GENTLEMAN

Doubt we'll see Buendia, Sanson or Bailey for this. 

Better have an option to buy. Do not want him being developed for Man Utd again.

Better have an option to buy. Do not want him being developed for Man Utd again.

So excited to see his development in the squad this season...

Is there a decent pre match write up for this one out yet? With fan free sterility, I did not take much of notice of Championship so I am bit clueless.

What will their team look like? Who will be danger-men (piss off Troy)? How did they fair last season? Who have they signed? What has their preseason been like?

1 minute ago, villan-scott said:

Sounds that way by the noise coming out of the open training session. 

Which does put his inclusion in the starting line-up at major doubt.

17 hours ago, villan-scott said:

I’ve just paid the £5 for this in the excitement of seeing Ings and Buendia playing. Anyone know if I’ll be able to watch it via my TV? Not used Villa TV before!

I think Buendia will miss this one unfortunately. 

3 hours ago, Davkaus said:

Tbh I don't see it as criticism of Grealish, per se. Different players have different strengths. He was clearly our best player for several years but he was never a leader, and I think it was quite clever management to give him the armband to keep him focused. I imagine it was done with a nod and a wink at Mings at the time, tbh.

FIFY

Mings is a leader though.

For anyone at VP today did he train? @macandally

On 26/07/2021 at 15:23, villalad21 said:

Who wouldn't love that?

67 years old now. I wonder how longer he’ll continue.

11 minutes ago, PerryBarrPet said:

What isn’t - Inter Milan story?

Yeah, surely not.

This is not true

16 minutes ago, TheAuthority said:

Ake having a great career since moving to City isn't he?

Another 40million. It’s fine. Pep will just buy another ‘project’

Could the media talk of our 'interest' in Axel be blowback from us trying to tentatively negotiate with Utd over JG? I also seen rumours of Martial & Dan James.

So do we need another CM? 

4 minutes ago, roonst83 said:

This is part of my problem. Watford will have faced Arsenal and Palace and therefore been put through their paces, both in terms of fitness as well as competitively. We played United last game before the season started last season and it put us in good stead for a great start. I’m just disappointed. 

Yeah it ain’t ideal. At least they’re getting in the  newly promoted Italian team now. We don’t want the narrative running away if we don’t pick points against Watford, Newcastle & Brentford.

5 minutes ago, Chine said:

Looks fantastic with the ball as very attacking s probably depends who we are against , without the ball maybe a problem as both Ginny and Nak have a tendency to be sloppy after we’ve won the ball and don’t retain well , bit of a gamble but would be fun to watch 

I think Naka is and has got better at that, I really do. His first season was atrocious. I’m a big fan of his.

2 minutes ago, villanmac said:

The best player at the club now by quite a distance.

Oh no! Don’t bloody start this again

28 minutes ago, burchy said:

Hoping to see the new contract tweet for him very, very soon. The guy is immense.

I can’t think of him without seeing the Arsenal badge and the Goodfellas laughing gif side by side. 

I think that’ll come once the transfer window ends.

1 hour ago, roonst83 said:

I should clarify, I wasn't calling this incident a shambles, just our pre-season as a whole, through no fault of our own but losing the Forest game and then Sevilla in amongst the Grealish saga just feels like our whole pre-season has been disruptive.

But I'm not placing any blame with us at all. Out of our hands completely, but disappointing nonetheless.

Not Ideal but I think the club will get the minutes in legs and patterns of play in the heads with competitive 'mixed' squad games. 

By comparison, Watford's first game was hijacked by Citeh but played:

Stevanage, Arsenal & Doncaster and will play Palace tomorrow.

Might try and great some away tix for local league 1 teams when Ipswich are in town. I have a good feeling about this one.

12 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

Sanson is a massive upgrade. You just haven't seen what he's capable of yet. Rushed in and injured. 99th percentile for pressures. He attempts 50% more than McGinn per game

Yes, it’s been frustrating with his injuries. Now also hampered his preseason. He seems to have a very good temperament too

1 minute ago, TRO said:

If one of them can "emerge" with a bit more dominance, then I am fine....hence my " keep our powder dry"

The Front four and back five look fine to me....if we can get the ball to the front 4 we can really hurt teams.....Its the centre midfield, I have doubts about....get that right and we can surprise a few IMO.....It looks better balanced already.

It’s a balancing act isn’t it. You want to develop our talent but you need to know when to cut your losses and recognise a real weakness. I still think a lot of our midfield problems came when accommodating Barkley. But someone like JWP would instantly improve the engine room. I would be very comfortable going into the season if he signed.

I’ve seen big improvements in Naka, since his first season. Mainly his ball retention. I think he should have had more game time last season if I’m honest.

McGinn had it tough last season, but I think that was because he was happy to play roles not suited to him as a sacrifice for the team, also seems to be hitting a stretch of fitness, and I think he have a better season coming.

On ligue 1 showing Sanson seems like a player with the right attributes and character. He’s now settled into the squad and area, just frustrating with injury setbacks.

Doug is young, but by all accounts if having a good Olympics. I cannot workout whether he is too weak defensively or whether he’s exposed because of the balance we’ve had in midfield.

For players like Ramsey, do you afford them minutes to develop? Or do they have to take the little opportunities by the scruff of the neck and put themselves in the forefront of Smith’s mind?