Rossco76

Looks like the lad started out where I'm currently living in NZ!

Was really just pointing out there is Rb cover in the squad, regardless of how you might view the quality of that cover.

I personally don't mind chambers if he's focused and on it.

In fact could it not be argued that chambers > foyth that a few are calling for?

2 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said:

there is literally no backup for Cash

Chambers

1 hour ago, Tom13 said:

Talk of him coming back into the side has reminded me of one or two awful comments about/towards him after the Stevenage game. Proper out of order and cringe some of the reactions were.

It was spectacularly epicly bad though weren’t it…

I’m sure the lad has learnt from it 

Leon Bailey? Leon Failey more like amirite?

Apologies am feeling particularly flippant today

Yeah give him a run out against Palace I say

Maybe he’s not convinced by Digne and we have a move lined up to ship him out which would significantly reduce the wage bill.

I wouldn’t have a problem with this at all if that’s the case, have been massively disappointed with Digne for the alleged wages we’re paying him…

One of the reasons he celebrated JJ's goal so much imo is it's Emi's run which opens the space for JJ to run onto the ball.

"I want that one"

1 hour ago, allani said:

OK so this is a massive oversimplification but bear with me.  I think a midfield like Hamann / Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard is probably as close to being an almost ideal midfield 3 as you can get.  Pigeon-holing them into a kind of warrior, conductor and hero category is far too limited.  They were all pretty well-rounded players in their own right.  But as a trio they offer real balance - good at defending the ball, good at winning the ball back, good at retaining possession, good at passing the ball and controlling play and then obviously you have Gerrard arriving from deep and providing a real goal / attacking threat.  Now obviously they were three of the best midfielders in the world at the time so I am not suggesting that we are trying to replicate them or sign world beaters!!!  That would be crazy!

I think Kamara gives us the Hamann type player - he looks like a good tackler, but can also spot a good pass and is good on the ball meaning that he can play his way out of pressure. McGinn / JJ are our Gerrard types - pain in the **** when the opposition have the ball (probably a bit better suited to pressing higher up the pitch rather than on the edge of our area) but always looking to join the attack.  JJ is probably more of a ball carrier looking to burst past the front 3 so maybe slightly more Gerrard like.  So I think we need an Alonso type - great passer, strong at holding onto the ball and controlling the pace of the game under the press.  And I guess that last thing is the crucial part.  Luiz and McGinn are not good at resisting the press and either give the ball away cheaply or rush into trying an ambitious pass that 99% of the time ends up either out of play or with the opposition.  Luiz would be the obvious current answer in our current team - but for me there are question marks defensively and I worry about the pace that he (doesn't) inject into play in either direction.  My main issue is that Luiz and McGinn is that I don't think they complement each other very well.  If Luiz is struggling to get his passing game together then you don't give the ball to McGinn and expect him to take over.  Similarly, if McGinn is struggling to run at the opposition back line then Luiz isn't going to do that.

So I think what we need is someone between the skill-sets of Kamara and Luiz to fill the "Alonso role" if you like.  Someone whose main job will be to get the ball off Kamara and look to link with McGinn or our attacking players, but who can also control the ball, battle to get the ball back, etc.  Bit more importantly someone who can also effortlessly cover Kamara if we need to change shape slightly or if Kamara misses a couple of matches.

I can almost hear people saying "ah yeah well of course if we could sign one of the best players in the world we'd be better but it won't happen" so just to reiterate I am not proposing signing the current or the next Xabi Alonso.  I am just using those players as an example of three players who really complemented each other and provided great balance and obviously picking players that played with our current manager provides a neat symmetry.  I think we can achieve that balance at the level at which we are recruiting.  Kamara is a great first step.  Tim, JJ and AJ all have great promise.  My issue is that I don't think that any combo of McGinn, Luiz and Sanson gives us that balance.  All good players in their own right and all with a part to play across the season and certainly at times we could play with two of them on the pitch at the same time.

In terms of up front - I think ultimately we need someone who is sharper around the edge of the box, able to link up with our attacking midfielders and who has the vision to spot the runs of our fullbacks, AMs or JJ / McGinn.  Ollie just plays with his head down too much.  That player might be Archer in a season or two.  The question is can we persist with Ollie whilst we wait to find out whether we have his replacement here already?

Such a good post mate.

James Ward-Prowse?

7 minutes ago, thabucks said:

Omar Richards a shout for LB … Linked with Forest for £8.5million. 

Not related to Micah I hope 

Aguero probs about the same height as Archer, maybe even a bit shorter. Would be good if Cam ends up with the same kinda build.

To those that are complaining that gerrard isn't adapting the system to our available players, a serious question:

What system do you employ with a pretty shit midfield that appear to struggle to retain possession? Long balls from defence that bypass our midfield players?

Have you seen his post match interview on Villa TV? Guess it was right after the game but absolutely zero insight into what went wrong. Clueless is the word I would use.

Whether you're pro Watkins or not, surely most people would agree he was atrocious today against utd, just really really poor.

I thought it was Gregg Evans 

(In response to @Vive_La_Villa 's question about the brummie journo)

Does Carney lean more towards one foot rather than the other does anyone know?

Probably more of a discussion for the team shape thread tbf but thought I'd put in here for consideration when thinking of selling any of our wingers this Jan.

2 hours ago, Philosopher said:

Yup what I was thinking. Only one left winger, who is average. 4 right wingers, 2 have to go realistically. Plus I'd sell El-Ghazi and bring in 2 left wingers. More likely is one right winger gets sold (probably Traore) and one left winger is brought in. May sell El-Ghazi also.

We have to try and forget about thinking of these players as out and out wingers imo and start thinking about whether they could fit into what would appear to be Gerrard's preferred set up of narrower inverted wingers aka "2x #10's". Cutting into the middle of the park to either link up with central striker for one-two's or making runs into central positions beyond the central striker to receive and have a shot at goal.

1 hour ago, barry'sboots said:

Would you not swap him for Bissouma?

That is what we are talking about - trying to replace Marv with a player that can take us to the next level. Not saying that he wouldn't be a decent squad player although I think Iroegbunam might be ready for that spot next season?

Yes I would swap Nakamba for Bissouma but Brighton wouldn't so pretty irrelevant question.

I honestly thought Ollie was going to be subbed when Bailey came on, I have a sneaking suspicion that Ollie may have thought this himself if you watch it back I think he's asking the bench if it's him they want off. Bloody glad he stayed on!

I stumbled across this yesterday trawling for more Gerrard soundbites...

Of all of our wingers I think the narrower structure is going to benefit Traore the most. We all know how much he enjoys cutting in on his left foot, can't wait to have him back.

8 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

If I boot the ball at your face from 5 yards and you aren't able to move out of the way in time, technically yeah, the pass is completed. Obviously I am exaggerating for effect, but to claim all completed passes are of equal value is to strip the game of it's soul.

Fair enough. There were a couple of times I remember in the game where Nakamba is stretching to recover/make the pass with a team mate next to him that really should have taken control of the ball instead, JJ was the main one that sticks in my memory.

My main point was in opposition to AV82's post claiming that he's not good enough for the premier league. I think he is.

6 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

This supposes the quality of those passes doesn't matter. 

What do you mean by quality? A pass is either successful or it isn't?

I totally get that he is limited as a player and agree, but I think he is pretty bloody good at his job, which is break up the play, be a nuisance and keep it simple.