daft

So that's a freekick, but hip checking Bailey isn't a foul? Really? 

1 minute ago, rjw63 said:

In the old days they'd have just got up, punched each other, and got on with the game.

Honestly, how it should be. Possibly not so much punching, but just get up, get on with playing football. 

Get the word removed off. He's probably crippled for life.

God, footballers are so **** fragile. I keep forgetting, and I **** hate each and everyone for it. 

3 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

In general you might be right, but in this case there is literally nothing funny about it. See also Mrs Brown’s Boys.

That is not for you to deicide for others, as painful as that insight might be for you all. My personal opinion is that it's painfully unfunny, but not much point in me trying to force my tastes onto others. It's just a futile. 

4 minutes ago, sidcow said:

Totally agree. 

Right, I'm of to snort some coke off a hookers tits before jumping on the Jetski to go Wild Boar hunting with a sharpened stick.

Wanna hang out?

8 minutes ago, sne said:

Tbf it is their job to make sure the players are in top shape. Always feels like Villa is a too comfortable place for players.

Conte and his coaches had their players working so hard they threw up during pre-season. Ours went to the zoo. Obviously ours worked out too but I refuse to believe our coaches were as demanding as the ones at the top clubs.

Players need to be held accountable and have strict goals and rules, sure they have those already but I imagine things will change for the better under Emery. Anyone not up for it should be fined and then shipped out if they can't get with the program.

I doubt any PL team has fitness issues. This is usually a symptom of players thinking too much, and not just acting. It becomes hesitant, stuttering and devoid of urgency. 

7 hours ago, romavillan said:

I dunno I bet the supplements they give them are personalised these days down to the mg of the different ingredients based on what they've been eating, blood tests etc. 

Possibly, but I wouldn't think that'd mean they actually have to be on the bench to monitor. Still, I don't mind, and it might be one of those 'we're a **** team' things. Absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I did notice a woman of about the same age as her in Arsenal squad also being on the bench as well, not sure if she's a physio or also a nutritionist. 

1 minute ago, VillaJ100 said:

Honestly he looks a bit concerned already

"Why is the catering team on the practice pitch? Where is the squad?" 

1 hour ago, tomsky_11 said:

Even still worth picking up? As appears to be available for less than £4. Guessing by died you mean they've just stopped releasing dlc for it?

How you finding it?

If you can get Imperator for that it's a no brainer. I also bought it on sale for a pittance, and I heartily recommend it. Yes, they moved the dev team over to other projects no it's dead in that sense. 

Viccy 3 is a mixed bag so far. Overall I am having fun, but there are some bugs and warfare is kinda' shit IMO. I think it looks very promising with a decent foundation for the future. I can see myself pausing it a bit after 40 or so hours to wait for some DLC. 

24 minutes ago, MSvillain said:

Completely agree!

To build on Pinebros point, why are we even bothering?

let’s just end the premier league now and we can all find other teams/sports to follow 

In all honesty, this is kinda' where it's at. Not everyone can be top 6, especially not consistently. However, we have the coming financial apocalypse that might bail us out as football will sort of have to revert back to a much more humble state as those fans that even have any kind of disposable income left will be loath to spend it luxuries such as football. Granted, this might be scuppered by super rich elites that might be able to hold on and push us out of the market completely, but I doubt they will want to spend billions on owning football clubs for prestige. 

Just now, messi11 said:

I believe in Emery! He can get us 6 points out of the next 4! 

If he can turn our next 4 points into 6 he is a **** magician! 

10 minutes ago, messi11 said:

Emery is costing us over £25 million. I expect to see instant results 

You will be disappointed. 

2 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

This is fast becoming a Wednesday thing.

It's barely past lunch where you guys are at? 

3 hours ago, BOF said:

If he's half as good as Villa fans who rarely see him in action think he is then he'll have no problem getting another role anyway. He seems a top guy and from what I can gather (fwiw) seems quite highly rated, so he'll do well elsewhere hopefully.  I completely understand a new manager having his own team and trusting who he knows.  Something tells me the goalkeeping coach is not going to be the make or break of any coaching regime, so this change doesn't bother me anything like how it seems to be bothering others. Mountains out of mole hills for me.

