a1ex2001

Massively disappointed I can only remember two occasions we've been in Europe and both have been disappointingly short! It could be another decade before we qualify again so I'd like to have seen us give it a real shot and there as some big clubs in the group stage so we could have had a couple of really big games to enjoy. If it was a club decision to bottle it that would at least explain the shambles last night as we were an utter shower, the tactics, team and lack of passion were all frightening if that is the real game plan for this season.

glad that was the first response! We are clearly going through a sticky patch and haven't replaced the players we lost in the summer but I'm much more worried by RK's performance so far this season wrong formations, wrong selections and no passion/commitment on the pitch at all. If things don't improve sharpish I can see him being the first manager to go this season we just look rudderless and he isn't exactly looking or sounding like he's going to fix it!

Hope he is ok at his best when he first joined he was outstanding!

Seems a perfectly reasonable article to me, Mane will almost certainly got for between 25-30 million to one of the top 4 in a season or so's time we and 99% of the clubs in this country are selling clubs simply because we can't match the wages on offer from the big boys. Since joining the prem we have stepped up to the point where it seems our best players will only go to the big 4 plus Liverpool which means we will hold onto other players we would have previously lost but we will never break into the very top echelon of clubs as we will never have the money.

Is there a way to replace the posts of everyone on my block list with this picture? Would make seeing the same dull names much more enjoyable!

And foren

Numbers seem totally pointless to me as they haven't attempted any estimate of the kit contracts where they are undisclosed making the whole thing a sham! It does however highlight how cheap it was for Veho to get there name on our shirt! Hopefully the next deal will be for a little more!

exactly this is a question for January at least Cedric needs to adapt and grow into the role and I'm sure he will be fine

Love that they have safe's in their lockers you obviously can't trust the millionaires around you not to punch a fiver from your wallet and call Australia on your mobile! Looks a decent signing for me, look forward to seeing how he gets on sensible business as usual.

Only way the club would say yes is for crazy money surely and villa haven't got any money let alone the crazy sort!

This! It's obvious that we have invested a massive amount of cash at Staplewood (significantly more than the original budget) and we have also had to fund the transfer fee's and contracts of some failures at the top end of the market. Hopefully with Osvaldo gone and Ramirez to follow at the end of his contract and the training ground nearing completion we will see some more investment in the playing staff. I can't say I'm that disappointed with this summers dealings so far: Clyne --> Sores (Yes he might take time to settle but he is an international defender who on paper looks the perfect replacement only time will tell) Schniderlin --> Classie (Impossible to replace like for like those sort of players just are not available to us, hopefully Classie will grow into the roll as Morgan did) Alderwiereld --> Caulker (On paper probably the worse swap, I suspect we will get another DC but two years ago Caulker was being raved about he obviously has potential and we haven't ambled any money so fingers crossed he finds his feet again) The transfer window has a couple of weeks to run so lets wait and see before we judge the results I'm confident we will have another DC onboard and I expect another midfielder and possibly a striker.

It all depends on Stokes attitude and his contract length, if he says he wants to go he will go and we all know it I can't think of any good examples of a club standing in a players way when one of the big boys comes knocking.

Decent low risk signing, he looked quality when he first broke through and if we signed him a couple of years ago people on this site would have been queuing up to sing his praises. He's gone a bit backwards since then but hopefully this move will reinvigorate him and we will see the player he could still be come out of him. Still hoping he is only one of two DC's and that Celtic are just delaying letting us have VVD but I already feel more confident about the defensive situation!

Still amazed he only got one international cap!

When oh when will people realise that if you don't feed a troll they disappear? I think we've had a good window so far the only losses have been expected and nothing on a par with last seasons shocks we have moved quickly for our preferred replacements and seem to have got good players for sensible money. We have added 3 other players who complement the squad well, we all know we are a centre back (or two) light but as RK said we are moving on that and again as well all know it's never easy to get top class players but I'm sure we will have a centre back (or two) signed before the real football starts. I wish people would just sit back and enjoy the close season with out the endless fretting over nothing come the end of August or start of September we will see the players we have available and we will see that we have another good side that should finish top 10+ As usual one or two clubs have been out splashing the cash and signing loads of players but again as usual I've not seen many sign players that I would have really wanted us to be in for!

I remember thinking he was going to be great then before you know it he was off to Oxford United and on his way to obscurity! I remember having similarly high hopes for Steve Basham before he disappeared to Preston and got injured! Those were the days!

Wow that is a spectacular fall I always thought he looked quality for us and was unlucky to be replaced by Fox!

So Newcastle have picked up Mitrovic will be interesting to see how he gets on, he is one I would have liked to see us pickup seems quality and not hugely over priced for a goal scorer although he could be the next Allback so who knows!

sadly washed up maybe we can get Kerlon and Freddy Adu to make a dream front three! He looked the real deal a while back but I can't see him suddenly refinding the desire and commitment necessary to get back to his best.

No you' take the mega pay day at Villa and the opportunity to prove yourself in the best paying league in the world

LOL not again!

We win some we loose some I'm sure we will have a new partner for Jose when the season starts so lets not worry about the one that got away it's not like he's the next Maldini. As for moaning about us not already having Schniederlin's replacement that is just LOL TROLL!

No unknown south Americans coming to England with the work permit rules! Vlaar had a great season before the world cup and looked great in Brazil, he hasn't been that bad in an awful Villa side this season and I think his injury record in the UK is decent would be a relatively low risk signing as he is on a free.

would be happy with the lad from Celtic to be honest he looks decent and should prove a good investment wouldn't say no to Vlaar as well provided wages are sensible he might not be absolutely top draw but he is a solid experienced defender at this level.