Written by Damian Wednesday, 30 September 2009 09:17
I don't know where to start today. I usually get one or two alerts each morning but today I've got loads and quite a few are Aston Villa related and it's not even close to January. Could O'Neill be doing things now?
That is the question. If he is working on things things will leak, if he isn't, this is all just paper talk, so you decide, I'm sitting on the fence for the rest of the season.
First up and to something that is starting to feel inevitable and the departure of Nigel Reo-Coker. This morning reports suggest that both Spurs and Arsenal are interested in the midfield battler.
Add those two teams to Fulham and if you could get a price on Reo-Coker playing in London come January, I'd put money on it, as I reckon it's likely to happen, only because Reo-Coker isn't talking and O'Neill led us to believe something that wasn't true and the last time he did that, with Mellberg, he soon left.
Anyway, we have a rumour about Milan Jovanovic also. This isn't the first time we have been linked to this player. Back in July we were linked to him on the same day we were linked to Fabian Delph, but don't expect O'Neill to pay over the odds for Jovanovic. He might be a very decent attacking midfielder in the Belgian league, but the Premier League is different and we all know O'Neill is as cautious as a man spending his last fiver on a fruit machine hoping to win his taxi fare home and one more beer.
Everything above is pure speculation as is this next bit, which is only a very small percentage Aston Villa, but I was interested to learn about it. Apparently Manchester United are interested in Gary Cahill and are convinced with a big enough offer they'll get him. I for one, would love to have a player like Cahill, but he wanted first team football so we had to let him go. Pity really and just another demonstration of player power these days.
Right, before I go and put up a door frame, there is one more bit of speculation and this one links Curtis Davies to a new contract. Now, he's out with a dodgy shoulder at the moment and while I'm not sure when he is coming back, I can't wait. I think him and Collins will be fantastic, or Dunne for that matter.
Big Curtis is my number one in the back four and I think we can build a team around him in the spine of the team, but I guess only time will tell. Right, I'm off to put up that frame, but I'm in the house so laptop won't be far away. Up the Villa.
Click here for the Video of the Day featuring Steve Sidwell.
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Tom Smith
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... www.avfc.co.uk isnt workin on my computer it says page load error is any1 else havin this problem ? |
Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!!
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... What a shame Cahill left. Makes me feel a little sick actually!! Would have been Villa captain for years to come. Very strange about the Reo saga. Why has MON stated it's all fogotten and in the past but then still not play him? If you haven't forgiven him and won't play him, why not make him train with the youth team until Jan?? |
Chris Harper
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... Ha ha Damian are you being serious when you say we should build a team around Davies? The one they call a pub player? Im not kidding you, baring in mind |
John Samuels
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... I sincerely hope Reo Coker stays, you can bet your bottom dollar we won't get a replacement in straight away. Gardner will have to play. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Cahill left because MON brought in Knight and Davies and was told they were ahead of him in the squad. Him leaving was not down to player power but down to MON not being able to spot talent when it is staring him right in the face. As for Davies he is the worst CB we have in the club right now. I would pick Clarke way ahead of Curtis any day of the week. |
Chris Harper
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... continued..... I have nothing against the bloke, he must be the worst CB Ive seen at Villa Park for years. He totally lacks composure, is often caught out of position and can't header for toffee. To be fair though, he did play well in his last 2 games but he's been really poor for months previously. It has nothing to do with his shoulder, I don't buy that excuse whatsoever. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chris the little i have seen of Clarke he has looke very assured. He could be a top player in the making. Hopefully. Maybe we should have him out on loan right now for a few months. |
Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!!
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... If NRC does move on, we will realise how good a player he is. I appreciate he can't pass or shoot for sh1t but he's not there to do that. He's there to break up play and give it to people who can use the ball. The first game he plays against us will show exactly how good he exactly is. You don't know what you've lost until it's gone!! Barry is a prime example. |
Damian
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... Villa_Chris It was him that called himself a pub player - nobody else and yes, I think he is an excellent defender. |
Damian
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... Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!! Barry was not as great as some make out. I don't think we are missing anything with Barry gone |
Chris Harper
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... I know he did Damian but he's lived up to his own nickname. I just can't believe, someone with good football knowledge such as yourself can think he's our best defender. You're having us on!  Collins looks twice the player, at almost half the price. Cuellar is head and shoulders above him and Dunne is an established premier league defender and future legend (if you believe God himself knows a thing or 2 about defending). You must be having us on. |
Keith
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... Arsenal after NRC ? Don't make me laugh, sounds like his agent is getting a bit desperate to me. ak_27 I think we have all had enough of your opinions of CBs |
Murray
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... NRC isn't that good.. Delph is a much better prospect. He can actually tackle, hit a shot, pass with both feet and doesn't seem like a moaner. NRC has just tried to de-stabalise the dressing room in order to get a move away back to London... throw him in the reserves and let him rot until we can ship him out in January. I can't see Arsenal wanting him though to be honest, he cant pass a ball. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Damien its no coincidence that we have kept the most clean sheets since MON took charge since Davies got injured. |
Ash
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... Why are we supposedly selling our best players to our competitors for a top 6 or 4th finish in Spurs and Arsenal? its about time MON put this arguement behind him because its bad for the team we need our best players playing week in week out Delph is not ready! |
Dave
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... ak_27 - since Davies was injured we've mostly played teams with no attacking intent - it doesn't follow. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Burp that might be true but had Davies been playing i think we would have conceeded againest those teams. Especially againest the blues. |
Dave
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... If NRC goes to Arsenal I'll eat everybodys hat. Wenger likes players that are capable of passing a ball and NRC cannot do that. Something MON should have researched before he bought him really. |
scott harwood
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... i hope rc stays,i think its imperative he plays against citeh and chelski.but for all i know sidwell/stan and delph could be a better balance,who knows?we will see come monday.if i see a team sheet with a 442 with delph and petrov in the middle im gonna sh*t myself with woe!! |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Keef im sure over the months you will be yet again coming on and signing Dunne's praises. And then also coming on and meantioning something stupid he has done.  |
Keith
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... Damian "Barry was not as great as some make out. I don't think we are missing anything with Barry gone" That is where we disagree. Barry was the midfielder that could pass a ball, since he left we have been more reliant on Young and Milner to provide the pass/cross and therefore more predictable and easier to defend against. Petrov, Sidwell and NRC have only 2 assists and 0 goals between them. |
Murray
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... The Burp - Since when was NRC one of our best players???? Gabby, Milner, Young, Carew, Petrov yes... NRC? No.. |
Andi
