Leeroy

Tavares cannot defend, he is really bad at defending. He also looks really clumsy in possession. We can and should be doing much better. Even Forest fans are pleased they've missed out so God knows why so many want him here at Villa. If we have to sell Digne, which I don't think we do, then Acuna will be good for a season or two. Or go get Tierney from arsenal who wants to play football and is very good in attack and defence. Tavares would be a complete waste of our time and I'm fairly sure it's smoke and mirrors.

Still feel we need at least one more attacker to go with that given our injury situation and being in four competitions that we want to go far in.

If we do get sell A. Ramsey, Archer, Davis, Philogene and Hause for a combined £40m, I'd be disappointed if we didn't use that to bring in another attacking player, as well as a right back. The only cover we'd have for Watkins would be Duran if Archer goes, and although we're fairly stacked with wingers/attacking midfielders, with Buendia and Coutinho being out injured as well as Ramsey and playing in four competitions we could really do with at least one more player. I'm expecting a late move for someone, with players like Goncalves, Torres and Jonathan David still out there and available (although it looks like Spurs want David as a potential Kane replacement). If Digne goes (which I still hope he doesn't), then presumably we also bring in a left back as a replacement, Acuna hopefully. And we still need a right back as we have all summer and not sure why Montiel at just £10m isn't of interest to us. He's no world beater but he'd at leats be decent competition for Cash in the short term.

Lol, you quoted me before I had edited it you little devil

You said, and I quote, "If we were in the Championship all three would be part of our team". Team, not squad, meaning first 11. I'm saying they wouldn't because when we were in the Championship over four years ago we had better players than at least two of those players. I sort of agree on Aaron Ramsey, his potential is very high like Chukwuemeka's (who we didn't want to sell) and I suspect he could go on to play for England. He would probably get in over Hourihane, but I don't think Philogene gets in over El Ghazi who had already played for Hollamd at senior level and was playing in the top league in France before us and for a stupidly talented Ajax team before that. And Archer while a really promising player with a bright future doesn't get in over Tammy who at 18/19 was banging in over 20 goals for Bristol City at Champ level and who really took a step down to come to us in our promotion season given he was on loan at Swansea in the Prem the season before. And Wolves were rumoured that January to wanting him.

Probably because we had Grealish, McGinn, El Ghazi and Abraham as our options in the Championship. Even Hourihane who was at that time one of the best midfielders at Championship level. Outside of our defence we had probably one of the strongest Championship teams in memory maybe only bettered by Wolves' Championship winning team the season before and maybe Newcastle's team the season before that. To be honest it's a travesty we finished 5th, we should have been in the top 2 that season if it hadn't been for Bruce messing up before he was sacked and then our awful form when Grealish was injured.

It's all opinions and he was good going forward for Marseille but defensively he's always been very suspect and a very weak link whenever I saw him for Arsenal. They are desperate to get rid and only signed him two summers ago. Of course he could be someone that didn't work out there and does well here if Emery can iron out his weaknesses, but I think it's risky. If it was between Tavares and Acuna, even though Acuna is older, I'd go for him every time and it seems to me they'll cost a similar amount anyway. Although I think keeping Digne for another season is probably the best option especially as Moreno is back soon and us needing a right back more. If we're looking to move Digne on for financial reasons or whatever, we could do a lot worse than take Tierney from Arsenal instead of Tavares. Emery also signed him when he was there a few years back so clearly likes him. If we can keep him fit he will be excellent competition for Moreno and similar type of marauding left back.

Tavares would be an awful signing, anyone who says they want him clearly hasn't watched him play. Ask any Portugal fans who watched him at the Under 21 Euros, they'll tell you. Only thing he has on Acuna is age but Arsenal are desperate to get rid of him. Acuna is a far superior player, but I'd rather just keep Digne. Hopefully Tavares is all b*llocks anyway.

Think he's ahead of Archer to be honest, took his goal really well and always puts himself about. Hopefully that's the first of many.

