VillaFaninLondon

Yeah, I can't stand Lesta really. They beat us 8-1 on aggregate in the league last season and that final game before lockdown we were absolutely dreadful. Some consolation beating them in the League Cup but I'd love to go there and batter them. Seem to really dislike us as well. They tend to play possession football but played the counter attack to perfection against City much like we did against Liverpool. I'd expect them to have more of the ball but if we counter attack like we did against Liverpool we can certainly cause problems. Soyuncu and Evans aren't the quickest and they miss Pereira. They're coming off the back of a poor result and performance against W'Ham. Same team as Liverpool. We might even have a new signing by then given the window closes the day before. It would be great to get something here before a relatively favourable run of fixtures to Boxing Day, especially at home.

Elmo over Fred is indeed a strange one. Yes Fred will generate some money as he's only 25 and we won't get anything for Elmo, but quality wise I think Fred is streets ahead of Elmo, just lacks his experience. On a separate note Fulham also look to be getting RLC. Not sure that's a great move for him, they're favourites to go down for a reason, and Southampton or Spam would have been better. Quite surprised Fulham are attracting the players they are to be honest.

Joachim Anderson Fulham-bound apparently. He'd have been good competition for us at CB.

No I agree we can't fix every position and we will build a competitive squad over time but it would have been so good to get Rashica over the line after our great start to the season. That one looks over for now but can see us potentially going back in for him in January. Hopefully we can bring one more forward in before the window closes completely on the 16th. Would be very surprised if Sarr, Buendia, Benrahma and King all stayed where they are in the Championship and I'm sure we'd be interested in one of them.

This is how I see the squad: GK: absolutely fine here with Martinez and Heaton to come back, need to offload Nyland and Kalinic if poss DF: I personally think our LB and CB backup options are a concern, if Mings or Konsa gets injured I worry our reserves are good enough and likewise at LB. Would have been good to get someone like Sessegnon or Foyth from Spurs. Perfectly happy for Guilbert and Cash to stay as RB options but they seem to want to let Fred go. MF: CM options are fine with decent backup in Hourihane and Nakamba. Out wide I still feel we could strengthen more, only brought Traore in. Rashica/Sarr/Buendia/Benrahma/King would all improve our squad. I'd like to see El Ghazi stay as much as others don't seem to agree, but would be happy if he was a makewight in a deal for one of the wide players listed. ST: should be fine if Watkins stays fit (which his background suggests he will) but with Davis as the only other option until Wesley comes back we're a little light here. Signing someone like King would be ideal as he can cover ST and winger. It's a bit disappointing to hear our business may be done but I hope they're working on something in the background. Seeing that fantastic performance and result last night gives us an opportunity to bring one more high profile player to the club and really make it a great season.

Well, that was pretty good! Before the game I was just hoping we'd compete and fight with them, even if we lost I'd have been pleased if we at least showed the desire we've shown since the backend of last season and the first couple of games into this. But we were an absolute joy to watch, Liverpool were poor of course and their high line exposed them time and again but with Barkley, SJM, Jack and Ollie we just looked lethal. Could have scored double figures easily tonight - Ollie clean through and hit the bar and Barkley missed some good chances too. Ridiculous. Can't remember watching a better Villa win than that tonight. I remember when they put 6 past us in our relegation season and what a horrid day that was for the club. Got our revenge well and truly tonight.

Hahaha, this is unreal. Barkley's deserved that goal.

Oliie hat trick!

What.a.goal. Effing brilliant. Take a bow Ollie.

Deary me. How's Barkley missed that.

Get in! Watkins off the mark.

Good team and decent bench options. Harsh on Hourihane but Barkley had to start. UTV

Amazing that this looks to be back on. Come on Villa get it done.

Man Yoo losing 4-1 with 10 men. Hopefully Spurs get double figures and the meltdown starts. You love to see it.