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... I have to agree when has NRC suddenly jumped to "one of our best players" lets not forget "he cant pass, cant shoot and is mediocre tackler" so not sure where the NRC violins are coming from and not sure they are warrented |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chiefy the reason people are saying these things about NRC is because he has put in some good perfomances over the past few months. You can't deny that? Also we have lost Barry so we really don't have too many options in the centre of the park and he is in reality our only midfielder that we will win the ball back for us and the way we pass that type of player is vital. Can we afford to go until Jan without him in the team? |
Mike Carter
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... The only time Nigel Reo-Coker will get near a top 4 side is when he's playing against them. Anybody who thinks he stands a chance of going to sign for one of them is insane, he's barely good enough for Villa. |
John Samuels
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... We must keep Coker. We must get Davies fit and if he is good enough he will play, which imo he will, because he is a decent defender and one who could be world class given the ooportunity to develop with the right partner. We need Downing in midfield so we can pass and retain the ball better than we are doing now. We must keep playing Delph, he gets better with every game. Cahill didn't wamt to fight for his place, he wanted to play every game, so let him go to Bolton. There are no guarantees whatsoever that he would have developed in the same way at VP, he may have suffered a career threatening injury etc etc. Why cry over spilt milk? I wish people would just stop going on about a Bolton Player. ak, Following on from our chat yesterday i'd argue that maybe we had a problem with passing last season, but not to the degree we do this year. If Downing can come in and do the same job, with the new defenders we have I feel we will be as strong as last season and given the larger squad size there is no reason why we can't mount a similar challenge to last season and for a more sustained period. This team is still finding it's feet, it's winning games without performing yet, which in an odd way is quite good? Surely with the team we have and younger players developing and a few big players to come back from injury things can only get better, not worse? |
Keith
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... ak_27 "Can we afford to go until Jan without him in the team?" Yes if we play 4-4-2. (I am now putting on my tin hat and diving for cover)!!!! |
Damian
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... keefvilla and we are allowed to disagree barry has a good left foot, no doubt, but how many times did he use that great pass to win us a game or score us a goal or track back and slide in to block a shot or stop a player from making it good left foot, much like downing has and i expect downing to fill his boots perfectly |
Murray
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... "some' good performances.. not consistent enough for a 8.5m player though. Yes he can wins the ball but then loses it with a duff pass. It happens all too often with NRC. |
Andi
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... ak_47 -- i do not disagree he has put in some great performances over the last FEW MONTHS how longs has been with us ?? and you cant go around fighting the manager, who ever it is, would Wenger allow it ?? Reo has played well i agree for the past FEW months. Few options yes i agree but if MON is planning to sort that out, coinsidence that we are being linked with a central player on the same day i think not, i cant really see the problem |
tommy_villa
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... Barry was great but I think Downing will move into the centre and be his natural replacement. Think Coker will go and we'll replace him with Muamba. He's the same type of player and a big hit in the u21s (but no great improvement on NRC in my opinion). |
Dave
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... I'm fed up with saying the same old thing but any proffessional footballer with a good work ethic and good fitness (they should all have bloody good work ethics) could do what NRC has been doing for the Villa for the last couple of years. The difference might be with somebody else is that after making a nuisance of themselves and winning the ball they may actually be capable of playing a decent incisive pass or actually shooting at the goal. NRC is the clearest example of what is wrong with our football. He has no skill and yet he's lauded by some - all he does is run a lot. If we were to miss such a clearly limited footballer it's a very poor reflection on our team.. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Keef we should really be playing 442 if we were capable of doing it. I think a major contributor to wht we can't is actually the 2 front men. They are just not really capable of dropping short and getting on the ball and starting attacks from the midfield. Carew and Gabby have their attributes but they are all further up the pitch and really they don't possess the ground skills to comwe deep the way Yorke used to. Who would you play in the middle? Petrov and Sidwell? |
antony strafford
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... did anyone else lip-read delph on saturday,when he came off and sitting on the bench,he looked to gardener and said,:why as he brought me off, maybe the players are as confused as we are with mon subs...utv |
Andi
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... The Burp -- Agree Barry was great but he had his flaws. I thought he was excellent, now he dont play for us i am even more critical, but looking back he still was not what we need. As has been said how many times had he played the killer inch perfect pass, how many times had he scored the final wonder goal needed, how many times had he ran the length of the pitch and slid in to prevent a goal ?? not many if at all any so comparing people and downing to Barry is unfair cause Barry was not all that and we need better than what he was and i think Downing could just be that missing link, and i bet MON is hoping he is to cause this gamble he has taken needs to pay off and i reckon MON has got it right AGAIN ( i am prepared to be bashed now as i have been positive about MON ) |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Cheify MON cannot sort it out until jan. Half through the season. Fair enough if NRC is on the way so be it. But i don't think MON should put his own personal issue with him now ahead of Villas need for points. If he does then his tenure should be questioned. He has made his point. We all know there is only one boss. NRC knows that now. Now play NRC when needed. JPA we have been poor passers since MON took charge. It has probably deteriorated slowly since he took chrge but i can remember very few occasions when i aid that is some good football we are playing. Last year at home to Arsenal was the only real one i can remember. I do remember when we beat Sheff Utd at home 3 years we played sublime stuff and that was when i really got my hopes up about this team. But that was a long time ago and things have changed as far as how we play football. That is 100% down to MON and his football beiefs. Downing may well amke a difference but is he a better CM then Barry? No. |
Andi
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... Ak-47 -- how can you question if downing is a better cm than downing when many in the game beleive that downing is barrys succesor in midfield for the national team ?? I agree play REO if you need to play REO i agree there, but why would you want a player who cant pass and cant shoot and is only a little bit good at tackling on the pitch ??? |
John Samuels
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... ak, I remember the sheffield united game and I believe Beger was mom in that game and scored a brilliant goal. This is the sort of player we need now, a link between the forwards and midfield, but we also had Barry passing it about. With Delph and Downing in the side I think we will develop this style over time. That's what it's going to take, time. |
rocky marciano
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... but didnt mon say he wasnt barrys replacement,Chiefy is that really you MON? you sneaky little thing you  |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chiefy who has said that Downing is Barrys successor in the English team? He hasn't even made the left wing spot his own and when Joe Cole comes back he probably won't keep it. If Downing was not a Villa player would you honestly make that statement? I would love to see your reply if someone had made that statement this time last year that Downing will replce Barry in the English team back when barry was a Villa palyer and Downing hadn't signed. |
Andi
