Earl the Pearl

Would really to see something more concrete soon so we know what's going to happen. Nothing would be worse than having Benteke go right before the season ticks off so getting replacements would be trickier.

Ron Vlaar?

Come on Christian, we love you a million times more than the Scousers ever could. Stay at Villa and fire us into mid-table obscurity!

Darder is quality.

I think adebayor is a red herring

We do tend to do our business quietly, so all of the Adebayor links actually make me think that it's less and less likely.

IMO, there's nothing better than waking up early and getting a run in before the day begins. I had always convinced myself that I couldn't wake up early to exercise and still function throughout the day, but I've recently began doing so and I've never felt better.

When do you guys think the best time of the day to run is?

I really like Bacuna but he looks scared to put himself infront of shots and crosses at times. Maybe we should have Nathan Baker show him how it's done?

We should've tried to sell him to QPR when they were in the Prem. They seem to like paying hefty wages to bums.

Please no Spuds players.

If Benteke goes I honestly think we'll see Austin come in.

How long has it been since the players were on holiday? I'm sure some of them are still sweating out the booze.

Gil was by far the best, but Robinson and Mason also looked decent in the first half. N'Zogbia shouldn't be allowed to play football and Micah looked a bit out of place at CB.

Admittedly, I didn't watch the second half because it was beautiful outside and couldn't justify staying in the house to watch any longer.

I really don't care if we lost, DELPHY IS STAYING!

Gil was our best player by a country mile.

I do rate Bacuna but my goodness he is not a RB.

I like how Mason is playing, moving the ball very quickly.

N'Zogbia is terrible.

This 3 at the back just isn't going to work

 

It looks good on paper but even Manure struggled to make it work in the prem and look at the caliber of players they have at their disposal

Perhaps I could take out Okore and add Gil next to Grealish.

@earl.... reading that Mirror article, with the headline "Micah Richards fears Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke could both leave Aston Villa this summer", the interview from Richards suggests he 'fears' nothing of the sort. It's all the Mirror journo's narrative in between the actual quotes.

Agreed, I bet Micah knew that Fabian was staying before he even signed for us.

 

------------------ Guzan/New GK ----------------

 ---------Richards-----Clark-----Okore-------

--Bacuna/New RWB---------------------Amavi/new LWB

-------Sanchez ---Delph---- Gueye ---------

------------------Grealish---------------

-----------Benteke/Austin/Embolo------------------

What do you all think? Good enough?

 

Based on our current players I would pick:

                   Guzan

      Okore Richards Clark

Bacuna                       Richardson

                  Gueye

   Westwood           Delph

                 Grealish

                 Benteke

If we can add a quality LB (Amavi), CAM (Praet), and ST (Austin/Embolo) I think we'll be a decent side.

 

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-manchester-city-6022312

 

Micah Richards fears Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke could both leave Aston Villa this summer.

Richards is just beginning his career at Villa on a free transfer from Manchester City but is worried he might not have new England star Delph as a team-mate for long, while striker Benteke could move to Liverpool.

Benteke is expected to tell Villa that he wants to quit the club, though the Anfield giants aren't keen to meet the £32.5m asking price.

And Delph has asked Richards - who spent 13 years at the Mancunian Blues - about life at the Etihad.

“Delph’s been unbelievable for Aston Villa. Every player wants to play at the highest level,” said defender Richards. “He won’t want to go there as a squad player, but if he gets assurances that he’s going to play, then the decision is his. And if he wants to play in the Champions League...

 

Neville Williams

Fab captain: Delph was made skipper by Tim Sherwood

 

 

“I wouldn’t say, 'Don’t go to Man City' because if he’s playing well, he’ll get in. Joe Hart plays every week, but he’s world class.

“People think Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t like English players, but it’s nothing to do with that. If you are good enough, you will play. If Delph is going to be given the chance to play at Manchester City then it’s hard to turn down.”

Richards revealed that Delph has gone to him for advice.

“He’s asked me what I thought about the situation but I don’t want to tell him to go there and then he’s not playing and he’s ringing me up,” said Richards.

“It’s a difficult season because it’s the European Championship [at the end of it]. If you find yourself playing only 10 games and someone else has a really good season, then he’s [the other man] going to play, isn’t he?”

And Richards said of Benteke's potential move to Liverpool: “That would be a big blow and we’ll need a new goalscorer if he goes - he seemed to win games on his own for Villa last season.”

 

 

 

I think Micah's comments were positive. He acknowledged that Delph is a quality player, and that he believes that he could be successful at City. More importantly however, he highlighted the risk of becoming a squad player and being left out of the European Championship. That has got to be a priority for Delph now that he's broken into the England team. He certainly won't want to end up like Jack Rodwell, or his buddy Scotty.

 

Delph may be destined for greater things than Villa, but I believe that he's a loyal player and that he'll stay with us for another year, captaining the side valiantly and cementing his place in the national team. If he wants to move on to a top club after that, so be it. Can you really fault a player for wanting to compete for the title every year and in the Champions League?

 

Hopefully we'll have evolved into a more balanced squad by that time and we won't feel the loss quite as much.

 

I always believed in you Fabian.

Welcome to the Villa, Idrissa. You're in for one hell of a ride.

I wonder how the City fans will react when he sends a shot flying towards the corner flag instead of passing to Aguero.

Fingers crossed we get Amavi, Praet and Austin.

I like that Embolo fellow as well.

So he's Delphinately gone then?

Delph playing CAM?

It's time to move on from Ron.

I'm sure Jed will be there to Steer us through Portugal.