juanpablosaliceband

Crazy decision. We are now reliant on our third choice right back.

It’s early days in this season but on our current trajectory, we look like we could easily jump 7-8 league positions for the second season running. That’s reflective of a rapidly improving outfit and should see us quickly outgrowing the sort of players we have been linked with in recent windows. I don’t see us buying squad players to sit on the bench but it’s also difficult to see how we can improve much of our first 11 without moving onto another calibre of player, which is what I expect to see next from this beautiful juggernaut. Maybe not this winter but hopefully in the summer. I think marquee signings are on their way, with Champions League football to follow!

He looks good but it’s very early for some of the plaudits being sent his way. We’ve had three league games and he’s had major howlers in two of them. Luckily, he got away with them. We wouldn’t have been so forgiving to Nyland.

So did I!

Trez ghosted by Jota there.

No problems there then with the way Targett is playing at the moment. Taylor can’t be far off him at the moment.

Lampard now being quoted saying RLC is likely to go out on loan this week to get games as he is unlikely to get them at Chelsea.

Exactly. Compare that to Sheffield United, considering what they did last season. Huge swing in perception in just a couple of games.

Yeah he was in the huddle before the game.

He seems overweight to me?

We need to get our midfield into this game. Very lucky to be 2 up.

Ok, saying bedding in is nonsense was an overstatement. But I do think its importance is over stated. In this case, I think it would be bizarre not to start Traore. Most of us have been crying out for over 12 months for better quality in wide areas, mostly borne out of the frustration of watching El Ghazi and Trez (acknowledge both scored important goals which fans are grateful for). Fulham is a winnable game that we could rely on later in the season and I believe we should get that extra quality Smith and Terry have been talking of on the pitch ASAP and see what they can do. We are still short in enough areas as it is. If he does tire, fine, get trez on then to finish the job. Also, I don’t agree it would send the wrong message to the other players. On the contrary, it shows that sub standard performances won’t be tolerated and might act as a wake up call to the likes of Targett, who was shocking against Sheffield United. “You’re next for an upgrade if you don’t get your act together.”

I can’t comprehend how we would go and spend £19 million on a new wide player and still start Trezeguet ahead of Traore. Surely Smith will start Traore. He has to. None of this bedding in nonsense. Get our best players on the pitch ASAP. We lacked creativity against Sheffield United.

Rashica definitely done? What have I missed?

Donald Trump would appear a humble gentleman next to those two.

Sky coverage is pretty embarrassing to be fair. They seem to be copying and pasting from Twitter. Rob Dorsett was on last night discussing our pursuit of RLC and Barkley and why, one might ask, would Villa want another midfielder when they already have seven. Went onto discuss Lansbury being surplus, Grealish having a free role and Jota, El Ghazi and Trezeguet being used in wider roles. Completely omitted any mention of McGinn and Luiz who are our actual starting midfielders and would be the competition for those positions. I was in disbelief watching such incompetence.

Yeah if Barkley or an equivalent signing arrives, it’s better loan him. But I’m very tempted to see how he’d perform if we give him a few games now. Some youngsters just thrive and never look back. We seem to have this habit of loaning our young players for years, having never really tested them in the first team, and never really knowing if they can step up. We then end up selling or releasing them at 23/24. Not saying that will happen to Ramsey or that a loan wouldn’t help his development but with the squad we have today, I’d play him before Nakamba / Hourihane / Lansbury.

100%. If he’s good enough in these two cup games, which he has been, he’s good enough to start against Fulham. Can’t be worse than starting with a Nakamba or a Hourihane.

That’s the one. It was actually summer 2013. I see he went to Dynamo Kiev and is now with Galatasaray.

Would Rashica be our most highly speculated non-signing of all time if he doesn’t sign? I can’t think of a bigger one, in terms of speculation, longevity, etc. What was the name of the midfielder in France we pined after all summer, about five years ago before we got relegated? Name started with a B I think. He was with Montpellier or similar.

I would agree. The no loan thing is a good principle but I’d be happy to relax our principles slightly until we are in a position where we are obtaining more than 35 points in a season. There are several areas of the pitch where just one good loan acquisition could really improve us.

Can’t help but be disappointed if it’s true Guilbert is going. I think he would have improved in his second season. Seems ruthless of Villa considering some of the poor options our squad is carrying in other positions. Cash looks class but I still feel we’ve left ourselves short in areas of higher priority, like CM, LB and the wings.

McGinn’s passing is the pits tonight.

1-0 up against 10 men. Our reaction to this will tell a lot about the mentality of this team. Go get a second. Don’t sit back like Villa of old.

We were stretching them better at 11v11 when SU were open and here to win the game. SU are more compact now and much more difficult to break down. They’re happy to hit us on the break. Bigger chance we lose this now I fear!