ferguson1

20 goals for the season Ollie, take a bow son

Bell off already 

Luton do seem to have a few missing and Ogbene has only made the bench.

We can do this, 1-3 win.  

11 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

I’d rather sign no one and keep our key players than sell one or two to fund buys (while weakening ourselves in the short term).

I really don’t believe that the scenario is that tight or difficult though… we have enough “cast offs” or dispensable players that we can generate some funds from.

We don’t need loads of signings either, one or two key additions would make us stronger along with a fully fit squad and more to come from certain individuals…

We have a great base and plenty of potential… players who’ve been injured and need to discover from it improve too…

Losing someone like Emi (irreplaceable),

Luiz (absolutely crucial to us, just see Unai’s comments, he makes us tick, key to how we play),

Watkins (top CF, hard to replace, signed a new contract, committed - going nowhere)…

even Ramsey (so much more to come, brilliant last season)

and McGinn (we would lose too much, very difficult to replace personality/character/leadership and it’s usually players that have been with us a while who grow into such roles or develop those characteristics.)

(Same for Emi, it’s not just what they bring on the pitch. Having good, strong characters and leaders in the team is essential)

would set us back hugely and make things much more difficult, at least in the short term…

I don’t think we will sell such players UNLESS a huge offer (difficult to turn down, but how likely is that?) arrives… and there aren’t many clubs that have such freedom to spend now either…

I’m comforted by Unai’s words:

Especially this part:

It is dangerous sometimes when you sell some players just to have money in your pocket. Because then, maybe, you are not being patient and maybe it will be difficult to replace them while remaining successful

People and journos have interpreted these comments in different ways… I believe we won’t sell anyone important unless a huge offer arrives and the player is interested.

Unai has already been vocal about keeping and believing in Ramsey too.

Tbh, I find the talk of selling important players unpleasant and annoying… we’re not going to shoot ourselves in the foot when we are flying so high… our best season in decades… in the best hands and with our best ever manager. We are not going to go backwards…

I agree with most of your post and would also be disappointed to lose a key player. Perhaps we can box clever in the transfer market though and still sign one or two “free” transfers, whilst selling/releasing one or two? Kamara and Tielemans have been fantastic free transfers.

Hopefully we can find ways of wheeling and dealing without getting ourselves into financial trouble? The key surely is Champions League football and the rewards that come with it? So much extra revenue.

In the squad for tomorrow

6 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Other than the past 10 years. It's been the same 6 teams year after year. Eventually they will get back there as there revenue is much higher than ours.

Apparently you can’t have that kind of opinion without backing it up with stats and data

2 minutes ago, MSvillain said:

yeah you're right. we may as well just pack up and not even bother then

What are you on about? You asked a question and I’ve given a response. They do have greater spending power, but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete.

2 minutes ago, turvontour said:

Why? You think all of Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Man U, Newcastle and Chelsea are going to be strong and consistent next season?

How would that even work?

One of the reasons why Man U and Chelsea are so weak is because we are now so strong. Even gifting Man U six points we are much better than them.

No, I don’t think all will be stronger and consistent but teams with the greater spending power usually sort themselves out eventually. 

23 minutes ago, MSvillain said:

Based on...?

Greater spending power perhaps? 

1 minute ago, Villa87 said:

Surely Watkins makes the Euro squad despite Southgate’s ineptitude. Watkins has arguably been player of the season so far!

Think he’ll make it, as who else can he pick after Kane? Toney perhaps? Can’t imagine he’ll take Wilson or Nketiah now. 

It’s the other wide forward positions, which will cause him more of a headache. Foden, Rashford, Grealish, Saka, Bowen. Add to those, he’ll probably want Palmer and/or Maddison in his midfield with Rice/Bellingham. 

We have a great chance of making 4th or 5th and if we don’t, you take 6th and another season of European football.  It’s still progress.

However, I do think we may not get a better opportunity of Champions League football as we do now though. Spurs, United, Newcastle and Chelsea, just haven’t been consistent throughout the season and I can only see them coming back stronger next season.  The time is now. 

I can see Mings still playing a very big role for us moving forward into next season. 

Konsa, Mings and Pau playing regularly together, with one of a right or a left sided fullback / wingback.

Konsa especially could play on the right side of defence moving up into a CDM role alongside Luiz when we’re on top in games. Very much like Stones does at City.  Same could be said for Pau, playing more on the left side and doing the same.

We certainly miss Mings’ physicality, which is clean sheets have been at a premium this season. 

If we needed to sell a big ticket player, would think it more likely that Ramsey or Diaby could be sold, rather than a Luiz or Watkins. Added to that the sales of Olsen, Sanson, Digne, Hause, Chambers, Dendoncker, Coutinho, possibly Carlos, Duran or Cash?  Zaniolo and Lenglet going back. Could be one or two of the younger academy players to be sold again? 

With Rogers signed and Buendia returning for next season, we could cope without either Ramsey or Diaby player (if we had to sell one that is).

We’ve actually done pretty well exploring who is out of contract and getting someone in (ie Kamara and Tielemans).  I wonder if there are one or two that we could consider this summer?  Anyone know of a couple that we could look at?

Just love the guy. Hope he gets 20 Premier League goals this season, as absolutely deserves it.

please be ok

Fulham winning

Thank goodness Bailey. 4-2

Think bringing Digne on for Moreno would be a good move now. 

Good god, nearly 3-3

We really do play some beautiful football when we’re on it.  Unplayable.

Our passing combinations today have been fantastic 

1 minute ago, Mic09 said:

Please just send your CV to Aston Villa, ask them to reply with a blank check and write a number down.

This stuff is brilliant, both the shirt and the badge. 

Not my work unfortunately! Need to thank @Teale's 'tache but it is fantastic.

2 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

Prefer more of the AV diamond as this is the same shape as Fiorentina, since they happen to be on that graphic, but excellent nonetheless.

The AV was also excellent. Sorry, I meant it being unique to anything we’ve had in our history previously, not unique to others.  Just wish something like this was coming our way.

Gets the juices flowing for sure and will be a great occasion under the lights.  Love it.