Cjay

15 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Top trolling.

Congrats.

Just stating an opinion 

46 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

McGinn vs Sheff Wed > Yeboah vs Liverpool > Yeboah vs Wimbledon

 

Come at me

Well no, no it isnt 

Very good goal however in its own right. 

Closest volley ive seen to the Yeboah one. 

Lovely technique. 

Take a bow son (Andy Gray voice) 

3 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Utter crap

How so?

They should be higher.

They have taken points off 3 of the top 6 and narrowly lost to 2nd away.

54 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said:

I will go on the Wednesday forum later in the week to do my "leeds fan in peace" bit thread.

Because of Villa they will be full of it.

That was my revenge 

57 minutes ago, fifamad said:

They should be higher up in the table should of won most of the games they drew but anytime I bring up that they have being playing well I get abuse, I call it as I see it they are playing better football then us at the moment and wouldn’t want to play them right now.

They beat us at home and i doubt that will happen often. 

Today Birmingham got there goals and they protected them, it wasnt pretty it wasnt champagne stuff but they did what they had to to win.

I agree with what you say, if they had a striker on form they would probably be in the playoffs, impressed me whenever ive seen them. 

Could moan about the time wasting and fouling but if the shoe was on the other foot id be as happy as they are, so fair enough.

15 minutes ago, Shropshire Lad said:

Saturday evening traffic? No chance they’re back in Brum now.

They flew home on Cloud 9.

Best way to beat the traffic apparently.

They time waste and foul there arses off.

The better side lost overall.

But Birmingham clung on and thats what matters.

No complaints.

We had more of the ball and didnt do enough.

They got there goals and did what they had to to win.

Best side in Birmingham right now, should be higher up the table.

Do wonder if part of the problem amongst your fans is there is a sense of entitlement.

"We should piss the league". . . "Best side in the league" etc etc.

But you have a lot of unknowns.

Yannick Bolasie- nasty injury, hasnt done much last few years, he may not be the player he was before.

Albert Adomah- excellent last season, season before he only got 3 league goals, may have been a one off.

El Ghazi- Shone in Holland, bit hit and miss in France, big reputation but an unknown in the league.

Tammy Abraham- great for Bristol city, but may not repeat it, wouldn't be the 1st player to do that. 

Kodjia- injury prone, difficult season last season, injuries may have taken there toll. 

Grealish- yet to show he can dominate games.

McGinn- bright start but played his whole career in Scotland, many have shone there and flopped here.

Then the experienced but ageing players like Elmo, Whealan, Jedinak, Hutton etc, past there primes in the latter 2 imo.

Then a new goalie, young on loan defender etc.

Potentially yes a great squad but "piss the league", "should beat every team on paper".

No, reputations dont win the league, and nobody knows just yet if the players on paper are as good in reality.

11 hours ago, TheStagMan said:

When you get a minute, would you mind letting Bruce know please?

I'll get my boots on and give it 110% in order to do so.

Jedinak- "Boss, why am i on the bench all of a sudden".

Bruce- "You're marking Forestieri son, quick!!! he is stretching, get after him!!!!!

And ive realised the whole joke falls down because he wouldn't actually be on the bench either, being suspended.

Least i realised he couldn't start

14 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

the back heel for the elmo cross was so well disguised he sold 2 defenders for a hot dog buying elmo the time he needed for the cross

so yeah instrumental...

and going back to the last page, see a fair bit on social media polls about saiz being better than grealish, 1 of them spent the summer being linked with a £8m move to getafe, the other a £25m move to spurs but yeah it must be a villa fan or young english player thing 

And Valencia were after Saiz to. 

On the valuations what we turned down a bid of about  £10mil for Saiz. 

You wanted £30-40mil for Grealish allegedly.

3 or 4 times the player Saiz is? Not a chance. 

English player valuations are ridiculous.

