villaglint

Yeah I thought we had two Weimanns for a second

I am sure Warnock is on higher wages but Hutton is still on big money to sit there and do fxxx all for 3 years. Also clearly nobody is interested in paying him close to what we are otherwise he would have moved already.

I want him gone as much as the next man. But to be fair he played regularly and decently up until the point houllier joined us, so not another beye at all in my opinion I agree with that but think MM was referring to him being an untransferable poor player on high wages a la Beye rather than they are one and the same player. Still 12 months to go - I am sure we will do a deal with someone in Jan and pay some of his last 6 months wages as we did with Beye. After that I hope he has been saving his pennies because the boy is in for a major major paycut as with Mr Reo Coker. Surely our bigger problem and more Beye like player is now Hutton what does he have left (3years?)

No of course he wouldn't they are entirely different players. Herd has a good engine and is a good tackler but has none of the attacking dynamism that Holman has - he is a holding midfielder

Apparently he was a bit tired going into the Swansea game after 10 days away with the Aussies ! Yeah he looked a bit heavy legged to me... Genuine question - not comparing football ability because they are different players - but who works harder in a game Holman or Jimmy? Clash of the titans

Be interesting to see what the consensus is on here after he has played 15 games. For me it was a highly encouraging little cameo but I think Lambert will be careful in how he uses him. I think his "miss" was massive and no point making excuses for him there, like it came at him quick. I shudder to think what VT would be saying had Ireland missed that and Swansea equalised with the chance they had shortly after. I get the impression Benteke is the type of player who is equally likely to bash in a great goal as he is miss from two yards. But either way it looks like he will cause problems - very strong, looks quick too and got a touch to boot. Being so young he could turn into a really top player or go the other way quickly. So nice to have competition for places up front. Can anyone remember when Villa have had competition in this area previously?? I am genuinely struggling to think of a time when we had more than 2 decent strikers to chose from.

Just watched the highlights of Swansea game and Weimann had most of our best efforts on goal. Most of which were created by his sharpness in front of goal. Really think if he gets a goal he could have a good run - he's been very close to kicking that off in first few games of this season. Be interesting to see whether he gets the chances now with so much competition up front

Definitely a splash of Costacurta in there

I think some of the Aussies made this point when we signed him but I have to agree. He has tremendous work rate and a very good footballing brain. Just sometimes his head is working quicker than his footballing ability. This is why during a game he tends to do a few things which look very class indeed and others which look championship at best. All in all he looks a fine player for us to have acquired. I think he'll be a fan favourite and get us goals and assists too. And just to show that not all Villa fans are fickle. Well done Eck on this one looks like a good free signing on lower wages than most.

I think it will be pretty much this. Think this is a very big game for Bannan - he needs to show that he can be a big player and run these types of games.

Whatever the standard of CB's ahead of him for Ireland - you can't start 3 games at CB - play like a novice in one of them and then start bleeting about not getting called up.

I agree this Hutton stuff does seem odd. Obviously they put him there to encourage him to move on any terms and maybe that is still the plan. But if he isnt getting any offers we should be acting better towards him. With Warnock I kind of think he deserves it because he has certainly not had the clubs best interests at his heart so why should bother with him. You see Warnock has talent - we have all seen it for Blackburn and for Villa in his first season. Warnock doesn't deserve our sympathy because he hasn't been trying or at least isn't bothered about whether he plays well for us or not. Hutton on the other hand just isn't that good a player. He looked like a raider in Scotland and people thought he could do the same here but he cant. We finally sold Beye after all those years and promptly bought another one. Classic Villa. However not Huttons fault - he should be in 1st team squad just a long way away from starting or appearing in any of our games.

Agreed he is a funny player and it is a big season for him. Has plenty of positive attributes - great on ball, and one of the better attacking defenders I've seen. Has a good goal scoring ratio. But looked pretty awful if I'm honest against Everton. Agree with BOF that hopefully with experience his mistakes will be fewer in number where as Dunne's will presumably just increase. Baker too made plenty of errors when he came into the side last season. It is a really steep learning curve for the both of them - and our season really rests on one of them rising to the challenge.

You think? He's okay but for me that's it. Hard worker but don't think he'll ever be good enough unless we drop down a division. Happily be proved wrong. His movement is excellent - it is no coincidence he keeps getting in on goal. Granted he needs to be a little more composed in front of goal. But that will come with experience and some confidence when he bags one. He is actually a very good finisher. However I would imagine his chances will be pretty limited now as he has Bowery for competition too remember.

