First of all – and as I seem to be saying fairly regularly in recent times – I apologise for my absence from the site. Between work – a place where I was somewhat impossibly measured on Friday to be 107% utilised – and home life, it’s been hard to get on. In fact, if I’m honest, it has been hard to do much at all really – I’ve not even had a chance to watch as much of the World Cup as I’d want to.
Anyway, getting away from “Matt and his (very) boring life”, I wanted to look at the contrast between two of our defenders who have been playing at the World Cup – Ron Vlaar and Phillippe Senderos.
I managed to catch a glance of a Birmingham Mail article – or should I say collection of tweets – and there was much uproar about Senderos and his role in the fact that Switzerland got battered by the French. Logically, at least in the minds of those captured within the piece in the Mail, it means Aston Villa are doomed – doooooomed I tell you! After all, if there’s one thing Villa deserve, it is more trouble – well at least in the eyes of some.
Contrast this sentiment with Vlaar. After participating in the 5-1 demolition of Spain, it was suggested that his time at Villa would be over. A bigger club – Manchester United or whoever – would turn up, buy him, and that would be the end of it.
Now maybe that will happen, and maybe Senderos won’t be the next Paul McGrath, but if there’s one thing that both items illustrated it is this – negative thinking.
Maybe part of that stems from the uncertainty around the club. Despite many wanting Randy Lerner to sell up, and him actually starting that process, it doesn’t seem to be going fast enough for some. What it seems to prove is yet another version of negative thinking – even in getting what we want, we find it to be insufficient.
With that kind of mentality, it isn’t hard to see why Villa are where they are. If they buy young players from lower leagues, it isn’t good enough, If they buy older, more experienced players from the top flight, it isn’t good enough. So what exactly is good enough?
As much as it pains me to say this, Villa are where they are, and barring a massive interest from the likes of Larry Ellison – still something I would consider a very rare possibility – we’re going to be much the same this year, next year and the year after.
Now does this suggest we are going to be constantly battling relegation ad infinitum? Not in my opinion, no, as whilst we may well be similar from one point to the next, much like we are in our own lives – you don’t wake up one day and look 50, you progressively look older – it’ll take time for Villa to get moving forwards.
Part of that relies on the trajectory of the club, and despite loud and angry proclamations regarding a desire for Lerner to leave, the club aren’t out the woods yet. What happens if instead of being sold to the likes of Ellison, we’re sold to owners like Manchester City’s predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra? Or the likes of Carson Yeung? Or the Venky’s? Then what?
John Lerwill previously stated that Birmingham is an ideal place for a team to build from due to the lack of congestion of other teams but, if I’m honest, I don’t see the logic. Are Chelsea restricted by the success of nearby Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur? Are Manchester City limited by Manchester United? Are Everton limited by Liverpool in success terms? The truth is that this is a global game now, not one based on local geographies – if Villa want to expand their fan base, chances are they will find these new fans in Kuala Lumpur, or Miami, or Paris as much as they might find them in Birmingham because, barring the generational fans like my own family consists of, are there many more people in Birmingham who are sitting on the fence waiting for a new local team to support? Or, more realistically, are the new fans likely those new to the game, or new to the league who want an interesting and different team to pick?
Regardless, I need to get back on to the topic of change. Looking at the common view often attributed to change as a solution, a lot of this boils down to thinking that illustrates a simple but flawed logic – sometimes change isn’t the solution, sometimes you just have to ride out the rough parts, just like you do at work, at home, or in life in general.
Maybe wanting change means that, twelve months from now, we still aren’t sold, despite a strong desire to be. Maybe it means we’re sold to someone who makes Sheikh Mansour look like a cheapo. Maybe it means we’re sold to some random foreign dog food magnate. Who knows? My bet is we’ll get a different owner who is a middle-of-the-road bet – no major change, just someone who is enough to take us to mid-table for the short term.
The point I’m making is that change might happen, or it might not, but the assumption that change makes things better is one that isn’t as easy to prove. If it was, there’d be no stability at any club because a loss would mean you’d take the team apart, go buy new players, and start again. However, reality doesn’t – and never has – work like that so we are where we are.