50 minutes ago, bobzy said:

You need to stop thinking Grealish is an attacker - he isn't.  He isn't like Hernandez or Saiz who are mainly involved in the final third.  He's almost box-to-box but certainly more focused on getting the ball forward from the middle of the park, not being in receipt of that ball.  This may be why you're not rating him as highly, especially given since all your other examples are from players down that end of the pitch - "Bolasie" (1 game at Championship level btw, who knows how he'll be after his injuries, but could be better), "Watkins", "Dack", "Jota", "Costa", "Maddison" - perhaps, because he doesn't have the stats, you think he's not as good?  As an aside, the Leeds player I've rated highest over the past season or so has been Pontus Jansson - interesting that he doesn't get a mention from you in your top Leeds players?  Has he fallen off somewhat this term?

You've highlighted Neves scoring more goals than Grealish last season - how many were free kicks or penalties?  I don't know, but Grealish doesn't tend to get involved in these as we had Snodgrass and Hourihane plus whoever on pens (Adomah?).

I like Hernandez, he's a very tidy, experienced player and looked handy at Swansea too - I understand why you'd rather have him too.  Leeds bias, eh?  Particularly as you're doing well.  However, it strikes me that Leeds play very well as a team.  Great pressing, working the ball well, always moving (Roofe has been a revelation); it's hard to pick a single person as to why Leeds are performing as highly as they are.  Grealish is the other end, if he's ticking we play well, if he's not we don't.  Pretty much that simple.

No claret glasses need taking off here.

Alright, i always assumed he was an attacking player, like number 10, or a winger, thats where i always assumed, thats where he appears on Sky, thats where he is described in scout reports and such. So where does he play then? lets get this debate over lol.

Jack Grealish, what is his position? 

Because at Rotherham he definitely played on the left looking at the highlights, vs Blackburn he was definitely playing behind Abraham with Jedinak holding and McGinn box to box. But from what your saying he is more like Neves then? 

And from reading here there is debate about where he plays to, shouldn't it be obvious where his best position is now?

The players i picked were comparative to Grealish based on where i assumed he played, no Jansson is ok lol, just was picking players i thought were more comparative to Grealish. 

On Neves i dont know, he scored atleast 2 in open play that i remember, fairly sure he didnt take the freekicks and pens, Douglas took the freekicks and i think Bonatini was on pens but could be wrong. 

Fair point on Pablo 

But he was also officially the most creative player in the league last season, so it isnt entirely bias, just backed up with facts. 

Youre right, we are as a team playing very well, but i think most Leeds fans do see Pablo as the one who makes us tick like you say for you and Grealish, if we wernt  playing well last season especially it was often Pablo who would create a chance or score a goal as evidence by his most creative player thing last season. 

From reading here for the best part of 12months your performances despite your positions havent always been the best. Thats one if the main criticisms aimed at Bruce,does that mean Grealish hasnt played well? 

3 hours ago, bobzy said:

He's comfortably the best player in the Championship and it's not overrating Grealish to say that.  He's only just turned 23 and his ceiling is far higher than anything Aston Villa are likely to be doing in the next 5 seasons.

People will often use stats to backup claims - sometimes they do show a true picture, sometimes they don't.  For example, Ruben Neves being in the Championship last season was ridiculous, but I'd be willing to bet his goals/assists record is actually pretty shit.  He was always the player breaking up play and moving the ball forward to create attacks.  If there was a statistic for "assist to an assist", you'd see Neves being right up there.  This is similar to how Grealish is.  Naturally, some more end product would be delightful, but otherwise we should just enjoy him whilst he's here.

To demonstrate, just view the 90 second Sky highlights of our 2-0 win against Rotherham last night.  The first highlight is Grealish chasing down a ball, forcing the player to backpass to the keeper who fluffs his clearance to Grealish. First touch perfect, weight of pass to McGinn overlapping is perfect so it's a first time cross for McGinn and a chance for Kodjia.  Second clip is our first goal, ball comes to Grealish who has Hourihane in acres of space to the side of him and screaming for the ball - but he doesn't use him, he waits for an opening then puts a ball forward to Kodjia instead, who flicks through to Abraham to score.  "Assist to an assist".  Our second goal is a throw-in taken by El Mohamady to Grealish, after he's worked some space.  One touch (perfect weight again) back to El Mohamady who can hit a first time cross for Bolasie to score.  "Assist to an assist".

