AXD

despite the poor referee decisions, I feel we played some great football, had good chances and showed we can take on the big teams. We've had 2 of the hardest games of the season (for any team in the league) and have 3 points which could/should have been 4. I hope the lads can keep playing like this, because this team can play for the european spots

delph was great (no card today, I see progress:-) ) Agbonlahor leading again,silly yellow at the end though Luna didn't look so good, but what a great goal GREAT START OF THE SEASON

This .. I have the same opinion on albrighton. Both can still become good players for us, they just need to get a full season with regular football

My point still stands. Of the defenders, only colpaert will never make the selection. your example is quite exceptional that was even in the squad. Fellaini has been a regular since 2007 under Vandereycken, Mirallas since 2008, Mertens and chadli are regulars since the last campaign, as is benteke because Leekens was fan of his. So no, compared to the last campaign, it is not just Simons and van Buyten who are still there. The only changes are the goalkeepers and the fact that most of these players moves to the PL.

that is true but back in 2010 qualifymatches we didn't have the players we now have in our current squad there are only 2 players left of that squad and those 2 players don't even play anymore timmy simons and Daniel vanbuyten. You mean the 2002 WC, right? (when talking about Simons and Van Buyten) compared to the last qualifying campaign for 2010, the squad is pretty much the same, the only difference is the experience of the players. players like Fellaini, Witsel, Kompany, Vertonghen have been playing for the national team for almost 6 years now

there's a lot of people thinking in terms of football manager out here ('we need to buy another AM'), we already had 6 players coming in who will want a starting position. we now have two teams already first team (probably) ---------------Guzan------------ Lowton--Vlaar--Okore--Luna ---------Sylla----Westwood---- -------------Bacuna--------------- Weimann----------------Gabby -------------Benteke------------- Second Team ---------------Steer----------------- Herd---Clark----Baker--Bennett ----------KEA-----Delph------------ ---------------Nzogbia-------------- Albrighton----------------Tonev--- ---------------Helenius------------- this seems to me like we have enough players as it is. I'm even finding it difficult to put Gardner in there. This is also quite hard on players like Baker and Delph who have done well for us last season. everyone else should be either sold (Given, Hutton, Bannan, Ireland, Bent) or sent on loan (Carruther, Bowery) adding another AM would make it 8 possible players for 3 position.

or that we're pretty set. If Benteke stays, we have our squad for the coming season sorted. we even have a load of players to get rid of, maybe then we can think of getting an extra n°10. Also I would like to see some youngsters go out on loan asap: Burke, Johnson, Carruthers and maybe even Bowery should go to the better championship sides or even a PL club if we're lucky.

Walker? of course! RB was our weak point last season damn that Lowton guy

that's what most of us thought last summer as well, when we were signing unkown players like westwood, lowton and Benteke. or last winter when we got Sylla I don't think anyone is questioning those players today (granted we also got Bennett or Dawkins)

after some time on this board, it seems like Villa supporters hate everyone there's the obvious WBA, Birmingham City and Wolves, but apart from that I've read quite some negative remarks about both Manchesters, Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea, Newcastle, Stoke, Arsenal, Wigan, Sunderland... pretty much every team that seems to be anything else than a gray mid-table team (Fulham, Swansea, Norwich)

Just got back from the game. Not the best performance ever. Westwood and delph didn't have their best of games. I was impressed by bacuna, sylla and also albrighton. The latter realy had a lively game and some decent crosses. Luna already seems to be a fans favourite

I'm thinking of driving up there, for the one time they're playing closeby

true, and if bent leaves first, the price tag on Benteke will go up a bit as well.

However when gabby was younger and freescoring - Aston Villa were a better prospect than they are now. Bentekke has a chance to push for CL with spurs - or be at midtable (and thats being kind) with villa. even better, he didn't leave when we were falling down the table. I don't believe Gabby couldn't get out to a club like everton around the time Downing and Young left, when we started to struggle. he stayed because he loves this club. Benteke should first prove himself in a second season, let's not forget he has only succeeded when he was the n°1 striker with a coach who would back him up no matter what. He failed at Mechelen and Standard because he was sometimes put on the bench. he is still young and mentally not the strongest I think (that's why his agent can convince him to change clubs so often) If he doesn't play every game at tottenham, he probably won't perform as well as he did for us last year. Which will lead to more games on the sidelines.etc (hypothetical, but not impossible).

