Are you happy with your summer transfer activity and do you think your current squad is good enough to make a serious challenge for the Champions League places this year?
As usual, MON was slow in the transfer market but finally got the new faces in that we desperately needed, particularly defenders. Overall, the squad is a lot stronger than last season, in terms of both quality and more importantly numbers.
I still consider us to be weak in attack, we lack an out and out goalscorer, a striker that would quite possibly yield a return of that glorious 20 league goals a season that every club would love to have. In midfield, the purchase of Fabian Delph is a shrewd buy, similar to that of Ashley Young and based on what I've seen so far, he could turn into an absolute gem like Ashley has.
Delph could be the key to the unlocking of defences that we have lacked for some time. Overall, I am more happy than I expected I would due to the late action and purchases of Collins and Dunne. Very pleased we nailed them to late on.
Are we strong enough to gain a CL place? Frankly, no. This season I would be more than happy if we managed to hold on to our 6th spot that we have achieved the last two seasons.
Are you hppy with the way Martin O'Neill has managed your club since he has been there? Do you feel that this year he has to deliver a trophy to keep the fans happy?
The club have moved on considerably since
Jim, as you well know I am quite vociferous on some issues but I tell you what, deep down I bloody love him and hope he stays at the helm for many years to come! MON along with Randy have given this club so much hope, pride and enjoyment since they come, I consider us lucky to have one, never mind both.
Silverware this season is not vital, although it's long overdue. The luck of the draw in the cups plays a vital part. Being knocked out of the UEFA cup prematurely should give us the desire to have a very good run in the both the League and FA Cup this season. I would love a day out at Wembley but more importantly if we continue to progress as a club both on the pitch and behind the scenes at the pace we have done the last couple of seasons then I can see a cup or maybe two on the horizon within the next two seasons.
Randy Lerner receives a lot of credit for the way Villa is run as a club. What are your views on him and can we swap him with Sulaiman Al-Fahim?
Randy Lerner has been fantastic, he really is a owner to proud of. He stays away from the media, we very rarely hear from him but he is a very active man at the football club.
One of his major qualities is the fact that he lets MON run the football side of things, never gets involved and lets MON do the job that he employs him to do.
He has been generous with his money, funding many a player purchase and projects of the pitch have been very well received by the supporters. The training ground facilities are top class, the renovation of The Holte Hotel, the mosaic and so on, all aimed at giving us a club to be proud of. The shirt sponsor was considered by many to be a publicity stunt but if you actually know about the make up Randy's nature, you know that is not the case.
Can you have him you ask?.... What do you reckon?
Given Pompey's current predicament, are you expecting a comfortable win on Saturday or are you slightly concerned about your home form given that you have been beaten by Wigan at Villa Park?
I don't expect a comfortable win tomorrow; I never do at
Then, you will have to takes more risks than you are actually prepared or set up to do initially. I expect David James to produce a display that merits his label as an excellent keeper.
Also, I'm still haunted by the game a couple of season ago when you destroyed us in the lunchtime kick off in the pouring rain. Albeit you have a very different team now, I will never expect an easy game against Pompey.
Last season was a 0-0 draw, like half a dozen of our home games, we do struggle to break down teams at home. Hopefully, that won't be the case tomorrow. We should be high on confidence following four straight wins.
What are the main strengths of your team?
We have pace, passion and desire. The lads that start and or come on as subs are a tremendous unit, they really show us that they are in it together and do care about the club. Sometimes players have off days on the ball but they work hard and show they are committed to the course. Milner's touch deserted him against Brum on Sunday, he came out in the local media and gave an apology. Was it needed? No. Was it highly regarded? It most definately was. He's an example of a desire to play well for the club and the fans.
Are there any weaknesses that Pompey may be able to exploit, if we are good enough?
Maybe. Is Mr Hart going to be given a copy of this? If he is, then I will tell you after the game if you made the right moves in trying to expoit!
Seriously, we have three new faces in the backline. Maybe a lack of understanding could cause an error or two, Big Brad is sometimes slow at coming off his line and if we go 4-4-2 we have shown a tendancy to have a soft middle (centre midfield giving too much time and space) in the park.
There, a few pointers for you Mr Hart!
What do you make of the current Pompey side? Do you think we'll be relegated?
Unfortunately, you can be considered to be one of 6-8 clubs that can be considered as relegation candidates. Your current crop on paper doesn't strike fear into me like it did a couple of years ago. The strong and pacey players are no more, your teamsheet seems to be made up of good players but nothing more and definately not a team that could win a game by three of four goals.
You will grind results out, battle results out and if you surivive the drop it will be done so on pure grit and determination and not attractive fast flowing football that you got to see not so long back. Your manager was very active at the end of the window, lets hope he can gel you into a hard team to beat capable of nicking a goal here and there. But not tomorrow though!
We missed out on signing Nicky Shorey on deadline day because we couldn't guarantee him first-team football. Do you think he would have been a good signing for us or do you think we dodged a bullet there?
Nicky Shorey has failed to fulfil his potential at Villa, his lack of confidence has hindered his progression at the club. He has a very good eye for a pass, likes to play the ball out of defence which is a good quality for a full back, if done on the right occasion.
Defensively, he's been suspect more often than not. He doesn't get tight enough to his man, weak in the tackle and is caught out of position often. If given a run of games like he was for us last season (in which he showed signs of his ability) he could have been a useful asset, once his confidence and sharpness was there. However, I don't think he is the man for the trenches in your relegation battle, should that materialise in January.
Predict the scoreline!
Villa 2-0 Pompey
Finally, best of luck for the rest of the season Pompey! Make sure you fans do an excellent job as you always do and stay behind your team.