NowDoINotLikeThat

We missed the boat on Bent. He was available, in budget and we let him and his 21 goals pass us by.

Would Tottenham have sold him to us? No problem for them selling to Sunderland who aren't a threat to them but I'd like to think they wouldn't have been pigshit thick as to sell to us.

I think they would have if we offered same money that Sunderland reportedly paid .

After all Man City sold us Dunne , we sold Barry to them .

We were heavily linked to Doyle before Wolves signed him.

He was handful today still think hes a shite player though.

As for a striker £15 million plus signing. No - really cannot see that happening.

Sunderland did spend best part of 19 million on Bent if the add on fees are to be believed.

Always been hit or miss.

He'll more than likely get a few goals soon and all the Carew sycophants will be out.

EDIT : And he has been injured (yet again) and is only coming back from injury in fairness. Again he has always been hit or miss so dnno why ppl are suprised or overharsh against him now.

Do something Carew. Anything.

Probably should have bought on a midfielder instead of Carew.

Downing was terrible. I know he may still be rusty but he was pretty awful.

Can't complain about the rest .

i don't think anyone could realisticly demand that we break into that top 4 this year.

But this requires people being realistic.

But people can realistically believe we have a chance to break in to the top four this season. They can also realistically believe we can see better performances by the team and tactical choices by the manager that sends that team out to play the way they do.

Why were you realistically thinking of top 4 this season??

Not being funny but outside of the internets most Villa fans werent barking about it.

Our squad is still pretty average - O'Neills sorted out the defense but elswhere were still pretty hit or miss

Depends what you expect, obviously.

We don't have superior spending power to lots of other clubs either. The top 4, Spurs and Citeh at least can outspend us.

Frankly, I ain't expecting much and havent for while. Within a season Martin will be gone.

Well this summer just gone we did spend more than the top 4 and Spurs.

Infact Man City were only club in league who spent more than us.

Granted we needed to spend a lot and they can all pay bigger wages.

But last summer we outspent most teams as well.

Just saying like .

6th is what i expected before this season started (and a decent eurpoean run for once -obviously that part hasnt happened) .

Solano only played for us for about a season and a half before he emptied his locker and **** off back to Newcastle so for me it has to be Jimmy.

Agreed. Solano was good but werent here long enough.

Milner (including his loan spell) has played more games for us thus wins in it imo.

i think its clear that hes just not going to be any good for us.

It has been for ages. He's atrocious, an absolute embarrassment.

Bit harsh!

But ...it did dawn on me (again) that Heskey is our now main alternative to scoring goals when need a result - a striker who hardly ever scores and so far has looked completely out of sorts for us so far.

I actually missed Harewood.

Then to see him on the wing ..well .

Not being funny but if you look at Everton and Spurs (who will be our main rivals for 6th-(lets face it thats what we are after) they have 3 strikers who whatever you think of them seem to score goals when given the chance have a track record of scoring goals ..as Heskey well doesnt ...

Delfounseou - well i like him but options upfront still look relatively limited to me .

Remember, this is purely for what they did post 2000.

Gareth was only here 18 months. Mellberg for 7 years.

Thats why I voted Olly

Agreed

I've gotta say - I am well surprised when the poll came up.

I do not doubt that Martin was the classiest and probably best actually defender we have had since God , but he played less than 100 games for us.

To me, King Olaf gave 100% everything to the club over , what was it - about 7 yrs , could have easily left a sinking ship for a Euro great beforehand (think about it - Juve wanted him at 31 - just imagine who would have had him at 27 if they had the chance) and will forever be a hero to me.

You also have hs hatred to everything Small Heath, the shirt thing,his beard and he was the perfect Villain.

I expected it to be close between King Olaf and Martin the Lionheart - but I didn't expect 15%

Olaf for me

This is pretty much why i voted for him.

He has been rtightly or wrongly our centreback of THIS decade - easily just for sheer number of games played and ammount of years he was here for . And he played in some frankly fairly dark times.

