With another week passed, it seems Aston Villa are no closer to being sold than they were a week ago, despite Randy Lerner actively outing his desire to sell the club a short while ago.

That said, I can’t exactly feel surprised. This time last year a Southeast Asian group had asked to buy the club only to be rebuffed by the seemingly overpriced value Lerner has suggested, and despite the tag being cheaper than other club – Newcastle United being a prime example – nothing has happened for a year or more.

Perhaps the perception was an announcement meant a sale was close, but that – like most things – has been based on little more than presumption. Take a look around the league and you’ll see clubs in varying states of sale. Everton, a club of a similar size to Villa, have been on the market for a long while with Bill Kenwright yet to find a buyer. Newcastle have also been vaunted for a sale despite Mike Ashley’s fairly recent arrival given that he, like many other chairmen, are often the secondary target for abuse straight after the manager.

So, with other clubs on the market, are Villa a realistic choice for a short term sale? Or are we risking a state of limbo that may force the club into even darker depths than the previous few seasons.

The truth is nobody knows. Not Lerner, not Paul Lambert, and certainly not us mere mortals. All we have is conjecture, though with an ever growing list of personnel linked to the club – Tevfik Arif being one of the more publicly mentioned suggestions – I’d be amazed if the majority of the list have even taken a look, let alone made a bid.

In a league where there are the expensively assembled – Chelsea and Manchester City – plus the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United, even the top four is far from certain. Yes, United suffered a blip last season – and may well continue to despite the appointment of Louis van Gaal – but circumstances dictate that any buyer, whoever they may be, will have to have some kind of conceptual strategy besides “blow it all”.

That isn’t a bad thing, obviously, but it does make a revolution seem far less likely than some may hope. Can Villa be awoken from their coma-like slumber? Yes, but as with any deep sleep, you don’t snap out of instantly, regardless of your desire to.

Instead, we may find players leaving before the club is in new hands. Some of the squad – the likes of Nathan Baker (linked to newly-promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers) may be able to be handled if sold, but what of the likes of Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph or Gabby Agbonlahor? The aforementioned trio all have a year left on their contracts, and Lerner’s perceived reticence in extending terms of players may mean any one or more could leave for free come the summer.

Perhaps I’m getting too far ahead of myself – what with worrying about exits – but the truth is that Villa need a plan. At present, despite the short term elation of a sale being announced, there’s a strong possibility that the club could aimlessly meander until someone turns up. Even then, there’s no guarantee of success as despite the fairly simplistic logic that change equals success – a significant reason why the kids are always vaunted as the future, only to be rubbished when they aren’t – reality is a little more complicated.

So, as Villa fans face yet another week waiting for new owners, what will the future look like? Better or worse? Hopefully, and not too long from now, we’ll find out.

Comments 156

  1. Morning
    The longer this drags on the worse it is for the oncoming season. There seems to be no concrete interest in the club, with many names being bandied about in a whose who of billionaires, but no real evidence we are close to a sale or even have a buyer. It’s chaos, other sides are starting to strengthen, Leicester are rumoured to be close to getting Barry, it shows how far we have fallen when we’re behind newly promoted teams. As it stands there will be minimal recruitment this summer as RL is only worried about taking what he can, not strengthening the side, hence his useless lapdog remaining in charge despite sacking his two backroom staff. I fear relegation, as I’m struggling to see 3 worse teams than us, the bookies have down as one of the favourites for relegation at 3/1, the squad is crap and any talent we have is injured/returning from major injury, others like Delph/Vlaar etc are heading into their final year and the vultures have already started to circle.
    Our hope was that we would be sold quickly to a football loving multi billionaire , that now seems unlikely, and were now being linked with money laundering arms dealers!!!! What a shit state, still we have a new kit launched today, that will sort everything out

  2. Too true B62 (poetry?)
    Matt you have posed the question that is, presumably, on every Villa supporters’ lips; ‘who will buy us?’
    The correct answer is of course – no-one. The club has been run down in terms of player strength and experience, there is no golden nugget sitting waiting to bankroll a new beginning and the clubs below us at the end of last season are straining at the bit to send us down.
    Some may say, we should go down to come back suitably reinvigorated and with the momentum that comes with promotion, but Frem will no doubt tel us that there are no guarantees in the Championship – witness Derby’s demise after dominating their play-off.
    I am having lunch at VP with Rob Bishop on 8th July on what is likely to be my last UK visit and it might be that I am there for the start of the season that ended the ‘glory days’.
    However, our best years were in the lower divisions and I can remember when Man City were kings and Man Utd were relegated, so all is not lost.

    Best wishes to you all from Thailand

  3. Can I ask a question that has been bothering me, why does it mean if the club is up for sale that everything comes to a standstill, Everton and other clubs have been on the market for ages but it is business as usual for them, in fact Everton in their sale period managed to lure Lukaku and Barry to the club albeit on loan but they certainly did not pull up the drawbridge.

    If Lerner had a modicum of business sense although we all know the majority of his money was inherited, he would have privately put the club out there for sale while still trying to protect his investment, as long as this goes on and players become free to leave the club looses value day by day, or am I being thick.

    If I was in the market to buy a football club as much as it hurts to say this but I would try to buy Everton as opposed to the Villa, they have a young up and coming manager working within a decent infrastructure playing some attractive football, while we just look a complete dogs mess.

    And just to add to all that I don”t give a monkeys about the new kit from Macro, you can shove it where the sun don”t shine.

