penguin

if someone could share the contents of said PM into the other thread I would be extremely thankful.

Are they? Looks like their first game is on Friday, our is on the Saturday.

14th I reckon. Above all the promoted sides and: Leicester, Tesco bags and Sunderland.

Why? The pace.

Can imagine Villa being a FIFA favourite with that back 4.

Apart from what's in between them

Walker would be excellent, although I have been holding out hope we're going to sign a quality CB and move Richards out to RB.

Gueye can play as a DM, last season was his first with a licence to get forward more, or so I've read. Can't really see this signing happening, not really an area that's a priority to strengthen IMO.

Barry's too old and slow now, plus I still think he's a giant rocket polisher for how he left.

Lescott is nowhere near as bad as some are making out, he had a good season last year. Would be our best CB in my eyes, not that I'm particular excited by the prospect of signing him but it would be better than nothing.

I really hope not, he's out for ages and when he is fit the chance is it won't last too long. Plus I don't think he's that great, sure theres a fresh face we can get in who actually wants to be here and can slot in immediately to improve our defence.

I'm seeing a lot of references to buses. What's it all about? Im guessing its the old waiting for one for ages and then a few come at the same time line, I could be completely wrong though.

Wonder if he'll be unveiled today?

Obviously its too early to say with any certainty, especially as Veretout hasn't even played for us yet, but on paper we look to have replaced Cleverly and Delph very well. Could even be said our midfield looks better now without them in it.

They've locked the thread over there unfortunately.

WhoScored.com ‏@WhoScored 17m17 minutes ago Rudy Gestede: Has won at least 132 more aerial duels (572) than any other player in the last 2 Championship seasons #brfc Beast.

Just upgraded from 8 and its a lot better. Windows 8 was an abomination.

Zlatan also hasn't won the champions league. Seedorf isn't one of the players.

Doesn't look like Kozak has played regularly anywhere, aside from the season he broke through at Opava. I don't think a loan would be the worst idea in the world, especially if he is going to be right down the pecking order.

Seen this a few times that he's only had one good season and I have no idea where it's coming from. He scored 13 in 27 games in the 13/14 season for Christ sake, and he was a substitute in 6 of those.

I understand the point about the lack of importance of pre-season games although I feel its a little naive to simply dismiss the fact a player has shown a clear weakness in his game, which hasn't improved in the run of games at all imo, as the games being 'meaningless'. And yes every player has made mistakes but Richards has consistently shown the tendency to get caught too high up the pitch, leaving our defence exposed on a number of occasions, when he is where he's supposed to be he has made a few decent clearances and in fact surprised me how good he seems in the air, but that isn't the issue.

Those Leicester fans "Why would he join a sinking ship" "Shows he has a lack of self-belief if he joins Villa" Anybody would think they were knocking on the top 4s door instead of being incredibly shit for the most of last season.

Observations are fine. But saying he is balls or would rather play anyone than him at CB or saying he is waste of money and can't understand the signing is a little OTT in my opinion. Of course, but you will get hyperbole like this in pretty much every players thread. It's hardly been the majority, nearly every criticism I've read has been reasoned and based and what he's showed thus far. The suggestions he is already the scapegoat and this will be the thread thats bumped when you lose, as if the criticisms have been baseless are utter bollocks though imo. Strong criticism of a new player based on a couple of meaningless friendlies which are only there for match fitness is ridiculous. Training is where they do tactics, pre season friendlies is where they do fitness. I saw people refusing to give Guzan credit earlier this summer because he was only playing meaningless competitive internationals, but now it's perfectly fine to dish out the criticism to Richards because of these oh so meaningful pre season friendlies? Eagerly awaiting Richards making his first mistake of the season (as everyone makes) for the inevitable "stealing a living" / "right back or gtfo" comments that will be coming. I think it would be interesting to do a "Richards Vs Gil mistake counter" counting each stray pass / poor positioning etc and see if the number of mistakes they make has any bearing on how we feel about them because for some it feels like Gil can do no wrong, and Richards very little right. Of course I can't imagine anyone having enough time on their hands to actually do that! So because you saw that some Villa fans not give Guzan credit for preseason games that means others can't use it to judge a player on how he's performed? You do realise the Villa fanbase is comprised of a number of different people right? So it doesn't make it hypocritical at all, unless its the same person of course. As for the Gil remark. Yes i'm sure you are right ,nobody would have time to do that, especially as it would be a completely useless comparative measure. People are rating Gil because they feel he's played well (surely you should be in the Gil thread telling them they aren't allowed to judge a player on how he's performed in meaningless pre-season game, maybe pop into the Kozak thread as well) and a number of people have been criticising Richards because he hasn't. Nothing to do with scapegoating which I get the impression your post is eluding to.