ChesterDad

9 minutes ago, lexicon said:

It goes that way because you don't address any of the points refuting your objectively wrong claims. 

With respect - we see things differently, that does not make you right and me wrong and vice versa.

When it comes to this topic, maybe we agree to disagree ?

3 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

 

He had 8 goal contributions in 22/23 season whilst being out injured for a chunk as well as in low form.

He was also player of the month in December 2022?

He signed for us in summer 2021 and has been on fire in 23/24.

So even when he was in shite form and out injured, inferring he did " nothing " for two years is gross exaggeration.

Note: Even i publicly gave up on him at one point.

 

 

 

JV - This one could go around and around.

Suffice to say, he is now playing really well and long may it continue.

We disagree  on his past, but if he keeps performing like he is now, this will soon become a distant memory to even to past doubters like myself

8 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

This is just factually incorrect though

 

Come on JV - you know exactly what I mean? For two years for whatever reason - he offered us very little, put your hand on your heart and tell me - if he had left in the summer, would you have been bothered ??

1 hour ago, est1874 said:

Leon deserves a huge apology from many of us, myself very much included.

Sorry I doubted you Leon. You're not crap at all, you're bloody brilliant.

Thanks for working hard to prove us naysayers wrong.

With all due respect - why does he deserve an apology ? Let’s have this right, for whatever mitigating reason that anyone wishes to purvey, for two years he did nothing for this football club, but claim a fantastic wage.

Yes of course - he is now performing very well, and even as one of his public detractors I am happy to see this, and long may it continue.

If anyone in our squad deserves an apology - it’s Youri Tielemans. He must have thought what the heck is going on, he was trying his hardest, getting pilloried, nothing was going his way - but he never hid or shirked the challenge.

Thats my opinion anyway  

7 hours ago, sheepyvillian said:

So glad to hear of new contract talks. Without doubt our most dynamic players, haven't seen a Villa winger that naturally skilful since the days of Mark Walters, and believe you me, he was skilful. Bailey is certainly quicker though and I think he's a shoe - in for our player of the season. 

I’m afraid that’s not the case imo - Bertie is far more skilful than Bailey.

But totally acknowledge the game is all about opinions

31 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

Perhaps a lesson to not do it in general, yes, but it was hardly quick.

He was here for two years before anything but glimpses of ability were shown.

Great it's coming now. Long may it continue.

Agreed 

18 minutes ago, MrBlack said:

It's probably more accurate to say he's been good for about half his duration here. The first year a write off to injury and mismanagement.  The next 4 months acclimatising to Emery ball and, then the last 14 months being pretty great. 

He definitely hasn't been rubbish for "most" of his time here,  but I'd argue he hasn't been  great for most of it either. If he maintains this form to the end of the season then you can say that. 

I think there are a number of fans, who would align themselves to this point of view.

I was extremely disappointed with his returns - you can put this down to whichever reason supports your argument the most I guess?

Would I have cared if he had gone in the summer, absolutely no, but again like many of us, I am very happy that he stayed and with his current form.

Only time will tell, if we have a great player on our hands - given his form this season, I would say most likely yes we do. 

7 hours ago, The_Steve said:

Ollie is only 24 goals away from breaking Gabby's league record. Can't wait for that day to come.

And it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy and will finally stop Gobby going on about how good he was and knock both chips of his shoulders. 

24 minutes ago, lexicon said:

He's been here 2 and a half years. The first year was stop/start with injuries, managerial change and he never found any form - nobody is arguing that he played well then. Since Emery came in, which is what, 18 months? He's been good, was improving and this season excellent. It's wrong to say that the majority of the time he's been here he's been 'pretty poor' - it's just demonstrably untrue.

I really don't understand why you have such a hard time admitting that you might have been wrong about a player. There is no shame in that. Doubling down, however, doesn't reflect well at all. 

Look I’m going to leave it here if that’s ok?

You won’t accept there maybe an alternative view. So on this topic with your good self I’m out

1 hour ago, lexicon said:

No he hasn't, that's bollocks. The majority of his time here has been spent under Unai Emery and he's been decent and then excellent since. His first year at the club was marred by injury, adapting to the league and having Steven **** Gerrard as manager. The 18 months or so since have been very good. 

 

With the greatest of respect - you are clearly a huge fan and have Bailey tinted glasses I’m afraid.

He has been great this season and we are happy to have him in this form - however feel free to dress it up as much as you wish, but he has been pretty poor overall.

if for whatever reason - he had been sold pre - season, personally I doubt many of us would have been overly concerned at this.

I’ve never been his biggest fan, but right now I am thankful for him, and his current form/ goals etc but I can’t overlook seeing some pretty abject performances from him in the past.

Are we seeing a player in a truly rich vein of form or a player showing what he is truly capable of - time is the only answer to this question. 
Hopefully it’s the latter, but please let’s have it right. There is an alternative view here. In my humble opinion 

32 minutes ago, duke313 said:

Zaniolo shouldn't have been brought in to replace Buendia, because he's never played on the left before.  Can't really blame him for poor performances when he's being played out of position.

Personally I think there is a baller in there, but it’s looking less and less likely that it’s going to happen here. Game time has probably just become even harder for him.

Wish him well.

Terrible footballer - even worse pundit, gosh, could be Gobby !

15 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Seemingly there appear to be several of you with this wild opinion in this very thread!

You are all very wrong. 

