Philosopher

Anderson I know nothing about. Turnbull would get eaten alive in the Premier league, as I explained. We were a championship club when we signed McGinn, and Watkins and Konsa were well know to Smith. Luiz cam with Pep's endorsement. Cash is the only one that came a bit out of nowhere. I'm not against championship or players from foreign leagues. But I has to be done with extreme care. Zaha is unrealistic on several levels. Cost and age the main ones. I don’t believe we can sign a player and pay him more than Jack. Age 29, low resale value. Bertrand just isn't good enough.

Well if it was me I'd have played Mount there how Phillips was used and put Jack in the no 10 role. But I'm attack minded!

Then you have named 2 out of 4 players to sign that have never kicked a ball at a level anywhere near Premier league level, one player who is past his best, lost his best asset (pace), and who Southampton deemed not good enough for a contract renewal. Don't know anything about Kostic, but I know Zaha would need 200k and a promise of champions league football to leave Palace. Turnbull is a good technical player but he lacks any kind of physicality, he is weak and slow! He would get bullied in the Premier league when on the ball, and be past by when we are out of possession.

This is another midtable season. Thank god you're not the manager. Jack and Buendia like to drift in field from wide positions. If one of them already in the centre you're restricting the movement of the other as there will already be a playmaker in the middle. The only way this works is if Buendia is in the middle as an 8 / 10 Cross, and Jack is played high up almost alongside Watkins on the left. However you then restrict Watkins movement. I'm certain the only time Jack or Buendia play in the middle is when one of them is injured. Otherwise if both play one will go left and the other right. It's simply the best way to get the best out of them if they are both in the same line up. As they both like to drift inside they will certainly link up, but in a natural way, without obstructing or Competing for the ball.

I agree. Competent is very apt. He couldn't really go wrong with the front 3 or 4, with the talent at his disposal. Croatia have a good midfield, but the central 3 are all very similar, their widemen aren't particularly skillful or creative. They're a team that on paper England should beat. We should've beaten them at the world Cup too imo. Trippier at left back still dumb as far as I'm concerned. Mings at left cb we right choice. On balance considering Jack needs his injury to be managed playing Mount and Foden ahead of him made sense. Phillips was a good selection. For me where he shows his qualities as a manager is in his communication with his players, and the atmosphere he seems to be nurturing. Tactically I think he's average, and rather conservative. Was a good player for us. left when I became clear Doug never had the ambition to put Villa where they belong. I can't blame him for this.

He turned them down last summer don't forget.

This is gonna happen. Fits the mould in terms of age, height, and potential. He is 5'11 like Targett, an inch shorter than cash. 22 and highly rated. Good technique, defensively sound, and quick.

Disagree I think it's clearer that we will play 4-3-3. Look at the squad we are stacked with 8's.

Barry is a STRIKER! Correction; Smith said Buendia can play as winger or a 10. He was referring to his versatility, not where he intends to play him.

Yup it's the only gripe I have with that particular Scot.

This! Makes no mention of left back or DM. Say Buendia is a half replacement for Jack (how do you half replace a player you have alway insisted won't be going anywhere)? Doesn't know shit!

Yup. That's modern wing play. Wingers move inside, fullbacks overlap and provide the width.

Personally if I was in Jack's position I'd give Villa every chance to get up there with the big boys. I dreamt many times about winning the league and European Cup and everytime there was only one club I was playing for, Aston Villa. All those dreams he had as a boy, he wasn't playing for man city, he doesn't give a F about Man City. As for money He earns 7 million a year. How much money do you really need? He is playing for club he has always dreamt of playing for. In league he dreams of winning. Earning millions a year. And is the darling of English football, about to represent England in a major tournament as an important player. This is what dreams are made of. He is living his dream! That's how I see it anyway.

So how would a Norwich correspondent know how Villa want to play Buendia? They're just speculating, like I am to be fair. Traore is a good player, but for me it's clear he isn't top quality. If we have ambition to be in Europe, if we want to play entertaining attacking football, a better than Traore is needed.

Are there any quotes from the manager or staff. As far as I know Smith prefers 2 8's and a 6. So believe this is just him getting back to how he wants to play. Barkley was supposed to be an 8 or a 10 when he came but we soon found out he's about as defensive as a paper bag, so he was a rubbish 8. Clearly Nakamba isn't meant to be a first team regular and he's our only out and out 6. We then have 4 or 5 numbers 8's, so how do we accommodate a 10 or two. Then on top of all that of our current 2 right wingers, Trezguet is out till Christmas. So Clearly we needed another right winger. To me it makes more sense to that he was signed to play right wing.

I felt the Ireland deal was highly dubious, and didn't think he would fit in. Losing Milner and to top it off added a prick to the dressing room, disaster.

Disagree, experience is essential, as he is clearly ready to play regularly. So having him sit on the bench for most of a season doesn't seem prudent.

I'd sign him and loan him back for a season and get him an English teacher. Another season to develop in a setting where he has already settled will help him. Big question marks over whether he is ready for the Premier league. Clearly he is a talent.

I don't see both Sarr and JWP being signed in this window. I also see JWP being brought in to play 6, as he is more of a 6 then a ten. He doesn't really score or assist from open play. In open play he gets stuck in, plays a little bit dirty, and distributes the ball very well, while pressing very well. He is the type that you only notice when he plays poorly, or fires in a spectacular freekick. Think Hourihane with aggression, that gets stuck in and has a higher workrate and better set pieces, but less creativity and less of a goal threat (in open play).

Buendia plays on the right, and just like Jack likes to drift inside. This why I keep banging on about runners. One inside right the other inside left, drifting inside and linking up, and occasionally switching wings. You get Ollie making runs in front of them. Then two 8's taking turns to run beyond them in the middle with the fullbacks overlapping wide to provide the width. You have these two wide, then even if you decide to bring on a number 10 you look at bringing on Traore as a shadow striker, as we won't need a number 10 to be a creator but a scorer.

Problem with that is we don't play with wide strikers. If you play a target man or false nine then wide strikers are perfect.

I wouldn't look for a Watkins at this point. One I expect him to improve, so we should see how good he can get. Two that 8s a more than 50m transfer and we have other priorities. We need another striker that offers pace and willing running, so that we don't have to change our style if Watkins gets injured. If we are replacing Wesley then Woods is a good shout (as I have said). If Wesley is staying (which I expect), Woods is pointless. Wesley us far younger and imo will become better than Wood. We also have Davis, so we don't need a big man. If Barry isn't ready to be understudy then we lack a quick, hard running forward. For me we only need one big man as our style is based on having a quick pressing forward not a target man. So a target man is an alternative, in order to change things up. If Watkins is injured or suspended we need a similar style of player to deputise so we can maintain our preferred playing style. Wood isn't simply a big lump but his aerial prowess is his strength and he I probably the best aerially in the league. If you have him.on the pitch you are foolish if you don't play to that strength. It's dumb to use him to run in behind and press all over the pitch.

Mostly agree except for the fast striker as a wide man. That how he looks to me. He needs to bulk up and be more robust to play senior level. And the wide play is to make him a more rounded player learn where his wingers want him to run. He will probably play wide for the seniors as well as cf once makes his breakthrough. Long term is definitely a striker.

I have watched him myself, and while not slow he isn't quick, and isn't particularly mobile. For a big man yes, but compared to someone like Watkins there's no comparison. This article makes him sound like Wesley but better in the air.

I think his skill and creativity is not at the standard to be top class there. But as a centre forward his movement, pace, workrate and finishing can make him world class. As a wide player he look like a fast striker playing wide, rather than a natural wideman to me.