Pez1974

Know what you're saying, and if we are in need of a player we'll be in a position to get someone better than Samatta if we're near the top. But I'm old enough to remember us bringing in Cascarino in 1990 as the final piece of the jigsaw, and it derailed our title challenge - he didn't score the goals, and it ruined our style of play (at least that's what my memory tells me). Part of me thinks that unless there's a crisis, or an irresistible opportunity in January, we continue with our building next summer.

Absolutely get what you're saying. I feel we took a gamble on this one, and it worked out. I still think Cahill would've been useful (and cost us less than Engels transfer fee for those 2 years of wages), but the thought that he would have kept Konsa out of the team now makes me shudder.

Watching the game tonight - can't help but think the "buy Iheanacho" and "buy Slimani" type calls would've not had the impact those suggesting thought. Only a single game, but my club are making me stop having an opinion on transfer targets, and helping me just relax knowing we have professionals in charge. Unlike Steve "I only need 1 centre half in my squad" Bruce. clearing in the woods.

Just keeps getting better. Can't imagine him not being in the next England squad - I mean what international manager would look at a player of such quality.....oh.

Amazing. Work ethic, pace, skill, determination, plus a little bit of the dark arts in their too. What a team Deano has assembled - seems to have got every signing right this summer. And to look at the fixtures up until Boxing Day...(excl. Man City, who are our game in hand - I think they're avoiding us!) Leeds (H) Southampton (H) Arsenal (A) Brighton (H) West Ham (A) Newcastle (H) Wolves (A) Burnley (H) Boggies (A) Palace (H) Without wanting to get ahead of myself, I can see us matching last seasons points total in these games alone if we can consistently put our first 11 on the park. This confidence thing is weird.

It looks like they have a lot of concerns with injuries - as others have mentioned. Vardy, Madison, Evans, Soyuncu, Praet, Amarty - and Ndidi and Perreira seemingly definitely out, with Fofana just joined and Morgan about 50 years old. Wouldn't surprise me if a fair few ended up being passed fit, but with some on the bench. Maddison, for example, looks like he will have to a substitution at some point, whether bringing him on or pulling him off () Surely, they can't start maybe 5, 6 or 7 players who needed to be assessed, or haven't played much - and this is why the 5 subs rule being kicked out for this season is so important for team like us who have a limited bench.

Seems sensible to me...Bournemouth should be top end of the Championship and a good season will either give him the profile for a good move for both the player and club (to Bournemouth if they come up); or give him of a shot of being back in the club's thoughts. And a recall clause in January - so 10 weeks and loads of game time.

Just to remind everyone who keeps saying about us being light in some areas - we've just trounced the champions, who had their keeper and left forward out. Nobody in this league is immune to being affected by injuries, and a club in their 2nd year back in the Prem can't have a second string like some seem to be asking for. Our first 11 looks grand; we have a decent bench in the making - Heaton, Engels, Elmo, Conor, Nakamba, Wes who were all first choice for a chunk of last season, and on the whole should improve this season. Plus Traore and Ramsey. And Guilbert - who is either rubbish or amazing, depending on who you believe. Add in Hause, Taylor, Davis, AEG, Steer - yes they're not brilliant, but they did job's last season, and can do again. I think we are lucky to be where we are, and it will get better next summer.

Exactly this. I'd be angry if he started today to be honest, given he clearly isn't 100%. I think Southgate is an awful manager, but I understand why he started him vs Wales - to look at him in full. And therefore he really shouldn't start today - and if he did and got injured, we'd all be up in arms. Let's see if we create nothing against Belgium, and then the 'creativity' question starts again.

Yes. Yes he is.

Allardyce **** up whilst drinking a pint of wine. Gareth was in the right place, at the right time. And wouldn't embarrass the FA in a way they couldn't handle. Front page headlines are bad; back page headlines are short lived.

Not exactly this (it wasn't his worst in 3 years) but yes. Almost everyone (and even blue noses) are drooling about Jack for England last nigth, and I can imagine most Villa fans thinking "shame, Jack isn't having his best game here". There's so much more to come. Pretty much all the journos - Henry Winter and the like, not just Matt Law - are highlighting him as the standout player. I assume Southgate doesn't like him because he knows he will make him look like an incompetent prick. Imagine the likes of Kane, Sterling, Alexander-Arnold and the genuinely very good England players (so not Sancho at the moment) with Jack doing stuff, in a system designed to beat the best with a good manager. We'd be amazing.

