dn1982

Go as strong as we can. If people are fully fit play them. We need a win. We need confidence. I'd still make changes but only to improve the team. If Amavi is fit start him. Get Ayew up front play Grealish.  Give Adama minutes if he's 100% fit start him aswell. 

Id go 

gollini

lyden Elphick baker Amavi 

Gardner Westwood Tish

Adama Ayew Grealish

i think McCormack is still getting his fitness so I'd save him for Saturday. 

Play him as a defensive RB allow Amavi to bomb on so we virtually play 3 at the back sometimes and I think he'll be fine. We will have teams sitting deep at home so we need to be able to throw extra bodies forward. Play an attacking wide player like Adama on the right and he cast tack at will knowing that the RB is there for cover instead of Hutton galloping past the RM and never getting back into position. 

If it's true Hernandez has a injury recently hopefully this interview means he's fit now and can pass the medical. I'm sure we've made contact hopefully we are haggling on the price as bit but if not I can see us paying the release clause. Putting 50 goals into this team will go along way to putting promotion within reach and can see him and McCormack playing well together. If we can get Ayew playing for the team a bit more we would have enough fire power for the season then it's just CM that's next to be sorted. If the DR's tweets are spot on we could have our team nearly done by Saturday. 

4 minutes ago, Woodytom said:

I disagree. It didn't do them much good at all. Him getting more time means more defeats than wins imo..... as it did for forest.

You are aware that it takes 11 players to win a game? Gardner showed last season he is capable at this level  if he only reaches last seasons levels he'd be good enough for us but I think he'll get better with time. Would you write Amavi off played yesterday and never excelled?I

Mistakes happen but as a team we probably should be settling for a draw going into the last 5 of a game away from home so the fullbacks should be deeper. You can't do that all game though. 

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. 

2 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

I think we try Andre green for 5 games before the window shuts and then decide if we need a new winger

we were also linked with loaning traore from Chelsea in the week

I think expecting Green to be consistent over the season would be asking a lot but long term he'll be the one. 

22 minutes ago, a m ole said:

I want a right back that can defend primarily. Yes we need another central midfielder, preferably one that doesn't have to protect the defence as much because we have a better right back.

I'd use Richards as my defensive RB and play Adama in front of him and tell Richards to sit and just let Adama stay up front but still think we need an all round one who is a good defender but can also contribute attacking wise. If Bacuna could defend it'd be him. He created a lot from there and I thought with coaching he'd come good unfortunately not!!! 

I'd start Bennett tomorrow and gradually bring Amavi back in. Start him at Luton and I think within 6 weeks he'll have cemented his place. If he is as good as we think we might have a few sniffs come Jan but hopefully we'll be flying high and he'll stay. 

We still need a left sided CB and a RB to have a solid defence. We'll need 2 CM at least if Sanchez goes one a more box to box player like Gana and a DCM. Attacking wise I'd like a proper AM as I prefer Grealish wide left. I think we aren't far away with the strikers especially as RHM can have a big season this year off the bench. Still a lot to do for RDM but I'm happy we've enough going into Sunday to start the season well. 

45 minutes ago, TrentVilla said:

Not really sure I understand your points but will answer each of them.

A dig. Not a clue what you are talking about.

No it wasn't paper talk, it was from Xia and Wyness.

Yes a TD would have involvement in transfers. Not sure what your point is as we've not got one.

I didn't say it was the most important or in any way suggest it was.

Er and yes, obviously.

 

The OP was clearly stating the fact we haven't got a technical director yet as a dig at Xia. You at least tried to qualify the point. The point about bringing in a technical director now would be him wanting to have an input into a process already underway which with 4 weeks to go could be a hinderance and as I did say it maybe isn't the best time to appoint someone!!! I stated that it wasn't the most important position at present and you never stated a view on this. I did. It's called having an opinion. 

3 hours ago, TrentVilla said:

Actually its a fair comment. A few weeks ago it was down to two names and an appointment was close, then it expanded to three names and they hoped it would be done in a couple of weeks. Its now all gone quiet and I for one have been wondering what is going on on this front.

 

You've made a comment he made a blatant dig on a day when we are signing a £14m player. Has the club said all the statements you've said Or was it paper talk? Wouldn't a technical director be involved in transfer dealings? Maybe with 4 weeks to go it's not the right time to appoint someone new to oversea transfers. I've no idea the specifics of the role but for me it's not the most important thing at this time. I'm sure we'll be looking to fill it but getting the right person is more important than getting it done quickly. 

8 minutes ago, meme said:

Still no Technical Director...

When does the window close for a technical director? I can't believe we are buying players instead of filling this role. Xia out!! 

On 20 July 2016 at 13:24, ramshackler said:

Had an interesting call from villa today. They confirmed they were offered 10% or 2k. Villa chose to take 2k.

She then said villa always ask for the most to assist our loyal supporters.