    UTV

  4. Hi Matt

    The truth is none of us seem to know what the future holds – we do know it doesnt look good at the minute.
    One thing seems pretty nailed on and that is the club will be sold in the coming weeks/months

    What we are all left guessing about is what these new owner will do for the club and how determind he/she will be in making villa a force

    this Arif guys sounds interesting as he has a stake in some of the best players in the world — here’s to a tekkers – Falcoa frontline at the club by xmas πŸ™‚

  5. 48 quid for the new Macron home shirt. Normally teams make a big deal of new kit releases, but the good old Villa have one player. Probably because we don’t have any good players to excite fans and the one that does in Delph has one year left on his contract so the club don’t know where we will be. It’s a club that really don’t care any more

    A take over has to happen soon, but there is no coverage on it from the media what so ever which makes me think nothing is close.

    Can you imagine if Lambert is still in charge for our first home of the season and we lose ?

  6. Brazil aren’t even ready though are they ?

    I think even if we stay as we are, next season will still be better, because we couldn’t be worse could it ? But saying that, depends on who stays, who goes and what free agents we can get it

    Barry ain’t at the World Cup so what ain’t we got him in get πŸ˜‰

  7. The new home shirt is ok TBF, it needs the round badge though, Im off to Tenerife in the morning, flying from Bristol ( SWV no naked terror attacks on flights out of Bristol to Tenetife), so I’m
    Driving down to my old mans tonight, for a few cheeky ciders.

  8. Runtingz.
    Unbelievable that JG has been ignored by Lambert for two seasons while idiots get games.

    Must say that AVST are completely out of order with their platitudes to Lerner, the man has been a complete disaster and may yet finish off the club. The sooner he and his pet monkeys are gone the better, in fact, its our only chance.
    Have the season ticket sales hit four figures yet ?

    Frem,
    How do you think you did with your exams ?

  9. B62,

    I am banned from the airport so you should be safe, have a good time we could have met up for a pint would have spent some of ST75s Β£20.

    PS wheres Tenetife?

    UTV

  10. We’ve got him, but will Lambert use him? Probably not. Wiemann and KEA instead

    Ye, it’s nice to be fair. I think the away kit will be even better. We do need the old badge back in the middle of the kit. Enjoy your holiday B6. Been to Tenerife a couple times. Very nice

  11. Grealish is like a slippery snake, four of them tried to haul him down and he still scored, never mind young Jack probably another season on loan to Crewe for you next season.

    UTV

  12. Steamer- Passed my first one, but failed by second one πŸ™ Get to re take it though. Still got two left

    Grealish is ripping apart the 7 aside tournament as well. Lambert probably loan him out then

  13. Nearly there then Frem.

    1) – “We could have met up for a pint”
    2) – ” Bugger, forgot me wallet”
    3) – “Lend me Β£20”
    4) – “Back in a bit just going to water me spuds ”
    Fall for it every time.

  14. Hello all.

    I won’t be getting the new strip. It’s better than the last one, but I’m no fan of outfits like Dafbet as sponsers.

    Clive

    Did you watch State of Origin 1? What a match.

  15. I had QL to win by 1-3 points, my wife had QL 4-5 my Aussie mate(?) had NSW 1-3 – kitty was Β£200.
    Roll on game 2!
    Saracens – Northampton was just as exciting. Almost as close as Derby- QPR d- how fit is Dunne now??
    England v All Blacks next and OD v Sri Lanka and Malinga the Slinga
    It’s all about sport and the best team winning – oh b***er Villa

  16. Clive,

    Dunne just about cleared everything for QPR in that game, I do believe in miracles because when he was at the Villa he was always injured and ready for the glue factory, they must have different water in Sheperds Bush, the saints be praised its a miracle to be sure.

    UTV

  17. SWV,
    Isn’t on day release till tomorrow.
    Dunne injured at Villa ? when was that ? oh, Lambert told us, must be true then. blimey, look at those pigs flying.

  18. AGREED that Super Jack will not fit into PL’s current style of play but maybe new coaches new direction – won’t hold my breath but live in hope

  19. Steamer,

    He is living proof that care in the community is not working.

    Ref: Dunne, are you implying that Lambert was economical with the truth, you scoundrel take that back I will not have our manager dragged through the dirt, desist I say.

    UTV

  20. I wouldn’t say he was economical with the truth but fact is, he’s a lying bastard, remember Zoggy’s injury, Lerners attendance and he knew just where he was sitting too, in ‘effing NY thats where.

  21. A smart man would look after his investment. Do you think Lerner will improve the club to protect his investment? I would have to think he would have to regardless of an imminent sale or not. —-I’m not enthused by the situation.

  22. Grealish looks about 11 years old. Let’s see how the young lad does when given an opportunity in The Premiership before waxing lyrical just yet. He might struggle against the physicality of grown men.

    I’ll reserve judgement on any player until I have seen them play a few games in The Premiership, no matter how good they look in the reserves or on loan at Notts County.

  23. Your right Droyd you never can be completly sure — but i will put my house on jack becoming a big player purely based on his natual ability and he also was key for notts county staying up with many man of the match performances

    The other superstar player of the future Dan Crowley was robbed by aresenal from us — sooooo gutted – check him out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmsx5RPpLU8

  24. Matt: Everton, a club of a similar size to Villa, have been on the market for a long while with Bill Kenwright yet to find a buyer.

    Again an intriguing analysis from you, Matt.

    However, hasn’t it been said that you can look too deeply into it all and still fail to see the wood for the trees?!

    It’s like this Everton business … I think I’ve mentioned before that Everton has competition on or close to its own patch and that competition affects their attendance record i.m.o. Apart from Liverpool the two Manchester clubs are not very far away.

    Villa, on the other hand, has at least 99 miles between it any other prime PL clubs (if you exclude Albion and Stoke). Villa is also in the middle of the country and much more accessible than Liverpool (Everton).