It's a shame his home performances aren't replicated when he plays in away games. I don't think he has ever got a goal or an assist away from home for us although I may be wrong on that. Really weird and I hope he can change that. He's clearly not suited for build up play but when we get him in a dangerous position he has the quality to do some damage. Still an important squad player moving forward.

Really good today. Even though I like Acuna I want Digne to stay and he's a good two years younger. Gets far too much unwarranted stick on here just because of his wages. And him and Moreno is good enough for us this season. It's right back that needs upgrading because Cash shouldn't be a nailed on starter for us.

Looked good when he came on but is just totally unreliable nowadays from a fitness perspective. What a shame as there was definitely interest in him from the Middle East and we could have upgraded him with someone younger. Let's hope the injury isn't as bad as it looks.

Looked to me like he didn't care about scoring today against a poor Everton team. Weird as I thought all strikers wanted to score.

Lol, you're a funny guy. He's right though, Bailey is extremely lucky to be starting today.

Jeez, Bailey, Cash and Konsa were awful last game. I thought at least two of them would be out. I hope Unai's faith is rewarded.

Yep. Players getting called up from Wolves, Forest, West Ham, and numerous Saudi and Brazilian clubs, smaller clubs than Villa. I personally think it must be beef against Luiz but then the previous manager didn't call him up either so no idea what is going on. Probably should stop caring as it looks like his international career is over.

I understand they play different positions, it was more the point that they've done nothing to warrant a callup. Richarlison is being picked on his World Cup form etc but Cunha has scored about one goal for Wolves since joining in January and Lodi was shite for Forest last season (admittedly in a weak team). If we're looking just at players who play in Dougie's position, there is obviously Joelinton and Guimaeres. Guimaeres I think fair enough but Dougie is a much better footballer than Joelinton even if he doesn't have his power or physicality. Then he's picked Andre over him for this squad who plays in Brazil, and in previous squads picked Danilo from Forest and Gomes from Wolves who are nowhere near as good and play for rubbish teams. He also picked Santos from Chelsea who they then loaned back out because he wasn't ready for the Premier League. Yet Luiz won both our player of the season awards last season and been our best player for the last 12 months in a side that finished 7th. The Brazil squad is certainly not picked on a merit, even Fred was being picked over Dougie for the World Cup, no wonder Brazil have been underperforming for so long and it serves them right for their stupid squad selections. I want all our players called up to their national teams, particularly when they deserve it. Dougie's exclusion for so long is a genuine disgrace given the consistency he has shown week in week out for us.

Not sure if anyone has seen this but he's once again left out of Brazil squad: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/paqueta-left-out-brazil-squad-world-cup-qualifiers-neymar-2023-08-18/ When I see players like Lodi and Cunha in I don't really understand what the Brazil manager is seeing. Richarlison's club form has been appalling the last 12 months. Joelinton played when they were humiliated 4-2 by Senegal but because he plays for super rich Saudi club Newcastle he's back in. Luiz hasn't made a squad for 2 years now, personally I don't see him getting another look in given his form the last 12 months has been better than any other Brazilian central midfielder and he still doesn't get called up.

Be interesting to see Emery's presser before Hibs to see if he might play in that game. Hopefully he gets at least 30 minutes on Wednesday night so we can see what a front three of Zaniolo-Watkins-Diaby looks like.

Pretty sure this is wrong information, can't find anything saying he's currently injured, and he's already played for Galatasaray in a Champions League qualifier. So unless you provide a source then I have to say I don't believe this. Very likely we'll see him feature soon.

Typical, how long's he out for

If we were to sign Acuna and Montiel as our full backs, we'd potentially have three World Cup winners in our starting 11.

Another exciting addition to add to our incomings, if he can finally live up to his potential we will have some player. Guessing he's unavailable for Sunday but should get some minutes against Hibs on Wednesday and then could potentially start against Burnley.

No idea what is going on but I sure hope we haven't wasted our time here. Surely all the negotiations over his transfer and contract were agreed before his medical, seems pretty unprofessional to try to leverage new terms now.

God this has dragged on.