brummie

We are allegedly trying to sign Julian Alvarez from River Plate. No idea who he is. Good YouTube though. Mind you, don't they all.

Ashley Young return confirmed. Clever move. Until he signed today, our oldest player was, apparently, 28 years old.

This will be like when Alex McLeish joined us from Blues. Except with a world class manager rather than a depressing second rate relegation merchant.

I hope this is true. One thing we really miss in our squad is an experienced head or two. We used to have that in Heaton (and arguably Elmo) but now they are both gone. We've not really had that since Petrov retired. As extra cover in that position and as someone for the younger players to look to, this is a really canny move. I hope it comes off.

Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Bruce look at Conor Hourihane. Bruce loves him. I like him (Hourihane not Bruce, obvs) but he's right on the line in terms of good enough for top flight or not. Has a belting free kick and shot on him. Used to annoy us otherwise by standing and watching the entire midfield get overrun without tracking back or getting stuck in in any way, though. No idea how he's done on loan to Swansea this last season.

Ignoring whether the player would want to go or not, I genuinely don't think there is any amount of money large enough to be realistically offered to make the owners sell. We've (apparently) got the third richest owners in English football. They've spent a ton already, and seem happy to continue doing so, they certainly won't give much of a shit about the money in. What I am saying is, if there's a factor deciding whether he stays or goes, it won't be transfer fee. Interestingly, the massive difference between these owners and Lerner is they're making sure their money gets spent sensibly. Some of last summer's signings were absolutely inspired, hard to spot any who have failed.

Yeah, he was injured for most of the latter part of last season.

I tend to agree with you, I don't think they would, which is why it won't happen. Although all those free kicks we pick up from Grealish (and more from Buendia I imagine) around the edge of the box having some chance resulting in goals rather than clearing the cross bar by 20 feet, that's a nice thought.

Rumours we're after Ward-Prowse.

There's no chance Grealish is going. Owners have said all along, plenty of money available to strengthen, no pressure whatsoever to raise money and Grealish seems very happy. It's more about making the decent signings which would have him want to stay than it is moving him on.

Thought this was quite funny (translation: 'DVB' = Dirty Villa Bastard, what that lot call us).

As a rule of thumb, the worse the last friendlies before the tournament are, the better we do. 1990 great example. We looked horrendous, the press crucified Bobby Robson, as you'll remember.

Good to see the exclusive club for winners of big cup remains unenlarged.

I hate them all, but in particular Liverpool and Man United, because of the 1970s and 80s, basically.

Did he bring that prick Clemence to you?

Oh the glory days of the big diagonal cross field punt from the keeper for Elmo to head / chest forward and then lash it out of play the other side of the pitch in the hope that at some point in time, someone will get on the end of one of them.

I see Ahmed El Mohammedy has been released by us *knowing look*

Heaton is never going to get in ahead of Martinez (who is brilliant) and although I think he's too good to sit on anyone's bench, he's got more chance of actual games with Man United and their much more demanding season than he has here, so I don't blame him. Was really unlucky here. I believe he did his ACL in the same match against Burnley in which Wesley did his. Not a great day for injuries.

BT Sport ATM showing FA Youth Cup final. Villa kids currently ripping Liverpool's a new arsehole.

Benteke was absolutely brilliant with us, frequently 'unplayable'. Since then he's been 'unplayable' in a different sense of the word.

Sky's response to the ESL proposals was laughable - as if they're not a big part of the problem themselves.

"When you're playing against these big teams.." That used to fuck me right off when he said it here. It's so weak minded and surrenderist.

Absolutely abysmal after a few good performances. You won't find a single Villa fan who wants to keep him. I'd have sent him back already TBH.

To show how these things ('big 4/5/6') are a 'moment in time' thing, look at the member list of that G-14 European superclubs thing which they introduced at the turn of the century. Doesn't include Man City or Chelsea or Spurs. Originally didn't include Arsenal. Includes Ajax, PSV, Marseille, Porto. Oh, and included the modern day goliath that is Bayer Leverkusen.

Seems like holding a gun to someone's head but then opting not to blow their brains out is 'saving them'.