AVFC-Prideofbrum

He'll be the new Drogba in 2 years, top 3 strikers in the world at very least.

I don't see why it can't still work here. (Whether it'll be given another chance is another question) Goals Bent in the team or no Bent apart from the last two games all season have been fairly difficult to come by so I don't think it's a simple case of him not being good enough. What we've seen over the last two games is the effect of two strikers playing and linking very well off each other. Bent and Benteke have only started once together I believe (Southampton) before they did again Norwich, that game I actually heard Bent was playing well and was very dangerous before he came off injured. We've for a large part of the season played 1 up front with 3 in behind and really after a poor start to the season and plenty of goals conceded, which I think is why he moved quickly away from a 4-4-2 diamond to a 4-2-3-1 system. Then moved on to a 5-3-2, I think a way of allowing us to be a lot tighter at the back but still play two up front and support from wide as well as getting someone to link in behind (Holman). Who's to say Bent can't fit into such a system? In fact, the move to bring him back onto the bench and then start him against Norwich, to me were signs of slowly moving him back into the first team picture (one he didn't fit in previously with given Lambert used just one main striker and that was Benteke). Maybe he will be sold as soon as January comes about but I am interested within the current system how Bent and Benteke would play together because on paper it has everything you need to be a great partnership.

I hope so and knew that alot of people would disagree. I'll be surprised if he moves higher than top 8-10 Premier League. Again, hardly a criticism as such because he's been one of our best players and will contintue to do so. In fact, the post come more from a few twitter comments about playing for England regularly. While he may be a player in a couple years who is on the fringes, I don't see him ever being that good. Anyway, delighted with his start, been top 4 performers alongside Guzan, Lowton and Benteke so hope he keeps it up.

Reading are gone. Wigan finally will lose out Maybe just Sunderland also. 5 points from safety with 21 games to play really isn't too much for a team like QPR who have a decent manager and plenty of match winners who will strengthen more than anyone in January I imagine.

Actually started because of the most pointless challenge from behind on Fabregas, a new signing at that point. and while the Barcelona bench reacted strongly (fairly enough given the tackle), the man trying to stop the bench from crowding/going on pitch was Guardiola; Only have to look at that video and Mourinho's smugness at the end after he gauhed Tito's eye to know he was happy with what was happening.

They weren't that bad before Mourinho came in and also you say 1 consistent factor, i'd argue the one consistent factor is that Barcelona always got the right results. In fact, through Guardiola's reign, Barcelona had two poor results vs Real Madrid. Lost in the cup final, 0-1 and lost 1-2 in the league. Both were lost in grace without the game kicking off. It's a little different it wasn't going the way of Madrid and Mourinho though.

Needs a (good) song so desperately. May as well let him go if not.

Would be happy with a point, be happy if just put in a good performance though, win/lose/draw if you know you've played well especially under Lambert I think it gives confidence. One of the reasons I think we bounced back from United/City lossess well, even though 0 points, apart from the last 30-35 minutes vs City, we showed a lot of promise and think the players knew that and took it into the next games. Wouldn't change the team at all unless Ron Vlaar was fit then I'd put him in for Chris Herd. Don't think bringing in anyone else would make a significant difference, Bennett/Stevens would probably improve going forward but going by the Liverpool game, that won't be happening often so may as well keep Lichaj in as he's done ok.

Barcelona; Adama Traore. Young winger with exceptional pace and from highlights a decent end product. Playing for Juvenil A and only 16. Loves a byline. Go to about 1;43 when he comes on for his first game for Juvenil A. more highlights from a game, not individual but he's the right winger. Particualrly 0.37, 1.25, 1.55, 3.35 good moments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69pBMXCvpD4 playing last year for younger team. Goal at 1.35 (and everything after to be fair) is frighteningly good, the fact it's so easy to go past players due to pace but in control of actions (most impressive)

Going next year, twice in fact I believe, can't wait!