As a hockey goalkeeping coach, a good relationship can built confidence, details can help (hockey goalies occupies one of the most technique intensive position in modern team sports) but mostly it's about the long term work you do. Sure, sometimes you can make small changes that quickly changes stuff, but Martinez isn't at that stage currently I feel like. 

20 minutes ago, Bazmonkey said:

Sorry.....as a scout myself for a Premiership club.....the blame should solely be on Lange....he is the one who signs off on new players correct...but the scouts are directed by him.....its not as simple as watching games and coming back saying I've found the next best thing.....scouts are directed as to what the powers above want....if Lange wants a 6ft midfielder who can play with is left foot...then the scouts will go out and find one.

The recruitment over the past three years has been shocking....mediocre players for way too much money...some of which will be here for a while as no other team will taken them...maybe one or two.

Gerrard made mistakes...granted.....he got the sack but so should Lange giving him a duff squad to work with only a handful of good enough players.

Good points, and let's hope that direction improves under Emery.

Also, stop finding good players for rivals, alternatively,  let's hope your boss gets the sack.

Interesting that they have nutritionists on the bench during games. 

"Get Couts a Snickers, he's being a bit of a diva!"

On 30/10/2022 at 16:34, OutByEaster? said:

They're in a very weird position - they've spent a lot of money and they're bottom and looking probably the most likely side to go at the end of the season. They must surely have pushed their FFP status out some and face having to sell off a lot of stuff if they go down.

Then on top of that, they looked for all the world like they were going to sack their manager and didn't, instead offering him a new contract, which means that if they do decide to take a risk and sack the manager in the hope that a bounce can keep them in the running, they'll now need to pay him a lot more compensation.

On paper, they've made the worst fist of this possible, it looks like a disaster waiting to happen from both a financial and sporting perspective.

 

 

I think they rush up the table a bit after the WC.

I think the most interesting team in Allsvenskan this year was IFK Värnamo. Tactically very clever, had a clear identity and managed to perform pretty well in relation to the resources at their disposal. Listened to a few pod episodes with their ass man, and it was very enlightening. (TFA Podcast)

13 hours ago, Pinebro said:

Howe fixed Newcastle in a month.'I think we should expect something similar.

That's what top managers can do.

Well, in all honesty they need to get through more proper rough patches before we declare them legit. I think they and Howe are still overperforming and that it will be impossible for them to keep going like this. But we'll see. If he keeps them at it for the rest of the season I'll be impressed, to say the least.

8 minutes ago, WallisFrizz said:

 

This is great news! As a hockey fan, I know all to well what concussions can do. 

1 minute ago, Herman22 said:

 

Sorry, you’ve misunderstood me. I’ll be patient with Unai like I was with Gerrard. I think we need to leave the manager do his job now for 3-4 seasons. But the first three are complete free hits, in that I will read nothing into the matches (good or bad). And hope that the WC break will give him the time to get his ideas across to the players. 

I see. Makes sense and I agree!

1 minute ago, nick76 said:

I think it might take longer than three games for free hits.  It’s good he’ll have a month with no games to drill his style into them but we have to be patient.

I don't think or suspect, I KNOW. There is no way in hell this squad comes together in a new system in 2.3 games and brings decent performances or consistency. If anyone thinks that you are just setting yourself up for disappointment. 

8 minutes ago, Herman22 said:

Unai needs to work out a system quickly. For me our two starting full backs (Cash and Digne) are a real weak link. 

He also needs to get the midfield balance right and I’m still to be convinced of Watkins and Ings playing together! 

I think our players from an individual point of view aren’t bad. The team is peppered with good international standard players. We have just looked poorly coached for the last 18months.

I hope Emery gets us playing as a unit and more than the sum of the parts. For me it’s a free hit until the WC break. I’d hope to see his style come through after that! 

Errr... he gets what, 2 games? That's generous of you.