Butterfingers

Oh well **** him. Still means we're pretty lightweight on the bench.

Personally, I think it would be good if we could keep him He's only swapping one bench for another. We might as well have had him on ours.

Well done and thanks Tony. You've put smiles back on many peoples faces and given us hope whereas before there was just gloom. We cannot chose the best. The best choses us.

This from me also. I'm not the most qualified but really like the idea of assombalonga from the little I've seen of all the strikers. Hernandez next for me. Other than that, I'm beginning to think it may be better to stick rather than twist. Prices quoted for Kodja and Wells concern me and stink of desperation. If we have another £500 million then fine, otherwise, I'd go with Gestede.

i agree. Places in the team should be earned, not given. We have a left back who has started the season very well, it is his place to lose. The same applies everywhere else. Amavi is coming back from a very serious injury. He has struggled in the games that he's played in. The whole scenario reminds me of Lowton in his first season. He was woeful when defending but contributed going forward. For some bizare reason, this made him a blue eyed boy on here. Attacking ability has to be a bonus for defenders. First and foremost, they must be able to defend.

Amen to that.

Come back Lerner, all is forgiven. We don't need the £30+ million that Tony has pumped into the playing squad, we can get by with the Bennetts of this world and an owner who proves the theory that there is life after death. If Bennett wanted to go to Sheffield, we should have supported him, for the sake of his career. Get real guys. Dr Xia has been a breath of fresh air. Lets not knock it, lets just enjoy him doing things his way. It won't always be the right way but would anyone prefer Lerner's way?

What's he like? Appears to have been out for a long period last season.

100% this. Tony has been like a breath of fresh air. He has managed to completely turn the atmosphere around in a very, very short space of time. He clearly wants to listen to fans opinions and has said as much before on Twitter. I would prefer that something like the GK situation was dealt with behind closed doors though and in private. No manager would appreciate a chairman being critical of a player. The problem as I see it is that Tony comes from a different culture. Make no mistake that he is ruthless-He has this bond with the man on the street though which is reaching out with almost every post he makes. Tony has managed to do what many thought was impossible 3 or 4 months ago and get the whole club moving in one direction. I just worry that being too open can cause problems/friction between himself and the management. It's great to know a little bit about what is happening behind the scenes but it would perhaps be better to know about the GK after a signing in that position is made. For all the good that Tony has done so far, I would afford him this mistake.

I have to be honest, I often struggle with Tony's tweets as they are usually so short. It is not until someone posts an explanation on here that I form an opinion on what he's saying. What I do know is that if we are seriously in for a player with 1 week of the window remaining, we are not going to pull out because a few fans have tweeted their disapproval. I think Tony was being polite (and rightly so) by stating that fans views are important. Fans views are always important but team matters should always be left to RDM to have the final say.

We could have moved Ayew further forward if we had someone to replace him with in midfield. I too would have Gabby on the bench as it stands. He's played that wide role before and could do OK there at this level

They are not all going to play 46 league games. There is no cover. We saw against Huddersfield that we have nothing on the bench that can change things. We are desperately short of attacking options and seem to have lost Adama as well. With a new striker, we can juggle McCormack but there is no cover for either Grealish or Ayew. If either of them are out, our attacking options drop by a long shot. Have a look at Newcastle and see the strength in depth that they have in midfield. We need at least one more attacking midfielder, probably 2.

We need someone to cover/put pressure on the attacking midfielders that we currently have. There is no strength in depth.

At least we know why no signings were made in January now-The squad was good enough all along. How silly of us not to have realised.

I just wonder if he really was our first choice? If that was the case, why has it taken all summer? Why the link to a bid for Yedlin? and why does he sign the day the Newcastle/Yedlin deal nears conclusion? I admit to not knowing anything about this player but it seems that Boro didn't want to keep him. I know Bacuna is not everyones cup of tea but we must be careful what we wish for here. Is De Leat actually going to be an improvement? Of course I'll give him a chance but of all the signings so far, this one hasn't really excited me.

In fairness, there is more to suggest every striker out there won't sign at this stage-We just don't know. Based purely on what I've read, I think Hernandez is as good a shout as anyone.

I've taken to him. He certainly cares, whatever his reasons for doing so, the more he enjoys it (and I think he enjoys the spotlight), the more he he will be prepared to commit to the club

100% this. Whether it is the difference in quality in the two divisions or something entirely different, Aly has been very good in those first 4 games. It is certainly his place to lose and that is the way it should be. Amavi was never the finished article defending last season and we shouldn't lose sight of this. The same mistake was made with Lowton who looked good going forward but got found out defending. At this moment in time, my faith and trust is in Aly

When Paul McGrath says something like that, it hits home. I remember a couple of years ago speaking to one of the players who won the European cup with us. He hasn't earned a fraction of what Lescott has but he was adamant that he wouldn't trade it for the riches that todays players enjoy. It is one thing to be disliked and criticised by supporters-It happens all the time. To be criticised by fellow professionals and one as great as Paul McGrath is something else, a different level again. Lescott has really let himself down, as well as the likes of us. He cheated a living last season, he cheated the fans, he cheated his managers and he cheated his team mates who actually cared and tried. I find it tragic. Lescott was a great defender who achieved a lot in his career. What a shame that so many will remember him as the gutless cheat who let everybody down and was even questioned by ex players whom he is not fit to lace the boots of. I don't have the hatred of Lescott that many do-For me, it is more disappointment. Had he tried, it probably wouldn't have made a difference ultimately so the real long term loser is Lescott himself. He will always be remembered by everyone connected to Villa as the gutless, spineless cheat who didn't have to heart for a fight.

I'd have Defoe-He is the only player in their team who would get into ours. However, I get the feeling that he feels an obligation to them. It's a bit different to Bent, who had a career still in front of him. Defoe is playing out his swansong. He's 33 now and can't have much left in him. I think he'd prefer to stick rather than twist at this stage. Pity-He's wasted in such a dire side, he'd be great here for18 months or so.

Me too. Potentially though, I think Villa are a lot better. Huddersfield also appear to have a fight on their hands to keep Wells who is attracting a lot of interest from other clubs. Villa on the other hand will improve further between now and the end of the window.

Yes and Huddersfield are top. Do you think they'll be above us come May?

Yes, I think that one rings some bells. Thank you and well remembered. it is all getting very interesting. A number 9 with mobility is just what this forward line needs. Hopefully it happens before Saturday.

Were we not linked with a Portuguese striker earlier on in the window? Not playing in China but playing for one of the big Portuguese clubs, possibly Porto?

Villa fans discussing a potential signing after the owner raises their hopes by using the term "world class". Absolutely shocking behaviour-What is the world coming to? How dare they speculate.