Aston Villa Banter Archive September 01 2013 to October 01 2013

01 Oct 2013 18:29:50
To everyone below who said it, I don't see how we are lucky? 11 dudes put in a shift and won 3-2, we wore the opposition down, bar a couple of set peices, preventing a goal from open play and capitalized on mistakes from linesmen to defence. I don't know anyone who says its luck unless it happens against them so why are we moaning again?

In regard to stats they mean nothing I would use the words form and class to prove how things are going however I respect ethavfc and the point he/she was trying to make an if we play better with sylla in the team great

Also what's with sayin you would like us to play better football for excitement? our style of play is to score more than the other team its obvious we don't emphasise on defense which means goals at all ends maybe more for the neutral but what's more exciting than that!

I loved it when the final whistle went on saturday and all I could think was how excited I felt. Onwards and upwards villans cheer up our form is good

Naturalvillan

Im not sure others on here are moaning to be honest mate, more a case of not getting carried away with a victory against one of the best teams about. Its part an parcel of being a villa fan for me. For instance one week we go to anfield and win 3-1 and then follow it up getting thrashed 8-0 at stamford bridge the following week!

Great Stats by the way ethavfc. I think sylla definitely adds that 'wee bit of steel' as PL described towards the end of last season. Alongside Delph who is arguably the most in form English player in the division. Needless to say he won't get a call up to the national team though.

Finch

Lucky or better team won, personally don't care either way, 3 point is all I see there and think we can push for a euro spot at this rate and build on this good looking team

Blimey mate, you're getting a bit ahead of yourself

Mendax everyone respects you on this site but I don't no why? Why can't villa push for a euro spot after this sort of start only having one disappointing game. Your just another sort of king villa and don't know what your talking about

Thats a bit harsh on mendax mate, he's not chatting complete rubbish about villa signing van persie to replace jordon bowery like good old king villa does. He's just being realistic. I appreciate your optimism of a euro spot and the way this prem season has started we could finish anywhere between 1st and 20th as its complete unpredictable madness. But when you take into consideration the quality of other teams a euro spot does still look slightly out of the question for us. When we start going in to games against the likes of newcastle and hull expecting nothing less than a win, we cannot start thinking about european football. Its no good beating arsenal away and man city if you can't put away games against worse teams. It was exactly the same last season, we played brilliantly at home to Manchester United and lost because we don't have the same quality, and then let wigan walk all over us in our own back yard! We are having a good season but as far as i'm concerned until we start playing against teams in the bottom half the same way we play against teams in the top half, european football is out of the question.

We'll see who is right at the end of the season I suppose
What I really don't get is where all the aggression comes from?
I have a different view to you and vice versa, that's fine. But why not just argue your own position rather than petulantly tried to rubbish mine?
Comparing me to everyone's favourite fantasist does tend to put your judgement in some doubt. I would love you to quote an example of where " I don't know what I am talking about"
You'll struggle as I only ever spout my own, honest opinion, which is something that I very much do know about.
We can disagree but let's cut out the kiddies stuff, hey?
Nice to hear you say that people on here respects me though!
I tend to respect everyone else on here who is Villa through and through and merely comes on to express their opinion, regardless of whether I agree with it or not.
Give it a go mate, you'll sleep better

That's a bit harsh on Mendax to be fair I think he gets most things right on this site

Can I just state I put the post about pushing for europe but not the part about mendax. yes it is a bit far fetched but its a nice thought and think we look ok at minute, just need to start playing for 90 minutes rather than last 45 (striker)

Fair enough, guess I killed 2 birds with one stone at least! It is a nice thought, but I think its thoughts such as 'we can qualify for european football' that make the players not bother against the lesser teams! The fact of the matter is we haven't got the quality to play bad and win games, so if we don't go into every single game knowing we have to do whatever it takes to win, we'll keep losing games we shouldn't which ultimately puts european football out of the question. I am very happy with what is happening at villa at the moment and it all looks very good for the future but my only growing concern is that we can work our socks off against chelsea, arsenal and man city and then expect the invisible man to score a hat trick against newcastle.

