Butterfingers

Voice opinions by all means but suerly only an idiot will cast opinions on players who have only played a couple of times for the club. Luna has gone from "world class" to "marginly better than Bennet" in 5 games.for example. We held out at Norwich - As the home side, chasing the game, you would expect them to put pressure on us which is what they did. This time last year, we would have probably conceded. The team is moving in the right direction, A couple of the players are looking far more composed this time around & we should hopefully be able to play without the pressure that being on a loosing streak & the threat of relegation brings. We are not in a position yet where we will consistently be playing teams off the park every week. I do think we could aim to win more than we loose this season. In January of this year, would you have accepted that if were offered you for this season?

Well if we're a million miles from top 6 then we must have been 10 million away 2 years ago, so at that rate it shouldn't be long! Albion finished 8th, we can do better than that...we've spent loads more money than them for a start :-) I think you're selling us short mate Was a controversial post admittedly. The problem I see is that if any of these current players improve, they will be poached. The policy is to buy cheap & pay low wages which leaves the players open to temptation when clubs come sniffing. You look at our team to that of Spurs, Liverpool & Everton who are probably the current 5th, 6th & 7th. We're some way off that & I don't know how we'll bridge the gap - Even more so if we loose Benteke. I don't aim at top 6 currently. I've got a bet with a mate that we'll finish above 12th & this will do for me. The way we play (especially away from home) is great to watch & I'm happy with that at present. Lets see what next summer brings & maybe I'll reconsider but currently 8th spot is about best I'd aim for & even this would require consistency.

A little unfair i'd say Helenius second top scorer in his league Kozak top scorer in a european competition for his team Okore sought after by Chelsea who at the time were european champions Steer young back up goalie Tonev highly rated young player from Bulgaria Bacuna many people's MOTM on Saturday Well said-I second that & would add that they all have the opportunity to improve & kick on. I'm not saying that they all will but I wouldn't mind betting that most will. What do people want? Players to take an £80K a week pay cut, forget about the champions league & come & play for us because our fans demand it? Part of the excitement for me is watching these lads develop & play without fear. Fan negativity can have an adverse affect on some lads aged 20/21 ish-Especially when coming to a new country & playing in such a tough league. Get behind them guy FFS

Mate-There is no easy way to tell you this so I'm just going to come straight out with it. We are not going to be fighting for top 6 any time soon. Any time any of our players looks any good, he will leave for higher wages & a bigger challenge. At this moment in time, only Benteke falls into that category & if he continues the way he's started the season, he could even leave as soon as January. Of the rest of the team/squad, none of them would get into a top 6 side (with the possible exception of Guzan). There is no quick fix & we are a million miles away from top 6. The manager is having to work to a very limited budget & the wages we offer players is not as high as many sides who we are competing with for signings. We have an exciting young team & we play entertaining football but we will not be finishing in the top 6 while the current remit is in place.

I remember Jack Grealish when he was around 7 or 8,playing an age above himself in the Central Warwickshire. he used to dribble through teams for fun-Looks like he's been able to maintain his ability & we've now got a real prospect on our hands. It would take ridiculous money for him to leave us at this stage. Hope we get a decent contract signed when he's 18, if not before. Would be tragic to have nurtured this lad for 10 years, only to loose him to someone like Man U or Arsenal if he does continue to progress. I've no problems with any player leaving if he's outgrown us (benteke for example) but I'd hate to loose a player because of his "potential" which is what it would be if Man U or Arsenal came in any time soon.

I was at the game yesterday & afterwards, had an interesting chat with our group & another group of Villa fans. I'm sitting on the fence on this one. I believe Delph is potetially turning in to a top midfielder (he is still only 23 & miseed almost 2 years through injury), and that KEA, Westwood & Sylla are all moving in the right direction. Are they good enough to get into a top 8 side at present? (Liverpool/Everton/Spurs) ? I'm not sure. Someone mentioned the system we play & I think this should be considered. With the 2 wide forwards as well as Benteke, we are a man light in midfield. This leaves our full backs exposed a lot as Bennet & Lowton found last year & Luna is discovering this year. The system provides great entertainment but clean sheets will be few & far between. A solid, defensive minded 3 is essential in this system so forget about the luxuary of a playmaker in there. Anyone unhappy should ask themselves if they prefer the more cautios approach of our previous manager where wingers were deployed but were forbidden to cross into the opponents half of the field. We are not going to tear up trees on the transfer budget that Lambert has to work with. We are doing something about quality of football played on the pitch & this is the reason that I support our midfielders,defenders & manager in what they are trying to achive.

I would agree that if fit, starting him on the bench may not be a bad idea. I'd disagree that we can't outscore them mind-We did so last season & have already outscored Arsenal this season. I think that the way we line up gives us an opportunity to outscore anyone. We seldom go for draws, no matter who the opposition & this is one aspect of supporting PL & the lads that gives me most pleasure. Given the early stage of the season that we're at, I wouldn't want to risk Benteke in a game that is not crucial to us.

Thought he was one of the factors behind the improvement from Feb onwards last season. He's hit the ground running this season & kicked on further Thought he was our best outfield player again yesterday.