    I would say the potential for buyers at Villa Park is great. But can they see the wood for the trees?

  25. SWW
    you got a nerve , at least l dont have to wear a TAG like yourself , how many years have you got left now , my community love me now , and no the gun incident has nothing to do with it ………….

    the line in the Sunday Mercury interview with Gary Shaw got me yesterday , “the cruel injury that finished his VILLA career ……….. it didnt finish his villa career at all , he was fucking off abroad until they found the dodgy knee and said no deal , so he signed for us and got another years pay out of us , yes he was a fav player of mine at the time , but he asked to move , and shit happened ,

    Hi jenny xxx

  26. Matt Viila are a simular size to Everton – but i think Randy being based in new york and knowing a lot of people that both have bigger wallets than himself and are interested in sport helps in our cause — the big difference is randy is actively in the proccess of selling as we speak – maybe Kenrights bezzi mates are all up north and it’s grim up there

  27. my opinion of grealish is that he definitely has the talent and if you watch some of his nc games on youtube then any doubts about his toughness will disappear, imo he’s a certainty for stardom, probably not with villa though.
    anyone apart from matt and droyd wast.., sorry spent their £££ on season tickets yet, bet you didn’t have to wait too long to be served. not only are the papers not full of optimism, they don’t even mention villa anymore, its as though we don’t exist, tempting fate there.

  28. Steamer
    Unfortunately I have bought a ST, lower Holte Β£510.
    It could be our last in the top flight for a while, unless there is a swift upturn in the fortunes of our club under a new owner/manager, each passing week that seems more and more unlikely tho.

  29. Hello everyone ,
    Only thing on horizon is twitter rumour that Nursery boy has an exclusive on Paul Lambert’s new no 2 (surprising ) and a new signing – uninspiring . Watch the mirror .
    ST 75 xxxxx
    SWV thought the same about Dunnie monster – looked like he’d lost 3 stone !

  30. Hey – I don’t disappoint / get this !!!!!!!!!

    By James Nursey | 02/06/14

    Roy Keane is considering a shock move to Aston Villa to become manager Paul Lambert’s new assistant.

    Keane is tempted, as it would enable him to continue working for the Republic of Ireland national team under Martin O’Neill and also remain as an ITV pundit.

    The news comes on the same day that former Manchester United captain turned down the chance to manage Scottish champions Celtic in his own right.

    MirrorSport understands O’Neill’s assistant is reluctant to walk out on his country again, following his infamous bust-up at the 2002 World Cup.

    But the 42-year-old is pals with Lambert, who is forming a new back-room staff after Villa sacked Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa. The duo were dismissed last month following an investigation into allegations of bullying – as revealed by MirrorSport.

    Now, Lambert is trying to bring in Keane to shake up the cash-strapped Midlands outfit, who finished 15th last month for a second successive season under him.

    The Scot does not have huge resources to invest after owner Randy Lerner put the club up for sale.

    Former Sunderland and Ipswich manager Keane returned to football as O’Neill’s assistant in November.

    Prior to that, his last involvement with his country was when he sensationally walked out as a player before the finals in Japan and South Korea.

    Keane is not yet ready to sever ties with Ireland again. He is due to fly out on Wednesday to America for their friendlies against World Cup-bound sides Costa Rica and Portugal.

    Lambert, who is having to wheel and deal and rely on Bosmans to strengthen his squad, is hoping to sign former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos on a Bosman.

    The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Fulham via a brief spell in Spain with Valencia.

    He is due to play for Switzerland on Tuesday in a friendly against Peru and Villa hope to clinch his signing later in the week.

    The experienced stopper would potentially form a new defensive partnership with Ron Vlaar and compete with fit-again Jores Okore.

  31. Come on you lot – I’ve dropped a bomb shell and you’re nowhere to be seen ! I’m just imagining the fireworks and death stares at VP . Be great if RK could go the post match interview – no more “we were brilliant – I can’t fault the effort “. More like “we were shite and pathetic”. If we are subjected to boring football we may as well have the entertainment of the fascinating Roy Keane .

  32. Having Keane at Villa would make for interesting post match interviews.

    He’d probably do better than the last lot. Can he help us win more games? I think so.
    Player wise, he’s a legend, so he’d get respect for that, might help inspire the younger players.
    Lord, wonder what he thinks of our midfield.

  33. Roy Keane knows exactly what we’re missing in midfield.

    I just don’t know if he can coach players to do what he did. He showed he could at Sunderland but then lost it towards the end and was mediocre at Ipswich.

    I’d be very happy with him there as long as there was another top a-licence coach – who didn’t have distractions – to support Lambert and Keane.

    It’d be good for Grealish, Caruthers and probably Ciaran Clarke.

    Actually – a good Keane tutelage should be good for Delph and Westwood.

    It wouldn’t last forever as he’d be off when a decent enough job takes him away from Villa and Ireland but – yes Jenny – this paddy would be very happy.

  34. He’d scare the shit out players and might get the midfield doing something.

    Lambert obviously ain’t going anywhere fast though, I don’t think Randy is either

  35. Didn’t know you were another paddy Tony πŸ™‚
    Keane fascinates me – his background , passion , fearlessness and career. I would like to see him
    at AV for the entertainment and whether he could instil the same passion and drive . Great players don’t necessarily make great managers as has been said on here before. He has been criticised for his lack of man management skills so that could be problematic . However, he may have learned from his mistakes and the reports from the current Irish camp is he’s good to be around and the players love him . I treating that the Celtic fans were very anti him being appointed.

