Keener window-cleaner

I'll continue to dispute this everytime I see it being mentioned as a fact. It was villalad who came up with the fact that the Lyon fans didn't rate him based on what a couple of people said. Go back in this thread by the time we signed him and you'll see my post where I went through quite a few Lyon fans communities and you can see that the picture was more nuanced.

He scored a good goal, but I think most players in that position would have made that run and it was served on a plate by Moreno and Buendia. Apart fom that I thought he was mostly wasteful in possession, sure he dropped back and collected the ball and made a sideways pass a couple of times, but not much apart from that. Defensively he is so weak and slow. It was mainly his fault that Arsenal was a constant threat on our left. Our right hand side was closed down by McGinn. Feels hard to say but having Coutinho on the pitch is almost like playing 10 against 11. He can come on with 15-20 mins left in some games and start some cup games against lower league opponents, and I'm sure he is good to have around in training, but that's about it.

Agree, I don get why there wasn't more protests and a check by VAR (if we now have to have that). Sure there was some contact at first, but then they were competing, then he just clips his own leg and falls over. Not that it had changed the game but it looked silly and soft.

Also before the game I thought we should have set up more defensively than in previous games. It would have been a perfect game for McGinn to come in and press and be the usual pit bull player that he is, I also think it could have been good to give kamara a rest and a break and put in big Donk to give us some more strength and defensive options, especially as Mings was out. We could even have thought about playing another one in midifeld instead of two up front to stiffle the centre of the pitch. I was a big surprised that Emery went with more or less the same team at home against Leicester as away to Man C. Lessons learned.

I thought this would have been a good game for him to start, we needed som more grit and fight to frustrate them.

He must have ran the least of the players on the pitch, it still looks like it is a big effort for him every time he starts a run, he doesn't look up to the tempo anymore, he lost the ball at so many times. There are basically three things he can do, he can fall back and pick up the ball in our own half if not under pressure (but that's not his role), further up the picth he can make a 50/50 direct pass which can come good, but as likley just resulting in us losing the ball, the third thing is that he can pop up in the penalty area in the second wave, but he does that too seldom. I'd say he doesn't contribute defensively or to the pressing at all. Sorry to say, but this makes him a luxury player at the moment that we have very little use of. I don't mean it in a bad way regarding his personality, I bet he tries his best and has a good influence on the training pitch, but simply he is way past his best and should go to a league with a slower tempo during the last years of his career.

It was only a couple of minutes, but I think he showed that he right away can cope with the tempo and physicality, he looked really fast, strong and competitive, and a willing runner. Signs are good for this one!

Not favourite XI but most entertaining would be this, in a nice 3-4-3: Örjan Nyland Didier Agathe Dion Dublin Tony Moon Adama Traoré Sasa Curcic Eric Djemba-Djemba Aleksandar Tonev Tommy Johnsson Marlon Harewood Grant Holt Subs: Nzogbia Traoré Macoun Kodjia Hadji Samba

I think it's quite difficult to say, for both of them it depends so much on how used they are to the other players, what formation we play, how well drilled the team is on a whole and what instructions they get. Under a proper manager in a well drilled team, clear role that suits them I think both can be regarded to have really good decision making. The difference between them I'd say is that Bailey is more direct and faster, Traore has more smooth technique and is a better passer (blind one touch cross field passes included!). Both of them in optimal circumstances, I'd say Bailey probably would contribute more to the team.

I had kind of expected us to make a couple of big signings in January, but for me recalling Traore compensates not making any more signings. I really like him and love to see how Emery can improve him. He can play both an attacking midfielder an as a striker in the 4-2-2-2, he has said that he prefers to play centrally and may get a chance to do that now. Otherwise I think he is perfectly suited to the attacking midfielder/wide role in Emery's system. I'm quite sure he will continue to blow hot and cold, he is a real maverick, the type of player who can be absolutely fantastic when his mood is right and the stars are aligned, likewise go missing in periods. I doubt this will change under Emery, but I still think he can play an important role. Emery seems to rotate players more so it will be perfect to have him available when needed. He is the kind of player I'd pay to watch no matter what team he would play in. Welcome home Bertie!

I'd love to see Emery's face when Korts comes back and Emery gets a first hand look at his passing ability.

Clearly a very talented player, but I'm a bit worried about his defensive qualities.

