Chicken Field

2 minutes ago, lexicon said:

One thing I found strange and have noticed in multiple threads is that some of our fans seem desperate to want to sell our most valuable assets. This tells me that they didn't learn much from the Grealish saga, nor the issues that West Ham are having now. 

It's much better to have great players than lots of money, especially when you already have plenty of cash and everyone knows just how much you've just brought in and will be looking to fleece you for whoever you try to sign. 

Of course it is better to have a guaranteed good player than money. Well run clubs though need to be able to sell players and replace them, we will lose players against our will, also there is financial fair play to deal with. Selling for profit, replacing for less money allows us to improve other areas of the team, it is though a difficult thing to do but something we should strive to learn.  

Does anyone know of any footage of our game against Celta Vigo at the Hawthorns on 2nd August, 2000. The referee was having an absolute disaster of a performance, with rumours of him being drunk. He dished out 3 red cards, and blew the final whistle on the 88th minute, having to afterwards resume play. It was my first time seeing Villa live, would love to see some footage of the game. 

3 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

He did nothing 'good' in the match because he didn't have to. We were totally on top and he was mostly a passenger.

Bit in bold is rich. Has Emery cast Donk aside for Tielemans? Has he cast Bailey aside for Diaby? No, he's just brought in better players to choose from in the squad. He wants to improve everyone because it helps us win matches.

Olsen will get 'backed' by fans every time he steps on the pitch this season. That won't stop him dropping a clanger and fans then being annoyed.

He did everything he needed to do well, his distribution was good (except for once), he anticipated play well and was quick of his line to sweep a few times, and saved the one shot he needed to. If he performs to that level from now on, then he'll be more than good enough as back up.

I think (unless sold), we will see plenty of Bailey again this season

I Don't think constant criticism is being backed.

44 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Are we really 4-4-2 ?

I see more of a fluid 4-2-3-1

Maybe, I think football at premier league level has moved away from playing a number formation, it is more complex than a 442 or 4231, but my point was mostly that we play with 2 holding midfielders, not three, all indications are that Tielemans will be deployed in that role. 

53 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

I don't know.

Unai seem very adaptable and we should play our best players.

Maybe but we have basically played 442 since he arrived and all the pre-season game, so would be strange to change it now. 

Interesting that people seem to think he is more of a second striker and would work better with Watkins in the Diaby role, I get that Archer has different qualities and lacks the work rate that Watkins offer, but from what I have seen of Archer he is a pure out and out striker, seems to be all about getting into positions and finishing attacks, what I've seen of him, which is limited, he has little to offer in build up play. Surely the 2nd striker role in our team is more about the build up/playing out wide, hence we signed a winger to play that role?

On 08/07/2023 at 07:41, Rds1983 said:

I can wrap my head around not letting us transfer players whilst in the same competition, although I'd challenge consistency on the teams like the Red Bull ones.

What I don't understand is why we can't share scouting information? I'm guessing they think it might help with knowing more on opponents but feel that's a stretch.

I believe it is to "prevent" Vitoria from buying players that we have identified but deemed not ready for Aston Villa yet.

1 hour ago, Pinebro said:

Pretty straight forward for me when everyone is fit

Martinez, Moreno, Torres, Mings, Cash, Kamara, Tielsman, Luiz, Buendia, Diaby, Watkins

Agree with most but would be extremely surprised to see us go from 2 center mids to 3. Can't see luiz, tielemans and Kamara starting at the same time. Also don't think we will see Torres and Mings start in center back together too often.

Except for one horrendous pass, Olsen looked more than capable today, decent distribution, assured and good sweeping. 

I like that instead of discarding him, like must Villa fans would do, Emery actually works with the players, tries to improve them and build confidence.

(Still 10 minutes to go, let's see if a jinxes it)

On 01/08/2023 at 20:13, AVFCGB said:

Have to agree with Farlz on this one!  I find Watkins so frustrating at times.  Look at Sunday, he goes for placement instead of power and we are 4-2 up?  This situation happens more often than not with Ollie.  We need a Gary Shaw or Brian Little alongside him to get 15-20 goals to supplement his 15 plus.  Hopefully Diaby is that player!!!

Just for context, last season only one club had two players score 15+ in the premier league, which were Arsenal with Martinelli and Ødegaard who both scored exactly 15 goals each.

But I do agree we need more goals from elsewhere to compliment Watkins, rather than replace him. 

48 minutes ago, Spoony said:

One thing that really has to be looked into is the fact a player seemingly need to go down to win a free kick or penalty. I think the Women’s World Cup has shone a light on this. To their credit (but actually to their detriment), there have been so many instances where a player has been clipped or kicked and they haven’t gone down as they are just driven to keep going after the ball.

It should never be the case that a player has to go down to win the free kick or pen but that’s just the way it is and so IMO you can’t fault the players who “go down too easy” because if they’ve been clipped then it’s a foul, and you don’t win the foul unless you go down. It’s on the referees I think. Look for the contact. If there is contact then give the free kick/pen irrespective of what the player’s reaction is. 

