mattjpa

16 hours ago, AshVilla said:

Agreed i want him to hit that number, we need to rely on more than Kodija to get out this division.

Completely agree with this, I would be disappointed if a multimillion striker set his sights any lower than than

2 hours ago, av1 said:

Thats 4yrs of not even being fit enough to play for the football club. 4yrs of not giving a hoot. I think its a tad harsh to suggest fans are using Gabby as a scapegoat. He has given us plenty of ammunition.

The last 4 years would suggest otherwise 

BINGO 

Genuine question, what exactly is Gabby showing? 

He has the touch of a rapist, he's blowing out of his arse after 20 minutes, running around like an idiot trying to show "he cares" committing foul after foul because he hasn't got a brain in his head.

And then there's the big one, what strikers are judged on, goals..... Lets just move on. 

Compare that to Hogan. Who is a goalscorer, who has looked sharp in pre season, with 2 well taken goals. 

It isn't close at all, and if Bruce goes with Gabby its further prove that he doesn't have a clue. 

You are missing my point regarding Gabby. I am aware he has been a bag of shit for four years, thats not worth going over again, but im big enough to look past that and see a player in good physical condition who is putting in a bloody shedload of work. you asked what I think he is showing: much improved touch as his match sharpness is coming back, he was holding the ball brilliantly when it was played into him and bringing others into the game which is critical for how SB wants us to play, he was harrying defenders against watford and created a couple of chances by actually nicking the ball off them, he has two well taken goals in preseason also and he showed no signs of tiring or letting up in his last 2 appearances (so basically everything in contrast to your conjecture filled response). He was also a good save in a self created 1 vs 1 or a marginal offside goal that was disallowed away from being our top goalscorer in preseason.

from the birmingham mail to back up my point: 

A man who has been criticised so heavily in the past is giving his all in claret and blue once again. Agbonlahor should have given Villa the lead early on but couldn’t beat Gomes before seeing another effort chalked off for offside.It’s early days, but this looks a much fitter and willing Agbonlahor than the one supporters have seen at Villa Park in recent years.

I think he is less of a natural finisher than Hogan, less talented, less instinctive, he has behaved poorly and played even worse for a number of years. He is not the future of the club like Hogan, I like him less than Hogan and agree that he is playing for his future at the 11th hour BUT I still think based on what ive seen in the last couple of games he should probably get the nod while our team gets up a head of steam. 

some people just need scapegoats. Gabby is currently looking better and working harder than he has since 2013. Maybe he has had a genuine epiphany or maybe its because hes unemployed in 12 months but I think he has to start ahead of Hogan, just think he is showing a bit more. Its very close though and I think its on a knife edge over who gets the nod. Bruce could always go 2 up top now Jack is out 

Richards is not going to Forest, they have no interest. Being reported as absolute BS, probably started by his agent

Has conducted himself really well - been playing in the youth side unpaid and kept at it. I would go as far as to say he has been in the top 2/3 so far in preseason so an absolute no brainer. With Baker having a few injuries, JT getting on etc, this is perfect for us

Well done Chris

Got to say he has looked fantastic in pre season so far...in fact i only actually remember him misplacing one pass in the time ive watched him. I would find some money from somewhere and get him signed up. I dont think he will cost much and we dont appear to have much competition for his signature.

10 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a reminder of some of the posts for the last "Underwhelming" Premier League "misfit" we signed. NEIL TAYLOR.

Just because a player is not flashy or "exciting" doesn't mean they don't do their job well. What we need is stability, authority and calm.

To me Whelan might be similar to Gavin McCann, grossly underrated until he is missing but does a good job.

Well done mate, great post. really puts it into perspective. Some are so quick to judge - Im amazed at the amount of people who have written off Bjarnesson already despite a bad injury and coming into a transitioning team in poor form  

4 minutes ago, One For The Road said:

It proves that we are unable to spend money due to tossing it up the wall in January. Now we are effectively skint as we can't buy anyone decent. Not that I'd trust Bruce with any more money anyway as either he buys players with the wrong character or he doesn't know how to get the most out of them. 

Tossing it up the wall? Really? Hourihane and Lansbury were bought for peanuts and are EXACTLY what we need - quality players. Taylor has been absolutely flawless, Bree, Hogan and Bjarnesson all suffered injuries and have not been able to get going yet but ive seen nothing in any of them that makes me want to write them off just yet. Most of those players are still very young as well. 