So as the World Cup continues, maybe we’ll find a player who will do us proud, or we’ll have our captain bought from us on the cheap. The reality is that, despite much talking, none of us are going to know what is going to happen so, if you can, crack open a beer, take it easy and maybe, just maybe, things will work out in the end.
The Author
Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.Comments 50
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Matt: John Lerwill previously stated that Birmingham is an ideal place for a team to build from due to the lack of congestion of other teams.
Welcome back, Matt – your different views give us something worthwhile to chew over!
Thanks also for somehow getting some time to look over the parapet of responsibility to share your thoughts.
On the above reference to a statement of mine, I’m afraid it’s a little bit out of context, Matt. I meant to say (apologies if I didn’t clarify!) that any potential new owner of Villa would be able to look around and say, “Hey, Villa doesn’t have a lot of competition nearby to pull away the support base.” Villa do have a pretty clear field in the West Midlands, and even over the entire Midlands, therefore the business attraction should be strong for a new owner (apart from the other positive issues about Villa, their history, etc). Further, whether football is a global issue or not, the presence of a strong and vociferous support at home matches is important, plus the fact that Villa is situated centrally in the country (not a strong point these days, but still one to add to the list of issues in Villa’s favour.)
Apart from the relatively open support base, Villa should be able to pull in from the same catchment area the cream of what is available, youth-wise. Villa don’t that much at present as they have come down in the estimation of the nation, but if they were to raise their status I’m sure that young Midlands talent would welcome being able to develop their football at a more local venue.
Anyhow, those are the two issues where – in my view – Villa’s geographical situation should make a big difference.
In general I’m in sympathy with your argument, Matt, but us older ones have seen mostly grim stuff at Villa Park these last 60 years – particularly the 50s, 60s and most of the last 14 years. And (apart from the early 80s and later spasms) we’ve not really seen Villa hit any high spots in those 60 years.
This is having been brought up on what was then relatively recent history that Villa had been up there at the top of football, and even into the 1960s Villa still had the best league record.
In some ways it’s better to have been born more recently. That way you don’t (like me) get pulled back by Villa’s past accomplishments, and yearn for what once was.
But Lerner came in, in fact, to correct the so-called damage that Doug had caused towards progress. But he – without roots in football – has potentially caused even more long-term damage. In 2006 we had hope. In 2014 we wonder what happened and are wondering (nervously) what’s to come.
These be worrying times for what was a great football club.
Morning Matt,
Good to have you back on here, I think most are resigned to another awful relegation struggle and the lack of takeover talk, has meant pretty much nothing to look forward to.
At the end of last season, the hope and dream was we would be sold to a rich new owner who wanted to significantly move us forward. Alas this hasn’t happened, and nothing seems on the horizon.
Matt you mention we could end up with a dodgy owner, who doesn’t invest or care about the club, the reality is that person is in post, Randy Lerner !!! He has pulled the plug on all investment despite record TV money , sponsorship etc. He can afford to reduce the price, only in football does the owner expect others to literally pay for his own mistakes and poor financial and business sense. Our finances according to the club were healthy, after a few barren years, add to that TV money of £76m, I honestly don’t believe RL is out of pocket as much as he’s trying to make out, and I believe his figure fudging is hampering the sale.
Where does this leave us heading into the new season, Well one of the favourites for relegation. Lambert remains despite his continual failure, awful tactics, man management, breaking all the wrong records etc. the squad is no better than last year, and I still feel Delph and Vlaar will be off as they head into their last year, Sendeross is awful and very injury prone, but you pay peanuts you get chimps, and we apparantly only offered £14k pw, which whilst is a lot to us, isn’t to premier league footballers these days, and why Lescott said no and went to Sandwell Town. Joe Cole is another on a free, again Past his his best, or we wouldn’t have got him.
It’s truly depressing , and unless there is a takeover I feel we will go down or come very close, it’s going to be a long hard winter.
John
I would go as far to say that Randy has been far worse than the much maligned Doug Ellis, and has done far more long term damage to the club, if we’re relegated the damage could irreparable. The decent thing now would to ensure our future with a decent new owner, easier said than done given his haphazard tenure ship, and I have a feeling he will sell to anyone willing to stump up the cash, he’s not bothered about securing our future, he’s shown that these last few years.
B62
Yes, I agree. Perhaps I under-stated that in my response to Matt’s piece.
