blandy Posted April 22, 2020 Moderator Share Posted April 22, 2020 16 hours ago, TRO said: full backs that can defend well are a major asset. Of course they are. Defenders that can defend well, attackers that can attack well....all invaluable. Obviously the very best do "the other side of the job" at least competently too. Some full backs are decent going forward, but not so good when put under pressure, others can defend really well, but don't offer much going forwards, and some are below par at both. It's going to depend a great deal on managerial tactics which type a club has to settle for - someone whose intent is to try and win every game, even though they don't have a top 6 type squad of quality players will prefer a FB who can attack competently, with defensive flaws over a defender who is a liability with the ball, perhaps. And the reverse might be true for a "park the bus, get a point if we're lucky" minded manager. For a newly promoted, play-off winning side such a us, or in previous seasons, they're already at a disadvantage over every other side in the Prem, because of the lateness of knowing what league they'd be in, and because their ability to spend will be reduced compared to most of the 17 established ones (whether the others choose to use it or not). Villa has also had some particular bad luck with injuries - long term injuries to key players and their back-ups too, as well as some self inflicted flaws. In essence to lose, for the season or a long time, your spine of Keeper (plus back up), a centre half, Centre mid and centre forward is a bit of a blow to most sides. Do that in a squad that had to be rapidly assembled and...well, it's massively disruptive and doesn't help with establishing cohesion and understanding and continuity. Going back to Guilbert, he's one of many players who've had a dip. At his best, he's decent and definitely PL standard. Ditto Targett. Over time, given the chance I think they'll both show that benefitting from (aside from the pandemic halt) a full season or two in the league to get to grips with it and develop. Other areas for me are more pressing. I'd have a Snodgrass, for example, over Trez any day of the week. Both wingers are massively and repeatedly inconsistent. We're short of Prem standard midfielders. Jack, and McGinn, obviously, but then...? Hourihane is really excellent in some areas, but falls short in others, Luiz & Nakamba still adapting, so like the FBs this season isn't the one to judge them on stand alone basis. CF Wes, not for me, not as a lone forward, but he might prove me wrong. If we stay up, by whatever means, we'll have a decent chance to benefit from this season's learning next season. IF we don't a lot of the players have improved and if it weren't for a likely drop in all transfer values due to the virus, then their value will have gone up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meregreen Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Positional sense is questionable, weak in the air, Championship standard at best. Just a so so player. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 8 hours ago, blandy said: Of course they are. Defenders that can defend well, attackers that can attack well....all invaluable. Obviously the very best do "the other side of the job" at least competently too. Some full backs are decent going forward, but not so good when put under pressure, others can defend really well, but don't offer much going forwards, and some are below par at both. It's going to depend a great deal on managerial tactics which type a club has to settle for - someone whose intent is to try and win every game, even though they don't have a top 6 type squad of quality players will prefer a FB who can attack competently, with defensive flaws over a defender who is a liability with the ball, perhaps. And the reverse might be true for a "park the bus, get a point if we're lucky" minded manager. For a newly promoted, play-off winning side such a us, or in previous seasons, they're already at a disadvantage over every other side in the Prem, because of the lateness of knowing what league they'd be in, and because their ability to spend will be reduced compared to most of the 17 established ones (whether the others choose to use it or not). Villa has also had some particular bad luck with injuries - long term injuries to key players and their back-ups too, as well as some self inflicted flaws. In essence to lose, for the season or a long time, your spine of Keeper (plus back up), a centre half, Centre mid and centre forward is a bit of a blow to most sides. Do that in a squad that had to be rapidly assembled and...well, it's massively disruptive and doesn't help with establishing cohesion and understanding and continuity. Going back to Guilbert, he's one of many players who've had a dip. At his best, he's decent and definitely PL standard. Ditto Targett. Over time, given the chance I think they'll both show that benefitting from (aside from the pandemic halt) a full season or two in the league to get to grips with it and develop. Other areas for me are more pressing. I'd have a Snodgrass, for example, over Trez any day of the week. Both wingers are massively and repeatedly inconsistent. We're short of Prem standard midfielders. Jack, and McGinn, obviously, but then...? Hourihane is really excellent in some areas, but falls short in others, Luiz & Nakamba still adapting, so like the FBs this season isn't the one to judge them on stand alone basis. CF Wes, not for me, not as a lone forward, but he might prove me wrong. If we stay up, by whatever means, we'll have a decent chance to benefit from this season's learning next season. IF we don't a lot of the players have improved and if it weren't for a likely drop in all transfer values due to the virus, then their value will have gone up. Lots of ifs buts and maybe's in there Pete. I wasn't