A'Villan

Where am I talking about a new contract? I don't know when his current one ends. FWIW I don't really want to argue the point but we had four players start in both the Fulham and Derby POF's. Not really the same team that missed out.

I'm not sure if Trezeguet is going to be the answer to our survival cause. This is why I wanted Gaitan badly, and why I would be more than open to Pedro coming. I don't think we're going to pay up the fee for Benrahma, though I don't have the slightest clue. I actually prefer El Ghazi to Trezeguet, but do appreciate what you're saying about getting forward. Trezeguet looks to get on the front foot before opponents can settle, and catch them on the back peddle. The thing is we actually do get men forward, at times we average 7 players in the attacking half over 90 minutes. That's part of the reason we're so susceptible to transitions in play turning into goals via few touch counter attacks. We're averaging 15 shots per game and 1.5 goals, last I checked that's good for European placing, it's defensive liabilities which are costing us. It would be nice to have some counter attacking options that are viable in this side, that's why I like Pedro, Gaitan and Benrahma, they've got that in them. Being so new to the league and each other it's demanding enough without expecting the team to play it up the pitch as a unit every attack. Being able to punish teams on the break through direct play is something a team in our position should have in the repertoire.

Nice post and agreed to some degree. Still takes way too many touches in possession for my liking. Hits the dead end and all that craftiness was just for show because he had to outdo the defender again. Not a bad return for assists and goals considering his play time and fee.

You could argue that he's been dealt fairly mediocre circumstances on either side of that run. Taking over an uninspired and lackluster team lingering in the bottom half in October and turning it into promotion winners in 6 odd months is praiseworthy. Then he has to make it work with a 40% turnover in playing personnel, with additions that are undoubtedly talented but untried and unfamiliar with the new division. The rest of the competition has made 5-10% changes in personnel, are for the most part at least a year more familiar with the league, it's standards and those who play in it. If you told me from now to the end of the season we smash it for another 10 games, and 30 points, I think we'd all be saying you beauty we survived and can continue building.

We're talking about a youth team lacking in pace, acceleration and explosiveness? I'm sorry but I have to verse the youth team of the club I play for in scrimmages and running and footwork contests all the time. If there's one thing they're guaranteed to bring it's enthusiasm, energy and a willing to impress to make the step up, they're competitive athletes. Maybe if you'd said a PL defender who's a bit more wily and savvy might've been more clued in to his run, then I'd say okay maybe, but I think Wes can only be praised for this one.

Woah, we couldn't see it more differently. We played around their feeble attempts to press with ease for the majority. Brains over brawn. Sure they played with energy and enthusiasm and forced us to play some tight and tidy football in our own half, but we were well and truly up to it. Different game had they gone up, and they were a bit unfortunate, but we did enough to put ourselves in the position for each and every goal. As for the team pressing, stamina and tenacity in one vs one duels is great but the team game requires tactical organisation to be effective, which I thought we were today. Both the assembly and arrangement as a team and the responsibility of the individuals in it made us a defensive outfit that did enough to prevent Liverpool. Their pressing lacked trapping that was good enough to force us into errors and allowed us to play around them with relative ease. Run 100 meter sprints all day if you like but if you're closing down isn't adequate enough to stem the flow then the river gonna continue to run, and we ran away 5-0!!

58% possession means they had the ball for 15 more minutes than us over the 90 minutes, and no goals to show. We were more incisive, clinical and purposeful with the ball for most of the fixture. Pretty sure we had triple their successful dribbles too. They had nearly 200 more passes than us in total, but average passing sequence lasted 5 passes for Villa and 6 for Liverpool. I'd argue that despite the success rate for passes and total possession, we had the better build up and were the better side at dealing with phases of play, clearly. Yes those opening minutes were Liverpool's through and through, but they failed to emulate that kind of potency again.

Conceding a few dangerous attempts on goal to Liverpool over a ten minute period qualifies as being outplayed apparently. We were fortunate to go up because it was against the run of play, but that happens in football, as witnessed in our defeat to Leicester. Some really good chances don't end up in the back of the net, Wes then makes a blunder and Leicester take a few touches and score in transition. That doesn't change or negate the efforts in both matches that saw the eventual winners play a solid brand of football that their opponents didn't have an answer for.

