Due to the lack of co-operation with other sides, this is the first opposition view of 2012. This week Michael talks to Phil Jones (No Joke – and not the United player!) from Manchester.

Why Manchester City and how long have you supported them?

All My life, was brought up In Barlow Moor and my older Brother supports Utd! but I followed my Father and became a Blue and never looked back, I took a lot of stick off him over the years but now is our time and it feels good!

I am going to get right to the point, will Manchester City Dethrone Manchester United and win the Premier League title this season?

I hesitate to say a definite yes but I think we are odds on to to it this season! Don’t want to jinx it. Utd traditionally have a strong finish to the season but we have a better squad than them and this will show in the final straight. It would be so sweet to not only win the title but to take it from Utd who have looked down on us for so many years and been the butt of many jokes!! the tables have now turned and City will dominate Manchester for years to come as I think Utd are FINALLY in decline.

Everyone has eyes on Manchester City during the transfer window, but this was one of the quietest in recent memory! why do you think that was?

Can’t speak for any other Club but I think the massive spending by us has now finished, the money spent has given us a world class squad which over time we will adjust and add to with quality Players, we wont spend 100′s of millions but when we do need players money will not be an issue. As for everyone else, I don’t think there is that much talent available out there and the drop in attendances across the League has many clubs tightening their belts.

Mario Balotelli is certainly a love him or hate him Player, how do you feel about him and does his temperament worry you at all?

Ain’t he great!!! wonderful talent but total head-case! sometimes he can risk being sent off with his antics but he is great to watch and can single handed change a game! I think he and Mancini have had a few arguments but this is part and parcel of what you get when you sign a player like him.

The benefits of having Mega Rich owners is very clear with unlimited spending and the ability to tempt the best Players, but are there any negative aspects that go unseen to many?

Only one minor drawback, the newly Manchester City life long Fans! Being of a more mature age and been going to watch the team playing over 30 years I have seen the sudden change in the amount of City Fans around the country and in Manchester, no sense or knowledge of the history of the Club or what we have gone through over the years! ask them a pre 2007 question about the Club and they cant answer.

Tevez is still on Manchester City’s books and still refuses to return to the Club, What are your thoughts on him?

That’s a quid in the swear tin please! The problem with being able to sign superstar players is that you get the superstar attitude as well. its part of the course and no player is bigger that the Club, he will never wear the Shirt again and that’s just fine by me.

Champions league qualification is assured for you next season, but do you think City’s finances will pass the financial fair play rules?

Don’t worry we will pass the test! and if we are on the verge of failing,then don’t be surprised to expect a world record sponsor ship deal with one of Sheikhs mates lol, but seriously, I think this is part of the reason that we did not spend in the January window. either way I think our Lawyers will be able to get something sorted if needed! Money talks!

What are your thoughts on Aston Villa as a Club and Villas Fans in general?

Like the Club, Its history and its Fans, but I do think that things are not right at Villa Park. Poor performances and unrest since O’Neill left has left Villa looking like a wounded animal which has no fight left, I say this with all due respect because a Club of Villa’s size should be right up there competing, but you always come up short.

Many Aston Villa Fans are very unhappy at the appointment and performance of Alex McLeish who came to Villa from our most fierce rivals Birmingham City, what do you this of this and how would you feel if Manchester City appointed Alex Ferguson?

Very strange move by your Chairman, very Brave move that could turn out to be a very bad one from what I hear. I have always though that McLeish was a very underrated Manager and has achieved a lot in the game, but at Villa he is not only facing opposition from other teams but also from the Fans and no I hear players.

What do you think the future holds for Aston Villa as we are currently under going a major cost cutting programme and apparently have a sell to buy policy in place and a Chairman who is determine to get the Finances in place?

Can’t imagine a Premier League without Aston Villa and I doubt very much you are in any real danger of being relegated, your position in the league is a pretty false one because you have some real quality players who are under-performing, But mark my words, if you can get Stevie Ireland playing back at his best you will have one of the most talented Players in this League! and we might buy him back then! (laughs)

And finally match predictions?

