MikeMcKenna

I feel sorry for PL and while I understand the anger towards him on some levels, IMHO it should be primarily aimed at Randy Lerner. Lambert was with hindsight foolish to accept what was always going to be a poisoned chalice and has probably f****d up his career as a result. Others such as Martinez and reputedly OGS turned us down and for that I admire him. His "project" was always flawed and obviously didn't work out and for that he is probably going to pay the price soon, but I think he genuinely thought he could break the mould as did many on here.

I don't get what living in Bournemouth has anything to do with it. Bournemouth does not have a decent curry house. It does actually, try Little India on Old Christchurch Road. & don't forget to leave a tip. Nah, now way, no freakin way, does that qualify as a curry house, are they open 24/7? I used to live on that road, they have homages to many cultures in this world inculding the only black bar that is deemed acceptable in one of the most facist parts of england - Bournemouth sucks, on so many levels. HH is very much at home. Obviously you have an axe to grind, care to share what your problem is? Easy - Howard Hodgkinson. Tosser. Oh I see another keyboard warrior with a unknown grudge who chooses to hide behind a screen name but hasn't got the balls to say why. I know HH, not well and accept he is not everybody's cup of tea, but he is a Villa fan through and through. Like me, he uses his real name on forums which makes him a target for saddos. I am a Brummie who lives in Bournemouth and think it is a pretty nice place. Did you have a bad experience?

I don't get what living in Bournemouth has anything to do with it. Bournemouth does not have a decent curry house. It does actually, try Little India on Old Christchurch Road. & don't forget to leave a tip. Nah, now way, no freakin way, does that qualify as a curry house, are they open 24/7? I used to live on that road, they have homages to many cultures in this world inculding the only black bar that is deemed acceptable in one of the most facist parts of england - Bournemouth sucks, on so many levels. HH is very much at home. Obviously you have an axe to grind, care to share what your problem is?

David, Why? It is all largely opinion at the end of the day and no one has a clue, who is truly in ITK. Many have heard snippets, some choose to stoke the fire, whereas other decide to damp it. I don't know anymore than I was told months ago, that could be BS as well, but it does seem that anyone who "thinks" a take over "may" not happen is less credible than someone who thinks it will. Maybe it's all wishful thinking. We now have individuals on another site who were certain it was all done and dusted spouting as ambiguously as Lerner. If it happens great, if not I never got my hopes up in the first place.

So after all the so called spin, BS, ITK, "evidence", there is basically nothing to "prove" we are being taken over other than Lerner saying ambiguously that he will make a statement after the end of the season and PL being vague about his future in his last interview. As Trent has said I also think there are going to be a lot of disappointed people.

Congratulations Jack! Hope you get to touch the ball!

I saw a bloke in the directors area yesterday, with brown hair, a well tanned rugged face, beard, tash and wearing a cap ..... it wasn't Larry Ellison!

True but also highly ambiguous. IF the club is in the process of being taken over and someone very senior really controls this Twitter account I see no earthly reason why they would want to lead fans along. However if they are planning something quite different that has been signed & sealed such as a JV, new investment, stadium naming rights, major sponsorship etc it could make sense

I don't think so. It's almost absurd to think that we WON'T be taken over tbh. All the wheels are in motion and it's clear as daylight that this is it for Randy. There will be a takeover; the only question is who will take us over. Really? what wheels are in motion? How is it clear as daylight and how do you know anything? IMHO It is not as clear cut as you and others make out. Some plonker from another site, states categorically that we are being taken over by certain billionaires and is subsequently discredited, a number of newspapers put 2+2 together based on fan speculation, but have no other evidence and a ****fest begins. I will believe it when I see it. If I am wrong I am happy, but I remain very sceptical. I still think that it is possible that it isn't a "takeover" and that something else is in the offing.

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed.

Some right wind ups in this thread. What will be, will be and I suspect that the bitching will continue unabated whatever the outcome. I hated the season but enjoyed today. From my personal perspective I am happy we survived to fight another day and anything I say (or others on here) will make not difference to who manages or owns AVFC next season. A number people need to take a holiday and chill out. Point scoring on forums is so boring and pointless.

I will be renewing in the next few days. While I understand those who have financial constraints or who cannot make it work but I have never understood those who withhold their support for no other reason only saying "I will not attend or renew": "until ...... Ellis..., O'Leary, McLeish, Lambert goes" - in fact they piss me off! I remember standing on the Holte in November 1968, when we were at our lowest ebb, playing Preston when there were just over 13, 000 other lonely fans in VP. We lost 0-1 and went to the very bottom of Division 2. As we walked away from the ground it felt like a funeral march - we were doomed as far as everyone was concerned and it felt like our club way dying. However the thought of NOT turning up for the next home game never crossed my mind or I am sure the other 13,000+ We couldn't see an end to the shit times but we were not going to walk away. Within a relatively few years we started to see great times and the fair weather fans and glory hunters flooded back claiming never to have been away. IMHO Aston Villa Football Club is all that matters and who the manager, owner or players are at any given time, makes not a jot of difference to my feelings for the club. Obviously I wish we were more successful now, but it has been such an incredibly important part of my life for decades coming only second to my family. It has lost me jobs, got me in trouble with the old bill, cost me £tens of thousands, landed me in hospital, spoiled many a weekend but also enabled me to travel all over the UK and Europe and at times made me happy beyond measure. I said it before and I'll say it again "support your club through thick and thin". I have a good & interesting life beyond Villa, but my club is like my family and I will never walk away.

