Dave

6 hours ago, Lucas said:

I disagree. I think Bruce has been quite astute bringing in experienced players to be fair.

Aston Villa have a huge squad, which still contains a lot of young players. Inexperience at times, was a contribution to their downfall last season, particularly when they tended to concede late goals. They gave far too many points away from winning positions.

He's creating a good balance. When you add in your John Terry's, Glen Whelen's and Elmohamady's for example, you are also blending them with your Hogan (25), Kodjia (27), Hourihane (26), Lansbury (26), Johnstone (24), Grealish (21) etc.

The only thing I'd say about Villa is, perhaps they have gone too OTT that they are extremely top heavy in certain departments and it will be hard to keep everyone happy. For this league, their squad is huge. Most sides that go up, are promoted because they have pretty much kept the same nucleus of players over the course of the season, which in turn creates a great team spirit. That could work against Villa if they don't find that and try to please too many players, but it's better to have options than not.

 

Id argue they had a good blend already of experience with the likes of Jedinak, Elphick and Chester. 

https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/eagles-meet-hong-kong-supporters-club/

https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/dongqiudi-announced-as-official-sleeve-partner/

Well this club has completely lost its unique identity.

Jairo Riedewald has signed for eight million. The general feedback from those that know him is he's a top half Premiership player so for eight million it seems like good business.

3 hours ago, Toony said:

Not sure I would.

Id have Brentford above both Hull and Sunderland at the moment, but then again I can think of at least six teams id fancy over Brentford.

Twice in less than a week you've repeated something I've posted Harvey. I'm starting to wonder if youve blocked me. 

2 hours ago, Toony said:

I said they're only going to get stronger.

Villa spent ridiculous amount of money but had a manager that didn't know what he was doing. They'll go up next season.

We heard all this bollocks ten years ago in The Championship mate when Charlton came down. "Theyve got too much money, they can sign anybody, nobody will be able to compete soon enough" They haven't been back up since.

14 minutes ago, Toony said:

It's true.

The teams coming down are only going to get stronger because of the money available at the top level and there's already at least 10 teams in that division I'd fancy to get promoted before Brentford.

I do think you're slightly deluded. 

Championship fans have heard that drum beat for over fifthteen years and there's  still not been a 23 team divide.

Other than Middlesborough who are about as good as they were two years ago the teams coming down are having to rebuild entirely. This league is completely open this year and there is an opportunity for teams to capitalise like Huddersfield did.

1 hour ago, DeadLinesman said:

Everyone is now. Been like that since June 15th.

This hotel tried charging us £20 for a weeks wifi 

Side note but EE letting you use your data for free in Spain. Amazing.

Off to Tenerife this evening with the missus. Needless to say I'm pissed about the nice weather in London for the next week.

What's wrong with Sutton?

7 hours ago, RandoEFC said:

If Southampton are interested that's got sweetener for Van Dijk all over it. Depends if Sakho wants to go there though. 

Given we've gone from being linked with Adil Rami, a defender with experience whose best days look behind him, to Davinson Sanchez, a young and expensive investment, makes me think the media haven't got a clue about what we're doing. 

Southampton are interested allegedly. I can see this continuing throughout the majority of the summer due to Liverpools high asking price for a player they don't clearly want. I can't imagine any club in Europe will want to compete at that price.

It's a shame there's no garlic strong enough to deter some of the locals from living round there.

I didn't realise Callum Willock left for Benfica. Given the talent coming from Portugal that could be a fantastic career decision. 

GFW have 'taken over' TNA, according to reports.

Jarrett's getting heat about this but considering he felt 'forced out' of his own creation in TNA. To then start a new company and then be in a position where you can take over your old company without having to dip in to your own pocket and without actually televising one show is quite poetic justice.

Perfect timing given it's there fifthteenth year anniversary. Make the show a celebration of old times and then start a new beginning next week.

Looking at my notifications page in the early hours of this morning I was half expecting to find a photo of Katie Price in here 

There is literally no point in Chelsea having any form of an academy.

Any loyalty bonus in his contract should be null and void at the very least. Something went on that Allardyce wouldn't put him on the bench over Speroni. Sad situation all round as he's a class Goalie that could have been a club icon.

Steve Mandanda is refusing to report to pre-season training. Lost a lot of respect for him for that. Hope we can stop paying his 50k p/w and make him wait until Marseille offer a fee remotely close to his ability.

14 hours ago, JOSHBRFC said:

Will never get bored of watching the old school stuff. JR was so good. 

It doesn't help the new stuff isn't that good any more.

In comparison Lucha Underground is back on TV and the pace and quality of those matches are nuts.

He was highly thought of as a coach at West Brom under three seperate managers before he took on the Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn jobs which at the time were managerial death sentences. 

Emmanuel Adebayor has described joining Crystal Palace as the worst decision of his career, which is quite ironic really as I recall takeing a chance on him in the first place to be the worst decision we've made in our Premier League history.

Joe Ledley has been released. Loyal servant who seemed quite a character but performances have dipped since Euro 2016 so he may need a change of scenery to motivate himself. I imagine a team with playoff ambitions will take the wage hit with him.