And I think Matt’s article does gloss over (sorry, Matt) the fact of Randy’s poor management and thus the psychological impact on us, the supporters.
I can see that Matt is really saying, “Let’s be stoical and just see what’s going to happen”, and in that we do not have much choice barring a fans’ takeover. However, further poor management of the club will lead to virtually irreparable damage, and I’m sure we don’t want that.
A fans takeover is a non – starter IMO, the finances are too great at the top level. We’re pretty much praying for a miracle, ie a Multi Billionaire who wants to throw cash at us. And as seems apparent, there seems no one out there willing to do it.
Welcome back Matt, despite the midnight oil burning!
I think we might well get regional competition for a fan base as Leicester builds on its recent successes coupled with the purchasing might of King Power – the monopoly provider of duty-free goods at Thailand’s borders.
The performance of our two defenders in the WC has to be taken in context – Ron Vlaar was able to play in the confidence he would be supported by equally talented defenders and would rarely be dragged out of position to cover for inapt colleagues, thus leaving his position open. Senderos was playing in the Ron Vlaar ‘Villa position’ for Switzerland.
The proof of the pudding will be when they play together, assuming RV is not snatched by Man U with an offer we can’t refuse. Not that I’m suggesting that Senderos is the answer to all our prayers; we are at the mercy of the current owner’s budget constraints no matter what we might wish for.
My view on 2014-15 is that we will have another season at the bottom.
Matt,
Welcome to the AVL site I hope you enjoy your time here.
Back to topic. aah if it was all that simple in regards of a takeover, I posted an article a few days ago setting out just why someone would pay hundreds of millions to buy a team who has languished at the foot of the table for several seasons, and just how much investment on top of that it would take to get them into mid-table, and then how many more millions it might take to get into the top six and then although it may sound quite mad how many more millions it would take to get anywhere near the top four and the coveted CL.
Then you have the added complication of FFP and what restrictions new owners may have to spend and improve the team although such restrictions seemed to be ignored by PSG.
So to summarise WHO in their right minds would invest hundreds of millions in a football club where the chances of seeing any return on your money could be 20 years down the line, if you see a return at all.
So Matt it is not all doom and gloom I save that for watching Senderos try to defend.
AVFC RIP.
Wasn’t it 0-0 when Senderdross came on ? 2 mins later, it was 2-0. He will fit right in
Honestly don’t think we could have a worse owner at the moment. We certainly couldn’t have a worse manager. Even WBA strange appointment is better than the guy we have in charge.
I’m hoping all this uncertainly will see the end of Gabby. Apparently he’s demanded a starting role. What a joke. Vlaar and Delph we need to keep. Okore and Vlaar could be solid partnership. Senderdross is better than Baker just about. We still have no DM, wingers, LB, RB is still a concern, not sure on cole as our AM.
I would hope our next signing is somehow a very good player like Barry or Milner. If we sign a 3rd bosman in a row who’s about 55 with little talent it ain’t going to be nice
Hi all, I think we need to get the whole squad, manager & fans over to Spain today for the Festival I San Juan. This pagan tradition is all about change; night and day; fire and water. Their beliefs are that, fire purifies and water recuperates, refreshes and rejuvenates. Men, women and children build bonfires on the beaches and according to tradition, if you jump over a bonfire three times on the night of San Juan, you will be cleansed and purified and your problems burned away. At midnight you will see masses of people walking into the sea backwards as an act of cleansing and washing away evil spirits, giving them a happy 12 months ahead.
It could be our only hope.
UTV
FREM.. sadly it will be no Milner or Barry.. the two we have brt in show where we are at..
Whats happening at Villa is nothing short of a CRIME.. would only be forgivable if there was a takeover imminent..
Tha fact there isn’t shows that Lerner has been a truly AWFUL owner and proved me right every step of the way.. the man does not have a scooby on how to run a football club..
These two statements are nothing but a way to CON us fans into accepting that there will be NO money available and worse then average dross signed.. at a time when the Prem is mega cash rich.. teams like Hull are going for Dawson.. West Brom signings Lescott.. we are buying truly awful players…
The final nail in our coffin will be if Vlaar leaves..
Make no mistakes with the current status quo and PL in charge we are heading for the Championship..
