GodZola

Thanks mate, The reality is AVB will not settle for anything less than a title assault, if he did then the players will pick up on it & the standards will drop. We have to set our stall out to win it & if we fall short but have given it our best shot with attacking football I think fans & the board will accept it in what is a season of transition. I concur Tomo it won't be easy but we have to stay positive & believe, put it this way I didn't expect us to win the PL in Jose's first season but we did............

I admire Tomo's optimism makes a welcome change to the doom & gloom. Can we win the PL? Yes, this season possibly not but I won't write us off at this stage & more importantly AVB will not either. The press & all the pundits are getting carried away with the media darlings Utd & also giving the big thumbs up to City & its easy to see why but there making that judgement on 3 games ffs! Rooney is such a key player for utd, if he gets injured then they will struggle especially away from home - like last season, City have impressed thus far & I've been a little surprised by the fact that Mancini has taken the shackles off but for how long? AVB has quite rightly stated that he expects things to improve on the pitch once we start playing twice a week, & I am really looking forward to see Sturridge back in the side & this coupled with Mata on the other wing we will finally see a change in our playing style as AVB will give both players the license to run at the opposition, a quality we havnt really seen since the days of Robben, Duff & to lesser extent Joey Cole. Mata's cameo reminded me so much of Robben's first appearance, when he came on also as a sub against Blackburn, he ran at players with pace & skill that got fans off their seats. That said AVB has to address our midfield if we are going to stand a chance, Ramires deserves his inclusion but super Frank or Mikel or both need to be dropped for us to improve. Meireles looks like taking one place so that leaves one up for grabs? Rotation will play a part but atleast AVB has the option to drop players when they aren't performing as the squad is slightly stronger than last season. The pressure is most definitely off us - lets see how Utd & more so City deal with it.

For that reason I'm out!

Esk Western. Many can talk a good game but EW comes across as someone who actually knows his stuff. Some top posts in August that were constructively written with foundation & the type of posts that I would like to read more often. Too many decent post get lost on here to drivel being written but fortunately EW's posts in August were given the credit they deserved but again seems quality is being overlooked - should be a no brainer for the August award but argh well........... Although he doesn't post that much I think Gary Gordon deserves a mention, decent poster & finally Blionheart also strikes me with someone with a football brain.

I think AVB has already started addressing the chinks in the squad by buying young quality players (should of been done before this season) I feel we will spend again in January & then add to the squad with a tweak next summer by which time I would expect some loan players to return to the fold with a years experience behind them.

There are only a few negatives that I am disappointed with this summers transfer dealings & the first is that we didn't sign the attacking midfielder that I believe will take us up to the next level, there were 2 available that are imho the finished article - Aguero & Sniejder. Unfortunately Aguero was snared by City & that left Sniejder, were I still can't get my head round us going in for Modric instead of a player that CAN/WILL link up our play offensively, score goals & provide the vital assists for our starved front players. Lastly I still think its a mistake letting Courtois go out on loan, Hilario & Turnbull are not good enough to replace Cech. The obvious in letting Benayoun go out on loan - don't need to explain that! Now by contrast look at the pro's, - 4 young players signed. - MacEachran & Bertrand signed up for another 5 years. - Add Piazon to those above & we are on the right road - finally. - Whilst I would of preferred Kakuta to stay the young players can only benefit from getting game time & experience elsewhere so blessing in disguise for me. - Mata looks the real deal, quality! - I am open minded about Meireles as I would of been with Modric as I not too sure how they will improve our play, but I will put my trust in AVB on this one. Lastly fans/members need to remember where we were & think to those dark days compared to the luxury we are in now before firing all the negative bollocks that keeps rearing its ugly head! There are obvious disappointments but I would rather us go through a transitional period were we integrate young players into the team & watch some exciting attacking football than have to go through watching & paying for the dross I watched last season.

I said a couple months back that we must be patient & wait to the transfer deadline has passed before making further comment & to be fair the club have been active with signing some decent players with age on their side & should be applauded for doing so. However I hope that if we are selling Benayoun, probably the only player bar Mata & MacEachran that has some creativity then we must sign a replacement that has vision. I really cannot understand why we havn't gone in for Sniejder? I mean what's the point of having a 50m striker that gets no f'kin service!!! It maybe more likely that we will sign Pereira & use Mata as our creative force because apparently he prefers to play that position (talksport Spanish correspondent) & with 2 good feet, creative & has vision then I can see this as real possibility but would prefer him LW with Sniejder in AM. So Pereira in - Benayoun out (not my choice) & the hope we have a shock up our sleeves before 11pm - fingers crossed!

