thunderball

Very much doubt Bailey coming in would mean AEG going, that would leave us short with Trez out if there was an injury. I think it would allow them to listen to offers and then get Alvarez in as AEG’s replacement.

Bristol is close to home for me, our allocation (1000) sold out in no time, loads of Bristol seats available though and just wondering if I should buy one of those (was goingto take my 9 y.o. daughter to her first game, she will want to wear her Villa Grealish Shirt. Any thoughts - should we bother or avoid?

TBH the financials in the game are mad, but his stats suggest he is right up there with the most effective players in the world. If we want to retain that level of talent we have to pay the wages those guys are paid. There are quite a few at Man CIty, for example, who earn over £300K p.w. And Arsenal have a few over £200K p.w. Theres a web site that has the player salaries/contract values listed, its an eye opener: https://www.spotrac.com/Premier League/

His legacy will be lost immediately, it will be even more mercenary than Delph because Jack has every reason to remain. It’s even worse that City are part of the arrogant European Super League consortium and that bunch are disrespectful to the entire game.

You did, and he was wearing “Man CIty Blue” Gucci shorts. It can only mean one thing…..

No, the season before he joined us he scored 13 league goals. And in all appearances: 17goals in 48 apparently. Go and look at his Wiki page, it has a decent summary there.

You might be correct, but that will most likely be because of his injury preventing his ability to prove himself post-injury and not because he never had talent. It’s very sad for the club and the player

Up to the age of 21 he scored 1 goal every three appearances for Brugge every season. PLus he scored 3 Goals in European competitions the season before he joined us (2 Champions League, 1 Europa league in a total of 8 European appearances). He scored 1 in 4 for us when he joined as a 21 year old, prior to his injury. In a poor side. Every one would agree he was improving too with his best performance in the game he was injured. You clearly have an agenda, but that suggests he had a decent pedigree as a youngster.

It surprised me that he played the friendlies alongside Davis and not on his own. His positioning vs Walsall was not where I expected our striker to play (as Ollie does) - he sits deep lying and not rushing to get forward on breaks, he looked to be just jogging around as a link. Surely this is how he has been asked to play, he played here when he arrived, if he was not following instruction he wouldn’t be on the field long? I think this is why he is getting stick, it looks unorthodox to expectation, and why Ollie is so successful by contrast. If he is just clueless which given his record clearly isn’t the case as he’s scored champions league goals then the question is of recruitment and coaching.

The same anti-Wesley vultures are circling here too I fear, to them he is already a failure. We hardly saw him, buying him in Jan was to settle him for this season, that hasn’t happened, it’s hard to find your feet and make an impression mid season, and as a team we were dire when he got game time (not because of him, just poor all round), so he hardly had the privilege of slotting into a well oiled machine firing on all cylinders. He looks ideally suited to this division, a real busy warrior with an eye for goal, he really excited me when we signed him. I can’t wait to see him competing for a place.

I think McGinn-Nakamba-Sanson behind Grealish-Watkins-Buendia is solid and energetic, and improves us without much drama. Unlikely to start with that though as Sanson is injured. I am also unsure this is how Smith see’s it, I think he wants Buendia sitting centrally similar to a 10, with Jack left and [Bailey] to the right, so that suggests a DM (Nakamba for now) and an improved McGinn or fit Sanson in the centre of the park. I only see JWP in a similar position as McGinn, and not sure where that leaves McGinn Luiz and Sanson long term unless we intend to work with a bigger squad, which would be great. This is what surprises me as it would take £45m ish to land him, and can we justify that? Is he that much of an improvement (to benefit from his set pieces he has to be on the field all the time so he would surely displace McGinn long term)?

He won’t get sold without some form, I doubt he is a loan candidate for the same reason. There’s a player in there and it’s worth persevering. Unfortunately with our ambition and trajectory we don’t have the time to indulge his rehabilitation and he is going to have dig deep to prove himself. Young, under pressure, isolated through injury in a foreign country is not a great place to be, injuries like that are hard enough for home grown players already established at clubs. its defo a stiff measure of character now. Nothing would be more pleasing though than him battling back and proving the doubters wrong.

Twitter/Facebook is mainly kids finding a new freedom, it’s 80% knee-jerk loud mouths with short sighted and immature judgement. That’s why I don’t even enter the conversation on those platforms and enjoy these forums. Every club has them, all the silly tribal stuff such as the Leeds and recent Arsenal sniping is stoked up by these boneheads, it’s embarrassing to read.

He is 28, don’t know much about him but if he starts at PSG he has to be pretty handy. Does the profile fit what we are looking for or just someone being touted around the buying clubs as they want rid?

Why the sport on these, all the calling out drama, just wait and see? If we sign some Monday/Tuesday (or even Wed/Thur)is he legit? I am sure there will be plenty saying “its transfer window, there was a 50% chance were going to sign someone, I call BS”.

As good as Buendia might be, he isnt anywhere near as good or influential as Jack. I think Jack is on a knife edge as to what happens and we could be set back by a couple of years if he does leave.

I think thats why we bought Sanson. Even Chuck will make a claim this season, but Smith seems prepared to give McGinn plenty of slack, I guess he's earned it during his time here, although there is no room for sentiment.

The clubs ambition (if it is to retain the best players) must be Europe this season. As we have only replaced Barkley I think there remains a lot to do as Arsenal, WHU, Spurs, Leeds, Leicester, Everton all finished above us and will improve and strengthen, and Brighton wont have the bad luck they suffered ast season also. We have a big task ahead of us - we need a strong start and can't go missing mid season like we have done for the last three seasons.

Turned up a week early apparently. Good man.

I agree, but I was suggesting why some views might be as they were. vs Walsall however there were periods of slick interplay and clever running, the goals were also well worked. Thats wasnt present today, even accepting the better opposition. I am not sure they learned much today other than maybe what or who doesnt work. We do need a general improovement in quality, and I know we are missing a few very good players. Unlike Walsall I did think that Freddie tried to impress, and probably did..

Hahah, here we go.... I do agree however that there are a few on this forum who think we have a top 6 finish in the bag already. We are way off that at present, all we've done is replace Berkley so far, we need another two first team starters and Jack to stay. We also need Championship McGinn to turn up, Luiz to find some form, Sanson to deliver, and hope we have no injuries.

Did you watch it? It might be because it cost us £5

Swansea City interview

I disagree, how can 45 minutes of a friendly be all about fitness? We should be taking much much more from friendlies, we can do fitness in training

Powell appears to stand on his foot and lean into him as a bit of afters to the challenge before. No excuse though