A'Villan

Has Emery specifically mentioned Countinho's future at the club is up in the air? I did a brief search through the forum and google to no avail. I'm reluctant to see Coutinho's role here as over or the time he's spent here already as a waste, until Emery views Phil surplus to requirements, until then, there's every chance Coutinho could prove a few wrong.

It's a great opportunity to establish where we are at now and how true to where we want to be we really are, regardless of who we play. I wouldn't underestimate or write-off any one of these teams turning up for the occassion.

I'm not sure I can offer what you are looking for, but I'd like to know more about the situation to see what it's about. Not prying to past the time, it would be with what capacity I have to assist in mind. All the best.

Depends on a multitude of details that are yet to be decided before KO for next season comes our way. I'd like to say and believe the sky is the limit, however I think anything in the top half is basically a sure sign of stepping in the right direction. How high could we have finished this season just been, had we appointed Unai earlier on? That question should tell you where I'm seeing us next season. Truth be told though it's a new season with new challenges and I'd take a top half finish with the way we play really showing signs of getting to a level we can expect to be competing in European competitions with each and every season for the foreseeable future.

Ramsey

Incredibly glad to be in this position. Thank you to everyone involved, especially us at VT, and supporters worldwide. I flew to Perth to see us in torrential downpour against United. This, this is something that while I don't have the money to jet across the world to see, I want to, and will plan and work to make it happen. So inspired I am by Villa under Unai, and how blessed I feel to be among a Villa faithful who have seen the last 13 years I've tuned in weekly and at times daily to see what's happening Villa way, for us to be able to live and celebrate these times. Yes! UTV!

Bailey. Honourable mentions: Emi Martinez Mings Watkins Coutinho

I love watching Aston Villa. Have done through some tough times and logged in to watch live more weeks than I missed throughout our time playing in the championship. I will relish the opportunity to watch us midweek against other teams from Europe. I will lose sleep over it, hopefully more from excitement than anguish, but either way I will. I think it's fair to say that calling to question what a European competition will mean for our side, or other sides who participate, is at the very least seeking better understanding of the game we love. I'm not subscribing to the idea it undermines anything at all.

I hope it works out for Bailey here. He's got to find a way to emulate the impact and significance he had in Germany for Aston Villa. I want him to do just that though.

The Europa and Europa Conference leagues if that wasn't clear. It kind of does. I don't think there's much to it but I can see the logic behind the suggestion.

Read a theory it's designed to keep clubs that would be challenging the UCL placings out of reach by having them play in an inconsequential tournament travelling across Europe midweek. I don't know and even in my ignorance I don't feel a certain way about that idea, I like the prospect of joining other European clubs that are supposedly at a level or thereabouts. I thought I'd share for anyone who wants to explore further.

@maqroll Appreciate you. Thanks for sharing perspective and experience of the Boston bombing. Philosophy means love of wisdom and its great to see that this woman's outlooks resonate with you. It might sound simple or obvious to you but many people couldn't fathom that level of depth. I personally am inclined to think that the magic of alchemy had less to do with water to wine or lead to gold, and more to do with our greatest nightmares being turned into blessings. Amor fati, so to speak. I guess that's an entirely different conversation though. Equally thank you for the Ayahuasca post. I've not spent any time with native Americans outside of many hours of reading and listening to written and spoken ways of life and philosophical viewpoints. I've also not had the brew either. I have however had multiple experiences with DMT, and while my days are most probably done with that, it's been over a decade now, I am still keenly interested in it all. Fun fact, natives aren't the only beings to make use of the Ayahuasca vines. Jaguars are known to deliberately seek out the vine and hallucinate.

Would want to see much more of Duran before giving a view on his worth and ability. From what I have seen though I would have thought that Archer offered a more aggressive and exciting forward, at a guess a more potent goal threat too.

I really want Coutinho kept on. Grossly underrated.

At 23 and with what he's shown already, I'd say absolutely no doubt about it, sign him. He's a well rounded attacking threat with a good balance of physicality, skill, team play and IQ. Coutinho, Traore, Bailey and even Buendia all lack one of those traits where Torres possesses them to a calibre that is above adequate. If Emery sees him as a player he wants and can work with then even better. I trust that immensely. I can't speak for the business side and fees so won't but I would welcome this deal from a football POV.

Left side of the photo is brother of the bride, my good friend. Right side is his nephew. We all train together. They run the 10km in thirty minutes. I do a 400m lap of the track, take a five minute break and then call it a day's work.

Not sure I'm following. The groom isn't in this photo though. If I'm firing right I'd guess that you mean the young man on the right. He's a composed and calm young man. Chill as.

Yes

I see the value in KDB's perspective. It's true. Living a life without risk, is to risk not living a life. Same goes for the way we play football and it's why the Brazilian's have emphasised creativity in their academies rather than strict tactical doctrines, since way back when. At the same time I do appreciate the view that Emi Buendia might opt to use his skills and nous rather than his body because he does get dispossessed quite easily with that approach. He doesn't have a caboose that McGinn has.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/02/nick-kyrgios-tesla-stolen-from-mother-at-gunpoint-gunman-tennis-star-phone-app-to-track-car-for-police

Me too.

Ugandan/Kenyan wedding. Cultural dance and song. Amazing experience.

He was apologising to the ref's and I saw him look as if he were going to give it the crowd before that, but the camera image changed focus beforehand. Nice touch. Home crowd with the best reasons to celebrate. Well over a decade since we've occupied this sort of territory in the standings.

Even death may die.