Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on May 28, 2019, 07:00:09 PM
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So yesterday we started as a Championship club. Today we embark on a new PL journey. Our most recent memory of the PL is nothing short of shocking so we should temper expectations knowing there is lots to do and build upon. The good news is this board, the manager and the club overall seems so much more together now and on the path forward. Onto next season, so is our expectations just survival? Is it solid mid table or is it as Wolves proved, Europe? We will need to invest wisely and keep the core intact.
Personally I’d like for so to cement a mid table spot but win a cup; either one will do. No reason to sacrifice it all to stay up as I hope we are good enough for that. But a cup would be superb. So for me 10th and the league cup.
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Mid table and the league cup coming home yes please
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There will be about 16 other clubs in that division thinking similar.
You'd hope that the crew who picked up a trophy yesterday got the taste for it and want a better, actual cup win.
I'd settle for 14th/ 15th place next season.
But if you go through the core of that side it's not a stodgy late 20s/ early 30s group who will be happy to grind 10 wins out. They play at their best when they go for it so, with a little forward momentum, who knows.
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Unbeaten at home, 3rd, FA Cup, League Cup, plans to build a 90k stadium unveiled, we reject pleas from Messi to sign for us as we can do better.
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Stay up, get our feet back under the table. Get a squad of primarily top flight players. Then move onwards and upwards.
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I'll be surprised if we don't win every game, tbh.
Mad to think that teams were trying to do the Treble since 1961 and we will do it just one year after Man City did.
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Realistically mid table (anywhere between 8-15th) but will be happy as long as we build and stay up...obviously delighted with any bonus above and beyond that.
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Top ten and League cup winners. We need to start trying to get a record back.
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To be comfortably mid table and stable to build for the future. I will miss winning games but would rather be in the top flight despite my misgivings about beating championship sides. Bit like playing a game on easy mode.....
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With the team we are likely to have, to stay up.
With the team we may have if the owners invest, who knows?
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The Premier league doesn't throw up many surprises there's a top six a middle eight and bottom six.
A little over ten wins and ten draws and you're in that middle eight.
Until we see what business we do over the summer it's hard to make a prediction. At this point I'd be very happy with staying up.
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Stay up, get our feet back under the table. Get a squad of primarily top flight players. Then move onwards and upwards.
This.
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Current team I'd be happy to stay up, we add to the team and squad who knows depends who we get in.
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Stay up and I'll be absolutely delighted. Anything more than that is a massive bonus. It's going to be tough; we're going up without ever having set the Championship alight and indeed having struggled badly at times. Smith has achieved task number one at the first attempt, which is amazing. Now it's task number two.
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It shouldn't be that tough to finish above 3 from Norwich, Sheff Utd, Burnley, Brighton, Saints for example.
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Our full strength team won 12 games out of 14.
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Season 1: Survival
Season 2: Mid-table
Season 3: Challenging for top 6
A cup win somewhere along would be nice.
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It shouldn't be that tough to finish above 3 from Norwich, Sheff Utd, Burnley, Brighton, Saints for example.
Palace Bournemouth Newcastle Watford don't scare me either but let's be honest Wolves apart most promoted clubs struggle.
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Sod being realistic. We’ve just gone up. I want to win everything and I want it now.
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It shouldn't be that tough to finish above 3 from Norwich, Sheff Utd, Burnley, Brighton, Saints for example.
Palace Bournemouth Newcastle Watford don't scare me either but let's be honest Wolves apart most promoted clubs struggle.
Those four teams are very competent top-tier teams which have worked out how to compete well enough to stay up.
I'm stating the obvious, but we need to buy carefully and early in the summer, to give Smith's coaching team the best possible chance to weld a number of new recruits into the squad.
One fundamental facet of our game that we will have to improve is speed of thought and movement of the ball: in the Premier League, if we expect the time we have been taking on the ball, we will get mullered.
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Lower mid-table would be wonderful for me. A season of consolidation and bedding back in. Building the squad and steady, healthy improvement. We do have a lot of work to do and we might take a few spankings here and there but sod it, we have to be patient and play the long game.
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Mid table consolidation with the likes of Man Yoo.
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It shouldn't be that tough to finish above 3 from Norwich, Sheff Utd, Burnley, Brighton, Saints for example.
Palace Bournemouth Newcastle Watford don't scare me either but let's be honest Wolves apart most promoted clubs struggle.
So that's basically half the Premier League being dismissed there. That's 54 points in the bag already.
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Stay up and I'll be absolutely delighted. Anything more than that is a massive bonus. It's going to be tough; we're going up without ever having set the Championship alight and indeed having struggled badly at times. Smith has achieved task number one at the first attempt, which is amazing. Now it's task number two.
Yep. We're going to need to really improve this squad as well, which is always a big task - especially getting a lot of new players to gel together.
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Anything but a dog fight and I'll be content for one season.
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DS apart from his managerial and coaching skills is a very good buyer and seller of players. I would be satisfied with survival but it would not surprise me if Dean strode on to greater heights.
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Would happily sign up for 14th now.
Main thing is to improve as season goes on and show we can improve for the following year rather than it being a depressing experience as in the McLeish/Lambert seasons.
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Whatever happens it’s critical we stick with Dean Smith. The last thing we need is to give up on what we’ve started for perceived short term gain. Stay the course. I look at how Burnley stuck it out with Dyche, came back up and are now a much more solid club. We’re much bigger than Burnley off course and expectations will be higher. But Dean Smith has built well at Brentford and is doing so with us. We need to back him when times get tough. And it will be at times.
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Ideally a mid-table finish without ever being pulled into a relegation battle.
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Whatever happens it’s critical we stick with Dean Smith. The last thing we need is to give up on what we’ve started for perceived short term gain. Stay the course. I look at how Burnley stuck it out with Dyche, came back up and are now a much more solid club. We’re much bigger than Burnley off course and expectations will be higher. But Dean Smith has built well at Brentford and is doing so with us. We need to back him when times get tough. And it will be at times.
I agree. He has to have the full season, come what may.
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Consolidate. Would be more than happy with mid-table next season. Then we push on. I honestly can't see us doing a Fulham and coming straight back down.
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Congrats from this Fulham supporter, this is where John Terry starts earning his corn, as one of best premier league defenders, I reckon Gary Cahill is talking to him right now, our season was bollocked by the inability to keep a clean sheet, I think you can probably write 12 games against the top six any points you get from those games are a plus, that leaves you 26 games to get the points to make you safe, I think the premiership has changed even in time you’ve been away, even bang average premiership teams have 2 or 3 outstanding players, if you can be quite sound defensively a few scrappy 1-0 wins against teams around you should be ok, any enjoy!!
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We need some stability and to keep some of these loan players at the club to absorb the huge changeover in numbers of players. Mings and Hause are absolute must have signings for me. They are part of the foundation of what we should be trying to do alongside Grealish and SJM. Taylor, DCM and RW are also in dire need of improving. Lots going, none of whom are likely to feature in any case, although I would like to see either Whelan or Jedinak involved within the coaching set up. We won't be able to shift everyone, but Albert, Taylor, Green, Nyland, would be surplus for me, along with Angela, Gardner, Tshibola and fat-bloke. I'd keep Davis, but not sure about Jimmy D. Lots of decisions for the men who matter but I can't see them making massive changes and would bet that we break our transfer record, but only once this summer.
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The bookies have us joint 4th favourite (with Brighton) to go down.
Sheffield United, Norwich and Burnley are favourites.
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Whatever happens it’s critical we stick with Dean Smith. The last thing we need is to give up on what we’ve started for perceived short term gain. Stay the course. I look at how Burnley stuck it out with Dyche, came back up and are now a much more solid club. We’re much bigger than Burnley off course and expectations will be higher. But Dean Smith has built well at Brentford and is doing so with us. We need to back him when times get tough. And it will be at times.
Agreed. Remember this? http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=59417.0
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I'd take 17th and survival now but it's really to early to predict as we need to see what business we do. There are a good dozen players that need moving on, Lansbury, Jedinak, Barney, Elphick, Nyland, Fat Ross, Jimmy D, Bree, Hutton, Richards, De Laat, Bunn, Hogan and Gardner. None of those would feature in the PL, i'd try and keep all the loanees if possible with additional quality supplements. Massively excited about the overhaul though which I wouldn't have been had the result gone against us.
I agree with earlier sentiment about sticking with Smith whatever happens. I think that's important as I also do that we keep the coaching staff together, we'll need John Terry's PL experience here as Smith and his team are rookies at this level.
Just consolidating our position as a PL club next season would be success as would us a least trying to take the FA Cup seriously. I'm thinking lower mid table with safety well before the last day and a cup run would be a great season for us.
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I hope the fixtures are kind. Avoiding a start against the top four in August etc ( although usually, or in my head anyway, a promoted club seems to well against them in the first few weeks )
If we can get a few points on the board straight away, it will
Help us settle.
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It’s best to play the top teams early when they haven’t settled. But in reality I don’t care who we get and I want teams to be worried about us. That’s the old Aston Villa mentality.
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Does depend on the investment - size and quality of decisions
Realistically, I reckon four or five of the players who played on Monday are good enough in the positions they played in, and we only own Jack and mcginn (can't see conor as a DM in the Premier league, although his game has come on a lot)
Mings and tuanzebe are good enough so hoping we get at least one of them
I take comfort in the fact that Smith has plenty of experience in assimilating half a team each summer
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I think with a couple of good signings we could be capable of -
Staying out of a relegation dog fight
play some decent stuff worth watching
start building something for the longer term
finish mid table maybe 9-15 (big window I know)
and obviously it’s defo our year for the FA Cup
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1 Stay up
2 Mid-table mediocrity
3 Finish above Wolves
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Anything above survival will be a bonus.Getting 40 points on the board ASAP.
The most important thing is the emergence of a squad of players to take us to the next level.
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A good start and a solid midtable position along with a serious run in one of the cups will help us consolidate in the league and continue to strengthen the squad.
I'd also love to be the suprise side that beats any of the league's top four occasionally.
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Just don't get relegated. Anything else is a bonus. We have to make a lot of signings to be competitive, this team has already been broken up due to loans returning.
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On the last two occasions we've been promoted to the top division we've found the first season hard and flirted with relegation, but had a second season that surpassed all expectations. I'd take the first if we could also be guaranteed the second.
What we need is a relatively benign first half a dozen fixtures and get some points on the board. There will be an inevitable sticky patch as we adjust and possibly some hammerings at the likes of Man City, so it's important that we take the momentum from this season and get some early wins against the likes of the other promoted teams or the south coast trio.
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I expect survival and the FA Cup* in our first season.
*And me to shag Fanny Valette.
(https://i.ibb.co/X3VYjPd/fanny-valette-31st-cabourg-film-festival-06-16-2017-5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X3VYjPd)
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On the last two occasions we've been promoted to the top division we've found the first season hard and flirted with relegation, but had a second season that surpassed all expectations. I'd take the first if we could also be guaranteed the second.
What we need is a relatively benign first half a dozen fixtures and get some points on the board. There will be an inevitable sticky patch as we adjust and possibly some hammerings at the likes of Man City, so it's important that we take the momentum from this season and get some early wins against the likes of the other promoted teams or the south coast trio.
Bollocks to that!
Consecutive 3-0 away wins against Man City, Liverpool and Spurs to get started please.
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I expect survival and the FA Cup* in our first season.
*And me to shag Fanny Valette.
(https://i.ibb.co/X3VYjPd/fanny-valette-31st-cabourg-film-festival-06-16-2017-5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X3VYjPd)
That's what is known as a BOBFOC round these parts.
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I expect survival and the FA Cup* in our first season.
*And me to shag Fanny Valette.
(https://i.ibb.co/X3VYjPd/fanny-valette-31st-cabourg-film-festival-06-16-2017-5.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X3VYjPd)
That's what is known as a BOBFOC round these parts.
Just looked that up, brilliant!
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Crikey, West Derby Villan - you're either a young nipper or been living in a cave! The reference to Baywatch tells you how old that saying is!
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See no reason why we can't do as well as Watford and Wolves. We've got a couple of standout players who'll already make the step up and impact games. Some shrewd signings in addition to that, and I'd expect us to be pretty solid. They key will be beating the sides around us, particularly being strong at home too. Villa Park has feel good factor again, and we've had to drop down a division to get that. We'd become one of the most piss easy away ties in the division for a couple of years under Lambert etc. People came to VP and waltzed all over us.
Smith will have us working hard and well drilled. We need to be sensible, but still play decent football too. He'll have to develop a little more in the way of tactical flexibility. We'll need a plan B. That's something we've lack for over 20 years. O Neill never had it and we never got beyond 6th. His successors never had it and we almost (then finally did) go down. Smith I think is modern thinking, intelligent. If we hit a rough patch I think he'll get us out of it.
I fancy a mid-table finish. We've got the clout to attract players that a few of our rivals may not. There's a number of fairly solid Premier League outfits, and we're not a million miles from any of them. a few of our loans permanent. 6-7 good signings. Keeping a spine of who got us up. I fancy us to push the likes of Watford, West Ham, Newcastle etc and I would expect us to nudge ahead of the two other clubs who've come up, as well as Brighton and Burnley.
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Any newly promoted side, including us, will do very well to finish above about 14th and avoid the relegation scrap. I don't think we'll do as well as Wolves did, they had a better squad when they went up. I'm open to being pleasantly surprised though.
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We'll need to bring in a lot of good players but I'm weirdly optimistic about the season coming up. We just look a bit like the kind of club with the right kind of set up needed to do well.
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My realistic expectation is we go into each game trying to win, as the manager says. You can't go into games hoping to contain or draw. Aim to win and see where you end up. The main factor on where we end up will be down to who we sign this summer of course though
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My biggest wish for next season? Don't lose before we go on the pitch. We've as much right to be in this league as nineteen other clubs and we need to act like it.
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10 wins and 10 draws. Aim to get 4 points from every 3 games.
There are plenty of beatable teams, as well as the 2 we just came up with.
however, there are lots of good teams there too.
Thankfully Dean Smith will play the right way, and win, lose or draw at least he will try and win games.`
We need to start well and get some points early, 15th to 17th will do for me.
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Champions nothing less and last day win at spurs- have you won a European cup
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I'd be happy if we aren't in the relegation spots at all during the season, and safe with 4 games to go.
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Interesting in the initial polling that a Europa league spot appears out of our reach. Wolves managed it so I do wonder how that perspective will change as the summer progresses and the squad evolves?
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I will be happy if we stay up and look to build again the following season. I can't see our owners spunking money on crap (so called) 'premier league players' like Fulham did last year. If we can get some quality LB & RB / LWB & RWB in and get Mings, AEG and Tammy (can't see it tbh) on permanent deals there is a good group of players that I think will kick on in the prem.
Excited to see how this summer unfolds!
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Interesting in the initial polling that a Europa league spot appears out of our reach. Wolves managed it so I do wonder how that perspective will change as the summer progresses and the squad evolves?
They did have a far better team when they got promoted then we currently have. That's why they won the league.
We need to do more work on recruitment for sure. But we shouldn't go mental and start changing the whole side clearly. Maybe 4-5 new starters are needed though IMHO. Starting with two fullbacks
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Dean said his aim is to finish No1...... 💪🤗
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
You'll do for me, SE.
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At the moment I'd be happy with 13-17th but I'll see how we deal in the transfer market yet.
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Well I for one am glad that our owners, board and manager think a little more positively than we do.
We have a head coach that has a football philosophy and will not change - the quality of squad will to compete at this level.
Can't wait. And i bet Deano can't either
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Dean said his aim is to finish No1...... 💪🤗
Right, I don't want to put any undue pressure on him, or put anyone else on a downer, but...
If we don't win the Cup and/or the league next season, come the start of 20/21 we'll have won each one only once in a century.
Like I said, no pressure, Dean...
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
Absolute genius. I vote for you as next FIFA president
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
Absolute genius. I vote for you as next FIFA president
Me too, but no backhanders unless they are shared out, and defo no finals in obscure countries.
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Me too, but no backhanders unless they are shared out, and defo no finals in obscure countries.
Agreed, tough shit Wales and Scotland.
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See no reason why we can't do as well as Watford and Wolves.
Wolves were fortunate that they built a Premier League team while still in the Championship.
Good recruitment is going to be absolutely crucial. Fulham showed chucking millions of pounds at it doesn't guarantee saying up. It's a balancing act to bring in players who will improve as AND the right characters. Deano has built a strong spirit here, and that will be vital moving forward.
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During the first half of tonight's game the commentator for BT Sport Ian Darke pointed out that Arsenal "Only spent seventy million pounds in the summer". Welcome to the Premier League.
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See no reason why we can't do as well as Watford and Wolves.
Wolves were fortunate that they built a Premier League team while still in the Championship.
Fortunate, or smart?
Here is a view from the Grauniad about this season:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/29/football-league-teams-of-the-season-2018-19-championship-league-one-two
1 Villa player in their Championship team.
Do we have a mountain to climb?
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See no reason why we can't do as well as Watford and Wolves.
Wolves were fortunate that they built a Premier League team while still in the Championship.
Fortunate, or smart?
Here is a view from the Grauniad about this season:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/29/football-league-teams-of-the-season-2018-19-championship-league-one-two
1 Villa player in their Championship team.
Do we have a mountain to climb?
Both. Smart enough to know and fortunate to be able to do it.
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
I tell you what, that's more of a manifesto than you'll ever see from the Brexit Party!
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Interesting in the initial polling that a Europa league spot appears out of our reach. Wolves managed it so I do wonder how that perspective will change as the summer progresses and the squad evolves?
They did have a far better team when they got promoted then we currently have. That's why they won the league.
We need to do more work on recruitment for sure. But we shouldn't go mental and start changing the whole side clearly. Maybe 4-5 new starters are needed though IMHO. Starting with two fullbacks
Yet somehow we absolutely battered them at Villa Park. And this season, ifs and buts I know, but could you argue that with Dean Smith all season, his philosophies and signings across two windows and has Grealish stayed fit we would have won the division as comfortably? Wolves certainly have talent and bought well in the summer to compliment what they had but we can make up some ground. And maybe it won’t be enough for Europa but mid table solidity should be within reach.
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Fuck Wulvz.
And, of course, Fuck the Albion.
There was another team I was going to throw in, but their name escapes me. Something 'heath' I think.
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Fuck Wulvz.
And, of course, Fuck the Albion.
There was another team I was going to throw in, but their name escapes me. Something 'heath' I think.
Yeah, fuck off Newton Heath.
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I have gone for 8th-12th. But I accept we may well be lower than that in the table at a number of points in the season. If we go the whole season without being in the bottom six at any point that would be nice for a start.
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Fuck Wulvz.
And, of course, Fuck the Albion.
There was another team I was going to throw in, but their name escapes me. Something 'heath' I think.
Yeah, fuck off Newton Heath.
Yeah, must have been them!
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
I have this overwhelming urge to shout 'what is dead may never die' or some such nerd shit. Which is to say I'm feeling quite revved up about this coming season, in spite of all my more sensible instincts. Come on Villa, let's fucking funeral these top flight mugs.
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
I have this overwhelming urge to shout 'what is dead may never die' or some such nerd shit. Which is to say I'm feeling quite revved up about this coming season, in spite of all my more sensible instincts. Come on Villa, let's fucking funeral these top flight mugs.
We will fuck them all.
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
I have internal monologues just like this after a lickle smoke.
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Wolves had really good players coming up. As good as Jack and McGinn look, Ruben Neves was captaining a club in the champions league at 19 years old.
Obviously dubious to how they got these guys in but it's worked. What I liked from their summer deals is they just added to what worked well. Joao Moutinho was a brilliant pick up for them, experienced and seen it all presence for them in midfield. We probably need that sort to keep the above mentioned two calm in premier league.
After a slow start Raul Jimenez was looking a very good striker in the final few months of the season.
They were also ruthless with some departures. I was amazed they let Douglas go to Leeds as he was a regular in their promotion winning team but haven't missed him with getting Johnny in from Atletico Madrid.
Sometimes there's no secret. Add a top striker and other good players to a decent side and you're certainly not getting relegated.
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The PL isn’t the one we left behind. There’s only 2 really top teams and Spurs not a long way off but not elite. After that Man U are a mess, Arsenal are decent. Chelsea will lose players and cannot buy. After that there is a 4 or 5 solid sides but nothing special and every other team is bang average. There is nothing to be intimated about. We can even give Man City and Liverpool a game. Fuck we beat those teams when we were utterly shit. So getting into a decent position with the right players coming in is within our reach.
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Wolves had really good players coming up. As good as Jack and McGinn look, Ruben Neves was captaining a club in the champions league at 19 years old.
Obviously dubious to how they got these guys in but it's worked. What I liked from their summer deals is they just added to what worked well. Joao Moutinho was a brilliant pick up for them, experienced and seen it all presence for them in midfield. We probably need that sort to keep the above mentioned two calm in premier league.
After a slow start Raul Jimenez was looking a very good striker in the final few months of the season.
They were also ruthless with some departures. I was amazed they let Douglas go to Leeds as he was a regular in their promotion winning team but haven't missed him with getting Johnny in from Atletico Madrid.
Sometimes there's no secret. Add a top striker and other good players to a decent side and you're certainly not getting relegated.
Yep, they had a spine of five or six quality players when they were in the Championship, but the rest were still quite average players at that level and I thought we exposed some of them in that 4-1 win at Villa Park.
What they did well when they went up was immediately replace the average players with players of the quality of the other five or six they already had there.
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The PL isn’t the one we left behind. There’s only 2 really top teams and Spurs not a long way off but not elite. After that Man U are a mess, Arsenal are decent. Chelsea will lose players and cannot buy. After that there is a 4 or 5 solid sides but nothing special and every other team is bang average. There is nothing to be intimated about. We can even give Man City and Liverpool a game. Fuck we beat those teams when we were utterly shit. So getting into a decent position with the right players coming in is within our reach.
Not so sure about that TV to be honest. When we left the to flight, it was the top four you had to crack. Now you have six teams who are on a different level to others in terms of finances, stadium size (Chelsea excepted for the time being) etc.
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When we left it Liverpool finished 8th and Chelsea 10th.
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Way too early to say but I would hope 8th - 12th for our first season back, but as we Leicester and Fulham know, anything could happen
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Congrats from this Fulham supporter, this is where John Terry starts earning his corn, as one of best premier league defenders, I reckon Gary Cahill is talking to him right now, our season was bollocked by the inability to keep a clean sheet, I think you can probably write 12 games against the top six any points you get from those games are a plus, that leaves you 26 games to get the points to make you safe, I think the premiership has changed even in time you’ve been away, even bang average premiership teams have 2 or 3 outstanding players, if you can be quite sound defensively a few scrappy 1-0 wins against teams around you should be ok, any enjoy!!
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Wolves had really good players coming up. As good as Jack and McGinn look, Ruben Neves was captaining a club in the champions league at 19 years old.
Obviously dubious to how they got these guys in but it's worked. What I liked from their summer deals is they just added to what worked well. Joao Moutinho was a brilliant pick up for them, experienced and seen it all presence for them in midfield. We probably need that sort to keep the above mentioned two calm in premier league.
After a slow start Raul Jimenez was looking a very good striker in the final few months of the season.
They were also ruthless with some departures. I was amazed they let Douglas go to Leeds as he was a regular in their promotion winning team but haven't missed him with getting Johnny in from Atletico Madrid.
Sometimes there's no secret. Add a top striker and other good players to a decent side and you're certainly not getting relegated.
Yep, they had a spine of five or six quality players when they were in the Championship, but the rest were still quite average players at that level and I thought we exposed some of them in that 4-1 win at Villa Park.
What they did well when they went up was immediately replace the average players with players of the quality of the other five or six they already had there.
I think that the lack of any January talks (that I'm aware of, anyway) with the not insubstantial number of our players who will be out of contract either this summer or next hints to me that we can expect quite the cull.
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Being realistic, for any team who goes up through the playoffs, getting relegated with a squad good enough to come straight back automatically is progress.
That in mind, I'd be inclined to say: gut the squad, aim high, top half of the table, challenge for UEFA Cup places. If it all goes pear shaped and we go down, so be it - Smith keeps his job as long as the club comes straight back up for another go with a better squad.
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Being realistic, for any team who goes up through the playoffs, getting relegated with a squad good enough to come straight back automatically is progress.
That in mind, I'd be inclined to say: gut the squad, aim high, top half of the table, challenge for UEFA Cup places. If it all goes pear shaped and we go down, so be it - Smith keeps his job as long as the club comes straight back up for another go with a better squad.
I don't think that is a very good plan. Since the play offs were introduced twenty eight seasons ago only 23.5% of relegated teams have bounced straight back up to the top flight. 76.5 per cent haven't including a good number who have never come back at all and some who haven't even come close to coming back up.
And of course some have kept falling and ended up in League One, League Two and an example like Tranmere who over a number of years went from Championship to non league.
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I don’t think anyone is suggesting that is the plan. What we mustn’t do though is sack Dean Smith if we are struggling, which is a huge possibility. What concerns me is if we are bottom 3 at Christmas, we will get a few saying that DS is a “good championship manager” and we need an experienced head in charge. Cue Sam Alladyce. Shudder.
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13th or 14th will do me. A cup run would be a nice bonus.
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I don’t think anyone is suggesting that is the plan. What we mustn’t do though is sack Dean Smith if we are struggling, which is a huge possibility. What concerns me is if we are bottom 3 at Christmas, we will get a few saying that DS is a “good championship manager” and we need an experienced head in charge. Cue Sam Alladyce. Shudder.
Yeah, that's what I was meaning. I'd stay with DS even in in the event of relegation as long as the squad's clearly improved. But I don't think it'll come to that, I'd not be shocked if, with a good summer, Villa were the surprise package and ended up in Europe.
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Objectives for me would be to be comfortable in the League 9-12th and get deep into one of the Cup competitions. Anything else is a bonus.
Deano knows what needs to be done to make this happen and it sounds like the plan to make it happen is already in place. It’s just a question of good execution.
Off the pitch First job for Purslow and co is to get the clubs turnover moving in the right direction. Improved commercial deals
And sponsorship is critical to help us compete and it will be interesting to see who is lined up as shirt sponsor next year. Getting the turnover heading towards £300m is a must. Much as I’d love to see the ground being developed let’s stay up before announcing the improvements we know are needed.
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Continue to build the squad.
Add depth and choice.
Continue to stabilise.
Continue to build our identity and style.
8-12th would be bloody good.
We’ll have a sticky patch, hold our nerve and believe in our philosophy and strategy.
We’ll have a purple patch, don’t get carried away it’ll make up for the sticky patch.
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Realistic expectation is survival for the first year. We won three games all season the last time we were in the PL and won a pathetic 17 points. I'm not taking anything for granted.
Survival and to not completely stink up the pitch would be a good start for me.
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Realistic expectation is survival for the first year. We won three games all season the last time we were in the PL and won a pathetic 17 points. I'm not taking anything for granted.
Survival and to not completely stink up the pitch would be a good start for me.
Was it just three? Christ, were we that bad, must have wiped this from memory? Different mind set now though I hope.
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The magic 40 points with a few weeks to spare will do me just fine. A decent cup run (in either or both) as well and I think that would be a great first season back. Anything more and we are in delirium territory IMO.
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What are the FFP rules in the Premier League?
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What are the FFP rules in the Premier League?
I'll stand corrected but I believe they just have "guidelines" rather than outright rules, it's why only teams that qualify for Europe seem to worry about them.
Edit: Haha nope, they have: Profit and Sustainability rules and short term cost control rules (STCC).
From what I've read you breach profit and sustainability rules if you lose £105 million over three seasons.
The STCC seems to be about making sure the wage bill only goes up by £7 million per season (the starting point is set at £67 million though).
More here:
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/latest-news/premier-league-update-their-ffp-rules
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I asked the same question a few months ago and someone replied saying that there are only implications if you qualify for Europe...which, if true, could possibly land Wolves in the FFP shit? 🤔
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A better explanation is here:
https://www.accountancyage.com/football-finance-short-term-cost-controls-profitability-and-sustainability/
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I want to make it clear to everyone my position on this, but anything that lands Wolves in FFP shit is absolutely fine by me.
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Those P & S rules were in place when we got relegated as I distinctly remember the £35m a season allowable losses. That gives us some wiggle room I think with the new owners able to invest some additional funding. Key to this is going to be Purslows commercial acumen and growing revenues from sponsorship and other sources.
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Bearing in mind Brighton survived on 36 points this season and Bournemouth attained 45 points, Palace 49 points I think with some astute signings we can accumulate 42 points at least obtained by taking the following points from teams :
Norwich 4
Sheffield Utd 3
Leicester 1
Wolves 2
Watford 4
Brighton 6
Bournemouth 4
Palace 6
Newcastle 1
Man City, Man Utd,Liverpool,Arsenal,Spurs,Chelsea 0
Everton 1
Burnley 3
West Ham 3
Soton 4
I've been fairly conservative with those predictions and we may get some points off those who finished top six this season
I think 42 points is achievable for our first season back
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The key games that decide whether we stay up will be Sheff United, Norwich, Southampton, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton and Burnley. 42 points from those and we are virtually safe already.
If we are gonna make an impact higher up the league we need to be competing with the likes of Watford, Leicester, Wolves, Everton, Newcastle and West Ham. Let's be realistic and say we win, say, all of those. Another 36 points.
We tend to win at Anfield and Arsenal so beating them at home shouldn't be too difficult. We are due a win against Man U, I expect it will be like the buzzes and we will get two at once. Chelsea will be in limbo with their transfer ban. Those wins are as good as ours. Can't see Tottenham keeping up their recent form when we click our fingers and take Kane off them. That just leaves Man City. If they only scored six against poxy Watford I don't think the famous Aston Villa have much to worry about.
That's 114 points, then. I'll still be pissed off if we even concede a goal, to be honest.
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A bit early for the wacky baccy, eh CD?
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Bottom 6 with a relegation scrap is realistic
Us, Brighton, Naarwich, Blades, maybe Bournemouth and Burnley.
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I've been daily conservative with those predictions and we may get some points off those who finished top six this season
I'd fancy us for 3 points at home to Arsenal.
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A bit early for the wacky baccy, eh CD?
Never too early, maaan.
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Staying up obviously with a good end to the season so momentum to move upwards the following.
Foundations in place to develop a culture and squad to serve the club over the coming years. First class scouting and academy developed plus investment in training and ground facilities....simple.
Finally - well trained staff serving food and drink at VP!
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Staying up obviously with a good end to the season so momentum to move upwards the following.
Foundations in place to develop a culture and squad to serve the club over the coming years. First class scouting and academy developed plus investment in training and ground facilities....simple.
Finally - well trained staff serving food and drink at VP!
It was all going well and then you had to ruin it at the end, ridiculous.
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A bit early for the wacky baccy, eh CD?
Never too early, maaan.
Never hit the spirits until the sun is over the yardarm. Same for opiates.
Everything else: get it down your neck early doors. Night nurse precluded, obvs.
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The key games that decide whether we stay up will be Sheff United, Norwich, Southampton, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton and Burnley. 42 points from those and we are virtually safe already.
If we are gonna make an impact higher up the league we need to be competing with the likes of Watford, Leicester, Wolves, Everton, Newcastle and West Ham. Let's be realistic and say we win, say, all of those. Another 36 points.
We tend to win at Anfield and Arsenal so beating them at home shouldn't be too difficult. We are due a win against Man U, I expect it will be like the buzzes and we will get two at once. Chelsea will be in limbo with their transfer ban. Those wins are as good as ours. Can't see Tottenham keeping up their recent form when we click our fingers and take Kane off them. That just leaves Man City. If they only scored six against poxy Watford I don't think the famous Aston Villa have much to worry about.
That's 114 points, then. I'll still be pissed off if we even concede a goal, to be honest.
What makes you think we’ll take 6 off Sheff utd and Norwich as we
Didn’t this year?
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Because we're Villa and they're not.
Well after tonight I expect us to finish above Liverpool and Spurs.
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Gallant second after another N.W team,Citeh,just like 90 and 93.
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The key games that decide whether we stay up will be Sheff United, Norwich, Southampton, Bournemouth, Palace, Brighton and Burnley. 42 points from those and we are virtually safe already.
If we are gonna make an impact higher up the league we need to be competing with the likes of Watford, Leicester, Wolves, Everton, Newcastle and West Ham. Let's be realistic and say we win, say, all of those. Another 36 points.
We tend to win at Anfield and Arsenal so beating them at home shouldn't be too difficult. We are due a win against Man U, I expect it will be like the buzzes and we will get two at once. Chelsea will be in limbo with their transfer ban. Those wins are as good as ours. Can't see Tottenham keeping up their recent form when we click our fingers and take Kane off them. That just leaves Man City. If they only scored six against poxy Watford I don't think the famous Aston Villa have much to worry about.
That's 114 points, then. I'll still be pissed off if we even concede a goal, to be honest.
What makes you think we’ll take 6 off Sheff utd and Norwich as we
Didn’t this year?
I'm glad that that's the only quibble, and I agree. 4 points off those two and 100% agreement with the rest of cd's analysis.
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Vital we get a good start at home. When was the last time we actually had a good home season in premier league, 07-08?
VP will be rocking in August and would imagine our first 4-5 games will be near sell outs regardless of who we play. Getting a couple of early wins will be great and if we can win 8-9 games that's near enough safety.
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The squad as it is plus hopefully a few strong signings I think has me thinking 13-17. But until I see what we have going into the season its hard to say. Around about 15th or 14th for our first season back would do me and we can try and build from there.
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I would take mid table in our first season back and build on it then make progress year on year.
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I'd love to finish above Man U!! Even if they're only mid table or lower.
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Finish 17th. Stay up whatever it takes and progress next season
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If we finish 17th I’ll be very disappointed. Wolves showed an ability to compete against pretty much every team in the division. We won’t be the nightmare Villa teams of Lambert, Garde, Black etc. We will be so much better prepared and confidence will be sky high.
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Between 10th and 15th - don't expect anything in the cups
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If we finish 17th I’ll be very disappointed. Wolves showed an ability to compete against pretty much every team in the division. We won’t be the nightmare Villa teams of Lambert, Garde, Black etc. We will be so much better prepared and confidence will be sky high.
We do not have the team wolves come up with. It will not happen. We will.not do what Wolves did. All we need to do is stay up. The year after expectations can rise a little and again year on year.
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If we finish 17th I’ll be very disappointed. Wolves showed an ability to compete against pretty much every team in the division. We won’t be the nightmare Villa teams of Lambert, Garde, Black etc. We will be so much better prepared and confidence will be sky high.
We do not have the team wolves come up with. It will not happen. We will.not do what Wolves did. All we need to do is stay up. The year after expectations can rise a little and again year on year.
I agree. We've still got a massive amount of work to do on the squad and then integrating those players. Even our current players will need to acclimatise to the Premier League because they don't much experience of it. That goes for Dean too - a novice at that level; he didn't even play in the top flight. Comparing ourselves to Wolves is setting us up for disappointment I think.
