thunderball

A few new faces, but serving up the same limp rubbish. So much for the first week optimism.

Clark should have been sold, he hasn't got it I'm afraid

this is like the bradford game, all forwards and no midfield = over-run/create nothing

route one now

Do Lazio have any fans? Every game I have seen on the Kojak clips seem to be empty stadiums?

Not the women though he's one ugly fella (I care not btw) There's a definite whiff of Richard Kiel about him: 6' 4", big hands, wide set eyes, stout hair and probably metal teeth too, are we sure we haven't signed Jaws?

I think he would really be able to open some doors for us. Good grief....

We don't have anyone to dictate the pace in midfield, we only have one style and were easily shown up yesterday as unable to compete in the middle - hardly surprising given the age and experience. We also need other sticking options. Our core 11 still basically picks itself at the moment, but that may change over the season as it did last.

Didn't have much service today, tbh no one looked half decent except Vlaar and Okore. He had the substitution coming, but he is a good player, he'll come good.

we haven't played at home yet...* except Malaga in pre-season, which we won. *obviously you mean from last season, but is that really relevant? We've been poor at home for longer than I care to remember, not just last season, we now have the players to not play counter attack football every game. If we want to improve we need to add another dimension to our style, hopefully Saturday may show that, although Liverpool will surely be on the front foot as they have ambitions themselves.

Great start, you can see that he has something special - he will be The Man by Christmas and he's as one with the team.

Won't start against the 'pool, but will pay a big part - we need to attack teams at home, our home form is verging on poor.

7th. Maybe even more of a surprise is in store though? Great start, let's hope injuries aren't an issue. Can't underestimate the value of competition even for the bench - still feel we need another striker, another couple of midfielders and a CB for a solid campaign. I am buzzing, this morning i am not sure i am even bothered about the missed opportunity and Kevin Friend. Bring on Liverpool.

Whoever we play I think we will concede 3 or 4 on Wednesday, we are still very vulnerable at the back. I think Weimann may be sacrificed for another less offensive midfielder to pack out midfield a bit more for the big away games, he wasn't massively effective on Saturday but I think he could be effective as a sub.

The buck stops with Lerner. However MON shares the blame for presiding over the shit-or-bust policy when he held a hold over the naive Lerner (and CEO's). MON is an of-the-moment manager who is now finished, and wont work again. We won't see his like again, the game has moved on and left them behind. But as correctly stated, the subsequent years have been spent wrestling with the contracts and ageing squad set up under MON. This is proper poor club management. There was no forward planning, and insightful Celtic fans bemoaned the same fate at their club post MON at the time and we couldn't see it because of the temporary success and Premier League £'s. Lets close the door on this chapter and celebrate Lambert's reign which sits much more comfortably with most of us.

TrentVilla - Transfers out of the club?: Ireland - complete waste of space and talent, and the worst kind of character: totally without integrity, mercenary etc most of us would give our right arm for the opportunity of a 'sporting life' alone, regardless of the levels of obscene money. It's not the clubs fault it's footballs fault. He is everything we are no longer about and I can't wait to get rid of his bad vibe, his sort make me sick.

What did you think of Gabby? Ive seen a few pre season games and I think hes looked as sharp as ive seen. Against Malaga he wasn't that involved but I think he will have a great season. Showed quick clever feet yesterday and looks up for it. I expect a big season from him, not in goals but maturity - he's adapting his game as Benteke and Weimann look more likely scorers and he now out of position. His starting place is not a given and I expect him to fight like hell: cut him and he bleeds claret and blue, he is Mr Aston Villa. I've not been his biggest fan over the years but he's really caught my eye under Lambert.

MON signing a player from Argentina, can you imagine it!? Needless to say he went for the safe option: Marlon Harewood.

About 12 minutes. One or two notable touches of creativity, don't recall a shot. We were generally average/poor in the second half.

Quiet game today for all our forwards and yet Benteke scores two in second gear against a good side. We need another forward for my money, keep some competition. Benteke is magnificent, this boy is going to tear up the prem this season, just the best forward I've seen since shearer or Drogba in this league, he is going to be a monster is few years. I hope we hang on to his coat tails for as long as we can.

Can't beleive the negativity! Really positive, looking to make an impression and make things happen. He's hardly played with his team, give him a chance. Rather him get a chance than Albrighton on this showing. Good squad addition.

This. My sentiments entirely. We signed him when we had wide men, now they've gone he looks lost up top - you can't afford passengers in the Prem - Gabby, Benteke and Weimann can all pick up the ball from 40 yards and find their way to goal, Bent just gets on the end of goal mouth action. We play a posession game now like many of the top clubs, we've moved on.

Finnbogason has been linked with us in this window, would love to have him here, he's going to be some striker. Him, Kiyotake and another centre beck would make this a great transfer window and set us up for a great campaign. I see that Kiyotake seems to be gaining momentum in terms of internet rumours (excluding those by you know who), I see we are supposed to have met him today although that sounds like BS if we haven't agreed a fee, but maybe no smoke without fire.....

Just watched the highlights, and KEA was the real surprise - a different player, lovely work last night. Have read plenty about him but it never aligned with what we saw last season, he really needs to show this or he will be away at the end of the year. Great to see the midfield fighting for places. Sylla looked useful too - for me he gets the nod over Delph at the moment, but only just.

MONSTER! Our Monster :-)