rubberman

I dunno. Up for sale, toxic fanbase, 1 decent player out and no-one in. 15pts from 20. Dyche will probably improve things but I'm not sure it'll be enough, though I get they are not cut off yet and have a 'relatively' decent GD. Relegation is likely to go down to the wire with only 3pts between 14th down. Glad we are well out of it and still hope it's them.

Very, very much hoping they go down. After all the crowing when we dropped about now not being a PL ever-present, will love seeing the same for them. Likely to be for a good spell as well, as they are as much of a basket case as we were in '16.

It pretty clear that everyone (fans, club, Emery) wanted a couple more players in. For various reasons (clubs not willing to sell mid-season, price, players not willing to move now, injuries etc) the main targets weren't gettable in Jan. So rather than waste money now we've settled with the business that was possible while shifting a decent number of fringe players. I am sure that Emery was fully involved in the discussions and was happy to accept that for the rest of this season, including bringing back Bertie as a bit of extra cover. He's probably a bit frustrated that it wasn't exactly what he wanted, but he's been around for long enough to know that's how the window goes sometimes - I very much doubt he's lost faith in the job he's here to do or the backing that is there from the club/owners. Summer will be a different market (european places confirmed etc) so we will go back after the key targets. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the deals are already in place. No doubt we'll break our transfer record a couple of times and bring in 3/4 new starters. It'll be really exciting. Hopefully the rest of the season continues the development of the current group of players and the team as a whole. I'm optimistic about the way we are heading still and really, after the first quarter of this season, it's all pretty much a bonus that we can still consider the top half a real possibility.

For all the chat that we are only 3 points off 6th, we also have a vastly inferior point difference to everyone ahead of us and have 5 clubs to overtake to there, who have all been better than us over the season to date (granted that includes Gerrard's dismal start). As we've seen over the last few weeks, even having among the best form in the league we haven't moved up the table. That, plus City away and Arsenal to come in the next 3 games and I think we will need to temper expectation levels a bit.

So that's that then. The summer thread is going to be a doozy.

Obviously the clock is ticking, but in previous windows we've had a 'That's it for Villa' message by now, but from the silence I still believe there's something more going to happen.

Dembele to Southampton for £3m does seem like it could have been a decent option as a stop gap. I guess we weren't interested.

I think it is a valid concern. Personally, I still think we are likely to get in a loan stopgap - probably not someone who is going to make every one happy, but cover till the summer. But if we don't, there's not much more to say other than a) let's hope we don't get injuries to the few forwards/wingers we have (on a side note, I seem to recall a couple of seasons ago that many were touting Watkins record for not getting injured - and then he did almost immediately), and b) let's hope we get more goals from set-pieces, midfield and youngsters. That would obviously be the expectation from Emery and I guess we just have to have confidence in him. But, yeah, we will obviously be slightly weaker than before the window and there is risk it will bite us. Hopefully this will be irrelevant over the next 24 hours!

Probably end up with his brother Bob.

Ideally would like to see a couple in, but equally happy not to just fill the squad with bodies / get fleeced into paying over the odds. Some cover up front would be ideal, but having got rid of non-playing squad fillers is a really good start and the summer is going to be super exciting. Still think we'll see one or two additions in the next week though.

^ So - plenty of 6 pointers for us to storm into European places! Should really be clawing back places on Brentford, Brighton and Fulham at least.

Emery said recently that we weren't interested in him and we had enough quality in that area.

Time to show some consistency and clinical play against proper relegation candidates. Early goal in each half please and no silly mistakes at the back.

Agree with this. Never really warmed to Ings as a Villa player despite him seeming like a decent bloke. I'm sure we'll have something in place - exciting times to watch us (hopefully) stepping up a level.

Hardly. He's about 3 foot 8. No tiddlers please.

Proper spicy Villa Leeds match that. I thought we we all right, and pretty good in the second half. Never really felt we were going to lose that. Bailey - great comeback after the last couple of weeks. Kamara - so composed. Just superb. Buendia - grew into the game and worked really hard. Moreno - incredibly impressive for someone coming in a couple of days ago. And Young - I'll have what he's having please.

Will be Bamford after he comes and scores.

18,900,000cm by road. 14,300,00cm as the crow flies You're welcome

Good team. 3 points please.

We should sign this Sanson fella - he looks good.

I love Emery's Villa. Amazing results these last 4 games and exciting to see what the next 4 bring now - really good chance to win 5 in a row. And hopefully some tasty Jan shopping.

Ah that's awful.

I looooove Kamara.

Fofanas seem to be the new Dembeles.

It's good to do this winning thing again. We should do it more often.