barry'sboots

5 hours ago, PaulC said:

They played us off the park first half at their ground. Its a tough game for us. Although Saka was poor against Liverpool and odegaard not at his best. Those two plus Martenelli could cause us real problems. 

Everyone was playing us off the park at that time. I think the Noses would've stood a decent chance!!

1 hour ago, ferguson1 said:

Going to be tough this one as Arsenal have been in great form recently, despite their midweek defeat. Last time we played them in October we were pretty dire and the 3-1 score didn’t really reflect the game and it could have been much worse.

However, with a full house and on TV, he’s hoping we can catch them on an off day or perhaps with a hangover from their Liverpool defeat.

I’d very much like to see a change or two so not to be so predictable. Buendia back in for this one and perhaps Konsa?   1-0 win, maybe.

                          Martinez 

Cash       Konsa           Mings      Young

          Ramsey     Luiz     McGinn

              Buendia        Coutinho

                          Watkins

 

I think this is probably what Stevie will do.  Personally I wouldn't.

The main questions most are asking are:

• Konsa or Chambers?  Its harsh on the latter to drop him, given the performance in the three wins in a row and the fact that he wasn't to blame for Wet Spam's goals, so I might stick with Chambers (injury permitting).  I like the message that, if someone plays well in another's absence, the other doesn't walk back in and you keep the shirt until you play poorly - I think this is better for team morale.  Although, equally Chambers could shift to DCM if DL is out??
• Who comes in if Luiz can't play?  Most people are saying Sanson but this is not his natural position and Iroegbonum is a DCM who is in the squad and seems to be highly rated.  I prefer to see a player playing in his preferred position, even if he is young and inexperienced and I would like to see Tim get a chance - we aren't going down and aren't getting into Europe.  I think it needs someone to stop Odegaard.  Equally, this could be Chambers if Konsa is brought back in to CB.
• Does Young start if Digne is unfit, as he seems to be?  Again, for the same reasons as above, I would love to see Chrisene start (did okay against Liverpool in the FAC last season).
• How do you play the three up top?  I would go with your three as I like the way that Ollie works the back line and think Ings struggles in a lone striker role.  Bailey and Ings (ideally for me as two strikers with Phil or Buendia at 10 behind them) after 60 minutes would really freshen it up and give Arsenal something different to think about.
• Sanson??  I might give Ramsey a rest and give Sanson a start.  We need to see if he can play 90 a few times before the summer imho.  He has looked good in cameos but can he play 90 (or 75 if subbed) against a decent outfit.  Again, JJ coming off the bench if you need to go for a goal would be a great impact sub.

I would probably go:

                      Martinez 

Cash       Chambers      Mings      Chrisene

     Sanson     Iroegbonum *     McGinn                     * assumes DL can't play??

              Buendia        Coutinho

                          Watkins

But expect Stevie to go with experience - and I can also understand this.

1 hour ago, CVByrne said:

Is scrapping at the bottom end of the PL getting little of the ball better for his development than a top 6 Championship team? Personally I don't think so. 

He might be worth keeping around until January again and then loaning him our early in that window

Probably better experience in terms of competing with PL defenders?

I mentioned Saints, Brighton and Burnley - all of whom are established PL teams. Admittedly Burnley are scrapping this season but that may be largely down to the fact that they haven't got a goalscorer?

As many have said, it depends how we want to play. Two up top and he is fourth choice if he comes back - I think Bailey is in front of him if we stick with that.  Could be a decent loan option for a Burnley, Brighton (will score more than Maupay and would this help get the Bissouma deal done?) or Saints (if they can't keep Broja). It would be great to see him in a bottom half PL team for 12 months (not us, I should add!) Getting PL experience before he comes back to us??

On 09/03/2022 at 16:46, TRO said:

I don't see Danny Ings going at all.....his positioning and vision against Southampton was top drawer.

I think the work, they have both been putting in to blend, is finally working, it takes time.

The end of the season will tell us more, but they are not the same player, each has complimenting attributes, which is great.....what they got back on Saturday, was belief, and with the little magician pulling the strings, behind, the confidence in each other returned.

I just see them going from strength to strength.

I didn't think Stevie would change his style/tactics but he has and it seems to be working - both Ollie and Ings are benefitting from Coutinho's freedom at 10 and we are starting to look good with the diamond.  It will be interesting to see how this develops. Equally, Coutinho is pivotal to this and so retaining him would be key ... £480k p.w. will be tough but it would be for any PL side!

I don't think it is all the player's fault. I think Beale has got our shape a bit wrong!

Luiz needs to sit a bit deeper and JJ and SJM need to push a bit higher up. The full backs need to get forward but not as consistently high as they have been.