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We’re not going up to make up the numbers. Yes we have work to do. But our ability to compete starts with a willingness to do so. We’re not going to just lie down in games like those fucking cowards did the last time we were up. If our objective is just to stay up and finish 17th we may as well have stayed down. I don’t expect miracles, but I certainly don’t see why 8th to 13th wouldn’t be realistically attainable in our first season.
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If we keep Mings and get a decent 15+ goals striker is, top half will be achievable. A new left back, and some real pace in the team is also a must though.
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We’re not going up to make up the numbers. Yes we have work to do. But our ability to compete starts with a willingness to do so. We’re not going to just lie down in games like those fucking cowards did the last time we were up. If our objective is just to stay up and finish 17th we may as well have stayed down. I don’t expect miracles, but I certainly don’t see why 8th to 13th wouldn’t be realistically attainable in our first season.
You don't expect miracles but don't see why we can't finish 8th? I just don't see how that is possible based on our current squad and presumably players we haven't even bought yet.
I admire your optimism TV, as ever, but I'm sorry I cannot see that a case can reasonably be made for that.
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I agree, TV. I'm certain we'll go into the season living up to our club motto for a bastard change.
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We’re not going up to make up the numbers. Yes we have work to do. But our ability to compete starts with a willingness to do so. We’re not going to just lie down in games like those fucking cowards did the last time we were up. If our objective is just to stay up and finish 17th we may as well have stayed down. I don’t expect miracles, but I certainly don’t see why 8th to 13th wouldn’t be realistically attainable in our first season.
8th - I mean come on get serious. Even in the few years we have been out the massive gulf between the haves and have nots has widened. And Wolves were a PL side in the Championship so were much better prepared - we have a thread bare squad and will need to integrate new players fast and hope we don’t stumble like Fulham did.
I think we can achieve relative safety (10th-14th) so long we make the right signings but if we squeak by 17th, I’ll be happy because it means we can continue to build in 20/21.
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So 10th, but not 8th? Two points?
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So 10th, but not 8th? Two points?
It might be goal difference or it might be 12 points. Impossible to say but what it does mean is that we'd have to outperform 12 other Premier League sides.
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I realistically expect us to outperform everyone bar last season's top 7. And I'll be disappointed if we're not giving the dogheads and the worst manu side in a generation a good run for their money.
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I realistically expect us to outperform everyone bar last season's top 7. And I'll be disappointed if we're not giving the dogheads and the worst manu side in a generation a good run for their money.
Based on what?
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With all due respect this thread does sort of explain why villa fans get the reputation of delusion.
With expectations like this from some of the fanbase they won't be giving Smith and the team the time needed to build because if we are in trouble at Christmas you just know they will be the first to call for Smith to be sacked. Insane!
All we need to do is stay up and build the year after. With the team we have at the moment that will be a huge achievement.
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We currently have the worst squad in the division. It's obviously going to improve but I can't see it going past 12 or more other clubs.
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A realistic expectation is to survive the first season without too much drama.
The current squad is a long way off that.
I do not think you can under estimate how much work is needed in the transfer market, and look what happened to Fulham.
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Let's wait and see how we are come August.
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Realistically it’s going to be a relegation battle. If we do better than that I’ll be delighted. I’m sure it’s been posted somewhere here but the last 5 teams to win the championship play off final have all been relegated. Only Huddersfield lasted more than a season. That’s the reality. I’m hoping we buck that trend then improve year on year.
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Depends how much depth we have in the squad, we all witnessed what happened when we lost Grealish for a lengthy period we must have capable players who can step up. Smith is going where many managers have gone plundering clubs for players he feels will do a job for him and that is understandable but we need to have players coming in who are proven premiership quality. The premiership is a big step up even for our best players of last season.
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If we replace Tammy with a mobile, quality forward;
If we buy quality to sit at the base;
If we buy Mings and partner him up with quality;
If we buy quality out wide;
Then we'll give ourselves a good chance. Bit of luck with injuries and who knows. Anybody 7th and below is only a bad run away from a brush with a relegation battle.
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I realistically expect us to outperform everyone bar last season's top 7. And I'll be disappointed if we're not giving the dogheads and the worst manu side in a generation a good run for their money.
This is my concern. That view is completely unrealistic
If we're 18th after 10 games a decent chunk if the fan base will start calling for Smith to go
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I think we need first team level
2 fullbacks.
Centre Defensive Midfielder
Centre Forward.
Wide player.
Centre Half
That’s Assuming we sign Ming’s and Chester is fit enough as back up.
That is a lot to accomplish in one window for a promoted club.
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It is a lot to achieve, but the club has said that they started planning a while ago including both scenarios of if we went up or stayed down.
They’ve already cleared out most of the deadwood (or to be kinder to the likes of Alan Hutton, players who won’t feature much) and it’s barely mid-June. This gives us a bit over two and a half months until the window shuts.
If they can get say two thirds of the new players- the real critical positions that need to be sorted- in before the season starts and finish off the jigsaw through to the end of the window, I reckon that would be a pretty good outcome.
At least we have a core of players who know the manager and coaches and how they operate, so we’re not starting from scratch, far from it.
I still expect a very tough first season though. I know Smith said in that interview that he’s looking to win it and you’ve got to love that attitude. However, I’d be happy just avoiding the relegation dog-fight. And if we are involved, surviving it. Top half would be a massive bonus, as would a cup.
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I've no doubt that we are capable of going out and trading blows with the likes of Brighton, Newcastle, Norwich, Sheff U & Burnley, most likely Palace, Bournemouth and Southampton as well.
Currently, in addition to the positions we all accept need improving on, I think that it's a bit of a gamble to go with Steer as GK as well. If we could prise the Cardiff keeper away for around £10 million, I'd be happy.
I've always felt that we needed PL experience to supplement the squad as someone else mentioned. However, having thought about it, what kind of a PL experienced player can we realistically attract? Teams aren't such easy roll overs now when it comes to signing rivals players. Maybe the correct approach is for a couple of stand out Championship players and a couple of Europeans? Deano tends to prefer younger players with energy, just as Brian Little did.
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We'll finish 12th. Not sure how this got to 10 pages.
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It got to 10 pages because everyone has an opinion on where we are now and what means. And frankly none us knows exactly how we will look when the window closes. All we know is the club have been bullish in their intent and ambitions. To me it means they don’t intend just survive which the Villa we remember and the one that still haunts us.
My take on that is that we will go into every game trying to win. Off course we won’t win them all but we won’t lose them all either. With a positive, attacking attitude, with the squad built out and some top pieces added we can certainly compete in every single game.
From what I watched last year, and it’s only my opinion but the PL is the top 3, then a mix of 4 or 5 clubs for the remaining top 8 and then the rest. I don’t see why with the right additions and momentum from last year which is important, we cannot compete strongly to be the best of the rest.
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Yup, 12th.
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12 points separated 7th and 14th. If you're able to pick your way out of the bottom 6, the rest are really a much of a muchness.
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I'll take anything above 17th in year one!
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For all but 6 clubs, PL is a relegation fight.
The following year, we'll be one of the 6 again.
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I'll take anything above 17th in year one!
Me too. Actually, I'll take 17th. It's a massive leap from the Championship to the Premier League and our squad at the moment is nowhere near ready to challenge some of the other lower Premier League teams. Staying up - without having to go through any last game dramas to do so - would be my realistic expectation. With some great games along the way
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For all but 6 clubs, PL is a relegation fight.
The following year, we'll be one of the 6 again.
I think the word 'realistic' is in the thread title...
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A repeat of 1975 all over again. A League cup win within two years followed by being champions of England and then champions of Europe within the five following years. ;)
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A repeat of 1975 all over again. A League cup win within two years followed by being champions of England and then champions of Europe within the five following years. ;)
And hopefully without relegation within the 5 years following that Damo!
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I did a table predictor and predicted us to finish 12th. By coincidence the bookies have us finishing 12th too.
They reckon it will be -
1 Man C
2 Liverpool
3 Spurs
4 Chelsea
5 Manure
6 Arsenal
7 Wolves
8 Everton
9 Leicester
10 West Ham
11 Newcastle
12 Villa
13 Watford
14 Palace
15 Bournemouth
16 Southampton
17 Sheff U
18 Burnley
19 Brighton
20 Norwich
I agree with most of that except I don't think Newcastle will finish that high and I would swap around Sheff U and Burnley for the last relegation place.
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I think we'll finish 16th.
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I did a table predictor and predicted us to finish 12th. By coincidence the bookies have us finishing 12th too.
They reckon it will be -
1 Man C
2 Liverpool
3 Spurs
4 Chelsea
5 Manure
6 Arsenal
7 Wolves
8 Everton
9 Leicester
10 West Ham
11 Newcastle
12 Villa
13 Watford
14 Palace
15 Bournemouth
16 Southampton
17 Sheff U
18 Burnley
19 Brighton
20 Norwich
I agree with most of that except I don't think Newcastle will finish that high and I would swap around Sheff U and Burnley for the last relegation place.
we did you do the predictor as I would fancy a go
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If we finish 12th it will be a successful season in our first year back.
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With the squad as it is, we'd be almost certain to go down.
Still need at least 2 central defenders, a defensive midfielder, an attacking midfielder and a striker.
Also a Premier-quality keeper would be nice.
Even then we'd have to be lucky with injuries as we'd have very little strength in depth.
I'd settle for staying up and not taking too many batterings.
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I'm going for 9th.
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17th
In the real world between 12th-17th...
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Remember Leicester winning the league in their second season back in the PL? We'll do it in our first. No problem.
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The defence is critical to our chances. Overall the current team is weaker than last seasons play-off final team. Sort the defence and I think we'll finish around mid table. If not, a relegation scrap looms.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
I didn't agree with it but I could sort of understand some of the criticism of Smith before, we had a good spell and then everything fell apart for a couple of months, in that situation it's a judgement call whether you think the manager is worth backing or not, when it happened with Bruce I didn't think he was worth it but I'd seen enough of a Smith team to think he'd come good and give him until the next Christmas and see where we were. Then he exceeded every expectation and got us promoted. That should be enough to see him get this season as a minimum and I hope the fans remember that if we have a tough spell.
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I think it's obvious with that dodgy spell for a couple of months: no Jack or Tuanzebe and Chester playing with a bad knee injury. Jack coming back plus Mings and Tuanzebe getting fit made all the difference.
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Without looking up our results I seem to recall we made a reasonable start to the season the last time we were promoted. We drew our first home game 2-2 against Millwall, won 3-2 at Highbury in our first away game and went two goals up at West Ham and ended up drawing 2-2. I think we also drew 2-2 at Charlton early on in the season and beat Everton at Villa Park 2-0 with a good goal from Tony Daley. If I remember right we were doing okay until the start of the new year and then struggled and stayed up by the skin of our teeth.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
There weren't that many gripes with Smith in the bad run. I know because I was part of the vigilante squad that was ready to batter anyone into incapacity who didn't adhere to the H&V consensus. Stuart445 RIP.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
There weren't that many gripes with Smith in the bad run. I know because I was part of the vigilante squad that was ready to batter anyone into incapacity who didn't adhere to the H&V consensus. Stuart445 RIP.
I think there were more on twitter and facebook, I saw quite a few posts towards the end of January saying we should've kept Bruce and Smith wasn't able to handle the dressing room and the players didn't like him. I remember finding it bizarre that so many people couldn't see that the mess of a defence and Grealish being out had left is with no confidence at all.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
There weren't that many gripes with Smith in the bad run. I know because I was part of the vigilante squad that was ready to batter anyone into incapacity who didn't adhere to the H&V consensus. Stuart445 RIP.
I think there were more on twitter and facebook, I saw quite a few posts towards the end of January saying we should've kept Bruce and Smith wasn't able to handle the dressing room and the players didn't like him. I remember finding it bizarre that so many people couldn't see that the mess of a defence and Grealish being out had left is with no confidence at all.
Fair enough, though Twitter is a sewer.
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I think finishing around mid table would be a good result. I do worry that we're not going to be winning as many games as we have been recently and some fans might not have the patience or the realism. There were after all a few mutterings about Smith after that poor run in the new year. I just hope that even if we are lingering in the bottom half we keep a good atmosphere at Villa Park and stay behind the team and manager, sorry, head coach.
There weren't that many gripes with Smith in the bad run. I know because I was part of the vigilante squad that was ready to batter anyone into incapacity who didn't adhere to the H&V consensus. Stuart445 RIP.
I think there were more on twitter and facebook, I saw quite a few posts towards the end of January saying we should've kept Bruce and Smith wasn't able to handle the dressing room and the players didn't like him. I remember finding it bizarre that so many people couldn't see that the mess of a defence and Grealish being out had left is with no confidence at all.
Fair enough, though Twitter is a sewer.
I generally ignore twitter other than during transfer windows because it's a platform that seems to be designed to eliminate nuance and promote the most extreme response possible to generate followers. Facebook I use more but that's mostly to share stuff with family and observe the misery of most of the people I went to school with. I'm not sure what it is about east Birmingham that makes everyone post nonsense about fake friends and snakes all the time but given how bitchy most of them were at school it feels like karma.
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17th. Look at our squad a month from kick off, we are miles off at the moment. If we finish 17th we have done bloody well this season. Then we need to kick on.
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We just need to stay up this year. Any more is a bonus
In the cold light of day, 5 of 6 play off winners have gone fmatraight back down. And our current squad is quite a bit worse than the one which got promoted. I can't think of many examples of teams coming up and having to do the degree of surgery we're doing. Maybe Watford?
I'll feel better once we've got two centre backs, a keeper and efensice midfielder in and start really drilling them in training
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It's not that long, since we were in the premier league but I remember it as being a fairly sh-t league with anyone of 14 teams (there was the sky 6 and then there were the also-rans) capable of relegation. The refs were crap and blatantly biaised towards the 6 media darlings. I haven't watched it since our relegation, but I can't imagine it has improved all that much and see the only real benefit of it as the money it leaks, but this is usually swallowed up by ridiculous transfer fees and contracts for generally average players.
We were a relegation waiting to happen after MoN threw his dummy out of the pram and walked out on us. We are returning with stability from the very top right the way through the football club and with a head coach in Smith that I trust. With a few extra playing additions I think we'll be fine and will consolidate in our first season back. Thereafter my expectations are to make inroads into the top 6 and to become a challenger rather than an also-ran in order to make it worthwhile being back in the orem league. UTV!
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We're so far off the top 6
My worry is that too many of our fans expect us to be there withing two years
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The defence is critical to our chances. Overall the current team is weaker than last seasons play-off final team. Sort the defence and I think we'll finish around mid table. If not, a relegation scrap looms.
Not sure I completely agree with this. Sure we need another 2 CBs and we know they are after Mings and Webster, but the we have upgraded the 2 full backs and we have Hause and Chessie if one of the new boys don’t come through
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The defence is critical to our chances. Overall the current team is weaker than last seasons play-off final team. Sort the defence and I think we'll finish around mid table. If not, a relegation scrap looms.
Not sure I completely agree with this. Sure we need another 2 CBs and we know they are after Mings and Webster, but the we have upgraded the 2 full backs and we have Hause and Chessie if one of the new boys don’t come through
Aside from the full-backs (both largely untested, let's be realistic), we are undoubtedly weaker. We've lost our top goalscorer and two very solid centre-halves, the former we've replaced with another largely untested player and the latter have yet to be replaced.
This isn't a doom and gloom post - yes I am aware we have a month left til the window shuts - but it's the reality of the situation we are in. And the way the market is, we need to either have to stump up the cash for quality or be willing to take bigger risks on the likes of Cahill + youth prospect.
I fully expect we'll pay big money for at least 1 centre-half in the coming weeks. But need to acknowledge there is a chance that we don't get the one(s) we want/need.
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There will be a top ten and a bottom ten and we will probably be in the latter. What we need to do is win our games against the rest of the bottom ten. As for the top teams let's hope they all go on long runs in Europe again and clock up lots of extra games.
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Wolves, Watford, Bournemouth, Palace as examples all showed last season that the teams at the top can be beaten. At minimum with the right plan we can compete in every game this season. Yes we have to win the games against those outside of who we expect to be the top six but that said we can take points against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U.
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We still need 3 or 4 first team players to stay up and further squad strengthening.
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Wolves, Watford, Bournemouth, Palace as examples all showed last season that the teams at the top can be beaten. At minimum with the right plan we can compete in every game this season. Yes we have to win the games against those outside of who we expect to be the top six but that said we can take points against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U.
Wolves raised their game against the top teams and won some points but on the other side of the coin they dropped some silly points against the struggling sides.
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Wolves squad was very strong when they went up, so they're a bit of a freak compared to other promoted teams. We'll be the strongest of the promoted teams, plus there's 3 or teams already there who are piss poor, so I'll settle for 13th.
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After the euphoria of our win at Wembley and being able wear ours colours with pride around the pool in Rhodes it's now starting to dawn on me that the next bit ( surviving in the Premier League) is a bigger task than I anticipated - the transfer fees being suggested are absolutely ridiculous even for bang average players - I am Sure that Dean and the owners are aware of the enormity of the task ahead - it's going to be an interesting ride
I will be reasonably happy with 15th
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An additional centre back, keeper (not essential but preferable) , an extra striker and holing midfielder should get us up to at least 10th. The issue would be injuries and bans - a lot moe cards are shown in the premiership
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Add two wingers, please. I like wingers.
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The most pressing issue is DM.
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I'll be happy to finish 8-12th. However, an old school Citeh supporting friend of mine thinks we'll finish top 6. ??? I told him to lay off the booze.
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No chance of finishing above 8th. Even if we get our target incomings, the squad as a whole is lacking. An injury to Mings or jack will set us back
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I'd take 17th now.
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FFS chaps this is Aston Villa not some second rate promotion/relegation team. We have always been top 6 and I expect nothing less. Sure it’s going to cost us this year but we have minted owners. Citeh bucked the trend and you just never know
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We have always been top 6 and I expect nothing less.
We really haven't.
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No chance of finishing above 8th. Even if we get our target incomings, the squad as a whole is lacking. An injury to Mings or jack will set us back
You can say that about most clubs if they lost their best two players.
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FFS chaps this is Aston Villa not some second rate promotion/relegation team. We have always been top 6 and I expect nothing less. Sure it’s going to cost us this year but we have minted owners. Citeh bucked the trend and you just never know
Exactly. We're not fucking Huddersfield (no disrespect etc etc).
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Expectations just went up a fair bit after signing Ming’s on a permanent deal
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Ok so depending on waht happens with the Arse and Man U one or even 2 of Everton, Leicester and Wolves could break into top 6. I'd expect West Ham and Burnley this year to be comfortable mid table.
That leaves us and 8 others in the mix for relegation
Palace - Lose Saha and either others will step up or they will start to sink. Woy's hardest season since his Liverpool sojourn.
Newcastle - they look doomed short of a quick sale and quick purchases.
Watford - I think that this is the season they struggle and it will be interesting to see how they cope with a dogfight.
Southampton - they have been flirting and exepct them to be back in the mix.
Bournemouth - probably enough to be at the upper end of this 9
Brighton - see Soton
Us - well depends on how quick the newbies hit the ground and frankly whether they are good enough at this level.
Sheff U / Naarwich - more continuity than Villa but do either have the quality?
So I am picking Newcastle, Watford and Soton with us, the Blades and Canaries to stay up
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Sheffield United will go down. They've a team of League One players and they won't have enough in the big league.
Norwich will make a good fist of it.
Southampton and Newcastle will struggle.
Bournemouth will be in the mix as will Brighton.
We could end up anywhere. Could do a Wolves, could do a Derby/Sunderland/Huddersfield/Us...
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If I'm honest I'm not sure why you'd put Burnley into midtable, I'd have them in the bottom half and if Leicester do lose McGuire then I doubt they'll be getting anywhere near the top 6. I'd have the top 6 stay as it has for a few years, everton and wolves playing for 7th and 8th and then West Ham and Leicester slightly ahead of the bottom half pack along with 1-2 that do better than expected. I also think 1-2 sides will be cast adrift at the bottom (I suspect Sheef Utd could really struggle if they don't get a strong start).
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If I'm honest I'm not sure why you'd put Burnley into midtable, I'd have them in the bottom half and if Leicester do lose McGuire then I doubt they'll be getting anywhere near the top 6. I'd have the top 6 stay as it has for a few years, everton and wolves playing for 7th and 8th and then West Ham and Leicester slightly ahead of the bottom half pack along with 1-2 that do better than expected. I also think 1-2 sides will be cast adrift at the bottom (I suspect Sheef Utd could really struggle if they don't get a strong start).
Not so sure about that top 6. Man Utd have all sorts of problems including a crap manager who'll be gone by Christmas. Chelsea have a transfer ban and a manager they've given the job to at least two years too early. Man City and Liverpool will be top two again, with Spurs third. I can well see Man U having a Moyes type stinker.
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If I'm honest I'm not sure why you'd put Burnley into midtable, I'd have them in the bottom half and if Leicester do lose McGuire then I doubt they'll be getting anywhere near the top 6. I'd have the top 6 stay as it has for a few years, everton and wolves playing for 7th and 8th and then West Ham and Leicester slightly ahead of the bottom half pack along with 1-2 that do better than expected. I also think 1-2 sides will be cast adrift at the bottom (I suspect Sheef Utd could really struggle if they don't get a strong start).
Leicester will have 80m to spend if they lose MaGuire and recently they have done rather well at continuity planning. Tielemans looks like he is on way there.
Burnley have an excellent manager struggled last year due to Europa League messing their pre season up. No way do they have a squad good enough to do both.
Well yes my thinking is both Sheff Utd and Norwich will take momentum into this season and het a good start.
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We are in this mini league
Newcastle Southampton Norwich Sheffield Utd Watford Bournemouth Brighton Villa
Any of these could have a dodgy spell and end up in our league.
Wolves Burnley Everton Palace west Ham Leicester
The top spots not in this order,
Spurs Chelsea Arse Citeh Manure Lpool
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Survival. Anything else is a bonus.
Winning at Wolves would make me unusually elated as they seem to see us a rival these days.
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Survival too - Sheffield, Brighton, Newcastle, Norwich and Southampton will be in the mix. Beat 3 of them and it's all good. Avoiding any high defeats as well - I don't want to see us let 4 in against the big boys.
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I had voted 13th - 17th but I'm feeling more 8th - 12th now.
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I might be reading too much into this, probably am, but when I see this pic, especially of the usually very stoic/grumpy BB showing this much enthusiasm/joy at practice it gives me a lot of hope for the season because of how together this squad is right now. It’s all part of business that some of these players maybe elsewhere come August but it is a very unified group. Something we just didn’t have last time around in the PL.
(https://i.ibb.co/qCNNRVb/D2-B826-DF-B894-4335-B513-D356525-C1-D54.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qCNNRVb)
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
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If we finish 17th, I'd be delighted. But there's a sneaking feeling inside me that we're on the verge of something special. I don't want to say it because it's totally batshit crazy, but you know ... it's nice having that feeling of looking at the top half of the premier league and thinking to yourself "well obviously we're going to beat them ..."
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If we are looking like we are safe going into January I'd like to see us go all out for the League Cup should we still be in it.
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Avoid relegation for the next 30-300 years and reaffirm everyone's view that we are a top 6 side.
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If we are looking like we are safe going into January I'd like to see us go all out for the League Cup should we still be in it.
I'd imagine we would be regardless as we'd be in the semis in Jan.
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Not sure why people think Wolves will carry on where they left off. They dropped loads of points against the bus parking sides, and the big boys, who they did well against last season, won’t underestimate them second time around. Halfway or below for them, I reckon.
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If we are looking like we are safe going into January I'd like to see us go all out for the League Cup should we still be in it.
I'd imagine we would be regardless as we'd be in the semis in Jan.
Maybe the FA Cup then. I just mean I want us to take them seriously. I'm a bit dizzy from all the excitement over the past few days sorry.
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I did a PL table predictor weeks ago but looking back at it now there are a number of changes I would make. I had us as twelfth but I would fancy us now for tenth. I do think the title will be between Man City and Liverpool again. Manure, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea will probably be in the following pack. I reckon the next group will include Everton, Leicester and Villa. Then Wolves ,Watford, Southampton and West Ham. Leaving Bournemouth, Newcastle, Palace, Burnley, Norwich, Sheff U and Brighton to struggle.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
Ercall Colts were a big team. I played mostly for All Saints Boys Guild but also played for Glynwed Boys and Orleton Colts. I didn't finger Diana Rigg if memory serves.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
Ercall Colts were a big team. I played mostly for All Saints Boys Guild but also played for Glynwed Boys and Orleton Colts. I didn't finger Diana Rigg if memory serves.
Apologies for the megaquote. Did All Saints play in stripes? I have a feeling that I scored from the halfway line against them! How old are you Tayls?
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
Ercall Colts were a big team. I played mostly for All Saints Boys Guild but also played for Glynwed Boys and Orleton Colts. I didn't finger Diana Rigg if memory serves.
Apologies for the megaquote. Did All Saints play in stripes? I have a feeling that I scored from the halfway line against them! How old are you Tayls?
Yes. ASBG were based in Stirchley. We played in a Celtic strip , even with the number on the back of our shorts. I'm 48. I must have played Ercall Colts more times than I can recount but no fixture stands out. I do remember going to a pub at the top of Wellington in Ercall to have a picture taken with the European Cup in 82.
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Ah, I'm 41. I was hoping that the ball had sailed over your head! It actually can't have been All Saints (I'd have remembered green and white), I think they were playing in red and black.
What. A. Goal.
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Ah, I'm 41. I was hoping that the ball had sailed over your head! It actually can't have been All Saints (I'd have remembered green and white), I think they were playing in red and black.
What. A. Goal.
Ha ha. It sounds it. Red and Black? Not sure. It might have been Admaston?
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Ah, I'm 41. I was hoping that the ball had sailed over your head! It actually can't have been All Saints (I'd have remembered green and white), I think they were playing in red and black.
What. A. Goal.
Ha ha. It sounds it. Red and Black? Not sure. It might have been Admaston?
I scored a couple against them too ;-) but I don't think so (actually, I know so, because they fucked everyone they faced. Their striker got 50 goals one season. Stuart someone). Maybe Leegomery or Randlay We won 4-2.
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It was All Saints. They must have changed colours, or wearing an away kit, even though they didn't need to, to try to sell shirts in Shifnal.
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"Daddy, who was that number eight in the claret and blue with all the skills and goals?"
"That boy, son, will go on to create some of the most effective ad campaigns since 'we hope it's chips, it's chips'"
"Can I touch the hem of his His garment?"
"No. We haven't even got an outdoor town centre."
"That makes sense. I bet that people with no knowledge, experience or care for the Telford Junior League are enjoying this interruption to their chat."
"I imagine that they are, son. One last thing before I go. I'm as barren as the Gobi desert, so you almost certainly don't exist. Also, are you going to pay for that butterless toast? I'm not interested in the bacon."
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
Is Ercall an actual place? My nan lived in Ercall Close just off The Ridgeway by Witton Cemetary but I'd never heard another reference to it until your post.
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"Last night I dreamt I went to Malinslee again..."
I'm abandoning the quoteathon but that was awesome. Thank you gentlemen.
I may just have seen Tayls play for Orleton and would probably have known a few of his teammates.
Ah well. What thread is this again? Oh yes - we're going to win the league, you know.
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"Last night I dreamt I went to Malinslee again..."
I'm abandoning the quoteathon but that was awesome. Thank you gentlemen.
I may just have seen Tayls play for Orleton and would probably have known a few of his teammates.
Ah well. What thread is this again? Oh yes - we're going to win the league, you know.
Mr.Lucas was my manager at Orleton Colts. His son, David Lucas, was Centre Half. His brother was Down's Syndrome and used to allow me to share his comics on the way to fixtures.
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I turned out for Woofferton FC Juniors a few times but the fact that I was absolutely gash as a player meant that my opportunities were somewhat limited and I defected to the eggball lot in the end.
Was Mr Lucas a teacher? Dim and distant memories...
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I turned out for Woofferton FC Juniors a few times but the fact that I was absolutely gash as a player meant that my opportunities were somewhat limited and I defected to the eggball lot in the end.
Was Mr Lucas a teacher? Dim and distant memories...
I don't think he was. He didn’t have a tweed jacket with elbow patches or an Admiral tracksuit. He was Mike Lucas and his sons, David and Stephen. Lovely family. Carted me everywhere.
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17th and win the FA cup.
We can dream cant we?
If we're dreaming you can lose the 7 and replace the 'th' with 'st'.
Well now, monner. I was just on the verge of writing something along the lines of recalling Deano's affirmation that he would be setting out to win every match in which we participate when I saw your own post.
My mind is often filled with pipe dreams and impossibilities (I will never get off with a young Diana Rigg, for example, even if I have spent longer today thinking about that than I should), but seeing Super Jack lifting the Premier League Champions Trophy next May doesn't currently seem completely beyond the realms of possibility.
Anyway, those Dingles, eh? completely delusional.
I don't know how you're bist this weekend, Rodders, but I have a fancy that the young Dianna Rigg wouldn't mind at all if you called at her Wrockwadine Wood abode.
Wolves are an absolute disgrace, and have been since Andy Mutch fucked off.
In Shropshire junior football Clangers were from Wrockwardine Wood. I wonder if Diana had any Clangers?
I played for Ercall Colts (in claret and blue). I did finger Dianna Rigg but I didn't encounter Clangers.
Edited for reasons of quite disgusting smutty humour.
Is Ercall an actual place? My nan lived in Ercall Close just off The Ridgeway by Witton Cemetary but I'd never heard another reference to it until your post.
Yes. It's the woods at the ground level of the Wrekin. There's (or at least there was) an Ercall Wood secondary school.
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My mistake then, Tayls. I remember a teacher at (Ludlow) school with two sons just as you have described, so wondered if they could be one and the same.
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I’m ashamed to admit this, but it is a bit scary looking at the PL and realising how tough the opposition is compared with the championship. I guess 3 seasons is enough to get tuned into thinking every game is winnable. A couple of wins will settle the nerves, but I’ll be happy with a season of survival and go from there to be honest.
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There is also some dross. Brighton, Newcastle, Palace also the other 2 promoted teams, they have not bought anyone really so would expect us to finish above them
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Finish above Wolves now that Luiz is signing for us. Player for player their midfield can't match Jack, SJM & Douglas. I wouldn't swap Boly for Tyrone.
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So I kicked this off on May 28th and everything that has happened since has led me to cement my views of where we can finish this season. Still think it will be solid mid table. 9th is very doable at the moment given the inactivity of many of the clubs who will be competing against in that mini league.
How about everyone else?
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I turned out for Woofferton FC Juniors a few times but the fact that I was absolutely gash as a player meant that my opportunities were somewhat limited and I defected to the eggball lot in the end.
Was Mr Lucas a teacher? Dim and distant memories...
I don't think he was. He didn’t have a tweed jacket with elbow patches or an Admiral tracksuit. He was Mike Lucas and his sons, David and Stephen. Lovely family. Carted me everywhere.
Blimey.. remember Woorferton when I played for bewdley town
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Survival plain and simple.
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I genuinely think 10th is do-able, I have had a couple of JD and cokes mind.
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Survival plain and simple.
I'm with you Passport. I understand the optimism but limiting expectations will make exceding them more enjoyable, and ultimately, we must stabilise and remain in this league we belong to.
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I'm looking for survival, whether that's by one or two places. We've had a massive overhaul. Some of our signings will come off, some won't.
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As incredibly exciting as this transfer window has been, I would be so happy with survival. I remember when we went down how apparent the lack of speed and quality was in the Championship. I worry we may have become accustomed to that, but only time will tell. On the other hand, on paper our squad is starting to look competitive for mid-table, so I can sort of see why people may predict that. Whatever happens, we should relish and thoroughly enjoy this season.
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Survival plain and simple.
I'm with you Passport. I understand the optimism but limiting expectations will make exceding them more enjoyable, and ultimately, we must stabilise and remain in this league we belong to.
Totally agree. Survival is a must - anything beyond that year 1 is a terrific bonus.
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Survival with games to spare will be a relief - I'd be over the moon with anything above 14th place
Plus beating Newton Heath at Villa Park
Obviously points against Liverpool and Everton will be appreciated :)
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I can see us finishing the season right below Wolves. 2nd it is.
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I've supported the Villa since 1970. First game? Chesterfield away. 2-3. Never, since 1981 have I felt so excited by whatever follows in a season. I'm so f**in' excited that I've even joined the H&V forum, FFS.
Look... We've never experienced such an investment in the future before. It's left me delirious (ok... not helped by two strokes and a few whiskeys). I'll leave the debates about the qualities of players to younger souls. Me? Expectations? I've been through the worst and lived in depression for years as a result, but now?
Through this management, JG and the team, we've never had a better opportunity. It's different but as unique since the days of the treasured George Ramsay (the first super manager in UK footballing history) and dear Ron Saunders. I have no idea what will happen. I don't expect to be in either the top six nor the bottom three. If we do the latter, I hope the management will reward fans as the management of Brechin City did in their 2017-18 season, with free beer, for no wins and a -70 g.d.).
Whatever happens, there's now hope and faith into both the team and support and, FFS, we've got players who really want to play for us. Thank God the last thirteen plus years are over. First, last or somewhere in the middle? WTF. It's just good to be a Villa fan with an expectation of at least half a chance of something for a change. Anyway, "We don't care..." and "When I was young", etc.... Villa. Always. In any circumstance.
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Welcome on board PictAV
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I've supported the Villa since 1970. First game? Chesterfield away. 2-3. Never, since 1981 have I felt so excited by whatever follows in a season. I'm so f**in' excited that I've even joined the H&V forum, FFS.
Look... We've never experienced such an investment in the future before. It's left me delirious (ok... not helped by two strokes and a few whiskeys). I'll leave the debates about the qualities of players to younger souls. Me? Expectations? I've been through the worst and lived in depression for years as a result, but now?
Through this management, JG and the team, we've never had a better opportunity. It's different but as unique since the days of the treasured George Ramsay (the first super manager in UK footballing history) and dear Ron Saunders. I have no idea what will happen. I don't expect to be in either the top six nor the bottom three. If we do the latter, I hope the management will reward fans as the management of Brechin City did in their 2017-18 season, with free beer, for no wins and a -70 g.d.).
Whatever happens, there's now hope and faith into both the team and support and, FFS, we've got players who really want to play for us. Thank God the last thirteen plus years are over. First, last or somewhere in the middle? WTF. It's just good to be a Villa fan with an expectation of at least half a chance of something for a change. Anyway, "We don't care..." and "When I was young", etc.... Villa. Always. In any circumstance.
Welcome, 👍🏿
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I've supported the Villa since 1970. First game? Chesterfield away. 2-3. Never, since 1981 have I felt so excited by whatever follows in a season. I'm so f**in' excited that I've even joined the H&V forum, FFS.
