vivaashleyyoung

- Am I the only one who thought Dunne was poor today? I thought he looked wasteful in possession, must have got this one wrong!

- Ireland was woeful, so frustrating because you can see he has talent, but that counts for shit if you dont use it.

- Downing looks a far better player now. With Albrighton on the other flank I think we have a strong front line.

- Agbonlahor. Now I know he has been injured but I think Gerard should be looking for a new striker in January. I know he is a local lad, fast, strong, loves villa etc. But will he get us the goals. I rarely go into a game thinking Gabby will score. Honestly feel its time for a new striker down Villa park.

- Bannan. Going to be absolutely class. Attempted a few too many long balls today even if some of them were exsquisit. I actually thought today that some of the other players wernt on his wavelength. really excited about this lad.

All in all a poor performance but im not too worried about it this season. We have the base of a very good side, a few additions and who knows.

Is he taller than Alan Wright?

He hasnt made it yet.

Indeed.

He will.

I think its Crazy that a manager can freeze out a player for his height. Some of the best players ever have been around Bannans height including Maradona and Messi.

Players like Iniesta, Xavi and Scholes are all small but amazing. MON was to set in his ways, Im glad he's gone.

Brilliant to see a proper footballer in CM, none of Petrov's or NRC's bullshit, but a real player. Just hope he can push on form here. It was so good to see busy, intelligent play for a change. Looks like he's got the tools to be a very good player.

completely agree with this. An Actual footballer.

Rubbish.

Bannan needs to be given a run of games. Stick him in for the next 5 games and see what he does. He is no worse that Sidwell and although possibly not at the level Ireland is yet, at least he wants to play and will work his ass off.

Throw him in, see what he can do.

The Airdrie Messi?

Hopefully one day the British Messi,

and then:

Messi will be the Argentine Bannan.

Impressed with this lad Vs Blues. Far more of a player than Sidwell. Far more of a footballer than Petrov and Reo-coker its just whether we would be too lightweight with him in the middle. I would love to see Bannan in a 3 man midfield.

Could we play:

-------------------------Ireland--------Bannan-----------------------

-----------------------------------NRC--------------------------------

I question whether that would be too lightweight, but i would like to see it given a try.

Sidwell - Woeful performance from a downright woeful player.

Can anyone clarify which key players will be fit and which will be injured for the blues game?

Am I right in Saying that the following will miss the game?

A. Young

G. Agbonlahor

E. Heskey

S. Petrov

R. Dunne

Im worried. This is the first derby ive gone into for a long time where ive thought SHA could realistically get something :-(

General,

Was it part of the 5 year plan to become the citys second club?

General,

Can you see why a lot of fans might be a little down at the moment? We are about to sell our best player just like we did last season, we have no money, we are about to waste yet another 10m on a player from the spl, we have a manager who has been recently quoted as saying we have no chance of improving on our 6th place finish and we still own Emile Heskey.

Tell me. What would inspire you to buy a season ticket this year?

Indeed.

If 6th is long term target lovely. But it isn't for me. We've done well despite the millions and millions O'Neill has wasted on crap and paid through the nose for it. It's just sad that I can see exactly the same thing as the last 2 years happening again. It doesn't really matter what happens up to Feb because we'll collapse because the same players will have been played in every competition for 90 mins plus and will be shattered.

So no, I don't find it amusing that people moan about O'Neill's transfers. I find it depressing that we're happy to just take another season of the same mistakes.

100% agree. but you will find many wont. Finishing 6th is great for them. Not only that, theyre happy to watch the most boring football played by a villa side in years.

Man City want Milner. But wont pay the 30m villa want. Why we cant just take a cash + Ireland deal and get in with our own transfer deals is beyond me.

The longer this drags on, the more villa will be affected.

We're a consistent top 6 team now, so for these young players to be ''good enough' to dislodge whoever is infront of them theyre gonna have to be amongst the best 10 players in there position in the country in one of the best leagues in the worlds.

Im not sure....I mean, im better than Carlos Cuellar at right back.

No idea what he's doing, but I like it!

Playing air guitar according to the OS :shock:

Looks more like air 'banjo'!

Probably thinking about the next time he can bang in one of his teasing crosses.

couldnt care less about the kits.

Time to start spending money on players.

I actually think collins is our best centre half.

Luke young at right back.

Forget the Irelands, the Keanes, the Parkers etc.

Why am I going into yet another season worried about our right back position?

Everyone affiliated with the club, the fans, the players etc. know we have an excellent right back at the club...apart from one man. If we go into next season with Cuellar at right back ill be mightily dissapointed. I honestly really struggle to watch villa when he is there, it makes me cringe and actually upsets me to watch a player played so badly out of position.

I really hope this area of the team is sorted out. Id like to think MON isnt stupid, but at times, i do wonder.

Just don't rate him. Collins, Cuellar and Dunne are far superior.

He's had some excellent games, spurs away before this season, arsenal away and liverpool away this season. Big game player at times, but full of mistakes.

Just my opinion.

Edit: mind my spelling, using my phone.

I agree. Davies is very average and I think MON has found this out. We'll take a loss on him but we should get rid. Collins, Cuellar and Dunne are far better than this pretender.

And it annoys me when people say he played well alongside Laursen. Did he? He did ok I suppose but thats cos 'God II' was carrying his sorry ass. Id probably look good next to that adonis.

Curtis Davies aint good enough.

But I think that about a lot of our players....and at the rate theyre been linked away, we will have no players left whatsoever! just shows some of the dross O'Neill has signed when he could have looked abroad.

But thats a different argument.

Going into next season without signing 3/4 players would be madness. Anyone who thinks that we will improve by just playing youngsters who a) aren't ready and probably aren't goo enough, needs there head checking. How in the hell are we going to improve on our 6th place finish by playing unproven players?

The worlds gone crazy. We need players, we need 2/3 quality additions as well as 1/2 decent players to even have achance of staying with spurs and man city.

I fear for us next season. We've hit a wall with our 6th place finishes. I don't think we've got the man in place to sign players that will take us to the next level.

You can all give examples like guzan, carew, salifou etc but everyone on this messageboard knows deep down we will never go abroad and spend 10m+ on a flair player. We limit ourselves too much and when all else fails, we'll just sign a celtic reject.

Worried. And with our best player about to be snapped up by man city, things aint looking any better.

Id laugh if we signed benjani. Id be crying at the same time though.

I dont mind a certain amount of stereotypical MON signings but they simply wont push us on to the next level. Id love villa to just be really aggressive and get a couple of players that a lot of people think are maybe too good for us.

I dont think it will happen with MON, FWIW i think he is poor in the transfer market. We shall see though. This summer is make or break, he has to buy a different type of player in order for us to push forward next season. pushing forward next season will be another 6th place finish. We will do very well to finish 6th again with the quality around us.

I love it on here.

'He's a great player'

'Yeh, but he'd want big wages'

'Yeh, I suppose, leave him them'

I dont think some people have realised that in order to get better we have to sign better players. better players want higher wages. Simples.

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