Popular Post Wes Posted June 28, 2013 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 28, 2013 If we signed this guy and he realised his potential, along with Okore, would we be looking at top 8 next??? Presuming we keep Benteke obviously... I'd say no. We've gone through a rather radical overhaul of the squad with ins and outs this summer and Lambert is still in the early stages of putting his imprint on the club. You have to remember all around us clubs are similiarly improving. Southampton plonked £8m on a centre back. Swansea and Norwich are bringing in proven goalscorers. Newcastle are unlikely to be as poor as they were this year a second time around. To me, Belhanda coming in would mean one thing: outside of the Champions League contenders we'll be one of the most, if not the most, exciting side going forward. We are still fragile in defence however. Hopefully that unit grows a greater sense of harmony and understanding with each other over the summer. There'll be excitement and attacking football at Villa Park next season for sure, but I personally don't like to burden the squad with heavy expectations, particularly with so much yet to unfold over the summer. For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonoridge91 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Other teams are going to strengthen or at least try but other teams are going to fall as well. West Brom won't finish as high this coming season imo. You say about Newcastle improving, I highly doubt it with what's going on internally with Kinnear. Undermining the manager and such. I'm hoping for top 10, I'll be disappointed if we don't get there without Belhanda let alone if we sign him. I suppose this optimism does rely on retaining Benteke though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packoman Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 I'd be happy to just avoid another relegation battle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted June 28, 2013 Author Share Posted June 28, 2013 (edited) You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Other teams are going to strengthen or at least try but other teams are going to fall as well. West Brom won't finish as high this coming season imo. You say about Newcastle improving, I highly doubt it with what's going on internally with Kinnear. Undermining the manager and such. I'm hoping for top 10, I'll be disappointed if we don't get there without Belhanda let alone if we sign him. I suppose this optimism does rely on retaining Benteke though. I'd be very happy if we finished in the top 10. As long as we show improvement in attack, in defence, in being able to hold on to a lead and we're not threatened by relegation around February then I'd be happy wherever we finish! I try not to make too bold a set of predictions in case I end up disappointed. I'm sure other sets of fans are saying stuff like Benteke wont have a strong a second year for us, or other reasosn why we may not imrpove next season. Each club has their potential reasons why they may improve or falter. I'm just taking the cautious approach with regards to ours. Edited June 28, 2013 by Wes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Why ??????? - The same people are doing the organising ? Whilst defensivley we looked better after Jan - we were still very easy to score against. Really not sure the defence will be much improved come August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonoridge91 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Why ??????? - The same people are doing the organising ? Whilst defensivley we looked better after Jan - we were still very easy to score against. Really not sure the defence will be much improved come August. Because the players and new staff will have a full pre-season together. The new manager has the squad closer to his own personal vision of what he wants now opposed to inheriting players bought in from 3 different managers prior. Lambert clearly at the start of the season wasn't sure what to think on a lot of the players but by they end of the season you were seeing him find the players he's happy with and wants the team to progress with. Okore will help strengthen the defence but I'd be surprised if we don't bring at least another player in to help with that. In regards to the defence it takes time and organisation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodytom Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 This suddenly looks likely does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfcwills10 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 The thing i am liking about Belhanda is that he started out as a CDM, and he can get stuck in and tackle as well as being quite strong! The complete opposite to Stephen Ireland!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted June 28, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted June 28, 2013 For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Why ??????? - The same people are doing the organising ? Because most of the players have a year's experience under their belt. Because last season we didn't find a formation that suited us until about January. This year we'll have that stable set up from the start (hopefully) Because Lambert will have a better idea of who his best XI is so we'll have a more consistent team. Because we've signed 2 more defenders who might (emphasis on might) improve the defence. Because we've got a better goalkeeper than we did at the start of last season. Because we (hopefully) won't have Vlaar (an organiser) out for a large part of the start of the season. There's plenty of maybes and hopefullys in there. But there really are quite a lot of reasons why we MAY well be "more organised" going into next season than we were at the start of last season. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeVillan Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 The thing i am liking about Belhanda is that he started out as a CDM, and he can get stuck in and tackle as well as being quite strong! The complete opposite to Stephen Ireland!!! One of my favourite things about Ireland was his ability to win the ball back quickly and put the opposition under pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nabby Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pete Colley @petecolley23s Heard Bellhanda and Villa...not happening! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeps Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pete Colley @petecolley23s Heard Bellhanda and Villa...not happening! That's that then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthEastVillan Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Sounds like the lad may have opted to double his take home pay and have to play to about 50% his potential in Abu Dhabi. Shame when young lads choose to do this. Saying that can you really blame them? Personal/professional pride Vs $$$$ and a better lifestyle whilst putting in half the effort. Still don't believe we were ever seriously in for him to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Pete Colley @petecolley23s Heard Bellhanda and Villa...not happening! That's that then Who do you trust, the player himself or a sky reporter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieFacE Posted June 28, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted June 28, 2013 The player himself has only said there's an opportunity to play in England. That doesn't mean it's us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omariqy Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Seems like Villa are distancing themselves from this. Well they have been throughout. Doesnt mean that we are not interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaForever1970 Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Jesus how many reports does it take to convince people this is not happening? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smetrov Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 For the moment my opinion is for a safe 12th and another decent cup run, with anything above that being most welcome. You seriously won't be disappointed if we can get a top 10 finish next season? We were 2 points off 12th this season. I know there's a lot of new additions but we're not going to be as unorganised as we were during the 1st half of last season where things were all over the place. We didn't even look the same team at all for the last 4 months of the season. Why ??????? - The same people are doing the organising ? Whilst defensivley we looked better after Jan - we were still very easy to score against. Really not sure the defence will be much improved come August. Because the players and new staff will have a full pre-season together. The new manager has the squad closer to his own personal vision of what he wants now opposed to inheriting players bought in from 3 different managers prior. Lambert clearly at the start of the season wasn't sure what to think on a lot of the players but by they end of the season you were seeing him find the players he's happy with and wants the team to progress with. Okore will help strengthen the defence but I'd be surprised if we don't bring at least another player in to help with that. In regards to the defence it takes time and organisation. They a full pre season last season (in defence only bennett arrived late on) The squad probably isn't Lamberts personal vision - its more likley the one Randy will finance. Yes a defence takes time - but not months and months of conceeding soft goals. I often quote how quickly Roy Hodgon turned a leaky defence into a tight one at WBA - it took around 3 weeks (same players). Still see us being weak at the back next season TBH - this will be our undoing IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarpie Posted June 28, 2013 Share Posted June 28, 2013 Jesus how many reports does it take to convince people this is not happening? Until there's official announcement? I'm not believing any "reports" or "rumours" unless it's official from any of the clubs involved. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 28, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 28, 2013 Jesus how many reports does it take to convince people this is not happening? Until there's official announcement? I'm not believing any "reports" or "rumours" unless it's official from any of the clubs involved.Yes but in the complete absence of any substance, why think it was ever happening at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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