Hopefully its an issue we can iron out and who knows, maybe in a few years we will be back in europe! Either way let's take it a step at a time, and trust in lambert, as he is the only manager since I have had season ticket that has actually made any progress!

Lambert have completely proved me wrong at the minute, I honestly thought as soon as he tookover we was heading south but he just about steered us clear of the drop and we making an ok start to the season, be happy with top half finish and as you say build and get back into europe

Yeap cheers for that villa

Hang on a min everyones favourite fantasist.? that's very harsh as I give my opinion and post rumours I hear and are totally villa through and through ill have you all know. Granted most of the rumours I put on over the summer did not come off and looked utter bs but i'm still intitled to my opinion the same as everyone else. Now to the point in hand. In my opinion we will have a steady season and shock a few. Will be ups and downs with a probable finish of 8th or 9th for me which woll still be a remarkable improvment on last season so overall I agree with mendex on this one

28 Sep 2013 17:50:31
Avfc 3 city 2

there is something special happening at villa?

Funny old game football isn't it! completely outplayed in the first half, a bit more competitive in the second combined with some clinical finishing UTV

Finch

Agree with Finch completely out played just luck, still in shock fill sad for anyone who thinks this is special

Is anyone positive on this site? We've just beat man city and people saying we didn't deserve it. Were 9th in the league for god sake

Do you think villa played well? and good football, man city may have lost but do you think any villa player would make there squad let alone the starting 11, I have seen some great villa sides and I would not pick any currant player on show to make any villa team,

Can't believe the doom mongers on this site. We got the result and won. No it wasn't pretty and we had some luck, but despite the team getting battered for a large portion of the game, they never gave up and kept fighting until the end. The showed heart and team spirit and I can't ask for more from them than that. No benteke and Gabby and we got a result against financially one of the most powerful teams in the world who quite a few tipped to win the premiership the year. 3-2 result. I will take that and be happy with it wether we win ugly or not.

Are people seriously pathetic enough to be angry they we were out played by man city? Get a grip will you. We all know from last season that the best teams can be outplayed and still win games. If any of you dare question the commitment of any villa player today then i'm sorry but you are not a villa fan. I'm not bothered who had more shots, more possession or more corners and so on and so forth, all I care about is who scored the most goals and who got the points!

Also as much as I absolutely hate to say this, and I probably never will say it in my life again, well done to west brom too, made it a very proud day for the west midlands! And a very bad one for probably the best footballing city in country of late. (Blues still showing there class though lol, not sure if wolves played or won also, I don't pay attention to leagues that far down)

Always remember that the score line does not show pictures.
Result is what counts Villa 3 MCity 2. {Ed007's Note - Congratulations on that result today lads. As a Celtic fan I'm delighted to see Lambert doing well. I did tell you he would turn things around given time.}

In answer to the downer up there. If millers getting into there starting line up many of our players would. And, bentekes a class above dzeko and negredo! Won't go as far as agero and maybe jovetic but he would certainly get into the squad and probably a regular starter

In response to the fan who stated that none of the Villa 11 would get into the city starting 11. What a stupid pointless thing to say. Most of the premiership wouldn't get into there team as they literally can have the pick of almost any world class player they want. Get behind us. When we lose, moan by all means but when we win then enjoy it and don't bloody moan. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog and we kept fighting at Villa park.

I'll take winning lucky against a side like Man city all day long
They are going to outclass teams much further up the league than us this season
You would hope that if we were ever in their position we could do likewise
With the players they have they were always going to have a lot more possession than us. Our job was to find a way to win despite that
JOB DONE

Hi as a villa fan I will not be happy or get excited about a poor display even if we win, we where lucky at Norwich, a bad display against spuds I would like to see some of the young players play or at lest on the bench, even WBA played a 19yr old and he looked good and hungry!just think the cheap imports or bowery are not good enough for villa, of course I want villa to win, but let's be realistic. we were lucky

I don't read any doom mongers on this thread, I'm chuffed that we won, not in style obviously. Either way its good to keep your feet on the ground.

Hey guys, we are losing our respect on this site.
Why are we critical of posters who state reality?
Everyone is allowed an opinion whether it be the same as yours or directly opposed. If you were standing face to face with posters that you deem "Doom mongers" would you have the ba--s to sat it to thier face? More respect to everyone please. don't post what you would not say to face to face!

