roonst83

In his partnership with Mings it was the latter who was tasked with driving out from the back. Konsa was part of one of the league's best defences in the lockdown season behind closed doors. People are quick to forget everything that happened that season. He's very assured and comfortable on the ball, and not in a slow swagger way that Mings has, Konsa is more of a footballing defender. Passing the ball around the back is a tactical approach from the management and coaching staff and plenty of our players do the same. I'm not saying he's perfect, he had a poor season last season. But he's got a lot of positive attributes that seem to be overlooked because you don't hear much from him in the public/social domain in the same way you will with Tyrone. I guess I'm saying I think he's better than others seem to be labelling him as. Just an opinion.

Don't get the hate. Konsa has everything in his locker to be our best centre back. He had a below par season last year but he's shown in the past how he's our most assured defender. Him and Mings work very well together. He's good on the ball and is more of a threat from set pieces than anyone else we have. Seems he's been written off which seems unfair. I'm personally a big fan of his and love the passion he displays on the pitch.

That’s what I mean. They’ve taken the place of Arsenal in this regard.

The new Arsenal. A banter club who are victims to the internet memes.

Big win. Much needed for us given the shambles of last week but also the off field attention that we’ve dean towards Gerrard. We had most of the ball and Everton played to counter. I felt before the game we’d struggle to break them as were much better when the game is open and stretched and we lack the craft to carve open clear opportunities when teams are behind the ball. That’s why having the predatory instincts of Ings is vital as he wanted that finish so much. Great ball from McGinn to Watkins and nicely played to Danny. I always we needed to score first too so feared the worst when it looked like Everton had taken the lead in the first half. Got away with that. Close one and I’d fear the worse if we went behind. We looked shakey from set pieces all game. Every corner felt like panic stations but we got through it. Boo Boo showed his class all game. Composed throughout, has a great knack of winning the ball back and very comfortable on the ball. Reminded me of Gareth Barry for us. Really good signing. Game opened up second half which suited us. There were a few nervy moments but we stood up well enough to those. Coutinho was, once again, largely ineffective. Ramsay improved second half too - I felt he lost the ball too much and too easily in the first half so it was good to see him back to driving forwards at players. He can really carry the ball well when he gets going. Ings and Watkins worked very hard up top pressuring their back line. Although you just knew Watkins wouldn’t take either of those very good chances he had in the second half. Buendia changed it for us. On the ball at all times, driving forwards and you could see the other players all step up their energy and interest with him playing. So pleased he scored as he richly deserves it. That should have been us home and hosed but we completely let our guard down and found ourselves on the back foot within seconds of the restart. Dreadful goal to concede and gave a wounded Everton hope they could bag a draw. Expected the worst as thought they’d bag a scrappy equiliser which would’ve been horrendous for us. We should’ve made it three when Watkins was wasteful. The poor first touch, as he often does, made it hard for himself. But we dug deep and held on and meant I could keep my retro Villa shirt on to take my twin boys to soft play in East London and ended up seeing a young lad in full Villa kit in Haggerston park on my way back home, which was a nice surprise. Overall I felt relieved with the win. We just needed to get off the mark today as 0 pts from Bournemouth and Everton would represent a dire start and immediately add (more) pressure on us all. There’s still lots to improve on, and I’m not quite sure Gerrard knows who he wants to play or how he wants to play with this team. But we deserved the win today I felt. A better team with more natural strikers could well have punished us heavily but we go there and that’s what mattered today. Hoping Critchley gets more of his stamp across the team in the coming weeks and we begin to stabilise and adopt a true game plan that we can carry out and be a threat against all opposition. Big big win today and great to be up and running. Hope we can take confidence into the next games.

We always look better and more of a threat when he plays. Ergo: play him. Always.

Ty’s reputation has actually vastly improved since being dropped.

Luxury player. Until we can dominate and control the middle of the park to free up Phillipe, then he’s utterly redundant.

He was better with Smith’s team. He’s got worse as he’s gone on.

Spot on. Agree with all of this.

Excited to see Boo Boo in the Prem. Am confident in what I’ve seen already that he’ll grow and develop as the season progresses.

His better finish was the second, yeah. But I'm only jokingly being pedantic. I like Ollie. He has had moments where he's scored a few nice goal, but I just feel he lacks pure natural finesse and ability with his finishing. But all credit for him working on his finishing away from Pre-season. Can't knock that.

The tap-in for our first against Liverpool?

Fair enough.

Coincidentally I've been chatting to a Brentford fan at work today about Ollie and he said how there's no finesse or elegance to Watkins's finishes, it's either 6 yard box finishes (nothing wrong with that, Ruud Van Nistlerooy made a living from it) or occasionally he can smash them in. But her remarked you won't see him dink it over the keeper or curl one beautifully, and you don't really fancy him on one-on-ones. I love seeing a player want to improve themselves. These training videos seem to demonstrate this and other playing and management staff have said similar, but I'm concerned there's parts of being a finisher that can't be taught. Ultimately I see us struggling to break away from the likes of Saints, Palace and Brighton if Watkins is our lead striker due to his limitations. Would love to be proved wrong though, of course. And I really like him and has shown great workmate at times, which isn't to be dismissed.

Hardly a "close up"

I actually did realise that but I can see how it looks like I thought it was a direct quote from Gerrard. My point being, I'm sure Gerrard will be keen for Ings to score more, but that won't happen unless he plays him more.

Love the quote "Gerrard will be eager for that tally (8 goals) to be improved upon next time out" Try playing him more then!!

Good point. Had forgot about that.

My biggest fear with Emi is that Gerrard would always rather start Coutinho over him and that he can’t find a place for both.

Loan couldn't have gone better for us really. We have an in-form and well loved player in Kienan who Forest fans seem keen to keep. His stock and value has risen considerably higher than it ever would (realistically) at Villa and Gerrard won't give him any more minutes than any other manager has. Makes sense to sell him to Forest and wish him all the best and watch as he inevitably scores past us next season.

I just love this guy. Super talented, hard working and loves to get stuck in. He offers us so much. Need to find a way to ensure we can utilise both him and Coutinho. City have a team of ballers so let's just copy them. Easy.

I'm expecting Grealish to flourish next season. Think he'll get more game time and will relish playing with a proper striker.

If we can make a profit on him then I'm fine with him leaving. Like the guy a lot but he doesn't have great technique in all honesty. Much prefer Ings (appreciate they play differently) as he's a far better finisher in my opinion.

Lovely to meet you Mr Peter Walton.