Figures 1-0 Football

Villa signing players for the completely wrong positions. Their problems were in different areas to what they have replaced and they haven't really addressed any issues from last season. Still think they'll be mid-table at best, they don't worry me at all.

On the left? Square pegs in round holes again then. Gouffran's a square peg in every hole, though. Sissoko and Ritchie out wide alternating would be just fine. Richie's clearly far better on the right and is arguably our best player. I wouldn't take him away from there to make room for Sissoko. Sissoko would be useless on the left as well and would no doubt take the huff at being played out of position. Sissoko's our best player. In any attacking midfield role he'd p*ss all over this division. Yet was totally anonymous against sh*t like sunderland, Aston Villa, West Brom etc. Don't know why he'd suddenly turn into a world beater against Derby, Sheff Wed etc. If he was anonymous last season he would have been dropped. People are rewriting history here, he might have had the odd bad game, but he was never anonymous. His 1 goal and 2 assists were invaluable to us last season. Was he dropped by Rafa for his anonymous displays? Wijnaldum was, how come Sissoko got handed the armband and singled out for praise by Rafa for these anonymous performances? Wijnaldum was much more effective last season than Sissoko was and Wijnaldum disappeared for half of it. Depends on your definition of effective. 1 goal and 2 assists v 11 goals and 5 assists. There is no disputing that Gini was by far the more productive last season. Sissoko's level is bottom half Premier League, he will create chances with his bursting runs but 9/10 times he'll fuck up the chance with a terrible end ball or running straight into a defender. Wijnaldum has probably found his level with Liverpool. Rafa didn't drop Sissoko last season because he still had those bursting runs etc. whereas Wijnaldum just fell of the face of the Earth. We've watched Sissoko for years be incredibly inconsistent and never really display his full talents on a regular basis. No disputing that Sissoko could do a very good job for us this year, but he doesn't want to be here and we've already replaced him with Diame (who is playing in Sissoko's best position of AM). Get rid for the best fee possible and move on from it.

On the left? Square pegs in round holes again then. Gouffran's a square peg in every hole, though. Sissoko and Ritchie out wide alternating would be just fine. Richie's clearly far better on the right and is arguably our best player. I wouldn't take him away from there to make room for Sissoko. Sissoko would be useless on the left as well and would no doubt take the huff at being played out of position. Sissoko's our best player. In any attacking midfield role he'd p*ss all over this division. Yet was totally anonymous against sh*t like sunderland, Aston Villa, West Brom etc. Don't know why he'd suddenly turn into a world beater against Derby, Sheff Wed etc. If he was anonymous last season he would have been dropped. People are rewriting history here, he might have had the odd bad game, but he was never anonymous. His 1 goal and 2 assists were invaluable to us last season. Was he dropped by Rafa for his anonymous displays? Wijnaldum was, how come Sissoko got handed the armband and singled out for praise by Rafa for these anonymous performances? Wijnaldum was much more effective last season than Sissoko was and Wijnaldum disappeared for half of it.

We can sell him for whatever we like because he is under contract with us. If he was so convinced at his own talents, why didn't he persue a relegation release clause into his contract? We were in the shit when he first joined and could easily have gone down that year. If we say he's worth £30m-£35m then we stick to that and don't sell him unless an offer of that value comes in. Whilst we all know he is a liability after watching him week-in-week-out, that doesn't mean anything when we hold all the cards and can set his value at whatever we like. If he's still here on Thursday, he'll have to perform if he wants his big move in January. Look at Berahino, he didn't get his move so he sulked for a season and is still at WBA because nobody wants a player who hasn't played often (or well) for a year.

Rafa to take over from Schteve was pretty unanimous. Will be amazed if we sign this idiot, think there is nothing in it other than he's been offered to us and is one of a few that we are considering.

Cant wait for us to hang onto a 0-0 away at Slovakia.

Trying to find a positive in this... Wasn't he quite good for Wigan at this level?

The free kick we got from that, led to our goal.

Not that long but you can tell it's mentally scarred him They will struggle to get him on the training pitch if that lad signs. You can see how nervous Haidara is of any physical contact these days and he has scarcely played since. In which case it's hardly a massive loss to the club, is it? Ship Haidara on to somewhere else where they play a softer, less aggressive game - like Tiddlywinks or My Little Pony. I'm confused, could you explain how you would know that he's a brony please? Well, that was an interesting Google search. Thanks for that.

He won Player of the Tournament at the 2015 ACoN.

Reports from Turkey that Cheick Tiote has failed his medical. Not confirmed by #nufc at this stage

Are these in a worse position than Hull now?

Wasn't even a foul though, was it?

Made similar attacks to the one he did on Haidara, it wasn't the first or last time he did it.

McManaman would be the first signing that I absolutely disagree with. Absolute scumbag of a player, don't want him anywhere near this club.

Atsu will be the final deal. Unless anyone leaves unexpectedly and we need to replace them. I include Sissoko in this bracket now as it seemingly appears that nobody is willing to pay the going rate for him.

A 5 page thread on Ready to Groom about Boro not selling out their allocation against West Brom. Yet they totally miss the irony that they couldn't sell out a HOME match against a 'rival' in Boro

Keep him, unless we can bring in two wingers (Atsu and one other). He's been alright for the past few games, nothing spectacular but he's been alright and would suffice as back-up if we cant find anyone else.

Another player we kept for far too long and should have got rid a long time ago. He put in some very good performances for us though, at times. But sadly become more of a liability in matches then anything else at times. Pleased that this deadwood is well and truly being trimmed from the squad. Get rid of Riviere and Colback (very wishful thinking) and we've had the best transfer window in a very long time.

Wow Very bizarre move for him.

Di Matteo sacked by Christmas, this bloke is an absolute idiot and will run Villa into the ground. It's great to watch though, couldn't happen to a nicer set of fans.

They've signed 11 new players (we've signed 10 - it'll be 11 when Lazaar is confirmed today), so that's not strictly true. They started in a weaker position, have made weaker signings and are continuing to sign players for positions that they don't need to. They'll struggle to make the playoffs, said it all along. At worst, they could end up at the wrong end of the table.

Would rather see Armstrong out on loan somewhere he'll be playing every week. He'll learn fuck all in his 5 minute cameos for us

Sort of find myself liking him yesterday. Sorry everyone.

Everyone enjoy the demise of Villa Crazy Chinese owner calling the shots on transfers, a squad still full of has-beens and misfits... This is only going to end badly for them.