I personally wouldn't make any changes but wouldn't be surprised if Stevie did.

We just need to release that front 3 but stay reasonably tight defensively.

9 minutes ago, TRO said:

I didn't insinuate it was one or the other.....I was suggesting you need both....that sounds like ANY experienced player.....Defensive midfield should be a well respected position that requires a specialist skill set.

Leeds is a team that will expose any defensive weakness, with their "Murder ball" game....we should know by now.

However.....They have won  5 games out of 22 and lost 9 to date......clearly other teams are better equipped at playing them.

I hope we can identify our shortfalls in playing the likes of Leeds and fix it in the summer.

I think we did last season.

We went with a similar team (4-3-3 with same midfield) and lost 3-0 at home. We played Marv away, closed them down and won 1-0. I think you have to adapt to play Leeds but adapt in the right way and, as long as you are a better team (which we are) you will beat them 9 times out of ten?

25 minutes ago, TRO said:

I might be wrong here....but I always think experience is a critical attribute for CDM...It requires vision, composure and reading of the game, not to mention power, passing ability and a willingness to resist challenges.

Its a kinda midfield general, who can orchestrate the tempo of the game, and dictate.......that usually requires experience.

A Gareth Barry type.

I seem to remember Leeds playing an academy kid in at "6" (or "4" depending what era you come from) against us at VP last season and he did okay in a 3-0 win??

Always better to have experience I guess but rather have someone who knows how to play the position than an experienced player that doesn't??

Having said that, I think Dougie is fine for most games but Leeds is one where you do need a shield.

I can't wait to see how Gerard uses a fit Bailey in combination with Phil and Emi.

2 hours ago, Zatman said:

I dont believe he has colleagues in Spain unless somebody from the Birmingham Mail is on holiday at the moment 

Even if he did, they'd have no chance of understanding him??

7 minutes ago, sparrow1988 said:

I’d definitely take him. He would look miserable all the time (or maybe that’s just everyone at Everton at the minute) but I think he’s very good, presses well, used to the lone striker role for Brazil underage teams, was very good at the Olympics (I know), and has a lot of room for improvement as well. 

Didn't they pay £50m for him though and probably wouldn't want to sell at a loss. I wouldn't look at him as a £50m striker??

He's made a great start imho.

The only two disappointing results are Brentford and Leeds (after being 3-1 up).

Yes, he's got issues to resolve but these are not things you can achieve overnight.

Positives

• He's getting the best out of JJ and Buendia
• He's attracted Coutinho and pretty quickly got him back to a very decent level
• He's attracted Digne
• No-one is talking about Jack (although I personally would have him back in a heartbeat)
• We are looking up and not down
• We have an identifiable plan and style of play and are buying players to suit thatq

Negatives

• We have underperformed what I would have hoped for in two games - Brentford away and Leeds home (the latter of which we lost 0-3 last year compared to a draw this time around)

Things outside of his control

• He's lost the only true DCM he had - who he had majorly improved. This position is integral to his style of play and he tried to address it in January but couldn't get his no. 1 target so has, rightly, imho, waited until the summer to go again.
• He has been without a fit Bailey and Traore for all of his time here - our 3rd and 4th options at "10"'

I'm excited moving forward with Stevie G. I would be happy if we can finish 11th again, having lost Jack in the summer and had a disruptive season so far. But I will be expecting big things in the summer and for us to come out firing next season.

2 minutes ago, PaulC said:

Yes maybe too soon but the way Archer and Ramsey have developed in such a short space of time who knows 

Barry is still relatively quite small and has largely been playing out wide when I have seen him (u-23 and u-18 highlights). Whilst he has undoubted talent, I think he has a long way to go to make it at the Villa.

I like Young - he looks like a fighter - but he would be way behind Cam and KD at the minute?

Cam is the amazing one for me. Who would have thought he'd be where he is today 12 months ago when he wasn't exactly tearing it up for Solihull Moors??

13 minutes ago, PaulC said:

What about Young and Barry could they feature next season? 

I assume you are not talking about Ash and Gareth??

I think both have great potential but both need better loans next year at a higher level to see if they can deliver.

I love Watkins. I think he will come back when he gets a break. Importantly, his movement and pressing is fundamental to the way that Stevie wants to play. He created the space for JJs second goal v Leeds with his intelligent diagonal run. The three of Coutinho, Buendia and Ollie with JJ joining has looked very good in the last three games??

I would let Ings go - he doesn't suit Stevie G ball and is better suited to playing in a two.

In would look to bring in a "Daka" type - mobile goal scorer - that can understudy Ollie. Or maybe a Lacazette on a free to give Cam and KD another year to progress.

