Supervillan78

20? Really? Makoun, L. Young, Hogg, Weimann, Friedel, A. Young, Downing, Pires, Carew, NRC, Halfhuid, Salifou, Osbourne. Are you including Walker and Bradley too or have we let 5-7 youth players go? **** shocking stat though when you read it back. Of the 20 there is only really 4 that would get anywhere near the first team (Young, Downing, Reo Coker and Friedel) We've offloaded a lot of dead wood and replaced two of the 4 with Given and N'Zogbia. Bring in another winger and a defensive midfielder and we'll have reduced the wage bill and have a stronger squad for it. Even though Walker was a loan, I'd still count him as part of the first team along with Carew. So that would be six IMO. Seven including the other Young.

According to the mirror the injury ravaged Owen Hargreaves could possibly be Makoun's replacement. Shocking and disappointing if true.

I guess hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I totally agree with you on this. I just hope that Bent isn't the next one targetted for the exit and we bring a couple of players in who can get te ball to him more regularly. Its not really hindsight though, Houllier's track record in the transfer market was there for all to see as were the numerous examples of players signed from France who were ill suited to the PL. If you judged Houllier from Liverpool days fair enough...But the guy had moved on since then and may have had knowledge of some raising world class talents we as a club could have benefited from.. Plus you only have look at how France improved as a football Nation over the last 10/20 years to see his influence and knowledge in the game..All these coaches churning out players like Toulalan, Malouda, etc were all trained with imput from Houllier. You should read what influence he had on Clairefontaine and what it stands for...France as a footballing "coaching" nation are up there(if not better) than what Spain or anyone else are..They have moved into the future... I have read it, it doesn't change my view on Houllier, it doesn't change my view on his management of Villa or on his judgement of players and their suitability to play in the PL. There were many examples at Liverpool and in his short time here he gave us three in Pires, Bradley and Makoun. He might well have been a great coach (although our defence last season would suggest not) but as for a judge of player I think he made a lot of errors. Anyway this isn't about McLeish or Houllier this is about a player who looks like joining the ever growing list of departures. Yes but maybe had we a decent technical brained manager he wouldnt be listed as a departure...Is this what the board meant by "backing" McLeish? By going along with him removing quality CL experienced players from the squad out to loan? "Yes we back that"... Houllier's gone mate, we have to move on. We've got Mcleish, I'm not happy about it, but bearing in mind what his primary mandate is, I think he's done OK so far. Lets just see what happens in the next few days.

Could the last one out turn off the lights!

100% agree. People forget we lost this fixture last year and arguably Wolves have got a lot stronger and we've lost two fantastic players in Downing and Young. The football could have been better, especially in the first half, there were some good performances Gabby and Herd and the defence looked solid. Its far from doom and gloom. Think we should have won but pleased with a point in the end.

Herd MOTM?

If there's any justice, then we deserve to wins this! Come on Villa!

I don't understand why Lichaj's not playing, unless he's injured? The fact that Beye's excluded from the squad gives me encouragement that he may be on his way out.

2-1 us. Bent and Petrov.

I'm still backing Ireland to come good, and he needs to be given a chance. By all accounts he had a decent pre season and he was far from a disgrace on Tuesday.

To be fair, Hereford aren't a Sunday League team either.

I really hope he finds his old Man City form, because I suspect if he does well, we'll do well as a consequence.

It was their first competitive game, and they were bound to be rusty. At least Ireland's performance sounds promising.

The important factor here is what Mcleish thinks of him, and whether he stays or goes it is ultimately Mcleish's decision. In either case I guess we'll find out come Sept 1st. Personally I hope he stays, but if he does eventually leave, he HAS to be replaced.

Maybe sell Makoun to get Palacious/Parker? Cash + Ireland for Ki Sung Yeung? I actually think Ireland HAS a future at VP, he needs confidence and a manager willing to show confidence in him.

Agreed Coops and that is the risk of having an even smaller squad than we had last season. Even at the moment we're just one suspension and one injury away from trouble IMO. If Given or Bent got injured or suspended for any length of time we're F@*ked. Personally, I would only let Makoun go, if a suitable replacement can be found. Not that I actually want him leave.

I remember this kind of debate last year regarding a certain Mr Downing. Personally I like Makoun, think he has a lot to offer, and I also think he should be given a chance. However the deciding factor is what Mcleish thinks, and I really don't think Mcleish rates him. So if we need to reduce the wage bill and someone is willing to take him, either permanent or on loan, and providing he's replaced, I can honestly see Mcleish letting him go.

Agreed, however I always worry about his stamina, especially around the 70 minute mark.

The only way this would make sense is if Makoun goes to Olympiakos, then Diarra goes to Spurs and we get Palacios or we get Parker from WHU.

What I'm expecting is 3 pts and a convincing victory. Anything less and Mcleish could be in trouble. That said, if we fail to get a result against (IMO) a poor Blackburn side, it may just persuade the board to spend some cash to improve the team. Rather we win though 2-1 (Collins and Bent).

Delph's quality IMO. Petrov needs replacing ASAP, nothing against him personally, just think the guys legs have gone.

Tedious performance, Decent point. Given MOTM.

Assuming the match does go ahead, I'll predict an easy home victory for Fulham. In fact I can see us easily getting ripped apart for ninety minutes, then finally losing by 3/4-0. We're shit, we've had a poor pre-season, we're lacking form and our manager is useless. While in stark contrast Fulham have already played a couple of competitive matches, they have a decent coach in Jol, and I fully expect them to be fitter, sharper and superior to us in every department. Not looking forward to this at all.

Barton could be Petrov's replacement (not that I want him here).

"You can never say never but at the moment if we get N'Zogbia, which is looking good, then it's unlikely we will do anything unless there's more trading with the players we already have in the squad". This comment really wound me up last week. 13 players leave, 5 from the senior squad, 4 from the starting 11 and he intends to replace them all with just 2! I'm no MENSA candidate, but even I can see that doesn't add up. No for me.