A'Villan

@Zatman many were vocal he wasn't wanted or needed. Citing disappointment with his efforts at Barcelona and Munich. We were in for him in 2010-11, and since then, I've known he was always going to be a player above and beyond average. Since Grealish has left, we will need a player that can be relied upon to win us games, we may have a few, but Coutinho is easily best equipped for that at present.

I think the importance of acknowledging that each week, and equally each season, provides a fresh challenge that's never going to unfold as the last did, is significant. You can develop a mentality and approach that you want to emulate throughout the course, but there's no guarantees that the preparation will work as intended. There's many variables as to why it can regress. Obviously Gerrard has moved away from the style and freedom our players displayed in the above United game, opting for a more contrived and structured approach, to his detriment in my view, however its yet to be seen if that may pay dividends in future.

Been saying it since way back when, when it was us, or Liverpool. The guy's incredible. And since we had another chance at getting him in the team, I've been ecstatic and glad that we have been able to. Those who were calling him a flop during his time not living up to the standards many perceived he should have, and who didn't want him here, I hope you can put that aside and support Coutinho. As I've been saying, a player to build around post-Grealish.

Emi Martinez Ash Chambers Mings Digne Dendoncker Luiz Bailey Buendia Coutinho Ollie Dendoncker and Luiz primarily assigned to bolster defensively both when Ash and Digne do get forward but also during the times when we want to release the front four with more space than they would have if the full backs were to bomb forward. Dendoncker and Luiz both have a pass to release those ahead of them creating an opportunity for those front four to run into space and attack enemy lines at full throttle. The front four obviously have the ability to unlock any defence. Give them the space and freedom to do so for large parts. Double pivot and back four can conserve energy and keep shape by doing this.

Glad to see VT for the most part commending and acknowledging Traore's abilities and what he brought to the table for us. He's a gifted and sharp attacking threat, and absolutely deft with the left. Would have happily kept him on to compete with Bailey for a place on the right side of a central forward, however I don't see him commanding first choice, even if he earnt it on form, because I'm not convinced the opportunity to develop any form would be afforded him. If the decision was his in that he wants to pursue better footballing opportunities, more power to him. Thanks and all the best.

Come on now. You've heard the crowd's excitement when a player gains possession and does something special with it, and consequently the next time that player has it, the crowd's anticipation sends a shockwave echoing throughout. Equally when the disdain for a player reverberates the same way. Judging by the English Villa contingency I sat among in Perth for the United pre season game, I wouldn't put it beyond the crowd to let Archer know. I've never been so impressed with a group of pissed blokes ranting on in my life. It was worth enduring torrential downpour mid-winter to be among them. Anyone there knows until Bailey scored, the only presence Villa had in that stadium was a vastly outnumbered Villa crowd singing.. "THE VILLA BOYSSS ARE ON A BENDER.. MASON GREENWOOD'S A SEX OFFENDER" And many more I didn't recite, as much as I'd like to of. Honestly I don't think I'll experience another crowd like the Villa chants and the genius behind it all, and I've been to the MCG with over 100,000 fans packed in for finals football. You lot are a special breed. Let Archer know!!

Thanks. I considered I may have missed that, but I'd already written and sent. Call me a git. I've been listening to a lot of Amor Fati and philosophies in general to better deal with some stuff in my life so I just shot from the hip as it's been a focus for a while now. Shouldn't be to the detriment of light-hearted comments and paying attention to what's being said. My bad.

This would be a common but misinformed interpretation. To the degree that it shows either a lack of depth in understanding Nietzsche's approach due to an inability to fathom how and why it serves to be that way inclined, or as a consequence of not delving into the explanations enough to see what they are about at their core. Mods: forgive the off-topic response, however I would so welcome a manager or coach to come in with the philosophical insights that so many of the best coaches have, even if they do not promote or speak readily of it. Even certain training methodologies that develop a better athlete, are founded on a way of approaching the task at hand, which involves using one's immaterial qualities to hone and make any practical steps have purpose. Amor Fati, as Nietzsche embodied, is a way of accepting that which cannot be changed that is external to one's influence, and focusing on the inner dialogue which interprets and shapes one's understanding of these events, which is within grasp of the individual. Through that internal dialogue we develop the change within ourselves, which may then have scope to give us a greater influence in undertakings that may once have been out of reach. I'm probably butchering that left, right and centre. However it's a great outlook when represented well.

I wouldn't know. My thoughts are that Edens would be involved in the discussion enough so that he has to take significant level of accountability and responsibility, and it's my thinking that he would recognise that. You could say that they got the Jason Kidd as head coach appointment wrong at the Bucks, however Kidd was at the helm for the Bucks first two seasons where they returned to post season basketball and a chance at glory, and while Kidd was replaced because Edens and the Bucks executives felt he had reached his ceiling, you could say he was a step in the right direction at the time, and for the time he held the job. Gerrard may have had a torrid time of it due to his poor tactics and team selection, but that's easy to identify, what's not so obvious is what else is at play not going for him. However to make the point that should be in focus, is that SG has done some good for us already with regards to recruitment. Albeit Coutinho, Coutinho is a player we can build around for the next few seasons. I know we need to see that and we haven't so far, but it's my opinion he can and will fulfill a very important role whilst here. He's an exceptional player.