Well it'd be interesting to see how they'd adapt systems, Messi for Argentina plays along with Higuain and Aguero but not at the main 'focal' point like with Barca in terms of being the key central player and is doing magnificently well. In terms of Real, they still have a lot of the ball but are far more direct in their player, lose the ball more and require higher work ethic. In fact, I'd argue from an attacking sense especially in La Liga, Messi would in a lot of games enjoy it more for Real than he does Barcelona. He wouldn't take part as much and drop as deeper or touch the ball more often but he'd certainly still get the ball in as many dangerous areas. Understanding would cost goals, Barcelona players ALWAYS seek Messi, mainly because he's 90% in the best position and the other 10% give it him anyway because he'll still put in the net. Defensively as well, Mourinho wouldn't play him as the main focal point and nor would he play 4-4-2 I imagine so he'd have to work harder, affecting his effectiveness and sharpness during later stages of match where he gets plenty of goals. Ronaldo has always pretty much played wide bar a few spells up front. Barcelona in reality, kill their wingers. They are there in this system more or less to draw defenders and free up space to either give it to the overlapping full back to cross/pull back or go back again and work it through the middle. Barcelona don't play in a way that see's their wingers get in dangerous one on one positions with defenders because their build up speed is slow up until the opposition edge of the box. Key example is Alexis Sanchez, sure many have seen him before and also for Chile, he can be unplayable, goes past players for fun, at Barca he looks half the player as he rarely is allowed (positionally) to run at full backs and create from inside like he does often for Chile. i'd go for Messi more based on the fact that Barcelona's style is so significantly different to anyone else and it means almost a complete adaption to Ronaldo's style whether on the wing or him having to play in the middle. We will however never know

He actually seems to play better when he has less touches and less time with the ball. Maybe it's youthful excitement and a lack of patience. Firstly, defensively he's very good in how he reads the game which makes up plenty for his lack of physicallity, although he's happy to put the tackles in when needed. Technically very gifted, he does better when players press him and he shows his class with one/two touch passes and then moving for the next ball. It seems against lesser opponents, especially at home like vs Reading, he'll get the ball more often, have more space and time in the middle and instead of keeping things ticking he almost feels like he has to force the issue by trying balls that really aren't ever going to come off regularly. Probably needs to push himself up a few yards when we're taking the games to team and provide more of a link with the attacking players with shorter balls rather than trying to find that 20/30 yard clipped ball in behind or long switches. Very good vs Liverpool though, hope he maintains it.

I don't know why and I'm going against all logic but for some reason I think it's not the last of him we've seen of him in a Villa shirt and wouldn't surprise me if he finishes the season alongside Benteke.

For his price, age etc..a super piece of a business. Not sure he'll ever be anything more than a 'good' player (although hardly a criticism) but in terms of where we are and where we are aiming, it's a perfect fit.

£12 million? Let's not go over board. I'm not going to say we won't sell him or the board wouldn't be tempted by good offers but yes, we sell players but we still get decent prices. £20 million for Downing, £18 million for A.Young (with a single year left on contract!) using the value of Ireland at time, around £25 million for Milner. The board may be too willing to sell at times, (in the case of Milner/Downing I agree) but we'd still be asking £25+ million plus before even contemplating. There is also no way a man like Paul Lambert would accept something, you lose Benteke for a fee like you've posted and Lambert would be out the door as well, rightly so.

He really is a level above and it'll be a shame when he goes. I mean that in a nice gesture to him rather than negative to the club but he'll find himself at a really big club soon enough. He plays with so much maturity, you never get a sense of 'where's he going?' or 'what's he doing?' he's calm, technically so sound, intelligent and will score goals in the air and on the ground, from 6 yards or from 20 yards. He's just 22. He's a special player.

hope you're all well! This forum has changed ... and nothing like some annoying self promoting ay.. thought i'd share my highlight of uni football so far (20 seconds) also been selected by the Uni to trial (key word!) for teamGB for University olympics in Kazan, Russia next summer so here's hoping that goes well! carry on ...

Well I post very rarely anyway but thought may as well as whore myself out and show what I love doing! 5 goals in a Uni game (1st at 2;00), woop.

4 points and beating Swindon has to be aim the next 3 games, obviously results could have been much better so far in the season but I'm still content with what I have seen so far and how it looks for the future. He needs to bring Bent back in right away though.

I think England will nick this on the break. 1-0.

Guzan Lowton Vlaar Clark Bennett KAE Delph Agbonlahor N'Zogbia Bent Benteke Front 4 almost...

Need to use him more as an impact player though rather than starting him, I haven't seen him do much from the start in most games he's played yet all whenever he comes on, he's a real threat to a tiring defence. I imagine chances will limit though once Villa fully fit. Pedro for me though is the best wide men they have.

His first goal was fantastic. He is so good when he's at the top of his game.

Hmm fancy maybe a City, Arsenal, Malaga treble.

Bloody love him, deserves a long run of games. One minor mistake shouldn't see him out the team.