VillaFaninLondon

15 minutes ago, av1 said:

                       Heaton

Guilbert---Mings---Engels---Targett

               McGinn---Nakamba

Trezeguet-------Grealish--------El Ghazi

                           Wesley

Best 11 imo. 

That’s probably the 11 I’d say is our strongest too on paper, though I can see Luiz and Nakamba battling it out for a spot and Jota playing instead of one of the wingers sometimes. 

Thats the team i’d go for against Spurs though, with maybe Grealish a bit deeper making it a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1.

It would be nice to top off a very active and positive window with a final signing that really gets everyone excited. Could have been Leao but that ship appears to have sailed. Maupay wouldn't be a bad signing necessarily but it would be nice if the club had someone more proven and exciting than him lined up. 

They were at the under 21 Championships so someone like Brekalo or Chiesa would be exciting, but both wingers. I'd personally like someone lined up who knows how to put the ball in the net as I still feel we need more goals. 

I also wouldn't be opposed to us signing Harry Wilson as I reckon he will turn out a pretty damn good player 

Heaton, Nakamba and Wilson and we’re probably done. We’ve got a lot of players for each position, hopefully we’re strong enough defensively and offensively.

However, I feel Wesley will need to hit the ground running and score more goals than he did at Bruges for us to have a successful season.

I would have preferred Butland too, mainly due to his age, but Heaton will probably be a solid signing. It’s definitely an upgrade on Steer. For me though, he’s only a short-term solution given his age and we’ll go back in for Butland, Benítez, Perin or another younger keeper next summer or the summer after. 

Heaton is a decent shot stopper and in the England set-up so certainly not a bad choice, but if we want to get to say Wolves’ level we’ll need better further down the line.

I can see why they'd think we take time to get going given a lot of new players, but we actually have quite a favourable start with a lot of winnable games. 

First 10:

Spurs (a), Bournemouth (h), Everton (h), Palace (a), West Ham (h), Arsenal (a), Burnley (h), Norwich(a), Brighton (h), Man City (a)

Of those games, I would actually think we could win maybe 5 of them. The away games against Spurs, Arsenal, City probably no points, but we could quite feasibly win three or even four of the five home games. And I reckon we are more than capable of winning at Palace and Norwich imo. We win five and draw one or two we're already on 16/17 points. 

Team I'd go with:

......................Steer/Kalinic......................

Guilbert......Engels.......Mings......Targett

.............................Luiz.............................

.............McGinn..............Grealish...........

Trezeguet..................................El Ghazi

.........................Wesley...........................

I don't really feel comfortable either Steer or Kalinic playing so I really hope we sign a proven goalkeeper by then. Jota has been good preseason, but Trezeguet's record suggests he will cause Spurs far more problems and I just have a feeling Jota won't be up to it against better teams, but could be wrong. The other big call for me is, provided he comes in, whether to go for Nakamba over Luiz (if both receive their work permits in time). Nakamba might be better against tougher opposition where we might not see the ball for longer periods, given his ability to break up play. Hopefully the work permits are ready by then as if we play Hourihane there it could be a nightmare. 

We'll need to be switched on defensively for obvious reasons and the DM will need to cover our full backs. At least Son is missing for Spurs but they still have Moura, Kane, and Eriksen (for now), with Alli and Lamela also capable of doing something. But they're notoriously slow starters to the season and Kane doesn't score in August so who knows.

19 years old and already played and scored twice for Italy, scored 7 in 17 for Juve in all competitions last season - on paper looks like very good business by Everton, who still haven't replaced Lukaku. Still very young and raw though, and he'll be under pressure to score regularly at Everton unlike at Juve where if he scored it was a bonus more than anything considering the array of attacking talent they already have. 

Everton will want to hope he doesn't end up like Iheanacho at Leicester. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49149867

Gueye gone back to France. Shame he came to us at a terrible time in our history, I feel if he'd come to us when we had the likes of Barry and Petrov in midfield (or even now with Grealish and McGinn) he'd have gone on to be an absolute baller for us. MON would never have signed a player from continental Europe though. 

Personally think as a DM he's only behind Kante, Busquets, Casemiro and Fernandinho, very underrated.

Wish him all the best with PSG.

On 29/07/2019 at 02:01, sir_gary_cahill said:

This would be my side from the current squad:

Kalinic

Guilbert Konsa Mings Targett

Grealish Luiz McGinn

Trezeguet Wesley El Ghazi

Despite Steer’s heroics in the play offs last season, I decided to put Kalinic in goal. Kalinic has played for Croatia several times and hasn’t really had a fair crack of the whip in my opinion. I think Kalinic is an excellent goalkeeper. Who knows, Smith might feel the need to bring another goalkeeper in, I don’t know. I tried to pick a balanced 11, maybe we aren’t done in the transfer market, I don’t know

I like that team, except I'd have Engels over Konsa, then I think it's our strongest team. People saying Jota over Trezeguet, personally I'm still not sure on him, preseason he's looked very good but he didn't look that great for the last two seasons in the Championship and Trezeguet has a lot more pace to hit Spurs on the counter. Kalinic over Steer is harsh on Steer maybe, but Kalinic has played at the highest level for Croatia and if he isn't moved on I expect he might get his chance with a new defence but I'm not sure (still really hoping we get Butland and pay the money towards the end of the window).

