striker

After 8 consecutive defeats in the F.A. Cup it’s nice to see Villa through to the fourth round.

Can’t really vote on MOTM as no one really stood out in a horrible game. However, did note Ramsey is a yard short of pace since his injury but hopefully that will come back when match fit?

Further noted over several games that if Villa’s wide men aren’t firing then there is very little creativity through the middle to help break down a block. Neither McGinn, Luiz, Donck, or Kamara are playmakers so Villa will always find it hard to break sitting teams down. May be something the manager will look at now or in the summer. For me midfield is just too similar! Definitely need Tielemans in there for a better balance!

Villa should have had a pen though. 

Awful first half. A real struggle to stay awake!

Can’t really expect Boro to do anything else than sit in and wait on a break which they’ve just done.

Villa needed to go strong as Boro won’t be a pushover.

1 hour ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

They won’t sell Jimmy in Jan.

If the right offer comes in then most clubs will sell especially if in the Championship!

21 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

 

That sounds very positive in bringing quality in. It would be absolutely criminal not to when Villa are doing so well. 
 

I'd expect RB, DM and possibly loaning a more experienced striker with Duran out on loan to the Championship.

18 hours ago, BG_Villa_Fan said:

Probably huh? So much about thinking ‘big’.

In that case Villa should send McGinn back to St Mirren.

1 minute ago, villa4europe said:

He's a LB! 

Yes mate I know but could probably cover both positions?

I like Tierney at Arsenal. Slot in perfectly at RB or LB but currently on loan.

2 minutes ago, nick76 said:

Yep it is a ludicrous idea!

Yup if you want to keep thinking small!

22 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

He's on wages as high as our highest paid player. Ludicrous idea for first team cover. Donk is on about 100k less per week

Not ludicrous at all if you consider City may well pay part of his wages plus he is certainly good enough to push Luiz and Kamara out of the team or certainly give those players a rest.

Philips at City on loan with an option to buy would be a massive upgrade on Donk. 

5 hours ago, GeordieVillan said:

Big window for us for 2 reasons.

1) a couple of shrewd additions might just help to secure Top 4/5 at least.

2) where we are in the table, we are probably quite attractive to a higher level of player, certainly more attractive than we were 6 or 12 months ago. 

I think we should “twist” and go for 2-3 players, if we can get them, at least as good as what we have in the first team.
not necessarily for  money, but hopefully in the mould of Moreno. So not just back ups, players that can genuinely compete.

Worst case, even if we do collapse second half of the season, we will be in a good place to have another go next year. 

Villa should be bolstering the squad with quality this month to make sure they don’t collapse in the second half of the season.

The first team are already showing signs of burn out while the second string squad players aren’t good enough.

I would sincerely hope that the current position in the Premiership is taken advantage of with at least 3 quality players signed.

If this doesn’t happen then failure to strengthen could cost Villa a Cl placement.

21 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

We're not going to pay ridiculous money for PL clubs key players

How do you know this? If you have a connection to the higher echelons of the club then please tell us.

I’m not talking about poaching players from a top four side although Villa did bring in Martinez.

I’m saying Villa should, could, approach a habitual bottom half Premiership team and inquire about their two best players.

If you want to bring quality to the club then, as you put it, Villa will have to pay ridiculous money to do exactly that especially when Villa have very wealthy owners!

22 hours ago, sne said:

M'bappé and Achraf Hakimi or gtfo

So you think Eze and Olise from bottom half Palace are out of reach for joint top Villa?

Thats the type of reasoning that has kept Villa ‘a sleeping giant’ for so many years.

21 hours ago, MSvillain said:

The words fail me

What I mean is taking advantage of Villa’s present position and bringing in the quality that wouldn’t normally consider Villa.

It is up to the owners to allow the manager to do that within the realms of FFP!

46 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

We're not going to pay ridiculous money for PL clubs 

39 minutes ago, macandally said:

I don’t often agree with you Striker, but Eze would be a game changer for us, when we beat them 3-1, he was head and shoulders above everyone else on the pitch

It’s the type of thing Liverpool did years ago or indeed Man U.

Let’s face it Palace are never going to be a top 6 club so I think both players would move to Villa but Palace would indeed be looking top money for both if willing to sell and to make them sell the offers would need to be excessive but that money could be recouped elsewhere.

For example, if the interest in Luiz is true then he would command a massive fee.

If it meant getting those two to Villa Park while losing Luiz then do it!

I’d be ringing Roy Hodgson and inquiring asking price for both Eze & Olise? Then a quality RB to keep Konsa at CM.

Owners have to show that type of ambition to take advantage of Villa’s start to the season. 

After a point against Sheffield and losing against Man U in the way they did it was essential Villa got the three points!

Obvious to everyone though that Villa are running on fumes and need reinforcements when the window opens to take advantage of the fab start.

3 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said:

Take it at face value. I’m sure they’re going to try add but what’s the point if you aren’t confident you can add someone who will improve the squad. We don’t need more dendonckers. 

So you don’t think Villa would be an attractive proposition for better players than Donk now?

This is exactly the right time to attract quality when Villa are doing so well!

12 minutes ago, MWARLEY2 said:

Take this at face value or put it in the keeping things close to his chest file ? 

 

Hopefully the latter? Villa need at least 3 quality players to sustain push for CL as it’s obvious to everyone second string players aren’t good enough.

3 hours ago, Zatman said:

Watkins needs a huge kick up the arse. Only 14 goals and 6 assists so far

Last couple of games he’s been poor and couldn’t trap shite. Secondly, if injured Villa need better than Duran as a backup.

For me Villa need at least three quality players in January if they are serious about top four. A RB, midfielder, and forward to kick Watkins up the arse!

Most importantly they must be of the right character possessing a winning mentality!

31 minutes ago, bose said:

I just feel really deflated after that result yesterday. Felt like the old Villa

Pretty much spot on!!

Its a mentality issue against Man U.

I've been an Everton & Villa supporter for most of my life so I’m well aware of the historic nature of this game. It was no coincidence losing last night!I

Playing a Man U side finding it hard to score goals, win games with their manager one further loss from the sack while Villa flying high, in terrific form and pundit favourites for the game.

Villa actually found themselves two up and that’s when the old Villa mentality showed its ugly face again. Players couldn’t believe their luck against the red shirted devil's so when the second half started Villa retreated in mind and body thereby giving the initiative straight back to a very poor side and paid the usual price!

Most other teams would have went for the jugular in the second half and got that all important third goal sending Utd fans home,  making Old Trafford into a ghost town and yet another coffin for a Utd manager. But this was the red shirts of Man U so Villa retreated!

I’m also not sure about Emery’s post match analysis? Talking about how great it was to have 39 points at this stage of the season. Was this a cute deflection or simply a shrug of the shoulder accepting a habitual defeat against Man U?

Whatever it was, it sent completely the wrong message to the players.

Most if not all top class managers would have been livid at that second half performance and called the players out for it but, it was Man U you see!

Both the manager and players let the fans down last night!

Nothing to do with the ref or VAR. It pains me greatly to see VAR or a poor ref blamed for an under par performance by Villa.

Villa didn’t really create a clear cut chance until the goal in extra time. Poor all over the pitch with the exception of McGinn who faded in the second half.

I stated in the pre match thread that previously games such as these with high expectations on Villa tend to turn into a banana skin.

At least Villa didn’t lose and Man U won’t sit in like Sheffield did but Villa badly need more creativity in midfield in January if they are to grab a CL placement.