Villa 1 City 3, we will have too much for you on Sunday and I don’t think you have won at home for months!

Interview by Michael Steede.

Discuss the upcoming match against Manchester City on the Aston Villa Forums.

The last Opposition View of 2011 comes from a friend of mine who is a Chelsea fan through and through. David Pickett is also a member of staff on Talk Chelsea.

Why and how long have you supported Chelsea?

I never really supported any team for the first few years i watched football, but my first Chelsea game was in 2002 against West Ham in the cup when i was taken along for a friends birthday, which got me hooked. Been to most home games since and a season ticket holder since 2004.

André Villas-Boas hasn’t had the best of starts as manager when you compare him to the likes of Carlos Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho. Do you believe he has what it takes to bring the glory days back to the bridge?

I think its still quite early to judge villas-boas, but his credentials in his short career are very good, and there’s definitely something about him. the talk of him getting sacked is ridiculous considering the squad does need his own tweaking.
He’ll still be in the job this time next year and that’ll be a fair point to judge him. I’d say the competition at the top of the league from 4/5 teams now is a lot stronger than its ever been also.

Chelsea spent a lot of money on Fernando Torres and he is in danger of becoming one of football’s biggest flops. Do you believe he has what it takes to turn things round and become a star?

Torres still shows the odd moment of absolute brilliance, but they are probably becoming further and further apart. The amount of games that he started at the beginning of the season was the best thing for him and villas-boas got rewarded for it with a few goals, but his red card against Swansea seems to have completely halted his season and he can’t get a kick. He’ll start games from January with Drogba away at the African Nations, and I’d imagine that’ll be his real big chance with a few big names likely to leave in the summer and a few to probably come in. He’s not ‘finished’ yet but he needs to be starting games regularly if he’s going to ‘come good’.

Gary Cahill looks almost certain to join you in *anuary, who else would you like to see come in and why?

With Cahill coming in and Essien returning from injury, i doubt we’ll sign anyone else in January but 4-5 of the older players such as Drogba, Malouda, Ferreira etc are likely to go in the summer and will need replacing. As always with Chelsea, who we’ll sign is any ones guess. Would rather the likes of Hazard and Higuain rather than the inevitable link (again) to Kaka.

You probably already answered this in your previous answer but I’ll ask it anyway. Some neutral football fans believe that Chelsea’s squad is becoming past it and they need to rebuild. Would the #helsea faithful agree with this statement?

I think its fair to say that the majority of #helsea fans think that the squad needs a bit of a refresh. The likes of Anelka, Malouda and &erreira all did good jobs for the club but are considerably past their best. For me, Drogba and Lampard still have a future in which they can contribute a hell of a lot to our cause, just not on a week to week basis, and no one would want to see them leave the club. As for JT, his performance at Spurs showed he’s still different class.

You have drawn Napoli in the Champions League and they boast players such as Marek Hamsik and Edison Cavani (both who have been linked with moves to #helsea). Do you fancy your chances in this fixture?

They look a decent side and obviously fared well in a really difficult group stage and have done well domestically for a good few years. But I think we have more for them to worry about, and our experience will hopefully see us through. If we defend properly (unlike the first few months of the season) over in Naples then i think we’ll be fine.

With both #helsea and Man City being taken over by sugar daddies, as a #helsea fan would you say this is for the good or bad of football on a whole?

I think its created more competition in the league which I’d say is a good thing. We all want to see 3/4/5 teams in the title race and with the money that not only us and city have spent, but also spurs and Liverpool then we have a real chance of seeing an open title race over the next few years.

Aston Villa are currently going through a difficult period. What are your views on the club as an outsider?

I think with Bent and Agbonlahor, Villa probably have the best forward line outside the top six/seven, but unlike under O’Neill where by you had 6/7 key players who allowed you to compete against some of the top teams, you now only have these two along with perhaps Shay Given. I think the fight and quality in your midfield has gone and needs to be addressed quickly but just like Villas-Boas, Mcleish should be given beyond this season to put his stamp on the side in the transfer market.

