Jas10

Yep, a reality check is needed at times here. E.g. Cavani

We’re going to struggle to sign top (or even decent) players from current PL teams, especially those that have higher aspirations. I don’t think we’d be an attractive proposition until we start showing our intent depending on our transfer activity. What we need to do is beat these clubs to the punch on top talent, rather than try and take their own players who will be overpriced and wouldn’t want to “take a step down” in their eyes, plus the exorbitant wages they would want. Better to make ambitious moves for top quality and potential from abroad and try and poach the best talent from the relegated teams imo. I’m looking at Watford in particular.

Just looking through the squad again, it’s clear that we need major strengthening. We desperately lack quality & depth, never really have any options off the bench either. We also need to get rid of a few, not too many, but offload those who are no use to us. We will, again, need a new keeper. Nyland has to go, he’s a nervous wreck & there’s no point wasting more time on him. We need reliability. Heaton should be first choice if fit but both he & Steer are injury prone and that’s a real concern. Again, we need a new front 3 who will drastically improve on what we have. Beyond that, we need worthwhile options and alternatives in other positions to cover injuries and to provide competition. A lot of work to do (we need at least 5 top players imo) and money to be spent if we want to be competitive and have a much better season... We barely survived, even with easily the best player in the bottom half, and that just shows how much we severely lack quality. It’s going to take a hell of a lot for us to make the required “jump up“. Hope all concerned at the club are going all out to ensure we don’t struggle again...

You never know, might work well for us to take a different approach. I mean, Marvelous hasn’t been great has he?

Would be great for a laugh though:

Would be fantastic but hard to attract (I think many top teams would be interested after his recent form) and cost a huge fee, would love us to try though...

Agree with the thinking that we shouldn’t get rid of or replace too many players but whoever we sign has to be a lot better than what we already have in certain positions, especially in attack. GK- Heaton (Steer backup, get rid of Nyland & Kalinic). I think we need another, Foster to compete with Heaton? RB - Guilbert (I like him and he will improve, maybe time for Elmo to move on and get someone younger in to compete) CB - Mings CB - Konsa (looking good, not a fan of Hause at all & I wonder whether we can/will reintegrate Engels. We may well need a new CB but, again, has to be better than what we have. Not a priority though, attack has to be strengthened more than anything) LB - Targett (please let’s get rid of Taylor now, again not the greatest priority but it would be great if we can get someone to compete with Targett and maybe someone stronger defensively and physically who we can rotate depending on the game/opposition. We need viable options in every position) CMs - McGinn & Luiz partnership (we could do with another option of comparable quality. Nakamba is very limited, Hourihane is not a dependable starter. Get rid of Lansbury) AM - Grealish (he’s too good & irreplaceable, I have faith he will stay and we need to demonstrate ambition with our transfer targets. Also need someone who can alternate and fill in. A talented forward/winger could cover this position also) LW - Someone new and a massive improvement on what we have. Crucial that we get this right. RW - As above (Trez & El Ghazi are simply not good enough at this level but not bad for squad depth) CF - Need to make a statement signing here. Again, crucial. (I have faith that Wesley will be good for us but we need better as our first choice, someone we can depend on for goals. Don’t rate Samatta, wouldn’t be fussed if he was let go but we would need at least another striker. No offence, but Davis cannot be getting games for us if we want to be an established PL side. Needs to go out on loan to develop and learn how to score goals.) We have a lot of work to do in transfer market, need to aim high and give ourselves the best chance at having a good season. We have to try and establish ourselves and become a mainstay of the PL at least.

I really wouldn’t mind grabbing a few players from the relegated teams as there is some genuine talent there. Watford (and Bournemouth) have had their moments and finished in decent positions during their time in the PL, they do have some good players that could be very effective for us and will be easier to sign now that they are down. Not seen enough of of him but keep seeing Buendia’s name and I’m sure he would be an improvement on what we already have. El Ghazi & Trez should be no more than subs for us - we have to improve massively.

Thoughts on both Sarr and Deulofeu (talented guy, excellent technique which we lack beyond Jack & Doug imo) ? We need a new front 3 more than anything else, got to improve the attack and have genuine goal threat next season in all games. Everyone knows we lack pace and don’t score enough goals, some genuine quality in these areas is sorely needed and would also help us against the bigger teams, we need to pose some kind of threat on the counter too... As for CF, I really hope we show some major ambition and go for a genuine/potential star who we can rely on for goals... We will create chances and Jack wins so many fouls, need a free kick specialist (who can also play) to take advantage and someone reliable to get on the end of them and stick the ball in the back of the net!

Sure but how many signings expected 2 days after our last game?!

Steady on mate! The season’s only just finished!

Originally on BT sport but you may be able to find it online.

Everton Soares? Gremio winger Would be nice if we can attract another South American or two and Wes & Luiz will help them settle.

My pleasure, hope you enjoy. Quite a fun watch & a good laugh also

How about we just give the Belgian league a complete miss this time? Would like us to expand on our targets and look at Italy, Germany, Spain & South America. With Wes & Doug here we could maybe attract and integrate more talented and skilful players from those regions...

Good times indeed... If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend watching “Golazzo The Football Italia Story” A fun look back...

I like, we really need to be looking at a higher calibre of player now that will significantly enhance the first team. Watched a lot of Italian football in the 90s (big fan), Enrico Chiesa was more of a striker or support striker (at Parma he had a great partnership with Crespo) and would score some ridiculously stunning goals. Became more prolific at Fiorentina but not as “stylish”. His son Federico is more of a winger or wide forward. Looks a good player and I would love us to try for the top talents in Italy such as him & Belotti.

Also wanted to note, with an ineffective attack it puts more pressure on the defence n causes our better players such as Jack to fall back, not great when the ball keeps coming back & invites pressure from the opposing team... Jack wins a hell of a lot (record breaking in fact ) of fouls & free kicks which we really should be taking advantage of. As well as strengthening in attack, we really need to take make the most of set pieces. We have some big lads who should really be getting goals from corners too. I would like to Jack removed from free kicks & corners as I don’t think it’s one of his strengths. We need a specialist (who can also play). We can really improve with the right signings now and attack is the priority, maybe Deano will be able to makes us much more of an attacking force then and there will be less reliance on Jack (who can be even more effective).

Love him n he loves the Villa. Best manager we’ve had since the MON era n he will continue to improve. Not your old fashioned dull, dour, boring type. We’ve been through a heap of dross n poor ownership but I think we’ve finally come out of it since the new owners n Deano arrived (just look at his achievements so far, he’s done a hell of a lot better than anyone before him since our crap period) - we just need to look forward to the future and be positive. He’s been let down by a poor quality side & injuries to key players but we have a chance to fix that now. Desperately need goalscorers, as previously stated he has done so well to keep us up with pretty much non existent or ineffective strikers. I feel fortunate that we have a young, progressive manager (that actually favours attacking football) who cares deeply for the club along with a captain that loves the club also. It was never going to be easy n the task was fairly huge to begin with (look how long we’d been struggling for without getting anywhere) but Dean has done so well and deserves to continue. One of the things that I enjoy and appreciate the most is, and I don’t think this is an exaggeration, the transformation and team unity & spirit and relationship to & connection with the fans. We are in drastically better condition than we have been in for years and Dean deserves a lot of credit for that. As fans, we can be impatient & desperate for success n often miss the bigger picture n fail to realise the work & effort it takes to build a successful team & club. As long as there is (continued) progression, we should be appreciate and positive about the future. Now for some tasty signings!!! UTV