It's Your Round

I’d be keen to keep Carlos unless we need to sell for FFP reasons. When you consider he missed most of his first season, this is pretty much his first full season at Villa. He’s had some dodgy moments for sure but he’s also been excellent on many occasions. We need quality in depth and he provides that, along with European experience.

There’s a lesson to us all in this thread.

I’m not overly confident but I do believe we will win tonight. Hopefully a big atmosphere will help the cause, but I don’t think it will be an easy game and I think they will score. I’m gonna say 3-2 Villa, but obviously I’d prefer 3-0.

I’m the same. I really want to see this squad get another season together but without all the injuries. Bring Mings and Buendia back in, maybe Philogene too. We’ve got a great team that can still improve. Of course we do have to factor in the injuries to Kamara, Mings and Buendia, we don’t know how well they will recover. Plus the loans ending for Lenglet and Zaniolo. I think we’ll bring a few players in to increase the quality and depth, but I’m still fairly relaxed because of the quality of this squad.

So much crap spouted on that panel… Repeatedly using the three injuries as an excuse for Gerrard’s terrible performance. Blaming the players “if Mings is going to play like that, what can he do”. The owners have “panicked”, and Sawiris lacks class. Gerrard doesn’t know his best team, like that’s not his fault. “It’s a misconception that Villa are big spenders”, trying to justify expectations being too high for what was spent. And the biggest clue that shows none of these idiots actually understand Villa today, is their agreement that the ambition at Villa is just to stay up. I would love to get them in a room and make them watch it back.

Football wouldn’t be football without some second rate has-been giving their unwanted opinion. This time it’s Parker advising United to buy Watkins, tomorrow it will be Darren Huckerby saying Konsa needs a move to cement his England place. It’s all just boswollox. It does make wonder how these comments are solicited though. Do the jerknalists call them for comment on a story they want to make up? Do they email a load of ex pros with some questions? Are they contracted to provide a certain number of quotes? It’s all very strange. Back to Watkins, he will win Villa’s POTS, we’ve had so many top performers but he leads the way. Would love him to outscore Haaland and Palmer in the last few games to take the golden boot.

Ipswich will just need a point at home to Huddersfield to take second place, which they’ll get. Much rather see the tractor boys promoted than Leeds, be good to see them back in the league.

The Olympiakos fan I spoke to in Athens a couple of weeks ago was really hoping they got through to play Villa, not because he thought they could beat us but because we are the best team left in it. Slightly different mindset to me who just wanted the weakest teams at every opportunity

Very true. I do flick through episodes looking for those that mention Villa in their episode title. I listened to the Athletic pod previewing the Arsenal Villa game, but I listened to it after we had beaten them just to see what they said. It wasn’t terrible but after a quick round up of Arsenal’s form they were straight onto which Villa players Arsenal would want in their team. Watkins and Dougie were quickly moved on. I honestly don’t think the wider media have a clue about the people running Villa. It’s fun to see play out.

I think that Dan looks up to him as somebody important from the football journalist community, and that his presence on the show puts its at a higher level than the standard fan shows. I also think he feels slightly indebted to him for helping him get more exposure with The Athletic. I think they’re friends as well. Which is all fair enough, and I don’t mind having none-Villa people on speaking about Villa, balance is healthy and all that. I just can’t listen to him act like he knows everything whilst simultaneously demonstrating he doesn’t. And the thing that grates the most is when he starts his sentences with “listen”. Just like Gerrard used to. Urgh!

I’ve listened to all (or nearly all) of the various Villa podcasts over the years, and I’ve started to get bored of a lot of them and stopped listening. There’s a lot of repetition out there, and I’m very easily irritated by little things. Claret and Blue is one I’ve fell out with, John and Dan are nice lads but I find the content annoying now. Dan is constantly signposting and over explaining the show, and I find John’s voice/cadence hard to listen to, it’s so rushed and kind of short and clipped. Doesn’t sound good to my ear. For The Love of Paul McGrath - my brain just can’t contend with that level of excessive words, Neil knows his stuff but I just wish he’d slow down and deliver a more considered presentation. 1874 - I’ve listened to Dan Bardell’s views ever since Villa View started, and I don’t mind him now. What I do mind is that he perseveres with Gregg Evans still. I get why but I can’t abide him so don’t listen when he’s on. Jacob Tanswell on the other hand, I’ll always listen to him. He’s like the anti-gregg. The Holy Trinity - I watched maybe five of his videos, and again I can’t abide him. There’s something about his demeanour that’s really off putting for me. The only ones I listen to now tend to be: The Villa Podcast - these lads are sharp and witty, plus they give a very detailed analysis of the games. UTV podcast - I’ve only really started listening to Luke’s pods recently, he has good guests on, both Villa fans and rival teams. He’s ever passionate about Villa and has a good grasp of the tactics. Omar’s Villa Talks - no need for any further comment, I’m glad this is back. I dabble with the Athletic podcasts, Tifo and other general football discussion shows. But they mostly focus on the ‘big six’ which is boring. Villa come up occasionally but it’s rare that the commentator gets us. I am a fan of Football Cliches though, that always gets a listen.

Best to ask Statto…

If we had only kept backing him he’d have got us into the Championship League!

Sky Sports Football are leading with an opportunity to vote for who should be sold or not. Subbing out transfer strategy to Sky is an interesting way to run the club, I’ll give them that Also shows a table with Ten Hag in third for united manager best win ratio. I’m definitely voting him out… and Maguire to stay as captain… ready for Southgate..

The more I hear from him and about him in the various podcasts and articles, the more I think he was the most overrated manager we’ve ever seen. I liked him at the time, and thought he’d be a great appointment as he came with a reputation. But it’s easy to look back and say his three x 6th placed finishes were a success, when compared to what followed. However prior to those years, top 6 and higher places weren’t uncommon, and the money he had to spend dwarfed that of those that went before him. To find out he didn’t bother with tactics, or training, or much else apart from ‘man management’, we had a really good first team and with some actual coaching and better fitness could have pushed on instead of collapsing every March/April. I’m just glad we’ve got Emery now and a squad full of professional people who give their all.

Rickets does make it hard to stand for anything to be fair.

The Norwich fans know what they’re dealing with at small heath… thick as mince morons who are proud of their cowardly violence.

It will just be *Spurz have 2 games in hand. Hopefully we can revisit in a weeks time when they’ve lost to Chelsea and Liverpool. Not sure how we will be referred to then.

Thank god for that. Makes our point a really good point now.

I know, but I’m unashamedly biased and don’t want Spurs given a single advantage.

Nah, it’s fair game to smash spuds in the spuds. It’s what Romero would have wanted

Gary Neville wants a penalty, has he mentioned that yet? I don’t think it is tbf.

Saka getting a right pasting out there, if he’s not careful he might end up with an ickle bruise on his knee!