villaslash

Happy he’s back and proving a great addition for a second time.

Still one of my favorite Villa moments was his winning goal against Everton in I think 2008 at the end of injury time. I remember Lescott equalizing and just deflating everyone and then Young with just a moment of brilliance passing the ball to himself through the defense and curling it in. I literally leapt up and down going nuts. A lot of fond memories of the players on that roster.

1 hour ago, romavillan said:

Ings as one of the 10s in that case though right?

It’s a tough call for sure. With Watkins regaining form I’d play him in the “11”but I think letting the two rotate fluidly during the game could cause some havoc. 

1 hour ago, Rolta said:

They both played in his first game.

Sorry forgot the first bit of that game and that Ings was out then back then out. Thanks. Perhaps better said is too early to know how Gerrard could use the two.

The signing of Ings surprised me but I’m thinking back to when we bought Heskey in the chase for top 4. Top half teams really need more than one striker who can do the business.

Certainly more depth at the top of the pitch then we have had for quite a while.

Since Gerrard hasn’t had Watkins and Ings fit at the same time it will be interesting to see what happens. With the top of the attack playing a little more compact at times I could see a top three of Ings Watkins and Buendia working a bit better. They all have that bit of skill and trickery for an unexpected pass to slice the defense open.

Hope we don’t sell anyone to Newcastle.

We haven’t seen the Ings Watkins partnership really work but having two quality strikers is so vital. What if Watkins is injured? What if we actually subbed Watkins off after 75 when he has run the defense ragged? Then Ings’s deadly more technical finishing would make an impact.

I’m not sure we would want to sell to Newcastle if they came in for him. Let them try to splash some cash around in the championship for a bit.

When you think of all the strikers we’ve bought over the years as simple emergency cover instead of an equally good option it’s never worked out. Great to have a choice.

That was a good article. I thought he walked the line of appreciating Smith but being excited about Gerrard well. Always interesting to see all the super specific stats. I also like his balance of a little cocky but with a sense of humor.

You would think he will get an England call up soon.

It can't just be me who had noticed how much his passing has improved? Crisp, into the channels, much much better.

Absolutely, watching the game yesterday Delph Westwood and Cleverly had really great quick passes especially the first 25 minutes of the game. The passes weren't always earth shattering but they had pace and purpose other then "get that ball away from me"

I would think three factors are contributing to the sudden improvements- confidence, someone to pass to who can pass back and Roy Keane.

I'm hoping the Delph Westwood cleverly midfield trio will just keep pushing each other to play better and better. All are young, have technical skill and want in the England team.

If it happens it could be exciting to see a spine of Benteke Cleverly Sanchez Vlaar Guzan.

We know Lambert likes less wing play. Makes sense to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordy_Clasie

"The Dutch Xavi"

He'd fit right in here then. He can join illustrious heroes of our past "The Ecuadorian Beckham" and "The Togolese Zidane".

Drat I was too late. I was about to say why do we need the Dutch xavi when we could get the zidane from Togo.

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.

Sorry mate,I really don't get this. Why would you wanna poke anyone never mind Stephen ireland :s

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.

I don't see lambert bringing in anyone on loan unless its someone he might want to buy in the long run.

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.