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... how long was it before man utd won the league ?? and werent their team built on youngsters from various teams and their youth system with a few experienced players thrown in ?? anyone see a comparison to how things are being done at Villa or is that just me ?? |
Andi
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... ak-47 -- maybe i am being a little bit nice to downing as he is a villa player but i am positive i have read that downing is a natural successor to barry, i shall search and see what i find. Even so do you see the difference in thinking between me and many positivity trust me it will make things a lot easier |
John Samuels
said:
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... rocky, MoN's words were something along the lines of, he is a very versatile player with quality who will improve our team and can play left, inside left, central and may even have the ability to play on the right. Don't quote me but it was something like this. MoN has something up his sleeve. I said this previously that I think our team will look like this. Friedel L.Young Collins Dunne Warnock ------Petrov--Delph--------- Milner----Downing----A.Young --------Agbonlahor---------- I think this will be our long term side, although the CB's may change with Cuellar, Davies and Clarke fighting for places. Guzan will eventually come in for Friedel and Delfouneso will eventually challenge Gabby for a first team spot. I also think that as Delph's game develops and with the passing ability of the forward mids NRC (if he's still at the club) will eventually come in for Petrov as Petrov's career winds down. We won't necessarily need to pass and can just sit breaking up play much like Gattuso's role at Milan. |
John Samuels
said:
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... ak, who has said that Downing is Barrys successor in the English team? O'Neill said it when he signed Downing. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... JPA im begginging to think we may also need to maybe look at not playing 2 out and out wingers at the same time and maybe try and bring in a left sided midfielder the way Berger was. Thats how Arsenal play with midfieders all accross the midfield and it probably helps them keep the ball far better. You could argue that Liverpool with benayoun and Chelsea with Malouda/ Cole do the same. Maybe Downing could make the difference there. Maybe put Young in as a striker who can roam and be that link man between the midfield and gabby. We would still need a good combative CM in the team though. |
Andi
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... ak-47 - after a quick search i have found this : Capello was desperate to see Stewart Downing do well and there is no doubt he was one of the reasons a young England side performed so impressively against a team ranked second in the world. They had width as well as pace and penetration, with two natural left-footers on one flank and two natural right-footers on the other. Even in the centre it was perfectly balanced: a left-footed central midfielder in Gareth Barry and a left-footed centre half in Matthew Upson. So what should Capello do if Downing excels in Spain? Drop Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard? Or the more defensively-minded Barry? Nice problems to have Comments from dailymail that without directly saying it lean to the fact downing will replace Barry |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... JPA i like the look of that team. I would only make one change. The manager. I would love to see what a good manager with a modern view on football would get from a team like that. |
kaptabs
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... Anyone who has read ANYTHING I have wrote in the last few days will know I am very anti MON's crappy decisions at the moment. However, Can i just point back, without necassarily getting on MON's back for this particular instance that NO-ONE wanyed CAHILL to leave. Is it not worrying with the state of play with this fantastic player these days???? |
bobvillian
said:
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... get rid of coker ;seems strange he caused trouble with west ham now this argy bargy with MON.if spurs want swap with huddlestone at leased he is a good passer of a football.forget bentley;jenus; both rubbish.whats the use of a reserve team when players do play well not considered for 1st team;ditto heskey over fonz?young over albrighten?its about time MON put players in on merit and not favorites utd |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chiefy you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you think England will use Downing (an attacking left winger player) as their defensive midfielder. |
John Samuels
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... I believe MoN is a good manager and dare I say it with a modern attitude to football, the way he plays players in different positions and isn't too rigid. Honestly I believe his management style tactically will eventually be akin to Mourinho's, I can see similarities. (JPA grabs Keefvilla's tin hat and dives for cover) |
Andi
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... ak-47 -- irefer to my previous post with our likeness to how one of/or if not the most successful team in the world wasa put together. Can you not see the likeness ? when the day comes everyone will be singing MON praises, it is so predictable |
Andi
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... ak-47 -- who said defensive midfielder ??? i didnt i just said he would replace him i never said what role |
John Samuels
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... ak, When MoN came in who would have said our unplayed left back who was on his way to Pompey would be one of the first names on the team sheet for England at the next world cup? I didn't. I also agree that if you play with one out and out winger then the other wide player needs to tuck in to provide balnace and not leave gaps in midfield, however this would be more important in 4-4-2. I also believe this to be the case with full backs which is why I believe Young (more defensive) will complement Warnock (more attacking) eventually and why MoN has been picking Cuellar over Beye. It's the same with the Liverpool, the amount of times they broke and then Ash got in behind Johnson was laughable as they struggled with the balance of their defence. My mate is a pool fan and tells me this has been a weakness of theirs for years and is obviously a symptom of the way benitez plays. Also probably why they buy new fullbacks nearly every season. |
kaptabs
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... 0 ... Anyone who has read ANYTHING I have wrote in the last few days will know I am very anti MON's crappy decisions at the moment. However, Can i just point back, without necassarily getting on MON's back for this particular instance that NO-ONE wanted CAHILL to leave. Is it not worrying with the state of play with this fantastic player these days???? |
Andi
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... Kaptabs -- already read your post and in answer to it oh well its happened move on, everyone makes mistakes. Its not worrying the state of play with that player cause he isnt ours and therefor take up none of my time thinking about it, is not worrying that state of play with milner, gabby and young and how MON has made it so they would walk into most teams in the premier league ??? but you wont talk about that cause Villa fans love to moan and bash the manager of the club they love so much WHAT GREAT FANS |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chiefy would Gabby and Young really walk onto any of the top 4 teams? Be objective. Would they even get into Citys team? Would Gabby get onto the spurs team? |
pete
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... dont blame reo for getting pissed off mon the way hes been treated.ash i think needs a dropping at the moment and give warnock a go on the left and back as lb |
Chris Harper
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... ak_27 He said walk into most premier league teams, therefore he's probably right. |
Andi
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... ak-47 -- Ashley Young would get into any of the top four, Gabby maybe not at the minute but he carrys on the way he is going it wont be long, Milner would get into most of the top four teams as well and apprantley Young is wanted by Liverpool along with Milner and Gabby is intresting Arsenal Now please do not take this the wrong way, but if the players mentioned in your opinion would not get into a top four team why are you banging on about us not progressing because how can we if the players we have couldn't play in the place you want us to be ? |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Chris at this stage we need to be comparing ourselves to the top teams not the lesser teams if we are to have any ambition of ever breaking into the top 4. |
Chris Harper
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...Sidwell has steered Villa to 11 wins and three draws in his other 14 Premier League starts for O’Neill’s men. Interesting... |