Villa may not of had a free flowing passing display against city but we defended as solid as any team in the premiership could and have done. The hole of the first half and part of the second we were bombarded but didn't concede from open play the whole game

Paul Lambert always believes he can win a game against any opposition, even at 2-0 down with 10 mins to go he still has belief, that belief and determination is showing on the team now, once your young players improve and gain more experience the belief and energy Lambert installs into the team will make for real entertainment. I saw my team (Norwich) beat Man City and loved it, even if they were better on the day, some of you doom mongers need to get behind Lambert as he is the best thing that will happen to Villa in a long time, yes he is a bit gung ho and clean sheets are rare but the football is attacking and entertaining.

26 Sep 2013 13:46:12
WE had our pants pulled down literally and got spanked.
I know we played reserves but so did spuds.
A solid central defender is an urgent requirement, so is a midfield leader.
No doom or gloom as some people believe just reality. The defence is not good enough, no better than last season. Saturday could be a horror story so let's hope that the right players turn up!

Steer was appalling

24 Sep 2013 21:57:25
4 nil at home, absolute disgrace.

Before we all get down let's remember that the team tonight was largely made up of players who are not regularly playing in the first team Also that the entire Villa team cost less than Lamela!
Spurs had a team full of international players we didn't but despite that our performance was pretty good, we passed the ball well for large parts of the game and created a few half chances. At 1 nil down we had a great shout for a penalty, given that the defender was trying hard to undress Helenius. Had the ref got that decision right who knows what might have been the final score, instead Spurs go down the other end get a generous decision for a free kick which leads to a corner from which we go two down

Not a great result in the end but not one to cause us to get suicidial I for one didn't expect to much out of the game with ten players on the inured list and Pl stating that he priority was the league

Absolutely toothless without Benteke

Says a lot when the best player on the pitch is Albrighton, who we intend to loan out, if you are going with the excuse these players are kids they are not, the kids would be the next gen PL only seems to play the cheap imports who he bought

I remember Norwich said something like or on similar terms this time last season when Norwich let you have the result by playing similar team as you did last night, but Villa fans weren't having any of it, So on that note do you now believe managers don't give a stuff about Silverware when you are in our league position,

Lambert is glad to be out of the cup, its an ideal opportunity to go out to a team like Spurs, if you were up against championship opposition the pressure would have been on to save any embarrassment. To be honest he would have loved to go out last season but there was no way he would want to lose to Norwich.

Jed Steer. woeful performance

That's why Jed Steer never got into the first team at Norwich, He's not READY he had the chance of a new 3 year contract and a season loan to the Championship for 1st team football. he decided to be a bench warmer, and you prefer him to Given.

21 Sep 2013 21:39:48
Hi Lads.

Back home again, hope you are all ok.

Streamed the villa game live today, and to be honest even though we got the win we needed I thought we looked a little jaded and gave the ball away far too cheaply, and thought we were a bit fortunate at times.

Our defending is shocking at times and will get punished before long if not addressed.

We got the points though which is the main thing.

I have to agree with Mendax I was also disappointed with Tonev, he is perhaps trying too hard, and was a bit speculative with his shooting.
Given time I think he will adjust to the prem.

villadave

Blimey, that was some holiday Dave
Good to have you back

Welcome back Dave.

I thought the win at Norwich was pretty fortunate for an average performance in all honesty, Norwich look in trouble this season already for me.

finch

21 Sep 2013 09:06:40
Predictions for today then lads?

I know everybody is being negative on here this week, but the way the premier league is now, it massively favours the away teams that counter attack, hence why we looked a lot more threatening against arsenal and chelsea than against liverpool and newcastle. As much as it does annoy me, it looks like we could have a very good season on the road, and a very poor one at home.

With this in mind my prediction for today is a 2-1 villa win, however I do think that if we don't improve at home by the time they visit they can beat us at villa park.

Also while i'm posting i'd just like to do what a few others have and say my favoured line up. 4-4-2 diamond

Guzan
Lowton vlaar baker luna
Sylla
Tonev delph
Weimann
Benteke agbonlahor

Fantastic 3 points and clean sheet we been wanting, well done the team now totenham and city at home, let's take this in to those games at home!