Look... We've never experienced such an investment in the future before. It's left me delirious (ok... not helped by two strokes and a few whiskeys). I'll leave the debates about the qualities of players to younger souls. Me? Expectations? I've been through the worst and lived in depression for years as a result, but now?
Through this management, JG and the team, we've never had a better opportunity. It's different but as unique since the days of the treasured George Ramsay (the first super manager in UK footballing history) and dear Ron Saunders. I have no idea what will happen. I don't expect to be in either the top six nor the bottom three. If we do the latter, I hope the management will reward fans as the management of Brechin City did in their 2017-18 season, with free beer, for no wins and a -70 g.d.).
Whatever happens, there's now hope and faith into both the team and support and, FFS, we've got players who really want to play for us. Thank God the last thirteen plus years are over. First, last or somewhere in the middle? WTF. It's just good to be a Villa fan with an expectation of at least half a chance of something for a change. Anyway, "We don't care..." and "When I was young", etc.... Villa. Always. In any circumstance.
Harrumph.
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UP THE FUCKING VILLA
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Welcome PictAV, great 1st post, my sentiments entirely UTV
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George Ramsay was the manager. It says so on his census record.
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The obsession is all ours, welcome.
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George Ramsay was the manager. It says so on his census record.
And? I was described on the last one as 'Philanthropist'.
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I’m very excited by all of the transfer business, but there's a danger of getting carried away by expectations. With the exception of the returning players we had on loan, we know very little of the new players, whether they are really any good and how they’ll fit in.
The other thing for me now is that this is a massive gamble to the tune of $120-30 million. High stakes. Very high pressure on the manager. And high expectations from the fans. A month or so ago, I’d have happily accepted finishing 17th. Now that would seem an under-achievement in the context and I reckon probably 10th is where the bar is set.
The other thought is, knowing a bit about Purslow now and how he operates, planning for different scenarios, I can’t help but wonder what his plan will be if we’re bottom three in November. Will he stick, or twist?
For Villa supporters this season is shaping up to be the most interesting for a long time. I can hardly wait. Been more into the cricket last 10-15 years, but the Villa have got my attention over the Ashes now for sure.
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The thing is it’s not a gamble is it? We lost 11 players most of whom were simply not good enough for the PL so we would have come straight back down. The only part that is a gamble is the amount we are spending and buying young and hungry with no PL experience, but to be honest if we had gone the MON route and bought average experienced PL players (Zat Knight anyone) then that would be the greater gamble!
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For the first time in a long time our Management is leading by good example through all their hard work and professionalism. All players know what is expected from them. Our days of being a 'Butlin's Camp' for players like Gabby, Richards and others are over.
Time will tell, but our squad seems to be building nicely. We have the options to cater for a number of formations, injuries, suspensions etc. Great foresight and ambition has been shown.
I think we are capable of finishing between 10th and 14th this season with a view to the Big 6 becoming the Big 7 the following season!!!
My major concern is how all our new players who have not been selected in the starting eleven react. Man management is going to be paramount next season. People like John Terry are going to have a massive role to play behind the scenes.
Up the Villa.
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FourFourTwo magazines season preview has us as finishing 16th. But we have probably signed a number of players since it originally went to press. They have got Albion to win the Championship and Small Heath to be relegated in 23rd place. They have got Sheffield United, Newcastle and Brighton to go down from the Premier League, with Norwich as the other team below us.
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Erm...... can you reset the vote ? I’ve had a rare burst of optimism.
Nurse!!
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FourFourTwo magazines season preview has us as finishing 16th. But we have probably signed a number of players since it originally went to press. They have got Albion to win the Championship and Small Heath to be relegated in 23rd place. They have got Sheffield United, Newcastle and Brighton to go down from the Premier League, with Norwich as the other team below us.
I'd take all that, except the Boggies.
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What I have really enjoyed about pre season games so far is our dedication to dominating possession. We’re obviously not going to do that every game in the PL but it’s getting it ingrained as part of the club playing culture that is incredibly encouraging.
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What I have really enjoyed about pre season games so far is our dedication to dominating possession. We’re obviously not going to do that every game in the PL but it’s getting it ingrained as part of the club playing culture that is incredibly encouraging.
Surely that says as much about the opposition as anything.
But I agree, it's a great philosophy to set out with.
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I can see us finishing the season right below Wolves. 2nd it is.
Wolves sign Real Madrid centre-back on loan!
Wolves now a feeder club for Real.
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What I have really enjoyed about pre season games so far is our dedication to dominating possession. We’re obviously not going to do that every game in the PL but it’s getting it ingrained as part of the club playing culture that is incredibly encouraging.
Surely that says as much about the opposition as anything.
But I agree, it's a great philosophy to set out with.
To a point yes. But in the past PL seasons and certainly when we went down almost every team dominated possession against us. Much of that was us being shit but a lot was down to how the manager sent us out. To pinch a win. We will play a lot of teams this season who won’t set up like us and we have to take advantage.
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I'm looking forward to watching us at home.
So many times and even in seasons we finished 6th, we underwhelmed at VP.
Would love us to get a few early wins against likes of Bournemouth, Burnley and West Ham and have a target of 10 home wins. Think we've only won that amount once in last 15 seasons in premier league (07/08). Home wins over Man. United and Arsenal to break the psychological struggles v those would be great aswell.
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I think Taylor mkII was the last time we won more than 10 at home in a very long time.
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I think we won 11 at home in 07/08.
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A home win vs MU is long overdue. And I don't just want a win, I want to see the away supporters booing their team after Jack Grealish rounds the keeper and rolls in our 6th in a 6-0 win 😎
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The thing is it’s not a gamble is it? We lost 11 players most of whom were simply not good enough for the PL so we would have come straight back down. The only part that is a gamble is the amount we are spending and buying young and hungry with no PL experience, but to be honest if we had gone the MON route and bought average experienced PL players (Zat Knight anyone) then that would be the greater gamble!
the financial gamble was my point
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3 weeks ago I would have said 17th and I am happy. Now I think we will finish around 12-15th. We are an explosive forward option and a solid premier league quality keeper away from 10-12th in my opinion now.
Like Soccer said, I want to see is attack sides at home, I want to see a goal like Jack scored at Rotherham in the premier league where it gets the adulation and credit that it deserves, I want to see McGinn making other sides realise that Aston Villa have not turned up to be rolled over, that we are back and we are back to play. Smith et al have given the club their identity back and the fans their love for it back, I want to see that positive energy taken into the season and really given the chance to shine.
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Right now I think we'll stay up comfortably but I'd guess most teams think that at the moment. The recruitment looks good and if the club keeps the feelgood factor rolling we could be in for an enjoyable season. 12th to 14th with no drama is realistic I think but equally I'd take 17th and a last day escape.
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Right now I think we'll stay up comfortably but I'd guess most teams think that at the moment. The recruitment looks good and if the club keeps the feelgood factor rolling we could be in for an enjoyable season. 12th to 14th with no drama is realistic I think but equally I'd take 17th and a last day escape.
I wouldn't tbh. 17th to me either means long spells of season in bottom 3 so long winless runs and struggling to score goals (if the Lambert seasons were anything to go by) or we're comfortable in mid table and then decline in last few months which would put Smith's job under massive threat (if you don't believe it look at how Brighton casually dismissed Hughton a day after final game and they're a very well run club).
When you look at our fixture list we play one top 6 club at home up to start of January. We have many winnable home games first half of the season so it is there to get up to 15 points by October, 25 by xmas fixtures and generally have a decent gap over the teams that have harder starts and only win one of their first 10 like Newcastle I think did last year.
Want a comfortable season where we stay around mid table area, play good football home and away and take a few big scalps. Maybe it's too good to true but I imagine the owners are thininking they've invested 100m + not to be in bottom 3 for large chunks of the season. Certainly Sheffield United and Norwich have barely spent anything compared to us.
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Think it could be a bit like Lambert's first season. Slow start with a relatively young side only to pick up after January and finish well. Hopefully won't be like Lambert's second and third seasons!!
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George Ramsay was the manager. It says so on his census record.
And? I was described on the last one as 'Philanthropist'.
That is a posh word for a stamp collector isn't it? ;)
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I do think with the depth of our squad this coming season that we'll be able to take the cup competitions seriously.
Then we'll have to face the problem of having 30,000 season ticket holders at Cup Final ticket allocation time.
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Was up in Fleetwood today - wearing a Villa Tee shirt - and a Blue Nose from St Annes (originally from Sutton Coldfield) shook my hand and wished us all the best for the coming season .........I was still in shock when a Burnley fan came up to me and said
..."your club are spending some money ......do you think you will do a Fulham?"
Sigh ......
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I do think with the depth of our squad this coming season that we'll be able to take the cup competitions seriously.
Then we'll have to face the problem of having 30,000 season ticket holders at Cup Final ticket allocation time.
League Cup Final, we’d be fine as 33k allocation from recollection. FA Cup Final more of a problem as that’s only 28k I think?
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The minimum requirement for me is to stay out of the bottom six for most, if not all of the season.
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I've put £50 on a top 4 finish. Was going to put it on us to win the title at 1,000/1, but that would have been unrealistic.
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Survival and win the League Cup.
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Right now I think we'll stay up comfortably but I'd guess most teams think that at the moment. The recruitment looks good and if the club keeps the feelgood factor rolling we could be in for an enjoyable season. 12th to 14th with no drama is realistic I think but equally I'd take 17th and a last day escape.
I wouldn't tbh. 17th to me either means long spells of season in bottom 3 so long winless runs and struggling to score goals (if the Lambert seasons were anything to go by) or we're comfortable in mid table and then decline in last few months which would put Smith's job under massive threat (if you don't believe it look at how Brighton casually dismissed Hughton a day after final game and they're a very well run club).
When you look at our fixture list we play one top 6 club at home up to start of January. We have many winnable home games first half of the season so it is there to get up to 15 points by October, 25 by xmas fixtures and generally have a decent gap over the teams that have harder starts and only win one of their first 10 like Newcastle I think did last year.
Want a comfortable season where we stay around mid table area, play good football home and away and take a few big scalps. Maybe it's too good to true but I imagine the owners are thininking they've invested 100m + not to be in bottom 3 for large chunks of the season. Certainly Sheffield United and Norwich have barely spent anything compared to us.
I'd happily take 17th. After watching on Saturday we are lacking firepower/cutting edge to trouble PL defences IMO (having not seen Wes play) so unless we add some depth there I think we may struggle for goals. I think we will take time to step-up/settle and gel and we all need to be patient if this happens. Once settled I think we'll be OK.
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had a debate on this in the office this morning, got the usual "doing a Fulham" and "Villa fans gtting ahead of themselves" when I predicted 9-12th place finish. The most sensible comment was "you need to score regular goals in this league, you are up for a relegation battle if you dont" which if im honest, is my one worry in terms of our strike force. We dont know how Wesley will perform. Im not filled with confidence by Hogan, RHM or Davies and rumours are Kodjia will be gone this week. The only saving grace is that in Grealish, McGinn, El Ghazi, Jota, Trezeguet, Hourihane and Even Green and Lansbury, We have a MF that is full of goals and will hopefully make up the difference.
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season
5-0 thumping then :'(
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season.
As I said before, lump on that, it's free money. We're riding the wave of the feel good factor and have played well in pre-season. Harry Kane has never scored on the first day of the season either. 2-0 Villa.
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Optimistic 10th to 14th, pessimistic 14th to 17th.
There’s some utter dross in the PL and we need to rise above the Burnley’s, Watford’s, Palace’s and Southampton’s which I’m sure we are well equipped to do.
I’m expecting a few pleasant surprises along the way including a decent cup run.
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season.
As I said before, lump on that, it's free money. We're riding the wave of the feel good factor and have played well in pre-season. Harry Kane has never scored on the first day of the season either. 2-0 Villa.
Ffs.
I know who I'll be making Fantasy League captain in week one.
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season.
As I said before, lump on that, it's free money. We're riding the wave of the feel good factor and have played well in pre-season. Harry Kane has never scored on the first day of the season either. 2-0 Villa.
Ffs.
I know who ill be making Fantasy League captain in week one.
My advice would be Tyrone Mings. Nice big clean sheet bonus.
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Free money 😂
It's not but it is tempting.
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It does seem generous. I never bet on Villa, though, so it's a no from me.
If someone can persuade Damo to bet on Tottenham, I might start to fancy our chances.
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I've got Wesley and Jack in my dream team.
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Anyone want to do a PL league through draft? It’s an option of the PL site. 8 teams max I believe.
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I can do that if you want. I have no idea what I'm doing as I've hardly watched the Premier League in the last three years!
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It does seem generous. I never bet on Villa, though, so it's a no from me.
If someone can persuade Damo to bet on Tottenham, I might start to fancy our chances.
My football betting diary is already filled in and completed right up until the end of August.
Saturday 10th August 530pm Spurs 2 Villa 0
Your welcome ;)
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Apologies if this has been posted already but this is the Graun's piece on the forthcoming season. They have us finishing 15th. Plenty of discussion BTL too but it's perhaps best avoided by those easily offended.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa#comment-131501930 (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa#comment-131501930)
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It does seem generous. I never bet on Villa, though, so it's a no from me.
If someone can persuade Damo to bet on Tottenham, I might start to fancy our chances.
My football betting diary is already filled in and completed right up until the end of August.
Saturday 10th August 530pm Spurs 2 Villa 0
Your welcome ;)
YEEEESSSS!!!
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season.
As I said before, lump on that, it's free money. We're riding the wave of the feel good factor and have played well in pre-season. Harry Kane has never scored on the first day of the season either. 2-0 Villa.
We still owe them for that 3-0 humping at our place on the first day of the 86-7 relegation season.
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I am not a betting man and especially not on anything to do with Villa as it would be the ultimate kiss of death
But I took a look at the odds checker tool for the game against Spurs and even though I know they are a very decent team we are 12/1 to win the game - 12 to fucking 1 in an opening day fixture against a team that was promoted and on a high from Pre season.
As I said before, lump on that, it's free money. We're riding the wave of the feel good factor and have played well in pre-season. Harry Kane has never scored on the first day of the season either. 2-0 Villa.
We still owe them for that 3-0 humping at our place on the first day of the 86-7 relegation season.
What a letdown after we had bought Hunt and Blair in the March deadline and rallied to avoid relegation. We then 'strengthened' by buying Keown, Cooper and Thompson and things seemed to be looking up. Didn't Clive Allen get a hat-trick that day and go on to score 49 goals that season?
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Apologies if this has been posted already but this is the Graun's piece on the forthcoming season. They have us finishing 15th. Plenty of discussion BTL too but it's perhaps best avoided by those easily offended.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa#comment-131501930 (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa#comment-131501930)
There's a Leeds fan on there having a blub about "diving" Grealish. Repeatedly.
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Seems a pretty fair analysis, though life is too short to read btl.
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Not sure whether the link below deserves its own thread, but the guardian writers’ average of their predictions of where we will finish, seem to match the current poll results in this thread. Fairly well balanced piece, I thought:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa
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If the likes of Watford, Brighton and fucking Bournemouth can stay up, we most certainly can.
I actually think a lot of the teams in the Premier League are not much better than Championship sides, there's such a gulf in class between the rich Champions League lot and the rest.
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Man City and Liverpool are a class above. Not sure about the rest. Man U look very average to me. Obviously we will lose to them home and away regardless of how badly they play.
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Not sure whether the link below deserves its own thread, but the guardian writers’ average of their predictions of where we will finish, seem to match the current poll results in this thread. Fairly well balanced piece, I thought:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa
I agree with most of the article, think we will stop up, we will, I think have a couple of difficult times and finish a respectable 12th
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Not sure if it's been posted but there was a preview on the Reddit forum. Had Kalinic as number one, Tyrone Mings as left back and Bjarnsson playing the number 10 role with Grealish seemingly in the impact sub role this year....
Even with all that they guy still had us finishing 12th. Two places higher than I predict.
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Not sure whether the link below deserves its own thread, but the guardian writers’ average of their predictions of where we will finish, seem to match the current poll results in this thread. Fairly well balanced piece, I thought:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/29/premier-league-201920-preview-no-2-aston-villa
I agree with most of the article, think we will stop up, we will, I think have a couple of difficult times and finish a respectable 12th
Good article I think. Been reading the comments and there's a fair few having a dig at us including some Leeds prick obsessed with us stealing a point by bullying Bielsa into giving us a goal. What a radish as someone once said.
In the more reasoned posts there's speculation on the 5 teams who will finish below us if we do end up 15th. The usual suspects are named but I'm surprised no-one is mentioning Watford. I think they're due a bad year and ended last season terribly. They were distracted by a cup final but they got twatted in that and we know from.experience that can be a bad omen. Anyway, they're my tip for an unexpected fall that we can capitalise from. Incidentally I reckon Southampton will have a good year and if we finish above them we'll have done very well.
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Just saw this don't know if its been posted here previously but makes hard reading in places https://sport.bt.com/the-script/the-script-how-aston-villas-2019/20-premier-league-season-will-pan-out-according-to-google-opta-and-squawka-S11364379101551
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I’d take 17th as is would guarantee another year of PL cash and the continuation of the project.
To be honest I’m concerned about the quality of our signings. Hopefully they will all gel quickly but I’m not convinced they will.
I also think that a lot of people are seriously underestimating the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and Southampton who are all established, experienced and have some very decent players.
Maybe everything will click and we’ll fly, I desperately hope so. But I think it’s more likely we’ll be in the scrap of our lives. So yeah, I’d bite your hand off for 17th.
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Just saw this don't know if its been posted here previously but makes hard reading in places https://sport.bt.com/the-script/the-script-how-aston-villas-2019/20-premier-league-season-will-pan-out-according-to-google-opta-and-squawka-S11364379101551
Staying up and beating Man U and Arsenal? Ta very much!
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I’d take 17th as is would guarantee another year of PL cash and the continuation of the project.
To be honest I’m concerned about the quality of our signings. Hopefully they will all gel quickly but I’m not convinced they will.
I also think that a lot of people are seriously underestimating the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and Southampton who are all established, experienced and have some very decent players.
Maybe everything will click and we’ll fly, I desperately hope so. But I think it’s more likely we’ll be in the scrap of our lives. So yeah, I’d bite your hand off for 17th.
I agree your comments of people underestimating Bournemouth Watford etc.
We are going to be putting a team out with very little experience of the Prem.
Every point is going to be hard fought.
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I’d take 17th as is would guarantee another year of PL cash and the continuation of the project.
To be honest I’m concerned about the quality of our signings. Hopefully they will all gel quickly but I’m not convinced they will.
I also think that a lot of people are seriously underestimating the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and Southampton who are all established, experienced and have some very decent players.
Maybe everything will click and we’ll fly, I desperately hope so. But I think it’s more likely we’ll be in the scrap of our lives. So yeah, I’d bite your hand off for 17th.
I agree your comments of people underestimating Bournemouth Watford etc.
We are going to be putting a team out with very little experience of the Prem.
Every point is going to be hard fought.
I see it the same and think that it could be a few weeks before some of the new signings are deemed to be ready for English football. I think we’ll be fine in the long run but anything better than the bottom third will be a bonus.
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Being realistic survival would be great..
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We look very much the same type of team that gained promotion in 1975. We will win a fair few at villa park but will struggle away. My fear would be injuries to the spine, Heaton, Mings and jack
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if after spending well over a 100 million quid we still can't finish above Newcastle, Sheff Utd, Brighton &HA then we will deserve to go down
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We look very much the same type of team that gained promotion in 1975. We will win a fair few at villa park but will struggle away.
The key is maintaining our home form which had been horrible for far too long. On that note, Bruce gets rare praise from me. Make Villa Park a happy place and we'll pick up points on the road.
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I think there's a good chance it'll take some months to gel properly and we might look like we're in for a scrap come Christmas, but hopefully once it all comes together we can go on a run to safety - indeed, if we hit a good run in the new year we might even do something in the cup...
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Look at the table now chaps and chapesses. You won't see us that low all season. This prediction has been brought to you by my holiday rum.
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
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Realistically, we have to forget the amount of money we have spent on the squad. Partly because it was so threadbare at the start, and partly because we started so far behind the average Premiership club. Just because we have outspent teams this summer, doesn't mean we will necessarily be able to out perform them in the table.
Survival to lower mid-table is a realistic expectation at this stage, to be adjusted depending on how we get on over the first few months of the season. If we stay up this season and the owners invest similarly over the next couple of seasons, then we can start dreaming big. But we've all been there when a rich owner decides he doesn't want to play anymore.
They key thing for me is that we have a good manager and backroom staff with a good attitude and philosophy. We know how rare that can be and it is worth its weight in gold. For me, even if we don't gel as quickly as we would like and struggle, we need to stick with that team. Because it can take 6 months for a player to fully settle and show his best, so no matter how good and how many signings we make, we may have to wait till next season to see the full potential of that squad, whichever division that is in.
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
I'd be delighted with 14th. It would be a hell of a platform for the season after.
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095 (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095)
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
I'd be delighted with 14th. It would be a hell of a platform for the season after.
I think that's a pretty safe bet, we'll probably do better than it. Most of the people saying we'll struggle are using a lack of premier league experience as the reason now, but that's just the same thinking as filling the squad with ageing championship players to get promotion, which didn't really work for us.
Experience helps, but it's not the only way to get anywhere. Having a squad with the right personalities all pull in the same direction and play a style that suits them is just as good a plan, it's what Wolves did last year so why are we more likely to 'do a Fulham' than 'do a Wolves'? I think the way we've gone about our squad building and identifying players shows a very clear plan , you can see how the players compliment each other and we're already seeing the wide players on both sides form partnerships, we're already seeing the midfielders running beyond Wesley knowing he can play them in. I honestly think we'll surprise a fair few people this year and be well out of the nonsense at the bottom all year. I went 8-12 on vote and I've seen nothing since that makes me doubt that.
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I also went 8th-12th although realistically it could be 8th-14th.
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I guess the only difference with Wolves is that they played together for a season before going up. That is the only reason we'll have to settle for the League title rather than adding the World Cup, the Eurovision Song Contest and Rear of the Year.
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I guess the only difference with Wolves is that they played together for a season before going up. That is the only reason we'll have to settle for the League title rather than adding the World Cup, the Eurovision Song Contest and Rear of the Year.
There's only one contender for rear of the year - John McGinn. It's like Captain America's shield for the wee one.
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I'm most looking forward to not being the dullest team in the league, which is a significant improvement from the last time we were in it. Whatever happens this year, it won't be boring.
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
I still don't see any reason why we cant finish above West Ham or Everton. Both have bang average squads in my view
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Another positive article about us
https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/are-aston-villa-the-premier-leagues-surprise-package-for-2019-20
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
I'd be delighted with 14th. It would be a hell of a platform for the season after.
And in truth the gap between 10th and 16th could be a matter of a few points. So we need to just be solid throughout and maybe in January add a player that can secure that mid table finish. And in fact as much as it would be great to get into Europe again I’d much rather build towards it. I think a Wolves will really suffer this year because they don’t have a very deep squad and Nuno likes playing with a core group. I still believe once we settle in 12th is very achievable.
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https://lastwordonfootball.com/2019/08/05/big-spending-aston-villa-survive/ (https://lastwordonfootball.com/2019/08/05/big-spending-aston-villa-survive/)
::) If his predictions are as good as his research, then we will finish anywhere but 10th. ;D
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I'm most looking forward to not being the dullest team in the league, which is a significant improvement from the last time we were in it. Whatever happens this year, it won't be boring.
We were entertaining to watch in our last few years in the premier League under Lambert, Sherwood and Garde. I lost count of how many goals I saw in our games. Admittedly the vast majority went into our net.
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McNulty's predictions from the Beeb. Difficult to argue against.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49236095
"A season of consolidation is in prospect at one of the great old clubs"
Ah sorry, checked the other thread before I posted but didn’t look on here.
Agree with the comments on here, I’d bite your hand off for 14th and a season of consolidation.
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I just hope that if we have a bad run and/or take a few pastings that DS sticks to his beliefs and doesn't start doubting himself.
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I think he set a nice precedent for that last season when we had the wobbly period with jack out of action. Idiots like me were crying out for him to be more pragmatic but he stuck to the plan pretty closely.
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I just hope that if we have a bad run and/or take a few pastings that DS sticks to his beliefs and doesn't start doubting himself.
Indeed, but equally I wouldn't want him to dogmatically stick to something that isn't working.
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It'll work.
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Low double figures will make me very happy. We came from relegation potentials to promotion succsesfuls in 10 games, a positive start and i believe top ten is within our grasp.
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Agree with Dogtanian - £100m was the least we needed to spend given the ageing, not quite PL standard and loan players that got us up. That just gets us onto a level playing field, sort of. We're still about 90% unproven at the PL level in terms of players, manager and coaches. It could go either way, and experience indicates at least some of our new signings won't cut the mustard. But at least we have a philosophy/strategy that makes sense and the money and people to have started putting it into place. For me consolidation at 12-15th is still the realistic aim, anything else is a bonus.
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I think we are in for a lot tougher season than most on here.
It’s a new team that has very little PL experience and it will be a while before it comes together.
3 very tough games coming up.
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https://newsthump.com/2019/08/08/newly-promoted-aston-villa-storm-to-3rd-place-in-premier-league/
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I see Peter Crouch has us being relegated. Warning, the doing an F word makes an appearance
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7339411/PETER-CROUCH-predicts-Premier-League-finish.html
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Yeah ok Pete
Burnley
KEY MAN: Tom Heaton - appears to have won the battle for the gloves at Burnley after Tom Heaton was sold to Aston Villa. If progress continues, could even challenge Jordan Pickford as England No 1.
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Very hard to predict with so many unknown quantities.
I am certain that set of players us more than good enough to comfortably stay up. How well we do will very much depend on Wesley and Douglas/Marvelous settling well.
I am going to be optimistic and say top half.
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I think it will almost all come down to whether we take our chances properly. If we finish like Tammy last season with taking something like 1 in 4 then we won't be good enough. We need to be scoring from 3 or less chances. Defensively I think we're fine. The only niggle I have is we had so many shots on target last season and didn't score that many in relation. Shooting boots on boys! Still think we'll be fine and 13-17th is fine for me, then we can bring in some big(ger) guns.
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Man City took a couple of seasons to hit their stride and I hope we go in the same direction.
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I've already stated that I think we'll get turned over tomorrow but recover gradually. There will be times when we don't look up to it, when the manager will be under pressure, the match threads go a bit over the top and we worry for our PL status but I believe we have enough to stay in the division. With a following wind, a bit of luck, players performing exceptionally and steering clear of injury we could spring a few surprises.
To be honest I'd settle for a mixture of the above. Without the shit bit.
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Anywhere between 10th and 20th
Still think Luiz and Wesley are the key ones in how we measure up
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I think a Europey spot is realistic, I even hope for a top three! However, will NOT be disappointed by survival by one place provided we continue in the same vein in all other aspects of the club. I really, really love the whole thing at the moment.
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I expect anywhere between 13 - 16th - It is going to be a bumpey ride at times, but lets enjoy it!
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Matt Le Tissier predicts Newcastle will finish above Villa.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/09/matt-le-tissier-predicts-aston-villas-and-newcastle-uniteds-fini/
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Matt Le Tissier predicts Newcastle will finish above Villa.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/08/09/matt-le-tissier-predicts-aston-villas-and-newcastle-uniteds-fini/
Entitled to his opinion - depends on how his motivational skills work on a bunch of players used to pretty rigorous system based coaching and if he is still in post how much money Ashley gives him in January, much of which will be wasted if recent events are anything to go by
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Got to be honest, I think I'll struggle to enjoy a bumpy ride that finishes with us in 16th. That's what McLeish managed, and worse than Lambert. Twice.
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The first season Paul Lambert was in charge we were in deep trouble around Easter but we finished strongly and played some good football. I seem to remember there was some optimism about after that.
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There was, with loads of it coming from me. And then he Lamberted it up.
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It would interesting to know what the owners / Purslow have told Smith - about their expectations.
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"Win stuff".
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Got to be honest, I think I'll struggle to enjoy a bumpy ride that finishes with us in 16th. That's what McLeish managed, and worse than Lambert. Twice.
Exactly. We've got the best squad, and best manager we've had in a long, long time. The whole club seems united behind a common plan as well. I just can't see us not finishing in the top 10. Sheffield United, Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Newcastle are all going to struggle, then you've got teams like Burnley, Bournemouth and Palace who aren't any great shakes.
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Got to be honest, I think I'll struggle to enjoy a bumpy ride that finishes with us in 16th. That's what McLeish managed, and worse than Lambert. Twice.
Exactly. We've got the best squad, and best manager we've had in a long, long time. The whole club seems united behind a common plan as well. I just can't see us not finishing in the top 10. Sheffield United, Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Newcastle are all going to struggle, then you've got teams like Burnley, Bournemouth and Palace who aren't any great shakes.
Agree mostly, but half of the team are as yet untried and the rest have only a little experience of the Preeemiership. However, I think Heaton will prove the smartest acquisition as we have struggled with this position in our most recent premier years. This, the quality of the heart of the side and the way they have recruited tactically and selectively, gives me lots of good vibes. More full on than semi :)
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The thing for me is that the Brightons, Watfords and Bournemouths of the Premier League are now battle-hardened: they have good experience of dealing with relegation threats and recovering from thumpings. Additionally, almost all the sides have substantially improved their squad over this transfer period, with the possible exception of the Jawdies, Burnley, Palace and Sourhampton.
It's a tough league, and we're relying on relatively inexpensive unknowns to do the business.
The first 4-6 games are critical, to get a confidence-boosting start.
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If we hadn’t have had the transfer window we just had then I think you’d have cause for concern, but the way it has panned out with the spending, players we have signed and players we kept, it puts us in good stead and competitive in this league. I think we’ll be as good as, if not better than, the likes of Brighton, Watford and Bournemouth. I’m sure there will be games when it doesn’t click, and we will lose our fair share of games, but we’ll win enough to be comfortably mid table and not worried about relegation...if we are, then something will have gone badly wrong.
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The Brightons, Watfords and Bournemouths all came up with inexperienced squads and stayed in the league to get that experience, so they're actually an example that experience isn't as important as people make it out to be. As we've seen for the last 3 years when some people were saying we needed people who know the championship experience is only valuable if it comes with experience of playing the way the manager wants and that experience doesn't have to be tied to game time in a specific league.
Yes there may be an adjustment as we get used to how quick the game is or how teams close you down but even then there isn't 1 specific style that all premier league teams adopt, good scouting, an ability to create training schedules based on that scouting and players who have the physical capacity and technical ability to adapt to that training is better than just signing players because they've spent a lot of time in the league. Good players with experience playing how you want and experience in the league is the holy trinity (and is why Man Utd have just spent £80m on McGuire) but, using the same example, they come at a premium that was never going to be possible. Any 'experience' we signed was going to come from players like Charlie Austin that we mostly agreed would have been a shit signing or getting a bit lucky with someone like Heaton who was a great signing but was a bit of a unique proposition.
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Completely agree. It comes down to the ability and quality of the players at the end of the day...they’re playing football and we will soon find out if they are good enough or not, and Premier League experience is largely irrelevant. Any lack of experience can also be easily be countered by good management, coaches, training and tactics as we go into each game which is the challenge for Dean and the staff, and implementing that effectively with the players.
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I think experience is a valuable thing to have. I disagree that it's largely irrelevant. I disagree that the only experienced players we could have got were old shit ones. But we've gone the other way and we'll soon see what comes of it.
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Got to be honest, I think I'll struggle to enjoy a bumpy ride that finishes with us in 16th. That's what McLeish managed, and worse than Lambert. Twice.
Exactly. We've got the best squad, and best manager we've had in a long, long time. The whole club seems united behind a common plan as well. I just can't see us not finishing in the top 10. Sheffield United, Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Newcastle are all going to struggle, then you've got teams like Burnley, Bournemouth and Palace who aren't any great shakes.
Indeed. I'm sure that most premier league coaching teams are more rigorous than my own casual prejudice (apart from Newcastle now that the blight-ridden maris piper is there) but I remember, after we beat West Ham 3-0 on the opening day, that Newcastle away would be a doddle as they'd just been promoted. We lost 6-1 (or was in nil?) I think/hope that there might be a bit of of that early on this season.
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Very positive article on us and our season ahead.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7257379/Aston-Villa-spent-whopping-130m-theyre-no-Fulham.html
No doubt Blose fans are already calling it The Daily Vile.
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Over the past four seasons, the sides finishing 15th and 16th have won between 9 and 11 games. I think we'll piss that.
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Got to be honest, I think I'll struggle to enjoy a bumpy ride that finishes with us in 16th. That's what McLeish managed, and worse than Lambert. Twice.
Exactly. We've got the best squad, and best manager we've had in a long, long time. The whole club seems united behind a common plan as well. I just can't see us not finishing in the top 10. Sheffield United, Brighton, Norwich, Southampton and Newcastle are all going to struggle, then you've got teams like Burnley, Bournemouth and Palace who aren't any great shakes.
Indeed. I'm sure that most premier league coaching teams are more rigorous than my own casual prejudice (apart from Newcastle now that the blight-ridden maris piper is there) but I remember, after we beat West Ham 3-0 on the opening day, that Newcastle away would be a doddle as they'd just been promoted. We lost 6-1 (or was in nil?) I think/hope that there might be a bit of of that early on this season.
Carroll bullied the shit out of us that day and we did nothing to change how we were playing to take him out of the game. It was the clearest evidence you'd ever need to show that, whatever he was good at, McDonald was totally out of his depth managing a premier league team.
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Carroll bullied the shit out of us that day and we did nothing to change how we were playing to take him out of the game. It was the clearest evidence you'd ever need to show that, whatever he was good at, McDonald was totally out of his depth managing a premier league team.
I think he was in pole position for the full time job until that game happened.
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I think experience is a valuable thing to have. I disagree that it's largely irrelevant. I disagree that the only experienced players we could have got were old shit ones. But we've gone the other way and we'll soon see what comes of it.
I don't think it's irrelevant, I just think signing, for example, one of the Huddersfield players with 60-70 appearances in the premier league to their name, would probably have been a poor decision. I'm intrigued as to who you think we could have got who was the right age, quality and price, with premier league experience, that we missed out on. I can think of a few players that some wanted who are towards the end of their careers and there's a few questionable free transfers around but I honestly can't think of anyone I'd have really wanted that went elsewhere and would've been a realistic option.
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I'd say 12th. I think the fact that we will be a fairly unknown quantity will work in our favor. The defence should be quite solid. We will depend on luck as well:
How the injuries will or won't affect us
How well Wesley does - although I think our midfielders will score loads.
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The DT have us down at finishing 13th - I'd take that right now.
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If we finish 10th i'll be delighted.
If we just stay up i'll probably take that also come May, but no way do i want us going into the season with that as our aim and it wont be.
Aim high and see how we do
We can't turn this decade of shit around overnight clearly.
