A'Villan

If it's all matter, then we all matter.

That's so unprofessional (so in other words none!)

You're right. Gold star for you. Edit: sorry, forgot about taking threads off-topic!

I think you should celebrate it as the rite of passage that it is. “At 20 a man is a peacock, at 30 a lion, at 40 a camel, at 50 a serpent, at 60 a dog, at 70 an ape, and at 80 nothing” I take that quote to mean this: In our twenties we are vibrant and on show, though our flair lacks bite. Our thirties we are at our peak powers. Brave and strong, willing to take on life. Forties we start looking like the hunchback of Notre Dame and develop a tendency to spit on the innocent, jokes, we are enduring and resourceful. We take our time. Fifties we are spineless and toxic, clearly where you are at (sorry, I'm not much good with the funnies). No, we have learnt to be sneaky and wise, outwitting even the smartest. Sixties, loyal to and concerned with the protection of the family, but also inclined to do what we please, when we please. Seventies, smarter than you think, clumsy, interested in the world. Eighties, you just about dead my friend, no, what this means is that you are almost there, and are carefree. So now that we have established another irrelevant commentary from my good self, on to what you should do. I think you should throw a shindig. 50th, in my mind, is probably the most significant rite of passage there is. But that's me, you should do you. You are transitioning from virility and youthfulness (young dumb and full of come) to legacy and wisdom (or impotency, viagra and the Mrs telling you to put it away). Celebrate this transition with those who add meaning to your life, and in a way that reflects something meaningful to you. Maybe you like down-time and casual occasions, maybe you like a party, maybe you prefer to travel one last time (or maybe for the first), maybe you like a track day with race cars.. I think you should spoil yourself with something that is worthy of the thanks you deserve for coming this far on the journey with us all.

You want to fight me, mate? I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say you're not a fan. I eat plain porridge for breakfast most days, and I felt like something a bit sweeter, Nutri-Grain was in the pantry. They market it as healthy and nutritious, but it's actually about 30% sugar.

Had Nutri-Grain for breakfast.

My birth mark. Just had to be on my willy, didn't it?

A friend and his partner insisted I join them for one show of that load of bollocks because it's apparently amusing. I guess it takes all sorts and every sort has their take.

Last night I played basketball for six hours with friends, some of the best Australia has to offer (basketballers, not friends). Today I will venture to the dementia ward and bring my Yiayia home for the morning and some brunch, I will undoubtedly be greeted by a Greek poem that's about my beard. Then later this afternoon I will train with NBL champion Brett Rainbow in preparation for my upcoming tournament and I guess just general skill-set. Sunday I am meeting a woman for our 2nd date.

Will I survive all the fights and the darkness? Trouble sparks, they tell me: "Home is where the heart is." Dear departed, I shed tattooed tears And couldn't sleep good for multiple years Witness peers catch gunshots; nobody cares Seen the politicians ban us, they'd rather see us locked in chains Please explain why they can't stand us Is there a way for me to change? Or am I just a victim of things I did to maintain?

Your gif didn't load for me, but I have a feeling I walked into a 'pole' joke.

I eat the chocolate that I bought for my KK gift.

See this is what I was talking about. Throw that 50th, you need to be celebrated.

And it's undoubtedly what's most endearing about you!

Two years ago I embarked on a university degree with 5 women whom I did not know. Two years on I have five friends for life, all beautiful people who have helped me grow as a man. And now that they have completed their degrees, full confidence that they will advocate justly for youth at risk.

You guys scared me for a moment, thought Dougie Luiz might've made a Lescott type social media move or something.. Adam Johnson and Karim Benzema type behaviour is cringe worthy. This seems to be a young man enjoying his wealth.

The degree of douchebaggery among our current political climate.

Just a 50pg article from the American Psychological Association titled, "The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance"

I haven't seen him play since he got his move to City, but judging by a quick inspection of his stats it would seem this is a definite no thanks.

Wilfried Bony on a free transfer anyone?