Yes mate-Had forgotten I'd heard them sing it. Still sounds good

Libor Kozac Libor (theres no limits)

Never mind about all of that - Lets get down to the nitty gritty. Loved the song for him yesterday, not sure if its been sung before, certainly the first time I've heard it.

We didn't expect the finished article in a 20 year old who has never played in the prem.What this season was all about was him feeling his way in the PL & then next season,hopefully he would have improved more.Most people accepted when we signed him that there would be mistakes along the way. What it has done is messed up our long term plans for the centre of defence & at the very best has put us back 12 months. While I'm absolutely gutted for us,I'm more gutted for the lad.It was clear from his comments how happy he was to be here,how hungry he was to succeed & how he wanted to be part of the team.If he's not 100% at the start of next summers pre-season,it could throw a spanner in the works for the following season as well.

Great points HH-Thanks Yes,I guess just as the front 3 can be juggled,so can the midfield & if Tonev works out for us then great.With regards shooting from distance,2 or 3 of the Summer signings seem capable of this-Do you think this is something the manager might want to encourage?

I trust PL 100%-His signings thus far have justified this trust. I disagree with your comments in your last sentence.We do need a striker as cover-Especially after loosing Bent but equally,we need a midfielder who can make things happen.Yes it could be that we would be a bit gung ho by sacrificing one of the central 3 but we have done this previously when N'Zog has started. Personally,I prefer the solid 3 in midfield & leave the front 3 with the onus of digging out goals for us but against Liverpool last week,we were crying out for someone to help unlock their "closed shop" in the last 20 mins.What I would say is that we have personell who we could juggle should CB sustain an injury-Gabby for one has played lone striker for us in the past and worked his balls off,as you would expect. A big powerfull player in the centre of the park would also bring something to the side-On the flip side,one of the big factors of the recovery in the second half of last season was the partnership of delph & Westwood,with Delph hitting the ground running again this season.When confidence is flowing,the crisp passing in midfield is a joy to watch-"Big powerfull" midfielders of this mold are few & far between.

Anyone got any details regarding this charity match v Celtic? EDIT: Cancel that-I've just googled it

I felt £40 million all along-Not because I have great insider knowledge but simply if Saurez is worth £40 million then Benteke is worth at least that. Because of our wage structure,even if we got £60 million,we would only bring in the same type of unknowns as we cannot afford the wages for igger name players.

Which Liverpool duly rejected for not matching their valuation of him. If Benteke has a similar season to Suarez's last (i.e. 30 goals) and a decent showing in the WC, then I don't think a £50m valuation would be out of hand in the grand scheme of things. Fair comment another repeat of last season (which looks like being on the cards)& I think £50 million would be a reasonable starting point.I'd still prefer to keep him because he cannot be replaced however,I could stomach £50 million a tad more than the figure quoted during Spurs interest.

lol lets not get carried away. If we can get around 35 - 50M for him next summer and it can be all used to re-invest i'd be very happy. Obviously rather keep him but got to be realistic about these things. I agree-I think we should use the Saurez figure as a gauge (£40 million)

Have we been linked with Young? Doubt he'd want to come back & doubt Lambert would be interested in signing him anyway. Ironicly,I think Young is tailor made for our 3-man attacking system. For some reason,it rarely works in football when a player or a manager goes back so I'd say thanks but no thanks to Ashley Young-The exact opposite of what Lambert is trying to bring in.

Shawcross would be a decent signing IMO.An older head in a key position is far more realistic than fielding 2 kids.I'm not a massive fan of Vlaar and whilst I am loving the way Lambert is building such an adventurous young side,the occasional experienced player will add to the blend-Especially in the centre of defence. For me personaly,Shawcross is more reliable than Vlaar so I would consider it to be a signing that strengthens the team further if it happened-The icing on the cake would be to throw Ireland in as part of the deal.We've bought exceptionaly cheaply all summer-£6/7 million + Ireland would do for me. Can't see it happening though as I think Lambert will stick with his policy of signing young players-If he wasn't interested in signing experience back in January when we were crying out for it,I can't see him wishing to now.

Definitely disagree that we are a counter attacking team. Anyone going to the Emerates will be put under pressure for long periods (as we were) This alone does not make us a counter attacking side-Indeed,neither of the penalties came from counter attacks. I think we have that much variety up front that we are going to be a handful for a lot of teams this season-Just as we were from Febuary onwards last season.The key is that we've become a bit more stable & solid in defence & midfield.

It's interesting to see other players content to jog 5 or 10 yards further forward whereas Luna has the anticipation & desire to sprint from box to box-After 85mins as well. Fair play to him-Long may it continue.

I know that they were chasing the game at the end but if people want to highlight poor defending,they need look no further that Arsenal for our 3rd goal. And if you want to be super critical,you would criticise the way Gabby was allowed to burst through them for the first pen.

Theres a lot of sense posted on this page.Okore missed a lot of the pre-season through injury.I'm as keen as anyone to see him start but it was definitely the right decision to place him on the bench yesterday.The fact that he was not even chosen ahead of Clark when Baker went off tells us that he wasn't quite ready & we should trust Lambert in these decisions. I am a believer that "if its not broke,don't fix it" and would never change a winning side out of choice.Okore will get his chance but for me personaly,it wouldn't be at Chelsea.Likewise,KEA would start,regardless of whether Sylla was fit or not.