ChesterDad

47 minutes ago, MakemineVanilla said:

I keep forgetting that he's only 20 because he's a big lad and actually looks older.

He's obviously got a lot to learn, and I keep having to remind myself that at the same age Watkins was playing for Weston-super-Mare.

At that age club legend Peter Withe was playing for Southport and Barrow.

Didier Drogba was 28 before he hit his stride.

 

 

I get where you are going and do not disagree either. The only question is whether or not it’s with us?

16 hours ago, Pongo Waring said:

We have one of the best young strikers in Europe and Villa fans cant see it! But I can.

I wouldn’t even say that - potentially absolutely

3 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

His form? He's barely had a start, but has still shown plenty for me.

I wouldn’t say plenty tbh - I would say enough to suggest he has a good future ahead of him. The ball is firmly in his court, pardon the pun.

I recall a while back ( maybe on here? ) that he is highly rated across Europe, so maybe we signed him purely on potential, beating others to his signature ? Maybe this is what Chelsea and West Ham are still thinking about, because let’s be honest, has his form warranted a move to another prem league club? I don’t think it has tbh, and who knows - maybe we beat both clubs to his signature, and because they see he is not getting games, they feel it’s worth testing the water

And for the record - I like him and want him to stay with us. I would just add wind your neck in and learn from an elite coach and maybe you’ll reach your destination that much sooner 

On 16/01/2024 at 20:28, nepal_villan said:

It's ridiculous. He's taken this club for a ride.  That very inflated transfer fee we paid for him still really irks me. 

I’d love to know how you arrived at this conclusion ?

58 minutes ago, TRO said:

Ali Brown, did it, in the centre circle, arguably an unnecessary part of the pitch....I could hear the crack, from the upper trinity.

I liked John, sure the spectacle was not great.....but I liked the resillience and durabilty of the team....as you say, its opinions.

I think my first thought is do not lose.....based on the notion, that there is something to build on.

I always feel gungho football, usually ends in tears, the goals dry up, and the defence opens up.

I would respectfully say this.....any top team you think, is playing attactive football, take time out to study their defensive structure, you might be surprised to learn, how central it is to their success.

Thanks TRO - I’m pretty sure Cantello did one of our players - possibly Ray Graydon at the Hawthorns?

But back on thread - I am very much into entertainment along with results naturally - hence my attachment to Bertie.

Like you - I have pretty much seen us win everything bar the FA Cup, and my favourite Villa team of all time is Big Rons, which some might think is surprising given I saw us win the title & European cup.

I know that JG loved the club, I just couldn’t enjoy his football, which seemed to me was not to lose first and foremost  and this soured my view of his overall tenure at the club. Things might well have been very different had he been allowed to sign Robbie Keane 

I don’t disagree with those who say that Doug was holding us back, the Robbie Keane saga being a case in point - however rightfully  or wrongly my overall memory of Gregory is sitting in the Witton lane feeling totally underwhelmed 

2 hours ago, Captain_Townsend said:

Under Little we finished 4th, then 5th but were in a real slump in 97-98. Collymore didn't work out and we were aboit 14th or 15th come February 1998 when Little resigned.

Gregory was doing well after going out on his own in November 1996. 

Gregory was great when he first came in taking us to 7th in 1997-98 and he was great in 1998-99 with us top at Christmasbeforefalling back to 6th. He got more defensive in 99-00 and that culminated in a very poor performance in the FA Cup final in May 2000 Chelsea were there for the taking that day. In hindsight that may have been the time for him to move on as things really went stale for the following season when we seemed to become a very rigid side.

This is a very good assessment of his tenure although I do believe you are being very kind to him. I have nothing against JG and believe he is a villan - just didn’t like his playing style

10 minutes ago, Don_Simon said:

You must have hated the season where we went seven billion games undefeated.

I was just bored by his football tbh - which given his character is somewhat surprising.

I believe Doug bought him back simply based upon the fact, that after he left for Wycombe - our fortunes dipped ?

1 hour ago, TRO said:

The Nilis Injury, alongside the Cropley injury......still rankles with me.

back to John....Good manager.

 

I thought he was awful TRO - completely bored me to tears, his first thought was do not lose. I guess footie is all about opinions 

Alex’s injury was dreadful - truly great player, never shirked a challenge and could see a pass. I can’t recall which Sandwell towner did this, was it Cantello or that carthorse Brown?

6 hours ago, duke313 said:

This is the way.  Replace older high salary deadwood players like Olsen, Chambers, Donck, Traore etc. with young, low salary, high potential players. Save on wages with minimal drop in ability, and players will have much higher ceiling to grow into the team or be sold for profit.  Create more room in wages to have a big marquee signing in summer as well to improve 1st team. 

The last thing you can call Bertie is this.

He is a footballing magician and the most naturally gifted footballer in our squad imo.

