There really isn't much news today I suppose you can read about Alex McLeish cracking the whip on the team, but I didn't think that merited interrupting Andy Marshall's daily FIFA regimen. Instead, I thought I'd tackle another Friday Feedback. This time though, no one gave me the question. It was one that I've been asking myself for the past two days. What would it take for me to be optimistic about Aston Villa again?

In case you missed it earlier in the week, I declared that I was done being the token "glass-is-half-view" guy on the site. Mind you, I wasn't in that role as some sort of a foil. I'm just a naturally optimistic guy when it comes to sports. I call my best friend every year at the beginning of the college basketball season and tell him that we've got to start planning for the Final Four and how we're going to get tickets to see our alma mater play.

I should mention that our alma mater is The George Washington University. You know... the fifth (or so) best team in the A-10. See? Natural optimist.

But the last few weeks have shot that to heck with Villa. I want to say that the team is going to win 1-2 tomorrow at Sunderland. But honestly? I'd guess we lose 1-0 or 2-1. Maybe Darren Bent will score a goal. Probably not. So how do I get back to being my natural self? What does Villa have to do?

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Continuing with our new method of Friday Feedback, Andrew, who wrote last week about the changes everyone would like to see in the QPR match, gives me this week's question:

What match (fixture) on the schedule (fixture list) are you most looking forward to and why?

Now, I admit, my knee-jerk reaction to this was Norwich - Aston Villa, the match we play on May 13, 2012. I'm sad to say I just can't feel optimistic about this season getting any better. Yeah, Villa will stay up, but will I be able to stay awake? That remains to be seen. But no, I've got another match I'm looking forward to...

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It sure doesn't feel like we're getting ready to watch an unbeaten team take on a newly promoted minnow does it? I don't exactly feel waves of excitement heading into Sunday's match with QPR. To put it mildly, Aston Villa haven't inspired much of anything with their play over the first five league matches other than the urge to sleep in. With opinions ranging from things need to settle in and hey we're unbeaten to this team is boring and awful and I can't watch them play anymore because it's a crime against nature; it's time for your feedback.

Here's the question: It's been a suboptimal few weeks for Alex McLeish et al. What changes would you like to see made this weekend at QPR, and what sort of result would make you happy? As always (or since last week), I'll give my answer here and you'll kindly give yours in the comments because you're a loyal, dedicated reader and you smell nice and hey, is that a new shirt? It's awesome.

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Welcome to the newly revised Friday Feedback. Instead of having all of our writers give quick responses to a weekly question, we'll have one writer give a response of any length they want to a weekly question posed by commenters or other writers. If you've got a question that you want answered in Friday Feedback, leave a comment, or send Robert an email (you can find his address at the bottom of the page by hovering over the envelope next to his name) and we'll try to get to it!


Firstly, thanks to those of you who sent in questions for me to answer this week. I've decided to tackle Keith Miller's question, since - as I wrote in the comments - I don't have all of the clues needed to properly gumshoe the case of the missing pies and since the only answer to "Alan Hutton: Why?" is "because God hates us despite the evidence (i.e. beer) to the contrary." [Ed. note: sorry George Templeton, I had already written this before I saw your question. My short answer: I think he splashes some cash (though not Darren Bent levels), and I have no idea towards what it would go. Hopefully a central midfielder of some sort.] So here we go!

This week's question: When will N'Zogbia play 90 minutes?

First, I assume we're not counting the 90 he played against Blackburn, correct? Well in that case, let's get to some background. Charles N'Zogbia came to Villa with a lot of fanfare. I was devastated to see Stewart Downing leave this summer (though I am getting over that. Got myself a long-sleeve no-name kit from last year so I wouldn't have to wear one with that twunt's name on it all the time), but the addition of N'Zogbia as our new left-winger seemed to me to be a decent compromise.

I didn't quite think he was as good as Stewie, but I will freely admit that it may have been hopeless bias that didn't let me think otherwise. But there is no doubt that N'Zogbia is a fantastic player. His four goals in the last four matches (and five in the last six) are one of the primary reasons that Wigan Athletic are still in the Premiership this year and not plying their trade in the Championship. There is talent there, and when unleashed, it can be something special to behold.

