The following is kindly offered by Big Fat Ron. Cheers fella.
The new season is hurtling towards us and the talk has not surprisingly turned to team selections and new signings.
Two key questions that have popped up recently are can Buendia and Coutinho play together and does Gerrard even need any more new recruits. The consensus seems to be “no” to the former and “yes” to the latter. However, the opposite may well be true. Coutinho and Buendia should and must play together and no, as things stand, Gerrard doesn’t need any more new recruits.
Let’s begin with Coutinho and Buendia. The most basic rule of picking a football team is you pick your best players. These two are probably the two best players at the club.
A recent comment was made about not enough chances being created.
With these two in the team, the man up top will have so many chances, they will have a problem in that if they don’t put a large percentage away, they will take a lot of flak, and rightly so. Through-balls and defence splitting passes will be in plentiful supply. There is absolutely no reason why they can’t play together, one on each side of the main striker, switching positions, dropping deep and causing absolute terror and mayhem amongst opposition defences.
Not starting with two outstanding footballers who can unlock defences would be a massive mistake on Gerrard’s part.
The next one is do we need a striker? To answer this, we need to establish if a striker is available that is better than what we have. The answer is most probably “no”.
Ings is one of the best finishers in the league, without doubt – an instinctive finisher who can score from anywhere. Dare I say, he should be first choice?
Watkins is arguably proven at PL level and his work rate often gets him plaudits, but doubts remain about his goal ratio, despite some interesting comments recently about the proportion of chances he converts. If Buendia and Coutinho were to start with him, he would have no excuses to not bag a minimum of 20 league goals.
Then there is Archer. There is a feeling that this young man could well be a better finisher than both the men apparently ahead of him in the pecking order. I wonder how tempted Gerrard is to start him. A front three of Archer, Coutinho and Buendia could well yield phenomenal results far beyond our wildest dreams. Then there is Bailey and Traore as top-notch impact subs (based on their injury problems) to replace either wide-man at either point. Wow. That is some serious firepower and creativity.
So if we don’t need a striker, are there any other weak positions? To answer that, it’s useful to ascertain if the manager has two top class first elevens to select from. We might be surprised by the answer. In goal, two internationals. Nothing needed there. In central defence, Mings, Carlos (probably the first choice pairing), as well as Konsa, Hause, and Chambers. The depth is there. There is an argument to upgrade Hause with a world class player to play alongside Carlos. But is he out there? And would he come? The full-backs: Digne – world class? And Cash – top class? Both now established internationals, ably supported by Young and Augustinsson, both vastly experienced with international pedigree. A good word for Freddy Guilbert, who has always shown to have all the attributes Gerrard likes in a full-back: tigerish in the tackle and capable of assists for the forwards – has chipped in with the odd goal, too. Surely, worth a squad number and some cup games? Not to mention Kessler-Hayden. Bar a world class centre-back, the back line looks extremely strong.
Now it gets interesting: the midfield. Similar to the other areas, of course, if a world class talent that was gettable came up, by all means…But the talent in midfield is there. Let’s assume Gerrard will play with one holding midfielder. That is now Kamara’s spot to lose. Behind him are Nakamba and the ever impressive Iroegbunam. Not to mention the versatile Chambers as an option. That’s at least three defensive midfielders of quality. So even if Gerrard wanted to go with two for tougher away games, the depth is there.
That leaves two more places for the main engine-room in front of Kamara and behind the front three. Surely, we need look no further than Ramsay and McGinn? Energy, dynamism, combativeness, creativity, goals – all there. With world class players in front and strong back-up behind. Challenging for those two spots will be Luiz, Sanson, Aaron Ramsay, and the other defensive midfielders who could potentially play higher up. There is a strong argument that an upgrade for Sanson is definitely doable. Other than that, the midfield is not short of talent or depth.
To conclude, a stating eleven of Martinez, Cash, Digne, Mings, Carlos, Kamara, McGinn, Ramsay, Buendia, Coutinho, and…what the heck, Archer, looks a mouth-watering proposition.
