Keener window-cleaner

I don't know much about him, but he is a midfielder so I'm glad we have signed him. He didn't cost too much so it's worth a gamble, even if he ends up being Aleksandar Tonev v 2.0 we can just loan him out to some club. Also, he is Nordic and has a funny name .

James will be a fresh breeze in our defence.

This guy seems to be of a rare breed.

Up until about two years ago I thought of Gabby as a club hero, from the area, one club player, our leading PL goalscorer etc. Limited player, but still a hero. But then because of his gradual decline and then his unacceptable behaviour last year I changed my mind, thought he was a disgrace and wanted him out of the club, and still do btw. However, reflecting on it I actually think that Bruce has handled the situation in a really good and responsible way. He has apparently managed to motivate him (which the previous four mangers couldn't) got him into shape and I guess he is one of the hardest workers in training as he starts the games (can't be of ability in any case). I think that the alternative to ban him from the first team is worse, having an Nzogbia situation with one of the highest payed players being paria, placed among the kids, not caring at all but still hanging around the team. That just creates such bad tension and is demoralizing for the whole club. From an employer perspective, the way Bruce has handled the situation is very responsible. Who knows, perhaps he might even score a goal, or attracts interest from another club, against Cardiff his cameo was actually not that bad and almost even scored. Now what I don't agree with Bruce on is that he is starting, and for example that he didn't take Gabby of earlier against Leeds or what team it now was. But all in all I really respect Bruce for the way he has handled this.

Robbie Keane before he signed for...Coventry?

Anonymous, no impact at all so far. Big disappointment.

£10M for Rhodes, about the same for Brady or Schlupp, that now slipped away. I didn't think I would say this but right now I feel like I prefer us to buy the £1M Hourihane or £3M Landsbury. Players that regard a move to Villa as a step up, players on our level, in order to bulid a sustainable team step by step, rather than just throw away silly money. And rather give our younger players a chance. I'd prefer to risk staying in the Championship a seasong longer and build a sustainable team with players who want to be here because it's villa and not because they earn silly money.

What if we could merge Jedinak and Westwood into one player, would be one hell of a deep lying midfielder. Future England captain imho.

I'm glad to see my posts from September come to life again :-) Having seen Jedinak for about 4 months now, my view on him is more nuanced. He is even more limited on the ball than I realized. I agree with you that a good player should be able to adapt, and I also think that a complete football player should be able to play in any position. Going back to the formation part, I still think he can do a job in a three man midfield, being the defensive destroyer with good passing midfielders on each side of him. I think the Wolves game showed quite clearly that he isn't suited in 2 man 4-4-2 midfield, it puts too much preassure on the other central midfielder and makes the midfield unbalanced. My point is not that we should build the team around him or that the formation should be adapted to him instead of vice versa, but simply to try to see if he could fit into a system. Still, I think he plays the destroyer role quite well, wins almost everything in the air and is good at breaking up play. Seems to have more energy than the younger mf as well. I'm a bit concerned that he has got such a long contract and is on so high wages, perhaps it could be an idea to play him as a central defender?

I'd like to have a back four of Chester, Chester, Chester and Chester. Think he would do a job as a defensive mf as well.

I don't agree, I think he is technically gifted and doesn't just tap the ball back to the nearest player but keeps the ball and tries to find a pass. I see big potential in him. But I agree that he didn't make much of an impression today, faded and was anonymous for periods, I'd like to see him take more initiatives going forward. He and Jedinak was too static, like two holding players. In a 4-4-2 I'd say one on the CM must be more creative, Jedinak clearly isn't as he is a destroyer and Tshibola didn't do enough. Btw I think Sylla was bought as a defensive midfielder, but Lambert quickly found out that he couldn't be trusted with the ball in our own half so he mostly played him further forward as a pressing midfielder (and did that role ok)

I think I have run out of rants against Bacuna. Fair play to him today, he wasn't awful and actually had a couple of good moments. Nevertheless, he also had a couple of his trademark stupid passes, just luck that it didn't result in more goals against us. He just makes such a stupid impression. Is he in the team because he works hard in training and runs quite much during the games? We had 4 midfielders on the bench, and he plays the whole game. It must be so demoralizing sitting on the bench seeing him play.

Getting into shape should be a basic condition for getting a salary as a professional footballer. He clearly is a very limited footballer. The only position I would consider playing him in is as a wide forward in a counter attack set up.

He must be so frustrated to play with these players, in the first half, of our 4 midfielders and 2 strikers I'd say that only McCormack and Tshibola can pass the ball properly, and Adoma to a certain extent. He had almost no service during the whole game. He had our only chance with his header, should have had a penalty when Baath pulled his shirt towards the end (on the replay the ref stood perfectly in line, looked in that direction and you could clearly see how his shirt was pulled, unbelievalbe how the ref ignored that). McCoremack also regularly contributed to the build up play. What did Gabby do during the game?

Jedinak and Tshibola are too static now that the game plan is ruined and we need to create more. Please put in Grealish at half time and don't wait until the 70th+ minute. I'd take out Bacuna, although I must say he hasn't been awful. And let McCormack play the whole game this time. Just compare the contribution of McCormack and Agbonlahor. I will go mental if Gabby stays on and McCormack goes off.

Very happy to see Tshibola and McCormack in the team!

I was also thinking about Tommy Johnson and Gary Charles. I don't really know why, but I just very much like the idea of making double signings from a club. It's a bit like signing another club's captain. A statement of power or something.

I say we hurry up and get Hourihane.

He seems to have a problem with his knee, I hope it gets better. What is a bigger problem though is his positioning, his decision making and, quite frankly, playing football. I doubt he'll get better at that, regardless of his knee.

Didn't Bruce say in December that he had verbally agreed deals for two players?

I hope we'll see a McFlurry of signings over the next few days.

I must say that the first impressions of Johnstone are very promising, ok it's only 45 mins, he hasn't had much to do and it's probably a bit wishful thinking, but he looks very confident and has an assuring calmness about him, the times he went out for crosses he looked determined and his kicking was no nonsens. Keep it up!

Gabby and Bacuna start - McCormack on the bench. I have no words for it.

I suggest you take an aeroplane, joepane.