It depends how KD and Cam perform over the next couple of months but, at the minute, I would be looking to put both on loan to bottom 6/newly promoted PL teams and see how they do in this division. I have always thought there is a player in KD and he showed that against Leicester last week - he didn't look out of place v PL opposition and was a real nuisance, creating space for others. Ultimately he would give us a very different option off the bench. Cam looks really exciting and I hope his development continues on the same trajectory. He looks more of a direct Ollie Watkins competitor.

10 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

To me, it's the system which really highlights the changes in performance from Luiz and Nakamba. In the 4 2 3 1 system with the two holding midfielders they need to have a mix of defensive and attacking attributes, Luiz has the better blend of skills for that role than Nakamba. McGinn did a job there too but we all knew he was being asked to play a role that's not best suited to him. So in that system McGinn under performed, Luiz did well and Nakamba wasn't best suited to it.

In the current system there is a big onus on the central midfielder in the 3 to be that aggressive, ball winner who can slow or break up opposition play in transition. This best fits Nakambas skill set which is why we've seen him play well in the system. It really doesn't suit Luiz which is why he was playing to left of Nakamba until Nakamba got injured. McGinn wouldn't be suited to it at all so has never played there. 

Yes in the current system we have 3 midfielders who are spread across. The widest two need to cover for the full backs who get far up the pitch while the central one covers the CBs. If one player gets forward for an attack it's one of the wider midfielders and the central one will move over to the space. As the central player in the midfield three there is a significant defensive responsibility, firstly because mistakes centrally are more dangerous than a mistake out wide. But also because they need to cover for a midfielder getting forward like JJ. 

Now obviously our club think Bissouma is perfect for the position (I do too). When I said Nakamba and Bissouma playing together I was referring to if the other 8 options are out injured. Bissouma in an 8 role isn't as big an issue to the team as Luiz in the 6 role. To me Nakamba is perfectly fine back up player for us next season to a Bissouma. With JJ, Sanson, McGinn and Chukwuemeka we'd have 2 players for each position in the midfield three. As a result if we had an acceptable fee for Luiz he wouldn't be missed really.

I don't disagree with much you've said but I'd rather get DL signed up (as a competing "8" who can cover "6" in games where he is more suited) and get Chukie out on loan next year. He/his team might not like this but it would be better for his development (imho) as we are seeing with JP, Cam and KD. He needs to be starting regularly. I am also not sure whether he is a "10" or "8"? We seem to be pandering to him ATM to get him to sign up?

I think that there is a lot to come from Dougie as an "8" and he is still only 23. He can develop loads here under Stevie G - couldn't think of a better teacher?

2 minutes ago, hippo said:

Exactly. If Stevie G can get in a better player than Ming's - do it.

But I reckon it's change for changes sake.

I don't really think ball playing CBs exist any more (to any great extent) - but if Stevie G can source one ....great.

 

We are looking at fine margins here, I accept that, to move us from a decent team competing for 7th to 13th to one challenging for, say, 4th to 8th. 

I think we have a pretty strong first XI - probably that which started on Wednesday, with some exciting attacking options in reserve.

But if we are going to take the next step, which I am led to believe our owners want to and pdq, then we need to be fairly ruthless and look to upgrade in certain areas.  In order of upgrades, I would say:

1. DCM - we need a player that can do this role and relegate Marv to back up and Dougie to competing for an "8" shirt. Bissouma appears to be the favoured option.
2. Cover at LB - Hickey is the name discussed.
3. A commanding CB - as per discussion above.
4. An upgrade on Bertie - someone more consistent to compete with Emi, Coutinho and Bailey for the two "10"s.
5. Change Ings - whilst he is a good finisher he is more suited to a front two and I want someone who is more mobile and presses better.

Alongside securing Coutinho.

Maybe JPB and Cam and KD, if they continue their impressive loan form, can address 4 & 5?

2 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

I agree, he is the only one of the three midfielders playing out of position. His performances are more to highlight the gaping hole that for the past two windows has not been fixed. 

I think 99.9% of Villa fans recognise this?? The vast majority, I would think, rate Dougie but know that we need a better "6", leaving Dougie to compete with SJM, Sanson and JJ. Equally, I do think that there are teams that you can play against (not Leeds!) where a defensive "6" is not as necessary, although if we went and bought Bissouma he would surely start every game if fit (until we have European football).

40 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

seen that a few times now, we're a long way away from top 6 realistically a couple of years, maybe we're stuck in a bit of a limbo where we have mings and konsa because thats where we are as a team but we are where we are as a team because we have mings and konsa, maybe gerrard can pull another coutinho out of the bag and get a surprising big name CB to come but i see the likes of arsenal buying ben white for £50m and is he top 6 quality?

i hope the club find another developmental player to sit alongside mings for a few years and then eventually replace him, maybe they think we already have him in kerr or feeney because if im honest looking around the league i dont see who this ready made top 6 quality CB is at say southampton or palace or struggling for game time at city or utd (i dont rate gomez) that we can go and snatch off them or even abroad if im honest, add to that also looking around the league i would say west ham need that CB and chelsea will be in the market for 2 this summer

i think replacing mings or konsa with that quality will be **** hard, probably a lot harder than people realise 

I'm not sure NSWE share your view?

