Smallwood, Chapman, Armstrong, Downing and Bell all good signings Those who didn't perform were by and large injured most of the season Obviously we will need to do better, we are a division up. Mowbray has repeatedly spoken about improving our recruitment. When you look at the amount of players who left last summer, Mowbray did exceptionally well to build a squad capable of getting out of the division and putting us in a position where we now have a stronger squad than the one we went down with.

That HITC website and the72 website are 99% garbage. Clickbait nonsense

But wouldn't it always be in a selling clubs interest to let as many bidders as possible know what is on the table for the player already? The only way it makes sense to me is if a fee is agreed before the loan, say 2 million, and then we can buy him for that. No one can offer higher.

So if both clubs bid the same, he has to come here? But can the other club not just outbid us then again anyway? I am confused!

Is that not the case with every transfer? If 2 teams bid the same then, the player chooses who to speak with, or may speak to both clubs

I read that too, but my understanding was that this was a gentleman's agreement of sorts between us and Newcastle. I don't think it is contractual or anything. A good tournament and a big bid and I am afraid any agreement will go out the window. We would still have to match the fee Newcastle are looking for regardless, unless the first refusal is for another loan deal, which would be fine by me

I didn't realize he has 4 promotions Mick has won the league more times though Showed far too much loyalty to Ipswich as well. Did a great job there under the circumstances

Would a good tournament here put him out of our reach I wonder?

My point was more the prolonged spending that Villa have done since going down. What we did in League 1 was no way comparable to what they have done. We kept our squad together and spent a million. Villa have spent more than some Premier league teams on transfers and wages. How we end up under FFP restrictions and teams like Villa avoid it, is very strange to me. I think we are in agreement actually

Bruce is just a poor mans Mick Mcarthy :p On Villa though, it just doesn't seem fair that they can splash such cash and get away with it

Ya, they will destroy a club if under performing. Vila in big trouble. Very difficult to bounce back after losing a play-off final. Unless you are WBA under Mowbray Will Bruce stay I wonder?

You would imagine so ya. Their wages must be astronomical, mostly Premier league players on the books. Then there are the fees. 12 million for Scott Hogan, Kodija 15 million was it? i would say they have spent as much as Wolves or Newcastle when they went up 30 million? Lucky for them he declared for England.

Villa have spent phenomenal money since going down and have nothing to show for it. It isn't all about spending money. You can't buy team spirit like we have. We will be hard to beat and never give up, just like this season. If Mowbray adds 3-4 players of real quality, no reason why we cant be top half of the table.

Whittingham and Gladwin were injured a lot though, so they didn't really get a proper crack at things. I think Whittingham will come good, not sure about Gladwin. Caddis getting two years was strange alright

What contracts are they on? I didn't see that info published

That article says we won league 1 Seriously. How difficult is it to get that right?

No, we will be discussing if we can possibly keep our form up enough to keep us in the top 2

There is no way Conway will start most games next season

Ya, I would say he is one of a core group of senior pros that Mowbray wants around. His lieutenants I suppose. I don't see Conway starting many games to be honest. MAny clubs have players like that around...

All true, but Mowbray obviously sees him as someone he wants around for whatever reason. I do wonder how ruthless Mowbray would be in these situations, but I suppose he did let Ward and Feeney leave, granted on loan 1st to give them a fair crack at earning a new deal elsewhere. If the budgets were so tight that offering Conway makes or breaks other deals, I am assuming Mowbray wouldn't be offering it

Ya, but he is in talks to sign a new deal, so what can be done?

Oh you're back, were you eventually banned for being an absolute waste of space?

Practically every other ingoing and outgoing that takes place at the club this summer is more important than Conway signing a new deal. It's happening, those that disagree just have to deal with that.

I think he is getting backed, but is keeping his cards close to his chest.

While a lot of players instagram stories are them on holidays, Samuel has been posting a lot of himself in the gym pumping iron. If he bulks up and puts on some muscle, it will definitely help his game. Good to see