abdulaziz1

If we made it to CL, I can see him staying, I don’t think with his injury that he’ll attract much of buyers anyway. 
With him and Buendia around, I think this squad is going to improve much. The good thing about Buendia and Mings is that we haven’t rushed them, we’re doing the same now with Ramsey after rushing him before.

7 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

We can still score at the other end though?

I really don't think the second half was much to do with him at all. I mean we had the Brentford second half collapse with Emi in goal so it's very easy to say he'd just save the Gallagher shot when he likely wouldn't.

Great reading some of the forums today, majority of Spurs fans couldn't care less if Man. City beat them to stop Arsenal winning the game so to me that's one less game to worry about in the run in as will be a very flat atmosphere at their ground on the night.

They need to win at Chelsea imo otherwise it's all but over.

The stress is from all sides, yesterday was even much worse than watching Villa the other day, was stressed more than Arsenal fans probably.

Then now we the semi final, and supporting Chelsea against Spurs. Not sure how I’m to handle all of that. Even without games, we’re worried about Martinez, Youri and Olsen. 

7 minutes ago, cb_82 said:

Report says hes aiming to be back for second leg

 

Not ideal though missing Brighton

Could’ve been much worse.

17 hours ago, brummybloke said:

He concedes a goal every 40 minutes, that's his stats since playing for Villa.

That's over 2 goals per game.

The stats are not accurate as it doesn’t show the fact that he started twice at Etihad (which he conceded 7 goals in two games), those are in a small proportion of games. 
Don’t get me wrong, I’m worried about him starting for 3 things:

1-Distribution

2-Players low confidence of him

3-Not being able to play as a 5th defender (which most keepers don’t)

In terms of stopping shots he’s fine generally. Add to that, we’re currently short in players which will not help controlling games either.

1 hour ago, tinker said:

He's nowhere near as strong as Rogers and that's one of his weakness. Very similar to Diaby in stature but he's not as good. Quite where and how he would fit into our first team is a mystery to me but maybe I'm missing something,  I have watched him 3 times in the last 2 months for the full 90 minutes. 

I don't think we are weak in the type of player he is, we have Buendia coming back. We need stronger players ,.like Rogers and Zaniolo (who I'm assuming is going back to Italy) We also have Archer and A Ramsey coming back.

Who said Ramsey is coming back? That only applies for Archer I guess.

In a very good scenario, which hopefully we secure CL as soon as possible, he could have some starts, while in the good scenario itself we go to the final. Those games could help him to play part in the final and hopefully win it as well. 

We can’t have an opinion on him, all of his minutes came in tough circumstances, he only started against City where we were with our second team against the best team in the league. 
I still think he has good attributes, not sure him staying as a backup will help as he needs more minutes and Emery seems not willing to take the risk at the moment.

11 minutes ago, meregreen said:

At no stage in that game did we have control of midfield. We may have competed a little better when Youri was on, but Chelsea’s midfield pretty much ran the show for the majority of the match. Injuries and lack of squad depth are costing us.

I think having Tim rather than Diaby might’ve helped more. 

Rogers, Watkins, Konsa and Cash all came from the Championship and showed quality. Much more than PL players. I’d say even Mings has showed his quality in the Championship with us (wasn’t playing for Bournemouth much), same goes for Martinez who only played little for Arsenal. 
The player who succeeded with us is Youri (who have relegated himself). 
I think that’s a very good market to look into. Players are used to the physicality of the league, while prices are reasonable. But we have to recruit carefully.

I’d really like to come to this thread, after we secure CL. As before that it’s almost like last year when we discuss while not knowing if we’re going to Europe or not.

However, I still think that Championship is a better market than Premier League. It’s tough to get the better players from the PL apart from loans or free ones (which usually doesn’t happen for good ones). But we seem to get a good one each season, Kamara and Tielemans for now. Hopefully Hermosi for this summer. 
I won’t say no to a loan for a DM, that would give us more space for fullback or a LW. 
I think it will be interesting, Dendonker, Coutinho, Chambers, Zaniolo and Lenglet if all left and wages are freed up, that would give a good chance to start getting hopefully better value. 

4 hours ago, MSvillain said:

Arblaster is captaining Sheff Utd tonight at the age of 19, we were linked a few weeks back.

