KMitch

24 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Bloody hell is any thread not debating Agent Bruce! 

Agreed...  He's been gone for over 2 months and every other post on this forum is about Bruce...  

I think its because we're a cynical lot and we've been used to moaning about something at the club for the past 10 years or so.  Now that everything is heading in the right direction, most of us don't want to complain about the signings, the manager, the owners, or the staff at the club.  Only things to bitch about are the previous manager and some of the players in the team.

6 hours ago, Dave-R said:

The fact Wes says he looked at other things like a couple of things in the premiere and then ultimately decided on our club, makes me proud to have Wes as our owner as well as Nas.

The pair most likely had other possibilities  that would of generated money for them quicker yet it looks like they went for the challenge and one with historical importance to the sport.

It certainly seems that we have two owners who will take care in what they do at Villa and are determined to bring our club back to successful ways.

Being a gamer and all I enjoy the fact that Wes has his own league of legends team on esports, those teams don't half generate some money, it's crazy exports is. Wes should get an esports fifa team on the go, should bring his dream team of players alive on who he would like to see at aston villa..

FlyQuest beat out quite a few HUGE esports teams (Immortals, Dignitas, etc.) to join the NALCS last year.  Wes is also the only sole team owner in that league, which says a lot about FlyQuest's business plan/financial backing. 

I remember reading a stat that he won more headers than any other player in the top 5 European leagues in his last season for us.  The same season, Liverpool crossed the ball the least out of all sides in the Premier League.  He didn't fit into Rodgers' system at all...  That and the Achilles injury...

I thought he was brilliant during this season's opener.  Scored a goal and looked solid at the back.  If he WANTS to play for us, I'll take him back.  If he would rather stay at Hull, I would prefer to find someone else.  The last thing we need is a player who doesn't want to be here playing in a key position for the rest of the season.  

1 hour ago, AvfcRigo82 said:

Yep, 5 year contract that supposedly has a minimum £45m RC atleast.

Which is why I don't see anyone buying him in 2019, if we don't go up. As much as I like the kid, he hasn't done enough this season to justify that kind of price tag.  James Maddison cost Leicester 20-25 million last summer and many on here laughed at him being massively over priced.  I've seen him play several times this season and he is a brilliant player who looks like a bargain for that price.  The biggest difference between Maddison and Grealish is that Jack doesn't dominate games enough.  He plays slick passes and wins fouls consistently, but he doesn't make enough runs off the ball, finish off his chances, or work hard enough when we don't have possession of the ball.  Some of that has improved under Smith, but he still needs another 1-2 seasons of consistency with us before someone will spend that kind of money on him.

1 hour ago, Zatman said:

Has a bit of a Mark Delaney about him. Unnoticeable but does a solid job

Fullbacks should never be noticed in a defensive sense,  as Carragher said nobody grows up wanting to be Gary Neville

Of course not!  Gary Neville looks like an evil Mr. Bean...

4 hours ago, Xela said:

Apparently he is a serial adulterer. His ex wife said he cheated on her over 10 times and eventually kicked her and their 4 children out of their home. 

Obviously that's just one side but he sounds like a prick...

 

Every one of my exes will tell you I'm the biggest asshole in the world and most will tell you some BS about me cheating on her, too.  None of it is true...  Well, at least the cheating part.  haha

32 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

because they are already up the table and mostly have a balanced team that can accommodate blooding players.

we are playing catch up, with an entirely lop sided team with multiple injuries and every point dropped is a major issue for us having any chance to get "there or there abouts"

Sure there are other reasons also, but our overall current scenario isnt great i dont think for blooding untried youth, or maybe its actually the ideal time?!?!?!

Yep...  If Smith just went "**** it" and wrote off this entire season to blood the youngsters, he'd lose half the supporters.  The last manager we had that did just that was Houllier and most of the fanbase hated him for it, even though most of the players he started playing are all now Premier League/Championship caliber players (Albrighton, Clark, Bannan, Baker, Hogg, Lichaj, Herd, etc.).

50 minutes ago, jim said:

Been very poor in his last 2 appearances. Typical fancy winger who blows hot and cold.

Honestly, I think both El Ghazi and Bolasie have been poor without Grealish in the side.  They need someone else to draw defenders away from them so they can run at a fullback 1:1.  Without Grealish there for the opposition to mark, they just double/triple up on our wingers when they get possession and pressure our fragile back line far up the pitch.  Leeds dominated us by doing this and Swansea did the same today.

6 minutes ago, Spoony said:

I’m actually loving life under Smith to a slightly irrational level. I think what it is is I just enjoy feeling like we are competing in games and the football is entertaining again. Results may be slightly hit and miss but I just feel fully invested in Villa again and I haven’t felt like this in ages. It’s like he just “gets” us. 

Well, he is "one of our own"...

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tim-sherwood-still-absolutely-furious-15593714

Quote

Tim Sherwood is still seething at Tom Fox’s decision to appoint Hendrik Almstadt as Aston Villa’s first ever sporting director.

German Almstadt, who had a background of business and economics, followed Fox from Arsenal to Villa Park in 2015 and played a leading role in Villa’s recruitment that summer.

Sherwood has often distanced himself from several of the players Villa signed the summer before the relegation campaign of 2015/16 and has once again taken aim at the club’s old regime.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Debate recently, Sherwood questioned the role of a sporting director.

He said: “Tom Fox, who came from Arsenal, brought someone in. Hendrik what’s his name - I don’t know his name.