When I pointed out that 10% would have been 4k, she then trotted out the line from seasons complaints that the club didn't like taking big allocations as if they had a few unsold they had to pay for them.

I pointed out last season's decisions as she stated the club got stung on taking a large allocation away to Swansea. I asked why did they do that but take a half allocation to anfield?! It makes zero sense.

In the end I also asked why, if we were offered 10% or 2k and we chose 2k, then why did we immediately ask for more?

She had no answer.

Sorry but the club took a half allocation. So don't start accusing me of being naive or negative. It's a fact. I've had discussions with several people inside the club and all have admitted it comes down to not wanting to be leftvwitb a small bill even if it means an extra 1500 fans getting a ticket

seeing as you're so informed do you realise the difference between the PL and the FL? Prem clubs have to cover the cost of all tickets it's a sale and no return policy. In the FL it's a sale and return. Who ever you spoke to was lying. 2000 or 10%  is the minimum an away club can give you. That means if the ground is small you get 10% not if its big you get 4000. I'd get some new sources. 

7 hours ago, HolteExile said:

I don't think we'll need to spend anywhere near £30 million to see the back of them, thankfully.

Out of the Fetid Five, Richards is probably the most saleable asset. Some mug might pay £4-5 million for him based on his age and his previous reputation. 

A Big Sam (if he stays at Slumberland)  or Bruce might be deluded enough to think they can get a tune out of him. I can't see it at all if he insists on playing centre half, he just doesn't have the positional sense or nous. But let them work that out for themselves. 

Bacuna might generate interest back home, can't see many top flight sides here going for him. Ditto Guzan.  

There was interest in Lescott from US sides last summer or Jan, so hopefully the appeal of an ex England international might still make that a goer. 

Out of all of them, Gabby will be the hardest to move on.  Truth is, none of that lot will be towards the top of anyone's wish list so we will probably have to wait until well into August before we see the back of them. 

That might even mean punting some of them out on loan, paying some (or even most) of their wages).   Gabby as it is won't be an attractive option for most sides, but if we're paying say £30K per week of the reported £50K per week he's on, Hull or similar might bite at 20k. At that price, he might be OK as a back up option.  It's shit, but even at that figure I would probably do it, just to get shot. 

The £30m figure came from someone saying we should just pay up their contracts. Most people would go down your route. Whoever makes up our squad this season will get my full support and I trust RDM and his experienced back up team to sort out any issues that arise. 

Has anybody heard whether we'll get an increase on the allocation? I need 12 tickets but we are all allowed tickets on different days. I'd normally wait but I can see Sheff Wed being idiots. 

2 minutes ago, Junxs said:

With the loss of Townsend, Coliccini and Cisse in my view they've got worse despite signing Gayle and Ritchie. Sissokho and Wijnaldum most likely wont be there come end of the window either.

I think Newcastle will be weaker player wise by the time the season starts. There 3 signings so far aren't as good as what they had and they'll have more departures. One thing for sure is we will be better as we couldn't be any worse!! I just hope we can pull off a big signing as a show of intent. 

What are the loan rules for the Championship? Does the loan window open outside of the transfer window? Hopefully our squad will be sorted by then but a few loan as we go from PL clubs would feel helpful 

3 hours ago, terrytini said:

Well.....I will keep beginning by mentioning I AM in favour of patience - we need to give RDM a chance,...BUT................in my view whether other Clubs want the players should be immaterial.  We live in extraordinary times as the Chinese saying goes.....we , Aston Villa, were relegated, and very deservedly so.  The Club had a cancer.  We all know part of the problem was Lerner.  But we all are pretty sure a big part was the lack of (in differing degrees for different players ) ability, character, discipline, commitment, brains, heart, fitness, and desire.  So it is surely ESSENTIAL that certain players go.

I see it like this.

Tony has said there is money.  We all know at least (being very charitable) 4 players need to go  - and IMO go straight away - where is the point in playing them, having them around the kids, the new signings etc ? Where is the point ? So, very simply, if its true that there is money, pay them of them off and rip the contracts up.  What will it cost ? £30m ?  Worth every penny - (does Tony and the Board really want a genuine fresh start or not ?) and we are told every penny is available.

So my question would be  - why not ?

Is it because the money isn't there ? (That'd be a big problem, considering what we have been led to believe)

 Is it because RDM thinks they can stay ? (That would show poor judgment in my view, but he is an expert , so...) 

Is he still deciding ? (I'd be worried about that, he could've watched every game from last year 6 times over by now)

Or, most optimistically, are their deals for them going to other Clubs in the pipeline (although why play them then ?)

I have a nasty feeling lurking that it is a combination of 1 and 2....but as I have said, I'll wait and see.  Clock very much ticking though.

