Zhan_Zhuang

And I respectfully disagree. I'm not discussing overall, i'm highlighting our poor form of late... Villa were desperate for a player to galvanise us in the absence of Grealish, a player to drive us from midfield. What do we get, teams playing through us every game far too easily. McGinn has been very poor of late and in some of those games he was consistently giving the ball away on average six times; read through this very thread over the course of the last few months where I and others have highlighted this. Six times in specific matches, it cost us points! Of course the figures are more favorable to McGinn overall but when we needed him he failed. Last few matches he has been better but I'm sorry once decent game in ten doesn't warrant a starting place for me. Central midfield should be our number one priority for improvement. McGinn's athleticism or lack of it really bothers me, he flounders consistently and attempts to win a foul because he doesn't have the speed and agility. Eze bested him in the match against Palace, McGinn tires too often.

It's the subconscious level of fear in being a Villa fan. Villa get a great player, we do well and said player is picked up by Manure, Man. City etc... However, a couple of solid first-team players and a player who is near to 'Grealish-level' and then we have a chance of Europe with a bit of luck.

Manure are probably going for Kane and rumour is they still want Sancho. Man City, maybe but can't see it with the talent they already have. After that who? Spuds with their Kane cash? Chelsea?

Villa have invested in Wesley, i'd hope he isn't going anywhere. A good pre-season and he'll be fighting for a place in the side next season.

The way I see it is this could potentially be Smith's undoing (although I hope i'm wrong, as I like Smith). For over a year i've thought McGinn is a weak link through repeatedly giving the ball away, being caught in possession and just not athletic (quick) enough. In the PL the one thing you need to do consistently is improve, if Smith isn't looking at better players for the midfield then I worry as teams play through us way too easily. Throughout the season Smith has chopped and changed the midfield yet McGinn has always remained, perhaps we should have benched him to look for a better blend with an alternative three? I would have liked to have seen Luiz - Sanson - Nakamba....even just once to see how it would work. Also pretty sure Nakamba hasn't been on a losing side this season in the games he has featured and his performances were much more sound this season than last.

Are there only four teams who can afford him? Villa, Manure, Citeh and Chelski?

To be fair Joel Ward did get a yellow for his third foul on Grealish. I'm not disagreeing with you, teams know they can 'rough' us up a bit and I think we are a bit of a soft touch. Especially in the middle, teams can play through us easily and it's why yesterday Palace had more shots against us than any other team this season. Yesterday second-half we were really poor and Villa only have themselves to blame.

Matthaus got his revenge in the second leg...

So how many Dirty Leeds fans are on Villa Talk? And why are they besotted by us? I barely have the time to post regularly on Villa Talk let alone bother myself to sign up to another club forum! Why?

I definitely don't want him out, I'd love to see Smith improve each season and be a part of a successful future. You just wonder if the owners will give him that time. I still think top eight will be the aim and we'll get it next season.

Problem was not Grealish but the turgid, poor performance from the team. Palace were on top and bossing us, we couldn't put more than two passes together. As a result Grealish had no service, felt for him to be honest.

The owners may expect that for their return, I don't know. You think Smith survives if we stay the same as this season, really? Me I'd be happy to be top eight, personally I've never said Smith should be sacked at all so don't imply that. We were close this season so yes it's certainly possible for top eight with the correct investment.

Improve on our stinking midfield and then we have an opportunity for top eight. For Dean Smith to continue Villa must finish seventh or eighth. He has got to sort out the midfield, desperately.

Unfortunately two average midtable teams and Villa were beaten by the the better team. Eze was quality, my MOTM.

I agree, just a bit angry at his performances. The one thing that led me to making my point was that McGinn constantly got outdone by Eze today.

If there is any discrepancy in the stats regarding passes attempted perhaps McGinn should try keeping things a little easier instead of trying the spectacular. He has Five assists and three goals are people suggesting those are good stats? His all-round game and performance for the team is much more important and I say again he costs us through getting caught in possession and giving the ball away, he is the main culprit in why teams can pressure us into conceding. McGinn is nearing 27, he isn't getting any better is he? Eberechi Eze has Six assists and four goals in one less game than McGinn. If we could have swapped McGinn for Eze Villa would have beaten Palace 3-0.

Been saying it for well over a year, John McGinn is not good enough. Eze danced around him repeatedly today especially second-half. McGinn tires at half-time every game, he isn't athletic enough to compete. And someone said last week he struggles with the simplest things i.e. passing to a teammate. Invites pressure on us every match have because we cannot keep possession.

22 goals in 20 games (I think)... That's outstanding and to think he was both dangerous and clinical against Liverpool. I think for his development Barry needs to be in and around the first-teamers and match-fit squad. That is presuming he continues to improve and show the desire to be a top player. All signs are good so far.

I was at that match. Another I went to was Villa winning against Internazionale 2-0, and their team featuring three World Cup winners in Matthaus, Brehme and Klinsmann. I'm sure the match was televised live on ITV, I'd love to watch the entire ninety. Platt was immense and he was a demi-god to me at that time.

I'd rather Chukwuemeka start than Barkley, genuinely feel it would be great for his experience and I'm certain he'd offer more than Barkley.

Has looked beyond this U18 level for most of this season. Surely he can't be far off, a good pre-season and hopefully a few appearances for the first team next season.

Chukwuemeka and Barry look two steps ahead of everyone on the pitch. Bogarde, Young too look very good.

I agree, it added a little groove to the band. Interesting in that concert there is a cover of 'Don't Worry Bill' tagged on to 'Wonderful'. I still need to check out The Flames release Carl Wilson produced. Re: 'Feel Flows' - Been a long time to wait, i was hoping for a physical (vinyl) release rather than a download guess we wait and see. Can't remember if I said this before but my first concert was The Beach Boys in 1988 at the NEC, I was ten years old. My favourite albums then were 20 Golden Greats and Still Cruisin'. Guilty pleasure maybe, but I still love Still Cruisin'.

@rjw63 some really interesting song selections here, have you heard it my friend? 'I've Got A Friend' by Dennis Wilson too...

I don't dislike Ross Barkley and we know he possesses great skills...