  36. Intersting not I treating . I would give him a go but the appointment of a relatively high profile no 2 just adds to the confusion and nonsense that is AV . Could be entertaining seeing PL and RK having an argument tho . πŸ™‚

  37. I agree Trin . I can’t see him as a no 2 though – his leadership qualities point to a no 1 – provided he can improve his empathy and man management skills . Could imagine him being a great motivator and his passion and dedication is remarkable . Whoever saw the Keane v Vierra tv programme will know what I mean .

  38. Agree with Tony that if RK were to come, we’d need another “top” coach to help out. The Villa job would be virtually a part-time thing to RK, wouldn’t it?

  39. Long suffering Ireland and villa fan Jenny, a gra.

    Nothing but the finest quality football for me this past five years….

    Ahem.

    Keane and some decent set piece and defensive coach would make me v happy.

  40. He’d be busy Trinity. That’s for sure.

    I hear Culverhouse took almost too much of the managers role last year which meant Lambert was a little isolated….perhaps a RK arrangement with another coach would prevent that happening again?

    (Yes, that was hope talking…)

  41. jenny ,
    Roy did’nt WALK OUT!!!!! He was sent home .
    Thing is , whatever the rights and wrongs of Keanes career were, you could always depend on him to give it his all (and a little more sometimes particularly if you’re alfie haaland) . He almost single handedly got Ireland to the world cup in 2002 and ireland in that particular tournament with keane could have made at least the quarter finals. (they eventually succumbed to a scuffed penalty by mendieta in a shoot out with spain having missed a penalty earlier in the game .

    I know you’re trying to make a veiled reference to our previous collymore discussion , but collymore should’nt be even mentioned in the same paragraph as Keane !
    Roy Keane at villa though ,?? probably not .

  42. More underwhelming news, great player, shit coach and a suspect personality. As for sender is fuck me where’s my refund Villa are rapidly turning into an embarrassment , obviously no sale in sight despite knocking Β£50m off the price.
    On a brighter note, there was a quiz night in my dad’s local , blues fan running it, he asked a question regarding the indigenous population of Australia and there name, when he read out the the answer he said aubergines !!!! Hilarious que loads of stick, he then topped it off by being unable to say the word beautician .

  43. Latest transfer
    By Alan Nixon | 02/06/14

    Randy Lerner is ready to drop his asking price for Aston Villa – from Β£200million to Β£150m.

    The American is actively trying to sell the club and brokers have now sounded out potential buyers at a reduced price.

    Lerner hoped to do business at Β£200 million when he was in discussions with un-named bidders in the States.

    However, Mirror Sport can reveal that Villa has now been offered to a couple of Middle East investors in the past few days.

    But the valuation has dropped and insiders reveal it is likely to come down further as Lerner looks for an exit before next season starts.

    Lerner thought he had a deal with his mystery fellow countrymen recently, but that stalled.

    Now Villa’s concerned owner is searching the globe for a buyer, with the Middle East his main target.

    Boss Paul Lambert is left anxiously watching developments, as Lerner is unlikely to spend on new players with a sale on the horizon.

    Meanwhile, Roy Keane is considering a shock move to Villa to become Lambert’s new assistant.

  44. Keane divides opinion and divided Ireland , for me as mad as it sounds we could have won that World Cup with Keane.

    He is light years ahead of anything in the Villa setup at the moment so I welcome the news. Ultimately he wants the Ireland job so if he can juggle both his present roles he will come to Villa.

    I can tell you one thing , Baker and the rest are in for a shock πŸ™‚

  45. So we get rid of the bully boys Culverhouse and Karsa and could end up with this utter bell-end!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27661727

    Read his book, he admits deliberately ending Hallands career. i had a fight in a bar in Benidorm with a bunch of Manures a few years ago after the 1st game of the season when we lost to Portsmouth 2-1 (Barry scored a pen) as they were praising his “determination”!

  46. Not sure what to make of the Keane story.. in one way it could be interpreted that we are nowhere near a sale.. on then other hand Keane might take the Villa role knowing that he still has the Irish N0.2 and TV commentator gigs so has nothing to lose..

    Worrying times thou.. seems like there is NO sale imminent.. all the ITK turned out to be complete rubbish.. which i has a feeling it would.. come on.. some dude on twitter knows we are sold and yet not one paper across the World does.. yeah right.. and hence the statement that came out couple of weeks back was so underwhelming..

    As for Senderos and others of his ilk.. the DAY we sign a mediocre player will signal that NO takeover is in the offing whatsoever.. i cannot see us signing any players till at least the World Cup is over and if by then there is no sings of a takeover then moves might be made..

    The first player we sign and his quality will answer a lot of questions of what is coming next season…..

  47. Good move for me to bring Keano in — this is a clearly short term while a deal is done to sell the club and i think he could help the team in the short term

    I can’t imagine the players put in a shift with less than 110% effort knowing they have to face keano when they get off the pitch — saying that he isnt they type of coach i would want in the long term as from what bi have seen his football philosophy is in the dark ages just like Lanbert

  48. At least Keane is a winner unlike anyone else in the changing rooms. He wont take any shit and wont accept shit from our players

    What it shows for the future though god knows. Know one knows whats happening with Randy or Lambert

  49. Not Keane on this whatsoever. And a sale to Borat! Will this pisstaking ever end!?!??! Could be at least a few more seasons before the mess at VP gets sorted out I’m afraid. If you’ve managed to make it to the Prem and you’re a Millionaire then an Asst Mgr like Keane will get tuned out after a few matches, not a fan! Plus how the hell can he do this job part time. UTV

  50. ROY KEANE!!!!!

    Heres a great idea lets sack a couple of bullies and replace them with another…..Yay!

    Anyone who thinks man management is a toe to toe row is quite frankly delusional, for me the man is a great footballer but a lousy example for our young squad. Why dont we get Joey Barton in as Team PR while we are at it.

