wict01

1 hour ago, Zatman said:

Premier League record is:

Managed 98 Won 37 Drew 19 Lost 42. Goal Difference -5

20 of them wins were his 1st season at Chelsea when they had a good team which makes it look respectable

Yeah his full prem record since he was allowed to spend in summer 2020 is (as far as I've worked out) 17 wins, 13 draws and 30 defeats. I actually thought he did a half decent job in 19-20 with the younger players but since then....yikes. He's on 1.06ppg in that run, and dropping every week atm. 

14 hours ago, GlobalVillan said:

Really? So when they beat Man United 6-1 at Old Trafford, did the Spurs fans contact the club to make an extra payment for performing way above expectations?

Of course they didn't and nor should they. It's entertainment at the end of the day and you win some, you lose some. Demanding refunds is disgusting.

I agree, I don't think there should be refunds. My point is simply that if clubs are going to treat (relatively) loyal fans as customers, don't be surprised if some turn around and then act like customers in return. I think there's definitely a distinction to be drawn between the two. 

Although as others have said, it's definitely more of an appeasement attempt on behalf of the players than anything really driven by the fans barring maybe one or two idiots that rang in to TalkSport. 

I'm torn on it tbh. Clubs treat fans/supporters like customers these days, and as a customer you have a right to complain and get your money back when the product is shite. What are we to clubs? Fans, or customers? They can't have it both ways. I don't think clubs should reimburse fans for crap performances but equally if fans weren't gouged for ticket prices and people had paid £15-20 to be there they wouldn't be half as bothered. You can't charge people a premium for a "high end product" and have players turning up not arsed. 

They seem to win games at home despite never actually playing that impressively. I think we can certainly come away with something. 

15 minutes ago, duke313 said:

Hopefully means he's starting and not just on the bench.

I'm optimistic. The amount of fans I saw on social media praying for his guts/arse to settle down for tonight must've made an impact 

He has posted his usual match-day graphic on Insta. I assume this means he's okay!

You love to see it 

Just now, AshVilla said:

I'd take Meslier as number 2 to Emi.

5 - 10m?

I wouldn't touch him personally. Lacks presence, doesn't command his area and has the frame of a child. 11 shots on target faced and 11 goals conceded in the last couple of games is grim reading and he's never convinced me at this level...although you could say the same thing about the entire Leeds back line I suppose. 

Raheem Sterling. Never rated him and as others have said in the Chelsea thread, completely exposed now he hasn't got KDB putting the ball on a plate for him at the back post. People talk about his scoring record for England but he kills more attacks than he contributes to. A void of nothingness where attacking intention and creativity goes to die. I genuinely think Leon Bailey is a better player. 

Without Tuchel's decent points return at the start of the season, they really would be bang in trouble. I don't understand how you can spend all that money and not have a single decent centre forward at the club. 

2 hours ago, Panto_Villan said:

I mean Watkins has only been at the top of his game for a max of half a season, so Benteke is still well on top there.

Watkins is looking great these days but he’s doing it with much better players around him, playing in a proper formation organised by a far better coach.

Put Watkins in the Lambert team and we go straight down imo. Benteke was a special talent who kept us up by himself one season.

Maybe Watkins is a better striker for the system we have right now, but Tekkers was the better player for us overall.

This is my take on it too. I think Benteke is still the best, but my favourite is Ollie by some distance! 

Where are our old condescending Leeds visitors I wonder? Internet down in Yorkshire? 

Kane won't go abroad, he wants the PL record and fair play, he's an excellent striker as well a cheating arse. I really hope we can do the double over these after so many years of struggling against them. I'm still angry about Benteke's red card in the home game in the 14/15 season! 

Just now, Tom13 said:

He's no Benteke.

The header assist btw was unbelievable. To get to it, win it, and cushion it under pressure - superb.

Was gonna say this too, absolutely perfect lay off with his head, while being fouled. What a wonderful team goal. 

2 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

Imo

Better than Benteke 

Better than carew 

Between the two for me, I still think prime Benteke was the best forward I've seen purely because he was doing all of that in a shocking, shocking team. However I desperately hope Watkins becomes our top prem goalscorer in the next 2-3 seasons, he deserves it! 

Just now, tomsky_11 said:

Even if you don't care about the competetion, mad to ignore the potential additional revenue, even if it doesn't compare to CL money. Likely to be far more than anything we'd get from domestic cups next season.

I think it's a cup we could feasibly win too. You look at who's in the last 8 this year and I don't think any of those sides would hold much fear for us. 

I'm sure I've read somewhere that Gerrard himself admitted he wasn't much into the tactical side of things as a player. He led by example and by scoring last minute thunderbastards which masked his lack of nous. 

Anyway, re Dougie I was critical of him when he first joined as he seemed to take too long on the ball to pick his passes but ever since lockdown in 2020 he's been absolutely superb and I hope he stays for the rest of his career. Absolutely unreal footballer and seems a real genuine bloke too. So glad he stayed, despite Gerrard!

Maddison wouldn't come to us anyway, he's a typical Cov rocket polisher that hates the Villa

None of our players would get in their team though lads, we’re just lucky and outperforming our xG

Just now, KMitch said:

Valencia has been the La Liga team I've always had a soft spot for over the years, but I haven't watched many of their games recently because their ownership is straight up asset stripping their club and it's likely they'll be relegated this season and quickly tumble down the football pyramid.  Their two best players are Jose Gaya (LB) and Almeida, but they're a horrific watch at the moment because Valencia have gone through more manager changes than Watford and the squad is lopsided and their confidence is shot.  

Almeida is a deep lying midfielder who keeps things ticking over with short passes out wide/forward, while has the vision/passing range for pinging balls into the channels or through balls into the striker when the opportunity opens up. Has a powerful long shot on him and is good at retaining the ball under pressure for his small stature but he isn't physically imposing enough to really make his mark on any of the games I've seen.  I will say that he most closely resembles Douglas Luiz of anyone in the Villa squad, but isn't as good as Dougie defensively.   Almeida would take some time to adapt to the Premier League, but he would be a good signing for depth and the future.  Valencia is a mess financially and will probably sell anyone they get an offer for this summer if they go down.  

Was about to say this too, no chance anybody would cost £30m from Valencia this coming summer as their owners have been giving away their best players for sweet FA for years. 

7th would be an exceptional effort after where we were and I'd be very happy with that. 

3 minutes ago, Mazrim said:

Martinez
Fresneda
Konsa
Mings
Moreno
Kamara
Luiz
Kamada
Bellingham
Mitoma
Watkins

Subs: Some Keeper or other, Carlos, Feeney, Cash, Iroegbunam, McGinn, Ramsey, Buendia, Bailey, Moukoko, Duran

What?

....what?

I was listening to a discussion about Fresneda recently, the consensus was he is young and obviously talented with plenty of room for growth, but not yet at the level to be a first choice RB for any side with European ambitions. Can't say how accurate that is as I refuse to pay for premier sports to watch La Liga but seems a sensible enough conclusion to me.