rubberman

I dunno. DL's pass for the Diaby goal was pretty special and not the first time he's done that. Getting very excited for the season ahead now.

This Pubil link has the whiff of Moreno about it - pretty much unknown, out-of-nowhere link and from profile looks like a really good back up/alternative to Matty.

He did also say this at the start of the window, so not much of a surprise. He obviously rates Duran and will be good to see Archer get opportunities. I wouldn't be surprised to see one more wide forward added, but don't think we were ever looking at a pure striker.

And how do you propose they get proven at this level without giving them the chance? We're not going to loan to a PL team. If the coaching team think they are ready/good enough then that's fine by me.

Yes. While there are players that will eventually need upgrading, with 3 in already and assuming a couple more to come, we need to keep a level of continuity to build on last season. That was a tight knit and strongly performing group that we need to enhance, not overhaul.

Turning out to be a tasty window. Bring on the season - gonna be great.

Knock knock Who's there? Openda Etc...

Agree with this 100%. Just going on reports such as the below, I can't see both Archer and Duran getting much time on the pitch. Hopefully we go deep in a couple of cups and they do. Will be interesting to see how it shapes up.

Interesting reports that Duran is to be kept around/involved for this season. Maybe means Archer will get another loan? Even with Europe and hopefully a cup run, I can't see both + Watkins having enough playing time.

That is grim reading about BK8. Really need to get out of this.

I work in sports clothing design (not football). That is really bad. Has no flow to it. Not easy with the roundel, castore's wings and the BK8 to make it cohesive, but could certainly do a lot better. The shoulder/sleeve junction is a design abomination. 2/10 Keeper kit is far better, but if the Villa crest and other logos are going green, so should the sleeve logo. 6/10

I'm going to be very happy if we sign Largie and Fati.

We already had Micah.

For what it is worth (probably nowt)...

Gerrard to take Coutinho to Saudi - yes please!

Yeah - Apple and Adidas sponsorship stuff included. Anyway - glad we can move this to other football now.

He might think about it very briefly if there was a big, big wad of cash on offer (which is obviously unlikely), but after Unai showed absolute faith in him by selling Ings and then coaching him to perform at his best he'd be bonkers to consider moving to a club with a manager untested at this level on the way down and out of Europe. Don't think there's much danger there.

Tielemans seems like a real wierd one. Not particularly what we are crying out for and with a career going the wrong direction. Was great a few years ago, but (as with most of Leicester) pretty awful this season. Meh signing but will have faith is what Emery wants.

Yep ^ that is pretty much how I see it.

Sounds like AWB is staying put anyway, so this is all moot.

I think it's more likely that he is waiting till the end of the Spanish season. They've still got the final weekend to come.

Amazingly we were only the 4th worst ever with 17. At this point, I still fancy/hope Everton will finally drop next season, Luton obvs and then Sheffield probably the next favourites. I've said elsewhere I think City will be run close by Utd next season at the top. Arsenal I think will continue the slightly inconsistent performance form later in the season, Liverpool have a bit of work to do to an aging squad, Newcastle, depending on recruitment, could push on to challenge for the title, but probably will settle in the 3rd to 5th slots. I hope we can be up with those above - a 5th CL spot opening up would be what we should aim for but they are good teams. Europa/ECL slots - Chelsea will improve, but so much work for Poch to do. Spurs - a disaster, may not even make junior Europe. Brighton - as ever depends who goes and if they can magic up another batch of replacements. Dunno who else makes the top 10 - Brentford? Fulham? West Ham? Palace? Most of the rest are quite crap.

And Luton away!

Obviously dependent on what happens during the summer, but as things stand now I reckon Man City vs Utd fight for the title. I think Arsenal will be more like the inconsistent second-half of this season team, Liverpool have an overhaul needed and Newcastle will be having to cope with CL - they will all be thereabouts, but beatable and with the right incomings I fancy us to be up there with them for 3rd to 6th. Brighton will lose players and who knows, maybe DeZerbi, but will be pushing for junior Europe. Chelsea will surely be better, but Poch has a massive job to turn that around - junior Europe. And Spurs - no manager, no Kane, Levy - I'm going the same there. If it does get to 5 CL places, we should be in with a shout, but it's (as ever) going to be tough.

100%. I would add that I expect an evolution of the current system we've used since Emery came in to offer more flexibility to counter different opposition, so players coming in may not obviously fit what we have seen so far. Teams will treat us differently next season and we need ways to break down packed defences that won't be drawn onto us. I'm sure the incoming players will give Unai many more options to change things up and we'll see more horses-for-courses rotation next season.