MessiWillSignForVilla

It's started to look as if Okore-Clark should be the partnership this season. Been impressed with Clark in his total of around 1.25 games so far, and didn't think Okore was that bad tonight either, especially considering he was thrown on for his debut away to Chelsea when we were 1-0 down. It would also be a left-right footed partnership too which would make the two more comfortable when playing together.

Using that game as an example of how bad Bannan is is just as unfair as using win % to determine how good he is. Everyone was terrible v Chelsea last season, and our improved performance tonight has more to do with how we have improved as a team not because certain players weren't playing, you can toss in the fact we played 3-5-2 in that game too as a reason why we've improved.

Is it that she's been "found out" or just people are suspicious? First I saw about this was a couple pages back so I'm pretty confused by it all.

Cheers, don't know why expected to know who it was, Griezmann is the only Sociedad player I know of who they haven't sold.

Who scored the second? Griezmann's is amazing, the second's alright too.

Are they though? They've only bought Soldado so far who is a big name, and Coentrao if that somehow happens. The rest have been promising young players from abroad, but they also have somewhere in the region of £100m of income on the horizon, so can afford to spend bigger on the more promising players. Paulinho, a Brazilian international who starred in their recent confederation cup win isn't established? He said nothing about "established", he said "experienced" and Paulinho is not that experienced, especially in England. Yes he's played for Brazil, but international football is completely different from the Premier League, especially in physicality. I'm not saying he's a bad player, I have nothing to judge that on, but he is not an experienced player. And also he's not that established IMO either, I'd never heard of him before the Confederation's Cup, I'd hardly heard about him when Tottenham bid for him. (I realise I put big name in my original reply, but that was the easiest way to phrase tested in a top quality and semi-competitive league. Also I thought every one of there signings was at least 2 years younger as well, i didn't realise they were all 24-25 )

Win % is not irrelevant, and you wouldn't be claiming it was irrelevant if he had lost every game he started. Win % is irrelevant, at one point after something like 20 games, Tottenham's win % with Bale was 0%. Guess what, he's about to break a world record transfer fee. Also does it take into account sub appearances? What about level of opposition or opposition red cards? or even Referee performance? So many factors determine a match's outcome, so to deduce that a player is either bad or good based on the outcome of the games he played in is ridiculous. Also look at Federico Macheda, his win % at Utd must be pretty high, doesn't mean he's a good player or important to Utd.

Are they though? They've only bought Soldado so far who is a big name, and Coentrao if that somehow happens. The rest have been promising young players from abroad, but they also have somewhere in the region of £100m of income on the horizon, so can afford to spend bigger on the more promising players.

That brainless idea to give Pardew an 8 year contract isn't looking so good now... there was a reason for it what was the reason? In there second season back in the Premier League, he got Newcastle fifth and was very close to getting fourth, all without spending ludicrous amounts of money and getting cheap talented foreigners. If their situation had been managed better and they didn't keep bringing in players on the cheap from France and creating cliques within there squad, who probably have no connection with the club or the fans, they could've gotten top 4. Pardew was the golden boy in the North East at the time and although the rest of the country could see it was bonkers, it was a brilliant move for Newcastle as they thought they had a team that could break the top 4 and the manager who could do it. It was high risk, high reward, and unfortunately for Newcastle (and brilliantly for everyone else) it backfired spectacularly. If Newcastle had gotten top 4 last season instead of almost getting relegated, it would've seemed a very good and ballsy decision by Ashley. And with three of the actual top 4 changing managers, Pardew would've been hot property and Newcastle would've got a huge pay off to let him go to someone else.

Don't think we'll win but don't think it will be a loss by more than 2 goals, it's not Mourinho's style. Chelsea will go 2-0 up and take the foot of the gas, and we might claw back a draw. If we get the upper hand, I don't think Chelsea's defence will be able to handle Gabby-Benteke-Weimann, they couldn't at VP last year.

None of his signings have proved they deserve to be in the "bomb squad" imo, but i'm certain if we start knocking on the door of top 4/6 then the likes of Vlaar, El Ahmadi and possibly Bennett and Sylla will be shipped out. Lambert has shown he can be pretty ruthless with players and I doubt he'd be one to be sentimental over ones he's signed.

