Tom13

2 minutes ago, rjw63 said:

Slabhead again, just why?

It’s not like he’s any **** good, I’d love to know the reasoning.

At least Clare Balding’s girlfriend will have reason to cheer.

Clare Balding's girlfriend, what's the link?

On 18/03/2024 at 02:51, Ponky said:

There was one passage in the second half yesterday where Tielemans was pondering on the ball too long on the edge of our box and was tamely dispossessed, then sprinted down the other end and retrieved the ball brilliantly near the edge of their box.

Pretty much sums up his game - equal parts sublime and ridiculous 

That sprint and dispossess is why I think many on here are wrong to jump on the 'he plays like an old man' bandwagon. He has limitations sure but he's not that bad physically. He's shown plenty of fight for us IMO.

4 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

He was actually called up to Belgium ( Or asked to declare ) I think and there were alot of murmerings about Germany at one point as well. ( Not saying he would necessarily get into those sides ) But he chose Jamaica.

No idea mate - can't see anything about Belgium ever calling him up.

Saw this yesterday though:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C43K7gEtteo/?igsh=ZmptbW0yYm9na2th

Ollie is the purest guy! Not a bad bone in his body.

52 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

Saw an insta post he did and the tone was pretty downbeat. Perhaps he was just thinking about the Wales match but don't think we'll see him for 3-4 weeks.

We really can't afford Konsa to pick up a knock or red card as Chambers at RB against pretty much every team we're playing against in next month isn't worth thinking about.

KKH would need to be given a go.

6 minutes ago, Adam2003 said:

I have a great character - one of the best! - and couldn’t care less about my national team. Not sure those two things are connected

Fair point. But don't play for them at all and have zero caps then if all you're concerned about is self exposure

But as I said - there's obviously more to it.

1 minute ago, Leeroy said:

Think Bailey's decision making has been great this season tbh. Grealish has more creativity though and plays more like a playmaker than a winger, he'd be a different profile to what we have in those attacking positions.

It's been a lot better but he's prevented us potentially taking the lead in our last two games through poor decision making IMO.

1 minute ago, briny_ear said:

Right, got it now. It seems he is making a general point that playing for the Jamaican national team doesn’t raise the profile of players - it’s rather the other way round that the Jamaican team benefits from its players getting high profiles through success at top clubs.

From the context, it’s hard to see that he is saying he actually expects Real Madrid to be phoning him any time soon.

I don’t know anything about how the Jamaican Federation treats its players but if it is anything like the way Cricket West Indies treats its top players, this exchange is the least surprising I have ever heard.

I know he's not expecting that. My question is with his character - if you're a passionate countryman - you do anything to help - you're not solely looking at what's in it for you - but it depends on how badly he's been treated I guess.

Some are saying he's not happy because he had a disciplinary on his last callup when he stayed out late and missed the team bus.

3 hours ago, Leeroy said:

Apparently isn't starting against England tonight, Joao Gomes from Wolves to play alongside Guimaeres and Paqueta allegedly. 

 

New manager, same old sh*t. Cannot for the life of me understand how average players like Gomes are chosen ahead of him, makes no sense. And he's better than Guimaeres at the moment too. He'll get his usual 15 minutes in the 2nd half when Brazil are losing and no time whatsoever to influence the game. No wonder Brazil's national team is so bad these days. 

That Gomes looks decent to me but Dougie is surely due a start! Over either him or Guimaraes like you said.

2 hours ago, Leeroy said:

We could probably do with a player like Grealish but our focus needs to be on defensive minded players this summer, creating chances and scoring hasn't been a problem, conceding too many goals has. 

 

I also think our defence is getting too old, two left backs that will be 31 next season, Mings and Carlos both 31 (and Mings coming back from a very serious injury), only Pau, Konsa and Cash are on the younger side and one of them (Cash) is likely to be sold. Kosta and Sousa are both very young but no way can be relied upon to start for us regularly next season in the league.

 

Depending on budget I'd go:

• Defensive midfielder - Guido Rodriguez on a free makes a ton of sense, not overly keen on signing 30 year olds but we don't need a long term replacement for Kamara just a short term one. His defensive stats are superb and he reminds me of Palhinha. 
• Left back - if we move Digne on because of his high wages, I don't think Moreno should be the undisputed first choice and we need someone new. Hartman or Kerkez would be my choices. 
• Right sided centre back (who can also play right back) - the two obvious choices here are Geertruida and Todibo.
• Attacking midfielder - I'd bring in one player to the attack and although I would sign Zaniolo I don't think Emery will. Grealish on very high wages and will be 29 next season, I'm not against it but I'm not sure it's sensible. Nico Williams is a left sided version of Bailey and Diaby but expensive and I think we need someone with more guile. My choice would be Gloukh who wouldn't cost that much and is an exceptional talent. He's also been linked to us before.

Grealish's decision making is 100x better than the likes of Bailey's though. He'd be a huge asset, not that I'd want him back.

1 minute ago, MSvillain said:

I don't really take offence to that if i'm honest, Reals stature is unmatched imo

No I don't think anyone would turn down a move there, but he does come across a bit self entitled in the clips I've heard. What can Jamaica do for me? What about what can you do for Jamaica? As JV said though sounds like there's more to it with Butler etc.

1 hour ago, briny_ear said:

I struggled to pick up any reference to Real Madrid tbf

14-16 seconds 'Playing for the national team not gonna make Real Madrid call me'. He definitely does say that.

12 minutes ago, Zatman said:

He does but mainly because he started a game a few seasons back. Archer has about 75 minutes while Tim has 146 according to Whoscored

Fair enough, surprises me that does.

1 hour ago, Villa_Vids said:

Not a lot of starts but he is much more involved in the Premier League than Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer were. Plus played/playing in Europe. I think it is a reasonable price bracket for a young, talented, English midfielder.

Has he had more minutes in the Prem than Archer had for us? Doubt it.

10 minutes ago, thabucks said:

love Grealish and would’ve love to see him under Emery especially after working under Pep but better value to be had in Baena & Williams who are younger with potentially higher ceilings . 

Speaking of Williams, this clip did make me laugh

13 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said:

2 week trial IIRC

The next Freddy Grisales

Complaining about the flights and standards fair enough - but saying the national team cannot give him exposure...surely you play for your country because you love your country?

Also, does he say 'Playing for national team not gonna make Real Madrid call me' near the very start? He spoke too quick.

16 minutes ago, I Make Pies said:

Only became a starter once he signed for a big club

Yeah, Southgate-esque from Carsley. I believe it's his first U21 cap full stop.

Just now, alreadyexists said:

Now he’s limping, he looks fine though hopefully 

Course he is

Tried a couple of flicks which have gone to opposition players, just get hold of it.

Looks like he's started up front, central forward

On 12/02/2024 at 09:33, Rich192 said:

Wow, that’s really impressive! Great to see another ex-Villa kid on the list, too (Johansson)!

I have no memory of him whatsoever strangely!

1 minute ago, Tomaszk said:

No chance I want Grealish back. Leave it in the past.

Worse player than when he left, injury prone, huge doubts over his intelligence and commitment to play in an Emery side.

He spent the first 12 months after leaving exclaiming his shock over how shit his Villa teammates were and how crap training was now he's seen such excellent training at England and City.

Yeah I think I'm leaning towards this thinking as well tbh. Grealish is an unbelievable player, but we've moved on. Don't think Emery would take kindly to some of his off-the-field antics either. I'd say Emery likes lower profile players rather than Love Island wannabees.