Indigo

He created more chances than any other player on Saturday apparently. I think if one of those - particularly the one that Cash fluffed after excellent work from Zaniolo - goes in then we're having a bit of a different outlook on his performance and decision making. Although I will say he had a couple of attempted back heels that drove me a bit mad, one in particular he under hit to Digne when he could have played him more or less through on goal with a simple pass.

For me it was an encouraging first start and a textbook case of just needing to get up to speed with the league. There were quite a few occasions where he had the ball stolen from him after just taking that extra half second after his first touch, but I'm sure that'll come to him and he'll prove more than useful as you can see he has a lot of the elements to his game to be a success.

2 hours ago, Tom13 said:

Yeah at least once. I remember it, but can't remember who it was against. He scored early and we went on to lose if I remember right.

2 hours ago, DJBOB said:

Palace under Gerrard. Lost 3-1, completely dismantled. If I remember, the goal was a route 1 punt. 

That was Watkins! Bailey got a nice assist for him that day though. As far as I recall he hasn't scored a goal away from home in the PL (yet...hopefully). He scored at home to Everton in his first season, against City, Brentford, United and Leeds last season plus the two this time around.

Found this to be quite interesting from yesterday when watching the game and it checks out when comparing with the average positions. Villa - like many teams now - take shape in a kind of 3-2-5 when in possession, that often happens by having one "full back" bomb forward and the other tuck in as another centre back (Konsa at right back, Torres playing left back in pre-season etc). With the line-up yesterday,  it does feel like the latter isn't natural to neither Cash nor Digne, so we actually had Kamara drop into that pseudo-right back position,  McGinn tucked into his midfield spot and Cash created the width on that side of the pitch instead.

Felt like it had its pros and cons as McGinn wasn't as effective as he has been recently, and Cash was often in 1v1 positions when he's not really one for dribbling and beating his man, but given the options available I think it was the smartest way to have the formation take shape.

I absolutely love this lad. He's endearingly mad and while extremely raw - can't be stated enough that he's only 19 - you can just see that he has so many elements to make it at the top level.

What a goal as well, about time one of those efforts came off for him.

Don't get the stick in here. Obviously he's gotten turned too easily for the goal and it shows a part of his game that can be exploited at this level, but he was otherwise perfectly good? Some excellent distribution and had some key moments defensively. 

Seriously - WHAT A PLAYER.

What a ridiculous game 

Ultimately on the balance of play it was thoroughly deserved. At the end of the first half I couldn't help but have a nervous feeling about it given we could have scored about four and were somehow going in level, so it felt typical enough that they capitalised on a series of soft/unfortunate events between Torres getting turned and Martinez slipping.

Fantastic result in the end given those circumstances. Regardless of the nonsense of the elongated VAR check at least we got the benefit from it. Special shout out to Duran, what a goal and it felt like he was the needed chaos to make the game unfold as it did.

He's had a weird time of it at Villa. The signing in the first place was completely out of left-field and since then even aside from generally being a back-up anyway it feels like he's often been unavailable for periods of time despite the reasons or extent of them being not fully disclosed. Even this pre-season he went from missing the tour because his wife was having a child to immediately being injured and not being involved at all for the rest of it. Hasn't felt as though he's fully had the chance to settle and has been linked with moves away in the meantime.

I do like him though, for a team of Villa's level you're not doing bad to have a guy of his level being a bit-part player considering his Belgium caps and having been a regular for a Wolves team that at the time were better than Villa and finished as high as 7th in the league. As much as the Stevenage game was a low point he showed his worth when he got a chance against United and Newcastle. Think he'll be handy to have around for the season that's in it if he stays available.

On 10/09/2023 at 22:47, Zatman said:

He could be a candidate for the Ireland job if he is interested as I expect Kenny to be sacked soon

That's an interesting shout actually, hadn't considered it. Could do a lot worse.

Palace have quietly been quite good so far this season, two wins against poorer sides and were pretty even away to Brentford which isn't something to turn your nose up at. Wasn't exactly the most thrilling appointment but Hodgson has done a good job with them since returning, particularly with the being without Zaha and Olise also being injured.  Will be a tough one but as said previously one Villa need to be picking up three points in all the same.

Following in Grealish's footsteps as he makes his U19s debut 

Fittingly enough just seen this re: the above:

Have said it previously but apparently it's the case that set-piece coaches often have a lot of freedom for offensive ones, but less so defensive, which is why you see the set-up when defending set-pieces change manager-by-manager, because they often have their own ideas on how it should be done. It's the one consistent criticism I've seen of Emery from various coaching, tactics etc pages, that under him we leave a lot of space to attack at the near post from corners that the likes of City, Liverpool and probably more have been able to capitalise on too easily.

The season before we got relegated, I walked out of Villa Park after a 2-1 win over Leicester (Hutton with the winner) feeling safe of any future threat of going down because I was absolutely certain that Jores Okore and Ciaran Clark were going to be a formidable partnership at CB.

Poor game for Villa on the whole but his class tends to always shine through regardless these days.

Squad depth seems less of an issue when you see that bench. Add JJ and Moreno to that and it looks very strong.

Woke up this morning feeling delighted for KiwiVillan knowing he can now rest easy until January. 

Feels a bit like January albeit on a grander scale. We got in Moreno as Emery really wanted him, definitely wanted at least another player in but didn't force it and had a great latter half of the season regardless. Similarly this summer there's been some big additions and Emery would probably like at least another attacking option to add to them, but if it's not the right one there's still enough to work with for now. 

28 minutes ago, Adam2003 said:

Come on Indigo, stop moaning.

Don't be moaning about me moaning, Adam.

Hopefully the Udinese move is true and comes off, much more fun that him slumming it around in the Championship. They've made some interesting signings in the last few seasons and I think he'd potentially fit quite well as a potential Beto replacement, same thing as always with him though, it's fitness-permitting.

Saying this as someone that likes the signing, there's definitely more people moaning about people moaning about it than there are people actually moaning about it.

Big Fab with the exclusive yet again. 

Fan of this signing, think it just makes sense for all the reasons that have been spoken about. Mad to think of how far we've come so quickly, going from struggling miserably at times in recent seasons to signing a (recent anyway) French international off Barca to essentially be a back-up option.