cyrusr

Cromwell says hi

According to Hertha's twitter we still won 2-0....

Delighted to see him fit again! Such a bad time with injuries. Hopefully can push Johnstone for no1 shirt/keep him out of it!

So think with Samba now done we are looking likely for no more in and maybe time to take stock of the squad at the moment. So as it stands we have: In: Terry, Johnstone, Elmohamady, Whelan, Samba Out: Kozak, Sanchez, Gil. That leaves the squad as follows (with players in brackets this is not their natural position but can provide cover if necessary, question mark where I am not sure): Goalkeepers Johnstone, Steer, Bunn, Sarkic Right Backs Hutton, De Laet, Bree, (Elmohamady), (Bacuna), (Richards) Left Backs Taylor, Amavi, Cissokho (De Laet) Centre Backs Chester, Terry, Baker, Samba, (Jedinak) (De Laet), Elphick, Richards Right Midfield/Winger Adomah, Elmohamady, (Green), (Bacuna), (Kodjia), (Bjarnasson?), (Hogan), (Lansbury?), (Grealish?) Left Midfield/Winger Green, Grealish,(Bjarnasson), (Kodjia), (Hogan), (Hourihane), (Adomah?), (Elmohamady?) Centre Midfield Hourihane, Lansbury, Jedinak, Whelan, Bjarnason, Tishbola, Veretout, Gardner, Bacuna, Lyden, (Grealish) Attackers Kodjia, Hogan,McCormack, Agbonlahor, Davis, Hepburn-Murphy I think we have more or less done our business coming in, unless someone goes who is "first teamer". If we assume there should be at least 2 players for every position (and avoid more if possible) can suggest we are likely looking at going out: 1 GK, 1 RB, 2 CBs, 1 LB, 4/5 CMs. I think he will struggle to get 5 CMs out and also think sometimes he might want 3 in the middle. I don't think an attacker is going though, we have 2 youngsters and not sure how much will be given to them. Given how badly we got struck with injuries last season, don't think the risk will be taken, unless a decent offer comes in for McCormack or in particular Gabby. IMO (obviously) think we are looking at leaving or trying to get to leave: Steer, Hutton, Elphick, Richards, Cissokho, Veretout, Gardner and 1 or 2 of Lyden, Bacuna, Tishbola. We certainly need to clear the decks now, hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later...! I think we are definitely set defensively, though would have preferred someone else to Johnstone. Amavi may still go which might mean someone else coming in or De Laet being used as full time back up to Taylor (think Cissokho is gone regardless). It's the attack which I am slightly worried about quality wise. On paper, looks cracking, just some didn't perform last season as we would have hoped (McCormack, Hogan, Grealish). New season, new hope! So for those TL:DR: I think we still have 8 out, mainly central midfielders and centre backs, unlikely anymore in, defensively we look good, just hope the attack can perform better than last season!

Relatively happy with this. 1 year deal, clearly back up, more than capable. Hopefully means Richards is nearing the exit door (and elphick but don't have ill will against him, it just hasn't worked). Welcome

Indeed, so much so they are making a further cameo this season (and allegedly you could see them briefly in this episode).

Possibly or maybe not match fitness yet. He has now been here 4 years and we are only on page 14 on his thread... sadly shows what he has managed to do in his time here! Suffered some bad injuries which have really hampered him. Hopefully he can recover fully and actually have a footballing career whether that's here or elsewhere.

Pecking order for centre backs (IMO): Chester Terry Baker Jedinak Elphick Samba (if signed) Every other player in both the first team and youth team All those kids in China Tony posted in Villa kits Nobody at all Richards (potentially) With Samba it depends on shape that Bruce is going to play. If he wants to play 3 at the back, I think we will need the cover and I think Samba could suit that just fine. We would have 5 specialist centre backs with De Laet and Jedinak able to play there also in addition to the kids. The position is more than covered. Even if he wants to go play 2 CBs then I can see merit (as back up only) but will mean Richards going and possibly Elphick as well. By no means I think he should be playing week in week out but he wages would be far less than most and he can provide experience/cover so can see the benefit. I think that it will depend on who we can ship out as to whether we sign him.

Whilst I definitely agree with you, i think that there are better keepers we could have got (and reachable) that I think we should have got. I speculate that they have been trying with other targets also. However in the grand scheme of things, he isn't terrible. Given what we saw last season, he's bang average championship. I would have preferred it if he was brought in as back up but we wouldn't loan him if we were doing that. Is he a good signing to get us to the premier league? Potentially. Beyond that? I've not seen anything to suggest so. I am somewhat underwhelmed by this signing and think we could and should have done better in such a crucial position. However, if all this speculation is true (it almost certainly is), then I hope he has an absolute cracker of a season!

I thought it was an automatic "if he played so many games" they had to sign him so he must transfer automatically at start of Italian window. Might be because of the Chinese interest that fiorentina haven't formally announced - would be a bit weird to announce a new player only to see a week later...

