This is very much my view on things. I’d say us and Newcastle are fishing (no puns please) in similar waters in terms of transfers right now.
My wife’s a Geordie so I spend a fair bit of time in the North East. The view from the average non-cockwomble fan up there is that Villa have done some excellent business in the transfer market recently. They see us very much as a rival to where they aspire to be.
They just believe they have much the better manager. Whether that is the case or not, I think this coming season will be the right time to judge.