astonaidan

37 minutes ago, villa89 said:

He has alot of improving to do before he gets anywhere near that level IMO. He can't defend.

Hes pretty much like every other french lb around in that case

Delighted hes going, in all my time supporting Villa, he is the player I have disliked the most. I feel he got a free pass for so long because he was a English lad. I wish him well, but dont see anything other than what he offered Villa through the years. I actually dont see him getting a lot of game time with the players already at Burnley

Im super excited about this. Hopefully our utility player for the next few years

4 hours ago, Xela said:

Thing is, if Gollini wanted to go back to Italy, what options did we have?

I'd like a more experienced keeper, which I'm sure we will see in the summer but for a short term fix then Johnstone is fine IMO

If Gollini wanted to go, you could find 10 goalies more experienced than Johnstone. I mentioned Westwood, but there is other goalies out there

Just read about McCormack and Bruce is 100% right. Crap attitude from a player I among others thought would be our star turn this season. **** off back to Fulham if he wants 

Didnt catch the game, how was he today. Did the two goals come after his sub

I really dont see a improvement on Gollini. Who we at least owned. I could understand if we had got Westwood from Sheffield but Johnstone is a confusing transfer for me

John Carew and Juan Pablo Angel for me

1 hour ago, Grasshopper said:

Then I'm waiting with baited breath to hear that Pep, Jose & Conte will start a bidding war to buy the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle putting killer passes through to Aguero, Ibrahimovic or Costa

They would use the lack of proper players excuse for him there aswell. Scrubs like Kante, De Bruyne and Herrera would let him down

8 hours ago, darrenm said:

Interesting point I reckon.

I haven't watched premier league football since we were there. I watched some the other day and the difference between it and the championship was startling.

The football and the pressing is way slower. More calculated and probing. Once a team gets the ball, the other team drops back into positions and reduces options for the player on the ball.

In the championship there's faster and more intense pressing. It's higher energy. It's more like trying to panic the player than reduce his options.

When you have someone like Westwood who built his entire career on recycling the ball and keeping possession, when the harrying and hurrying increases he's suddenly exposed. His lack of physicality and athleticism are really shown up in a league where every player needs to be fast and strong, with ability on the ball a much lower priority. It's why cup games bring lots of upsets for lower league teams, there's a huge disparity in styles.

I still think Westwood would be a good player in a premier league team. Him being a one trick pony doesn't help down here.

Westwood has never been a good player in a premier league team. Why would that change now

9 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

So a post I had to go back three pages to find, from a poster who clearly presents a balanced opinion and also says 'really the only thing he has to his game is keeping possession and passing' and 'We need someone who will pitch in with more tackling and ball winning than Westwood does and also pitches in with more incisive passing and chance creating than Westwood does' and 'he just doesn't do enough to justify being in our midfield in it's current state' and 'we don't NEED someone who is only good at recycling possession, which is all Westwood . . . on a good day'. 

You're looking for an argument that doesn't exist. 

Im not looking for a argument at all, Im merely pointing out that there is no good side to his game. The fact it even gets mentioned that maybe he could be fine in a 3 man midfield in any terms I disagree with. As Ive said for years if he wasnt English he woudlnt be at the club

That isnt the post I saw, but I do think it was in reply to it

7 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Is there anybody, at all, in the thread who isn't admitting that he's rubbish? I can't see anybody saying anything except that. 

A few posts back I read that he could be fine in a 3 man midfield if we had a better dm and am. So yes

10 hours ago, Woodytom said:

While there is an element of sarcasm to your post I don't think it's too far the truth and it relates to something I've been saying since he arrived imo. 

Never once does he stand up and be counted/take the game by the scruff of his neck. I think he has a bit of a 'need to avoid failure' attitude that will be ever present regardless of what league he is in. 

At first people explained his anonymity as the type of midfielder he is, some even used it as a criticism of people's knowledge on football. No, not noticing Westwood is purely and simply down to him being way out of his depth.

He will never impose himself on the game due to his mentality imo, and that is why I believe that any game at any level worth talking about, he would get gobbled up.

 

The good old days when people were saying it should have been him not Delph in the england squad  good times

I dont know how anyone can still defend Westwood. All the excuses at the start of the last season have followed to this season. Cant ye just admit hes rubbish. I cant be he only one sick of hearing hed be perfect for a 3 if our dm and am were better. What sort of bullshit reasoning is that. When has he ever shown that would be the case. If Westwood wasnt English he would be nowhere near starting and would have been sold years ago

I will be very surprised if he doesnt turn out good for us. Its been said already but our midfield right now is shocking. If Bruce sorts it out in January we see a different player

On 12/15/2016 at 08:05, dubliner said:

I've never seen a more selfish player in a Villa shirt.

His attitude stinks as well and I'd be glad to see us cut our losses on him.

I can see why we've been linked with players like Brady who at least put an effort in, which is the absolute minimum Bruce would expect. 

Replacing Ayew with Brady would be a massive upgrade. Im sick of watching him trying to take on the whole team and doing nothing. Thinks hes Ronaldo

Our midfield problem shouldnt be that difficult to sort at this level. Drop Westwood/ sell him preferably and go get Lansbury

Its funny seeing how much people were complaining about him at the start, thats hes clearly our best defender if not player

Was Gollini dropped?? If so really see us going for a new number 1 in January, Bunn will never be that guy for us. I like Smithies myself but Id think wed be better going for bigger fish

Oh Gabby, good to see you back

G.S showing why he shouldnt be given the reigns full time. Such a boring selection. Thats the thing with England, form never matters. Sturridge and the likes will always get picked

5 hours ago, Keyblade said:

so I expect him to pick up form soon .

A player that never had any sort of form with us is all of a sudden going to pick up form. What on earth have you been watching

4 minutes ago, thunderball said:

I wasn't aware of half our signings this season...... and last season!

Well thats my point tbh, any player outside the premier league isnt known to our fans. Thats us being ignorant rather than the players being unknown

Just a random statement. All ye who dont know or are saying they dont know the Birmingham players, come on lads. Like say they are shit etc but there is plenty on known players on that team unless of course you only watched premier league football your whole life 

As a outsider, England disappoint me more than any other nation. If it was Brazil/ Spain etc. Rooney wouldnt be getting picked. He will start every game till he retires in 2018.

When you look at the young talent you could select its sad. Ward Prowse has been mentioned already. But there is a lot of others. Maybe not so young Deeney would be a interesting option, its Malta for christ sakes