SeanVilla

5 hours ago, useless said:

We aren't signing McKennie if we're signing Gallagher, they're too similar, and we aren't replacling Luiz with Gallager, as they're nothing like each other, if Luiz was to leave, we would have no choice but to sign another midfielder that resembles his skillset, as what he does is vital to the way we play, it wouldn't work just to replace him with Gallagher or McKennie

That's not to say he won't leave, I doubt he will, but it can't be guaranteed, but if he does, Gallagher if he signs would not be his replacemet - or in other words our pursuit of Gallagher doesn't make it any more likely that Luiz will leave

I see Barkley (now he plays in a deep midfield two) as the closest skill set to Luiz. But I think Barkley is depth for if Luiz is injured, not a replacement 

Waiting to be proved wrong but does anyone else feel this situation is something we’ve seen before? 
 

https://www.skysports.com/app/transfer/news/12691/12527593/matty-cash-atletico-madrid-contact-aston-villa-defenders-representatives-as-interest-intensifies

1 minute ago, CarryOnVilla said:

Who is this Bosch dude?

A person who pretends to be ITK. Said yesterday it would be Luiz for McKinnie + Rabiot and someone reminded him Rabiot is out of contract 

The more I think about it this reeks of a new contract around the corner. This sort of news tends to happen right before signing a contract. Could be wrong but happened with both Cash and Watkins 

2 hours ago, Beastmix said:

This. It is exactly this.

It's just a stealth insurance policy created to keep the global 'brands' safe, which is exactly why Chris Heck has been brought in to transform us into a 'trendy brand' as it's a big part (along with Vidagany/Monchi's roles) of the strategy for economically catching/keeping up, as it stands with the current regulations.

The difficulty is is that’s not enough. We need to be winning trophies, signing the best players in the world. Consistently finishing in the top. Problem is the current rules stop that happening or make it almost impossible to happen.

2 hours ago, Nicho said:

We will see at the end of the window I suppose, does Barkley at the quality of last season improve our squad yes. If he’s only type of signing we make then we have a problem. We still have players making up a championship/lower end prem team so have to be smart to build the squad.

FFP is a basic don’t spend beyond your means spread sheet finance, Chelsea have far more income than us and will also probably sell about £200 million more of players this season. I get the comparison but I don’t think it’s a fair one.

FFP also doesn’t encourage selling of youth players per se but as balance sheet assets that’s the reality, alongside anyone who has gone beyond the payment structure of their purchase.

I understand how it works it’s just very depressing. Where would we be if we didn’t get Champions League? Chelsea generate more income because simply they were originally allowed to spend whatever they wanted before FFP. To increase income to their level we need to be able to spend close to what they spent but we’re not allowed. So the new rules ensure the “big 6” remain the big six and we are having to outperform our means more so than any of those clubs just to compete. To me this is unfair 

I trust we are being as smart as we possibly can but the fact we are having to bargain bin players like Barkley after just getting Champions League shows how lop sided FFP is and now even more so with PSR. But Chelsea can continue to spend ridiculous amounts. Doesn’t seem fair at all. And on top of that the way the rules encourage selling academy talent over other players that have been brought in stinks. 

5 hours ago, Leeroy said:

I actually have no idea how we will line up defensively after Saturday's horror show, but this would probably be my team:

.....................Martinez.....................

........Konsa.....Carlos.....Torres.......

McGinn.....Luiz.....Kamara.....Digne

Diaby...........Watkins............Zaniolo

 

Choosing between Konsa and Cash was hard as they were our two worst defenders against Newcastle, but I think Konsa's consistency last season keeps him in and hopefully it was only a one off. Gone to a back three because I think we need to change something at the back without Mings, even if I'm not really a fan of a back three. When Ramsey and Moreno come back or we sign another player in defence maybe we change it back. 

 

I'm throwing Zaniolo right in because Bailey was the worst player on the pitch against Newcastle and I don't want to see him start.

Would like to see this. 442 out of possession this in possession. Think it’ll be too early to throw Zaniolo in so maybe Phil in his place. Quite a few unusually bad performances in the weekend but Cash and Bailey have proved over a long period they’re not good enough 

22 minutes ago, omariqy said:

So trying to get my head round where we are at with FFP.

2021/22 - we booked a £0.4m profit

2020/21 - we lost £37m 

2019/20 - we lost £99m but £36m of this was COVID losses

Allowable losses are £105m over a 3 year rolling period. Next year the 2019/20 rolls away. So for 2022/23 we should have allowable losses of c£70m to stay within FFP? Or am I missing something. 

