What will represent success / failure for the second half the season?

[Concrete John]

The other thing to consider is that where and how we finish this season can have a bearing on the type of player we can attract in the summer.

I used to think that right up until we signed a £24m striker while in the bottom three.

I take the point but I don't want that to be the limit of our ambitions.

Don't get me wrong - I generally agree with you and think the higher up you finish the better you look to perspective signings.  However, when you see a player like Bent come from the 6th placed club to one in the relegation zone, I think it shows that if the club can do a good enough job of selling itself and where it's going, then that can be more important than actual league position.

[pauliewalnuts]

The other thing to consider is that where and how we finish this season can have a bearing on the type of player we can attract in the summer.

I used to think that right up until we signed a £24m striker while in the bottom three.

I take the point but I don't want that to be the limit of our ambitions.

Don't get me wrong - I generally agree with you and think the higher up you finish the better you look to perspective signings.  However, when you see a player like Bent come from the 6th placed club to one in the relegation zone, I think it shows that if the club can do a good enough job of selling itself and where it's going, then that can be more important than actual league position.

Not forgetting offering the player a gigantic pay rise.

[eastie]

Agreed paulie, let's finish the season as best we can and be ready for an exciting season next year. I think we can and will finish 8th, but 10th would be ok.

[DrGonzo]

Given that I and many more fans thought we were doomed to relegation once it was clear that GH was staying....

Blah blah.

Anywhere inside the top 10 and I'll be happy, but as has been said I think style over substance.  It'd be nice to get to Wembley again.  50+ points and some good performances, a shedful of goals from DB and a chance to stick it up the Houllier nay-sayers.  I think we have a good bloke, I like the way he conducts himself and I am very impressed with his handling of the squad.

[Concrete John]

Not forgetting offering the player a gigantic pay rise.

I think he went from £60,000 a week to £80,000 a week.  £1m a year is not to be sniffed at, but as someone pointed out at the time he lost money by handing in a transfer request.  I've moved jobs in the past for reasons other than money, but at the same time negotiated myself a payrise as I know I could so why not, but would have taken it for the same money.  I may be being naive here, but I think something similar happened with Bent as otherwise I think he'd be on more than £80 a week. 

[The Left Side]

A top half finish will do me with a blend of youth and experience, we have whittled away a lot of the deadwood and when Beye, Warnock and Pires go in the summer we will be able to bring in a few new faces (goalkeeper, left back) and then Gardiner and a few other younger players. Up the Villa!

[pablopicasso_10]

i would be happy with a top half finish...

getting the players used to the prem, giving some youngsters some more game time, and then resetting ourselves for what i think will be an interesting and exciting summer transfer window!

[pauliewalnuts]

Not forgetting offering the player a gigantic pay rise.

I think he went from £60,000 a week to £80,000 a week.  £1m a year is not to be sniffed at, but as someone pointed out at the time he lost money by handing in a transfer request.  I've moved jobs in the past for reasons other than money, but at the same time negotiated myself a payrise as I know I could so why not, but would have taken it for the same money.  I may be being naive here, but I think something similar happened with Bent as otherwise I think he'd be on more than £80 a week. 

The figures I saw suggest he was on nothing like 60k at Sunderland, but the point i was making was that it's naive to suggest that our willingness to pay him significantly more than he was earning previously didn't have a lot to do with it.

[cdward]

The other thing to consider is that where and how we finish this season can have a bearing on the type of player we can attract in the summer.

I used to think that right up until we signed a £24m striker while in the bottom three.

I take the point but I don't want that to be the limit of our ambitions.

Don't get me wrong - I generally agree with you and think the higher up you finish the better you look to perspective signings.  However, when you see a player like Bent come from the 6th placed club to one in the relegation zone, I think it shows that if the club can do a good enough job of selling itself and where it's going, then that can be more important than actual league position.

Bent said as much when signing that he knew we were in a false position when he signed, the fact we have finished 6th for the last 3 seasons shows where we should be, and where other people see us, as a top 6 club. That will indeed have an influence on what players we can and will attract, Bent joined us because he knows we can finish top 6, or better, otherwise he wouldn't have joined.
Personally i think a top 6 place is what we should be aiming for, but i think we will finish top 10.
6th to 8th = success
8th to 11th  = OK
11th to 17th =  relative failure
any lower = implosion

[PaulTheVillan]

Top half would be great considering how things were looking at Man City away.

[DeKuip]

Having to move our Arsenal game from May 14th because we're in the cup final.

[glasses]

For me, a reinstated feeling of belief will be success. In the last few seasons, I had belief that every game we approached we could win. Didnt fear anyone. I lost that this season at several points. It looks like its coming back, but its not quite there yet for me.

For me, top ten is a must for pride, but the way we achieve it is more important to me.

[garyshawsknee]

After all the madness of the summer,i thought if we could finish mid table and blood some youngsters,in a season of transistion,then that wouldnt be too bad.

 Now we have 3 youngsters who can be the future of the club,the playing style is changing and improving,and some good signings for next season. I think its how our performances improve towards the end of the season which is important,so i dont think 10-12th would be too bad.

[olaftab]

Optimistic: Win the FA Cup and finish 6th
Realistic: Finish top half and beat Shitty in the  5th round and progress as far as we can.

[alanclare]

If I could go to any game with the expectation that I should see an enjoyable, competitive game which Villa would have realistic hopes of winning, I should deem that a success.