TRO

20 hours ago, briny_ear said:

This is an issue you raise often. I actually think you are slightly misinterpreting Emery when he talks about consistency. I have only really heard him use the term when he is comparing us with other clubs with a history of much more massive spending and possibly a greater sense of entitlement to playing in Europe. And he always says we are where we are because we have been more consistent than these teams. I guess he is thinking of teams like Spurs, Man U, West Ham, Newcastle and Chelsea. They all have long histories of heavy investment in supposedly European quality players and yet we have won more games and lost fewer games than all of them, scored more goals than all of them bar Newcastle and conceded less than any of them. 

Emery is constantly emphasising to interviewers that we are where we are because we have played more consistently than these other clubs, and that we have earned our position and it is something to be positive about. Obviously we have had lapses but we haven’t had as many as the better resourced clubs. We obviously aren’t as consistent as the top three clubs but that is hardly surprising considering our recent history.

There is a very small risk that we will fail to stay in fourth but fifth would be a good achievement earning us European football again next season. Personally, I can’t really see any reason to be anything but positive about this season however it ends.

 

Neither can I...They have exceeded my expectations, already

Maybe it's worth pointing out the difference between observations and criticisms......non of my posts, reference criticism, just suggestions to improve.

But, I am looking towards improving, not standing still. I actually don't think I am misinterpreting Unai's reference to consistency at all.......and it's clear, the first half of the season, we was more consistent than the second half, for many reasons.

I am not attempting to denigrate, what has been a fabulous season, merely attempting to look at ways to improve.....I would imagine the manager is presently doing exactly the same, with his staff,  and not resting on his laurels.

It is feasibly possible to examine ways to improve, and mutually accept what we have done so far has been monumental.....maybe you are misinterpreting, my view.

It's clear unai Emery is a driving force, and is constantly, looking for improvement....something that has been a long time coming.....I am just joining in with him, looking for improvement.

21 hours ago, CVByrne said:

I think there's a key underlying assumption here on that you replace a current season ticket holder (who brings atmosphere but the lowest revenue per fan let's say because of the discount a season ticket is) and you replace them with a higher paying fan but lose atmosphere. 

The underlying assumption being those who can pay more for tickets are not as passionate which I think isn't true. In the case of corporate seating it is and the "prawn sandwich" eating it would be however. 

I think the challenge is balance. We need more premium seats with premium prices available that can be purchased as in if a group of Villa fans want to fly to Birmingham to see a game they can pay a price and the club gets the money. Instead of them having to buy tickets on resale on Viagogo. 

It's about finding the balance in seating and pricing. Not necessarily about sheer capacity of the stadium 

I was not saying a higher paying fan is less passionate.....but they do bring with them non-villa supporters as their corporate entertainment, was meant to be my point.

also the type on environment, these up market sections encourage, does not exactly lend itself to a fan losing his/her **** when we score.

I am not trying to over play atmosphere.....but merely saying, when you haven't got it, the higher paying fans are likely to drift.........Atmosphere imo encourages attendance from all demographics and social backgrounds, just saying "don't kill the goose..........."

17 minutes ago, MrBlack said:

Most of me agrees but a small part of me wants a final day where loads of results matter. The title to be decided. The last champs league spot. The last two relegation spots. 

It would be carnage, my heart would take a battering with Villa involved, but to have the last day matter but in a good way is something we've not had since the playoff final.  The low would be pretty bad, but the high would be much higher. 

Masochist.

I wanted champions league qualification, after the away game to Newcastle

4 minutes ago, tinker said:

The fact that we have players in the squad that aren't good enough to play tells us what we need in Emerys eyes imo. A DM, Rb and another option in the number 8 role. Then we have players leaving that need replacing,  I'm guessing it's going to be a busy window 

I see Dougie and Youri as the No 8's.

I only see Boub as a No 6.......and he will be missing for some time.....we need another one of them.........and when he is back, they will compete for the shirt, or both play in certain games, where we need to win the ball back.

