Shomin Geki

Wow. Genuinely chilling.

I absolutely agree with much of the dismay at VAR, having read this thread with an appropriately righteous grimace on many a day. However, there are less 'visible' elements that VAR necessarily improves: Players can no longer get away with nonsense. Less pulling and pushing at corners, less diving, fewer attempts to 'play' the referee, and so on. Whilst in itself this is a good thing it also has the knock-on effect of obliging players to actually focus on playing the game rather than 'gaming' the game. It could be because my beloved Villa's rise has reinvigorated my love of the game (or the vigour of that love anyway), but, of late, I get a greater sense of football as the kind of noble enterprise us blokes lovingly endow spectator sports with. Character and will in individual players seem to have made a comeback in my appreciation. Admiration, even. Again, maybe I'm just excited to be experiencing Proper Big Boy Football again after too many seasons in the relative bouncy castle leagues, and maybe it's those ravishing HD projections and ultra-honed 2019 specimen footballers, but I feel VAR's increasing 'automation' of decision-making has sorta maybe kinda focused the minds of players on actually winning through skill and intelligence and perseverance, rather than, you know, 'the dark arts' and so on. The biggest issue I currently have is with the inconsistency. I feel blaming 'big decisions' on losses is often a pretty empty cry (why didn't you just do the football better more of the time?) and great teams SHOULD be able to surpass frustrations and obstacles. However, the greater issue for me is the obvious uncertainty each player has with precisely what the rules are, leading to a hesitancy or a distraction that kinda muddies a real sense of involvement. Games sometimes have a sense of players looking over their shoulders. However, I genuinely think much of the frustration with VAR is the players themselves adapting to a new system. There is nothing inherently lessening of the fibre of the game in this new regime. Players simply have to, and will, adapt to, for example, a slightly delayed run past the last defender to beat an offside trap. I don't think the obvious flaws right now are terminal. I would even go so far as saying that once there's kind of a shared understanding between players and officials of how this is going to work players will exercise more caution around the rules leading to more free-flowing football. My hope would be there will be less need for VAR, and less goddamn delays, as the players acclimatise to the new demands. I appreciate we're not there yet, but it's important to keep a keen critical eye when comparing problems that are presented as inherent and inevitable versus genuine teething problems. I don't think you can put the genie back in the bottle with VAR (or suchlike) so as technology and sport become increasingly entwined it would be wise to see the virtues of VAR if only because it will give us a greater vantage to make further necessary upgrades. And then, if it's still shit we can storm Stockley park with torches and crowbars.

I'm a real believer in Dean Smith and the whole current Villa project. I think I read somewhere that well-organised and intelligently assembled teams take a while to gel but go on to achieve a more reliable stability as the season goes on. I should try and find that source. So, instinctively, I'm a little against the idea of 'sticking plaster' solutions, especially those that would feel mercenary. But we could do with back-up options. Somebody who can trigger something in others perhaps? I wonder if anyone could provide examples of short-termist solutions, ideally for teams struggling rather than teams wishing to ascend to higher peaks, that have really worked? And in January? Obviously, last season's Villa squad is a good example. But does this ever work at the highest level? Players like Lukaku for West Brom obviously transformed their fortunes, but that was a season-long loan. I dread to Google the likes of Amir Zaki and Loic Remy to see how long ago their hero routines were. I would imagine short-minded deals favour strikers, but maybe I'm wrong? Trust what we have (we have been unlucky, and a wee bit green)? Or find a ringer? Either way, how would any January signings fit in with the overall transfer strategy? Does panic buying, or even anxiety buying, have its pitfalls, or must we consider the worst?