What City, and the teams that have a clear monetary advantage in world football can do in terms of having recruitment advantages for the available talent, are unparalleled. Wes built Milwaukee from the ground up. They were rock bottom, they got their man to build a team around in Giannis, then they went about diligently selecting the right pieces to ensure their star player had the right supports and team mates around him to get the most out of the talent they possess. The era of Ronaldo and Messi is over. Giannis and the Bucks have had to outdo a team touted as the greatest ever (even though they aren't quite that good) in the GSW, and an era that boasts LBJ and KD. The make-up of the NBA teams and the competition are bound by a salary cap and future generations of talent being allocated to the teams that have underperformed in the season prior, so to give them a go at building success. Anyone who makes play-offs at the moment is a solid outfit, even a few who miss out boast rosters with guys who are at the top of the game. No one is there to make up the numbers. Whilst I take your point about the dangers of relegation and the game of football itself being decided by narrower margins that allow for surprise and unfortunate results more readily, navigation to the title in the NBA has a dozen or so teams in the picture, rather than one, two, or maybe three that take the silverware in the PL.

Edens will be inquiring and serious about Pochettino in my mind, I have no tangible insights, but if you look at how he's gone about life at Milwaukee he is all about providing the right platform and team to those who have the talent, skill, and values necessary to win titles. I've been over it enough times in brief so I'll spare VT the same spiel, but if anyone wants something to be confident about in relation to how Villa are run and the decision making behind it, read up on Wes Edens tenure and ownership of the Milwaukee Bucks. The man is a model pro. I have no doubts we will see parallels here. I'm not saying we will win the title, like Milwaukee did a few years after being as low as can go in the NBA, because that's not in my thinking or on my radar at present. Right now for us it's about seeing that Wes can emulate that executive level decision making and leadership so that we are doing all the right things with a capable team. Then we will compete with anyone.

Donyell Malen

This lineup would make my day and give me hope for what's to come of this season, purely because I think it would give us a fighting chance against most teams in this division, and that's even if the tactics we are meant to play are a shambles. One of the very few positive aspects of poor tactics and approach to a game is that from the moment they go wrong, it's likely that the team playing them won't have a foot in the game and the contest becomes one whereby the players need to start using some of their nous and creativity to make it happen, or else they get swept away. That lineup you've put up has a good balance about it, even if we are to play as Gerrard has to date, and I feel will give the players a good chance of displaying their abilities.

I'm unable to access the videos. Says they're private. What was the title? TIA

https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-steven-gerrards-rangers/ I wonder if we'll be able to command enough territory and win the contests enough for Stevie G's approach to be implemented to a degree where we can see if it reaps the worthwhile results and performances we are looking for, and need from this squad we have. I wonder if SG has other assets, qualities, strengths, that he brings along with him that will at least push us to better placing than last season, and from which we can continue to build from, if and when a new manager we decide we want to invest in is hired. I know the tactics and selection issues are apparent, and potentially an issue that becomes more problematic with each week. That's not what I'm discussing with this post though.

People's predictions/thoughts/favourites/trades for the next season?

Life is oftentimes down to how we interpret it. 'The Hobbit' was the first proper book I read by myself. I took it on after being read the Harry Potter books by my mother at bedtime. I still remember as a 10 year old telling my teacher at my new school when I'd been asked what books I like, that my mum had repeatedly told me I should read 'great expectations'. My teachers reaction was of concern. Anyway, I do not recall any language that inspired thoughts of skin colour in The Hobbit. Tolkien was a Christian, or so I'm told. The connotations that come with that statement in itself will elicit the differing understandings that people have regarding the essence of what it means. I've been told, by numerous people, that Christianity is more about developing a relationship with God, and Catholicism is more about the adhering to what should and shouldn't be done according to institutionalised dogma within that community. Now that may or may not be the case, I cannot and will not profess to have an understanding or much of an interest in the matter. It is an interesting discussion though, despite my lack of. I don't dedicate or invest enough energy and focus towards it to consider my input on the matter to reflect any truths that would serve as insight, so forgive this, however I still wonder if these interpretations are reflective of individuals perception and interpretation of the writings, or if they are indeed inherent in Tolkiens model and works. I think the book, 'Death of The Author' raises some interesting discussion and perspectives on this matter.

His best football is having the freedom to run at defenders and cause opponents to attempt to pick pocket him, often in numbers, whilst he glides onward toward goal. When he's doing this he simply commands the kind of focus and attention that his opposition doesn't want to give because it means it pulls them out of shape and exposes in their trying to stop him. I've not seen too many players that can go on runs like Grealish does, and those that can and do are all in the conversation for greatest of all time or thereabouts. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Grealish is in that discussion in saying that. His issue at City is that he is deployed wide left and is often confined to the final third and the intricacies of City's build up and the coaching style that implements it. He has the technical and tactical ability for one touch, pass and move play that City desires, however he is not blessed as a world class finisher or goal threat, certainly not when his involvement is in the style that City goes about it and the role Grealish is given in that. Silly boy. Welcome to come home anytime as far as I'm concerned. Provided he's still going to deliver, which I have no doubt he would.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell An equally impressive and important legacy as the silverware count.

@Seat68

Lonzo Ball overcomes his knee troubles and stays fit for the long haul next season and the Bulls are title contenders. Without him, which I feel may be the case, at least for a portion of the season that will be damaging, and the Bulls are on a sharp downward trajectory.

No, definitely doesn't need to happen. If anything the football could be played with the notion to honour and celebrate her life, with a minute's silence, national anthem and any other befitting sentiments. Just out of curiosity, did the football get postponed when Princess Diana passed away?

Certainly a man who's taking his craft seriously and who has the imagination and stomach to do as he sees best even if it's not commonplace. I think Gerrard may get it together enough to finish in the upper half of the standings. And I expect that even if he should that we will be keeping a vigilant eye on any managers that have the ability as well as the desire to make this club go another step up.

I'd like to see Wendel join. I've also long been a fan of Oliver Torres.