We need more than 1 in a squad.

15 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

Comments about him being an “atrocious” or similar words as a signing are just baiting and made in bad faith. Bailey might have left in the summer. We needed quality options. He’s capable of having a loss of form like any player. I wish some supporters would recognise that tearing down players so easily is ultimately self-defeating. Moussa has been nothing but a pro and struggling with confidence at times. 

but euphemisms can be equally frustrating.

He is not atrocious imo.....but never the less, disappointing.

I am not writing him off, and can offer no real explanation, for his lack of threat......but there is an issue, that can frustrate some fans more than others.

He has moments, for sure.....but takes on passenger status, for long periods in a game.

There are certain elements of his game, that I am unsure of how confidence plays a part.....but that's just me.

as an example.....I don't see how a burst of pace down a flank, can require confidence, for a French International.....I simply don't see his pace, and am bamboozled by it, why.

Even if he makes a run in to the box, and gets brought down, it creates a nervy opponent and a possible set piece.....In reality, he is full of melancholy.....perhaps in the fullness of time, we will know.

2 hours ago, sidcow said:

I keep coming back in my mind to the fact that Bailey played under Gerrard during the time he was awful and it is Emery who has turned him around. 

I basically ignore any opinions informed about players in the Gerrard period, all bets are off there. 

What worries me is Diaby has had his entire time here under Emery. He's not going to suddenly enjoy improved/proper coaching as he's had it already. 

Inconsistency is his problem. When he's not scored/assisted, which has been great, he's been a complete passenger, an anchor dragging down the team performance. 

Very strange player.  Which are you going to get? Electric or square wheel? 

It seems to me, he doesn't like traffic.

open spaces, seem his delight......trouble is the Prem, is awash with players, who are intent in stopping you, and shutting you down.

He has to find a way, of landing on his "A" game.....and frightening the bee jaysus, out of opponents.....He is simply too passive, and that can suggest a lack of courage, maybe.

He is on the peripheral of a very good international team, so confidence, should be intact.

I don't profess to know the answer to his dilemma, but I doubt his current form is what prompted us to pay £50 mill for him.

I think right now, he is a bit of a problem for us. I am not sure what he offers.

7 minutes ago, Davkaus said:

It's no coincidence, the "top 4 is lava" jokes come out pretty much every season in the final weeks, as the teams without the quality or squad depth to challenge for the title find themselves running out of steam

As you might guess, while I more than accept the running out of gas argument.....I also think we are short of personnel designed to contain games....so for me, it's a double whammy.

I am hoping the latter, will be addressed in the closed season.

37 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

I think Villa fans are rightly aggrieved by the referee in the first leg, some really strange decisions went against us.

The early goal was a soft one to disallow and also a blatant penalty should have been awarded for the foul on Bailey.

In this world of football, unfortunately corruption is more common than ever and we know Olympiacos are not completely clean in all of this.

Throw in the fact Villa are suffering major injuries with having five or six FIRST TEAMERS out of the current eleven so we feel it. If Villa were at least with a couple of players back in the first leg we would have won comfortably...

Now we hear the referee has previous experience as a match-fixer and again the cards are stacked in your favour.

It's like Jimmy Sa vile baby sitting your kids......The mind boggles.

I think the one bit of light in this game, is that we are behind, and that might seem crazy, but...............

We are much better at attacking, than defending, so defending a lead, might not have been the best scenario, anyway.

We have nothing to lose, because not many think we can do it......so the pressure is on the Greeks, to defend their lead.....and how they do that, is debatable.

Momentum is a strange phenomenon in football, and should we gain some, anything can happen.

Midfield is our big question mark, but if we can secure a modicum on control we have a chance.

I have seen teams over the years, enter a match with all but lost, and the momentum of all out attack, has paid dividends....we need big conkers.

I think attack, is our only chance.

