nick76

I've enjoyed the start of the season, I didnt think we'd be this competitive. Yes I know how much we spent in the summer but that was largely to replace players lost in my opinion and have a base of a squad that had a chance of staying up. We are 16th in the league after 11 games, 3 points above and a strong goal difference compared to the bottom three. We have just played Man City and Liverpool after already games against Arsenal and Spurs. We have been unlucky with VAR and I'd point out Palace and Arsenal games which rightly would've/could've gave us more points but here we are. We have a new squad that are just trying to blend and play at this level, a manager at team that have never played at this level before and we are doing well. Arguably at the start of the season we were the worst team in the league as we were the third placed team to come up from the championship (obviously our summer spend helped improve that) but we are playing established teams, some of the best teams in Europe and even mid-table teams spend heavily every summer on an already strong base. We are going to make mistakes and we still need some re-enforcement's but coming for me coming away from a game against the European Champions who literally win every week and we were 1-0 for 86 minutes is unbelievable. Absolutely gutted we lost and two goals we could've avoided but they probably felt they could've avoided Trez's goal for similar reasons. I'm proud of where we are. The team have a bond, they are playing with their hearts and giving everything.....the club from Owners, Manager, Players to Fans are all together in this. The crowd were immense again against Liverpool. This feels like we are on a journey rather than the disarray of when we went down. I'm proud and really feel the last two games performance will hold us well against lesser teams and if we continue to stick together that not only will be survive this season but start a real growth of this famous club back to where it should be because the the previous three years, and to be fair long before that, this club was falling apart. You cant say that now!!! Up the Villa.

I honestly can’t fault anybody today from manager, players to fans. The players gave everything and I’m proud of the performance. Playing the best team in Europe and one nil up until 86th minute and just felt we were unlucky in the end. I said before the game that plop always score in the 94th minute by hook or by crook and they did. Ref was abysmal and we certainly didn’t get our fair share. I didn’t expect any points from city or plop but we were unlucky in the end and gave performances which is all I can ask. Performance puts us in good for lesser teams and the rest of the season. Proud of the team today, disappointed surprisingly in the result.

January is all about the final third for me. Striker is a priority. Wouldnt mind a really pacey player because the threaded balls through by Jack and co, against the bigger team on counter attack might be crucial in the final tally at the end of the season

Really, i never think so and yes he's different as will any player coming on to the pitch to replace another. I think it always weakens the team dramatically because he doesnt have that impact but I guess he does have fresh legs.

Not for me, he doesnt have enough. Some on here have said that if he can bring others into play then that would be enough if didnt score goals. The only way this would work is if were playing two up front. We need a striker who is going to score some goals i.e. 12 per season (hopefully more) and for me I'd be surprised if Davis would hit 6-8 goals and that (IMHO) is being generous. I dont think the rest of his game is really special enough to counter that lack of goals. It's good and he does bring in other players but not nearly enough to warrant it and especially not for a team in our position who is new to the league and plays the system we do. Hopefully in January we bring in another striker and Davis goes out on loan or sold.

Another great performance.

They are at the Blues ground, we know that because nobody ever goes there so they'll never be found

So angry, that ended feeling like a loss. How did we not win that game. Impressed with Nakamba more and more. Surprised Trez didn’t start but loved that Smith put Gealish further forward. disappointed to concede two goals but how did we not score more than two....our offence continues to worry me. Need more shooting practice, our shots aren’t good enough. Don’t mean to pick on Jack but that one attempt where he was free, attacking the North stand and he just blasted it miles over the bar.

It’s too early to be thinking these things for me. We lost a point against Palace because of an incredible referee decision and arguably yesterday the handball penalty by Arsenal could’ve ended the result differently for us. We are being naive and unlucky at the moment and this is the first time our players have really played together and first time they’ve played at this level. The only way I can see us going is getting better and picking up enough results to survive.

I'm disappointed and frustrated but jeez there are some massive over reactions on this site tonight.

Are you kidding? despite Arsenal not playing great they have players that can score at a whim and have proved that. Their final two goals were a penalty and a freekick, not from open play.....bit of perspective please.

