wilko154

1 hour ago, T-Dog said:

Are there many decent games for it at the minute for a quite casual player? The only games I've really invested time in before are the GTA, boxing/wrestling games with decent career modes, FIFA (altho, any football game would do, I'm not that arsed about playing online any more) and occasionally a COD type game. Maybe the odd Assassins Creed type game too. I've been putting off buying the PS5 because I couldn't see many games that fit that category before (albeit a couple of years aho) - Ta

If you want to casually play single player games then the PS5 has absolutely loads, including some PS4 games which are still great.

Last of Us

Last of Us 2

God of War

God of War Ragnarok

Spiderman

Spiderman: Miles Morales

Spiderman 2

Horizon Zero Dawn

Horizon Forbidden West

Ghost of Tsushima

I understand why Emery did it last night, and agree that we would most likely have lost the game regardless however the lack of intent to at least try and win the game was disappointing for me. Maybe it annoys me more as I travelled, if I hadn't I could have switched off and not given it much thought.

I actually think the resting argument is largely nonsense, the team are off the back of an international break. They've played one game in three weeks. Torres and Bailey didn't even go away with their national teams.

What's done is done though, lets hope that a fresh side with a returning McGinn and Watkins can push on the remainder of the season now.

1 minute ago, WakefieldVillan said:

Half-arsed team?

Weakened, maybe. But there was definitely no lack of effort from the team tonight from what I saw.

Half arsed selection, there was no lack of effort.

5 minutes ago, WHY said:

I get that mate but Manchester is hardly Moscow

Maybe not in distance

1 minute ago, WHY said:

We are all annoyed we’ve lost mate but we still potentially have 13 games to play this season. We are going to need the whole squad if we do play 13. Out of all the remaining games tonight was most likely always going to be the most difficult. It’s annoying but I get why players were rested and got some minutes in to players who might be needed further down the line. 

Don’t get me wrong I get why he’s rested them, annoys me taking a half day off work  and travelling to Manchester to watch a half arsed team run after shadows though. Win the next two games and it’s justified, feels slightly MON/Moscow to me though.

Annoys me as with a lot of injuries we’ve then gone ahead and rested some of our most important players in Torres, Tielemans and Bailey. Maybe Emery knows best and they needed resting but it feels very much like a game thrown away to me.

On 30/03/2024 at 23:17, Villa87 said:

Late to the party but just started 1883 - got 1923 and Yellowstone to look forward to. 

Just finished Yellowstone and it was brilliant. Starting 1883 this week.

On 31/03/2024 at 19:00, Farlz said:

Didn't use my WC this week as I thought my team was fine as is. Went well tbf, Not owning Salah only worry but didn't hurt me much at all. 67 points not too shabby. 

I don't plan anything I just wing it every GW but I want Salah now so need to decide whether to hit WC midweek. I really don't understand why everyone went all in on Chelsea though, sure fixtures are good but you know Chelsea are extremely shite. Give me Palmer and the rest stay away. Will have to see how much of a sheep I become. 

I'm looking over my shoulder now, although @a-k is within touching distance.

He’s ready he just needs a run of games without fans getting on his case, it’s just quite unfortunate that it’s come at arguably our most important point of the season.

However with the options of giving Tim a go, or trying to shift the team about by moving Luiz, or gambling on Tielemans or Chambers as a DM, I’m keen to hand the reigns to Tim and let him have a go.

The pros are he potentially improves given game time, and saves the clubs millions on a backup DM.

The cons are he potentially isn’t good enough as a DM… which could be the case with Luiz, Tielemans or Chambers.

Solanke penalty miss, you couldn't make it up.

I have a feeling the increases will be around the 10% mark all over Villa Park - but it would be nice for the club to show some form of appreciation that there have been increases each season for a few years now and either pause for a season or increase with a small %.

I will be renewing my season ticket regardless of the increase (and I accept I am probably part of the problem for that), but I'm in a fortunate enough position to be able to afford it and wouldn't want to join the back of the waiting list queue when I change my mind. I can imagine for some the price increases each year are making renewal a real difficult decision, especially those with families and childrens requiring multiple season ticket renewals.

As for making the season ticket more attractive, they could pretty much do anything after last season to make improvements after stripping almost all of the benefits we were receiving. For a start just having some basic functions, bars, food and toilets available to use would be an improvement, although not exactly an attraction. The fan zones are great, but small and packed 90% of the time, I would personally move this to the Holte End car park, or have two either end of the ground with bars and food stalls. A discount in the club store used to be offered to ST holders, this would be nice to see back especially with the current costs of shirts and training wear.

I echo everyones thoughts on selling tickets, I can't understand why the ground has to sell out before they can be resold - and 100% of the 1/19 should go back to the ST holder where a profit is being made. The ability to transfer a ticket to a friend or family members fan ID should be available online - with possibly a limit on the amount of times to stop people taking advantage of a reference.

Give us all a free pint as well, because why not...

Has anyone got a T-Roc?

Thinking of getting one as the next motor.

On 25/02/2024 at 07:31, a-k said:

Into the top 1k for the first time ever. I'm coming for that #1 spot!

Fairplay, I've been in second trying to catch you for weeks now but can't get close.

Bailey has genuinely turned into one of the best wingers the club has ever had; he reminds me of Young in his peak now where everytime he gets the ball you expect him to create something. 