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I’m thinking 6/7 th from bottom, I can’t see where the goals are coming from to push above that.
My fear is that it might not be good enough for the new owners whom might be tempted to make an unwise managerial change
I think Dean is the man for the long term but we might need to hold our nerve in the short
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I don’t think you need to fear PW. From the outside looking in, it appears that they are all on the same page and openly playing the long game, and don’t expect an instant success in terms of trophies or breaking into the top 10. It has already been stated that we are a year ahead of the plan having got promoted last season, so I really don’t think any of us need to be worrying about their intent or inclinations at this stage.
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I don't think it's irrelevant, I just think signing, for example, one of the Huddersfield players with 60-70 appearances in the premier league to their name, would probably have been a poor decision. I'm intrigued as to who you think we could have got who was the right age, quality and price, with premier league experience, that we missed out on. I can think of a few players that some wanted who are towards the end of their careers and there's a few questionable free transfers around but I honestly can't think of anyone I'd have really wanted that went elsewhere and would've been a realistic option.
I haven't watched any PL football for three years so I can't name specific players I'm afraid but I was really talking about policy: did we want to sign experienced PL players but couldn't find or afford them, or did we say experience isn't important, or at least not as important as other factors (age, potential, value for money, resale value)? Looking at our signings you'd have to say it was the latter, a policy decision. I'm not saying they're not PL class, they'll struggle to adapt, they can't do it on a wet Wednesday night in Burnley, or any of those things, just that it's impossible to say at this stage because many of them have no experience of it. Some of them - including Dean - are on a steep learning curve and I think it's unreasonable to expect them to brush past some clubs that have been in the PL all the time we've been away, or longer. They'll be learning on the job without that 60-70 PL games experience to draw on. Patience is the key this season.
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12th.
Above Southampton, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Norwich, Brighton and Sheff Utd.
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So long as we stay up, if we can do that we can feel this has been a successful season.
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I don't think it's irrelevant, I just think signing, for example, one of the Huddersfield players with 60-70 appearances in the premier league to their name, would probably have been a poor decision. I'm intrigued as to who you think we could have got who was the right age, quality and price, with premier league experience, that we missed out on. I can think of a few players that some wanted who are towards the end of their careers and there's a few questionable free transfers around but I honestly can't think of anyone I'd have really wanted that went elsewhere and would've been a realistic option.
I haven't watched any PL football for three years so I can't name specific players I'm afraid but I was really talking about policy: did we want to sign experienced PL players but couldn't find or afford them, or did we say experience isn't important, or at least not as important as other factors (age, potential, value for money, resale value)? Looking at our signings you'd have to say it was the latter, a policy decision. I'm not saying they're not PL class, they'll struggle to adapt, they can't do it on a wet Wednesday night in Burnley, or any of those things, just that it's impossible to say at this stage because many of them have no experience of it. Some of them - including Dean - are on a steep learning curve and I think it's unreasonable to expect them to brush past some clubs that have been in the PL all the time we've been away, or longer. They'll be learning on the job without that 60-70 PL games experience to draw on. Patience is the key this season.
I get what you're saying, and it makes sense, but I cant help but feel that the fact that it's new to them is an advantage. They haven't learned how to be cannon fodder.
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“Experienced” managers and players generally have an additional cost attached and it doesn’t necessarily make you a better manager or player. There are countless managers and players that are signed each season without Premier League experience, and go on to being some of the best in the league. In whatever walk of life or job, having the ability, quality, talent and work ethic are more than equal to experience. May be experience isn’t irrelevant but it’s certainly not a requirement to be successful in this league.
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“Experienced” managers and players generally have an additional cost attached and it doesn’t necessarily make you a better manager or player. There are countless managers and players that are signed each season without Premier League experience, and go on to being some of the best in the league. In whatever walk of life or job, having the ability, quality, talent and work ethic are more than equal to experience. May be experience isn’t irrelevant but it’s certainly not a requirement to be successful in this league.
You've never been to a job interview or filled out an application form where there isn't a whacking great section about previous experience?
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12th.
Above Southampton, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Norwich, Brighton and Sheff Utd.
I have heard predictions saying Bournemouth might be dark horses this season.
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“Experienced” managers and players generally have an additional cost attached and it doesn’t necessarily make you a better manager or player. There are countless managers and players that are signed each season without Premier League experience, and go on to being some of the best in the league. In whatever walk of life or job, having the ability, quality, talent and work ethic are more than equal to experience. May be experience isn’t irrelevant but it’s certainly not a requirement to be successful in this league.
You've never been to a job interview or filled out an application form where there isn't a whacking great section about previous experience?
Of course I have. Have you never been successful in an interview where you don’t have direct relevant experience but given the position based on your skillset, ability and talent...and then proved to be one of the best appointments the interviewer has ever made?
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Of course I have. Have you never been successful in an interview where you don’t have direct relevant experience but given the position based on your skillset, ability and talent...and then proved to be one of the best appointments the interviewer has ever made?
Very unlikely. I interview well but I'm really slovenly in practice.
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Fair enough...I’m excellent at interviews (I actually really enjoy them!), and always work hard and adapt well to a new role. I think it’s best we agree to disagree on this one hilts! 😊👍
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Fair enough...I’m excellent at interviews and really enjoy them! I think it’s best we agree to disagree on this one hilts! 😊👍
No worries.
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I reckon that we will do well to keep clear of the relegation zone. Some of the team mentioned above have actually been decent last year, eg Watford and Southampton, who improved massively under the new manager. Even teams like these have a few years head start on us.
Goals are my main concern. I always think the key issue for teams who struggle is getting enough goals to turn draws into wins.
I trust Dean Smith and the board though. Obviously a number of new signings need to bed in to English football, which can be quite a challenge given the speed of the game, but I am sure they fit into the overall plan.
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They're all going to have to adapt to the metamorphosis of Aston Villa. So FTF!
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They're all going to have to adapt to the metamorphosis of Aston Villa. So FTF!
The right answer! We are not a tinpot club and never have been. We’ve had a dip but we are now back, bigger, bolder, and stronger and the pundits seem to have forgotten who we are. I expect nothing less than top half and I expect us to turn over a few of the so called big 6
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They're all going to have to adapt to the metamorphosis of Aston Villa. So FTF!
The right answer! We are not a tinpot club and never have been. We’ve had a dip but we are now back, bigger, bolder, and stronger and the pundits seem to have forgotten who we are. I expect nothing less than top half and I expect us to turn over a few of the so called big 6
Damn straight!
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I don't think it's irrelevant, I just think signing, for example, one of the Huddersfield players with 60-70 appearances in the premier league to their name, would probably have been a poor decision. I'm intrigued as to who you think we could have got who was the right age, quality and price, with premier league experience, that we missed out on. I can think of a few players that some wanted who are towards the end of their careers and there's a few questionable free transfers around but I honestly can't think of anyone I'd have really wanted that went elsewhere and would've been a realistic option.
I haven't watched any PL football for three years so I can't name specific players I'm afraid but I was really talking about policy: did we want to sign experienced PL players but couldn't find or afford them, or did we say experience isn't important, or at least not as important as other factors (age, potential, value for money, resale value)? Looking at our signings you'd have to say it was the latter, a policy decision. I'm not saying they're not PL class, they'll struggle to adapt, they can't do it on a wet Wednesday night in Burnley, or any of those things, just that it's impossible to say at this stage because many of them have no experience of it. Some of them - including Dean - are on a steep learning curve and I think it's unreasonable to expect them to brush past some clubs that have been in the PL all the time we've been away, or longer. They'll be learning on the job without that 60-70 PL games experience to draw on. Patience is the key this season.
I'm not saying you're wrong but seeing Iwobi go for £40m when we got Trezeguet, at a similar age, for less than £10m suggests that the premium for Premier league experience meant we just couldn't afford to sign the number of players we wanted with that experience unless we were going for questionable free players (Welbeck, Sturridge), older players (Austin) or largely inexperienced options from premier league clubs(Targett, Mings). You can probably add players from relegated teams but how many of them are really worth looking at and how valuable is the experience of being in a team that's just not good enough?
Heaton, in my opinion, was an exception in that hes young enough to have 3-4 years left in him but not been overpriced because of it. I think if we'd have found any 25-28 year olds who didn't have question marks over them and were in the £5-15m we'd have signed them, or been seriously linked, but I just don't think many of those options were there.
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I think some people / fans are getting a bit carried away. I dont see a top ten finish. In reality more likely to finish 15th, and I would be happy with that. Maybe i am a miserable so and so.
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She can’t let it go can she? Brady giving her ‘expert view’ on our summer spending. I’ve pasted it as it was from a Twitter link to her Sun column as I didn’t think people would want to go there. (Mods feel free to move to another topic if appropriate)
KARREN BRADY Aston Villa have not learnt from Fulham’s transfer experiment and have gambled in big way, Norwich have been much bolder in approach
SIMPLE logic would inform us promoted Championship clubs should buy at least a few players before their first Premier League games.
Not at Norwich it doesn’t. They’ve used a rolling pin on the pundits who claim to know how to stay up and haven’t spent more than a few coppers on fresh talent.
You might think they have drawn their conclusion from Fulham’s doleful experiment of splashing cash all over Europe in last season’s unsuccessful experiment to remain among the elite.
Aston Villa certainly have not, though.
Rarely does fifth place in anything earn more than £150million but that was Villa’s reward in winning the play-off final.
No doubt the board felt blowing the lot in pre-season was the best possible warranty against relegation.
There must be many reasons why Canaries’ owners Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones have not pulled any plums from the money pie that the Prem is handing to them.
I can name a few. Some clubs find players are looking for more fashionable clubs, no matter how much they are offered.
Then there is the culture shock when you realise averagely competent players are already on £100k a week and want more to join you.
Let’s not forget, either, agents demanding millions for a few phone calls, as well as the selling club demanding quick payment
Last season Norwich were that close-to-extinction bird with the plumage of profit-making in the Championship, probably around £10m.
The new TV deal was not the reason — the title-winner secured £1m for 14 games.
Compare that with about £118m for each club in the highest tier.
Apparently unimpressed with coming riches, Delia has learned from experience spending is not the problem.
Especially at a club of unsteady state between the top two divisions, it’s spending well that is the problem. She’s become an expert parachutist.
By contrast, Villa’s owners have gambled in a big way.
They spent a whooping £140m in the window which puts them in the top ten of biggest transfer spenders in the world this summer.
Obviously the potential of one of football’s fallen aristocracy is far greater in big-city Birmingham than it is among the flat East Anglian landscape. Ground capacity alone is a 15,000 difference.
Much Norwich faith is placed in Daniel Farke, the German head coach, 42, who has the look of a Netflix tough guy and demands football of persuasive speed and precision practically at the point of a Luger.
He says nothing about the lack of high-profile signings and willingly puts his trust in the players he knows and appreciates.
In several ways this is a far bolder approach than Villa’s. But it does risk a Huddersfield-like fate of hanging on ’til you drop and if you look at the odds the bookies certainly think Norwich are certs for relegation.
At Villa a brace of billionaires, chairman Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, turned to Jesus for help.
Jesus Garcia Pitarch is their man on high (director of football) and they appointed a manager far more down to earth, Dean Smith, a Villa fan forever.
He shares the state of lifetime fandom with Chris Wilder, manager of the third promoted side — Sheffield United. Wilder has spent Yorkshire-style. Cannily.
Villa, on the other hand have acquired 12 players, three of whom were already on loan.
Whether this was a case of buying lots of sweets because they could, there must have been big doubts over a lot of positions.
Smith has an excellent reputation but his task of integration in the early stages must be, and still is, enormous.
Remembering and assessing all the new names and faces will be a fascinating game for supporters.
Personally, I wish one of those clubs well.
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The bitterness oozes through, capped off by the last line.
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I think there may be 2 or 3 changes in starting 11 from today to next sat, so I’ll post answer when we’ve seen a bit more of squad play.
Ultimately though I’d expect at very least, Norwich, Sheff Utd plus one other to be below us
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We have come a long way in the last 12 months, from despair to dreaming of glory.
I have no idea how this season will unfold we need the new players to gel quickly and we need some of that magic ingredient - luck.
One thing I do know we as supporters will have a role to play getting behind Dean Smith and the team during the lows as well as the highs.
Fortress Villa Park may well be key
UTV
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You can't help but admire the way the club has gone about their business in the summer. They obviously had a set list of targets and very quietly and professionally completed signing after singing. I was a little worried going into the new season with a relatively inexperienced defence, but the signing of Heaton has put these fears to rest, also the signings of Luiz and Marvellous should really help the defence out and the way we play through midfield will be really exciting.
The only concern is up front, Wesley needs to hit the ground running and stay fit, but with our wide options I think we will be playing with a lot of movement and inter changing of positions and hopefully every one up top can chip in with goals and assists. Realistically I think we can hope for 12 -14th and be safe all season long. Bring on 5.30. UTV
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She can’t let it go can she? Brady giving her ‘expert view’ on our summer spending. I’ve pasted it as it was from a Twitter link to her Sun column as I didn’t think people would want to go there. (Mods feel free to move to another topic if appropriate)
KARREN BRADY Aston Villa have not learnt from Fulham’s transfer experiment and have gambled in big way, Norwich have been much bolder in approach
SIMPLE logic would inform us promoted Championship clubs should buy at least a few players before their first Premier League games.
Not at Norwich it doesn’t. They’ve used a rolling pin on the pundits who claim to know how to stay up and haven’t spent more than a few coppers on fresh talent.
You might think they have drawn their conclusion from Fulham’s doleful experiment of splashing cash all over Europe in last season’s unsuccessful experiment to remain among the elite.
Aston Villa certainly have not, though.
Rarely does fifth place in anything earn more than £150million but that was Villa’s reward in winning the play-off final.
No doubt the board felt blowing the lot in pre-season was the best possible warranty against relegation.
There must be many reasons why Canaries’ owners Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones have not pulled any plums from the money pie that the Prem is handing to them.
I can name a few. Some clubs find players are looking for more fashionable clubs, no matter how much they are offered.
Then there is the culture shock when you realise averagely competent players are already on £100k a week and want more to join you.
Let’s not forget, either, agents demanding millions for a few phone calls, as well as the selling club demanding quick payment
Last season Norwich were that close-to-extinction bird with the plumage of profit-making in the Championship, probably around £10m.
The new TV deal was not the reason — the title-winner secured £1m for 14 games.
Compare that with about £118m for each club in the highest tier.
Apparently unimpressed with coming riches, Delia has learned from experience spending is not the problem.
Especially at a club of unsteady state between the top two divisions, it’s spending well that is the problem. She’s become an expert parachutist.
By contrast, Villa’s owners have gambled in a big way.
They spent a whooping £140m in the window which puts them in the top ten of biggest transfer spenders in the world this summer.
Obviously the potential of one of football’s fallen aristocracy is far greater in big-city Birmingham than it is among the flat East Anglian landscape. Ground capacity alone is a 15,000 difference.
Much Norwich faith is placed in Daniel Farke, the German head coach, 42, who has the look of a Netflix tough guy and demands football of persuasive speed and precision practically at the point of a Luger.
He says nothing about the lack of high-profile signings and willingly puts his trust in the players he knows and appreciates.
In several ways this is a far bolder approach than Villa’s. But it does risk a Huddersfield-like fate of hanging on ’til you drop and if you look at the odds the bookies certainly think Norwich are certs for relegation.
At Villa a brace of billionaires, chairman Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, turned to Jesus for help.
Jesus Garcia Pitarch is their man on high (director of football) and they appointed a manager far more down to earth, Dean Smith, a Villa fan forever.
He shares the state of lifetime fandom with Chris Wilder, manager of the third promoted side — Sheffield United. Wilder has spent Yorkshire-style. Cannily.
Villa, on the other hand have acquired 12 players, three of whom were already on loan.
Whether this was a case of buying lots of sweets because they could, there must have been big doubts over a lot of positions.
Smith has an excellent reputation but his task of integration in the early stages must be, and still is, enormous.
Remembering and assessing all the new names and faces will be a fascinating game for supporters.
Personally, I wish one of those clubs well.
The fact that this woman writes for the s*** says it all really.
They deserve each other.
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I continue to remind people that she was actually arrested in respect of corruption.
I can’t stand the ####.
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She can’t let it go can she? Brady giving her ‘expert view’ on our summer spending. I’ve pasted it as it was from a Twitter link to her Sun column as I didn’t think people would want to go there. (Mods feel free to move to another topic if appropriate)
KARREN BRADY Aston Villa have not learnt from Fulham’s transfer experiment and have gambled in big way, Norwich have been much bolder in approach
SIMPLE logic would inform us promoted Championship clubs should buy at least a few players before their first Premier League games.
Not at Norwich it doesn’t. They’ve used a rolling pin on the pundits who claim to know how to stay up and haven’t spent more than a few coppers on fresh talent.
It was the quality of the writing, and hugely impressive characterisation that did it for me; "has the look of a Netflix tough guy" as a shorthand for, erm, "looks German" is prose to die for
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She can’t let it go can she? Brady giving her ‘expert view’ on our summer spending. I’ve pasted it as it was from a Twitter link to her Sun column as I didn’t think people would want to go there. (Mods feel free to move to another topic if appropriate)
KARREN BRADY Aston Villa have not learnt from Fulham’s transfer experiment and have gambled in big way, Norwich have been much bolder in approach
SIMPLE logic would inform us promoted Championship clubs should buy at least a few players before their first Premier League games.
Not at Norwich it doesn’t. They’ve used a rolling pin on the pundits who claim to know how to stay up and haven’t spent more than a few coppers on fresh talent.
It was the quality of the writing, and hugely impressive characterisation that did it for me; "has the look of a Netflix tough guy" as a shorthand for, erm, "looks German" is prose to die for
You have to remember this stuff is being written for absolute pinheads, the bottom of the barrel.
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I think I read years ago that those columns are basically ghostwritten. She just agrees to put her name to it in exchange for cash. A prositute if you like.
If she had typed it up on her London 2012 laptop she'd probably have remembered Wet Spam signing eleven players when they got promoted.
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She conveniently forgets that when she was at the Sty and the unwashed got promoted to the PL their then manager didn’t stick by the players that got them promoted. They signed several players, including IIRC Gobby Cabbage.
It’s dangerous for a promoted side to not strengthen their squad before the window closes.
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Looking at the table this morning-we've already dropped a place. Smith out!
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Mid table. Positive.
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As Dean said in his post match interview today marked the standard to raise our game to. And it will be a tremendous lesson learned. Spurs are a very good side. We will be much better than this.
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I will extremely happy to finish 15th and build from there ....I think the next game will tell us more about who we are in this League
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I will extremely happy to finish 15th and build from there ....I think the next game will tell us more about who we are in this League
Completely agree, talk of the top 10 is over excited, talk of relegation is wrong, 14th and I am very happy. We will be ok, but a long way to go yet
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On the basis that today was our first game and this team will only get better, then we shouldn't have anything to worry about this season. Sky pundits pretty much all said good things about us and I expect the MOTD team will be making similar compliments this evening.
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That was a reality check. Our front 3 have got to be a lot better than that for us to do well this season.
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6 of the starting lineup making Premiership debuts, that’s more than 50 percent even the subs were unproven at this level. I hope we can pickup a couple of wins from the next 5 games and settle at this level, I’m not sure. UTV
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That was a reality check. Our front 3 have got to be a lot better than that for us to do well this season.
I thought Trezeget was good and carried a real threat.
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That was a reality check. Our front 3 have got to be a lot better than that for us to do well this season.
The better Premier League teams defend from the front. They play a pressure game. Nowadays, forwards are expected to put in a good shift, tackle and hassle.
Yesterday, Wesley in particular, was making 'token' challenges. No aggression, just trying to be seen doing his job by jogging into the vicinity of the opposition defenders!!! That's no good for the villa, we want a Vardy not a Gabby!! I trust Deano will knock this out of him and make him 'man up' a bit.
I agree Chicago Lion. Not just attacking wise but it is imperative all our forwards improve immensely when it comes to their defensive responsibilities.
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That was a reality check. Our front 3 have got to be a lot better than that for us to do well this season.
I thought Trezeget was good and carried a real threat.
First half agree, faded badly and Jota was shrugged aside. Rose did well for them though.
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That was a reality check. Our front 3 have got to be a lot better than that for us to do well this season.
I thought Trezeget was good and carried a real threat.
Yes, he was easily the best of the attacking players and carried some real threat up front. Hopefully we'll see start to see what made the club splurge £22m on Wesley in due course. El Ghazi was really disappointing, and the least said about Jota the better. I'd be much happier if we'd added Maupay and/or Benrahma to the forward options.
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I had it in my mind prior to the game that a realistic hope was for us to not lose by more than 2 so that was achieved. These are games where the players will learn some harsh realities but a more realistic assessment will be apparent in games where we are playing against teams who we are hoping to finish above or near to. Obviously some of the more excitable fans will overreact at times but I think most of us have got enough sense and experience to know it will take time and not get too down over setbacks.
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I watched highlights of Leicester Wolves and they look a level above us right now.
Every game is tough in this league.
My expectations have lowered after the weekend as i have watched more PL football than for a long time.
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Players will have to adjust to the pace and pressure of the premiership very quickly, the closing down especially, you get less time on the ball and the marking is very close, we do look a little light weight compared to other teams.
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Yes, it’s a learning curve, but Smith came straight out and said he’d be looking at his decisions and the player’s decisions and what was done wrong and needs to be better. You’re only in trouble when you stop doing that, so I am positive,
I’d rather start against the European Championship runners-up and learn something real than start with easier fixtures that build false confidence. Let’s face it, we could have played several teams with that set-up and won, but it wouldn’t have helped us like today.
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I just think we had a difficult game to kick off from. Did alright for an hour
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Players will have to adjust to the pace and pressure of the premiership very quickly
The what? ;-)
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I watched highlights of Leicester Wolves and they look a level above us right now.
Every game is tough in this league.
My expectations have lowered after the weekend as i have watched more PL football than for a long time.
Good point for Wolves considering they played largely the same 11 in Armenia on Thursday.
We play them just after a europa game in November so hope for a few injuries if they make it that far. They don't have a huge amount of depth.
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Surely got to finish above Newcastle btw. Dosen't seem Jonelithon played much better than Wesley so think scoring goals will be massive issue for them.
People disappointed we lost to a Spurs team without likes of Son and Dele Alli, would've been more disappointed losing at home to Arsenal playing Chambers, Willock and Reiss Nelson. Can only imagine cdbullyweefan having to dust his Rothmans yearbook out and seeing who these odd names playing for Arsenal were. (wink)
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Newcastle were an absolute comedy shambles at times. Bruce sent on a sub, who seemingly had no clue where he was supposed to be playing, and spent a few minutes running around like a puppy chasing a balloon until he finally got told where he was meant to be.
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This a season for finding which players are up to it and who will be found wanting. As long as we get through the season without serious concerns of relegation I will be happy because we have owners with serious money backing us and they will not be content for too long with making up the numbers.
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I'm not overly concerned with what I saw at the weekend. We won't play teams as good as Spurs that often and some of the other teams were somewhere between nothing special and rather poor - e.g. Bournemouth, Watford, Palace, Everton, Southampton, Newcastle, even Arsenal. We played some good stuff at times and carved Spurs open once or twice first half.
We've still got some good players to come in as well, and it may need a little time for them to fully settle and gel.
Trezeguet needs to improve his decision making and finishing rapidly though, two very poor and weak attempts from two very clear chances, one of which he could have squared to Wesley who was wide open. By contrast McGinn's finish was very composed, with the little dummy to commit the defender before slotting in. We need more of that at the sharp end.
I also think our owners will be happy with consolidation this PL this season, since it's a bit of a bonus even being there so soon, and I think as long as we stay up that they will then look to invest a second season's TV money in some heavy hitters.
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Just had a look at last years table.
Reality is we were always going to lose plenty of games this season so completely different to way last two seasons have gone. Already unsettling a few fans.
Last season Spurs finished 3rd losing 13 games but that was anamoly due to them only drawing twice.
Wolves in 7th lost 13 and Leicester and West Ham lost 16 games. They finished 9th and 10th respectively.
Burnley lost 20 games. They were 15th and 6 points above relegation which was more or less my prediction for us 10 days ago.
Reality is the top teams are so strong now most teams in this league will lost nearly half their games. 20 defeats is the limit going by last season's table if you want to stay up.
From a distance seems there's this idea likes of Watford, Brighton, Burnley etc are rubbish but I fear they won't look so bad when playing us as they've all been at this level for 3-4 years so know what it takes at key points, we don't.
Burnley played very well at Arsenal today so that will be another tough one in a few weeks when we play them at VP.
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Just had a look at last years table.
Reality is we were always going to lose plenty of games this season so completely different to way last two seasons have gone. Already unsettling a few fans.
Last season Spurs finished 3rd losing 13 games but that was anamoly due to them only drawing twice.
Wolves in 7th lost 13 and Leicester and West Ham lost 16 games. They finished 9th and 10th respectively.
Burnley lost 20 games. They were 15th and 6 points above relegation which was more or less my prediction for us 10 days ago.
Reality is the top teams are so strong now most teams in this league will lost nearly half their games. 20 defeats is the limit going by last season's table if you want to stay up.
From a distance seems there's this idea likes of Watford, Brighton, Burnley etc are rubbish but I fear they won't look so bad when playing us as they've all been at this level for 3-4 years so know what it takes at key points, we don't.
Burnley played very well at Arsenal today so that will be another tough one in a few weeks when we play them at VP.
So, who are you expecting us to beat?
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We can get draws in those games, I'm not saying they're all going to be like today but they will be tough.
Actually key game for me is away to Palace in two weeks. Looking at their squad I don't see many goals at all, it is still very Zaha dependant.
Will watch Sheffield United-Palace tomorrow and see what they look like but can see them being really dragged into relegation so the result we get there will be key. If we can go to Selhurst and pinch a win that should be the lift off we need.
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Desperately looking for games we might sneak points out of.
This is all depressingly familiar.
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Pre season optimism is already waning .....as I stated on another thread I will be relieved if we can achieve 17th but if we struggle against Bournemouth, Palace and Burnley then it's going to be an almighty struggle ... I want to be positive but I don't think we have enough goals in us to win many games
Hope I proved wrong
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I’ll have a bit of 17th please. With a side order of a 7 point cushion plus superior goal difference to help my heart condition.
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As gutting as it is and I appreciate the diminishing confidence levels but we cannot let two defeats be an indicator of what is a long season. We will improve. We did today save a couple of crazy incidents. BELIEVE
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Never mind 17th, I just want more than 17 points!
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As gutting as it is and I appreciate the diminishing confidence levels but we cannot let two defeats be an indicator of what is a long season. We will improve. We did today save a couple of crazy incidents. BELIEVE
This. I might have to bring back my positivity thread. Friday night vs Everton VP should be rocking. Support our team and our manager, there is a long way to go.
UTV
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I understand what you are saying TV but watching Villa for approx 57 years has made me extremely cynical........
VCTM jnr and I headed south really looking forward to the game but we're left totally deflated after 15 mad minutes
I've seen it all before and should know better than to get too upset ..........but I looked around at all the young kids sitting in the seats around me and they all looked totally bemused....l felt like saying you've got a life time of disappointment to " look forward to" As much as I love the Villa they do mess with your head :(
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I understand what you are saying TV but watching Villa for approx 57 years has made me extremely cynical........
VCTM jnr and I headed south really looking forward to the game but we're left totally deflated after 15 mad minutes
I've seen it all before and should know better than to get too upset ..........but I looked around at all the young kids sitting in the seats around me and they all looked totally bemused....l felt like saying you've got a life time of disappointment to " look forward to" As much as I love the Villa they do mess with your head :(
Haha I said to a mate of mine earlier "Aston Villa - ruining weekends since 2010" but in reality it's been a lot longer than that.
Seriously though I know what you mean. This division isn't easy and even the teams we "should" beat like Bournemouth have now themselves been here for a few years with a tried and tested manager and experienced players. Not only are the players going to have to learn quickly but so is our manager, who we all love, but truth is he is as inexperienced as the players. He's going to be naive at times and be caught out. But if there is one thing we know about him is that he won't just revert to type and roll up his sleeves and socks. He will learn and plan for the next game. It will come good VCTM.
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I understand what you are saying TV but watching Villa for approx 57 years has made me extremely cynical........
VCTM jnr and I headed south really looking forward to the game but we're left totally deflated after 15 mad minutes
I've seen it all before and should know better than to get too upset ..........but I looked around at all the young kids sitting in the seats around me and they all looked totally bemused....l felt like saying you've got a life time of disappointment to " look forward to" As much as I love the Villa they do mess with your head :(
Haha I said to a mate of mine earlier "Aston Villa - ruining weekends since 2010" but in reality it's been a lot longer than that.
Seriously though I know what you mean. This division isn't easy and even the teams we "should" beat like Bournemouth have now themselves been here for a few years with a tried and tested manager and experienced players. Not only are the players going to have to learn quickly but so is our manager, who we all love, but truth is he is as inexperienced as the players. He's going to be naive at times and be caught out. But if there is one thing we know about him is that he won't just revert to type and roll up his sleeves and socks. He will learn and plan for the next game. It will come good VCTM.
I had the horrible realisation that, if Bournemouth are one of the teams we 'should' beat, we are on that list for the 19 other teams.
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It’s always easier to name the teams we should take points from than actually taking the points from them...casing point being Bournemouth today, however another cliche is that on another day without those mistakes then we could/would/should win. On that basis, Bournemouth are still on my list of teams we should be taking points off and aiming to finish above, and based on what I’ve seen so far this season...
Bournemouth
Everton
Newcastle
Crystal Palace
Brighton
Southampton
Watford
Burnley
West Ham
Sheff Utd
Norwich
There’s enough average/poor teams there for us to take points off and ensure we avoid any kind of relegation scrap. My only concern at this early stage is that we don’t appear to have a natural goal scorer leading the line, and there’s nothing we can do about that until January so the front 5 need to function better as a unit and all be contributing goals.
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I still believe we will finish circa 12th
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It’s a bit much to say ‘should’ beat. Even arrogance. Bournemouth are a well established PL team, we were never going to just roll them over.
That said all our home games (with exceptions of man city and l-pool) are ‘could’ wins and but for a mad first 10 mins we could have got something out of the game.
More lessons learned. I’d even be happy with a draw against everton on Friday, just to show some progress.
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Draw would be fine but I hope DS doesn't play cautiously with this intention.
Win and we'd be mid-table, lose and we could be bottom (until Newcastle play). You wonder how fans of Watford are feeling. The games at the end of the month (us at Palace, Newcastle v Watford) may give an indication of how the season will go for these clubs.
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They are about to discuss the prospects for the season of Villa, Norwich and Sheffield United on Talksport.
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It’s a bit much to say ‘should’ beat. Even arrogance. Bournemouth are a well established PL team, we were never going to just roll them over.
That said all our home games (with exceptions of man city and l-pool) are ‘could’ wins and but for a mad first 10 mins we could have got something out of the game.
More lessons learned. I’d even be happy with a draw against everton on Friday, just to show some progress.
Bournemouth reminded me of Portsmouth under Harry Redknapp, with lots of very physically imposing athletes all over the pitch. Some big units in that team.
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They are about to discuss the prospects for the season of Villa, Norwich and Sheffield United on Talksport.
Wurzel Holloway being very generous about us and Smith again.
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They are about to discuss the prospects for the season of Villa, Norwich and Sheffield United on Talksport.
Ian Holloway fancies all three promoted clubs to stay up. He said Norwich played really well against Newcastle and Sheffield United competed well against Palace. He said Dean Smith wants Villa to dominate the ball and go for points which is an attitude that impresses him. Perry Groves thinks Villa and Norwich might be too attacking for their own good and may take some heavy beatings.
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Thought Leicester were very impressive at Chelsea yesterday, should've won it with how they played in the second half.
Again tempering expectations, Jack is going to be a fantastic player but he needs time to mature at this level like he did in championship. Talk of him just walking into the England squad now we're up is very premature. Aside from some wild shooting James Maddison ran the show second half.
Also think we could take a point or three off Chelsea. We've generally had a decent record against them down the years (bar one obvious exception!) and looking at their 11 it just dosen't look that strong anymore with no Hazard. If you can pass between the lines quickly like Leicester did you can get at that back 4.
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It’s a bit much to say ‘should’ beat. Even arrogance. Bournemouth are a well established PL team, we were never going to just roll them over.
That said all our home games (with exceptions of man city and l-pool) are ‘could’ wins and but for a mad first 10 mins we could have got something out of the game.
More lessons learned. I’d even be happy with a draw against everton on Friday, just to show some progress.
A draw would be a good result on Friday
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The last 9/10 months has been a complete clean up & uprooting of poor structure/mismanagement/leadership that has been stinking out the club since the turn of the century (arguably). It’s going to be a bumpy ride this season, but I’ve seen enough to believe we will be fine this season.
The knee jerk reactions will be frequent this season. But it’s just frustration, which is understandable given what has happened to this club in the past. For once though, I’m quietly confident in the direction that this club is taking.
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The last 9/10 months has been a complete clean up & uprooting of poor structure/mismanagement/leadership that has been stinking out the club since the turn of the century (arguably). It’s going to be a bumpy ride this season, but I’ve seen enough to believe we will be fine this season.
The knee jerk reactions will be frequent this season. But it’s just frustration, which is understandable given what has happened to this club in the past. For once though, I’m quietly confident in the direction that this club is taking.
This post has given me a serious sense of deja vu!
Mind you, it's got to come true one time. Surely?
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It’s a bit much to say ‘should’ beat. Even arrogance. Bournemouth are a well established PL team, we were never going to just roll them over.
That said all our home games (with exceptions of man city and l-pool) are ‘could’ wins and but for a mad first 10 mins we could have got something out of the game.
More lessons learned. I’d even be happy with a draw against everton on Friday, just to show some progress.
A draw would be a good result on Friday
Not for me. That is negative thinking. I think we need to be winning our home games if we aren't going to struggle this season. You may think we should write off winning home games against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool but once we start writing off winning home games against the likes of Everton who finished eighth last year then we have to write off home games against Wolves and Leicester who finished either side of Everton last year and then we have to ask ourselves who we would actually back ourselves to beat at home.
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My position hasn’t changed one bit. We will finish mid table, somewhere around 11th or 12th is my guess. Which would be absolutely fine. We are a team coming together. There are sides who are much more established who have started off the same as us. We have loads of room to improve.
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It’s a bit much to say ‘should’ beat. Even arrogance. Bournemouth are a well established PL team, we were never going to just roll them over.
That said all our home games (with exceptions of man city and l-pool) are ‘could’ wins and but for a mad first 10 mins we could have got something out of the game.
More lessons learned. I’d even be happy with a draw against everton on Friday, just to show some progress.
