Woodytom

Thought he was ok v spurs. Always looking to go forward..... not his fault that the options ahead were zero. Him and Johnstone were our best players I felt.

Frightening how amavi makes the cut

I merely asked a question?

Did he even touch the ball?

This really isn't something new. He's been playing poorly for a few weeks now.

Yet more schoolboy defending from this man.

Not a great event actually but I quite enjoyed that. Saw some balance and a plan that has been executed well. Tshibola has been my motm so far. Want to see us go for it a bit now. Don't want to lose 1-0 playing like this for 90 mins.

Nah, they bottled it. Stoke at home springs to mind

Let's face it, we've had so little to shout about over the last 2 decades that it's hardly surprising there is no stand out player that can be considered a legend. A lot of the players around the years 2008-10 had the opportunity to make themselves legends...... They bottled it.

Petrov is the closest for me. Then Barry. Then Taylor. The rest bare into insignificance.

Seriously, if we sign this guy, I don't just think he will be a good player, I think he could go down in villa history as the guy that dragged us to promotion.

Fair enough. Maybe a debate for a different topic.

Not for me. Gash harsh but not great. Especially his second spell. Thought he was awful.

Never rated Staunton myself. Thought he was gash.

Delph and lansbury would make me the most positive man on villatalk.

Why would anyone want Zidane when they have tim sherwood?

Would be delighted with this. Up there with our best signings over the last few years. Doesn't say a great deal of course but nevertheless... A definite move in the right direction imo.

No it doesn't no. But if you're ability is declining along with the level you're playing at, Imo, it speaks volumes about your application.

Firstly, I brought it up because.... as I said..... The current accolades associated with James milner. But in addition to your complaint (as want of a better word) regarding Me bringing it up....don't reply if it's not something you feel needs discussing further. What is the key flaw in your debate is that you reference how they train, and application. How can you possibly refer to a professional footballer as a model pro based on training/application when it's widely accepted on here (I'm sure you're included but not certain) that he's getting worse. If you apply yourself right and train right (as you suggest he does), you DON'T get worse. You just don't. Especially when you consider he has dropped a level also.

We know that he doesn't look to improve because he hasn't. The chances are that if you're a pro footballer and you look to improve.... you do. Take Gary neville for example. Better rb than Westwood is cm.. obviously. However what neville did was take a weakness of his game.... crossing and developed it so he became a very good crosser. What example of that do we have for Westwood?

Not at all. This is where I think a lot of ppl are missing the point. There are better players than James milner who I don't think are as good of a pro. My point is that having been chosen to play LB because he 'can do a job', he hasn't stopped at just 'doing a job'. He's looked to improve and work at his game so that actually they don't even need to get a new LB now because James has become a very good one himself. That's not just about ability. It's about attitude, Desire, willing to learn, motivation and knowing what's good for the team.

Just on Westwood as a few disagreed with Me when I didn't see him as a model professional. I used James milner as a reason why and for me, he's confirmed that even more in recent weeks. Forget the training hard out of the limelight..... that's a given for me. Basic requirements of the job. Ashley Westwood is coming to the peak of his career and is getting worse (somehow ). He hasn't improved one jot. Some of that will be down to the environment he's in but that's a minor point for me as we've seen players improve at this club. James Milner has recently been asked to play out of position. Of course he's more of a utility man than Westwood but he hasnt just gone in at left back and done a job. He's gone in and has actually become arguably one of the best performing left backs in the league. I can't think of many, if any that have been better (I realise that Chelsea play a back 3). A lot of players sulk and moan and use it as an excuse.... being played out of position. Instead Milner, makes the position his own and develops his game further. That's above and beyond imo and the very definition of a model professional.

Well I suppose the part I disagree with is you saying he had a couple of 'seasons'. I took that as he spent the whole year playing well.

Yeah I disagree. I think it's fair to say that for periods of time during a couple of seasons he played well. I would say during Tim's revolution and around the time we went to Stoke and won 3-1. I think that was about the time he played a great ball to gabby v Norwich? That said, those periods of time coincided with an upturn in form for the whole team particularly the sherwood example where Delph and cleverly were excellent and subsequently earned moves to better clubs. I don't think there has ever been a time where, Westwood alone (or at least as part of a few players) has been a stand out performer for a group of games. It was always Delph, benteke, vlaar, dragging us out the shit when the rest of the team were garbage. So I kind of put any decent form of Westwood down to the overall form of the team which only supports the belief that due to his limits, he heavily relies on those around him.... and always has imo.

While there is an element of sarcasm to your post I don't think it's too far the truth and it relates to something I've been saying since he arrived imo. Never once does he stand up and be counted/take the game by the scruff of his neck. I think he has a bit of a 'need to avoid failure' attitude that will be ever present regardless of what league he is in. At first people explained his anonymity as the type of midfielder he is, some even used it as a criticism of people's knowledge on football. No, not noticing Westwood is purely and simply down to him being way out of his depth. He will never impose himself on the game due to his mentality imo, and that is why I believe that any game at any level worth talking about, he would get gobbled up.