Woody1000

I'm so pleased for Benteke. This lad is destined for big things, and its an honour to watch him develop. Bossing defenders physically at just 21, I think he's just starting to realise just how good he actually is. Just goes to show really how over-priced British players are when you think that a 21 yr old Andy Carroll was signed for 5 TIMES as much as we paid for Benteke!

I see what you did there!

I just cannot see us getting relegated. I'm not saying that we will be finishing top half, but there just seems to be a steel about us that has been lacking the last few years. Take the QPR game for example; although not our finest performance, I truly believe that we would of lost that game under GH or AMc. We dug in, and came away with a point when everyone was expecting 'Arry's first 3 points. We're not just getting lucky in games, we're fighting and competing and earning the right to play, but we're also starting to score some lovely goals. I haven't felt this genuinely optimistic as a fan for a long time, and at least it looks like we are doing it in a sustainable way this time! UTV!!!

I believe that in 12 months time, this lad will be a permanent fixture in our side and one of the first names on the team sheet. I think one thing that needs to be remembered is that he had played 0 games for Boro this season before joining us because of injury, and has only made 6 starts for us thus far because of more injury. You cannot write him off so soon. I've watched him a few times at Boro, and he looked quality in those games. Just give the lad time, I'm almost 100% sure he will turn it around!

Cracking player, and so calm for a player who is playing 3 divisions higher than he was just 8 months ago! These are the sort of signings that I'm so happy that we're making now, after watching other clubs discovering these gems while we were paying 'top dollar' for 'proven Premier League talent'. I think this boy will be our captain sooner rather than later, and I think that PL has found the long-term replacement for Stan Petrov in midfield.

He is definitely showing his most consistent form in a Villa shirt to date, but I do worry about his 'bottling' of challenges. You can't be a can't be a central midfield player, who doesn't like to 'get stuck in'. I know he's not the biggest, but he's got to improve that side of his game otherwise fans will turn on him in games where he's not playing well.

I'd agree with all of that, plus his stupid dive that got him booked meaning he walked on eggshells really pissed me off - there was no need! I've been really disappointed with KEA's decline since he joined, he has actually got worse with every game!

Agreed Raymond, besides I don't know why we as fans think we have a right to know everything these days!

Well, as long as PL buys a decent striker with the money from Bent's potential sale (probably £10m-£12m), an injury to Benteke, Gabby or Weimann wouldn't be too big a problem. As for Bent being an asset even when not scoring goals, I think that's the problem - he generally isn't! He doesn't work the channels, he's poor in the air when challenging for a header and he's got a very average first touch. He's probably the best finisher we've had for 20 odd years, but if he doesn't score then he contributes very little else. Football is evolving to the point where very few teams can accommodate a 'goal-hanger' type striker these days, and we are not one of those teams!

I think the problem with Bent is that his lack of workrate keeps him out of the starting 11, and he's got too big an ego to sit on the bench (plus we can't afford to play a bench player his rumoured wages!). I'd like to see him get another run in the side, but with January coming up I can see him angling for a move. If we can get £12m or so for him, I'd be confident that PL would be able to put it to good use, and find a suitable replacement.

I'm really pleased with today's performance, and if we can perform at that level in even half of our remaining games then I have no doubt we'll pick up enough points to survive. I think the big question is if we can kick on next season? A potential relegation 'scrap' is understandable when we're in transition, but a club the size of ours should be competing in the top half of the table. I'm hoping that PL can bring in more players of quality in the next 2 windows to assist this.

I really want us to win this game to shut those Norwich fans up. They've only won one game in the league this season (admittedly against Arsenal), and expect to come to our place and win. If I'm honest, I will be pretty worried about the rest of the season if we can't beat Norwich at home - IMO they are the worst team in the league (and one fluke result will not change my opinion on that!), 3 points is an absolute must!! I'm going to go for a 3-1 win.