19 Sep 2013 06:31:40
pl will not sign another cb. Clark and baker will be used with concrete ron. We will also soon switch to a 4 4 2 dimond and line up as so

Guzan
Lowton vlarr baker luna
Syla
Westwood delph
Tonev
Benteke kozak

Pl will try this out for a few weeks due to the lack of form of wimann and bacuna.

No gabby

parker

Would love gabby to play through the middle against norwich, he will tear them apart if he does! Weimann and westwood are the two that need to be dropped in my opinion

Agree Westwood over rated Luna can't defend

17 Sep 2013 12:17:44
Is there anyone out there that is aware of any out of contract midfielders of quality?
That is all we can hope to get before January comes around.
Tried to persuade my old Mom but she can't get down to fasten her boots.

17 Sep 2013 08:37:51
At this early stage of the season even the hardiest supporter is now aware where our problems are within the team.
Predictable, unimaginative, immature, naive, single vision, how many more observations will come up on this site?
Vlaar is not the answer at the back and now Okore is out we are back to what we had last season. The team are incapable of keeping a clean sheet so when is the defence going to learn. Dunne was shipped out, I know that his paypacket was excessive but he was a solid defender. Lambert could and should have got another solid c/b in during the window. Young players with an eye to the future were bought in, but no experiance came in to control the play. Somewhere we should have been happy to pay a "leader" to come to VP, the kids need an example.

Kids?
I remember Mercers Minors and this group are almost pensioners compared to them. Forget the ages, experiance is essential and at the grand old age of 20+ they don't seem to have any.
It was widely known that Barry was willing to lower his wage to move and Villa were rumoured to be interested but would not pay. But he is the kind of player we need to stand on the ball and distribute effectively. Currently at Everton and turning in great performances. What a miss.

When you say turning in great performances, do you mean turning in A great performance?

However I do agree barry would have been a great signing for us!

Eth You are correct, however I really refer to him constantly turning in excellent performances game after game.
We missed the boat and they do not come along too often.

Agree about Barry. Should have bit his hand off when he was willing to come back
The scary thing for me is that despite the additions over the summer, the injury to Okore means we have basically the same starting 11 that we finished last season with
In other words, Lambert's new additions have been pretty underwhelming
I think Lerner and Lambert are also both head strong enough to persist with a strategy which sounds very romantic but is essentially flawed. I see another diffiicult season ahead

Hi Mendax, Several times last season I commented that we needed an old head amongst the "kids" but was slagged off frequently. The youth policy that we are maintaining is flawed unless a "Father" figure arrives. There is not a single player that can sit with the ball and control play. Sometimes it looks like schoolboy football, loads of running but no style. Westwood has high stats for accuracy but both of us could pass a ball 5yds, he seldom plays a killer ball. Certain players are not responding to the situation and this includes the platers that have been with us for more than one season. If the present situation continues then it is bye bye Benteke and I am sure that Lambert knows this fact. Where do you see AVFC at Xmas?

I just don't know mate
I'm not hopeful though
We seem to have painted ourselves into to a sort of ideological corner
Lambert has gone to such huge lengths to ship out the older, experienced players on big contracts and has ignored the fact that it wasn't their age, experience or wages that was the main problem. The main problem was that they were bloody awful players despite their experience

Spot on Mendax. The question then is "why didn't Lambert get someone else in to control the field?"
Not a lot of money spent but a lot of it could have gone to getting the right man to do the job.
Are we actually accusing both Lambert & Lerner of not seeing the picture that we see every week? I think that it looks as though we will have to hang on till the new year and then get the creative player that we so urgently need. It will not be too late at that point, but it will be frustrating to us all.
I do believe that the team will lift themselves over the next couple of weeks as the 2 week lay off didn't do them anygood.
Aside from that Villa-boas is now complaining that Spuds must play 3 games in 6 days. Shame that. Nobody gave a sh-- that Villa had the same in the first 3 games 2013/14.

