Jas10

Yeah, I agree with what you said regarding confidence levels, it’s just smart. I’d say the same applies for Olsen too. What benefit is there to criticising or being dismissive of your players? And if moves don’t work out, you’re stuck with demotivated and underperforming ones… The class and intelligence of Unai

Not at this point no, but I can’t really say whether Cam is capable because I don’t feel I’ve seen enough of him… To be totally honest, I want us to strengthen the team/squad as much as possible, to allow Unai to take us as far as he can and achieve as much as possible this season, even if it’s at the “expense” of a few youngsters… I know some people won’t like or be onboard with that, I’m just a bit ambitious and aware that Unai is too - his “real aim” for us is CL football, as well as trophies, asap (reading and hearing various comments and interviews, such as a face to face discussion with Luis Echegaray…) But… if Unai deems the “kids” worthy, then I’m all for it… and I would like to see them given a fair crack…

Yeah I have to agree, despite Unai’s comments. He’s always respectful in his words anyway and has to give an answer to direct questions… I mean, to give a couple of examples, he’s spoken positively about Sanson and Young and… neither of them are at the club anymore I am struggling to believe that Archer and Duran are actually going to be our back up/cover to Ollie this season… I actually expect a “senior” player (Diaby?), or even a new signing, to provide the actual cover.., But let’s see… would be nice if they could surprise us. Duran hasn’t had a chance (injury) to show what he can do during preseason either… I wouldn’t rule out a loan move though…

Sure, it’s why I pointed out Ollie is easily/obviously the right/better option for us but I still don’t see Cam as having had a great opportunity nor deserving of much criticism after a few friendly minutes and playing with “lesser players”… He got a fair few assists at Boro and was involved in their play…

Has to be relieved of penalty taking duties… read online that his record is 4 scored in his last 11??? I’m sorry, but that’s atrocious!!

Valuable and versatile member of the squad, not bad technically either… positive attitude and workrate

I really hope Unai feels (even more) love and adoration from us fans and feels even more assurance that he chose the right club and connection with the support… that we’re the perfect match…and sticks around for a loooooooong time… worlds away from the disrespect and mockery he experienced in his last PL job, they never realised what they had…

Castorophe? Castorstrophic?

Feel this kid has really missed out in terms of prep ahead of the new season, no involvement in our preseason yet and it’s almost over… A shame, as I would’ve loved to get a good look at him and see him get up to speed… I know Unai suggested otherwise, but a loan move doesn’t seem unlikely at all… There is of course time to reintegrate him and get him involved… it’s just that this period was a great opportunity… A shame he got injured… I’m just finding it a little difficult to believe that Cam and Duran are our back up CFs this season…

Doubtful it’s going to happen now but… I’d like to see how Archer does with at least Buendia supporting him… would he be better at taking on those through balls and finishing them (with aplomb)? I think it would be an exciting link up or partnership… and would Cam be more “capable” than Ollie in that specific regard? Does he have more of a natural goalscorers instinct and touch? I’d like to find out… No doubt that there’s a lot more to Ollie’s game and that why he’s so important and our no. 1 CF… we don’t have anyone in the squad close to or comparable to him in that sense… However…. I actually think his “duties” have been lessened and reduced as compared to when Dean was here, for example… we have a much better team so he doesn’t have to work so hard and drift… his main job and priority is being in the right place at the right time to finish off the chances that are created for him… Unai has provided him with the greatest “support act” (not just one player) that he will have had now and he isn’t required to do so much… Unai has talked sense into him too and will continue to bring the best out of him, he’ll surely get more than 15 goals this season… It’s pleasing to see how much less reliant we are on individuals and how much more of and stronger (and better, especially in our passing and control of games) a team we are overall…

A likeable player/person but….he needs competition imo…

Our most potent attacking threat atm?

Disregarding the penalty, but simple/straightforward question: How many chances have been created for him and how many has he missed or F’d up? Needs to play with the better attacking/creative players to show what he can do…

Exquisite. Stick him on pens.

Rust successfully worked off… that’s what preseason is for. Just stay fit and injury free Bouba… going to shine even brighter this season… especially in the top team Unai is building…

Tielemans

He’s good… he’s very good… he’s… exceptional… And he’s absolutely transformed us! In such a short space of time… but he’s far from done… An argument could even be made for him being the best or most capable manager in the league… He’s not a chequebook manager… He’s not an egotistical arrogant git…. He doesn’t complain and moan about things… He doesn’t try to influence or force things to go his way… He doesn’t berate or disrespect anyone… He doesn’t act like a petulant child… He has shown that if you have dedication and passion in your work… you can go a hell of a long way… and you can do it with no lack of class, humility and dignity… you don’t need to be a “bad guy” to succeed… you don’t need to shit on or abuse anyone… At the very least, he’s the classiest and most dignified manager… he doesn’t resort to bitterness, tantrums, angry or foolish comments… he just gets on with the job and regularly outclasses the others… He lifts players and teams and gives them encouragement and an education rather than berate them and treat them like trash… He’s the man

I’ve just been thinking…. * what a good place we are in now, what a good team and squad we have, what an attractive and effective side we are and, most of all, what an amazing manager we have… I wouldn’t swap it… for any other scenario… No longer do we rely so heavily on one player, we are a proper TEAM and genuinely formidable… This… is way better than having had JG stick around * It’s a scenario/situation we couldn’t have even dreamed of not so long ago… Well done to NSWE on taking action and appointing him… but… Unai is ALREADY deserving of so much credit and praise but he is far from achieving his goals with us… he is building something special… he is restoring the pride in the name ASTON VILLA, but he’s going to go even further than that, he’s going to make us shine… he is in the process of elevating us… and we can just sit back and watch him work, enjoy it everybody… UTV

It’s pleasing to see Mings and McGinn still integral to us and having their games elevated by King Unai… ingrained in the fabric and history of our club and going to help take us further… What an endorsement, that a manager such as Unai views them so highly and as so important too…

We’ve come a bloody long way… not to mention the level of manager we have now

I feel similarly, we are shaping up really nicely. But if we can add and inject a bit more quality, we can achieve even more… I’d like us to strengthen as much possible while, at the same time, respecting our existing and better players. But competition breeds success too… As great as we are, thanks to Unai, it’s possible to be even better and to take full advantage of this window… But I won’t be complaining or feeling any negativity if we go into the season as we are either… It’s all good… Trust in Unai and UTV!