Philosopher

3 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

I cant see emery wanting him at all

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.

1 hour ago, Demitri_C said:

The problem is when grealish was here we played to his individual strengths that isnt the case now hnder emery. We are playing collectively as a team. This is emerys show not grealishes anymore. I dont see how he will fit into our plans now. It wont be the same for him or us.

I dont think there is much more ti say about him tbh. Diabys the main man now

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!

27 minutes ago, Captain_Townsend said:

Move on from him FFS, he moved on from us years ago . We are going places we don't need that damn circuis. 

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.

Just now, Demitri_C said:

I cant see emery wanting him at all

Depends on the price. He's twice the player Buendia is. Emery would love Jack.

28 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

I mean Grealish could orchestrate attacks all on his own while surrounded by a lot of dross.

Not going to get in the debate of who's better though, Diaby is very effective.

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! 

13 hours ago, Monkeypuzzle said:

IF we wanted him it would be a FREE transfer and for a much lower contract. He won't get that much in a contract again outside of Saudi Arabia. He may well want to join us at 31/32 years of age, for the last part of his career. Only if he's good enough for us though. It was just a musing thought, not a serious suggestion. Don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm not suggesting we replace Diaby.

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.

5 minutes ago, DaveAV1 said:

I’ll settle for winning 30 games out of 31!

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.  

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. 

11 hours ago, romavillan said:

It's going to keep happening, we deliberately take risks at the back to bring the other team out and stretch their shape. Do that often enough and a couple of times you will look really stupid. Risk and reward though, playing that way we're **** awesome for 30+ games.

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.

5 minutes ago, briny_ear said:

You almost sound a bit annoyed that we won so convincingly and didn’t take our “deserved”punishment.

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.

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.

1 minute ago, villa4europe said:

That's how you beat the high line, the striker was offside but didn't interfere, played him off a treat, guy runner from deeper scores

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.

If I had to criticise I'd say Cash has been a bit on the poor side.

A goal and an assist for McGinn l, and goal and 2 assists for Bailey. Nice.

2 minutes ago, one_ian_taylor said:

Did he not score at Hibs?

People keep saying he only scores at home, and only plays well at home. 

So Bailey has now scored away from home, in a match he's started.  Could he have turned the corner.

8 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said:

The issue Zaniolo has is that he is most effective on the right of a 4231 or as a second striker coming from the right.  Basically Diaby positions. Same with Bailey, same with Traore.

 

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.

1 hour ago, rubberman said:

Once we get Mings, Buendia, JJ and Moreno back I expect us to have much less of a settled 'first' XI and see a fair bit more switching around of the starters to effect different tactics against different opponents. It'll make us less predictable and I've no doubt even more effective. Emi will get his share of starts IMO, but it'll be horses for courses rather than a rigid first XI followed by subs on 60mins.

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. 

27 minutes ago, El Segundo said:

From what I recall in the pre-season game against Newcastle in the US, Emi was unplayable first half and had them all over the place.  Looked like he was really up for it this season.  My brother and I have always called him the nearly man, because he sees and tries things others don't and then nearly plays a great ball but not quite - often slightly underhitting or overhitting passes.  But against Newcastle he seemed to be getting it right.  I think we do miss him, even though we are doing well without him.  For example against Palace for most of the game, Everton in the Carabao, and Mostar we were crying out for a number 10 type like him or Coutinho to get between the lines and unlock them. 

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.

43 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

Crazy opinion

Shall we put it to a vote?

5 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

Buendia is creative and unpredictable.

He is also great against low block teams.

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?

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.

4 hours ago, ChesterDad said:

This is pretty much where I sit, I honestly do not think he is a starter - far from this in fact.

His goal on Sunday was a terrific one and all credit for this, and as others have said - I too think his best role is coming off the bench at home.

I’m not a huge fan tbh - however if he can continue to contribute in this manner, this has got to be a good thing all round for everyone. 

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.

5 minutes ago, Hank Scorpio said:

Watch him tear it again in training tomorrow!

That's uncalled for!