Philosopher

No matter what you say about Trez he is certainly one for adversity. Literally whenever we need a goal most, or a win most he finds a goal or two. He is isn't anything special, but he always works his socks off and tries his best to make things. And to top it of he scores crucial goals. So for me, he is a decent squad player.

I do believe there are times when a loan is absolutely necessary, and times when they are unnecessary. If a young player doesn't yet have the mindset to carry the responsibility of being in the starting line, up a loan to the lower leagues can show them the weight of what it means to play in a competitive men's league regardless of the level of the league. The u23's league is excellent from a technical standpoint, but the intensity, pace and aggressiveness pales in comparison to the Championship and even league 1. In sending a talented youngster to league 1 and 2 what you’re doing is giving a chance to play football with a level of competitiveness that is similar the Premier, while the level of athleticism and technique matches or is within the players capabilities. For most young players at our academy it's not ability that holds them back, but mentality. So the lower leagues is a good place to send them to see if they have the mental fortitude to compete against seasoned pros. For Jack this was necessary as he was always just playing for fun and and never really had to be ultra competitive to do well as his talent was so prodigious. The loan showed he had the persistence and bravery to deal with the dirty treatment he would inevitably have to deal with as well as the physical and mental rigors or player regular competitive football. Subsequently it's after the breakthrough here at Villa was he able to develop the professional approach to get where he is now. Some players however it's clear they already have the mentality, in which case is probably best to hone their game at the club to make them ready for playing with the big boys, and so introducing them gradually like Phil Foden or Gareth Barry. Unless a player has already set himself apart in the youth set up, little will be known to the decision makers as to whether a player really has the mental qualities necessary. So for larger academies especially it's a case of when in doubt loan them out. If a player is clearly very talented and well known to all the coaches then if a loan is sactioned its for one of two reasons. Doubts about their mentality or not having room for them in the first team squad yet, but not wanting to hamper their development. What I'm basically saying is the top prospects loans are generally necessary, but not necessarily for 'seasoning' a youngster, and the average prospect it's to see if they sink or swim.

2 months and ten games remaining, he'll probably be on the bench come may. Not match fit obviously, he going to need another 6 months for that. Hopefully he can be confident his knee is good by the end on the season so he can hit the ground running in preseason.

It's a matter of consistency of the player. If he was consistent during games and over the course of a season Traore would be great. However even in good time we only really see flashes. Those players with proven consistency and a big game mentalities get snapped up by the top sides generally. A few get missed or prove themselves later. Bit they are hard to come by. Very much clubs in situation need a great scouting department and a have to be clinical once they identify good targets.

Traore had a lazy reputation amongst the Lyon fans so I don’t expect to see him running his arse off like Trez he simply isn't that guy. Traore has 2 or 3 moments a match where he does something nice with the ball at his feet otherwise does bugger all. While I do hope that he can improve with a preseason, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Yes he was. Trez is about more than goals and assists, unlike the other two. Look at the Results with him starting this season and the other two starting. With him in the team Jack was tracking back less and Barkley was mostly covering Jack's defensive work. Trezguet was doing the same defensive work as the two them himself on the right hand side, plus bursting forward and along with Watkins doing most of the high pressing.

Traore was OK in a team playing well same as the other two. As soon as he has to carry real creative responsibility what has he done? Buggar all. For me all three are in the same bracket (not good enough). If I had to pick one I'd go for the trier or the new guy.

Trez limitations are the same the other two. They don't create enough. They can get on the end of things that is it really. Trez was also making up for Barkley's limitations with his workraye and pressing something the other two are incapable of. Three starts isn't enough for match fitness and sharpness after 2 months out.

Not he's not. He's done nothing to justify that.

This guy has been really poor. Really needs to improve. I don’t know who is worse / better Traore, Trezguet or El-Ghazi.