The only question that remains and will no doubt be debated no-end in the next nine months, is can Steven Gerrard get this hugely talented team and squad to fire Villa to cup glory and European qualification? Because that has to be the target.
UTV
That’s a good post, BFR.
Indeed you make it sound as though we have a stunning side on paper.
The trouble is it isn’t played on paper and far too often the vast majority of those players haven’t performed as well as we would like to think they can.
Which is where I begin to question tactics, personally.
Your proposal that we play Watkins and McGinn off a front man is also interesting. I like to see a big bruiser up top and it’s a shame Davis doesn’t seem to be good enough for that role.
Watkins or Ings? It’s the former for me, purely because he scores more (at least for us).
I actually don’t think we’re far off being a very good side.
It just needs another one or two big names and for things to click.
I do wonder what level of player we’re considering now and suspect we’re waiting for the big boys to do their business before we look at the remaining level of availability.
Not that I’m complaining about our owners.
The big question for me is will Gerrard be given time to build something, or will he be expected to have the team performing at the top, this season?
Interesting to read the posts on here regarding team selection. If the pre season games are anything to go by, then Gerrard will be picking a ‘B’ team to start against Bournemouth. The likes of Coutinho, Watkins and Ings have failed to perform. It’s been the substitutes who have made the difference. Archer and Bailey have proved themselves with Buendia showing more desire than Coutinho. Big Tim looks more settled and Feeney too. Olsen in goal looks a good back up to Martinez although neither can play a long pass. Carlos however does have the ability to pick out a 40-50 yard pass. Something we haven’t had for a while. Kamara against Man Ure was caught in possession a few times and will have to get up to speed quickly if he is to prove successful in the premier league. Regarding Guilbert I’m afraid it’s “au revoir” because Kessler is going to be the real deal and will push Cash to be on top of his game. I haven’t seen Augustinsson yet but a welcome addition to challenge Digne. We seriously have competition for all positions at last and I wouldn’t be too disappointed if we didn’t sign anyone else. In fact it’s more likely to see players leave. Sanson being one plus Chukwuemeka and maybe Luiz, although I hope he stays. If a top drawer player can be signed who is better than what we have already got then great but I wouldn’t want to see our kids blocked from fulfilling their potential to over spend on prima donnas.
FWIW, I would start with:-
Martinez, Cash, Digne, Chambers, Carlos, Kamara, Ramsey, McGinn, Coutinho, Buendia, Watkins.
A few of the above I’m not convinced about, namely Kamara, Coutinho and Watkins who could easily be switched for Luiz, Bailey and Archer.
The game against Rennes on Saturday will probably see the starting XI that SG will pick against Bournemouth if they perform well!
“A few of the above I’m not convinced about, namely Kamara, Coutinho and Watkins who could easily be switched for Luiz, Bailey and Archer.”
I agree, all three look really good options if they’re performing.
It’s frustrated me previously because we’ve had too many players who have been out of form and haven’t made good backups.
The competition is steadily increasing though, which can only be a good thing.
Players out? Yes there could be quite a few and rightly so, as they’re not good enough.
I do feel sorry for some though (Guilbert springs to mind) as they’ve not really done much wrong, apart from not being fancied.
Interesting that Bailey doesn’t start in any of the above suggested line ups.
Based on what I’ve seen pre season he’s a shoe in and has to start. Forget last season’s underwhelming performances as clearly he wasn’t fit. He gives us speed in attack and can cross a ball – Bailey and Cash on the right side is going to seriously overload defences.
Bailey playing means it’s either Buendia or Coutinho and I’m not for both starting. Neither are quick and are too similar in playing style. FWIW I’d play Buendia but will Gerrard leave his mate out? Either coming on in the second half as substitute for the other looks a good play (Gerrard must be prepared to make that play early if they’re not on their game).
