Woody1000

I'm a little bit sad that he's leaving, but understand that we can't afford a substitute on his wages! I will always be grateful for his goals in 2010/2011 that helped keep us up, but realise that he has lost his place in our side to a superior player. We can debate about systems to suit players, but I personally think this 4-3-3 that we had for the last 12 games or so last year really suits us, and for me DB isn't taking any of those front 3 roles unless there is an injury. Best of luck DB, you'll always get a warm reception from me at VP!

Exactly Richard. This was my big concern about replacing Benteke. There were people already knocking RL over how much of the Benteke 'money' he would be given to replace him, but if we spent say £15m on a striker then he'd surely want £50k+ pw? Unfortunately big fees and big wages go hand in hand!

I'm sure that if Lambert wanted him, it would happen (from a financial standpoint). I don't understand why some of you are still having a pop about Lerner not 'backing the manager'. We are still pissing away wages, nearly £250k pw just on Bent, Ireland, Given and Hutton! We (as Richard already mentioned) have also given out a lot of new deals to the current squad this summer, and if I'm honest then I much prefer this set-up of rewarding players who have performed well for you to that of 4/5 years ago of bringing in players on inflated contracts - at least this way is sustainable! We are playing things sensibly, and I am not going to criticise Randy for finally getting his s*** together. Sure he might have 'slammed on the brakes' somewhat financially, but we've survived it with out top-flight status intact, and hopefully he's learnt a lot from it. On topic, Kiyo is a good player who would really fit in with the way we play, especially on the counter.

I'm going to go for 10th. I'm really excited about the squad, and the way that we play. I do feel that we are still going to be a little fragile at the back, but I also feel that it is down to tactics rather than personnel - Lambert doesn't do 'cautious', and while it might see us take a couple of hidings against some of the better sides, I do like the way that we 'give it a go'. It's more exciting to win 3-2 than 1-0 anyway!

Really pleased about this. Probably the best new deal of the summer! If he can carry on performing at the level that he was the last 10 or so games of last season, then we will have a top right back on our hands. As Trent mentioned above, difficult to believe we picked him up for under £1m!

Is it possible that his agent is just playing a blinder to squeeze another £20k-£40k pw on Benteke's new contract?

The problem is that players valued as highly as we value him earn that sort of money. We were dreaming if we thought he was going to be happy with the rumored £40k pw!

One thing that myself and a few mates were discussing in the pub the other night - as far as his wages go, shouldn't we be offering him at least £60k/£70k per week if we are valuing him at £25m+? Surely it's not right for us to value him so highly that we demand that sort of transfer fee, if we are only going to offer £40k per week for example?

I think he will sign an improved deal in the next couple of weeks, and then he'll be off this time next year. I think this would be a different case if we hadn't got our finances in order, but I honestly think that we don't need to sell - it would take a silly offer of £30m+ for us to even consider it this summer IMO. I just think that as things stand that Benteke will be too much of a gamble for what he would cost to buy - he's only had one season after all! That suits us just fine!

I'd hazard a guess you haven't watched him play recently.Yes, I have seen him play thank you. I apologise that I didn't put IMO at the end of my post, you clearly don't share the same opinion as myself. So, he'd struggle to get into our side Stefan? Just don't see the need to split up a 3 who have a great understanding for the sake of a bloke, who while obviously could still ply his trade at a high enough level, is past it to an extent. I'd much rather focus on the here and now, rather than go back. I just think if he hadn't have played for us before, this link would be laughed off. That's a fair point Stefan, and much better than the patronising one from the post before. I still believe that we should have the strongest team available to us, and if Barry were to re-join and be part of that best eleven, then it should be so.

What, it'll be in Off Topic?!

I'd hazard a guess you haven't watched him play recently. Yes, I have seen him play thank you. I apologise that I didn't put IMO at the end of my post, you clearly don't share the same opinion as myself. So, he'd struggle to get into our side Stefan?

Basically Marc Albrighton looked like he was going to be a hell of a player, but like so many players have before him, and will continue after him - he just couldn't adapt when defenders knew how to play against him. To be a successful winger you either have tricks, or have fantastic delivery - unfortunately Marc is average in both departments. I think the lad will be a Championship player, and will probably do ok at that level, but he's just not good enough for us! This is where I'd say that I hope he proves me wrong, but I just don't think the boy has it in his locker to do so!

