steell

Dressing room: he said it wasn't a great dressing room, with way too many egos in there amongst the 'younger players' and a swagger from too many of them - he specifically said 'the younger players' I asked if he meant Grealish and he said not at all, he's the best young player he'd ever played with and lacks confidence, not the picture that is painted of him. He also said Gabby is as good as gold so I don't know who he was referring to but wonder if it explains why some of those young lads haven't broken in to the first team yet?

Don't know where else to post this but has it come out anywhere else that Tommy Elphick had his brand new car smashed up by Blues fans before Sunday's game? I got told this by a good friend of his but can't see it's been reported anywhere. He also said some other comments about the dressing room that are not altogether encouraging!

Just don't get the hate towards Westwood, I watched him very carefully today and his passing was excellent, work rate higher than any other midfielder and was way more effective than Jedinak. I'm not against him being dropped, I think something in midfield needs to change, but the witless comments about Westwood are just lost on me.

Great stuff, just looked more composed and confident all round. Not as convinced as everyone else on Cissokho, thought he did well but didn't get tested by anyone with pace and was out of position a couple of times, but given it was his first game in an unfamiliar team he did well. Pleased with Senderos thought he looked the real deal, and now a tricky call when Okore is fit and well but I suspect he'll play all three? I was most encouraged by Richardson, he did that great unsung job of getting up and down, breaking up play and doing the simple things, just the sort of player we need.

Why is it so hard for Villa fans to agree on he fact that Vlaar is a very good defender who is becoming recognised as that by genuine football people all round the world? He is without doubt one of the better defenders we've ever had (the rose coloured view of Laursen and others baffles me, he played relatively few games for us and was also prone to errors) Mellberg and McGrath deserve all the plaudits they got because of amount of games and just sheer consistency, and Southgate and Ehiogu were a great partnership but I reckon Vlaar is up there with those two at least and will only get better. All that to say, hold on to him please! The fallacy of 'let's sell him and get someone better in' is just so naive as to be embarrassing.

Not unless he's a time traveller http://www.diarioinformacion.com/elche-cf/2013/09/01/carlos-sanchez-stevanovic-colombia-bosnia/1410845.html

He was excellent last night, probably the MOTM for me. He was our best crosser of the ball and his ball over to Benteke and long cross to find Lowton were absolutely first class. A reminder that PL has found some absolute gems for the money he's spent (acknowledging that Tonev, Sylla and Bowery are absolute shockers!)

I'm gutted that we haven't gone in for Bridcutt before now, having watched him lots he's exactly what we're crying out for and fits the PL mould perfectly. I know everyone's getting worked up at missing out on Ince and Zaha but neither of them would drastically change our first XI, and I reckon Bridcutt will make more of impression on the Premiership than either of them, £3m is a steal.

It may have been mentioned before but it's uncanny how many of these unknown players we've signed play for clubs who's shirts are made by Macron? Sure it's just a coincidence but for a relatively small player in the market, it's funny how often this has happened.

Hmmm, sort of wish we'd gone in for Cornelius and maybe this shows us that the big money really isn't there, if he was as easily gettable as he obviously is then why would we go for Helenius ahead of him?

Does the lack of any quotes from PL on this mean that a) the guy's finally taken a holiday and signings are over for a little while?

I think Okore is straight in to the team and because we're lacking in the wide area, so is Tonev. I think PL is continuing in his brilliant and brave approach of speculating on young, hungry players and I therefore don't think any of the others are necessarily starters in the first half of the season. Personally I'm excited about Helenius but if he's regularly playing then it'll only mean one thing and I don't want that!

Yep, really chuffed about this one, think it's a very significant signing for us. Suspect Bacuna may be another Holman/Bowery/Dawkins, a cheap punt on a young energetic player, but I think this guy's the real deal.

:/ Can't tell if serious. Ha, no I'm being serious! He's on a free and I think we lacked leadership at the back for most of the season, Upson is a very good orgainser and an excellent professional. It bothers me that we've got guys like Clark and Baker, and Vlaar for that matter, who are gifted but can be very naive, Dunne was by all accounts a divisive individual who didn't fit the PL mould, I think Upson could play that role.

Don't know where else to put this thought, but I watched a lot of Brighton games this season and can't tell you how solid and impressive Matthew Upson has been. He's available on a free and IMO would be perfect cover for us, bringing loads of experience and he's got a good few years left in him.