Yes this is correct. Worth noting the Athletic article regarding what Chelsea are doing. Buying players spreads the fee over the contract, so for us this season, £45mill for Diaby over 5 years is £9mill this year, Torres £6mill this year which is offset by the £14mill we are getting for AJ (sales can be offset straight away for that year - any transfer fee still to be paid). So in theory we can still spend but it gets tricky because you have to consider the transfer fees we are still paying off for the whole squad. This also doesn’t include the added losses of wages also. 

Selling Bailey this window would be the right thing to do. There’s no way of being sustainable and not having FFP worries without selling players who aren’t good enough for sizeable money. All the top clubs do this. 2 years left on his deal and still only 25 and he’s not had a bad return (4g 4a in the premier league). Genuinely think sell to a lower mid table team like a Fulham and could easily get £20-£25mill.   Reinvest the money. 

2 minutes ago, Delphinho123 said:

Seen a report saying it’s between us and Everton for Gnonto (jump on it, jump on it).

Seems very much like he’s in talks with Everton and agents want to speed things up. We’re now in a position where we’re not competing with the likes of Everton 

This happened to Cash being linked with Athletico before signing his deal, Martinez also. If anything this is good news as it suggests a new deal is close to completion 

2 hours ago, KMitch said:

 

No idea about the source but it's so far out of left field that it might be legit.  Benfica's starting keeper to replace Olsen?

Seen a lot of this on twitter this transfer window, and it’s really frustrating. Anyone with 100 followers writes something and then puts a journalist as a source and everybody believes them. Not seen this qql guy mention this keeper or us but people will believe whatever they want 

Only the Spanish press have said we’re “close to signing him”. Hope I’m wrong but it stinks of an agent trying to get PSG to hurry up and make an offer. We’re a much more attractive club now and more attractive than say Spurs and other teams around us, but we can’t compete with PSG and guaranteed champions league football. He’ll fully back himself to break into that team as well.

It is so refreshing to finally have a manager who is incredibly tactical and will give us a clear style and identity. We can have full confidence going into each we’re as prepared as we possibly can. It gets negative quickly when you’re questioning the managers decisions every time he puts the team out.

2 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Is there really? 

https://talksport.com/football/1160663/unai-emery-middle-finger-arsenal-villarreal-aston-villa-southampton/
 

Yes. Because an Arsenal fan asked him to say good evening 

23 minutes ago, Xela said:

Doesn't work like that though. Its like saying if you have never played professional football, you have no leg to stand on when talking about our players.

I think his English is fine, I had to concentrate a little bit but he's probably a bit rusty with his English. 

 

To some extent you’re correct. But we’re fans of football not language experts. It’s moronic to take the mick out of someone’s 2nd or even 3rd language when they can’t even string two sentences in a 2nd language. especially when they’re our manager who clearly does not like it (video of him swearing at Arsenal fans)

15 minutes ago, Villan_of_oz said:

Emery will love his work ethic, and Ollie with his confidence back is a more than decent striker, yes he will miss loads but he's capable of a 15-20 season regardless. 

Stevie G ball crucified a man who was already struggling for form, and when he did get chances he blew them. 

There is a part of it that is still on him, but he's a hard worker, a larger part of his problem was out of his control.

I think he can thrive under the new manager.

 

This 15-20 goals gets mentioned a fair bit almost as baseline for a decent prem striker. Which is a bit harsh considering only Mane, Ronaldo, Salah, Kane and Son got more than 15 goals last year. 

As he told Villareal his decision on Friday, I do wonder if he had any influence on the team setup against Brentford. We did play his counter attacking direct 4231. Maybe not but it did seem quite bold to change the system completely from Danks.

2 minutes ago, rbcuk said:

Problem if we did let him leave would be a full season of ramsey and McGinn playing everygame, I’m just hoping he’s been told we are getting a new manager in and he’ll sign the new deal with him starting over McGinn 

Probably won’t happen but I’d go Kamara and Dendoncker sitting in a 4231, then neither McGinn or Ramsey get in, or Luiz. 

27 minutes ago, Ingram85 said:

Bollocks. Konsa over Chambers? McGinn over Luiz? Ramsey again? It’s pathetic. 

Chambers is our best CB available to I agree with that. Ever thought Luiz may not be starting because he won’t sign a new deal and could even be off tomorrow?