Zhan_Zhuang

I nearly made a thread of this some time ago... We've been shocking all season, constantly hitting the first man. Definitely something that requires major work on the training pitch.

And... - gives the ball away on average three times every match. Squad player at best.

Get our £3 million (or whatever it was for him) and let Celtic have him and use it towards a bid for Ward-Prowse or someone similar. If we are happy with mid-table mediocrity again next season by all means keep playing him, I can't understand what Smith sees in him?

I saw a table recently of how much Man City have spent on their DEFENCE under Guardiola. Over £500 million on defenders alone. We are miles away from that, years away from laying a glove on the 'top four'. It's pure fantasy for us to aspire even. With Grealish fit all season maybe a 'top seven' at very best. We need to sign another striker like Abraham so next season we have rotation of Watkins, Wesley and Abraham. McGinn needs to go and we must sign someone like Ward-Prowse. We also need to upgrade Trezeguet. That's over our budget for the summer on those three players, I think?

I commented in the pre-match thread it would likely be men v boys, I was hoping I'd be wrong. To be fair we started the game well but it was a mistake from Martinez that cost us the first goal. Spuds are way ahead of us in terms of their recruitment and playing staff. Kane is one of the best players in the world and Moura is class, that was the difference. But we still had a go and caused them problems. I'm really fed up of McGinn and I had doubts from the moment we were promoted; you just cannot give the ball away repeatedly in the middle of the park and expect not to be punished. We will be lucky to finish top ten at this rate which is a shame considering how well we started.

Looked lively when he came on, some neat touches and holds the ball up well.

This guy again is so poor! He's slow, gives the ball away so many times and gives away poor fouls. Yet it happens week in week out. Offers us absolutely nothing and he is the weakest link.

I expect them to dominate us in answer to their last poor results and criticism. It will be men against boys again as usual when we play Spuds. Hope I'm proven wrong.

Maybe Smith is just trying to keep us all guessing and particularly Mourinho.

Yeah. Six goals in 17 matches just to spell it out to you.... Mate.

His work ethic is immense; defend from the front. He will also learn from being around the England camp and continue to improve. Seems a lovely fella too.

Congratulations Ollie Watkins! UTFV

I like Anwar, think he could improve in tandem with the team. He has the attributes, quick, good shot, skillful and cool. Doesn't always hit the heights but you cannot criticise his goal scoring this season. Football is confidence if he can use that correctly his attributes will shine. Also his season statistics are getting better.

Er when did Southampton nearly win the league and we are selling Emi? WTF, this thread is nuts!

I like him, in a struggling team he still averages about 4-5 goals per season and the same in assists over the last two seasons. He'd improve on that at Villa for sure. Yeah as is why I mentioned him, would add balance to the team (i think) he's left-footed too. This would potentially allow us to move Grealish to CAM perhaps! As I said think we need to hunt from teams around us or below us in the table and try the odd 'under the radar' gem from overseas.

Yeah they are still young. But if we have nothing to play for end of the season we will likely see some of the youngsters I'd hope.

In the highlights i've seen he looks good alongside Carney Chukwuemeka and Louie Barry. Imagine if the three continue to develop and get some 'game time' maybe end of the season and next.

Sanson looks decent so far and I think we have reason to be excited. If we can get him and Grealish in the team for the last nine to ten games i think that will really improve our chances of a top ten finish. After a good pre-season I'd expect Sanson to really show some quality next season.

Shopping the PL is both good and bad. Yes Bissouma, looks good but likely it will promote a bidding war. We can afford it though, Villa need to splash the cash... I saw a list of DEFENDERS Man City had signed under Guardiola which totals over £500 million! However I think if we maintain 'top ten' we should be looking to sign other teams top players from the likes of Brighton and Southampton. Yes there is value to be found in the Championship but we will need players to start the season who are experienced at the PL level and not waiting for them to learn like Watkins, Konsa, Cash etc. Just some random names: Yves Bissouma James Ward-Prowse Dwight McNeil Alan Saint-Maximin And Tammy Abraham or Edouard?

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!

We need three strikers and Davis. Do you remember the luxury of strikers we had under Atkinson, Little and Gregory? Watkins, Tammy, Wesley and Davis. It's absurb that we have gone into this season with ONE main striker!

Gave us trouble last night.

Wesley is not going anywhere. I'd keep El Ghazi. However I think we might have seen the best of Trezeguet I'm sad to say as i like his industry and he did save us after Project Restart.

I agree I saw it at the time and thought where's the urgency. Seems to be a lot of chat on Twitter too, screenshots etc of this exact scenario and 'finger pointing'. To me he is way too slow for this level, it's the main reason we lose possession so much as he gets caught. McGinn is not an athlete and therefore he costs us repeatedly, it has been so glaringly obvious for so long.

Take Salah's goals away from Liverplop, Fernandes from Manure for example... Even the top teams have that predicament, the only difference is they have ten years of consistent investment ahead of Villa.