KMitch

39 minutes ago, AshVilla said:

I'd class him as a meltdown signing.

26 year old CB who has not yet hit his prime or reached his ceiling, great passer, great reader of the game and a defender who has a completely different toolset to what we already have.

Also has CL experience and has a great chemistry with Unai.

Exactly.  He's a brilliant player and has been the best defender in a Europa League winning side and a side which went all the way to the Champions League semi finals.  I don't think we would have a shot at him if he didn't already have a prior relationship with Emery.

28 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

Seems he’s been introduced to this before.

 

https://amp.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/tyler-adams-10-things-on-the-rb-leipzig-and-usa-midfielder-usmnt-red-bulls-5098

 

Versatile

While Adams has made a central midfield berth his own at Leipzig, at international level he has recently been deployed at right-back by Gregg Berhalter. "Do we need a stable figure there, more of a passing figure, or do we need activity?" the head coach told ESPN's Jeff Carlisle when asked about the tactical switch. "Right now, I like having stability and activity in that position […] That's why we think of something like that. We get the best of both worlds when we have the ball."

Adams himself is open to the change. "It's definitely an interesting role," he told US Soccer."The analogy you can make with it is how Manchester City plays. They have a left back that moves into central midfield in attack. Obviously, it’s on the opposite side here, but you often find yourself tucked into the middle of the field being able to help with the transition plays and attacking in different roles. The most important thing that Gregg emphasized was that the No. 8 can take up that position, the winger can take up that position and I can take up that position at different times. The chemistry and rotation between those players will be very important."

 

Ah, yes.  The tactical genius of Gregg Berhalter...  This clown makes Fat Sam tactically look like Prime Barcelona Pep.

The worst part of Tyler Adams's game is his passing and distribution.  Our RB under Emery might not venture forward a lot, but that position still needs to be able to ping a good pass forward into the channel and through traffic short to McGinn.  Very puzzling to try to shoehorn him into the right back spot on paper.  

4 minutes ago, OhioVilla said:

Seen a lot of Tyler Adams, as an American myself.

Hes very good. He's Marv with more technical ability. Not sure where he fits, to be honest, as he needs more minutes for the next USMNT team, and he's likely captain material soon enough. Needs minutes to beat out McKinnie.

He's not competing with McKinnie in the USA squad...  He's competing with Yunus Musah of Valencia.  McKinnie is an 8, Adams is a 6, hence the reason they've both started in the midfield together most games these past few years.  

Team USA played some of the best football I've seen them play in years against Mexico and Canada this month and it was with Musah in the defensive midfield spot instead of Adams.  I also don't rate him very highly either, but he has all the defensive qualities of Adams, but better distribution at times.  Then again, the ridiculously stupid decision to bring back Gregg Berhalter as the national team manager probably means Adams will go back to being an automatic starter once he's fit again.  

IDK...  Maybe I'm just a self hating American, but the only American players I rate right now are Pulisic and Reyna.  American soccer fans and the media over here are so desperate to have a big star to call our own that they over hype everyone who gets a move to Europe.  The midfield trio of Adams, McKinnie, and Aaronson got Leeds relegated and goes to show that they're all very limited in what they do.  I don't see Adams being more than cover for Kamara at Villa, but if Emery wants him I'll back him to succeed here, same with Tielemans.  

8 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Funny thing is.

I have no idea who this guy is, and instant reaction is underwhelming just due to him being at Leeds in a relegated team etc.

However, I've seen nothing but good reports about him.

I think he's an American Reo Coker based on what I've seen from the American national team.  Good at tackling, but his passing/distribution is terrible.  On the other hand, he's well known for his great character and is a leader on and off the pitch.  His FBREF stats are nearly identical to Kamara's last season.  

How about this one?

@Kiwivillan is this a better source for you?  Is it ok for me to post this here?

5 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

Source: 

.... doesn't reference source. These are all a load of shit. People should stop posting every loose link

We have a list of blacklisted sources for a reason.  This wasn't on it, so I posted it to generate some conversation, and I'll continue to do so with any other link I find not on the blacklist.  

If you don't like it, you can fook off.  If you want solid links, keep refreshing Percy's/Ornstein's Twitter account because anything other than those is pure BS.  

God, I hope this isn't true...  Adams is a Championship level player and I say this as an American who has seen a lot of him.  Good character/leadership ability, but isn't that good of a footballer.  

