So we stand on the threshold of a new Premier League season having lost our talisman and captain but £100m richer. We’ve also lost JT and the gravitas that he brings to the club but we always knew he would move on at some point. Austin MacPhee has joined as set-piece coach and may be JT’s ‘replacement’.
As usual I’m full of optimism that this will be the season where we break into the top six and Europe but also with nagging doubts given the performance statistics over the last four seasons when Grealish was absent from the team.
NSWE have once again put their hands deep into their pockets and backed Smith to the tune of around £100m (it’s been reported that we paid a £5m loan fee for Tuanzebe) with possibly more signings to come. Buendia and Ings were a master class in transfer dealings and both will improve Villa’s attacking options. Add to that the signing of Bailey, although a bit of an unknown in Premier League terms, and the shrewd addition of Young and there’s no doubt the squad has been strengthened despite the outgoing(s)!
Although I didn’t see the friendly against Salernitana reports suggest that we played a less intricate more direct style of football adopting a 4-2-2-2 style of play with Nakamba and McGinn the two defensive midfielders and Ings and Watkins up top.
Contrary to most expectations it seems Ings ‘drifted’ and Watkins continued to play a more central attacking role on the defender’s shoulders.
The other interesting observation from Sunday’s game is the impact that MacPhee is already making in terms of more variety at set pieces and throw-ins.
Injuries though are already a major concern.
Watkins (thigh), Buendia (hip), Sanson (knee), Guilbert (unknown) are all likely to miss the Watford game. Bailey is completing his quarantine and Luiz is likely to be absent for two to three weeks following his goal medal at the Olympics. Trezeguet is a long term absentee and Davis is out injured – again.
It’s likely we will be fielding a ‘weakened’ side with possibly both Ramsey and Philogene-Bodace starting. It seems to me that we can ill afford to offload El Ghazi or Hourihane at present with the number of senior players unavailable.
Watford, as you might expect, have bought in a lot of new players including Danny Rose and Joshua King who bring experience to the side. They have a class winger in Sarr and our old nemesis Troy Deeney up front who delights in scoring against us – far too often.
Under Xisco Munoz they are likely to employ a very open attacking style of play and will surprise a few sides, particularly at home, but it remains to be seen whether a philosophy of scoring one more goal than the opposition will work. Our own experiences in the EPL suggests not.
Villa have only played Watford 18 times and results between the teams are pretty even. We’ve only managed to win once away from home (L5 D3) conceding an average of 2.11 goals per game. We last played them in our awful relegation season of 2015/2016 losing both games.
if we have aspirations of a top six finish then these are the games we need to win; but playing a promoted side on their own ground on the opening day of the season is notoriously difficult to call. With the return of crowds and the likelihood we’ll be missing some key players then this is a tough opening fixture.
A draw for me.
Post jumped … lads ..
A word on Richard O’Kelly. I wouldn’t overreact. Firstly, he’s almost 65 and nearing retirement. Usually, you have a manager/head coach and an assistant. When JT arrived, it must have been hard for him. There is no doubt that his toes would have been inadvertently trodden on. Then Shakespeare arrives. So all the time, he must be thinking he’s not needed, and no doubt his duties would have been diluted, as well as his voice and ideas. Then MacPhee arrives. He must have been thinking if they don’t trust me to organise set-piece practice, then there’s not much to do here, apart from bibs and cones duty.
JT and Shakespeare got a fair amount of coverage from media and fans on social media, but O’Kelly was always the ‘invisible man’, which would have hurt, as he surely played his part in the club’s progress. I can’t blame him for leaving.
We should wish him well. I just hope that too many changes to the coaching team doesn’t upset the players psychologically. There are countless examples in football history, the most famous being Clough and Taylor. But even Villa – Brian Little’s team weren’t the same when Gregory left, and Gregory’s side weren’t the same when Steve Harrison left. Time will tell.
UTV and looking forward to a new chapter tomorrow!
You’ve about summed it up saying that, he’s felt lost after all he’s done. I bet if he wants to see the game they’ll charge him to get in.. best of luck to him. .
I reckon we’ve spent £213 million net over the last 3 seasons.
What’s possibly more concerning is we’ve only brought in £10-11 million in the same period, Grealish apart.
Wow. I think that says a lot about how the club was run previously.
This is probably what Purslow is on about when he talks about massively investing in the kids.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/alletransfers/verein/405
Whatever, that’s serious spending and while in our case it is funded through cash and not dodgy dealings it still seems unfair to me.
Sadly more money is the only way to compete isn’t it? 🙁
Yep.
So Gregg Evans says the announcement of the signing of Ings was rushed out to appease us from the selling of Grealish. No sh*t sherlock!
Of course, he knew all about the deal before it happened, but like any good journalist he couldn’t say anything until he’d checked the facts.
Ha ha! You have to laugh, don’t you?
