WakefieldVillan

Agree. Think we all agree that this is the one thing that Gerrard has over Smith. The name. Whether he is a better coach/manager and is more successful in his time here only time will tell. But let's hope so!

Of course, thanks Forgot him momentarily. 27 years young. And when he's been playing he has been considerably better than Konsa.

I think we need to see who he actually brings in though before we can judge. So far he has brought two players in, one a world class player on loan who's only come here because of our boss and the other is 28 years old (2 years older than Targett) and you would like to think is an upgrade in terms of quality, albeit a vast outlay depending on the money we get for MT. We will always get linked with ex Liverpool / Rangers players for obvious reasons but it doesn't mean we will sign them and that we will be signing 30+ year olds. We will be on the lookout for the "finished articles" I am sure, but we have an abundance of youth and I don't think we need wholesale changes to challenge top 8. I trust our owners not to give Gerrard X amount of money to waste on huge contracts with no sell on value.

Exactly. I really don't care that Gerrard could/will leave us for Liverpool. The only way he leaves us directly for them is if we get into Europe or finish comfortably top half and win a cup (and that would be a bare minimum!). I think we just need to have a little patience. 5/6 years ago we were finishing mid table of the Championship, then we nearly went bust - Now we are in our third season back in the top flight, only 8 teams in the league have won more games than us and that's despite us changing our manager mid-season, we have a young manager with a drive and determination to succeed that's only been here five months. Don't get me wrong at times there has been some poor football, a lot of 45 min performances, but at times we have had spells of real quality - We just need to find a higher level of intensity and consistency, I am sure he is working as hard as he can to get that out of our squad, but no doubt in the summer he will be looking in the market for other players and I think that's the time when he can be properly judged, with his players after a good pre-season. I think some of our current crop are too nice and don't reflect our manager (but perhaps our former one).

Although I never wanted to get rid of Smith, I was quite happy with the appointment of Gerrard. I thought he did a good job at Rangers and although it was a gamble (aren't all new managers) I think his winning mentality was maybe what this club needs, he comes across well with the media and his "profile" meant we were able to sign a world class player in Coutinho. I am disappointed with recent results, I am a little concerned with the one formation he wants us to play - with what appears to be no plan B, I don't think our squad is suited for this style of play. I have been disappointed with Digne (but that's maybe for another thread - but it's a Gerrard signing), I would like to see more game time for Chuk and Tim. I think a few of the players should have been dropped but haven't (McGinn, Luiz, Watkins) and some have been unlucky to be dropped (Chambers, Buendia, Sanson). I think losing Nakamba when he was having his best spell at the club was a huge loss to how we play in this system. We have Norwich, Palace and Burnley at VP and I really want and expect us to get 9 points from them games. But unless we have a complete disaster end to the season I think we need to give him till next December. Give him a pre-season, let him bring in the players he wants and turf out the ones he doesn't. I know it's a results industry but I think it's absolutely ridiculous that people are even thinking of sacking him at this stage.

You're right in the first instance but once the ball is put back Konsa should have been on Son. He wasn't. Anyway, we've capitulated

Yes Ash

Konsa equally to blame. Passed straight through him then doesn't get anywhere near Son despite looking at him several times.

Or maybe A) he's not as good as a lot of Villa fans. And B ) he's had a really poor season and this is one of the worst individual performances I've seen from a Villa player.

Did the predictor and had Everton down (37 points) with Watford and Norwich. Had them winning Leicester at home (will be Leicester's fifth game in 14 days by the time that ones played) beating Watford (A) and Brentford and Palace (both at home against sides on the beach). I had them losing their other 5 games! I had Burnley winning 4 (Norwich A, Soton H, Watford A, Newcastle H) drawing 2 (us and Wolves at Turf Moor) and losing 3 (us at VP, West Ham and Spurs) of their last 9. 38 points! Would mean Leeds needing 8 from 8. Unfortunately I think they will get them from their 4 "easier" games - Watford & Palace up next and Brentford & Brighton. If they lost the first two though it could get very interesting. None of this will happen though you watch... Everton will turn over Man U next and Norwich will batter Burnley

Oh I agree there's not a massive jump from top half Championship to bottom half Prem - But you can't argue it's a much tougher ask when you are coming up against the likes of Van Dijk, Dias, Laporte, Rudiger ETC. The only defender I have heard of in last nights Cov team was Jake Bidwell ! I agree.

I think we have to remember the standard of the opposition he is currently facing is far inferior to that of the Premier League.... Buuuuut.. that doesn't change the fact that he's playing very well, confident, strong, shows good feet, links up play ETC - He has always had this in his locker and I agree with some of the other posters that I would rather him leading the line than any of our strikers at the moment.

