TrentVilla

22 games last season and 15 points, we are on 10 points in 7 games. That is a hell of an improvement, fair play to Carla Ward.

As for them lot down the road, groundhog day for them.

7 minutes ago, Stoobs said:

I fully agree with you that the SPL, on the whole, is dreadful. I watch virtually every match that is possible to watch and to be honest, it would get football stopped. I judge players like Kamara on their international and European experience though. It wouldn’t be a gamble to see if he could cut it with Villa. There are players, not many I may add, that are just far too good for SPL. VVD was the most obvious one. He went to Southampton but everyone up here knew that he was going to top 4 club. Robbo was more of a surprise. Tierney has become a favourite at Arsenal (albeit has had a lot of injuries) I just see SG bringing someone with him from Rangers. Someone with a winning mentality and technically gifted that can handle, the step up as you say. Playing against Wolves, Burnley, Norwich, Newcastle, Palace, Southampton midfields etc will not phase a player like Kamara. Realistically, whatever CDM that Villa sign, will find it tough against the top 4 or 5 teams in the PL. All speculation on my part of course. SG might be glad to get shot of Kamara….lol. 

I think there is a risk in judging players on international or European football, especially in the Europa League. I think clubs have learnt their lesson on signing players on the back of tournaments for example, I agree international performances are an indication of a players ability to perform against better standard opposition though.

If Gerrard goes for any player from the SPL I’d be prepared to trust his judgment, he knows the players better and he knows the level of the PL. My comments were more related to the reasons why a lot will turn their nose up.

I disagree on the last part of the above though, we aspire to competing with the best clubs so we need to sign players to do so, we don’t need to sign players who can’t.

2 hours ago, Stoobs said:

I think a lot of English fans said the same about Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson, when they moved from SPL. Because they played in Scotland doesn’t mean they won’t be able to cut it in England. Take Kamara for example. A standout for the Finnish national side, playing against top class international midfielders in the international arena and Europe when playing for Rangers. I think it’s slightly arrogant to think that he just wouldn’t be good enough for Villa. Really looking forward to the next 12 months at Villa Park. Of course, nobody knows how it is going to go but I think a few are going to be surprised. 

It is arrogant, we should know better given we signed McGinn there are obviously good players in Scotland. However you also have to realistic about the standard of Scottish SPL sides compared to the PL.

We signed McGinn in the Championship, lots of PL clubs had looked at him but not gone for him. He was outstanding in the Championship but hasn’t been in the PL.

The other examples you mention both made moves to lesser clubs before Liverpool. Robertson to Hull and VVD to Southampton again lots of teams had looked at both.

The truth is in both examples top clubs waited for them to come South and be proven in English football. They would rather pay the premium for players they know can make the step up.

We aren’t a top club but we aspire to be, so it is arrogant to think there are no good players in Scotland but the truth is a lot of our fans would rather we buy players we know can make the step up, we have the money to do so. There are plenty of examples of players coming south that couldn’t, far more than those that could.

No way we should consider selling him in January but come the summer I think we should be looking at CB’s.

16 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

Still no interview

It isn’t as if he will say anything at all of note.

Please stay on topic, we’ve asked a number of times now. This thread is about Gerrard, not Smith, not players etc, thanks.

4 minutes ago, Peter Griffin said:

Apparently so. I am hoping that is to allow us time to get Beale et al on to the Villa payroll. Once that is done it will remove a huge amount of questions we couldn't answer as we would be still negotiating / sorting out the paperwork. On Monday we can do the big reveal hopefully

I’d imagine they’ll be in Monday meeting the players and taking training and the media stuff will follow.

2 minutes ago, MentalM said:

I would guess us, we been complimented on our behavior in that regards before. Norwich did say we were respectfult and a good club to deal with in regards to Buendia. 

That was my assumption

Just now, WallisFrizz said:

Jim white has just said (presumably from Purslow) that Villa interviewed 4 and Gerrard blew everyone else out of the water. He will do his first press conference on Tuesday.

He said something about a club being a pleasure to negotiate with, was he referring to Rangers or Villa I didn’t quite catch it?

@GazRFC One question for you, marking on set pieces… does Gerrard use man to man or zonal marking? Or is it as I suspect a mix of the two. 

5 minutes ago, GazRFC said:

Hi guys, Rangers fan here, joined last night to give you some insight into Gerrard and his team and style of play. 
 

I gather from here that a lot of you are underwhelmed at this appointment and I suppose understandably so. However I think you will be surprised.

He came to us in 2018 off the back of us being pumped 4-0 and 5-0 in successive weeks from Celtic with our caretaker in charge, we were a riot. 
 

in his first season, he had us neck and neck with Celtic at the new year and managed to record our first league win over Rodgers Celtic, the first time we had beaten Celtic in the league since we got put down the leagues.
 

He also qualified through 4 rounds of EL qualifying within his first 2 months in charge, becoming the first team to ever do this. He went on to do this on his second season, third season , Infact he has qualified us for the groups in all 4 seasons he’s been here, beating teams like galatasaray along the way. 
 

with us, he plays an attacking 4-3-3 formation but one of his weaknesses is his in game management. Often waiting too long to make subs. 
 

Michael Beale is the brains behind his operation and he will be valuable to you. He is a serious talent. 
 

There is a danger of being caught up in the “gerrard circus” with the media but it’s good exposure for you guys. Any questions just let me know but I seriously think he will do well with all the money he will have to spend, he worked wonders with us on a serious budget

 

Thanks for dropping in, as a mod of the site just wanted to say welcome. We are always happy to have ‘away’ fans on here as it really adds to the site.

I think it is a mixed bag, personally I’m excited but with some reservations, I think he will do well. 

2 minutes ago, momo said:

Appointing gerrard is small club mentality. Whatever else you are saying is coming from somewhere else than me.

No, no it isn’t doesn’t matter how many times you say it.

Can we keep it about Gerrard not Smith thanks

19 minutes ago, romavillan said:

deffo staying?

Think 5 coming with Gerrard non are keeper coach, doesn’t mean he stays but there is a good chance I think.

1 minute ago, HKP90 said:

Well you start off and you don't know how to do a job, then you do it for a bit and you get a bit better, and then you do it some more and you become good. 

Not sure why I need to explain how experience works. 

 

 

 

Erm… interesting.

So something like this?

Start off not knowing what you are doing - Gerrard coaching Liverpool youth teams for 15 month first with the U18’s then U19’s while doing his coaching qualifications.

Doing it and getting better - Going to Rangers doing quite well in his first season then winning the league in his second going unbeaten.

So now he is good and arrived at Villa, perfect.

1 minute ago, romavillan said:

deffo staying?

I don’t know but he hasn’t gone yet and I don’t think the Rangers coach has joined us.

2 hours ago, Xela said:

Massively regarded and now he's gone. Shame. 

Lack of continuity at the club is disappointing. 

He hasn’t

3 hours ago, AshVilla said:

From hero to zero.

Bring back Tom Fox.

Good grief.

I felt they held back in the summer, I suspect now it wasn’t reluctance to spend but perhaps doubts about Smith.

Could be an interesting window, I think we need a back up keeper and a better LB. The top priority though is CM as I felt it should have been in the summer.

4 minutes ago, Steero113 said:

Chabuddy G?

I'm sticking with flat head, slippy G probably isn't appropriate any more