Not convinced we need anybody else. I suspect we'll be keeping a close eye on some of the better Championship players, and if they become available at a good price, we'll make a move. Some clubs might get desperate because of finances, and we may be able to offer them a player to loan (youth or fringe) in order to get the deal done. The danger is that the likes of Fulham, and the Boggies might also be desperate and keep prices high. As we're only 11 weeks from the next transfer window, unless it's a bargain, I'd be keeping any funds in our bank in case of an emergency come January.

I use Sportrac alongside Transfermarkt - https://www.spotrac.com/Premier League/aston-villa-fc/contracts/ Usually gives the facts between them, although it doesn't always update quickly (damn these free websites!) This suggests that Lansbury (£2.1m per season), Taylor (£0.4m), Elmo (£1.3m) and Conor (£1.56m) will be out of contract in summer 2021 - or about what Barkley earns a season between them. Conor is atough one - he'll be 30 in February, and his next contract falls into the "last big one" of his career category. And signing Barkley on loan might mean he chooses to move on. Honestly, I'm hoping by then we don't really care, and wish him good luck as he signs for whoever comes up through the play offs next year. It seems we only have Hause out of contract in 2022 (£0.4m per season) - so some stability is in the offing. As an aside - given when Taylor signed - he needs a new agent if the wages are true. No wonder they aren't desperate to get rid. Guilbert is on £2m a season if the website is to be believed! Finally - Konsa is showing at £0.4m per season and McGinn at £1.3m (they are contracted until 2023 and 2024 respectively). They'll be wanting a pay rise soon, given other salaries were paying.

I think the last game laid to rest the concept of any game being a 'free hit'. We now know we can beat anybody, and the better the opponent, the greater the impact on the overall feel within the club. Conversely, the lesser the opponent is perceived, the greater the impact of an adverse result will impact. So, based upon such learned thoughts - just **** beat them.

Nice to read lots of balanced views. I feel we can withstand a small number of injuries now, as we have more options than before, and when Heaton, Engels and Wesley are back, we're in decent shape. And as others have said, Liverpool fans are blaming the loss of Mane for killing their 'high line' system, and they're the Champions. And the extra options will allow us to rotate players a bit more, particularly if they're carrying niggles - we all knew McGinn wasn't right last season, before he really injured himself and was out for months. We have to stop these problems. Also - we have 10 days to sign from lower leagues, where we do shop quite a lot. And then it's only 11 weeks until the transfer window SLAMS OPEN (am I doing this right?) again.

Very optimistic, but gone with 11-17. Not a criticism, but feel that's very wide range - genuinely feel we're in the 10-14 area now.

Yep - he got the 1 assist, but the ball for Watkins 1 on 1, and the cross for the shot that hit the bar were exceptional. And all 3 balls were very different, making him a more dangerous player to play against. Who knew a player could improve in their 2nd season in England?!

This is what a badly run clubs looks like. Suspect they base decisions more on social media output for their 'loyal' fans - most of whom have never, and will never, go to a game. Our club sold Samatta - and are now hated in Tanzania it seems. But we beat the reigning champions 7-2. I'm happy.

The good news just keeps coming!

Works incredibly hard. Has some quality; not the best, but getting better and enough for this team. A few fringe players should take notice. Sort of reminds me of Des Bremner - Morley got the headlines, but without him, we're a worse team. (I know it's not a great example and a bit lazy, but we do love our comparisons to 40 years ago).

Best game for us since promotion. Maybe ever. Lucky with the goal, but we need people to shoot from those positions. Work rate alongside Luiz was amazing, and quite a lot of quality too - the ball for Grealish's second would've had people drooling if it was De Bruyne.

Good game; great debut. Scored from position which was barely a half-chance, but missed 2 much better chances. I think the level of physically he brought in his harrying and running showed what Conor's misses from his game; not a criticism, as he's a different build, but it created so much space for others. It also left McGinn and Luiz in the CM positions, and they were amazing. What a signing!

2 goals and 3 assists will get the headlines, and rightly so - but the nay-sayers will point out the deflection and 2 of the assists were really just midfield passes. (So really just 1 goal and 1 assist against the Champions ) It's the assists he could have had - especially to Barkley. Plus his control of the game. Liverpool went 1 on 1 with him, using the wunderkind that is Alexander-Arnold, and Grealish made him look like a shit Alan Hutton.

What a player! His physicality and pace are exactly what we needed, but coupled with his desire to get in the 6-yard box and good finishing, we really could have a bargain on our hands. It's early, but I think he could have a shot at the England squad for the Euro's if he carries on. Kane is first choice, and Ings and Calvert-Lewin are deservedly in ahead of him. But Tammy is vulnerable, especially as he won't play as much, plus Watkins is doing a job in the same system as England play, and his relationship with Jack and Barkley might just give him the chance.