MM is right he is no world beater but very very few players are... and we aren't likely to see too many at Villa for the foreseeable. What he is...a very tidy player, with great vision and ability to make the pass. He isn't going to rip teams apart but will look good when surrounded by good players. We are starting to (hopefully) see a bit more of that. Oh and he does work hard too - has done for the last season - never understand why people criticise his work rate - look at the stats he does more running than almost all of our team every game.

I thought he played well yesterday - as others have said his brain is world class and his ability isn't quite on same level. But I think he'll do fine for us - plays some great first time passes and generally adds some zip into our attacking play. Add that to his fantastic work rate and I think we have an asset. The difference between Herd and N'Zogbia vs Everton and Holman and Ireland vs Newcastle was there for all to see. Without a doubt he was at fault for the goal looked heavy legged at that point and had to get much much closer. He learnt a lesson there about the quality of the Premier League - don't think that would have happened to him to many times in Holland.

Looking at his figures in a bit more detail he started 28 league games last year and scored 12 which isnt the worst strike rate especially in a relegated team. Lambert will have seen some talent in him as with the other youngsters he has purchased and hopefully playing with better players will bring it out.

Well Daily Mail reckon he is a Joe Allen type which is good enough for me. If he knows how to tackle I will be happier still.

Well cant say he looks all that from the YouTube but I've never seen him play so fingers crossed we have ourselves a find that is worth the cash. Suddenly have loads of options upfront - surely Delfouneso will be off but no rumours so maybe just another spell out on loan for him. Pushes Weimann down to 4/5th spot - thought this could be a big year for him but seems like PL not too convinced. Still would love a wide/skillful/creative player - Dempsey or Zarate would have been immense - seems odd that it was Benteke or Dempsey very different players by the looks of it. 5hrs to go - who knows...

No stick here. That's a fair assessment and a fair opinion to have. Let's hope the next 31.5 hours are mental.Nor me I'm happy with Lambert and the players he is getting but have to say other teams have strengthened better than us so far , in a way that shows not everyone is using FFP as an excuse not to spend so the playing field aint all that level. I'll also say I expected more than this, so far, after being told he would receive backing but hey ho. Unless I am wrong FFP will only apply to teams playing in Europe. I think most of the sides you mention know that is not likely but are investing heavily to ensure they are around for the new Sky deal which kicks in next season. Unfortunately we are getting in line with FFP not because we harbour European ambitions I suspect but because the club couldn't afford to keep losing money in the manner it was. So we've been caught on a downward curve of investment while everyone else is on an (understandable albeit risky because they cant all stay up) upward curve of investment. Time will tell in the long run - I am happy we are not a Pompey and I do fear for other clubs going their way. But equally it is looking like staying up will be an achievement this year which is never a great thing to think after 2 games. However we might give Liverpool £30m for 3 players tomorrow and all this will be bollox

Another Stefan Moore was going to include Luke but actually think he is better . Poor attitude and never going to cut it at Villa rare . Not rated within the club Completely agree but then why on earth did they start him against Everton! Bonkers. His control was so poor in that 1st half and being subbed at half time will have surely demolished the tiny scrap of confidence he had up to that point. And CI no he hasn't had a decent run of games - he had a few starts in a row due to injuries under Houllier scored against Blackburn and did ok (though missed a great chance) against Fulham and I thought maybe just maybe. However you have to earn a run of games in starting 11 and he has been that bad every other time he's been involved he is no where near earning that chance. As I said the other day I am not sure he will make it in the championship.

Zarate or Benteke ? How does that work. Very strange club we run like last year when we went for Martinez and ended up with McLeish. Is there any kind of plan in place. For what its worth I would much prefer to see a Zarate type come in - always been impressed by his ability. Shame its just a Mirror link but at least we can have a little hope for the last two days of the window.

Would be over the moon with that -- but by all accounts 3 in will be a stretch so more likely the two we already know about. Really think Phillips and Adam would bring us something though - a spark on wing and some strength/ability and experience CM.

PL's correct to do this and it maybe has backfired a little but at least he knows what we need and where to strengthen. Trouble is we've got stuck in a cycle of doing this every summer. At least Lambert had good sense not to give Warnock etc "another go" these guys seriously taking the piss - really wish that all Premier league players HAD to have a clause in their contract saying if you don't play at all in a season and you are not injured you only get 50% of your wages or something like that

Amazed there are people here who have put Delfouneso in their team. Were you watching Saturday? Guy can't control a football - granted he's not the only one but I will be sorely disappointed if Lambert plays him over Weimann ever again. Not even sure Delfouneso will make it in Championship to be honest. He's had plenty of chances now and the kid just aint got it.