lexicon Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I remember people saying similar things about Richards and his time in Italy. We need people we can rely on and have great attitudes - more people like Elphick, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaglint Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Add in to the mix Kevin Bond he has coached him before and clearly feels he can to some extent control/get the best out of him. I also feel it's a risk worth taking if it pays off he will play a big part in getting us promoted, if it doesn't he's another for the scrap heap and let's face it we've had plenty of those over the years. Don't imagine he'd be on huge money either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 7 minutes ago, lexicon said: I remember people saying similar things about Richards and his time in Italy. We need people we can rely on and have great attitudes - more people like Elphick, for example. I share your reservations. But then I've always been attracted to us having these 'mercurial' talent types. Getting this guy motivated and on form could give us one of the best players in the division and someone who can perform at a higher level. But it is a big IF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StanBalaban Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 10 minutes ago, lexicon said: I remember people saying similar things about Richards and his time in Italy. We need people we can rely on and have great attitudes - more people like Elphick, for example. You're probably right, but I can't ignore the allure of that kind of talent. The kind of talent that Rio Ferdinand said Pogba would look up to in training. With enough good sorts around him, we may just see something special at the Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Getting Morrison motivated, won't be a problem I don't think, he was one of the best players in this division whilst playing for QPR and sha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaglint Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Yeah I don't see him being on the pitch as a risk it's what he does off the pitch and whether we can keep him on it enough which is the risk. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieFacE Posted August 8, 2016 VT Supporter Share Posted August 8, 2016 How much do you think Forestieri would cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A38villan Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Wouldn't mind sessegnon, on a free? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post PieFacE Posted August 8, 2016 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted August 8, 2016 Just now, A38villan said: Wouldn't mind sessegnon, on a free? Always thought of him as a bit of an Nzogbia. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 1 minute ago, PieFacE said: How much do you think Forestieri would cost? Too much. Plus I don't think he'd come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
useless Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 McCormack is quite similar to Forestieri. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A38villan Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 4 minutes ago, PieFacE said: Always thought of him as a bit of an Nzogbia. Apparently baggie fans really rate him and although pulis kept them up, where unhappy he was dropped. Go back even further and Sunderland fans couldn't believe Di canio sold him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaCas Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Whilst strengthening defence would be useful, for me it's not a key priority - Hutton, Richards, Elphick, Okore, Baker, Amavi, Bennett, Cissoko, Lyden, Toner, Calder, Bacuna as a group are as good/better than any team in the Championship and should really have enough to see us through the season. It's very likely that we may bring McNair in too, to add even further depth We also have a set of forwards available as good as any championship team McCormack, Ayew, Gestede and Kozak are as good as any team has got and the addition of say Hernandez would give us real depth. Our real problems are in midfield - on the face of it already we have sufficient numbers and despite of the many criticisms sufficient quality. Whilst not world-beaters by any means Westwood and Gardner are easily championship-class and Veretout (if he stays), Ayew, Grealish and Traore should really look a class above Add in Green, Bacuna, Tschibola and maybe Richards and Bennett and again we have quality and depth BUT my huge worry is that we do not have the correct mix. Ayew, Traore and Grealish don't work enough without the ball and so for me we can only play max one of them in MF at any one time. I'm not sure that the addition of say Morrison really helps this situation - for me we are adding yet another luxury player who won't do a job without the ball. My priorities would be 1. A right-sided midfielder who offers something at both ends of the pitch....someone like Bacuna only good (this would make Hutton look lots better) 2. A dominant holding midfielder - Jedinak would be ideal Another forward (Hernandez) and a CB (McNair) would be nice but not essential This would still leave us a problem on the left with Amavi and Ayew/Grealish good going forward and weak defensively. Personally if neither can be persuaded to put a shift in then I'd try Amavi in front of Cissoko/Bennett 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) 26 minutes ago, VillaCas said: Whilst strengthening defence would be useful, for me it's not a key priority - Hutton, Richards, Elphick, Okore, Baker, Amavi, Bennett, Cissoko, Lyden, Toner, Calder, Bacuna as a group are as good/better than any team in the Championship and should really have enough to see us through the season. It's very likely that we may bring McNair in too, to add even further depth We also have a set of forwards available as good as any championship team McCormack, Ayew, Gestede and Kozak are as good as any team has got and the addition of say Hernandez would give us real depth. Our real problems are in midfield - on the face of it already we have sufficient numbers and despite of the many criticisms sufficient quality. Whilst not world-beaters by any means Westwood and Gardner are easily championship-class and Veretout (if he stays), Ayew, Grealish and Traore should really look a class above Add in Green, Bacuna, Tschibola and maybe Richards and Bennett and again we have quality and depth BUT my huge worry is that we do not have the correct mix. Ayew, Traore and Grealish don't work enough without the ball and so for me we can only play max one of them in MF at any one time. I'm not sure that the addition of say Morrison really helps this situation - for me we are adding yet another luxury player who won't do a job without the ball. My priorities would be 1. A right-sided midfielder who offers something at both ends of the pitch....someone like Bacuna only good (this would make Hutton look lots better) 2. A dominant holding midfielder - Jedinak would be ideal Another forward (Hernandez) and a CB (McNair) would be nice but not essential This would still leave us a problem on the left with Amavi and Ayew/Grealish good going forward and weak defensively. Personally if neither can be persuaded to put a shift in then I'd try Amavi in front of Cissoko/Bennett I like your reference to us "without the ball", because I think we have real issues there and I would be inclined to agree it is relevant to the " The Mix" Edited August 8, 2016 by TRO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 As it stands now we have 2 squad player level midfielders (Westy & Gardner) and 1 promising youngster (Tish) as our CM options. Add to that Veretout & Sanchez who neither of them will probably be here when the season starts. That is woeful for a team who is hopefully aiming for promotion and has a wealthy new owner. 