Rightdm00

34 minutes ago, AV82 said:

Really makes you wonder what was promised to Grealish.

The promise to him was definitely about investment over the length of his deal and not just this specific window. 

2 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Our best player has had the best season of his life playing on the left of a front 3. Let’s move him to the middle.

Especially given the fact if you started Jack in the middle he would drift out wide, mainly to the left. Just like he did in the Championship. 

Grealish has mentioned multiple times about how his time at Notts was a huge part of his growth as a footballer. Really hope we sign another CM and send Ramsey out on loan during the winter window. 

1 hour ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

Great debut imho. Worldy goal. Its called a "cushioned volley" according to the commentator  

 

 

Maybe we should ask the Lyon fans.  They'll know for sure!

10 minutes ago, gwi1890 said:

He looked better than Hause 

Good then we have another emergency CB if need be.  

How can that be. He's supposed to be crap!

I bet Bournemouth wish they could have taken only a £1.5 million loss on Jordan Ibe.  Lets not even get into the current value for Joelinton or Haller. 

Just now, villan-scott said:

Slightly regretting forking out a tenner right about now

With the compression of the schedule due to Covid not sure anyone should be surprised by this lineup. I'll gladly take 2 wins to start our league campaign over the league cup this year. 

3 minutes ago, Keener window-cleaner said:

I'm still a bit worried about Abu Dhabi FC activating the buy back clause on the last day of the window, then we are in big trouble.

But they wouldn't do that would they? I mean it would case so much bad blood and be held against them in furure dealings with other clubs.

It just doesn't make any sense.  Activating the clause doesn't automatically transfer Douglas back to City. They would still have to negotiate salary terms and what not. We will know well in advance when and/or if City activate the clause. 

Just now, AntrimBlack said:

Do they think Hause is better? I cannot believe that.

Hause is always available for selection. Given Engels inconsistent availability im fine with cashing in on a sell if the opportunity is there. 

On 13/09/2020 at 14:50, The Moustache of Teale said:

Two badly drawn anchors and a see-saw

Just now, Awol said:

As we are still trying to sign Rashica (enter thread at your own risk) then where do you think he'll be played if Jack stays as a LF? 

The links to Rashica are tenuous at best. This is a quote from Bremen's Chief Scout from earlier this week, BEFORE Jack signed his new deal 

"They got in touch, yes, I can confirm that," he told Deichstube. "There is nothing concrete. There are a couple of requests for him. We are in intensive and close communication with his management."

Maybe I'm being pessimistic but that sounds like Villa doing it's due diligence more so than an actual attempt to complete a transfer. 

As far as Jack positionally, he is most comfortable out wide. I'm not trying to pigeon hole him as a winger but even when given a free role he likes to drift out wide (mostly left) and cut inside. It just doesn't make much sense to put a winger on either side of him and crowd the parts of the pitch he prefers to operate in. 

My preference for Villa with Traore signed. Find a CM that can replace Hourihane, preferably one that can cover the left side when Jack goes roaming. Let McGinn be the furthest forward of the middle 3 and let Jack run the show from a free role. With better attacking options Jack easily nets 25 goal contributions (goals and assist) and Southgate will have to bring him to Euro 21. 

4 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

So you’d be happy with Jack playing further back? I’d rather we utilised his attacking and dribbling ability more than anything although his passing is superb too.

I’d like to a see him as the closest player to the CF and working with (top quality) attacking wingers or WF to create and score.

So more like Gerard than Alonso as per your example. Probably best to give McGinn a more disciplined role or, unfortunately (for him), relegated to the bench or rotated in favour of a more imposing CM (win headers and tackles but can actually pass and shoot too).

We do our opposition a favor the further back me move Jack from the 18 yard box.  

Unless you are a team like Man city who dominate possession it will be difficult to keep Jack forward if he is in a midfield 3.  Until we become a possession dominate team Jack will need to stay in the front 3 to remain effective. 

If we were to switch to some form of a 4-2-3-1 then McGinn will have to be sacrificed. Fully agree there.  He doesn't have the defensive awareness needed for a double pivot position.  

My best guess is Dean will persist with the 4-3-3. Grealish will start on the left because we aren't buying anyone better than him in that position. I still fully believe the Rashica deal was as a replacement for Jack if he decided to leave. 

5 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

Why do you care so much?

If you don't like me or my posts you don't have to reply.

Pretty good deflection there. 8/10. 

21 hours ago, villalad21 said:

Is he saying Trez and El Ghazi is shit?

Why does he need to say it when it's quite obvious. Everyone on this forum agrees, we need quality wingers, badly. Just look at the Rashica thread. Nothing but the skinniest of rumors and that thread is well on its way to 300 pages . 

3 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

Sounds to me like a lot of people spoke to Jack or to Jack's people - agents speaking to agents, I wouldn't be surprised if outlines of offers were presented and looked over and so on - but when it came to then getting the agreements between the clubs (increasingly the last part of the signing jigsaw rather than the first bit) our owners stood firm on their valuation and the teams that wanted him couldn't afford him.

Good.

United have taken a similar approach with Sancho where they've reportedly agreed contracts and terms with the player despite a £40m difference in the valuation between the two clubs - it's almost like they believe that once the players has said he's coming and all that's agreed, the fee should be what they want to pay, not want the clubs they're dealing with want to receive - they might want to rethink that.

 

 

I think in most transfers, personal terms are pretty much agreed upon before an official bid is lodged. When you think about it how else could it work. Why would a club bid for a player that doesn't want to move or can't afford the players wages. ManU most definitely worked out personal terms with Jack's agent but for whatever reason decided against lodging an official bid.

Jack then used that leverage to negotiate a better contract with Villa and extracted some promises from the owner on potential investments. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the 140K a week Jack is getting now was right around what ManU were going to pay. 

This process couldn't have worked out any better for us. We got to Jack on a new deal and we also know the ownership team has promised further significant investment.  

4 hours ago, weedman said:

Seems to be an obsession with moving players positions as soon as they start performing well in one. He's excelled as a DM, why move him? Just buy another box to box player if we need one

Agree. The new DM would have to be good enough to replace Luiz at that position. The Box to Box only has to be better than Hourihane. 

I'm not even sure we can afford a DM better than Douglas at the moment. 

51 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said:

A footballer rather than an athlete. About 20 years ago he would look quality but doesn't have the pace or natural strength to make it at the top. Going off topic a bit but should football be like that? Its all pressing and work rate and less about skills. Starting to ramble a bit here.

It is a bit frustrating but the great thing about football being a worldwide sport is that the game is different all around the globe.  Jota isn't prem quality, athletically, but man he would tear it up in MLS over here.  My local team, DC United, is crying out for a guy like him.    

9 hours ago, TRO said:

Just receiving treatment for  Prostate Cancer so I can't even do that....

Lost my pops to prostrate cancer.  He waited a little to late before taking it serious.  Stay positive and stay on top of it.  Best wishes!!!

2 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said:

He never has to my knowledge 

They were so bad you erased them from your memory. Sheffield away and Watford away. Guess how many goals we scored in those 2?

Over/under on Grealish getting 15 assist this season. If we sign Traore and Rasicha with Watkins already holding down the striker spot im taking the over. 

Really want that Center Midfield link to pop up. It's the one huge glaring hole in our lineup. Lansbury can never be allowed to start another Prem game. 

Pure speculation, but considering this guy plays on the left was he the clubs backup plan if Jack left this window?  

Looking at the balance of the roster, if we sign Traore, I would much rather we go after a solid CM since we are still only an injury away from Lansbury making an appearance during the season.