weedman

Brilliant! I'll never forget this game, was on holiday in Egypt with the Mrs, went quad biking and just rushed to the pub just in time for the 89th minute, saw nothing but Everton dominance, then the equaliser, thought well that was a waste of time - then that happened. Brilliant!

Reminds me a bit of Bolasie going on the video, would be exciting to watch but I'd imagine quite frustrating at times too, wait and see I guess if we even sign him!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3193689/Barcelona-winger-Adama-Traore-close-12m-Aston-Villa-switch.html Although that bloke on Twitter said he wasn't at the club today. Was there any mention by the Daily Mail that the medical might give him cancer? They have a real insight into these things...

If you're in Manchester the last thing you'll see there is a Man Utd fan, you'll probably have a load of City fans casually supporting Villa with you through

Haha that step over was hilarious...although it did work...so I'd say as long as they are working and hilarious, more step overs please Gabby!

Jeez guys it's 1 match! Let's try and not get too carried away eh? I know first impressions are all we have and fingers crossed he turns out as good as we all hope he will but some people already talking about Barcelona and Real Madrid? After 1 game! He played well but you know what so did Micah Richards and there are still people wanting him replaced at CB! Was a very good debut but let's give him 10-15 games before we start proclaiming him a £40m player who will be replacing Bale at Real Madrid next season

Gestede = Carew with cooler hair. Not the best player ever, but with the ability to turn beast mode on and the fact he acknowledges the fans, he is going to become a crowd favourite IMO

We were all exactly the same about Southampton last season though. Many tipped them for the drop then about 1/3rd of the way through the season that was all forgotten and suddenly everyone had them as a 2nd team and "knew all along" that they would do well. Fingers crossed that we can do as well this season as they did last!

How many strikers do we have now? Do we actually still need Adebayor? Gabby and Ayew as the pace and Kozak and Gestede as the brawn...unless Adebayor will be a Kozak replacement?

Observations are fine. But saying he is balls or would rather play anyone than him at CB or saying he is waste of money and can't understand the signing is a little OTT in my opinion. Of course, but you will get hyperbole like this in pretty much every players thread. It's hardly been the majority, nearly every criticism I've read has been reasoned and based and what he's showed thus far. The suggestions he is already the scapegoat and this will be the thread thats bumped when you lose, as if the criticisms have been baseless are utter bollocks though imo. Strong criticism of a new player based on a couple of meaningless friendlies which are only there for match fitness is ridiculous. Training is where they do tactics, pre season friendlies is where they do fitness. I saw people refusing to give Guzan credit earlier this summer because he was only playing meaningless competitive internationals, but now it's perfectly fine to dish out the criticism to Richards because of these oh so meaningful pre season friendlies? Eagerly awaiting Richards making his first mistake of the season (as everyone makes) for the inevitable "stealing a living" / "right back or gtfo" comments that will be coming. I think it would be interesting to do a "Richards Vs Gil mistake counter" counting each stray pass / poor positioning etc and see if the number of mistakes they make has any bearing on how we feel about them because for some it feels like Gil can do no wrong, and Richards very little right. Of course I can't imagine anyone having enough time on their hands to actually do that! So because you saw that some Villa fans not give Guzan credit for preseason games that means others can't use it to judge a player on how he's performed? You do realise the Villa fanbase is comprised of a number of different people right? So it doesn't make it hypocritical at all, unless its the same person of course. As for the Gil remark. Yes i'm sure you are right ,nobody would have time to do that, especially as it would be a completely useless comparative measure. People are rating Gil because they feel he's played well (surely you should be in the Gil thread telling them they aren't allowed to judge a player on how he's performed in meaningless pre-season game, maybe pop into the Kozak thread as well) and a number of people have been criticising Richards because he hasn't. Nothing to do with scapegoating which I get the impression your post is eluding to. Of course I realise that, however it doesn't make judging players based on nothing more than a few pre season games completely ridiculous. I'm not on the other pages because people aren't judging those players based solely on pre season games, they have actually played competitive games for us (not many, so still too soon IMO, but each to their own). Theoretically, take CNZ for example, what if he goes and bangs in 6 or 7 goals in the next couple of pre season games, would everyone suddenly want him to stay? Of course not, because the games are meaningless. You can't only apply this logic one way. Player plays well in pre season friendly = meaningless, player plays rubbish in pre season friendly = meaningless If someone has genuinely watched Micah Richards given a consistent run at CB in competive matches then their opinion is valid, anyone going off heresay or pre season games to conclude that he's rubbish there then their opinion is invalid as it's entirely based on other people's opinions and a few meaningless kick abouts I am skeptical about whether he'd make a good CB or not as I've never seen him play there, in fact I haven't seen him play at all for a few years, but let's give the lad a chance ffs, worst case scenario is he's a pretty good RB which isn't a terrible thing to fall back on if he is rubbish in the middle.

