Awol

Unless something is already in place and the parties are delayed by involvement in a bigger chain of transactions (as we believe the Watkins deal to be) then this is becoming a bit silly. If he wants to come and we want him then I don't see the reason for further delay.

He’s very skilful but also pretty delicate. Would definitely like a solid back up, either Henry or Lewis & happily move him on if we could get both.

He’s just to distract everyone while we thrash out the deal for Luka Jovic.

I wasn’t laughing that night, absolutely gutted.

Definitely, but no need for concern yet imo. Our owners are savvy operators and not playing games. The signings will come, and no doubt some will be a surprise.

No way you actually believe that.

Jamal Lewis. Jamal + Rico > Taylor + Targett. Happy with that.

I disagree, it’s an accumulation of factors. Better players up front means our attacks don’t breakdown so regularly through misplaced passes, putting central midfield under so much pressure as they scramble to transition back into defence. Better players means being able to press higher and break down attacks higher up the pitch, relieving pressure on the central midfield. I agree we need another specialist DM to really make it work against strong teams, but for my money Luiz is more than good enough to fill one of two positions. It might mean SJM having to work harder on that side of his game and that’s fine. If he’s on the bench, fine. We’ll set up differently for different opponents, we desperately need more tactically flexibility and the personnel to enable that. Finally, in terms of defensive play I remember watching Jack track back from the opposition box to our own, win the ball and then carry it upfield again. I don’t buy the argument that he doesn’t put the effort in defensively. No he won’t win aerial battles in midfield very much, but that’s not really his job - imo. Edit: also, Edouard. Great player!

Jack got surrounded because teams knew they didn’t really need to worry about marking anyone else. If we had two genuine wide threats in addition to Jack then either he gets more time and space in the middle, or the forwards get a lot more space to attack from the flanks. The problem isn’t Jack playing centrally, it’s a lack of other creative outlets.

Yes and yes. On the last point, Smith knows full well that if Jack is going to be in with a shout next summer he needs to be challenging for a CM role, if we keep playing him as a LF he ain't getting picked. I understand any 'Villa first' arguments, but if we want to keep hold of our best player Smith might need to accommodate him. That's why we need to sign right and left forwards this window, to flank him in a 4-2-3-1 set up. We'd also need another solid DM to play next to Luiz in a 4-2-3-1. I'm a big fan of McGinn but if we're going to kick on he shouldn't be a guaranteed starter. No one should except Jack, imo.

I like Dan but Evans makes my teeth itch. Was relieved when the Villa View came back, Tom is a much better straight man to Dan's... straight man. For the Love of Paul McGrath is another good listen.

Even if he doesn’t come to us, I enjoyed reading the last few pages of that thread.

If he doesn’t sign, it won’t be because Mrs Rashica decides to frustrate his career - unless she’s a got a way to raise 50-70k pw for the next three years.

Well if he was holding out for RBL and they’ve now chinned him off, it’s a pretty clear choice. Time to s*** or get off the pot.

In all seriousness I think the odds on us getting this fella just went up significantly, if the Bild article it links to is gen’.

That’s interesting.

It makes no sense at all. West Ham however..

Hazy links from abroad and some third hand ITK from an established poster who some of us are choosing to believe, because.. why not?

That’s right, you end up at an FAA owners trust services outfit. But people do love their social media, so it’s not impossible to figure out.

Obvious [.......] is obvious.

Well it’s not Wes Edens’. I spent too long last night trying to identify his plane then see where it’s been travelling - interestingly all historic flight info for it is withheld, which I’m told is unusual. Didn’t have the energy to try doIng the same with Sawiris after that!

Most serious football pundits were saying all last season how Jack brings something no other player at his level in England does, and we’re comparing him to Gazza. The wrongheadedness of this decision will sit there now all season like a dead cat, and the better he plays the more often pundits & journos will point at it and question what Southgate is thinking. Seems a silly hill for him to die on but we all know the country loses its mind when it comes to tournaments, fans from all clubs refocus on the national team winning. Just need Jack to keep doing the business until then and Southgate will be forced to u-turn.

All Jack can do Now is perform so well he exposes Southgate as the fraud he is. Fans and media will do the rest because they all want to win next summer.

No, not a club thing, a personal thing. That’s clear to the whole country at this point.