The Aston Villa Football Club Thread ***No Spoilers***

ArcticHeron

ArcticHeron

ArcticHeron

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1. These threads are for: tactical/player discussion inbetween weekend matchday threads, injury news, contract renewals, manager press conferences, and general minor news about your club that may not warrant its own thread. Anything that's not regarded as a minor news story must go in it's own thread.

2. No Spoilers! Please keep any discussion about weekend fixtures to the relevant matchday threads, at least until MOTD has been shown.

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While all the rules must be listened to, take particular care of the rule regarding spoilers. Any mention of the result or performance, even hinting at it, prior to MOTD will result in a suspension.
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General club discussion between Villa fans was getting a little lost in the main threads and there seems to be a few of us kicking about now. As per the rules I thought I'd make a dedicated thread for such discussion :)
 
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robfosters said:
You realise any match discussion whether it be pre or post match must still go in the matchday threads right?
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Indeed, I meant more blanket discussion I suppose. Will amend the OP to reflect this.



I'll get us going I suppose.

It's been a tough new year so far. Results have been thin on the ground for the most part.

Recent poor results imo felt much like poor Newcastle performances under Howe in as much as we could see the problem but nothing was done about it from the manager ie. late subs, no visible formation change, a lack of press, continuously playing out from the back with little success and weak midfield performances.

We could blame injuries of course, but we've looked a little dull for weeks now and Emerys shown he can work the team with star players out (Buendia and Mings).
I'm not going to count the Sheffield united game. Getting 5 past one of the worst teams in the history of the league can't be seen as a real result, especially as they ended our winning run at VP not two moths ago.

What does everyone else feel? Is it lack of squad depth or sheer stubborn belligerence from Emery to stick with the system that stood us in good stead for the first half of the season?
 
Kamara has always been that rock player since Gerrard left, I never thought he put in a bad performance, but he was one of the worst players on the pitch Wednesday and your right, you can trace it back to he Brentford game.

Lenglet has showed flashes but has none of the creative plays Torres is capable of. I also think Cash is on his last legs as a Villa player and he knows it. He's the last of the Dean Smith lot and as much as I love him, I just don't think he's good enough for the levels we're trying to reach anymore. Doesn't look confident when he makes the runs and never seems to trust the long balls in.

Such a big game on Sunday. I'd be furious if it was us who opened up the doors for them to get a CL spot.
 
Not that I'm necessarily looking for sympathy, but I've no doubt the press will continue to throw the likes of Newcastle and Spurs a bone with regards injuries this season whereas our narrative will continue to have a distinctly 'burst bubble' feel about it. The plucky mid table side who over performed and will be back to there tepid ways soon enough.

Having said that Stephen Warnock wrote a pretty concise and unbiased article yesterday. Not just saying that because he still fancies us for top 4 either ;)
 
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Aye, was our best away performance for quite some time against a side that can be very sticky at home. Thought we looked very comfortable at the back with Pau returning and Ramsey really showing his vibrancy again after his time out.

It's hard to say whose got the tougher run of fixtures in the next month or two between us and United. Either way I think that 5 point cushion is going to prove invaluable. I wouldn't necessarily mind if Tottenham nicked 4th of us, but if we give United a look in I'll be furious.
 
Aye, just hope we keep fielding our strongest 11. My dad asked me the other day whether I'd prefer the trophy or a deadcert for CL spot and it's trophy every time for me. Would do wonders for our confidence, more so then a CL spot imo. Just hope Emery feels the same way...
 
Two big games coming up, though feels like we're saying that every week these days. This season reminds me so much of 18-19. The anticipation days before games is maddening.

I think we'll comfortably take the away leg tomorrow, but the Spurs game feels like a real biggy for the season. I think if we get three points we effectively secure top 5 barring any serious meltdowns. We're very lucky in that we have 'winnable' games in-between the ones where we're likely to get battered by Teams fighting for the title. Having said that we've beaten all those teams bar Liverpool this season already so who knows.
 
