AshVilla Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 6/10 No out and out goalscorer is a worry for me we do not have enough dimensions of attack up front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) If you make a team of the players we've signed and play it against a team of the players who've left (as I did in another thread) then it becomes fairly apparent we have, at best, stood still. Really? Let's put that to the test. (As per the XI you posted in the other thread) ------------Given------------- Lowton-Vlaar-Baker-Luna--- Delph-Cleverley-Herd-Sylla ---Benteke----Weimann----- vs --------------Bunn------------ Illori-Richards-Lescott-Amavi --------Gueye-Veretout---------- Adama-----------------Sinclair ---------Ayew-Gestede--------- That second team is so much better let's be honest. Like, it's not even close. Indeed. The first midfield would be completely overawed. Fabian Delph is their most creative player and I think he has 4 assists in 3 seasons. It's flat and uninspiring. Then you are putting Adama up against Luna. Shudder... Besides, the comparison is moot. Because it isn't about how those individuals would perform as they are, it's about how they fit in with the squad left behind by those departing. Add Grealish, Westwood, Sanchez, Gil, Hutton, Bacuna and Guzan to both squads and team 2 wins by an even clearer margin, mostly because that first defence is utterly atrocious. They would crumble. I'd take 2 players back, Delph and Benteke, and I doubt you'll find anyone arguing with that. Edited September 2, 2015 by dont_do_it_doug. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omariqy Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 If you had believed the media then our squad would resemble a collection of Spurs rejects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BOF Posted September 2, 2015 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted September 2, 2015 A brilliant window in almost every aspect. A minor miracle performed by Fox & Sherwood under the constraints placed by the chairman. The best transfer window I think we've had since Big Ron had to build a squad for the newly formed Premier League. The fan excitement and optimism as each day there was a realistic chance we'd be signing someone that day. The sheer number of players we managed to bring in which in itself is exciting. But the quality of those players too. Sherwood's ability to convince the likes of Amavi and Veretout that this is the club for them when the likes of Lyon were waiting in the wings. Amazing. Not just that though. The utter dross we managed to shift out. It's a massive step forward in squad management. I do think we performed at least up to and maybe even a little beyond the maximum amount of changes that you can accomplish without compromising a squad's cohesiveness. We now face a period of intense work in order to get up to speed without being cut adrift. But we can see that we've bought well. We essentially went into this window facing the prospect of losing our 2 best players and yet still came out the other side optimistic and full of hope and wonder for the season ahead. That in itself is amazing, particularly for a set of fans who historically don't need much encouragement to be a little on the miserable side. Having said all of the positive stuff, I would also agree with what The_Rev said in that we do still need to see these players actually prove themselves in this league. But time will do that for us. As of right now though all the signs are promising and there's no reason to think that the vast majority of the players we have bought will do more than just fine. 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Richard Posted September 2, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted September 2, 2015 Where to start? It was a bumpy ride this summer as it was always going to be when your manager ends the season promising the club would never be in the same position again and that he had already informed players their future lay elsewhere. In addition to that he mentioned the necessity to remove the losing mentality. All things that chimed with the fanbase who have suffered tremendously the last few years and who craved improvement in a club who had gone backwards and looked like it was rotten. So from that improvements needed to be made on and off the field. There are a huge amount of things that the club, any club, does in the pre season but I’ll just concentrate on 3 elements here. Off the field, Net Spend and Squad quality. Off Field A great deal of apprehension surrounded the new manager. His first full pre season, first transfer window, first chance to shape his own philosophy and all that at a club where there was a huge amount of work to be done. The appointment of Wilkins looked inspired at the time. A well respected coach with years of experience at clubs not generally looking to just survive in the league but with aspirations of winning things. So a man of genuine quality Tom Fox showing the benefit of having his feet under the table for a while and giving the club some clear direction and a road map to get there. Another plus point for us especially in the awarding of five year deals for the new talent we recruited. This fits into the philosophy of the club, it’s a philosophy I shall refer to throughout this piece and demonstrate how I think it is in place. Basically I believe this is the one thing that has been constant the last few years. It is an approach the club has had to follow to a degree but it is one I think which is to operate at a profit in terms of revenue generation including wages but fund player improvements through profitable player trading. The awarding of 5 year deals fits this. Players will generally look to move after three years, 5 year deals mean that at that point they still have two years left, not moving into the final year and thus reducing their value but maintaining it at a significant level and thus guaranteeing a profit. Here the club demonstrating that we are not beneficiaries of a sugar daddy but have to generate our own funds. It is a hard approach and is one