2010/11 Season Preview

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Whereas if foreigners flop, you get stuck with 'em.

I don't agree, foreign players are probably easier to try and shift as you have a bigger potential market.

[TimTheVillain]

I don't Milner and  Downing were risks per se.

Milner had performed very well for us previusly and re. Downing ( with England international caps) he must have taken the medical info provided to him on board too, which would have been exhaustive.

[Dave Cooper please]

How much do you think we'd get for Downing if we decided to sell him today?

A set of training tops and a bag of footballs I reckon.

[Olneythelonely]

How much do you think we'd get for Downing if we decided to sell him today?

A set of training tops and a bag of footballs I reckon.

About £8m?

[TimTheVillain]

Yes, c. £8 million I'd say.

IF he has a good season ( prays vehemently) then you can add £4 miillion to that easily.

[paul_e]

Some good points but a whole load of shit on there as well but I guess if Villa fans who have had a member of the board tell them we're only sell to buy in terms of wages don't believe we have any money who can fault none Villa fans and journos for thinking the same.

The reality is anyone betting for Villa to finish outside 5-8 is mad, whilst it's might be possible it's incredibly unlikely.

[robbo1874]

I think that article accurately reflects the general consensus.

But what I can't understand is, assuming we can kep hold of Milner, essentially we'll have the same group of players that we finished 6th with last season and probably about 5 or 6 of the younger players to come through, where needed - why would everybody automatically assume that we won't do as well as last time? Were we particularly lucky, or did we particularly over-achieve last season? I don't think so.

I predicted 5th / 6th place finish last season and I reckon, as it stands, we'll be good for the same again this time around. A few quality signings would be nice, but we've a solid core group of players that have proved they can do the business over the course of a long season. I'm backing them.