Jas10

Rondon?! Really??? We can and should do way better...

If we are getting Watkins, I’d like us to bring in Benrahma too (links have gone quiet but maybe that’s a good thing, linked up well with Watkins and would help the pair to settle & perform more quickly). Ollie won’t be signed to play wide (makes no sense and why interfere with his progress and form?), he’ll be playing CF where he has developed and hit form. Doesn’t make sense to play him wide where he has never really stood out or “shone” unless it’s covering for injuries etc. Personally, I would have liked us to go for a bigger signing in that position but who knows? He could be a revelation, needs quality around him to score though... Benrahma & another winger would be great and much needed. Honestly though, if these end up as our main signings in attack, I feel we cannot be as ambitious as we hope quite yet and will be making slower progress than anticipated. Hard to judge anything yet, until we have most of our business completed...

Surely this is the week we get bids accepted and/or signings completed...

Despise Man U, always have and always will. There has never been a more arrogant & sly club & fanbase. The “fans” are more sickening & entitled than ever before. Would love to see their (further) decline & downfall and for us to surpass them... I don’t think it’s out of the realms of possibility with our owners... what a day that would be... Let’s do it for this bloke too

Rather give em Hogan or both? They’d get goals in the SPL surely. Saves Celtic having to source another striker. Biggest issue, as ever, is wages though. We’ve overpaid poor players for far too long.

Back to Watkins, this is definitely worth a listen: 🎙@VillaAnalytics is back to chat about what Advanced Analytics are & how Ollie Watkins looks through that lens🎙 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-the-love-of-paul-mcgrath-an-aston-villa-podcast/id1476441985?i=1000487813175 https://www.bullhorn.fm/fortheloveofpaulmcgrathpodcast/posts/villaanalytics-is-back https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-h8en7-e69ae8 https://open.spotify.com/show/0eeVBPhkPsJ8WvkNCUWRYX?si=EDzfyTM9QrOhpF3SXjQrrQ

I really don’t see it... but he does need to go out on loan. I just think we can’t afford to be sentimental (Seen a lot of this with calls to bring back players like Benteke & Albrighton, previously Barry - they are simply not good enough or past it) and we really need to assess the squad properly and accurately judge who is and isn’t good enough for us at this level. Imo, we can’t be giving a player like Davis (who does not score goals) significant game time in the PL if we actually want to compete and climb the table. He really isn’t good enough and either needs development time at a lower level or needs to be moved on. Sentimentality has held us back at times and is why we stuck with low quality players (or less technically gifted) such as Gabby. We have to move past that and get genuine talent in if we want to be a force. We need a strong squad with quality players that will make a difference, all of our forwards should be able to be relied on for goals and assists and that just isn’t the case atm. We need to strengthen heavily and be a bit more ruthless than we have been in the past.

Should be an eventful week...

Martinez would be a great signing, looked like one of the best keepers in the league after lockdown. He’s a good age too. We need a stable and reliable GK for the long term (and for the first few games while Heaton is out) & need to shift the useless ones (Nyland & Kalinic). Maybe have to let Steer go if he can’t get over his injuries too but would be happy for him to stay as 3rd choice if he can keep fit. Heaton seems to be injury prone (the only issue with him but a significant one) & won’t be around and/or can’t be relied on for the long term. Good competition though and that is needed for players to perform at their best, no one should really be comfortable or an automatic pick if you want to really compete in this division.

Can we send Lansbury back as part of the Cash deal? Welcome to our other reserves such as Nyland, Kalinic, Jota & Hogan too. Same with Swift & Reading. Might be an opportunity to offload some of these guys but wages will obviously be an obstacle. We need to be patient and not judge our overall transfer activity too soon, we have no idea what deals are being worked on & which players are being targeted. I’m sure we will make one or two “statement signings” and will be bringing a fair few players in. The whole squad needs enhancing and, as long as we have the funds to do so, we should take advantage of any opportunity to do that. I would be delighted with Martinez, we need a good keeper we can rely on for the long term...

O’Kelly used to be a striker and works with the forwards. I agree though, think we could do with someone better or more specialised. Former strikers? Can’t think of many good ones or those that would be available... Dublin? Angel? Saunders?

Yeah, he seems to have the right technique. Who knows, he could be our next Benteke if we manage to get him signed.

He’s got great technique & footwork, makes a change from our other strikers. I just don’t think Davis & Samatta are even close to good enough and Edouard should be a massive improvement on both of them. Samatta should be 3rd choice at best, Davis doesn’t score and you can only wait so long for players to improve at this level. We desperately need goalscorers. I keep reiterating that we can’t afford to carry any passengers if we actually want to compete in the PL (rather than struggle to survive), ineffective players is what hurt us this season most of all. The most encouraging thing about Edouard is how much promise and potential he’s already showing at such a young age, plenty of goals (and assists too, which is great). He completely fits the kind of profile we have been looking for (young, high potential, capacity for high profit if sold in future). If we’re in for Watkins too, I’m sure that would be a huge upgrade on Samatta & Davis who I would have no qualms about us moving on. Wesley will be like a new signing and different option when he returns and will have to up his game to compete with that pair. 3 good striking options there, that would make a nice change for us. The amount of upgrading & improvement this squad needs is a fairly huge task... I‘m hopeful we can get the right players in but it’s going to take a lot to make us a mid table team rather than a relegation battler. That first signing or two will give us an idea of which way we are heading...

Wouldn’t it just be best and most sensible to wait on bids being accepted and make judgement on or react to our first couple of signings before theorising/speculating/getting emotional etc.? None of us know anything about the inner workings of and mindset within the club. Since NSWE came in, we have undoubtedly been on an upwards curve (compared to so many previous years of misery and languishing or struggling to get out of the championship). Deano has done a great job and the club seems well run for once (by actually credible & reputable people, that makes a change!). I can’t understand any negative thinking tbh, just be patient and at least see what happens before overreacting. There’s little to no doubt that the owners want to push this club forwards and keep improving and progressing plus they have the genuine funds and wealth to back that up. I know we are a very impatient bunch as fans but there is a lot to consider and perspective that needs to be taken. Overnight/instant/quick success is impossible (moreso nowadays with all the restrictions in place such as FFP). The club is being run correctly and we are ambitious... there’s every chance we will get better and better and make some brilliant signings. No one is completely positive or delighted (or even deluded!), after all we’ve had to endure we are a cautious and often sceptical bunch but I genuinely believe the good times are coming (we’ve made a decent start and staying up was a huge step, let’s see how much we can progress now!). It is time for patience and cool heads and there’s nothing wrong with a little bit of positivity too... There’s no actual or tangible reason to be downbeat, negative or upset by our transfer activity (not yet anyway). These things take time (you’ve got to take into account the impact of Covid too) and I’m sure there is a lot of hard work and research being done behind the scenes... keep the faith and look forward to another (better) season of Villa in the PL! UTV

On a more pleasant/positive note, I randomly came across this channel & videos on YouTube. So pleasing to see Jack (plus a few other players) & Gabby engaging with young fans like this. The lad has some sort of medical problem and they’ve been really supportive of him (as well as other young fans). Enjoy: (the one with Gabby is hilarious )

Yep, 2 60 min games vs Bristol City. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/report-aston-villa-host-bristol-18832677 Samatta scored in a 1-1 Kesler played in one of the games (tweeted about it)