VillaChris

We've spent large portions of this season playing 4 CMs across the pitch.

Now we seem to be actively refusing to play anything but a 4-2-3-1.

I get injuries and fatigue but as we've seen in the last week that is really really hampering us now as Luiz and McGinn have too much ground to cover and both aren't in great form either.

We simply have to go 4-3-3 v Liverpool otherwise that will be a pointless 90 minutes as they'll just play constantly through us.

1 hour ago, avfc1982am said:

If he's not rated Chris then there is no point in a buyback. Makes the decision letting Dendonker go out on loan even more stupid.

I think it's just more to cover ourselves if they get really good once they leave us. Nothing likes of Chelsea and Man. City don't do but of course they don't always exercise the clause like with Luiz.

What's clear with without doubt the first priority in the summer window has to be to sign a DM as we can't just waste months of next season waiting for Kamara to get fit.

What's clear after today is Unai simply doesn't rate him at all.

I fully expect him to be sold in the summer with a buyback.

10 minutes ago, NorthEastVillan said:

Nervous now if Olsen in goal. Just don't let them shoot at all  

Their defence can't handle Ollie at all if we pass forward quickly enough so that simply has to be the game plan today and we should score enough to render Olsen in goal an insignificance for this.

1 hour ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

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I think that's the type of post that will be just scheduled to go out before every game regardless of his involvement.

If his wife is putting out posts with him in it at their home then he obviously hasn't travelled and is being saved for Thursday.

We usually score at least two v Brighton home and away so I'm hoping Olsen in won't be too decisive against this opponent.

7 minutes ago, sne said:

20 times in 169 games according to Transfermarkt. Might not be 100% accurate but probably ball park at least. Last time was in 2022.

O.k so he'll just be cover option for that position then. I would still expect a new LB this summer then.

Just now, Brumstopdogs said:

Yeah we just need to do our thing and then don't need to rely on others.

I know Spurs have some crazy home league record vs City where they have won something like their last 4 home games against them so wouldn't want to rely on anyone (even if City should win that game!)

Their fans don't want them to do anything v Man. City as it will pretty much hand Arsenal the league. Will be a strange atmosphere that night.

11 hours ago, AshVilla said:

If we can get Martin Zubimendi we should.

DM and midfield controller, check.

 

Barcelona want him so that's the big problem.

Merino I think only has one year left on his deal and he's a big unit in central midfield so he'd be a really good pick up from Real Sociedad. Played for Newcastle years back under Benitez so would have no issue adapting.

12 hours ago, Brumstopdogs said:

I think if we get to 70 points it should be done.

Really hoping we can get 3 points at Brighton tomorrow and then the pressure will all be on Spurs!

If we win today then that means Spurs have to get 4 points out of the Liverpool and Man. City games, can't lose either.

An Arsenal type performance today and 4th is sealed at 6.30pm tonight I reckon.

I liked him at Espanyol.

How often has he played at LB at Atletico Madrid out of interest?

I'm very relaxed about things. Spurs have shown nothing in the last month that they can battle to a draw at Anfield and then turn over Man. City.

I think they'll lose both games. Even if they get two draws and win the other two games we still need just two draws from three games so we are in a very strong position and only need one strong performance to make it now.

Clear dive from Kai Havertz.

Travers comes out but stops his momentum so he doesn't collide with Havertz who then decides to engineer contact by pulling his leg back.

Why are VAR just waving these penalties through? Ref should've been told to go to the screen.

I think this lad has got a chance of making it here.

Did very well in some high pressure games for Blackburn from what I've seen.

He's only just turned 20 so I think a season long loan to another championship side would be good for next season and if he gets 40 games then he could be ready to challenge in 25/26.

1 hour ago, Monkeypuzzle said:

Is Denis Zakaria, at Monaco, good enough to be our alternative to Kamara? I'm sure he's strong enough and good at tackling and interceptions, but is he technical enough for us?

