Philosopher

Maybe you're right, but I felt I was the only one! I'm hoping to find out I'm not! Which I have. I guess I was just in the wrong thread!

Same. My point was simply Jack leaving like this leave a far more bitter taste in my mouth. For me this is sickening!

Cantwell is Can't well! He is average, he can't help propel us into Europe. JWP is a freekick specialist who won't get many freekicks in dangerous positions without Jack. Sarr is 18 with only half a season behind him in France. How can that combined replace Jack Grealish. For a club like Villa, replacing Jack with one player is impossible. If we were Man City and Jack left us we would need to spend 150 to 200 million to buy Mbappe or Neymar. To replace Jack with 3 or 4 players it's still extremely difficult. We would need to get Bailey, Alvarez and Bissouma, Locatelli, and ESR!

I don't think we booed him, until THAT dive. We all wished him well when he left. He gives us nearly 4 seasons as our best player, and treated the club and fans well when he left. The difference between him and Jack, he never claimed.to be Villa through and through. And we can't blame him for wanting to leave at the time as it was clear we were a club in decline. Now we are on the up! Top 6 is realistic with a couple more in and Jack staying.

Not if we lose Jack. A world class player such as Jack is a game changer. Our training facilities have been upgraded significantly to be up there with the top clubs. I'm a bit annoyed at Mings saying Wolves are a similar club. They aren't. The only similarly is league position, and geographical location.

If you're Villa though and through you don't leave just as Villa are ready to challenge again! His ascendancy has had a direct correlation with the clubs. That is him dragging the club up, but also the club providing everything he needed to excellent. When players do well, it's not solely down to themselves. It's the coaches, the manager, the platform being provided, their teammates and the fans backing. Everybody in it together. That's the beauty of football and why we fans love it. What happens on the pitch is the reflection all the hardwork and togetherness behind the scenes.

I won't boo him. But I won't see him as one of us anymore. He'll just be another player that did alright for us for a bit.

He could do that here. We have world class facilities, top coaches, and massive potential he could be the guy that got us promoted, then kept us up, then consolidated, then got us into Europe, then won us a trophy. Instead he will be the guy that done well for us, got us back where we belong, but only hung around until a some club bigger came along. If he is a Villa fan, his dreams are all in a Villa shirt! It's not a lack of ambition that would be keeping him here, it's love, and real ambition!

All 3 combined won't make up for losing Jack.

If there really is a release clause then I proves that Jack isn't as loyal as is made out. I'm beginning to think the only reason he penned that deal last September is because Man U wouldn't stump up the cash. Man City are getting a bargain. I'm going to go on a huge rant attacking the whole football industry once this goes through. I'm feeling disgusted! All these foolish big name footballers of the past saying ambition is more important that loyalty are idiots!

Liverpool rejected bids for Suarez even though he had a release clause. Apparently they're on shakey legal ground.

Am I the only one that believes 100m for Jack isn't enough. To me he is a world class player of the rarest kind. Up there in the top 10 players in the world today. He should be going for AT LEAST 150m. He is absolutely irreplaceable, any team in the world would miss him if he left. The idea we can replace him with Cantwell and Bailey is ridiculous! I really like Buendia, but from preseason so far he isn't at Jack's level. Sure we may improve on last seasons league position. But with Jack and another couple of good signings top 6 is a realistic aim, without him, no chance! I'm really disappointed with the negotiators at the club as they're basically accepting the first bid! Can't they at least play hardball for a bit?

Am I the only one that believes 100m for Jack isn't enough. To me he is a world class player of the rarest kind. Up there in the top 10 players in the world today. He should be going for AT LEAST 150m. He is absolutely irreplaceable, any team in the world would miss him if he left. The idea we can replace him with Cantwell and Bailey is ridiculous! I really like Buendia, but from preseason so far he isn't at Jack's level. Sure we may improve on last seasons league position. But with Jack and another couple of good signings top 6 is a realistic aim, without him, no chance! I'm really disappointed with the negotiators at the club as they're basically accepting the first bid! Can't they at least play hardball for a bit?

Jose failed at Spurs and Man U for the same reason. The defense and DM's in those teams lacked the concentration, and quality (in some cases) to provide the solid defensive base his tactics need as a foundation. Give him, or allow him to build an effective defensive unit and he will get results. Not pretty, but effective.

I agree in regards to Bailey and Traore. Just to point out tracking back is not the same as pressing. Tracking back is following the runs made by the fullback (in this case) they're up against. Pressing is pressuring the player with the ball. It's a real art to be able to effectively press high and track back, as they're somewhat counter intuitive. Takes great teamwork and organisation, as well and discipline and defensive awareness. To do one only takes effort, to do both is almost an art in itself.

Bailey would be great as the 10. Drifting right as Buendia drifts inside. And looking to get in the right channel, and in behind. That would be scary, as Watkins likes to work the left channel and links up well with Jack. Left, right, centre defenders buried everywhere.

