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Philosopher

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Everything posted by Philosopher

  1. Philosopher
    I'm a big fan of Matty Cash, but I do think he can be improved upon. I believe defensively he can be got at at, and he is usually to one playing opponents onside when our offside trap gets sprung. Going forward, his crossing is inconsistent, and he doesn't have the dribbling or explosiveness to beat players regularly. On the flipside he can finish, he has bags of energy and makes good runs off the ball. So for me a player who can provide more of a threat going forward to provide real competition is what we should be looking for. This is because if we want defensive solidity we can always play Konsa at RB. Dendonker simply lacks the ability to play while being pressed. So he is a clear player we need to improve upon. This business probably won't be able to be done in a winter window, but I wouldn't be surprised if this happened next summer. Olsen isn't the right back up keeper. We need someone that is comfortable with the ball at his feet, and that is good at rushing out from his area. So at least we can still play out effectively when Martinez isn't in the team. The sooner we can find such a player the better.
  2. Philosopher
    Well we'll have to agree to disagree, as far as I'm concerned there are very few coaches in the world that would turn their nose up at Grealish. Their isn't one player in our current squad that had done what Jack has, achieved what he has, and maybe only 2 or 3 that are near his talent level. Not one manager has claimed he is bad for morale or a poor trainer, in fact they all say the opposite.
  3. Philosopher
    Diaby isn't the main man. It's as you said we have a team built to be a team, not a team built around one very talented player. Jack was very good last season at Man City where he is surrounded by great players. He has learnt to be part of a team unit. His defensive work has improved too. Jack is an elite footballer make no mistake. It's not about replacing Diaby with Grealish or any small time thoughts like that. It's about adding Grealish to Diaby, in the team. Anyone who says adding Grealish to what we have would not strengthen us is on crack!
  4. Philosopher
    We have all moved on, but it doesn't mean he isn't a fantastic player that couldn't contribute to the current side. He is also a player that found his way into our hearts, and I'm not bitter about him leaving, I personally see him at Citeh and he looks out of place. He doesn't belong there. Villa is the only club he belongs at. So I'd love to see him back at Villa, but only if he is still good enough! We are doing great without him, and we will continue to do well I believe, it's just a shame he can't be part of it. Getting back on topic, Diaby is quality. He is a tricky winger that has a good football brain, and a really stable mindset. Which isn't normal for wingers. Most wingers are flamboyant, instinctive, and require inspiration. He is the complete package.
  5. Philosopher
    Depends on the price. He's twice the player Buendia is. Emery would love Jack.
  6. Philosopher
    Very different players. Diaby is playing as a creative number nine, rather than a number 10, which is Jack's best role in my opinion. Jack as the wide left as hardworking 10 would be perfect for him (he can also play wide right). His ball carrying is extremely effective coming from a deeper midfield position, and he has the vision and passing to find the ball to the two forwards. Him and Ramsey one left and the other right with Diaby through the middle would be nuts!
  7. Philosopher
    This something I have thought about for a while. If I were Jack and I was seeing what's happening at Villa right now, I'd be desperate to get back to Villa. Our style of play as a wide midfielder no 10 would suit his game perfectly. Jack has won every trophy possible at Citeh now, and as he said himself the only goal now is to win with England. But I'd say he probably would absolutely love to win things with Villa. After the Euros next summer if Jack is a true Villa fan he'd be telling his team and Pep he wants to go back to Villa. And he'd be trying to talk to Emery to see if he wanted him.
  8. Philosopher
    We aren't winning 30 out of 31. That's just ridiculous. However 25 wins out of 38 games this season will assure us of champions league football.
  9. Philosopher
    He has managed to stay fit (mostly), and has the confidence goals and assists bring. Throw in that the team is playing really well and the attack as a whole is on fire then it's not really surprising.
  10. Philosopher
    This is true. But when we're on it we make one or two mistakes at the most, last night I lost count. In the prem we'd have been punished. I will also add that I expect us to get better at this the more we play and train this way, so the mistakes will be minimised.
  11. Philosopher
    Well I can see how sloppy we were at times particularly in defense. A better side would've punished us. On the flipside going forward we are absolutely lethal. That's just what I observed. Obviously delighted win the win, but I don’t think we should be getting carried away. Fine margins.
  12. Philosopher
    Great result, some nice goals, the players that came in were good, especially Tielemens and Bailey. But really and truly if we weren't so clinical in front of goal our sloppiness everywhere else would've cost us.
