MarkLillis

But you have exaggerated slightly Up until O Neil left we were at top half/top six club who no one in their right mind would even consider being in the relegation mix. so for approximately 9 years we have been poor....

Of course he can come good. Why are some so quick to write players off? This guy was a key part in a Premier League winning team just three years ago and is still only 28. He May not be the answer for us that true.But give him chance to stake his claim.

I saw Sid on many occasions. Ive also seen many other great Villa players but Jack is special.The way he drifts past players and invites challenges. This season he has stepped up and added goals to his game but it’s ability he has to slow the game down marks him out for me. There is no other English player around like him. He is our Gazza

I can understand looking at stats to decide whether a player is worth a look at. After that it comes down to old fashioned scouts opinion.....how else can it happen. I'm sure many teams sign players without watching them closely over a period of time but why? Also how do they decide if a player is good enough to step up in standard from a lower league to Prem or La Liga?

I find the Baggies version amusing. Where sing “we even conquered Europe in 1982 “They sing “Super Bobby Taylor we sing this song for you” So while we are reminiscing about 1982 they are thinking about the league 1 top scorer in 1993

They must be gutted we aren’t playing on that day. Now they have concentrate on their own teams result....

Love this.... Boss I’ve got an idea for an article! Can I play my favourite computer game for Xx hours and summarise the out outcome? Why not we’ve got nothing else to report on!

Nzonzi was always very effective for Stoke......having said that when I saw him he was playing against Villa most of the time!

My point is that we haven’t been this bad all season. Only after December have I started to worry about survival. The Leicester, Southampton,Norwich and Man City performances have really knocked supporter confidence hence the dramatic increase in doubt. This can be turned around 2015/16 was and unstoppable juggernaut This isn’t. But I get your point you always knew we would be lucky to stay up!

People are only saying 17th is an achievement after a poor run of results in December.Followed up by injury’s to key players and compounded by a heavy home defeat.

There are teams that will have relegation form with us.. This is not like the promotion race, when we get bad results a lot of teams around us are getting them also. My take on it is that some of the teams destined to fight it out with us haven't even arrived in the relegation zone yet because of their early season form. 16 games to go 4 wins 4 draws and 8 defeats. If the wins and the draw's come in bits and drabs we wont even have to hit a run of form and can still stay up. Its better if you look on the bright side :)

Rondon fits perfectly into our style of play atm.Espically I’d have to play like we did at Leicester. Coming back from China mid season would be difficult though.

A good performance last night. So credit where it due.I just can’t figure this guy out. Inconsistent is an understatement

A lot doubt and “he doesn’t have a plan B” cliches flying around before the Burnley game. I think Dean has answered some questions. At Burnley I thought we were very good(mainly first half) and could have put the game to bed if it wasn’t for VAR. Tonight without a striker you could see clear lines and organisation.He worked with what he had to gain a massive result. This man should not be in doubt. A few of his players are maybe not quite ready for the big league but he is.

Nyland has been good in his three appearances granted. But let’s look at this opportunity closer. A 37 year old (not really old for a goalkeeper) Who has played for Barca,Bayern,Liverpool and AC Milan. And we are questioning his signing?

A rock tonight!

Do you think its more of an indication of how far we have slipped? Or can some credit be given to Leicester and their rise to become one of the top clubs in the country? Because let to fair to them they get a lot of things right.

To me,in our current situation (lacking experience) I think a move for him would be ideal. Im not sure if I can remember how pacy he was/is...but sure can remember he delivered good crosses. We are very unreliable in this area.

I hope there is never a scenario that allows Leicester City to take our best player in a generation. That is all

I am feeling more optimistic after the Burnley performance. It showed that we can and will change formation. It showed that we have some fight, as they were always going to come at us second half and despite two injury's we held firm. The transfer window is here and we are planning to use it. Most of our games this season have been tightly contested affairs. December being the only month where our opposition have comfortably taken the points and even then it hasn't been in all matches. T o be honest IMO we have been the bottom of the table and survived with a worse squad of players and manager at our disposal.

People make mistakes. Its seems like he has made a couple of big ones.... The move to Chelsea stalled his career The incident has tarred his reputation (I do not condone drink driving and I hope he understands the seriousness of the offence?). But life goes on and people get over mistakes by keeping going and eventually being given a chance to prove they have leant from their mistakes. I hope the move to Villa is Danny's chance.

Whilst not a world beater Hourihane is a good player. I suspect he would be being lauded by a lot of Villa fans had we have managed to turn a couple of extra points this season. Small margins

It really isn’t. It’s like anywhere it has nice areas and some more rundown places also. Some lovely surrounding countryside too.

I always find I am the opposite to TRO. At the match I kick every ball I can almost feel like I’m on the pitch with the players some days.At the Norwich match I sat in the Doug Ellis (away from my usual Holte End Seat) and I noticed so much more with a better view. It really wound me up at the game some of the things I could now see were now worrying me..... By the time I was back home and reading this site I was focusing on the positive things that happened. Things always seem better on reflection if you look for what’s going right and build on that. I am sure Dean and the boys are looking at it from this angle too.

The loss at Fulham is disappointing but not at all unexpected.As a club and a team they are not much different from us right now.They are just in a different division having made some errors in the transfer market last year,and are getting back on their feet again and I would suspect they will continue to gain ground on Leeds and Baggies this year. Villa have won two out of three of our last PL matches. The Burnley game showed a change of formation and attitude from the players and the first half was as good as it has been for Villa all season. To be honest I am glad some of our players/management do not have the attitude of our supporters....doom and gloom is self forfilling. We are in with a real chance of staying up.Performances have been poor only throughout December it can and will get better. Dean Smith has already proved he can turn a bad run around before and he can do it again.