Mark Albrighton

Hot, cold or lukewarm water? Tap or bottled? For God's sake man, we need to know these things. Yep, and what sort of cereal? Could be crucial.

If we win against Man Utd, it's on.

Sorry, messed up the quote. Heading to the things that piss you off thread....

Yep, agree with this too. It feels like the starting line up against Bournemouth will be this.

When does his contract run out?

Haha! Likewise, I'm glad it isn't just me. Four seasons in a row now! I must have been relatively relaxed for Houllier's season for some reason.

If March comes around and I haven't felt the need to write down our remaining fixtures and those of the teams around us, hopelessly trying to predict results and points totals, it will have been a been a big step in the right direction.

Yeah this is totally off topic, but I couldn't bring myself to put Lowton in that team. His sunderland performance alone puts him above those players. Back on topic, I think Guzan, Richards, Clark, Amavi, Westwood, Gueye and Veretout are amongst the definite starters. After that I'm struggling, too many options. Love it.

Any thoughts on how much more the club is likely to spend this window? £5m-£10m?

Excellent post.

Cilla's gone, aged 72. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11778819/Cilla-Black-dies-aged-72.html

It's been said elsewhere but i love that these team selections are so varied, particularly the front line. I wouldn't have thought I'd see a team selection that had neither Gil or Grealish in it and would (just about) be ok with it.

Late goals again too. Really can't get this monkey off our back. Didn't watch the game, were we better defensively in the first or second half? Based on what we currently have, barring injuries it's clark & okore as first choice CBs for me. Amavi obviously LB then Hutton, Richards and Bacuna fighting it out for RB. Unless we tried a back three.

Not seen the game, but I thought he looked decent after the wolves game, eager to get the ball, thought he linked up well with Amavi in the first half. As just mentioned, the biggest gripe he seemed to cause amongst a few of us was his performance against Swansea. Easily forgiven, he won't be the last player to try too hard to get one over his old team. I don't know how often he should/could start, but for me, he's ahead of Gabby for one of the wide-striker roles. Just re-watched the goal against baggies in the cup, so much composure. £2.5m is a bargain.

For me, he's ahead of Sanchez to play in that holding role. Sanchez seems to be more capable of producing MOTM performances (eg Sunderland, home) but then is more likely to be all over the place (eg arsenal, home & away etc). I think Westwood, being the more consistent player, is the better option while we've got so many new players in the starting eleven.

The (historical alarm) bells are ringing. The last time we finished one place above relegation was 1994/95, having a mid-season manager change. The following season, after losing our top scorer for the previous 3 seasons (Saunders), we finished 4th and won the league cup. And it all started with a win in our first game against Man Utd. Twenty years on, we finished one place above relegation after a manager change mid-season, our top scorer of the past 3 seasons has gone and now our first (home) game is against Man Utd. So keeping all that in mind, who does everyone want for the 2016/17 champions league qualifiers?

Ha it might just be a chain reaction! Still, I'm looking forward to seeing him play! Ha! Yeah quite possibly. I'm taking some reassurances in the ITK's glowing praise of him and the Leicester City fans rating him too. I was expecting Amavi (another player of whom I know little of, other than his whoscored stats) to be our "wow can't believe we got him" signing, but this guy has won the VT positive reaction trophy for me!

Late to the party here too, but welcome Jordan! Honestly had not even heard of this lad before 48 hours ago, but judging by the reaction him signing has provoked, I can't wait to see how he does.

Late to the party here, but welcome Rudy! Having watched last season's goals it's clear he knows how to use his noggin. Some great headers last season. Seems a really good price for him too. I think he'll start as our main forward and we'll go from there.

One for Tim (and all you Herman's Hermits fans). Woke up this morning feeling fine, Had something special on my mind, The Villa's winning again, cos of Tim Sherwood, (oh yeah) Something tells me I'm into something good.

Sounds about right. Nice. I know the whole net spend thing can annoy, but it's nice to think that maybe there's a stash of £10m or so which we haven't touched yet (ignoring any future exits, baker etc).

Really happy with the business done so far, feels like the best window we've had in years (at the moment anyway, time will tell). Am I right in thinking if we sign Veretout for around £8m and Gestede for £6m that we've roughly broken even net spend wise?

I thought he looked alright in his little cameo last night. Fairly lively. Hopefully he will get more time against forest, which after gabby's knock, I would imagine is likely.

Eh? Quick google translate, the second bit translates as "Villa all the way".

I'm feeling more positive on this than previously. If he can chip in with around 10 goals and his wages aren't completely off the scale, I'll be happy. As for good players who we signed in their thirties, he may not be the most recent example, but merson was 30 when we signed him I believe.