sparrow1988

1 hour ago, Xela said:

They have similar lego hair?

It makes me tremendously jealous, I must say. 

11 minutes ago, danceoftheshamen said:

Maybe that is the plan? To not be too predictable? To vary the patttern or something 

The best tactics are the simple ones. City’s goals, for example, are nearly all identical. Same movements all the time but with little adjustments. It’s easy say that of course when it’s city, they’ve fantastic players, but West Ham score West Ham type goals. 

6 minutes ago, DaveAV1 said:

This results in a real dilemma for some posters who have consistently said that they don’t like our tactics and that we play too narrow etc. However is the narrative of negativity now moving to no plan rather than a poor plan? Too many choices lead to confusion. I think I recall Sainsbury’s deciding that 240 different types of yoghurt was too many and reduced it to a mere 130 yogurts to choose  from. 

I haven’t consistently said I don’t like the tactics though. I’ve given the tactics a chance. However, after a period of watching and considering the pros and cons, I’ve decided either they don’t work or Gerrard can’t convey his ideas. We make the pitch too narrow going forward, and our defensive structure is essentially non-existent. 

32 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

And we know there is " no plan " because we are armchair football experts, or we don't see it coming off?

You point out that they might have " messed it up " ( Arsenal ) but they would try it again.

Do people genuinely think there is " no plan "?

I'd prefer people to say whatever the plan is, is " shit " than to confidently declare there is " no plan ".

Fair enough. The “there is no plan” line was a bit much. I also said whatever the plan is, it’s not discernible and whatever it is, is bloody awful, and is in no way obvious. There are no build-up patterns, no movement patterns. Even a defensive structure is nowhere to be seen apart from ‘Bouba will look after that’. 

Why do people keep referencing Arteta when saying Gerrard needs time? Arteta had a plan and the plan was obvious, all the players knew/know their role. There were times when they messed it up but when they got the ball in the same situation, they tried the same thing again. Maybe the f-ed it up the second time as well, but they tried it the third time and the fourth time and so on until it worked. It resulted in some shocking defeats and runs of embarrassing results but there was always a plan. With us at the moment there is no discernible plan or structure, apart from, wing backs get forward. Build-up patterns are non-existent. Movement of the players is just random. There’s just no plan. Gerrard and Arteta played at the same time and were both midfielders. That’s where the similarities end.

15 hours ago, villa89 said:

Yep, going to be hard to keep Jay Jay Okocha, Hierro, salgado, Dougarry and kevin davis quiet. 

Djorkaeff

1 hour ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

One thing I hadn’t really considered until now is whether the men’s and women’s revenue is kept entirely separate?

I don’t like the idea of revenue from the men’s game going towards the women’s as I have absolutely zero interest in it. 

I’d imagine that there is a portion of the revenue created going to the men’s team going to the women’s “to get them started” so to speak with a view to them becoming fully self-sustainable in the future. The signing of Daley, for example - I don’t think that happens without revenue that the men’s team has generated. It will however help the women’s team become more self-sustainable. 

19 minutes ago, ender4 said:

and also as part owner of the club he can't be sacked anyway.  He can be bought out of his share by the 2 majority owners.

I think if Nas and Wes want him out he’ll be bought out, no problem. I just don’t think that they are even close to considering it. 

48 minutes ago, Steero113 said:

Negotiated the signings of some top 6 level players within our existing wage structure. 

Secured top money for an academy prospect who had a year left and wanted out. 

Secured planning and begun work on a revolutionary inner city academy redevelopment.

Continued advancing the academy of the club and enhancing its reputation as one of the finest in the country showcased by 3 stars of the u-19 Euro midfield. 

Overseen our highest average attended season since the PL began. 

Leading long overdue plans to transform Villa park into a 50,000 seater stadium with 21st Century fan experience and upgraded transport options. 

Handled a £100m sale driven solely by the player and his contract in a professional and transparent manner with the fan base. 

 

Two can play at this game pal. 

