ejs1111

in before the lock!

Welp. Cancel the season. Lets just give up Europe aspirations with 36 matches left. VT... aka Nostradamus has determined its a bridge too far. It seems every team above us is capable of signing players or improving existing players EXCEPT Aston Villa.

Given our improved squad depth, this team is very capable of challenging for European places this season. Despite the loss of one player, no one can deny our offensive firepower has been improved this offseason overall. Our back 5 was already solid, and adding Young was very a shrewd addition as well. I understand the VT concern with midfield and apparent lack of signings etc etc. However, that does not take into account the fact that existing players improve as well. McGinn has improved (as seen Saturday), Nakamba even (compared to last season), Luiz played well in his first game back with little training, etc etc. Ramsey played very well. I am of the opinion that our midfield will naturally play better than last season given they are a year older, 1 more year experience playing together, 1 more year experience playing in the Premier League, etc. 6th-9th is achievable this season for AVFC. However, I really believe Villa can and will win ONE of the cups this season. We have better depth this season. I think a cup win is how we get to Europe personally. And that is OK with me!

looks about 50/50

He's actually Hindi, just like Hourihanne.

Ings... sounds like wings... winger... Left winger. Sorted.

That system is similar to Major League Baseball in the States. Its not perfect, but frankly its the best of the bunch imo. I'm not a fan of a hard salary cap- the main problem with a hard cap is it limits earning power of players, and frankly just makes the owners more wealthy...because the vast wealth of the league has to go somewhere. That is what happens in the NBA and NFL in a nutshell. MLB have a soft cap with a luxury tax penalty. Basically any team can exceed the cap but you are taxed heavily for exceeding said cap. All the taxes collected go into a big fund and are distributed to the teams evenly that did NOT exceed the cap. I'm simplifying it obviously- but that is the general idea. The luxury tax is not fixed either in MLB. Exceeding it in year 1 is a fixed %, then it increases if you exceed it a 2nd year in a row, culminating in a 50% tax on year 3. If you move below the cap in any year the tax resets. I've read that the soft cap in MLB is an average of the 5th-6th place teams in the league, so not the top... more like top 20%. For example, since this system has been in place- the NY Yankees have paid over $300 million in luxury taxes. Having a system like this in the Premier League would be a great way to provide additional funding to the football pyramid. Imagine taking the average of teams finishing in the European places (5-7) and setting that as the Premier League soft cap. Any team going over that starts paying a luxury tax into a general fund every year. A portion gets distributed thru the football pyramid, the remainder gets distributed to the remaining Premier League teams that stayed below the soft cap. Imagine how much Citeh, Manc, etc would pay in luxury tax. They would either keep paying to help fund everyone else (and improve other teams), or they would start dialing it back to avoid paying taxes...which would in turn help level the playing field.

oh stop. obviously AVFC found out RoK is Pakistani like Hourihane. Which meant he lied on his CV. Either quit or be sacked.

until I see something from that 'beacon of truth' Villareport i'm not going to speculate

you missed all of my Venn diagram jokes earlier. I was being punny. I thought the gave it away

All I see are a jumble of numbers. I don't speak this Vennacular

didn't you see the Venn?!? THE VENN DOESN'T LIE

He who not be named wanted to play CAM too didn't he?

I don't agree that we have a LW issue. AEG is the backup LW. I'm assuming most are in agreement here. Bailey has actually played more matches at LW than RW...regardless of what his father said. He's a LW who can play RW also (granted he did have a great season last year playing alot of RW). Buendia can obviously play there too, but imo he will be used centrally or on RW. Even Watkins can play LW (where he started before being converted to ST) if DS puts Ings at ST. Villa only need 1 of these 3 players ahead of AEG. Personally I'm not concerned. Imo the front 3 will be fluid and switching sides throughout the match, drifting, etc. So the side they start on is little matter. I just want our best players on the pitch. When everyone is fit and healthy... I expect to see Bailey, Watkins, Ings, and Buendia all on the pitch together against most sides DS thinks we can beat. It will be interesting to see how DS lines up the team to get them all on the pitch.

Trust the VENN!

I saw this on Twitter too. Great info with the Venn- could very well be Villa's interest in this kid over Saar (other than the price).

One of the reasons I agree with others on VT who have said Luiz is not being played in his ideal position. If we sign this Doucoure kid, he can compete with Nakamba for the DM spot. Then Luiz can push further forward and compete with our other midfielders for minutes. Luiz looks so much better further up the pitch imo.

I think Young will start every cup match. And if Targett is injured/suspended. 10-15 starts this season not including substitution appearances.

I too am of the opinion that Jack leaving while very painful for obvious reasons... it will help us grow and help AVFC and Smith in the long run. We are better overall because of it. It looks to me that we are very close to being able to finally playing the 433 that DS prolly prefers to play- like he did at Brentford and originally here at Villa. I'm of the opinion we are looking for a young DM in the Saar/Doucoure mold to compete with MN. Nakamba has improved significantly from the end of last season and has shown alot this preseason as well. If we acquire a young DM to compete with MN, Smith could push Luiz further forward and compete with the other midfielders...this is where he should be competing for playing time frankly. We could have Nakamba/New DM at one spot, McGinn/Sanson at another, and Luiz/Chuk/Ramsey at the 3rd CM spot. The other CMs are youth players or sold like CH. I fully expect AVFC to acquire a young prospect DM of value to compete with Nakamba. Then likely a veteran GK to compete with Steer. That leaves 3 attacking slots to be rotated with all the new depth we have. Our outside attackers play as inside forwards given how often they cut inside and allow the fullbacks to overlap. Plus they roam free and interchange with eachother. It looks like Buendia/Traore on the right, Watkins/Ings in the center, and Bailey/AEG on the left. Plus the youth winger nipping on everyones heels. That is a good looking 433 to me. We will have the depth (once we add the new DCM) to adapt to a 4231 if we want to add the extra attacker (Ings), or play 4411. I for one am really happy with how our squad is shaping up. We will soon have 2 player quality depth at every position. Just need to get everyone healthy and fit! This preseason has been a disaster for fitness and cancelled matches. UTV!

Anyone have YouTube vids of this lad?

I'd say its 50/50

Axe Body Spray will come calling surely. Jack Body Spray

They are sending the pen to ESR piece by piece over a period of 4 weeks. 1st the cap, then the ink, followed by the internals, last the instructions for assembly.

very good points. Then you look over and see GS as manager and realize half these players will be left home in 2022 World Cup because 16 RBs are needed on the 23 man roster.

When did you take over for Villalad? I missed the transition. Has anyone seen them in the same thread together??