Yeah - it'll never be quite the same though. Same as what? I understand why he was idolised by some, goals will do that. I just never really got it myself. There was always something about his demeanour that turned me off him to a degree and the fact that we've known all along that he would walk as soon as the big clubs and the big clubs came knocking. If he stays and continues to score goals that's great, I'm well up for that. I'll sing his name as I always have, nothing will change. We've a few players more worthy of our idolisation - Gabby, Weimann, Lowton, Guzan... The club will move on. Things will always be "the same". why Lowton? I like the guy as he always puts in a good performance and played nearly every game last season, but who's to say he's more loyal than Benteke? Would he be happy to stay if clubs like chelsea and tottenham were chasing him? It's not the case right now, so we don't know. A guy like gabby probably could have gone a few seasons ago, when he was in his early 20s and scoring more goals than last season, but he really loves this club, as does a guy like albrighton.That's why he deserves every bit of credit from the fans. This club is his life.

Rumors has it that he was way overhyped and not even close to being on the level Eden is. They do have a third one though, who is a striker I think. Thought i heard he impressed on loan last yr and got called up to the Belgium squad? Chelsea have loads of players in the am mold He did very well last season. He might be hyped because of his name, but everyone always said he'll never be as good as Eden. He could be sold though, both Anderlecht and Genk are after him.

Rits isn't worth looking into. He was announced as a bit talent at the age of 15, but couldn't get in a very mediocre Beerschot side. Went to Ajax 1 or 2 years ago but I don't think he has played a single game there. he's now back in Belgium at Mechelen but again isn't playing like a supertalent. Praet is good, had a very good first season at Anderlecht, but isn't looking to move just yet. Right now I believe he wants to stay in a familiar team/league, play Champions League and improve his game. De Bruyne is out of our league, not even Dortmund can get him on loan. Chadli is a great player, expensive but nothing a PL side can't pay.

I read today that Nicolas Lombaerts may want to leave zenit as he feels it's time for something new. He only has one year left in his contract, so he can't be too expensive. He would be a great addition to our defense to partner up with Vlaar, has a lot of experience and leadership quality. He was also never one of the highest earners at zenit, so we can afford him. Downside, he' s injury prone.

He is a lot better than Vlaar. I just don't believe Arsenal would let him go just because he had a bad last few months.

Vossen and lestienne are probably the only ones we can afford. There are other talented belgians of course (T. Hazard, Praet, tshimanga,...), but I doubt they would have immediate impact.

I read apost a few pages back about getting Steven Defour from porto as norwich are after him. This could be a decent shout. It's a player with a lot of experience. He's not always starting, but still a good player. With the world cup coming up, he would be looking to be a regular starter, which he could be for us. He used to be an ACM, now he's a holding midfielder. Could be usefull to keep a playmaker out of the game. Only problem is that hè could cost a few million.

All three seem very likely

On that we agree then, but I have enough faith in the rest of the squad to get a result at Wigan. even though it probably won't matter anyway

I was extremely worried in January. Not worried now. We have faith in our own hands and will secure PL status with a win Sunday. And if we look back at our "must win games" history, we have only **** up against Newcastle. We won against QPR, Reading, Sunderland, West Ham, Norwich and Stoke. That is 6 out of 6 wins in high pressure games. And we had one of the best strikers in Europe playing for us in those must win games. We won't this time. yes, it was benteke who won the game at Norwich and it was benteke who gave us the lead in the game against sunderland or stoke. oh no wait... So does Benteke only score goals? Do his performances and his ability not help the team or our other strikers when he's on the pitch? So does Bent only score goals? Do his performances and his ability not help the team or our other strikers when he's on the pitch? Benteke had no part in Lowton's goal against Stoke, or in Vlaar's and Weimann's against against sunderland,... Of course Benteke is a great player to have on the pitch, but you're making it out like we are nothing without him.

They wouldn't need to..if they draw today they'll only need a draw on last day if we lost as they have a much better GD or maybe wigan will lose against arsenal on tuesday. meaning we have the easiest game out of us, Sunderland, Newcastle and Norwich, playing a side that already won a cup and got relegated, while the others play teams chasing CL spots or are just ManCity at home for their last game of the season. but that is probably just crazy talk