Sorry for the terrible title, but it’s as good as anything else I can think of.
I’ve seen it said a few times over the last couple of months that we’re on the edge of hammering someone, but you could have fooled me and I don’t know what game they’re watching. In fact we look more like the team that could get hammered, with our defence, in my opinion.
Not today though and I’ll be watching this one with some interest. Firstly, because we only knocked the Irons out of the cup a couple of weeks ago. The big questions are was the reason they lost last time because Potter hadn’t had any time to work with them and has he managed to improve what wasn’t a great side?
And then there’s Donyell Malen, who, when you consider we got £20 million plus £3 million in add ons for Philogene, was a bargain at an initial fee of £21 million, rising to £27.7 million. That’s for a Dutch international and it seems to be a really excellent purchase and a great bit of business by Monchi and the Villa. Or is he just somewhat over-hyped and we’ve just got him at fair value? I suspect not.
Let’s hope playing on the right (which I’ve no doubt is where he will play) proves more fruitful for him than it has for a fair few players over the last few years. The position seems to destroy players for some reason and it’s a bit of a coincidence that I believe our biggest weakness is who will no doubt be playing behind him; IE the right back.
Regardless, Donyell has talked about how he wants to get goals and assists, but has recently talked about how training has involved defending. And this is the part I’m interested in. How well does he track back and help out? It took Bailey ages to learn to work back, after all and I hope it’s not the case here, because as much as we want that attacking part of the game, defence is equally important in my eyes.
I believe the Dutchman has decent pace too and that’s something we sorely need.
Squad news and nothing has changed. McGinn is training with the squad, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready yet. Onana is still training on his own and is obviously miles away, as is Pau. Ross Barkley still isn’t ready either
As for West Ham, they have central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos out having been red carded last week for two yellows. Fellow central defender Jean-Clair Todibo is also a big doubt. Jared Bowen isn’t ready and it’s the same with Crysencio Summerville. Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are definitely out.
Am I the only one who’s never heard of most of those players? Whatever, it sounds good for us defensively and attack-wise.
After hearing of West Ham’s woes, I’m encouraged. They beat Fulham in their previous game but lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace at home in their last game. It doesn’t seem Potter’s had enough time to change much and given our home advantage, I have to go for a Villa win. I’m going to stick my neck out and say I think Malen will get a goal too. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but I do see goals. If we can’t take advantage of a West Ham side without their two best defenders and a weakened attack, well…….
So what do I think the score will be, then?
I’m tempted to say 3-1. But I think a repeat of that previous 2-1 win is more likely.
I’ll take either.
UTV!
We are absolutely woeful. No two ways about it.
Bailey, offers absolutely nothing. It was a breath of fresh air seeing Malen on the pitch, actually wanting to win the ball.
Cash, cannot defend.
Maatsen and Buendia, both decided to turn off their passing ability for the end of the match. Although I won’t comment much on Emi as he is gone. Maatsen, they called him a Champions League finalist, I’ve had to check if he played. Was it UEFA Youth League? Did they mean Championship play-0ff finalist. 🤣🤣🤣
And you’re normally so positive! I’m somewhat shocked.
But you’re pretty much spot on, imo.
Nothing to be positive about as of now.
Have won 2 games comfortably all season. Least physically strong team in the PL by far, even with Onana etc. So disappointing.
B****x
Malen went missing in action for their equaliser and did very little else afterwards.
Emi as he is gone?
Yea right.
Malen this Malen that, still did more than Bailey.
Actually wanted the ball, so straight away he’s already miles ahead!
Malen this Malen that?
What’s that all about?
Question. Did he track back for the goal?
Answer (I’ll give a clue, begins N and ends in O)
Did have any impact on the game (please refer to the earlier answer)
Did the Dortmund fans hold esteem? ( Please , again refer to the earlier answer)
Monchi’s signings have been Imo, less than inspiring.
Aren’t we getting a bit obsessed with Malen after just 20 minutes or so on the pitch?
Seem to recall a similar reaction to Rogers transfer.
Just saying.
Yes.
Yes, Malen didn’t have a dream debut like, Coutinho for example (what a player he turned out to be, btw).
But you could immediately see that: A) he actually wanted to impress and that his purpose was to help the team, B) he was more confident dribbling and wanted the ball more
Blaming Malen for not tracking back when Cash is our right back and is supposed to defend that any day of the week is a poor take IMO, but as I said on another post here: he CANNOT defend.
I used to disagree with people saying it until I watched him and quickly admitted I was wrong, the guy loses almost all individual battles he’s faced with, wingers have a field day with him week in, week out.
Cash is a wing back, hence attacking qualities and defensive frailties. Square pegs and all that.
He doesn’t have great attacking qualities. Too keen to stop and turn back IMO. New guy looks much more comfortable with the ball but I’ve only YouTube to come to that conclusion. Can’t fault Cash for effort but he always seems to be stretching to the limit. He’s been a positive in the last couple of games but maybe he’s feeling his position is under pressure at last.
