WallisFrizz

23 minutes ago, markavfc40 said:

I think the way you change our problems is to bring in proven winners and retain those you think can be influenced by and feed off that winners mentality and who are week in week out able to maintain high standards and even when things are going against them individually and they may be slightly off it are still going to give 100% in terms of effort.

 

I like much of your post but the bit in bold makes me nervous. ‘Proven Winners’ coming to mid table Aston Villa means past their peak/old and overpaid. I don’t mind one proven winner but as a whole transfer strategy, I think it’s a recipe for disaster. Also, we brought in ‘proven winner’ Ashley Young and whilst he might be great in mentoring the younger players, he hasn’t improved things on the pitch.

They need to have a very specific idea about the positions and attributes they need to improve and do their due diligence re injuries/personality etc. The club has failed over 2-3 transfer windows to sort the midfield out, there should be no excuses this summer.

It’s just not happening. If he leaves Leeds, and I think there is a chance he will it won’t be to go to us. 
 

This will be ESR/JWP all over again. I’ll be v annoyed if we spend all summer on it and then still don’t improve the midfield which I think needs a complete overhaul not just one £60 mill player.

3 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

to be brutally honest, i dont think any, or at least, a very small number of managers we couldnt attract, could possibly get more out of this team.

Without trying to sound hyperbolic, we have some very overrated players, i think only 5-6 of our senior squad are more than mid table, lower half quality, its really that simple.

I was going to give you a like as I agree that most of our players are mid table players but then I look at Wolves and West Ham and I think the same about them, they just set up well and are coached well. He could get more out of them but I’m happy giving him more time. He will be driven to make this work.

In the summer we really need a clear plan of who we need and get the right player for that position. I’m a bit gutted that some star performers from last season have all had dips in form during the same season. We know that Watkins, Konsa and Martinez can all play better.

Do our academy teams seem to be getting beaten more often than not at the moment?  I don’t follow that closely but every time I see a score we seem to be on the wrong end of a pasting.

37 minutes ago, fightoffyour said:

Saw Matty in the flesh last night, on the pitch. Didn't manage to catch him outside the team hotel (was literally just passing it to and from the shot bar, honest), but the Poland manager (and Tomasz Kuszczak for whatever reason, must've shoved past me because he clocked my Villa shirt) did come right by us. Great night!

Did he play well? What do they think of him over there?

Sounds like his agent touting him about but I can see us and Newcastle in the mix for a lot of the same players.

20 minutes ago, chappy said:

Southgate was asked if he was happy with Ollie’s performance and replied that Ollie would be happy with his goal. Sounded a bit lukewarm to me. Was a strange Interview all round though really, didn’t really lavish praise on anyone. Seemed pretty annoyed that Maguire had been booed so was maybe preoccupied by that.

Who was he annoyed with for conceding the free kick towards the end. Can’t recall the incident but when he spoke about it, I thought they’re in trouble.

30 minutes ago, hippo said:

With respect I just asked how the poster arrived at the conclusion that Gerrard was very focused on youth.

JJ was a regular before he arrived.

He was youth coach at Liverpool so has experience, he’s talked about his relationships with the u23 coaches  and how he wants them to work together, he’s been seen at u23 games, he’s brought Tim into the squad, talked about his long term plan for him, he’s sent Archer on loan to a club he has a good relationship with the manager. He has given Chuk minutes but is not in a position to guarantee him as many as he wants. He doesn’t have to just play 18 year olds in the first team to be focused on youth. 

2 minutes ago, Ingram85 said:

Wait, Sky have friendlies as well? **** hate football. I know it’s boring England but why are friendlies of the national team locked behind a subscription ffs. 

You’re not missing anything if it’s any consolation.

12 minutes ago, hippo said:

You bet if he goes to Liverpool in due course - he won't be caught wearing a villa top.

Probably not but then it’s not a comparable situation. He’s been asked to take part in an ex players game for Liverpool. Plenty of ex Villa players who have had careers after Villa would probably take part in a charity game for us if we asked them to.

This is really not something to criticise him for.

1 hour ago, VillaParkAvenue said:

I don’t really mind this.

But theoretically, if we played Liverpool and somehow managed to beat them, he probably wouldn’t celebrate at all. That would piss me off a little.

I couldn’t care less about his charity appearance but I want him to go mental when we score against them.

