cricket. 

You're absolutely right, except he doesn't much care for modern cricket either.

[Villa in Denmark]

I think Pat Murphy can be a bit of a prickly character with the limit amount he gets on Twitter, but his articles are usually well put together. I feel sorry for some journalists on social media because it's pretty much designed for exclusives and showing off. I don't agree with everything Pat Murphy says but there's a few sports journalists who I think have credibility and he's certainly one.

Might be totally wrong, but I get the impression that he doesn't care much for the direction in which football has gone and some of the attitudes that are prevalent in the game today.  Seems far happier and jovial when covering cricket. 

He's not the only one.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm pretty sure that Dr Tony wouldn't have got this far if he couldn't have evidenced the funds. The more reliable media are beginning to confirm that now.

[Villa in Denmark]

Just appeared on one of my news feeds - Murphy - "Dr Tony Xia's takeover of Midlands club not in doubt"

Aston Villa's takeover by Chinese businessman Dr Tony Xia is not on the verge of collapse.

It has been reported that Xia has failed to demonstrate he possesses the necessary funds to complete the deal.

But BBC Sport has learned £52m has been paid into an escrow account, ready to be transferred to current Villa owner Randy Lerner.

Xia has also provided proof of funds that will guarantee he takes on an existing debt of £25m.

The same amount will be payable to American Lerner if Villa, relegated from the Premier League, return to the top flight within three years.

Xia has also provided guarantees to the Premier League and Football League that he can cover the club's operating costs for the next two seasons.

A joint enquiry by the two leagues continues and will not be rushed as all aspects of the proposed takeover are scrutinised, including the likely make-up of the new board of directors.

Villa remain without a permanent manager to replace Frenchman Remi Garde, who was sacked in March.

Former Everton and Manchester United boss David Moyes, who was on a three-man shortlist for the job, pulled out of the running last week.

Ex-West Brom and Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo remains in the frame.

[cdward]

A joint enquiry by the two leagues continues and will not be rushed as all aspects of the proposed takeover are scrutinised, including the likely make-up of the new board of directors.

This is the bit i am interested in.
I think the DR X and money part is fine, he has the funds, it's how the football club will be run is important.
We are one of the jewels in the crown of the FL now, if they let us turn into the new Portsmouth, it wont reflect well on us or them.
With talk of this Chris Samuelson bloke, and looking at his dealings with Reading, the FL don't want to f**k this up and let a wrong 'un through.

[Villa in Denmark]

I tend to agree cdw.  If (big if) there is a genuine stumbling block anywhere, it's Samuelsen or Wynes' involvement on the new board.

[Ads]

Just goes to show the difference between a nothing tin pot club like Swansea, whose take over from April still isn't done and all the attention ours is getting.

[mr underhill]

you mean that nothing tin pot club still comfortably ensconced in the Premiership?

[Ads]

That nobody gives a feck about.

[Gareth]

A couple of seasons ago I thought Pat Murphy had it in for us and was buying into the "lovely ickle Baggies" myth they peddle and going over to the Dark Side. Then his interviews with McMumbles started to make sense when TSM2 couldn't ramble his way out of direct questions and I must admit that I now listen to Murphy with interest and tend to believe what he is saying.

One of the reasons I like him both personally and professionally is that he says what he thinks and believes. He doesn't do it for Facebook likes or page hits, he has opinions he sticks to and if he says he thinks something will happen it's because he believes it will, not to stir up controversy.

And he was very open that he had a gripe with Lerner not speaking to the press, totally open about it not just bitching like many in the media would

[Nunkin1965]

I've always found Pat Murphy a decent reporter with whatever he's covered in both the Cticket and Football world. Like or loath he always gives us FACTS.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A joint enquiry by the two leagues continues and will not be rushed as all aspects of the proposed takeover are scrutinised, including the likely make-up of the new board of directors.

This is the bit i am interested in.
I think the DR X and money part is fine, he has the funds, it's how the football club will be run is important.
We are one of the jewels in the crown of the FL now, if they let us turn into the new Portsmouth, it wont reflect well on us or them.
With talk of this Chris Samuelson bloke, and looking at his dealings with Reading, the FL don't want to f**k this up and let a wrong 'un through.

Some interesting reading on Samuelson here.