Shomin Geki

Isn't this an oxymoron of the highest caliber? Please enlighten me? Looking back at this it isn't the most elegant of statements. Ted Hughes I am not. What I mean is simply that he has a real knack of surpassing himself, like a footballing version of the dad who lifts the car off his children in a pique of adrenalised emotion. But that dad shouldn't be fighting a Klitschko any time soon. For a limited player, and I think a limited athlete he doesn't half surpass himself a great deal.

You know I think he could be a real hero for a side valiantly battling relegation. A Sunderland or a Leicester. I really hope that's not us and therefore we need more than brave soldiers. To extend the metaphor we need proper equipment. He is not expected to be playing week in and week out barring other player's injuries/suspensions which I think is perfect for him. He is a great #3 defender to have. He can play left back as well. Plus if he can stay fit for a season, he might prove himself to be a starter. I think you may be right, sir!

You know I think he could be a real hero for a side valiantly battling relegation. A Sunderland or a Leicester. I really hope that's not us and therefore we need more than brave soldiers. To extend the metaphor we need proper equipment.

The link between defence and attack is my concern. Under Lambert players seemed uncomfortable with what exactly their roles were, or did know but were smart enough to realise it wouldn't work. Cognitive dissonance, and all that. Sherwood (and pals) appear to be working far more to the idea of a system from which we pick the best players in our squad. This is good. But so far I still see a big problem regarding how we build attacks from the back, and essentially our flexibility when switching from defence to attack, and vice versa. This to me is the essential quandary of the high tempo modern game.

Consistency and reliability is absolutely essential as a centre back. Baker can have awesome games. I admire his ability to play way beyond his abilities. But those are his abilities. And they are not consistent or reliable enough to build a foundation from. Sorry Nathan. Love you, just not in that way.

Sort of how I feel. Why not take the money and then militantly refuse to call it anything other than Villa Park? What would the difference be?

Cissokho reminds me of that thoroughly decent but completely boring guy you don't want to get stuck talking to at parties. What do you really think you are adding to life? At least the nutters are provocative and the cheap women are fun. The footballing equivalent of one of those slow little rollercoasters you get for ten year olds, a pale imitation of the thrilling Real Deal.

Welcome news. A nothing player. A wisp. One should not get into the habit of admiring footballers just because they do not make an utter arse of themselves when the ball is near them. He shall not be missed. A little mean, maybe, but true. Aston Villa deserves better than water-treaders. How can we move forward if we tolerate utter, utter averageness?

Gotta agree. If there's a vacancy for some half-time entertainer than snaps oaks in half with his head or leaps head first from the top of the Holte End Baker should have a serious chat with the missus.

So we're going from a slapdash ragtag of loveable underdog rogues to a properly organised team of proper players with a plan, led by a charismatic, no-bullshit leader. Any quotes related to Randy and Tom basing our future model on The Dirty Dozen? P.S. Please don't kill off Okore too soon. I do fear for Baker though. Good news anyway.

The first World Cup this chap remembers is 2002. He doesn't remember France '98, or Euro "Football's coming home" '96, or USA '94, or Italia '90. I'm only a few years older than the lad, but he's just made me feel old. Thanks for that, Nathan. The key word here is 'remember'. After yet another head injury I fear for the on pitch mental breakdown when we next play at Upton Park or Turf Moor.

Actually he sorta reminds me of Southampton-era Bertrand. Strong, driven, little bit silky. Amavi seems more aggressive, more skillful, Jamie Foxx to Bertrand's Colin Farrell (Miami Vice reference!). I want one.

Oh boy, why did I watch that video? This guy looks a machine. Marauding doesn't even cover it. In fact, look up 'marauding' in the dictionary and you'll get a picture of Amavi which you'll admire for a second before OOF! an elegantly brutal leg comes out and knocks you to the floor. No dictionary for you today. What seems most impressive is his composure. One moment he's cool, almost dawdling and suddenly, BAM, he's a mad snake on an oily field. One moment he's watching an attacker cautiously and then suddenly he's scissoring with military precision. And then he gets up and smiles. He goes again. I don't make this easy on myself.

all based on that favoriting of the tweet? What a time to be alive!

