brommy

Benteke is no Francis Jeffers.He is a player with more recognisable quality than we have had at VP since, well since Paul Mcgrath actually in my opinion. Certainly than we have had in the last 30 years.

Bent was one of the leading strikers in the league, proven quality at scoring goals. When we signed him nobody in a million years would think that we would be struggling to get rid of him and all for giving him his big wages.

I've no idea whether we'll sign HK but in regard to the posts above, we gave Bent his big wages to dig us out of a massive hole and it paid off.

I fear Bent's ship has sailed. The Benteke rocket is still being fuelled.

I could definitely see ninth. The big six and Everton, who I think will be very good provided they keep their squad together, will probably be too good, but after that it's kind of a free for all. However, I think either Swansea or West Ham or maybe a different side will finish ahead of Villa as well. Swansea because they've continued to make smart moves, and West Ham because you can never underestimate Big Sam.

Fair enough, although I'm not a fan of "The big six" as a statement and I believe 'Big Sam' is often overestimated.

Ticket sales look generally poor to me , the upper trinity is closed and looks like they might not be selling tickets towards the back of any of the other stands if the online system is to go by , i would expect around 20k

Plenty of families will be on holiday, including mine, otherwise we'd have added a massive 3 to the gate! I'll try to catch the Malaga match on AVTV and the Arsenal match may be screened live in one of the bars. It will be tough going for me, sat in 32C sunshine and drinking ice cold beer, but my passion for Villa will see me through.

when is the season  starting in engeland?

Saturday 17th August.

I wonder if that orange patch is where Guzan's goal kicks tend to land?

Yep, exactly that. There is also a concentration inside the centre circle as CB is involved in each kick-off. It reminded me that we really did concede too many goals last year.

Recieved my ST and my wife's ST last week but my son's 'young adult' ST (paid for in the same transaction as the other two STs) is yet to arrive. Presume it just the stages the club send them out in.

Just had a bit of a smile at the truly pathetic attempt in the Mirror by the comedy journalist James Nursey to revive the Benteke to Spurs story based on the fact they will have plenty of money post the sale of Bale. I think really hates Villa and loves to put the boot in. Mind you bizarrely if you talk to Blues fans they think he hates them so maybe its just Midlands football in general.

Many people talk about how savvy Levy is so he must realise that it is piss-poor planning to spend £10m more than you were willing to spend on exactly the same player, based on money from a sale you suspected would happen anyway.

In that article, Joe claims - "We were with Darren's agent for two or three hours, we thrashed out a deal."

 

I must have missed the bit where we gave Newcastle permission to speak to him then?

Didn't they speak to his agent and not Bent himself? I presume that's allowed.

Newcastle are hopeful to do a deal according to kinnear http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/8854480/newcastle-are-hopeful-of-signing-strikers-loic-remy-and-darren-bent

Interesting. Perhaps with two clubs after Bent we will receive the fee we want. I wouldn't be surprised if the same fee was agreed with both clubs and it was left up to Bent to decide between the bigger club or landan.

On a side note related to the link above, what shape would VT be in if we had a director of football who we could only hope was in full agreement with Lambert. Gulp!

I don't think it's lazy 'heightism' to compare him to Crouch and I don't see that as an insult. Considering their height, they're not great in the air but have deceptively good feet. My first impression to the comparison is that Helenius has a little more vision than Crouch. I hope Helenius is as difficult to play against but has greater end product.

Off to a flyer.

I don't think we'll make another signing now. I reckon we did all our deals early to ensure a full pre-season together and we'll go into the new season with what we have. Looking at our squad, I reckon the intended first eleven will be:

Guzan

Lowton

Vlaar

Okore

Luna

Delph

Westwood

Tonev

Weimann

Benteke

Agbonlahor.

Agree with most of that team (barring injuries) but I'll be surprised if Sylla doesn't start instead of Tonev, to beef up the midfield.

Where does the "fight and do cocaine" reference come from in the first place?

His autobiography.

Interesting Belgian Guy for you to identify a weakness in Benteke's mentality. However, I don't believe Paul Lambert would allow a fragile mentality to manifest itself in the beast because he is such a good man manager & motivator too & will soon get into Benteke's head once he crosses the white line. It didn't take lambo 5 mins to get him to sign a new contract once he returned for training did it.

 

  I genuinely can't see a weakness in Benteke's game. All I will offer is that Benteke is a genius & genius as we all know is flawed.

 

i know its very weird for a guy off his size but he is.

and im also pretty sure that paul lambert knows how to deal with tis indeed he always protected him from the media even when he putted in a transfer request.

Lambert knows the success of Villa this season is closely linked to the success of Benteke's season. So do the Villa fans. Benteke's only apparent weakness is drifting out of the occasional game, something I expect will improve with his age. If Benteke stays focused and performs to his potential again, as I expect he will, he will get all the love and respect he needs.

