Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[OCD]

Don't get me wrong, when Ellis was in charge summer used to do my nut in because I saw player after player moving to other clubs that I thought would have greatly improved us. Now though, we've got a board that knows what it's doing, huge resources and we've got the best manager we could ask for who is being backed to the fullest.

I haven't got the hang of this worrying thing, have I?

[peter w]

It takes time. I'm not particularly in a state of worry at the moment. But that is altering farctionally every day.

[JD]

I'm slowing falling into a deep dark depression........Quick MO'N and Randy, do something to bring me out of it.... 8-[

[peter w]

I'm keeping my nerve until 31st. But, as the season is only one week away it would be nice to have a full strength team in place. I'm  convinced somebody will come during the week. Hopefully he'll be good enough to slot straight in. But, rejoice, the football season is with us nearly.

[JD]

I can't believe that the season is only a week away. I can't wait for the first game, on live over here, although it is on at 4am. It's either an early night (and get up) or a late night for me next weekend.

[ColinMac]

I thought it must be time to make my first contribution on this thread.

[Dave Cooper please]

I thought it must be time to make my first contribution on this thread.

But are you worried?

[peter w]

What's frigged me off more than anything this weekend is the fact that the bastard BBC Sport wesite hasn't got a match report from yesterday. Not even a cursory glance. Of course Arsenal and Man U did when they played Inter. They even had pictures. Fuckers. They really will get it up them (London Meejya) when we stuff a few of their clubs this season.

[James]

What's frigged me off more than anything this weekend is the fact that the bastard BBC Sport wesite hasn't got a match report from yesterday. Not even a cursory glance. Of course Arsenal and Man U did when they played Inter. They even had pictures. Fuckers. They really will get it up them (London Meejya) when we stuff a few of their clubs this season.

Oh come on Peter. It wouldn't matter how well we played if we stuffed a few of the London clubs, it would be that they had 'an off day' and 'defended uncharacteristically badly'. Do you really think they'd give us any credit?

Maybe in a year or two they'll have to, or risk looking even sillier than they already do, but not yet.

I see we've allegedly bid for Curtis, Gordon and Hangeland now, but as a newly diagnosed worrier it'll have to be ITSOTP for me!

[peter w]

Welcome new worrier. However, you'll have to do without these anocronysms. don't forget we're worriers. If you post things like ITSOTP we'll think its some type of code being used against us to try and shut us down.

[OCD]

Talking of arrogant pricks in the media - has anyone read Joe Lovejoy's assessment of the forthcoming season in the Sunday Times? What a prick.

[OCD]

Oh and Sky Sports seem to have shown all the friendly highlights except ours. Considering our game should have been the most watchable, shows what tossers they are.

[D.boy]

Talking of arrogant pricks in the media - has anyone read Joe Lovejoy's assessment of the forthcoming season in the Sunday Times? What a prick.

Sunday Times: Aston Villa

2006-7 record: League 11th FA Cup 3rd round Carling Cup 4th round

Manager: Martin O'Neill

Chop rating: 1/5 Canny as ever, Martin O'Neill's dampening down of the enthusiasm generated by Villa's excellent start last season served him well when the inevitable slump came along as Christmas approached. An improvement on 11th is essential, not least as Doug Ellis's departure means O'Neill has lost a wonderful lightning conductor

New faces Much depends on which Nigel Reo-Coker Villa have signed from West Ham, the midfield dynamo of 2005-6 or last season's pale imitation. Harry Forrester has not left school and Marlon Harewood's goalscoring record at the highest level hardly inspires confidence

Player to watch Understandably, O'Neill was concerned that Gabriel Agbonlahor's first full season would end in burnout. Instead, it finished with him being declared Villa's young player of the year and on the fringes of a full international call-up. Both scores and makes goals, and is blessed with breathtaking pace

In an ideal world Ashley Young wakes up, Norway striker John Carew builds on last season's steel-jawed menace in attack and, by May, they don't regret giving two of their better players to Fulham

In the real world The defence still looks a little cumbersome for the challenge posed by the Premier League's leading strikers, but if the correct Reo-Coker has headed up the M6 to Birmingham, he will inject midfield steel and Carew looks as hungry for goals as he ever was. The cups might offer all sorts of salvation

Squad analysis Goalkeepers Thomas Sorensen, Stuart Taylor Defenders Wilfred Bouma, Gary Cahill, Mark Delaney, Martin Laursen, Olof Mellberg, Stephen O'Halloran, Isaiah Osbourne Midfielders Gareth Barry, Patrik Berger, Craig Gardner, Shaun Maloney, Stilian Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker Forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor, John Carew, Marlon Harewood, Luke Moore, Ashley Young Players in Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham, £8.5m), Marlon Harewood (West Ham, £4m) Players out Steven Davis (Fulham, £4m), Aaron Hughes (Fulham, £1m), Gavin McCann (Bolton, £1m), Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls, free), Stephen Henderson (Bristol City, free), Robert Olejnik (Falkirk, free), Jlloyd Samuel (Bolton, free), Lee Hendrie (Sheffield United, free), Chris Sutton (retired), Eric Djemba-Djemba (released), Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham, £2m)

If they were a pop star they would be... Chrissie Hynde Everybody knows who they are, nobody really cares any more

Joe Lovejoy's prediction 10th Faded after that bright start under O'Neill. Scoring was the problem, and the arrival of Harewood should help Title odds 250-1

What a twat.

[Arsey]

Oh and Sky Sports seem to have shown all the friendly highlights except ours. Considering our game should have been the most watchable, shows what tossers they are.

maybe because it was a setana match they don't have the rights?

[peter w]

Wanker. But that's hoe evryone outside of B6 thinksd. And also, that's why its hard to attract players. We have to rely on the players and MON to do our talking.