As per usual lately, you lot are well ahead of me when it comes to the latest news and even though you’ve already been commenting on it, this has to be good news and is worthy of an article.
So, just as I was always fairly confident that Dr Tony Xia would get to take us over, so even my thinking didn’t go without a slight wobble, with the FT questioning his validity.
Whatever, it’s now looking like it’s a done deal.
I’ve seen quotes where Xia will arrive in the UK on Monday for talks with the Premier and Football leagues for a face-to-face interview and the deal should be ratified on Wednesday.
But what’s more interesting and frankly bloody exciting to me, if the reports are true, is that Xia has proven that he has £500 million on deposit in British bank accounts.
Why so exciting?
Well, remember that big cheque that Xia showed the media? That was worth around £430 million, so that is actually on top of the money he’s paid for the club.
Now Randy Lerner was a billionaire, but I’ll bet whatever you like that there was no way he could ever have placed that sort of money in a bank account, as it would have been too tied up.
This is the level we’re talking about and if it’s actually Xia’s own personal wealth, or as I suspect, money that belongs to higher powers, it matters not and it’s there, in black and white.
Of course, it doesn’t mean it will be spent, but the point is it proves the backing and clout is there.
Consider our local rivals (and it’s not a point I’m going to dwell on, as I want all Midland clubs competing) are going to be taken over with a promise to provide £10-11 million, but only a two-year commitment, so we can see how good our new owner looks on the face of things. It at least puts things in perspective, in my opinion.
All that said, I’m a Villa fan, where I’m now also incredibly cautious after all the rubbish we’ve gone through.
So, of course it could all end in tears.
But we should see things move pretty rapidly now and it’s encouraging.
We’ve just got rid of our Chief marketing executive, another seeming waster and now we’re talking gravy, because it looks like Reily will be replaced by a new “Premier league” Director of footy; someone who knows what he’s doing.
Unfortunately, I suspect this has Comoli written all over it.
And I’m not so sure about him.
Happy days for me, all in all though and I’m looking forward to us, as a bare minimum, winning some games and hopefully making at least a challenge.
As I said, happy days.
Hopefully we keep more of our better players than we’d expect and get some decent ones in.
Hope we do keep some of our decent players and get some decent ones in but also want to see the dross get their marching orders. They’re just breathing someone else’s air IMHO.
However feeling hopeful this morning which is a rare and strange feeling but one I hope I get used to 🙂
UTV
Reports say Vertout is willing to stay. That might be a good call as he did show signs of being a decenr footballer although many if you will have seen him play more than me. I suspect he found it difficult to settle initially. Interested in others views
@H60
Agree that he showed flashes here and there but really hard to judge players like him and Gana and Sanchez when they’re surrounded by a load of time wasters who couldn’t care less.
Always remember when we first got Sanchez and his pass rate was woeful but only because he was passing the ball into spaces but none of the other players anticipated that a ball could actually go forwards as well as side to side.
I’ll trust RDM’s and Clarke’s judgement as to who they keep.
I rate Veretout. I think he could be very, very good. I don’t care what anyone else thinks!
I agree but he’s more of a luxury player. He will be great to bring on to finish off teams when we are 2 up with 20 mins left but in that league will get kicked all over the place
Press are reporting we’re close to 3m deal for Prem defender. Anyone know anymore?
Only rumour I’ve seen along those lines is the Bournemouth captain Elphick. No idea if there’s any truth or even if he’s any good.
Elphick, a goal keeper, a winger and a striker are apparently all in talks to sign with the club.
Andrew, what’s this player released from Man Utd like Nick Powell. Villa are chasing him along with Leeds, ?
He’s another one of those semi-decent young attackers, typically an attacking mid/support striker/possible winger who played for Crewe at a young age, like 17-18 or something like that, scored a lot in League One, got the big money move to Manchester United and as per usual, didn’t go anywhere. Went on loan to Wigan, showed he was decent in the Championship but that’s about as far as it goes for him at the moment. Only 22 though so has time on his side.
I’m sure I’ve seen articles suggesting he has a bad attitude. Turns up late for training or something like that. If that’s the case he is a bit of a risk. I think he has had a few injury problems as well. He seemed to have talent so maybe he could be good for us.
It should start to get very interesting soon if the papers are right (for once)
Doesn’t surprise me, when you’re hyped up as much as the average English player is, a fair few are going to get the attitude issues.
Badger – going back to your comment re Xia’s apparent wealth: I was staggered when I saw that report yesterday.
As you say, Lerner may have had the net worth, but never in a million years would he have had half a billion pounds in ‘cash’ sitting as cash at the bank – it would have been tied-up in all sorts of long-term investments, not to mention the ‘family trust’ which only complicated matters.
The story I read said that Xia has proved that he has committed cash to Villa not just for one season, as the FPP test was checking, but apparently for the season after this – which neither the FA or FL strictly required.
Wherever this money has come from [& like you I’m still of the opinion that he may have friends in high places…] I hope that we all stay realistic and don’t start complaining when Villa ‘only’ end up with a net spend of £25m-35m on players before this season starts.
Hopefully Xia takes a longer-term view and doesn’t chuck millions against the wall in an initial burst of enthusiasm [RL’s first year or two] – all that would do is to drive-up prices of whatever players might be linked to Villa.
Interesting article from the BBC here. They claim that RDM will get 35mil to spend PLUS whatever we make in sales. That should (depending on who we sell) be 50mil and counting. That should (with the right signings) guarantee a swift return to the PL. Also goid to read that the Austrian training camp has been extended to 7 days…..get the lazy ones fit or fuck off!