John Samuels
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... Vill_Chris, Sidwell only ever really plays when we play 4-5-1. No surprising that we win or draw because the back four is more protected and we have more bodies in midfield. Not necessarily down to him as a player but more because of the system he is generally utilised in. |
Adrian Kilgallon
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... Well that in a way Cheify is my point. At the moment we are miles off being a top 4 team and part of the problem is the calibre of player at the club and the type MON is after and admires. Pace and Streghth over skill and guile. That is MON's mantra. Ashely may get into a top 4 team if he were to find his form of 12 months ago. Now that is a long time to be off form in my opinion and going on how he has been playing he would srtuggle to get into any top 4 team. Mybe in a differnt set up he would be different but to me he has become arogant, selfish while at the same time his delivery and perfromances have declined. Yet he is an untouchable which is probaly why he is the way he is right now. Gabby has some great attributes but realisticlly he is short in a few vital area's that would make it very hard for him to ever make it at a top club. |
Andi
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... I like the way that instead of saying MON has done a wonderful job turning Milner, Young and Gabby into some of the best young players in the league, and on that performance Warnock, Delph and Downing wont be far behind. Instead we have a moan cause Cahill went and that was MON fault we question if the players mentioned are top four material, EVEN THOUGH WE EXPECT THEM TO GET US THERE.... the joys of being a villa fan where the manager and players fear the home fans more !!!!! and our away from last year shows that something was not right at home |
John Samuels
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... ak, Gabby wouldn't go to Spurs because they have loads of good forwards. He would however stroll into Liverpool as competition for Torres Ngog and Babel. Young would walk into the Man U team as a successor for Giggs and is better than Nania and Milner could play for any of them bar Arsenal imo. Petrov would be in with a shout too although dubious due to his age. The quality is there tho. |
Andi
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... ak-47 -- i think we have the ability to get into the top four and i think we have the players the trick is getting them all to play all at the same time. Young yes his performances have not been as good is that cause of him or because he is marked out the game because we are predictable ??? Gabby like i said at the moment maybe not but he keeps playing like he is it wont take a long....We need Downing fit and we need to find a new system MON teams are predictable and thats not because of him its because of what he has got, ok thats his fault but no body could have told him it would work out like this its gambles similar to young but that one worked |
Scrumpy
said:
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... People blast ONeill for changing a winning side or formation. But if you look at the facts of the Reo-Coker situation. He is sent home and plays no part in the Pompey game. Delph plays a part as sub and does ok. The next game MON goes with a strong(ish) back four, a strong front two (maybe forced because of Heskey's injury) and starts with Petrov/Delph as Sidwell has a strain and the policy was always going to be to try and give some youngsters a chance (without sacrificing progress in the cups). Reo Coker or Petrov were always likely to be rested as was Young. It was no surprise either is left out. Delph and Petrov play well together and albeit in a low gear Villa win. So why change the side when youre winning. Reo comes onto the bench for Blackburn. When its 1-1 MON decides to chase the game rather than settle for a point so instead of going to 4-5-1 where Reo Coker would have been most likely to come on. He plays more a 4-3-3 which doesn't have room for Coker. So far none of these teams or selections either for games or decisions during games, suggest that MON is deliberatly not playing Reo. Don't be surprised to see Coker and Sidwell (if fit) back in for Man City if we play 4-5-1. I think alot of people are reading too much into lazy press talk, where they try and invent alsorts of rubbish to try and sell papers, hence all the sudden apparent intrest in Coker. They even say Wenger is interested... well if Reo is in and out of Villa midfield he aint even going to be given a pair of boots in the current Arsenal midfield. And if there is something in it, so what lets hope we see Reo Coker playing for his life/career in next few months to get a better move away... |
John Samuels
said:
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... ak, out of interst would you say Man U would be a stronger team if they had Young instead of Nani, Milner instead of Valencia and Gabby instead Berbatov? I reckon it's pretty close, the Gabby Berba thing is the only moot point and I think they're different sorts of players. Gabby plays more like a young Owen. |
Ammar
said:
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... Chiefy said: ... ak-47 -- "i think we have the ability to get into the top four and i think we have the players the trick is getting them all to play all at the same time." Your point on we need a valid system for once makes sense...then you contradict it by saying "We need Downing fit and we need to find a new system MON teams are predictable and thats not because of him its because of what he has got" Please make up your mind is it the players the system or the what he has got.... |
kaptabs
said:
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... lol Sorry, JPA but Petrov is our most overrated player by such a long long way. His awards at the end of last season imo were more sympathy votes because Barry was leaving and Young had awards from the Premiership players. Fact = Young has been AWFUL so far this season without Barry making space for him with his passes. Fact = I have no faith in pretty much any of our first team midfielders except Gardner which is worrying as he never plays Fact = Delph has looked crap bar not one match. Fact = I would love to be optimistic but with the amount of money we have spent, we don't look like scoring from anywhere except Gabby, we always look shaky at the back (tho i admit we have played teams so far that make us look good, god help us this weekend), And after all the money spent, and three and a bit years, we play worse football with MON than when under Gregory, despite having so many, so called, potentilly world class young players. Its all nonsense, and whilst i will always support my Villains, i will also call a very obvious, and clear, spade a spade. Something other people clearly have problem with. |
Scrumpy
said:
|
... JPA, I like the way you are cottoning on to my flexible 442, where Warnock pushes up into midfield to make five and the other back tucks into make a back three (when attacking), allowing wide players to go to whichever side they like, even the same side... VillaChris - shock horror! this may be a sign that MON actually plays the players appropriate to the formation he is playing (something that a few others haven't yet cottoned onto. You don't pick your best 11 players and try to make a team - McClaren was soon found out for this - you pick the players according to the way you want to play but that way is also dictated by the players you have. We are slowly entering a stage where Villa has a squad rather than a team for the first time that I can remember). I don't think anyone thinks Sidwell is directly responsible for the results when he plays, but at the very least his presence allows others to play in a certain, mostly successful, way. |
Andi
said:
|
... MON 4-5-1 - we do need a new system do you only have one style of play as a team ???? i dont think because that way you become predictable as we are now so no i didnt contradict myself you just didnt understand |
Andi
said:
|
... 3-5-2 anyone ? fridel collins dunne cuellar young, milner petrov young warnock gabby carew |
paul mclafferty
said:
 |
... chiefy.. i mentioned your formation last week as a favourite to a mr little, but i realy think your midfield is way too weak |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... Kaptabs Did you have a season ticket last season? (Genuine question not putting you down or anything) Petrov was superb for us and deserved all the awards he got.You don't win players player of the season and fans player of the season 'with sympathy votes'. FACT. Im a season ticket holder and I think I remember him having one bad game. He was simply class. Barry who? Fair enough, he had a slow start to this season and probably like many others, surprised me. He looks back to his best again now though. |
gareth horton
said:
 |
... chiefy young and warnock are not mobile enough to play as WB too much space would becomw available in vital areas of the pitch especially against a quick passing team |