Didn't really know what result I wanted to be honest last night. I'd like Everton to go down, not because I have got anything against them as such, just that they are a big club and it would be interesting to see them in the Championship. But if that win last night helps keep Everton up and sends Leeds down then that would be much more enjoyable, but I think both will probably be safe. Highlight of the game though was definitely the massive bolt cutters wtf

Well played

Hope you cashed out

Used this on my FB last night for a bit of fishing, one lad I know (not that well) literally said if he see's me out he is going to knock me out typical of their fan base mentality. *Best thing is he's only about 5ft *for the record he probably could but shhhh

Does anyone know which of our centre backs has scored our best ever goal? Cracking performance against a poor Leeds side truth be told. Could've been 2 or 3 up at HT and but for 5-10 minutes after the break we looked extremely comfortable. Voted Cash MOTM, he defended very well, a couple of meaty tackles, assisted the first, cool finish for the second what more do we want? He was a 9/10. Chambers an 8.5 - What a goal that was! Anyone know if it is the best goal one of our cen...... The rest of the team and subs were 8/10. Ramsey was probably our weakest player but they all put in a shift and it was just a fantastic night all round. Anyone seen the Leeds fans that come on here? Thought not. words removed. Bring on West Ham, momentum is with us and it wouldn't surprise me if we made it 4 from 4.

I agree. The one thing we do have in our favour is obviously the bond he has with Gerrard. Let's face it he wouldn't be wearing claret and blue if it wasn't for him but it's doubtful whether that would be enough for him to stay. Hope he does, but if not then so be it, I am just going to enjoy watching him play whilst he's here because he's a real class act. Grealish leaving was gutting (for us all) but I don't think I will ever get that "invested" in a Villa player again, no matter how good they are or how long they have been at the club. Hope he puts in a masterclass performance tonight

Agree we should have beaten them when 3-1 up but we could quite easily have been 0-2 down had James's shot not cannoned off the cross bar - I'm not sure we would have come back from 2 goals down in that moment. Hard game to predict, they looked better against Leicester and probably deserved a point but we're coming off the back of 2 wins so got to be confident based on both teams form. I can see arguments for keeping the same side but can also see why Konsa and Digne would come straight back in as they may be more suited to this type of fixture?! Seems crazy to think many will be ok with Watkins and Ings starting and Buendia on the bench who was our best performer in January but it's a good sign if we have players like Emi, Traore, Bailey all itching to get on from the bench. Just hope we defend well and cut out any stupid mistakes, match their intensity and we have a great deal more firepower which hopefully will see us through.

I was just about to post something similar then I read this. Good point I think and not beyond the realms of possibility. Southampton (a), Chelsea (a) - Could quite easily be two defeats then Everton (a) becomes massive for both clubs Palace (h) is currently not scheduled so it could be 4 defeats on the spin with Spurs (a) next up. That would set the nerves jangling for their more winnable games (on paper). Wolves (h), Leicester (h), Norwich (a) and of course Palace (h) they will be looking for perhaps 9 points from that lot? Which will be key as it will more than likely be 0 from 9 in the next three - Liverpool (H), Man City (a), Arsenal (h) Wouldn't mind a relegation decider last game of the season with Burnley (a). It is very doubtful (in fact 16/1 with the bookies) but you can easily go on losing runs in this league and these lot are due a loss (or 12 ). All that said, messed about with the results predictor and had Norwich, Watford and Brentford! But it will come down to who wins the "6 pointers" when they face each other. I think 34 points will be enough to avoid the drop - Just hope we can get that single point

True. But I'm sure other clubs feel like this too, it's just how football works. He's a midfielder too.

Agree with all of this. I might be wrong but I assumed that Buendia was left out because he wasn't 100% fit and not down to his recent performances or tactical reasons, therefore I expect (& hope) he comes back in to the starting eleven.

Feeling a little more confident after the win at Brighton, think if we score first we might nick it 2-1. If they score first I'll go 2-2. They are a good side on a great run of form but perhaps their FA Cup win last night might mean they may lose a bit of focus in the league - let's hope so. Buendia for Watkins and Sanson for Luiz would be my only changes.

Could be a 4-4-2 diamond? Luiz Ramsey McGinn Coutinho Probably not Buendia must not be 100%, no way he wouldn't be starting.

I think we need to change the system which is clearly not working. I'd go back to basics a little and get our back four to do what most other back fours do - and that's to DEFEND. Stick Chambers in front (he's probably done enough to keep his place, albeit he would be in a different position, but not sure he'd be any worse than Luiz currently is!) - Hopefully he would give us the solidity that's been missing since Nakamba's absence. Further forward is a bit of a conundrum. Buendia and Coutinho are our main players for me and both need to be playing and although I'm showing them out wide (as below) I think with this formation they would still have a license to drift in field and make things happen. Let the two midfielders concentrate on being midfielders (not full backs) and hopefully you would see a better performance by both (in particular McGinn) - Though TBH I would be ok with Sanson in his place, just concerning that he hasn't been given a chance even though the performances haven't been great, makes you wonder how he's been performing in training. Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Digne Chambers Buendia McGinn Ramsey Coutinho Ings With the likes of Watkins, Bailey, Luiz and Chuk to mix things up if required. All that said - I would take a point and a good performance right now if offered. UTV.