the_sun_never_sets

interesting one...

1) I was too young at this point to really judge anything

2) Under MON minimum expectation was 6th ideal would have been 4th - i really just expected us to win against all teams outside the top 8 and give all other teams a hard time

i'd merge 3 and 4 as follows -

Perosnally i think it will be the 2015-2016 season before we are a real force again - i believe by the end of this season the 'book balancing' excercise will have been largely completed but it wont be until 2015 till we see any >£8/9 mill signings with that in mind the only expectations I have are:

a) to be competitive in every game

to show progress every season as follows

2013-2014 - minimum expectation 13th - no danger of relegation

2014-2015 - minimum expectation 10th - comfortably mid table - solid in the cups (quarters) - investment/takeover post season

2015-2016 - minimum expectation 8th - good cup runs (e.g. a semi final appearance) - european qualification hopefully!

watched this with a spuds fan - we both agreed villa played OK - nothing special, but nothing paticularly awful. Had some decent passages of play without any end product - which was the difference...Spurs had the one clear cut chance (which they scored) and a flukey goal. Guzan made some good saves to shots from oustide the area true.

Dont understand why we havent started Sylla this season - always impressed by him when he plays.

Id drop Weimann - the lad has talent but isnt showing it right now - id push bacuna to right mid and bring lowton back at right back

Benteke in for Kozak

keep tonev in reserve incase bacuna needs to return at right back

Think that would be us a strong upper mid-table starting line up IMO which, for now, is OK

Like him. Id play him.

He was one of the reasons we improved after jan last season dont know why he hasnt been played.

On the plus sude maybe city will now underestimate us and play their third team and we'll hold on for a 1-1

3 - 1 Villa, Okore to start,  maybe Tonev for Weimann, sylla for el A.

we'll put 4 past a few teams this season but Liverpool wont be one of them

...Did anyone else think that, with the ball, we looked relatively poor.....just throwing it out there - its a good thing - we can improve!

at present i think he'll stay

If Luna provides balance on the left we will be extremely solid next season - ability to attack down both flanks from defence with Lowton a real talent on the right. Add the rise of Westwood in the centre and the addition of Okore (and retention of Guzan) at the back then you really have to think if we keep Benteke we will have a team up there with the better days of MONs era (particuarly if Lambert keeps Weimann and Gabby playing to their potential)

going to be boring now..

Lowton was unreal.

Cuellar also worth a notable mention - always liked that man.

top, top attacking performance. needs to be followed up with a win over norwich.....

if we avoid defeat for the rest of the season we'll stay up....

because of our goal difference we'll need 40 points really. 2 wins, dont care where or how we get them, just needs to happen - with that in mind. Sunderland is must must win. 3 points out of three games puts us in a better position

interestly i just used the bbc predictor - had us down as drawing with Sunderland at home, win at norwich away (think we'll get 4 points out of these games either way)

had us drawin against wigan away and staying up by one point ahead of stoke with them losing to tottenham last day of the season. My nevers couldnt cope with that...

i think we'll need 39 because of our goal difference

1 out of sunderland, wigan, us or possibly stoke really. Norwich could be drawn in if we beat them away.

3-1 villa,

please let us win

How about

the potential return of Vlaar and Westwood changes the complexion of this for me slightly.

Villa to win 2-1 or 3-1 - need a repsonse from tuesday

Question - why has Stevens not been playing? looked quality against United

I have so much faith in Lamberts signings that I fully believe Bennett will become a big signing for us

I'd have Bent in for Weimann next game

bent

benteke

gabby Holman

I reckon we would have won more comfortably with a better finisher.

Secondly part the reason we were poor stemmed from how narrowly we played - we rarely moved the ball out to the wings so Reading could just pack the middle of the park and intercept our short passes

Have the unexpected feeling we'll do them. don't know why - desperation maybe?

live in Bournemouth so desperate to get 2 tickets for this but dont have away booking history last year!

We pay more than a team with Modric, VDV, Parker and Bale in it?

6 defenders and heskey against west brom?!?!?!? clueless.

shambles.

Anyone know of a good place to watch the game in Stratford?

Cheers mate.

Would go the match but i'm going to watch it with some noses in the hope it doesn't backfire. I couldn't take them to Villa Park as they wouldn't be able to work the turnstiles.