…. and NO it is not negativity it is REALISM.. just like before the World Cup i said we would exit at the group stages and it has sadly bared fruit..
Lionheart,
I am afraid you do not get a prize for predicting Englands failure most people with a modicum of football knowledge said they would be home before the postcards, even ST75s pet slug got that right.
Even more shocking news coming out of VP is — sales of shirts with Senderos on the back — none.
UTV
senderous will only be back up to Okore.
We cant sanction wages over more than i take bloody home.
We cant spend money on transfers so pointless giving senderous etc grief.
Whats happened to Keane coming?
Southwestvillan, thousands are waiting for his squad number before getting Senderos, I was thinking of getting Send Dross but may get attacked for being a bad supporter.
Even in the off-season, the same conversations blight Villa fans, the quality of Villa players on World Cup duty, just like our own team Vlaar stands out and as the biggest shopping window, bigger teams will take note of his performances
We still continue to discuss the sale of AVFC, I understand this is never a quick process but the light at the end of the tunnel only flickers as each day more reports about no buyer found and Randy may have to keep the club and therefore Faulkner/Lambert stay on continue to occupy local papers.
I’m thoroughly unimpressed by the two signings to date, free for a reason is my issue because their previous clubs didn’t think it was worthwhile investing any further in them, players have left the Villa for the same reasons would we want any of our dross back. Given the pace of the game it is just too late for a 30 something to come into the number 10 position with a catalogue of injuries and expect him to provide the link between midfield and defence. Senderos totally influenced by the way he performed for Arsenal/Fulham, i don’t think he has matured to have a football brain to read situations in the way that God could and therefore if he is back up to Vlaar/Okore why get him at all, why not see if Baker/Clark could establish themselves as the support CB and use that money to give Delph and Vlaar and extra few grand per week instead
The world cup as been somewhat of a distraction but even a possible catalyst for change Roy Keane has fallen off the media bandwagon, so will that be a deal that will happen
AVFC will continue but the final death throws of Randy Lerner are a constant bugbear
UTV
I feel a lot happier now that some solid links of a takeover are surfacing
We are not going to buy anyone worth writing home about while going throu a sale
The norn is that randy would give pl 20mil and a fairly low wage budget but he is not even giving that
The main link to buying the club look like guys that would be good for the club and have backgounds of being self made rather the the silver spoon type
no pain no gain as they say – i reckon we will be in new hands within the next 3months
Apparently Lescotts wage demands weren’t that high. It can’t be if WBA can afford him. How the fuck can they attract a player over us. Disgusting
I’d hope Grealish, Gardner, Carruthers and Robbinson would be a key part next season. No reason why they can’t start in our attacking line ups. Lambert though just loves KEA right mid and Wiemann instated
Staring into the abyss.
Some very funny posts today, like a footballing version of Blackadder.
You know that there’s some peeps out there who consider Lerner to be a good owner of the club mainly because he wasted millions on the Holte pub, BH, the new logo etc. IMO he’s overtaken that old bastard Herbert as the person ( substitute idiot ) who’s done the most damage to AVFC in its entire history.
Ashkan Dejagah anyone? Was excellent against Argentina and was best player on the pitch against us this season… right age, right salary, prem and world cup experience plus available. UTV
Steamer,
Its that old Brummie trait the ability to be self deprecating, we Villa fans can laugh at ourselves way before the rest of the footballing world can take the piss, I mean Senderos and Cole for crying out loud they are turning VP into the son of rest. Even the Lion on our shirts is having a little chuckle because it was not that long ago when he had a proper job, a purpose in life, a real meaning to his existence, when he adorned fresh eggs, now people just look at him and ridicule and laugh, oh how the mighty have fallen.
UTV
I’m with you matt, no point in getting agitated about something you have no control over. Would love to see the true intergration of our youth especially if senders and cole are what we have to look forward to. From reports on gardener he is already in full training and looking physically up to the challenge.this lad plus grealish have the talent to breath some life into the team regardless of the dross lambert has to buy. I just hope lambert isn’t the biggest obstical to their success . Strangely enough by sheer lack of funds villa are having to follow the path we have supposedly been on for 3 years, you couldn’t write it really, the minute lambert announces we need quality he can’t buy it . If we resolve the injury issues we have had, there’s no reason other than lamberts tactics that we can’t field a reasonable team. Nzobia and grealish can bring some much needed trickery . My only worry is losing key players, yes other teams will have strengthened but a team that knows each other will get better with time. Yes it can all go pete tong but that’s life
Ronnie- I was thinking that when he played yesterday. A lot of the other managers will thinking the same and there are probably 19 more attractive clubs in the Prem than us at the moment
cnn america saying advanced talks under way?