The more I've thought about it the more I think Gaitan on a free could potentially be what gets us over the line this season. He has been an Argentina international as well as playing some of the best football Europe has to offer for his clubs. There's a reason he went for 30 million to Atletico Madrid. Now he's available on a free we should pounce on this. He's in form, albeit in the MLS, and I just can't see a better available and interested winger. Look at what Moutinho is doing for Wolves at age 33.

Like I said, there are trade-offs involved with every approach. Too open you say? We are also the 7th highest scoring team in the league. Although we are relegation candidates if you go by goals conceded, we are also only 3 goals worse off than the top half for goals conceded. I would agree that when we commit men forward, as we do, we have not yet developed a reliable way of dealing with transitions in play when it comes back at us. I also have seen us be lackadaisical in our efforts to prevent opposition build up play from gathering momentum, in this league that can be punished within moments. I've also seen some naivety on an individual level where we've tried something that is just not on, in an area that is just not on, and there's been consequences. Funnily enough, what you point out was the criticism from many when Smith first arrived, and results went undeservedly against us. The focus seemed to be solely on the result. I agree wholeheartedly every match should be played to the best of our ability, and that there is an urgency to finding our feet if we want to run with this league another season. As for doing the fundamentals and basics with an application worthy of PL status, I see your point, and again I agree, it's critical to our success in this league. But, you can have eleven fundamentally solid players who might as well of boozed up pregame because they are all over the place, loose as a goose, when it comes to wavelength. It's not an excuse it's just part of our situation that we have had less time together to strategise and integrate appropriate tactics, as well as understand the competition we face. It's really on Smith to ensure that the players are so well prepared for a fixture that when the next one comes, when he says jump, they say, "how high?"

You're telling me that I'm only taking into account a limited perspective through only looking at one facet of a whole, whilst only quoting and addressing one line from my post. That's a bit ironic, I think anyway. The reason I am choosing to highlight positives is because we have what I consider to be a potentially class side. I want to recognise that. I am also highlighting that we are in a difficult position because we have had less opportunity to invest the most valuable resource there is, time.

Injuries can really set you back. Not that you don't return, but they hinder progress. A few hundred days without honing your technical skills or being able to work on fitness, then you're behind. Then there's other potential elements like how well the body recovers, psychological etc.. I don't know with JK, I'd like to see how he fares in the PL. He has reasonable technique and technical ability. His close control isn't special but definitely adequate to find himself space and take on opponents when required. He's also got a gung-ho shoot first ask questions later approach, which can be frustrating for teammates but equally for opposition. In terms of physicality he has a good balance between agility, pace, strength, height, vertical leap and coordination. I rate him higher than most strikers that I saw in the 2nd division. Unfortunately for JK I think he's been a late bloomer, I read that he was unable to impose himself in those initial pro years even in the French 3rd tier.

I disagree, mitigation is fundamental to our survival, and also any success we may enjoy. Until we are able to play with fluency and congruence in whatever the strategy and tactics that we employ are, we're going to see mistakes. We're still very much in the development stage, to achieve our desired outcomes we must understand where we are in the process and respect that. There are going to be trade-offs no matter the approach we take, it's about assessing and identifying what gives us optimal chances for success. We can demand our players compete and put points on the board 'til the cows come home. That doesn't change the practicalities the team will experience. We are not a well honed outfit yet, and so identifying our assets and liabilities is crucial. As is analysing how we go about competing against any given opponent. Wolves after appointing Nuno, had a preseason and transfer window, they recruited excellently and had a whole season to reap the rewards of their strategy. Villa after appointing Smith, were in a precarious and dubious position in regards to promotion, against the odds, after some sound recruitment, we too reaped the rewards. The major difference, is that Wolves retained the players they recruited and then added quality. There was continuity in their development and that's allowed them to thrive. For us on the other hand, the side that was promoted had less than half the playing time together than Wolves, and upon promotion saw basically half it's personnel replaced. That's fairly significant. We might of spent more money than Wolves did in their return to the top flight, but money is just paper. Traded as a reflection of perceived value.