He knew f*ckall, the same as everyone else.
Badger
Great spot on the finances. Although I feel the direction NSWE are taking is one where the club is likely to be balanced in terms of sales v expenditure on players.
The emphasis on growing own players is critical to this model, as seen through our recent £100m income from one Villa youth player making it big. I appreciate that this type of example is extreme. But if the recent approach demonstrated by Liverpool selling Brewster and Man City selling Harrison is followed Villa will be positive.
For example we currently have Ramsey, Chukwuemeka, JPB, Keslar Hayden (KH) and Barry all close to becoming first team players. If all 5 make it then we are likely to have the Class 2023! However, the appointment of our loans coach is really important. More Villa players going out on loan and making a name for themselves. Does it mean in 2 years time KH is the right back and Cash is the back up? Or if KH makes it Cash is sold for in excess of what we paid for him and buy an up and coming player, who costs more than a run of the mill player, but has not reached his full financial worth. Or does KH get sold and monies reinvested in securing more potential youth players? Either way this approach brings in more in sales revenue than expenditure.
I heard recently that Villa intend to ensure they harvest all talented players north of London and South of Manchester. A big statement of intent. They do not want to miss out on the potential Jude Bellingham’s right under their nose.
With the current approach to squad building. Virtually all signings should have greater sale prices than cost ones. For example El Ghazi is being quoted at approximately £17m, way more than he cost. Again a positive sign.
I hope long term we can move to the Ferguson style of numerous youth players making it, allowing the one special expensive purchase who makes the team complete.
In the meduim to long term I expect such haemorrhaging of transfer cash to virtually stop, as we will no longer be after deadwood players wanting one last pay day.
Good shout Sid.
I agree, things are definitely looking up.
I particularly like the look of Chukuemeka.
I’m really looking forward to the game, but I’m not sure how I’m going to watch it (I’m in Gran Canaria and nearly everywhere is shut 🙁 )
No Watkins so not recovered from knee. Ings up front and mid field three of Young, El Ghazi and Buendia. Defence picks itself.
Chukwuemeka, Bidace and Bailey on the bench as is Wesley!
Mings captain – no real surprise there.
Mings, yes, pretty obvious choice, but probably not mine.
I hope Bailey gets on, as I want a look at him, but he’s probably not properly fit.
Ings in for Watkins isn’t as scary as Davis or Wesley being the replacement is it?
I’d love to see him get off the mark.
I’m actually a bit more confident about this now. We can and should win this, but if we don’t, it’s not the end of the world.
Who would you have gone for Badger – Martinez or possibly McGinn?
McGinn, I think. Just gets on with it and doesn’t need to put himself in the spotlight, like some who seem to be on some sort of mission instead of just playing the game.
1 none Watford .
Cr*p
We’re struggling lads danger from the left side Tagget slow getting back ,
Mat Target cannot stop their right wing he’s running rings round him…
All the shots are coming from our left wing, I’m sorry to say we are not strong enough in all positions, I fear the worst I honestly do, how did we think we are in contention, on this so far far from it. They are stronger ,quicker and cleverer than us, Target is absolutely terrified of there wing man , we’re giving free kicks away far to much .. Danny Inns came close just but still 1-0 to Watford.
2 nil. Left wing again fxcking useless. .
So we are F***ing crap then!
Watford have an impressive home record and not just against us though we couldn’t win there against 11 dustbins. Watford haven’t concede a home goal in seven games!
All the reports will be about Villa without Grealish.
Going to be a long hard season methinks
Smith out.
Ramsey on Young left back, Targett off. damage done .
PATHETIC! So we have brought in a set piece coach and look as incapable as last season. Give me the job. I would be cheaper and equally shit too. Targett is having his worst game for us although no protection. We definitely miss Watkins and you know who.
I feared the worst when I saw El Ghazi and Young starting. I expect some changes for the second half.
Trouble is Smith must see the problems created down our flanks and particularly Targetts side but there has been no change of tactics or personnel. That for me is a concern.
Little bit baffled with el gahzi starting and young to be honest, Bidice had a great pre season and Traore always been the better of elGazi and himself
Well that was disappointing. We’ve lost this already.
Targett is having a shocker, but he’s not getting any protection either. Isn’t that what we got Young for?
Our midfield looks like they’re still asleep and have offered absolutely nothing.
Ings looks lively, but if you only give him a few seconds in a whole half, it’s asking a lot to expect him to score.
Utter, utter rubbish and Watford are well worth their lead, even if the second was lucky.
And god, I just hate Mings! So massively over-rated, imo, as much as everyone will say the goals wern’t his fault.
It’s shocking that we’ll probably go on the back foot now against a team that we all know are going to seriously stuggle this season.
Better teams will batter them.
Still, as I suggested, it’s first day and funny results happen.
Brentford beating Arsenal, for example.