Eric

As a Swede I have seen quite a lot of him both at  club level and for country. I’m sure he will do good as our number two. He has over 50 caps for Sweden and has the record for clean sheets in a season (19) in the danish league.
 

And as other posters have pointed out, Lange knows him from his FC Copenhagen days.

1 hour ago, StanBalaban said:

It's difficult to assess most midfielders in isolation, as their performances are intrinsically linked to the players they're paired with. 

If McGinn was in a midfield with Kante at Chelsea, his game would instantly look better. Same alongside a Rodri or Fabinho. And before people start telling me that Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool aren't buying him, that's not the point I'm trying to make (although rumours were that Liverpool were interested).

Would he get in the West Ham, Leeds, Arsenal or Spurs midfield? Absolutely and they all finished higher than us last season.

McGinn is great character, settled at the club, works his bollocks off each game, a leader on the pitch, and you can tell he is trying hard to improve his game day after day. Moreover, he's a damned good footballer. Pair him in a midfield that showcases his energy, the ability he hold the ball, drive forward and chip in with a fair few goals, and we have a huge asset on our hands.

And how about some **** appreciation for the goal he scored too!

Spot on, sums it up perfectly!

Some of the comments here… Wow just wow!

10 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

That guy is the worst ITK out there!

That’s not fair, he’s just...

The referee is a complete joke!

I can’t understand all the negativity, we should have scored at least 5 and were unlucky not to.

So very sad. RIP Ugo

8 hours ago, TrentVilla said:

 

If this move to Burnley goes through today then I will be delighted, only probably for different reasons to most. 

This thread and at times Westwood's treatment at games has in my view been embarrassing.

Whatever people's views on Westwood as a player, I just don't think he has warranted the abuse and vitriol directed at him.

I don't dispute that he hasn't progressed as a player, I don't dispute that he has failed to have enough impact in games over a prolonged period. I don't dispute he has been a central part of the worst midfield I've ever seen under successive managers.

But he has had the misfortune to play under some truly woeful managers with some terrible players.

Throughout that time, no matter how limited he may have been as a player, I think he has always been committed and always done his best.

So he bloody should people will be rushing to type. And yes I agree but we all know the reality of football and of Villa these last 7 years is different.

This club has been leached off and continues to be leached off by parasitic lazy arse players who contribute nothing and frankly couldn't careless, simply going through the motions.

Some of them aren't even fit enough to have consistent movement through 90 mins.

This club has been dogged by a collection of assclowns and whoppers on a scale usually only seen at a Trump rally.

I actually think the oxygen thief N'Zogbia was more liked by some than Westwood.

I'm happy we seem to have replaced Westwood, I think we will be a better team as a result and I'll be delighted if we get £5m.

I will though be over the moon to see the back of this toxic thread (please let it wither and die in other football) and light it puts us as a collective.

I for one wish Westwood the best of luck if he moves, I only wish some of our 'better' players had conducted themselves like him in recent years.

 

Post of the day!

24 minutes ago, Junxs said:

I must admit, watching his youtube clips doesn't excite me too much, seems a bit slow and scores a lot of "lucky" goals where rebounds fall to him, or someone lays it on a plate for him 3 yards out.  That didn't stop Robbie Fowler from being a fantastic player though, so l wont judge him just yet. £9-12m does seem desperate though.

Somehow there are players that always are at the right place at the right time. It's like they have a 6th sense and just knows where the ball going. He seems like his got good acceleration which for me is more important than great speed, especially if now when we have an improved midfield and probably going to see teams playing very defensively. Which means the 40-50 yard counter attacking runs (Gabby), will not be that frequent. 
If there was anything in the clip I would be slightly worried about was that his passing was a bit sloppy at times. Seems like he missed some easy passes. But at the same time it’s just a youtube clip and we’re buying him to score goals not pass fecking ball. 
 

8 minutes ago, markavfc40 said:

It is a bit sickening and sums up a treat exactly what is wrong in football.

He has been with us since he was 8 and regardless of the natural ability he had the club have gotten him into a position where since he we 16 he has been in and around our first team squad. Off the back of that he has now been offered the biggest contract the club has ever offered a player of his age even though he is yet to start a game for us.

His agent has a lot to answer for I am sure. At a time RHM should be knuckling down and concentrating on nothing more than forcing his way into the team he is getting ideas above his station. With Kodjia and Ayew away and Gestede having been sold there was a massive opportunity for him over the next few weeks to cement a place in the match day squad and it appears he has sacrificed that in favour of chasing a few more pennies. What a fool.