And finally, Match predictions?

A not too confident 2-0 chelsea.

Interview by Stuart Young.

Discuss the upcoming match against #helsea on the Aston Villa Forums.

For our last Opposition View before Christmas we have a bit of a treat for you. Michael had the privilege to speak to not one, but two Arsenal fans from Online Arsenal.

Peter Leeds answers will be in the usual white text, while Andy Gilfrin will be in blue!

Why and how long have you supported Arsenal?

Well, Since Birth in a way, as I was named after Peter Storey (and middle name Alan after Alan Ball!) Was born in 1972, but my earliest proper memory of being an Arsenal fan was losing the 78 FA Cup Final to Ipswich! Reason why, Well I was born and lived in the Highbury & Islington area for first 23 years of my life, and most of my Family were Arsenal Mad, so Family and location played its part.

Since 1979, I was 6 at the time and it was partly because we won the FA Cup that year. Although as I was 6 there were no doubt other reasons, liked the strip and lived a stones throw from the original home in Woolwich.

Arsenal had a very shaky start to the season but from the last 8 games you earned 22 points from a possible 24, a very impressive run to say the least! but my question is can this form be maintained into and beyond the new year?

I think we are well placed to stay on course for a top 4 finish again. We have Played Man Ure, Chavski and Scum Away already, and Loserpool at Home, and tomorrow we play Shitty Away too….thats a lot of tough games out the way already and its not even Xmas. So while I don’t think we will necessary maintain this unbeaten run, I do think the general form will continue and see us do OK.

Yes I think it can, while Wenger will rightly get the credit, all he has done is do what the fans have been asking for the club to do for the last 4 seasons. Purchase some experience in defence and midfield. Per Mertesacker has taken some stick from the fans but I think his experience has been vital at the back, as has Arteta in the middle, he’s not playing the sort of forward thinking role we expected but he has allowed Song and Ramsey to play a little further forward.

A couple of full backs should return from injury and Wilshere will add some need creativity.

Arsenal sold two of its best players in the summer with Fabregas going to Barca and Nasri heading to Man City, how much of an impact has this had on your team and how do you feel about their departures?

It had a large influence, but in some ways for the better. The Cesc situation was out of hand, every Summer was a struggle to keep him, and no-one blames him wanting to return to his Home club. But you cannot build anything upon a player that wants away, so better to let him go and then start again, and in Wilshire we have a Gunner through and through who could now really grow into that role.

Nasri (or as we now call him, The French lesbian) just went where the Money was, but again, he did that when he joined us anyway, so just another mercenary player….Gervinho could end up replacing him well enough if he could finish better!

I think it took a while to adjust, hence the terrible start. Cesc is one of those players who while at the club played so well that he was beyond criticism, now he has gone you can look back and realistically assess what he gave to the club. Ability wise he is one of the best players in the world, however I do think there are question marks over his temperament especially in light of him being captain. He was proud to be captain, but who wouldn’t be, they say he led by example but in all honesty when he went missing the team was rudderless, especially at the end of last season when we imploded.

As for Nasri, he had a very good 6 months spell at the start of last season, other than that he was like a lot of modern footballers. Plenty of ability but a lack of effort and a tendency to go missing, again at the end of last season.

Cesc will be missed by the fans and Arsenal are worse off with him gone, Nasri won’t be missed by the fans and I doubt he will be missed too much on the pitch either and that’s said having watched him for the last 3 years and not sour grapes.

Sami Nasri made some comments about the lack of passion from Arsenal fans since leaving Highbury, i find this strange since he never played there! what do you think of these comments?

Nonsense basically. Our Away fans are among the best in the land (but generally speaking, most clubs away support is more concentrated old school fans, more so than their home support) and anyone who was present against Barca, Man Ure, Chavski and the scum home games last season will see that its nonsense…..I accept the home support isn’t as good as it should be, but part of that is moving into a much larger stadium.

