cheltenham_villa

Not a bad showing from him. Solid performance.

But in reality we expected to lose 3 or 4, goal difference will play a big part.

Is a one nil loss a reasonable result? Hard to stomach that I'm thinking this, but would you take one nil now

Trez and aeg have really put in a shift. We need to give some support with a sub here. Inject more energy

Are we all just waiting for the inevitable? If it comes, I can live with that. Just please no collapse

If we get through the United and liverpool game still one point behind watford, you've got to give us a chance

With hindsight maybe but if you compared their year 1 and 2 to Randy's year 1 and 2 maybe evens the docs their are lots of similarities. Lots of communication with fans, investment in players, investment in the community and facilities, big words around long term plans. The real test will be in 5 years time.

I dont think we should write off Norwich yet, if we were bottom but about to play 3 of the bottom 6 I'd think we had a chance.

I wondered this, I'm sure something like 70% of our signings either played for him previously or hed admitted scouting.

I don't see any risk of him returning to city. Hes had some good performances recently but I'd be really shocked to lose him this summer. It would take a decent bid and I just do not think the overall performances warrant anyone doing that.

I favour single lines of accountability but at the same time I always felt it crazy that MON appeared to sign the player, negotiate the contract, etc. Why would you give an ex footballer that level of responsibility, surely others have more experience. In this instance, like many others I'd like to know how transfers work. I assume it's a collective, I assume dean is heavily involved

Yes, how should we seperate his performances from Dean Smith's. Genuine question, what are the different targets for their respective roles or if one fails, do both fail. (To clarify I'm not arguing that any success has been achieved, the team is shit, I know that)

Time will tell, but if we sell them for less, were idiots.

Should be clear, I dont have any clear feelings about keeping him or getting rid. I was trying to draw a difference between him and dean and playing devils advocate for the debate (this is an internet forum after all). We look unlikely to hit 17th but are only 1 point off, is that 1 point the difference between success and failure. Luiz, Guilbert, Trez will all likely leave for greater sums than we paid. Is that success? With Lerner I'd argue to opposite, he had a 5 year plan but focused to much on here and now. It left us with an ageing squad. So the Pitarch role is about finding a balance?

Similarly disappointed, But in the context of Pitarch and judging how hes performed how should we seperate him from the team or if they fail, has everyone failed?

I think that depends, I wonder what the average is for a team finishing in the bottom 5? Not condoning just think a lot of defeats comes with the territory of finishing near the bottom of the league.

I'm not really sure how were supposed to judge him. Assume the team goals were likely finish 17th or above, have a decent cup run, reduce the wage bill, comply with FFP, overhaul the youth team, find players that can be sold for a profit. Some of that is too early to say, some of it possibly on target. I'm not really sure whats expected to be honest.

Flashes of quality but it seems crazy to worry that man city will be trying to buy a defensive midfielder from a prem club who have currently conceded the most goals in the premier league. I like him, hes started to look like the player we all hoped for but I'd be shocked so see him leave let alone for the Club currently 2nd. If someone wants to throw money at us, that's another story but I cant see why they would.

Me as well, were not blessed with forwards and we need to retain the majority of the squad. Not rebuild again.

But my point is, hes was outstanding in only 3 games, games that are typically easier for a defensive midfielder to shine in. I just dont see why that suddenly means hes city bound. Surely any serious club trying to buy him wants to see form over a longer period?

Blokes had 3 good games, playing as a DM when we were camped in our half with 10 men behind the ball. We didnt even win those games. I've also enjoyed the performances but baffled why this suddenly means he has a queue of clubs waiting to buy him.

Rafa?

Hes on LinkedIn, maybe possible to DM

A good debate but dont think this is always the case, 2 things to consider: 1. Have we got the players to play that way? We came up playing football, to suddenly become a team with 10 men behind the ball camped in our half will not get the best out of our current crop. 2. Wolves, leicester, Bournemouth have all become established to different extents playing football. I dont think that all promoted sides need to play the same way anymore.

Think about what you're saying, you really only care about existence in the premier league....for what? What does it give you? How will you pass on these stories to children, grand children. All of my greatest villa memories involve trophies, great games or great players. In all of those moments I was entertained. I'm lucky enough to have been to Wembley and watched us lift trophies and my reward is I get to remember those moments and share them with my son. We both got to jointly watch villa win the play offs last season after a great and enjoyable championship season. I don't think we will look back on finishing 17th and enjoying 30 percent possession against Chelsea at home. To not care about being entertained is absolutely mental.