Yep cracking plan pay £30m to get rid of some players!!!! You do realise if we did that it would in our accounts and if we never went up this season it'd kick us in the arse due to FFP? Dr Xia said he'd give £30-50m this summer including the new signings we'd have £8m left to buy at least a Striker and probably more! If he watched every game last year none of the squad would be still here or do you want rid of all of them? How much would that cost? RDM wasn't my choice but he has my full backing and if he thinks certain players can help the team I'll back him. He isn't a Sherwood who won't integrate or a Remi who was weak. He's an experienced manager with an experienced back up team. The players won't get away with last years attitude. 

Going off of the list above we have 32 1st team players out of that I think only 20 are good enough or who I want to see play for us again. That's some trimming!! That doesn't even take into account the youth players like Lyden, Green, RHM AND Mason who I think can play a part this year or positions like CF that desperately need addressing. For the amount of games we will have I think a 25 man squad supplemented by the youth should be enough. So we'd need at least 10 departures then add the youth and the 2/3 extra quality players we need into the squad. 

10 minutes ago, Richard said:

I'm with you.  With so little time left this summer we have a hell of a lot of work to do on the playing staff.  The club may have changed but where it matters most the change has been minimal. All the noises from the club are that the squad size needs reducing.  On that basis we should see far more out than in in the next few weeks and the ones we are left with will need to be at their best in a 46 game league season.

For me we have not done anywhere near as much business as I had hoped and it is one more reason why I am writing off any idea of promotion next season

Unfortunately you can't make people buy the players we don't want. We've bought 3/4 of a new spine. If we were still in the PL I'd agree we'd be in for another season of trying to stay up but we aren't we are in a Championship that's 2/3 crap. It's a slog more than anything else. If we added in only a striker we'd be pushing for automatic. Look at Blues they're awful and were in with a chance of the playoffs until late on. Regardless of departures I can see 2 more coming in then I think it'll be one in one out just to keep a happy manageable squad. 

29 minutes ago, Morley_crosses_to_Withe said:

We haven't done enough so far and it's as simple as that. People were saying at the end of last season that this squad needed a HUGE overhaul otherwise it would face relegation again; well not a lot has changed.

Putting the happy clappy Dr Xia is the bestest and we're going to be one of the top three clubs in the world bullshit aside...we're still a joke football club with a LONG, LONG way to go. 

It doesn't need a huge overhaul it just needs a decent turnover in players. Our squad was unbalanced last year and if you add in the returning loanees we are bloated. If we never sold anyone we'd need a goalscorer then our squad would be easily playoff material. To win the league I would want a new RD another CM and a goalscorer. Golini Elphick Amavi Grealish Traore Bennett Gardner Tshibola all hardly played last year through one reason or another so to me they're all improvements to the squad. We haven't done enough yet but it's 3 weeks to the 1st game and 6 till the window closes then I think there's a loan window. Calm down no team has their finished squad yet. 

4 hours ago, Reivax_Villa said:

I still believe we need 4-5 players before the season starts.

We will need to get 2 wingers, a right back, and two strikers. I also wouldn't mind another experienced championship central midfielder.

We are 3 weeks away from the opening game, i am beginning to worry.

I agree with the amount of players we need to recruit but we've got 6 weeks. By the end of August we'll know how a lot of our players fair in this league. We need a big squad of equal players. I've faith that if we can't ship out the few we want rid of DR Xia will still finance the recruitment side. Get a goalscorer in ASAP then sort the rest in the next 6 weeks. 

I think all the players who played in internationals over the summer are back in training on Monday so hopefully this ties in with us getting our goal scorer. If we add just a goalscorer we will be ok body wise hopefully then we can start one out one in and improving the squad overall. I think RDM has had enough time now to judge who he wants out its just finding them buyers. 

31 minutes ago, blandy said:

I respect other views, as we all want the same thing. I disagree with you because of the inherent contradiction firstly,  I.e. Villa fans complaining that Wednesday are over charging us, so villa should over charge Wednesday fans is the opposite of fans standing together, it's  fans demanding other fans are hurt.

Secondly, I don't really get which principle  you are talking about. To me, I'd say things like "value for money" "treating others as you'd like to be treated". As dem says, Wednesday fans are already angry at their clubs ticketing prices, villa overcharging them will have no impact other than to signal to more clubs "well villa do it, Leeds do it, Wednesday do it...so we can use that as cover to do it too" it needs fewer clubs to indulge in this ripping off, not retaliation by joining in.

The principle is we will charge your fans what you charge ours. That's what the reciprocal arrangement was for. I think this covers both your points. It's also more than just the ticket price it covers it covers the allocations aswell. Wednesday have given us 2000 so far but we wanted more upfront. If that's the final allocation that's exactly what they should get. Villa are aware we will be a lot of clubs cup finals and are trying to stop us getting ripped off every where whilst trying to get the maximum allocation we can get at every ground. Our club is doing the best for us the fans. So you try to do reciprocal deals but that's pointless if you don't stick to it. There's your principle.