villaslash

Pennant also doesn't match PL ethic in anyway or form. We also know PL passion for playing wingers and wide- non existent hopefully like that diver coming to us.

Interesting to see the reactions about Bertrand on here. It has been a bit bleak on here and I'm going to look at the positives. No one really saw this coming and when I checked the official site today I had to do a double take. I think it quite exciting and posting it here because I think it might be a good sign for transfers in general. We all were getting to the point o assuming nothing was happening and this shows the club can be working on a quality signing without us or the press knowing. Yes, he is not an AM CM DM CB but I don't think this rules other deals out. Do we know the loan deal? It's not like Chelsea are strapped. Also, having a good LB can only help our CB pairing It's a good point that PL is on a 3rd LB signing (although a loan) but -Bennett is not fully back -Aren't we tired of sticking CB or midfielders as cover when theLB is injured -who was our last accepted "good" LB? I would guess most of us would go back to Bouma which was ages ago. All of our managers have had woeful LB choices of late. Shorey, Luke Young wrong footed, Lichaj wrong footed, Warnock who started good but fell apart Hopefully we bring in atleast a AM/CM of some form. Another CB would be great but no one could have know. Okore being as fit as he was would get messed up. Yesterday we were talking about Morel and his bloopers reel. This shows me that refreshing the page might bring that surprise we all are longing for.

Nooo.... We are starting to play more passing football now then we have in years. Big blockheads? We have benteke and kozak who are physically big. Helenius is tall but slight. How does this compare to having Carew, Heskey, Harewood on the books? Benteke has so many facets to his game, we've yet to see Kozak. Please check on your billy goats under the bridge.

Looking at the list I'm really proud of the number of "homegrown" players especially as this window we did not buy British players so the percentage dropped.

McGeady? Milner? I thought I accidentally logged into the 2010 transfer speculation thread. The last few days of the transfer window always the roughest, I feel a compulsive need to check every site hourly for action even though 99.9999..% nothing will have changed except Richard bumping the Stephen Ireland out thread.

I heard he got two days off as he is injured with bed sores. Physio recommended getting off his arse but its going slowly.

I was the same and surprised when Clark came on but makes sense- natural side, okore didn't get a full preseason and I think we are lining him up as our CB for the next few years so no reason to give his first appearance in a situation where some villa fans would write him off if he had a bad sub appearance under duress.

Yes! Just got back from watching at a pub my two gooner friends own. 40 gooners, my family of 4 villans and a cottager fan. 3 pints and 90 minutes later I am a much happier man. They are thinking of naming a new limited beer the 4 Villans! Bitter base with sweet and nutty after tones. Happy Saturday!

I'm not anti-Bent but last year when he was subbed on or started did you think "here come the goals". i don't think we should have ostracized him with the reserves but time is up. Perhaps the crystal palace loan then sell is a good option. Let him bang in some goals in a team where he can be a bit static, get value back up and sell. Even with this being a WC year I can't see him being motivated if he was brought back.

A loan will be hard. Newcastle doesn't give him the best reference. On loan, caught breaking curfews, injured next. I'm trying to remember if he even made it on the pitch for them-maybe once? I think Sparky at Stoke is the only hope- someone who might still have a shred of belief in Ireland. So frustrating, the technical skills are there. I saw Ireland play in a friendly in Chicago and he had this one pass that was magical and split the entire field open but didn't see it again and he couldn't be arsed to do anything else. A loan will be hard. Newcastle doesn't give him the best reference. On loan, caught breaking curfews, injured next. I'm trying to remember if he even made it on the pitch for them-maybe once? I think Sparky at Stoke is the only hope- someone who might still have a shred of belief in Ireland. So frustrating, the technical skills are there. I saw Ireland play in a friendly in Chicago and he had this one pass that was magical and split the entire field open but didn't see it again and he couldn't be arsed to do anything else.

