Popular Post Vive_La_Villa Posted January 11, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted January 11, 2022 Smith has gone. Gerrard is now our manager and will be for the foreseeable future. I think accepting this will make supporting Villa a much better experience. Losing games is never pleasant but I can see lots to be excited about. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted January 11, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted January 11, 2022 3 minutes ago, Newry_Villan said: Was worried with his comments regarding Ings and Watkins working together. Paraphrasing here but something along the lines of "they'll just have to sort that out between themselves" Isn't that his job to get them firing together? yes but the coach can only do so much. i might be adding 2+2 to make 5 but i wondered if he was alluding to personal issues between the two 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 4 minutes ago, Newry_Villan said: Was worried with his comments regarding Ings and Watkins working together. Paraphrasing here but something along the lines of "they'll just have to sort that out between themselves" Isn't that his job to get them firing together? Be fair - he is only on £150k PW. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 minute ago, tomav84 said: yes but the coach can only do so much. i might be adding 2+2 to make 5 but i wondered if he was alluding to personal issues between the two I prefer Ollie of the two. I keep going back to the pre season friendly when Ings scored and Ollie's face was like thunder he just looked straight through him. Needs sorting. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted January 11, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted January 11, 2022 Just now, hippo said: I prefer Ollie of the two. I keep going back to the pre season friendly when Ings scored and Ollie's face was like thunder he just looked straight through him. Needs sorting. i like them both. think ollie would be a good impact sub though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 8 minutes ago, Jareth said: He must be a bit frustrated, the overall ability of the squad to play the way he wants is not quite there and last night wasn't the first time we've seen us incapable of the speed of passing he wants without giving it away often quite dangerously. Coutinho and fingers crossed Digne will lift us quite significantly and I am confident we will see a marked difference in quality, enough to turn these amibtious performances into dominant performances. Agreed. But he has enough at his disposal to keep a few clean sheets score a few goals and beat the likes of Brentford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Just now, Reivax_Villa said: I feel like with the Watkins and Ings issue, we can afford to have them building chemistry this season but next season it has to work. I’ve seen improvements personally. I think they looked decent together yesterday. But I also think we are only playing both of them because we have Bailey and Traore out. Plus Coutinho to come in. They will be competing for one position when everyone is back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Just now, tomav84 said: i like them both. think ollie would be a good impact sub though I think he needs to make up his mine who is the preferred one or who starts. Throwing both of them on and telling them to sort it out isn't happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viloon Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 I ignore any comments questioning SG at the moment, he's just through the door and trying things out to learn about our squad, who he wants to keep and who doesn't fit. Anyone who questions him before half way through next season needs to give their head a wobble. The one aspect I do like is we are getting an identity in the way we play, which has been my biggest gripe for years. The passing and movement, the high press, you can see he has a style of play and once he has removed the deadwood and players who don't fit his system and has recruited the players he thinks do, I think we'll all see a modern Aston Villa, playing similar to how the top teams play. We lack quality at the moment in certain areas, but it's definately there to see what he is trying to do. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 minute ago, Viloon said: I ignore any comments questioning SG at the moment, he's just through the door and trying things out to learn about our squad, who he wants to keep and who doesn't fit. Anyone who questions him before half way through next season needs to give their head a wobble. The one aspect I do like is we are getting an identity in the way we play, which has been my biggest gripe for years. The passing and movement, the high press, you can see he has a style of play and once he has removed the deadwood and players who don't fit his system and has recruited the players he thinks do, I think we'll all see a modern Aston Villa, playing similar to how the top teams play. We lack quality at the moment in certain areas, but it's definately there to see what he is trying to do. Seriously ? I think the lack of a style of play is the biggest concern. We seem to rely on set pieces or moments of individual skill. Clearing out the deadwood. I wouldn't agree there is that much. But assuming AEG is one - why did he come on last night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted January 11, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted January 11, 2022 3 minutes ago, hippo said: I think he needs to make up his mine who is the preferred one or who starts. Throwing