Philosopher

1 minute ago, oishiiniku_uk said:

Great win and performance! 

Side note, the commentary on the US stream was bizarre - so begrudging of giving any praise and desperate to dismiss our prospects for the season despite acknowledging that we've got the 2nd most points this year. Lee Dixon sounded bored and he and the commentator were happiest talking about a game that was played at Villa Park 24 years ago that we didn't even play in. Idiots. 

Commentary these days is trash. Most of them offer little insight, they're biased toward the London clubs and top 4, and the pundits regularly show through their ignorant comment how little they watch Villa.

We're playing well. But we have to be alert.

The links to Carlos Soler are exciting me!

This guy has good pace, excellent passer, good ball carrier, lovely touch, plays CM, LM, and RM so would really fit in well with Emery's style and tactical approach.

Him, Ramsey, McGinn, and Zaniolo plus Diaby and Bailey and our wide positions and second striker positions are nicely stocked. I feel currently that our LM position is a little light as McGinn  and Zaniolo are better on the right or behind the striker. 

So I see it currently as Zaniolo and Diaby as 10's McGinn and Bailey are RM's, then Ramsey as the Left midfielder. So we need another left midfielder.

I'd like to see a right back and Dendonker replaced with a similar sized player but with more energy, aggression, and mobility. But I feel Iroegbunam could be that player.

But really all these moves are contingent on the right players being available to us. Otherwise we make do with what we have. As the squad is more than decent already.

We also need a back up keeper comfortable in possession.

2 hours ago, rodders0223 said:

Lamptey at Brighton?

Amazing people rate him still. He's absolute hopeless. But he out sprinted someone 3 year ago.

 

He's one of those players that seems to hold some mythical reputation for some unknown reason.

 

Lamptey is a good player. Very attacking. Good ball carrier. Too injury prone.

2 hours ago, TRO said:

Very much so.

This game will go some way to see if we can mix it, with different style teams....if not, then we need to be mindful of this, in our next round of recruiting, and bring in players to make us more rounded.

I too fear for that left side, I thought we should have been in for Bowen, when he was at Hull, a Snodgrass type winger, fairly physical.

I too think we should have been in for Bowen, he would have been able the exploit the space our right side used to get with Grealish on the left. Much better player than Snodgrass, quicker and better goal output, higher workrate. Both good set piece takers. 

Very interesting game this one. Clash of styles, and Bowen and Antonio on the counter with be a dangerous prospect for Pau.  They will definitely look to exploit the high line, but also look to trigger press us. 

Could go either way this one. Alvarez is out apparently, so that could help us.

13 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

For me, it would be gutting not from a sentimental point of view, but from me genuinely thinking if he ever hit form he would be a banger.

He's got all the tools required to be some player imo.

But so did players like Balotelli

This. Like Baloteli he is a player that needs the fans to love him. We have to get behind him, unless he is found to have bet on football matches and is banned for a long time. In that scenario he'll be sent back to Galatasary.

10 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Lions eat Cows.

Hostile takeover imminent.

Kobe is where Kobe beef (wagyu) is from. Hence cows! 

1 minute ago, MrBlack said:

Does the ground improvement come off our FFP allowance? I get it's a cost they're fronting either way, but wasn't sure how it impacts our freedom in the transfer market. 

Good point. I'm not sure. As if I remember rightly Villa Park is now owned by a holding company and not avfc. So probably not. 

On 15/10/2023 at 22:44, MWARLEY2 said:

I hope we can really do some good deals for us. And i dont mean value for money necessarily.  Sold 155 million of home grown talent over the last 2.5 seasons . Plus another 20 mill of normal sales.

I know net spend isnt ffp relevant but it is sitting at a net of £50 mill over this time which is incredibly low. £10 mill a window on average. 

It just shows how little we have to play with compared to those who we feel we can challenge against. Commercially we are so far behind the rest that its no wonder they are squeezing every last penny out of us .

I do hope though that by being obviously prudent these last few years we can splash out in January and get some reinforcements.  The likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Foyth and Bueno at Villareal would cost alot but not just fill in the gaps . Instead create a real fight for starting places. Especially with Zaniolo looking doomed

 

In regards to expenditure. Your post neglects the amount we are now spending on wages. It also neglects all the debt we had accrued in the championship. It also neglects the 100 plus million we are about to spent on a new North stand and entertainment venue.

I think the club will continue to try and be prudent in the transfer market. For the simply reason that the players needed to take the squad to a higher level cost a lot. And require enticement like champions league football and 200k pw salaries and so on.

