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What? Is that his punishment for hitting the crossbar last game? :? No, just to show him he won't be a regular starter if he isn't in top form. Even in the Valencia game, I still think he was a little short of the standard we want from him this season. Plus major kick in the teeth for Albrighton if he dosen't start on saturday imo. Obviously if we don't sign Ireland then Downing will play anyway imo.

Sidwell had a good pre season last season and was utterly shite in the opening games. Means little. Much more confident today with Ireland deal still likely, I would go for this on sat... Friedel Luke Young Cuellar Dunney Warnock NRC Petrov Albrighton Ireland Young Gabby. Bench Downing so as to give him a kick up the backside.

I'm not a huge fan of Bradley. Seems a bit tactically limited tbh, played 4-4-2 when U.S were much better when they switched to 4-3-3 during games. Also kept starting that Clark bloke who he then hauled off after 15 minutes of the Ghana game. Would be happy with Bilic or Jol.

One from Klinsmann, Billic, Bradley or Jol imo.

Pretty much our strongest reserve team isn't it? Villa 11 anyway I'd presume.

Most logical thing to me is to send him on loan to Blackpool again until January, see how he does and then re-assess in the new year. If we sell him now, then we won't get that much for him so might aswell hang on for a bit longer.

Bristol City are I think 20-1 to win the championship at some bookies. With Coppell as manager, that's a good each way bet I reckon.

You can buy on the gate tommorrow night.

It will be like Barry as he won't sign a new deal so we'll miss out on top 4 again and he'll go for 10m less next summer. Sell with regret.

I think Wigan are certs to go down next season personally. Going to be confusing anyway having James McArthur and James McCarthy playing in the same midfield anyway!

Think they'll be more of the same. Some decent games followed by a fair few mediocre games. Shining when we're playing well and winning and disappearing when we're struggling for form. Pretty optimistic I think that he'll have the same sort of season Milner did last season.

Well he gave away a penalty against that south african pub team the other day.

he wont play he is their last option up front after Fabiano, Robinho and Nilmar Robinho plays on the left of the forward three so effectively Brazil are picking from three out and out forwards. Might be in trouble if Fabiano gets suspended as Nilmar is a bit lightweight and Grafite lacks big game experience.

He's still played to a very decent standard for Spurs and Newcastle in the prem. I'd certainly say he's one of the better african central defenders around, certainly better than the likes of Danny Shittu and Mahjid Bougherra who'll be regular starters for other african teams.

Of course. I understand that and don't expect all transfers to be done but around half. Let's be honest, in his whole time as Villa manager, generally, we signed players towards the later stages of the window rather than the first 6 weeks. So it's obviously something he prefers rather than sorting out the deals early. As we know, he goes on holiday just after the season as well. It's not as if, he's been in charge 4 seasons and been late in moving just once. It's every year. I believe getting the right player is more important than the time but it would be nice and beneficial if we did do transfers a little earlier... It's just the way he works so don't expect it to ever change. Signing Dunney, Warnock and Collins practically at the last minute last summer did take the mick but tbf in 2008 Shorey, Luke Young, Friedel, Cullear and Sidwell were all signed before the first game, only Milner came late.

Yeah Webo scores a bit in Spain and they also have Achille Emana who's a sort of creative midfielder, has been linked to a few prem clubs in the past. Nothing to be seriously worried about though bar Etoo.

Krasic is a brilliant player, best one on the pitch when we played Moscow at VP 18 months ago.

Wasn't Etoo suppose to be the face of Africa? He's achieved more than Drogba at club level.

This group will be fun to watch and colourful. I actually think Cameroon are one of the more balanced african teams. Kameni is a decent keeper, they have Bassong and Assou-Ekotto at the back, Alex Song as the holding midfielder alongside Jean Makoun and Etoo upfront. That's a decent spine. Big problem is if Etoo misses a game as they don't have a decent striker bar him. So Holland and Cameroon just edging out Denmark I reckon.

U.S need to go 4-5-1 for this and that could be enough for a draw. 3 central midfielders protecting the back 4 while Dempsey and Donovan play wide of Altidore. When was the last time England won all three group games at a world cup anyway? England will comfortably beat Slovenia and Algeria so suggests U.S game will be a draw.

Collison is out injured until January. This could mean Behrami is moving somewhere...

Carragher and Terry would be a car crash against pacy and quick strikers like Argentina and Spain have. Terry and King. Play King in the first two games then rest him for the third and probably meaningless game as England should be through by then.

Evra >>>> Bale ffs. Even Warnock pre injury he picked up before the carling cup final was much better than Bale at LB. Just watched Bale miskick for that giggs chance so another mistake.

I said at the time (not on here evidently!) that either Dunney or Distin (who's been excellent for Everton) would do me. Campbell's done o.k for Arsenal but needs someone with pace alongside him and Weather, well he's just disappeared from people's thoughts, should've really moved.

Fair play to Spurs, incredible recovery from losing the cup semi and a injuries to a few of their key players.