I must admit, particularly as more of a lurker than a poster, I've ummed and ahhed over whether to post in this thread. I'm very much London based and only ever really see Villa play away, so more intimate operational club knowledge isn't exactly something I feel that close to. However, I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention what feels like the elephant in this particular room. I hope I'm not misunderstanding the remit of the consultancy meeting and commenting out of turn. But... the stadium sale right? I'm not the only one, right? Fans have seemingly been misled regarding its sale, a rare black mark against the new regime. I certainly remember a few Villa Talk feathers being ruffled (to say the least) when the possibility of a Villa Park sale was mooted. Villa fans have every right to be vigilant and to feel protective over our club. So, with the news that Sheffield Wednesday, I believe, are being investigated over their stadium deal (admittedly on grounds perhaps different from ours) isn't it reasonable to expect a little more detail on this? I fear it's the little things getting overlooked that can embolden, over time, a reckless or arrogant streak in owners. But anyway, much gratitude for the recap from OBE.

Is it wrong to think that McGinn might just be one of those 'plays really well running dynamically but only kind of in straight lines' individuals? Like cascading beads of water on a tilted surface. Like a starved, slightly mad greyhound? One of the things that makes Jack so good is how light-footedly multi-dimensional his play is. The pitch seems a big, juicy place as he twists and turns and bends it to his will. An unfair comparison sure, but is McGinn too direct, metaphorically bringing a sledgehammer to a knife fight? Or do we, perhaps, need that sledgehammer? I think you'd want, in McGinn's position, either a slightly silkier player, with more cultured feet and the ability to expand our play, or a pushy terrier, a nastier player that gets in opponent's faces. McGinn's sudden spurts of inspiration, literal and otherwise, are brilliant, and yet, these dramatic contributions may overshadow his limitations. Firstly, so much of the modern game is one of attrition and concentration and I'm unsure McGinn is either quick of feet or mind enough to exploit or create those telling moments of penetration. And secondly, he does have a sort of 'Leeroy Jenkins' headless heroic chicken quality like a boxer swinging endless powder-puff haymakers that leave little impact. Sometimes less is, y'know, more. I feel mean now. And I'm very possibly completely incorrect. I'm almost certain though that there isn't any real alternative.

Very baffling and frustrating what's happened with this chap. I distinctly remember the odd flash of bite and swagger about Green. And now he almost looks surprised to find himself on a football pitch, bemused he's a footballer, like some embarrassing dream. Is it too rude to suggest we smuggle him into the ascendant Villa Ladies, like in some strange 90s comedy?

Quite. You do have to question the operation that has quite so casual an approach to replacing an individual so at odds with what it takes to play at this level. A team not looking to replace a Yoshida either has very misplaced priorities or, quite frankly, self-esteem issues. Ah, Maya Yoshida is playing, I see! Japanese international, some experience in the Dutch league. Probably quite organised, technically sound, tactically aware? No? So, tenacious, a terrier, an indefatigable never-say-die attitude? A withering wallflower, is he? Crisp, clean passes? Fast? Threat at set pieces? Leader? Outlandish haircut? The Japanese Tommy Elphick, you say? Ah well... Much as it distresses me to pour scorn upon my fellow countrymen, with the jolly exception of the mad goblin Okazaki, quite a few Japanese players have been more than a bit crap in the Premier League. Shame.

Grealish was magnificent. He was both our beating pulse and the conjurer of seemingly infinite little moments of magic. A devastating combination. A wonder. The rest of the team were frustratingly flat. I do wonder if Grealish's genius sometimes leaves the somewhat lesser mortals in our team a little on the mental backfoot? Everything goes through him, and with his vision and drive it seems some players can't keep up. And sometimes don't try to. We need more players if not at his level, then at least on his wavelength. Grealish is the conductor and soloist; could do with a duet or two.

I think the hatred for Westwood comes from the fact that he has an annoyingly precious, deliberate manner of playing that is entirely at odds with his inability to up his game and adapt himself to the huge limitations our team has. Why hasn't he been able to remotely improve a team with such obvious, obvious problems?

