steell

Got to admit, I took my young lad to VP last Saturday and was completely embarrassed by the idiots in the Holte Lower. The swearing is to be expected and whilst I rather people realised that there are kids around I'm not naive enough to think that those kind of supporters would give a stuff about being an example, the thing that I was amazed at was the anti-Villa player stuff being shouted. Given was getting stick from 10 ft away - how the hell is this classed as support and almost certainly has a negative effect on his ability to play. And then some moron shouts 'Hey Barry, do you want to buy a Range Rover!' at BB as he was collecting the ball from in front of the hoardings. Sorry chaps, but that's idiotic, indefensible and the typifies some sections of the VP crowd.

You'll hate me for saying this but you just wouldn't hear that at the Hawthorns, and maybe that's why a team who on paper is considerably weaker than us are flying past us.

Ridiculous statement in the last sentence, a bit idiotic from yourself. I totally agree with your opinion of some of the fan's but you do get this at most club's when fan's aren't happy. As for The Baggies doing better than us because of the fan's - your off your head! They are doing better because their last couple of managers have strengthened the playing squad and got them playing good football, not because their fan's are better behaved. I know many lads who follow WB and believe me if the expectancy level there was the same as here you would see the same behaviour.

You, and others have missed the point. I stand by the fact that Villa fans are seen as particularly fickle and negative - I don't like that, I'm just restating the opinions of many other football fans and a seemingly universal opinion in the press and other media. Why is that? And it's my opinion is because it's true (a minority without doubt but a bigger minority than most).

I watch lots of other games, as I live away from Brum these days, and to bloke who said I 'must have led a sheltered life', it's you that needs to get out more, I've never heard the bitter, personal remarks shouted with the deliberate intention of OUR OWN players hearing, at any other ground than VP. It pisses me off and that's why I posted about it. Sorry if you disagree.

Got to admit, I took my young lad to VP last Saturday and was completely embarrassed by the idiots in the Holte Lower. The swearing is to be expected and whilst I rather people realised that there are kids around I'm not naive enough to think that those kind of supporters would give a stuff about being an example, the thing that I was amazed at was the anti-Villa player stuff being shouted. Given was getting stick from 10 ft away - how the hell is this classed as support and almost certainly has a negative effect on his ability to play. And then some moron shouts 'Hey Barry, do you want to buy a Range Rover!' at BB as he was collecting the ball from in front of the hoardings. Sorry chaps, but that's idiotic, indefensible and the typifies some sections of the VP crowd.

You'll hate me for saying this but you just wouldn't hear that at the Hawthorns, and maybe that's why a team who on paper is considerably weaker than us are flying past us.

I've supported Villa for 35 years and almost without exception, the players who have become VP heroes and been with us during our best spells, have been unknown, younger players, often from the lower leagues or unknowns from abroad. We just have never been a sexy club, our geography has always been against us, so PL feels like the perfect fit for me, he's as close to Ron Saunders as we've ever had and for that reason I refuse to label these signings as 'awful uninspiring'. Time will tell BUT the 3 players that PL already signed have been the highlight of the three games so far, so why not trust him with these guys??

Vlaar > Collins

Benteke > Delfouneso

Lowton > Hutton

Bennett > Warnock

KEA > Petrov

Westwood > Gardner

Don't know how you could disagree with that. I'm not saying it's turned us in to a top 10 team, yet, but I think we are better off than we were a year ago.

After initially being a bit pissed about this window, I'm actually coming round to it. In an ideal world we all want a quick fix but I think that going the Swansea/Norwich of developing young, hungry players, coupled with the stature and support of Villa is potentially the very best way to run a football club in this era (unless we get bought by a very rich owner). So, we will need to be patient, but at this point I'm very pleased that PL is our manager.

Huddlestone....yes please.

Would love Benayoun here.

Would love Benayoun here.

Frank Fielding passed a medical?? Good player, in the PL mould.

The first tweet put of no where literally said 'Aston Villa Aston Villa haha'

Not quite....

Jay Reddington ‏@jdravfc

@Frimpong26AFC frimpong got petroved #avfc

This guy commented on a pic of Frimpong getting booted in the head by Petrov....

Frimpong then tweeted 'Aston Villa Aston Villa haha'....

Which then started the random speculation.....

No, wrong order. Frimpongs 'haha' tweet was what prompted the guy to send him the Petrov tweet.

So was Bennett our 4th choice LB after Clyne, Naughton & Cresswell ?

No.

Sorry, but Adam Johnson is a quality player. If he was playing for any other team he would be providing assist after assist. Don't think he'll come to Villa, just another idiot player who can't see past his salary, but he's undoubtedly better than any player currently at Villa.

Sure it's been said but I think Carroll is an absolute non-starter - no way is he coming to Villa. Move on.

Like others have said, I'm please with who PL has signed already, especially Vlaar and KEA, both excellent additions from what I've seen. Not convinced at all by Holman, he looks like a very average player to me and no better than several of our youngsters, I could be wrong and I'll happily be so, but he's not going to cement a place in the team IMHO.

In terms of gettable, realistic players I really liked the look of Brahimi and I think he'd thrive in the Premiership. I'd also love to see us invest in someone like Jordan Rhodes and put Weimann and Delfouneso out on loan. And I think Charlie Adam would be absolutely perfect for us. I know he splits opinion but him and Bent would work really well together and it would allow KEA to play is most natural role behind him.

I also think, controversially, that Warnock should be bought in from the cold. Don't know why he gets so much stick, he's always committed and i think he could play the wing-back role that PL is looking for - far better than Baker anyway!

I'm genuinely excited about the thought of Ireland and KEA pulling the strings in midfield next season. To sell him for £5m would be nuts.

Surprised that people are so laid back about the need for a striker. Bent hasn't played a competitive match for a long time and picked up another injury in pre-season, so he's not possibly match fit. Weimann and Delfounso are yet to prove themselves and I don't see our midfield packed with goalscorers. It's a massive priority as far as I can see.

^ erm why not?

Bent is more than good enough.

erm because which other decent premiership team has one decent striker?

Real shame for Gabby, this could really be his season but he needs to get off to a flyer. Would love a decent forward signing, not sure we can do well in the premiership with our current forwards.

Kightly for £2m??! That's surely worth a shout. Think he'd be a good little player for us.

Good stuff.

Still think Bent should be captain. I know it's unusual that a forward to play that role but for me he's the player that has the most respect and has shown creditable loyalty towards us. Sounds like Ron will bring leadership to the team whether he's captain or not.

Currently a free agent...

Get it done, Lambert.

Who is it??

Someone thought it was Yakubu but surely that's the Togolese Beckham.

Is it beyond the realms of possibility that PL lined up the Vlaar deal but now having spent time with the squad he's now unconvinced that we need new CB's? I know that Villa fans prefer to think the worst of our own players but I trust PL opinion on this and if he thinks that Collins, Dunne, Clark, Baker and Lowton are good enough then I'm happy with that bunch - never understood how Collins get's so much grief, or Dunne for that matter. We'll see but I wouldn't be surprised to see Collins and Dunne line up against West Ham.

Blimey the Wikipedia hacks don't hang around do they?!

No way will sign a major striker IMO. I think we need to prioritise and I think PL will be spending his money carefully and on defenders and possibly another winger.

I'd like to see what the equivalent figures are for other clubs. I know Brighton have sold 22k ST's which makes me think the Villa fan base is still quite fragile.

I like BB and think he could yet be a very significant player for us. Not sure why there's so much negativity about him on here, AM didn't help the guy out because Barry's style of play is so out of sorts with what AM wanted. I also think that he's exactly the sort of player PL likes.