Deano-avfc
said:
 |
... Bit bored of the Reo-Coker rumours now, what is it tomorrow, West Ham are interested in him? I've never thought much of Curtis, certainly not for £10m. Too inconsistent, I'd like to see obviously Collins and Dunne at the moment but if something happens I'd like Dunne and Carlos rather than Curtis. UTV |
Ammar
said:
|
... Chiefy said: ... MON 4-5-1 - we do need a new system do you only have one style of play as a team ???? I think i understood you very clearly and if you read my update then you will see i agreed with you on that point that our system needs changing . But if you also say in the same context that we have the players which in most part i also agree with the exception of 1 or 2 quality technicle signings then i think were in agreement there as well. The confusing bit is then you are saying the tools that MON has to work with...i guess your referring to the players...and implying they are limited which would suggest you are contradicting yourself... Anyway it is confusing and for most of the time mon has been in charge of our club i have supported him. But as you can see even his most loyal supporters are now confused which is something i can understand and relate to... . We do not know what system to play. . We do not know what our best eleven are. . We do not know our players best position. . Our manager does not communicate his plans to the fans. It was supposed to be a 5 year plan so were are we in that context. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... villa chris.. barry who i know youve got a season ticket but do you use it? petrov is nowhere near in barry's class even tho i hate to admit it, the bloke is one of citeh's best players and is shining.i love the villa but i cant walk around with blinkers on. |
Andi
said:
|
... MON 4-5-1 -- Apologises i now see your point, i mearly meant that the tools (players) are limited as it seems to one system and i think it is because we dont have the correct tools for more than one system at the moment, however i think downing could come back and give us the other dimension to play a different system because i think his range of passing could hold everything else together correctly, cause we dont have it at the minute. hope that makes sense ? |
John Samuels
said:
|
... We are without the ability to pass the ball in central areas. Delph has all the signs off being able to do this with both feet, win the ball and score goals. Petrov can over short distances and Young can but would be useles in a central role (central further up the pitch maybe possible) as he doesn't have the physical attributes required. I'd even argue Milner isn't a good enough passer to play there. We know Downing can cross, keep the ball and drop a ball on a ten pence piece from 50 yards. He is left footed and therefore has played on the left due to a lack in quality left sided players in the English game and this is way into the international set up, but this kid could be much much more. With Ash in the side we don't necessarily need him there and I really think he could come on leaps and bounds if he's allowed to develop in a coupl of other roles. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Chris & Paul, Now now lads. Petrov is a really good player, and so is Barry but they have slightly different attributes. Stop this my dad could beat up your dad rubbish. |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... HoltendPaul Ok, tens of thousands of fans along with myself must have bought a season ticket, not gone to games and watched the games on the net with my blinkers on. Then voted Petrov Player of the season just because Barry was leaving. Sorry, our mistake. |
VillaDude
said:
 |
... When downing is fit - we will definetley go back to 451 as a permanent formation. Young Downing Petrov Sidwell Milner Will be our midfield - with Delph, Gardner and Albrighton as back-up What that holds for Reo Coker is another thing? I personally think he should be starting as part of 5-man midfield. But if he is not going to ever get back in the team...Why is DELPH not playing a part of a 5-man midfield. He is not good enough to play 442 yet..... |
Eoin Greene
said:
 |
... Some interesting points from both sides... One think I would say is that this 'passing limitation' and lack of comfort on the ball has been apparent for three years, not just this season. Barry is considered by many to be a very good passer of the ball - yet last season we passed the ball just as poorly as we do this one. In my opinion, either Downing or buying 1 quality midfeilder will not solve much in this regard. Its our whole philosophy/way of playing that needs to change. I think its actually our way of playing that causes all this arguments regarding formation. If we cant play 4-4-2 against teams like Blackburn and Wigan - then it really shows our limitations. The people who want Reo-Coker are the same people who want us to pass the ball more - isn't that a contradiction in itself. Reo-Coker has had some good performances this season, but I dont see him as anything other than a workhorse - he 'breaks up the opposition' - but then he gives it straight back to them! I'd leave Delph in the side and lets see if he is as good as the hype suggested. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... im not pickin on chris i was just pointing out that you cant lose a player of barry's craft and simply try to ignore it. |
kaptabs
said:
|
... Chiefy apologies my reply wa actually meant for you, my mistake. Villain Chris Im not gonna divulge my information because i don't think i need to but belive me Petrov really is not Premiership class. if you believe he was our player of the season last, it really worries about how our standards our dropping. Give me back the days of Ian Taylor et al who actually cared enough to back up their words despite their limitations |
kaptabs
said:
|
...i know youve got a season ticket but do you use it? petrov is nowhere near in barry's class even tho i hate to admit it, wow, another villa fan prepared to state the obvious. Fair play to you mate, there aint many of us. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Funny, I haven't seen anything special of Barry at all so far this season. The odd nice moment but overall pretty average. |
Andi
said:
|
... why are we pulling our own team apart ?? how can we expect to win anything or be anywhere if you dont beleive ?? have a little belief people and throw in some optimisim and things look a lot better. Ok we have our problem players and formations and tatics etc etc but i am sure many will agree when everyone is on form we look good and play good football. Ok it hasnt happend yet but it will dont you worry, last season we flew of the blocks, this season we havent set the premiership a light but we are getting the points on the board and compared to last season arent we better off ??? Now even though some of you hate MON and some love him would could all at least agree i am sure he knows what our problems are and i am sure he has a plan to fix them, backing our team in some cases is hard because the arm chair manager in us can see the problems and we get frustrated, its natural, but while we keep picking up points and while we are still infront of last years tally at the same period in time does it really matter ?????? |
Car Frost
said:
 |
... I can't wait until Downing is fit and it doesn't take a tactical genius to work out how to play with Downing, Young, Milner and Gabby on your side, shift the ball out of defence as quick as possible. Thats when you need that creative player we all long for to pick that pass. Dunn said stop Petrovs passing and you stop Villa last Sunday and maybe he wasn't wrong. |
RiosJocktrap
said:
 |
... I wonder if it is actually us floating the Arsenal link around? Think about it, its nails on that hes leaving come January, since its as plain as day that his relationship with cloughy- oniel is dead in the water. Not many teams will pay 8 million after his bust up, since it looks like hes soiled goods, we know that, so if we put about that a team like Arsenal are interested, it pushes up his value. If true, then its a clever move. My concern is what Donkey Martin has in mind to replace him with, since any other midfield player worth his salt,is not going to jion us to play at right back. |
keith
said:
 |
... i added a comment yeterday and it seems appropriate for the way its going today, so ... damian an intereting blog would be if you could add 3 players of your choice ( excluding cl players for obvious reasons ) who would you replace and why? add to this what you would be prepared to pay |
Andi
said:
|
... while i have been stumbling around trying to find how many points we was on this time last year i have found that we have the best defence in the premier league at the moment funny that |
Michael panizza
said:
 |
... I'd still gladly have Barry at the Villa, regardless of how he's played so far this season - he's still miles ahead of anything we have in central midfield. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Chiefy That's the funny thing. Had we not lost to Blackburn, none of these recent articles/posts would have ever been written. |