Yes very strange, he has half a point but I think there are a number of factors which make the new stadium less than ideal. Despite moans and groans on the “official” attendance figures we do sell out 90% of games so 60,000 people are at the ground for each game, many of those are not your traditional football supporter type. I personally have no issue with them but they don’t like to stand, don’t like to sing and much of the atmosphere is reduced. I also think the bowl shape means the fans in each section have less of an identity.

However, when you leave a club you need to do two things, thank the club you have left and say something nice about the one you have moved to. What you don’t do is slag off the club you just left and what you really don’t do is slag off the fans. I think on his recent trip back for the Carling Cup he got a taste of how good the fans were. Sometimes the atmosphere is sensational, for example when we played Barcelona last season, however Nasri won’t be able to see if it’s the same as that at Manchester City as they will be playing in the Europa League.

Robin Van Persie is in fine form at the moment and playing some of the best football of his career, but he has also put contract talks on hold till the end of the season! do you see this as a bad sign considering the rumours about Man City looking to sign him to replace Tevez?

See this as a massive worry, but I get the feeling that He is just strengthening his negotiating position rather than seeking a move.

I have always given Robin Van Persie a little more credit, it’s 50/50 on whether he stays or goes but I have a suspicion that he will stay. That will depend on us getting in a few star names or bug talents and I think the club genuinely want to do that. I just don’t think he is the sort to go to City, Real or Barcelona maybe.

Is it a bad sign, well I think he want’s to see what the club does in the two transfer windows and I wouldn’t begrudge him that.

Arsenal have drawn AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, how do you think this will play out and how far can you go in the competition this season?

We have an excellent record against Italian teams in the KO stages of CL and the European Cup going back to the 70′s…Think we will scrape through. We will go as far as the Draw keeps us away from Real and Barca!

We have a brilliant record against Italian clubs and while Milan have improved since we knocked them out a few seasons ago I think we have improved also. As for how far we will go, who knows as it depends on the draw, although people seem to constantly forget we were the only team to beat Barcelona in the champions league last season so I would give us a punchers chance which I wouldn’t give to most clubs.

Arsene Wenger has come in for some stick for his apparent unwillingness to spend in the transfer market, this along with the lack of trophies in recent seasons has seen some call for him to step down or be replaced, what are your thoughts on this?

My feet are firmly in the ‘Arsene Knows’ camp. While I can see we are trophy-less for 6 seasons, I can also see that we have been competing while hampered by a financial structure that the other big clubs have not. I’m sure if any of them had spent (net) as little as AW, they would be in the same boat.

I’m on the fence to be honest and I’m also a realistic football fan. We simply cannot compete with the likes of City and Chelsea in the transfer market, I doubt many others could have achieved what Wenger has on the budget he has spent over the last 5 years. We have had 14 straight years in the Champions League which most fans wet their knickers over just for a half chance of playing in.

But I’m also of the opinion that we wouldn’t disappear without a trace if Wenger left. It’s a results business and at the moment Arsenal are still in the hunt, if we dropped out of the top 4 for a season or two then it might be time to call it a day.

Either way Wenger and the team get my and the fans backing all the way. The club has a little more class than most teams and that extends to the fans.

Mikel Arteta signed in the Summer from Everton and i think Arsenal got a great deal as long as he stays fit, how has he settled in at Arsenal?

Think he is very Gilberto like….very understated, very much doing the small cog role, but its that small cog that keeps things moving. He has fitted in very well, and gives space to other players to use well. Also has a knack for making the right passes at the right time that while maybe are not the defence splitting assist making passes, they are intelligent passes that take the pressure off and find players in space all the time. Some players when harried lay the ball off to another player who is also under pressure, but He seems to be able to always find the right ball (be it a simple pass or a long ball) that maintains easy possession.

Personally I think he has been brilliant. He has clearly been asked to do a job and he has the maturity to get on with it. I think he has been central to the run we have been on, not the star man getting the goals or delivering the killer pass but provides the foundation for those things to happen.

