MWARLEY2

If you are not basing your game around his ability to build and control pace of passing then there are plenty of better defenders out there. 

2 hours ago, Keyblade said:

This new Barkley is a joy to watch (as was young Barkley). I want as many ballers in our team as we can fit. He's going to be like 5th choice midfielder. What a 5th choice to have. From Dendoncker/Chambers/Tim to Barkley for £2m? Yeah I'll have some of that thank you very much.

So our central midfield options now cost even less

Dougie....15 mill

McGinn..2.7

Barkley..2

Tielemans.. 0

Kamara..0

Tim....0 

Yes. I know there is the huge wages to add to it but we got all of that for a third of the cost of a 31 year old Casemeiro. 

Its extremely good work by a recruitment team working with one hand behind their backs due to our far smaller revenue than any of our competitors for top 4 

9 hours ago, Follyfoot said:

Chelsea fan if I am not mistaken

Spurs from memory but its a crap memory

Only Chelsea.  Only chelsea can get rid of a manager that was finally showing class. They are just absolute idiots. 

8 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Got to say i was disappointed how duran and watkins played together yesterday 

They didnt play well together and were getting frustrated with one an other.  

Watkins is the killer of any 442 partnership.  Second striker..great.... number 10...great.

2 up front...forget it ..

Ings died up top with him. And Duran does as well when its not chaos time for him.

What did Unai say about our budget. ? Wasnt it that we have to be careful at the start and then we can build from there. The increased sponsorship will kick in next summer. The champions league earnings will kick in next years figures as well. So i expect player trading this summer.  Financial chess to let us get in some more players . And maybe one big signing if we can find homes for some of the big earners we currently have. 

We will no way be weaker. I think with clever signings like Hermoso and Barkley we will be much stronger..

There will be areas of his game where we will be disappointed,namely in his speed and athleticism  but the rest of his game is very very good. He played for Luton like Thiago Alcantara used to play for Liverpool. A very talented footballer that will be able to dictate in certain games  . Got outrageous touch and abililty to manupulate the ball still and can score a goal. Plus he is another 6ft 2 brickshithouse. 

Man of the match.. whoever in our marketing department who posted on our official facebook page 1 minute after full time with a pic of the adidas logo with PREPARED under it.

Just now, Vive_La_Villa said:

I actually think their best player will be Wharton but he will cost silly money.

He looks scary good. A taller version of Aiden Borland in our academy

Anyone else who watched the player awards on Wednesday night  who didnt celebrate and cheer and go crazy, but instead was absolutely disgusted by the unprofessionalism shown by the manager and the players drinking and celebrating getting 4th place when there was one more game to go ? 

Anyone ? ... didn't think so....

Just now, TRO said:

that's right, but he doesn't have aggression either.

I often talk about stature and I do think it's important, particularly in certain positions.....but smaller stature players can also shine, but the they have to have other attributes like Aggression and pace, to compensate.

You have to have the necessary attributes, to make you effective, whatever they are to dominate opponents.

Yep. He could be a Jarod Bowen player if he had the real toughness and aggression.

13 minutes ago, TRO said:

How tall is he now?

5 and 3 quarter rulers. 

Louie just doesnt have the physical and technical attributes to make it with us. Thats not a slight on him. 9 times out of ten, wonderkids at 16 don't make it at the very top at 21. He will end up having a really good EFL career if he keeps free of injury though and has the right mentality . The Stockport fans loved him and thought he was a class act  

9 minutes ago, alreadyexists said:

Was Iroegbunam in that side? Fingers crossed for him to really kick on this summer and challenge as part of the squad next year. 

He played for the Baggies against us in the semi final and was probably their best player

27 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said:

Not that it matters but we could get absolutely turned over today. We don’t have a great record at Palace, although did win last season there I think, they’re absolutely flying at the moment with Olise, Eze and Mateta easily the most dangerous front line in the division right now. We’re almost certainly going to be in party mode, I don’t really care if we lose but just don’t want a pasting to end the season, although it would bookend the season somewhat having been battered in the opening match.

We could easily get turned over. But i would say todays game wouldnt even have pride as a factor.  We acheived 1 of our 2 goals and got to the semi in the other.  It is a meaningless game. We cannot lose any money in terms of prize money. We cannot lose a position. We already beat them at home. Nothing hanging on the result at all. Apart from avoiding injuries.  Rest them all. Play the kids and non stop sing we are champions league for 90 minutes.  Cans of stella and phones allowed on the bench. It has been a monstrous season and nothing can take the edge off that ! 

