VillaFaninLondon

Wow, it's actually happening. Probably the highest profile signing we've made in my lifetime. Now Gerrard needs to get him back to his best. Great ambition from the club. Zakaria and Digne/Tagliafico/Hickey next through the door and I wouldn't rule us out of ,making a late push for Europe.

I don't actually care that he's 29 nearing 30 with probably his best days behind him, the idea of Coutinho in a Villa shirt is mouthwatering. Doesn't matter that Barca don't want him, they've ruined many careers, when Coutinho went there he was one of the very best in the world and he's one of most gifted footballers I've seen in the PL. If we can work out a deal in the short term with an option to extend if successful that would do me and it would be win-win. I hate how we struggle to create chances game after game and especially since Grealish left, Buendia was supposed to be that guy but is totally inconsistent, Bailey is always injured. Coutinho would undoubtedly solve that problem. Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey behind Watkins is on paper an incredible attack. I still think a LB and CDM are the key positions we need to strengthen but we need to give our heads a wobble if we're turning our noses up at signing Coutinho.

I don't think anyone is turning on the manager this early but today we shouldn't have been losing. I'd be hacked off losing to Brentford even if they had a fully fit team, but losing to them when quite a few of their team is out is unacceptable. He's now got a bit of pressure because we really need at least a point against United at home otherwise we'll be in a rut of defeats for the second time this season and that will really not be good. Aside from the manager, it's mind boggling how easy this team has been to beat this season. 11 losses in 19 games is absolutely dreadful. We've lost more than Burnley, Leeds and Newcastle which is disgraceful. If we'd turned 4 or 5 of those defeats into draws that would have been fine but our weak minded team has capitulated so easily on so many occasions. To be honest the players should all be ashamed of how they have performed this season. The fact that teams like Palace, Brentford and Brighton are above us in the table shows just how poor they have been.

Absolutely. Agree on Trez, AEG and Hause. Don't agree with Mings but we need better competition for him and Konsa. Really not sure what to do with Sanson and Traore, they're probably ok as squad options, Targett could be moved on if we can get back what we paid for him. I also am starting to doubt Luiz even though I like him as a footballer and given he hasn't signed a new deal I wouldn't be too sad to see him go in the summer if we got in someone better. Still not sure on Ings but having him and Watkins in the same squad has troubled us all season. If only we'd brought in Alvarez who can play right across the front. We need three players to come in to improve our first 11 if we want to push for European football next season and they really have to be good: Defensive midfielder/central midfielder Left back Left winger We've got so many attacking options in the squad but cannot seem to get them to gel. We also have too many right sided players. West Ham are the perfect example of a club who have recruited really well under Moyes and built a team rather than a set of individuals which seems to be what we have done.

We should be aiming for 50+ points even after the rubbish seen today but I think we'll end up with something poor like 45 points and finishing around 12th or 13th. It's been a really poor season and yet again we will need to invest heavily in the summer. Hopefully we actually recruit wisely otherwise we'll just be going round in circles.

I couldn't care less what you think. Give some thoughts of your own for a change.

I definitely think there are issues with the squad though. Trezeguet is rubbish and should have been shipped out ages ago (not sure why he came on). Traore obviously has some skill but the decision making of an donut. Targett isn't good enough to be first choice LB and Hause is inadequate cover. Luiz is sloppy and McGinn had one of his very poor games today. Gerrard definitely needs to be backed because we need at least 2 first team players to come in this month and a much stronger CB to compete with Mings and Konsa.

11 defeats out of 19. Score first but still lose for the second game running. Now seems we can't beat the better teams or the teams in and around us. Time will tell if Gerrard is any good or whether he just had a good start but I'm starting to have doubts after that. Far too easily beat just like we were under Smith regularly.

That's why he never starts, because he's simply a very poor footballer. If Gomez comes in he'll be much stronger competition for Mings and Konsa.

Need an upgrade, he's not good enough.

We’re back in a relegation battle if we lose this. And probably sides like Brentford will finish above us which is an absolute travesty given the resources of the 2 clubs. Anyone not remotely disgusted by this result needs a word with themselves. Brentford have loads of injuries and we’ve gifted them 3 points. Makes me sick.

Gerrard’s honeymoon over. He did well early on but it’s a shocker if he loses this game as Brentford are woeful.

Need half a new team in January. We’re crap.

F*** off. We are dog sh**. This will be11 defeats this season. ITS ENBARRASING.

Our decision making in the final third once again concerns me.

Gerrard needs to get into them at HT.

They’ve nothing all game and then easily score. We always shooting our selves in the f***ing foot!

Targett at fault again.

That’s a lovely goal.

Not sure what’s happened to Ollie. Time for Ings to show what he can do.

Brentford will make it a tough game but given their injuries anything less than 3 points will feel disappointing. We have a good run of games now until early March where we should be looking to win most of them. Even Manure this month is winnable as they're not all that, we should be looking to at least draw that one. If we can get say a minimum of 4 points from the next 3 (Brentford, Manure and Everton), the next 5 after that are all games we should be winning other than maybe Brighton away. Certainly should be looking at a return of around 14-16 points from the next 8 games which should mean we're firmly ensconced in the top 8 going into the last 2 months of the season.

Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer someone younger (Wijndal at AZ would be my choice, but Hickey also looks a prospect), but both Digne and Tagliafico have huge pedigree and played at the very highest level. For 2-3 years I think they'd do a great job for us but we should only offer them a 3-year contract like we did with Ings IMO.

Martinez is 29 too. Suppose we should get rid of him then.

Digne and Tagliafico, whilst getting on a bit (28 and 29), are both improvements on Targett. Would welcome either of them.

I don't think CB needs fixing as much as LB and a no6, but it is an area we should look at maybe in the summer. Mings brings a lot to the side but he often spoils it by making careless errors. Konsa isn't exempt from that either and I can think of several mistakes he has made that have led to goals or penalties against us. Not only that, but I'd rather have three good CBs competing than 4 CBs, two of which are bang average (Tuanzebe and Hause). Mings is suspended for the next game and that means playing Hause or Tuanzebe which means we will be weaker. If we had someone like Botman there would be no obvious drop off in quality. Tuanzebe may also have his loan deal cut short if we agree to it and Hause is out of contract this summer so a new CB should be on the agenda. I'd be pretty happy with just a LB and DM/CM in January as long as they upped the quality of the first team. Hickey has huge potential but how quickly he would take to the PL I don't know. Wonder whether we have other LBs in mind who are a bit more proven. I would like a marquee signing in midfield, someone like Zakaria or McKennie, I think this would improve us greatly, but we will need to be prepared to spend 20-30m as that's what it will cost.