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...

Shocked, and annoyed.

Well I posted a couple of weeks ago that I couldn't see Delph going, particularly to City, and as far as I could see it was the media whipping up a story. Clearly there was more to it than that but I was very happy to hear him put the "gossip" to bed. ...so I'm shocked to see Delph having reportedly completed a medical with them. In light of his comments, and assuming what SSN is selling is actually true I would expect him give us an explanation, which will be interesting. To be completely honest and considering everything, I would be less surprised to hear that he was in Manchester having a medical as United had swooped in. Although perhaps the people with Delph at the clinic are known City reps?

If I'm honest I am hoping that the statement is designed to help in any on-going/future negotiations for a new GK, so that it doesn't seem our backs are against the wall - wishful (over) thinking probably... Don't get me wrong, I do really like Guzan, seems a good chap to have around the squad and imo has improved an awful lot in the time since he first joined us. Initially I was far from convinced he was good enough, even for for a No 2 spot considering some early performances and mistakes but he has developed well and I'm not too concerned in principle if he's between the sticks next season. This said, for me Guzan is a fair to middling keeper by premier league standards which is why I would have liked us to improve in this position and increasingly so since Given has moved on. I haven't seen much of and may be doing an injustice to the young keeper that Lambert bought with him from Norwich but I do think we still need to add another GK to the squad, ideally as a No 1 or at least to provide solid competition to Guzan.

The only reports so far look to be rip offs of each other - a la modern day "news". I am not concerned at this stage and I don't think there is too much merit in Fabian moving to City of all the top 4 clubs... this given their frankly poor use of younger English talent in the whole (Rodwell, Sinclair, Johnson etc). He's still improving , earning good money, captaining the team, name is regular on the England team sheet and he is clearly progressing as a footballer at Villa - I just cannot see him leaving for City... I know that there would be a lot of £££££££££££ on offer from City but everything I've heard from Fabian in recent years suggests he's fairly well rounded lad and I have every confidence he'll be with us for this coming season. Or at least that is what Im telling myself in the hope that positive thoughts prevail.

Whilst it's always a shame to lose a good player on a free transfer I actually think it may turn out well for us. Defensively we have been pretty poor for some time, we lack a consistent pairing that forges a solid defence over time and although I do rate Vlaar, his injury proneness and seemingly extended recovery periods really don't help us on that front. It will be interesting to see how we replace him, which I am convinced we will need to do.

I would be sorry to see Gill go as I think with a prolonged run in the team and the right coaching he could well develop into a special player, but can understand why we may decide to move him on… Flair players are all well and good but they have to be regularly effective and I’m not sure that Gill offers too much more at the minute than intermittent bursts of quality and there are lots of players that have that ability. If Gill could be more consistent and work harder without the ball then he’d be a serious player but many don’t develop that way and can be somewhat of a luxury player imo. We also do have other options in and about the positions that Gill is competing for and though Gill is older than say Grealish I don’t think he is that far ahead of him – and that’s not to say I am at all on board the Grealish bandwagon. I think both need to improve if they want to continue to play top level football but Jack is younger, on less money (I would assume) and is a local lad which should make him more committed. I would like us to ship N’zogbia out and see Sherwood work with and try and develop Gill but I think that the main issue seems to be Gill just not fitting with Sherwoods philosophy or plans and as such I'm sure we've seen him in a Villa kit for the last time.

So management wasn't for Mac, he did well by all accounts in other capacities with us. Works well with youngsters which will no doubt be important for us moving forward, he knows the club and some of the players so gives him a head start - sensible appointment for me!

I'm hoping that Sherwood shakes things up and moves Lambert's backroom staff on. The players need fresh ideas, they've stagnated in the main for too long. We might not have a team/squad for the top 4 granted, but we're a way off our potential IMO. I think Sherwood will fire the players up and could keep us in the prem but he'll need help to develop the players we have over the med/long term. I really wouldn't be opposed to Hoddle coming in given the developing squad we have. I'm sure he'd be able have more influence with our players than QPRs. Can't see him working under Sherwood though IMO. Neville (gary) seems like hed be a great coup, not too bad of a drive for him, young squad with potential and English talent too ... but probably wishfull thinking and if he was wanting a club would be more likely to team up with Bruce or Hughes? Wilkins might want a way back in and would defintely add something. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ramsey sign up in the summer, can't see QPR sticking with him either way. Looking forward to hearing from Tim in the coming days and seeing who he does bring in.

I can't say that Sherwood was who I was hoping we'd appoint but in truth given our circumstances I genuinely can't name any other manager that would be available and interested who wouldn't represent a risk of some sort. Sherwood doesnt have that much managerial experience but I'll take his premier league knowledge and leadership qualities over say a championship manager, a foreign manager (with no Premier League expereince) or the likes of Curbishley... I think he'll be able to fire up the squad, keep us in the prem and hopefully kick on from there. I don't mind a vocal manager with an "ego" in fact it'll be a nice change from Lambert's lacklustre attitude, though I do think a lot more has been made of his previous comments than is warrented. I'm right behind Sherwood now he's signed up and dare I say it, hopeful that most of us are underestimating his ability and he'll actually move us back in the right direction during his time at VillaPark. Good luck Tim!

I have to say now Lambert looks a dead cert im looking forward to next season. In Lambert I think we will have a manager who can get the most out of players which is going to be important as I really dont think we have the best squad. What I see as vital is that he is able to bring in 3/4 good players and with that improve the back line and supply to Bent. If he is able to do that and get the likes of Ireland, Nzogbia and Makoun performing as we know they are capable of then it could be a pleasing season ahead.