Vive_La_Villa

He did an outrageous flick as well! He’s looking confident. We will be entertained!

Spot on. Some on here have just deemed to be crap and that’s all there is to it. How does a player that has nearly 50 caps and over a hundred Premier League appearances not be good enough for the championship? He has been poor, there is no denying that. But there is a player there and with confidence he can be just fine at left back.

I keep seeing these quotes about finishing teams off and making teams fear us but I haven’t once heard him say it. Has anyone got a link where he has actually said these things since joining villa or are they past quotes?

Fair points but I think everyone involved with the club could see Cahill was going to go on to big things. Well everyone apart from the one man that mattered. I remember telling mates at the time he was going to be the next John Terry. I was horrified when we sold him.

This guys gonna light up Villa Park on Sunday!

He likes a challenge so would have loved the Derby. On the other hand he would have been guaranteed a yellow card or worse. Big miss but hopefully we still have enough to beat them.

I suppose that changes things a little. Still see him staying in the the Premier League though.

Cahill is 31 and has been one of the best English defenders over the past 5 or so years. There is no way another Premier League is not going to snap him up. Also not a chance in hell he is dropping down a league. Edit: personally see him ending up at Man U.

I agree but I’ve always seen Monk as the kind of manager that likes a passing game and sticks to it no matter Hence not exposing our biggest weakness. Similar to Derby.

I think the whole of the Championship know’s he’s dodgy!

That’s why I asked who said that. Are you concerned about the tactics of their fans?

Who are saying that? i haven’t seen Blues play but hardly sounds like Monks style.

Whilst not ideal a Back four of Elmo, Axel, Jed and Hutton is more than good enough for this game. Especially if Nyland has a new found confidence to leave his line. In my opinion of course.

McKenna it seems we could have signed in the summer if hadn’t bid so late. Dont know anything about him but would welcome any highly rated centre half. We’re desperately short.

I’m agreeing with you. I’m just wondering why clubs keeps hold of them if it’s clear they will never make it. Lyden is 23. If he’s not good enough now will he ever be? Im assuming it’s due to contract obligations.

I agree with the younger players but I do wonder how good a player is when if in his early 20s he can’t break in to a squad that is depleted in the position he plays. Suliman for example will turn 21 soon. Yet if he is loaned out when we are so short at the back will he ever be good enough? Or is it a case of having to loan these players out until their contract ends.

Exactly. Plus correct me if I’m wrong but I believe non of them were away for international duty so have been able to work on a partnership for nearly 2 weeks.

He did sign him tbf.

Could we really sign Cahill?

I’d happily see Jedinak there. Think he will be fine alongside a pacey Axel and a more confident Goalkeeper.

Bruce’s whole game was focused around defence first so if it was weak it would mean we would struggle. Smith wants us to take the game to the opposition. Defend from the front, press high, win the ball back all over the field and then keep it. If an alteration in defence for one player playing out of position means we will definitely lose to the Blues then we can forget about even making playoffs.

I appriecate what you are saying. I just don’t he can be as good as you think he can be. I see him eventually at a club like Everton. A team trying to break in to the top 6. (The level of team we were under MON). Hopefully I’m wrong and he turns out to be the player you believe he can be. As long as he gives us a few more years before he moves on.

Whilst I don’t want to see Hutton at centre back we really need to get this one player out of position means we will lose mentally out of our heads.

You could argue he got his opportunity because we were a poor team. Had he been on the books of a Man City or Chelsea for example he may have never got a chance. I see where you are coming from though. Playing alongside better team mates could take him to another level. We’ll find out next season if we don’t go up.

I know Smith has only been in charge a few games and we should give it until the end of the season before getting ahead of ourselves. But I do wonder how many of our players that have disappointed could now thrive under a new manager and new way of playing. Hogan, Tshibola, Gardner, Lansbury, Bree. Even Mcormack and RDL. The point i’m making is I’m now finding it difficult to judge how good a player is by how they have played at Villa in recent years when they have performanced well for other clubs. The pressure at Villa is immense and it’s easy for a player to lose confidence. Our previous coaching setups have not been able to help all players deal with this. Maybe it could be different now.