followed by current middle ranking teams , some of whom have moved ahead of us and who we aspire to be right now. So off the field much to be pleased with. Net Spend With the comments from the manager surely we should expect to see a significant net spend, certainly one to compete with clubs around us. Surely we should see a high player turnover? Well 16 out and 13 in point to a huge change in the playing staff. Causes problems but at least they are all in the same boat. The net spend for that I have as £47.75M Received and £54.5M spent (including the loan fee paid). So a rough net spend of £6.75M. That disguises the huge change in wages as high earners leave and are replaced with lower earners and also hides the net spend of other teams around us. As I’ve said I think the philosophy at the club is to operate squad improvements from squad sales, buying cheaper propects, developing them (a plus for Sherwood who has demonstrated an ability to do that), sell them on and then start again, but hopefully at a higher level each time until such point that the players may want to stay a little longer or that we win things and make us the club they step to. That approach means we are a selling club for a while, it also means we have to continually start again really as the nucleus leaves and needs to be replaced. It is the only strategy a club aiming to be self sufficient can employ, it’s what is meant by self sufficient. However, I would strongly argue that it still needs investment above the level showed this summer. Other clubs are using the new tv deal to flex their muscle, we are using it to make the club profitable. We are a football club at the end of the day that needs on the field success, without it off the field profit becomes impossible. This league is now the richest in Europe with perennial smaller clubs now showing more financial clout than some of the more famous clubs in Europe. It also helps smaller clubs fend off the advances for their players more easily than they have done. Everton a club who’s fan base has money concerns with their owner, keeping Stones in the face of 30M plus offers, Southampton keeping players that last year they would have sold and WBA risking alienating a player rather than take the 25M offered. All this because the financial benefits are so great now. So for me we could have done more. Our transfer activity this summer funded predominantly because we looked to sell our assets , because we had clauses in their contracts which looked to sell for the highest amount we could so a selling clause. Yes it is the clubs philosophy and how we will be run for the foreseeable butit shows for mee that we are way behind some of our competitors and will remain so. Net spend does not show the quality of purchase but it does show the quality of club, we needed more in this area to back up the investment returned from sales. At one point this summer I said it was a huge week for the club, it was as that’s when we spent the bulk of our money. It stopped after that. Net spend is disappointing because of that and because other clubs showed their financial muscle we did not. It sends a message to other players you may look to buy about the club they are potentially joining. Squad Quality. The squad quality was not good at the end of last season but when you then lose your best attacker, your main midfielder and a solid central defender you have some issues . It was a huge job to improve that for Sherwood. DEFENCE (8 out 7 in largest turnover of playing staff) So we had a goalie who the manager had lost confidence in, a crocked Vlaar who had left, a left back position he clearly wanted to change and two centre backs who despite showing signs of improvement were for me at least very poor. Now we have choices at right back (I hope he sticks with Hytton but it depends on system he employs) some real quality at centre back and hopefully will not see much if anything of Clark and Baker, and a left back who looks to be a snip at the fee paid a real quality player. Have to say that in Lescott and Richards if they can keep fit for more than 80% of the season I think we have strength and organizational ability we haven’t had since Mellberg and Laursen. I do not think we’ll be breaking any goals conceded records this season. Really happy with defence and the improvmemts made. Would have liked to have seen a better goalie and maybe the one acquired is not so much of a development project as we thought, given he has a three year contract only. MIDFIELD (3 out 3 in) We have had the poorest midfield in the last for years than I have seen at the club in the last 40. Bereft of quality, industry, attacking intent, creativity and without the ability to protect the back four. If anything was the reason we have struggled the middle of the park was it. To then lose the best player from that is a real kick in the teeth but at least former midfielder and expert Sherwood had a blank canvass. Cleverley needed no replacing, ne turned it on the last three months only as he was looking for new employers. No loss here. In Gana and Traore we have two worldies in the making who will generate some real improvement and profit for us quality players. Sanchez has shown the Foxesque benefit of time spent at the club and looks a real new player. I hope Gil and Grealish get game time (Grealish especially who I have an issue with Lambert for not playing regularly and in fact looking to ship out to Bristol City towards the end of his reign apparently). It is Veretout who I think will be the star of the show as he will give us what we have lacked in there since Jimmy left. He will be a star absolute star for us. All in all midfield I’m more than happy with now. Vast improvement in personnel, flexibility and the choices it gives us in terms of systems and what we need from where we are in a game. FORWARDS – not strikers but forward or support forwards ( 1 out 2 in) Weimann going and replaced with a choice of Ayew or Sinclair it an improvement. Although Ayew is not setting the world alight at the minute I think he will do looks to be a tidy player who will do well for us. Sinclair is