Stratvillan

Big name!!!

31 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

The praise and defence for the appointment of Steven Gerrard over Dean Smith, an actual Premier League manager.

The continued insistence despite poor team performances and evidence to the contrary Gerrard is the improvement we needed.

What's this got to do with "they" wanting a big name.

How do you know "they" would have moaned at either of the others you name?

There's a danger that 1 viewpoint gets conflated with another. I don't think anyone who has watched Villa under SG is impressed.

I don't think anyone necessarily wants a big name, but if anyone on this forum is asked an opinion on a coach it's invariably going to be based on a well known coach because that's who we know about. Gérard wasn't "welcomed" by fans because he was a name, it's because he offered a different approach to a manager (who I loved), but had clearly lost his way.

If you wanted Poch or Potter would you be guilty of wanting a big name?

1 hour ago, Tomaszk said:

The exact people who have been behind Gerrard would have been moaning beyond belief with either. They want a big name.

What's this based on?

13 minutes ago, briny_ear said:

Ah, if that was a response to my question, “are you serious?”, I was attempting a joke (talk about totally bombing ). One person did a laughy face so I’m not giving up hope just yet. 

  I wouldn't judge humour on my response - I'm notorious for things going over my head!

Yes.

When people are saying that they are gutted that the opposition didn't equalise.

Gérard says mings was injured not dropped, people still disputing it.

Perhaps I was wrong in comparing it to the matrix, more the conspiracy theories in the later  X files.

This thread is like the matrix now.

I really can't tell what's genuine or sarcasm.

Cracking cdm. 

Really impressed.

1 hour ago, MotoMkali said:

He was not brilliant today though? He played 2 good passes, won the ball well once or twice. Then scuppered every single other attack when he got the ball because he plays with zero urgency at all but at the same time rushes every attack. Crosses and shoots from awful positions. Takes forever when he receives it letting the opponents defence gets set. Never moves it quickly to create an advantage. 

The system doesn't help him. It's very difficult for any midfielder not just Sjm to pass instinctively, because the quick switch is invariably to the wings, which is rarely an option. 

16 minutes ago, blandy said:

I have. I think the best I've seen him play was probably at home to Man City, in a midweek game, not sure if it was last year, or the one before, but that game showed everything he can do that's so impressive all in one 90  minutes. Good control, great feet, playing in tight spaces and beating a man, excellent progressive passing and movement, good energy, interceptions..etc. etc. He's good a good shot on him and reads the game well.

Now of course he doesn't always play a blinder and you're right that played out of position as a defensive midfielder he doesn't shine.

Put him in the right team playing the right way and he's class. He's (for me) easily our best and most gifted midfielder.

I don't disagree massively, but after 3/4 years at the club you identify 1 game he looked quality. I'm not saying he isn't. This is my issue with him, I think he has all of the attributes of a really good player, but we seldom see them. Is this the pace of the league?, how he is used? If he plays higher up, will we see the player some think he is?.

14 minutes ago, Zatman said:

 

Luiz is the best passer we have in centre midfield and our only midfielder last season to keep possession

What was the possession on Saturday? 

At least if he does leave we could resign Westwood, he never gave the ball away and was universally loved.

Hold on......

11 hours ago, Stratvillan said:

I'd sell luiz before mcginn.

I know you shouldn't quote yourself but..  

What does Luiz do that's so impressive? I've never walked away from a game thinking, my god we've got a player. Considering Luiz is running down his contract for a free transfer I'm amazed that a player of his quality(according to this forum), hasn't been snapped up on the cheap. 

In his defence he is played out of position, but you could make the same argument (to a lesser degree) for mcginn. 

I'm not being contrary for the sake of it.

Not impressed with SG, but you can see why others teams take the mick out of us. 1 game in and fans are all over him. Fickle, probably not, patient, definitely not. 

1 minute ago, Peter Griffin said:

Yeah, I can see the bottom 6/7 for most the season as Bournemouth, Fulham, Forest, Brighton, Everton, Leeds and Everton

You think Everton will really struggle!

Does anyone have a comparison to last years prices. I have no idea how much I paid. 

Bizarre thread even by VT divorced from reality normality standards.

3 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said:

Here's all the Moxley stuff

Large turnover expected, he will have a lot of backing in the market from NSWE but also he will look to generate more cash by moving players out.

A new CB (Gomez), 'commanding midfielder' (Biss) and an A List Striker.

Coutinho wanted permanently. £425k a week wages can't happen. Newcastle also want him.

Safe Players: Cash, Martinez, McGinn, Watkins, Ramsey

At Risk: Konsa, Mings, Luiz, Sanson, Bailey and Ings

Allowed to leave: AEG, Traore, Trezeguet

Would agree with all of this.  

Imo

Digne is much better going forward than targett.

Digne is slightly below Targett in defending.

My criticism of Targett was that he almost wanted to play as a centre half. Based on yesterday that's more of a reflection on the limitations of konsa and mings. 

Think we will see

                           Ings

        Buendia              countinho 

                 Ramsey      mcginn

                       Chambers

Digne        Mings        Konsa        cash

                             Emi

I would play Sanson instead of Chambers, Bur the whole formation is missing an experienced cdm. IMO that's why mcginn and Ramsey have started being so deep. 

The issue is that Burnley will not go down, ( games in hand, goal scorer, mentality), so that the gap between us  and the bottom is a lot less than it looks. I don't thing we will go down, but we will, and are getting drawn into it  

Just now, Tomaszk said:

Might have been an idea to put a midfielder on instead of a striker though.

I agree totally. I think not putting sanson on at half time ( or indeed before the game) for luiz, was a massive error. 

1 hour ago, Tomaszk said:

No surprise we lost composure when Doug went off.

Without him, it becomes incredibly frantic.

We had to make a change partially because luiz is playing terribly. 

10 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

 

The only positive i can take from the fact either can happen with us, is at least Gerrard gets to see the weak-minded, panic merchant, bottle job performances first hand, so he can see exactly who needs replacing in the summer.

This is the remainder of the season for me, see who fits in with SGs style and who doesn't/ can't. Plan for next season. 

12 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

Villatalk analysis on strikers.

Scored a goal=Played well.

Didn't score a goal=Played bad.

 

Did some one upset you today?

I think forwards can do a lot without scoring. 

What did he do today that amazed you so much?

(I would rather he started than Ings btw.)

In terms of improving the team, I'd prioritise in order, cdm, central defender, striker.

9 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

People who thought he had a bad game don't understand football.

Slightly patronising.

He worked hard  but made some poor decisions, which unfortunately is increasingly common.