Yes I also expected that warrior that was described, wonder how many times they watched him before signing him. I've said it a couple of times in this thread over the last years and I think it's quite simple actually. He said himself that he struggled with the tempo and the physicallity when he came here and got injured quite fast. He was simply not good enough and strong enough for the PL, technically gifted, but on the whole not good enough to compete on a daily basis. And when you are not good enough and strong enough, you make mistakes and you get injured. The signing didn't make sense at the time and didn't work out. Best of luck Morgan, hope he smashes it in Ligue 1 and we get some money for him in the summer.

I think today's game actually shows how he is improving, we are used to see him blow hot and cold, getting the ball in attacking positions and it's 50/50 if he fumbles over the ball or does something great, and then being sloppy in possession. Today he was more of a team player, he was careful with his passing and contributed to the overall play and keeping possession. He raised the lower standards of his game. That he can hit the hieghts we know.

I just love him he has given me my Villa back. The way he has improved the team using basically the same players is just amazing. We have a clear game plan and enhanced tactics, you can see that the players know what to do and are well drilled, as important, our tactics and formation changes during the game. He really is a world class manager, whereas Gerrard stood still, hand on cheek looking lost, or sitting grumpy in the dugout, and whereas Steve Bruce stood and just barked, Emery is constantly focused and active, gives instructions to the players all the time, walks back and fourth and you can litteraly see his brain going on overdrive to out think the opponent. The period in the second half between 50-60 mis was some of the best passing play I've seen us play. Say what you want about us being lucky with decisions, we had 63% possession away, 556-320 in passes and16-8 in shots, we controlled the game and bossed them and fully deserved to win.

Does anyone have the L'Equipe links? It's one of the most reliable papers around imo.

I just came in to this thread, have I understood it correctly that we are signing Pissflaps?

Haha that's true actually, but sooner or later they will find one if they keep buying! Moffi looks a real prospect!

Did I see it right that we played more of a 4-2-3-1 this time, with Buendia as the no 10 (or perhaps the second striker in a 4-4-2?). Anyway it seemed like Bailey played more out to the right this time. Didn't he play on the wing, but to the left, the last game he was amazing in the Danks-game? Hopefully he can be played out wide from now on, seems to be his best position and comes best to his right there.

Fully agree, the work he does off the ball is really valuable for the team, but wont get noticed much by some or in the stats, also that he constantly shows up for a pass is so good for the team as a whole. On top of that he has the ability to make the killer pass, which he quite often does. Would be good also to have a stat for a pass leading to an assist. I bet he and Luiz would rank very high on that stat.

My ideal January window would be bringing in Ismaila Sarr to play left wide forward/left winger (he has played most games on the left this season), he is one of the fastest players in England and would give us good options, having him and Bailey on each flank would be a great option. He also seems to be a good character, has good technique and can develop further, is settled in England and used to the PL. Then I would like another option up front, a target player, there Teremi Moffi has really caught my eye, could be a good gamble at 25M. Then I'd like to exchange Sanson and some money for Guendouzi, we would be well equipped with Kamara, Luiz, Guendouzi and big Donk in the middle of the pitch. To balance the books I wouldn't mind letting Cash go, I think Young and Konsa/Chambers could do a job there until the summer. If needed I could let Ings go as well, though I'd prefer him to stay. Bednarek could also return, with Carlos coming back and Chambers or even big Donk we have cover there. It's also time to let Nakamba get some more playing time at another club. We do need another back up keeper as well, but also that can wait to the summer. That would make us well balanced with plenty of options, but at the same time not stock piling players, but giving everyone some playing time and keep them happy. Martinez/Olsen as GK. Mings, Konsa, Carlos, Chambers and big Donk as CB. Digne and Moreno as LB. Young and Konsa/Chambers as RB. Kamara, Luiz, Guendouzi and big Donk as CM. Ramsey and McGinn as the forward midfielders if we play 4-2-2-2. Sarr and Bailey on the flanks if we play 4-2-3-1. Buendia and Coutinho as no 10 (or the further midfielders in the 4-2-2-2 or inside forwards in the 4-2-3-1. Then Watkins, Moffi and Ings as strikers. I guess it would be about 25M for Sarr, 25M for Moffi and perhaps 15M + Sanson for Guendouzi. Say we can get 20M for Cash, 5M for Nakamba and save some wages on Bednarek and if needed also on Ings. If someone would be willing to take Coutinho on his wages, I would let him go as well.

The only thing I don't like with this is that my wet dream of bringing Calvin Bassey to the club becomes more distant...

Oh no Big Donk! I thought he was a fully reliable specialist DCM. Very surprised to see him make those mistakes.

Haha! Perhaps we can sign E Honda in Street Fighter II while we are at it?