Little wonder the official site changed the McAllister quotes on Pires’ imminent arrival, someone clearly jumped the gun by some margin. The Guardian have some words from the man himself:-

Robert Pires
Nothing’s done yet, nothing’s been signed, but the talks with Gérard Houllier are going well. Now let’s say I just have to convince the team doctor and hopefully I will sign before the end of the week.

The medical is set for Thursday or Friday, so we’ll see first what happens in the last meeting with Gérard Houllier and everyone else from Aston Villa. Things are going well, though. It [the deal] would be for six months or longer, but there are still some things to sort out, although I assure everyone it’s not in terms of finances.

The word on the street is that he’s at Bodymoor right now, as I write, entirely as planned by the sounds of things then. He’s talking a very short term deal, probably not beyond the end of the season, although there’s never been any mention of a coaching role, that seems to be largely assumption, but we’ll see how that develops.

He’s hopeful that the deal will be wrapped up in time to be available to play this weekend:-

Robert Pires
It’s no problem for me to play on Sunday. I’ve been training with Arsenal for two months and I’m happy and in good form. I just have to see Aston Villa’s medical staff at the end of the week and, if I’ve signed, I hope to be part of the trip to Blackburn on Sunday.

Not everyone is impressed by this development, but I can see nothing but positives from it myself. You’d think, given the tumultuous start to the season and our current predicament, that such experience and quality coming to help out would be warmly welcomed by the overwhelming majority.

Who was the last World Cup winner we had at Villa Park?

To each their own, as I frequently say; some people are never happy unless they’re unhappy.