I'd say Leicester have usurped Tottenham and Arsenal to become the 5th best team on the league. They're a bigger draw than us. They have also been been building up their scouting network and knowledge at this level longer than us. One of the reasons why we have been as successful with scouting the championship, and the number of championship players we have sign is down to the time we spent in that league and scouting for players at that level. Give us 2 or 3 more seasons and we'll be up there.

Hopefully we have a sell clause!

I loved him. He'd have thrived in this team.

We ideally need someone who is both big athletic and tough in the tackle, with good technique and passing.

Well Leeds were off the charts , so I can't see us competing with that. Our Fullbacks were used very conservatively (for the modern game), Jack wasn't really required to track back, Traore and El-Ghazi aren't exactly the hardest workers. I'd be interested in how Doug and MacG's stats look. I suspect they're lower also because they for the most part had to sit in front of the defense. The 4-2-3-1 particularly with how we used our fullbacks was always going to have less distance covered. The midfield in such a system don't need to cover so much ground as they have smaller zones. Targett lacks pace and Cash was a winger converted to wing back, whom we were converting to a fullback. So the conservative use of them was very much required. This is why I'd like to see a 4-3-3 with Jack and Buendia wide, and a proper 6. Then everyone else bar the centre backs and goalie being runners, covering lots of ground, pressing high and supporting both defense and attack.

I agree with everything you said. As I see it ESR would more likely be wanted in order to have a rotation option for Jack and Buendia as much as to play 10. I know the common consensus is to play as the 10, but Jack seems to have an issue with his shins and given how much he gets kicked, I can see it being something he will have manage for at least another season given he simply hasn't had enough time to rest. Throw in that Buendia (while highly rated) has only just joined and we don't know how well he'll do for us getting another playmaker in is necessary if we really want to seriously make a play for European football. The other option with ESR is to play him left and Jack centrally. This way you have wide players more focused on passing, through balls, and ball retention, Jack carrying the ball out and then playing one twos off them, as well and dictating the tempo. Fullbacks will provide the width and Ollie will work the channels mostly by himself. Then the wildcard McGinn breaking from his DM position and ghosting forward late. Although we played most of last season with a 4-2-3-1, Smith favours a 4-3-3, so I think he will make the choice of which formation to play based on the opposition and their strengths and weaknesses. As we basically have a team built around Jack, if we lack an advanced playmaker on the pitch we look lost. So Bringing in both Buendia and hopefully ESR will mean we don't have to worry so much there. Also I think their thoughts are that most of our threat comes from the left and so does most of our forward play. So I presume the idea is also make the most of the right hand side. There is a a lot of space there to be exploited, so getting in a player like Buendia who will look to pass into the space, with Cash who will look to overlap, plus McGinn or Sanson on that side if centre mid means teams can't focus their defense on Jack on the left. I too would love a shadow striker type for the 10 position. I don’t think McGinn has the predatory instincts to play that role. It requires very clever movement as well as quality finishing. McGinn basically plays playground style, chasing the ball. The SS need to make decoy runs, drag player out of positions, peel off their marker, and ghost into space in and around the box. They could do with pace as well. This Alvarez kid looks more like a shadow striker or a false nine, certainly not an out and out striker. But he also has playmaker qualities with his eye for a pass and dribbling ability. I actually think Traore would be a great shout for the shadow striker role too. Certainly better than McGinn. In short getting in another playmaker, will unlock a multitude of formational and tactical possibilities, which will make us a terrifying attacking force, with depth in the case of injury, suspension, or exhaustion. In short the goal is to create a world class attack to form a platform to get into and stay in Europe for the next 3 to 5 years.

You seem to have forgotten that one of a box to box midfielders jobs is to arrive late into the box. McGinn simply isn't skilled enough to play as a creative 10. His short passing isn't good enough, and he simply doesn't look up enough when dribbling. He also lacks the predatory instincts to play as a shadow striker. Box to box 8 is McGinns best role, however I do feel he can play as a deep lying 6 as his second best role. This is because his medium and long range passing is good enough, he Shields the ball really well, and loves to get stuck in. Box to box is where he excells though. As his energy and tenacity make him perfect for chasing the ball across the pitch (the primary job of a box to box player). This is a little wasted if you ask him to hold a higher or deeper position (which is what is being asked if he plays 6 or 10). He's a decent tackler, decent passer, and decent finisher. He doesn't really excell in one area in term of technical skills, but he can do a bit of everything. These traits I mentioned show that he is quintessentially, tailor made to be a box to box midfielder. If we play Jack and Buendia in freeish roles off the wings and put not just Mac-G but Sanson as box to box with a proper holding 6 (to allow them the freedom to get beyond Jack and Buendia) those two should be good for 10 goals each. Playing 6 as one of two 6's, particularly if the other 6 is Nakamba (or his type) gives McGinn a but of license to get push further forward and make use of his desire to follow the play. So if he is to be played as a 6 then this is the best way for that.

I agree, throw in Eze, and that young left back they have coming through and there is good talent to be developed. If they can defend well, keep Zaha, and get the best out of Benteke they will be fine.

A 34 year old being given a 5 year contract. MADNESS!