1 hour ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Spurs do have a very good home record against City but I think the key difference is most those games have been earlier in the season.  I think the fact City know that anything less than a win most likely gives the title to Arsenal is why they won’t slip up.

also Spurs have gone real Spursy......Their form is suffering like ours.

11 hours ago, duke313 said:

A game where Spurs had one shot the entire match.

I’ve never been more confident of a result, that of City beating Spurs next week.

but games are not linear, anomalies, do fly up.

We just have to hope we can get one more win.

1 hour ago, thabucks said:

Thing is they’re not free’s that’s a myth. what isn’t spent on a transfer fee goes on extortionate wages, large agents fees and massive signing on bonuses… Ndidi wouldn’t be worth the wages he’d command and you basically need to bribe agents with stack loads of cash to get their clients to sign… 

That maybe so.....but it's better than paying a shed load of wages etc  AND a hefty transfer fee surely.

I can't see a hefty transfer fee, coming with a low wage.

1 hour ago, allani said:

I think you and I (and to be honest most people who replied to me yesterday) are making the same point and are looking for the same type of player.  There was a suggestion that Sangare might be a good option - which I questioned because although his defensive stats are quite good, his ability on the ball is questionable.  I said we don't need that type of player because to paraphrase you - there's no point winning the ball if you just give it away again.  The issue we have with Kamara out is that Luiz and McGinn are not defensively disciplined enough - i.e. they are both good on the ball but not at getting it back (McGinn's better at both higher up the pitch).  So we need another player like Kamara who can win the ball and then use it effectively - i.e. someone who is good at getting the ball back and then almost as good as keeping it.  There's very little point signing someone who is only good at one of those things.  Now whether you call that person a DCM, a straight DCM, a ball-playing DCM or whatever is not that important.  What is important (I think) is getting someone who can do both those things as it gives us more balance (something you and I have both stressed the importance of for years) and more options - i.e. potentially playing two of those types of players when we are playing teams that we expect to dominate possession.  I think we've all gone off on a tangent around what to call that type of player when actually I think almost everyone is thinking of the same type of midfielder.  There's some question about how many players there are that are good at both things - in that regard I personally think that a lot of younger players are being coached better in both regards whereas a few years ago it was a bit more - ah you're good on the ball you can be a ball playing midfielder or ah you're good at tackling and built like a brick outbuilding so we'll make you a defensive midfielder.

That's spot on, not only that, they don't have the skill set to cleanly nick the ball away in an incisive fashion....they can be clumsy and clunky in the tackle, which inevitably results in fouls.

The problem is, with the depleted squad, we have little option.....so praise to them, for playing there.

As for the right type of CDM....I am struggling a bit, to understand the thinking of some.....We are in the top echelons of the Premier League, where all central Midfielders with defensive nous, can pass eloquently....They are quality players.

Why would be thinking of a championship standard version, who has limited attributes?

We have moved on.

I think there is a far better appreciation of the CDM role, today....having said that, players like Graeme Souness  and Roy Keane was doing it years ago....Patrick Viera was also well equipped and Busquets has been doing it well for some time.

I think Rodri is amongst the best examples in today's football, possibly Rice too.

PS It's interesting how important Rodri is to Man City, everything ticks around him.

On 05/05/2024 at 21:17, Delphinho123 said:

I think Luiz is overrated. I still think he’s a very good player.

He is overrated playing in a 6......He's a very good player, when Kamara is in....but I applaud his loyalty, to play where asked.

Maybe just had a dip in form.

back to Pau.....I really like him, but needs a dominant CB alongside him, to compliment him....to create balance.

7 minutes ago, pas5898 said:

I bumped into Pau a few weeks ago at a retail park. Having met a few Villa players before most of them (completely understandably) will quickly shake your hand, or nod / wave and walk off as quick as they can (It's a common affect I have on people). 

