MarkLillis

That's what I used to say...…..now I just agree and say "yeah,he goes down to easily....yeah! He's not worth more than £25m you're right,we'll be lucky to get that!"

Well most supporters I talk to about seem genuinely surprised at how highly we rate him, its not just Utd fans. I don't agree with them but I given up trying to explain why he is so highly thought of at Villa as they just don't see it. We seem on our own here when it comes to Jack. If he moves anywhere in the UK he will not be valued like he is at Villa MAYBE IN Europe they will see what he brings......but there's not many teams in Europe that could afford him.

Baggies were obsessed with Villa a few years ago with all that "we know what what we are stuff" mainly aimed at us (where i live anyway). Coventry were the same in the 90s as were Stoke when they had some success. Now Wolves (mostly younger fans admittedly) are very keen to talk about "the gap" My experience tells me its not got much to do with Wyness and Xia so I'm just pointing out that this is always what happens when a midlands side has some success.If Wolves keep it up and i suspect they have a better chance than the others.You may notice the pattern yourselves after 10 or 20 years as the regions top side. We will just carry on being Villa and hopefully now we are being run in less of a shambolic manner maybe we can make it a two horse race for top dog

See my benchmark theory posted above yours. All the clubs around here have had decent teams over the past 20 years (Stoke,Wolves, WBA,Leicester,Coventry...further back though and even Blues for a little bit under Bruce) They all started directing banter at us when it wasn't there previously. Its simple if a midlands team is good they laugh at Villa If a midlands team is not performing well they look to their local rivals for the banter and jokes.

First there was nothing to link us to this guy.... Then there is a breadcrumb trail of tenuous links which seem to be backed up by people quite close to the player and fans of the team which he plays for which all sounds quite positive. Since then Sky sports Germany have said he favours RBL. Sky sports says loads of stuff all the time about everything........why is this report more credible then the other million BS stories Sky put out there? Is Sky Germany different to Sky UK? Are they more reliable?

I thought Jack looked (sometimes) as if he had the world on his shoulders. Id like us to sign players that take the pressure off him, players that show for the ball and have good movement. They would also need to be able to take over the job of carrying the side when he is not his normal self. that's the job description,should be easy enough....off you go recruitment department put that into your algorithm.

Villas fall from grace over the last 10 years highlights this really well. Success has to be benchmarked somewhere and over the course of Villas history until just recently we have been a top 6 side (that's averaged out and points based...….do a quick google search.) we are that benchmark around here. But we aren't that side anymore...….but it clear we are still their benchmark.So first WBA and now Wolves hold and 7th/8th place finish in such high regard because Villa are nowhere near them...... whereas Villa with a good side would consider 7th/8th as failure. If Wolves continue their ascendance we can chase them back to where we belong they will be doing us a favour...…….whereas us being crap is actually harming them!

So now we have two threads about players that don't have a solid link...….this takes away the fun of seeing a new name linked, soon clicking speculation threads on VT will become as pointless as clicking on a Birmingham live link.

I can vividly remember this match. I was a young lad sat in the Trinity Road with my dad and brother. There was a bad atmosphere and Doug trundled out one of his mates comedian Dave Ismay to tell us all to get behind the team, he was roundly booed! It s not the main reason why I remember it though. I was stood by the tunnel as I always did to try and get a few autographs when the players had finished warming up.Then one of the staff members asked me if I wanted to fill in as a ball boy. Of course I said yes and spent the second half in front of the Holte End throwing the ball back to Peter Shilton, we also spent the half time break in a little room next to the Villa dressing room drinking hot tea and listening to (I think) Billy McNeil try to get a better performance out of a lack lustre Villa team.

Well....Villa are looking for a new forward and Jack is pretty good. A match made in heaven

Interesting stat. You can bet the majority of Football fans don't know that Burnley have been in the top flight for more seasons than Leeds or Leicester.

He was on my list...….good start by Dean

Their rise has been pretty much linear since they appointed Nuno. They have kept the mostly same side for three years so to improve they have to buy/sell and these things don't always go to plan as we at Villa know only to well. They will definitely face a testing time at some stage and some of their fans realise this but at lot don't...

They are both good players in my opinion. Hopefully we can continue to coach them to defend more effectively. Its the guys in front of them that need improvement. Better wingers please!

It is the kit they wore the season that most Baggies fans consider was the start of their "revival" 92/93. The play off victory is remember fondly, I was living in Smethwick at the time and it seemed like the whole place had upped and gone to Wembley...…... they don't forget that game.

When I've seen Bennett for Cardiff recently he's the type of nasty spoilt player that is trying to wind up the opposition verbally. He's got the look of a little kid that will do anything to get what he wants. Towards the end to the Fulham play off game he pressed his studs into Onamahs ankle and was daring him to have a go when he got up. I don't remember him being like that with us?

Try arguing with a Baggies fan. They think the complete opposite. They think that they've always played exciting attacking football when the truth is it happened for three seasons only in the late 70s.

Suggestions taken from the top of my head. Dwight McNeil Ross Barkley Jonjo Shelvey Daniel Brooks Ruben Loftus-Cheek All proven in this league all would improve us with the added benefit of us actually knowing they can perform. What reasons are there for not getting any of them I'm sure people will know...

There are a lot of people who, whilst things were going badly were very, very critical of Dean Smith. This stance was understandable at the time as results and performances were poor. Now since lockdown there has been a clear upturn in performances (especially the last 4 games).This is not because he spent his way out of bad situation...…. but because he coached his way out. We changed the way we approached games and fixed the problems on the pitch using the tools at our disposal, it really is a good example of a manager being able to use his tactical and coaching skill to get a result Credit where its due. I cant remember the last manager that changed things for us like this.

Could we tempt any Southampton players? Ward- Prowse would be excellent, but maybe unrealistic. Nathan Redmond always strikes me as a reliable performer too.

Its not great.....winning the league would be great. But we have improved due to the players signed in the summer window it is clear to see and whilst the jury is out on the new January signings I agree the attitude of someone who cant see the improvement that the new players have made to our squad is stranger?

Ok thought I had missed a Dean Smith interview or something concrete from the club

Have we confirmed no more ins?

Whilst I agree Maddison is a good player,this is not an accurate assessment. In fact it is unfair on McGinn. You could say the Maddison is leagues ahead of a Walsall midfielder and I would agree....

We have always done this at Villa. 1994 v Tranmere 1996 v Arsenal 2010 v Blackburn 2020 v Leicester Thats just the League Cup games. As I get older I see that it is an unacceptable thing to do hence only joining in on the first two. However there will always be young kids getting excited because it’s the first time something has happened in their short supporting life. What I cant understand is family’s and older blokes getting involved....those guys should know better.