brummie

Marc Albrighton on loan to Forest. He's going to be quality, that boy.

I don't rate him, but he's not garbage. That's far too simple a response. He's no world beater at Premier League level. He's not good enough for us, if we're (supposed to be) a top six team. However, he definitely has something. 1 league start, 28 sub appearances (and MON doesnt do subs before 75 mins, so that means no playing time), 5 goals. Use a popular internet video sharing site to search for his goal at Reading, or his overhead kick at Anfield away and you will see he's capable of scoring goals. He did very well at West Ham, too. I think his main issue is that he is a confidence player, and he was never going to get confidence playing for us when he just comes off the bench once in a while. He's also one of those strikers who, when he has to think about what he is going to do, invariably arses it up (Agbonlahor is the same), but if he doesn't have time to think and acts instinctively, he does much better. Like I say, not good enough for where we are / want to be, but I will bet you what you like, given a decent run of games in the championship, he will score goals. I think it'd be a shrewd move for you.

I know. See he tried to create a new full back shortage by offloading Shorey (who has done well of late) to Portsmouth today.

I don't disagree. I'm just reacting to the usual spectacle of Spurs fans spending the entire window travelling the internet, convincing other clubs fans that they're going to sign every man and his uncle (Robben? Van Der Vaart? Wasn't Levy in Madrid to bring those two back) and subtly criticising everyone else's. Judging on the way these things generally tend to turn out, do they ever learn? Incidentally, forget names like Robben, what happened to Ashley Young going there? And what about Fabian "him and his dad are guests of Spurs at Wembley today, done deal" Delph? Thank fuck the window is closed, even if only so we don't have to put up with that delusional crap any more.

Fourth choice centre back behind Davies, Cuellar and Dunne? Who is Everton's fourth choice centre back? Or Spurs's? As if he'd go to be fourth choice centre back. Wasn't he first choice at West Ham? Well, we've got Cuellar, Davies, Dunne and Collins. Collins is the cheapest and Cuellar and Davies currently have the shirts.

Errm, show me the stunning feat of logic that lead you to arrive at that conclusion? Mind you, I suppose you could always play one of your 14,000 right backs there. Incidentally, a quick glance at mancityfans.net shows a slightly different opinion of Dunne to that expressed by your good self.

Aston Villa = England B Team o'neill has spent over 130 million on a team that doesn't include 1 class player imo, (ashley young is overated massively imo) Well, if you think James Collins is going to be getting in the England B team anytime soon, i can suggest a rather large geographical reason he won't. MON's transfer activity is bewildering, but Ashley Young and John Carew are class players by any definition. He can also point to the consecutive top six finishes as evidence that, whatever it is that goes through his slightly odd head, it works. Aye, i think though, and i think from your previous posts you would agree, that if he sometimes brought a few players from abroad you could be REALLY challenging for top 4 and even better than you did last season! Yes, I absolutely agree.

Fourth choice centre back behind Davies, Cuellar and Dunne? Who is Everton's fourth choice centre back? Or Spurs's? King, Woodgate, Bassong, Dawson........so Dawson. I rest my case. And as the first two on that list spend a month on the physio table every time someone so much as sneezes on them, you could probably do with a few more just in case. Incidentally, word has it that Harry tried to hijack the Dunne deal this afternoon.

Fourth choice centre back behind Davies, Cuellar and Dunne? Who is Everton's fourth choice centre back? Or Spurs's?

Aston Villa = England B Team o'neill has spent over 130 million on a team that doesn't include 1 class player imo, (ashley young is overated massively imo) Well, if you think James Collins is going to be getting in the England B team anytime soon, i can suggest a rather large geographical reason he won't. MON's transfer activity is bewildering, but Ashley Young and John Carew are class players by any definition. He can also point to the consecutive top six finishes as evidence that, whatever it is that goes through his slightly odd head, it works.

I dunno, Davies - Cuellar - Collins - Dunne, that's decent depth I suppose. Still not particularly elated, but as I said above, what can you do?

who was the lad who set up nile for a couple in the england games? i can't think of his name Delfouneso Would have liked him to go on loan somewhere.

MON is unbelievably frustrating in the transfer market, both in terms of the types of player he buys and how late he leaves it to buy them. The thing is, since being here, he's taken a team which was destined for surefire relegation, and which he only had time to add one player to before the window closed, and which went through a takeover at the same time, and got it to finish 11th. He then got us sixth, twice. Don't get me wrong, I - and lots of other Villa fans - moan and moan and moan about his signings, he is so frustrating, but he can point at the league finishes, and there's pretty much no answer to that. I don't care if he signs Fatty Bojangles, the right back for the Dog and Duck Sunday morning team, so long as he gets them playing decent football at home, thats the most important thing for me this season.

Curtis Davies is there only CB atm isn't he? edit: Cuellar too. If they play him at CB.. which they should.. Davies and Cuellar at CB, but Davies's shoulder has popped out three times this season (and preseason) and needs an operation, apparently.

The Guardian (which is pretty much always spot on with Villa news, i think MON and Kevin McCarra are mates) reported at 2 that Dunne had already signed. Meh.

SSN on deadline day makes me want to stop going to football matches. Jim White on deadline day makes me want to stop having a television.

I remember you saying something similar but in a different context. Which context? it was probably something along the lines of, he's not good enough for the premiership or some other disparaging criticism. From what i've seen and from what you've said about him, i think he would be able to do a good job in this league. That's fair enough. I think he would do, too. i think the last time i mentioned Harewood on here was when one of the Spurs lot (KD I think) was laughing at him, until I pointed out that he had the exact same league goalscoring record as Pavyluchenko, having featured in the exact same number of games, but having only ever started (I think) two, compared to a much higher figure for Pav, whilst costing a third of the price. I'm not saying he's a better player - not at all - but I am saying that there's a player in there somewhere, and someone will get it out of him. He'll do it in the CC, for sure.

he's a huge fat fucker He's built like a brick shit house, and has a strange dinosaur / Homer Simpson hybrid head shape.

I remember you saying something similar but in a different context. Which context? He's a weird player. When he has to think about things, the result is usually poor. When he doesn't have time to think, he just has to react (goal away at Reading two years ago, beautifully taken, overhead kick at Anfield) he can be very impressive.

Marlinho will do fine in the Championship.

That's our lowest crowd in ages. I wasn't there (although I am counted as there as I am a season ticket holder and gave my ticket to a mate for today). The recession is hitting the West Midlands harder than it is anywhere else, and the excitement just isn't there this season after yet another pedestrian transfer window. Incidentally, that is a poor crowd, but Everton, for example, got quite a few crowds that small last season, whereas that is 3,000 below our lowest last year.

ALthough, both sides three games in 6 days.

*files nails* Having watched the surreal, Duchampian absurdity of our opening match against Wigan, I am quite happy to sit and watch 90 minutes of dross that results in us winning. We have a real issue at home. Away from home, we're pretty impressive, but at home, we're fecking awful, which is why MON is getting the stick he is (and those who say 'Oooh those impatient Villa fans booing after one match, like that twat Marina Hyde in the Guardian this week, do not realise this, but it was like that at home almost all last season).

Mind you, three matches in seven days and we've won them all.

This is an awful game. I'm actually glad work commitments lead to me staying at home and watching it on the telly.