Caddy

I'm sure Benteke hasn't made his mind up yet; I agree that SSN opening up this morning's report more or less with "Benteke is leaving Villa" is ludicrous. However, he's already admitted to opening his mind up to it. To me, that means before September 1 he'll change his mind and decide he has to play for a CL club this season. A lot of this has to do with what Chelsea do with Lukaku; if he is loaned out to a CL side like a Schalke/Valencia or even an EL side, Benteke may feel that he also has to make a move up and play European football to stay #1 in the Belgian pecking order. (Edit: It should be obvious that Lukaku would probably rot away if kept at Chelsea because of Torres/Ba/whichever 30m forward they buy in the transfer window) In any case, we've got 100-odd agonizing days of waiting to see how this all unfolds. Whatever happens, as long as we get more than 25m, I won't be too disappointed.

If Benteke sees it fit to forgo our best interests and force a move to a club that isn't offering up a value that's acceptable to us (I'd like to say £30m now that are finances are in order and we aren't struggling just to make ends meet) then I see no reason why we shouldn't go Dan Levy on his ass and hold him hostage as well. After his exploits last August, it should be obvious that Benteke is loyal to no one but himself. And, IMO, there's nothing inherently selfish to that, I think that blind loyalty to a club is stupid and naive. (Unless, of course, we're talking about a genuine homegrown product... something Benteke most certainly isn't) However, two can play at that game and I hope Benteke and his agent are in for long, drawn out, nasty battle before it's all said and done*. *Unfortunately, Lerner will probably take the first offer north of £20m he gets because he's just trying to pay off his loans ASAFP.

hahahaha that's class, both the Milhouse get-up and the solidarity in support for Stan the Man makes you proud to be a Villa supporter

Enjoyable if uneventful game. Definitely highlights our need for solid center-half alongside Vlaar, a competitor for Joe "8 stone" Bennett and some squad wingers, because as we've seen over the last few games, playing every single game really has taken its toll on Weimann, and Gabby is always a wildcard in terms of form. Bakary Sako would do wonders there.

---------------------Guzan-------------------- Zabaleta---Ivanovic---Ferdinand---Evra ------------Carrick-------Toure------------- Van Persie---------Mata-------Bale --------------------Benteke--------------- Garth Crook's team of the season

one last post before the fat lady finishes with her singing

The fact that we can sign a guy like this for £2m-odd makes me giddy thinking about what Lambert can do this summer with the increased TV revenues and further purging of the wages from Dunne and (lamentably) Petrov's contracts expiring.

we couldve used a sub for Weimann but by the time it became apparent he was gassed we were already down. in hindsight its easy to say we shouldve subbed but there werent any players who were in obvious need of a replacement. one might say Bent shouldve been brought on but it wouldve required either A. subbing one of Gabby/Andi, moving the other up front and sacrificing our width in the process, or B. taking off one of Delph/Westwood/Sylla who were all having terrific games and which would've left the midfield completely exposed for Hazard/Mata to run roughshod. Lambert was really put in a pickle after the Benteke sending off. I was a little miffed at the time, wondering where the subs were, but there wasnt a good one to make IMO, at least from a tactical/performance standpoint Edit: All that being said, Weimann flubbed at least one good opportunity in the waning moments that I think NZog could've worked some magic with. I won't begrudge those on VP for being pissed that Lambert didnt make a change there

there you go Joe, thats how you defend around the box

That's more like it Delph!!!

1-2 Chelsea with a goal from Weimann, thinkin Ba and Mata do us in

I've been seeing us linked to Bakary Sako on some of the less reputable gossip sites. Even though it's pure speculation, it does make sense. The guy looked like single-handily carrying Wolves out of the relegation scrap before he tore his hamstring and they fell apart without him. Plus, he'll come on the cheap after their 2nd relegation. I'd prefer him to Sinclair, for sure.

Gimme 5m + most wages paid, or 10m and the Adebayor treatment. Either way, he has no place here. The majority of our goals have come from link-up play between the front 3 of Gabby-Benteke-Weimann, working to create chances for each other with little creative contribution from our midfield (though this has been changing as of late), and Bent has shown that he can't create chances for others, ruining the synchronicity of the front 3 which is so important to how we've played under Lambert. Don't bring up the West Ham or Stoke games either; he didn't contribute anything to those games other than a timely goal-line clearance in the WHU game.

It's too bad we won't be able to lock this thread up until the 14th. All that being said, having watched the game on FSC... Wigan were done in by two comical defensive errors of their own. They deserve to go down. It's been a fun ride for them, but nothing lasts forever. In 10 years time we'll remember them the same way people think of Coventry now.

He's still got a bad habit of turning rash when dispossessed and running after the ball like a madman. I've lost count of how many times he's picked up a yellow because of that. Other than that, though, I think he's done a fine job over the last few months. I'm just glad that Lambo came to his senses on Bannan and gave Delph a proper chance; he's definitely taken it and ran with it.

Add to that the ridiculousness of the Championship (14 points between 6th and 22nd is just mental), plus the League Cup (entertainment at our expense, but entertainment nonetheless...) and this might've been the most exciting English season in a long while, if not for the absolute bore that was the title race. Manchester City are a disgrace.

Have to admit, I've only been a fan of the Villa since 2011. What a year to start supporting, eh? Mc(attacking)Leish and his tactics definitely made for a rough first year, and I got to wondering what on Earth it is that made me support them anyways? I can't really give you a definitive answer, but I do know that the second I came to love football, I decided that when I came upon a club to support, it wouldn't be one of the same top clubs that so many Americans love to wagon (United, City, Arsenal, Chelsea, City, Barca, Bayern, etc.) because to me, the true enjoyment of the Premier League (and all football leagues, truly) is the battle at the bottom; the vicious, no-holds-barred fight to retain your status as one of England's top flight clubs. It is an element that I think is missing from American sports (which I love, no doubt); the idea that being in the best league in your country is not a right, but a priviledge. And in that respect, I certainly have not been disappointed with Villa from an entertainment perspective this season... for better or worse! I'm not sure how much more of this roller-coaster ride my heart can take, but I'll be here every step of the way. UTV