Agreed, and it's not like the big money move wont be there if he plays well for us and wants to go to a "better club" in a couple of years. 

I say it's his agent giving him poor advice.

Looked very good at Bernabeu... how many of our current players would do that?

Not saying he would walk in to this team. But at the same time people here  saying he is useless and to lighweight can't have seen him play except in the worst Villa team for decades.

would be intersting ro see what a proper manager like Bruce could get out of him.

32 minutes ago, Richard said:

So to sum up today, nothing apart from lescott out?

I wouldn't say Lescott leaving is "nothing". It's great news! Just keeping fingers crossed that Micah is next. I have kind of given up on Gabby leaving...

I'm not a fan of Gabby, nerver have been. The reason is he is way to inconsistent and of course his behaviour of the pitch.

But the abuse he gets on social media is way over the top, and the the way people attack him kind of makes them even bigger pricks. It's quite ironic that people attacking Gabby behave even worse than him and of course hide behind beeing a supporter "paying their wages bla bla bla..."

What a useless  ****  clown!

It will  be difficult to move him, because nobody want  to pay his wages. So If and that is a big  If dosen't  get a  transfer this summer I want to see a 15 pounds lighter Gabby ready to play 90 minutes from day  one. That mens no holiday, no drinking, no smoking and for gods sake  no more **** junk  food. 

I doubt that will happen though, but its time to do more than talking.

Oh dear... Another one bites the dust. Who in their right mind that is close to as good as we need are going to take the job?

Well I guess Gabby is happy.

12 minutes ago, bobzy said:

I don't really know quite how much evidence you want for this to be "backed up", but I'll give you the following:

- Demand his players act responsibly (drops Grealish, stern telling off. Clearly recognises big talent. Has stated quite honestly where we haven't been good enough, including after a 2-0 win against Norwich.)

- Has a clear idea of how he wants his team to play (build up from the back, from a solid base.  Quite obviously tries to do this.  Very possession orientated.)

- Identifies weakness and tries to shape a team to his requirements (Goalkeeper needs replacing, goes for Croatian guy.  Lacking goals up top, tries to bring in a striker.  Major defensive deficiencies at right back, tries to get Debuchy. Drops Guzan, drops Agbonlahor, calls N'Zogbia out for being exactly what he is.  Shaping to requirements might be harder to assess, but we certainly setup one way and try and match the players to do it.  Richards moved to RB.  Veretout as a weird LW.  Wanting to shape team to his requirements?)

I'm not really too sure what more evidence you want/would expect after 15 league games in charge.  Maybe you expected an entire overhaul of the team with a brand new one purchased?

 

 

Edit:  I also like that "the jury is out on whether he's the right man to bring us back" whilst recognising that he hasn't been here "that long".  I'm so incredibly fed up of the short term thinking on here.  The guy needs at least a season and a half, as I've said about every other manager (inclusive of Sherwood) and the chance to get his own players in.  I'd be bitterly disappointed if the board acted to sack him at season end.  I should imagine the more likely scenario would be Garde walking.

Your two last posts are 100% spot on!

23 minutes ago, Blasterpocket68 said:

I'm going to get some flack here But

i belevie we would of been better off keeping Sherwood rather than made the Garde appointment . I really believe we would of amassed more points and still of had chance of survival.Yes he would have continued to make some mistakes but he could inspire the team and go for the throat in games. 

I really do not think we would be any worse off than today, I recon we would possibly be around 5/ 7 points better off. So still a chance of survival if and buts I know! 

Ill go and hide behind the sette and wait for the barrage of abuse ! 

Just wow... 

10 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

How on earth was David Villa lightweight and apart from being Spanish he is nothing like Gil! 

Sorry! I mean David Silva of course.

David Villa is lightweight aswell... And I think he does "ok".

Young, Kean and Bent?

I know it's an old joke... I'll get my coat :)

Mourinho wouldn't take the job at Villa unless he would ve given an obscene amount of money to spend or we were a top 4 side.

hes signing for liverpool then?

NO, Medical at Citeh...

 

I caught a bit of Sky Sports News earlier and they had Tony Cascarino comparing Adebayor with Benteke using Football Manager stats. Really, that's what journalism has come to.

 

I'd like to see Tony Cascarino's FM stats.

 

Giving Head - 11

Finishing - 6

Being a Complete F***ing Moron - 21

 

Fixed for ya!

Got to be honest - if we wanted an experienced striker to tide us over until Gestede has settled in, I would have much rather gone for Rickie Lambert instead of Adebayor. At least you know what you will get with Lambert...

Not very much!