Johnnyp

Zero semblance of coaching on display. What do we even do during the week.

Can't remember the last time we've had Martin Tyler's chocolate velvety commentary voice doing a villa game.

Vassiliev must be showing his worth in training. Don't think it's a token gesture or anything that he's getting into a few matchday squads. The kid might be good. Hopefully.

Disappointed Taylor starts but im not going to pretend Targett is the second coming of Maldini either. Very solid line up from us. Be great if we could get a cut at their back 3 at some stage. They aren't great.

I'm hoping Nakamba sits on the bench.

Pretty predictable really. We won't be good enough on the ball or work hard enough without it.

Your right, Jones did beat everyone at LHW. Fair point about Michalczewski although i did think he was past his prime when Gonzalez beat him and retired after been beaten in his next fight also. Calzaghe also beat everyone at SMW. He was actually dead at the weight when he beat Kessler which is a testament to him but for most his career, Reid, Sheika, Woodhall, Lacy he made SMW pretty comfortably. Wasn't a huge puncher. It's just theory and conjecture really to think he would of got Jones to fight him had he moved up. Collins was unbelievably vocal trying to get Jones to fight him. He didn't budge. He really did his own thing.

I remember Lacy said Calzaghe just slaps before their fight. Well he got slapped around the ring for the whole fight then, looked broken at the end and probably should of been pulled out in the 11th.

I'll respectfully disagree. You have to look at the facts. Apart from Virgil Hill ( quality fighter ) Jones played it pretty safe as a light heavyweight. Never fought Michalczewski nor showed any want to try and make it happen. He moved very tactically so you could easily say maybe he didn't want to fight Calzaghe either. Calzaghe beat everyone at SMW, wasn't his fault he was in a poor era. I'm not for a second knocking Jones btw. His legacy was pretty much borne out of some quality wins at SMW and winning a version of the HW title along with a dominant but unspectacular run of defences at LHW. Calzaghe found a way most times. His mental game was his big strength. Ward would of done him though. Bit too savvy.

Calzaghe has said many times that the biggest regret he had is that he didn't get the ottke fight. I think Joe knew that even if he took the short money and went to Germany he would have had to knock him out. German boxing was pretty dirty at the time. Beating Ottke and Markus Beyer was nigh on impossible in Germany. Ottke clearly lost 3 times, at least. Reid ( above ) beat him. Daylight robbery. Charles Brewer beat him. Mads Larsen i thought beat him too. Calzaghe would of wiped him all things been equal.

I agree. It's baffling. Unnecessary. Bit dickish from Villa too calling back Sarkic who was doing really well out on loan. Kalinic was on the bench Wednesday and most likely will be on Sunday also with Nyland still starting i think.

Piatek seems too good to be true. Certainly don't think he's the real issue at Milan. They have lots of average players, i think he is quality though. I don't think he is going to want to give up the Milan lifestyle too easy because of a manager who himself could be gone in a month or 2 with the way they are playing, doesn't play him much.

I tend to agree. One thing that should never ever come into signing a player is sentiment. People should ask themselves this, if he hadn't played and done well for us before, would you take him on current form ( current probably been kind, last 2 to 3 years form )

Piatek cleaned the seats in the holte end as a kid. His dad was a steward.

I'd leave well alone. He's flying it with a team who are going well and in promotion contention. If we recalled him now to send him out on loan to a league 1 or championship club it would be a club who are (1). Going well but just want to beef up their squad during the run in, he wouldnt get a look in or (2). Struggling. Going from a dressing room at Cheltenham where id imagine the atmosphere is fantastic to a one where it's pretty shit all for an incremental step up in levels with a few months left in the season. He's doing well. I'd leave as is.

Probably the most in form of all the lads we have out on loan right now. Mentally i wasn't sure if he was made of the right stuff but he's going really well in a tough physical league. Playing championship next season ( not for us hopefully ) is well within his capability right now.

Piatek is absolute elite. Can't see it but ya never know.

Josh Taylor has left McGuigan and signed a multi fight deal promotion with Top Rank. There has to be something pretty off key going on with Cyclone. Frampton left them and took them to court for unpaid monies. Lots of lower profile fighters have left them too. You can hardly blame Taylor. His star is shining pretty bright on the back of the WBSS sucess. Why would ya want to go back fighting on ch. 5. Plus, Top Rank have Ramirez, the guy with the other 2 belts. That's massive. Probably puts an end to the Taylor and Shane McGuigan trainer/fighter partnership, which is a shame. Frampton left Shane when it got messy with Barry. This isn't a smooth split either. Cyclone released a statement saying Taylor is under contract.

The premier league can be pretty unforgiving, especially if you aren't ready. Veretout would walk into many PL teams now. He was blowing out his arse after 60 minutes when he was in a villa shirt and his conditioning was poor. My worry for Nakamba is that he doesn't seem to react quick enough to what's going on around him. You'd hope that improves.

And as you quite rightly state it is levels isn't it. I'm sure he looked much better and tidier on the ball at Brugge.

What assertions ??? He headed the ball short in the first half that nearly cost a goal. Close to full time he got pressed, lost it in a dangerous area that Leicester could of scored from. He lost the ball lots when he was pressed. Has it got this childish ? Are you actually going to deny that happened ? What's next , you want me to edit the game, point out what im referring to ? The sad thing is i wouldn't be surprised if you said yes.

Come down off your ivory tower. You don't work for mi5 with your credible evidence lark. I've my opinion, i watched it. You've yours. Getting boring now.

So all these people who are posting saying we all thought nakamba was awful is all hyperbole because we didn't defer to the stats first and then secondary rate his performance on the game we all watched, with our own eyes.

What arguments ? That he gave the ball away 3 times when pressed that led to 3 Leicester chances.

Credible evidence is subjective. You hero worship stats. I don't.