He really has become a scapegoat. Three starts since his injury and covid. Before then he was good. He is clearly is only just getting upto match fitness. While Traore has scored a few goals his performances have been not been great. He started every since Jack got injured, but I don’t see the same condemnation. Traore was awful against Tottenham and Newcastle. At least Trez has a valid reason in coming back from injury.

In regards to the right back and goalkeeping positions as we don't know what Heaton and Guilbert wish to do we can't really plan to replace them. I believe Guilbert wants to stay and prove himself. As for Heaton I believe he is flexible. If a premier league club want to make him number their no1 and pay wages that pretty much match what he currently earns he will be off. But if any suitors can't pay him well enough and / or can't offer him the first choice slot he won't have any reason to leave. Definitely agree on Jack. We make the right moves we could be fighting for the top 4 next season. F up and it's midtable mediocrity at best. So it's certainly interesting and exciting times.

I agree on the fee, but if the right players is available we should be prepared to go to 50m. Sarr and Buendia would both be north of 30m, which fit with my 30 to 50 million expenditure. The reality is if we have 3 quality wingers that should be enough to get by while also being able to give a youngster a chance. A 4th choice if we aren't in Europe means he won't be getting loads of game unless we have an injury crisis in that position. However we can also play Watkins and Sanson out wide in emergencys. We can also save some money till Jan to address any issues that pop up. Edouard apparently also has Arsenal and Leicester as admirers so he won't be easy to lure as both of those teams can offer higher wages, and Leicester almost certainly European football. The other thing is if Watkins is fit what do we do with Edouard, he isn't a winger even if he does like to drift out the the left. The two 8's is simply what I believe suits two playmaker wingers, and what I believe Dean Smith favours. Of course we have to be flexible and ready and able to adjust.

I very much enjoyed barrysboots and Paul's posts, and I agree on many of the points made. I'm just going to jump in with my perspective. In terms of priorities we all agree a left back is essential. However the nature of that signing is somewhat contentious. I say spend 10 to 20 million and put Targett on notice that he has to keep improving or he'll lose his place. We all also agree a right winger is necessary. I think we all also agree a 30 to 50 million spend on a quality operator is what has to happen otherwise what's the pont! Brooks and Buendia are both good shouts. I like Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea, but Tuchel seems to rightly rate him. David Brooks is most likely, because he is English, his club are unlikely to get promoted as things stand (whereas Buendia and Norwich are almost certain to go up, this will definitely impact any fee negatively for us, and make it possible for Norwich to keep hold of Buendia). The thing is all of these guys are playmaker type wingers that like to drift inside like Jack. So can can all be used as out and out no 10's also. With playmaker wingers you need quick attack minded fullbacks to overlap. A striker constantly looking to make runs in behind (Watkins is exactly that). Then either Runners from midfield or a shadow striker. However a shadow striker works best with a false nine or target man. So two 8's is what I see as most likely to happen. We all seem to want a big 6. Me too. Koopmenieers looks a good shout, I'd also look at Sander Barge. However I see Barge similar to Luiz in that they aren't sitting 6's and are equally comfortable as a no 8. I think we would have to spend around 30m to get the quality we need here. We also agree a replacement for Engel is needed. Tuanzube would be my choice. The standard of football Revan is playing suggests he is miles off the first team. So far we are looking at around 100 million for sorting out the immediate needs. Now personally I'd sign both Koopmenieers and Barge if possible, and bring the spend upto 130m, if we have the leeway from the changes from ffp. Now this is where things get tricky. Some want another striker, some another winger. I agree we need another attacking re-enforcement too as the quality of our current wingers is insufficient (minus Jack), and the question marks over Wesley's fitness remain. However I'd hold back on making any concrete decision as Wesley is close to being ready to feature in games now. Also JPB is knocking on the door. With at least one winger coming in I'd move a winger on. Now for me first to go would be El-Ghazi, many others it would be Trez. I like Trez and if we had another hardworking winger like Trez playing Jack as a number 10 with two dynamic 6's would be a very viable defensive formation and playing a two of Wes and Traore up top with a hardworking flat or box 4 behind them for our second choice line up would function nicely. However we don't have that. The only player we have that can operate as a hardworking winger in a flat 4 or Box 4 is Sanson and he'd likely be needed in the middle. The other option is the play Traore and El-Ghazi wide of Wes and have Them running beyond Wes when in possession to get in behind. This is nice in theory but if we are on the defensive we'd have trouble getting any runners in behind. You can only do this with a possession based team. Fortunately we won't really need to utilise a second 11 without European football, we'd only see it in the Carabou Cup. So for me I feel we can rely on Trez's effort and tenaciousness rather then El-Ghazi's sporadic acceptable form, which we only occasionally see when the team is functioning well. But ultimately it's comparing apples and oranges as they both aren't really good enough. Common sense suggests We keep Traore for another season as he could well improve with a proper preseason and this season to bed in and develop. Without European football I'd probably sell both Trez and El-Ghazi promote JPB and go with him and Traore as back ups with Wes (if he prove his fitness and hunger), as we also have Barry coming through. Without European football I'd rather us give the likes of Barry (as 3rd choice striker), JPB (as 4th choice Winger), Chukwuemeka (as 3rd or 4th choice 8 with Ramsey), and Kesler (as 2nd choice right back with Guilbert) a place in the first team squad, and reassess this in Jan. I'm personally of the opinion our first team still needs work and that would be my focus. With the talent coming through we should look to give them a proper chance and nurture a reputation of giving youth a chance. I do believe we still have a slight chance of European football as most of our players are fit and Jack is back, so a strong winning run can catapult us when most teams will start fading.

