Yet they're winning, which is the difference between Man Utd and most other teams. Other then when Arsenal were on real top form, I haven't seen anyone be able to play as poorly or mundanely (when they're playing badly) as Man Utd under Sir Alex Ferguson and yet still get results.[ASSE]Hinchy;13326944 said:
Weekend Football; 17-19th January - *SPOILERS*
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When Arsenal were on real top form they were playing badly and winning?
Anders0n is right, you haven't got a good enough squad, regardless of what position you are now you will fall away towards the end of the season and will be lucky to make the top four.
Newcastle were top in 01/02 at this stage (better than 4th obviously) and still couldn't hold on because it was obvious at the start of the season our squad wasn't good enough.
They occasionally didn't play brilliantly in the unbeaten run, they'd grab a lot of late goals to salvage relatively average performances.
I agree we need a few more players if we're going to get anywhere. Problem is O'Neill is very good at nurturing young talent and won't spend big ££ on quality, but that's what we need. We can't rely on people like Delfouneso, Gardner, and our youngsters to fill in because they're not good enough yet. I don't think we're being given enough credit which annoys me, as most people wouldn't have thought of us as top 4 challengers but now we're right up there, so why not go for it?
When O'Neill first took over I said I'd be happy with 10th or better, and we came 9th. Last season I said 7th or better would be good progression and we came 6th. This season I said any European spot would be gratefully recieved and we're in prime position for the top 5. Is that not realistic? Lets face it, if Liverpool can talk up their title chances, why can't I do the same with our CL chances, where most who support other clubs probably think neither will happen
Anders0n - if you're that confident about villa not getting top 4, it's 4/6 for Arsenal to get CL next season at bet365/paddy power and 3/4 at Betfair. Why not take it
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I agree we need a few more players if we're going to get anywhere. Problem is O'Neill is very good at nurturing young talent and won't spend big ££ on quality, but that's what we need. We can't rely on people like Delfouneso, Gardner, and our youngsters to fill in because they're not good enough yet. I don't think we're being given enough credit which annoys me, as most people wouldn't have thought of us as top 4 challengers but now we're right up there, so why not go for it?
When O'Neill first took over I said I'd be happy with 10th or better, and we came 9th. Last season I said 7th or better would be good progression and we came 6th. This season I said any European spot would be gratefully recieved and we're in prime position for the top 5. Is that not realistic? Lets face it, if Liverpool can talk up their title chances, why can't I do the same with our CL chances, where most who support other clubs probably think neither will happen
Anders0n - if you're that confident about villa not getting top 4, it's 4/6 for Arsenal to get CL next season at bet365/paddy power and 3/4 at Betfair. Why not take it
I forgot to add, if Newcastle were in the Villa's position I'd be hoping for top 4 at least.
Fixed your obvious typo
Our manager was amazing, the squad was punching above its weight if anything.
Real top form as in when they won the title. They had some bad games and still came away with 3 points. Liverpool just don't seem capable of doing it.
He'll spend £12M on the very average Milner though.
What exactly has Milner done wrong?
When we first signed him he looked rather clueless. I've only attended 1 game this season but I watched 2 players in particular - Cuellar and Milner. Both looked to have no real clue as to where they should be, both caught out many times. I'd say they've got that sorted now. Milner's found his shooting boots finally, and puts in some good balls. People questioned him when he paid £10m for Young but I'd wager most of those people have shut up now
Some of our most important players have missed matches we've still won, albeit comfortably. Laursen has been out, Carew, Barry missed a few and now we'll be without Young for three games.
Carew coming back will be like a new signing once he's match fit as will Bouma who is thinik is now not far off. Laursen we seem to have adequate cover for, though i think we have missed his aerial presence. Young will be a tougher one but we could play Barry in the left, Milner on the right and Petrov and Sidwell in the centre. That's not a shabby midfield, though not an especially pacy one. If he wants to stick to 4-5-1 put Gabby on the left instead of young with Carew up top. You've also got Defouneso who is worth a look.
It's not a crisis yet, whatever the rest of the PL would like to believe
Milner will be a quality signing. He looked good for us when we had him on loan, he's only going to get better given we have an infinately better coaching staff and manager than we had then.
What exactly has Milner done wrong?
When we first signed him he looked rather clueless. I've only attended 1 game this season but I watched 2 players in particular - Cuellar and Milner. Both looked to have no real clue as to where they should be, both caught out many times. I'd say they've got that sorted now. Milner's found his shooting boots finally, and puts in some good balls. People questioned him when he paid £10m for Young but I'd wager most of those people have shut up now
I didn't say he had done anything wrong. He is just very average. Has no great pace or trickery to beat his man.
