A'Villan

I guess it's easy to talk about what other people should be doing (like Trump) or what they are doing (Kardashian's) but I try to ask myself what am I about too.. On a personal level I volunteer with the homeless once a fortnight from 11pm-7am. Another volunteer role that I have is running basketball programs for at risk youth at a high-rise commission housing district (like the projects). The kids we work with often come from families that can't make ends meet at best, or have serious drug dependencies, or are incarcerated at worst. That is also once a fortnight but only for a 3 hour session. I also sit on a mental health advisory board and advocate for consumers and make sure they are involved and represented, by all means. This may mean incorporating consumer preferences into well-being plans, to offering them training for a variety of skills and roles.. I mean we have consumers sit on the interview panel for when prospective psychiatrists and psychologists are in the final stage of application. It may not be the same pay package as the shrinks, but consumers are remunerated for their involvement in improving clinical settings. I would like to think there is an equity between the board, management, the clinicians and the consumers that is developing when it comes to authority on mental health. Adopting a strength-based approach and allowing dignity of risk really allows people to build confidence and just as importantly to LEARN from making mistakes. I have met some truly amazing souls with a wonderful understanding of the human spirit and the relationship we share to one another. It's an incredible privilege to be in the position to work with people who have a lot of hard earned wisdom and unique experience that is at the same time relatable.

Posted elsewhere but this is an important concept to wrap your head around. Unless of course you have something to gain from addicts becoming destitute and deemed criminal, or the turmoil that ensues.

If we can kick it with that Spurs outfit for the better part of 80 minutes, then we should be able to hold our own and set the scenery against Bournemouth. Personally i think we might be in for a few months of adaptation, and perhaps results not going our way, just like Smith's rough patch in the Championship. I hope not though, hopefully we have enough quality on the day to take the three points. I have my basketball match on Saturday night, but I'm going to come home and rest/sleep so I can watch this one live with you all.

I don't know what they're complaining about. Any side with Willian, Pedro and Barkley in advanced roles supporting Giroud has a chance at outscoring an opponent. They've got a very solid central and holding midfield too, and some world class full backs. They should be challenging Europe.

Arshavin

I swear it was this time 10 years ago Andy Carroll was playing for Newcastle I wonder if he can rekindle the form that got him a 35million pound transfer.

Clearly haven't watched the highlights reel I just posted of his game pre-Barca move. I know Neymar was 3 years older than Cristiano, but Neymar at Santos is quite a bit more impressive than Cristiano at Sporting.

Malouda

Change gon' come

I do. I grew up learning that speaking it needed to be excused. However I don see where it says, "f*** off, you f***ing clown!" Nothing of the like, so certainly not French. Must be gibberish.

Dude was on track to be the GOAT..

Off the ball movement is incredibly important as it keep the defense honest. Defense then has to focus on and be wary of the offensive movements that might mean a potential gain is made, or worse, a goal. It also means that help defense is squandered because the help defenders are concentrating on the off-ball movements of other attacking players.

Decided it would be smart to explore a bit more than I had done in regards to a personal trainer and gym. Went into a few gyms yesterday to get a feel for the place, speak to personal trainers about what they could offer, and even explore signing up to a gym. One particular gym sent out some super-arm and bicep heavy guy to take me on a tour of the place and answer any queries. Unfortunately this guy didn't even have a certificate three and was not really qualified to speak about my potential training routine. His role was to run me through some of their classes, show me around the place and go over the fees with me. Fine I thinks to myself. After we had completed the tour, we discussed fees. I said I had little interest in capitalising on their special offers, as I wanted to shop around. MAAAAAAN. I soon got the sense that this guy would not take any answer outside of ,"Sure, I'll sign up". from me. The whole vibe was marketing and pure business model above a pitch that actually educated me on enhancing my fitness. He started to piss me off with his lines of inquiry, and attempts to convince me there was no other gym that would meet my needs. I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say he would get performance bonuses for getting clients to sign up. His body language and the dialogue was focused on me signing before i walked out that door, no two ways about it. After wasting my time and making me justify my reasoning to go on with my day as I choose to without his gym membership, he finally conceded. He would go ask his manager if he could offer me a better deal. In hindsight I should've left while he was doing that but I waited. They offered me a 7 day period to use all the facilities at any time and have a PT session before cancelling the membership free of charge. A bit of karmic humility was at play I think. I can go on with my day knowing that this particular gym is a no-go zone after one week of free membership. And that they've earnt themselves a dissatisfied customer who will be honest if ever questioned about the experience that I had there. It's mad corny that they send a dude with a good physique but who's unqualified to try and intimidate me into a signature should the sales pitch fail. I learnt nothing about the process I explicitly stated I was looking to work on or what would be useful in achieving my fitness goals.

Agree we have others who will carry the load at various times and pull their weight, as well as some exciting unknowns yet to prove themselves within the club. I don't want to cast doubt over our campaign as it's early days but we will need players to match Grealish's standards of last season if we are to succeed in the PL. Probably more than 3 or 4 players too. We can't rely purely on having a good coach, we could have a tactical mastermind but without the ability to execute we'll be hot air. Think more or less all our signings bar one or two will have to show PL quality, and as soon as possible, if we are to ensure safety before it goes down to the wire.

