Tayls

Because N'Zogbia is a guaranteed starter - but saying that no way should/will he be captain...

Dunne.

I was quite happy with Ireland, seemed to want the ball a lot more than any of our so called midfield. Delph was atrocious, Petrov did ok, but he's not the greatest of midfielders technically so he was just used as a wall which didnt really work out either. I don't know what people are moaning at Ireland for... How was he supposed to do anything when he had Heskey/Delfoneso on the left wing and Albrighton who was no match for Zhirkov unfortunately...and Gabby upfront who spent most of his time in our half! The problem is we don't play out from our defence enough. You look at what Chelsea were doing the defenders were playing up the field and then passing it onto the midfield well into our half before then trying to do some damage with the strikers. Where as our guys get the ball then shout "ave it" as the ball goes out of play. So, once the rest of the team actually learn how to play football, Ireland will be great. 442 is the only formation we should play. Delfoneso/Heskey/Gabby should stay clear of the wings!!

I'd just like to thank Chelsea for allowing the people of HK and us back home to watch Chelsea train... it's been great.

It has been dreadful but try not to get to disheartened if we lose here... This is about fitness and getting the team playing some games together. This is our third game of the pre-season and we have already beaten a premier league team. Chelsea have been out in HK longer than us so have had longer to acclimatise aswell. Don't forget, this probably won't be the way we play come the start of the season and we still have our new signing, N'Zogbia to fit in as well. This is fine, let's just support the team for **** sakes.

You missed Guzan!!

How come he didn't play today?

We're getting N'Zogbia, we're getting N'Zogbia He's gonna sign for villa, he's gonna sign for villa He's gonna sign for Villllllaaaaaaaa So say some of us! Thought I'd bring a slightly different approach! Let's play a game... From now on in this thread, we speak in song! Until there is a resolve to this N'Zogbia issue. Then we will see who is signing...

Hi General how's things going state side? Looking forward to the new season and seeing the results of our pre season games. Hope we win that cup Not really that fussed if we sign a whole new team or not- I do love the whole transfer window thing when it involves us and I always feel proud when we see the pictures of the new signing and they say how great our facilities and everyrhing are. Makes me happy. It would be great to see a new signing soon, the man who will replace one of the guys we sold, the same guys we were proud to have as players for the past few seasons. I'm happy for Young, he gave us, what, 4 years? Did a great job, he deserves to go and play for the champions. Downing, did ok last year in a time that was full of problems, but only gave us a year and a half and then thought he was too good... He won't be getting any thanks from me. £20million was great business if that is indeed how much we got for him. Well played on that. What I am struggling to understand is, we have identified the man AM wants, but not working quickly to get it done, get said player bonding with the team and learning Mr McLeish's philosophy. But, there we go, that's your guys job to bring the talent in. I like how things are going at the moment, making changes to Villa Park etc etc... It all looks good and I too am excited to see what our team can really do next season... I think Ireland can be a massive player for us and of course Bent and Albrighton I am expecting big things from. I really wanna see the defence tighten up like we did a couple of seasons ago... Since we lost, I think 7-1 to Chelsea, we have been dreadful at the back. But, we have a new and I think better all round keeper (don't get me wrong Brad Friedel was great and I'm gutted we didn't retain him till he retired and have him become a coach or something) and Dunne and Collins in the centre with Warnock and Young on the flanks. Pretty solid really! No need for loads of goals to be leaked. Where I think we struggle most is the centre of Midfield - very lightweight, no real ball winners who will take it and then make a sweet pass to split defences. We need that man. maybe Makoun is that man... Hope so. Where do you think we need to improve General, based on last year and what you have seen so far?

General - I think I'm one of a few people who actually read and understood what Mcleish was saying - but please correct me if I'm wrong. What he said was - "one more before start of the season, then we will asses again" (not the exact quote but pretty much). What this means is, we will bring in another player to start the season with us, and if it sill shows that we are short/struggling or even *touch wood* a player gets injured then we will look for some further business before the close of the window. is that, or is that not correct? If it's not - then ok, fine... We will go with what we have, SUPPORT the club, and go from there. Cheers Gen!

Gazton posted " Welcome, Seamus." ...........He's signed.. well Gazton posting that is good enough for me. To be fair, Ireland signed several days after "welcome Stephen" Fair enough... Any Charles', Scott's or Alan's back there Gazton??

He aint signed yet! Howcome people jumping ahead?!