Get champions league football and immediately we can target the next level up of players. Expand the stadium and we can sustain our current wage bill better. Our club profile is increasing and with that sponsorship and kit deal become more lucrative. 

If you look at the signing we have made over the last 3 transfer windows, with the exception of a new contract for young, and Olsen, all our signings have been good enough for champions league teams. We will only sign players we believe are of that calibre.

In regards to Zaniolo, if what he is saying is to be believed, he won't be banned. Also the people at the club clearly believe he is a very high calibre of player, as they would never take the risk of signing a player with his injury history.

People criticising him are jumping the gun here. He is settling into to a new life in the toughest league in the world. He needs time. We can all see the talent. So we need to give him that time. I'm happy with his efforts so far, considering everything he has to adapt to.

6 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

She wasn't starting for Swiss team and when came on late I thought she was pretty rubbish but barman next to my local who is from Hong Kong, and doesn't follow or care much for football, knew all about her and was keen to go see her because he'd seen pictures so I'll leave it at that

She is a good player. She's got good pace. But she's no Rachel Daly!

We all know the deal with wingers. Inconsistent!

Her following is mystifying to me. So many men so thirsty just because she has a peachy bottom. It's rather embarrassing.

2 hours ago, zab6359 said:

Don't fall in love with loan players,  from what i've read we have no option to buy and he's made it clear Juventus is his dream job. He reminds me of a leggy Savo.

I've read the loan automatically becomes permanent after 25 appearances.

Maybe you could cite the source of your information for us.

2 hours ago, rodders0223 said:

I'm sure it's absolute nonsense but really I do wonder what he's thinking coming here? He was once linked to top clubs , surely he has aspirations to play but he's come to a club where he is never ever ever ever going to get in above a fit Luiz or Kamera.

The whole transfer just doesn't make sense from his point of view.

Any player that believes in themself would back themself to win a place in the first team. He probably feels he just needs a run of games with the first team to prove he belongs there.

3 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

If it was true why has Emery played him in every game? It's just the usual bs made up to get clicks

I don't know if it's true. I don't know what goes on behind closed doors at the club. What I do know is Emery doesn't strike me as the kind of manager to freeze out a major asset just because he is moaning about wanting to play more games. If anything this is the kind of moaning managers want (if players are going to moan).

But Tielemens does strike me as a man that doesn't have much patience when he isn't getting what he wants.

If this is true, we don't lose out at all by selling him. In fact we'd profit greatly. So if true it would be best to get rid.

However if it isn't true, then he needs to get his head down, work hard, and show everyone how good he is.

27 minutes ago, Don_Simon said:

Whose the second left back on huge wages? Or is Digne's wage so incredulous that it counts as two players salaries?

Errmm I wrote two 30 year old left backs ONE on huge wages!

Also that Divine Wrench seems like a tough nut. If he has a good bolt on him he'd be a fine option at right back. 

So I can't see much business done in Jan unless we get another serious injury. Or there is too good of a deal open to us.

However looking at the squad, even though I love Cash and want to keep him, I do believe we can improve on him. We also can't rely on Chambers!

At left back two 30 year olds, one on huge wages isn't the way forward. So a young talented quick left back should definitely be on the agenda.

I also wouldn't say no to another high calibre attacking player.

But all that is best left to the summer really.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

I agree.

Maybe Agricultural, is the wrong word, but a more athletic type to balance the squad.

for me, taking off Luiz for instance and bring on Tielemans, does not change our play, its just a change of face or energy.

At times, we face lesser quality players, who have a possibly better effect on a game (like this).....my point is, our better quality, is not always as effective as it should be.

The low block, is a particular achilles heel for us, but we have to find a way around it.....I don't think we have enough players in the squad, who feel comfortable with physical engagement....one or two more, to bring on in games of this nature, could be the disrupting force we need.

We will have a similar issue with West Ham , next home game.

 

The aim should always be to increase the quality  of the squad. So I can't get on board with signing lesser players. However if we could say move on Dendonker for a player with similar stature but more aggression and energy, either the ability to carry the ball or with good passing, then we should jump at it. We need players that can contribute on the ball, and off the ball. 

I am starting to have issues with Tielemens, not because his isn't a fine passer (he certainly is) but off the ball he is too slow to react, looks like bambi on ice falling over all the bloody time. He needs a beast or two next to him. But we don't have a beast. 