This. Unfortunately, this. Idealists who don't pass through realism end up mere fantasists. Virtually everything Awol and Villakram have said tonight is completely correct. Unpleasant to read, but entirely correct. These words have to be the starting point for a real, progressive politics. We have avoided reality and a recognition of the lives of most ordinary people for far too long. Unable to listen to an unpalatable truth we have indulged, individually and en masse, in fantasy and distraction. If we truly care we can no longer afford this luxury. It isn't always someone else's fault. We need to have a long, hard look at everything. Especially ourselves and our actions and words. They don't do what we pretend they do. To a richer, more responsible politics!

Oh my, the Jedinak thread has become an especially depressing wing of the creaky, drafty busted mansion that is Villatalk (and perhaps Villa too?) Not that I blame any of the fine souls here. It's our hope that makes us so exhausted. But, Jesus, it's like a wake in this thread. RIP our coltish dreams of his bearded virility. Or... maybe... just maybe... very, very few players shine when a side is in trouble. The past four or five games have been awful. Probably would have been with our without Jedinak. Bringing solidity to a side with a propensity to choke is a real challenge. Doing so as an ageing new signing magnifies that. The current reality of this signing seems almost comically typical, if not symbolic, of Villa at this moment. But maybe it feels worse than it really is. I have three thoughts: 1. Players have to adapt their style as they age. I don't know Jedinak too well, but maybe the blood and thunder approach we thought we may be getting is something he's no longer capable of doing consistently. So he has to adapt. Which takes a while. And is not ideal when the team surrounding you is unsettled. 2. If this is the case, playing him properly in a three man midfield, particularly with the energy of Tshibola, may allow him to focus on his essentials. We haven't really tried this yet. 3. Sometimes 'big' signings simply don't work. It happens. Look at Oumar Niasse. I'm often surprised how often I'll browse a club's transfer activity and see a 5.6 million signing from Feyenoord or Nantes that never made it onto the pitch. It happens. I know we really need Jedinak to work, but at the very least we have some promising young midfielders who can, and perhaps must, deputise.

How many Ashley Westwood's does it take to change a lightbulb? Oh hang on a minute, he's just made a little crack in the curtains and we can kind of see things. No need for this illumination lark! We're good...

Oh boy. Yes, a little part of me, still smarting from wounded pride, wonders how the mighty Villa have fallen. Really, we're signing Ross McCormack, Ross 'Unassuming Prince of the Lower Levels' McCormack, in what feels like mere moments away from being linked with the Embolos and Batshuayis of the world? For around double the Benteke fee! But then I get real, glance at that Rotherham fixture, and begin to feel a little bit excited. I don't know the player, but going by what I've glimpsed, two things stand out. 1. So often he seems to be on the front foot, thinking dynamically amidst the attacking flow. The guy seems to have initiative. Initiative. How lacking in that have we been for so long? He makes things happen. One of the best, and most satisfying, qualities of an effective striker is that ability to create an opportunity for yourself you know you can finish. He puts himself about because he has the confidence of getting things from those positions. The attacking stats would appear to back this up. So many Villatalk in-game posts have this almost bemused shrug: What is it that we're actually doing? What are we threatening to do? Are we actually doing anything? Well, this McCormack lad at least affords himself the luxury of thinking two, three steps ahead of the game. Maybe one of our 'sleeping gems' will notice that... 2. He's a bugger, a pest. In an era when I've become used to players not bottling tackles or chances, but goddamn bottling runs, positional discipline, game management, effort, having a guy buzzing around the box with more than a few tricks in his arsenal, feels nicely restorative. I hope his energy is contagious. So, yeah, a tentative but heartfelt welcome. Or maybe I'm crossing my fingers to stop the quivering...