Come on Kenji! I'm not suggesting he'll do it every week but his timing, movement, angles, touch and finish were all spot on. His reading of the game alone had me impressed, to dummy the defense whilst knowing where the ball would be played, remaining on-side. Are you trying to tell me he didn't just get in behind the final defensive line and put it in the bottom corner for goal? Even without pace he was able to create space for himself. It wasn't just the dummy run, his touch and positioning after getting in behind put him in position to finish. Any last ditch tackle was coming from behind and through his body, and that's because of his touch and positioning, then he allows himself the angle to finish. Low and hard inside shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner. Fundamentals game strong (in this incident).

It's a big game in terms of creating an advantage over Southampton, those below them, on the table, and keeping in touch with mid-table. However I just want to say to VT that if we lose, there's still over 60 points to play for, so try not to let your angst and disappointment get the best of you. Second half of the season was always going to be our best, should Smith be up to the task of keeping us in this division, which I think he is and will be. Like when he took over in the championship, we started with some growing pains, but finished as strong as anyone could of hoped for, reaching our target. We've had a squad turnover of 40% in comparison to the 5-10% of the rest of the competition. That's a big hurdle to overcome, then you have player inexperience added. Let's not be pretentious and act like this league owes us a desirable finish because we're Aston Villa. That's not good sportsmanship. That's some pompous self entitled crap. Let's endeavour to prolong our mainstay status as a club who's given the football world some great memories. Same goes for Smith and the players, let's be supportive supporters instead of fanatical fans. We have a coach who's one of us, and one we can be proud of. We have interested and invested owners, who are savvy as well as personable. We have some capable and promising talent for our playing personnel, many who are only just mature enough to play at this level. We have a superstar of the league with a decade to go at this level (fingers crossed) who dreams and bleeds for this club as hard as any of us, in Grealish. For me what would really spoil this season was if the fans turned on the team because of the results with everything considered at this stage of the season. If you think a winning mentality is about throwing a temper tantrum every time you lose or are disappointed then, I think, you're mistaken. Perhaps supporting the bluenoses and trying to punch great players from behind is your calling. Or accusing innocents of attempted murder like Bamford did. I don't know. For me a winning mentality is about wanting to be apart of something that brings out the best in you and those around you. I can't think of much worse than your own turning on you and telling you you're no good, even if it's got to do with kicking a leather ball around. Let's be the best 12th man this league has to offer for the remaining 21 cup finals we have.

Fernando Torres. Underrated. A goalkeeper until age 16 when his coaches said his technical abilities were wasted there. Nicknamed "El Nino" because of his early inclusion into squads beyond his years at Atletico. Everyone on the team was the same age and familiar with each other through progressing together, but Torres was foreign to them. He was so prolific and such a talented prodigy that people took notice, but just referred to him as "The Kid". Which he apparently wasn't fond of. By age 19 he was captain of Atletico's first team and banging in 20 goals a season in La Liga, as well as being a UEFA cup runner-up and notable scorer. Finished 3rd in the ballon d'or behind Messi and Ronaldo one year. Not his fault he suffered a knee injury, though I guess it was his decision to return from it prematurely. Has had notable success wherever he has gone for club, and also with his country.

Yes, I agree. We want to occupy territory that threatens on goal and with men who can finish by netting a goal. We need a striker who's going to enable us to penetrate enemy lines whether directly or indirectly, regardless of whether he receives it or not, with clever runs. I think Kodjia has more pace to his game, and agility is oftentimes what you need to win the contest, and also probably has a better vertical jump than Wes. I'm not convinced JK is the better man at the attributes mentioned though, except for attacking the six yard box, which he does with more impetus than Wes currently

Good post regarding Wes. Kodjia is an exciting player, or can be, but I wonder how many chances he will provide our wide men or midfielders committing forward? Wes at least has a good sense of who to play in and when. He very nearly had an assist today through a short instep pass across the box, wasn't to be. It might not be bums out of seats football, but Wes is doing the unselfish stuff well, he actually is, whether he makes the grade or not, or finds his feet under Smith. I'm not sure if fans are aware of this, but a coach or manager would prefer a tap in opportunity to a twenty yard volley attempt, whether it goes in or not. As for Jota, he overdoes it in possession. Which frustrates me because I can see he can dribble and play a pass, he just seems to have to beat the man one more time before releasing. Always seems to hit a dead end after deciding against playing someone in sooner. I wonder how crafty a passer he can actually be despite having the ability. Simply because his timing is skewed by his desire to overplay it.