Well I can't comment on Buchanan, know nothing about him. But if he doesn't have any pace then forget him. I'm not talking 4 or 5 years time. I'm talking a season or two. To progress Targett won't do us for 4 or 5 seasons. He isn't that good. Decent is how I rate him, certainly not very good. He's a do us for now as we have other priorities. I'd be very happy if he was back up.

Not really because to get such a player you to spend 10 to 20m which you are suggesting we mustn't do. To get a ready made player to take Targett's place you're talking 20m plus even in the foreign market.

If you're signing a player you believe will develop into a better player that's OK. I don’t see that a a back up. If you're signing someone simply to cover with no real aim to improve on what you have then you're going to go backwards unless that first choice is a world class player. So I think we agree really.

You don't buy back ups. That only takes midtable clubs backwards. Targett is good, but has his limitations. He lacks pace and his stamina isn't the best either. Ideally we'd sign an improvement. He has turned in some average performances since Jack's injury. His lack of pace hold us back somewhat, as one of the advantages of playing 2 holding mids is to give freedom to your fullbacks to get forward. But his lack of pace means he has to be very measured in his forays forward. This is one of the reason why his game has improved. He pick his forward forays better and is being more conservative. Fullback is a very important tactical position in today's game if your fullbacks lack pace they have to play in the old fashioned defensive manner and only really cross from deep when going forward. The thing is Targett has performed well, and so replacing him outright isn't a priority. But to buy a back up for a limited player is just a waste of money. The ideal solution is buy a pacy young left back capable of taking Targett's place on merit and make Targett the back up. The compromise is sign a pacey young player that we expect to develop into a better left back then Targett, but isn't quite there yet. If Jack had a pacy dynamic left back behind him we'd be a better team as it would give us more width in attack.

