gilbertoAVFC

Proud of him, not gonna lie!

I want Davis, Archer, Chukwuemeka and Cooper next season. Just play the boiiiis

Purslow wanted Gerrard clearly because of their own personal relationship. That reeks of personal bias ahead of objectivity. Is this guy going to be held to account if he insists on backing Gerrard in the next window and he continues to play his Christmas tree disaster til he's sacked? It's a huge gamble. Worry for this club.

Yeah but clearly you don't think he's shit. I was referencing the people saying he is a donkey who wouldn't start in League 1, and people, such as the one I was quoting, who would sell him on a free.

I honestly think "thinking Keinan Davis is shit" is like the ultimate barometer of how you tell if somebody isn't knowledgeable about football.

He's quality, honestly. Maybe not a PL starter any time soon, but I just think one day it will all click.

He looked solid. We were extremely lucky not to concede in that game but I think that's just the nature of our general style/U23 football. He didn't appear to make any big mistakes and was up against some very dangerous players for Norwich.

DM

Just got booked but excellent first-half for the U23s. Still think he maybe takes too many risks given his position, but has massive potential.

It was Villa specific though, that was the point he was making - wish I could find it! I never said it was a myth, but if we were shit the fans would still try and get something out the players under O'Leary etc. And we/our squad was terrible - our current squad is still good and the manager is like 10/12 games in. We can do better. If you think it's fine, then that's up to you, but we only get worse when the atmosphere is like this. Coincidentally we somehow stayed up when fans couldn't go. Obviously I don't want that to happen, but we seem to create home disadvantage at times, rather than home advantage.

Well I think we should hold ourselves to account and I'd also rate a respected member of the squad to say "we really feel it when the crowd get nervous - we play far better when there's a bit of positivity and patience." I mean something like that is hardly abrasive? I think Mings secretly doesn't appreciate it. "May your praise be as loud as your disrespect" RE: El Ghazi. Few other cryptic things about our fans I think too from him - I don't blame him. I remember reading something from an ex coach/player who said (paraphrasing): "Keep it tight at Villa Park for 30 mins and you'll get something cos the fans will moan." I forget who it was, but they ain't wrong. Unless we come firing out the traps the atmosphere usually becomes dead/negative if 0-0 or 0-1 for 20/30 mins, depending on who we play. Just wish people tried to enjoy supporting us and had some fun singing - I'd rather lose 0-3 with the fans singing til the end (this has happened) than lose 0-1 and everyone shouting abuse, but maybe that's just me. It's a modern football thing but also definitely worse than most grounds.

What a strange take. The aggression and entitlement comes purely from our fans who scream at their own players for passing it sideways or give it away. Is it totally normal behaviour to shout/send abuse at players in their 20s?

Rubbish but people need to chill the f*** out. Goodness me.

I was under the impression football supporters support their team. The concept of "go to the footy, have a beer, have a sing, hope you win" is just utterly lost on much of our fanbase. They are perennial moaners. Just go and have fun and chill tf out, and I assure you the players will feel less anxious, the atmosphere will be more enjoyable for all and we have a better chance of winning.

The fans are never held to account. Whereas the players are abused weekly depending on which ones are in the bad books. No singing after like 10 mins today. It's embarrassing.

Utterly shocking atmosphere today. Like, I get we're playing poorly, but it's such a hindrance to the players if people don't sing and moan every single time the ball goes backwards/is given away.

Really amuses me that there are people in this thread comparing Douglas Luiz to Gordan Cowans If you could caricature a fanbase...

"a shocking player" is just such a awful take. He might not be naturally a DM, but a shocking player - have a word. On the other hand, you are advocating Nakamba as the answer - who is definitely not a better player than Luiz. Luiz will go higher than Villa, Nakamba won't go higher. Nakamba is fine if you want to absorb sure, but Luiz is better if you want to play football. He is out-of-form but there is also a reason why he has been our number 1 DM for 2.5 seasons now, and has been called up by Brazil, bought by Man City, and rumoured to be monitored by Arsenal and City again. You strike me as the sort of fan who starts crying at the players as soon as they don't go forward, but then moans at them if they give it away playing ambitiously.

Iroegbunam is definitely not ready to start this level if you've watched any U23s. You'd be far better off moving Sanson to DM and playing Chukwuemeka CM in you are going to insist on dropping Luiz and McGinn. He won't drop both though - no way. I think Sanson comes in for Luiz, and Ings comes in for Watkins. Simply can't see it being any more than that.

Because Konsa sweeps and Mings attacks the ball? You can't both do it. That's how defenders work. Konsa's positioning saves us far far more goals than you realise, and he never makes big errors. I don't think Mings is bad, but he is the weaker of the two. Konsa is a far more clever and technical player, and time will show that.

Oh my worddddddd. Everything you said is just totally wrong. Wasn't it Tyrone Mings who lost the header for the second goal and gave them the third goal? You counting getting megged in a block position as a mistake for the first? Cos it ain't - it happens.

Exactly this. People saying he's having a bad season would say he's having a good one if he'd had a stormer last couple of games. Please can someone name me some games which have cost us a goal from a mistake from Konsa? Or even a big chance?

Konsa is better than Gomez, and has played far more football than him in the last two seasons. How anybody could think this is an improvement needs their head tested. Who are you getting with higher potential than Ezri Konsa at Villa out of interest? He is the best defender we've had since Mellberg/Laursen by a f***ing mile.

I'm merely a messenger

Used to dislike him as a player but he's also such a bell. How has this absolute prat got a job in the media?