I wished I could share your confidence about the creative midfield player arriving in Jan mate.
We were crying out for it all last season as well, Lambert has had all summer to do something, bought 7 players and not one of was a midfield player with real guile
It makes me wonder what he is seeing
Oh well, we wouldn't be Villa fans if we didn't worry

I am going to get my boots out, I must have a chance. How about you?
Lambert will have to buy a Mr Reliable otherwise I think that Lerner will be forced to swing the axe.
Dont want to see that happen, but Lerner wants some return and presently he is getting nothing.

15 Sep 2013 21:35:07
Can everyone please calm down about villas loss at home. Ye were not the best team in the premier but we have give the top three current teams a real run for there money and beat one of them. Why is everyone so down? We have one of the best forwards in worlds football and a very good manger. Plus the team can only get better with the youth. I think people need to realise that martin o Neil wasted all of learners money and we haven't actually got the funds to buy these high quality players that everyone is begging for. The only complaint I have is that he doesn't mix it up when we are at home so we are becoming a bit to predictable. All I can see I can see is as good of quality we've had at villa in many years. Good times ahead for villa.

avfclegend

The reason that people are a bit peeved is simply that we failed against a team that were criticised for NOT buying a single player during the window. Our defence is inadequate and has to be improved, Vlaar is not as solid as is needed in the prem. Okore is new to the job so must be given time.
A pair at the back is not good enough no matter how good the wingbacks are, and ours are not, so my personal opinion is that Okore Vlaar Baker or Clark should always play as a three with wingbacks so that we have four or five across the back. Even Lambert is saying that we must not conceed the first goal. I would like to see us not conceeding a goal, it would make a change!
The worst defence, according to stats, in the history of the prem. Not a record that any of us are happy with to be stabled at VP. Midfield looks OK and a strike force fronted by Ben that looks to have ability to score against any team, providing they attempt to shoot.
. However if we give away goals then the front line will always be overworked in playing catch up.

I would drop gabby, weiman, westwood, luna and put them on the bench and play

guzan
lowton vlaar clarke baker

sylla delph

baccuna helinus tonev

benteke

im dissapointed with the loss but reality if we got 6 points from our first six games would not be bad considering we have had to play
arsenal, chelsea, liverpool & city!

U can't drop gabby for bacuna! From what I've seen of bacuna he's been awful

Something needs to be done we are to predictable?

15 Sep 2013 19:03:01
Think we need to set up diffrently at home then our away matches.

i would play 4231 at home and 433 away

we need to start using all our squad!

14 Sep 2013 21:03:00
Newcastle fan here, and no, I am not here in peace; as you would expect with our history.

Anyways, can I just say ''haha. ''

That is all.

(Enjoy the Championship) {Ed013's Note - I suppose today was like winning the league, milk it whilst you can. I hope for Newcastle's sake they can turn it round. As for Villa, respect for what they are doing, today was a one off and another step over the hill of what has been a difficult start}

Did you think that up all on your own?
Who needs Oscar Wilde when we only have to look to the North of this country for such outstanding wit
Who says Geordies are just Scotsmen with no brains {Ed007's Note - I'm not sure if I should be offended by that or not.}

Why do newcastle fans always act like it was a cup final whenever they beat us, are they still bitter about us beating them 1-0 to send them down?

Nice bit about the championship, but look at like this, your lot have had easy games so far we have played teams you won't take a single point off. I'd have kept my gob shut if I were you because this will come back and bite you on the backside at the end of the season.

Lol newcastle have won more points against aston villa than any other team! just another walk in the park. Enjoying your hoofball tactics to benteke?

Every newcastle fan I know (quite a few that is) has been bitching and moaning about how bad they look and they won't be suprised if they go down for the last few weeks, yet you beat us and suddenly you the best team in the league? ARE YOU personS KIDDING ME?