“He crunched the numbers, he learnt the game from a screen, and he tried to justify everything by that. He was a very bright guy, an academic, and he was selling it to the chairman with the pie charts and the grids.

“It totally took all of the recruitment away from me. He thought it was a good idea that (Christian) Benteke was sold, and Fabian Delph, Tom Cleverley wasn’t signed again and Ron Vlaar. That was the core, the foundation of my side, and to replace them we brought in some guys from French football who had no experience of the Premier League before.

"But they were brought in without my wishes. It’s difficult when you’re the manager and you’ve got to deal with a group of players… I had to be part of it (recruitment), 100 per cent I had to be part of that.

“Even if they wanted to spend 10 quid, it had to be my 10 quid.”

Since leaving Villa in 2015 Sherwood hasn’t been able to find a route back into management. The 49-year-old briefly enjoyed a stint as director of football at Swindon Town but left following their relegation to League Two in 2017.

What a load of BS...  He 100% was behind the Richards/Lescott/Gestede signings.  Those three were the first names on the teamsheet, regardless of their performances.  Sherwood was trying to make a statement and only wanted to play "his" players at the time and alienated the "French football... no experience" players.  When he had to rely on them to get results, they didn't want to play for him...

Look at how Gueye, Veretout, and Amavi all ended up.  Ayew was the exception of the bunch, but the other three all moved on to better things after that season.

1 minute ago, abdulaziz1 said:

Do u think Bree would do well as a right back?

I’ve watched some of Leeds game and was a bit busy while watching Swansea on my phone. So haven’t been following him properly. But I guess he deserves his chance there. 

And I hope this clean sheet can give him more confidence.

He would do a better job than Elmo has done these past few games.  I'm still not sure about him long term, but he's worth a shot, provided we get a new CB in quickly.

11 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

But don't you also have to take into account the new 3 year period?

As in FFP is based on the last 3 years I think? And our biggest loss of those 3 years was the first year (as of now).
When we get into next season that 3 year period moves forward one, so that big loss year isn't counted anymore.

I think

 

Dunno if that made sense.

Also losing these players off the wage bill this summer:

• Richards!!!
• Jedi
• Hutton
• Whelan
• Elphick
• De Laet

These players will be in the last year of their contract and can possibly be sold for some value, if Deano doesn't want them around:

• Albert
• Thor
• Chester
• Elmo
• Hourihane
• Kodja
• Gardner
• Tshibola
• McCormick
• Green

Honestly, 2019 is the year to rebuild the squad into a sustainable team. Most of the 30+ brigade will be out of contract at the end of the year.  I would almost rather stick around in the Championship another season and get a core group of players used to Deano's system, so we can avoid the same situation Fulham are in right now.  They basically bought a new first team last summer and haven't played with the same sort of style that got them promoted last season.  

Some of the worst football we've seen this season in the first half, but the team improved drastically in the second half.  Both teams had good chances and the scoreline could have been a lot different today.  Glad for the 3 points, but we badly need some reinforcements in January. 

• Hutton isn't a left back and it shows.  Takes too long on the ball and teams pressure him when he has possession.  
• Apart from the occasional good cross, Elmo is awful as a fullback. 
• Bree has done alright these past two games as a CB, but we need a natural central defender to replace Axel.
• Nyland had probably his best game in a Villa shirt today.  It's amazing what competition for places does to players, isn't it?
• Without Grealish, our midfield struggles.  We don't have anyone in the squad to fill in if he is out.

Need 3 more players this window if we want to continue to be in playoff contention.  CB, LB, & CM.

NYLAND!!!!

FFS...  Here we go...

Squeaky bum time...  Need to see this out.

1 minute ago, Dave-R said:

Hourihane, what a nice surprise, he is one player that seems to be picking up the slack, grats on the goal.

I think past couple of times he's scored recently have been vital goals, he is one player that seems lime he's elevating his game.

Keep it up Houricane it's lovely to come back from the kitchen to know your team scored.

He was dogshit in the first half.  Playing much better since the break, though.  It's almost as if he got called out on his performance at halftime...  Hmmmmm

GET IN THERE!!!

I make a comment about how Hutton can't cross with either foot and he pulls that left-footed ball out of the locker...  hahaha

1 minute ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Brilliant pass Alan!

He never could cross with his right foot, so what makes you think he could with his left???  lol

Jesus...  How did that stay out???

McGinn playing as a No 10 and badly missing his pressing/energy in the center of the pitch.  Hourihane is going missing again, Whelan is useless, Elmo is garbage, Hutton isn't a left back, and the Chester/Bree/Nyland combo seems like they're one cross from falling apart.  This squad is ****...

1 minute ago, nokesy said:

Not watching the game but sounds like were playing hoofball again, same against leeds. seems smith has no confidence in playing the passing game without Jack

Trying to pass, but McGinn is attempting to do the job of 3 midfielders.  Our wingers have no outlet when they get the ball, are easily double/triple marked, and lose the ball.  Hourihane and Whelan both seem to be fighting over who is the defensive midfielder and don't want to push the ball forward.  

1 minute ago, Indigo said:

If Jack was playing we'd have someone in midfield willing to/capable of offering an outlet and running the midfield. We don't have another player like him that can offer what he does and dictate the way we play.

We're so easy to defend against right now.  Just double/triple up on Bolasie/El Ghazi and press the hell out of our makeshift defense.  They can't do the first bit if we had Grealish on the pitch.