O'Neill - Striker To Fight For Place

Harewood or Bellamy, yes, we have by far the best value, even if the purchase price had been the same, and given what MON has said that he is a squad player, who will have to fight for his team place then 'good'. We need to have enough players to challenge the incumbent, whoever he is, for a place in the team. We are not there yet, so hopefully, more new faces will appear.

As we all presumed and claried by MON.He is willing to fight for his place, we have let some players go and we are buliding a squad.Now, what about the new kit.I think the marketing pictures are quality.Showing the city landmarks the NIKE brand and setting a real professional tone.Rome was not built in a day, and we won't reach dizzy heights in a season, but we are on the right track. UTV

I'm very disappointed by this signing. If this is the best striker talent that can be attracted we can forget Europe unless the youth system can produce players that clubs like ManU, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea seem to pull, with ease. It's obvious to me that Lerner has underestimated just how much is needed to get the "best of the best". SWP is available at £10k+. Is this over his transfer threshold? or is £60k / week in wages too high for us to pay? If either answer is yes; forget Europe forever!!!! We'll just continue to be Premiership Top6 Club's training fodder.

I think this is great, it shows a great attitude from Harewood, not expecting to just take a first team place but on arrival stating his intention to fight. How great it will be to have Carew on the pitch knowing that if he's having a bad day or gets hurt we have Harewood ready to step in. And to be honest, despite believing that Carew is the better player (and I could be wrong i my next statement) I think Harewood has the better scoring record.

Don't be too dispondant by this signing. We are all happy with Carew's work rate and ability, and if Gabby can score 11 goals playing right-wing, imagine how many goals he can score playing striker. We could have signed (and possibly have been attempting to sign) a big name South American striker for £10m+, but it's important in todays climate that we give our younger players, whom have progress through our academy, the chance they deserve. Say we signed Forlan for £15m, whom failed at Man Utd, there would a large amount of pressure on the player, manager and board if he didn't succeed. Secondly, the manager would get slated from the fans for not playing the lads that have progress from the academy. Luke's career has so far been stop-start, and Gabby's had 1 full season applying his trade in a unfamiliar position - their progress will continue next season and I'm excited by this! With Young and Maloney in the mix the possibilities upfront are endless (well not quite but you catch my drift!?) - and importantly there are goals in these combinations!... so long as they get the service! Lets look at the positives, and what is good for our football club - and a big plus to come out of the Harewood transfer is that Gabby Agbonlahor and Luke Moore will get their chance!!! It is imperitive that we continue to produce excellent young players, and just because we have money to spend we must not discard the work done by McAndrew and Cowans, and the work they continue to do. The acedamy also requires £££$$$'s and so hope the owners continue to invest in this. The manager and owners require and deserve their opportunity in giving youth a chance as previous regimes have attempted, but didn't turn the younger players into winners.... if it doesn't work then so be it - the concequences won't be drastic. We won't go down or qualify for Europe, but we gave the kids, the community, our people a chance - something that the "big spenders" this summer aren't doing. But give it time, we will get there (easier said than done I know), and Randy needs to invest heavily into youth development - it's not just about improving 'the Villa experience'! Most importantly and in a nutshell, lets not destroy the soul of our football club! Up the Villa!

?? Benayoun was their best player other than Tevez and he was cheaper than the hairlesswood

I still think people are trying quite hard to rationalise this signing, which in itself isn't a great sign. Even for a squad player IMO we should have been looking for better. I'm not just talking about Marlon here either - everyone seems to think big John Carew is the be-all and end all, but even he isn't going to get us 20 a season. Are our youngsters? Who knows. I actually think they could well be capable, but where is a PROVEN GOALSCORER? We should have been looking to sign someone who is going to put pressure on these guys week in week out if they are not performing - not just someone to step in if Big John gets injured. Someone like a Defoe, an Owen, a Saha (Fergie's had enough). Having said all of that though I really do wish Marlon well - he's making all of the right noises, and i'm praying MON has seen something in him that the rest of us haven't. Squad stronger? Yes, Definitely. But that's not my point. UTV.

Col, I agree with you. Lets give the guy a chance. I like his attitude upon signing, and if his presence keeps our other strikers on their toes, then surely thats good for business?