Peter Griffin

I would like to sign him now. He looks a good prospect. But for the reported 30m/40m I think the money would be better spent fixing the issues we have this season and not buying potential for a few years down the road. If we can afford to buy for this season and invest for the future then great. If we can only afford one or the other then I can't see why we should invest in Sarr as future potential

From what I have seen of him, which is very very limited and from a playing perspective, he does look like the type of player we need but I just don't see that his lack of experience and age suiting our team this season. I may be missing something but I don't understand the calls for us to sign him. Has anyone actually seen the lad play other than clips on YT?

Is Sarr really the player Villa need to sign? I have only seen clips of him play and read about him and yes he sounds like a good player. But he is only 18 years old and has played a total of 22 games for Metz senior team. Is he good enough to be a starter for us and will he fix our problems. To me he looks like one for the future as opposed to a player for this season.

It wasn't crazy that he started but it was crazy that he started on the right with a 36 year old starting on the left. We knew he would be up against Sarr. If we have injuries and suspensions we need to play our backup players who are not good enough but it is not good enough if we play them in the wrong position

We will see with PSG this season. Messi, Neymar and Mbappe up front. How can they not win the Champions League

If that is the case then Smith should not be our manager as he is definitely in the learning phase

I was (am) very happy we signed Ash. But he is 36 and should not be starting games unless we are desperate i.e. injuries and suspensions. El Ghazi should have started on the left. This is not hindsight, I felt this before the game and do not want to see Ash start league games for us. I don't think that should have been a difficult decision for Smith, I think it was inexperience showing. Hopefully he will learn from this but time will tell. I am concerned that Smith is feeling nervous about his job and as such he may be a little more cautious with selection and this would be a negative imo

I wouldn't have started Ash, too old for a starting birth and particularly against Sarr. Sarr is their star player and is rated at 40m+, it was no surprise he was going to be a threat. We also knew that Targett didn't have much of a preseason so it was not a great idea to have a non match fit LB with a mid 30s player in front of him. El Ghazi starting on the left and Traore on the right would have been better. After 20 mins I would have been tempted to bring on Axel and play 3 at at back and play 2 wingbacks, that would have helped protect Targett. If we are looking at Smith's decision making re teams, Smith could have prioritised a stronger DM addition to the squad. When I say he struggles with team selection, I don't just mean for the starting 11, but for the full 90 mins with switching the team about and with subs. I love Smith,, he has been great for us, but I do feel he has real problems in this area and it will potentially hurt Villa this season

I think we need to realise and maybe accept (or not) that Smith is new to managing / head coaching at Premier level. He too is learning and he needs more experience. If we are happy with Smith and his own progress as our gaffer we need to stick with him and support him. If not, he needs to be sacked. Smith has many strengths and many weaknesses. We enjoy when we see his strengths and we really do not like when we see his weaknesses. Today was a weakness day. We will get better and hopefully Smith will learn. IMO, he still struggles with team selection and he has done since he joined our club. He is going to be under huge pressure this season and he really needs to eliminate these really bad days from his repertoire. We have moved on from being the newly promoted with a completely new squad. This is Smith's team and he needs to step up

mmm, I would think that comment by you is the one that doesn't deserve the considered response

It will be more satisfying coming from behind

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I think that would be more of a problem against better teams. There is very little quality in this Watford team. I don't think they have the ability to overrun our midfield. I think we are going to enjoy a comfortable and dominant win this afternoon. Really looking forward to watching this, unfortunately I will have to wait till after the final whistle to watch it on AVTV though

My thoughts too

Ings was on the pitch when ElGhazi took a pen last Sunday. I expect elGhazi is still on pen duty

Must be worth about 100m

Aston Villa: Martínez, Cash, Konsa, Mings (C), Targett, Nakamba, McGinn, Buendía, El Ghazi, A.Young, Ings. Substitutes: Steer, Tuanzebe, Hause, J.Ramsey, Chukwuemeka, Philogene-Bidace, Bailey, Traore, Wesley.

Looks like we are going to have to put a few past them today if we are to be top at the end of the day

I would be very happy if he scored an og or two. His social media would be fun

I can't find anything to say whether he trained or not. Cards kept close to the chest with this one. Maybe DS is trying to make Watford think a little more about what sort of team we will play. Hopefully we will see Ings & Watkins start

And a few years too late, he should have been named captain when Jack was

All the bad memories flooding back. Balaban too

I agree. He is a good player but he is too slow. I can't see any of the top teams going for a player that doesn't have pace

I am nervous about today. I feel we will win and do so comfortably. But I am nervous what it means if we don't. Since NSWE & Smith we have shown massive improvement each season. Starting with promotion, to retaining PL status to finishing 11th. I want and expect to see improvement this season so I am wanting 8th but would love 6th or 7th. If we are to deliver this improvement then this is the type of game we should be taking 3 points from. Its not the end of the world if we draw or even lose, it would just be a bit deflating and would put a dint in our (my) aspirations for Villa this season

Watford have lots of injuries, I expect (hope) Deeney will start, he is way past it now and his frustration from not getting a look in could result in a red. Then it will just be target practice for Ings, Buendia and Ash