ejvilla

I like that midfield. Ramsey to stake a claim today - he really has looked very good in preseason and changed the game at Watford. Hope AEG is wound up and has a stormer. Seems to do well when he's been doubted. Only question mark would've been Young for Targett, but would've been harsh on Ashley after doing well last week.

Have only seen the highlights on YouTube but looks very impressive. A bit like Carney in those vids in that he looks like he's playing men vs boys. I wonder if he'll challenge for minutes with the first team this year or go straight back out on loan. Quite happy with attacking options now.

Good dollop of your own medicine needed there.

Struggle to see me as fan because of how I've interpreted a clear statement? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised given the powers of deduction you've evidenced. Haven't spun anything negatively. Said team isn't good enough for a CL push, with which you presumably agree. Said it needs a DM for a Europa push, for which some would call me optimistic. So it's currently a mid-table side most likely, which is below the goal the club seems to have set. Yippee! Let's all celebrate! I would've said my interpretation was positive... and I'm generally positive about where we are & are going. And stoking fires? Do you think Lange is holding a crisis meeting because I've told the interwebs we need a DM? I'd say fans who spend time thinking and talking about how they'd like to see their team evolve, sharing opinions, are better than those who just attack anyone who's not spunking claret & blue at all times.

It's the logical interpretation. Jack left to go join the type of club that can win trophies and plays CL. Dean says we're 18 months from being the type of club he'd want to stay at. What about this is difficult for you?

I agree with your view that CL is miles off. The club has said though that Europe is the target for this season. Dean has said it and so have the players. I presume it is the target the board have set this year. In that context, do you think the team is strong enough?

Yep: "We at Aston Villa are probably 18 months behind where we needed to be to keep Jack but Jack will show his worth on the highest stage of all in the Champions League, as he did in the Euros in the summer."

Well we were told to expect champions league within 18 months by the manager a week ago, then Watford walked through a team that apparently doesn't need strengthening.

Traore was terrible in preseason games... horrendously bad... and he acts like Mr. Glass when he gets a knock. You think he's acting, then the waambulance arrives. He came in and did really well, but he's so inconsistent it would've been difficult to start him. When he's 'on it', he's unplayable. AEG has his moments and seems like a great lad, but should be playing in France / Netherlands where he'd tear it up. Needs a lot more time and space than he gets in the prem. Also needs less defensive responsibilities.

Yep. No service. Don't remember a single pass to feet for him. I do think that's all fixable. This was the first time that lineup or the adjusted lineup post-half time have ever played together. Ash & Targett - never played together - get demolished. Cash & AEG - unfamiliar - look poor. Ings & Emi - first time together - no understanding. Pity it will take time. Need to pick up points to keep pressure off.

Was one of the best on the pitch today. Always find it strange how we all see different things watching the same match.

Well.. yeah... but it's about priorities. JWP is a minor upgrade on existing staff, a 60M DM would be a major upgrade on a massive hole. For example, we're not saying we should sign Pau Torres, even though he'd be an upgrade on Konsa, because CB isn't as big a priority.

That new midfielder better be Viera via time machine! Watkins playing wider is a worse solution than Ings. Watkins has been the out ball & the defence stretcher. He can hold the ball up as well as any CF in the prem. Ings can't do that. Plus Watkins is a bit headless on the ball out wide. He's like a better Agbonlahor... better control and finishing, but same lack of deft or creativity needed in thosr wider roles. So I think you'd have both players in suboptimal positions

I think we're on the same page, but JWP is lower priority. I'd punt 60m on the ball playing holding midfielder though and live with the current squad options. Kante is out of this world, but there have been many ballplaying DMs who would be good enough.

Is he injured? Richarlison and Martinelli both started

Doesn't fit any of our best formations currently. We either have to field him out of position or field a weak midfield to fit him in.

Is he really what we need? Genuine question... great setpiece taker, fine midfielder, but he seems like at best an upgrade on the mcginn/luiz/sanson spot when what we need is a Rice, Phillips, McTominay, Fletcher, Keane sort of midfielder. Haven't seen enough of him so happy to be told I'm wrong!

He needs Nakamba to stay in our half! I want mcginn on the ball 35 yds out, not Marv. We need minimum 4 defenders covering for counters in these types of game. Can't have both FBs and both CMs driving on. Konsa & Mings are very good defenders, but Nesta and Maldini couldn't cover the space we left today.

Physically strongest midfielder we've seen in a villa jersey this season (and preseason). Which is great for him, but an indictment of our midfield generally. He's a very tidy player. I like that he has an edge too - likes to leave the boot in and put a shoulder into opponents.

Sure... but we can't play a 2 man midfield from the current staff and play emi, ings, olli & bailey. So someone's missing out.

Poor performance, but knew it was coming based on what we'd seen in pre-season. Team needs time. I'm strangely glad Dean picked AEG and played Young at LW, and played JMcG and Marv... because I feel like we would've conceded those first 2 goals regardless of if he'd started Bailey or Traore or any of the younger guns and it might have destroyed their confidence or fans faith unfairly early. Shake the cobwebs out. Up the sharpness during the week. Drop AEG (and send him out on loan/sell), Bailey in for Ash. Hope watkins gets fit. Martinelli & Richarlison played this weekend! Where's Doug!? Marv can only feature as DM in a midfield 3, as a screen. Don't want to see him in the final third ever. Just. Stay. Back. Can't play buendia in midfield without 2 other strong holding mids. Luiz & Marv are best at that, but an upgrade is required with a bit of strength. Badly need a Declan Rice or Kalvin Phillips type of mobile DM. If we play a mf 3 without Marv, Emi has to play wing forward, which means one of Ings/Bailey misses out/rotates. Ings can't lead the line by himself by the looks of it - especially if we're not playing into feet ffs. How many crosses to nowhere? Surely that wasn't the plan! He was dominated on any high ball all day. We're too lightweight to play a 2 man midfield. Ramsey actually looks the strongest physically out of all options. We especially can't play 2 marauding CMs... like wtf? And maurauding fullbacks? And lazy wingers? Asking to get spanked by any team in this league. How many times did we see Watford running at Mings or Konsa with zero cover? A better side would've put 7 past us. Better in last 20 mins - but there are fundamental problems to solve. Will be a very tough season. The safe bet would be to spunk £60M on the biggest, strongest, most composed DM who'd be willing to come. No idea who - but we've a giant hole in the middle of the park. Someone needs to drop & take the ball off the CBs, turn around and start a move. Like Luiz was doing a while ago. Can't rely on Mings/Konsa to be deep lying playmakers. Words of the day: naive, weak, slow, disorganised, selfish, individuals... fixable!

Luiz is one of those players who will leave us and go onto be a CL regular for a Spanish / Italian side before returning to a top 4 prem club for £65M when he turns 27. Problem is he joined us too young. We need the player he will be in 3 years, but that guy wouldn't join a mid-table side. Hope I'm wrong and he's consistently good enough this year to command a 1st team spot.

Good Athletic article post 2019/20 season on Ings: https://theathletic.com/1944677/2020/07/27/danny-ings-southampton-firmino-fernandes-analysis?source=user-shared-article

Or to play in a back 3? Nice to have that option

We should be going for Ben White if he's available. Very good ball-playing CB who'd have a big impact going forward against weaker sides and challenge Konsa & Mings. We struggled against defensive sides to progress the ball last season unless we went ahead early. Also, Arsenal are going for him, which would make it extra funny.