Welcome Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke

[Whiney MacWhineface]

our new fitness coach has quite an impressive website

http://www.maxmarchesi.com/

Except it says he's Inter's fitness bloke.

[Toronto Villa]

it's great to see Stan in the background of some of those training pictures also.

[olaftab]

It's about the first time I can remember hearing a Villa manager say that the squad is too big.

Not sure if we have heard this one say so either!

    "First of all when I analysed the squad I think we have too many players, the squad is too big so I will certainly look to trim the squad," said Di Matteo.

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-boss-roberto-di-11481018

Thanks. So he has. Good.

[sid1964]

Does anyone know when we go to the training camp in Austria?

It will be interesting to see who RDM decides to take to Austria

[Stirchley Villain]

Thursday I think.

[olaftab]

Why is he taking Thursday with him?

[mr underhill]

because his man Friday couldn't make it

[Quiet Lion]

because his man Friday couldn't make it

Nice

[Duncan Shaw]

it's great to see Stan in the background of some of those training pictures also.

Yes but not so seeing Bacuna!!

[chrisf]

it's great to see Stan in the background of some of those training pictures also.

Yes but not so seeing Bacuna!!

There's a pleasing lack of Richards too ...

[stubbsyandy]

Nothing new there..

[Reuben]

Don't know if this has been posted but RDM calls Aston Villa ‘a house that needed to be knocked down'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jul/18/roberto-di-matteo-aston-villa-house-needed-knocked-down

[Steve67]

RDM is more skeptical about our promotion chances than Dr Xia.  Not a bad idea if he wants more money for a striker! Good article.

[Diablo]

Don't know if this has been posted but RDM calls Aston Villa ‘a house that needed to be knocked down'
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jul/18/roberto-di-matteo-aston-villa-house-needed-knocked-down

 

RDM said he hoped the club could be “competitive” in its first season in the Championship. “By signing three new players, we have already identified players that we believe will help us guide the team into a very challenging season.”

[Toronto Villa]

what I took from the article is that RDM is suggesting we have just forgotten what it is to be a club. That it needed to be rebuilt from that perspective. But we need to learn to competitive again and restore confidence. Much of this season will be tied to momentum. Can we go on sustained runs of games where we win or go undefeated?