2 new quality CM's are needed asap good enough that we can afford to have the likes of Grealish, Adama or Green on the pitch without being torn apart in midfield. Di Matteo can add all the forwards he want's to, but unless he first fixes the midfield it will be for naught. As for tactics it takes very dynamic CM's to play in a 2 man midfield. Especially when playing with a forward at LW and 2 less than competent wide backs leaving huge gaps behind them. Really hope Di Matteo isn't banking our season on the current crop of midfielders being good enough to carry us through the season, because they won't. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyp Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 1 hour ago, VillaCas said: Whilst strengthening defence would be useful, for me it's not a key priority - Hutton, Richards, Elphick, Okore, Baker, Amavi, Bennett, Cissoko, Lyden, Toner, Calder, Bacuna as a group are as good/better than any team in the Championship and should really have enough to see us through the season. It's very likely that we may bring McNair in too, to add even further depth We also have a set of forwards available as good as any championship team McCormack, Ayew, Gestede and Kozak are as good as any team has got and the addition of say Hernandez would give us real depth. Our real problems are in midfield - on the face of it already we have sufficient numbers and despite of the many criticisms sufficient quality. Whilst not world-beaters by any means Westwood and Gardner are easily championship-class and Veretout (if he stays), Ayew, Grealish and Traore should really look a class above Add in Green, Bacuna, Tschibola and maybe Richards and Bennett and again we have quality and depth BUT my huge worry is that we do not have the correct mix. Ayew, Traore and Grealish don't work enough without the ball and so for me we can only play max one of them in MF at any one time. I'm not sure that the addition of say Morrison really helps this situation - for me we are adding yet another luxury player who won't do a job without the ball. My priorities would be 1. A right-sided midfielder who offers something at both ends of the pitch....someone like Bacuna only good (this would make Hutton look lots better) 2. A dominant holding midfielder - Jedinak would be ideal Another forward (Hernandez) and a CB (McNair) would be nice but not essential This would still leave us a problem on the left with Amavi and Ayew/Grealish good going forward and weak defensively. Personally if neither can be persuaded to put a shift in then I'd try Amavi in front of Cissoko/Bennett See here is the thing. You say Morrison won't do enough without the ball. Well for 5 years now we haven't been able to do anything with the ball. We can get ball. We aren't good enough on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaCas Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 51 minutes ago, Johnnyp said: See here is the thing. You say Morrison won't do enough without the ball. Well for 5 years now we haven't been able to do anything with the ball. We can get ball. We aren't good enough on it. Yes of course we need creativity but defensive/pressing attributes are just as important. To be honest, I dont agree that have no problem getting the ball, I think we struggle both getting and then doing something with the ball. Part of the problem is that when we 'get' the ball it is not in the dangerous transition zones it is along the back four or in deep midfield. We don't win anything like enough ball in the middle of the pitch and the final third I'm not against Morrison per se (although clearly he would be a very high risk player coming into a very unsettled set-up) but he is not the answer to our prayers. All recruiting Morrison would do would add another option on top of Grealish, Ayew and Traore, with four players vieing for one position instead of the current three. To reiterate my priorities are a right-sided midfielder who offers something at both ends of the pitch and a dominant holding midfielder. Are you of the opinion that Morrison would be a more essential recruit than those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyp Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 5 minutes ago, VillaCas said: Yes of course we need creativity but defensive/pressing attributes are just as important. To be honest, I dont agree that have no problem getting the ball, I think we struggle both getting and then doing something with the ball. Part of the problem is that when we 'get' the ball it is not in the dangerous transition zones it is along the back four or in deep midfield. We don't win anything like enough ball in the middle of the pitch and the final third I'm not against Morrison per se (although clearly he would be a very high risk player coming into a very unsettled set-up) but he is not the answer to our prayers. All recruiting Morrison would do would add another option on top of Grealish, Ayew and Traore, with four players vieing for one position instead of the current three. To reiterate my priorities are a right-sided midfielder who offers something at both ends of the pitch and a dominant holding midfielder. Are you of the opinion that Morrison would be a more essential recruit than those? I think we are fine at RM. Andre Green will be good enough. IMO he is our most talented in that position, i include traore. We can't get bogged down by how young he is. The other crowd put demari gray in. Good enough, old enough. Green is plenty good enough. I don't like the term holding midfielder to be honest. Too vague. Someone who can tackle, anticipate and break up play, technically very very good and not just sit for the sake of it, get forward when the opportunity arises. No good just holding if you can't do all the above. Then you'd have a luxury player. If we could bring Jedinak and Morrison in I'd be happy with it and a replacement for Hutton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Need CM's, Gardner & Westwood were both anonymous and bypassed for most of the game, particularly first half. Thought we looked a bit better there with Tshibola to be fair but should be our main area of concern I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dn1982 Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Getting a mobile CF is paramount. McCormack looks very lively but going off of yesterday he plays a bit deeper. Gestede should be plan B at best as he doesn't move if we had a CF who ran the channels yesterday we'd have had a better chance. Hernandez looks like that sort of player. Hopefully Amavi will play Wednesday and that'll sort the left side of defence but we need a new RB Hutton always gets plenty of the ball but never creates. Then we need to sort CM Gardner and Westwood are too similar we need more energy in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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