Can't see anything official still for the formal transfer; however it looks like fiorentina might be selling already.... Click for link Why hasn't there been anything official on this???

Wouldn't mind Crouch for a season, however in what role would he play? Striker wise we already have Kodjia, Hogan, McCormack, Gabby, RHM and Davis who are felt may have some part to play this season. Unless 1 or 2 of them are on their way out (either permanent or loan) we don't have the space surely?! Gabby out for good and either RHM or Davis on loan would look to be the likely options IMO. Even then he would be quite fair down the pecking order and whilst I know he won't be first choice for Stoke, having just got rid of Walters too he is likely to get some game time there surely? Why would he come here as a squad player?

Whelan + Johnstone + (1 of Elmo + ? + ?). Maybe Whelan/Elmo switch around? With 6 leaving. 1 likely to leave (Amavi); 3 should be leaving (Gil, Veretout, ?) and 2 potentially (?,?).

Followed by this in response to a question

Here you go in "tweet" format Clearly (unsurprisingly) finding it hard to shift certain players...

If West Ham or Newcastle present an agreeable deal to Man City Hart will be going there over us no question. Would be first choice at either club and yes more likely to keep England spot. But if he does come to Villa can we resurrect the "itchy scalp m'lord" line please?!

Whilst lawyers like to think themselves as clever they can't make up stories for their clients. More likely they explained the legal technicalities of the point and Terry just happened to fall into that category Irrespective of that, as said a gamble worth taking. I don't think anyone would be aggrieved if he went to a prem team or abroad for money. We would be kicking ourselves though if he ended up at another championship club. as you say, well worth the gamble.

The whole racist thing kind of bugs me. Had another look at it. In his criminal trial he accepted he said the words, but he said it repeating what Ferdinand said to him. He was found not guilty for a clear lack evidence of any intent to be racially abusive. Yes he was found guilty by the FA of breach of the rules; however the rules stated merely even saying the words you were in breach, doesn't matter the intent behind it. Therefore based on his case, he was always going to be found guilty by the FA because he had simply used the words. Does simply saying those words make him a racist? No, it is always subjective to the intent.

For me, I couldn't care if we paid £2.5m or £4m for him, my concern would be if we bought him as first choice keeper. Happy for him to be back up and those figures are not breaking the bank, just don't want him as first choice.

Whatever your views are on Bruce/Terry/Squad/Tony/Keith/Steve there are facts that I think we can all agree on: We all want Villa to get promoted; We would like to do it playing great football (but not essential); We are one of the favourites for a whole host of reasons (club size, money spent, players, etc. etc. etc.); The expectations has to be seeking promotion, no ifs, no buts, no excuses. That's why I think they went after Terry so much. Whatever you say about his character, he is a winner and only wants to win. That lack of doggedness was missing last year. We still crumbled and we were far, far too fragile. There were 2 big runs which faltered us: August - October and January - February. Those runs were the reason we faltered and because our heads dropped and confidence was shattered. 32 points difference between us and Newcastle last season. Huddersfield gained 30 points last year, Fulham 29 points, Reading 33 points. It can be done. Change that mentality to winners rather than losers, the season will be a breeze P.S Before anyone says it, easier said than done, I know!

I was curious as to how many managers he has worked under. Since he joined Villa in August 2011 he has worked under 14 different managements (including interim managers). 9 of these at Villa, 2 at Forest (albeit 1 was McLeish for a couple of matches), 2 at Mallorca and 1 at Bolton. Whilst that includes some he has only played 1 or 2 matches under, that works out on average more than 2 a year... In fact he has a total of 21 managers in his career to date. The worst part is that he has played under McLeish with 3 different clubs!

Hutton was signed by McLeish and has played under 8 different managers whilst he has been here and he has also been shipped out on loan a couple of times as well. We currently have 4 right backs (5, if you count Richards, which I don't) and that's just farcical. I completely agree he is not to blame for the decline but he is a massive reminder of it. Whilst his performances have been hit and miss (mainly miss) his attitude has been always right and that's why he has got the appreciation. That's why when he does leave I will wish him well, but I will be utterly delighted if he sold. A real sign that times have finally changed.

1 year deal I'll definitely have that. Baulking a little at the £60k a week but it ain't my money and Tony wants to give him that so be it. Fair Play rules only seem to fine clubs anyway at the moment. Besides if Terry really wanted the money, he could have gone anywhere else. He would have got a (reported) £40k a week extra just by going a few miles down the road and playing in the same league. As @BOF has said, it's a statement of intent and one that hopefully finishes with us back to where we belong. Right John, show us what you are made of!

Our CB got 4 goals last season in total, Chester 3 of them. Really struggle to remember the last centre back that was actually a threat in other box. Terry has scored at least 1 every season after his first season, though he did only score 1 in each of the last two seasons.

The Official News Post suggests it for this season only but doesn't specify figures: Clearly the intent will be to pull bigger deal when promoted so maybe the best option that would agree to a 1 year deal. Just why do they have to have such a bad logo?! Just looks childish.