Wes

That is a flipping fantastic team goal.

Amazing by Richards. Couldn't get that wrong.

In other news, Stoke down to 9 men.

That said, Gestede winning the ball led to that corner. Too early to write him off. He's made one or two nice flicks too that Bacuna hasn't caught on to. He's just not at the paces yet.

Early prediction. Ayew will score two in the second half.

Liking that the likes of Gana and Westwood are taking shots.

If the Malaga trip by Sherwood was for a player perhaps it was for Florin Andone of Córdoba. Could only see that is Kozak was heading out.

Think Richardson will be kept purely because of his experience and versatility. He's not a bad squad player to have at all. Similar to Cole. Good to have a few old heads around the place.

Yes yes yes! Can't wait for his first cameo as a sub running straight at the opposing left back.

Don't forget Sherwood will likely want to bring some through the academy too. If things got so bad that we couldn't field a central 3 then we now have enough attacking options that we could revert a to just a central pairing and then 3 more attacking midfielders. I think generally Tim would much prefer not having to play purely with a 2. He likes a 3 where one of side of the trio bombs foreword from deep, leaving the other two as a double pivot of sorts whilst in an attacking position.

Thought I'd have a stab at the final 25 + (Under 21s). Please try to get past where I've put people and the formation please! Just it's easier to see our relative positional depth in a chart like this rather than a straight table. -------------------------------- Guzan/Steer/Bunn -------------------------------- Hutton/Crespo ---- Richards/Okore -- Clark/Baker ------ Amavi(21)/Bennett -------- Gana/Bacuna ---- Westwood/Sanchez --- Vertout/Gardner ------- + Richardson Gil/Adama(21)/Agbonlahor --------------------------- Grealish(21)/Sinclair/Cole ------------------------------- Gestede/Ayew/Kozak ------------------------------ 24 + 3 Classifying as Under 21 (Amavi was born after 1 January 1994) That means from the "First Team Squad" shipping out N'Zogbia, Senderos and Tonev. Think these three most have agreed upon are unlikely to be among Tim's plans. So Having 3 First Team players classifying as Under 21 we would have space for one more player. I think that's either N'Zogbia, if he stays, some new player, or it'll remain open for use in January. We could still sign an Under 21 (Still think we'll try to sign a developmental right back).

Interesting dilemma tomorrow for Tim. Does he play Gestede from the start or use him as a sub around 60 minutes? (He said in his press conference he likely wouldn't play a full game yet).

Thought he didn't play too bad at all for a debut. I think if it wasn't for such a really good showing from other debutants (Amavi, Gana and Gestede) his performance wouldn't have been highlighted as much as it has been.

Rewatched the full game this evening. Sherwood changed the game with his second substitution that had an immediate impact. Gestede was on and we had just had our best chance from Westwood's attempted cross being put in towards him from an inside left position (the one that fell to Gabby, rebounded to Rudy, who couldn't connect as well as he would've like). Eddie Howe played a card of his own. He put Gradel on the left which immediately caused Bacuna all sorts of problems. Caused two chances in a couple of minutes. Veretout had mostly been on the right hand side of the three in the midfield in the second half but was tiring. He wouldn't be able to provide much cover for Bacuna. Taking Veretout of for Sanchez provided the following: Move Westwood out wide to provide crosses to Gestede and has the discipline to know when to track back to cover Bacuna. Sanchez in again to cover if Gradel cut inside in to a central position. Sanchez's first touch? A ball out wide to Westwood who wins the corner with a dangerous cross. Puts in the corner that Rudy scores from. Sherwood's first tactical reaction to the goal? Pointing to Guzan. Knew we had to concentrate at the back (conceded too many late goals in the last year).

Might be wrong but the 6m fee may have meant the auto inclusion of a buy back clause. Perhaps the 10m fee gets rid of that?

Interesting read. He will need a lot of coaching according to that. A risky signing but certainly with potential. I think Sherwood feels more comfortable coaching younger players. That's where most of his experience lies. It's a great environment for him to develop in. Has positive impact on Gil too. And makes even more sense with Crespo there - a veteran presence who speaks the language.

If true, my word. Sherwood, the scouts, the whole backroom staff have really knocked this transfer window out of the park in terms of incomings. Astounding pace and strength on the right side will be the perfect foil to Grealish, Sinclair and Gil working on that inner-left area (with Amavi taking up the far wide left position whilst attacking).

Rudy!!!

Gueye wants to be called Gana that's why. Media were briefed as such.

Wow! A midfield 3! Almost as if we're doing exactly what Gueye would say he was brought in for when he signed over a month ago. Surprising how many of the media have had us playing with just 2 centrally. We may end up that way towards Christmas but we were never going to start that way.

Agree with Tubby's lineup. Think it'll be 2-2. Too many unpredictables mean this game could be all over the place.

I would be happy with 14th.

Does this rumour really all stem from Tim Vickery (probably best English expert on South American there is) being asked on TalkSport: "Villa fans would like to know a little bit more about the River Plate defender Eder Balanta. Could be off to the Villa. What have you heard about him?" Yet there was absolutely nothing in the press about it (as Tim would've mentioned it) and heck, there was nothing on Twitter, the crackden of rumour and misinformation, prior to the discussion either.

If we were to carry on spending (big if) I think it'll be a developmental right back, right winger and maybe Adebayor. Depending on if Gil is available I think we play 4-3-1-2 at Bournemouth.

That's Baker staying then! Heard on radio he just signed an extension?