8pints

Mind you, concerning Sturridge.

I think we're missing a potent threat up front. Bent is a selfish striker, just in a different more direct way. We need more than one.

We need someone who looks threatening and takes the game to defenders, driving them on to the back foot and pushing through. N'Zogbia can be this player but so far he's looked indecisive at the crunch moment and marching to a different beat to his team mates.

Whether Daniel Sturridge is this player or not is a different matter, but he's scored two goals in two games in the Olympics and looks to be self-confident with a direct game plan.

I could see Bent becoming frustrated with him, Sturridge seems to have the blinkers on too much and doesn't look to make a simple pass across to someone in a lethal position. Which, you could bet your house on Bent would consistently be in, waiting for an easy pass for an easy tap in that may not come.

But Sturridge is young and has time to learn. Maybe playing with someone like Bent would open his eyes because I've seen (I'm sure you have too) the fuss Bent makes, and rightly so, when someone has not made that easy pass for an easy tap in to him.

This could either lead to an explosive partnership that works or doesn't, we don't know yet. But if they can keep both their egos in check. I like the idea of watching Sturridge homing in to the danger area, the ball at his feet, defenders panicking that he's getting nearer and nearer to the goal, and as they try to smother him, suddenly he switches play, rolling it over to the cerebral assassin known as Darren Bent, who's been keeping up with play, himself zoning in on the six yard box, to tap it in to the net.

Basically, yes Sturridge is a selfish player but he's an exciting player.

I think if the wage bill is sorted out we'll see Generous Lerner once again

If the wage bill is not sorted by now, it will never be.

How do you mean?

That they've had enough time and it has not been done?

Or with recent transactions it has been now?

Or something else?

I you believe ITK then we have asked Man City about 5325 times this summer about Adam Johnson.

Got to be persistent :winkold:

Who will he be partnered with at West Ham? Is their angle that they're yet to buy him.

I wonder which hairstyle has scored the most goals?

If you believe ITK then apparently Lambert wants a striker, winger, and a defender. Warnock will stay sadly. Hopefully Sturridge, Johnson, Douglas are the 3 he wants and will get.

Those are three decent players.

McLiesh aint going anywhere, sooner people get used to that the better

What now?

We wait.

villan-scott

Didn't he have corn rows at one point too? A look not suited I would say.

jon_c

he either needs to cut his hair, or grow the beard to go with it

I like your thinking

If we go three at the back, we would surely need some width in midfield. Lichaj and Lowton wouldn't be able to offer much going forward if they're part of a back 3.

That's what I'm saying in that it wouldn't be a rigid back three.

It'd be fluid with Clark/Herd/Delph etc covering defensively and pushing forward when it's time enabling the full backs to go forward and come back.

He'd add height to the team.

Hi Alex.

Haha I haven't yet decided on my team, there's still a bit of deliberating to be done.

Link to the wisest page on the internet -

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/alex_mcleish/

I wonder how he feels/sums up his time with us?

"It was all a blur."

Probably.

Alice Carroll

Before he was long

He'd add height to the team.

This season will be about implementing secure foundation.

Two strikers, a winger, a left back and a central defender would be what I'd like to see but that's five more players, I wonder if Lambert will bring that many in?

A right back, left back and a central defender leaving may open up enough space but then keeps the problem of not having enough players in the squad.

According to the OS, Makoun has number 17.

Squad In Full

1 Shay Given

2 Alan Hutton

3 Stephen Warnock

4 Ron Vlaar

5 Richard Dunne

6 Ciaran Clark

7 Stephen Ireland

8 Karim El Ahmadi

9 Darren Bent

10 Charles N'Zogbia

11 Gabby Agbonlahor

12 Marc Albrighton

13

14 Brett Holman

15

16 Fabian Delph

17 Jean II Makoun

18

19 Stan Petrov

20

21

22 Brad Guzan

23 Nathan Delfouneso

24

25 Barry Bannan

26 Andreas Weimann

27

28

29 Enda Stevens

30 Eric Lichaj

31 Chris Herd

32 Nathan Baker

33 Andy Marshall

34 Matthew Lowton

35 Daniel Johnson

36

37

38 Gary Gardner

39 Benjamin Siegrist

40 Samir Carruthers

Link

Hope some of those spaces become filled.

Vagner Love is back in Brazil....I think we need Love.

I'd love him to come. He'd brighten up Villa Park with his lovely locks.

------Bent------

------Holman---

Ireland-----Delph

-----El Ahmadi----

---Herd------Clark---

Lichaj---Vlaar------Lowton

-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------

------Bent------

------Holman---

Ireland-----Bannan

----El Ahmadi------

---Herd------Clark---

Lichaj---Vlaar------Lowton

-----------------------------------

-----------------------------------

These two combinations look good to me, a good spine running through, of which he is the central point with hard working versatile players around him.

Hopefully all of our support is a help.

I think El Ahmadi staying fit is crucial.

Our whole squad was woeful last season. Saying Warnock was our best player is like giving someone an award for best smelling shit.

Heskey won that one, I think.

That might be perceived as a tad racist remark.

It wasn't meant as one.

When I used to have Long Hair, I just used an Alice Band, much tidier than a Pony tail, and looks A lot better.

Before the operation I'd always wear an Alice band.

I cut my hair after I had my appendix out.

Sorry, wrong thread :oops:

Haha I'm only joking.

I had a sex change

I wonder how he feels/sums up his time with us?

When I used to have Long Hair, I just used an Alice Band, much tidier than a Pony tail, and looks A lot better.

Before the operation I'd always wear an Alice band.

I cut my hair after I had my appendix out.

Our whole squad was woeful last season. Saying Warnock was our best player is like giving someone an award for best smelling shit.

Heskey won that one, I think.