    This club never ceases to amaze me!

    UTV

  51. By β€˜eck!

    The whining and grousing of Villa fans can get a bit mad by times.

    If I asked half of you who Gary Karsa or Ian Culverhouse was this time last year – about 20% of you would know.

    Now – Roy Keane isn’t fit to replace one of them!!!! Roy Keane is also a rubbish manager and trouble maker!!!! Incredible – boys – in-fecking-credible.

    This is a captain of a league winning side. A side whose mentality and work ethic we haven’t seen since 1994. Someone who Man Utd players rave about for creating the right atmosphere – and some of you are going mental because he wound up some useless journalists, and demanded discipline and performances from average Sunderland and Ipswich players!!?? Tell me one thing he did that amounts to bullying or trouble making? Please don’t confuse harsh media interviews with tyrannical abuse.

    Week after week after week I read about coddled players, not proud of the shirt, too much money etc – and here’s a guy who has a reputation for demanding the best [not to be confused with bullying or β€˜going toe to toe’ with team mates] and he’s a β€˜troublemaker’??

    Jaysus!!!!

  52. Just back home and catching up.

    I like the Roy Keane idea in the short term, as it is what Villa needs, someone who knows about commitment and winning.

  53. What’s wrong with Joey Barton? πŸ™‚ There is something I like about the guy. I can’t put my finger on it. He is a bit of a nut bag and has done some dumb things but I can’t dismiss him for what ever reason.

  54. Keane has ended his involvement with itv to “concentrate on coaching”. He’s going somewhere to add to his Ireland coaching and its probably villa. The Barton reference is just silly and keanes arrival has to be considered a plus to the current setup.

  55. Ian: What’s wrong with Joey Barton?

    Yup … he did alright on Question Time last week! What he was doing on there I don’t rightly know but he was and proved not to be the thicko we might assume him to be.

  56. Looks like Keane will be coming

    A fear factor at last. Someone who the players will take note off unlike IC who has done nothing in his football career

  57. Lambert Keane combo eh. one with no filter from brain to tongue and the other mumbles things that have no relevance to what you seen with your own eyes. cant see that clashing to much πŸ™‚
    are they sure they are friends? it might be that Lambert is the ultimate yes man so keane tolerates him.

    as a coach I cant say I’ve heard great things but as a figure to galvanise our lot could go either way. the tough approach doesn’t work on everyone unless they are doing the good cop bad cop routine. good player not so sure about coach

  58. This is all gonna end in tears, when it does i wont say i told you so coz we all want the best for the club πŸ˜‰

    Being the captain of a great side does not make you a great captain, if you think this man has what we need then fair enough, but don’t think that someone with a big mouth always has something useful to say.

  59. Tony Cascarino says, “Frank wants to play. That’s what footballers want, to play football on a week-to-week basis.” erm that and Β£100,000 a week Tony, genius

  60. Well Liam’s comment was spot on – Keane certainly divides opinion. Whether you are for or against , he’s a gamble and as Trin says it’s either going to be brilliant or disastrous . The AVL comments reflect the social media boards I’ve read ie you either love him or hate him. Im surprised that Aston Villa in their vulnerable transitional state have made such a controversial appointment . I would have expected a safe pair of hands albeit boring for the “transition” period not the firecracker tortured genius like Keane . Good or bad it certainly won’t be boring πŸ™‚

  61. Bang on Jen, totally amazed that even in our current self destruct mode that the club would contemplate employing a criminal like Keane who should have been jailed for the assault on Haaland that finished the mans career, a wanker and a thug is that the AVFC management team for next season, if that’s the deal then not only is relegation certain then we deserve it.

  62. Lerner seems intent on destroying AVFC, i hope his $250m, INVESTMENT turns to shite and our custodian ends up on skid row. This time next year we’ll be worth less than a bag of chips.

  63. I do think that the apparent interest in the thug indicates that the club has been sold, Keane wouldn’t come within a million miles of VP with Lerners current restrictions and the writings on the wall regarding McWankers employment, he’s so unbelievably talentless that the new owner, however dumb he is, will eventually spot what a clueless knob he is and put both him and us out of our miseries. Hopefully Lerner will never soil VP again, Chubby gets a job which displays his talents fully, possibly as a shit shoveller in Kazakhstan and Lambert goes as his apprentice, i look forward to the day when our fans can talk with pride about our club,

  64. Was listening to TS tonight as they said they’d be discussing “what do villa fans think of RK possible appointment ” but I fell asleep and missed it. Now the rabbit is thumping the floor as he wants feeding . No rest for the wicked as they say.

  65. Know what you mean jenny, my cat is giving me hassle to for food, just after i have got in after walking the 5 miles home from the pub, after missing the one and only bus.

    I am sure Keane’s appointment will turn out ok, as Lambert will probably disappear to Celtic and MON will return to Villa, and team up with RK and help spend another billionaire’s fortune, trying to make Villa great again..!!

  66. Yes Jenny we are so shocked but not as shocked as your last comment about the rabbit, try taking the batteries out.

    As for Keane i despise the thug having been on the end of a leg breaker some years back i hate everything about him, just about sums up whats happening at VP we are so far up shitten strasse i cannot put it into words.

    Knobheads the lot of them anyone who had bought season tickets must be crying into their cocoa.

    AVFC RIP

  67. I can feel your blushes Jenny after SWV’s last comment…….I am sure he is a natural that just needs the odd carrot or two….and definitely not a pack of Duracell’s…

  68. People claiming Roy Keane is a thug and a nut probably said the same thing about Diego Simeone who is currently the best manager in the world. Keane is a champion and he won’t tolerate feeble characters or footballers, Villa have bought dross , employed dross and operated like dross for far too long. How is the club meant to achieve anything when the people calling the shots have achieved almost nothing !?

