Rob182 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 I don't think our team is that bad. I honestly think that a different manager (or different tactics) could achieve a fairly comfortable mid-table finish with our squad. Guzan, Vlaar, Okore, Delph, Delph, Gabby, N'Zogbia, Bent, Weimann, Lowton etc, none of them are bad players. Even Bent, is a good option to have on the bench, if we're chasing a goal and want to try a different approach in the closing minutes. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliffy Biro Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 We must surely have a pretty sizeable squad now? Not saying its amazing but Hutton, N'zo, Benteke, Kozak, Okore, Bent, Gardner, Herd returning and then you've got the new signings plus the youngsters like Grealish etc to supplement the squad. Obviously expect some departures and maybe 1 or 2 more new signings but our 11 is ok actually its just about how many of them we actually keep fit and playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Despite our poor form, poor finish and poor budget, strangely, our squad is looking fairly healthy. Good GK options in Guzan, Given, Steer. A decent first-choice defensive partnership, with 2 'youngsters' and an older backup. 2 half-decent rightback options, with Bacuna being a versatile 3rd option. Weimann, Gabby, N'Zogbia, Benteke, Kozak, Cole and Bent as forward options. Not to mention Grealish, Gardner, Carruthers and Donacien on the fringes. I'd say that the only area that we're actually lacking depth AND (a bit of) quality is leftback and CM. Delph, KEA and Westwood could be good, but the latter two could also easily flop on their arses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshVilla Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Squad depth is the main reason that we're seen as a 'poor' team. The first choice, full strength starting XI is okay IMO. It's not amazing, but it's perfectly capable of a mid-table finish if all the players are playing to the best of their ability. It's when we lose even just a single player from that starting line-up that we see how vulnerable we are. Hopefully it'll be a little better now that Bent and N'zogbia etc are back and we have a couple of experienced players on the bench. With a couple more signings hopefully coming in, at least we'll have a bit more depth and options, especially when the inevitable injury crisis happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovers13 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Villa actually have a huge squad right now. Not much quality, but a lot of players. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosofsaunders Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 First game of season with this squad Guzan Hutton vlaar okore Luna Westwood delph Nzogbia cole agbonlahor Bent That's good enough to stay up comfortably if you ask me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amsterdam_Neil_D Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 First game of season with this squad Guzan Hutton vlaar okore Luna Westwood delph Nzogbia cole agbonlahor Bent That's good enough to stay up comfortably if you ask me 2 Full backs and a striker and the first 11 would be solid and looks quite exciting up front tbh. Lerner is not the business man he thinks he is. Add some depth to the squad in terms of quality and who knows what could happen (And improve the chances of selling us but he likes the relegation battles so what can we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 (edited) So as it stands, we currently have on our books: GK - Guzan, Given, Steer - No need for further signings in this area IMO LB - Luna, Bennett, Stevens - Definately an area that needs strenghtening RB - Lowton, Bacuna, Hutton - Could be improved but not at the top of the list CB - Vlaar, Okore, Senderos, Baker, Clark, Donacien - Ok on paper, hopefully an injury free season ahead CM - Delph, Westwood, KEA, Gardner, Herd, Sylla - Sadly lacks depth and needs an 'enforcer' type to sit in midfield AM - Cole, N'Zogbia, Tonev, Carruthers, Grealish - Certainly needs adding to IMO ST - Benteke (inj), Kozak (inj), Gabby, Weimann, Bent, Robinson, Helenius (off?) - Not too shabby once all fit. For me, essential for us this season are a leftback, midfield destroyer and an attacking midfielder. So long as we don't suffer injuries as last season, we should be ok. Edited July 8, 2014 by theboyangel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 The midfield is scarily weak IMO 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romavillan Posted July 8, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted July 8, 2014 The midfield is scarily weak IMO We also don't play many midfielders either! Max 3 real midfielders, 2 strikers wide who work hard to help out when we don't have the ball too, and 2 fullbacks who push up. If we are going to pick Cole/Grealish/Carruthers (when he gets fit) as part of a 3 , then you are left with 2 central midfielders to do a lot of work. Delph is good enough I reckon and will improve. Westwood is tidy, unspectacular but tidy. Gardner has a new contract and with Grealish and Carruthers coming in to the frame too (well before Carruthers got crocked anyway) we all of a sudden have some unknown quantities who could really add something. They might not make an impact though. It's a tough one with the current formation, I'd like to see all 3 of the youngsters come through, we have added Cole too but perhaps we need to change the shape a bit in order to strengthen in the middle of the park, sacrifice the wide strikers in favour of midfielders and play with 1 up. Obviously if we had the sort of money to keep Yaya Toure in cake then it's be different but I think there is soem potential there for us in midfield, but it is just that, there's no proven quality at the peak of their careers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Take the current odds on relegation take them now as they'll never be this good again this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GENTLEMAN Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Take the current odds on relegation take them now as they'll never be this good again this season Never. Villa before money! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Take the current odds on relegation take them now as they'll never be this good again this season I've just had a look - we're a best priced 7/2 for the drop. When was the last time we were that short (especially before the season has started)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Its not even worth a bet. I dont like waiting a season for the money and the odds arent tempting enough . 10/1 maybe, but the bookies have smartened to our pisspoor brand of football now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhan_Zhuang Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 I think we're ok and midtable at best; if our better players stay fit and play to form i.e Benteke, Vlaar, Delph then I expect we should see some improvement. I do really think that the acquisition of Cole, should he stay fit be very influential. He had a great season at Lille and even last year played over thirty games and scored five for a struggling team. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrinityRoadSteps Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 It seems we are not alone in thinking the team is bad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IwishIwasalivein1982 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 If there's someone out there who thinks the team is good they probably have some issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Scolari thinks we are brilliant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itdoesntmatterwhatthissay Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 (edited) We have atrotious defensive full backs, a midfield with no balance and absolutely no natural able wide players......our team really is that bad and we haven't moved with footballing times, we're playing football down the middle next year because we have to, perhaps with 5 at the back again, we will be the most predicatable team in the league. Edited July 9, 2014 by itdoesntmatterwhatthissay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Thing is it is that bad, but can anyone see it getting better, thats more depressing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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