AlwaysAVFC

I'm hoping for 13th or above. Going by recent seasons anything below that, there is a relegation threat to a certain extent for a lot of the season, which would be nice to not have at all for once.

The reality is it could be anywhere between 7th-18th but I'm high on optimism and I'm going to go with 9th.

Think I've covered enough bases there

I wonder If the optimism and potential of the new look side becomes a reality, whether Lerner himself (not my opinion) will feel the years of austerity will have been success and justified.

I'll let him off for that Swansea game, he was selfish and was trying too hard but was taking quite a lot of stick from Swansea fans so was desperate to shove it back. It ultimately cost us the game but as a one off I'm ok with it. I imagine he may of had a bollocking after and should learn from it.

I've read Ron Vlaar is still potentially coming back here

Would take this all day long. Would be very sensible for all parties.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him again, I guess squad numbers would a be a key indicator of how likely if we don't take up all 25 when we put them in.

Get him out on loan.

Players at his point in his career don't tend to go on loan though, unless it's because they aren't wanted and struggling to be sold.

Even with the signings I'd like to think he still has a part to play this season.

Zlatan has said his next move will be a big suprise and we do seem to be buying the best of each team in Ligue 1

I did see that on Twitter earlier but it would surprise me.

Zlatan had a lot of good things to say of Mellberg when he retired so maybe Olof has said there is one thing he needs to do before he can be happy with his career

Bienvenue Jordan III

140 guests on this thread. Wonder how many are Leicester fans desperately holding out to buy a player

Slight off topic but Leicester seem to be trying to throw a lot of money about but not sign anyone. Either no one wants to go to them, it's the classic make it look like you're trying to spend money but have no intention really or they are just inept.

Unless they do sign players I fully expect them to struggle. Which is always good to know if Le Plan A doesn't work (optimistic it will though)

Reports in France that the Nantes president will stick to his agreement with Villa.

le source?

Béchamel?

Really should be Beurre Blanc if it's straight from Nantes

Is there still panic? I think this one is going to go through fine, probably today and doubt there was any real risk Leicester of getting ahead of us.

And Jordan Lyden to make a break through to the first team.

IF we get him, Adebayor, and Charlie Austin we could escape relegation this season. But we're not. So we won't.

What's Harry Redknapp got to do with it?

Why on earth did sherwood give him so much game time last season?

Pretty unlikely but perhaps Sherwood knew the only possibility that we were going to stand any chance of shifting him at the end of the season was to give him some game time and hope he'd have some motivation to show what he can do himself.

As I say, unlikely and also pretty high risk but it is also very unlikely we'd be able to sell him at all if he was bombed out (if it's not still anyway)

Really hoping this is true and cynically thinking we're not being used to flush out other interest.

Nantes have sort of been a second team for me since going on holiday in southern Brittany & the west coast of France from the early 90's. With plenty of highs and lows following them.

I'd be worried about them next season as they severely lack goals up front and he was a big part of the goals that were scored. Hopefully we get him and they spend the money well.

He is exactly the sort of style player we needed to add in midfield, so hopefully it's great news.

Edited just too add if we do get him hopefully he is a lot more successful than the 2 former Nantes midfielders that we've had in Berson & Djemba Djemba.

Is Crespo the reason Tim Sherwood was apparently in Spain over the weekend?

Yes

or maybe not

Or maybe yes

LOL

Maybe he just went for some decent paella?

For U21 what date is the cut off? Amavi is only just 21 I thought it started at the beginning of the year so he'd be ok this season. Also we won't have 4 lb's in final squad. We many have over age players it doesn't mean they'll be in the squad.

Cut off is 1st Jan the year the season starts. I don't know whether this means it's ok to be 21 on 01/01/15 or whether you have to be 20 or under.

I see West Brom's deal has gone the same way.

Who'd have thought Ade Edmondson would be forgotten so quickly...

Im just glad we are looking at the continent tbh. Far better players out there than the likes of Austin or Ade!

Yes hypothetically the whole scenario could have been a lot different with no clause. There would be a good chance Benteke would have ended up trying to force a move which would have made the whole thing a lot messier. It may of still happened if Liverpool didn't want to pay the full amount but a £32.5 million clause was a realistic amount & helped make it more straight forward. So all in all the clause worked out well, if you can call losing Benteke well.

Personally if he is to start I think it should only be right back, if he can just improve the defensive side of his game a little (easy said) he would be very good there. I just don't think he has enough in his game to push for a start anywhere else. He could play on the wing but he'd need to be a hug the touch line winger and that doesn't really fit in with the likely formations and he doesn't really take on players, his runs are about space, pace and timing which he utilises quite well at right back.

Sorry.

Admittedly there has been few things to be positive about, but I do hope it's just the Villa you're so negative about.

Seeing just the negatives and not the positives that are there, isn't being realistic.

Not massively involved but looking good

I have a spare ticket if anyone is interested

Hope this guy lives up to my expectations because I think bar benteke, it's the best signing of perhaps the last decade and could be what keeps us in the prem imo.

I think your account has been hacked!