ramshackler

Whilst for many reasons to do with AEGs attitude, I'd have like to have seen youth given a chance, I think some in this thread genuinely expect a bit much from our young players. Vassilev is never going to be to our standard. I mean look at RHM, oft touted as worth a chance in our team by many on here. A woefully inadequate player who when released the best he could find was pafos FC, Cypriot first division! Bottom line is, playing these youngsters would only be a kick up the arse / punishment for players like AEG, as they are not good enough

I accept alot of what you say mate. But no I enjoyed all three years of the championship. There were terrible lows and great highs. I'm not saying it's where I'd like to be forever more, but I just enjoy going to watch my team week in week out. With the hope that we can do well. The championship is brilliantly mental. Anyone can beat anyone. I thoroughly enjoyed it overall, even if at times it was frustrating. The Premier League has VAR which is a huge issue for me. But also FFP which has destroyed any illusion that anyone can break into the top 4 long term and banish the thought of anyone outside them winning the league (forget Leicester as that was an absolute freak). But I took real issue with the way we would field reserve teams in FA cup, uefa cup, league cup to focus on a league we had no chance of winning. Like finishing 6th instead of 8th was more important than a cup run or god forbid an actual trophy?! In an ideal world we are top four in prem and challenging for titles. But it isn't going to happen with FFP. We may have the owners, but we are in an undesirable location and if spurs only just managed it for a short brief spell and arsenal are struggling to then we have no chance

I've been saying this for ages about Davis. Even I'm starting to accept he lacks the positional awareness to be a goalscorer even when his confidence is up also despite his physical attributes, he is too nice. Never see him react or get angry or look to bully a defender. If he had maupays nasty streak he could be a real handful. Sadly I think his career is going to pass him by somewhat

Genuinely really looking forward to championship next year. I've been disillusioned with the PL since long before our relegation. The top four push before being blown out the water by city and almost bankrupted just emphasised the pointlessness of it all. We'll never win it, even with sugar daddy owners, we will never be allowed to win it with FFP. Top level football really is set up to protect the status quo these days. On top of all that, VAR has genuinely ruined football for me. I haven't celebrated a goal properly all year, waiting for some nonsense review before I can accept it. Totally ripped the emotion out of it. While we would be angry at wrong decisions before that could always be accepted as human error, but to have obviously wrong decisions upheld after five minutes and ten camera angles just sends me into apoplectic rage. I just want to watch my team play good entertaining football. Maybe win a title (playoff or championship feel just as good at the time) rather than a best case scenario of plodding along to a top six finish while sacrificing any cup runs time and again. The fact we have that to look forward to in a league as relentless and competitive as the championship. Playing twice a week every week and without VAR is great. I'm looking forward to it I said it before but it's just a shame being in EFL long term isn't financially sustainable and the prize for winning it is going back to the horror show that is the Premier League

I like Konsa, one for the future definitely but sorry he absolutely did make a Horlicks of that clearance. If he stays on his feet it's a simple headed clearance. Why he opted for an overhead I've no idea, but even then if you're a pro footballer a ball looping at that speed you should absolutely be making a clean contact and clearing that ball. He pretty much air kicked it he sliced it so bad. In isolation it's not the worst mistake in the world and it happens, so no point slagging him, but just so happens it's cost us a three points that was absolutely vital to our season and has pretty much doomed us. Could tell the lad was devastated as he knows he could and should have done better with it and will be hurting. Chin up Ezri put it right next year

The player that got us three points the game before? Ok Listen Trez is absolute garbage, but at least he works hard and can pop up with a goal. Someone compared trez to the new Labrador puppy. Runs around everywhere like crazy can't fault his enthusiamsl, but pisses all over the carpet and shits the bed

I was all for signing him despite his inconsistency last year but admitted it was a risk. Now I hate him more than anyone. He has thrown in the towel since Southampton away and his mystery head injury, asking to be subbed when jack and Ming's laughed at him and tried to pull him off the floor. Gutless coward and hasn't even broken a sweat since and his agent started leaking stories about how he will be leaving Good riddance. Shocking miss again yesterday and then spends the next 10 minutes holding his balls as if he has been mortally wounded which is why he missed, not cos he is useless. Enjoy the rest of your career at herenveen or some other nothing club. Prick

Better than Merson? That's a huge statement tbh. Jack absolutely has the potential to be better than him, but so far he has had half a good season in the top tier, inconsistent in the championship until the drive to promotion. Has looked amazing in patches this year. Merson was class for years and I still dream of the magic Man years. Absolutely love the Merse. Not quite sure that we can say with absolutely certainty that Jack is better than Merson

My fear is City may even buy him back to sell him on at a profit. Do we know what amount the buy back fee was?

