VillaChris

Yep, expect a home win.

Even McLeish comfortably beat Blackburn at the start of the season.

No point, you can't watch the players train at BH anymore so I don't bother going down there now.

I really can't believe it's as simple as players playing beautiful one touch passing football on the training ground and then as soon as the match starts their bottle goes and they just start hoofing it.

Surely what you practice and preach in training will be replicated in a match situation?

all the foreign names in the basel team and a 36 year old scott chipperfield is on

GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I know, I chuckled when he came on aswell! Didn't he play against us for them when we played Basle in the Intertoto in 2001?

Quality DDID!

MON wants to recall Gyan in January. Can he do that and send Bendtner back?

Sunderland have no chance of top 7 this season, they're what 15 points behind Newcastle?

He'll keep them up this season, that's all.

Just looked at their fixtures and I would expect them in MON's 1st game to beat Blackburn at home but after that they have QPR, Spurs, Wigan and Chelsea away and Everton and Man. City at home so not an easy start for him at all.

Really hope Udinese win the league tbh, great side to watch.

Gardner will be playing at RB shortly for them I think.

I think the comparison last season is a bit off as SHA went down on 39 points which was the highest for a long time. I think teams will stay up on 34 or 35 points this season so I don't think we're in any danger of going down as we've beaten the likes of Blackburn and Wigan who I think will be relegated.

That's not to say I don't want him out as the football now is as dire and negative as it was in Gregory's last season.

Bolton to me is a must win and I would actually like us to put in a decent dominant performance away from home for once, it's not too much to ask for surely?

No doubt what will happen is we'll scrape a 1-1 with two shots on goal and McLeish will survive on. It's going to be that sort of season.

Quite happy with that as I do like big Mick and think he's a better manager than some give him credit for.

Amazing turnaround that.

Am not going to defend McLeish but is it me or are some of our players cowards.

Everytime we get a throw-in their isnt any options for the thrower and then yesterday Gabby had ball on left wing about 15 minutes to go and surrounded by 5 United players and no Villa player wanted it and closest player was 15 yards away doing his laces

As with the manager being useless, there is a lack of bottle in the team imo. It's part of the reason we concede so many late goals when we're winning, there's no one on the pitch to lead by example either to organise us vocally or drive us on, Milner and NRC were both very good at those two qualities.

How long you reckon before he has a massive bust up with Bedtner who's been really bad this afternoon?

Balls, was going to put a bit on Stoke to win at 3/1 but forgot!

Look at that just now people....all Heskey has to do is slide in Bent and he has a free shot at Lindegard from 15 yards in the last minute.

I read he missed a team meeting?

Must admit, this signing is reminding me more by the day of Sasa Curcic.

I know he's an easy target but let's look at his contribution in today's game....

Hitting a header wide from 5 yards from a corner in the second half.

Tying his shoelaces when we were actually attacking for once in the second half.

Falling over and shooting at the corner flag in the last flipping minute when Bent had pulled away and was actually unmarked to his left.

He really dosen't make it easy for himsef does he?!

I think he had reached the end of the line with us even if he had stayed last season. More limited budget, I doubt he would've got us in the top 6 again and I think he would've left in the summer anyway.

Gary Speed went to watch Savage compete in Strictly a few weeks ago so I don't see the problem personally.

Tbh i don't think they'll reach the play offs even if they get knocked out.

Don't want them to get through the group stage as at least we can say we still got further in 2009 before we gave up.

I'd be looking into that Maribor game, conceding 4 goals in the last 20 minutes?! Dodgy.

Yes that.

I do think Gardner will be at RB as I don't think MON rated Bardsley much when he was here briefly.

Cattermole and vaughan will be the central two, Bedtner and Wickham front two.

He'll keep Sunderland up but anyone who thinks he'll magically guide them into the top 8 should remember in his first season with us he started off well but then we went 12 games I think without a win over xmas/new year.

Infact every season under MON we always hit a slump from March.

Sunderland are a poor team, I thought that when we played them a few weeks ago.

I'll be interested to see how he sets up the team, Craig Gardner at RB? Will he try to convert Sessesgnon into an Ashley Young type on the left wing as he dosen't really do free spirits playing just off the striker.

I imagine it will be Bedtner and Connor Wickham upfront, similar to what he did with Carew and Gabby here.

And if he wants Heskey, he can bleeding have him in January.

Train 9-1 ??

More like 10-12

I meant more 'in training' like at BMH from 9-1.

Yeah haven't been down to Bodymoor in years but the players would always leave from just after 12.

It will be a very mixed reception for MON for sure.

Ah didn't realise he was at Hertha Berlin. Yeah I remember them having a great season with I think Andrei Voronin being top scorer in the Bundesliga or something mad like that and then the following season they couldn't buy a win.