AVTuco

Thanks for asking the question I haven't had the courage to ask. Waiting for an answer..

I'm feeling more optimistic for no reason really, just propaganda I read on this board. I stay @14 though, at least until I see Okore play a couple games. If he looks as good as you lot say, and clicks well with Vlaar, I'll bump my prediction up to 9 - 13.

Really? I mean, it's a filter?

Lowton, Delph and Helenius - my favorites!

Clean sheet???

I think Vlaar will be far better alongside the pace demon of Okore, Bless Concrete isn't the fastest in the world and Okore should compliment him at CB..... The defense on paper looks very solid, it's just hoping Okore and Luna fit with Lowton and Vlaar... For me it's difficult to say that "defense on paper looks very solid" when half of them are new guys and Okore hasn't really even played yet in our shirt. Let's hope they fit.

I'm not writing them off, not at all. Just a little worried. Are they a unit when season begins?

Yes, so be it, I agree with that.

Lets be fair here. Since Vlaar came back and since the turnaround in Feb how many goals did we actually concede from corners? I don't remember many. Also, since Vlaar came back and since other players came back like Gabby, and since Delph started to play better and since Sylla strengthened our midfield, and since we played 433, we were MUCH tighter defensively. Admittedly we never had a clean sheet and we still conceded goals but in contrast to Mcleish's reign we are not a defensive team but one focused on attack, a certain looseness is forgivable while Lambert gets the squad into the shape he wants. To really push on we need to be capable of clean sheets, absolutely. But I think the defensive problems last season were more to do with the overall squad. During the very bleak period over christmas our midfield was porous with the non-presence of Bannan and Ireland and an off form Delph, and on top of that we were relying on players like Herd and Lichaj in defence. I think these signings we have made from January, Bacuna, Sylla, Okore, Luna, will go a long way to making sure that the bleak awful period like last christmas does not repeat. These have bulked out our options in defence and midfield. Not to mention how much better and more confident the players became at the end of the season. I agree with much you say, but I don't think you need to be "loose" on defense to be an attacking team. On the contrary, our defense still needs tightening up. Our goals against must come down for us to have a chance. Will Okore and Luna in addition to more experience be enough to get it done? Too bad Okore hasn't been able to play much in pre-season to form an opinion about him. Maybe Lambert can get our defense to play better as a unit. Although he's had one season to get them to play his way already, with not so convincing results.

Even if it's not that simple, this is a weakness that needs to be addressed.

I think our defense is still a bigger worry. We need a little bit of both I think. Quality, not quantity.

I asked because I actually agree with you. Just wanted to hear why you felt that way. Myself I'm not very sold on Vlaar, not at all really. Maybe he'll improve this season, but I have my doubts. Okore is unknown to me, hopefully he does well. We'll see.

Why don't you like Vlaar with Okore?

Really wish our D could D. We'd look sooooo good.

My favorite from now on too.

Said on first page that if Benteke stays, 14th. No need to change that view.

This was so important for the credibility of our plan. We don't always sell our best players once they shine. We may sell at some point, but not bend over right away. That's critical IMO.

Did Benteke score in training today?

Yes, these guys have guaranteed contracts. They should be honoured. If everyone honoured their contracts there would be no transfer fees. I suppose you wish Stephen Ireland and Shay Given to honour their contracts too and stay? Well that's what all the useless players are doing. It has to be both ways. If we're stuck with the contracts of the aforementioned, we should be able to hang onto the good ones aswell. Otherwise building up a decent squad will be very difficult. Even Lambert is not going to get all of them right. Regarding transfers: It is difficult to make it all fair, I agree.

Yes, these guys have guaranteed contracts. They should be honoured.

Obviously there are other factors involved. Like future expectations, which could differ substantionally. Our contract could be the reason why it's so difficult for Villa and Spurs to agree on a price though. Edit: re praisedmambo

So, in essence, they want us to pay his salary? I guess so. My point was that there really is two different valuations to a player because no other team can have the contract we have in place with Benteke. The difference is not in reality as large as I said in my calculation since we would pay him more than 20k pw if he stayed. But there is a difference in value.

If you factor in 20k pw the annual salary is around 1 mill, making the cost of Benteke's 3 year contract 3 mill altogether. That's the cost for Villa, and no-one else. If Spurs had to pay him 60k pw, the annual cost would be around 3 mill, which is 9 mill in 3 years. That's a 6 mill difference, which is pretty close to the difference between Villa and Spurs being thrown around (25 and 18 mill). Is this a coincidence?

Just came back from Cyprus today, was there for a week. It was very hot, so you need a good hotel/villa with air conditioning in every room to enjoy it. I like Cyprus a lot, like mentioned above, it's a very peaceful place where you don't have to worry about pickpocketing or stuff like that. It was somewhat more quiet than before, I suppose the economic situation has taken its' toll on tourism there. Prices haven't really come down though. I would think October is a very good time to go there.

I second this. Would be great.