I would imagine we'll try to hit Spurs on the counter by quick short passes rather than being too direct, though Wesley does give us that option if we need it. 

Hoping on the goalkeeper front we end up with either Benítez or Butland - both 26 and for me could hold their own in a top 10 team (which, providing we stay up comfortably this season, has to be the aim over the next 2-3 years). Etheridge and Heaton, whilst decent shot stoppers, would probably have to be moved on in a year or 2 as our ambitions become greater, whereas Benítez or Butland could hold the shirt for the next 10 years imo.

More money to get either of them but a much better investment on the whole.

That chance he had yesterday would have been buried by Prem standard strikers, I've known for ages that Hogan just isn't up to scratch. People who say he hasn't played much are kidding themselves, he started quite a few games in the 2017/18 season in the Champ and scored a measly six goals. He had one decent month (I think it was January) when he got the majority of those goals, most of the other months he was anonymous. 

Hogan may or may not rediscover the form he had at Brentford, but you'd like to think there'd be a midtable Champ team without a reliable striker who might take a punt on him. He's only 27 so not at the end of his career yet. Either way we need to move him on. 

Wesley will be first choice this season, I'm fairly happy with Kodj as backup option because he can also play wide left and has a few tricks in his locker which may be useful at this level as an impact sub. We definitely need another striker though, as if Wesley is struggling to score goals we currently don't have another feasible option to challenge him. Maupay is most likely the guy who will come if we get another striker, but I suspect we could get another out of the blue signing if Brentford continue to demand too much. 

17 minutes ago, Sulberto21 said:

I don’t think Alli is overrated, he would probably benefit from having Grealish and or Foden playing with him. Alli likes to make runs in behind whereas the latter two like to receive the ball on the half turn and create havoc from there.  Alli is young so his form will dip and rise.

If Grealish takes to the premier League like we are all hoping then England will benefit too that can only be a good thing surely.

He has had two seasons now where his performances have not been great, playing in a side like Spurs where he has a lot of good players around him. He's clearly not a bad player but in that role Grealish and Foden are far more creative and both can carry the ball unlike Alli as you say. Alli should be in the squad but definitely not starting for me, unless he plays the box to box role he played earlier in his career.

He's a brilliant footballer, can't wait to see him this season in the PL. I really think him and McGinn will tear it up, but it is a big step up from the Championship. 

Really think that England side needs a change from Alli (massively overrated) and Barkley (big disappointment and never fulfilled his potential). For me, Grealish and Foden are the exceptional talents in that position and need to be given a chance this season for England. Foden's benefited from playing for a top side which Jack didn't have when he came through as Villa were a complete mess at the time, but I've no doubt he's got just as much natural ability as Foden. Maddison also needs a call up. With those three competing with each other for the creative role, it can only benefit England massively. 

9 minutes ago, HalfTimePost said:

 

Will try and see if I can find the original article as they will have just taken it from elsewhere. 8 Clubs is a lot of competition if we are actually interested

If we pulled this off plus Butland it would be the best summer transfer window ever. 

Just now, omariqy said:

I'd definitely take that. I saw quite a bit of Leicester last season and they play very good football and have some very good players. Tielemans is a great addition too and he has already settled in thanks to his loan spell. I'd be shocked if we got near Everton, Leicester, Watford or Wolves. I am hoping we will finish the best of the rest. I'd take survival right now as I know we can kick on massively next season because of who we are, the size and importantly our owners. 

I agree with that except Watford - they're not at the same level as Everton, Leicester or Wolves. If our players gel we could quite feasibly finish near them or even above them. 

Leicester signing Tielemans was a masterstroke of a signing, that guy is gonna be one hell of a player. And Perez adds to an already decent attack - good business overall. I think Leicester have a great chance of challenging top 6 next season even if Maguire goes. 

Everton and Wolves haven't done much business yet, apart from signing their loan players, but are being linked to some decent targets. 

1 minute ago, sidcow said:

Shearer not world class? 

Controversial maybe, but I don't think so. World-class finisher though 

2 hours ago, mallett said:

I am very excited about this signing but he is a young player of enormous potential not a world beater (yet). He struggled to get into Girona's relegated team last season. He played well against Barca and Real according to the highlights reel but other observers have suggested he was off the pace in some of their other matches.

Just winning the best player award at Toulon doesn't mean you will go on to be a great player (although plenty have done) - this link gives a list of past winners. The last two Brazilian winners in 2013 and  2014 respectively were Yuri Mamute and Rodrigo Caio who from what I can see have hardly gone on to rip up world football.

Like the majority (all?) of the players we have signed this summer, our coaching team are backing their ability to improve Douglas and fulfill his potential. Our board are backing our coaching team to increase the value of their investment.

This is true, though Caio has played for the senior Brazil team which is pretty good going for someone who hasn't ripped up world football.

