MentalM

Doesnt this buyback also require Luiz to agree on it?

With all the improvements from the signings last year this season, I will not write anyone off before they had a second season  

16 hours ago, robby b said:

His Gerrard-esque slip was unfortunate. But later on there was that alarming moment when he headed the ball so blatantly at our goal! Yikes! I mean that was so nearly a fantastic, spectacular own goal. Yes, the ball was the wrong side of his head, unfortunately, but I think it would maybe have been better in this case if he'd tried to move his head out of the way. (Easier said than done, I admit, when the ball's coming fast at you and you have to make a split second decision. I'd probably have pulled off the spectacular own goal, top corner).

TBH i think the header would have been disallowed if it went it. Pretty clear free kick in my opinion. VAR wouldnt let that one stand. 

To all the responses, yes we condemned it through Purslow. I am however expecting an official club statement, that is what I am dissappointed for not being presented  

Brighton condemned it as well. Why are we not doing it...

Lets hope the club issues a statement similar to Everton now. Condemn this shit from all official channels we can. I would be greatly dissappointed if we do not do as they did. 

I am curious if Smith notices how the fanbase is unhappy with Barkley (as we rightfully can be in my opinion), and would leave him out due to it? Because even me who is a reasonably calm person would be furious if he gets minutes next game. I would rather have Trez on with crutches due to his attitude. 

Personally I believe a manager should be pretty confident of the quality in a player if he gets minutes after that performance, because in the long run you need to keep the fans happy. 

Absolutely outrageous if he is even on the bench in my opinion, would rather have an empty seat there...

PL signing of the season if you ask me  

I am just amazed of the idea that someone is more genetically predispositioned to be assaulted by the likes of Ben Mee, I applaud the creativity behind that idea. I dont fully support it (well I actually do not at all) but its creative...

I hope we dive and act our way into Europe.

We are not getting the free kicks we should be getting, even if we do act. Grealish gets mauled down with no cards given until 70 minutes. Then there might be a yellow if we are lucky. 

Traore and Trezeguet are overdoing it a bit, and they look silly doing it. Still dont mind, we are not worse than other teams.

Entire Football needs and overhaul with regards of all of it.

Make a season where they do not allow holding (we will have one season with 1000 penalties, but so be it), overplaying being fouled (1000 yellows), diving (straight red), cynical fouls (give out yellows after every bloody one, even if its just delaying time by kicking the ball 1 meter away), and make the time be active playing time like basket, handball and hockey. Then we get rid of all the time wasting as well. 

You can see the potential is there. Fingers crossed he improves, seems like a likable character. Also appreciated his honesty in the need to get used to the tempo in PL, he knows where he needs to focus his game at the moment!

I suspect we got a great signing, who will shine next season.

That game was what we get with Mings. The odd mistake thats costly, but also the desire to win and make up for it. Without the error proneness he would have been the best English CB due to his leadership.

Its frustrating, but I still deem him the most important player together with Martinez in our defense since he is so vocal and a natural leader. Doubt Konsa would be so good without Mings. 

I screamed when he made the forward run and assisted Trez, and for the love of god ITS SO GOOD TO SEE THE PASSION HE HAS. The relief on his face when Trez netted made me a happy man!

1 hour ago, cb_82 said:

Sarr - Watford

Bissouma- Brighton

Olise - Reading

 

Agree on these ones! Not the others

Ramsey runs and covers more than Hourihane.

I would compare Hourihane a bit with what Barkley currently do for us, not enough. Workrate defensively just isnt there, which causes problems.

Love Conor thou and wish him the best. I just do not think it is here he has a future.

45 minutes ago, TRO said:

We have a unique situation as I see it at Villa, never in my many years have I seen the harmony and the single minded intent of progressing this club, from the top down.....it is truly encouraging.

This so much.

That is also one of the reaons I am ok with bad games, because they happen. And at least I know the players are trying. This is so much better to see than much of the last decade has shown us. We gave the ball away way to much in the game vs Wolves, horrible passes going no where. Same vs Sheffield United. It doesnt bug me, I expected a bottom half fight this season, but Smith has improved, and is improving continuesly. Myself, I am looking forward to every bloody match now, instead of dreading the inevitable ruining of the weekend from horrible performances.

Brighton should be top 5 with xPTS, incredibly ineffective infront of goal.

20 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

Lookman and Saint Maximin would be good options.

One of them are bound to go down as well so one of them we'd get on the cheap

Lookman is not owned by Fulham, he is a RB Leipzig player. So nothing cheap there.

4 minutes ago, MrSmirch said:

If he's happy and wanted to stay he'd sign a new deal.

Do we know he has rejected a contract? Might be an agreement to wait after season to not take away focus or whatever reasoning?

Until anything tells me otherwise I believe his future is here.

15 minutes ago, jimmygreaves said:

I'm convinced people haven't watched him play. Yeah, he's never going to be Gordon Cowans, we get it, but his general play and passing is really good. Particularly his first time passing which I think he's worked on a lot.

He breaks up play with interceptions and some tackling.... that's his game.

But, like I say, his first time passing is excellent. He's able to recycle the ball really quickly to get the team moving forward.

I think his general play is really underrated by many on here.

100% agree. I think he has been close to flawless when he has ben called upon this season. 

4 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

That isn't his job.

We don't need a playmaker in every position.

Not to be demanding, but I do think our players need to be able to ATLEAST pass a ball 11 yards!

With all the weird VAR decisions, suspicious pro Manchester club refereeing I come to this conclusion:

I dont care, I hope Grealish rolls and dives us into Europe. If he gets an Oscar while doing it, great. Game has turned into this, people not getting booked for the countless assaults they have on him. I think he overplays, but he does not dive. Personally I hope we play as unfairly as we can, since thats obviously the way to go now adays. 

Dive us into Europe Jack!

Loved that he yelled at Ramsey for not working hard enough defensively, and Ramsey followed the lead  

I think he is far from match fit, shows glimps of quality, however not enough work off the ball. 

I appreciate the way he handles media now. Feel he calls out bad games and refs more than before! Believe that has a positive effect on the morale in the team.