Car Frost
said:
|
... keithj Sidwell > Modric would pay £14m on top of this Reo Coker > Arteta And offer £12m Heskey > Defoe and 8m Think I'd be happy with that. |
Andi
said:
|
... vivavilla -- i no at it is astonishing how quick fans forget or turn on MON i cant see why we have to pull our own team apart after we lose, even though it was a poor decision and we are still infront of last year, and we have the best defence. Who needs away fans when you fans like ours |
kaptabs
said:
|
...Chiefy No offence mate, and i can't speak for anyone else but for me that just plain tosh. When i see a 4-4-2 teamsheet my heat sinks. When i see a 4-5-1, i don't expect to be sitting on the edge of my seat all match but i expect us to get a result at the end of the day. it really is that simple. I can't put it any clearer or any other way. As for our defensive record, yep can't take anything away from that, but i think we all need to buy Friedel a pint for that one. |
Mark
said:
 |
... Damian, It may surprise you but I agree with you on this one. DAVIES has not had an easy ride since his move from the Baggies. However, he has shown enough quality to be selected for England (prior to injury). I hope he recovers 100% from his injury nightmare and returns to show us what he is really capable of. I think he is class in the making. COLLINS/DAVIES or COLLINS/CUELLAR my ideal pairing. I hope the NRC saga gets dealt with swiftly. I'm not a huge fan, as he is a hard worker, but technically quite poor. He's too sulky and there are better players we can exchange in the Jan window. JENAS if he is sticking with home grown. |
Dave
said:
|
... Cheify & VivaVilla that may be true but I think it has to be acknowledged that Liverpool aside our wins have come against poor sides who showed no ambition to attack us and even then we were far from convincing and therefore it's not surprising that there's some disquiet. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... I must say im with Chris regading Petrov last season. I think he was our best player. I feel if he had better players who were more gifted on the ball around him then you would see a lot more from the guy. The same way as Barry looked class againest West Ham. He had players alla round him that were comfortable on the ball and he was brilliantly pulling the strings. keithj id want Arteta, Bellamy and Palacious. |
Dave
said:
|
...Funny, I haven't seen anything special of Barry at all so far this season. The odd nice moment but overall pretty average. which is exactly what fans of other clubs would have said for all the time he was with us.... |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
 |
...Jinksy said: Because he's what they aint got And when he leaves Villa, he'll be what we ain't got |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... This has nothing to do with Villa at all but FIFA have today come out and changed the rules about qualifying for the WC to help the bigger nations get there. They have now decided to change the rule and make the draw for the play offs based on seedings which means that none of the big teams will face each other in the play offs. I honestly can't believe that they are getting away with this. How can you change the rules at this stage just to help certain teams? The reason im mad about this is this is going to hurt Irelands chances of qualifying big time. Thats my summer holiday plans gone now. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... As for three players in the side who aren't CL players i'd probably go for (bearing in mind i'm going to go for players who would realistically be sold by their clubs i.e Frosty comment 113, Modric, Defoe and Arteta are arguably the highest profile players at their respective clubs and would never be sold): Armand Traore of Arsenal who was on loan at Pompey last Season, looks to be some player and needs to be given a chance at a big club. Geovanni of Hull although he's probably on massive wages and there are some question marks over his attitude. Jordi Gomez of Wigan looks to be taking to the PL like a duck to water and this guy loves to spread passes all over the place. Long passes, short passes, apple pie in the sky passes. Would be hard to prize him away from Martinez and Wigan, but this guy is definitely on my wish list and we could get him with a big enough bid in the summer. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... How the hell are Gabon ahead of us? Don't even know where that country is? |
Ammar
said:
|
... vivavilla said: ... Chiefy That's the funny thing. Had we not lost to Blackburn, none of these recent articles/posts would have ever been written. actually i don't think this is down to the result. Just wish it was...Also most of the posts have been constructive criticism and not just statement like he is a w****r... |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... ak... could this be because the likes of france, argentina and co are struggling? keithj.. my three players would be lee cattermole< reo cocker mikel arteta< sidwell darren bent< heskey |
Andi
said:
|
... Keithj Reo Coker > Huddlestone Sidwell > Fellani + 2mill Heskey > Kenwyne Jones + 5mill |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Chiefy, cant see Spuds letting Thud go, Kenwyne Jones is worth around £10m-£15m and Fellaini cost Everton £15m so I don't think they'd go swapping him for Sidders and £2m, Sidders is only worht £5m-£6m in my book. I like the choice of players, but you might as well pick Messi, Kaka and Vidic. |
Andi
said:
|
... JPA -- i know it was keithj question, i dont have any idea of player values though so just had a wild stab. I thought these was talk of kenwyne being sold in january ? i wouldnt mind him like him as a player think he is quite good |
keith
said:
|
... how strange that the same 3 players would be replaced and a creative midfielder bought in |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... holteend paul that is exactly why they are doing it. But how can you change the rules now to help the bigger teams to qualify? FIFA are corrupt to their core. |
Andi
said:
|
... ak_27 -- with you on this one mate it is disgusting but it is deeper than football political pressure from the big countrys and most importantly the strongest economys will always cause this in any sport |
steve t
said:
 |
...I just can't believe, someone with good football knowledge such as yourself can think he's our best defender. You're having us on! he must be, this is the same damian that rates sidwell and not milner i agree about barry not being missed though |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Chiefy, Kenwyne was wanted by clubs, but Sunderland signed him up on a new long term contract. He is one of their most valuable forwards and can't see him being sold for less than £15m, can see him creating a good partnership with Bent there. |
Andi
said:
|
... JPA -- What about huddlestone ?? what about swap for coker reckon that would come off ?? fellani wouldnt be allowed to move which is a shame i like him he is a good player. Anyone no anything about this player we are linked to or the Guzman we had been linked with ? |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Huddlestone is getting fist team football now and is playing well so he won't be available. I think the most obvious ending to the NRC issue could be a swap for Jenas with Spurs. Thats if they really want him and Jenas is willing to come to Villa. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... But JPA i think by going through this list you can see why we(MON)need to start looking abroad. We will not get good players from our compeitiors without paying way over the odds. The same way we would not sell Ashley for probably less then 25m when he is not worth anything near that. |
Andi
said:
|
... ak_27 -- i do agree with you and on the information we have to go on such as the link above and the previous link to Guzmaa i think MON has realised this and maybe just maybe in january the flair we need in the middle is going to be brought, not sure i want or would like Jenas though |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... south afirca need the top ranked nations in next years world cup for its ecconomy, so it wouldnt pay to have a country with 1million taking the place of france or argentina who also have tele pulling power. who do these small countries think they are upsetting the apple cart? |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Paul to be honest if ROI qualify we will probably bring far more supporters then any other country bar England. |
Andi
said:
|
... AK_27 -- i just dont like him think he thinks he is better than what he is. Dont think he is the answer nor a back up to the answer i think it would be swapping for swapping sake if it does happen |
John Samuels
said:
|