Just now, avfc1982am said:

John Fury needs to stfu and leave the trainer to coach

Probably  bet his caravan on the fight and is bricking it now . 

One of those players that plateaued for a while but has kicked on again. Poch has taken time but finally found a way to get that team playing, in particular Gallagher.  We are short in centre midfield so he would be a great acquisition. Got grit to him as well.  Forget the last 2 years and concentrate on the last 3 months. He has been quality, and i really didnt think he would be, which shows what i know . 

.

7 hours ago, ChesterDad said:

I agree - Bailey has done well this season. I don’t enjoy the way that he slows down the game at times, and is reluctant to take his man on.

But a very good season nonetheless - but player of the year is not for me.

I don't see him slowing it down much any more.. and when he does thats the tactics Emery wants. He beats players many times, plays great passes after moving inside and has been a huge goal threat.  I think he can get even better as well .  Without dissing Cash too much if we can get an elite rb then it will really help Bailey.  

1 hour ago, Khizzy said:

My personal player of the season based on how much he has improved this season. His goals/assists ratio is highly impressive too. 

Mine too. Expectation vs reality was hugely different.  He became the player i thought we bought 3 years ago. 

7 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said:

With transfers not so much. Someone puts on say 200 quid that he is going to move to Villa and the odds change hugely . Its when it gets 1/10 that it will be concrete i would say 

That said. I can imagine Emery really really liking him. He has played alot like Thiago played for Liverpool last season. A very coninental type of baller rsther than blood and thunder.  If we have to be clever in the market then this would be a clever move on a 2 yr deal. Monchi isnt here to make 2 transfers a season. He is here to play Rubiks cube.  Making moves that seem wierd but when completed you can see why .

If we have Kamara Barkley Luiz Tielemans and McGinn able to play double pivot i would be v happy.  That is a siht load of talent  to pay 17.5 million for !!!

12 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

That’s odds on and normally suggests it’s close to happening.  Very surprised by that if true. 

With transfers not so much. Someone puts on say 200 quid that he is going to move to Villa and the odds change hugely . Its when it gets 1/10 that it will be concrete i would say 

3 hours ago, Wainy316 said:

I know the squad have earned the right to a nice chilled last day and a party atmopshere for the fans, but I would like to at least keep our positive goal difference...

 

Hahaha. You know what. This is what a proper manager does  . Lets you celebrate once the goal has been achieved.

He will be on the bench Sunday. Probably Emi as well. MCginn has just been phenonenal.  Ollie, will he want 20 goals or will he be wa ting to avoid injury because of the Euros. Dougie needs a rest and no risk either. 

On this occasion i would say that what i would be happiest about is for those players to be rested and the youngsters who have sat on the bench with barely any minutes get to start a premier league game with no pressure. They deserve a start 

6 minutes ago, brummybloke said:

Spurs 

Sold kane

Sold bale 

Sold modric

Sold berbatov

Sold walker

All in different seasons

 

 

 

Thats the difference between being run as a business and being run for success. 

Wes Edens gave Giannis a super max contract to keep him at the Bucks, despite everyone saying he needed to move to a bigger franchise. And won the NBA and got a ring. 

Spurs were brilliant at attracting talent but ultimately their business model just doesnt get sustained success. The players grow at the club, but then the club ultimately isnt willing to push the boat out to go further and they leave for a club that does. 

Ollie is irreplaceable. Not in terms of ability. But in terms of what he offers outside of that.  Durability on a ridiculous scale both in terms of cardio and injury avoidance. Willingness to run the channels when needed. Willingness to make runs for 90 mins even when the ball isnt going to him. And his suitability to Emerys system. 

You cannot get as effective a player anywhere for our system. 

And for anyone worrying that he sat there glum at the awards, then remember his personality. Very reserved at heart. Probably sat there thinking. Jesus, i dreamt of this moment when on loan at Weston. And now i am going to be in the Champions League. Taking it in calmly. Thats his nature. Not one for flash. 

22 hours ago, tomav84 said:

but, but, he says 'mate' a lot. like he's one of the lads. so he must be alright? right?

he's pissed their fans off royally in the last 24 hours and will be off before xmas if the season starts poorly

Double standards from him . If you say you dont care about 4th then that permeates to the fans. Got a feeling Levy has been less than helpful yet again as well. Always a battle between Levy and the manager . Probably demanded 4th or his budget was halved. 

This is the difference between Unai and many other flavours of the month. He has been there , learned his lessons and has created the fan friendly persona. You can tell he hates the public side of his job. But he still says the right things. Never gives the journalists any chance of twisting words.