Yet his performances this year have left something to be desired. He's played an average of 72 minutes per match, and has yet to tally so much as a goal or an assist. Yet to the eye, he's been a better player than Stiliyan Petrov or Emile Heskey. So why isn't he getting the full 90, and when will he?

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We're going to be changing the format of Friday Feedback, and we need one quick little bit of help from you. Previously, I've come up with a question every week and all of our writers have answered it. However, we all felt a bit constrained as far as length was concerned, and we wanted to remove that. So now it will be one writer answering a question every week, and hopefully everyone else on the site (commenters and writers) chiming in as well, but down in the comments.

Then, whoever answered the question gets to ask the next week's question. Problem: no one answered a question last week in this format. So I need your help! In the comments below, put down a question that you'd like to see me answer this week. It can be serious or entirely whimsical. If you need some inspiration, check out what we've asked/answered in the past. Thanks in advance!

I think it's safe to say that no one thinks Aston Villa's summer transfer window was a total failure. Most people, however, seem to have some regrets over what did (or perhaps did not) happen between May and September. I noticed it in last week's Friday Feedback, and I've noticed it in the general dialogue of Villa fans across the Internet. Rumblings and grumblings are all well and good, but I'm interested in knowing just what people would have preferred to see over the summer.

So that's what this week's Friday Feedback is all about. What would you have rather seen Aston Villa do? Obviously, bringing in Lionel Messi would be the best thing ever, but that simply isn't realistic. Aston Villa are a club on a budget, and it's a tight one. So keep that in mind as you give us your answers in the comments.

This week's question: What's the one (realistic) thing you wish Aston Villa had done most over the Summer transfer window?

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Well, it's officially over. August 31st has come and past and we won't have to hear any transfer rumors for at least three days. I hope. Maybe. We ended the 2010-11 season with expectations of a busy summer, and pure numbers-wise we weren't disappointed. A few of the moves and non-moves, to refresh your memory in no particular order:

• Stewart Downing to Liverpool
• Ashley Young to Manchester United
• Habib Beye is still here
• Luke Young to Queen's Park Rangers
• Jonathan Hogg to who cares
• Michael Bradley not renewed
• Gérard Houllier let go
• Habib Beye is still here
• Alex McLeish hired
• Brad Friedel non re-signed
• Carlos Cuellar is leaving to Scotland!
• Carlos Cuellar is staying
• Carlos Cuellar is leaving
• Alright let's stop this farce, he's still here.
  
• Nigel Reo-Coker, John Carew, Moustapha Salifou, Robert Pires, and some of the young Villans were released
• Habib Beye is still here
• Shay Given joined Villa
• Charles N'Zogbia joined Villa
• Jean Makoun is now in Greece
• Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas joined Villa
• Habib Beye is still here

That pretty much covers it. And now that it's all over, we thought it might be a good time to rate the summer. Obviously, we can't really know how everything will play out, but what is the Internet for if not premature reactions to things requiring a large scope to decide upon? So with that in mind, I present this week's Friday Feedback, in which you get not one, but THREE questions answered. And to level the playing field (and keep Aaron from posting small Master's theses and outdoing all of us), all of the answers must be 140 characters or fewer. It's the tweet challenge!

This week's questions: What was Aston Villa's best move of the summer transfer window?

What was Aston Villa's worst move of the summer transfer window?

Overall, how would you rate Aston Villa's activity in the summer transfer window?

Be sure to add your answers in the comments!

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In the past week, we've seen Aston Villa put forth a great performance against Blackburn Rovers and a nail-biting but successful showing against Hereford United in the Carling Cup. But another thing that occurred  was a couple of (apparently) minor injuries in the Blackburn match. As the season goes on, and Aston Villa hopefully advance in the Carling Cups, injuries will surely occur and choices will have to be made. Should the team push for a chance at a trophy through the cups, or should they focus on league play and a chance at Europe?

That's what we take a look at in this week's Friday Feedback. Where would you prioritize Aston Villa's resources? Do injuries - or the chance thereof - change your answer? You'll find our answers below the jump. Hopefully we'll get yours in the comments below.

This Week's Question: Given the constraints of multiple competitions, what would you like to see Alex McLeish prioritize for Aston Villa this year?

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