... ak, I see what you're saying. Going abroad can be a risk tho with the prospect of language barriers, players obtaining work permits, players costing large fees and not settling due to the climate/culture etc. I see were MoN is coming from and tbh if he wants to go out and bring in Ash and Collins etc I'm happy with that. I really don't see the problem with the squad at the moment and it is yourself who said it seems to be the coaching that is the problem with the passing issue. We have good players, but we need a couple more, arguably one to make us a really strong side. Without seeing Downing yet who could be a lrage piece of the puzzle I'm not willing to make any rash claims just now. I'm willing to wait and see what the next couple of months hold and if we clearly need to sign someone in January I will be on the transfer band wagon. The window is closed, we have what we have and with a couple of players coming back from injury and the team still to kick into gear, i'm really not worried. I think this team is capable of great things eventually, if not this year then i'm willing to wait. We aren't the finished article but we do have some quality. Imagine if Downing comes in and suddenly we have more presence in midfield and Ash hits form as well as Gabby continuing to score. We will be almost unplayable like we were at times last season, but we have imo a stronger defence than last season now. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... ak, also no one really has an opinion on the players I named who are all potentially available, have PL experience and wouldn't cost silly money, they speak english and could potentially improve our team. People caned Collins because he wasnt' the marquee signing they wanted and people got on his back even though they'd barely seen him play. This lad has arghuably been our best CB this season so far and cost a reasonable £5m, i personally am glad we didn't fork out £12m on Upson who is 5 years older and the added bonus to not going abroad is he is british based and has been playing in this league for several years which I imagine is one of the reasons he has integrated so quickly. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... JPA for me its a combination of issues not just one. Thats why i don't have the same optimism. I just think we are a lot further away then many believe. The next 2 games will tell a lot. We should be capable of standing up to the likes of City and Chelsea at home this far into MON's management and Learners backing. 4 years is plenty of time to be judged on. |
Andi
said:
|
... JPA -- sing them all up apart from that one from Arsenal sorry not a fan, Geovanni bit of a wild card liable to throw a strop when he gets dropped but who knows at a big club he might sort his attitude out, Gomez get him in !!! just wanted yo give you an opinion as you mentioned no one had mate |
Andi
said:
|
... ak_27 -- i look at it the other way i think we are alot closer than people give us credit for, it will all start coming together. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... changing the subject a little, does anyone know when or if marewood is goin to newcastle???? |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
... Don't know anything about the Arseal kid. Giovanni would be worth a place in the squad but would he fit into MON's plans. He is the type we lack to come on and do something special. But MON has no place for players like that. he prefers the Heskeys of this world to the Giovanni's. Gomez is a good player in the right system. He would only work if MON changed the way we play to a complete passing game. He won't do that. But JPA all those players especially Gomez and Giovanni could have been purchased on the cheap over the last 2 years. Why weren't they? Gomez was outstanding for Swansea last season and so was their RB rankel. But MON showed no interest and both could have been signed on the cheap when we actually needed players in. Why? |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... any way as mondays game goes i know and i am not the manager that cueller can not play right back, as martin petrov is back in the citeh team and bang on form so will rip our carlos apart down the left wing but mon has said on the os that luke wont be ready untill after the international breaks, so would you play beye? |
daniel wheeler
said:
 |
... we still miss barry. he was the pivotal part in our team imo. the form of our other top players has suffered due to his absence. sidwell is imo mon's worst purchase ever, he goes missing in games and will never contribute to the team in the way barry did. keep nrc, put him with petrov or delph and get a genuine play maker. defour, vdv whoever but ffs lets get one in. |
Ammar
said:
|
... holteend paul said: ... any way as mondays game goes i know and i am not the manager that cueller can not play right back, as martin petrov is back in the citeh team and bang on form so will rip I hope mon selects beye otherwise when will he play and why was he bought ? Also he is more attacking and will show our intent... |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... damain cheers for that i remember posting on it but i dont know where i was but i dont remember hearing anythhing else like confirmation on him signing for them. i really hope he does well for them and secures a permanent deal |
Jinksy
said:
 |
... Pancho Villan - And i will be over the moon because he is crap & we won't have a crap player like him in our squad. Why would Arsenal & Spurs want him??????? They don't they can't want him. If we get anything for him it will be a bonus.Wake up he is shite. |
Scrumpy
said:
|
... Always the need to look on the brightside (thats what 30+ years of supporting Villa does to you!) If Reo Coker is an example of a player having hissy fit to engineer move away, or stubborness of a manager to stamp authority, then the positive is that Reo can be used to clean boots, sweep floors etc and we can bring Bannan onto the bench and the opportunities afforded would surely speed up the development of the likes of Bannan and Delph. Maybe a short term measure until Mr Lerner's money buys us the marque signing of the attacking midfielder (VDV) or Downing/Milner prove they can fulfill that role, when Dj is fit. What we need? Is a new David Platt!! I always think at the moment that a midfield 5 will have Sidwell in if fit (he just does enough of everything to help the blend - given the current players we have). My preferred 3 would be Petrov/NRC as defensive/holding and Delph as attacking, or even try Petrov/Delph and Bannan. Untiul Downing fit of course. Plus it would be funny to see Ash, Delph and Bannan in the same team line as Collins and Dunne  |
Simon
said:
 |
... King Carlos has been the best CB this year but cos both Dunne and Collins cant play RB, he gets put there. I can't wait for Luke to return and put KC back in the middle, then we will surely see things improve. UTV |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Just curious with Man City getting ever closer what peoples reaction to Barry will be? * Boo him for being the traitor that he is * Cheer him for 10 years of dedicated service * Ignor him, he's not worth the special attention Looking above at other barry comments I'd be very suprised if the boos didn't outweigh the thanks, we are Villa fans after all |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... i will give barry a ovation after 11 years at the club even tho he signed for the money |
Mike Carter
said:
|
...actually i don't think this is down to the result. Just wish it was... I certainly don't think it's down to the performance. Let's be honest, we played exactly the same in that defeat as we have done pretty much all season. In other games, we have won and the fans have been happy. Yet the same performance brings about a defeat, which could quite easily have been a different result, and the fans are up in arms. It seems to be like some fans have a bit of a delusion of grandeur. It's almost as if it's our given right to beat teams like Blackburn. Well it isn't. The Premiership is a far different place these days, outside of the top 4 and the bottom 2/3, you've got a dozen or so teams who are all quite easily capable of beating each other, depending on what day it is. It's called parity. Fans say "we should be beating teams like Blackburn". Well I'm afraid Blackburn fans in turn would look at a team like Villa and see a good opportunity to pick up some points as well. We may be a big club historically, but we're not a big club in the Premiership when you put things into perspective. Fans getting upset because they can hardly believe how we've managed to lose to a team like Blackburn need to wake up. Welcome to modern day football. |
paul mclafferty
said:
|
... previous players who have got a good reception and dont deserve it are david platt who tells every player to get away or not sign for the villa, andy fookin gray who demanded a transfer when he won young player and players player, then came back to play for a season when he was clearly washed up then came back as big rons #2 but only to quit for his role with sky.every time we play you would never have thought he was ever connected to us, as he is soo anti villa and he knicked his best mates wife so is a horrible self centred basteeerd anyway. |