F*** off Villa! That was as poor a performance in that second half as I anything last season. Hopefully, that's Lichig's little run in the team done with. It's all well and good putting Gabby on to chase the game, but we were clearly losing the midfield battle so was taking a midfielder off for a striker going to be the solution? I think what annoys me the most is that we played so well in the last 2 games, and then we go and serve up that pile of s***! The long ball game doesn't work for us, and as a fan I don't want to see it! The only positive for me is...........none. F*** off Villa!

I would love to take the moral high-ground and say that I would hate to be like Citeh, but if it got us a title and status as one of the top sides in Europe then I'd take it in a heartbeat.

I agree 100%. I'm happy to get behind Engerland during the summer tournaments, but I hate international breaks during the season, especially the September one when the season has only just got going. Club before country, every time!

As a goalkeeper myself (although obviously not a top standard one!!), you cannot underestimate how much confidence you can give to your defenders by being a commanding presence in your penalty area. Obviously coming to claim crosses, corners, free-kicks into the box is one thing, but also by commanding your penalty area you allow your defence to play 5-10 yards further up the park which means the team are not inviting pressure onto themselves. Given is a great shot-stopper, one of the best in English football over the last 20 years, but it is his command of the area (or lack of) that has contributed to our poor defensive record. I'm all for Guzan to keep the shirt long-term, he was unlucky to lose it last season IMO.

I've got mixed feelings about Dunne for this season, part of me doesn't want to see him wear a Villa shirt again, but the other part of me feels that Vlaar may be able to bring the 'Old Dunne' back and we might get some use out of the final year of his contract. I would rather see Clark or Baker get a game before him as surely it's better they gained another seasons experience at CB, than give Dunne game time for him to leave on a free next summer.

Still early doors, but I really like the look of him. It's nice to have someone at the back who can be a physical presence AND has technical ability.

Felt so proud of the improvement shown today, if we can play that way most weeks then we will be absolutely fine. So pleased with the new signings, and pleased that PL had the balls to put Guzan into the side - I get the impression that we've got a manager now who won't play 'favourites', if you're out of form then you'll be out of the team. MOTM for me was KEA, everything good went through him. I'm very optimistic for this season now, UTV

Really pleased with that, I can't remember when last I saw us play at that sort of tempo for a sustained period. Let's hope it continues in the 2nd half......

I just don't understand why there is still so much negativity? We've signed players, 8 of them, and I feel that a lot of them are being written off before they've even kicked a ball just because they have not come in from another Premier League club. I think the Dempsey deal was actually quite telling; Lambert does not want anyone at the club that is not 100% committed to the cause. We've had too many players that were simply here to pick up a cushy wage every week, and it's refreshing to see hungry players coming into the club. I think one thing that any of our fans with doubts need to consider is that PL is as ambitious a manager as we've had in the last 30 years, and he would not jepordize his managerial future bringing in players that he did not believe could do a job for our team, and help take the club forward. We've got the right man in charge, and we are doing things the right ways this time. As good as the MON era was, because of the wage bill it was always built on sand - I feel this era has much firmer foundations for success.

Huh? Sorry, I corrected my error......

Well...... Not the transfer window I was expecting if I'm honest, but we've got 8 players in for £20m approx, and I'm putting 100% faith that PL knows what he is doing. Sure the players signed from the lower leagues are a gamble, but look at the team that PL assembled at Norwich - they finished 12th in the league last year, and they tore us a new arsehole in the final game of the season. I was feeling a bit disillusioned earlier in the week, but I'm firmly behind the manager and his vision for taking the club forward. Let the other clubs mock our signings, we'll see who's laughing come next May..... UTV, Lambert's Lions!!

Is it possible that we are only spending small this summer, then we might really go for it again once Dunne, Warnock etc are off the wage bill? Also factor in the inflated tv revenue. I know it's probably blind optimism right now, but it's all I've got!! :-(

The more I read about this lad, the more I think this isn't as big a gamble as I first thought. Hopefully, £4m will work out to be an absolute snip!