I remember when Guardiola mentioned that Villa have good players, he mentioned Jack and Barkley and he also mentioned Trez, he is a good player. Trez isn't the typical pacy winger, or a magician like Jack. It's unfair to judge his performances according to a criteria that doesn't take his game's features into account. His running off the ball between the lines, pressing and support he provides his teammates, as well as his knack of popping up at the back stick is what Trez is all about, as well as good link up play. Trez's running off the ball and the work he puts in was making the 4-2-3-1 as effective as it was when we where flying high before Christmas. True his finishing has been woeful this season, however the rest of his game pre-covid breakout was very good and everyone one on here was rightly very happy with him. He game is about movement and workrate. He injured his hamstring and then got covid. So obviously this is going to impact him heavily. The last match he made some good runs and looked quite lively in the first half, but faded in the second half. Let's be clear he isn't the most talented winger you'll see, but his qualities were instrumental to our good form in those first 13 games. I feel like he is being made a scapegoat as Taylor hasn't had a game! Most of the criticism levelled at Trez has been unfair. He has only had 2 or 3 starts since his injury. This poor run of form the team is going through simply isn't his fault.

I don't want back up to targett I want stiff competition from a pacy player.

I agree with the ideal that we build a base of primarily British players and bring a few high quality foreign players to compliment that. However we do pretty much have that. A British back 4, Mcginn and Ramsey in midfield, Jack and Watkins up front. Actually for midfield is where England's Talent is slighty lacking and thus the hardest area to recruit British talent. Outside the top clubs you have Rice, Phillips, and JWP, all would only really leave for champions league clubs. Who is there outside of that. The wings however there is Lookman and Brooks who are both very attainable. Get them both in! Left back there is not one I can think of.

The thing is we still need depth. I can't see 2 more wingers coming in during the summer, and if I were manager ideally I'd move a winger on to bring one in. For me all 3 are expendable but Trez is the least expendable. Trez is one of those players (like Mcginn), you want in your squad to add depth as you know even if they aren't at their best or lack a bit of quality, they will never be carried, they will always give 100%. For where we are they're important to have around. Also the player you're thinking of is Bernardo Silva.

People seem to want rid of Trezguet. However our best football this season has come with him in the team. He doesn't have the finishing quality that Traore and El-Ghazi have but it's what he does everywhere else that sets him apart from those two. In the last match against Tottenham it was his movement and runs that saw us get into dangerous positions, the extra work he does relieves some of the defense responsibility that the no 10 has when we play a 4-2-3-1 his link up play is better than El-Ghazi's also. The injury to him plus getting covid has set his fitness back. But when Jack returns I'd put Barkley back in for a couple games, with Trezguet on the right and see what happens. Trezguets pressing is also the best of our attacking players. For me he is the one I'd want to keep (out of the 3), because he is the only one that is in any way reliable.

I'd pick Luca Moura ahead of St Maxim

JWP is as safe a transfer as we could make. Better passer than anyone in our team, world class set piece taker, plus a real hard worker. He would fit into our system seamlessly, and improve us in more ways than one. Locatelli would be a risk (fairly low risk in regards to foreign signings) and would need time. In this comparison you can say the extra 20 or 30 million is fair. For us we have an English manager and coaches, a dressing room primarily British JWP is a perfect fit. Not realistic though, as it's a sideish ways move, he would request 100k per week plus and the fee would be 50 to 60 million. Man City don't need first team ready players, we do. Man City have a worldwide scouting network, we don't. Man City have the draw of the best manager in the world, champions league football, and can pay hundreds of thousands a week. They can attract Locatelli, we can't. This is a guy on the radar of AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, he won't leave Italy for play for Villa. Man City maybe, Villa no way. The top foreign prospects only look at the top foreign clubs, unless they aren't ready for them. If a top foreign prospect comes to Villa he sees us as a stepping stones as the top clubs are reluctant to take a chance, or like Douglas Luiz, can't get a work permit for a top club. Take Douglas out (he never played in England before we signed him), and all our best players came from the domestic market. It's the same for most teams outside the top 6. Signing a player from abroad good enough to operate in the top half of the Premier league is a lottery unless you are feeding at the top table. That's not to say don't buy from foreign leagues. Just means if you want to sign first team ready players you need to prioritise English based players, and that obviously Comes at a premium. If you want a player to add competition, or because they're a good prospect by all means go foreign and try to find a bargain.