A draw would be a good result on Friday
Not for me. That is negative thinking. I think we need to be winning our home games if we aren't going to struggle this season. You may think we should write off winning home games against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool but once we start writing off winning home games against the likes of Everton who finished eighth last year then we have to write off home games against Wolves and Leicester who finished either side of Everton last year and then we have to ask ourselves who we would actually back ourselves to beat at home.
The bottom half of the division of course (apart from Bournemouth) ;)
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I didn’t write off beating everton?
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I haven’t written off the Everton game but I think a draw would be a good result. I do think a few people got carried away over the summer. I think we will finish about 15th
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Hopefully Newcastle are nailed for 20th. I have always thought we'd finish between 15th-19th and with our current striking options I still think this is the case.
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11th or 12th no chance and I'd put money on it. I'm thinking 15th to 17th sorry for the pessimism.
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15-17th
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I think anything up to 11th is possible, but would be happy with 15th.
A point would be a good result and platform on Friday, a win against Crewe and then some confidence ahead of Palace to aim for our first win.
Palace have Man United the weekend away, so I'm hopeful they'll get drubbed.
But we need to cut the naivety and get better delivery onto the park against Everton if we're to avoid defeat.
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Hopefully Newcastle are nailed for 20th. I have always thought we'd finish between 15th-19th and with our current striking options I still think this is the case.
I'm pretty much in agreement.
My thoughts re Newcastle depend on when they decide to replace Bruce and who comes in to steady the ship for them.
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Ten goals in four matches so far, and nine different goalscorers.
Feels very reassuring to have it so spread out.
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Ten goals in four matches so far, and nine different goalscorers.
Feels very reassuring to have it so spread out.
I was expecting nothing else. The way we're setup means we'll see goals from all over the place, it's why I don't really understand the people who are worried about the risk of a lack of goals from Wesley and no one to replace him, I honestly don't think his 'job' in this team will be to score 20+ so that's not what we should be demanding, if he gets 10-12 then I'll be very happy.
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Ten goals in four matches so far, and nine different goalscorers.
Feels very reassuring to have it so spread out.
I was expecting nothing else. The way we're setup means we'll see goals from all over the place, it's why I don't really understand the people who are worried about the risk of a lack of goals from Wesley and no one to replace him, I honestly don't think his 'job' in this team will be to score 20+ so that's not what we should be demanding, if he gets 10-12 then I'll be very happy.
You've answered your own question. If he's out, who gets the 10-12 he'd have got?
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Ten goals in four matches so far, and nine different goalscorers.
Feels very reassuring to have it so spread out.
I was expecting nothing else. The way we're setup means we'll see goals from all over the place, it's why I don't really understand the people who are worried about the risk of a lack of goals from Wesley and no one to replace him, I honestly don't think his 'job' in this team will be to score 20+ so that's not what we should be demanding, if he gets 10-12 then I'll be very happy.
You've answered your own question. If he's out, who gets the 10-12 he'd have got?
Not really, what I mean is that lots of people are worried we won't score enough goals if he only gets about 10, whereas that's what I expect from him, but then I expect Davis/Kodjia/Jota/AEG/Trez to get 20 between them, the midfielders to add another 15-20 and the defenders to get about 10 as well, that's been my point on the striker situation all along, which is why I wasn't overly upset when we didn't get anyone else in. If we not on target to get those sort of numbers I suspect the money is there is throw 25-30m at another attacking player to add a few more goals in the 2nd half of the season, and probably see Kodjia leave.
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Wolves finished 7th last season with less than 50 goals. So while goals will be important and they will come from all over, we simply have to keep it tight at the back. We figure out a way to concede on average below 1.5 goals a game (right now we are at 1.66 in the league) we’ll be fine.
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Obviously can't get carried away with last night's goal-fest, but currently I think we have nine different goal scorers so far this season.
We do have players who will get goals all over the pitch. Is there anyone in a typical starting eleven we're likely to put out you would be surprised by if they scored?
Heaton aside!
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Neil Taylor
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Wolves finished 7th last season with less than 50 goals. So while goals will be important and they will come from all over, we simply have to keep it tight at the back. We figure out a way to concede on average below 1.5 goals a game (right now we are at 1.66 in the league) we’ll be fine.
And, lest we forget: Palace, after losing all 7 (or was it 6?) of their first fixtures without scoring a goal, survived.
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Neil Taylor
Alright. ;D
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Obviously can't get carried away with last night's goal-fest, but currently I think we have nine different goal scorers so far this season.
We do have players who will get goals all over the pitch. Is there anyone in a typical starting eleven we're likely to put out you would be surprised by if they scored?
Heaton aside!
Davis. ;)
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Attaining 17th place is gonna be a tough gig :(
I sincerely hope the home support stays at the intensity of the Everton game ....we are gonna need that 12th man this season
UTV
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Maybe now people will start to realize how tough this league is, teams like Palace and Bournemouth are Premier League battle hardened and we are not.
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There's a reason the team that finishes in the play offs nearly always goes back down, it's a tough league to come in to, especially when you weren't even the best or second best in the division below the season before. Hence we've had to gamble and add numbers to search for the extra quality, as well as re-signing the loaees (Tammy being a big miss I feel). Looking at the other teams I think most of us would be ecstatic with 17th, we need to stay competitive deep into the campaign and the support can roar us over the line.
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17th would be lovely.
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17th would be lovely.
I agree.
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I think it needs to be remembered that so far we’ve had zero luck. Deflected goals, opposing players not getting sent off and that abortion of a performance today from Mr Friend.
I still think we’ll be fine and with a bit of luck would be comfy in mid table.
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I’m not sure that’s true. I think we’re well capable of being fine, but our style of play needs to change to be on the front foot in more games.
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I’m not sure that’s true. I think we’re well capable of being fine, but our style of play needs to change to be on the front foot in more games.
We need to start playing with a midfield rather than two useless flaps (not a criticism of the players themselves) at the edges of the pitch.
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If we set up every game as we have so far then I think we'll drop. I'm hoping though it's just a short term system and plan while players settle and that we'll soon be on the front foot a lot more.
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Nothing drastically changes today for me.
We weren't at the races - but a big part of that was Kevin Fiend setting the tempo.
Taken as a whole, there has been enough promise in three of the four games so far to suggest we can compete in the top flight. Even with a drastic overhaul in personnel pre season.
I would have loved a Vardy or similar as an insurance bet. Punchable face, but the man pretty much guarantees goals at this level.
Four wins on the board going into the busy December period and we'll be alreet. We have one already, so just three more needed.
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Give me 14th and 42 points right now thank you.
It won't be too far from that either way really.
Interestingly table from last season after 4 games was shown elsewhere. Cardiff after 4 games had 2 points yet were 16th. This season after only third game Watford only team not to be on 3 points.
Going to be a very high points total to stay up this year which will pile the pressure on. Brighton could've stayed up on 35 last year, will certainly get you relegated this season.
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I think it needs to be remembered that so far we’ve had zero luck. Deflected goals, opposing players not getting sent off and that abortion of a performance today from Mr Friend.
I still think we’ll be fine and with a bit of luck would be comfy in mid table.
We had luck in the Everton game despite generally playing well. A neutral cynic would suggest Grealish contact with Richarlison balanced out today. Everton score the penalty after ten minutes and we're up against it like Bournemouth. Then the missed Walcott chance which would've turned a brilliant win into a frustrating 1-1.
I still think we'll be o.k aswell although not sure we'll reach glorious heights of mid table. Do think there are three worse teams than us in the league from what I've seen so far.
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Lots will change. We won’t play like this because we have to trust Smith will get it. Because if not he’ll be out of a job. Our owners/Purslow will have zero desire to go down. So we have to trust that 4 games in it is what it is in terms of the learning curve and we will figure it out.
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We have a relatively good start in terms of teams we play though. We can’t burn points and hand points over to relegation rivals while we figure it out. That point would’ve been vital today as it stops Palace getting all 3. Same with Bournemouth.
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We have a relatively good start in terms of teams we play though. We can’t burn points and hand points over to relegation rivals while we figure it out. That point would’ve been vital today as it stops Palace getting all 3. Same with Bournemouth.
People were saying we needed to beat Bournemouth and we beat Everton instead. We'll win the tougher games and make a hames of the easier games. It's what we do.
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We were more of a threat with ten men than we were with eleven, Wes was isolated before their goal which to me says that we were not playing the attacking style we have seen us play. I hope Dean doesn't start setting us up not to lose.
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We have a relatively good start in terms of teams we play though. We can’t burn points and hand points over to relegation rivals while we figure it out. That point would’ve been vital today as it stops Palace getting all 3. Same with Bournemouth.
People were saying we needed to beat Bournemouth and we beat Everton instead. We'll win the tougher games and make a hames of the easier games. It's what we do.
Is it?
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I'll still take 17th and am still happy we can spend in January if we need to. I hope Watfords new manager doesn't hit the ground running.
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Nice thought but no chance - Norwich were really poor. However theres goals in this team and I'm confident there are 3 worse teams.
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Still going for 16th.
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It's a really odd league this year. Nobody's obviously shit VB (if Watford started putting a few results together it wouldn't surprise me), and even top v. bottom fixtures can be decided on style matchup rather than just sheer quality, with the obvious exception of the team actually top. Good teams will go down, there will be huge overachievers and underachievers, massive surprise results and lots of high quality football up and down the division. I'm just glad we're clearly holding our own in it at the moment, even though it's very hard.
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I think we'll finish 16th.
Wasn't far off in the end.
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I went for 16th as well.
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Unbeaten at home, 3rd, FA Cup, League Cup, plans to build a 90k stadium unveiled, we reject pleas from Messi to sign for us as we can do better.
I was pretty much bang on as usual.
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I said I'd take 17th, so I have.
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Probably an idea to be more realistic in my predictions next season.
So i'm going for
1st
FA Cup winners
LC winners
100,000k stadium announced
Mbappe begging us to sign him.
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17th would be lovely.
It is
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I went for 8-12 in a show of optimism but I thought we could push on for 11-15th. The injuries we had and the dropping of points late in games scuppered it but I don't think we're that far off it, especially with the defence looking much more functional now.
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Objectives for me would be to be comfortable in the League 9-12th and get deep into one of the Cup competitions. Anything else is a bonus.
Deano knows what needs to be done to make this happen and it sounds like the plan to make it happen is already in place. It’s just a question of good execution.
Off the pitch First job for Purslow and co is to get the clubs turnover moving in the right direction. Improved commercial deals
And sponsorship is critical to help us compete and it will be interesting to see who is lined up as shirt sponsor next year. Getting the turnover heading towards £300m is a must. Much as I’d love to see the ground being developed let’s stay up before announcing the improvements we know are needed.
What a deluded fool I was though was right about the Cup.
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I'll be surprised if we don't win every game, tbh.
Mad to think that teams were trying to do the Treble since 1961 and we will do it just one year after Man City did.
I wasn't far away, we nearly won the League Cup.
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Probably an idea to be more realistic in my predictions next season.
So i'm going for
1st
FA Cup winners
LC winners
100,000k stadium announced
Mbappe begging us to sign him.
Just how foolish is this.For god's sake if we're in with a great chance of doing the double,forget the League Cup.Agreed once we sign Mbappe,then we can target all competitions.
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For all the nonsense spouted about Villa fans being deluded and unrealistic, 53% of us said 13th-17th (I went for 15th).
Be interesting to see where some other fans think they'll be finishing next season for instance - Leeds and Wolves fans spring to mind.
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that's easy first and second according to the club.
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I wonder if Bad English got to shag that absolute hound?
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Yep, fuck consolidating. We're not a promoted club. We're the returning power back from the quagmire, and we're really quite fucked off about it.
Let them all worry about us. Liverpool, the absolute choking nonentities, lost a game this season and so deservedly didn't win the league. We know what we have to do. I expect that we'll draw a couple, but apart from that I foresee an unchallenged re-coronation. We will receive apologies, in writing and full page ads in the quality press, from the rest of the 'Premier League' clubs to Aston Villa for daring to think that they deserved to share a pitch with us. UEFA will invite us to its G14 meetings, or whatever the fuck they're called, and we will respond by disbanding UEFA.
This will be followed in short order by Nassef Siwiris writing a letter to the boards of the 'top six', inviting them to enter the sea, pockets-first. We will then write to twelve clubs in the Midlands and North-West of England, inviting them to provide us with a justification for allowing them to play against us in a revised league format.
Richard Keys will then be burned and catering will be provided.
Broadly speaking, I wasn't far away.
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I thought this year was quite a strong league. Norwich were the only hopeless team in the league (only ones we did the double over) and they still took a decent amount of points off teams in top 10. If they hadn't just given up as soon as the season restarted they'd have probably made 30 points.
Plenty of poorer teams have been relegated than Bournemouth and Watford. Watford were one of only three teams to beat Liverpool and also took points off Man. United, Arsenal and Spurs. Bournemouth also won at Chelsea.
Stating the obvious but hopefully that Arsenal result will shake off our inferiority complex against the top 8 as we threw away so many points against them home and away it was ridiculous and could've easily relegated us.
I think next year will be weaker. Shorter timeframe and generally unpredictable window so think many teams above us will decide to go with what they have while we'll freshen the first 11 up a bit. Think Leeds will survive but can't see West Brom and whoever wins the play offs being anything other than 16th-20th all season.
Likes of Sheffield United and Burnley massively overachieved so I'd like to think both will slump and we can target finishing above them next season. Palace aswell and Newcastle given the takeover dosen't look any closer to happening than it did in April.
We sign well and think the giddy heights of 11th or 12th is realistic. The shame is if we do better than that and have an exciting season we won't be able to see much of it live at the grounds.
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Think Palace will struggle, Roy looks like he's ready to call it a day and surely Zaha will be off
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Interesting too that Leicester's form on resumption was pretty dire - in fact they've looked ordinary ever since we beat them in the Cup.
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Interesting too that Leicester's form on resumption was pretty dire - in fact they've looked ordinary ever since we beat them in the Cup.
That’ll be the influence of Brendan Tactical Genius Rogers.
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They even managed to lose to Norwich.
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16th? Newcastle will soon overtake us once the Saudi thing gets confirmed. I think Leeds will be ok with Bielsa. Albion, Brighton, maybe WHAM may be in the relegation mix with us.
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Liverpool, Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester, Wolves (for now), maybe Everton and Newcastle (if the sale goes through) should be fairly safe.
Everyone else starts the season knowing that they could be in a relegation battle.
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I'll take anything above 17th in year one!
Me too. Actually, I'll take 17th. It's a massive leap from the Championship to the Premier League and our squad at the moment is nowhere near ready to challenge some of the other lower Premier League teams. Staying up - without having to go through any last game dramas to do so - would be my realistic expectation. With some great games along the way
Last game dramas? what was I thinking?
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I’d expect an improvement over this season. Can’t see us going down. Despite what Purslow said last year about wanting to challenge at the top, I reckon top 10 is a realistic target in the second season back. Not saying we’ll do it, just that it should be our target. I think a lot depends now on Grealish staying or going. Assuming he does leave for around 70-75 mill- that’s 3 quality players in for that money. From his and Smith’s comments I reckon they’ve agreed he can go if someone stumps up and he wants to go to wherever it may be. Love it if he stays though. If we can resolve that question early, we’ll be better placed to strengthen in other positions and hopefully be settled relatively by the start of the season. I don’t want it dragging on for weeks. Either get it done early, or rule it out. Fk getting dragged into some protracted haggle with Utd or whoever, which is what presumably they will try and do. Hopefully if they’ve agreed he can go, there will be a clear price tag and timeframe attached to it. May be done already for all we know.
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Worth digging this up again because I think one or two us are getting a little carried away with where we should be. Created by the start we had, some of the results and individual performances. But at the start of the season, if someone had a crystal ball and told us that having finished 4th bottom on the last day of the previous campaign, after 23 games we'd be sitting above Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves, 4 points back of Everton and the champions Liverpool, the latter with 2 games in hand, not one of us would have believed it.
Irrespective of the past few games where we have been a bit up and down and squeezed in something like 7 games in 25 days we have had a superb season with 15 still to go where in all likelihood we will finish just around where we are now. Finishing in the top 10 would have beyond most of us interms of our realistic expectaions at the start of this season.
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Mid table mediocrity will do me just fine this season, thank you very much!
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Season we've had would be disappointing to drop out of top 10 now.
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Worth digging this up again because I think one or two us are getting a little carried away with where we should be. Created by the start we had, some of the results and individual performances. But at the start of the season, if someone had a crystal ball and told us that having finished 4th bottom on the last day of the previous campaign, after 23 games we'd be sitting above Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves, 4 points back of Everton and the champions Liverpool, the latter with 2 games in hand, not one of us would have believed it.
Irrespective of the past few games where we have been a bit up and down and squeezed in something like 7 games in 25 days we have had a superb season with 15 still to go where in all likelihood we will finish just around where we are now. Finishing in the top 10 would have beyond most of us interms of our realistic expectaions at the start of this season.
All fair points, but it's just so dispiriting seeing us enter into another period where the football is dire after such a good start to the season. From feeling we can beat anybody on our day to wondering where the next win is coming from.
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Dirty Leeds next weekend.
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Top 10 (per my Ladbrokes venture pre season) is acceptable, great even.
Much better season than I really expected, Martinez definitely has made the difference.
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A top 6-10 finish would be amazing progress. We’ve got to continue to strengthen and develop the squad.
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Worth digging this up again because I think one or two us are getting a little carried away with where we should be. Created by the start we had, some of the results and individual performances. But at the start of the season, if someone had a crystal ball and told us that having finished 4th bottom on the last day of the previous campaign, after 23 games we'd be sitting above Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves, 4 points back of Everton and the champions Liverpool, the latter with 2 games in hand, not one of us would have believed it.
Irrespective of the past few games where we have been a bit up and down and squeezed in something like 7 games in 25 days we have had a superb season with 15 still to go where in all likelihood we will finish just around where we are now. Finishing in the top 10 would have beyond most of us interms of our realistic expectaions at the start of this season.
All fair points, but it's just so dispiriting seeing us enter into another period where the football is dire after such a good start to the season. From feeling we can beat anybody on our day to wondering where the next win is coming from.
True but relative to other sides around us and vying for those same spots we are not much different in terms of form. Of the sides I mentioned Everton have been marginally better, Liverpool and Spurs terrible, Wolves have recently improved and Arsenal are massively average. Even Chelsea just at the top of those teams had to fire their manager to get back to any form. So yes of course it’s been a struggle of late and like everyone I hope Jack is back quickly and we can get back to a bit of the brilliant football we were once playing. But even if we don’t the general form we’ve showed in the past couple of months will get us to around 56/57 points which last season was good enough for around 8th I believe.
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January and Feb's form of 10 points from 9 games would see us finish on 52 points, which last year would have seen us end the season in 11th. We should be perfectly capable of winning the next 4 games, even without Jack, but I also wouldn't be shocked if we didn't win any of them.
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Worth digging this up again because I think one or two us are getting a little carried away with where we should be. Created by the start we had, some of the results and individual performances. But at the start of the season, if someone had a crystal ball and told us that having finished 4th bottom on the last day of the previous campaign, after 23 games we'd be sitting above Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves, 4 points back of Everton and the champions Liverpool, the latter with 2 games in hand, not one of us would have believed it.
Irrespective of the past few games where we have been a bit up and down and squeezed in something like 7 games in 25 days we have had a superb season with 15 still to go where in all likelihood we will finish just around where we are now. Finishing in the top 10 would have beyond most of us interms of our realistic expectaions at the start of this season.
All fair points, but it's just so dispiriting seeing us enter into another period where the football is dire after such a good start to the season. From feeling we can beat anybody on our day to wondering where the next win is coming from.
Totally agree with this. I don’t mind losing some games, and Leicester are decent, but the performance overall was poor and has been since NYD. Something isn’t right. Maybe it’s just confidence or we are just plain knackered. Smith has options but he doesn’t use them. If we finish below 10th I will be really disappointed
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We are safe so the big worry we usually have isn't a problem, it was unrealistic to expect top six, while we are a much better unit there are weaknesses in midfield and attack that needs sorting. The owners will have had a taste of whats possible so expect they will spend big this summer.
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We’ve added some real quality in both boxes. But it’s a squad game and we don’t have much strength in depth. I’d like to think next season our bench will be much stronger, and we’ll push on. We have done a lot in two years already, from the playoff final only Mings McGinn and Grealish are still starting regularly.
I’d be fairly happy with a top ten finish this season.
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It's going to be a season where our fate isn't hanging in the balance on the last day. We've not had many of those in recent years. Mid table was expected and that's what we're going to get. It's next season when the bar is raised that it gets exciting. I can't wait.
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A number of the sides above us, and some below have had several years of investing consistently in very good players. That’s often what it boils down to. We have one of the top players in the league in Jack, but then after that our record buy is a kid who last season was playing in the Championship. The rest of the squad is made up of players who are maturing, developing and punching way above their weight. We have good quality, not great. Some will become great, in other cases we will need to buy those players to replace those who are not good enough.
Leicester once they won the league invested and reinvested really well with CL money and funds they received by selling some of their best players. They also have a manager now who has matured himself at the top level. We don’t have that, and it might take Dean another 5 years to get there. Remember Rodgers came into the PL in 2010. He’s developed, and failed and learned and succeeded in that time.
We are probably 3 seasons away of bringing much better players in from really being consistently challenging for a top 6 spot. And in that time Jack will likely be sold also. But we are on a very decent trajectory now despite the recent bumps in the road.
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It's going to be a season where our fate isn't hanging in the balance on the last day. We've not had many of those in recent years. Mid table was expected and that's what we're going to get. It's next season when the bar is raised that it gets exciting. I can't wait.
Yep
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Worth digging this up again because I think one or two us are getting a little carried away with where we should be. Created by the start we had, some of the results and individual performances. But at the start of the season, if someone had a crystal ball and told us that having finished 4th bottom on the last day of the previous campaign, after 23 games we'd be sitting above Tottenham, Arsenal and Wolves, 4 points back of Everton and the champions Liverpool, the latter with 2 games in hand, not one of us would have believed it.
Irrespective of the past few games where we have been a bit up and down and squeezed in something like 7 games in 25 days we have had a superb season with 15 still to go where in all likelihood we will finish just around where we are now. Finishing in the top 10 would have beyond most of us interms of our realistic expectaions at the start of this season.
All fair points, but it's just so dispiriting seeing us enter into another period where the football is dire after such a good start to the season. From feeling we can beat anybody on our day to wondering where the next win is coming from.
Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
It's a season like no other where consistant form is very very tough for anyone other than Man. City.
Performances gone flat but think it's a combination of the manager getting a bit lazy/complacent again with his selections and also not having enough v likes of Leicester and West Ham which indicates we haven't got enough about us to finish in top 6 which is understandable.
I'd have been more than happy to finish 12th this season but I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a little bit more considering how we've played for most of this season. Our defence is still one of the six best in the division which is incredible considering how bad it was last season and we're doing o.k in attack aswell despite having only one proper striker in the squad.
Would be hugely disappointing to finish outside top 10 now. Very preventable aswell as we'll create a decent buffer again to those below if we don't lose to Wolves and Leeds and beat Newcastle and Sheffield United. Even without Grealish we do have some decent other players in the team now and they should be capable of that points haul. DS needs to properly set up midfield though rather than just playing the usual ones though.
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Like everyone on here I do not want this season to just fizzle out but at the beginning of the season I would have taken in a heartbeat our current position. Some of the stuff we have played this season has been exceptional, now we need to work on the consistency. Regarding next steps I was thinking yesterday, watching the kit stealers how much would Bowen and Benrahma give us extra than say Trez and El Ghazi?
Those type of signings are very much now within our range.
If you lose your best player its got to have an impact so how we adapt without Jack for a while will be interesting. My Arsenal mate reckons without him we are relegation level. I don't agree given our other recruitment but we may well find out how much as a team/squad we have progressed in the next few games.
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Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
Or to put in another way, 3 of the last 10, which doesn't sound quite so rosy, is just slightly better than relegation form, and is 16th in the form table.
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Our form is not good at the moment. But that's why we're eighth and not top four - teams in that position inevitably have a bad run at sometime. But Smith has to shake things up and try something different to get us winning again, otherwise we'll be slipping down the table before long.
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Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
Or to put in another way, 3 of the last 10, which doesn't sound quite so rosy, is just slightly better than relegation form, and is 16th in the form table.
Or five of the last twelve, which is much better.
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Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
Or to put in another way, 3 of the last 10, which doesn't sound quite so rosy, is just slightly better than relegation form, and is 16th in the form table.
10 games since December 28th. We were shut down in that period of time for 2 weeks due to Covid so our schedule was even more compressed. 4 of those games against the current top 4, another against Chelsea. We played well in that span of time and more recently look knackered which is hardly surprising.
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It's going to be a season where our fate isn't hanging in the balance on the last day. We've not had many of those in recent years. Mid table was expected and that's what we're going to get. It's next season when the bar is raised that it gets exciting. I can't wait.
Exactly this. I can see a massive Summer in store at B6.
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It's going to be a season where our fate isn't hanging in the balance on the last day. We've not had many of those in recent years. Mid table was expected and that's what we're going to get. It's next season when the bar is raised that it gets exciting. I can't wait.
Exactly this. I can see a massive Summer in store at B6.
Agreed and connected to what i was saying above. We need a number of windows where we bring in better players. We will need to break our transfer record several times to progress. West Ham spent more than we paid for Watkins on a squad player in Benrahma.
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Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
Or to put in another way, 3 of the last 10, which doesn't sound quite so rosy, is just slightly better than relegation form, and is 16th in the form table.
Fair enough but we did have a very tough period of fixtures, Chelsea, Man. City and Man. United all in a row. We won the winnable games more or less over xmas which will probably be the peak of our season.
In previous times when we've finished even 6th we'd had runs like that where we've had poor ends to the season like under O'Neill.
We are only five wins off what we got in 07/08 season.
Read elsewhere that the points we have now would've had us 5th after 23 games last season but the odd nature which is giving teams so many more away wins than on average is inflating so many points totals.
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Bit melodramatic, we've won 3 of the last 7 which is roughly in line with what Everton have done and better than Spurs and Liverpool.
Or to put in another way, 3 of the last 10, which doesn't sound quite so rosy, is just slightly better than relegation form, and is 16th in the form table.
10 games since December 28th. We were shut down in that period of time for 2 weeks due to Covid so our schedule was even more compressed. 4 of those games against the current top 4, another against Chelsea. We played well in that span of time and more recently look knackered which is hardly surprising.
Which makes aDeans late subs and sticking with the same players from game 1 bar injury, seems odd to me
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can someone tell me if M City win the league cup and another top 4 team win the FA cup how many spots does it come down to in the premier league for a Europa place
I’m still living in hope only I think we might have blown it on Wednesday night against Sheffield United
Maybe we’ll look back at that game the same way as we do the Stoke City game many moons ago
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I *think* it’s two spots for the Europa League and one for that new Europa Conference thing. So I believe the lowest it could come down to in the league is 7th, if the cups are won by clubs that are already qualified for Europe.
The only thing that might make it drop to 8th is if, say, Liverpool win the Champions League and finish outside the top four.
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We are fifteen points and five wins better off than we were after the same number of games last season and still a lot to play for. That’s progress no matter how you look at it. I think the problem lately is the central midfield have been fine defending and anchoring the middle of the park but going forward the spare midfielder and two wide men are inconsistent with end product - and effort - in Barkley’s case. No matter how we finish this season I think the board will only try and rectify this in the summer. Wesley should be back soon and I know we haven’t seen the best of him but he was just starting to find some form when he was crippled by that dirty Burnley b&@s(a/d.
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40 points with 12 games to go is great. Now let's see if the season fizzles out or if we make a push for top 7 and possibly Europe. No matter what happens it's miles better than last year.
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Agreed. We will never know how much difference that covid break made - gloss has gone since then.
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It's the owners expectations that excite me. They are born winners and in the long term, will not settle for second best. After a 200m plus investment, I guess they are pleased with progress to date but after more investment will demand a top four position next season.
The current squad and all staff have to individually prove they are top four material or they are gone. We have the nucleus of a top team, ambitious owners with money in a depressed market and a current squad who have to prove their future worth.
With that in mind, our players and management still have a lot to play for this season or the door beckons.
Ruthless but necessary for any successful club. Exciting times ahead. :)
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It's the owners expectations that excite me. They are born winners and in the long term, will not settle for second best. After a 200m plus investment, I guess they are pleased with progress to date but after more investment will demand a top four position next season.
The current squad and all staff have to prove they are top four material or they are gone. We have the nucleus of a top team, ambitious owners with money in a depressed market and a current squad who have to prove their future worth.
With that in mind, our players and management still have a lot to play for this season or the door beckons.
Ruthless but necessary for any successful club. Exciting times ahead. :)
well put Agree with all that
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I have to admit I worry for Dean Smith next season. He's not been a top flight manager for long and next season he's expected to deliver champions league qualification. I hope he can do it as I'd hate to see him binned after all the good he's done for us.
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Midtable championship to top 10 in the Premier league within two years is without a doubt fantastic progression. Put aside recent frustrations and the nagging doubt of missed opportunities and just view it as the total turnaround that it is from afar.
We've gone from looking the poorer side in 85% of our games last season to more than holding our own. Next seasons progression would be looking to push the edges of the top 6. With the money being pumped in it has to be year on year progression, so from top 10 has to be top 6-8. Smith has made a rod for his own back moving from 17th to top half in one jump, I hope he lives up to the challenge.
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What’s the minimum net investment needed to give us a real shot at top 4 next season?
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What’s the minimum net investment needed to give us a real shot at top 4 next season?
Top quality right winger, another good striker in the squad and also some smart business at full back as it obviously dips whenever a first choice gets injured.
Can't really see us signing that well to be in serious contention for top 4, 6th or 7th perhaps.
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It depends on whether Luiz, Nakamba and Sanson can improve a bit next season. If they can we'd probably be looking at an upgrade on McGinn, a winger and another striker, then a couple of squad defenders.
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Back up In both FB positions, 1 x winger upgrade and a CF pushing Ollie and we will be cooking on gas.
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It depends on whether Luiz, Nakamba and Sanson can improve a bit next season. If they can we'd probably be looking at an upgrade on McGinn, a winger and another striker, then a couple of squad defenders.
I'm o.k with central midfield options. Sanson and Ramsey coming on nicely and will play far more next season. Perhaps look at that mid season but we've got far more pressing areas to improve during the summer.
Back to realistic expectations....finishing above Liverpool remains possible given what I've been watching from them this afternoon. They're in a proper tragic slump.
This stays as it is and we beat Newcastle and we'll be above them with a game in hand still.
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It depends on whether Luiz, Nakamba and Sanson can improve a bit next season. If they can we'd probably be looking at an upgrade on McGinn, a winger and another striker, then a couple of squad defenders.
We have to have good cover at CB. So far, we've been very lucky with injury. Another LB will be required to compete with Targett.
We should be giving Kesler, Ramsey and Chukwuemeka some game time this season. Another striker is also necessary.
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In terms of the squad for next season, there are a few at Fulham that I wouldn’t mind. Aina can play both full back positions and Andersen would be a good centre half to replace Engels. Throw in Lookman as well to replace Trez.
A right winger like Neto or Jota (you know which one) and a good striker and we should be looking at top 6. I really am not sure with way about our centre mid options atm though. Especially the holding position.
Surely the owners and we as fans won’t be looking at top 4 though?! Maybe the season after at a push for me.
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I’d be all over that Neto after seeing him last night, real top quality, gave Matt Targett a really tough evening. As Dean insists on playing 2 wide forwards I’d be looking to upgrade AEG and Trez and Bertie to be a squad option.
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we are three points of 7th place which could well be European football
that is where we should be aiming especially knowing how we can perform as we have seen in the first half of the season
Villa need European football to be able to attract better quality players
to Keep our are better quality players
and to push the club forward to where we want to be
a 10th place finish with a well it’s positive progression narrative
Would be a disappointment for me now
I want some more as someone famously once said
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I'm happy with this season, we've outperformed what I expected so far (11th-15th), and I'm fairly confident that we'll continue to.
In the summer, with the exceptions of Neil Taylor & Ross Barkley, I don't think there's any players that *desperately* need to be replaced. Freddy can come in for Elmo if needs be. For me, I think it'll be more about seeing which players are available at a decent price that'll improve our first 11. It's the first time in ages that I've felt relaxed enough about our squad options that it wouldn't bother me to see them still knocking about next season.
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I thought we would be mid table but I did not expect us to be flirting with a top 6 place. The recent run of form has put paid to that. We still manage to look like last seasons team at times. A realistic expectation Is to get past some of the rotten performances we still manage turn out, the most recent was The Blades.
We are a long way behind the established Top 6 to 8 clubs who have years of accumulated TV money.
The big challenge we will continue to face is losing Jack because I think that would be a huge blow to our aspirations of challenging at the top of the league.
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I thought we would be mid table but I did not expect us to be flirting with a top 6 place. The recent run of form has put paid to that. We still manage to look like last seasons team at times. A realistic expectation Is to get past some of the rotten performances we still manage turn out, the most recent was The Blades.
We are a long way behind the established Top 6 to 8 clubs who have years of accumulated TV money.
The big challenge we will continue to face is losing Jack because I think that would be a huge blow to our aspirations of challenging at the top of the league.
Agreed mate, lose Jack and we are right back to square one really. If this season continues to taper out then that is a real risk. So a strong finish, top 8 or so would be where we should be aiming I think.
I think for next season (assuming Jack stays), Smith will need to be a lot more flexible in terms of rotating players and using his subs. There aren't many decent strikers who will come to us if Watkins continues to play every minute for example. Even Ferguson used play the likes of Fletcher, O'Shea and Park regularly. Id be open to letting the likes of Nakamba and maybe even AEG leave as likely to get decent money for them. Likes of Trez, Elmo, Engels, Davis, Taylor will all move on.
I think Tuanzebe wouldn't be a bad shout, he is very good bringing the ball out from the back (also helps a tactical shift to 3 if required at times). An experienced partner next to Luiz is still a must for me. Thomas Delaney the Irish sounding Dane at Dortmund would be ideal and has about 18 months left on his deal (similar player to Gareth Barry).
I think we should be moving away from wingers really as both our full backs can provide width, with three from Jack, McGinn, Traore, Sanson and Ramsey supporting Watkins. An experienced striker as Watkins backup another must, Giroud type would be ideal.
I think it's a summer for a couple of canny experienced heads with something to offer rather than statement signings.
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Champions League qualification will not be a requirement or an expectation next season, nor should it be. Progress will be expected I'd imagine, but right now, a top half finish next season would still be positive. We have to remember that sustained success is what we're after and we need to build it as these things always take time. Remember where we were two years ago (Championship), 5 years (bottom of Premier League) and even 10 years ago we finished 9th with 48 points. The year before 09/10 we finished 6th with 64 points, I'd like us to aim for that again this season, given the start we've had
We've been pretty crap for a decade, so now to expect us to finish Champions League already would be pushing it.
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To keep Jack we need to shop at Harrods in the next window and not Tesco.
