nepal_villan

46 minutes ago, omariqy said:

Thought he was harsh in some instances and spot on in others. 

Yeah - a bit all over the place. Looks like the rollercoaster season is getting to him too. Still one of the best Villa content creators. I'd love to have our own version of Mark Goldbridge. That's what's missing in the Villaverse. 

1 hour ago, Wezbid said:

Gerrard's pre-match interview regarding Watkins/Ings playing together sounded like he's after a forward who will make the conversation null and void. Could be me reading into things but he was responding to a question about Ollie and Ings playing side by side. He's expecting multiple signings the way he was talking. All for it. 

Meaning?   

6 minutes ago, Ingram85 said:

We need someone who knows how to score a **** goal. Watkins and Ings not good enough imo. 

If Ings can't score goals, not sure who you think can.

Ramsey really deceives some fans. Yes he makes nice runs, but he is really sloppy at times. Don't like that Gerrard is basically giving him the keys to the Ferrari. Feel Sanson would be much more steady. 

1 minute ago, ender4 said:

It’s a weird one.   Why not a youth player instead?

The remaining youth players had a U23 match earlier in the day

The Coutinho and Digne (presumed) will hopefully create buzz amongst our current and prospective commercial partners. After all of this, it would really be  a let down if our kit supplier ended up being Castore.

7 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

There was report in one of the papers the player is actually interested in moving to us so I'd say if true that's one thing to keep the story running a bit but can't see Brighton selling him this window.

Brighton are pretty much safe from relegation. Makes sense for them to cash in on a player who can walk away in 18 months. It's either get 35-40M now or 20-25M in the summer.

LB, CDM, CB and GK are the 4 positions we need to strengthen. Then we are ready to make a serious charge.

1 hour ago, MaVilla said:

This would be the bomb imo.....

Backup: Young

that means we would really need to offload: El Ghazi, Trezeguet

 

Not sure about the exact players, but think that will basically be what our squad will look like going into next season. Anything less than Top 8 would be very disappointing. 

If Coutinho does not totally  light it up, still expecting a decent contribution from him - better than the 1 Goal 3 Assists Buendia has provided us so far. An out-of-form Bale scored 11 goals for Spurs last year showing that world class players still contribute good numbers when they are not at the top of their game.

3 hours ago, Rightdm00 said:

How often does a mid-table PL club sell a reserve player for any kind of profit?  We already had a Europe top 30 wage bill our first year back in the PL.  Doubt anyone is going to stump up any type of fee for Anwar or try to match the wages he's getting here to play 15-20 times a season. Outside of moving on a free think he will see out his deal here. 

This is our challenge. It's difficult for a club in our position to sell our fringe players for a good return as the clubs above us would not want them, the ones below us could not afford them and the ones outside the Premier League could not afford their wages. Even the likes of Traore, Targett and Cash - there really are only 5 or 6 clubs that might be interested and could potentially purchase them at above the price we bought them for. 

32 minutes ago, Rightdm00 said:

Agree, and now PL clubs are building training grounds that cost more than the stadiums most championship clubs play in. The sport science and coaching available at Bodymoor Heath will be some of the best in the world. Given the above going out on loan should be part of the development process but not THE development process. 

Also, just a weird fact but Villa don't seem to send their youth out on loan often. Nothing like Harry Kane's development. Ramsey, Grealish, Albrighton, and Clark all went out on loan for less than a full season. I feel like at Villa if you are doing multiple loans then it probably means you aren't good enough. 

In the next few years will have a overflow of academy talent where we have no choice but to keep sending them out on loan.  Also the threshold to play with the Villa first team will hopefully be much higher.   

2 hours ago, DCJonah said:

It's such a shame that he just hasn't been able to get started. 

I hope when he's back he can stay injury free till the end of the season. 

We now have the luxury where he does not need to be rushed back. Furthermore, he'll have to bring his A-game to get back into the starting lineup. 

1 minute ago, mikeyjavfc said:

Hmmmm feels like a classic Everton signing this. He will be on massive wages so he will be expected to play, which is dangerous as he hasn't played much football for last year - feels a bit like the Barkley loan again. Thinking long term, if he's going to be a blocker to Chukwuemeka or Bailey into the first team then I don't really see the point. 

 The first few months of James at Everton and Barkley at Villa were quite positive. If we can get that with Coutinho -- job done.

Clearly a Gerrard signing, thus his reputation is on the line here. It's what makes me optimistic about the signing. 

In Watkins, Ings, Buendia, Bailey, Traore, Carney, JPB and even JJ and McGinn -   feel we have the frontline pieces we need, it's just arranging them in the right way. If we can sort this out, we go from midtable side to one that will be challenging for a European spot.

He gives us options in midfield.

Just now, troon_villan said:

Annoyed at Cash but he's constantly left 2v1 down that side.  He needs protection or backup. 

Actually think Sanson has really supported him

Just now, ferguson1 said:

I think most of us agree that it’s either Watkins or Ings through the middle and not both on the pitch at the same time. 

To start with. Can play them together when we need a goal late.

We look like a top 6/8 side. Some really nice football and going toe-to-toe with the Champions League holders. Our midfield has really impressed me.  Forward line lacking a bit of cutting edge. 

7 hours ago, sidcow said:

One things for sure. 

If they do pause the league and we're miles away from the relegation zone, I'm going to be one helluva lot more relaxed. 

No way we even come close to relegation which will be around the 30-34 pts mark. We are just 3-4  victories away from that.

Think the Saudis will quickly realize they ain't going anywhere with the current management team. It will take them 5-7 years to get up to speed. Let's see if they have the patience. 

Arteta was pretty much left for dead and has turned things around. Not ready to write-off Leeds and Bielsa just yet.

Appears in one of the training photos from today but SG said he is not available. Guessing they are holding him out for a loan. 

Ings and Carney in for Buendia and Young