CottenM

Won't break the bank, better than Warnock, get him off the wage bill while we're there, far younger but with lots of Premier League experience What's not to like? Also, I have always enjoyed Scandinavians at Villa, really don't know why...

Everybody needs to start saying how good Warnock and Hutton were last season, and we are gutted that they are leaving, then other teams will come in thinking they're on to a bargain... Southampton have gone a bit crazy haven't they? Not put off by the state of their South Coast rivals. Although its always nice to spend big bucks on foreigners with fancy names (or in Jay Rodriguez's case local lads with fancy names), personally I think its a bit of a gamble for them.

I'm putting what Gazton said about a striker, some murmuring about us after a Man City player, and our love of Feyenoord together and getting John Guidetti. Would make sense on loan or permanent for both clubs, and would be a good move in my opinion.

Why are the odds on Mick McCarthy so short!?!?!?! 11/8 on Paddypower! NO NO NO NO NO, please god no.

0-0

People know that Poyet is a horrible racist, right?

Would rather Lenny Henry. Yeah, I went there...

I've said this before the last two managers, so third times a charm... I'd bloody love Slaven Bilic (not saying we could definitely get him etc) Even if he came in and didn't do a great job, at least he'd be funny.

No. Poor results. 15th in League. Simple.

Need to do better attacking corners.

Our two towering international centre backs will deal with everything Torres and Co have. We'll have "the Scottish Cafu" and England Full back Warnock bombing on providing local hero Gabby and former Premier League top scorer Darren Bent with ammunition. And with the creativity of France international N'zogbia, Scotlands bright young hope Bannan and the solidity of Bulgaria captain Petrov in the middle Chelsea will barely see the ball. Villa to win by 4 or 5. Think i'm drunk already.

Surprised (and yet, not that surprised) by all the negativity early on in the thread, personally I thought it was a good hard working display against a horrible Stoke side. We had a better amount of possesion but still lacking a final ball, or someone willing to gamble. Probably a confidence issue right now. Strong display from Gabby, Petrov and I think Cueller may have played himself into a regular full back spot there. For me Clark struggled, didn't look like he wanted the ball although he defends well, and Fonz just doesnt do enough. Bannan or Ireland should have come on for 10 mins to try and turn 1 into 3 points

Whatever the formation or line up, we simply need to play better. There's plenty of international caps and experience in our back 5, and we have a "proven goalscorer" And yet we keep seeing defensive naivety and glorious chances missed (the few we have created, you'll notice I've skipped the midfield, McLeish style)

We need Jenas. Desperate times...

So anyway, back to the match... Always likely to lose, and didn't play as badly as we could all round. But for me, Heskey was dire I know Bannan has played a lot of football recently, but surely that wasn't a fully fit Heskey!? Zero movement, no touch, no vision, just awful. Delph wasn't much better but looked like he was trying at least. Glaring error from Warnock but made amends and had a good game. Agbonlahor is not a natural finisher we know this, worked hard to get in position. Bent no service. Clark did fine stepping in. Midfield really needs some work.

Call me old fashioned, but i'd love to see 4-4-2. Bannan looked like he'd be comfortable wide right too. Or N'zog. Basically bored of draws, go out to win and if we lose its that "still unbeaten" monkey off our back...

N'Zogbia was poor, but for me Delph was worse. Poor passing, misses tackles, and when he did make a good run or two messed up big time with his finishing. Bringing Albrighton on as a sub is suicide, his decision making is so poor and gives away too many fouls. It might be boring but, if we're looking to grind out a result then Clark on as a holding midfielder for me. Although he should probably be out on the pitch already instead of Collins...

Same lineup as the last league match. (injuries pending) Dull draw. Sigh.

Surely N'Zog and Ireland to score against their former club, 2-0 Villa. It always happens! It wont happen with Given and Beye though, i can guarantee that.

Never thought I'd say this but, I agree with Lawro.

There's nothing to discuss here... We'll get Man Utd at Villa Park, put up a spirited first half display and eventually get turned over. Ah the romance of the cup. I'm another who would like Torquay, at there place as its relatively local to me, and a match we should win.

Did I read somewhere Gosling in talks with West Ham? Anyway I say he is worth talking to at least might be a chance missed, but from the brief glimpses seen probably not worth a massive contract offer.

For the big(ish) name foreign striker that people are after i think we should look no further than Villareal. They have two very decent strikers there at a club smaller than ours, and they failed to qualify for Europe. Theres an outside chance M'ON has heard of Rossi and Nilmar as Rossi spent time playing in England and Nilmar scored against England (with a header too, he does love a target man) I'm probably dreaming but thats what this thread is all about. Also while i'm here... Weren't we definitely going to sign de Guzman from Feyenoord in January? What happened there? From what i can see on the ever reliable wikipedia it seems that he had lots of injury troubles but is now on a free? Worth a gamble now surely.

Please stop posting Muamba's name on these boards... He is so clumsy its unbelievable, has a habit of getting forward to hit shots out for throw ins and doesn't even do well in the air for a big man. Mid season he was even dropped from the starting 11 at relegation strugglers Bolton. AND he used to play for Brum! Honestly, with this and the election debacle i'm starting to lose faith in humanity.

Using a method of young English "talent" at lesser clubs as favored by M'oN i present to you his shortlist... Jamie O'Hara (i realize he is a Spurs player but, whatever...) Mark Cullen Chris Eagles Danny Fox (Scottish i know, but did play for Celtic so...) Carlton Cole Mark Noble Freddie Sears James Tomkins Zavon Hines Junior Stanislas Victor Moses Matthew Jarvis Michael Kightly Gary Cahill (what?!) Fabrice Muamba Mark Davies Fraizer Campbell Jordan Henderson Lee Cattermole Martyn Waghorn Ryan Shawcross Phil Jones Steven Taylor Andy Carroll I give you a Rafa style guarantee that we will sign one of the above, i would hapilly have Cattermole, Noble, Shawcross and Moses out of that lot. Also our annual player from the Scottish league will be Kris Boyd. And the M'oN Joker signing this year nobody knows, i'm gonna pick a random Dutch player in David Mendes da Silva. Cos we need a holding midfielder, and he can also play right back A couple of other potential signings i believe are Joe Cole and Michael Carrick. My two cents ended up as more like a Nickel, sorry...