Big Geordie

First game of the season for me tonight - been offered a ticket off one of my best mates. Hopefully I can bring about a change of luck!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993%E2%80%9394_Aston_Villa_F.C._season#First-team_squad Looking at some of those names makes me feel old (I'm 43 now)

The lad was some player on his day - I remember him playing for Sheffield Wednesday (partnering David Hirst) and also his days with Villa afterwards. Am also sure that we were linked with him, when Willie McFaul was boss (he was at Ipswich at the time)

Dalian Atkinson is dead? Christ. http://www.eurosport.com/football/premier-league/2015-2016/former-villa-star-dalian-atkinson-dies-after-being-tasered-by-police_sto5723682/story.shtml

Benitez; "Players need to be more confident, against teams that play on the counter as St James. Players look nervous after having looked good in training. The team have to do better - second half was better, but still not enough. He shares the responsibility with the players for the defeat and the need to do better. Players are still gelling, but it's no excuse. Need to show more character. Players have to work harder and better"

This is a poor start to the season without a doubt. More signings needed and Benitez needs to move those on, that clearly aren't interested. It's going to be a very long season, I feel.

Huddersfield 2-1 Mbemba fouled, but the ref played on.

Gayle........ misses but scores the rebound!

Pen!

If we can't be confident against championship shite then we may as well give up. I'm not having any excuses, you lose it's because you're not good enough. Agreed.

Ritchie is on for Aarons.

Confidence is clearly still a huge problem as is the negativity that has been allowed to infest the club over the past few years. Not exactly time to panic yet, but Benitez needs to start kicking some bottom and if the players don't respond - drop them. Simple as that.

Boos at half-time. Garbage. It's not time to panic quite yet, but the players need a huge rocket up the arse.

Oh dear. Wells makes it 1-0 to Huddersfield.

Doesn't sound great this.

Marez scores.

Happy Birthday, Al

Canny little windfall, Wallace. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Will Barnsley get a cut of the fee (BBC reporting £47.5million) from sell on clauses? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Crouch would be great foil for Gayle and Perez and would bring some more leadership to the dressing room.

Colback is woeful. Shouldn't start for the club again - his attitude stinks.

Plenty of the ball, but done very little. Zero creativity on the middle of the park - colback waste of a shirt as usual. Dodgy defending from set pieces - needs sorting. Need shelvey on for colback. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sky have always loved rolling out our woeful old managers, to be a pundit on our live games. I remember them pulling in Souness and Allardyce just after they were binned.

Footballer in being up his own arse shocker. Should let him rot in the reserves at Newcastle. He's a sham.

That's awful. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.