I am waiting for the thing that always seems to get trotted out in these circumstances when linked with an older player - "I wouldn't want Player X to come in, and stall the development of Player Y or Z". I try not to get too sentimental about players, if we can get in someone better then I am happy for ANY of of team to be replaced, including Benteke and Guzan! Gareth Barry would improve our team without a shadow of a doubt, and dare I say he would be the first midfielder on the team sheet!

Would have him back in a heartbeat. Absolutely class for us, and a fine professional. May have lost a yard of pace (lol), but can still do a job for us in the next 2 seasons. Probably b******s though

I am absolutely loving this! As much as we were proud of our young, predominantly British team in the last few years, English/British players generally lack technical ability (as has been highlighted yet again in the u21 Euro's). I can't believe how cheap we are able to pick these players up for, lets hope they're not cheap for a reason.....

The rate Lambert's bringing them in I don't think we're going to recognise any of our players for next season!

haha. That info was from me. Cheers. I got that info yesterday off someone who has been very closely connected to Villa for over 25 years. But like he said to me yesterday, still a long way to go on this one and nowhere near completed or a dead cert. Lol. I heard it from a guy who's involved with our local supporters club, and doesn't usually bullshit. Did you put it on Twitter? (That's if you're on there?) It just seems a very random one.....

Just sharing something that I heard.....apparently the 'mystery man' from yesterday's Birm Mail is Hiroshi Kiyotake, an attacking mid from FCC Nuremberg. For those who don't know of him, he is a Japanese International (played last night in the Confederations Cup v Brazil), 23 yrs old so fits the Lambert 'mould', and probably wouldn't cost a large fee or want silly wages. Please, take this as it is, I know some people get hammered for trying to sound ITK, I'm definitely not one of those. I'm just sharing one of the few little things that I hear very occasionally. Tin hat on.........

I agree, and for a lad his height he doesn't look 'gangly' and awkward. He could maybe do with putting on a stone of muscle, but that will come in time I'm sure. I'm wondering if this is the result of Henke's work, or if PL has been keeping tabs on this boy for a couple of years?

Assuming this is true, I don't know if placing a £40m price tag on CB is the right way to go. As highly as we rate him, he is not worth that sort of money. For £40m, you should be getting a world class striker, and Christian Benteke is not world class YET. I think that him and his agent would know that, and if he/his agent thinks that we are pricing him out of a move it could cause a lot of aggravation. I worry that this is going to get very messy, very fast. Hopefully we can get him on a new contract ASAP, and put this to bed until next summer!

I just can't help thinking that his quotes were nothing more than a 'come and get me' plea to other PL clubs. That said, I'm delighted that we're looking at these sorts of players. I just hope we understand that we are a 'stepping stone' for these type of players, but as long as we re-invest the money wisely then there is no reason why in 4/5 years (possibly sooner) we couldn't find ourselves in a position similar to where Spurs are now.

It was a tough time for all fans of the club, we all say things in the heat of the moment. I think the only reason I wasn't calling for his head at the time was that I was happy for him to stay in charge, even if we went down. I was just getting sick of all the upheaval of a new manager every season, and felt that Lambert would get things right in time. I hope that didn't come across as 'better fan than you' or anything like that, I think we're all glad that he's got things right and we're playing PL football next season! UTV

His gamble with young, relatively in-experienced players has just about paid off (by the skin of our teeth!) I just hope that with the best part of £250k pw off the payroll next season (Bent, Dunne, Petrov, Given, Ireland), that Lambert can unearth a few more gems of the Benteke/Sylla mould from abroad, the Westwood's/Lowton's from the lower leagues, and who knows maybe a 'marquee' player or two. One thing I think that we can ALL agree on is that this must not happen again!

Championship player for me. I remember that West Ham game at the start of the 2010/11 season when he looked like a hell of a player, unfortunately he proved to be a one- trick pony. I will be very surprised if we will ever regret letting him go when he does eventually move on!