I agree a lot to this! 

A free kick (and bookings) should not be determined by how hurt someone is or how hard the player falls, it should solely be judged by the "attackers" actions. 

I get really frustrated when players are punished for staying on their feet, or when bookings ar given because the other player rolls around/screams really loudly. 

I thought he looked really good with the ball at his feet, but that there were some really really poor decision making and vision. There were at least three times in the game where he could/should have passed/crossed early for easy really big opportunities, where he didn't, which made med think that he is nowhere near ready for premier league football. 

27 minutes ago, Zatman said:

How is he a bad egg? Is it similar to how people think Bailey is a bad egg?

I think its because he said he wanted to play Champions league football, (and maybe turned us down) which some took as a personal attack against us. 

Never read anything that indicates he's a bad apple, seems hardworking and honest imo.

43 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

I just dunno i know lamps was useless and potter wasnt very good. I think the top sides are so good now its goibg to be hard to get back in there. Who's spot they taking?

Not a chance it will be city or newcastle. Then you have united if the qataris take over not a chance. That leaves arsenal. But then you still have liverpool and maybe spurs id kane stays.

Id like to say us as well but i think we wont be challenging top 4 if we have a good run in europe

I actually kind of sympathised with Potter, they actually played pretty dominant football, they just werent winning, the squad was a mess. Lamps is an awful football manager. 

I think the top will be interesting this season. I defo see Chelsea displacing Newcastle, newcastle to me still havent good a great squad and have champions league football next season, I truly believe that last season they were mainly running on a high from the season before, kind of like Leicester when they became champions. Last seasons sky 6 must have been the weakest for years too, they all (except city) looked pretty poor in europe too.

I personally see them displacing arsenal too, as the same arguement as above, theyll have champo football and have a pretty small squad

I also see them displacing Spurs, especially if the lose Kane

No way they get anywhere near City. The rest look kind of fragile imo..

My gut feeling is that with Poch, after getting rid of so many players and not having europe, that they will actually be very strong this season, especially if the get a striker and defensive midfielder in.

7 minutes ago, MrBlack said:

Lots of agreement here. 

Anyone here think he should go back out on loan?  And I mean from now, rather than the crystal ball gazing for January.

I think it's pretty straight forward, he'll be given pre-season, where Emery will assess if he trusts him to be part of the squad or not.

I would also consider, if emery doesnt trust him, if we should sell him whilst his stock is high, he'll be 22 in January, an unsuccesfull loan would destroy his market value.

Is the offside rule change official? I have seen it a lot on social media but not seen any official confirmation (havent looked for it either tbf). 

Out of curiousity, did Asensio sign for PSG?

18 minutes ago, calcifer said:

Yeah will be sitting next to his mate Phillips on the bench

Or taking Phillps placeon the bench and as a homegrown player in the squad registration

1 hour ago, gwi1890 said:

Arsenal’s scouting network seems crap they are only in for relegated players and premier players. It’s quite opposite of Emery’s time there finding gems like Martinelli and Saliba.

I think the reason for this is that they sucessfully managed to get rid of badically all deadwood, now they just need some quality. Their wage structure surely is much lower than the redt of the sky 6?

18 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

Transfermarket saying nkunku to chelsea is €65m euro, I thought he was a free transfer! Crazy money (again)

At today prices, my though was that the Nkunku price is extremely reasonable. 25 year old attacking midfielder who manager 35 goals last season and 23 this season. 

Althoug logic would say that Chelsea have destroyed the FFP rules and should not be able to afford anything 

I actually think this could be a positive, create a saudi super league and make the Premier league fall a bit closer to reality, whilst not losing most of the top teams. 

Introduce stricter financial rules here and europe and let the Saudi league be where all the money is. I struggle to believe that it will be able to steal must premier league fans whatever they do (for example, they could easily have created a super league with 20 new teams, majority of fans have a tiny bit of loyalty and will stay with their teams imo)

My predicition is that we will soon reveal the signing of Joel Robles

13 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

I like the Konsa idea to be fair.

As it may allow us to integrate Carlos into the side, as well as buy another young CB.

Konsa and Cash as RB options.

I worry about Konsas pace though.

I personally feel like konsa is a decent option to have at right back but that even though emery prefers that his right backs mainly defend, they do still sometimes attack and dribble/challenge the opposition, Konsa has basically nothing to offer in that department 

16 minutes ago, srsmithusa said:

 

Ah, the old "every discussion on VT must have some reasonable basis in reality" error.  New here?

It was actually partially meant as a genuine question as he has been a hot topic of discussion on this thread many times, just curious to how it started.

My second paragraph, which is written in awful english, was basically me trying to say that I do not find him to be a realistic option, just an opinion. I was not trying to stop any discussion, feel free to continue the discussion if you like.