Curious for you to elaborate on why? I'd put him top of the list among McGinn, Heaton and Mings to be most influential at this stage.

Thanks for clarifying and my mistake. You quite clearly state that you were just relaying a story. I interpreted the mentally fragile comment out of context given what you'd written, apologies and it was good of you to highlight that. The angle that I am coming from is these stories don't help anyone if the purpose is to belittle the person on any level for not achieving as high as some expected. I suppose I see Sturridge as I do many talented young people, they come along with exciting potential and promise, and won't always live up to their fullest potential. Part of my sensitivity to the idea that he is mentally fragile is probably rooted in the sad fact that some of the brightest talents don't cope well with disappointment and failure. Being sung the world's praises from an early age will at times lead such talents to beliefs that ability is only innate and not earned through experience, persistence and effort. They then believe that when disappointments and failures occur it is only natural to assume it's because they are inherently not good enough. This is where guidance could help.. Often we heap more adulation and praise on these talents than we do guidance about dealing with pitfalls and obstacles that life will throw our way. We assume they will be fine. Abilities of all sorts are proven to be malleable and we can always improve with hard work and dedication. No need to lose confidence and give up because it didn't work out that time. Sturridge is a player I could see flourish under Smith, if Smith believed in him from a tactical perspective (because the technical ability is there) and could trust him. Who knows. Obviously Sturridge wanting 60,000pw isn't ideal and that's probably why we look elsewhere. Maybe he has come to identify with traits that are toxic for the ethos of a team too. But I'd back Smith, Terry, Grealish, and even Edens, to be some of the better players to coach any self entitlement and vanity out of Sturridge and let him get back to his craft.

Even Steve Bruce will try and nick a 1-0 in both our meetings this season. Some might have to, depending on how well we gel, and how heavily we employ a possession based system.

Me either. I haven't seen the videos you mention. Maybe he is a bit of a nob and has done some things only a nob would do. Judging him for not becoming familiar and intimate with a new club after one week seems a bit hasty to cast doubt over him, for me. That was all.

You can also play a number of passes that is indicative of a low level contribution to any build up play or passing sequences that took place. Making only 2% of passes that a team attempts in a match is remarkable for a midfielder. Especially considering McGinn's importance to us.

A few things come to mind.. You can make a tackle and then lose possession again, you can make a tackle and dribble, you can make a tackle and have a teammate gain possession from your efforts..

My word he's made some absolutely stellar saves already in his Villa career. Think we're on to a winner here.

I guess this is old news but I'm going to say how this strikes me. I feel for Sturridge in reading this criticism of him because money can't buy respect. One offers it. Not everyone is your friend in professional sport. People will offer praise and adulate when you're setting the standards and exciting the crowd's want for gratification. However when expectations aren't met to a degree that pleases, then things can turn bitter, and can even lose touch with reality, Spite becomes priority instead of respect. You say Sturridge was at Albion for a week before he came crook? So he kept to himself in his initial week in a new environment? Didn't integrate himself and trained solo? Here's my take.. A lot of work that is done as a professional athlete is the work you do to take it upon yourself to improve, or perhaps he had a routine that wasn't part of the team one yet. As for not integrating himself and not traveling with the team, excuse me if I'm misguided here, but you've given the poor fella ONE WHOLE WEEK to become a success! Spending an initial week of time spent in a new environment solo is so commonplace, and so far from a character flaw, it confuses me to think why people would judge him. A bit mentally fragile? There could and would be countless and immeasurable factors that have contributed to him not being the most popular of footballers. Unfortunately for him that may not even be an indicator of his behaviour being poor, rather that it's maybe easier for people to point fingers than it is to explore critical thought. Not trying to have a dig at you per se. It just irks me when it goes beyond calling out a player for their playing ability and moves on to slating them as a person.

The angle for an early pass was closed down between Jack's first touch and his third, was never really on, and a lofted ball would give defense time to intercept or at least contest. Thought both players did well in that scenario considering Spurs defensive efforts. The change of run and space created to get a shot off couldn't of been much better. Only criticism would be for Trezeguet and that would be that his cutback was not done with much conviction and didn't set up his shot well enough to execute effectively. I know he was being closed down by a double team as soon as he got the chance to shift it so that he could take it with his right foot. But at this level you've got to be crafty. Just look at the way McGinn took his goal, full pace, yet poised and composed, sells the fake, defender goes bye-bye, has the power and accuracy to rifle beyond Lloris. Maybe Trezeguet attacks the left side of the area toward the six yard box and tries to fire one in on his left, would have got the power behind it to beat the keeper at least. But to be fair to both of them, it was a transition play of 4 touches box-to-box and a counter attack which ended with a shot on goal from inside the box. Can't be too critical. Add to that Spurs had the numbers getting back and Grealish went to ground after his pass, limiting options for any further build up.