jackbauer24

I don't actually think it matters who the captain IS, but it causes an unneeded distraction when you say it ISN'T someone else. Mings could have remained captain and still be dropped (and therefore McGinn captain on the day) and none of this story would have mattered. Gerrard has said a captain isnt guaranteed a start. And anyone can lead the team on the pitch, without the title of Captain. Just another of a mountain of mistakes by Gerrard. And I'm not a massive fan of Mings and think he makes too many mistakes for where we purport to want to be. He's also handled it badly in the media, chosen the wrong replacement and doesn't have a clue how to man-manage but I could go on...

I don't think there is a single, realistic, signing that can counter the many issues we have with Gerrard. This squad should be capable of 10th by letting it simply tick over with easy safe decisions, a good manager could get it finely tuned to 7th or 8th... Gerrard is sabotaging it the point I think we'll do worse than last season.

This is FAR dodgier than some may have noticed and really the club should be pulled up for this; Last week sometime I logged in to see the state of play and see if games had started again etc and there were loads of items to use your points on from hoodies to glasses to footballs etc. Then they send a reminder email to everyone pretending they have either extended the deadline or are reminding you of the deadline but have removed EVERYTHING from sale. This is pretty disgraceful and tantamount to fraud really. Your points are instantly without value. Whether you value the points or not, this practise is borderline fraudulent.

Gerrard has never shown he's even a good a manager as Sherwood. His teams lack direction, drive, heart and belief. After the new manager bounce, he's been horrific. He still doesn't know his best team, he plays his mate regardless of form, his man-management is atrocious, his behaviour towards the press is poor, he takes no responsibility and has no ideas. He relied on a coach who upped and left as soon as he could and Villa have made zero progress during his tenure, only argument being whether we've actually gone backwards. This isn't one game, this is basically every game in 2022. I think we'd have had a better season if we'd bought no one in the summer and just changed the manager. The only thing more laughable than Villa vying for a European place this season is the idea Gerrard can be Liverpool manager one day, I doubt he'd get any Premier League job. But we're stuck with him as his mate Purslow has said he can stay while he plays his mate Countinho every week. Jobs for the boys. There's not too many worse options than SG out there. Him getting close to being the worst manager we've had in recent history is quite an achievement considering the crap before. Smith needed to go but I'd still prefer him to SG.

This has draw written all over it for me. Away, newly promoted team, Villa still unsure of lineup with debutants as well. The optimistic will claim progress as we lost to Watford last season, they'll point to it being early in the season and that xyz looked good and will only get better when they 'gel/ get up to speed' and that we're only a player short of being top 8. The negative will claim stagnation, they'll point to largely uninspiring pre-season performances and that xyz looked poor and have shown no signs of improvement from last season or coping with the Premier League and we're only a player or two from getting injuries that will see us fight relegation. The truth probably being somewhere slap bang in the middle with average performances leading to average results leading to an average league position - 10th!

Was world class... Not sure he is now. I also think Gerrard has given him zero reason to fight for his place and has assured his mate he will always play. I don't think there are many people who would say, based on current levels and form, that Coutinho is performing better than Buendia and yet he's guaranteed to start. This has been the case at the end of last season and through pre-season and yet Gerrard has clearly implied Buendia is seen as the second string; either being the sub or not featuring today. For the figures discussed, it was a good piece of business, but I'm not sure he should be basically guaranteed a start! His form has been average to poor, outside ten seconds of skill per match.

I've broken up for the summer but must still be in work mode; my mind is looking at the squad in Ofsted terms; Grade 1 (Outstanding) - Martínez, Cash, Digne, Carlos, Buendía Grade 2 (Good) - Chambers, Kamara, Coutinho, Bailey Grade 3 (Satisfactory) - Olsen, Konsa, Mings, Guilbert, Augustinsson, McGinn, Luiz, Sanson, Ramsey, Watkins Grade 4 (Inadequate) - Steer, Young, Nakamba, Ings *Special Measures - Hause, El Ghazi, Traore, Davis I'd like a few more players in the top two brackets really, and based on positions we seem light on true quality along the spine. Two or three top quality players would make us incredibly strong. A starting midfielder, a striker and a CB (in that order of priority) would really make us quite a formidable opponent.