Rename the new training ground? It would inspire players and coaches alike to aspire to the levels of achievement we enjoyed under Saunders' tenure. Every time we step foot on the pitch to prepare and better our play we are reminded that we've won it all as a consequence of his work.

Nyland's distribution and decision making was excellent against Liverpool's youth. Gave us an edge and incisiveness that allowed others to continue on down the pitch in the same manner, which we often did. Knew when, where and how he should release the ball, never allowed Liverpool a chance to set themselves, unless that was beneficial for us. It's great having players with quality distribution skills and awareness of how to use them, gets the team on the front foot and into positions we want to occupy. Nyland played like a confident professional and executed with composure, there was no way Liverpool were going to force errors that far up the pitch at his expense. Kudos to him, it's nice to know we have a backup to Heaton that can put in that sort of shift.

"You get up and howl about America and democracy There is no America, there is no democracy We no longer live in a world of nations and ideologies The world is a college of corporations Inexorably determined by the immutable bylaws of business The world is a business"

COINTELPRO has had a facelift and is rearing it's ugly head again perhaps? It's pretty scary when you read the history of the U.S.A, not that I'm a scholar. But it's no wonder that she has spent 222 of 239 years at war. What was the art of war again? Deception.

Any updates on the Pedro link?

Great passing sequences and build up today. Really. Very tidy work. The statistics won't show it but we played a more deliberate and incisive brand of football than our opponents. Biggest plus was after a start that saw us concede some chances on goal that tested us, we were actually well organised and resolute defensively for the remainder.

His little dummy run and finish today show that he has other assets that could be just as pivotal in him successfully getting in behind enemy lines. Another thing we witnessed today which might go under the radar because of the scoreline when Wes was introduced, was his ability to rise to the occasion. A reluctance from some to give him any credit will argue that scoring at 4-0 against a teenage Liverpool outfit is hardly rising to the occasion, but I disagree. The argument is whether or not he is a good footballer, good enough for Aston Villa, and his run and finish were just that today. We all love a prolific talisman who can go it solo once it hits the final third and they have the ball at their feet, which Wes hasn't been. Today's goal shows there is a striker in there, and previous performances have shown there's an unselfish and smart team player in there too. Let's see what he brings to the Southampton game.

I can't really comment but Milwaukee looked so impressive when I saw them vs the Clippers. When I watched the Lakers it was against the Bulls, and to be honest the Bulls should've held out for the win. One thing is for certain we have a great competition on our hands. Talent everywhere. If LeBron does take the Lakers to 70+ wins and a title he will deservedly put himself in the conversation for MVP accolades. Will still only be backed by those who didn't witness Jordan for the GOAT though. If Giannis leads Milwaukee to an NBA title with a 70+ win record in regular season, he's got serious prospects of a great dynasty on his hands.

Also thought we were quite organised and energetic defensively for most of the game. Good to see.

Moved the ball very well. We retained possession and kept our build up play at a rate that only frustrated the Liverpool youngsters. At the same time we were tidy and meaningful when playing it forward which allowed us to create and put the game firmly in our grip. Through to a semi-final with a 5-0 win, I'll take it for sure. MOTM was Luiz for me, very sound performance. In particular his delivery and touch meant that our transitions were purposeful and eventuated into threatening play. Then his general play allowed us to move forward and keep things ticking to a beat and rhythm that suited us as a team. Nyland played well, some of his saves and distribution were excellent. Really became an 11th option for passes without inviting pressure.

Good movement and finish for his goal to make it 5-0. Quality play to keep the naysayers off his back for the time being. Hopefully he can emulate that against Southampton.

That would make a lot of sense, he is often aware of which pass should be played next and where his teammates want to receive the ball. That's all well and good by the way, but from where I sit he needs to develop attributes and qualities that complement a forwards or strikers role, and fast. I wonder what his role was in midfield because he isn't blessed with a lot of pace, which I think gets mistaken for him being lazy, which he isn't. He makes commendable efforts to close down opposition passing lanes for prolonged periods at every chance, which shows his stamina. Unfortunately he's just too slow to cover the ground in time to be a real nuisance, which negates his constant efforts to close down and intercept.