However I think we potentially have a player like this in young Tim Iroegbunam.

I think this start to the season has been particularly impressive as this has been done without the likes of Ramsey, Moreno,  Mings, Buendia, and Iroegbunam, plus with Carlos, Bailey, and Dendonker struggling with their fitness. It's a testament to the depth we have.

51 minutes ago, TRO said:

Theres an opportunity to get diversity in to the squad, then.

But we have Duran who seem up for a physical tussle. I was surprised he wasn't brought on yesterday.

48 minutes ago, TRO said:

so has Bailey and Diaby.

And we have seen Diaby's effectiveness this season. Bailey doesn't seem to have the balance to effectively carry the ball. He is decent one on one around the box, but carrying the ball o the transition while under pressure he has a habit of being brushed off the ball. 

6 minutes ago, TRO said:

I can't quite get my head around why Neto seemed to be their go to player....He has scored 2 goals in 40 games for them over the last 3 seasons.

Sure, he is a winger and he is quick, so was Adama Traore....these players can be nullified, if dealt with properly.

We have allegedly quick players in Diaby and Bailey....but the same fuss is not afforded to them.

Neto has touch as well as speed. It's  a different kettle of fish. Traore always was likely to have a heavier touch, he also doesn't have the agility Neto has.

The main issue though is getting player the ball in the right situations. Neto was the first player they looked for when the ball was turned over. They sought to get him one on one with space to attack. 

11 minutes ago, TRO said:

Ollie could so easily have had a hat-trick, but he has to learn to make some of his own chances.

When the service is iffy.....he needs to work his opposite numbers better.

Centre backs need to be "played", left alone they are too competent at this level, they need to be "got at"

Our frontline was too passive, in a game like this, they needed disrupting....The crosses from us was bread and butter for them.

I still feel a couple of "industrial" players for the squad, would be helpful in games like this....we have more footballers, but they get taken out, too easily, on days like this.

 

Ollie's way of working CB's is to make them chase him, but the space wasn't there for him to run into. Plus 3 at the back meant they had a player marshaling the channel where Ollie would like to run down.

Ollie is never going to be the nasty annoying Suarez type. 

10 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think the lack of movement "OFF" ball renders our players on the ball, subject to a tackle.

We have to move the ball quicker....and we can only do that when the receiver, moves more.....we are too easy to close down, at times.

I think this is possibly causing us undue injuries too.

The play is too slow at times, and predictable and we are getting caught on the ball....I think this is adding to the likelihood of injuries.

The decision of no penalty on Ollie....was a joke....seriously bad decision.

The movement off the ball is true. But when a team is a organised, aggressive, and defending quite deep and in numbers as Wolves were yesterday its very hard for the attacking team. Diaby offered little, and Watkins struggles a bit when the space is so compressed, with little room in behind. I felt like a Duran cameo might have helped.

In these match situations, with 3 centres backs, you need one of the centre backs to step into midfield to allow the midfielders to make more forward runs.

Agricultural players would only help if they also have significant technical ability.

Moreno would've made a huge difference yesterday. The amount of space Digne had was massive. But all he can do is cross. If we had Moreno running at Semedo and Kilman, we would've done some damage down that flank. If we have Ramsey there on the left too, we would have ripped them open. 

Happy with the point. Until the sending off felt it was an even game in which both teams had periods of controls.

Not happy with our performance, as there was a few too many misplaced passes and dithering on the ball at times. I don’t think we were at our sharpest, the international break has come at a good time. These players need a rest, and we need to get a few back from injury.

Martinez is so reliable. Another 7 out of 10.

Konsa had a solid game, but Hwang really made him work. 6

Carlos was tough and uncompromising, was good on the ball too. The little backheal in his own third to a teammate was lovely. 7

Torres made up for getting skinned for their goal by scoring the equaliser. Neto gave him a torrid time. Good distribution as usual. 6

Cash was industrious as ever, always an outlet. should've scored though. 7

Digne was pushing up and always an outlet, but gave the ball away a lot. 6

Luiz wasn't as effective as usual, dithered and got dispossessed for the transition that led to their goal. 5

Kamara battled well, gave the ball away a few times. 6

McGinn had a very tenacious first half and didn't allow us to be bullied. Faded in the second half. 7

Diaby was poor, clearly wasn't fully fit and Wolves were snapping into challenges. Game passed him by. 4

Watkins was industrious as ever. However his first touch let him down a lot yesterday. Good assist, should've won it for us. 6.5