villabromsgrove

This thread is inspirational!

I've got a really positive feeling about Moussa Diaby signing for us. I will be amazed if he isn't our player by the weekend.

Researching Johnson, Doku and Diaby made me 100% certain that Moussa is the guy for us. For a player who uses his fast pace in every match as a key weapon in his arsenal to have only missed a handful of days to injury in his whole career is phenomenal. 

He will probably cost us £50 million but he's the key player we are currently missing imo. I can't wait to welcome him to Villa! 

4 minutes ago, Frodo said:

Diaby all day as Doku can't stay fit, looks like Diaby is more consistent & injury record looks very good for someone so quick  

Diaby has missed just 4 days through injury, Doku has missed 197 days!

It has to be Diaby.

11 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

I get plenty wrong mate, we all do. And you get plenty right too. Unfortunately, everyone picks on and focusses more on faults/mistakes rather than attributes in most walks of life and topics really.

I prefer a more lighthearted and fun approach but sometimes you just feel the need to respond or comment on something that feels unfair, exaggerated unsubstantiated etc.

I still hold mild concerns over the fact that we lack a bit of physicality and aerial ability… we rely so heavily on Mings and on McGinn to “fight the battle for us”… it’s all about balance isn’t it?

I think the priority is technical quality and composure but you do need to couple that with some steel and aggression as you often point out..

I fully trust in Unai though and his ability to get the best out of his team and to address or even compensate for any potential deficiencies..

 

Do you think we have ever had a better manager?

19 minutes ago, TRO said:

Yeah, we have explained our feelings towards JF

In my pursuit of the defensive side of our game, and my tendency to support that area of development.

.....sure we need attackers now.

I do get things wrong, but I get things right too.....Some have a habit of focusing on the negatives ( not you Jas)

What do you think of Diaby and Doku?

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

22 minutes ago, allani said:

I didn't think Gerrard was at a PIF club (at least not officially)?  I might well be wrong though...

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

20 minutes ago, Zatman said:

PIF have no say in transfers from Gerrards team

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.

8 minutes ago, paul514 said:

As a side point currently our right back plays as a defensive right back.

 

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.

6 minutes ago, VillaJay said:

If we are signing him it's to play now, we won't be spending 30m and loaning him out. I haven't seen enough of him, personally would prefer someone with pace and composure, but I'd trust Emery if he feels he can make an impact, similarly to Asensio, he's not the quickest either so it looks like we're favouring technical ability.

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.

13 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

 

Not disagreeing but… maybe Unai can improve and educate him as he has done (and will continue to do) with others… Matty probably had the least time or opportunity to impress him. World Cup involvement and injuries and knocks. His assist for Watkins was quite impressive too…

I mean, you’re kind of describing McGinn in a way too and Unai calmed him down, made him more composed and able to take more touches of the ball before releasing it, for example… what a turnaround in form.

I expect further improvement in our players because of Unai and his coaching methods. Some quality additions will make us a lot stronger too and a really formidable and dangerous side.

So much to look forward to.

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.