Yes he is inconsistent ( par for the course with wingers) but a joy to watch on his day.

I would like him to stay - but equally a talent like Bertie, should be in someone’s starting 11.

12 hours ago, Jas10 said:

It might have taken a while, but he has improved and had a couple of goals… I expect much more during this second half of the season… he needs to be given opportunities too though… 

Totally agree with you - Look how Tielemans was written off, now we are thinking this guy needs to start.

2 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

Send him back already.

Donkey who we can’t afford to carry. FFP exists and we don’t need this clown ruining it for us. 

This must be another wind up - surely 

I really like him and do think he is good enough for the prem.

What surprised me is that Unai bought him back into the fold initially but then shipped him back out again, almost as quick.

Now for Unai to bring him back - tells me that he knew that he could play - but what happened thereafter ? 

13 hours ago, Zatman said:

If important and not on skill then Trezeguet should be high on the list. Them goals vs Palace and Arsenal were huge in our history. If we went down we would be in huge trouble especially all thesr new FFP sanctions

We also wouldnt have hired Unai just 2 years later

Absolutely terrible footballer - but seemed like a decent guy

17 hours ago, maqroll said:

It doesn't have to be about statistics, or trophies or awards or length of service or degree of talent (but it all helps). It can also be intangible things that you think are important to a player's legacy at Aston Villa Football Club.

My list in no particular order:

Paul McGrath

Gareth Barry

Ian Taylor

Jack Grealish

Dean Saunders

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Emi Martinez

Dwight Yorke

Mark Bosnich

Olaf Mellberg

A lot of others right on the bubble, but I had to make some hard choices. I have 10 more who could be on the second team..

 

 

 

Would not put Gobby in my top 50 - awful footballer, with an even worse attitude. He is the only person who thought he was any good. IMO 

Look Ginny is entitled to today imo - having a good season and everyone has the odd poor game 

I think we have really missed him - I am surprised that some think he was way off it today. He was bound to be rusty. But football is all about opinions - to which we are all entitled 

4 hours ago, KentVillan said:

What drama has he actually created? A lot of this is idle speculation about nothing. People are acting like he's constantly in the tabloids slagging off the club, doing drugs, turning up late for training, fighting with his teammates. All I see is someone who's struggling a bit with his age and a lack of minutes, but still putting in a shift most of the time.

Maybe drama is too strong a word - apologies for this, but I’m sure you would agree that the headlines around him of late, have been more negative than positive ones.

I like him and do think he has a great opportunity to become a really good player in time. But he would do well to remember that what - 12 months ago he was playing MLS ? If he were to move now, where would he go? He would no doubt get more game time if he “ downsized “ but if he wants to stay in and around the status quo - is he going to get many more opportunities just yet?.

If I were him, I would stay put and learn as he goes

2 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said:

 

It's already becoming a silly distraction we don't need. I really like him, but I like Villa winning better. Starting to wonder what's going on in that head of his.

You have hit the nail firmly on the head. This kid could become a really good player but realistically he is not yet a premier league start.

Wind your neck in - Listen to Unai and allow nature to take its course and you will arrive at your destination in due course.

But Aston Villa is bigger than you and right now, we do not need the drama.

Very sad really - Bert is genuinely one of the most gifted footballers I have seen. 
Absolutley ridiculous what this man can do with a football, and I acknowledge this is a view held by a shrinking minority but in my humble opinion - he is more Gifted than Bailey - it’s my only disappointment that Unai could not give him more minutes.

I really hope that he can stay in England, but I doubt this very much

He took a little while getting up to speed, when he first came to the club.

I have no doubts he will be back to his best very soon. 

1 minute ago, Tom13 said:

What does this tweet even mean? I feel it's worded horrendously. And if it means recruitment for Al Ettifaq then obviously there's no way Steven would want him seen as they fell out.

Did they fall out? - however I doubt given the $$ signs both of them would swallow their pride if so.

I hope this is not so. Bert’s abilities should be showcased on a much more prestigious stage imo 

Absolutely no thank you - Why would we want a petulant overhyped inconsistent footballer.

I want Bert to get more minutes than sign Zaha - Bert can do things, Zaha could only dream of. Yes Bert is also inconsistent, so what’s the point in trading places 

On 08/01/2024 at 09:11, Stevo985 said:

But none of that is regarding the high line. 

We struggle against teams who play a low block. It's not unique for this to be a thing for good teams.

Not playing a high line won't change that.

 

The high line isn't just about the defence. It's so key to how we play with the ball as well. So yes, I do find it perplexing that people are questioning it

I say again - are people really questioning the validity of a high line? I’m sure you would agree that it’s anxiety provoking in so much that if it goes wrong, the opposition are quite likely to get a shot away? In the course of a match, people’s anxieties are naturally running higher than normal, so a high line is quite easily going to give rise to this, when it sometimes gets compromised.