USA_Villa

Looks like a Dean Smith Line-Up. Hoping for a similar result to last time.

5 hours ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

 

He always looks like he doesn't want to be there, never seems to smile, and can be a little bit condescending. Cheer up Steve, we have a game tomorrow.

I've watched both Palace games this season. I'm not at all confident we will get anything out of this game. They are a decent team.

We're just a little less crap than Everton, who are terrible.

1 hour ago, maqroll said:

Exactly that. Purslow sacked the immensely popular Smith in easily the most controversial move of his tenure and replaced him with his pal. 

He's taken a bit of a gamble here and he's not about to concede defeat after one game. 

While the justification for sacking Smith was that the bad results formed a continuum from the previous season, with Gerrard he will consider this season a fresh slate, especially because it's been his first full preseason. 

So unless the dressing room erupts in mutiny and results continue to shock, Gerrard is safe, IMO.

I think Lord Farquaad (i.e. Purslow) was looking for any excuse to get rid of Dean and bring in Gerrard. Quoting a continuum of poor results from the previous season was garbage as we beat Tottenham and Chelsea the last two games of the season. We had 10 points from 6 games at the start of the season, and then have a minor meltdown when 2-0 up against Wolves. Purslow then pulled the trigger he'd been patiently waiting to pull during the international break. It all happened far too quickly. He had Stevie G waiting in the wings.

7 minutes ago, thunderball said:

I know this is a forum for views and opinions, but honestly!

Can we not at least give Gerrard and this side more than one game this new season before we cast judgement?

The worrying sign last year was that we beat poorer teams because we had better platers. On Saturday we probably lost to worst team in the league with the poorest performance we've seen to date. We have always struggled against better teams with Gerrard. Everton are not a good team, but they gave Chelsea a run the weekend. Firstly, we need a performance, then we need a result. I need to see an improvement sooner rather than later.

It's all starting feel a little Steve Bruce ish.

3 hours ago, TheMightyVillans said:

I reckon Purslow will leave if Gerrard gets the sack

I think you are correct. He has been charged with getting Villa in to Europe and it was him that made the recommendation to sack Smith and appoint Gerrard. It was a big call and if it proves to be wrong he will be gone.

So we ask ourselves, have things improved since Smith's departure, and are we positive about things moving forward ............................. That's a No and a No then.

The build up is so slow ................ or it's a hoof

4 hours ago, useless said:

The secretscout is about as reliable as you can get with regards to youth players, they're not primarily a tranfer account or whatever, but when they do post about transfer moves I don't think I've ever seen them get it wrong, they get their information straight from the players/agents, as have built up a rapport with them over the years from promoting youth football.

First time I've been convinced that he's probably pretty much gone, unfortunately when teams like Liverpool, Barcelona, Man Utd, and whoever else show an interest in a young eighteen year old then it's going to be an uphill task to keep them, as unless they happen to be a Villa fan which luckily is the case with quite a few of our youth players, they're going to see that as a massive step up.

Not a good look to lose our best player of the last twenty or thirty years last summer, maybe one of the best players we've ever had, and then to lose our best academy product in a generation  the following summer, it will look even worse if we don't follow it up with a good season, otherwise we will be a team that can't keep it's best talents and finishes midtable at best.

 

My worry is that we're unlikely to see anyone break through from the academy whilst SG is in charge. Even with nine subs being named next season, how many will actually get a game?

We won't play the lad, we put a $20M price tag his head, which no-one is going to pay, and we'll let him leave at the end of season for free. I don't see how this is good business.

Is it only me that thinks this is really bad man management from Gerrard? This is the same player that Purslow said was the best player in the country for his age two years ago. What message does this present to the other youth players?

Not convinced this is a good move Stevie.

I'm not quite sure why I'm sitting here feeling a little bit nervous for the upcoming season and beyond. Any why is this, I ask myself?

• It does seem as though the transfer strategy has changed from Smith to Gerrard. Smith purchased young players, with potential, and with the likelihood that we could sell them on for a profit in the future. 
• With Gerrard's signings, we are purchasing players at the top of their purchase price and paying them, most likely, the top paying contract they are ever likely to receive
• I understand the need for coverage in all positions, but is this at the expense of our youth being given a chance, and us seeing these talented young players leave?
• In all honesty, which one of our youth players do you see coming through and playing at least ten full games this year, similar to JJ?
• It does seem as though we've gone a little 'All-In' on Gerrard. I hope this strategy works, as I'm not sure NSWE will go through another round of spending in the same manner as before.
• How will Gerrard and the training team cope without Michael Beale around? It will be his first time managing without his number one guy. 
• We performed very badly against the Top 6 under Gerrard last season. Why?

I really hope this season is a success, but I'm not sure it's a foregone conclusion. I've seen other teams with good players not gel, or not work out as planned. 

Don't let me down Stevie. I'm still 50-50 on you, and I'm hoping you put these nagging doubts I have to bed.

UTV

On 30/04/2022 at 01:53, TRO said:

I believe Christian Purslow, knew when he was contemplating a change of manager, that he had to get a man who could attract better players....players today, have to respect who you are.

I do hope we get this summer right, after spending so much money over the last 10 years or so.

I think you saw the respect the current players had for Dean at the end of the game. I don't believe it was a respect thing, it's a profile thing. Purslow wanted a name and Gerrard fitted the profile perfectly, however inexperienced he may have been.

Strange decision to drop Ezri after a clean sheet against Leicester. Surely, the time to do this was after the Spurs game. Nothing against Chambers, who has played well. Just strange timing.

The 4th goal summed up the second half and Gerrard's tactics. Digne was in their half when the ball hit the back of our net. Center halves pulled all over the place and no holding cover in midfield.

We looked good going forward at times, but we are consistently exposed when it breaks down. Conte got in to them at half time, they started to put their foot in and break up our play. Game over.

Still not seeing an upgrade I'm afraid. I need to see an improvement against the better teams.

Tactically the worst half ever. We can't beat their high press and we allow them to walk up to the half way line. Sort out it out Stevie.

Trying not to be too critical, especially after recent performances, but those were some really strange substitutions. Luiz should have been off earlier. He was absent all second half, not surprisingly after being kicked in the face. When he did come off we bought on Buendia. Who was supposed to be covering the middle, which was evident for the second goal?

This all feels a little Steve Bruce'ish. Tactically very poor and an ability to make substitutions which absolutely baffle us. How many attacking players did we have on the field at the end?

Here's my issue, we've just played two teams that were below us in the table and got one point, and only really looked good for 20 mins of the first game. Leeds had a mountain of injuries and Newcastle had to replace both full backs, and had a center half who was playing his first game. It's not just the result, it's the tactics and performances. Today was devoid of ideas. I expect more.