We need to think 'big' to be 'big' and it wouldn't surprise me if our owners think the same. Money talks and apart from Man City we are not that far behind the rest.
If our owners pump in another 100m plus the monies we get for selling some players we can look at the likes of Haaland, Lookman and a good back up for left back.
I honestly believe our owners have greater ambition than many of us. :)
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Champions League qualification will not be a requirement or an expectation next season, nor should it be. Progress will be expected I'd imagine, but right now, a top half finish next season would still be positive. We have to remember that sustained success is what we're after and we need to build it as these things always take time. Remember where we were two years ago (Championship), 5 years (bottom of Premier League) and even 10 years ago we finished 9th with 48 points. The year before 09/10 we finished 6th with 64 points, I'd like us to aim for that again this season, given the start we've had
We've been pretty crap for a decade, so now to expect us to finish Champions League already would be pushing it.
You’re right I think it might be pushing it but I do think our owners are very very ambitious
Maybe even more than we realise
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time
The problem is for too many years we put up with average and the downright rubbish
We’ve excused it and gone along with it and accepted it
We should have been straight up out of the championship the first year in trying
we spent more money than any other club in that division by miles
but we were there for three seasons in the end which was ridiculous
we all gave ourselves pats on the back when we stayed up on the last day last season
But in reality we were piss poor for a lot of the season
I thought we underachieved and we should never have been relying on other results in the last game
But we were and we got away with it so fairplay
But now we are judging where we can go on how shit we’ve been in the past
It’s got to stop
I’ve said a million times we are the biggest team in the Midlands It’s not even debatable
We have the second richest owners in the premiership
We have one of the best players in the world who we must keep
Mid table finishes with the size of this club and the investment will not be good enough next season
and it shouldn’t be good enough
We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years
and start looking at where we’re going
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Champions League qualification will not be a requirement or an expectation next season, nor should it be. Progress will be expected I'd imagine, but right now, a top half finish next season would still be positive. We have to remember that sustained success is what we're after and we need to build it as these things always take time. Remember where we were two years ago (Championship), 5 years (bottom of Premier League) and even 10 years ago we finished 9th with 48 points. The year before 09/10 we finished 6th with 64 points, I'd like us to aim for that again this season, given the start we've had
We've been pretty crap for a decade, so now to expect us to finish Champions League already would be pushing it.
You’re right I think it might be pushing it but I do think our owners are very very ambitious
Maybe even more than we realise
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time
The problem is for too many years we put up with average and the downright rubbish
We’ve excused it and gone along with it and accepted it
We should have been straight up out of the championship the first year in trying
we spent more money than any other club in that division by miles
but we were there for three seasons in the end which was ridiculous
we all gave ourselves pats on the back when we stayed up on the last day last season
But in reality we were piss poor for a lot of the season
I thought we underachieved and we should never have been relying on other results in the last game
But we were and we got away with it so fairplay
But now we are judging where we can go on how shit we’ve been in the past
It’s got to stop
I’ve said a million times we are the biggest team in the Midlands It’s not even debatable
We have the second richest owners in the premiership
We have one of the best players in the world who we must keep
Mid table finishes with the size of this club and the investment will not be good enough next season
and it shouldn’t be good enough
We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years
and start looking at where we’re going
Agreed 100% John e.
If our owners choose to buy the league, they will.
They have spent 200m plus already. our emergence has not gone unnoticed and we are now in a position to attract top quality. :)
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The challenge Dean Smith will always have with these owners is proving to them he is the right man to help them reach their ambitions for us.
So far, so good as he’s pretty checked every box. Given how this season has gone to date, and assuming things don’t fall of the cliff and we finish in the bottom half, he’s rightly earned the chance at leading us next year. But every multi million £ investment; on the team or in the club the pressure intensifies on getting the results right. Hopefully Dean keeps up with it all, but if he doesn’t I’m sure he’s only too aware that Villa fan and likeable guy or not, he’ll be gone.
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The challenge Dean Smith will always have with these owners is proving to them he is the right man to help them reach their ambitions for us.
So far, so good as he’s pretty checked every box. Given how this season has gone to date, and assuming things don’t fall of the cliff and we finish in the bottom half, he’s rightly earned the chance at leading us next year. But every multi million £ investment; on the team or in the club the pressure intensifies on getting the results right. Hopefully Dean keeps up with it all, but if he doesn’t I’m sure he’s only too aware that Villa fan and likeable guy or not, he’ll be gone.
Yep spot-on
we don’t know the answer to that question yet
The only way of knowing if you’re an elite manager operating at the top level
is by becoming a top manager operating at the top level
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We are also seeing with how quickly Thomas Tuchel has changed Chelsea just by being better than Lampard, what a top managerial appointment can do at a club. Not comparing Dean to Lampard, as I firmly believe our boss is better, and not saying that immediate impact always happens the way it has happened at Chelsea, but there will be some very good, proven managers available if Dean Smith doesn't meet expectations next season.
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Champions League qualification will not be a requirement or an expectation next season, nor should it be. Progress will be expected I'd imagine, but right now, a top half finish next season would still be positive. We have to remember that sustained success is what we're after and we need to build it as these things always take time. Remember where we were two years ago (Championship), 5 years (bottom of Premier League) and even 10 years ago we finished 9th with 48 points. The year before 09/10 we finished 6th with 64 points, I'd like us to aim for that again this season, given the start we've had
We've been pretty crap for a decade, so now to expect us to finish Champions League already would be pushing it.
You’re right I think it might be pushing it but I do think our owners are very very ambitious
Maybe even more than we realise
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time
The problem is for too many years we put up with average and the downright rubbish
We’ve excused it and gone along with it and accepted it
We should have been straight up out of the championship the first year in trying
we spent more money than any other club in that division by miles
but we were there for three seasons in the end which was ridiculous
we all gave ourselves pats on the back when we stayed up on the last day last season
But in reality we were piss poor for a lot of the season
I thought we underachieved and we should never have been relying on other results in the last game
But we were and we got away with it so fairplay
But now we are judging where we can go on how shit we’ve been in the past
It’s got to stop
I’ve said a million times we are the biggest team in the Midlands It’s not even debatable
We have the second richest owners in the premiership
We have one of the best players in the world who we must keep
Mid table finishes with the size of this club and the investment will not be good enough next season
and it shouldn’t be good enough
We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years
and start looking at where we’re going
Two of the best players in the world. I really think the keeper is that good. Alisson is up there and he’s been better than him
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Sometimes we forget that the Premier League is such a high standard that the best in their positions here are by default amongst the best in the world.
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We've got good players in most positions now.
Trick now is to sign even more of them so we actually have some game turning options on the bench.
Realistically we're not getting into europe anytime soon though while our backup strikers consist of one who hasn't scored a league goal since 2017 and the other been injured for 14 months so we have to give him time to get back up to speed.
Was having a debate this afternoon with someone somewhere else on the web and he was saying we shouldn't sign another decent striker as it would "hurt Ollie's feelings" given according to DS he dosen't like playing out wide.
I say tough, that's not the mentality we need. I doubt Tuchel gives a stuff about hurting Tammy's feelings by leaving him out of the Chelsea 11 constantly atm, he's doing the best for the club and results are there for all to see.
If Tammy or Giroud suddenly decided they wanted to join us I'd sign either without hesitation and work the rest out, Ollie would still play loads at CF.
Think we're at the stage where signing a Giroud and plucking another name Riyad Mahrez would get us very close to top 4 but I'm just not convinced we have that pull as a club just yet.
Everton have over last 18 months improved their quality in terms of signings and they've improved significantly but still short of top 4 when you see them play tonight but that's a good yardstick for us. We are getting there.
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We've got good players in most positions now.
Trick now is to sign even more of them so we actually have some game turning options on the bench.
Realistically we're not getting into europe anytime soon though while our backup strikers consist of one who hasn't scored a league goal since 2017 and the other been injured for 14 months so we have to give him time to get back up to speed.
Was having a debate this afternoon with someone somewhere else on the web and he was saying we shouldn't sign another decent striker as it would "hurt Ollie's feelings" given according to DS he dosen't like playing out wide.
I say tough, that's not the mentality we need. I doubt Tuchel gives a stuff about hurting Tammy's feelings by leaving him out of the Chelsea 11 constantly atm, he's doing the best for the club and results are there for all to see.
If Tammy or Giroud suddenly decided they wanted to join us I'd sign either without hesitation and work the rest out, Ollie would still play loads at CF.
Think we're at the stage where signing a Giroud and plucking another name Riyad Mahrez would get us very close to top 4 but I'm just not convinced we have that pull as a club just yet.
Everton have over last 18 months improved their quality in terms of signings and they've improved significantly but still short of top 4 when you see them play tonight but that's a good yardstick for us. We are getting there.
Ollie can play out wide so his game time won’t be effected too much. There will always be place for him.
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We are well short of a top 6 squad IMO - need more depth in defense, a lot more power and creativity in the middle and 2/3 genuine PL striking options up front - that’s two summers worth investment right there so for me, it’ll be another solid season next before we can hope to really be in the mix
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We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time...
... We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years and start looking at where we’re going
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog-shit owners who've hired dog-shit managers.
It would appear we now have owners who know a thing or two about running sports businesses and have the dosh to deliver.
TV made the point about Tuchel's apparent magic wand effect on Chelsea. It's a good case study because he has indeed put Lampard's time at Chelsea into perspective. Also, see how Ancelotti has turned Everton into a very decent team.
The great thing about where we are now is that if we find Smith reaches his natural ceiling, the owners will doubtless not waste time in 'cutting him unnecessary slack' but will bring in the equivalent of a Tuchel or Ancelotti. That may sound harsh, but it gives me great confidence to know that we will not risk a return to mediocrity because the owner either doesn't recognise a need for change or be too attached to the status quo.
The next transfer window will be an important one for us: will we cautiously consolidate or ambitiously stretch toward a much-improved 2021-22 season?
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We are well short of a top 6 squad IMO - need more depth in defense, a lot more power and creativity in the middle and 2/3 genuine PL striking options up front - that’s two summers worth investment right there so for me, it’ll be another solid season next before we can hope to really be in the mix
You're right, although we (Sanson, Watkins, Cash), Everton (Godfrey, Dacoure, Digne) and Wet Spam (Soufal, Soucek, Bowen) have demonstrated admirably that good and improving EPL players don't need to cost the earth.
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Tuchel's been there ten minutes. Let's see how he does after his new cat bounce wears off.
Darren Farley's impression of Lampard is genius so I'm gutted Frank was sacked.
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Tuchel's been there ten minutes. Let's see how he does after his new cat bounce wears off.
Darren Farley's impression of Lampard is genius so I'm gutted Frank was sacked.
I haven't seen it but I'd wager Sam Delaney's version of him on Top Flight Time Machine is much better.
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We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time...
... We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years and start looking at where we’re going
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog-shit owners who've hired dog-shit managers.
It would appear we now have owners who know a thing or two about running sports businesses and have the dosh to deliver.
TV made the point about Tuchel's apparent magic wand effect on Chelsea. It's a good case study because he has indeed put Lampard's time at Chelsea into perspective. Also, see how Ancelotti has turned Everton into a very decent team.
The great thing about where we are now is that if we find Smith reaches his natural ceiling, the owners will doubtless not waste time in 'cutting him unnecessary slack' but will bring in the equivalent of a Tuchel or Ancelotti. That may sound harsh, but it gives me great confidence to know that we will not risk a return to mediocrity because the owner either doesn't recognise a need for change or be too attached to the status quo.
The next transfer window will be an important one for us: will we cautiously consolidate or ambitiously stretch toward a much-improved 2021-22 season?
I see our management model differently. It feels like we don't have a traditional manager. Instead, we've got a recruitment & analysis team, and a coaching team. Both can have their performance measured to some extent without using a league table.
Recruitment team - have the players they've identified increased in market value (regardless of whether we've signed them or not)? For players we've signed, do the real life stats (from both games & training) match up with the ones they'd predicted? Are they correctly identifying the opponents weaknesses? Are they correctly identifying our weaknesses?
Coaching team - are players stats improving? Are they improving at the things they're being coached to do better? Is the player's decision making improving? Is our game management improving?
I suppose my point is that - obviously in the end it comes down to league results - but I suspect the owners wouldn't sack Dean, say, if he's improving as a head coach even if the results in a particular season don't quite go our way. We'll be able to say how much of our league position is down to hard work, and how much is due to good fortune.
I think/hope we'll see much longer term planning at Villa than simply sacking a manager because there's been a run of half a dozen results that haven't gone our way.
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We have players like Trez and El Ghazi that can fill a position but neither are the quality we need to compete at the top. I suppose we will see how ambitious our owners are in the summer break.
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Tuchel's been there ten minutes. Let's see how he does after his new cat bounce wears off.
The interesting thing about what Tuchel has done in his short Chelsea career is that he has rotated his team frequently in the dozen or so games, and yet the same resolute and ball-playing style of football has been delivered. Yes, there's a long way to go before he can be held up as an exemplar, but I just thought that the way he's taken a group of players and imposed a clear playing style on them is interesting.
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We have been where we were because we’ve had dog shit managers for a long time...
... We have got to raise the bar and stop wallowing at where we’ve come from in the last few years and start looking at where we’re going
We have been where we were because we’ve had dog-shit owners who've hired dog-shit managers.
It would appear we now have owners who know a thing or two about running sports businesses and have the dosh to deliver.
TV made the point about Tuchel's apparent magic wand effect on Chelsea. It's a good case study because he has indeed put Lampard's time at Chelsea into perspective. Also, see how Ancelotti has turned Everton into a very decent team.
The great thing about where we are now is that if we find Smith reaches his natural ceiling, the owners will doubtless not waste time in 'cutting him unnecessary slack' but will bring in the equivalent of a Tuchel or Ancelotti. That may sound harsh, but it gives me great confidence to know that we will not risk a return to mediocrity because the owner either doesn't recognise a need for change or be too attached to the status quo.
The next transfer window will be an important one for us: will we cautiously consolidate or ambitiously stretch toward a much-improved 2021-22 season?
I see our management model differently. It feels like we don't have a traditional manager. Instead, we've got a recruitment & analysis team, and a coaching team. Both can have their performance measured to some extent without using a league table.
Recruitment team - have the players they've identified increased in market value (regardless of whether we've signed them or not)? For players we've signed, do the real life stats (from both games & training) match up with the ones they'd predicted? Are they correctly identifying the opponents weaknesses? Are they correctly identifying our weaknesses?
Coaching team - are players stats improving? Are they improving at the things they're being coached to do better? Is the player's decision making improving? Is our game management improving?
I suppose my point is that - obviously in the end it comes down to league results - but I suspect the owners wouldn't sack Dean, say, if he's improving as a head coach even if the results in a particular season don't quite go our way. We'll be able to say how much of our league position is down to hard work, and how much is due to good fortune.
I think/hope we'll see much longer term planning at Villa than simply sacking a manager because there's been a run of half a dozen results that haven't gone our way.
Yes, you make a good point, algy. All decent clubs have the support teams in place to enable the Head Coach to make better decisions; and Smith seems to have a very inclusive approach to his decision-making. And, yes, the current owners may have a more 'forgiving' style (I believe Edens has particularly taken leaps of faith with the Bucks and been accordingly rewarded): I suspect they're also shrewd enough to know when someone has reached their capability-ceiling and act accordingly.
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Didn't Wes fire a Bucks coach who was personally a good friend of his? My impression of him is that he's not afraid to make difficult decisions at all.
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To be perfectly honest, I would say that where we are currently is at the absolute upper limit of any reasonable expectations we might have had when Smith took charge, and he has earned the right to keep his job for the whole of next season as a minimum regardless of any blips we go through.
We can already point to two or three occasions in the time he's been here where we've been told he has reached his limit (the run just before the 10 game winning streak in the Championship, early last season and again in the first few games after lockdown), and yet each time we have gone on to get better. He is still learning the ropes at the top level, but he has still tactically out-thought a number of supposedly world-class coaches, and with relatively limited resources at his disposal. Now we are finally getting a squad together that is worthy of the top-half of the Premier League he absolutely deserves the right to get a proper go of it, in a normal season where the crowds are back.
In all businesses, but especially football, you want to get someone who's on the way up rather than the way down. There is nothing in Dean Smith's trajectory that says he has reached his limit yet, and whilst it may be one year too soon this time round, I reckon next year we have a shot at European qualification and/or winning a trophy.
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Didn't Wes fire a Bucks coach who was personally a good friend of his? My impression of him is that he's not afraid to make difficult decisions at all.
You may be right. As I said "the current owners may have a more 'forgiving' style (I believe Edens has particularly taken leaps of faith with the Bucks and been accordingly rewarded): I suspect they're also shrewd enough to know when someone has reached their capability-ceiling and act accordingly."
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We have players like Trez and El Ghazi that can fill a position but neither are the quality we need to compete at the top. I suppose we will see how ambitious our owners are in the summer break.
We'll sell one of them in the summer, both got two years left on their contract and been regulars in top half team so that maintains their value.
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To be perfectly honest, I would say that where we are currently is at the absolute upper limit of any reasonable expectations we might have had when Smith took charge, and he has earned the right to keep his job for the whole of next season as a minimum regardless of any blips we go through.
We can already point to two or three occasions in the time he's been here where we've been told he has reached his limit (the run just before the 10 game winning streak in the Championship, early last season and again in the first few games after lockdown), and yet each time we have gone on to get better. He is still learning the ropes at the top level, but he has still tactically out-thought a number of supposedly world-class coaches, and with relatively limited resources at his disposal. Now we are finally getting a squad together that is worthy of the top-half of the Premier League he absolutely deserves the right to get a proper go of it, in a normal season where the crowds are back.
In all businesses, but especially football, you want to get someone who's on the way up rather than the way down. There is nothing in Dean Smith's trajectory that says he has reached his limit yet, and whilst it may be one year too soon this time round, I reckon next year we have a shot at European qualification and/or winning a trophy.
I'm am fully in this camp.
He also carries himself, and therefore the club with great dignity, and he earns the loyalty of players and staff through hard work and honesty and dedication, which they then give back.
It leads to a great culture at the club, one that allows the miracle of last season to actually happen. The players listening, taking onboard the coaching and producing the goods doesn't happen when you're not working together.
Long may he reign.
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To be perfectly honest, I would say that where we are currently is at the absolute upper limit of any reasonable expectations we might have had when Smith took charge, and he has earned the right to keep his job for the whole of next season as a minimum regardless of any blips we go through.
We can already point to two or three occasions in the time he's been here where we've been told he has reached his limit (the run just before the 10 game winning streak in the Championship, early last season and again in the first few games after lockdown), and yet each time we have gone on to get better. He is still learning the ropes at the top level, but he has still tactically out-thought a number of supposedly world-class coaches, and with relatively limited resources at his disposal. Now we are finally getting a squad together that is worthy of the top-half of the Premier League he absolutely deserves the right to get a proper go of it, in a normal season where the crowds are back.
In all businesses, but especially football, you want to get someone who's on the way up rather than the way down. There is nothing in Dean Smith's trajectory that says he has reached his limit yet, and whilst it may be one year too soon this time round, I reckon next year we have a shot at European qualification and/or winning a trophy.
I'm am fully in this camp.
He also carries himself, and therefore the club with great dignity, and he earns the loyalty of players and staff through hard work and honesty and dedication, which they then give back.
It leads to a great culture at the club, one that allows the miracle of last season to actually happen. The players listening, taking onboard the coaching and producing the goods doesn't happen when you're not working together.
Long may he reign.
Count me in too.
We sometimes plateau, occasionally falter, but generally the direction is upwards.
Smith is a good man, doing good things and his record is pretty good so far. The only sign of any petulance we've seen from anyone towards him are the perceived antics of Barkley (who's been benched) and Grealish's grumpy response to being taken off 5 minutes before the end of a match (which was quickly shown to not be an issue).
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Thirded.
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And me
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To be perfectly honest, I would say that where we are currently is at the absolute upper limit of any reasonable expectations we might have had when Smith took charge, and he has earned the right to keep his job for the whole of next season as a minimum regardless of any blips we go through.
We can already point to two or three occasions in the time he's been here where we've been told he has reached his limit (the run just before the 10 game winning streak in the Championship, early last season and again in the first few games after lockdown), and yet each time we have gone on to get better. He is still learning the ropes at the top level, but he has still tactically out-thought a number of supposedly world-class coaches, and with relatively limited resources at his disposal. Now we are finally getting a squad together that is worthy of the top-half of the Premier League he absolutely deserves the right to get a proper go of it, in a normal season where the crowds are back.
In all businesses, but especially football, you want to get someone who's on the way up rather than the way down. There is nothing in Dean Smith's trajectory that says he has reached his limit yet, and whilst it may be one year too soon this time round, I reckon next year we have a shot at European qualification and/or winning a trophy.
Was open to a change (depending on the calibre of the replacement) in the summer.
But would agree with most of that.
If our form of the last five or six games is this season's wobble we're not doing too bad. Smudger also said last year that his teams typically get stronger in the final stages of the season. It was certainly true for us in 18/19 and 19/20.
If that plays out again this year we'll still be in the running for European qualification.
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Our last six to nine games are bloody difficult though. We play most of the teams above us (twice in the case of Everton - also twice against Spurs if you count all of our remaining matches).
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It's sometimes better to play those games towards the end in case the good teams are still in Europe and often they're pretty sure whether they're in or out of he top 4. Well that's my straw and I'll clutch at it anyway.
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No, it's a good point. The games against the Mancs might be dead rubbers for them if they have the top two spots more or less sealed. And who wouldn't want to face Liverpool in the coming weeks...
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To be free of relegation worries at this stage is what we all hoped for, it's still a great effort. The hope that i have is that the owners see this as an opportunity to kick on and buy quality in the summer, the worry that i have is that we continue to buy promise more than proven.
We have one of the most if not the most influential players in the league who loves playing for Villa, love of club only goes so far and if we don't continue the improvement then he will start looking elsewhere. Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
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I am happy with 40 points and 9th place after 26 games. I am also happy we are jostling for positions with
Everton, Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal.
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Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
Agree
The only time I can recall getting away with selling our best player was Andy Gray to Wolves.
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Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
Agree
The only time I can recall getting away with selling our best player was Andy Gray to Wolves.
We did alright out of the Platt sale.
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To be free of relegation worries at this stage is what we all hoped for, it's still a great effort. The hope that i have is that the owners see this as an opportunity to kick on and buy quality in the summer, the worry that i have is that we continue to buy promise more than proven.
We have one of the most if not the most influential players in the league who loves playing for Villa, love of club only goes so far and if we don't continue the improvement then he will start looking elsewhere. Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
The Emi Martinez purchase gives me great hope. It was completely out the blue and gave us an upgrade on what we currently have. :)
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Looking at the poll I went for 13th to 17th so we’re almost certainly going to exceed that so I have to be happy with progress. On top of that it’s clear that the players we have signed have all improved us and that we now have the core of a very good side. There are obviously still a couple of areas where we can improve the team and strengthen the squad but I can only see us going one way.
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40 points at the beginning of March. It's bloody brilliant!
As for playing teams above us in the table, we've already shown this season that we need fear nobody. We just need to get our scoring boots on again.
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Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
Agree
The only time I can recall getting away with selling our best player was Andy Gray to Wolves.
We did alright out of the Platt sale.
Thanks to the money only Italian clubs were throwing around at that point in time BFR was able to sell our best player and use the money to buy practically a brand new team. Credit has to go to BFR for using the Platt money so wisely.
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Over the decades we have built good sides only to sell top players or players seeing the lack of ambition wanting to leave. This summer is that important.
Agree
The only time I can recall getting away with selling our best player was Andy Gray to Wolves.
I think our problem in recent times is that we haven't replaced the quality players we have sold with players of similar quality.
Realistically we are always going to have to consider bids for our best players, but unlike times in the past, we should be looking to get the maximum amount for players and should be looking to replace them with quality.
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After the mancity result today I am reluctantly accepting that League title in not within reach this season.
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No, it's a good point. The games against the Mancs might be dead rubbers for them if they have the top two spots more or less sealed. And who wouldn't want to face Liverpool in the coming weeks...
My hunch is Spurs will start resting half their team in the run in if they're still 5-6 points off top 4 but in the europa and getting good draws.
He did it previously for Man. United in 16/17 in the run in.
Maybe not so much the VP game but can see that happening for the penultimate and Chelsea might also have secured top 4 by last day so again little to play for.
It would be really disappointing for me if we tail off now. Still want us to finish in 55-60 points range and win at Newcastle makes that pretty possible again.
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When we've got our best XI out, we can look brilliant. When we take some of them out, we start to look significantly less brilliant.
The difference with where we've been for almost the entirety of the last 10 years is that the first XI have mostly looked significantly unbrilliant, and the back up cast have looked even worse. That's totally changed now.
We've seen with Grealish out the extreme end of that dynamic - he's our best player, he's one of the most on-form players across the main European leagues, and we've looked a lot worse (although the results have been meh rather than awful).
What we need to do in the summer is yes, strengthen the first XI but also do some work on bolstering up competition for places. I like Elmo but what we've seen recently is he's exactly the sort of player we need to improve in order to crack on. I am sure we'll do exactly that.
I get as annoyed as the next man watching stuff like last night's match, it was awful and we were largely terrible. The thing is, in one or two games time, we could equally be absolutely brilliant. That's because we're an improving team (and club) and we are going to be inconsistent, infuriatingly shit one week, brilliant the next.
I just think there's not a single one of us who would not have accepted this at the start of the season, not one of us. Step back and take a look at the bigger picture, as a club we are in a much better place than we've been since 2010.
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I actually think some of the squad players have done o.k this season. Hause and El Ghazi were amazing over xmas and won us points and Nakamba's had some good games compared to his level last season.
Big problem to overcome is this massive issue whenever Jack isn't on the pitch as not just our results but our performances massively decline so we need to sign a player or two who shows some personality on the pitch and wants the ball constantly like Jack.
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When we've got our best XI out, we can look brilliant. When we take some of them out, we start to look significantly less brilliant.
The difference with where we've been for almost the entirety of the last 10 years is that the first XI have mostly looked significantly unbrilliant, and the back up cast have looked even worse. That's totally changed now.
We've seen with Grealish out the extreme end of that dynamic - he's our best player, he's one of the most on-form players across the main European leagues, and we've looked a lot worse (although the results have been meh rather than awful).
What we need to do in the summer is yes, strengthen the first XI but also do some work on bolstering up competition for places. I like Elmo but what we've seen recently is he's exactly the sort of player we need to improve in order to crack on. I am sure we'll do exactly that.
I get as annoyed as the next man watching stuff like last night's match, it was awful and we were largely terrible. The thing is, in one or two games time, we could equally be absolutely brilliant. That's because we're an improving team (and club) and we are going to be inconsistent, infuriatingly shit one week, brilliant the next.
I just think there's not a single one of us who would not have accepted this at the start of the season, not one of us. Step back and take a look at the bigger picture, as a club we are in a much better place than we've been since 2010.
"applause"
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I actually think some of the squad players have done o.k this season. Hause and El Ghazi were amazing over xmas and won us points and Nakamba's had some good games compared to his level last season.
Big problem to overcome is this massive issue whenever Jack isn't on the pitch as not just our results but our performances massively decline so we need to sign a player or two who shows some personality on the pitch and wants the ball constantly like Jack.
Yes ...
... and we did not help ourselves on Friday night. The minimum expectation should be that the players on the pitch do the simple things well: like, pass cleanly to a team-mate and move into space for the return; put the oppo under sustained pressure to force errors.
Against a team like the Barcodes that would have won us the game, despite JG's absence.
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I actually think some of the squad players have done o.k this season. Hause and El Ghazi were amazing over xmas and won us points and Nakamba's had some good games compared to his level last season.
Big problem to overcome is this massive issue whenever Jack isn't on the pitch as not just our results but our performances massively decline so we need to sign a player or two who shows some personality on the pitch and wants the ball constantly like Jack.
Agree, we need a “Jack alternative” whether that is a player or a different style of play.
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The season appears to be petering out, although we are not alone in being below par. There's a lot of tired and weary looking teams and players out there, and there's been a lot of rather turgid low scoring games compared to the pre Christmas vibe. If I recall correctly it was ages before the first 0-0 of the season, something like November, and recently there have been loads.
The Villa season reminds me of the promotion season after Smith came in. We were playing brilliant stuff up to December, then seemed to go into patch where we couldn't pass , defend, score or win, which coincided with Jack being out. Hopefully the kind of run that happened next will also be repeated this year. The fallout from COVID may have put paid to that though.
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When we've got our best XI out, we can look brilliant. When we take some of them out, we start to look significantly less brilliant.
The difference with where we've been for almost the entirety of the last 10 years is that the first XI have mostly looked significantly unbrilliant, and the back up cast have looked even worse. That's totally changed now.
We've seen with Grealish out the extreme end of that dynamic - he's our best player, he's one of the most on-form players across the main European leagues, and we've looked a lot worse (although the results have been meh rather than awful).
What we need to do in the summer is yes, strengthen the first XI but also do some work on bolstering up competition for places. I like Elmo but what we've seen recently is he's exactly the sort of player we need to improve in order to crack on. I am sure we'll do exactly that.
I get as annoyed as the next man watching stuff like last night's match, it was awful and we were largely terrible. The thing is, in one or two games time, we could equally be absolutely brilliant. That's because we're an improving team (and club) and we are going to be inconsistent, infuriatingly shit one week, brilliant the next.
I just think there's not a single one of us who would not have accepted this at the start of the season, not one of us. Step back and take a look at the bigger picture, as a club we are in a much better place than we've been since 2010.
Agree with all of this. As you say, Grealish is a big miss and would be for pretty much any side, but Barkley’s poor form since his return has been costly as well. He has been brought in, at what I would imagine is pretty significant expense, to give us that extra bit of quality and isn’t currently doing that.
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Pretty sure it's 25 years this week since we last won a major trophy.
That's a long old time and also over 10 years since we played in europe now.
I mean we've been good this season up to last 6 weeks but let's not go overboard. Leeds got Sheffield United at home next up so the reality is we'll likely be 11th by time we kick off next game (if Leeds are playing before us).
Our top scorer has 10 goals so again decent return from Ollie but 1 in 3 striker isn't going to get us top 4 in the future.
We're on the right path but is it ever going to be another. Tonight we didn't play awfully but reality is we lost fairly comfortably to a team who've been largely out of form in last 3 months and and have been hovering around 8th.
To me I'd love the owners to call DS into VP soon and say we'll give you 50-60m + wages to go and find a player on Jack's wavelength and to excite the crowd when we return and also show some damm personality to think over in the team when Jack isn't around (hopefully just injured).
To base seemingly our entire plan on Jack just being around until he retires seems a very dangerous tactic and reminds me of a decade ago thinking the likes of Barry and Young would always be around. They and Milner left and we just simply gave up attempting to being a major force and had to suffer a wretched decade.
Still feels like we need a good shaking at times in terms of mentality. When we're in good positions in the league mid season to sufficently strengthen enough to push us on instead of just hitting the wall every March, to sign a top tier player or two and basically not just to think it's too hard if Jack can't play 7-8 games in the season.
In a strange way that was most disheartening defeat of the season to me (not helped by how wretched our record v Spurs is). Until we stop thinking our whole world exists around Jack Grealish I honestly don't think we'll ever break into the next tier of teams as it just gives the players too much of an excuse when he's not out there to not dig out wins.
Leicester in last 5 years have sold Kante, Mahrez, Maguire and Chilwell and will finish in top 4 and probably play in FA cup final so they do o.k planning ahead and not giving their players excuses not to perform. Liverpool also sold Coutinho and won CL and league in next two years so I'd love to know actually what sort of plan we have post Jack Grealish.
I desperately hope he stays but he's going to leave sooner or later isn't he? At least give him a world class CF and right winger to have some fun with in the meantime.
Bit of a rambling post from me but that's what a match thread can do to you sometimes!
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We need more than one player. £60m won’t be enough. Not sure they will trust the manager or sporting director either with a significant amount of money if Sanson is anything to go by. Early days, yes but the start hasn’t been great. Not sure what he brings to the team
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We need more than one player. £60m won’t be enough. Not sure they will trust the manager or sporting director either with a significant amount of money if Sanson is anything to go by. Early days, yes but the start hasn’t been great. Not sure what he brings to the team
Sanson has some nice touches and I think there's a good player in there but very much struggling with pace when he's pressed.
Another game with Trez starting and Traore end product at nil shows we desperately need an upgrade out wide, I do think 40m + should get you that if you scout well enough.
We desperately need another top class striker in the ranks. Ollie's done well but he's still only 1 in 3 striker so far, that dosen't fire you into top 4 anytime soon.
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We need more than one player. £60m won’t be enough. Not sure they will trust the manager or sporting director either with a significant amount of money if Sanson is anything to go by. Early days, yes but the start hasn’t been great. Not sure what he brings to the team
This. There's a lot more to do in the summer than I originally thought. Jack's absence has highlighted that.
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We are at least 4 players away from a good enough startingX1 to challenge the top 6.
Then you need cover at full back midfield and attack.
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Leicester also sold Drinkwater and still did well, didn't they? (coughs)
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We need more than one player. £60m won’t be enough. Not sure they will trust the manager or sporting director either with a significant amount of money if Sanson is anything to go by. Early days, yes but the start hasn’t been great. Not sure what he brings to the team
How many games are you judging Sanson on?
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I thought Sanson was playing well in the second half and getting some joy down the left. I was surprised he was taken off.
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No better than Ramsey.
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Looking at our progress over the last few seasons.
We got promoted via the playoffs (scraoed through?) and had to buy virtually a whole new team, many of whom had never played in the Prem, and Smith was completely unproven at that level.
Unsurprisingly, we struggled at first, but Smith used the Covid break to work out where the essential fixes were needed. Form improved and we achieved our goal - staying up.
Then we come to this season: there's 3 components to a team
Defence
Midfield
Attack
With the addition of Cash and Martinez, the emergence of Konsa and Targett showing why we bought him, we're more secure at the back. Defeats became draws and draws turned into 3pts. 8/10
Midfield
Barkley - an expensive irrelevance
Sanson - bought for next season
McGinn - playing too deep?
Luiz/Marvelous - erratic
Jack is Jack - our talismam and only really creative player.
We haven't established who our best trio are, in terms of personnel orroles.
6/10
Attack
It's Ollie on his own, with occasional help from Bert. Trez and El Ghazi aren't up to it, Davis never will be and we're waiting for Wesley.
3/10.
So by my reckoning, one third of the team has been fixed.
Up to our Covid break we were doing ok. Scoring goals, tight defence and Barkley's loan looked like a smart move.
Since then, we appear to have lost form, shape and resilience. Injuries to Jack and Barkley look to have knocked us creatively.
With Jack coming back from injury and the international break upon us, can Smith get his thinking cap on again and put a run together. We've 33 points to play for. 16 would take us to 57 - a sentimentality magical number for fans of a certain age.