He was at Chelsea last year but barely played. Good rep at 'Gladbach. Kamada the same, looked fantastic in the Bundesliga but not quite lived up to expectations at Lazio.

One who'd be very ambitious but I'd love as a Pau Torres type signing this summer would be Joao Paliniha. Perhaps Bayern Munich will make another move for him and make things academic but you'd think after two years at Fulham he'd seriously consider us offering him CL football?

Alvarez at West Ham is the sort of profile we need. They signed him for 35m so this is the transfer window where Monchi means business I imagine and he'll find a similar type.

I did wonder if giving Napoli Donk was a bit of a sweetener to have a look at someone like Lobotka who's been an excellent DM for them. They won't be making CL so I assume they'll have to sell a few of their top players.

11 hours ago, Zatman said:

He might be 34, he might be past his best and just about to be released but I would still like to see Marco Reus in a Villa jersey 

He was a wonderful player in his prime but would be like signing Joe Cole a decade on.

Just now, Stevo985 said:

The JLR derby

Tamworth also only two divisions off them now. Plenty of noses up in that place.

1 hour ago, Stevo985 said:

Nah. **** that. 
 

I hope they get relegated over and over until they’re on the brink of going bust but without actually going under

Could be one division between them and Solihull Moors by this time tomorrow.

18 minutes ago, maqroll said:

I don't really recall us playing them when we were in the Championship. Were they in 3rd tier then?

Were there for all three seasons. Could be wrong but think all three at Ipswich were draws? Lambert managed them for a few months when they went down in 18/19 which was a bizarre appointment given he managed Norwich.

Amazing job by Kieran McKenna. I thought they'd challenge for the play offs but getting 96 points is ridiculous. Most other seasons and that wins the league.

They've got some good attacking players who'll surprise the premier league but need to strengthen in central midfield as Sam Morsy and Luongo won't quite cut it. CBs and keeper don't look great either but I think with the new ownership they'll spend a decent mount on 4-5 experienced players.

Remind me of Brighton coming up in 2017 so potential is there with them to stay up and kick on.

15 hours ago, omariqy said:

As opposed to Pau Usain Torres?

Torres is far far better at reading the game and positioning himself when attacks start than Lenglet. Surely that's obvious from watching both over the last six months.

As said Lenglet is very weak on the turn from balls played over him.

Great season for them. Would've been safe by early April if Schumacher hadn't bailed out mid season.

Do fear for them next season if they lose Morgan Whittaker as they have little in final third apart from him.

Did their job today and that's all we can ask.

8 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

The set of results that had to happen to relegate them even if they won is absolutely bizarre.

Youd have got very good odds on Wednesday, Plymouth, Blues and Blackburn all to win. 

Blackburn and Sheff Weds only needed draws tbf.

That's the championship though for you. If it was a final day scenario in the prem then likes of Man. City and Arsenal would just beat the relegated threatened teams 3 or 4 nil. It's such a good league every week.

Wasn't so much sacking Eustace but actually appointing Rooney instead. If they'd even gone for Rowett in November they'd have comfortably stayed up but was obviously different aims from their ownership at the time and it's hilariously blown up in their faces now:

Points taken by their managers this season:

Eustace- 18 points from 11 games.

Mowbray- 10 points from 6 games.

Venus- 1 point from 6 games

Rowett- 11 points from 8 games

Sir Wayne Mark Rooney MBE- 10 Points from 15 games. 

So Rowett actually took more points from 7 fewer games than Rooney did.

Has to be one of the most useless final day performances I've ever seen that. Especially when you correlate league position aswell. Would be like us going to a Burnley on the final day and barely having a shot.

Gave up watching after 70 minutes and just flicked to their game on occasions. No exaggeration everytime I turned back Norwich were having a half hearted attack where one of their players slipped and the ball just trickled out of play.

Complete waste of time them coming back up. Jay Stansfield half pressing Duffy and him hopelessly booting the play out of play says it all as to what they'd be like in the premier league.