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I think his crossing is average at best, but still pretty glad he's in the team. I often got annoyed watching them last season - every goal kick and most balls from defence were knocked to the left of the pitch as Young was the only one able to work the wing. I rate Reo-Coker highly but you'd rarely see him in space on the right asking for the ball. I reckon even Luke Young gets down the wing to make a cross more frequently than Reo did last season. Milner in contrast is pretty willing to use what pace he has to get the pitch and make us a little less predictable. Quite a few times, he has usefully run down near the goal line before cutting inside quickly and turning his defender. Without him and Young, we'd have zero imagination in front of goal.
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Milner's suffering from being english, so is far overhyped. The difference between him and Young are, Young was bought at 9 million on potential after a season in the prem, and he's now worth 30+ mil based on consistant scoring and assists against any side he's up against for 3 years now and still seems to be improving. Milner was bought for a little more but with no potential at all really. He's been playing in the prem for what, 4 years now? We know what he's capable, he's actually surprisingly slow, a little lacking in end product and his goal scoring form is more the few lucky games rather than something to expect consistantly I think.
He's ok , but Newcastle got by FAR the better end of the deal, he wasn't worth what was paid at all, and Gutierez is a far far better player. If Gutierez was in the Villa side as it is now he'd be simply superb, he hasn't scored/got enough assists largely on where the Newcastle squad is and how they've been playing for large portions of the year.
But more than anything, Villa do lack squad, their first team isn't estalished international names(as in, the fame of any single player is no where near the star level of other big sides), but that doesn't mean the players aren't as good or better than their equivilents compared to other top four teams. I think Laursen is probably the best in the air of any defender in the league. Him and Cuellar when he's not stuck at right back will be freaking immense and hard to break down in tough games, if you saw Cuellar last year for Rangers he was just superb.
Young is the best left winger in the prem(strictly assuming Ronaldo is a right winger), Gabby's looking as good as any other striker this year. Hell even Carew looks damn brilliant.
But any major injury and Villa are in serious trouble, but their first 11 is a match for the other top 4 frankly as they have shown this year. THats their real weakness and its a big one. Though, to be fair, its hurting other top 4 teams aswell. It will be interesting to see where/if they strengthen. Delph, for footie and not money, should go to Villa, a geniune CL contender aswell as by far the lowest attacking creative players of the top 6/7 clubs.
He's ok , but Newcastle got by FAR the better end of the deal, he wasn't worth what was paid at all, and Gutierez is a far far better player. If Gutierez was in the Villa side as it is now he'd be simply superb, he hasn't scored/got enough assists largely on where the Newcastle squad is and how they've been playing for large portions of the year.
But more than anything, Villa do lack squad, their first team isn't estalished international names(as in, the fame of any single player is no where near the star level of other big sides), but that doesn't mean the players aren't as good or better than their equivilents compared to other top four teams. I think Laursen is probably the best in the air of any defender in the league. Him and Cuellar when he's not stuck at right back will be freaking immense and hard to break down in tough games, if you saw Cuellar last year for Rangers he was just superb.
Young is the best left winger in the prem(strictly assuming Ronaldo is a right winger), Gabby's looking as good as any other striker this year. Hell even Carew looks damn brilliant.
But any major injury and Villa are in serious trouble, but their first 11 is a match for the other top 4 frankly as they have shown this year. THats their real weakness and its a big one. Though, to be fair, its hurting other top 4 teams aswell. It will be interesting to see where/if they strengthen. Delph, for footie and not money, should go to Villa, a geniune CL contender aswell as by far the lowest attacking creative players of the top 6/7 clubs.
Up until the last few games the same could have been said about liverpool. Liverpool were shocking at the start the season but were stilling getting the result, however that can't hold forever. None of the big four have played well this years, the standard has been hopeless. Liverpool are still in with a good chance, not because they are as good as UTD and chelsea, but because UTD and chelsea are as bad liverpool.
I have a lot of time for MoN, he knows he doesnt have to spend loads to get decent quality players, instead of spending 30 mill on one player he does the right thing and spend far less on several, his teams have always gelled well.Its about the unit and and not the individuals.He's spent enough though, so really should be challenging for CL spots, they arent the little plucky team challenging the big boys, that the Villa fans would have you believe.They are about where they should be.
It annoyed me in the summer when Rafa was going after Barry as quite frankly we would have done better with going for Young! the only problem Villa have got is
It annoyed me in the summer when Rafa was going after Barry as quite frankly we would have done better with going for Young! the only problem Villa have got is