Statistically, we scored 2 and Grealish has 0 goals, 0 assists.  However, he's completely vital to how we play and way better than anything else we have.

Now that Neves has left the league, he's the best player in it.

Id have Pablo Hernandez above Grealish for a start, Bolasie, Ollie Watkins, even Bradley Dack looked a better player then Grealish in that game, i dont think he is comfortably the best player in the league at all, not imo. 

I understand your point, assists to assist, but if he is playing in an offensive position, which he is meant to be then he should be doing more in the final 3rd imo, on Neves despite him being a holding midfielder, he scored more goals then Grealish last season, as did many more players who are comparative. 

Assist to assist is fine mate i really do get it, Samu Saiz is simlar as said before, he  laid on 4 chances last night where his teammate really should have scored, he was key for another goal in the buildup, statistically he got nothing, but in reality if his teammates did there jobs he could and should have had atleast 4 assists last night plus the "asisst to an assist". 

I mean i didnt say Saiz earlier but you could make a case for Saiz being a better player right now then Grealish. 

I dont doubt he is vital to you.

But, he isnt the best player in the league mate, not for me, and i think if most Villa fans took of there Claret glasses they would say the same. How can he be better then Yannick Bolasie for example? a proven Premier League player?

I dont question he has talent, but right now, yeah i do question the hype some Villa fans give him. 

Neves was a league above this league, Helder Costa, Diogo Jota, RObert Snodgrass, James Maddison, they all looked to good for this league last season, and now have gone on so far to do well in the Prem, Grealish has yet to show that level of consistency in the Championship never mind the Prem. 

I dont say things to wind people up lol to be clear, its just my opinion.

But what i will say, if you check other clubs forums last season, the players i mentioned above got huge praise from opposition fans (as did our very own Samu Saiz and PAblo Hernandez) Grealish was said to be "talented with potential, but at the moment not Premier league class".

Most oppo fans are unbiased, i always like to hear opposition fans opinions on our players, because we all get attached to certain players and to us they can do no wrong, but opposition fans dont have that sentimental connection and can look at a player unbiased in my view. 

I fully understand your point of view. 

13 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Tyler o.k enough for you tonight!

1 game doesn't make a season, had he shown the composure vs Millwall he did tonight we would have won. 

But yes

He was excellent vs Preston.

2 lovely finishes.

2 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Ah I guess you're right then mate.

Silly us! We must all be wrong watching him week in week out.

He's just "good".

Are there any other players we're wrong about? I'd like to know so we don't get too excited. 

 

Alan Hutton is a bit poo. 

11 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

Yes he is.

He's wasting his career at Villa with our current club situation. Which is good for me as I get to see him play.

He's probably looking at Maddison on the cusp of the England squad and even Leeds suddenly playing football and wondering if he's made the right decision to stay here.

Much as i think he is overrated by some on here i would be interested to see him in a more expansive style. 

Clearly has talent, be interesting to see how he performs in a Brentford style or us, that sort of thing. 

3 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

Watching him play, not reading stats. He's farcically good. 

We got to the playoff final solely because of him. He almost scored a preposterous goal carrying it from the half-way line during that final. We almost got promoted because of one player.

I'd pay to watch him in 5-a-side instead of watch this current Aston Villa side without him.

But he just isnt though is he.

He hasnt shown consistency ever, he hasnt inspired you to anything meaningful , he may do some really exciting things, but he isnt "farcically good".

He isnt even at the moment proven Championship quality, to inconsistent to say that, never mind anything else. 

I read this stuff in the summer, found it ludicrous, we all do it, greatly exaggerate our players, especially academy kids. 

Grealish at best atm is a good Championship player, nothing more, nothing less, until he shows he can dominate games, like Jota for Wolves, like Taarabt did for QPR, like Maddison for Norwich even, its all just speculation and exaggeration imo. 

If Jack Grealish wasnt a Villa kid this wouldnt be happening. 

3 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

That makes more sense. I figured he was younger as @Cjay said he was 32 and he had been at Leeds a few seasons. 

