Have we got a good squad?

[paul_e]

I've said this before I'm sure but I think there's a clear top 7 and then below that a fairly competitive league for 8th-20th, I think we have a squad capable of being near the top of that league and the likes of Leicester and Burnley look likely to be near the bottom of it, but it all depends on momentum, get a few good results and some confidence in any of the sides down there and they could pull themselves into the midtable spots.

If we can add some real flair out wide to scare teams I'd be very confident of us being 8-11th because we've got a better main striker than anyone we're competing against except possibly Swansea, I expect they'll be in a similar position if they can keep Bony (the rumours of him going do seem to have stopped so they may well do) and keep him fit.

[*shellac*]

It is definitely an improvement to last season's squad.

[QBVILLA]

I've said this before I'm sure but I think there's a clear top 7 and then below that a fairly competitive league for 8th-20th, I think we have a squad capable of being near the top of that league and the likes of Leicester and Burnley look likely to be near the bottom of it, but it all depends on momentum, get a few good results and some confidence in any of the sides down there and they could pull themselves into the midtable spots.

If we can add some real flair out wide to scare teams I'd be very confident of us being 8-11th because we've got a better main striker than anyone we're competing against except possibly Swansea, I expect they'll be in a similar position if they can keep Bony (the rumours of him going do seem to have stopped so they may well do) and keep him fit.

I hope i'm wrong but I don't hold out a lot of hope of seeing Benteke playing many games this season. Players who spend 6 months plus out tend to pick up niggling injuries. I'll be surprised if he is playing regularly before February. I'm looking at the season without him, but obviously with him in,and fully fit we'll be closer to 8th spot than we will 18th. I'm hoping that there is no long term effects of the achilles, his ability in the air is key to both his and our game.

[rougegorge]

...If we can add some real flair out wide to scare teams

Unfortunately Lambert doesn't like width nor goes for flair, but still a better squad, at least from a defensive perspective, than the last few seasons.

[Toronto Villa]

I think it is a much deeper squad with a lot more experience and players who will understand the requirements of competing at this level. We might not get many highs, but we certainly won't get the lows of the past couple of seasons. There will be a more consistent approach to things that should stabilize the club which is critical right now. It should also allow younger players to develop and come through over the course of the season as opposed to being thrown in.

[bobdylan]

Yes we have a good squad, another 2 in and I think we'll be comfortably top half.

[cheltenhamlion]

The goals were always going to be an issue until the return of Kozak/Benteke. I am sure the manager would agree with that. Squad wise we look more solid than we have for a few years and shouldn't be troubling the relegation scrap.

[IAmTheOneIanOlney]

We don't have a very good squad according to the extremely balanced view of this bookie, who doesn't appear to hate Villa at all.
http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/sack-inducing-run-aston-villas-beleaguered-boss-faces_208328.html

[dave.woodhall]

We don't have a very good squad according to the extremely balanced view of this bookie, who doesn't appear to hate Villa at all.
http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/sack-inducing-run-aston-villas-beleaguered-boss-faces_208328.html

He seems to be altering the facts to meet his conclusion.

[Clampy]

He's either a blue nose or Robbie Savage.

[dcdavecollett]

Good idea not to put your name to such junk...

[Dave]

He's either a blue nose or Robbie Savage.

The gist of it seems to be "Villa haven't bought very good players this summer and have got a run of really difficult games in September". That's not massively out of step to a lot of the views on here this summer.

It's a pretty poorly written piece, but he's not being particularly controversial.

[PeterWithesShin]

More than one on here has said we'll be bottom of the league by December.

[paulcomben]

Alex Fortune must be a made up name and the ghost writer's job is to get money for Ladbrokes, for instance by persuading the gullible non-fans to bet against Villa or the gullible piqued fans to vote for Villa. So, not in any way a sensible nor objective article.

[eric woolban woolban]

That's the biggest claret and blue glasses I think I've seen. Fair play to be wildly optimistic, but this is Villa we're talking about!