PeterSw

If you believe in random rumours, Leon is injured according to someone in the Bailey thread. So ....

Can we just stop trying to sign players with double-barrelled surnames please

Do you have a stat for the amount of goals scored/assisted from direct free kicks for us from last season? If JWP can give us an extra 8-10 goals a season from free-kicks, they could prove crucial to our league position. In terms of the £40-50m price tag, if we can afford it and not mess up FFP, go for it. Transfer fees are only going up.

Hopefully we see a reaction at the weekend v Newcastle. I do wonder if there was a lack of defensive preparation that would have been done by JT? Hopefully they can get his replacement in quickly. Think we need to start with the formation (and line-up) we finished with. Looked a different animal. Maybe bring Luiz in for Nakamba if he is available. Good to see the management team recognise the issues and make changes early. Also good to now have the depth to be able to do this! Bench options look very good and have Watkins to come back. Excited to see if Ramsey can perform like that on a consistent basis this season, could be an breakout season. As for the doomsday merchants on here - give your heads a wobble and please get behind the team at Villa Park and don't boo them every chance you get.

For me i'd go: Captain - Mings Vice captains - McGinn and Martinez

Traore himself only has one pre-season game under his belt. I'd be surprised if he started. Think JPB might get the nod personally.

Based on the teams that finished above us last season; Leeds haven't really added anyone, Everton could struggle, Spurs could struggle if they lose Kane, Arsenal are a wildcard atm but i think we can get above them. West Ham will have Europa League to contend with so could struggle. Big chance for us to push on and get top 6

Don't get what the issue is here. Just sounds like people getting on his back for the sake of it. Hopefully the people commenting will also be having a go at Cash, Konza, McGinn etc. for their social media posts.

Hopefully this ends up as much a success as Grealish's loan move to Notts County

Only Kane, Salah, and Vardy have scored more goals than Ings in the last two seasons. £25-30m for Ings seems like a big of a bargain

Perhaps the £30m includes add-ons?

Matheus Pereira on his way to Al Hilal according to Fabrizio Romano

If Chelski are after Lukaku then they will surely need to free up money for the move. Can see them dropping the £40m asking price down to £30m to get a quick sale

Maybe Grealish has said he won't move until Kane moves, City have bid, Spurs rejected and Kane is not happy. Either that or its more Sky Sports clickbait rubbish! (far more likely)

Notification from the club's official twitter page ... Book your ticket for the Sevilla friendly Ahhh - Nerves are shot here

Similar situation to ESR at Arsenal. We bid a few times and were confident of getting him here and he turned around and signed a few 5-year-deal. Just have a sneaky suspicion that he will stay, but that's just me

Kit release date?

AST all the way

Well we have the man that signed Kante 1.0 so no excuses right?

Agree with this. Hopefully in Luiz, McGinn and Sanson, Smith finally has the trio to make it work. We do need another one in there to rotate there I think. Bottler or not, I can't help but like Rodgers and the way he talks tactics

32-year-old long time reader but now feel like I'd like to contribute to some conversations. Originally from Ireland but now residing in Kent