villaslash

Interesting to see who we play in Midfield with Dendoncker cup tied. Do you keep Luiz for stability and partner him with Kamara or Sanson? Is it too soon for Kamara to start? Do you risk a Sanson and Kamara duo? Other than the errant pass last season I thought Sanson did pretty well against Man Utd.

Excited to see what happens!

It will be interesting and well timed. Of the three managers he would seem to fit Emery’s style the best. You’d think this is the best chance for him to get in the team. From the little we’ve seen in actual games his ability to tackle, dribble and make a pass would suit a 4-2-3-1 well. 
 

I hope he takes this chance to impress.

The media and “experts” baffle me sometimes. I’m looking at the BBC player ratings. The lowest rated player is Ings with 5.02 then Coutinho with 6.28. Ings who scored a brace and linked the ball beautifully while running the full 90.

Dank played that so well and just the beauty of good player management.

get rid of the ridiculous 4-3-3. We just looked better both directions.

players can play with passion and to their strengths. I had a hard time picking POTM with Bailey, Luiz, Buendia.

Game is secured and Dank uses the subs so strategically both for the game but also player management. Leave McGinn out the whole game you start some dressing room issues. Even though Watkins has more stamina you leave Ings on with the hope of a hat trick. Bring Archer on as 12 minutes for a player that age is a good chunk.

This is the Dankiest weekend I’ve had in a long time. What will I do the rest of the day not muttering under my breath about the game?

woohoo!

Who is this midfielder with frosted hair winning all the 50-50’s and reading all the play? Luiz looks so good today.

Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh! Wooohooo!

I had almost forgotten how much fun a Villa game can be.

11 minutes ago, smokingzen said:

TBH i look at the squad and i don't see a natural leader who also has consistency and should be playing week in week out.

Generally i prefer the captain to be a midfielder who can lead in the thick of the action, I think Young has the right mentality but given his age shouldn't be a regular starter, hence why he's club captain.

So out of current choices, i'd probably have Martinez, though even he's been a bit 'wobbly' on occasions.

I also like a captain in midfield as they can rally the team all over the pitch. I think Barry was a great example. I don’t think we have a midfielder who can do that right now. Whether you like McGinn as a player or not he doesn’t seem to have the over all understanding of the game or leadership to do it. It might have happened but I’ve never seen him give a quick word for the team to get back in formation (probably as he’d be talking to himself “John, you are out of position. Get back they are ripping through your side”)

I think Goalie as captain is hard. You are contained to the box most of the game, when a tussle is happening or you need to talk to a ref the goalie is not coming out of the box into the other half. Sure, you can talk to the team at defensive set pieces but that’s the goalie’s job anyway. As much as I like Martinez smack talk and PK tom foolery he is as likely to get a card when talking to ref as calming things down.

so the current best choice might be…

2 hours ago, smokingzen said:

...I like how he comes acorss as a person, and i like a lot of what he has done at Villa, but he's not mentally strong enough or reliable enough on the pitch for the captain's role, and as a player he's always got a mistake in him which makes him a liability.

We'll never progress as a team until we get rid of players that can't consistently perform, It's this lack of consistency which has put us where we as a team are in the last couple of seasons.

Other than a long term injured Diego Carlos who would be your choice for Captain?

Super interesting to see how and who we play. Great time to bring in some players out of the cold but perhaps too big of a change for an interim.

4-2-3-1 seems a no brainer though. Pick 2 from Luiz, Dendoncker, Nakamba, Sanson for midfield. The tough call is can you drop McGinn as the interim since he is captain. He just doesn’t really fit in that formation as he would need to play forward and I don’t think he is better then the players we have available. I wouldn’t really want a 2 of Luiz and McGinn.

I think with the need to build morale and settle things leave it for now but don’t always play McGinn.

However, for me the captain should be a constant starter, actually barking out instructions to the team to reform or shift, stepping into situations to calm things down and have a chat with the ref. Only one player rings a bell. Mings seems a natural choice. I’d also like Ashley Young but I don’t know if he will be a constant starter long term.

21 minutes ago, villan501 said:

Have to agree he looked good in the training video cool.on the ball.

 

I'm still shocked Gerrard would rather play Ramsey kamara and mcginn

 

The actual midfield 3 which would imo give us alot more strength and composure is

 

Sanson kamara luiz

Not going to happen but want to see him next to Kamara in a 4231 especially when we are playing a team that can break quick and expose our defense while Digne and Cash are pushed forward.

57 minutes ago, DaveAV1 said:

People would still take a fence. 

Bet a signing like that would get a lot of posts.

2 hours ago, Peter Griffin said:

Maybe I didn't get my pint across well, went for early pints and home with a Chinese.  

I would say you got your pint across just fine…

2 hours ago, duke313 said:

442

Yes, with Kamara and Sanson in midfield I think you have a good formation. 
 

However, where does Gerrard put Ramsey who plays well Coutinho who he must have promised will start and the Captain.

Well on top of the large wage you also basically get a free season ticket for all the Chelsea games both home and away. I wonder if he gets to buy a pie at halftime for a discount?

If not for the last bit of the game good solid job. I thought Ming’s showed how strong and stabilizing he is. Kamara was solid. Ramsey when he drives with the ball is so exciting and faster then you’d think.

I don’t understand the Watkins was horrible review. 2 assists, harried the defense, and generally had a good first touch except for going into his shot at the end. Sure, it would have been great for him to get it up and over Pickford but wasn’t a whiff.

For me, it was really just Coutinho as passenger and Buendia’s impact that means Emi needs to start.

If you want a quick laugh look at how the BBC has us lining up.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62358040
 

2 hours ago, MaVilla said:

That sounds dubiously optimistic.

I could also be pessimistically indubious.  Hard to tell sometimes.

6 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

He’s said it a few times but nobody believes him.

I guess I would say I’m optimistically dubious.

I thought what Gerrard had to say in the presser about making McGinn captain was also good and especially this bit which addresses a lot of the conversation on Villa Talk.

Gerrard

It doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to be a starter in this team, I’ve made that really clear to John, I need that consistency to stay and I need him to really push this team.

https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/august/05/the-presser--gerrard-previews-afc-bournemouth/

58 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Remember the days of morning about MON chucking away Champions League and finishing 6th 3 times in a row?

Yet we were still miserable?

If only we knew what was to come....

People complaining about getting Danny Ings now but we bought the youthful Emile Heskey to cure our goal drought and push us into the Champions league

Yes thought you might say that but figured you got the analogy anyway.

10 minutes ago, Zatman said:

On general would be a great move but Purslow said he was the best 18 year old in England

I think Purslow should shut up if honest but also I think Carney wanted to stay his brother and his friends are here. It is what it is

If Carney wanted to stay it was simple- he could have signed a contract anytime in the last couple of months. If he wanted to be with his brother we could have had a Ramsey and Chukwuemeka brothers Australia video. It is what it is and the club did the very best with what it was.