A draw that will keep us on our toes, I'm pleased we've taken Mata off Valencia's hands! The traveling has been kept to a minimum too which is also a bonus. I hope the BL manager takes Ballack off 15 or so minutes from the end so he gets an overdue standing ovation, don't normally go to midweek games due to work commitments but I might make an effort to get to the BL game.

Positives. Technically brilliant, versatile, has pace & could be used without question as a DM. Negatives. Rash in his defensive duties, defensively behind our other 3 cb's imho but with experience has the potential to be up there with the best in the world. To sum it up, fantastic signing - another quality young player that has years infront of him.

Top post again EW, I've been stating similar points in some of my posts in recent weeks. Although I would agree that we are in a transitional period I don't think that AVB will entirely see it that way as his whole persona strikes me as someone that is highly motivated to be successful & I can still see us giving the favourites a run for their money in the Prem this season. I would like us to start using the Utd way of establishing our younger players by sending them out on loan for a season rather than bench warming they will get invaluable experience at another club that will bode well for their development.

There was much negativity and impatience on this forum a month or so ago about us not signing this or that player that it got on my nerves. Some of us actually said to be a little more patient as AVB was assessing his squad before deciding on who he needed. We are finally getting right as in terms of acquiring young players for the future with ability and for this the club should be applauded imho. Yes the squad looks slightly overloaded but we still have another 9 days or so to go to offload a couple or send some out on loan. I fully expect us to sign Modric now - the lack of creativity was plain for all to see on Saturday but i am really bullish about our squad and the future improvement of our attacking play this season with the current new signings and with Sturridge due back in September things can only get better. Mata looks a player of real quality that can use either foot and his arrival will finally give Malouda a boot up the arse that has been needed for some time, i'm no fan of his but it may inspire him to start playing to a high level on a consistent basis - if selected! In a nutshell our midfield needs improvement and Hilario and Turnbull worry me as Cech's understudy, there is a need to cull 3 or 4 but i would be surprised if that happens, it's more likely that we will get rid of a few at the end of the season or possibly in January when AVB will assess the squad again.

Unusually i sat in the West Stand on Saturday and i can tell you that there was no 'booing' at all throughout the whole game, you always get the odd idiot shouting abuse wherever you sit, then they act completely different when things go our way - hypocrites! I will reiterate what i've said before on this subject - i have never booed in my life, it doesn't help our cause whatsoever but if fans feel they have the right too because they pay a packet to watch then thats their perogative but its not something i will ever do. Anyway the atmosphere at all the top sides has diminished over the years, its not just our place. There is always a good atmosphere amongst the away fans so perhaps these people that are not happy should just watch our away games on TV!

He should be Torres's bitch after that decision!

Lol, apart from that reason then?!

We missed Lampard & Drogba last season but some fans have forgotten how good a defender Alex is - so badly missed. Cech was superb & has continued his form from last season. As for Kalou, well we all know he only ever produces from the bench, him & Maloulda were given an opportunity to stake their claim in the side but as expected failed miserably, you would of thought they would grab their chance knowing AVB's selection policy? Besides I don't see either player in the side come the end of the month. Can anybody tell me why the Torres penalty appeal wasn't given? (the one by the 18 yard angle) it looked an absolute stonewaller to me?

We came away with a very fortunate draw there last season so yesterdays performance was a step in the right direction despite only drawing, Stoke are a tough nut to crack on their on patch so not too disappointed - there won't be many teams going there & coming away with 3 points judging on that defensive display. The performance by Torres should give us all confidence - he looked so Sharp. I think AVB's hands were tied a little with the fact Sturridge was unavailable but he has highlighted what we have all been saying for weeks/months in that winger(s) & a creative midfielder is so badly needed. Let's hope that we acquire those targets by the end of August.

Thanks SeB, appreciated.

Tight call as ever but went with Term-X in the end. Knowledgeable poster that's a little misunderstood at times.

As regards transfers we are finally getting it right despite the impatience of some on here. Yeah the rule of thumb is to get players in for pre season but AVB is making sure we get quality & players with years on their side. Utd are the benchmark unfortunately & if they add Sniejder then it's going to be tough for us to claim our title back but I still believe that we will be in the top 2. City will get stronger as the season goes on but have to agree with Tomo in that their negative manager maybe their undoing. Arsenal need to spend just to keep them In the top 4 but I do admire the way they play football. Liverpool have spent a few quid, this doesn't guarantee success but I would be surprised if they don't challenge for a top 4 place. In direct contrast to Liverpool I don't see Spurs challenging this season especially if we nick Modric off them!

