Villarocker

Don't know if you're being serious mate but I hope you are because we'd have more chance of keeping the lad if he is one of us! Jacks always been a villa fan. More than me and villas a massive part of my life. Im surprised you've never heard that he's villa mad. My bad mate. I have a baby and don't have as much free time as I used to have. Well, I don't have any free time. Kids, who'd have 'em!

He did look decent but he did play the first half in what must undoubtedly be the worst back four in Villa's history. It was certainly the worst back four to line up in front of me. Could be that fact that made Senderos look so good?

Don't know if you're being serious mate but I hope you are because we'd have more chance of keeping the lad if he is one of us!

Kevan, just tell him to shoot on sight son. He doesn't need to do all the hard work work and then lay it off to someone else who'll mess it up. Just tell him to do what he did then smash it into into the net ala Messi. The lad's got the talent to do it, he just needs to trust in himself. Mate. We've all told him. Me, dad, mom, friends even football coaches but I dont know he just seems to want to pass it. When he was younger he never used to. But ever since it got serious he just plays it instead of taking the glory himself. I just hope he realises soon that he will get more recognition by trying this shots rather than giving it someone else. And in response to viva la villa its because PL wants to keep him grounded and not be another delfouneso... IMO. Kev, he'll get into a lot of scoring positions if he keeps playing the way he did today. In which case, just think how many goals he'll get. I hope he does learn to be a bit more selfish because he certainly seems to have the talent to get a lot of goals. Out of interest, which club does Jack support? And, what's with the shorts mate? They seemed really short on him. Is it because he's not filled out yet.

Kevan, just tell him to shoot on sight son. He doesn't need to do all the hard work work and then lay it off to someone else who'll mess it up. Just tell him to do what he did then smash it into into the net ala Messi. The lad's got the talent to do it, he just needs to trust in himself.

I don't know OBE, those shorts look like the the same size my 10 month old lad wears. But, Messi is no giant and it hasn't stopped him being the best in the world.

I thought the lad looked like a young Paul Merson and was eager to get on the ball ballad run at defenders. Very impressed with the short performance from him today. He just needs to stay in the central areas and run at people. Also, he needs to be confident and shoot when the chance comes his way, instead of trying to play someone in who is senior to but, not better than, himself. The lad oozed quality with the posing for pics after the game too. Shame some of the more senior players couldn't take a leaf out of this lad's book! I'd start him in a centre 3 with Delph and Westwood against Stoke, playing behind the striker.

If Liverpool fans think Cissokho is bad it's a good job for them that they haven't had to endure Joe Bennett.

From one bad situation to another. Must be a glutton for punishment!

I remember watching this guy play for Lyon in the Champions League and thinking what a good player he looked and how I would like to see him down the Villa. If we get that Cissokho, I will be very happy

Probably Gerrard Houllier Reading this ^^ post made me wonder how people on here would now feel if Lerner sold the club to Red Bull? I'm not suggesting for one second that he would sell to them or, that they are interested. Just wondering if people against that idea have had a change of heart with no other apparent buyers interested in us.

They've retired the number 9 shirt in honour of not wanting to disgrace the club any further. Expect numbers 1 to 11 to follow next year!

I have lost so much trust in Randy Lerner, which started for me when General Krulak disappeared as soon as Lerner started his retreat, that I absolutely have no trust in Lerner to find Villa a good owner to replace him. I wouldn't be surprised if he simply sells us to any Tom, Dick or Harry just to get rid of us and top his bank balance back up.

I'm not sure what I prefer, players who are "young and hungry" who, despite the fact they lack the experience and quality, might just give their all for the shirt - or - the bomb squad, who have experience but are probably so dismayed at their treatment by the club that they may not really give a toss about it. Having said that, those players may just have to perform to attract themselves a new employer. Either way, it is not a good situation to be in. For me, we are in a worse position than last season because we'll be starting without our best player. I can see us being in the bottom 6 by Christmas and after that is all down to whether Lerner wants to invest some money in order to keep a Premier League club up for sale. If he doesn't we will have every chance of becoming a Championship club.

