Manchester United have their new kit in the shops, they are now well into pre-season training and yesterday, Sir Alex Ferguson closed up shop on new players for his team. Business in one half of Manchester is very much done and dusted and they can now concentrate on the job at hand; preparing for next season.
In Birmingham things happen a little differently, but I'm not panicking. I am a little concerned that the speculation linking us to DJ Downing seems to be gathering pace, because for me, I can't see where he is going to fit in and I'm sorry to offend, but I don't think he is good enough.
The fact that he is injured is also a concern and I know it's not my money but if he is one of our 'big signings' and I only say that because of the money been talked about, between £10mn. and £12mn. depending on the paper, then we will be playing almost a third of the season at 90%, because one of our key players will be missing and that is assuming he actually does make it back, what happens if he doesn't make it back as expected?
DJ Downing for me would very much be a Marlon Harewood or Zat Knight type signing. I have nothing against Knight or Harewood and if they both leave this summer, there is talk of it happening, they should both be welcomed back to Villa Park with a round of applause, but they are very much 'top half' Premier League players and don't we want to be a little more than a 'top half' Premier League team?
I also mean no disrespect to DJ Downing and I know some of you thought Barry was the best player to wear a Villa shirt in the Premier League, but a couple of years ago I wrote something about DJ Downing as too similar a player to Barry for my liking. He can cross the ball, but he lacks a little something for my liking and he is nothing close to Ashley Young.
But, that is just my opinion and I would like yours, so I've added, or will do very soon, a quick question to the right, under Megan.
In other paper talk, one of them are saying that Stan the Man Petrov is the dressing room favourite to be named captain and I quite like that idea. You see Petrov talking on the pitch and I always thought that was something Barry lacked, although Laursen had bags of it.
I suspect we will find out soon enough but I honestly can't think of a more deserving player or for that matter a better one to get it.
But that is about it for today so unless we get a signing or two (I'm not expecting Bentley or Defour any more as they spoke publicly about Villa and I don't think O'Neill is too happy about that), then they'll be more, but please don't forget about our fantasy football game, if you haven't registered and the quick question to the right.