Hope he shoves those words down my throat tonight.
Malen, yes you are all correct, needs time to bed in, learn the system and what’s expected of him within that system.
Apologies, had mardy one on me yesterday (:
This set of posts is just getting plain weird. We’re on the verge of making history in the top 8 qualifyers of the CL. Yes, we dropped 2 really important points on Sunday but we’re only 4 points of 4th with half a season to go. There is so much football going on, on 4 fronts, and because of PSR we don’t have the squad for this. The CL money, say £50m extra, that buys us ONE player. And we have to account for his wages. Even on Sky’s crap Transfer Show last night they totally agreed PSR is there to protect the ‘Old Money’ clubs. Clubs that were in the CL every year, making a fortune before these rules were enforced and are allowed to get away with overspending.
At Villa, I see a set of players that are knackered. I think last season also really took it out of us. There are some players who need to move on for various reason, even players we genuinely like, Bailey, Buendia, some say Cash, but we’re onto stage 2 and finding it hard to push on because of PSR. We won’t find a wonderkid for a measley £8m every window like we did with Chesty. Annoyingly, we have the cash but can’t spend it!!! Football is not about patience, or understanding but that’s what’s required. I see little point in getting pissed off, it’s more a shrug of the shoulders and ‘Oh well, same old Villa’. If we get a result on Wednesday, and get through the next round, we’re in the quarter finals of the CL! Bloody hell!
Just enjoy it, and get angry at the system instead of the club. Or at Jamie twatting Carragher who this morning is ‘telling’ AVFC to sell Duran to Arsenal or Chelsea. What a tool that bloke is.
I rekon we’ll get a Europa League spot this year and last 4, or even 8! of the CL. What a season that would be!!!! Better than the last few years anyway… UTV!!!!!!
If Manure or Spurs win the Europa League, does that mean it’s only the top 4 that qualify for the Champions League?
My understanding is that if England get a fifth CL place it goes to the fifth placed club in the league – clubs can no longer move between the different European competitions which was the case in the past. It also would mean the top 8 clubs would qualify for European competitions next season.
England are currently in a very good position to get that 5th spot – see BBC article
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr46erzp1e0o
As Bum Bum so eloquently puts it – there’s still all to play for – and after the end of the league phase we can add (replace) 3 players in the CL squad which would I think be:
A new CB to replace Carlos
Malen to replace Philogene and
(Just maybe) Felix in for Buendia.
UTMV
Felix is not an upgrade on Buendia in my view.
No, it’s an ‘extra’ place as far as I know. I’m glad they’ve knocked the idea of going to the Europa League when u get knocked out of the CL on the head. That was an awful policy.
There’s growing noise that the conversations between Villa and Chelsea include Duran.
We know Emery is an admirer of Felix and has issues with Duran even though he’s never publicly directly criticised him. It also seems that Watkins is unhappy at being substituted by Duran mid second half when he feels he’s done all the hard work.
I can see a scenario of Disasi plus Felix for Duran plus cash (money not Cash 🙂 ) and also not a swap deal but three separate transactions which would benefit both clubs PSR.
This one could go to the final day of the window.
It does seem to be gathering pace. Interesting that the Disasi deal looks like a loan.
Wry seems to have been chasing Felix for a while, and Chelsea only signed him in the summer, but that was before Maresca was hired, and Felix seems to be behind Cole Palmer in the pecking order
One to watch for sure
Unai is Wry from now on… 😆
Worth watching Canadian Pete’s latest offering on the West Ham game
I thought he was spot on. Football overload?????
Wouldn’t of sold Emi Buendia really liked him but good luck to him in Germany
Going on loan – I assume extending his contract for 12 months ensured he couldn’t leave for nowt in the summer.
Everything football now seems to be PSR driven which, of itself, is an indictment as to it not being fit for purpose.
Hopefully this information will not be of any use. At least they have thought about it.
Between Matchday 1 and Matchday 7, teams that are level on points will be separated using the following criteria as per article 18 of the competition regulations:
a. Superior goal difference in the league phase
b. Higher number of goals scored in the league phase
c. Higher number of away goals scored in the league phase
d. Higher number of wins in the league phase
e. Higher number of away wins in the league phase
If teams are still equal in all aspects with the application of these criteria, they will be given equal ranking in the table, ordered alphabetically based on their abbreviated name.
We are really good at the last one.
Except if they deem our abbreviated name as Villa! 🙂
Our board does not inspire me as of now. Remember when we were led to believe we were one of the most well-run clubs in England… yeah, right!
If we do not sign a centre back or two then we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of a cup run, CL run or top 6 finish, which is already slipping out of our hands as it is.
Not meaning to be negative but 2 points against Arsenal and WHU isn’t even that impressive considering the Hammers was at home, we’d have killed that game in the first 20 mins last szn. Arsenal was an anomaly, we won’t do that 2-0 down away from home again for 30 games, no matter who we play.
