Blimey, the news has come thick and fast today and I hardly know where to begin.
The Sinclair deal looks about done with a fee in the region of £3-4 million, depending on what you read.
I’d have been tempted to keep him, myself and indeed it seems the player wasn’t pushing for a move and the manager didn’t really want to lose him. The price was obviously right though and it’s no doubt another hefty wage off the books, hence I wish him well in a league where his quality will surely stand out.
Then there’s news that Carlos Sanchez could be on his way to Fiorentina. I reckon this link might have some legs to it and he’s another I’ll be sad to see go, as much as I know many other Villa fans don’t rate him. The slower pace in the Italian game should suit him better.
An interesting story is one that suggests Gabby might actually be on his way, after he wished the players good luck for tomorrow and the rest of the season on his Instagram account. It could of course mean nothing, but it does strike me as an odd thing to say. We can but hope.
Andre Green has signed a new 3 year deal and one of the young lads, whose name escapes me has gone on loan to Cheltenham.
There’s news that the Albion are after Jordan Ayew, although I don’t see him leaving after Xia’s previous comments.
Then there’s the brilliant comment from Dr Xia on Twitter, where he says we’re after 7-8 players, have bids in for 3 and are negotiating for 2 on loan. This is great news and we may just see the major squad overhaul we’ve all been asking for, after all.
And then to cap all that, we have the first game of the season today at Sheffield Wednesday!
Which is where I don’t know what to think.
I’ve never set much store by first day games, as I can recall some strange results over the years. Anyone remember a recent opening day 3-0 victory at the Emirates, for instance?
Fulham beating Newcastle on Friday was typical, in my opinion and although it seems Newcastle looked poor, I think we all know they’re going to be thereabouts at the end of the season.
My Wednesday fan workmate isn’t worried about facing us and
I had to confess I know nothing about them, save that Barry Bannan plays for them. My friend says he’s been great and would anyone bet against him scoring tomorrow?
You would think we have enough quality (as poor as we were last season) to win this one, but I still have nagging doubts about our ability to create chances, with the squad as it stands.
Watching Ross McCormack should be interesting, as I’ve read that if he ends up getting deeper in chasing the game, he becomes ineffective. We really need to get the ball in the danger area and let him do what he’s best at.
Which has just reminded me of another story where we’re apparently chasing Abel Hernandez from Hull.
Like I said, it’s all happening.
I see a one goal victory either way and the optimist in me says we’ll get it.
0-1 to the Villa.
While I won’t be worried if we lose tomorrow, I think the first few games could shape our season, so a win would be nice.
I won’t be worried if we lose tomorrow but we win and suddenly everyone will sit up and realize that we are real contenders for 1st place!!
I like your style Benno 🙂
We must be confident from the off.
We will start like rabbits in the headlights today. If we can survive the first hour then who knows we may mug them but defence can’t hold on
It looks like the Gabby thing might be true;
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIxfvEmhAoT/
And what a good thing it’s been.
Look back on the money you’ve made and then take a long look in the mirror, imo.
People always interest me. First it was Newcastle are favorites for first, now it’s Norwich are favorites and Newcastle aren’t in the running, Villa won’t be considered in the running unless we win like 5 games in a row by 5-0 each and make like 50m in signings according to most of the media.
The signing news is interesting. 3 bids, 2 loan players. I’d easily suggest one of the bids is for Jedinak and one of the loans is for McNair. Hopefully with a buyout clause if we like him. Can’t see him being first choice though and find it odd we just wouldn’t use Toner. Along with Elphrick, Baker, Okore and I’m assuming Richards. Also it seems one could be Morrison who’s apparently had a very good pre-season. I know some fans wouldn’t want him, I’ve even read he’d stump Grealish’s growth, which is funny because those same fans claim we need an attacking midfielder still.
Surprised we’re not after someone from Chelsea on loan. Atsu did well in Spain last season, scoring 4 goals for Malaga. Van Ginkel, Piazon, Moses. Chelsea’s squad is still huge. I just hope it wouldn’t be like Bamford, I’d prefer we buy another striker who’s actually proven himself to Bamford, who’s proven he can’t handle the Premier League at Palace. There was a photo of Xia posting a picture of somewhere in London yesterday, so maybe? Also twitter claimed at one point we’ve beaten out a host of teams for a player from somewhere overseas, but that’s twitter for you.
Either way, it should be a hell of a week after we win today.
Jedinak would be a welcome signing. I agree about Bamford. Maybe as a loan since he has performed in the Championship. He doesn’t look ready for the Prem but maybe after another season. I too have thought Chelsea might be ripe for loans, particularly with RDM’s connections. Bamford is of course a Chelsea player.
I predicted 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday yesterday but have woken up feeling a little more optimistic.
I think we’ll score but still be the laughing stock of world football.
3-1 Wednesday.
Di Matteo out.