Thought the Leeds love in was v odd at the start of the season but they’ve looked good first few games and have faced Cit£h and the Scousers already. On paper they look a prime candidate for relegation but, even though people won’t like to hear it, Bielsa has moulded them into a team greater than the sum of its parts. More possession than the top 2 is remarkable with the players they have compared to them.

If you have a reliable no 9 who you are confident will score when an opportunity is created it gives the team a better chance of winning. One of the reasons we did so badly last season is we had no reliable striker. Our midfielders and defenders won’t score every game.

Watkins missed a sitter at Fulham and his goals in the cup had also been tap ins. Other parts of his game have looked good but as Genie says he needs a Prem goal ASAP. Still very early days though.

Wilson has now scored 4 in 4 for the Barcodes and it's looking a cracking signing for them especially considering how bad Joelinton was for them. Obviously early days for Watkins but please, please, please start scoring soon. We need a striker who can put the ball in the net. Hopefully he gets off the mark today.

Good and fair point. Think he probably will get the nod as well. I just felt Traore's pace might help but in hindsight I don't think playing Trez would be a bad idea at all. Barkley over Hourihane for me though for sure.

King at £10m is a good deal. Get that done and we'd be laughing.

Think the striker situation is again a concern, if Watkins gets injured or struggles we've only got Davis and Traore able to play there until Wesley comes back. King or Rashica would have given us enough cover there I think. Another area I feel we're weak is in defence, the backup for both CB and LB isn't great and Targett looks a weak link. But as people have said Rome wasn't built in a day. We're making strides and have improved the first team a fair bit, so shouldn't be in a relegation scrap. I'd be happy with a solid 12th placed finish then to make 3 or 4 big signings again next summer. Hopefully we'll have shifted out players like Jota, Lansbury, Hause, Nyland and Kalinic by then too. Personally think we're strongest in midfield, at RB and have two very able GKs in Martinez and Heaton. So our next priorities should be improving LB, getting better cover/competition at CB, and ensuring we have enough pace and firepower up front and out wide to trouble any team in the league. If we don't get anyone else in during this window hopefully we'll see a new face in January depending on how we're doing in the league.

My team would be: Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Targett Luiz McGinn Barkley Traore Watkins Grealish Harsh on Hourihane perhaps but think he'll slow us down too much which won't be pretty against Liverpool's pressing. Barkley and Jack driving forward with the ball gives them something to think about. Not expecting anything but hope we at least compete and battle with them and give it all we've got.

Did well last night. Only one who looked like doing anything. People slagging him off really have some kind of agenda. I hope he stays this season and is on the bench v Liverpool. Will be a good option to bring on later in the game if needed. Don't see him as a starter but alright squad option for another year, at which time we'll probably be bringing in bigger targets and will have to move him on. But for now he adds depth and we need that. He does lose the ball a lot but so does Trez. Both should be squad players and not starters imo.

DS said after the Fulham game we're one short in the squad so signing Barkley could indicate that's our final bit of business. However, given he also said that we're looking for a player that can cover midfield and attack (which to me isn't Barkley as he can't play up front) so i suspect we are still looking for one more. A defender would be useful - even another loan for someone like Sessegnon, Foyth, Tuanzebe etc - but I don't think we will get one. I think we need to try to shift out Jota, Lansbury, Nyland and Kalinic. We're still favourites to sign Sarr interestingly ahead of Man Yoo. I don't see us spending that much to get him but maybe a loan to buy could be on the cards if Watford are prepared to go there. I do think we need another winger/forward because competition is healthy and if Watkins has poor form or an injury Davis up front doesn't give me an awful lot of confidence. If rumours are true and Josh King is available for £10m that is a sensible deal and I'm sure we could afford that. He can cover multiple positions and gives us great depth. Either way it has been a good window. I think even with what we have we will be fine this season and could have a very positive campaign.

Fantastic loan signing. Really pleased with this. We're looking really strong in midfield now. Well done Villa for pulling this off.