VillanousOne

he has had some of his best spells in a Villa shirt under Lambert, the main reason he has been dropped is that at times he was our biggest attacking threat but sometimes this unbalanced the team when we were playing poorly defensively. I think if our defence and midfield are more solid, there is room for him as a starter at home or an impact sub. he is probably the only player we have that we KNOW can take a decent set piece

I like the sound of this signing but I have to admit I was expecting one big tasty 6-12 mil midfield signing. But if we get quality for less, who cares?

For me the main thing that is missing in this team is a bit of composure on the ball, especially against the teams in the top half. I think we have players with the right skill sets and the potential, but too often we just fall apart in midfield in certain situations, no-one is able to just keep possession long enough to pick out a decent forward ball - unless we are playing kick and rush on the break. Often we panic and give the ball away very easily and then end up spending large spells of the game defending like headless chickens - getting the ball back - then giving it straight back to the opposition. We have the same issue with free kicks and set pieces, we just lack that little bit of quality. And yes if we had that it would make a hell of a difference - but we probably already have the players that can do it, maybe Tonev or Helenius or Gardener or Grealish, even Delph. But it would be great to have a ready made player capable of doing that. If we don't sign one we just have to be patient with the players we have.

Whilst money doesn't buy success and a series or poor judgements and financial mis-managements has led us down a dark path - it is still jarring to see how far adrift we are in terms of spending these days. I loathe Spurs and the fact that even before selling Bale they would have easilty spanked 50 mil up the wall in a heart beat. I remember excitedly thinking when we signed Stan Collymore we were a 'big' club and for a brief moment when we signed Bent. There was a time on this and other forums we didn't spend all our time posting the same stuff over and over and over again about wages, poor transfers and getting dead wood off the books. I'm fed up of obsessing over the crap we can't sell rather than what we can realistically buy.

Someone got a photo of Benteke in the ground before he signed. I think it's 10 mil euros for Finnborgson not pounds.

if that means we can't rule out signing someone or NOT signing someone then yes agreed. I think the only signing there was a little smoke around so far was Okore, the rest came utterly out of the blue. We know for a fact we enquired about Kiyouate and possibly Belhanda, even if we never bid for either. It would seem probable that we are at least looking to sign someone of that nature, whether or not we find anyone at the price/wages we want to pay is another matter.

lots of people seem utterly convinced we won't buy anyone despite no comments from the club ruling that out, go figure?

We were awful in the Liverpool game. But the other two games we looked to have improved. I think the shitty decisions vs Chelsea really affected the team. I agree some of more established players have not shown up yet.

So far not a great deal looks to have changed. Defensively we improved towards the end of last season, we're still making mistakes but looking a little more composed. Set-pieces - nothing has changed, we still suck at taking them............ i think we managed to start defending them a bit better last season. Possession - we're not great at keeping the ball, especially against the top teams. Playing for an entire 90 mins - erm nope Attacking on the break - excellent as ever Guzan and Benteke still awesome with Delph approaching that accolade It looks like Okore could be great, but I haven't seen anything of the other signings so far including pre-season to make me think they will radically change us. Luna looks more consistent than Bennett, but in many ways similar - in that he can attack but not defend, ok maybe he can still defend better than Bennett. The litmus test will be against teams in the middle of the Prem - whom we lost or drew with last season, if we can actually beat Southampton, Everton, Swansea, Newcastle then i will be convinced we have improved.

If he is a flying machine..... Does that mean fabulous men ride in him?

If any of our forwards get injured or we are chasing the game it will be great to have the option to play Tonev or Helenius - it feels like we would be changing roles wgoing fwd between them and the current front four. or if we need steal or fresh legs then Bacuna or Sylla Those are the four I see being rotated most in the squad. I still think that ultimately our season will be dictated to how we fair with injuries, but i think we have a better squad than last season.

Wow, let's hope we fight even harder second half now we've finally got going. Hope mourinho doesn't think he's got any chance of getting Tekkers!

I thought actually getting treated well by a ref against a big team wouldn't last.

It's August & we've played Arsenal & Chelsea!And? It doesn't seem to matter what team we play there is always one comedy defensive moment in us per game.'Another season of...' based on two CL sides seems less than fair. That's all. No very fair point, it was more the fact we conceded so early that irked me. I agree we miss Syllas ability to press players KEA never gets near anyone.

It's August & we've played Arsenal & Chelsea! And? It doesn't seem to matter what team we play there is always one comedy defensive moment in us per game.

So another season of giving every team a goal head start.

I think he and Baker aren't intelligent defenders - they are quick, physical and aggressive. They need someone intelligent beside them such as maybe Okore? And possibly Clark if he can keep it together long enough. we expect way to much from Vlaar - he is forced to play an unnatural game for him because of his age and experience. I thought Lowton was pretty poor yesterday also, but his awesome form last season means he is less likely to get criticised.

I don't think we played brilliantly overall but certainly showed flashes of what we can do. I think almost every player went from terrible to sublime in a heart beat. But I do think we looked more solid as a unit and aside from the soft goal we defended pretty well. Surprisingly Clark did well, KEA was very tidy and intelligent although I still think we need Sylla at times for the battering ram affect. Gabby was superb again, it just shows you what a useless prick Woy Wodgeson is too overlook our players.

Wow - absolutely speechless, aside from the soft goal we were the better side! It was nice to see some 50/50 decisions work in our favour!

Was that Benteke flooring someone?

good play by Gabby

oh dear Baker off for Clark, Okore must not be fit enough.

i've seen children mark better

so new season new players same **** terrible defending

I thought he had been dobbins all pre-season?