Benafiter said:
hoping for a Villa mountdown as Spurs are really starting to look good now they have their players back.
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As negative as I have been in other threads, it's game to game now. We had our chances to stretch the points difference and failed. It's all on the day now for both us and them. Still fancy us though, Spurs being who they are...
 
el_dazza said:
1 point gained and we were fortunate to get that one. A win there would have been good, West Ham have been on fire the last few games. Need Spurs to go Spursy and colossally **** up though, I'm not confident in top 4 tbh
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Same. Got very lucky yesterday, particularly with the first handball decision though by all accounts we seemed to be pretty dominant in the second half.

Comforting to know that a proper 3 point gap has been installed though. We might have a slightly more difficult run in then Spurs but they've got some disgusting back to back games with Newcastle, City, Arsenal and Liverpool... At least our games against the title contenders are separated by 'winnable' games. I don't fancy them against Chelsea for that game in hand either, it's nearly always an upset for them.

Going to go against the grain and say that we'll get a well fought 3 points from Wolves and secure 15 points through wins alone before the end of the season. We might get a point or better out of the Chelsea game, but not overly hopeful.

I've got Spurs chalked in for 17 points by the same logic (loosing to teams above them with a draw against West Ham and a loss to Chelsea), but if you asked me to put money on either call it'd be pennies. Both of us have the ability to upset a title contender on the day and loose or draw to a team we're favorites against.

Just to be having this conversation is a joy though. What an incredible season.
 
That Ramsey out for the rest of the season. I'd say it's a kick in the teeth, but we don't have any left given the amount of players out.

Suppose the good news is that Emery giving him an extensive lie down means he won't be for sale in the Summer. I understand we'll need to balance the books a little, but selling one of the best Academy players we've ever had is NOT the way to do it.
 
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Ty and Buendia back at Bodymoor Heath kicking a ball about this week! Still very unlikely to be back for anything this season but such good news, especally for Mings. The videos on his Instagram show some serious muscle loss in his right leg. Fingers crossed both can get up to speed ready for next season :)

Think we've a good shout for 4th spot after beating Arsenal Sunday, though knowing us we'll make a real game of it Sunday, come away with a point then bottle it to Chelsea.

Edit: Aaaaaaaaaannd there's Moreno out with a knee injury for a few weeks.... at least Him and Digne have coordinated there injuries well this season.
 
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Player of the season poll is out on the website.

Was a really tough decision this year. The obvious choice is Watkins and somewhat rightly so. He's the best striker in the league at the moment without a shadow of a doubt. 19 goals with no pens and 18 assists, that's just ridiculous. Bailey is one of the best wingers I've seen in the shirt and the progress he's made from what by all accounts was a scrappy season last year is immense. Mcginn is an outstanding captain and when he's playing well, no one can match him for control in the midfield.

For me though, Martinez takes it. He's kept us in games when we've been generally poor, makes worldy saves almost every game and never has an off day.
 
el_dazza said:
He really has been outstanding. I say it all the time, he was an absolute bargain for us.
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Rogers could well challenge for that legacy should he keep performing the way he has been. Lads shown some surreal talent recently.

So, so happy we're getting contentious players in the midfield. Was such a problem for us in the late Smith/Gerrard era. With Buendia, Kamara and Ramsey hopefully back next season we're going to be spoilt for choice!

el_dazza said:
Well.. :D
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Still think it's a little shaky what with Tielemans and and Martinez now out for god knows how long.

If we get 6 points out of our last 3 games I'll call it a job well done regardless of what Spurs do.
 
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el_dazza said:
Well there were clear positives in one respect and hideous negatives in another for us last night. Obviously can't give away too much in here but my god, it's always fun watching us isn't it..
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Aye, never a bloody dull moment.

4th could be decided on Sunday though. We secure that, I think our odds go up massively for Thursday. Sick of having this on our back now.

*Edit: Trying to secure 4th I mean, not the UECL.
 
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Praying we don't go conservative tonight in an attempt to pay things forward to the Liverpool game. Pau in and none of this Konsa at RB nonsense. Just play Cash and prey he finds the courage to charge in and cut through some lines. Martinez being fit enough to play will be key though. Olsens proved a lot of his critics wrong the past few games, but Dibu oozes confidence and it infects our entire back line.

Calling it now, if he plays tonight we win.
 
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