Observations are fine. But saying he is balls or would rather play anyone than him at CB or saying he is waste of money and can't understand the signing is a little OTT in my opinion. Of course, but you will get hyperbole like this in pretty much every players thread. It's hardly been the majority, nearly every criticism I've read has been reasoned and based and what he's showed thus far. The suggestions he is already the scapegoat and this will be the thread thats bumped when you lose, as if the criticisms have been baseless are utter bollocks though imo. Strong criticism of a new player based on a couple of meaningless friendlies which are only there for match fitness is ridiculous. Training is where they do tactics, pre season friendlies is where they do fitness. I saw people refusing to give Guzan credit earlier this summer because he was only playing meaningless competitive internationals, but now it's perfectly fine to dish out the criticism to Richards because of these oh so meaningful pre season friendlies? Eagerly awaiting Richards making his first mistake of the season (as everyone makes) for the inevitable "stealing a living" / "right back or gtfo" comments that will be coming. I think it would be interesting to do a "Richards Vs Gil mistake counter" counting each stray pass / poor positioning etc and see if the number of mistakes they make has any bearing on how we feel about them because for some it feels like Gil can do no wrong, and Richards very little right. Of course I can't imagine anyone having enough time on their hands to actually do that!

So you're saying that when playing as a striker (during MON years) he hit a "respectable" goals tally for a lower Prem striker (double figures) but since switching to the wing his goals return has changed to 1 in 5 (a shockingly similar number to that of average Prem winger)...ahhhh what could have happened?! He was consistently a striker, and scored goals - no, Benteke he is not - but if memory serves he was around the 12-15 goals per season mark. He then went off and rather than going off getting pissed and passing out on the floor on holiday trained to become a better striker by improving his strength - let's not forget he used to be built like Ashley Young - upon returning to the team he has been played almost exclusively as a winger - the position on the pitch where the least important attribute is strength - but for a few brief periods up front. He is not a technical player, he uses his physicality on games. It's no surprise that his form dropped when played out wide, lose form, lose confidence and it is hard to get it back again. Whether he will regain his form remains to be seen, but Sherwood played him as a striker before he got injured last season and he looked better. Maybe he can come good this season? Maybe I am easy on him as I do like Gabby, but I'm willing to see if he can start impacting games now it looks like we have a manager who will play him in his preferred position. If we bring in a better striker to play in his place then great, under no circumstances should be find himself playing as a winger again but he does deserve a chance up top. If he's rubbish then he can be dropped, simple Easy on Gabby! you can say that again. And has he ever really had a respectable goal return? Would you not consider getting double figures in an average team (consistently, when a striker) while still being happy to play anywhere on the pitch and never once having a bad word to say about the club and doing every single bit of PR asked of him respectable for a player that was effectively a free transfer? What free transfers would you say are available to us that would offer more than that? In fact, what £5m players would we get to do that? We're currently strongly linked to a player in France for £7-12m (depending on which report you read) that seems to be a young version of Gabby from a weaker league (only going on what I've heard as I've not seen him but struggled for consistency, never had a great goal return when out wide but made it into double figures when given a go up front), and that could be £12m! Yet some people can't get rid of Gabby fast enough, I really just don't get it

So you're saying that when playing as a striker (during MON years) he hit a "respectable" goals tally for a lower Prem striker (double figures) but since switching to the wing his goals return has changed to 1 in 5 (a shockingly similar number to that of average Prem winger)...ahhhh what could have happened?! He was consistently a striker, and scored goals - no, Benteke he is not - but if memory serves he was around the 12-15 goals per season mark. He then went off and rather than going off getting pissed and passing out on the floor on holiday trained to become a better striker by improving his strength - let's not forget he used to be built like Ashley Young - upon returning to the team he has been played almost exclusively as a winger - the position on the pitch where the least important attribute is strength - but for a few brief periods up front. He is not a technical player, he uses his physicality on games. It's no surprise that his form dropped when played out wide, lose form, lose confidence and it is hard to get it back again. Whether he will regain his form remains to be seen, but Sherwood played him as a striker before he got injured last season and he looked better. Maybe he can come good this season? Maybe I am easy on him as I do like Gabby, but I'm willing to see if he can start impacting games now it looks like we have a manager who will play him in his preferred position. If we bring in a better striker to play in his place then great, under no circumstances should be find himself playing as a winger again but he does deserve a chance up top. If he's rubbish then he can be dropped, simple

Yes it does but feel free to dismiss it if you wish. It really doesn't. Played in different positions for a start, one had a much shorter spell and actually 3 in 16 is pretty decent for a winger. Except for Gabby, his 1 in 4/5 ratio as a winger has him described as "stealing a living" and a player many would give away on a free tomorrow given the chance...but alas that is for a different thread! Some players are suited to different leagues, though. I'm not going to lie, I had never heard of him before he joined so I judge him purely on what he's done for us and he's been decent for us. Think he suffers from Peter Crouch syndrome, looks so gangly and awkward that no one really expects much, even when he is playing well everyone just sort of expects him to be rubbish. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do in a Villa shirt and I won't judge him until I've had a chance to actually see what he can do!