the bargain of the summer so far at 2.5M and with 5 goals already has scored more than Gabby will target for the season. Another area of the squad that has improved. STRIKERS ( 4 out 1 in) Last season the manager described our striking options as the best outside the top six. Brave words but you see the case for it. To lose the players we have done (well Benteke really) and replace with Gestede is a big big issue for me. I think we’ll struggle to score from strikers. Yes it depends on system and yes it depends on the system employed but just as we were relying too much on Beneteke last year I would argue to not have a striking option scoring regularly it then puts too much pressure on the rest of the team. The one area we did not strengthen and significantly weakened. It could have done with the increased investment I have alluded to earlier in this piece. Overall where does this leave my thoughts? Well it’s not as good as some people are making out but much better in some areas than I expected. Striking options need addressing in January, if the money is there or can be generated The future will see the club continue to operate in this way. I’d also expect the manager to make a major shake up of the U21 set up. Some changes not expected and not universally popular I suspect but major changes anyway. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchard Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 The best transfer window I think we've had since Big Ron had to build a squad for the newly formed Premier League. I can still remember the VHS season review from this where they actually had the graphics of a revolving door showing everyone in and out. If we've built a squad as good as Big Ron built that first season then we can all be pretty happy I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted September 2, 2015 Moderator Share Posted September 2, 2015 Not exactly what I was implying, but I agree with your sentiment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shomin Geki Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm not sure I can add a great deal to what's already a sterling discussion. That this level of analysis is taking place suggests a level of hope and drive in the Villa faithful that I've dearly missed. It's been a lovely summer. But if you'll afford me a somewhat tortured metaphor... The infamous 'young and hungry' window had us camped like wide-eyed hopefuls with a fistful of lottery tickets. We had Players in our dreams, but beyond the vaguely and desperately euphoric haze, there wasn't much going on. Our numbers were unlikely to show. We had little but daft hope. Now we sit, more assured, no less excited, with a decent hand of cards in a poker game. Sure, there's still a great deal of luck involved, and the other players may be just as shrewd and smart, but we've got a decent hand, we know we have a decent hand, and if we play these jacks and tens and the odd queen well, well, it's at least going to be fun. And we have a much higher chance of winning this time. And unlike lottery-playing mugs, we're actually playing a proper **** game now, and we know it. This feels good. This feels, you know, Prepared. We're in our own hands in a way we haven't been for years. For that at least I'm very grateful. There have been many derisive comments over the past few yeasrs, many completely fair, that questions what the point of Aston Villa was. What are we for? What do we do? I think we have a far stronger answer now. I understand where the fist pumps are going. We now all have a clearer idea of what Aston Villa is all about. That'll do pig. Less abstractly, as much as it seems churlish to pussyfoot around this group of well-remunerated, ultra-talented bodies, we must give them time. Words like 'gel' make it seem oh-so-easy, when the reality is much trickier. We need to, collectively and individually, know and understand strengths and weaknesses in the squad. Just look at how Man United are suffering an identity crisis, and a real slump, because their talismanic striker (and sometime workhorse) is profoundly out of sorts. Teams rely on exploiting what works in their side. Arsenal can rely on a Sanchez burst of brilliance. Man City can rely on some Silva slide rule wizardry. Spurs can rely on their outstanding goalkeeper... and so on and so forth. We don't know this yet. And we certainly don't know how to make it work for us as a team. This will take time. Luckily for us we have the kind of dangerous, exciting players who will do damage whilst we collectively do our existentialist stretches and sprints. Once we click, players playing with that definitive knowledge in their boots, I think we'll fly. So, yes, it feels good to be a Villa fan again. It feels really good to be part of something. We look balanced, threatening and dynamic with a pleasing bed of class and swagger. I love the hand we've been dealt. I hope to God we get to play it as well as we imagine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted September 2, 2015 VT Supporter Share Posted September 2, 2015 With this new lot of players - and you could probably include Grealish in there because Lambert never played him. Grealish was 17 at the start of last season so it was always likely that he would only make a few apperances - clearly the more he matures the more likely he is to play. Plenty of sticks to beat Lambert with, without resorting to the ridiculous Yep. And Lambert did play him. He wasn't very good when he played. Which is probably down to Lambert as well, but the accusation that he never played him is false. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilchard Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Not exactly what I was implying, but I agree with your sentiment Sorry I was just waffling on about a season review (they were a must buy every season....can you imagine going through the horror of watching all the the last few years reviews?!). Was only really waffling This is it - - from 2.57 onwards. I'd forgotten George Gavin's 'tache! