Herman22

I'm no expert on this but I have been involved in similar cases. It will come down to a number of factors. Firstly, the contract between Villa and Chelsea will have terms that most likely say we pay X% of his wages for the remainder of the season. Chelsea most likely have no recall clause and Villa have no terms to terminate the agreement so the agreement finishes at the end of the season. We can send him back but that most likely is allowed for (we pay all remaining fees). That's the contract. A lot will come down to Jota. Villa have a duty to every employee (player and staff) to ensure they work is a safe environment. If this incident happened during the course of normal footballing activities (two players getting a bit wound up and acting out) then it's most likely not a sack-able offence. But if Jota doesn't feel safe to be at work or the assault is seen as particularly vicious then Villa may push to have him removed. Either way it will turn into a legal battle and they are never cheap.

I think Villa need to act now more like a company than a football club. If I had a person working for me short term and he assaulted a permanent member of my staff he would be gone within the hour. Even if it means paying whatever wages we have agreed for the rest of the season. It only takes one or two bad eggs in a group to really bring the morale down. Get him out the door as soon as possible.

I've said this before and I will most likely say it again. Smith over achieved last season, no one expected us to be promoted and he is learning the hard way with a really tough season in the premier league. If we had missed out on the playoffs and were top 3-4 of the championship right now everyone would be saying what a great job he is doing. Even if we go down, and I think now we will, DS deserves a season in the Championship to bounce straight back. We cannot afford another relegation and another hope for the best manager with a raft of new players going into a championship season. DS knows the league and will be best placed to get us out of it with a team he has assembled. There's no doubt we will lose players, I'd be shocked if a prem teams doesn't come for Grealish, McGinn, Mings, maybe even Targett and ElGhazi. But that will still leave the nucleus of the team we have and a manager who hopefully knows how to play us out of the championship.

Chelsea are starting to hit some form and we seem to be sinking without a trace. What stood out for me most against Leicester was our aimless passing, we seemed to hack it out of defense for the entire 90mins. I think I would go back to 5 at the back and try to get the full backs going forward rather than back. I also think Hause is strong in the air and might help us at set pieces. There were so many terrible performances in the last game you would drop everyone given the chance. I think only Nakemba can hold his head high after last night. I think I would go with this: Reina Elmo Konsa Mings Hause Targett Nakemba Grealish McGinn Davis Samatta I know McGinn won't start. I suppose Douglas would slot in there, I assume Drinkwater can't play against his owners. All I can see is another loss here!

Chelsea, Wolves, Liverpool and Man United up next. I have zero hope!

Can't pick a MOTM. Everyone was terrible.

Yeah that's the one. A truly useless footballer.

I'm starting to think Douglas is actually Westwood with a fancy haircut. He offers nothing. Nothing going forward. Nothing in defense.

You have to do the basics and tonight our full backs haven't defended or attacked.

There's no coming back from this. We are down!

How is Guilbert still on the pitch? It's one of the poorest performances I think I've ever seen in a Villa shirt. Truly pathetic.

If that's true I'll be very happy. As good as they have been I think their defense can be got at. I'd be tempted to go 4-4-2 and get someone close to Samatta, I just worry Davis doesn't have even 70 mins in him at the moment. Reina Elmo Engels Mings Targett ElGhazi Luiz Nakemba Grealish Samtta Davis

I'm not going to do a ranking but I think Houiller was such bad luck. I think if we had 2-3 season with him in charge we could have been looking up the table. Unfortunately, McLeish got the job and it was all downhill from there on. I think Lambert did a decent job due to the constraints place on him. DS has massively over achieved to get us to the prem. He had to spend big in the summer and I'm still confident he will keep us up.

I think these numbers underline the reason we need to stay in this league.

I think he will be on the bench for Leicester. Heaton said on Sky yesterday that he was pushing for the cup final so how far away could he be? A full week of training this week and he's surely worth a place on the bench!

In every game there are two teams. We are coming off the back of a decent performance (despite the loss) and Leicester have just been beaten a team bottom of the league. I'm hoping Vardy isn't fit as he always causes us problems. I have a feeling we will get something here. Hoping for 3 points but I'd take 1. I'm also hoping McGinn is on the bench as it will give the entire team a lift! I think DS will stick with 4 at the back. I'm expecting: Reina Guillbert Engels Mings Targett Luiz Nakemba ElGhazi Drinkwater Grealish Samatta

No I don't think they were dirty either. But as an underdog it's very hard to break when any hint of a break is on they cynically take the player out. It's not dirty, it's just bending the rules and they are masters of it. On Marv's tackle I didn't think it was a foul, never mind a yellow/ red. He has cleanly taken the ball, if anything Augero steps on Marv. I thought Gary Neville's Man City cheer leading was embarrassing to listen to throughout. And Micah Richards at the intervals speaking like he's never played for anyone other that City was a tough watch too.

No matter how this ends DS has shown why he is the man to lead Villa. Excellent second half.

The corner isn't a VAR issue anyone with eyes could see it came off the City player. The ref didn't have the balls to make the call. We need to keep it tight for 20-30mins now and make some changes towards the end. There's no doubt that city defensive line can be got at.

Man City 1 Officials 1 Villa 0

Newcastle can't buy a goal at the moment. Haven't scored in 4 games. I think I said in another thread it wouldn't be a surprise if they didn't win another game this season.

I think DS will spring a couple of surprises in the starting 11 today. I'm even hoping a surprise on the bench. (maybe McGinn)

Teams will pick up points here and there. The Watford win is a complete shock. But I'd still be looking up to Newcastle as team still very much in the relegation scrap. Survival is all in our own hands.

I find this type of conversation interesting. Goalkeepers tend to be looked at differently to outfield players. For me I would 100% start Reina, do we remember Nyland's game against City when you could argue he was at fault for a number of their goals. Yes he played well in both legs vs Leicester but Reina is a player who has been and done this before and his experience and calm head will be crucial.

I think a move to United right now would be a huge risk. I think for all the talk OGS is only ever a few bad games away from the sack. I also hate everything about the club. I think he could really do well at Liverpool or City. Even Barca!