Mark Albrighton

Let's give him some time. I can't help feeling that there wouldn't be half as much criticism of him if he didn't have a brother who happens to have started quite well at Swansea.

Yes I've never fully got the "Tactics Tim" nickname. I can tell that at best it's used mock affectionately but mostly appears to be used to undermine his abilities. But I don't quite get what started it, not sure if he gave an interview and stressed the word tactics during it.

If that was about four rows from the front of the upper I saw that happen too. It ended peacefully enough but it did get a little feisty at one point. It reminded me of some of the fans having a go (rightfully in my opinion) at other fans for jeering Richardson against qpr.

Sherwood's got my full support and so far I think he's doing a good job. Not perfect, there's been the odd thing I didn't like, but overall he's been good. We're scoring and we're interesting again. I know it was a second round cup game against lower league opposition but I suspect last night was one of the most fun and entertaining nights at villa park for a long while. And as mentioned before, one player scored a hat trick and he was, perhaps, our sixth best player on the night. I can't remember that happening too often over the previous three regimes.

There will be much worse examples, but my first memory of lack of class from sha was Paul Tait's t-shirt. I could be wrong but I also remember watching what I think was "Nick Hannock's football nightmares" and seeing a QPR defender (I think) score an own goal against blues and then have one of the blues forwards run up and celebrate in his face, properly goading him. The defender retaliated and got sent off. There's probably loads of examples like this, just a horrible club.

I'm not a brummie (nor have I ever been), so I would expect my hatred of sha is perhaps not as intense as a villan who grew up in Birmingham having to listen to bluenoses. However I dislike blues, but not in a "can't wait to beat them" way, more of a "why can't they just cease to exist" way. I dislike baggies (obviously) and wolves (from knowing a few fans growing up), but I have a sort of acknowledgement of their history for those two (mainly wolves to be fair). I don't have anything approaching that for sha. Hope we destroy them.

If we had games like that every week I'd buy a **** box, let alone a season ticket. It was great. I was a bit asleep last night and couldn't think - but I wanted to know if Gil did well? You might have said he did, but I was half asleep. He was one of four of our players that I think played very well Grealish Gil Sanchez Veretout Probably in that order. Don't forget Adama! I know he is very raw but I haven't been that excited by a Villa player for a long time. His explosive power is just incredible. Really hope he is fit against Sunderland and that Tim plays him. Yes, I should have included him. Make that 5. Completely agree with that top five from last night. It can only be a good sign that a player who scores a hat trick still doesn't make it into the best five players for us.

I reckon (or just hopeful) that it's not serious. When required he still managed to sprint down the wing after getting injured. If it was anything too bad I can't imagine he's have managed that. Fingers crossed but feeling positive he'll make some sort of appearance on Saturday.

Considering it's his first game back I thought he looked very good. I'm really pleased that he looks to be in the plans for the season. Him, Grealish & Adama together will be an incredible prospect.

Immense performance. He still had the better of their defence after they'd injured him. Fingers crossed he's ok to play on Saturday, he's going to be an massively important player for us.

Well while I'm waiting for my train I may as well scribble down some half thought out musings. Best defender for us was Sanchez by quite a distance, the other three were a bit hit & miss. Veretout looked a hell of a lot better, think we've really upgraded on Cleverly. Gil & Grealish both looked great, Gil with some great work around the halfway line (both defensive & offensive), Grealish looking superb (only missing a goal to round it off-it will come). Traore was fantastic, his pace is tremendous, but he's got great skill to boot. Hope he's ok for Saturday. Ayew looked much more lively than previous games. Sinclair justifying his place in the starting 11 in style. Kozak, Cole and Bennett all doing a good job (I'll let Cole off for that offside incident). Based on their cameos tonight, I hope they stick around. Lovely to see the County fans cheering on Jack and it was fantastic to see him run over to them to give his shin pads away. A very entertaining and enjoyable night out. And that's what it should be like. (Just try and win it in the 90 mins next time please lads, I'd like to get home before midnight!) UTV

On my way over for tonight. Upper holte for me. Been ages since we won when I'm in attendance, so please win Villa.

Yep, both films are terrific, although The Guard is the more enjoyable, re watchable film. In addition to Gleeson, some of the supporting cast in Calvary are fantastic, I was pleasantly surprised with Dylan Moran. Gleeson is my favourite actor these days (him and his son being Villans is just a bonus).

I like your convoluted logic. So the majority of this transfer window has just been Sherwood building up to signing Charlie Adam?

How would one go about creating a "global brand for the Jermaine Defoe name"? I actually don't mind Defoe, but is that notion not just a wee bit late? Maybe that could have been an idea 10 years ago.

First trip to Villa Park of the season for me, really looking forward to it. Will be interesting to see how busy the trains are with all the local football on. Ideally would love a comfortable win by three goals, but happy as long as we win with no injuries. Looking forward to seeing one of, if not all three of Traore, Gil and Grealish feature at some point. Would love Ayew to get a goal or two as well.

Yep. I was fully expecting him to be substituted, certainly by the hour mark at the latest. The only reason I can imagine in keeping him on was that despite the total lack of final product, he was at least finding himself in good positions to ultimately not deliver. Perhaps sherwood felt that should another chance arise, it would have been taken. Gabby should not be starting against Notts County, give some time to Ayew instead, get him further up to speed.

Sterling must have the most effeminate run the game has ever seen.

Not sure if it's been asked and answered elsewhere, but have Gil & Grealish played together before (youth match aside)? With those two, Amavi's crossing, Westwood's keen eye for a through ball and Traore doing his best impression of Billy Whizz, we surely have enough creativity for one of Ayew, Gestede or Sinclair to find the net on a semi-regular basis. Perhaps not Gabby.

Yep agree, I thought he had a decent game.

That Embolo link a while back came to nothing. Was there any real interest?

Yeah I have to agree. If his performance yesterday is considered ineffective or below par, then I guess he's never going to win some of us on here. If continues to play like that, he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Along with Sanchez, I thought Westwood was our best player yesterday. Pretty sure he was involved in one bit of great defending for us and his passing was excellent. I agree regarding the corners though, grealish or gil maybe?

I love both Godfather I & II, however Goodfellas wins it for me. Maybe it's the more earthy tone and the based on a true story aspect that make it stand out. All the cast are great and the voiceover by Liotta is perfect and adds a real rhythm to the film (strangely, when Scorsese tried the same trick with De Niro & Pesci in Casino, I found it jarring). The Goodfellas soundtrack is stunning too.

Is the England job still that appealing? I'm sure the prestige of the job is still there and plenty of managers would love the opportunity. But at the same time I can't help but feel Sherwood (and probably a few other managers) would miss the regular work at club level. I can picture Sherwood getting restless at only being in charge for a few games every other month.