AlwaysAVFC

I'm pretty sure every manager would have said similar in a post match interview if their team had gone 3 down in a matter of minutes and never came back.

Experienced premier league players can be a bit off pace coming off the bench, let alone someone who's barely got any minutes under his belt. So no reason to be concerned at all.

No worries there, he's still probably got about 10 years left on his ridiculous contract.

As silly as it sounds, if he can improve then with the lack of any decent English centre backs currently, it could be possible. I don't think it will happen, mainly due to him not playing enough games let alone if he is good enough, but it's not impossible.

I think he's referring to us not having much money to spend, rather than the quality of players past or present.

Looking at the alternative then yes I think so. He has signed a 4 year contract, effectively a 3 year extension, over those 3 years at 50k a week that is 7.5 million in wages providing he stays for the length of his contract. For that you are getting a player who is in what is usually considered the peak years of a footballer, a player who has vast experience in the Premier League, a player who has proven he can scare the life out of the best defenders in the league, a player who even when not in the best of form will put a shift in and by his very presence allows others more space and a player who has banged in almost 80 goals for us having played way over half his games out wide. A player who is also a big influence in the dressing room and has captained the club. To buy a player of Gabbys age, top flight experience and proven pedigree is going to cost you a hell of a lot more than the approx 7.5 mill this contract extension will likely have cost us I'm surprised how many don't have this opinion. In my best Mark Lawrenson impression, its a no brainer! (and I'm not referring to Gabby being a bit dim) Sure he's frustrating and even more so in the last 12months but try and buy someone better for £7.5 (if that figure is right) Its obviously possible as you only have to look at Benteke but you would definitely struggle and you've still got to pay their wages on top of that. It's still value if we progress and he's only making the bench.

After a decent first season I was disappointed with him for the first couple of months of last season but despite results especially towards the end of the season, I think he's been continually improving since then. I've said it before but I think we really need to give him a good few months of this season to see what else he has got. Sanchez or Cleverley or both means his role potentially will have changed and will determine whether he is a decent squad player or an international midfielder.

I'd imagine everything is in place for us to pay the agreed price in january to make it a permanent deal. That would be a bit daft as we could sign him up to a pre contract in Jan for nothing. As mentioned by others, he could only sign a pre contract with foreign teams. Although that's not to say he couldn't Unofficially agree something with a premier league club. Though against the rules, I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen. Apologies. I still think we would be mad to pay a fee in January when we could pick him up for nothing in the summer. Assuming another club doesn't come in for him in the meantime. There is the difference, Cleverley would not join us on a free as he would more likely get a better deal elsewhere. With a fee being agreed we have a chance of persuading him in Jan, whereas if we left it to a Bosman, i wouldn't fancy our chances. If we wouldn't be in contention at the end of the season, I don't see why we would in any better of a position to persuade him in January.

I don't know why I keep reading this thread. It makes me want to bang my head against the wall followed by banging a Westwood hater and a lover's heads together.

There's a lot of crap involved with England, but choosing to play for another country because of it is crazy. If your lucky to be good enough and have the option of 2 countries you should choose the one you feel the most affinity with. So with Jack ultimately it should be does he feel English because he was born here or Irish because of his heritage. Of course it's not as easy as that though. Does he want to choose England but there is always the risk it doesn't happen? or worse still only once. Ireland he could be playing international football very soon, He could have to wait for England. Does he crave to win things? arguably England are far more likely to win a tournament than Ireland. It would be nice if Jack does just choose which one forgetting all these other factors and of course has a long successful career here.

You'd like to think with the midfielders we've got now, it wouldn't happen. We'll have to see, it's easier said than done if we're on the back foot.

I'd imagine everything is in place for us to pay the agreed price in january to make it a permanent deal. That would be a bit daft as we could sign him up to a pre contract in Jan for nothing. As mentioned by others, he could only sign a pre contract with foreign teams. Although that's not to say he couldn't Unofficially agree something with a premier league club. Though against the rules, I'd be surprised if it doesn't happen.

Hutton and Given did alright - financially if nothing else. Given is waving The club need to blood test Shay, looks like he has a bit of a problem.

I think he might well be back in full train in after the international break. I do still think though he should be given time and not rushed back for games till he's fully up to fitness let alone making sure his Achilles is 100%. I'm not sure that will happen though and we might see him rushed back a little where he'll be a bit off pace for a while like last season and wouldn't be surprised if we see him in September at some point.

It's giving him more of an opportunity of a longer contract than him not getting to play at all. A good run and he might be competing for a start when he comes back, which he's unlikely to be doing barring injuries as it stands with just U21 and maybe a cup appearance to play in.

Probably best, he needs a run of games and he's just not going to get that here.

This Westwood debate is best waiting a few months as his role in the side is going to change or develop if he is to remain in the first XI. Where his limitations are either going to be highlighted or he's going to progress further. Talk of England is the sad predicament of the national team and the lack of English central midfielders currently. Hopefully by the end of the season Westwood will have thoroughly deserved to be talked about.

You can't deny there is an increased air of optimism around the club. Its amazing what a signing 99% of people think is good, a win and a clean sheet does. Hopefully we can build on this, on and off the pitch to the end of the month and on wards, as confidence can do wonders. That said I'm also sure most know that it could all change and wouldn't take much to deflate the optimism and confidence and turn Villa park into a very un-enjoyable experience for fans, players and management a like. This time last year confidence was quite high following on from the previous season and the Arsenal and Chelsea games but by the end of September it was a whole different story after seeing our play regress badly.

For the tackle, it was awful but the whether he meant it or not it was far less dangerous than some. It wiped Long out but unlikely to injure him. As for Hutton and the bomb squad. The only conceivable thing is that it was to cut costs as a result of either an increase in transfer fees due to previous clubs or increases in wages all due to appearances. Which questions how the deals were made in the first place and why you would think it would be better to have players not playing than playing and costing a bit more.

Yes hopefully. I imagine he's only going to get his opportunity if there are a couple of injuries or a cup game or maybe a substitute appearance so he needs to take advantage of any chance he gets to impress.

Yeah his kicking was awful yesterday but it's not normally anywhere near as bad as that.

Its great he had a good game. Like many I've been a bit worried about the signing and like with Cissokho & Hutton its early days but a superb start. I'm sure a solid defence will only help with confidence throughout the team including in an attacking sense. My mindset on Senderos actually changed in the morning when Soccer AM took the piss out if him. He's Villa now and one of us, hope he continues to prove everyone wrong.

Early days but promising.

It doesn't matter! Isn't it just a bit of a cliche that you beat off competition. Sometimes you do, sometimes its a bit of PR. I doubt we'll really ever know if anyone else made a serious effort to get him. Well, that's one way to distract them while we sign the targeted player. Thought about re wording it but kept it. To be fair Lambert has been called a rocket polisher by a few people at Villa Park

It doesn't matter! Isn't it just a bit of a cliche that you beat off competition. Sometimes you do, sometimes its a bit of PR. I doubt we'll really ever know if anyone else made a serious effort to get him. I know it doesn't matter, it's interesting though. Although "it doesn't matter was a song by the Rock!