villabromsgrove

Diaby has missed just 4 days through injury, Doku has missed 197 days! It has to be Diaby.

Two of my favourite posters .... you're both proper gentlemen. Cheers guys.

Sorry Allani, I didn't notice your comment when I replied to Zatman. Your ("at least not officially") comment is right.

Technically you're correct, but in reality I don't agree. Al Ettifaq are 'owned by a name' that no one knows that much about, and it seems that they are owned by the Saudi ministry of sport. Given that PIF and the Saudi "ministries" are synonymous, I think that PIF are probably pulling the strings. Sports washing is part of the Saudi agenda, and they are currently looking to do with football what they did with Golf.

Theoretically you could also have the situation where Gerrard might well want to sign his good friend Phil Coutinho, but PIF may say "NO" because they do not want to pay money to Villa and considerably reduce our wage bill (improving our FFP situation) as we are a probable Newcastle rival.

AL-Nassr were banned from registering new players on Thursday, until they pay up on outstanding debts including one to Leicester. I guess they will do that immediately as they are now owned by Saudi PIF. It raises a question over multiple ownership of clubs (PIF who own Newcastle took over the top four Saudi clubs very recently). Newcastle are currently constrained by FFP, and will be concerned that players like Diaby signing for Villa will cause them problems next season in staying above Villa in the PL. So Al-Nassr theoretically step in and make a silly offer to Bayer Leverkusen for Diaby and that interferes with AVFC's plans as it either turns Diaby's head financially and he signs for them instead of us, or pushes Diaby's price to us to a much higher level than would otherwise be the case. Each scenario damages AVFC. I may be overly cynical, but the lack of current regulation with Saudi clubs in relation to UEFA area controlled signings leaves an opportunity for the possibility of unscrupulous actions.

I think it's clear that Felix will not stay with Athletico Madrid this coming season, so where will he go? He will obviously have to go to a club that is rich enough to afford him, and make sure that they are likely to play him as a first choice player. They will also have to play a brand of football that suits his abilities. I don't see many available options for him at the moment.

Emery is building a team. Each player he buys is a building block in his project. Lukaku (who is now an over paid, ageing, overweight, low energy front man) doesn't fit in to any sort of vision that Emery and NSWE have for their 'project'. Why would Unai replace Ollie Watkins with a has been?

If Joao Felix wanted to join Unai Emery's "project", and Villa were able to put a suitable package together for him, it would be an amazing leap forward for AVFC. Our growing reputation as a potentially big club would be immediately enhanced. Felix was feted to be potentially one of the most talented footballers in the world. His big mistake was allowing Benfica and his agent to sell him to Atletico Madrid managed by the dour and aggressive Diego Simeone. His individual flair was immediately submerged beneath totally defensive non possession type football. Even the two front men in Simeone's 4-4-2 were considered to be the front two defenders, putting on the highest part of Simeone's block. Turnover football did not play to Felix's skills and technical ability and neither did total protection of a 1-0 lead for large parts of a match. The instruction to take long shots straight after a turn over was also a waste of his talent. It's no wonder that he became disillusioned and fell out with Simeone. Going to Chelsea on loan must have felt like a real opportunity, until he was confronted by the reality of a team in the middle of a major car crash! The questions I ask myself are these .... Would Felix get on with Unai Emery? Would he flourish playing Emery type football? Would Unai be able to bring out the player that Joao was predicted to become before he was damaged by the "Simeone bulldozer". He is still only 23, and has his best years ahead of him. To me he is a very exciting (if previously unlikely) prospect.

This is the thread I visit before I go to bed. It's the only place on VT where I can guarantee a bit of peace and quiet. My last thought before climbing into my super comfortable bed is .... how can we spread this calmness to the rest of the site?

I think Emery could be the key here. Diaby knows Unai from his PSG days and if the choice is between Unai Emery and Eddie "Who?" as a coach and mentor, then Unai is numero uno.

With FIFA putting Al-Nassr under a transfer ban due to outstanding debts, that removes one possible source of obstruction from our pursuit of Diaby.

Love the "Cash Cam". He is a really nice ordinary guy and is in top physical shape for the job. Can't believe this is his fourth season with us already. This was a good insight into the "Villa family" that Unai is building.

Good point. Emery will probably set up with a very attacking LWB and a line of three RB/CB/CB. Cash/Konsa or perhaps Carlos will be tasked with a defensively orientated RB job. I don't think we will use a RWB this season. That's why a top quality right winger is so important to Emery's style of play.

There's a YouTube video of them both during a brilliant season. It's worth a watch. (I'm useless at linking)

I think you guys may be overlooking one thing .... The way Bailey and Diaby worked together at Bayer Leverkusen. They were dynamite!

Attitude, energy, pace, technical ability and an eye for goal, and he's also two footed. All at the young age of 22 (exactly the same age as Ramsey). Imagine how Jacob and he will develop under Emery's coaching.

Willian is just signing for Forest on a free. Johnson is off by the look of it.

Tielemans, Torres and De Ketelaere are three very good positive passers of a football. Is there a pattern emerging?

This is probably an unpopular view given the weight of criticism that is directed at Bailey, but I like Leon and see a lot of goal scoring potential in him if we signed Diaby to provide the type of service he needs. Buying Diaby and selling Bailey would not make a lot of sense given their almost telepathic connection on the pitch for Bayer Leverkusen.

Excellent post .... I agree 100%. Cash was in and out last season due to injury and then not being fully up to pace after the World Cup break. He can be a blank canvas for Unai to create the kind of holding right back he wants. He has the right attitude and physicality, now he needs Emery to coach the tactical and positioning awareness into his game.

He's got a bit of pace but he doesn't look as quick as his FIFA stats, and looks similar to Bailey and Archer. The PL is a big step up, but he's got the building bricks that a good coach can work with.

I see Archer, Bailey and Buendia being very effective as impact subs this coming season. If I'm a tiring defender I wouldn't want that pacy and skilful trio coming on and running me ragged for the last 20 minutes of a game. They could be match winners.

Good post .... "Onwards and upwards" should be our positive belief, as well as our motto.

Top post in my opinion.