tyklip

I'll take getting the correct call every time. It's just so obvious to me. There are *huge* decision in games with great consequence and we have the ability to get it right with little added effort. Will things be lost? Yeah, but that trade off is worth it for me.

This. By far the most noticeable difference between him and every striker Villa has had in years. I don't think I have seen another striker run as continuously to harry defenders and then bust it to get into scoring positions. It's not close. Can anyone name a Villa striker who has done this on this side of the millennium?

Folks, if everyone is back to good health, who plays CB next match? That is a might difficult decision. Obviously not Jedinak, but after that...

Just a great cross by Elmo

Here:

For me, a large part of it is the satisfaction in not seeing some of those perennial top teams with their spoiled fans winning. That's big for me.

I honestly don't think anyone can go over the top. This might be the greatest underdog story in all major sports. The sheer odds are unreal. No need being aggressive, but I guess I've been a supporter of enough losing clubs that I'm able to separate my club's lack of success with some other outcome. In American football, I'm almost as happy to see the Patriots lose as my team win, for example.

I struggle to understand this. I mean, sure we're all fans of Villa, but to step back and realize this unbelievable achievement that goes way beyond just English football. You don't have to be happy for Leicester, but to not be bothered that it's them or some other team who is always odds on favorite. Weird.

Most games I watch city play, toure dominates. He was completely anonymous today.

Apart from last season... And the year before. Think that is the joke.

Aside from the obvious technical ability, pace, quickness, he effortlessly defends one on one, tackles well, and reads the game like no other. He anticipates what the opponent does so well. In one play, he was one on 2, read the overlapping run and nullified the play.

I don't quite understand that latter point. Do teams that don't have a tall striker never cross the ball? It still seems tactically sound to cross the ball in the box even with smaller strikers.

Not surprisingingly, a lot of overreactions here. We had basically none of creative players on the pitch, which will make a difference in our attack, and the defense had man u. In control the whole game. One bit of fortune (after an admittedly slack piece of defending) and a missed pen leave them with 3 pts. Edit: and let me add: amavi is really good. His anticipation is so far ahead of everyone else.

Patience

Still can't play as a team, but Rudy is a beast in the air, amavi is the business and Clark and Richards were solid. Oh, and gana was our best midfielder by far.

Said I think this guy is better in the air than Benteke. One game, but I think it's true.

Of course we will. We had Lambert in charge for 3/4 of the season. We went nearly 2 months without a goal. It's very difficult to match that especially with an attacking manager. I think we will have a few players with around 10 goals and maybe one around 15. Basically I think the scoring will be more spread out. Just to be clear, I'm not the one claiming we'll score less. I'm calling out those who are. Edit: part Czechlad said wasn't quoted, so it looks like mine. I only wrote last statement.

yeah without a doubt we will score more, and the games will be more enjoyable.Without a doubt, but there are a few on here saying we're worse offensively this year than last year. I get the basic reasoning: Benteke is gone. But that is a myopic view of the situation, and if they're so certain let's see them bet we'll score less.

Anybody who thinks we're weaker offensively want to bet we'll score fewer goals this year than last year? I would give you good odds that we'll score more this year.

I'll say this: I bet he'll prove to be better in the air than Benteke.

Set to not score as many? Yeah, no. Sherwood being the manager for the whole season means we'll have more goals. Do you remember the first 2/3 of last season?

That stat was mentioned earlier in this thread, but it's good that you re-upped it. He looks absolutely determined get his head on balls . I haven't seen too many more players who are so maniacal in the air.

Richards better be the answer. No way he's being paid the wages he is to not start. You could respond that he could play rb, but that is clearly not the plan. As it is, basically expect him to be a cb and expect him to be a mainstay until it is beyond obvious he can't hack it. Too much in wages not to give him an extended look.

Great idea: Can we get the Delph loyalty video and his recent words playing at villa Park when man city come to play?

Do you see Delph getting anywhere near that much playing time? He's a decent player, and certainly good for us, but I can't see him being first choice at Man City. He's no Jimmy Milner. I think in a 60 game season then he can hope for 30 appearances or so. We do opften lack a bit of energy in midfield and even Lampard could get that for us last year despite being pretty terrible past Novemberish. We're weak in the centre mid spots so he has as good a chance as any. It's a bit like John O'Shea at United. Did he expect to play every game? No probably not but it was more fulfilling to be part of a medium sized part of a winning squad that collects medals than a big part of a squad that doesn't. Again, I'll ask: is what is happening here (as a microcosm) good for football? My response to this would be: "No". However, equally, there were a vast, vast number of fans on here wanting a hugely rich owner to come in and spend loads on Aston Villa when the takeover rumours were flying around. It's always good if you're at the top. True enough. But having a little self-awareness would go a long way. Like: "Yeah, I hate that this is an anti competitive league and villa's rich owners are making it worse"