Rightdm00

Hause is not an every day starter and who knows what's up with Engels. Mings will be missed, especially against the top sides that will look to keep the ball on the floor. He also had a poor game going against one of the best dribblers in the Prem. 

Both can be true. 

56 minutes ago, Paulie said:

100th match as manager today.  Taken us from 14th in the Championship to currently tied for 5th in the Premier League.

Legend.  Dean, NSWE, and Jack have revived this club.  What a story.

You know how they say you never know the good old days are the good old days while you’re in them?  Enjoy every second, every twist and turn of this.  The most fun I’ve ever had as a fan of sport in my 27 years on Earth.

This 1000 times over. Enjoy it while it's here. Nothing wrong with looking ahead but I really hope everyone on here is savoring every one these performances. 

1 hour ago, Indigo said:

 May your apology be as loud as your disrespect 

Beat me to it

25 minutes ago, Johnnyp said:

We can end the myth right here and now that Mings organises our defence. Martinez. All day long. I'd argue he's even having an influence on Cash and Targett's performances.

Emi is not marshalling the back line when they are 30 yards up the pitch. They both do their part and long may that level of chemistry continue.  

Why the need to set our own players against each other. Does my head in sometimes. 

Ollie is something else.  Amazing, does the work of 3 men when pressing the back line. 

 Let's just assume he improves in his second season along the lines as other Villa players have under Dean. What a player we will have. 

I'm just so f*ckin happy. GET IN!!!!!

Zaha going to ride Hause's shoulder rest of the game. Massive challenge there. 

Need Bertie fresh for Chelsea with Barkley unavailable. 

Gotta take your chances. Grealish, El Ghazi, Bertie hitting the post. Just one of them would have helped...alot.

39 minutes ago, TrentVilla said:

 

So... we've a bit of time until the next game, so time to turn to Jan window.... 

I think we need the following;

GK - Its  a tradition

LB - Young up and coming to replace Taylor, will be hard to improve on Targett in this window

RW - Another option on the right

Striker - We need a better option than Davis

I'd absolutely love us to try and bring Albrighton home, I'd love to see him on our right in front of Cash.

I'm also serious re Arsenal, I'd test the water for some of their good young players because they need cash for a rebuild. They've some good young players like Saka, Nelson and Maitland-Niles they might be tempted to sell.

Isn't Albrighton transitioning to a defensive role. Same way Elmohamady did when he got close to 30. He would be great as a back up to Cash, really doubt he has the pace to play in an attacking role at a Prem level anymore. 

14 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Probably a stupid question, but he can't play against Chelsea can he?

Would be brilliant as he would have a point to prove.

No he is unavailable for selection against Chelsea. 

I remember reading years ago, maybe it was FM, that if you paid a loan fee then the parent club couldn't make stipulations on playing time. I guess that is no longer the case. Or maybe it was never true and I just made that entire bit up . 

41 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

I had 2 wobbles last season, one at Christmas and another around Feb just before the lockdown, it wasn't so much a problem with Smith it was a case of I felt the players weren't playing for him, we looked lazy and had no confidence, we were Statistically the worst pressing team in the league, I'm sure our distance covered stats were piss poor too

Posted a stat last week that we're the only team in the league this season that's seen an increase in our pressing and its higher up the pitch too, we look far more energetic, hungrier, more confident, then you look at the stats for clean sheets away from home and just goals conceded in general 

In a lot of ways we're the polar opposite of what we were last season, I honestly don't know how he's done it, maybe it is Shakespeare, maybe it's Watkins and Martinez but last season when I was reluctantly saying he should go because of how bad the team was I now have to give Smith credit for how good the team is, I'm honestly not sure a new manager could have had as dramatic a turn around as what Smith has managed, it's incredible really, we're a different team with the same manager, takes some doing 

The Prem looked so far beyond us those first couple games. I remember crystal palace absolutely bullying us that game. Everton's press seemed light years beyond anything we had seen in the championship. If we couldn't physically compete against a couple mid table sides how were we going to survive a 38 game season. 

I thought we had the talent but physically/athletically we looked hopeless. Crazy how in one year we look a completely different side. Able to physically compete even with the bully teams of the league. Dean and his assistants deserve all the praise. 

1 hour ago, Lord Willard said:

 

 

 

You can only pull something like that when team spirit is high. Otherwise that can easily back fire. Dean sensing something special with this group. Love it. 

1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

Nah. Not the right profile.

Ideally we want to keep signing players in the same mold of Cash and Watkins.

Players below the age of 25 that still have plenty of potential still.

Have to agree but not only that he just isn't that good. 9 years in the Prem has only made 20+ appearances 4 times. Then you look at goals/assist and you really . Best season was 14-15 when he had 2G 7A in league play. El Ghazi And Traore will both hit 9 (G+A) before the season ends. Hard pass. 

A game of football is 90 minutes long.  So they can show him down the wing 9 times but Bertie's left foot is so elite he only needs the defense to slip up one or 2 times to produce something of real quality.

He actually did it 3 times versus the Baggies. The El Ghazi goal, his block shot right outside the 6 yard box, and then that filthy goal from just outside the D.  

Also, just to drive home the point others have mentioned it's very purposeful that Dean has placed Traore on the right. Him cutting in allowed Cash to reach the byline multiple times for cutbacks and Traore played the ball that freed cash for that beautiful cross on the Watkins offside goal . 

Already outplaying the deal he just signed 4 months ago. 

Covid may be a blessing in disguise for Villa. Saved us from relegation and now most of the big boys probably can't put up the £100 million olus transfer fee for Jack. 

49 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

Give Ramsey 20 minutes. Yeah it is a small thing in a great win but missed opportunity.

It was 1 nil at 70 minutes.  That game ends up 1-1 because of a rookie mistake and Dean would have gotten roasted. 

1 minute ago, Keyblade said:

I'm not even exaggerating when I say I think we've been the second best team in the league this season behind Liverpool. What an amazing turnaround from being the worst PL team (of the ones remaining) at the end of last season.

Must not set unhealthy expectations

If VAR takes another goal from Ollie for being half a dick length offside...

4 minutes ago, villalad21 said:

Wouldn't mind Dan James at Villa.

Got that pace we severely lack

That's literally all he has. Has shown nothing to prove he is a Prem level player. 

Big dive by Wilson right there. How does VAR give that. 

Dean at it again. Baffling yellow. 

32 minutes ago, foreveryoung said:

I guess your expectations have dropped somewhat over the years. Not me, I still expect the best, we are a massive club remember, have billionaire owners and one of the best players in the league, why should we not want more than be happy with midtable mediocracy.

I don't doubt our place is competing for the european places along with deep cup runs. I just feel it's a bit unfair to foist that on Dean after the last decade of ineptitude. 

When Dean's progress stalls or our performances start showing regression then I'll worry until then Dean, in my opinion, has been turning water into wine since his appointment.