ejs1111

1 minute ago, CVByrne said:

Luiz and Sanson will be leaving you'd imagine.

JJ, Kamara, Bissouma, McGinn, Nakamba, Carney + Coutinho/Buendia can play 8 if needed.

One could argue that Luiz stays and Nakamba goes.  Both Boubs and Biss can be rotating at DM if needed.  We also have young Tim waiting.  I see Carney being lumped in with Coutinho/Buendia as an AM, along with Bailey.  Those 4 rotate 2 spots.  Leaving 3 midfield spots for 6+ players.

AM- Coutinho/Buendia/Carney/Bailey

DM Boubs/Tim

CM Bissouma/SJM

CM JJ/Luiz

Sanson and Nakamba are the odd men out imo.  Plenty of game time to rotate for cup matches etc next season.  Maybe one mid stays in case of injury?  idk

This is one signing I'm not on board with myself.  He's just a big goon who cannot pass the ball AT ALL (68% completion this season).  Complete anti SG style of a CB.  We need a ball playing CB, full stop.  That is mainly what made Chambers look so good in our games, he is capable of passing the ball.  Konsa cannot, he only gives the ball sideways and back to Emi, who then lumps it forward.  Mings passing is dreadful as well...he dwells on the ball forever only to lump a hopeful ball to the channel for Watkins.

Signing Tark would just be more of the same.  The only positive I see would be he's a better defender, and a shitehouse, which our side lacks.  Hopefully its just agent talk to get better offers.

3 hours ago, MaVilla said:

look how tall he is........perfect DM!!!

He must be 12ft 25!

 

you mean 12.5 Tommy Elphicks??

2 hours ago, hippo said:

but I'm pretty sure he doesn't read these forums.

Yes I do. 

For all the people talking about how the Villa players and staff need a change in culture/attitude towards winning...and not accepting mediocracy.  I'm baffled by how many posters here are doing EXACTLY that.  I for one agree with alot of Nick76 comments...the owners are definitely not here to just toil around in the Premier League and be content with mid-table like many clubs.  They want a seat at the big table.  They have already shown how ruthless they can be despite all the wonderful things that have been done with Villa.  Coaches and players need to produce.  Period.  Or they will be replaced.  End of.

This season was simply not good enough.  The mentality of this squad is weak.  I think our vast youth is actually hurting us to an extent.  We need some experience in the squad:  calm players during the game, keep them focused in practice, etc etc.  I don't expect SG to fill Villa with a bunch of old players, but I think he knows what we need.  Obviously, the spine needs to be improved as well (DM, CB).  Frankly I think those simple fixes will really unlock the potential of our team.  1 top class CB to partner with Konsa/Mings, and 1-2 top class DM/CM types to allow our CMs more freedom... suddenly we will look like a different team imo.

maybe we can share grounds with BCFC like they are with Coventry!  One big happy family 

We paid more for Wesley.  Both are Brazilian.  By my maths that means this signing will turn out to be shite. 

14 minutes ago, AV82 said:

Gerrard won't have given up on two number 10s. He's just waiting until we sign a rock hard DM.

behave.

I think selling Watkins is a mistake.  Especially at the prices bandied about.  We bought him for about $30mil plus... why in the world would we sell him for 40-50?  He's had less than 2 seasons in the Premier League, 14 goals and 10 goals (and counting).  Double digit scoring STs don't grow on trees in the Premier League.  He's not even at his physical peak years yet either (27).

My money is on him staying next year, then we cash in when he's in his prime and has 3 years of success under his belt.  If we sell him at all of course.

Maybe I'm in the minority...  but honestly I hope Villa don't try for Phillips.  His injury history is as bad as Grealish.  I'd rather see us go after one of the younger DM players that has been bandied about.  Where is that Venn Diagram??  It never lies!!