Is Mr Clarke in Canada? Any news?
I see Harry the Spiv is up to his old tricks again, must have been two days since we saw his boat in the press so he obviously felt rejected, although I can quite believe any player not wanting to fly to San Marino for a friendly I would not believe a word that comes out of his mouth unless it is to tell us that his dog has just opened a new bank account, blokes a knobhead on every level.
UTV
I think Grealish can make a big impact this season, his skill & composure on the ball is something we haven’t seen at the Villa in ages. I know he’s young & lightweight but from what I’ve seen he doesn’t get pushed off the ball to easily & the spell ar Notts will have helped as I think the lower leagues players are just as physical as the prem just without the skill
Advanced talks for who ?
l keep seeing this young .lightweight .. we had one who’s a hero , Gordon Cowans !! still like a rake now even though he downs gallons in the Ads ………….
Enjoy this beautiful weather were having at the moment …………..
Because there’s a shower of shit heading this way from Brasil any time this week )))))
anyone heard off B6Brasil , l hope he aint been out in his England shirt and is now a blubbering victim of ridicule ,
mind sww only has to go out his front door to be ridiculed , esp with that haircut and them 70s clothes he insists on wearing
jenny , hope alls well in the house xxxx
CNN confirmed the two Americans are negotiating with the dummy in the last hour.
B6B could face that, its his Villa shirt that makes peeps laugh.
Can you believe this guy? Villa fans don’t have to worry about this
http://www.espnfc.us/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/1905081/dutch-fan-gets-huge-tattoo-of-louis-van-gaals-face
We are lucky to have Vlaar and Okore. Both very athletic defenders, quick, strong. We need good full backs alongside them now. We all know Bennett and Bacuna aren’t full backs. Lowton I love his crossing, but seriously needs to learn to defend. I worry where Bacuna will fit in because from what I’ve seen he’s no full back or winger. Get Barry sitting in front of RV and JO and we have something to hope for. Guzan needs completion, he was poor last season. Gardner can get forward into the box
Tonev, , Carruthers, Robbinson, zoggy hopefully we should have plenty of winger options. Grealish and Cole number 10 options
Wiemann shown in his poacher goals against Hull he’s a striker and no winger. Gabbys best bits came when he was up front and did nothing but spin in behind the defence. Just watch our Pool away games with his assists. Bent and Kosak could work as a front 2 with service out wide. Kosak scored poachers goals as well. I doubt we will 2 up top very often though in a simple 4 4 2. Cole will be number 10 behind the main striker. I think we will play 5 3 2 or 4 3 1 2 maybe. NO WIDTH.
With a decent manager we could do something, like get 10th playing football. With Lambert though, he just fucks everything up. Zoggy, Bent won’t ever play. kEa and Bennett will start every game. Gabby and Wiemann will be on the wings
Kieran,
I think Lambert will continue with his policy of ignoring the academy and Grealish will be on the peripheral again, Lamberts so fuckin stupid he’s probably forgotten whether its the turn of young and hungry or experience next season, whatever, its gonna be a disaster, i rally don’t believe how a clueless tanker like PL can get a job in footy and as for his lies, so obvious that he must convince himself that he’s telling the truth by hypnology, as a manager he’s a laughing stock, as a human being he’s lower than a snakes knackers, he obviously saw the bullying at his previous clubs, condoned it and probably joined in with it, he’s a piece of shite.
Frem,
This is easily the most talentless squad iv’e seen since 1962, apart from Guzan, Vlaar, Delph, Benteke and potentially a few of the kids, the staff is full of lower division players, which is where they’ll soon be. Gabby is a free transfer in the making, legend my bollox, if he’s demanding a guaranteed start and a pay rise then he should be told to find a club that will satisfy those demands, we won’t, and he’ll keep taking the piss until we get a proper manager who will see him for what he is.
