M_Afro

Hope you’re right mate. Why have we been so inactive for so long though? We went early and then nothing at all has happened since. It’s all a bit disconcerting.

Bailey has been largely disappointing for us. We spent a lot of money on him in transfer fee and wages with very little return. Butler is just leaping on the current chaos at Villa to protect his asset. It’s predictable and annoying but the bloke is a bit of a loud mouth and thus it’s not unexpected. If he was half as good as Butler makes out he’d be doing a bit better than links with Ajax.

The fact that we aren’t hearing any links is really worrying. Only 3 days to go and then we have to go with what we’ve got. If that’s true then I expect Purslow to come out and realign his expectations to the quality of our team upgrades. No way we get anywhere near Europe with this first 11, no matter who the manager is. I thought that last summer was a disappointment but this is just as bad. If the board are going to talk us up then they need to back it up with some action in the next 3 days. We need at least 3 ins and then if things don’t improve they can get in a new manager. Sacking Gerrard will not massively improve things in my mind unless the new manager has a better balanced squad than what we currently have.

I think Coutinho is better than Buendia too. The problem is, he is just so out of form. Gerrard is playing him in the hope that something will spark but for now, I would get him out of the team for a bit.

People expecting an imminent dismissal are likely to be very disappointed in my view. History seems to have been clouded somewhat in some peoples minds but NSWE were very patient with Dean. We had awful, sustained periods in each of Dean’s seasons in charge and they stuck with him through the first three of them. I suspect that Gerrard will be given until at least the WC break. It is however, becoming harder and harder to see what Gerrard is trying to do. He desperately needs to change things in the hope that a change in fortunes follows. I think Luis will get a run of games now which is helpful. At Arsenal, I would also play Tim as a 6 alongside Bouba, allowing Luis to play more centrally as an 8. He can then play Phil/Emi and Leon as inverted wingers with Ollie up top. This will enable us to sit deep and hit Arsenal on the break. I actually think we will get something at Arsenal. They are due some dropped points and we are due a bit of luck. If Gerrard is brave enough to mix up selection and tactics then we may even win.

This kid is petrified of the ball. He never closes the opposition when they have it and he rarely shows in possession. For their goal today he should have been flying out to attack the ball but he is totally statuesque. He drives me mad. I would have Hause ahead of him. At least he has got some courage.

Bank holiday mate. Been on the lash!

I know that this sounds utterly mental but I think we will beat Arsenal on Wednesday. If he keeps the midfield three the same but brings In Bailey for Ings, I reckon we will smash and grab them. I watched their game yesterday. Their results are better than that team. They are due a bad day too. I reckon 1-2 to Villa and a bit of respite for Mr G.

I feel certain the club will announce something tonight to try and appease the fans. If we don’t, then I suspect that nothing is close which is pretty worrisome.

I’m still Gerrard in (it’s getting really hard to stay positive) but whatever happens we need to spend some money this week. At least then, if Gerrard does get sacked, the new manager will have some chance to turn things around. Our midfield is awful. Our attackers are not right either. If we could get close to the money back that we spent on Ings and Bailey I would snap your hands off! If Gerrard goes and I do believe that it’s at least a possibility now, it really worries me that they’ll mess up the next appointment. So the challenge to the board is twofold. Show some real ambition over the next few days and buy some quality reinforcements and if you make the change, only do so when you have snared a top class replacement. No more unproven managers please!

We’ll win this tomorrow. We’ll score a few goals and keep a clean sheet. We’ll end the day in the top half of the table and VT will spend the evening blaming Gerrard for the congestion encountered on the way home! Enjoy Villans. UTV.

It is somewhat underwhelming but he is not that bad! He has played lots of games at this level and at international level. He is also coming into a good age for a defender. I think (hope) he may surprise us and actually help to knit our defence together. Interesting that a thread hasn’t been started for him yet though! We all in denial?!

I’m sick of your negativity. It’s so tiresome………….First 3 minutes for me

He can definitely play. Just hope he’s not made of glass! If not, he has a real chance!

Very soon Steero. Very soon indeed!

I’ve just watched his press conference. Where you get that from I’ve no idea! He is remaining tight lipped but said that we are working hard behind the scenes.

Nope because if we get a bit of luck we could do better. The point is, it wouldn’t necessarily be awful because our squad, in my opinion, is not as good as some make out. It may only take a couple of well thought out signings to change that but we aren’t there yet.

Gerrard has repeatedly stated that he wants an 8. He identified this very early. It’s Lange’s job to get that done. So far, in the 2 transfer windows that Gerrard has been in charge, plus some during Dean’s tenure, he has failed. Gerrard has also stated that McGinn being captain does not make him an automatic starter.

We don’t have an incredible squad in my view. We have been awful for a long time because our squad isn’t very good. Apart from a weird period when the world went mad during the initial lock down, we have consistently been relegation fodder. Most of our players have never performed consistently well in the PL. If we sort out our midfield with 2 quality players then I would say we have a starting eleven that is somewhere between the 9th and 14th best starting eleven in the league. We do have a bit more depth now but the starting eleven hasn’t really improved that much.

If we sacked him now, what do you think that prospective replacement managers would think? I suspect that any decent ones would avoid us like the plague. They are not risking their reputations on a club with a long history of under performing and an ownership with no patience. Fortunately our owners are patient and intelligent. Gerrard is not getting sacked anytime soon. Maybe if things are looking truly disastrous at the WC break, then they may consider their options but ahead of that nothing will happen and I really believe that our time as supporters would be better spent really getting behind the team. The overwhelming negative energy is really destructive.

Blimey! I like your confidence but I’ve thought the same for more windows than I care to remember only to be left disappointed and bewildered! Despite both Dean and Gerrard identifying it as a priority it just hasn’t happened so far. I wonder if Lange has a different view and refuses to put much effort into it. Whatever the truth is, I think it’s Lange who should come under pressure if it doesn’t happen.

I think it’s clear that Villa like a bargain. We have our valuation for players and if they become available then we will swoop. The problem with this is that if they do not come available at the right price, then we seem to do nothing! We simply cannot end another window without fully addressing our pitiful midfield. To me that means 2 more midfielders. If we have to pay over the odds to get it done, then that’s what we must do. It’s simply not acceptable to let another window drift by without fully addressing this major weakness. I would be looking to go for two physical, big, athletic players similar to Sangare. Get these in and I’m sure that in time, the defence and attack would look much better without any further additions. It would be nice to get another centre back and another pacy forward but the priority has to be the midfield. Anything else would be a massive bonus. The support that we have had from NSWE has been fantastic but I really feel we are at a critical part of our progression. If they are really serious about their intentions then now is not the time to back off. We must go for it! Hopefully this will happen over the next few days. If it doesn’t, then it’s going to be another very disappointing season, regardless of who the manager is.

At least we’ll be on TV

Away yet again!!! Do we ever get drawn at home? Good job Utd are rubbish!

To be fair. I like Hause but Bednarek is much better than him.