both of them on and telling them to sort it out isn't happening. what options did he have last night though? bailey and young injured, traore & trez, at AFCON, el ghazi shit watkins wont start out wide when we have viable alternatives IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlack Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 24 minutes ago, The Fun Factory said: Our full backs are not wing backs and Ings and Watkins will not work together. I thought Gerrard might have picked this up in the last 3 months of Smith's reign. I assume that's why he wants Digne to replace Targett. Cash could be a wing back, but still needs a fair bit of coaching to get there. Ings and Watkins both playing is partly being forced by injuries, but will be resolved with the arrival of Coutinho. Looks to me like the signings we're making are directly targeted at those weaknesses you identified. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassyNoel Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Barring injuries, last night was the last time SG could only field Smith / Bruce recruits. It'll be this time next year before we can really start making assessments. And we have miles to go. Some of these players may just not be up for what the new regime demands, physically or mentally. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 12 minutes ago, tomav84 said: i like them both. think ollie would be a good impact sub though That’s a good call. If you’re a defender the last thing you want to see coming on when you’re knackered is Duracell powered Ollie Watkins. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb_82 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 minute ago, MrBlack said: I assume that's why he wants Digne to replace Targett. Cash could be a wing back, but still needs a fair bit of coaching to get there. Ings and Watkins both playing is partly being forced by injuries, but will be resolved with the arrival of Coutinho. Looks to me like the signings we're making are directly targeted at those weaknesses you identified. Exactly, the system he has broadly works but he needs better personal. We are dominating the ball better and look a lot more of a team and a unit playing some great football in places. Next season will be the onne for us now with rest of this season and pre season building up to it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 7 minutes ago, tomav84 said: what options did he have last night though? bailey and young injured, traore & trez, at AFCON, el ghazi shit watkins wont start out wide when we have viable alternatives IMO Bidace , Sanson, Chuk ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrassyNoel Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 2 minutes ago, MrBlack said: I assume that's why he wants Digne to replace Targett. Cash could be a wing back, but still needs a fair bit of coaching to get there. Ings and Watkins both playing is partly being forced by injuries, but will be resolved with the arrival of Coutinho. Looks to me like the signings we're making are directly targeted at those weaknesses you identified. I've no doubt Gerrard picked this up within 10 minutes of watching us. Not much could be done until now, and the wheels are in motion. Summer will be the main event. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 1 minute ago, GrassyNoel said: Barring injuries, last night was the last time SG could only field Smith / Bruce recruits. It'll be this time next year before we can really start making assessments. And we have miles to go. Some of these players may just not be up for what the new regime demands, physically or mentally. I think we’ll see a great bloodletting between now and August. I think we are still seeing a softness in the team. He alluded to closing that small gap between playing well and losing and actually winning. A lot of it is in the mind and changing the mind set is a big job. Those players that can’t do that will be replaced. I like Dean but it can’t be denied that things like fitting in training around players late night social media and gaming needs were ridiculous. The lunatics definitely we’re running the asylum. He was too nice, no doubt. I’m pretty sure that’s not likely to be a criticism that can be levelled at SG. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveAV1 Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 16 minutes ago, MrBlack said: assume that's why he wants Digne to replace Targett. Cash could be a wing back, but still needs a fair bit of coaching to get there I think Matty Cash has regressed defensively this season. Going forwards he’s good but he needs to improve. The return of Kesler may be more significant than we think. If he stays here and doesn’t go back out on loan, he’ll at least keep Cash on his toes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippo Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 27 minutes ago, GrassyNoel said: Barring injuries, last night was the last time SG could only field Smith / Bruce recruits. It'll be this time next year before we can really start making assessments. And we have miles to go. Some of these players may just not be up for what the new regime demands, physically or mentally. Whole year down the pan then. This isn't a bad squad of players by any stretch. We have 2 England CFs - and England CB and the best goalkeeper I have seen in 50 years of watching the club. I don't think Europe is on the cards anytime soon.but a few clean sheets and goals shouldn't be beyond the current crop of players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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