Cizzler

Really only watched enough of us from early 00's to comment. But Martinez is the best keeper I've seen at Villa. I think we've had better full backs than the current incumbents. Even if just that one year of Kyle Walker on loan. Laursen would be the best CB I've watched us have - but has very different qualities to what Emery seeks in my opinion. Would he have the pace to play the high line, or the ability to pass between the lines. I'm not sure. There's definitely an argument Pau/Ezri is our strongest combination of PL post-90s CBs (I never saw McGrath play). Midfield, I would still pick Barry above them all. Even Milner I would say had a higher peak than Dougie, Kamara or McGinn. But it's close. I would put those three above/close to Petrov. Ashley Young was fantastic in his first stint imo. Still a level above Bailey/Diaby - but maybe I'm being overly sentimental. To be honest, there's an argument for Grealish being the best winger we've had in the PL era. Not that I want him back at all (was excellent business in hindsight to cash in) - but he was brilliant before he went. Striker - Ollie is definitely in the conversation now. If he gets 20 goals, will be hard to argue against him. I think Benteke was more useful in a worse team - but in this system, I wouldn't swap Watkins for anyone. Completely pointless, as the dates I started watching Villa are arbitrary for everyone else, but: -------------------Martinez---------------- Konsa----Laursen---Torres---Bouma Young-------Barry------Milner------Grealish ------------Watkins-----Benteke------------- I don't even particularly like Konsa at RB - so a bit shoe-horned.

Like Shaw isn’t a bad left back at all. Most United fans would say he’s one of their better players. Injured again this year (he is obviously injury prone) but last year he was very good in my opinion. He’s England’s best LB - so not sure why it’s a massive issue / a reflection on how bad United have been run. They’ve clearly been run horrendously - but it’s more their record signings, than being unable to get rid of Shaw/Martial. Pogba £105m, Anthony £95m, Maguire £87m, Sancho £85m, Lukaku £85m, Di Maria £75m, Casemiro £70m, Mount £65m… Of their signings £50m+, only really Bruno (and potentially Hojlund) are worth what they paid. Compare that to Man City or Liverpool’s ‘big’ signings. Where it is near 80%-90% hit rates.

This is just a mental opinion. He's having a fantastic season - but he's not better than Mbappe. Haaland is also 5 years younger than him and clearly not recovered properly from his mid-season injury. He scored 36 in 35 games last season in his first PL season as a 22 year old. The Kane slander (made by a few on here) is also really off. The only thing Ollie has over Kane is the ability to run in behind. Trying to paint the narrative that Kane is just a goal-scorer is bizarre, he's a fantastic passer of the ball. His first touch is a million times better than Watkins. He's scored a lot more (33 goals) and still assisted close (10) vs. Watkins this season, and is in the CL semi-finals. He's a phenomenal player.

Not quite sure about generational, but clearly an excellent young player. Must be quite close to starting for England this summer. I remember a few posters on here claiming he was just “penalties” and crap.

It was 100% a goal kick. It was only yesterday (and I wasn't drinking!). It was a harsh yellow - the game was tied, it was early on and I don't remember a serious previous warning. Crowd baited the ref into it big time. But it was definitely a dead ball.

I dunno. Looked like the ref spoke to Martinez for a while, immediately after he'd just shhh'd the crowd after the first pen save. The ref then walks away, but is clearly distracted by Martinez' shenanigans (not wholly Emi's fault here) and doesn't realise there's no ball in play. Martinez asks for a ball - the ref misjudges this as him winding up the crowd (again) and charges over to book him. I felt at the time that Ollie's statistically a weak penalty taker - and all this can't have helped. But he nailed then pen - so fair play to him. He's definitely mentally stronger this season.

It obviously worked, but there was a point before Watkins' penalty where I felt that the whole pantomime could have hindered us. Watkins had much longer to wait for pressure to build, because Martinez was engaging with the crowd/the ref was trying to assert control.

Spent four years at Leverkusen... and the year they sell him, they win the title. Not sure a Conference League winner's medal will mitigate that... but could soften it slightly!

Agreed that Isak is class. Tbf, VDW is not having a good game at all. I do still think he’s a good player though. He’s not “signing of the season” as the spurs fans crow - but he’s big, quick, left footed and comfortable on the ball.

Spurs play with a really high line. If you actually watch him play, can we he’s a really good defender, and decent on the ball too. Managed to keep Watkins pretty quiet.

He’s a really good defender; and both those goals were hardly his fault. Squared up last man, I’m not sure Torres stops either…. Still, great result for Villa if it stays like this.

I’ve been a big critic, but fair play - great cameo. Good to know he’s got that physicality in him. That’s how you need to be in this league. He saw that if you play with that intensity, the refs are actually a lot more lenient when you do go down under contact. Some nice touches too.

My Euro 23 man squad would be: Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope (if fit) Defenders: Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James (if fit), Luke Shaw (if fit), Ben Chilwell, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa (although would've been Ben White), Levi Colwill Midfielders: Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Jude Bellingham, James Maddison, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon Forwards: Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney

Rogers was such a strange signing, has looked utterly appalling every time I’ve seen him. Is he really any better than Aaron Ramsey or JBP? Trampoline touch, scuffed shots, gives the ball away constantly. Had zero faith he’d fashion anything from that opening just before HT. Why is he playing.

Lenglet, Duran and Rogers would struggle to get in Luton’s team