Good interview with Lewis Holtby

Eriksen's still ahead of him in my opinion, but like Defoe he's earned a start - West Ham sounds like the ideal opportunity

GBM

Nothing wrong with aiming high.

We finished with 73pts last season, with a group that was widely believed to be not AVB types. The Bale money and players he didn't fancy leaving have allowed AVB and Baldini to shape the squad in an image they like.

We have a very strong squad now, with real competition for places. The fact people talk about LB and RB being the lightest areas are testament to that - a PL team's player of the season and England's current RB are the current incumbents.

If you pick your best side, you can make a very good 2nd XI from those remaining, with three good subs. Try it. That is what makes a difference over a season - when you have a few injuries and still have quality to come in.

Personally I think 80pts is a realistic target. 7 more than last season - the fact we already have 12 on the board in our settling in period should give us confidence.

It may be the case it still leaves us in 5th. Unlikely, but possible - you can't change what others do. I actually feel the top 5 will have less than 10pts between them this season, with the winners on low-to-mid 80s. If there ever was a time to challenge this is it

Hopefully we will strengthen big time in January, Coentrao and Pato/Benteke would be nice.

I'll be interested to see how Rose and Fryers develop between now and January. It's possible we may not even need to look at LB by then.

Personally i'd play Fryers in every cup fixture - Rose will be injured/supended again at some point in the season, and I want a replacement able to come in that (A) is left-footed and (B) isn't leaving us short at CB.

I'd love Benteke though, and would spend big on him. A monster of a player, and will surely just get better. Three Belgians here laready - come on Christian, you know you wanna!

comment by HRH (U15236)
posted 6 hours, 5 minutes ago
GBM

Nothing wrong with aiming high.
-------------

Well tell that to those trying to bite my head off for suggesting we should be challenging at the top of the league come season's end or else consider this a disappointing season

PS Based on a few of your comments HRH, I take it you're not at all convinced Soldado will flourish in the PL...

I think how he does is solely reliant on the service he gets. Starve him of it and he disappears.

I like at least one of my CFs to be a bit more self-motivated - if need be hold a defender or two off and actually bring a player in to the game themselves.

Just my opinion though. i know you don't like Ade, but he CAN give you that if he's on it - we saw it in 2011/12. Benteke is an absolute beast though

Please don't start with Ade again

I know what you mean about Soldado though... Benteke is a beast but the money Villa were holding out for was a bit unrealistic after just one good season...

My only reservation about the Soldado acquisition was his age. Given that the quality of our midfield, and all round ball retention of the team, seems to have dramatically improved this season, I don't think Soldado will be starved in too many games. He just needs to actually put away his chances!!

Agree we do need the option of a physical presence up front though

Benteke does seem like an excellent prospect. Were it a toss-up between 'Tekkers and Soldado I probably would've gone for the former, on the basis of age. But then again I was worried he was a one-season wonder at the time

Yeah, it was always the main worry with that sort of dough.

The thing is, there was no guarantee about Soldado either. I thought Morientes would be superb in England and he was awful for Liverpool. Similar age I think, new country.