WallisFrizz

Been linked to Carlos Soler and Nabil Fekir. I know Fekir all about them.

The scenes at Old Trafford yesterday were a deliberate attempt to get the game called off in protest, and they succeeded. I hope that Villa Park is well policed/protected on Sunday. I don’t care what they do at their own ground but they must not get into VP.

55 minutes ago, fruitvilla said:

I can't help thinking El Ghazi is a great asset on or off the bench. Then there is the softer side of the sport ... exposure to northern Africa and the Arab world.

Isn’t he Dutch?

He was out injured for 3 of them!

8 minutes ago, MotoMkali said:

Was the worst player on the pitch against Leeds and Southampton before his injury. Let's not rewrite history. It took him 14 games to make a tackle or interception after the Leeds game.

The whole team was rubbish in those games. And we did not sign him for his ability to tackle and intercept. I’m not saying he wasn’t poor post injury but there was a reason why fans were clamouring for him to return to the team asap.

41 minutes ago, Rich192 said:

Had a great game yesterday, but let’s not forget the six months of awful performances. We mustn’t sign him. Hopefully he has a great remainder of the season, but let’s not make the mistake of signing him. 

6 months of awful performances? He was good pre injury, out injured between November and February. Then poor from Feb to April. I’m not his biggest fan but let’s not rewrite history.

Best performance in ages, turn on MOTD to find that the only thing they’re interested In talking about is OW vs DCL for the Euros (spoiler-they pick DCL). 

1 minute ago, Delphinho123 said:

Brilliant performance etc etc. but did anyone else think Konsa was poor tonight? 

Not poor but below his usual levels. Mings had his back tonight.

I dread to think of some the hate that Ross Barkley will have got this season. Yes he’s been crap for a large part of it but even if people don’t have a moral compass that tells them not to be abusive online, what’s the actual point of it?? How is destroying a lads confidence, telling him you hate him and he’s the worst player ever going to make him play better or even want to play for the club?  I just find it bizarre. 

7 hours ago, Zatman said:

How does bullying work? Is it different than calling a player crap who is 19.is that bullying? 

 

Have a look at the misogynistic abuse that Michelle Owen (sky and Villa TV) got after making a mistake whilst on air. Similarly Karen Carney after saying the Covid break helped Leeds last season.

And yes, the personsal and hateful hounding of young players (or any players for that matter) who might not meet the expectations of a fan base is ugly and bullying. Fans should absolutely be able to be critical of players in conversations between themselves but going on to a players Twitter/Insta post to slate them or tagging them in hateful comments is vile. People who do this to anyone, famous or not, are nasty and pathetic.

Konsa’s having a mare!!!!

Just now, DCJonah said:

Performances and form have been poor but I still get surprised at how people react. For the first time since MON left, we've had a premier league season where not once we've worried about relegation. 

How is that not enough for where we are right now? Just don't get it. 

Some people act like they've preferred the previous decade. 

Because we’re playing shite. In what world should we be grateful for that?

I think he’s been extremely reliable defensively this season and is definitely in my top 3 for POTS but, as a v slight criticism, I would have liked to see him involved in a few more goals. I can’t remember him scoring this season and I think he’s only got 1 assist. He did better last season in that respect but obviously I’m delighted in the improvement in his all round play. If he can combine both aspects next season, I think he has a chance of getting involved in the England set up (as all the other left backs currently in the England squad are capable of goal involvment)

I think it a realistic that when performances are consistently poor, and they have been, that the manager gets scrutinised. We were never going to be able to out play City in terms of skill but our performance was insipid. When that happens time and time again, I think it is fair that criticism gets levelled at the manager as he is failing to sufficiently either motivate them or set them up in a way that brings the best out of them. 
 

Yes, he has done wonders with us for which I will always be grateful but I’m wondering if he has hit his ceiling. I honestly don’t know. I know that players all like him but are they too comfortable with him? You should have full respect for your boss and worry about the consequences of poor performance. He appears to be unable to get the midfield to get the basics right. Every team in the league would want to play us right now.

I would expect NWSE and Purslow to be pondering whether there is a better option out there to coach their investments. I don’t have a strong opinion on it yet but just as we were saying Hourihane had been a great servant for us but we needed to take the next step up in quality maybe we should start to feel the same about Smith. Or maybe, he just needs a couple of extra transfer windows to improve the quality of the players he coaches. I’m just conscious of whether top players will want to play for him and getting off to a bad start next season. 

24 minutes ago, Khizzy said:

I think we over rate Cash a bit. To me he looks like a right winger that's been converted to play in a right back role, which is exactly what he is. We could do with giving him some good competition in the summer.

