samjp26

Give him his flowers why is this man on the second page you lot!

Should be getting way more praise. Olise is a highly rated prospect and JJ had him in his pocket. Dare to say it but it seems he has a good connection with Matty T as well which we’ve missed since that guy left

Thought he seemed pretty quick last season but he seems slow lately. He also faffs around on the ball too much when he’s through and complains about everything. Needs to start shooting and get back in his groove, ignore the VT lot saying to pass it

He’s definitely got to get up to speed with things however I hope he’s made it clear that he’s willing to work his arse off! 

Last week was my favourite performance of his to date, today he topped that. Honestly love it when you see him charge forward and press, he also looked more confident with possession and played some decent passes with a much calmer demeanour. Keep it up Marv !

The shape and off the ball movement of the team is way better already so it seems. Midfielders really working hard and not allowing our fullbacks to be doubled up on or left for dead. Allows us to see the best of Targett and Cash too.

20 minutes ago, sidcow said:

In what way were Derby encouraged? How on earth can anyone other than Derby's owners be the problem there? They've run their club with reckless abandon. 

That’s the problem, they’ve been given millions of pounds to grant them freedom to make those mistakes and ruin their club.

The big problem in my opinion is the process in which clubs are allowed to be sold to crap owners. Better steps need to be implemented to ensure owners handle the clubs better, but beyond that what can you do? It’s a business at the end of the day, and you’re going to get bad business owners in any field.

13 minutes ago, thunderball said:

"Birmingham World"?

I read this that he is not being granted international release by the club and Burkina Faso's management stirring it up suggesting its BS. I am sure our medical staff know his fitness and are not being duped. Then again, if he is swinging the lead maybe Gerrard has said get rid, no room for wasters? 

I have to say none of these stories seem plausible, especially the timing

Not sure if anybody keeps up with international relations but Burkina Faso is absolute hell hole right now. I'd hope the club would be up to date on current affairs but for anybody who isn't:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/ce1qrvlelrrt/burkina-faso

4 hours ago, villalad21 said:

Core issue with Traore is his decision making. I've hardly seen a worse decision maker in my life.

His pressing and tracking back is way too inconsistent. Sometimes he does it, but sometimes he is casually strolling around.

Your average fan will love him because he does fancy flicks and tricks. Top coaches will want him out, make no questions about it.

Targett is another one who I don't think will work out. Don't have the energy or pace to survive in Gerrard's extremely demanding system.

We'll see quite a few outgoings in the summer me think.

BT literally went through the Auxerre youth set up, to Chelsea's youth set up, on loan to Ajax before being sold for nearly £10m to Lyon and then sold to us by Lyon for nearly £20m. So his value has gone up considerably, he has worked with an array of top coaches and the likes of John Terry wanted him here. A man who literally saw him rise through the youth rankings, training day in day out, a man who also by his own admission a few days ago said he would get angry if players do not pull their weight. I'd rank that opinion pretty highly personally, yet because "top coach" blueslad21 hasn't seen a worse decision maker in his life (watching TV showings from his basement), we'll definitely be seeing him go. 

You spout so much shite its unreal. You've never seen a worse decision maker in your life? Get out of your **** basement more often pal.

29 minutes ago, hippo said:

No.

It's a weakness imo - not just at villa, to want an extra pass. Glad he was a bit greedy. 

He’s a striker, if a striker doesn’t want to shoot that’s when the issue arises. Glad he was “greedy” too, it’s like when we see a SJM rocket volley from 30 yard - I’m sure a pass will be more likely to come off but as a footballer at the highest level of your profession you have to take chances. Even Mings can slap it in on his weaker foot in the right situations. 

5 hours ago, WallisFrizz said:

I suspect he might be. There was talk of him being offered a new contract and nothing announced. If they can’t get him to sign a new one, I imagine we’ll sell him in the summer to avoid him leaving for free. I like him, hope he does extend his contract but I think he might have only ever seen us as a stepping stone. Not sure he’s shown enough to prove he is next level though. 

He really likes it here tbf - lives with his brother  (who is a really sound guy) and I think we will see him pen a new deal before the summer. 

I don’t think he played badly, his decisions just didn’t come off for him. He had the effort and drive, he tried to get his teammates pressing all first half. You can see he’s constantly talking to them, you can see he has great technical ability, it just isn’t happening. 

Bissouma and Trossard their best players, found it weird how they kept trying to switch play to their wingbacks but had nobody in the box. 

21 minutes ago, useless said:

I watched the replay of the game, was expecting it to be a smash and grab going by some of the reactions, yet whilst it wasn't a brilliant performance, but I thought we were the better team and well deserving of the win, we always looked the most likely to score and our attacking players looked the most likely to make something happen, Brighton on the other hand had more possession but it wasn't as if they had that possession because we couldn't get near them and they were passing the ball around us, they had a lot of the ball but in undangerous areas, allowing a team to do that can sometimes be a tactic.

A good start for the new coaching set-up and something to build upon.

This is exactly it. Brighton play that way against everybody - even the top teams. You can only try to beat what is in front of you and I think we set up in a way to counter what they were doing, the subs adding to that also. Took until the end of the match but after 80+ minutes we managed to get it in the net. Brighton are a good side and beating them wasn’t down to luck.

14 hours ago, Zatman said:

Played well but in typical Marv style he somehow got hilself booked with his touch after a great interception

To be fair it was a harsh booking, he got the ball but seemingly got booked for looking aggressive. Those bits of breaking up play helped us a lot and that was clearly his job - break up play. Bissouma broke up play well but didn’t do anything progressive with the ball so I’d say they both had similar performances.

Didn’t realise he has Rashica at Norwich - looked good to be fair, wonder if it was Deano that actually wanted him here. He will keep them up IMO he’s a good manager which we know.

7 hours ago, MWARLEY2 said:

Ian Wrighr Ramsey fan club in full effect on any show he is on. He doesnt half rate him . Goes on and on about him 

Wrighty knows his stuff that’s why. I think JJ’s attitude on the pitch is helping him a lot, he comes across like a bit of a prick and tbh we need that. Yesterday when we didn’t get a decision, he wasn’t afraid to put in a cheeky foul straight after and tell the ref to **** off. Love it. If everything clicks for him he has it all in his locker, the only worry I have is the fact that naturally Aaron is probably even better. Thats a nice worry to have!

We defended well against their style of play and hit them in the later stages when the likes of Lamptey were taken off.

They dominated against Liverpool, it’s just how they play, but with little danger today if we’re being honest. Good game management with the subs however I think Ings and Watkins should have been pressing more earlier on. I feel it for Buendia because he was putting 100% in but it just wouldn’t work for him - he clearly has the ability though, just one of those days.

Up the Stevie G!

Can we just all get behind Targett, he’s shown us how good he can be, we know he is capable.