What surprises me most is how weak he has become. The number of times he let's the ball bounce and then tries to shield the ball but loses it is incredible. Same again today, fortunately he tracked back and made the recovery but it all came from him losing the aerial ball near the half way line. Based on preseason alone, which is obviously ridiculous really, but I'd put him as our weakest CB as it stands.

What are the lottery numbers this week?! Spot on!

If, and it's a massive if, there was any truth in this whatsoever then not only would I obviously say he can do one, I'd also suggest he won't make it as a top quality footballer at all. At this age, with the limited experience he has, he's at best got poor taste in advisors or, at worst, is fully deluded and focussed purely on money. This isn't some final payday at the end of your playing contract, this is show your quality on then pitch and then earn the big contract. People don't get stuck on 'low' value contracts if they're pulling up trees. If this is about money, let him go. If this is about guaranteed playing time, let him go. If this is about wanting a better footballing education or a fresh start or whatever, then I have no issue with it. Basically, he just needs to go now in my opinion as I'm not getting worked up over a kid who's done next to nothing in his career so far. Potential counts for very little.

If first team and (direct backup) and kid/utility GK Martinez (Olsen) Marschall RB Cash (Guilbert) Kesler CB Carlos (Konsa) Hause CB Mings (Chambers) Feeney LB Digne (Augustinsson) Young CM Kamara (Nakamba) Chukwuemeka CM McGinn (Luiz) Iroegbunam CM Ramsey (Sanson) A. Ramsey AM Buendia (Traore) Philogene-Bidace AM Coutinho (Bailey) El Ghazi ST Watkins (Ings) Archer In my opinion, we still look like we need another senior option in central midfield as none of those four are consistent and we need two of them to be in form at any one time. Defensively, we seem ok as long as we're prepared to drop underperforming players sometimes... Naming no names... TM. Attacking wise there are questions over Bailey and, more so, Traore. Up front we do seem a little short, especially if Archer isn't deemed ready. Some talented kids help pad the squad out further. Personally I'd be looking for that elusive midfield engine who can tackle (fairly McGinn!) and create and then a striker.

Bought the training wear using the code to make it bearable (Training Pants from £40 to £60 and training tops from £32 to £48 is scandalous) but am going to have to send back. I'm normally a medium in most clothes. With Luke I was a small. With Under Amour/Kappa and all other sports brands I'm a medium. But with Castore, it'll be back to small it seems - the T-shirt is too big. The training pants are weird! They look like yoga pants with a really big waistband and the cut is all over the place - tight in some places, baggy around the ankle. Disappointing as colour is nice. Kappa and Under Armour stuff all fit really well.

I was flicking through various pics on Instagram and saw Elmo with the players, carried on flicking through and went about my day...then about two hours later my brain said "are you not going to comment on what you saw then?!" as it suddenly dawned on me he shouldn't be there! Like when you see an old colleague at work and it takes a while for you to click to the fact they no longer work there! He's in coach wear so highly doubt he's training with us to get fit. Must be coaching or ambassadorial.

Passion is one thing. Being aggressive and a little bit of a trailblazer is another. But these people need to be slightly likeable. There is NOTHING about Kyrgios that is remotely praisable. It irritates me that there is even any support for his 'entertainment' value, this behaviour should not to be encouraged or accepted. Without being that guy; I hate the idea of kids trying to mimic this character. He is absolutely vile to his own team and the tone and approach is almost abusive. Can't say I'm shocked he's due in a criminal court next. He's a bully and a thug frankly. He's not a fictional character, he's in a professional sport.

Sainz will be delighted. But Ferrari screwed that up badly, multiple times. The team shouldn't be happy with that at all as they could have had a lot more from the race with just an iota of racing tactics or awareness.