14 Sep 2013 17:38:25
so as I said even after arsenal game another relegation fight for us this season confirmed today by a terrible home performance against a team I actually thought even we would beat. people who were predicting a top half finish I hope you realise just how bad a team we actually are. where to begin?
we ARE the worst team in the entire league at playing at home, every other team will see playing at home an advantage but for us it is the total opposite, we have no strategy or game plan whatsoever and totally clueless in possession when opposing teams are happy to sit and let us 'play'. apart from delph our entire midfield are just tosh and that includes weimann and agbonlahor, why do we play KEA he never contributes anything at all and is less of an athlete than my gran, and as for the defence don't get me started, they are all just a bunch of nervous wrecks, luna is just a spansh bennett, lowton is average at best and we badly miss baker in the heart of the defence because clark and vlaar are far too accident prone, every time the ball goes near them I literally can't watch.
the manager and board will have to sort something out players wise in january otherwise on their head be it when we go down, lamberts activity in the summer window was terrible and on the final day when it was clear to every villa fan we needed creativity and some real steel in our midfield he instead signed kozak.
these are terrible times to be a villa fan and todays game was one of the most disappointing team performances i've ever seen. we created 1 or 2 measly chances which were wasted by the usual suspects (gabby, weimann) and only notched a goal because tekkers has the best jump in world football.
rant over for now until we lose to norwich next week

Agree with all you say, some cheap buys might come good ie teckers but most will not KEA luna example,!Gary Gardner has more to offer than any player yet can't make the bench why is this?I have said before we will not win many games at villa park because we can only counter attack villajk

13 Sep 2013 11:00:52
Liverpool fan coming in peace.

I write regular reviews over on the Liverpool site and received a recent request from a fan who was impressed by your very own Fabian Delph.
Seeing as he's your player, I thought you might be interested in having a read? If you go to the Liverpool site and click the link down the left hand side entitled 'LFC blogs and voting polls', it is blog 12, right at the top as of September the 13th.
I'd appreciate any feedback from you guys and hope you find my review fair.

Kind Regards,

YNWAdam

I think Delph has been excellent for the past twelve months and I am excited to see him improve.

As for your article. Sorry if it hurts your feelings but it smacks of a wannabe journalist. Largely pejorative and cliche ridden, and reliant on basic statistics which have little depth. Whilst us fans love an opinion we do not analyse the game in the same way as those within the industry, so it may work for the talksport listenership but I garnered little from it.

For the LFC fan in peace.

Delph is growing into the player he was in the championship but now in the prem. He had a lot of bad press from some supporters over the last couple of seasons but I believe that he is the exact player Villa need in the middle of the pitch. He is not afraid to "get stuck in" when at the back and he is perfectly able when going forward. His distribution is fine, his tackling hard and altogether the right combination for Villa.

Dare one say that a little more improvement in his consistancy could move him into reckoning for Hodgson or whoever is in the seat at the time, on the international front. He plays the role that England need badly in every game.

BigMac

I appreciate what you have to say. Unfortunately, I am a wannabe journalist! I'm only 19 years old, and have no journalism qualifications (I'm stuck in Engineering for now), but I am really just using this site as a base to try and practice on, and feedback like your is what I want mainly. Most people are just overly nice and say things like "send them in to the papers". The reason I haven't, is because I can see the many flaws when I read them back to myself. Its a learning curve for me, and due to working 6 days a week in other professions, my research time is limited, and I appreciate they were basic statistics. However, I did elborate slightly on them and actually give my opinion on the player from what I have seen of him playing, not just the stats I could find.

Anyway, I'm glad you read it and I really do appreciate the honesty! I'll come back stronger next time thanks to your advice, and will look to find more relevant and in depth stats to go with the opinion. I'll try to be a little less cliche as well ;)

YNWAdam

Having read your article and response to my opinion, I have faith that you will achieve your ambition of becoming a sports writer, good luck Adam.

09 Sep 2013 14:14:50
Great effort yesterday up in Glasgow to launch Stans charity. I'm a Celtic fan and it was a privilege to behold. The moment his sons ran on to join him at the end would bring a tear to anyone's eye! Nice to see a few Villa fans there too to celebrate the great mans battle against this terrible scourge of thousands. Hope you have a good season fellas as the midlands biggest and best supported team should always be a contender for a cup or euro participation through league standing. You've got a shrewd gaffer in charge and keep faith for a bright future.

All the best Stiliyan, you'll never walk alone.

Jim Dhoc

07 Sep 2013 22:53:35
Last night of the proms and who is on stage. Nigel Kennedy wearing his Gabby shirt.
Gabby hits the highs with triumphant music.

