One For The Road Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Going into the Wolves game off the back of two straight defeats (if we get smashed at Spurs as expected), will certainly be a test. We could very well be 10 points adrift by the time Preston come to town. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest av1 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Its all about the transfer window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 I think its beyond us for this year now. Sure would could sign a few new players, but it seems we only have 1 guy up front who knows where the back of the net is - and he might not be available for around 6 games. I thought we would be in the play off places by now - and could hang on through ACON - As it is we are playing big time catch up with a depleted squad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSV Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 15 hours ago, bobzy said: I think Kodjia is solid enough (£13m? Hmmmm), maybe likewise Chester (overpriced though) with Jedinak as a hugely mixed bag. I actually think our best signing could turn out to be Adomah. We spent a record for any team in the Championship ever, though. Instant clicking was never going to happen, but we're not even exciting anymore. We had such a poor roster 50 million had made us competitive. We need another 50 million to get promoted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) As I've said there is just too much wrong with this team for us to mount a serious chase for the play offs. I'm not saying it can't happen but in all honesty we have been pretty poor so far this season. As it stands we are a mid table team with the resources of a premier league club. Something is just not right on the pitch. The good thing is that we have improved our home form and I am hopeful we won't be in this league too long. I also think we have a good manager for the situation we are in. Edited January 3, 2017 by Rugeley Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) 7 minutes ago, KSV said: We had such a poor roster 50 million had made us competitive. We need another 50 million to get promoted. I don't think we do. Another four players are needed but I wouldn't say 50 million is what it will take. Edited January 3, 2017 by Rugeley Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted January 3, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted January 3, 2017 Agreed. 2 or 3 good additions in January would be enough to get us into the playoffs imo. I still think there's a pretty good chance this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StefanAVFC Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Doable with midfield reinforcement. Big issue now is that 3rd/4th/5th went that much further away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSV Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 1 hour ago, Rugeley Villa said: I don't think we do. Another four players are needed but I wouldn't say 50 million is what it will take. Don't forget others will strengthen as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 3 minutes ago, KSV said: Don't forget others will strengthen as well. I can't see too many of them bringing in players that will improve them too much. Forget about Brighton and Newcastle but Leeds for example won't have the money to add much strength to the team. We are one of the lucky clubs that could spend a lot of money but in all honesty I don't think we need to spend no more than 20 million. It will be interesting to see how the likes of us, Norwich and Derby do after January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJT123 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 If we strengthen properly, at least 2 midfielders, a striker and right back, I'd be expecting a top 6 finish, not hoping for one. It's remarkable how Bruce has managed this side and been able to continually pick up points with almost a non existent midfield. Two players to play either side of Jedinak would give us so much more than we currently have and I think our football would change as a result. There are eight teams battling it for spots 3-6. Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, Reading, Huddersfield, Derby, Norwich, Fulham and us. We play Sheff Wed, Reading, Derby and Norwich all at home and we are capable of winning every match. Writing us off before Bruce has even signed one player of his own is quite ridiculous. We could be looking at 3/4 new players in the starting XI for the Wolves game. Bruce knows what it takes to get out of this division and at the moment it's obvious he doesn't rate any of our midfielders, perhaps excluding Jedinak, so I think it would be fair to assume that our current midfield will be getting an overhaul. I'm still very optimistic of a play-off spot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
striker Posted January 3, 2017 Visiting Supporter Share Posted January 3, 2017 While watching every televised game this season involving the Villa I have consistently noted the Villa strikers receiving the ball with their backs to goal. Very little through balls to run onto even down the channels. For me this is something that must change if Villa are going to score enough to make the playoffs and would entail more movement from the strikers on the shoulder of the opposing defenders plus a midfielder who can actually play a through ball into space. Remember Bobby Robson telling Shearer (who was going through a lean spell in front of goal) to at least be more side on when receiving a pass and that got Shearer scoring again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsimonw Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 31 minutes ago, Rugeley Villa said: I can't see too many of them bringing in players that will improve them too much. Forget about Brighton and Newcastle but Leeds for example won't have the money to add much strength to the team. We are one of the lucky clubs that could spend a lot of money but in all honesty I don't think we need to spend no more than 20 million. It will be interesting to see how the likes of us, Norwich and Derby do after January. Leeds will be spending £4m to sign Pontus Jansson permanently. Can't imagine them spending much more on others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 4 minutes ago, kurtsimonw said: Leeds will be spending £4m to sign Pontus Jansson permanently. Can't imagine them spending much more on others. I'd love to sign him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 7 points isn't an insumountable gap, but we need to make that up on Wednesday and hope that another 5 teams don't capitalise. It's a very tall order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villarocker Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Johnstone, Jenkinson and Rhodes on loan. Lansbury £4m, Hourihane £6m, Brady £10m = a further £20m to get us promoted! With that lot in the team we could play a 4-1-4-1 formation as follows: ---------------------------Johnstone--------------------- Jenkinson-------Chester--------Baker--------Amavi -----------------------------Jedinak------------------------ Adomah------Hourihane-------Lansbury------Brady ------------------------------Kodjia-------------------------- That's a decent attacking line-up! Edited January 3, 2017 by villarocker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 3 hours ago, KSV said: We had such a poor roster 50 million had made us competitive. We need another 50 million to get promoted. Agree but disagree - it didn't need £50m and the £50m wasn't spend well (value-wise). I can't even think of a more expensive side that has got promoted from the Championship; let alone spending that on 5 or so players only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) When was the last time we spent well? Even the MON years we bought some shite. Edited January 3, 2017 by Rugeley Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I did the SportsPredicter a month or so ago I was trying to be as objective as possible Just checked it again with the Norwich loss - 1pt from 2x v Leeds & Cardiff loss Amazed We were 6th on GD 2 more than SheffW So I still have hope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 57 minutes ago, villarocker said: Johnstone, Jenkinson and Rhodes on loan. Lansbury £4m, Hourihane £6m, Brady £10m = a further £20m to get us promoted! With that lot in the team we could play a 4-1-4-1 formation as follows: ---------------------------Johnstone--------------------- Jenkinson-------Chester--------Baker--------Amavi -----------------------------Jedinak------------------------ Adomah------Hourihane-------Lansbury------Brady ------------------------------Kodjia-------------------------- That's a decent attacking line-up! We won't be spending 20m unless a high profile player(s) leaves for similar money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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