Aidy's email

This week's message from the Skip to the fans:

The Difference Between Manchester United and Us...

Hi everyone.

So, the end of the transfer window has arrived, thank God!

As you know, we've brought in eight new players but, no doubt, there are many amongst you who might be wondering why we didn't push the boat out to bring in a player for 3 or 4 million, particularly after selling Ashley Young.

I'd like to talk you through the thinking behind each of the new faces we've brought in this month, starting with Gareth Williams. He's a central midfielder from Leicester City and I'd describe him as a footballer in every sense - he can pass the ball and create things. I think his arrival states my intentions for the direction of both the team and the club. His quality on the ball will provide a different aspect to our play.

Steve Kabba from Sheffield United is a player with enormous potential, who is extremely quick, and threatened to become a consistent player at Crystal Palace and Sheffield United but never found his true potential. That's what we hope to get out of him here. I'm sure that, if he fits into our system and does what?s expected, then he'll do well for us.

Similarly, Lee Williamson is a quick athletic player who has developed into someone who can do a job for us straight away.

Will Hoskins, Moses Ashikodi and Cedric Avinel from France are all young players, around the age of 21, who I believe will be pushing to be regular starters in the first team next season after working in the coaching environment we have here.

Having said that, everyone knows that if a player is good enough, I?ll consider him old enough and Will has shown that by getting into the team already.

Johan Cavalli is a French left sided player who reminds me very much of Andy Reid at Charlton. He has a terrific left foot, is not particularly quick but is able to manipulate the ball to create both for himself and others. At 25, he's lost his way a little but is one of the trialists who I liked and decided to take on.

Finally, Douglas Rinaldi is a player we've taken on loan until end of season. A Brazilian from Veranopolis, he's technically very gifted and did enough for me to want a longer look at him.

As I found last year with Sietes, it's not always easy for players to settle in a foreign country. I wanted him on a short-term contract to allow me to see more of him and to judge how he copes with our game.

Overall, am I pleased? Yes, I am. Did we try for the 3 or 4 million players? Yes, we did, but in our situation at the bottom of the league, some people will only look at the short term.

This nicely leads me on to last night's game at Manchester United. Before the game, I walked out of the tunnel at Old Trafford and noticed a plaque recognising a man called James Gibson.

The writing on it explained how in 1931 this guy saved United from bankruptcy. Last night, we saw what a fantastic club they now are ? no doubt the biggest in the world with a stadium to match.

It all made me think about us and where we are. It took 75 years for them to get to where they currently stand so us getting beaten 4-0 is not what this story is all about. The real tale is about Watford FC almost going to the wall six years ago but being saved by another group of people, led by Graham Simpson.

Now we build and look to be not another Manchester United but the best that we can possibly be. That means a top ten club, on and off the pitch.

I don?t think that'll take us 75 years, indeed I think we can do it in less than five but what I do strongly believe is that the foundations are in place to:

1) Maintain our push for survival in Premier League
2) Push on in future years with a far stronger squad and backroom team than that which we had in 2005/06 when we achieved what many thought was impossible

So my message is simple really. We're building.

I'm delighted January has now gone and we can get down to the next 14 games with 8 at home, starting with the tough one against Bolton on Saturday.

Like us, not so long ago they were fighting for their lives. Now, not many years later they are thriving in the Premiership.

We are a club with a plan, a club that learns lessons and a club which is willing to take things from others to get to where we want to be.

A final word for all of you who made the trip last night. You know how I feel about not waving during the match, I believe it shows a lack of respect for our opponents.

However, last night, we were 4-0 down and there you all were, singing my name, totally outshouting the United fans, totally winning the supporters? battle of wills.

It will live with me for a very, very long time which is why I broke my rule on this one occasion. So thank you very much for that. Rest assured we?re doing all we can to stay in this league and move forward.

It may have taken Manchester United 75 years to get there but I believe we can reach our goal in less than five.

Come On!