Ambitions. AVB to stay as manager even if we don't win any silver ware. Play crisp free flowing attacking football with an emphasis on distributing the ball quicker from the back. Younger players to be introduced throughout the season. I believe we can still finish top 2 & have decent runs in all cup competitions, I'm not too bothered about us winning things this season as long as it provides a stepping stone for 12/13. My concerns for this season is our midfield especially when we come up against the top teams in Europe, I also worry about the service to our front line. Top Scorer I really hope its Torres because if he is we will win the league but it depends on the quality of service he will get. Best player Ramires deserves a mention, he has a year under him now so I expect him to have a big impact. Benayoun is a player under rated imo, provides vision that is so badly needed in our attack, so is another one to watch out for. However I think Sturridge will come in to his own this season, I think he has got the nod to play as an unorthodox winger ahead of Kalou, obviously he would prefer to play as a striker but he has the flexibility & pace to play on the wing where I can see him causing problems for any opposition, providing assists & scoring a number of vital goals. If he gets a run & doesn't for some ungodly reason go out on loan then I can see him breaking into the England squad for Euro 2012.

Zhirkov wasn't given a fair crack of the whip but also suffered a little from injury, I wish him well at his new club. I wouldn't be surprised if the club use the money from his transfer to make a last push for Modric.

They were also very lucky when Neville should of been sent off twice early in games when they were drawing, the second of which was against WBA when he committed & got away with a stone wall pen, Rooney then should of gone against Wigan after - 8 minutes but somehow stayed on the pitch! I think there was another involving Raphael & not to mentioned the stone wall pen that Blackpool were denied when they were already 2 nil down & those examples are just off the top of my head. We were the better side in the league game at home, totally dominated the second half but you are correct in the other accounters. But to say they outplayed the rest is a tad wide of the mark as there away form was nothing short of shocking. Concur with you regards Maloulda & Kalou but Sturridge is quality & like Anelka he is not a winger & so many fans give him a hard time over it when he is a central striker that has played his best football there but is rarely given the chance to play there nowadays. It's not hard for me to admit that at this moment & with Sniejder on the horizon Utd are in a better position than we are & we both agree that the service to our attackers is where we need to improve. What I'm saying is if we address that then I don't see no reason why won't be in the mix come May next year. I have total confidence in AVB & his management ideals its just the squad that lacks a little depth but just needs tweaking & not a massive overhaul that some are suggesting.

Actually BLionheart, Utd got lucky on many occasions last season that helped them win the title, their away form was atrocious so I wouldn't go as far to say they outplayed the rest but finished top of the pile because their home form got them there. However I concur with you that they are worthy favourites & adding Sniejder will move them up another level. They have strengthened their squad after winning the title - something we failed to do before the start of last season (Ramires aside) instead we got rid of 2 quality players in Carvalho & Ballack which didn't do our campaign any favours but things could of been different if we had signed a couple of decent players & keeping those 2. City & Utd have improved their squads after a successful season, something we did when we won back to back titles under Jose. I think we all know that we need a player with vision & a couple of wingers with pace but even bringing in 1 of those 3 looks optimistic. That said I'm glad we our being written off & probably with some vindication but the pressure is then on our rivals. We are looking like a team that's hungry again that looks more like a collective unit instead of a team of individuals. Our defence was the best in the league again last season incredibly but we struggled to create & score goals. So for me if we can get that diamond in the middle of the park we will push City & Utd all the way next season.

I said the very same about N'Zogbia & Rodallega just before we played Wigan at home last season - it didn't get any legs then! I was pointing out that they wouldn't cost us a fortune for 2 players that have performed on a regular basis in the PL. Both have pace & score goals in a struggling side, 9.5m for N'Zogbia is a steal for Villa. I can't see Kakuta getting a run this season apart from a loan somewhere, but I would welcome his inclusion. The boy needs games & experience to take him up a level & I for one think he has the ability but won't prove it playing in the reserves.

AVB has stated in his last interview one of the points that I was trying to get across about Mikel but he quite rightly addressed it to the whole team & that is that he wants to see the ball moved "vertically" as opposed to "horizontally" This philosophy will improve our style of play & speed of attacks, this will hopefully benefit our forwards who were starved for service last season. Mikel has his orders so I hope that he carry's them out to the letter & makes him a better player in the process, I still have my doubts but atleast AVB is giving him (& others) the opportunity to improve.