Being a stepping stone isn't a bad thing as it will encourage more high profile potential talents to come here - on the 1 hand they do well and we sell them on for big profits, or on the other hand they all come good at the same time and we get a "you don't win anything with kids" scenario...for the non oil rich teams in the league what other chance have we got to get anywhere near the top? The "nice guy" mentality hasn't exactly worked the last few years, let's give this a go eh?

Come on guys, if Delph was interested in other players opinions of Man City he'd still be here. We signed Sinclair in January and you would imagine with they've spoken more about his time at City in 6 months than just 1 throw away comment from Richards immediately after joining. Delph is looking for an excuse to justify his move. I would say I'm surprised he's thrown Micah under the bus to do it but he's not exactly proven himself to be an honourable chap has he?

I'm half English and half Australian so I support whoever is winning...it's a nice feeling, not exciting or anything, but nice, I can see why people support the likes of Man City

Gabby is just one reasons we’ve struggled - there are a 100 other reasons so not trying to pin everything on him at all. He isn’t terrible and I think he will finish his career at Villa as a squad/impact player. But the fact is 4-6 goals as season from a first choice striker will likely see us relegated, regardless of what he did 6-7 years ago. He scored 12-13 goals a season when we finished 6th but to be fair to him he was playing in a much better team then. But he's not been a first choice striker has he? Maybe under MON where he scored a few more goals he was but virtually every manager since has played him as a winger. Sherwood put him back up front with Benteke and he did get a couple as well. He's capable of scoring goals (not in the 25 a season bracket, but certainly 10-15) if played as a regular striker. For a player who has cost us nothing except wages and clearly has an allegiance with the club and wants to stay for his entire career it's still baffling to me why some are so desperate for him to leave on a free transfer just to be rid of him. If nothing else he's an excellent option to have if we need, can play in multiple positions (and is happy to play wherever he's asked) and scores some big goals in important games, an option that it would probably cost £5-10 million to replace

To hell with the money, let's rename it Jurassic Park anyway, just for the #bants

Question. Who is Embolo? Seen his name mentioned tons but I've never heard of him, have we been linked?

Speaking as someone who has just had a bit of my meniscus removed it can sometimes go very smoothly and you can be back running around in a couple of weeks, but any underlying problems and it can take months and months before jogging again. For the sake of his career I hope it goes better than my operation!

Also anyone defending him isn't doing it because he's "one of us" Luke Moore was "one of us" and no one cared much about him leaving, same with Andi Weimann. He offers a lot to the team and he is a dangerous player on his day, he isn't too consistent, but players outside the big teams aren't consistent and if they are they get hoovered up by them before long anyway

Playing N'Zogbia?? Lol I must be in a minority but I thought N'Zogbia did ok in the run in. He'd lost it completely by the Soton, Burnley and Arsenal games but hadn't everybody? During the 'golden' period of the season versus Spurs, Liverpool semi, Everton and West Ham I thought he did well in there with Grealish. I agree. He was excellent when Sherwood first came in, really upped his game along with Benteke, Gabby, Delph, Grealish and Cleverley and was at least as good as all of them in the run in. Still think we should sell but I firmly believe he contributed a hell of a lot more than many people will give him credit for, he deserved a few goals in those games

The last two games the entire team, Gabby included of course, has been half assing around to avoid getting injured before the final. We'll see a different performance from all of them next week I believe (hope). I noticed Arsenal do it as well in their 2nd last game, players were all ducking out of challenges etc. It's natural. I think TS knows how to set the team up to get the most out of Gabby and I do think we'll see more of the MON Gabby next season. I also think he should definitely play in the final, Arsenal will be worried about Benteke and will be on him like a shot so I fancy Gabby to have some space to run into in behind him which could give us our chance. Think the little triangles formed by Benteke Grealish and Delph dragging their defenders around a bit then Gabby just darting away at the end, could work for us...

Is it possible...and I'm just throwing ideas out there...that despite a few good performances he actually isn't that good? You know how some players burst onto the scene looking like world beaters then fade away as everyone slowly realises they're actually pants? Carlton Cole was meant to be the best striker in the world, Jermain Pennant a future England regular. Luke Moore was "10x better than Gabby". Marlon bloody Harewood was the next Drogba after his first season and 6 months of phenomenal performances for Newcastle got Carroll a £35million move to Liverpool...so maybe he's actually crap, and Sherwood just figured that out before anyone else did...or maybe he will play next season without that constant threat of relegation looming? Just playing devil's advocate here, but it might not necessarily be a nailed on "he's the best player we have and it's obviously a personal thing between him and TS" thing