Pressing matters

[dave.woodhall]

Inevitable headlines time again:

www.thebirminghampress.com/2011/08/01/the-phoney-war/

[Percy McCarthy]

Good article. Interesting point about the initial and agreed offers for Downing and N'Zogbia. In fact, the difference was even more marked than you suggest, if reports are to be believed that Liverpool's first offer was £12m.

[Concrete John]

I also liked the point about it being a week between the initial offer for N'Zogbia and the player signing.  If you went by the thread on here, you'd think it had dragged on for a Berson-like amount of time.

[QBVILLA]

Upson?? No thanks, and nothing to do with his past employers, he's been on a rapid downward spiral for the past two years.

[dave.woodhall]

There's also a very good cricket piece today.

www.thebirminghampress.com/2011/08/01/remembering-botham%E2%80%99s-ashes/

[ADVILLAFAN]

Poor old Sheffield Wednesday - I've always preferred them to Sheffield United 

[dave.woodhall]

Poor old Sheffield Wednesday - I've always preferred them to Sheffield United 

United are closer to the pubs.

[Toronto Villa]

Bizarrely, I look forward to your chewing of the Villa fat article every week, or whatever it is. Good job Dave.

[cdbearsfan]

Poor old Sheffield Wednesday - I've always preferred them to Sheffield United 

United are closer to the pubs.

United are a bunch of thugs, Wednesday have got a band. They can both fuck off.

I want Sheffield and Hallam promoted in their place.

[nick harper]

In the spirit of press articles, the Guardian's take on our prospects next season:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/aug/01/premier-league-preview-aston-villa?&CMP=EMCFTBEML853

Apologies for the long link.

[Greg N'Ash]

In the spirit of press articles, the Guardian's take on our prospects next season:-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/aug/01/premier-league-preview-aston-villa?&CMP=EMCFTBEML853

Apologies for the long link.

Very realistic assesment i think, echoing whats been said on here. Needs a good start, fans more worried about his record than where he came from, midfield weak, defence iffy, decent buys so far.... I wonder how many of their journo's were asked to get an average predicted season finish of 12th cos i reckon thats a good guess if things don't go totally hatstand.

[QBVILLA]

Given the quality of the squad and the resources available to McLeish I think we should be looking at vying for 7th with Everton.Anything lower than 8th means we'll be finishing below a Fulham/Sunderland/Stoke etc.That would equate to underachieving IMO.

[Greg N'Ash]

Well we finished 9th last season. We're certainly not a better side on paper to the one which finished the season so i'm not sure where this improvement is coming from.

[QBVILLA]

Well we finished 9th last season. We're certainly not a better side on paper to the one which finished the season so i'm not sure where this improvement is coming from.

The fact we've got rid of Houllier and Gary mac is an improvement of epic proportions.Like i've said who would you think is capable of finishing above us? It has to be a minimum of 8th IMO.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Given the quality of the squad and the resources available to McLeish I think we should be looking at vying for 7th with Everton.Anything lower than 8th means we'll be finishing below a Fulham/Sunderland/Stoke etc.That would equate to underachieving IMO.

Love the optimism QB. We all need to be positive and hope that we hit the ground running.
(Think Everton will struggle this season - my scouse mate/Toffees fan Frank isn't impressed with things so far)
Unfortunately, it looks like we're in for another season of transition. I just hope it's not as shite as the last one!