sharkyvilla

I'm surprised they've been so generous with the YouTube content.  You can probably see half the show in the clips they've put up.  

Just now, StefanAVFC said:

Which top class CDM is coming in to sit behind Kamara on the bench? If we have a limited budget why would we blow all of it in a position where have a legitimately world class option? 

Yeah I don't think we need a world class player, Unai no doubt knows 10 players who could do the role for not much money.  We just need someone who can allow Doug to do his thing in Kamara's absence.

37 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

the question there should be ready for what?

yes we aren't going to win it, we might not even get out of the league but this idea that we're going to get battered every game and not be competitive is utter bollocks, we will have 2 games vs teams in pot 4 which as it stands will be the likes of brest, union SG, bologna, maybe we then end up playing someone like celtic or feyenoord or salzburg - fans thinking we cant beat these teams are either mad or miserable bastards

also you cant build a "CL ready" squad while sat 10th to 6th, that's gone

Our manager got Villareal to the CL semi finals too.  No reason why we couldn't go on a run as well.

6 minutes ago, supermon said:

Surely they need to look into that and hand him a ban. He can't be throwing punches and getting away with it. That's more of a criminal act he's done there 

He won't.  The only thing that surprises me is that the ref didn't pussy out of it and book both players like they usually do.

13 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Are there retroactive bans? This is a punch VAR team missed.

 

They didn't really miss it, they just decided not to do anything.  If you just brush someone's face though it's a red card of course.  **** daft.

1 minute ago, OutByEaster? said:

This is fun, will it be like this until the end of the season do you think?

 

Fun my arse.  I want it all to be over already.

31 minutes ago, Zatman said:

We have one

We definitely need another one in the squad to let Doug play where he is best if Kamara is out again.  It's been too big a burden on him in the last few weeks.  I'm sure Unai and Monchi know of some who aren't that expensive.

To be fair to Pau I don't remember him putting a foot wrong recently before yesterday.  Early in the season he was getting run past quite easily but that seemed to have stopped.  Yesterday they all decided to defend like they're pissed for 10 minutes.

2 hours ago, villa4europe said:

I've just watched the highlights 

The offside goal is 100% offside, should be given every week and that's where PGMOL get it wrong, their guy is on the keepers toes of course he's interfering with play 

West hams disallowed goal on the other hand looked soft as shit 

Exactly, the striker's only purpose at that corner is to be a pain in the arse to the goalkeeper, he's never going to actually score, he's solely there to interfere.

I mentioned in the match forum, my only criticism is when he has the ball and releases it too quickly thinking we can launch a counter, even if he puts a perfect long pass into Ollie's feet, it's really hard for him to keep the ball and probably 6/10 times or more the ball just ends up with the oppo.  Then for the third goal he tried to throw the ball to McGinn to release him quickly and it went out of play then with the possession Brentford scored within a minute or so.  Just pass it short to Torres or Doug, keep possession and build from the back like we've done so well.

One thing that annoys me is that when we go 2 goals up we stop playing out from the back so much.  For one of their goals Emi booted it long and it just came straight back, for the 3rd he got the ball and wanted to start an attack and just threw the ball out of play.  They get the ball back and score.  The thing about keeping it calm and playing out from the back is that you always have an extra player available so it's actually quite easy to keep the ball and take the sting out of the game.

It was the same against Luton and it took Lenglet to take charge and just keep the ball, run with it upfield and then pass it when everyone else was losing their heads.  

1 minute ago, Tayls said:

Im gonna say Arsenal away and Liverpool at home are guaranteed defeats at this point. There isn’t a chance we are getting anything from those. I’ll be amazed if we achieved a single point. 

There's no reason we can't get draws in those games.  Thank God Unai isn't this defeatist.  All teams can lose and win points against the grain at this time of year.  If Liverpool win tomorrow then we need 6 points in 6 games for 5th, we are still in a really strong position.

Yeah a huge miss.  Doug just has so much more workload and it's taken its toll.  

7 hours ago, beasley14 said:

Nobody likes losing games, don't confuse our understanding of the decision as gleefully accepting defeat.

After tonight's result it looks like a good decision, huge game Sat.

