MikeMcKenna

If possible could the original poster change the title to small heath 0 Aston Villa 6? I find the current title to be offensive.

I think Jack is the most skilful kid we have had since Brian Little and imho "burning out" will not be an issue - he is VERY confident. In Brian Little's day they had far less protection and as Sunday showed refs will ensure Jack gets to play otherwise we could be playing against a few ten man sides this year The fact that he has brought him (an 18 year old) on twice tells us how high they rate him and imo it will not be long before he starts. He is very hard to dispossess and I wouldn't be surprised if his first full debut is away.

Bloody agents, money grabbing B@#tards! This story is way more believable than the one Sky are reporting, in all fairness. Where agents are concerned, they're strictly interested in one thing...and that is what lines their pockets. His agent Simon Kennedy seems like he has all his eggs in one basket with TC and funnily enough employs TC's Dad; Andrew. After a fall out with his previous partner in April this year they put their agency into administration and he has now set up this one with among other Michael Ricketts. Reads like a who's who of hangers on and I wouldn't be surprised if their only major client is TC. Bunch of leeches. http://www.pinnaclesel.com/our-people.html

Reference TC. If he has joined us on loan I welcome him. Were not exactly blessed are we? Nobody knows what happens behind closed doors. I am sure many of our "fickle" fans will be all over him if he improves the team and subsequently signs. He was a small fish in a big pond and could come good for us. We should be thankful for small mercies.

I am calm mate, just still not confident...... :-)

I have still an awful feeling that he is off!

I also thought that yesterday. He does seem to be a lot leaner. In the 1st half he was my MOTM. He made some great runs and was constantly harrying. Unsurprisingly he ran out of steam in the 2nd.

That is exactly who he reminds me of. Me too. Me too.

Why is he "not ready"? As the old saying goes "If he is good enough, he is old enough" IMHO Jack is the most talented and skilful player to come out of our academy for decades. George Best was 17 when he made his debut. Brian Little, 18. Beckham, 17. Jack will get plenty of stick and be knocked about but that is how he will learn. He has great self confidence and belief. So we should throw him in now. As I said yesterday. He got more than his fair share of kicks and came up smiling. OK we still have not seen enough of him in the Premiership but I am absolutely convinced this kid is class!! Confidence isn't an issue.

Why is he "not ready"? As the old saying goes "If he is good enough, he is old enough" IMHO Jack is the most talented and skilful player to come out of our academy for decades. George Best was 17 when he made his debut. Brian Little, 18. Beckham, 17. Jack will get plenty of stick and be knocked about but that is how he will learn. He has great self confidence and belief. So we should throw him in now.

It is a bit of a shame for Gabby. He was never the brightest button, nor more importantly a prolific striker. He had plenty of pace but if the ball wasn't in front of him he struggled. IMHO his problems really started when he decided that he needed to bulk up one summer during MONs time. In the following season he decided that he could be take the ball with his back to defenders but he rarely had the skill to turn and beat them. He has been a good servant for Villa, but I think his time is up and that he should either move on or be used as an impact sub. However I doubt either will happen and think that his career at Villa will just stumble along till the fans ultimately turn against him.

Pathetic - AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Felt really sorry for Jack today as he nearly had his VP debut. Lambert was just about to put him on when Cissokho was injured and decided he needed a Baker instead.

FFS I cannot believe the number of posters who think a major priority for any new CEO is "The Badge"......

Really? I am quite staggered that anyone could give RL credit for spending peanuts! It is sweet FA to do with him.

So much for all the rumours about the FA, another football role. PF has set up a consulting company which suggests his relationship with RL broke down. Good luck to him

Wrong! Smalling is sh*te! He was one of the reasons that Man U were sh*te last year. Vlaar is solid, not the best, but we need him if we are to survive next year. Considering the disadvantages of relegation, I would if necessary run his contract down. The reality is that whatever happens, we will only "survive" until some rich person takes a punt.

