Marka Ragnos

We need to get out of this with no injuries.

These guys were 2nd in Serie A? Bring on Napoli. We're ready for the CL, folks.

I'm thinking Digne may be able to go to Saudi Arabia and we would be OK?

No doubt. Always so stylish.

Sebby doing well ...

Taty's Argentine, btw, not Italian.

And to think I was saying we needed to hire Taty last year lol. He was killing it in the MLS. File that under "it seemed like a good idea at the time."

JPB is everywhere. In a good way. I think?

He really does need to, I agree. We need him as an option but he's got to convert chances.

Omari in the house! I wonder if Seb is short for Sebastian?

You won't catch me kvetching about the headlines today.

I agree with most of this. But wouldn't the idea be that Torres would sorta cover that area sorta until Moreno returned?

I like Digne, and there's no question he's a fine LB, but he does sometimes strike me as a little too two-dimensional. He does this one little swivel move on the volley all the time that attempts to move the ball upfield but often gives the ball away. Maybe Emery is asking him to do that, I dunno, to hurry the ball upfield from the back as fast as possible? But he needs another touch, or get his passes on the volley right (which is very hard!).

The only thing that matters about this tweet is the ridiculously cute profile pic from Iraq ... look at that little Villa lad ...

You've started it now ... another early/mid-60s folk-pop gem of enormous influence. From 1964:

Repost ... 'cause I'm listening to it again. Now-obscure mid-80s Austin, Texas indie band who used to be called Zeitgeist ... such a great first album, too. All but forgotten in the States.

This seems like such a fascinating game -- I can't imagine ever getting to see Lazio in person. I confess, I feel really envious of you all being able to. Wow. Not that Villa aren't just as "big," but Lazio, wow wow wow. I'm very aware of the club's controversial history, and I do keep that in mind. It seems like some of the worst of that has faded a bit, the fascist associations? I don't keep that close an eye on Serie A, but Lazio did so well last year, and, I don't know, it just feels like kind of an honour to be paired with them for a friendly -- not that we're not worthy. What a cool moment.

My night before a Villa match with Emi unavailable ...

I hope someone on the Villa recruitment team is considering the importance of punnability in making transfer offers. Imagine the fun of working (@bickster? @mjmooney?) with "Dest"? He practically feels like our destiny.

Can't buy me love ... is definitely a more a McCartney than a Lennon (or a Lenin) sentiment. But money can buy a new forward or right back for Villa.

I don't think many here are arguing that Olsen stay if presented with a high-quality incoming transfer. My read of the situation is that -- regardless -- Emery wants Olsen to stay, and the transfer focus has shifted elsewhere. I may well be wrong, but that's my read. It's not the outcome I'd hoped for, but I don't mind seeing Villa live dangerously for a while. Events may as they have a way of doing overtake this discussion. If Olsen makes a huge blunder, if Martinez (god forbid) is injured, etc.

He plays left CF-ish/left-winger-ish, right? The role would offer healthy competition with Jacob and possibly Bailey, right? Excellent on the ball, excellent passes, excellent assists, good header? But I don't know. Almost feels like we would be overloaded with forwards.

Well, your name is lexicon. Who am I to argue with your word definitions? There are gradations of excellence, obviously. I think we can agree on the need for a new second. Emery for some reason doesn't seem to see it that way. Again, I hope it's all academic and Emi stays fit. It's a weak spot, for sure. A grave one.

Haha. Are the Villa finally big enough now, João? Or you still need a big, big club?

Moot anyway -- so yes, no, maybe -- it's little more than academic. We're keeping him this fall, it seems. We can only hope that Emi stays fit and well. The main thing is, we do need a new second keeper, IMO. I've been 100% consistent and insistent that our main recruitment drive should be a new second keeper. We agree on the need for a new second, I think. My other point isn't all that subtle. It's simply that Robin Olsen is a competent PL-level second keeper in a squad whose approach has changed in a big way. Any competent second keeper in the PL is by definition an excellent keeper in my book. Not a starter. Not a mascot. Not an academy kid. You appreciate that it's possible to think a player superb and still not good enough for Villa, right? A PL second keeper has a very peculiar set of requirements and skills, and I -- and many others! -- happen to think personality and group dynamic are a big part of that. They're not simply lesser keepers. It's a very tricky role and calls for a special personality. It seems Emery thinks that Olsen has that right now. Olsen totally has my respect. I just think the drawbacks at our level outweigh his many many benefits. And again, Emery seems to disagree. But second keepers are of course as you know not simply shit keepers plugged into emergency. They have an outsized non-game role, too. They help warm-up and train and stand ready to be called in. All that said, Olsen is more towards the end of his career than the beginning.