Gerrard has come here with promises re aspirations and transfer resources and I think they will have a proper go in the summer. Bissouma is not coming here to play mid table football ... He can do that at Brighton. I don't believe that we are as far away as you think. With the right recruitment - secure Coutinho, Bissouma, Hickey at LB and upgrade Mings - we can challenge from 4th down.

Equally an upgrade on Mings would not represent a huge net spend as I think he would attract a decent fee in.

As for Kerr Smith and Feeney, they might be great prospects (and I'll keep my  just like all of us) but I can't see them impacting the first team picture for a good few years yet. CB is a tough position to break in to forma youngster, especially in an aspiring top half team.

I am, of course, playing a bit of fantasy football here but that's what a forum is for and I do think, with our ambitious and wealthy owners backing Stevie G, we can do this?

5 minutes ago, Lord Willard said:

I can't see him getting a chance this weekend. I think JJ will stay as an 8, he is in brilliant form and Gerrard wouldn't want to ruin it. Traore will replace Buendia if he is out. 

Personally, I would start Sanson and push JJ in to one of the 10s if Emi is injured. Keep BT on the bench for last 30 if needed.

Mings is a decent PL CB but he is not top 6, which is where we are aspiring to be. He is blood and guts and a leader BUT he is also error prone - in games where he doesn't make errors he is "Virgil Van Dijk" but in games where he does suffer lapses you would take Kieran Clark ahead of him!! If we want to progress, he is a player we should look to upgrade imho. I think we would get a decent fee in for him as well, particularly if we could convince Eddie Howe to come back in for him.

If we do upgrade though we need a 25 y/o plus replacement who is a leader. Whilst I rate Konsa highly he does need this alongside him as he still relatively young and inexperienced for a CB.

17 hours ago, striker said:

Pretty much spot on for me.

Luiz, Sanson and McGinn aren’t good enough to push Villa into the top six nor are Mings and Konsa.

In the summer those need to be replaced with better to appease the owners.

I would disagree here. I think those three midfielders are all good enough to be top 6 players but they need to be utilised correctly - that's why the big 6 clubs are sniffing around them - offers for Dougie and Man U's interest in SJM. We need a strong but fluent holding midfielder and, hopefully, we will get a good one in the summer. We will have six good midfielders for three slots then with two sitters - new signing and Marv as back up with Iregboneum hopefully coming through underneath - and two from SJM, JJ, Sanson and Luiz in front. Personally, I think Chuk needs to get his ass into the championship like JPB, Cam and KD to prove he is capable of playing at this level and for us to find out whether he is an 8 or a 10 but it seems his agent/team might disagree and we appear to be pandering to that ATM to get him to sign a new deal.

I think Konsa is top level but needs a leader alongside him - not unusual for a CB at his age and experience. Mings is a leader BUT is subject to lapses as we saw again on Wednesday night. Mings would be the one I would look to upgrade but it has to be an over 25 y/o player with experience of leading a back line. If the links to his old boss - Howe - have any merits we might be able to bring in a sizeable fee to fund the new CB.

I'm seeing a lot of criticism of Ollie which I just don't get.

It was his run that drew the defenders out and created space for JJ's second.

His pressing and movement is fundamental to the way we play. Ings just doesn't offer anything like this. As for scoring goals, Ollie just needs a break and they will come BUT offensively we look good.

The key for me was the CM. Leeds are a team that you need a shield in for (last season showed that) and DL is not that. Partnering DL means that SJM has to drop deeper against such a team and that also neuters his game.

The dominance in possession that this creates for the opposition means that the defence is under more pressure and you are always liable to get mistakes out of Mings (alongside some brilliant moments) in such circumstances.

14 hours ago, flashingqwerty said:

About 20 years or so I think

14 hours ago, TomC said:

Chuk wasn't anything special but I don't think he did anything wrong. Ramsey didn't look good in many of his appearances last year and look where he is now.

Young wasn't on very long, but I didn't see where he did anything wrong, either.

 

I don't disagree but I think we are pandering to Chuk ATM in the hope that this will get him to sign a new contract.

For me, Sanson should have come on and JJ should have been pushed further forward.

Chuk needs to do what JPB and Cam have done and get his ass into the Championship and get 30+ games under his belt to prove he can play men's football.