VillaFaninLondon

Yes, Everton are a good side and have shown ambition with their signings, we all know that. My point was that we are being looked at as another **** promoted team despite the amount we’ve spent. Not only from Everton fans but I’ve seen with Wolves too. Yet Purslow has said we are aiming high, want to do more than just avoid relegation, etc. So are we looking at these players we’ve signed with claret and blue tinted specs thinking they’ll turn into top players, or have we recruited badly? Only time will tell but we got them in relatively early so we could integrate them into the team. Yet we’re still for example using the ‘it will take time’ excuse and playing our ageing full backs from last season when both our new ones played all preseason games which is a bit baffling. Need to take at least a point from this game imo.

No.

Yes, anyone outside the top six at home we have to be aiming for three points. A point wouldn't be a bad result, but I want to see evidence that we can compete in this league. I want to see evidence that our signings (many of whom were young and unproven) are good enough at this level and were scouted diligently, particularly Wesley who has not looked up to it thus far. And I don't want to see fans getting on our manager's back if we keep losing which will inevitably happen given the amount we've spent. First and foremost, Smith has to change the fullbacks to Guilbert and Targett who looked very decent preseason. We've also yet to see Nakamba who could be a key DM for us, but it's unlikely he'll feature against Everton. From an Everton fans perspective on their website: At the end of the day, we are miles better than them and should win comfortably. Their captain and best player wouldn't even get on to our bench with a fully fit squad. But it's football, so let's see. This arrogance from a team we were on a par with 10 years ago and better than 20 years ago kinda kills me as it shows how far we have fallen. So I hope we shove that fans words down his throat by beating them and proving we still belong at this level. If the team needed any motivation to go and get three points, the above opinion should be all they need.

Just watched the highlights and the frustrating thing about today is the goals we gave away. On another day we'd have won comfortably today and be talking about our first win back in the top flight, instead we're frustrated again due to silly mistakes that we need to cut out before we get punished many, many more times. Not really sure what Heaton is doing for the first goal, Wilson is going away from goal and even if he keeps it in and cuts back on to his right foot we have plenty of cover to avoid them scoring. The second goal is just plain stupid from Douglas Luiz, he's tried dummying it when no Villa player is behind him. Even so, you wouldn't expect us to be in trouble when Wilson picks it up, he hits a shot which if not deflected Heaton gathers comfortably, but then the ball not only deflects but goes in off the post. Seriously hard luck on our part. We were better than Bournemouth on pretty much every stat today except the most important: the goals scored. We had more shots, more possession, more corners, won more free kicks, and genuinely looked like the much superior side. So you would think we don't have too much to worry about given that, but I have a number of worries: we look like we're going to leak too many goals (5 in 2 already), don't have a reliable goalscorer, Grealish has looked out of his depth only 2 games in (20 games lost in a row now), and the only player who has really good for us is McGinn. I do feel we have enough quality to stay up but we really need to start proving ourselves in this league before we get sucked right in at the bottom and start to lose confidence. Everton at home will be another sell out and an even tougher game than today, but we could really, really do with getting a win from that before we can regroup for the international break. We certainly have to be a lot more savvy than today and stop gifting the opposition goals.

Didn't see the game but disappointed to lose and Everton next Friday will probably be tougher, we desperately need to get some points on the board before it's too late. Having said that, Palace lost their opening seven games a couple of seasons back and still stayed up so there is time and we obviously have a lot of new players. But the longer we don't pick up any points the harder it will be. Not sure why Smith continues to play Elmo and Taylor, I guess he doesn't want to meddle with the back four too much but these guys are not PL level it's as simple as that. And when you have two younger, fresher, better quality options not playing it does make you wonder. I don't know how Wesley did today but looks as though he's gonna struggle in this league and it does make you wonder why we didn't sign another striker or invest a bit more into someone a bit more proven at this level with a better striker rate. Anyway, Everton home on Friday live on Sky Sports. Let's try to stay positive - still think we can stay up but we could really do with getting something against Everton, even just a point.

I agree with this too - Guilbert and Targett are younger, more dynamic and overall better than Elmo and Taylor so I would expect them to come in. Both Elmo/Taylor did ok against Spurs but were still the weak links of the back five and outshone by Engels, Mings and Heaton who looked easily capable at this level. I think Guilbert and Targett looked perfectly settled in pre-season games and should be our starting full backs this season so the sooner they come in the better imo. Other than the full backs, I'm not sure anything else should change. I think Hourihane's set piece delivery could be quite useful for this game and actually think he did a very decent job against Spurs anyway (we were drawing 1-1 when he went off). I am excited to see what Luiz and Nakamba can do and think Hourihane will be displaced at some point, but not sure their time is yet.

Think this game will tell us more where we're at and how the season will pan out than yesterday. Bournemouth are now in their 5th consecutive season in the top flight and have steadily improved and got stronger each season, so this won't be easy and we shouldn't think so. However, I really think this is a game we ought to win if we're going to survive this season and the sooner we start getting points on the board the better. Bournemouth's defence isn't the strongest (70 goals conceded last season) but they have a decent attack (56 goals scored). Wilson, King and Fraser will be their biggest threats and I suspect if Harry Wilson plays he'll cause problems too. We need Wesley to do better than yesterday and try to get Grealish on the ball higher up the pitch to cause problems. I think this should happen because we will have a lot more of the ball than we had against Spurs. I reckon we have enough to win but we mustn't underestimate them, need to keep going for 90 minutes, and need the crowd fully behind the team. I'd personally put Targett in for Taylor, Guilbert in for Elmo, and either Luiz or Nakamba in for Hourihane, but that's purely because I think that would be close to our strongest team on paper and nothing against how those three played yesterday as they all did ok. I think we should try to get our signings integrated early, but Smith may decide to keep them out the team until they're fully settled and up to speed with the team. If we can get three points on Saturday then a point against Everton we'll have done well.