Big season for Vlaar. The guy is not young but it was his first Premier League season. Hopefully without injury, with more consistent defensive partners and better protection from a stronger midfield, he'll prove himself to be more than capable. I'd swap a few great goals for a dozen clean sheets though.

but please don't boo him because he is mentaly very fragile and than he will snap and he will become shit. :s trust me they made that mistake at krc genk. they still regret every second of it..

He won't get booed!

I wonder what Genk fans think now. In hindsight they must think they were ripped off, although I believe even they doubted he was good enough for the Premier League at the time. Still, I bet they're shaking their heads in disbelief at what they let go so cheaply

They will be hoping the report of a sell-on clause is true for a start!

I'm really looking forward to seeing him cause massive problems for even the best defences. More Smalling like spasms please Christian!

Just for the record, his new contract is worth around £12.5m if he is on £60k a week. It is freshly signed and it would take a hell of a bid to take him from us now. 

 

If a team could have had him for £25m a few weeks back, they won't be wanting to pay an extremely inflated price now. 

 

Either way we don't want or need to sell, Lambert wants to keep him, Benteke wants to stay. Talk of him going anywhere now is just daft and illogical. 

 

I concur.

 

My dearest Morpheus, I did not state that you posted you were excessively concerned.

I am aware of the possibilities and understand you are concerned. I have stated why I believe the probability of the subject of your concern is so unlikely that the concern is unnecessary. It's now obvious that we disagree over the probability (not possibility) of Benteke leaving this window. I accept your concern (of any level ), please accept my opinion that your concern in unnecessary.

Perhaps we could move on to looking forward to watching Benteke playing against Walsall?

In your post 13540 page 677 you stated 'and an understanding that being excessively concerned can be viewed as a negative trait' so the implication is there brommy.

 

Actually it is the possibility we disagree over. If i am correct your opinion is based on no possibility of Benteke moving due to signing a new contract and no-one meeting our original valuation within the allotted time period.

 

In my opinion there is still a possibility that he might move due to other transfers going through and clubs involved in those transfers then being able to meet whatever our valuation would be now.

 

That is why i cannot except your opinion that my concern is unnecessary. 

 

 

Morpheus, I've even given a percentage chance of Benteke leaving this summer, so how you equate that to me believing there is no possibility of Benteke moving is mind-boggling.

 

You have often demonstrated that your reading of my posts is too selective and your subsequent understanding is deeply flawed. On this basis, you have made it very difficult to converse with you on this matter. I therefore won't bother.

Reference Mantis' 19th minute post above, I imagine the club will have consulted Stan in this regard. If the club decide not to promote the 19th minute this season, there will be plenty of home fans and nearly all the away fans who don't mark the minute. I hope those who choose to mark the minute respect those who choose not to and vice versa. I really hope it doesn't get argumentative in the stands as that's the exact opposite of any respect due. 

 

Perhaps we could move on to looking forward to watching Benteke playing against Walsall?

 

He'll be gone by then remember.

 

 

 

It is possible, although I'm not concerned.

My dearest Morpheus, I did not state that you posted you were excessively concerned.

I am aware of the possibilities and understand you are concerned. I have stated why I believe the probability of the subject of your concern is so unlikely that the concern is unnecessary. It's now obvious that we disagree over the probability (not possibility) of Benteke leaving this window. I accept your concern (of any level ), please accept my opinion that your concern in unnecessary.

Perhaps we could move on to looking forward to watching Benteke playing against Walsall?

I think you read his response wrong Morpheus. He's quoting you saying 'just didn't meet'.  He's not saying that your words didn't meet.

^

Also Morpheus, you stated yourself that you were concerned. After examining the probabilities, it doesn't take a crystal ball to conclude your concern is unnecessary and excessive.

Yep i was reading your post wrongly so my apologies concerning 'just didn't meet.'

 

I will ask you again where have i stated in my post that i was excessively concerned. I mean its a simple question or is it that your conclusion is just based on assumption and therefore putting words in posters mouths.

Apology accepted.

You stated you were concerned. I examined the probabilities of the scenarios you listed as your concern. Scenarios which are possible but very unlikely. I equated it to being concerned about dying when driving; something possible but unlikely enough to deem talking about death whilst driving as excessively concerned. When making my analogy I did so hoping that you drive, knew of the possibilities of dying whilst driving but didn't think of a need to state your concern about it.

You expressed your concern, I and some others questioned the validity of it. As you expressed your concern on an open forum I thought you would be open to discussion on it. I don't know if you enjoy your level of concern (excessive, unnecessary, call it what you want), but don't see what purpose it serves. I do appreciate your right to be as concerned as you want to be about Benteke leaving in the next few weeks, but don't be surprised if it's validity is questioned on an open forum.

I think you read his response wrong Morpheus. He's quoting you saying 'just didn't meet'.  He's not saying that your words didn't meet.

^

Also Morpheus, you stated yourself that you were concerned. After examining the probabilities, it doesn't take a crystal ball to conclude your concern is unnecessary and excessive.