 

 

I’d imagine these things are way more important to the bosses than a couple of ‘dud’ appointments. Purslow’s job is to add value to the business. He’s doing a fantastic job at that. Granted, we’ve stagnated a bit football-wise, and they probably won’t tolerate that for long, but taken as a whole, the background stuff can’t really be doubted. 

If Gerrard is sacked, then I highly doubt Purslow will be following him out the door. 

17 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

If we cant get poch or rodgers id like us to make a statement and think outaids the box and go for someone like mancini.

Id love it. Be a absolutely exciting appointment 

It’d certainly be interesting if we’re ever 2-1 down in the last game of the season, and we’re going for the title, and he’s telling everyone around him to “f-off”. Although, maybe he’s grown out of that now.

But, I must say, I like your thinking.

12 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

Raising tickets prices is fine especially given how high inflation is

 

Business-wise, yes, but the match going  fans are also suffering under high inflation and the rising cost of living. So it’s a pretty shitty thing from their point-of-view. 

58 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Listen, just because Nas, Wes, Purslow and Gerrard go out on the lash every other week and the occasional family holidays together. 
 

This does not make them all mates! 

Levy and Poch used to go on holidays together. I think they actually still meet up at each other’s holiday homes from time to time. Levy still sacked him though. 

6 minutes ago, Steero113 said:

Total. 

Utter. 

Bollocks. 

But tell us how you really feel. I just think that you’re holding something back. 

24 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

I am firmly of the belief that Purslow would sack his own mother if he felt it was the best way for him to achieve his aims.

Never has a truer sentence been written. 

10 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

How the hell am I the top poster in the Bertrand Traore thread! 

I really need to do some work.

I think you’ve answered your own question there. 

6 hours ago, paul514 said:

Gerrard will be gone when he returns 

I also think that this will be the case. Bertie’s last game for Villa will come after Gerrard’s last game for Villa. 

1 minute ago, Tom13 said:

Can't remember how you work this out but surely a 14 goal contribution PL season since joining should have put his current value a bit above £8m.

It’s purely to do with purchase price and amortisation over the length of the contract as far I can remember. He could have 50 goal contributions, his value in the accounts wouldn’t be any different. 

2 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Brill aNother flop. Between him and trez thats 30m down the pan

Just out of interest, what do you expect from wingers that cost around 15m? Is 7 goals and 7 assists in a season not a fairly decent return?

21 hours ago, Ingram85 said:

I just wanted to see pics of it on the players

6 hours ago, Kingman said:

Will probably sign for Wolves now 

They brought in Nathan Collins before selling Coady. They don't need him.

2 minutes ago, Jareth said:

Can't be bothered to go check me facts but is it not the case that SG's record last season, if repeated through the whole season had us top half of the table? Why then this season is anyone expecting to achieve a worse result than that after we've made some top signings? Is this not all really just a case of extreme impatience on the back of a disappointing first game?

Some people here will tell you it’s relegation form, others will tell you it’s top of the table form.

The reality is this:

Smith got us 10 pts from 11 games. We finished on 45 points so 35 pts from remaining 27 games ~ 1.3 ppg. Extrapolate that out over a season and you get 49 points. For example, that gets you 11th last season. I won’t go into good start, recent form and so on. However, you are free to interpret that info as you wish. 

10 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said:

No, I realise that. But it's less than a year and he's done ... OK. It's the first match of the season. I would grant that every consecutive loss at the beginning of the season counts for about three loses in the rest of the season. If he loses the next two or three, I'll probably feel differently. Opening season losses against low-rated clubs also feel completely bonkers-bad compared to losses mid-season after winning streaks, right? I think we have to account for that special emotional impact, too. It's Bournemouth, too. There's a whiff of insult here. It's natural that we feel mortified and want to point fingers, but it may have been a very useful and needed slap to attention to deal with weak spots and illusory ideas.

Wake-up call for the sea lion ...
 
 

I didn't read your post as I got distracted by the gif.

1 minute ago, Tayls said:

People starting to secretly panic yet? 

What do you mean?

2 hours ago, rodders0223 said:

We might aswell play David James up top.

Steady on, Psycho