Jota looked poor when he came on too, not sure why so many wanted him starting. Trezeguet and El Ghazi should be our starting wingers.

I thought we were much more positive in the first half, not sure what happened second. We just couldn’t get the ball forward and create anything. But Engels and Mings were brilliant as well as Heaton. Next game at home to Bournemouth is crucial. We need to get 3 points really. Spurs away is tough so we can forget this. Let’s see how we fare next week. Grealish was disappointing and needs to learn quickly that this is a much tougher league with less time.

Mings has been outstanding though.

We’re under so much pressure with no outlet. We were good in the first half but all over the shop 2nd.

Super John!!!!

I can only think he has gone for as familiar a line up as possible to avoid changing too much too quickly. I trust Dean’s judgement and not getting on his back at all, but I do think the sooner he gets the new full backs in the better.

Elmo was decent going forward but looked suspect defensively. He’s getting on as well. Taylor is the weaker link but I worry for Elmo against Spurs too. Hopefully Trezeguet will help him out.

The full back selections is so odd. Sign two young full backs better than what we have and play the two ageing weak links from last season. Guilbert isn’t on the bench so his absence might be due to injury, but Targett should definitely be playing over Taylor who looked poor in the Championship. Midfield and attack does look decent though.

I would personally go Nakamba and Trezeguet over Hourihane and Jota, but I don't think it will happen. Reckon Hourihane is too weak as a DM to play there against Spurs and Jota isn't fast or strong enough to get at their full back, but that's my view. We'll see what happens during the game - hopefully those two players prove me wrong.

Norwich have been far too naive, and their defence which conceded 57 goals in the Champ last season hasn’t been strengthened. Sure we’ll be a lot more savvy against Spurs tomorrow.

It's been a really good window but as others have said our striker options are not ideal. Wesley is not renowned for scoring lots of goals, Kodjia hasn't been the same for us since his injury, and Davis has only scored about 3 or 4 goals his entire career. It's a bit of a worry. I do think we've got goals in us in midfield, but up front if you compare us to others it looks slightly worrying. We have to really hope Wesley hits the ground running, takes to the league like a duck to water, and is as prolific for us as Benteke was. Some good omens in that Jimenez, who absolutely shone for Wolves last season, didn't have a great goalscoring record before he went there. And Kodjia has a very good scoring record at international level so may step up. I'm disappointed by the Benrahma news as I feel he is an exceptional talent but I still think a striker is the most pressing (ideally one who can play out wide too). I just hope we manage to pull something out of the hat by 5pm and this is smoke and mirrors from Dean. Augustin, Ben Yedder, Belotti would all be great signings but not holding out much hope.

Well deserved and great news

I was quietly confident we might cause an upset at Spurs, then I see that they're close to signing Sessegnon, Lo Celso and Dybala to add to N'Dombele and no sign of Eriksen leaving - that would make it an unbelievable window for them even if Levy has left it late as usual. In my opinion that actually makes them serious title contenders, though I'm not convinced Dybala will sign yet or that Eriksen will stay. Not sure that they would be registered in time to play, but an attack containing Dybala, Lo Celso, Kane, Eriksen and Moura would cause a serious headache for our defence. Let's hope it doesn't come to that

I’m not one who wants him or Green or any of our other youngsters out but not sure why he’s not being loaned out as I don’t think he’s anywhere near PL ready yet. i like Keinan and he always gives his all, his hold up play is very good, and if he doesn’t make it here I’m sure he will do a job elsewhere. But I feel he really needs to add goals to his game and develop and he won’t do that with us. Should go to someone like Preston like Green has done and get minutes under his belt. It also suggests we’re not confident of getting another striker like Augustin which is disappointing, but hey I might be wrong.

If there's any truth in that Belotti rumour that would be one hell of a signing to pull off, but if we end up with Augustin I'll still be pretty happy.

Don't know too much about him either but he has good stats for minutes played, did well in the youth teams for France, and was very highly regarded in PSG's academy. I think £15mil for him is better value than £20mil for Maupay tbh, even if he hasn't played as many games over the last two seasons. Him and Benrahma would be two very good signings to end the transfer window and give us a lot of options going forward.

Ashley Young was a funny one. He was probably one of the best wingers in the league when he played for us so to say any of our wingers are better than him is farfetched for sure. But at the same time, I thought Young was a bit of a one-trick pony and our wingers have probably got more talent wise than he did. Young was basically just quick and had a decent cross on him with a few stepovers, if he came up against a half-decent defence he often went missing because he was a very limited player. Whereas someone like Benrahma seems to have much more to his game and is technically better, you could also say the same with El Ghazi, Jota and Trezeguet to an extent. I don't think Young would cope very well in a team that likes to pass and keep possession, which is probably why he's struggled at Man U and had to change his position to a full back just to get in the team.

Son and Dele out for Spurs, they'll still have a strong team but it gives us a bit more of a chance. Personally think Son is ridiculously good so I'm glad he's missing. Our best chance imo is gonna come out wide, their full backs are probably the weakest part of their team so if we can get our wingers running at them we can put them on the back foot. I saw the highlights of the game yesterday and I think Trezeguet looked fast and direct, I don't think Jota will offer that which is why I'd have him on the bench and maybe start him against Bournemouth. Hope El Ghazi can start but looked in a lot of pain, would imagine we'll sign another winger/forward before deadline day - looking like Benrahma so if he is fit he'll definitely be an option to start. Given Hourihane's performance yesterday he does deserve to start, just not sure how he's gonna cope in that role against Spurs but he looked accomplished against Leipzig.