If Wolves score early on Saturday we’ll be in big trouble. Can’t see us winning that at all, TBH. Hope I am wrong, though.
Foyth looks like a non starter – probably the right decision given his recent injury issues – we don’t need (another?) sick note!
TBR reporting Duran (or his team) has agreed personal terms with Al-Nassr and wants to move to the Saudi club although Villa have yet to receive an offer.
TBR have been pretty much on the money with their ‘rumour’ stories so I wouldn’t discount it – also it probably suits Villa not to sell him to one of their rivals.
TBR also saying that Felix as indicated his willingness to move to Villa.
Please don’t shoot the messenger if it turns out to be garbage 🙂
Sky also picking up on this story but are saying Al-Nassr’s bid is just under £60m which probably won’t be enough to persuade Villa to sell.
However, if Duran wants to go it’s probably better to move him as it can’t be good for the dressing room.
Yep, if under £70m then forget it. He’s a wanted man under contract, we set the price.
90 million minimum is my opinion. Saudi premium + football inflation means 70 doesn’t cut it.
Great news! 19 year old Yeimar Mosquera has been recalled from his loan spell at Real Unión. And all this time I’ve been anguished thinking we needed to spend big on a top class centre back to preserve our season. Silly me.
If I was a betting man, I’d put money on Duran moving this window – probably to Saudi where he’s likely to get the biggest pay package – tax free? Playing alongside Ronaldo wouldn’t hurt his progression either.
Fortunately I don’t bet!
I think if I was in Unai’s shoes, them just maybe I’d cash in while his stock is high?
But I’d do it right at the 11th hour so as not to inflate the price of any players we’re chasing (you know how it works).
Squad for tonight – will Buendia be included as German newspapers reporting he’s passed his medical at Leverkusen?
I doubt they’d risk an injury.
Don’t know if anyone heard it earlier, but any Villa fans selling their STs to rival supporters will be banned and will lose their future allocations…
“Tickets are sold for the sole use of the individual named on the ticket and the club does not permit them to be resold. Any fans found to be forwarding their ticket for use by visiting supporters will be prevented from purchasing tickets for the rest of the season at least.
A few places up the waiting list then? (:
Sounds like they mean it this time after the Rangers fans at Old Trafford.
I hope they still allow you to pass your seat onto a mate if you can’t go though.
From what I’m reading mate that’s not a problem, as long as you do it officially and through the proper channels.
“You can transfer your season ticket on a game-by-game basis by contacting the ticket office to reassign your seat to a different fan ID. An updated match ticket will be sent to the new user.”
Question answered – he’s completed his loan move to Leverkusen with an option to buy for €20m (£17m)
Madness. Piss poor decision making. Utter bollocks.
Arsenal have supposedly bid £60m for Watkins which of course as been rejected. Brilliant timing just before a major game to try and unsettle player. Let’s go bid for Saliba as a revenge tactic.
You beat me to it Holte – West Spam did the same with Duran’s bid.
Typical London dirty tactics!
Rumoured Arse bid £60m for Watkins – Villa, not surprisingly said ‘on yer bike’
And ‘Stevie G’ sacked to cheer us all up. Suprised he lasted this long…
West Ham and Arsenal cut from the same cloth. Entitled losers.
But it’s not good having both our strikers unsettled by bids from other clubs, both deliberately made just before a major CL game. Villa are said to be ‘less than pleased’.
I’m sick of the stupid January transfer window. No doubt some Forrest players have conveniently tapped up in a safety tactic to cement that top four finish. How on earth can it be allowed slap bang in the middle of the season. The worst bit is all I hear about is bloody Marcus Rashford. Please spare me, nobody cares!!!!!!!!
Transfer window should be out of the season and your squad is set! That’s who you roll with for the season. I wouldn’t be shocked if we enter Feb with either Joa Felix or Malen as our two striker options whilst Chelsea and Arsenal have Duran and Ollie respectively. Just how is that fair…
Tom, understand your frustrations and concerns but I’d be completely shocked if they sold both, probably less so if they sold one.
Having said that we’re not under pressure to sell despite what the media might say. We are no longer a ‘selling’ club unless it suits us and those ‘stuck up, self important’ London clubs need to realise that.
Like you though, I’ll be glad when this window is shut on Monday evening.
Won’t happen Tom. If we were to sell both I’d play 2 kid strikers until the summer.
I HATE Arsenal.
Dirk/Humphrey as CB.
If we sell both, Paul Lambert is waiting in the wings to take over team affairs.
Martineau, Cash, Konsa, Bogarde, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Rogers, Bailey, Ramsey, Watkins
Subs McGinn, Duran and Maatsen – apart from Olsen the rest are kids including Zylch!!!!!
Duh – Martinez – I corrected that at least three times!
Well done PSR.