olivevilla

Has Vlaar ever played in midfield? He's got good size, good in the air, can play the simple ball and dribble a bit. If we can get Dunne back and/or get in a new CB, Vlaar would offer good protection as a defensive mid. It would allow Westwood/Bannan/Delph to play further forward and actually link to that attack. Then again, maybe I'm just grasping at straws.

Thanks for this. Why isn't Warnock listed, I thought his contract was up this summer as well. Also surprised to see Lichaj - wouldn't be shocked if he moves elsewhere.

I stumbled across the offer from Man City to provide PL analytics data for all teams from last season free of charge for anyone to analyze or test various models. I made a request for the data and am curious in knowing if anyone else on the board is looking at the same thing or would be interested in collaborating. MCFC is looking for people to generate statistical methods for the entire league, but I'm also interested in looking more deeply at the Villa squad and games. If you find value in the data, please tell someone else about it, but please encourage them download the data themselves from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/mcfcanalytics. PS. I couldn't find an existing thread on this topic, but I may be missing it. My apologies if this is the wrong area for this post.

Very proud of the team yesterday. Great effort, which has been lacking for quite some time. Guzman my MOTM, thought his command of his box and distribution really set the tone at the back. You could see how it gave the back four confidence and that spread thru the team from there. Kudos to Lowton as well. In earlier games I had not seen why PL selected him so consistently and at the expense of Lichaj, who had a good run at the end of last year. Lowton showed why he deserves the RB spot. Onwards and upwards from here. We will certainly struggle at times, but I'm reasonably confident about our ability to compete. Give Bennett a shot at LB, Westwood a chance in midfield and lets see how Benteke can fit in up top. Guzan 8 Lowton 7 Vlaar 7 Clark 7 Lichaj 6 kEA 7 Holman 7 Bannan 6 Ireland 7 Bent 6 Weimann 6

Was impressed with the number of times he intercepted the ball and then passed it to a Villa shirt. I'd gotten used to seeing those sent into row Q. Great to keep possession like we were yesterday.

I never knew april fools had come late this year. Yeah, I don't actually wish for it, just a bit down after the start to the season and the transfers for other clubs.

It's like buying a car. We chose the old luxury car. Looked like a deal initially, but a few years on its starting to show its age. We are paying too much to keep it up and running awe can't sell it. Worst of all, it's lost the performance we once loved it for. Hopefully PL can get us a good trade value towards that new sedan we've been eying!

I'd be okay if we go down his year. In some ways I wish we'd go down. Watching teams like QPR and Sunderland throw money around is taking the sport out of it for me. Maybe I'm just getting old, but there seemed to be a time when success was based on what you did with resources, not just who had the biggest sugar daddy.

Wait a minute, they're going to pay us 2m????

It doesn't surprise me at all that he's the first (or only one) to go. James was the best of our regular back four last year. If we ranked him, Dunne, Warnock, and Hutton, I would guess that most would put him first and the rest would have him second. (although any comparison with Hutton and Warnock is a bit skewed to be honest). He's prone to the hoofball, but with the midfield and management we had last year, I can't say that I blame him. Best wishes to him at Wet Spam.

Is anyone keeping track of the summer's movements and the potential (assumed) impact on the wage bill? In the past, the word on the street was that the wage bill was the key financial holding us back. I'm assuming that this summer's transfers will continue the trend of decreasing the wage bill, but I haven't been keeping track. Off the top of my head...(and likely completely wrong) Out Heskey (60?) Cuellar (35?) Guzan (15-20?) In Lowton (20?) KEA (30?) Holman (30?) Guzan (15-20?) at the moment, we're slightly positive/neutral, and if Vlaar comes in with Hutton leaving that wouldn't change much I would think. If some combination of Collins, Warnock, Makoun, Gabby, Delph, etc leave, then we should have room for a few more signings, particularly younger foreign or lower league players.

It'll be interesting whomever Liverpool appoints. They haven't been horrible, but between the spend and the fan/media expectations, a new manager won't have any time to sort things out. Martinez strikes me as a good manager, but one whom needs to implement his system instead of someone who can work with what he has. After spending on Downing/Carroll/Suarez recently, do you think FSG is going to be excited about throwing more money at this project? I wouldn't count on the owners/fans being patient if they get off to a poor start.

I've been clinging to this hope as well. The way I figure, Randy has yet to conduct a typical manager search. Both GH and the other one came out of left field. OGS was out of nowhere as well. So it means RL/PF (a) are conducting a discreet search for a new, energetic manager (like what we keep hearing in the papers), ( are waiting for someone to fall into our laps, or © aren't actually aware that we need a new manager and will franctically scramble to get someone in near the end of August. I'm going with (a), if only for my own sanity. I was all kinds of excited about OGS and once that hope was dashed, I realized I can't keep yo-yo-ing up and down.

Yep. Clear as mud.

I'm also in the camp of "initially lambert, but now OGS". From all accounts, we have a group of unruly seniors, lots of promising prospects, and no consistent footballing approach. From what I've seen and heard of OGS, I think he's the best candidate to deal with these circumstances. Of course, I don't sit in on the interviews with Randy...

Hmm, not sure what this will add to the story. Regardless of how this all turns out, it has raised my appreciation for OGS. He said good things about the club, has acted respectfully towards both sides (at least as far as we know), and so far no one has said anything derogatory about him. Good stuff in my book (although I could change my story in 30 minutes).

This times a million. Between the secret plane ride yesterday and the politics at Molde, it's been a crazy ride. Of course, I haven't done much at work the last two days...

This. Who else is going to hire him and pay him what we are paying?

I'll agree Carroll's a questionable character, but if Bent isn't happy and sulks he may not be much better. Goals are important, but it's also goal difference that matters. Too often our defense is pinned back and we have no one as an outlet that can hold up play and let the rest push forward. Of course, there are other ways to improve that than just getting rid of Bent...

Was it one of the borrowers? Its not his size that is the problem. Plenty of smaller players have excelled in the top division such as Keegan, Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, Zola, Tevez, Rooney and so on. Its just that, he isn't very good. Agree, it's not his size. The thing that bothers me about Barry is how he always loses the ball and then has no hence of winning it back (without fouling). Most successful small players have very quick feet and are damn hard to take it away from, but Barry seems to lose the ball every time he's hallenged. Not a good sign.

I wouldn't take a straight swap, but would consider this with some additional cash thrown in with Carroll. His holdup play is superior to Bent, overall technique too, and he has the potential to get his share of poached goals. If we are going to persist with the long ball and isolating one up front, then Carroll would be a much better fit. (ducks for cover)

Green could be interesting as a change. Depends on how it's done. As said above, green can be tricky to get right. Just to stir the water further, I quite like the Sheffield Utd kit posted earlier.

Just bought tickets for Chicago today. If anyone has suggestions for pre or post game events please let me know. Live in Boston but will be out for the weekend (amazingly its both cheaper and more convenient for us o go to Chicago as compared to Philly and the wife put the kibosh on both). Go villa!!

i hate trevor francis. that is all.