  13. Philosopher
    Deeper runner played on by Cash! The chance was because Cash rushed hus pass when he broke into the box. Most of their goal threat has come down Cash's side. Cash not quite executing the final ball, pass, tackle, interception tonight.
  14. Philosopher
    If I had to criticise I'd say Cash has been a bit on the poor side.
  15. Philosopher
    A goal and an assist for McGinn l, and goal and 2 assists for Bailey. Nice.
  16. Philosopher
    People keep saying he only scores at home, and only plays well at home.
  17. Philosopher
    So Bailey has now scored away from home, in a match he's started. Could he have turned the corner.
  18. Philosopher
    Yup and Ramsey and Buendia seem to be seen as primarily left sided and off the striker players. But both are injured. I see it very likely that if they're all fit McGinn is competing with Zaniolo for the right midfield role. And Ramsey and Buendia on the left. With Bailey coming in at right wing if Diaby is out with one of the right mid player moving up to a no10 role.
  19. Philosopher
    I mostly agree with you. Playing in Europe you need a squad, rather than primarily a first team and back ups. However I do think Emery has a preferred line up for home games which is slightly different from away games. He clearly is playing pretty much the strongest team he can in the league so it's clear what his first choice line up is. But as you say he will certainly make small tweaks to the line up depending on the opposition. Injuries are par for the course. Zaniolo is getting so many games primarily due to Buendia and Ramsey being injured. I'm sure Emery would've liked to gradually introduce Zaniolo if his hand wasn't forced by injury.
  20. Philosopher
    Newcastle are the archetype of a team he can thrive against. They press high and in numbers, so this means when Buendia is in a left mid / no10 position there is lot of space for him to drop into centre midfield and receive the ball in space after the press has been broken through. The he can really do damage then. He has a niche, where if he can get space in the right positions he can do damage. But if he started against West ham he would've struggled. They only pressed high after the second goal. There was little space between the lines. Zaniolo on the other hand did well. He stretched them with his pace and power. He won duels, was a target for high balls, didn't allow the dirty Coufal to bully him. Buendia couldn't have done that.
  21. Philosopher
    Shall we put it to a vote?
  22. Philosopher
    He isn't anywhere near unpredictable like Traore or Bailey. He is creative, but that's with his passing. He rarely beats a player. He is only useful against low blocks when brought on as a sub late on. When he is one of many creative and attacking players. When has he ever started a game and put in a good performance against a low block? Low blocks get unlocked by moving the ball quickly, direct running to beat defenders, and clever runs between the line. He can't really beat a man, holds on to the ball too long (when he can't quickly find a throughball), and unless we have lots of attacking players on the pitch he is usually looking for the runs rather than making the runs. He doesn't start ahead of Ramsey, or McGinn or Diaby, and for me Zaniolo is a better player, so who does he come in for?
  23. Philosopher
    We love this guy because he gives everything. And now he's injured and not played for a while he's suddenly become Zidane! He is obsessed with playing throughballs, and is a good passer. He is extremely hardworking and has an aggressive streak. His touch is good, and he is also quite good at finding space (if he isn't being man marked). These are his good points. On the flipside he is often too preoccupied with finding a throughball. He is physically weak. He is physically slow. He isn't a good ball carrier or dribbler as a result of his physical limitations. He can sometimes lose his head. His tenacity is somewhat negated by his lack of physical presence. Against an opponent that is going to consistently press high and not going man mark him, he is a killer. Otherwise, he isn't going to do much for us going forward. But will always help the team with his workrate. If he can pick and chose his throughballs better, and just make sure to retain possession sometimes he'd be a much better player for us.
  24. Philosopher
    He is like a swiss army knife. Sometimes he on the left, others he's on the right, then he's in the hole, then he's up top. And is comfortable in all those positions. Thing that makes him such a good addition isn't simply his pace and skill, but his tactical awareness, tactical flexibility, and intelligence is right up there. Will only get better. In 2 or 3 seasons he could be one of the best players in the world.
  25. Philosopher
    Having him as a squad player is very handy. I remember Man U in their prime late 1999 having a couple of super sub strikers and a winger too. Solskjaar, Sheringham, and Blomqvist. The value of impact subs cannot be understated. I think Buendia is a player that has major weaknesses in his game, but he also has a niche that we can exploit to good effect in certain games. If Bailey and Buendia can find a role they can play to contribute to the team then great. As quite frankly they aren't worth what we paid for them right now, and the squad needs the depth they add.
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