Stop being a 🔔🔚 Stubbs, win or loose today it will not define our season but get the win and it really will give the boost to the team they need then on from here it’s plane sailing eh 😃
“win or loose”? and you call me a bell end. lol
Lol
We beat Bournemouth first game last season then look what happened
True, but I still think tatics Tim started the demise by not having a clue what he was doing imo
against wednesday on sunday is a massive game. i know ppl have already said this in press and its so true. we are coming off a very bad season. only way you can put this behind you. is to start next one off with a good performance.
think we all know little about championship football, we all have been spoiled in the premiership. sheff wed i have seen before, they play decent passing style, which we should be able to combat. i watched 2 games forest and newcastle both were very close encounters. nothing really scary that we can’t handle.
if we take 3 points or even a decent point at wednesday. it would be great steps in the right direction. burton are bookies favorites to go down and they might well just do that, but they wasn’t too far away from spoiling forests party yesterday. so lesson there for villa is, on each and everyday all the championship teams can cause us problems. but we shouldn’t be afraid of anybody. cause we will cause them all more problems, than they do us VTID
can wait, fingers crossed the real aston villa turn up in sheffield and scare the life out of the locals
Difference between burton and us is that they with passion and work hard for each other for 90 mins. We will go one down and the whole team will collapse
VILLA win all the way ross to bang a couple in more signings on the way we’ll go from strength to strength stay positive stubbs your beyond hope clearly terminal.UTV COYL
If Westwood plays, 9-0 S’Weds, if he dont, 0-9 Villa. It’s that simple 🙂
I must admit I interpreted Xia’s comment slightly differently. I thought his 7-8 players probably includes the 3 we already have. That leaves 4 or 5 to come, which tallies with the bids in for 3 plus two loan offers. That would be fine with me as long as they were genuine first team choices or at least offered serious competition.
Wednesday should be a tough team to beat, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we get turned over. Fingers crossed though. It would be nice to get off to a winning start. Nothing breeds optimism and confidence like a few wins.
Very true DSVilla, a win against a very good already made Wednesday team is just what we need to kick off the season! Here’s hoping eh
Sort of game we could be 2 down in first 20 mins if we’re not careful they will come out flying
And so will we hopefully mate!!
gana gives away penalty on his debut
can somebody explain why the games kicking off at 4. 30 pm i can’t recall many 4.30 kickoffs. so frustrating about time tv butt out of arranging kick off times
Bye bye Sinclair!! I for 1 won’t lose any sleep over it.
Feeling a bit nervous which is, I suppose, because there’s a chance we might actually win a game. Never felt nervous before a game last season – sick would describe it better knowing it was odds-on we were going to lose and a good game was avoiding a severe tonking.
If we lose well we’ve still got 45 more games to go to get it right. Might take a while for the squad to click but I’ve got a good feeling about this season.
Wednesday 1-2 Villa
UTV
First game of the season for us today, if am been honest I don’t know what way the game will go, fingers crossed Villa win. Am really looking forward to this.
I see things never change….Rob Green just threw the ball into own net…lets hope our perennial failings don’t happen.
Quietly optimistic about today’s game. Backing the boys to come back with the three points. UTV
I’m one of the most positive villa fans on the planet and even I can’t see past a draw at best today. Wednesday are gonna be out for blood. As oohah says (and rightly so) we could easily be 2-0 down within 20 minutes, the early part of this game is crucial!
Here’s hoping: if Hutton plays he remembers defending is the #1 priority; if Richards plays he takes orders from Elphick; if Westwood plays he only hits long passes than cannot get picked off. if Gestede plays there is someone to deliver right wing crosses from in front of him, there are no Hillsborough Distaster mkII headlines this evening.
It’s down to the manager to say all that but will he? Another 9 months of blood, sweat, tears, pain and humiliation and that’s just the fans 😓
I don’t know where the bloods coming from unless your predicting a good dust up with the SCUM when we play them.
The blood is from beating ourselves up when we concede 2 last minute goals from defensive errors
Starting XI: Gollini, Hutton, Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Westwood, Gardner, Bacuna, Ayew, McCormack, Gestede
Subs: Bunn, Okore, Ricards, Amavi, Tshibola, Green, Grealish
Westwood and bacuna starting. Have we learned nothing
Good forward line in paper but midfield is a joke. Can see is scoring but definitely concede a few too
almost kickoff yeah anybody heard the team news ??????
Starting XI: Gollini, Hutton, Elphick, Baker, Cissokho, Westwood, Gardner, Bacuna, Ayew, McCormack, Gestede
Subs: Bunn, Okore, Ricards, Amavi, Tshibola, Green, Grealish
It looks like a 424 when attacking and 4212 defending. Got goals but could be hit hard in the break. A brave lineup imho
Glad amavi isn’t playing as don’t want him attracting attention till after Aug 😄
The lineup is a bit of a surprise to say the least but understandable that he’s picked that lineup for an away game.
The bench is strong for this division – plenty of options to change it in the second half.
Midfield that worries me no steel they will dominate and be too physical in that dept
Unlikely to have more steel than Sheffield. Brass maybe.