Do tell 

8 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Seemingly there appear to be several of you with this wild opinion in this very thread!

You are all very wrong. 

Of course - in your opinion this is.

30 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

Because for all his odd moments of magic, overall, getting nearly 80k off the books per week (in the region of £2m in wages saved for the remainder of his contract), for a player who has barely played in the last 7+ months, to me, is something to celebrate.

thats 2m we can spend better elsewhere.

im not saying he didnt have some important moments for us, but overall, he was a very poor signing.

I understand that I am in a very small minority ( probably about 2 ) but having followed Villa since around 1975 - I can say this Bertie is the most naturally gifted footballer I have seen at Villa. I accept like most wingers - he is totally inconsistent - but what a player.

Farewell Bert - would be amazing to see you back at VP in European competition soon. 

1 minute ago, MaVilla said:

With all due respect - why? 

20 minutes ago, Zhan_Zhuang said:

Weird decision considering Diaby is a bit rubbish

I’d say out of form but not rubbish and not worthy of a starting place at this moment either, but I do believe he will return to form soon. 
Also I would add that he is getting off rather lightly when you consider some of the abuse that NZ is getting and there ain’t an awful lot between them currently - and no I don’t want an upsurge of negative comments about him.

11 minutes ago, Farlz said:

Injury has kinda messed him up but I think he's been rubbish all season. Doesn't have a decent cross in him.

Digne has been miles clear this year and hopefully he's back fit soon. 

You are not wrong 

10 hours ago, handsworthvilla said:

think Steve Bruce is also judged too harshly, and frankly I was quite embarrassed to be a Villa fan when everyone was celebrating the cabbage situation. Quite an appalling way to treat a man who had suffered personal losses that year and continued to get on with the job. People forgot he was 90 mins away from taking us up. (Although I will agree the style of play was utter garbage, but he could get results at championship level). 

I don’t think you will find an awful lot of sympathy for Bruce ( I agree regarding the cabbage incident and I also agree in relation to his personal circumstances ) but let’s have it right - The guy is a footballing fraudster imo. Ask Sheff Wednesday fans what they think about him or Baggies fans for this  matter - He thinks only of himself and nothing more.

Not that we have much empathy for Newcastle - but ask toon fans, what they think about him - plus the  huge settlement there or thereabouts that he  is reported to have received following his dismissal .

I don’t believe there is room for personal abuse, but Bruce is frankly one of the last people in football that I feel sympathy for.

9 hours ago, Captain_Townsend said:

thought,  and still think,  Houllier was a bad appointment

One positive is that he saw through Gobby.

Went up in my opinion for this - along with Roy Keane. 

13 hours ago, DJBOB said:

Plus how much would VT like Toney with the way he’s twerking for one of the Sky 6 to take him?

Ollie may not be Mr Aston Villa, but he’s an honest player with not a bad word to say about the club. So unless some elite striker comes along, he holds his place. 

You are absolutley correct and I doubt there are many who would argue with you, it’s only right however that on a forum people are allowed to voice their concerns, and Ollie’s first touch I’m afraid will come under scrutiny from time to time.

Ollie is very highly thought of by most Villa fans - but this does not excuse him from fans voicing their opinions I don’t think 

39 minutes ago, tomav84 said:

along with the whole away end to be fair

And rightly so at the time. My own is not really caring how we did under McLeish - I wanted him gone so badly. Even the Bolton game didn’t bother me ( sorry my bad ) 

33 minutes ago, DJBOB said:

Case in point, we won’t be getting them any time soon. 
 
Ollie is who he is. A gifted striker who is an 8 or so all around in his game but not a 10 in any category besides his freakish fitness. 
 
If there is a better striker out there that we can buy, and that’s the crucial part because we aren’t getting Salah or Haaland, then I’m all for it. 
 
But until then, lots of other pieces of the squad need help first. 

I don’t think anyone has suggested we will be.

I think that the point some are making here is that Ollie is a very good footballer, but not elite.

His weakness in my humble opinion is a lacking in technical  ability - quite evident last night, again imo - but that does not mean that - we are not happy he is in our team.

I would like to see a striker with a different skill set to come and support Ollie and play a different role as and when needed.

This I feel could help us even further in our transition.

I like Ollie - but i would love to see some help for him. Duran might do this in time.

1 minute ago, useless said:

Only Haaland and Salah have more goals and assists combined than him

And both would be classed as elite imo.

5 hours ago, TRO said:

Ollie on form is a very good front man....but he relies on the team playing well....He lacks aggression for me, and I mean aggression with himself......Cyril Regis was a bit like that, really nice guys....John Sillet his manager at Coventry, used to hose him down before a game to fire him up....strikers like Andy Gray, Peter withe, Ivan Toney, were intrinsically aggressive, on the pitch.....they made things happen.

I am just guessing....but it just looks ok from him,  if he fails to score, something needs to change.....He has to find some aggression, from somewhere.....on top of 2 more without it, Diaby and Bailey, the front 3 are looking toothless.

I have no issue with Ollies, technical abilities....its his mental approach to games, that concerns me.

 

You surprise TRO - you are clearly a very knowledgable person - but you are not concerned by Ollie’s technical abilities ? 
Surely this is the main talking point when discussing all things Ollie?

In my humble opinion - his lack of technical  ability is the reason, why he will never quite bridge the gap to being an elite striker - very good, but not elite.?