HolteExile

He's had ample excuse already, if he wanted to go that route.

I don't think it would be a disaster (unlike some). But it messes with the natural order of things to get sacked at Leicester (or as good as) and walk into the Villa job.

Yes, yes. I see the Potter love smeared over various threads. I'm sure there was similar for Lambert as well back in 2012 when his unfancied Norwich team finished above us. That when well. Unlike that era, we are actually investing in player recruitment at the upper end of the market now. The next choice of manager should reflect that.

Thought I was clear in the opening line when I referenced the 2-0 at their place. They looked bollocks that day and had done for a while. You can go ten games without a win and still stay in a job at Brighton. Not at the bigger clubs now. And Potter too big for Villa based on this season? (because it's based on little else). Spectacular. Maybe if we win the next three Steve Gerrard gets the Inter Milan job.

A year ago Rodgers was being linked with the Tottingham and Man United jobs. A few months back, anyone touting Potter as an upgrade on Gerrard would have been seen as loco - particularly after we beat them comfortably at their place. He was getting booed by his own fans at various stages last season. Football seems all about short termism, and the dopamine hit of the chasing the next big thing. He might be shit hot, and go on to have a stellar career. More power to him. We can do better - and should be thinking bigger - if we make a change in the next few weeks.

I'm not on board with Potter at all. Don't think he's done enough (yet) at the top level for a job as big and demanding as the Villa one. It is impressive how he's got them flying out the blocks this season, mind. Particularly with the loss of Bissouma, Cucurella and Maupay. That's the sort of thing directors of football and the money men in charge like. Rodgers has much more pedigree at this level. But probably needs a bit of a break after the last few months there. A chance to top up the tan, polish the false teeth and come back revived.

We haven't looked on it since Bournemouth away on the opening game of the season. That's mostly on Gerrard, but Critchley et al bear some responsibility as well.

Bailey might be away, possibly. Looked bright in pre season but our tactics since the real stuff started would kill the enthusiasm of most players. He still has a decent rep in Europe even if he hasn't done a whole lot in a Villa shirt.

Could always keep Bert, not sign Sarr and send Gerrard out on loan.

From the bit I've seen of him Tielemans is a more polished version of Jacob Ramsey. A fine player, but we need something a bit different in there. Someone who can set the tempo, rather than someone looking to bomb forward.

Wolves hoping to tempt Ruben Neves into staying with a £100k a week offer. Surprised a player with his sort of international profile isn't already on that, TBH. Tenuous links with Yanited at the end of last season, but more likely to run his contract down with one year left. If there was any sort of chance of doing that kind of deal we should look at it, we need that sort of tactically switched on player in the middle of the park.

He sounded a bit flat and disillusioned about the club's lack of incoming deals this summer. Saying he hopes they will be in the hunt for European qualification, but that expecting progress from previous seasons is unrealistic. If the club decide to cash in on Fofana and/or Tielemans the time might be right for a parting of the ways.

Rodgers singed Coutinho for the Redscouse n'all. Probably played the best football of his career under him. So might get more of a tune out of him than the current incumbent.

We won't get Poch. We might get Rodgers. The club will have to give SG at least the next 5-6 matches so we don't look like reactionary clarts. But I'm struggling to see where the progress will come from. We had a bit of success in his honeymoon period playing a tight, combative midfield with Nakamba deep. Since Marvellous got injured it has largely been a shitshow. His go to guy Phil C is largely anonymous away from home and we're not the sort of side who can cope with passengers. He's now created a rod for his own back with the Tyrone situation. A mess.

It was March for as long as I remember it pre Premier League and in the early years of that league. And I wouldn't be against a return to that, TBH. A club may think they have done reasonable business and possess decent squad balance up until the end of Aug. But a long term injury to a key player soon changes that. Clubs can be more circumspect; only signing players if really needed if the deadline is pushed out until March. Rather than the stockpilling that goes on at the minute. It would prob mean the end for shouty Jim White and all those clearings in the woods on SSN as well. No bad thing at all.

Sleeves have a vaguely Persian/ Kazakhstan vibe, so assumed the NFFC owner might be from one of those hotspots. But turns out he is Greek, so even less excuse. And I thought Jack Wilshire had retired.

They have a weird mix of civic pride (often misplaced) and yet are also insecure enough to constantly ask people what they think of their respective cities. Brummies are generally unpretentious. Boasting is frowned upon. If you know, you know. No need to shout about it.

As already mentioned, the Michellin star + other fancy restaurants and the proximity to London would be the biggest pull for your standard footballer. Ensuring the missus has easy enough access to the shops etc in Ldn. But Birmingham does have its very own Harvey Nicks (last time I checked). And for the more sophisticated football types there's the various art galleries in the city, such as Ikon, the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Remi Garde was a big fan of the latter, apparently. They could always get a country pile like somewhere near Oxford and get the best of both worlds, roughly one hour from Brum and one hour from the Smoke. Or do what Robert Pires did and get your chauffer to drive you from Hertfordshire every morning.

Looks a reasonable deal for us, on paper. From the player's point of view it seems an odd one. He's unlikely to play ahead of Digne except for illness or injury and doesn't seem like he can cover other positions. And he's at an age where you'd think first team football is the priority. But if he's competent at all and it means no more Ash at left back, win win.

Like him as a player, and hope he gets a decent move if he's not in Gerrard's plans. Gave me some of the better Villa memories post 2011-16 omnishambles. You don't play for Ajax, Lille and the Dutch national side if you don't have something about you. He can do better than Forest or Norwich.

Eyesore. How can you countenance trading in the finest entrance in British football for that.

Preferably beamed out to the sky on match day for full effect.

Been thinking for a while we could do with a niggly height monster like Soucek in midfield. Still hasn't agreed a new deal at WHam, so why don't we sign the actual Soucek.

If Leedzzz do drop, Robin Koch (fnarr fnarr) could be an option. German international, can play CB or midfield. He's had injury problems there but still only 25. They signed him for £12 million after coming up, so I don't expect he'd cost the earth either.

Trez is in the Franz Carr territory for me. Clearly hasn't done enough to be rated in our 'Best Ever XI' type debates. But a cult figure for the SF winning goal and the Palarse and Arsenal goals when we needed it most. For impact, he probably tops a list that would include Carr and Hutton (I know the Scottish Cafu was with us eight years, but it was only at the back end of his stint with us that he became revered). Wish Trez all the best and will follow what he does in future.