I think the poster you refer to above is an Everton fan. ANd they most definitely do not have a pot to piss in! Sadly true, which is why the reports of our bid for N'Zogbia made me chuckle. We haven't bought a first team player for nearly 2 years! The Zog will be in claret and blue next season, hope he does well and you enjoy a better season than last. What part of the team would you put Bent in then? Edit: just re-read. Your an Everton fan! I'm pretty sure you have brought a player in two years?!

Yayy - recon we will have a PC for this one? Or do Given and N'Zogbia simultaneously?

Have we signed him yet?!

Omg Liverpool have just signed CNZ for £11.25million!!! I didn't stand a chance I only got 4mill to start with!! I'm going with what iv got people!!!

I know what some people are saying - but.. does it really matter if we spend £36milion on players just to prove that it was available - dont froget some of that will be used for other things needed around the club - a new espresso machine for example, or a new set of corner flags because Carew broke them all...We dont need to spend alllll the money we got from the two players. Im Confident Mcleish will bring in what he needs, and if we sign Given and CNZ - then a Centre Mid will do and i think we are set. Would love a new CB, but we have Dunne, Collins, Clark and Cuellar who im totally happy with - and it would seem Beye and Warnock are being given another chance, so that gives us them two, Young, Baker - Maybe need another full back but.. meh.

Gonna be a great signing if we pull it off. The only thing that has annoyed me about this whole saga is the fact we put ourselves in the position of having to find two wingers to replace Downing and Young - We all knew Young was off but dont think the sale of Downing was entirely necessary - 20million or not. We shouldnt be in the position of needing two wingers. Ok, so if N'zogbia does join, are we going to rely on Albrighton as our other winger? Great player - huge fan of his, but is he ready to play a whole season?

Its not a fair point - the fact is we are selling our 'best' players to clubs in the same league, crippling ourselves for 20million quid. And now we have to replace said players. How the **** are we gonna do that with the crap of last season, Mcleish who isn't renowned for his big named signings and a team who consistently does sell it's best players?!?!? No one amazing is gonna come. It's a load of shit

Well, I think Dunne and Ireland have shown more loyalty and passion than Downing has considering the circumstances. Those two i will happily keep. And if Warnock and Beye want to work hard for a place then... Sod it. **** off Downing - £20million for Randys pocket!

General - I know it's not you personally selling the players, but can you tell me how this works? When a bid comes in who is it who actually gives the nod to accept? Is it Randy?? This is quite pathetic. The players that were making this club are just disappearing without trace. I really can't see myself spending any money on Villa this season, it's all just a joke. I was looking into buying my first season ticket so I could start coming to games on my own as I don't have anyone to go with...despite the joke of last season... Think I will save it. Villa have enough money from the sales of key players. Well played on this one 'The board'.

I'm really quite pissed off about this... I'm not entirely sure which part of the situation I'm pissed off with though. One part of me doesnt want anymore players to leave, ESPECIALLY starting 11 players. I wanted to add to the loss of Young, NRC, Carew etc etc... But also, Downing isn't great... 20mill is a waste, I mean... Alot of money for him.... But what concerns me is... Who THE **** is going to want to come to us that can supply crosses into the box like downing did last season? I really don't want us to play football like Birmingham did last season, or Bolton or anybody like that. Not necessarily bad teams but,... Not the football I want us to play. WE'RE TWO WINGERS AND TWO BEST PLAYERS DOWN NOW!!!!!! PISSED OFF! Again... Thanks Villa!

To go on the post above, Kinda like what we did for Gabby General - although I think if it was offered Gabby would sign a 10 year contract. He's Villa through and through. Its not so much the fact we are accepting the bids, it's just that we get these players in then they want out! What Tottenham are apparently doing to Modric is wrong, I would hope that Randy will never say to someone that they will just sit in the stands. So what can he do but accept the best offer. But, why is it happening in the first place??? This is what we don't understand General and it's really frustrating.

Yea it's pretty much game over in terms of trying to finish top 6. We will just float around the middle somewhere, maybe finish 7th or something. So annoyed that we gonna lose him, absolutely rediculous. Football really is pissing me off lately. Brought him for 12 million, he gives us half a season of crap, then does well last season, gets into the England set up and then wants out. Brilliant. And we havnt even replaced the other bloody winger that's left yet!!!!!!!

I really don't think we are going to get Charles. We have taken far to long. Downing is going as well, it's all a load of crap really. :/ Sorry, I'm just really peed of cuz my team just came second in a pub quiz... Lost by a point. Grrrrrrr!