ChesterDad

His touch is very bad and instinctive ? With all due respect I just don’t think he is - I don’t expect him to score these days and isn’t this the essence of an instinctive striker? In fact if anything he goes to pieces in front of goal at the moment and scuffs the ball. What I do acknowledge is that he is totally void of confidence and this might well change with the new manager - but the bigger picture will remain and that is, he is unfortunately a limited striker imo

Utterly useless last night - how on earth did he become a professional footballer based on that ?He has the same technical level that the previous fat useless number 11 had. My only chink of optimism is that his confidence must be totally shot to pieces and maybe just maybe a new coach can get a tune out of him.

My choice would be Franks and I believe it’s achievable - I don’t think MP is tbh. I also think it’s time to let people who actually give a flying fig about the club to have a say in recruiting the next manager. Goodness knows why we have the history of footballing novices making choices. Bruce was a disaster the moment he walked in the door, anyone knowing a little bit about the game knew it would end badly, and time has subsequently proved what a bogus he is. Dean is a little different for the obvious reasons - although you can’t argue at the time of appointment he represented a gamble, fortunately for both Dean and the club - he was a qualified success. Gerrard - see Bruce, absolute disaster of an appointment and destined to end in disappointment. Surely there are still enough footballing villans around the club to have a significant input into the decision making opposed to the business/marketing moguls who have no clue whatsoever. Of the top of my head I am thinking of the likes of Brian, Ian, Peter and so forth - proper footballing men, who have the club and supporters best interests at heart ?

I really do believe we are much better than our current position suggests and that’s on you know who - genuinely believe the right manager can easily get another 50% out of our lot

I’m afraid the club have to act now - it’s now at the same stage as when Bruce was in his final throw. Too much disconnection now to turn this around. It’s in everyone’s best interests including his, to bring this sorry saga to a swift conclusion.

Hopefully the new guy can see sense !

I have absolutely no idea as to what Gerrard feels he brings to the team over Bertie ? Personally I’d be embarrassed to pick Bailey over him. At least Bertie had moments of mercurial brilliance - compared to ?? I’m afraid as far as I’m concerned Bailey thinks he is much better than the reality. Made of glass and a waste of time imo

Absolutely this - no better opportunity to see how he fairs. Cant see it though

Definitely worth a start - not expecting anything again from Watkins today, hoping but defo not expecting

For me Dougie is one of those players we will regret selling, but what can the club do? It’s clear he wants to go and can anyone blame him. He hasn’t torn up any trees here, but I still think his star will shine somewhere

My main point here is that I don’t even think Watkins holds the ball up any where near as often as you allude too, most time the ball is played up to him, it bounces off him or he miss controls the ball or the defender has an easy take from him, to my mind he has been pretty ineffective for 90% of his time on the pitch so far. With regards to Archer, clearly it would represent a gamble right now - but for me and what I have seen of him thus far, his technique is better than Watkins, he is mobile so can work the channels, he can as you rightly say, play on the shoulder and as for those 6.5 defenders go ahead let them clatter him and we’ll take the free kick and they take the yellow/reds. To be truthful with you - I see very little value in starting him right now. Too many are harping back to his first season with us, in fairness he did well, but right now he looks a million miles from being that player. Only time will tell if he can get back close to that form - one swallow doesn’t make a summer. I’m not completely writing him off just now - I am prepared to see how he goes under a new manager, but I do have serious doubts tbh with you

With all due respect I disagree - what is the point in a willing runner who essentially does feck all when he gets the ball, other than give it away? Archer seems an equally mobile and willing runner, with a better touch - it feels somewhat of a no brainier to give him an opportunity ?

Whilst I agree that we don’t create many chances I don’t agree that Watkins is likely to score by nicking the ball from a defender - he just doesn’t have that calmness in front of goal in my opinion. whereas Archer who equally looks as mobile and energetic does have that look about him. Can we really be any worse off ?

Yes but that was two seasons ago and even then, many of us spotted concerns in his game. I hope I am wrong and he gets back to some kind of form/confidence but even this is not good enough in the bigger picture imo

Personally I find it very strange that so many write him off - if he had half the opportunities as Coutinho has, we would all be singing his praises. Anyone who has played the game, will know how difficult it can be knowing just how difficult it can be, knowing if the team don’t perform if most likely your neck on the chopping block. Emi is easily our most gifted individual and some. This said if Gerrard is here in Jan I’d be off like a shot tbh if I were him

I don’t know why with due respect - the manager has nothing to do with him being not very good at football. Watkins has the same touch as that fat bloke who used to play no 11

Well put it like this - Bertie in my view is significantly better than Bailey - and can you tell me that Sanson is not worth a chance to show exactly how good or bad he is? Can he honestly be worse than McGinn, Ramsey at this current moment - in my view for what’s it’s worth I doubt it very much.

It’s totally his fault that we look bereft of ideas, cohesion, identity and so forth. There is enough good players in this squad to be doing so much better than we are currently doing - Bertie and Morgan say hi

Don’t think Emi can be included in this list tbh - he is the one little chink of light for me and should be the first name on the team sheet and go from there

It was just a bad choice from the get go - There is absolutely no connection between Gerrard and us, other than a massive pay check. I knew from the moment he walked through the door - this would end badly. Rookie manager, no identity or affiliation to us ( and I have always believed this is something we would prefer in our managers) how could it have gone differently. He might still come good in his career, but Villa park is not the place to be learning on the job. He should have gone to a championship bottom half club and see if he could build a reputation first. Got to go - the expensive project has failed

I agree totally - however I honestly do not feel this should be at the expense of Buendia who is still on an upward trajectory in his career, whilst unfortunately Coutinho no longer is and should not be taking minutes off Emi imo

I agree - weak technically, poor decision maker, very little footballing nous. All round just not very good imo

TRO - I do rate your opinion on all matters Villa - but I have no idea what you are saying here? There is absolutely no way you can put Watkins in the same conversation as Andy Gray. Gary Shaw, Peter Withe, Dion Dublin, Dean Saunders are all players I would be happy to see put in the same mould as Andy - but Watkins ? You are having a laugh surely? Watkins is average at best. Maybe Dean had what it takes to bring the best out of Watkins and get him playing above himself

With all due respect how often does Watkins do the things you speak of successfully ? He might try but he is not very good at this imo. Andy was brave, good in the air, had footballing nous, and his lay off’s were also very good, in todays climate, he would be worth around £80mill

TRO - please don’t take this personally, but are you serious in saying Watkins is more talented than Andy Gray was? how have you arrived at this conclusion - Watkins couldn’t trap a medicine ball and when it comes to bravery - well please. You simply cannot compare Watkins in any aspect of the game