Mantis 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 Yes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Mantis i applaud your optimisim i really do, just very depressed about Villa right now and this summer I cannot see any strides forward on the playing side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 Mantis i applaud your optimisim i really do, just very depressed about Villa right now and this summer I cannot see any strides forward on the playing side I'm not even optimistic. I don't necessarily think it will get better straight away (although it obviously will at some point) I just don't necessarily think things will definitely be terrible next season either. I know things are bad right now but I think a lot of people have worked themselves into this intense pessimism that just isn't warranted at the moment. It might be in 8 months time, but I don't think it is at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sun_never_sets Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 i was thinking about this earlier - our first team without injuries isnt actually that bad (if we signed a new LB and DM) We coul play quite something like this: Benteke Cole/Delph Nzog/Gabby Grealish/ Weimann Westwood/New Dm LB Lowton/Bacuna Okore Vlaar Senderos Guzan that could get overrun in midfield defensively... offensively strong though, depends how wlel the wingers could adapt to tucking in without the ball could then have adaptations around a a back 4 i.e 4 1 2 2 1, 4 3 3, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_sun_never_sets Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 i was thinking about this earlier - our first team without injuries isnt actually that bad (if we signed a new LB and DM) We coul play quite something like this: Benteke Cole/Delph Nzog/Gabby Grealish/ Weimann Westwood/New Dm LB Lowton/Bacuna Okore Vlaar Senderos Guzan that could get overrun in midfield defensively... offensively strong though, depends how wlel the wingers could adapt to tucking in without the ball could then have adaptations around a a back 4 i.e 4 1 2 2 1, 4 3 3, Slot Richardson in as LB? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-Reacho Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Reckon we could have two £5m-ish players on top of what we've got. Gives us a squad that's capable of staying up easily with the right tactics and motivation. Having more senior players will have a big effect I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 trouble is other teams are spending cash and strengthening, we tend not to see that and focus only on our own little bubble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 trouble is other teams are spending cash and strengthening, we tend not to see that and focus only on our own little bubble I'd say it's the exact opposite. We tend to see other teams around us as strengthening exponentially, every player they sign an instant star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nabby Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 A strong DM and a winger and we arnt too bad assuming the bomb squad bring something to the team ,Vlaar stays and Benteke isnt out too long. As it stands IMO the recently promoted teams ,WBA ,Swansea ,Sunderland ,Southampton and us look weakest teams in League. The team that spends the most usually wins or gets close to winning league and same as bottom the lowest spenders struggle and we are currently in that bracket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heid3ster Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 trouble is other teams are spending cash and strengthening, we tend not to see that and focus only on our own little bubble I see other teams spending cash. I don't see all of them strengthening. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 Against Mansfield, we appeared to be playing a 3-4-1-2, which I think is a decent attacking formation to play against the teams that we know we can challenge. - - - - - - - - Bent - - - - - Weimann - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cole - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Richardson - Delph - - KEA - - - - - Hutton - - - - - - Clark - - - Okore - - Vlaar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Guzan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - With the option to swap Bent for Gabby, Hutton for Bacuna/Lowton and KEA for Westwood, I don't think that's a dreadful team. Average, maybe, but I think it would avoid relegation at least. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted July 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted July 20, 2014 Against Mansfield, we appeared to be playing a 3-4-1-2, which I think is a decent attacking formation to play against the teams that we know we can challenge. - - - - - - - - Bent - - - - - Weimann - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cole - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Richardson - Delph - - KEA - - - - - Hutton - - - - - - Clark - - - Okore - - Vlaar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Guzan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - With the option to swap Bent for Gabby, Hutton for Bacuna/Lowton and KEA for Westwood, I don't think that's a dreadful team. Average, maybe, but I think it would avoid relegation at least. I agree. Also, when Benteke and Kozak are fit we'll have many options up front for the important run in the spring. We have a good chance to stay up, it's not all doom and gloom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 If we can bring in Ki and perhaps one more player (a winger, possibly?), then I'll be fairly happy with our business and our squad going into the new season. - - - - - - - - Bent - - - - - Weimann - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cole - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Richardson - Delph - - Ki - - - - - Hutton - - - - - Clark - - - Okore - - Vlaar - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Guzan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A first eleven, like the one above, would then give us the rotation options of: Baker, Senderos, Bennett, Lowton, Bacuna, Westwood, KEA, Tonev, N'Zogbia, Gabby and Kozak and Benteke when fit. There are also a few players who we can hope can make their mark: Grealish, Gardner and (to a lesser extent) Robinson and Donacien. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted July 20, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted July 20, 2014 I like Ki a lot too, but don't want to think about it too much until a deal is done. Just to protect myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexicon Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 A lot of players returning, a few new signings - we're already in a slightly better position than we were last year. Things aren't 'looking up' but considering the sale, it's not looking like doom and gloom just yet either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevangrealish Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 I think PL has picked a fantastic squad for the America tour. Of course in an ideal world Carruthers, Donacien and Robinson would be there aswell but then again three others would have to be sacrificed. So overall I think he couldn't have picked it better. Call me biused but I think with Cole,N'Zogbia and Jack providing Benteke,Kozak and Bent it does look pretty decent ! Also our defence looks a stronger with Richardson,Okore and Senderos. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 Weimann were terrible last season, now as the Zog is available, Weimann shouldnt longer be a no brainer starter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a m ole Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) I think Andi is a good player, hopefully the competition will give him the impetus to recapture his early form. He was at his best when playing as a forward with Benteke, would be good to give him a run in this position again, knowing that Nzog, Cole, Grealish, Robinson, Bent etc will all be after a place. Edited July 21, 2014 by a m ole Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaspg Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 to be fair zogbia werent really tearing it up when he was playing and hes coming back from a long term injury, expecting him to perform alot better than andi has might be a bit optimistic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh Posted July 21, 2014 Share Posted July 21, 2014 On the subject of N'zogbia, how many of the 'bomb squad' will really play their bollocks off for Lambert ? In answer to the original question, at the start of every season we believe that we have a decent squad. The last 3 years have proved that we don't, regardless of the few additions every summer. Remember last year, when we did all our business in the first couple of weeks of the transfer window and how we suggested that we could really push on in the coming season ? At the end of the day, our 'best' team is just about ok, but our squad is woefully short. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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