Just now, Captain_Townsend said:

So a new club employee can waltz in and over rule a vote of the clubs fans? 

A matchday carpark steward?  Not at all...

The President of Business Operations?  Absolutely.

Just now, nick76 said:

Can’t agree with your summary!

You think it does pop and can be iconic?

This screams 100% a Chris Heck decision.  He was the guy who completely rebranded the Philadelphia 76ers and I'm guessing he wants to do the same here himself.

Yeah, it looks like a mess, but after a few years nobody will even remember this.  Chill out.  If Leeds can get over their debacle of a badge change, we can to with this for 1 season.  

3 hours ago, wishywashy said:

I wonder if we're after Abdessamad "Abde" Ezzalzouli from Barcelona? His agent posted an Instagram story at Bodymoor Heath around April but it was assumed at the time that it was about Kang-In Lee. Now a journo for Real Betis (who are in for the player) claims that a Premier League side has made an offer for Abde. More than likely connecting the dots when there isn't remotely a connection to begin with, but beats Todofichajes rumours, surely? 

 

Yes, please!!!  Another electric young player...  blistering pace, awesome dribbling skills, but like Nico Williams he is extremely raw.  A lot of what he tries does not come off and I can see the folks who are frustrated with Buendia writing him off after a few games.  

What's the likelihood we don't get any serious offers for Wesley so he sticks around at Villa this season and Emery works his magic on him?  You have to admit that he's a different profile to any other striker we have at the club and having a huge hulking beast of a man coming off the bench to ragdoll some defenders could be useful.

9 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

I thought when Emery joined we were linked and the talk was Bilbao is very insular club and players don't leave so what's changed?

In April, Nico Williams had missed two sitters against Osasuna resulting in Bilbao crashing out of the Spanish Cup.  Bilbao fans threw so much racial abuse at him after the match that it caused him to delete all his social media platforms.  It's like Mesut Ozil said: "I'm German when we win, an immigrant when we lose" and it's reportedly soured him on the whole Basque loyalty thing.  

Getting my copium ready for Nico Williams one way or another:

• If he comes to the Villa:  I never doubted this move for a moment.  He's tipped to be one of the best in the world and Don Emery has an impeccable eye for transfers.  Nico has a lot of ambition and wants to challenge himself in the Premier League and I back him to succeed this season!  Mane 2.0.
• If he turns us down and stays at Bilbao:  He has no ambition and I'm glad he turned us down.  He's going to be a flop and we dodged a bullet.  Bailey 2.0.
• He signs for PSG:  Of course!  Money grubbing, greedy ****.  Game's gone.  Spanish Greedlish 2.0.  

4 hours ago, AvonVillain said:

An even more inconsistent Leon Bailey / Traore-type and folk are frothing at the mouth at the potential signing? Seems an odd one.

Nico is inconsistent like Buendia in that he takes some very heavy touches, scuffs passes and shots, tries flicks, backheels, and dribbles which don't come off a lot of the time.  He looks like a very young player trying to get used to the pace of top flight football and has shown a lot of improvement in his two years of first team football at Bilbao so far.  He doesn't constantly dribble down blind alleys and out of play or constantly take a shot into the car park from 40 yards out ala Bailey/Traore.  Very different types of frustrating.  He looks like someone that after a few seasons of getting used to the Premier League and life in England with Emery he'll blow up and have Madrid/Barcelona be trying to buy for 100 million pounds.  

I love this start...  Tough away fixtures and winnable home games.  It'll be a good measure at how the season will go.  

Today, I'm doing my part welcoming Monchi to the Villa by playing nothing but "Monkey Man" by the Rolling Stones all day on loop.  

Genuinely excited about this one.  I've seen Bilbao play a few times this season and Nico was their best player each game.  Rapid, lots of tricks, but very very raw.  That said, with the right coaching he could turn into an elite talent.  At 20, he already has 8 caps for Spain and has two full seasons of La Liga football under his belt.  Can't think of the last time we were in the running for such a talented young player.  

Have a feeling most interested teams were put off by the fact he still has to do his 2 year Korean military service sometime soon if he doesn't win a gold medal at the Olympics/Asian Games in the next year.  PSG have so much money they don't really care about it.  

No idea about the source but it's so far out of left field that it might be legit.  Benfica's starting keeper to replace Olsen?