Yeah sorry he was 32 last season turned 33 in April. 

Past his prime but with your own Conor Hourihane has the joint most assists in the last 2 seasons.

And the most chances created of any player last season.

Love Pablo. 

1 minute ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Fair enough. Probably got a bit carried away saying he is better than Grealish. He has just impressed me whenever I saw him. 

As for Hernandez I have no idea idea how you managed to sign him at 29. He must have been quite fond of Monk.

Id say he is better then Grealish imo. 

But Grealish has more potential.

Hernandez is great, my favourite player, if we could give him Saiz's pace then we would walk the league. 

Created more chances per game then any other Championship player last season

He is to good for this league.

3 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

No, not really. He's filled in on the wing before but there is no way anyone would class him as a winger. Similarly he's often quite advanced but he doesn't play like a number 10. He's usually deeper than that pulling the strings and it's usually the midfielder along side him, like Hourihane as I mentioned, who make the runs into the box and end up scoring or assisting.

Oh i see.

I always thought he was a number 10, thats how he appears on the Sky position stuff, if he isnt thenI'm judging him wrong. 

Is he meant to be a number 10 though? 

Noticed vs Blackburn he was so deep at times, as you say he drops deep. Thats not really a number 10 position. 

Perhaps he would be better served playing more like a traditional number 10, find space, between the lines, half turn etc?

2 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Don't be clouded by stats.

Conor Hourihane's stats are better than grealish's, but you won't find a single Villa fan who thinks Hourihane is the better player.

We'd all like a bit more end product from jack, but not all midfielders lay on goals and score them.

Luka Modric is a midfielder in a very similar vein to Grealish (I'm not for one second comparing ability. Modric is obviously far superior). He's got what? something like 10 goals and 20 assists in 7 seasons at Real Madrid.
Yet he's widely considered one of the best midfielders in the world.

 

So to answer your question, he does. Grealish has singlehandedly dragged us through games in the past. Yet he hasn't got on the scoresheet or laid on an assist. Doesn't mean he hasn't been by far the best player on the pitch and dominated the game.

Fair point 

Stats can be misleading, Saiz statistically hasnt shone but watching him week in week out i know different.

Wouldn't say Modric is a fair comparison though, different players. Grealish is a number 10 or winger isnt he? Modric hasnt played that role at all for Madrid and not since his early years at Spurs. 

Xavi would be similar, a dictator but again different roles.

Iniesta in his prime probably most similar to Grealish, rarely scored but he did get assists.

I understand your point though. 

10 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

Switch Saiz and Grealish round and you'd soon be certain of winning the league.

Grealish is so good.

And Saiz would be brought down to our shitty level and look like he could hardly play football.

Based on what?

Sorry I'm not trying to be deliberately difficult.

But statements like the one in bold.

What has he done that makes him "so good"? 

11 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Grealish is not as good as Saiz. Im amazed you’ve managed to keep hold of him. Way too good for this league.

Wouldn't say that about Saiz myself tbh.

He is good and on his day can seem to good for thus league, but can also see why he at 27 has never played at a higher level. 

He has a tendency to hold on to the ball to long. 

Whereas when you watch Hernandez who has played at a higher level, you can see the difference if that makes sense. 

2 hours ago, villarocker said:

His starting position is too deep most of the time. Our very slow build up play means that the ball fails to get to him most of the time so the lad tracks back to collect the ball and then carries it forwards. He's usually run 40-50 yards with the ball, getting kicked and trying to dodge tackles in the process, before then having to either shoot or lay it off. 

Jack needs to be further up the pitch with the ball reaching him quicker for him to be seen at his best. Having said that, right now, he's not at his best. I think that maybe the shenanigans of the summer have played a part in his poorish start to the season. 

Thats perhaps where Jack needs to be more selfish then?

Or more aware of space.

Is he trying to do to much, he is a number 10, be a bit more selfish, tracking back is fine, Saiz does it for us, but he is always available for the forward pass, in space on the half turn.

He cant do everyones job for them, if the build up is slow then thats down to his teammates and manager, or him himself for not making himself available in a more offensive position?