dnmacf

Good luck to the lads. Competitive or not, however much we see of the new players, it will be good to see them play in the new kit!

Don't see why we should offer him a new contract to be honest if an appropriate bid doesn't arrive in our stated timeframe? Keep him on 20k per week till January or next summer, whenever he eventually goes, unless he comes out and states he will give his all for the club while he's still here and playing in claret and blue.

'Villa said he had already been given extra time off until 18 July before the transfer request was made.' (BBC Sport

Guardian reporting we've stated 'no swap deals.' We're a very different club to the last two seasons with Houllier and McLeish, changing manager during summer and lacking clear, decisive direction. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/09/christian-benteke-tottenham-spurs-villa

I think we should pay more attention to Arsenal. They are in just as much need of a goal scorer and have failed to sign a star striker the past few seasons much to the annoyance of their supporters. They've shown they have money to spend (30m Suarez bid) and Benteke would fit in well as he is French speaking, not only this but he has voiced an interest in playing for them in the past as a dream club and they are playing champions league football next season which must also be a draw for Christian. We'll see. Either way, listening to PL's stance, I don't think we're going to get a bad deal. Sure, would have been great if he had stayed another season but I have more than enough confidence in PL and the direction the club are finally building towards to not feel so down beat as to loosing our best players, the previous 4 seasons.

Hi all, I'm Dave! I'm 21, I was born in Glasgow and my birth team are Celtic however I moved to Stourbridge in 2002 when I was 11. Despite watching and admiring Villa on MOTD, I didn't pick up a midlands team until 2006 when Martin O'Neill was announced as manager at Aston Villa. I have attended several games a season and been an avid supporter since. I rarely go a day without checking what's going on at the club and have been greatly excited my the progress made since Paul Lambert (a boyhood hero of mine as Celtic captain) has taken over. For this reason I have become a season ticket holder at Villa Parl for the first time this upcoming 2013/14 capaign. I will be commencing my fourth year of study at University of Sheffield in September so will be travelling down through Derby on game days! I also represent Villa in Melbourne, Australia, when visiting my Dad who lives out there, wearing my shorts at the gym amongst all the Aussies clad in AFL and rugby paraphernalia. I hope to start posting here, adding my thoughts to the discussion and generally becoming an active member of the Villa Talk community. I make no ITK claims and never will Thanks!