The backroom team has been rebuilt. Some of our kids are showing great promise. If we can recruit as well this summer to upgrade the midfield and attack and Ramsey develops and Sanson improves through spending more time learning how we play, then I think we've a lot to look forward too.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
UTV.
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Looking at our progress over the last few seasons.
...
Rome wasn't built in a day.
UTV.
Lots of good points here, and I'd add:
- the midfield's effectiveness is, as you point out, a function of how the team sets up and how the players are used within it.
- you could have also given a score to the coaching and tactics: 8 out of 10 till the CV lay-off; 4/10 since, I guess.
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Looking at our progress over the last few seasons.
We got promoted via the playoffs (scraoed through?) and had to buy virtually a whole new team, many of whom had never played in the Prem, and Smith was completely unproven at that level.
Unsurprisingly, we struggled at first, but Smith used the Covid break to work out where the essential fixes were needed. Form improved and we achieved our goal - staying up.
Then we come to this season: there's 3 components to a team
Defence
Midfield
Attack
With the addition of Cash and Martinez, the emergence of Konsa and Targett showing why we bought him, we're more secure at the back. Defeats became draws and draws turned into 3pts. 8/10
Midfield
Barkley - an expensive irrelevance
Sanson - bought for next season
McGinn - playing too deep?
Luiz/Marvelous - erratic
Jack is Jack - our talismam and only really creative player.
We haven't established who our best trio are, in terms of personnel orroles.
6/10
Attack
It's Ollie on his own, with occasional help from Bert. Trez and El Ghazi aren't up to it, Davis never will be and we're waiting for Wesley.
3/10.
So by my reckoning, one third of the team has been fixed.
Up to our Covid break we were doing ok. Scoring goals, tight defence and Barkley's loan looked like a smart move.
Since then, we appear to have lost form, shape and resilience. Injuries to Jack and Barkley look to have knocked us creatively.
With Jack coming back from injury and the international break upon us, can Smith get his thinking cap on again and put a run together. We've 33 points to play for. 16 would take us to 57 - a sentimentality magical number for fans of a certain age.
The backroom team has been rebuilt. Some of our kids are showing great promise. If we can recruit as well this summer to upgrade the midfield and attack and Ramsey develops and Sanson improves through spending more time learning how we play, then I think we've a lot to look forward too.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
UTV.
Excellent synopsis SD
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Looking at our progress over the last few seasons.
We got promoted via the playoffs (scraoed through?) and had to buy virtually a whole new team, many of whom had never played in the Prem, and Smith was completely unproven at that level.
Unsurprisingly, we struggled at first, but Smith used the Covid break to work out where the essential fixes were needed. Form improved and we achieved our goal - staying up.
Then we come to this season: there's 3 components to a team
Defence
Midfield
Attack
With the addition of Cash and Martinez, the emergence of Konsa and Targett showing why we bought him, we're more secure at the back. Defeats became draws and draws turned into 3pts. 8/10
Midfield
Barkley - an expensive irrelevance
Sanson - bought for next season
McGinn - playing too deep?
Luiz/Marvelous - erratic
Jack is Jack - our talismam and only really creative player.
We haven't established who our best trio are, in terms of personnel orroles.
6/10
Attack
It's Ollie on his own, with occasional help from Bert. Trez and El Ghazi aren't up to it, Davis never will be and we're waiting for Wesley.
3/10.
So by my reckoning, one third of the team has been fixed.
Up to our Covid break we were doing ok. Scoring goals, tight defence and Barkley's loan looked like a smart move.
Since then, we appear to have lost form, shape and resilience. Injuries to Jack and Barkley look to have knocked us creatively.
With Jack coming back from injury and the international break upon us, can Smith get his thinking cap on again and put a run together. We've 33 points to play for. 16 would take us to 57 - a sentimentality magical number for fans of a certain age.
The backroom team has been rebuilt. Some of our kids are showing great promise. If we can recruit as well this summer to upgrade the midfield and attack and Ramsey develops and Sanson improves through spending more time learning how we play, then I think we've a lot to look forward too.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
UTV.
fully concur.
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Excellent Saddvillan, well summed up.
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Mostly agree with that Saddvillan, but I still think we'll regret not making this season count next year. Sometimes you have to accept the gifts that fate offers, and I can't see the likes of Spurs and Liverpool having as mediocre seasons again. I can't help but wonder again what difference another decent striker would have made. It would have allowed us to play Ollie slightly wider in the place of the misfiring Traore, Trez or AEG, or at least give him a break from time to time.
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I never ever expected us to have had such a good first 2/3rds of a season but the bar has been raised and its all fizzing out. Like it or not Grealish is more than just the main man he is the man. Centre forward or no centre forward I don't think it would have made much difference without Grealish in the line up.
The most important thing in the drop off has obviously been the disruption due to Covid. Funny how last season Covid kept our premiership status. Just want the season to finish now and we can start to regroup and build.
Final league position between 12-14 not too overjoyed but will take it .
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Although we only came up just under two seasons ago we are not like other teams that have done that i.e. Norwich West Brom Fulham Sheffield United etc
They don’t spent 250 million
We are Chelsea we are Man City now
Just one of our owners is the second richest man in the whole of Africa he is richer than Abramovich
And his playing partner is also a billionaire
Our expectations Will have to change in line with this new World order
Some of you guys haven’t got to grips with this yet but little bits of improvement here and gains in the overall stats there will not be enough to keep the new owners happy
They won’t be interested in Rome wasn’t built in a day stuff
The money and investment means we have to be heading for A top six position ASAP anything else will be failure
That’s the way I see it anyway unless I am misreading the whole Shooting match
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I didn’t become a football supporter to have realistic expectations about my team.
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I didn’t become a football supporter to have realistic expectations about my team.
Haha, good point.
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The reality is in under two seasons we are where most of us would have taken when we got back in to this league.
If you look at the table the teams above us now are better than us. The ones below are not.
We are also capable on our day of giving the more established top half teams a good hiding and equally can be very disappointing against teams we should be beating.
Three to five well thought out summer signings should take us up another notch. I would bet the owners are pleased with progress to date and so am I.
It doesn't mean I don't get frustrated with some of the performances like most on here.
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Although we only came up just under two seasons ago we are not like other teams that have done that i.e. Norwich West Brom Fulham Sheffield United etc
They don’t spent 250 million
We are Chelsea we are Man City now
Just one of our owners is the second richest man in the whole of Africa he is richer than Abramovich
And his playing partner is also a billionaire
Our expectations Will have to change in line with this new World order
Some of you guys haven’t got to grips with this yet but little bits of improvement here and gains in the overall stats there will not be enough to keep the new owners happy
They won’t be interested in Rome wasn’t built in a day stuff
The money and investment means we have to be heading for A top six position ASAP anything else will be failure
That’s the way I see it anyway unless I am misreading the whole Shooting match
Or maybe what you have a 'grip on' isn't reality.
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Well Elmo and Neal Taylor will be out of contract by the summer and assuming Gilbert returns , that only leaves one vacant spot in the squad. I don’t believe we have money squandering on cancelling players contracts or giving free transfers, therefore it’s likely we won’t see more than three additions to the squad. A striker a fullback and midfielder
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Barkley Hourihane Engels
Trez or AEG will be moved on.
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Although we only came up just under two seasons ago we are not like other teams that have done that i.e. Norwich West Brom Fulham Sheffield United etc
They don’t spent 250 million
We are Chelsea we are Man City now
Just one of our owners is the second richest man in the whole of Africa he is richer than Abramovich
And his playing partner is also a billionaire
Our expectations Will have to change in line with this new World order
Some of you guys haven’t got to grips with this yet but little bits of improvement here and gains in the overall stats there will not be enough to keep the new owners happy
They won’t be interested in Rome wasn’t built in a day stuff
The money and investment means we have to be heading for A top six position ASAP anything else will be failure
That’s the way I see it anyway unless I am misreading the whole Shooting match
I was thinking exactly the same as this earlier today. Although personally I’m (on the whole) very pleased with where we currently are, compared to where we’ve been the last few years, I just wonder what expectations the owners do actually have with the amount of money they’ve pumped into the club.
I hope we keep progressing under Dean and recruit well again in the summer to push onto the next level, but I certainly think they will want us contending for things sooner rather than later.
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Although we only came up just under two seasons ago we are not like other teams that have done that i.e. Norwich West Brom Fulham Sheffield United etc
They don’t spent 250 million Although we only came up just under two seasons ago we are not like other teams that have done that i.e. Norwich West Brom Fulham Sheffield United etc
They don’t spent 250 million
We are Chelsea we are Man City now
Just one of our owners is the second richest man in the whole of Africa he is richer than Abramovich
And his playing partner is also a billionaire
Our expectations Will have to change in line with this new World order
Some of you guys haven’t got to grips with this yet but little bits of improvement here and gains in the overall stats there will not be enough to keep the new owners happy
They won’t be interested in Rome wasn’t built in a day stuff
The money and investment means we have to be heading for A top six position ASAP anything else will be failure
That’s the way I see it anyway unless I am misreading the whole Shooting match
Or maybe what you have a 'grip on' isn't reality.
We are Chelsea we are Man City now
Just one of our owners is the second richest man in the whole of Africa he is richer than Abramovich
And his playing partner is also a billionaire
Our expectations Will have to change in line with this new World order
Some of you guys haven’t got to grips with this yet but little bits of improvement here and gains in the overall stats there will not be enough to keep the new owners happy
They won’t be interested in Rome wasn’t built in a day stuff
The money and investment means we have to be heading for A top six position ASAP anything else will be failure
That’s the way I see it anyway unless I am misreading the whole Shooting match
Or maybe what you have a 'grip on' isn't reality.
Maybe you’re right
My expectation levels are higher than yours and you might well find them unrealistic
That’s fair enough
You were happy with Steve Bruce for the most part
which proves there is a massive difference in what we both want and expect
I might well be looking back at a false dawn again
time will tell
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
Leicester did it but have since had to run themselves efficiently with patience and good husbandry to get to where they are now.
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How long is Jack going to wait around for gradual success (however that is measured)? He signed a bumper new deal after Naseef told him what he wanted to do with the club.
Mid-table is probably what would have been expected this season. I don't expect our owners to consolidate. They want to win. Which means bringing in big players (not Barkley, thanks. We were already mugged off with the £11m loan fee when Chrlsea should have been generous after we paid Drinkwater's wages for a few months last season) and I imagine the summer will see three or four players incoming for upwards of £30m each.
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
I must have been arguing with a ghost on here then for The two years Bruce was with us
i’ve always enjoyed debating with you but I’m not gonna bother if you’re not going to be honest and deny the stuff you’ve been posting on here
I’ve got plenty wrong in the past but at least I admit it
I’m sure you’ll have plenty more to say but I’ll leave it there for now
I can’t be doing with it if you just going to make stuff up as you go along
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest, as I fucking hate hypocrisy
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
I must have been arguing with a ghost on here then for The two years Bruce was with us
i’ve always enjoyed debating with you but I’m not gonna bother if you’re not going to be honest and deny the stuff you’ve been posting on here
I’ve got plenty wrong in the past but at least I admit it
I’m sure you’ll have plenty more to say but I’ll leave it there for now
I can’t be doing with it if you just going to make stuff up as you go along
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest, as I fucking hate hypocrisy
And I'm not too keen on telling everyone to play nicely.
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apologies, my fault for overreacting
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I didn’t become a football supporter to have realistic expectations about my team.
Made me smile.
I think I agree with John e's point a bit back, that we've spent an enormous amount of money, £200-£250m, and with that expectations have to change. We aren't a typical newly promoted side, it's quite reasonable to expect more.
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
Leicester did it but have since had to run themselves efficiently with patience and good husbandry to get to where they are now.
Absolutely, they have had their owners for 10 years and have developed along the way. They are a great example of what can be achieved with the right set up.
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I didn’t become a football supporter to have realistic expectations about my team.
That’s exactly the advice I gave to my grandson.
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
Leicester did it but have since had to run themselves efficiently with patience and good husbandry to get to where they are now.
Absolutely, they have had their owners for 10 years and have developed along the way. They are a great example of what can be achieved with the right set up.
Isn't the big difference between us and Leicester, though, the fact that we've spent quite big whereas they won the title with players bought from the lower reaches or relatively inexpensively from Europe?
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Correct me if I'm wrong but on the day we got relegated, wasn't that the weekend Leicester won the league? We do have a lot of catching up to do.
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No, I wasn't happy with Steve Bruce for the most part, regardless of the number of times you say it. I did want people off his back however, rather than just moaning.
As for aspirations, I've seen us win the League and European Cup. I'd like us to do it again. I've never seen us win the FA Cup, so that's something I've been desperate for.
I want us to win everything, but I also understand that patience is needed. You can't run until you can walk, the one exception to what I propose is probably Leicester, who did it quite quickly. Other than that, success is usually gradual and in my opinion, that's the way I'd like us to do it. Similar to Man City, growing in the community, developing the area they are in.
Sustainable success.
I must have been arguing with a ghost on here then for The two years Bruce was with us
i’ve always enjoyed debating with you but I’m not gonna bother if you’re not going to be honest and deny the stuff you’ve been posting on here
I’ve got plenty wrong in the past but at least I admit it
I’m sure you’ll have plenty more to say but I’ll leave it there for now
I can’t be doing with it if you just going to make stuff up as you go along
I’m a bit disappointed to be honest, as I fucking hate hypocrisy
John, I wasn't happy with him, I think he took more stick than he deserved, and I'm someone that generally sticks up for folk if I feel they're being treated unfairly. Same can be said about a number of our managers and players over the years.
I'm happy with Dean Smith. In him I feel we have a manager who actually has an idea about what Aston Villa is and should be. Over the past 10 years you'd be hard pressed to find another.
I was as pissed off as anyone the other night, basic errors all over the place and I think we've seen that happen more and more of late, not just with the Villa but other sides too. I don't think that's Smith's fault, I don't think it stops us continuing to progress either. Which we have.
I've got some things wrong of course I have, and time will tell with Smith. However, when we change manager, as we inevitably will one day, I think the foundations that we now have across the board will mean we will be able to start attracting more established names. Most wouldn't have touched us with a bargepole for a long time.
In my view, when you look at what Purslow said previously, getting promoted happened a season ahead of schedule. That's down to Smith, because Bruce couldn't do it. Last season we managed to stay up. This season we've pushed on and shown what we can do. The next thing to do is push on again.
Whilst I'd like to get into Europe, and we were all dreaming of it, I'm not sure we'd cope well yet, not without a further influx of better quality players.
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Yep, I think europe may be a season too early for us. It would have been great for the fans but we'd need a better squad than we have now. Let's just take one season at a time and go for it next year.
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Burnley and Wolves, possibly the two biggest surprises to get into Europe recently, have both gone backwards since they qualified.
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We're top half. That's very good progress, if we can finish midtable, that's very good progress. There was an opportunity to maybe push on for bigger and better, but the margins for us were always finer.
We have a very young and quality thin squad. We're more reliant than most on our special player, because he is more special than any other player in the league.
This time last year we were "light years away" from mid table. Yet here we are. With a summer securing our best assets and adding 3 genuine high quality starters, we will be ready to knock more noisily on the door.
Even Man City took a few years to get it right, spending 100s millions. Don't let a single freak season from Leicester kid anybody into thinking it's likely you can click your fingers in a summer and go from one extreme to the next. They have had plenty of mid table since.
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Although Burnley were knocked out before the end of the summer holidays weren't they?
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Although Burnley were knocked out before the end of the summer holidays weren't they?
It's still extra games and a shorter close-season.
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Although Burnley were knocked out before the end of the summer holidays weren't they?
It's still extra games and a shorter close-season.
Yes there was that, and I think they started the season slowly. But I wouldn't say they've gone backwards, they seem to have had the same season every year since they came back up, never looking really in trouble.
I agree with the general point, I think it could be too early for us and the form in the last couple of months underlines it. Also, next season in particular could be troublesome, it remains to be seen how this truncated season followed by the Euros will affect teams and individuals in the following season, could be a lot of players and teams through mental fatigue as much as physical.
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Surely the problems Wolves are having is more to do with the fact that they've lost three of their better players from last season to other teams and injury, and Traore has gone back to being shit again.
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Surely the problems Wolves are having is more to do with the fact that they've lost three of their better players from last season to other teams and injury, and Traore has gone back to being shit again.
And they spent £35m on a child that honks instead of talking.
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We're top half. That's very good progress, if we can finish midtable, that's very good progress. There was an opportunity to maybe push on for bigger and better, but the margins for us were always finer.
We have a very young and quality thin squad. We're more reliant than most on our special player, because he is more special than any other player in the league.
This time last year we were "light years away" from mid table. Yet here we are. With a summer securing our best assets and adding 3 genuine high quality starters, we will be ready to knock more noisily on the door.
Even Man City took a few years to get it right, spending 100s millions. Don't let a single freak season from Leicester kid anybody into thinking it's likely you can click your fingers in a summer and go from one extreme to the next. They have had plenty of mid table since.
Yeah, agree with all of this.
I think Dean Smith's done as well as anyone could reasonably expect him to do. We look like a midtable side, which compared with 12 months ago is great progress. Our form's not been great, but a load of teams seem to have suffered from the same thing as we have - quite possibly exhaustion due to the short closed season.
With the amount of money being spent, I think there's a reasonable expectation that we should be doing better than your average promoted-last-season team. However, we did have to almost completely rebuild 2 summers ago. Even having spent £200m-£250m, that really only leaves us as averaging about £10m per player in the squad. A load of money right enough, but in terms of the spending you see at the top of the table it's not masses.
For me, this summer will be a big one. It's the first in ages when we'll be trying to replace players who actually contribute something to a Premier League-standard squad - unlike say Henri Lansbury, Scott Hogan, or Fat Ross. You'd hope that this summer we'd be quite focussed, maybe looking more at buying in two or three £30m-level signings for the first team, and a couple of cheaper £10m-ers as squad players. We'd already have a largely good-enough squad at that point, so I think then we'd be looking towards permanently displacing Arsenal and maybe Everton, so perhaps looking at 6th-8th place finish in 2021/2.
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Absolutely. And if Dean can't get us there he knows as well as we do what the consequences will be, but he's got us where we are so he deserves the chance to try.
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Given today's murmurings about FFP getting the heave-ho, I now have completely unrealistic expectations.
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Given today's murmurings about FFP getting the heave-ho, I now have completely unrealistic expectations.
Chelsea fans on Twitter are getting very excited about this. Little do they know.
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Yep, I think europe may be a season too early for us. It would have been great for the fans but we'd need a better squad than we have now. Let's just take one season at a time and go for it next year.
Agree. We’ve got a decent, more experienced, team now. A few tweaks to the first team are required in the summer and a strengthening of the overall squad before we can make a decent showing in Europe.
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Given today's murmurings about FFP getting the heave-ho, I now have completely unrealistic expectations.
Ooh...
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Cashed out my top ten finish bet last week, for an ok profit on the basis that we've gone into snooze mode to the end of the season. Could even see a drubbing or two before the end.
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I think that was a good move, I'd not be wholly surprised if we didn't win another game this season.
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I expect us to compete for the title next year.
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Re examination of this thread. And maybe that move of Grealish has given us all a reality check unfortunately.
The competition and playing catch up to get where we want to be
So it's a bitter pill to sell a highly skilled and very influential player remains to be seen how things will go this season and onward however we can take positively from Leicester City as one example who sold Kante, Mahrez , Maguire and Chilwel in recent seasons and have more latterly solidified there position in competing in league fir champions League and in the cups and won the FA cup.
Dean Smith is a positive coach who will use the existing squad to look to better the position that last season
I think realistically a push to top 6 to top 8.
Even with sale of Grealish I think it's realistic given our players to finish top half 10 or above and better last season
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Top half is optimistic right now. Feel we're probably 16-12th bracket as it stands.
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Top half is optimistic right now. Feel we're probably 16-12th bracket as it stands.
It will be down to Dean. That’s the biggest thing for me in all of this. But we can be better all round if he uses the players well. If not he’ll be fired. He knows the clock is ticking and he has to perform. His record without Jack is awful which is why in my opinion he wanted Jack type players like ESR and will likely get Cantwell.
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I really have no idea. On the plus side the opposition won't know either now we have no Ratboy. On the minus side, players have to settle in a revamped midfield/way of playing etc... how much you spend on replacements doesn't really come into it. I'm going for a safe place above or below last season
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I think it'll be down to how we start the season now. The timing of this is fucking shit and could easily fuck us up for a month or 2 whilst we work out a new way of playing. If that happens then I'm with Ads and think it'll mean we end up taking a step or 2 backwards.
The alternative is that the coaches have been planning for it all summer and manage to get a 'backs to the wall' attitude into the squad by focusing on proving him wrong for wimping out of the challenge.
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I think we can make top half, last season we didn't have the squad depth to rotate players but I'm happy with the signings of better quality players so far. Without Grealish we may well perform better as a team because opposition teams as West Ham demonstrated that once they marked Jack out of the game we didn't have any other way to play.
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I think it'll be down to how we start the season now. The timing of this is fucking shit and could easily fuck us up for a month or 2 whilst we work out a new way of playing. If that happens then I'm with Ads and think it'll mean we end up taking a step or 2 backwards.
The alternative is that the coaches have been planning for it all summer and manage to get a 'backs to the wall' attitude into the squad by focusing on proving him wrong for wimping out of the challenge.
Not having to take free kick every two minutes and having some up tempo ballers in Bailey and Buendia who provide off the ball movement , pass and progress with the ball quickly and actually shoot rather than go round the houses with Jack dribbling is a wonderfully new way to look at things!
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Below:
Man City
Man U
Liverpool
Chelsea
Leicester
Arsenal
Above:
Norwich
So, anywhere between 7th and 19th.
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Below:
Man City
Man U
Liverpool
Chelsea
Leicester
Arsenal
Above:
Norwich
So, anywhere between 7th and 19th.
Spurs & leeds
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Well be in and around where we finished last year
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Well be in and around where we finished last year
Or "There or thereabouts".
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Whatever it's worth that chant We are Premier league!! A glorious chant at the time of the play off win. But that was then.
Though it's all I've known as Villa in top flight and those championship years it's a all a bit soul destroying actually.
The Olympics has been refreshing that's for sure.
All the nations and team and individual sports.
At least some of you have seen us win the league!
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We've made good signings but if Jack leaves it's like 2 steps forward, 3 steps back.
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I've voted 8th to 12th, but think it'll more likely be 12th to 15th.
12th at best. So I probably should've voted 13th to 17th tbh
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I've voted 8th to 12th, but think it'll more likely be 12th to 15th.
12th at best. So I probably should've voted 13th to 17th tbh
If Buendia and Bailey hit the ground running, and providing we don't suffer an injury crisis I think we have a team capable of finishing in the top half.
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I think top half is realistic. Hopefully we won't be carrying passengers like Barkley this season, and we have definitely upgraded our attacking options (even with grealish gone we should be much more potent that we were for a third of last season.
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Think we need a new poll, mods please
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Realistic expectations? World domination but maybe delayed another season.
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Realistic expectations? World domination but maybe delayed another season.
Exactly. It's annoying, but we're now unlikely to do much better than a boring mid table finish next season.
The long term plan of winning 15 Champions Leagues in a row does not change because of the departure of Floppy Haired Ratboy however - it's merely delayed by a season.
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Can't see much of an improvement on last season without Jack. I'd take 11th now.
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Top half is optimistic right now. Feel we're probably 16-12th bracket as it stands.
Sounds about right. I worry it'll be a turbulent season because I now also fear for Smith.
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We will be slugging it out with Everton Wet Ham Wolves Leeds for 7th to 12th
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Well be in and around where we finished last year
Or "There or thereabouts".
I will hope for "slightly higher".
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I've voted 8th to 12th, but think it'll more likely be 12th to 15th.
12th at best. So I probably should've voted 13th to 17th tbh
If Buendia and Bailey hit the ground running, and providing we don't suffer an injury crisis I think we have a team capable of finishing in the top half.
Don't forget we may make more signings. I think that winger is going to come in Alvarez?
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We will be slugging it out with Everton Wet Ham Wolves Leeds for 7th to 12th
Seconded.
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We will be slugging it out with Everton Wet Ham Wolves Leeds for 7th to 12th
Seconded.
Be still my beating heart.
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Fuck me but this is depressing. I don't recall having been this excited for a season to start in, well, never probably. Now I suddenly find myself looking at what the other lower table clubs have been up to during the summer. Quite the comedown.
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Can’t seem to update my prediction on the poll at the beginning, can you help mods please
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I thought I’d pop in here to see how pleased everyone was with the latest signings but didn’t quite expect the whole despair thing. We’ve made great moves in the transfer market, I think we’re going places - anywhere between first and fifth. Without doubt we are a stronger squad than last year, I’m really happy with how it’s going.
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We will finish 6th or 7th and a very solid cup run.
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Last day title decider at the Ethiad
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8-10 th
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Let's see after the transfer 'window shuts'
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I think you’ll find it’s actually ‘slams shut’
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Could the poll be reset please? This is for last year isn't it?
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4-8th.
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Could the poll be reset please? This is for last year isn't it?
Why not. Apologies if it wasn't. I'm guessing after the events of the last few days people might have different feelings anyway and will welcome the chance to vote again.
Anyway, reckon we've had a boost in terms of clubs we might finish ahead of - Fofana who was arguably Leicester's best player last season looks to be f****d for the season after a proper clattering in their friendly tonight.
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What if I think we will finish 6th or 7th and qualify for the UEFA Conference League?
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Take it up with whoever came up with the options. It's usually Legion.
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Two strikers capable of 15+ goals each. Creativity and extra goals in spades from Bailey, Buendia and Traore. Top 6, absolute minimum.
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6/7 th
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We can rotate in most positions now so expect a really good cup run this season.
That would be ultimate middle finger to Grealish if we can win some well overdue silverware.
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Aston Villa FC. Not Jack Grealish FC
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This is a difficult one because of all the flux elsewhere let alone at Villa. We'll be doing well to hit the ground running as we've got quite a few new players to bed in and potentially a new system? I'd say 7th/8th.
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We can rotate in most positions now so expect a really good cup run this season.
That would be ultimate middle finger to Grealish if we can win some well overdue silverware.
The FA Cup so his grandad can say "Told you son"
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Could the poll be reset please? This is for last year isn't it?
Why not. Apologies if it wasn't. I'm guessing after the events of the last few days people might have different feelings anyway and will welcome the chance to vote again.
Anyway, reckon we've had a boost in terms of clubs we might finish ahead of - Fofana who was arguably Leicester's best player last season looks to be f****d for the season after a proper clattering in their friendly tonight.
Devastating blow for Leicester who finished 5th .Shades of Cowans losing a season after a friendly v a Spanish club,Bilbao ? West Ham finished 6th.We can overtake these 2.So 5th.
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7/8th. Many players will need to gel so I think that time may just cost us. Full potential for higher though. Lower than 8th would be a failure.
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Optimistic. Dean, don't let us have a shit period please.
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8th, but have a feeling that will be disappointing after some great spells during the season.
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Well we have own villa BMW (bailey-mcginn-watkins)
Boom 🍾
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Good players well recruited won't take long to gell I am expecting top six.
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I think anywhere from 8th up is progress this season. Top 6 would be a bonus. Top 4 would be an incredible achievement. The project continues - I fully expect the club too be pushing top 4 (as the owners and CP have made clear is the ambition) within 2 seasons.
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Top 6 this season, top 4 next.
Do you want to bet against us?
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Ings has dramatically elevated my expectations.
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yeah i'm more optimistic that we're not just going to play the same way with a downgrade ratboy replacement bought in. *prays Cantwell rumours are wrong*
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Voted 8th to 12th, but that is based on the players we currently have minus Jack. Obviously another couple of good signings and we should be aiming for top 6. A lot depends on how well all the new signings gel though.
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Could the poll be reset please? This is for last year isn't it?
Why not. Apologies if it wasn't. I'm guessing after the events of the last few days people might have different feelings anyway and will welcome the chance to vote again.
Anyway, reckon we've had a boost in terms of clubs we might finish ahead of - Fofana who was arguably Leicester's best player last season looks to be f****d for the season after a proper clattering in their friendly tonight.
Devastating blow for Leicester who finished 5th .Shades of Cowans losing a season after a friendly v a Spanish club,Bilbao ? West Ham finished 6th.We can overtake these 2.So 5th.
being reported that he has a broken leg - shame for him and his club
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I just have two requests...
Villa to secure a European spot...
and City to win bugger all.
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I think Jack leaving will cost us Europe. I'm not too bothered about that now. There's a bit less urgency now he's gone. It was a bit like him holding a gun to our heads regarding Europe.
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I think Jack leaving will cost us Europe. I'm not too bothered about that now. There's a bit less urgency now he's gone. It was a bit like him holding a gun to our heads regarding Europe.
This. We’ll make it, I’m sure. But we’ll do it as a club, not hoping it will be enough to keep one individual to stay with us.
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(https://i.ibb.co/T0pMVSm/IMG-20210805-WA0013.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T0pMVSm)
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I think Jack leaving will cost us Europe. I'm not too bothered about that now. There's a bit less urgency now he's gone. It was a bit like him holding a gun to our heads regarding Europe.
I think the opposite. His leaving has given us a better chance with the players we’ve brought in.
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I think Jack leaving will cost us Europe. I'm not too bothered about that now. There's a bit less urgency now he's gone. It was a bit like him holding a gun to our heads regarding Europe.
I think the opposite. His leaving has given us a better chance with the players we’ve brought in.
I admire the optimism but right now I think we are weaker for losing him. Let's see who else comes in the next few windows. Need a bit of patience this season I think.
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7th is my current bet. Going forward if we get Cantwell in, then there are 2 very good strikers and 3 very good wide / attacking midfield options. Goals should come. Back 4 is top 8 easy. Keeper is top 4. We lack a top 6 holding mid and in my opinion McGinn needs to kick on, mush will depend on his form for me. I think there are going to be some very interesting matches this season, and Villa are going to be just fine without the people's ponce.
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improve on last season in every way:
league position
points
wins
goals scored
clean sheets
I don't care what Jack and City do - fuck them.
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I think a successful season would be to be in and around the top 6-10 places, not drop into the lower half at all.
If it all clicks in to place and we have a good run on injuries then top 6 must be the aim
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Very optimistic for the season ahead. We made some great signings, we have great owners and we are minus the clown and his circus.
UTV
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Europa League should be the minimum aim I think.
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I'd take 10th and the league cup.
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I seem to be pretty much alone on this but I'm not that optimistic if truth be told, as it currently stands.
If no more signings are coming then 10th at best.
Don't think we'll bother the relegation spots at all but don't think we'll get near the top 6 either.
We need a truly class player to push us on.
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I think we will sign players.
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I think we’ve already signed 3 class players.
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Voted 8-12th if we sign no more, still think we need a top midfielder, Luiz, McGinn and Nakamba are too inconsistent, need someone to help us control games for longer periods.
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Mid-table ?
After pumping millions into the squad buying up other Club’s best players
Losing Jack but strengthening the overall squad with probably more signings to come
Been one of the richest clubs in the premiership with two owners with massive ambition
And some of you guys realistic ambition of mid table is no more than Southampton’s or Burnley
There’s no wonder Jack fucked off
We should be openly talking about top six this season that should be our aim we have big ambitions if people don’t think we can do it and they should leave the club And bring people in who believe we can at any level
If we don’t make top six then at least die trying
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Should be aiming for top six but I think we'll end up 7-10.
Spend well on a top quality DM and maybe bring in another CAM and I think we can get 6th
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Think the top four will be the usual suspects. Think it's fairly easy to predict 8/9 of the bottom half. Leaving us in a mini league with Arsenal Tottenham Leicester Everton etc
7th
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I'm one of them, I think the signings we've made are all pretty sound but of the type a mid table prem team would make to consolidate.
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As we stand I think 8-12
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5th with a following wind, more likely 7th.
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This is the squad:
Keepers: Martinez, Steer
Left Back: Targett, Young
Left Centre Back: Mings, Hause
Right Centre Back: Konsa, (Likely) Tuanzebe
Right Back: Cash, Guilbert
DM: Nkamba, Luiz
8: McGinn, Sanson
10: Buendia, Chuck
LW: Bailey, El Ghazi, (Buendia)
RW: Traore, Philogene-Bidace, Trezeguet (inj)
Strikers: Ings, Watkins, Wesley, Davis
That's the squad as it stands give or take. Very strong in the final third. Room for a couple of midfield additions. I've included Axel as it seems imminent.
Strong defensively, one of the best keepers in the world too. Attacking fullbacks as well.
That's as good a squad as Leicester.
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I'm exited to see this Guilsborough chap in action.
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We need to keep moving or we will continue to lose players if any of them, as we hope, make an amazing breakthrough. That should be the lesson of the summer. Get two more top class players in plus cover in defence. Target top four. If we fall just short and finish in Eurooe, that won't be a bad effort at all. If we target Europe and fall short, we've achieved nothing.
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Thats his official title, III Baron St John of Guilsborough, Prince William got him the gig as a favour.
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I'm one of them, I think the signings we've made are all pretty sound but of the type a mid table prem team would make to consolidate.
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As we stand I think 8-12
I don't see Burnley or Wolves buying Bailey, Ings and Buendia.
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I'm exited to see this Guilsborough chap in action.
Bloody autocorrect.
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I'm exited to see this Guilsborough chap in action.
I'm worried that Konsa will want to sign for him as a better bet to win trophies.
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Is the current Jackless squad any stronger than Wolves? We may have more optimism going into the season than them but I think talk of being stronger than Leicester etc is arguable
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Is the current Jackless squad any stronger than Wolves? We may have more optimism going into the season than them but I think talk of being stronger than Leicester etc is arguable
Yes, for me, they're paper thin, and given the type on injury their best player sustained he might not come back the same player.
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With the new players and minus Ratboy we will be about as good as last year.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
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Sadly, I think Leeds are capable of continuing to improve and Europe isn't impossible for them. I can't understand anyone hyping Everton, though. They seemed to be going backwards even before recent horrific allegations became public and I can't imagine said allegations will boost morale in the dressing room. Still, I do like Calvert-Lewin.
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We are no longer a punt it to grealish side. Have a better balanced midfield, 2 very talented forwards, best keeper in the league. For me we look better than we did last year. there were times when jack was here when we looked awful. I don’t doubt that we will have a dip in form at some point but will be better and less predictable than get it to mr free kick and hope for the best. I see more goals and a more galvanised squad now that mr villa had left. I expect to see the new signings shine and some familiar faces up their game.
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Not saying they can't, and I rate Bielsa as highly as anyone. One can clearly see the obvious biases in the coverage however, and the power-worshipping instincts behind them.
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Yes, certainly.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
Just read that piece. It’s that kind of shit that makes this all the harder to take isn’t it. That our aim is (and should only ever be) ‘consolidation’.
