JPAngel

I think saying he's lost the plot is a bit extreme .

I know this isn't a Middlesbrough board but does anyone know why they've signed a fourth goalkeeper? Not only that, they've made three signings now and two of them have been GKs "fit for the first team", shouldn't they be looking at the rest of their team? EDIT: They've signed way more than that but still. Two major GK signings.

That is great news! I haven't been to any pre-season games (going to the next one) but I was hoping he was a vocal keeper. Definitely something we've lacked!

I know we were all here, and we were all watching this, but seeing it in writing now everything has settled down still haunts/shocks me. Look at the bloody state of that team.

I won't be booing anyone anytime soon. We're very fragile after last season and I think maintaining a positive atmosphere is vital if we're to do well this season. Any booing from the terraces is going to be picked up by the media and more importantly the rest of the team. I just don't understand how it's going to benefit anyone.

So Xia has lied to us when he said he wanted to sign a new striker and some midfielders?

I just posted something similar in the Promotion thread but where are you getting your info from? He's been here for a month, spent second most in the Championship (£12m) on a proven leader and two players with a lot of potential add to this that we've won 4 out of 5 in pre-season. Finally, all the press surrounding Villa is brilliant, Xia is being very transparent and even has Twitter to engage with fans and perhaps most importantly the players seem to be having a great time of it in pre-season. We've also already passed our season ticket sales total for last season and we're in a worse division! Chill, Winston.

Just like to point out that we've won four games out of five since Xia was appointed and already spent £12m which is the 2nd most in the entire division. Just sayin'.

Bloody hell, people need to calm down a bit I think. We've got the right noises coming out of the club, made some decent signings with more to come (actual quotes from Xia stating as much) and we haven't lost a single pre-season game yet. I know they haven't been against Barcelona or Real Madrid but you can only beat what's in front of you.

Once had a friend who pronounced Vassell's name as Vass-ul. Used to absolutely do my head in. We don't talk anymore.

Gardner has played nearly 60 games at CM in the last three seasons in the Championship. Less of a wildcard that playing an idiot like Bacuna in CM having had one good game there in his whole Villa career and expecting him to become a box-to-box midfield revelation.

Yeah, Westwood, Sanchez, Gardner, Tshibola, Gana, Bacuna aren't really enough options as it stands for RDM. Guess we'll be forced to play the worst CM in the squad in the starting 11.

I think one thing we have to remember is that last season when facing the prospect of Newcastle coming to Villa Park I wasn't worried. In fact, I was glad about the potential of having a team we could actual compete against for a change. This season, Newcastle are deemed to have the strongest team in the whole division. What does that say about the calibre of the rest of the teams? I think we've got a really great chance to make a proper go of it this season, providing RDM gets things right behind the scenes.

What about Okore? Pretty sure he'll be a starter. I think a new attacking mid could be a good shout. Would make sense as Xia has said as much, too.

What's that got to do with anything? Are you inferring that we could sign Balotelli?

Great post aside from the part in bold .

Just chucking it out there... Gabby looks in terrific shape...

Yes!! Would be absolutely delighted with this signing. Plus he shares the same surname as my family so instantly, he'll be our hero .

Just to put things in to perspective regarding Bacuna @Michael118 10th best tackles per game in our whole squad at 1.5. 11th most interceptions per game at 1.8. ZERO assists in 35 appearances. 0.5 key passes per game ranking 12th in the whole squad. 0.8 dribbles per game ranking 11th in the squad. Finally 77.6% passing accuracy making him the 17th best passer in the team. He is absolutely SHOCKING. EDIT: One last stat for you. He has the 12th best average rating in the squad at 6.63. That's less than both Lescott and Richards who many consider to have helped relegate us.

This is honestly one of the most bizarre opinions held on VT. Seriously, it's lunacy . I've got to say, I respect you for being vocal about something so polarising.

I suppose I mean more in stature than anything. He's such a unit and with a nickname like "The Rock" I just hoped for more.

Always had hope for Sanchez. Such a great athlete but such a poor footballer. There was a game against Chelsea a couple of years ago where his passing accuracy was honestly the worst I'd ever seen from a Villa player.

Just no.

It's not just you GT. To go in to a season with a chance of winning the league is absolutely bonkers. It's probably still unlikely and admittedly we are an unknown entity as it stands but I don't care, I'm just happy to be along for the ride .

Now XIa has said that he thinks we'll get a creative midfielder I wonder who they see sitting back in the Villa midfield? Gana (if he stays)? Or maybe RDM bought in Tshibola as someone to sit? Exciting times.