Southgate left as long back as 2001 so his time here for this decade is but a blink of an eye . Laursen tho great and can argue was better than Melberg still didnt play that many actual games .

Seeing as Southgate left as early as 2001 i'll vote for someone else .

Melberg.

Laursen was great but so short lived if you think about the actual number of games he played.

That FA cup mistake by James has pretty much blotted any memories of him being good.

Friedel

I voted for Ullises De La Cruz beacuse i felt sorry for him.

some decent players in - but still its been bit of a poor window lets be honest.

I dont think it was just the deluded who thought we would do a bit more this window than what we have done.

Not even a murmur of wanting to sign an another striker was disappointing also.

I voted average - bit flat by the way

He does hoof it a bit needlessly but so did Laursen lets not kid ourselves.

But ive always thought there is a decent player in him. The nerves are starting to disappear and hes getting into good form.

Keep growing the beard - This will make him a better player.

I said No, He's not useless but he's not good enough either.

Slightly off topic, but where the **** was NRC tonight? Yes I know I've been critical of him, but after his great game against Liverpool, he should have started tonight. He and Petrov were an awesome partnership against Liverpool, and playing him would have given Delph licence to be more attacking.

Reo Coker was on the bench dnno why either.

I'd guess he was a little tired and O'Neill knew they'd sit back and he wanted players who are better on the ball?

The actual not starting him bit worked but then he should of been brought on.

Yes agreed Reo Coker should have been bought on.

What does it take for Petrov to ever get substituted??

He was clearly completely exhausted by the hour or so mark.

I said No, He's not useless but he's not good enough either.

Slightly off topic, but where the **** was NRC tonight? Yes I know I've been critical of him, but after his great game against Liverpool, he should have started tonight. He and Petrov were an awesome partnership against Liverpool, and playing him would have given Delph licence to be more attacking.

Reo Coker was on the bench dnno why either.

But I also think Petrov has been poor at the start of this season, its almost as though last season was a blip in form and he is back to his worst.

He seriously needs to start justifying his selection or it won't be Delph stepping down. I'm not saying he's shite, he's just not on form and looks as though he needs to earn his place, surely thats what competition for places is for.

I like Petrov but just doesnt seem ever suited in a 4-4-2 formation especially if have a player inexperienced as Delph alongside him in middle and two wide wingers.

Petrov isnt a holding player or a midfielder who gets forward. He needs support in middle if he starts

He also gets completely physically knackered by the hour mark.

O'Neill is also incredibly relucutant to ever substitute him when at times he should be.

It is just he (Heskey) hardly ever seems to get to the ball in the vital moment!! I used to think it was a poor service to him but tonight (Vienna game) he had good service just didn't even get close!! good player just no poachers instinct

As i said it should be Hexkey

There were a few crosses he should have got something on the end of.

First half Milner crossed and admitedly fast ball and Heskey should have dived in with his head first but instead opted with a high leg and just fell over. He just makes wrong decisions in goal scoring opportunities time and time again. He can be useful but dont quite get why he started tonight alongside Carew.

PLEASE STOP PLAYING PETROV!!!

At least in any 4-4-2 formation!

Have to agree.

He also looked very knackered again the last 25 mins or so.

Either way it was bit of a worrying / baffling quote from him.

Hopefully he was somehow taking the piss

The lion badge we've used last few years since Lerner ain't the best badge - the best one is the circle lion badge from those early 80s / late 70s kits .

But i guess since Chelsea changed their badge to a similiar image under Abromovich - it might look bit too similarish now

Our current kits this season are pretty much the best we've ever had in my opinion. Prem-days to now-wise .

Despite the home kit being ridiculously similar to last season - its still slightly better without the V-neck.

I do however think its ridiculous if we keep on changing the home shirt EVERY season though.

By all means if need must - change the away shirt every season and - go crazy with the away and/or third team colours etc...but the home shirt should be every two years or so - and will always be claret and bit of blue and simple .

Chuck Norris