My point still stands as well - being skint is completely different to being "effectively skint" as you call it. I have complete faith that if we are in 2/3 place in january and Bruce highlighted a 10m player who became available, would drop a league and would all but guarantee us going up automatically, Dr X would sign them as promotion would negate FFP (I think?!)

18 hours ago, One For The Road said:

Well, we will see. I just think it shows zero ambition and proves how skint we are.

It proves nothing of the sort. Merely that we are at the limit for FFP and are also trying to build a sustainable business model with a squad that has alreadyreceived heavy investment over the past couple of transfer windows and now needs to develop as a unit. Dont let the facts get in the way of everyone losing their shit though!  

16 minutes ago, Hoof hearted said:

Agreed with regards to getting out of this division, but hand on heart how many of our current squad would survive in the top tier? We may have the strongest squad in this division but come next August we'll have maybe the 17th or 18th strongest in the Premiere league, this is my main concern going forward, as I think we'll breeze it this season. 

Off the top of my head, more than adequate for mid-table in the top tier:

Terry, Chester, De Laet, Taylor, Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane, Grealish, Veretout, Kodjia.

That is a goalkeeper off a full team. I would add that in the right condition and with the right coaching we could also potentially count: 

Johnson, Amavi, Bree, Baker, Lyden, Green, RHM as easily good enough.

Finally, We have the likes of McCormack and Bjarneson who we surely havent seen enough of to make a judgement on.. The others, the likes of Agbonlahor, Richards, Bacuna, Gardner, Hutton, Elphick have all had golden patches in their careers at one time or another. With a good preseason and the right condition, I wouldnt be surprised to see a renaisance from a couple of them. I dont think its as big a rebuild job as you think

12 minutes ago, omariqy said:

Anyone else concerned with the 30+ year olds we are being linked to? Also the type of player - McCarthur, Whelan, Crouch, Murphy? Or am I worrying for nothing.

We have a good base for a prem league squad and a good crop of young players. We do not need to concern ourselves with ages at present, we simply need to supplement what we have with seasoned professionals. Long term does not matter at the moment, only the next 10months. If we achieve what we need to, we can worry about the long term then

1 hour ago, alreadyexists said:

Harsh on Chester... but I would probably give it to Terry. I suppose it depends on the amount of games he realistically can play. The schedule is quite demanding so not sure he could play all 46, even if injury free consistently through the season. 

Chester is a quiet unassuming type that leads by example. Im sure he will completely understand

Not sure if mentioned previously but Yousuf Mulumbu has been released by the baggies and is being linked if we fail to sign Joe Ledley. 30yo defensive midfielder

50 minutes ago, Grasshopper said:

The board - is those who have occupied positions at AVFC over the demise of our club.

whoever they are/have been we have a history of the likes of

Heskey to N'Zog

Richards through Lescott

and now possibly Terry/Whelan or any other past it who's legs are like Richardsons

When outsiders look at our club and see similar mistakes from our "new" board to our "old" board, we'll still be deemed as "The last big payday" club.

This is the mentality that got us here in the first place and if it continues, will keep us here.

I could also include SB as having his last big payday, but I'm not allowed to say that am I

Steve Bruce is only 56. So you could say it, but it is more than likely he has 10 years managing at the top of the English game if he keeps winning things and getting promotions. Seeing as Sven Goran Eriksen is getting paid like an absolute lord in China at the ripe old age of 69 it is likely there is a few good paydays left in Brucey yet. Id say you are probably wrong

2 hours ago, Michael118 said:

Those slagging off Bacuna are probably the same ones who were slagging off Ciaran Clark last season. Embarrassing. We'll see how Clark does at Newcastle this season.

Bacuna has enough natural ability to be a midtable prem midfielder i agree, He has shown it in glimpses. He will never be that because he would need the application of someone like Ronaldo to match it and I just dont think he will ever display that. Occasional petulance, some disinterested games, poor decisions and a lack of natural instinct etc have littered his career here.

Villa fan man (36) and boy. Matt is my name, jpa is my favourite player.  Have previously used other forums but after reading for a while i would like to get involved in this one!

Thanks