Alot of people on here bigging up okore even though he hasn’t played a competitive game for villa yet and has been out for nearly a year. I hope your right but what are you basing the optimism on? A couple of cl games when he was playing for someone else?
Steamer- do you really think the squads that bad ? The worst I’ve seen is probably Oleary’s 3rd season but even then we had Melberg, Baros, angel, Barry and even Davies so not all bad.
I know it’s currently a piss poor squad, but 10 other teams in the league also have piss poor players, it’s just who’s is the least worst where I think with a decent manager we could maybe edge it. There’s plenty of time for others to strengthen though which we won’t do unless a take over happens
prox- Ye, it’s more out of hope really. Chelsea wanted him so can’t be all bad. Senderous and him can only be better than Baker. Like many have said, I’d like Clark to move to DM
prox
he played a 3 games in the Prem and one in the cup and showed promise then got injured. I base it on the fact he looked a decent player, Chelsea wanted him but he came here for regular game time. of course there is always the possibility that he might not have the same turn of pace but he certainly has shown more nous than Clarke or baker and has physicality without being a clumsy bastard, also brings the ball out well and has a good range of passing vs hoofing.
Beige and Boring , whats SWW got to do with this
Oh, 3 games! Thats all right then!
I don’t think the sqqaud is great but it is half decent , lamberts tactics and other manegerial skills so far have got progressivly worse and that has what as held the club back the most.
he has the excuse of randys cut backs but he has spent far more that the likes of athletico madrid
My point is that we shouldn’t saddle the bloke with unrealistic expectations until he’s had a spell in the team. Tony moon scored a little peach in his first game against arsenal but since then he’s been less than stellar.
You been to cork yet runtingz?
Prox
Tony moon was bought for 1m and couldn’t get in the first team in Spain. okore was 4m and has played 7 times for Denmark so I’m hoping he can kick a ball can I be allowed a smidgen of hope? After all if you can’t saddle a professional footballer with being good at football we are truly fucked
Mark,
Im just worried ur little heart will be broken if okore is’ nt the answer to our prayers.
Matt K saying QPR are interested in Vlaar. 1 year left on his contract, a club who will pay him double what he is on now. Chances are he will be of
west Brom get Lescott over us. QPR take our best player
Sad sad times
Apparently we are signing another striker who’s 6ft3 to hoof it to. Scored 9 goals in a second division league
Yeeeeeeey
prox
oh ok thanks mate, fuck him then lets hope he’s shit
Copy and pasted from MOMS:
Contract End 2015 (final year)
Gabby Agbonlahor, Fabian Delph, Ron Vlaar, Darren Bent, Jack Grealish, Karim El Ahmadi, Alan Hutton, Samir Carruthers, Graham Burke, Daniel Johnson.
Contract End 2016 (two years left)
Shay Given, Charles N’Zogbia, Nicklas Helenius, Joe Cole, Nathan Baker, Phillipe Senderos, Joe Bennett, Ciaran Clark, Callum Robinson, Antonio Luna, Leandro Bacuna, Andi Weimann, Matt Lowton, Yacouba Sylla.
Contract end 2017 (three years left)
Christian Benteke, Brad Guzan, Libor Kozak, Jores Okore, Aleksandar Tonev, Ashley Westwood. .
Vlaar and Delph could walk away for nowt.
UTV
My Daughter has been chosen ,through school , to go and meet the CEO of Cisco , some multinational company from the USA and ask him questions , l have had a word with her to ask , would they be interested in buying the villa ! and that she knows a few villa fans who are into Technology , i.e , Steamer who still has a Amstrad computer (thats bigger than his shed,
And SWW who plays on a Nintendo DS , his favourite game being “dogs ”
and Mark who is getting his head round a Stylophone in his band !
you never know !
morning all
the Times seem to be getting in on the act , Headlines like” Aston villa have been sold to 2 Billionairs ” , l know the Times sales have dropped , l suppose a few will buy it ,
Not at all worried about the contracts winding down as any new buyer will almost have a clean slate to work with and any player wanting to stay under the new owners will have to prove they are worth a contract at the club
Prox – i am flying out this friday – i need to kiss the blarney to see if i can capture some of that Irish charm 😉
ST75 good luck to your girl – next stop hollywood – hopefully you will still talk to us if she makes it big in the future – deffo got potental mate