dubliner

7 minutes ago, hippo said:

No they aren't are main rivals. And no he wouldn't be as unpopular as McLeish.

If any due dillegence has been done. Im sure Houlliers time at villa would crop up. 

I do feel there's still a bit of needle between the two clubs. The motd pundits rarely have much good to say about villa for example.

Fair point. I suppose it would be on him to win over the doubters.

Still not convinced he'd take it but if he did we'd forget any previous rivalry quick enough if he started getting decent results.

6 minutes ago, hippo said:

I think Saunders was out of work though.

I don't see Gerrard leaving rangers to walk into a club where a proportion of the fan base won't give him a chance.

I see your point but I think even people on here who are dead against the idea of him becoming manager would support him if he got the job.

Granted he might not be given as much time as a Villa hero but I don't think there'd be an element of hatred like when McLeish got the job.

I could be wrong but it's not as if Liverpool are our main rivals (or Rangers for that matter )

1 minute ago, pintpotvilla said:

And went how far after that? Benfica are a poor side now and the rest of the group was weak

They've got to the last 16 of the competition the last 2 years running.

With their budget that's an achievement.

Beaten some decent sides along the way too for example Feyenoord and Porto. 

What more could you really expect? Should they be winning it?

Just now, pintpotvilla said:

In Europe?

Yep Rangers topped a group ahead of Benfica in the Europa League last year while going unbeaten in the league. 

Pretty impressive

I wouldn't be dead against Gerrard personally when looking at the list of names in the running in the bookies.

Granted the Scottish league is levels below but he's done a fantastic job both domestically and in Europe.

He certainly wasn't the first name I had in mind but when looking at who's available/who we realistically have a chance of getting he's miles ahead of Lampard, Terry and some of the others I've seen mentioned.

Gutted over this.

I really believe he'd have turned it around.

Thanks for the memories. My favourite ever Villa manager 

We're really lacking characters in the team and that's the most worrying thing for me.

So many players that go missing when the chips are down 

Another genius set piece from Nanny McPhee 

We're in trouble. Big trouble 

Underrated: Gavin McCann

Overrated: Lee Hendrie

Surely any decent football coach can coach set pieces without needing a "specialist" to come in and assist.

It hasn't improved our set pieces whatsoever and if anything we've got worse.

It also irritates me the way commentators feel the need to mention him every time we get a set piece early in a game. 

Should never ever play 3 centre backs again. Just does not work with our personnel.

In saying that no matter what formation we played last night we'd have lost given the complete lack of fight a good few of our players showed. Brought memories of the Remi Garde era flooding back 

This has been absolutely gutless. As bad a performance as I've seen from us for a long time. Arsenal should be at least 3 up 

4 hours ago, MaVilla said:

I think he has been very good with ball retention, general passing and recycling the ball, being available for the pass and keeping things ticking, i think he is almost showing himself to be a good deep lying recycler of the ball at the moment, all of this is great, a good ball retainer and recycler shouldnt be underrated, its a real skill.

On the flip side, i think he has showed very little going forward, i dont think he has been a threat going forward mostly, and the chances he has had in advanced positions he has fluffed it a little, i have seen in a couple of matches where there were through balls or defence cutting passes on, and he either didnt see it, or take the opportunity, he has also had a couple of decent/good goal scoring opportunities and hasnt taken them.

im sure i will get jumped on for having a different opinion to the people who think he has been super amazing, but such is life.

On balance, i think he has been good overall, excellent in places, but hasnt really done anything to stand out in terms of creation, defence cutting passes, scoring goals etc, he has been as a said above, consistent, a good passer, comfortable on the ball, a good recycler, which in itself is something to be happy with, we have always lacked these types of players who can do a job.

Hopefully he will continue to develop and develop a bit more of a cutting edge to his game, either that or maybe his best position is a deep lying recycler / ball retainer, at which point i would say he is developing very nicely in to that role.

 

Totally agree with this. 

If he were a 30 year old I'd be worried but given his age I'm hoping to see a massive improvement in his attacking contributions.

Not having the best of afternoons today so far 

Saw a video circulating online where he was the victim of sectarian chanting while taking a corner on Saturday.

Really hope this gets reported on but I've not seen anything yet

Playing for your country is the ultimate honour.

Taking the Villa tinted spectacles off he should absolutely go in my opinion.

He's Argentinian, not from B6.

Doesn't make him any less committed to our cause and to suggest otherwise is madness.

1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

Didn't they put Bellingham straight in at 17?

Yes but he's a club legend with a retired number.

There's levels to this game 

Should always be remembered fondly at Villa Park.

I hope for his sake he gets the move he deserves this window.

I'd be snapping him up if I were a Championship manager

Best of luck to him.

Personally I don't think he's good enough for us (I had this opinion even before the injury) but similar to Hourihane he can't be faulted for effort during his time here.

My prediction is he's played his last game for us and will move back permanently at the end of the season

My favourite ever Villa manager.

Even the missus who despises football roots for us now because he's so likeable.

Super manager. Super bloke.

32 minutes ago, Cizzler said:

Yep, Ipswich will be aiming to finish in the top 6 in League One. Really good move for him if he can earn a place in the starting XI.

Yep very good move.

A big club too so it'll get him used to dealing with the pressures that come with that.

Welcome to the best club in the world Danny.

Delighted with this signing.

A quality player who will run his socks off for the cause 

48 minutes ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

Man City shorts?

Nah it's quite clearly a throwback to these beauties.

A subliminal message that he's staying. That's all the confirmation I need