DeepDish

Carew did not enjoy Turkey the last time he was there. Will never happen.

This will be John Carew's season. Unlike last summer, he is injury free and reading the interviews he gives to Norwegian papers, it is obvious that he is having the time of his life at Aston Villa. Seems like he has never been happier.

This is perhaps a silly question and maybe a typical overreaction, but do we need a new striker if we play Carew and Young as a second striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation in some matches and giving Delfouneso some more field time during the season? And maybe a sub apperanses for Weimann?

Well, the beginning of last season where **** for Carew due to injuries and virus. This time it is different, and I think we will see Carew's best season at Villa.

I really don't think MON has done anything else than given the young kids the time they need to develop and that he sees them more ready this season than last. I think the Albrighton injury came at a very bad time for him, and probably postponed the development a bit.

New rules force Man City to sell...

It will be very interesting to see what role Albrighton will get this season. I don't think he can develop further just playing reserve matches. He either have to go on loan to get competitive matches or he should be used more often at Villa. Hope he is ready and MON has some plans for him.

I do as I did last year and go for a 5th place. But will be happy with 6th.

NOTW claims that Yaya Toure is on a 185 000 pounds a week, increasing til 221 000 pounds when the government's tax increase is kicking in.

I say no. If we had this technology during all World Cups, it would rob England from the 1966 triumph...

Just to set things in perspective. Chelsea's deal that is ending now is at 11 million pounds. Uniteds AIG deal was 14 mill, now they will get 20 a year with AON. They get 23 mill a year from the Nike deal. Arsenal's Emirates deal is poor: 6.7 mill a year. Their Nike deal collects 8 mill. United is the boss regarding other sponsor deals. From the prospectus of the debt offering: The primary area of growth in our commercial sponsors is our other global, regional, mobile and supplier sponsors, which include companies from the financial services, automotive, beverage, timepiece, betting and telecommunications industries. Contracts with these sponsors tend to last two to five years and vary in terms of revenues generated. Total revenues from our global, regional, mobile and supplier sponsors have increased from £11.8 million in 2006/07 to £14.6 million in 2007/08 to £19.5 million in 2008/09. Going forward, our expectation is that these sponsors will be the primary driver of growth in commercial sponsor revenues, comprising a greater percentage of the total in future seasons.

Why get rid of a player that has scored 0.42 goals for every match he has played for Aston Villa (52 goals in all competitions in 119 matches - of which he started in 98 matches) and keep Heskey and Agbonlahor, who does not score as much as Carew when on the pitch?

I'm not sure, actually. Luke Young was great last season and has put in som decent matches this season too. He was superb in the first 60 min against Tottenham playing left back (as was Beye playing right back), but he was terrible against Chelsea. Cuellar has some dreadful passes, but was easily our best player against City, when he had Bellamy in his pocket. Young is a better rb, but cuellar is a better defender and tackler. I hope he can stick around for another season. He was valuable when he played almost half of our league matches this season. But to be honest, I no longer have a problem with Cuellar playing in the rb position.

Maybe you should thank Randy more for that, not sure MON would get us near 6th with Doug as the boss Randy knows his business. Probably why he think its crazy to see another man at the helmet than O'Neill. So I agree with thanking the long term thinker Lerner for giving us O'Neill and keeping him several more years.

I really did not rate Cuellar as right back, but he has been very good in our last matches. Has made me realize I may have been wrong about him. He was man of match against City, when he had total control over Bellamy.

I really think we should not let Young leave. He has played almost half of our league matches this season, and has been a valuable part of the team. He should stay one more season, and then we can let him go.

True that, but I would think that a statement of players frozen out should be backed up by some facts. For example how many games they have started is one fact that can be used to determine if players have been frozen out. L. Young has started 14 league games. Heskey has started 16 league games. Even though i rate Young and do not fancy Heskey, I see the similarities. But at Villatalk, there hase actually been a misinformed group of posters that think Heskey has been O'Neill's chosen one and Young has been frozen out, even though Heskey has only started two more games than the "cold" Young. I find it a bit strange.

Why? Because he's been frozen out all season so that one of our best defenders can be disappointing out wide. Just one question: Has Heskey been frozen out too this season?

First: Young was injured in the first matches this season and had a compassionate leave after his brother's death. So he was not dropped. Second: In the first 5 matches, there was no CBs that were playing as right back. It was Habib Beye. Feel a bit sorry for Young for getting two starts less than Heskey this season.

Nice to see where you and our great owner Randy Lerner stand with regards to the manager. Thank you.

Updated after the Birmingham match.

Updated after the Hull match.

As expected. Now, it might get funny if United beats Totteham and Arsenal beats City this Saturday.

Updated after the Pompey match.

Should have had 5 goals. Carew's first miss was shocking, then his penalty miss. Gabby also had a shocking miss. But three points as expected.