Mark Albrighton

Alongside the more experienced Vlaar, Clark seemed to play like a mistake was not too far away.

Alongside a more junior partner in Okore, the added responsibility he had seemed to improve his game massively.

He'll still make the odd mistake, of course he will, but IMO he's gone from one of the first names I wanted to offload to one of the first names on the team sheet for me.

His considerable improvement has made me try to be a bit more rational and patient about players before I write them off. I hope he continues to be a solid player for us.

Not sure if I'm honest, it would be a total guess but I'd say the just the corner. I'm sat in the lower Steve Bull, just past the halfway line, towards the Jack Hayward stand. Would suggest we've got the whole lower steve bull so I would be surprised if we had the lower stan cullis too.

Welcome Jordan! He's said some nice words. Have not heard of him before we were linked, but for me, that's true of most players. Looking forward to seeing what he can do. Thirteen goals in a relegation threatened side is decent.

Could be pure speculation but there were possibly some suggestion Everton were interested as well. Probably paper talk.

The Guardian are saying £9m anyway. I shouldn't get hung up on price, but I do. Just (hypothetically) gives us more cash left over to play with.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/24/aston-villa-jordan-ayew-lorient?CMP=twt_gu

Would be typical if he did turn out to be our best player after years of struggle in that position, only for us to appear weaker elsewhere in the team.

The news section on the OS is giving him a much warmer send off than our former captain anyway!

Cheers for the goals, Christian.

Didn't we fly him over when he joined us? Rather than having to get there by himself, by sat nav. You were appreciated, Christian, you were loved, Christian.

(I don't know about that plane bit for absolute certainty, but it sounds right).

Definitely a remorseful look in his eyes.

Possibly, anyway.

Got to watch the beautifully restored Blu-ray edition of The Third Man yesterday and it looked gorgeous. 

 

Still a wonderful film.

A classic and one of my all time favourites. Feel like watching it now.

Great opening statement, it's obviously what we want to hear, but it's fantastic all the same. The bit about the fans is a nice touch.

As for chants, how about "baby give it up"-

Na na na na na na na na na na naaaaaa

Jordan Amavi

Amavi

Jordan Amavi

Basic, but it's to the point.

Considering he was £3m and his wages weren't quite N'Zogbia levels, I think Ron was overall a decent signing. It seemed his head was turned a bit after the World Cup and similar to Benteke he probably didn't fancy another season possibly battling relegation. I don't blame Benteke for that so I can't blame Vlaar either.

It looks like he won't get the move he wanted, but I wish him well with his recovery and hopefully has a few more years left in him playing at a decent level.

Not really right place but didn't know where else to put it..

Over the last ten yrs we are still 8th in the league..surprised we haven't dropped lower after the last few yrs..

http://www.thesportbible.com/articles/manchester-united-and-chelsea-very-close-in-10-year-league-table

Thanks for this. I was wondering the other day where we stand with the other ever presents of the premier league. Obviously would expect us between 5th and 7th, not sure if we would be ahead of Everton & spurs.

The queue for adebayor is monumental. Seriously, look outside! The traffic is at a stand still.

Excellent!!! Welcome Jordan!

I've only ever seen four films, ET, American Pie, Scarface and Rocky and I only watched Rocky for the first time today, two hours and it turns out it's all about love what a crock. This is why I don't watch films, he didn't even win the fight absolutely devastated for him, his missus is a bit rope too

Michael Owen said last year he'd only ever watched 8 films, so this is doubly impressive.

Out of interest, if you're round a mate's or with your family and someone fancies watching some film, do you just excuse yourself?

Pretty sure it is the norm. Does anyone else remember reading that Liverpool were still paying us the downing fee a couple of years after the deal was completed?

Anyway, I'm torn on him leaving. Fantastic player but it's feeling more and more the case that the fee we'll get is what we'll have to spend.

Will be sad to see him go, but for me his departure has felt inevitable since his transfer request two years ago.

At least him leaving won't seem quite as sour after today's events. A very good price for a very good player.

Did I read somewhere the other day he's now the highest paid player at the club or was I dreaming?

I don't think you are, I'm pretty sure I read the same thing today. Can't remember what it was, possibly the Birmingham mail.

Clark is still my pick.

Gil's always been the better player.

Of little importance, but has there been any suggestion of what his wages will be? Just curious how much Liverpool would be be prepared to offer.

Whether he stays or goes (to the scousers or the mancs), I've been fairly pleased with how villa have conducted themselves so far.

Stating that they would like to keep him but if he is to go, it's will only happen for certain price (and a good, fair price I think, ignoring the daft sterling transfer). It's allowed us to do business on our terms and prevented us to be "bullied" into a quick, cheaper sale by the bigger teams.

Really pleased with this news. Still unsure what Tim saw to suggest a youngster like Grealish or N'Zogbia had the grit to dig in and not Gil, but guess it doesn't matter now.

Gil & Grealish starting behind the striker, whoever that may be, sounds exciting.

I didn't expect a takeover to happen and rightly or wrongly I'm not that fussed that Randy is still here. There's a little bit of the ghost at the feast about him, but I suspect his heart is in the right place.

I feel confident in Tim, Tom and Paddy to do a good job here. Based purely on reading Tim's interview, he doesn't appear too downbeat and he certainly didn't appear anxious for change when he made that bet.

If Tim's positive & relaxed, I'm positive & relaxed.

Clark.

Easy to say this now but when the armband was up for grabs last season, part of me felt that clark had outperformed delph by that point and was the more deserving. Personally, I'd written clark off but his performances and character up until his injury made him my player of the season for us.

My mate's birthday this weekend. As such, I shall be drinking in Bridgnorth while dressed as Indiana Jones tomorrow evening.

And yes. The whip is included.