Greenfly

Pop him in the box. He looked a menace when he went up front for a bit against Stoke. Maybe that was the solution to our problems this whole time.

So what was all this about then??

I've heard this guy is class, we should try and sign him.

He's going to absolutely love linking up with Jack.

He's on a special mission to **** up SHA's season.

I think he learned a lot over the course of last season. Time will tell of course, but we may stay to reap the benefits of keeping the faith. Also, he seems to be pretty good at man managing from what I've gathered.

Depends. If we do sign him, then it's the most important signing of the season. If we don't, then whatever, I don't even care.

What's the difference?

Not really. Abuse is abuse, whether it's right in someone's face or behind their back. We can always criticize a player's performances without making it personal.

I've seen it speculated that the deal for him was agreed when it looked certain we'd be staying in the Championship that season. It makes sense given how quickly the deal went through.

I wish him luck. He wasn't at the quality we needed unfortunately, but he'll be a real asset to another team. A quality player.

From what I can gather, the transition to being an established PL side usually starts with counter attacking because you know you'll be outclassed when you're first promoted, then as you get better you convert to controlling games to cement yourself as one of the big boys. It makes plenty of sense to me.

... Can he play left back..?

I agree. Probably wouldn't hurt to loan him out, some players start to break through at his age.

"At the end of the day, whatever people think of him, he will always be the player who faked an injury when things weren't going well for us on the pitch, when we sorely needed our players to stand up and be counted." When was this? I don't remember this happening at all. He's always looked like he cares, and he's contributed some absolutely crucial moments for us as has been mentioned above. "Villa fans have shown an unbelievable capacity for forgiveness in the past for a whole host of things - consistent poor performances, transfer requests, being literally spat at" Being spat at is completely different. Anyone who does that is a reprehensible character, but it's hardly something that happens often (and let's be honest, whenever it does they're usually driven to it; it's not an immediate reaction). Hating somebody, and I mean actual hate to the point of abuse, because of inconsistency or wanting out is unacceptable. If someone is struggling for confidence, how is undermining them helping in any way? And transfer requests are part of the game. Players have a right to leave if they want, as long as they go about it right. Even if they don't, criticize their methods, but don't abuse them for it. And yes, that includes Delph. He had every right to leave if he wanted, and we're allowed to criticize the unprofessional way he did it. But to actually hate the guy for it and threaten him is completely unnecessary. "I don't agree with or condone direct abuse of the players over social media." You just called him a coward on social media. Please try to understand why that's wrong. "But nor do I want him anywhere near our first team ever again. Doesn't deserve to wear the shirt in my opinion." Not wanting him to play for us because you think we have better players is one thing - I agree, he's not likely to be first choice anymore, because Trez and Grealish are ahead of him currently. There's no need to frame it like this, though. Here's something that will cut deep - El Ghazi, Lansbury and Hause, all the players who have deactivated social media channels because of abuse today, have done more for the club than most of us here ever will just by virtue of having played for it. What they get paid for doing it is completely irrelevant. Show them some basic humanity, it's literally the least you can do.

Sub him on at 60. He'll be chomping at the bit by then, and he'll run on and smash the **** out of them for the hell of it. It's written in the stars.

Because he played for Liverpool. You get prestige just for that these days.

You honestly think it's ok to verbally abuse somebody because they have a different opinion to you?

It's the same concept. We're allowed to question why he wouldn't pick Grealish for his squad for example, but we're not allowed to call him a prick for it.

We the fans don't pay their wages. Why does it matter at all what they get paid? They're still human beings and they deserve to be treated as such. It's really not a lot to ask; criticize his performance in the context of the team, but don't make it about him.

Criticising his recent performances in the context of the team is one thing. Making personal attacks because of it is way out of order. We wouldn't be in the PL without him, and he was part of the team that kept us in it. Our fans would do well to remember his contribution.

It's virtually impossible to judge who's a higher level than who at academy level. All we need to know is they're all exciting prospects, every one of them.

No part of this is wrong, but it's a steady process. Last night demonstrated how far away we are from being able to challenge at the very top, but it also proved how much we've upgraded that first eleven so far. This season is about consolidating our status as a PL team, rising up to the giddy heights of mid table mediocrity, and becoming a more attractive prospect for the sort of player who'll step us up another level. You aren't wrong to suggest we need so much more work to get where we want to be, but it's too much to ask for it to all happen in one go. It'll take time.

I think I get the point he's trying to make; ideally, Jack should be in midfield whereas Trez is an out-and-out winger. But a Villa team without him is inconceivable, and with Barkley around he isn't necessarily needed in the middle. Out of McGinn, Luiz and Trez, who would get dropped first? Although Trez might still start anyway, because I don't think Traore is up to full fitness yet.

John Stones to Man City. I have no idea what they ever saw in him.