Emi Martinez

[Somniloquism]

On the financial front, I think if you look at the likes of Newcastle who qualified for CL and then didn't get any European football at all the following season, the decisions we've made seem to be working. I know we could still end up with no European football, but we got into the CL, actually competed in it, got FA Cup SF, and will hopefully get at least Europa, if not CL again. As someone pointed out, we were starting from so far behind the established CL teams, and the jiggery pokery is unfortunately necessary, but if it works it helps us close the gap to those other teams.

We are definitely in some form of Europe, it is just at what level we don't know.

[algy]

I think we should just qualify for the Champions League again, keep Emi, and sell some no-hope youngsters to a newly promoted club for £15m a pop, but with the condition that they have to sell them back to us for a pittance at the end of the season so that we can sell them on within 6 months at a profit for a second time.  That seems to have worked well in the past.

[AV84]

On the financial front, I think if you look at the likes of Newcastle who qualified for CL and then didn't get any European football at all the following season, the decisions we've made seem to be working. I know we could still end up with no European football, but we got into the CL, actually competed in it, got FA Cup SF, and will hopefully get at least Europa, if not CL again. As someone pointed out, we were starting from so far behind the established CL teams, and the jiggery pokery is unfortunately necessary, but if it works it helps us close the gap to those other teams.

We are definitely in some form of Europe, it is just at what level we don't know.

Well there you go. We're already ahead of the Newcastles and Brightons of the world.

[kippaxvilla2]

Surely we are due to sell Philogene and Archer again?

[Dogtanian]

Steve Staunton first.

[Lucky Eddie]

Steve Staunton first.

I'm afraid he'll be well ahead of you there and sorting himself out the selfish prick.

[eamonn]

Can't believe how much Philogene has proved us right.

[D.boy]

Nothing has come from Villa or Emi yet so I shall refrain from joining the "he's off" debate until there is something concrete from the club or Emi himself.

[Brazilian Villain]

Nothing has come from Villa or Emi yet so I shall refrain from joining the "he's off" debate until there is something concrete from the club or Emi himself.

That would be the sensible approach. They may not know themselves until they see how Sunday pans out.

[john e]

Nothing has come from Villa or Emi yet so I shall refrain from joining the "he's off" debate until there is something concrete from the club or Emi himself.

 Nothing from Emi ?
he was crying his eyes out and waving us goodbye on Friday night

[Legion]

Nothing has come from Villa or Emi yet so I shall refrain from joining the "he's off" debate until there is something concrete from the club or Emi himself.

 Nothing from Emi ?
he was crying his eyes out and waving us goodbye on Friday night

Hay fever.

[eamonn]

This gobshite is always running his mouth off on FB, time will tell, I guess...

[purpletrousers]

Whatever happens when - and our love for Emi may be coming to an end much sooner than I want - he will always be such a pivotal player. It’s be done to death I’m sure but the fact I need to chuck in my two penneth reflects just how important he’s been to our ascendency.

Aside from respect to Neil Cutler for discerning his potential (what a window under Deano with Watkins, credit to those that trusted Big Cuts judgement) and just his contributions as a world class goalkeeper, Emi has been our totem, an icon, our stubborn dreamer. Ok when you know what money and serious intent there is maybe it’s not such a hard decision, but the biggest thing from Emi has been to stay with us and help bring us back. To talk us up, to hope and make true, Champions League Baby. I didn’t dare dream, he did.

We might get CL 2nd season in a row which is the only route to building us back - under a messiah of a manger - to the top of the tree.

To continually and loudly say I want to win with Villa, and we should have done, but for a deeper squad (conference league) or some sensible selection and strategy (Wembley not being a great moment for Unai’s blind spot to blot the copybook, as delighted as I am for Palace fans) but to loudly say we want to go to the promised land and get there, this is his contribution.

I hope he will still be with us, I hope he will hold silverware aloft with us. In a way the tears and words would make that all the sweeter.

But it feels it might be another tough PSR decision we have to again prove we can cope with. There are some unbelievable memories, not least the confusion of being down the other end of the stadium in Lille and trying to work out how the mad b’stard was still on the pitch after two yellows, knowing that for once going to Pens might favour of us, knowing any in-match penalty taker might be head wobbled just facing him.

I’m sure he’d have done my head in with another team and my principles of fair play, but how many years did I see comments of a team being too nice on here. Messi knows something about winning.
I haven’t been back to Uganda in 3yrs but the fun of thanking the Arsenal fans I got chatting to there was such a delight. The why isn’t Ronaldo taking it / shagging the Stretford end etc.
Not the time for these sorts of posts, Sunday is so massive but it’s great to have a World Class player who gets us and loves us.

[Keeno]

I mean it IS possible that he was crying because he genuinely didn't know if that would be his last game at VP.

That doesn't mean he's definitely off, but if there's a small amount of uncertainty and he's due for talks with the club on how they're gonna proceed, it was his last chance to appreciate a home crowd. It's been reported there's been no contact or offers from him from any club yet, so it's far from done he's going.

[cdbearsfan]

It's possible that he's only just found out that Bennifer didn't work out. Again.