2 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

Yeah quiet is the right word, he is but at the same time I just think his decision making and the stuff he is attempting is better than other players

doesnt look as flashy as say balogun or even livramento but they do something well followed by something poorly or something rash whereas JJ just looks a bit calmer and more controlled to me which makes him look both more experienced which he is but also more intelligent as a footballer

without bothering to look he must be close to having the most PL games in this team

I love it when he drives forward with the ball at his feet. Such power.

7 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

What a goal

easy to say with the c&b specs on but him and Elliot look a level above the rest

Got to be honest, I thought he was having a quiet (not poor) game before the goal. Mainly because England are using the flanks a lot and JJ is central.

Scored!

Good to know he can take a decent penalty should we ever be awarded one ever again.

15 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

That's very bad. It is another step to stop new clubs breaking into the top competitions. It basically means clubs need to be in profit to play in European competitions. 

It makes you wonder what is the point of supporting your club. Can barely hope to win a domestic competition because 9/10 times they will be won by the same few clubs, if we can’t aim for Europe, what is the actual point (other than love and enjoyment of the game)? What can we actually hope to achieve? 

Is this good for us/bad for us? Does it allow us  to progress as we would like? What will it mean for other clubs like Newcastle, Everton etc?

57 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

I have a really horrible feeling they're going to spend the summer signing all the players we should be after. While we sign some Liverpool old boys and reserves.

I am more worried that we’re going to spend the entire summer being linked to Kalvin Phillips only for him to sign a new contact with  Leeds or move elsewhere a week before the window ends and we start next season with Dougie playing number 6.

On 22/03/2022 at 00:46, Zatman said:

If true its another strike against expert negotiator Purslow

Not necessarily. I mean I think it’s an odd footballing decision given that it left us vulnerable and helped Newcastle avoid relegation. However business wise, I think we probably got a healthy loan fee and I imagine there’s a few other clubs that might be interested in him that will now know he has upped his form and is available. Still think he will sign for Newcastle though.

13 minutes ago, AVTuco said:

Let's hope he stays stays in the squad, but doesn't play. That way we'll get the most of him in the summer.

Or let’s hope he plays and does really well.

20 minutes ago, villaglint said:

That England have so few options that a woefully out of form Watkins is our best bet. 

 

I think this is a big part of it. DCL was number 2 to Kane but returning from injury in a woeful Everton side.

Probably would have been a good opportunity for Southgate to have a good look at Ivan Toney though. 
 

But now Jack is a favourite, Ollie has the advantage of a good playing relationship with him. 
 

I’m pleased for Ollie though, and yes, hopefully good for his confidence. 

7 minutes ago, Davkaus said:

There was one a couple of weeks ago asked about us permanently signing Coutinho, and he said something like "Well, you know what I'd do if it was my money". Not exactly presenting the united front I'd expect, and it sounds a lot like him lining up excuses.

I remember hearing that comment and thinking ‘we’ll, we’re paying you enough, feel free to donate to the cause’.

Ongoing investment is a necessity of good sides in top leagues, he still needs to get consistency out of the v decent set of  players he has.

18 minutes ago, VillaParkAvenue said:

Maybe off topic but what’s the point of this ”top 8” people now talk about? Would we be happy today if we were 8th instead of 9th? There is still six big clubs and the ling term goal is to break into that group isn’t it?

I think there is the top 2, then places 3-5 fighting it out for CL with one losing out then 5-8 in the mix for Europa league and conference with one losing out. So to be ‘a top 8 side’, I guess must mean we would be in the mix for Europe albeit yes, finishing 8th gets you nothing ultimately. 9-14 mid table, 15 and below crap.

We will never be in the top 2 or even 4. To finish 5th would be a dream season. To be in that 5-8 battle for Europe is where we are aiming for and a realistic aim I think. Our goal for the end of this season should be to finish as high in our mid table league as we can. For pride, for money for enhanced reputation. Unfortunately I think it will be something the fans care about more than the players who played like their season was done already.

1 minute ago, sne said:

Don't see Philips ever happening and I really hope it doesn't turn into a scenario where he strings us along all summer and then ends up signing a new deal with Leeds leaving us to panic towards the end of the window.

That’s my worry following the Smith-Rowe and Ward-Prowse debacles (and to a lesser extent Bentancur). No harm in aiming high but need to be wise to being played.