Aston Villa are fighting to balance wage v revenue and still remain competitive and many Villa Fans are unhappy with the Chairmans reluctance to spend the vast sums required to break into the now top 6, what do you think about Randy Lerner’s current approach to Aston Villa?

I don’t really know enough about the financial situation at Villa, but I have supported the Arsenal Boards stance on not over reaching while paying off the new stadium debt. As Leeds found out, it only takes 2 bad seasons and unprotected debts can suddenly sink your club. If that’s why the Villa Board are being cautious then it comes down to security over risk and would you rather reach for the stars and take the chance of either hitting the highs earlier, but run a quite significant risk of really hitting a massive low as well, or to play safer and slowly build?

As an outsider it’s difficult to tell, but from what I can see he backed O’Neil with plenty of money in the past and is entitled to expect the current manager to get on with it. You have lost a few players over the last couple of years but I think long term stability is preferable to throwing it away for short term glory.

What are your feelings about Aston Villa and our fans?

Been Villa Park a couple of times, it is my Favorite away ground. Had a lot of good Banter with Villa Fans in Lord Nelson Pub on Holloway Rd. a few seasons ago (when it was Away Fan Friendly, now Home only)

Feel Villa as a club are a traditional Top flight club, bit hard to imagine a Premiership without them as in my lifetime they always seem to have been in the top flight.

Villa are one of those clubs, like Arsenal and Everton who have a fair amount of class and history. They seem like a well run club and apart form the Manager I wouldn’t have a bad word to say about them. As for the fans they have always seemed excellent when they have visited, my season ticket seat is just next to the away section so you get a decent impression of the fans, Villa are up there in terms of the best in the premiership.

What do you think Villa can accomplish both this season and in the next few years?

Feel this season Villa will be Mid table and fall slightly short of Euro places. As for the future, feel this could continue to be the case unless some significant signings are made, Bent was a great signing, few more of those would help.

With McLeish in charge, not a lot as I really don’t rate him. But Villa are a big club and I think with a little ambition when picking the next manager the have the ability to go places. But with Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United all willing to spend the money I really fear for the likes of Villa, Europa league is about the best most teams can hope for these days and that is a poison chalice as it destroys your chances next season with a reward not large enough to fix the damage.

And finally, Match predictions?

With all respect, Feel Arsenal will be a little too strong….even with our make shift defence we are grinding out results right now. Predict 2-0 to Arsenal.

Depends how we do against City, if we can avoid a serious beating then confidence won’t be badly damaged. I actually think we will do well against City so I expect Arsenal to win 2-0. Sorry to say it but Villa Park isn’t the place that causes you to worry the way it did 2-3 years ago.
 

Interview by Michael Steede.

Discuss the upcoming match against Arsenal on the Aston Villa Forums.

A busy festive period means a busy Opposition View time so lets kick off the Christmas period. We would like to welcome Liverpool fan Jon Richardson who is a moderator on Liverpool fansite Kop World.

Why and how long have you supported Liverpool?

27 years now, and as cliched as it sounds its in my blood. It has been passed along the generations.

Liverpool have struggled in recent seasons to remain a regular top four Club, now with Man City and Spurs fighting for the same places along with the usual suspects do you still consider Liverpool a top 4 club?

Hard to answer this without sounding arrogant, which i don’t mean to be but there are reasons we have dropped from the position that go beyond just what happens on the pitch. City have come on the scene now as well and will be there to stay, i don’t see Spurs as a long term threat to the top 4, they don’t have the depth in my opinion to stay there in the long term, they have signed well but one or two injuries in key areas will hit them hard.
And i also have a big issue myself with the Adebayor signing.

Are we a top 4 club? i suppose the facts will say not at the moment but i feel we will be in the shake up at the end of the year for one and with one or two more of the right signings we will be back in it before too long.

Your Club came very close to going into administration under the previous ownership, how worried were you about this before the new owners took the reigns?