Super Villain
said:
 |
... I'd just like to say that the comments I've read today by Scrumpy are some of the best comments I've ever read on here, he is quite clearly a man who knows a little bit about football and not someone who is just negative about absolutely everything. Hats off to you. The facts are Villa aren't playing well so far this season but neither are a majority of the league. The whole NRC situation has been blown all out of proportion and I fully expect him to play on Monday. There are also 2 big players for us missing and that's Young and Downing, when they are fully fit I believe we will see a much improved Aston Villa. For the love of god will people stop moaning about MON, yes he makes mistakes but so do ALL managers (look at Fergies tactics in the champions league final) he IS the man to manage us and with a bit of luck and the support of the fans take us to the next level. UTV |
Car Frost
said:
|
... holteend paul - true, maybe it's too early to boo Barry, lets wait and see if he talks Young into moving to Man City first, then I'll get medievil on his ass. |
Ammar
said:
|
... vivavilla said: ... actually i don't think this is down to the result. Just wish it was... I certainly don't think it's down to the performance. Let's be honest, we played exactly the same in that defeat as we have done pretty much all season. by going by what you are saying you don't have any expectations for us then do you ? Mentally on paper before we play any team there would be results i would expect us to get as result against certain teams, it's not deluded but optimistic... So if when we play hull i guess you expectations are that it 50/50 that we can get beat ? and that this would not suprise you... |
stevo
said:
 |
... still can't believe the amount of crap mon is getting hope he never reads the drivel some of you lot write quite clearly written by people who have never played the game let alone watch it !  |
david mc gorrian
said:
 |
... Totally off topic lads but does anyone have any idea why man utd match is the only match not being shown on sky sports? |
stevo
said:
|
... so how long has mon got 5 games ? till the end of season ? then what ? is he gone if we have not finished 4th or won a cup ? quite clearly mon has been a victim of his own success (and i mean by that flirting with a champions league spot last season before you all go mad !) |
Nigel 451/433
said:
 |
... Now would be the right time to put Gardner in with Delph and Petrov. Gardner deserves a run and in my opinion would provide sufficient cover, allowing Delph the freedom to express himself. In a 451/433 formation of course! |
Cian Donaghy
said:
 |
... get rid of reo coker and get someone better in davies seems to be the worst of our central defenders, but its a little unfair as 2 of them have only played against lower half teams for us, and we base cuellar's ability purely on performances for rangers |
bring back john gregory
said:
 |
... mon gets rid of marlon and shock horror he scores on his debut,and the rumour going round the kingfisher pub in great barr is that mon is buying a satnav coz he has lost the dressing room  |
gregdavillain
said:
 |
... we badly need a play maker, who should always be hitting to the wings or corner flags, we have the quality to interchange our play. Im very dissappointed with the way young and milner never get fed in behind the full backs, so they can go through on goal, we always push them to the wings, to supply, but they should be getting more goals than they do. I put it down to not having the right quality in the middle, to even attempt or have the vision to try through balls, we;re getting predictable again, and i dont care all long as we win, but alot are right, when we win it generally could have gone either way, we dont dominate matches much or ever seem to be in proper control or even apply real pressure for a 15 to 20 minute period. Oneill has my backing (he'll be delighted to hear that!) but we badly need a fprward thinking playmaker, and i think this would benefit ash and gabby a whole lot, bt getting them in behind defence and making them proper threats |
Greg
said:
|
... i hate having to log in every day what the f**k it keeps me away!!!! have to wait for my posts cuz i forget im not logged in f**k its annoying!! |
Andy Scarborough
said:
 |
... Ssssssh, don't let the cat out of the bag, but I suspect that MoN has let it be known all around that he and NRC are at loggerheads. The reality is that NRC will be unleashed as our secret weapon against ManCity and Chelsea. Mark my words, he'll be back with a bang. I hope.  |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
|
...andy5759 said: There is an arsetastic logic to that |
Mathew Dryhurst
said:
 |
... As for Jovanovic, it's interesting someone pointed out Fellaini as he is just one of many players who have made the step up from the Belgian league. In fact, Jovanovic's record in Belgium is much better, and if he gets into this Serbian national team he is bound to be a bit special. Sign him up, and maybe we can score a few of these penalties we keep winning. |
Andi
said:
|
... Morning all, Dont you just love the british press ? yesterday Davies, the pub player who is injured, was getting a new deal. Now 48hours later Davies is considering his future in January of a contract row. Now can i add that he has had an operation and is injured so the likely hood of him discussing a contract is small and having a row is smaller. Now either yesterdays press release was rubbish todays is rubbish or it is true he does want to look at his options now we have 3 solid centre backs before him in the line. Now if the lata is the case then sorry Davies doors there dont slam it on your way, but we will find it hard to recoup the money we paid for him. |
Mike Carter
said:
|
... Mon 4-5-1 No, because Hull are one of the bottom 2/3 clubs I was referring to so quite frankly I would expect us beat them. Have you seen us play really well this season yet? If you have you must have quite low expectations. |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Chiefy, Davies was probably offered a new deal to let him know he was still wanted by the club after signing two new CB's and just because he hasn't signed the first thuing put in front of him the papers are on it like a fly on s**t becaues they've got sod all else to write about. This happens every time a player is negotiating a new contract and it happened recently with Van Persie, Wes Brown, etc etc. Plus it may be his agent leaking stuff to earn him a few extra quid, who knows. Can't see him leaving though, he's MoN's darling isn't he and rightly so. |
Andi
said:
|
... Well for me i wouldnt not be to concerned if he left to be quite honest, but that aside the press just make me laugh they right rubbish. I cant see he him leaving allow with the new rule about english players a few teams might be intrested, see i am not sure i would pick him above any of our back line at the minute including carlos and Davies wont want to sit on the bench maybe he is following REO's lead ?? |
Andi
said:
|
... i cant type today my brian is not working in synq with my fingers hope you make out what i was saying in my last piece |
Murray
said:
|
... "Bring back John Gregory" - Harewood is a good championship player but thats all... he will do well at Newcastle as that's his level of playing but he cant cut it in the premier league. Carew and Gabby are much better players. |
Villan450years
said:
 |
... It fascinates me how people can not see what Nigel Reo-Coker gives to the team in both the 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formationms. People are critical of him because he can't hit a 30 yard pass, or score 10 goals a season. He is the midfield enforcer, the ballwinner, the one who stops the opposition playing through our team. Check our teams performances in the Peace Cup, after the injuries to other players that led to him getting into the team. Then our beating of Fiorentina in the 'friendly'. some people are trying to compare NRC with Petrov. These two can't be compared because they are different players. Petrov is the passer and is definately not the ballwinner. That is why teams find it easy to play through are midfield and get at the defence when Petrov is asked to play the destroyer role, it is beyond his capabilities. Delph, from what I have seen of him, will become a really good player but he is the replacement, in waiting, for Petrov not NRC. Young also has potential but is nowhere near the completed player. The fans put too much expectation on his shoulders, so he feels that he has to take on every marker who gets in his face. Ease off on him and he just might start producing for the team again, by passing the ball as soon as he is faced by two or three defenders, that would leave so much more space for the other players. I remember Sir Stanley Matthews winning more than one game by taking defenders away and leaving spaces. |
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