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted September 2, 2015 Moderator Share Posted September 2, 2015 Not sure I could stay awake; or would want to stay awake; through most of the last few years' reviews tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pez1974 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 One point on the 'net spend' comments.... Given the level of change and the level of income from sales, I think it would be sensible for Tim to keep some money back in case something goes wrong with one or more of the signings, whether this be for an emergency buy in January or to boost the funds available next year. Obviously I don't know if he has kept some back, but lets not hasten to criticise anyone; it might just be the major surgery is done and it's just one or two genuine starters a year going forward. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulver Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 6/10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 One point on the 'net spend' comments.... Given the level of change and the level of income from sales, I think it would be sensible for Tim to keep some money back in case something goes wrong with one or more of the signings, whether this be for an emergency buy in January or to boost the funds available next year. Obviously I don't know if he has kept some back, but lets not hasten to criticise anyone; it might just be the major surgery is done and it's just one or two genuine starters a year going forward. That's the rub though isn't it? Do you put your money on the pitch now or keep some in the bank in case gambles on unproven players don't pay off. We did shift some dead wood this summer, essentially swapping Sinclair for Weimann looks great business but the big three departures this summer (Vlaar, Delph & Benteke) were all players forcing the move rather than us wanting to get rid and of those we only got good money for Benteke. Hopefully the squad will improve. It's been so poor in recent years, failing to get 40 points on more than one occasion, that it has to improve or we are going down. Maybe not spending £15m on Charlie Austin might mean we continue dropping points at the rate we have been so far this season. For all the optimism Sherwood bought we haven't put in a convincing performance in quite some time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvfcTheObsession Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 With this new lot of players - and you could probably include Grealish in there because Lambert never played him. Grealish was 17 at the start of last season so it was always likely that he would only make a few apperances - clearly the more he matures the more likely he is to play. Plenty of sticks to beat Lambert with, without resorting to the ridiculous Grealish actually turned 19 at the beginning of last season (Sept), so it's not ridiculous to think Lambert could have got more out of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoony Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 All about what BOF said ^^^ Totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaCas Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 With this new lot of players - and you could probably include Grealish in there because Lambert never played him. Grealish was 17 at the start of last season so it was always likely that he would only make a few apperances - clearly the more he matures the more likely he is to play. Plenty of sticks to beat Lambert with, without resorting to the ridiculous Grealish actually turned 19 at the beginning of last season (Sept), so it's not ridiculous to think Lambert could have got more out of him. At the start of last season he was 18 not 17, my mistake - Lambert eased him into the squad as you would do with any 18 year old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaCas Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm expecting another season with an eye behind us rather than looking up the league. I'd like to be more positive, but after spending £55m I would have hoped to be feeling a little more optimistic than is the case I know that you have to improve both the first team and the squad but for me we have too many squad fillers and gambles - early days (and anything could happen) but I can see Ayew, Gestede and Veretout spending lots of time on the bench - I'd have rather seen that £25m out on the pitch It is also concerning the number of players we have who are costing us money in wages but will hardly make a appearance - Gardner, Cole, Kozak, Okore, Senderos, Zog, Richardson, Steer (£20m total value? £180k a week?). These could also stop our Academy prospects breaking through My biggest concern though is the lack of a decent striker - personally I'm glad we didnt get Berbatov or Adebayor but I would have loved us to get some like Gomis or Remy to lead the line with a bit of pace and power. I think we will need to go back into the market in January to correct this but it's hard to recruit well then. All that being said, with a little more luck, we could easily be sitting on 6 or 8 points now and the football we are playing is much easier on the eye than anything we've seen for some years Sadly, it's all academic as I doubt we will be winning anything in any of our lifetimes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garreth Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 6/10 No out and out goalscorer is a worry for me we do not have enough dimensions of attack up front the worst comment i have ever seen!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurembergVillan Posted September 2, 2015 Moderator Share Posted September 2, 2015 The best transfer window I think we've had since Big Ron had to build a squad for the newly formed Premier League. I can still remember the VHS season review from this where they actually had the graphics of a revolving door showing everyone in and out. If we've built a squad as good as Big Ron built that first season then we can all be pretty happy I think Three minutes in on this video. George Gavin's face furniture as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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