striker

Very decent point in the end for Villa and should have won it.

Nope. I cracked a joke making fun of myself something you should learn to do.

I’m not your pal and I don’t worry about football thanks.

It’s all Luiz’s fault.

Probably his biggest critic but was as good against Spurs as he was poor against Liverpool. Having those type of performances in his locker he needs to do it more consistently for me to change my mind about him but I still feel Emery will improve the midfield this window. Maybe Luiz has got wind of new players coming in midfield hence his performance yesterday but we’ll see?

Thanks very much for your reply. It made for some interesting reading. It never ceases to amaze me how the opinions of fans can differ on any game but that’s the way it’s always been and long may it continue. I’m actually a fan of both Villa and Everton so try to watch all televised games including both clubs. I therefore have missed few of those games so my opinion is an overall view and not just based on selected games. You mention that the current midfield partnership of Luiz and Kamara are going to take Villa ‘a long way.’ To where exactly?’ I ask this due to Villa continually struggling to beat the better teams. This is not a recent trait but one with Luiz in the Villa side over several seasons now. It is also fair to say that many have viewed Villa’s midfield as the weak link of the side. Villa are currently in mid table where they finished last season. If it’s mid table obscurity your after then indeed the current owners are going to be very disappointed in your ambition! You further say that Villa’s parring matches the top teams in the league and bested Liverpool’s three recently. Villa lost that game 1-3 and it could have been more. It was also stated in the after match comments by several posters that Luiz’s performance was poor. I saw the game. He was mainly anonymous and conspicuous only by giving possession away. A trait only too common since Luiz has come to Villa. If he is rated in the 60m-80m category then Arsenal’s rumoured bid of 25m fell way short of your estimation of the player. I would further suggest your preference to Tielemans or Thiago is somewhat blinkered. What is Luiz good at? Is he a quality defensive mid? Not really, as Kamara was signed to replace him. Is he someone that would run beyond the striker? Again no, as he doesn’t have any pace. Is he then a regular goal scoring midfielder? Stats would suggest no. So what exactly is he then? You say he’s a link man. Link from defence to midfield or attack? To me that’s a very convenient way to describe a totally ineffective footballer that shines at nothing really. I think you’ll find that Emery will rebuild Villa’s midfield over the next 2-3 windows and replace McGinn and Luiz with much more effective players in their genre’s and not use the expenditure you quote in replacing them. I see you suggest that I’ve missed something. Maybe, maybe not, but I guess we’ll see soon enough.

How many managers at Villa haven’t played him? Far too lightweight for the Premiership and is made of glass concerning injuries. I’m in no doubt both Luiz and McGinn will also be replaced under Emery.

Said at half time it was suicide to play such a high line against a top side. Liverpool took full advantage of that all game. Tactically Emery got it badly wrong! On the plus side Villa played some nice football which put to shame the Gerrard era but apart from Kamara, Villa’s midfield simply aren’t good enough so I expect Emery to address that when the window opens.

Not sure it’s the right tactic to play such a high line against a counter attacking top four team?

Won dirty in the last 30 minutes which was great to see. Haven’t seen Villa do that for a very long time. Brighton should have had a pen though.

At the moment I see no difference from Gerrard. Too narrow and much too easy to get behind Villa on the flanks. Worrying!

Awful start. Can’t play from the back if you don’t have the players to do it.

Thanks mate. Should be a good game.

Is this on Sky today?

No, never played for Villa. At Arsenal now.

Usual defeat.

Unfortunately neither of us are in the position to ask him.

With Southgate watching the game yesterday there was a reason why Mings was so deflated in the post match interview. Has blown any chance he had of going to the WC after that performance.

Ok well let’s see how many of the present team last over the next 2-3 windows with Emery? Emery isn’t going to stake his reputation on this lot, no way.

Emery really has his work cut out to keep Villa in the Premiership and I’m not sure he’s good enough to do it? Villa need a new midfield with the exception of Kamara. Defence needs a total rebuild and so does the forward line. 100m won’t do it in January. Double that will be needed for a new team and that won’t happen over just one window. Very worrying times for the Villa.

Again nonsense. Newcastle brought a lot of quality in.

What complete and utter nonsense. Clearly Villa need a complete rebuild starting with the midfield!

That’s ok. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but do you seriously think when Emery gets his feet under the table that Villa’s midfield will still consist of Ramsey, Luiz and McGinn?? I firmly believe that all three will be gone over the next two transfer windows. Villa’s major weakness for quite some time has been their midfield. It’s a midfield that won’t ever get Villa finishing in a European placement! Why do you think Kamara was brought in and Luiz was dropped? Why do you think Ramsey & McGinn were dropped immediately by an interim manager? I’m in no doubt whatsoever that it will be a vastly changed Villa midfield by the end of next summer and with good reason.

So I guess getting regular game time under the title of ‘Pet Project’ from a manager that was rightly sacked constitutes a Premiership standard player? Not for me it doesn’t and you do know he was immediately dropped by an interim manager who recognised that both Ramsey & McGinn were shite for some considerable time? Doesn’t exactly fit your opinion does it??

I’ve seen Ramsey play many times now and i feel on the basis of what I’ve seen he will end up in the Championship at best. It was very telling that soon as Gerrard was shipped out Ramsey was dropped. I simply cannot see, on his performances so far, what Gerrard saw in him? A very average player at best and won’t survive any cull by Emery.