    Yes Keane, has made mistakes who hasn’t , the media/football people used to call Carlos Ancelotti a “pig” after his managerial career got off to a bumpy start, how many Champion’s Leagues has he won to date ? Keane is what this club needs and more people like him, big time charlie’s like Weimann need a kick up the arse, scared rabbits in the headlights like Baker need to get back to basics and people like Gabbby need to wake up and smell the coffee. I’m sure a determined Roy Keane will ensure every member of our squad know where they stand. Would you rather Lambert telling them all they are great after stringing 4 passes together in 90 mins?

    The only problem I could see with Keane arriving might be when it comes to Shay Given, Keane has been quite critical of Given in the past but hey he has buried many hatchets so I’m sure him and Shay could sort their differences.

  69. to be honest l couldnt give a round of fucks with whats going on down the villa , its a bloody joke ,

    Brasil , what part of Brasil are you in ? , l ask because my nephew has finished Uni , and he is looking at going over , he’s on the lookk out for jui-jitsu/ MMA gyms .
    and is anyone on here in California as he’s going over hopefully in August , so looking into fight-camps to train , he has been asked about joining C4 Cagewarriors , if you got me on F/B you can see him demolish his opponent to keep his title , also he still looking for sponsorships !!!!

    lv got a little Robin that comes to my garden , and he sorts crows, magpies , starlings, ect out at the bird table , Roy Keane …..Hard !!!! my arse ………. would love to have seen him, vinny, lily savage in the 70s , l also remember people saying steve mcmahon was hard till l saw him shit it in a tackle against the pickpocket (noel blake )

    Jenny xxxxx
    will sort that ejit SWW out ,

    were sorting a pub thats showing the england game in town next sat , if anyone fancies it ,

  70. liam

    I can see both sides to the keane debate but surely you can’t deny that he uses intimidation to get his point across, and has used violence when he perceived someone crossed or disrespects him. his track record doesn’t point to him being a genius coach so far. maybe he has mellowed out ? I don’t know him personally to say but the media like him on the tele as he is a thorny character and make things interesting for them. At this point his coaching career is going nowhere and coming to villa in the state its in could mean a few things, 1 it suits him with the ireland role, 2 nobody else has asked him, 3 Lambert really is his mate ( look at the last two). for the life of me why turn down the celtic job if a return to management is what you want? champions league guaranteed, success guaranteed an easy path back to respectability in the management world, yet he doesn’t want it, you have to ask why?
    if he comes to villa I will back him as thats only fair, I will see what he brings to the madhouse but he is no Brian clough.

  71. Liam,

    Probably have to agree to disagree about Keane, I admire determined footballers and even hard players, I played against quite a few and even played with some really hard bastards but they never went out to cripple any opposing player.

    This sums up our new prospective assistant.

    “Keane admitted in his book that he set out to injure Haaland that day: ‘I’d waited long enough. I f****** hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***.
    ‘And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries. Even in the dressing room afterwards, I had no remorse. My attitude was, f*** him.
    ‘What goes around, comes around. He got his just rewards. He f***** me over and my attitude is an eye for an eye’.

    What an inspiration to our youngsters.

    UTV

  72. I’m with my old pal Trinity here – if Keane comes give him the same welcome we gave his namesake Robbie.
    There’s nothing wrong with having a hard man as manager. Major Frank Buckley at Wolves springs to mind as does ‘roughhouse Ron Saunders’
    Villa never stopped playing for 90 minutes under him and, after he left, were guilty of letting in goals in the opening and closing minutes of each half.
    It’s that level of commitment, linked with performance related pay (i.e. win bonuses) that will encourage these mercenary bottom-feeders (i.e. professional footballers) to produce satisfactory results.

  73. Mark,
    I think he has an aura that demands respect , he has been portrayed by the media as a mad man so people perceive his actions in a harsher light. Yes, his managerial career has stuttered but many others started off bumpy I think he has massive potential as does our club. Celtic have changed their transfer policy so I’d imagine Keane would not tolerate the club selling it’s best players, also it would mean he would have had to leave his position with Ireland.

  74. Liam,
    Keane as a manager IS dross.He may have intimidated the British players, who aren’t exactly the brightest, but Fernando Redondo and Stefan Effenburg scared the cack out of Keane in two games i saw, Effenburg had him shaking. Low class thug who was never even a good international player just won a few medals in a Mickey Mouse league and even got himself suspended from a CL final for a stupid needless tackle that made him a bigger hero with the ignorant Untied plebs.
    Nothing wrong with hard, e.g Dave McKay, but he went way, way, too far and was allowed to get away with it by the authorities and even encouraged by a manager totally lacking in scruples.
    AVFC is an example of everything that is wrong in football, totally lacking in ethics and decency, commercially and professionally incompetent and full of talentless spivs who don’t give a bollox about the club or its fans, we’re dying of shame and some can’t see it.

  75. Liam,

    I was about to let this one drop but you have prodded me with the virtual stick.

    If you read that extract from Keanes book do you really believe that he should command respect at any level.

    UTV

  76. Why does McWanker always need bullies alongside him ? why doesn’t he get one or two quality coaches who can actually teach the players basic skills, not just to kick and snarl. Clear out at the top desperately needed and standards to return to VP, this club has really gone down the bog under Lerner, i never, ever though we could get a worse owner than that smarmy gobshite Ellis but Lerner makes even him look capable.

  77. Didn’t Keane beat up a young girl in a Nottingham club once ? and also appeared in court for intimidating an old lady who was a neighbour.