How about just turning up and supporting your club rather than suggesting fans be gambling fodder?

They have to draw or beat Bolton away. Doncaster have Leicester away.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! It is just so sweet!!!!

Cheers everyone!!! Thanks thetrees - as Hampshire are the former residents at the ground I will see if I can contact him

Hi All As many of you may know I and a number of other Brummies as part of the Bournemouth AVFC supporters club make the 355 mile round trip for all the home games and where possible attend as many away games as we can. We currently have around 90 members of which 25-30 attend frequently Some of us are currently trying to save our local cricket ground from developers. Until 1970, Dean Park was the 2nd county ground for Hampshire, however after county boundary changes Bournemouth became part of Dorset. The ground is currently used by Dorset CC and a number of local cricket clubs and schools and is an integral part of the local community. The ground has been used for cricket since 1869 and in just 5 years will be 150 years old and has hosted many great matches including internationals featuring famous cricketers from WG Grace to Ian Botham. However despite much local opposition and being in a conservation area the "Charitable" Trust that owns land have put it up for sale to the highest bidder. We have succeeded in making the ground "An Asset of Community Value" under the Localism Act but the moratorium runs out in the June. A local community organisation has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to secure the ground as an historical site and to allow cricket and other sports to be played ad infinitum but the decision will not be till July. Bluntly Bournemouth needs more leisure space not more executive homes that few people can afford. I would be very grateful if my fellow VT'ers and Villa fans could help another and sign the petition below. It would also be great if you could share with as many other people as possible. https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-dean-park-cricket-ground Many thanks in anticipation Mike

Owners, managers and players come and go but IMO fans should always stay with the club through thick and thin. Ultimately "the club" is the fans.

Despite the defensive screw ups, we did actually play a lot better football yesterday - all be it with almost no cutting edge. we out-passed Swansea and they had every kind of luck a team can get in that match. Not suggesting we didn't deserve to lose and we don't deserve to be where we are but I do believe we are due some luck, look at Sunderland - getting a ridiculous red card decision that effectively ended that match! Agree with this, we were the better side first half but went in 2-1 down. Got to cut out the silly mistakes that cost us and lets be honest, we need a huge slice of which we havent had since the Chelsea game! The "silly mistakes" are more a reflection of lack of ability. Bakers passing out of defence has been **** all season. I have lost count of the times he put us on the back foot. Baker is out of his depth and a liability.

All the London Villa fans and anyone else available should go along to their home game v Palace and boost the away support! :-) That said Palace fans are very loud!

I think its Fulham most people are worried about. Rightly IMO Agree, Sunderland have two very winnable home games (on their current form) against West Brom and Swansea. That said Fulham could get two wins at Stoke away and C palace at home. Norwich and Cardiff looked doomed. Hate to say it but if we do not get at least a point against Hull (even that might not be enough) we could be very easily joining them. It really is sickening how we have sunk so low! If we got a point against Hull, Fulham and Cardiff can't realistically catch us (barring a massive swing in GD). That would leave Norwich requiring 2 wins against Arsenal and Chelsea. Could happen, but unlikely (I hope). Fulham are on 31 points, two wins would put them on 37. As I said a draw is not enough.

We might pull off a shock and beat Hull! Your statement really sums up how pathetic we are. "Aston Villa need SHOCK win against HULL to avoid relegation" Exactly! We're going into a home game against Hull expecting not to win. What has happened?! What happened was our home defeats against: Fulham Stoke West Ham Crystal Palace No :-(

We might pull off a shock and beat Hull! Your statement really sums up how pathetic we are. "Aston Villa need SHOCK win against HULL to avoid relegation"

I think its Fulham most people are worried about. Rightly IMO Agree, Sunderland have two very winnable home games (on their current form) against West Brom and Swansea. That said Fulham could get two wins at Stoke away and C palace at home. Norwich and Cardiff looked doomed. Hate to say it but if we do not get at least a point against Hull (even that might not be enough) we could be very easily joining them. It really is sickening how we have sunk so low!

This.... Definitely not an employee. I have met him and he is long time fan with good connections. I didn't agree with the way he leaked various information in the past, but he was definitely ITK.