As comically suicidal as he is every game we may simply need to play him. He antagonises. Amongst the rest of our silk-slipper'd darlings he's the only one likely to get sweaty and bruised. He's the toughness we need. Now, for the skill, vision, fluidity, composure, chemistry, footwork...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Okore equipped himself well. Composure, desire, ability, a cool head. May have two ball-playing centre backs when Richards returns. Daub some warpaint on Hutton, toss a few landmines under the left side of the Villa Park pitch and we may begin to resemble the dictionary definition of 'defence'.

We are still yet to find our rhythm. It is almost impossible to predict where we'll be in three passes time. Or ten seconds time. There is no fluency. This guy gives the pleasant illusion of some. Think we could see some joy if Gil and Grealish come back into form. Or we simply need players who create space and can stretch teams. Maybe it's time to fill Birmingham's own Forrest Gump, Gabby Agbonlahor, with some stout diesel and have him do his chicken-chasing routine. Desperate times etc.

An arthritic performance. Toss him in the sea and I doubt he would possess the strength, speed or wherewithal to not drown. The Lump's Lump.

GO HOME GOD, YOU'RE DRUNK!

We're due a miracle right?

I think this is a really strong post, and overall I totally agree, but from what I've seen of Gil he doesn't fit the description. His work rate seems high, he digs in, he chases. Perhaps he doesn't have positional discipline, or maybe his movement is indifferent to the team\s overall shape, but I see a keen, energetic presence. Is there something I'm missing, or do people see a different picture attending Villa Park itself?

There should be more films where a radio station decides to dedicate its entire output to a strangely minor story that most of the listenership would have no clue about. See also: Vanishing Point.

Yeah, has to be three in midfield. That Sherwood seems uncertain of the chemistry of centre midfield without Gana just shoes how reliant we are on him already. It would be great to be the club to really put the bad chills on Brendan. On the other hand, his grimly smug mug extolling the wonder of his masterplan after a reprieve victory would be pretty galling stuff. I don't think we've seen Villa get up teams enough this season. Let's Genghis Khan these poodles.

The he said, she said, to and fro of the Westwood thread continues! But, seriously, it's nourishing. There are many good, reasonable points on either side of the barricades. I've been doing some thinking myself. Surely the argument over whether Westwood should be in the team is entirely dependent on him being surpassed? We've had arguments about the merits of Gabby, Weimann, Lowton etc, in the past. As soon as we've had no need for them the tone of the conversation pretty abruptly shifts. The moment Benteke became our Balrog was the moment arguments about the benefits of Mr Bent became a little muted. The Westood Argument will be settled as soon as we no longer have any need for him, when he is merely a name we glance over on the teamsheet bench. Unfortunately, I don't believe we're at that point. I am not a massive Westwood fan. I suppose he does a job. Until we discover ways of utilising our players so that job will no longer suffice, Westwood will remain. He will either step up his game and prove people right and wrong, or he will slip into obsolescence. How long that takes, well, it's taken **** seasons so far...

This guy is so smart he's like the bizarre genius at school who gets disruptive and moody if undernourished. They always say 'feed the beast', but it's now more appropriate to give the feeder beasts to feed. Grealish needs players around him, making runs, finding space, screwing with opponents so his diabolical spider webs of footballing manipulation can further entangle and enrage the opposition. Basically, he needs henchmen. Yeah, he's progressed that fast. Maybe a top hat and evil laugh. He's halfway there on the latter count. And if Rudy wants to feed on the woozy, broken corpses on the field afterwards who are we to stop him? Oh boy, if all the ultra-exciting players we have at the club don't at some time click, the word 'click' in the dictionary will suddenly seem oddly sad and lonely.

"Gana is training, he might be playing on Saturday. The specialist got a magic wand out... Paul Daniels his name was." And meanwhile Gabby is injured? This ain't Paul Daniels shit, my friend, this is the finest JuJu money can buy. Take a little from here, put a little over there... As for Gana, I'm thrilled he's back. The centre of our midfield had become a sad, lonely, wretched, Belgium-esque space of no hope over the last couple of games. Glad the daddy is back to whip his kids into order.