I'll be honest, Suso has for me signed some of the worst players I've seen at Villa. However overall he had an incredibly difficult task needing to get in 14 odd players on a small per player budget. Trez is an awful signing but at the time on the face of it, he was coming off a good season and didn't cost the earth. Wesley is the only one for the money you could argue we could have gotten better, but remember this was the summer Haller and joelinton went for £40+ million! Nakamba came with pedigree and initially looked ok but has gotten steadily worse. He made some good signings, Ming's in January and then in summer, Douglas Luiz while not setting the world alight was a nice coup. Guilbert was a steal for the price. Heaton was good. I just don't think he too bad given the enormity of the task. Both him and Smith are victims of the early promotion

So to never give him another opportunity following what everyone accepts was an outstanding debut is just crazy? Particularly as it's more than likely going to be giving him a chance in the championship next year

No but if you are a technical player it is often more difficult down there as it is primarily hoofball, on poorer pitches surrounded by poor quality. I wasn't saying he is stronger as playing in more physical league, I'm saying his game is one that proves with better players around him. Given the outstanding performance in his one chance in the first team, I think it's absolutely criminal that he has never had another opportunity with us, despite performing well on loans

I genuinely think this is a mistake. He is a ball playing midfielder, yet has looked good in lower leagues with increased physicality where it is hard to be a ball playing midfielder. In his appearances with first team he has stood out and looked better with better players around him. I think not signing him up particularly with relegation likely may really come back to haunt us.

Got to go. Club won't pull the trigger just got to hope Deano walks for the good of the club, but would be mad on a personal level to quit. Can't blame him for staying on. But we are down if he stays, players haven't bought into the system he is playing. They are all trying their own thing and it shows

I take the point, but no. I'm willing to bet any money he is absolutely fine. Was humiliated by Ming's and grealish and to stubborn to just get up

First time criticising him, but he needs to go. There is simply no excuse for how soft and easy to beat we are. Even in championships we were conceding so many shots at goal. Almost every game this season it's been between 20-35 shots conceded. Every side needs to be well drilled and hard to beat first and foremost. We are neither of those things, absolute shambles defensively throughout the whole team. The team aren't good enough and too many of the summer midfield signings are weak and cowardly. So not expecting anyone to keep us up or magically make us better, but Smith clearly hasn't a clue in how to set up a well drilled team who are tough to beat

I have never criticised him and always fought his corner. But sorry after that absolute gutless display of cowardice he can get out. Promote someone from u23s. Should never put the shirt on again. Absolute disgraceful

Isn't his contract up in May? So won't get anything for him

If we stay up and that's a big IF. Then nothing shy of coutinho money gets him. even then I'd like us to show a real show of ambition and knock it back. If we go down, he will be on his way for about 60-70 mill

....

I've been banging on for years that Davis should be starting. People on here bang on about his goal record but he has barely had a decent run in the team which is always tough for a young striker. For me he occupies and troubles defenders like no one else in our squad. This alone allows us to retain possession and play 15-20 yards further up the pitch where Jack, AEG and McGinn can trouble the opposition. It's a huge advantage and one we need to start using quickly otherwise it's lights out

This. It wasn't even a difficult decision Konsa jumps in the air and while fully both feet off the floor gets shoved out from under it ffs

Reports saying Chester is keen on an MLS move. Imagine it's financially attractive. For me what he did for the club last year, causing lasting damage to his own body means we owe him some credit. I'd be disappointed if we played hardball for a bigger fee. Should do right by Chester if this deal gets him another few years playing despite his now desperate knee issues

I said at the time don't be surprised to not see a fully fit and productive McGinn again this season. Having dislocated an ankle you can be back in 8-12 weeks but the ligaments and tendons around the ankle are very liable for tweaks and strains when back running and twisting. Is a very frustrating injury as once the actual injury is healed due to the complexity of the joint lots of little niggles usually follow. While he will be back I wouldn't be surprised if he is quite stop start for rest of season

I think he is agreeing that the big man little man works. But stating the club clearly had intentions to play a lone big man in Wesley this year. This transfer moves away from that idea, showing perhaps poor planning or a complete change in direction admitting that the Wesley plan hasn't worked If we revert back to the original plan next year Samatta becomes a bit part squad player again. If we don't then potentially Wesley is the one pushed out. I think that's his point anyway?!