brommy

I enjoyed his comedy very much right through my teenage years to my twenties. Sad to see him pass.

If we can get a good AM and sort out defending from corners - top 8 is possible. It's a big 'if' though.

Correct - served 1 match ban against wigwam

Funnily enough I had a bet tonight with my blue nose brother that Benteke would score more than 9 Premier League goals next season.... Assuming he doesn't break something early on in the season, I think you're safe. I wouldn't dare to suggest that CB is guaranteed to score 16+ leagues goals, but 9 or less?! There's a chance you'll have won by New Year!

First goal conceded was unlucky, the second more concerning. Good connection on the header and a very sweet strike for the free kick. Away kit looks good imo.

It's working here. I'm still getting the same error too! No video for me. Still Jack said he's been told 'it's fixed so we'll just have to go with that'.

BBQ or Chinese?

I think you mean 'golf........ er.. material'

10 subs coming on at the same time!

The London press do seem to have played it down a lot - I wonder why? Before I get too defensive the BBC biggest national news and sport channel, Radio 5, did have Benteke's new contract as their main football news this morning (ahead of citeh's £22m signing).

You must have missed when Jack told us they are playing with 3 footballs today.

Quickly followed by the conference call ending. I hope he remembers to dial back in after his pie.

Jack's promised to keep me 'in the loop' and guaranteed me highlights. I feel special but they should drop the last two letters from AVTV. You should have a ST instead!

Why do we need video when we have Jack's perfect picture painting commentary? I mean what more do you need than "ball hit forward like the trajectory of a Lee Westwood 4 iron". The fact that he didn't mention which team or player shouldn't matter. I'm just happy to know it's tea at Lords.

It may have had something to do with the fact that he handed in a transfer request? Didn't Barry during his 'nailed on to liverpool' move? Also many of the 'he's off' comments were pre-request!

I still don't know why those who thought he would leave this summer were so confident. Words like '"face it, he's off" and "if he was staying he'd have signed by now - he's gone" were common. Was it their dodgy ITKs or their unnecessarily negative hunches? I'm not claiming I knew he was staying, far from it, just that I couldn't see any evidence that he was definitely off as many were claiming. It seemed more prudent to wait and see.

Weren't you concerned about Smalling's well being? The guy went in to spasm* for Christ's sake! No nor me. *Until he realised the ref wasn't buying it.

There's a chance he's pulled a 'Rooney', yes. All part of the game, he'll have probably have gained an extra £10k/week over our best pre-transfer-request offer and we'll have retained a great player for next season or more. Looking ahead at the following scenarios: Scores up to 15 league goals - he stays with us for a third year as no other club offers more than his current contract; Scores 15 to 20 league goals - could be same situation as this summer where Villa set a minimum value as he's 3 years left on his contract; Scores 20+ league goals - well he's no longer a 'one season wonder' risk and I suspect we'll enjoy auctioning him to the highest bidder (£35m? £40m+?) Either way it looks good for our club.

I don't think so. The kid says "mate, look at that. Tottenham, mate" asif he was showing Benteke something. I'm guessing he had something with a Tottenham badge on it. The other kids then say "nah, i'm not having it" In any case, Benteke's reaction was an embarrassed smile. Could be anything from - Yes, I'm joining them soon; Yes, I'm a bit embarrassed at being left stuck in the middle by spuds not matching my value; Yes, that's a word I recognise between the other words I haven't a clue what they are; can we go now please!

Id argue that the performance against Sunderland was up there with the best performances I have seen from any Villa player. I thought he was out of this world. There's a chance it was because I'd been starved of decent play for a few years but I remember saying to my family and other ST holders sitting around me in the Upper Holte that I had never seen a full back run a game like that before. He was first class that day. More of the same please Matthew! Did Benteke get Motm? Thought it was good that Lambert came out and said that Lowton was by far the best player on the pitch. Not to take anything from Benteke or anybody else that night. I think so, although he did score a hat-trick so grabbed the headlines. I agreed with Lambert's assessment! Lowton was so involved and it seems everything he tried that night came off.

Id argue that the performance against Sunderland was up there with the best performances I have seen from any Villa player. I thought he was out of this world. There's a chance it was because I'd been starved of decent play for a few years but I remember saying to my family and other ST holders sitting around me in the Upper Holte that I had never seen a full back run a game like that before. He was first class that day. More of the same please Matthew!

Depends what happens between the now and the start of the season. If he seen to have trained hard and put effort in to any pre-season games without his agent running to the media any further, the majority of fans will be okay with him. If he is still at Villa in September and playing well/scoring goals, I expect 95% of fans will be fine with him.

He doesn't look like he needs a meal ticket!

Did you handle the Barry saga similarly?

I don't believe the sell-on clause was officially confirmed, never mind what percentage it might be.