DamsonwoodVillan

Is the Facebook page Jordan AYEW 10 legit? Has a lot of stuff posted on there to do with Villa already before he signed. If it is really him surely the club wouldn't have been happy?

I'm guessing it is a fake.

If Adebayor does sign I certainly wouldn't say we're short of options, even if we're playing 2 up front.

Adebayor, Ayew, Agbonlahor, Kozak, Robinson. You also have to factor in Gil, Grealish and Sinclair into that equation.

If it's two up front Gil, Grealish or Sinclair could play there if we had a real crisis.

I still think it will be one up front through the middle (Adebayor) with support strikers either side of him, which for me would be Ayew and Gil.

Think he was left out with some sort of niggle yesterday. He'll start on Tuesday if he's fit. No question. I also think he's pretty nailed on to start at Bournemouth as long as he's fit.

I've always thought through his whole career that he must train really, really well. He must get used to who he's up against in training, work out the best positions to get into and the best ways to make himself look good in an environment he knows. That's the only explanation I can think of for why Houllier, McLeish, Lambert and now Sherwood liked him so much.

Superb pace yes, but little or no footballing intelligence, and his finishing has never lived up to what dangerous positions he does get into.

When I've defended him in conversations with mates who support our rivals, I've always gone with how he's a big game player. He seems to find something from somewhere in big matches. But I've been disappointed with him, particularly since Young left.

A useful squad member possibly. But no more.

Realistic goal target for Jordan Ayew for the season in all competitions?

I think he'll have more link player duties and being a counter attacking outlet rather than being the out and out goalscorer.

Would 11-15 be seen as reasonable?

Mat Kendrick of the Birmingham Mail reckons the deal has been agreed now. Ayew now to discuss terms and have medical etc.

French press have tweeted there's still no agreement between Villa and Lorient.

The naming of the final 25 will be interesting to say the least. 

I reckon Cissokho and Bennett will be left out definitely. 

Also doubt Tonev will make it, but N'Zogbia will hang on in there. 

Dishing it in public was risky though. If it all goes through I think he can count himself fortunate the Lorient hierarchy didn't completely throw a wobbler and call it all off. Players are contracted to clubs at the end of the day. 

A concern for me is Sherwood seems to really rate/get on well with Hutton.

I think Richards has been brought in to replace Vlaar.

My bet is he will be new club captain leading from the centre half position. If we are adding any more defenders it will be at right back... Would absolutely love to welcome Walker back.

Assuming the Ayew deal goes through, if we then brought in Walker, Cambiasso, Phillips and Adebayor I'd say that's a decent team.

I'd be surprised if this one ends up dead in the water.

Lorient won't want to walk away from the deal after the comments made by Ayew, they're just looking for a bit more out of us after the Benteke sale.

I think we'll come to a compromise on this one and it will be done early next week.

Would be a huge call to sell him after he had such a good season last year. He's a Villa man. I'd be disappointed as I think he should be one of the first names on our teamsheet.

It's probably €12m not £12m. Decent player I reckon. Sherwood setting us up to play very differently though if Gil and Ayew are going to be first choice.

Sorry if this has already been discussed there is a lot of social media where Ayew has uploaded a picture of the Villa badge and everything. I'm assuming it isn't legit to be honest but I would be happy with the deal if it came off, particularly if it's together with Adebayor.

Overnight Adebayor liked some post on Instagram linking him with Villa. Think this is on it's just drawn out petty squabbles Spurs' end over wages/severance payments.

Very divisive signing amongst us Villans if this goes through.

I suppose I'm in the camp that would back him to hit 10+ goals, so as long as his wages/loan fee don't put us out of business I'd say he'd be a successful signing.

Just hope he's one of two as well and not brought in as the sole marquee. As long as this is the case it's a decent move for me.

Sherwood, regardless of whether he can cut it himself, certainly has a decent experienced staff around him now.

I don't think we'll lose too many games for reasons of bad preparation or tactical ineptitude.

With the squad age reduced, money back in the bank, and wages under control, Sherwood has to be given a fair chance to improve his squad. If the squad is this or similar going into the season I don't think Sherwood can take too much blame if we end up bottom at Christmas to be honest.

I said similar comments about Lambert that he'd done everything he could with the tools available. He had to be given fair backing if we were to improve. I lost faith in Lambert in the end. For God's sake let's not refuse to back Sherwood as well, and then be calling for him to be sacked in December when it hasn't worked out.

Even if Sherwood doesn't convince everybody at this stage he has to be allowed a fair crack by the club. If not he may as well walk to save himself from a similar fate to Lambert.

We now have 5/6 positions covered in the team in my opinion ready for the season. That still leaves 5 or 6 more needed to make an impression on the league. It's not impossible.

GK - Guzan  (I think Bunn will be decent cover so fair enough signing)

RB -

CB - Richards

CB - Clark

LB - Amavi

RM -       (possibly Bacuna if he steps up but I still think we can do better)

CM - 

CM - Gueye

LM - Sinclair

STR -      (one of these slots will probably taken by Gil or Grealish but we still need two new strikers)

STR -

The empty positions are what I'd be going after. A lot to do but I think we could still have a strong team this season. 

Worst player is left back (in the dressing room)

Pretty sure we will line up 4-4-1-1 with Gil or Grealish in behind someone. Not sure obviously but I reckon Adebayor might suit that type of set up.

We're heading into the unknown with Sherwood really. Some think it'll work out fine, others are really worried by the prospect.

I think the signings so far have been good signings for a club in our position.

If a new goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder and two strikers were all to come in from now and all do reasonably ok then I'd fancy us to do well this season.

Yes Sherwood has lost two huge players which is a big blow, but the rebuild of the whole 11-18 may make us stronger than any Lambert side.

We're heading into the unknown with Sherwood really. Some think it'll work out fine, others are really worried by the prospect.

I think the signings so far have been good signings for a club in our position.

If a new goalkeeper, defender, central midfielder and two strikers were all to come in from now and all do reasonably ok then I'd fancy us to do well this season.

Yes Sherwood has lost two huge players which is a big blow, but the rebuild of the whole 11-18 may make us stronger than any Lambert side.

Hope it's a busy week of incomings. The morale will be really low this time next week if nothing much has happened with transfers and we've looked ordinary in the friendlies.

Exciting maybe, problem is we would get destroyed defensively 

I just find it refreshing to have a manager that is already browsing the market for a replacement when the player in question is still ultimately here. In the past we've seen Villa play catch up after losing a talent so it's nice that we seem to have a deal in place to bring in Adebayor on the cheap now, with QPR on standby waiting for us to get the money to afford Austin. That seems to be the plan at least as I see it right now.. As for who Adebayor is replacing I believe he's replacing Bent with Austin possibly being Benteke's replacement.

Three or four months ago if someone said to me you'll have to lose Benteke and Bent, but they will be replaced by Adebayor and Austin, I would have been disappointed about CB sure but I would have taken that.  

What is the position for Grealish or Gil though?

One of them in behind the main striker (Adebayor)?

Couldn't they both play in there behind Adebayor?

One of them in behind two strikers (Adebayor and Agbonlahor)?

Will be interesting to see how we line up at Bournemouth. I hope like anybody that Grealish has a big season but I certainly don't want him on the pitch and Gil on the bench just because it's him, and he's a Villa boy etc. I definitely don't know at this stage what our best team is. Not sure if that's good or bad at the moment.