Other winners include very good Prem players with excellent potential (Brooks, Loftus-Cheek), world-class talents (James Rodriguez, Riquelme, Henry, Rui Costa, Mascherano) and players who had outstanding careers who weren't far off world-class (Shearer, Ginola, Mavuba, Gameiro, Giovinco). 

So yes, not guaranteed that he'll go on to be a superstar, but if he's coached well, keeps his feet on the ground, and is willing to put the effort in, he could go very far in the game.

Midfield options next season: Grealish, McGinn, Luiz, Nakamba, Hourihane, Jota, Trezeguet, El Ghazi.

Wow 

Perin I think has great quality, but his injuries are a concern. If we could maybe get him on loan would be the safer bet, though if he is a sick note Steer will play a lot (or Kalinic). Might save us a bit though and we could then invest in another quality attacking player.

Welcome Trez - pleased we have finally completed this signing, confident he'll do well. Hopefully Luiz next in.

On 17/07/2019 at 00:24, Villarocker said:

How do people fancy this starting lineup if the Heaton and Trezeguet deals can go through?

I still hope we can sign either Butland or Dubravka over Heaton, looks like Butland may be too expensive but Dubravka at the same price as Heaton I think is better value.

The rest of the team looks decent, not sure why people think Trezeguet won't start as I think he might end up being the signing of the summer for the price we've paid. Looks to have all the right attributes to do well here imo. 

If we could get someone like Maupay or Leao (or both) as another striker option that would help us a lot. I really couldn't say how many goals that team is going to score and unless Wesley comes out with 20 which is unlikely we'll be relying a lot on the midfielders to chip in with goals. Grealish, McGinn and El Ghazi all were capable of doing this in the Champ to an extent, but the Prem is completely different. So hopefully at this time next week we'll have some extra firepower signed up, particularly as the season is less than three weeks away now.

2 hours ago, KentVillan said:

Your perception of Kante, Mahrez and Vardy benefits massively from hindsight. I'd say perceptions of Leicester at the time were close to perceptions of Villa now.

Actually Leicester were 5,000-1 to win the league that season I believe. We’re 1,000-1 to win this season. So obviously sports betting agents think we have a decent set of players and a strong management team, which actually is very accurate.

If the team gels, the team could do really well. If it doesn’t, we could find ourselves struggling. I still don’t think we’ll get anywhere above midtable but if we can finish 12th-14th we will attract a higher calibre of player next summer and can continue our journey of looking to compete with the likes of Everton, Leicester and West Ham, which is the minimum this club should be doing.

2 hours ago, Cizzler said:

I think this current Villa team is a lot worse.

That team had Kante, Mahrez and Vardy - who are streets ahead of any player we currently have. Kasper Schmeichel is also a lot better than any of our current keepers.

But Kante, Mahrez and Vardy were complete unknowns at PL level that season. Kante had been played one season in Ligue 1 with Caen, Mahrez had scored about 4 goals the previous season and mainly played in the second tier before that, and Vardy had a bit of good form end of 14/15 season but had played most his career in the lower leagues. None of that team was proven at the top level, but Kante and Mahrezturned our to be two of the best signings the PL has ever seen.

Anything can happen in football, that season shows that. Engels, Guilbert, Wesley and Luiz could turn out to be unbelievable signings and I am optimistic they could be given how well they were rated at their old clubs. Same withTrezeguet and Konsa. We will soon see, but the management actually seem to have a clue what they’re doing at Villa now, unlike under Lerner.

I still would like to see a marquee signing though, particularly one who scores goals. Leao is one of the best young players in Europe, he would be a really top signing if we could pull it off. 

2 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

We're still really short. As things stand, I don't think we'll score enough goals to stay up..

We definitely need strengthening in attack. We've improved the defence considerably and with Luiz hopefully imminent I think defensively we should be ok. But in attack, even if Wesley settles I can't see him getting more than 10-12 (going on his previous seasons), Grealish and McGinn didn't get that many even in the Championship but might score more if Wesley creates more than Abraham did, El Ghazi will get a few and Jota might, and possibly Hourihane and Kodjia will get a few, but that's about it. 

Apart from a GK, who we can probably bring in on the final day of the window if needs be, we need to be getting in some attacking quality. Leao would be an absolute belter of a signing, even though he's only 20 I reckon he could score 10-15 goals if we signed him, but unfortunately looks like we have some serious competition. Trezeguet would be decent, reckon he'd score a few, as would someone like Benrahma. We need a player like Sigurdsson who can create chances as well as score them.

I'm hoping a couple of quality attacking additions aren't far off so we can bed them in before Spurs.

Konsa is an excellent prospect, hope he adjusts to the demands of the PL quickly.

Reports that we're in advanced talks with Bjorn Engels who was exceptional for Reims last season. Would be another very good signing, not sure whether we'd play him with Mings or three at the back. 

Hopefully we can sign up a RW (Trezeguet), a GK and DM in the next week or 2 and we're looking good. Maybe they'll cap it off with a bit of a marquee signing at the end - Leao or Bergwijn would be nice