flatty

Looks one of our more positive players and shows some real class in flashes. It’s not quite happening for him on a consistent basis but he’s had a lack of football for a number of years. I’m confident that given more football on a regular basis and with the managers backing and an arm around the lad, he will come good and prove to be a very good player for us, and a steal at the ££ we paid.

Remi Garde, back in my teenage years, would probably have been a manager I would have been excited at the prospect of joining us. Seeing such short odds now as it happens as the opposite effect. Who knows if we would have been in for Big Sam if the decision to fire Sherwood had been taken earlier, but all things considered he would have been my pick for sure. There aren't any "go to" managers available at the minute so I accept that perhaps any appointment will be more of a gamble than you would typically see from a team in our situation. But for me, and I hope I'm just being pessimistic, I don't think at this point in time for Villa, Garde would be a sensible appointment and would be a very big gamble. I still get the romance of appointing a manager from overseas that might bring new ideas, tactics and knowledge of players that would improve us and there may well be some managers out there that could do just that. I just think the chances of Garde being that manager are pretty slim. Granted, I don't have any insight as to his qualities but his managerial record totalling 3 years in France with one of the biggest clubs is a little underwhelming. Clearly Lyon didn't implode but nor did they make strides under Garde who probably held on to the job longer than other managers might have done given his affinity with the club. For arguments sake, I wouldn't have been happy with say Neil Lennon last year. Not the best comparison perhaps but for me some similarities in that he is a manager who did a decent job with celtic, kept them doing what they were doing without pulling up too many trees but I wouldn't have been inspired at his appointment. The PL is a different beast, we see top managers at top teams get caught out at its competiveness and understandably most take time to adjust, even seasoned PL players who have achieved some managerial success in other leagues such as solskjaer have struggled to say the least. I know that there are some other managers that have done well such as Pochettino but I would argue that our club and team is in a worse place right now and the situation is going to need wholesale changes alongside a strong, experienced manager to turn around. Garde from what I have read and seen is touted as a manager, like Sherwood, that can work with younger players. I am positive there'll be more considered than this but it perhaps does indicate that we'll continue with the same philosophy... I think Sherwood was bang on in that we need some more experience and some quality which I just don't think is there in the current squad and January will be crucial imo. Timing wise it's all good, the new manager will have time to assess what we have pre transfer window and I hopefully backed to bring in some players that will provide balance to a squad lacking leadership and experience in key areas. Of course I will be behind Garde should he join us but at this stage he wouldn't be for me.

I read that and Iran a mile Yeman, I'm right with you on that

If you look at Gabbys highlight reel you'd think he was a world beater. As you should with any well put together highlight reel! For years I have said he is overrated and a player best utilised by sending him on with 20/25 mins to go when the legs of the opposition defenders are getting heavy. I understand a fair point made that lots of managers at Villa have picked him but rightly or wrongly I judge on competitive performance and at best Gabby is hit and miss regardless of effort and attitude shown in training. The amount of chances missed and misplaced passes, poor runs etc really do add up and whilst there is no denying when it does all come together, he can be unplayable, its so rare that it doesn't add up to keep him in the first 11.

Good to hear he's getting some minutes and Im looking forward to him being about the first team again soon. I don't have the same belief in him as the majority here. I am right behind the lad and I'm desperate for him to become more effective and establish himself in the first team but I think that's some way off yet - imho. Bags of potential though and hopefully he gets a run out with the first team soon.

I was looking forward to Kozak getting a run this season but with Rudy being signed and offering similar qualities I imagine we may see Kozak shipped out somewhere.

I can't say I have been overly impressed with the lad, some decent touches and bursts of liveliness but not showing the standard I had hoped - even considering it's early on. If we had picked him up on a free or on the cheap I wouldn't be so concerned but I'm afraid I have to declare I am in the Charlie Austin camp in that I would have spent 15m on him rather than 12m on Ayew, I just can't help making the comparison. Players certainly do take some time to get up to speed with the premier league and the teams style of play etc and I hope this is the case!

I really think that Sinclair will come good with a decent run of games and will prove to be one of our better players in time. He's shown his quality in bursts and I'm sure it will get more consistent with the right run of games, training and encouragement.

95/96 when we beat united on the opening game of the season 3-1. It was my first game at VP and there were cheerleaders!

Pleased to see us buy this lad. I have no concerns with the reported buy back clause, sensible business from Barcelona and should he go back, it will be because we have had our moneys worth! Naturally I don't anticipate we'll see the best of the squad until next season, and on an individual basis too. It's a nice feeling, looking forward to seeing us progress and build what potentially could be an exciting squad for years to come...

Diego Rolan ? No thank you, I don't see any improvement over what we have/had last season. Strikers that look formidable in some European leagues, which this guy doesn't, get a rude awakening in the Prem - and there are numerous strikers with as equally good and even better games to goals ratio. Of course some players progress and take up the challenge but I would still much rather go for Austin though I concede his name doesn't have the same exciting ring to it...

I hope that the odds shortening on Villa signing Charlie Autstin QPR aren't just due to the media putting 2 and 2 together considering our Benteke money... I'd really like to see Austin at Villa and hope we can get this done quickly now, imo he'd be a great addition. Adebayor on loan would be interesting too and our front line with this pairing could be formidable, I said previously I'm not really a fan attitude wise but when he's on it and fancies a game there is no denying his ability. Someone mentioned earlier that Adebayor would need to have a good season to put himself in the shop window for a big money move in the summer when he is out of contract, I totally agree and I wouldn't mind us exploiting that motivation and sure TS fancies his chances of getting a good season out of him. 100k a week might be a bit rich and I see west ham linked too, they'd pay it im sure and far more local to him so we'll how this progresses.

We're getting there.

"footballing opportunity" - I really don't see him being an automatic starter at City.

We needed additions before... We have to hope that the club bought Gueye with one eye on Delph leaving. If Benteke leaves I wouldn't be bothered in principle considering the fee. It does mean we have to bring in a number of players which makes me nervous but perhaps with the new Sporting Director we'll see a different Villa in the transfer market...hopefully. I don't know how I feel about Adebayor, well actually I don't like him from what I've seen - attitude wise. When he's on form though, which Sherwood was able to facilitate previously, he is a handful but I don't know if I would pay him a fortune and hope he feels like putting in a shift each week. I'd ring QPR straight away and get Charlie Austin if possible. Natural finisher and if we can get him the supply I have every confidence he'd bang in 15+ for us. The more I think about how many positions we need to strengthen the more I need a beer... Fridge bound...