Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[BannedUserIAT]

So, we have no divine right to keep on getting higher in the league jsut because we're Villa. Too many people have had their hopes raised too highly.

I don't think we're expecting too much to have a team with full-backs.
The last under 10 side I managed had a couple!

[ROBBO]

Barry has to be replaced somehow, i know he's a prick for what he's done but he was playing the best football of his career, I dread to think how weak our midfield is going to be unless we can get some quality in.

[Coopers Injury]

Barry has to be replaced somehow, i know he's a prick for what he's done but he was playing the best football of his career

Let's not go overboard, did you go to any of the following home games : Citeh, Pompey, Boro, Wigan, S'land

Barry AWOL in all above games IMO

[peter w]

That's the point with Barry. Players come and go. I think the ire is directed because people think he's mental to leave right now. But, if he wants to go then sod him. Go. But, let's not pretend he's not being a turd and keep giving him a welcome response whenever we play. It looks like we are siding with him over the club.

What we are lacking, as I think Robbo said, is balance. We need to get someone in there who can do the job better than Barry. And there are plenty of players who are capable of it. He did well for us last season, but he is in no way a world beater.

Will we miss Barry? Yes, if Sidwell is the only replacement. No, if we get someone with a tad more pace and is every bit as good at least. Not easy to find? Thaty's the scout's job as they'll be a lot cheaper in Europe. Also, Kranjcar is an option.

[cb]

Also, Kranjcar is an option.

I don't think he is. The only thing that will get him out of Happy Harry's clutches is a bid from one of the top four and a brown envelope in Harry's back pocket!*

I wouldn't mind seeing us trying to hijack the Moutinho bid that Everton are struggling to put together. He's young and I think would be an ideal replacement for Barry as an attacking player. Yes he's Portugese and may take time to settle, but Moyes is a pretty good judge of a player and I think he'd fit right in. I suspect it wouldn't take too much more than the Barry money (and the deal we were offering Barry) to sign him...

* This is the view of the poster and not that of H & V.

[ROBBO]

Another day of nothing Villa related the only things to cheer me up is that Man Citys owner had to borrow money to pay wages and West Spams debacle with Freddie.
GKs statement has travelled the country with journalistic licence to distort a simple statement being taken by many.
Finally it seems that Man C, Everton, Toon, West Ham are all financially embarrassed.

[JD]

They are Robbo, so we should get a steal on them and sign some players.  ](*,)  I log in every morning in anticipation and nothing. I just hope that we have players lined up to sign and suddenly four or five sign at once.

By the way, what happened to Miguel? One minute there was a buzz about us signing him and now nothing. Maybe he can join the team in Spain (along with De La Red)  [-o< .

[ROBBO]

If you only log on in the morning your lucky. I woke up at 4.30 am and couldn't sleep so i got up had a hot drink and....... you guessed it logged on only to find zilch after an hour went back to bed woke up a couple oh hours later to find Zilch. Today in my office i go through all the pommie papares usually filled with the top four news to find .....zilch.
When i get home I wait until six pm and log on again hoping for good news from my fellow Golden Muppets, usually.........zilch.
I had thought of contacting MON and asking if he could save my sanity by just texting me when something was going to happen.
I've just got over a virus and i feel i'm coming down with another one.

[peter w]

I know the pain. having to log into BBC Sport to try and find any news, any crumbs of comfort regarding signings. They will happen but we've been watching intently since the end of the season for something. Yet, hardly anything.

I have my doubts about the GM info, also. Just lots and lots of rumours everywhere but no players. Its usually the Beeb that break anything first so that's where my time is spent.

Waiting...watching...hoping

[Guy M]

I know the pain. having to log into BBC Sport to try and find any news, any crumbs of comfort regarding signings. They will happen but we've been watching intently since the end of the season for something. Yet, hardly anything.

I have my doubts about the GM info, also. Just lots and lots of rumours everywhere but no players. Its usually the Beeb that break anything first so that's where my time is spent.

Waiting...watching...hoping

I disagree, they're almost always the last to know and post anything. Sky Sports News and Setanta News on the tellie and t'internet are a lot quicker. News Now is alright but generally 10 rehashes of the exact same story.

[VillaVA]

Agree re SSN.  Although on the Barry saga the OS has been consistently the first place to look, beating the rest of the pack by miles.

[Coopers Injury]

The Spurs Wankfest continues unabated on SSN, incredible...

[Brian Homer]

I know we are supposed to be patient but this is getting pretty stupid. How are we supposed to have an effective pre-season if we buy players at the last minute?

It is no longer good enough to say keep calm it'll be OK. Its only OK if we get some quality in depth bought in time to integrate them into the squad.

OK we did really well last year (and better than expected) but to repeat that we need to replace what we  (or are just about) lose and to push on we need to buy even more.

Unless something dramatic happens we are inline to just stick around at 6 or even lower. Spurs will I think do better this year and Pompey are likely to be better than last. Even Sunderland look to have bought reasonably well - certainly enough to push on a bit. Everton haven't bought but are starting from a better position than us. Citeh and Blackburn will still be there and Fulham could push on a bit.

I'm not impressed with what is going on - some other clubs have made significant buys why can't we? £30m don't make me laugh!

If we had that money to spend then there have been plenty of opportunities. In truth what we need is not one big spend but a clever set of buys to take us to a consistent 5th so we can attract the players to go for the top 4 in a couple of years.

Not happening yet though is it?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

On the bright side chaps, at least we won't have unhappy players complaining about 'squad rotation'.

[ROBBO]

At the moment the team picks itself how good is that for competition.