Bring back positive Richard Bring back an owner that gives a shit Aside from not spending on transfers, I fail to see what Lerner has done to suggest he "doesn't give a shit"? He's obviously looking to sell the club, but we've rarely (never?) sold our better players for sod all under his ownership. If he gave a shit surely he would show up to watch the club he owns? I know that he lives far away but if you are a billionaire with your own jet surely it's not that much of a hardship. To stay on topic, I actually liked the look of Okore last season and felt sorry for him when he got injured. I think he'll be a good player for us this season and this time next year we'll be fighting off clubs wanting to sign him.

This is what I think. Southampton have lost half their defence and also face losing their star centre back, all for a combined fee of around £66m. Obviously, they are going to be desperate to find replacements and will probably pay over the odds to do so. Koeman will look at Vlaar and see the perfect replacement at centre back. I reckon a deal will be struck at around £10m and then Villa will start the season in need of a centre back as well as needing to appointment a captain. Then, we will be enforced to pay over the odds for whoever we want to replace Vlaar. Whichever way you look at that, it won't be good for Villa.

Imagine what this site will be like if we still haven't been taken over at this time next year!

Yes, Lukaku did skin Besler in the knockout match. Or to be more accurate: After Besler had played more than 90 minutes, Lukaku came off the bench in stoppage time--fresh --and got the better of Besler. Imagine that. He's a good player and would make us a better team. That's a fair point about Besler and Lukaku so maybe I was being a bit harsh on the fella there. But, my point is still valid regarding playing a few games in 3 weeks compared to 40 games over a whole season. I'm still not convinced a MLS player would be up to that standard in the Premier League. However, given the fact that we've been shopping at a lower level, maybe a MLS player could slot in well alongside our current line up. Robbie Keane seemed to slot in alright a few years ago.IIRC he was our best player at the time. But he'd had many years experience of our top flight beforehand. With our current squad, I'd prefer us to bring in players with Premier League experience.

Yes, Lukaku did skin Besler in the knockout match. Or to be more accurate: After Besler had played more than 90 minutes, Lukaku came off the bench in stoppage time--fresh --and got the better of Besler. Imagine that. He's a good player and would make us a better team. That's a fair point about Besler and Lukaku so maybe I was being a bit harsh on the fella there. But, my point is still valid regarding playing a few games in 3 weeks compared to 40 games over a whole season. I'm still not convinced a MLS player would be up to that standard in the Premier League. However, given the fact that we've been shopping at a lower level, maybe a MLS player could slot in well alongside our current line up.

No, you are right. In the midst of relegation battles we should definitely be handed out new contracts, and pay rises, and who is to say he would want to commit amongst the uncertainty. But no, erveryone is an idiot, in hindsight. . Did you miss the fact that new deals were given to Clark, Baker, Westwood and Guzan then? Guzan thoroughly deserved theirs but, the other three? What did they do to outshine Vlaar? Vlaar should have been given a new deal before the World Cup started.

I'm expecting someone worth around the same as Lerner but with the passion and interest he had when he first took over. A spend of around £50m for each of the first three seasons and then see where that takes us.

Probably not. Richardson will play left back or left wing back. I personally think we will play 3 centre backs with Senderos on the left side and Okore on the right. The middle cb depends on whether Vlaar stays. I think Richardson and Bacuna will be the wingbacks with a midfield 3 of Delph, a new holding midfielder and Cole playing off the striker. That leaves 2 places and I think they will be filled by Gabby and Weimann to begin with. But, when the beast returns, I think Gabby will be out.

It might be a mistake on my part but, wasn't Besler the player who got skinned on the wing in the build up to the first goal of knockout game at the World Cup? Not sure that Gonzalez would play to such a high standard either. It's different playing 40 odd games of an English season alongside multiple languages compared to 5 games alongside people who speak the same language as you do. Also, the MLS is no comparison to the Premier League in terms of attacking threat so he'd get a rude awakening there too. Having said all of the above, you never know. Maybe they could come in and settle down quickly. But, if Vlaar goes, they would have to settle in quickly. Otherwise we would be in desperate trouble.

It makes me want to cry when I think of the deal we did for this guy. Imagine who/what we could bring in for this same deal! The person(s) responsible for this deal need never again to work anywhere where they have responsibility.

I think that Vlaar will be offered a new deal and if it's less than 40k per week then he'll leave. That's assuming he's not on that already, of course. To compare him with other players, I am sure that Hairyhands once said that Gabby is on 60k per week and Delph on 55k per week. If so, neither should get anywhere near that in a new deal and Vlaar should be getting more than their new offers.