Could be one of the midfield options Percy referenced…

I didn’t watch him, but this kind of signings are probably the best we do. I don’t think many will be prepared to spend to get him, his wages would be reasonable. If he success then we have done really well, if he failed he’ll not be harder to ship than some if the old players. 
 

Some say only certain criteria can improve us, while I agree, but only if it includes young players with potential. Rogers for example, turning to be one of the most exciting players in the league lately. Ramsey raised his profile as well. 
 

We got McGinn while we were in Championship (yet we miss him when we’re challenging for top 4. Luiz and Konsa were signed but a team fighting for relegation. 
 

It’s a squad game, let’s get more of:

Konsa, Luiz, McGinn, Rogers and the likes of Martinez. 
Then have a look at some free signings wether like Kamara or even Youri. 
 

The good thing, is that we have a good squad which should help young/new players. While not having to throw them and force them find their way which might affect the team (apart from Rogers who benefited him).

2 hours ago, Pongo Waring said:

Question to Villa fans

Would you rather get to play in the Champions League and not win it or win the Europa League Trophy? 

Last season I wanted ECL more than EL because of the chances of winning it. But who’s to say we’ll win?

Now we’re almost there, but even if we went to the final nothing is guaranteed.

For me I’d say winning Europa is better than getting out from the first stage in CL (if it was the old way I’d look at entering CL then get 3rd and join Europa). 

However, nothing is guaranteed, so getting to CL is a guaranteed success, good financially, showing the project to everyone. Especially if we can win ECL this season, that would do for trophies for now. 

1 hour ago, NorthEastVillan said:

Win Europa League 100%. European final, travelling around Europe and silverware. 

CL is all well and good but we've time to get there and does very little for you if you get knocked out early. Look at some of the teams that have played in it over the last few years (Newcastle, Spurs, Leicester). They don't seem to have benefited from it.

All have benefited, Leicester just didn’t have the consistency, had they qualified two times they were near, it would’ve been different.

Spurs has been a top 6 club just because they featured a lot there, otherwise they’ve won nothing.

Newcastle has been helped financially and players/people are recognizing them as a project going forward. 

Martinez/Olsen

Cash/Kosta Konsa/Carlos Torres/Mings Dinge/Moreno

Kamara/? 
McGinn/Luiz/Youri

Diaby/Bailey Rogers/Ramsey/Buendia

Watkins/Duran

Those are probably the main players we’ll have, then you got: Tim, Archer and whoever from the kids. 
 

For me, it might need another a left defender who can do what Torres does (I’d like to find someone like Konsa when we got him). 
Then a DM who plays good football, won’t be easy to find. But here we need a starter as Kamara won’t be back anytime soon.

I think those are the main two signings. Then you’ve got a right back to upgrade on Cash, or a left if we’re looking at selling Dinge.

I won’t be very keen on getting if Watkins and Duran were fit, but if Archer wasn’t sold I might keep him until winter if needed. 
I think with Ramsey and Buendia back while having Rogers, I’m not sure if getting a right winger would be particularly good thing. However Emery knows who’ll add to the system. 

50 minutes ago, LxYoungAVFC said:

If we make top 4, I'd love to have at least one midfielder with CL experience and leadership credentials come in. Away at Lille it became clear to me, that neither SJM or Dougie have the experience to control games in a high stakes european match with a hostile atmosphere.

Yes we have leaders in Martinez and Tyrone, but I feel it would be extremely valuable to have a true leader in midfield.

In an ideal world it would be someone like Hakan Çalhanoğlu from Inter (not saying he'd come or we could afford his 170k p.w.). CL experience and captain of national team, set-piece/penalty taker, vision, excellent passing range, defensive qualities and most importantly calmness and the ability to take control of games.  The guy just has an aura about him. When he speaks, everyone listens.

Not saying we could or should get him, but in my opinion we need someone with similar qualities so we don't get eaten alive in the CL.

 

 

I think what our players experienced is much bigger than many, it grew their characters aswell.

McGinn (our captain) and Mings, they’ve been in a big turn around season in promotion, Luiz and Konsa almost relegated with us and all saw us through. Then Martinez matured with us until he won Argentina things they haven’t won for around 30 years. With Watkins improving his whole game. Then you got Bailey who was up and down until he beaten his non confidence to become a player every team fear. 
Both Kamara and Torres had CL experiences. 
Our captain promoted with the team, then fought not to relegate, then had a good team for Grealish to go and Gerrard to mess things up. 
Then he comes back stronger to lead the team back to Europe (in a season where we failed to even score well), many players matured through that journey. I guess character wise we’re one of the best. 
Even new players are getting that mentality, ofcourse Emery is helping much. 

