Godders

Really? I'm pretty sure our new owners have said no one needs to be sold, or did I dream that?

The maths are very simple here. No one has to be sold, despite FFP. If Spurs are willing to pay us £60mill+ then we can let him go. If Spurs aren't willing to meet our valuation, we don't have to sell him and he remains a Villa player. I can't see Spurs forking out for him personally.

Really? You think he's worth £30mill? If not, why should we bother selling him for £30mill?

That injury can happen regardless of whatever club he's playing for, so why not us? Fact is he's still a young player learning his trade. The only way he can do that is on the pitch. He needs to be getting minutes right now, not warming a bench, and I bet I know what will happen at Spurs. It really annoys me when young players move to big clubs on big money to sit on the bench. Young players can only improve through playing football at the highest level they can. If that is guaranteed minutes in the championship or a relegation battling Premier league club, then thats the best option in my view. Admittedly this is through claret and blue tinted glasses, but I reckon It's best for his career to stay with us right now. Next summer is when to look at it again, or possibly Jan if he sets the league alight in the next few months. Right now though, he's not a champions league standard midfielder.

VP was a fortress last season. I thought We were well in the mix for 2nd after the Cardiff and Wolves games at the back end of the season, despite a pretty poor start to the campaign for a team of our calibre. On fact, the gap was (I think) 6 points after the wolves game? That wasn't massively insurmountable. We lost 6 points straight after the wolves game though which ended our hopes. The way I look at it though, that was a squad, manager and style that could have gotten automatic promotion. We've lost a few players, but if we keep the likes of Chester and Grealish, I can't see that we've been weakened to such an extent that playoffs wouldn't be a viable outcome this year under Bruce.

I know this is massively unpopular, but personally, I think we'd be pushing for promotion again under Bruce this year if the squad stays as it is. *runs for cover*

I agree. I think there would be a huge meltdown though if we employed some unkown Belgian 2nd division coach though who never played professionally.

Richest Arab in the world? Man City are owned by Arabs. Does that mean we're now richer than Man City?

It does take time though. To build a brand new style of play, the new manager needs to explain to the players where he wants them to be in certain situations, what their roles are etc. These instructions will, invariably, be different to what SB has told them. So, the players need to practice until it's second nature. This is what takes time. For the first few games, the players need to consciously think about what they're supposed to be doing in situations they find themselves in on the pitch. This means play will appear, on occasion, slow and laboured, and players will be caught out of position. Eventually it should settle down as the players become used to the new style and what they're expected to do in any situation becomes second nature. The transition to a brand new style of play, or philosophy though, could very well be painful.

Thing is De Boer needs time to implement his style. Do you really think he'll get that here? I can't see the fans putting up with another 3 or 4 losses in the first few games under a new manager.

I meant changing it pretty **** swiftly when it was clear it wasn't working. A lot is made on here of the fact he takes too long to react. Was a pretty quick reaction tonight, even if the original decision was questionable.

Hmm. I thought he was solid when he came on. Was on the end of everything, didn't give away possession. Almost crafted something at the end but for a horrible offside decision. If you'd have said Taylor instead of Bjarnasson I may have agreed with you..

SB did well to change it when it was clear 3 at the back wasn't working. Davies is on fire at the moment. Ref was one of the worst I've seen. Good spirit shown to come back from a goal down, and never really looking like losing.

I'm well aware how bookies work. OP was pointing to the fact that because the bookies have us as favourites for the title, taking less than all 3 points on Saturday wasn't acceptable. I was merely pointing out that the betting public thought a draw was a reasonably likely outcome on Saturday, yet still figure us to be favourites for an automatic spot. I get why people are disappointed with a draw. I myself am disappointed with a draw. I disagree to a certain extent though that the nature of the way we played was similar to the gripes people had around last season. Last year the biggest issue folks had was that we look clueless going forward, and that without Kodja, we couldn't score. Well, on Saturday both Hogan and Gabby found themselves 1 on 1 with the keeper. Hogan had a shot narrowly miss the far post. Lansbury had a couple of decent half chances, Onomah had one where he could have tested the keeper and of course, Green missed the easiest chance he'll probably have all season. For me, we looked better going forward on Saturday than we have done for a while. Yes, we need to be finishing those chances regularly to be in the title mix, but that's a completely different issue than one where we're not scoring because we're not creating anything. And really, we were the only team that ever looked like winning on Saturday, despite our off period during the second half.

At that point, I think they'd settled for the draw.

Those same bookmakers thought a draw on Saturday was a pretty likely outcome. And they still have us favourites for auto promotion along with Boro (who lost a game they were expected by most to win by the way). We're not going to win every game. A draw at home against Hull was not unexpected.

Hogan had a couple of reasonable opportunities as well, as well as that pull back which should have been buried as well. Plus 1 or 2 for Lansbury. That's 1 gilt-edged certain goal, and 4 or 5 decent chances that we created. We should have won. I'm not totally on board with the "same shit, different season" mentality that seems to be permeating this thread. For Gabby's goal, we had three players in the box attacking the ball in. I can't remember the last time we had more than 2 players in the box attacking a cross. That's a clear change for me.

Honestly, I wasn't impressed with him pre-season. I see him as a bit of a weak link in the team.

I dunno, I think that's more down to he and Elmo being new to each other. If he'd have been expecting it we'd have been in a great position pushing forward with the ball.

Agree. Really can't see why folks are losing their shit over Bacuna starting. Hourihane has been wank generally pre-season. Bacuna marginally better imo. Grealish is injured and Onomah only joined yesterday. I can see why Bacuna is starting.

I think the Dr is proving himself to be pretty ruthless by telling Sevilla now to f*ck off. Can't imagine the previous incumbent doing that.

Only 4 weeks until the start of the season and we can finally put this to bed and get off this merry-go-round!

Unless Sky know something no one else does, he's not signing with us - best odds available currently look to be 16's.

Fickle word removed. I don't want him anywhere near the club now!

So... You'd rather we bet our chances of getting out of this division on no experience?