I agree with both sides.  He is not good enough technically for Villa to be a true top6 side.  However...  he is the ONLY midfielder we have that is a truly physical player.  Everyone else is a lightweight in the middle.  JJ is improving- but SJM is the only one who can battle and not get pushed off the ball.  Until we get more physical players, he's irreplaceable for me.  I'm so tired of seeing Villa sign and go after these little technical players.  We need a couple bastards in the middle sometimes.  Watching Villa flop and throw their arms up for 90 minutes is maddening.  Nobody wants to battle.

this is a fascinating topic regarding SG.  Personally I'm willing to give him more time despite the poor performances lately.  He has not even had a full season OR preseason yet.  He has not had a summer window yet. 

Frankly imo, I lay alot of the blame for the poor performances at the feet of the players.  They are the ones that cannot string 2-3 passes together, cannot put a shot on target, zero movement without the ball, constant schoolboy defending, etc etc.  Villa are simply not even doing the basics well at the moment, and I blame the players for that.  That is effort and concentration.  Those are all rudimentary footy skills that I'd expect any professional footballer to posses at a minimum.  They are being paid to play this game as a professional athlete.  I'm shocked by the apparent LACK of pride this Villa side show.  They don't seem to care about losing until the 80minute mark.  That is not on SG.  That is on the players.

Whoever at Villa is doing the data analysis when choosing players via scouting needs to be sacked.  This mentality with Villa has been going on for years.  Something is wrong with the 'type' of player we are bringing in imo.  The algorithm needs to be revised.

nice to see Villa finally playing the same 442 diamond that I use on FIFA.  I always win the Premier League and UCL with it. 

My prediction:

Chelsea receives a European ban next season to further punish their ownership for involvement with Putin.  This pushes all the European qualifications down 1 slot.  5th for UCL, 6th-7th for Europa, and EIGHTH for the new Conference League.  

The race for top8 is on Villa!! 

Just now, villa4europe said:

I think his head and heart had gone long before we signed Digne, that's part of why we signed Digne 

He's been poor this year, mentally not on it at all

I think JG really hid the liabilities of Targett.  His lack of pace and athleticism are a real problem in the Premier League.  Especially for an SG side that wants overlapping FBs.  He is just not dynamic or athletic enough to get up and down the touchline.  He will magically look better with Newcastle's dynamic LW'er drawing defenders.  Hopefully that will trick them into buying him.  But the reality is he's not.

1 hour ago, PieFacE said:

Hypothetical scenario: If we were to sign Kamara and Bentancur but sell Dougie, would you be happy with that? 

What about if we sold Dougie, but then used those funds to help snag Bissouma and Bentancur? 

Just now, Steero113 said:

I heard his buyback is linked to the price of fuel in the UK. 

By 2025 it will be approximately £150,071,012,756. 

it was until Brexit f*cked that all up

30 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said:

Is there still a buyback clause from Man City in Luiz's contract, or was that a past, now-expired contract? 

yes it expires in 2029.  By then it will be $80 million for Citeh. 

Bissouma is the type of player that would foresee the danger Villa put themselves into when our creative players have the inevitable midfield turnover.  He would either intercept the next pass, make the needed tackle, or commit the tactical foul to stop the counter attack that has led to SO MANY soft goals this season.  He absolutely would transform us with his presence.  We simply don't have a player with that level of footy IQ on the pitch at the moment.  When things break down, everyone starts ball watching and becomes reactive.  Very few are proactive.  Bissouma is proactive.

5 hours ago, sparrow1988 said:

 

 

I hope that's all cleared up for you now @CarryOnVilla

its 50/50

On 13/01/2022 at 14:05, joshharris12 said:

He isn’t coming

in before the lock!

3 hours ago, villalad21 said:

For an older guy I was surprised by how athletic he looked!

completely agree.  I never realized how nimble and athletic a pensioner can be.

3 hours ago, fightoffyour said:

Don't forget Steer also has a Cup of Traditions trophy to his name, as well as Davis and Hourihane still on our books.

 

Thats not Elphick jumping from the trophy!  He's in the team photo FFS.  You just can't see him cause the LaLiga sign is too tall.

i really wonder if that early season injury has taken some of his burst or pace this season...and that is why he looks like a 'shadow' of himself? 

Honestly I never thought Watkins had very quick feet, but he was always a powerful runner who could run for days and outpace players when he got up to speed.  This season he does look even slower however.