Completely frustrated. I never expected any points from this game beforehand but it was there for us to take. Why were we so open after going 2-1 in front against 10 men. I thought to myself we were going to concede but to do it twice was incredible. Just disappointed. Reality is that we werent aiming for points against the likes of Arsenal away but the chance was there and would've given the club a huge boost but we have to refocus on the games we can win and must win to stay in this league. We have to take learning from this game, and there are many of them. Why we let them play at 2-1 down with 10 men I'll never know. Subs were awful and our play was shocking. Trying to take some positives out of it. Wes scored, Jack looked better, McGinn continues to look like he's likely to score. Our defence struggled today but I'll give them a break because they have looked good so far this season. I like Nakamba in the middle. Cant believe I'm so frustrated with that result but it was a chance to pick up some unlikely points.

Depends on money we have to spend in January will determine what level of striker we can get but we definitely need another one whether Wes is a success or not. It was our weakness depth wise before the close of the window and is showing now. I cant decide what type of striker we need though....a fast nippy striker that can catch sleeping defences when we are counter attacking and Jack and co can slip a "against play" ball through to latch onto or do we want a big mega attitude that roughs up defenders and can bring others into play while snatching a few goals himself.

I know I keep posting on this page but it has really irritated me. I worked out today that Villa have lost around 350 quid from me through either lack of stock or bad choices in style or size. I always buy my nephews kits but haven’t this year. I wanted the black villa jersey but I’m a bigger dude and they haven’t had my size in stock however many times I’ve looked. My mom whose a season ticket holder and I buy her stuff didn’t want the home top this season as she says it looks washed out (I agree). I brought her as a surprise one of the new jackets....she’s 4ft 10 and small. She wears mostly small sizes but sometimes a medium, the surprise was more that the medium didn’t come close to zipping up so sent back. Tried buying the 82 retro jacket for her but they haven’t had anything but a small in stock for months despite me going to the shop regularly or online. I can keep going but I’ve given up now, we’ll just wear our older stuff. What put me over the edge is the 3rd kit, who thought that was a nice design needs their head examined.

but that was the one chance he got. I'm not excusing it but hard to criticise a guy who was only given one chance. I think it's really hard to judge Wes at the moment because he's getting nothing, so knows everything he gets he has to do something with. Rarely has the ball in front of him, rarely has proper support to the side or in front of him unless he drops really deep and rarely does anything get really created for him. Yes, he needs to do more, yes he needs to show more but I feel for the guy because in pre-season when he was getting some service you could see some of the talent there. Yes we can argue about lower level talent and maybe he's not premiership level but until he gets that type of service we'll never truly know. The goal he has scored showed what he could do. I just feel it's too early to judge him when the rest of the team arent performing and then expecting him to be the saviour. I'm disappointed so far but I really feel that until the team settles and we can see him in the game more it is too harsh to really judge him.

I dont think it's a bad shout though. I would put Luiz in midfield with Nakamba and McGinn though. Trez and McGinn floating/wing behind Wes. We just have to make sure we dont go too narrow when we play. Still concerned about goals, watching highlights I dont know if I am seeing things but feels like even when we shoot we arent good shooters. By that I mean, even though we do have shots on target they are all straight at the keeper. Keepers dont have to make great saves or even good saves, so while we may some decent stats on chances in some games they arent bottom or top corner shots. Again I may just be seeing things and I have looked to see if there is any shot maps on the internet but havent found anything, it's just something I noticed.

Yeah but you would never be able to buy it because we would never have stock of it.....bloody ridiculous!

Horrible kit, what were they thinking. Neither a decent football kit or a casual wear.

Continue to be impressed by Engels Getting really worried about our final third play, we look poor. Not picking on any player, just as a team we struggle in the final third and I’m not seeing it getting better game on game.

Apologies but just can’t agree with this. If it wasn’t so long, I thought you might be trolling us. Each to their own opinion but I’d be surprised if many people had this view.

Super John McGinn gets in the team https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11801896/premier-league-xi-manchester-city-and-liverpool-dominate

Go back to my post and re-read, I didn’t drop him....I moved him forward in a floating role behind Wes.

I’m still angry about about the ref. I hate these petition things and don’t normally do them but he’s needs to be banned how bad he was. I know it won’t do anything but relieved 0.0001% of my anger towards it, signing it. Link below if anybody else wants to do it. http://chng.it/gt7jd7KvQN

Happy to try Conor instead of Nakamba as while not as solid, his set pieces could be vital for us nicking points.

I’d like to try McGinn, Luiz and Nakamba, so we are more solid in midfield and then Grealish and Trez floating behind Wes.