[Blue Baggie]

Phil Penn, what gives you the impression we are 'selling everyone and replacing them all for free' or Lai is 'asset stripping'?

I don't see any evidence to back up these statements.

Now, they might prove to be correct, but evidence so far this summer doesn't suggest that.

So far... Unless I've missed any massive sales, we have sold 3 players in Foster, McClean and Evans. We have also released 3 important players in Myhill, Yacob and McAuley. In the case of the latter, there's not a lot you can do as he is 38 and soon to turn 39.

Myhill has been replaced by Bond, like for like reserve keeper.

Foster and been replaced by Sam Johnstone, who I've been assured by Villa fans at work is a more than ample replacement. If press reports are to be believed, Foster was sold for circa £4m and Johnstone cost us £6m. Doesn't sound much like asset stripping, we could've picked up a goalkeeper on a free if this was the case.

Evans has been replaced by Kyle Bartley, who apparently cost circa £4m, which was more than Evans was sold for.

If the lad from Leciester does come in to replace McClean, this will actually be the first deal we have done so far where we've sold someone for cash and replaced them for nothing. However, quality wise, we're replacing McClean with a better player. Loans didn't seem to harm the dingles last season, or Fulham for that matter.

Lastly, I know that we also matched Cardiff's bid of £10m for Bobby Reid but the player chose to go to the Premier League. The fact we were in the mix suggests we harbour reasonable ambitions of going back up, I hope.

So while your statement might well prove correct - as there's still time for Chadli, Rondon, Rodriguez, Dawson, Hegazi etc to go and be replaced by nobody or free transfers - I simply don't see any evidence at all that suggests this. It seems you're either incredibly pessimistic or trolling. We have spent a large portion of what has come in.

Some good points slick  
Just one I disagree with is Bobby Reid If you look on Matt Wilsons timeline (Express&Star) on twitter Albion refused to go above 6 Million for Reid,
Everything else though good points  

Firstly I was not trolling, I was not expecting a reaction from anyone. What I said are just speculative thoughts. I don't see us investing to the same levels as what our direct rivals are doing. I fully recognise we have signed the like for like players kindly identified. Our goalkeeper replacements were over due and look good deals. One thing I would like to add is, Evans value was considerably higher then what we received. Its more the proven experienced players that have left I feel are not being replaced, this includes our loans. (Sturridge & Greg) Sure we can get more loans in, but I fear again a lesser quality. McClean is the first one sold and replaced by a loan. I would have no problem if we had an option to buy, any player coming in is a blessing at the moment as I think we are still 5 or 6 light. We do have several players who can play in a left attacking role, which puzzles me as to why we would sign him. Of course no other player might leave and we may sign a couple of others and bring 2 or 3 quality players in on loan. None of know what tomorrow brings, certainly not me. Everything could change, we could sign 3 twenty million pound attackers next week (doubtful).
We will all know in a few weeks time, again these are some of my thoughts - they are not directed at anyone.
Losing Reid and Flint were both body blows. If we lose any of Chadli / J Rod / Rondon / Dawson / Livermore / Phillips - I will expect a like for like player to come in and replace them = same experience and value. Anything less and I will grow more concerned.
Lastly Lai wouldn't cover the small overdraft needed earlier this year, this is leads me to my thinking process that he will not be investing funds in to our club and more likely to be seeking a ROI asap.
I have always maintained to maximise our chances of returning to the PL a minimal amount of changes to the squad was the best way,
so selling anyone IMO reduces our chances. Although some of them did deserved to go? Hence I hope we don't sell any other players.
I'm just a concerned fan, who is putting 2 and 2 together and not getting 4 at the moment.