Pez1974

I think one of the main issues is about policing and security. There are standards that need to be met at stadiums, and the police are already being stretched. London is apparently seeing a huge increase in visitors, and colleagues travelling to London this morning are telling me they're journeys are up to an hour longer. As a country we're about the have a massive, visible event, with many Heads of State and politicians attend. There are people in this world who would live to hit such an event, and cause mass panic. This will need a massive security effort, taking police from around the country. The local cops can't just pop down to London for the funeral, and everything will be OK. Training will need to be specific to the event, the day and time of year. The disruption stated last night, and will go on into the days after the funeral - so about 2 weeks. I'm afraid life just cannot go on as normal during this period.

Agreed. I think the reaction to McGinn has been measured. He isn't playing well. He isn't contributing goals or assists in the way he should. He is liable to make 'blind' and poor passes which put us under pressure. And he is starting to regularly commit silly fouls, and the way he is going, a red card isn't far off. Making him captain has become a 'thing' which demonstrates what fans are concerned about with Gerrard - much more than the Mings losing it bit (that was more about the stupid 'look me in the eyes' comment for me). The problem will only grow until either McGinn improves, or is taken out the firing line - and the captaincy only serves to exacerbate this.

Me too - but sometimes the only way to improve the team is to take someone out who you can sell for good money, and upgrade. My guess is we can get £25m-£30m for Mings. I suspect we'd only get about £5m for Hause. That extra £20m is how the club can run effectively. Plus - Hause seems reasonably content to be 4th choice. I doubt Mings will be right now. Look at Coady to Everton - he wants to play and go to a world cup. I'm sure Mings is the same. The role of being a perpetual sub is a specific role - like the specialist 3rd choice keeper. Step forward Tom Heaton, Scott Carson, Stuart Taylor - all of whom preferred to being 3rd choice in the Champions League than 2nd choice in the Premier League.

Not sure that's the issue. We have a 29 year old recent England international in a ridiculous price market, with I think 2 years of his contract left. His asking price will not increase from here. We have youngsters coming through, and 5 centre backs in the first team squad. If we've decided it's time to move him on - make some very good money and upgrade - then I'm all for that. Everybody is replaceable. It would be the right thing for the club, and the player - and he should leave with our thanks for his service to the club, his leadership and his efforts. The issue for me is that he seems to be being treated badly by a manager, who seems to have a grudge, and we don't know why. We are Aston Villa - we are better than how our manager has acted towards our former captain.

I still don't go for the analysis that he misspoke (not what you are saying). He might not have said exactly what he wanted to say - and that is a massive problem for a high profile manager in the highest profile league in the world. Frankly, if he can't communicate effectively under pressure - time for a career change. But he clearly has a personal issue with Mings, and he is allowing that to play out publicly. That is hugely unprofessional and will have a negative effect on every other player in the squad (perhaps excluding Countiho), as they worry that they could be next. I have never heard anyone say anything other than good things about Mings the person and leader - so there is no excuse for Gerrard to call him out. Even if Mings has been a muppet privately, Gerrard should be professional - as the best he's achieved right now is a devaluing of an asset. At worst, he's disrupted the squad and undermined his own authority.

Potter or Poch. Big no to Rogers from me.

It can't be this. Because it would be so easy to say "Tyrone isn't fully fit - he wants to play, but we have to look after him". A positive comment, given the loss of captaincy. Instead - "he has to look me in the eyes, blah blah blah". A totally negative comment. If you are right then Gerrard is a moron.

One of those convenient injuries which allows the player and manager to say it was all a pile of nothing. But actually, Gerrard has made this mess. He could have changed captains and made Mings a notional vice-captain; or not announced vice-captains. It wouldn't mean anything, and was just a 'change it up' moment. But he's created this mess, and it reflects badly on him. And he's starting to get called out on it in the press. He's under pressure now. For me - the fact is that for 3 years we've been a better team with Mings in the side than out of it. The results are better, and the defense is better - no matter what 'errors' he has made. See below, as tweeted by Matt Law - games Mings has missed.