05 Sep 2013 16:43:35
I dint think that u would bring up the shocking signings that O'neil made.
In lambert we trust

Hi any news on Gary Gardner

05 Sep 2013 13:48:12
I see Celtic have sold 60,000 tickets for a Legends game on Sunday with all the proceeds going to Stiliyan Petrovs Cancer Foundation.

What a great effort!

Best wishes to Stiliyan on his continued recovery!

03 Sep 2013 23:28:05
Am I the only one thinking it or the only one old enough to remember, but I can't believe no-one has said it - Kozac, who loves ya baby.

I thought it was Kodak, "now you have it in black & white. "

Obviously the transfer window closed too soon as now we have nothing to "banter. "

03 Sep 2013 21:15:03
So that's It! the transfer deadline has now passed so up until January we've got what we've got. Personally I think we are short of a couple of positions squad-wise, but content with the acquisitions we have made.

With no rumours on the horizon i'd like to suggest predictions on the starting 11 for newcastle. i'd go with the following:

Guzan
RB Lowton CB Okore CB Vlaar LB Luna

CM Delph CM Westwood CM Sylla

AM Helenius

ST BenTekkers ST Kojak

No Gabby?

Weimann and gabby missing u mad there both quality players. Got to swap Sylla and Helenius for gabby and Weimann. We need more attacking power we don't want to become a defensive team. And lambert won't use Helenius as an AM he sees him as a striker.

I agree we need gabby and weimann but what has happened to gardner the best prospect of all?

Why can't we play a simple 442
Guzan
RB Lowton CB okore CB vlaar LB Luna

Rm/RW weiman CM Delph CM Westwood/ Sylla LM/LW Gabby

Benteke/Kozak

Strongest Squad for me

That is more a 4 2 4 if you intend to play weimann and gab as wingers

I strongly believe Kozak will not start against Newcastle. I feel this will be the starting line up:

Guzan
Lowton Okore Vlaar Luna
Delph Westwood
Weimann Bacuna Gabby
Benteke

Just because we sign Kozak doesn't mean he starts first game, Lambert will want to ween him in like he has done with all new and fresh faces.

Azza

03 Sep 2013 13:05:53
is the free agent window still open? just wondering because psg have released momo sissoko so can teams snap him up on a free? think he would be a great addition to our squad, he would surely get more games than kozak wouldn't he? {Ed001's Note - free agents can be signed in the next couple of months, so long as they were out of contract before the transfer window just shut.}

Great shout!

02 Sep 2013 23:55:19
Kingvilla silent.

02 Sep 2013 22:38:59
I know some of us will be moaning we still don't have a creative attacking midfielder, but let's just calm down. We have properly strengthened the squad now, there is competition for places and there will be no complacency from anybody. Not only that but it also means we won't be playing awful players just because we have to (e. g. Barry bannan for 4 months last season)!

If we hold on to everybody but benteke we really don't have to strengthen that much next season other than a replacement (unless helenius or kozák can fill his shoes) and then the all important CAM! And/or a tough DCM We survived last season and played really well close to the end, and now we have improved the squad.

Okay we're not going to be in europe next season but good things come to those who wait and if i'm honest i'd rather sign 7 players to improve the squad than one or two big names.

We might see somebody come in in january but if not, don't worry. We will be fine this season, and anybody expecting us to sign 15 players and be challenging for europe is silly, its a massive work in progress and we are definitely going in the right direction. I might be alone here but I for one am very happy with the transfer activity this summer and in lambert I most certainly trust! UTV

Great window guys you look at least top ten this year especially if your new striker produces

derbyshire dave

Nope you not alone I also think we have done well to move dead wood and bring international players!

02 Sep 2013 19:42:52
I have to say I'm a bit non plussed by us signing another forward as it seems to be the strongest area of the team
Is it Lambert putting in place a replacement who will be fully acclimatised for when Benteke leaves at the end of the year maybe?
Surely midfield and defence were greater priorities?
Oh well, if he's any good we shouldn't grumble.
If we struggle in midfield from now until January, then we have a right to grumble

Tick tock, its not 11. 00pm yet. I think the question is can we keep Benteke if big offers come in? that's why Lambert has got Kozak. Some offers may not be rejected out of hand as money talks and Lerner will listen. AS someone else has pointed out he is a business man.