talking about the why's.....Was just merely saying they can't defend and I will stay with that......If they learn and settle in time, I will be quick out the traps, to say i was wrong......not wrong in what I saw, wrong in the the long term view. I accept a lot of what you say, but when we decide what style we want to procede with whatever it is, we have to accept the consequences.....above all else, I want winning football, if that means sacrificing some of the spectacle, I would take it. I appreciate the finer arts of defending and find it fascinating to watch, just like i do attacking football, that does not mean "park the bus " football.....just class players who can defend. I must say ....I usually talk about the here and now, when I comment on players....what happens next year won't save us now.....and more importantly, can't be quantified, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 Asked during an Instagram Q&A if he would hope to stay if Villa are relegated, Guilbert has said: "The important thing for me in football is not money or division. So why not?" Nice to hear that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheepyvillian Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 I think Freddie will improve, and I have to say, his attitude is refreshing to hear. Nothing would please me more than seeing this guy become a Villa legend. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 11 minutes ago, John said: Asked during an Instagram Q&A if he would hope to stay if Villa are relegated, Guilbert has said: "The important thing for me in football is not money or division. So why not?" Nice to hear that. Well he signed for us before we got promoted so that makes sense. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 1 minute ago, The Fun Factory said: Well he signed for us before we got promoted so that makes sense. It's positive that a taste of the big time, hasn't made him think of calling his agent yet though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 I rate him over Targett. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted May 18, 2020 Share Posted May 18, 2020 It worries me that he always finds him in a struggling team. Don't think it's good for him at all. In a way the Championship would be good for him. Not having to worry about relegation and focus on developing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoughboroughLion Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 Guilbert: “Now it's three months I haven't had an English lesson. It's difficult. I stay at home. I have a gym in my home. Every day I run and I do gym. It's not the same, we don't touch the ball or see our friends.” [Daily Mail] via @villareport Link (Villareport I know - probs not even true) You would have thought now would be a perfect time to learn English with a tutor? Club could have helped him out a bit here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted May 19, 2020 Share Posted May 19, 2020 3 minutes ago, LoughboroughLion said: Guilbert: “Now it's three months I haven't had an English lesson. It's difficult. I stay at home. I have a gym in my home. Every day I run and I do gym. It's not the same, we don't touch the ball or see our friends.” [Daily Mail] via @villareport Link (Villareport I know - probs not even true) You would have thought now would be a perfect time to learn English with a tutor? Club could have helped him out a bit here? Yeah I was going to post that. 3 months without any English lessons???, he could have had numerous lessons a week via online?!?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Feet Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Missed him today would of been better at marking Mount I feel. Not even is the squad is questionable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCJonah Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 3 minutes ago, Hobbit Feet said: Missed him today would of been better at marking Mount I feel. Not even is the squad is questionable? Injured Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 He's been injured. Last played in a 4-0 defeat. Indeed his last 5-6 games for us must've all been defeats given AEM played in the Leicester cup win. Not to say he can't be better next year in the division below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 1 hour ago, Hobbit Feet said: Missed him today would of been better at marking Mount I feel. Not even is the squad is questionable? Depends which Freddie we get. The absolute machine and athletic specimen we bought or the flat footed lard arse Freddie we turned him into 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Workrate hides shortcomings. Might be ok in the championship - but his positional sense is close to zero. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AV82 Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) Quote “Frederic Guilbert has been training for the past few days, so he comes into contention again but we'll take another look at him in training today (Monday).” via the OS We need this guy firing on all cylinders and flying down that right hand side again. I'm hoping, like with Douglas, the break will have done him some good. Edited June 22, 2020 by AV82 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sulberto21 Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 VillaAnalytics(?)Has done a very good piece in depth analysis of how Gilbert has performed up until now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumstopdogs Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam2003 Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 He’s far from perfect but I think a very underrated signing for a cheap one from France in his first season - could do a job for us for years in either division. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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