Sanson is an enigma – has shown he can really play but seems to be inconsistent – but why spend money when he’s a more than decent member of the squad – unless a worldie becomes available to us.
I suspect Guilbert will be moved on as Kessler-Hayden looks the real deal although he’ll need to improve the defensive side of his game,
Gerrard has choices at centre back as to who plays alongside Carlos – Mings or Chambers who has been consistently impressive pre season and appears to add more in goal threat at corners than Mings. That’s a tough call and, as an aside, will Mings retain the captaincy? One of his big assets is his leadership on the pitch and we don’t have many leaders. Although Mings is prone to errors, our record when he plays is better than when he doesn’t.
Rather than looking for another signing, we should be working on getting Luiz to sign a new contract otherwise we’ll have to sell him this window (or lose out financially) and we could be in a position of being forced into making a late signing to replace him – never a good option.
Apologies for the long ramble.
UTV
Slight aside, but I found this of interest;
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11052451/Leaked-list-shows-super-strict-Steven-Gerrard-fine-Aston-Villa-players-EPL-season.html
This is typical of misleading click bait headlines which more than suggests this is Gerrard being ‘super strict’ when the fine list is at least 12 months out of date.
Notwithstanding and assuming it’s genuine it does suggest a regime which is trying to instil discipline into the players – not a bad thing.
Ah – might owe The Mail an apology – I was reading the link which is different to the actual headline on NewsNow although why that is….?
I raised a question, obliquely, about Mings position as captain.
Gerrard has answered it by replacing him with John McGinn, Emi Martinez is vice captain and Ashley Young club captain.
What it says is that McGinn is going to start every game but Mings most probably won’t. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Carlos partnered by Chambers first game up.
Going to be an interesting season.
It seems harsh, but I think it’s the right move.
Gerrard says he wants Mings to concentrate on his own game and not have to think about the team.
I suspect that’s half right.
And yes, Mings is now droppable and rightly so.
He was always by far too inconsistent to be a captain to me.
McGinn was always my choice, along with many other Villa fans too, I’d say.
I’d expect him to relish the role and hopefully he’ll push on even more.
It also puts paid to those rumours that said McGinn was a troublemaker, which is also good to know.
I think Martinez is a good call for vice captain, as he’s the right sort of character and I’m chuffed for Ash.
Club captain is a position that indicates there’s a lot of respect for the man.
An ideal choice, imo and well deserved.
Even if he did clear off for lots of glory elsewhere 🙂
Good post Badger.
Mings has put out an excellent response on Twitter so it looks like he’s happy to stay and play for his place
I think it’s a good call too replacing Mings with McGinn as captain. Losing the armband doesn’t mean that he won’t be vocal on the pitch but I always think a midfielder is a better option and its quashed all those rumours of him leaving I hope. I suppose Grealish being captain didn’t stop him leaving! There should be competition for all places and no player should feel undropable if that’s a word 🤔
“John has demonstrated that he is ready to take on the captaincy THROUGH HIS PERFORMANCES ON THE PITCH combined with his attitude and application in training.”
Gerrard’s words about the captaincy.
They’re my caps.
And they convince me even more that it’s about Mings’ performances more than anything.
I honestly think Gerrard doesn’t rate Mings and the exit door beckons sooner rather than later.
We’ll be able to tell by how soon (or not) it is before he gets dropped.
And in fairness I’ve been known to be totally wrong before 🙂
Badger, the other part of Gerrard’s statement that tends to underline your comments is ‘More importantly not having the added responsibility of captaincy will allow Tyrone to focus more on his game which can only benefit him and the team’
Looking back has Ming’s overall performance dropped – or has he become more prone to making errors – since he was appointed captain?
If he plays I believe he’ll continue to be a leader on the pitch which is no bad thing and if it results in a marked improvement in his play it will prove to be a shrewd move by Gerrard.