As much as it saddens me - under Dean Smith, we had become a mid-table premier league team. That's much better than when he took over, and I'm forever grateful. We had one of England's brightest talents, we smashed Liverpool 7-2, we were improving and had rich, amazing owners - but somehow we were still miles off where we wanted to be. Time would not have solved that I fear. Somehow - appointing Gerrard changed our stature. We were signing Coutinho; then Kamara; then Diego Carlos. We were much more visible - even if results didn't show. If we'd gone for (say) Graham Potter - I think we'd have improved as a team, but would we have improved the status of the club? Not exactly sure what I trying to say - maybe I just hate modern football!

This. Gerrard has seemingly gone out of his way to pick a fight with Mings. He could've just said he wanted to 'freshen it up', and made Mings vice captain, and left it there. It's not like Mings as captain was ever a problem - people differ on him as a player, but as a captain of this club - no fault. He clearly has favourites too - and one of them is his 'mate'. This is also an easy stick to beat him with, and Coutinho is not worth his place in the side right now. McGinn is a top man - but he should not be captain in my view. He shouldn't be in the side either in my opinion. If he changes now - he's admitting he has screwed pre-season up - which will seriously hurt his reputation (but he can at least salvage it by learning). If he doesn't, and goes stubborn - his top level managerial career will probably be over by Christmas.

Boooo

Pitiful performance. McGinn very poor, Coutinho virtually anonymous. No idea what the attacking plan is.

This would hammer the Turkish league, who always seem to pick up some dross by being the last to shut.

It's been known for a while - and clubs should plan. Also - didn't the window SLAM SHUT (sorry, just had Sky Sports on) before the first game a couple of years ago, and loads of clubs moaned, and clubs voted to put it back. One thing I never feel sorry for is the clubs. Just fans. Unless they wear blue.

I suspect 'net spend' is becoming less important to the club financially, as the wages go up. This is not to say unimportant, but if the wage bill has gone up £20m a season, then the net spend has to balance that, unless we're getting money from elsewhere. We also need to be focusing on buying 'starters' in my opinion. That's not the 11, but those 15/16 players who play a lot, rather than those who will fill in. They are harder to come by, and we can't be fleeced by other clubs, so it's often better to wait for the right players than get another body in to fill the squad, but then who we can't shift for 3 seasons and become the so-called 'bomb squad'.

Let's assume that what we've done up until today was balanced. Between signings, sales, and the increase in wages, it feels a reasonable assumption. Sell Carney for £20m (all positive FFP) Sell any combination of Nakamba, El Ghazi, Traore, Guilbert, Hause, Steer - we could easily bring in another £20m. That's a big signing we can make and remain in a very healthy financial position.

4th. Downing was just over £20m I believe. Which probably reinforces your 'concerning' comment.

Whether he flops, or becomes a £100m player - that doesn't matter now. We have a 19 year old who wanted more than the club would pay. He didn't actually make any noise - just didn't sign the contract. His choice. We got £20m for a player with 2 league starts, and 1 assist. That is the best for this club given the situation, and probably means we can improve the team. Chelsea can take a £20m gamble right now (and that's exactly what it is). We can't.

Gotta love this kid.

This is how our club becomes successful. Look at the money Liverpool and City get in every year for players we've barely heard of.

Now. Let's not be nasty.

It really feels like time to start retiring shirts.

If it's £20m - that makes him our 4th highest sale in history after Grealish, Benteke and Downing. My god.

This just feels weird - the announcement, etc. Gerrard clearly has an issue with him - even the question about him being captain when he was appointed felt odd. Almost like we're trying to sell him? I think he's a top human being, and has been our best CB since he joined. Yes, he's made mistakes, but he owns them and never hides. Think has to be a kick in the balls.

Not enough reactions to this - surely deserves more