Danwichmann

Off topic, but I believe you can be both French and Basque.

Benteke was a gamble. So was Dwight Yorke. So was Balaban. So was Helinus. Some work, others don't. We've brought in couple which at least increases the odds of one of them being a hit. 'Sure bet' goal scorers have a lot of options, many of which will look a lot more attractive than Villa right now. Man Utd need a striker, so do Spurs, and others. Any player deemed certain to get 15+ goals a season will be joining a club higher up the table than Villa, gambles are our only option. And Austin is as much of a gamble as Ayew or Gestede. He's scored Premier League goals, but only for one season which proves nothing. He also appears to be a massive injury risk.

Amazed that none of the those games got moved to Wednesday.

Quite surprised at this. Really want the lad to make it, but with every season that goes by it just seems less likely.

If he doesn't contribute, what use is he? He may be 'Villa through and through', but fans sit in the stands, players on the pitch - age old rule ;-) I'm not saying there should be a big love in, or even that everyone should like him. I just don't understand where the hate comes from. We've had plenty of players who contribute less than Gabby. He normally comes good for at least 4-5 games a season so he doesn't contribute nothing. How can you be happy with a player who's on 50k a week playing 4-5 good games a season (that's being generous). I'm sorry but he's been baggage for to long and has contributed to us being far down the league. I'm not happy with it, and he shouldn't be first name on the team sheet anymore. It's the hate he seems to get I don't understand. He generally tries, and it's not his fault he's on £50k a week or that he doesn't get dropped.

If he doesn't contribute, what use is he? He may be 'Villa through and through', but fans sit in the stands, players on the pitch - age old rule ;-) I'm not saying there should be a big love in, or even that everyone should like him. I just don't understand where the hate comes from. We've had plenty of players who contribute less than Gabby. He normally comes good for at least 4-5 games a season so he doesn't contribute nothing.

I really don't understand the Gabby hate. I know he doesn't contribute as much as we'd like, but the way some people here talk about him I can only imagine he is **** their wives.

Mandanda, N'Koulou and a few youngsters I think!

It really is a fire sale at Marseille this summer. Let's go get N'kolou before Newcastle do!

...and Gestede for Agbonhlaor and we're sorted. With Gil also having a good role to play. Yep. Start Gestede, and bring a fresh-legged Gabby on when Rudy's tired (if you must bring him on). The extra bit of pace against tired legs might be what Gabby needs to actually do something for a change. But I agree with those who said Sinclair did okay v Man Utd. I thought there were moments where he showed proper quality, especially in his linkup play with the amazing Amavi. Easily the best of the front 3 against Man Utd, but that's not saying too much. Between him and Amavi Darmian (or whatever it is) looked a total liability. That was mostly down to Amavi but Sinclair played his part as well.

I'm sure he's been mentioned before, but potato head has confirmed Tom Huddleston has a buy out clause. We've probably got enough already in central midfield but if we do need one more then I think he'd be a good fit.

Don't know where free came from? I think he has one year left at Marseille, but with no Champions League income they are not in a position to hold on to their best earners which is why quite a few have already gone. I don't know if N'Koulou is one of those earners, but last chance to get any money for him this season before he leaves on a free. I'd love to see us make a bid for him. Off topic, but I see Gignac (who Marseille couldn't really afford to offer a new contract) has moved to Mexico. He's still only 29 and decent striker. Seems a very strange move.

Wait Until Window Is Closed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_numbers There are loads of them! I known quite a few.

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4932308,00.html The Tim facial strikes again!

I think you need to reign in your expectations for this season a little! Yes we have a far, far better squad than last year. But we also lost 2 key players, one of who's goals kept us up the last 3 years. We've got more goal scoring potential throughout the team now, but no one guaranteeing goals the same way Benteke did. We've signed some young players who look great, but most of us had never heard of the before so we have not "most of the best young talents in Europe." It's a much much better squad than last year, but one of the best in the league? Maybe the best of the clubs that finished in the bottom half last year, but seriously?

I hope not. If this deal is dead I would presume Tim,Fox and co. would have another option. I think it depends on whether Sherwood intends to play one or two up front most games. If he decides to regularly start with one up front, then 4 (+ Sinclair and youth) is enough.

I see this name mentioned a lot. Any substance to it? Or just because he plays in France? Seems a bit short (5 foot 11) for a centre back? Don't think there have been any links, just a player a lot of people would like. I remember watching his debut for Marseille and you could see straight away he had something about him. Would be a great signing in my opinion, although he'll probably have better offers. A cultured, intelligent centre back with Champions League experience and still quite young, I'd really love to see us go for him.

I always liked Baker, but if Sherwood feels he needs more of his own as part of the bigger rebuild then fair enough. Good luck to him, I think he'll be in the Premier League again before too long.

Rudy 4 strikers in the squad? They've forgotten Gabby. Rate him or not he's still a striker in the squad.

I could go on Wiki and edit Jack Black's page to call him a world class actor. It doesn't make it real. Tell me something I don't know sherlock(check the bold). Just asking whether or not any sources had confirmed that's all. http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Jordan+Veretout+Aston+VIlla+confirmed Dam you, all I saw was "confirmed" on the link and got unreasonably excited!

True, I forgot that. Makes all the difference.

The Sherwood scouting method.

Really glad that we've got this done now. I'm not 100% he'll cut it in this league, but I'm sure Villa's scouts can make a better judgement than I can, so look froward to seeing him line up for us.

According to good old Wikipedia we were interested in him back in 2008. Doesn't look like he's ever held on to a first team spot very regularly, at 28 years old it seems a strange signing. Will be interesting to see what happens with this one.