John

They can do what they want as people have said (within reason). You can’t take away from the fact that they look like chavs and act like them. Plus the fact that they cannot spell.

Must have been Dean Saunders presence at talks yesterday that swung it for him. Souness always was a persuasive force when it came to transfers.

Did not really mention, but thought Vratty did ok when he came on. Matteo has actually been ok this season. On Jansen, he did ok. Gave the ball away a couple of times but we looked slightly better attacking wise when he was on. He was huffing and puffing a bit, which shows he has a long way to get his fitness back.

Finally getting over the defeat. Once again I went to the Villa game in hope of a good performance. I was maybe overly harsh after the match but in my view both sides lack quality. There was huff and puff from our guys but we lost to an average Villa side. Like we lost to an average West Ham side. Few observations (I have not read this thread yet so apologies if I repeat) - Flitcroft should not play unless we are desperate. He offers nothing and looks so slow. I like the guy but he is not upto it. I am hoping he is one of the 'two going out' in the next couple of days. - Tugay caused the first goal. However, I would keep him in the side as we have no one else who can unlock opposition defences. - I still do not know what Steven Reid's best position is. He is a very basic player but can be very effective. - Savage should get a grip over his corners. He should also stop shouting at our own players for no reason. It was out of order on young Jemal. He also loves playing hopeless passes to no-one. Maybe he has been getting tips off Tugay. I could go on and I have not mentioned our more obvious problems but I can't be bothered. If Hughes thought bringing in Bellamy would answer all our problems he should maybe think again. We still cannot attack well and I dread to think what will happen when we play one of the league's better teams. I can accept losing to good teams and performances but not the rubbish I have watched on the previous two away games.

Hope Savage can keep calm tomorrow in an intimidating atmosphere. He is going to get abuse, like he does at every away ground. His record of yellow cards to games so far is ridiculous.

Team news from the club reported that Neill will be banned for Villa match.

Anyone know of a decent pub in Brum beforehand.......

Same failings as last season. Someone who can score up front. We were fit and organised at the end of last season under Hughes I thought. Maybe too early to judge, but that's the way it seems at the moment.

We create chances but this is just the same as last season, we need more up front. With or without Bellamy.

Blackburn should have been ahead long before then and boss Mark Hughes was left shaking his head as he walked down the tunnel at half-time.

I see the comments after the game now: "Tugay was playing with his invisible friend again. he is past it" " we need another striker, Kuqi is not Prem class" " Reid doesn't do anything from the centre, cant pass" Seriously though, hope we can stuff them. Living down in London means you have to put with Spurs fans thinking they are going to win the league, if not this year next. They do have a quality squad but I am hoping we can take them at home. Come on boys lets take our game to another level.......

Oscar Raven - some of your comments have been a bit over the top. He did us well for a couple of years here etc etc Personally (like a few others) I am interested to see how he gets on. It feels like I know the way he works because he was here for a few years.

Article on attendances - not sure if anyone has posted this article yet!

Out for 6 weeks, breaking news on Sky.

If Hughes thinks Derbyshire is upto it put him in. Awful news, sums up my week well so far......

Lee Out of interest (sad I know) has the pre-match conference changed from Fridays to Thursdays? Intially Hughes did them on Fridays but this was changed for the last few matches of last season and begun that way this season?? If so as well, do you know why? Souey always did his Friday mornings from memory! Players will not report to training until tomorrow presumably.

newsnow has just gone through one of its mad phases where it digs up previous stories!

Great news to read first thing in the morning....

BBC article on Scotland's friendly game. Talk about Dickov's general fitness.....may be on borrowed time - may please some.

Wonder if Bellamy’s ankle is 100%? Must be or he would have been withdrawn from the squad I suppose. Good news for us that he is getting some match practise with Wales in ahead of this Saturday.

Yeah but the season has started.........dropping points now is just the same as dropping points when people are 'fully fit'. We already have lost to a team who looked fairly average on the day but had players with pace and players who must of thought it was Xmas with our mistakes!

Very pi**ed off still! In summary - we looked very stretched as a team compared to last season - kept playing hopeless through balls to Bellamy, we don't seem to have anyone who can read his runs (even though he had a quiet match) - The Axe does not convince me as a centre back - Savage was our best midfielder (best of a bad bunch), he needs more matches though. I would not go over the top but it's the way in which we lost which is most annoying. Really shot ourselves in the foot with very casual defending against a very average team.

Black Lion folks near Plaistow tube. That is the chat anyway - will be going there around midday!

Bit unfair going OTT on Souness. One thing is for sure, this season is the real test for him. He has a horrible start to the season with relation to the fixtures in the first 10 matches!!

Good to see we are both on the ball Alan!!