35 minutes ago, Pongo Waring said:

More Morgan Rogers type signings please. No asbeens (Grealish, Abraham etc)

I was just come to write we want more Rogers signings

If we can find one or two we’d have done really well.

4 hours ago, juanpablosaliceband said:

I think that’s a big statement. We had 38 points from our first 17 games when they were pretty much ever present. I felt like they were our engine during that time. We’ve only got 28 points from our next 17. We have had a few good results recently but we haven’t progressed from the first half of the season. Strictly speaking, we’ve regressed as might have been expected. I think losing that partnership has been hugely disruptive. We’ve done ok at times but without the duo but at others we’ve struggled. Great as today even was, I felt like we really missed them both at times, particularly in the first half when Bournemouth were getting into dangerous areas quite easily. 

For top 4, my view is that we need to match or better Spurs’ four difficult games in our four remaining games, taking a worst case scenario that they beat Burnley and Sheffield. So still plenty of work to do. 

It shows what squad game is all about. Some games we might not need to begin both Kamara or Luiz, but both are our best CM’s. 
I think Emery and the players are understanding their qualities more, and with much choices, I think Emery would rotate even more than this season.

The goal was great. Since I watched him against Wolves, I knew he’d add a lot to the team. Just didn’t know how soon will he do that, or when will Emery give him a proper chance. 
Now everyone will start wanting him to start each game. 

Great win and performance, the team has character, especially coming from behind.

Now a needed rest for the team, Luiz getting back would be huge, Chelsea will be a tough team to play. 

Arsenal will be tired playing Spurs, we can’t fully rely on them, although hopefully Arsenal could win that. 
 

Last game against Chelsea was bad, let’s hope Emery can read them better this time. A win with Spurs losing could give alus a breathing space to focus on Europe.

10 hours ago, MaVilla said:

i dunno, Bournemouth are an in form side, only 1 loss in 7 (4 wins, 2, draws, 1 loss), and we were lucky to get a point off them earlier in the season.

If we take this game for granted we will be in trouble.

I don’t think anyone is taking it for granted, actually most know it’s going to be really tough with their form and our players being tired. That’s why playing the likes of Tim can help on that matter.

I’m not bothered to think if he’ll be sold or not, I think if he plays against Bournemouth and help us win, and somehow help another win, then that would worth a full season from him, now when it’s getting tougher. These 7/8 games, are equivalent to a full season really. The amount of pressure (Emery called it opportunity rather than pressure) but anyway, the situation is getting tougher and our weakest link is DM. 

5 hours ago, brummybloke said:

Have a feeling he will score a couple more goals before the season ends.

His form has gone to shite and he looks ineffective and weak but we've all seen how he started the season, I think he may end the season in the same manner.

 

He helped us a lot in the last two months, kept improving.

Just now, GlobalVillan said:

I am also worried about the Bournemouth game. Especially after our efforts in Lille. We simply have to win though, or we let Spurs off the hook. Again.

We won’t know what Arsenal does against Spurs, losing next two would give the a huge boost before they play same number of games as us. Thinking of all outcomes is scary, but if we win it would be totally different and interesting.

The more I think about Bournemouth, the more stress I get, possibly the fact Spurs aren’t playing. We have to rotate at this game, we can’t just play the usual team. I think our squad could handle this game at home, with some players coming second half. 
Winning this would give us a huge confidence and rest before Spurs play, then playing a tough match against Chelsea. Really hope we could grind the win, not sure at all how, but hopefully we do. 

1 hour ago, DakotaVilla said:

The only positive from that was that he was hooked before full time so hopefully will be the freshest v Bournemouth as we will need a captains performance from him.

Exactly, him, Diaby, Bailey, Zaniolo (if fit), Duran, Carlos and Tim all can be good to start Sunday (atleast rotate some of them). I don’t think our regular starters will be able to keep their performances this high after a tough last week. 
Without Moreno we can’t do anything regarding left back as well so we have to rotate other areas.