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Of those available, I guesd Chuk or maybe Young together with Coutinho as 10s tomorrow.

Ramsey has started two games as one of the 10s, against Leicester and Liverpool. He was more or less invisible in those games and got subbed off. I love Ramsey but think it’s better for him as a young player to really get to know his best position. He’s developing like crazy now and some of his greatest strenghts are carrying the ball forward himself or through 1-2s with others. As a 10 or semi-winger he would probably do less of that.

Ings has played in a duo most of his career so could easily do it again, if he has the right partner. Watkins is still fresh as a striker and has never played together with anyone on top, (except for a few poor games with Ings that is)

Depends on which those games are doesn’t it? Villa’s next five games are winnable and less than 12 points would be a little disappointing. After those games there’s five games that look much more difficult, we could be lucky to get 3-5 points from those.

That’s what Gerrard keeps saying, but most people online seem to have the same 11 (Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho). Late injuries could obviously bring changes.

Newcastle are saying they intend to build around Guimaraes (which sounds like a good idea).

If he keeps playing the way he does now, big clubs will be coming in for him very soon. Extending JPBs contract should be a very high priority if it isn’t already.

Of all the Villa youth currently dominating the Championship, JPB feels like the biggest talent. That’s saying a lot.

Not possible to link to Instagram Stories I’m afraid.

If you followed his Instagram you wouldn’t ask if he was a party boy, you would know. Leon is a very cool party boy with a huge appetite for glamour. (Not so much weed smoking and roots reggae though, so no need for stereotypes here).

The big question is, when he’s fit and possibly benched anyway - will he work hard to get in, or will he concentrate on throwing parties and clubbing?

I would complain, loudly. Cash plays 90 minutes every game and is never injured. Lamptey very rarely plays a whole game due to recurring injuries and has missed big parts of every season so far. Villa would need two Lampteys to replace a workhorse like Cash. Lamptey is obviously a huge talent but seems to lack some football intelligence. After he’s made a sprint up the pitch, gone inside and dribbled past a player, you would want something to come out of it. But quite often he ends up trying to beat one player too many and the attack becomes nothing. Stats are telling: at Chelsea U23 played 29 games with 1 goal, 1 assist. First half season at Brighton 8 games, 0 goals, 1 assist. Last season 11 games, 1 goal 1 assist. This season 15 games, 0 goals 1 assist. Let Spurs spend 40-50 million on him. I agree with the general idea of gradually improving the squad by upgrading players though

At Luton he’ll be nr 2, instead of nr 3 at Villa? Not sure Steer is considered good enough to be first choice in the Championship, surely he knew when he came there he’d be backup.

Compared to Nakamba, surely he is better in possession? Probably not compared to Luiz though

Not at the start of the season, Marv was relatively poor then. It’s all about those first four and a half Gerrard games. I wonder how Nakamba will succeed as a 6 against lesser teams, when Villa want vi more possession and control. He is obviously great when we are under constant attack.

Offloading Sanson would be the best move quality wise, but not sure how much Villa could get for him.

I can think of one example: last time we played Wolves and Smith subbed Nakamba on for Luiz at 60 minutes and 2-0 up…

If he goes there is no playmaker from deep. McGinn isn’t that. Bentancur? Maybe, maybe not. Then again, lots of teams don’t have deep lying playmakers. Burnley certainly not.

We were actually really, really good first half. Stats say we created 7 chances, Everton 0 first half. But can’t seem to perform more than 45 minutes so second half was pretty dreadful, even if we showed some grit.

Why the **** have we stopped playing?

Martinez often overdoing this game mnagement thing. You can often see well in advance when he’s about to get booked, but he doesn’t seem to see it.

Not defending Mings in this case, but Konsa’s high pass completion is because he only plays short sideways to Mings.

Richarlison surely.

That’s our strongest possible XI, should create goals. Still worried we’ll concede within the first 15 minutes though, what I wouldn’t give for a clean sheet these days.

I’d like to see Carney start as one of the 10s if Coutinho can’t start. But thinking about another option: just a few weeks ago everybody was raving about Young playing as a 10, now he’s completely forgotten. Wouldn’t be surprised if SG started him and subs him for Coutinho at 60 minutes.