Not very in all truth, i never felt we were on the brink, there would have always been someone to come in and get such a big club at bargain price in all truth. That’s the long and short and what i told myself while it was going on but i could bore you for hours about how those thoughts changed from day to day. The SOS played a big part in removing the previous owners, and if certain people on the board hadn’t found a way to get them out we could have been in big trouble, had Tom Hicks managed to get a re-finance package then the story could have gone another way entirely.

Andy Carroll has failed so far to shine in a Liverpool shirt and i am very aware that this question is asked all the time but what do you feel about him and his performances thus far?

Overall disappointing as a whole but for me there are reasons to back his corner, he arrived injured and when he looked like kicking on at the end of last season he picked another one up away at Arsenal. He looks shot on confidence in front of goal but he needs to get his head down and grab this chance before its gone. There have been positives recently, he looks trimmer than he has since he signed and overall his hold up play has improved, he works center backs well but people are going to judge him on goals, especially in the media.

I’m personally not sure he can link up with Suarez, Luis is a live wire, all over the place, left, right, central and is too quick for Andy. Andy needs a more traditional striker next to him who will stay close and work off knock downs and stay close to him, but so does Luis, he needs a goalscorer who is quick enough to stay with him and has good movement to be on the end of the things Luis creates. I’m not sure either will find the partner they need in each other.

With the massive investment that has gone into Liverpool FC recently do you think Champions League football is a must next season and if not would you consider this failure?

The investment is a media wow story, the overall net spend since FSG came in is around 35 million, and the wage bill has been cut dramatically (rightly so). Champions league is a must for the club but considering where we had dropped to last season and steadily over the 2 previous to jump right back up there is a big ask with essentially 7 new players playing regularly in the last 10 months. We need to get back there and the sooner the better but a disaster this season? No!

Many Villa fans feel rightly upset with Stuart Downing’s transfer request which ultimately lead to his 20 million move to Liverpool, mainly because he came out publicly 3 months earlier stating that he owed Villa a debt of gratitude and would remain even if Villa were relegated, Do you understand why we feel this way and looking at it objectively what do you feel about the whole thing?

We went through the same thing with Fernando Torres mainly but also Javier Macherano, Torres said the right things that we wanted to hear through his entire stay, but even so towards the end. Its made me think that I’ve lost all trust for most modern day footballers and don’t believe when they say these things at all. Enjoy them while they are here, its only one or two that mean what they say. I understand your frustration with him but at least you got a good fee as we did with Torres. i say to Fellow Liverpool fans, move on, there will always be the next idol.

What do you feel Liverpool can achieve in the coming years and can you win the EPL title in the near future?

We need a couple more players still, our squad is nowhere near what it was 3-4 years ago and that’s going to take investment and time. With the right players coming in then we can get back to where we should be but we are a way off it yet in all truth. But never say never, that’s why we are all so passionate about football, we believe and i still do yes.

Aston Villa lost both Stuart Downing and Ashley Young in the summer and this has clearly affected our performances this term, what do you think of both Marc Albrighton and Charles N’Zogbia and could they replace them?

I really like that Albrighton kid, seems to have a good head on his shoulders and from the bits I’ve seen has it all, young was a special player for your lot and he will have to become a special player to replace him but he is local so will have the fans backing and as i said looks to have the talent to make it. N’zogbia, I’ve never been fully sure of in all truth, attitude seems to hold him back at times, again a very talented kid, he has ad a few great games against us in the past but needs to sort his head out to do it more often. A Stan Collymore type if you will.

What are your feelings about Aston Villa and our Fans?

Never had a problem, always liked your fans when we go there, knowledgable, passionate, all the things you could want from a set of fans. Villa as a club, i always used to hate playing your lot when i was a kid, i remember it was always a tough game and that’s always stuck with me when we face you. There have been a few players over the past 25 years that have played for both so i always found myself looking at your results and how the likes of Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton,Dean Saunders etc got on.

What do you think Villa can accomplish both this season and in the next few years?