I agree praised mambo, we have many options going forward aside from benteke at the point as option 1 and Bent doesn't add in if you look. Gabby Benteke Weimann With Sylla Westwood Delph Or Helenius/ Pick 2 Delph Sylla Westwood KEA Gardner If Benteke is injured Gabby Helenius Weimann Or N'Zogbia Gabby Weimann... A lot of interesting options to check out. Bent is quality and except for the match day shopping trip has been professional. He and the club know its time to transfer. Darren, thanks for your goals against Arsenal in the first season. Cheers.

I think PL seems to be the exact type of manager who can like a player but feel the cost doesn't equal value. I seem to recall him joking about being nervous about the benteke transfer fee last year and the big sum. Not knocking MON but he spent that on Curtis Davies or Coker without blinking.

About to say, my brain is mixing the storyline of flowers in the attic with kiyotake and dale Stephens in a basement somewhere in the midlands-scary

I agree KSV it was probably a bit of a maneuver between Fulham and Villa with a little bit of serious interest from us. Last year was a different situation, wasn't Liverpool stirring it up and dragging feet with Dempsey in a pinch at the end of the window having said he wanted out. PL probably thought" what the heck, long shot but..." While making genk think about that 7 million fee going away. Agree, doesn't make sense for us now.

My eyes. They burn. Did we ever figure out who failed the drug test and could it be used to severe contract? I have my guess. Snog: benteke. Hit it while you can. Marry: Westwood as he's a nice comfy long term commitment kind of player Dump: Ireland. 3 1/2 villa coaches and Mancini is a pretty diverse set of managers and all said dump him once the newly dating butterflies died off.

simon dawkins? regarding ashley young, i was so gutted when he left, but no thanks, not anymore, he might fit into the team but his attitude is all wrong, plus, he would play in gabbys position, theres no dropping gabby, not for anyone Thanks for making my point. I think he brought Dawkins in with idea he might buy him on the cheap. Dawkins stats anyway fit the young hungry player then Young don't you think.

I don't see lambert bringing in anyone on loan unless its someone he might want to buy in the long run. He seems to have a builder mentality which is great as long as we have all positions adequately covered. I can't see Young coming back permanently so it's a bit of a no starter for me. Also, Ashley in the hole didn't really work great and when we picked up all those points to push us into 9th end of season we had reverted back to him and downing on the wings I seem to recall.

I posted before because I'm so happy for us. Now I'm understanding how embarrassing this is for spurs. What a great weekend. Better buy some more beer!

Well played Villa management and Kismut if this was a bargaining tactic due credit. What a fantastic Friday! Lets get back to creating 30 page threads about promising young players we haven't heard of before...

I can buy a pretty nice car for 20,000 a week. I also hear Sylla has a cracking used car for cheap now he has the merc

The photo with the kid gives me an idea. Every local Villa kid supporter should be taught to say in their best Oliver Twist voice "please stay benteke. Don't leave me." Cue slight tears. Several dozen repetitions should work. We may not have CL but we do have cute kids. Low-maybe.

Rare I want Chelsea to win but come on tomorrow and don't pull another south Hampton. We are not clear but we have to feel the drive and passion of the team. Last year was like a war of boring points attrition. This year you can feel a bit of fire and magic. There is much room for improvement and that is a great thing. Myself, I want to see what the core of this team can do with a few additions next year. Just need to say up. Keep it up boys! We are behind you (the 36.4 %)

It's my birthday today. Have to work for 12 hours. Kids were in rare bad mood before I left house. This is now one of the best birthdays ever. That equalizer made me gulp but we pulled it back. My theme song for the day set to Team America World Police "Aston villa won 3-1 f yeah! Best mother f.in birthday ever - f yeah!"

Was there a game where Ireland, Makoun and Beye were on the bench or playing? That would have to be the worst combo. If not I go for Beye and Shorey vs Wigan 0-2 with Makoun for solo effort

Was at a birthday party for 3 year olds slipping into WC to hit update as quick as I could blaming my trips on an upset stomach which actually was true by injury time. Shouldn't have yelled "get in there" but I sure was relieved.