Badger and Hitch
The changed Gerrard has made will allow Mings to focus purely on his defending. He is no longer captain and Diego Carlos will be the defender to play the out ball from the backs. All this means Mings has less to worry about. Hopefully it will allow him to rule out the odd error that is in his game.
On a wider front there is now true competition amongst the defenders. The man in possession of the shirt will need to be performing. Carlos, Mings, Chambers, Konsa, Hause and Feeney all fighting for two shirts. I cannot recall the last time Villa had such competition for places.
The same can be said for the left and right back positions. Now here is a prediction. If Kane Kesler Hayden keeps progressing at the rate he is, within the next two years he will replace Marty Cash.
I wouldn’t disagree with anything that you’ve all written on this thread.
My gut feeling is that SG is giving Mings a last chance to prove whether he’s capable of playing consitently at a high level without the distraction of trying to captain the rest of the team: no more ‘excuses’ – just concentrate on the game (- when picked to play, which may not be as often anymore).
And this still reminds me a little of the situation with Chris Nicholl way back under Ron Saunders: went from captain & regular starter for every game to exit very rapidly!
Good player Nicholl – scored a few good goals as well.
If memory serves me correct, I believe he scored all four goals in a 2 – 2 draw against Leicester at Filbert Street 🙂
He did, I was there to see it.
Odd things happened in Villa games a Filbert Street – but nothing quite as weird as the game in which both teams thought they had scored and which both sets of fans thought they had won. Only to find from the Pink’un the game finished 1-1.
OLL – so was I and it was 2-2 in 1976 and Nicholl scored all 4 – unless he scored both in a 1-1 draw at another game?
Sadly we left with Villa losing 2-1 and only learnt of Nicholl’s late equaliser on the car radio!
The game that finished 1-1, but should have been 1-2 to Villa involved Brian Little. The other principal actor was the very shallow goals. These were fashionable at grounds with short pitches of which Loftus Road and Filbert St were two. In the 88th Little shoots past the dive of the Foxes keeper (maybe Shilton) to put Villa 2-1 up. The ball hits the vertical back stanchion inside the net and rebounds to the pitch as the Foxes keeper rolls over. He picks up the ball and punts it up-field where a winger (maybe Len Glover) runs upfield and nets past a bemused Villa keeper who wonders what he is playing at.
The ball is returned to the centre circle, but neither side wants to kick off. The ref blows for full time. The Villa fans are sure we won 2-1. The Leicester fans had to think a bit, but assumed the ball hit the goal post from Little’s shot hence why their keeper thought it was in play and punted to the winger. Therefore they thought they had won 2-1 and wondered why the Villa keeper made no attempt to save their winger’s shot.
Bizarre does not cover it.
Ah, apologies OLL – I misread your post.
Two different games.
Villa have completed the signing of Ewan Simpson (16) highly rated midfielder from Hearts to add to the academy.
This was mooted some time ago but has now been completed.
I fear gerrards love of coutinho is going to cost us buendia.
Is Mings injured? Or is he about to be sold?
Mings played against Fulham yesterday, apparently.
Really chuffed Bailey seems to be doing so well. Always had a sneaking suspicion he’d come good. Just hope he stays fit.
Been a quieter window than I’d have liked but maybe Gerrard has different plans for the existing squad and can utilise them better than they have been before. Plans to feature Luiz more in a more prominent role perhaps?
BTW, what as the other Carlos full name from a few years back, our right back as i recall. He was great!!! I remeber the Spanish themed fans on his farewell game.
Carlos Cuellar
Carlos Cuellar was the worst right back I’ve ever seen at Villa. Good CH though.
He was a fan favourite though 🙂
Worst Carlos was Carlos Sanchez the Colombian. What a disappointment he turned out to be for us.
Great hair does not make a great player.
Yeah, Carlos Cuellar. Liked him.
Some possible good news – Birmingham Live reporting Villa holding ‘constructive talks’ with Luiz over a new contract.
With Kamara and Nakamba both holding midfielders it allows Luiz to play as a number 8, a role that probably suits him better.