I know it's not to be taken as gospel, but wikipedia says it's being held this year at the same time as CL group stages on a "trial basis"

Agree with this, even think if Chelsea had won it would've been supported and publicised more.. But as it was "little lowly Aston Villa" then they are not happy. I don't think that's true at all. UEFA only allowed the NextGen series to go ahead to see if such a competition would work or generate interest, and as soon as the NextGen showed its capabilities, UEFA decided to go ahead with their own money spinning version, all in my own opinion of course. Us winning it had no bearing on UEFA's decision, it would've happened who ever won, if anything us winning has put a spanner in the works for UEFA as many good sports journalists will question why the current U19 Champions of Europe will not participate in UEFA's version. I also think that "funding" is just an excuse, all the big teams are playing in UEFA's competition this year, so NextGen probably had very few teams willing to participate. Is the uefa one actually confirmed? Yep, takes place at the same time as Champions League group stages, with youth teams from said competition.

Agree with this, even think if Chelsea had won it would've been supported and publicised more.. But as it was "little lowly Aston Villa" then they are not happy. I don't think that's true at all. UEFA only allowed the NextGen series to go ahead to see if such a competition would work or generate interest, and as soon as the NextGen showed its capabilities, UEFA decided to go ahead with their own money spinning version, all in my own opinion of course. Us winning it had no bearing on UEFA's decision, it would've happened who ever won, if anything us winning has put a spanner in the works for UEFA as many good sports journalists will question why the current U19 Champions of Europe will not participate in UEFA's version. I also think that "funding" is just an excuse, all the big teams are playing in UEFA's competition this year, so NextGen probably had very few teams willing to participate.

Genuine? Id love to believe it is genuine I really would....but it can't be. Its far to honest and funny to be real. Particularly when his persona in front of a TV camera is that of a startled goldfish. Theres a video on his profile on that Keek thing acccepting follow requests for the account on twitter, and the Keek account is almost definitely him.

I Just noticed, he's bloody fast!!! On the highlight for his goal you can see he starts inside our box and starts sprinting on the edge of it, it takes him 10-12 seconds to get to the edge of Arsenal's box and it's not in a straight line either! Maybe i'm too easily amazed, but I'd say thats pretty quick. I did think he had a bad game when watching it due to his poor positioning, but considering he was up against Walcott and he did nowt all game, he was actualy pretty good. I really like thi guy.

I think he's allowed to transfer, but not allowed to play for three different teams in the same season (except loans I think)

Sorry, what's the point in this article? Something from last January saying were not signing anyone and N'Zogbia needs to up his game, what does it prove?

Yeah he probably didn't deserve it under Houllier, but it was probably a deal Houllier made to try and sweeten the fans by tying down a favourite.

It's ridiculous if he doesn't perform well, but if he puts in performances like today all season then he'll definitely be worth it.

Don't think he was lazy today, it looked as if he was just trying too hard to make something special and look nonchalant about it. Also he was poor by his standards, if we'd just signed him I reckon people would be saying he looks a decent player but needs to improve.

Looks like being top may only last a few hours

People saying £14m will be too much based on Kiyotake, but could it be what Nurnberg wanted was too much for Kiyotake? Whereas if Lambert thinks this Lestienne is worth £14m, so Lerner will stump up the cash. I don't think money is a problem if the Board/Lambert thinks the players worth. Unsure whether to believe this though, it does seem a lot, but then again I've never seen him play.

fixed

What a game! The first time I remember winning so convincingly on the opening day. Is it the first time our position has actually improved after the first game? Guzan - 8 - Kept us in it for a while with some great saves, especially from Cazorla and Rosicky to make it 2-2 Lowton - 6 - Didn't really do much but was solid. Vlaar - 7 - Very solid, looked comfortable on the ball too, had Giroud in his pocket for most of the game. Baker - ? - Only switched on after 15 minutes so didn't see him play. Luna - 7 - Slightly worried with his positioning, but otherwise had a good game, great goal too. Westwood - 6 - Solid, nothing too special, but not a foot wrong either. Delph - 7 - Thought he was poor first half, but was great in the second, made some great driving runs and unlucky not to score. El Ahmadi - 8 - Very impressed, he has grown into the Prem, no longer trying to be that Xavi type player and is now much more of a midfield enforcer, broke up a lot of attacks before they started. Weimann - 6 - Didn't get too involved, a bit mixed when he did, hopefully just some first game nerves. Agbonlahor - 9 - MOTM, was the thorn in Arsenals side all game, great play for both penalties, and some good tracking back too. Wound Wilshere up a treat too Benteke - 7 - Tried a bit too hard I think, despite his two goals he wasn't that influential, by his standards of course. Clark - 7 - Very solid, no longer the lost boy he looked last season, he keeps this up a lot of people will be eating their words. Bacuna - ? - Not on for long but looked decent, good run ruined by his shot.