Bazdavies79

How about Bellamy then? Born to play in a 4-3-3, has skill, pace, tenacity, aggression?

Foster is a cracking keeper, United wont let him go and Barton is a nob IMO, Tubby. I think Ashton would be a good buy but there may be a few players become available between now and next summer, we'll just have to wait and see. We need to sign top quality players for RB, DM and LW.

He's like Barton, a really good player but trouble follows him everywhere. Steer clear.

Route 1 means (in simple terms) when your primary form of 'offensive' play is to play long balls from the defence, usually to a 'big' target man i.e. Carew. An antiquated tactic with limited success and little entertainment value. A useful tactic for teams lacking players with the technical ability to pass, but at Premiership level is very rarely seen any more in it's purest form, thankfully. Although Bolton play a style which is a modern take on the old 'Route 1' or Long Ball' system you'd have to dig out old tapes from the 1980's of Wimbledon or Arsenal, yes ARSENAL! to see proper long ball football in all it's boring boring Arsenal glory. I'm not sure what the formation was on Saturday as I was working and haven't seen the match, I presumed from the short highlights I saw on TV we played 4-4-2 from beginning to end. Barry's best position IMO is left centre in a 3 man midfield, or left back. He lacks pace to be a winger I've always believed. But I agree he's at his best around the box or arriving late in the box to get on the end of crosses.

It's far far too early to tell, but my instinct is that he's building a team similar to Chelsea's in formation and style. That's my guess anyway. But it's hard to tell so far because it seems most of his signings have been opportunistic rather than deeply thought through. (Which may piss off the 'organics' amongst us lol). He needs time to put his stamp on things here, I'm looking on with interest at what he does.

I think the answer to that was given by Ash himself when he said the gaffer sees him up front playing off Carew. This also figures when we know MON was in for SWP as well as Ash. It seems we're still on the hunt for a winger then, I don't get the impression Maloney is going to play there although surely until we get one Young is the obvious one to play on the right. Personally I still cant figure out what MON is doing, is he creating a squad to play 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2 formation? ATM we defo still have a squad more suited to a 4-3-3, especially as MON doesn't seem to fancy Barry as a LW'er or Ash as a RW'er. But he seems to prefer to play 4-4-2, strangely in the past with Davis on the left, or Gabby on the right, I can't work out what he's trying to do any more. :? He doesn't do the obvious that's for sure, what is he a genius or just crazy? Some of his team selections to me seem pretty crazy so far to me, his signings opportunistic rather than planned. I'm looking forward to see the MON plan take shape over the next 6-7 months.

He was excellent the other night, he might be happy there now plus his value will have rocketed. We should have got him 12 months ago, but for Doug he be ours I recon, and at a bargain price too!

Frankly, yes.

Yeah it's a stupid name to give to the second division :roll: I still call it the second, don't worry about it we know what you meant. I think we're probably a little short in some departments still but this transfer window has been excellent for us. We're just a few quality additions from challenging properly for a UEFA cup spot next season. This season should be about finishing as high as we can and I think we'll start to move up the league now thanks to the new signings. Winning top honours, such as the Premiership or the European Champions League is a whole different matter though General. I don't think we should underestimate just how good the top sides are, it's going to take a lot of work, and I'm afraid to say, an awful lot of money to catch them up. Edit - We'll have bloody good fun trying though!

Olly's distribution is poor, but to say (as some have) that he's the worst CB we've had for years is a bit much. He's good in the tackle and has good awareness, he's a decent CB in my book. In fact I'd say Cahill and Ridge are amongst the worst CB's I've seen in a Villa shirt in my living memory. Schimeca impressed me more than either of these kids and he never made it, I don't think either should be anywhere near a Villa side, it just shows how much standards have slipped over the last 10 years.

Didn't even think this was a debate, Mellberg Laursen no doubt.

Milner was outstanding, which makes me angry! The defence really needs the steadying influence of an old head or a class act in the centre instead of Ridge or Cahill as it was today. Hopefully Laursen will be back soon (feels like I've spent the last 2 years saying that!) Carew looked good, should have been a goal! Ash looked very good too, and with Maloney on his way I think there is a lot to be enthusiastic about.

Newcastle are rumoured to be after Ryan Babel, should we jump in? I think so.

In hindsight I don't think he'll be used just to 'hold up' the ball, he seems to like to run at defenders rather than have his back to goal, I'll retract all my above comments about him not being 'my sort' of player until I've seen him play properly. Although from what I've heard he seems like a bit of an enigma, I'm sure he'll do well in the premiership and suit our style better than Baros or Angel have.

I've not seen that much of him TBH but he looks like a player who can steam roller defenders Jonah Lomu style, yet has a bit of skill to boot. He will hold up the ball, and do well with long balls, which is what I suspect MON will have him in the team for, a bit like a John Hartson, with a little added skill and bags of pace if you like. I could be totally wrong about the player so I'll wait until I've seen him properly before I make any firm judgements on the man but on the face of it he does not look like my sort of player, and one who may take the teams style of play in a direction I personally hoped we would not go down. On the flip side he may be very effective at doing it though. As a kid growing up supporting Villa in the Saunders, Atkinson era I've always thought a Villa front line and team should be about skill and flair. But none the less I wish JC the very best of luck and hope his time with us is a long and successful one.

He's very strong, quick with a fair amount of skill for such a big man - I'm sure he will be a success. Welcome to the Villa JC.

He's a great player, but I doubt he's available. In any variety.

Quincy Abeyie would be an excellent signing for the RW, I cant believe Arsenal let him go for 1.5 million to Spartak looks like a proper winger. I think he went off the rails a bit, but talk about quick this guy would give Gabby a race and has good close control at high speed. Quincy

That's a really bad example because Anelka has SO much more talent than Baros and has scored goals at every Premiership club he's been at. I'd take him in a flash. I think their both are very talented but don't seem to fulfil their early promise, both have questionable agents, both are temperamental. That's where the similarities are I think.

Good player - bad attitude. He needs to grow up and realise a few things like; 1) He does not have a god given right to play every week. 2) Without us (football supporters) he's nothing. 3) His agent is a nob! 4) He's not bigger than any club. 5) He needs to listen to the coaches and work hard to improve his game. If he does that lot he'll be an excellent player and have a successful career, if he doesn't he'll be another Anelka.

I second that, cheers for the report! Hughes in midfield FFS :shock: :roll:

He's said he don't mind paying a little over the odds if the player is very good but he refuses to be held to ransom. I think that's fair enough and I don't mind waiting until the summer when the prices will be more realistic for these players. But until then we still need some decent players coming in to bolster our threadbare squad. These could be loan signings, transfer listed, want away or veteran players. There are players about in that position who could ensure our form improves.

Malc, I get the feeling your sharpening your knife and salivating at the prospect of failure in much the same way many did with DO'L, don't lower yourself to that level.

Lets not forget Freddy Adu, is he overrated? maybe. Still, wouldn't mind us having a punt on him as he seems to have a good attitude to learn and improve.

Why's Doug still holding the cash on the front page picture!!! Get him off