MikeMcKenna

It is very sad that it has come to the point that Gabby seems badly affected by the abuse of some fans. Like others I think he is past his best but personal abuse of such a long service player is a disgrace. Over many years I have felt that generally the average Villa fan was fair minded and rational but in recent years more and more behave like the fans of the scum.

I think he will be on the bench and atm Sherwood just wants to keep Sunderland guessing.

Gabby has stayed in contention in recent years because with the exception of Benteke there has been no alternative. He has been the default because the club's record on bringing in strikers has been crap for years. From 2001 onwards we only had JPA, Dublin and Carew who had better ratio's and even then they with the odd season didn't set the world on fire. Benteke was exceptional for a Villa striker with a ratio of almost 1 per 2 games. I fear Tim put all his eggs in one basket chasing Adebayor and like many Villa managers before him did not make finding a striker or even two, big enough priorities. I accept that he needed to sort out midfield and defence but a brief glance at our record for the last 10-15 years would show that our inability to score goals has been the biggest problem IMHO. We have rarely been blessed with choice up top. As for the current alternatives to Gabby: Kozak; will score the odd goal but he isn't going to break our low scoring habit Ayew: a bit to early to say but he doesn't look like a game changer to me

This will be fun!! Tim needs to throw everything at this game - no half measures!

Wembley, Wembley....

Always said Joe Bennett was a star in the making ;-)

Whereas Gabby is also shite and doesn't - shite or not I would give Sinclair another go. We are not exactly blessed with players who know how to put it in the net.

Hurrah, hurrah! Scott Sinclair might get a proper look in now!

I wasn't keen when Tim Sherwood became manager BUT the way he has conducted himself throughout the summer has spoken volumes. He is constantly compared to Harry Redknapp, but has very much stayed away from the media and when he has spoken publicly has kept a fairly low profile and avoided being being contentious. Whether he can take Villa forward I am still uncertain but increasingly I think there is more to Mr.Sherwood than meets the eye. He strikes me as a guy who knows AVFC has massive potential and that despite the odds being against us, he is determined to give it a go.

Maybe you forget that this is a "forum"? "A place where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged or expressed." I don't have a big problem with Sherwood and think he like many of the players he has bought, needs time nor do I have a problem with people challenging his decisions. Tim has as yet NOT proved himself and is definitely NOT above questioning. He has brought some excitement back to a club that was going nowhere. Now he needs to show he can take us forward.

Nearly every Villa player last night was guilty of giving away the ball including Gana and Amavi. Westwood was probably the least offender given his pivotal role. Undoubtedly there is a disconnect but they have to get the basics right and keep the ****** ball.

I fear our biggest problem is going to be scoring. By any stretch of the imagination neither Gestede or Kozak will do "a Benteke" even with support from Gil, Grealish and Troare. I think Sherwood has done well from a defence/midfield perspective and that we will be raving about some of the new players in these positions over the next few months but the lack of PL quality striker could make it all for nought. My hope is that he brings another striker in.

Based on the two games we do have that luxury. We did was needed at Bournemouth and we contained a Man Utd side that will likely come close to winning the league this season. Yes we lost the latter but we would have lost more convincingly a season ago and they would have had a lot more than 2 shots on target as well. We will be fine.. "but we would have lost the lost more convincingly a season ago" But we didn't - we drew 1-1 at home with ten men. I agree we need to give the new players more time but your comments don't make sense.

Badly needs the likes of Grealish, Gill, Traore to give us options up front. The only issue I had tonight with his tactics was taking off Sinclair instead of Gabby or even Ayew. That said I am not certain that it would have made a huge amount of difference. We were really lacking someone who could add a spark in the final third. After a four and half journey up to Brum, I was absolutely gutted coming home after thinking we could break our shameful 20+ year home record against these red ****s!

I think this lad will come good.

Snake Grass ****! Traore ITSOTP!

All this talk of clauses confuses the hell out of me and reminds me of the "Contract" sketch in the old Marx Brothers film "A Night at the Opera" which ends as follows; Groucho Marx: Well, I don't know, you must have been out on a tail last night. But anyhow, we're all set now, are we? Now just you put your name right down there, then the deal is legal. Chico Marx: I forgot to tell you, I can't write. Groucho Marx: Well that's all right, there's no ink in the pen anyhow. But listen, it's a contract isn't it? We've got a contract, no matter how small it is. Chico Marx: Oh sure. You bet. Hey wait, wait. What does this say here, this thing here? Groucho Marx: Oh that? Oh that's the usual clause, that's in every contract. That just says, it says, 'If any of the parties participating in this contract are shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified.' Chico Marx: Well, I don't know. Groucho Marx: It's all right, that's in every contract. That's what they call a sanity clause. Chico Marx: You can't fool me, there ain't no sanity clause. If we sign Traore and Praet I will definitely believe in Santa Claus!

Maybe it is just me but having read the following via a release on Facebook, it really makes me wonder who taught this guy to write. Good to hear that Gil and Grealish are back in training but this is gobbledygook and so poorly written: "Jack Grealish and Carles Gil are back in training - but Friday's Man Utd game might come too soon for the creative pair. Grealish picked up a hamstring injury during the pre-season tour of Portugal. The 19-year-old, a star of the 2014/15 campaign in claret and blue, hasn't played any minutes thus far this term. Gil was looking very impressive in training games against Fulham and Sporting Braga over in the Algarve before coming off against Swindon with an ankle injury. The former Valencia midfielder missed matches against Walsall, Wolves and Nottingham Forest with the troublesome issue. (?) Both Grealish and Gil have returned to "the fields of Bodymoor Heath". But Tim Sherwood is wary of bringing them back too soon because of the nature of their injuries. He is relishing their eventual return though, due to their quality and also because they bring an ability to change formations. The boss told AVTV: "Jack and Carles are still out injured. "Once we get everyone fit and fighting for places, it gives us a lot of options to play different ways, which will be crucial. "Jack and Carles are training. They have had a few training sessions. "But we don't want to push them back too early because they've had soft tissue injuries."We don't want them to reoccur." Maybe I am being to fussy but if they are going to write stuff they should get someone who knows how to do it.

Apparently Traore has the same agents as Crespo, which must bode well!

When fit he is an shoe-in. Cannot believe the suggestion that he should be loaned out. Sherwood may not give him the full 90 depending on opposition but he should be in the match day squad as he is a game changer

float InvSqrt (traore x){ float xhalf = 0.5f*x; int i = *(int*)&x; i = 0x5f3759df - (i>>1); x = *(astonvilla*)&i; x = x*(1.5f - xhalf*x*x); return x; } I don't understand c++ but I think it means a deal has been done!

If true this would be a real boost and a major coup for AVFC. Maybe Traore wants to play football rather than warm Liverpools bench.

I want him to stick to his knitting as a defensive midfielder and do that job well. Goals would be a bonus but there are others we should look to first.

The debate about Westwood v Sanchez is quite funny. Westwood is criticised because he is rather ordinary and never outstanding. Sanchez is held up as some who CAN be Outstanding but who has often been absolutely terrible. For me Westwood is dependable, where as Sanchez can be a liability.

Didn't see the game, but not surprised we were reported as disjointed in the first half given the number of new players. Really thought this match was to be a 'banana skin' so delighted we got three points, especially as I live in Bournemouth. Fantastic to hear Gestede scored - he really could be a great buy! Bring on United! We really need to beat the red ****s at home!