  78. Liam

    can’t imagine Celtic self destructing like that as loss of the the champions league would surely bring more devastation to them in the long run. even so a good manager should look at that league and think easy not run from the challenge.
    I agree the media have hyped his hard man image but at the same time he’s done nothing IMO to dispel it either.

    if Keane is allowed to stutter in his career are you willing to give Lambert the same grace? after all I can’t remember Keane’s sides being lauded for their flair, resilience or anything much, pretty generic football as I can remember. all he brings is a reputation as no nonsense, we need someone in the martinez/rodgers mold that can actually get across to them a decent system/style of play and get the best from them. scaring them won’t be enough for this lot. I wait with baited breath

  79. AVFC is an example of everything that is wrong in football, totally lacking in ethics and decency, commercially and professionally incompetent and full of talentless spivs who don’t give a bollox about the club or its fans, we’re dying of shame and some can’t see it.

    ———————-

    Couldn’t sum up Villa better at the moment. The club some how keep lowering standards time and time again. Senderous on loan, a mix choice on our new assistant. Lambert and Randy couldn’t give a fuck, but they are a long way from fucking off and will continue to run Villa without any shame, standard, dignity or honour.

    This is a great club, but they have disgraced us and will continue to

  80. I know it’s Nursery and he normally speaks trash but he’s saying no deal is close but Randy has dropped the asking price because there is interest from the Middle East

    Personally, wouldn’t mind going similar to what City have done. We would have been the 4th most successful English team even before they came in any way. Know one could ever take that away from us

  81. Have you disagree with you all fellas , I think Keane will prove you wrong I’ll hold my hands up if I’m wrong (rarely happens πŸ™‚ ).

    Mark there is no challenge at Celtic they win the league every year, sell their best players and are not prepared to invest sufficiently enough to give the champions league a run, Lennon got so bored he quit.

  82. My only hope with Keane is he won’t be afraid to tell Lambert that 90% of our squad aren’t actually football players. The first time he see’s KEA baker, Gabby, Bennett, Wiemann etc etc in training you’d hope he tells Lambert the truth and that you need a midfield in football, something Lambert hasn’t worked out yet

  83. Disappointed that my inactivity Villa-wise has been mirrored by inactivity by the Villa, Villa-wise. Living back in Brum now though, near Castle Brom so any pub meet-ups over the summer are an easy thing for me now rather than a 3 hour train from Aberystwyth. Off to Lanzarote for a week tomorrow as well, so I’ve been rather busy packing a flat up, then unpacking it, then repacking it for holiday.

    As for Mr. Keane, I’m not so keen (ha). He was found wanting as a manager for his Di Canio-like criticism of players and I think he’ll be too similar to Culverhouse and Karsa in tact that it won’t make much of a difference. Of course, we need a number 2 and there aren’t many great ones available so he’ll be an okay stop-gap but hopefully neither he nor Lambert will actually be running affairs come the start of pre-season.

  84. Also, liked the comic strip thing for the new kit unveiling – it’s my mate’s uncle who did the artwork which was a surprise because he’s a bluenose. Won’t get the kit though, I’m going to be collecting replica classic shirts until they release one I like.

  85. Just had a good laugh at the Ajax kit spoof, which took everyone in.

    Glad to see you are safely returned to Castle Brom Josh. That was my last home before moving to Mid-Wales in Oct 1977.

    Still have fond memories of Brum, and working at the Toby Jug in Castle Bromwich.

    Hopefully when you return from your holiday Josh, we shall know more about what is happening to Villa.

  86. I’d be happy with Roy Keane as assistant manager. He’ll certainly be someone to look up to for the players in terms of achievement and will not pull any punches.

    He also has managerial experience so if Lambert gets fired at any point, he could do the caretaker role with no issues.

    I know he can be a complete twat at times but can’t we all? πŸ™‚

  87. John L

    Now the price is considerably less for Villa, perhaps it is time for the fans to be preparing to put together a deal to buy back the club……

  88. Mark
    I’m saying Celtic is an unattractive option hence Keane turned it down, there is no challenge managing Celtic they will win the league at a canter and middle of the road EPL teams will snap up their best players every year that’s why a disillusioned Lennon walked away.

    Have a great hol Josh.

  89. Liam
    athletico in a two team league with those two teams the richest around would look like no hopers to me . Certainly a challenge but no automatic champions league let alone making the final, I,ve no doubt their players will be poached too. So taking on Celtic and making them a European force again is’nt a challenge? Why did he leave Ipswich? Was it because he failed? Thought he couldn’t progress them ? I’m asking as I don’t know.

  90. Paul: Now the price is considerably less for Villa, perhaps it is time for the fans to be preparing to put together a deal to buy back the club……

    You have a got a very good point there, Paul.

    I’m afraid it’s not for me to pick up the cudgel, though … my next 4 months are loaded with a house move, getting out a new book, a new work assignment (out of the blue) and my wife’s recovery from surgery to negotiate.

    I do hope that someone can lead such a venture. If there’s any input required from me, though, I’d be happy to oblige.

  91. Keane was sacked by Ipswich, Mark. They had good funds, solid base of players, decent youth players and he had them stalling in mid-table. Definitely not manager material but if O’Neill rates him at assistant then maybe he’s more suited to it. Can’t imagine he’s a great coach though – Delph will be suspended all season!

  92. Mark,
    I only referenced Diego Simeone as English football fans and the media labelled him a thug for many a year yet he went on to prove he is currently the best manager in the world. Keane is labelled in some quarters like Simeone used to be, yes he failed at Ipswich and Sunderland but he would not be the first successful manager to have a bumpy start to his career (check Ancelotti’s CV for example).

