AntrimBlack

This is exactly what happened. New owner - tried to please everyone. So much wrong with that badge, could not believe at the time that they went with it.

Yeah, let's just ignore the slightly fortuitous penalty which gave you the first goal and the blatant foul on our keeper which gave you the second. You were outplayed, and were lucky to even get close.

I agree with this. I think Vlaar is a good captain in the "traditional" sense. He's got a sensible head on him, organises people well and will give strong commands. However, Delph is much more of a character. He's got a sort of... cheeky chappy thing about him. I think the players as a group get on well (this was always said during Lambert's darkest days as well), but having Delph as a likeable yet strong personality on the pitch will likely improve things further. When he signed the new deal, I was one of the first to say he simply doesn't give enough end product. Runs with the ball, loses it. Runs with the ball, passes to the opposition. It was happening every single game. Now, however, he's linking up everything beautifully. The introduction of Grealish has helped as well. They seem to interchange in tight spaces down the left on a regular occurance - in fact, Delph seems to play pretty much as a left winger at times. His current form is a joy to behold. He's starting to fulfil the promise of that £8m purchase many years ago. Potential club legend? This legend thing is bandied about too easily, early days for Delph yet. However, he has been fantastic under Sherwood, and Benteke, Delph, Grealish is a fantastic little triumvirate. I also think Clark is a better and more natural captain.

To be honest, that's a reason why I thought we might have a slim, outside chance of getting him. He'll probably go to Liverpool, Spurs or even a Top 4 team, but does he want to be a rotation option when he's nearing the end of his career? I know we'd be well, well down his list of options, but there could be a slim chance that he'd like to get back to playing 90 minutes a week in a team where he's valued as one of the first names on the team sheet. /dreamland Sako will be 28 next season. I Would rather roll with a tee total Milner at 30 in the top flight than an unknown/unproven 28 year old Sako. What Milner would do off the field for the young lads needing guidance will be worth his wages alone, and thats without even kicking a football! like leave at the very 1st opportunity of a big contract? I would never begrudge any human being from bettering themselves in any walk of life, Be it butcher, baker or candle stick maker. You shouldn't be going to work to make friends or be liked by random folk, you go there to be professional, do a job and make as much money as possible for you and you're family! If you wanna be liked by random folk, join twitter or mong book! True but Delph didn't and thats why I have bags more respect for him than I do Milner. Delph seems like a really top guy. Completely different situation, though. When was Delph ever going to Man City or Chelsea - or, indeed, anyone else for that matter? Milner has gone to Man City and played over 140 games for them, winning trophies and playing in the CL. Delph is simply not at the same level. Slightly out of context but I believe we beat Citeh to his signature when we signed him........just saying.... Was that the old raggedy-arsed City that we all knew and respected?

You mean the very first opportunity to win the league and play in the Champions League? You begrudge him his medals? Or wanting to win them to begin with? of course not but this opinion that people have that Milner is some sort of diehard Villa fan or even a Villa legend is sad and pathetic. some Villa fans hold this guy in better regards than Barry In terms of what they've given the club there's no doubt barry is head and shoulders above Milner and don't think any Villa fan would dispute that. It's easy to see why some don't hold Barry in high regard, though - due to the way they left the club. Barry opened his gob, talked a lot of bull, went to the press, got suspended from training, was disruprive, etc. etc. Milner kept quiet, was thoroughly professional, played for Villa a couple of days before he left and gave his all, as always, not pulling a Dwight Yorke. So there's more context here than simply what Barry or Milner have given Villa throughout the years. I think it is the opinion held by some, as Zatman rightly says, that Milner has an affiliation to this particular club, that is just a bit pathetic. Excellent player, obviously, and left us to better himself - rightly so - but we really are just another club to him.

Link?

Now I am not one to take offence ..............but, after what their `manager' said, I would ``really, really love it'' if Newcastle went down.

Or injuries/suspensions to key players That's 4 things now. Dammit - not feeling so confident now.

He was very good yesterday, and that is coming from someone who has been very critical of him in the past. He has improved massively under Sherwood, like a lot of our players.

A number of posters, including me, were relieved that he was not signed in January, and that opinion persisted right through until Sherwood did `what he does' with players. I hope we can keep him now, and I would be surprised if he moved on.

Clark and Okore are undoubtedly our best duo for the future, Clark being the best of our centre backs by a long way. We do need backup, however, and at the right price Vlaar would be that.

No doubt in my mind - we would be have been bottom for several weeks by this stage.

The way we are playing, we could win all three. Only stupid errors or bad refereeing decisions will prevent that.

I liked the hair - gave him a rather exotic appearance. Vaguely samurai?

The only concern for me is that we still seem to lose our shape towards the end of the game and tend to give up soft goals, but hopefully this is only the importance of staying up that makes them a bit nervous.

That was a great performance and they all played their part. And against the in form team of the moment. Should have been more comfortable, we were so much better and had a number of good chances we did not take, and that second goal was a clear foul that most referees would have given. I do not usually comment on referees because they do have a tough job, but he actually looked biased. And despite his reluctance to produce yellow cards, he still managed to book Given for an entirely justified protest. A big step forward, we are getting very close to safety.

We should just keep him for one more year as he is integral to our team performance. A good season and he will probably be more valuable at the end of next season, notwithstanding what it will do for us on the pitch.

I do not really think this is a must win game; there are still plenty of points to play for after this, and the way we have begun to play, they are all gettable. We just need to cut out the individual errors; I am still disappointed about the City result, but possibly it was just `one of those games` - every team has them, and the errors hopefully are now out of our system. Everton are playing well at the moment, but we are also - time to burst their bubble.

Unorthodox opinions should be welcomed and discussed, ridiculous theories will always attract a strong response.

Gil looked good for the majority of his playing time, but Sherwood has picked a team which is pulling us out of the relegation mire, and has put us into an FA final, without Gil, and whatever the reason for not playing him, we cannot have any real complaint. My suggestion would be that he perhaps feels he is not strong enough at this stage, as I did think he was a little bit lightweight when he played.

At some point we will have to try to hold on to the likes of Benteke, Delph and Grealish, if we are not to remain perennial mid-table nonentities, patronised by media and other clubs.

I obviously would prefer he would declare for Ireland, but my main objection to him playing for England is that it would undoubtedly shorten his stay with us. You can see it starting already, after one match.

Like so many of our players, Delph has flourished under Sherwood, and he was fantastic today. Just watch the vultures circling Delph, Benteke and Grealish in the summer, whipped on by the media, who will not like it one bit that Aston Villa are beating their darlings, and that we have the temerity to have players like these.

Bloody impressive the way he has turned things around at this club in a relatively short time. You never know, Aston Villa and Tim Sherwood could be just made for each other.

Wonderful player. He has that indefinable something that sets him apart. We need to be building a club that will be able to keep players like him and Delph.