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36506247
We WILL be promoted at the first attempt
UTV
Spot on Langford – as always. We will be promoted – has to be the clarion call!
If we could get the Guzan back that played tonight against Paraguay we’d be set. He was world class.
Andrew, I agree he was man of the match for me. His double save at point blank range late in the game was world class. Goes to show what confidence in himself and his defence can do.
I ain’t buying it he plays one good game now makes him our best option between the sticks.I really hope this is one position we find a replacement.
Not suggesting we should keep him, but if he carries on playing like that then there should hopefully be plenty of teams interested in buying him.
Hopefully there was a club watching him play the other night that has never seen him play before & kindly take him off our hands now.
No, he’s unpredictable, he’s had his day and if we did keep him all the blame will return to the team, new man for the new team please.
Andrew….Guzan is rubbish and desperately needs replacing.
Guzan is easily the worst keeper to play consistently over number seasons
For villa Sherwood dropped him then was left in the lurch last summer when fox didn’t buy a new number one
Remi wanted a new keeper,in fact had one lined up only for fox to fluck that up like every thing else fox did
A new keeper is one first players needed
Far from rubbish but needs replacing I’d agree. He is however proving his form under Lambert for the US and is showing he can do it again.
He’s definitely SHITE at dealing with crosses.
I didnt know he was catholic 🙂 🙂
😀
lets be honest the whole squad last season were rubbish. they won 3 games, top teams can win 3 games in a week. guzan wasn’t help by the players in front of him. hard for any individual of the squad to look good, when their was so many players not giving 20% effort. on the other hand guzan made countless errors which doesn’t help his cause.
personally i think its too hard to trust any of the established players in last years squad again. i would like a complete overall. except for the few. but total overalls rarely work immediately, usually takes time for new squad to gel.
maybe best to dump the rotton apples this summer and keep the likes of westwood and huttons of the squad which would give 100%, they would not be found wanting in a long hard season at championship level,
what ever happens iam looking forwards to seeing the new management get to work molding the squad, its not a job for the screamish
overhaul not overall sorry hungover
makes me laugh at the end of the season all these players want to leave cos their egos won’t accept a drop into the championship. it is because you were not good enough that we got relegated.
I think things are at last moving in the right direction. Of course that could be because no football is being played by AVFC, but a new owner and a new management team is a positive start.
Tommy Elphick, as a Captain, was inspirational for Bournemouth, but I wonder why they would sell him. Perhaps his long injury last term is at risk of recurrence. If it is simply the pace of Premiership play that is beyond him he might do a decent one season job for Villa.
Is a release clause now becoming a standard part of players contracts and are they made generally known through the agents? If agreement is reached on a players likely market value then it ultimately gives the player control over whether or not he moves club. It would be interesting yo know whether or not Elphick has one.
On another point it now seems Vertout wants to leave without any discussions with DM – we only want players who are committed to the club.
Agree hitch never stand in the way of a player that wants out,good luck to him.we want players who take pride in wearing the claret and blue & will produce their best when called upon.Utv onwards & upwards VTID
Ditto…..if you dont want to play for our great club then there is something seriously wrong with you! ONLY committed players wanted…..NO more fucking Zoggies, Bacuna etc……either shape up, wear our shirt with pride or do one!
******************BREAKING NEWS*****************
Formalities complete!
Dr Tony Xia….is now OFFICIALLY our owner
This news will be allover the media shortly
Watch this space!
Here is the confirmation source:
It has come from Dr Tony Xia’s official WELBO account ( WELBO is the Chinese equivalent of twitter)…… The account in question has been verified on numerous occasions including verification by the Telegraph?
This is what Dr Tony Xia wrote:
2016.6.13..London 11.30 the formal completion of Football League proper test of Villa completed for the acquisition! The beginning if a journey unknown, but worth the challenge!
Brilliant news!
I’m looking at the new player Cieran Clarke playing for Ireland, doing ok might get DM to sign him. They have a goal keeper Given on the subs bench someone likes them.think his name is Martin O’Neil.
Told you Clarke scored, ok it was for Sweden. But he scored.
Typical villa defender
He came close to scoring an own goal on two occasions before the one he scored. To be fair there wasn’t a lot he could do about the one that went in, though he should have gone with his foot rather than his head. The other two were awful clearances though.
i don’t think he is good enough for us, even in the Championship
BBC now confirm acquisition completed. Samuelson vice chairman and Wyness CEO – let the wagons roll UTV
Great news let the good times begin.welcome doc Utv
I thought I heard the PL/FL enquiry described on Radio4 this morning as ‘unprecedented’ in it’s scope and depth.
So will the naysayers in the ‘national media’ now quietly forget their ‘doubts’ about whether the new owner is genuine?
Agreed Ardent, the way the scummy press described our new owner, you would have thought he was some kind of tax evading Philip Green – But no, just a billionaire hell bent on breaking the Sky 4 monopoly !!
It shows what utter bollox the media print just for a story, I hope they now back off & pick on another club there’s plenty to choose from.wankers
Lol……so the press have finally caught up with what I was telling everyone yesterday 🙂
Its heartening to know that Sky, BBC et al get their info from this site 🙂
Embrace the changes guys and gals…..enjoy the ride because we are coming back bigger, stronger and better than ever!
We WILL be promoted at the first attempt.
UTV
P & P brother utv
Nothing on OS but I think they said it would take a couple of days (after PL/FL test) for all legal documentation to be completed. Don’t think we’ll get any announcement from OS until the acquisition is legally signed off.
It’s on the OS now.