I think he’s great but is a bit of a liability. Today being a case in point. He’s not the type to give the ball away cheaply but he makes rash challenges and needs to control his hands in the penalty area. Like him a lot tho and think he will learn how to iron out these errors.

2 minutes ago, NurembergVillan said:

A minor point, but one I'm compelled to make, I'd that we shouldn't be abbreviating this to ESL.

It's not a European Super League, it's The Super League.

They've purposely left the European bit out so they can play matches in Qatar and Beijing, or invite Inter Miami to take part.

Location is irrelevant to a TV show.

That’s a good point. 

4 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

Agree. 

I don’t think it’s quite sunk in how detrimental this will be to the domestic game and to Aston Villa. 

The owners might just think, ‘what’s the point?’, because honestly, there is no point. Is there? 

A super league full of teams that can never be broken in to. What becomes of Villa? Like you say, a second class citizen. Even if the unthinkable happens and it goes ahead alongside the PL, these clubs will be super rich and it will be even less of a level playing field than it is now. They’ll be super rich and every other club - poor in comparison. 

That is the major concern here. Owners and fans of clubs will think.. what’s the point? This could literally kill our domestic game and the people running it know that Asia and Africa are more lucrative so who gives a f*** right? 

And then, on top of all this, if it doesn’t go ahead, it will only be because UEFA have bowed to the pressure and given the big teams what they want in the form of a ringfenced CL or something along those lines. 

Perez just became the most powerful person in football and he’ll destroy our game. 

This is really, really bad. 

Do you think this is why they are timing the announcement now? Ahead of the summer transfer windows? Whether it goes ahead or not, whilst it is up in the air, will our owners or Everton’s owners or Leeds owners want to plough another £100mil into transfers when it is clear we can’t achieve our ultimate goals? Will players like Grealish, Calvert-Lewin, Raphinia start jumping ship to make sure they are part of it? 

It is crucial that UEFA and the PL play hardball and stand by their threats to boot them out the  PL and Champions League and do it ASAP (preferably before we have to play City on Wednesday).

58 minutes ago, M_Afro said:

I’m pretty sure that it was reported at the time that there was a large release clause in his new contract. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was. It would probably suit both parties to have one.

I remember reading that too. That there was a release clause but it was larger than the £80 mil price that was being quoted last summer.

It would not surprise me if there was one, maybe one that only applies if a champions league team came in for him.

1 hour ago, PaddytheVillan said:

I like Cash a lot but we seem to cut him more slack than other players. To my memory he has conceded 4 penalties in the Prem this season due to individual errors.

That being said he has shown a lot of promise and been part of a very strong back line. 

I love him but I agree with this, he’s a bit of a liability in the box. Think he will sort it out with experience. His all round game is excellent though I would love to see him on the score sheet before the season is out.

Just now, cheltenham_villa said:

I was thinking the opposite. Hes so worried about his selection he doesnt want to come back unless 100% fit.

Yeah you might be right, I remember him having quite a poor game against Southampton (and West Ham possibly?). In hindsight I think the injury was starting to bother him then. 

3 minutes ago, cheltenham_villa said:

None of us know but the injury and recovery seems odd. Hes been very vocal about his england dream, it wouldnt surprise me if he is a little more cautious than previous. 

He must have had some assurances he’ll be selected for the squad then because it’s a risky approach otherwise.

I think Watkins has started doing it more ever since he stayed on his feet at West Ham away and his goal was disallowed with no pen awarded. Thing is he’s not v good at it, it looks quite obvious.

I do think we as a team are diving more, I think the players are being instructed to do it and I don’t like it. We’re not great at free kicks though so don’t really understand the benefit.

1 hour ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Let’s say he is out for the rest of the season. That would be close to half the season out for a stress injury that by the sounds of it could return at any time.  Maybe if a big bid was made for him the club would have a decision to make after all....

edit: before anybody gets angry I’m not for a second saying he will be out for the rest of the season or that we are going to sell him in the summer. Just having a discussion. 

It’s a sad but fair point. The plus side for us if it is a recurring injury, other clubs may well be put off dropping big bucks on him. The downside for us is that even if he stays with us, long spells without him are something we might have to become accustomed to. Personally, recurring injury or not, he’s a special player for us that I’d try and keep at all costs.

FWIW, I don’t believe any of the rehab/secret sale conspiracy theories. 

Has anybody worked out what his weird shooting himself in the head goal celebration was about. Just watching the highlights and I think Ollie’s telling him to pack it in.

10 minutes ago, Villa87 said:

I genuinely can see Jesse bloody Lingard going to the Euros instead of Grealish.

Yep. It’s so depressingly inevitable.