STM

TBF i think we have all realised that he's a pretty nice guy, lets just hope that he pushes on from the good work he has done so far. I get the impression he was told if we stay in the league he will be getting some decent money to spend in the summer.

As long as he fully recovers, i don't mind how long it takes. We've coped pretty well since his injury. It's important that these things are done properly. It would be nice for us to sign a bit of cover for him in this window.

I fucking hate Andy Burton. Hope the lot get sacked but suspect sky will end up using this as a media stunt to their advantage.

What's with this cover for Smith? Firstly he's injured, not leaving the club (sadly), when do club's buy players to replace an injured substitute? and for the record neither O'Hara or Ireland would count as cover for a defensive midfielder... sorry a shit defensive midfielder.

The majority of Nolan's goals have come from CM when we've played 4-4-2. I'm glad someone is switched on. Which is why Ireland would be canny sitting in front of Tiote and Nolan.

Who by? It's not the best time to sell Shola, as we are really short. Offer us that in the summer and he can go.

Fair point but it's about squad size and squad options. We might feel away from home that we want to go for 3 central midfield players or one off the striker. Granted the way we are playing now in a simple 442 seems to be working but things change and it's nice to have options. I also think it's a little bit fictional to say Ireland can't play in that position because has very rarely been given the chance. Alot of people think that Nolan plays best just off the front man, but that is not true either. I'd be looking at something like this: Nolan Tiote Barton Ben Arfa Ireland Carroll

West Ham are the lesser of two evils. They can both rot and die for all i care though.

Never knew that, doesn't suprise me though.

tbf theres a point there, when it came to onfield matters for city he always had a top notch attitude and before his great season for them put in a load of work on martial arts etc in his off time and pre season. Just hasn't worked out for him at villa which can happen sometimes and houillers man management is questionable tbh Questionable is a understatement. Houllier's a fucking looney. Watch his interviews, he looks like a guy who escaped a mental hospital. In fairness the looney knows his football though.

Champion, we should get most of our players tied down long term. Jose Enrique should be next on the list. Even if Barton doesn't stay that long, we won't be a victim of him (or any other player) leaving on a free.

As long as we don't throw him in at the deep end, i could see him being a class player for us. Ok he's got a few issues but good managers and good clubs believe that they have the tools to steady the different personalities. I actually don't think there is much wrong with Irelands attitude, in fact i think he was unfortunate to be shafted by Man City and joined the wrong club in Villa.

We have three problems. 1. Create lots of chances, but can't score. 2. Central midfield lightweight, which adds more pressure to: 3. Iffy defence. Bent will hopefully sort 1, Makoun will help with 2 and 3. Walker has already helped the defence, but we're still a little fragile. Makoun is the more important signing IMO, if it comes off. He will help settle the team and cover the defence. Once you have a solid foundation, you should pick up points and score a few goals (with Bent). Makoun signed last week - five million euros. I knew you had signed him, i meant if he's any good in this league.

We have three problems. 1. Create lots of chances, but can't score. 2. Central midfield lightweight, which adds more pressure to: 3. Iffy defence. Bent will hopefully sort 1, Makoun will help with 2 and 3. Walker has already helped the defence, but we're still a little fragile. Makoun is the more important signing IMO, if it comes off. He will help settle the team and cover the defence. Once you have a solid foundation, you should pick up points and score a few goals (with Bent).

Albrighton Downing Young Bent Not a bad front four. I suspect their season will be defined by the 7 behind them though.

It depends on the deal. A loan until the end of the season with a view to permanenet would suit both parties. A chance for us to assess how well he integrates and him to reinvigorate himself Money is always the clincher. We'd settle for alot of players if we were getting them for free/cheap. If we could get Ireland in on a cheap deal, or as you say a loan, that would be a smart move for the club.

I have no doubt that the club will be after these sort of deals.

I disagree about Ireland. Villa have been shocking this year and almost none of their players have come out of it with any credit whatsoever. I also don't buy the idea that he's a bad lad, isn't he the one who quit the Ireland international team because he was getting bullied for being bald? OK so he may not have a strong character but if he's a confidence player, we have the team spirit to help him get back on track. The lad is talented.

He's just like Ian Wright, a right little cunt. I can almost, i mean almost, understand getting him in on a loan deal until the end of the season. At least he might be some cover for Routledge's departure, until we can find a more suitable long term investment at the end of the season. If we sign him permenantly, i will be worried about the direction that our transfer policy has taken.

Begs the question: why has he been playing in the Championship for nearly his entire career if he'll "frighten the life out of most defences"? Football simply doesn't work like that though. Why wasn't Drogba playing at the top level until he was 25? You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. You don't rate Bothroyd, i do. Time will tell.

Suprised at the amount of negativity towards this. Jay Bothroyd causes defenders alot of problems, infact he is quite similar to Carroll in the way he plays, although not as good obviously. If he came in, he would be our second best striker. The thought of Carroll and Bothroyd would frighten the life our of most defences (despite a lack of pace). The only negative issue with him is his age but if he's out of contract in the summer, one would suggest we will get him on the cheap. If we get Bothroyd for a couple of million it would be a smart piece of business IMO.

As someone mentioned earlier, the media seem to be hinting towards a Gosling start; Harper Simpson Williamson Coloccini Enrique Gosling Nolan Barton Jonas Ameobi Carroll If we start with this team, we give ourselves a great chance (apart from the Gosling risk). I expect them to have alot of possession, but in the end the game will be decided on who is the most clinical in front of goal. If we get crosses in the box via set-pieces or otherwise we stand a great chance. However, if we let them get in between our midfield and defence their strikers could cause us real problems without Tiote covering.

I have us finishing 8th on 54 points, very unlikely. For those who are interested; Everton and Liverpool both finished above us Man Utd won the league Chelsea finished 5th West Ham were bottom and got relegated with Wigan and Birmingham Sunderland were 9th

I might swap the red for a hand-grenade.

Our scouts have picked us out a couple of gems recently, even if Ben Arfa was quite well known. The club have made a couple of good deals too, to get Tiote and Ben Arfa for around 8m is fairly remarkable. It suprises me that this guy is 28 (if that's true) because it goes against our supposed "sell on value" idea. This may be because we are getting him on the cheap (if we get him). It's a good thing that i have a little confidence in us to bring in some decent players.