switters

we've officially signed a whole new XI now: Bunn Crespo-Richards-Lescott-Amavi Traore-Gueye-Veretout-Sinclair Ayew-Gestede not sure we've ever done that within one summer before?

Gayle is a pest and a poacher. Don't think he is good enough to be regular starter but might be useful option in immediate term as Gestede/Ayew settle. Seems a little strange if the three strikers we are looking at are Gayle, Berbatov & Adebayor as you'd struggle to pick three more different strikers in terms of attributes/style of play.

Correct, no rush to sign him I may be wrong, but I believe that now with the 25 man squad it is effectively the same situation for free agents. If we wait till after deadline for naming 25 man squad (which is usually a day or two after window closes) he wouldn't be able to be added to the list of 25 and couldn't play in league til Jan.

Looks kinda barmy - top-heavy Christmas tree? Bunn Hutton-Sanchez-Baker-Richardson Veretout Gil-Grealish Traore-Ayew-Sinclair I guess the idea is that enough attacking players means most of the match will be played in opposition half & we don't need to worry too much about defending. Should be entertaining, but I can't help but wonder if the front 5 won't be getting in each other's way a bit

Bunn Hutton-Richards-Clark-Amavi Veretout-Westwood Traore-Cole-Sinclair Ayew worth keeping bit of stability (e.g. most of the same defence) as they are still new to each other. But also a good chance to give people like Veretout & Ayew gametime and try out some different attacking options. Kozak should at least be on bench too, if he's to have any chance of featuring this season.

Shows that if you cross from dangerous positions the cross itself doesn't have to be anything special to cause problems. Too often in first half we crossed from deep without trying to get past the fullback & those ones have to be absolutely perfect for strikers to get anything out of it - usually just caught by keeper or cleared with an easy defensive header.

His passing & vision suggest he's capable of being as good as someone like David Silva in a few years. Very impressive indeed first half, faded after break and probably should've been subbed to help turn the tide (although others were in front of him in the queue for that!)

Yep, looks ideal impact sub - a lot of people saying he should be starting now, but I'm not so sure. There's no doubt after seeing him today that he can scare any defence in the league - defenders in Premier League are really not used to someone running at them quite so fast & direct. But it might be a case of using him sparingly for maximum effect.

Awful 2nd half bar Traore's 5 mins of impact. Sherwood takes a lot of blame there - Pardew made proactive subs, we just waited and waited and gifted them momentum. How Gabby & Gestede were still on pitch at end is crazy when Ayew & Sinclair on bench. don't know that Gabby touched ball 2nd half - complete passenger.

jaysus we need a change so bad. What is Sherwood doing, wait until they (legitimately) score?

I think we are crossing from too deep positions which is part of reason Gestede has struggled in air - CBs will always be favourite when it comes in like that.

Sinclair for Gabby definitely. He's a better finisher and has the pace to get in same sort of positions. Ayew for Gestede before too long, also, 'cause he doesn't look fit enough Grealish looks excellent - if we find the right forward combo in front of him, we'll be flying. Impressed with Sanchez and Westwood too.

Clark is not injury prone. Okore has had a couple of injuries, one really bad one, but not sure he would be classed as injury prone either. Now Baker, he is definitely injury prone. And we have Crespo as back up. I think we are ok at centre back, but one striker short. okay we can quibble on whether they all fit the category 'injury-prone' but it has been a feature of the last few years that our CBs have rotated a lot due to injuries. Vlaar also had lots of problems and he's gone but we've replaced with Richards who has similar history of problems. yes with Crespo as well, I think we have enough depth in numbers at CB but I could see the logic in loaning Baker to see if he can get a proper run of regular football somewhere and bring in Lescott for a year or two for his experience.

Not a huge Lescott fan, but let's face it: Richards, Clark, Baker and Okore are all quite injury-prone. Based on careers so far it's likely that 1 or 2 of them will be in the treatment room at any given time over the season. Lescott in and loan out Baker might be a smart move for a year - should help Richards as he is still somewhat new to CB position. Also there's option of 352 with Richards-Clark-Lescott at the back and Bacuna/Amavi with more freedom to go forward. Plus imagine Richards, Lescott & Gestede all up for corners, would give us real aerial threat that some teams won't be able to cope with.

