Bomvilla7

Yep, still can't figure out the formation. Konsa at right back just seems... well you know.. wrong. Sigh We go again Double Sigh

And I would have in back in a half heartbeat.

At Home under Friday Night Lights. a 3-0 win please. yes I know I'm being overly positive but still..

Guys... we have won our first 3 competitive games in a row.

Is that.....a back 3 and a half? oh this is gonna be long 90 mins

For me the Fulham game at the weekend for me is more important, however I don't want us to roll over here either as there are enough players who should want to step up. Steer, Hause, Ramsey, El Ghazi and Davis to get full games please. Jack and Ollie on the bench and give Konsa the night off to rest his hamstring. I guess we will also know Samatta's future if he is in the squad tonight or not. The worry I have is that guys like El Ghazi, Nakamba should be completely bossing this game and they didn't look bothered to do that last week against Burton. Hopefully, Dean will have stuck a rocket up their arses <insert gif here, you know the one> and realise its last chance saloon for them. I want Guilbert to start but he seems to be a taboo subject in the squad these days for some reason so doubt he will play, Engels is still injured, and based on last week I don't want Lansbury taking up a seat on the bench so my team would be; Steer Elmo Hause Mings Taylor Nakamba Traore Hourihane Ramsey El Ghazi Davis Martinez, Grealish, Watkins, McGinn, Trez, Cash, Kesler-Hayden A very cagey 2-1 to the Villa

No. We should be beating them over 80 odd minutes against 10 men. Anything but 3 points is a major missed opportunity. Surely after last year we know the value of 3 points.

There is no way he is starting, and I'd be surprised if he makes the bench after just arriving over the weekend. He may not have even met his teammates yet if they have been preparing for todays game.

Great draw for us really, I expect us to get to the QF now and once you get that far you have every chance. Don't want to see us balls it up but of course this is the villa and that's absolutely a possibility

Will he be straight in for Mondays game do ye reckon?

Good move for club and player this. We often complain about youngsters not getting loaned out early enough so this is right on the money for a change. Hopefully he does well and continues to develop. Hoping for double figures from him in league 1 lots of game time. Will be keeping an eye on him.

Have any of our players been linked with moves elsewhere? I know we need some depth to the squad but some players have no business being with us. Ramsey > Lansbury

Based on the first half, I would rather Ramsey take his place in the squad

still injured or recovering from injury i think. some sorta long term problem but I read that a while ago somewhere.

Totally this, and he did the same against united at the weekend. Kinda surprised Burton didn't get in front of the cross though, you could tell it was going across the box once Taylor figured out where the ball was.

Grealish is so good that he can take 3 of Burtons players out, plus our own left back who also didn't know where the ball was. Delighted for Watkins on his debut! More goals please.

The master of misdirection and putting those sky reporters to work

Woooaahhh this is an interesting line up. all previous predictions gone out the window now. Looking forward to seeing Jacob Ramsey play, lots of hype so let's see how he does. (and not write him off immediately!) Don't know what else to say really but HERE WE GO!! COME ON LADS!!

I'm SO excited for this! expecting a full strength team in preparation for the Sheffield United game at the weekend. I think they are there for the taking and its a great opportunity to get 3 points and a good start to the season. I think Trez will start but we might go 2 up top with Davis alongside Watkins and Jack behind. 3-0 Villa and a huge air or positivity in our sails going into the weekend. Grealish, Watkins and McGinn Steer Cash Mings / Konsa Targett McGinn Luiz Hourihane Trez Watkins Grealish Subs: Nyland, Lansbury, Samatta, AEM, Davis, Hause, Vassilev

god that would actually be so enjoyable. when was the last time we pinched a player that massively pissed another team off? Milner from Newcastle?

ahh yes true, but I'm not an accountant so hence my flaws! Given the current economic circumstances, I suppose I'm a bit weary of spending 100 odd million without having some sort of incomings. Obviously its not that easy moving players on if no one wants them, but we won't have any match day income for a while yet.

I think one thing that is important is the length of the contracts as it will reduce the figure from an accounting standpoint at the end of the year. However, I would like us to sell a player or two to at least make some money back that we can use against our outgoings. Surely we will sell a keeper and maybe someone like Lansbury, Jota - especially if we will bring in another midfielder/winger soon. All the new purchases are divided by the length of their contract and written off every year. Using the Guardians interactive tool for reference and the latest reports for Martinez, Traore.. (I have ignored add ons for the sake of simplicity) Matty Cash 16m on 5yr deal = 3.2m Ollie Watkins 28m on 5 year deal = 5.6m Emiliano Martinez on 16m on a reported 4 year deal = 4m Bertrand Traore on 17m on a reported 4 year deal = 4.25m Milot Rashica rumoured 18.5m and let's assume a 4 year deal = 4.625m So that will mean an outlay of 21.675m in accounting terms on the books for next year. Any sales just go directly into the books in its entirety so a few sales would help us write off this cost and considering the lack of match day income for the forseeable future, I think it would just help the financial impact and keep us in financially a good position. Of course staying up and building is the main priority but I think there are some exciting times ahead if we can continue to add quality signings like this!

true... If anything I'll claim that this is 30-60% more based on rumored fees!

Seems like a very sensible signing and one that will help us improve the squad as a whole. Young, versatile, won't be on insane wages, had a great season playing a lot of games consistently, and will be good to have a challenge for places at RB with Guilbert. Can't remember the last time we spent this sort of money on a full back but he could be a very solid signing.

I wasn't sure this morning, but now I'm thinking the extra week of pre-season might do us some good. This year has been long enough already, players will be tired with the short break, we will get to watch our opposition before we play them while they won't have seen us in a competitive match. Starting a week later will give any new players some extra time on the training pitch to develop a rhythm with the squad. Starting at home to Sheffield then away to Fulham is a great opportunity for us to start well.