Time will tell of course, but I’m not totally convinced the signings do actually improve us over all. We need more signings. If the outlay is just the Grealish money what the hell is the actual point of having all this money?
And your point about Dean Smith right too, he doesn’t get the respect he deserves because he isn’t seen as exotic enough.. Given his jack less win record I think he’ll be under pressure if we start badly.
Fuck consolidation. Progression is what we expect.
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I guess the three signings incontrovertibly improve us during the third of the season Grealish is inevitably out. Last season during that February-April fallow run, having Bailey, Ings and Buendia available would have been a god send.
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Exciting signings, and a new, different Villa in prospect. Tallied with another year's experience for those already here, I'm going to nail my bollocks to the mast early doors and say top 6.
Cups, who knows, they are, after all, a knockout. But it's our year, so there's that.
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People on the outside don't really give a monkeys about the type of people that are running this club now. And we'll seriously surprise other clubs and fans this season because the star man has gone.
I think we'll make or go very close to top 6 and continue with our great progress.
It's a massive season for Deano and I wish him.every success this year.
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I think we should all have a degree of pre season optimism despite the G word. The new signings seem exciting.
However, I’ve posted in the Dean Smith thread that the relatively easy start on paper does potentially put him under pressure if the new signings don’t gel and hit the ground running. I suppose that’s my one concern, the first team as it were not having enough time together before the Watford game.
It’ll be interesting to see the line up on the first game but I doubt if he’ll play all three of Ings, Bailey and Burundia, my guess would be Bailey on the bench with Traore (if fit) or El Ghazi in.
Anyway, top 6 will be tough to achieve, with the top 4 already pretty much nailed on. Feels like a number of clubs, us, Leeds, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, will be scrambling for those two places.
As well as the new signings gelling, my other major concern is centre midfield. I love McGinn, but I just don’t see a centre midfield of him with Nakamba or when rested Luiz a top six midfield. I know we’re trying to sign Ward-Prowse, but if that doesn’t happen it seems a priority area for me.
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Yep the defensive midfield position has been a problem for a while now and needs resolving if we are to push top 6.
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McGinn has already given an interview stating that Europe is the target this season. Consolidation be damned.
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Europe should definitely be the target, and if all the new players click and we are lucky with injuries it could happen. Same as last year, where we were not lucky with injuries and it didn't. That's why I went for 8-11th as too many imponderables and still think we wil get walked through in midfield fairly often if we don't toughen it up.
But we definitely could make Europe, and am hoping we get off to a flyer.
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I think weirdly the pressure is now on.
The three players bought in to replace Grealish will be earning much more collectively in wages than Grealish. If we don't get in to Europe soon FFP is going to really start to bite, and we no longer have a £100m asset sitting there waiting to be sold in case of emergency.
I'm certain the club are targeting the UEFA Cup (or whatever its called these days) as a minimum.
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I think weirdly the pressure is now on.
The three players bought in to replace Grealish will be earning much more collectively in wages than Grealish. If we don't get in to Europe soon FFP is going to really start to bite, and we no longer have a £100m asset sitting there waiting to be sold in case of emergency.
I'm certain the club are targeting the UEFA Cup (or whatever its called these days) as a minimum.
Not as much than of he signed a new contract though surely? We've got very smart people the last thing on my mind, ever with these in charge is FFP.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
Just read that piece. It’s that kind of shit that makes this all the harder to take isn’t it. That our aim is (and should only ever be) ‘consolidation’.
Time will tell of course, but I’m not totally convinced the signings do actually improve us over all. We need more signings. If the outlay is just the Grealish money what the hell is the actual point of having all this money?
And your point about Dean Smith right too, he doesn’t get the respect he deserves because he isn’t seen as exotic enough.. Given his jack less win record I think he’ll be under pressure if we start badly.
Fuck consolidation. Progression is what we expect.
In the words of Rio Ferdinand on Dead Ringers 'yeah, a trillion per cent.'
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I think we should all have a degree of pre season optimism despite the G word. The new signings seem exciting.
However, I’ve posted in the Dean Smith thread that the relatively easy start on paper does potentially put him under pressure if the new signings don’t gel and hit the ground running. I suppose that’s my one concern, the first team as it were not having enough time together before the Watford game.
It’ll be interesting to see the line up on the first game but I doubt if he’ll play all three of Ings, Bailey and Burundia, my guess would be Bailey on the bench with Traore (if fit) or El Ghazi in.
Anyway, top 6 will be tough to achieve, with the top 4 already pretty much nailed on. Feels like a number of clubs, us, Leeds, Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester, will be scrambling for those two places.
As well as the new signings gelling, my other major concern is centre midfield. I love McGinn, but I just don’t see a centre midfield of him with Nakamba or when rested Luiz a top six midfield. I know we’re trying to sign Ward-Prowse, but if that doesn’t happen it seems a priority area for me.
It’s a great opportunity to push on. The teams you mention plus West Ham and Everton are either not as strong as in years gone by or imo won’t be as good this season as last ie West Ham and Leeds. No reason why we can’t aim for the consistency Leicester have shown recently.
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It doesn't seem as if many other teams in have been that active in the market either? Think Arsenal have been as busy as us but that's about it.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
I saw the piece there last night and couldn't bring myself to read it, no doubt he wrote it riding a unicycle and wearing plus fours with basketball socks, the hipster twat.
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Arsenal and Spurs have actually strengthened so surpassing them will be especially tough. Gil and Romero will make Spurs better, while White, though overpriced, will definitely stop the Arse leaking so much.
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Any nobber who says Man City are "more successful" than the Villa deserves to be ignored.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
Why are you so Surprised there’s plenty on this thread that think exactly the same
Consolidating, mid table, can’t compete with those above us yet
Challenging for European places is where next season should be heading for
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The consolidation bit is just common sense. If you lose a player who rightly or wrongly seems to have had the team built round him, then you'd expect it to be a blow however much you spend in replacements. We'd be saying the same about any of our rivals and wondering how much they'd been weakened rather than expecting them to suddenly launch a CL campaign
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I'm split. I think, given we've lost our talismanic rat, if we stay in the top 10 we'll have done alright really in the circumstances. However, I can't help looking at the table and thinking that we should aim higher than that.
If we get in to Europe (any competition), i think we'll have had a successful season. Really wonderful progression as a club and a good base to work towards CL football from. A tiny part of me thinks that the summer's events might actually have a positive effect on the squad and push us on to 4th-6th territory.
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Jonathan Wilson in the Graun patronising the arse off us, 'predictable wailing and rending of garments', 'talented local kids always leave for richer more successful clubs', Villa will use the Jack money to 'consolidate in the Premier League' - sorry, are we the size and wealth of Brighton now? Is this the same Wilson who rails socialistically against the entrenched inequalities of modern football, coming across (as he often does) a slathering shill for 'modern elite football'? These same people are tipping Leeds and Everton to challenge for Europe, and I guarantee if our manager were (modern elite) Marcelo Bielsa they would take a different view. But clearly the record-holder for appearances in Pseud's Corner (presumably for another unbelievably boring Sunderland story with references to Louis Althusser shoehorned in) considers anything called Dean Smith, with a background at Walsall and Brentford, insufficiently foreign to represent cultured (modern elite) football to be beneath his coat attention.
I hope we win the league with long balls to a front two of Ings and Tuanzebe.
I saw the piece there last night and couldn't bring myself to read it, no doubt he wrote it riding a unicycle and wearing plus fours with basketball socks, the hipster twat.
You can't take anything in that communist rag too seriously.
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Communist?
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It doesn't seem as if many other teams in have been that active in the market either? Think Arsenal have been as busy as us but that's about it.
It's the same in Europe ..Inter won the league and are 50mil in profit in transfer before selling Lukaku .Juv have spent about 20mil ,Real 2.8 and Barca don't look like they can register the free transfers they brought in .
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It's inevitable that the media see us as mid-tablers since we've won zip-all in the last 20 years, we have an unproven manager (in the top flight) and have just sold the bestest-ever player not to have made an England berth his own.
Great! - Let's sit below the radar, take the oppo by surprise (who will probably think they're going to get an easy ride now that JG has gone) and ram it up their backsides this season!
I do think that we will take a while to get going: Bailey has had no game-time with us and may not get much training with us before the season starts; Luiz is obviously not going to simply slot in from day one; we're going to have to work out how Ings and Watkins are going to work together; and, Sanson and Traore are still not 100% fit.
However, with another CMF, we'll be absolutely fine and surprising a lot of people this season.
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It doesn't seem as if many other teams in have been that active in the market either? Think Arsenal have been as busy as us but that's about it.
It's the same in Europe ..Inter won the league and are 50mil in profit in transfer before selling Lukaku .Juv have spent about 20mil ,Real 2.8 and Barca don't look like they can register the free transfers they brought in .
I guess what I meant to say was that the gap between eleventh and fifth can't be that wide if most teams are largely the same as last season. Assuming our new signings improve us.
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It doesn't seem as if many other teams in have been that active in the market either? Think Arsenal have been as busy as us but that's about it.
It's the same in Europe ..Inter won the league and are 50mil in profit in transfer before selling Lukaku .Juv have spent about 20mil ,Real 2.8 and Barca don't look like they can register the free transfers they brought in .
If Barca need money we should help them out by taking a few youngsters off their hands, Ansu Fati and Ilias Akhomach will do.
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It's inevitable that the media see us as mid-tablers since we've won zip-all in the last 20 years, we have an unproven manager (in the top flight) and have just sold the bestest-ever player not to have made an England berth his own.
Great! - Let's sit below the radar, take the oppo by surprise (who will probably think they're going to get an easy ride now that JG has gone) and ram it up their backsides this season!
I do think that we will take a while to get going: Bailey has had no game-time with us and may not get much training with us before the season starts; Luiz is obviously not going to simply slot in from day one; we're going to have to work out how Ings and Watkins are going to work together; and, Sanson and Traore are still not 100% fit.
However, with another CMF, we'll be absolutely fine and surprising a lot of people this season.
The only I'd say is that I think the media have always been like this with regards Villa. Can you imagine the outcry from them if Spurs had won the league in 1981 and the European Cup in 1982 and had just ONE player (who didn't get a single minute) selected for the England World Cup squad in 82?
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LeonW, that would be a good quiz question. Which league title winner went to the World Cup in 1982...........
I hope this is one of those seasons where we do the opposite to last season and get stronger as the season goes on. We will certainly have goals all over the pitch from now on. And with a set piece expert amongst the coaching, Hopefully our new Captain, Mr T. Mings, will start using his 6'5' frame to better effect in opponents boxes.
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We'll be in the mix for a Uefa Cup place for much of the season but end up around 8th I reckon. Could be higher depending on what business our rivals do. Not too impressed with Everton's signings so far for example.
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LeonW, that would be a good quiz question. Which league title winner went to the World Cup in 1982...........
I hope this is one of those seasons where we do the opposite to last season and get stronger as the season goes on. We will certainly have goals all over the pitch from now on. And with a set piece expert amongst the coaching, Hopefully our new Captain, Mr T. Mings, will start using his 6'5' frame to better effect in opponents boxes.
Definitely. I bet there are quite a large number of people who also couldn’t name the English club that won old big ears in 82 as well.
A few years ago a friend of mine said that Villa were “-your classic early season team.” When I stopped and thought about it, that tended to be accurate more often than not. There are a number of new players to bed in so I could see us finishing more strongly than we start. Not a bad first 3 fixtures to get us going mind.
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Arsenal and Spurs have actually strengthened so surpassing them will be especially tough. Gil and Romero will make Spurs better, while White, though overpriced, will definitely stop the Arse leaking so much.
Arsenal's problem is they still have loads of underachieving senior pros all doing little. Last season we beat them home and away with likes of Willian, Auba, Lacazette and Xhaka all starting so same will likely play again as they haven't signed anyone yet in final third and they're incredibly going to give Xhaka a new 4 year deal!
Spurs hinges on whether Kane stays or not. He goes and we have a big chance of finishing above them for what seems like first time since 1998. They haven't replaced Bale either and Son was pretty poor from Feb onwards so their attack is actually much weaker currently than last season so can see them having a slow start to the season and London press getting into a panic. Romero at the back is a very good defender though, someone Mourinho really needed when he was there.
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For us it hinges on whether the players can step up or not post Grealish.
Too many of them hid for months after the injury in Feb and produced some really awful performances, Sheffield United and Newcastle away and Wolves at home we were completely hopeless in final third and Fulham at home was one of worst performances all season for 70 minutes until the late comeback.
Too often in the past we've lost a big player and the others around suddenly don't know what to do when they're not there as an outball. At least towards end of the season we were starting to play reasonably well, brilliant away to Everton and played fine v Man. United for an hour before the predictable collapse.
Really need a couple of Buendia, Bailey and Ings to hit the ground running as that should give confidence to the rest of the team and we also will have a better bench this season so hopefully DS can change things quicker in second halves when we haven't got control or are behind.
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I'm split. I think, given we've lost our talismanic rat, if we stay in the top 10 we'll have done alright really in the circumstances. However, I can't help looking at the table and thinking that we should aim higher than that.
If we get in to Europe (any competition), i think we'll have had a successful season. Really wonderful progression as a club and a good base to work towards CL football from. A tiny part of me thinks that the summer's events might actually have a positive effect on the squad and push us on to 4th-6th territory.
i’m with your 2nd paragraph Algy. Can’t wait for the season to start now!
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For us it hinges on whether the players can step up or not post Grealish.
Too many of them hid for months after the injury in Feb and produced some really awful performances, Sheffield United and Newcastle away and Wolves at home we were completely hopeless in final third and Fulham at home was one of worst performances all season for 70 minutes until the late comeback.
Too often in the past we've lost a big player and the others around suddenly don't know what to do when they're not there as an outball. At least towards end of the season we were starting to play reasonably well, brilliant away to Everton and played fine v Man. United for an hour before the predictable collapse.
Really need a couple of Buendia, Bailey and Ings to hit the ground running as that should give confidence to the rest of the team and we also will have a better bench this season so hopefully DS can change things quicker in second halves when we haven't got control or are behind.
I actually think we'll be better in that respect without Grealish. For too long, the tactic when things are tough has just been to give the ball to Grealish. Now that's not an option I can see more players stepping up and the team being much more balanced.
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I've just watched stuff on youtube about Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia and I'm a lot more confident about the season having done so. I don't watch any football outside of Villa and a bit of England in the big competitions (but that might wane from now on), so I have no view / opinion on any players that either don't play for us, or stand out when we play other teams. Those two look fucking ace!
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For us it hinges on whether the players can step up or not post Grealish.
Too many of them hid for months after the injury in Feb and produced some really awful performances, Sheffield United and Newcastle away and Wolves at home we were completely hopeless in final third and Fulham at home was one of worst performances all season for 70 minutes until the late comeback.
Too often in the past we've lost a big player and the others around suddenly don't know what to do when they're not there as an outball. At least towards end of the season we were starting to play reasonably well, brilliant away to Everton and played fine v Man. United for an hour before the predictable collapse.
Really need a couple of Buendia, Bailey and Ings to hit the ground running as that should give confidence to the rest of the team and we also will have a better bench this season so hopefully DS can change things quicker in second halves when we haven't got control or are behind.
That's the question I suppose. We have largely been poor over the past few seasons when Grealish was out, so there is somewhat of the unknown going into this season without him.
I do think we have bought well so far this summer, but central midfield remains an issue for me, especially as Douglas Luiz probably won't be starting the season. Along with Bailey not ready, I think the first couple of weeks might be a bit of slow start.
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I’m getting nervous now, sensing a disturbance in the force. I hope we just give it a massive go and not be the club who lost their best player.
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With the investments and the start we had last season, if we can sustain that level then it has to be 5 down to 8 for me - if its only one or two place progression then I will be disappointed. The team at the moment cannot be judged too much because of the absentees, and we cannot assess how the new players will gel, but I am optimistic given some of the comments I have read about Bailey, Buendia. Ings is a player I have admired and equally pi***d me off because he always played well against us... he should hit the ground running and i can see the link up with Ollie working and very mobile / fluid between them. Ashley has surprised me from what i have seen and we do know his capabilities.
So with a couple of additions, it failure if we stay mid table and below and success if we are anywhere from 8 upwards, i would like to see us in Europe and how Dean can cope with that progression also.
Have a good season guys its nearly here
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A positive goal difference for the second year running. 65+ goals for. That would mean we have played entertaining football, finish top 8 and can attract decent players as we move forward. With the squad we have I see that as achievable.
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Do wonder if having Joe in the team might've been part of the cause of us falling off when he's not been there. You know, he was a really good player and it's totally understandable that any non-galacticos team would become overly dependent on someone like Joe. There's maybe a psychological aspect to it. It also meant that, purely though common sense, we played a system to suit our one world class player rather than the squad as a whole.
Gut feeling is that we're going to be just fine without Joe, although the same might not be true the other way round.
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I genuinely think that if we managed to get hold of a badass DM enforcer - the next N'Golo Kante - we'd easily be in the hunt for European football this year.
Our back 5 is as good as anyone else's in the division, with the possible exception of Man City and Liverpool, and our front three will do some serious damage. If we got someone who could hold the centre of the park on their own, in order to free two other AMs up, we'd be a match for anyone.
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I genuinely think that if we managed to get hold of a badass DM enforcer - the next N'Golo Kante - we'd easily be in the hunt for European football this year.
Our back 5 is as good as anyone else's in the division, with the possible exception of Man City and Liverpool, and our front three will do some serious damage. If we got someone who could hold the centre of the park on their own, in order to free two other AMs up, we'd be a match for anyone.
Totally agree with this. I think we’re a little weaker than last years team with Grealish playing, and a fair bit stronger than last years team without Grealish. So without fixing CM we’re on course for something like last year, about 10-12th I’d say.
But it feels like we’re one major signing away from really lifting this level significantly, up to top 6 type of side. It’s really strange that we haven’t sorted this, as I think it’s clearly our worst area and was last year too.
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Tifo do some brilliant podcasts, with excellent reorters like Seb Stafford Bloor. Unfortunately now they are linked with the Athletic they tend to bring Gregg Evans in, which I think dumbs down the analysis they usually provide. Even so, a decent watch / listen of post Grealish Villa:
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I think a 4-4-2 relying on a strike partnership, the creative talents of Anwar El Ghazi and Nakamba to be the new Kanté looks bottom half as all hell.
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Tifo do some brilliant podcasts, with excellent reorters like Seb Stafford Bloor. Unfortunately now they are linked with the Athletic they tend to bring Gregg Evans in, which I think dumbs down the analysis they usually provide. Even so, a decent watch / listen of post Grealish Villa:
The presenter could've done with a script. And Greg(g) Evans has Spock ears. That is all.
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I genuinely think that if we managed to get hold of a badass DM enforcer - the next N'Golo Kante - we'd easily be in the hunt for European football this year.
Our back 5 is as good as anyone else's in the division, with the possible exception of Man City and Liverpool, and our front three will do some serious damage. If we got someone who could hold the centre of the park on their own, in order to free two other AMs up, we'd be a match for anyone.
Totally agree with this. I think we’re a little weaker than last years team with Grealish playing, and a fair bit stronger than last years team without Grealish. So without fixing CM we’re on course for something like last year, about 10-12th I’d say.
But it feels like we’re one major signing away from really lifting this level significantly, up to top 6 type of side. It’s really strange that we haven’t sorted this, as I think it’s clearly our worst area and was last year too.
Echo this.
A top draw DM will bring us into the top 6, but without one I fear we will drop a couple of places. It is a pivotal moment and I hope the club seize the opportunity.
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I genuinely think that if we managed to get hold of a badass DM enforcer - the next N'Golo Kante - we'd easily be in the hunt for European football this year.
Our back 5 is as good as anyone else's in the division, with the possible exception of Man City and Liverpool, and our front three will do some serious damage. If we got someone who could hold the centre of the park on their own, in order to free two other AMs up, we'd be a match for anyone.
Totally agree with this. I think we’re a little weaker than last years team with Grealish playing, and a fair bit stronger than last years team without Grealish. So without fixing CM we’re on course for something like last year, about 10-12th I’d say.
But it feels like we’re one major signing away from really lifting this level significantly, up to top 6 type of side. It’s really strange that we haven’t sorted this, as I think it’s clearly our worst area and was last year too.
Echo this.
A top draw DM will bring us into the top 6, but without one I fear we will drop a couple of places. It is a pivotal moment and I hope the club seize the opportunity.
Top draw DMs don't grow on trees. Are we even in the market for one?
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Arsenal and Spurs have actually strengthened so surpassing them will be especially tough. Gil and Romero will make Spurs better, while White, though overpriced, will definitely stop the Arse leaking so much.
Arsenal's problem is they still have loads of underachieving senior pros all doing little. Last season we beat them home and away with likes of Willian, Auba, Lacazette and Xhaka all starting so same will likely play again as they haven't signed anyone yet in final third and they're incredibly going to give Xhaka a new 4 year deal!
Spurs hinges on whether Kane stays or not. He goes and we have a big chance of finishing above them for what seems like first time since 1998. They haven't replaced Bale either and Son was pretty poor from Feb onwards so their attack is actually much weaker currently than last season so can see them having a slow start to the season and London press getting into a panic. Romero at the back is a very good defender though, someone Mourinho really needed when he was there.
Sorry Soccer, I usually nod along to all of your posts but I'm not having this! Between 1998 and 2009 we finished ahead of Spurs almost every season. Don't let the decade of doom hide the better times.
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After losing out talisman, I have to think anything top half would be a great achievement this season.
It's very hard to predict how the new signings will settle and how fast of course, but fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later obviously
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Phil McNulty on the beeb has us down for 8th. I think I'd take it now.
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I think a 4-4-2 relying on a strike partnership, the creative talents of Anwar El Ghazi and Nakamba to be the new Kanté looks bottom half as all hell.
Although I don't think it will stay that way for long and there are are legitimate reasons for it, I expect we will start the first few games with Nakamba and El Ghazi both in the starting line up.
Caught a discussion about us on Talk Sport earlier where they said we would likely finish in the same position as last season.
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
You think that in the season we put 7 past Liverpool and only 7 teams in the division scored more than us, despite us finishing 11th, our attack was the problem?!
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
who knows what to expect with him?
Just expect the unexpected
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
You think that in the season we put 7 past Liverpool and only 7 teams in the division scored more than us, despite us finishing 11th, our attack was the problem?!
Yes. That’s why I posted it.
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Phil McNulty on the beeb has us down for 8th. I think I'd take it now.
Bloody hell mate, you'll be advocating 3-5-2 next.
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When we were good we were very good, other times bang average
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
You think that in the season we put 7 past Liverpool and only 7 teams in the division scored more than us, despite us finishing 11th, our attack was the problem?!
Yes. That’s why I posted it.
Eight teams scored more goals than us and Arsenal scored the same number. Only six teams conceded fewer than us and Brighton conceded the same number. For what it’s worth.
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We just didn't allocate the goals in the most efficient way!
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I have gone for 8th-12th and I think FourFourTwo magazine tipped us for something similar.
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
You think that in the season we put 7 past Liverpool and only 7 teams in the division scored more than us, despite us finishing 11th, our attack was the problem?!
Yes. That’s why I posted it.
Eight teams scored more goals than us and Arsenal scored the same number. Only six teams conceded fewer than us and Brighton conceded the same number. For what it’s worth.
Our defence and attack were generally decent and, as your numbers show, would normally have been enough for us to be 3-4 places higher in the league. What let us down was game management and control, if teams got a foothold in midfield we struggled to break things up and put them on the back foot again. That's why so many people want a midfielder who can dominate that part of the pitch for us.
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I don’t agree that DM has been our worst area over the last season or so. I think our worst area has been in the final third of the pitch, particularly so when Grealish wasn’t playing. Trezeguet, AEG and Traore very frequently lost possession cheaply so that the opposition were able to come back at us and threaten. And of course, the less said about Barkley the better.
I believe the acquisition of Buendia and Bailey will go a long way to solving that problem. I’m also hopeful that Traore will step up this season.
We looked wide open in midfield at times last season, with opposition players being able to carry the ball for long distances without being challenged. Although we have improved a lot in the area, we still looked vulnerable defending set pieces at times last season, so could do with a physical presence in there.
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Last week when I thought we weeks reinvest the ratboy cash quickly in 2/3 quality players I thought top 6 was realistic. Today, I would take 8th. We are those 2/3 away from that top 6 challenge. I hope we get a couple more in, but fear we won't.
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Last week when I thought we weeks reinvest the ratboy cash quickly in 2/3 quality players I thought top 6 was realistic. Today, I would take 8th. We are those 2/3 away from that top 6 challenge. I hope we get a couple more in, but fear we won't.
There’s maybe going to be some deadline day business, because we are probably being held to ransom right now. There’s bound to be everyone wanting a slice of the Grealish pie (and who can blame them)
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Last week when I thought we weeks reinvest the ratboy cash quickly in 2/3 quality players I thought top 6 was realistic. Today, I would take 8th. We are those 2/3 away from that top 6 challenge. I hope we get a couple more in, but fear we won't.
I agree we need a couple in and should be targeting 6-8 if we do.
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Even if we do get two or three more in, that's a turnover of more than half the team. They'll take months to get into the groove with each other.
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It sounded to me from Purslow's message that we're done in the transfer market. Which would be disappointing as we've "replaced" Judas with three players but have we improved? I'm a bit worried and would be happy with 11th again.
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We just didn't allocate the goals in the most efficient way!
I agree. Too many for the opposition. And not enough for us.
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Last week when I thought we weeks reinvest the ratboy cash quickly in 2/3 quality players I thought top 6 was realistic. Today, I would take 8th. We are those 2/3 away from that top 6 challenge. I hope we get a couple more in, but fear we won't.
I agree we need a couple in and should be targeting 6-8 if we do.
As it stands, I think 7th to 10th would probably represent progress and finishing sixth or higher would almost be our equivalent of winning the league. If we are consistent and in the top ten for most of the season, ending up in one of those 7-10 positions then I think that would represent a good season.
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It sounded to me from Purslow's message that we're done in the transfer market. Which would be disappointing as we've "replaced" Judas with three players but have we improved? I'm a bit worried and would be happy with 11th again.
If we had to be (if we were always held to unreasonable ransome) I guess we could be done, but one thing we’ve learned is we have very savvy operators. He’s hardly going to sit there and say the £100m is burning a hole. I think some of the purchases were clever moveable feasts, working both with and without the antihero. So very happy to be deceived to make sure we don’t over pay if need be.
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So how we're looking now then?
Suddenly the optimism in August when Ings and Bailey were quickly signed dosen't look so deluded now.
Who knew a disjointed pre season would mean disjointed performances in August?
Our performances in September miles above last month.
What's exciting is we still have to get Bailey and Buendia back in 11 once the evil 3-5-2 is dumped back in the CBDW tactics bin.
Traore also barely played this season and he'll be a match winner at times.
Jack who.....
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So how we're looking now then?
Suddenly the optimism in August when Ings and Bailey were quickly signed dosen't look so deluded now.
Who knew a disjointed pre season would mean disjointed performances in August?
Our performances in September miles above last month.
What's exciting is we still have to get Bailey and Buendia back in 11 once the evil 3-5-2 is dumped back in the CBDW tactics bin.
Traore also barely played this season and he'll be a match winner at times.
Jack who.....
Yep it’s looking good. I suspect we could have even be running the top 4 close this year if ‘Jack who’ had stayed
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Expecting The Double. Fucking beauties, the lot of 'em.
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So how we're looking now then?
Suddenly the optimism in August when Ings and Bailey were quickly signed dosen't look so deluded now.
Who knew a disjointed pre season would mean disjointed performances in August?
Our performances in September miles above last month.
What's exciting is we still have to get Bailey and Buendia back in 11 once the evil 3-5-2 is dumped back in the CBDW tactics bin.
Traore also barely played this season and he'll be a match winner at times.
Jack who.....
Yep it’s looking good. I suspect we could have even be running the top 4 close this year if ‘Jack who’ had stayed
I suspect that if he had stayed, we would not have made the number of signings that we did, so not too sure we would be running the top 4 close if he had stayed. FWIW, I think we can realistically target 6th or 7th this season.
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So how we're looking now then?
Suddenly the optimism in August when Ings and Bailey were quickly signed dosen't look so deluded now.
Who knew a disjointed pre season would mean disjointed performances in August?
Our performances in September miles above last month.
What's exciting is we still have to get Bailey and Buendia back in 11 once the evil 3-5-2 is dumped back in the CBDW tactics bin.
Traore also barely played this season and he'll be a match winner at times.
Jack who.....
Yep it’s looking good. I suspect we could have even be running the top 4 close this year if ‘Jack who’ had stayed
Disagree. I think Joe leaving has actually done us a huge favor. We look a far more balanced team without him and now that’s threats all over the pitch.
His departure looks to me like it’s been the catalyst for better times for the club. Fantastic
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We are learning to win without Joe. Dean Smith is becoming a better manager because he now has to use every asset at his disposal in different ways. We have also, it seems massively upgraded in the coaching department.
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So how we're looking now then?
Suddenly the optimism in August when Ings and Bailey were quickly signed dosen't look so deluded now.
Who knew a disjointed pre season would mean disjointed performances in August?
Our performances in September miles above last month.
What's exciting is we still have to get Bailey and Buendia back in 11 once the evil 3-5-2 is dumped back in the CBDW tactics bin.
Traore also barely played this season and he'll be a match winner at times.
Jack who.....
Yep it’s looking good. I suspect we could have even be running the top 4 close this year if ‘Jack who’ had stayed
I suspect that if he had stayed, we would not have made the number of signings that we did, so not too sure we would be running the top 4 close if he had stayed. FWIW, I think we can realistically target 6th or 7th this season.
Buendia was already in the building. I'd like to think someone like Leon Bailey would've been signed aswell to give us step up in quality out wide but perhaps not.
Think Ings would've been someone we wouldn't have looked at. Tidy today but can take him or leave him with Ollie back and starting.
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Worth noting we're just 2 points off what we had after 6 games last season and that was our best start for 15 years.
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10 from 6 including having played Chelsea and UTD away rom home. Probably better than I expected, certainly better than some of the doom-mongers we had to listen to all summer. Smith has changed the system and it seems to be working. I would be suprised if we don't revert to a back 4 against the "lesser" teams. Top 8 for me this season, and satisfied with that!
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I'm supremely surprised to be saying this, but I think we're a better team and squad without Grealish here. It's like the other players have stepped out of the shadows.
I also take everything back about us needing to sign a big name centre midfielder in the summer. We have a cracking midfield right now and strength in depth with kids.
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Sky is the limit.
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The loss of Rat Boy has meant we've developed a lot more rounded way of playing. Hopefully this means the odd injury to players here and there doesn't have such frustrating and derailing consequences as we suffered last year.
If that proves the case, then top 8 is a good possibility.
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Agree Ads
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With reasonable fortune a 6th - 8th finish is achievable. We will continue to improve & providing we rotate the squad appropriately we should have the legs for the tail end of the season.
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McGinn works as hard as he did today then he will need rotating. Fortunately Sanson looked head and shoulders the best midfielder on the pitch on Wednesday.
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As one of those doom mongers I am delighted to be proved wrong so far. Tremendous performances in this harder run of fixtures. Early days of course but right now it feels like another improved season could be on the cards.
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Since our return haven’t we now beaten all of the ‘big boys’ ?
For years we weren’t able to lay a glove on any of them or ended up as plucky losers.
Long gone are the days when we just make up the numbers.
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Since our return haven’t we now beaten all of the ‘big boys’ ?
For years we weren’t able to lay a glove on any of them or ended up as plucky losers.
Long gone are the days when we just make up the numbers.
Apart from Man City, which will be put right this season. I'm probably getting ahead of myself, but I think top six is a realistic possibility this year.
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Will be ups (like yesterday) and downs like Watford. Can see this being a mirror image of last season Just want a decent run in the fa cup though
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We know we've improved if we deal with West Ham home and away.
They were most annoying in the two matches of all last season
My expectations are high after yesterday and a positive result again vs Spurs will only be higher!
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We know we've improved if we deal with West Ham home and away.
They were most annoying in the two matches of all last season
My expectations are high after yesterday and a positive result again vs Spurs will only be higher!
Burnley are long overdue a good thrashing from us as well.
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If Sanson can get and stay fit we will have a very strong squad, i really cannot see a weakness when we play three at the back.
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I think 8th/9th looks quite possible. It gets harder as you go higher up, but I'd say 6th/7th is possible. Anything higher is dreamland, but there is a small part of me that thinks we might just pull off a challenge for 4th/5th.
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Will be ups (like yesterday) and downs like Watford. Can see this being a mirror image of last season Just want a decent run in the fa cup though
I hope not, other than winning the FA Cup. Last season we managed to beat the so called Top 6 but struggled to beat teams in the bottom half. This season I think we're more prepared with some great investment into the squad, not to mention the young talent knocking on the door. I really believe Dean will step up and we won't suffer a feast or famine season.
Early days but I really admire how he's got the whole squad mentally prepared and to use the Mourinho classic, got everybody working for the collective. He just needs them to keep the same focus and determination against lesser sides. The true measure of progress for me is the total points at the end of the season. The fact he went for the win yesterday is hopefully a great sign of things to come.
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Will be ups (like yesterday) and downs like Watford. Can see this being a mirror image of last season Just want a decent run in the fa cup though
Surely not. We are not reliant on Joe this year and have 2 players for each position. We also have a plan A and a plan B now. Once all the squad is fit I fully expect us to have a far more consistent season than last and therefore end up higher.
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We are better than Spurs so think of where you thought they'd finish start of the season and that's a good metric.
Thought Kane staying would give them the edge of finishing above us but he's the obvious case of downing tools and wanting out as soon as next transfer window opens.
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My realistic expectations have not changed since the start of the season
Top 8 finish that’s what I’m expecting
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I’m saying 8th-10th this season
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Based on the last 2 results plus some of the Chelsea league game I’m satisfied we could easily break the top 8, and I’ll even stick my head on the line and say we’ll finish 5th this year.
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Top six is realistic.
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I certainly expect Villa to finish in the top eight now we have such a strong squad, and provided we aren't particularly unlucky with long term injuries I wouldn't be at all surprised if we finished in the top six.
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Phil McNulty on the beeb has us down for 8th. I think I'd take it now.
Bloody hell mate, you'll be advocating 3-5-2 next.
Haha! These are ageing well.
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Well before the game yesterday there was expectation to finish top half and higher than 11th
That can still be achieved
Realistically I don't see higher than 7th- 8th now which is progress but perhaps not what was the plan. And that top 6 won't be achieved. An aim for top half is what's needed. That will cause some frustration but let it be a season for transition and implementation and improve as we go on
However those accountable SD lange and Purslow as well as the new coaches are all involved in to where villa are currently in the league and where we might finish.
I'm sure all of them like Deano have expectations still for a top half finish but have they given enough of steady platform for Dean to progress from 11th last season?
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Just survive. Id snap your hands off for 17th place right now