Pleased for him, shown himself to be well worth a place in squad and makes sense to sign up a good length contract considering age. One of Lambert's better signings for sure.

Disagree. He's already said he sees both Gil and Grealish as 10's. You'd think at least one of them will be starting when fit. Isn't 4321 like the 'two number 10s' formation he was using for FA Cup semi*, with Grealish and N'Zogbia playing off Benteke. Could be Grealish/Gil/Traore/Sinclair competing for two spots playing off Gestede or Ayew *http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tim-sherwood-aston-villa-game-plan-9087586

yeah Darmian on Richards - clearly had arm around his neck as ball was coming in which prevented Richards getting proper header and no intention whatsoever of competing to win the ball fairly. very cynical, very much a penalty but the kind that few refs give, especially against Man Utd

Disappointing but not a disaster by any stretch. Fought well and worked hard just didn't create in final third and got punished for one bit of sloppiness in defence. Gueye and Amavi impressed, along with Bacuna (who's looking better defensively) and Westwood. Veretout was anonymous 2nd half and should've been subbed earlier. Ayew frustrated and hopefully will learn a lesson from the yellow. Gabby didn't impress and Sinclair got subbed just when he seemed to be getting into it. Need Gil or Grealish added to the mix to hopefully add a bit more spark. Also obviously some players need to get up to speed with the league (and I suspect we'll be saying similar about Traore in a week or two) Could've got a draw if the ref wasn't a coward as Man Utd were not particularly impressive in attack, only Mata really made the difference. The fact they had Schweinsteiger and Herrera to bring on to help see out the game is a rather luxurious state of affairs which demonstrates the gulf in resources.

Should've been Gabby or Ayew off, not Sinclair, who's come alive a bit this half.

Utd had some dodgy passes by and to their keeper. need to exploit that more. positive combo by Sinclair and Amavi there.

Glad he's found a club, obvious he wasn't going to feature here this season and with 3 years on his contract, difficult to sell this summer. Not a bad player but not quite cut out for pace of the league or the style Sherwood wants to play with fullbacks providing the width going forward.

We've got huge squad currently. Could pretty much field three different themed teams: Premier league veterans: Guzan Hutton-Richards-Senderos-Richardson Sinclair-Westwood-Cole-N'Zogbia Agbonlahor-Adebayor(?) The Franco-Spanish crew (+Bacuna & Okore): GK* Bacuna-Crespo-Okore-Amavi Gueye-Sanchez-Vertout Ayew-Gestede-Gil Young/homegrown Brits: Steer Donacien-Baker-Clark-Bennett Gardner-Calder-Mason Sellars-Robinson-Grealish plus I couldn't fit Kozak, Cissokho or Tonev.. *we need to sign De Gea or Lloris

Glad about this one, would've been a shame if we let him go cheap. Centre backs often develop slower so 24 is still young & he's shown signs of maturing, mainly just injuries have held him back. Most people were writing off Clark as lost cause last summer & now he's seen as important member of first XI. Not impossible that Baker has a similar transition..

Before the window started, I'd never heard of Amavi, Gueye or Veretout and only vaguely knew Ayew and Gestede. Still, leaps into the unknown are exciting I was kinda expecting an underwhelming summer of signing likes of Ricky Lambert and Andros Townsend..

What game was that in? Because I thought N'Zogbia did a decent job of recycling the ball during our run in, he seems to be the one player who gets absolutely no credit for how we survived. Take Man City away for example. Yes I am aware we lost, I was there unfortunately, but when he came on it turned the game. They couldn't handle his darting runs and if it were not for an idiot linesman he set Benteke up to win a penalty at 2-2 which likely wins us the game. But no, he was hopeless according to Villa Talk. A lazy waste of a shirt. I'd not lose any sleep if he were moved on but I cannot for the life of me figure out why he receives the abuse he does. I think it's because more is expected - based on his price tag, experience & reputation, N'Zogbia should be one of our star players & most consistent performers but he's too often anonymous. If you're signed as a £10m winger, people expect goals & assists and will cut you less slack. A decent job of recycling the ball is not really enough. to give a comparison: Leandro Bacuna cost one tenth the price, has played RB half the time & still scored more goals in a Villa shirt than Zog