    Celtic have hit a glass ceiling hence they’re poor performance in the Champion’s League last year were they only defeated Ajax, compared to the season before were they defeated Barcelona. The transfer policy at Celtic is now to sell their best players Hooper to Norwich and Wanyama to Southampton for example , it’s only a matter of time before Fraser Forster will be sold too hence Lennon’s disillusion / departure and Keane’s reluctance to take the job.

    In my opinion Keane has his eyes on the Ireland job so a number 2 role is ideal at the minute for his career ambitions.

  93. Keane is deffo not a top manager as per his track record — can he help in the short term – who knows — One thing is sure is that until such time the club is taken over we are not going to have a top manager or a great team

    Villa are in limbo until at least christmas by the way things are looking

  94. Simone – while on the subjuct of hard men becoming top managers there is major Major differences between keane and simone and many other managers for that matter — Players talking about playing for Simone say they would run through a brick wall for him — this basically means that he is a brilliant man manager and doesnt have to shout at someone to make them play out of there skin for him

    Tactically Real and Munich have been out foxed by him and great players struggle to make an inpact against his tactics

    Athelico are 400mil in dept but due to him also being very clever in the market he put a side together that was better than real and barca last season

    I don’t think Keano or any manager in the prem could achieve this under the same curcumstances — its rude to compare the two

  95. Runtings
    I can’t fathom how it is rude to compare the two, Irish players all worship Keane and would run through any English defense for him πŸ˜‰

  96. It will all happen now Frem is on holls!

    Imagine the villa squads faces lying on a sunny beach some where and recieving the news Keano will be training them this season!!

    Keanos appointment seems to of split fans….love or hate.
    One thing for sure he has very high standards and wont tolerate nonsense which i welcome.

  97. thanks josh some facts at last πŸ˜‰

    liam
    now I want to see simeone at celtic winning the CL, where can I get some of those green tinted glasses you wear ? πŸ™‚

  98. Would absolutely prefer Hangeland over Senderos if we’re getting CBs in on a free. Lampard, Lukaku on loan, Barry, any Man Utd cast-offs Van Gaal doesn’t want, there’s so many freebie options out there that a shite club like ours should be aiming to pinch.

  99. Philippe Senderos set to join Villa on a free transfer…

    This news has got the alarm bells ringing big time for me..

    It clearly means there is NO buyer lined up.. we are in deep $hit..

    I thought we wouldn’t sign anyone till after the World Cup… giving time for maybe someone to put a concrete bid in.. but if this Senderos news is true then that clearly shows no one is interested at all..

    Seems like all the ITK knobs where talking out of there ar$es..!!

  100. Senderous? Wow. We could get Barry or Lescott on a free, but nope. God those season tickets must be selling like there ain’t no tomorrow

    Not yet Runtings, go on Monday and don’t worry.
    Anyone want anything from Turkey ? πŸ™‚

  101. LH- Wages I guess. Certainly not because he wasn’t good enough. Apparently Wet Spam will offer him 65 grand a week. They have already got Zarate. Another club now out our league

    I’ll try πŸ™‚ I’ll spend my time there hunting down a multi billionaire and convince him to buy us. I’ll also tell him to bring trophies back to Villa and treat us with the up most respect or else I’ll hunt him down again

  102. Steamer

    Thanks for the sentiment about Mrs. L. It’s not life-threatening … just that her pins have worn out, needing her to become bionic.

    So, that’s another promising player who Villa won’t be able to sign! πŸ˜‰

  103. I think the Senderous signing shows how far of a take over is though. If it was close, why fill the squad with crap now ? He’s an improvement on Baker though, and probably Clark. Okore and Vlaar are sick notes

    John- best wishes also, but don’t be surprised if Lambert comes knocking and wants her in midfield next season. Would it honestly surprise anyone if Lambert did that ? I don’t think it would

    Very true Steamer

  104. Woe Senders set too join – a player that couldnt get into a Fulham side that went down

    Another complete wait of money all be it wages GULP

    Frem hope you have a great time and remember if you like it then you better put a thing on it

  105. And don’t buy a roast chicken off the street vendors, We went to Fenebache in 77 ? with Villa and one of the lads bought one that was full of maggots so he threw it in the wardrobe, as you do, a few hours later another one of the lads came in slightly worse for wear, saw the chicken in the wardrobe and stripped it of the meat ( and maggots ) and dropped of to sleep.

  106. Milner plays anywhere but CM since he left us. Wasted

    Smalling and Jones are just awful. Baker standard

    Nice story Steamer. I won’t be buying any thing now of the street.

  107. Frem
    Dont forget the gold thong mate , the women will be wowed over , Tc said you can keep it , and mate the chicken never done gwilly any harm , jeez he’ about 16/18 stone now (THINK THAT COULD BE 20) . have a good hols and when you get back maybe you can drop over and we can have a look at the exam your taking , l will get a new copy of On-Site guide , did l give you the calculation books l had ?. oh and if you dont mind get me a shot glass/whiskey glass please , went there one year and when landing we had to pay a Β£10 entry tax , fucking TC had an irish passport and charged him a bloody fiver !!!!!!

    any more beer ideas , for the weekend , that Prox one is still top of list , only problem is it goes down so easy so beware , took me till monday afternoon , daughter cant believe lv offered to take her to the fort shopping , M&S there )))

    Josh
    where about castle brom , not far from me (coleshill) poss meet up during world cup mate , you could drop into the caff as well ,

  108. anyone else think englands team looking half decent? considering it was a second string side almost they looked good going forward. rooney still not 100% but when is he for england though? jones improved as the game went on but him and smalling not a strong enough pairing.

    Senderos is probably a Scott Marshall recommendation as he is ex arsenal and Lambert was rumoured to lean on his staff for recruitment.

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