mole86

20 minutes ago, AVTuco said:

But his assists come from set pieces as well as his goals. So what do you do with him? I don't know.

That’s just not true though is it, the few games he played in an advanced role in our winning run he scored 3 goals from open play (2 against Derby and the winner against Bristol City). He scored a hat trick against Norwich the season before which were all from open play and his pivotal goal in the play offs was from open play. Swansea away he scored the winning goal with a header from open play, there are a lot more examples as well.

I’m not advocating him starting ahead of Grealish or McGinn but he is by far our best midfielder for arriving into the box late. The fact his set pieces are so good as well shouldn’t take away from that fact. Great option to have in the squad and seemingly a great professional as well.

1 hour ago, S-Platt said:

I think Villa need to explain membership does not guarantee a ticket only a season  ticket does that.

 

Why on earth would anyone need that explaining to them?

People complained about Tammy doing it at Blackburn away, then he started banging them in and surprisingly no one mentioned it again...

41 minutes ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

Heaton is an excellent goalkeeper. Think some people will be pleasantly surprised if we get him

Completely agree, would be the equivalent of the Friedel signing for me. I'd be very happy to sign Butland but if we could get Heaton for a fraction of the price then that would be my preference.

13 minutes ago, avfc456 said:

In fairness if thats the game I am thinking about where it was Venkys first game after buying the club, the tickets went on sale pretty much a week before the game, plus it was on Sky 

I'm pretty sure that was after O'Neill as well, Houllier's season wasn't it?

17 minutes ago, KenjiOgiwara said:

Stop making him out to be something he's not. He's an above average young championship dmc.  Arguably even a very good championship dmc. But people are praising him like Gattuso mk2. Just embarrassing. 

Angriest Norwegian since Anders Breivik

That wasn't the first game 

35 minutes ago, praisedmambo said:

The difference is we really need to sign players in these positions. We're not turning our backs on the team that got us promoted, we're filling the gaps left in the squad so we can compete.

Without question we need that number of CBs (and two CB signings should hopefully be loan players from last year made permanent, so therefore not like Fulham as there'll be continuity). If we couldn't get Tammy back then without question we needed a striker. It goes without saying that we need a proper DM/CM to play behind Jack and John. Other massive weak spots are LB and RW. So far we've signed Jota, but we're still light on the wings. We weren't the complete, finished article last year, so we need to build still.

We're nothing like Fulham last year. But we do need to spend a lot just to get the squad balanced and ready.

This post should be copied and posted as a response every time someone makes the Fulham comparison over the next two months.

10 minutes ago, villa89 said:

Hopefully he won't be starting many games. He was horrendous for Ireland last night against Gibraltar. Made one decent pass in the whole game and even his set piece delivery was generally poor. 

Watched a different game to me, obviously the opposition were poor but thought he was the only player on the pitch confident and able enough to switch play quickly. He had a spell in the second half when he hit 3/4 near perfect crossfield balls in a five minute period. He messed up his only decent free kick opportunity by trying to go under the wall and hitting Duffy but his corners were threatening all night, far better than the couple Brady took when he came on.

Was no more than a steady performance but by no measure could it be described as horrendous.

11 minutes ago, VillaCas said:

For me the comparison with Axel is slightly lazy. Axel is a true CB, stronger and better in the air, Tomori is quicker and a better ball player. I’d love us to sign them both

I wouldn't agree with the bolded statement based on what I saw of Tomori this season. Tuanzebe was great for us but he is really really poor in the air, if he improves that aspect of his game he would be amazing but it's a serious weakness currently.

27 minutes ago, romavillan said:

neat me to it! I was a page back, but just amazing from him that. There's only a very small percentage of players you could bring on at that point, make them the first pen taker and then they do that. Set the tone immediately.

Don't disagree with the wider point, it was our second penalty though. Hourihane went first

I know he’s being linked with some of the top 6 but I would love us to make a move for Ryan Fraser, he completely fits the profile of what Purslow talked about in that interview and would definitely see us as a step up from Bournemouth 

So composed on the ball but awful in the air, I’ve never seen a centre half actively avoid heading long straight balls away as much as he does.

I really like him but he’s got to improve that if he’s got any chance of making it as a Premier League centre half, pace and composure only gets you so far

4 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Rumours going round wolverine might make a appearance for endgame 

As false as the Infinity War alternative ending you posted last week

Trying vainly to keep this thread from being about Bruce...

I thought Bree did ok when he came on last night in the circumstances, let a couple of balls bounce that he shouldn't have but other than that hard to find too much fault in either he or Tuanzebe. Obviously not a long terms solution there but every time he does play I always think he shows his potential. He really could have done with a loan move this season.

7 minutes ago, LakotaDakota said:

looks more like a back 3 with jedi there just to drop back from time to time if needed and allow either hutton or elmo to get forwards and still keep a solid 3 back. Hourihane & McGinn are more than capable of dropping back for additional cover and getting out quickly if required.

We shouldn't need 4/5 at the back against at least half the teams in this league. Get this right with the options on the bench to change things and we could tear some teams to pieces

It’s obviously not going to be this formation

36 minutes ago, eholm said:

One if the few players we have with genuine pace. Thought Bruce wanted energy and pace in the team with younger legs?.....sorry, that’s what the OWNERS want, Bruce reverts to type yet again. 

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Green run past a full back, I’d wager Adomah, Bolasie and El Ghazi are all quicker than him.

He’s probably been the most unimpressive of any our youth players that’s broken into the first team the past few years. Move suits all parties, he needs games and we can’t afford to carry him

I didn’t see the Ipswich game but every other match this season I think we’ve been massively shown up fitness wise

4 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

You have no idea what I'm talking about ? I think the post sums it quite clearly what i am talking about. Strange post.

The strange thing is claiming Sky have an agenda and enjoy us losing. Is that the whole of Sky, just a specific department or is it Scott Minto that has that particular agenda perhaps?

1 hour ago, Demitri_C said:

It pisses me off as it's been a on going trend for three years now. Look at the facts and you see the difference and you tell me there isn't a agenda that sky enjoy seeing us losing.

Literally have no idea what you are talking about. Sky enjoy showing us because they get better viewing figures, I really wouldn’t get worked up about it

3 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

So sky havw again decided to show all away games on sky for us. It's like they like to see us try and lose.

We were away to Bolton, Yeovil,  they have also chosen Blackburn, Norwich and now bristol city away on sky.

With only brentford at home. It really pisses me off that they don't show games at villa park when they atmsophere at a rammed villa park should be on show for other clubs to see.

The statistics for last two years have been ridiculous its like they want us to lose being away all the time.

So biased.

You always get so hung up on what games Sky show, there isn't a conspiracy and it has no bearing on the result.

He signed Bowen for Hull when he was 18, Andrew Robertson was only 20 when he signed him and Harry Maguire was 21. 

Obviously Hull gave him different instructions from above 

Why is anyone entertaining Hippo? It's exactly this sort of nonsense that derails any manager thread before we get to see how the results play out.