Yeah if we get wins against Brentford and Lille by being able to put our first choice team out and Utd drop more points against Liverpool then it just further highlights Unai's genius decision making.

7 minutes ago, PeterSw said:

Absolute joke if that goes through.

Fines will be pocket change to all the rich owners and will be abused.

Already happening in NBA and MLB which makes the big teams separate from the rest.

Tbh I think it's alright.  Ignoring the oil teams for a moment, it seems daft that we can be debt free, selling out games every week and on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League and yet may have to look to sell a big name player just to comply with the current rules.  If owners can give cash to the FA, they then confirm it's kosher then give it back minus say, 20% tax which gets distributed out, then I think it's a bit fairer.

It feels like my life flashes by so quickly these days and yet this Premier League run in seems to be taking an eternity.  I just want it all to be mathematically certain (yes I know it's extremely unlikely Utd can catch us).  A draw or Chelsea win tonight would at least be another step on the way so come on you cockney clearings in the woods.

Just keep Moreno and Digne for another year.  We know their qualities and character, we can rotate without dipping in quality, assuming Moreno gets back into his rhythm.  If we qualify for the Champions League I don't think I'd sell any of our regular players, as a reward for their efforts as much as anything.  I'd put my money towards one of the best defensive midfield prospects as back up for Kamara and probably a quality right back/wing back option.

14 hours ago, Captain_Townsend said:

I am sure this is posted elsewhere in the thread but just reposting it here seeing as the conversation is active again. Still think this was the perfect next step for us rather than a new stadium

3.45: drools!

 

 

 

It's perfect.  Such a shame.

17 hours ago, PieFacE said:

You can double tap and hold R1/RB which will make your defenders mark the players in the box to intercept the cut backs.

Those type of cut backs have been nerfed about 5 times already but are still way too overpowered. Was an absolute nightmare when the game first came out. 

Absolute game changer, cheers mate!

33 minutes ago, KevinRichardsonsMoustache said:

I find it remarkable that there hasn't been more scrutiny about the fee. He remains the most expensive British player of all time (= with Rice?) and that sort of thing used to bring massive attention. Perhaps it's a reflection of how insane transfer fees have become or that it is just pocket change to Citeh that it is barely even mentioned? 

Sometimes it feels like the media doesn't consider the fee a relevant issue or one that should be considered alongside his performances. Is it tacit acknowledgement that he wasn't worth it or that somehow when the fee was going to little ole' AVFC that it doesn't matter? I remember conversations in his first season there about his price tag, but it suddenly disappeared when he seemed to click into gear there. Now he's clearly on the downturn with Citeh, the small issue of the price is invisible. 

If you put the money back into the equation, you have to ask yourself: does he look like a £100m player? Does he exert the sort of influence that £100m should buy for any club? Does he get the media attention that comes to a £100m talisman? The answer to all three is no. And I think Jack knows it. 

Really, very few of the players in world football that have gone for over £100m have proved to be worth the money.

I've only recently started playing computer games again and mainly EAFC, I just find it so hard to deal with the same move every time, they run to the byline, cut inside, pass it and it's impossible to stop the player from shooting, with it almost inevitable it goes in with the top strikers.  I'm OK playing against people who seem to make it like a football match and try different moves but some people just do the same thing over and over again and it becomes pointless.

This season I've seen plenty of occasions where I'm shouting at the TV at Watkins and Bailey to react more strongly to challenges which should be free kicks, even penalties.  Even that challenge by Mee on Bailey could've been a leg-breaker but Leon just tried carrying on and luckily we had VAR to step in.  Obviously none of us want to see players taking the piss play-acting but when it's a genuine foul you sometimes have to make it obvious to the ref otherwise they bottle it.  I'm sure if Martinez was an outfield player, the opposition would be getting a shitload more yellows and reds.

15 hours ago, theboyangel said:

What an utter knob jockey! 

Plenty of players didn’t perform for Pep today, including Haaland but did he get a public rollicking? 

I seem to remember him doing it with Haaland before, who didn't quite take it as passively as Jack.  I'll be the first to say it, hopefully it means the return of Jack to us is a bit closer.