The thesis continued to make points in a collected, convincing manner. Most importantly I was aware of the poetic significance of the increase in quality of prose at a time of increased hope for the club as a whole. I would venture to compare this post to the signing of Idrissa Gueye, and contrast it to the posts in the era of Grant Holt and Habib Beye. I concur with the author about the glimmer of hope on the horizon. I must however encourage the author to refrain from the unattributed references to Lennon (1971). Stop it, you bastard. Ha, you made my day sir! So, A-?

Maybe I'm jinxing things and this post should be deleted and sent packing to Siberia, but how soon before we begin to have the feel of a 'dark horse' about us? We are signing quality players (maybe more than we'd ever hoped we would), keeping many of our key players, seem to finally have some decent investment, and crucially have a manager who seems to possess the perfect alchemical blend of arm-around-the-shouder enthusiasm and no-nonsense toughness. If we can be the Villa of that Liverpool game, or even half of the games under Sherwood, with players as promising as Gueye and Amavi clicking like Southampton 2.0 last season, am I crazy to think we could surprise a few people next season? I just don't buy into the mordant albatrossing of many a Villa fan. We could be somebody. I mean, the fact that I feel compelled to write this and not await a rain of rotten vegetables (prove me wrong fellas!) suggests at least a newfound optimism at play. They may say I'm a dreamer... but I'm not the only one... right?

Yep, this. Plus I'm not 12 years old anymore. With all due respect fellas do you so sternly sport the halo of maturity when roaring like Godzilla as an overpaid manchild does a funny little dance after kicking a ball really, really hard and really, really accurately. It's a beautiful game. It makes us feel silly emotions. I love that I can engage with something so inherently meaningless with such seriousness. Hero is just a fun term. Conversely, it's when people unthinking use the term 'hero' in the real world that I get squeamish. In short, Christian, if you're out there friend, you, me some Leffe, how about it? You'll get all the fruity words your heart desires.

I see. What would a quintessential best versus hero comparison be? Say, Yorke versus Taylor?

Man, have you SEEN Sunderland's treament table? Would you want to use it after an extensive post-game Cattermole full body rubdown?

Really with hindsight, Luna should have calmly sat down after the Arsenal goal and committed the smuggest hara-kiri. How could he top that? I'm sure Luna heaven is just half the gloriously empty Emirates pitch...

De La Cruz?

Not even close Easily one of the best offensive players during my 28 years as a Villa fan. So many glorious moments. So much intensity to his performances. So much Chris Smalling scraped off the Villa Park turf. If future mad scientists want to clone average Prem defenders sixty million years from now they could do worse than check out the Villa Park grass for plentiful DNA samples.

Benteke is a an all-time Villa hero even if he dirty protests Sherwoods car and sleeps with Randy's daughter to get his move (does Randy have a daughter? I'm praying she's not twelve.) Hell, he's welcome at my gaff for some fine Belgian ale anytime he wants. Why, he can even have his elegant way with my ex, who incidentally was weirldy into him... What I don't understand is the attitude of other teams' fans towards Our Beast. Particularly from our dear Liverpool friends seeing as he tore them new orifices on more than one occasion. What don't they see in him? Why the antipathy? How many PL-proven, young goalscorers are there out there?

Margot Robbie should be a good Harley. Unfortunately what we've seen so far is not Harley, IMO. It's just a random crazy suicide girl. The Suicide Squad stuff just seems so try hard gritty and'dark' it comes off terribly, and that Joker... Christ. I'm willing to bet Deadpool is poor as well. He's a very divisive character, and veers between funny and irritating at will even if you like the character. Even just the descriptions of the trailer suggest they've turned the Deadpool-ness up to 11 and already some of it is really missing it's mark IMO. Apocalypse looks like it might be OK but having seen the rough trailer, the character of Apocalypse looks stupid in this world already. It'll be alright but in willing to bet ouit'sts the weakest entry in the series. Whilst we're whinging about comic book movies, Fantastic 4 is out in less than a month, and no one cares, looks particularly crap, and they've literally just binned the 3d version, which bodes well... Anyone intrigued by Suicide Squad should definitely look at director David Ayer's previous work. End of Watch and Sabotage are both intriguing, but Fury is a real step up to the big boy leagues. He has a pleasingly nasty streak and crucially, a real affection for his oddball teams of desperate men and women. Ex-Navy guy and boy does it show!

6.8 out of ten? Bit vague that? I'd be curious to see how you'd rate the other Villa players? Maybe a third digit, you know, pull your finger out a little...