Looks more like a chubby Richard Branson to me

Hopefully the stream will concentrate on the match not the fans in the 2nd

Just finished our annual Bournemouth Villa supporters BBQ. We are very lucky to have Peter McParland attend every year and this time round he shared his memories with us of when he went with Northern Ireland to 1958 World Cup, scoring 5 goals personally before they got knocked out in the Quarter Finals against France. However this year we also had another legend: The one only Nigel Spink! As you would expect Nigel told of us of the shocking moment he had to replace Jimmy Rimmer in the '82 European cup with just one top level game to his name! However before discussing the European cup game, he told us that as a very young man, he had a game for West Ham reserves who were slaughtered 6-1. After that game the West Ham manager Ron Greenwood informed Spinksy that he didn't have a future in the professional game and should concentrate on completing his education. Fortunately for Nigel, in 1977 Aston Villa thought otherwise, six years later he went on to win a European Cup and his record for the number of appearances by a Villa GK are unlikely to be ever be beaten. Great to have not one but two Villa legends attend - a great day was had by all! UTV!

To an extent that is my point. As the statement said he was offered a non operational role so the decision had already been made to move him out of the CEO position but PF obviously didn't like the idea. If PF was doing a good job why would RL want to rock the boat at this point? If anything this suggests the reverse and that RL didn't think he was up to the mark or his removal from the CEO job is linked to something else. My understanding was that he got on very well with Lambert and that from the business perspective he had also done well in trying times. Another possibility is that it is connected to the Culverhouse and Karsa debacle. It is very strange.

What's curious is the reason for Faulkner leaving. The statement says Having discussed his re-engaging with the Chairman's broader business while remaining involved with Villa in a non-operational role, agreement could not be reached. That seems like Randy wanted Faulkner to no longer be CEO, and he was offering "other work" to him - Why would Randy not want him to be CEO? It's not going to be about his past performance in the job, it'll be about some disagreement over the way to proceed whilst the prospect of a sale is on. It would seem reasonable to surmise that Faulkner wanted more investment/money etc. for players and more "care and attention" paid and feels that the club is no longer being run in the interests of the club itself. I'm worried about Randy Lerner's state of mind, frankly. Some pretty bizarre things have been happening of late. PF was being offered a "non operational role" definitely suggests he was asked to remain on the board and likely a significantly reduced income and obvious total loss of responsibility. Personally I do not feel that PF had a great affinity with Villa or that he was strong enough to demand more "investment/money". In my dealings with him I found him to be very professional but I really don't think he would stick his neck on the block. The offer of a "non operational role" obviously means that RL was not happy with his performance in some way OR that his removal as CEO is a precursor to a sale in the offing. I accept that nothing has come of all the rumours but PF leaving may actually suggest more is happening behind the scenes than we realise. Given the state of ST sales, the uncertainty about new signings, the club being up for sale etc it makes no sense that RL would effectively get rid of his CEO at this time unless something else is going on.

Rather stating the obvious aren't you? Of course it is ultimately about money. I am not relying on the "funny old game" maxim but there is some truth in it. Everton are a club of a similar standing who have relatively prospered compared to AVFC. Southampton came from nowhere as a result of some good kids who came through and an unknown manager. Unless we acquire mega rich owners we are destined to be one of the also rans but Everton and others are in the same boat and can occasionally rise up. Saying we were worse off 40 years isn't designed to give comfort but it is about putting things into perspective. AVFC despite everything are still a top 8-10 club who with a bit of luck will do an Everton.

Some people need to get a grip. We have been through far worse and whilst we may not for many, many years, challenge for honours, we are as others have said a viable concern and IMO better off than some of the others around us. Yes this coming season will be another very difficult one but things can change quickly and we all know football is a funny old game. In the last 3 days I have been through one of "the darkest hours" in my family life which put my love and concern for the future AVFC into complete perspective. We will rise again, maybe not very high, but some time in the future AVFC and VP will be be rocking again!

I am long past wanting some multi-Billionaire owner. Over the last few months I have come to the conclusion that they are all clearings in the woods who will always be self interested and only treat AVFC as an extension of their already inflated egos. I just want someone who truly LOVES AVFC. In fact I find it hard to stomach the way so many fans are willing to almost sell their souls for the want of some rich owner, irrespective of their background or morals, in the quest for honours. Sadly PL clubs are nothing more than pounds of flesh to be traded between rich wan-kers. I know all the arguments etc etc - this is just how I feel. The last person who 'truely loved Deadly Doug' was Deadly Doug, and look how that turned out. He wouldn't leave, even long after his sell by date. He was like one of those farts when you have eaten too many beans and eggs and it lingers there for too long. So long that when someone else eventually turns up to show interest, they are so repulsed that they turn right back round and walk the other way, shaking their head in disgust. Be careful what you wish for! Fixed for you ;-)