BlueLion.

POSITIVES An improved performance all-roundDefensive steel maintained with another clean-sheetLampard and Drogba finding the net - again crucial ahead of the new seasonFerreira, Benayoun and Cole were excellent

Aston Villa vs Chelsea FC 30 July - Friendly - 1330 BST kick-off :cfc: MATCH CHAT HERE :cfc:

Our major signing of the summer - own goal, has struck again. More prolific than Drogba.

Lampard!!! 1-0

Another hour and 26 minutes left. The countdown timer is set so that it reflects the time on your own PC, so it actually is only correct for people with GMT as their timezone.

Don't worry about it matey!

I would expect Rooney to be our captain and one of three over-23s. And I would love to see Bale playing as well.

We are wearing black armbands in respect to those who died in the Norway atrocities. Are they going to sort the pitch out?

I hope no-one is expecting any good football today, the pitch at the Hong Kong Stadium is woeful. Blackburn 0-0 Villa latest score.

That's a fair point Domino, there haven't been many outstanding Argentine players who have performed well in this league. Aguero is pure quality however, and though it will take time, he will integrate and become a 20-goals-a-season striker for City.

Welcome to the forum! My name is Alex and I am one of the people who run this forum. I hope you stick around! If there's anything you need, don't be afraid to ask. And, for the record, your English is excellent, do not worry about it!

Doesn't stop an agreement being in place with Barcelona. They haven't gone to the U20WC, but I see your point.

Disagree. Goalkeeper and striker are really the two only 'confidence' positions on the pitch. If the press continuously berate you over poor performances as a striker or errors as a goalie, it affects you massively. Look at Cech in 08/09, he had two shaky games and the press made it look like his hands had been replaced with marshmallows. Yes it is important to have a positive mental outlook, but strikers and goalkeepers are particularly prone to knocks in their confidence. You can react two ways - go into your shell or come out all guns blazing. Rooney did the latter last season and finished the season in deadly form, Torres has done the opposite. Once he finds his scoring touch, el Nino will be back, you have my word. It does not affect defenders or midfielders so much, which is why Terry and Cole responded in kind.

It was definitely called the Umbro Stand at one point, but the fans insisted it be changed back... I believe it was called the Umbro Shed End South for a season or something like that.

This could be the making of him. He could have an absolutely awful first season in Spanish football, though

I think we'd like it to be, out of jealousy and spite. In reality, Aguero is ten times the player Robinho ever was and ever will be.

I don't want Josh to go out on loan. He already can offer so, so much to this team. Let's not forget that as someone who is not even 18-and-a-half yet, he has made 17 appearances for our first team, and - in my honest opinion - has impressed in nearly all of those showings. Games that stand out are the 3-4 loss in the Carling Cup to Newcastle and the 1-0 loss to Marseilles at the Vélodrome. He was outstanding. AVB is no fool and he knows talent when he sees it - you would assume it is one of his main attributes as a coach considering his scouting background.

Two or three goals in the opening half a dozen matches is a realistic target judging especially from the calibre of teams we're playing at home. If he can't bag one against Swansea or WBA at home, I'll then be worried

Thibaut has said he would like to stay at Atletico for 'a couple of years' so I am assuming there is a clause in his loan deal with the Spaniards that may allow them to extend said loan?

I absolutely disagree there. In the AVB midfield three, you have a CDM, a CAM and a B2B. Ramires can play in all three of those positions, but he is best in the 'Essien role' as a box-to-box player. Meaning we can play Mikel-Ramires-Lampard but vary it on form and on fitness. Ramires' versatility ensures he will be first choice in my opinion. And if AVB doesn't make him first choice, his appraisal of players is definitely lacking.

Let's sue Brian English then! It seems perfectly clear he went against fellow doctors' orders.

I like the Reading away kit.

I think next time Ivanovic goes clean through he should do this instead of passing to Torres.

I probably forgot to click 'save'