If Luiz stays and everyone stays fit we do have a much better squad depth.
Just watched first half of friendly with Rennes.
Plus points – Diego Carlos – looks a real player and Konsa seems back to something like his best. Bailey scored again. Digne putting in a series of good early crosses.
Minus points – Kamara – he looks accomplished on the ball but he’s been pretty poor at protecting the defence which is supposed to be his main role. Poor defending by him was responsible for the corner leading to their goal. Not convinced so far. Our defending at corners has been woeful and that includes Martinez! Watkins – he does great work running the channels and then he lacks sharpness in front of goal missing a good opportunity as a result.
Coutinho did hit the post from a free kick with the GK nowhere.
Maybe a 6 or 7 / 10 but need to improve if we’re going to make strides in the EPL.
Off out now so will have to watch the second half in retrospect 🙂
Hitch, i agree that Kamara looks like he is struggling to get up to speed. I hope they don’t rush him into first team action till he is ready. He is still only 22 and the EPL is a big step up from Ligue 1. Many Villa fans are complimenting Iroegbunam on his performances in the friendlies so another option alongside Nakamba and Luis for the number 6 role.
This is a strange line.
Why have they been banished?
Trouble amongst the ranks?
Massively exaggerated, or correct wording, I wonder?
“BirminghamLive has also understands that Frederic Guilbert and Bertrand Traore have both been banished from the first-team, with the pair training alongside Carney Chukwuemeka with Villa’s under-23s, as per Gerrard’s instructions.”
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-rennes-24630704
Yes, I read that too.
My immediate reaction is that they’ve been told where the exit door is…
Probably correct.
But surely if they’ve been professional, there’s no need to banish them and they could continue to train as normal?
I just find it very strange and suspect something has gone on.
Probably linked to the previous comments/hints about some players not buying into things, I’d guess.
The dictionary says banished is an “official punishment.” So I guess they have failed to get with the program so they are out on their ear.
( Fair play Mr G)
I like the fact that Gerrard isn’t pussy footing around with any player who isn’t fully committed. The last thing he needs is miserable faces when trying to create a harmonious squad. Also he is indirectly letting all the players know that they will be frozen out too if necessary.
Agreed.
If you’re not all in, you have to be out, imo.
The manager rules and that’s it, simple.
It would appear Man U have only just learned this lesson too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH9b_k9tle4
Extended highlights. It wasn’t good. I think the commentator said that Traore played ?. Great free kick and Coutinho stayed on for 85 mins. Certainly Rennes made it physical and Villa responded.
Traore wasn’t in the squad – that Traore was Rennes’ captain.
Now watched the second half which was pretty much a non event! Rennes should have scored but didn’t, Villa should have scored and did 🙂
Plus points – Diego Carlos is going to be a big player for us this season – nice goal and we’ll worked corner – but it’s his defensive play that’s outstanding. Feeney and Iroegbunam looked really good when they came on although Iroegbunam will have to be careful with some of his challenges and picked up a yellow card. Kamara better second half. Konsa played for 60 odd minutes.
Minus points – Watkins again looked good when running the channels but seems to have lost his sharpness in front of goal – sent a free (very poor) header well wide of the goal when he was in a good position to score. Even Ian Taylor commented on his lack of form in front of goal.
Another 7/10 for me.
I’m not sure whether Gerrard is settled on how to set up the team or whether he moved players around (Kamara played in at least three different positions) just to give everyone in the match day squad minutes on the pitch.
The really big question is who partners Carlos at CB? – answers on a postcard 🙂
I’d expect it to be Mings at first.
As much as I’m not keen on him, I’d be surprised if Gerrard doesn’t give him a run of a few games.
Brilliant, brilliant and even better. Fantastic performance by the Lionesses – wow.
Germany 8 finals – 8 wins until today.
Sets a real target for the guys
And the football – these ladies play exciting skilful football – I loved every minute of the tournament.
It’s home