rubberman

I expect Lenglet to get a run if Pau's out, particularly given the speculation about him being off. Hopefully Tim gets some minutes as well.

Just to feed the chat, fella here's got AI to mock up a 'new' VP:

7 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think bubbling away in the back ground is a thought that no one wants to face.....These decisions take courage and an awful lot of consideration to all factors.

Many of those factors affecting this decision, is not of our direct making such as outside infrastructure and transport facilities.

The prospect of taking a on a huge undertaking such as this, was always a big ask, while still fulfilling fixtures....the logistics is way above my head.

Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, West Ham and Man City......had a much easier transition, in to their expansion plans.....I do fear, it may come down to us doing much the same.

I believe this has been announced as a "Pause" to let the dust settle, the penny to drop, before the practical and sensible options get aired.

Ther will be a lot of debate on this.

See Chelsea for details. They have had new stadium plans for years and are no closer to realising them. Latest cost was something like £2bn and will take 7 years - including having to ground share with eg Fulham for a while. Can't see us agreeing to ground share with anyone nearby!

Well, I don't expect us to win the league, but equally don't see why we can't and expect us to put up a good challenge. The consistency is there and no other sides look any better at this stage - all the other competition have their weaknesses. Long way to go still but why not believe? If, as is likely, it's going to be a mid-80s points total this season, we can do that.

54 minutes ago, turvontour said:

Have we got close to a full team to chose from for this, barring Kamara suspended and Buendia and Mings? 

Pau's a doubt. Maybe Youri too.

Fun article on Opta about being top at Christmas, just in case it happens. In the PL era, only once has a team top at Christmas finished outside the top 4 (and y'all know who that was!)

Teams top at Christmas go on to win the title 52% of the time in the PL era (45% all time). 

https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/12/top-of-the-league-at-christmas-does-it-mean-anything/

Thinking about this a bit, we've seen how new stadia in particular (but equally any massive infrastructure project) has really impacted big clubs in what they can do on the pitch. Arsenal, Spurs, Everton have all had to reign in spending on players while they were ongoing. With us potentially breaking into the CL clique, perhaps they don't want to have any other financial distractions. For all our owners wealth there are going to be limits to investment at any one time. Focus on the pitch and supporting Unai and get ourselves firmly established back at the top end, then move onto the stadium in a few years. 

2 minutes ago, flamingsombrero said:

Just build us something akin to Kyle Field next to the NEC and slap the mosaic on it. Villa Park was irreparably vandalised long ago and the local infrastructure is never going to be what it needs to be.

That was the example I was thinking of (visually). Mind you, 100k+ capacity for college stadium is insane!

I'd go for building a new mega-stadium with dedicated transport, and take the Holte facade and steps and incorporate them brick for brick into the new design with fancy modern insides. Everyone's a winner.

53 minutes ago, Oaks said:

I think the club have crunched the numbers on season ticket take ups and match day interest in tickets and have calculated that there isn’t 52k regular fans there atm. 

Build the capacity and even if demand drops (at current eye-watering prices) you can fill the place through selling cheap tickets (like in Germany) and still get the extra volume of merch/food & drink sales.

Just now, HanoiVillan said:

This does seem like really short-term thinking. However, it's possible that they're concerned about rampant inflation in construction projects, and it's worth remembering that the country's main builder of football stands has gone into administration recently; it doesn't seem like a great environment to be launching a new project. Not happy about it, just trying to contextualise the decision. 

That side of things isn't going to get any better in the short to medium term though.

I do get the travel issues though - that has to be sorted to allow another 10k folk in every other weekend.

2 minutes ago, JPAngel said:

Weirdly, I was thinking what a shame it is that our potential first Champions League campaign in decades would be in front of a reduced capacity Villa Park and that this was coming at a bad time.

This alleviates that worry for now, but it does just move the same problem to a different season. Surely the best plan of action would be to just get it out of the way while we're still ascending?

Said much the same in the redevelopment thread. It's got to happen at some point, but perhaps getting commercial (and support) value of a full VP for (hopefully) the first year in the CL is of some benefit. Unless (with a tin foil hat on), plans have moved on to something bigger/moving away.

I assume this is only a pause to take commercial advantage of a full Villa Park if we make the CL? Maybe...

That said, we're going to have to bite the bullet of reduced capacity at some point.

That badge font is horrific. Had no idea that is was Villa related when I first saw it and can't read the 150. Awful.

Up to 6.8% chance (from 4.1% last week) for the title according to Opta. 78.5% chance of top 4.

Coming from less than 1% a few weeks back, it's quite the charge we're on.

Looked accidental as he was trying to break things up, but clearly the ref needed to throw a red to get control. The commentator even said so a few seconds before. Annoying to lose him for 3 games, but hopefully won't have too much impact, though makes Man U tougher.

Not a season defining game, but one we should win if we have true aspirations of dining at the top table. Lose and those saying we're not ready will give it the 'I told you so's'. 

We definitely have everything in the right place for a win. Need a strong mentality and drive to go with it. 2 nil Villa. 

10 hours ago, lexicon said:

Two of Ajax's prospects look very promising - Kenneth Taylor

Oooh the gifs....

9 hours ago, Ceemo said:

So just lucking at the schedule then around those knockout ties.

Avoiding that play-off round means a full weeks rest from Man United to the Fulham to the Forest fixtures in February.

Things ramp up if Villa in particular progress in the FA Cup. You are looking at:
24-Feb - Forest (home)
28-Feb - FA Cup Fifth Round
02-Mar - Luton (away)
07-Mar - Conference League
10-Mar - Spurs (home)
14-Mar - Conference League
17-Mar - West Ham (away)
 

Nice. 7 wins on the bounce.

10 hours ago, Dillon66 said:

Ajax and Frankfurt are miles above what we faced tonight. 

If we're still in the raffle for a Champs League place come March, doubt if Unai will use this as other than opportunity to give minutes to fringe players.

What would be the point ?

As well as a trophy, the experience of playing the next level of club up the chain before meeting Bayern/Real etc. 

3 minutes ago, TheMightyVillans said:

shame no lenglet. surely we will try get rid of chambers in Jan. Emery really doesn't trust him at all

I wonder if he's just not mobile enough to play in our defensive line. Or just hasn't bought into Emeryball. 

Decently strong side. The drop off from first choice just isn't so much of a thing these days (famous last words...) 

Crikey - the odds are a bit mad. We are 1/4, they are 9/1 for the win.

Guy I work with was working at Arsenal when Unai was there. Says he's a really nice fella and would stop and chat with everyone and was really treated badly by the club. Still likes him even after the weekend's result!

They are very bad at podcasting - all talking over each other.