I think its going to be fairly difficult this season, the manager doesn’t have the fans backing and that doesn’t help. But there is a crop of players coming through that should serve you for years, you have the backbone of a good side, with 2-3 more you should be in Europe again soon. It depends on the budget whoever the manager is working to is though, if Lerner isn’t going to invest then it will be difficult as so many others are spending now, the old type big 4 has gone to the big 6 and that’s knocking on down the league. This season id say 10th-12th, with the right investment you should be aiming to finish above the likes of Newcastle in the top 7 every year, with the size of the club that’s only right.

And finally, Match predictions?

Wont go down well but if we put away the chances we will create as we are doing in every game this season i think we will snatch it by the odd goal.. 2-1 Liverpool.

 

Interview by Michael Steede.

Discuss the upcoming match against Liverpool on the Aston Villa Forums.

This weeks opposition view maybe a little late, but its still as great as always. We welcome Harry Genshaw from Bolton Banter.

Why and how long have you supported Bolton?

I followed the side my dad did, & his dad before him. We lived closer to Manchester so it would have been easier to be a man u fan like most of my mates but never regretted it. Honest! I first started going in 1974.

Bolton have had a very disappointing start to the season which surprises me considering the great job Owen Coyle did last season, what are your thoughts on this and do you think Coyle can turn this around?

Most Bolton fans are split on this. Personally, I think he’s facing a ‘perfect storm’ so to speak – injuries, an ageing squad, skint & punching way above our weight for so long, finally catching up with us. I hope to God he can turn it around but I’m starting to doubt it. Defeat on Saturday would be a tipping point for many.

What where your aspirations for this season before it started and now that we are close to the halfway point have they changed and why?

I’m a born pessimist so I’m happy with anything above 18th. I think most expected us to be around 13th to 16th. Now, we’d snatch your hand off for 17th.

Nigel Reo-Coker left Villa to join Bolton in the summer, what are your thoughts on his impact or lack thereof?

He made a great start and many saw him as a future captain. His form has dipped of late but that’s a team thing as much as anything. I suspect he’s probably regretting his move now.

Gary Cahill is considered by many Villa fans as the one that got away, Do you feel that him leaving for pastures new is a foregone conclusion or is there a possibility of him remaining a Bolton player?

Only injury will keep him here next season. He’s certainly too good to be playing in a struggling side. I notice you don’t see Zat Knight as one that got away!

With the transfer window fast approaching do you think Coyle will have funds to spend? and if so where should the money be spent? and how much?

Any funds will come from the sale of Cahill. If that drags on, we’ll be looking for a couple of Daniel Sturridge type loan deals. Certainly, we don’t have the money to fix everything that’s broken but I’d like to see a new defender, wide man & striker.

Many Aston Villa Fans are becoming more and more frustrated at Alex McLeish’s negative tactics and the lack of fight in the squad at the moment, what are your feelings on McLeish and do you think he can turn things around for us?

I was amazed when you hired him. His record is patchy at best and given where he was managing, I’m still shocked you took him on. He seems to be a pragmatic type which will get you results but I cant see that style winning Villa fans over.

Aston Villa’s main signing in the summer was Charles N’zogbia but he has so far failed to justify his price tag of 9.5 million, what do you think of N’zogbia and how should we get the best out of him?

Aye, you seem to have bought the guy at Newcastle and not the one who played for Wigan. He might just be one of those players that only thrives at smaller clubs or under particular managers. Have you tried him through the middle playing off Agbonlahor?

What are your feelings about Aston Villa and our Fans?

You’re a big side with a great following but like the rest of us, you’re getting left behind the daft money at the top. Your in a similar position to Everton & Newcastle in that you shouldn’t go down but apart from the odd season you’re only ever going to be treading water.

What do you think Villa can accomplish both this season and in the next few years?

Sadly, without some money mad Arab – not a great deal I’m afraid.

And finally, Match predictions?

We’re desperate for a win but cant defend to save our lives. 1-1 I reckon.

 

Interview by Michael Steede.

Discuss the upcoming match against Bolton Wanderers on the Aston Villa Forums.