The key to all of this is that, if we fail to go up this year, we ensure that we take no less than the £60m. Then, we need to make sure that a large chunk of that money is given to Smith to build the team up and try to replace Jack.
I forget about him until I look at how close we are to the automatic promotion places and remember how many points his poor 'keeping cost us earlier in the season.
It's funny to read that people shouldn't have children in a thread with this title. My son is the main source of happiness in my life. I could live without anything else in my life but I couldn't live without my son - nothing and nobody compares to the beauty of my little star - Ethan is amazing! Oh, and he loves the Villa too
I think that whoever finishes 6th cannot be written off against Leeds, especially if Bamford gets his justified ban for the first leg and Roofe is still out injured. The team playing the home leg might be able to sneak a couple of goals in front and go to Elland Road with a good shout.
I will be a lot more confident about going up this season if we beat the Baggies.
Feck Leeds the dirty bunch of Sunday League pub-footballing cloggers. They couldn't live with Villa in that first half and simply chased shadows and kicked their way into the game. A stronger/better ref would have booked more or their players, given a penalty to Villa and, not sent our player off.
Let's hope we get to the final and beat these cheating, dirty toe-rags at Wembley, hopefully with a better referee in charge!
I don't get the Bielsa love-in. He's a good motivator but a whinger who reminds me of a poor Wenger when things aren't working out.
Villa were the best team today until we went down to 10 men, which was a bad decision. We can beat Leeds at Wembley so we need to make sure we take care of the Baggies and then go hunting after these Yorkshire cheats.
They are better than us? FFS! They narrowly beat us at Villa Park and were lucky to get a draw against us at home.
Listen,Villa have nothing to fear playing Leeds United. Let's get past the Baggies and then fogure out how to beat the Leeds boys.
Absolute beast of a player and I would rather have him in our team each week than play against him. Love his fight and passion so please sign him up Villa!
There was one decision went against them and that was when Axel pushed past Bamford - that was a foul. Other than that,Leeds were lucky to go in at half time with 10 men!
Villa were kicked all over the place first half. It was like watching the Leeds of the 70s, they couldn't live with us. Then, second half, the ref denies us a stonewall penalty and then sends our player off for being conned by Bamford.
By far, Villa beat these cheating, dirty scumbags in the final - bring it on!
That's heartbreaking for Deano's dad not to be able to share in his time as Villa manager. Obviously, regardless of what Dean does as a man, it's a sad situation to know your dad has dementia. I have an aunt who has it and she doesn't recognise me anymore and it's really hard to take.
I guess the comforting factor for Dean is that he knows in his heart that his dad is proud of him, whatever he does.
I really hope for Dean that his time at Villa provides him with success stories to look back on and share with his grandchildren.