LRD

Good luck with that, Dave.

Will he get to fulfill his destiny as Aston Villa manager?

I wouldn't.

I think their points tally last season was the highest in their PL history.

Pretty sure Vertonghen, Calriches and Rose are injured or else he wouldn't play Capoue and Naughton. Dawson on the other hand is just antiqued in their lineup to be a mainstay all season. The lack of heart in the players is evident though. No one gets any credit surrendering 5 goals without a fight at home.

Good shout. Still surprised at what I consider a hasty decision though. You don't revamp your squad after selling your best player and not allow for a transition period. I've defended AVB in the past and thought he'd build a successful team after Bale. Unfortunately he hasn't done anything right, I know they need a time to settle, but his usage of Paulinho is for starters horrible, he's tried him as either a DM or as AM, not used him in his best position which is as a box-to-box player. He hasn't given Lamela any chances and Soldado has been terrible under his set up. I'm not saying it was the right decision to sack him already, but I at the same time I understand why they did it. Same here. Always thought he should be given more time. His time at Chelsea seemed to have changed his tactical thinking fundamentally though and he looked to prefer the cautious approach than getting the most out of his attacking riches.

Fwiw, http://i.imgur.com/tEPikDl.png

Champs League Round-of-16 draw. Manchester City v Barcelona Olympiakos v Manchester United AC Milan v Atletico Madrid Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain Galatasaray v Chelsea Schalke v Real Madrid Zenit v Dortmund Arsenal v Bayern

Does Capello's contract expire after the WC btw?

Good shout. Still surprised at what I consider a hasty decision though. You don't revamp your squad after selling your best player and not allow for a transition period.

Can't believe Sunderland turned down £5m for someone they ain't going to use and whose contract expires his summer. They won't be getting close to that this time round. What Dortmund sees in Ji though...

GW17: Liverpool 3-0 Cardiff Crystal Palace 1-2 Newcastle Fulham 1-1 Man City Man Utd 2-1 West Ham Stoke 1-1 Aston Villa Sunderland 1-2 Norwich West Brom 2-1 Hull Southampton 1-2 Tottenham Swansea 1-2 Everton Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea

Not even at the halfway mark and he's just 6 goals off his previous season's PL tally.

Suarez 17 goals and 8 assists (11 league games) even after missing the first 5 games of the season. Crazy figures.

Five.

What a player.

Outdone Suarez in the diving stakes there.

Flanagan scores.

As if we'll sell him for a derisory £1.5m.

GW17: Liverpool v Cardiff Crystal Palace v Newcastle Fulham v Man City Man Utd v West Ham Stoke v Aston Villa Sunderland v Norwich West Brom v Hull Southampton v Tottenham Swansea v Everton Arsenal v Chelsea

Should have been 3 there.

Young Fryers coming on to be fried.

Helped by his competition either being sold, injured or out of favour. Doesn't take anything from him though. One of those excellent players that elevates a team to another level.

Should have captained Suarez instead.