This kind of sums up the issue really, in a couple of ways. First, the clamour for the old badge is nostalgia, so in another 10-15 years time will there be desire for a stripy shield like we had when we won the Coca-Cola Cups and the one lots of people grew up with. Secondly, unless you replicate the old badge basically, it's going to look like a poor replica in most people's eyes and no-one is happy. Smarten up the current badge, add Aston Villa or redesign completely if you must - but some walking on egg shells redesign of the old badge seems pointless.

I will repeat. The Aston Villa 'crest' has only been round for about 17 years in our 148 year history. Therefore, a round badge is not traditional. It is nostalgic about TWO seasons. It would look like most other football team 'logos' these days however impressive we make it. So disappointed it's nearly a given we're going back to a circle badge, Aston Villa should be shield.

Whilst obviously sometimes there are benefits, I personally believe over 21s shouldn't really be loaned and I think, overall, it's a poor system. It's a way of keeping good players on your books or making smaller teams do your rehabilitation or for fiddling finances. If a player is unhappy they should be able to leave during windows. You'd have more permanent moves. When a decent player comes in there is always a strong chance you don't keep them which only benefits owning team. Lots of clubs use loans to balance books. There has to be a limit - Chelsea have some players on perpetual loan! Experience for U21s in lower leagues yes. Holding on to Henderson (GK) or Batshuayi etc is wrong and stunts growth and is purely a financial thing. Or, maybe I tweak it, and say you can only have 1 loan out in a five year period as a over 21. I just think loans should be for youngsters.

Well we disagree, but I just went to do some research and actually a fair bit of this shake up to the loan system is coming apparently!

Personally, I'd bring in a whole raft of changes to the transfer market: 1. Only one window a year (Winter one is largely pointless and just helps desperate big clubs avoid relegation/ panic buys!) 2. Transfer fees set by given formula (contract remaining/experience/caps etc) so all players essentially have buy out clause that's same for everyone. 3. Loans can only be used for U21s 4. Teams can only loan OUT five players (no hoarding 100s of youngsters) 5. Total owned players (including not named in squads) also capped

I might as well just quote my own message from 4 and a half years ago. My view is the same. A star signifies our greatest achievement. We don't need to replicate the whole badge. Traditionally, Villa have a 'shield' not a round 'badge'. We had a circle badge for a few years in our whole history. But looks like we're going back to it and I'm just disappointed that Villa's history is being reduced to focus on one year.

It's all in the wife's name and she's had to deal with them mostly. When they changed it they definitely down played the significance but suggested it would add six months plus to the delivery date if she insisted on it or cancel the whole thing - but we'd already agreed this months before. As her car will just be for the commute to and from work, she didn't kick up much of a fuss and when she spoke to them about it they, again, just shrugged their shoulders and said they wouldn't change the cost. She didn't sign anything to approve the change though. Same with the colour. Research suggests the car is about £1k cheaper so,over a 3 year lease, I'm guessing that equates to a minimal deduction in cost. It's a Vauxhall Corsa-E for the record. Oh, and like everything else, the cost is up a lot since we signed this deal - top spec and free charger for £275pm - considerably more now. Doesn't excuse broken promises and poor communication. My EV, a KIA EV6, is due in January and that will be our main car.

Fuming. Ordered a car (lease) for Mrs. Bauer in March from Vanarama. Two weeks later and they say the colour isn't available so would we change. Reluctantly agree. Then a few months later they say the car is actually a 7kw not the 11kw version we order. Like it or lump it they say. Then they phone three weeks ago and say car is in country and should be with you imminently but no later than 24th June. So we sell current car which is picked up on Saturday. They've just phoned to say it's delayed til at least 14th July as car has only just arrived in country after all. They are full of crap. And on complaining it's basically a 'good luck but it's nothing to do with us'. So now stuck and with no recourse apparently.

Well the season is basically over as a competition. Ferrari had built up a healthy early lead but there was the feeling that when the Red Bulls sorted their issues they would win more than the Ferrari. The hope being that Red Bull's fight back would be gradual and tense. But then Ferrari Ferraried the whole thing and imploded. Max to have this sewn up in near record time I reckon.

Ferrari have Gerrard type star pull. Ferrari have Gerrard type tactical awareness.