Pau was the most polite, calm and unique individual. He was genuinely interested in us, how we are Villa fans and do we go to matches. Another family quickly recognised him, again he stayed and had time for them. You can definitely see why he was captain at VIllarael at such a young age with his persona on and off the pitch. 

 

 

courtesy is free, and not used enough these days....nice story.

shows his inner strength imo.

On 05/05/2024 at 20:08, Delphinho123 said:

Deluded. Lot of you. He’s bang average. When he starts performing ill think otherwise.

At some point, a few of you are going to question why we’ve conceded as many goals as we have. He’s a large part of why we have.

Great, he can pass. Let’s see him defend once in a while. 

That's not the way we play

...............I'll get my coat.

6 hours ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

The referee has been previously banned for match-fixing and we are playing a team known for bending the rules.

Is this for real or some kind of joke?

I suppose in a world of cheats like Man. City and before them Real Madrid I should not be surprised.

Even if Villa race into a two goal lead we can expect the referee to red card one of our players and give them cheap fouls and a penalty.

saves them getting injured....if one don't get you, the other one will.

2 hours ago, est1874 said:

Villa lenses off, it is **** insane that a proven cheat who had a ban for being corrupt is allowed to referee the semifinal of a UEFA competition. 

Even a Mickey Mouse one like the Conf League.

It says everything about the footballing authorities that they do not care and have no shame, both in equal measure.

Does anything surprise you anymore?

5 hours ago, The_Steve said:

It was bad enough they took away our first goal and denied Leon a pen. They really want a Greek team at the Athens final. 

and they might get one.

1 hour ago, ben1505 said:

And the General Secretary of UEFA with direct ties to Olympiacos... corrupt anybody?

Sounds like the Eurovision, song contest.

4 minutes ago, Adam2003 said:

Even this (in a totally reasonable post) shows how crazy and short term football is. If I go back a month from today, without counting Thursday-Sunday last week, we have gone four unbeaten in the PL - including beating Arsenal - to go seven clear of Spurs, and won a European quarter final.

Basically the difficult period we are all worried about was four days last week! I think it’s going to be absolutely fine.

Hope your right.

We have won 3 league games in 9, so it's a little bit longer than that....not a crisis, but certainly not representative of what got us to 4th place......fortunately Spurs are also having a bit of a dip in form, ironic since their win at Villa Park.

We seem to have gone a bit indifferent since the Spurs 0-4 reversal, with only the Arsenal and Bournemouth games, showing the league table form....sure injuries are conspiring against us, and the players left fit, are being drained, but we have to keep going.

I hope we can find something, for the last big push.

I think it's fair to say, most fans expected more from him.

Will he follow a similar path to Bailey?....not sure, hope so, if he doesn't improve, we have wasted, some dough.

I think the biggest worry is, he doesn't look a threat....scores some great goals, but it's like a token gesture.

I also wonder where this blistering pace, is?....he was supposed to have.

I guess, we will just have to wait and see, if he finds some form from somewhere, that has prompted us to part with a record breaking fee.

4 hours ago, duke313 said:

We'll upset Jude again, if we get through.

4 hours ago, allani said:

There are still plenty of CMs or DCMs who won't fit in the system that Emery wants us to play because they are not good enough on the ball.  I agree that there are plenty of options who would be capable of playing in the way that we require.  But there are also a fair few who wouldn't be as disciplined defensively or as good on the ball when we have possession.

This discussion was kicked off by the suggestion of Sangare and the concern that his passing statistics are way below par.

I get your point, and its valid......but I hope you get mine.

There is no point, being good on the ball, if you can't get it, in the first place.......playing without the ball, is an important part of the game.

The good players, do both......win it and play it, convincingly.

I trust UE and Monchi to go after those that can do both.

There was a similar debate, when we signed Kamara.....saying its hard to get players who can do both. We not only did that, we got a french International at a tender age, with no transfer fee, from his home club....what a coup, just about perfect.

My point is.....if we don't know what we are going after, we can't get them.