My concern is the early substitutions as it weakens us when he leaves the pitch, I don't know if he's carrying a knock or if it's a concern that we are now hugely reliant on him and need him fit. Emery could also be simply trying to play Diaby into form again, but I would rather be doing it 2 or 3 goals up.

Superb player and just hope this form continues.

Genuinally think Pau Torres could make me look good if I played next to him, but Lenglet was very good yesterday regardless.

He's actually been a very good loan signing for us this season, and been hugely reliable when we've needed him. As for signing him, Mings is going to be back next season to take the position back; there's probably a fair argument to say Lenglet's better than Carlos but for the cost of his wages there are better 4th choice centre backs out there.

Addicted to Yellowstone at the moment. So good.

I think there isn’t really a question of would you have him back, everyone would if you took out the bias. Grealish would solve any issues we have on the left hand side and be one of the best players in our side.

The problems come in price and salary.

If we have a budget of £60-70 million next season, which is roughly the cost for Grealish, would you be happy spending it all on him? That would be no other investment in other areas.

Realistically it would require a player sale without a like for like replacement. Would we be happy selling Kamara for Grealish? Or selling Luiz for Grealish? Or Martinez for Grealish?

I wouldn’t, it would disrupt the core of the team too much, a core we’ve just started building and seeing the benefits from.

Would you sell Ramsey to finance Grealish? That questions a bit tougher, as it’s local youth for local experience.

3 hours ago, kurtsimonw said:

Offered a job to start next Wednesday in a small company as part of their finance team and bricking it. More or less been out of work for a year, and almost feel like a fraud even though I was very honest on my CV and interview - probably too honest.

I suffer with really bad anxiety and barely leave the house these days, the account manager at the recruitment agency I got the job through asked about me being ou of work for a year, and then she mentioned she could relate as she has agoraphobia; and then switched from talking to me about the job they initially wanted to talk to me about, to the one I'll be starting next week as their directors are big on mental health and work with mental health charities. Although it's low paid, I'm happy with minimum wage work and the fact it's not minimum wage is a bonus, it's far more than enough to cover my mortgage and other bills.

I think I'm just worried that being out of work for a year, not having had a finance role for 4 years, that I'll just struggle and my anxiety will get the best of me. Job seems a bit 'too good to be true' in pretty much every aspect that I'll end up **** it up.

 

Good to see you back mate.

You'll be fine always nerve wracking starting a new job; I don't have anxiety but get anxious over starting with a new company. First few weeks are always the tough ones then you'll ease into it. Congratulations, good luck and well done for going for it.

22 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

I wholeheartedly agree. I’d snap your hands off for 5th right now.

My worry is that we haven’t played well for 6 weeks and that this *could* be more our level. If this is the case then I think we’ll limp to 5th place. I really don’t think we’ve been great since the Man City game where we arguably put in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen at Villa park.

It’s a big game against Newcastle. We owe them one and they can’t buy a win at the minute. It’s also likely that Trippier will have left or be left out for that game and he is a source of a lot of their goals. 

We need to maintain that gap over Brighton, West Ham and Chelsea/UTD. I’m afraid I’m looking over my shoulder more at the moment, such has been our results of late.

Glass half empty and all that.

In fairness though, although we haven't been great since Man City the Arsenal game was won with a tired team. Since then we've had various injuries and suspensions which have killed the momentum.

With a small squad injuries and suspensions will always drag down on results; we don't have the luxury of squad depth like City. The break and FA Cup games have given us time to get a tired squad back together for the second half of the season.

11 hours ago, Tom13 said:

The Traitors

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The irony of Mollie telling Jaz to get stuff out in the open while keeping the fact she saw Harry get the shield a secret...beggars belief.

I think Harry's cockiness will end up costing him.

Pauls arrogance cost him eventually, and I think the same may soon happen to Harry now... although I want him to win.

Absolutely don't want to throw this game like some are suggesting. We haven't won a cup since 1996 and this is a very real chance for us to do just that.

There are some players in the squad that need a long rest, that's fine rest them. Others need game time to get them back up to speed, Pau, Moreno, Ramsey, Diaby. Realistically the players have 7 days now, with 3 days off. They then have 8 days until the game after; a rest has come for them all regardless of this game. After the Everton game they all have a two week rest.

                      Martinez

Cash   Chambers   Pau   Moreno

            Dendoncker Kamara

     Diaby                      Ramsey

              Duran     Watkins/Zaniolo

We've had a few windows now where we haven't made certain moves because the finances weren't right... and full credit to the club and owners for sticking to their guns as it's put us in a solid financial position. You also look at the Kamara coming in on a free after we held out in the January window, which was clearly a great bit of business.

But this season, do we think that we need to go for it... and possibly overpay for a right back / DM if we have to?

We're going into January in an incredible position and a push in the transfer window this season could help create something special.

I would prefer to see a right back brought in, with Konsa back in the right CB position.

Carlos is a good player no doubt, and has a very good range of passing. He slows down our play though, and a lot of the time he holds the ball for too long without progressing it or moving it quickly to create another option to break the press.

He currently reminds me of Konsa last season though, he also struggled with the passing element of Emery's game but adapated and is now a progressive ball playing centre back (maybe not at Pau's level, but an improvement on before). I would hope Emery can coach this into Carlos.

So casual and can't really tackle, just wrestles players to the floor. I thought that was his worst performance for us yet.

Konsa should be filling that position with a right back next to him.

We need to bin him off in January, he's just not good enough for this level.

Currently using up a loan spot, and we only have two available.