Hi Mendax,

Lets face it, Kozak is not a "sexy" signing, but could provide value still. I think the big story is that Helenius really will be looked at as a forward player, not necessarily a striker.

I hate to say it, but I think the fact that Delph has been playing at a completely different level, is almost like having a new signing. Gabby has been great.

Quite a few positions are in lock down with some pretty good performances. Would still feel more comfortable if KEA was used more sparingly as I just don't rate the bloke.

I think people have been fairly harsh on Bacuna, but I think the guy has something. He has been a bit off the pace, but I think he will prove to be a very high value signing, under the radar even.

I really would like to see Helenius involved as I think he is a playmaker. We saw a small sample of what he can do when he came on with Benteke vs Chelsea. he flicked on a nice one that Wiemann almost smashed in and created another for Benteke.

Think about it, we just signed a whole side for about half what the Gunners payed for effing Ozil ffs. that was a complete knee jerk reaction signing, and they will NEVER get half of that back when they sell him on.

Leroy

Hi Leroy
I wouldn't disagree to be honest mate.
That said, I think there are a lot of ifs, buts and maybes around our whole squad
I guess what I would have liked was a few sure fire certainties (just one or two)
Anyway, we have what we have now and hopefully it all turns out well

p. s nice to see some of the dead wood off the books as well

P. p. s As I have an interest in Madrid (Due to Davor Suker, family in Madrid along with a visit to "El Clasico" a few seasons back)I am delighted Arsenal have payed £42 mil for Ozil!

02 Sep 2013 19:09:41
Your rumour was nearly right kingsvilla with your source saying we were signing that lovable eightys detective kojak

02 Sep 2013 18:11:50
Dare we hope someone takes hutton off our hands before 11pm!

Saw a lot of him at forest/mallorca last season and he did ok, surely someone might want to take him off our hands!

02 Sep 2013 16:07:03
I know this is a Villa forum, but I can't help but laugh at the Gunners paying ridonkulous sums of money for the petulant German, Ozil.

This is a massive panic buy the way I see it. 42. 4 squid on him?

I hope they go easy on him the first time he sulks his way down the left after being bumped off the ball. EPL is much more physical than the Spanish league and he was one of the biggest sulkers going round over there.

Leroy

Totally agree, desperation in the gooners camp!

Finch

02 Sep 2013 13:46:27
So disappointed with PL and the fact he can't see we need another combative midfielder like Sylla in the squad, and maybe a creative midfielder.

02 Sep 2013 10:35:53
Villa will not be major players in deadline day!

No s***! .

We have already signed six players which is (currently) 5 more than Man Utd, four more than the Toon and (if Ozil goes through) three more than Arseanal. So yeah it will be quiet at Villa Park and Bodymoor today.

01 Sep 2013 21:03:07
Libor Kozak from Lazio in a 6 mil euro fee + 6,000 euro a week wages.
Lambert has now signed 7 players this window and all their wages combined are equal to that of Dunnes. Granted they might not be superstars but what did we get from Dunne last season? The lads who signed new contracts from last season were on similar wages to the new lads and have earned their wage increases except for Benteke who was on about 15,000 a week and is believed to of at least doubled that if not more but it's earned in Lamberts view (still half of what Lukakus on).
Villa now have a policy of start on championship wages and earn you raises. Hopefully next season if we survive in the Premiership and all of the bomb squad gone then we will be in a very good financial situation. Lerner is determined not to take any money out of Villa and once it start making a profit again the fans will benefit.
To those who complain about smaller clubs paying higher fees and wages then us remember we've already been there and we're still paying for it. The futures bright, the futures Villas.

Almost had me, then you said "Randy is determined not to take money out of the club".

Randy is taking his management fee regardless. c'mon now, he's not stupid rich like these oil guys, he owns the club as he sees it as a money making venture. it's not a hobby for him, or a game like monopoly, which is how the filthy rich see it.

So please don't act like all of a sudden Randy is going to waive his fees. He is happy that Lambert is all in on the young blood policy, as it only maximizes his profit.