PaulC

People forget that Brian Little nearly signed for Blues. It was only a failed medical that stopped the deal going through after they sold Francis to Forest. He still managed Villa. The important thing is whether he has the credditials to manage us and I don't think he has or ever will have.

Hasn't been a good year for a number of reasons but won't go into it!

Yes good project for Pop at Derby

Villa had a massive away following when they were in the third division between 70 and 72. So guess that is when it started for us. For instance there were 35000 at Meadow lane in 7/72 season. Probably 20000 villa fans there!

HH is never wrong so i think more like Guzan Herd Clark Baker Lowton KEA Westwood Sylla Luna Benteke Agbonlahor

Great gesture. Does this also show that he is still committed to Villa?

Why?? Man City and Arsenal are better teams. If we have no playmaker as HH has said then neither do United and they lack a defensive mIdfield player. We will never have a better chance to beat United. This is the worst they've been since the Premier League began. That's why i don't think its the right way to setup just to play them on the counter attack. We play Arsenal now, we get battered, we caught them off guard on the first day City have been poor away and our record at home against them ain't too bad UTD are UTD. We are their easiest fixture historically. Villa park is like a second home to them. You see them losing their last two games as a positive for us, I see it as a negative. They are away from the pressure of the home crowd, they will not lose 3 games in a row and we are woefully under strength. If we win or even draw ill hold my hands up but it's a defeat in my eyes Maybe mostly true but fact is City and Arsenal are better teams and we have two first team players out so not woefully understrength. Ok maybe key players

Why?? Man City and Arsenal are better teams. If we have no playmaker as HH has said then neither do United and they lack a defensive mIdfield player. We will never have a better chance to beat United. This is the worst they've been since the Premier League began. That's why i don't think its the right way to setup just to play them on the counter attack.

yes exactly and he looked good in the one day series. yep me too.

That method of play only works if we don't concede the first goal.

Hi Veloman it was well known that Pop was very unhappy that he didn't get the top job at Warwickshire. Instead they gave it to Dougie! It was a a very strange decision. I think Pop is the best bowling coach on the county circuit. He has done wonders with players like Barker, Wright and Rankin. He's going to get the Derby Job isn't he? massive massive loss to Warwickshire. I dont know anything other than he's applied for the job but I fear we will loose him.

Mills is a rookie. How do you base your view on Rankin? he has a sr of 45 in first class cricket which is as good as anyones.

Boyd Rankin can bowl at 90 mph and get extravegant bounce from a length. Why have players in the squad if you are not going to pick them. Its niave to think Mills could do better.

Yes its so rediculous isn't it. I agree talk is cheap and Flower going on about changes and he makes one.

Nah we're going to win this one. Its our best chance in ages!

i do kinda agree but there is a slight irony in that although both Bannan and Ireland were mostly dreadful, they could sometimes (ok once) actually retain the ball and pass in a vaguely creative forward thinking way. Either way they were both crap and we sacked them off, but bought no-one who could actually do the job better - just more cloggers. A midfield of Bannan, Westwood and Ireland are always going to be able to play a bit more than what we have available to us now. Off the ball is another matter.

Yes i don't think he's going to be around much longer. Giles to take over after the ashes! Well he will do for the one day stuff anyway but I expect he'll get the test job as well.

yes probably the main reason Durham won the title and they pick a guy who took a handful of wickets for Surrey.

Brilliant news so only have to worry about Rooney now...

100% agree with you. They talk about making changes and make one Bresnan for Panesar. Such a negative move! Only way back in the series was to win this game and so we had to pick Rankin and Finn. Tremlett no because he's no ,more than a medium pace bowler these days and should never have been picked ahead of Onions. 350+ will be too much for us, especially with being a batsman light.

Ok but surely he just needs game time so a loan deal would be good for him.

Kozak is injured

Would you take the same performance and result as last season?

Yes it would be but i doubt whether he would be within our transfer budget. Mind you with all the sky money coming in at the end of the season theres no reason why we cant. No good him being at Chelsea after January. I've noticed his form for Belgium has really dipped. He will want to get some game time in before the world cup! There will be a lot of clubs in for him i fear!

De Bruyne being linked with us. He would be a great loan signing for us!